Inflammation… what do you think of when you read that word? A minor cut from a sharp object? A bump on the head? A rash from an insect bite? If so, you’re certainly thinking along the right lines; yet, there’s another lesser known type of inflammation, too – one that takes place inside the body. It’s not usually accompanied with pain, but it can do you real damage. This, though, is where an anti-inflammatory diet can help. How? Read on…

What exactly is inflammation?

Of course, inflammation isn’t always bad for the body; far from it. That’s because, as noted above, inflammation is often a reaction to an injury generated by the immune system – or, likewise, that system’s reaction to an allergy or bacteria. In general terms, when it occurs to help combat a short-term concern like this (acute inflammation), it serves a good, important purpose. It’s when it lingers inside (chronic inflammation) that it’s bad news because it can reduce the body’s overall immunity and cause damage to your body.

How will an anti-inflammatory diet help you?

Because inflammation’s directly related to immunity, it has direct connectivity to the digestive tract; for it’s here where the body’s microbiome (the ‘healthy’ bacteria and other micro-organisms that play a critical role in the regulation of the immune system) actually reside. This means then, a poor diet can very quickly trigger an unnecessary inflammatory response, given that – obviously – what’s in your diet winds up in your digestive tract faster than it does practically anywhere else in the body.

Conversely, a healthy, balanced diet will only aid your body in its tireless work to thrive and so, naturally, help boost your immunity. So, a diet balanced with the likes of  omega-3 fatty acids (which help regulate inflammation) and omega-6 fatty acids (which serve to stimulate inflammation), in addition to getting exercise, good sleep, drinking water and trying to reduce your stress levels, ought to aid the normalisation of inflammation.

Recommended anti-inflammatory foods

Ideally, an anti-inflammatory diet may well share many characteristics with a plant-based Mediterranean diet, the likes of which research suggests can extend your life and improve its quality. Studies, too, show that many vegetarians and vegans enjoy less inflammation, as well as less risk developing heart disease.

When following such a diet, though, try not to overdo carbohydrates (not least sugar) because these might just tip your hormonal balance, which might spur on inflammation. Experts in inflammation often agree on the ‘40-30-30 rule’ when it comes to diet: 40 percent complex carbohydrates, 30 percent low-fat protein and 30 percent healthy fats:

• Fruits and vegetables – boldly colourful, non-starchy vegetables and fresh fruits are highly advised because they’re rich in antioxidants (which help the immune system combat free radicals and prevent inflammation), such as dark leafy greens (collards, kale and spinach), cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower), root vegetables (rutabaga and sweet potatoes) and garlic, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

Fruit-wise, try to concentrate on berries (blackberries, blueberries, cranberries and raspberries), citrus fruits (lemons, limes and oranges), stone fruits (avocados, cherries, nectarines, olives and plums) and pome fruits (apples, pears and quinces).

• Gluten-free whole grains – these deliver the double-whammy that’s antioxidants and fibre, while it’s believed they also aid the rise in the body of the C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker; aim for the likes of barley, buckwheat, brown rice, oats and quinoa.

• Nuts and seeds – monounsaturated fat features highly in both, as well as heart-healthy fibre; go for almonds, cashews, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and unsalted walnuts.

• Herbs and spices – these contain many antioxidants; turmeric is particularly potent because it comprises curcumin, which is excellent for helping to normalise redness and swelling.

Inflammatory foods to avoid

Conversely, important foods to avoid are:

• Processed food – usually low in nutrients and fibre, the likes of chips, white bread, pasta, boxed breakfast cereals and frozen dinners tend to be high in omega-6 fats (not good without omega-3 fats because, on their own, they encourage inflammation; see above), as well saturated fats, trans fats and added sugars.

• Sugar – because it causes the body to release cytokines (chemical messengers that wake up the immune system), sugar can help generate systemic swelling in the body; so try to avoid cakes, cookies, ice cream, sodas, sweets and sweet tea, as well as chemical sweeteners and natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup.

• Fried food – most often fried in unhealthy oils, these contain inflammation-triggering saturated fats and trans fats; steer clear then of the likes of snack foods and doughnuts.

Inflammation supplements

Obviously, the above list you’re advised to buy from, for an anti-inflammatory diet, is full of very specific foods. Now, that’s all very well and good but, as we all know, it’s not always easy – sometimes next to impossible – to get your hands on very particular foods on every supermarket shop. What to do instead? Well, naturally-derived, anti-inflammatory supplements may well be something you want to take a look at. We advise you check out our ‘Pain and Inflammation’ products page for exactly this sort of supplement; examples of what you’ll find there, which we highly recommend, are:

Very high-strength Serrapeptase (1,000,000iu/ 90 capsules) – a natural supplement form of the powerful anti-inflammatory enzyme Serrapeptase, it could well prove useful for post-traumatic swelling and fibrocystic breast disease and bronchitis, as well as for balancing fluid levels and for muscle- and joint-health.

Liposomal Curcumin C3 Complex (250ml) – comprises a blend of curcuminoids, not just curcumin; in addition to reducing inflammation (see above), it may well soothe and support the gut’s lining, support immunity and maintain prostate wellness.

MSM Powder (1,000g) – important not just for collagen generation and cartilage formation, MSM helps to maintain joint and muscle health and may also aid the immune system and so keep inflammation in check.

You may know Vitamin B2 as the ‘energy vitamin’. That moniker, it seems, is well deserved, given it’s a nutrient that’s absolutely essential to the human body’s process that generates energy. Yet, B12 is also an essential nutrient for a whole host of other bodily functions – as well as being a cofactor and catalyst ‘helper’ compound in specific enzymatic processes.

Also referred to as cobalamin, owing to it comprising cobalt in its molecular structure, B12 is usually derived from food (via the likes of fish and eggs), which is crucial because the human body itself can’t manufacture this nutrient (which boasts the most complex chemical structure of all vitamins). And that becomes an even more significant fact if you struggle to get enough B12 from your diet; it’s crucial you gain it from other means – in short, via supplementation.

B12’s four different forms

Should you wish to boost your body’s B12 levels either through diet or supplementation, it’s important to be aware there are different forms of B12; four of them, to be precise. And each is, indeed, subtly different with specific characteristics:

• Methylcobalamin – the most bioavailable form of B12, this one is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier seamlessly, ensuring its importance in protecting brain and nerve cells; also crucial for converting homocysteine into methionine (be aware: too much homocysteine in the body may contribute to several health conditions)

• Adenosylcobalamin – otherwise known as 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, this form of B12 is a naturally occurring one but unstable

• Hydroxocobalamin – also referred to vitamin B12a, it’s naturally created by bacteria, can be found in many foods and is converted into methylcobalamin in the body; commonly used in B12 shots

• Cyanocobalamin – the lab-synthesised version of B12, ensuring it crops up in a lot of supplements owing to the fact it’s cheap to produce and sell, but it’s far from the best and, ultimately, may not be good for you. Our advice? Stay away from it.

What does B12 do for you?

So, in more specific terms then, why is Vitamin B12 so important? So long as you’re not choosing to consume cyanocobalamin, why’s it such a good idea to boost your levels of this particular vitamin? In more detail then, B12 plays critical roles in the body in terms of:

• Boosting energy and supporting metabolism – B12 is important for the body’s Krebs cycle (the process that generates energy) because it’s critical in breaking-down glucose sugars; moreover, it aids the body to process fat, which means too little B12 consumption can lead to too little fat in the body and high blood sugar levels

• Brain health – important for memory, B12’s critical for good brain health; a deficiency could result in impaired cognitive function and memory loss, in addition to impaired brain and nerve function thanks to decreased production and maintenance of the free radical/ toxin-combatting substance myelin

• Normalising mood – suffering from an unhappy mood? It could actually be because you’re deficient in B12; research suggests good, reputable B12 supplements might help normalise mood. Also, B12’s needed for both generating and releasing mood-regulating neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin and melatonin).

• Cardiovascular health – too little B12 in the body may contribute to heart conditions, such as macrocytosis (which sees red blood cells become enlarged and reduce haemoglobin in the blood, leading to a form of anaemia and, thus, potentially poor circulation and increased risk of heart disease and stroke)

• Bone health – again, B12 deficiency could lead to trouble, specifically here in the likes of elevated homocysteine, which impacts on bone density and cell formation to such a degree it drives up the risk of bone fracture in those of a certain age; in which case, experts are of the opinion that B12 levels in elderly people ought to be periodically checked to help ascertain bone health status

• Preventing severe illness – should too little intake of B12 result in compromising gene expression in the body, it could be very bad news; this is because the ‘recipe’ of DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid) become changed, ensuring unhealthy cells grow abnormally and too rapidly. This proliferation of unhealthy cells in the body can be prevented, it appears, by way of B12 combined with Vitamins B6 and B9 (folate).

Vitamin B12 supplements

As noted above, unfortunately, it’s all too easy to find it difficult to get enough B12 via diet alone. Indeed, older people with certain health conditions may struggle, in particular, owing to malabsorption issues. In which case, your best bet is to fall back on a daily supplement for your B12 needs – and a fantastic, new offering (available through us at The Finchley Clinic) is B12 Tri-Blend (2oz).

This product comes so highly recommended because it’s a vegan-friendly formula that comprises not one, not two; but all three of the best forms of B12: methylcobalamin (60%), adenosylcobalamin (20%) and hydroxycobalamin (20%). Moreover, being the most pure, active, bioavailable coenzyme form of B12, methylcobalamin (or methylated B12), when paired with adenosylcobalamin (B12’s other coenzyme form), becomes the most potent B12 combination available. So, frankly, why settle for anything less when it comes to getting the Vitamin B12 your body needs?

Regular Finchley Clinic customers – and, especially, regular readers of this blog – will surely be aware of the high esteem in which we hold the Global Health Trax (GHT) probiotic supplements, Threelac and Fivelac.

For many years, we’ve trumpeted and met with much agreement from our loyal customers over the fantastic merits of these two products. And yet, we’re happy to announce, there’s a new contender in town for their collective crown in the probiotic supplement stakes.

Taking after its forebears, GHT’s new offering, Sevenlac, comprises several probiotic strains (you guessed it; seven), suggesting that it *could* be an improvement on both Threelac (with its three strains) and Fivelac (with its five). Not least because Sevenlac offers up all five of Fivelac’s strains and then an extra two – one of which is the brand new Lactobacillus johnsonii train, of which GHT has high hopes, claiming it has ‘provocative possibilities’, including potentially ‘positive effects on the immune system’

Sevenlac probiotic strains

To be clear, then; according to GHT, Sevenlac’s proprietary formula contains the following active probiotic strains:

• Bacillus coagulans – may help control intermittent digestion/ stomach issues
• Bacillus subtilis – may crowd out ‘bad bacteria’ in the gut
• Enterococcus faecalis – boosts the gut levels of a major genus within the lactic acid bacteria group; one that naturally inhabits the digestive tract
• Lactobacillus acidophilus – breaks down nutrients in the gut to produce the likes of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, thereby helping create an optimal intestinal flora
• Bifidobacterium longum – may aid the smooth running of the digestive system
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus – may prevent and treat cases of diarrhoea and acute gastroenteritis
• Lactobacillus johnsonii – in positively affecting the immune system, this new probiotic strain may inhibit the growth of pathogenic bad bacteria and the production of gastrin (reducing acidity in the gut).

What might Sevenlac do for you?

If you’re not that familiar with probiotics and what’s so good about them, let’s take a quick look at why they can contribute so effectively to gut health and, therefore, to overall health – and so why Sevenlac may be a good supplement to try. The fact is that, by significantly boosting the levels of ‘good bacteria’ with all their health-giving properties in the intestinal tract, a course of naturally-derived probiotics (like Threelac, Fivelac or indeed Sevenlac) is terrific for repopulating your gut’s intestinal flora in the most positive way possible.

That’s to say, loading up your gut with these good bacteria can effectively crowd out the aforementioned pathogenic bad bacteria (which can cause microbial infection via yeast overgrowth and affect the efficacy of the immune system); thereby tipping the gut’s bacteria balance back in the direction it should be for healthy living.

Better than Threelac and Fivelac?

Not only does Sevenlac comprise seven different probiotic strains – three of which are to be found in Threelac and five in Fivelac – we think it’s also reasonable to assume that, as this new product has been entirely developed and released by GHT, it will contain the same sort of numbers of each of its live bacteria as the previous two GHT supplements do. That means that Sevenlac most likely comprises around 500 million of each of its seven live bacteria, ensuring there’s something like a total 3.5 billion live bacteria in each Sevenlac sachet available from us.

Now, if you know anything about probiotics, you may conclude this isn’t a particularly high count of live bacteria for a modern probiotic product to offer. Yet, like GHT, we at The Finchley Clinic don’t believe however billion live bacteria a probiotic offers a customer is necessarily as important as other (so-called) experts do. We believe it’s surely much more important what specific probiotic strains a supplement contains and, therefore, what an overall supplement can do for an individual. So, if Sevenlac’s seven strains prove to be collectively better for a customer’s gut health than Threelac’s three or Fivelac’s five, then clearly that’s significant.

Moreover, unlike Threelac and Fivelac, Sevenlac doesn’t contain canola oil; an oil ingredient that we don’t believe offers the finest health benefits. Instead, it comprises sunflower oil, which we feel is a better bet from a health-giving perspective.

So, to conclude, if you’ve got on well with Threelac and/ or Fivelac before now and you’re curious about Sevenlac (and, even if you’ve not tried either of its predecessor products but feel it sounds like it could do positive work for you), our advice is to give Sevenlac a go and see what you think. And be sure to let us know, too, we’d love to hear your feedback – we’re currently offering customers a 60-day price-back guarantee if they’re not entirely satisfied with this new probiotic product.

Enormously nutritious and comprising high levels of essential vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antibodies, colostrum is the naturally-occurring fluid that promotes growth and health in infants and newly-born animals. Yet, so potent and nutritious is it, research shows that, when consumed in supplement form by adults, it may also promote immunity, help fight infections and improve gut health. And that’s why, at The Finchley Clinic, we’re more than happy to introduce you to Colostrum Organic (120 capsules).

Colostrum Organic – a highly nutritious product

To be precise, colostrum is a milky fluid released by mammal mothers who’ve just given birth, but before production of their breast milk has begun. So, it’s a critically significant nutrient source for just-delivered infants (of all mammal species; not least human babies); promoting, as it does, growth and helping staving off/ fight potential infant diseases. And yet, as noted, it’s also entirely safe and acceptable to be consumed by human adults, years after infanthood.

Now, for its part, Colostrum Organic is a totally organically-sourced form of colostrum; being derived from EU bovine herds and very similar to human colostrum. Each and every batch of the product is tested, so it can be declared free of harmful hormones, antibiotics and pesticides ahead of being sold. It’s rich in a balanced blend of disease-fighting proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, growth hormones, vitamins (among them Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E), minerals (calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and zinc) and digestive enzymes.

Immune factors and growth factors – and more

Importantly, when it comes to this colostrum supplement, you’ll find that, among its more-than 90 components are nutrients that can be grouped together in two different classes: immune factors and growth factors. Immune factors have been shown to help the body fight off harmful invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungus. And, in Colostrum Organic, their work is enhanced by its plentiful antibodies, which like nothing more than to get involved in the body’s immune response to infections, including those caused by bacteria and viruses; especially the antibodies IgA, IgG, and IgM.

Conversely, once absorbed into the body, growth factors become busy in the building and restoration work of bone, muscle, nerve tissue, connective tissue, skin and cartilage; as well as helping to increase lean muscle, burn fat for fuel and aiding wound-healing. Colostrum Organic is especially rich in two growth factors, the insulin-like, protein-based hormones that are growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2).

Health benefits of Colostrum Organic

So, to be more specific, Colostrum Organic may well:

• Boost immunity – thanks to its high concentration of the antibodies IgA and IgG, the supplement offers impressive immunity-boosting credentials; in fact, a study discovered that, taken daily, a colostrum supplement increased the IgA antibodies in distance runners’ saliva by 79%, compared to baseline levels, while researchers believe IgA levels in saliva may boost immunity and improve the body’s capacity to battle upper respiratory tract infections
• Prevent/ treat diarrhoea – Colostrum Organic’s blend of antibodies, as well as the protein lactoferrin, may well help prevent diarrhoea, when it’s associated with bacterial and viral infections; a study of adults suffering with diarrhoea, when associated with HIV, revealed that 100 grams of colostrum each day (along with traditional anti-diarrhoeal medications) decreased stool frequency 21% more than traditional medications did, on their own.

Moreover, colostrum is often considered hyperimmune, implying it may be effective in treating infections in humans, including those caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), candida, cryptosporidia, H pylori rotavirus, salmonella, Shigella dysenteriae bacteria, staphylococcus and streptococcus.

• Improve gut health – Colostrum Organic, too, may help strengthen the linings of your gut and battle infections there (most likely thanks to both its growth factors and lactoferrin); studies show that, in addition to strengthening the gut wall, it may stimulate growth of intestinal cells and help prevent intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’), a condition that sees gut particles leak out into the rest of the body.

So, rich in disease-fighting compounds, Colostrum Organic may well improve resistance to viruses and auto-immune disorders; help strengthen your immune system; support cardiovascular function; support healing of injured tissue (and lead to softer skin and reduce wrinkles); increase muscle tone; boost energy (and enhance strength and stamina during exercise); improve mental alertness and positive mood; fight infections that could cause diarrhoea; and improve gut health.

In which case, this potent supplement may well be especially helpful if you have a specific condition, infection or gut inflammation – and, even if you don’t, it may well do you a great deal of good.

It may have turned out to be a challenging year but summer’s here, at least. And yet, for some, summer brings with it natural challenges each and every year. While many are enjoying being outdoors and enjoying all manner of activities in the sun, others find themselves trying to mitigate the effects on their lives of seasonal allergies; most commonly, of course, hay fever and the allergic reactions it brings due to a dramatic increase in pollen.

It’s estimated that as many as 13 million people in the UK are hay fever sufferers – that’s almost one fifth of the country’s entire population – while around 35 million Americans put up with seasonal allergies every year (just over 10% of the total US population). So, make no mistake; environmental allergies and, with them, symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throats and a general foggy lethargy, are a big deal for many people.

Preventing seasonal allergies – and their symptoms

As you’re no doubt aware, many sufferers of seasonal allergies simply reach for temporary medication to mitigate the symptoms they bring. However, finding exactly the right treatment for you as an individual is far from an exact science – indeed, from one year to the next, millions never really come across a course of tablets (or other medication) that satisfactorily does the trick in these spring and summer months.

So, is there another way? Well, have you ever considered a far more natural approach to trying to reduce the symptoms of hay fever and similar seasonal allergies – and even preventing their occurrence, in the first place? Here are some ideas and tips you might want to try if the warmer, drier weather of May, June and July can make your life a misery:

• Improve your diet – it may seem unlikely at first, but an improved diet can help ward off allergies and that’s because the healthier your body is, the better capable its immune system is to counter the everyday allergies it encounters; indeed, scientific research on the Greek island of Crete concluded that nasal allergies barely existed there, seemingly because native islanders’ diets are focused around fatty acid-packed fish, cold-pressed olive oil, nuts, fruits and vegetables, ensuring the diet’s antioxidant-rich and great for supporting the health of the upper respiratory tract
• Purify your home and remove your carpets – tackling your living environment and trying to rid it of pollen and mites is another very important step in the battle to keep seasonal allergy symptoms in check; to do so, you might consider investing in an air purification system (with a UV/ negative ion filter) and, considering carpets naturally retain pollen, dust and pet dander, replace them with non-toxic hardwood/ cork flooring
• Go for organic bedding – the same goes for your home’s bedding; you’re highly advised to purify your haven of rest by purchasing a high-quality, allergy-free cover for your mattresses and pillows and to wash your bedding once a week to kill and, thus, prevent the accumulation of dust mites
• Use organic cleaning products – if you’re prone to allergies, then you might want to re-think the cleaning products you use, given the chemicals and fumes from many supermarket-purchased cleaning agents can help trigger allergic reactions, especially in the spring and summer months; a better bet, then, is to plump for non-toxic, organic cleaning products
• Try taking oregano oil – for many people, it seems that oregano oil contributes to feeling better when suffering from the aforementioned (and widely known) common symptoms of seasonal allergies; thanks to its ability to reduce histamine levels in the blood, the oil is liable to combat allergic reactions, including the likes of skin swelling
• Get mould out of your home and office – sure, pollen’s an obvious cause of spring/ summer allergies but mould plays its role too; an increase in heat in conjunction with a rise in humidity tends to see mould form in indoor working and living spaces, so a good idea is to invest in a high-quality dehumidifier in an effort to prevent mould from forming in the first place.

Hay fever supplements

In addition to trying one – or, indeed, all – of the above suggestions, there is another course of action open to you in the fight against seasonal allergies (should you want to avoid relying on the likes of antihistamine medication); that’s to go the natural supplement route.

Here, at The Finchley Clinic, we’ve put together a handy kit of high-quality, entirely naturally-sourced supplements that, yes, might just help you get your sanity back this spring/ summer, in this most trying of years for so many. The Hayfever ‘Get Your Sanity Back’ Kit consists of:

• Allertrex– a blend of powerful botanical ingredients and essential oils that support normal function and cleansing of the lungs, sinuses and respiratory tract
• HistX– combines Vitamin C and Quercetin in a liposomal form, ensuring almost perfect absorption as a result of the unique and industry leading liposomal process; together, Liposomal Quercetin and Vitamin C make for an amazing one-two in battling allergies and inflammation, anywhere in the body
• OptiBac Probiotics For Daily Wellbeing Extra Strength– contains the potent probiotics L. acidophilus NCFM and B. lactis Bi-04; a recent clinical trial has shown this specific probiotic combination reduced the symptoms of nasal irritation in birch tree pollen sufferers.

Feeling more tired than usual? Low on energy? It’s a common thing, of course, but sometimes in our hectic modern world, it’s easy to overlook what we can – and ought – to do to recharge our body’s batteries correctly instead of simply going at the same ‘speed’ all the time. What ought we be putting time aside for to help recharge and improve our energy levels? The answer includes behaviours, activities, diet and – possibly – energy-boosting supplements…

Tips to boost your energy

So, how to help top up your energy levels when they’re low? The following are essential tips:

• Get proper rest – adequate physical rest (and mental rest; see below) is absolutely critical for revitalising the body and ensuring it’s able to provide you consistent energy
• Sleep hygiene – tied up with rest is, of course, decent sleep, which is crucial for replenishing energy; inevitably, sleep deprivation and insomnia have detrimental effects on energy levels (if you are suffering from the latter, it’s worth your time looking into the different ways to address it)
• De-stress – again, related to rest and sleep, de-stressing at the end of the day or, rather, achieving both physical and mental relaxation is important; for instance, you might want to try meditation
• Physical exercise – it may sound counter-intuitive (going out walking, running, cycling and so on to boost your energy levels), but keeping fit is important for good physical and mental health and ensuring your body is working as it should, therefore, in turn, ensuring the body is able to naturally replenish its energy levels.

Dietary tips for increasing energy levels

While seeking to achieve the right level of rest, relaxation, sleep and exercise, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that includes energy-boosting nutrients is equally as important. That doesn’t mean reaching for a highly-sugared energy drink every time your energy’s waning – instead, you’re advised to eat foods comprising nutrients whose ingredients include minerals, nutrients and vitamins that deliver high-quality, sustainable energy. The following are all good examples:

• Beetroot and beetroot juice – terrific for folate (Vitamin B9), manganese and Vitamin C, beetroot contains the antioxidant phytonutrients that are betalains, ensuring they’re great for detoxing; energy-wise, it’s been found that, among athletes’ severe-intensity exercise, consumption of beetroot juice supplements helped increase stamina and energy by as much as 15%
• Nuts – specifically, almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts are rich in good protein and the bioavailable chemicals that are carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and phytosterols; all of which aid physical and mental health and so, in turn, support energy levels
• Quinoa – a gluten-free grain packed full of protein, fatty acids, antioxidants and amino acids (lysine, methionine and cysteine), as well as the minerals folate, magnesium and manganese, quinoa’s brilliant for energy support
• Spinach – an undoubted superfood, this green vegetable is chock-full of vitamins (A, C and K) and excellent nutrients, including calcium, iron, potassium and a highly bioavailable form of magnesium; the latter of which, studies have concluded, plays a role in more than 300 metabolic functions, such as generation and storage of cellular energy
• Sweet potatoes – carbohydrate-lovers are in luck because these vegetables are a great low-glycaemic energy-driving option, which means they can help reduce blood sugar levels, weight and the risks of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes; they’re also rich in manganese, which aids in the breaking down of other nutrients in the body to generate energy
• Chocolate – in mentioning chocolate here, we’re not suggesting sweetened chocolate bars, but dark chocolate; the cocoa in the latter comprises flavonoids that aid blood flow in the body, as well as brain function, thereby supporting mood management and balancing energy
• Coffee – finally, while it’s widely known consuming too much coffee can have negative effects on the body, it makes it into our energy-supplying good books thanks to the rapid energy boost and increased mental alertness that caffeine can deliver, as well as the fact it’s full of antioxidants.

It may surprise you to learn, too, that those who enjoy drinking coffee also tend to enjoy longer-term energy, improved mood and generally better health, owing to its ability to help fend off cellular degeneration.

Energy supplements

Now, while it’s easy to buy a jar of coffee or a bar of dark chocolate, some may find it less easy, on a regular basis, getting hold of some of the other dietary suggestions mentioned above (and other energy-boosting foods you may research yourself). In which case, you might want to look at supplement options; check out the ‘Energy Boosters’ product page here at The Finchley Clinic – all of our offerings are derived from entirely natural sources and come well-recommended.

Indeed, among them you might be interested in the NADH and PQQ Mitochondrial Support Kit, which combines NADH Delayed Release capsules (20mg) with PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) capsules (20mg). The active coenzyme form of Vitamin B3, NADH provides energy to the brain, nerves, muscles and the heart; not least because it’s is absolutely crucial to the Krebs cycle, which occurs in all cells in order to release stored energy. For its part, like NADH, PQQ is an enzyme cofactor that promotes the growth of mitochondria in cells, ensuring it’s also crucial to energy generation and release. In addition to helping boost energy levels and stamina, it’s a powerful antioxidant, too, and may improve the quality and duration of sleep.

Like it or not, we all age. Indeed, one of the burdens of ageing is that, due in part to the physical and chemical changes that occur in our bodies, our memory-making and memory-recall usually slow down.

Yet, generally speaking, however old you are and whatever your health, there are things you can do to support your memory – or, more specifically, to support the parts of your brain that concern themselves with creating, storing and recalling memory. So, it’s never too late to try, then – but just what should you try…?

A good night’s sleep

Thanks to sleeping, the brain consolidates and stores the memories of that day and recent days. Without good sleep over a consistent, prolonged period, memory issues and perhaps even more serious brain problems can result.

In fact, research suggests that just one good night’s sleep – or even a nap – makes a difference when it comes to improving memory-recall of information and details. So, trying to achieve a seven-to-nine-hour, nightly sleep is highly recommended, as is keeping to a general sleep schedule and limiting caffeine drinks, as the day progresses.

Get your diet right

What’s a particularly healthy diet for preserving memory? Well, foods that are rich in antioxidants ought to do the trick; that means, in general terms, brightly and boldly coloured fruits and vegetables. Bear in mind that good nutrition (ideally here, a Mediterranean-style plant-centric diet, featuring whole grains and omega-3 fatty acid-packed olive oil) is great for enhancing brain cells, in order to support brain function and boosting cognitive abilities and memory formation and recall.

Eating plenty of fruit and veg has been identified as lowering the risk of memory loss and maybe even of dementia, while a diet focused around lots of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates is liable to lead to shrinkage of the brain’s area where short-term memories are stored.

Try to de-stress

Modern life is stressful, we all know that; yet getting pulled this way and that in life does your ability to form and retain memories no good. Regular production and use of stress hormones by your body damages the brain’s cells and, specifically, the part of that organ where memories are created, the hippocampus. And that’s to say nothing of what the stress hormone cortisol can do to your working memory.

So, try to achieve that work-life balance; even if it proves elusive you can but try for your memory’s – and your memories’ – sake. In addition to having fun and rest when you can, you might give meditating a go.

Lower your cholesterol and get exercise

Cholesterol is often bad news in the body, as you’re probably well aware; yet, did you know the presence of this natural fat in your blood and cells is actual important for brain health? There is a caveat here, though – too much ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol can harm the forming and retention of memory, thanks to its clogging up arteries and blood vessels, therefore, restricting blood flow to and in the brain. Indeed, studies have shown high cholesterol might be linked to mild cognitive impairment and age-related memory loss.

Often, advice to reduce your cholesterol is accompanied by advice to exercise – and it’s no different here. And that’s because good, regular exercise encourages the brain to release specific chemicals (‘growth factors’) that support its cells, as well as stimulating the growth of new brain cells and connecting them with each another.

And exercise your brain muscles, too

It’s a good idea to think of your memory as a muscle – as people age, they’re often advised to ‘exercise’ their mind. And that’s because performing mental tasks that require you to store and recall details in your bonce serves only to strengthen memory. It’s even believed that ‘engaging your brain’ can boost the volume of cells in the memory-centred hippocampus. Either way, research suggests that doing just a quarter-of-an-hour of brain-training, four or more days a week, improves short-term memory and problem-solving skills.

Memory health supplements

Finally, in addition to an improved diet and sleep, lowering cholesterol levels and exercising your mind and body, you can also turn to recommended, naturally-derived supplements to help your memory as you get older. At The Finchley Clinic, we’ve several different memory-aiding supplements in stock – here are three excellent examples:

Liposomal Carnosine (250ml) – a particularly powerful antioxidant that may help combat memory concerns among ageing people

B12 Tri-blend (2oz) – a great source of the crucial Vitamin B12, which may support a healthy sleep-wake cycle; research suggests B12 deficiency could lead to brain shrinkage and there is a possibility, too, it might be linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Brain Nutrients (180 capsules) – a blend of key vitamins, phospholipids and amino acids to optimise brain function, concentration, memory and learning.

Do you know how to keep up your energy levels? A sensible, balanced diet with good nutrients; enough sleep and rest; as well as a decent amount of exercise, right? Absolutely. But there’s one critical component missing off that list – a healthy and well-functioning thyroid.

The thyroid is a gland located in the neck and, essentially, concerns itself with leading the human body’s endocrine system – a group of glands, all of which produce hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism and ensure it operates properly. The thyroid, itself then, produces two specific hormones (T3 and T4) that help keep a person’s energy levels where they should be. However, as with any part of the body, the thyroid isn’t in the habit of turning down a helping hand; so how can you support your thyroid in doing its essential work?

Try to avoid fluoride-featuring water

The trouble comes with so-called endocrine disruptors; chemicals and substances that we encounter in everyday life thanks to the environments of the modern world. It’s almost impossible to avoid all harmful things in our environment as we live daily life, but when it comes to endocrine disruptors, there are a few things you can do to tip the scales in your favour.

The chemical element fluoride is, nowadays, recognised as an endocrine disruptor because it affects normal endocrine function – and, frankly, that’s hardly surprising, considering it was once regularly prescribed for sufferers of an overactive thyroid. It’s believed to take no more than 2-5 mg of fluoride each day, over several weeks, to reduce thyroid function – that’s definitely within the range of fluoride content of many drinking water supplies. In which case, opting to drink fluoride-free water instead may lower your chances of suffering from an underactive thyroid by up to 30 percent.

Try to live without gluten

Don’t doubt it, a gluten-rich diet isn’t welcomed by your thyroid. The trouble is gluten comes complete with gliadin, a protein that the immune system considers is invasive (since gliadin doesn’t occur naturally in the body). So, for those with a gluten intolerance, the immune system’s antibodies end up honing in on gliadin… or, at least, they think they are. What they’re really going after, though, is an enzyme called transglutaminase that they mistake for gliadin; an enzyme that’s in high volume in the thyroid – and this means the antibodies effectively end up attacking the thyroid! Bad news, indeed. Even more reason, then, for those with a gluten intolerance to avoid gluten.

Try to enrich your diet with great nutrients

Like your body, in general, your thyroid needs to be fed – and that means consuming enough of exactly the nutrients in needs; namely the chemical elements iodine and selenium. Why? Well, in order for this gland to produce T3 and T4, it requires iodine. Therefore, making sure your diet’s rich in iodine – or boosting your body’s levels of that element via an iodine-featuring supplement – is a must.

For its part, selenium is essential for effective operation of several processes in the human body (cellular repair, DNA synthesis and reproduction, to name just three), but of all areas of the body, it’s in the thyroid where this trace element is most concentrated – so it can carry out its critical job in metabolism and hormone synthesis. Many people get the selenium they need from food sources. So, what foods to look to for topping up your selenium levels? Well, specific breads, Brazil nuts, grains and spinach are all good options.

The Thyroid Health Kit

And yet, too much of the time, some will struggle to enrich their diet with foods (including non-gluten options and, ideally, non-fluoride water) to get the nutrients and exclude the endocrine disruptors necessary to keep their thyroid happy and healthy. What this calls for then is well-reviewed, naturally-derived, thyroid health supplements – and, as far as we’re concerned, that means the Thyroid Health Kit; available through us at The Finchley Clinic.

Convenient, easy-to-use, and affordable, the Thyroid Health Kit comes complete with:

• B12 Tri-blend – a mixture of the three most bioactive forms of Vitamin B12 (sufferers of an underactive thyroid are often deficient in this vitamin)
• Selenium –​​​​​​​ in addition to its need for producing of T3 and T4, selenium is required to help produce antioxidant enzymes to protect the thyroid
• Detoxadine – an organic, deep-earth sourced nascent iodine that nourishes the thyroid and encourages normal hormone balance.

To sum up, the Thyroid Health Kit should help you to:

• Remain energised – good energy means your thyroid isn’t sluggish and so works just as it should, balancing your body’s energy levels
• Sleep well – poor energy means your sleep cycles can become irregular, so you don’t wake up rested and ready for the day ahead
• Stay focused and concentrate – an unhealthy thyroid can coincide with suffering from brain fog; aiding your thyroid health should help you to keep focused
• Keep your metabolism on track – the thyroid’s hormones are responsible for regulating your metabolism and, therefore, your metabolic output; nobody can really expect to function properly in day-to-day life without a reliable and efficient metabolism.

Antioxidants for Viral protection

OK, so I am not saying Vitamin D, which I am coming onto in a moment is the be all and end all. So first a quick reminder, as discussed in previous newsletters that Vitamin C, zinc, and selenium are all vital for robust immunity and preventing viral replication. Its great for all three of them to be taken in an all in one solution such as Antioxidant Supreme (finally back in stock, after we were completely wiped out at the beginning of the current crisis). In almost all cases, I would suggest dosing on the upper limit suggested on the label, not just for preventing a virus, but for robust health overall. I regret that people are to some degree taking Antioxidant Supreme etc for the wrong reasons. It should be taken for optimal health, and all the time, and not just to prevent a virus! That’s almost a trivial usage bearing in mind the vital importance of basic antioxidants to almost every important marker of health and longevity. Many other nutrients and herbs are being shown to be useful but that’s a subject for another day, and something I have covered quite a lot in previous newsletters.

Vitamin D and Covid-19 – Even the orthodox “authorities” and mainstream media are waking up (a bit).

If I were to pick one nutrient that is more essential than almost anything else, it has to be Vitamin D, and even mainstream medicine is catching up now with what I have been saying from day one of the current crisis. The evidence that’s emerging now for Vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 is getting stronger and stronger. Even the mainstream press is catching on to this, even on most aspects of the current pandemic they just follow the mainstream narrative 99% of the time, which I totally disagree with. Here in the UK, the ONLY newspaper that covered the ending of the research on Hydroxychloroquine and its benefits with COVID-19 before it had really even begun was The Guardian. They are the only ones who could be bothered to raise an eyebrow when what happened in effect, was I am bittely disappointed to say, obvious medical fraud designed to protect vested interests. This story  / international disgrace, has been covered properly here. The other newspapers are at best asleep at the wheel, or more likely avoiding the subject in ordre to protect their advertising revenues being threatened by the vested interests that could be upet.

Anyway, back to Vitamin D – The Life Saving Immune Supporter – Strengthening Our Bodies Against ALL Viral Illness.

Here I want to acknowledge the wonderful Vlogger Ivor Cummins and refer people to his YouTube video found here. This video discusses the study, which I am sure you won’t be seeing on BBC News showing that those who’s Vitamin D level was below 10ng/ml were 10.1 x more likely to die from the virus than those who’s blood level was about 30ng/ml. (note: ng/ml – nanograms per millimeter of blood)

What’s interesting is that even this study misses an important point. The optimal level is not 30ng/ml. I regard that as the minimum acceptable level. The optimal level is about 60ng/ml. How do we know this? It’s pretty easy really. Basically when we manage to get as much of our bodies as possible in the sun regularly (without burning), and when the sun is at an angle of above a minimum of 30 degrees to the earth (in the UK we have this for 8 months of the year, but only for a brief period of the day during the transition months of October and March) weakest sun months of that time), and 40 degrees for dark skinned people, we get up to 60-80ng within a couple of weeks. It never goes above that no matter how much time we spend in the sun. And that’s the optimal level. Had the study been based on the optimal amount, not the minimum amount, one can only assume it would not be a 10.1 x higher risk for death. The difference would be far more impressive! You can see the risk of death from Coronavirus in visual terms to the left (this is a screen shot from the highly recommended aforementioned YouTube video) plotting the risk of death against vitamin D status. You don’t need to be a Professor of  statistics to understand it.

Vitamin D Supplements

In my opinion if you can’t get in the sun, then you should supplement with Vitamin D, every day that you don’t get in the sun for some non-burning tanning time without splashing on toxic sunscreens that block UBV. Of the different Vitamin D products we provide, my favourite one, and indeed the one I take, is this one. High strength 5000iu, not the PATHETIC dosage recommended by the mainstream, which is almost useless. And it comes with the added advantage of containing Vitamin K2, which ideally should always be combined with Vitamin D. That’s the subject of another newsletter as the K2 has a lot of benefits of its own. Recommended usage: One a day every day except on days when your body has had or is going to get enough sun.

    Who is at the highest risk of all for Vitamin D deficiency?

The truth is that most people have below optimal levels of vitamin D. But some people are even more likely than average to need a vitamin D supplement. The following list is not exhaustive, but covers the most common group of people who are especially likely to need a vitamin D supplement.

• Breastfed infants, because human milk is a poor source of vitamin D, largely because the mothers themselves have poor vitamin D levels
• The elderly, as their skin doesn’t make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight as efficiently as young people, and their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form. (Is this one of the reasons why the elderly are at higher risk of dying from coronavirus?)
• Dark skinned people as it takes them much longer to produce vitamin D from action of of ultraviolet light on the skin. (Is this one of the reasons why black and Asian people are at higher risk of dying from coronavirus?). In my opinion dark skinned people living in the UK should take vitamin D throughout the year, including during periods of fine sunny weather. 
• People with disorders such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease who don’t handle fat properly, because vitamin D needs fat to be absorbed.
• Obesity, because the body fat binds to some vitamin D and prevents it from getting into the blood.  (Is this one of the reasons why obese people at higher risk of dying from coronavirus?)
• People who have had gastric bypass surgery
• People with osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism (too much of a hormone that controls the body’s calcium level), sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, or other granulomatous disease (disease with granulomas, collections of cells caused by chronic inflammation),
• People with cancer
• People who take medicines that affect vitamin D metabolism.

Our full range of Vitamin D products is found here. 

Finally: Have we shut country the country for nothing?

According to today’s Washington Examiner has yes. Every country has voluntary ruined their economies for no meaningful health benefit at all. Have a look at this article and make up your own mind –  https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/if-asymptomatic-carriers-dont-spead-coronavirus-we-just-shut-down-the-country-for-nothing

Be well!

Mark G. Lester

Director – The Finchley Clinic Ltd
www.thefinchleyclinic.com