The revolutionary pill that promises to smooth away crow’s feet .

Forget soaking your skin in anti-ageing creams or slathering on expensive serums.

The secret to getting rid of wrinkles could be as simple as popping a pill.

A revolutionary anti-wrinkle tablet which goes on sale today claims to shrink crow’s feet by up to a third.

And the three-times-a-day capsule is thought to be the first treatment to work on the deepest layers of the skin.

Developed by British scientists, in tests on 480 women it reduced heavy lines around their eyes by up to 30 per cent within 14 weeks.

The pills, which cost £35 for a month’s supply, contain a blend of food extracts which the researchers say attack the genetic causes of ageing.

As women get older, their oestrogen levels fall and their skin produces less collagen, which is what makes it smooth and elastic.

Most anti-wrinkle creams work on the top layer of the skin, the epidermis, and many have been criticised for being ineffectual.

Dr John Casey, who led the Unilever team which developed the pill, said it worked by activating the genes which produce oestrogen and collagen, reducing wrinkles and sun damage in the deep level of the skin, called the dermis.

He said: ‘We used ingredients which have been shown in the scientific literature and our own tests to combat the causes of skin ageing and kickstart old skin cells into behaving like young skin cells.

‘We spent five years testing the ingredients on hundreds of women and found this combination could reduce deep wrinkles within 14 weeks. There is nothing currently on the market which can do that.’

The ingredients are vitamins C and E, isoflavones from soya, lycopene from tomatoes and omega-3 from fish oils, which are all currently sold as food supplements.

In tests in the UK, France and Germany, researchers took 4mm deep biopsies from the skin of 110 of the women. They found those taking the tablet produced significantly more collagen than those who were given a placebo.

On average, crow’s feet were reduced by 10 per cent, but in some cases they shrank by 30 per cent within three and a half months.

The findings, published in New Scientist magazine, were unveiled at the Society for Investigative Dermatology conference in Atlanta and have been sent to scientific journals for review.

As the food extracts are all in use already they do not need regulatory approval and will be sold in branches of Dove Spa from next month and on the spa’s website from tomorrow.

Richard Weller, a dermatologist at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, said: ‘What matters is the clinical data and they show… reduced wrinkles.’

Vitamin D Facts

• Vitamin D is synthesised by the action of sunlight on the skin
• The Vitamin facilitates calcium absorption and regulation
• It also increses bone strength and regulates our body’s immune responses.
• Sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 8 or greater  will block UV Rays that produce Vitamin D
• It is believed Vitamin D can prevent osteoporosis, depression, prostrate cancer and breast cancer- and deficiences have also related to diabetes and cancer
• The healing rays of natural sunlight (that generate Vitamin D in your skin) cannot penetrate glass. So you don’t generate Vitamin D when sitting in your car or at home.
• It is nearly impossible to get adequate amounts of Vitamin D from your diet.
• The further you live from the equator, the longer exposure you need to the sun to generate Vitamin D. The Uk, Canada and most USA States are far from the equator.
• People with dark skin pigamentation may need 20-30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D.
• Sufficient levels of Vitamin D are crucial for calcium absorption in your intestines. Without sufficient Vitamin D your body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium is useless.
• Chronic Vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight: it takes months of Vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body’s bones and nervous system
• It is impossible to generate too much Vitamin D in your body from sunlight exposure : your body will self regulate and only generate what it needs.
• Obesity impairs Vitamin D use in the body meaning obese people need even more Vitamin D

Body Focus – Joint Pain

Many people believe that joint pain is a winter ailment. Those people obviously don’t suffer weak or inflammed joints which affect a third of adults year round.

Joint Pain (Arthralgia);

The common pain in joints could be caused by an injury, infection or, far more unlikely, a tumor around the joint. The symptoms of arthralgia willvary according to the cause but you could experience pain, stiffness and/or an inflammation  or redness around the joint. Joint pain is not necessarily an indication of old age- athletes are prone to various forms of arthralgia.

Degenerartive Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)

The most common form of arthritis, it affects an estimated 8.5 million Britons. It causes damage to cartilage- the strong, smooth surface that lines the bones and allows the joints to move easily  and without friction. It results in bony growths developing around the edges of the joints, and it causes mild inflammation of the tissues of the joints(synovitis). Osteoarthritis mostly occurs in the knees, hips and small joints of the hands, but almost any joint can be affected.

Which supplements could help?

There are several supplements which have proven effective to one degree or another.

Glucosamine assists in the rebuilding of cartilage and the overall structure of the joint and has shown moderate effects on people with osteoarthritis.

MSM(methylsulfonylmethane) has widely been used as an anti-infammatory.

Fish Oils act as a lubricant for stiff joints.

Celadrin decreases inflammation and lubricates cell membranes throughout the body, restoring fluids that cushions bones and joints to promote flexibility and mobility. Over time, because of the reduction  of inflammation delivered by using Celadrin, the joints and surrounding tissue have an opportunity to promote healthy joints.

 

MAIN CAUSES OF PAIN:

1. Age
2. Weight
3. Diet
4. Genetics
5. Injury
6. Infection

Chlorella and Spirulina, What’s the Difference?

Chlorella and Spirulina each contain a myriad of vitamins and minerals, essentail fatty acids, protein, nucleic acids, chlorophyll and phytonutrients.

These two freshwater plants share many similar properties, but there are also several key differences. We’ll look at the features of each;

Chlorella

1. A good source of chlorophyll, making it more detoxifying and cleansing than Spirulina
2. Especially good for people with liver disorders or who drink or smoke
3. Helpful for people with dry stools who suffer from constipation
4. Especially good for people who are depleted or frail
5. Contains Chlorella Growth Factor(CGF), which boosts the immune system and helps repair nerve tissues

Spirulina;

1. An all round nutritive tonic containing over 100 natural nutrients
2. It is a superior source of digestible protein. Contains gram for gram 300% more protein than beef
3. It offers a complete spectrum of amino acids, including the 8 essential ones rare in  vegetarian diets
4. 80% of it’s protein is assimilated as apposed to beef’s poor 20% assimilation rate
5. Nature’s richest source of Vitamin B12 with just 3g containing 480% of the RDA

Ways To A Healthy Heart

There are a few basic ways you can improve your overall fitness and well being, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Sleep
A lack of sleep can lead to stress and high blood pressure, as basically when we sleep our hearts are allowed to get a bit of a rest, slowing down significantly from when we are awake. Make sure you get at least 6 hours of quality, interrupted sleep a day for the best effects.

Fruit and Vegetables
Fruit and vegetables contain many beneficial vitamins and minerals such as electrolytes, which scientists now believe protect your body against damage from free radicals. Many individual fruits are also thought to have special benefits such as bananas, which are a natural source of potassium that the body uses to regulate blood pressure, and is a good way of combating hypertension.

Reduce Caffeine Intake
Although scientists cannot agree whether caffeine increases the risk of heart disease or not, it has been proven to have a significant short term effect on your blood pressure and heart rate if drunk in high volumes, so it best to keep your intake to 1-3 cups per day

Face the change: Expert beauty tips to keep you looking young during the menopause.

As well as the mood swings, insomnia and weight-gain women of a certain age have to contend with, the menopause can also play havoc with skin. Deeper wrinkles, puffiness and dryness are just some of the problems exacerbated by hormonal changes during this time.

‘During menopause, levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone rapidly decline leading to accelerated skin ageing,’ says aesthetic surgeon Dr Jonquille Chantrey. ‘Collagen and elastin levels deplete dramatically, so you get sagging and deep wrinkles.

‘The production of skin-hydrating hyaluronic acid and oil also drops, causing dryness. Plus testosterone becomes more dominant, so some women may suffer from acne and facial hair.’ More than half of British women are unaware of the impact the menopause has on their skin

The drop in oestrogen leads to the slowing down of the body’s oil production, resulting in dry, lacklustre skin. Taking the right nutrients in advance can lessen the impact, explains nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville. ‘In your 30s, start taking omega-3 fish oil supplements,’ she says. Use richer, ultra-hydrating moisturisers.

Try Active Age Defense Rich in Hyaluronic acid to keep the skin supple and hydrated. Also, try taking our Hyaluronan Food supplement, to help maintain skin hydration. You could also to up your Omega 3 levels too by eating oily fish or adding a supplement to your diet.

What is happening to herbal remedies?

The Phrase “EU legislation…” has the power either to turn your mind to mulch or cause a surge of fury that threatens the integrity of your blood vessels. So it is with some trepidation that I attempt to tackle the subject of the approaching deadline for non-licensed herbal remedies, involving as it does that fatal phrase.

What will be happening to herbal remedies after 30^th April 2011?
After 30^th april 2011, all herbal products judged by the Medcines and Health Care products Regulatory Agency (a Government body – the MHRA for short) to be medicinal will have to be registered with the MHRA by the manufacturer before being supplied to retailers or consumers.

The registration can be best described as an approval process, and will allow products to state clearly what they can be used for. Safety data, such as when not to use the product, will be available for each registered remedy.

Why has this legislation been brought in?
(Brace yourselves) The EU required the UK and some other countries to close the legal loop hole that allowed unlicensed herbal remedies to be sold. The requisite legislation was actually passed in 2005, but we were given time to get products licensed before it was put into effect. 30^th April 2011 is the cut-off point after which we have to toe the line.

Should I like it or loathe it?
As with most legislative issues, there are good bits and bad bits:

On the plus side,  in order to obtain a registration he manufacturer has to show the product is made to certain quality standards. Consumers can therefore be assured that they are taking what it says on the tin and in the amounts specified. Nothing wrong with that.

Registered products will carry an “indication’- allowing consumers to see easily what the product is for.

The manufacturer will be able to supply information on how to use the product safely-for instance, what to avoid or look out for when using the herbal product.  This too is good.

On the down side, a product can only be registered if it or an equivalent product has been in use for a period of at least 30 years, 15 of which have to be within Europe. This means that many Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs won’t be able to get registrations easily, and that developing new products will be problematic.

In the end, it is widely anticipated that the new legislation will limit consumer choice and it will become more difficult to obtain useful, but less popular herbs.

Protect Against Radiation Damage

The dire situation in Japan, where all six of the nuclear reactors at Fukushima’s Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, now  means that everybody all over the world should be mindful of the effects of the radioactive fallout which has belched from these reactors into the air.
Some ‘experts’ have said that the radiation will stay in the immediate area.  But common sense tells most of us that this is not so – The same air we breathe moves about, across the seas, all over the world. So while the people who live closest to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant will suffer the most, there will still be an effect on people and the general environment at an international level.

Iodine Helps Prevent Damage From Radiation: The USA government has recognized this.  They have issued out free IODINE TABLETS to people along the USA coast, in line with Japan, and the winds which will bring across the radioactive poison.

There is not a lot around on what you can do to prevent radiation from destroying your health. Most people have not had to deal with the situation on such a grave level before.

Causes of Cancer: Radiation
However, it IS a fact that IODINE will help in preventing cancer from radiation.  That is, unless you have been unfortunate enough to be so close to a nuclear explosion that the radiation causes severe burning of your whole nervous system, and dried out your bone marrow.
Even X rays cause radiation damage, which is why they should be avoided: Although X rays have a small amount of radiation, compared to the levels being emitted from the Fukushima Nuclear Plants, x rays are radioactive. Each time you have an x ray, you absorb radiation, and this can lead to cancer and other degenerative disease, in time.

Iodine is a good preventative for cancer because:
If your iodine levels are low, then your thyroid gland will take in, and retain, the radioactive material.  If you have a high iodine level in your body, then the thyroid gland will not take in radioactive iodine.  Radioactive iodine builds up in the body and is not eliminated very easily.  This is what causes cancer:  When you are exposed to radioactive material such as that which comes from a nuclear power reactor, you run the risk of getting cancer and other disease.

The amounts of radiation at Fukushima, around the plant where workers have been doing their best to contain the situation, have been 10,000 times greater than that you would receive from one small X ray.  This is why the workers were taken out a few days ago.  However, many of them have since gone back in, for periods of up to only 15 minutes at a time, to try and get the cooling systems working so that a terrible disaster may be stopped.  These workers have been likened to Samarai Warriors, working for the good of their country at the expense of their lives.

These courageous workers, who have described their job as a ‘suicide mission’, might benefit from taking IODINE – and also LARGE AMOUNTS OF VITAMIN C, to help counteract the effects of absorbed radiation.

Kelp and Spirulina: These are exceptionally high in Iodine and other minerals.
Spirulina is very high in Chlorophyll, which also helps to eliminate poisons from the body.

Iodine alone is not enough to prevent damage from radioactive fallout.  To prevent disease taking hold because of radiation, you need iodine, for a start.  But you also should be taking large amounts of non-acidic Vitamin C

Non-acidic Vitamin C is an essential thing to take if you have been exposed to radiation, or think that there is a danger of exposure occurring.  Some therapist use massive amounts intravenously for treating serious cases of cancer, and things like swine flu, where it has proved to be exceptional in its healing ability.

Skincare Ingredients that can Actually Make you Look Younger!

In a recent magazine article (6 things that can actually make you look younger, Bella magazine 8th Feb 2011) HYALURONIC ACID ‘The Hydrating one’ came out tops for keeping the skin moisturised and toned up.

HA is a polysaccharide that is produced naturally in our skin and due to its exceptional water binding capacity it keeps skin hydrated. It plumps up the skin and can hold 1000 times its own weight in natural moisture. Hyalyuronic acid skin care products have:

• Lightweight texture
• Super-hydrating properties
• Can immediately improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles

Why not try the FULL range of Active Age Defence skin care products, that are rich in HA, to help keep your skin looking younger or add in Hydra-Vital (our unique Hyaluronic Acid Serum) to your existing skincare regime.

Special anniversary events

Special anniversary events are being held at our Middlesbrough store with special offers available at all of our For Goodness Sakes Stores.

Feburary 2011

10th  :- Nutritionist Gareth Zeal.
11th  :- Body care specialist Becky Sargent from Kinetic.
12th  :- Taste Booja Booja vegan chocolate.
14th  :- Sampling day including fish oils, liquorice and herbal teas.
15th  :- Zinc test with Lamberts.
16th  :- Anti-ageing and slimming product advice.
17th  :- The Lemon Detox day.
18th  :- Advice from iridologist Nik Imrye.
19th  :- Food allergy testing with Gareth Zeal , £35 during February instead of £40.
21st  :- Advice from Tim Guant from Nature’s Aid – biochemist / nutrionist.
22nd :- Whey protein sampling with Solgar.
23rd :- Advice from Bioforce herbalist.
24th  :- Foot patches and fleur de bach promotions.
26th  :- Professional kick boxer James Watling promoting SportSense products.
28th  :- Advice from Quest nutritionist.

March 2011

1st   :- Hair dye advice and free samples.
2nd  :- Advice from mastectomy bra specialist, Sue Cooper from the bra clinic
3rd  :- Protein and superfood sampling.
10th :- Manuka Honey taste test with comvita.
12th :- Free gift with £25 spend on USN sports products and in store advice from a sports professional.
19th :- World’s stongest man competitor Mark Felix promoting MetRx products and signing autographs.
24th :- Free clinic with an ayurvedic herbalist.