At this time of year many are tempted to follow the most popular diet trends or fads based on celebrity endorsement, positive results for a friend, or ongoing publicity highlighting the merits of one diet over another. Qualified doctor and complementary medicine practitioner, Dr Hussain Bhatti, says that this is exactly what people shouldn’t be doing. “Fads may work for some people, but the majority of people need an individualised, tailored diet” he said. “People following fads may lose weight but re-gain it quickly, or those who don’t lose weight may lose their motivation to get their weight under control” he added. We treat every person as individual and unique. No two people are alike or have the same problems or complaints, so we design a nutritional plan to suit each and every person according to their needs.

Dr Bhatti provides the designer diet service at his Holistic Health & Stress Clinic on Merchants Road in Galway.  When designing these diets, Dr Bhatti looks at the individual holistically including their family history, their constitution, lifestyle, and any health conditions or medications that they may be taking. Dr Bhatti identifies the most common causes of obesity: poor diet, lack of exercise, bad eating habits, stress and strains of lifestyle, working conditions, medical conditions and sometimes just loving food too much. He also suggests three basic approaches to weight management: nutritional education, gut health and microbiome, nutritional manipulation, and nutritional supplementation.

His first advice for new patients before embarking on a designer diet is a visit to their General Practitioner to rule out any medical conditions or medications which may be causing weight gain. “Too much insulin in your blood, hypoglycemia, anxiety, diabetes or glandular problems can all cause weight gain” he said. “Recent studies show that people suffering from candida, leaky gut syndrome, stress, depression, lack of good quality sleep, allergies, and some chronic conditions can also put on weight due to cravings. Weight gain can also be hereditary, as the discovery of the obesity gene has indicated” he added.

Always consult your G.P. before starting any new regime or self treatment. The contents of the article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to prevent, diagnose or cure any medical conditions. We acknowledge the contribution of all authors and researchers. Holistic Health & Stress Clinic Suite 16, Ross House, Merchants Road.Galway, Ireland.
For appointment please call or text us on 0871915051

Diverticulosis is a condition describing bulging pouches usually found in the digestive tract 20 out of every hundred people might suffer from it. Doctors do not know what actually causes it. These small pouches often become inflamed or infected causing severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a change in bowel habits. This is called diverticulitis.

The pain associated with it can vary but is generally in the lower left side of your abdomen and it can be extremely severe and sometimes come on very suddenly. Other people may experience a mild pain that becomes worse over several days and fluctuates in intensity. Other symptoms range from bleeding from the rectum, frequent urination, bloating and vomiting.

Diverticulosis is caused when weak places in the colon give way under pressure causing pouches to protrude through the colon wall. Factors that may increase the pressure of your colon wall include aging or bad eating habits with years of eating refined carbohydrates such as white sugar, white flour and processed foods. Some scientists think prolonged use of aspirin or anti inflammatory tablets might be the cause. As we age the muscular wall of the colon often thickens causing a narrowing of the passageway. This increases pressure and makes it more difficult for waste to move through the colon. It is rare for people in countries where they eat high fibre diets to develop diverticulitis. In countries with very refined diets consumed the condition is becoming increasingly common sometimes even in the younger population in the absence of fresh fruit and vegetables and instead of eating a lot of fried or greasy foods.

Complications are rare but they do occur. An infected or inflamed pouch, for instance, may rupture, spilling intestinal waste into the abdomen and leading to inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity leading to a potentially fatal condition. This condition is a medical emergency and requires immediate care. Any changes in bowel habits should always be reported to your G.P. as it may require further investigation to rule out other conditions or a referral to a dietician.

Mild cases of diverticulitis can be treated with rest and changes in diet. Drinking plenty of water is vital to recovery. Without sufficient water the bowel contents dry up which can exacerbate the condition. A specific diet will need to be adhered to which will allow your colon to rest and heal. It is advisable to avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar, coffee, alcohol and tobacco as they can upset the gastric secretions and may impede the healing process. After the condition has cleared up gradually increase high fibre foods and reduce dairy products, chocolate and red meat.

Chewing food correctly is also important as this breaks the food down correctly facilitating correct digestion. Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or urinary tract infection may show similar symptoms. Exercise regularly as this will stimulate muscle activity and digestion. A naturopath uses a holistic approach including diet, family history, stress and lifestyle. About half of the people with diverticulitis require hospitalisation and may go on oral or sometimes intravenous antibiotics. Recurring diverticulitis may require surgery.

Always consult your G.P. before starting any new regime or self treatment. The contents of the article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to prevent, diagnose or cure any medical conditions. We acknowledge the contribution of all authors and researchers.

Holistic Health & Stress Clinic Suite 16, Ross House, Merchants Road. Galway, Ireland. For appointment please call us on 0871915051

With the change in season it is a good time to be thinking about boosting your immunity. Vulnerable people such as children and the elderly, people with low immunity and other susceptible people including asthmatics or people with chronic sinusitis and chronic obstructive airway diseases (COAD) need to pay particular attention to their immunity.

Within thirty minutes of consuming sugar your immune system may be suppressed for several hours. Research shows that after two hours of eating the sugary food your white cell count could be reduced. All processed and fast foods are extremely high in sugar, salt and fat. The intake of such food products should be significantly reduced or avoided completely, if your immune system is to thrive.

Immune deficiency can occur due to several reasons especially if your organs are involved such as spleen, tonsillitis, bone marrow and lymph nodes as these organs release lymphocytes these cell are the ones which fight the invading bacteria and virus parasites. Your immune system is also affected if you suffer from other diseases such as HIV, Sickle cell anaemia, Cirrhosis of the liver etc…
By swapping sweets, bars, cakes, biscuits, pastries and buns with fresh fruit, natural yoghurt and cereals such as unsweetened muesli and porridge, you can significantly reduce your sugar intake. It is important to have three well balanced meals a day. These should include fish especially oily fish, nuts, seeds, grains and other foods that are high in fibre. Lean white meats are better than red and fatty meats. Other sustain foods are wholemeal breads made with spelt, wheat or rye flour, brown rice, wholemeal pasta and potatoes with the skins on, if not sprayed with chemicals.

You should drink about two and a half litres of fluid per day, water being the best choice. Avoid all sugary drinks and foods as well as those containing artificial sweeteners. Keep fruit juice made from concentrate to one or two glasses per day and dilute it with water. It has high sugar content in the natural form of fructose. The best drinks are water, green tea, herbal teas and freshly made fruit and vegetable juice. (Carrot, apple juice, elderberries and ginger is a great immune booster). In dark, cold winter days a chicken and vegetable stew with garlic, pinch of turmeric and fresh herbs sprinkled over it is a heart warming as well as immune boosting.

Be sure to get enough sleep, regular exercise, fresh air and sunlight. Mild regular exercise is important as well as keeping wrapped up with proper clothing. Try to avoid sudden changes of temperature, going from hot to cold or vice versa which can be difficult when moving from overheated offices to outside.

Always consult your G.P. before starting any new regime or self treatment. The contents of the article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to prevent, diagnose or cure any medical conditions. We acknowledge the contribution of all authors and researchers. Holistic Health & Stress Clinic Suite 16, Ross House, Merchants Road.Galway, Ireland.
For appointment please call us on 0871915051

Candida is yeast normally found in certain parts of our body such as mouth, intestines, and vagina. Recently scientists have discovered it living normally without causing problems in our eyes. If our immune system is working normally Candida does not cause us any problems on the contrary it helps with our digestion and nutrition and vitamin absorption. It is only if it starts to over grow and turn into a fungal infection that can start developing the symptoms.
It is one of the most common fungal infections found in humans. Candida is dimorphic, it changes from yeast to fungus and produces finger like structures called Hyphae which can burrow through the wall of the intestine and penetrate through causing a phenomena called Leaky gut syndrome.

There are many causes of Candida including:
Bad nutrition, Stress, Certain medications, Diabetes, Weakened immune system, Certain diseases, HIV, Aids, Irritable bowel syndrome etc..

Candida / Thrush Symptoms :

• Chronic fatigue
• White coated tongue
• Mouth ulcers
• Digestive issues (bloating, constipation, diarrhoea)
• Frequent UTI’s and Thrush
• Recurring sinus infections
• Skin, scalp and nail fungal infections
• Athletes Foot
• Joint pain in rare cases
• Brain Fog
• Craving for sweets and carbs ( bread )
• Inflammation etc…

Always consult your G.P. before starting any new regime or self treatment. The contents of the article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to prevent, diagnose or cure any medical conditions. We acknowledge the contribution of all authors and researchers. Holistic Health & Stress Clinic, Suite 16, Ross House, Merchants Road, Galway,Ireland. Call or Text us on 0871915051

Bloating is when your tummy is puffy, feels stretched and uncomfortable due to temporary abdominal distension.

Common causes: overeating, eating too fast, swallowing food to quickly, talking while eating and swallowing air, certain foods which can cause gas such as beans, lentils, cabbage, cauliflower and drinking to many fizzy drinks. Certain medical conditions can also give rise to this symptom such as Gastritis, Food poisoning, Candida, Celiac, IBS, Diverticulitis disease, Food intolerance, Crohn’s disease, PMS or Menopause, certain Cancers such as Ovarian and Colon. If you have any chest pain, palpitations, fever, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, pain in the abdominal area, bloody or dark stools, vomiting blood, eyes and skin becomes yellow and you have lost a lot of weight then please consult your GP first as he or she might prescribe an appropriate medication, tests or refer you to a specialist to rule out something sinister.

Treatments: If a serious illness has been ruled out then some lifestyle changes might help such as fast food and eating on the go, it is advisable to slow down and try and eat in a relaxing atmosphere without watching tv, reading a paper and talking. It is also a good idea to try and identify the food which might be responsible for your bloating so that you can try and eliminate it. You should chew your food properly and try and eat three balanced meals a day, drink plenty of fluids for hydration and avoid fizzy drinks.
Some complementary therapies can also be beneficial such as nutritional manipulation, mindfulness and some supplements and herbs. Medical acupuncture has been very effective as is natural restoration of gut health if you are suffering from Candida, leaky gut or food intolerance such as wheat and lactose which can produce a reaction resulting in gas and trapped wind.

Always consult your G.P. before starting any new regime or self treatment. The contents of the article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to prevent, diagnose or cure any medical conditions. We acknowledge the contribution of all authors and researchers.
Free initial consultations at our clinic for appointment please call us on 0871915051