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Category: Observer Archive

Blog posts from the drbriffa.com archive — same writing, same categories, on the same domain.

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Category: Observer Archive

Do ‘healthy’ bacteria have a role in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Nutrients and Supplements

Do ‘healthy’ bacteria have a role in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Last week I focused on how reactions to specific foods can precipitate the undesirable gut feelings collectively known as ‘irritable bowel syndrome’ (IBS). While IBS is commonly triggered by food sensitivity, this condition can also be related to other internal issues. One other frequent underlying factor in IBS concerns the microbes that reside within the […]

April 24, 2005· 3 min read
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Avoiding certain foods can really help the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Healthy Eating

Avoiding certain foods can really help the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

While my career path veered away from orthodoxy more than a decade ago, I remain a regular reader of the British Medical Journal. One thing I like about this particular publication is it’s ability to email-alert me to any nutritionally-related content. Recently, the BMJ published an editorial on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) […]

April 17, 2005· 3 min read
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Natural treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS) Nutrients and Supplements

Natural treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS)

A recent report from Surrey University informs us that British women get significantly less sleep than their male counterparts. This may not come as too much of a surprise bearing in mind that it is usually mums, rather than dads, who provide the bulk of child-care duties during the night. However, it turns out that […]

April 10, 2005· 3 min read
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Why the food labelling schemes proprosed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will do little to safeguard our health Food and Medical Politics

Why the food labelling schemes proprosed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will do little to safeguard our health

As a result of increased awareness about the impact our diet has on health and concern about the some of the constituents of processed food, the Government has committed itself to more transparent food labelling. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) – the government body chiefly responsible for setting food policy in the UK – has […]

April 3, 2005· 3 min read
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Do kids really need milk to build strong bones? Children's Health

Do kids really need milk to build strong bones?

I recently had Radio 4 on for a bit of oral wallpaper, and found my ears pricking up during an item on quangos. According to a recent report published by the Efficiency in Government Unit (EGU), the UK now has more than 500 of these ‘quasi-autonomous, non-governmental organisations’ which soak up billions of taxpayers pounds […]

March 27, 2005· 3 min read
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Is there a natural way to combat Alzheimer’s disease and dementia? Brain and Behaviour

Is there a natural way to combat Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) – the body that assesses and makes recommendations about NHS care – has recently suggested that doctors should desist from treating patients newly diagnosed with the brain drain condition known as Alzheimer’s disease. After reviewing the evidence, NICE’s panel of experts have come to the conclusion that the […]

March 20, 2005· 3 min read
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The evidence that vegan and vegetarian diets come up short on specific nutrients Healthy Eating

The evidence that vegan and vegetarian diets come up short on specific nutrients

My attention was recently caught by research carried out in Kenya which shows that supplementing children’s diets with meat assisted their growth, and also led to improvements in their performance in problem-solving and intelligence tests. As a result of this and other research, the lead researcher of this study has described brining up children as […]

March 13, 2005· 4 min read
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Herbal help for depression in the form of St John’s Wort Brain and Behaviour

Herbal help for depression in the form of St John’s Wort

In a previous column I highlighted the unhappy association between antidepressant use and heightened risk of suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents. Evidence has just come to light which suggests that this link may not be confined to the young. Research published recently in the British Medical Journal shows that the taking of selective serotonin […]

March 6, 2005· 3 min read
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Natural relief for constipation Healthy Eating

Natural relief for constipation

Whether we’re comfortable talking about it or not, I reckon most of us feel better for having a good dump each day. A diet rich in fibre is generally taken as a core component of bowel regularity, and drinking plenty of water is often recommended to help ensure fluid function in this department too. However, […]

February 27, 2005· 3 min read
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Dietary help for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Brain and Behaviour

Dietary help for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Reports of exponential growth in the rates of obesity in UK children have led to renewed calls for more activity and exercise to be worked into their lives. However, while some children may be appear to be immobilised by an inherent inertia, others may have an altogether different problem: children suffering with attention deficit hyperactivity […]

February 20, 2005· 3 min read
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