Following on from my last post on pre and post natal nutrition - I thought I would share some info on a very important vitamin that is needed, especially in the first 4weeks of pregnancy. Folate, folic or vitamin B9 - it goes by all three names. Folate is the natural form found in foods and folic is the synthetic form found usually in supplements and fortified foods. It is essential, meaning we must get it though our diet or supplement form.
Folic acid has many important health benefits. But the main one which most people know about is the need for it during pregnancy. If you are thinking of having a baby I would recommend starting to take a folic acid supplement straight away. Ideally all woman of childbearing age should be supplement with 400mcg of folic acid every day regardless if they are trying for a baby or not. Folic acid can prevent neural tube defects which can happen before you even know you are pregnant (it is formed during the
Iron is essential, meaning we need to get from our diet. It’s found in every cell of our body, majority being in our red blood cells. It’s needed for the formation of haemoglobin which is the primary transporter of oxygen from our lungs to our body tissue.
Iron is usually more beneficial when taken on an empty stomach which can lead to stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Which is why FSC Supplements “Gentle Iron” is formulated to be gentle on the stomach, but still delivers the benefits of the iron. It contains 20mg - which is an adequate amount for preventing anaemia.
Remember to eat or drink a vitamin C rich food/drink after taking an iron supplement as it plays an important role in synthesising and enhancing the absorption of the iron.
Following on from my last blog on beta-carotene which can be found in colourful fruit and vegetables that our body can convert into vitamin A. Todays post is about the other form of vitamin A - Retinol. Retinol is a pre-formed vitamin A that can be used directly by the body. It is found in some animal products and can be made synthetically and added to supplements or skincare. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that has many health benefits, get the right amount is important as too much or too little can have negative side effects.
Vitamin A is excellent for your skin. Dermatologist often prescribe retinol cream (vitamin A) to help treat acne. As mentioned above it’s also the star ingredient in many anti ageing creams, this is because the retinol stimulates the production of new skin cells, and decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production.
Beta-carotene is what gives some fruits and vegetables their red/orange/yellow pigment (it’s even found in a few herbs and spices). Our body can convert it to vitamin A. There are two types of vitamin A retinol or beta-carotene. Retinol is found in animal products (dairy, meat and fish products) and I'm sure you would have seen it listed as the star ingredient on many anti-ageing creams. Beta-carotene comes from the colourful fruit and vegetables we eat, but it needs to be converted to retinol by the body for it to be used.
Carrots contain beta-carotene which keep our eyes healthy and helps prevent macular degeneration. I’m sure you heard when you were a child that eating carrots will help you see in the dark…well it’s true! Vitamin A improves eyesight as it is a critical component of the rhodopsin molecule (“a biological pigment found in the rods of the retina. Rhodopsin is extremely sensitive to light and enables our vision in low light
Mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. There are many different types of medicinal mushrooms available and all with different benefits. They contain powerful antioxidants, fight inflammation and can even help restore hormonal balance to name a few. It’s so easy to include them in your diet nowadays, most health stores sell capsules or powder forms. You may even find mushroom tea or hot chocolate on the menu at healthy eateries.
If you are struggling to find which one is right for you - speak to Nutritionist who has experience with medical mushrooms. You can buy supplements that have a few different types of mushroom in to get a wider benefit such as FSC’s Mushroom complex. Containing 3 different types of mushrooms along with astralagus root, each with their own beneficial properties.
Have a ready below to learn more about the benefits of the mushrooms found in FSC’s Mushroom Complex.
Cordyceps - Which is a fungus that grows on caterpillars has been
Slippery Elm Trees are native to Eastern North America, they can live for up to 200 years. They have been used for their medicinal properties for many years - with studies dating back to the 1920s! The inner bark is dried and ground into a powder, and can now be found in most health store in capsule or tablet form. Have a read below to learn about the benefits of including this supplement in your diet (for yourself and even your pets!)
Improves digestive function - Slippery elm contain mucilage (gelatinous substance found in plants) When the powder mixes with water it becomes a gel, this gel soothes and coats the digestive tract. This can help protect against ulcers, acidity and help treat symptoms of IBS and crowns disease.
Helps treat diarrhoea - Taking the capsules, tablets or drinking slippery elm tea can help treat diarrhoea in humans and pets! (Speak to your
Turmeric comes the root of the curcuma long plant and it’s a member of the ginger family. If you have seen the raw turmeric in your supermarket you would notice that it looks like a smaller version of ginger, but bright orange on the inside.
Turmeric has many health benefits and contains serval antioxidant compounds with the main one being curcumin. Curcumin has strong anti bacterial, anti fungal, and anti inflammatory properties. Have a read below to learn about the benefits of adding turmeric to your diet whether into your cooking or in supplement form.
Anti-inflammatory - curcumin has excellent anti-inflammatory abilities, and when used with piperine (a compound found in black pepper) it has the ability to improve absorption of the curcumin. So if you are wanting to get the full benefit of the curcumin make sure you are grinding black pepper into your meal too. Alternatively if you are t
Evening Primrose oil is from cold pressed seeds and flowers of the Evening Primrose plant which is native to the America. Evening Primrose oil contains two essential omega-6 fatty acids Linoleic acid and gamma-linoleic acid. - essential meaning we need to get it through our diet as our body can’t produce it. Balancing omega 6 fatty acid along with omega 3 fatty acid is important for many bodily functions including improved hormone function.
Woman have taken Evening Primrose Oil for many years to help reduce the pain and other symptoms associated with PMS. It can also be used to help balance hormones during menopause.
Evening primrose oil has shown to be beneficial in increasing cervical mucus which can help improve fertility. It can be taken as a natural remedy to increase fertility and it also has the ability to improve uterine muscle tone in the preparation for pregnancy by causing the m
Our main source of vitamin D is the sun, so supplementing with vitamin D during the winter months is key to preventing deficiency. That being said, there are other factors that can make us more at risk of a vitamin D deficiency. Have a read below
Having darker skin - people with darker skin have higher levels of melanin which results in less vitamin D being absorbed from the sun.
Wearing sunscreen - wearing sunscreen reduces the absorption of vitamin D, try spending 10-15 minutes in the sun before applying sunscreen.
People who are house bound or have jobs that keep them working indoors.
Age also raises our risk of becoming deficient - as we age our skins ability to absorb vitamin D lessens.
Peppermint has a long history of use dating back 1000BC, and one of the most popular essential oils used worldwide. It’s actually a hybrid species of water mint and spearmint. It can be bought in many different forms - essential oil, tea, capsules or tablets and sprays. The essential oil which is the most commonly used form is made by cold extraction of the arial parts of the plant (leaves, stems and shoots).
There are many benefits of using peppermint either topically or taking it orally. Have a read below to learn about the benefits of this ancient herb. Please note the benefits below are from taking peppermint oil capsules or using the oil as an inhalant or topically. Peppermint tea whilst tasty - is not made for medicinal uses.
Improve IBS symptoms - peppermint oil capsules when taken orally has been used as a natural remedy for treating irritable bowl s
