D4 Intentional Health

14/04/2026

Always a good listen…

08/04/2026

Mmmmm which berries to you like best?

For me, it’s raspberries 👍🏽

Strawberries are one of the healthiest berries of them all, and one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat.

Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, and are also good sources of manganese, iodine, copper, folate, and potassium, and phytonutrients such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and stilbenes. They even contain some carotenoids, mostly lutein and zeaxanthin.

They are low sugar, high fiber, and nutrient packed.

So next time you’re thinking about something good to eat, that’s also healthy and easy on the waistline, don’t forget about strawberries.

29/03/2026

The link between healthy food and healthy soils…

Science has yet to prove a definitive link between soil and human health, but that could be about to change

24/03/2026

Interesting and informative article on how parents/caregivers influence their children’s behaviour around alcohol.

Children don’t need a flawless example of parents who never drink alcohol. But over time, they notice your choices about when, why and how much you drink.

13/03/2026

WOW!

Mind-blowing Facts About DNA - the “Blueprint” of Life

Almost all the cells in our body have DNA with the exception of red blood cells.

Each nucleus in your body contains approximately 2 meters of DNA in a nucleus that is six micrometers in diameter, this is equivalent to packing 40 kilometers of fine thread into a tennis ball!

Our entire DNA sequence would fill two hundred 1,000-page New York City telephone directories.

You have between approximately five grams (0.2 ounces or about the weight of a sheet of paper) to 50 grams (1.8 ounces or about the weight of a chicken egg) of DNA in your body.

If you unwrap all the DNA you have in all your cells it would stretch at least 60 billion miles (96.5 billion kilometers) - to the sun and back 61 times.

During cell division your DNA is replicated at a speed of 1 million nucleotide base pairs per second.

There are specific families of enzymes whose only job is to repair or remove damaged DNA.

Inadequate nutrient intake and poor lifestyle choices can negatively impact the health and quality of your DNA. The health of your DNA and the ability of your body to repair damaged DNA is largely dependent on your intake of essential and beneficial nutrients that prevent damage (antioxidants) or provide building blocks for repair enzymes.

Great article on the basics of genetics:

https://askthescientists.com/genetics/

12/03/2026

We need to create healthy habits around our use of new technologies… each new phase changes both the opportunities and the challenges

The faster and easier option isn’t always the best.
👉 https://theconversation.com/its-tempting-to-offload-your-thinking-to-ai-cognitive-science-shows-why-thats-a-bad-idea-276766?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook =1773115760

26/02/2026

Choose an activity that takes you outside in nature and involves physical and mental stimulation.

Expert birdwatchers have brain differences that may underlie their remarkable ability to identify unfamiliar birds and suggest that birdwatching can reshape the brain in much the same way as learning a language or a musical instrument does.

25/02/2026

Picky eaters… it is usually just a phase, but you can encourage a greater range…

While genes do influence some food preferences, positive experiences can help make new tastes easier to swallow.

19/02/2026

Our bodies are such amazing organisms, we need to be aware of how best to look after them 💖

ONE ORGAN REQUIRES 20% OF THE BODY’S OXYGEN AND ENERGY – THE BRAIN

In the average adult human, the brain represents only about 2% of the body weight, but accounts for a whopping 20% of the oxygen (through blood flow) and, therefore, calories consumed by the body. This high metabolic activity is present whether we are passive and resting as well as when we are actively doing something.

If you are not eating right and providing adequate healthy fuel and nutrients, not getting adequate sleep, and not doing things to support good blood flow and optimal circulation, your brain will be one of the first things to suffer. Make sure to get the healthy fuel and nutrients your body needs and stay active. Your body, and your brain, depend on it.

https://askthescientists.com/nutrients-brain-health/

http://www.pnas.org/content/99/16/10237.full

15/02/2026

Love is good for the heart and soul ♥️

Love—Just What the Doctor Ordered

Love comes in many shapes and sizes. No matter where you stand on the subject, one thing is becoming clearer. Strong relationships and love are good for your health.

Here are a few of the possible health benefits of love:

• Less frequent trips to the doctor: Studies have linked marriage to fewer doctor visits and shorter hospital stays. It’s thought that people in good relationships are more likely to take better care of themselves.

• Reduced risk of depression and substance abuse: Although it shouldn’t be surprising, people in good marriages have lower rates of depression, drinking, and drug abuse.

• Less anxiety: According to a study using MRI brain scans, strongly connected couples in long-term relationships have more activation in the areas of the brain associated with bonding and less in the area that produces anxiety.1

• Healthier blood pressure: A good relationship can be good for your blood pressure. A study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine showed that happily married people had better blood pressure than singles. The worst were unhappily married people.2

• Better stress management: Research has shown a link between good social support and relationships and improved ability to cope with stress.

• Healthier immune system: People in healthy relationships are less likely to get sick after exposure to cold or flu viruses. This may be partly due to reduced stress and depression resulting in enhanced immune response.3

• Longer lifespan: Many research studies have linked happy marriages to longer life. The feeling of love and connection helps protect against loneliness and isolation, which are tied to increased mortality risk.

• Happier life: One of the greatest benefits of love is joy.

According to research in the Journal of Family Psychology, happiness depends more on the quality of family relationships than on the level of income.4

You don’t have to be married or in love to have good health and live a long life. But reduced stress, lower levels of anxiety, and strong social connections are key ingredients in a recipe for a longer, healthier life.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3277362/
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18347896
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17101814
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18540776

https://aspe.hhs.gov/.../effects-marriage-health...

15/01/2026

Purity and potency.

15/01/2026

A discussion on the new ‘inverted pyramid’

Meat and full-fat dairy are in. Ultra-processed foods are out. And there’s a new, inverted food pyramid.

👉 Read the full story: https://theconversation.com/prioritising-protein-what-the-new-us-dietary-guidelines-get-right-and-wrong-according-to-2-nutrition-experts-273112