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10 Signs Vitamin D Deficiency

D Vitamin Deficiency

ARE MY VITAMIN D levels LOW? Signs aren’t obvious. “EVERYONE should take vitamin D PILLS”. In August 2015 BBC Health news reported this.

What’s our RDA of Vitamin D ? Is our D Vitamin RDA fixed? It’s a hot topic in functional health right now. So, London naturopath, osteopath Susannah breaks it down….

It’s surprising to hear some signs associated with lack of vitamin D. The RDA of vitamin D required for individual health isn’t the same for everyone. READ ON FOR D2 AND D3 VITAMIN REQUIREMENTS.

Living in sunny climate? Global warming affecting your City? Vitamin D not concerning you? Here at Susannah Makram Clinics we see clients from London for osteopathy and naturopathy. They come from all over the world.
We are showing signs Vitamin D deficiency, on a global scale.

Should I Take Vitamin D Supplements?

Pilot studies and regional monitoring suggests that vitamin D deficiency is likely to affect at least 50% white population in the UK. Also, up to 90% multiethnic UK population. 25% children living in Britain will show signs of vitamin D deficiency.

As a London osteopath and naturopath Susannah not only looks for signs of D Vitamin deficiency in clients she’s also interested in the story of our health. STOP BUYING THE WRONG SUPPLEMENTS.

Signs vitamin d deficiency

The same BBC health news article included a guideline. The draft Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition guidelines suggest, from the age of one, 10 microgram pills be taken to ensure people get enough. Find vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 and RDA here.

Susannah13

10 Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

A recent study in Australia revealed that one-third under-25s are vitamin D deficient. Is this surprising given how much sunshine the country gets? It’s not as simple as that.

Government experts are proposing that everyone should consider taking vitamin D supplements to counter the lack of sunshine in the UK.

New estimates suggest one in five adults and one in six children in England may have low levels.

 

Signs  Vitamin D Deficiency

Sign 1. You Have Gut Trouble
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that…

If you have a GI condition that affects your ability to absorb fat, you may have lower absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin D.

Gut Trouble: This includes gut conditions like Crohn’s, celiac and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, SIBO and IBS.

Sign 2. You Are Frequently Unwell With Flu or The Common Cold 
The active form of vitamin D tempers the damaging inflammatory response of some white blood cells. It also boosts immune cells’ production of microbe-fighting proteins. Vitamin D may be the seasonal stimulus that informs us why the flu virus is predominant in the winter, abating in the summer months.

Hope-Simpson RE. The role of season in the epidemiology of influenza. J Hyg (Lond). 1981; 86:35-47.
Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, et al. Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. 2006; 134:1129-40.
Ginde AA, Mansbach JM, Camargo CA, Jr. Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and upper respiratory tract infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169:384-90.

signs vitamin d deficiency

signs vitamin d deficiency

Sign 3. Unexplained Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disease not confined to Rheumatoid arthritis.  Autoimmune disease causing hair loss e.g. Alopecia Areata and  skin health concerns such as Vitiligo, are included. Also, autoimmune urticaria (hives), autoimmune thyroid disease – and many more. These all may be explained by assessment of your Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D may reduce inflammation. It may also help prevent autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. However, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these results. Some people may have overactive parathyroid glands due to low levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is the first treatment for this disorder. Increasing calcium intake, with or without vitamin D, may reduce the risk of underactive parathyroid glands after surgery to remove the parathyroid glands.

Sign 4. Your Bones Ache or You Have Back Pain
This is one of the signs of Vitamin D Deficiency that commonly present in clinic. It is easily missed because low back pain is so prevalent or commonplace. In combination with fatigue misdiagnosis such as having fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome is common at Susannah Makram Clinics.

Vitamin D deficiency osteomalacia is different from the vitamin D deficiency that causes osteoporosis in adults. What’s happening is that the vitamin D deficiency causes a defect in putting calcium into the collagen matrix in your skeleton. So what you are experiencing is a throbbing, aching bone pain – typically back pain.

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency – Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to muscle weakness and pain.

iStock_000001550919_Small

Back Pain – Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency. Sign 5. You Are Overweight or Obese (or Have a Higher Muscle Mass)
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble, hormone-like vitamin. This means body fat acts as a “sink” by collecting it. If you’re overweight or obese, you need more vitamin D than a slimmer person.

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency. Sign 6. You Feel SAD
Some studies suggest an association between various mood disorders and low vitamin D levels in the blood. These mood disorders include depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Serotonin – the brain hormone associated with mood elevation – rises with exposure to bright light. Serotonin levels fall with decreased sun exposure. These signs Vitamin D Deficiency may creep up unexpectedly and are easily left untreated.

Should I take vitamin D supplements?

Should I take vitamin D supplements?

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency. Sign 7. You Have Darker Skin
Recognise signs vitamin d deficiency. Your skin pigment acts as a natural sunscreen. The more pigment you have, the more time is needed in the sun to make adequate amounts of vitamin D.

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency. Sign 8. Excessive Sweating
Excessive sweating in newborns due to neuromuscular irritability is an early symptom of vitamin D deficiency. One of the first signs vitamin D deficiency is a sweaty head. Recognise signs vitamin d deficiency.

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency. Sign 9. You Have Type 1 Diabetes 
Vitamin D may play a role in preventing type 1 diabetes. Evidence comes from a 30-year study that followed more than 10,000 Finnish children from birth. From this study it was found that children who regularly received vitamin D supplements during infancy had almost 90% lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes than children not receiving supplements.

Hypponen E, Laara E, Reunanen A, Jarvelin MR, Virtanen SM. Intake of vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Lancet. 2001; 358:1500-3.

Signs Vitamin D Deficiency. Sign 10. You’re 50 or Older
As we get older our skin doesn’t make as much vitamin D in response to sun exposure. At the same time, our kidneys become less efficient at converting vitamin D into the form used by your body. Older adults tend to spend more time indoors than outdoors in natural sunlight.

The risk of getting too much vitamin D is considered to be extremely low. Vitamin D supplements are available from your GP. Over the counter is available but you should supplement with care. There’s no point in committing to poor quality nutritional supplements. That’s whether you’ve signs of vitamin d deficiency or not.

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Vitamin D – 6 Factors Affecting Your Levels

The Sunshine Vitamin

Sometimes, even when our bodes make vitamin D it’s still not enough. Sunshine and vitamin D – how does it work? Whether sunlight hits our skin or not we should know these SIX FACTORS affecting our Vitamin D levels.

Latitude studies, Vitamin D Deficiency, the environment, your skin, your age and your weight.

Six Factors That Can Affect Your Vitamin D Level

 A number of factors influence a person’s vitamin D levels.  Here are six important ones.

  1. Where do you live? How far from the Equator do you live? That is the real question. The further from the equator the less vitamin D–producing UVB light reaches the earth’s surface during winter. Living in countries such as The UK, Russia and Sweden, Norway, the Nordic countries mean you are less likely to get enough vitamin D. If you live north of the line connecting San Francisco to Philadelphia and Athens to Beijing you too may not be getting enough either.
  2. Air Quality – What’s Yours Measuring Up To? Carbon particles in the air from the burning of fossil fuels, wood, and other materials scatter and absorb UVB rays, diminishing vitamin D production. In contrast, ozone absorbs UVB radiation, so pollution-caused holes in the ozone layer could end up enhancing levels. Air pollution is killing more people prematurely than obesity and alcohol combined – an estimated 29,000 every year, in the UK
    The Sunshine Vitamin

    The Sunshine Vitamin

  3. Do You Use Sunscreen? Sunscreen prevents sunburn by blocking UVB light. Theoretically, that means sunscreen use lowers vitamin D levels. But as a practical matter, very few people put on enough sunscreen to block all UVB light. Or they use sunscreen irregularly, so sunscreen’s effects on vitamin D might not be that important. An Australian study that’s often cited showed no difference in vitamin D between adults randomly assigned to use sunscreen one summer and those assigned a placebo cream.
    Vitamin D

    Vitamin D – are you getting enough?

  4. What Is Your Skin colour? Melanin is the substance in skin that makes it dark. It “competes” for UVB with the substance in the skin that kick-starts the body’s vitamin D production. As a result, dark-skinned people tend to require more UVB exposure than light-skinned people. This means to generate the same amount of vitamin D, you need more sunshine.
  5. What is your weight? Calculate your BMI here. What is your percentage body fat?  Body fat mops up vitamin D. Studies have shown that being obese is correlated with low vitamin D levels. Being overweight may affect the bioavailability of vitamin D.iStock_000001947476_Large
  6. Age. Compared with younger people, older people have lower levels of the substance in the skin that UVB light converts into the vitamin D precursor. Experimental evidence that older people are less efficient vitamin D producers than younger people.

Being “D-ficient” may increase the risk of a host of chronic diseases. These include brittle bone disease causing back pain. Heart disease, some cancers, multiple sclerosis, as well as infectious disease risk increase.These infectious disease are tuberculosis and even the seasonal flu. Read more about the evidence linking vitamin D Deficiency to the following:

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Linked To The Following Diseases

Deficiency Phosphate
 IBD or IBS
Kidney Disease – Fanconi syndrome,
Osteomalacia causing back pain
Psoriasis
Rickets in Children
Thyroid Conditions
Autoimmune Diseases
Asthma
Fertility
Cognition HBP Mood Disorders
Multiple Sclerosis
OA

The Contraceptive Pill, Myths

The Pill

Birth control pills or Oral contraceptives known also as the Pill, OCs, BCs, BC tablets contain two types of hormones, usually man-made oestrogens and progestins and, when taken properly, prevent pregnancy. FACT. Hormone therapy in pill form is commonly used in conventional medicine. 

Contraceptive Pill, Facts

The Lowdown on the Contraceptive Pill, Myths i.e. What Every Woman Should Know       [tweetthis]The Lowdown on the Oral Contraceptive Pill, Myths i.e. What Every Woman Should Know [/tweetthis]

COC, combined pill, ‘The Pill’, COCP – The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) is a highly effective form of contraception and used to control fertility by almost 20% of women aged 16-49 years in the UK. Commonly used brand names (updated): Rigevidon, Microgynon 30, Gedarel 30/ 150 FACT.

Most women want their oral contraceptive to be a reliable and acceptable form of birth control that is convent and flexible and free from oestrogen related side-effects. FACT.

The Contraceptive Pill, Myths

Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the Pill, can improve hair health. FICTION. The American Hair Loss Association recommends that all women interested in using oral contraceptives for the prevention of conception should only use low-androgen index birth control pills, and if there is a strong predisposition for genetic hair loss in your family we recommend the use of another non-hormonal form of birth control. FACT. 

The Contraceptive Pill, Myths

The Contraceptive Pill, Myths

 

The Contraceptive Pill, Debunking Myths

All Oral contraceptives work by primarily inhibiting ovulation. FICTION. The Minipill works by thickening your cervical mucus, so that it is more difficult for sperm to get through. POP or progestin or progestogen only pills thin the lining of your womb, therefore making it much less likely that an ovum (egg) will implant there. This affects the motility in your Fallopian tubes, thus reducing the chances of fertilisation and in some instances, prevents ovulation (egg release) – this is particularly so with Cerazette.

Cerazette is an oestrogen-free, progestogen-only oral contraceptive pill (POP). FACT

The minipill is oestrogen free. Common brand names: Cerelle and Cerazette and Aizia and Nacrez and  Zelleta. It is also known as the progestin-only birth control pill, is an oral contraceptive that contains the hormone progestin. Unlike combination birth control pills, the minipill doesn’t contain estrogen. The progestin dose in a minipill is lower than the progestin dose in a combination oral contraceptive pill. FACT. 

Undesirable side-effects of the Pill occur only with COP. FICTION.

Undesirable effects reported by some women treated with Cerazette include: acne, breast pain, mood and libido changes, nausea and weight increase. FACT. 

Smoking cigarettes while using oral contraceptives has been found to greatly increase chances of serious side effects occurring. FACT. In particular, cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side-effects from combined oral contraceptive use. The risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age.

Contraceptive Pill Side Effects

Contraceptive Pill Side Effects

St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) can speed up the breakdown of the hormones in Cerelle – progestogen only contraceptive – by the liver, which makes it less effective at preventing pregnancy. FACT. In fact, a list of medications that has a similar effect include aprepitant, bosentan, barbiturates, carbamazepine, crizotinib, dabrafenib, efavirenz,
eslicarbazepine, nevi rapine, oxcarbazepine, perampanel (12mg), phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone,
rifampicin, rifabutin, ritonavir, rufinamide, topiramate, vemurafenib.

Cerelle tablets contain lactose and should not be taken by women with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption. FACT.

Common side-effect of Cerelle or desogestrel affect between 1 and 10 out of every 500 women. FICTION. Common side-effect of Cerelle or desogestrel affect between 1 and 10 out of every 100 women. These include: changes in menstrual bleeding, eg irregular bleeding or sometimes stopping of bleeding, mood changes, including depression, decreased sex drive, headache, nausea, acne, breast tenderness, weight gain. FACT. 

Selegeline used to treat Parkinson’s disease and also as an antiageing supplement and an antidepressant should be avoided with the pill. FACT. Other brand names include, Deprenyl, Eldapryl, Emsam.

While you are on the Pill and you wear contact lenses – should you notice a change in vision or an inability to wear you lenses, contact your doctor or health care provider. FACT. 

Side Effects Of

Side Effects Of

Combined birth control pills (oral contraceptives) can improve acne in women. FACT.  However, it should also be noted that melasma – a spotty darkening of the skin is possible – particularly of the face, which may persist.

Combination birth control pills and preston only birth control pills will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections. FACT. 

Monophonic and multiphasic are types of progestin only birth control. FICTION. Combination birth control pill can be categorised as i) monophasic: each active pill contains the same amount of estrogen and progestin and i) multiphasic: the amounts of hormones in active pills vary. FACT. 

Taking combination birth control pills or minipills (progestin-only birth control pills) during early pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects. FICTION. While some research has suggested a link between the use of birth control pills near conception and an increased risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery or congenital urinary tract abnormalities, these concerns generally haven’t been observed in clinical experience.

Combination birth control pills increase the risk of certain conditions. Some of these complications can be serious. They include the following: Blood clots in the legs, Gallbladder disease, Heart attacks and stroke (smoking greatly increases the risk of these complications), Liver tumours. FACT. 

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Bariatric diet

Bariatric surgery

Considering bariatric surgery? It’s likely someone we know has healthy weight loss success with this surgery. The most common bariatric surgery procedures are gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric band and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.

Weight loss surgery

Knowing health risks of obesity means offering patient choice. At Susannah Makram clinics we feel you should know about options available to you. Also, you should know what to expect by choosing your healthy weight loss route.

Still wondering about taking ownership of your health? Think you’re too young, healthy, don’t qualify?
We’ve made it easy for to break down the routes of obesity treatment.

-> Fast Fact: Did you know that it may be advisable to seek a two week low calorie and mostly liquid diet to prepare you for your surgery?

Q. 1) Which Bariatric surgery for weight loss is right for me?

  • SAFE The safety of bariatric surgery varies considerably. It depends on your personal health and medical history. Safety varies based on the type of operation you have and the experience of both surgeon and hospital.
  • CLINICAL Speak frankly to your specialist. Don’t rely on previous experience of others or information on the internet.
  • PRACTICAL Measure your perceived success with that of your surgeon’s. Re-assess these when your are ready to take responsibility for your current lifestyle. Your nutritional habits and lifestyle need assessment first. This helps you make an informed decision, that is both realistic and optimistic. The right bariatric diet is crucial at every stage.
  • EFFECTIVE Only you can answer this important question. After you consider the medical evidence for surgery and facts. Look at the facts regarding risks and benefits of each procedure.

Q. 3) Is bariatric surgery the solution to Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity?

Bariatric surgery is also known as Obesity surgery. These include: gastric banding, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and duodenal switch. It is usually undertaken laparoscopically. The most commonly used method in the UK is a gastric bypass.

NICE Guidelines offer an expedited assessment for bariatric surgery. This is to people with a BMI of 35 or over who have recent-onset type 2 diabetes. The GDG considered that recent-onset type 2 diabetes would include those people whose diagnosis has been made within a 10-year time frame.

Classification of Obesity. Note: if you are of Asian origin, you may be considered for weight loss surgery at a lower BMI. This is because the risks of being overweight kick in at a lower BMI in people of Asian origin.

Bariatric Diet

Q. 4) Why are the first two years of bariatric diet after bariatric surgery important?

You will not absorb certain vitamins and minerals in the same way after your operation. You’ll need to take some supplements as advised by your specialist team.
The levels of these will be monitored for the rest of your life. This includes blood tests for your levels of iron, calcium, copper, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

bariatric diet

bariatric diet

Q. 5) What the risks or complications of bariatric surgery for weight loss?

Weight loss surgery carries real risks. As many as 10% of people have complications afterward. Unpleasant side-effects include: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.  3% of the time serious complications that are life-threatening occur: blood clot to the lungs -pulmonary embolism, heart attack, leaks in new surgical gut connections, bleeding ulcers. This is higher for people over 60. Even after successful weight loss surgery, other problems are common. These include gallstones often requiring gall bladder removal. Vitamin deficiencies from malnutrition or malabsorption – poor absorption of nutrients, sagging skin requiring body contouring surgery. WHAT’S A FUNCTIONAL BARIATRIC DIET EXACTLY? –> Read on to find out…

-> Fast Fact –  The best way to summarise the pros and cons of bariatric surgery are here     [tweetthis]-> Fast Fact -The best way to summarise the #pros & #cons of #bariatric surgery[/tweetthis]

Q. 6) What makes bariatric surgery successful for some not for others? Success depends on your ability to follow.  Keep reading to find out about the functional bariatric diet.

Weight loss surgery is not a cure for obesity. Rather it can be a tool to help you lose weight. Losing weight for many is about living a healthier, longer and more fulfilling life.

Long-term effects of bariatric surgery are still being studied. Nutritional deficiencies can arise over time. Periodic blood tests are required to help ensure nutritional balance. It is recommended that you do a series of tests every three months for the first year. Annual tests should follow for the rest of your life.

In addition to a complete blood count (CBC), other tests will measure levels of: alanine aminotransferase (ALT). albumin. alkaline phosphatase. aspartate aminotransferase (AST). calcium, cholesterol panel. direct and total bilirubin. electrolytes. fasting glucose. ferritin. folate. hemoglobin A1c. iron saturation and transferring magnesium, phosphorus, total protein and vitamin B12. You may have tests to measure your levels of thiamine and vitamin D.

Q. 7) Does functional nutrition for weight loss work with bariatric surgery? What’s a bariatric diet? 

Yes. Your Naturopathic Nutritional Portfolio For Weight Loss is in the four phases. Your portfolio is:

  1. SAFE. Depends on our health story. 
  2. CLINICAL.  For best possible short and long term outcome for: Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch, Adjustable Gastric Band, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy
  3. PRACTICAL. We don’t live in a spa. So let’s be realistic. Local, minimal lifestyle changes for maximal health and comfort.
  4. EFFECTIVE. Eat. Drink. Take. Make. Personalised nutrition around your lifestyle.
  • PHASE ONE – Preparation is key to lower the chances of complications that can arise with surgery & to improve rate of recovery
  • PHASE TWO – Adapting to your new gut environment
  • PHASE THREE – Making your microbiome and DNA markers for obesity work to improve metabolic function & energy levels
  • PHASE FOUR – Performance, endurance, perceived capability of body & mind is enhanced for prevention of illness & so that your surgery is a continued success

Weight Loss DNA Test

Gene Mapping

THE FAT GENE: Gene mapping for weight loss is a science. DNA fit for healthy weight loss uses data in our fat cells. These play a role in how food gets used. Since 2007, researchers have known that a gene called FTO was related to obesity. What they didn’t know, was how the fat gene was linked to obesity.. Do you have the fat gene? Keep reading…

So, researchers couldn’t tie the FTO gene or fat gene to appetite or other known factors. Now experiments reveal that a faulty version of the gene causes energy from food to be stored as fat rather than burned.

Why Does This Matter?

Imagine you have access to why your healthy weight loss goals are hindered. Sound too good? KEEP READING….
We’ve a far greater chance of success following our personalised care pathway. With a healthy weight loss goal we help you reach your target.

The faulty gene doesn’t explain all obesity. It was found in 44% of Europeans but only 5%of blacks. So, other genes are clearly at work. Food and exercise still matter.

Read a break down of genetics factors affecting weight loss here in this sample DNA Diet report.

Keep reading to see how your result at Susannah Makram Clinics is shown on your DNA Weight Loss Test Report. READ as No Impact, Low Impact, Medium Impact, High Impact.

What’s the Real Story?

Possessing this ‘glitch’ doesn’t determine whether we are obese but may predispose us to obesity. Those of us with two faulty copies of the gene (one from our mother and one from our father) weighed an average of 7lbs more than those without them.

Genetic Testing For Weight Loss – Weight Loss DNA Test

Genetic testing is said to predict our chances of getting sick with critical illness. Weight Loss DNA Test reports are for healthy weight loss. Functional testing provides an algorithm that regular blood work does not. It’s hard to know how effective these tests are when we haven’t seen many long-term studies on DNA testing by laboratories up and down the country.
This is why, when it comes to offering you a personalised care service, sometimes conventional medicine alone just doesn’t work.

  • The Weight Loss DNA Test for healthy weight loss. What is this? We elect to use gene mapping at Susannah Makram Clinics that has been designed to assist health practitioners in effectively managing our body weight. The results provide guidelines we can use in your Naturopathic Portfolio for Weight Loss. Diets, in general, do not always target specific body fat or belly fat loss. There are health reasons to avoid body fat accumulation in these areas. Your test results help us identify what we need to do to burn fat in these areas.
  • The Weight Loss DNA Test is based on genetic differences in nutrient metabolism and body fat regulation.
  • Genes involved in regulation of energy expenditure, appetite, and fat metabolism, all play an important role in weight regulation.
  • 40% to 80% of the variance in body weight is due to genetic factors. This helps to explain why not everyone becomes obese even though people may be exposed to similar environments.

    Weight Loss DNA Test

    obesity gene

    Weight Loss DNA Test

  • From your buccal swab sample taken in for laboratory testing at the clinical consultation rooms we collect DNA accurately. This sample is used in a process, called the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This copies the DNA of your genes many times over so that we can generate sufficient quantities to analyse your genetic material. You can see this in action when you subscribe to Susannah Makram TV
  • Four diet and lifestyle variables are analysed for the role they play in your weight management. These are your:
    i) Obesity Risk
    Research has clearly shown that individuals respond differently to carbohydrate in the diet. For some, reducing carbohydrate intake improves weight loss and prevents weight gain.
    ii) Saturated Fat
    Individually, we differ in our response to the quantity and quality of fat in our diet. Our genes may influence how we absorb fat. Not just that. Also our ability to burn up fat.
    iii) Carbohydrate
    Research has clearly shown that individuals respond differently to carbohydrate in the diet. For some, reducing carbohydrate intake improves weight loss and prevents weight gain.
    iv) Exercise
    Exercise is an important part of weight loss. However, some individuals require higher exercise intensities. Some of us need greater time spent exercising to mobilise their fat stores.
Complete Care System

Weight Loss DNA Test

    • Weight Management Genetic Testing has been all over the news in the US – The Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Morning News – In America they are calling it personalised medicine.
    • All genes tested meet the following stringent criteria for utility in genetic screening tests, including that they:
      • Have proven biological function. Many of the genetic variations in the test panel produce a change in the amino acid structure of the protein and change theactivity of the protein. Other variations in the panel affect transcription factors in DNA-based communications.
      • Have a plausible biological role in weight management. For example, some of the gene variations produce a change in the amount of fat absorbed from a meal or alter carbohydrate metabolism.
      • Have evidence from clinical studies, that individuals with different genotypes have a differential response to either certain diets or different levels of physical activity.

Nutrigenomics – Weight Loss DNA Test

  • Genotype Results show a break down of every genetic variation tested for with the impact of this gene on you as an individual. The gene is measure with regards to how it affect your weight loss by nutrient metabolism and body fat regulation. Your result for each variable tested is shown on your DNA Weight Loss Test Report as No Impact, Low Impact, Medium Impact, High Impact. On your report the genes identified and their role is explained. As shown in 9. and 10. below the areas of genetic activity are broken down into Absorption and metabolism
    Fat metabolism, obesity and satiety
    Regulation of metabolism and feeding behaviour
    Insulin sensitivity and regulation of energy intake
    Exercise responsiveness
    Circadian Rhythms
    Fat Storage
    Inflammation
    Taste Sensitivity
    Addictions and Overeating 
  • An example of one of the genes test is CLOCK – Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK), an essential element of the human biological clock, is involved in metabolic regulation. Carriers of the C allele are less successful losing weight than the TT genotype. In addition, those with the C allele have reduced sleep, report morning fatigue and show an evening preference for activities. They also have higher ghrelin levels which regulates appetite, potentially altering eating behaviour and weight loss.
  • ADRB2 Arg16Gly This ADRB2 receptor protein is involved in the mobilisation of fat from fat cells for energy in response to catecholamines, and modulates lipolysis during exercise. The G allele has been associated with obesity, and G allele carriers are more likely to gain and regain weight and lose weight more slowly. These carriers are less able to mobilise fat stores in response to exercise. In these individuals it is important to emphasise diet for weight management as exercise may be less effective.

Epigenetics, Epigenome – Intro

Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms. These changes are caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

What does this mean exactly? The epigenome dynamically responds to the environment. Stress, diet, behavior, toxins, and other factors regulate gene expression.
As an organism grows and develops, carefully orchestrated chemical reactions activate and deactivate parts of the genome. this occurs at strategic times and in specific locations. Epigenetics is the study of these chemical reactions and the factors that influence them.

“Epigenetics has transformed the way we think about genomes”      [tweetthis]#Epigenetics has transformed the way we think about #genomes[/tweetthis]

Epigenetics & The Epigenome

Epigenetics & The Epigenome

Biological change and what we eat, our nutrition our food. The right food turns on the right genes. These in turn create biological signals that create health. The wrong foods turn on genes that cause disease and create biological chaos.

Recent discoveries in the field of genomics, epigenetics and nutrigenomics provide a new paradigm for understanding how to treat disease. This is an exciting time for pushing functional healthcare boundaries.

Your body is a system, an ecosystem where everything is connected. When that system is out of balance, diseases arises.

Disease goes away as a side effect of getting healthy. You do not have to treat the symptoms. Treat the cause and the symptoms vanish. Treat the system.

Nutrigenomics teaches us how to prevent, treat and reverse almost every chronic illness. Chronic disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, allergies, asthma, IBS, reflux, migraines, acne, low sex drive, fatigue and more.

Aging and nutrition

Our chromosomes are shortening. This inevitably happens over time. We can accompany this sign of aging by eating a whole-foods, personalised diet. Telomeres are the little end caps on your chromosomes. Telomeres get shorter as we age. Eating real food lengthens them. There is no drug or any intervention other than food that has ever been shown to stop or reverse this. This inexorable shortening of chromosomes is lowering our quality of life.

 

Gut Microbiome and Fertility

Gut Microbiome and Fertility

Recap then gut microbiome and fertility. The human microbiome consists of the microbes living on and within our human bodies. Most of these bugs inhabit our large intestine. There, a few pounds’ worth of bacteria, yeasts, archaea and even viruses. These help digest food, calibrate our metabolic and immune function and hold off would-be invaders.

There’s growing evidence that the pathogenic effects of bacterial vaginosis may not be confined to the lower genital tract.

Fertility Nutrition

Most studied is how gut microbiota affects an individual’s risk of obesity and other metabolic conditions. In both men and women weight management plays a pivotal role in reproductive heath, pre conceptual care, without and throughout use assisted reproductive technologies.      [tweetthis]In men & women weight management is crucial to reproductive heath, pre-conceptual care[/tweetthis]

Much more attention should be paid to the impact of obesity on fertility in both women and men. This appears to be particularly important for women before assisted reproductive technologies are used. Treatment of obesity may improve androgen imbalance and erectile dysfunction, the major causes of infertility in obese men.

Gut Microbiome and Fertility

Gut Microbiome and Fertility

Female Fertility – The Vaginal Microbiome

A special subset is the vaginal microbiome. The vaginal microbiome inhabits the vagina and successful reproduction, as it turns out, owes an immense debt to this microbial community.

A healthy vaginal microbiome produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. These maintain a level of acidity that keeps troublemaking microbes at bay. When the vaginal community becomes unbalanced, on the other hand, acidity decreases. The wrong microbes may then invade or, if they’re already present, bloom. How does this happen?

The Role Of The Vaginal Microbiome In Fertility – Reproductive Health & Beyond

This disturbance can cause bacterial vaginosis—not really an infection, but an out-of-whack ecosystem. It sounds like a trifling problem, and half of women with vaginosis may display no obvious symptoms. But this minor-seeming imbalance can have major consequences.

Vaginosis increases the risk of contracting secondary infections, from herpes to HIV. But even on its own, the microbial shift may prompt low-grade inflammation that can derail reproduction. It can prevent fertilisation in would-be mothers, prompt spontaneous abortion in pregnant women, and increase the risk of preterm birth later in pregnancy.

Many factors affect the vaginal ecosystem—smoking, stress, diet, the number of sexual partners, and obesity. One of the most direct ways to upset the vaginal microbiome may be douching.

The Role Of The Vaginal Microbiome In Fertility – Bacterial Vaginosis & Miscarriage

The consequences of bacterial vaginosis can be devastating. In a study of 1,950 urban women in Philadelphia, for example, vaginosis in the first trimester more than doubled the risk of spontaneous pregnancy loss in the second. In Belgium, vaginosis more than quintupled the risk of early preterm birth.

Vaginosis-related microbes have been implicated in roughly one-quarter of all preterm births. For the most vulnerable group of children, those born extremely preterm, or before 25 weeks, the number perhaps doubles.
Studies in Kuopio Finland by this Finnish group have since replicated the finding among 15-to-17-year-olds, implying that the consequences of prenatal inflammation persist into adolescence and probably adulthood.

Does the vaginal microbiome play a role in IVF?

personalised nutrition

personalised nutrition

                                                     

Influence of bacterial vaginosis on in-vitro fertilisation and embryo implantation during assisted reproduction treatment.

Although an altered vaginal microbiota has been demonstrated to affect parturition, its role in assisted reproductive technologies is uncertain.
Clinical findings suggest that routine screening for bacterial vaginosis in the hope of improving the success of IVF treatment is not justified. The prevention of complications in pregnancy associated with bacterial vaginosis might be a more relevant indication for screening at the time of IVF treatment, in particular patients with tubal disease, if treatment were shown to be effective for that particular purpose. However, antibiotic treatment before IVF has been shown to be positively disadvantageous for IVF by encouraging other organisms.

What is The Microbiome?

What is the Microbiome?

WHAT’S THE MICROBIOME? Our microbiome is the community of trillions of bacteria that live within us, outnumbering our own cells by 10 to 1. This newly discovered world plays a dramatic role in our health and is transforming our very understanding of modern medicine. Indeed, the Mayo clinic has recently said that understanding the microbiome is:

“…as important in the practice of modern medicine as germ theory or the principles of genetics.”

 

skincare-dna

 

The gut microbiome includes communities of microorganisms from the three kingdoms of bacteria, yeast, and archae plus viruses that live primarily in  the large intestine. The human microbiome consists primarily of bacteria, most of which make their home in the large intestine.

More than 1000 species of bacteria can be found in the human gut microbiota but it’s been estimated that only 150 to 170 predominate in any one person.

What is the Microbiome? Is Your Gut Healthy?

At Susannah Makram Clinics we use The Organix Dysbiosis test

The Organix Dysbiosis test is a urine organic acids test measuring the by-products of microbial metabolism, and is particularly useful in detecting the presence of pathogenic microbial overgrowth. As a stand-alone test, the Organix Dysbiosis Profile allows Susannah to assess microbial overgrowth and guide and monitor targeted therapy for patients.

“Dysbiosis,” is described as an imbalance in the microecology of the digestive tract. When the microbial balance of the gut is disturbed, opportunistic (“bad”) bacteria can overgrow and impede the effects of the “good”, predominant bacteria needed for a healthy gut.

lab

Urine is an important medium for testing microbiology in the gut. Urine contains unique products of microbial metabolism which are used to measure small bowel yeast and bacterial overgrowth.

Advantages of using the Organix Dysbiosis test specifically include:

  • Reports D-arabinitol, a specific marker for Candida sp., which can cause disease in patients, especially if they are immunocompromised.
  • Reports D-lactate, an indicator of L. acidophilus overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption.
  • Utilizes the LC/MS-MS method, providing more stability, accuracy, and sensitivity in measuring organic acids at low levels for optimum test results.
  • A single urine specimen is easy for patients, leading to increased patient compliance.
  • Discrimination between microbial classes allows for more focused and targeted therapies.
  • An economical follow-up test for practitioners to monitor targeted therapy.

 The new techniques for identifying microbes have led to the microbiome being called “the forgotten organ” and like any organ in the body, it can go wrong. Problems with the microbiome are being linked to diseases including inflammatory bowel disease and Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, asthma and mental health disorders and autism. 

The NIH Human Microbiome Project has been set up to explore correlations between the microbiome and human health and disease. These also have a impact on healthy pregnancy, birth, mothering and midwifery.

Matamoros et al. (2012) ‘development of intestinal microbiota in infants and its impact on health’ and Collado et al. (2012) ‘microbial ecology and host-microbiota interactions during early life stages’.

Subscribe to Susannah Makram TV channel on youtube. What health conditions are we discussing this week? Let’s start the conversation. What’s good gut health EXACTLY?

 

SIBO and IBS

SIBO and IBS

IBS and SIBO can be confused. However, there is no denying the existence of SIBO by the medical community. Here’s how to fix SIBO after we confirm the tiredness and the bloating is causing it. To know what is SIBO is to know who’s likely to have it. When we have IBS the nerve endings in our gut are always firing. This creates a condition of visceral hypersensitivity, so our gut is more sensitive than it should be. What triggers this?
The link between our emotions and digestion system makes sense: the gut has been called our second brain. Our gut contains more nerve cells than even our spinal cords.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth aka SIBO refers to a condition whereby:

  1. Abnormally large numbers of bacteria (usually defined as at least 100,000 bacteria per ml of fluid) are present in the small intestine &
  2. The types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestine.

How to fix SIBO

The majority of our gut bacteria should be in the colon. Bacteria can migrate backwards into the small intestine. Or, when there is low stomach acid or poor pancreatic enzyme production, bacteria in the small intestine can overgrow. When any of these happen it causes symptoms, such as diarrhoea, gas, or bloating.

Sibo and IBS

What are they? Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is one of more than 20 functional gastrointestinal disorders FGID. IBS and SIBO continued.

Studies show 50% patients diagnosed with IBS actually have an underlying imbalance called SIBO.

Naturopath London

Naturopath London

Symptoms IBS

Breaking research from UNC shows that IBS patients depending on their sub-type–or primary symptom such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating–have different clusters of microbes. i.e. Constipation predominant IBSers will have similar flora clusters compared to other IBS-C patients –and this differs compared to IBS-D patients etc.

Sibo symptoms

Do you wake up with a flat belly and by the end of the day look six months pregnant? Even if you have not experienced abdominal bloating to such an extreme, any amount of bloating is not normal. It is a sign of intestinal inflammation or poor gut health. If you are having gas and/or bloating regularly, you could have food sensitivities +/- a gut infection, such as SIBO. Certain strains of bacteria feed off of refined carbohydrates. These strains break them down into short-chain fatty acids, creating gas and causing bloating.

Another strain of bacteria can break down bile salts before your body has a chance to use them. Bile salts are crucial for the breakdown of fats. Without bile salts, the end result is fat malabsorption or diarrhea.

Finally, a third type of bacteria can produce toxins. These damage the lining of the small intestine. This prevents your body from absorbing the nutrients you need, much like what we see with a leaky gut.

 

woman-dna

10 Risk Factors For SIBO

  1. Low stomach acid 2. Irritable bowel syndrome 3. Coeliac disease (long-standing) 4. Crohn’s disease 5. Prior bowel surgery 6. Diabetes mellitus – Diabetes type I and Diabetes type II 7. Multiple courses of antibiotics 8. Organ system dysfunction, such as liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis, or renal failure 9. Heavy alcohol use has long been recognised in association with SIBO 10. Overall there appears to be a moderate association between (the) Oral Contraceptive Pill (s) OCPs and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and likely, given links, therefore SIBO

Why spend time being treated for the wrong thing? Why repeat what wasn’t working?  [tweetthis]We wouldn’t buy the same broken gift we returned in the past – why do we do this with our bodies? [/tweetthis]

Did you find this article interesting? You might find the 10 Signs Of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth worth a read too. Just click here and subscribe here for the unique video series on treating SIBO for healthy weight loss.

Pro Aging

 

Pro Aging requires HEALTH – SO WHAT IS HEALTH?

Pro ageing is the new anti aging or ageing well. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity – World Health Organization, 1948.

1. IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE

If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself – Leon Eldred

iStock_000001947476_Large

There seems to be a general trend in the one-size fits all approach to nutritional and lifestyle trends like Paleo or Life Extension & Calorie restriction that encourage their followers to seek longevity of life. This goal is human nature – inherent within the healthy psyche.

Evolution and our intelligence is seeking out the best environment for our body – that is as unique as our DNA – so that we carry the gene of full health potential at all times.

The background of leaders in health or wellbeing is revealing and pro aging is the term most likely sed to describe accurately what we mean when we talk about reversing the signs of aging.  To make an informed decision about healthcare and treatment, I advice that you investigate the background of your chosen healthcare professional. Pro aging factors in real time intrinsic aging processes. It looks at harnessing what makes these processes health and potentially rejuvenating when it comes to your inside out body health and beauty. Tap into The Body Youth Code to learn more.

Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. If you have a healthy lifestyle, your diet and nutrition are set, and you’re working out, you’re going to feel good. – Jason Statham

2. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Sickness comes on horseback but departs on foot – Dutch Proverb
In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired – Unknown

3. FOOD IS INFORMATION – Novak Djokovic

The awareness that health is dependent upon habits that we control makes us the first generation in history that to a large extent determines its own destiny. – Jimmy Carter

4. BODY AS A WHOLE

Drugs are not always necessary. Belief in recovery always is. – Norman Cousins
A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier. – Tom Stoppard
In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties. – Henri-Frederic Amiel

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything. – Arabic Proverb

THE “WHAT” MEDICINE & THE “WHY” MEDICINE

time for a checkup

Conventional medicine is the medicine of WHAT – what disease, what pill.

Functional medicine is the medicine of WHY — why is this symptom occurring now and in this way? What is at the root? Treating the cause of disease and not just the symptoms is the only way you will ever receive successful treatment results for your health concerns or signs of ageing affecting your:

weight management
fertility
energy levels – fatigue or chronic pain & chronic fatigue
hair health and skin health – quality and appearance

… because of systemic illness or hormonal imbalance, genetic precursors or metabolic factors, common variable immune deficiency and primary and secondary immunodeficiency syndrome, toxicity from medication or side-effects of medication, etc…                                                                                                                                                                                       The osteopath seeks to correctly identify the WHY 

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