The number of people living with constipation increases in China[1] and affects anywhere from three to twenty-seven per cent of people in Europe[2] and the USA[3]. Whilst constipation affects mainly females and progresses with age, many children are also affected, with a quarter of visits to a paediatrician looking to address constipation without an … [Read more...]
“I think I need to give my liver some love.”
The liver weighs around 1.5kgs and comprises on average around 2% of an adult’s body weight.[1] It’s fair to say that the liver’s role is potentially as undervalued as it is misunderstood. It might seem strange to hear that I think the liver is misunderstood but depending on how many coffees I’ve had, my patients will note my mini-rants around the notion of how … [Read more...]
Everyone tells me to reduce my stress. I don’t even know where to start?
I’ve been making a sincere effort to reduce referring to “stress” when talking with patients. Why? You might think it’s obvious two minutes into a new doom scrolling session on Twitter, but as soon I enter into the discussion with patients, I’ve just started to feel as if it’s a moot point. Here’s often how the conversation goes. “So, talk to me about your … [Read more...]
Leaky gut and its influence on digestive and mental health.
The term "leaky gut," its symptoms and causes, are becoming highly ambiguous to my patients and readers alike. So, in this article, I will attempt to clear up some of the confusion. I'll look at some key points to simplify things a little more and help you perhaps prioritise your understanding around its influence on digestive and mental health. Finally, I'll look at some of … [Read more...]
Zinc is necessary for IBS, immunity and depression.
Zinc is undoubtedly one of the most important forms of currency your body needs to pay its bills, especially for IBS, immunity and depression. It’s hard to simplify just how many of these transactions it pays for in a day, but maybe some fun facts might better illustrate it. Of all the trace elements in the body, only iron is more abundant than … [Read more...]
“I don’t know why, but by 3 pm, I’m tired and ready for a sleep.”
We’ve all been there. Lunch is over, the afternoon workload is looming, and the clouds in your brain are starting to form. Your brain always gets foggy around this time of day, and just as you feel it on the horizon, the bloating starts. Your eyelids are heavy and tired within a few moments, and you’re ready for a nap - it must be 3 pm. Feeling tired at 3 pm is a common … [Read more...]
Treat your nutrition like your finances?
Does seeing your nutrition as a form of currency align with modern-day views of how our diet makes a difference? About three patients in this morning, before I started writing this, I heard a familiar nutrition-based request. “I want to know if I’m getting what I need from my diet.” I hear this request so often I devoted a section of this website to it! After years of … [Read more...]