Sunlight
Psoriasis is a skin condition characterised by raised, red, often-inflamed patches of skin. Typical sites include the front of the knees, the back of the elbows and the scalp. The condition tends to be chronic – in other words it tends to be a long-term problem, with improvements and exacerbations in time. One thing that […]
Nutrients and Supplements
In previous posts (here and here) I have highlighted the benefits vitamin D has with regard to improving the immune response and helping keep infections such as flu at bay. It has been mooted that the upsurge in viral infections during the winter is connected with the generally lower vitamin D levels at this time. […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder. At its root, is degeneration of the fatty sheaths that surround the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal column. The degeneration of these sheaths (known as myelin sheaths) disrupt neurological function, and can manifest in any number of ways including physical disability and impaired brain function. It’s […]
Nutrients and Supplements
As we age, we are generally more likely to succumb to illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. On top of this, though, we run the risk of becoming infirm. For some this culminates in disability and loss of independence. What can be done, though, to protect against such physical deterioration? One […]
Sunlight
Malignant melanoma is a form of skin cancer we are repeatedly warned about. As long as I can remember, just as things start to hot up, we are subjected to dire warning about the hazards of exposing ourselves to the sun’s rays. As a prelude to this this year, we have a recently published study […]
Healthy Eating
While walking the dog today, my mind wandered and I found myself thinking about nutrient absorption. I’d just had lunch (leftover roast pork from yesterday) and some veggies and salad including rocket (a type of lettuce). My girlfriend dished it up and all I had to do was add a drizzle of olive oil to […]
Sunlight
Earlier today, I came across this story in the on-line version of the Daily Mail (UK) which reports on a theory relating to why the Scotland enjoys a preponderance of redheads. The theory, which the originator herself describes as ‘speculation’, is that a combination of the ‘bad weather’ in Scotland, coupled with a genetic mutation, […]
Sleep
Sleep has important benefits for health and wellbeing, but not everyone is able to get as much sleep as they’d like. For some individuals, sleep does not come easy. One particular problem encountered by a few unfortunates is what is termed ‘delayed sleep phase syndrome’ (DSPS). Here, individuals can take hours (literally, hours) to get […]
Nutrients and Supplements
On Wednesday morning I had a nice chat over coffee with Oliver Gillie, a writer and researcher with a particular interest in vitamin D. We spent much of our time talking about the role vitamin D may have in a wide range of conditions including role in a range of conditions including cancer, diabetes, multiple […]
Exercise and Activity
I read a report in the last week regarding New Year resolutions, the thrust of which was that setting the bar too high is more likely to lead to us not keeping to whatever resolutions we have made. In other words, opting for smaller, more manageable changes might be a better long-term strategy. I agree […]