Archive: Sep 2009

1. Swine flu vaccinations

   September 15, 2009 3:05 pm Leave a Comment

   Gulp…. here I go again. Perhaps I should go into politics and leave the nutrition behind! Sometimes they overlap and this is one of those times. People generally fall into three categories with regards this particularly explosive topic – yes please, not on your life, or I don’t really care. Guess which category I’m in! I would rather take my chances with my immune system than have some half tested drug with god knows what in it (conspiracy theorists among you do some googling!). For those who are not going to be injected by your GP who is getting £5.25 bonus for every jab they do, I’d steer clear of crowds if you can, wash your hands as often as can – take a strong multivitamin with a good dose of vitamin D, vitamin C and garlic and trust your immune system to cope with whatever horrors we have to face. If you are undecided do some research, look at the figures, find out what’s happening in the US where the vaccine is now compulsory in one or two states. Just remember where the US leads, we follow on pretty much everything. Politics and controversy over… back to nutrition.

2. IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome

   September 1, 2009 3:36 pm Leave a Comment

   My clinic seems to be overflowing with IBS patients at the moment. When all tests are done to rule out serious diseases people can be left still symptomatic with no clue what to do to help themselves. Here is where some of the problems start. People then self diagnose and self prescribe something which I am forever telling people who come to see me, not to do. A whopping 80% of people I see with IBS take themselves off wheat and dairy foods without really knowing why or having a good explanation. Often this is not the problem at all. The no wheat no dairy diet is being oversold by various untrained “quacks” as the panacea for all IBS ailments. I’m afriaid it just isnt that simple. Bowel problems are complicated and can often overlap into allergy, but all this needs proper testing and proper diagnosis using blood tests, stool tests and food diaries.

   No one person is the same and it is often the bowel that is compromised rather than the food itself. It is true that gluten and cows milk can be difficult to digest but taking out grains and dairy food can make life complicated and eating out a nightmare.

   So if you feel you have bowel problems and dont really know what you are doing – get it sorted by going to see firstly your GP and if all tests are fine, try a nutritionist who has more access to testing and finding out why you are ill in the first place.

   For more information on tests available for the diagnosis of IBS, go to www.theibsclinic.co.uk.