No Panic Attacks - Ainsworth Recovery Spray

At Elixir we seem to have more people wanting natural products to help with panic attacks - symptomatic no doubt of our increasingly stressful world. With the Recovery Spray conveniently carried in a pocket or handbag, relief is just a spray away! I would recommend it to our contending politicians Gordon Brown and David Cameron - but not so far Nick Clegg. In the early days of the General Elections in the UK, he doesn't appear to be in need of it! He seems cool enough and taking his stress in his stride.

Come on Nick-knack, paddy whack,- you never know what the electorate might deliver - Gee up a bit.

A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

THE EFFECT OF THE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DIRECTIVE

HELP TAKE ACTION NOW!

If you take vitamins and minerals in any shape or form as part of keeping yourself healthy and fit and live in the European Economic Community, please read this!

A lot of people don't know but there is a raft of legislation going through the EEC designed to have a major impact on your right to take natural medicine. One of them is called the Food Supplements Directive. It's designed to set maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements. It will have a horrible effect on the natural supplement industry and not only those who choose to use effective nutritional supplements but also those who are against the erosion of personal choice generally. The so-called natural levels for vitamins is based on the quirky findings of scientists employed by the European union and not set against the wider knowledge bases of established research papers. The really interesting question is why are they disregarding so much scientific and nutritional evidence out in the public domain and setting supplemental levels way below levels already considered safe?

Does it seem cynical to smell a rat and wonder if, in all this, the influence of pharmaceutical companies to protect their trillion dollar market in conventional drugs might be having an influence in the corridors of European power?

Anyway, The Health Food Manufacturers' Association (HFMA) has recently produced an Impact Assessment which quantifies the potential impact of the proposed legislation in the UK market, and identifies the following key risks: (The same effect will also hit other European states.)

- Well over £100m of sales may be lost
- Heavy impact on suppliers resulting in business closures
- NAHS survey estimates that over 700 independent health food stores could close resulting in approximately 4000 job losses
- Imports of higher potency supplements notably from Guernsey and Jersey that remain outside UK and EU medicines and food legislative regimes will increase from their current levels significantly. This would expose UK consumers to the dangers of unregulated supply

As a result of this the HFMA is calling for the following outcomes in Europe:

- The highest possible permitted levels for vitamins and minerals to be set in Europe on the basis of safety
- Provision of appropriate information to consumers
- A further review by the European Food Safety Authority of the safe levels for selected nutrients to take account of major new scientific studies.
- MPs can be a powerful resource for putting pressure on Gillian Merron MR the Public Health Minister, to ensure that she stands up for British industry in Europe.

They can also raise the issue with John Dalli, the new European Commissioner, and their colleagues in the European Parliament.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Please write to your local MP! We need to ensure that all MPs are made aware of the potential threat posed by the Food Supplements Directive and so we are asking you to help by writing to your local constituency MP setting out your concerns and encouraging them to raise the issue and take action on behalf of the British industry.

You can find your local MP by clicking on the link They Work For YOu and entering your postcode, or by calling the House of Commons information line on 0207 219 4272.

To help you, a draft letter is available for download at Information for members.

If you too have had enough of the sickening heavy-handed interference of Europe in the affairs of other states, please take the opportunity to join us in taking action. The more we can help European countries retain individual control over basic matters that relate to their own traditions and practices the more we can slow down the juggernaut of bureaucracy threatening ALL our sovereign rights.

THE ALTERNATIVE TO…ACHING JOINTS - AND WRINKLES, TOO: COLLAGEN DRINK

Well, it’s not often I am able to recommend a product for aching knees which happens to have the fortunate side effect of smoothing out wrinkles as well, but that is the amazing thing about collagen: it can make you both feel and look years younger!

Did you know that collagen makes up between a third and a quarter of your body’s protein? It is found in your tendons, cartilage tissue, bones and ligaments. And let’s not forget your skin – experts reckon 75 per cent of the dermis (the layer beneath the uppermost layer of your skin) is made up of collagen. It’s even been described as the glue that holds your body together.

However, as with so many things, your collagen levels start to decline as you get older. It is believed we lose around 1.5 per cent of our body’s collagen each year after we hit the age of 25-35. Since collagen is the main component of cartilage – the smooth cushioning substance in the joints that stops your bones from grinding together – that’s not good news for your joints, not to mention your skin.

Talking of skin, have you ever wondered why you get wrinkles on your face but hardly anywhere else on your body? Most people know that over-exposure to UV light is one of the reasons why skin ages prematurely, but few realise that’s because UV is thought to deplete skin collagen. It’s no wonder then, that your face and hands are often the first parts of your body to succumb to the signs of ageing.

Unfortunately, as we are no longer partial to eating the parts of animals and fish which contain collagen (ie the bones, tendons and skin – nice!), it is not likely that we can get enough in our diet to make much difference. The best way to make sure you get enough collagen is therefore through taking a supplement containing collagen hydrolysate – a substance made from animal and marine collagen that can be absorbed by the human body.

At Elixir, we particularly like the Super Strength Collagen drink from Higher Nature, which is both easier to take than tablets, gets into your system really fast and is made purely from marine collagen. It is a totally natural substance without any known side-effects, although you need to be cautious if you are allergic to fish. Now is a great time to try it out for yourself, as it will be on special offer for the whole of April.

By Randi Henderson
Elixir Health Foods

Zen Lifestyles Reviber Plus

I had a go on a Reviber the other day and I must say it was a fantastic experience. So much so, I bought my own! It was sensational...or should I say 'vibrational'. I love machines like this. Leaving aside the obvious health benefits, it leaves you with a tingling feeling all over the body, which only lasts a short time but it is well...I don't want to exaggerate, but a bit orgasmic! It's well worth using, just for that feel-good factor.

Many clubs and fitness centres have found great success including Revibers in the range of exercise machines available to their clients. Otherwise, it's great to put anywhere in the house: generally speaking in an open place where you can see it and feel empowered to get on it and make it work. I always find that people who purchase exercise equiment, such as the wonderful Chi Machine, for example, use it then put it promptly back in the box until the next occassion. Think about it, the next time you want to use it, you have to take it down or from under somewhere, unpack it, etc., etc., by which time the will to use it has been killed. If you put it where it can be seen, plainly you're going to want to make more frequent use of it.

All the Reviber Series machines can be bought from our online store. Visit us at Elixirhealth.co.uk or telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information. We'll be glad to assist.

To buy or read read up on the uses of the Reviber, please click on the links below: The Reviber Plus is the deluxe version of the machine, with the Reviber Vibration, a good all-round model in itself.

Reviber Plus Vibration Plate
Reviber Vibration Plate

Lovewadebridge.com

If you haven't joined the group Lovewadebridge.com, it might be worth taking a look at what it's about. So important to stop the big retailers ruining our unique little town: http://www.lovewadebridge.com/Welcome.html. Thanks for any support!

THE ALTERNATIVE TO...FEELING SLUGGISH

I often have people telling me they’re feeling below par. Not that there is anything actually wrong – they’re not ill – they are simply not well either. There can be a range of symptoms, such as low energy levels, poor sleep patterns, lackluster hair and skin, mouth ulcers, sluggish digestion, low immune system, irritability and many more.

All these symptoms can be caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet. In fact, tests have shown that the ‘average’ person has 28 symptoms associated with deficiency, dropping to an average of four after six months of supplementation to their diet.

That’s quite scary, isn’t it? I mean, we all think so long as we eat a well-balanced diet we should get all the vitamins we need from our food, but this is actually the greatest lie in nutrition today. Food is no longer what it used to be. Modern farming robs the soil of nutrients, and fruit and vegetables are only as good as the soil they are grown in. Manufacturers then rob the food of vitamins, and don’t even get me started on the transportation of unripe food around the globe, to be ripened in storage sheds and sold to us in the supermarkets months later! I don’t know about well-balanced, but our food is certainly well-travelled…

The easiest way to make sure you get all your bases covered, is to take a good quality multi vitamin and mineral supplement, and unless you eat oily fish at least three times a week I would also take an essential oil supplement every day. This would be good for brain power, dry skin, PMT symptoms, high blood pressure and the immune system, as well as being a good anti inflammatory so therefore great for arthritis sufferers.

The only thing left then, is your digestive system. Inappropriate diet, incomplete breakdown of food or taking antibiotics can lead to the proliferation of bad bacteria in the intestines and the symptoms you may experience include candida, bloating, flatulence and allergic reactions. Taking an acidophilus (or ‘probiotic’) supplement can help to balance this delicate balance of bacteria in your gut, by increasing the amount of good bacteria.

At the moment we have a really good special offer from Quest Vitamins at Elixirhealth.co.uk, which consists of a months’ supply each of multivitamins and minerals, omega 3 & 6 oil, and acidophilus, saving £5 when you buy these together - all packed in a neat little travel bag. There is limited supply of these, so don’t leave it too long if you want to take advantage this great offer!

By Randi Henderson
Elixir Health Foods

SOLGAR WHEY PROTEIN POWDER - THE ALTERNATIVE TO …WEIGHT PROBLEMS

Sometimes, the only reminder of the festive season is that uncomfortable feeling around the waistband, where a few too many mince pies have settled down.

It is a good idea to deal with those extra inches as soon as possible, before they become too stubborn. Even if it is only a couple of pounds, they tot up after a few years and can lead to weight related complications, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Diet plays a key role in any weight management program and adding whey protein often helps make a positive difference. Here are some of the reasons why:
- The body requires more energy to digest protein than other foods so as a result you burn more calories after a protein meal.
- Protein helps to stabilize blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. This in turn reduces hunger by lowering insulin levels and making it easier for the body to burn fat.
- High quality whey protein is rich in the amino acid ‘leucine’ which helps preserve lean muscle tissue while promoting fat loss. Whey protein contains more leucine than milk protein, egg protein and soy protein.
- Whey protein isolate is a pure protein with little to no fat or carbohydrates. It is a perfect complement to any low carb or low GI diet plan.

Whey protein isolate, the purest form available, is unsurpassed as a source of the essential amino acids required in the daily diet. These amino acids are the building blocks for healthy muscles, skin, nails and other body tissue, so by adding whey protein to your diet you take care of a lot more than just weight management.

For instance, since whey protein helps maintain strong muscles and prevent bone loss it is ideal both for athletes as well as the elderly, and those recovering from illness. It also helps with wound healing, as protein and its amino acids are the building blocks that initiate the growth of new skin. New research is also showing that whey protein may help in the battle against high blood pressure, and there is a potential for cholesterol reduction as well.

So, if your bathroom scales are trying to tell you something and you are still basking in the glow of your new year resolutions, come and check out how we can help you at Elixir.

You can buy Solgar's Whey To Go protein powder in three tasty flavours - just click here.

By Randi Henderson, Elixir Health Foods