Health Advice

Severe colds and flu can trigger the release of cytokines which can cause lack of appetite but at the same time it’s important to keep your energy levels up to fight the virus. It’s recommended that you eat small nutritious meals and if you can’t face this then a meal replacement sachet is a good alternative. You also have to drink lots of fluids too. There are around 200 types of cold virus and you could come across one after the other - you can build up immunity against one virus but it won’t protect you from another. Antibiotics rarely help your GP will only prescribe them if you are very ill, elderly or very young as they no quick fix. For children under 2 paracetamol or ibuprofen medicines are the best to help relieve pain and lower temperature. Medicine containing glycerine, honey and lemon can help soothe a cough and the appropriate vapour rub can e applied to a Childs clothing or saline nasal drops for blocked and stuffy noses.

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Figures provided by the Health Protection Agency, show that the number of measles cases in the UK has topped 1,000 for 2008, see table below.

The report also highlights that the Measles virus is about the most infectious virus we know, and has the ability to spreads like wildfire. However the unprecedented increase and spreading of the virus was identified as being caused by the relatively low vaccination coverage and low uptake of the free combined MMR jab over the past decade, due to fears and concerns of parents who failed to immunise their children, as a direct result of fears over the now-debunked research claims of a link between the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab and autism.

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During the winter nights and months it is normal to feel miserable especially as the weather changes for the worst.  Winter blues are those days where as feeling down you do have days which are good and negative feelings don’t take over your life.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) on the other hand can leave you feeling depressed and lethargic all the time.  Symptoms may start as early as September and last until the spring.  Suffers often crave carbohydrates and sweet foods and the inevitable weight gain only leaves them feeling lower.  There are lots of treatments available and you should speak to your GP if you think your suffering.

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Tire yourself out - to help you sleep well the best aid is to tire yourself out physically - making sure you’ve got some sort of exercise during the day will definitely help in the evening even if it’s a brisk 30 minute walk.

Winding down - avoiding the television is another piece of advice which will help you sleep well. As television is a visual and auditory it stimulates the mind so should be avoided at least two hours before bedtime. Reading a good book or listening to the radio is a good alternative and help you drop off when you want to. Relaxing in a warm bath before bed can also help.

Hot Chocolate - Chocolate contains a combination of carbohydrate and protein and helps the body to release serotonin which has a relaxing and calming effect putting you in a perfect mood for sleep.

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Following late nights especially during the party season many of us tend to stay up later than usual and this have drying effect. Often this can lead to the feeling of dry, gritty, tired and uncomfortable eyes. To help prevent this there are a few simple steps you can take.

If you wear contact lens then they should be taken out in the afternoon to allow your eyes a few hours rest and stop drying them - otherwise as soon as you get back in.

On a night out by packing moisturising drops in your handbag to use during the evening this will keep the lubricated. There are also solutions on the market to prevent the ‘red eye’ which sometimes occurs when you wake up - these drops help your eyes look whiter but you need to check your suitability for the drops first.

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Eating well and the right supplements can help you keep your bounce whatever the temperature. Power nutrients to consider are listed below.

• Kaneka Co Q10- Kaneka is important for the production of energy from food.
• Glutamine - helps provide your digestive system with the energy to aid food digestion.
• Ginseng - helps main vitality and healthy immune system.

3 top tips to help you maintain a healthy immune system and keep well this winter include:

• Get outside - active people tend to have a more robust immune system. Its though that this could be due to the effects of feel good hormones called endorphins that are produced when we exercise.
• Eat well - as a balanced diet of different coloured fruit and vegetables helps provide us with essential nutrients.
• Consider taking a daily Probiotic - this can help rebalance and boost the friendly gut bacteria in around two weeks - great for keeping your digestive system healthy.

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The latest new ingredients in professional skincare have been found to be Polynesian ingredients, while doctors also hope to prove elderberries on the top skin super food list. Studies focusing on a compound in the berries called anthocyanin thought to improve the condition of the skin and reduce risk of heart disease. This could lead to innovations in skin health products and vital information about diets to promote healthier hearts. The popularity of monoi has also been a popular ingredient and Tahitian oil has been used in skin and hair care products. Others which research companies look forward to introducing include bamboo powder and tamanu.

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