Yoga, Honey and Almonds

An informative look at recent Holistic Fitness News

DR KAPLAN'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

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Yoga

Yoga got a little bad press this week when it was revealed that quite a few practitioners get injured doing it. It is thought that there are about 10 000 Yoga teachers in Britain, of which only half are trained. I have some experience of Hatha yoga (the physical exercise side of yoga) and know that it can be tremendously beneficial when taught well. My advice is that if you want to learn yoga, make sure you go to a trained teacher and always ask how many people the class comprises. I recommend learning yoga 'one on one' or attending a class with no more than 10 people. It's difficult for any teacher to keep an eye on too many people at the same time. Basic yoga breathing exercises (pranayama) and yoga relaxation techniques are excellent.

Honey

Honey has now been found to contain an important anti-oxidant also found in fruit and vegetables. The researchers advocate that we use honey instead of sugar whenever we can but strongly advise against bingeing on honey. Bad luck Winnie the Pooh!

Almonds

Almonds have now been shown to reduce the 'bad' LDL cholesterol in the blood. The study showed that eating a 'couple of handfuls' of roasted almonds a day definitely reduces LDL levels. These researchers also advise against bingeing on roasted almonds.

I thought about both of these studies for a while and finally came up with an idea. Nougat! The main constituents of nougat are almonds, honey and egg white. Now does this mean that the men in white coats have this week coincidentally proved that nougat is better for us than chocolate. If it contains almonds and honey, both of which have previously unknown health benefits, it may well be a healthier snack than chocolate which contains more sugar and fat. If you do eat nougat, make sure it's good stuff made from real honey and almonds. I recommend any nougat made in Montelimar, France - in moderation of course. And as there is no proof whatsoever that nougat itself is good for you, I prefer to advocate a few almonds a day (if you like nuts) and use honey instead of sugar wherever possible. And don't forget to brush your teeth!

Homeopathic Tip of the Week

Staying with the theme of the bee - there is a homeopathic remedy called Apis that is produced from bees. It is useful for burns (try Apis 6, one hourly after a burn) but also for any superficial, acute swelling that resembles a bee sting. This could be an actual bee sting or the sting of any insect.

Apis can also be useful for fluid retention in the ankles that occurs after standing or sitting for a long time. However swollen ankles can be due to heart problems and always needs to be checked by a medical doctor. If your doctor gives you the 'all clear' for your swollen ankles, it would be reasonable to try Apis 6 one pill twice a day for a couple of weeks and have your doctor take another look.

Dr Kaplan's personal website is: www.drkaplan.co.uk and his practice website is www.140harleystreet.co.uk and he can be contacted on (020) 7487 3416