Skin health: how do Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) cause skin sagging, and why is dairy believed to contribute to acne?
AGEs cause skin sagging by damaging collagen and elastin fibres that provide structure and elasticity to the skin. Collagen and elastin are proteins that give the skin its firmness and elasticity and help to keep the skin smooth and wrinkle-free. However, as we age, collagen and elastin fibres are gradually broken down by enzymes in […]
What is nutrigenomics, and can it be used to make personalised nutrition recommendations in clinical practice?
Nutrigenomics is the study of how nutrients in the diet interact with an individual’s genetic make-up to affect their health (1). It combines knowledge from nutrition and genetics to understand how different nutrients and food components can affect gene expression, which can influence the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The […]
What is Type 2 Diabetes, and is it reversible through diet?
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease characterised by high blood sugar levels due to the body’s inability to use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar properly. It is the most common form of diabetes. It is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors, such as being overweight or obese, having a […]
Is a vegan diet as healthy as it is made out to be?
A vegan diet is a plant-based diet that avoids all animal foods, including fish, meat, shellfish, dairy, eggs and honey. Whereas vegans were once considered a group of hippies, veganism has now become mainstream. Vegan food options are everywhere, and there is no longer a need to hunt down vegan options or a vegan cafe […]
Is Akkermansia muciniphilia a microbial superstar and next-generation beneficial microbe?
Most people are familiar with probiotics and their health benefits. Nowadays, they can be found in many supermarkets and most health stores. Of the probiotic species, the most well-known, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, can also be found in fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha and tempeh. Lately, however, Akkermansia Muciniphilia (AK Muciniphilia), another microbe species, is […]
Is your IBS small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)?
SIBO is a condition in which an excessive amount of bacteria is present in the small intestine (1). This can lead to various symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and malnutrition. The small intestine is usually relatively free of bacteria, but in SIBO, bacteria typically found in the large intestine migrate into the […]
What is natural immunity, and how does it fight infections?
Natural immunity is the immunity that an individual is born with or acquires naturally, as opposed to immunity that is acquired through artificial means such as vaccination. The body can recognise and fight off harmful pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, through the actions of various immune cells and molecules (1). The body’s first line […]
What are lectins, and how do they contribute to gut inflammation?
Lectins are a type of protein found in many plant foods, including legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas), grains (barley, quinoa, rice) and nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants). They play a role in the plant’s defence mechanisms, helping to protect them against pests and disease (1). Some lectins can bind to certain sugars on the surface […]
What is the difference between gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance, and coeliac disease, and does scientific evidence suggest that gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance is, in fact, a growing problem?
Unlike coeliac disease (CD), which is widely recognised and accepted by the scientific community as a serious autoimmune disorder, non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a topic of much debate among the public and in the media. It refers to a scenario whereby people who do not have CD or wheat allergy (WA) experience a wide […]
Food on prescription
Many doctors, patients and other professionals are becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress in pharmaceuticals with reducing food-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The result of this is that food is starting to become of increased focus. A growing body of research is supporting the notion that if people […]
What food tribe are you? Who is behind the current trend towards food tribes and why?
Does it suddenly appear to you that many of your family members and friends are aligning themselves with a particular food tribe – a community of people who share a similar food philosophy be it Intermittent Fasting, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Keto, Paleo, Low Carb or High Protein? Are you encouraged to follow suit? If […]
My 10-step action plan to re-shape your life for the better in 2019
Every new year, people talk about resolutions they will definitely stick to. However, how about forgetting these and just opting for a healthier lifestyle in 2019 instead? I am not talking about a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a commitment to an ongoing process; a lifestyle change and a plan that you can live by. Since it’s […]
