June 2010

Experts agree that seaweed can be categorised as a ‘Superfood’

Whilst you may only think of seaweed as the stuff in the sea that gets caught on your feet when wading, this claim is being supported by investigations that reveal that seaweed, a variety of algae, contains more calcium than cheese, more fibre than in prunes and more iron than a steak – weight for weight!

Scientists have also recently concluded that seaweed offer perhaps the broadest range of minerals of any food found on earth, as they contain virtually all the nutrients found in the ocean and the very same minerals found in human blood.

Furthermore, seaweed is an excellent source of the B-vitamin folate, and magnesium, as well as a great supply of iron, iodine, calcium, phosphorous and the B-vitamins riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Seaweed also contains vitamins A, B1, C, E, and protein. In addition, seaweed contains significant amounts of lignans, which are plant compounds with cancer-protective properties. The most recent studies on seaweed revealed that its bioactive substances aid in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, plus its ability to deal with free radicals that are the cause of cancer.

Seaweed to tackle the rise in obesity

Seaweed could hold the key to tackling obesity after it was found it reduces fat digestion by more than 75 per cent, new research has shown.

A team of scientists led by Dr Iain Brownlee and Prof Jeff Pearson have found that dietary fibre in one of the world’s largest commercially-used seaweed could reduce the amount of fat available for absorption by the body by around 75 per cent.

The Newcastle University team found that Alginate – a natural fibre found in sea kelp – stops the digestion of fat better than most anti-obesity treatments currently available over the counter.

“Obesity is an ever-growing problem and many people find it difficult to stick to diet and exercise plans in order to lose weight” explains Dr Brownlee.

Alginates (fibres) have great potential for weight management – adding them to food also has the added advantage of boosting overall fibre content.

What is a dietary fibre?

Dietary fibre would be scientifically classified as a group of carbohydrates of plant origin that escape digestion by the human gut. “Actually, there’s still quite a lot of confusion about fibre,” says Dr Brownlee.  “I think most people would describe it as roughage – the bit of your food that keeps you regular and is vital for a healthy gut.”

“Both of these facts are true but the notion that all fibre is the same and that it simply goes through your system without having an effect is wrong.”

Fibre is made up of a wide range of different molecules called polysaccharides and although it is not digested by the human gut, it both directly and indirectly affects a number of bodily processes.

Dr Brownlee adds: “These initial findings suggest alginates could offer a very real solution in the battle against obesity.”

Nutri-Health is delighted to be at the cutting edge of information as we proudly launch Raw Seaweed for Culinary Use; easy to take Seaweed Capsules and Organic Spa and Beauty Seaweed Products.

All seaweeds in this range are harvested from the West coast of Ireland, and grown in an area free of pesticides and artificial chemicals. The capsules are free of contaminants, toxic metals and microbial pathogens, irradiation, GMOs, manufacturing incipients, wheat, dairy, gluten and other known allergens. The spa and beauty products contain essential oils, and are certified organic.

May 2010

The Power Of Positive Thinking & How This Affects Our Health

We’ve all heard the saying ‘You are what you eat’ and whilst that bears true, consider also, you are what you think you are!

Most of us simply don’t realise the sheer power of our subconscious mind, and most of us have no idea at all how much of what we feed it is negative.

Good health is not just a physical outcome; it’s an idea – a mental attitude.

You will often hear people constantly reporting that they have something wrong with them, whether it’s feeling ill or battling with weight issues. Keeping themselves stuck in a place they don’t want to be, just by their thoughts and dialogue, internal and external.

“Why can’t I lose weight?’, ‘I’ve always been fat’, ‘It’s not my fault’, ‘I’m ill…’

All ideas and beliefs – good or bad – are implanted into the subconscious by repetition, faith and expectation. By repeating a thought pattern over and over again it becomes automatic, and that’s a damaging fact when the thought pattern is negative.

The subconscious is extraordinarily compelling – you are literally ‘compelled’ to express or create outwardly whatever it is you are thinking, in other words, you create a ‘cause and effect’!

What to do?

Decide to embed new positive thoughts and ideas into your unconscious mind instead!

Take note – changing your ‘belief system’ is important – you must believe what you are embedding, just as you believe that when you plant a seed into the ground, it will grow.

Thoughts are ‘seeds’ also, planted into your subconscious mind. Realise that they too will grow after their kind. By nurturing seeds of thought, which we do all the time by thinking about them over and over again, you accelerate their growth. So plant your thoughts consciously, know what you are doing and why you are doing it.

FACT “Our minds—made up of our thoughts, beliefs, and self-talk—are always ‘on.’ According to scientists, we have about 60,000 thoughts a day. That’s one thought per second during every waking hour. No wonder we’re so tired at the end of the day!

And what’s even more startling is that of those 60,000 thoughts, 95 percent are the same thoughts you had yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. Your mind is like a record player playing the same record over and over again… Talk about being stuck in a rut… Still, that wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the next statistic: for the average person, 80 percent of those habitual thoughts are negative. That means that every day most people have more than 45,000 negative thoughts… Dr. Daniel Amen, a world-renowned psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist, calls them automatic negative thoughts, or ANTs.” Marci Shimoff & Carol Kline

Reprogram your Thoughts

NEVER let a negative thoughts or spoken words complete themselves. Reverse them immediately.

The subconscious takes you absolutely literally and will block your conscious good intentions if you contradict them with oft-repeated negative beliefs. Entrench your deeper mind consciously. Do not talk or think of lack and limitation, instead count your blessings, live in the joyous expectancy of the best, and invariably the best will come to you.

The Keys to Working with your Inner Mind

• Make sure that you are not dependent on other people for your happiness, joy or peace of mind – they only can be found within you.

• Avoid struggle and strain, don’t try and force things. You can’t actually force a seed to grow, but you can provide the environment. You can plant the seed in nutritious soil, provide light and water it.

• Worry, strain, fear and anxiety inhibit us; they get in the way, creating blocks and impediments in our life. Our thoughts literally make us healthy or unhealthy, wealthy or poor – so choose the riches of life, right here and right now.

• The conscious mind accepts what you really believe, it accepts convictions. Once you convince your inner mind of the thing you want, it will immediately start to move you towards it.

• If you keep thinking, ‘I am fat’ or ‘I am ill’, you will only magnify the situation. How you are experiencing yourself now, is the sum total of your previous and present state of mind.

• Use the laws of the mind: repetition, belief and assimilation; the subconscious needs to accept the statement as fact to make it happen.

• Whatever you engrave in your subconscious mind with will be expressed; it will become form, function, experience or events – good or bad.

• Be willing to let yourself change, and whether you initially feel like it of not, focus on the good, appreciate who you are, what you have, and the world you live in – claim joy!

Be aware of your thoughts and words, where they are negative reverse or replace them with better feeling ones before they take hold! Use a journal to keep track of what’s going on for you, and to help explore what beliefs you think are currently embedded in your subconscious – good and bad.

Believe and tune in to something greater than you; claim happiness, good health, peace – whatever you truly want.

Let go and relax into it, do not give power to the circumstances or conditions that might try to hold you up.

A wise verse to sum up:

Watch your thoughts
for they become words.
Watch your words,
for they become actions.
Watch your actions,
for they become character.
Watch your character,
for it becomes your destiny Anon

Choose to change the thoughts that limit you, and create them into ones that serve you – thoughts to keep you happy, healthy, wealthy, healed and whole.

Written by Dawn Rising Managing Director or Nutri-Health and creator of the Boot Camp Blog.

April 2010

Spring clean your body with Nutri-Health

Spring is sprung, as the rhyme tells us – and a good clear out is a fantastic way to shake off the winter blues. We don’t just mean the usual clear out of the cupboards – we mean clearing your mind, body and soul, as well as your environment – a truly alternative approach!

How’s your eating been over the winter months? Comfort food, or something hot and warming? It’s lovely to settle down with a steaming plate of something tasty on a cold night – but now the weather is starting to warm up, it’s a good time for your body to have a good cleansing quantity of fabulous fresh fruit and veg – especially raw!

By adding superfoods into your daily diet will help to increase much needed nutrients, for energy, vitality and good health.

Good nutrition is the foundation of good health – dig your foundations nice and deep.

Embrace Spring and its renewing energy with cleansing and energising yourself for the summer ahead; check out these amazing detox products at Nutri-Health.

Talking of energy, Spring, is a common time for big decisions to be made, such a moving house or changing job, a divorce even! During such times we really do need extra support; Nutri-Health has an incredible range of ‘energy essence’ that work with you during difficult or stressful times. Have a read about Rainbow Essences – Energy Medicine Essences and check out if they resonate with you!

When changes and challenges occur, helping yourself is a healthy thing to do.

Here’s the Nutri-Health ‘5 Step Spring Clean’ suggestion!

• Detox your body by drinking plenty of fresh, filtered room temperature water – drink at least two litres a day, spread throughout your waking hours to give your body the pure H2O it needs to cleanse your body thoroughly. If you find drinking water difficult – is it the quality of the water that you are drinking? Freshly filtered or ionised water truly tastes so much better!

You can help your detox along at Nutri-Health with our Bodytox Cleanse Herbal Fusion Drink, and Detox Foot Patches.

• Clear the space around you, physically and energetically – get rid of junk and excess ‘stuff’, clear out the cupboards, wardrobes and drawers, then purify and revitalise the atmosphere and energy in your home with Nutri-Health’s range of wonderful Aura Sprays.

• Does your food affect you adversely? Could what you eat be making you ill? If you feel headachy, stomach-achy, low in energy, bloated or itchy without any apparent cause, the problem could lie with your diet. If you suspect that this might be the case for you, try these fantastic YorkTest Home Clinical Tests, they are a great way to find out. For just £9.99 you can order the First Step test which will tell you if you are suffering with a food intolerance – and if you are, then you can decide to investigate further.

Don’t let hidden food allergies and intolerances spoil your days – make checking yourself out a part of a fresh approach.

• Boost your nutrition with powerhouse superfoods – our range of superfoods are packed with goodness, giving you a high dose boost of minerals, enzymes and nutrients essential to the optimal health of your body – find out more about Nutri-Health’s superfoods and how to use them in our shop.

• Get yourself a big sheet of paper and start writing down some goals that you can achieve with all this extra energy you’ll have!

Have a fantastic Easter, appreciate the spring weather when it arrives, and love your life!

March 2010

Why Superfoods Really Work

Natural foods that contain a high range of vital nutrients such as enzymes, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and antioxidants are often called ‘superfoods’.

They are foods that are superior sources of essential nutrients – the nutrients our body needs, but which we cannot make ourselves without eating. These natural, organic elements are easily absorbed and assimilated by the body, and make a fantastic contribution to our daily nutritional requirements.

Whilst we may quite easily add more fruits, salads and vegetables into our diets by changing how we shop in the supermarket, there is growing awareness of concerns about the quality of those mass-produced foods. Many are grown on mineral depleted soils, or preserved using gasses and air-freighted from foreign countries.

All this concern and controversy makes properly cultivated, organic superfoods a popular addition to the diet of anyone who is looking to really take care with what they are eating. Moreover, superfoods are nutritionally more potent than regular foods, are wonderful food sources of antioxidants, and are nutrient-dense and calorie-sparse!

Including superfoods in your daily diet can help you to provide your body with all the nutrients, antioxidants and other fuels it needs to get you through the day happily, energetically, fantastically!

Some superfoods are straightforward items we are all familiar with – nuts and seeds, berries and vegetables, oily fish, garlic and fruit. The less familiar items, like Ashwaganda,
Barleygrass, Spirulina, Hemp Seeds Shelled, Raw Cacao Nibs, He Shou Wu and MSM Crystals seem more exotic, and with their growing popularity are increasingly easy to get hold of.

Most of the more exotic superfoods are available in powder or granular form, which makes them really easy to include into daily recipes – spoon into smoothies, desserts and cereals or sprinkle over vegetables or salads.

To learn more about the nutrients – enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fats and phytonutrients – that superfoods provide, our ‘An Introduction to Superfoods’ booklet could be useful, providing accessible information and recipes.

Here are five amazing superfoods that are a nutritious addition to any diet – easily, conveniently and deliciously!

Cacao Powder (raw chocolate!) is a nutritional powerhouse and an excellent source of Sulphur and Magnesium

Goji Berries – fantastic for B Vitamins, Beta Carotene, Antioxidants and Vitamin C

Maca Powder which is an excellent source of Protein, Iron and Calcium

Bee Pollen is packed with B Vitamins and is an excellent energy source

Barleygrass is packed with Antioxidants, Amino Acids, Vitamins and Minerals

The Nutri-Health Superfood Starter Pack contains all five of these superfoods and our  Introduction to Superfoods booklet

Live life brilliantly – add superfoods into your daily diet!

February 2010

The importance of being in charge of your health and the ease of home testing

Many people suffer with food intolerances or allergies but don’t do anything  about it.  Modern diet and lifestyle can throw our carefully balanced systems out of kilter and the accumulated effects can leave us feeling ill without knowing why.
If you regularly endure symptoms such as headaches, migraines, stomach cramps, bloating, indigestion, exhaustion etc, then identifying the cause is the first step to getting your health and wellbeing back on track.
If you have one of more of these symptoms, it may be a good idea for you to assess your diet and establish when these symptoms occur. The following points are worth considering:

•    Are you reacting to wheat or yeast in bread?

•    Is dairy creating excess mucus rather than another cold?

•    Do you always feel bloated after eating?

•    Are you suffering with another headache?

•    Is flatulence an embarrassing problem?

•    Is bad skin getting you down?

•    Do you constantly feel tired?

•    Are your joints aching?

•    Are you prone to swelling? Is it caused by fluid retention?

Rather than settling for constantly feeling under par, why not take action?  Maybe you keep putting it off because it’s a daunting thought; where and how do you start? How are you supposed to pinpoint what’s causing your symptoms? Well, you may have just found the answer.

Nutri-Health has three main products to help you in your quest for a better, healthier life (manufactured by YorkTest Laboratories, Europe’s leading food intolerance and allergy testing company). Our First Steps FoodScan Intolerance Testing Kit will firstly establish if you do actually have any intolerances. If the answer to this is yes, then the FoodScan 113 Food Intolerance Test will go one step further and tell you what these intolerances are.

If you also struggle to keep your weight down and have never found a diet that really works for you, perhaps you should try our Body ID Plan. It identifies your specific immune response to food and then offers you a personalised plan to manage your weight and shape. It’s not just another faddy diet, it’s your own plan based on your body, which gives you much more chance of succeeding.

The tests are so quick and easy to use, with understandable step-by-step instructions, accessible equipment and free delivery in UK. Everything about it is right, particularly the bit where you’re finally doing something to help yourself! Go on, give it a go – it could be one of the best things you ever do!

Remember, you are entitled to good health – so claim it!