Research into this complex subject is ever increasing and we know more each day about the complex picture of food sensitivities. So many people are nutrient depleted because they have taken a myriad of foods out of their diet which appear to challenge their health.
The 21st Century presents us with food that is nothing like ‘real food’ and our bodies react with dismay, because what we are eating is so unfamiliar and by design we do not know how to handle this. The supermarket shelves are burgeoning with flavor enhanced, ‘open a packet with ease’ foods, quick foods for busy lifestyles, and all full of unrecognizable ingredients – a recipe for body functioning despair!
The commercialization of food with the wealth of choices on our supermarket shelves, makes a wealth for the food industry and a wealth of distress for the unsuspecting public!
Food Allergy
Many people today believe they have a food allergy and the incidence of food allergies is increasing! Food Allergies are different to Food Intolerances. The National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (US) defines a food allergy as ‘an adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly on exposure to a given food’.
These reactions are often severe and have a rapid onset after ingesting the food. They are often referred to as IgE mediated type 1hypersensitivity and can be life threatening if not treated appropriately! When a food allergy is suspected an IgE allergy screening blood test may be conducted, through the GP to try and define the culprit food.
Showing classic food allergy symptoms
Organ Affected | Common Symptoms |
---|---|
Skin | Irritation, flushing, urticaria, |
Gastrointestinal | Abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting, diarrhea |
Respiratory – Upper Airway | Sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, hoarseness, throat irritation, difficulty swallowing |
Respiratory – Lower Airway | Wheezing, shortness of breath, respiratory arrest |
Cardiovascular | Tachycardia, low blood pressure, cardiac arrest |
Nervous system | Anxiety, dizziness, loss of consciousness |
Other | Metallic taste in mouth, cramping, urinary urgency |
The most common foods to trigger an acute type 1 food allergy are: dairy, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, (cashews, walnuts etc.). Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol.2009 Aug;9(4).
If you suspect a food allergy (an immediate and severe reaction) you must consult a medical practitioner immediately, because this can be life threatening.
The degree of hypersensitivity is categorized in Types where Type 1 is immediate, the most severe in presentation and usually involves an IgE anti body response, while Type IV is a delayed response such as shown in contact dermatitis and is generally effected by a T lymphocyte response.
Food Intolerance
Food intolerances come into a different category and are also on the increase with the ‘Free From’ isle in supermarkets ever increasing in length. Food Intolerance reactions are generally delayed and may take up to 2-3 days to become apparent.
Many foods contain components that can be difficult for some people to digest for example lactose in milk and high lectin content foods like beans and pulses and this is often due to a lack of certain enzymes produced by the digestive tract.
Also many people have lower than ideal levels of stomach acid to breakdown food sufficiently and this then goes onto cause symptoms in the lower bowel area. This common problem particularly affects the adequate breakdown of proteins which often leads to low mineral status in the body such as iron, magnesium, zinc etc. and as these are minerals are needed to produce effective digestive enzymes, so the problem is compounded. Undigested proteins in the lower intestinal tract can cause fermentation and gas and this can lead to rapid bowel evacuation.
The Microbiome and the Intestinal Tract
The health of the gastro intestinal tract is the key to the health of the body.
The microbial population in the gastro intestinal area probably play the biggest part in its health and behavior. Food Intolerances and Food Allergies are influenced by the balance of gastro-intestinal microbes. Again this is a huge and complex subject but as an over view; the species of microbes housed in this area, the the type of food you eat, your digestive competence, the medication you take and have taken, your level of stress, your exposure to toxins, your illnesses etc. all have an impact on the healthy balance of this internal ecosystem and the permeability of the intestinal lining.
The intestinal lining forms a barrier, selectively regulating permeability for the movement of ions, nutrients, and water. If this barrier becomes disrupted and permeability is increased, small undigested molecules may pass through into the blood stream which may be recognised as antigens and an immune complex may form. The immune complex is formed from the antigen and commonly an IgG antibody and this may trigger an inflammatory responses leading to increased intestinal permeability and triggering inflammatory reactions in other areas of the body. The location of the response may be related to your genetic predispositions and or a specific response in a susceptible area of the body. An estimated 80% of food intolerances are IgG mediated.
Common Symptoms Caused by Food Intolerances |
---|
Bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
Skin rashes, dark circles under the eyes, |
Fatigue, joint pains, night sweats |
For help and advice with food intolerances and allergies contact Jane Rose-Land, Nutritionist, BSc Nutritional Medicine, BANT, CNHC reg. www.nutritioninnorfolk.co.uk.
Email: jane@nutritioninnorfolk.co.uk. Tel: 01366 347452, Mob. 07740287458
Last month at The Green Parrot was a quiet one for us on social media, but don’t let that fool you! We have been eagerly working away behind the scenes on a new project, which we know will appeal to the eco-warrior in each of you.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been asking our customers for their thoughts on a zero-waste scheme being implemented here at the shop – and what a response we have had! Results have poured in from our questionnaires handed out in the shop and from our online survey. We found the reactions were overwhelmingly positive and that this is really something you want! So – we have little choice! There’s no turning back – the next question is ‘where do we go from here?’
Initially, we looked into purchasing self-dispensing containers (Hoppers), which allow people to help themselves to the product of choice without exposing the product and are a relatively easy option for us to take. However, not only are these units unbelievably expensive to buy but they are also primarily made of the one thing we are trying to avoid – plastic!! Our message is clear, we want to see less plastic not more, so how is buying huge plastic containers going to help? We know this isn’t the right path for us to take, not until we know it would be popular enough that the amount of plastic waste we would save from packaging would outweigh the amount needed to produced a hopper. We want a different way of doing things that will bypass plastic altogether.
The other priority for us to make it cost-effective for you. If we can show a significant saving by going waste-free more of our customers will buy this way instead. Buying stock in bulk means we can give large discounts to you, guaranteeing that this is the most economical way to shop every time. As an added bonus, the size we will be buying stock in is packaged in a paper sack rather than plastic.
The biggest hurdle for us is that the majority of you have said that you would prefer organic to non-organic products. We feel this is a good way to go as it is better for the environment and for our health so we want our bulk products to be organically sourced where possible. But to do this we need to find a way of passing on our organic products without interfering with the original packaging, reducing contamination.
So how are we going to do it? Well, we have come up with a plan which we feel is going to make zero-waste shopping much more achievable for you and, as a business, will not further impact on the planet.
So we would like to tell you our plan!
All day Friday, (and Saturdays from 11-2) we will be running a refillable counter. You can bring in your containers to refill – tell us how much you would like of each product and we will fill them up whilst you do your shopping. To start with, we will be serving pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, golden linseeds, white basmati rice and brown short grain rice – all organic. We already sell loose teas and coffees, and refill laundry liquid, fabric conditioner and washing up liquid. And we already reuse your egg boxes for your eggs, and have a glass jar recycling scheme for our jam makers and picklers! We want to help you reduce the waste you produce, as well as producing less waste as a business. We feel we’ve come up with the best solution – but it’s going to be trial and error for a while so please bear with us! Any suggestions to improve the service will, as always, be greatly appreciated. More products will be added, once we get going. So join us and help to reduce our impact on the planet. See you on Friday! Thank you!
I am noticing that we live in a world where we increasingly use military words such as “fight”, “battles”, “beats”,“kills” to describe how we manage our pain and the symptoms of any disease that we might have. To me, this suggests that we have to respond in a way that is equal , or perhaps even stronger, to what ails us …and I wonder where the gentle art of Bowen, that I practice, fits in with all of this.
Now, it’s likely that you might not have heard of Bowen…many people haven’t.
So …Tom Bowen was an Australian who worked as a therapist in the 1950s. He is described as a very “observational” man who noticed that by giving the body periods of rest in-between the movements that he had performed, gave the opportunity for it to initiate the changes necessary for healing and repair. The moves, themselves, are made on particular areas of the body and involve moving the soft tissue that lies under the skin. This superficial fascia, as it is known, is a great connective “undercoat” that envelops the whole body from head to toe, allowing, in essence, for the whole body to be treated, not just parts of it in isolation. In simple terms, the therapist is able to stimulate the nerves that run through this fascial tissue by making gentle moves on the surface of the skin. This sends impulses to the brain, which then responds by creating the changes in the body that are necessary for healing.
The pressure that the therapist uses is appropriate for each individual client allowing the desired response to be achieved…making it a truly bespoke therapy. And this is something that continues to amaze me… that Bowen can work for everybody and every body …making it suitable for all …. from newborns to the elderly and infirm… and all stages in between. Many of my clients are elderly people who need some help in maintaining their mobility and independence…and, yet, it is known that Bear Grylls (survival expert ) is a super fan …while another of my regular clients who attends for maintenance sessions (plus extra in times of injury!) is Isle of Man TT rider Michael “Jack” Russell.
It seems to me that, somewhere, we have lost trust in our own bodies….which, to be honest, are amazing pieces of kit. The life sustaining processes that continue to happen on our “insides” …new cells being grown, old ones being broken down, blood flowing, heart beating, breaths in and out, the absorption of oxygen…along with many, many more amazing workings….all happen without our conscious awareness.
And of course, at some levels, we have the ability to heal ourselves …see what happens when we cut our skin, or how our body responds to infection or how our muscles contract to splint an injured joint. But yet, it has the ability to go beyond this, as 21st Century science is proving. When we give our bodies the correct environment, they do indeed have the ability to self – heal …. and this is something we can support and enhance in a gentle, congruent and balanced approach such as Bowen.
Imagine your car has a diesel engine – you are at the petrol station and you have a choice between Diesel and Premium-Diesel. You know that Premium-Diesel gives you better performance, but you haven’t checked your engine recently and you know it’s not quite working to it’s usual standard. So what do you do? You could still put the Premium-Diesel in your car but, realistically, it’s not going to make much difference unless your engine is in better shape, but normal diesel doesn’t give you the enhanced performance that the Premium-Diesel would give you.
Now imagine that the car is you – it’s not often that we think to check that we are at peak performance but it is something that matters a lot. If we are not helping our bodies to work at maximum efficiency then a lot of the supplements that we take might not be doing the job that they are meant to.
For example, in colder weather, it can be beneficial to take a good probiotic. Why does the health of our gut affect our immunity? Well, our immune system begins in the gut – if our stomach doesn’t have a sufficient amount of healthy flora, our immune systems detect this and start to work against our bodies, as it assumes we are sick. This uses an incredible amount of energy which can leave us feeling drained for weeks, and it also paves the way for more illnesses to get in. So by taking a good daily probiotic, it ensures that the gut is healthy and prevents the immune system from reacting to low levels of flora. For the colder weather, we recommend Optibac Probiotic’s Daily Immunity, which has added Vitamin C to help stave off any colds and flu.
Multi-Vitamins are another supplement that can ensure we are working at our best. By taking a daily Multi-Vitamin Supplement, we are ensuring that we are constantly getting a good level of all of the essential vitamins that we need for our bodies processes. This means that even if we are having an off-day where we are not eating quite as well as we should do, we are still ensuring that our bodies have what they need in order to carry on working to keep us healthy.
Using these supplements can really benefit our bodies and help reduce our chances of getting ill, but what should we do on the occasion that we should start to feel a bit sniffly? A good immune boosting supplement like Echinacea, Vitamin C and Elderberry can help to keep the bugs at bay. We love the A. Vogel Echinacea tincture, which has been shown to greatly help reduce the chances of colds and flu, and help to manage the symptoms with onset.
Unfortunately your garage isn’t likely to do a body MOT, but at the green parrot we can offer you the service you deserve.
For any further advice on how to ensure your body is running at it’s best, or to see the products mentioned in this blog, please pop into The Green Parrot Healthfoods in Swaffham and we will be happy to help.
Sitting in my spare room, looking out onto the garden, a swell of contentment, joy and peace fill my being. I cease typing and drink in the bird song, the rustling of the wind in the trees, the muffled excitement of children playing in gardens. Gratitude for being able to see, hear and live in such an environment enhances the positive feeling.
None of this joy required money, it merely required my attention.
Learning to tune into the joyful moments of everyday life, even when things seem dreadful or miserable, has been a challenge for me. In fact, it continues to be a struggle at times. Having suffered with recurrent depression for many years, I know first-hand what it is like to see only blackness, to feel there is no joy in the world. With conscious effort, kindness and patience, I have learnt to notice the little everyday things which can bring joy (even on literal and psychologically dark days).
Waiting for happiness:
There is a common misconception that happiness will prevail only when we have got or achieved something; a new item of clothing, more money in the bank or that “much-needed holiday”. You only have to type into Internet search engines the word “happiness” to see millions of self-help guides, gurus, therapists and videos telling you how to “find” happiness.
The problem with this view is three-fold; (i) we are searching for happiness outside of ourselves, (ii) whilst we are waiting for X or Y, we are missing the inherent joys available to us in everyday life and (iii) when X or Y happens, the happiness does not last, or does not meet our expectations. We then move onto the next thing to make us happy.
Happiness versus joy:
I use the word “happiness” in my blog post title with caution – there are many connotations attached to this word. Many people equate happiness with pleasure, suggesting happiness comes from attaining things or the euphoric state of seeing your favourite celebrity in your local supermarket, or winning the lottery. But think about your own experience – what happens to that happy, pleasurable feeling when the excitement has subsided? Does it stay with you? Fade? Turn into craving for more?
Mathieu Richard (apparently “happiest man in the world) mentions in his blog “why happiness is NOT pleasure”:
Happiness is often equated with a maximization of pleasure, and some imagine that true happiness would consist of an interrupted succession of pleasurable experiences. This sounds more like a recipe for exhaustion than for genuine happiness.
Rather than expecting constant euphoric positive emotion and pleasure, deeper happiness can be described as joy or contentment. Joy is about seeing the beauty and pleasure in what is already there, cultivating inner contentment that is longer-lasting. It is not dependent on anything materialistic. The only thing “dependent” on whether we feel joy, sorrow, anger or frustration is OUR MINDS. It is well-known in psychology and traditions such as Buddhism that it is not the external circumstances which influence how we feel, but the thoughts we attach and where we focus our attention.
The negativity bias:
If it is as simple as noticing and focusing on the nice things in our day, why are we not all inherently content and joyful? One explanation is that our minds are innately hard-wired to seek the negative, and with good “reason”. Rick Hansen demonstrates in his book “Buddha Brain…” how evolutionarily the brain has changed very little, keeping us alert to potential danger, threat and loss. However – instead of fearing the pursuit of dinosaurs, the “dangers, threat and loss” of modern western society are associated with issues such as wealth and our Facebook social status.
Since Beck’s (1967) theory of emotional disorders, extensive theory and research has consistently evidenced how depression is maintained by a pessimistic negativity bias. When we feel low or depressed, our minds dwell on the negative, failing to see or distorting the potential “positives” that could lift our mood. The great news, according to Hansen’s research, is that the neuroplasticity of the brain means we can rewire our brains to see the positive joys in our everyday experience.
Dwelling in the good:
With effort and patience, we can begin to notice the positive more, and dwell in the joy of everyday rather than wishing for X or Y to happen before we can be happy.
Here is a quick-step guide for developing this mental habit:
There are many positive experiences that happen in our day-to-day lives that usually we are unaware of, or dismiss quickly; someone smiling at us, walking in the sunshine, remembering something nice a friend did for you.
Begin to notice the things happening right now (or memories) which make you feel good, joyful, happy or content. Really let yourself feel good.
You might notice reluctance to do this – this is normal and ok. Simple notice the thoughts (e.g. “I don’t have time”; “I don’t deserve this”) or feelings (shame, guilt) and return to focusing on the positive experience.
Stay with the experience for between 10-30 seconds. Hansen highlights how we need to stay focused on the positive experience for a particular time to enable it to sink in at a deeper neurological level. If you get distracted, notice this and return to thinking about and feeling the effects of dwelling on the positive experience.
Stay with the experience, allow it to sink in. Just as you would bask in the sunshine after a cold morning, stay bathing in the positive, joyful feelings evoked from attending to the positive experience. You are not trying to cling to the positive experience – this can cause frustration and disappointment. If you notice yourself doing this, try to let go and simply be with the thoughts and feelings.
To end, the poem “The Loveliness if everywhere” encourages us to see the joy and beauty in everything:
the loveliness is everywhere,
even in the ugliest
and most hostile environment.
The loveliness is everywhere,
at the turning of a corner,
in the eyes
and on the lips
of a stranger,
in the emptiest areas,
with no place for hope
and only death
to invite the heart,
The loveliness is everywhere,
it emerges,
incomprehensible,
inexplicable,
it rises in its own reality,
and what we must learn is
how to receive it
into ours.
You wake at 3am and your mind is racing. At the end of the day, you wonder where the time has gone. Yet again you react badly when something hasn’t gone the way you want it to. That inner, critical voice permeates your day-to-day life. You tend to live in the past, dwelling and ruminating…Does this sound like your experience?
How do we try to deal with difficulties in our lives? Often, by trying to suppress, avoid or push away negative thoughts, feelings and situations. But how successful has such a strategy been? Do you feel calm and able to cope with what live throws at you? Extensive research suggests that our desire to push away anything negative and cling to anything positive actually exacerbates our struggles and suffering.
A common misconception of mindfulness is that you will be in a constantly happy, blissful state, never experiencing negative thoughts or emotions. Mindfulness is actually the art of being with whatever you are experiencing in a curious, kind and non-judgemental way. When you are mindful, you can hold anger, sadness or stress and observe its ebb and flow, enabling you to take a step back and respond rather than react automatically to things. Mindfulness can open you up to the joys of everyday life that pass us by unnoticed in an unmindful state.
Being mindful primarily focuses on learning to live in the present moment, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. We all have the capacity to enhance our mindful awareness, but practice is required. As with physical muscle-building, we have to build up our mindfulness “muscle”.
To find out more, please visit the website www.mindfullifenorfolk.uk Read Elizabeth’s own mindfulness blogs also to learn more.
In Western science, Kinesiology – pronounced ‘kin-easy-ology’ – is actually the study of movement. However, in the complementary healthcare setting, the term Kinesiology is shorthand for all systems derived from and including the parent system of Applied Kinesiology (which is explained in the following section). To put it simply, Kinesiology is essentially a complementary system of healthcare that uses knowledge of both Eastern and Western techniques for assessing and correcting imbalances in the body.
Origins of Kinesiology
In the 1960s, George Goodheart, an American chiropractor, discovered a direct relationship between muscle strength and the functioning of the meridian system of the body. Meridians are a concept of Chinese medicine and are lines or channels along which life energy (known as Chi) is considered to flow. These meridians are mapped along the surface of the body but also flow through the organs to which they are related; for example, the Liver meridian, Small Intestine meridian, etc. Although the meridians are referred to individually, they interlink with each other and any imbalances in the flow of energy throughout this system will prevent the body from functioning at its best, since, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, when the body’s energy is flowing freely throughout the meridian system, the body can function at its optimum state of health.
Key locations along each meridian are used in Chinese medicine to control the energy flowing along and between meridians. These are referred to as acupuncture points, though in kinesiology finger pressure is used to work with points rather than needles!
Goodheart worked with an acupuncturist and found that if a particular meridian is sedated using acupuncture, certain muscles are weakened, these muscles being directly related to that meridian. For example, the thigh muscles (quadriceps) are linked to the Small Intestine meridian; the biceps are linked to the Stomach meridian; the latissimus dorsi (the “lats”) are linked to the Spleen meridian.
He realised that through these associations, the strength of muscles could be used to evaluate whether each meridian is in balance or not. In fact, due to the link between muscle, meridian and organ, a muscle that tests weak indicates an imbalance somewhere in the circuit of those three components. (In the case of the latissimus dorsi / Spleen meridian, this also shows up imbalances in the pancreas, as well as the spleen.)
Goodheart found that imbalances in the meridians could be corrected by a variety of means, such as rubbing points on the body associated with stimulating lymphatic drainage from an organ, lightly holding points that stimulate blood flow, rubbing a point on the spine that stimulates the nerve supply, holding or tapping acupuncture points to stimulate meridian energy flow, or rubbing the ends or belly of the affected muscle itself. Putting the techniques of assessment and corrections together, he called his new method Applied Kinesiology, and further research has expanded the various techniques of assessment and corrections.
Kinesiology today
Since then, many derivatives of the parent system have arisen, each with slightly differing ways of working with the body, e.g. focusing on biochemistry, or emotional issues. Regardless of the type of kinesiology practised, all forms of kinesiology use muscle testing to evaluate the status of the body via the meridian system and (since muscles are controlled by the brain) the nervous system.
The corrections required to restore balance to the body are also assessed individually during an appointment. As previously mentioned, these can involve light or deep massage, holding or tapping acupuncture points, tracing the path of meridians just above the body, gentle manipulation of the pelvis, spine or head, and occasionally nutritional supplementation. Muscle testing is used to identify those corrections specifically required to restore the body to balance, and only those corrections identified as required by the body are then applied. Once in balance, all muscles of the body will test as equally ‘strong.’
To summarise, kinesiology assesses patterns of imbalance in the body and what the body needs to be restored to balance.
So what does that mean in practise?
Different types of stress that we encounter in our daily lives can disrupt the nervous system and/or energy flow in certain meridians. Kinesiology is not diagnostic in the medical sense but by finding patterns of imbalance associated with stress, can be used for almost any condition. For example:
•physical pain
•emotional stress
•organ imbalances such as bowel dysfunction, menstrual problems, etc.
•effects of toxicity such as food sensitivities and intolerances
•postural and movement problems
•muscle function
As muscles are controlled by the brain and spinal cord reflexes, kinesiology also evaluates the effects of stress on the brain / nervous system. This means it can also be helpful for:
•co-ordination problems
•problems with reflexes and development in children
•sensory imbalances
•fears, phobias and other limiting behaviours / belief patterns
•Perhaps most importantly, kinesiology is used to help maintain good health.
Regardless of your reasons for seeking help with kinesiology, you will receive an individualised and holistic session that assesses and corrects the most important imbalances for you at the time.
Chris Halls is a Kinesiologist and Homeopath with clinics in at the Green Parrot on Mondays and Fridays. Chris is a Diplomate of the Association of Systematic Kinesiology and a member of the Complementary Medical Association. For more information please see www.chrishalls.com or contact the Green Parrot on 01760 724704.
As the nights start to close in and the days get darker, it’s time to start thinking about our vitamin D intake. Vitamin D is also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ as we get a lot of it from regular exposure, however during the winter months we may start to notice our levels decrease. Vitamin D is essential for quite a few processes in the body.
Vitamin D can aid people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that occurs during the winter months due to a lack of sunlight. Some studies have shown an improvement of mood in those who supplement Vitamin D during this time.
Vitamin D is also thought to help the immune system. It has been shown to have some antimicrobial properties as well as enhancing innate immunity and inhibiting autoimmune disease.
Probably the most common use for Vitamin D is to aid bone health as it helps to increase the absorption of calcium and help to repair bone and cartilage.
Vitamin D deficiency has been closely linked to the development of diabetes. Some studies have shown that taking a vitamin D supplement from a young age can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by up to 80%. It has also been shown to help manage blood sugar levels due to it’s affect on insulin levels.
So, as you can see, Vitamin D is an essential vitamin, one of which we must make sure we are getting enough of. So, if you are worried about your vitamin D intake, please pop in to The Green Parrot shop for more advice.
Serving at the counter at the Green Parrot is a bit like the Forrest Gump quote – ‘life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get’.
We never know what the next person is going to ask – so many people with personal problems, anxiety, arthritis, bursitis, cystitis, dementia, elephantitis (no not really – never had anyone with that), but you see what I mean. People often come in as a last hope, “what can you do for …?” and of course we always try to help with something over the counter.
But people who come in the shop may not know we already have 16 (yes 16) practitioners who can help as well, so many general problems can be helped with Homoeopathy and Kinesiology: emotional and mental problems with Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness and Psychology; joints and backs with Osteopathy; muscles and mobilisation with Massage; food and weight with Nutrition – the list goes on and on. If you asked us why we’re here, we’d say we exist to help and inspire people to live a healthier and longer life, and we do it through the products we sell, the advice and information we give and the therapies we provide.
Green Parrot Clinic and Shop
It is a common misconception that illnesses such as Arthritis and Osteoporosis are just a part of getting older, and as a result, thousands of people suffer with the pain of inflamed joints and a depleting skeletal frame. However, like many cells in the body, our skeleton has the ability to rebuild itself, and we can aid the process using nutritional know-how, and by using treatments to help joint mobility and durability.
Nutritional tips:
Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are the essential building materials that our bodies need to maintain healthy bone structures – these minerals can be found in foods such as bananas, dates and dairy products. Also important for maintaining supple joints are oils which are high in Omega-3 – this includes fish oils and oils from plants such as flax and rapeseed. They provide us with essential fatty acids (EFAs) which have been found to help reduce inflammation in the body. It is also worth mentioning that some symptoms of Arthritis can be improved by having an allergy-free diet, so it may be worth getting an allergy test done to see if anything could be causing your pain.
Some useful supplements and herbs:
Whilst changing our diets is the first step towards a pain-free lifestyle, it is worth considering supplementation to aid the healing process and to ensure we are getting everything we need. Some handy supplements include:
Glucosamine & Chondroitin – building blocks for joints and cartilage
Turmeric (Curcumin) – reduces over-production of leukotrienes, which cause pain and inflammation
Others: Fish Oil, Ashwaganda, Boswellia, Progesterone (for women), Anti-oxidant formula, Multi-vitamins, Vitamin C.
All of these supplements can be found at The Green Parrot Shop.
Recommended Treatments:
Some treatments that can help to keep your joints moving, especially during the colder months, include:
Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Homeopathy, Kinesiology, Nutritional Therapy, Massage.
If you would like to book an appointment with us for one of the treatments listed, or would like any further advice on maintaining healthy joints, please call us on 01760 724 704.
Vitamin C is a well known vitamin that many people use. Most commonly, it is known to help support our immune systems, but it has so many other applications as well. It is a versatile vitamin which is essential for many processes in the body so, unsurprisingly, we need to make sure that we are getting plenty of it in our diets, or through supplementation. Here are some of the benefits of this amazing vitamin:
1) Essential Co-Factor
Vitamin C is required for our bodies to be able to metabolise certain compounds in our body, including folic acid and iron, cholesterol and amino acids. Without this essential vitamin, our bodies wouldn’t be able to take these compounds on!
2) Eye Protection, Cell Protection and Antioxidant properties
Vitamin C protects the body from oxidative damage by neutralising free radicals in the body and by protecting other antioxidant enzymes. It also has the ability to recycle oxidised vitamin E, which can offer great protection against cardiovascular disease, and help to support the heart.
Because of it’s abilities as an antioxidant, it is fantastic for eye health. Often cataracts and macular degeneration can be caused by free radical damage so vitamin C can help to reduce the effects of that damage.
3) Immune Support
As we all know, vitamin C has been shown to be an important contributor to our immune systems. It is thought to boost white blood cell function and antibody production, which is the cornerstone of our immune system. By aiding the immune system, it can be used to help prevent infection and to inhibit virus activity. Some studies have shown that vitamin C can also have an effect on lowering histamine levels, making it a potential treatment for allergies and asthma.
4) Joints, Connective Tissue and Anti-Inflammatory benefits
Vitamin C has been shown to have a significant benefit on all of the body’s connective tissue, primarily through it’s role of collagen synthesis. It inhibits inflammatory processes, making it greatly beneficial for healing and recovery and has been shown to ease the symptoms of some joint problems such as arthritis.
Looking at all of these potential applications of vitamin C, it is easy to see why it is such an essential part of our body’s daily processes. We can get it from many food sources, surprisingly the highest being yellow bell peppers, but also from the obvious sources such as oranges and other citrus fruits.
If you are concerned you are not getting enough vitamin C in your diet, supplements are available in store. Please pop in and have a chat if you would like any further advice or guidance.
The sea, or should I say the ocean, it covers the majority of our planet, and is home to many thousands if not millions of both mammals and fish. Meaning it has an incredibly rich habitat for growth, whether it’s a 180 ton blue whale, or a 2 gram shrimp, the ocean has a lot of feeding to do.
In most peoples general every day life, and because of a poor general diet of the population, the majority of us require a supplement in one way or another. Whether this is a deficiency in vitamins, and minerals, or just a little help to get our bowels moving, or our joints less achy, the ocean has a lot more to offer than first meets the eye, when we gaze out across vast expanses of blue / grey.
First and foremost when we think about sea supplements, we think primarily of fish oils, mainly cod liver oil. Fish oils are a fantastic supplement and can help ailments and problems, ranging from brain health with the omegas, to helping to control cravings for certain foods. We’ll be discussing fish oils in more depth during the week, so keep a keen eye out for more blogs on the benefits of fish oils, and omegas.
However, beneath the waves, and under the sea, among the many millions of organism, lives the humble sea weed. A delicacy in many countries, and a pain if you every get caught whilst swimming. Sea weed also has some incredible health benefits too, packed full of vitamins, and incredibly fibrous, adding a sprinkling of sea weed to your next meal certainly wouldn’t be detrimental to your health.
Sea weed is often used in cooking, however the majority of edible sea weed is either green or brown and is often know as Algae as a supplement. Algae in general is incredibly high in vitamins, however the individual colours posses different amounts of certain vitamins and also have a different macronutrient breakdown, you can read more about these during the week, as we’ll have a seaweed blog coming out really soon.
During the week, we’ll be showing you exactly what the sea has to offer, and how you can make the most out of supplements provided by it.
So keep your eyes peeled on our site as the week goes on.
1. We love Cherry Active’s Montmorency Cherry Juice – full of the goodness of cherries, we think this product can really help your health! Full of anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and Anthocyanins, this product can ease inflammation, Gout and headaches, among many other things. Don’t like the taste? They do capsules too!
2. Rainbow’s dried sour Morello cherries are the perfect addition to any berry recipe, and, due to being of the sour variety, they are more nutritionally rich than the sweet ones. Great in Bakewell tarts too!
3. Did you know we do make-up too? We love the Beauty Without Cruelty Ripe Cherry Lipstick – a lovely, rich colour with none of the harmful ingredients often put in conventional beauty products and 100% vegetarian. Also, never tested on animals, you can guarantee this is guilt-free.
4. Tiptree Black Cherry Conserve has a deliciously rich flavour and is perfect for morning toast. If you are not a fan of cherries on toast though, try it in your morning porridge to give it a lovely burst of berry flavour! Tiptree also does a wide range of delicious conserves, available at our store.
5. Floradix, whilst not specifically a cherry product, also contains cherries. Floradix is a fantastic liquid food supplement which is hugely beneficial for fatigue, low energy and the immune system. A great everyday tonic!
All of these products are available at our store – pop in for more advice.
When we think of cherries you could be excused for casting your mind to a sugar laden, booze covered, red berry on the end of a cocktail stick, however cherries aren’t all made the same. The Morello Cherry, the cherry we buy by the punnet in the summer and quite often found decorating the top of a fruit cake at christmas, is a much sweeter variety of cherries making them absolutely delicious for us to eat. Because of their high fructose content, they contain much less nutritional value than their more sour brother, in comes the Montmorency cherry, this little sour berry is almost the opposite of it’s sweeter brother. Pop one of these in your mouth and you might not like the taste nearly as much, and they do take a little longer to used to the taste.
The difference between the two lies much deeper than just the taste though, the Montmorency cherry is commonly regarded a superfood of the 21st Century. First founded by the Romans along the black sea, the legionnaires carried the berries with them for sustenance, and introduced them to the rest of the Roman territories. The berries were then planted along the roads, and soldiers used the fruit for food, and the wood for repairing broken weapons and building new ones. Montmorency is now the most popular sour cherry in North America, used for jams and cherry pies.
This little red berry is packed with goodness, studies show that 60ml of Montmorency cherry juice a day can help reduce inflammation, perfect for sports recovery, ease the pain of arthritis and gout, protect against heart disease and certain cancers, reduce the risk of diabetes and insulin resistance syndrome, help maintain healthy sleep patterns, and cognitive brain function, and speed up recovery rates after intense training. What are you waiting for? It literally has something for everyone. Although the taste takes a little getting used to, when drinking the liquid. The benefits from drinking it are well worth it.
For more information regarding the research into Montmorency cherries, check out the The Cherry Report or go to http://www.cherryactive.co.uk for more information about Cherry Juice and capsules
Working in a Health Food store, one of the most common supplements I get asked about is Magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is thought to be the silent epidemic of our time according to some health institutes and is currently our highest selling VMS (vitamin mineral supplement) product. With it commonly being used to help ease the symptoms of a huge array of problems, it’s not hard to see why it is such a popular product. Think Magnesium might be the supplement for you? You’re probably right, and here’s why:
1. Magnesium and Pain relief
Some studies have shown that in certain situations, pain-related disorders such as migraine, tension-headaches and sometimes even fibromyalgia-based pain can be eased by the supplementation of Magnesium. Magnesium is the mineral which allows our muscles to relax, and by aiding that process, our nerves relax which can help to ease some of the pain.
2. Magnesium and Skeletal Health
Magnesium works alongside Calcium to look after our bones and skeletal structure. As well as benefiting our muscular health, it allows our bodies to assimilate Calcium, therefore managing the skeletal health as well. Research has shown that Magnesium may be as critical to bone health as Calcium and therefore can potentially be used to aid conditions such as Osteoporosis.
3. Magnesium and Stress/Nerve health
Magnesium works alongside other vitamins and minerals in the body to help maintain a healthy nervous system and beneficially influence symptoms sometimes associated with stress-response. Some research has shown that anxiety disorders can sometimes be seen in people with a low Magnesium count.
4. Magnesium and Heart Health
Due to it’s effect on the vascular system, Magnesium is sometimes thought to benefit the heart and potentially help to maintain a healthy blood pressure. It is considered to be an essential coenzyme which is critical to energy production which may help to encourage the heart muscle to pump blood around the body. Due to it’s enzymatic influence, it is thought it may also benefit some fatigue related disorders.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for maintaining your health, so if you are lacking in Magnesium-rich foods, it might be worth thinking about supplementing. Please discuss any concerns with your healthcare professional first.
We simply love honey! As a food, it has many amazing properties however we also love to use it as a skin product too. Here are some of our favourite honey-based skin care recipes from the internet that we had to share with you! Try these simple tips and tricks at home. If you need to top up your honey supply, don’t forget locally-sourced honey is available at The Green Parrot shop.
1. Honey face mask
Simple to make, for normal skin all you need is an apple, cored and diced, and two tablespoons of good quality honey. Chop the apple in a food processor, then mix in the honey and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Pat on to your face, leave for 30 minutes then rinse! Easy!
For more on this recipe, or for different skin types, please visit:
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/face-mask.html
2. Honey & lemon spot treatment
Both known as natural antibacterial foods, honey is great combined with lemon to help reduce the appearance of spots and acne. Simply cut a lemon in half, spread a teaspoon of honey on the flesh of the lemon, and rub on to the affected areas. Leave for 10 minutes and then gently wipe off any residue from the honey. Please be careful with this recipe if you have sensitive skin as lemons are acidic.
http://beautybybritanie.com/2013/07/15/diy-lemon-and-honey-facial-treatment-for-glowing-skin/
3. Honey Moisturiser
As a moisturiser, simply smear honey over particularly dry areas and leave for 30 minutes. Then gently wash off, leaving you with smooth, silky skin. This can also be used in your hair to nourish and reduce dryness.
For more honey-based beauty recipes, check out http://beautybybritanie.com/2013/07/15/diy-lemon-and-honey-facial-treatment-for-glowing-skin/
Bee’s have been in the press a lot recently, but it turns out that these little insects do an awful lot in the background that we don’t know about. However when you look deeper into the hive, it comes apparent that actually there’s even more to the little black and yellow striped buzzers than meets the eye.
Lets start with the worker bee, the worker bees are honey bees that are fertilised eggs from the queen bee, making them female. However these bees aren’t able to reproduce, they live for up to 9 months in the winter, and just 6 weeks during the summer. They work so hard during the 6 weeks of summer that they literally die of exhaustion. Within the hive these bees work amongst an incredibly slick community, and throughout there lives they might take on a number of responsibilities, these are housekeeper (responsible for hive cleanliness), nursemaid (there to look after the other bees), construction worker (responsible for making sure the hive doesn’t fall apart), grocer, undertaker, and guard. It’s only after 21 days of rotating those jobs, that they then become foragers, going out for pollen and nectar. For protection the worker bee has a barbed sting, which results in death after the first sting.
However the worker bee has to come from somewhere, and in every hive there’s only one. Chosen from 3000+ Larvae the Queen bee is then fed royal jelly ( a mixture of pollen and a chemical produced in the nursing bees head) for 2 days, before going on to eat royal jelly for the rest of their 3-5 year lifespan. Most of there life is spent mating with the male drone bees (which for the drone only happens once, and then they die) to fertilise up to 2000 eggs a day, these fertilised eggs then become worker bees. The queen been is selected by the rest of the hive from female worker bee larvae and can grow up to 1.5 times larger than the standard worker bee.
The Drone bees are pretty much the most unproductive bees in the hive. They’re also the only male bees, and their main purpose in life is to fertilise the queens eggs to produce worker bees. Due to the barbed sexual organ that the drone bee possesses, they die immediately after mating. These bees don’t have a sting because it isn’t necessary for them. There are only 300-3000 bees in the hive at any one time, and they’re of no use during the winter months meaning they’re expelled from the hive in the autumn, only being kept on standby during the summer months.
Some fun facts are though that bees collect 30kg of pollen every year per hive, bees also have 5 eyes, and bee sting therapy is widely used overseas to address health problems such as arthritis, neuralgia, and high blood pressure. Also, honey bees aren’t native to the USA, they were introduced by early settlers. Royal jelly, the product used to create new queen bees, has been used to help humans over the years with aided development in weaker babies, to helping post natal women to regain health and strength after birth. All in all bees are not only vital to our natural ecosystems, but they’re also an incredible insect, that are incredibly self sufficient and also organised. Check out how you can help out the bees with this blog on how to make your garden more bee friendly. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150524-bees-pollinators-animals-science-gardens-plants/
Due to Honey being sweeter than sugar, however much lower on the GI scale (your body turns honey into glucose much slower than sugar) it can be a fantastic replacement for sugar in many home baked goodies. So as it’s Honey week here at the Green Parrot we thought we put together a few of our favourite sugar replacement recipes and a few recipes that just use honey anyway.
The classic flapjack. Now, we all know that the flapjack is an absolute favourite across the board, and you can pretty much make these in your sleep with whatever ingredients you have left over in the cupboard. However it doesn’t have to be made using sugar and golden syrup, it can be made using honey, and in our opinion it makes them all the more sweeter.
https://nillaskitchen.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/flapjacks-gluten-free-dairy-free-sugar-free/
Not only are Nillas flapjacks sugar free, and replaced with Honey, but they’re also gluten and dairy free, sounds like the perfect treat to us.
2. Another absolute classic, are honey roasted carrots and parsnips. We think that our roasts wouldn’t be complete with this sweet but savoury combination. Some say you should even try honey with Brussel sprouts, something perhaps to spruce up your Sunday lunch.
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1161636/honeyglazed-roast-carrots
3. Although this isn’t a recipe. it’s a handy guide on how to replace sugar with honey for whenever you’re in the need for a sweet treat, but can’t bring yourself to find a new recipe with honey in it. Use this simple guide to calculate how much honey you’d need in nearly any recipe.
http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/baking-with-honey-sugar-for-baking/
Do you often dwell on the past? Worry about the future? Feel stressed, anxious or low?
Mindfulness is a way of being and relating to yourself. Being mindful means paying attention to your experience without judging, focusing on the present rather than the past or future (Jon Kabat-Zinn). It enables you to learn to respond, rather than react.
Mindfulness can be practised by ANYONE; you do not need to be of a particular religion, or be able to sit in the lotus position. Mindfulness can be applied to any moment in your life – you simply need to learn and practice daily.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) explores our thought processes, and how these impact upon us and our lives. Rather than try to get rid of or fight, MBCT teaches ways to observe and detach ourselves from the ‘stories’ which cause us to feel distressed.
We are holding FREE Mindfulness Taster Sessions here at the Green Parrot on Thursday 9th July at 6:00pm, and Saturday 18th July at 10:00am.
Elizabeth McConnell BSc MSc PG Dip, is a qualified CBT Therapist specialising in Mindfulness, and has worked in the NHS for 16 years. Elizabeth will be running the free sessions to give participants insight into the many benefits of Mindfulness.
Elizabeth is available for individual therapy sessions, and will also be running a 6-week Mindfulness course starting Thursday 3rd September 6:00pm – 7:30pm, £195 can be paid in installments and concessions are available (please speak to Elizabeth direct).
To book your place, or an individual appointment to see Elizabeth, please call 01760 720704. For more information please go to Elizabeth’s website www.mindfullifenorfolk.uk, or email mindfullifenorfolk@gmail.com.
The weeds need tackled, flower beds tended and the grass needs to be cut. The summer months are the perfect time to spruce up your garden and enjoy the outdoors, but a garden in full bloom can be a nightmare and these simple tasks can become a struggle if you suffer from hayfever.
According to a poll undertook recently, hayfever symptoms create a barrier between a person and their garden. Almost half of sufferers said it stood in the way of their passion for gardening, while four in 10 said their garden became a “no go zone” during peak pollen season.
This summer, try following our handy top ten tips for hayfever sufferers before donning your gardening gloves and heading outside and help limit your exposure to pollen.
1. Grass pollen posed the biggest trigger for allergy sufferers. It is vital to mow the lawn regularly as this will help prevent grasses from flowering, resulting in less pollen being released. Wear a mask which covers your mouth and nose whilst mowing.
2. Using a sprinkler before a gardening session will help to lay pollen somewhat, as some plants stop pollen shedding in wet conditions. Keep yourself locked up indoors whilst lawn-mowing is taking place.
3. There are hundreds of low allergy options for your garden including Lavender, Iris, Rose and Peony. As a rule of thumb, if the flower is insect-pollinated then it should be fine because the pollen tends to be heavy and falls to the ground. If it’s wind-pollinated, the pollen is designed to be buoyant and stays in the air for longer.
4. Limit your gardening days to cool or cloudy days and venture out in the afternoon when the pollen count in the air is generally lower.
5. Jump in the shower immediately after gardening and wash your hair to remove trapped allergens. Change into fresh clothes afterwards.
6. Arm yourself for the hayfever season by eating good food. Opt for lots of fruit and veg, which are high in immune-boosting vitamin C. Reducing the dairy content of your diet is also a good idea, as dairy products can really block up the mucous membranes in the nose.
7. Curb the caffeine and opt for anti-inflammatory green or white tea if your nasal passages are pouring. Caffeine triggers histamine release.
8. Spread grease, such as Haymax or vaseline, around the edge of each nostril to trap or block pollen. Reapply each time you blow your nose.
9. Try a herbal helper such as A.Vogel Pollinosan tablets, a natural remedy containing seven tropical herbs that work on all the symptoms of hayfever and allergic rhinitis, without the drowsy side effects associated with some hayfever medication.
10. Avoid gardening when the pollen count is at its highest. Keep an eye on the pollen count in your area, this can help give you an indication of which days are going to be less of a nightmare for you than others.
Enjoy the summer and happy gardening!