What Is Folic Acid Fortification

As you may have seen in the news, folic acid will be added to UK flour to help prevent birth defects(1). So what is folic acid? Why is fortification necessary? and most importantly, how might this affect the UK population? Folic acid, a synthetic form of folate, is an important micronutrient…

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Should You Take Pre & Postnatal Supplements

Emerging research suggests that dietary intake in the months leading up to conception can impact not only your ability to fall pregnant, but also the outcome of your pregnancy and future health of your baby1. With approximately 50% of pregnancies being unplanned, it is a great idea…

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Learning To Trust Ourselves With Food

Let me ask you this: how much of your time, money, and, quite frankly, well-being have you wasted on bad advice, fad diets, supplements, and diet pills over the years? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have invested hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds in your lifetime. According to Yoni…

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Sweeteners: What We Know So Far

Some people swear by sweeteners as a ‘healthier’ low-calorie alternative to sugar to help with weight loss and management, whilst others believe them to be the cause of certain metabolic diseases such as diabetes, as well as obesity, and some cancers. Despite some limited evidence…

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How Screen Time Affects Appetite

Appetite is our natural desire to eat food to satisfy our bodily needs. It may result from internal cues such as hunger or external hedonic cues such as foods we find appealing (1, 2). Working from home the past year, I can personally say my screen time has increased. This is consistent with…

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Lessons We Can Learn From The Blue Zones

Around the world, a few select geographical regions have been designated Blue Zones due to a significantly higher life expectancy in these areas compared to anywhere else on the planet. The Blue Zones include the Italian island of Sardinia; the Greek island Ikaria; Okinawa, Japan…

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Gestational Diabetes: An Introduction

Gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM, is a form of diabetes that affects pregnant people. According to the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (1), GDM is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance that is not clearly pre-existing diabetes. Having GDM can increase the…

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What Are The Side Effects of Dieting?

A survey last year found that adults will try 126 different diets during their lifetime, with an average of 2-3 a year.[1] The top five diets were the 5:2 diet (intermittent fasting), Atkins and keto diets (very low carbohydrate), a cabbage soup diet and juice cleanses. You will likely have tried…

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An Introduction to the Gut Microbiota

In recent years, evidence has demonstrated the important role of the gut in maintaining good general health. It is thought that this is largely due to the influence of the gut microbiota, the community of trillions of microorganisms that reside along the digestive tract. In fact, our…

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The Effect Of Movement As We Age

We have a population which is growing and living to an older age, so how can we contribute to health in those years? One way which the research has investigated is through keeping active (1). In the context of this article physical activity refers to any bodily movement produced…

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The Role Of Our Gut & Brain In Our Hunger Cues

There is a two-way communication between our gut and brain, named the gut-brain axis, which has several effects on our physiological and psychological health. One way this communication works is through our gut hormones and gut microbiome (1). Research in this area has been growing…

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Everything You Need To Know About Amenorrhea

I’m sure anyone who menstruates can appreciate the physical and mental pain associated with periods and although we may wish they’d go away – their absence can be a sign of a problem which requires investigation. 3-4% of people who menstruate will experience amenorrhea which…

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Nutrition and The Menstrual Cycle

Let’s start with answering what the menstrual cycle is, because a lot of people don’t actually know. Broadly speaking the menstrual cycle is a 28-day cycle the female body goes through in order to prepare for potential pregnancy, but this isn’t always the same for everyone. Typically, there…

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How to Combat Misleading Labelling

Food shopping is overwhelming and exhausting at the best of times and reading food labels adds another layer of complexity which requires time, energy and a solid nutritional understanding. Although there is legislation to protect consumers from false claims, there is still room for clever…

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What Are Polyphenols & The Health Benefits

Polyphenols are a large family of naturally occurring plant compounds, with around 8000 different types (1). They are found in a variety of plant foods including many fruits, vegetables, tea, and cocoa. Although they are utilised by the plant as protection against UV radiation from the sun…

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