Menopause is a natural transitional part of life that typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55. It is triggered by a decline in the production of oestrogen from the ovaries, eventually leading to the cessation of menstruation. Although it is a natural part of ageing, the menopause can elicit many symptoms that range from uncomfortable or irritating, to completely debilitating. Oestrogen has multiple roles within the body and this reduction can lead to not only symptoms strongly associated with menopause, such as hot flushes and night sweats, but also can be a trigger for chronic or more serious conditions. Here we look at the functions of oestrogen and how we can use plant-based nutrients with a similar structure to oestrogen to help support women during menopause.
It is that time of year again, the daffodils are blooming, days are getting longer and warmer, and the beginnings of spring have emerged. Unfortunately, for a substantial proportion of the population, it signifies the beginning of a range of debilitating symptoms which can cause a very real burden to everyday life.
The UK has one of the highest rates of hay fever in the world, with statistics showing that between 10-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK suffer – this equates to around 16 million of us.1,2 According to the director of Pollen UK and the scientific director of Allergy UK, by 2030 nearly half of the population are predicted to be affected by hay fever in England.
Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition affecting reproductive function in women. PCOS may present itself differently across individuals and doesn’t always have the same pathophysiology. Diagnostic criteria, healthcare services, education and geographical location means that diagnosis can differ wildly across the globe, but it is thought to affect 4-20% of women in the world. In the UK, it is estimated that about 1 in every 5 (20%) women in the UK has polycystic ovaries, but more than half of these have no symptoms.1
We are living in unprecedented times and for many of us our levels of stress are at an all-time high, and mood and energy levels at a low. According to the World Health Organisation, stress has been classified as the ‘health epidemic of the 21st century’1 and a recent UK-wide stress survey, commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation, found that 74% of adults have at some point over the past year felt so stressed they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.2 Stress can have a significant impact on our mood, energy and sleep, and can contribute to a range of physical and emotional problems. During this week’s blog we will discuss four remarkable adaptogenic herbs and some of the benefits these wonderful herbs may give to help you keep a handle on stress.
Our nutritional requirements can vary from one life stage to the next and can alter according to specific reasons such as pregnancy, health problems such as infection or disease, or ageing and medications. Recent nutritional surveys indicate however that many of us, across all age groups, are not even obtaining the most basic level of certain nutrients.1-4
In this weeks’ blog we look at some of the different life stages we go through, the increased nutrient requirements we may need during these stages, and why it is important to take into account the extra demands placed on the body by these changes.
As the landscape of the Covid19 pandemic begins to alter due to developing immunity in the population from both natural infection and vaccination1, we now have a greater understanding of how the immune system adapts during exposure to infections. It is important to note that even though there may be light at the end of the tunnel, our immune response to exposure to the Sars-Cov2 virus is the most important factor as to how our bodies manage covid infections and whether we develop serious disease and/or complications.