Natural ways to reduce anxiety – Part 4

There is an old wives saying, feed a cold and starve a fever, but what does the latest science say? Although eating less when we are ill can sometimes help us to recover faster.  The loss of appetite when we have an infection is a biological "trick" that simply allows bacteria to spread.  Eating nutritious food when we have an infection can reduce its severity and recover time say researchers. Researchers have tracked the health of laboratory mice infected with the Salmonella bacteria and found that natural loss of appetite helped the bacteria spread from the intestines to other tissues.  By comparison, mice fed extra calories lived longer. This discovery could lead to new ways to tackle bacterial infections that don't rely on antibiotics. Reference Rao, Shelia et al, 2017, Pathogen-Mediated Inhibition of Anorexia Promotes Host Survival and Transmission, Cell, Volume 168, Issue 3, 503 - 516

After introducing headaches, I then explored the downside of orthodox treatments and how massage can help.  Now I want to share with you how other complementary therapies may help. Nutrition We all know that if you suffer from headaches you need to avoid becoming dehydrated. But what can be equally important is to control your blood sugar balanced by avoiding sugars and refined carbohydrates (i.e. anything sweet, fluffy or white!) . Certain food substances – such as histamine, tyramine and phenylethylamine – can trigger headaches or migraines. These foods include cheese, citrius fuits, red wine, chocolate & coffee. There is a time lag between eating these foods and an attack, as the problem arises when the food reaches the liver. Some research has been done on the benefits of Omega (3, 6 & 9) essential fatty acids will help control pain & inflammation for migraine sufferers. [Harel Z, Gascon G, Riggs S et al. Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of recurrent migraines in adolescents. J Adolesc Health 2002 Aug;31(2):154-61. 2002.] Bowen Technique The Bowen Technique is a hands on therapy that is applied using very gentle pressure. The practitioner uses thumbs and fingers on precise points of the body to perform Bowen's unique sets of rolling-type moves which stimulate the muscles and soft tissue of the body. In association with the Migranie Action Assocation some research was carried out into the effectiveness of receiving Bowen Technique treatment to allieviate migraines. All study participants had been diagnosed as migraine sufferers by their GP. 31 out of the 39 study particpants experienced a positive result of either

• Reducation in frequency of migranies
• Reducation in the degree of pain experienced
• Reduction in both the frequency of migraines and the degree of pain experienced

The basis of our health and wellbeing is our guts ability to digest what we eat and absorb all the nutrients.  However it is common for people to have digestive issues such as gas, bloating, food intolerances and IBS.  Given the guts importance to wellbeing, I would like to focus on digestion and guts in the next few articles which will include tips for healthy stomachs, large intestine and small intestine. Lets start with talking about bowels.  Your bowel movements reflect both your lifestyle and gut health.  So how should you judge your bowel movements:

1. There should be no discomfort or straining when you go to the loo, and no smell of gas.
2. Stools should come out easily, smoothly and all in one piece.
3. Stools should be 10 - 15 cm long, medium brown in colur and shouldn't be smelly, stick to the lavoratory bowl or float.
4. If your stool floats it could be due to too much fat or gas in your diet - usually from excess sugar, fizzy drinks or beans.
5. A very smelly stool can be a sign of undigested food or waster that has been sitting in your bowel for a long time.  It can also be a sign of poor absorbtions or lactose intolerance.  If your stool is smelly and looks greasy it may be a sign of coeliac disease so you need to book a check up with your doctor.
6. Going to the toilet 2 -3 times a day is optimal but anything from 2 - 3 times per day to 2 - 3 times per weeks in normal.
7. Any changes to your normal pattern should be reported to your doctor.