‘Osteoporosis means ‘porous bones’, where bone density is reduced and there is an increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis affects 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 but it is important to think of bone health as early as possible especially if there is a strong family history. Other risk factors include: anorexia, medications […]
I haven’t had a period for two months
Q: Help! I haven’t had a period for two months. I recently started an intensive marathon-training programme and haven’t changed my diet; could lack of food be the problem? Your periods can stop if the energy needed for your exercise regime outweighs your food intake. This is likely to be the cause as you mentioned […]
Do post-menopausal women need more calcium?
Q: I’m 47 years old, and have started to suffer with hot flushes. Osteoporosis runs in my family though, and I’ve heard that post-menopausal women need more calcium. The problem is that supplements irritate my digestive system, and I’m not sure what foods contain it besides milk and cheese. Can I get enough calcium from […]
The health benefits of drinking tea
A study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that tea is a healthier drink even compared to plain water. Tea seems to rehydrate the body as well as water but it also contains antioxidants, which are generally beneficial for our health as they help to control free radicals, which are linked to […]
Nutrition and the menstrual cycle
Are there any dietary habits that could aggravate menstrual symptoms like pms, cramps etc? A staggering 150 symptoms are now believed to form part of PMS. Among the most common are mood swings and irritability, anxiety and tension, bloating and water retention, breast tenderness and swelling, acne, tiredness, weight gain, headaches or migraines, crying spells […]