New Year, New You? Welcome to 2021. Most of us start the new year with optimism and a new found drive that this year will be our best year yet. We will lose that weight, start running, become more mindful. If so, then good for you! Let us support you. With an experienced team, we can help you with those nutrition queries, new exercise routines and general wellness.
Where we are going - The public health guidance for operating in community healthcare settings has not changed with the announcement of the national lockdown. This means Wellness Centre Newcastle will remain OPEN and you are allowed to leave home to seek care for your health as needed. All practitioners will be working as normal, including Massage Therapists. We are still continuing to be highly vigiliant and are still following our strict measures that we have in place including the use of PPE, pre-screening patients and hygiene & cleaning protocols. All existing appointments will be going ahead as normal and we are still booking appointments for existing and new patients. Please feel free to call us or live chat to us on our website if you do have any questions. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
What we are watching - We were thrilled to see massage be featured in the BBC's program 'The Truth About Boosting Your Immune System'! The programme shared the scientific evidence behind the benefits of massage therapy. Click the button below to watch with BBC iPlayer.
What we are taking - Vitamin D has always been an important supplement to take, especially for us that live in the Northern hemisphere. It is recommended that everyone should take a daily 10 microgram (400 international units) vitamin D supplement from October to early March. This dose is safe and effective at maintaining healthy vitamin D blood levels. Vitamin D is required for the maintenance of healthy bone and muscle. Although sunlight exposure is the major source of vitamin D for most people during summer months, it can also be obtained from the diet or supplements. Many people have been indoors more than usual this spring and summer, which means we might not have been making enough vitamin D from sunlight. So, it’s even more important this year to take a vitamin D supplement as we go into the winter months. Some people are more at risk of not having enough vitamin D even in spring and summer, including those with dark skin (such as those with African, African-Caribbean or south Asian backgrounds), those who are not outdoors often, those in care homes, and those who cover up most of the skin when outdoors. We advise these people to take a vitamin D supplement all year round. Recent trials have been carried out to test if Vitamin D can combat Covid 19. In collaboration with Public Health England (PHE), and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), NICE conducted a rapid evidence review evaluating evidence from recent studies on vitamin D in relation to COVID-19. The expert panel supported current government advice for everyone to take the supplement throughout the autumn and winter, however the panel concluded that there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19. However, we still recommend taking Vitamin D to maintain healthy vitamin D blood levels. Vitamin D3 drops are available to purchase at Wellness Centre Newcastle for £10.94 & at NutriAdvanced: https://www.nutriadvanced.co.uk/d3-drops-1000-30ml.html
What we are drinking - Put the champagne away for next Christmas, we are drinking plenty of water now! Water is one of the most important parts of our diet, yet the most neglected. Most of us are probably aware of the overall benefits of drinking water – it can prevent kidney infections, it keeps our skin cells strong, it supports our immune system and generally keeps things ticking over. On average, we should be drinking about 8-10 glasses of plain water a day, depending on our gender and lifestyle. What we're perhaps not so knowledgeable about, however, is how water can directly impact our sensitivity to joint pain. In order to understand this, we first have to understand the function of cartilage. The cartilage is a connective tissue that lines the surface of the joints and acts as a cushion between the bones, absorbing shock and easing friction. Cartilage is kept lubricated by a gel-like liquid known as synovial fluid, which is formed by glycosaminoglycan bonding with sulphur compounds. Joint pain usually occurs when the cartilage has been weakened or damaged, which then leads to typical symptoms such as inflammation, pain and stiffness. Since approximately 60% of joint cartilage is made from water, it is critical that we keep hydrated if the cartilage is damaged, otherwise, our production of synovial fluid will be reduced and we increase our risk of friction pain and cartilage deterioration. How can water reduce joint pain? Now that we have an understanding of how important water is in keeping the joints lubricated, it is worth examining how water can work to reduce specific types of joint pain, ranging from osteoarthritis to gout. This is not to say that simply drinking more fluids will cause all your symptoms to diminish, but it will almost certainly help to improve the health of your joints and may work to lessen some of the pain you are feeling.
Who we are talking to - Are you trying to make changes to improve health and wellbeing? (Eat better, do more exercise, stop smoking, improve general wellbeing.) You may have an idea of what you might do but the information seems confusing or you just can't make the changes last. A wellbeing coach can : 1) Support you to clarify and set goals relating to health and wellbeing 2) Facilitate making a plan that works for you 3) Be your ally as you make lasting change To find out more; Contact us to arrange a free 15 minute, no obligation, chat with our health and wellbeing coach, Hannah McDonald
What we are browsing - Our website has been updated and now features new staff headshots (not all the staff have updated pictures yet unfortunately!). Our website allows you to speak directly to our support team through our live chat. Open the chat during our open hours and someone will be with you straight away!
What we are eating - Gluten and Dairy Free Prawn Tom Yum Soup. The perfect winter warmer recipe from one of our favourite cooks - Free From Favourites.
Thank you for reading our latest newsletter. As always, please feel free to call us on 01912431216 to discuss any of the articles featured. If you have a subject you would like covered in our next newsletter, please email our Practice Manager and Newsletter producer, Elyse Whittaker at info@wellnesscentrenewcastle.co.uk
