Why we need vitamin D at this time of year

Yesterday we saw the shortest day of the year here in the north.  Some celebrate the solstice.
Some chase around for last minute Christmas gifts.

All the while, your dear body is taking care of everything just the best it can.  Renewing cells,  fighting off infections and viruses and protecting you constantly.

What our bodies cannot do is the impossible.

During the months of October and March we simply do not have enough sunshine to help us out properly.

Sunshine?

Yes,  we need vitamin D in our bodies and the best way to get this is from the sun.  This might well not be a surprise to you.  You may know this already.  In the summer months we can get a little sunshine each day and naturally make the vitamin D we need.  So what do we do in the winter?

Often, the best way to ensure you don't suffer from a deficiency is to take a Vitamin D supplement*.  You know me, I do like all molecules going into the body to be the best they can be and I have found this little gem which is free from all the stuff I personally need to avoid.

After trying out this product and speaking to my friends at Epsilon life they have given me lots of information about their wonderful product.  If you click below you can see the reviews on Amazon which are pretty impressive I must say.  

As readers of my blog, you can enter LUSHERLIFE at the checkout for an extra cheeky discount code! Spread the word.

So what would taking Vitamin D supplements mean for you?

If you suffer from any of the following, it may be worth visiting your GP to get your vitamin D levels checked.  You might just need a simple supplement which is such a minimal investment in terms of finance and it could make the world of difference.

Fatigue and tiredness.
Muscle cramps and spasms.
Depression.
Erectile disfunction.
Osteoporosis.
Light headedness.
General aches and pains.

Yes the body is a miracle.  Every time I revisit information on the cell and biochemistry, I am blown away.  While nothing is a substitute for a well balanced diet and doing things 'au natural' we occasionally need some help.

Speaking with Epsilon they gave me this extra information:

• Epsilon.Life gives a portion of every sale to a Multiple Sclerosis charity
• We are the highest and best reviewed vitamin products on Amazon.co.uk Our vitamin D has a five star rating and close to 600 reviews.
• We are a small family run business and provide outstanding customer service to all of our customers
• All of our products are manufactured and sold exclusively in the UK
• We focus on selling only a small number of products, that way we can make sure that all of our products are of the best quality
• Any orders over £15 (with or without a discount) qualifies for free shipping

As I had mentioned, we are happy to offer all of your readers a voucher code giving them £5 off any order. They can use this code on our checkout page to get £5 off any order: LUSHERLIFE

New year is just around the corner (my birthday too!). I know we all like to make health a priority and if you order today, you will be ready to go on January 1st when you feel fresh and new and ready to make a difference to your health and your life.

Of course, I will be here to hold your hand every step of the way!

Wishing you the very best in health

Louise xoxo

3 top tips to keep healthy this Christmas

3 Top tips to keep healthy this Christmas time

As you are fully aware, Christmas is upon us and it is typically a time we neglect our health and our bodies.  If you are feeling low, under the weather or just a bit grumpy, chances are you might need a little health boost.

Even though you may have heard these simple tips before,  I am here to remind you!

1. Drink water!

Yes, I know you know.  But are you drinking or not?  If not why not.  Want a hot drink?  Drink hot water.  

During the winter, the heating is typically on in the house which will have a dehydrating effect on the body.  Without water,  not only will your skin start to look a bit shrivelled but you can’t function the same either.  

Being that the body, and cells, are made up so much of water it makes total sense that we need to keep hydrated.

Drinking more alcohol will need a good flush.  Removing toxins needs a helping hand with water.  Toxins floating around in the body will help you play host to viruses like coughs and colds.

2.  Get some sleep

As we all chase our own tails at Christmas time,  it is easy to forget to get an early night.  Without that extra hour before midnight, it is easy to want to pull up the duvet for an extra 5 minutes. 

You will create dark circles under the eyes, you will stop thinking so sharply and often you will find you don’t function so efficiently.

3.  Eat some vitamin c

Not only will it help you fight off colds and flu (you knew that - right?) but citrus fruits this time of year are delightful.  Well, Satsumas specifically.  The supermarket will sell you a packet from £1-£2 and satsumas make an excellent snack.  Healthy.  Provides you with energy from the natural sugars.

When you pour your drink (alcohol or soft drink) why not add a splice of lemon.

Going for coffee?  Ask for a glass of lemon water.  Coffee will make your body become acidic.  The lemon water gets you back into the favourable alkaline state once again.

Keep healthy, happy and smile lots.

Q and A coming soon

As the title suggests, I will soon be organising a Q and A session which I will post over on youtube.

I have a few questions I regularly get asked but if you would like to add to the list please get in touch.  No matter how simple your questions seem, there might well be someone else thinking exactly the same thing!


We all know the season has arrived when we still would love to look amazing in the little black dress,    feel less bloated,  wish we had more energy to dance the night away...
We also know that January the 1st will see us full of promises to ourselves to make things different.  I am here to help.  Should you need it,  I will be focusing so much on my online membership site this coming few months.  Want to know more?  Click here.  

Plus, the first 10 to sign up will get a free 121 coaching session with me worth £60 (while stocks last!).

So get in touch with your questions via email and let me know what you would like to see me post next year.  That's right, I'm organising 2016 right now!

file:///Users/louiseusher/Downloads/pinterest-120ca-4.html

What foods cause histamine intolerance?

Recently, I have been looking more and more into the chemistry of foods!

C5H9N3 is histamine!

How about that?

Ok, lets get down to the stuff you really want to know about!

Could you have histamine intolerance and what is it?

Histamine is a chemical compound which occurs naturally in foods.  It is involved in a local immune response as well as regulating physiological function in the gut.  The body is super clever! It does all this because we need it to.  It also works as a neurotransmitter. Basically sending messages from one place to another.  So,  we need it.  What we don't need, is an intolerance to it!

If we have an intolerance to it, this won't stop us from eating it but there are ways to limit what we consume at once in order to prevent a reaction.  It's like filling a cup with water.  A little bit in the bottom won't make the cup overflow.  Keep filling it (like filling your body with histamine) and it will flow over the top (cause a reaction).

Diamine Oxidase is an enzyme we all have which breaks down any histamine we consume from food containing the chemical compound histamine.  However, some of us can have a low level of the enzyme.  This, coupled with eating too much histamine food, we can suffer a reaction.   These can be allergy type reactions which cause
* Rashes
* Itching
* Sneezing
* Diarrhoea
* Vomiting
* Headaches

These high histamine containing foods are:

• Champagne, wine, beer, cider and other fermented drinks and spirits
• Sauerkraut and other pickled foods
• Vinegar and foods containing it such as dressings, pickles, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard
• Tofu and soya sauce
• Parmesan cheese and other cheeses
• Sausages and other processed meats (ham, salami, gammon, bacon)
• Mushrooms and quorn
• Tinned and smoked fish (tuna, salmon, herring) and crustaceans
• Prepared salads
• Tinned vegetables
• Dried fruit, seeds, nuts
• Yeast extract, yeast
• Chocolate, cocoa, cola

Many foods which are not high in histamine can stimulate the release of histamine in our mast cells in our body.  These are a type of immune cell.  These foods include:

• Bananas
• Tomatoes
• Strawberries
• Nuts
• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Egg white
• Chocolate
• Pumpkin
• Spinach
• Aubergines
• Avocado
• Papayas
• Kiwi
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Raspberry
• Tangerines
• Grapefruits
• Red prunes
• Pea
• Spices

Try skin prick testing?  No,  this will not show a reaction.  The IgE food allergy indicator  will not show as this is not what causes the reaction at all.  

The best way forward is to try a low histamine diet for a couple of weeks.  Track everything you eat and eliminate the foods above.  Then also track your symptoms, feelings, sleep patterns and any reactions.  

As with any elimination diet,  you need to be aware of nutrient deficiency.  Therefore re-introduction of the foods is paramount.  Take one item per 3 days and slowly reintroduce them to your diet.  Keep tracking! This is super important.  

I'd love to know how you get on with this if you are a sufferer.  

Wishing you the very best of health. 

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/motivweight
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Advertise on my blog: 
http://lusherlifenutrition.blogspot.co.uk/p/disclaimer.html

Books:  My amazon author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Usher/e/B00C1KEE5E 

Recommended books for your Lusher Life: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/lusherlifefavouritebooks-21

Email: lifenutrition@virginmedia.com

I'd love to catch up with you. Come and say HI.......


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Health Stuff: https://www.foreverliving.com/retail/entry/Shop.do?store=GBR&language=en&distribID=440500051320

Ever wondered what the Spoonie theory is?

Autoimmune illnesses come in many different faces.

Explaining how exactly this illness affects an individual can be so so difficult.  Having something that can not be seen with the naked eye gives its share of justifications.

After finding a lot of hashtags with #spoonie began to follow me over on instagram every time I mentioned Crohns Disease, I looked it up.  Finding that it is a way to explain to others exactly what the spoonie theory is, I decided to read it to you this week on my podcast.

You can read it here.

Or of course you can hop on over to my podcast and listen to it there.


https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/spoonie-theory-story/id1023129375?i=353426186&mt=2

Thank you so much to the sponsor of this blog post:

Vitatheia - Health & Fitness

http://www.vitatheia.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lusherlifenutrition

Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/louiseusher...
Blog:          http://www.louiseusher.co.uk (blog)
Instagram:http://www.instagram.com/lusherlife...
Podcast:    https://geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/autoimmune-diet-and-me/id1023129375?at=1001l626&mt=2&ls=1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/motivweight
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Advertise on my blog: 
http://lusherlifenutrition.blogspot.co.uk/p/disclaimer.html

Books:  My amazon author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Usher/e/B00C1KEE5E 

Recommended books for your Lusher Life: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/lusherlifefavouritebooks-21

Email: lifenutrition@virginmedia.com

I'd love to catch up with you. Come and say HI.......


Motivational Merch:  Mugs, t-shirts and stuff http://www.cafepress.co.uk/profile/108959736

Health Stuff: https://www.foreverliving.com/retail/entry/Shop.do?store=GBR&language=en&distribID=440500051320

Nestlè have gluten free corn flakes!

Yes, you heard it right.  In the mainstream cereal aisle of the supermarket are Nestlé gluten free cereal!

An average price of around £2 per box.  I was blown away.  While I'm not a fan of grains myself, I am pleased to see this pretty groundbreaking box.

Seems we are catching on that gluten is for some, difficult to digest and causes issues with the intestinal tract.  Hence,  here I am bleating on about making changes to things!

Check it out.  I'm thrilled. So pleased.  We seem to be turning corners!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lusherlifenutrition
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Podcast:    https://geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/autoimmune-diet-and-me/id1023129375?at=1001l626&mt=2&ls=1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/motivweight

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Advertise on my blog: 
http://lusherlifenutrition.blogspot.co.uk/p/disclaimer.html

Books:  My amazon author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Usher/e/B00C1KEE5E 

Recommended books for your Lusher Life: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/lusherlifefavouritebooks-21

Email: lifenutrition@virginmedia.com

I'd love to catch up with you. Come and say HI.......


Motivational Merch:  Mugs, t-shirts and stuff http://www.cafepress.co.uk/profile/108959736

Health Stuff: https://www.foreverliving.com/retail/entry/Shop.do?store=GBR&language=en&distribID=440500051320

My Autoimmune diet podcast

Hi everyone

You may have seen through my other posts in other areas that I have a podcast! It's a very exciting time for me and so much is going on.

This blog and website is going to get a whole lot more attention than previous months! You'll be happy to know I'm ramping things up in the Nutrition steaks and sharing my knowledge, findings and experiences here with you.

Since I last wrote here, I have published a podcast which you may like to subscribe to.  Speaking all things autoimmune and diet related.  Gasteroenterology features highly here too!

Hop on over and subscribe.  Let me know any questions you have and all the things you would like to see here from me! There will be much cooking going on over on my Youtube channel too.


See the podcast here!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lusherlifenutrition
Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/louiseusher...
Blog:          http://www.louiseusher.co.uk (blog)
Instagram:http://www.instagram.com/lusherlife...
Podcast:    https://geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/autoimmune-diet-and-me/id1023129375?at=1001l626&mt=2&ls=1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/motivweight
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Advertise on my blog: 
http://lusherlifenutrition.blogspot.co.uk/p/disclaimer.html

Books:  My amazon author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Usher/e/B00C1KEE5E 

Recommended books for your Lusher Life: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/lusherlifefavouritebooks-21

Email: lifenutrition@virginmedia.com

I'd love to catch up with you. Come and say HI.......


Motivational Merch:  Mugs, t-shirts and stuff http://www.cafepress.co.uk/profile/108959736

Health Stuff: https://www.foreverliving.com/retail/entry/Shop.do?store=GBR&language=en&distribID=440500051320

Eating badly; feeling awful

Family celebrations,  poor excuses,  life,  bad day at work... what is your reason to eat badly?

Yesterday,  we were celebrating in my family.  Despite the fact of keeping a gluten free approach (with special cupcakes from Lolas) and choosing a 'proper dinner' in the local Brewers Fayre I still ended up feeling rubbish.

Tummy ache, heart flutters,  general overwhelming tiredness.

Is it just me?  And my issues with Crohns disease?  I'm not sure if it was that or just that my symptoms have been overly exaggerated recently due to my clean eating and intermittent fasting.  Either way,  I am feeling super inspired today to eat better and eat the way that my body is screaming out for me to eat!

Perhaps there is an element of me that wanted to indulge due to the looming colonoscopy on Tuesday.  I don't think so, I think it was about making bad choices and ending up paying sorely for it overnight!

While I have tried so hard to give myself a break (guessing that university is going to educate me into avoiding exclusion diets) and even writing a book about "Lightening up" I still find that I have that belief in me where I really do feel better for eating better!

What about you?  Have you had a day recently that has motivated you into wanting to change things?

Get in touch,  let me know!

This weeks Podcast will have me talking about what I need to eat prior to a colonoscopy.  Come over and subscribe.





This blog encourages sponsorship

It's all over on FIverr

Hi there everyone

It's been a while since I posted on here and things have been crazy busy!

On the right hand side of the page you can see a link to Fiverr.  This is a platform where you can get online one to one support for just $5 per week! That's crazy cheap.  But yes, as you imagine, I have been inundated with requests.

Just click there if you would like to be a part of this amazing 'thing'.

Should you prefer one to one coaching which is more direct with more structured advise on what to eat and how, you can order that here. 

Starting from just £40 we can get lots of ground covered and find the reasons things may not be working for you.

Leave me your comments or questions below.

Wishing you the best of health