Category Archives: General Health & Nutrition

BioCare Adult Multivitamins & Minerals, General Health & Nutrition, True Food Natural Vitamin E, Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin E-ssential: The Many and Various Benefits of Vitamin E

Pretty much everybody – even children – are aware that the organic compounds known as vitamins are vital to the preservation of human health,  but while most people have heard of Vitamins A, B (Complex), C and D – and some are familiar with them – how many people know that much about Vitamin E? Chances are not that many. And yet, just like its fellow vitamins, ‘E’ is essential to keeping us fit and healthy and our bodies happily functioning as they should.

So, just what’s so special about Vitamin E? What makes it so important to our well-being? Well, principally it’s because it functions as such a good and reliable antioxidant1, thus combating the harmful, highly reactive molecules that occur in our bodies known as ‘free radicals’. Now, because these molecules are ‘uncharged’ (they’re forever after an electron to pair with their single electron) they attack and damage cells in their quest to become ‘charged’ and complete, thus potentially leading to many ailments. This process is referred to as oxidative stress2 and so requires antioxidants to counteract and neutralise the harmful effects of free radicals to the tissues of the skin3, eyes4, liver, breast, lungs and testes6, 7 – which is where Vitamin E comes in.

Antioxidant benefits

As a result of its invaluable antioxidant properties then, Vitamin E is believed to help with a whole range of issues, not least arthritis8, compromised eyesight9, gout10 and atherosclerosis6. Moreover, in combating free radical formation that would otherwise see the molecules spread throughout the body, it can help prevent chain reactions that might lead to the emergence of diseases such as cardiovascular and heart disease, hypertension, senility and even forms cancer6.

And it doesn’t end there; further Vitamin E benefits include reducing menstrual pains and disorders such as vaginal itching dryness6 and migraines11, as well as help treat fatty liver disease12, muscular dystrophy13, restless leg syndrome14, shingles15 and diabetes-related circulatory problems16. Plus, in tandem with Vitamin A, there’s research to suggest Vitamin E may help reduce cholesterol and accumulation of fat6.

Vitamin E sources

So, with its myriad health benefits, it would be no surprise you decided to check if you’re getting enough of Vitamin E. The good news is that if you practice a well-balanced, healthy diet, there’s a decent chance you do. If not, though, you might look to boost your vegetable, seed and nut intake6. To that end, almonds, broccoli, avocados, hazelnuts, kale, mustard greens, papayas, parsley, pine nuts, olives, raw seeds, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip greens are all noted strong sources for the vitamin.

But what if you’re unable to alter your diet sufficiently (you might well have a nut allergy, for instance)? Well, there are a good number of Vitamin E supplements on the market and that means it’s in your interest to check out and discover the best and most value-for-money products. In which case, may we turn your attention to the ‘Vitamins & Minerals’ section of The Finchley Clinic website where you’ll find a fine selection of supplements containing Vitamin E and more; the following three of which are all highly recommended:

Adult-Multivitamins-and-Minerals-90-Capsules

BioCare Adult Multivitamins & Minerals – a one-a-day capsule for all round nutritional support, features Vitamins A, B (Complex), C, D and E, as well as zinc, magnesium and selenium.

True-Food-Natural-Vitamin-E

True Food Natural Vitamin E – a highly bio-available food form of Vitamin E that helps protect cell membranes from oxidative damage and supports healthy skin; can also be taken with True Food Soyagen for menopause support.

MicroCell-Vitamin-E

Microcell Vitamin E 200 – micellised into small droplets by BioCare’s unique MicroCell process for enhanced absorption and bioavailability.

References:

1. ‘Vitamin E: Health Sheet for Health Professionals’. National Institute of Health. May 2016.

2. Jakus V. ‘The role of free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidant systems in diabetic vascular disease’. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2000. 101(10): 541-51.

3. Thiele J. J., Hsieh S. N. and Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S. ‘Vitamin E: critical review of its current use in cosmetic and clinical dermatology’. Dermatol Surg. July 2005. 31 (7 Pt 2): 805-13.

4. Rizvi, S. et al. ‘The Role of Vitamin E in Human Health and Some Diseases’. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 14.2 2014: e157–e165.

5. Applegate T. J. and Sell J. L. ‘Effect of dietary linoleic to linolenic acid ratio and vitamin E supplementation on vitamin E status of poults’. Poult Sci. July 1996. 75 (7): 881-90

6. Lobo V. et al. ‘Free Radicals, Antioxidants and Functional Foods: Impact on Human Health’. Pharmacognosy Reviews 4.8 2010: 118–126. PMC.

7. Choi E. J., Bae S. C., Yu R., Youn J. and Sung M. K. ‘Dietary vitamin E and quercetin modulate inflammatory responses of collagen-induced arthritis in mice’. J Med Food. Aug 2009.12 (4): 770-5.

8. Larsen P. D., Mock D. M. and O’Connor P. S. ‘Vitamin E deficiency associated with vision loss and bulbar weakness’. Ann Neurol. 1985 Dec. 18 (6): 725-7

9. Hsu D-Z. et al. ‘Therapeutic Effects of Sesame Oil on Monosodium Urate Crystal-Induced Acute Inflammatory Response in Rats’. SpringerPlus 2. 2013: 659. PMC.

10. Ziaei S., Kazemnejad A. and Sedighi A. ‘The effect of vitamin E on the treatment of menstrual migraine’. Med Sci Monit. Jan 2009. 15(1): CR16-9.

11. Arani K. S. et al. ‘Effect of Vitamin E and Metformin on Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Children- Randomized Clinical Trial’. Iranian Journal of Public Health 43.10 2014: 1417–1423.

12. Berneske G. M. et al. ‘Clinical Trial of High Dosage Vitamin E in Human Muscular Dystrophy’. Canadian Medical Association Journal 82.8 1960: 418–421.

13. Ayres S. and Mihan R. ‘Leg Cramps (Systremma) and ‘Restless Legs’ Syndrome – Response to Vitamin E (Tocopherol)’. California Medicine 111.2 1969: 87–91.

14. Nicholas J. A. et al. ‘Design of Oral Agents for the Management of Multiple Sclerosis: Benefit and Risk Assessment for Dimethyl Fumarate’. Drug Design, Development and Therapy 8 2014: 897–908. PMC.

15. Baburao Jain, A. and Anand Jain V. ‘Vitamin E, Its Beneficial Role in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Its Complications’. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR 6.10 2012: 1624–1628. PMC.

Colds and flu, General Health & Nutrition, Green Magma, Probiotics, Winter Health

A gateway to winter illness: treating and preventing a sore throat

It’s something that automatically causes dread in people this time of year – a tickle in or at the back of the throat. The reason? Because, in so many cases, it tends to indicate an oncoming sore throat. Granted, on its own a sore throat’s usually a minor complaint, but too often it’s also a gateway to something that truly has to be endured (a cold, the flu or another type of viral infection), forcing many people to try and battle through work during the cold, dark days of winter while they feel unwell. So what can you do to treat a sore throat – and can you prevent yourself from ever getting one in the first place? Good question…

Causes and symptoms

The causes of a sore throat are many and various. In the vast majority of cases in both adults and children (as many as 95%), the reason for one developing is because of the onset of a virus like the common cold or influenza (the flu)1. Less often but occasionally, a sore throat may be caused by the likes of allergies, dry air, pollution, smoking, tonsillitis or acid reflux 2, 3.

As pointed out then, a sore throat is, of course, a symptom itself, yet owing to the fact some can be more severe than others, it can practically feel like they’re made up of their own various symptoms. For instance, you may merely experience a tickling soreness and a hoarse voice or you might have swollen glands around your throat and neck and find swallowing painful and difficult1. Moreover, you may be suffering from other symptoms in addition to a sore throat, such as congestion, a headache, a runny nose, a fever and even abdominal pain or vomiting. Obviously if you feel your sore throat’s part of something serious, you should consult a doctor – in fact, it’s advisable to do so if it alone lasts more than a week.

Natural remedies

There are several natural sore throat remedies you can turn to:

  • Drink warm beverages – they can moisten and make comfortable an inflamed, painful throat; ordinary tea is an obvious choice here but healthy green or oolong tea are excellent options too
  • Gargle salt water or try garlic – gargling warm water with half a teaspoon of salt is great for quick relief from throat pain4, or how about trying the fantastic health-giving properties of this odourless, aftertaste-free garlic?
  • Honey and black seed oil – research suggests that honey can provide relief to children’s coughs5; just a teaspoon in a drink or on its own will suffice each time and you might add to it two or three drops of black (cumin) seed oil, as it’s anti-inflammatory so ought to further aid pain relief6, 7
  • Essential oils – inhaling the vapours of myrrh8 and eucalyptus are recommended for a sore throat, as is gargling with the former; while applying two drops of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender oil) to the back of the tongue may also prove effective
  • Spices – both turmeric and ginger have been recognised for centuries for their therapeutic aspects9; as such, ginger is thought to alleviate sore throat pain, while turmeric contains the soothing component that’s curcumin (see many of the products we stock that contain turmeric and curcumin here)10.

Prevention

Finding natural resources for relief to a sore throat’s all well and good, but what about preventing one from developing in the first place? Well, you might try to limit your exposure to people whom seem to be ill and could give you one, but this isn’t always particularly practical. However, making sure to wash your hands regularly and avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke are easier achievable aims that’ll cut the likelihood of a sore throat.

Meanwhile, a failsafe way to reduce the chances of catching a cold, the flu or putting yourself at risk from sore throat-causing viruses and infections is to try and boost your body’s immunity. To that end, introducing into your diet cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, bok choy and cauliflower)11 and carotenoid-rich tomatoes12 comes highly advised.

Supplements

That said; it ought to be pointed out that some people have dietary constraints, so it may be best for them to boost the infection-combating Vitamins B and C in their bodies – as well as improving or maintaining their immunity – via vitamin supplements. The following are all advisable and available through us at The Finchley Clinic:

Aerobic O7 (70ml) – nascent oxygen, when taken as Aerobic O7, prompts the formation of white blood cells, which are critical in helping the body fight infections.

vitamin-c-ultra-pure

Tapioca Vitamin C (90 capsules) – contains the immune-building and infection-fighting Vitamin C.

Echinacea Cold Flu Relief (capsules) – a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve symptoms of the common cold and flu-type infections; can be used in combination with our Liquid Oxygen products (including Aerobic O7) and others.

 

References

1. Worrall G. J. ‘Acute Sore Throat’. Canadian Family Physician 53.11 (2007): n.pag.
2. CDC. ‘Sore throat’. Centers for Disease Control. CDC. 23 July 2015.
3. ‘Sore throat’. Medline Plus. National Library of Medicine. 21 Oct 2016.
4. ‘Strep throat’. Medline Plus. 2 Dec 2016.
5. Paul I. M. et al. ‘Effect of Honey, Dextromethorphan and No Treatment on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality for Coughing Children and Their Parents’. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine. 161.12 (2007): 1140–6.
6. Ali B. H. and Blunden G. ‘Pharmacological and Toxicological Properties of Nigella Sativa’. Phytotherapy Research 17.4 (2003): 299–305.
7. Padhye S., Banerjee S., Ahmad A., Mohammad R. and Sarkar F. H. ‘From Here to Eternity – the Secret of Pharaohs: Therapeutic Potential of Black Cumin Seeds and Beyond’. 6.b (n.d.) (2008): 495–510.
8. El Ashry E. S. H., Rashed N., Salama O. M. and Saleh A. ‘Components, therapeutic value and uses of myrrh’. Die Pharmazie – An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Avoxa – Mediengruppe Deutscher Apotheker GmbH, 1 Mar. 2003.
9. Baliga M. S., Haniadka R., Pereira M. M., D’Souza J. J., Pallaty P. L., Bhat H. P. and Popuri S. ‘Update on the Chemopreventive Effects of Ginger and Its Phytochemicals’. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 51.6 (2011): 499–523.
10. Lim T. K. ‘Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 12 Modified Stems, Roots’. N.p.: Springer. 2016.
11. Veldhoen M. and Brucklacher-Waldert V. ‘Dietary Influences on Intestinal Immunity’. Nature reviews. Immunology. 12.10 (2012): 696–708.
12. Watzl B., Bub A., Brandstetter B. R. and Rechkemmer G. ‘Modulation of Human T-Lymphocyte Functions by the Consumption of Carotenoid-Rich Vegetables | British Journal of Nutrition | Cambridge Core’. British Journal of Nutrition 82.5 (1999): 383–389.

General Health & Nutrition

Last orders before Christmas / Products to prevent colds and flu’s over the holiday season

We’ll be open almost up to Christmas, and if you want to order before we close here are the deadlines:

  • The last date for guaranteed (courier) UK delivery before Christmas is Thursday 22nd December. This is also the last date for orders to be shipped internationally by courier (usually 3-4 working days).
  • The last date for 1st and 2nd class Royal Mail shipping before Christmas (but delivery before Christmas is NOT guaranteed) is 10am on Friday 23rd December. This is also the cut off time for orders being shipped by Air Mail (delivery time is usually about 5 -10 working days).

Products to prevent colds and flu’s over the holiday season

There are loads of choices here. It may be hard to decide which one to use, but using one or more works, whereas being lazy or indecisive and not using any of them as a result, does not. Here’s a quick summary of what we’ve got.

1) All of our liquid oxygen products are anti-viral. As for which one is the “best” one in this category, well that’s almost impossible to say. Basically, they all work.
2) All Vitamin C products boost immunity, and combat viral infection and pretty much all infectious disease. Our best selling one, which is also excellent value for money is Tapioca Vitamin C (formerly Ultra Pure Vitamin C) 1000mg 90 caps – and I take this product myself.
3) Zinc (our favourite one is Zinc Ascorbate) and Selenium (more or less any of them) also help tremendously in preventing viral replication
4) We provide a number of antioxidant products which combine Vitamin C, Zinc, Selenium and other important antioxidants as an all-in-one product. They are all quite similar, but based both on value for money, and the actual balance of the nutrients provided, we think that Antioxidant Supreme which I take myself is the best one. My own mentor used to say (repeatedly!) that everyone who wants to optimise their health should take this or something similar, long term. The only important vitamin antioxidant that’s missing from this product, and for some reason most similar ones is…
4) Vitamin D, which close to 100% of people are deficient in during the winter is highly supportive to immunity, whereas being deficient is highly unsupportive (there is also overwhelming evidence that people who are chronically and long term low in this vitamin are statistically more likely both to get cancer, and if they do get end up with this awful illness, less likely to thrive and recover). Of the Vitamin D products we provide, we think this is the best one and is the one I personally use (although almost any Vitamin D product would be better than nothing), and is beneficial for almost everyone.
6) Herbs. We sell a lot of Anti-Viral herbs. Our top choices would include Pau D’Arco (also known as Lapacho), Samento (a more powerful form of Cat’s Claw), Barberry (which has similar properties to Golden Seal), and Olive leaf extract.
7) Support your adrenal glands. Cutting a long story short: Strong adrenals = strong immunity. Weak adrenals = low immunity. Our top choices from this category are Licorice Formula (or the more gentle Licorice Formula A for sensitive individuals), and Adrenal Support.
8) Keep your colon clean and well oxygenated. As Dr Edward Group of Global Healing Center puts it, “Regular intestinal cleansing with an oxygen based colon cleanser like Oxy-Powder can support your immune system by providing a balanced, clean environment for probiotic bacteria to thrive. The positive benefits of intestinal cleansing with Oxy-Powder are enhanced when it’s paired with a good probiotic supplement.”
9) And finally, as stated above, consider probiotics.

So that’s the quick ABC of keeping health and vibrant over Christmas. Have a Happy Christmas or Chanukah if you celebrate these festivals, and if you don’t just have a fun relaxing break!

Mark G. Lester
Director and boss (not that my staff agree) – The Finchley Clinic Ltd
www.thefinchleyclinic.com

 

General Health & Nutrition

Oxy-Powder Price Rise

Customers always hate it and complain bitterly when we raise our prices. And believe it or not, we hate raising them too. Unfortunately though, as much we didn’t want to do it, we have had to raise the prices of many of our imported items over the last month, as existing stocks ran out, due to the terrible fall of the £ against the US$ and Euro.

There has already been an Oxy-Powder price rise to £42.99. Sadly, the ones that have NOT gone up in price, will too, and without notice. We do not tell people in advance to some degree because we don’t want panic buying to occur, but mostly because we only decide to raise them when we have no other choice, and when we get to the stage of having to, it is done with immediate effect. However I am willing to share with you that of the products where we have not already increased the price, it is almost inevitable that over the next few weeks, we will have to increase the cost of all the Oxygen based Colon Cleansers, (except Oxy-Powder, which has gone up already) as well as most products from Global Health Trax, and Global Healing Center (except Oxy-Powder).

The situation will not be any better if you go elsewhere, for example if you try to go straight to the suppliers, as by the time you have paid for shipping to the UK, VAT, import duty, customs brokerage charges, and further VAT on both the duty and the shipping costs, we can pretty much guarantee it will cost you a lot more. You will also get a very poor exchange rate compared with the mid-market rates that you see on the TV or currency web sites. Customers do sometimes try to bypass us, and they always come back to us the next time regretting doing so, after paying a lot more than they anticipated, and waiting up to a month to get the goods.

With the products we source from the UK, even there, many of the raw materials come from abroad, so we anticipate that the suppliers will soon increase their prices, which means we will then reluctantly have to raise our own.

All we can say about this is sorry, and we promise not to raise prices that don’t need to be raised.

From all of the team

Mark, Rachel, Sarah and Tony

(Yes we do only consist of four staff, and we don’t seek to be one of the countless organisations that just sell any old tat they can make a profit on, without knowing anything about the products. The reason we seem bigger to some people is partly because we outsource the social media, but mostly because we all work so hard!).

General Health & Nutrition

Kidslac, Antioxidant Supreme and other products on sale

1 Comment

 

We’ll keep this one brief. We’ve got up to 70% off on a number of clearance items (due to short expiry dates) in our summer sale. The full list is found here. Most of these products are being sold at cost price, and in some cases significantly below cost price! We urge you to view the sales page now, as once they’re gone, they’re gone.

​The sale items include multivitamin supplements, probiotics, psyllium husks (i.e constipation relief), children’s products, and more.

​

A couple of the highlights of the sale include : –

Kidslac 35% Off   – Pleasant tasting childrens probiotic (though we know a few grown ups take it too!) – Just 19 boxes available at the time of writing

Antioxidant Supreme 35% Off – Just 7 boxes available at the time of writing. This is the director’s personal favourite wide spectrum probiotic formulation (out of several similar products we provide), designed for long term usage, and the one he uses to oppose free radical activity and aging. He believes that everyone seeking optimal general health or looking at it more negatively, illness (of almost any kind) prevention should take a product of this kind.

Please note if you visit the page, and either of these products are not there, it means they’ve already been snapped up, though you can of course still purchase them at the regular price.

​Price rises

On a sadder note, it’s looking increasingly inevitable that a few product prices will have to go up when our current stock runs out. This is largely because we purchase a lot of our products in US$. We have had the poor performance of the £ against the $ over the last 2 months, although in truth, the £ had slipped quite a bit even before that compared with the same time a year ago – even after the Brexit vote. Also, our shipping costs have gone up tremendously over the last year or so. We don’t fully understand this, bearing in mind the fact that petrol and oil prices are currently very low, but this is what has been occurring nonetheless. We will not raise prices if we don’t have to, especially as we urged customers to vote for Brexit in order to get our health freedoms back again, which have been disgracefully stolen from our customers over the last ten years.But on the other hand, we will not put ourselves out of business, and have to trade with some profit.

​The Finchley Clinic Team

www.thefinchleyclinic.com

Energy boosters, General Health & Nutrition, Heart health, Vitamin B12

Brilliant B12: why Vitamin B12 is so crucial to your body

Vitamins. We’re constantly bombarded in the media and on the Internet by calls to boost our vitamin levels, aren’t we? Let’s be honest, only a fool wouldn’t take heed of them and not recognise the importance of all those A-Z multivitamins’ importance in seeing our bodies work as they should. But while many people are good at making sure they get enough of the likes of Vitamins A, C and D, one nutrient in particular they may not pay as much attention to – and, thus, not get enough of – is Vitamin B12.

In fact, in just the United States alone, it’s estimated that nearly one in four people suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency1. What are they missing out on then? What are they putting themselves at risk from? And what can taking more B12 do for them? Well, don’t doubt it, this is one vitamin that plays an enormous role in ensuring our bodies function as they should – it’s involved in a whole host of different good things that go on in our bodies. Here’s just a taster…

Heart protection

Surely nobody needs convincing of the importance to your body of a healthy heart. In which case, you shouldn’t take lightly the fact B12 plays a prominent role in maintaining the health of your heart and whole cardiovascular system. One of the reasons for this is that the vitamin’s excellent at removing from your blood a threatening protein named homocysteine which, left alone, can damage your arteries resulting in inflammation and, potentially, heart disease.

Nerve damage prevention

Should your nerves become so damaged they die, thus signals to and from the brain become disrupted, you could develop a nerve-related condition which would likely seriously affect your health. The answer? Preserving the protective covering of your nerves – otherwise known as myelin sheaths – which ensures they’re not harmed by free radicals and toxins in your blood. Don’t doubt it; B12 is massively important in maintaining the health of your nerves’ myelin sheaths.

Bone strengthening

It’s also believed that consuming B12 may be good news for preserving or building up the strength of your bones. Research has suggested that those who suffer from osteoporosis – the bone-debilitating condition – may well have higher levels of homocysteine and lower levels of B12 in their bodies than those with healthy bones2.

Energy release

Taking time to rest and maintain a good diet are, of course, highly advised in order to remain well and full of beans, but making sure you’re not deficient in certain vitamins is also well known to be important. And one of these vitamins is, yes, B12. It’s one of the nutrients that, once consumed, actively releases energy into your body’s cells, ensuring they don’t go hungry and make you feel tired and weak.

Good for positive mood

Mental health is, of course, as important as physical health. And here lies another of the benefits of Vitamin B12. If you’re experiencing ‘the blues’ and feeling down, again it could well be you’re not getting enough B12; its existence in the brain can help provide a chemical called serotonin, which plays a critical role in regulating your mood. Indeed, a study of diabetic patients who’ve experienced a side effect of depression from the treatment drug Metformin revealed that those who took B12 to combat this reported a more positive outlook3.

Enhances physical health of the brain

In addition to being good news for your mental health, B12’s also important for maintaining your brain’s physical health – because it protects nerve cells. Indeed, Alzheimer’s sufferers, contrasted with those of a certain age whose memories are still sharp, tend to have lower levels of B12. The vitamin then, it’s believed, is important in protecting brain cells’ myelin sheaths, which Alzeheimer’s patients often lack. Research has also suggested that via targeted nutritional intervention (including upping B12 levels), cobalamin deficiency – which may play a role in the onset of dementia – could well be reversed4.

How to boost your B12 intake

So, no question then, B12 is one very crucial vitamin. If you feel you may be deficient in it and could benefit from upping your levels of intake, you’ll be pleased to discover it’s readily available via The Finchley Clinic as a supplement. Through us, you can purchase Vitamin B12 in:

Vitamin-B12-Sublingual-Powder

So whichever way is easiest and best for you, we can help you get the Vitamin B12 you need.

 

References:

1 McBride, J. (2016). B12 Deficiency May Be More Widespread Than Thought. usdagov. Retrieved 27 May, 2016, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2000/000802.htm

2 Ebesunun M. O., Umahoin K. O., Alonge T. O., Adebusoye L. A.. Plasma homocysteine, B vitamins and bone mineral density in osteoporosis: a possible risk for bone fracture. Afr J Med Med Sci. 2014 Mar; 43 (1): 41-7.

3 Biemans E., Hart H. E., Rutten G. E., Cuellar Renteria V. G., Kooijman-Buiting A. M., Beulens JW. Cobalamin status and its relation with depression, cognition and neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using metformin. Acta Diabetol. 2014 Oct 15.

4 Osimani A., Berger A., Friedman J., Porat-Katz B. S., Abarbanel J. M. Neuropsychology of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly demential patients and control subjects. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2005 Mar; 18 (1): 33-8.

General Health & Nutrition

Hair loss and Silica

Hair loss and Silica

We get asked quite often about which products we recommend for hair loss (as well as the health of nails and skin). Hair loss is a complex issue, and could easily be the subject of an entire book, and we have an entire category populated with the products that may help here. But we’ll keep this simple. Women especially should always discount the possibility of iron deficiency, and supplement with iron if necessary. Note: please only supplement if you have been diagnosed with low levels of iron – don’t just guess – as iron is one of the rare minerals where if you take too much it won’t just come out when you pee, and taking too much can be toxic.

However, where iron deficiency is ruled out, our top pick is usually Silica Plus, which unlike iron is safe for everyone to take. (Oh, and by the way, you can take Iron and Silica if you are losing your hair). A quick glance at the reviews shows that those who can be bothered to write one (typically, and frustratingly this is only around 0.25% of customers with all products) typically report tremendous benefits for hair loss. We’ve been selling this product ever since we started our online shop, and whilst it’s never been one of the top sellers, we had quite a few people report that it helps with hair loss, as well the health of nails, prevention of wrinkles, and especially joint problems, arthritis and so on. Here’s a quick summary of what it helps with, and what to combine it with for optimal results.

If you need silica, you are likely to say “yes” to some of the following questions…

Do you have more wrinkles than you think is appropriate for your time of life?
Is wrinkle prevention high on your list of concerns for the future?
Is your skin tone not what it could be?
Is your skin dehydrated?
Do your fingernails peel?
Do you have joint pain or arthritis?
Is your hair weak or brittle?
Is your hair thin or thinning?
Are your gums inflamed?

So how can silica help?

  • Silica strengthens hair and gives it shine
  • Silica ensures that your skin is moisturised from the inside, leaving it health any supple
  • Silica gives strength to nails – improving their health and appearance
  • Silica helps strengthen joints and tendons
  • Silica helps reduce inflammation of the gums

More detailed information on silica

Bones, Teeth and Gums

Osteoporosis is a common symptom of aging, caused by calcium being leached from the bones leaving them brittle and weak. Supplemental calcium on its own is not enough, other minerals are needed and silica can help the body repair brittle bones. The symptoms of osteoporosis are mainly seen in women after the menopause but the degenerative process occurs much earlier in life. With osteoporosis a lack of calcium in the bone matrix leads to weakened and thinned bones which are susceptible to being broken by a minor injury or even normal stresses and pressure.
Bones are made up of phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and silica. Silica’s function is the depositing of minerals, especially calcium into the bones to strengthen them. Therefore it can speed up the healing of fractures and help prevent them in the first place.   Research has also shown that when the body has short supply of calcium, it can convert silica to calcium that is needed by the bones. Silica may also help with cartilage and joint inflammation and deterioration. Silica can stimulate bone formation so can be used as a preventative against osteoporosis.
Silica also has benefits for teeth and gums by hardening tooth enamel, preventing cavities and helping to preserve teeth. Silica guards against bleeding gums and also prevents recession of the gums that leads to loosening of the teeth and eventually tooth loss. Therefore silica can be used to maintain the integrity of teeth and gums.
Hair, Skin and Nails
There has been a recent interest in silica in the cosmetic industry as they have realised that shampoos, conditioners and creams containing silica are beneficial for healthy hair, skin and nails. However the benefits can also be seen when silica is taken internally.
Silica is a major component of hair as hair is almost as rich in silica as healthy bones. Silica helps to prevent baldness and stimulates healthier hair growth. A silica supplement can help revitalise hair by making it shinier and stronger.
As we get older, the amount of silica in the body becomes exhausted leading to brittle nails. Nails are complex protein structures that grow on average 4-5mm per month. When there is a mineral deficiency, the rate of growth slows down so the fingernails can be the first sign of a silica deficiency. Minerals will be removed from the nails before the bones so it is possible to stop the process before the minerals are leached from the bones and cause much greater health problems. Silica helps make the nails harder, shinier and less likely to break.
Skin also requires silica, as the supporting collagen underneath the skin enhances elasticity and beauty. Collagen is mainly made up of silica so the more silica available the more effectively the collagen can work and give a brighter complexion to the skin. Studies have shown that once the body is provided with enough silica, collagen levels are elevated and the texture of skin improves.
Silica can help the body deal with dry skin and other skin conditions, brittle nails, hair thinning, dandruff and burns including sunburn.
Anti-Aging
The body’s natural level of silica declines as we age causing bone density to decrease, dry and wrinkled skin, weak teeth and gums and hair loss to occur.
Tissue degeneration accelerates due to aging when connective tissue cannot retain moisture. Silica can help slow the degenerative process of connective tissue. Collagen’s ability to retain moisture is what gives connective tissue its ‘bounce’ and will slow down premature aging. Collagen contains large quantities of silica so if the body has enough silica, the collagen helps the skin look younger. Therefore a silica supplement inhibits the aging process of the skin by supporting the structure of connective tissue.
Vascular System
  
Silica is involved in maintaining blood vessels and is present in the heart, lungs, liver and the blood itself. Silica strengthens and stimulates the vascular system, lowers blood pressure and increases elasticity of blood vessels. Silica also helps improve arteriosclerosis, where the arteries become hardened leading to heart attacks and strokes. Silica can support the cardiovascular system as studies have shown people without heart disease have much higher levels of silica in their arteries.
Silica maintains the structure and permeability of the arteries so can help regulate blood pressure and avoid coronary problems.
Respiratory Conditions
Silica helps repair and maintain lung tissue, and contributes to the elasticity of the lungs. It also protects lung tissue from pollution that is inhaled, something we are all exposed to everyday. Silica acts as a cough decreasing agent and to tone the upper respiratory tract. Silica can reduce swelling in the nose, pharynx and larynx because of its positive action on the lymphatic system.

How is it best to take Silica Plus?

Like many nutrients, silica is best absorbed in a colloidal liquid form. Taken on 15 drops 3 x per day, Silica Plus is a two month supply of liquid silica with additional ingredients which help with its absorption, along with trace minerals. For this who are interested, there is more information on Silica Plus on the web site.

What products combine well with Silica Plus?

1) Oxygen Elements Max

A healthy oxygenated environment helps Silica Plus do it’s job even better. We supply a number of liquid oxygen products, but we usually recommend customers to combine Silica Plus with Oxygen Elements Max, made by the same company. Indeed Silica Plus was originated formulated to be Oxygen Elements Max’s sister product. Although Silica Plus can and does work by itself the increased oxygen enhances ALL the potential benefits of Silica Plus.

2) MSM

We can’t finish this newsletter without giving a quick shout-out for the benefits of MSM. For problems of the hair, skin and nails, MSM (nutritional sulphur) can also be helpul. According to one one of the pioneers of MSM – Bill Rich –  “wrinkles are caused by a lack of sulphur in the skin”. This is of course over simplistic, and there other factors that contribute to skin aging. Nevertheless healthy levels of sulphur do contribute to healthy radiant hair and skin, and supplementing with MSM has countless additional health benefits besides. But as always I know I am on borrowed time, so I’ll save that discussion for another day.

 

Best wishes
Mark G. Lester – Company Director
www.TheFinchleyClinic.com

General Health & Nutrition

Congratulations, Sadiq Khan – but beware the London Mayor’s EU stance

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Over the first weekend in May, dynamic democracy took place in London, home city of The Finchley Clinic. For Sadiq Khan was elected its Mayor. Why was this dynamic? Well, as the media has liked to remind the world at seemingly every opportunity, he’s not only a Muslim, but also the son of a Pakistani bus driver. His elevation to running the UK capital then is a triumph for meritocracy and diversity, and is representative of the city’s enormously cosmopolitan and progressive nature. All of that is to be applauded, undoubtedly.

What’s to be less applauded, though, is that Khan – now having the greatest personal mandate of any single politician in the UK, thanks to more than 1.3 million Londoners voting for him – will conspicuously campaign for Britain to remain in the European Union (EU), ahead of the 23rd June EU referendum. On this point – and using his prominent, unique profile, as he’s bound to do so (he’s actually claimed he’ll campaign alongside the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, with whom he agrees on little else) – he’s simply dead wrong.

For small and medium-sized businesses that, like The Finchley Clinic, aim to sell the most reliable, safest and best possible health supplements to you, our customers, the EU is an utterly throttling institution. This corner of our website has been used before now to address this issue, granted; but it’s such an important one to everything we care about and aim to do for our customers, the need to address it again is paramount. Especially with the opportunity to leave the EU, freeing us and you from its stranglehold on the supplement-supplying industry, being such a potentially imminent prospect.
But why is the EU so damaging to how The Finchley Clinic operates? Well, to reiterate, over the course of its expansion, the EU’s bureaucratic leaders have been responsible for many directives that have limited supplement-providers’ ability to trade freely and fairly. As said, this has been explored at length on this blog before, so we invite you to read carefully what has been previously written on the issue here – but, while we’re on the subject, consider if you will, just one of these directives; the cruellest and most ridiculous one, ‘The Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (No.1924/2006)’.

This directive has ensured that it’s incredibly difficult (not to mention infuriating) for businesses such as ours to accurately and adequately describe how so many of the extremely beneficial supplements we sell can improve your health. At times, it’s made it illegal to make relatively harmless – and true – claims of products; believe it or not, it’s even made it illegal to claim that water hydrates the body! All told, due to the effect of this single directive on The Finchley Clinic, we’ve seen a 90% drop in sales in some of our supplements.

Many Londoners have – and no doubt will in future – stand four-square behind Sadiq Khan as their new Mayor, not least because of what he represents and because he may well prove to be a great ambassador for such a great city in the 21st Century. However, at The Finchley Clinic, we would like to point out the implications of standing with him on voting to remain in the EU on 23rd June. If, as Sadiq wishes, the UK remains within the EU, the crippling, market-destroying grip on the supplements industry will continue to limit your choice when researching and buying products and potentially impact on your health.

General Health & Nutrition

The link between poor sleep and comfort eating – and what to do about it

It’s long been acknowledged that people turn to ‘comfort eating’ and ‘comfort food’ when they’re feeling down, so much so it’s seen as a natural thing to do in today’s world. But why does it happen? And is there any way we can prevent ourselves from falling into this trap? Well, if we look to scientific research we can find some answers.

Sleeping, as we all know, is how we fundamentally rest and recharge. As such, it plays a critical role in emotional regulation. If we suffer a pattern of disrupted sleep – or poor ‘sleep hygiene’ – our negative emotions are more likely to be amplified, ensuring emotional challenges (or even everyday life) can be more difficult than normal1. This leads us to crave sugar-laden and energy-dense foods; it’s a natural reaction – our brain is looking to rebalance the levels of serotonin and endorphins (the ‘happy’ hormones) in our bodies that sleep replenishes.

Tied into this is the fact sleep deprivation also causes an imbalance in two other significant hormones, leptin2 (which tells us we’ve eaten enough) and ghrelin3 (which drives appetite), ensuring we’re less likely to be satisfied after polishing off a decent meal and more likely to get cravings for those rich, sugary ‘bad’ foods.

Inevitably then, the long-term effect of disrupted sleep and emotional eating can be weight gain. Indeed, thorough research has been done in this area, concluding that the part of the brain that oversees ‘impulse modulation’ is impaired as a result of poor sleep, thus effectively sabotaging people’s will power, which puts the likes of healthy meal planning at risk or ensures it doesn’t happen at all: “Disrupted sleep patterns may impact food intake of both adults and children via impairment of executive functions”4.

In which case, if you’re looking to reduce those cravings and your level of emotional eating or you’re aiming to lose weight and adopt a better diet, then it’s important to consider your sleeping habits. How much sleep do you get each night? Do you sleep well? Do you feel tired more than you’d like to? Do you have sugary food cravings as well as experiencing poor sleep?

Fortunately, there are effective ways to combat bad sleep hygiene. For instance, you can employ different tactics, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, not doing anything too stimulating (work, checking and replying to emails or heavy exercise) at least two hours before bed and ensuring your bedroom feels like a healthy, comfortable place of rest – make sure it’s dark when you go to bed, not too warm and, overall, a room genuinely dedicated to sleeping.

Additionally, you might consider supplements to improve sleep – vitamin-based or derived from natural ingredients – which operate by helping you relax or de-stress. The following supplements would all be suitable in this regard and are available through The Finchley Clinic. We certainly recommend all three of them:

•Lavender Formula – features herbs that together are traditionally used to help with stress and anxiety and may also aid sleep cycles; one dose before bedtime is advised

•Serotone – principally contains 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), an amino acid that’s the intermediate step between tryptophan and serotonin; it also contains co-factor B vitamins and zinc (note: care should be taken if you’ve been prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs)

•Balance for Nerves – a nutritional complex for nervous system health that comprises vitamins, amino acids and Magnesium to support the nervous system and promote a calm mind.

References:

1. Daniela T, Alessandro C, Giuseppe C, et al. (2010) Lack of sleep affects the evaluation of emotional stimuli. Brain Research Bulletin 82(1): 104–108
2. Tatone F, Dubois L, Ramsay T, et al (2012) Sex differences in the association between sleep duration, diet and body mass index: A birth cohort study. Journal of Sleep Research 21(4): 448–460
3. Burt J, Dube L, Thibault L, et al (2014) Sleep and eating in childhood: A potential behavioral mechanism underlying the relationship between poor sleep and obesity. Sleep Medicine Reviews 15(1): 71–75
4. Beebe DW, Fallone G, Godiwala N, et al. (2008) Feasibility and behavioral effects of an at-home multi-night sleep restriction protocol for adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 49(9): 915–923

General Health & Nutrition

Maca: the Peruvial herb supplement

Over the last few decades the Western world has finally woken up to maca’s widespread health-giving properties, which has led to the radish-like root plant’s establishment as a popular treatment for increasing energy and stamina and, especially, conditions related to women’s menopausal and menstrual health and sexual health in both sexes.

Maca has been cultivated in Peru for at least 3,000 years and so has a long history of appreciation for its medicinal qualities. Rich in the dietary minerals calcium and potassium (and including a low content of sodium), it also contains iron, iodine, copper, manganese and zinc, in addition to a number of fatty acids (such as linolenic, palmitic and oleic acids) and amino acids.

Relief for menopausal and menstrual symptoms

One of maca’s key benefits concerning menopausal and menstrual-related problems is helping with hormonal imbalance. In a 1998 article on the subject1, Peruvian-based cardiologist Hugo Malaspina MD stated that maca’s efficacy in readdressing hormonal balance is down to the fact that, as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), maca doesn’t introduce new hormones from outside the body, but instead encourages the ovaries and other glands to produce the much needed hormones oestrogen and progesterone themselves.
“Maca regulates the organs of internal secretion, such as the pituitary, the adrenal glands, the pancreas, etc.” he said. “For this reason, I encourage women to start with maca before menopause. It seems to help the endocrine system to stay in balance”1.

Gabriel Cousense, MD, an internal medicine specialist in Arizona in the United States, has also claimed that whenever possible he preferred to use maca therapy over HRT because, in going about its work, as the latter reduces glands’ ability to produce hormones it effectively ages the body. Moreover, he has claimed that those menopausal patients to whom he prescribed the root plant as a supplement reported maca supplement benefits – a reduction if not an elimination of symptoms such as hot flushes and depression, as well as reporting less fatigue, greater energy and reduced susceptibility to stress1.

Improved male and female libido

As maca is very effective at normalising steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone and oestrogen – and thus has the ability to forestall the hormonal changes of aging – for men this means it can restore a more active libido, leading to healthy and functional sexual activity. On this subject, US-based Garry F. Gordon, MD, then President of the International College of Advanced Longevity Medicine, suggested that as “society faces a huge problem of dropping sperm counts and sex hormone difficulties …maca furnishes a nontoxic solution [offering] men and women the chance for hormonal rejuvenation”1.

Other benefits

However, not all of maca’s benefits are hormonal-related. For instance, Dr Aguila Calderon, former Chief of the Department of Biological Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Human Medicine at Lima’s National University of Federico Villarreal, has attested that it can be prescribed for conditions as removed from those mentioned above as osteoporosis and the treating of bone fractures in very elderly people. She attributes this to the fact that maca contains a good deal of easily absorb able calcium, as well magnesium and silica, aiding in the de calcification of bones in children and adults 1.

herb supplement

With its sundry benefits for a variety of different conditions then (it may also help boost people’s immune systems, improve mood and memory and support the adrenal glands), maca is widely available as a dietary supplement and can be purchased via The Finchley Clinic as 180 capsules and 90 capsules (both 500mg) and in powder form (100g).