Article by Nuala Armstrong You may not have heard of the micronutrient lycopene, but this is a potent antioxidant that belongs in the carotenoid family. Carotenoids are plant pigments that give the colour to fruits and vegetables such as peppers, carrots and more. They can be found in various plant organs and tissues, therefore, increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables will increase your lycopene levels! Where to find lycopene in the diet? Fresh tomatoes - 0.72 - 4.2mg Cooked tomatoes – 3.70mg  Guavas – 5.23 – 5.5mg Watermelon – 2.30 – 7.20mg Pink grapefruits – 0.35 – 3 ..read more

Photo by Alora Griffiths on Unsplash Written by Beth Rush Every January 1, scores of well-intentioned individuals decide they will shed those unwanted pounds by swimsuit season this year. However, best-laid plans often go awry and many folks abandon their resolutions well before Punxatawny Phil passes down his springtime verdict. Is there anything you can do to become one of the few who stick to their guns? Consider trying biofeedback training.  Evidence suggests this practise may be the secret to powering towards your goals. Here’s why biofeedback may be your ultimate tool for success w ..read more

Photo by Pixelumina Photography on Unsplash Written by Bryony Scutt Allergens are on the rise and now of epidemic proportion (1). “Without significant action, environmental modelling predicts that 70 per cent of people in the UK will have an allergy by 2060” (2).  The significant rise in allergy incidence over the past 50 years can’t be explained by genetics alone and is likely to have many factors, primarily relating to our western lifestyles. There are several hypotheses that can help explain which are discussed later in the article (3).  What is an allergy? Food allergies are di ..read more

Article by Bryony Scutt Unless yourself, a close friend, or family member experiences conditions such as diabetes, blood sugar levels are unlikely to be on your radar.  However, the prevalence of diabetes is continually rising, and this is a significant challenge to global health and well-being. In 2021, 537 million adults were reported to have diabetes, and this is predicted to rise to 643 million by 2030. This suggests poor glucose regulation and the risk of diabetes is increasing in the population. Two key things to keep in mind is that (one) we all have great variability in our bloo ..read more

Article by Chandni Vadgama ANutr, BSc, MSc With growing awareness of the detrimental health effects of alcohol consumption, including conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, cirrhosis, depression, and anxiety, there has been a surge in the demand for 0% alcoholic beverages (6). These alternatives have gained popularity as individuals seek healthier options and aim to abstain from alcohol without feeling excluded from social drinking scenarios (6). While 0% alcoholic beverages are often perceived as a healthier choice, it is crucial to thoroughly examine factors suc ..read more

Article by Claire Johnson Humans have been fermenting foods for around 10,000 years as a way of preservation and flavour enhancement. However, in more recent decades fermented foods have attracted new attention from the scientific community due to their gut-boosting and health promoting properties. What are fermented foods? Fermented foods undergo a process in which microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast break down starches and sugars in foods, creating new compounds and byproducts in the process. Amongst byproducts like acids and alcohols, fermentation also results in the growth of good ..read more

Article by Claire Johnson Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated but common hormonal issue thought to affect up to 20% of reproductive aged women [1]. The most common signs and symptoms of PCOS are irregular periods, lack of ovulation, fertility issues, weight gain, hirsutism (which is where where women have thick, dark hair on their face, neck, chest, tummy, lower back, buttocks or thighs) and male-pattern balding. What is PCOS? PCOS diagnosis must be confirmed by a doctor, which often involves an ultrasound of the ovaries to identify cysts (undeveloped follicles), as well as bl ..read more

Article by Bryony Scutt With the rise of technology and our fast-paced lifestyles, mobile phones and other devices have become companions to our everyday routines. There are many applications for screens in our modern lifestyles; whether your phone is the alarm that gets you up in the morning; you frequently scroll through social media; or you watch TV at the end of a long day before getting into bed, it all adds up.   When considering a healthy lifestyle, one often considers diet, and physical activity; but how often do we consider the toll that passive screen usage is having on o ..read more

Article by Jessica Noon Hay fever is also called ‘seasonal allergic rhinitis,’ which is the term given to the inflammation of the nasal lining caused by an allergic trigger causing symptoms such as watering eyes, blocked nose and coughing. Allergic rhinitis results from the body making allergic antibodies (IgE) after exposure to the allergens. In sensitive individuals this may lead to the release of chemical mediators, including histamines. The rise in hay fever Hay fever is seasonal and generally occurs in the UK between March and September. Tree pollen usually rises around mid-March and s ..read more

Article by Namrata Ashok There’s always space for dessert, right? A 2016 study reported a 24% increase in whole brain metabolism when shown appetising images of food while lying in a brain scanner in hungry participants (Wang et al., 2004). This study shows that the sight of food changes brain activity and indicates that hunger may be influenced by our senses. Does that mean there is more than one type of hunger?  What is hunger? We understand the perceptual nature of hunger because of several studies which shows that even after the removal of the stomach that hunger still persists. Th ..read more