The Real Cost of the Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP)

Many know my opinion of the OCP…evidence suggests the long-term effects may be similar to HRT. That is, an increased incidence of reproductive cancers.

Let’s look however at the nutritional effects of the Pill.

Almond and Papaya Facial Scrub

The following recipe for an edible natural facial scrub is an excellent way to ensure healthy, glowing, clear skin. Try using it once a week… a very nice facial treat to do while in you PJs on a Sunday morning.

The Cycling Fish

Researchers in Wollongong report that fish oils can reduce pulse rate and oxygen consumption during exercise, making for more efficient energy production without compromising performance.

Skin Rash and Gluten

Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) is a skin disorder associated with coeliac disease. Coeliac disease (CD) is a disorder of the small intestine caused by an autoimmune response to gluten, the protein component of some grains. Namely, wheat, rye barley, oats. In other words, it is gluten intolerance.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is often referred to as “coeliac disease of the skin”, while CD is referred to as “coeliac disease of the gut”.

HRT and Cancer

Yet again, my unease regarding the safety of HRT has received some sound scientific back-up. A study of 900,000 women in Denmark, who were followed for an average of eight years, found that there was a 38 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer, compared to women who had never used hormone replacement therapy.

The Chain Effect

Or how an early morning run led to a great sports injury recovery!!

A few weeks ago on an early morning run, I ran full speed into a heavy chain fence. You know the type… a heavy chain linking wooden posts… usually seen in public spaces and parks. In my defense, I would like it noted that it was very early and pitch black.

Fortunately I didn’t fall over, just smashed both legs into the chain but the shock of it sent me reeling backwards. No choice but to keep running, as I had an early morning appointment I needed to attend. To my horror, when I finally got home, I noticed both my thighs were imprinted with psychedelic blue, purple and green bruises in a neat chain like pattern. Pain was significant and any bending motion brought a grimacing curl to my lips.

A Wheat Outing!

Many of you would have attempted a wheat exclusion diet along the road to good health, and no doubt discovered this grain is insidious!

It is often found lurking in fairly benign stock cubes and even soy milk (think malt), and at times can even be discovered sneakily lolling around in rye sourdoughs and children’s sweets! Outrageous indeed. So what follows is a comprehensive, but by no means exhaustive list, of possible wheat sources. No excuses now for any slip ups in that wheat exclusion diet!

Baby Probiotics

Probiotics positively affect our intestinal bacterial flora. Many of us are familiar with the terms lactobacillus acidophilus and bifido bacterium. However, some species are specific to infants.

Bifidobacterium (B.) infantis is the natural inhabitant of the intestines of human babies as well as occurring in small numbers in the vagina where it is adapted by infants during birth. The type of birth delivery and the type of infant feeding significantly affects the development of the intestinal microflora of newborns. B. infantis is dominant in vagianlly delivered and breastfed infants and is crucial for the development of the immune system.

Libido Lows

Low libido refers to decreased sexual desire, and can be classified as primary (lifelong) or secondary (acquired after normal sexual functioning). It may also be generalized (not limited to certain situations or partners) or situational. Risk factors include interpersonal issues, alcohol and drugs, certain medications (OCP, SSRIs and bet-blockers), depression, anxiety, fatigue, and hormonal imbalances (decreased androgen levels). Fortunately most cases of low libido respond terrifically to herbal medicine and key minerals.

The first herb to consider treating low libido in women is Shatavari (asparagus racemosus). This herb is highly regarded in Ayurvedic medicine for its rejuvenative action on the female reproductive system and was said “to give the capacity to have a hundred husbands”!!

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

I have recently seen quite a few cases of acute B12 deficiency in the clinic. Let’s have a look at the causes and treatment of this potentially very serious condition. (Long-term deficiency will ultimately result in brain and spinal cord degeneration.) In its most pronounced form, vitamin B12 deficiency presents as pernicious anaemia, an autoimmune disease affecting the parietal cells of the stomach. However sub-clinical B12 deficiency without anaemia is commonplace.

Numbness and paresthesia of the extremities are often the earliest symptoms. There may also be a diminished perception of movement and spatial orientation. Irritability, fatigue, breathlessness on exertion, ringing in the ears and loss of libido are also commonly experienced. Other symptoms include loss of the sense of taste and smell, plus fatigue, memory loss, personality changes, depression and even dementia. Gastrointestinal symptoms also often present, such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, flatulence and a sense of fullness. Loss of appetite is common and the patient often has a beefy red tongue, and may also experience burning or soreness of the tongue.