• is antibacterial and counters infections and wounds on the skin.
• when used on the skin leaves it smooth and moist (good for dry skin).
• is excellent for insomnia (take glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of honey or add a teaspoon of honey to a cup of chamomile tea).
• contains high protein and along with the carbohydrate (sugar) content provides a good source of energy.
• is good for a hangover as it contains a mix of natural sugars such fructose which is known to speed up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver (blend 15ml of liquid honey with 80ml of orange juice and 70ml of natural yogurt).
• is a source of vitamins B, C, D and E, as well as some minerals.
• is an excellent immune booster (mix a spoonful of honey and lemon juice into a cup of warm water and drink first thing in the morning).

Honey is gathered from flowers, and individual honeys from specific flowers may be more beneficial than a blended honey. For example, tupelo honey, from tupelo tree blossoms, is high in levulose, which slows the digestion of the honey making it more appropriate for diabetics. Manuka honey, from New Zealand, is certified as antibacterial (good for sore throats).

Try BetterYou HoneyVite, a combination of active manuka honey, wild flower bee pollen and aloe vera.

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TOP TIPS

• Change your baby’s nappy as often as possible
• Change the nappy before putting baby down after a feed or to sleep
• Clean baby’s bottom with soft paper towels that are lightly soaked in warm water
• During bath time add a few tablespoons of baking soda to mildly warm water
• Pat area dry using cotton wool or towel
• Apply a thin layer of Native Remedies Diaper Distress Cream to the affected area after every nappy change
• Avoid talc or scented soap
• Let baby spend time without a nappy on
• Avoid nappy material which doesn’t allow air to circulate e.g. plastic pants
• Use a non-biological washing power to launder cloth nappies and avoid fabric softener
• Ensure baby drinks plenty of fluids to dilute urine and make it less irritating to skin
• You might consider changing to another brand of nappies
• If the rash is not settling after a few days, discuss with your health visitor or GP

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• An increase in stress levels often manifests itself in an increase in other factors that are detrimental to healthy hair growth e.g. smoking, drinking coffee and eating the wrong kinds of food.
• Studies into the effects of diet and hair loss have shown that people with diets high in animal fats tend to have higher levels of testosterone and as a result, experience higher rates of hair loss.
• Some medications are known to increase hair loss, such as those for heart disease, high blood pressure, and arthritis.
• Thyroid disease is known to have an affect on the hair and to propagate hair loss.
• Poor scalp and hair care.
• Hereditary factors.
• A poor diet. 

While my advice can’t guarantee a full head of hair, there are some things which might help:

• If you’re female, have your female hormones tested. If they are imbalanced, talk to your GP about bio-identical hormone replacements.
• Avoid huge doses of vitamin A as this could cause hair loss.
• Reduce stress levels.
• Improve your diet: Fruits especially melons, berries, bananas, oranges, apples.  Vegetables especially green leafy ones.  Increase dairy intake. Include more lean meat e.g. chicken, liver, nuts, fish. Lots of water.
• Try supplementation with NuHair Loss Tablets for Men and NuHair Loss Tablets for Women.
• Massage your scalp with Native Remedies ReGrow Massage Oil.
• Improve your hair care.  Avoid harsh hairstyles which pull hair, curling irons, hair dryers/hot rollers, hot oil treatments and chemicals such as those used in permanents. Use gentle shampoos/conditioners.

With thanks to Understanding Hair Loss.

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Eating fruits with deep orange, red or blue pigments can reverse the loss of brain power, according to a two month study of laboratory rats fed a berry-rich diet. Shibu Poulose (who has conducted research with the US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Human Nutrition Research Centre on Ageing in Boston) presented his research to the American Chemical Society: “The good news is that natural compounds called polyphenolics found in fruits, vegetables and nuts have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect that may protect against age-associated decline.” Polyphenolics in berries help certain cells called microglia, which clean up toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other symptoms of mental decline.

Troo Health Care offers maqui berry supplements.   These have incredibly high, natural ORAC (antioxidant) value and the highest concentration of plant anthocyanins (antioxidant) and plant polyphenols (plays a role in the prevention of degenerative diseases) of any known fruit or berry. Maqui berry has been shown in scientific studies to benefit the whole body by protecting the cells from free radicals, preventing oxidative stress, promoting healthy response to inflammation, and supporting bodily functions for optimal aging health.

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Primary RLS has no known cause, is progressive and usually begins around  40 years of age. In primary RLS, the onset is often slow. The RLS may disappear for months, or even years. 

Secondary RLS often has a sudden onset and may be daily from the very beginning. It often occurs after the age of 40, however it can occur earlier. It is most associated with specific medical conditions or the use of certain medication.

Possible causes include: iron deficiency, varicose veins, pregnancy especially last trimester, folate deficiency, magnesium deficiency, fibromyalgia, ADHD, sleep apnea, diabetes, thyroid disease, Parkinsons, coeliac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, certain medications, hypoglycemia and back surgery/injury.  RLS can also be genetic.

Possible solutions

• Walking, stretches, yoga, biking, or other physical activity.
• Continuous, fast up-and-down movements of the leg (instead of walking).
• Native Remedies LegCalm with herbal and homeopathic ingredients.
• Osteopathy has been shown to relieve RLS symptoms in 80–90% of patients during a study carried out at the London College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Decrease use of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Iron, folate, and magnesium supplements.
• Taking a hot bath or using a heating pad or ice pack.

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1. DON’T smoke. According to research published by the RNIB smokers are twice as likely to lose their sight in later life as non-smokers. Tobacco chemicals damage the blood vessels behind your eyes increasing your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

2. DON’T shower with your contacts in. If you don’t remove your lenses they risk possible contamination from an organism called acanthamoeba, which is present in tap water. Whilst this organism doesn’t normally pose a problem to your health a contaminated lens can lead to a  painful and potentially blinding infection of the cornea; acanthamoeba keratitis. To prevent the risk of infection contact lens wearers should: never use tap or bottled water to rinse their lenses or lens case, remove lenses whilst swimming or using a hot tub, dry their hands thoroughly before touching lenses and avoid wearing contacts longer than recommended.

3. DON’T forget to wear goggles when doing DIY. 20,000 eye accidents a year occur as a direct result of DIY.

4. DON’T let your child wear toy sunglasses. These offer little UV protection and can cause more damage because the tinted lenses dilate the pupil, allowing more UV light to enter the eye. Check that the lenses filter at least 99% of the UVA & UVB light and look out for the CE or BS EN 1836:1997 marks when choosing sunglasses for your child (or yourself) as this ensures that they offer a safe level of UV protection.

5. DON’T rub an irritated eye. Lift your upper eyelid outward and gently pull in down over the lower lash. This causes tears to flow and will often wash the object out of your eye. You may have to repeat this several times. If the object does not wash out, contact your optometrist immediately.

6. DON’T forget it’s a legal requirement to ensure you can pass the number plate test at all times when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle. If you require prescription eye wear for driving make sure you wear them.

7. DON’T share face-clothes, handkerchiefs or cosmetics as you increase the risk of infection.

8. NEVER leave your make up on when you go to bed as this could potentially lead to you waking up with sore or irritated eyes.

9. NEVER use eye care products or cosmetics beyond their expiry date.

10. DON’T put off having an eye examination. The Eyecare Trust recommends that you have an eye examination every two years unless otherwise advised by your optometrist.

EXTRA!  Try BioCare EyeCare Plus which provides nutrients that may help in maintaining healthy eyes.

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Noise and air

Position a vacuum cleaner in the bedroom, next to the door. Plug in and arrange things so you can switch the vacuum on from your bed e.g. extension lead. Wait for the scratching and wailing at the door. Turn the vacuum cleaner on. If the cat comes back, turn it on again. The cat will eventually give up.

Most cats hate to have air blowing in their faces. Purchase a small table fan, put it on the floor facing the door and  turn on.

Close your bedroom

Shut your cat at night in a room as far away from the bedroom as possible so that you don’t hear them scratching the door.  After a few days of trying to get you to open the door, they will give up.  P.S.  Wear earplugs if necessary.

Leave food out

Solve his night time cravings by leaving out food or purchase a food dispenser with a timer. 

Have him checked

If you own a senior cat that meows at night, he may be suffering from Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Disorder which disrupts their sleep cycles and causes them to become disoriented and scared at night. There are medications that can be given to treat this.

Bubble wrap

Tape bubble wrap to the bottom of the bedroom door. Most cats don’t like the feel or noise it makes when they touch it. Laying a piece on the floor in front of your door will work as well.

Extra

Try PetAlive Problem Pet Solution from Troo Health Care.

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TO REDUCE HARMFUL CHOLESTEROL

• Increase fibre e.g. fruit, vegetables and complex carbohydrates. 
• Increase foods high in the soluble fibre pectin e.g. apples. 
• Increase intake of vitamin C (strawberries, guava, red peppers), vitamin E (sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, wheat germ and soy beans) and other antioxidants which destroy harmful free radicals that could turn LDL cholesterol toxic. 
• Take a cholesterol lowering supplement such as Pure garlic or Cholestoplex.
• Have oat-based cereal for breakfast.
• Eat no more than three servings of lean meat each week. Eat more fish, such as mackerel, salmon or sardines.
• Choose low fat milk and cheese, and low fat versions of salad dressings. Change to Flora Pro-Active or Benecol spread.
• Choose wholemeal bread.
• Don’t fry anything.  For stir frys and roasts use olive oil.
• Snack on: Heinz Ravioli, Weight Watchers soup, Baxters Bacon and Lentil soup, Big Soup, small packet of twiglets/pretzels/Ryvita minis.
• Choose low fat cheeses e.g. cottage cheese (add fruit, herbs or onion) or Edam.
• Enjoy sushi which is low fat.
• For a sweet hit: sponge fingers, fruit jelly, jaffa cakes, Frys Turkish Delight, licorice, pro-biotic low fat yoghurt, sorbet, small tin of fruit in own juice.
• Take 1 teaspoon of flaxseed oil in the evening to provide the bowels with the extra good fat to replace the fat you are leaving out of your diet.

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You may need extra iron if you have heavy periods or restless leg syndrome, are pregnant or breast feeding.  Strenuous exercise and heavy perspiration depletes iron.   Iron deficiency is more prevalent in those with candidiasis or chronic herpes. Deficiency signs include: pale skin especially inside eyelids, decreased cognitive function,  palpitations, anaemia, sore tongue, fatigue, cracks at side of mouth or vertical ridges along fingernails.

Food sources: dark meat e.g. lamb, beef and liver, whole wheat yeast bread, artichokes, egg yolk, blackstrap molasses, yellow/orange/red vegetables, poultry, bittersweet chocolate, wholegrains e.g. brown rice, potatoes, honey, seaweeds, pulses e.g. lentils/kidney beans, dried fruit e.g. dates/dried prunes, black cherries, raw broccoli, fortified breakfast cereals, almonds, avocados, fish (cod, haddock, shellfish), soybean flour and dark green leafy vegetables e.g. watercress and kale.

Eating food containing vitamin C at the same time as you eat food containing iron from non-meat sources might help the body absorb the iron. So you could have fruit juice or fruit with your fortified breakfast cereal, or vegetables with your beans, nuts or rice.

Herbal sources: alfalfa, chickweed, burdock root, catnip, horsetail, milk thistle seed, chamomile, kelp, chicory, uva ursi, dandelion leaf/root; yellow dock, dong quai, black cohosh, liquorice, parsley, raspberry leaf, valerian, nettles, plantain leaf, fennel seed, fenugreek,  peppermint.

Tea and coffee contain a substance that can bind with iron making it harder for the body to absorb it, so cutting down on tea and coffee helps improve iron levels. Foods high in bran fibre can reduce the absorption of iron from foods consumed at the same meal by half; therefore avoid taking iron supplements at mealtime if the meal contains significant amounts of fibre.    

Try Nelsons Spatone Iron+.

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HOW TO REDUCE SUGAR INTAKE

• Read food labels. Look where it says “total sugars” and divide the number of grams by four. That’s the number of teaspoons of sugar you are ingesting.
• Beware of artificial sweeteners as these can increase cravings for sugar/carbohydrates. They may deplete the body’s stores of chromium, a nutrient crucial for blood-sugar metabolism, found in BioCare Multivitamin and mineral supplement.  
• Eliminate (or dilute) fruit juice as it’s only a pure sugar hit with none of the fibre and less of the nutrients found in raw fruit. 
• Don’t add sugar to foods.
• Make an effort to reduce processed carbohydrates e.g. breads, pastas as these are loaded with ingredients that convert to sugar in the body. That sugar gets stored as triglycerides (another way of saying fat!).
• Watch out for fat-free snacks as most are loaded with sugar.
• Alternatives to sugar:

1. Fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) is a complex sugar derived from plants and works as a prebiotic which feeds the good bacteria in the gut to aid digestion.
2. Apricots are full of vitamin A that helps keep skin healthy. With anti-cancer properties, and potassium to keep your heart strong, apricots are a rich source of boron which helps ward off osteoporosis.
3. Manuka honey contains minerals, enzymes and anti-bacterial properties for a healthy gut.
4. Concentrated apple juice is rich in cholesterol-lowering pectin, heart-boosting potassium and vitamin C and helps regulate blood sugars.
5. Carrots can help beat sugar cravings, is rich in fibre and can lower cholesterol. 

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