Alzheimer’s disease – prevention is better than cure

 There are times when we all forget things - like where we put our keys or sometimes what we walked into the room for, but if you are finding that you are forgetting things more often than normal, or are starting to repeat phrases and stories in a conversation, then this could be something more serious. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia and typically the most common. It is also one of the leading causes of death. This disease progresses differently in people but it commonly begins with short term memory loss. Later it can cause speech problems and issues with executive functions.

Memory changes

If your friends and family are starting to notice changes in your thinking skills and memory this could mean you could have a mild cognitive impairment. This is a slight decrease in your cognitive abilities. If this is the case you could be at an increased risk of it becoming Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia. However, if these changes start to affect your daily life or your ability to live independently it could be the onset of dementia.

If you find that you become lost and disorientated in a place that you are familiar with, or are unable to remember a situation when your memory loss was a problem when someone is telling you about then it is a big red flag it could be related to Alzheimer’s. There are other things to look out for as well such as asking the same question multiple times, having difficulty making decisions, showing poor judgement or inappropriate social behaviour and difficulty in daily tasks such as personal hygiene and paying the bills.

Memory issues like leaving the stove on, not being able to recognise familiar faces, personality changes or losing interest in activities can all be signs as well.

Preventative measures

Things that can help prevent Alzheimer's include exercise, optimising vitamin D and hormones, getting more sleep (as sleep is necessary for maintaining metabolic homeostasis in your brain). Without enough sleep, neuron degeneration sets in. Catching up on sleep during weekends will not prevent this damage. Meditation, detoxification, and dietary changes such as removing processed foods and gluten are also great preventatives. Challenging your mind daily can also help. Try learning something new such as a language or learn how to play an instrument. By doing this you are decreasing your risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.

Another way to help prevent Alzheimer’s is by optimising your gut flora. You can do this by avoiding processed foods, antibiotics and antibacterial products, fluoridated and chlorinated water. Also, intermittent fasting is great for getting your body into remembering how to burn fat and repair the insulin/leptin resistance as these are primary contributing factors for Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's can affect anyone and it is important that if we notice signs in ourselves, our friends or our families so we can seek medical advice both mainstream and natural. This clinic specialises in meditation, mindfulness, nutrition, naturopathic and dietary advice to help your mind and brain function to its optimum capacity. 

Spices and their health benefits – Part II

Further to last month’s article here are some more benefits of some vegetables, herbs and spices which you can add to your weekly foods to enhance your health. We all get a little unwell from time to time and need something to give us that extra boost to help our bodies heal. By adding certain spices and foods to your diet you can do this in a more natural way.

Here are a few suggestions:

Asparagus

Asparagus can help with health issues such as kidney problems. It can also help to dissolves uric acid deposits and promote urination so you lose excess fluid that may bloat you. All you need to do is boil it in water and drink. 

Celery

Celery is a great sedative and is good for helping to clean your kidneys when you use the celery seeds in a tea. The seeds and stalk of the celery can also help to reduce hypertension.

Chamomile flowers

Chamomile flowers are great for children if they have a fever and are restless.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is good for you if you are suffering from health issues such as general indigestion, athletes’ foot, dysentery, diarrhea and yeast infections. Cinnamon is also good for colds and may help to reduce cancer causing tendencies of many food additives. There are a few ways to prepare cinnamon for these different issues. You can grind it up or drink with milk after eating a heavy meal. Simmer cinnamon sticks with cloves for 3 min and add 2 tsp. of lemon juice, honey, and whiskey. This is great for a cold. You can use for athlete’s foot by boiling 8-10 sticks in 4 cups water, simmer for 5 minutes and steep for 45.

Cloves

Cloves are good for toothaches and sore gums, nausea and vomiting, pain relief of arthritis and to get rid of cravings for alcohol. You can chew it for toothaches, use in an oil for pain relief or drink in small amounts as a tea for nausea. If you are trying to control alcohol cravings you should suck on one or two cloves whenever a craving strikes.

Peppermint

Peppermint is good for migraines, nervousness, stomach disorders, heartburn, abdominal cramps, stomach aches, and herpes. For herpes you should take 2 cups of tea a day. This will help to ease the symptoms when the virus is active.

All these spices, foods and herbs can assist you naturally for a number of health issues. Refer to our first article for the rest of the list if you missed it. Always consult your health care practitioner to make sure you are using exactly what’s right for you.

Coping with anxiety – Part II

Last month we posted part I on how to deal with those anxious moments in your life. Now in Part II we will give you some more tips to help you overcome and move forward from your anxiety into a brighter future.

Tune in on your perspective

When you are feeling anxious it can be difficult to decipher what is real and what may not necessarily be true. When you are feeling anxious you may find that everything irritates you, even small things that you know normally wouldn’t bother you. You may even find that no matter what someone says or does, you cannot break through that feeling of irritation. This can cause you to want to remove yourself from others. The problem with this is, when you are alone you may start filling your mind with more and more anxious thoughts. You may find yourself thinking that the people around you don’t want you there or that you don’t belong. Luckily there are a few things you can do to help cope with these feelings and thoughts.

Helping with the negative thoughts

When it comes to the cycle of negative thoughts that may be running through your head, the first thing you should stop and ask yourself is, “it what I am think actually true?” You need to stop and think hard about it, don’t just automatically react and say ‘yes’. You can ask yourself questions like, ‘do I have reason to believe it’s true?’ ‘What are these reasons?’ ‘Can I read their mind and know what they are thinking?’ You need to be able to prove that the people or person you are having the negative thoughts about are actually having ill feelings towards you, if you cannot prove that this is the case then you need to think about reflecting on yourself and not on them.

When you learn to change your thoughts in these situations and say to yourself, ‘why am I thinking this?’ you will allow yourself to be more in control of your negative thoughts and it will help you see past them when you do get irritated, anxious and/or frustrated at everyone and everything.

Look after yourself

If you look after yourself on the outside it can help you feel better on the inside. You can try exercise, yoga, meditation or even just getting some ‘you’ time when you feel you need it, can all be helpful in making you feel better inside and out. Remember to not only do these things when you feel anxious, do them all the time.

Don’t burden yourself with other people’s rubbish

When you feel anxious and are struggling, it can be very easy for you to take on the burden of someone’s lies and rubbish without even thinking twice about it. However, this is something that you need to recognise and stop from happening. Call people out on their lies and if they are not treating you well.

Think positive

If you are surrounded by negative people it can be easy to fall into the same way of thinking all the time. This is why it is better to surround yourself with positive people. If you can force yourself to think of happy thoughts in the moments when someone is being particularly negative, it will help create serotonin in your brain and provide you the extra boost you need to remove yourself from the situation.

These tips will help you a bit along the way but if you have persistent negativity, anxiety, stress, panic attacks or depression then contact us as we can help. We do both face to face and online consultations and we can quickly help you overcome those feelings that are holding you back from having joy in your life. 

Coping with Anxiety

Your brain is split into sections, the part at the front known as the frontal lobe is the part of your brain that is in charge of the thinking part where you plan for the future, your judgment, your decision-making skills, your attention span, and your inhibitions. It’s basically responsible for your normal moods.

Your brain is also in charge of protecting you when there is potential danger. This part is called the Amygdala. This response is what we know as the flight or fight response. When you suffer with anxiety it is like the Amygdala is constantly turned on. Being anxious can make you feel hazy and affect your focus and also makes it seem as though everything is stressing you out and everyone is irritating you. Once you get this far it can be hard to pull yourself out of it.

Ways to help you cope

Exercise is a good way to distress as it elevates your heart rate which can act like a mild dose of Prozac in the body. Exercise releases endorphins which make you feel good. It also helps to boost the serotonin production in your body. Memories, happy ones, can also boost the serotonin levels in your body. Focusing on a happy memory when you are starting to feel overly stressed and anxious can help to trick the mind and help you cope. If this doesn’t work try writing the happy memory down. It may take a few goes but eventually your brain will automatically associate the happy memory with your triggers and will help you through the struggle. Writing can be a good way to help get those negative thoughts out and happy thoughts into your mind. 

Sleep is important, not just for coping with anxiety but for your brain function overall. Your brain uses sleep as a period for recovery and without it your stress will remain high. Ensure you are getting adequate sleep as you feel refreshed and ready to start your new day. Also carrying a small object with you can be a great way to help distract your mind when you are feeling stressed and anxious. When you are feeling stressed take it out and hold it, start to think about the colour, size, shape and even weight of the object, to everyone else you’re just fiddling but to you it is distracting your mind.

Music can help distract you also. Focusing on the lyrics or the beat can help calm the mind and also help to boost serotonin. Inflammation may also add to your anxiousness as it is not good for your body. It’s a good idea to avoid foods that cause inflammation. Check with your naturopath for a test to find out what can affect you.

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to combat anxiety. It’s going to take time to train your brain so that it realises that the fears you have aren’t as bad as you think, that you can face them and conquer them if you work at it. We can help so give us a call and have a chat.

How to have a healthier home

       

Every section of our daily life revolves on the topic of health. When we are faced with a health issue, big or small, it can be overwhelming to try and adopt healthier choices and actions. When you become overwhelmed you stop trying because the challenge seems impossible to overcome. A smart way to approach an overwhelming goal is to take little steps that can soon become a big step towards the goal. The food and drinks we have at home can help us achieve our goal of being healthy. You only need to change a few things in your daily routine to become healthier.

Ten ways to begin a healthier lifestyle

1. Place plants inside the house to freshen the air and form a relaxing setting for the kitchen.
2. Place a bowl of fresh, washed fruit on your kitchen table. You can place fruits like grapes, mangoes, bananas or nectarines into the bowl.
3. Sliced vegetables like; carrots, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers must be kept in clear glass containers. After buying vegetables from the shops wash them so it removes any bacteria off them.
4. If there are any unhealthy foods contained in your fridge, place them all at the bottom of your fridge so they won’t be the first thing you see, so that it won’t make you tempted to eat them. Place all vegetables at the centre of the fridge.
5. The same tactic applies to the pantry, all unhealthy foods must but be at the top of the shelf at the back. Place healthier foods at the front and centre.
6. People put advertising and other things on their fridge. If you hang images of inspiring words, healthy recipes and people who are healthy, it will inspire you to keep healthy as well.
7. Put pots and pans in cabinets near the stove. Remove any cooking items that are chipped or broken. Arrange dry herbs and spices in an organised manner that are within reach near the stove. Clear out a shelf to place a cookbook and recipes in, if wanted.
8. Get an oil diffuser. Essential oils not only smell nice they also relax the body, boost your mood and improve your focus. There are many different blends you can search out from the variety of companies. Grab a small booklet off Google to learn which would help you best to get healthier. It’s a fun learning curve.
9. Create a safe and calming setting in your bedroom to encourage your brain to sleep. Use colours like blue, green or pink. These colours are known for peace and calm. Decorate your room with photos and arts to make it feel more peaceful. Keep electronics outside of your bedroom and turn them off an hour before you sleep. Listen to music on the radio or read a book to make the mind at ease.
10. If a goal of yours is to be active regularly, set down a set of workout clothes and leave your sneakers on a chair near your bed, so when you wake up, it will remind you and motivate you to get dressed and be active. If you go to a gym after work is over, pack a set of gym clothes and sneakers into a bag before heading off to bed, ready for the morning.

How much are you willing to improve your lifestyle and home to be healthy? It’s not that hard really. Give us a call if you need help with that. We also offer Feng Shui services for your home or office.

 

Detoxing and Your Liver

Your liver, brain and heart are all important organs in your body. The liver is also the largest organ in the body and is located in the upper abdomen below the diaphragm, to the right of the stomach.

The liver does a number of things for your body to help keep you healthy. It helps to fight infection and disease, cleanses the blood, processes and eliminates toxins and unwanted substances from the body. The liver also helps to process digested foods and nutrients, it produces the bile that your body uses to break down fats, and helps to produce and regulate cholesterol. Your liver stores vitamin B12, copper, iron, and glycogen which is the body’s glucose storage. This is why it is very important that you make sure you are taking good care of your liver.

Taking care of your liver can be easily done by making some small changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Herbs

Herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion root, artichoke and liquorice can help to protect your liver. They do this by stimulating bile flow and can also help the liver to regenerate itself. 

Eat Your Greens

Green foods such as vegetables, salad, chlorophyll, spirulina and chlorella, sea vegetables and barley grass are all good for your liver. They help eliminate toxins, reduce excess fat and fluid, help balance acid/alkaline levels and strengthen the immune system. Always try to buy organic fruits and vegetables to keep your toxin levels low – free from poisons, insecticides, hormones and antibiotics which will build up and stop the liver functioning properly.

Flush Your Liver and Drink Plenty of Water

Flushing your liver removes toxins, cholesterol build up and gallstones, while freeing the way for bile flow. To flush the liver, drink a mixture of olive oil, Epsom salts and grapefruit juice before bed. Another way to help remove toxins is to drink lots of water - two litres of filtered water a day. Small and frequent sips are best. It is recommended to avoid a lot of water with meals as this may cause the gastric juices in the stomach to dilute making your digestion slower and increasing the load on the liver.

Medications

Residues of drugs and medications build up in the liver and cause toxicity. It is good to give your liver a break from medications such as painkillers, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, HRT and the pill however never do this without the consent of your doctor and consult with your natural practitioner also.

Alcohol

The liver is responsible for metabolising alcohol which, if you drink too much, can cause cellular malformations, scarring and inflammation. These affect your liver function. Caffeine can also cause the body to release glycogen stores into the blood which slows the organs ability to cleanse the blood. On the other hand coffee enemas have been proven to be good as a detoxifier as it relaxes the muscles of the small intestine and anus helping to dilate the bile ducts and blood vessels.

Sleep

Sleep helps by releasing melatonin into the body which shares the body’s toxic load with the liver and helps neutralise free radicals and regenerates the body.

If you need to do a liver detox because you feel toxic and bloated why not give us a call? Never do a liver detox til you have done a bowel detox as it will create a toxic cycle if you do it the wrong way round. We are open again shortly after the New Year and can make a detox plan just for you and your lifestyle. In our clinic or online.

Sex and your health

 

Male sexual health is often overlooked when it comes to promoting sexual vitality and vigour. Research shows the nutrition can benefit women and their sexual health but you may not realise that the same research can often be applied to male sexual health also. There are many herbs that can support prostate health and sex drive as listed below.

Pygeum Bark

Studies have shown that some compounds found within the Pygeum tree can assist to encourage a normal-sized prostate. If you have an enlarged prostate it could be a symptom of benign prostate hyperplasia. Finding ways to discourage its growth will assist with proper urination. Researchers are still unsure as to how Pygeum bark works, but the studies indicate powerful benefits especially when the bark is combined with other conventional care.

Pine Bark

The pine bark tree contains a number of bioactive chemicals geared specifically toward protecting men. There is research that has shown pine bark to be effective for supporting the prostate when there are cancer cells present. Pine bark can also be helpful for improving sperm quality and quantity and extracts of pine bark may help the erectile response, however more research is needed even though these findings are promising.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a common spice used in Indian cuisine and has been extensively researched. It is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds and also beneficial for prostate health. This is because it may be able to sooth muscles and tissues helping to ease pain and swelling. Turmeric may also help to improve urinary ease and frequency if you are suffering with prostate issues.

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of nutritive components that have been positively linked to prostate health. These compounds include Zinc, potassium, and iron which are essential for men’s health. The nutrients and the antioxidants that are found in pumpkin seeds may provide considerable support for the prostate and also help with improving urine flow in men with benign prostate hyperplasia.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto has been used for ages to help support urinary and reproductive health. It is effective for inhibiting a specific enzyme called 5-alpha reductase which is associated with prostate enlargement. This plant may also be beneficial when it comes to testosterone levels and preventing the hormone’s conversion to dihydrotestosterone, an androgen responsible for male pattern baldness and benign prostate hyperplasia.

Smartweed

Smartweed is high in antioxidants which are important for protecting the prostate, and helps with the reduction of swelling.

Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle may support proper urinary function while helping with the reduction of prostate size. It also inhibits the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.

It is important to speak to your natural therapist or herbalist about these substances. Do not just walk into a health food store and buy these. Also do not Google or self-diagnose. It takes many years of study to find which herbal mix is right for you so go to an expert and let them decide. After all you wouldn’t ask your three year old to fix your expensive car, would you?