With hundreds of new Collagen products flooding the market every year, it can be challenging to find the most genuine, effective and science backed products !
 
What is collagen and exactly what is its role in the body?
Collagen is a type of protein metabolised by the body that acts as a building block and structural framework . it is a kind of glue that holds everything together.
 There are different types:
 Type 1 and 3 are the most abundant ( about 90%) and are found in skin, joints, bones,  tendons, cornea, teeth, blood vessels and muscles.
 Type 2 is specifically found in cartilage and joints
 
After the age of 40 we start losing about 1 % of collagen per year, this may show in fine wrinkles, painful joints, thinning hair and brittle nails.
 
Some factors  also reduce or body’s ability to produce collagen such as:
Smoking, alcohol, sun exposure,  environmental toxins, lack of sleep, hormonal changes: we know for example that reduction in oestrogen at menopause has a negative effect on collagen production. Poor nutrition and excess Sugar in the diet has also a detrimental effect on collagen production.
So of course if we want to to preserve our collagen we need to work on the above..
But if we want to improve further which supplements to choose from?
 
Collagen are naturally present in animals skins/ bones and cartilage,  
sources are mostly bovine, chicken and marine.
Vegan collagen alternatives are available, they are NOT ACTUAL collagen but they may act as  collagen boosters (they often contain Aloe Sterol, panax ginseng and Gotu kola plus amino acids, vitamins and minerals).
 
Do we absorb COLLAGEN  supplements easily?
Collagen is a big molecule that the body cannot easily metabolise and use it effectively so
Look for brands selling hydrolysed collagen or collagen bio-active peptides  with weight between 500 to 2000 Daltons//
 For joint health, if you are looking to reduce joint pain,  you may opt  for undenatured collagen (which is the non-hydrolysed form) 
 
Which collagen is best: bovine, chicken or  marine?
This is a question that regularly comes up..
I would say that it may be a matter of preference and goals and also being careful of potential allergies (such as shellfish/fish allergy). Keep in mind that fish contains mainly collagen of type 1.
Prefer brands using wild caught fish.
If you choose bovine source, this will contain both Type 1 and type 3. I would recommend grass-fed and EU sources, free from antibiotics and hormones.
 For joint health and osteoarthritis: look specifically for Unatured UC-II collagen (chicken)
 
They all tend be more effective if combined with Vitamin C  and taken on an empty stomach between meals
 
How long should you use collagen to start seeing some benefits?
At least 2 months for skin wrinkles (of daily use), although you may see improvement in skin hydration earlier
And 3 months for joint health.
 
Collagen is not a quick fix!

Disclaimer:  generic information and should not be used without consulting a healthcare professional as collagen supplements may not be suitable for everybody. 

Fruit smoothies: Often marketed as “healthy” and part of our “5-A-Day”, they are packed with vitamins and fibre but often high in calories especially when containing banana, concentrated apple juice, mango, pineapple and grape juice. So, look carefully at labels.
 
Green juices:  They can be a healthy drink option high in minerals and phytonutrients but check labels as they may also include avocados and concentrated fruit juices which raise their calorie content.
 
Dried fruit: Often part of healthy breakfast cereals such as muesli or a healthy snack option, it is a good source of fiber and antioxidants. But when fruits are dried, their sugar concentration and therefore calories increase and can be 2-3 times higher than their fresh counterparts. So, to be consumed in moderation…
 
Fresh orange juice: A good source of Vitamin C and phytonutrients but also high in natural sugar and calories. This is because there are on average 3-4 oranges in one 250ml glass and most juices have had the pulp removed, so the sugar is more concentrated.
 
Nut spreads: Great source of healthy fats, protein, Vitamin E, minerals and fibre; they are very appealing to vegans as a dairy butter alternative, they help feeling full and satiated but should be spread sparingly due to their calorie content. Read labels to avoid the ones with added sugar.
 
Olive oil: An important part of the “healthy heart” Mediterranean diet due to its content in monounsaturated fats, it is of course high in calorie, so go easy when using on salads, preferably pouring with a spoon or use a spray when cooking.
 
Coconut oil: Its increased popularity has been linked to its immune boosting properties and widely adopted by paleo dieters. Coconut oil is highly resistant to oxidation at high heat, and therefore ideal for frying but as per other types of oils, it is high in calories: using it sparingly is wise!
 
Mince beef: A great source of protein, Vitamin B12, Zinc, Iron and Selenium but also high in saturated fats. Fat content is often in the area of 20% so opt for leaner versions with less than 5% fat to reduce calorie intake while benefiting from the whole range of nutrients.
 
Cliquer ici pour modifier.

We all need to boost our immune system to defend ourselves from seasonal infections.  A few changes to your diet may provide support to your natural defenses against viral respiratory infections:

1. ​The sunshine vitamin:  crucial in fighting respiratory infections, Vitamin D is mainly obtained from sun exposure during the summer months, and our absorption from food is low. Many people may benefit from supplementing to increase their levels.  It is worth checking for deficiency (convenient home test kits are available).  Oily fish, eggs, mushrooms, dairy milk. 
2. Antioxidants: They are essential to fight infections and protect your immune cells:  so the more colours in your plate the better to boost your levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium and Zinc. Fresh seasonal greens, orange and red vegetables, pulses, fruit, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. 
3. Eat good quality protein with each meal to support your energy levels and their needs tend to increase due to infections. They supply with Vitamin B6, B12 and Iron. Seafood, poultry, lean red meat, eggs, nuts, wholegrains and pulses. 
4. Choose warmer and nourishing food such as porridge, soups and slow cook stews. Eat your vegetables raw or lightly cook to maximize their antioxidant potential.  The gut is key to immunity, so supporting digestion is crucial. 
5. ​Cut back on stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar as they have a weakening effect on the immune system. A bit of red wine is fine though for its phenol. Drink plenty of herbal teas, including fresh ginger, thyme and rosemary.

Our microbiota is made up of trillions of tiny organisms called microbes that live in our gut. The gut microbiota is unique to each of us. They not only help digest the food we eat, but also produce molecules that influence our health via the immune system and impact gene expression. Beneficial bacteria prevent the proliferation of other detrimental ones: as in the animal world, where animals and plants compete to gain access to resources, gut bacteria also compete to thrive. The greater bacterial diversity in our gut, the greater chance of staying healthy.
Life stages and gut health:
The complex community of microorganisms inhabiting our intestinal tract fluctuates throughout life stages. Most important changes occur during infancy and old age. Recent research indicates that bacteria are transmitted to the baby from the mother during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. This suggests the oral and intestinal microbiota of the mother might affect foetal and infantile health. As we get older our microbial diversity often decline, although it is still unclear whether it is a cause or a consequence of aging.
Lower bacterial diversity and disease:
Research studies show that many diseases are associated with alterations of the microbiota. They suggest that auto-immune-disease, diabetes, obesity, skin problems, inflammatory bowel diseases, asthma and cardio-vascular diseases may be partly caused by an increase in pathogenic microbes (dysbiosis) in our gut.
Contributing factors to dysbiosis are overuse of antibiotics and drugs, highly processed food, pesticides, too much animal protein, sugar, saturated fats and artificial sweeteners, nutrients deficiencies and stress.
Diversity in your diet is key to a balanced gut flora
Diet has a major role in determining which microbes take up residence in our guts. For most people, eating a rainbow of brightly-coloured plant foods on a daily basis, including traditional fermented foods (prebiotic and probiotic food) will be enough to increase gut microbial diversity. Bioactive substances such as polyphenols, plant compounds abundant in the Mediterranean diet, have been associated with improved microbial diversity. The aim is to include foods that feed the friendly bacteria in the gut. These bacteria produce nutrients for colon cells and lead to a healthier digestive tract, improving metabolic health and lowering inflammation.
How do I support my patients in improving their gut diversity?
My interventions are highly individual and depend on my patients’ symptoms, health concerns and lifestyle. Food diaries are a great tool to develop awareness of diet diversity (or lack thereof); I help my patients increase their prebiotic and probiotic food intake providing them with simple recipes and shopping lists and be more mindful when eating.  My aim is to empower them to make informed decisions to improve their health with natural food. I always keep in mind that they may have busy lives with food temptations everywhere so I have to come up with practical and tasty suggestions. Pleasure should always be one of the diet’s component!!   In certain instances, a comprehensive stool analysis may be useful to assess gut function and microbial diversity.

Digestive discomfort can undermine your chances to run your best marathon. Optimum digestive function depends on the composition of the food and fluid ingested, the timing of ingestion before during and after exercise and your stress level. Just as you train your muscles and mind, you can train your gastrointestinal tract to meet the demands of exercise

Do you suffer from?

• Heart burn*
• Acid reflux
• Nausea
• Belching
• Sharp stomach pain & cramps
• Excessive gas and bloating
• Diarrhoea 

The development of heartburn on exercise must always be investigated fully in order to exclude the possibility of cardio-vascular complication even in younger athletes. 
Tips to improve your digestion on your race day

1. Always consume foods and drinks you have tried and tested before: you need to know what nutrition works best for you
2. Test your meals timing to determine the optimum timing for you
3. Have a fluid/ hydration plan
4. Eat a low GI (low GI) diet a few hours before your run
5. Limit high fat food, spicy foods, peppermint, cinnamon and vinegar
6. Limit your intake of high fibre food for 2 days before the race such as beans, lentils, whole grains, peppers, onions, broccoli, cabbage…
7. Avoid milk, caffeinated drinks, citrus juices, carbonated and fermented drinks and do not drink through a straw
8. Eat slowly, making sure you chew your food thoroughly
9. Avoid excess intake of fructose, xylitol and sorbitol, make sure sports drinks are mixed correctly and test your sports drinks and gels for a few weeks before the race 

You probably know if you have irritable bowel syndrome*(IBS) — with symptoms like bloating, gas, distention, constipation, diarrhoea, cramping… They tend to come and go in periods lasting a few days to a few months, often during times of stress or after eating certain foods. These symptoms can often be debilitating and lead to a reduced quality of life.
Five people with IBS would have the same symptoms but each may have different causes, as there are many underlying culprits to the syndrome. Conventional approach tends to merely suppress symptoms but doesn’t address the underlying causes. Exploring what specifically triggers your IBS symptoms is essential to improving your condition.
 
What are the main triggers?

• Food sensitivities and allergies
• Malabsorption of a class of carbohydrates
• Gut microbes or bacterial overgrowth
• Poor diet, High fat diet
• Caffeine
• Stress and anxiety
• Increased gut sensitivity

Food sensitivities and allergies
These could be caused by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and spelt. Dairy can be problematic as well, as lactose may cause bloating, gas and diarrhoea in some people. Other common food sensitivities may relate to soy, corn and eggs which may cause gut inflammation.
Malabsorption of high FODMAPs food
Some carbohydrates named FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-saccharides, Di-saccharides, Mono-saccharides And Polyols) may be problematic for those with IBS. These short-chain carbohydrates are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and rapidly fermented by bacteria in the gut. The production of gas by these bacteria is a major contributor to symptoms.
Gut inflammation and ecosystem imbalances
Many things can make your gut lining erode, including: stress, antibiotics or recurrent courses of anti-inflammatory drugs, intestinal microbial, viral or parasitic infections, poor diet low in fibre and high in sugar and alcohol… . If that lining breaks down, your immune system will be exposed to foreign particles from food and bacteria and other microbes. Imbalance in your gut flora where pathogenic bacteria overwhelms healthy bacteria is also implicated in IBS.
This is precisely why it is so critically important to personalize the approach based on the unique circumstances. By addressing underlying causes, excellent outcomes are possible.
*Always have your symptoms checked by a General Practitioner, although IBS can’t be confirmed with a test, your GP may recommend blood tests, scans, X-rays or other tests in order to rule out any other structural bowel disease.

"Action on Sugar" 2016 survey on high street hot drinks found that a large portion of them contained shocking amounts of sugar. The recommended daily amount of free sugar  for over 11 years old  is 7 teaspoons.

Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha Coconut Venti: 20 teaspoons
Costa Coffee Chai Latte Massima: 20 teaspoons
KFC Mocha: 15 teaspoons
Caffe Nero: Caramellita: 13 teaspoons 
Eat Matcha Latte Big: 11 teaspoons 
Mac Donalds Mocha Large: 11 teaspoons
Greggs Mocha Large: 11 teaspoons
 Some of these drinks may contain naturally occurring milk sugar lactose which is not a free sugar

If you hesitate in a restaurant between starter or pudding, you may need to consider as well your glass of wine… 
Sugar tax on soft drinks is a great initiative to tackle childhood obesity, but do adults know the sugar content of  their alcoholic drinks?
Adults in Europe get more of their calories from alcohol than from sugary drinks; if we want to reduce obesity should consumers not be aware of the calories content of their drinks?
Did you know that:

• 1 pint of beer contains 180 Kcal, the same as a slice of pizza
• 1 large glass of wine contains 200 Kcal, the same as a doughnut
  ​or 4 mini sausage rolls
• 1 vodka tonic contains 120 Kcal
• alcopop contains 140 Kcal

If you want to calculate your alcohol daily calorie intake check this:

​Lack of sleep, disturbed sleep and irregularity in sleep/wake patterns are associated with obesity, sub-optimal glucose metabolism and increased fat storage. In short, when we sleep  less than 7 hours, not only do we tend to choose larger portion sizes, but we also tend to crave more sugary and starchy carbohydrates foods, on average our calorie intake increases by 350kcal to 500kcal/day as our brain finds it harder to control our cravings due to imbalances in our hunger and satiety hormones, at the end of the week this may accumulate to 3500 kcal.
Tips to improve your sleep:
Do:

• 1. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day. 
• 2. Get regular exercise, preferably in the morning. There is good evidence that regular exercise improves restful sleep. This includes stretching and aerobic exercise. 
• 3. Get daily exposure to outdoor light, i/e have a walk at lunchtime.
• 4. Have a dinner rich in tryptophan (i/e egg, turkey, tofu, salmon, cheese, nuts and seeds) combined with carbohydrates (pasta, rice, oats, bread) to boost your serotonin levels
• 5. Keep the temperature in your bedroom on the cool side 
• 6. Keep the bedroom dark to facilitate sleep (this increases production of melatonin (the sleep hormone). 
• 7. Remove electrical devices (radios, cell phones, multiple outlet connectors) from around your head when you sleep. Electromagnetic fields have been found to reduce melatonin levels.
• 8. Turn off television and computer 1 hour before bedtime. This will reduce your blue light exposure. Dim the light of your digital devices if you need to use them before bedtime.
• 9. Use a relaxation exercise just before going to sleep (e.g., muscle relaxation, imagery, massage, warm bath, etc.) or read a book. 

 
Don't:  

• 1. Have caffeine in the evening (coffee, many teas, chocolate, some sodas, etc.) 
• 2. Watch television or  use your tablets in bed. 
• 3. Use alcohol to help you sleep. 
• 4. Go to bed too hungry or too full. 
• 5. Take daytime naps especially after 3.00pm and over 20mn.  

Although certain risks factors for cardiovascular diseases cannot be changed such as family history, ethnicity and age, many others may be reduced and even reversed: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, tobacco exposure, sedentary lifestyle…
Diet is one of the key factors that may have an impact on the health of your heart. Adopting a “cardiometabolic diet” rich in dietary fibre, phytonutrients and healthy fats can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, reduce LDL cholesterol, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. The type of food, cooking methods and meal timing all contribute to reduce inflammation, and oxidation which are implicated in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
The cardiometabolic foods work in synergy to fight off atherosclerosis  while providing an enjoyable and tasty diet rich in fresh and colourful vegetables, fruit, legumes, wholegrains and healthy fats found in fish, olive oil, nuts and seeds.
Whether you are interested in prevention or you already suffer from a heart condition you can start learning about therapeutic food through the Cardiometabolic diet plan.