News

Our monthly nutritional news letter with the latest research and thinking.

Vitamin D and the flu

Happy New Year.
You can’t fail to have noticed that we are well and truly in the grasp of winter. As I write this the snow is deep on the ground, the sky is clear blue and the sun is extremely low in the sky, a perfect winter’s day. So why is it so many of us are getting so ill?
I wrote in August about flu prevention and in that article briefly referred to vitamin D boosting immunity. With the evidence stacking up in favour of vitamin D supplementation I thought it was time to share some more information with you.
Evidence from around the world places vitamin D deficiency as a prime suspect in the development of cold, flu and respiratory infections. In one study children with the lowest vitamin D serum levels are 11 times more likely to develop respiratory infection. In another, Russian athletes given access to a sunlamp to stimulate vitamin D had 50% fewer respiratory infections and 300% fewer days absent from training. Vitamin D also balances the immune response, preventing inflammation that can lead to further flu-related complications.
Vitamin D deficiency in the UK is alarmingly high during the winter and spring months. As many as 80% of us are chronically short of this vital vitamin (some would say hormone). I find it baffling that while our Government is spending millions on vaccination and pharmaceutical intervention like Tamiflu it appears to be doing little to investigate vitamin D supplementation, a safe and inexpensive alternative or adjunct.
My first step in addressing deficiency is naturally through food but with vitamin D this isn’t always so easy. It’s found in oily fish and eggs but mostly is made in the presence of sufficient direct sunlight. With the winter sun hidden or too low in the sky the other alternative is supplementation. Contact me directly for further information.

Free food intolerance test indicator and free 15 minute consultation

The Foodprint® Indicator is a simple pin-prick test that gives a positive or negative result within 10 days. Valued at £19.00 this is now available for free From Jamie Richards Nutrition. Contact me directly for a free 15 minute telephone consultation if you feel you are reacting to certain foods. From there I can arrange to send you a free indicator kit and discuss what options are open to you if the result is positive.

Fat burner coach

Jamie Richards Nutrition in association with Personal Space Training presents a 6 part series of intelligent weight management classes at the Personal Space Studio in Bristol. Learn how to:

• Reduce fat
• Stop cravings
• Increase energy
• Stop dieting, start eating

Each class is 60-90 minutes long and is accompanied by menu plans, recipes, shopping lists and simple ‘how to’ principles. The course will run on Sunday evenings starting in February (date TBC). Contact me directly to register your interest or for further details.

Inspired Times

I continue to write for Inspired Times magazine which continues to need your valued support. This website doesn’t exist to sell magazines but Inspired Times continues to put a smile on my face and Sharon and the gang deserve recognition and success for all their endeavours. All my previous articles can be found here.

That’s it for this month. Happy eating to all of you

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist