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Many of us rely on coffee to get us going in the morning and provide a 'pick me up' type boost throughout the day. There have been a lot of studies on coffee, with differing views in some cases as to it's pros and cons in terms of our health. What Happens In Our Body When We Drink Coffee?Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that acts on the central nervous system. Caffeine gives us a feeling of increased alertness and a short-lived energy boost. Scientific studies seem to indicate maximum alertness is gained from just two cups of coffee a day. The liver metabolises caffeine and excretes the...

We’ve all seen the word ‘organic’ on numerous food and drink labels, not to mention beauty products and even textiles – it seems almost impossible not to see an organic version of many foods you see in a supermarket, especially when it comes to vegetables and meat. The first thing most of us notice is the price difference, varying from a little bit more to an awful lot more depending on the product or brand. With more of us than ever on a tight budget nowadays, cost can be a major issue and rightly so. Is organic mainly marketing hype? A reason to extract even more...

Vitamin D – the ‘sunshine vitamin’ – is a hormone naturally produced from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to sunlight.  What can Vitamin D do for my health? Research studies are uncovering new benefits of Vitamin D all the time. There are many known benefits, with some of the main ones being: Bone strength – strengthens bones and helps prevent osteoporosis and the risk of falls for the elderly Physical strength – strengthens the upper and lower limbs Cancer prevention – some studies have highlighted a reduction in the risk of various types of cancer. One study indicated that 1,100IU per day with calcium...

Found mainly in fish, animals and vegetables, Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are as they suggest – essential to human health. The essential fatty acids we need to be most concerned about, Omega-3 and Omega-6, can be both saturated and unsaturated fats. They cannot be manufactured within the body, so must be obtained from the diet. What Are The Best Food Sources? Omega-3 Omega-6 Oily Fish (eg. mackerel, salmon, sardines) Meat (organic and grass-fed are best) Flaxseed (Linseed) Fish Chia Seeds Egg yolk Hemp Seeds Avocado Nuts (especially walnuts) Nuts (especially walnuts) Leafy green veg Seed and nut oils (eg. avocado, walnut)...

With the weather here in the UK heating up and a forecast for some very hot days ahead, it's vital for our health that we understand the effects of dehydration, and how to stay hydrated. What Causes Dehydration?Dehydration can occur when water intake is less than water loss. Some common causes can be: elevated blood sugar levels – in diabetics or those eating too many processed and sugary foods stress diuretics – tea, coffee, pop, alcohol drugs – including tobacco environmental – air con, pollution, air travel, electrical (VDU, mobiles) sweating – high air temperatures and strenuous exercise diarrhoea vomiting How...