A bone of contention?

Friday 4th December 2009 9:18am

elderly walkingNot a day goes past that there isn’t a story in the mainstream media about the costs to society of poor bone health.

Unfortunately, like blood pressure and cholesterol, it usually isn’t until it’s too late before at an individual level we become aware of it. Like these other two it’s largely symptom-less so it doesn’t pop into our heads to be proactive about prevention all that often.

Unlike cholesterol and high blood pressure though the results of treatment aren’t all that great. This is largely because the bulk of your bone’s mass is laid down through your younger years until age about 25. After that they remain fairly stable until mid-life when, for women in particular, your body starts to draw down on the calcium bank you have stored up. The problem comes when, like your bank account, you over draw your account!

What can you do?

You’ve heard it all before but it is worth making these points again just in case you did miss the message!

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Hayfever - the season to be sneezin

Thursday 3rd December 2009 9:02am

woman snezzing outdoors‘Tis the Season to be Sneezin’

Spring is a great time of the year. The days start to get warmer and longer which makes you want to get out and about. Your exercise regimen gets dusted off along with your training shoes and you re-commit to making the effort to improve your health.

It’s amazing how coming out of the dark, short winter days makes you feel so much better. It’s a shame that for many people this also is the start of one of the worst periods of the year. Hay fever season can last from early spring right through to mid-summer and if you are a sufferer it can really be quite debilitating.

For most seasonal allergy sufferers there are some simple things we can do to avoid the worst of the problems associated with hay fever.

Avoiding things that cause you discomfort might sound easy but it takes some time and careful observation to try and establish what it is that makes you sneeze. Make a note of when and where you suffer the most and try and locate what

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You and your immune system

Wednesday 2nd December 2009 4:05pm

Immune system

Most people are familiar with the function of the immune system. In its simplest form it is the mechanism by which your body fights off infections caused by bacteria or viruses.

Generally we all are well aware of when it isn’t functioning as well as it should be.

Most commonly you start to get the sniffles and sneezes however there are a number of other signs of an immune system gone wrong.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a case in point where the body actually starts to recognise parts of itself as foreign and starts to mobilise its defences against itself.

Other possible examples of the immune system gone bad include some types of anaemia and diabetes.

Thankfully though for the bulk of the population our immune system works well within limits and we only get minor infections.

The interesting thing about the immune system is that it isn’t based in a single organ like say the liver or kidneys. It is a complex interaction between many parts of the body including lymph system, the s

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Saw Palmetto

Monday 9th November 2009 9:58am

saw palmettoSaw Palmetto is a type of palm tree, also known as Dwarf Palm and its primary medicinal value lies in the oily compounds found in its berries.

Saw palmetto’s phytochemicals are believed to block the cell receptors that are activated by a very potent form of testosterone known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT for short. These receptors only exist in two areas of a male’s body, the prostate and the scalp.

By blocking these receptors in the prostate saw palmetto is able to reduce some of the side effects of mild to moderate benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) such as poor urine flow, hesitancy and the disturbed sleep that comes with frequent nocturnal urination.

It is important to note that BPH needs to be medically diagnosed before starting any treatment.

It is also important to let people know that as men age their prostate enlarges only slowly so the action of saw palmetto in reducing mild to moderate BPH is also something that takes time. People can’t expect immediate res

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Flaxseed Oil a vegetable source of Omega 3

Monday 2nd November 2009 9:35am

flaxseed oil

Flaxseed (also known as Linseed) comes from the Flax plant - a small, single stemmed plant that has greyish green leaves and sky blue flowers.

The amber oil which is obtained from the Flax seeds is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is an Omega 3 fatty acid.

Various literature states that essential fatty acids are beneficial for the heart and may help reduce high blood pressure and high triglyceride levels.

Flaxseed Oil is a good source of Omega 3’s and is plant based it makes an excellent alternative for those people who are:

General benefits -

Flaxseed Oil is also a source of phytoestrogens making it useful for breast tenderness and may alleviate symptoms of PMS.

Herb Valley Flaxseed Oil is cold press

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Cranberry for urinary health

Friday 30th October 2009 8:27am

cranberry

Cranberry is botanically related to the blueberry and is native to North America. The North American Indians, who used this fruit for centuries in their folk medicine for the treatment of bladder and kidney diseases, introduced the Cranberry to Europeans who  still use it today.

Cranberry juice and solid dose forms are popular in nursing homes as urinary deodorising agents in older adults with incontinence. Although no clinical data is available to confirm efficacy, numerous anecdotal reports suggest that it is useful when used on a regular basis.

Herb Valley uses NutriCran ® BIO-100. A spray dried Cranberry concentrate powder standardized to contain 100% Cranberry Fruit (early black variety). Prepared with non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) ingredients via a proprietary process that result in superior ellagic acid, proanthocyanidins, and

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Cod liver oil - natural essential nutrients

Thursday 29th October 2009 8:16am

spoonfull of pills

Cod Liver Oil is a natural source of the essential nutrients Vitamins A and D. It is a yellowish oil obtained from the liver of codfish.

Cod Liver Oil is probably considered an old fashioned treatment. Images of someone spoon feeding an infant or young child generally come to mind along with the fishy aftertaste.

The good sense of administering Cod Liver Oil in the past has been proven again and again.

Vitamin A is necessary for the integrity of the mucous membranes throughout the body. These include respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems in both men and women.

Vitamin A is also important for the maintenance of good vision.

Vitamin D is essential for the correct deposition of minerals like calcium and magnesium into bone. There is quite strong evidence emerging that lifestyle changes are reducing our natural production of vitamin D which occurs through the action of sunlight on the skin. Adequate intake of vitamin D is known to be essential to bone health throughout life and re

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Glucosamine and arthritis

Wednesday 28th October 2009 9:17am

exercise class on balls

As the cold weather approaches we notice a number of changes.

The cold weather makes our aching joints and muscles seem even more severe. Meanwhile we all typically increase our physical activity further.

A Glucosamine supplement is an ideal way to reduce these symptoms.

What will it do for me?

Scientific studies have shown that Glucosamine Sulphate reduces the symptoms of osteoarthritis and may also reduce progression of the condition.

How long will it take to work?

2-3 weeks for the relief of symptoms.

Longer term use required for the protection of joints.

Dosage?

1,500mg of Glucosamine sulphate per day.

You should note that Glucosamine Potassium Sulphate Complex generally only yields 75% of Glucosamine Sulphate.

Are there any safety issues?

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advic

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No magic solution for weight loss

Tuesday 27th October 2009 4:46pm

woman and scale

It would be great if there were a magic solution for instant weight loss. However, the truth is that watching what you eat, reducing calories, and exercising more is the only tried and true way to change your weight and reduce the health risks associated with abdominal obesity.

A positive approach to healthy weight management focuses on changing our behaviour rather than focusing on our weight.

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please cons

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How much calcium?

Tuesday 27th October 2009 4:01pm

sources of calciumEveryone should aim for 2 to 3 serves of calcium-rich food per day.

The Australian RDI’s for calcium intake are:

Where this intake cannot be obtained from food then taking a calcium supplement may be beneficial.

Herb Valley Calcium Complete is an optimally balanced Calcium supplement with Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, K1, D3, Boron and Silica.

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.