Weekend Read 18 September 2021

Weekend Read 18 September 2021

Hello.  I want to open by saying that is remains profoundly important that we tell it as is.  I cannot, and will not, paper over the cracks and pretend that everything is fine, because it is still so far from being fine for so many of us.  This doesn’t mean that we are going to fall through a big black hole together, well not if I have anything to do with it, but I am infinitely aware that it would be wholly incorrect to ignore the levels of stress and discomfort that so many are under, through no fault of their own.  And comfort so often comes with sharing.  And talking. 

Surely the compassion to understand the plight of others should be uppermost in our minds, but certain evidence dictates otherwise.  And heaven help you if you put your head above the parapet, as so many of us do, because the certainty of that is that you will be vilified.  Regardless.  And I’ve got a story on that subject further down the newsletter, but for now, I want to talk about supplementation.

After writing about health for more years than I care to remember, there is one thing that remains a constant.  Not all supplementation is created equally.  There are, of course, many connotations to this, not least the importance of taking the correct therapeutic dose of any given supplement.  The differential here is that in so many instances it is only when you stop taking specifically targeted supplementation, the realisation of their efficacy truly becomes apparent.  And that is certainly true of Hyaluronic Acid, Ionicell, Fulvic Acid Elixir, Superior Joints, Magnolia Rhodiola Complex and so many more, too numerous to mention.

So let’s do some of those specifically targeted products, but let’s also do a subject matter that many women find embarrassing, despite the fact that it is so common.  And we are talking about vaginal dryness.  I don’t feel the need to write chapter and verse, because Shabir has already done that in his article, linked below.  But what I will say is declining oestrogen levels are mostly responsible for vaginal dryness and, as you will read, Shabir believes that the first supplement to consider is the safe hormone-mimicking supplement, Sage Complex.

Sage Complex, performs in a myriad of ways, and although I have just thrown the focus on vaginal dryness, it will also help calm our dancing hormones, thus helping to reduce mood swings.  It also plays a role in helping to alleviate hot flushes and excessive sweating, all of which are tremendously common through the peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause.  I think the post-menopausal years are interesting, in that many think it is all over, yet there is much evidence stating otherwise.  So let’s just do this.  In support of my words, and the relevance of this supplement, I am taking the price of Sage Complex down from £25 to £20.  For one day only.
VH Editorial: Overcoming Menopausal Vaginal Dryness; Sage Complex £20 for 90 Capsules (Offer ends at midnight BST tonight, Saturday 18 September)

Staying on subject, and as you will also read in the above article, Turmeric supplementation is often overlooked with regard to vaginal dryness, despite it being one of the most researched supplements in the world.  The active ingredient in Turmeric is Curcumin, which displays potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, both of which are thought to be invaluable for reducing inflammation in the soft tissues of the body, including the vagina.  And that’s just one example.

Scientific studies on the health properties of Curcumin are ongoing, and in a separate article, listed below, Shabir outlines several of its health benefits, including age-related issues, which are so often linked to inflammation.  But more than that, it needs to be said that the vast majority of Turmeric supplements have very low levels of Curcumin and are easily degraded by our stomach acids.  Which is all a bit pointless really. 

For the longest time Shabir has recommended Curcumin Elite, which he believes provides the greatest amount of Curcumin and Curcuminoids that can be retained in the body for longer periods of time, thereby offering greater potential for calming inflammation in the body.  So I am going to follow through on this by reducing the price of Curcumin Elite from £29.50 to £25 in celebration and recognition of ethical responsibility.  And furthermore, I’ll take this across the weekend.  Whilst stock lasts.
VH Editorial: Turmeric – The Spice With Health Benefits; Curcumin Elite by Life Extension £25 for 60 Capsules (Offer ends at midnight BST Sunday 19 September)

News.  As so many of you know, Trinny and Shabir have done many ‘lives’ over the past few years, but because of all the restrictions over the past 18 months, they have been unable to do an actual live together, albeit there have been one or two sessions where they did remote lives.  But that all changed on Wednesday as the Trinny and Shabir reunion took place.  And, at Trinny’s request, the subject matter was managing winter infections and the lingering symptoms of viral infections, including Long Covid.  Currently there is not a test that identifies Long Covid, neither are there any proven drug treatments, so the main focus is on trying to manage the symptoms of all viral infections.

We are all learning and scientific research is of course ongoing, but not definitive.  A study of 3500 people carried out at University College London indicated that a total of 205 symptoms of Long Covid were present in case studies.  The most common symptoms by the sixth month were fatigue, shortness of breath, problems with memory and concentration, hair loss, changes to smell and taste and joint and muscle pain. 

Additionally in an ONS study of 50,000 people, it was shown that one person in nine had at least one symptom of the above after three months.  These findings were similar to many other reports that have suggested that women, 50-69 year olds and people with other long-term health conditions, are the most likely to have some of these symptoms twelve weeks after a Covid infection.

You may not have experienced the debilitating effect of some of the ongoing symptoms, but for those who have contracted an infection, some of the side-effects are tremendously real, such as hair loss. Trinny has been tremendously vocal on this subject, which is understandable bearing in mind she believes she lost approximately one third of her hair after contracting the Covid-19 virus.    

So please, as we continue to talk about hair loss, do read Shabir’s words about haircare products that contain short-chain alcohols.  Not only can they contribute to inflammation of the scalp, but they can also damage the hair cuticle, which, in turn compromises the health of your scalp and hair.  And as this often leads to hair loss and hair thinning, I will not keep quiet on this subject.  So with that said, all I will do here is link you to the video and article below.  With love and so much gratitude to Trinny for sharing her rather considerable platform with us.  And for the trust.  We have always known.  Together.
Trinny & Shabir Live: Managing Winter Infections; VH Editorial: Managing Winter Infections

Skincare.  And after launching Non Gender Specific (NGS) last weekend, I secretly knew that Everything Cleanser would be the best-selling product of the three products launched, although it needs to be said that Everything Serum came a very close second.  The thing is that I think you all know when I am having a serious love affair with products, which is why I rarely launch skincare brands because those love affairs are few and far between.  And I’m extraordinarily fussy about the products I will put on my skin.  And with a few exceptions, because we are all different, if I don’t want it on my skin, why would I guide you to put it on yours.

This is a big subject and in the months to come I will reference this even further, mostly because I am thoroughly disillusioned with the messaging of the beauty industry.  There are many stories to tell, but for now the story belongs to NGS.  And Everything Cleanser, which helps repair damaged skin at the very first step.  Last week, I told you that if I wasn’t going out, I often kept this on my skin for several hours and considered it to be a treatment in and of itself.  If you can’t do that, do try and keep it on your skin for at least five seconds after you have massaged it into your skin.  The difference, I believe, is quite profound.  And I am in awe.

But I am not only in awe about the NGS products, I am actually in awe of the entire concept of NGS and the research and development behind the brand.  It is often these hidden factors that matter the most and I will tell you now that although I have three more products to launch for NGS over the coming months, please do not expect a high volume of products to follow on from this.  Because it is not going to happen.  There are several products which have been sitting in the NGS lab for the past two years.  But they are not coming out of the lab any time soon because they are not immaculate.  Yet.  And they may never be.  And therein the beauty of discernment.

So for now we have Everything Cleanser, Everything Serum, which is an explosion of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants and Everything Mask, which helps to brighten skin.  NGS is a small brand trying to make big changes within the beauty space.  The founder, Andrew Glass, believes that in order for the NGS products to make a difference  in your skin, he has to start with sourcing the world’s finest ingredients with the most active properties, with every ingredient tirelessly tested to ensure only the highest standards for the multi-correctional formulations.  Together with Andrew, I thank those of you who are joining us on this journey.  NGS.  The Brand For All Humans.
Everything Cleanser by NGS £25 for 237 ml; Everything Serum by NGS £49 for 50 ml; Everything Mask by NGS £34 for 50 grams

More skincare.  And of course it goes without saying that even though I have launched two skincare brands within weeks of each other, it doesn’t cancel out what has gone before.  It never has and it never will, and because so many of you choose to use the Garden of Wisdom products, I have a treat for you.  And that treat is all about Niacinamide.  Shabir does the lowdown on Niacinamide in his article linked below and I am here to tell you that in a limited time offer, we have over-filled Niacinamide, so instead of receiving 30 ml, you will actually receive 45 ml for the same price.  No alcohol.  No silicones.  And cruelty-free.  Rocking it.
VH Editorial: Why You Should Introduce Niacinamide Into Your Skincare Routine; Niacinamide Serum by Garden of Wisdom for VH £10 for 45 ml

Health.  Dry Eye Syndrome, also referred to as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is often caused by the insufficiency, or poor quality, of tears.  This can often result in stinging, itching and sensitive eyes, all of which Shabir covers in his article, linked below.  This concern has become increasingly widespread over the recent past, so I think we need to mention the supplement that helps boost tear fluid secretion and enhances the actual function of the tear film.  That supplement is Tear Support with MaquiBright, which contains 60 mg of Maqui Berry Extract, which was the exact amount used in a very small human study undertaken by Japanese scientists.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the amazing Heated Eye Wand here because although so many of you are using it for cosmetic reasons, such as helping to reduce eye puffiness, it was actually created to help relieve dry, tired eyes.  It does this rather well and so many of you are using it together with Soothing Coconut Eye Balm, which I believe has been sent from heaven.  Anyway, Tear Support with MaquiBright drops in price from £18 to £15 across the weekend.  And I’m also reducing the price of the Heated Eye Wand from £60 to £55 and the Soothing Coconut Eye Balm from £20 to £15.  And that’s for one day only.
VH Editorial: Symptoms Of Dry Eyes; Tear Support with MaquiBright £15 for 30 Capsules (Offer ends at midnight BST Sunday 19 September); Heated Eye Wand by Peep Club £55 and Soothing Coconut Balm £15 for 120 ml (Offers end at midnight BST tonight, Saturday 18 September)

Let’s do a couple of updates, and after the longest time, Yacon Syrup is now back in stock.  I need to say here that the issues regarding the availability of many raw ingredients is still ongoing and I can’t see total resolution for several months, or longer.  We endure because we have no choice, so all I will do here is refer you to Shabir’s article about the benefits of Yacon, which are several.  And send up a prayer that it will now stay in stock.
VH Editorial: Can Yacon Syrup Help You Lose Weight; Organic Yacon Syrup £7.49 for 170 ml; Organic Yacon Syrup £15.99 for 425 ml

Candles.  As so many of you will have read last week, my most favourite candles in the world came back into stock, also after rather a long absence.  I am of course talking about GodSmell and RoseRage, which were created by Tina Gaudoin.  Several of my friends were also exceptionally happy and that included Nigella, who is as besotted as I am.  So besotted in fact, that she asked if it were possible to extend the range and create a candle with a specific scent.  I won’t tell you at this stage what the fragrance is because it may not work out, and even if it does, it could take several months to create.

And somewhere in between the emails that were going backwards and forwards between us, Nigella posted on her Twitter feed that she had been called a ‘Demonic Entity’ by some inane keyboard warrior.  She subsequently changed her Twitter bio to embrace her new accolade, also declaring that her next book could be entitled ‘How To Be A Demonic Entity’, which, by popular demand, could perhaps be led by a recipe for Devil’s Food Cake.  Anyway, back to the candles, and if Tina is able to create this new candle, let it be known that we will probably call it ‘Demonic Love’.  Dedicated to bring light to all those who have been subjected to the cruelty of cyber bullying.  As we make a stand.  Against energetic darkness.
GodSmell Candle by RoadScents £35; RoseRage Candle by RoadScents £35; RoadScents

Straight into the Saturday only treat we go.  Dedicated to hair health, Fulvic Acid Shampoo is free from Alcohol, Sulphates, SLS and many other chemicals commonly found in haircare products.  It also happens to be our bestselling shampoo, so with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will include the 60 ml size of Fulvic Acid Shampoo.  Full size product listed below.  And in one last fling, I have just taken the price down from £25 to £20.  For one day only.
Fulvic Acid Shampoo £20 for 240 ml (Offer ends at midnight BST tonight, Saturday 18 September)

Finally, a song request, as follows: ‘Please consider Strauss’s Wiegenlied, preferably sung by the late, great Jessye Norman.  It is a lullaby and the musical equivalent of having arms wrapped around you’.  No more words needed from me, other than to say can we please do a collective virtual wrapping.  With each other.  It will just take one moment.  Thank you.
Wiegenlied by Jessye Norman

With love for a peaceful weekend.

Gill x

 

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