Some of Britain’s best-known foods contain the controversial chemical bisphenol A. Tins of Heinz baked beans, soup and beans, John West and Princes fish, and Napolina tomatoes are lined with a membrane containing bisphenol A, or BPA. Other companies using it in their tins include the biggest retailers in the UK, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, who use it for tins of tuna and sardines.Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has given the chemical the all-clear, in contrast to the US Food and Drug Administration, which in January expressed concern over its impact on the brains and development of young children and said it was “taking reasonable steps to reduce human exposure” to it in the food supply. After the American U-turn, the EU-funded European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) launched and is still carrying out a review of BPA.BPA is an endocrine disruptor that interrupts hormones and, in laboratory experiments on animals, has been linked with breast cancer, prostate cancer, hyperactivity and other metabolic and behavioural problems, diseases which are all on the rise in the West. But the plastics and chemicals industries insist its use is safe and accuse campaigners of misleading the public, pointing to industry-funded studies involving large numbers of rodents that have shown no harm.At stake is the future of one of the highest production volume chemicals in the world. BPA is widely used to harden the plastic casings of mobile phones and computers and makes baby bottles shatterproof. In food products, it commonly lines the inside of cans and tins to protect their contents from being contaminated by the metal.To establish its prevalence in food, The Independent surveyed manufacturers of the UK’s 20 best-selling tinned foods. Although it is not stated […]
All Things Hunter Valley!
I have just spent the last 3 days guest presenting at the Golden Door Health Retreat in the beautiful Hunter Valley. I love to go there as it is a place where people transform and achieve huge goals. My role this week was to take the guests through a series of seminars and a cooking class. The focus was weight loss and how to achieve a healthy state of being. I just love this kind of work and my mission is always to inspire people to achieve an incredible level of health and wellbeing and I was in the perfect place for this!I regularly guest present at this gorgeous retreat and every time I have this experience I love it. The surroundings are rolling hills covered in vineyards. As I look out my window in the morning I can see hot air balloons slowly rising. I was blessed with a Leo full moon and I spent a good hour at the top of meditation hill soaking up the moon rays. It felt exquisite and I was so full of energy that I spent the next 5 hours writing!So if you can take a week away from your life and want to transform your current situation make a trip to the Golden Door. The crew they have are highly trained and they have hand picked the best from every occupation and therapy. There are links below to my various activities from the last few days. If you want more information about what to expect simply email me through my website.I am in the process of organising a 5 day Female Health retreat for January 2011 so let me know what you would be interested in […]
80% Pregnant Women Low in Vitamin D
Widespread vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women suggests that antenatal screening for deficiency should be extended to all women, not just those traditionally considered to be at high risk, Australian researchers say.A study in a region of northern Victoria found that around 80% of low-risk pregnant women have insufficient vitamin D levels, 28% have mild deficiency during the winter months and 7% have moderate to severe deficiency.The study of more than 330 women attending routine antenatal clinics in Shepparton also found that deficiency was also present in the summer months, with 50% of pregnant women having insufficient vitamin D levels (between 50 and 75mmol/L), 12% having mild vitamin D deficiency (25-50mmol/L) and 3% having moderate to severe deficiency.The findings, published in the Australia and NZ Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology may explain why some children in the region still develop rickets even though there is abundant sunshine, say the study authors from the Rural Clinical School of the University of Melbourne. They note that vitamin D deficiency was almost universal in women in their study who were from high risk groups such as those from Arabic backgrounds.“However, our study would support routine testing for all antenatal women, as even apparently low risk women are commonly vitamin D deficient,” they write. The only question remaining is over the optimum level of supplementation, they say, with some doubt about whether the daily supplements of 800IU of vitamin D a day may be insufficient to raise vitamin D levels.
Vitamin B6 Reduces Arthritis – research update
High doses of vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, may reduce inflammatory markers associated with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers report in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body’s immune system, which normally fights against disease and infection, attacks itself. Unlike osteoarthritis, which only affects the bones and cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis may also cause swelling in other areas of the body.In the 12-week study, 35 adults with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to take either 100 milligrams of vitamin B6 plus 5 milligrams of folic acid or 5 milligrams of folic acid alone daily. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin B6 is 1.3 milligrams for adults who are 19-50 years old.At the beginning and end of the study, the researchers measured the patients’ blood levels of pro-inflammatory markers, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The researchers also measured immune responses by recording the number of immune cells present in the blood.IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels significantly decreased in the vitamin B6 group after supplementation, while no significant changes were noted in the folic acid group. However, the number of immune cells was generally similar between the two groups.Many other integrative therapies have been studied as potential treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, borage seed oil may be beneficial in treating rheumatoid arthritis because it is high in gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which has known anti-inflammatory effects. Several human studies suggest that fish oil supplements may improve morning stiffness and joint tenderness.Source: Vitamin B(6) supplementation improves pro-inflammatory responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jun 23.
Acupuncture – Why You Should Do It
Acupuncture treatments appear to help to reduce insulin resistance, according to a report just released from the Kanazawa Medical University in Japan. Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years in China and has been increasingly used worldwide for insulin resistance-related diseases.The report was based on the analysis of 234 publications on the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for problems related to insulin resistance. All together, these publications provide clinical evidence indicating that acupuncture is effective for reducing insulin resistance.Researchers at Goteborg University in Sweden published a review article on acupuncture for PCOS. They concluded: “Clearly, acupuncture can affect PCOS via modulation of…the sympathetic nervous system, the endocrine and the neuroendocrine system.”Have you overlooked acupuncture as a wholistic way to help you deal with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance? I love acupuncture and always tell women going through IVF to have sessions before and after their embryo transfer. Acupuncture is also fantastic when women are overdue with their pregnancy and a very easy, non invasive way to get labour started. Maybe you should give it a try.Consider adding an experienced acupuncturist to your personal healthcare team. At Darling Street Health Centre we have a very experienced clinician, Lina Thornton who I can’t say enough great things about!Sources: Liang F et al, Acupuncture: is it effective for treatment of insulin resistance?, Diabetes Obes Metab. 2010 Jul;12(7):555-69Stener-Vuictorin E et al, Acupuncture in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Current Experimental and Clinical Evidence, J Neuroendocrinol. 2008 Mar;20(3):290-8
Importance of Vitamins in Pregnancy
Vitamins could help nutrient-deficient mothers have healthier babies a study has found.402 poorly nourished women from a socially deprived area in east London were given a multivitamin and mineral supplement (including iron and folic acid) or a placebo from their first trimester of pregnancy to see if it would have any effect on their health and the health of their babies.Women who took the supplement were found to have better nutrient status at 36 weeks than those who took placebo. Women taking the supplement were less likely to have a baby who was small-forgestational age.It makes sense that pregnant women should have a healthy diet and take a multivitamin supplement in order to ensure that they are taking in, and passing on, all the essential micronutrients. There is a school of thought that in developed countries, there is no need for pregnant women to take a supplement as diets in these countries are adequate, but one of the study authors says that the results “blows out of the water the idea that all women in the UK are adequately nourished”. The trial of 400 women in east London, found the number of “small-for-gestational age” babies was reduced among those who took a multivitamin supplement compared with those given a placebo.http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114510000747
Pregnancy & Vitamin D – Latest Research
Pregnant women should take 4,000 IU vitamin D daily recommend researchers after publishing their study.
494 pregnant women were given a daily dose of vitamin D (400, 2000 or 4000 IU) from 12-16 weeks’ gestation until delivery to evaluate the effects of vitamin D during pregnancy. Women who took the highest vitamin D dosage had the lowest rates of preterm labour and preterm birth, and the lowest rates of infection. No adverse events related to vitamin D were reported for mothers or babies with any of the doses tested.
Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a serious public health issue and this study found that not only was taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy safe for mother and baby, but also that it can prevent preterm labour/births and infections.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100501013417.htm
Pregnancy&Vitamin D – Latest Research
Pregnant women should take 4,000 IU vitamin D daily recommend researchers after publishing their study.494 pregnant women were given a daily dose of vitamin D (400, 2000 or 4000 IU) from 12-16 weeks’ gestation until delivery to evaluate the effects of vitamin D during pregnancy. Women who took the highest vitamin D dosage had the lowest rates of preterm labour and preterm birth, and the lowest rates of infection. No adverse events related to vitamin D were reported for mothers or babies with any of the doses tested.Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a serious public health issue and this study found that not only was taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy safe for mother and baby, but also that it can prevent preterm labour/births and infections.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100501013417.htm
Miso and Nettle Soup
I adore fresh nettle and have been lucky enough to get my hands on some organic varieties. Just remember to wear gloves as it can give you a mild rash or hives temporarily. Nettle is an incredibly powerful herb and I use it for pregnancy as it is so rich in nutrients. It’s also used for hay fever, dermatitis, arthritis and blood noses.I made some lovely nettle and goats cheese frittatas as my snack at work last week and this week I have made a quick soup. I am sipping on nettle tea as we speak as I didn’t want to waste the stalks. It is a deep green colour and tastes lovely.Ingredients1 litre water2 medium carrots, chopped1 medium onion, chopped1 leek, cut in 1 cm rings2 Tbs quinoa2 Tbs miso, dissolved in a bit of water4 Tbs nettle leaves finely choppedServings: 6The nettle tops should be harvested early in spring when they are still very small (about 5 cm). Only use the small unfolded top leaves.Put carrots, onion, leek and quinoa in water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 30 min until tapioca is clear and soup is slightly thickened. Stir from time to time to prevent the tapioca from burning. Add the miso and mix to dissolve. Add the chopped nettle leaves and only bring to boiling point. Don’t boil to preserve the vitamins. Serve the miso soup immediately
Mediterranean diet increases chances of pregnancy after infertility treatment
The diets of 161 women undergoing IVF treatment were evaluated to see if their dietary habits affected their chances of becoming pregnant.Two main dietary patterns were observed: a healthy diet characterised by high intakes of fruit, vegetables, fish, and wholegrains, and a Mediterranean diet characterised by high intake of vegetable oils, vegetables, fish and beans.Women who most closely adhered to a Mediterranean diet had a 40% greater chance of pregnancy after infertility treatment than those who ate the least Mediterranean-like diet.In vitro fertilisation is a costly and emotionally stressful experience – anything that increases the chances of a successful pregnancy would be of huge benefit for thousands of women and couples. This study from the Netherlands found that adhering to a Mediterranean diet could increase the chances of success by 40%. The authors stress that this was an observational study and cause-and-effect have not been proved. But given that it is a very healthy diet anyway, it is strongly recommended for women undergoing IVF and the studies that prove that it works are eagerly awaited.http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(09)04338-6/abstract
