Question Archive

Here you can find all the questions previously answered by our Nutritional Advisor.

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I am pregnant and wondering if it's better to take a plant based DHA supplement as opposed to a purified fish oil supplement? Will I get the same benefits regardless of which one I choose?

The Omega 3 in Flax Oil is in the form of ALA, whereas the Omega 3 in fish oil is in the widely recognised form of DHA/EPA. Your body can (potentially) convert ALA to the beneficial EPA/DHA that it needs for brain function etc.
This process requires a host of other nutrients (B vits, magnesium and zinc) to be present in the right amounts, and actually some people genetically have a very poor conversion rate, so in order to easily obtain a good supply for yourself, and at this important time, your baby, my personal opinion would be to stick to a good quality fish oil supplement from a reputable brand.

Can you take Honeygar if you are a diabetic?

There doesn’t seem to be any reason not to take Honeygar if you have diabetes. Although from its ingredients you might assume it would have quite an impact on your blood sugar levels, some clinical studies have been carried out that seem to suggest the opposite.

A study published in Diabetes Care in 2007 looked at people taking two teaspoons full of apple cider vinegar before bedtime, and measured their waking blood glucose levels. In people who had a usual fasting blood glucose level of under 130mg/dL they recorded a decrease of around 4%, which in terms of a clinical trial result is enough to be seen as ‘clinically significant’, and in people with a usual fasting blood glucose level of over 130mg/dL the reduction was as much as 6%. These results were seen in people who had fully diagnosed Type 2 diabetes as well as those who had pre-diabetic conditions such as insulin resistance.

In 2005 a study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in which the results demonstrated that vinegar can stop blood sugar levels from rising as far after a meal. Researchers found that subjects who had vinegar with a white bread based meal had lower subsequent blood sugar levels than the subjects who just ate the bread.

These were both small studies and further work would need to be done to fully confirm these effects. However they do at least provide an initial basis for apple cider vinegars, including Honeygar, not having a detrimental effect on diabetics, and possibly even a beneficial effect. As with starting any supplement regime when suffering from a condition such a diabetes it is best to be cautious and start slowly. If Honeygar, or any other supplement for that matter, has a blood sugar level lowering effect then this may potentially affect the amount of insulin that you would need to take and so this may need monitoring with your GP.

What are the health benefits of Honeygar?

The body undergoes an ongoing process of trying to maintain an acid and alkaline balance, the ideal being pH neutral at pH7. Generally the body is somewhere between 6 and 7.5. Many nutritionists therefore believe that a body that has become more acidic, generally due to the intake of too many acidic food and drinks (animal products, white flour, sugar, coffee and fizzy drinks) and not enough alkaline food and drinks (water, fruit and vegetables, green tea), will start to develop health problems such as acid crystals forming in the joints causing pain and stiffness. Correcting this acid/alkaline balance may therefore help to relieve pain in some arthritis sufferers. The ingredients in Honeygar, apple cider vinegar and unpasturised honey are both alkaline and may help to redress this balance.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes swears by Honeygar for arthritis - and he walked across the Antartic!

Apple cider vinegar is also thought to have a whole host of health benefits, and has been reputed to be of use for many conditions, such as:

Reduce sinus infections and sore throats
Balance high cholesterol
Bad breath/halitosis remedy
Benefit skin conditions such as acne
Protect against food poisoning
Fight allergies in both humans and animals
Prevent muscle fatigue after exercise
Strengthen the immune system
Increase stamina
May help to assist in the control of blood sugar levels
Increase metabolism which promotes weight loss
Improve digestion and cure constipation
Alleviate symptoms of arthritis and gout (for animals as well as humans)
Prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections
Repells flies from cats, dogs and horses!

There are no known interactions with Honeygar and other medications but please do consult a healthcare professional if you are taking anything before beginning to take this product. Honeygar may be detrimental to tooth enamel if sipped so it's best to take it right before food or have a glass of plain water afterwards. Avoid brushing teeth for an hour or so after taking.

Can you take Sambucol if you are on Warfarin?

The active ingredients in Sambucol are Black Elderberry, Vitamin C, Zinc and Propolis. There are no known reactions with Black Elderberry or Propolis. Zinc may bind with Warfarin potentially reducing its absorption and for this reason Warfarin and Zinc containing products should be taken at least 2 hours apart.

There have been some reports of Vitamin C supplementation increasing clotting time with people on Warfarin, whilst this is likely to only apply to much larger doses than the one in this product you should consult with your GP before taking any Vitamin C containing supplement.

Please always mention to your doctor at your next appointment that you are considering using supplements, always follow the instructions on the box, and stop taking them immediately if you notice any unusual effects.

Is Clipper Sleep Easy suitable for use during pregnancy?

There is no known reason why Clipper Sleep Easy cannot be consumed during pregnancy. You may wish to show the box to your GP/Midwife if you are concerned, and should you notice any unusual symptoms stop consuming it immediately.

Can you take Kalms if you are on Warfarin?

The three active ingredients in Kalms, are Valerian, Gentian, and Hops. None of these herbs are known to have any reaction with Warfarin, however please do mention to your doctor at your next appointment that you are using them, always follow the instructions on the box, and stop taking them immediately if you notice any unusual effects. Similarly there are no known interactions with Kalms Sleep.

I read that wheat dairy and eggs are one of the intolerances that cause weight gain? Am I right? How does this work?

Any food intolerance can lead to weight gain, or certainly to stopping weight loss. Many people that have given up bread for instance, have found that they have very quickly lost some excess pounds. However this is not limited to wheat and dairy, a person can be intolerant to any food.

As far as I am aware there is not one agreed on reason for why food intolerances can cause weight gain; it is known that food intolerances can contribute to water retention which would have an impact on weight, and that often people seem to retain more fat in the body. Another theory is that the substance to which you are intolerant can have an effect on the limbic system in the brain, which controls addiction, hunger and other emotions - this can cause you to crave the very food that is causing the problem, so you eat more. Sometimes people think they have gained weight because their clothes become tight, but actually it is down to bloating caused by the offending food, so once removed they look slimmer. It is important to remember that food intolerances affect everybody differently, so one persons reaction will not necessarily be the same as someone elses. In some cases food intolerances cause severe weight loss.

I have an 8 month old son who has developed thrush in his mouth and his nappy area.

I have tried the medicine the doctor has given for a few weeks now but the problem has not really improved at all. Can you please let me know if you stock any homoeopathic remedies that would help him?

Often in small children, as in adults, thrush can be caused by an imbalance of the 'good' and 'bad' bacteria in the body. I would suggest giving your son a probiotic supplement, designed especially for small children, in order to boost his levels of friendly bacteria. In many cases this will eradicate the thrush.