Thought4Food Nutrition

12/11/2020

The old saying of ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ has it’s scientific rationale explained in this review article by Dr Michael Ash.

Dr Ash is a nutritionist, osteopath, and naturopath and worked providing clinical support for the BBC TV programme ‘Dr in the House’ with Dr Chatterjee. I’ve long used his education resources to provide support and direction to my functional medicine approach to health.

In this paper, Dr Ash explains beautifully how the addition of this simple food to your daily diet may significantly benefit your health.

https://www.nutri-link.co.uk/documents/apple_tolergenic_food.pdf

I urge you to read it and let me know your thoughts on this below. And do let me know if you intend to start including this simple food in your diet daily from today. 🍎

10/11/2020

I love to eat seasonally whenever I can and right now I’m lucky enough to have ingredients in abundance for one of my favourite nourishing recipes, originally by Michael Ash, from my own garden.

My top tip is to batch cook this recipe and split into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze. All you need is six Bramley apples, two teaspoon of cinnamon and a handful of raisins (for natural sweetness) or alternatively you can use cranberries (for that festive feel). Put all ingredients in a covered heavy bottomed pan with 1/2 cup of water and cook until softened, stirring regularly.

Enjoy daily warm or cold as a nourishing breakfast or desert topped with live natural yoghurt or coconut milk yoghurt, blueberries, ground flaxseeds and almonds. Seen here with extra pomegranate (if you are patient and have plenty of time on your hands). Absolutely delicious!

Please share below your favourite seasonal foods. Are there any must have dishes that you crave in the autumn? Comment below and let me know if this is something you are going to try.

09/11/2020

In clinical practice for the last 13 years, I have always favoured a ‘test don’t guess’ policy to optimise Vitamin D3 levels using therapeutic dosages. But so great to see the Government heeding advice and offering 4 months’ supply of Vitamin D to the most vulnerable. British MP and former cabinet minister David Davis called for action back in September stating “A cheap way of tackling COVID-19 is being ignored”.

**New Press Release** 09/11/2020

Government heeds advice on Vitamin D and offers 4 months’ supply to the most vulnerable.

Following the sustained pressure from the scientific community, including BANT’s call for extraordinary supplementation of Vitamins C & D as a preventative measure for COVID-19 (https://bant.org.uk/2020/10/20/bant-recommends-extraordinary-measure-of-vitamin-c-and-vitamin-d-supplementation/) the government has finally acted on Vitamin D. The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has decided to “act fast”, albeit well into this second national lockdown, and offer a four-month supply of Vitamin D supplements to millions of vulnerable people shielding at home and in care homes. This will include organ-transplant recipients, chemotherapy patients and those with severe respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. British MP and former cabinet minister David Davis called for action back in September stating “A cheap way of tackling COVID-19 is being ignored”. The first packages are due to be sent early next month (December), four months later.

Read the full release here: https://bant.org.uk/2020/11/09/government-heeds-advice-on-vitamin-d-and-offers-4-months-supply-to-the-most-vulnerable/

21/10/2020

**New Press Release 20/10/2020**

BANT recommends ‘extraordinary measure’ of Vitamin C and Vitamin D supplementation for all adults as part of a wider prevention strategy for COVID-19.

With the apparent second wave of COVID-19 worsening, BANT recommends all adults supplement 1000mg of Vitamin C and a minimum of 600-800 IU/d vitamin D3 daily, increasing to a higher therapeutic dose of 5000 IU/d should symptoms develop (1). An adequate intake of Vitamins C and D is vital for immune resilience. Food sources of both are imperative for maintenance but unlikely to provide adequate quantities in case of infection. Supplementation of both nutrients at the given levels is safe, effective, and an inexpensive way to encourage individuals to take preventative measures to support their immune system. Vitamin D insufficiency is especially common in northern hemisphere countries where limited exposure to sunlight reduces our ability to naturally synthesise it through skin. For this reason, Public Health England recommend 10 micrograms of Vitamin D daily throughout the winter months.

Vitamin D is a potent immune modifying micronutrient and deficiency has been shown to correspond to a greater risk of respiratory tract infections, and acute respiratory distress in SARS-CoV-2 infections (1). A recent large meta-analysis (looking at 10,933 people in 25 trials), showed that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of cold and flu patients developing acute respiratory infections (ARIs) from 60% to 32% (2). Similarly, hospital data on early intervention with Vitamin D supplementation in SARS-CoV-2 infections reduced severity of the infection and lowered ICU admissions (3). The most abundant food sources of Vitamin D are oily fish, mushrooms and egg yolks. Three foods which are often absent in the nation’s regular dietary intake, and which alone cannot provide adequate levels, reinforcing the possible need for supplementation. In some individuals, testing and supplementation via their general practitioner may be best advised.

Evidence on Vitamin C is equally compelling. A potent antioxidant, Vitamin C plays an immuno-protective role to protect against oxidative damage to the cells, helping moderate inflammatory cytokines and reduce both the severity and longevity of infection (4). Whilst Vitamin C is readily available in foods such as citrus fruits and leafy greens, low storage capacity means a regular intake of it is necessary for adequate plasma levels.

BANT urges the government to make clear recommendations as part of a wider prevention strategy for COVID-19 to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their food choices and need for additional supplementation.

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(1) Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths, 2020, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/988

(2) Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: individual participant data meta-analysis, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3310/hta23020

(3) Effect of calcifediol treatment and best available therapy versus best available therapy on intensive care unit admission and mortality among patients hospitalized for COVID-19: A pilot randomized clinical study, 2020, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32871238/

(4) Vitamin C and Immune Function, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211

Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans, with pleiotropic functions related to its ability to donate electrons. It is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for a family of biosynthetic and gene regulatory enzymes. Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functi...

15/10/2020

If you’ve worked with me before you’ll know my methods are ‘test don’t guess’... I can be quite persistent too! 😉

I pride myself on trying to take the guesswork out of providing you with an individualised nutritional strategy to support your health and goals. 💪🏻

For the thirteen years I’ve been in practice this has included an assessment of your Vitamin D status whenever possible. ☀️

Below is the response of my professional body, The British Association for Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine to the current health crisis.

**New Press Release 15/10/2020**

Excluding nutrition from mainstream healthcare has contributed to the catastrophic impact of SARS-CoV-2.

For too long nutrition has been dismissed by mainstream healthcare, despite clear evidence that diet and lifestyle choices can either contribute to health or increase risk factors for chronic disease. The rising obesity epidemic is proof alone that a more decisive tactic is needed to combat the discord between public health and personalised lifestyle medicine, of which nutrition plays an integral part. As we enter the next wave of COVID-19 restrictions, is it now the time to consider the role nutrition can play in preventative healthcare?

“Long-term failure to provide adequate nutritional guidance to the public and a reliance on generic advice from Public Health England to pick up the shortfall, has undoubtedly contributed to the catastrophic impact of SARS-CoV-2” notes BANT CEO Satu Jackson. BANT Nutrition Practitioners offer personalised nutritional guidance to individuals and rigorously recommend testing for nutrient deficiencies as part of a preventative strategy for chronic disease. The results of the government’s one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare is evident with obesity levels and metabolic dysregulation continuing to rise exponentially (1) and worsening health of the public now contributing to COVID-19 outcomes.

The emergence of data pointing to nutritional deficiencies in SARS-CoV-2 patients (2) highlights the need for a more unified approach. BANT recommends Vitamin C and D supplementation be considered as part of a preventative strategy for COVID-19 (2) where food sources are unable to adequately support the individual. BANT calls on the government to consider the nutritional status of the public as part of the current pandemic, and to engage with BANT to work towards building a more inclusive and effective healthcare model.

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(1) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet-england-2020-ns

(2) Serum levels of vitamin C and vitamin D in a cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients of a north American community hospital intensive care unit in may 2020. A pilot study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32964205/

Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths, 2020, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/988

The world is in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health measures that can reduce the risk of infection and death in addition to quarantines are desperately needed. This article reviews the roles of vitamin D in reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections, knowledge about the epidemiol...

24/03/2019

Nutrition for athletes... the secret to using food to fuel performance is actually quite simple. But too many of us want the detail (the cherry on the cake!) without getting the basic foundations right. So relevant for our day to day performance too. But work hard on the basics AND THEN the detail and the outcome is exponential.

Figure Skating has always been a judged sport so often obsessed with appearance and aesthetics. I am now seeing this obsession from a bit of a different perspective as I reside outside of the competitive skating bubble... and it’s honestly scary. I knew I had to sit down and write out my

03/02/2019

Limited spaces for my seminar/Q&A in Carrington this Saturday which will help you make simple changes to feel more energised and less stressed. Discounted rate of £2 per person for this introductory session. Book now by PM or call the Magnolia Therapy Centre on 0115 9608855. I look forward to seeing you there...

26/03/2018

Changes in diet and lifestyles can often be our best medicine - this has to be the future of health care. Is acute care medicine really working in the management of chronic disease?

We learn nothing about nutrition, claim medical students

A leading GP estimated that up to 80% of his patients had conditions linked to lifestyle and diet.

12/11/2017

More research emphasising the need to address the root causes of disease rather than mask the symptoms. Changes in diet and lifestyles can often be our best medicine.

New study demonstrates a link between PPIs and a higher stomach cancer risk. Read it here:

There are more than 50m prescriptions for proton pump inhibitors in the UK, though they have previously been linked to side-effects and increased risk of death