Why whole food may be greater than the sum of its parts

21 September 2017 at 16:09

Why whole food may be greater than the sum of its parts

Naturopaths have long believed in the health benefits of eating whole, unprocessed foods and a panel of experts has now recognised the value of this approach - concluding that a food must be evaluated as a whole rather than by analysis of its individual nutrients.

The panel – formed by the University of Copenhagen and the University of Reading – comprised eighteen epidemiologists, physicians and food and nutrition scientists. These experts agreed that it is not possible to predict the effect that a food will have on health based on the individual nutrients that it contains. Foods are made up of multiple components held together in complex structures, and the nature of the structure can affect the way that nutrients are digested and absorbed within the body. This means that two foods with a similar nutrient profile could act differently within the body and have different effects on health.

Cheese is a good example which supports the theory – it was found to have less of an effect on blood cholesterol than would be expected based on its saturated fat content.  This was thought to be due to a complex relationship between minerals and other substances found in cheese, such as beneficial bacteria. Almonds also showed surprising results, releasing significantly less fat than expected during digestion, even when they were thoroughly chewed.

More work needs to be done to understand the implications of these findings, but it does suggest that some foods may not be as unhealthy as has previously been believed and this could lead to significant changes in dietary recommendations in the future. 

The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition earlier this year.

To find out more about the relationship between diet and health, why not consider a course in nutrition.

Posted in Health | Nutrition

To salt or not to salt?

31 August 2017 at 16:26

To salt or not to salt? Can salt be beneficial to blood pressure? Earlier this year a large, long term study found that a low sodium diet wasn’t beneficial to blood pressure. This goes ... [ read more ]

Posted in Alternative Medicine | Education | Health | Nutrition

The School of Health - What is Homeopathy?

23 August 2017 at 09:12

What is homeopathy Did you know homeopathy is a system of natural health care that has been in worldwide use for over 200 years? It is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the second ... [ read more ]

Posted in Homeopathy | Alternative Medicine | Health

Benefits of Raw Chocolate

21 August 2017 at 11:26

Benefits of Raw Chocolate   Raw cacao products are some of the most appealing superfoods around – the idea that chocolate can be good for you is the news that many people have been ... [ read more ]

Hormonal Health : 1 Day Event

18 August 2017 at 16:44

Hormonal Health : 1 Day Event This packed and informative day will demystify the various hormonal health issues that many people suffer from, including thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, PCOS, ... [ read more ]

Posted in Alternative Medicine | Inspiration | Nutrition

Eating the Mediterranean way

02 August 2017 at 16:22

Eating the Mediterranean way The Mediterranean diet comes up time and time again in reports as one of the healthiest diets one can follow, with studies finding it beneficial to a whole host of ... [ read more ]

Posted in Health | Nutrition | Nutrition

School principal meets HRH

28 July 2017 at 17:47

School principal meets HRH The School of Health Principal, Mani Norland was invited to an event on Monday 24 th July 2017 to celebrate natural medicine at His Royal Highness the Prince of ... [ read more ]

Posted in Homeopathy

Flexitarianism: is it for you?

24 July 2017 at 15:50

Flexitarianism: is it for you? Flexitarianism (or ‘flexible vegetarianism’) is becoming increasingly popular as a move towards better health without the commitment of going fully ... [ read more ]

Posted in Alternative Medicine | Inspiration | Environment | Health

The Prince will see you now: Charles opens holistic clinic at the stately home he saved for the nation

19 July 2017 at 16:24

The Prince will see you now: Charles opens 'holistic' clinic at the stately home he saved for the nation Prince Charles is creating a state-of-the-art clinic that will offer free ... [ read more ]

Posted in Homeopathy | Alternative Medicine | Health

The Natural Health Taster Seminar

20 April 2017 at 09:25

The Natural Health Taster Seminar Come and join us for the most amazing 5 days of learning. During this event you will learn about natural healthcare from a truly holistic perspective looking ... [ read more ]

Posted in Alternative Medicine | Education | Inspiration | Health