HEALTH HUB Latest Articles
What Is Mindfulness and How Can It Help Me?
What Is Mindfulness and How Can It Help Me? Avoiding our feelings is understood to be the underlying cause of emotional distress. There is growing evidence that deliberate attempts to avoid emotional pain and escape discomfort may paradoxically increase the distress. Emotional overeating is only a symptom of an underlying problem as is alcoholism. In fact, any addiction is only a symptom of an underlying problem. Take away the source of comfort from the addictive personality and you are left with raw emotions. The Mindfulness based therapy approach emphasis is on the importance of accepting or allowing the presence of [...]
Stretching. Do You Need To Do It?
Stretching. Do You Need To Do It? Most of us have heard that stretching is important, however knowing the right stretches to do at the right time can make all the difference. To prepare for a training session - dynamic stretching can be beneficial to assist in lengthening and preparing muscles for the session. Gently take your limbs through their natural range of motion eg. Arm & legs swings, wrist/ankle circles etc. This is best done immediately before the warm up or integrated into the warm up routine. Drills can be included as a form of stretching to assist in [...]
Beat Stress Before It Beats You!
Beat Stress Before It Beats You! Modern living and stress seem to go hand in hand and it may come as no surprise that the effects of stress can have a significant impact on mental and physical wellbeing. Until now, it has not been clear exactly how stress influences disease and health but one study shows the effects of stress on the inflammatory response in the body, while another study shows how early-life stress impairs learning and memory in later life. In the first study, it was found that chronic psychological stress is associated with the body losing its ability [...]
Paracetamol Isn’t As Safe As You May Think
Paracetamol Isn’t As Safe As You May Think By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Paracetamol is the most commonly used over the counter pain killer in the world. In Australia, Europe and most western nations the drug is known as paracetamol and the most common brand name is Panadol. In the USA the drug is known as acetaminophen and the most common brand is Tylenol. Paracetamol is so easily and widely available; you can buy it in the supermarket or petrol station. It is also found in many different pharmaceutical products, such as cold and flu tablets, arthritis tablets, sinus products and even [...]
Is Food Your Addiction?
Is Food Your Addiction? Some fattening foods may be as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Anyone who struggles to lose weight knows it takes more than just willpower to shed those unwanted kilos. Exercise may be one solution but even workouts can’t compete with brain function according to this study that found overeating alters brain function and increases the likelihood of addiction. Using brain imaging it was suggested high glycaemic foods may trigger the same brain mechanisms as substance abuse. Consuming highly processed, rapidly digested carbohydrates can cause excess hunger and stimulate brain regions involved in reward and cravings. This [...]
Can A New Pill Really Help Gluten Intolerance?
Can A New Pill Really Help Gluten Intolerance? By naturopath Margaret Jasinska. You may have heard in the news recently that a new pill has been developed by Australian researchers to help break down gluten, making it less harmful to the body of people with gluten intolerance. GluteGuard is the name of the supplement. It was developed by scientists from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and contains an enzyme found in papaya fruit that helps to break down gluten. If you take the tablets just before a gluten-containing meal, they work to break down the gluten into its building blocks, supposedly making [...]
Struggling to Breathe?
Struggling to Breathe? By Kate Bramley Many people returning to exercise after a period of time off or with medical conditions struggle to regulate their breathing patterns. Whatever the cause of your breathing issues there are a few tips which may help you. • Find out the cause of your lack of breath- is it the weather? Medications? Anxiety? General fitness? • Focus on maintaining a regular breathing pattern that is steady & controlled • Focus on breathing the air out of your lungs if you find you are hyperventilating • When you breathe in allow your chest & stomach [...]
How To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
How To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Strict dieting for eight weeks has been shown to reverse early stage Type 2 diabetes. This is a radical change in understanding Type 2 diabetes. Traditionally it has been considered a progressive condition that initially requires dietary control, then tablets and eventually for some insulin injections. Now a study led by Professor Roy Taylor of Newcastle University, UK says, “To have people free of diabetes after years with the condition is remarkable - and all because of an eight week diet.” The research transforms previous thinking on diabetes. It shows a very low calorie diet removes [...]
What Is A Cramp
What Is A Cramp? There are some mixed messages out there surrounding cramps and what causes them. Below is a summary from my experience as a coach & education in exercise sport science and how best to deal with them. A cramp is a painful, sudden & tight muscle contraction, which does not relax. Although the exact mechanism is still debated, knowledge of microscopic muscle structure would suggest it has to do with the electrical & chemical messages supplied to the muscle telling it to contract/relax from the brain. Factors that seem to contribute to an increase risk of cramping [...]
Infertility – When It’s Unexplained
Infertility – When It’s Unexplained It’s more common than you think! A survey of 15,000 men and women reveals the scale of infertility with one in eight women and one in ten men having experienced infertility in Britain. In Australia there are one in six couples with infertility issues while worldwide that figure is estimated at 80 million people (WHO). The definition of infertility means the inability for a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse or the inability to carry a pregnancy to a live birth. Causes of infertility may range from: environmental factors, such as exposure [...]