Monday 30 July 2012

THE ALTERNATIVE WAY TO...OLYMPIC ENERGY LEVELS

Well, hello sunshine! What a cracking start to the summer holidays, let’s just hope it’s here to stay for a little while. The protracted rain and cold weather during April, May and June has weighed heavily on our shoulders, and we have had higher numbers than usual of customers concerned with colds and depression for the time of year.

In particular, we have seen a lot of people who are low in energy and feeling lethargic. Fortunately, we have been able to offer the fantastic Performance Range from Solgar. The Performance Range offers the most innovative supplements aimed at athletes, sports enthusiasts and seniors wishing to continue their active lifestyle, and offers additional energy for the rest of us.

The Performance Range consists of five hand-picked products which can be taken separately or mixed and matched according to need: L-Carnitine (either in liquid or tablets), Nutri-Nano CoQ-10, Celadrin and Energy Modulators.

Energy Modulators
is a unique, synergistically balanced formula, containing eight energy-enhancing ingredients. This is a formula used by Allan Wells, who some of you may remember winning gold in the 100 metres at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. According to Allan, he cannot be without his Energy Modulatiors as he is still training and leads a busy lifestyle. The main highlights of this formula are creatine which increases performance and power during high-intensity aerobic exercise, and alpha-lipoic acid which may increase muscle energy as well as help with recovery from exercise. Additional ingredients such as CoQ-10 help alleviate fatigue as well as improve stamina.

You have probably heard me bang on about Celadrin before, which helps with the cause of joint pain and promote healthy joint function by reducing inflammation and restoring mobility. It has also been demonstrated that peope taking Celadrin have more flexibility, fewer aches, reduction in pain and are able to walk longer distances. It is the perfect supplement for arthritic problems, as it enhances the fluids that cushion your bones and joints to maintain flexibility.

Nutri-Nano CoQ-10 is an antioxidant and coenzyme, also known as ubiquinone, which is found in the cells of all living organisms. However, levels tend to decline with age, metabolic stress and intense exercise, and can lead to fatigue. CoQ-10 is particularly important for the cells of the heart muscle and for those taking statins, which depletes the body of CoQ-10; often leading to fatigue and muscular pain.

Additionally, there is an L-Carnitine, either in tablet or liquid form. Numerous studies document the benefits of L-Carnitine on energy, athletic performance and exercise capacity. Research also confirms its role for cardiovascular support. The lemon flavoured liquid version includes pantothenic acid which helps to support energy and fat metabolism, as well as promoting recovery from exercise. This is Tessa Sanderson’s favourite supplement, which she took whilst taking part in Dancing on Ice in order to speed up the healing process after an injury.

So there you have it – there’s no excuse for feeling run-down any more. There really is something for everyone in the Performance Range. I can’t guarantee it will get you into the Olympics (not this year, anyway), but we can certainly put a spring in your step!

To buy any of these products click on the following links: Elixirhealth.co.uk. You can also view these products at our Solgar Health Store website. If you wish to speak to a customer advisor, you can telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information. We're always there to help.

By Randi Henderson
Elixir Health Foods

Thursday 26 July 2012

Monday 16 July 2012

Solgar's Multiple Fibre Formula

HEALING A TROUBLED GUT

Often our diet ignores the needs of our bowels, omitting the fibre to keep us on a regular course. Fibres include components of plant cell walls such as cellulose, lignins and gums. They are broadly categorised as being either soluble or insoluble and are essential for our health. While not a substitute for a proper diet, Solgar's Multiple Fibre Formula may help heal a troubled gut and repair a fast lifestyle.

To buy this product click on the following link: Elixirhealth.co.uk. If you wish to speak to a customer advisor, you can telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information. We're always there to help.

Friday 13 July 2012

HIGHER NATURE CITRICIDAL LIQUID: GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT

THE ALTERNATIVE TO...FUNGAL, BACTERIAL AND VIRAL PROBLEMS

Occasionally, somebody will fix me with a beady eye and ask: “so what supplements do you take, then?” and I’m never quite sure if it is because they want to copy me – or avoid it at all cost! However, having given it some thought, there is one thing I can say for certain that none of us at Elixir would want to be without, and that’s Higher Nature’s Citricidal.

Citricidal, an extract made from the seeds, pulp and white membranes of grapefruit, is a unique product and an all time best-seller that can provide an extraordinary number of benefits to its many loyal users. It is the perfect travelling companion as it can provide digestive support. As part of your skincare regime, it can be used to cleanse the skin. As an effective household cleanser, it can be used to clean utensils and wash food safely. It can even be used in the garden as a bug and plant spray! A few drops in a glass of water can be used for gargling to cure a sore throat, and it can also help control candida or gingivitis. It has been known to banish athlete’s foot in a single application and can get rid of worms and parasites.

So how can a natural, inexpensive, and non-toxic product do all those things? Well, the extract made from grapefruit seeds may turn out to be the most potent and benign anti-microbial so far discovered. Conventional antibiotics only kill bacteria, whereas Citricidal extract has been shown to inactivate viruses, yeasts, fungi, parasites and worms, as well as bacteria. And whatever it does, it does without debilitating side effects.

Fortunately, Citricidal does not seem to disturb beneficial gut bacteria. One study which tested the effect of grapefruit seed extract on eczema patients (who frequently have fungal and bacterial infections), found that the extract significantly inhibited Candida albicans and E. Coli, but left the important Bifidobacteria unchanged and only slightly reduced the Lactobacilli. Their patients’ constipation, flatulence and abdominal discomfort all improved.

Chronic candida can be successfully treated with Citricidal according to the many clinics and medical practitioners now prescribing it. Simply dilute 5-10 drops in a glass of water, stir well and take twice daily. The only side effect that has been noticed is an occasional mild discomfort when yeast or bacteria begin a ‘die off’ process. Starting on just a few drops a day and raising it gradually will minimise this, and it would help taking a probiotic supplement as well.

Citricidal is an invaluable travel companion, as it is a first class disinfectant. Since it kills germs effectively with virtually no toxicity, it can be safely used to wash fruit and vegetables, to clean chopping boards and to sterilise food utensils - or your toothbrush - when needed. In areas where diarrhoea is a problem, 3 drops diluted in water or juice can be taken every morning as a preventative.

Citricidal is something you will always find a use for, I promise you! As always, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or currently taking any medication, you should consult a healthcare professional before taking anything. And most important of all: Citricidal is strong stuff and highly concentrated, so should never be used undiluted. Read the label for dosage and instructions.

To buy this product click on the following link: Elixirhealth.co.uk. If you wish to speak to a customer advisor, you can telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information. We're always there to help.

By Randi Henderson
Elixir Health Foods

PHARMA NORD OMEGA 7 SEA BUCKTHORN OIL

THE ALTERNATIVE TO... DEBILITATING DRYNESS

It’s funny how we take our bodily functions for granted – until something isn’t functioning the way it should any longer. Sometimes these can be major issues, and everybody understands how debilitating it is. However, life seems to be full of little niggles which nevertheless are really irritating. Paper cuts on your finger for instance – how irritating are they? And don’t expect any sympathy either!

I guess in the grand scheme of things, dryness in various body parts fall into that category. You don’t get much sympathy but boy, can it stop you functioning properly. If our mucous membranes are not healthy it can lead to a variety of issues including dry eyes, dry mouth and even intimate dryness.

Mucous membranes cover the digestive, respiratory and urogenital tracts and the inner surface of the eyes. They play an essential role in wellbeing of the whole body as they are the buffers between us and the environment, and provide major routes for pathogens, toxins and allergens.

Lifestyle, stress, diet and the ageing process can all increase the risk of drying mucous membranes. Contact lenses, central heating and air conditioning can dry the eyes, some medication and diseases cause dry mouth and almost half of all women experience intimate dryness around menopause.

At Elixir, we have for a number of years recommended a fantastic product for these irritating issues: Pharma Nord’s Omega 7 Sea Buckthorn Oil capsules. Sea buckthorn berries has been used as a valuable source of nutrient for more than a thousand years in Asian traditional medicine, and both the seeds and the soft fruit carry beneficial properties. The seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids, linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids, and the pulp oil is the richest source of palmitoleic acid (omega 7), rarely found in the plant kingdom. Both the seed and pulp oil contain high levels of vitamin E and plant sterols – which you may have come across as a cholesterol lowering agent. Sea buckthorn oil not only promotes mucous membrane regeneration, but also provides the vital nutrients needed for their function and renewal.

In clinical studies, Sea buckthorn oil improved dry mouth symptoms, reduced inflammation and improved the general condition of mouth mucosa. Oral treatment with Sea buckthorn oil capsules for four weeks could effectively relieve dry mouth symptoms in adults, especially women and the elderly.

During or after the menopause, around 50% of women will suffer distressing but all too common vaginal dryness, caused by a reduction in oestrogen levels. Sea buckthorn oil is shown to promote mucous membrane regeneration and also provides the nutrients essential for the proper functioning of the membranes within the vaginal tract. Intimate dryness is a menopausal symptom many women suffer with in silence, but there really is no need to. Telephone us at Elixir, and you are sure to get a sympathetic reception. We really are only too happy to help. And what’s the point in keeping quiet about it, when there is such an easy solution?

There are no side effects to Sea buckthorn oil, but pregnant or lactating women and those on medication should seek the advice of their medical professional before taking supplements.

To buy this product click on the following link: Elixirhealth.co.uk. If you wish to speak to a customer advisor, you can telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information. We're always there to help.

By Randi Henderson
Elixir Health Foods