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Stay on top of your health with tips, hacks, and advice from Healthylife pharmacy.

Fish oil for mum-to-be
Fish is a good source of protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Eating fish, or taking a fish oil supplement, is associated with many beneficial health effects.

Liposomal delivery systems: How to get the most from vitamins
A liposomal delivery system is an advanced method of transporting substances into the body. Liposomes are both efficient and effective transporters due to their ability to be recognised by both water and lipids.

Hay fever in pregnancy - prevention and treatments
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is a condition which can affect some people when they are exposed to a perceived allergen resulting in irritation and inflammation of the nasal passages, the sinuses, eyes and throat.

Health Benefits of Ginseng
Ginseng is popular worldwide for its immune modulating and energizing properties. In Chinese herbal medicine ginseng is considered the “king of herbs” and is used to treat fatigue, poor cognition, stress, infertility, cancer and poor immunity.

Herbal and nutritional support for the man flu
The man flu is a form of the common cold, the symptoms of which are greatly exaggerated. It exclusively affects males causing them to feel weak, sick and miserable. What distinguishes man flu from the common cold is the need for lots of tender loving care (TLC).

The damaging effects of too much glucose
After eating your glucose levels are elevated, insulin is then secreted from the pancreas, its job is to drive glucose into the cells to be metabolised. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that too much sugar is bad news for your body.

12 natural treatments used to lower cholesterol
There are many natural therapies used to lower cholesterol, but do they do as they claim. Here we look at 12 treatments - garlic, guggulipid, red rice yeast, policosanol, artichoke leaf extract, fenugreek, fibre, fish oil, ginseng, niacin, soy protein and phytosterols (plant sterols).

3 Natural Sleep aid treatments for insomniacs
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that involves difficulty in getting to sleep, or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed and function normally.

7 Current and future options of insulin delivery systems - Overcoming needlephobia
People with type 1 diabetes and some with type 2 diabetes must receive insulin delivery in order to process the sugars they eat.

7 Nutrients for Healthy Nails
Do you have brittle nails? Are they nails slow to grow, weak, flaky, ridged, or grooved? You could be missing some valuable nutrients from your diet.

"Cellulite" A girls worst nightmare
Are dimply thighs preventing you from wearing shorts this summer? You’re not the only one. Cellulite is a common condition that affects up to 90% of women at some point in their life.

“Mummy, My Tummy Hurts”
Having a sore tummy is a common complaint in children that can be caused by viruses, food intolerances, constipation and even anxiety. It can leave many parents feeling helpless, unsure of what to do to help their child. Natural therapies have many solutions to help relieve the discomfort, eradicate a stomach bug faster and gently calm a child.

A2 Dairy products - What does that mean?
Selecting which milk is right for you among the variety of milk and milk alternatives on the supermarket shelves can be a daunting task. With so many health claims, consumers find themselves confused and even frustrated. One type of milk that has made headlines in recent years is the A2 milk by the New Zealand-based company, the a2 Milk Company. A2 milk (and milk products, including yoghurt, cream, and ice cream) is said to be easier to digest than regular cow milk. The milk is sold at supermarkets all over New Zealand, Australia, UK, the US and China.

A better understanding of corticosteroids and their risks
Corticosteroids are both natural molecules that act as hormones in the body, and artificially produced chemical variations on the basic corticosterone structure. Corticosterone is the essential form on which the other biological corticosteroids are based, which is in turn synthesised in the body from cholesterol molecules.

Actinic keratosis treatment - what are the options?
Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (Efudix) is a cream that is applied to the skin to treat various skin diseases.

Abdominal migraines
During an abdominal migraine the pain is felt in the head rather than the stomach. It is a rare form of migraine that is mainly seen in children aged 5-9 years of age but can occur in adults too.

About Flatulence
Flatulence, which is commonly known as “wind” or more comically as “farting”, is a perfectly natural biological process. The average person passes gas between 5 to 15 times in a day. Along with belching, it is the body’s way of ridding itself of excess gas in the gut as it builds up and causes bloating and a general feeling of discomfort.

About Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are one of the most painful, uncomfortable and inconvenient lesions that a person can experience, like sitting on a cactus. They can make normal daily activities such as sitting, walking or sitting on the toilet a cause for unbearable pain. Hemorrhoids or Piles, as they are more commonly known, are inflamed blood vessels around the anus or the lower rectum. These swollen blood vessels can either be internal to the anal and surrounding tissue or external to it.

About magnesium
Ever get confused when purchasing magnesium supplements - which ones are the best choice for specific symptoms. Aspartate, oxide, sulfate, diglycinate, chloride, lactate, carbonate - aren't all magnesiums the same?

About Rosacea
Rosacea is a persistent non-contagious skin disorder that produces redness and tiny pimples primarily on the central region of the face. The redness is caused by the small blood vessels (capillaries) that have dilated near the surface of the skin, causing a permanent flushed appearance. Due to the disorder causing small yellow-headed pimples the condition can also be referred to as acne rosacea. At this point the cause of rosacea is unknown and there is no cure but making simple changes in the diet and lifestyle can help slow the progression of the disorder and reduce the symptoms.

Acid Reflux, Heartburn and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Explained
Acid reflux, heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux are painful digestive conditions which are closely related to one another and cause similar symptoms; however, they usually develop in stages.

Acidic Foods/Alkaline Foods?
The pH of the human body is extremely important. A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline. The normal range for human blood pH is between 7.35 and 7.45, which is slightly on the alkaline side.

Acne! Not just about Skin
Acne is a disease of the skin most commonly affecting both males and females between the ages of 15 - 25. It generally begins during puberty, however acne can also occur in adulthood and be triggered by such things as hormones, genetics, digestion and stress. Acne can appear on the skin in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, papule, pustule and cysts which may not just affect the appearance; it can also have an impact on quality of life.

Activated nuts, seeds and legumes
Nuts are a popular snack and rich source of healthy unsaturated fats, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Daily consumption of nuts is associated with lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes, and reduced cholesterol and blood pressure. Studies have also shown that nut consumption might even help lose weight.

Activated Vitamin B6: Pyridoxal-5-phosphate - The evidence
There are many different types of vitamins, all of which have important functions within our body.

Acute & Chronic Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which can either appear suddenly and last for days (acute) or for many years (chronic).

Understanding food additives list: know what's in your food
We have the scoop on health risks associated with additives, and what you can do to navigate tricky ingredients labels.

Adenoid disorders
he adenoids are diffuse masses of lymphatic tissue located on the nasal pharynx (high up on the throat behind the nose). In fact, the adenoid tissue is a tonsil. There are 3 pairs of tonsils in the human body - called the pharyngeal tonsils.

Adenomyosis treatments that may help ease symptoms
Adenomyosis is a gynaecological condition that affects the uterus. Cells that normally form the lining of the uterus (the endometrial tissue) also grow within the muscle walls of the uterus (the myometrium).

ADHD Long Term Success of Primary Treatment Options
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that may also present with symptoms such as inconsistent focus and performance in completing tasks, poor motivation and drowsiness.

Adrenal Fatigue
Synonymous with stress, the adrenal glands produce a wide range of hormones that help us deal with the ups and down of life. They secrete over fifty different hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. The concept of “adrenal fatigue” was first coined in 1990s, and tired adrenals are often blamed for ongoing fatigue and malaise.

Adrenal Support
Our adrenals, are endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones including adrenaline, cortisol and aldosterone. Along with the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, they are involved in the stress response.

Age Related Weight Loss: Maintaining a Healthy Bodyweight for Seniors
Life threatening age related weight loss in the elderly is a real concern. A reduction in food intake, and concomitant weight loss, is often linked to advancing age. Up to 20% of older adults experience this phenomenon.

Ageing and Sleep: What happens to our sleep as we age?
With advancing age come many changes that may or may not be a normal part of the process. Some of these changes affect sleep. The more conspicuous of which are feeling sleepy at increasingly earlier hours of the night but taking longer to fall asleep once in bed, a lighter sleep with easy arousal, frequent awakenings, getting up earlier in the morning and an overall decrease in the duration of the refreshing deep phase of sleep.