Fabulous Nutrition - London based nutritional therapy clinic. » weight-loss

There’s a whole world living in your gut

Ange — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:01:02 +0000

The MetaHIT project is undertaking the biggest census of the bugs living inside our guts. The European study has taken samples from 124 subjects; a mixture of healthy, overweight and people suffering with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and identified the genes of the intestinal microbials (mainly bacteria) by DNA stretches.

The results are pretty impressive. They’ve found 3.3 million different genes from the samples taken, that’s 150 times more genes than in the human genome. About 40% of those are shared with at least 50% of the group, so we all have a core of the same bacteria in out guts. Each individual in the study has at least 160 different bacterial species.

One of the objectives of the study is to look at the function of these bacteria and work out which are contributing to our health and which seem to be more present in those with bowel disease or with obesity. That part of the study is on-going, but what they have revealed a functional core within the microbial genes, functions which are required for the whole ecosystem the ‘minimal human gut metagenome’. This set of functions is 3 times larger than had been previously thought. So this human host-bacterial interaction is clearly instrumental to our health yet we still have so much more to learn about it.

If you want to learn more about digestive health contact nutrition and digestion expert Angela Walker through the book appointment tab above.

Fabulous Nutrition is a London based Nutritional Therapy Clinic, addressing functional imbalance in the body with bespoke nutrition programmes. Whether you have a diagnosed condition, want to improve digestion problems, lose weight, slow the effects of aging or kick-start a new health regime, Angela Walker at Fabulous Nutrition can help. www.fabulousnutrition.co.uk.

Source :Qin et al A human gut microbial gene catalogue established by metagenomic sequencing. Nature. 464, 59-65

The Diabetes Gut Link

Ange — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:25:50 +0000

Our understanding of the role of the microorganisms in the gut (also known as microbiota) is growing by the day.

A study published earlier this year looked at the microbial mass of diabetic and healthy populations and found that the level of Bifidobacterium species were significantly lower in the diabetic group [1]

What we eat affects the microbiota in the gut. A high fat diet will increase a certain type of bacteria (Gram negative) bacteria in the gut produce bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS); it is thought that LPS stimulate the inflammation cascade seen in diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome[2].

The Bifidobacterium are gram positive; which is why they are likely to be lower in diabetics.

More reasons why a low fat diet, with plenty of fibre (beans, pulses, whole grains) to ‘feed’ the good bacteria is a good idea.

This also means it makes good sense to look at optimising the bacterial populations and overall gut function whenever you have an obesity, metabolic syndrome or diabetic situation.

For more information on nutrition please contact Angela Walker at Fabulous Nutrition.

Fabulous Nutrition is a London based Nutritional Therapy Clinic, addressing functional imbalance in the body with bespoke nutrition programmes. www.fabulousnutrition.co.uk

[1] Wu et al (2010 Molecular Analysis of Intestinal Dominant Bacteria in Diabetes Patients. Curr. Microbiol 61:69-78

[2] Cani et al (2007) Metabolic Endotoxemia Initiates Obesity and Insulin Resistance. Diabetes. 56

Bikini Boot Camp

Ange — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:35:30 +0000

Summer Boot Camp for Fabulous Nutrition

The Grove luxury spa in Hertfordshire is holding another bikini boot camp this summer and has called in some expert advice. We will be running a Nutrition class for all the guests as well as consulting on a healthy menu for the five day programme.

See the website for more details.

Fabulous Nutrition is a London based Nutritional Therapy Clinic, addressing functional imbalance in the body with bespoke nutrition programmes. www.fabulousnutrition.co.uk.

Fabulous Nutrition is involved with a number of programmes with integrated solutions to health including Right Body Image.

For more information please contact Angela Walker at Fabulous Nutrition on 07775 582 332 or ange@fabulousnutrition.co.uk.

“I am truly amazed the transformation in only 3 weeks”

Ange — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:34:25 +0000

I’m going to start a new feature showcasing recent success stories. I know how powerful Fabulous Nutrition is, so do my clients, so we want to share that with more people!

This weeks story is Fiona who at 58 wanted to lose weight and feel more energised. She didn’t feel that she had any major health issues, but I did identify some metabolic imbalances which made it a bit more difficult of her to lose the weight she wanted to. We decided that she would follow my 21 day detox programme and I think Fiona’s own testimonial speaks for itself:

“I am truly amazed at what a transformation in only 3 weeks.

My grown up family had suggested (not too subtly) that I needed to lose weight and cut down on my alcohol intake. As a widow, in my late fifties and working full time within the field marketing industry, I had got into the habit of coming home from work, heating up something quick and easy to eat and settling down most evenings to either a few gin and tonics or a bottle of wine to help me unwind. Whilst I accepted that my weight was on the high side and I was now buying larger sizes of clothing I had convinced myself that this was all part of the aging process.

With a winter sunshine holiday on the horizon though, I really wanted to feel more energetic and look better so, encouraged by my family, I decided to follow the 21 day detox programme. Not only have I lost half a stone in weight, lost 2 inches on my waist and hips and my waistline seems much lower down now, but most importantly I certainly do have more energy, vitality and focus and no longer find myself waking up on the sofa to find that I have missed the end of the programme that I had been watching.

I have never been one for faddy diets and this programme is certainly not one of those. However the discipline of following the programme has taught me that fresh, simple foods can be so delicious as well as far more nutritious. I cannot state that I followed the meal plan religiously – however I did not eat anything that wasn’t on the list, I never felt hungry and the biggest surprise of all for me was that I did not feel the need to have that gin and tonic! I really loved the nutritional shakes and will probably continue having these on a regular basis as part of my new eating regime.

I now feel fabulous and can’t wait for my holiday.” Fiona, 58, Oxfordshire

For more information please contact Angela Walker at Fabulous Nutrition on 07775 582 332 or ange@fabulousnutrition.co.uk. Fabulous Nutrition is a London based Nutritional Therapy Clinic, addressing functional imbalance in the body with bespoke nutrition programmes. www.fabulousnutrition.co.uk

Weight loss pill Alli monitored by FDA for liver damage

Ange — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:06:14 +0000

A number of health sites and publications are reporting that the FDA are monitoring the over-the-counter weight loss drug Alli for potential liver damage. The drug apparently works by inhibiting fat absorption and is supposed to be used along side a healthy diet. Weight loss is a challenge for many people, and often there can be functional imbalances that make it particularly difficult to lose weight; adrenal stress and low functioning thyroids for example. Resorting to a pill that will indiscriminately inhibit fat absorption is quite extreme. What about all those healthy fats we need? (see my post on healthy fats below). Key vitamins are fat soluble, so they are going to become deficient as well. My approach would be to look for any underlying causes and then work on those, while at the same time introducing a healthy approach to food and eating. That way there’s no risk of liver damage either!

Eating fats can help us lose weight?

Ange — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:11:20 +0000

Nutritional therapy works on creating the right balance of nutrients in the body, which includes good and bad fats. The case for the essential fatty acids is pretty well established, those are the ones you find in things like oily fish, seeds and nuts. Saturated fat and cholesterol are usually painted as the bad guys but in fact cholesterol has an important role in the body (it provides structure to the cell walls and we need it to make our steroid hormones) and saturated fats are an important energy source. Its just all about the right balance and having enough of the right nutrients to ‘use’ the fats properly in the body. Coconut oil is a saturated fat. I use it quite a lot in cooking, its delicious and healthy, though of course in moderation. And, as this article from Dr Briffa shows, it has been found to help reduce abdominal obesity or fat around the middle