Developing a vitamin E deficiency is rare unless you have an underlying health condition. The body needs vitamin E to function and is mainly stored in the liver before being released into the blood stream for use. If you are having problems with vision, it could mean that they are vitamin E deficient and should try and eat certain foods to keep the deficiencies at bay. Other symptoms of vitamin E deficiency to watch out for include muscle weakness, walking difficulties, and numbness and tingling. Link to article
High blood pressure is a common condition in the UK and the only sure way to find out you have it is to have your reading checked on a regular basis. If high blood pressure is left untreated, the arteries can thicken and harden, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, which can be life-threatening. Some studies suggest the addition of a supplement can help lower blood pressure. Three supplements proven effective are garlic, fibre and CoQ10. Another article this week on blood pressure and how using garlic can help lower readings. Link to article
Sleep is an important part of a person’s health, and a lack of it can lead to serious health problems. Not only can it make a person feel grumpy, it can increase the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Most people need around eight hours of good quality sleep a night to function properly. The article focuses strongly on the nutrients needed to enhance sleep; tryptophan, serotonin and melatonin. Link to article
Evidence suggests that ginger supplements may speed up stomach emptying, relieve digestive upset, and reduce intestinal cramping, bloating, and gas. Human studies suggest that taking one to 1.5 grams of ginger capsules daily in divided doses may relieve nausea. This supports the body of evidence that says ginger brings myriad health benefits to the digestive system. An interesting read on ginger and how it helps digestion. Link to article
The brain requires certain nutrients in order for it to stay healthy. Many people may not start to think about their brain health until they begin to see cognitive changes such as memory loss in later life. Eating a healthy diet is important for all areas of the body, not just the brain. But research has shown three particular vitamins and minerals the brain requires are vitamin B12, choline and lutein – supplements that are good to have in your nutritional regime, not just if you are struggling with memory loss. Link to article
As reported by the Arthritis Foundation, several studies show that turmeric/curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and modifies immune system responses. A 2006 study showed turmeric was more effective at preventing joint inflammation than reducing joint inflammation. This article mentions how a 2010 clinical trial found that a turmeric supplement provided long-term improvement in pain and function in 100 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Link to article
|Best supplements for tiredness: The supplement proven to make you feel more awake|
Now could be the perfect opportunity for you to write a blog or article on your thoughts towards Lecithin and its energy-increasing features. According to the EU’s Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products, lecithin can reduce feelings of tiredness and weakness. Plus, a 2018 study in Nutritional Journal also reported a high daily dose (1200mg) of lecithin increased energy and reduced tiredness in women going through menopause. Link to article
| Although a slightly negative article, this one’s a good read, especially as you may get some clients coming to you worried that their healthy eating may trigger an unforeseen allergy. The article delves into how lipid transfer protein allergy (LTP) and pollen food syndrome are different and how experts are seeing a rise in LTP cases. Have you come across many client cases like this? Link to article Original article found bellow:|
“For years it’s been suffered mainly by Italians and Spaniards, but now, Britain’s five-a-day obsession is triggering a frightening new allergy
Britons are now chugging 898 million litres of fruit juices and smoothies a year
This is no doubt sparked on in part by the desire to hit our five-a-day target
But, according to some experts, our fruit and veg obsession has come at a cost
By Adrian Monti For The Mail On Sunday
Published: 22:01, 18 May 2019 | Updated: 08:08, 19 May 2019
Britons are now chugging 898 million litres of fruit juices and smoothies each year, according to the British Soft Drinks Association (stock image)
Walk down any suburban high street and you’ll see at least one slender gym-bunny clutching a brightly coloured fruit juice or smoothie. And these days, it’s not just exercise fiends who enjoy guzzling their five-a-day down in one.
Britons are now chugging 898 million litres of fruit juices and smoothies each year, according to the British Soft Drinks Association.
Now a supermarket staple, shoppers are tempted with all manner of exotic combinations; from mango and passionfruit, to pomegranate and coconut. All this is no doubt spurred on by the desire to hit our five-a-day target – after all, fruit and veg are packed with all the beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants we know keep us fit and healthy.
But, according to some allergy experts, our fruit and veg obsession has come at a cost.
As the year-round demand for exotic fruits and vegetables has increased, so too has the number of people suffering from a new type of severe food allergy. Once unique to Spain and Italy, this allergy to the very foods meant to be keeping us healthy has landed on our shores – and the number of victims is increasing.
SWELLING, ITCHY EYES… STRUGGLING TO BREATHE
Mother-of-one Jodie Jackson, from Luton, had suffered with inexplicable attacks after eating random fruit since her teens. Within a minute of eating, her eyes would become so swollen she ‘looked like an alien’.
There appeared to be no obvious reason for her symptoms. Triggers that affected others such as nuts and dairy were harmless, but other fruits and vegetables would cause her to ‘blow up’. Antihistamine tablets seemed to fix the problem, yet she admits: ‘I knew I was allergic to something, but I couldn’t work out the cause.’
Then, last summer, the hairdresser ate a kiwi in Portugal and immediately started vomiting and gasping for breath. She recalls: ‘I knew it was the fruit that had caused it. Antihistamine tablets helped with the sickness but the swelling was still there next morning and took a while to go down.’
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Jodie went to her GP, who carried out an allergy test. The results were inconclusive, so she was referred to London’s Royal Brompton Hospital, a leading centre for allergy treatment. In January, experts there diagnosed her with an unusual allergy, known officially as lipid transfer protein allergy, or LTP. The condition was thought to affect only people from Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Spain who eat diets packed with the allergy triggers.
But now experts have seen cases appearing across Britain. The question is: why?
Allergies only occur in the presence of so-called allergens, the substance that triggers an unexplained reaction in sufferers
Previously, a limited variety of fruit and veg was available in Britain, and fewer of us ate them. But now, with more Britons exposed to fruit allergens than ever before, reactions are increasing.
Walk down any suburban high street and you’ll see at least one slender gym-bunny clutching a brightly coloured fruit juice or smoothie (stock image)
Allergy specialist Dr Isabel Skypala from the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, who has been studying the phenomenon, says: ‘Whilst we don’t know the cause, the fact that we consume far more concentrated forms of fruits and vegetables, such as juices and smoothies, could be relevant.’
Indeed, Britons now spend more than £1.2 billion a year on berries – a smoothie staple – alone.
Stephen Till, an allergy professor at London’s King’s College and a consultant allergist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals, agrees that changing eating habits may play a role. ‘For many years we’ve known about this allergy in other southern European countries. We’re now seeing patients with it here – and numbers are increasing, as with all food allergies. The increased incidence might be related to dietary habits changing. Tomatoes and strawberries are much more available now than they were decades ago so LTP allergic people may be more exposed to triggers.’
A NEW, POTENTIALLY FATAL, REACTION
Most common allergic reactions cause minor, hay-fever-like symptoms such as streaming eyes and runny nose. But for those with LTP allergy, an attack can be life-threatening if they suffer anaphylactic shock, which causes swelling to the throat, difficulty breathing and, for some, stomach pain and vomiting. A lifesaving shot of adrenaline is often needed to open up the airways. Also setting LTP apart from other common food allergies is the way it can present in different forms.
Try THIS: How to soothe hip pain…
Struggle with walking long distances? It’s most likely the problem lies not in your legs, but rather in the hip.
The hip flexors are a key group of muscles connecting hips to thighs, essential for keeping leg movements fluid. But thanks to our sedentary lives spent sitting in front of a computer or the television, most people’s hip flexors are tight and stiff.
This limits the range of motion in the hip, leg and knee – but there’s a simple stretch to help:
Kneeling on the floor with a chair behind you, bend the left knee so the left foot is flat on the floor.
Move the right leg backwards and place the top of the right foot on the chair.
Try to get the right knee as close as you can to the chair, increasing the stretch.
Hold for ten seconds, keeping the body upright and squeezing the glute muscles. Repeat on the other side.
Dr Skypala explains: ‘People with this allergy react whether an ingredient is cooked, raw or in a processed food. For example, those with the most common form of fruit and vegetable allergy, pollen food syndrome, will only react to raw tomato. But those with LTP allergy might react to raw tomato and tomato puree on a pizza, for example.’
As with all allergies, LTP is caused by the immune system over-reacting to a normally harmless compound such as pollen from plants or a protein in a food. This over-reaction releases a cascade of chemicals intended to fight the perceived intruder.
The most potent chemical, histamine, triggers the telltale symptoms of an allergic reaction: coughing, wheezing, sneezing and itching eyes, mouth and nose.
In the case of LTP, this can extends to the extreme swelling of the face and throat, restricting breathing.
Experts are still unsure as to what causes some people’s immune systems to over-react in this way.
Today, at least 44 per cent of adults suffer an allergy of some sort, and there are two million living with a diagnosed food allergy in the UK. The most common form of food allergy, pollen-linked food allergy, affects two per cent of the population – mostly of whom have hay fever. The body mistakes a fruit or vegetable for pollen, as they contain some of the same proteins.
Dr Skypala and Prof Till recently published the first study of British LTP cases. The researchers tested a number of patients they’d diagnosed with the allergy. As expected, they found their reactions were identical to a group of patients from Italy who were known to have the sensitivity.
They also compared them to people with other food allergies and proved that their reactions were distinct. Dr Skypala says: ‘Our study proves it is happening here and now experts know to look for LTP, diagnoses will become far more common.’
EXERCISE CAN MAKE REACTIONS WORSE
Another unique characteristic of this bizarre allergy is that certain circumstances can make it worse. For reasons currently unknown, exercise, painkillers and alcohol can all exaggerate the reaction. Dr Skypala says: ‘Often those who have this allergy might grab some fruit to eat, go dancing, have a drink and only then suffer a reaction. It could be that these co-factors might lead to a faster absorption of the food, which is why those with the allergy have a more severe reaction.’
Jodie Jackson’s case is a classic example. She says: ‘In my mid-20s, I started exercising – I like army bootcamps – and it seemed to happen during or after. I didn’t realise it was the banana I would eat beforehand that was causing the problems.’
Sufferers are advised to limit consuming known triggers and to avoid doing so before exercising, drinking alcohol or taking painkillers. Many are also advised to carry antihistamines and an injecting device that delivers an adrenaline shot, such as an EpiPen, which can reverse a severe anaphylactic reaction.
Since being diagnosed earlier this year, Jodie avoids fruit before exercising. ‘I stick to porridge,’ she says. ‘I eat fruit, but never on an empty stomach, which seems to avoid the reaction. I’ve not had to use my EpiPen yet, luckily. It’s very scary when you first have a reaction and struggle to breathe. I hope others who might have this allergy can now find out more about it too.’ “
| It’s a bit of a mixed review towards glucosamine in this article, with some experts highly rating it and others advising that more studies are needed to determine its exact health benefits. Researchers believe the supplement slashes levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) – a chemical associated with inflammation and heart attacks. But critics doubt the findings, saying the dose of glucosamine consumed was not specified and it wasn’t clear if participants were taking other supplements. Link to article|
” Cheap glucosamine supplements used to soothe the agony of arthritis and joint pain ‘may lower the risk of heart disease’
Study of 500,000 Brits suggested glucosamine use reduced CVD deaths by 22%
Glucosamine is a cheap dietary supplement used to ease arthritis and joint pain
But whether or not glucosamine has any effect on humans is fiercely debated
By Connor Boyd For Mailonline
Published: 23:30, 14 May 2019 | Updated: 01:30, 15 May 2019
A cheap dietary pill used to soothe the agony of arthritis can slash the risk of a heart attack or stroke by more than a fifth, according to research.
A study of almost half a million people found those who used glucosamine regularly were up to 22 per cent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Researchers believe the supplement slashes levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) – a chemical associated with inflammation and heart attacks.
But critics doubt the findings, saying the dose of glucosamine consumed was not specified and it wasn’t clear if participants were taking other supplements.
Glucosamine is a supplement consumed by millions of people around the world to ease the misery of joint pain.
Glucosamine use slashed the risk of cardiovascular disease by more than a fifth in a study of almost 500,000 Brits
Animal studies have found that it can both delay the breakdown of and repair damaged cartilage.
The compound is produced naturally by the body in cartilage between the joints.
But evidence on whether it works in humans is mixed, with many studies showing little or no effect on pain relief or joint function.
Researchers from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, followed 466,039 male and female Britons without CVD for an average of seven years.
Using death certificates and hospital records they found glucosamine was associated with a 15 per cent lower risk of CVD events.
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The findings also showed that coronary heart disease (CHD), strokes and deaths from CVD were reduced by between nine and 22 per cent.
These associations remained after taking account of traditional risk factors, including age, sex, weight (BMI), ethnicity, lifestyle, diet, medication and other supplement use.
Overall, almost one in five participants – 19.3 per cent – reported glucosamine use at the start of the study.
Lead researcher Professor Lu Qi said: ‘Several potential mechanisms could explain the observed protective relation between glucosamine use and CVD diseases.
Regular use of glucosamine was associated with a statistically significant reduction in CRP concentrations, which is a marker for systemic inflammation.
‘Animal studies also reported that the anti-inflammatory properties of glucosamine might have a preventive role in the pathophysiology of CVD.
‘In addition, a previous study found that glucosamine could mimic a low carbohydrate diet by decreasing glycolysis and increasing amino acid catabolism in mice; therefore, glucosamine has been treated as an energy restriction mimetic agent.
‘Other mechanisms might also be involved, and future investigations are needed to explore the functional roles of glucosamine in cardiovascular health.’
The new findings, published in The British Medical Journal, are based on an analysis of data from the UK Biobank study that contain the health records of hundreds of thousands of people.
During the course of the follow-up period there were 10,204 CVD incidents, 3,060 CVD deaths, 5,745 coronary heart disease events, and 3,263 strokes.
WHAT IS GLUCOSAMINE?
Glucosamine is a supplement consumed by millions of people around the world to ease the misery of joint pain and arthritis.
The compound – produced naturally by the body in cartilage between the joints – is believed to reduce inflammation.
Natural sources include the ends of chicken bones and crustacean shells.
Supplements can be bought in high street retailers such as Holland and Barrett for as little as £17 for 60 tablets.
Animal studies have found that glucosamine can both delay the breakdown of and repair damaged cartilage.
But evidence on whether they work on humans is mixed.
Source: Versus Arthritis
Participants were enrolled from 2006 to 2010 and were followed up to 2016.
Dr Louisa Lam, deputy dean of the school of nursing and healthcare professions at Federation University in Australia, said: ‘There is so much controversy around the effects of glucosamine and vitamin supplements in general, and I do have my doubts about this analysis.
‘There is lots of research evidence that supports my doubt. My view is that the study has a very large sample, and with large samples like that, it is easy to find some statistical significance in ‘things’ the researchers want.
‘I would really like to see if there is an association with other supplements and CVD events or death.
‘The authors should provide information on other supplements as comparisons. Also, a Yes and No answer on the use of Glucosamine is insufficient.
‘We need dose and length information. I have my doubts about the reported result in relation to the link between glucosamine supplements and lower risks of CVD events.’
Professor Naveed Sattar at the University of Glasgow, said only a clinical trial could determine whether the supplement lowers the risk of heart disease.
He added: ‘Whilst the authors have done a careful job of analysing the link between glucosamine intake and cardiovascular outcomes in a big dataset, only a trial can determine whether there is any truth to the lower observed risk.
‘Observational studies can only ever generate new ideas to test. They cannot prove a causal link since some biases are impossible to overcome and it may well be those who take glucosamine regularly have healthy lifestyles in ways that are not fully captured by measured data.
‘Many other supplements have not proven benefits in trials even when observational data suggested there may be health benefits.
‘Some supplements have even been shown to cause harm in trials. So, for now, I would not rush to buy glucosamine to lessen my heart risks when there are many other cost-effective proven ways to do so.’
The findings come after the British Heart Foundation (BHF) announced that heart disease-related deaths had gone up for the first time in 50 years.
Although the overall death rate is still improving, fatalities in the under-75 age group have been climbing since 2015.
The worrying trend follows decades of progress which has seen premature death rates plummet since the 1960s.
Figures show 42,384 people in the UK died from conditions including heart attack and stroke before their 75th birthday in 2017, compared with just over 41,000 three years earlier “
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