Jan 15, 2016

World-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking is known for providing us with complex yet invaluable insights into space, time, and the nitty-gritty of theoretical physics. However, in a recent talk, the iconic physicist applied his brilliant mind to a more emotional matter.

Hawking gave a poignant message to people suffering from depression, making a poetic comparison between depression and a black hole – no matter how dark they seem, neither are impossible to escape.

Hawking said: “The message of this lecture is that black holes ain't as black as they are painted. They are not the eternal prisons they were once thought.

“Things can get out of a black hole both on the outside and possibly to another universe. So if you feel you are in a black hole, don't give up – there's a way out.”

He gave the speech in front of a crowd of over 400 people on Thursday evening, January 7, as part of the Reith lecture at the Royal Institute in London. The lecture was scheduled for November last year, but had to be postponed due to Hawking’s poor health.

Hawking, who turned 74 the day after the lecture, has lived with motor neuron disease for almost 53 years – despite being told he had just two years to live when diagnosed in 1963.

Speaking to the same audience, his daughter Lucy noted Hawking’s incredible mental fitness – both intellectually and emotionally.

“He has a very enviable wish to keep going and the ability to summon all his reserves, all his energy, all his mental focus and press them all into that goal of keeping going,” she said.

“But not just to keep going for the purposes of survival but to transcend this by producing extraordinary work – writing books, giving lectures, inspiring other people with neurodegenerative and other disabilities.”

For those lucky enough to have access to BBC Radio 4, you’ll be able to listen to the full lecture through two broadcasts on January 26 and February 2 at 9 a.m.

Dec 21, 2015

"New diet pill will never replace the stop eating signal for many mental reasons" says Dr. Hilary Jones. 
People eat to relieve stress, boredom, loneliness, anxiety and many other reasons. The stop eating signal needs to be adhered to and hypnotherapy is a great way of enhancing this signal. Hypno Gastric Bands, can also save you thousands of pounds as apposed to undergoing a lengthy and dangerous operation, to have real one fitted.
Now fully recognised by the medical profession as an easier and healthier method to lose weight, start your new year off right and begin losing those extra pounds. Its a great new year's gift for your internal organs.

Dec 09, 2015

The Holmes-Rahe stress scale was devised by two American researchers and can be used to estimate your level of stress.

Dec 08, 2015

 “You shouldn’t compare yourself to others!”, people might tell you.

Of course, without an explanation this is about as good advice as “Just be yourself!” or “Just be more confident!”.

Most likely it will not help at all.

So, why shouldn’t we compare ourselves to others?

Nov 26, 2015

Climb a tree
Childhood activities and getting back to nature have both been found to boost memory in lab tests.

Use the eight second rule
If you want to memorise something, you need to think about it for at least eight seconds to store it in long term memory. Reciting information also lodges it in your
brain more efficiently.

Write it out in longhand or use a crazy font
Both have been shown to boost recall

Make a fist
If you’re right-handed, clench your right fist while you’re trying to commit something to memory.
Clench your left hand into a fist when you want to remember it.

Red wine and chocolate
The flavonoids in half a glass of red wine and a few squares of dark chocolate have been found to improve cognitive ability and memory. 

Nov 20, 2015

Tired of not sleeping well?

Deep sleep is when the subconscious goes to work on the body and fixes all the chemical and mental issues. If a person only get's the initial REM sleep and wakes before the deep sleep, the body gets overloaded and stress, anxiety and depression take over.

Here are 20 tips to get a better nights sleep.

Nov 26, 2015

If you are struggling to explain Santa to your children, here is one of the best explanations I have heard.

Nov 19, 2015

A study conducted in the Netherlands shows that eating at least fifteen grams of nuts or peanuts each day helps protect from cancer, heart disease, diabetes and several respiratory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Peanuts and tree nuts both contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, fibre, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds, that possibly contribute to the lower death rates.

Eating peanut butter wasn’t found to confer the same benefits, perhaps because of the added ingredients such as salt and trans fatty acids.

Nov 02, 2015

Most of the habits, patterns and beliefs that we have today were developed between the ages of 0 and 6 years old.  They weren’t developed consciously, they were essentially downloaded from our parents, and from other people and events happening around us at the time.

We didn’t have choice as to what beliefs were given to us, or what events were happening around us.  Unfortunately, many of those beliefs, patterns and experiences were negative and have limited us in our adult life.

Some have had tougher upbringings than others, with more negative experiences and more negative beliefs about themselves and the world, but regardless of the experiences…there is good news….

Today, as adults, we have choice over what beliefs, patterns and habits we want to keep or discard, and we have choice over the meanings we give our past experiences.

Successful people are aware of how limiting old beliefs, habits, patterns and experiences can be… and they do whatever it takes to change them.

That doesn’t mean it’s always easy.  Overcoming childhood abuse issues, or deep-rooted self-confidence issues, or overwhelmingly negative thought patterns can be a challenge, but successful people are committed to their growth, no matter what.

They know that the past does not equal the future.  That past challenges can be dwelled upon for years, or accepted as necessary life lessons on their path.

Oct 30, 2015

Just can't seem to switch off your active mind?

Use this method
 

• Sit in a comfortable chair.

• Set an alarm or count-down timer for 10 minutes. 

• Then just sit still and stop any form of physical activity...

• With your eyes open, stare off into the distance (a kind of vague stare, not focusing on anything in particular)...

• The vague off-into-the-distance stare should stop the mind thinking. The tranquillity of mind will take care of itself.

• After 10 minutes (when the alarm sounds) your mind should be much quieter, more still and feeling contentedly peaceful that you’ll probably find it somewhat of an effort just to turn off the alarm!

Oct 09, 2015

Another lovely thank you card

Sept 13, 2015

Research shows smokers are 67% more likely to quit if their partner also stops smoking and 36% more likely to quit if a friend stops.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said:

"Smoking is still our biggest preventable killer: 80,000 people die a year in England because of smoking, and so stopping smoking is the single best thing a person can do for their health.

We know quitting with a friend or family member can increase a person’s chances of stopping for good. Why not join the thousands of people all across the country who are quitting at the same time during Stoptober, maximising their chances of getting through 28 days smokefree."

The benefits of stopping smoking are almost immediate: you will soon see reduced blood pressure, easier breathing and better circulation. It is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and reduce your chances of developing long-term conditions and dying prematurely. 

Sept 05, 2015

Alcohol becomes a problem when an individual feels unable to cope without it, or when it prevents them from living a normal life.
When the uncontrollable desire for alcohol overrides an individual’s ability to stop drinking, they are often referred to as being alcohol dependent. Like any other addiction, alcohol dependence can be extremely hard to break and it can be very difficult for an individual to even acknowledge the existence of their problem.

Sept 04, 2015

What is the difference between low mood and depression?

A general low mood can include:

• sadness

• an anxious feeling

• worry

• tiredness

• low self-esteem

• frustration

• anger

However, a low mood will tend to improve after a short time. Making some small changes in your life, such as resolving a difficult situation or talking about your problems and getting more sleep, can improve your mood. 

A low mood that doesn't go away can be a sign of depression. Symptoms of depression can include the following:

• Continuous low mood or sadness

• Feeling hopeless and helpless

• Having low self-esteem 

• Feeling tearful

• Feeling guilt-ridden

• Less energy and feeling less able to do things,

• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy,

• Loss of concentration,

• Becoming tired easily

• Feeling anxious or worried

• Sleeping and eating less,

• Feeling less good about yourself (loss of confidence),

• Feeling worthless,

• Losing interest in sex

• Feeling irritable and intolerant of others 

• Having no motivation or interest in things

• Finding it difficult to make decisions

• Not getting any enjoyment out of life

• Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself

Aug 12, 2015

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.

When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

Aug 12, 2015

The 34-year-old, who has never gone swimming with her three kids, suffered a panic attack at the age of 15 while training for the county swimming team, reported Sun online.

Last month she underwent hypnotherapy to help her overcome the phobia.

"She is not the type of person to be beaten by anything... Now she loves it. You can't get her out!" Said Ali, the hypnotherapist.

July 31, 2015

I particularly liked this card. Thanks Jen

July 31, 2015

This is why my job is the most rewarding job in the world. A man who was so miserably depressed when he first came to me and now 3 sessions later, I get this in my email.

Paul

July 27, 2015

Protecting your baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things you can do to give your child a healthy start in life. It's never too late to stop smoking. Every cigarette you smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, so smoking when you are pregnant harms your unborn baby. Cigarettes can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby, so their heart has to beat harder every time you smoke. 

Benefits of stopping smoking in pregnancy

Stopping smoking will benefit both you and your baby immediately. Harmful gases like carbon monoxide and other damaging chemicals will clear from your body. When you stop smoking:

• you will have fewer complications in pregnancy

• you are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby

• you will reduce the risk of stillbirth

• you will cope better with the birth

• your baby is less likely to be born too early and have to face the additional breathing, feeding and health problems that often go with being premature

• your baby is less likely to be born underweight: babies of women who smoke are, on average, 200g (about 8oz) lighter than other babies, which can cause problems during and after labour, for example they are more likely to have a problem keeping warm and are more prone to infection

• you will reduce the risk of cot death, also called sudden infant death (find out about reducing the risk of cot death)

Stopping smoking will also benefit your baby later in life. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma and other more serious illnesses that may need hospital treatment.

The sooner you stop smoking, the better. But even if you stop in the last few weeks of your pregnancy this will benefit you and your baby.

Second-hand (passive) smoke harms your baby

If your partner or anyone else who lives with you smokes, their smoke can affect you and the baby both before and after birth. You may also find it more difficult to stop if someone around you smokes.

Second-hand smoke can also reduce birthweight and increase the risk of cot death. Babies whose parents smoke are more likely to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis and pneumonia during the first year of life. More than 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital every year because of the effects of second-hand smoke.

July 26, 2015

The 18-year-old was taken to hospital after collapsing in a street in Bexley, shortly after 23:15 BST on Saturday. He died two hours later.

The Metropolitan Police said he was believed to have been drinking alcohol as well as ingesting legal high nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.

Seventeen people in the UK died between 2006 and 2012 after taking the drug.

If you know anyone that is hooked on this, or any other substance, I can help.

For hypnosis to be effective, they have to want to be free from it, it has to be their own choice. However, if they at least come and have a free consultation with me, I can most likely help Most people actually do want to free themselves and gain control of their life back again and it could all start with a free chat.

July 26, 2015

When you have booked that holiday or short break away, you feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Your stomach can go into knots and you may feel a little nauseous - we want this feeling to be excitement and not fear.

How do you feel going to the airport? Do you need a sedative just to calm your nerves? Could it be because of a bad experience or seeing other people scared of flying that developed your fear? Or could it be due to bad media coverage?

Fear of flying symptoms:

1. Feeling nervous, distressed, scared about flying.

2. Not feeling in control because you're not in the driving seat!

3. Negative thinking that something bad might happen.

4. Feeling claustrophobic.

If you recognise these symptoms, hypnotherapy can help get you back on that plane and have an enjoyable flight.

We can work together in a safe and relaxed environment, getting the subconscious and the conscious mind to work together by overcoming negative thoughts and turning them into positive thoughts, getting to the root of the problem and finding out why you feel like this.

Hypnotherapy can turn your anxiety into positivity by guiding you into a deep state of relaxation and giving you positive statements and suggestions to change your thought process from fear to being back in control of your life.

It is a well known fact that pilots themselves will tell you that it is the safest way to travel.

Hypnotherapy will give you the freedom to go where you want when you want.

Dec 04, 2013

After forgetting her lines multiple times during the live shows, X Factor contestant Tamera Foster was sent to a hypnotherapist for help. Simon Cowell, creator of the show, knows how much the technique can help after he quit smoking with the help of hypnotherapy.

After 16-year old Tamera Foster forgot her words for the third time during the live shows on X Factor, Simon sent her to hypnotherapist Christian Baker. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Tamera said the following:

“Last week was really difficult. I’ve been seeing a hypnotherapist who has been giving me little exercises to do to get me in the right frame of mind to go on stage and give a good performance. He’s been showing me how to go into deep meditation, because I meditate already, but he’s been showing me a different way which is better because I can do it in any environment.”

Being nervous or anxious over a performance can affect people in different ways. For some people it gives them the push they need to shine, for others it can cause them to panic and forget lines. Rather than harbouring an actual memory problem, this is far more likely to be due to anxiety.

July 25, 2015

Parents who discipline their children by shouting rather than reasoning with them can create further discipline problems, new research suggests.

Presented to the Royal Society annual conference, a study by the London School of Economics found that excessive shouting and the issuing of harsh punishments is counterproductive to tackling bad behaviour in children.

Ignoring children was also revealed to be a factor contributing to deteriorating discipline standards.

Almost 19,000 children born in the first two years of the millennium were analysed in the study and data was collected from parents just before children’s first birthday, then when they turned three, five and seven.

Interviews took place with school teachers and older siblings, an assessment was also conducted into the impact of various styles of parenting on children.

Ultimately it was found that the mother’s parenting style “mainly influences the mental health of the child”, whilst “excessive shouting, punishing or ignoring a naughty child” in particular increases their behavioural problems.

Generally it was agreed by researchers that “reasoning with children” is more likely to have a positive impact on their behaviour at a young age.

In a statement they said:

“In this group, externalising behavioural problems are reduced when mothers read to the child, and increased when mothers shout at the child when naughty, take treats away, or ignore the naughty child.”

In some cases, it may be pent-up anger that causes parents to shout at their children when they misbehave. Discovering anger management through hypnotherapy can help control rage and may even lead to more reasoned parenting.

Jan 10, 2014

Hollyoaks actress Gemma Merna has undergone hypnotherapy to combat her fear of water and to help her prepare for the new series of Splash!.

Splash! features a line-up of celebrities trying to master the art of diving, but it isn’t just the diving they need to learn to control, it is also their nerves.

Despite receiving the very best coaching from Olympic bronze medallist diver Tom Daly, Merner is reported to have suffered from panic attacks while training in the pool and has had to seek help from an expert.

After nearly drowning as a child, Gemma’s negative association with water was preventing her from excelling in the pool and she has since sought professional help from a hypnotherapist.

http://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/blog/category/celebrity/

June 11, 2015

Hypnotherapy appears to be an effective long-term treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with sufferers feeling the benefits for at least five years, new research claims.

More than 200 patients with IBS were monitored after undergoing gut-directed hypnotherapy, each recording their symptoms, quality of life and levels of anxiety and stress before and after treatment.

The researchers found that almost three-quarters (71%) of patients responded well to hypnotherapy and most did not deteriorate over time.

June 05, 2015

There is hardly a person who isn’t plagued by fears and phobias – of insects, high places, snakes, water, spiders, death, etc. We believe we are born with our fears, that they are deeply decoded in our DNA and that we can never get rid of them.

However, this is a common misconception, as people are born with only two fears – of falling and of loud noises. These two fears are incorporated in the human DNA and have become a mechanism for survival which is passed to new generations. The single aim of these inborn fears is to keep humans alive and motivated in order to avoid potential dangers.

Any other fears you experience have been acquired throughout your life and are often caused by certain events and situations that have marked your mind and emotions in a way that make you feel scared.  These additional fears and phobias can usually be resolved and removed.

June 03, 2015

When the body suffers stress or anxiety, it produces high levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. Cortisol is regarded as the main ageing hormone and the main weight  gain hormone.

When the body suffers stress or anxiety, it produces high levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. Cortisol is regarded as the main ageing hormone and the main weight gain hormone. When people are under prolonged stress, they make more cortisol, causing their cells to age and die quicker and the body to produce high amounts of glucose which is deposited around the waist line as fat.

June 02, 2015

A boy of two was taken away from his loving parents to stop him inhaling cigarette smoke. The toddler will be adopted after he was found ill in a smoke laden room that was being visited by a health worker. 

He had already been prescribed an inhaler to help his breathing.

June 02, 2015

Smoking in cars carrying children has been made illegal in England and Wales - with £50 fines for parents who break the law.

It's been confirmed after Welsh politicians overwhelmingly backed a ban today, with 46 voting in favour and just one against.

England has already outlawed smoking in front of children in cars and the ban will take effect in both nations on October 1.

June 01, 2015

• Binge eating is a disorder where a person feels compelled to overeat

• Study: 14% of people who binge eat had a tendency to act impulsively

• They have a tendency to act rashly when experiencing negative emotions 

• When emotional they may be sensitive to feelings of reward from food

30 May, 2015

Overweight or obese teenagers are more than twice as likely to get bowel cancer in later life, according to a study released today.

Bowl cancer has long held correlation with obesity and currently stands as the fourth most common form of cancer in the UK.

Researchers suggest that men in their late teens who had a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25 were 2.08 times more likely to contract the cancer.

May 20, 2015

Researchers at McGill University in America, recently published a study that shows that being obese drastically reduces your life span. When they factored in the increased risk from heart disease, diabetes and other diseases, it averages a life span reduction of 20 years!!!

That's a lot fewer years of enjoying your retirement, playing with your grandchildren, and checking off your bucket list. So people take swift and decisive action when they hear news like this, right? Just the opposite; half of those who are overweight or obese remain in denial of reality, according to a recent Gallup poll.

May 19, 2015

Ben Affleck tells Oprah: “I finally decided to quit smoking when I found out I was going to have a child. That was the thing that sort of put it over the top for me. I decided to go to a hypnotist. All of a sudden, I thought, ‘This is asinine that I’ve been doing this to myself for all these years.’ My last cigarette was on November 10th, 2005, and I feel a huge difference in my health now that I don’t smoke. I feel like I’m in better shape than I was five years ago.” – Ben

May 19, 2015

If you are concerned with overcoming addictions, losing weight, preventing unnecessary etc., you need to alter your breathing pattern. When you feel stressed, unwell or highly emotional your breathing becomes quicker and shallower, but some people get in the habit of breathing like this and this increases our everyday stress levels.

I can help you reprogram your subconscious mind to assist you in using some simple breathing exercises daily which will establish an improved natural breathing habit, which usually leads you to become healthier, calmer and more relaxed. 

May 15, 2015

She lost a dramatic two stone last year, dropping from a size 16 to a slimline 12.

But it seems that it wasn't just healthy eating and exercise that helped Nigella Lawson shape up, as the domestic goddess reportedly underwent hypnotherapy.

The Hypnotherapy sessions are allegedly the secret to the cook's success in battling the bulge, after training her mind to want smaller portions.

May 14, 2015

Ellen decided she wanted rid of this longstanding smoking habit. "I work out and I'm very healthy and I like to think I'm a very intelligent person." She added, "My mother had breast cancer. I, of all people, should not smoke... I quit before and then I found an easy way to start again - I picked one up."  Ellen, now a non-smoker since 2006, told the hypnotist, "You've helped me tremendously and probably saved my life, definitely changed my life."

May 13, 2015

Gemma, now size 18, revealed on the ITV show 'This Morning' that her life was a 'living nightmare' that 'always revolved around food'. Now she has lost three stone in just three months after paying a visit to her hypnotherapist.

May 07, 2015

In the caveman days, humans were programmed by survival mechanisms to seek out sugary foods. This is because sugar contains huge amounts of energy and helps with fat storage – both of which were essential back then.

In modern society, most of us are lucky enough to have easy access to food all year round… however, our instinctual urge to enjoy sweet food remains.

This can lead us to eat too much sugar, and in some cases form an addiction. As many of us now know, this causes more harm than good.

May 01, 2015

Following a suggestion made by CNHC, the General Medical Council (GMC) has agreed to amend its guidance to doctors.

It is now advising that when referring to a practitioner who is not a doctor or other statutorily regulated health professional doctors must: ‘...... be satisfied that systems are in place to assure the safety and quality of care provided – for example, the services have been commissioned through an NHS commissioning process or the practitioner is on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.” (CNHC Bold).

Doctors can now refer patients wanting complementary therapies to CNHC registrants as they are all on CNHC’s Accredited Register.

This applies to doctors in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland because the GMC is the regulator for all doctors in the UK. The new guidance does not mean that NHS funding will automatically follow but it does mean that patients will be able to ask for a referral where appropriate.

April 21, 2015

The former Brookside actress has revealed to the magazine 'Closer' that she can't combat her raging chocolate cravings as she tries to shed two stone of her baby weight.

However, instead of resorting to crash fad diets, the 44-year-old has sought the help of a celebrity hypnotherapist.

February 22, 2015

The 38-year-old actress - who is nominated in the Best Actress category for her portrayal of Cheryl Strayed in 'Wild' at this year's Oscars - admitted years of being told she was too fat or short for Hollywood roles had taken their toll on her self esteem, so she turned to hypnosis for a confidence boost before taking on the gritty role.

Feb 07, 2016

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best two cures for anything......

Feb 16, 2016

Feb 16, 2016

We all use silly logic to help us rationalize a confusing world. Take full moons, for example. For centuries people have been blaming full moons for inexplicable behaviors that coincided with them. But it’s an illusory correlation—we fool ourselves into believing something based on what stands out most in our memories.

Feb 28, 2016

One of the most effective ways to improve your life is simply to think in a more positive way.

This is of course nothing new and not that simple. If it was, well, then at least most of us would already be doing it.

So what can you do about it?

Feb 29, 2016

One of the most common problems is procrastination. We know what we want to do and should do. But still we end up spending hours upon hours doing “easier” work or escaping via TV, the internet or music.

Now, nothing wrong with a little escape from time to time. But if you procrastinate too much you will not get the most important things done. And you will also send yourself into negative spirals where your self-esteem plummets and you spend your days or more in a vague negative funk.

So what can you do? Here are 7 tips to help you to stop procrastinating and start living your life more fully. 

Mar 03, 2016

You know what it's like, your emotions bubble to the surface. Your mind goes blank and you can't think straight. All you want to do is run away.

It's only afterwards that you realise you totally overreacted to that offhand comment made to you, or when you were cut up in a traffic queue.

There was no need to throw a tantrum until the vein on your head was about to burst!

Emotional hijacking

The "amygdala hijack", a term first used by Daniel Goleman, is when the limbic system (the emotional part of the brain) takes over, your access to your thinking brain is hugely restricted.

The fight or flight response kicks in and even if you're only trying to defend yourself against a flippant comment or a bad driver, you're likely to respond as if your life was in danger.

The more you allow the stress to go unchecked, the higher the levels of cortisol, (the stress chemical) and the quicker you fly off the handle.

How to repel a hijack

The more relaxed you are, the more creative your brain will be - able to make more original and wider connections, instead of relying on the sometimes over reactive 'survival mode'.

Reset your stress level, rid yourself of any stress and anxiety that has built up over the years and start life again with a clean slate.

Check out my Personal Peace Plan now.

Mar 09, 2016

Addictions are not always the deep hole with slippery sides that we see them as. A new study has shown that people's surroundings play a huge part in whether we become addicted to something or not.

Watch this excellent video to explain more.

Mar 10, 2016

Before turning to dangerous medications to treat anxiety, you need to take a look at this.

Dr. Lipman put together a list of 6 tips for managing stress and anxiety the RIGHT way, by getting to the root cause! Please read and share

Mar 20, 2016

Stress - and the many unhealthy ways we deal with it - can severely age us. Research shows it can cause premature grey hairs, lines, wrinkles, jowls, redness, sagging of the skin and bloating due to poor diet

Mar 25, 2016

When thinking about New Year resolutions, many people opt to commit to something food or exercise related. But have you ever thought about the impact certain beverages can have on your health? We consume nearly three times the daily recommended amount of sugar each day, and for many, a good portion of it comes from the things they drink. Excess sugar consumption is a contributing factor for health issues like obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, heart disease, and more, so it’s important to be conscious of the amount of sugar you ingest each day.

Apr 09, 2016

If you wait until New year's day 2017 and you smoke an average of 10 cigarettes a day at £8 per packet, by then you will have wasted £2,128 and not only would your body would have taken another devastating battering, but your life expectancy would be hugely reduced.

Apr 13, 2016

When trying to lose weight, most of us immediately cut down on favourite treats such as chocolate, cheese and wine.

But a top scientist says there is no need to remove these indulgences from the diet, as they can help us cultivate more 'good' bacteria in our guts - which in turn will help us stay slim.

Speaking at the Oxford Literary Festival over the weekend, Professor Tim Spector, of King's College London, said that the secret to successfully dieting is to eat a wide range of foods.

"We ingest these microbes and they end up in our gut, where they diversify with the new foods we introduce over the years. The more diverse foods we eat, the more varieties of microbes in our bodies, which makes us healthier," reported The Mail.

Professor Spector said that wine, cheese and chocolate were all good at promoting healthy gut bacteria, but that fatty, sugary junk food can wipe out healthy gut flora.

The scientist has spoken out before about his belief that changes in our gut microbe community, or microbiome, are likely to be responsible for much of our obesity epidemic.

The human gut contains around 3,500 difference microbial species. But increased consumption of processed foods - as well as over-use of antibiotics - means that humans' diversity of microbes is decreasing.

“Fifteen thousand years ago our ancestors regularly ingested around 150 ingredients in a week," he said last year.

“Most people nowadays consume fewer than 20 separate food types and many, if not most, are artificially refined.

“Most processed food products come, depressingly, from just four ingredients: corn, soy, wheat or meat”.

Last year, Mr Spector enrolled his 23-year-old son, Tom, in a study that involved the young genetics student eating nothing but fast food from McDonald’s for 10 days.

The research revealed that eating junk food kills stomach bacteria which protect against health problems such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and inflammatory bowel conditions.

Apr 27, 2016

Whether you're guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that's no joke.

Apr 28, 2016

We know our minds affect our bodies, for example when feelings of embarrassment cause you to blush.

But can our bodies affect our minds? And if so, can we use this to send out a signal of strength to anyone who might think of victimizing us?

May 02, 2016

Waking up exhausted after many disturbing dreams is a common experience for many depressed people and consequently they feel so short of energy first thing in the morning.

It has been shown that depressed people dream up to three times as much as non-depressed people, because they are constantly worrying.

Hypnotherapy is scientifically proven to be the best way to reduce worry.

May 02, 2016

Felix Baumgartner, is the first skydiver to go faster than the speed of sound - but a severe claustrophobic reaction to the pressure suit he had to wear during his ascent to 39km (24 miles) and his freefall almost put the whole project in jeopardy.

He was so anxious, that he took a year off training, returned to his home in Austria and had hypnotherapy to help him prepare mentally for the challenge.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20167361

May 06, 2016

Have a look at some of the famous people that have used hypnotherapy. It might surprise you...

May 20, 2016

This is because when the body's stress mode is activated, it is designed to trigger several chemical and physical changes within us that are necessary to induce the 'Fight or Flight' mode, (useful for facing imminent danger).

June 10, 2016

• Concentrate on it for Eight Seconds – pass from short term to long term memory

• Don’t Walk Through a Doorway

• Make a fist for 45 seconds.

  • Right-handed with right hand before you try to memorize a piece of information.

  • Clench your left hand to remember it. (the process is reversed for lefties.)

• Recall is better right after light exercise

• More beneficial to get a good night’s sleep

• Use Crazy Fonts

  • When something is unfamiliar and difficult to read, you are forced to concentrate on it more, allowing you to remember it easier. The harder to read the better

  • The size and boldness makes no difference

• Chew Gum - If you need to remember a piece of information of around 30 minutes duration

• People who didn’t chew gum did better on very short memory tasks

• Write Things Out - write it out in longhand

• Music

  • Listening to music before you start reading something you need to remember does indeed give you better recall

  • While learning, stop ALL music.

• Visualize - Associate it with a visual image

• Doodle – The act of drawing helps keep the brain active

June 27, 2016

High levels of cortisol can lead to conditions such as Cushing's syndrome, which is one of the lesser known causes of diabetes. Constant stress and frustration caused by long term problems with blood glucose regulation can also wear people down and cause them to neglect their diabetes care.

July 03, 2016

We’ve been conditioned to think of exercise as a key ingredient — perhaps the most important ingredient — of any weight loss effort.

You know the drill: Join the gym on January 1 if you want to reach your New Year’s weight loss goal.

But in truth, the evidence has been accumulating for years that exercise, while great for health, isn’t actually all that important for weight loss.

But is it actually as good as we think for weight loss?

Aug 01, 2016

Jodie Brown, 17, had spent years battling with selective eating disorder (SED) and struggled to eat other foods without gagging. 

She felt embarrassed, had anxiety problems and was teased at school for her peculiar diet. 

But, after the visit to the hypnotherapist, she has finally overcome her fear of food and will start at university soon with a new-found confidence.

Aug 01, 2016

The word "hypnosis" might conjure notions of the supernatural, or of parlor tricks and con men, but real hypnosis is a clinical tool frequently used by psychiatrists. Now scientists are catching a glimpse of how it affects the brain.

Aug 15, 2016

One of the prime reasons the people lose their cool, is that they take exception to the way they are being spoken to. How we speak to others – (whether those dearest to others, those we work with, or those who work in places we often go to, such as shops, ticket offices and restaurants) – communicates a great deal about how we think or feel about them. It can either inflame a difficult situation or calm it down.