Stomach Acid – why it’s so important to your health
Ever since I first went into clinical practice almost 29 years ago, I’ve been alarmed at the increasing number of people taking strong proton pump inhibitor drugs (PPIs) like omeprazole or lansoprazole for conditions that would probably respond very well to some dietary and lifestyle changes. My sense of alarm increases further when I see […]
Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome
Go back a few years and leaky gut syndrome had only been heard of by digestive health experts. Thankfully it is now becoming more widely known, but what is it? Why do we need to be aware of it? And, how can we heal it? What is leaky gut syndrome? Leaky gut, also known as […]
What you need to know about Candida
There are many kinds of fungus that live in the human body, normally without causing any issues, and often helping it to function. But, there are times when these fungi can begin to cause problems. In this article I’m going to focus on one of these fungi – Candida. Discover what happens when it begins […]
Understanding Coeliac Disease – diet and lifestyle tips to take charge of your health
It seems strange, doesn’t it, that one of the most important substances in our diet – gluten – can actually make some of us quite ill? After all, we’ve been eating foods containing gluten for millennia. It forms an important part of the ‘staff of life’ – bread. Coeliac Disease (CD) is a little-understood auto-immune […]
Probiotics and prebiotics
What are probiotics? The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. You are what you eat. Or more accurately, you are what you feed the trillions of bacteria that live in your gut. These organisms that inhabit the lining of […]
Pregnancy, antibiotics and baby’s immune system
From the moment you fall pregnant, your body starts to change; what you might not know is that these changes can lead to an increased risk of picking up an infection, which can mean needing to take a course of antibiotics. Certain macrolide antibiotics have the potential to cause congenital abnormalities in newborns. The four […]
Should I take supplements?
I have spoken before of my struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression during the early 1990s. During that time, I tried every natural remedy and treatment under the sun in my quest to heal, and that was when I came across colon hydrotherapy and experienced my ‘light bulb moment’ to train in the practice […]
Does good gut health boost your immunity?
Our digestive health has a lot to do with our immune health and vice versa. Its role in maintaining our immune health and, eventually, our overall wellbeing cannot be underestimated. The two systems work closely to keep us in good physical and mental shape. The immune system is the group of cells and molecules that […]
How long should I take probiotics for?
In the modern world, there are so many things that detrimentally affect the levels of live beneficial micro-organisms in our gut; including drugs such as multiple courses of broad-spectrum antibiotics, long-term regular use of proton pump inhibitors (antacids), long-term regular use of steroid medications, to name just a few. Throw into the mix a gut […]
Antibiotics – do you really need them?
The over-prescribing and over-consumption of antibiotics is a subject that has long troubled me. When I first went into clinical practice almost 28 years ago, I noticed even then a complete lack of responsibility from some GPs and their patients when it came to how antibiotics were being prescribed. Patients were coming to expect that […]
Get rid of urinary tract infections (UTIs), thrush and bacterial vaginosis with my probiotic pessaries
Those of you who have been part of my ‘Tummy health community’ for a while now will probably be familiar with the idea that a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria – or microflora – is vital to gut health. Some may not realise, however, that properly balanced microflora are just as important for […]
Have a tummy trouble-free festive season with my Christmas Survival Kit
If you’re anything like me, you like to enjoy a festive treat or two. My personal indulgences are Anton Berg chocolate liqueurs, Drambuie on the rocks, Marks & Spencer’s mulled wine, my mum’s mince pies and sausage meat stuffing, sugared almonds (although I do have to be careful of my dental work!), and a nice […]
Keep your tummy happy this Christmas
I can’t believe that we are coming to the end of another year – and that Christmas is almost upon us! I always feel a slight sense of panic at this time of the year. I begin to worry about how I’m going to get everything done – buying and wrapping gifts, shopping for all […]
Heal your gut, heal your skin
On my 14th birthday, my parents gave me a book called Feed Your Face by Diana Binchin. The book is no longer in print. In fact, when I Google it, it’s nowhere to be found. The book included a number of recipes made from natural ingredients, full of the nutrients that are great for your […]
Problem skin? It’s time to look at your gut health
At least 50% of the patients who come to see me in my clinic with their digestive disorders also have an issue with their skin. They complain that their skin looks dull, grey and sallow, or they’re struggling with spots, dry patches, yeasty patches or itchiness. What causes skin problems in adults? It’s not easy […]
What are the best natural remedies for constipation?
I recently received a rather uplifting review from a woman in her 60s, who had purchased my Digestive Enzymes. She’s suffered chronic constipation, bloating and indigestion for some considerable time. This is some of what she had to say: “After suffering for many years with constipation and painful indigestion, particularly in the evening and at […]
