Entries by Mark

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) – a Developed World Pandemic

Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure that is produced within your blood vessels as the heart pumps. The data shows that a considerable proportion of the developed world’s population have higher than ideal blood pressure, written as systolic (the pressure created in the blood vessels during contraction of the heart) over diastolic (the […]

Prebiotics – The Unsung Heroes of the Gut

There is a great deal of discussion, debate and on going research over the use of various strains of probiotics and their potential impact on human health and well-being. Probiotics are defined as ‘live microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host’. Clinically, certain probiotics strains […]

Sum of the Parts – an integrated approach to cancer….

This weeks Yes to Life show hosted by Robin Daly on UK Health Radio  is all about Sum of the Parts – Nutritional Therapist and Functional Medicine Practitioner Mark Bennett Entire Wellbeing shares some of the ways he supports people through and after cancer. To listen click on the following link:  bit.ly/2FqNx3U Cancer is a complex multifactorial chronic disease […]

Anxiety, depression and the Gut

Anxiety and depression are a significant health burden, with an estimated 20% of adults in the UK being affected. Whilst the use of antidepressants/anti-anxiety medications often provides effective relief, considerable side effects are common. Anxiety and depression are often closely associated with digestive dysfunction/Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), suggesting that imbalances (dysbiosis) in the micro flora […]

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) – The Elephant in the Room

SIBO occurs when the small intestine (the part of the digestive system that is designed to absorb nutrients from our food) is overgrown with bacteria that should not be there. The small intestine is effectively sterile. It is the colon that should harbour large populations of bacteria. When bacteria that should be in the colon […]

Controlling Inflammatory Bowel Disease using Diet not Drugs

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs), which include both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are complex autoimmune diseases of the digestive system. As discussed in previous articles, the evidence base suggests that autoimmunity is caused by a combination of genetics, environmental challenges (diet, toxic load, stress, viral and bacterial load) and imbalances in the balance […]

We are not what we eat, we are what we absorb

When cells malfunction we ultimately present with disease. Nature does not label/define cell malfunction into various disease types such as arthritis/depression/cancer or cardio vascular disease; we do that. ‘There are no specific diseases; there are specific disease conditions.’ – Florence Nightingale. So why do cells malfunction? Cells, the building blocks of our body, all 36 […]

Neurodegeneration from a Functional Perspective

Neurodegeneration/neurological disease affects neurons (the building blocks of the nervous system in the brain and spinal cord) and includes Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Motor Neurone/Lou Gehrig’s disease/ALS. Modern medicine uses medications to control symptoms. Whilst this is naturally the first line of treatment offered, investigating why neurodegeneration has developed is often not given the […]

There are over 3,000 skin conditions

Our skin is an amazing structure. There are over 3,000 known skin conditions, which include conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, acne, rosacea and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Data suggests that in the UK, 55% of the population have a skin disorder. These conditions often cause considerable discomfort and stress. Topical treatments such as balms/emollient creams/moisturisers and […]

Diabetes – An Intolerance to Carbohydrate

Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to efficiently handle carbohydrate (sugar). This happens because of problems with the production of, or response to insulin (the hormone secreted by the pancreas that controls blood sugar levels). Diabetes can either be type 1 or 2 . Type 1 diabetes (T1D), also called juvenile diabetes, […]