HEALTH HUB Latest Articles
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 [...]
What is a Stitch?
What is a Stitch? Most of us have had a stitch at some point while exercising. It is usually a localized pain felt in your side, below the ribs. Sometimes it is possible to exercise through the pain, however most people will feel the need to slow down or cease exercising. There are a few theories suggesting that a stitch is caused by a reduction in blood flow to the diaphragm (muscle used for breathing), irritation of the membranes inside your abdomen or ligaments which support organs. To avoid a stitch make sure you are adequately hydrated before exercising. If [...]
Illness and Exercise
Illness and Exercise Many people are confused as to whether they should continue to exercise when they are unwell. Of course common sense should be key here, if you cannot go to work then you are probably not I enough to exercise. But what if it isn’t that bad? I like to use the rule that if your symptoms are that of a common head cold & isolated in your head ie. Nose/throat/head ache etc. that if you feel ok you can still do some very low intensity exercise such as a 30min walk, cycle or stretch. If the symptoms [...]
6 Surprising Causes Of Acne
6 Surprising Causes Of Acne By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Acne is a skin condition that creates stress and embarrassment for many people. It is most common in teenagers; however you certainly don’t have to be a teenager to suffer with this problem. You can be in your 30s, 40s or even older and still struggle with acne. There is a great deal of debate over whether acne is caused by hormones or diet. The answer is acne can be caused by both, plus many other things. Certainly your hormone levels will determine the look of your skin, but what [...]
Celebrate Spring – BUT it can be achooo for some!
Celebrate Spring – BUT it can be achooo for some! "No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." ~ Proverb Spring has officially arrived and while it can be a time of celebration for many, it brings with it spring allergies that cause misery to millions and a much less welcome start with a bout of hay fever. Approximately 15% of Australians or 3.1 million people report suffering from hay fever according to a recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report. It’s a costly business too, with the amount of money paid by community pharmacies [...]
