Health ‘facts’ or ‘fantasies’?
We all want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible, so it’s tempting to try out a supplement or a new exercise regime or run a marathon. How do we know which ones to try and which to avoid? What about these claims from adverts on YouTube – ‘red root can improve your vision by clearing blockages in blood flow to your retina’. ‘Tai chi walking, 9 minutes a day can help you be stronger, lighter, younger’. Creatine seems to be a popular supplement at the moment and not just for elite athletes. Considering this is a substance our body makes for itself in the liver, kidneys and pancreas, do we need any extra? What is creatine? Uses, Benefits, and Risks According to Patient.info, taking this supplement can have number of benefits, including improving muscle strength & power, supporting muscle growth and recovery, may support cognitive function and support healthy aging. However, it can have side effects, for example, temporary weight gain, bloating and mild stomach discomfort, all more likely with higher doses. Patient.info concludes that it is not a replacement for regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Fermented foods are also becoming popular and promoted as healthy, eg yoghurt, kombucha, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut. Will a daily dose of fermented foods boost your health? – BBC Food
According to the BBC ‘Ferments are foods that have been transformed by the growth and metabolic activity of living microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast and even moulds.’ Fermented foods in particular can boost the microbiome in our gut. These gut microbes play an important part in the metabolic functions of our bodies and support the auto-immune system. According to Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, he believes ‘everyone would be healthier if they had some fermented foods every day of their lives’. Yoghurt is a readily accessible fermented food, but not all yoghurt could be considered a ‘health food’. According to Patient.info ‘studies show that natural forms of yoghurt can boost gut health, strengthen your immune system’. However, those which are low-fat, fat-free or flavoured could be high in sugar and/or artificial sweeteners and are less healthy. Is Yogurt Good For You? 5 Health Benefits Many people take vitamin & mineral supplements. Are they necessary? According to the NHS most people should get enough of these substances in a varied and balanced diet, but some people may need specific supplements to deal with specific deficiencies. Vitamins and minerals – NHS Most vitamins and minerals are needed in very small amounts and it is possible to cause harm by taking too much in a supplement. The spice Turmeric is said to have health-giving properties. In an article from the BBC, a number of possible benefits are included, for example, it may potentially ease arthritis, may protect against heart disease, may help limit the growth of cancerous cells. These are bold claims. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/nutrition/health-benefits-turmeric
Patient.info states that more research has been done in recent years on Turmeric and its active ingredient Curcumin. It has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine and Ayurveda medicine. Find out more to help you decide before you try. 7 Turmeric Benefits for Your Health I could go on – what about ‘red light therapy’? Patient.info article Red light therapy: Overview, benefits, and risks. Tesco in their April magazine is advertising ‘Dopamine Dishes’, to ‘give mealtimes a happy spin’! I am looking forward to taking the right amount of a free supplement, which I hope will be readily available in June – sunshine! I must remember that you can have too much of a good thing, so I will slather on the factor 50 and cover up when I have had the correct dose. I will then have boosted my Vitamin D, which will help to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in my body. These minerals are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Vitamin D also supports the immune system and helps keep muscles and brain cells working. So, it’s worth taking a closer look at some of the claims about products to boost our health. Things aren’t always what they seem!
Neighbourhood health: What the NHS changes could mean for your care
In July 2025 the Government published their 10 year Health Plan – Fit for the Future. There is now more information about what this might look like for us. Patient.info has a very readable summary. Neighbourhood health: What is it and how does it affect healthcare? It states that ‘they (the Government) outline a different way of organising care, one that is more local, more connected, and more focused on keeping you well’. Patient.info identifies that a key theme is
‘coordination’, between hospital, community and social services, to help provide ‘seamless’ care and support for us. There is an aim to have ‘shared records’ so that all parts of the NHS can access information about us and communicate with each other for our benefit. Patient.info gives a word of caution – ‘It is worth being realistic. These guidelines set a direction rather than delivering immediate transformation’. So, as patients, we will have to be patient!
NB Patient.info is a website and accompanying App which states that ‘Our clinical information meets NHS England’s Information Standard.’
Support for people with dementia and their carers in Wedmore
Carer’s Group
Do you care for or support a person living with dementia? Then this friendly informative group is for you! Come along on the first Friday of the month to The Swan Hotel, Wedmore between 10am and 12md. The next meeting will be on Friday 5th June. If you want to find out more about the Memories Workshops and Carers’ Group, phone HeadsUp on 01749 670667 or email wedmorecarers@yahoo.com If you need help with funding for attending HeadsUp, just ask, help may be available.
Coffee and a Chat
For general support with mental wellbeing Somewhere House, a charity based in Burnham, visits The Bluebird Café in Wedmore on the first Wednesday of the month, from 10-12md. They offer an opportunity to meet and chat. For more information contact them on 01278 780769
For easy links to the websites referenced please go to www.whawb.co.uk and go to the Wedmore News item for June 2026. You can reach them all with just one click and find out more interesting facts, figures and insights.
Cathy Butterworth
Wedmore Health & Wellbeing Project
01934 806266