Natural Health: I've started to get mild nausea whenever I eat cereal or bread

— And is there a balm or cream you could recommend for peeling, red sunburn?

Megan Sheppard: "As we age, we experience a natural decrease in internal enzyme production, which impacts our ability to break down and digest food."

I used to be able to eat almost everything, but in the last few months, I've started to get mild nausea whenever I eat cereal or bread. I'm in my 50s, so my digestive system may not be as robust as it once was. What would you suggest?

A. You are absolutely right in your suggestion that your digestive system may not be as robust as it once was. As we age, we experience a natural decrease in internal enzyme production, which impacts our ability to break down and digest food.

One of my favourite enzyme supplements is Udo’s Choice Ultimate Digestive Enzyme Blend, is a comprehensive formulation of 10 active plant-based enzymes to help break down proteins, fats, carbohydrates, soluble fibre, starch, milk sugars and complex sugars.

Udo’s Digestive Enzymes are available from Udo’s Choice, (https://www.udoschoice.ie), where 60 capsules cost €29.99. Taking this supplement, or a similar enzyme blend, will not only help to improve digestion but also help boost your ability to absorb nutrients from your diet — meaning that you will likely feel more energised.
Since it is just cereal and bread that are triggering the nausea, it is also wise to adopt a gluten-free diet for a minimum of three months while you replenish your digestive enzymes. Once you have rebalanced your digestive system, then you can slowly introduce cereal and bread back into your diet and note any symptoms that you experience.
If your symptoms return upon reintroducing these foods, then continue with the enzymes and gluten-free diet for a further three months and then try again with cereal and bread. If you are still experiencing nausea, then it may be worth visiting a gastroenterologist or allergy specialist to look further into the issue.
Food intolerances or sensitivities often show up as gas, bloating, brain fog, nausea, and cramping after eating certain foods or food groups. An allergy specialist will be able to run tests to determine whether or not you are reacting to certain foods.
Ginger is commonly used to aid digestion and reduce nausea and vomiting. You can take it as a supplement, add it to your food and drink, or take the fresh or dried root as a tea.
Turmeric is another useful spice to have on hand, since it works to strengthen the digestive system (including the gut flora) and it also has what is known as a bitter principle. This means that it stimulates bile flow, in turn encouraging the production of digestive juices, making it useful in treating intestinal inflammation.

Megan Sheppard: Turmeric is a useful spice to have on hand, since it works to strengthen the digestive system (including the gut flora) and it also has what is known as a bitter principle. This means it stimulates bile flow, in turn encouraging the production of digestive juices, making it useful in treating intestinal inflammation.

A week ago, my 10-year-old son got badly sunburnt on his back while on a playdate. He whipped off his T-shirt while playing outside. The pain has eased, and his skin has started peeling, but it still looks very red. Is there a cream or balm you could recommend?

Since more than a week has passed since your son’s sunburn incident, I would suggest applying rosehip oil to help heal the skin, repair sun damage, soften any scar tissue and prevent sunlight-induced dermatitis. You can also repair any existing sun damage internally using vitamin A, the antioxidant nutrient found in foods such as fish and eggs.
One of the best remedies to have on hand for immediate post-sun application is aloe vera gel. If you happen to have the fresh plant on hand, then you simply slice the leaf lengthways and rub the gel gently on the affected area and repeat as often as necessary. There are many gel and cream preparations based on the inner gel of the aloe plant, which is a far more convenient and less messy to use.
Other kitchen remedies for sunburn include yoghurt, applied directly to the burn to help cool the skin and rebalance pH levels, then rinsed off again; fresh strawberries — mashed and applied directly to the skin; and cucumber, which can be thinly sliced and applied directly.

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• NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.