The question of when nutritional supplementation is necessary for optimal wellness is a difficult one, not simply whether the person needs nutritional supplements, but what supplements would help their condition and aid their recovery. In order be certain what supplements are required it is often a good idea to book a session with a nutritional therapist. This may seem like an unnecessary expense, but it can in fact save you money in the long run, as your therapist will be able to tell you which nutritional supplements are best for your needs. This will remove the guess work and the possibility of taking supplements that you don’t really need.

Dr Mark Draper, medical nutritionist to Cytoplan, a Nutritional company in the UK, has chosen to include nutritional supplementation as part of his practice. This was prompted initially by his experience in the West Indies, where he was treating children with advancing infections in the upper respiratory fact. These children were requiring antibiotics until it was discovered they were suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Supplementation program of iron resulted in a rapid cure of these conditions.

On other occasions Dr Mark Draper experienced dramatic responses in the condition of his patients with eczema and psoriasis after supplementation with zinc and selenium. Dr Draper is quoted as saying

“I strongly believe that the body is programmed to succeed and not to fail given the right building blocks. It appears that there is a commonality of cause in many acute recurrent or chronic diseases….which can be classified as type B malnutrition. This can be defined as a shortage of one or more micro nutrients”

He goes on to say that pharmaceutical treatment regimes set out to control the symptoms rather than address the cause, leaving it to go unchecked, and resulting in an even greater need for nutritional supplementation to support the body. He feels that nutritional supplementation will either prevent the worsening of the disease or may even cause a regression.

Basically the body is a self healing entity, but it can only operate efficiently if provided with all the nutrients needed for optimal health. Type B malnutrition can often be due to poor dietary habits, but it can also be due to the poor nutritional status of many of the foods we buy at the present time. Many foods now lack minerals and trace elements due to the way we produce, farm and transport food. We no longer eat food in season. We expect all fresh foods to be available all year round. But at what cost to the consumer? If we wish to ensure that our nutritional needs are met then it is important to take appropriate nutritional supplements. By doing this we are giving our bodies the best support and the best opportunity to deal with any underlying deficiencies that may be contributing to our overall health.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

The term “probiotic” comes from the Greek word meaning “for life”. Antibiotic therefore means the opposite and although as a drug they can literally save lives by killing of bacteria that is making the body unwell, they can also devastate the good bacteria living happily inside our guts.

Good intestinal health is one of the critical factors determining optimal health. 80% of your immune system lives in your gastrointestinal tract. Approximately one hundred trillion bacteria live inside us, weighing approximately 2 – 3 pounds. Some of these bacteria are referred to as “good” bacteria the others offer no benefit and live undisturbed inside us being kept in check by the large number of good bacteria present.

However, this is the crucial point. If the ratio of good to other bacteria is about 80% to 20% then all is well. Once this starts to deteriorate then the body starts to have problems and ill health is likely to ensue. The immune system will become impaired and it will become increasingly difficult to improve the numbers of good bacteria. This is where probiotic supplements can be invaluable.

In the case of antibiotic treatment, as I said earlier, the good bacteria are killed off with the invading bacteria, it is therefore vital that the body is replenished with good bacteria either in the form of probiotic supplements or probiotic foods such as live unsweetened yoghurt. The main benefit if the probiotic supplement is that the live bacteria are present in their millions. It is a much more concentrated form of live bacteria than the yoghurt and will repopulate the gut far more effectively.

Probiotic supplements come in many shapes and sizes and as with all nutritional supplements it is wise to purchase from a reputable company. Probiotics are only as effective as the method used for making them and storing them. So make sure you know as much as possible about the way they are manufactured before you purchase them.

If you decide to stick with the yoghurt, then make sure again that the yoghurt is live and if possible made with organic milk.

Probiotic supplements can also be useful for anybody suffering from the symptoms of Candida Albicans. This is a condition where the gut has been over populated with this particular fungus and therefore is very lacking in good bacteria. This condition is also known as dysbiosis, which means that the 80 % to 20% I mentioned earlier has not been maintained and the position may even be a complete reversal of 20% good to 80% other/candida albicans. In this scenario the probiotics will help to replenish the good bacteria in the gut.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Natural Health

With so much information in the media about junk food and drink that is detrimental to our health, many people are starting to realize that natural health is the only way forward if we are to be fit and healthy into our 3rd age. With so many baby boomers currently becoming OAPs there has been an upsurge of interest in how to reach and maintain optimal health through natural means.

Natural health implies that we want to become healthy using the tools that nature provided us with. Natural food as opposed to processed food, natural medicine instead of drugs, natural skin care instead of chemically laden products, and natural cleaning agents instead of chemical cocktails.

There is no wonder we are breeding nations of sick individual when you start to look seriously at the way we treat our bodies. The natural health approach has the ability to change all of that and enables us to live life according to the laws of nature.

If we would only stop and think for ourselves we would realize that nature provides it all. Everything we need is there for us in abundance. Of course the big issue for most people is that nature doesn’t provide in such a convenient time effective manner as many of the products that are available to us. Gone are the days when women made their own face creams and cosmetics from natural ingredients. Only a small percentage of us grow our own vegetables, even fewer enjoy cooking a meal from scratch. Despite the many side effects related to prescription drugs most people would prefer to have a quick fix from the doctor than take time to convalesce or even concoct an herbal brew using herbs from the garden.

So is natural health a thing of the past? For many people, sadly, I think that may be true. However there is quite definitely an active body of people both young and old that want to integrate some of the “old fashioned” ways into their modern lives. More and more people are taking on allotments and choosing to have organic vegetables delivered to their doors. Organic chemical free skin care products are becoming more popular as concerns for the numbers of chemicals in many commercial brands are being highlighted. There are websites online that sell the raw ingredients for those who would like to make their own face creams. More people are turning to more gentle cleaning products and even good old white spirit vinegar and basic lemon juice are being used for cleaning and stain removal.

One of the biggest increases in the area of natural health can be seen in the purchase of nutritional supplements as an alternative to drugs. More and more people are realizing that they can get the same benefit from supplements without the unpleasant side effects.

So it would appear that natural health has come back in a slightly different guise, but is never-the-less a valuable alternative to the processed, chemical laden industries that bombard us as consumers on a day to day to basis.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Healthy choices have taken on a new life as wellness campaigns and prevention strategies are promoted in a variety of ways. It is not uncommon to see or hear television and radio commentaries on the benefits of making healthy choices in all areas of your life.

Ongoing research proves and then expands on the health benefits of natural products. Our ancestors knew from experience that certain foods and habits were beneficial for staying healthy. They did not know why, just that they were good practices to follow. Science is now unearthing the explanations and proof for the extensive practical knowledge that was handed down generation after generation.

Breakthroughs and new information is so abundant, it is sometimes difficult to keep up. The Internet has helped to keep people informed of up to date information from the latest scientific studies and research that can improve your health and wellness. Readily available information at your fingertips has more and more people making healthy choices.