The way many of us are encouraged to get vaccinated against flu, we might imagine this practice is a failsafe way to avoid the condition. But we’d be wrong. As I wrote about recently here, flu vaccination is a lot less effective than we have generally been led to believe. Plus, it’s perhaps worth bearing […]
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Animal studies show omega-3 suppementation has the potential to combat Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, a typical finding in which is the deposition of a protein known as amyloid-ß in the brain. Loss of brain cells is a common feature too. One natural agent that has shown some promise in combating Alzheimer’s disease is fish oil. Fish oil is rich in two main […]
‘Roll up’ for the flu vaccine? I think not.
I walked past my local GP surgery the day before yesterday. Outside, they’re flying a banner which reads something like ‘Roll up! Roll up! for your Flu Vaccine’. Flu vaccination seems to be pushed increasingly hard, especially for ‘at risk’ individuals such as the over-65s. Generally, we’re given the impression that having a flu jab […]
‘Restless legs’ and high blood pressure often found together in women. Why?
Restless legs is a condition characterised by uncomfortable sensations in the legs, usually when individuals are sitting or lying in bed. The sensations tend to make sufferers want to move their legs and body in an effort to ease the discomfort or find a more comfortable position. The condition can cause sufferers to lose out […]
More evidence that acid-suppressing medication can sometimes do more harm than good
Upper digestive symptoms such as indigestion, ‘acidity’ and heartburn are common. The mainstay of medical treatment for these symptoms is a class of drugs known as the ‘proton pump inhibitors’. These drugs, including omeprazole and lansoprazole, inhibit acid secretion in the stomach. They do help control symptoms in some people. However, as I revealed in […]
What’s causing this lady’s stomach to bloat after eating?
I came across this story today. It concerns a young lady who, it is claimed, can bloat up like a balloon shortly after she eats. Normal testing has not identified any particular problem. I was interested in this story because it reminded me of a similar story given to me some years ago when I […]
Can aspartame cause muscle pain?
I’m no fan of the artificial sweetener aspartame. Not only is there no good evidence that artificial sweeteners aid weight control, there is also evidence linking aspartame to adverse effects on health. For example, aspartame liberates methanol into the body which can be converted to formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies), which has recently been […]
Sunlight and vitamin D linked with protection from inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s disease is one of the two main ‘inflammatory bowel diseases’ (the other being ‘ulcerative colitis’). The condition is generally believed to be ‘auto-immune’ in nature – which means the body’s immune system is reacting against its own tissues (in this case, the bowel wall). Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gut, and […]
‘Healthy’ cholesterol-reducing compounds found to be toxic to heart cells
‘Phytosterols’ are compounds that can impair the absorption of cholesterol from the gut. In this way, ‘sterols’ (as their name is often abbreviated to) can reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, which conventional wisdom dictates is always a good thing. Sterols are added to ‘functional foods’ including special margarines that promise cholesterol-reducing and, therefore, health-enhancing […]
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