Articles by Marta Anhelush

The gut and genital tract microflora of females are complex biological ecosystems that are in continuous communication with each other. The bacteria that colonise the vagina evolved through translocation of bacteria from the gut to the vagina, or through mother-to-child transfer during delivery. The vaginal microbiome is composed of over 200 species and is unique to each female, as it differs depending on genes, age, hygiene, dietary habits, ethnicity, and use of lubricants or medications.1,2 The overall health of the vagina depends on several factors, namely a healthy balance of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, good quality connective tissue, and a robust and diverse balance of beneficial bacteria that reside in the genital area which make up the vaginal microbiome.3
The normal vaginal microflora consists of Lactobacillus bacteria that emerge from the gut. This includes L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L.rhamnosus, L. salivarius, and L. plantarum with some Bifidobacterium species. These strains produce lactic acid, which maintains the vaginal pH to be within the required 3.5-4.5. This acidity is essential to prevent opportunistic bacteria from proliferating uncontrollably. Lactobacillus strains also exert a natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect, which keeps foreign bacteria at bay. Other commensal anaerobic species with great propensity to becoming pathogens, especially when Lactobacilli are depleted include Gardnerella, Prevotella, Megasphaera, Atopobium, Streptococcus, Mobiluncus, Mycoplasma and Peptoniphilus. When in high levels, these strains may contribute to vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV).4 <

The gut and genital tract microflora of females are complex biological ecosystems that are in continuous communication with each other. The bacteria that colonise the vagina evolved through translocation of bacteria from the gut to the vagina, or through mother-to-child transfer during delivery. The vaginal microbiome is composed of over 200 species and is unique to each female, as it differs depending on genes, age, hygiene, dietary habits, ethnicity, and use of lubricants or medications.1,2 The overall health of the vagina depends on several factors, namely a healthy balance of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, good quality connective tissue, and a robust and diverse balance of beneficial bacteria that reside in the genital area which make up the vaginal microbiome.3
The normal vaginal microflora consists of Lactobacillus bacteria that emerge from the gut. This includes L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L.rhamnosus, L. salivarius, and L. plantarum with some Bifidobacterium species. These strains produce lactic acid, which maintains the vaginal pH to be within the required 3.5-4.5. This acidity is essential to prevent opportunistic bacteria from proliferating uncontrollably. Lactobacillus strains also exert a natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect, which keeps foreign bacteria at bay. Other commensal anaerobic species with great propensity to becoming pathogens, especially when Lactobacilli are depleted include Gardnerella, Prevotella, Megasphaera, Atopobium, Streptococcus, Mobiluncus, Mycoplasma and Peptoniphilus. When in high levels, these strains may contribute to vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV).4 <

Modern life has created a metabolic ‘energy crisis’. Many people seem to have dysfunctional energy metabolism resulting in persistent fatigue, high stress levels, weight gain and long-term metabolic dysfunction. ‘Unexplained’ fatigue is commonplace, comprising 5-7% of primary care appointments1 and is occurring in younger people too.2 Yet medical practitioners struggle to find solutions and are restricted to looking at a limited range of blood tests to identify obvious culprits such as anaemia. In fact, often the symptoms are sub-clinical and wrapped up in the complexities of energy homeostasis and the wider picture of stress and environmental demand.

After what has seemed like a never ending, cold, dark winter, the scent of spring is finally in the air and warmer weather is on the horizon. And while this change in season is known for a household clean, what about our bodies that we have perhaps neglected over the last few months? Or perhaps you dread the upcoming pollen season and need to support your immunity? To compensate for nutrient losses and drains on our body systems at the end of this dark season, our Nutrition team have picked out some Spring Essentials to give you an immune and antioxidant boost, promote tissue repair, and to support your gut bacteria, giving our bodies a bit of a spring clean.

We now know the true importance of daily nutrition to support overall health and wellbeing for us adults, and this goes for the little ones too! Just as we need to ensure our bodies are taking in all of the essential nutrients to thrive, this is the same for our children, and laying down good nutritional foundations in childhood can have lifelong benefits.

Our extensive range of advanced, effective nutritional supplements for children covers the key areas that underpin child development from neonatal nutrition, promoting healthy immunity, bone health and cognition.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our children’s range, formulated by our Clinical Nutrition team in conjunction with leading practitioners to provide the highest standard of products, suitable for all ages, from babies to teenagers. Free from artificial colours and flavours, in liquid or powder forms for convenience and flexible dosing options.