Category Archives: Health

13-year-old girls could be able to get the pill without seeing their GP

Girls as young as 13 should be given the Pill without seeing their GP, according to experts.

It is expected that this could help to reduce the number of soaring underage pregnancies.

However, critics are warning that this will give them an increased chance of promiscuity.

NHS research into over-16s schemes in London suggested it should be introduced nationwide.

What do you think? Should girls as young as 13 be able to get this contraception without having speaking to anyone?

The authors of the proposal said the NHS should ‘consider expanding this service across London and nationally” and ‘consider providing the service to women under 16 years where appropriate’.

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Tips on eating out and staying trim

Having to say goodbye to a social life whilst we’re on a diet is a thought that resonates with plenty of people, but why exactly?

Just because we’re making small changes to our diet it doesn’t mean that we should have to sit in and wallow in our own thoughts, which I’m guessing would mainly be about food.

Here we have the top tips from Bodycraft, the experts of weightloss, about how you can dine out and maintain a healthy weight.

It’s not rocket science.
· Don’t starve yourself throughout the day, going to a restaurant when you are really hungry will only encourage your appetite for those calorie laden dishes.
· Avoid fried dishes and speak up to your waiter. Ask for your food to be steamed, baked, grilled or poached.
· Be careful of those sauces! There isn’t a point in ordering the poached fish or baked chicken if it is drowning in a creamy rich sauce. Try to order tomato-based sauces if you need to at all
· Don’t feel compelled to order a 3 course meal, but if you do, try to choose light options like fruit or sorbet and order extra vegetables with your main course to fill up on
· If you are going for a starter, try the soup. Make sure to avoid creamy soups and go for broth-based soups made of vegetables as they contain mostly water which is a great way to fill up without the extra calories.
· Substitute potatoes and french fries for a salad where possible but watch out for the dressings. Creamy dressings are full of unwanted calories/fat so make sure to ask for it on the side so you can limit how much you use.
· Don’t feel compelled to finish the whole meal, or have that extra helping. Take it home and enjoy it for your lunch the next day.
· Take your time with your meal. Eating slowly will help you to eat less as your body has a chance to start acknowledging that it is full.
· Alcohol is full of calories, try a white wine spritzer (with soda). It’s a great lower calorie drink that lasts longer throughout the meal.

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The ultimate marathon survival guide

If you’re planning on going for gold in this year’s marathon, your normal training regime will need a complete overhaul.

Preparing your body for the huge physical strain will take time and expertise. Luckily, we’ve rounded up top tips from the best experts around to give you the boost you need to cross the finish line like a pro.

Justin Way, Personal Trainer and Fitness Expert at Pure Gym (www.puregym.com) has three top tips for marathon success.

Stretching is a great way of keeping mobile and injury free during your marathon training regime. Even if you’re not a regular exerciser a weekly stretch can help you relax and promote healthy blood flow which is quite invigorating. When you stretch make sure you stretch your major muscles, think of where you may feel tightness…..the back of your legs, your lower back, any stretch around your hips is good as there are a lot of muscles cross these joints. Generally, holding a stretch for 15-20 seconds would be enough to relax the muscle, if you hold it for around 30 seconds then this would help improve flexibility.
Tracking your progress is so important, it allows you to set staggered short term objectives to help you towards your ultimate goal. What you record depends really on what you do and what you want to achieve, but logging things like how long you ran for, how far you rode and how many repetitions you completed is important if you want to beat your personal best come marathon time!
A warm down towards the end of a workout is extremely beneficial. The length of the warm down really depends on how intense your workout was. As a general rule, the harder the workout the longer the warm down.

If you want to make the most of your training regime, you’ll need to make sure you’re staying adequately hydrated. These 3 top tips for healthy hydration from the Natural Hydration Council should ensure you’re always kept topped up.

For most light intensity types of exercise including swimming, golf and walking, and for any physical activity lasting less than 45 minutes water will rehydrate you adequately
Sip water in small amounts during and after exercise. For example, sip 150-300 ml roughly every 20 minutes during exercise5, and then drink 250-500 ml fluid5 once you have finished exercising.
Replenish fluids regularly especially when sweat rates are high and/or exercising in warm environments.
If you’re serious about your fitness, you may need a little extra boost to take you from weekend runner to Olympic hopeful.

Hurdler and Olympic hopeful Ruben Tabares explains: “I have discovered the power of nutrient-rich whole foods and take Sun Chlorella ‘A’ because it is an extremely effective nutritional tool to provide the body with a unique fuel for achieving optimum physical performance. By incorporating Sun Chlorella ‘A’ into the diet, amongst other health benefits I also get a powerful ‘dual-action’ effect – an instant energy boost prior to physical activity as well as a repair and anti-inflammatory benefit after training.”

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Treat your hay fever the natural way

Allergic rhinitis or hay fever can be miserable, causing a blocked nose, runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing, all caused by inflammation of the sinuses due to pollen.

Some people may experience some or all of these allergic symptoms with other common irritants such as household dust mites and the family pet. There are many traditional ways to treat this increasingly common problem but why not try out some herbal remedies says medical herbalist Lucy Stephens, of London’s Reva Clinic www.revaclinic.com.

Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many foods such as red onion, black tea, red grapes, apples, berries and a lesser amount in dark green leafy vegetables. Flavonoids are what give us the bright red, yellow and orange colours of the plant food we eat. Quercetin has been shown to have an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect in allergic reactions. Eating foods high in flavonoids would be the best way to take this, however there are also quercetin supplements that you can buy. Speak to your GP if you’re on medication or pregnant before supplementing.

Nettle

Nettle extract has been studied for its anti-inflammatory effect in seasonal rhinitis and has shown positive effects. This can easily be taken as a tea but make sure you buy a good quality loose leaf tea.

Tinofend
This product contains Tinospora cordifolia which is an Indian plant used in Ayurvedic medicine. Several studies have reported its use for hayfever, showing that it is able to alter the immune system, affect the histamine pathway in the body and give an antioxidant effect. However long-term safety (8weeks+) of this plant is not known. It should be used cautiously by diabetics as it may lower blood sugar levels, as well as those with autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis due to its potential stimulation of the immune system.

Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright)
This is a plant that I use all the time for allergies. Eyebright tincture is effective for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis or any inflamed mucous membranes. You can buy eyebright tincture online. Alternatively many over the counter eyedrops contain eyebright which helps the itchiness associated with hay fever.

Ephedra sinica
Ephedra is a very effective natural decongestant for allergies and hayfever. Ephedrine (derived from this plant) has been used in over the counter medicines but its use is restricted to pharmacists’ use only due to potential side effects. However whole ephedra which is used by herbalists has fewer side effects than isolated ephedrine because of the balancing effect of the other compounds it contains. A trained herbalist is able to use ephedra after consultation with a patient, ensuring the correct dose and any contraindications are taken into account.

Aloe vera
Has immunomodulating or natural anti-inflammatory effects. There is a constituent in aloe – magnesium lactate which has been shown to block histamine and may stop itching. You can take aloe vera gel internally.

Vaccinium myrtillus (blueberry)
Blueberry has been shown to reduce proinflammatory substances such as histamine and to stabilise mast cells (which contain histamine), so it may be useful for allergies such as hayfever. As a herbalist I tend to give Vaccinium as a tincture, however there are capsules and tablets available over the counter.

Finally probably the best cure for hayfever is to avoid pollen, which obviously is not very easy to do! Pollen is a fine powder however, so putting a bit of Vaseline or another barrier cream around your nose can help ‘catch’ the pollen and stop you inhaling it and causing an inflammatory reaction.

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Mr Motivator wants us to turn our home into the gym

Finding the time to fit in exercise is difficult sometimes, so why not turn your home into the gym?

Picking up a mop or duster can not only make a contribution to fitness and health, but it can also keep your house spick and span as an added bonus.

The British Science Association has teamed up with legendary fitness guru Mr. Motivator and the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University for National Science & Engineering Week 2012 in March, to help keep the nation fit whilst doing everyday jobs around the home.

Their research shows that doing up to an hour of chores a day can burn off the minimum daily recommendation of 200 kcal of moderate intensity exercise:

The Heptathlon

Time

1. Dusting the house or changing bed linen

60 mins

2. Mopping floors

45 mins

3. Vacuuming carpets

45 mins

4. Going shopping with a basket instead of a trolley, carrying it home and putting it away

45 mins

5. Scrubbing the bathroom

45 mins

6. Gardening

40 mins

7. Mowing the lawn

30 mins

David Stensel, Reader in Exercise Metabolism at Loughborough University says: “Research has shown that some household activities use enough energy to be classified as moderate intensity physical activity. The minimum recommendation for this type of activity is approximately 200 kcals of energy expenditure per day.

“The amount of activity required to burn this will vary depending on age and body mass amongst other factors but for the average UK person aged 35, the calculations in the Housework Heptathlon are a good guideline for a way to expend energy and do something constructive around the home.”

Mr. Motivator, who has provided advice for people to get the most from their household workout, added: “Whether it’s dusting your mantle-piece, cleaning the bath or cutting the grass, putting in some elbow grease around the home can help you work up to the energy levels needed to shed the suggested daily calorie count. Grab your cleaning products and become a Housework Heptathlete now for better health!”

The British Science Association has also come up with a ‘Top of the Mops’ top 10 songs to help boost your exercise during the housework routine:

1. Shine, Take That

2. Car Wash, Rose Royce

3. So Fresh, So Clean, Outkast

4. The Boy Does Nothing,
Alesha Dixon

5. Coming Clean, Greenday

6. Shine On, Kooks

7. Work, Saturdays

8. Beat It, Michael Jackson

9. Do Somethin’, Britney Spears

10. Steam, East 17

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The Greener Way To Relax

Everyone has their own ways to relax, unwind and de-stress, but a new study shows that there could be a cheap and simple way to let those anxieties drift away…

A new study, published this month, has shown that a natural chemical found in green tea could be the secret to staying calm this spring.

The researchers looked at the effects of a green tea extract called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) on human brain activity and how it affected people’s moods.

Participants in the study had the electrical activity of their brains measured and filled in self-assessment forms before and 2 hours after administration of either 300mg of the green tea extract or a placebo. The results showed that there was a ‘significant overall increase’ in various brainwaves and that specific areas of the brain were activated when people took the extract. This triggering of certain brain areas went hand in hand with increased self-rated calmness and reduced self-rated stress, when compared to those who took only the placebo.

The study implies that an extract from green tea, as humble as it may seem, is capable of affecting our brains in such a way as to help us relax and de-stress, perhaps helping explain the drink’s ever growing popularity in the UK.

Which green tea?

Tea experts, Natur Boutique have recently launched a specific ‘Relax’ blend of Lotus Green Tea. The tea is a unique blend of green tea that’s been infused with the floral scent of the lotus flower, which itself is associated with relaxation and a feeling of calm. Natur Boutiques blend is produced the true and traditional way using only the stamen of the Lotus flower and infusing it with green tea leaves. Lotus Green Tea costs just £2.95 for 20 bags and is available from www.naturboutique.co.uk.

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Exercising in your 20s leaves you healthier in your 40s

The secrets to a longer and healthier life have been discovered by researchers and it comes as no surprise to find eating less and exercising more on the list.

Scientists revealed the steps that people in their twenties should take in order to maintain a well-balanced body into their late 40s.

Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes could reduce the risk of troubles later in life, according to the study. They also found that eating less and exercising more can help to lower the risk of disease.

Kiang Liu, a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine told the Daily Mail: “The problem is few adults can maintain ideal cardiovascular health factors as they age.

“Many middle-aged adults develop unhealthy diets, gain weight and aren’t as physically active.

“Such lifestyles, of course, lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and elevated cardiovascular risk.

“In this study, even people with a family history of heart problems were able to have a low cardiovascular disease risk profile if they started living a healthy lifestyle when they were young.

“This supports the notion that lifestyle may play a more prominent role than genetics.”

The study looked at more than 3,000 participants and helped to confirm Liu’s beliefs that the young generation will have many long-term benefits by keeping fit and active earlier in life.

Whilst we may have already been aware of this information, another study reinforces the idea that we need to be thinking actively about our health, especially considering what impacts it may have on us later in life.

Liu continued: “Many studies suggest that people who have low cardiovascular risk in middle age will have a better quality of life, will live longer and will have lower Medicare costs in their older age.

“There are a lot of benefits to maintaining a low-risk profile.”

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Endometriosis Awareness Week

This week see’s the launch of Endometriosis Awareness Week, but how many of you are aware of what it actually is.

More than two million women in the UK suffer from this painful condition, yet so many aren’t aware of what it actually causes and the symptoms of it.

About 30 percent to 40 percent of women with endometriosis are infertile, making it one of the top three causes for female infertility.

It occurs when tissue like that which lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, usually on the surfaces of organs in the pelvic and abdominal areas – places in which it is not supposed to grown.

It’s a disease which affects women during their reproductive years and is the second most-common gynaecological disorder. Some women have no symptoms whist others may suffer from debilitating pain even with mild disease.

Common symptoms:

Very painful cramps or periods
Heavy perios
Chronic pelvic pain (which includes lower back pain and pelvic pain)
Intestinal pain
Paind during or after sex
Infertility

Whilst the disease can cause infertility in women, it can often be treated successfully using hormones and surgery.

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Biggest workout mistakes

Spending hours in the gym but not achieving your goals? You could be making some very simple yet common workout mistakes.

Fitness expert at The Chelsea Club, Neil Johnson, is here to give us the lowdown. The ‘face of FAME’, Neil is a personal trainer to the stars and has a history of working with Take That, East 17 and Boyzone.

#1: Sit Ups = Six Pack

Not quite! In fact too much concentration on the abs and no focus on other areas of your body could lead your stomach to expand and a pot belly rearing its ugly head! Sit ups combined with an overall weight loss programme, a balanced diet and regular exercise will help with this.

#2: Under Eating

All too often I see people trying to lose weight by starving themselves. Yet this doesn’t actually help you lose weight, instead it leaves you with muscle loss, a slower metabolism and less energy. By having a diet which consists of eating foods in moderation but exercising regularly at the same time – this is how you will lose weight.

#3: Ignoring Weights

Do you spend all your gym time doing cardio? Chopping and changing between the treadmill and the cross-trainer? People, particularly women, tend to gravitate toward cardio exercises and avoid weights like the plague. There’s a myth that weight training will bulk you up. This simply won’t happen unless you go too extreme. In fact lifting weights will tone and firm up your muscles, something that cardio actually cannot do. Maintaining regular weight training will increase your body’s ability to burn fat around the clock.

#4: Repeating Workouts

Going to the gym 2/3 times a week and doing the same routine each time will work to begin with. You may see some pounds drop straight off and your body getting firmer but this needs to be maintained. The way to do this is to keep pushing yourself, keep adding to your workout. Whether that means increasing the weights you are using or adding quarter of an hour onto your cardio training every couple of weeks, you need to be always progressing.

#5: Skipping Stretching

Stretching is so important both before and after a workout but is the most common mistake. Stretching is important to be done properly and not rushed as it increases our flexibility, helps with a better posture and also decreases muscle injury.

#6: Playing Favourites

Playing favourites in your training can lead to problems. Many of us have a body part we prefer to workout on or a particular exercise we like doing more than others. However, favouring these can leave you unbalanced with poor posture. When you workout you need to work out the whole body.

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Smokers urged to quit this leap year

With Spring fast approaching it is likely that those New Year’s resolutions will be falling by the wayside. If quitting smoking was top of the priority list but hasn’t gone as well as planned then all is not lost.

On February 29 – leap year day – smokers are being urged to ‘take the leap’ and prepare to quit smoking exactly two weeks before No Smoking Day (March 14), giving smokers another chance to take that leap towards a healthier lifestyle.

Did you know that people are four times more likely to quit with support compared to those who choose to go it alone.

Giving up isn’t easy but Lloydspharmacy can help by giving expert advice on the services and products that will work for you. The Lloydspharmacy Stop Smoking Programme offers a free consultation service to help smokers quit. The programme sees 57 per cent of customers reach the four week quit target, much higher than the 44 per cent average of other pharmacies providing the NHS Stop Smoking service. Since the start of 2012 nearly 7,000 people have signed up to the service.

Alison, a former chain smoke, gave up for good with the help of Lloydspharmacy free Stop Smoking Programme. Since the age of 12 she smoked 30 cigarettes daily and has now been smoke-free for three ears. Everytime Alison would have bought apack of cigarettes she put the money in a jar and has now saved thousands of pounds to treat her family.

To find your nearest Lloydspharmacy, visit the website, and book an appointment today: www.lloydspharmacy.com/storelocator

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