Diver, tickle, what?Diverticulitis is one of the conditions under the umbrella term of ‘diverticular disease'. Diverticulitis is a progression of diverticulosis. A person who has diverticulosis may not even know that they have it; diverticulosis occurs when the lining of the large intestine herniates, ballooning out, and forms little out pouches or ‘pockets’. This condition on its own may not be a concern for a person.Problems can arise however, when faecal matter gets trapped and compacted in these little intestinal lining pockets. As the name diverticulitis suggests, remembering that “-itis” suggests infection or inflammation, there is an infection and inflammation of the diverticula. If left unmanaged, diverticulitis can cause perforation of the bowel, … [Read more...]
Exercise and Gut Health
Exercise and the good gut link.Exercise why you need it besides the usual benefits of lowering your blood pressure, reducing the rate of diabetes Type 2, or trimming down the excess weight; instead looking at the role of exercise on your gut health. I’ve touched on how exercise can increase the production of butyrate producing bacteria, which can have a positive effect on the barrier function of our gut. In turn this can improve leaky gut, it’s symptoms, and can decrease chronic inflammation in the body.Are you overdoing it?On the flip side, over doing it on the exercise front can be detrimental to our health as well. Over training can lead to muscles that always feel DOMsy, old injuries flaring up, or new injuries that seem to come out of nowhere. Over doing it can reduce … [Read more...]
Do you have Hashimoto’s Disease?
Hashimoto'sHashimoto’s or “Under-active Thyroid”, is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune condition. The body’s immune cells attack its own thyroid. This causes inflammation and destruction of the thyroid. This leads to decreased ability to make thyroid hormones, T3 and T4.Current theories suggest that it can be triggered or “switched on”. These triggers include; bacterial or viral infection, genetic mutation, and the impact of aging on the thyroid.Hashimoto's is the most common form of hypothyroidism in the western world. You can read about other forms of hypothyroidism here. Hashimoto's is more common in females. Women whose mum, aunts, or grandmas have Hashimoto’s, may have an increased risk. Signs and Symptoms There are classic signs and symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease. Most … [Read more...]
Homemade Ginger Ale
So Boxing Day has rolled around. Despite the best of efforts, you’re feeling a little worse for wear. Perhaps it was one too many glasses of bubbly yesterday, or maybe that extra piece of pie with cream pushed you over the edge. We’re all only human. For some of us, Boxing Day is the chance to roll around the house, or maybe chill at the beach or by the pool. For many of us though, Boxing Day is round 2, or 3, or even round 4 of family feasts and social soirees. If you’ve woken up today with a food hangover, booze hangover, or just a tummy that’s feeling a bit overdone, try my Ginger Ale recipe. Not only is it delicious, but ginger is great for unsettled guts. You can read a bit more about the benefits of ginger here.The making of homemade ginger ale is a two part process. Part one is … [Read more...]
