Dr Gemma Newman

Holistic Health

Plant based nutrition

Because true wellbeing lies within us all

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Dr Gemma Newman has worked in medicine for 16 years and is the Senior Partner at a family medical practice where she has worked for 10 years. She studied at the University of Wales College of Medicine and has worked in many specialities as a doctor including elderly care, endocrinology, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, general surgery, urology, vascular surgery, rehabilitation medicine and General Practice.

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🏖 Holidays 🏝 This year for most of us, hol

🏖 Holidays 🏝

This year for most of us, holidays abroad have gone out the window...with quarantine rules, travel chaos and pandemic drama it has been a ‘staycation’ kind of year.

We were due a trip to Disneyland the costs of which have yet to be reimbursed...and many conferences I was due to attend have been cancelled or postponed. It has been a good thing for reducing air pollution and ironically the lack of travel is likely to have been a factor in reducing the severity of covid19 infection as well.

One pre-print study compared current SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths recorded in public databases to both regional and subregional air pollution data monitored at multiple sites across England. They found the levels of multiple markers of poor air quality, including nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, are associated with increased numbers of COVID-19-related deaths across England, after adjusting for population density. They expanded their analysis using individual-level data from the UK Biobank and showed that particulate matter contributes to increased infectivity.

So - all good reasons to limit our exposure to air pollution. And feel good about contributing less to air pollution by working from home where possible and travelling less.

So what did I do? A week with my family in Devon, where I grew up. I was so lucky to live by the sea and moors as a child, especially as we could never afford holidays. Day trips to special places were my vacation; a walk by the seaside or up Haytor rock were free.

What childhood holiday memories are your favourite?
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#childhoodmemories #makingmemories #devon #familytime #staycation #airpollution #covid19 #particulatematter #smog #asthma #pollution #environmentaljustice

Do you ever need a break? Not a break from your re

Do you ever need a break?
Not a break from your real life, though of course for many of us, our usual ideas of holidays are not what they were in 2019.... No, a break from your digital life.

I took some time; away from Insta, my emails. And all the other apps that require so much mental energy. And it felt good. Better than I expected.

I absolutely love what Instagram has created. Amazing connections with like minded people and a chance to genuinely impact people’s lives. A blog space to share science yes, but also a place to share me. My understandings of how the world, the body and the human mind works. Mostly from my perspective as a clinician, sometimes from my perspective as a person, and always as a friend.

But lately I had decided to take a little time. And it has felt really relaxing. Just being with the kids, doing normal things. Spending a few days were I grew up. Spending a fortnight dedicated to my normal life.

Many wellness advocates talk about the benefits of digital detox, but the irony is of course that digital communication is the primary mode of information exposure these days; including sharing the wisdoms of ‘unplugging.’

Was it beneficial for me? Yes. I had forgotten what not being at the beck and call of my phone was like - and it turns out I felt really rather liberated. And yet... I recognise how much I sincerely value this space too. How grateful I am for it. For you.

But evidence is mounting that it is hard for us to regulate our use of this addictive tool. It is hard for our children too. Will they be wired for anxiety? A deep need for digital connectivity coupled with a yearning for peace away from the constant stimulation? It makes me worry for their mental health. There are no easy answers.

As one study concluded; ‘Given the ubiquity of social media among emerging adults, who are also at high risk for anxiety disorders...(gaining) a more nuanced understanding of this relationship will help to inform (clinicians of) approaches to anxiety treatment.’

In other words....awareness is the first step to change. It took me a long time to realise I needed a time out. I am glad I did. Thank you for being here for my return 👋 ❤

I am reposting this here as it is an area which I

I am reposting this here as it is an area which I have talked about a lot but that is still hidden from the awareness of so many people. Our food choices today can have an impact on the ability of our loved ones to be able to respond to life saving antibiotics now and in the future. We have the power to make a difference by taking meat off the menu. Thanks to:• @drlaurafreeman

Whilst there are a number of factors, one of the most important reasons for the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria is animal agriculture
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WHAT’S THE LINK?
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Although some antibiotics are used to treat sick animals, an overwhelming amount is used in healthy animals globally to prevent infection or speed up growth
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In the US more than 70% of antibiotics that are medically important for humans are used in animals (swipe for UK numbers)
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In a large review of 139 academic papers, 72% showed evidence of a link between antibiotic consumption in animals and resistance in humans
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THE PROBLEM
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Overuse of antibiotics in animals is driving drug resistance (a problem already on the rise) and these drug-resistant strains from animals can be passed to humans when they prepare or eat meat.
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Some last-resort antibiotics for humans are being used extensively in animals and we have no new antibiotics on our horizon. This should scare us.
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Around the world, 700, 000 lives are lost each year from antibiotic resistant infections and this number has been projected to reach 10 million by the year 2050 if we do not make changes (UN data)
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PART OF THE SOLUTION
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Reducing the over and improper use of antibiotics in food production is key. But almost impossible with the use of factory farming where animals are kept in conditions that make infections (and pandemics) more likely.
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And of course, you might have guessed that I would suggest shifting towards a whole food plant-based pattern of eating - this will reduce the risk of eating contaminated foods and reduce the demand for meat overall.
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Did you know about this link? Let me know in the comments.
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Excited for this InstaLive later today! Posted @

Excited for this InstaLive later today!

Posted @withregram • @wildfoodcafe We will be going live on our Instagram with @plantpowerdoctor and @joel_gazdar on Monday, 24th of August at 7pm BST to dive into Dr. Newman’s approach to holistic patient care, the role of nutrition in disease treatment, immunity and hormonal health✨🌿 Join us to discover more about holistic health and how the planet’s health is related to our personal wellbeing 🌎💖 Event curated by @felicitasvallot 🌟

Part 1 There is so much debate and division on soc

Part 1
There is so much debate and division on social media. Dogma drowns out nuance. Whilst we scramble to defend our own point of view, people suffer and get confused about how to have a peaceful and enjoyable relationship with food.

Here’s the truth. From my perspective of course.

Medicine is defined as ‘a drug or other preparation for the treatment or prevention of disease.’

Other preparation? That definition can of course encompass all sorts of things, and in my mind includes movement, sleep and spiritual understanding as well as nutrition.
Let’s delve in a little. If you have an eating disorder such as anorexia, food can be medicine because it could literally save your life. If you have read the research on chronic disease you will see lifestyle factors like not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and following a healthy diet—together appear to be associated with as much as an 80 percent reduction in the risk of developing the most common and deadly chronic diseases (August 10/24 issue of Arch Int Med). I have personally seen food changes facilitate hypertension reversal, type 2 diabetes reversal, skin condition resolution, endometriosis regression, prostate cancer regression and M.S. symptom reversal, with the disease process halting it it’s tracks. All these and many more life changing benefits from embracing the power of nutrition. These are not isolated ‘miracles’, and there is mounting research evidence to help us understand the power of the plate to facilitate healing.

BUT

If you have read the research around the social determinants of health you will also know social, financial, societal, racial and generational influences affect health far more than most of us can comprehend.

If you have seen diet culture you will understand how the pleasure of food can be tainted by calorie counting, aesthetics and the pressure to starve yourself for a look. If you have seen loved ones die because they drank juice instead of undertaking prescribed cancer therapies, the perspective that food is medicine is triggering and maddening.

Both perspectives are perfectly valid. One does not negate the other. Let’s hold space for both.🙏🏻

Part 2 You see, there is another perspective too

Part 2

You see, there is another perspective too. As doctors we know that just as food can harm, medicine can harm. According to one study approximately 1 in 10 patients admitted to a large acute-care hospital in the UK experience an adverse effect from medical treatment; a third of them usually lead to moderate or severe disability or death.

We are experiencing rates of chronic disease like never before. There are lots of reasons for this, but to misunderstand the role that nutrition can play in the very real recovery stories of people that we know, love and care for is a great sadness. I would say that this also borders on negligence when we see the amount of information in the literature we now have on the power of nutrition, movement and psychological wellbeing on health. Many nutritionists and dieticians are aware of this too.

Let’s work together to empower our patients wherever possible. We can do this whilst also acknowledging that there are things beyond our control that also impact health. Healthy habits and governmental policy, industry influence and societal change should not be mutually exclusive.

Another truth. Another perspective. This does not negate that medicines can be life saving. Let’s embrace each other’s perspectives whilst acknowledging the power of lifestyle. Anything less is a disservice to our patients.

#foodismedicine #lifestyle #movementismedicine #sleepismedicine #pillsaremedicine #surgeryismedicine #mindfullnessismedicine #meditationismedicine #cancertherapy #heartdisease #statins #nutritionismedicine #loveismedicine #connectionismedicine

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