Loneliness costs the NHS nearly two billion - the facts!!!

A study, commissioned by WPI Economics, is the first time experts have put a price on the importance of social inclusion.  Apparently, lonely Brits are costing the economy £1.8 billion a year.  It said that 1.5 million over 50s are "chronically lonely" - making them more likely to visit their GPs, as well as suffer depression and dementia.

Loneliness does not just have an economic impact. It has a profound human cost too, and can be damaging to our health and happiness. It is really important we do everything we can to reduce loneliness and isolation.

HMHB totally agrees, but it is time to take action and stop giving speeches. Funding organisations like ourselves is vital. We are giving opportunities for people to meet and do exercise. Both of which can boost confidence and esteem, create friendships, and improve mental, emotional and physical health. "Social Prescribing" is something we have been advocating for years, a small voice that has not been listened to.

Our Izzwalkz initiative is a prime example of how something simple and small can have a big impact. Over half our walkers say they come because of the friendship, the togetherness and the fact they can walk with a group outdoors and it lifts their spirits. Can we get any funding for it??? Nope!!

Talk and research is clear. Loneliness we need to tackle. But it needs funding!!

Are those coffees good for you? Let's look at positives

Many people enjoy a nice cup of coffee. It seems you cannot go down any High Street these days without walking past a cafe or coffee establishment. So let's look at some good reasons for the brew!

It's good for your skin

Four 200ml brewed coffees give you over a third of your daily target of B2 - the nutrient for helping to keep your skin, eyes and nervous system healthy.  It is also vital for allowing energy to be released from food, so can help us all feel more energised.

It's good for your bones

Magnesium is crucial for you parathyroid glands, which produce hormones needed to make and maintain healthy bones.  If you have your four daily coffees as espresso shots with 200ml of skimmed milk each time, this adds 88mg more magnesium, giving you a whopping 248mg towards your daily target of 270mg.

It's good for your mood

A study of more than 260,000 people found that those who drank four or more cups a day are almost ten per cent less likely to become depressed than those who drank none.  Antioxidant super nutrients can reduce damage to cells, which benefits nerves in some people, and seems to act as an antidepressant. Caffeine also appears to help reduce anxiety and lift moods.  But it in a few cases it was shown to increase stress, so you need to find the right balance.

Lowers risk of gallstones

The most common type of gallstone is made by cholesterol turning into crystals in the gallbladder.  Coffee may help prevent this by sparking contractions, which speed up the flow of the bile, giving cholesterol less chance to collect.

Lowers risk of diabetes

Daily coffee drinkers have a lower long-term risk of developing diabetes, which researchers say could be down to its polyphenois and minerals. One large study showed the biggest coffee drinkers had 30% lower risk compared with non-drinkers.

Lowers risk of Alzheimer's

A 21 year old study showed that people drinking three to five cups a day at the age of 50 have been linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's later in life compared with those drinking low levels.

Obviously, HMHB says that everything in moderation. There appear to be many positives around coffee. It is reported that coffee is a diuretic, and can dehydrate you. However, the NHS themselves have come out and said that in moderation this will not happen. You can choose!!!

HMHB's Simple Guide to FATS

A Simple guide to:

FATS

Dietary fats are essential to give your body energy and to support cell growth. They also help protect your organs and help keep your body warm. Fats help your body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones, too. Your body definitely needs fat.

There are four major dietary fats in the foods we eat:

·         Saturated Fats

·         Trans Fats

These two are considered “bad fats”

·         Monounsaturated Fats

·         Polyunsaturated Fats

These two are considered “good fats”

Fats can have different effects on the cholesterol levels in your body. The bad fats, saturated fats and Trans fats, raise bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in your blood. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can lower bad cholesterol levels and are beneficial when consumed as part of a healthy dietary pattern.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid and is vital for the normal functioning of the body. It's mainly made by the liver, but can also be found in some foods.

Having an excessively high level of lipids in your blood (hyperlipidaemia) can have an effect on your health.

High cholesterol itself doesn't usually cause any symptoms, but it increases your risk of serious health conditions

Back to fats!!!

Saturated Fat

The "saturated" in "saturated fats" refers to the fact that these fats are saturated with hydrogen and carbon atoms. They contain these atoms in as many places as possible; hence they are "saturated."

Which foods contain saturated fat?

Foods that are high in saturated fat include:

·         butter, lard and ghee (oil made from butter)

·         fatty meats and meat products, such as sausages and pies

·         full-fat milk

·         cream, sour cream, crème fraîche and ice cream

·         cheese, particularly hard cheese

·         some savoury snacks, such as pork scratchings

·         coconut oil, coconut cream and palm oil

·         biscuits, cakes and pastries

·         chocolates and some sweets

Yes – most of the above are nice. And nobody should stop eating cake, we say. But it is important to realise that you need to cut down on foods with saturated fat, as this will eventually have a detrimental effect on your body.

Trans Fats

Why does it have to be the tasty items?

Trans fats, also known as Trans fatty acids or TFA, are a type of fat found in small amounts in a wide variety of foods. They are considered a ‘bad’ fat because, like saturated fats, they can increase levels of LDL-cholesterol in the blood. Trans fats can also decrease the level of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol, and may increase the level of triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.
Trans fats occur naturally in small amounts in dairy and meat products, such as cheese, milk, cream, lamb, pork and beef.
There are also industrial trans fats, which can be produced through a process called ‘partial hydrogenation’. Partial hydrogenation solidifies and partially hardens vegetable oil, a process that food manufacturers find useful in the production of fried foods as well as baked foods, like biscuits, pies, and cakes. Heating vegetable oils to a very high temperature (such as in a deep fat fryer) can also produce trans fats, which is why takeaway foods, doughnuts, and a number of fried sweet foods are occasionally culprits as well

It is very difficult to avoid saturated and Trans fats, but it is important to remember that in excess they will damage you long term. Limit the amounts you have.

But there are good fats – “unsaturated fats” – come in mono and poly.

Unsaturated fats are an important part of a healthy diet. These fats help reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels (among other health benefits) when they replace saturated fats in the diet.

There are two main types of unsaturated fats:

Polyunsaturated fats:

• omega-3 fats which are found in fish, especially oily fish
• omega-6 fats which are found in some oils such as safflower and soybean oil, along with some nuts, including Brazil nuts.
• omega-9 fats, also found in some oils

Monounsaturated fats:

• found in olive and canola oil, avocados and some nuts, such as cashews and almonds

Conclusion

Fats are an essential part of our diet and are important for good health. There are different types of fats, with some fats being healthier than others. To help make sure you stay healthy, it is important to eat unsaturated fats in small amounts as part of a balanced diet.

When eaten in large amounts, all fats, including healthy fats, can contribute to weight gain. Fat is higher in energy (kilojoules) than any other nutrient and so eating less fat overall is likely to help with weight loss.

Eating less saturated and Trans fats may help lower your risk of heart disease. When buying products check the labels and choose the varieties that are lower in saturated and Trans fats and higher in poly and monounsaturated fats.

So a diet that is low in saturated fats and Trans fats, but that also includes moderate amounts of unsaturated fats will help you stay healthy

Can mushrooms hold back dementia?

Scientists have found that people who ate more than two 150g portions of mushrooms a week were
half as likely to suffer with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).  MCI is a transition phase between normal ageing and dementia, and can affect memory, attention and spatial awareness.

Researchers from the National University of Singapore believe on of the compounds in mushrooms, called Ergothioneine, can help protect the brain from ageing.  A previous study found levels were lower among patients with MCI.

Dr Lei Feng, who led this research, said "the correlation is surprising and encouraging. It seems that a commonly available single ingredient could have a dramatic effect on cognitive decline. Based on current evidence, we propose that mushroom consumption could be a potential preventive measure to slow cognitive decline and neurodegeneration in ageing."

Up to 2.4million Brits are thought to be living with MCI, and 850,000 with Dementia!!!

According to the Alzheimer's website

The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language.
These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life.
A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.
Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease or a series of strokes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but not the only one.
The specific symptoms that someone with dementia experiences will depend on the parts of the brain that are damaged and the disease that is causing the dementia.

Frequent Night Trips to the Loo!!!

Frequent trips to the loo at night are depriving millions of sleep.

Apparently around 5.7million working age adults go the loo at least twice at night - which is a condition known as nocturia.
You may also have an OSB (over active bladder)
Nocturia does not only impact sleep - but also your health, partner (if you share a bed), and your overall quality of life.
Causes can be various - ageing, hormonal changes, and prostate problems are a few.
People are recommended to drink less at night and steer clear of caffeine from midday. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important

There are medications too, so if you are worried about the amount of times you use the loo at night please go and speak to \a medical professional.