Health and beauty magazines tell us to drink plenty of water so that our complexion will glow like Isabella Rossellini, our figures will ungrow to be like Elle Macpherson, and our energy levels will match tennis dynamos Venus and Selena Williams.

Little wonder many of us wake each morning full of earnest intentions to drink a camels hump and a half of water before nightfall. Sadly, many of us gag after only a few glasses, finding alternative arrangements for the remaining guilt-inducing fluid. Such as watering plastic potplants, or measuring how much water a PC can hold before gurgling.

How much water should we drink. The body loses about 2 litres of water every day, in urine, perspiration, breath, and in the stool. Obviously, we need to replace this. Most foods especially fresh fruit and vegetables contain a fair amount of water. Tea, coffee and alcohol, although they are diuretic (increase the wee factor) still contain water. The idea of drinking an extra 1-2 litres of water is more of a therapeutic and beauty suggestion rather than essential for getting by. The fact that people feel and look better by drinking more water during the day explains why this recommendation keeps kicking around.

There is such a thing as drinking too much water, although it is quite rare. Too much water is anything over 4 litres a day, (with the exception of athletes who may lose this amount of fluid exercising, or anyone in extreme heat). Excessive thirst and excessive urination can signal the less common type of diabetes – diabetes insipidus. Compulsive water drinking may also be a symptom of emotional disturbance with reports of some people drinking over 6 litres of water daily.

Although it has a cute medical name ‘polydipsia’, drinking such large amounts of water (or any fluid) is dangerous. One of the main problems is a disturbance of the bodies electrolyte balance, especially potassium. Fluid can build up in all tissues including the brain. The kidneys may be damaged as they are under huge amounts of stress, trying to filter the excess fluid. If you find yourself unusually thirsty or know of anyone who drinks in excess of 4 litres of water regularly, then it is best to seek medical advice.

Like all things, moderation is the key. Drinking 2 litres of water will make you feel and look better, but don’t think that drinking 4 litres will cause you to look and feel twice as good!

I am a tea girl from way back, unable to start the day without a full pot of tea under my belt. A tea snob too – none of this tea-bag nonsense for me, I insist on tea-leaves for my cuppa. Unfortunately, I am rarely able to enjoy my preferred beverage away from home.

Most cafes sport glitzy espresso machines frothing forth macchiatos, cappuccinos and lattes, tending to treat us tea drinkers as if we have the mange, serving thick-lipped cold coffee cups (tea drinkers prefer fine china thank-you) with a sub-standard tea bag submerged in luke warm and then have the hide to charge the same amount as one of their lovingly prepared espressos. Resentful, moi? However, with the recent good news about the masses of health-giving antioxidants found in tea, tea drinkers are feeling smug and superior, even though we still have to skulk home in order to enjoy our chosen brew.

Tea and history

Half a million years ago, Homo erectus pekinensis threw some leaves into boiling water, and invited her mum over to her cave for a cuppa. Throughout the millenia we humans have not lost our taste for tea.

By the middle of the fourth century, tea was already being cultivated in both China and India. Both cultures are steeped (!) in tea legends and traditions. Like this story from India: Buddism’s founder, Prince Siddhartha Guatama was said to have torn off his eyelids and thrown them to the ground because he fell asleep despite his vow to remain awake during a pilgrimage. Supposedly, the eyelids took root and germinated into tea plants that sprouted leaves with an eyelid shape. All Siddhartha’s fatigue vanished when he chewed the leaves of this plant.

Up until last century China used pressed tea blocks as a form of money. The western world didn’t find out about tea until the 1600’s when the Dutch East India Company (yesteryears e-tail multinational) traded tea to Europe from China. Until the last hundred years tea was a drink of the upper classes. Tea caddies were kept under lock and key to guard against tea leaf thieves.

Today the Irish lead the world in tea drinking, each year consuming over 3kg of tea per person. That’s a lot of cups of tea on top of the odd Guinness. Australia lags behind, only drinking 1kg of tea each per year. Americans barely rate a mention. Ever since the Boston Tea Party, tea has left a bad taste in American mouths, and they have forsaken the tea leaf for the coffee bean.

What is tea?

All tea comes from the tea bush, Camellia sinensis, whether it be black, Oolong or green tea. The only difference between these teas is how long the leaves have been left to ferment (oxidise). Black tea is fermented for the longest time, green tea the shortest, and Oolong tea (popular in Korea) somewhere in between the two. Fermentation of the leaves happens naturally by enzymes as soon as the leaves are picked. To stop the fermentation process, the leaves are steamed or heated which halts the enzyme activity.

90% of tea consumed in the world is black tea. All tea is from the Camelia sinensis plant, but there are hundreds of varieties. To the tea buff, each tea is as different as wine is to the wine aficionado. The tea most of us drink is a blend of different teas, blended by specialists so that the taste is the same from cup to cup from year to year. Tea tasters slurp and spit in the same manner as wine tasters.

The major black tea growing countries are China, India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Common varieties of black tea include Assam and Darjeeling. Well known blends include: Prince of Wales, English and Irish Breakfast. Sometimes a flavouring agent is added to black tea, for instance Bergamot, a type of citrus is added to Earl Grey. Lapsang Souchong is tea produced by drying the tea leaves over open fires of pine wood. All sorts of other flavoured black teas are available such as vanilla, peach, orange. Chai is black tea made on milk with spices such as cardamom and cinnamon.

For a long time I thought Orange Pekoe was a variety of tea. However, it it just a term which refers to the size of the tea leaf. Plain Orange Pekoe is a long wiry leaf whereas just Pekoe is a shorter leaf. On the other hand Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP) refers to an even shorter (broken) leaf. Then there are fannings and tea dust which is not a derogatory term, but refers to the smaller sized leaves which make a stronger cup of tea quicker.

Tea and your health

Tea and nutrients

Tea provides us with small amounts of zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese and fluoride - the tooth strengthening mineral. If you live in an area which does not fluoridate its water supply, then cups of tea can help prevent dental caries. If the mother drinks a cup of tea a day during pregnancy and breastfeeding, this benefit can help the unborn baby and newborn. Only bother if you already are a tea drinker.

Tea and antioxidants

Tea contains tannins. Tannins give tea that deep orange/brown colour, and as it happens these tannins contain phenols which are known to be antioxidant. Antioxidants are helpful for everything from preventing heart disease and cancer to slowing the progression of wrinkles. One particular phenol, epigallocatechin gallate, is a whopping 30 times more potent than vitamin E. Another phenol, theaflavin is also a big-wig antioxidant. Interestingly, comparisons between tea and red wine, show that tea has a greater antioxidant activity, and you can still drive home. If you drink a couple of cups a tea a day, you are receiving over 250mg of tea polyphenols, a significant daily intake of antioxidants.

The antioxidants in tea are available in both green and black tea, so if you have been trying to develop a taste for green tea, relax and put your feet up because you are receiving similar health benefits from your standard cuppa. Adding milk does not interfere with the absorption of the antioxidants.

Tea and iron

Drinking a cup of tea after a meal can reduce the amount of iron you absorb from that meal by up to 60%. Particularly if the iron is non-haem, that is comes from vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. Tea will inhibit some iron absorption from haem-iron, that is the type of iron found in meat, but not as much as vegetable iron. If you are prone to anaemia, the common symptom of being low in iron, then perhaps you should resist drinking tea directly after a meal. Drinking tea between meals has no effect on iron levels. Anaemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in developed countries, symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, nausea and looking pale and interesting. Vitamin C really helps with iron absorption. If you are a vegetarian, or know you are at risk of anaemia (for instance suffer from heavy periods) then there are some vitamin C’y things you can do to improve iron absorption from your food. Drink a glass of orange, cranberry or tomato juice (this does not necessarily mean a Bloody Mary) with your meal. Squeeze some lemon juice on your food or take a vitamin C tablet after your meal.

Tea and calcium

As well as iron, tea drinking can reduce the amount of calcium we absorb from food. Drinking coffee is far worse in this regard than tea. However, lots of cups of tea (over 5 a day) can potentially be a problem. Calcium is important for nerves and muscles, but we need it mostly for strong bones. Loss of calcium from bones is a big factor in osteoporosis, which can lead to all sorts of problems like back and neck pain and more tragically broken hips. If you worry about your calcium levels, make sure you are eating plenty of calcium rich foods including cheese, yoghurt, sardines (with bones), broccoli, nuts and seeds. If you are really worried (and ask your doctor whether you should be eg family history of osteoporosis, post menopausal etc) then perhaps you should take a calcium supplement. Over 1,000mg taken at night when calcium is taken into bones more effectively. Bone density tests are a reliable indication of where your bones are at with regard to osteoporosis.

Tea and diarrhoea

The tannins in tea are astringent and a little drying. For a minority, this can cause constipation. On the other hand, weak black tea can be quite helpful in the treatment of diarrhoea. The tannins can kill certain microbes that cause diarrhoea and vomiting. In addition, weak black tea with a bit of honey or sugar will help replace fluid and glucose after vomiting and diarrhoea, and seems to stay down better than other fluids. Never drink milk after diarrhoea or vomiting, because quite often the enzymes that break down milk sugar, lactase, have been wiped out by the gastro-intestinal hijinks, and take a few days to regroup.

Tea and the wee factor

Both theophylline and caffeine, present in tea, are diuretics. Which means, they stimulate urine flow through the kidneys and out of the body. If you rely only on tea for your fluids, then it is a good idea to top up with some extra water or juice.

Tea and burns

Although a scalding cup of tea can cause a nasty burn if it falls in your lap, applying cool black tea can help heal a burn or wound. The tannins are antibacterial as well as astringent, and will help dry up a weeping wound.

Tea and the mind

There is nothing like a good cup of tea to refresh the tired mind. Tea contains just enough caffeine to stimulate, without causing that nasty jittery feeling that can come from coffee. Small amounts of caffeine have been shown to improve memory, concentration and alertness.

Tea and dust mites

Many people are allergic to dust mites, and dust mite poo. Dust mites live in pillows, mattresses, carpets and blinds. When susceptible noses come into contact with dust mites and their business, a sneeze results. Other reactions include: sinus; itchy eyes, nose and throat; asthma, allergic shiners (dark patches under the eyes) and in children the ‘allergic salute’- a persistent upward rubbing of the nose causing a permanent horizontal crease. After a good vacuum, spray a solution of weak black tea sprayed over carpets (hope you like Berber), mattress and pillows. The tea tannins will inactivate the mite. Another thing to do is to fit special ‘anti dust-mite’ covers over mattress and pillows. Like vampires, mites detest direct sunlight. Open windows during the day to allow the sun to shine in.

Tea and asthma

Theophylline is used medically to treat asthma, as large doses will dilate the bronchioles, breathing tubes. To treat an asthma attack you need more than a cup of tea’s worth of theophylline, although regular cups of tea can help reduce the tendancy to asthma.

Tea and baggy eyes

If you suffer from PES (Puffy eye syndrome) then try this quick fix. Drink two cups of tea-bag tea, or have a cup of tea with a baggy-eyed friend. Keep the tea-bags, when they are cool, lie down and place a tea bag over each eye. Your friend will have to wait their turn and use second hand bags. Your eyes will look bright and sparkling, and bagless. Go out and party!

Tea and Caffeine

Tea, coffee, guarana and chocolate all contain a group of chemicals called the xanthines (zan-theens). The xantheen found mostly in tea is theophylline, but tea also contains caffeine. A cup of tea (green or black) provides roughly half the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.

As caffeine is water soluble, when you make tea (with bag or leaves) caffeine is one of the first substances released into the water. If you want to reduce your caffeine intake, dip your tea bag for a couple of seconds in one cup of hot water, throw this water away as it contains most of the caffeine, and then put the tea-bag in the second cup of water for a full-flavoured, antioxidant-rich but caffeine-reduced cup of tea.

Although tea has less than half the caffeine than coffee, it is probably the caffeine that gives you that refreshing ‘lift’ from a good strong cuppa. However, if you have several cups of tea a day, or are especially sensitive to the effects of caffeine, you may need to reduce your tea consumption or do the tea bag dipping routine mentioned above. Symptoms of being affected by caffeine include: nervousness, agitation and a rapid heart rate.

Recommendations

As tea is actually pretty good for you, and I really like it, I am not in the position of suggesting you stop drinking it. Two to four cups of tea a day will provide you with plenty of antioxidants without compromising your calcium, iron and fluid intake. If you are at risk of anaemia try not to drink your tea too close to meals. However, if you enjoy your tea a lot more than four cups a day, then you might need to take out some nutritional insurance.

• Drink at least one litre of water, in addition to your tea
• If you are at risk of anaemia (ask your doctor) you may need to take an iron supplement. I recommend the liquid herbal iron tonics.
• If you drink a lot of tea and are over 40years old (male or female) take a calcium supplement every night. About 1,000mg.

Do you know anyone on a very restricted diet? First to go is red meat (because of the cholesterol), then chicken (because of the antibiotics) then it’s anything with eyes.

What follows on the banned list is dairy (because it forms mucus), gluten (because of the bloat), potatoes and rice (because they are starches) and oil (because it’s oil).

Interestingly coffee, alcohol, diet cola and cigarettes are often still included in this healthy diet, which makes me suspicious this is not a health fest but rather disordered eating. It’s not immediately obvious because the person is not starving themselves (as in anorexia) or throwing up or purging (as in bulimia). Nevertheless… Houston – we have a problem.

While some restrictive diets may appear hunky-dory on the surface because there is no junk food and an preponderance of lettuce leaves, the lack of variety and paucity of nutrients may lead to health problems. Some as blatant as protein deficiency, but other common nutrients in low supply may include iron, B12, calcium and essential fatty acids. It can take some time for deficiency signs to emerge, such as weak nails, lacklustre skin, lethargy and slow healing time. In addition, the long-term health problems are significant including osteoporosis, infertility and lowered immunity.

Mea culpa

Naturopaths are partially to blame as we often diagnose food allergies and sensitivities, taking people off a particular food to see if their symptoms improve. Eliminating a food e.g. milk products for one or two weeks as a dietary challenge is unlikely to negatively affect your health. If the allergy diet improves your symptoms (e.g. hayfever or sinus), your naturopath may recommend you reduce these foods from your everyday diet. What the naturopath will also do is to ensure that the rest of your diet makes up for the lost nutrients. In the case of dairy you would be considering calcium-rich food like almonds, fish with bones (sardines, canned salmon), soy milk and leafy green vegetables. If the person is at particular risk of calcium deficiency, a supplement might be appropriate. The problem occurs when other nutritious foods are not substituted for the eliminated ones. This often happens for the budding vegetarian, who will simply take the chop off their plate and not replace meat with other protein choices (e.g. legumes).

Given the emphasis on the body beautiful (i.e. thin) and all the conflicting ideas about what is good and bad to eat, no wonder there is confusion about what constitutes a good diet. Women in their late teens to late twenties seem to be more inclined to favour super-strict diets. Fear of fatness is a major concern, and if this diet also keeps them slim, it is really hard to convince these women to change.

A restrictive diet makes socialising very difficult. Not many restaurants cater to gluten-free, dairy-free vegans – mainly because the food is boring. When a diet so severely interferes with someone’s life, without VERY good health reasons, it is time to question the real reasons. These reasons may be similar to why someone chooses other eating disorders including obesity, anorexia and bulimia. There are counsellors who specialise in this area. A healthy diet is a varied diet that adds pleasure to your life, rather than restricts it.

I had no idea Mum was a closet aromatherapist. A fan of the seldom seen (but effective) treatment for the flu, popular in the late ’60s, she used to rub Vicks onto the soles of my feet, put some woolly socks on me, and send me to bed with the cat. Aromatherapy is not really New Age.

Frankincense has been used since Adam was a boy to calm the mind and create a meditative atmosphere. Vicks Vaporub, the stalwart of Aussie homes, utilises the essential oils of eucalyptus, cedar, nutmeg and thyme.

Essential oils, the working tools of aromatherapy, are aromatic substances derived by distillation from various parts of plants including the flowers, leaves, fruits, roots and bark. Research into aromatherapy has found inhaled fragrance compounds are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate the brain cortex and limbic area, the seat of emotions. This explains the two-fold effect of smell on both body and mind.

To make an aromatherapy massage oil, add a couple of drops of a specific essential oil such as lavender (calming), grapefruit (stimulating) to a ‘base’ oil such as almond or olive oil. Essential oils can also be rubbed neat on to the body, but take care to use only a drop or two. Many people burn the oils in purpose-built aromatherapy vaporisers. Clary sage or jasmine will increase mental alertness and vigilance, ylang ylang is the reputed oil of seduction. If you have a headache, massage one drop of rosemary or lavender oil into each temple. There is nothing cooler on a hot day (or for menopausal flushes) than to soak your feet in a peppermint oil foot-bath.

Whatever you do, don’t overdo them. Apart from reeling from the smell, excessive amounts of essential oils can cause a nasty rash, headaches and nausea. It is also possible to be allergic to certain oils. As little as 5mL (one teaspoon) of essential oils, if taken internally, is toxic and may cause liver damage. I nearly had an essential-oil inspired heart attack one year. As a Christmas gift, I gave my patients tiny bottles of essential oil to add to their baths. My coronary nearly came about in January, when a favourite patient returned after the holiday break. She said ‘Thank you for the gift, Mim, but I must say, it was a little strong for my tastes’!!!!

Having a quiet wee should be one of lifes simple pleasures. Cystitis shatters this pastoral scene. With visions of razor blades, hell-fire and multiple midnight journeys back and forth to the toilet.

An inflammation of the bladder, cystitis commonly affects women and girls. The bladder is a sac that collects urine from the kidneys situated due north. Urine travels down little tubes, called ureters, one for each kidney. When the urine reaches a critical volume, it’s time to wee. Urine exits the bladder via the urethra. For women, a relatively short journey to the outside world compared to boys. Think about it. In what could be considered a design flaw (the only one I can think of) this positions the female urethra close to other local landmarks, the vagina and just up the way from the anus. The cause of cystitis is often due to this architectural glitch. An unthinking wipe in the wrong direction can be all it takes to transport trouble from one place to another. G-strings, lycra and pantihose are also prime offenders. Swap them for socks and Cottontails. Scented soap, bubble baths and deodorant sprays will make the situation worse. Desist. Shower as soon as you have finished exercise, and before and after intercourse.

Cranberries have other uses apart from tarting up a Turkey dinner. These red berries are a very effective treatment for cystitis. Usually taken as a diluted juice, one or two glasses a day can ease the symptoms and prevent the recurrence of cystitis. Cranberries, along with other red and blue berries are a rich source of the antioxidants, procyanidins. Research suggests it may be this compound that prevents bacteria from holding on to the bladder wall.

Thrush can be implicated in cystitis, particularly after a course or two of antibiotics. Take some acidophilus and bifidus powder each morning, and splash a little around when you bathe. Alkalising sachets available from the chemist work because they calm the inflamed bladder. A teaspoon of soda bicarbonate in a glass of water will do the same, but remember it calms but does not cure. Copious quantities (three litres) of fresh water must be drunk to flush out the bugs. Ban sugar. You are fighting the good fight against bacteria; bacteria loves sugar, and sugar lowers the immune system. Herbs that are helpful include Buchu, Uva ursi and Echinacea. Best drunk as a tea, these can also be found in herbal cystitis tablets. Boost the immune system with vitamin C, A and zinc.

May you wee in peace.

The occasional bout of constipation is part of life’s rich tapestry. More than now and then, however, can be a bit of a strain.

Straining, going to the toilet less frequently, and rabbit-dropping poos are all signs of constipation.

Other symptoms include bad breath, tiredness, headaches, loss of appetite, coated tongue, bloated tummy, flatulence, and skin problems. When it comes to bowel movements, ‘normal’ means whatever is normal for you. Some people go three times a day, others three times a week, or less. In general, people feel better with one or two good poos daily. The reason why most of us feel so good after a satisfactory episode is that when we defecate, brain waves change from alpha to beta, a more meditative and calming state of mind.

The digestive tract is one long tube, extending from the mouth at one end, to the rectum and anus at the other. Chewing precipitates a downwards, wave-like movement called peristalsis, which ultimately heralds a call of nature. Peristalsis explains why ‘the urge’ often happens after a meal. It is also the reason not to chew chewing gum, as chewing without food heading down straight away, unintentionally confuses your poor bowel.

Not drinking enough water is an overlooked cause of constipation. Without sufficient fluid, the contents of the bowel become dried out and difficult to pass. Eating enough fibre-y foods is a must. Fibre doesn’t get absorbed from the bowel, lingering to soaking up water, increasing stool size. A larger stool exerts more pressure against the bowel wall, particularly at the rectum (the last stop before Bondi). This pressure initiates a bowel movement. I am not too fond of ‘fibre-enhanced’ foods, preferring the fibre-rich originals such as wholemeal (as opposed to multigrain) bread, brown rice, fruit (3 servings daily), vegetables (3 vegetables and a salad daily), nuts and seeds (a small handful daily). If you need extra fibre, supplement with psyllium husks, linseeds or slippery elm.

Stress tightens many muscles, including the bowel wall. For some people, this causes diarrhoea, for others – those who react to stress by ‘holding on’ internally, stress will cause constipation. The tightness of intestinal muscles can cause the stressed poo to look like small pellets or animal droppings. If this sounds like you, the muscle relaxing mineral, magnesium will help. Regular and rhythmic exercise such as yoga or swimming also calms a tense bowel.

Every now and then some herbal help may be required. Perhaps when travelling, if this causes your bowels to be shy. Or if for reasons beyond your control your diet is not as good as you would like. This is the time to bring out the herbal teas, containing small amounts of senna (the laxative herb) and rhubarb root as well as herbs such as peppermint, fennel and dill, known as ‘calminatives’ that work to reduce any spasm of the bowel.

If constipation is your thing, a little detective work might be needed to assess whether you have a tense bowel that requires ‘gentling’ with fibre, water, relaxation and magnesium rather than resorting to harsh laxatives.

You may have read in the papers of a trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine which concluded that Echinacea has no effect on the prevention and treatment of the common cold. While naturopaths welcome rigorous scientific review of herbal and other natural remedies, this study may not reveal the whole picture.

The participants of the study were given an artificially induced infection after taking a dose of Echinacea for 7 days before and 5 days after the infection.

Unfortunately, it appears there are at least two flaws in the experiment. Firstly, the dose of Echinacea was less than one sixth of the recommended dosage, and secondly the Echinacea herb used was of unknown quality. They didn’t ask a herbalist to be involved in the experiment. As herbalists we are trained for four years. Not only is the correct therapeutic dosage important in treating and illness, the quality of the herb (or any vitamin or drug) is paramount. If it is an inferior product you cannot expect results.

This is why we only stock herbs that have been proven to contain the correct amounts of therapeutic constituents. Over recent years (and especially since the Pan debacle) the good herbal and vitamin manufacturers (and we only stock the best!) have risen to the challenge of adopting best practice procedures in procuring and manufacturing.

The reference for the trial is New England Journal of Medicine 2005; 353(4):341-348

Is your tummy bloated? Is flatulence causing you concern?

Yes and yes are the answers I commonly hear from patients. Even for the most ladylike among us, it is normal to pass 200-2,400ml of wind (flatus) each day.

Flatulence is made up of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and the flammable and smelly gas, methane. Two-thirds of the wind we expel is formed by microflora (bateria in the bowel), the rest being made up of air we swallow. Just who and how this flatus is measured is another story.

Poor eating habits contribute to bloating and flatulence. Chewing with your mouth open allows excess air into the intestine, another reason why Mother said to eat with your mouth closed. If a client walks into my room chewing gum, I proffer a tissue, and ask them to spit it out. Chewing gum, particularly on an empty stomach is a common cause of bloating. Drinking more than a cup of liquids with meals is also asking for trouble.

The first stage of digestion occurs in the mouth, and teeth play an important role in grinding the food into smaller bits. If you fail to chew properly, the undigested bits will be met by an enthusiastic crowd of gas-producing microflora in the large bowel.

A proper chew was once defined by Horace Fletcher, an American obsessed with mastication in the 1930’s, as 32 times each mouthful: one chew for every tooth. Quite obviously, this leaves little time for living between mealtimes. In late 20th century Australia, ten thorough chews per mouthful is adequate, a couple more for tough meat.

An imbalance in microflora is a common cause of flatulence and bloating. Taking a course of ‘good’ bacteria such as acidophilus and bifidus may resolve this. As well as adding probiotic (promoting good bacteria) foods such as yoghurt and miso to your diet, to introduce beneficial bacteria into the digestive tract. Avoid sugar, as it will only feed the bad bowel bugs.

Flatulence and bloating may also be signs of digestive disorders including reflux, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome and lactose (milk sugar) intolerance. Taking a tablet containing digestive enzymes with hydrochloric acid with each meal might help. Another good idea is to sip before dinner, a glass of water in which a teaspoon of herbal bitters has been added.

If all else fails, follow my grandfather’s advice and ‘wherever you may be, let the air flow free’!