121 Dietitian

BioCare Adult Multivitamins & Minerals – 30 Capsules

Adult Multivitamins & Minerals is a simple, one a day formulation for adults, providing all-round nutritional support for health including energy, immunity, and nervous system support.
Our multivitamins & minerals for adults is clinically effective, containing key nutrients to support health including energy, immunity, and nervous system support.
Improved formula now including methylfolate, the preferred form of folate and much more effective than folic acid, so less is needed. Also vegan vitamin D3 and methyl B12.

Vitamin D Benefits – 9 awesome reasons

Weight loss happy lady

  Vitamin D Benefits everyone’s health young and old. Vitamin D has multiple benefits and I have been a massive advocate of Vitamin D for many years due to my autoimmune family. Further strengthened when asked to write for the New Scientist on the tragic case of a murder trial.…  So lets dive in to why you and your family need Vitamin D today….. It has been known for many years that Vitamin D is important for the following reasons: Vitamin D helps our body absorb calcium and phosphate, lowering the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease as well as ensuring our bones are flexible and strong. Vitamin D support the immune system which allows our body to fight off harmful bacteria and viruses. Vitamin D helps to strengthen muscles. Excitingly there is more to vitamin D than it was originally believed…..but before we get into that lets cover the basics…. Low levels of Vitamin D  It is important to be aware that nearly half of the population have low blood levels of Vitamin D during winter months. This is especially low from January through to April/May when any summer sunshine stores you may have gained the previous summer are truly depleted. Those living in latitudes above ∼35° are significantly affected. In addition to depleted stores, many more people than ever have low levels of vitamin D due to changes in our lifestyles, less time outdoors, and the use of sunscreens. The elderly or those who are housebound are at very high risk all year round. Dark skinned people are also at risk. Further risk has been found in people who are obese, pregnant or a child due to either a lack of availability as Vitamin D is locked away in high fat stores or due to an increased need for development and growth in childhood and pregnancy. What are the Symptoms of a low vitamin D?   The following symptoms can be common in those with Vitamin D deficiency:   Fatigue Not sleeping well Bone pain or achiness Depression or feelings of sadness Hair loss Muscle weakness Loss of appetite Getting sick more easily     What does vitamin D do for you? Tonnes!!! Interestingly Vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone but also known as a fat-soluble vitamin. This helps the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus; essential for building bone.  How does Vitamin D work as a hormone? The body synthesizes Vitamin D after you have been exposed to the sun. It is then activated by the liver and kidneys. This activated form acts like a hormone to regulate calcium metabolism around the body. Vitamin D Benefits Cancer Exciting studies are now showing that vitamin D can reduce cancer cell growth, help control infections and reduce inflammation by stimulating the production of T-cells. These T cells help our bodies respond correctly to fight infections, including viruses, bacteria and fungus. These infections are responsible for various types of illnesses, including the common cold, and flu, Strep A and similar community-wide diseases. Vitamin D also aids in the repair and regeneration of cells, stimulate the death of cells that have been damaged by cancer, and lower the formation of blood vessels in tumours. Mood Vitamin D boosts your mood. Studies suggest that the decreased levels of Vitamin D3 may impact the levels of serotonin in the brain, this is a hormone that regulates the mood. By enjoining some safe sun each summer and, if in the Northern hemispheres taking a Vitamin D3 supplement in the winter, you could see a significant boost in your mood. Weight Loss Vitamin D can aid in weight loss. The chemical influence of Vitamin D is on serotonin, the “feel-good” hormone. This is known to assist appetite, sleep, mood, and stress levels. The connection to weight loss is believed that with sufficient levels of Vitamin D you are more likely to be motivated and have the energy to make the changes both mentally and physically to stay fit and healthy at a safe weight. Rheumatoid Arhtritis Vitamin D can lower the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. One of  Vitamin D benefits is to help maintain the immune system and ensure that it is working correctly. A deficiency in Vitamin D could therefore increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis as your immune system is more susceptible to attack.  Type 2 Diabetes Vitamin D lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes. Not getting enough sunlight can reduce the secretion of insulin from the pancreas, which can create resistance to insulin and affect how the body responds to glucose. Sufficient vitamin D can help lower levels of cortisol. This is a stress hormone produced in the adrenal glands. Cortisol assists in the body’s response to stress. Prolonged high levels of cortisol can lead to increased abdominal fat. This is linked to several health conditions including diabetes type 2. Blood Pressure Vitamin D can help lower blood pressure. a large genetic study that involved more than 150,000 people revealed that low levels of Vitamin D can cause hypertension. In this study, those who had the highest levels of Vitamin D had lower blood pressure. It was found that a 10% increase in Vitamin D led to a 10 % reduction in high blood pressure.  Heart Disease Vitamin D might reduce the risk of heart disease. Several studies have indicated that a deficiency in Vitamin D is a risk factor for developing high blood pressure, heart disease, congestive heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, strokes, and heart attack.     What causes vitamin D to drop other than sunshine? Vitamin D deficiency as mention is most commonly caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight. However some medical disorders can also cause Vitamin D deficiency. The most common causes after sunlight is a poor diet, medications and certain disorders. Cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease and Coeliac disease are conditions that can prevent your intestines from adequately absorbing enough vitamin D through diet and even supplements, especially if

Stainless Steel Whisk Set – 3 Packs Balloon Whisk, Thick Stainless Steel Wire & Strong Handles, Egg Frother for Cooking…

1.65 MM THICKENED WIRE, STURDY THAN OTHERS – STRONG & DURABLE: Walfos kitchen whisk is made of 1.65mm Durable Stainless Steel, Unlike other whisks that tend to be flimsy, our whisk is sturdy and reliable. You don’t have to worry about them rusting. It easily broke the eggs. Popular balloon shape for optimal whipping.
ERGONOMICALLY PLASTIC HANDLE, WATER WILL NOT GET INTO HANDLES DURING CLEANING: Walfos whisk has a 13cm long handle, unique arc design make it better grip. The ergonomic ABS handle stays comfortable throughout long cooking tasks.
DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS – VERY FUNCTIONAL AND USEFULL: Walfos polished stainless balloon wires can be used to create dressings, mix pancake batter and make homemade whipped cream, blends and quickly beats ingredients creating fluffy eggs.

Dark Chocolate – 9 reasons to swap

  Who doesn’t like dark chocolate! Did you know that dark chocolate is made from the cocoa bean. It has been around since the year 2000 B.C. originating from south America. It has a fascinating history; used as currency, consumed at royal feasts and after battles served to surviving warriors! (1) What happens to the cocoa bean to make dark chocolate? Well, it is roasted dried and roasted again and then from that you get the cocoa butters and the cocoa solids, and this is where we get our chocolate from. The variety of chocolates on the shelves in our supermarkets are endless. The main ones that we are familiar with are milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate, plain, filled, coated…. Picking the right chocolate can be so confusing. So in this blog I wish to dive into the detail (while dreaming of Augustus Gloop). Dispel some inaccurate information, giving you many important facts along the way. You can then make the informed choices and enjoy this very tasty snack, especially useful for those with “sweet tooth” cravings! So, the first question I frequently get asked as a Dietitian…. Is there more sugar in milk chocolate than dark chocolate? Yes, there is significantly more sugar in milk chocolate than dark chocolate. This can vary considerably so you need to check the content of cocoa solids for each bar you select. The varying amounts really impacts on the fat, sugar, kcals you will consume and more. If you get this wrong this is so disappointing, so I will explain more below. What is the healthiest type of chocolate to eat? To check the numbers and understand this further for the best choices we need to look at the nutritional profile of both milk chocolate and dark chocolate. This is all based on how much cocoa solids they both have. To be classified as dark, the chocolate must contain at least 35% cocoa solids (not that much). Milk chocolate much less at only 10% cocoa solids. As you can see these figures can allow for other unhealthy ingredients to be added and take over. Looking at milk chocolate first, its nutritional profile in 25% cocoa solids per 100-gram bar (average content in a UK bar) is as follows: 540 calories, 31 grams of fat, 58 grams of carbohydrates with 55 grams coming from sugar, 6 grams of protein, 0.6 grams of fibre and 0.2 grams of salt (check the table below). How does that compare to dark chocolate: 85% dark chocolate (a good % choice) provides a little more energy about 580 calories so another 40 calories per 100 grams due to the 40g of fat in the bar. This should not put you off. The reason for a little extra kcals is the higher cocoa butter. The focus that is more important for you is the carbohydrate, sugar, fibre, protein, polyphenols content so read on… The 85% dark chocolate bar contains less than half the carbohydrates than that of milk chocolate, at 22 grams compared to 58g of carbohydrate along with significantly less sugar at 12 grams compared to 55g. This is a massive benefit for those watching their blood sugars, inflammation, and health in general. In addition, the higher profile of fibre at six grams per 100g and the 11 grams of protein with only 0.13 grams of salt. This allows you to enjoy the full satisfying flavour with benefits. Not spiking your blood sugars or enticing you to overindulge. Per 100g Milk Chocolate Dark Chocolate Kcals 540 580 Fat (g) 31 40 Protein (g) 6 11 Carbs (g) 58 22 Sugars (g) 55 12 Fibre (g) 0.6 6 Salt (g) 0.2 0.13 There are also further chemical benefits that you get from dark chocolate which have been researched over and over. Polyphenols, a plant food chemical is present in dark chocolate. Known as flavanols and one of them called catechin is known to have a beneficial effect on your blood pressure, which I highlight further on. Can you eat milk chocolate on a diet? Yes, you can eat milk chocolate, but do consider how much and how often and what you are eating the rest of the time. All of this together may affect any health or weight issues you may have. On our various dietary programmes, we teach you the best way to look after and optimise your body. The key to success is learning to enjoy eating a variety of foods, the correct amounts, and the frequency – milk chocolate included! Is dark chocolate good for you? Dark chocolate when consumed as part of a varied nutrient rich diet can be beneficial in small amounts for assisting mood, providing flavonoids for blood pressure, nitric oxide for athletes, therefore contributing positively to our health. Dark Chocolate is not only high in antioxidants but also nutrients like magnesium, calcium & potassium. All essential elements needed for good general health. These nutrients are also known to assist in immune protection important against disease causing bacteria/viruses… Knowing these nutrients are present make this a better choice over others when looking for a tasty snack. How much dark chocolate can I eat each day? 20g-40g is a sufficient amount. Which is healthier dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Dark chocolate wins with over 85% cocoa solids provides beneficial flavonoids, fibre, essential minerals, and protein, in addition less sugar and saturated fat compared to milk chocolate. Is dark or milk chocolate better for weight loss? Weight loss requires food choices to be varied providing as many good nutrients as possible. Dark chocolate provides polyphenols, less saturated fats, and sugar than milk chocolate. Therefore in small amounts can be included as part of a weight loss programme. Chocolate and mental health? Dark chocolate contains 4 times more antioxidants than regular milk chocolate does. This can assist in lowering levels of inflammation and may play a role in reducing symptoms associated with depression such as fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. Studies suggest that