Well, with the Bank Holiday falling early this year, we are now heading into the autumn months with this Weekend Read, but before anything I would just like to acknowledge your loyalty and support after last weekend.  It has always been so important that we are able to support the brands we choose to endorse and recommend, so last weekend allowed an opportunity to explore each of those brands, but it also allowed us to share the things that really matter to us, not least the music, music which embraces the very core of our being, holding us together.

In that way of being, we endeavour to sustain and protect our health and wellbeing and because each season of the year carries its own innate energy, autumn is the season where we begin to be aware of the importance of protecting our immunity, although quite honestly, we really should be protecting our immunity throughout the year.

Notwithstanding that, the role of the immune system is to protect the body against pathogenic bacteria and viruses on an ongoing basis. Any organism that attacks our system will cause infection and disease and it is the optimal working of the immune system that helps destroy these organisms to help prevent any further damage and infection.  This process is referred to as the immune response.

There are three categories of immunity, innate, passive and adaptive, so let’s take a look.  Innate immunity gives the body general protection against germs that affect other species, passive or ‘borrowed’ immunity is taken from another source, generally lasting for a short period of time, and adaptive immunity develops throughout our lives as we become exposed to different kinds of viruses and bacteria. There are varying factors which can lead to a compromised immune system, and they include stress, sleep disturbances, high sugar diets, dehydration and a lack of vitamin D, because we are mostly D deficient.

We have always believed that cutting-edge supplementation plays a key role in helping to protect against infections and Daily Immunity, which is our bestselling supplement in this genre, is a comprehensive blend of clinically researched ingredients, including Astragalus, Elderberry, Oregano, Zinc and D3.  The full ingredient listing is on the product page and because we believe in protecting our immunity as best we can, I am dropping the price of Daily Immunity from £29 to £26, with a strong recommendation to begin taking this supplement from this moment on, if you can.
VH Editorial: A Daily Supplement That Supercharges Your Immunity; DoSe Daily Immunity £26 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 1 September)

Following through, sleep disturbances lower the body's resistance to infection and it is one of the causal factors of a compromised immune system. Numerous studies have indicated that a lack of sleep can affect our ability to keep blood sugar balanced, it can impact cardiovascular health, focus and concentration and on from that, our energy levels may become severely depleted. So, the question here is are we getting sufficient sleep, and for rather a lot of us, the answer to that is no we are not, and although many choose to take prescribed medication in the form of sleeping pills, many choose to seek a natural alternative.

We believe that Sleep Tight Plus is that alternative, but before I write about the product, it is important to say that stress plays a major role in sleep disturbances, notably because the stress hormone, cortisol, blocks the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin.  By way of lowering cortisol levels, Sleep Tight Plus has been formulated with many clinically researched ingredients, one of which, Magnolia officinalis, has shown that ‘honokiol’, one of the active compounds in magnolia bark, has potent anti-stress and cortisol balancing properties, and the extract used in Sleep Tight Plus contains 50% honokiol. 

Magnolia officinalis is joined by Ashwagandha, Theanine, Magnesium and Valerian and using the correct therapeutic dosages throughout, Sleep Tight Plus plays a significant role in supporting restful sleep. So, with a more in-depth look at sleep deprivation in Shabir’s article, linked below, I am dropping the price of Sleep Tight Plus from £26 to £23, across this weekend, with a note to say that if you are taking prescribed medication for sleep or anxiety, please do not take Sleep Tight Plus as it may contra-indicate.
VH Editorial: Are You Getting Sufficient Sleep; DoSe Sleep Tight Plus £23 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 1 September)

A new season arriving, and a new supplement has arrived and this is a rather interesting supplement, so please allow me to introduce you to MCT Oil.  Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are saturated fatty acids found in coconut and palm oil, but it is MCT oil from coconuts which has been researched extensively.  Ongoing research indicates that amongst its benefits, MCT oil helps to increase energy, and it has also been shown to be an appetite suppressant for those on ketogenic diets and also for those who wish to lose some weight, a subject I rarely write about because weight loss is so subjective.

However much I don’t like writing about weight loss, and I really don’t, I will always respect scientific evidence and that evidence has shown that MCT promotes calorie burning, known as thermogenesis, and that MCT also helps with satisfaction after eating, so you do not overeat.  Shabir cites one study in his article, linked below, but he also discusses the difference between various fats and although MCT is a saturated fatty acid, it is different from other fat sources, which is important.  What is also important is that palm oil is not used in this formulation, which drops in price from £24.80 to £22 for the interim.
VH Editorial: Science Benefits Of MCT Oil; Organic MCT Oil by Viridian Nutrition £22 for 200 ml

I am now going to talk about sarcopenia which is the loss of muscle, muscle strength and the loss of the co-ordination of muscle movements, which of course are vital for daily activities. From the age of thirty we lose our muscle mass by approximately 3-8% per decade, with a notable acceleration from the age of fifty, so as such sarcopenia is a natural process of ageing and in line with many age-related concerns, sarcopenia arises because the body’s ability to produce muscle cells is far slower than their breakdown.

Aside from the ageing process, causes of sarcopenia include chronic inflammation and a lack of exercise, but studies have also found a strong link with a lack of vitamins, notably vitamins B12, C and D.  Sarcopenia is not a reversible condition and although current research is focusing on hormonal supplementation to increase muscle mass, these are not yet approved for the treatment of sarcopenia, yet quite separately other studies have shown that protein can help to manage the symptoms of sarcopenia, so the recommendation here is to increase our protein intake.

The Department of Health advises that all adults, regardless of age, require approximately 50 grams of protein each day, although if you are over fifty, we recommend a higher intake based upon evidenced studies.  We are looking at an approximate intake of 75-85 grams a day, with levels of that protein intake spread through the day.  This is not always achievable which is why we recommend Whey Concentrate Protein, which is also a good source of calcium.  Whey protein is a mixture of proteins isolated from the watery part of milk which separates during cheese production and here each 25 gram serving will provide 21 grams of protein.
VH Editorial: What Is Sarcopenia; Whey Concentrate Protein by Purition £11.49 for 200 grams

Onwards with a moment, and it is a wonderful moment because there are two new products in the DoSe skincare range and I am so excited to share them with you, so we’ll start with Daily Cleanser, which is a non-drying formulation and suitable for all skin types.  One of the most important advantages of this cleanser is that it will not strip the skin of its natural lipids, it will not clog pores, yet it effectively removes oil, dirt and make-up without leaving your skin feeling dry and tight, which can be so incredibly uncomfortable.

In formulating Daily Cleanser, Shabir ensured that powerful antioxidants and actives were included together with prebiotics to help balance the skin’s microbiome, which can often be compromised by environmental stressors such as UV, air pollution and temperature. Also included is a potent blend of encapsulated vitamins (A, C, E and Beta-Carotene), Saccharide Isomerate (Pentavin) which binds to keratin in the skin maintaining moisture and finally, Ergothioneine, being the signature ingredient of the DoSe skincare range, is also included.  So, we are complete on the ingredients, and now we look at the protocol.

As the first step in any skincare regimen, use one or two pumps to wet skin, morning and evening, massage into your skin and then wash it off with a warm, damp cloth and you are ready to follow through with your chosen serums, oils and creams.  

A word here to say that I love cleansers, they are definitely a thing with me and I often write about my wardrobe of cleansers, so with one more to add to my bespoke collection, let me also say that I always leave cleansers on my skin for one or two minutes before rinsing, allowing the ingredients to work their magic, and not a lot is more magical than having Ergothioneine on my skin twice in one single regimen.  And to celebrate, Daily Cleanser will launch at £15 across this weekend, after which time it will become £17.   
DoSe Daily Cleanser £15 for 100 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 1 September); DoSe Ergothioneine Serum £26 for 30 ml

When we launched the DoSe skincare range, I said at the time that we would be drip-feeding in the serums throughout the year and PHA Exfoliating Serum is the latest serum to join our curated collection. Several years ago I wrote that PHA serums were the next generation of exfoliating acids because Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs) are gentle on the skin and offer a non-irritating alternative to Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), which I really dislike. I absolutely know that I am in the minority here, but I can’t pretend to like ingredients and I just don’t like using harsh acids on my skin, not least because I have incredibly sensitive skin.

And that’s the thing really, if your skin is sensitive or prone to redness, you should not be using harsh ingredients and of course we were mindful of that when formulating Daily Cleanser. But back to PHA Exfoliating Serum, and it includes two powerful PHAs, Gluconalactone Acid and Lactobionic Acid, both of which are renowned for their anti-ageing and skin renewal benefits. Enhancing the benefits of other anti-ageing products, these two acids are joined by HA, Sodium PCA, Mallow Extract and, of course, the hero ingredient, Ergothioneine.

PHAs are incredibly interesting, so I am linking Shabir’s article below, and PHA Exfoliating Serum should be used after cleansing, but before all other serums, with the exception of Vitamin C, which should be used before PHA Exfoliating Serum. And that’s a wrap, two new products created with a strict adherence to the research and clinicals which define efficacy, demonstrating a pragmatic and simplistic approach to skin health.   
VH Editorial: What Are Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs); DoSe PHA Exfoliating Serum £22 for 30 ml

Right, let’s have a bit of fun and I’ve opened the doors of our gift cupboard, so in a race to the end, each of these offers are limited edition offers and if your chosen gift fails to go into your basket, that will mean the offer is over.  I honestly don’t know how long any of these will last, but obviously some will last longer than others and I will begin by saying that if you buy a box of Spacemasks, any box of Spacemasks, we will automatically include one more Spacemask (original) with that order.  I am not restricting this to one gift per customer, so if you buy five boxes, for example, you will receive five free Spacemasks.  Christmas is coming. 
Spacemasks

And yes, I really did write that, mostly because I will be talking about some amazing Christmas gift sets very soon, but leaving that for the moment, and in the here and now, if you buy any product from Aromatherapy Associates, we will drop their De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil (9 ml) into your order.  And there is only one gift per customer in order that we may share as widely as we can.
Aromatherapy Associates Products

One more treat to go, and if you buy any of the Drowsy products, we will include the rather fabulous Drowsy Sleep SOS Pillow Spray with your order, which is worth £25.  Actually, I’ve written this before, but Lara and I are totally besotted with Drowsy’s Silk Sleep Eye Mask, but what I haven’t written about before is the Drowsy Silk Pillow Case, which is made with 100% pure mulberry silk.  So, I’m writing about it now, it partners perfectly with the Silk Sleep Eye Mask and I think we mostly know that sleeping on silk offers many benefits both for our skin and our hair.  And because this offer is truly limited, there is only one gift per customer. Whilst stocks last.
Drowsy Products

Finally, I made a note to myself to write about TEMPLESPA’s Trufflesque today, and the miracle is that I have remembered, so with it being the last day of the month, this offer will end at midnight BST tonight, and if you need reminding, Trufflesque is a face mask which is loaded with black summer truffles, gold and silk peptides, natural plant extracts and a fruit and amino acid cocktail.  Dropping in price from £65 to £32.50, I managed to get our stock levels wrong right the way through the month, so as I end this section, let me just say that if Trufflesque flips onto pre-order before midnight tonight, I promise we will honour all orders.  It’s how we roll.
Trufflesque by TEMPLESPA £32.50 for 80 ml

Into the Saturday only treat, and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically send you Faith In Nature's Body Wash (100 ml)*. There are three variations and because these gifts are computer generated, I cannot tell you which one you will receive, so it could be Grapefruit & Orange, Coconut or Lavender & Geranium.

Not many words left to write, but I opened this Weekend Read talking about music, referencing the soul-touching music from last weekend where I shared Perfect Symphony performed by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli, which actually sent shivers down my spine.  So today, I want to share another Andrea Bocelli moment, and I honestly thought that this song was on the VH Playlist, but it isn’t, and so it arrives now with the dream of that beautiful pink home in Tuscany.  And the dream of sharing the dream of sharing.
Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli, Hans Zimmer; The VH Playlist

With love.

Gill x

 

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Prices and products advertised at times of sending and publishing are subject to change and availability.

*Free gifts will only be granted if the items purchased are physical products and your total basket value exceeds the required amount noted.  Saturday only treats are subject to change should the specified gift run out prior to your purchase and are only included in orders placed between 7.45am (BST) and Midnight (BST) on the Saturday the Weekend Read is sent.  VH Addicts membership is a digital product and therefore will be excluded from the basket value.  Some gifts are blocked from international shipping due to local limitations imposed based on the country destination.  If this is the case, we will replace the gift with one that is able to be shipped to your destination. One gift per customer, whilst stock lasts.