THE ALTERNATIVE TO...SLUGGISH LIVER: HIGHER NATURE'S SMART UK LIVER SUPPORT TABLETS

As we leave another Christmas behind us and move into the new year, spare a thought for your poor liver. Next to your skin, your liver is the largest organ in your body, and it’s also one of the hardest working. Everything that you eat, drink, breathe and take in through your skin all get filtered through your liver. It is also where you body stores vitamins, releasing them during the day as you need them. In all, your liver performs hundreds of tasks throughout a day.

It is no wonder then that good liver function is central to good health. Sluggishness can be caused by alcohol or drugs (both recreational and prescription), or by simply giving your liver too much to process over a period of time. Low energy and a constant battle with weight or high cholesterol levels could indicate that your liver is working below par.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
At Elixir, we have found a product by Higher Nature called Smark UK Liver Support to be extremely efficient at giving your liver a helping hand. It contains important amino acids which remove toxins which filter through the liver, in a gentle yet thorough way. Other nutrients help with fat metabolism, and provide support for the liver.

Once your liver is working better, you may be surprised how much healthier you feel generally. By simply improving the function of this organ in your body, you could find an improvement in:

- Skin conditions, ranging from spots to eczema or psoriasis
- Weight problems
- High cholesterol levels
- Low energy levels
- Poor vision
- Short term memory
- Hormone related problems, such as PMT
- Allergies

Giving your liver a boost may be the single best thing you can do towards improving your overall health. You can’t have a healthy body without a healthy liver, and if you look after your liver you’ll suffer less disease in your life.

Click on the Elixir Health Foods link below, or on the product link itself - if you are interested in this supplement.

By Randi Henderson
Elixir Health Foods

THE ALTERNATIVE TO...DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS: SOLGAR'S CARICOL

There are many reasons why many of us will, at some time or other, suffer from bowel problems. Problems ranging from constipation, diarrhoea, IBS, bloating and heartburn can be caused by a change in dietary habits, pregnancy, poor diet, ageing and medication, to name but a few. And by constipation I mean not having a bowel movement in over 24 hours – some people seems to believe they are ‘regular’ if they go once a week! Another equally distressing situation is loose bowels, and hand in hand with these you get bloating and flatulence. It may not be a great conversational topic but it is a common problem which can cause much misery. And, as always, the good news is that we have the perfect solution for you at Elixir!

Papaya has been used for centuries for a variety of health benefits but the most common use is to aid digestion. Surprisingly it is the work of a group of monks at the Lotus Buddhist Monastery in Hawaii who has done much of the ground work in modern research to bring the benefits of papaya to light. They also developed a technique to increase the effectiveness of papaya by first pulping the fruit before a long, slow heating process takes place. This increases its enzyme activity fourfold and its natural properties sevenfold. The finished product is preserved with lemon juice concentrate, and is known as Caricol.

Several studies have shown Caricol  to be extremely effective in treating both diarrhoea and constipation. In one study IBS patients using two sachets of Caricol daily showed an 87% improvement in symptoms of diarrhoea, constipation and flatulence. Pain was also reduced, leading to a reduction in pain-induced anxiety. Other studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Caricol for people suffering wheat or gluten intolerance problems, since it soothes and heals inflamed intestines.

The papaya in Caricol offers a rich source of antioxidant nutrients as well as other vitamins and minerals. In addition to assisting digestion, papayas are known as a ‘nutritional masterpiece’, as they are rich in vitamin C, folate and potassium. They are also a good source of fibre, vitamins A and E, lycopene and the eye-boosters carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. All this plus the enzyme content seem to work well, even in stubborn cases. Once a regular rhythm is achieved, you may only need to use this supplement occasionally. It comes in convenient stick sachets and tastes great, but you can mix it into fruit juice, yoghurt or smoothies if you prefer.

A well-functioning digestive system makes you feel lighter and happier as it helps you make the most of your food in terms of nutrients and keeps you waste-free. Caricol  is an excellent way to achieve this, and can be used by anyone without having to worry about side effects or interactions with any medication. So if you want to sort out your bowels in 2011, you may want to take a closer look at Caricol.

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

By Randi Henderson
Elixir Health Foods

Urinary Tract Infection - Solgar's Cran Flora with Probiotics

For those of you for whom cystitis and other urinary tract infections can be a nightmare of pain, the supplement company Solgar has just introduced an exciting combination of ingredients in their Cran Flora to address those symptoms.

Their information states:

"CRAN FLORA is specially formulated to offer a comprehensive blend of highly concentrated Cranberry Powder, L. Acidophilus, and Ester-C® in a convenient 2 a day dosage form. Suitable for Vegans.

Solgar's Cran Flora with Probiotics Plus Ester-C promotes and protects the health of the urinary tract and intestines, while also supporting a healthy immune system.

Anti-bacterial compounds in cranberry such as D-mannose, and to a lesser extent hippuric acid, inhibit pathogenic bacteria (such as streptococcus and E coli) in the urinary tract. At least part of this mechanism involves inhibiting bacterial adherence to the urinary tract’s mucosal surface. This action is especially useful in urinary tract infections (e.g.cystitis).

L. acidophilus is a natural probiotic found in the gastrointestinal tract and in fermented foods such as yoghurt. It is thought that probiotics colonise the small intestine, helping to promote a proper balance of intestinal flora while encouraging a favourable environment for the absorption of nutrients.

Ester-C, a non-acidic form of vitamin C formulated to be gentle on the stomach, utilises naturally-occurring vitamin C metabolites to increase the absorption and bioavailability of this essential nutrient.

CRAN FLORA is formulated specifically for those seeking support for urinary tract, intestinal and immune health."

Certainly, in the treatment of urinary tract infections it is very important to deal with intestinal flora and Solgar's Cran Flora  is especially useful because it includes the all important L.acidophilus.

If you're looking for a natural supplement, Cran Flora may be well worth a try.

To buy Cran Flora Click on the following link and visit us at Elixirhealth or telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information.

Happy New Year - 2011

Happy New Year to all my readers. I hope, wherever you are in the world, this year is a healthy and happy one for you.

Jason

The Wonderful Dr Bach Flower Remedies And Their Uses.. Healing Flower Essences

What are the Bach Flower Remedies?

Dr Bach discovered 38 remedies, each for a specific emotional and mental state. They take effect by treating the individual, not the disease or the symptoms of the disease. They work specifically on the emotional condition of the person concerned.

The effects of taking the remedies is not to suppress negative attitudes but to transform them into positive ones, stimulating one's own potential for self-healing and freeing the physical system to engage fully in fighting disease and stress.

The Bach Flower Remedies have no adverse effects. However, like other forms of natural medicine, they may allow suppressed symptoms to surface. These could include such things as rashes while the body is being cleared of toxins, or an awareness of emotions which have been denied expression. These are an important part of the healing process and are only temporary.

Note:
The Bach Flower Remedies can be taken alongside medication, including homoeopathic remedies, without any interference at all.

Here are the 38 Flower Remedies and a summary of their uses:

Agrimony : Hiding Problems
Aspen : Fears of unknown origin
Beech : Intolerance, Critical
Centaury : Weak Willed
Cerato : Mistrusting own judgement
Cherry Plum : Fear of losing control
Chestnut Bud : Repeating same mistakes
Chicory : Over protective
Clematis : Lack of interest
Crab Apple : Poor self-image
Elm : Feeling overwhelmed
Gentian : Despondency, doubt
Gorse : Despair, hopelessness
Heather : Talkative, self concern
Holly : Jealous, hatred
Honeysuckle : Locked in past
Hornbeam : Monday blues
Impatiens : Impatience
Larch : Lack of confidence
Mimulus : Fear of known things
Mustard : Gloom with no origin
Oak : Exhaustion but struggles on
Olive : Lack of energy
Pine : Guilt, self-reproach
Red Chestnut : Over concern for others
Rock Rose : Terror
Rock Water : Denial, inflexible
Scleranthus : Indecision, uncertainty
Star of Bethlehem : After effects of shock
Sweet Chestnut : Mental anguish
Vervain : Over-enthusiasm
Vine : Assertive, over-dominant
Walnut : Protection from change
Water Violet : Proud, aloof
White Chestnut : Unwanted thoughts
Wild Oat : Uncertainty in life
Wild Rose : Resignation, apathy
Willow : Self-pity, resentment

In addition to the individual Bach Flower Remedies, there is the Bach Recovery Remedy, which is very useful for any crisis, shock, panic attack situations and a Bach Recovery Cream which helps to soothe and restore balance after accidents and grazes. Recovery Remedy is now also available in a convenient spay and has become a best seller in its own right for ease of use.

Recovery Remedy 10ml : Crises, shock
Recovery Remedy 20ml : Crises, shock
Complete set of Bach Flower Remedies : Crises, anxiety, panic attacks
Recovery Cream : Sooth, restore
Recovery Spray : Crises, anxiety, panic attacks

We sell Ainsworth's brand of the flower remedies as they follow Dr Bach's original recipe closely. We send our products worldwide.  In Europe, particularly Germany, Denmark, Norway and Scandanavia, great savings can be had as  these flower remedies can cost a great deal more.

All these products can be ordered online from our store. Click on the following link and visit us at elixirhealth.co.uk or telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information.

A Vogel Echinacea - Colds and Flu

You can do a lot by keeping your immune system up. There's lots of supplements that can help here but the nation's favourite is Echinacea, for good reasons too. At Elixir, we like A Vogel's brand of Echinacea. Did you know that all the plants used to make Echinaforce are descended from the seeds Ben Black Elk (a Sioux medicine man) gifted to Alfred Vogel, the Swiss naturopath who brought Echinacea to Europe?

So, new to Echinacea? How does it work? Echinaforce is a traditional herbal remedy for colds and flu. It helps the body fight the symptoms of these infections by supporting the immune system, helping to maintain the body’s resistance. Echinaforce contains extracts of freshly harvested, organically grown Echinacea purpurea herb and root. A Vogel's plants are picked fresh and used within 24 hours of harvest - this has been shown by research to produce almost three times more active substances than the same amount of dried herb. When you need to fight the misery of colds and flu, not all Echinaceas are the same!

To round up: Echinacea helps fight symptoms of colds and flu.  It comes as drops and tablets and it's licence states that it's "a traditional herbal remedy used for the symptomatic relief of colds, influenza type infections and similar upper respiratory tract conditions."

To buy A Vogel Echinacea click here, or on any of the links above. If you wish to speak to a customer advisor about this product, you can telephone us on 01208 814500 for further information.

Elixir Health Food's visit to Les & Diane's Quail Farm

What wonderful hosts Les and Diane are! On Sunday 21st November 2010, the Elixir staff (minus poor Rachel who couldn't make it) ventured out to visit their Quail Farm, in the attractive village of  St Teath. And what a wonderful time we had. Diane took care of our refreshments while Les took our party in small groups to see the quails.  Think Old MacDonald's Farm, minus all the animals but quails (and some handsome chucks).

Didn't realise quails were such sensitive souls! Our instructions were to avoid wearing red; and to proceed with caution,  in groups of four,  as any other approach might disturb their little equanimities. Some of us got to handle the cosy little birds but goodness, small they might be -  but those little toe nails can scratch!

All in all, we had an unbeatable time and can't thank Les and Diane enough for their hospitality.  We can rest assured that the quail eggs we sell at Elixir Health Foods come from a farm where the birds are professionally and environmentally cared for.

Finally, our Sunday excursion was rounded off with a very pleasing Sunday lunch at the Blissland Inn, in Blissland, one of the few outstanding Cornish villages still retaining its village green.

Thanks to Les and Diane, all the staff, and Jordan and Frazer for making it a really good time!