The answer is yes, probiotics can help your immune system. And in this article, we’re going to try and get up to date with the various ways that different probiotics might be able to build your immune response. Helping allergic and viral conditions such as the common cold and COVID-19 in the process. If you are a regular reader on the site, you’ll have read before … [Read more...]
Bloated, Full, and Tired?
Imagine waking up in the morning with a flat stomach, wondering if today was the day you don’t get bloated after your first meal. As time goes on, the bloating develops, the fullness and distension appear, and just as 11 a.m. rolls around, your eyes start to get heavy in the last meeting before lunch. “How did things get like this?” The rest of the day becomes a matter of survival as you have to second guess each task after your lunch, which briefly elevates your energy levels but makes the beach ball in your tummy worse.
For some, that isn’t a matter of imagination; it’s happening every day, and the thought that it may not get better is too regular. For most of my patients, this was their day before they found me. Their situation is why I named this section bloated, full and tired. Every article and podcast episode focuses on those who experience these symptoms regularly, who want to understand why things aren’t changing, and some potential natural solutions for solving it.
Article: “I think I need to give my liver some love.”
The liver weighs around 1.5kgs and comprises on average around 2% of an adult’s body weight.[1] It’s fair to say that the liver’s role is potentially as undervalued as it is misunderstood. It might seem strange to hear that I think the liver is misunderstood but depending on how many coffees I’ve had, my patients will note my mini-rants around the notion of how … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 16: “I think I need to detox my liver.”
“Everyone’s toxic, your liver is congested, and you must detox for life.” That seems to be the prevailing message doesn’t it? In this Free and Inspired radio episode, Philip poses the question that just thinking about the liver as a detox organ is missing the point. This episode aims to reframe what many people call detoxification into the reality of the liver’s role, … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 14: What is a leaky gut, and does it affect the brain and gut?
Do you have "leaky gut?" “The title says it all. I remember walking through an airport and seeing the caption on the front of Women's Health and smiling as it seemed to have finally crossed over into the public vernacular.” Of course, this was when we could fly freely, as a side note. The term "leaky gut" and its symptoms and causes are becoming highly ambiguous … [Read more...]
Article: Leaky gut and its influence on digestive and mental health.
The term "leaky gut," its symptoms and causes, are becoming highly ambiguous to my patients and readers alike. So, in this article, I will attempt to clear up some of the confusion. I'll look at some key points to simplify things a little more and help you perhaps prioritise your understanding around its influence on digestive and mental health. Finally, I'll look at some of … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 10: “By 3 pm, I’m ready to sleep.” Discover the 3 pm slump
Ever get an hour in after lunch and feel like it's time to sleep? Learn more about the 3 pm slump in this episode! The 3 pm slump is a common symptom for a lot of people. You just have to see the queues forming at your local coffee spot to see how many people are silently going through the same thing. We've all been there. Lunch is over, the afternoon workload is looming, … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 9: Can your fatigue be linked to your digestive system?
In this Free and Inspired radio episode, we will examine how your digestive system can worsen your fatigue. The microbiome is as unique as your fingerprint. We have a lot to learn, but we know that the proportions of the different species of bacteria in your digestion play a huge role in how you’re feeling. Especially in fatigue or your sense of mental and physical … [Read more...]
Article: Can the digestive system make your fatigue worse?
In this article, we will be looking at how your digestive system can make your fatigue feel worse and how probiotics can make a difference. Fatigue is a funny word coming to the end of 2021. There’s the somewhat obvious pandemic fatigue, then end of year fatigue, end of school year fatigue, and the list continues. What if it’s none of those things, and your fatigue has … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 4: How are IBS and SIBO connected?
Discover how small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may be the breakthrough that clears up this mystery of IBS for many people. The chances that either you or someone you know experiences some form of IBS. Whether in the form of bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, reflux or nausea, are pretty high in these modern times. IBS is a chronic functional disorder of … [Read more...]
Article: Are IBS and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) linked?
The chances that either you or someone you know experiences some form of IBS or SIBO symptoms, whether in the form of bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, reflux or nausea, are pretty high in these modern times. Mostly, though, the mystery surrounding its solution or how it started can remain unsolved. This mystery is what we are here to explore in this article. Common … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 3: Had to take an Antibiotic? What to do next.
Probiotics, prebiotics or a combination of both? Sometimes an antibiotic prescription is unavoidable in Hong Kong. For most, it’s when you’ve got an infection that isn’t getting better. For most, there can be a reluctance to take the antibiotics prescribed, and this may be warranted. The O’Neill report released in the UK defined this predicting that by 2050 … [Read more...]
Article: Had to take antibiotics? What’s best to do next to recover?
Probiotics, prebiotics or a combination of both? It seems they can all help reduce the side effects of using antibiotics in their unique way. Probiotics can help with some acute symptoms, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea,[1] especially in children.[2] Prebiotics, in the form of dietary fibre, can help rejuvenate the diversity of the microbial environment.[3] Combining … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 2: Is your digestion causing food sensitivities?
Have you ever said, “I can’t pinpoint which food sensitivities are making my digestion worse?” It’s possible then that something may need to change to make your digestion more effective. Food sensitivities may not be the cause of your IBS or digestive symptoms. Instead, they may be a by-product of a deeper issue within your digestion function. "So, the equation … [Read more...]
Article: Solve your gut problems – Focus on function before food.
Food concerns often precede other google searches people make to solve digestive problems such as bloating, gas, or digestive discomfort. It's a common concern I see in the clinic too, patients report, "I just have no idea what foods I'm eating cause these digestive problems." Often, the solution can lie within addressing the function of the organs of the digestive … [Read more...]