J. K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) [Adult Edition] Wow! I can't get over this amazing ending to J K Rowling's dynasty! I read it to the children over the holiday in Devon, finishing it on the car journey back (and oh, what fun creating different voices etc - though not a patch on Steven Fry...) - I haven't stopped thinking about the book and the ending for three days & nights. What an incredible, powerful imagination. Well done JKR, you have surpassed yourself! (*****)
Sarah Muir: The Complete Horse and Rider Excellent guide to tack including different types of saddle, weights of rug, etc, as well as information on seat position, aids, jumping and competition. Useful for beginner and experienced rider alike, and especially to those of us in horse therapies. (*****)
Tony Pavord: The Complete Equine Veterinary Manual Fantastic guide aimed at owners, but essential reading for therapists who need to know basic anatomy, physiology, conformation, ailments, and much, much more. Invaluable for assignments! (*****)
Vitamin D is proving to be an amazing vitamin now, with increasing amoutns of research being released over the last year to show its importance in immune function as well as bone protection.
Recent reports show that populations around the world are suffering from vitamin D deficiency. The problem is widespread and increasing, with potentially severe repercussions for overall health and bone-fracture rates. There is also evidence that suggests vitamin D deficiency increases during the winter months because of decreased exposure to sunlight. USANA’s Vitamin D supplement is formulated with maximum strength vitamin D to ensure you get the vitamin D you need throughout the winter months in one tablet.
Health Basics
Necessary for normal bone mineralization and growth
Helps in the development and maintenance of bones and teeth
Helps in the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus
Helps to prevent vitamin D deficiency
The current recommendation of 400IU of vitamin D per day may not be enough to prevent vitamin D deficiency during the winter months. USANA’S supplement has 1000 IU of vitamin D per tablet.
Did You Know? Vitamin D is produced in the skin upon exposure to sunlight. During the winter months, many become vitamin D deficient because of increased time spent indoors.
I am going to be giving a talk online about the benefits of Vitamin D on Monday night - 7:30pm on www.buildglobally.com -only for half an hour but you are welcome to join me!
Whatever you are doing, have fun and stay healthy!
Athletes use their bodies to extreme levels. While it is now accepted byt the American Medical Association that all adults should take nutritional supplements, athletes are even more in need than the rest of us. Yet athletes also have the most to lose if they take poor-quality supplements, sometimes contaminated by untested compounds that lead to dope testing failure.
So what is the answer? The NSF recently posted on this subject, one that is dear to my heart. Fundamentally, athletes need to ensure that any supplements that they use are NSF tested, and labelled as such. I always recommend that athletes use only pharmaceutical - grade nutritional supplements that are NSF certified. Any combination of supplements used should be chosen on the basis that it is known to work together.
In actual fact, I only recommend supplements that offer up to a million dollar (five hundred thousand pounds) guarantee that an athlete will not fail a dope test while taking these products. They are also tested for absorption and compatibility, with a combination working synergistically for those athletes that expect top performance from their supplements, as they do from themselves.
To start, I recommend a particular, high quality, broad - spectrum antioxidant, phytonutrient and chelated mineral combination. Most athletes will experience an improvement in general health and well-being with this alone. I would also recommend pharmaceutical-grade double distilled omega 3 fatty acids, grapeseed extract, glucosamine with turmeric, and additional coenzyme Q10, for those highly active muscle tissues.
It is also essential that athletes eat healthily, sticking where possible to a low GI (glycaemic index, see www.glycemicindex.com) diet. Some nutritional foods can help with this, especially when athletes are on the go, on the road, or about to compete. Again, if these are certified free of contamination, this can help with confidence.
Finally, athletes need to minimise other sources of pollution and chemicals, and usig parabens-free skin care and body care products can be really helpful here. I know of athletes who have seen a real improvement in their energy levels using a combination of these approaches, allowing them to get back to olympic standard after periods of overtraining and all that that entails.
Also - lead a balanced life! Laugh, relax, meditate if possible, and have a great vision that you work towards, and you will be all the happier for it!
Dr Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
Do doctors & nurses use & recommend nutritional supplements?
It's an interesting question, isn't it?
At medical school, I remember the banter - "Don't recommend nutritional supplements, everyone can get what they need from their food. Anyway, supplements just make expensive urine!"
Surely times haven't change? Oh yes they have!
The Journal of the American Medical Association published a review article in 2002, in which an analysis of the use of nutritional supplements to prevent chronic disease led to the conclusion that it is now pertinent that all adults should take nutritional supplements. This was a big change around - the American Medical Association in the 1980s reported that suppelements were unnecessary. Unfortunately the reviewers did not look into the difference between formulations, and merely recommended the cheapest without knowledge of the diffference in bioavailability and potency of different makes. Nonetheless the report is very interesting.
Currently it is estimated that 60% of Americans are taking nutritional supplements. The UK falls way behind with 35% taking supplements.
Now there has been a survey of doctors and nurses in the US. Admittedly it was an online survey, so is unlikely to be truly representative of doctors and nurses.
I suspect that the figures in the UK would be much, much lower. I also truly believe that the NHS prevents doctors and nurses from recommending supplements in the UK. This is for three reasons. Firstly we have nt had the relevant education. Secondly we are not aware of the differences in quality of different supplements, only that many are poor quality and not worth the money paid for them. Thirdly that there is an unspoken feeling that if as a GP we recommend any item, the patient will then expect it to be available to them for fr*ee, or the price of a prescription. I feel that this negates the effect on self of taking responsibility, both financial and at the core, for our own health.
Take a look at the abstract - it makes interesting reading!
Dr Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
I have known for some years of the medical evidence available for the use of higher than usual doses of Zinc and Vitamin C to improve and shorten symptoms of the common cold and other respiratory tract infections.
I came across this excellent summary of the information available, from USANA Health Sciences, and would like to share it with you.
At a
Glance
Continuing
research shows that adequate intakes of vitamin C and zinc improve symptoms and
shorten the duration of respiratory tract infections including the common
cold.
Read
more about this research below.
During times of
infection or stress, vitamin C concentrations in plasma and blood cells rapidly
decline. Research has shown that vitamin C supplementation can improve several
elements of the human immune system such as antimicrobial and natural killer
cell activities, proliferation of lymphocytes (white blood cells), chemotaxis*,
and delayed-type hypersensitivity. During an inflammatory response, adequate
vitamin C contributes to the integrity and health of the cell membranes which
protect against excessive free radical damage.
Inadequate zinc status
is also known to impair cellular immunity by impairing phagocytosis and natural
killer cell activity. Therefore, both nutrients play important roles in immune
function and the healthy resistance to infectious agents, reducing the risk,
severity, and duration of infectious diseases. This is particularly important in
populations with insufficient intake of these nutrients, such as low-income
families and the elderly.
A large number of
randomized controlled trials with advanced intakes of vitamin C and zinc
document that adequate levels of vitamin C and zinc may reduce symptoms and
shorten the duration of respiratory tract infections, including the common cold.
Research also indicates that adequate vitamin C and zinc reduce the incidence
and improve the outcome of pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea infections,
especially in children in developing countries.
Ann Nutr Metab
2006;50(2):85-94.
* Chemotaxis is the phenomenon in which bodily cells,
bacteria, and other single-cell or multicellular organisms direct their
movements according to certain chemicals in their environment. Vitamin C is
known to influence neutrophil chemotaxis, or white blood cell movement in
response to infectious agents.
Dr
Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and
nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade
nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
Migraine is a very common problem that I meet almost daily in practice. We have a number of medications that are really helpful in managing and even preventing migraines. However, some people do find they get side effects, and not everyone finds them effective.
Migraine is characterised by a severe, pounding, often one-sided headache, and often runs in families. It tends to last for hours or even days, and sufferers often feel washed out and tired, unable to function optimally, for some days afterwards. There is often accompanying photophobia (light-sensitivity) and phonophobia (sound-sensitivity) as well as nausea and even vomiting, and sufferers often find they have to retire to a darkened room and sleep.
Migraine can be reduced by an adequate water intake (not tea, coffee and caffeinated drinks such as cola and Red Bull), reducing painkilling medication if possible (as these can cause headaches including migraines, and some contain caffeine), and diet adjustments.
Classically, chocolate, caffeine, cheese, citrus fruits and Claret (and other red wines) can make migraines worse or precipitate them. Also there is plenty of evidence that Gluten can contribute. So stick to a healthy diet, find out which foods start up your symptoms, and try to avoid them. Keep a food diary for a couple of months, and see if you spot any patterns.
Nutritional supplements can help with migraine. A pharmaceutical- grade, broad spectrum antioxidant and mineral combination with a high level of magnesium can help reverse the inflammation and vessel spasm, and reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. However, most supplements just do not contain the quality or quantity of nutrients that I would recommend.
As the various antioxidants and minerals work together synergistically to combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation and influence our bodies' ability to prevent chronic degenerative diseases, so it makes sense to have a supplement that combines all of those nutrients found to be needed by the body.
So, for Migraine, I would recommend:
High dose broad spectrum antioxidant and phytonutrient tablets - 2 twice daily
Fish oil capsules - 2 twice daily (or for vegetarians, 2 tablespoons flax seed oil twice daily)
This is the combination needed for optimal health. However, if you really can't afford this combination of supplements, I would recommend the antioxidant and chelated mineral tablets, calcium & magnesium tablets, and at least 2 grapeseed extract tablets daily.
For optimal results this needs to be combined with an enjoyable exercise programme, and a healthy, low GI diet (see www.glycemicindex.com) high in fresh vegetables for added anti-oxidants.
With thanks to those great doctors, Dr Ray Strand (www.drraystrand.com) and Dr John Briffa (www.drbriffa.com), both of whom are ahead of the pack...
Dr
Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and
nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade
nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
Did you know that having a high intake of fish oils during pregnancy can reduce the risk of your infant becoming asthmatic?
I now recommend omega 3 fish oils to all pregnant women. However, I have now found how important it is for people to choose the best quality, pharmaceutical grade supplements, rather than the cheapest, as there is evidence of less contamination (Mercury is a real problem) and a guarantee of quality and dosage.
New research has shown a significant correlation between fish oil intake
during pregnancy and asthma incidence during childhood. Children whose mothers
supplemented with fish oil during pregnancy were significantly less likely to be
diagnosed with childhood asthma than children from non-supplementing
mothers.
Fish oil intake during pregnancy may be associated with lower asthma
incidence during childhood
Current evidence suggests that asthma
development may be associated with maternal intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids
during pregnancy. A recent study was conducted to examine whether an increase in
omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy could affect risk of asthma in their
offspring.
A population-based sample of 533 women with normal
pregnancies were randomly assigned 2:1:1 to receive either four one-gram fish
oil capsules/day providing 2.7 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, four similar
looking one-gram capsules/day with just olive oil, or no capsules at all.
During the 16 years that passed since childbirth, the rate of asthma
incidence was reduced by 63% and the rate of allergic asthma was reduced by 87%
in the fish oil group as compared to the olive oil group.
Assuming that
the intake of olive oil had no significant influence one way or another, these
results support the theory that increased fish oil omega-3 fatty acid
supplementation in late pregnancy may provide important preventive potential in
relation to childhood asthma development. Additional studies on this subject are
currently in progress, which should shed more light on the mechanism behind this
promising discovery.
American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 167-175, July 2008
Dr
Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and
nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade
nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
There is plenty of evidence that zinc is an important antenatal supplement.
A double-blind study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition showed a significant positive correlation between supplemental
zinc during pregnancy and infant growth throughout the first year of life.
Prenatal zinc supplementation influences lean tissue growth in infants
It has been suggested that maternal zinc intake influences growth in
utero and in the first stages of growth after birth. In a recent study,
researchers assessed the effect of maternal zinc supplementation during
pregnancy as well as its effects on infant growth during the first twelve
months.
A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of prenatal zinc
supplementation was conducted among women in Lima, Peru between 1995 and 1997.
Women enrolled during the second trimester and were assigned to receive daily
supplements with zinc (15 mg zinc + 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) or without
zinc (just 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) through pregnancy to one month after
delivery. At birth, 546 infants were followed for 12 months to assess growth.
Measurements were collected monthly while health status and dietary intake were
monitored weekly.
Infants born to mothers supplemented with zinc had
significantly larger average growth measures beginning at 4 months and
continuing through month 12. Prenatal zinc was associated with greater weight,
calf circumference, chest circumference, and calf muscle area.
In this
population of women, zinc supplementation during pregnancy resulted in children
with better growth measures (which were in turn associated with healthy
increases in lean tissue mass).
American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 154-160, July 2008
As a doctor I am encouraged only to recommend folic acid. I am
sure that this is partly because our NHS is not geared up to making
recommendations for patients to help their own health. I am passionate
about encouraging individuals to take that responsibility, and not hand
it over to the doctors. I would recommend a broad - based supplement
for all pregnant women, but taking the decision to pay for it yourself
is part of that responsibility. True healing starts from within,
including the decision to exchange energy (in the form of money earned)
for the benefit. The NHS can only afford to fund treatments, not supplements, and if it did it would only pay for the cheapest versions - proven to be inadequate in most cases.
Dr
Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and
nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade
nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
Breast cancer continues to occur at a high incidence in Western women. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last summer indicated a surprisingly high incidence of Vitamin D deficiency in breast cancer survivors. It is difficult to take conclusions from the study, as we are not told what the incidence was in those who succumbed to breast cancer, nor are we told the incidence in a control group of individuals.
Vitamin D influences pathways related to cancer development, but little is currently known about vitamin D status in breast cancer survivors. Recent data taken from the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) study showed a correlation between vitamin D status and breast cancer survivors. Vitamin D concentrations from 790 female breast cancer survivors were obtained and vitamin D insufficiency was found in 597 individuals - or 75% of participants. Average vitamin D concentrations were even lower among African American and Hispanic women.
Controlling for various factors such as body mass index (BMI), race/ethnicity, geography, season, physical activity, diet, and cancer treatments showed that stage of disease independently predicted vitamin D levels.
In this group of breast cancer survivors the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was abnormally high. Based on these results, health professionals and clinicians might consider monitoring vitamin D status in breast cancer patients in addition to administering appropriate cancer treatments.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 133-139, July 2008
Dr
Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and
nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade
nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
Dr Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
I have been practising hard, and am talking live tonight on the internet - www.buildglobally.com at 8pm Thursday (UK time). Pushing the boundaries of what I am comfortable doing, as we all need to do regularly to continue to develop!
"Thank you so much for ALL the help you gave us regarding his head, chest and eye problems..... I did find our journey with you so interesting, what a refreshing and informative doctor you are!" Best Wishes, D & J S, 2007
"Thank you very much for seeing me yesterday and for the advice and information you gave me in response to my quesions."
Yours sincerely, JH
"Thank you very much for all you have done for us, we are both very grateful." EK, 2007
"I would just like to say thank you for all the years you have been looking after me, with all my problems."
Sincerely, CR, 2007
"We would BOTH like to thank you so much for all your help and advice and at all times your efficient and expert medical care. Right from the time that we first met you..., you have shown us kindness and understanding."
P & M W, 2007
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