Well, here we are, on the last Saturday of the month, which is probably just as well as February has always been such a difficult month for so many, although it needs to be said that this February hasn’t been as dark and gloomy as it has been in the past.  It is not only the weather that dictates mood because of course there are so many differing factors that determine our state of mind which, in turn, can affect our health and wellbeing.

I’m big on this, I always have been, so I want to thank you for your emails last weekend, which touched me deeply, they always do.  So much of the work we do is hidden, it has to be that way because there must always be a space, a safe space, where we are able to share and process those experiences.  It is in this sharing that we walk with the terminally ill, the bereaved and the undermined, and although I don’t want to write much more on this today, I will just say that our collective experiences have always formed the tone and approach we take to health and wellbeing, together with the words we share.  In trust.

Let’s do the products and I am going to begin with skin health, a subject which I will be writing far more about in the coming weeks and in a way this is setting the scene for what is to come, so let’s take a look.  Skin is the largest organ of the body and like all other organs, it ages over a period of time and in fact it ages faster than most of our organs because skin is exposed to internal aggressors and toxins, as well as external pollutants, which are well documented.

If we are to understand the ageing of skin, we need to look at the outermost layer, the stratum corneum, which is composed of flattened, hard, dead skin cells which resemble overlapping bricks.  These start as living cells in the lower skin layer, but as they are pushed closer to the surface, they flatten out and die, forming a thin, yet tough barrier.  These flat cells would normally flake away, except they are held together by a flexible skin cement, nearly 40% of which is composed of ceramides.  And as Shabir writes in his article linked below, we need to think of the stratum corneum cells as bricks and the skin cement as the mortar that holds them in place. 

When we are younger, the outer layers of skin are replaced approximately every forty days, but by the time we reach our fifties, it takes about 50% longer and additionally the amount of ceramides and other lipids in the skin cement that holds the skin cells is lower.  This not only results in the loss of moisture, but the weakened barrier can affect the deeper layers where collagen and elastin production occur.  So, with all of that said, there are four supplements which we believe help to support the health of our skin and we are going to take a look at those four supplements now, beginning with Skin Restoring Ceramides.

As mentioned above, ceramides and lipids hold the skin’s barrier in place, helping to prevent moisture loss and helping to address free radical damage, which can lead to inflammation, a core factor in ageing skin.  Ceramide-based topical skincare products have been available for several decades, but whilst they help improve the skin’s barrier function, they cannot match the steady stream of ceramides from within, no matter the claims which are made.  Facts are facts.

In extensive research, scientists explored the potential of wheat derived ceramides for use as a skin moisturiser, but an oral skin moisturiser.  Clinical studies have determined that the ceramides in wheat extracts reach the outer cell layer of skin from the bloodstream, significantly improving skin moisture levels, helping to resolve the issues of dry, ageing skin.  Skin Restoring Ceramides was the world’s first ceramide-rich extract of wheat and its efficacy demonstrates the importance of clinically evaluated supplementation, so let’s celebrate that importance as I drop the price of Skin Restoring Ceramides from £25 to £22, across the weekend.
Skin Restoring Ceramides by Life Extension £22 for 30 Liquid Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 25 February, whilst stock lasts)

Given that each of the four supplements I am writing about all have different functions in the optimisation of skin health, Hyaluronic Acid comes next, and although many of us take HA for numerous reasons, its role in skin health is evidenced because there is no other biological substance that can retain as much water as HA, which helps to plump skin, but equally as important is its ability to remove waste matter from cells, which is necessary for the health of our skin.  I don’t think I need to write any more about HA, other than it became even more relevant with the inclusion of BioPerine® in the formulation, which boosts its efficacy considerably.  And that matters.
Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules

I have been writing about NAD+ Generator rather a lot over the past few months, so today I want to take a look at its role in skin health.  NAD+ is a co-enzyme and being the second most abundant molecule in the body, it is involved in hundreds of processes providing energy for regeneration and repair of tissues, including skin.  The energy of our skin is really important and as it has been determined that NAD+ energises all the cells of the body, it follows that NAD+ plays a role in providing energy for the cells involved in healthy cell regeneration.  It also follows that for optimum skin health we must try to prevent damage to the cells of our skin.  And NAD+ helps to do that too. 
NAD+ Generator £32 for 30 Capsules

The final supplement in this section on skin health is an antioxidant and that antioxidant is Astaxanthin.  Astaxanthin helps to protect the skin and the body’s glands from unstable damaging molecules, known as free radicals which I have mentioned above, but Astaxanthin also helps to protect skin against UV radiation and to prevent UV damage to our cells.  There are many Astaxanthin supplements available, but it is important to say that the chosen Astaxanthin should be derived from algae and not from fungus, and it should contain an oil or an essential fatty acid, which enhances absorption considerably.

We recommend Astaxanthin with Phospholipids which delivers 4 mg of Astaxanthin in a blend of four phospholipids.  Phospholipids are molecules which are a major component of cell membranes, thus this form of Astaxanthin offers maximum absorption, ensuring that the Astaxanthin is actually delivered to the cells of the body where it can perform its protective role.  In recognition of its role in helping to promote the elasticity of skin too, let’s have a moment and that moment translates to a drop in price of Astaxanthin with Phospholipids from £14 to £12, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Beauty Supplements To Boost Your Skin; Astaxanthin with Phospholipids by Life Extension £12 for 30 Softgels (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 25 February, whilst stock lasts)

There has always been a debate as to whether we need to take a multivitamin, so let’s talk about this and let’s also talk about what we can expect a multivitamin to do.  Shabir thinks multivitamins are absolutely imperative, essentially because numerous studies have indicated that many of us are deficient in many vitamins and minerals and we all know that vitamins are important nutritional substances that the body requires on a regular basis.  Notable examples include D3, Vitamin K, Vitamin B12 and Magnesium, and in most of these instances, studies have indicated that well over 60% of the adult population is deficient in these nutrients.

In his article, linked below, Shabir takes a look at the role of various vitamins and minerals, but on from that, all the organs within our bodies have specialised functions and these organs perform chemical reactions through the use of enzymes and co-enzymes.  Vitamins act as co-enzymes, allowing these reactions to take place and it therefore follows that any vitamin deficiency will result in the appropriate gland not working efficiently.

This is normally the point where I write about the importance of taking food-state supplementation as opposed to synthetic or semi-synthetic vitamins, but I am not going to do that because Shabir has covered that subject in his article.  He also mentions that some of those supplements do more harm than good and however tempted I am to write more on this subject, I think I had better leave it there, but I haven’t quite finished because I am dropping the price of Daily Multivitamins One-A-Day from £30 to £27, which is of course a food-state multivitamin formulated by Shabir.  He has his moments.
VH Editorial: Are All Multivitamins The Same; Daily Multivitamins One-A-Day £27 for 60 Tablets (Two months supply) (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 25 February)

I want to talk about Uric Acid now, and I want to talk about it because it is an issue that affects rather a lot of people.  High Uric Acid levels can cause crystals to form which can settle in joints which, in turn, can lead to gout, a form of arthritis which can cause severe pain. These crystals can also settle in the kidney, resulting in the formation of kidney stones.  These are the two most common concerns associated with high Uric Acid levels, but there are many silent diseases that are also associated with high Uric Acid levels, such as cardiovascular disease.

Uric Acid is a waste product, such waste occurring when the body breaks down purines from food, and there are many foods which are high in purines, which is the primary cause of increased Uric Acid levels. Most of us are totally unaware of how high levels of Uric Acid can affect our bodies, so because it is important to understand the root cause of each and every health concern, Shabir takes an in-depth look at the foods that are high in purines and the treatments available for gout or any of the other health concerns associated with high Uric Acid levels. 
VH Editorial: How To Control Uric Acid; Uric Acid Control by Life Extension £20 for 60 Capsules

With this being the last Saturday of February, this is just to say that we are still offering a 25% discount across all of the BetterYou products, but this offer will end at midnight GMT, Thursday 29 February.  I will also mention that In The Beginning Deep Cleansing Melt from TEMPLESPA is also on offer until midnight GMT, Thursday 29 February where the price has dropped from £35 to £27.  And then we roll into March.  And Spring.
BetterYou Products; In The Beginning Deep Cleansing Melt by TEMPLESPA £27 for 75 grams

Actually, rather a lot of us rolled into Spring last weekend as we launched a new product from Soapsmith, which captured the essence of Spring with a beautiful blend of Violets and Lilacs.  The Whitechapel Reed Diffuser is a Limited Edition fragrance, but it is still available and I absolutely know we had a wait list, but we are back in stock now, although I still don’t know quite how limited it is.  I really want to put one in every room.  For the rest of my life.
Whitechapel Reed Diffuser by Soapsmith £25 for 100 ml

Let’s talk about Thyme Out.  It all began a very long time ago at an exhibition in California, an exhibition where all the big brands in health and beauty had eye-wateringly expensive stands, yet in a corner, on a small trestle table, there was one man, Andrew Klenert, and one product.  That product was Thyme Out and I remember talking to Andrew for a really long time about his product.  Such was his passion and such was our fascination with his story, Shabir and I knew in that moment that we had to launch his product for him.  And so we did.

Since those early days, the Thyme Out range has grown, yet the original Thyme Out remains the bestselling product. Thyme has been the subject of several studies indicating its benefits for blemished skin and one of those studies was carried out by the University of Leeds, and in comparison to benzoyl peroxide, which is often used in skin treatment products, Thyme proved significantly more powerful at helping to eradicate the bacteria responsible for many skin conditions.  Anyway, that’s the story and in celebration of Andrew and his trestle table, I am running a 15% discount across all the Thyme Out products this weekend.
Thyme Out Products (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 25 February)

Right, Ameliorate comes next and although there is a story around the launch of this brand, I am not going to write the story now other than to say Shabir’s article, which accompanied the launch, is as important now as it has ever been.  It talks about the treatment of Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin) and as with Thyme Out, we launched this brand with just one product, Transforming Body Lotion.  Since that time, the product range has grown considerably, as has the brand, so another treat here and it looks like this.  If you buy any Ameliorate product, we will automatically include their Nourishing Body Wash (60 ml), which is worth £6, and there is only one gift per customer, whilst stock lasts.
VH Editorial: Treatment Of Keratosis Pilaris; Ameliorate Products

One last thing before we head into the Saturday only treat, and it’s a Fulvic thing.  Actually, it’s a Fulvic Mist thing, essentially because this potent and invigorating treatment, which is powered by a patented complex, Ioniplex, will sing and dance if you want it to.  Well kind of, but seriously, Fulvic Acid Mist has been formulated as a treatment for hair loss and thinning hair, it is also a scalp treatment, it is also a nail treatment, it is also a skin treatment and it also has wound healing properties.  That’s the lowdown, and with only one gift per customer, if you buy any of the Fulvic products, we will include Fulvic Mist (60 ml) with your order, which is worth £12.50.
Fulvic Products; Fulvic Acid Mist

And with all of that said, into the Saturday only treat we go and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include a packet of Aduna Tea*.  There are five Aduna Teas in the range, with each packet containing 15 Tea Pyramids and we have a selection of all of them.  As these gifts are computer generated, I can’t tell you which tea you will receive, but I’m linking the range below so you can read about all of them.
Aduna Teas

And so we come to the end of another Weekend Read and as we do so I am going to leave you with a song and a smile.  With the exception of personal emails to others, I see every email and every review received, so I loved the company review which included a song, a song with a message.  That song was Long May You Run and I smiled at the message and I smiled because I love, love, love Neil Young.  Long May We All Run.  Wow.  Thank you.
Long May You Run by Neil Young; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x   

 

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