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BB&H Well Being : Health
Sharon Gray reveals the latest products and advice for a healthy you.
Calm the coughs
Spring might finally be in the air but many of us are still suffering from winter-like sore throats that seem difficult to shake off. Kiwiherb Echinacea, Thyme & Liquorice (£9.94/50ml) is a natural solution for sore throats and mild tonsillitis. The liquid extract contains echinacea to restore a weak immune system, thyme to soothe sore throats and liquorice, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Suitable for adults and children, the extract can be taken daily diluted in water or juice to calm sore inflamed throats. For stockists call 01455 556 281.
SUNSHINE VITAMIN
Spending too much time indoors working or watching TV can have a negative effect on your health. Vitamin D is an important nutrient that aids the absorption of calcium, vital for healthy teeth and bones, and also helps the immune system and blood cell formation. As we get nearly 90 per cent of our vitamin D from sunlight, spending less time outdoors in the sun can lead to a deficiency. Lifeplan Vitamin D (£3.29/60 tablets) are one-a-day, rapidly absorbed supplements that can help rebalance levels of vitamin D. In addition, experts recommend making simple lifestyle changes such as walking to school or the local shops rather than taking the car to get more sunshine.
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FEET FIRST
The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps every day, which over a lifetime equates to walking four times around the world! Small wonder then that most people will develop foot or ankle problems at some time in their life.
May is World Foot Health Awareness month – the ideal time to give your feet some much needed TLC, and to learn about foot and ankle health.
Prolonged standing, an occupational hazard for most hairstylists, can lead to aching, cold or swollen feet as the muscles in the feet are compressed, reducing the blood and oxygen flow.
One way to alleviate the pain is to use Forfootsache liquid gel-filled insoles by Gel Doctor. These unique non-toxic insoles spread the foot load and gently massage the feet, stimulating muscle action and increasing the flow of blood and oxygen.
They are also useful for sufferers of lower back pain, arthritis, varicose veins, diabetes and pregnant women and can even be used to cool feet and cut down on perspiration – simply pop
the insoles into the freezer
for an hour prior to wearing then secure them to the inside of your shoe with the tape provided.
For footache insoles cost £14.95 and are available from www.geldoctor.com
EYE CHECKS
Diabetes UK is warning that up to 470,000 people with diabetes in England are at risk of needlessly going blind due to a lack of free digital retinal screening. This is especially worrying for Black people as they have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and are likely to develop it – and its various complications – at a younger age.
Retinal screening can spot signs of retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness but which in 90 per cent of cases can be treated successfully if caught early. All people over 12 with diabetes should receive a free digital retinal test
every year.
To get your free information pack, call Diabetes UK on 0845 120 2960.
SMILE PLEASE
A beautiful smile is a life saver as bad teeth or poor oral hygiene can also lead to disease.
National Smile Month, starting 18 May, aims to increase public awareness of the benefits of better oral healthcare.
‘A good oral health routine involves twice daily brushing with flouride toothpaste, flossing daily and cutting down on sugary foods and drinks,’ says Dr Nigel Carter, from the British Dental Health Foundation. PlaqueOff (£15.99/120 capsules) is a new dental supplement containing Norwegian seaweed that can reduce plaque, tartar and banish bad breath.
It’s available nationwide from good health food stores.
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Breast aware
Black British woman are being diagnosed with breast cancer
at a younger age than white females, according to a study earlier this year. However, an objective analysis of the study by NHS Choices concludes that the study, while important, doesn’t take into account all the factors that may have led to the findings.
More than 44,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK and 1,000 die each month. The study, published by the British Journal of Cancer, found that the average age for a breast cancer diagnosis for black women was 46 while white patients were diagnosed at 67. It also said that the survival rate was poorer among black women and their tumours were more aggressive, meaning they would be less likely to respond to newer types of treatments such as Herceptin.
The results have led to suggestions that there may be
biological differences in the development of the disease.
Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK, said the findings were ‘clearly worrying’. ‘If these results are confirmed in follow-up studies, it might be appropriate to alter screening services offered to black women to better reflect the age at which they are diagnosed with breast cancer but at the moment it’s too early to suggest any changes to the screening programme because the study was so small.’
In the meantime, the advice is to visit your GP to discuss any concerns, and to regularly
check your breasts yourself at home for any unfamiliar lumps and bumps, in addition to hospital screening. For further information, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer-of-the-breast-female
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