Let’s face it, when it comes to the ‘alphabet soup’ of vitamins, it can be a little difficult telling all those vitamins apart. Of course, it’s a good idea to top up your intake of as many of them as possible – in their natural states, if you can. But, now and again, it’s also worth focusing on not just the obvious Vitamins A, B, C and D, but the less talked-about vitamins. For instance, are you getting enough Vitamin B12? Because if not, you really should be.

Each and every one of us needs our fair share of Vitamin B12. It’s necessary to maintain satisfactory energy levels, good brain function and support for the nervous system. In particular, though, if you have to take antibiotics with any regularity; if you often have sleeping issues; if you suffer from celiac disease; if you struggle with digesting gluten and absorbing nutrients; if you often take antacids; if you’re a pregnant woman; if you’re of advanced age; if you smoke; or if you’re a vegetarian or a vegan… if you’re any of those things, you’re advised in particular to make sure your body’s B12 levels are maintained. Basically then, when it comes down to it, everybody needs B12.

What does B12 do?

So, in more detail, here’s exactly why Vitamin B12 is so crucial for the human body’s wellbeing:

• Energy booster – B12 naturally boosts energy because it helps stimulate the body’s adrenal glands, ensuring support for metabolism via production of red blood cells
• Improves melatonin release – by supporting how and when the body releases melatonin, B12 helps achieve good sleep, as well as reinforcing other critical functions in the body, such as those in and related to the nervous system
• Supports brain health – maintaining high levels of B12 should help ensure healthy brain function, a balanced mental state and a good mindset; in fact, research has suggested that B12 deficiency could pave the way to brain shrinkage
• Increases production of red blood cells – by boosting red blood cell levels, B12 supports total wellbeing, simply because the more red blood cells you have, the more oxygen can be efficiently transported to all the cells and tissues in the body where it’s needed
• May help avoid megaloblastic anaemia – a blood-related condition, megaloblastic anaemia causes fatigue in its sufferers, due to red blood cells not developing as they should and, thus, the body not being able to transport oxygen properly and effectively.

It ought to be pointed out, too, that, although increasing your body’s B12 levels has not been found to cure sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease, there does – according to preliminary reports – appear to be a link between B12 deficiency and the debilitating disease.

 The benefits of B12 supplementation

Now, as already noted, the ideal way for us human beings to consume Vitamin B12 is through our diet, but doing or getting things that are ideal for us is, of course, not always easy. Sometimes, sadly, it’s not even possible. Indeed, research has proved that for as many as 30 percent of all adults over the age of 50, it’s not possible for them to obtain – or, specifically speaking, absorb – B12 via food or drink alone.

The answer? For these people – and for many of whom, for one reason or another, have to live everyday with dietary restrictions – the best bet of getting the B12 they need is through naturally-derived, reliable and well-regarded supplementation. And a good example of such a supplement is VeganSafe B12, available through us at The Finchley Clinic. Why? Well, not only because – yes – it’s entirely suitable for vegans and vegetarians, but also because it contains the two bioavailable, coenzyme forms of B12, methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin.

What’s the big deal about this? Well, as the European Food Safety Authority has acknowledged, combining adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin ensures the best and safest, naturally-occurring supplement of B12; the body is able to recognise, metabolise and put to use these two B12 forms quickly.

To be clear, Vitamin B12 occurs in four different forms; not just the naturally-occurring methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin, but also hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin. To its credit, hydroxocobalamin is also a natural form of B12; yet, the body isn’t able to use its benefits as quickly as the core ingredients of VeganSafe B12. Conversely, the final form of B12, cyanocobalamin, we advise to avoid at all costs.

This is because it’s not naturally-occurring in the least, being a synthetic form of B12 that often serves as an ingredient in low-end supplements, as well as in fortified food. Even worse, it comprises a cyanide molecule that the body is forced to metabolise in order to get any limited goodness from it at all.

VeganSafe B12 – the benefits rundown

So, just to underline the fact; we highly recommend VeganSafe B12 as a great source for topping up your body’s B12 levels because this supplement can:

• be absorbed throughout the body easily, requiring no conversion in your liver
• be consumed by vegans and vegetarians (it’s also GMO- and gluten-free)
• nutritionally aid the body’s nervous system, adrenal system and cardiovascular function, as well as help boost energy
• aid the body in increasing red blood cell production and support cell growth/ replication and DNA production
• help sufferers of poor sleep achieve a healthier sleep-wake cycle
• delight taste buds thanks to being a delicious liquid-based supplement – no need for injections!

Antioxidants. What’s the big deal? The likelihood is you’ve heard of them and consumed a fair number of them in your food and drink over the years, but do you know what they actually are, do you believe they’re as good for you as you’ve been told and – most importantly of all – are they genuinely as good for you as all that?

Antioxidants – what are they are?

Let’s start at the beginning. Antioxidants pop up in many different kinds of foods and beverages. Superfoods – foodstuffs containing plentiful health-giving properties – are rife with them; as are red wine and chocolate, believe it or not. Even some skincare products are sold on the back of the fact their ingredients include antioxidants; not surprising as the clever molecules are said to help slow down the ageing process, as well as potentially help fight illnesses and diseases.

Generally speaking, a broad spectrum of different molecules is covered by the term ‘antioxidants’; they’re basically molecules that, once inside the body, protect other non-antioxidant, but important molecules from the process that’s oxidation.

What’s so crucial about this? Well, left to the damage that oxidation would wreak upon them, these molecules wouldn’t be able to carry out the critical processes they need to in the millions of cells contained in the human body… if it weren’t for the intervention of antioxidants.

Oxidation – the lowdown

Simply put, oxidation is a chemical reaction that sees the tiny, but critical particles that are electrons transferred from one molecule to another – usually the molecule that’s seeking the extra electron is a free radical, a molecule with one or more unpaired electrons, which makes it highly unstable. So, this oxidation process inevitably ensures the structure, performance and efficacy of molecules in the human body, irrevocably change.

Now, it’s fair to say that oxidation isn’t always bad news when it occurs in the body. Indeed, when glucose (food) is oxidised in the body’s cells by oxygen (via air from our lungs), it produces not just carbon dioxide as a side-product but, critically, energy and water; thus, providing all-important fuel for the cells and, in turn, the body.

Still, there’s no question that, too often, the oxidation process can cause great harm in the body’s cells – which is where antioxidants come in. How is it they prove so beneficial when oxidation happens? Because they effectively prevent the process taking place – donating one of their electrons to a chaos-causing free radical, as they do, and stabilising the molecule so it doesn’t ‘steal’ an electron from another all-important but non-antioxidant molecule.

For their part, free radicals don’t just pop up out of nowhere; some do occur naturally in the human body. Although, you may be wondering why the body creates such potentially harmful molecules for itself? Well, the fact is the number of free radicals present in the body can dramatically increase due to certain lifestyle choices and environmental factors – smoking and alcohol consumption, pollution, poor diet and stress all tend to see free radical volumes spiral upwards; so much so, they can overwhelm the body’s capacity to deal with them all and, inevitably, require a boost in its antioxidant volumes.

All antioxidants aren’t equal

And yet, like it or not, it’s not as simple as merely that. More antioxidants in the body should be good news, sure; but it depends on the ‘quality’ of the antioxidants, make no mistake. Because, unfortunately, too often the types of antioxidants you might look to consume via food or drink to boost your antioxidant levels will be synthetic versions of the naturally-occurring ‘real thing’ and won’t do your body anything like as much good; if at all.

To be clear, some antioxidants are naturally created in the body, while other natural and very beneficial antioxidants can be gained by eating healthy foods (specific fruits and vegetables, eggs, grains and nuts, for instance). Conversely, synthetic antioxidants are added to other foods as either preservatives or to falsely convince the buyer that their presence will ensure eating the particular food is just as good for them as eating something rich in natural antioxidants.

Antioxidant supplements

The trick then is recognising which foods – or, indeed, supplements; if you wish to try the supplement route – are rich in natural antioxidants. And the answer, in terms of food, is to put your trust in natural foods (see the list above) – when it comes to supplements, though, it can be a little less clear.

What you ought to do is to seek out a supplement that makes clear its ingredients only contains naturally-occurring antioxidants; don’t take any chances here. Such supplements are definitely armed to help you in your fight against free radicals, but you’ve got to be sure they’re genuinely reliable antioxidant supplements.

For example, here are three supplements renowned for their antioxidant prowess, available through us at The Finchley Clinic:

Cell Fuzion – an advanced, natural antioxidant formula designed to protect and energise mitochondrial function and protect against DNA damage

Liposomal Glutathione – a primary detoxifier for the body and a potent antioxidant in a highly absorbable European manufactured liposome

Megahydrate Powder – one daily dose of this naturally-derived antioxidant has more antioxidant power than hundreds of glasses of fresh vegetable and fruit juices and other foods rich in antioxidants, all to prevent free radical damage.

The human body operates as a well-oiled machine; most of the time. Unfortunately, now and again, things don’t always run quite as they ought to and our bodies could do with some help – whether that’s a bit of a tune-up or a resetting. Or both.

A part of the body that’s crucially important – and quite remarkable – is the gastrointestinal tract, often loosely referred to as ‘the gut’. It encompasses the organs that digest and detoxify all the food and drink we consume and, from that, excretes the waste we don’t need (whose presence in the body would otherwise make us ill and harm us, in the short- and long-term). This ensures nutrients in our food and drink that do us good can be used around the body to build and keep healthy muscle, bone, the brain and other critical body tissues.

And, of course, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the gut’s also where the basis of the body’s immune system’s to be found. Indeed, the six-feet-long colon, a u-shaped section of the intestines, is where much of the gut’s bacteria resides – not just toxins and ‘bad bacteria’, but also so-called ‘good bacteria’/ probiotics, the presence of which is critical for keeping the body’s immune system working effectively.

Do you need a gut cleanse?

Sometimes, though, and often for a combination of different reasons, the gut can become overwhelmed with toxins absorbed from our food and drink – and the gut’s ‘good bacteria’ becomes outnumbered. When this occurs, obviously help is needed. An excellent answer is a gut cleanse; or, if you rather, a colon cleanse, as it’s also called. In fact, experts suggest that cleansing the gut should be a regular activity, as opposed to relied on as a quick-fix every now and then. This is because the gut can benefit greatly from decent care and maintenance.

Doing it for the first time, though, a gut cleanse boasts an extra incentive over and above a much-needed clear-out of gunk – it presents an excellent opportunity to begin new, healthier dietary and lifestyle habits. All of which should aid the long-term aim that is maintaining levels of beneficial probiotic bacteria and smoother digestion – and all-round fitter and healthier living.

The three stages of a cleanse

So, what does a colon cleanse entail? Well, the first step is, for several days, eradicating all toxin-filled foods from your diet, the likes of dairy, gluten-rich foodstuffs and meat. Instead, replace them with foods that are much more agreeable to your gastro-intestinal system – fruits are ideal.

The next step is the cleanse itself, which involves flushing your system clean of all unnecessary waste, toxins and, then, this is followed by the final step, topping up or, indeed, building back up your gut’s natural need for beneficial organisms – ‘good bacteria’/ probiotics.

Signs you might need to cleanse your gut

Is something in your gut off-balance? If so, your body more than likely will send you a signal via a symptom of some kind – this is, after all, how the body tries to naturally communicate with us when something’s amiss. In which case then, you might want to consider a gut cleanse if you find yourself experiencing one – or definitely more than one – of the following symptoms:

• Bad sleep hygiene
• Body aches
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Low energy
• Mental fog
• Poor appetite

Colon cleanse benefits

So, in more detail then, here’s a rundown of what can a colon cleanse can do for you:

• Aid emotional balance – gut inflammation tends to increase any anxiety and stress you may be feeling and, of course, the former naturally can happen due to bad diet; a colon cleanse can ease and help cease gut swelling, aiding emotional balance
• Steer your immune system in the right direction – detoxing your gut of harmful toxins helps it heal itself and so can play a critical role in improving your immune system, while topping up your ‘good bacteria’ count via consuming probiotics is the icing on the cake
• Keep constipation at bay – Doing away with processed foods in your diet, such as certain meats and sugar, will reduce the compacted waste in your gut and, in turn, reduce the constipation you feel, from time to time; a colon cleanse doesn’t just ensure you do this, but sees you focus instead on consuming water and fibre-rich foods, further aiding the flushing out of your system
• Help fight obesity – research proves that gut flora (‘good bacteria’/ probiotics) can help lower obesity rates, so giving your gut flora a helping hand via a colon cleanse can only be good news if you want to fight the flab
• Boost brain health – research has found that a number of probiotics can positively influence brain activity, so in the final stage of your colon cleanse activity when you refuel – or, if you prefer, re-tool – your gut microbiota, be sure to seek out brain-health-friendly probiotics, if you can
• Increase absorption of nutrients – insufficient absorption of the all-important nutrients from your food into your gut due to ill-health can leave you at risk of developing gut-related illnesses and conditions; the likes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), malabsorption syndrome, leaky gut and Crohn’s disease. Granted, this is something of a worst-case scenario, but regular colon cleansing can help your body steer clear of poor gut health, for sure.

Colon cleansing supplementation

Now, if you’ve read this far, you’ll have learned all about the ins and outs of colon cleansing, as well as read advice on the three stages you might want to follow, but you may remain a little daunted by pulling together all that’s necessary to start your first cleanse and, subsequently, daunted at the prospect of launching yourself into it. That’s understandable. Yet, we’ve more to share with you here because, at The Finchley Clinic, we can offer you an all-ready gathered-together kit of products, to get you off and underway with your cleanse.

The Global Health Center (GHC) Colon Cleanse kit, then, comprises the extremely powerful and well-reviewed supplements Oxy-Powder (an oxygen-based colon cleanser) and Latero Flora (a hugely beneficial strain of ‘good bacteria’), to cleanse your small intestine, large intestine and the colon of any toxins residing in them, as well as impacted faecal matter.

And the combination of these supplements is specifically designed to flush out and neutralise toxins in your gastro-intestinal tract and help restore its all-important probiotic levels, in order to lead to healthy digestion, improved well-being and boosted immunity. Good luck – and happy cleansing!

Like or not, science has yet to reach the stage where it can prevent us all from ageing. And yet, leveraging the best and most appropriate of what science has to offer, we can at least do our best at slowing down the ageing process of our bodies.

Now, of course, there’s been a lot of misinformation, mythology and, frankly, outright lying over the years here, but research studies have proved that, by consuming and using the right combination of nutrients, we can do much to help our bodies remain as healthy, fit and young-looking as possible. And, in this article, we’re going to take a look at a few of them…

Adopt a nutritious diet

Like it or not, as we start to age it becomes increasingly important that what we put in our bodies is genuinely good for them. That means adopting and maintaining a richly nutritious diet; one that’s packed full of the alphabet of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E and K). And protein too – especially organic protein, if possible – because protein is necessary for maintaining good energy levels, strong muscles and healthy skin that looks as youthful as it might.

It should go without saying that seeking out foods that contain these many nutrients ought to replace bad eating habits in a diet. That is, processed foods packed full of refined sugars and unnatural chemicals; the sorts of foods whose inorganic toxins become harder and harder for your body to remove and excrete.

Treat your body right

Away from a sensible, healthy diet, though, what else can you do to try to hold back the ageing process for as long as possible? Well, there’s much to be said for what’s often referred to nowadays as ‘wellness’. As a phrase and when it’s sold, it can sound airy-fairy and gimmicky, but dial down into what it is and it suddenly becomes far more practical. It’s all about a healthy, seize-life state-of-mind translated into behaviour – positive, optimistic, ‘youthful’ thinking; yet being sensible along with it, so you treat your mind and body right.

That means engaging in appropriate amounts of regular exercise to help keep your heart and your body, in general, in good trim; as well as keeping your brain sharp. Such exercise boosts the body’s oxygen levels too, which can aid in reducing stress. Sleep hygiene’s also important; getting enough good sleep – and even the occasional nap. Research suggests that those of a certain age, having indulged in naps, do better in memory tests and enjoy improved motor skills.

What works for wrinkle-free skin?

You might not be surprised to learn there’s no silver bullet for keeping your skin healthy- and young-looking. What it may work, as with everything concerning anti-ageing, is a combination of things. Age is demonstrated obviously by our skin, especially on the face (e.g. wrinkles and crow’s feet); tell-tale signs that one’s skin simply isn’t as naturally moisturised as it once was.

But you can give it a helping hand via good diet and lots of rest and sleep – and, yes, as stress-free living as possible. Yet don’t rule out lotions and creams either; at least, those that can genuinely aid skin rejuvenation via their organic, naturally-occurring ingredients.

For instance, of all skincare products, topical Vitamin C comes highly recommended in successfully nourishing and protecting skin. The evidence? A three-month-long trial of topical Vitamin C showed an 84 percent improvement in skin smoothness and brightness in subjects who used it over those who didn’t. That said, there are other, entirely naturally-derived alternatives you may also want to try too (see below).

Give anti-ageing supplements a go

Improved diet and lifestyle and nutrient-rich skincare products will definitely set your body (and mind) on the road to healthy living and hopefully improved longevity, but frankly, why stop there? Why not pack the anti-ageing deck in your favour by also trying one or two totally naturally-sourced, organic supplements; supplements that have been developed to aid the body in eliminating age-stealing, disease-contributing toxins and boosting nutrition in its organs, cells and skin?

Here are just three such supplements from our ‘Anti-Ageing’ section that we strongly recommend you try…

Liposomal Carnosine – a powerful antioxidant that may support those wishing to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, as well as aid those of a certain age suffering from memory concerns.

Green Magma (Barley Grass Powder) – an alkalising powder that, rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and chlorophyll, may aid digestion and detoxification.

Aeterna Gold Collagen Crème Serum – containing a highly concentrated pure marine (non-shark) collagen, this cream seeks to help maintain plump and firm facial tissue; also comprises MSM and other plant extracts for supporting young- and healthy-looking skin.

Just imagine food you’ve consumed, but not fully digested, instead of passing through the digestive system naturally (where its nutrients are extracted from its waste), passing through perforations in the intestines. And then just imagine toxins from your food and drink doing the same. Doesn’t sound good, does it? Unfortunately, this is exactly what sufferers of leaky gut syndrome know only too well.

Also called intestinal hyperpermeability, this intestinal disorder often develops when the gut has become inflamed, usually thanks to dietary, metabolic or environmental factors. But what can sufferers do to mitigate its symptoms or even prevent the syndrome developing in the first place? Well, tackling the environment factors that could be behind it might for many people be far easier said than done, but another approach is through diet – through trying to introduce into your diet (and replace ‘bad foods’ in your diet with) foods that are especially good for a leaky gut.

Here are five examples to consider:

• Coconut – it’s the medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in coconuts that make them so good for those suffering from a leaky gut. Why? Because digestive systems find MCFAs easier to digest than other fats (healthy fatty acids or not), which means they’re, of course, easier on the gut itself. Plus, the fermented yogurt-esque food that’s coconut kefir also comprises probiotics, with their terrific health-friendly properties (see below).
• Fermented foods – packed full of the ‘good bacteria’ that are probiotics, which are essential for reducing the level of ‘bad bacteria’ in your gut, fermented foods (such as sauerkraut and kimchi) are great for helping to restore gut health.
• Flaxseed oil – an excellent concentrated source of Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil is something of a given for this list. Omega-3s are renowned for the good they do the human body, not least because they can aid in reducing gut irritation, as well as help to alleviate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms.
• Low-glycaemic fruits – with their ability to release their glucose slowly and steadily (thus, encouraging a leaky gut to work less hard), fruits low on the glycaemic index (GI) scale are great for those with a leaky gut because they’re also full of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Note: because of their low sugar content, berries are the top option among these sorts of fruits.
• Non-starchy vegetables – these kinds of vegetables that lack starch (such as dark, leafy green vegetables) are also high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and so great for helping reduce irritation in your digestive system, ensuring what you eat is easier on your gut.

Leaky gut supplementation

Yet, what if incorporating into your daily diet non-starchy vegetables or any of the other foods mentioned above (or, indeed, any other foods that are good for leaky gut that your own research might discover), isn’t as easy as you might hope? Some foods just aren’t as easy to get hold of (and/ or as affordable) for some as they are for others. And, of course, sometimes there are specific dietary restrictions – for other health reasons – that can put a spanner in the works when it comes to specialising a diet.

Well, you may find help’s at hand through naturally-derived supplementation. And at The Finchley Clinic we’ve definitely got you covered here, thanks to the following pair of leaky gut-focused supplement kits. Below you’ll find outlined what they contain and what their contents could well do for your gut, but please also click on their links and take a look at the kits – and their products – in more detail:

• The Finchley Clinic Leaky Gut Healing Kit – designed by The Finchley Clinic founder Mark Lester, along with Revive Yourself’s Ryan Martin, this kit is both a comprehensive and affordable offering for treating the effects of leaky gut and improving gut health.

It comprises 1 x Biokult (wide spectrum probiotic), 40 Pau d’Arco teabags (anti-candida), 1 x Restore (ideal for healing gut mucosa), 2 x Marshmallow Formula (suitable for leaky gut, gut inflammation and food intolerance) and 1 x Aloe Fuzion (aloe vera capsules).

• Global Healing Center (GHC) Gut Health Kit – comprises the very best of the most relevant Global Healing Center products so you can follow a dedicated 30-day programme to cleanse your gut, balance its microbiota and lay the foundation for abdominal comfort and peace.

It comprises Oxy-Powder (potent intestinal cleanser), Floratrex (probiotic), VeganZyme (features plant-based, digestive and systemic enzymes), Aloe Fuzion (aloe vera capsules) and Turmeric (optional; high in curcuminoids and natural antioxidants).

Nowadays, with almost every natural food (and health food item) getting referred to as a ‘superfood’, it provokes an inevitable question – just what is a superfood really supposed to be; what should qualify a food as a superfood?

Well, perhaps a good example of a superfood is the likes of a blueberry. Why? Because blueberries aren’t just low-caloric but also highly antioxidant in their content. And, really, like any superfood probably should be, blueberries offer up an impressive helping of raw nutrition, as well as many different phytochemical and flavonoid compounds (in other words, the aforementioned antioxidants).

Happily enough, there are many more foods than just blueberries that reputable experts recognise as superfoods. The majority of them tend to be bursting with antioxidants, ensuring they have the potential, once consumed, to help combat diseases and illnesses and, yes, slow the aging process, while a good number of them may also be beneficial for cardiovascular health and normalising the body’s blood sugar.

Three terrific superfoods

So, while there are a large number of known superfoods, here are five of the best known and best respected:

• Mulberries – research has discovered these rich-tasting berries offer up a large helping of anthocyanins (powerful compounds with strong antioxidant properties), as well as being of particular benefit to the body’s blood sugar
• Goji berries – great for stimulating the immune system (they promote the increase of white blood cells), these berries also offer high levels of antioxidants and may help in offsetting specific degenerative illnesses.
• Coconut water – a naturally-occurring beverage that’s so revered for its health-giving properties among those in the know that they refer to it as ‘nature’s sports drink’, coconut water is rich in electrolytes and carbohydrates, which means it’s great for rehydration and replenishment following physical activity (i.e. playing sports or working out).

Additionally, research suggests that it may be capable of boosting L-arginine levels in the body. What’s so good about this? Well, L-arginine is an amino acid that, it seems, can aid cardiovascular health and anxiety response. Plus, coconut water appears to promote lipid levels in the body, which suggests it may just help in fighting against heart disease.

Superfood supplements

Fair enough; it’s all very well and good listing the very best superfoods in existence, but that doesn’t make it any easier to come by them both affordably and regularly. However, your task here might be aided by seeking out reputable, well-reviewed superfood-featuring supplements.

At The Finchley Clinic, a whole section of our products is dedicated to superfoods and, as our loyal customers would expect, we only stock such supplements whose superfood-content is processed as minimally as possible and, thus, resembles its natural state as much as possible. In which case, our superfood supplements – you can be assured – all comprise valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, just like their naturally-occurring sources do. Here are three such examples:

Acai – an antioxidant superfood, which is naturally rich in anthocyanins, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and the Omega 6 and 9 essential fatty acids.

Green Magma (Barley Grass Powder) – available in powder form, this alkalising superfood offers in excess of 20 enzymes, as well as chlorophyll and many vitamins, minerals and amino acids; ensuring it may aid in both digestion and detoxification.

Spirulina – a phyto-plankton superfood that contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), vitamin B12 and trace amounts of vitamins B3, B5, B6 and E, as well as biotin, inositol and folic acid.

If you struggle to control your weight, chances are you’ve thought to yourself it’d be wonderful to find a sure-fire way to drop a few pounds – or even a few stones. But, of course, as you’re no doubt aware, a fail-safe method to reduce weight is difficult to come by.

A sensible option isn’t just to try to eat less… but to eat *right*. That’s to say, eat the right foods. So, that means cutting out the fast food, pizzas, sugary drinks and high-process foods and replacing them with something altogether more friendly for the health of your body; foods that, as they’re digested, won’t actually fight your body as it tries to stay healthy.

All of which means then, that naturally-occurring foods are, as you may well have guessed, the correct choice here. But just which foods, in particular…?

Fruits

• Bananas – Thanks to being high in fibre and low in calories, bananas are great for weight-loss; it’s also worth bearing in mind that less ripe bananas contain less sugar content than their riper (i.e. older and browner) counterparts.
• Berries – again, the likes of taste-tastic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are fantastic sources for fibre, but are also crammed-full of Vitamin C, antioxidants (especially flavonoids) and smaller amounts of sugar than many other fruits.
• Grapefruit – particularly low in calories and great for fat-burning aims, this fruit – so one scientific study has discovered – aided dieters to significantly reduce their weight via eating half a grapefruit a day over a 12-week period.

Vegetables

• Broccoli – a typical cruciferous vegetable, broccoli is (again) high in fibre and low in calories; plus, it’s full of naturally-health-friendly nutrients. Indeed, experts believe that a single serving of broccoli (heated) will provide as much as twice the recommended amount of Vitamins C and K for daily intake.

Additionally, broccoli holds the distinction of being a negative-calorie food. What does this mean? It takes more calories to digest broccoli than it puts into the body (which, incidentally, is also true of grapefruit).

• Cabbage – another cruciferous vegetable, cabbage is also advantageous in the fibre stakes and, like its other cruciferous vegetable cousins, offers up rare sulphur-based compounds (glucosinolates), which may just offer anti-cancer properties.

Plus, it’s definitely worth mentioning that cabbage tends to be far from the most expensive among highly healthy foods, which may make it a particularly favourable option for many when it comes to doing the weekly shop.

• Cauliflower – a favourite ingredient in low-carb diets because of its reputation for being something of a rice-alternative (thereby potentially reducing carbohydrate levels), cauliflower again delivers in the high fibre department, just as it does in terms of many and various nutrients, including Vitamin C; a crucial component in oxidising (breaking down) saturate fat when you during moderate exercise (thus ensuring cauliflower is, without question, a boon for weight-loss).

An alternative – weight management supplements

Now, it’s worth pointing out that, if you suffer from certain allergies or know you’ll struggle to maintain healthy-eating plans that incorporate specific fruits and vegetables, there is another option. You may want to give the naturally-derived supplement route a go.

The following three products are popular examples of supplements available at The Finchley Clinic, which have been expertly created – wholly, mostly or in-part – to help people to lose weight…

Slimirex – vegan-safe and kosher- and halal-approved, this supplement’s herbal nutrients may help deliver weight loss, when combined with a low-calorie diet and an exercise plan.

Thinner G – a dynamic selection of botanicals that can bring about healthy weight loss via the blocking of sugar-uptake, fats and carbs, while appetite and cravings are also suppressed.

MicroCell Lipotone Intensive – a powder containing CL (conjugated lipoic acid), with l-carnitine and garcinia cambogia, this supplement may aid the natural management of fats and carbohydrates, when used as part of an exercise and dietary regime.

Millions across the globe are constantly on the lookout for ways to boost their health and wellbeing. And many experts are coming around to the conclusion that one of the best methods to improve general health is through improving the welfare of the gut – or, perhaps to use a more descriptive term, the body’s intestinal tract. This is because the intestinal tract is the part of the body not just tasked with digesting food and excreting waste but also, chiefly, with detoxifying harmful substances that have found their way into the body.

To that end then, cleansing the gut is becoming increasingly popular. A proper gut cleanse should comprise three principal stages. First, eliminating food items known to cause digestive issues (we’re talking the usual suspects here – dairy, meat, gluten and other allergens), which should be done while replacing these foods (at least for the cleanse’s duration) with much cleaner, healthier and easier-on-the-gut alternatives – see below for examples.

This is followed by the second stage; the digestive system needs to be flushed of all the unnecessary waste, toxins, and organisms that, over time, have built up in it. And then, the third stage focuses on replenishing all the beneficial organisms the gut needs to remain healthy and function well; in short, naturally-occurring chemicals called probiotics, which you may well have heard of.

Gut cleanse diet options

Two traditional paths you might follow for a diet-driven gut cleanse are a specialist fruit-only diet or a specialist non-fruit diet. Experts suggest that, for best results, the fruit-only route is the one to opt for – this means, ideally, a six-day course that focuses on the likes of apples, avocados, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, grapefruit and oranges.

Alternatively, the non-fruit option will, of course, deliver a more varied diet for the duration of your cleanse (again, for around six days). The idea here is to replace all meat, dairy, eggs, soy, wheat and gluten-rich foods with non-fruit but organic foods – the likes of salads, vegetable soups, raw nuts and seeds.

A gut cleanse alternative

Changing your diet, albeit only for a relatively short period of time, can be difficult. Whether it be due to pre-existing health issues, allergies or the availability (or, rather, lack of availability) of certain foods, following a diet-based gut cleanse may not be the easiest method to give your intestinal tract the clean-out it needs. So, what to do? Well, you may well find that the best answer for you lies in naturally-derived supplementation.

One such supplement solution we recommend trying is the GHC Gut Health Kit. Conceived by Dr Edward Group, who runs the US-based supplementation company, Global Healing Center, it’s a comprehensive 30-day-long programme. The kit comprises step-by-step instructions (including guidelines for initiating and following the 30-day organic diet), as well as a digital copy of Dr Group’s best-selling book, The Green Body Cleanse, and the very best gut health products put together by Global Healing Center and available through us at The Finchley Clinic.

Thanks to these supplement products then, when they purchase the GHC Gut Health Kit and following its 30-day programme, our customers can look to:

• Cleanse and detox the gut – the power of oxygen, released by the great Oxy-Powder supplement, can gently flush the digestive system of its waste and toxins
• Balance the gut’s microbiota – the millions-strong community of helpful bacteria that aids digestion, the immune system and overall health is the microbiota and, via the diverse probiotic and prebiotics strains of the Floratrex supplement, this community can be balanced and strengthened
• Gain digestive system support – the VeganZyme supplement provides a mixture of digestive and systemic enzymes to support digestion and gut health, thanks to the enzymes’ innate ability to break down food and help release the nutrients that the food contains.
• Reduce gut inflammation – the Aloe Fuzion supplement is rich in acemannan, which can soothe the gut and support digestive health; in the wake of previously consumed refined sugar, artificial ingredients, GMOs and other toxic food additives that, together and individually, inflame and irritate the gut lining, promoting ‘bad bacteria’ increase.

All told then, the GHC Gut Health Kit is a highly recommended solution for those seeking a relatively simple, guided gut cleanse. It’s designed to successfully cleanse the intestinal tract, balance the microbiota that resides there (so there’s more ‘good bacteria’ than ‘bad bacteria’), thoroughly reset the gut and ensure that, going forward, the ideal platform’s in place for comfort, peace and wellbeing in the abdominal region – and throughout the rest of the body.

You may well have heard of the hormone that’s cortisol. The likelihood, however, is you’re unclear about exactly what it does – and why it’s bad news if its production level rises too high, with too much of it slopping about your body, and what issues and problems that can cause.

In simple terms, cortisol – because it’s a stress hormone – plays a significant role in the body’s fight-or-flight response. As you may be aware, this concerns how the body reacts in cases of what it deems are threats or, yes, stress. In such situations then, the human body will produce cortisol as a natural response.

To that end, cortisol concerns itself with affecting many different areas of the body, which ensures it boosts heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, blood sugar levels and the rate at which you breathe (so basically, when you’re feeling stressed, a pounding heart, sweating and heavy-breathing is down to cortisol).

But it also has an effect on other processes in the body, such as digestion and reproduction – why? To conserve energy as the body deals with stress or an outside threat. As a part of this, cortisol has a natural tendency to suppress the immune system, the danger of which, of course, is the risk of infection rises.

Causes for increased cortisol levels

What, though, does the body deem an outside threat or a stress cause – is it simply just literal dangers and other stressful situations (i.e. work and family life)? Well, these are the classic things that cause cortisol levels to rise; what’s less obvious is that the likes of not maintaining a healthy enough diet, poor sleep and consuming too much caffeine (coffee) are also highly typical causes.

Moreover, specific drugs and medication may, as a side effect, raise cortisol levels in some people. This can be true of corticosteroids, for instance (which are often taken to treat autoimmune diseases), and it can be true too of birth control pills taken for contraception. And, should you suffer from issues with your body’s adrenal glands or its pituitary gland (located in the brain), cortisol levels, again, can rise, as a result.

Symptoms and disorders – including adrenal fatigue

If your cortisol levels increase too much, it could give rise to several different symptoms to be very wary of – especially as a number of them observed in combination could cause a medical professional to suspect you’re suffering from what’s commonly referred to as Cushing’s syndrome (also known as hypercortisolism)⁴. Above all else, tell-tale signs of Cushing’s syndrome are put-on weight around the middle section of the body, as well as the face and upper back, and, conversely, weight lost from the legs.

Additionally, too much cortisol production can result in another issue you may well have heard of – adrenal fatigue. If in doubt, make a check-list of the following symptoms; a combination of them is likely to suggest dangerously elevated levels of cortisol:

• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar (type 2 diabetes)
• Irregular menstrual cycles and excess hair growth in women (face and elsewhere)
• Mood swings and/ or depression
• Obesity
• Purple stretch marks (stomach and elsewhere)
• Reduced fertility (in men and women)
• Unusual bruising of the skin
• Weakened muscles
• Weight gain (face, chest and stomach)

Managing your cortisol levels

So, we’ve looked at cortisol in the body – and the causes for its increased production in the body and symptoms and issues that creates – but how to manage your cortisol levels? How to keep your body’s cortisol on a healthy, efficient and even keel? Well, trying to control your stress levels is an obvious starting point; albeit a challenging thing to do. Even so, there are different ways you might try to manage stress effectively – improve relationships, do aerobic exercise, take time out to relax and enjoy yourself, meditate and practice yoga and so on.

It’s all about recognising what you can do to improve things, rather than always worrying about what you can’t do to improve things. For instance, sleep tends to be a big factor in controlling stress; so why not aim for better sleep hygiene (i.e. buy a good mattress and pillow and try to keep to a sleep schedule)?

And, don’t doubt it, diet is another area you can target to try and help with everyday stress. When you become stressed, it’s normal to begin craving food that’s packed with fats, sugars and carbohydrates. So, introducing more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and ‘healthy fats’ will help you here (you’ll naturally turn to such foods if they’re commonplace in your diet, whatever your mood). But a big boon of having a healthier diet due to such foods is down to how antioxidant-rich they are; the antioxidants they naturally contain can help to decrease physical stress in the body (or oxidative stress, as it’s known), as well as help to decrease emotional stress. Of course, both of these kinds of stress drive production of cortisol.

Plus, it’s important to remain hydrated – dehydration can raise cortisol levels. And try drinking green tea too; research suggests it may also help lower cortisol levels.

Supplements

Finally, another way to keep your body’s cortisol levels in check is to try supplements, which comprise entirely naturally-sourced ingredients. We stock a wide variety of them at The Finchley Clinic (so check our ‘Adrenal Support’ section); here are a few we highly recommend:

Drive! – comprises Tyrosine that, when combined with co-nutrients, supports the adrenal and thyroid glands and may deliver improved energy, balanced brain chemistry and combat depression.

NADH Rapid Energy – the active coenzyme form of Vitamin B3, NADH provides adrenal support, antioxidants and energy-boosting properties, and may aid heart and immune health, anti-ageing and memory maintenance.

Tulsi Stress Relief – this supplement’s adaptogenic properties encourage a healthy response to stress, boost natural energy production and promote mental wellbeing.

Like so many things in life, maintaining the health of your intestinal system is all about balance. Too much stress, too many toxins, too many ‘bad bacteria’ and the balance in your gut (small intestine) can tip in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make much to do that – it’s all too easy to encounter stress and toxins in everyday life – so how to turn the balance back in your favour? The answer is probiotics.

Derived from specific fermented foods and supplements, probiotics are adept at helping to detox the intestinal system, digest fibre, generate vitamins and balance the system – and, especially, balance the gut. In the gut then these living bacteria and yeast (which essentially exist in the body in a symbiotic relationship with it) promote a healthy microbiome full of ‘good bacteria’ – health-promoting micro-organisms – resulting in much improved digestion, immunity and mental and emotional wellbeing; when your body’s in better physical balance, so often tends to be your mind.

The benefits of probiotics

There are many and various advantages of populating your gut with probiotics; but some of the most important are that they can:

• boost immune system response
• cancel out the adverse effects of antibiotics (e.g. diarrhoea)
• help improve food digestion and nutrient absorption
• promote lactose tolerance
• improve yeast balance in the gut
• help the body to synthesise (produce) B vitamins and K vitamins.

Research findings

Furthermore, an increasing number of research studies are discovering more and more benefits of probiotics for the body. So, research suggests that by boosting your probiotic levels you might:

• enhance the bioavailability of many nutrients in your body (B vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc)
• drastically reduce constipation, if you’re of advanced age
• reduce the chance of developing upper respiratory tract infections
• possibly boost production of the critical mood-affecting neurotransmitter serotonin, thanks to a healthy, probiotic-rich gut.

Highly recommended probiotics

All of which leads us to how to actually boost probiotic strains in your intestinal tract. Well, a quick, easy and effective way is to take acclaimed, thoroughly naturally-derived probiotic supplements. There are many supplement probiotics on the market, of course; but those that we – and our customers – highly recommend include:

Floratrex – contains live and active cultures from 23 probiotic strains, ensuring it’s one of the most complete, full-spectrum live probiotic formulas in the world.

Bio-Acidophilous Forte Plus – provides 75 billion ‘good bacteria’ per capsule; ensuring each capsule’s the most potent probiotic source of all supplements (backed by scientifically proven stability, safety and efficacy).

Alternatively, please take a look at the many and various products available in our probiotics supplement range.