Category Archives: Oxy-Powder

After The Christmas Overindulgence, The Oxygen Colon Cleanser

A Happy New Year To All.

I noticed that one similar(ish) company to us have already sent out five newsletters this year, and the year is only 10 days old. They weren’t even proper newsletters, they were just the typical flogletters with no meaningful content that many companies put out, either because they can’t be bothered to write a scholarly informative newsletter, or because they are not capable of doing so. I regard this as disrespectful, money grabbing, and above all stupid. Irritating customers by pestering them five times in ten days is not the way to go, an you can rest assured we will never send newsletters more than a couple of times per month. With my rant over, here are 5 suggestions to cleanse your body and improve your health after the Christmas pudding and wine.

1. Clean Your Colon With An Oxygen Colon Cleanser

If you have over indulged on food and drink over Christmas, this is the time to use an Oxygen Colon cleanser for detoxing, and to get rid of that bloating around your tummy. You might also want to think about supporting your liver if your health is off-track.

These products are all very similar. We get asked every day which one is the “best” one, but its a meaningless question. It’s a bit like asking whether an orange is “better” than a tangerine. True some people do get on better with one than another, but that comes down to individual experience.

Why cleanse your colon?

The average person is walking around with anywhere from six to twelve pounds of undigested material fermenting in their intestines and colon. Digestion is a process of oxidation. That is why we give off heat, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Just like a car engine when there is improper oxidation some of the fuel gets left behind as a residue. In the digestive tract, there is a similar build up of partially digested gunk. In an automobile when you add oxygen to the fuel mixture, the built up materials are burned off or oxidised. You can do the same for your body. As these materials accumulate and subsequently begin to rot, your body wraps them in mucous to keep them from poisoning you. Colosan turns the accumulation and the mucous into carbon dioxide and water that are gently eliminated. It is unimaginable to think of going one week without the use of a toothbrush or toilette tissue. Yet, when was the last time you thought about cleaning the twenty feet in between? Do you think it’s any cleaner? It’s a simple fact, people rarely clean where they cannot see and that is where problems begin.

What is the significance of this?

Your impacted material is home base to four of the most dangerous threats to your health. Number one, it is where toxins accumulate. Secondly, it is where viruses and bacteria can hide .Thirdly, the impacted material is a feacal fortress for parasites to reside in and an ideal garden for the overgrowth of undesirable flora such as candida. By using one of these colon cleansers to oxidise and eliminate this impacted material, you are eradicating the home base to some the largest assailants to your health and giving them nowhere to hide.

2. Deter candida, and prevent colds and flus at the same time with liquid Oxygen

This is the time of year when every other person seems to be getting colds and flu’s. However I almost never get colds, and when i do, they are incredibly mild these days. I am not naturally super healthy – it’s because I follow the following steps to support inhibit pathogens and support my immune system. You can do the same, and say goodbye for winter colds.

First, you should supplement with any of our liquid oxygen productsVirus’s hate our Liquid Oxygen products! So if you just did one thing through the winter to prevent colds and flu’s, this would be your starting point. But remember to take it persistently – as opposed to when you be bothered, or if you happen to remember, which not surprisingly leads to very poor results. By the way, the liquid oxygen is also extremely valuable in the fight against candida overgrowth, being anti viral as well as anti fungal.

Secondly, please note that these products are also detoxifiers. When Oxygen Elements Max is taken and the energy potential in the body is increased, the natural mechanism in most people’s bodies is to increase metabolism of waste material out of the body. This can result in detoxification symptoms — such as headaches, achiness, skin eruptions, recurrence of past symptoms — if it is done too rapidly, and especially if the eliminative channels of the body are congested. So although the label suggests taking 7 drops 3 x per day, if you are full of toxins and the product makes you feel lousy please take the amount you take right down. In exceptional cases, some people have to begin on only 1 drop twice per day. But even if you do need to do this, you’ll soon be able to go up to the full label dosage. We have one customer, who literally takes one bottle a day, and it’s the only product that has saved has restored his health. (He has written a review on the web site, which you can all view when you visit the web page).

3. Super charge your immune system with Vitamin C

Any Vitamin C product will do but Tapioca Vitamin C is our best selling one, it’s inexpensive, and has consistently good reviews from customers who use it, often exceeding other Vitamin C products. You can see that for yourselves if you read the reviews. Take 1-2 capsules every day, preferably a couple of hours away from when you take the Oxygen. If you do go down with a cold, you can take one capsule every 1-2 hours to get rid of it fast! I’ve gone on about the benefits of Vitamin C in so many previous newsletters, that I am not going to repeat myself here. All I will say is that I think supplementing with Vitamin C is good for everyone.

4. Extra charge your immunity with Zinc

Zinc has also been shown to be useful in many studies both for preventing colds and supporting the immune system generally. We provide a number of zinc products, but the one I personally use is Zinc Gluconate with Vitamin B6 (the B6 assists the absorption of zinc). Whole books are available on the benefits of zinc supplementation for a whole raft of health challenges, more than can be ventured into in a short newsletter, and some customers may remember that this has been the subject of entire newsletters in the past.

Zinc is arguably the most important trace element that our body’s need, and most of us who subsist on modem diets are appreciably Zinc-deficient. Zinc is essential for the working of every single cell in the body. Its main action is co-enzymatic, i.e.. it assists in the correct functioning of enzymes within the cell. It is now known that there are as many as 200 enzymes that require Zinc for their activity. One of these, RNA polymerase, is cardinally important because it is involved in the synthesis of all proteins in the body, of which there are known to be more than 50,000! This means that the body’s supply of structural proteins, antibodies, most hormones and enzymes is very much dependent on Zinc status. Other important Zinc-dependent enzymes govern energy production.

5. Vitamin D the “sunshine” nutrient associated with summertime immunity, which you can now get all year.

Thirdly, take Vitamin D, which is incredibly important for the entire immune system. Unfortunately, almost everyone living in Norther Europe is Vitamin D deficient at this time of year, and dark skinned people who who absorb vitamin D much more slowly than white Europeans (from the reaction between ultra violet light from the sun on the skin and cholesterol), are nearly always Vitamin D deficient the entire year! The Recommended Daily Allowance for Vitamin D is a pitiful 200iu per day, but my opinion is that this is utter nonsense. In the summertime, 30 minutes exposure to the sun enables the body to produce 10,000-20,000iu’s per day – in other words up to 50 times more than the EU Recommended Daily Allowance. So why is the Daily Allowance so low? There are proposals incidentally, coming from the unelected wastes of taxpayers money know as the EU, ever influenced by the vested interests of big pharma to limit your the legal availability of Vitamin D supplements to the pathetic 200iu I just spoke about. Anyway, whilst this has not occurred, I recommend 1-2 tablets per day of Vitamin D3 5,000iu with Vitamin K2. The Vitamin K2 is added as Vitamin D works synergistically with K2. Oh by the way, you may have read that Vitamin D is ‘toxic’ in high dosages somewhere or other. Well, It is true that 40,000iu given daily to rats has been shown to be toxic and can kill them. Extrapolated to humans, that’s around 10,000,000 (10 million) iu’s per day required to kill a human. According to one leading researcher, Vitamin D is not toxic on any dosage if it is taken together with Vitamin K2. Anyway, since I am recommending 5,000-10,000 and not 10,000,000 units per day (and this is what I take for around 8 months of the year), I don’t think I am likely to be pushing up daisies any time soon as a result of my Vitamin D intake, and somehow I suspect you won’t either.

As always I have only scratched the surface of what I would like to say, but anyone who follows these steps, will get vastly fewer colds and flu’s during the winter

Best wishes for a wonderful New Year
Mark G. Lester
Director – The Finchley Clinic Ltd
www.thefinchleyclinic.com

 

The big O: a lowdown on oxygen – and why you might try oxygen cleansing

Don’t doubt it; oxygen is an absolutely critical substance for humans. The odourless, colourless gas that accounts for a fifth of the air all around us (and is the third most abundant in space beyond the Earth), it’s absolutely critical to our wellbeing, given that, along with hydrogen it makes up water – the basis for all life – and is the single most common chemical element in the human body; accounting for a whopping 65% of the body’s overall mass3. To that end then, its functions and benefits in the body are many and plentiful – and what can go wrong when the body’s deprived of it are serious, indeed.

Continue reading The big O: a lowdown on oxygen – and why you might try oxygen cleansing

Tackling ulcerative colitis: the role of probiotics and supplements

For many of us, mercifully, an upset tummy – or unhappy digestive system – isn’t a regular occurrence and more an uncomfortable irritation that sets us back a little when it occurs. For others, however, it’s a far bigger deal; it can be an unpleasant, painful and frequent experience that leaves them feeling debilitated on a regular basis. In some cases, such people may be suffering from what’s known as ulcerative colitis (UC), which on occasions, along with the different but related Crohn’s disease, is referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)1.

Symptoms-wise, ulcerative colitis is far from fun. Recurring diarrhoea, possibly containing blood, mucus or pus, as well as abdominal pain and the urge to empty your bowels more than you’d wish are very common; sometimes people suffer heavy fatigue and appetite and weight loss too1. Why do these things happen? Well, Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition (its symptoms can be very frequent but equally not, as it goes into remission and comes back).

It’s caused by the colon (the gut or small intestine) and the rectum become inflamed. This sees small ulcers forming on the lining of the colon, which often bleed and produce pus1. The reasons why this happens are debated by experts, but it’s commonly held that the condition’s autoimmune-related – the thinking goes that the immune system confuses harmless bacteria in the gut for harmful organisms and, thus, attacks the colon’s tissue1.

Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

Owing to the relatively widespread nature of UC – there’s a reported 900,000 sufferers in the United States alone2 – treatment for the condition is nowadays available in all different kinds, shapes and sizes. Some of these forms of treatment are pretty obvious; others less so. Here are those worthy of note:

  •  Medication – as you’d expect, prescribed drugs are one of the most prevalent UC treatments and often they’re corticosteroids, but it depends on the condition’s severity and how the sufferer responds; in fact, after a year’s worth of medication treatment, around one third (30%) of patients experience remission3,
  •  Surgery – for non-responsive sufferers, surgery is common and may involve two- or three-stage procedures; indeed, recent research suggests that three-stage surgery may not actually be as safe as was originally believed
  •  Acupuncture – moxibustion (heating an acupuncture site) in addition to treatment via a traditional UC drug has apparently shown good results of late, while a study found that use of the Kuijiening plaster, again in addition to medication, appears to be better than taking the medication on its own
  •  Probiotics and other supplements – finally, naturally-derived supplementation is gaining more and more attention as a UC treatment8 and rightly so, as results of probiotics and other ulcerative colitis supplements look favorable9; the following, as well as many more, are all available viaThe Finchley Clinic and come highly advised among our customers for promoting improved bowel health and treating the symptoms of ulcerative colitis:

Saccharomyces boulardiiSaccharomyces Boulardii – a probiotic that may support good bowel health, comfort and function; also recognised as the number one probiotic for managing diarrhoea.

 

Oxy Powder 120 capsulesOxy-Powder – designed for optimum colon health via helping to cleanse and oxygenate the intestines.

 

Colostrum PlusColostrum Plus – a supplement that promotes digestive health, tackles inflammatory problems and supports the immune system.

 

References:

1. ‘Ulcerative colitis’. NHS Choices. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx. Last reviewed: 17 Mar 2016.

2. Manfred E. ‘True Stories: Living with Ulcerative Colitis’. Health Line. http://www.healthline.com/health/ulcerative-colitis-take-control-true-stories. Last reviewed: 15 Feb 2017.

3. Mehta S. J., Silver A. R. and Lindsay J. O. ‘Review article: strategies for the management of chronic unremitting ulcerative colitis’. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 38 (2): 77-97. doi: 10.1111/apt.12345. July 2013.

4. Reinisch W., Sandborn W. J., Panaccione R., Huang B., Pollack P. F., Lazar A. and Thakkar R. B. ‘52-week efficacy of adalimumab in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who failed corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants’. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 19 (8): 1700-9. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0b013e318281f2b7. July 2013.

5. Hicks C. W., Hodin R. A. and Bordeianou L. ‘Possible overuse of 3-stage procedures for active ulcerative colitis’. JAMA Surg. 148 (7): 658-64. doi: 10.1001/2013.jamasurg.325. July 2013.

6. Zhang L. C., Zhang S., Zhong W., Long J. X., Li X. N. and Chen L. S. ‘Observation on clinical effect of ZHUANG medicine mediated thread moxibustion combined with medication for patients with ulcerative colitis’. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 38 (5): 399-402. Oct 2013.

7. Huang L., Cai Z., Zhu Y. and Wan H. ‘Treatment of ulcerative colitis with spleen and kidney yang deficiency by kuijiening plaster: a randomized controlled study’. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 33 (7): 577-81. July 2013.

8. Kruis W. ‘Probiotics’. Dig Dis. 31 (3-4): 385-7. doi: 10.1159/000354706. 14 Nov 2013.

9. De Greef E., Vandenplas Y., Hauser B., Devreker T. and Veereman-Wauters G. ‘Probiotics and IBD’. Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 76 (1): 15-9. Mar 2013.

Aim High Not Low: How to Improve Your Metabolism

So you’re feeling a little frazzled, a bit tired, even a tad run down? Doesn’t everyone now and then? Well, a lot of people do, but equally, it may be preventable. There could be a reason why, on top of leading a busy working, family and social life as you may do, you feel physically exhausted now and again. It may be because you’re not looking after your body and maintaining your metabolism as you well as you might.

Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that occur in the body, not least digestion and the transport of food and energy to and between different cells. And it’s to understand this process – and what you are eating and how you lead your life – as to why you have a ‘high metabolism’ (you digest food and can use it as energy relatively quickly) or a ‘low metabolism’ (your body takes longer to digest food and use it as energy). In a good number cases, the lower a person’s metabolism, the more likely they’ll feel physically tired; the higher the metabolism, vice versa.

Low metabolism – why?

Of course, you use energy from the food you eat and burn fat while you’re physically active, but in reality, you also do so when you’re at rest. And it’s this that essentially defines the kind of metabolism you have, as it’s when you’re at rest your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is measured for how quickly and effectively you burn fat. To that end then, should you realise your BMR is slow and that may ensure why you feel tired too much of the time, there are several reasons why it might be:

  • Diet – all those fatty, processed, sugary foods are doing you no good whatsoever
  • Dieting – yes, that’s right; dieting tends to do little to help your metabolism because low calorie diets force your body into ‘starvation mode’, thus slowing the metabolism down as it attempts to preserve calories instead of burning them; note that when you resume eating after the diet it’ll preserve the calories still – but as fat
  • Sleep hygiene – your body won’t process food and use energy efficiently if you’re not sleeping well and are exhausted
  • Pressure and stress – stress brings on the production of the cortisol hormone which, unfortunately, eventually contributes to body fat
  • Toxicity in the body – toxins and ‘free radicals’ slow down your metabolic rate because, while the body’s converting food into energy, it’s also fighting  hard to eradicate such harmful molecules and micro-organisms
  • Medical factors – weight gain can result from thyroid and adrenal issues and family genetics, thus inevitably slowing down your metabolism (especially as you age).

High metabolism – how?

So to ensure a healthy metabolism what should you be doing? First off, start exercising. It needn’t be difficult; sure, it may be challenging to start with, but say you exercise every day for 10 minutes; eventually you’ll get used to it and, in time, find it relatively easy to slowly increase the amount to 12 minutes, then 15 and then 20. And exercise at work too. Be sure to get up from your desk and walk about every once in a while (preferably up and down stairs) and walk the dog daily if possible. Incorporating such short bursts of energy-use throughout the day will help keep your metabolism ticking over.

And then there’s your diet, of course; this has a huge impact on your metabolism. Indeed, after a night’s sleep (when it naturally slows down), try to start the morning by eating a fresh fruit-based breakfast first-thing, kicking off the day with a boost to the metabolism so you start burning calories as soon as possible – and aim to keep on doing so throughout the rest of the day:

  • Meals – eat smaller helpings at meal times but keep eating throughout the day; fewer but regular helpings will burden your digestion less
  • Snack on fruits – many are ‘negative calorie’ foods, such as apples, asparaguses, avocados, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, berries, cucumbers, grapefruits, lemons, lettuce, onions, oranges, papayas and pineapples
  • Go for lean protein – raw nuts and seeds are rich in protein so are packed with amino acids, ensuring you burn more calories and get your metabolism working harder to break it down as it passes through your digestion system.

Cleansing– why not try supplements?

Why not, indeed! Hopefully it’s now clear that focusing on diet, eating habits and remaining physically active is crucial to improving your metabolism, but who would turn down further help? And if, for whatever reason, you’re incapable of exercising as much as you’d like to or unable to change your diet as much as you might, then supplementation’s a great alternative or enhancement – specifically digestive cleansing supplements.

Available from us at The Finchley Clinic, all three of the following products help eradicate from the body toxins and the like that slow down digestion, thus helping to speed up your metabolism naturally:

Oxy-Powder-120-capsules

Oxy-Powder – a high-quality oxygen cleansing supplement, it oxygenates and cleanses the small and large intestines, leading to an optimal bowel environment to aid a well-functioning metabolism

Mag-07-colon-cleanse

Mag O7 – a colon cleanser that releases nascent oxygen for fast acting (usually overnight) results

Livatrex-new

Livatrex – ideal for liver cleansing, a product designed to support and drive the natural process of detoxifying, flushing and purging the liver of built-up toxins, fatty deposits and more.

Supplements Versus Toxins: The Importance of A Liver Cleanse

You’d probably be hard pressed to find anyone who’s unaware their liver processes the toxins they put in their body. Yet it may not occur to many of them that, should they be putting too many toxins in their body, it’ll be putting undue stress, wear and tear on their liver. A healthy liver is vital to ensuring a healthy body; and to ensure a healthy liver, you need to take care of it because, although it may be your body’s toxin processor, it’s not toxic-proof – indeed, nothing is.

Whichever way you look at it then, despite society deeming it normal to maintain a diet of alcoholic indulgence and nutrient-deficient, sugar-rich processed foods, living a toxin-laden lifestyle is not normal biologically speaking. As far as your body’s concerned, it’s abnormal. It overburdens the liver, thus potentially causing problems to the body as a whole, with toxins not just overwhelming the liver but finding their way into all sorts of other nooks and crannies of the body.

To that end, detoxification is becoming increasingly recognised as a sensible, nay necessary activity for the body and, of course, the liver especially. But how do you go about such a toxin cleanse – or, in this case specifically, a liver cleanse? What steps should you follow…?

Step 1: Cut out the toxins

An obvious place to start, sure; but first things first, you have to cut out the processed goods and refined sugars and reduce your alcoholic in-take. By over-indulging in these foods and fluids you might as well be waging war on you liver; that’s how it’ll feel for the poor thing anyway. Call a truce and strike peace with this most essential of your body’s organs – and give it far less to do and the opportunity to have a far easier time of it. How about, instead of the toxic foods and drinks, giving the likes of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables a try? Such toxin-free and liver-friendly foods will help happily push the process along – and tend to taste great too!

Step 2: Give herbs a go

Herb-based remedies have been relied on by specialists in indigenous and other cultures for many centuries as therapies to – wittingly or not – aid in removing toxins from the liver and, therefore, for the stimulation of bile, an alkaline fluid the gastrointestinal system produces to help digestion.

Dandelion-Formula

Granted, herbal remedies don’t detoxify the liver on their own, but they could be said to act as detox agents, as they encourage and help mobilise the natural functions of the liver to start cleansing itself. To that then, consuming herbs like organic dandelion root and leaf and turmeric are an important second step in ensuring improved liver health.

Step 3: Go organic

The drawback with relying on herbal remedies, however, is that they can be pricey. Unfortunately, unless you can find them at affordable prices in a health food shop or online, good quality organic foods in their natural form tend to be expensive – and, don’t doubt it, it’s always best to invest in pure, high quality herbs and extractions. Sure, you might be able to buy discount peppermint extract, for instance – but, if it hasn’t been grown in a natural way and so isn’t genuinely organic, how many of the natural benefits (the whole point of purchasing it) are you going to derive from the product? That said, forking out a small fortune for hard-to-get-hold-of herbs and the like isn’t the only way you to go organic – you could alternatively take the supplement route.

livatrex

And, of all the liver cleanse supplements available, the ideal one to go for is Livatrex – available through us at The Finchley Clinic. An all-natural blend of 100% organic and wild-crafted herbs, its formulation is specifically designed to support and drive the natural process of detoxifying, flushing and purging the liver of built-up toxins, fatty deposits and any accumulated stones.

Latero-Flora-60

Moreover, for a great liver cleanse, you can combine Livatrex with the additional supplements Oxy-Powder and Latero-Flora. The former is terrific for helping to loosen intestinal build-up and so aiding the release of toxic substances from the liver, as well as unwanted waste materials, while the latter helps and supports normal digestive function and assists the body in maintaining beneficial colonies of the ‘good bacteria’ that improve health. A win-win all round then for your liver cleansing efforts!

Diet, Hydration, Supplements and More: How To Help Your Colon Help You

There are two kinds of colon. The first is the grammatical kind (‘;’), which most people don’t know how to use properly. The second is the long tube that makes up part of the human body’s digestive system and, likewise, unfortunately many people don’t know exactly what it does and so how to keep it (and themselves) healthy.

Otherwise referred to as the large intestine, the colon doesn’t digest food – instead, it’s all about the processing of waste from food and drink, passing the waste on its way eventually out of the body via the rectum. It’s made up of four different parts, along which waste moves, slowly developing into solid material and finally becoming stool. Given the colon’s critical importance to the digestive system then (although you may ask what part of the digestive system isn’t critically important?), it’s very much in your interest to keep yours as well functioning and happy as possible; a healthy colon helps make for a healthy you.

And if a colon’s healthy and functioning correctly, it’ll be doing its job of removing much needed vitamins and other nutrients, as well as water, from the waste before it’s finally expelled from the body. Why? To ensure that not only is all the goodness from the food we eat removed and used as it should be in the body, but also that the unnecessary and, indeed, damaging ingredients of the food (that is, the toxins and impurities) are removed and, yes, excreted as waste.

How to keep your colon healthy

So, how can you aid your colon in doing its job effectively – what can you do to help it help you? Well, here are five top tips for looking after your colon health:

  • Get your diet right – the first step to a happy colon is eating well and that means swapping sugar-rich, fatty processed foods packed with toxins for nutrient-rich, organic, fresh foods; the likes of fruits and green leafy vegetables, broccoli, lemons, garlic, juices, mung beans, raw nuts, seeds and whole grains
  • Exercise – as with many things when it comes to your body, it’s important to remain physically active to ensure your digestive system’s in good shape1; if you’re feeling sluggish your colon will doubtless behave likewise and no good will come from toxic waste clogging it up for longer than is necessary
  • Keep hydrated – there are few things more healthy for you than drinking water (hardly surprising, as about 60% of the male adult body is actually water; 55% of the female adult body), so be sure to drink purified, oxygenated water to help flush out toxins and harmful impurities; in fact, the body’s most fundamental processes can’t take place without good old H2O1, including waste process and removal, not least because it helps stool remain soft so it’s easier to pass and excrete2
  • Rest properly – in most cases, even the healthiest person is believed to need between seven and nine hours’ sleep a night3 – how much do you get? Less than that? And how do you sleep? Do you get tired easily? Following a better diet is likely to help you relax and sleep, which in turn then – like your diet will directly – will improve your colon’s health
  • Consider a colon cleanse – this may seem an extreme step to take, but don’t worry it’s not an unpleasant or involving experience; certainly not if you avoid laxatives and do it the natural way to clear your colon of any waste that’s got trapped.

Colon cleanse supplements

To that end, you might want to take a look at the ‘Colon Cleanse’ section of our website for suitable naturally-derived, gentle and safe colon-cleansing products – for instance, all three of the following highly recommended supplements are available via The Finchley Clinic:

Oxy-Powder

Oxy-Powder – slowly releases mono-atomic oxygen to create an unfriendly environment for harmful bacteria and other toxins, enabling free rein for the friendly bacteria needed for proper digestive and intestinal health.

threelac-caps

Threelac – contains Bacillus coagulans (a probiotic that helps solve digestion issues), Bacillus subtilis (may aid removal of bad flora) and Enterococcus faecalis (a friendly bacteria that’s great for the gut); Threelac works very well with other supplements we sell.

Colosan-Capsules

Colosan – gently releases oxygen into the digestive tract to cleanse the large and small intestines and ease constipation; may also help with candida and parasites.

References:

1. ‘Water – a Vital Nutrient’. Better Health Channel. Department of Health & Human Services, State Government of Victoria. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/water-a-vital-nutrient. May 2014.

2. ‘Water in Diet: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia’. MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002471.htm. July 2015.

3. ‘Five ways to stay healthy this winter’. NHS Choices. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/Healthywinter.aspx

Back down to earth with a bump: the January detox and what alcohol does to the gut and liver

If anything defines the seasonal period then it might be said to be indulgence. All that rich food, piled up on plate after plate and meal after meal. And, of course, all that alcohol too. Alcoholic consumption spikes at this time of year and, although there’s nothing wrong with having a good time and unwinding (in fact, it can obviously be good for your health), overindulging in food and drink can be very bad for your health. Especially if you do it often.

No surprise then that in January people can feel like they’ve come back down to earth with a bump and, thus, gut detoxification – or detox as it’s often known – is especially popular with them during that month. And done right; it’s far from a bad idea.

Alcohol-derived gut and liver problems

It’s widely known that excessive – or even unmoderated, regular consumption of – alcohol can cause many health problems. To be fair, there really are too many of them to cover properly in a single article like this, so let’s focus on just a few and, in particular here, one: what effect alcohol can have on what the gastrointestinal system – dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance in the gut)1.

You may not know but the gastrointestinal tract contains an entire ecosystem of bacteria, which are often referred to as gut microbiota. When we think of bacteria, we often only think of ‘bad’ harmful bacteria (the sort that are the basis of infections, for instance) and, sure, they form an amount of the microbiota in the gut, but it’s also made up of ‘good’ healthy bacteria (the sort that form the basis of probiotics that many people take to ensure good gut health). When taken together then, these microbiota are critical for successful digestion, good immunity and even mental health2.

Now, while it’s fairly widely known that an unhealthy diet rich in refined sugars and artificial additives can negatively affect this microbiota balance (tip the scales too much in favour of the ‘bad’ bacteria over the ‘good’ bacteria), too much alcohol can also contribute to this negative imbalance, upsetting and disrupting the equilibrium and intestinal environment3. In addition to dysbiosis, though, overconsumption of alcohol can lead to gut permeability – or ‘leaky gut syndrome’4.

What’s this? Well, it sees ‘bad’ bacteria escape the gut through thin membranes and into other parts of the body (bacterial translocation)3, which can lead to inflammatory issues and injuries in the liver, as well as elsewhere in the body5. And, while we’re on the subject of the liver, too much alcohol can also result in cirrhosis (scarring of the organ) and fatty liver disease (when more than 5-10% of the organ’s weight is fat)6.

How can you protect your gut from alcohol?

Before we go on, it’s probably only fair to address the fact that some experts believe alcoholic consumption, in the form of drinking red wine in moderation, is good for you and can ‘promote’ gut health, owing to it containing polyphenols (chemicals that naturally occur in plants and possess antioxidant properties)2. Indeed, a particular study suggests that red wine increases Bifidobacterium and Prevotella levels in the gut, thus lowering the levels of plasma lipopolysaccharides (an endotoxin whose presence in the intestinal tract triggers an immune response)7.

However, it’s fair to say that, in general, the less alcohol you drink the better for your body it’s going to be. So the trick is not to overconsume alcohol at any time of the year, eat a decent amount of highly healthy, green, leafy vegetables and whole, raw foods. Moreover, you might consider taking a recommended probiotic supplement to promote the growth of ‘good’ bacteria and ensure a balanced gut environment.

Supplements

Speaking of which, if you feel in need of something of a body cleanse or detox following an indulgent Christmas and/ or New Year, the following detox supplements may interest you – they’re available through The Finchley Clinic:

oxy-powder-120-capsules

Oxy-Powder (120 capsules) – a high quality oxygen based colon cleanser that helps promote friendly intestinal flora

latero-flora-60-capsules

Latero-Flora (60 capsules) – its probiotic ingredients help establish friendly colonies that contribute to good health and systemic function and support optimum digestion and helps you absorb more nutrients from food.

References

  1. Mutlu E. A., Gillevet P. M., Rangwala H., Sikaroodi M., Naqvi A., Engen P. A., Kwasny M., Lau C. K. and Keshavarzian A. ‘Colonic microbiome is altered in alcoholism’. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2012 May 1; 302 (9): G966-78. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00380.2011.
  2. Engen P. A.; Green S. J., Voigt R. M., Forsyth C. B., and Keshavarzian A. ‘The Gastrointestinal Microbiome: Alcohol Effects on the Composition of Intestinal Microbiota’. Alcohol Res. 2015; 37(2): 223–236.
  3. Medscape. ‘Alcohol and Gut Microbiota’. medscape.com Pharmacol Ther. 2015; 41 (10): 917-927.
  4. Bode C. and Bode J. C. ‘Effect of alcohol consumption on the gut’. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2003 Aug; 17(4):575-92.
  5. Purohit V., Bode J. C., Bode C., Brenner D. A., Choudhry M. A., Hamilton F., Kang Y. J., Keshavarzian A., Rao R., Sartor R. B., Swanson C., and Turnerk J. R. ‘Alcohol, Intestinal Bacterial Growth, Intestinal Permeability to Endotoxin, and Medical Consequences’. Alcohol. 2008 Aug; 42 (5): 349–361.
  6. Alzheimer’s Association. ‘Korsakoff Syndrome’. Alzheimer’s Association. 2016.
  7. Clemente-Postigo M., Queipo-Ortuño M. I., Boto-Ordoñez M., Coin-Aragüez L., Roca-Rodriguez M. M., Delgado-Lista J., Cardona F., Andres-Lacueva C. and Tinahones F. J. ‘Effect of acute and chronic red wine consumption on lipopolysaccharide concentrations’. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 May; 97(5):1053-61. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.051128.

Mind over gut matters? How mental and gastrointestinal health are linked

Have you ever found yourself feeling low when suffering from diarrhoea? Or down in the dumps following a bout of abdominal pain or stomach cramps? Or has it struck you that you may feel more depressed than you’d expect along with a bit of digestive trouble? Well, research suggests this wouldn’t actually be surprising – and is probably very normal – because there are strong links between digestive and mental health.

Indeed, by studying gut microbiota (the community of micro-organisms found in the gut), experts have established significant connections between bacterial imbalance in this part of the body and mood and behavioural issues.

From the brain to the gut – and vice versa

There are three specific ways in which the brain connects directly with the gastrointestinal part of our bodies:

• The vagus nerve – this travels from the brain stem, via the neck and thorax, straight to the abdomen; it helps regulate heart rate, speech, sweating, and various gut functions via the supply of motor parasympathetic fibres to all organs apart from adrenal glands1

• The enteric nervous system – often called a ‘second brain’, owing to its capacity to autonomously communicate and connect with the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, this system can feature up to 600 million neurons2 that influence muscle activity in the gut wall and gland secretions of the likes of stomach acid, digestive enzymes and mucus3

• The gut-brain axis – by linking the brain’s emotional and cognitive centres with the intestine’s peripheral functions, this enables bidirectional communication between the central and the enteric nervous systems4.

Gut bacteria influencing mental health

So, owing to these direct links between the gastrointestinal part of the body and the brain, it’s been found that gut microbiota can – and does – influence brain chemistry, moods and behaviour5. How? Well, animal studies have shown there’s strong proof that micro-organisms in the gut activate the vagus nerve, thus have the ability to influence how the brain sets behaviour6. Could this be why sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – thus sufferers of symptoms like gas, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain and cramping – often experience depression and anxiety? Quite possibly.

On a more positive note, the microbiota of the gut play a significant role in influencing the generation and application of serotonin and dopamine – serotonin being a ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter that (along with dopamine) is important in establishing happiness and well-being. Indeed, you may be surprised to learn that 90% of serotonin in the body is in the gut, ensuring it’s a key regulator of gastrointestinal motility7.

Improving gut flora through diet – and more

Owing to all the evidence then – and, frankly, just plain common sense – it’s in the interest of all of us to look after our gut as much as we can; a healthy digestive system results in a healthy mind – and vice versa. Indeed, the condition of gut microbiota and a healthy gastrointestinal tract can be positively enhanced by a good diet8. And that means plenty of fruits and vegetables, plus fermented foods like yoghurt and kefir. Gut microbiota (the sort that’s good for us) love probiotics.

In fact, a study conducted in 2014 found that, by receiving a strain of probiotics, a group of rats enjoyed something of a therapeutic effect on the depressive and anxious symptoms they were suffering from, as well as a ‘normalisation of their immune response’9.

And if, for any reason, you may struggle to imbed the above suggested food types into your diet then you can follow the example of the aforementioned rats by getting your gut-friendly nutrients via supplementation. You might find one or more of the following gut health supplements available through The Finchley Clinic suit you perfectly – they do for many of our customers:

oxy-powder-120-capsules

Oxy-Powder (120 capsules) – a great colon cleansing product, it offers a slow release of mono-atomic oxygen to ensure an inhospitable environment for harmful bacteria and other toxic matter, enabling free rein for the friendly bacteria needed for proper digestive and intestinal health

threelac-caps

Threelac (60 sachets or 120 capsules) – contains Bacillus coagulans (a probiotic organism that may help solve occasional digestion and stomach issues), Bacillus subtilis (may aid removal of bad flora from the intestines) and Enterococcus faecalis (a major lactic acid bacteria group genus that’s extremely good for the gut); Threelac works very well with other supplements we sell

Colosan (120 and 40 capsules and in powder form) – a magnesium oxide powder that doesn’t just cleanse the colon but oxygenates it too

active-digestive-enzymes

Active Digestive Enzymes (90 capsules) – aids general good nutrient uptake and could help someone looking to cleanse their colon of candida to improve food absorption; great for sufferers of lactose intolerance, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and gas, IBS and heart burn, and nicely complements Threelac.

References:

1. ‘The Vagus Nerve’. Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division. Stritch School of Medicine.
2. Furness J. B., Callaghan B. P., Rivera L. R. and Cho H. J. ‘The enteric nervous system and gastrointestinal innervation: integrated local and central control’. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2014; 817:39-71.
3. Purves D., Augustine G. J., Fitzpatrick D. et al. ‘The Enteric Nervous System’. Neuroscience, 2nd Edition, Sinauer Associates; 2001.
4. Carabotti M., Scirocco A., Maselli M. A. and Severi C. ‘The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems’. Ann Gastroenerology. Apr-Jun 2015.
5. Dinan T. G. and Cryan J. F. ‘Melancholic microbes: a link between gut microbiota and depression?’ Neurogastroenterology and Motility. Sept 2013.
6. Forsythe P., Bienenstock J. and Kunze W. A. ‘Vagal pathways for microbiome-brain-gut-axis communication’. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2014.
7. Reigstad C. S., Salmonson C. E., Rainey J. F., Szurszewski J. H., Linden D. R., Sonnenburg J. L., Farrugia G. and Kashyap P. C. ‘Gut microbes promote colonic serotonin production through an effect of short-chain fatty acids on enterochromaffin cells’. FASEB J. Apr 2015.
8. Dash S., Clarke G., Berk M. and Jacka F. N. ‘The gut microbiome and diet in psychiatry: focus on depression’. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. Jan 2015: 28(1):1-6.
9. Slyepchenko A., Carvalho A. F., Cha D. S., Kasper S. and McIntyre R. S. ‘Gut emotions – mechanisms of action of probiotics as novel therapeutic targets for depression and anxiety disorders’. CNS & Neurological Disorders Drug Targets. 2014:13.

The importance of oxygen to the body

Oxygen. We all know what it is, right? One of the first elements on the periodic table and represented there by the letter ‘O’. The one-part to hydrogen’s two that, together, make up water. And, maybe most important to us and all living things on this planet, the air-bound, colourless, odourless gas that we breathe in and without which we can’t survive. But why is that? Why can’t we live without oxygen? Just why is it so important to us? And what happens – and what can we do – when we don’t get enough of it?

Aerobic and cellular respiration

As many are aware, via the act of breathing (respiration) the body takes in oxygen and releases waste gas from its lungs, namely carbon dioxide. This is what’s specifically referred to as aerobic respiration; that’s to say, it refers specifically to the breathing in and consumption of oxygen to help create energy in the body to feed our cells. How does this happen? Well, as the air you’ve breathed in reaches your lungs, it makes its way into their microscopic air sacs (alveoli) and, from there, the oxygen slips through their shallow walls and passes into the bloodstream1, through which it’s transported to the body’s millions of different cells where it plays its critical role in the process of converting vitamins and nutrients into energy (referred to as cellular respiration)2,3. And it’s from this process that, along with water, the body creates CO2 as a by-product.

Oxygen health and deprivation

Now, obviously, the higher the oxygen content in the body, the higher the rate of activity its cells can perform at. So when the body takes in more oxygen, the more hydrated it becomes and the better it can function. And, naturally, the healthier it is too4. For instance, using a study conducted on laboratory mice as an example, a group of these mice were proved, by receiving supplemental oxygen, to have developed better immune function, a higher count of T cells (a type of white blood cells that play an important role in immunity) and actually lived around twice as long as a comparative group that had received normal levels of oxygen5.

So much for high levels of oxygen intake, but what if you’re not getting adequate oxygen in the first place? Well, under that scenario, suffering health problems are pretty much guaranteed6. In fact, maybe one of the unexpected truths of oxygen deprivation is it doesn’t just occur suddenly (in the manner of choking or drowning), but can also occur over the long-term; say, months or even years. How so? A common cause is that levels of poor quality indoor air7 and outside air pollution (carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ground-level ozone) are ever rising8.

Oxygen cleansing

Finally, you may not know it, but there’s another – far less well known – way oxygen can do your body a lot of good. That is, helping to cleanse your body of impurities, not least those present in the colon. These impurities get into our bodies via the water and fluids we drink, the foods we eat and often too the different environments we live in – so, yes, via the air we breathe. But the inherent goodness of oxygen (its natural health-supporting and cleansing abilities) does a terrific job in combining with our bodies’ in-built self-healing mechanisms, ensuring impurities, blockages and the like can be removed.

oxy-powder-capsules

Indeed, a product formulated with soothing oxygen that’s achieved great results for people by gently cleansing and detoxifying their digestive tracts is Oxy-Powder (120 capsules). It’s one of the major oxygen cleansing products on the market and is available through The Finchley Clinic – and needless to say, we highly recommend it. Other colon-cleansing products we sell that leverage the power of oxygen include both Mag 07 Oxygen Colon Cleanse (a fast-acting, vegan-friendly digestive-system-cleanser and supplement that’s designed to release oxygen over a 12-hour period; available in 180 capsules, 120 capsules, 90 capsules and as a powder) and Colosan powder (a magnesium based colon-cleansing product that oxygenates the bowels at the same time).

References:

1 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. ‘What Happens When You Breathe?’ U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 17 July 2012. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.

2 Alberts B., Johnson A., Lewis J. et al. ‘How Cells Obtain Energy from Food’. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002.

3 Hyperphysics. phy. ‘Cellular Respiration’. Hyperphysics, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

4 Nhlbi. nih. ‘What Is Oxygen Therapy?’ National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 24 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

5 Hatfield S. M. et al. ‘Immunological mechanisms of the antitumor effects of supplemental oxygenation’. Science Translational Medicine.­­­ Vol. 7, March 4, 2015, p. 277 ra30. doi: 10.1126/ scitranslmed. aaa1260.

6 LaValle, J. B., and Lundin, S. Yale. ‘Cracking the Metabolic Code: 9 Keys to Optimal Health’. North Bergen, NJ: Basic Health Publications, 2004.

7 Environmental Protection Agency. ‘Factors Affecting Indoor Air Quality’. (n.d.): 5-12. EPA.gov. Environmental Protection Agency, Aug. 2014. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.

8 AirNow. ‘Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics’. AirNow.gov, 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.

From supplements to acupuncture: your options for ulcerative colitis treatment

For many, conditions affecting the digestive system and, in particular, the colons are something they don’t find easy to discuss or even face up to. However, such illnesses need to be taken seriously. For instance, within 10 years of their original diagnosis, almost one-third of those who suffer from an active form of ulcerative colitis require surgery for a colostomy1.

Treatment shouldn’t be taken lightly then for the likes of ulcerative colitis – a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which intermittently inflames and causes ulcers on the innermost wall of the colon. But equally, surgery is far from the only option; indeed, depending on the timing of diagnosis, there may be several other avenues to explore in treating the condition, not only to alleviate symptoms but hopefully to force it into remission.

Surgical treatment

As mentioned above, surgery for non-responsive patients may prove inevitable, especially if ulcerative colitis has unfortunately developed into colorectal cancer. Standard surgery comprises two stages, although recently some doctors have favoured a three-stage approach – however, research could suggest this latter approach may not be as safe as the former2, 3.

Pharmaceutical treatment

Long before it may be decided surgery’s the only course of action for an afflicted patient, though; drugs are commonly deployed to fight the condition. This, depending, of course, both on the condition’s severity and patient responsiveness, often involves corticosteroids. Often, through treatment of such drugs, nearly one-third of patients (30%) enter remission after one year4, 5.

Acupuncture treatment

It’s perhaps understandable that, when it comes to treating a condition like ulcerative colitis (which, if left unchecked, can get dramatically worse), some may be sniffy when the word acupuncture is mentioned; others may be downright against its suggestion at all. However, two relatively recent studies point to potentially positive results from acupuncture as ulcerative colitis treatment.

The first attested that, in addition to a drug commonly used for ulcerative colitis, the heating of an acupuncture site (otherwise known as moxibustion) lent patients suffering from mild to moderate symptoms ‘greater relief and symptom reduction’ than those who received the drug alone6. The second suggested that patients whom received (again in addition to a traditional drug) Kuijiening plaster – to treat the ulcerative colitis-related spleen-yang deficiency – enjoyed better results than those whom merely had the drug treatment7.

Supplement treatment

Finally, if studies suggest we should consider the positives of acupuncture in treating ulcerative colitis, then surely we ought also to take seriously research – and patient testimonials – that clearly state treatment through supplements and probiotics can pay dividends. With studies suggesting probiotic supplementation is favorable8, sufferers may consider Restore (for Gut Health), which promotes the strengthening of the tight-junction barrier in small and large gut membrane cells for an optimal gut environment,or the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii (a natural and safe supplement that scientific research has concluded helps provide bowel health, comfort and function – it’s also recognised as the number one probiotic for managing diarrhoea).

Oxy-Powder-capsules

This supplement is available directly through the Finchley Clinic, as are others that can help treat ulcerative colitis, such as Oxy-Powder (which promotes optimal colon health and aids in cleansing and oxygenating the intestines) and Colostrum Plus (which promotes digestive health, tackles inflammatory problems and supports the immune system). When trying supplements, of course, it should be noted that no person’s body is the same and so results can vary – but then so can most other forms of treatment. Evidently, when it comes to ulcerative colitis, depending on your diagnosis (and your doctor’s advice), there are many options of treatment available – certainly not just surgery.

 

 

 

References:

1 Nieminen U, Jussila A, Nordling S, Mustonen H, Färkkilä MA. Inflammation and disease duration have a cumulative effect on the risk of dysplasia and carcinoma in IBD: a case-control observational study based on registry data. Int J Cancer. 2014 Jan 1; 134 (1): 189-96. doi: 10.1002/ijc.28346.

2 Hicks CW, Hodin RA, Bordeianou L. Possible overuse of 3-stage procedures for active ulcerative colitis. JAMA Surg. 2013 Jul; 148 (7): 658-64. doi: 10.1001/2013.jamasurg.325.

3 Dayan B, Turner D. Role of surgery in severe ulcerative colitis in the era of medical rescue therapy. World J Gastroenterol. 2012 Aug 7; 18 (29): 3833-8. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i29.3833.

4 Mehta SJ, Silver AR, Lindsay JO. Review article: strategies for the management of chronic unremitting ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Jul; 38 (2): 77-97. doi: 10.1111/apt.12345.

5 Reinisch W, Sandborn WJ, Panaccione R, Huang B, Pollack PF, Lazar A, Thakkar RB. 52-week efficacy of adalimumab in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who failed corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013 Jul; 19 (8): 1700-9. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0b013e318281f2b7.

6 Zhang LC, Zhang S, Zhong W, Long JX, Li XN, Chen LS. Observation on clinical effect of ZHUANG medicine mediated thread moxibustion combined with medication for patients with ulcerative colitis. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2013 Oct; 38 (5): 399-402.

7 Huang L, Cai Z, Zhu Y, Wan H. Treatment of ulcerative colitis with spleen and kidney yang deficiency by kuijiening plaster: a randomized controlled study. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2013 Jul; 33 (7): 577-81.

8 De Greef E, Vandenplas Y, Hauser B, Devreker T, Veereman-Wauters G. Probiotics and IBD. Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2013 Mar; 76 (1): 15-9.