Study confirms that antibiotics mess with your gut
Even seemingly gentle antibiotics may severely disrupt the balance of microbes living in the gut, with unforeseen health consequences, US researchers report.

An intimate study of three women given ciprofloxacin showed the drug suppressed entire populations of beneficial bacteria, and at least one woman took months to recover.

The study, published in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences', supports the common wisdom that antibiotics can damage the 'good' germs living in the body.

The researchers tested the three volunteers daily, giving them a five-day course of the commonly used antibiotic ciprofloxacin twice during the 10-month study. DNA tests were performed on stool samples from the volunteers to determine what kind of microbes were living in the gut.

"The effect of ciprofloxacin on the gut microbiota was profound and rapid," said researchers from Stamford University in California.

More and more studies support the idea that humans and other animals have a symbiotic relationship with germs. Microbes in the intestines help digest food and good germs can take up space and keep bad germs away.

Gut microbes can affect obesity and may play a role in allergy and several recent studies have found that certain bacteria cause inflammation that can affect appetite as well as inflammatory bowel conditions like Crohn's disease and colitis.

Antibiotics are often over prescribed with little regard for the damaging effects that they may cause in some people. A large part of the immune system is within the gut and when the 'good' bacteria are eliminated from the digestive system, the immune system will be suppressed. This can often lead to further bacterial infections and additional antibiotic treatment. 

Naturopathy can often reduce or eliminate the need for antibiotic use by treating bacterial infections directly or by preventing the initial infection. At times when antibiotics are necessary, specific probiotics in addition to herbal medicines and supplements can reduce damage to the digestive system and enhance the immune system to avoid subsequent infections.

Are you functioning at just 80%?

Many of us feeling sluggish, fatigued and experiencing low energy levels. There are many and varied reasons for feeling this way including: stress, illness, poor diet, allergies, toxicity, inadequate amount or quality of sleep, depression and anxiety, to name a few. During a consultation, Belinda is able to isolate and treat the underlying cause of your tiredness and fatigue by using herbs, nutritional supplements and dietary modification. Typically, patients achieve quick relief from physical and mental fatigue and feel brighter, sharper and more motivated.

Good sleep is essential to optimum daytime energy levels and it is important to obtain both enough sleep hours but also quality. Naturopathic treatment is able to assist in falling asleep more easily, reducing night waking and help to fall back to sleep after being disturbed more readily. Waking up feeling refreshed is one of the benefits which patients enjoy most.

Treating general health and wellbeing can also increase energy levels and reduce feelings of fatigue. Complaints such as headaches, digestive problems, depression, anxiety and muscle soreness are commonly linked to fatigue.

Stress is also a major contributor to fatigue and poor energy. Prolonged stress, high workload and pressure can all lead to adrenal depletion which means that the adrenal glands become exhausted from constantly secreting stress hormones such as adrenaline. Herbal treatment is able to assist in restoring the adrenal glands and thereby increasing the body's natural energy.

Preconception Health Care and Fertility

At present, one couple in six is 'infertile', one woman in five will suffer a miscarriage, one baby in ten is born prematurely, one in thirty is born with a congenital defect.

At least one child in every ten suffers from a learning or behaviour problem, one child in five suffers from asthma, and yet the combined evidence of many eminent researchers shows that conditions such as infertility, miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, malformation, breastfeeding difficulties, learning problems, allergies and many more are often preventable with preconception health care.

Foresight (www.foresight.co.uk) conducted a two year study which involved 367 couples and was completed in 1992. When the couples came to Foresight, 59% of them had some previous adverse reproductive history, including miscarriage (38%) and infertility (37%). By the end of the study, 89% of all the couples had given birth, including 81% of those who were previously 'infertile'. No baby was born before 36 weeks, none was lighter than 2368g. There were no miscarriages, no perinatal deaths and no malformations. No baby was admitted to Special Care. It is worth noting that in a population sample of the same size who practice no preconception health care, we would expect to see about 70 miscarriages and 12 malformations..

Preconception health care can help to significantly increase the likelihood of:
·    improved fertility and resolve infertility in both men & women

·    a normal, healthy full-term pregnancy

·    a natural unmedicated birth

·    avoiding postnatal depression

·    successful breastfeeding

·    a happy, healthy baby

·    reduce the chance of miscarriage, birth defects, premature birth and stillbirth

Belinda offers caring and supported preconception care, fertility management and miscarriage prevention programs to all couples who are considering conception in the next 4-6 months. Please call Belinda or visit her website for more information.

Click here to test your fertility knowledge today!

Iron - Are you getting enough?

Iron requirements for women are around 80% higher than for men because of menstruation and child bearing.  More than half of all women consume less than the recommended 10- 15 mg daily.

Symptoms of low iron levels:

* Add acidic dressings, such as lemon and vinegar, to iron rich foods

* Eat bitter green vegetables or fruit before or during the meal to increase the flow of gastric acid, which will in turn improve absorption of minerals

* Avoid tea (especially black tea) and coffee until the iron deficiency improves.  The tannin in tea binds with iron making it difficult to absorb.

Good sources of iron include:

 *Lean beef and lamb

*Eggs

*Mussels and sardines

*Wheatgerm

*Lentils and haricot beans

*Parsley and spinach

*Prunes and dried peaches

Do all iron supplements cause constipation?

Many people are wary of taking iron supplements due to the fact that many over-the-counter products cause constipation. Belinda uses high quality iron formulas that are well absorbed by the body and do not affect the bowels. While many women self-prescribe iron supplements, it is important to assess your individual need for iron. Belinda routinely orders blood tests to assess a person's iron status and is then able to prescribe an appropriate iron supplement and recommend dietary changes.