Brain Exercises

Worried about holding on to your mental dexterity and memory as you age? Think Sudoko, cleverly-marketed computer games and ‘brain exercises’ are the answer? Think again, regular exercise, such as a brisk walk three times a week, is the key to keeping, even growing, your cognitive powers as you age! Despite what the advertisers would…

Ease PMS Naturally

There’s an old saying about how the world would be different if men had periods instead of women, but if that was the case, it is certain that the discomfort and disruption of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) would have been solved many years ago! As it is, no one really knows the exact cause of PMS…

Indigestion & Heartburn Advice

It’s so common that many people simply accept as a fact of life the discomfort and pain, the acid-burning feeling and the bloating and wind that comes with indigestion. But regular readers will know that when it comes to health problems, no matter how minor they may appear, I very rarely simply accept them! And neither…

Is Your Tummy Letting Your Back Down?

Before reading on, I’d like you to participate in a brief experiment (as an incentive, participating will make you look slimmer). Slouch down on your sofa and relax. Now look down and see what your tummy is doing – perhaps it is falling forward away from your body. Now, sit upright on a firm chair…

Inflammation Advice

We’ve all experienced inflammation. Common signs of inflammation are pain, stiffness of joints, reddening of skin, swelling, heat and sometimes even flu like symptoms including headaches, loss of appetite, fever, chills and loss of energy. But what’s the point of it and when does it stop being helpful and becomes harmful to us? Inflammation is…

Are You Worried About Eczema?

I had an email this week from a mother worried about her 11 year old son’s eczema (don’t forget that you can email me). Many children do grow out of this painful and irritating skin condition by their mid teens but some do not (one in 12 adults are affected). Symptoms of eczema include painful…

Sugar Addiction

“It tastes good” “it’s natural” “our body needs it for energy” “surely a little sugar isn’t that bad?” Well, a small amount of sugar in its raw complex form is vital for life but the amount that we are ingesting (as much as 10 tablespoons a day – much of it hidden in preprepared food…

Pain Myths

Pain Myth: Women have higher pain thresholds than men Truth: Neither sex has the edge. Some studies suggest that while woman can deal with chronic pain better than men, they are more sensitive to acute pain. We don’t know exactly why this is: it may be because women have more coping strategies such as talking to…

Flu Vaccination Advice

Some very good information is being distributed recently about how to avoid succumbing to the flu virus but it lacks an important factor. Those most at risk (older people, carers and people who are already unwell) are encouraged to have the free flu vaccinations whilst the rest of us are advised to cover our mouths…

9 Tips To Improve Your Posture

What if I told you that I could give you a pill that would make you stand taller, look slimmer, feel more confident, help to beat back pain and improve your general health levels? You’d probably snap it up. Well, there isn’t a pill (thank goodness, we rely too heavily on pill-popping) but by improving…