Wisdom

Spring, a time of new beginnings, is when we finally see the end of the cold dark winter and look forward to long hot summer days. Whilst most people welcome warmer weather, for others spring means the start of the allergy season. According to the British Allergy Foundation, approximately one in four of the UK population will suffer from an allergy at some point in their lives, and the number of people affected is increasing by 5% each year.

In an ideal world our diet alone should provide all the nutrients we need, however the ideal can be interrupted by many factors and many of us don’t achieve the recommended minimum five a day fruit and vegetable target set by the Government.

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, it’s important to make sure you know the nutritional essentials for a healthy diet. Vegetarian and vegan diets can be incredibly healthy. But being a vegetarian or vegan is much more than simply cutting out meat. To ensure your diet is balanced and healthy, it’s important to know the common shortfalls.

Q. My husband’s snoring is becoming a real problem– we are both tired from disrupted sleep. Is there anything you can suggest to help?

Fancy a treat but trying to cut down on sugar? Try this delicious, naturally sweet raw pie which is dairy-free, gluten free and vegan!

The liver, the largest organ in the body, is a hardworking, multi-tasker. It filters a mighty 1.4 litres of blood a minute and performs more than 500 functions within the human body.

Although we are only a few months into the New Year, that resolution you made to lose weight may have already worn thin! So how can you take effective and sustainable steps towards your weight loss goal?

For many, the new year promised a fresh chance to commit to giving up that drink, cigarette, cup of coffee or sugary snack for good, but a few months down the line the strong resolve that buoyed the first weeks or months can start to flag.

Growing and nurturing a new life is an exciting time but one that places extra demands on the mother’s body. The importance of taking folic acid is well-known, but your requirements for many other nutrients also heightens during pregnancy.

Q. My GP says my cholesterol levels are too high and has advised me to take statins. I’ve read about the side effects of these drugs and would prefer to take a natural approach. What alternatives are there?

There is much we don’t yet understand about memory and learning. The complexity of the brain is mind boggling stuff and yet supporting good cognitive function is vital for more than eight million school pupils and over two million university students in education this year, many of whom will be sitting tests or exams.