Health and Fitness Tips

Ruth Robinson from Clitheroe, Lancs has problem with cold sores. She have been suffering from recurrent cold sores, and have had two bad viral infections. These gave her terrible headaches and general flu-like symptoms. “Is there any advice to help me get out of this cycle of being run down and picking up new bugs” her said .

Jane says: Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which most people are infected with as children. The virus can lie dormant for years and then, when you’re run down or stressed, an unsightly blister pops up. Once you have the virus you won’t be able to get rid of it, but boosting your immune system nutritionally will reduce the likelihood of the cold sores recurring. Make sure you are having at least five portions of fruits or vegetables a day ? this will ensure you have adequate vitamin C, which is vital for your immune system. [Read more →]

The study published in the Health Promotion Journal of Australia said that overweight children could lose the pounds simply by owning a dog.

A team of scientists believes the battle of the bulge can be won not only with fresh fruit or strenuous exercise but with simple, playful activity with a four-legged friend. Young children who play with a family dog have been found to be up to 50 per cent less likely to be overweight or obese than those who do not have one.

The researchers, from Melbourne’s Deakin University, interviewed families of 1,100 children aged between five and 12 and discovered that those who owned a dog were in the best shape, even if they did not take it for regular walks.

‘Even playing incidentally with the dog helps children keep the weight off,’ said head researcher Associate Professor Jo Salmon. [Read more →]

Those who regularly eat high-fat foods, processed meals, desserts and sweets are almost 60 per cent more likely to suffer depression than those who choose fruit, vegetables and fish.

Researchers claim their study is the first to investigate the link between overall diet and mental health, rather than the effects of individual foods.

Dr Eric Brunner, one of the researchers from University College London, said: ‘There seem to be various aspects of lifestyle such as taking exercise which also matter, but it appears that diet is playing an independent role.’

The study, in the British Journal of Psychiatry, used data on 3,486 male and female civil servants aged around 55.

Each participant completed a questionnaire about their eating habits and a self-report assessment for depression five years later.

The researchers found that those with the highest consumption of processed food were 58 per cent more likely to be depressed five years later than those eating the least amount.

The researchers suggest several reasons for the protective effect of a healthy diet.

They believe that high levels of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables protect against depression, as does the folate found in broccoli, cabbage, spinach, lentils and chickpeas. [Read more →]

The latest diet craze is nothing like the usual offerings. You don’t have to count calories or even cut your food intake drastically. There’s also no promise of instant weight loss, though you probably will become more trim.

What this diet will do is help prevent illnesses such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s and possibly cancer, and significantly ease the pain of chronic conditions such as arthritis.

The ‘anti-inflammatory’ diet is based on the principle that many health problems are linked to chronic inflammation caused by an over-active immune system.

The theory is that certain foods help calm the immune system.

Those who have jumped on the bandwagon include Barry Sears, creator of the Zone diet, and dermatologist Dr Nicholas Perricone (the Perricone diet).

But what sets this latest trend apart from other dietary fads is the growing number of medical experts who agree there might be much to gain from it. [Read more →]