Rachel Shackleton's blog

Cinnamon* (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is a well recognised spice, and one of the oldest spices.  It is one of the seasonings in “Five Spice Powder”, together with anise, star anise, cloves and fennel seeds.  In the Western world cinnamon features strongly in the colder months, especially at Christmas when it is added to mulled wine, Christmas cakes, mincemeat in mince pies and many other seasonal delicacies. What benefits and effects on health does Cinnamon have?

Menopause is a natural part of any woman’s life, not a disease as some might think.  Women can now expect to live 20-30 years past the menopause.  Quality of life is vital to enjoying these years, including abundant energy, good memory, skin and hair, as well as being able to have a good nights sleep, be free from aches and pains and have a good sex life.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is not the only option out there to achieve this desired life quality.  Treating menopause naturally through diet, herbs, supplements and exercise can make a huge difference to life quality.

The recent news and discussion on the connection between ill health and loneliness is sad, whilst at the same time the root of many questions.  Humans are social animals.  Socializing in a face-to-face manner may not only be fun, stimulating, comforting and motivational, but also necessary to sustain who we are whilst essential to support a healthy mind and body.

At this time of year, as schools begin to wind down for the festive season, the excitement of meeting family and friends to share celebratory moments, bring gifts and Christmas cheer starts to dominate. So too do seasonal colds and flu.

With shorter days and colder temperatures seasonal and opportunistic bugs take the opportunity to spread virulently. Those with a weak immune are the first to go down. Supporting and boosting the immune system to avoid falling victim becomes important and for the weaker members of society-  children and the elderly, perhaps even urgent.

When looking at the word “bitter” there are many uses in the English language – to be bitter about something, to have a bitter taste, or to refer to the weather – It was bitter on top of the mountain.  Humans are not exempt from this word “bitter” as it can also be used to describe an attitude or emotion of a particular type of person or a person’s feelings on a situation  – “he is very bitter about…. “.