Q: “I want to use natural remedies when I reach the menopause. When should I start?”

A: It’s never too early to start preparing by making sure you are getting a good daily balance of nutrients.Take a multi vitamin and mineral supplement and, if you are over 40, you should choose one specifically for the menopause as you may already have symptoms of peri-menopause. (I use a good one in the clinic called Meno Plus)

Make sure you’re eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean protein and whole grain foods. You need lots of nuts, seeds and oily fish like salmon and trout to make sure you are getting essential fats. And include phytoestrogen rich foods like soya bean, chickpeas and lentils.

(Jane wins a copy of my Nutritional Health Handbook for Women and also a £10 gift voucher from the Natural Health Practice. To send me your questions please email: AskMarilyn@DrGlenville.com)

Q: “I have been diagnosed with ME and wondered what I can do nutritionally to help myself especially to reduce the main symptoms of overwhelming tiredness and the muscle pains?”

A: ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), or chronic fatigue syndrome as it is often called, is a condition of debilitating tiredness with a combination of other symptoms including muscle pain, joint aches, depression and mental confusion.The cause is not known but many believe that it is a chronic viral infection. The aim is to support the immune system by cutting out any toxins and other substances that place a burden on the body. So caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, additives, preservatives all need to be eliminated. Avoiding sugar and yeast is important in order to keep the gut as healthy as possible. Your digestive system makes up a major part of the immune system so it is crucial that it is as healthy as possible to control viruses and bacteria.

You may consider testing to see whether you are allergic to gluten or dairy foods as eliminating these has been helpful in some people (see www.naturalhealthpractice.com to obtain these tests: Acute Allergy Screen Test, Food Intolerance Test, Gluten Intolerance Test). Have a good balanced diet including good quality protein like fish, beans and organic eggs.

Adding supplements can be beneficial and ones I would suggest are co-enzyme Q10 for energy, magnesium malate for muscles, Omega 3 oils for joint pains and mental function and a good probiotic for digestive health.

Q: “I have been taking digestive enzymes and found that they have been helpful in reducing heartburn and indigestion. I wondered whether I can stay on them long term?”

A: Digestive enzymes are substances that enable the food you eat to be broken down efficiently. As we get older, we can end up producing less digestive enzymes.

Your body is dependent on the food you eat in order to function correctly but in turn that food must be digested and absorbed efficiently in order to get the full benefit. It has been said that ‘you are what you eat’ but it is even truer to say ‘you are what you absorb’ because if you try to eat well and take vitamins and minerals but you can’t absorb them then they are being wasted. If you felt better taking the digestive enzymes then I would suggest you continue on them as they are helping your body absorb more of what it needs.