Preparation before your colonic

So you are curious to try out colonic hydrotherapy for yourself and you want to maximise the benefits of it?

Did you know that just a little bit of homework in the days prior to your first treatment can really improve the results? 

You have been storing up all that toxic waste in your colon over the years and if you are coming along for a colonic, it would feel great to clear out as much of it as possible, agreed?

So before we begin, congratulations on making the decision to invest in your health!  So let’s make the most of your investment and prepare for a good clean out.

The suggestions below are best followed for at least 3 days prior to your treatment.  If you can’t manage that then do try to follow it at least the day before.

1. DO Drink Water

Drink 2 litres of water each day or 6 to 8 cups of herbal teas eg. Peppermint, Fennel, Liquorice, Chamomile or try hot water with crushed lemon, grated ginger, fresh mint leaves or cinnamon sticks.

Making sure you are fully hydrated in the days prior to the colonic will really enhance your treatment.

2. DO eat plenty of vegetable and salad

Do try including green vegetables or salad leaves.

Green vegetables may include courgettes, asparagus, peas, mange tout, kale, chard, rocket, watercress, fennel, celery, chicory, lettuce and cucumber. Vegetables should represent 70% of your meal.  If this seems too difficult at least aim for 50%.

I recommend eating a combination of raw vegetables e.g salad and some lightly cooked e.g steamed.

This will help to ease digestion and prevent bloating if you are not used to eating raw vegetables.

3. DO chew your food. 

Put your cutlery down between each mouthful and chew 20-30 times.

This may sound like a lot but that is only because most people are used to shovelling food down the backs of their throats.

Putting your cutlery down will make you aware of your chewing or lack of chewing.

Chewing your food will prevent undigested food and gas pockets in your colon.

4.   DO drink vegetable juices.

If you have your own juicer or a juice bar near you then drink 1 litre of fresh vegetable juice.

If you are not used to vegetables juices you may include apples or pears to add a little sweetness. Avoid orange and tomato juice as they are acid forming in the body. Choose carrots instead, which are a naturally sweet and alkalising vegetable.

5. DO NOT drink Alcohol

Now alcohol might be fun for a party but a hangover, no matter how mild may lead to an ineffective colonic.  That means even a glass of wine with your meal is best avoided in the day(s) prior to your treatment. 

6. DON’T drink fizzy drinks

Fizzy drinks leach calcium from your bones. 

These cans of fizzy gas are turning you into a big balloon as large gas pockets form in your bowel that waste is getting trapped behind.

If you don’t arrive full of gas your colonic irrigation will be a lot more comfortable and means that we can focus on clearing out waste and not just gas. So avoid all fizzy drinks. You will be doing your bones a favour as fizzy drinks leach calcium from your bones.

7. DON’T Drink Coffee

Avoid caffeine. Coffee might smell great but will only dehydrate you before a colonic. Red bush tea is a great alternative to tea and coffee, it is hydrating 

as well as being naturally caffeine and tannin free and full of antioxidants. Try it with Rice or Goat’s milk or on its own.  

8. DON’T Smoke

I’m sure you already know cigarettes are bad for your lungs. You probably don’t realise that they are also very dehydrating.  If at all possible please try to avoid smoking in the days prior to your colonic.

9. DON’T eat gas forming foods.

Some foods are very gas forming. The good thing is colonic hydrotherapy can help clear out a lot of wind and trapped gas.

The main gas forming culprits are wheat, pulses and brassica vegetables. Here are a few tips on how to keep these gassy foods under control so your colonic hydrotherapy treatment will be far more effective.

• Reduce your consumption of wheat bread. If you find this difficult choose flat wholemeal pitta bread instead.
• If you love pasta, try spelt pasta or eat it in smaller quantities, no more than 30% of your plate.
• Beans and lentils are best eaten only if you have sprouted them as they are easier to digest and less likely to cause gas.
• Vegetables from the brassica family e.g. broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and leeks are best eaten in small portions and make sure you chew them thoroughly so that your enzymes break them down.

10. DON’T eat Fast Food 

Avoid any microwaved meals, E numbers, sugary foods, artificial sweeteners, white flours, chocolate, sweets, biscuits, cakes and pastries and fast food restaurants. Processed foods get stuck inside the gut and have no nutritional value.

Why Bother With the Preparation?

So you are probably thinking, why bother with all this preparation? Aren’t colonics meant to clean me out anyway?

Yes they do, however to improve the results of your colonic hydrotherapy and clear out as much old toxic waste from the colon as possible, it really can make a big difference if you arrive fully hydrated and having eaten sufficient vegetable fibre.

Colonic hydrotherapy is not a quick fix for a poor diet and lifestyle, colonics will help to clean you out and motivate you towards a healthier you.

Doing the preparation will mean you maximise your investment in 

colonics and your health. 

Bowel Tips

Different ideas to help keep your bowel happy! 

In the morning it is very easy to make a smoothie instead of having toast or breakfast cereals which don't really fill you up anyway. 

I put bananas in and ice which you can just buy in bags from the supermarket. It just tastes nicer chilled. Adding frozen fruit, raspberries blueberries etc will make the smoothie nice and cold. I also add coconut oil, cacao powder and protein powder 

I also add a spoonful of peanut butter I buy this from Holland and Barrett when offer on, buy one get other half price! 

I add water rather than milk as it comes up quite creamy anyway with all the other ingredients. I also add Medjool dates, take the stones out first. You can get these from most supermarkets or online.  

Just play around with the ingredients and measurements, its up to you really and what tastes you like, but all these things are super healthy and really good for the bowel. You can have this anytime if you are in a rush and don’t have time to eat anything. 

Flaxseeds for constipation or an impacted bowel must be soaked in water first, overnight. Put 4 teaspoons of seeds into a glass, fill the glass 1/3 full and leave overnight in the fridge. This will make the water quite gloopy due to the release of oils from the seeds. Add a teaspoon of the swollen seeds each morning to you water, fruit juice or a smoothie. Alternatively, add it to your cereal or yogurt, or drink it on its own. They are a very effective remedy for constipation, but avoid eating the seeds if you have inflammatory bowel problems, such as diverticulitis or Chrons. In which case, you can simply add the gloop to your water or smoothies and will still gain the milder benefits of its actions, despite not eating the seeds

These can help with constipation, Ortis chewy fruits and fibre from Holland and Barrett, might be cheaper online though. 

If you are constipated then I highly recommend colon cleanse tablets which you can buy from the clinic. They cost £19.99 for 100 tablets.  I usually suggest starting with 1 with dinner but don’t be afraid to take more if you are still finding yourself not going to the loo. 

Colon cleanse ICF2 

Therapeutic action: This stimulating tonic is both cleansing, healing and strengthening to the entire gastro-intestinal system. It stimulates your peristaltic action ( the muscular movement of the colon ) and over time strengthens the muscles of the large intestine, halts putrefaction and disinfects, soothes and heals the mucous membrane lining of your entire digestive tract. This herbal tonic also improves digestion, relieves gas and cramps, increases the flow of bile which, in turn, cleans the gallbladder, bile ducts and liver, destroys Candida albicans overgrowth and promotes a healthy intestinal flora, destroys and expels intestinal parasites, increases gastrointestinal circulation and is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. 

Dosage: 

Start with only one capsule of this formula during or just after dinner. This Formula works best when taken with food, The next morning you should notice an increase in your bowel action and in the amount of faecal matter that you eliminate. The consistency should also be softer. If you do not notice any difference in your bowel behaviour today or the difference wasn't dramatic, then tonight increase your dosage to two capsules. You can continue to increase your dosage every evening by one capsule until you notice a dramatic difference in the way your bowel works. There is no limit. Most people need only 2-4 capsules. It has taken most of us years to create a sluggish bowel, so let us be patient for a few days and increase by one capsule each day only.

This formula can be taken for a week, a month or the rest of your life. Continue to use this formula until you are having one bowel movement each day for every meal you eat, between. 2 and 4 bowel movements a day. 

If you find you are the other extreme and your stools are too loose, with an urgency to go to the bathroom or after meals then I recommend colon cleanse No 3. I also stock these at the clinic. They are the same price £19.99 for 100. 

I always recommend taking probiotics. There are many different type of probiotics but if you are looking for just a general every day one then this is a very good reasonably priced one. 
Ecodophilus 60 They are £20.60 for 60 and if you mention my name at check out, you will receive a further 10%. 

Yakult and Actimel do not provide much in the way of probiotics. The latter 2 are just very sugary drinks with little probiotic! 

It is also a good idea to take digestive enzymes if you feel any of the following symptoms.  The good news is that digestive enzymes are very safe and reasonably cheap, you can always try them and see if you notice any difference in your digestion.  I suggest these from 

Other symptoms that suggest you might have problems with digestive enzymes are:

• Gas and bloating after meals
• The sensation that you have food sitting in your stomach (a rock in your gut)
• Feeling full after eating a few bites of food
• Undigested food in your stool
• Floating stools (an occasional floating piece is fine, but if all your poo consistently floats, that might be a sign something is wrong)
• An “oil slick” in the toilet bowl (undigested fat)

The good news is that since digestive enzymes are very safe and reasonably cheap, you can always try them and see if you notice any difference in your digestion.  I recommend these (don't forget to add my name as a practitioner and you will receive a further 10% off).  To help digest the meal you are eating, it's eat to take the enzymes during or immediately after the meal. 

Digestive Enzymes

Other useful things to help with constipation! 

Epsom salt baths

Magasorb, Magnesium supplement

Wheat Belly is a great read to see the detrimental affects of gluten on our digestion system. 

And obviously lots and lots more water! 

Quinoa is a great alternative to rice and pasta. It is a complete protein rather than a carbohydrate which is far less stodgy!I. You might be able to get from Tesco or Sainsbury’s too but the one below from Waitrose is very nice as it is mixed, red and white quinoa with bulgar wheat. I eat hot or you can eat cold added to salad for bulk. 

This is also very tasty from Marks and Spencers, very easy, hot or cold and just add a salmon fillet or piece of chicken, pack in your lunch box and off you go.  So much better than grabbing a sandwich and packet of crisps or chocolate bar.   M & S Super Grains & Beetroot

Here is an idea for a salad, and just add chicken or salmon to bulk it up. You can make this the night before work. 

Also get a flask for work and fill up with soups. There are loads of different ones you can buy ready made in the fridge section in supermarkets or make your own! 

Most importantly when nature calls, you must go to the toilet. It is not good at all to ‘hold’ on if you are out and about because you don't like using public toilets or work toilets etc. If you ‘hold’ on, by the time you find the ‘right’ time to go to the toilet, your bowels no longer want to go and constipation is already setting in. If you are worried about smells in the toilet and feel embarrassed if other people are around Poo Pourri  is very useful to carry around or take to work. You spray it into the toilet BEFORE you go and it eliminates smells rather than exacerbates them like ordinary air fresheners do! 

After your colonic take it easy 

The effects of your colonic will go on for a number of days (2-4) after your treatment. They will be varied from a boost in energy level or occasionally a headache or feeling a little tired. Bowel movement may take a few days to return to normal. This is a time to give your digestion and yourself a break by eating foods which are easy to break down and by taking time to pamper yourself. You may also feel a little cold afterwards; make sure to keep warm, drink warm herbal tea or soup and bring an extra layer with you just in case. 

Beneficial Foods 

Vegetables in all forms, especially steamed or in soups
Brown rice, porridge, quinoa and millet are rich in beneficial fibre and will help the friendly bacteria in your gut as well as improve your transit. 

If you want to order any well known brands of supplements a good website is The National Dispensary If you use my name as a practitioner at check out and use the code MBOU10 you will receive a further 10% off. Any problems with this please contact me.

If you feel you have serious gut problems that are not going away even though you feel you are doing all the right things.  You have made several trips to the doctors to no avail, then I suggest you get some tests done to eliminate what you have and haven't got.  I cannot diagnose what you have, I can only treat your symptoms.  If you know exactly what is going on in your gut through proper testing then you know what you are dealing with and I can help and treat you accordingly.

Candidatest and more: High quality laboratory tests

Home test kits and information for the diagnosis and treatment of candida and much more

http://www.candidatest.co.uk/#kit6

My Solution to Bloating with Trinny - Have you ever tried Colonic Hydrotherapy?

Optibac Probiotics

Probiotics are an absolute essential supplement to take for anyone suffering from any sort of digestive complaint.  Optibac are an extremely good brand and I recommend these particular probiotics for anyone with constipation

Please look at this page for all the variety of probiotics available to suit your individual symptoms Probiotics Available

These are also popular for people suffering from bloatedness. For a flat stomach

I cannot stress the importance of probiotics for you and your children's health.  Please spend 10 minutes listening to this very informative Probiotic video.

Coffee Enemas

Coffee Enema: a Unique, Very Powerful Detoxification Method

Coffee enema is unique among therapies that enhance gallbladder function and benefit liver health: not only does it improve bile flow, it prevents the resorption of bile and the toxins contained in expelled bile.

Why is that good?

You may not know this, but the body recycles bile up to 10 times, reabsorbing bile and bile salts through the intestinal walls. It is one of the ways the body conserves its resources.

That worked fine eons ago when we lived in a younger, more pristine world. Today, it is advantageous to help our bodies eliminate bile faster.

Here's why...

Bile carries toxins out of the liver through the gallbladder. Because bile is reused, a large portion of the toxins tends to be reabsorbed along with the bile.

Choloretic (bile flow stimulating) herbs like dandelion, milk thistle and oregon grape can help increase bile flow and benefit fat digestion. HOWEVER, they do NOT keep bile, bile salts, and toxins carried in the bile from re-toxifying your body.

Just stimulating bile flow with herbs will not quickly detoxify the body.

But coffee enema WILL!

Coffee enema activates and intensifies certain enzyme systems that ensure that around 98% of toxins in released bile will be safely carried out of your body!

It does not allow the liver to reabsorb toxic bile through the permeable walls of the gut. Therefore, it is the most effective means of utilizing natural enzyme systems of the liver and small intestine to detoxify the blood stream.

Translation: Coffee enema helps you feel FANTASTIC!

Short video explaining thoroughly how to do a coffee enema at home!

Too much diary?!

Does your child often look like this?

Simply try eliminating or heavily cutting down dairy from their diets.  Normally toddlers eat so much dairy that they become so  full of mucus that it literally pours out of their noses and they have endless coughs.  If you write down the amount of dairy in your child's diet over the course of a week, then most people find it is usually quite a lot.  If you are worried about calcium then rest assured milk is certainly not the only form of calcium.

I know my son, who is now 12, developed eczema as a baby, due to the large proportions of milk I was giving him.  With homeopathy and a radical change in the milk, cheese and endless yoghurts I was giving him, I was glad to find that it eventually disappeared for good.  It took about a year of homeopathy and a radical change in diet for this to happen. After having my second child 3 years ago I was much more prepared. She eats very little dairy and after I finished breastfeeding I switched her over to oat milk which you can either make or buy in the supermarkets.  She rarely eats yoghurts and cheese and has only had a couple of minor colds/coughs since she was born.  I am sure that her minimal intake of dairy has something to do with this.   I am not saying that our children must never eat dairy, I just wanted to highlight just how powerful eliminating dairy from our diets can be for adults as well as children!  A very interesting website is NOT MILK  in particular The Famous Milk Letter  Full of very informative articles!

An interesting video explanation on how homeopathy works on colds and coughs



Below are a couple of very interesting and informative videos with regard to vaccination. I urge any parent to make an informed decision before vaccinating their children. 


An excellent website to help you make this hugely important decision is INFORMED PARENT  

Another very interesting video about the massive increase in psychiatric drugs that are administered to children.

For children with dairy allergies the following health problems can occur. Colic in babies, eczema, asthma, recurring ear, nose and throat problems. Most common symptoms are excessive mucus production, respiratory complaints such as asthma and gastrointestinal problems.

COLIC AND GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS.

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
One problem which causes colic is lactose intolerance. Lactose is milk sugar and some children lack the necessary enzyme, lactase, to digest the lactose. Because this milk sugar is left in the gut to ferment, the side effects can include the most uncomfortable wind and bloating.

SOLUTIONS TO LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
* Breast feed your baby for at least the first 6 months but longer if possible
* Add lactase enzymes to milk to ‘pre-digest’ it several hours before drinking it (available from good health food shops).
* Avoid milk, especially skimmed milk which has more lactose
* Drink lactose-free milk (found in large supermarkets)
* Drink calcium enriched soya milk (in moderation as soya can lead to allergies as well).
* Cheese usually does not cause a problem as it contains low levels of lactose and yoghurt is often fine as the bacteria in it have pre-digested the lactose, milk sugars and proteins.
*Butter has only a trace amount of lactose and is almost never an issue as it is almost 100% fat. 

PROTEIN PROBLEMS
The other main reason for allergies are the thirty proteins found in cow’s milk.
• Casein, the main protein to cause problems, is a large molecule and is so dense in milk that in formula feeds its percentage has been reduced to reflect human milk. It is really designed for small cows, not small people. In the stomach these proteins coagulate into a large, hard to digest, lump which then takes a lot of work to break down. Goat’s milk forms into much easier, small lumps and human milk into tiny little globules. Goat’s milk has a different form of casein which is much better tolerated by children.
• You may have seen posters in your doctor’s surgery urging breast feeding because of the increased risk of insulin-dependant diabetes in children. The reason that cow’s milk is believed to be the culprit is that an anti-body, Bovine Serum Albumin is thought to attack the pancreas in susceptible children, accounting for the sharp upturn in this disease.
• Milk protein allergy can lead to the symptoms of asthma, eczema, digestive problems, constipation, diarrhoea and also to headaches and dark circles around eyes. In the worst cases anaphylactic shock have even been reported.
• Mucus build-up is one of the key down-sides of too much dairy and this can lead to one of the most common plagues to affect young children - glue ear. The simple measure of cutting back, or cutting out milk and cheese can usually eliminate this avoiding the long and uncomfortable road of antibiotics and operations to insert a grommet into the ear. 

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR ON LABELS
Usually it is sufficient just to cut back on dairy products - cheese once a week and a couple of yoghurts a week along with a bit of milk in desserts is unlikely to be a problem for most children. Removing a food from the diet completely can sometimes lead to further problems as no natural resistance is built up and therefore the intolerance may become worse.
In some cases however there is such an acute allergy that all dairy products, including yoghurt and butter, have to be avoided and this includes packaged products containing dairy. There are many unfamiliar terms for dairy components to look out for in this case, and, in addition to the obvious (milk, cheese, cream, butter, yoghurt) include:
* Buttermilk                     * Lactic acid
* Casein / caseinate     * Lactobacillus
* Crème Fraîche            * Lactose
* Ghee                            * Quark
* Kefir                             * Whey
* Lactalbumin

CALCIUM FROM OTHER SOURCES
The main worry for parents who need to take dairy out of their child’s diets, or who may want to cut back as a preventative measure, is where to get calcium in the diet. Here are a few interesting points that may help to relieve some of this anxiety:
• Calcium is best used by the body with magnesium, and while dairy products are rich sources of calcium they offer only tiny amounts of magnesium. This means that while we can take in the calcium, we don’t necessarily use it for bone and tooth health unless it is balanced by magnesium.
• The foods that give the best ratio of calcium to magnesium are green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale. Nuts (all types) and seeds (sunflower, pine nuts, pumpkin) also give the ideal ratio. Sesame seeds are a good source of calcium and can be added to cereals and porridge giving a crunchy texture. Sesame seeds which are a good source are found in Hummus through Tahini Paste. Other sources of Calcium – oily fish such as sardines and mackerel (also give omega oils/essential fatty acids which are good for eczema) and dried apricots (organic as non organic contain sulphites); black strap molasses (also provides magnesium, potassium and iron).
• Children aged 2 to 7 need 1300-1700 calories. One of the temptations of whole milk is that it contributes significantly, at 100 calories per 150ml (1 small glass). However it fills up young tummies quickly, cutting their appetite for other foods. Better to quench their thirst with water or diluted juice, and include high fat foods in their meals such as olive oil, avocado, egg yolks, oily fish, coconut cream, tahini, almond nut butter and fresh nuts and seeds (beware of choking hazard).
• Between the ages of 2 and 7 youngsters need 600mg of calcium a day. If they have a varied, whole-food diet sufficient calcium can be obtained. Even tap water from ‘hard-water’ areas or still mineral water provide significant amounts of calcium.

This is an example of a menu will give around 600mg of calcium:
2 eggs 50mg
Handful of dates 25mg
1 orange 50mg
1 carrot in matchsticks 25mg
1/2 portion broccoli spears 35mg
Sunflower seeds (can be ground as cereal 20mg
topping but avoid if your child has nut allergies)
1/2 small tin pink salmon 75mg
1 calcium enriched soya yoghurt (on cereal) 100mg
2 slices wholemeal bread (or bread sticks) 50mg
2 portions of green vegetables 80mg
1 portion of baked beans 50mg
Fruit salad (kiwi, pear & melon) 40mg

Goats milk 
Easier to digest as it doesn’t contain aglutinin so less clustering of fat globules.
Goat milk protein forms a softer curd (the term given to the protein clumps that are formed by the action of your stomach acid on the protein), which makes the protein more easily and rapidly digestible. Theoretically, this more rapid transit through the stomach could be an advantage to infants and children who regurgitate cow's milk easily. Goat's milk may also have advantages when it comes to allergies. Goat's milk contains only trace amounts of an allergenic casein protein, alpha-S1, found in cow's milk. Goat's milk casein is more similar to human milk, yet cow's milk and goat's milk contain similar levels of the other allergenic protein, beta lactoglobulin.
Goat's milk contains slightly lower levels of lactose (4.1 percent versus 4.7 percent in cow's milk), which may be a small advantage in lactose-intolerant persons.

Different minerals
Although the mineral content of goat's milk and cow's milk is generally similar, goat's milk contains 13 percent more calcium, 25 percent more vitamin B-6, 47 percent more vitamin A, 134 percent more potassium, and three times more niacin. It is also four times higher in copper. Goat's milk also contains 27 percent more of the antioxidant selenium than cow's milk. Cow's milk contains five times as much vitamin B-12 as goat's milk and ten times as much folic acid (12 mcg. in cow's milk versus 1 mcg. for goat's milk per eight ounces with an RDA of 75-100 mcg. for children). The fact that goat's milk contains less than ten percent of the amount of folic acid contained in cow's milk means that it must be supplemented with folic acid in order to be adequate as a formula or milk substitute for infants and toddlers, and popular brands of goat's milk may advertise "supplemented with folic acid" on the carton. Folic acid sources are wheatgerm, spinach, peanuts, sprouts, asparagus, sesame seeds, broccoli.

GROWING OUT OF THE PROBLEM
There is a divergence of views between the medical profession and the more naturopathic approach to health. It does seem that many children grow out of milk allergies and, as their age moves out of single figures, symptoms such as asthma and eczema often resolve themselves. However, the less orthodox view is that the body is learning to adapt, as a survival mechanism, but that the symptoms will reappear in later years - thirties or forties - in another form, such as migraine or irritable bowel syndrome. Surely the most sensible approach, as no one can be really sure how the problem will develop in any given child, is to make sure that there is variety in the diet and not too much dependency on any one food group. Variety reduces the opportunity for allergy.

Drink more water with The BIBO water filter

Throw away your kettle & claim back your fridge with the New BIBO Bar

Bibo comes in eight different colours, ranging from standard tones to those which are much more wacky and vibrant.  It cost about £78 to fit but if you have a handy man around then it is a very simple job.  It connects directly onto the water supply under your sink.  A small hole needs to be drilled into the work surface no larger than a pencil so it is very discreet. 

The Bibo encourages you and the family to drink more water and it is great for having instant boiling water so you can say goodbye to your kettle and I also use it for filling saucepans for cooking. 

We’ve also been using the Bibo to fill our flasks and hot water bottles, and water bottles before going out, so I no longer waste money on buying bottled water anywhere ever again!

I absolutely love it and think it is worth every penny.  I bought the BIBO classic which was £493 plus I pay about £69 per year for filter change.  They also offer an option to rent which you could then try before you buy? There is another option out there which is called Virgin Pure.  This is also a fantastic machine, very similar but you pay instalments of about £25.00 per month which will include filters and maintenance.  I just decided that I would rather pay for the filter outright and not have monthly payments for ever more.  My partner has the Virgin Pure filter which is also an excellent piece of kit!

Check out the Bibo's website for all the information.

How the sugar stacks up

Do we know how much sugar is actually in soft drinks and fizzy drinks??

 I was surprised, I knew it was high but not this high! Even the tiny box of ribena which you might think is slightly healthier that the coke has 5 teaspoons of sugar in it.  If anyone said they took 5 teaspoons of sugar in their tea or coffee you would probably grimace but each drink ranges from minimum 3.9 teaspoons to a whopping 19.5 in the rockstar energy drink!! 

First off, let’s bring to light what sugar can do to your body. This sweet substance can bring on a multitude of health problems, a few of which are major issues common among those who like to over indulge. The big two would be diabetes and obesity. In truth sugar can definitely make things seem to taste drastically better but there is a toll for it in the long term.

Obesity is rapidly becoming more common.  The problem is that instead of treating sugar as a “treat” we instead ingest it all day everyday like it’s common place and normal to do so. From a young age children are exposed to sugar as this holy treat full of goodness. From there it can just snowball into a mound of unwanted effects or conditions. Everyone is different but no one is invincible to the effects of sugar.

Dr. Robert Lustig, author of the book Fat Chance: The Bitter Truth About Sugar claims that 75% – 80% of all obesity stems from insulin which is created from sugar intake. Your body can handle some sugar spurts but when it is routinely consumed it's a completely different story.

20 Common Foods With High Sugar Levels

Now some of these are surprising and some are not. Something to keep in mind is that even when you think you are eating something “healthy” it very well might be packed with extra sugar. It’s smart to check the nutrition facts or even the ingredients on the back of the packaging yourself. You might be surprised to see some things like dried fruits and sugar listed as the first ingredient instead of fruit!

1. Sugar/Sweeteners (Stop or loosen up on adding this to everything!)
2. Soft drinks
3. Dried fruit (look for unsweetened instead)
4. Flavoured yogurt
5. Cereal
6. Flavoured Porridge
7. Spaghetti
8. Fruit juice
9. Ready Meals
10. Sports Drinks
11. Salad Dressing
12. Ketchup (along with many other sauces)
13. Low Fat/Fat Free Sweets
14. Energy Bars
15. Granola
16. Fruit Smoothies
17. Frozen TV Dinners
18. Canned Baked Beans
19. Jam/Spreads
20. Apple Sauce

Sugar Is a Drug

Drugs alter your mind, are addictive and usually toxic. So is sugar! Imagine if a food company laced your meals with morphine so that you’d buy more? The public would go nuts. So they use sugar to get people hooked.

Most of the items commonly consumed that are clearly treats also don’t offer any nutritional value. This is a massive concern especially when it comes to children.  The worst thing you can do is have your children hooked early. It’s extremely easy to eat sugary foods and gain weight but it’s quite the opposite trying to lose the sugar and weight. 

13 Side Effects Of Sugar Intake

1. Obesity
2. Diabetes
3. Heart failure/disease
4. Cancer
5. High blood pressure
6. Restrain the immune system
7. Poor memory
8. Acne
9. Tooth decay
10. Learning disorders
11. Depression
12. Headaches and migraines
13. Yeast infection

Reduce, limit or avoid as much sugar as possible. A lot of foods even thought to be healthy already have sugars. Fruits in particular are a huge source of sugar. Teach the world that sugar is a treat and not an everyday pleasure. Check out the nutrition facts and ingredients on the back of consumables to make sure sugar isn’t the first and highest rated item. 

Try to avoid gluten and dairy

I am often advising my clients to try and avoid or cut out wheat and dairy out of their diets for a period of time. The gluten found in wheat and the casein found in dairy products can be very difficult to digest for some people therefore omitting it can often show a reduction in digestive complaints. I came across a really informative website that I wanted to share which is jam packed full of information. Whole Grains Council.

I am always looking at the alternatives out there for people who need to make changes in their diet rather than telling people they can't have this and they can't have that!

My favourite grain to eat is Love Life red and white quinoa and bulgar wheat. I can't seem to find it anywhere but in Waitrose. Quinoa is a fantastic source of protein and both quinoa and bulgar wheat are gluten free grains and are certainly better options than sticky gluey pasta!

Check out this great video to learn more about gluten.

10 ways to boost your digestive system

10 Ways to boost Your Digestive System

If you’re having trouble with digestion, poor health is not far behind. As Hippocrates is often quoted as saying more than 2,000 years ago, “All disease begins in the gut.” Your organs, blood, eyes, hair, bones, thoughts and feelings are literally built from the food you eat. Your ability to break down food to form the essential building blocks of life determines your ability to thrive.

An impaired digestive system is not only uncomfortable (and potentially embarrassing, in the case of frequent gassiness), but also endangers your health. Experts estimate that approximately 75 percent of the immune system lives in the gut, so taking care of your tummy is vital to avoid disease.

If you want to resolve a plethora of health issues, digestion is a great place to start. Here are the 10 most important rules to follow for optimal digestion.

You are what you eat — or what you digest

Your digestive system isn’t just a blender. It’s a living environment with sensitive tissues and an ever changing bacterial environment.

Dietary sensitivities are increasing as our food supply becomes more saturated with pesticides, chemicals, additives and processing agents. At the same time, meat and produce that is farmed on a large commercial scale is derived from nutrient depleted soil. It’s vital to choose foods that provide optimal nutrition and do not cause irritation in the gut. Avoiding processed foods, grains (especially those that contain gluten) and commercial dairy products.

2. Reduce or eliminate caffeine

Many people find that caffeine causes intestinal distress. For a gentler alternative, try herbal coffee which also has other health benefits. Other alternatives include green tea and herbal teas, which provide anti-inflammatory power and may even help boost digestion. Peppermint, chamomile and fennel tea are all touted for digestive benefits.

3. Work on your posture

Slouching can seriously impede digestion and contribute to constipation.  Bathroom posture is also important. Human beings were built to squat for optimal excretion of waste, but modern toilets are in conflict with our biology. Using a small stool or purpose built squatting device that sits in front of the toilet is beneficial for many people who otherwise suffer from constipation and other digestive complaints.

4. Add more fibre

Adding bulk to stools helps to cleanse the colon. Linseeds/Flaxseeds are rich in fibre — try sprinkling them on top of salads or yogurt or soak a dessert spoon overnight in water and slug back in the morning  Add more liquid if you prefer.

However, it is important to note that fibre may cause intestinal distress and constipation in some people. Consumption should be increased gradually to prevent discomfort and gassiness. 

5. Add more fat

Simply adding more fibre on its own may block up the works. We need to drink enough water and also consume healthy fats to keep the excretory system well lubricated. Good choices for healthy fats include those that are naturally sourced and minimally processed

Coconut oil

Extra virgin cold pressed olive oil

Linseed oil

Don't be scared of eating GOOD fat.  Fats are like WD-40 for your gut. Try making your 

own salad dressings with healthy fats, and adding a few tablespoons to smoothies.

6. Stimulate stomach acid production

Stomach acid is to digestion what petrol is to a fire. Digesting food isn’t just about the mechanical mashing up motion of the stomach and intestines — the acidic medium of bile and stomach juices are also required to break everything down.

Unfortunately, many of us today have weak stomach acid, and suffer because of it. Try stimulating stomach acid production with natural supplements such as fresh ginger (made into a tea or added to foods), raw apple cider vinegar with the mother (culture intact) herbal bitters, or dandelion root tea.

6. Get into digestion mode

Have you ever heard the term “fight or flight”? This refers to the survival mode we go into when we are under threat. Many of us live in this mode on a fairly permanent basis, with the never ending stresses of work and bills hanging over our heads.

The problem is, survival mode is not conducive to digestion. A simple fix is to take a few deep breaths before sitting down to eat. Remember to continue to breathe deeply as you savour your food as well.

8. Move your body

Similar to a slouchy posture, sitting still all day tends to get digestion all backed up. Not only does regular exercise help work gas out of your system so that it doesn’t cause discomfort, it also stimulates the digestive process and helps you excrete waste more regularly. A further benefit of movement is that it can be a great way to relieve stress, so that you find it easier to get into “digestion mode”!

9. Consume friendly bacteria (Probiotics)

Along with providing fibrous foods as fuel for the probiotic bacteria living in your gut, you should also continue to develop the “community” by consuming bacteria rich foods. These include fermented and cultured products such as kefir and sauerkraut. Many people find that regular consumption of these foods and beverages goes a long way toward keeping digestion optimal.

Avoiding antibiotics and other medications such as oral contraceptives is also important in order to foster a healthy gut environment. Studies show that these chemicals damage beneficial bacteria in ways that are not reversed without external intervention.

10. Heal the gut lining

In order for digestion to work, the “machinery” has to be well maintained. This means avoiding things that damage the intestinal lining, and adding foods that heal it. Many of us suffer from a disease called “leaky gut syndrome,” which is thought to be caused by too much processed food, chronic stress and overuse of pharmaceuticals.

Luckily there are a few key foods you can add to your diet to bring the intestinal tract back into good health.

Broth - make your own broth from organic meat.  It is rich in proteins like gelatine and collagen which are hugely healing for your gut.  See GAPS book. 

Fermented Foods

Coconut products - coconut oil and coconut milk are high in medium chain fatty acids which are easier to digest and help support gut healing.