Food has never been more accessible but poor diet is, in part, responsible for the increase in preventable diseases. This short programme produced with the College of Medicine and ITN Productions Industry News discusses key issue in the arena of…
“We must find a more sustainable way to farm food”: HRH The Prince of Wales speaks at the ‘Food on Prescription’ conference
HRH The Prince of Wales has urged the UK’s ‘best brains’ to try and find a more sustainable approach to farming that doesn’t deplete vital soil nutrients. Speaking in a pre-recorded film at the College of Medicine’s third food and…
Poor sleep leaves us more likely to crave unhealthy food, says US study
Sleep deprivation makes it harder to resist unhealthy foods, according to a new US study. Researchers at Northwestern University, Chicago, found that not getting enough sleep sparks production of the hormones endocannabinoids, which affect food cravings and how smells are…
New PhD post: The Work of Complementary and Alternative Therapies on British Dairy Farms – apply by October 21st
The University of Bristol is seeking applications for a PhD studentship in The Work of Complementary and Alternative Therapies on British Dairy Farms. This PhD project asks if and how the use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies affect farmers’ decisions…
VIDEO: “Food can help prevent illness and be part of treating disease”
This month brings the College of Medicine’s third annual Food conference, this year entitled ‘Food on Prescription‘, to the Royal Society of Medicine on October 24th. The one-day conference has become a ‘must attend’ for healthcare professionals who want to…
Complementary Medicine Roundup – September 2019
Starting at the end Photoby Marion Eaton As you may know, my husband, Richard Eaton, died on June 14th this year. Michael Dixon wrote a very touching tribute to him saying that his death was a great loss to…
Technology such as fitness trackers can provide better health insights for doctors, research finds
Taking note of daily fitness levels via trackers including an Apple Watch or a Fitbit could potentially help doctors diagnose serious conditions in patients, according to new research. Researchers at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City said the data provided…
Salt should carry similar health warnings to cigarette packets, say experts
Salt cellars should come with clear health warnings on them to help prevent people from consuming too much, a group of doctors is advising. The medical experts say consumers should be warned via labelling on salt shakers bought in supermarkets…
VIDEO: Prof Dean Ornish to speak at UK Food Conference
A leading global voice on social prescribing, Professor Dean Ornish, whose body of work promotes a healthier lifestyle via exercise, diet and stress over pills, will speak at The College of Medicine’s Food on Prescription Conference at The Royal Society…
European Congress for Integrative Medicine to be held in London in 2020
The European Congress on Integrative Medicine will be hosted in London in 2020, it has been announced. It is the first time the long-established event, which offers a forum to facilitate the advancement of healthcare that combines conventional medicine with evidence…
First rule of complementary therapy? Recognise ‘red flags’ that indicate a serious medical problem
The College of Medicine’s Dr Toh Wong, a GP trainer, discusses how complementary therapists must feel confident in reporting potentially serious conditions to doctors when necessary… What do red flags have to do with complementary therapy? One of the biggest…
Cycling is great exercise…but is your saddle hurting your health?
Author of Keep Healthy After Cancer, leading oncologist Professor Robert Thomas examines the rarely discussed negative effects of cycling on male health – and how diet can help… Whether you’re commuting, being a weekend-warrior in a gruelling sportif or just having…
Prescription drugs addiction is increasing in England, say health chiefs
The number of people in the UK taking strong painkillers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills long-term is rising, health chiefs have warned. In a new review by Public Health England, research found that 25 per cent of adults regularly use such…
Short bursts of activity are beneficial to health, say updated guidelines
Partaking in just a few minutes of exercise can still benefit health, new guidelines in the UK state. It was previously recommended that at least ten minutes of exercise was needed to have any positive impact on health. However, the…
Positive thinkers live longer because they’re better at ‘bouncing back’, new study says
Being optimistic could extend life, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Looking on the bright side could even help people achieve “exceptional longevity”, reaching 85 or older. The research, carried out…
Prue Leith is latest star name to try to improve hospital food, saying meals should give ‘pleasure and comfort’
Television star Prue Leith, a judge on Channel 4 baking show The Great British Bake Off, is set to advise hospital caterers on how to improve food for patients. The high-profile recruitment comes after the government announced in June that it…
Omega-3 fats offer ‘zero benefit’ for type 2 diabetes, says research
People with type 2 diabetes get little or no benefit from taking fish oil supplements, new research says. A study, commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and published by the British Medical Journal, took in data from 83 trials…
Poor sleep can ‘increase risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease and strokes’
People who consistently struggle to sleep well could be at a higher risk of heart failure, strokes and coronary artery disease, according to new research. Scientists at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden studied data on the sleep patterns of 1.3million…
Doctors and complementary therapists need to work together for better patient outcomes
GP Trainer Dr Toh Wong shares how his London conference has proved an important building block in helping complementary therapists and doctors work in a more cohesive way to improve patient care… The last three years has seen a torrent…
The College of Medicine launches online evidence-based Self Care Toolkit ‘to empower patients’
A new online health website has launched to help give patients more control of their health. Our Health Directory, found at ourhealth.directory, has been created by the College of Medicine to offer a reliable, evidence-based user-friendly online guide to a…
July 31st deadline for application for two-year diploma in Integrative medicine
The deadline to apply for the National Centre for Integrative Medicine’s for two-year diploma in Integrative medicine is looming, with July 31st 2019 the final date for applications. This course is for healthcare professionals who would like to apply a…
New research finds herbal tea beneficial for thyroid and liver function
A new paper by the University of the West of England (UWE) and herbal well-being company Pukka Herbs has reviewed available clinical evidence and shows that drinking herbal teas are beneficial for a range of health conditions. In a review…
Is the UK lagging behind when it comes to supporting complementary medicine?
A new report from the World Health Organisation red flags that the UK is not doing enough to support complementary medicine, says the College of Medicine’s Chair Dr Michael Dixon. The WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine 2019 aims…
Bacteria found in the gut of top athletes could improve physical performance
New research has suggested that high performance athletes have different biomes to those who exercise more moderately or not at all. A special type of gut bacteria, veillonella, was found in the digestive microbiomes of elite athletes and scientists believe…
Dr Zoe Harcombe: ‘Why the Eat-Lancet plant-based diet is nutritionally deficient’
The EAT-Lancet Commission released details of the controversial Eat-Lancet diet in January. Here, ahead of the College of Medicine’s Food On Prescription Conference in October 2019, author and researcher Dr Zoe Harcombe, who specialises in examining public health dietary guidelines,…
