Have you heard of oxytocin? It’s also known as the love hormone or cuddling chemical! Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is made in the brain. It gets released when we do certain things such as: The beauty of oxytocin is that it is a quick and natural buffer to our stress hormone, cortisol. […]
brain health
Vitamin D
Part 2 – Vitamin D and Cholesterol. Vitamin D and cholesterol work together. As I explained last week in Part 1, we make Vitamin D from the sun. However in order to convert that sunlight into Vitamin D that the body can use, we need CHOLESTEROL. The cholesterol in our cells is the raw material […]
Vitamin D – Brains, bones and babies.
Part 1 – Brains, bones and babies. Vitamin D is VITAL for good health. It is important for brain health, thyroid health, a strong immune system and bone health. Studies have shown that pregnant women who are low in Vitamin D go on to have babies with a lower bone density than normal, so any […]
STRAWBERRIES!
Did you know this is what strawberries looked like originally? Fairly small and not overly sweet. Nothing like the huge ones we find in the supermarket today. So as we go into summer, a quick word on soft fruit. Soft fruit comprises strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, cherries, apricots etc. They are all delicious and nutritious […]
Focus
I recently visited a museum here in London. When I was looking at these incredible works of art, something struck me – that was, how much FOCUS the artist needed to create these masterpieces. When our minds are at rest, our thoughts wander more and our attention span expands. We become more creative. Have you […]
A+ for Attitude
“You have choice. You are the master of your attitude. Choose the positive, the constructive. Optimism is a faith that leads to success” – Bruce Lee I recently had the pleasure of working with one of the most remarkable patients. For Serena*, knee surgery had been a long time coming. However, until recently, it had […]
THE GUT, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
I would love to give some time to the gut this week. Its simple name understates its powers! In essence, the gut is a tube that runs from mouth to anus. It is just ONE cell layer thick. That is all that protects our bodies from the outside world and toxins. A healthy gut should […]
Thank you, Ruby
Earlier on in my medical career, I worked on an Elderly Care ward. Ruby was one of our patients. She had the most beautiful luminescent skin, hazel eyes, naturally curly eyelashes flecked with white, and cheek bones to die for. There was a grace and poise to her. Her legs were fixed in a flexed […]
Get Your Brain Into Dancing!
Boosting your brain and protecting your memory does not have to be hard work. I am all about making things easy and achievable and here is a perfect example: Dancing is a wonderful boost for mental health! Dancing gets your brain in gear – it requires memory, organisation, coordination, judgement. It lays down new pathways […]