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Why is menopause more of a health issue for women in the UK, compared to women in Japan? The answer to that question is highly significant in finding natural ways to reduce and manage menopause symptoms. It could also provide clues for the many women keen to find alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. According to the British Menopause Society: “Menopause is a major life event, marking the end of the reproductive life cycle, and many women may experience troublesome symptoms related to menopause for a number of years. This can have a detrimental impact on their quality of life, wellbeing and may also have a significant impact on their personal relationships and work.”

The finely tuned processes that keep us alive – and healthy - all depend on the balance of nutrients we ingest. Some of these make an appearance on multiple lists of the most hardworking vitamins and minerals. One such vital nutritional component is magnesium, which is literally supporting us around the clock. That’s because one of the jobs magnesium does is to help us to think clearly, move around adroitly, sleep well and have a regularly beating heart! It also plays a part in our energy release and mood levels. As magnesium is crucial to our physiology, and therefore our diet, we have created a guide that explores: • The role of magnesium in preventing and managing chronic illness. • Brain health and magnesium. • How magnesium supports good mental health, energy levels and sleep. • Magnesium’s ability to be an anti-inflammatory, and potentially a natural remedy for migraines. • The potential for magnesium to tackle common issues such as PMS. • The most bioavailable sources of magnesium.

The word inflammation is often associated with temporary pain due to an injury, allergic reaction or muscle strain for example. In fact, some of the most serious chronic medical conditions are a form of inflammation, usually caused by oxidative stress. Including cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s Disease. If you have a medical diagnosis linked to an inflammatory condition, it is likely to end in ‘itis’ which is Latin for inflammation. For instance, appendicitis, colitis (colon), cystitis (bladder), gingivitis (gums), pericarditis (the sac surrounding the heart), gastritis (stomach), and mastitis (breasts). Then, of course, severe allergic reactions and asthma are also inflammatory responses.

Over recent years we have noticed an ever-increasing interest from the PSA in the Complementary, and Alternative Medicine (CAM) sector. For those of us who don’t know about the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), they are best known for their role in overseeing statutorily regulated disciplines within orthodox health care. This is an oversight body that seems to be struggling to keep up with the increased level of fitness to practise reviews, interestingly it made 590 decisions in 2004-2005 and a staggering 4,043 in 2015-2015., so you would think that the last thing they need is an increase to their workload. They are an organisation that functions independently of the Government and therefore are a potential target for organisations wishing to have influence over these sectors.

A shocking 84% of UK adults are classified as being ‘highly at risk’ of developing tooth decay. That's despite all the publicity about regularly cleaning your teeth, and all the oral hygiene products on supermarket shelves. The NHS reports that 9.7 million dental treatments a year - such as fillings, extractions, and root work- are delivered yearly in England alone! Could part of the reason for that, be dietary shortfalls rather than poor oral hygiene? We all know the things we shouldn’t eat – sugary snacks and drinks. Also, the role calcium plays in building our teeth is well publicised. Fortunately, calcium-rich foods are now commonplace in most households and the NHS acknowledges that you “get all the calcium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet”. However, calcium is not the only dietary element that promotes healthy teeth, gums and mouths in general! Are there nutritional supplements to optimise dental health, and what can we eat…. to strengthen the system, we use to eat?

If you're purposeful in your nutrition to protect your health, one of the thorniest topics is likely to revolve around one of the most fundamental ingredients in kitchens worldwide. We are talking about cooking oil or fat. There are times when you need something to help you seal or lightly sauté foodstuffs, and fats are used in baking. Also, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that consuming some types of fat is good for you.

The main sugar in milk and therefore dairy products that contain milk is called lactose. To digest it - and convert it into the usable forms of sugar humans need for energy - we need to naturally produce an enzyme called lactase. If you are unable to create this enzyme in sufficient amounts (or at all) your digestive system can’t break down and absorb this ‘milk sugar’ properly. Instead, lactose passes into your colon, where bacteria interact with it creating discomfort. This is called being ‘intolerant’ to it.

Why nutritional deficiencies are happening Contemporary retailers stock such a diverse range of produce, it would be easy to think that diets that lack key nutrients must be based entirely on consumer decisions. Such as reaching for over-produced ready meals rather than investing time in preparing meals from fresh ingredients. The truth is that even those fresh ingredients could be less nutritious than you imagine! Modern farming and retailing methods can lead to low levels of vitamins and minerals in your perfect-looking fruit and veg. For instance, a wonky apple from a local organic farm can have far greater dietary value than a pristine one that’s been sat in cold storage for months, before making its way on to a supermarket shelf. Opting for a vegan or vegetarian diet can lead to deficiencies, as we explain below. Plus, don’t forget those out-of-season berries you bought - that flew in from abroad! This added to the massive emissions burden created by food transport. DEFRA reports that transporting food accounts for a quarter of all heavy goods traffic miles in the UK. That equates to 19 million tonnes of CO2 annually!

Protecting eye health is important for everyone but becomes imperative in older people as ageing takes its toll on the sensitive structures that support our vision. Though medical science can address some common eye issues, there are still degenerative problems that can be difficult – if not impossible – to reverse. Making it sensible to consider the most fundamental and universally accessible way to keep your eyes healthy. Choose good nutrition! There are various minerals and vitamins, with antioxidant properties that play a role in visual health, as we explain below. We also explored one of the most proven supplements you can use in a previous blog, Bilberries which are a rich source of anthocyanosides (the substance that gives blue-red fruit it's colouring), a promising natural remedy for some eye conditions, including tired and dry eyes.

Now that a reported 71% of the UK population are taking food supplements, and a staggering 47% taking these on a daily basis, shouldn’t the next big discussion be about choosing food supplements with optimum efficacy? Magnesium is a lesser-known mineral, compared to its counterparts, calcium, sodium, and potassium, and it can be challenging to obtain optimum intake from the average British Diet, due to intensive farming methods, and overly processed foods. The well-informed amongst us like to select a magnesium supplement as part of their daily nutritional regimes. However, selecting the form with optimum efficacy is an art not shared by all.