Choline sounds like chlorine; in contrast, it’s a nutrient essential for your brain, cardiovascular system and liver. If ever there was a nutrient that epitomised “is my diet enough?” then choline would at least be in the top two. In this article, we’re going to introduce why. For example, one study published in 2016 found that some of the population in the USA only … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 56: Three Ways to use nutrition to Help IBD
In this episode of Free and Inspired Radio, discover two fundamental dietary changes to consider and the first supplement to look into to help with IBD. Hong Kong and Macau are among the top three regions in Asia with the highest prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Find out more about Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis and what sets them apart. Crohn’s … [Read more...]
Three natural ways to help with IBD
Hong Kong and Macau are among the top three regions in Asia with the highest prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).[1] What is IBD? Inflammatory bowel disease includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Its primary characteristics include repetitive episodes of inflammation of the digestive tract.[2] Other symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 54: A Beginner’s Guide to Using Supplements
The supplement landscape can be overwhelming but also, in some cases, misleading. Tune in to this Free and Inspired radio episode for your beginner’s guide to supplements. “I want to know what supplements I should be taking.” Discover how to transcend marketing filled with testimonials and promises unkept and take the steps to genuinely find the supplement you should be … [Read more...]
A beginner’s guide to using supplements
If you’re new to supplements and this is something you’ve thought about or said out loud, this article is for you. It’s January at the time of writing this, and “being healthier” is never higher on the list. The gyms fill up, my clinic gets busier, and people’s interest in using supplements tends to peak. “I want to know what supplements I should be taking.” The … [Read more...]
How to choose the right probiotic for you.
Is there a way to choose the right probiotic for you? The value of the global probiotics market in 2021 was just under sixty billion US dollars.[1] That’s a lot of options when it comes to choosing the right probiotic for you. A basic search for probiotics on iHerb, the popular online supplement retailer, can deliver up to five hundred confusing options. For example, … [Read more...]
Correct Vitamin D deficiency for IBS, sleep and immunity?
Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Hong Kong. So much so that it’s more of a surprise when my patient’s blood tests return showing sufficiency. There are a few reasons for this high level of deficiency that we are going to cover in the article. One of the main reasons Vitamin D is so important is the variety of functions it performs in the body. A key … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 43: Melatonin for IBS and Depression?
In this episode of Free and Inspired radio, discover how Melatonin works in the body. For example, find out how it interacts with other hormones such as cortisol, some things you didn’t know (Melatonin and IBS?!) and, of course, some guidelines on how to take it. Melatonin use is rising sharply post-pandemic and is often polarising in its effects. Some find … [Read more...]
Article: Constipation 101 – Causes, Solutions and where you can start
The number of people living with constipation increases in China[1] and affects anywhere from three to twenty-seven per cent of people in Europe[2] and the USA[3]. Whilst constipation affects mainly females and progresses with age, many children are also affected, with a quarter of visits to a paediatrician looking to address constipation without an … [Read more...]
Article: Magnesium: Deficient in many, essential to all.
When it comes to magnesium and its role in around six hundred different biochemical reactions in the body, essential is an understatement. In this article, we’re going to break down some of the key reasons this vital mineral is one of the first interventions for me when patients initially visit me. We’ll look at some of the different forms, which one is best to take if … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 26: Magnesium is deficient for some, essential for all.
When it comes to magnesium and its role in around six hundred different biochemical reactions in the body, essential is an understatement. In this episode, we’re going to break down some of the key reasons magnesium is one of the first interventions when patients initially visit the clinic. Issues with not getting enough magnesium in the diet seem to be ubiquitous … [Read more...]
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...]
Article: Everyone tells me to reduce stress. I don’t even know where to start?
I’ve been making a sincere effort to reduce referring to “stress” when talking with patients. Why? You might think it’s obvious two minutes into a new doom scrolling session on Twitter, but as soon I enter into the discussion with patients, I’ve just started to feel as if it’s a moot point. Here’s often how the conversation goes. “So, talk to me about your … [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 13: Zinc is essential for your mental and digestive health
Zinc is undoubtedly one of the most important forms of currency your body uses to pay its bills. “You walk around with around 2-3 grams of zinc in your body every day. It's in all tissues in the body, with eighty-five per cent found in your muscles and bones and eleven per cent seen in your skin and liver.” In this Free and Inspired radio episode, Philip looks at … [Read more...]