Sydney Morning Herald article on 21 March 2016 reports of the increased risk of developing bowel cancer with age. More than 8 million Australians (almost one in three people) will be in the “crosshairs” of bowel cancer in just 10 years. That’s the finding of a disturbing new report released on Monday by leading social demographer … Read more
What’s in your medications or supplements? Most products, whether medical or nutritional supplements, have what are known as “excipients” or “fillers”. These may be added to hold the active ingredients or give a pill its shape or simply be added for volume. They include everything except the active ingredients. Pharmaceutical excipients – where do we … Read more
The incidence of autoimmune disease has more than tripled in the last few decades. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Association reports that currently 1 in 20 people are being affected by autoimmune diseases in Australia and New Zealand. What is Autoimmunity? Autoimmunity develops over time. Initiated by the loss … Read more
Food intolerance is a result of a reaction to a food, beverage, food additive or component found in food that produce symptoms in one or more of the body’s organs and systems, but is not a true allergy. Food intolerance can also be triggered by incomplete digestion of food which may result in poor assimilation … Read more
The truth of the old adage that “you are what you eat” is becoming increasingly clear, the more we learn about the microbiome—the colonies of microbes living in your gut, and indeed all over your body. It is well established that your gut is your second brain providing more input to your brain than the … Read more
Over the past several decades our sugar consumption has increased dramatically. It is not only the white grains that are of concern, but the highly processed sugary syrups that are added to so many foods and beverages. In particular, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which forms the base of soft drinks, baby foods and many … Read more
Imagine the excitement throughout the scientific community when the human genome was cracked. Scientists believed they had found the answer to everything that makes us human. You can imagine the disappointment when they subsequently realised that our genes only comprise a very tiny component of who we really are. I am very excited to share … Read more
You may have noticed a significant increase in the marketing of ‘sugar-free’ soft drinks and foods. Unless the product uses Xylitol or Stevia, the sweetener is not natural. Even Xylitol and Stevia have to be ‘processed’ which means that the natural form has been modified. However, it is the aspartame and its related products that … Read more
There are few things more unpleasant and uncomfortable in social situations than talking to someone with bad breath. For many people, grabbing a mint or a piece of gum is quick solutionwhich only masks the problem. This approach often fails to address the root causes of bad breath, which for many people includes dietary deficiency. The reality … Read more
Clemens von Pirquet defined allergy in 1906 as: an acquired, specific, altered capacity of the tissues of the body to react to given substances. This means that our body is over-reacting to a substance that is normally safe. So what causes our body to over-react in this way? In order for any allergy to develop, the body’s digestive … Read more
