These are some of the common questions my staff in the Naturopathic Department get asked from day to day:

 

Vitamins are required in small amounts to sustain life and are an important component of many reactions in the body. Our bodies cannot manufacture most vitamins and so they must be supplied through the diet, but often our food choices, growing conditions, preparation methods and storage prevent us from getting all that we need. Supplementation with a multivitamin (or in particular cases an individual vitamin where necessary) can be very beneficial – and can be used when on a calorie controlled diet. Vitamins themselves do not have calories, although a few may be supplied when taking tablets/capsules which contain other ingredients. The vitamins and minerals themselves may help to support metabolic function and are important for helping your body convert food into energy.
When losing weight, one of the most common things to do is to reduce your fat intake. But we do need some fat to survive and you should really be looking at the type of fat you are consuming rather than just the quantity. Fat does have calories, but the calories from saturated fats such as animal products and fried foods are the type of calories you do not want to be consuming in large amounts. The calories from your superunsaturated fats – like those found in fish and flax oil, have numerous health benefits and should be an important component of any weight loss regime. They are essential for normal metabolic function, they help maintain regularity and health of the digestive tract as well as helping to support circulation and a healthy cardiovascular system.

 

Fish is a wonderful addition to a healthy diet as it is high in protein and good oils.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend eating 1-2 serves of fish per week and the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) advises that it is safe for all population groups to eat 2-3 serves of fish per week depending on the type of fish.
The larger and older the fish, the more likely it is to have higher levels of mercury. This is because it has had more time to build up mercury levels in its body or is more likely to have eaten other fish that already have mercury in their system.
Fish that contain higher levels that should be eaten less often are Swordfish, Shark (Flake), Marlin, Sea Perch and Catfish.
If you are unsure of the type of fish or fish fillets you are purchasing, ask your retailer to confirm the name so that you are aware of what you are eating, and supplement your diet with fish oil capsules for an added Omega 3 boost.

Fish Oil capsules are another good way of getting the beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids into your system, particularly for those who benefit from taking larger amounts (such as those who use them to maintain healthy joint function and a healthy cardiovascular system). Golden Glow fish oil products are routinely tested and comply with heavy metal levels including mercury; as set by Australia’s regulatory body the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/compguid/wholefishoil.htm). 

 

 

Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus Type 1. There are numerous contributing factors to cold sores. They can be brought on by stress, over exposure to sun and wind, diet, and there are some people that just seem naturally more prone to them. Once you've had an episode of cold sores, the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells in your skin and may emerge again as an active infection at or near the original site if conditions allow it.

One of the most effective things to use as a preventative and to help speed recovery is the amino acid lysine. Lysine is an essential amino acid that helps to reduce the frequency and severity of cold sore outbreaks. The herpes virus uses another amino acid, arginine, to grow and replicate. Preliminary in vitro studies suggest that supplemental lysine may compete with arginine and inhibit the virus' ability to replicate itself.
Zinc and Vitamin C can also be beneficial to support the immune system and improve healing.

Some preventative measures can be taken such as:
• Avoid sharing items such as eating utensils and towels with people when the blisters are present as this can spread the virus.
• Keep your hands clean by washing them regularly and carefully before touching another person when you have a cold sore.
• Avoid triggers such as sun and wind and try to reduce stress levels
• Reduce your intake of arginine rich foods such as chocolate, nuts and brown rice.
• Let it heal - avoid squeezing, pinching or picking at any blister.

 

 

It is good to take a probiotic supplement that contains both Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are also known as probiotics or beneficial bacteria. They can both produce lactic acid which makes their environment acidic which inhibits the growth of some harmful bacteria. In healthy people, beneficial bacteria can comprise 90% of the digestive tract bacteria.

Lactobacillus is a genus of lactic acid bacteria. They produce lactic acid as the major metabolic end product of carbohydrate fermentation. Most of them can convert lactose and other sugars to lactic acid and they can also produce the enzyme lactase. They are the predominant microorganism in the small intestine.
Bifidobacteria reside in the large intestine or bowel and produce lactic acid there. Newborns, especially those that are breast-fed, are colonised with bifidobacteria within days after birth. Bifidobacteria aid in digestion and are associated with a lower incidence of allergies.

Different strains of both types of bacteria have slightly different actions, but mainly they help to support a healthy digestive system and are beneficial for normal bowel function and for supporting healthy urogenital flora. They can help in instances of diarrhoea or constipation and as a supplement; help to re-establish healthy gut flora after a course of antibiotics.

 

SAMe is short for S-adenosylmethionine. It is derived from the amino acid methionine and is manufactured within the body. It is also manufactured for use as a nutritional supplement.
SAMe is involved in over 40 essential biochemical reactions in the body and helps to maintain a healthy liver. It is also useful for normal healthy nerve and brain function. Some of the reasons why it is beneficial for the nervous system are that it is involved in the synthesis of various neurotransmitters - the chemical messengers in the brain that mediate our mood. These include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
As well as all those benefits SAMe has also been found to be useful for arthritis, offering temporary relief of the pain and swelling associated with it.
To enhance production of the SAMe precursor methionine, it is a good idea to take the cofactors Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid along with it.
Occasional nausea has been reported when using SAMe products but this can generally be alleviated by starting on a lower dose or using enteric coated tablets. Individuals who are using prescription anti-depressants or suffer from bipolar depression should not use this product unless under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

 

Psyllium husks consist of the ground husk of the psyllium seed obtained from the plant Plantago psyllium or Plantago ovata. It is predominantly soluble fibre. The husks expand and become mucilaginous (swell in water and take on a gelatinous consistency). This makes it a bulk producing laxative that helps provide a constant volume of solid material to improve transit time in the gastrointestinal tract. You could say that it enlarges and softens bowel contents for ease of elimination.

Slippery Elm as a product consists of the dried inner bark of the Ulmus rubra tree. Slippery Elm contains abundant mucilage which has a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect to help relieve irritation, especially of the mucous surfaces in the body, such as the lining of the throat and digestive tract. This makes it beneficial if you are suffering from digestive complaints such as diarrhoea, constipation or gastritis. It can be taken around meal time to help relieve symptoms of over acidity.

Psyllium Husks and Slippery Elm products can be used in both constipation and diarrhoea as they take on water and provide bulk in the bowel, however for diarrhoea, Slippery Elm may be more beneficial as it has more soothing qualities.
It is imperative when using these products that sufficient water is consumed otherwise they may exacerbate constipation. Another caution is that because they are so mucilaginous, they may theoretically alter the rate and/or extent of absorption of some medications with a narrow therapeutic range (eg. Warfarin, Barbiturates). So it may be a good idea to use fibre supplements at a different time to taking these medications.



If you have a health query you would like Leanne to answer,please write to:

 

 

Leanne Thiedeman

Golden Glow Natural Health Products

PO BOX 45

Virginia Qld 4014

 

or email: askleanne@goldenglow.com.au

Please note that space does not permit all letters to be answered. All names and addresses are withheld and questions may be edited.