Did you know that, by the time they’ve reached 40-years-old, the average human being carries around between 10 and 20 pounds of hard, compacted faecal matter in their intestinal tract? And this is an accumulation of waste matter whose passing isn’t aided by bowel movements; it remains lodged in the person’s gut irrespective of how regular or successful their bowel movements might (appear to) be.

In part, the trouble here is the size of the intestinal tract; being 25-30 feet in length (effectively, its surface area could cover that of a tennis court – yes, really), the gut is an enormously long tunnel within the body, undoubtedly long enough for such a large mass of waste matter, as described above, to simply become stuck and potentially block it up.

So, what’s the answer? Well, the simple truth is that in such a situation, the intestinal tract – the colon – requires cleansing of this obstructive faecal matter. And to do this truly effectively, this solid compaction of waste ought to be cleansed in such a way that it’s turned into a liquid or gas.

What happens if you don’t cleanse your gut?

Now, of course, cleansing one’s intestinal tract isn’t a practice that might come naturally to you; it’s not a practice that’s embedded in our culture. And yet, it’s far from an unnatural thing to do – it’s been perfectly natural in many civilisations down through the ages to follow a diet that’s beneficial for colon health and aids in cleansing the tract of built-up faecal matter (for instance, a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables).

And, don’t doubt it; maintaining such a diet or (in more modern terms) engaging in a colon cleanse is advantageous because not doing so could lead to the development of, or help fuel, a long list of complaints; some relatively minor and unpleasant, others more serious. We’re talking here the likes of back pain; bloating; body odour; diarrhoea; constipation (regular or occasional); halitosis (bad breath); headaches; a lack of energy; reduced appetite; a weakened immune system and weight issues.

Dietary improvements

So, as mentioned above, taking positive steps towards a healthier, gut-friendlier diet is highly advised if you want to achieve a colon-cleansing effect and, definitely, if you want what you put in your mouth to be easier on your digestive system and your intestinal tract as it makes its way through your body, before – its good nutrients removed – it’s excreted as waste.

To that end, the aforementioned raw fruits and vegetables (ideally live and organic), lean meat (poultry and fish), pasta and whole grain breads, and berries and nuts are recommended foods to work into your diet, with a view to eventually making them the cornerstones of your diet. A more balanced diet like this will prove so much more helpful for your gut because, among other things, it will promote the elimination of toxins from your body quickly. Indeed, for even better results, you should try to remember to also drink purified water – and a good deal of it!

Oxy-Powder – another option

However, should you feel you’d like more help to achieve a colon cleanse, in addition to or (perhaps due to food intolerances) in place of making dietary changes, then you might fancy going the supplementation route. Our advice here is to give the naturally-derived, oxygen-based supplement that’s Oxy-Powder a try. Offering a truly unique combination of ozone-oxygenated magnesium and citric acid, Oxy-Powder operates as an all-natural oxygen colon cleanser that can safely relieve the bloating and constipation symptoms that are so associated with colon problems.

More than this, though, Oxy-Powder is specifically designed to target a toxic colon to help ensure that the deep-seated waste in the gut and intestinal system is dissolved into liquid or gas. This takes place via an impressively realised method of time-released oxygen throughout the gut – the released oxygen generating an oxidation/ reduction reaction, liquefying the waste (or making it gaseous) so it’s excreted far easier and, thereby, resulting in an intestinal environment that becomes less prone to impurities, toxins and harmful bacteria taking root.

And here are a few further reasons to turn to Oxy-Powder for an effective colon cleanse:

• Oxy-Powder contains oxygen as its critical ingredient, as opposed to harmful herbs that can damage the delicate intestinal lining.
• A colon cleanse via Oxy-Powder doesn’t force you to take time off from work, nor does it interrupt your daily schedule
• It promotes intestinal harmony, while aiding the growth of ‘good bacteria’ (probiotics)
• It seeks to cleanse the whole digestive tract; not just the colon
• By reducing uncomfortable bloating, Oxy-Powder should also help flatten your stomach!

In actual fact, so much do we recommend Oxy-Powder as an excellent supplement solution for colon cleansing, we advise those who want a fully satisfying cleanse of the intestinal system to try pairing this product with the supplement Latero-Flora, in the shape of the GHC Colon Cleanse Kit.

Combined together in this kit, these two products’ beneficial work is enhanced as they seek to cleanse the body’s small intestine, large intestine and colon of toxins and impacted faecal matter; flushing out and neutralising toxins in the digestive tract to restore its colonies of beneficial, probiotics; thus, supporting healthy digestion, boosting wellbeing and strengthening the body’s own natural defences.

Despite wisdom to the contrary and only flimsy evidence suggesting it’s the way to go to lose weight, so-called quick fixes remain popular among people concerned with weight management. That said, more and more people appear to appreciate that long-term solutions for weight loss are better – are more likely to work for them – than quick fixes.

And, let’s not pretend otherwise, losing weight isn’t something to make light of. The fact is that, if you’re carrying a few extra pounds, it could well have a negative effect on your wellbeing. Studies show that dropping a mere 5-10 percent in weight can benefit you in many different ways, such as reducing the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease, balancing blood sugar levels and improving mental health.

So, what are the most effective ways to go about trying to lose weight…?

• Reach for glasses of water, not diet drinks – research suggests that drinking water instead of an equal amount of diet drinks actually may help someone to lose more weight, as well as improve their insulin resistance
• Adopt a vegan diet – a vegan diet is likely to result in a low body mass index; thus, placing you in a body type category with a reduced prevalence of type 2 diabetes
• Or adopt a low-carb diet – this means altering your eating habit so you cut out sugars and starches and reduce your carbohydrate intake; experts actually believe that alternative, so-called low-fat diets don’t result in as effective weight loss
• Prepare meals properly – carefully consider your food shopping, the preparation of your meals and plan meals in advance for across an entire week; remembering to include salad greens and fruit in them, so you receive antioxidants to boost metabolism and general wellness
• Don’t eat so much – obvious, right? Not so much. Because those who make for themselves bigger portions for meals end up eating more, according to studies, irrespective of the fact they may intend to eat less between meals
• Buy fibre-rich foods – fibre appears to promote weight loss because it helps prevents the absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol, as well as slowing down digestion, enabling more absorption of nutrients from the food you eat
• Give natural supplementation a go – finally, you might want to try organically-derived weight management supplements (especially should you be struggling to make progress with the aforementioned suggestions). We suggest the following products; all of them available through us at The Finchley Clinic:

MicroCell Lipotone Intensive – a powder that comprises conjugated lipoic acid (CL) with l-carnitine and garcinia cambogia A formulation; designed to help support the body’s natural management of fats and carbohydrates, when used as part of an exercise and dietary regime.

Slimirex – an all-natural weight loss formula that combines 10 potent fat fighting ingredients

Vermilia Slim – a herbal extract derived from leaves of Gentianella alborosea, an Andes-based mountain plant, which are traditionally used to aid weight loss.

Detox – or, the actual longer form of the word, detoxification – is a term that’s very familiar to people in today’s modern world. Fundamentally, many of us understand what it means – undergoing a change in what we put into our body in order to clear the body of harmful toxins. Yet, when it comes down to it, detoxification involves more than merely making dietary changes. Typically, a detox involves abstaining from specific harmful things so body processes can be optimised but, while some of these changes are temporary (a cleansing diet, for instance), others ought to be permanent.

Toxins

First things first, though; let’s be clear we know what we mean when we talk about toxins. In essence, toxins are substances that, to humans, are toxic (i.e. poisonous) and so can cause harm to the body.  Typically, specific chemicals, metals, pesticides, pollutants and ingredients in artificial foods that, when consumed, harm the body are what are commonly considered as toxins. And yet, so familiar a term – like detox – is toxin that it covers a wide variety of substances; everything from artificially created chemicals (as you might expect) to naturally occurring substances too. For instance, the naturally occurring arsenic is, of course, a very harmful, toxic substance.

Unfortunately, we come into contact with a good number of these toxins in practically every form of our environment and at practically every moment of the day. How so? Well, they’re there to be encountered in not just the food we eat but also the water we drink and the air we breathe – and this ensures that many of the health issues people suffer from are directly due to the toxins they’ve either allowed to or haven’t been able to prevent consuming and taking root in their body.

On a brighter note, though, owing to its own natural detoxification processes, we can rely on our body to counteract the harmful effects of many toxins and pollutants – for the most part, the toxins that we can’t avoid consuming on a daily basis. However, this is where a programme of detox, of regular cleansing, can really help out your body in successfully performing its natural detoxification processes.

Natural detoxification

Of course, with such an emphasis on us ‘detoxing’ as there is nowadays, it’s all too easy to overlook the fact that our bodies do, indeed, detox themselves naturally – and that any detoxification activities we perform ourselves are effective precisely because they help this natural detox process. So, what’s involved in natural detoxification? Well, detoxification is fundamentally enabled by the excretory system (via defecation and urination) and that means the involvement of several organs; the liver, kidneys, large intestine, lungs and even the skin.

The latter body part may sound like a surprising participant in excretion but, when you think about it, of course the skin is part of the excretory system (and, thus, detoxification), owing to the fact that sweat is excreted through the skin and, while sweating primarily takes place to regulate body temperature, the release of toxins also takes place through sweating.

And what of the rest of the excretory system? The liver is relied on for filtering and excreting waste, hormones and foreign chemicals, the large intestine converts food waste into human waste (stool) to be defecated, the kidneys remove waste from the blood to be excreted through urine and the lungs remove carbon dioxide from the body.

Aiding the body’s detoxification

So, what ought you do in your own ‘detoxing’ efforts to supplement and aid the body’s natural detoxification? First off, it’s all about selecting the kinds of food that’ll best aid these processes. The sort of ‘detox friendly’ foods we’re talking here then are inevitably those that are light in – or entirely free of – toxins; the likes of organic vegetables and fruits, while the likes of fast food and processed foods are at the complete other end of the spectrum.

So, try to cut those out and replace them with healthy, organically-derived foods – and those free of GMO products and pesticide-contamination, if at all possible. Additionally, there are specific foods that will help promote and actively aid natural detoxification, including broccoli sprouts, garlic, lemon, mung beans and raw vegetables.

Alternatively, if you’re restricted in dietary changes you can realistically make (perhaps due to food intolerances), then you might well want to try supplementation. You won’t be surprised to learn that we only recommend naturally-derived supplements, so those that we highly recommend to aid detoxification include the following:

Green Magma (Barley Grass Powder) – a certified organic extract of young Green Barley Juice, this supplement may aid detoxification, improve digestion and boost energy.

ORËÁ – a whole body-focused, natural toxin remover, this supplement can aid in the removal of environmental toxins like lead, mercury, arsenic, biotoxins and solvents.

The hectic nature of modern life leaves us with little choice but to move quickly and to keep busy all the time. For many of us, this isn’t a problem – many of us prefer to be active and busy than not. But what if it does become a problem; what if because so many of us are so constantly busy that we just seem to be tired and fatigued all the time?

There is a theory that this is, in fact, a medical complaint spurred on by our busy lifestyles; leading to the phrase adrenal fatigue, which was created by the American expert Dr James M. Wilson. The theory goes that, due to lifestyle, energy levels are dramatically reduced thanks to a change in the natural production of hormones in the body, owing to chronic levels of mental, physical or emotional stress (or even a combination of all these three kinds of stress). Symptoms-wise, adrenal fatigue has also been said to cause insomnia (issues with falling asleep and remaining asleep and waking up in the morning), as well as cravings for food, not least salt and sugar.

Where these hormones are produced – the adrenal glands

Adrenal fatigue gains its named from the part of the body where many of these aforementioned hormones are created, the adrenal glands (which are located above the kidneys and form part of the body’s endocrine system, along with the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the pancreas, the parathyroid gland, the female ovaries and the male testes). Producing the likes of adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol, these glands’ hormones task themselves with regulating growth, sleep, mood, fertility and metabolism.

Adrenal insufficiency – it’s not adrenal fatigue

Like it or not, it’s easy to confuse adrenal fatigue with another condition. Adrenal fatigue and adrenal insufficiency are not the same thing. The latter is also referred to as Addison’s disease and specifically occurs when something goes wrong with the adrenal glands themselves; when their function is disrupted by nutritional imbalances in the body.

What does it do? Well, it sees them cease creating aldosterone, the hormone (mentioned above) that’s critical for the regulation of both blood pressure and salt level in blood, as well as cortisol, which is generated and secreted directly into the blood flow as a reaction to stress. That said, cortisol’s remit goes further, as it also plays a role in maintaining blood pressure, slowing inflammatory response and contributing to the body’s metabolism. Moreover, the nutritional imbalances that bring on Addison’s disease are often linked to autoimmune disorders; tuberculosis, fungal infections and cancer are believed to be responsible for all further cases of Addison’s disease.

When it comes to symptoms, adrenal insufficiency tends to throw up those at the more dramatic end of the scale to adrenal fatigue. Although, things may kick off with a loss of appetite and dizziness, it’s usual for this to progress to not just weakness, but also nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Low blood pressure and a darkening of skin (usually in skin folds at the knees, elbows, knuckles, toes and lips) are common too. Yet, most importantly – and dangerously – if adrenal insufficiency isn’t identified and correctly addressed by medical professionals, it can be fatal; treatment often involves supplying the body with the hormones it isn’t producing and needs.

How to prevent – and combat – adrenal fatigue

There are several things you can do should you feel you’re exhausted and, frankly, more tired, more often than you ought to be – and, especially, should you think you’re suffering from adrenal fatigue. These tips are designed to keep your endocrine system in balance, so should also help keep adrenal insufficiency at bay:

• Make sure you get enough rest; even if you’re suffering from insomnia, it’s important to put time aside to relax so your body can at least rest and you’ve a better chance of getting some decent sleep
• Exercise – it doesn’t prevent you getting rest and it doesn’t increase stress levels; quite the opposite, in fact – it helps decrease both stress and cortisol levels
• Try not to consume endocrine disrupters; they’re man-made chemicals that can crop up in some foods that can interfere with your adrenal glands and, thus, hormones in your body
• Adopt an adrenal fatigue diet, which should feature various naturally-occurring, organic foods such as healthy proteins, whole grains and fruits and vegetables to provide your body with the good nutritional value it needs.

However, if you’re unable to institute a satisfying adrenal fatigue diet (perhaps due to intolerances to one or more specific foods) then there are some adrenal fatigue-focused supplements you might want to try through us, at The Finchley Clinic. Naturally, we hold all three of the following in high regard and, should you try one or more of them, advise you to try them out and see how you get on with them – and, should you not feel one of them isn’t for you, try another of them instead…

Adrenal Support – a proprietary blend of the extracts of five adaptogenic plants (schisandra, astragalus, snow rose, ginseng and rhodiola) combined together in one supplement to help maintain healthy adrenal function.

AD Intensive – a powder-based, good-tasting supplement designed to support energy levels, which features a high-potency collection of amino acids, botanicals, nutrients and antioxidants (including chromium, magnesium, Korean ginseng, liquorice root and the Vitamins C, B3 and B5).

Drive! – comprising the amino acid Tyrosine, along with supportive co-nutrients, this supplement provides improved energy, balanced brain chemistry, reduced depression and adrenal and thyroid gland support.

Don’t forget, though; if you believe you’re suffering from adrenal fatigue symptoms and they’re causing serious disruption to your life, then it’s important to seek out a healthcare provider (ideally your GP), especially to prevent the development of adrenal insufficiency.

Many people have probably heard of Candida – especially in relation to it being potentially harmful, not least in terms of women’s health – but few knew exactly what it is. Generally speaking, it’s a kind of fungus – more specifically, a type of yeast – and it’s the root cause, if it’s allowed to be, of fungal infections, such as candidiasis, candidemia and oral thrush. To wit, when the body’s immune system is functioning as it should, Candida doesn’t pose a problem; it remains at a healthy level on the skin and in the mucous membranes of places like the gut and, in women, the vaginal area. It’s when an immune system’s compromised then – usually due to the likes of poor diet – that an imbalance occurs and Candida overgrowth becomes an issue; enabling the yeast to overwhelm the body.

Candida overgrowth – the problem

To reiterate then, there’s some form of Candida, some level of Candida, in every individual’s body; it’s nothing to be concerned about because it’s entirely normal. It’s when this level of Candida grows too much and gets out of control that it causes problems. When a body is healthy and happy, its immune system is perfectly capable of keeping the body’s Candida in balance, yet unhealthy lifestyle choices and health conditions ensure it isn’t able to do this and Candida overgrowth takes place – with the yeast level spiralling and impacting on normal, necessary process within the body.

With the potential to cause a plethora of problems, Candida overgrowth could result in infection of the skin, the throat, the oesophagus, the blood and the genitals, while it might also seriously disrupt the balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut, thereby possibly leading to leaky gut syndrome. This condition sees the gut’s protective barrier (the intestinal mucosa) punched with microscopic holes, ensuring its contents – that is, its harmful contents it’s helping to take away and out of the body – leak into the body’s bloodstream.

Candida overgrowth causes

So, what can trigger or outright cause Candida levels to multiply? Like it or not, some of the most commonly occurring causes are:

• Antibiotics – unfortunately, antibiotics work by attacking all bacteria in the body (yes, ‘good’ as well as ‘bad’); thus, potentially the body’s balance and that of its microbiome and so the latter’s efficacy
• Alcohol – some species of Candida can multiply due to chronic alcohol consumption, which pretty inevitably can lead to serious health problems
• Weakened immune system – when your body’s immune system is suppressed, the door is always opened to potential Candida overgrowth and sundry medical complaints can weaken immunity
• Diabetes – high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) naturally affects the immune system; reducing the antibacterial-related activity of urine and impeding the function of the digestive and urinary systems (i.e. removing waste from the body).

Additionally, factors such as pregnancy, organ transplantation and kidney failure or haemodialysis can also play a role in Candida overgrowth.

Candida species

There are many different species of Candida, the most common of which is probably Candida albicans. ‘Opportunistic’ by nature, this fungus is the one that causes most fungal infections. As noted above, in itself and when present or in the human body, Candida albicans is generally harmless – it’s when it’s allowed to multiply wildly and run riot that it can lead to serious problems; among the most commonly occurring being vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush. Other kinds of Candida include Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Candida dubliniensis, Candida lusitaniae, Candida guilliermondii, Candida rugosa, Candida zeylanoides and Candida tropicalis.

Combatting Candida overgrowth

Should you believe you’ve developed a yeast infection or any other illness caused by or linked to Candida overgrowth, the onus is on you to act quickly. Improving your diet can work wonders in the long term, while many may suggest turning to naturally-derived remedies for shorter-term treatment; the likes of tea tree oil, star anise and eucalyptus are all advised.

However, you may also be tempted to try fully organically-derived supplements designed specifically to tackle and combat Candida overgrowth (after all, tea tree oil, star anise and eucalyptus aren’t particularly easy to come by on their own; let alone together). So, among those relevant supplements we stock at The Finchley Clinic – and our customers rate most highly – are the following:

Candizolv – featuring a fine balance of yeast-dissolving enzymes, especially chitinase and chitosanase, this supplement combats Candida overgrowth by working its way into the body’s fat cells so it can be released over time for maximum efficacy.

Fivelac, Oxygen Elements Max and Active Digestive Enzymes Kit – a combination of supplements that boosts the brilliant benefits of Fivelac via the ‘life force energy’-supporting attributes of Oxygen Elements Max and the intestinal-enhancing work of the nutrients that make up Active Digestive Enzymes.

Fivelac, Oxylift and Active Digestive Enzymes Kit – an offering that combines the great digestive health properties of Fivelac with the fulvic acid driven-benefits of OxyLift and the intestinal-improving attributes of all the nutrients that make up Active Digestive Enzymes.

Illness via infection and disease is, of course, a regular occurrence, one which it’s believed – even via the most advanced techniques possible – is simply impossible to rule out entirely. This may well be true but there’s no question we can greatly restrict the chances of us getting continually ill through infection. And, in most cases, the emphasis of doing so is based on getting one’s diet right; adopting a decidedly healthy and balanced diet that eschews saturate fats and toxins for proved natural vitamins and many more nutrients. However, is there more we can do here?

Well, Dr Edward Group, respected American founder of the Global Healing Center, believes one of the root causes of illness and disease is down to the body becoming so contaminated with toxic residue from everyday life that its internal self-healing mechanism suffers suppression. The source of all these toxins is, of course, is all around us – namely the air, food, water, beverages, harmful organisms, stress, radiation and so on. And, yes, more than 90 percent of toxins get into all parts of the body by escaping the digestive system through its intestinal lining.

Oxygen intestinal cleansing

Dr Group then believes that this toxic residue can be successfully tackled and combatted through the supplement produced by his company, Oxy-Powder, which brings about superoxide/ ozonide creation and a resultant specific stabilisation process, thanks to transforming reactive oxygen species to magnesium compounds. And yet, it’s not just Dr Group himself who’s sure of thus; judging by the Global Healing Group’s feedback, our own feedback and the sales figures of Oxy-Powder, it’s a supplement – the most powerful oxygen-releasing, toxin-neutralising colon (and full digestive tract) cleansing product on the market – that can do a proper job in helping keep people healthy and well.

Indeed, we at The Finchley Clinic began selling the supplement in the late 1990s and, from then on, it emerged to become the industry standard for oxygen intestinal cleansing. So much so, in fact, that the word ‘Oxy-Powder’ has since become adopted to describe the process and power of transmuting a preparation of ozone and magnesium oxides into a stabilised oxygen releasing powder; all in the name of supporting health and long-life.

Brilliant at boosting immunity

Another critical component in Oxy-Powder’s efficacy is what it can do to boost the body’s immunity. Lest we forget, 70 percent of the immune system actually resides in the digestive tract. This is important to note because of Oxy-Powder’s proven ability, backed-up by its high-tech titration-measuring oxygen release, to keep on releasing beneficial oxygen into the digestive tract.

So, when the supplement’s consumed, the stomach’s hydrochloric acid reacts with its oxygenated magnesium; thus, promoting the slow release of oxygen throughout the body, which softens faecal matter. Furthermore, probiotics present in the gut are strengthened and fed by this supply of oxygen, enhancing intestinal and digestive benefits in addition to creating a stable bowel environment.

Plus, the oxygen released by Oxy-Powder oxidises and cleans the entire bowel, thereby relieving constipation and compaction. And, when you consume a fully formulated oxygen-based colon cleanser exactly like Oxy-Powder, the level of oxygen reactive species (ORS) in the gut are automatically increased; thus, bringing about a stimulation of lymphocytes and creating more T-cells, the result of which is the promotion of a strengthened immune system.

At a glance – 7 reasons to use Oxy-Powder

• Oxy-Powder promotes intestinal harmony; in part, by creating an environment that aids friendly probiotic growth
• It can actively tackle the effects of abdominal-related ailments, including back pain, bloating, body odour, diarrhoea, halitosis, low energy, headaches, mood swings, poor appetite and weight problems
• It gets to work immediately and so delivers results quickly, as well as being easy to consume with usually few or no side effects
• In a phase III clinical trial, Oxy-Powder was proved to be more effective in treating constipation than rival product Dulcolax
• Oxy-Powder comprises powerful compounds, which contain magnesium oxide, natural citric acid and organic gum acacia (and can be taken in Kosher-vegetarian capsules), each of which is non-toxic and non-addictive; thus, safe for ingestion
• It doesn’t contain ascorbic acid among its ingredients; granted, many oxygen-based products do contain this nutrient owing to its strong antioxidant properties, yet were it to feature in this supplement it would naturally neutralise its oxygen release abilities – you can be sure this isn’t the case
• Finally, as outlined at length above, Oxy-Powder is brilliant at boosting immunity.

It may strike you as a head-scratcher – it certainly does us at The Finchley Clinic – but there are some people out there who still believe that consuming Vitamin C isn’t beneficial to the human body. Frankly, it’s a bizarre and rather laughable idea, given that it flies in the face of practically all credible research on the subject and, well, the simple fact that the body doesn’t produce this hugely necessary vitamin itself. Hugely necessary? Yes, because without enough Vitamin C in your system you could develop the potentially fatal disease of scurvy.

To that end then, what we should be asking ourselves is not whether we need Vitamin C but in what form is it best consumed? Ideally, of course, as is pretty much always the case, this nutrient is surely best consumed via one’s diet. Yet, given that some of us suffer from intolerances to certain foods this can cause problems. Which, naturally, is where Vitamin C supplements come in. And, make no mistake, one of the very best on the market – one which we highly suggest you try giving a go; not just because it’s our best-selling supplement-provider of the vitamin – is Tapioca Vitamin C.

Why Vitamin C’s so important

First, though, a bit of background. Only those of a certain age may be able to recall the time when Vitamin C (or ascorbic acid, as it’s also known) wasn’t quite the household name it is nowadays – basically, it’s been ubiquitous in dietary and nutritional terminology from the early 1970s onwards, when the famous American chemist and peace activist Linus Pauling published his book ‘Vitamin C and the Common Cold’ (which was followed about 30 years later by another highly regarded and important book, Thomas E Levy’s ‘Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases and Toxins: Curing the Incurable’).

From that point on, not only has Vitamin C been an ever-present in the mainstream understanding of human dietary requirements, but the vast majority of the scientific community’s been united on just why it’s so important. And that appreciation for why it’s so important the vitamin’s consumed has grown and evolved. For, today, it’s widely accepted that the vitamin is crucial for:

• detoxifying
• acting as an antioxidant agent
• anti-aging
• collagen building
• immune building
• providing anti-viral properties
• battling general infection

Not all Vitamin C supplements are the same

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) recommends that adults between the ages of 19 and 64-years-old should consume no less than 40mg of Vitamin C daily; in the US, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 60mg a day. However, these dosages really are at the bottom level of the scale – they basically constitute the dosage any person ought to consume to avoid scurvy (which effectively comes about because of grossly deficient Vitamin C intake). The reality then is that all of us should surely consume, on a daily basis, much more of this vitamin.

So, taking that into account, it’s well within your interests to ensure that, should you not be able to rely on your daily diet to get all the Vitamin C you need, you choose the right nutritional supplement to fulfill that need. Now, sure; there’s no end of Vitamin C supplements on the market – be they purchasable in pharmacies, supermarkets, health shops or wherever – but the downside with so many of them is that they tend to be sourced from corn.

And the problem with corn? Many people (up to 65 percent of the population, it’s been estimated) find they’re actually allergenic to this foodstuff – which means that Vitamin C products sourced from it retain corn remnants. Moreover, very often they also contain bioflavonoids, which may trigger intolerance in some people due to these citrus elements’ allergenic nature; plus, it may well be that the level of bioflavonoids (although enough to cause intolerance in some people) isn’t enough to improve Vitamin C absorption – the actual reason why it’s included in the first place.

How Tapioca Vitamin C is different

All of which points to the fact that the best supplement solution for boosting your Vitamin C intake has to be a supplement like the ultra-pure Tapioca Vitamin C. Comprising 1,000mg of the vitamin (99.9 percent of it, in fact), it’s not sourced from corn at all but from the all-natural tapioca – a starchy substance obtained from cassava root – ensuring it’s hypoallergenic, not allergenic.

It also comprises no unnecessary and ineffective chemicals or additives that get in the way of its Vitamin C-absorbance; the Vitamin C it contains being entirely L-ascorbic acid (there are no bioflavonoids or anything here). And both vegetarians and vegans will be pleased to learn that Tapioca Vitamin C is also fully vegan-friendly, so totally suitable for non-meat/ fish/ dairy eaters.

All in all then, you might well conclude it’s not difficult to see why Tapioca Vitamin C has become our best-selling Vitamin C product!

We tend to think we live in a very advanced civilisation in today’s 21st Century; however, perhaps our diets tell a different story. Too many of us eat too many foods that, although tasty, are bad for us and don’t give us the nutrients our bodies need. Too many of us don’t heed the lessons of civilisations past when it comes to what we eat and how we maintain our diets. Too many of us simply don’t consume another nutrient-rich organic foods.

A good example, perhaps, is Green Magma. Formerly branded as Barley Grass Powder – and manufactured by the Green Foods Corporation – Green Magma’s constituent ingredient (green barley) has been a staple food in the diets of human civilisations for at least nine millennia; if not in the diet enough of today’s civilisation. That said, in Japan it’s still considered a traditional green food that’s seen as particularly energising and anti-ageing. But what else? Well, why don’t we take a closer look…?

The Green Magma supplement we sell at The Finchley Clinic comes in powder form and so can be mixed into juice or water. It comprises nutrients and phytochemicals derived directly from the original barley grass that can help drive up energy, improve disease resistance and, in many people, result in healthier skin, nails and hair.

Ingredients

Consisting primarily of a trio of ingredients, Green Magma contains barley grass juice powder, maltodextrin (derived from tapioca) and brown rice. The barley grass juice, in this powered form, is obtained via a juicing and spray-drying process that it’s claimed protects the supplement’s nutrients from deterioration. Maltodextrin and brown rice are added not just to provide texture but also to further protect the nutrients from oxidation.

Nutritional details

Green Magma’s fat-free composition comprises one gram of protein per serving. Its manufacturers report that, for a healthy grown adult following a 2,000-calorie diet, two teaspoons of the supplement should make for an excellent source of the Vitamins A, C and K, while also provide good helpings of the crucially important minerals that are potassium and folic acid.

It’s alkalising

So, what? What’s so beneficial about that? Well, human blood tends to vary – person-to-person – along a pH range of between 7.35 and 7.45, which means it’s slightly alkaline. And that means it’s crucial for the body to be able to maintain this natural pH level; millions of cell reactions depend on the body’s blood remaining healthy and just as it is. Thus, with its gentle alkalising influence, Green Magma can contribute here effectively.

It’s energising

Featuring, as it does, in excess of 70 different nutrients, Green Magma’s jam-packed full of chemicals ready and waiting to revitalise and rejuvenate the body. It’s worth remembering, though, that some of the nutrients it comprises can be destroyed by either acidity or heat. So, for that reason, it’s important to remember not to mix the supplement – in its powder form – with a hot drink, otherwise a good number of the highly beneficial nutrients will inevitably be removed from the powder.

It’s detoxifying

Green Magma can thank its array of detoxification properties on the several antioxidants it contains, such as superoxide dismutase, which is a powerful free radical scavenger. Don’t doubt it; maintaining or – better – boosting your body’s antioxidant levels can offer and support a large number of health benefits, basically because it prevents harmful chemicals oxidising in the body and harming millions of the body’s cells and crippling their crucial functions.

Start off slow but sure

Finally, as the supplement can be so useful as a detoxification tool, it’s worth pointing out that some people may experience a level of tiredness when they first start using it. This is a relatively normal reaction for individuals who, unfortunately, may well have a high level of toxins in their body that need to be eradicated. To that end then, such people should start out on low doses of Green Magma, before gradually building up to reduce symptoms of detoxification.

Did you know that the millions of bacteria that live in and on you combine to form a critical component in your immune system? Well, like it or not; they do. And that’s because they help to protect your body from invading bacteria, germs and chemicals to enhance your immune system (helping to turn it on and off) to protect you effectively against colds, the flu and other infectious illnesses and diseases.

In which case, if you’re prone to catching such ailments, it could well be the balance of your gut microbiota (the kind of bacteria your gut contains) is off. And, in extreme cases, imbalanced gut bacteria might well contribute to immune-related diseases like asthma and inflammatory bowel disease.

So, to improve a weakened immune system, why not consider a gut restoration programme? Here are five steps you might want to implement…

Eliminate food intolerances

First up, you need to work out which foods you have an intolerance to – we’re talking the likes of certain nuts, dairy, eggs, soy, spicy foods, sugar and wheat. How? Remove them over the course of 10-28 days and then reintroduce them, one ingredient or food at a time. This’ll aid you in working out what does and doesn’t actually agree with you. Note: you may not want to return to much of sugar or processed grains at all.

Add fermented foods to your diet

It could be that you’re suffering from issues because your gut requires re-inoculation. How so? Well, from birth you may have had a poorly colonised gut (like it or not, harmful bacteria outnumbering the ‘good’ bacteria, such as probiotics), or it’s got that way over time due to a diet too low in nutrients or you’ve had one too many courses of antibiotics (which kill off both good and ‘bad’ bacteria). So, to re-inoculate your gut, you might try adding fermented foods to your daily diet. Indeed, such foods comprising probiotics include the likes of kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, yogurt and even pickles. If you’re not used to eating fermented food, then don’t rush it; build up the amount you add to each meal as you go.

Try some herbal remedies

To heal your gut properly – so that, yes, it might be able to operate properly – it needs to be healed in the way you’d want a skin wound to be totally healed. To that end, why shouldn’t you look to remedies for your gut; the sort of remedies that have been proven to work over many centuries by many different civilisations? Holistic remedies then like aloe, glutamine and liquorice root are great for supporting intestinal-lining growth. Additionally, you might want to try Omega-3 fatty acids for their restorative and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as ginger, quercetin, rosemary and turmeric.

Support your gut’s healthy bacteria

Good gut health, in essence, often comes down to repopulating your intestinal system with good bacteria, so the latter outnumbers the bad bacteria. And you can help that process along by feeding the good bacteria exactly the ‘food’ they need to survive and thrive; that is, prebiotics. These chemicals occur in many different healthy, organic foods, including artichokes, asparagus, beans, garlic, oats, onions and practically evert green leafy vegetable.

Try Restore for Gut Health

A dietary/ nutritional supplement? Yes. But why would you need one if you’re making significant positive changes to your diet. Well, this one’s no ordinary supplement. Restore’s a unique and ground-breaking product for healing the gut mucosa that was developed by Dr Zach Bush in the United States. With the gut’s lining being prone to getting so easily damaged, Restore comes into its own thanks to its innate ability to restore the tight junctions of the gut; thus, significantly helping to maintain healthy, regular function.

Indeed, this most impressive of supplements – available through us at The Finchley Clinic – has been proven both in laboratory and clinical testing to support the functioning of the gut barrier and improve intestinal health by strengthening these tight junctions between the gut’s small and large membrane cells, supporting the aim of an optimal gut environment.

When you take the time to look into vitamins and try to work out which you need (clue: all of them!) and which you may need more of because you’re not getting enough in your daily diet, there is a danger it can all become a bit of an alphabet soup. Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and so on. What do they all do?

What’s the difference between them all? Do they really each contribute something important and different to each other for the human body? And then there’s the vitamins that come with numbers too; the ‘B Vitamins’ – Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12? What’s going on there?

The fact is they’re all crucial; you need a natural dosage of them all daily – if possible – from your diet – again, if possible. But what if that isn’t possible? What if you’re struggling with your diet or if you’re aware that your body isn’t capable of consuming and absorbing certain vitamins from your diet naturally? Well, in that situation; naturally derived supplementation is undoubtedly your solution.

For instance, let’s take a look at one of those ‘letter and number’ vitamins; Vitamin B12. It’s a good example because, unfortunately, as adults get older their innate ability to absorb it naturally in food reduces; thus, reliable supplementation’s a very effective option to turn to – and the best supplement they can turn to has to be VeganSafe B12.

VeganSafe B12 – your solution for B12 deficiency

First of all, as you’d have imagined from its name, this is a supplement that’s not just certified organic, GMO- and gluten-free but also ideal for vegans (and so for vegetarians and meat-eaters too, of course). Ingredients-wise, it comprises the two most bioactive coenzyme forms of B12 in existence (which means that, together, they’re the two most potent and positively active forms of the vitamin inside the body), namely methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. To that end, they’re the two forms of B12 that are best when it comes to ensuring the vitamin performs what it’s most famous for; driving energy production.

Indeed, the supplement supports the production of energy in various different ways. Not only does it support the adrenal glands, it also contributes to red blood cell-formation (and cell growth and replication, in general, as well as DNA production) and aids in the conversion of carbohydrates to glucose (the latter being the fuel the body requires for generating energy).

And, let’s not pretend otherwise, B12 deficiency is bad news for the human body. Without adequate levels of the vitamin, a person can begin experiencing megaloblastic anaemia, asthma, constipation, depression, fatigue, low sperm count, memory loss, vision problems, weakness, weight loss and even possibly brain shrinkage. The results of preliminary studies also suggest there might even be a link between B12 deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease.

In the light of all that, you may conclude, should you not be doing so, adequately boosting your body’s B12 levels is pretty essential. Not least because it also operates as a defence against the common amino acid homocysteine (often consumed via eating meat); thus, offering nutritional support to different systems in the body – the nervous system and the cardiovascular system; homocysteine’s a cardiovascular stressor, in particular. Additionally, it’s believed that the methylcobalamin in B12 can help support sleep, by positively influencing melatonin secretion and light sensitivity; as well as aiding in the normalisation of the ‘body clock’.

But why choose VeganSafe B12, in particular? 

Well, just consider this – not only is VeganSafe B12 an easy-to-swallow liquid formula, it’s also particularly tasty (according to our customers!). Great news. But perhaps even better news is the fact the European Food Safety Authority reports that the combination of adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin is a reliable and entirely safe way to consume naturally occurring vitamin B12¹.

Also, its high absorbability ensures it doesn’t ask the liver to convert any of its constituent ingredients, which is exactly the opposite of what would happen were you to plump instead for many a cheaper alternative B12 supplement, like those comprising the lesser-quality B12 forms that are hydroxo- and cyanocobalamin. For instance, the latter, like it or not, contains a cyanide molecule that the liver’s forced to metabolise. There could be said to be some occasions when taking no vitamins is better than taking the wrong ones; this could well be one of them.

In contrast then, happily, VeganSafe B-12 with its primary ingredients of adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin, offers excellent absorption of the B12 your body needs, ensuring efficient use of the vitamin by your liver, brain and cardiovascular and nervous systems – and throughout the rest of your body too.