And dying of a broken heart is real. As a hospital doctor, I saw two cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as Broken Heart Syndrome. It occurs after a significant stressor, either physical or emotional, and changes the structure of the heart. Both of my patients had been bereaved. Emotions affect the body and can […]
heart health
Clocks
Nature works on clocks. Flowers open and close, leaves furl, photosynthesis occurs and insects live and die. The human body also works with many different clocks. We have a digestive clock, an adrenal clock, a thyroid clock and more. Being in balance with nature’s clocks is vital to living in balance, and the master clock, […]
Alcohol
I find it interesting how certain foods have become vilified in today’s society, while others are given a free pass, such as alcohol. Where to start with the effects of alcohol? Let’s look at what it does on a micronutrient level. Alcohol has been shown to significantly increase the loss of vitamin C through the […]
Oxytocin
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. […]
It’s the little things that count.
A dear friend of mine, D, was recently unwell. She was still trying to push on with her daily work and ended up with a pneumonia. Although I am not her doctor, I gave her strict instructions that she was to rest completely and some advice on how to get well. When I went to […]
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 […]
Bergamot – The Green Gold Of Calabria
The bergamot fruit is most famously known for the citrus notes it gives to Earl Grey Tea. It is also a key ingredient in the perfume industry. The pink flesh of the fruit is extremely sour but with a subtle floral undertone that no other citrus fruit has. The rind releases an aromatic oil which […]