What vitamins do you need during pregnancy?

Posted by Emilie Cook on May 15, 2012

pregnancy 300x199 What vitamins do you need during pregnancy?Being pregnant brings with it a whole minefield of information that can often be difficult to digest. One thing that it is important to keep note of is that you are getting the correct types and amount of vitamins for your baby. Chemist.net takes a look at which vitamins you should be consuming in order to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

The most important vitamin to take when you fall pregnant is folic acid, you should be taking 400mcg of folic acid for the first twelve weeks of your pregnancy. Ideally you should also be taking folic acid whilst you are trying to conceive. Folic acid is important as it reduces the risk of your baby developing a spinal cord defect (neural tube defect). Spina Bifida is one of the most common neural tube defects and occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are exposed and damaged. In order to make sure that you are getting enough folic acid, you should eat plenty of foods that are high in folate, such as pulses and green vegetables. Many breads and breakfast cereals also have added folic acid; there are also folic acid supplements available on the market. You will need to take a larger dose of folic acid if: you have had a baby with spina bifida; have diabetes; are taking medicine for epilepsy; or if you have celiac disease. You should talk to your midwife or doctor if any of these apply to you.

Another vitamin that is important to take whilst you are pregnant is vitamin D. You should take 10mcg of vitamin D each day throughout your pregnancy, continuing to take it after the baby is born if you are breastfeeding. Vitamin D helps to keep bones healthy and regulates the amount of calcium in the body. You need to make sure you are consuming enough vitamin d, as you need to provide your baby with enough vitamin D for its first 12 months. Not enough vitamin D can cause rickets in children. There are only a few foods that contain Vitamin D, these include: oily fish; some breakfast cereals; fortified margarines; and taramasalata. The best source of vitamin D is the summer sun on your skin, however you need to be careful not to get sun burn. If you feel you are not getting enough vitamin D from sunlight and/or your diet, then there are vitamin D supplements available.

A vitamin that it is best to avoid however is vitamin A, as this is believed to harm your baby. Therefore you should avoid all supplements containing this vitamin, as well as liver and liver based products (including fish liver oil supplements) as these are high in vitamin A.

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Stay sun savvy and vitamin D happy

Posted by Emilie Cook on May 1, 2012

Stay sun safe 225x300 Stay sun savvy and vitamin D happyDespite the recent wind and rain, believe it or not, this week is Sun Awareness Week in the UK. Although it may not seem like such a pressing issue at the moment, sun awareness is of great importance, as increased exposure to the sun can lead to an increased risk of melanoma (skin cancer). Sunshine isn’t all bad though, as it helps our bodies to produce vitamin D. With all of this in mind, Chemist.net decided to take a look at the best ways to stay sun safe, yet still get a suitable amount of vitamin D…

Our bodies need vitamin D to absorb phosphorous and calcium from our diet, in order to maintain healthy bones. A severe lack of vitamin C can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, which cause bone tenderness and pain. The majority of vitamin D that the body has is gained through the skin from sunlight, although it can also be gained from our diet. Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to give an accurate estimate of how much time can be safely spent in the sun before skin damage begins to occur. This is due to the wide range of factors that affect skin damage due to sun exposure, these include: length of exposure; geographical location; skin type; weather; and time of day.

As a result of this it is best to try and be as sun smart as possible. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) advises people to slip on a shirt, seek out shade and slap on the sunscreen, using a broad spectrum sun cream that protects against both UVB and UVA, in order to avoid over exposure to the sun. Although gaining enough vitamin D from diet alone can be difficult, if you are worried about sun exposure and getting the correct amount of vitamin D, then there are a wide range of vitamin D supplements available on the market. Taking supplements allows you to make sure that your body is getting enough vitamin D, without putting your body at an increased risk of skin cancer.

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Need a little help losing weight?

Posted by Emilie Cook on April 23, 2012

Need help losing weight 300x250 Need a little help losing weight?Image is everything in our current society, with slim and beautiful role models appearing all around us. It is difficult to imagine being happy, healthy and successful if your body does not match those that are plastered all around you. This constant desire to attain what is considered to be the perfect figure in order to be happy, content and successful can undermine people’s happiness, confidence and how they actually perceive themselves. In turn, this leads to a much wider issue, where not only being overweight, but also people’s mental wellbeing becomes a cause for concern.

Weight management is an ever growing topic of conversation in modern society, with even the government beginning to promote healthier lifestyle choices, as a result of the rise in obesity and overweight people within the population. Weight loss can not only lead to the body avoiding serious issues such as high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, but can also help to improve people’s mental wellbeing and sense of self worth. It is therefore of great importance that overweight and obese people seek to lose weight, by following a diet plan and by making healthier lifestyle choices. Weight management tablets can help to aid the transition from an unhealthy routine to a newer healthier future and more positive self image for those who are overweight.

Although the idea of how your body will look and feel at the end of the journey can initially provide a huge weight loss drive, the reality of weight loss management makes it easy to become disheartened and unmotivated. formoline L112 Weight Management Tablets, available from Chemist.net, are designed to help aid weight loss by reducing the calorie intake from dietary fats. The natural active ingredient, fibre polyglucosamine (L112), binds with nutritional fat and both are excreted naturally, causing the number of calories that your body can process from the food you have eaten to be significantly reduced. In addition to this, the indigestible and expanded fibre ingredients contained in formoline L112 cause the person taking it to feel fuller.

Other weight management tablets that are available include Obesimed. The active ingredient in Obesimed, Omtec19, absorbs up to 50 times its own weight in water, forming a viscous gel matrix. This triggers sensations of fullness, and helps you feel satisfied with less food. The gel absorbs food in the stomach, and prolongs its release into the body, prolonging satisfaction after you have eaten.

Although weight management tablets can help if you have been struggling to lose weight, it is always important to make sure that you are eating healthily and that you are suitably active, even if you are taking these kinds of tablets. If you are looking to change your diet then it is also advisable to speak to your GP or another trained professional before making these changes.

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Are you eating a healthy and balanced diet?

Posted by Emilie Cook on April 16, 2012

weightloss31 Are you eating a healthy and balanced diet?With people leading such busy and hectic lifestyles, healthy eating can be an afterthought. Fast food and ready meals are often the most convenient choice after a long, hard day at work. However, with obesity on the rise Chemist.net thought it was time to remind ourselves about the sort of meals that we should be eating.

Although fast food and ready meals are quick and convenient, unfortunately they usually have a high salt and fat content and do not provide our bodies with the correct amount of nutrients. It is important to try and eat balanced meals. An easy way to make sure that your meals are balanced is to follow the eatwell plate guidance. The eatwell plate consists of: fruit and vegetables; bread, rice, potatoes and pasta; meat, fish, eggs and beans; milk and dairy foods; as well as food and drinks that are high in fat and/or sugar.

eatwell plate Are you eating a healthy and balanced diet?

Image courtesy of NHS choices

Fruit and vegetables
You should eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Eating a range of different fruit and vegetables will provide your body with a variety of different vitamins and minerals. Fruit and vegetables are also a good source of fibre and antioxidants. They are also generally a low fat and low calorie food source, so eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is the first step towards maintaining a healthy weight and diet.

Potatoes, bread, rice and pasta
It is best to choose wholegrain foods wherever you can and starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta should make up about a third of your diet. Wholegrain varieties of starchy foods are a great source of fibre. Fibre not only helps to keep your bowels healthy, but can also help you feel full, which means that you are likely to eat less.

Meat, fish, eggs and beans
Meat is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals within your diet. Red meat is also a good source of iron. As some meats are high in fat it is important not to eat too much and it is always best to try and choose the leanest cuts possible. Eggs are also a good source of protein, as well as vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin D and iodine. Pulses (including lentils, beans and peas) are a cheap, low-fat source of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. They also count towards your five a day.

Milk and dairy
Milk and dairy products are good sources of calcium and protein. Our body uses calcium to help keep bones strong, while protein helps the body to grow and repair. Milk and dairy products include yoghurt and cheese.

High fat and high sugar foods
High fat and high sugar foods are needed, but only in small amounts. We all need some fat in our diets, but you should eat a small amount of food with a high unsaturated fat content and try and cut out foods with high levels of saturated fat. Unsaturated fat is found in avocados, oily fish, nuts and seeds, and sunflower and olive oils. Although we do need some sugar, most people within the UK already eat too much sugar. You should try and cut down on sugary drinks, cakes, biscuits and adding sugar to drinks. The natural sugar in fruit and in fruit juices is likely to be less harmful.

With people leading such busy and hectic lifestyles, healthy eating can be an afterthought. Fast food and ready meals are often the most convenient choice after a long, hard day at work. However, with obesity on the rise Chemist.net thought … Read More  

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Are you overweight? Then you might be at risk of diabetes

Posted by Emilie Cook on April 10, 2012

diabetes 300x225 Are you overweight? Then you might be at risk of diabetesBeing overweight can lead to the development of a number of other, often more serious, health issues. One of these health issues is diabetes. According to Diabetes UK over two million people in the UK have diabetes, with up to another 500,000 diabetics who are unaware of the fact that they have the condition. Although not all people with diabetes are overweight, statistics have shown that over 80% of those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The less active and more overweight someone is, the greater the risk of diabetes, Chemist.net takes a deeper look…

Women are at a higher risk of becoming diabetic if they have a waist that is 31.5 inches (80cm) or more. Men, if white or black, have a higher risk of getting diabetes if their waist is 37 inches (94cm) or more. However, Asian men are at an increased risk if they have a waist measuring 35 inches (90cm) or more.

The symptoms of diabetes are weight loss, increased thirst, going to the toilet all the time, blurred vision, slow healing wounds, regular episodes of thrush and genital itching. Diabetes can lead to life threatening complications such as heart disease; kidney failure; blindness; stroke; and nerve damage that could lead to amputation.

However, you can reduce your risk of developing further complications, such as kidney failure, through early diagnosis, so that the condition can be treated properly. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually affects people under 40 and is treated with insulin injections, regular physical activity and dietary changes. Type 2 diabetes is usually found in white people over 40 and in black and Asian people, as well as those from minority ethnic groups, aged over 25. It can be treated with physical activity and diet alone, although many people also require tablets, and occasionally insulin injections.

Diabetes is a serious condition that needs to be diagnosed as early as possible. A full and healthy life can be lead with diabetes, if the condition is diagnosed early on and treatment is given to avoid complications. If you think that you may be at a high risk of diabetes or that you may have diabetes, then you should contact your GP.

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Swap don’t stop: Lose weight without giving up the things you love!

Posted by Emilie Cook on April 2, 2012

weightloss2 300x225 Swap dont stop: Lose weight without giving up the things you love!When losing weight you don’t want to feel as though you have to give up your life and all the things that you love, just to shed a few pounds. In fact, just cutting out your favourite foods can be a major factor when it comes to ditching the diet and returning to old and less healthy eating habits. Chemist.net takes a look at how swapping a few of the things you drink, eat and do is far more likely to help you lose weight and maintain your weight loss.

Exercise
Adding more exercise into your daily routine doesn’t have to mean giving up a relaxing evening in favour of a ten mile jog! Exercising regularly can, in fact, leave you feeling more energised overall. The important thing to remember is that all movement helps. In order to get the most from your exercise, you need to make sure that you are making your lungs work longer and your heart beat faster for at least ten minutes at a time.

Although walking, swimming, cycling and having a kick around in the park will certainly get your body moving and your heart rate up, there are some simple ways that you can build exercise into a busy regime. For instance, while watching television, do some washing, dusting or ironing. Why not try really going for it when doing the cleaning to try and burn off some extra calories or save yourself some cash by washing the car by hand? Or failing that grab the nearest hair brush and have a dance and sing-a-long to your favourite song or rock out by doing a bit of air guitar – it will all get your body moving and start to count towards your exercise!

Portion control
Portion sizes within the UK are growing ever bigger, with many convenience foods and restaurant portions containing large amounts of unwanted salt and fat. As a result of this, many people are eating far more food than their bodies’ actually need without doing enough exercise to burn it off. One key area when trying to lose weight is to cut down on your portion sizes.

An easy way to begin controlling portion sizes is to use smaller plates. Using a smaller plate will make it look like you are eating more food, when in fact you a restricting the amount you can eat. It is also important to make sure that you eat everything in moderation. It is a good idea to eat healthy, well balanced meals or to swap larger meals for a smaller meal followed by a fruit salad or with a side of vegetables. This will help to satisfy your hunger without adding extra unwanted calories, fat and salt to meals.

Food
Another simple change that you can make is to the foods that you choose to eat. Making some simple swaps can help reduce the amount of calories per meal, without stopping you from enjoying the foods that you love altogether. For instance, a simple change to the way that you cook your food can help reduce the fat in your diet, grilling food such as sausages, bacon etc allows the fat to drip away and isn’t adding any extra oil.

Another simple swap that you can make is to drink low calorie soft drinks e.g. diet lemonade and drink no added sugar squashes. As well as this you could try swpping butter for low fat spread, try poaching eggs instead of frying them and eat wholewheat bread and pasta instead of white. While these are relatively easy changes to make they can have a huge impact upon your diet.

Exercising more frequently and controlling your portion sizes, as well as making some simple food swaps, should help you to regain control of your weight. If you can maintain these changes then you should be able to lose weight steadily without having to give up everything that you love.

For more information about living a healthier and more active lifestyle visit the Change4Life website.

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What are the different allergy treatments available?

Posted by Emilie Cook on March 26, 2012

allergy treatment What are the different allergy treatments available?With around a quarter of the UK population suffering from some sort of allergy during their lifetime, allergy treatments have become a sought after product for many. However, many people are unaware of the different types of allergy treatment available. Here, Chemist.net takes a look at some of the different types of allergy treatment available…

Antihistamines
Antihistamines are the most common choice of treatment for those who suffer from allergies. Antihistamines work by blocking the chemical histamine, which the body releases when it thinks that it is under attack from the allergen. Antihistamines are most commonly used in oral form (tablets and suspensions), although they are also found in some nasal sprays and eye drops. Older antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine and promethazine, can cause drowsiness and should also be avoided by patients with glaucoma. However, newer antihistamines, such as loratadine, acrivastine and cetirizine, do not tend to cause drowsiness.

Decongestants
Decongestants may help to relieve a blocked nose that has been caused as a result of hay fever, a dust mite allergy or a pet allergy. Decongestants are available both orally and topically, as eye drops and nasal drops. Nasal drops should only be used for a short period of time. This is due to the risk of rebound congestion if used for a long time. Oral decongestants are not suitable for patients taking medication for heart conditions, those with high blood pressure or for patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids suppress the allergic response, as well as reducing inflammation and oedema (fluid rentention). Four corticosteroids are available as over the counted nasal sprays – beclometasone, flunisolide, fluticasone and triamcinolone acetonide.

Sodium cromoglicate
Sodium cromoglicate works by stabilising the mast cells which release histamine. It can reduce symptoms in around two to three hours, or alternatively it can be used prophylactically. Those who suffer with red and itchy eyes as a symptom of their allergy may find sodium cromoglicate useful, whereas those with nasal symptoms may find a nasal spray beneficial.

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What are allergies and what causes them?

Posted by Emilie Cook on March 19, 2012

allergy 300x199 What are allergies and what causes them?According to Allergy UK, 1 in 4 people in the United Kingdom are affected by allergies at some point in their lives. Chemist.net decided that it was time to take a deeper look at what allergies actually are and what causes them.

An allergy is when the body has a bad reaction to a particular substance. The substances that cause these reactions are not usually harmful and will normally have no effect on people who are not allergic. These substances are known as allergens.

An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the allergen, believing it to pose a real threat to the body’s health and wellbeing. This leads the body to produce a number of antibodies to fight off the threat. The next time the body comes into contact with the allergen, it produces more of the antibodies because it remembers the substance as posing a threat. This causes the release of further chemicals in the body and this is what causes the body to produce the symptoms associate with an allergic reaction.

Common allergens include pets, dust mites, mould, pollen and insects. Less common allergens include latex, nuts and fruits. Common allergy symptoms include coughing, sneezing, skin rashes, wheezing, a sore or itchy palate, as well as itchy eyes and ears. The symptoms that are experienced during an allergic reaction often depend upon the way in which the body comes into contact with it. For example, if the allergen is breathed in, like pollen, then you are more likely to experience symptoms that affect the airways.

Although allergies cannot be cured with over the counter treatments, there are a number of different allergy treatments available to help ease the annoying symptoms that tend to accompany an allergy. These treatments include antihistamines, corticosteroids and decongestants.

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Let the symptoms of dry skin melt away with Aveeno Cream

Posted by Emilie Cook on March 13, 2012

Aveeno Cream with Award 290x300 Let the symptoms of dry skin melt away with Aveeno CreamDry skin and eczema can become extremely annoying, with the associated symptoms of itchiness and unattractive red, cracked skin to deal with as well. However, there are products available from Chemist.net to help ease these symptoms and make the condition more bearable.

One of the main causes of dry skin for many people during colder months is the dry air. This dry air draws moisture out of the skin and away from the body, leaving the skin dry and sensitive. One product that can help to ease the symptoms of dry skin and atopic eczema is an emollient, such as Aveeno Cream.

Aveeno is a moisturising cream that contains two natural active ingredients to help moisturise dry and sensitive skin – oatmeal and soy. Aveeno Cream combines colloidal oatmeal with rich emollients, to help soothe and relieve skin which is prone to dry skin and eczema. Regular use of Aveeno Cream helps to prevent the dryness and irritation that is caused by skin dehydration. The cream is suitable for use on any part of the body including extremely dry skin patches.

The first natural ingredient active ingredient that can be found in Aveeno Cream is oatmeal. Oatmeal has been used for a long time as a bath to help ease and relax sensitive skin, as it helps to provide a soothing effect, while also improving the skins barrier. Oatmeal leaves a protective barrier on the skin, which helps to prevent water loss and retain moisture. Collodial oatmeal will also stick to dirt and oil that is on the skin. This means that the dirt and oil can then be simply washed away along with the oatmeal, thus helping to cleanse and relieve dry skin. Oatmeal also contains avenanthramides which have a powerful soothing and anti- irritant action.

The second natural active ingredient in Aveeno Cream is soy. Soy has been used to help aid health in traditional Chinese medicines for thousands of years. Soy helps to promote an even skin tone, as the soy proteins help to reduce blotchiness and discolouration. It also helps to smooth and soften the skin’s texture, as well as having an antioxidant effect. This is as a result of the Vitamin E that is contained within the soy, which has antioxidant properties and helps to protect the skin from free radicals.

Aveeno Cream helps to moisturise dry skin and eczema, making the symptoms more bearable for the user, by helping to retain moisture, as well as smoothing and softening the areas of dry skin.

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Sudocrem, the multi-purpose beauty product must have!

Posted by Emilie Cook on March 8, 2012

Sudocrem Antiseptic Cream 60g Sudocrem, the multi purpose beauty product must have!With the credit crunch hitting many pockets across the UK, beauty products are being hit hard, with many people choosing to ditch expensive products to save a few pennies. However, it would seem that this does not mean that people are ditching their beauty regime altogether, they are merely looking for more cost-effective alternatives. Sales of Sudocrem appear to have soared in recent months, as this multi-purpose cream proves a cheap alternative to a whole host of other beauty products, with a 60g pot costing just £1.94.

Although Sudocrem has mainly been viewed as a nappy rash cream over the years, it also has a whole host of other uses. With the cold weather taking its toll on a lot of peoples’ skin, making it dry and delicate, Sudocrem can be used to soothe and moisturise dry skin. Sudocrem can also be used to help heal cuts and grazes; help soothe minor burns; and help soothe and ease sunburn. It can also be used on bedsores and chilblains. Two of the most popular alternative uses for Sudocrem are for eczema and acne, with celebrities such as Cheryl Cole even admitting to using it to draw and dry out her blemishes.

As a result of primarily being used as a nappy rash cream, Sudocrem is very gentle on skin and is unlikely to cause any irritation. It also contains a mild anaesthetic to ease pain and can help to prevent infection. Sudocrem creates a protective barrier over wounds helping them to heal and remain free from irritants. With this huge range of benefits and uses, Sudocrem is an essential, money saving, multi-purpose cream to keep in your cupboard!

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