Naturopathic Nutritional Therapy is a holistic natural approach which aids the healing process of the whole person, helping you to reach your full potential as a human being. Naturopathy does not treat a symptom but instead looks at the whole person, your daily diet, lifestyle, past traumas, past and present illnesses, life stress etc. and takes all this into account when assessing how you have reached your current state of health. I help you through empowering you with your own story about your journey to your currrent destination (how, when, at what point and why you reached your level of health). This is an important part of your healing process, once you understand what the real causes are you feel empowered to work with your programme which is devised between us to help you to unwind your health problems back to a good level of wellbeing, to feel the vitality you used to feel or should be feeling. To give you an idea on what Naturopathy is about lets take a look at how and why we manifest a ‘COLD/CLEANSE’.

Conventionally speaking most of us believe that we ‘CATCH’ a cold, that we pick up the virus from other people and we have been conditioned throughout our lives to believe this. Generally, we then seek help by going off to the pharmacist for some sort of medication to help aid the discomfort of a cold and this is a very lucrative business for the pharmaceutical industry so it is encouraged through advertising particularly during the Christmas period. In view of the fact that the pharmaceutical industry has a major influence over the medical profession it is little wonder we are taught to believe that we catch colds by one person passing the virus onto another person.

During the Christmas period generally, people pay less attention to healthy eating and pre Christmas are rushing around so tend to eat on the run (less healthy food) and then during Christmas (plenty of salty food e.g. bacon, sausages, gravy, crisps, snacks and even sweet foods has added salt! and mucus forming dairy products such as cheese and cream). Naturopathically speaking, a ‘COLD is an opportunity for the body to CLEANSE’ and this means that the body is showing up an acute illness, a need for a discharge to release inner built up mucus, toxins and excess sodium (from the added salt and hidden salts in the food we eat throughout the year). Dairy produce in particular is mucus forming so over the year the mucus builds up in the body and then the body needs to rid itself of this stuff because it cuts you off from your full potential e.g. you may feel tireder, run down, have less energy, sleep problems, feel negative and this hinders your full vitality/full potential to energetically manifest the life you wish (procrastination is another example of us being stuck and feeling unable or afraid to take action, this may be due to genuine fears and beliefs, however, when you feel healthy and energised you feel more willing to do something about it).

What happens Naturopathically speaking a cold starts with what we have been ingesting and the symptoms are: us feeling run down, feeling tired, perhaps not sleeping very well, less energy, lethargic, feeling irritable, just not feeling ‘ourselves’ and then we start to develop a ‘runny nose’, then progresses into us generally not feeling very hungry wanting to not eat very much leaning towards consuming vegetable soups, hot lemon drinks perhaps citrus fruits such as an orange. Interestingly we feel like and instinctively want to ingest alkalising healing foods/fluids and this is because our body wants to rest from acidic foods/fluids which undermines your life performance. When we don’t feel like eating the body starts to ‘CLEANSE/DETOXIFY’ releasing the internalised mucus, excess salt and other toxins can also shift out of the body and will move out from our cells to the lymph, to the blood, to liver and out of liver through bile passing through the colon.

I believe other toxins can move out through the mucus as well excess sodium. The body can use the skin to eliminate toxins as well as the skin is the biggest organ of elimination! e.g. spots and itching could be other symptoms presenting before and during your cold/cleanse. During your ‘COLD/CLEANSE’ lots of salty mucus is released from your body, and this is positive as your body has the integrity to throw out an acute cleanse to rid itself of this ‘STUFF’ which hinders your full performance and wellbeing. The old Naturopaths used to say you feel better for a discharge! your body always does it’s best to protect itself under any given situation hence why we manifest acute illness to enable us to offload and feel better afterwards. Also, acute illness protects you (if treated correctly) from manifesting chronic illness as acute illness is a warning signal to change your diet and perhaps lifestyle.

After your ‘COLD/CLEANSE’ you should feel after a week or so an increased level of vitality and less procrastination and more able to take action with those uncomfortable aspects of your life you keep suppressing. The next question is, is there viral or bacterial activity taking place during a cold? well the Dr’s generally say (words to the effect) there is viral activity. Naturopathically speaking I would not disagree, however I do not believe it is a virus we catch and pass on I believe and naturopaths would believe that the medium has to be right for the viral activity to take place. If your body is acidic from eating acidic foods and perhaps even fungally (mainly sweet foods are the culprits: sugars and fruit) this is the perfect medium for bacterial, viral and fungal activity. Dentists will tell you not to eat too much sweet food because produces bacteria around your gums. Also bacterias/fungus feeds on sugars and your valuable nutrients (which you are likely to be short on due to the typical western diet), also bringing your oxygen levels down.

I hope this makes sense, so if you are presenting those pre ‘COLD/CLEANSE’ symptoms please help support your body’s natural healing process by changing your diet to a supportive alkalising diet, such as try eating vegan food for a couple of days e.g. lentil and vegetable soup with a little seaweed, 4 pints of pure water spread out over the day, if possible some organic shortgrain brown rice (blots up toxins in the colon and helps to hydrate/support colon), freshly squeezed lemon juice (I add the pulpy bits and rind if organic as well to my water as has an alkalising effect upon the body).

If you choose to juice, please be careful to choose green vegetables instead of fruits, I would opt for vegetable smoothie instead of juicing only because green juices do push a deeper cleanse and while this seems like an ideal time I believe green juicing is best for drinking during springtime when natures energy is assisting us. Especially when you are not used to green juicing. During winter I feel winter warming vegetable soup is better adding vitamin C via lemon juice water (add the pulpy bits for bioflavonoids which aids Vit. C absorption/utilisation) you can also take a good quality anti-oxidant supplement to help support you, however, when your body is releasing it is best not to put lots of supplements in, just allow your body to release.  If you would like to go a step further and learn more about how to help prevent acute and chronic illness, how to help rebuild good health/wellbeing, feel more energised, I do offer consultations.

It is very difficult to avoid salt as it is added to most prepared, ready made, fast food, foods. The only true way is to be in control and make most of your food yourself. I read an article in the Daily Mail recently about a lady who claimed she cured her high blood pressure simply by cutting down on salt.

In my own Nutritional Therapy Practise I have found this to be true, it is possible to lower blood pressure by reducing salt. I find with my clients if I put them onto a good wholesome diet whereby they prepare and make their own food (I provide recipes and guidance). While introducing them to improved hydration e.g. 4 pints of water a day this aids the reduction of high blood pressure. I also introduce my HBP clients to natural high quality supplements which helps to normalise blood pressure such as magnesium, b vitamins and omega 3 oils (I put a package together which provides my clients overall nutritional requirements). This combination not only helps reduce HBP but also helps clients other health complaints too.

When I dine out which is generally once a week I always ask for less salt on my food as quite often adventurous chefs can add too much and when you can taste salt and not the natural flavours of the food, you know that too much has been added. I find restaurants to be quite accommodating if you explain you need to cut down on salt due to health issues they are usually as helpful as they can be. Don’t be afraid to ask! naturally if you are asking for a pie they will have already made it and possibly with too much salt, if you order fish or steak they can avoid adding salt. If you choose sauces, there will be salt in them. If it comes down to it and you decide to have a meal out without worrying about salt levels then so be it, just make sure when at home you cook everything from scratch and there are ways to make food taste good without salt or with the right salt!

Which brings me to why salt is a problem. Table salt is pure sodium chloride and both chemicals challenge the thyroid. Also, table salt is highly concentrated in sodium and we do not need to add salt to the diet if we are eating our balanced healthy 3 meals a day, as sodium is naturally present in all foods. Sometimes though we may wish to add a little to enhance the flavour of e.g. curry or humus and the best salt I believe is raw celtic sea salt which you can purchase online. This salt has good levels of magnesium and other minerals to balance the sodium, this is how we should eat, with a natural balance of nutrients that go together and that is for a reason!

Nutrients work together as a team to help make everything happen in your body from energy production, cell division, buidling of cells, tissues, organs, body systems to the making of prostaglandins and in turn hormones. Sodium is an electrolyte which controls the water balance of your body but so does the other 3 electrolytes: potassium, magnesium and calcium. When our diet is high in sodium we are more susceptible to fluid retention/oedema/ inflammation/aches and pains, kidney stones and I believe in time more chronic conditions (alongside other nutritional factors/deficiencies) such as late onset diabetes, liver conditions, heart attacks and strokes.

To rebalance a high sodium picture we need to cut out white salt, rebalance hydration levels and the other electrolytes as well. So a diet high in potassium (do not supplement you can get enough from vegetables, salad, fruits) so by eating plenty of these you can help rebalance. Very importantly is working with magnesium which is a very important mineral that tends to be deficient in the typical western diet. I recommend highly absorbed and utilised forms of magnesium which not only helps to rebalance electrolytes but also relaxes the body and is involved in energy and hormone production (please ask for professional advice).

As you can see for really good health I would take your health seriously and gain professional help to help you to sort out the right nutrition to bring you back to good health. The question is would you rather perform as an old ford fiesta or have the health/quality of a Bentley and speed of a ferrari? The choice is yours!

Barbara Bradbury (Authority on Nutritional wellbeing/Therapist/Health Coach)

I read an article by David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding Jul 16, 2012 on the internet regarding ‘how fatty foods make you skinny’ an eye catching headline, but in reality we would need to take a more holistic approach to gaining a slimmer body which would require a good all round healthy diet and good levels of exercise. What is important is that we are providing the best quality nutrition to our bodies via healthy foods and perhaps even natural food state supplementation, some of which are in my opinion essential e.g. essential fatty acids which come from fish oil, flaxseed oil, nuts and seeds. We need to understand that not all fats/oils are bad for us and it is true that some can help you to burn off fat.

David Zinczenko’s says in his article that ‘A study in Nutrition Journal found that grass-fed meat contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce the risk of heart disease. And when it comes to your waistline, grass-fed beef is naturally leaner and has fewer calories than conventional meat. Consider this: A 7-ounce conventional strip steak, trimmed of fat, will run you 386 calories and 16 grams of fat. But a 7-ounce grass-fed strip steak is only 234 calories and five grams of fat—you’ll save more than 150 calories and your steak will taste better.’

Yes, these facts are probably true, I would also suggest that by cutting meat down to twice a week instead of 4 or 5 times a week and replace with fish on a couple of the days and perhaps even vegan food for 1 or 2 days will also reduce calories and provide you with healthier food. I’m not against eating red meat, I do, however, believe in choosing the best quality and trimming off the fat (don’t eat the fat in it). If you cannot afford the more expensive red meat such as organic sirloin or grass fed, you could opt for an organic rolled brisket of beef (riverford sell this) and slow cook it in water, vegetables, garlic and herbs (skim off the fat once cooked or leave to get cold and take the fat off the top or pour the gravy juices into a gravy fat skimming jug (lakeland) to reduce the fat content. Also, make sure you consume omega 3 essential fatty acids to counterbalance.

Zinczenko says that ‘Olive oil is rich in cancer-fighting polyphenols and heart-strengthening monounsaturated fats, and when it comes to looking lean, it’s backed by some pretty strong facts. A recent study from Obesity found that an olive-oil-rich diet resulted in higher levels of adiponectin than did a high-carb or high-protein diet. Adiponectin is a hormone responsible for breaking down fats in the body, and the more you have of it, the lower your BMI tends to be. Reap the benefits by making olive oil your cooking fat of choice and using it in dressings and sauces.’

While I agree with these facts I will also say that there are plenty of overweight persons who use lots of olive oil. I agree that the olive oil helps however, it is very important to remember that health is holistic and we should not just rely on these facts to make us ‘slimmer’. What I will say is this you should not cook with this oil, I would only ever recommend organic raw coconut oil for cooking with, other safe fats to cook with are red palm oil and unsalted organic butter (although butter burns very easy).

However, according to Zinczenko’s article the best option for preventing obesity is the organic coconut oil, ‘the lauric acid is a unique lipid that battles bacteria and improves cholesterol scores. And get this: A study published in Lipids found that dietary supplementation of coconut oil actually reduced abdominal obesity’.

This is interesting in view of the fact the coconut oil is a saturated fat! The suggestion that sprinkling coconut flakes to food or adding coconut milk will slim down your waist I believe is somewhat unrealistic. Again, you can have these fatty/oily options in your diet but you need to look at what else you are eating e.g. if you are consuming ‘white’ carbs they will turn to fat because devoid of the necessary B vitamins and minerals necessary to turn them into energy.

Zinczenko mentions that dark chocolate is good for slimming the waist! he has a good point regarding it takes longer to digest the chocolate he says ‘A recent study found that when men ate 3.5 ounces of chocolate two hours before a meal, those who had dark chocolate took in 17 percent fewer calories than those that ate milk chocolate. The researchers believe that this is because dark chocolate contains pure cocoa butter, a source of digestion-slowing stearic acid. Milk chocolate’s cocoa butter content, on the other hand, is tempered with added butter fat and, as a result, passes more quickly through your GI tract. Because dark chocolate takes more time to process, it staves off hunger and helps you lose weight.’

I will agree with him, however, just eat a little and make sure it is quality dark chocolate e.g. raw would be good or even better using raw cocoa nibs in your diet means you have no added sugar and we know that ‘white’ sugar turns to fat. Also, other sugars can encourage the growth of bacteria/fungus/microbes in the body. I sprinkle raw cocoa nibs into my rice muesli breakfast which does have fruit in to sweeten, the fruit and cocoa nibs provides phytochemicals (disease preventing nutrients). The fruit in my breakfast is my daily allowance of sweet food. The cocoa nibs are also good on unsalted rice cakes with a spreading of raw organic coconut oil (no sugar or sweeteners at all!).

Zinczenko goes on to write about almond butter as being good for you, in my opinion yes it is and healthier than peanut butter as peanuts tend to have aflatoxins (a fungus). I prefer raw almonds which I add to my rice muesli breakfast and you can make raw almond milk as well and if you add raw cocoa nibs you get a chocolate milk shake, there is no need to add sweeteners. By adding flaxseeds and perhaps some vanilla pod you get a pleasant tasting superfood that is very good for you (particularly bowel health)! if you purchase almond butter, aim for raw and you need to keep cold as well to protect the omega 6 Essential fatty acids from oxidisation. Essential fatty acids such as omega 3 (fish, flaxseeds/linseeds, walnuts) help to burn off fats and so do omega 6 (nuts, seeds, tofu, soya), however, keep them fresh in a dark and cold place, and they are best eaten whole rather than made into a paste that sits around on shelves for a long time. Always make sure you consume omega 3 oils in your diet if you consume omega 6 as an imbalance can lead to hormonal imbalances/inflammation. You can make hormones from the right balance of omegas/EFS’s and other nutrients (I advise under a proper nutritional therapy programme).

If you would like a slimmer, toned and healthy body I recommend Naturopathic Nutrtional Therapy, Pilates, long walks in the countryside and perhaps some fun cardiovascular exercise of your choice.

Benefits — I personally love teaching Pilates because it is a gentle form of exercise that does not push the body into fight or flight (stress mode). Instead Pilates is a series of health enhancing exercises that helps to: tone your body, improves flexibililty, mobility and posture, helps prevent injuries, teaches you improved breathing techniques which brings more oxygen to your cells, tissues, organs and muscles, in turn could help to prevent certain health conditions. Pilates is great because after a session instead of feeling worn out you feel relaxed and in a good mood.

History — Pilates was developed by a German born man called Joseph Pilates, he was highly recognised there as a physical trainer and healer. He set up a studio in New York and evolved the Pilates Method of exercise which became very popular with dancers and well known people of New York. At his studio Joseph invented Pilates exercise equipment such as the reformer and also where he trained his students. The students he trained from 1926 to 1966 became teachers of the Pilates method, because they were the first to be trained by Joseph they were known as the Pilates Elders. Some branched off teaching Josephs exact method known as ‘classical style’ and others integrated his classical style with their own method. This link shows you the 34 classical exercises http://www.perfectbalancepilates.com/exercises.htm (please do not attempt these exercises without being supervised by a quailified Pilates instructor).

This link shows you a you tube video on breathing the Pilates way http://www.videojug.com/film/pilates-breathing

I run personal one-to-one Pilates training using classical Pilates exercises alongside other core fitness exercises, mainly working with resistance bands, sometimes a fit ball. I try to vary the sessions so as to keep the sessions interesting and I modify so that my client, group or class participants feel at ease and the exercises are within their capabilities, it is important that my client/group/class are enjoying the sessions as well and I welcome feedback. I offer a free introductory session for personal one-to-ones or small groups so that you can get a feel if it is right for you, or if you prefer let me know if interested in joining a class. Tel: 07510919129 or email me at barbara@shapingupforlife.co.uk (fully qualified Pilates instructor).

With so many health conditions on the rise today, it is time to take a look at what helps our bodies to function well so that we can avoid many of these health complaints and live a healthier, fuller, livelier life.  Nutrients makes everything happen in your body they are the workers in your factory overseeing the body’s processes. It is therefore important to make sure you eat as healthy a diet as possible. I recommend that you add supplements (I recommend the very best quality that work) to your diet as well as they are a great back up support, which the body can pool resources from when they are low from the typical western diet or are lost due to stress, poor absorption and most definately lacking in refined and processed foods. Nutritional Therapy helps to establish what your deficiences are, why and how you have arrived at your current state of health and what can be done to unwind those health complaints, together we will replenish your deficiencies and help you to feel alive and well again.

Benefits:

Nutritional Therapy can help alleviate and depending on how much you can do, help heal many different types of health complaints ranging from: food intolerances, bowel conditions, skin complaints, stress related conditions, sleep, women’s problems and many more can be helped. You can change how you feel from feeling low moods, depressed, irritability, negativity to feeling good, alive, positive and motivated to push forward with what you want to achieve from your life.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have regarding health, wellbeing and good nutrition. At the moment I have a special 1/2 price offer on for Nutritional Therapy consultations, please email or calll me for further information on barbara@shapingupforlife.com or Tel: 07510919129. Consultations can be as one-to-ones or via internet/skype.