Articles

Most of us believe that, as we get older, we’re going to suffer increasing disability and illness, and medicine convinces us that it’s just a natural part of ageing. To deal with the symptoms of decline, we’re given a variety of prescription drugs – usually in combination. It’s now commonplace for the over-65s to be […]

Constant stress is a defining feature of modern life, and a source of common health problems such as anxiety, insomnia, heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain and gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These days, 60-90 per cent of all visits to the GP are for stress-related disorders. The profound effect of stress on our […]

Baby bath, baby oil, baby lotion, baby wipes. A quick skim of supermarket or pharmacy shelves and you could be forgiven for thinking that having a baby was more of an opportunity for niche shopping than a responsibility towards the future. But there is ample reason to consider the bigger picture of baby toiletries and […]

What’s in your perfume bottle? Pat Thomas dissects the ingredients of Eternity by Calvin Klein, uncovering a sweet smelling array of carcinogens, neurotoxins and hormone disruptors.   What’s the difference between perfume and pollution? Absolutely nothing. Perfumes may be sold as luxury items that enhance our wellbeing and sexuality, but at heart they are composed […]

It wasn’t so long ago that milk was considered a healthy food and the best source of calcium – the more you drank, the stronger your teeth and bones would be. But nowadays, we know that a wide range of symptoms can be attributed to milk and dairy products and, for many, eliminating or restricting […]

Exercising is one of the most important things people can do to promote ongoing physical and mental health. Some of us exercise regularly, some erratically; some of us ‘go for the burn’ while others prefer gentle stretching. However you do it, exercising not only helps weight loss, controls food cravings, and reduces the risk of […]

Toothpastes contain a number of slow-motion poisons including saccharin and artificial colourings and flavourings (all potential carcinogens). More worrying still is the fact that every tube of family toothpaste contains a lethal dose of fluoride. By Pat Thomas   Do you suffer from mouth ulcers or rashes on your face? Are your teeth pitted and […]

It’s said that London’s water passes through 13 people before being flushed into the sea. For many of us in the UK, the water does certainly taste ‘used’. But taste isn’t the only problem. Tapwater also contains pollutants such as fluoride (natural and artificial), lead (from old pipework), Giardia (an intestinal parasite), nitrates, pesticides, hormones […]

Test-taking anxiety or stress is common among secondary-school and university students. It can be both distressing and debilitating. It is not uncommon for a good student who has had good grades throughout the year to find that these drop at exam time. This could be due to poor exam preparation techniques, but high levels of […]

It’s a basic necessity. Brushing your teeth several times daily helps keep them clean, free of plaque-forming bacteria, and freshens the breath. In the UK, we spend lb217 million a year just on toothpaste. Brushing, like most daily tasks, can be boring, so manufacturers now advertise toothpaste so as to suggest it ‘s a beauty […]