To celebrate the launch of our new website we would like to offer 10 percent off all tests for the month of October, so don’t delay booking in for that pre christmas check up whether it be for a health MOT or a kick start to a weight loss plan, we look forward to hearing from you. Also, log on to our website to view our regularly updated blog to get tips on healthy eating, weight loss, increasing energy and recipes.

Beware of the gluten-free for all

The wide range of gluten-free products on the market today means we are spoilt for choice and one would be forgiven for thinking ‘gluten free’ equals ‘sin free’. But the truth is quite to the contrary.

Firstly, let’s take a look at what gluten free actually means. Gluten is the protein fraction found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt and to a lesser amount in oats. It is what makes our bread so soft and lovely, but not so lovely when it hits our gut. The gluten then turns into glupe and coats the walls of our intestine, causing bloating, wind, constipation etc. Much gluten is added to wheat-based products these days to prolong their shelf life, therefore saving money for the manufacturer, and catering for the masses.

For those who have been diagnosed with coeliacs disease or have an intolerance to gluten or wheat there is an alternative for almost everything, whether it be bread, pasta, biscuits, cakes, but it is all about the choices you make with these alternatives. Although they are gluten free some of them are still high in sugar, salt and fat and can cause you to pile on the pounds.

In your local supermarket you will find an array of white gluten-free bread, pasta, cakes and biscuits. These are made with refined maize flour on most occasions and they also contain unhealthy amounts of sugar and salt. You need to avoid these gluten-free products, as although they don’t contain wheat, they will cause your blood sugar to rise rapidly and then crash, leaving you feeling tired, grumpy and hungry. Head for the unrefined gluten-free products instead – brown rice pasta, wholegrain gluten-free bread, millet crackers, buckwheat, quinoa. Source products from your local health food shop or whole foods supermarket as they will have a much wider choice and the products on offer will generally be a healthy alternative.

See below for some ideas on gluten-free eating, and remember, not all foods contain gluten. A wide array of gluten-free grains can be used as alternatives, for example, buckwheat, quinoa, brown rice and millet.

Breakfast

Buckwheat flake porridge with flaked almonds

Or

Wholegrain rice cakes with nut butter

Lunch

Fresh vegetable soup with millet crackers

Or

Jacket potato with hummus and salad

Dinner

Spaghetti bolognaise with brown rice spaghetti

Or

Chicken stir fry with buckwheat soba noodles

Some of my favourite gluten free brands are Orgran and Doves Farm, who do a great range of alternative pastas, flours and breakfast cereals. You can get brown rice pasta in all different shapes and sizes to make dishes such as penne, spaghetti, lasagne. You can get brown rice and buckwheat flour, that can both be used in baking and making favourites such as pancakes; see below for a recipe (with a healthy, low GI edge).

Recipe of the month

Gluten free blueberry pancakes

100g Doves Farm white bread flour

100g Buckwheat Flour

1 large egg

200ml sugar free milk alternative such as vanilla rice milk, soya milk, oat milk, goats milk

a little olive or coconut oil for cooking

handful of blueberries

Whisk the egg and milk and then add the flour, continue to whisk. Now stir in the blueberries. Once mixed, heat the oil in a large frying pan and add tablespoons of the mixture to the pan to make small pancakes. Serve with natural yogurt, soya yogurt, fruit and handful of nuts.

Monthly Case History

This month’s success story is about Flora who first came to see me suffering with repeated sinusitis and fatigue; read on to find out how she is doing following treatment.

“I had been suffering with chronic sinusitis for years, and had seen numerous doctors, consultants and specialists who had not been able to determine either a cause or a cure. I had taken a huge quantity of antibiotics and steroids, all to no avail. Surgery seemed to be the only option left, with no guarantee as to whether it might help.

I was fatigued, depressed and anxious. My partner’s mother sent me to see Bethany, and I went along feeling quite sceptical about how a nutritionist might be able to help. Bethany listened carefully to all of my symptoms and applied her diagnostic test, after which she asked a series of questions that felt curiously pertinent. She suspected that I had an under functioning thyroid that hadn’t been picked up by my doctors. To my surprise, this was confirmed by a blood test.

Bethany prescribed several supplements and a new diet, and a month to six weeks later, not only did my sinusitis completely clear up (much to the bewilderment of the ENT surgeon who analysed my subsequent CT scan), but I began to feel like a new person.

That session with Bethany was a real turning point in my life. Aside from being genuinely interested, caring, and determined, Bethany has a clear talent for diagnostics where allopathic medicine can sometimes fall short, and her treatment really works. I cannot recommend her highly enough”.  Flora Berkeley
Flora’s example shows us that something simple to correct once diagnosed can cause so many debilitating health complaints. The thyroid test offered by the GP generally only tests the thyroid stimulating hormone (tsh) and overlooks the thyroxine (T4) and lesser known Triiodothyronine (T3). 

Sometimes the T4 is tested but these results can all show up as normal, T4 converts into T3 in the body and having low T3 can cause as many problems as having low T4, these can range from fatigue, constipation, repeated infections especially sinusitis, hair loss, weight gain. By finding out that Flora had low T3 we were able to treat this naturally, resulting in complete recovery, renewed health and vitality.

Next Month

Its getting closer to that time of year where we want to look fab in our christmas party wear, try our LBD plan to help shift those stubborn pounds!

Look out for the launch of our new business, bringing you ‘a healthy diet delivered to your door’; more on this next month.

We hope you enjoy the website and that it answers any questions you have, if there are any unanswered then please contact us direct.

Look out for regular updates on our blog and feel free to comment on anything of interest.