Parkinson’s Disease (PD) was first described over 200 years ago and is one of the most common progressive neurodegenerative conditions. Whilst there are many different symptoms, the main ones are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity/muscle stiffness. Symptoms are caused by the brain losing its ability to produce enough dopamine, which is key to […]
Vitamin D is called the ‘sunshine vitamin’ as it is produced in large quantities by the action of sunlight on the skin. The science clearly shows that ‘optimal’ levels of vitamin D (circa 150 nmol/L – UK units) are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing a number of chronic diseases (other […]
Hippocrates the father of modern medicine famously stated 2,400 years ago that ‘all disease begins in the gut’. The gut is the 25 feet of tubing that runs from the mouth to the anus and contains on average 100 trillion bacteria (the microflora/microbiome) weighing approximately 2 kg and over 3 million genes. The explosion in […]
Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks and damages the villi (the finger like small protrusions in the small intestine/gut). Originally considered a rare childhood condition it is now recognised as primarily an adult disease. CD is essentially a disease of malabsorption. If the cells are not getting the […]
Thoroughly washing hands and social distancing are clearly good advice, but these actions are just the start of what we can all do to make a difference. We all have an obligation to look after ourselves and our loved ones, to not only reduce the chances of contracting the virus but also the severity of […]
Osteoarthritis (OA) is an ‘age related low-grade inflammatory disease of the joints’ which causes the protective cartilage cushion between the bones to wear down, allowing the bones to rub together, creating a great deal of pain and discomfort. In the UK, OA affects 8.75 million people contributing to a significant burden on our health and […]
In a previous post (available here), we explored the gut-brain axis and the significant and sustainable improvements that are often achieved in respect of anxiety and depression, by simply removing from the diet the foods that typically cause the greatest harm, focusing on the consumption of nutrient dense wholefoods, implementing targeted lifestyle choices and even […]
As a new year dawns, I thought that it would be appropriate to write a few words about ‘health’. So what is ‘health’? ‘Health’ is defined by the World Health Organisation as being ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. The key point here is […]
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonally driven condition, caused by elevated levels of testosterone in women of childbearing age, which can lead to a combination of ovarian cysts, irregular periods and reduced fertility/infertility. Other common symptoms often include excessive hair growth on the face/chest and back, weight gain, oily/poor skin health, headaches, depression and […]
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin. Insufficient insulin production hinders the ability of tissues to absorb glucose (sugar) supplied by food and drink leading to dangerously high levels of glucose in the blood. Left untreated, high […]
#Parkinsons Disease - Maybe the #gut holds the keys in respect of unlocking effective preventative and therapeutic… https://t.co/mNLZDAt0ct
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