Tomatoes are full of an abundance of health promoting compounds including antioxidants, lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamin C and are a staple of one of the healthiest ways of eating – the Mediterranean diet. There is a common myth that tomatoes can contribute to inflammation and worsen arthritis, however so far this is anecdotal, as there is no scientific evidence to date to suggest that tomatoes cause or worsen symptoms of arthritis.

Chocolate comes from the cacao plant, which provides a high level of minerals and antioxidants. In contrast to the cacao rich drinks of the Aztecs and Maya people, commercial milk chocolate today consists of cocoa butter, sugar, milk and a small quantity of cacao. In contrast, dark chocolate has much larger levels of healthful cacao, as well as less milk and sugar. Not all dark chocolate is created equal - solid cocoa content ranges from 47% (sweet dark) to 70%, 75%, or even above 90% for highly dark chocolate – so always check the cocoa content, as the higher the percentage of cocoa, the higher level of nutrients the chocolate is likely to deliver.

Are there any natural solutions to allergies? We look at the natural antihistamines that can help with environmental and seasonal allergies.

In the week of International Womens Day, we are bringing you our own Cytoplan women and some of their stories around their own specific life, work and health journeys.

Starting with our ultimate Woman of Cytoplan and expert, Amanda Williams. She is the brains behind our formulations; which we believe are the best in the world. We’ve asked Amanda some questions we’ve always wanted to ask, and we know you’d like to read about, in this special edition of ‘Ask the Expert’.

Now a frequent sight in the supermarkets, gut shot drinks claim to boost your immunity. But can they really help your gut and support your wellbeing? Find out what our Nutritional Therapist, Ruth, thinks.

Our cardiovascular (CV) system carries out many essential functions within the body. It is a complex system of veins, arteries, and capillaries, along with the heart, that transport nutrients, oxygen and hormones to cells throughout the body whilst also removing waste products from the cells for detoxification and excretion. It offers protection to the body by transporting white blood cells and antibodies in the blood to defend against pathogens. Clotting mechanisms are also present that protect the body from blood loss after injuries and our CV system even regulates body pH and temperature, so it is easy to understand why supporting a healthy heart is essential for our wellbeing.

Perimenopause, or the menopause transition, is a natural progression in a woman’s life when her reproductive system gradually slows until you hit “menopause”; when you have had an absence of periods for 12 months. The length of perimenopause differs between individuals, and can occur over just a few months, or up to 10 years – but 4 years is the average duration.

During our “premenopausal” reproductive years, our levels of the sex hormone oestrogen, made by the ovaries rise and fall fairly predictably throughout the menstrual cycle. In perimenopause, your oestrogen levels begin to decrease, which effects the levels of another sex hormone, progesterone. These hormones are responsible for ovulation and menstruation and start to fluctuate greatly during perimenopause before your ovaries stop producing oestrogen altogether at menopause.  

Detox is a hot topic when January rolls around; the festivities of Christmas and new year are over, and you may feel like you have overindulged in the party food and drink. Instead of throwing yourself into a strict (and ultimately unsustainable) regime, have you thought about a natural detox to start the new year off right?

For those of us striving for optimal health, the idea of “superfoods” is likely to be very appealing. While there isn’t a scientifically based or regulated definition of what makes a food super, as a general rule it refers to a food that offers a rich source of desirable nutrients, is linked to the prevention of particular health conditions or is considered to offer several desirable health benefits beyond its nutritional value. According to Collins English Dictionary, a superfood is “a food that contains many vitamins and other substances that are considered to be very good for your health” -which doesn’t really help to narrow it down