Health Benefits of Italian Foods

Italian food offers many fresh, seasonal produce that can be good for us. Of course there are some elements that are fat loaded and not so good such as the fatty sausages, cheese and creams but if these are occasional foods then enjoy but definitely these should be treats and not eaten regularly.

For those who are gluten sensitive you may find a good Italian restaurant will offer some gluten  free options such as pizza and pasta dishes.  You can also ask for a mix of pasta and roasted veg so you don’t overload on the gluten too, plus you get the additional nutritional benefits of the veg.

Many Italian dishes offer a variety of health benefits including those that help support heart health which of course are those typical Mediterranean foods such as -

Garlic – May provide protection against heart disease due to its blood pressure and cholesterol lowering activities, it contains many good nutrients too such as B6.

Olive oil – Fresh cold pressed olive oil drizzled over your salad may offer health benefits due to its ability to help lower inflammation, and cholesterol lowering abilities. 

Tomatoes – Contains lycopene which deliver many benefits not least as it may help protect the heart by blocking harmful chemicals called free radicals that can damage cells and tissues. 

Red wine – Packed full of substances called flavanoids that may help prevent heart disease by protecting the heart against cholesterol deposits. We are not talking bottles here, but a glass or 2 with a nice Italian meal offer some health benefits.

OREGANO - A herb used in most Italian dishes, known to be antiviral, antibacterial and also rich in antioxidants which may have protection on the heart. It is also a source of vitamin C, Fibre, calcium and Iron so get sprinkling or ask for extra on your meals!!

The Italians also love fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables which bring a huge supply of vitamins, minerals and enzymes (if raw). When out for your next Italian meal load up on the healthy salads on offer, many of them come with great fats from avocado and olive oil too.

HEALTHY SWAPS

Save your heart and calories by opting for dishes that are made with tomatoes, garlic, oregano, basil etc instead of the heavy fatty dishes that contain cream.  

Most of all Enjoy!!!

10 FOODS TO SUPPORT BREAST HEALTH

Our modern chemical world has many reasons to concern us with the increase in man-made chemicals being poured into our environment every year. Some of these chemicals mimic oestrogen and play havoc with our own delicate balance of hormones. Add this to the contraceptive and other hormone pills which are taken and are then found in our water, plus a sharp decline in nutrient rich foods either through wrong choice of foods and a decline in the soil (particularly selenium), we may well just begin  to understand this sharp rise in Breast (and other) cancers that we are seeing today.

Prevention will always be far more inviting that the cure. Mother nature has a pharmacy far greater than most of us have appreciated, her foods  contain chemicals that have a protective role so consuming a diet rich in natural foods may offer us better health benefits.

A diet high in plant foods are connected to a lowered risk of disease. So all of us should be incorporating plant foods into our diet in some form, even it  means having only 1-2 days per week from plant food sources only. 

 Some foods deserve a special mention when it comes to supporting breast health so try to incorporate the following foods where possible, some have high levels of phytoestrogens which mean they have a mild natural oestrogenic  effect and may offer us protection from negative effects of oestrogen -

FLAX SEEDS - very high in lignans which have mild oestrogenic effects. Flax seeds are also rich in fibre so also helpful in eliminating and excreted old oestrogens. Taking a portion of these daily will be beneficial. You can add them to yoghurts, fruits, smoothies, porridge etc. 

Tofu-  using only the fermented sources of soya (miso, natto, tamari, tempeh etc) can offer us the protection from the high phytoestrogen content it contains. Unfermented soy products such as the bean or milks which are heavily consumed here are not fermented and can bring the negative effects such as inhibiting thyroid and blocking the uptake of nutrients Any soya eaten should be from fermented sources.  

Sesame seeds - these small seeds have a high level of phytoestrogens and can easily be added to salads, yoghurts or sprinkled on top of roased veg etc.

Chickpeas - also contian phytoestrogens so these can easily be added by way of hummus or eaten cooked in salads (hummus contains chickpeas, olive oil and sesame seeds).

Olive oil - we know olive oil can help protect the heart but it also contains phytoestrogens so using this daily as a dressing for salads can bring extra protection.

Onions and Garlic - we know so much about the benefits on the heart and immune system but these also contain phytoestrogens so should also be added to your diet. 

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables - extremely high in compounds which maybe helping in keeping a healthy balance of oestrogen whilst protecting us from the unfavourable proliferative types. Cooking these until they are ‘mush’ may lose the benefits so try them lightly steamed or lighty stir fried or even a couple of florets raw in salads will ensure you get the compounds needed.

Nuts - (raw) also have compounds including phytoestrogen which offer us protection so try to add in a variety of ways such as sprinkled over salads, at breakfast, yoghurts etc. Walnuts have recently been shown to offer good protection as seen here -http://tinyurl.com/5tz3y4v

Blueberries – this humble berry has a powerhouse of protection due to the flavonoid compounds, blueberries are an extremely high source of antioxidants so a good handful a day will be very beneficial.

Green Tea - ok, not technically a food but must deserve a mention. Green tea is high in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is a powerful antioxidant and shown to inhibit cancer cells. So a mug or 2 a day is recommended. If you dislike it to start, make it very weak then build up the strength you may eventually look forward to your daily cuppa!!

Another note -

Nutrients that deserve a special mention are Vitamin D and Iodine, both of which are essential for breast health. Testing your levels are important, Vitamin D in particular is now showing as the number 1. world deficiency so supplementation is advised . but take advice first.

In health

Karen

Omega3′s shown to reduce severtiy of brain damage following a stroke (Science Daily Aug 26th 2011)

A diet rich in omega 3′s has been shown to reduce the severity of brain damage following a stroke according to a study conducted by Universite Laval researchers.

 The team, co-directed by professors Jasna Kriz and Frédéric Calon, showed that the extent of brain damage following a stroke was reduced by 25% in mice that consumed DHA type omega-3s daily. Details of the study can be found on the website of the journal Stroke.

Researchers observed that the effects of stroke were less severe in mice that had been fed a diet rich in DHA for three months than in mice fed a control diet. In mice from the DHA group, they saw a reduction in the concentrations of molecules that stimulate tissue inflammation and, conversely, a larger quantity of molecules that prevent the activation of cell death.

“This is the first convincing demonstration of the powerful anti-inflammatory effect of DHA in the brain,” underscored Frédéric Calon of Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy. This protective effect results from the substitution of molecules in the neuronal membrane: DHA partially replaces arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid known for its inflammatory properties.

“The consumption of omega-3s creates an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective environment in the brain that mitigates damage following a stroke, and it prevents an acute inflammatory response that, if not controlled, is harmful to brain tissue.

Professor Calon believes that this anti-inflammatory effect is likely transferable to humans.

Since DHA is readily available, inexpensive, and reduces the risk of a number of health problems without causing significant side effects, the risk-benefit ratio tends to favor the regular consumption of fish or DHA,” he concluded.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread – Or Perhaps Not?

 Most of us love our bread, the taste, texture, and smell drives us towards Carb heaven. It has been one of our staple foods for centuries, nothing can beat the smell of that home-baked bread hot out of the oven. Many of us have tried to  steer away from our daily loaf due to the carb content in the hope of losing a few pounds, or to try to reduce the annoyances of the daily bloating, or other digestive issues. But it may not be the only reasons to avoid the bread or other wheat products.

We eat more ‘wheat’ based foods than ever as we find it not only in our usual baked produce such as bread, crackers, cakes, cereals, biscuits, but we also find it in many manufactured foods, sauces and of course the many pasta dishes now on offer.

Wheat contains a protein called ‘gluten’ which is also found in other grains such as rye, spelt, barley. Oats unless they state gluten-free will have been crossed contaminated with gluten protein from other grains so will also be classed as a gluten product.

During our day with toast/cereal for breakfast, a biscuit with our tea at break, sandwiches for lunch and a pasta meal for dinner, we will have taken in a huge amount of the wheat protein ‘gluten’.

As we have increased our intake of gluten loaded grains so too has a rise in ‘gluten sensitivity’.

Celiac disease is a disease of the digestive system but you do NOT have to have celiac disease to have a gluten sensitivity. In fact gluten is known to trigger inflammation at any tissue in the body whether locally in the gut or systemically such as in the brain, joints, skin, nasal passages, muscles etc. 

Many health issues such as -

Joint pains, migraines, osteoporosis,  fatigue, skin diseases, muscle pains as well as digestive disorders (and others) that are unknown origin maybe linked to an unknown ”gluten sensitivity’.

Conventional tests have become unreliable with many people getting ‘false negatives’ to gluten which can cause further damage to the tissues and lead to further health issues. Generally antibodies are measured against one protein called alpha-gliadin but the wheat gluten consists of many more.

So as this new understanding of gluten sensitivity emerges, it is advisable to all of us to reduce the amount of gluten. If you are unknowingly gluten sensitive then even the smallest amount is eaten you will be setting off the inflammatory cascade which will cause further damage.

There are a number of other healthy grains including, rice, quinnoa, millet, buckwheat for example that deliver great nutrients and fibre. There are also many good gluten-free products but be cautious on what you are buying as many of them are loaded with various chemicals, salt and sugars.

There are also problems with cross linking of other foods so if you have given up gluten and still experience issues then you may need to look for other foods that can be causing your problems.

Functional tests are now available which are much more sensitive in finding gluten antibodies, along with some supporting measures that may help reduce the inflammation and support tissue healing.

For more information contact me via email kdvn9@aol.com or go to my website www.karendevine.co.uk

Karen

BOTTLED WATER

In the past 5 years we have seen a boom in drinking water from the plastic bottle as we have become more aware of the body’s need to be hydrated. But what we failed to recognise is that these plastic bottles may come at a cost, namely our long-term health and the impact on our environment as all the empty bottles end up on our landfill sites.

 

Choosing from tap water or bottled water has become a hot debate over the years.

When it comes to health most of us want to feel we are putting safe foods and drinks into our bodies and that of our families. But with the rise in concern over the chemical BPA (Bisphenol A) we have to reconsider that ‘healthy’ bottle of water.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has been working tirelessly to bring this (and more) chemicals to our attention.

BPA is known as a xeno oestrogen (a foreign oestrogen) which mimics our own delicate hormonal balance and is therefore known as an ‘endocrine disruptor’ and therefore can interfere with our own hormones which may lead to chronic diseases such as hormone related cancers.

Not only that in their own investigation of almost 200 bottled water brand manufacturers, they found that less than 2% were happy to disclose the waters source, how it is purified and what chemical pollutants each bottle may contain. 

BPA breaks down very quickly into the water which we then drink, reusing these bottles are dangerous as more leaching takes place. Also, leaving the bottles to get warm (as in our car) also causes more leaching of BPA into the water (or other beverages that are held in plastic bottles).

Tap water goes through much more rigorous checks, however we may have other issues to contend with such as traces of potent pharmaceutical drugs, heavy metals, residues of pesticides etc (http://tiny.cc/srk4y). 

Confusing at most,  it seems that we no sooner see a solution only to find that somewhere down the line we are exposing ourselves to more problems. 

Water filters fitted at home seem to offer a good solution or the introduction of reusable water bottles that come with an inbuilt filter which allows us to go to any tap and get clean fresh water that we can then filter through again as we drink.

Certainly questions should be raised about the continued use of bottled water, I for one will be ditching these in favour of the filter at home or the individual water bottles that are safer to carry water. (for more information on purchasing the filter bottles please contact me direct)

Karen

www.karendevine.co.uk

www.devinedetox.co.uk

 

Our delicate hormones and the environment around us

Female hormone issues are rising rapidly, hormones are chemical messengers that send signals from cell to cell. Many man-made chemicals in our environment are disrupting our normal hormonal rhythm leaving us with an increase in symptoms such as -

 

PMT

Fibroids

Heavy/painful periods

Fertility Issues (in males also)

Menopausal challenges 

 

Hormonal imbalances caused by Oestrogen dominance (too much oestrogen) which can can lead to irregular cycles, low moods,pmt, fibroids and much more.

 

Of course we cannot ignore the rise in feminine cancers .

 

Men are not immune to this rise in oestrogen as we see the increase in fertility issues , prostate problems, and the growth of breast tissue

 

So how can these environmental chemicals be affecting us?

 

Many of these chemicals are known to be xeno oestrogens, this mean that they are foreign oestrogens that are introduced into our bodies which mimic our own. They are able to attach onto our own cell receptors.  Hormones play a role in our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing so when out of balance any one of our systems can also be imbalanced.

 

Some of the most researched chemicals (from the environmental working group) and the effects on health are -

  

Phthalates –  these are used to soften plastics and make it more flexible , found in many toys and food packages, known to be endocrine disruptors (hormones)

 

DDT – although banned in USA and here in the UK  it is still used in 3rd world countries, which means it is still in the environment and of course,  some of the foods which have been sprayed with this chemical maybe exported back to us

 

BPA - bisphenol A, which is a synthetic oestrogen used in the industry to make plastic hard. The environmental working group advise  that 6 billion pounds of this stuff is produced globally each year, some is also found in canned foods  

 

Then we have herbicides, fungicides and many a cocktail of pesticides put on our crops

 

Most of these chemicals are known to affect human health at extremely low doses. Some are stored in the fat cells as our body cannot metabolise it. That is why sudden, rapid weight loss without good nutrients and detoxification can be dangerous for anyone

 

In 1962 Rachel Carson wrote the book ‘silent spring’ (now out of print) which highlighted the impacts of putting these large amount of chemicals in the environment without understanding the long-term effects on health.  She suggested way back then that DDT  and other pesticides may cause cancers and really upset the delicate hormonal systems.

 

Other concerns are the amount of oestrogen in our system from the contraceptive pill and HRT. Any woman on the pill should really support the metabolism of oestrogen via the liver and encourage these old oestrogens out of the system. A diet high in nutrients, enzymes and possible supplementation may help to support her in this.

This is why I believe periodic cleansing and detoxing is a must for the 21st century.  Not only that, being more aware of the chemicals around which can help us find a way in which to reduce exposure to them as best we can.

  

 

We can all cut down on chemicals in our food, homes and what we put on our skin. Women in particular absorb numerous chemicals from skin care and make up. Nail varnish for instance contains many toxic chemicals which are known to upset hormonal balance. We can look for chemical free make up and find skin care that uses less chemicals.

Reducing chemicals in the home includes finding natural old-fashioned cleaners such as lemon and bicarb,  or plant extract sprays etc. We don’t need to plug things in or use toxic sprays to make a home smell nice, we can open windows or use natural essences. 

 

We can stop using so much plastic bottles for drinking and look for sold sports type drinking bottles that are free of these chemicals, have its own built-in filters so you can go to any tap and refill your water and know that you are helping to reduce your chemical load.

 

When it comes to food, buying good organic food is a good idea but cost does come into it. Ideally you should buy the most vulnerable foods such as berries, lettuce etc (strawberries are highly sprayed with pesticides) as organic and then use non organic foods which are not so high in pesticides (as they cannot penetrate the skin) such as avocado, onions, melon, pineapple to name a few.

 

You can reduce the amount of chemicals you are exposed to by making more informed choices, chemicals are tested generally on a  high toxic dose level to determine how it will affect humans but the low dose chemical cocktail effects are showing to be the most worrying of all, which is what we are finding in the environment.  Scientists refer to this as the ‘body burden’.

 

   

In my clinic I have seen a huge increase in  women looking for a more natural approach to balancing hormones. This trend has gone up over the years and it seems that so to has the chemicals that we are being exposed too.

 

For more information contact me on the email below or via my websites. There will be links soon for good drinking bottles and toxic free cosmetics.

 

For more information detox retreats and my Devine daytox’ programmes contact me on kdvn9@aol.com or go to www.karendevine.co.uk or www.devinedetox.co.uk 

  

Karen

Your daily bacteria

The health of the gastrointestinal tract  appears be deteriorating with the increase in  symptoms such as diarrhoea, heartburn, bloating, constipation and much more. We have also seen a large increase in more chronic issues such as colitis, and bowel cancers

 

The human gut is said to contain 10 times more bacteria than all the human cells in the entire body. Of this  bacteria (or microflora) some of them are  there to offer us the protection from pathogens and to keep the ‘unfavourable’ bacteria which live symbiotically with us under control.

 

When the unfavourable strains of bacteria are allowed to flourish and proliferate we can then find symptoms of digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, bloating etc) fungal infections, local and systemic inflammation, weight gain, halitosis (bad breath), skin disorders, IBS  and much more.

 

In the early 1900′s Nobel prize winner Laureate Metchnikoff reported the health effects and improved longevity from consuming fermented milk products and he suggested the ingesting live friendly bacteria may improve the balance of our human gastrointestinal microflora. He particularly noted the longevity of the Bulgarians who  on a daily basis would eat live bacteria from fermented milk.

 

Our diets are now more refined and are higher in sugar and alcohol, and lower (in some cases zero) levels of fermented foods which should provide the healthy microbes we need. In addition we have seen an increase in the use of medical drugs (some necessary for life of course) in particular the over use of antibiotics which wipe out all our bacteria and allow for the unfavourable to take control. Stress can also affect our microbes as can smoking and other undesirable habits

 

 

Humans thrive on pre and probiotic foods but most of use do not take our daily dose which you find in live natural yoghurt and  fermented foods. Soluble fibre from inulin and oligosaccharides  are classed as prebiotic (found in vegetables – unpeeled) as they feed the probiotic bacteria and help them to thrive. Other sources include bran, berries, unpeeled apples, legumes and more

 

The word probiotic is said to be a ‘viable microbial food supplement which can beneficially influence the health of humans’. some of the known benefits are -

 

promoting the correct pH in the large intestine

enhancement of mineral absorption

production of some vitamins including B & K

reduction in cholesterol

vaginal dysbiosis

Anti-carcinogenic activity

management of inflammatory bowel disease

immune modulation which may support allergies and food intolerance

anti-inflammatory …..and much more

 

A new probiotic drink launching in the UK  called Vita Biosa is an excellent way to boost your daily levels of bacteria in an easy to take drink. Can be mixed into a little fruit juice or made as a dressing with some oil and poured over salads

 

It is free from sugar, made from 19 different types of organic herbs and has 3 probiotic bacteria giving around 1 billion friendly bacteria per 50ml serving (you can take more)

 

The UK lauch takes places at the Natural & Organic produce Europe in London on April 11th and 12th. I am pleased to endorse this product so why not come down to the Europe’s largest Natural and Organic show. Global foods network are giving away a free ticket to the event. To down load this ticket go to http://devinedetox.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=50

 

 

 

for more information on health, nutrition and detoxification go to my websites 

www.karendevine.co.uk

www.devinedetox.co.uk

 

Karen

Calcium and Ageing

As we age many outward ‘obvious’ signs begin to show such as the greying of hair, sagging skin, bags under the eyes, thicker waist lines, wrinkles to name a few. 

We may also get a few creaky joints or stiffening which we put down to our age, sometimes maybe a bit too prematurely as stiffening of joints can be due to other metabolic disturbances which get branded as ‘age’.

Calcium is one mineral we all know that is needed for strong bones and teeth with 99% of this macro mineral found in these areas, the other 1% supports the cell environment. This small % helps with -

Muscle contraction

Helps with sending chemical messages to the body

For the production of digestive juices and stomach acids

Blood clotting and much more

Western diets are also laced with added calcium, from cereal to breads to yoghurt etc and many people also take extra supplements which find a high level of calcium in.

Ironic really that we still have bone health issues such as weakened bones or joint stiffness and we do as we are told which is to increase calcium from milk, yoghurt, cheese, and maybe add in some calcium tablets. But why are we still plagued by increasing bone and joint health problems, surely there is enough calcium in the out diet today ?

Of course as we age we are more susceptible (particularly women) to bone loss due to hormonal changes but many other issues of bone and joint health affect men and indeed younger age groups too.

One thing we have to look at is the ‘whole’  picture, with that. I refer to the whole western style pattern of eating which can affect calcium metabolism -

Excess salt intake

Magnesium and B vitamin depleted foods 

Excess sugars

Lack of vegetables and fruits

High caffeine beverages

Aluminium cookware

Lack of Vitamin D

Too much caffeine in the diet

Fizzy drinks

Higher intake of manufactured foods…..and so on.

Calcium in the body is also there to ‘buffer’ excess acids in the bloods, foods such as excess dairy, salt, sugar, refined foods  are acidic in the body, therefore we need to take minerals to buffer this acidity down. So, the body will take calcium from the bone amongst others. So by eating our typical western diet (which is more acidic) over long periods may also contribute to calcium losses .

We also have to consider that  to get calcium into the bone it needs instructions from hormones, in particular calcitonin from the thyroid. and also parathormone. 

It needs to be absorbed from the gut

So what can happen is when calcium is drawn from the bone to buffer acidity or our digestive system is impaired or we have a sluggish thyroid then the end result maybe calcium metabolism problems. Or we may end up ‘dumping’ calcium around the body in places such as -

Joints – causing stiffness

Arteries – may contribute to blocked arteries

Gall stones or kidney stones

or maybe in the softer tissues

ALL these above factors need to be taken into account in order to have a healthy calcium balance! 

If this is happening first we need to get the calcium metabolism working better, we need to get the gut in better condition, we need to have the capacity to ABSORB the calcium, it is not just about taking the calcium in and finds its way to the bones (if only life was that simple)

Importantly we need to also supply the body with the other nutrients it needs in particular MAGNESIUM. other nutrients which may play a role in calcium handling include boron, silica,  Vitamins  B, D and K etc

The use of calcium in the body is a COMPLEX one, if you are experiencing signs of bone and joint issues then you may need to take  closer look and not just treat the symptom i.e adding in more calcium by increasing the dairy or taking extra calcium supplements You need to correct the whole metabolic disturbance (which may take time) in order to optimise bone and joint health.

But we as individuals can make our own changes by -

Increasing foods from as much natural sources as possible including fruits, veg, seeds, nuts (non salted variety) oats etc. All natural foods contain high levels of calcium but also importantly so to you will find other nutrients in abundance which are needed for the metabolism of calcium

AND IMPORTANTLY -

Reducing/avoiding as much as possible the manufactured foods, added salt, excessive protein, excess alcohol etc which may all contribute to calcium losses or calcium mishandling!!

Watch the supplements you use or indeed get prescribed, if they are too high in calcium and not enough magnesium then you may compound the problems.

for more information on health and nutrition go to my website or for clinic appointments go to www.karendevine.co.uk and also for the retreats www.devinedetox.co.uk

Karen

What is functional Medicine?

Functional Diagnostic Medicine is a growing field of modern medicine. These are not standard medical tests rather they investigate the biochemical and metabolic problems that maybe causing symptoms.

Treating the ‘symptoms’ of the dis-ease with medical drugs over a period of time may cause other symptoms longer term and a subsequent deterioration in health. Whereas looking for the ’cause’ of the disease should be the main goals of any health treatment..

Whilst modern conventional medicine has its place and has undoubtedly saved many lives we still have to look at the causes of the ‘dis-ease’. So what is functional medicine and how can does it fit in to a new model of healing?

  

 

Functional medicine allows for a bigger choice in therapies such as vitamins, minerals, surgery/drugs (if needed), structural therapies, detoxification,councelling …etc

 

For example lets look at a ‘chronic’ headache. Often the diagnosis would be ‘migraines’ and a strong painkiller would generally be prescribed. For anyone with migraines this is such a relief as the pain is so intense for some.

 

But if we want to fully help the person with migraines longer term we have to look for the ’cause’  so maybe the following need some thoughts -

 

Gut issues – leaky gut, food intolerance etc

Diet choices

Toxins – msg, aspartame

Hormones – triggered by the menstrual cycle ? possible oestrogen issues?

Detoxification impaired

hypoglycemia – low blood sugar control (vitamin/mineral deficiencies and hormone issues)

Structural problems

Neurotransmitter problems…..etc etc

 

Therefore in functional medicine  ‘model’ is to look deeper for causes the to be able to treat more effectively. 

Functional medicine can therefore be a bridge between conventional medicine to a holistic healing model which can treat the whole person and not just the symptoms

 

There are many types of functional testing that I generally consider in practice to allow for a wider range of natural treatment plans. But, if you have any health concerns always take your doctors advice first    

 

For more information on nutrition and health go to my website www.karendevine.co.uk

 

Karen

Man boobs (gyneocomastia)

Gyneocomastia is the medical term for ‘man boobs’ or ‘moobs’ as it can be cruelly called. It  is an increasing problem in men and many went under the surgeons knife in an attempt to get rid of this ‘embarrassing’ problem.  It is a modern problem facing many men of all different  ages and sizes

Breast reduction for men is the fastest-growing part of the cosmetic surgery industry for the second year running, plastic surgeons have said in a recent BBC news report.

But a lifestyle change has to be considered before the surgeon’s knife. 

By losing weight, toning and eating a healthier diet can show improvements but for some despite their best efforts they still seem to have this excess of breast tissue.

Men as we know are dominated by the male hormone testosterone but they do produce small amounts of natural oestrogen. However, if we consider the amount of chemicals in the environment that are known to interfere with the delicate hormonal balance it maybe possible to question if so many chemicals hijacking the body could be linked to the increase in man boobs.

 

Therefore, not only excersing and weight loss but also avoidance as much as possible of chemicals and other toxins that interfere with the hormonal system. some such chemicals are dioxins, pcb’s and others which interfere with our hormonal and immune systems

 

Detoxification  and elimination are vital if you want to help balance hormones. For this to happen optimally we need good nutrients, and avoidance/reduction of -

 

alcohol

smoking

hydrogenated fats

junk foods/processed foods

 

Increase in foods such as -

  

Vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, kale, sprouts, beetroot, watercress and more)

Good quality proteins ( fish, eggs, chicken etc)

Essential fats from fish, nuts, seeds, avocado etc  

Fibre from beans, pulses, flax and wholegrains

   

 

In conjuction with a change in diet a supplement programme should be considered which supports the liver and hormonal system particularly if  hormones have been tested and shown to be imbalanced.

 

For more information on health and nutrition go to my website www.karendevine.co.uk

 

Karen