Kate Arnold Nutrition

Flu ridden

December 8, 2009 11:37 am

I’m writing this blog from my sick bed. I have swine flu. I’ve been well all year but the mad socialising I’ve done in the last few weeks had left me tired and then….. bang… down I went -between 2 and 4pm on sunday i went from well to really sick, really fast.

I have to tell you its really really awful – at least it is for me, pounding headache and pains so bad in your body you dont want to live, vomiting and high fever. Yesterday afternoon i thought i was dying and called the doctor who reluctantly came out and gloved up. She told me if my temperature went any higher I’d be admitted to hospital. I have to say being on my own i got scared. Last night i found myself on the bathroom floor vomiting and sleeping in turn. I heard strange animal sounds and to my horror realised they were coming from me. When you’re too ill to look after yourself you need someone to tell you what to do. I texted a girlfriend and she said get in a cold bath – which I did. I think this bought my temperature down quite a bit. I’ve lost a stone in two days which is quite worrying.

I’ve been told to stay off work for five days, which for the first time I will do. Despite all this, I’m in bed this morning, my temperature is normal. I feel shattered and exhausted like a tsunami has powered through my body, but I seem to be on the mend. Luckily my immune system seems to be fighting it off, and no I didnt take tamiflu nor would i have had the vaccine.

Men losing weight in the media

December 4, 2009 3:33 pm

Have you noticed how may comedians, particularly men in the media have lost weight recently. I just have to switch on the TV and there is another thinner version of someone! Those i’ve noticed include

Stephen Fry – 6 stone weight loss and still going….
Jimmy Carr
Michael Mcintyre
David Mitchell
Jason Manford
Dara O’Briain
Johnny Vegas

Stephen Fry has said it has helped his manic depression and the others as far as I’m aware suddenly got to that age where either they had young children or a sort of wake up call that they were entering into their 40’s!! Good luck to them all.

Integrated medicine

December 3, 2009 6:03 pm

I’ve never thought of myself (or marketed myself) as alternative. To me good nutrition prevents nearly all the big killer diseases we have at the moment in the western world. Those of note are obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and lesser conditions like IBS, arthritis, migraines, hormonal problems etc. It is the elevated amounts of saturated fat, salt and sugar that have shocked our bodies into crisis.

For me the proof is always in the pudding. Now, after ten years of practice, I am getting GP and consultant referral. These tend to be patients who are not responding to a conventional approach and are still symptomatic and need a longer appraisal to assess their diet and lifestyle, vitamin and mineral status etc.

The largest quota of people usually have digestive disorders. If after numerous scopes, anti spasmodic pills etc they are still suffering with bowel problems they end up at my door (usually as the last resort!). Some patients come to me as a first resort, and most often than not I send them scurrying back to their GP’s with a letter! I have found nearly all GP’s extremely accommodating and generous in their approach with me. I’ve always said that I’d love every GP surgery to have an on site nutritionist/nutritional therapist/dietician. I do have friends who work in private practice with GP’s in London, but this is unusual and seems to be located primarily in the larger cities. Integrated medicine is definitely the way forward for the future.

Ho Ho Ho…(!!!) How high is your homocysteine?

November 27, 2009 5:16 pm

If you know what your cholesterol levels are, and the ratio of HDL/LDL – how about knowing what your homocysteine levels are?

WHAT IS IT?
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced in the body in the course of methionine metabolism. This amino acid has been the focus of increasing attention in recent years because high levels in the blood are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

WHAT DOES IT DO?
It has a toxic effect on cells lining the arteries making blood more prone to clot and promotes the oxidation of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) which makes it more likely that cholesterol will be deposited as plaque in the blood vessels. Like many amino acids it does perform a necessary function in the body, however a genetic defect or more commonly, deficiencies of vitamins B6 and B12 and folate (folic acid) can prevent it from converting rapidly enough. Vitamins B6 and B12 and folate work together to help the breakdown of homocysteine.

WHAT DO HIGH LEVELS MEAN?
Homocysteine is an excellent indicator in assessing cardiovascular disease with research showing that a three point decrease in levels (umol/L) reduces the risk of:

Heart attacks by 16%
Strokes by 24%
Deep Vein Thrombosis by 25%

It is now used as a clear indicator of future troubles for all manner of disease and is linked to more than 100 other serious medical conditions including: arthritis, diabetes, some cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, problem pregnancies and birth defects.

There are high risk groups and low risk groups and the only way to find out is to have a test. High risk groups include people who don’t exercise, are overweight, diabetes sufferers, smokers, those on a poor diet and people who drink too much alcohol and coffee. Even those with active healthy lifestyles may still be at risk if there is a family history of high homocysteine levels. Levels also increase with age, oestrogen deficiency, and on some medications e.g. corticosteroids and some cancer treatment drugs. Strict vegetarians and vegans can also be at risk and stress can be an aggravating factor too.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT IT?
1) Get your levels tested – some GP’s now offer this, or consult a nutritionist
2)If your levels are found to be raised, supplement your diet with folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12
3)Stop smoking
4)Maintain a healthy diet – high in garlic, onions and apples (which lower cholesterol) and fresh fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and the essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6) inc. fish, nuts and seeds
5)Get active
6) Drink alcohol in moderation

If you’d like your homocysteine tested please contact me on 01323 737814.

Response from PM on Codex

2:31 pm

If you are interested in the online petition that has been going regarding Codex and supplements this is the Prime Ministers response. http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page21468

Gratitude

November 26, 2009 12:17 pm

I was thinking today about gratitude after a long week of listening to my patient’s woes. I’m sensing a real change in people – the biggest question they are asking themselves is why am I ill and why aren’t I getting better? The most important shift when someone comes to see me is that they are already on the path of taking partial responsibility for their health and wellbeing and looking at all levels of their lives for complete health. I’m so very lucky with the work I do because I don’t work with people who have given up. I work with people who care about their health, want to find out why they are ill, want to investigate different avenues of recovery and overall have self belief that they have come to the right place and most importantly are asking the right questions!

I receive much gratitude and also have gratitude towards those I see – they teach me so much every day. So here is my list of things that I feel I have to be grateful for. Please do feel free to list yours. Let’s end 2009 on a feeling of optimism.

I’m thankful to have been given the experience of life. I’m thankful for the hard lessons I have learned that have made me who I am today.

I’m thankful for the gift of intuition and the fact that I now always listen to my gut (both physically and mentally!)

I am thankful for the men and women who serve this country through the armed forces. They fight for our freedoms and the freedoms of people around the world.

I am truly grateful to my body when it functions properly!

I’m grateful for my wonderful homeopathic doctor who helps me in times of emotional strain.

I’m grateful for the wonderful massages my friends stuart and mari-anne give that leave me feeling like a new person.

I’m so thankful for finding the best cranial osteopath who has performed miracles on me over the last 15 years.

I’m grateful for the wonderful friendships I have that keep me loved and supported.

Lastly I’m grateful to have my fridge and cupboards full of the most wonderful organic and nutritious food that I know keeps me healthy in body and mind on a daily basis!

Mince pies and mulled wine

November 24, 2009 6:45 pm

On Wednesday 3rd December 11am to 3pm Lushington Family Chiropractic Clinic is hosting a Christmas Open Day. Come and say hi. I’ll be there doing free blood pressure checks and giving out advice! For more info call 01323 722499

More nonsense

November 19, 2009 8:21 pm

In the last few weeks there have been two media stories regarding health that have really got people angry. The first is the addition of 400 calories per day extra that we are suddenly allowed to eat and the other is people who drink “moderately” may have less heart disease.

You’ve got to laugh havent you. In an age of obesity and diabetes with more and more women binge drinking – what kind of message is this sending out, particularly to a country that has a weakness for consuming vast amounts of alcohol!!

The trouble with media converage like this, is people either believe it or justify to themselves that a bottle of wine every night is fine and that extra burger is needed for their daily calorific intake.

Its nonsense isnt it? I hope you all see that and will continue eating and drinking sensibly!!

Christmas and New Year offers!

November 18, 2009 5:20 pm

From now until 1st February 2010 I’m giving anyone who refers a family member or friend to me – an amazing £15!! (per person referred). Also, if you’re looking to give an unusual gift for christmas, vouchers are available. For more information call me on 01323 737814.

Fibre bad for IBS

November 17, 2009 6:48 pm

As most of you suffering from IBS know, too much insoluble fibre can make symptoms worse. This includes bran flakes, all bran, wholegrains, and too much fruit and vegetables. For some a bowl of bran in the morning is like eating razor blades for the gut and can cause inflammation. Find the cause of your IBS first. Eat temperate foods ie not too hot or cold, choose soluble fibre like porridge. Try probiotics and keep a food diary to see if there are any obvious foods causing the pain. If you are still worried, get referred to a gastroenterologist, rule out coeliac disease, lactose intolerance and see a nutritionist for a stool test to test for gut flora, parasites, yeasts and candida which may be the initial cause anyway.