Cenacle Treatment Centre

Too fat to Toddle

This TV documentary about childhood obesity is set to highlight the growing epidemic of childhood obesity in our nation. Many parents give excuses for this problem in their offspring such as

a slow metabolism

or

family genes

. However in reality, children are being fed too much of the wrong kind of foods, taking too little exercise and being rewarded with high fat, high sugar foods as treats.

Many parents are confused about food labelling and underestimate how much their children eat.
Not only do parents need educating about how to feed their children healthy foods but exercise must also be encouraged on a daily basis. Food should not be used as a reward and portion size needs to be controlled.
Such education needs to take place from birth onwards if this life threatening trend is to be reversed.
Children who are obese are statistically more likely to develop into obese adults and at risk of high cholesterol, diabetes, joint problems and high blood pressure, not to mention the social stigma and potential for bullying associated with being overweight.

How healthy is your gut?

One in five people at any one time suffer with digestive problems. Many people, if questioned, would like to improve their digestion.

The gut is responsible for breaking down our food and absorbing nutrients needed to maintain health.
The pressures of 21st century life place a lot of strain on the digestive tract, causing many problems.

These include:

• Poor diet –high in wheat, dairy, sugar and processed foods and low in fibre

• Stress – compromises digestion and lowers the immune system

• Drugs – antibiotics upset the natural balance of bacteria in the bowel

• Heavy exercise – slows digestive function

• Ageing process – reduces levels of stomach acid needed to break down food.

For further information on how to improve digestion, ask a question

Top up your tomatoes

A report in the Independent highlights the health benefits of eating tomatoes, especially cooked tomatoes.

These benefits include:

• Protection against sunburn and skin cancer

• Slows down the ageing process

It is believed the antioxidant lycopene found in higher concentrations in cooked tomatoes helps neutralise harmful free radicals which damage the skin.

So, foods such as tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, tomato ketchup and tomato soup can have health benefits.
Another well known benefit of lycopene is it helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Water Intake

To maintain optimum health you should be drinking 2-3 litres of non-alcoholic fluids a day, your water quota can include such things as coffee and tea, it is a common misconception that coffee dehydrates you. Caffeine in coffee is a relatively weak diuretic and is balanced out by the water you put in it unless you drink espresso which has a higher caffeine content compared to water. So drinking up to 5 cups of coffee/tea a day can actually be good for you as caffeine also enhances your bodies ability to use fat as an energy source, on that if you exercise you should add one litre of water to your intake per hour of fitness.

The diets that time forgot

This program looks at the different types of diets used in the Victorian era and some of their beneficial affects. The program involves nine dieters who have agreed to trying the weird and wonderful eating regimes used by our ancestors - under the watchful eye of historian Sir Roy Strong.
It was interesting to see how different approaches to what we eat, how we eat and what we pass out all affects our weight control which seemed to be the under-pinning factor of the program.

Fifty seven million pounds spent, no change

A program that has cost the nation fifty seven million pounds has failed to succeed in its tough regime. The deep clean program was under scrutiny from the outset, and has delivered us nothing with cases of c defecile and mrsa still apparent.
This was a weak strategy which was a last chance ditch to regain public confidence in our NHS,which clearly has failed.

reducing risk of osteoporosis

Impact activity reduces the risk of osteoporosis. When you do any impact activity (especially on the lower limbs) the body accumulates more minerals into the bones therefore increasing bone density. Moderate impact activity once a week can be enough to stave off the effects of osteoporosis, along with a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. For more information ask Dave Brownley a question.

how to prevent hayfever

Herbal remedies can help improve the immunity from hay fever, lowering the frequency or onset of symptoms.

They can also give relief from, and decrease the severity of symptoms, in particular the irritated eyes, nose and throat.

This is done with a series of remedies that can be used as required

The Delia Dilemma……….Fresh vs Convenience

The current TV showing of Delia Smith’s new cookery programme, ‘Cheat’s Guide to Cooking’ could have a potentially damaging effect on our health. At a time when we are being encouraged to cook using fresh ingredients, does it not seem a backwards step that a former, well respected figure in the cookery series circles is encouraging the nation to revert to convenience foods to prepare quick meals? Foods such as tinned mince and high fat ready whipped cream are amongst the foods she is cooking with. Many of these foods contain additives, preservatives, high saturated fat, sugar and salt content. These can be potentially damaging to our health and are not encouraging healthy eating – a complete contrast to the work of Jamie Oliver who is working hard to promote use of fresh ingredients both in the home and school environment.

Society is confused enough by messages published in the media and on our TV screens. This latest cookery series is at risk of compounding that confusion.

For further information about healthy eating and for advice on preparing quick, healthy meals contact Nutritional Therapist Hazel Lambourne

Ten tips for eating healthily

1. Prepare fresh food wherever possible and minimise the intake of convenience foods and artificial additives

2. Eat plenty of complex carbohydrate foods e.g wholegrain cereals, breads, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, oats, rye. Minimise intake of simple carbohydrates e.g. white bread and bakery products, white pasta, rice and sugar including sweets and chocolate

3. Eat at least five portions of fruit each day.

4. Drink at least six to eight glasses of filtered water daily and minimise intake of tea and coffee to two to three cups a day.

5. Eat red meat ( beef pork lamb) no more than once a week. Choose lean white meat (chicken and turkey) instead.

6. Eat fish, especially oily fish e.g. salmon, sardines herring mackerel, two to three times each week.