Well, we are almost halfway through the month and having thrown the focus on seasonal health, as in the protection of our immune system, and of course on seasonal gifting recently, I am beginning this Weekend Read with some words about supplementation and the choices we make.  We have always upheld our commitment to cutting-edge and pioneering formulations, that’s a given, and I wrote similar words last weekend, but for balance I think it is important to understand the truth behind mass-market supplementation, and in that understanding we stand alongside Viridian Nutrition with their report on, and exposure of, ultra-processed supplementation.

We are all aware that mass-market manufacturing to produce cheap foods leans on ultra-processed methods, but food supplementation made quickly and cheaply mirrors that same reliance on ultra-processed methods, frequently to the detriment of nutritional benefit.  There is a large body of research and ongoing evidence identifying the dark side of fast-vitamin manufacture, and ultra-processed, mass-market supplementation is everywhere, on the high street, in the supermarkets and of course online. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being online, we are an online business, but here I am referencing the online businesses who suddenly decided that health could be their financial wealth, never mind that they rarely understand one end of a supplement from another, or that supplementation can contra-indicate with prescribed medication.  And I think that’s wrong, I think it’s wrong that shelves are stacked with highly coloured and flavoured liquids, often aimed at children’s health, and I think it’s wrong that low-cost supplementation is commonly stashed with additives and expedients, thus significantly reducing the cost of production.

I’ll stop in a moment, but the thing here is that extensive research has linked many additives to health concerns, including artificial preservatives such as sodium benzoate where it has been shown to contribute to behavioural issues in children and hyperactivity.  The final thing I want to say here, in line with Viridian, is that clever messaging and seductive packaging often diverts the focus, so our messaging may not be as clever, but messaging really doesn’t have to be clever when you stand in your own simple truth. 

And with all that said, I am going to reiterate the importance of protecting our immune system with an acknowledgement here that our immune system can be compromised, so with that understanding I want to take a look at Horseradish & Garlic Complex, a supplement which has been specifically formulated to shorten the duration of the common cold. 

The average duration of a cold is between four and seven days, dependent on the strength of our immune system, and with around two hundred viruses in circulation at this time of year, the common cold is a group of upper respiratory concerns caused by any given virus. Horseradish & Garlic Complex contains horseradish extract, garlic, buffered vitamin C and zinc, which are all known for their role in reducing the duration of a cold.  Horseradish contains volatile oils which enhance circulation, aids digestion and helps to reduce nasal congestion, which is where we are going next, but not before I drop the price of Horseradish & Garlic Complex down from £14.55 to £13.
VH Editorial: Getting Rid Of A Cold Quickly; Horseradish & Garlic Complex by Viridian Nutrition £13 for 30 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 13 October)

Having just mentioned nasal congestion, horseradish plays an important role in sinusitis too with a long history of use for many respiratory concerns and here its astringent volatile oils increase circulation to the nasal passages helping to unblock the nasal and sinus cavities to help eliminate mucus.  Stagnant mucus is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria leading to sinus infection, so alongside horseradish supplementation, we recommend Sinuforce Nasal Spray, a Class 1 Medical Device that provides rapid relief from a blocked or congested nose and loaded with ingredients such as menthol, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil, it facilitates and aids breathing.
VH Editorial: How To Relieve Blocked Sinuses; Sinuforce Nasal Spray by A. Vogel £8.99 for 20 ml

I am going to stay with immunity, because the immune system relies heavily on nutrients, not just one or two nutrients, but all of the major vitamins and minerals, and so we are now going to talk about multivitamins.  It goes without saying that if you are going to take a multivitamin, it should be a food-state multivitamin because there is a world of difference between synthetic multivitamins and food-state multivitamins and I feel that the best thing to do here is to refer you to Shabir’s article on the subject, linked below, where he explains that synthetic vitamins, or semi-synthetic nutrients, can actually do more harm than good.

And with that point made, in a long line of points made, I am dropping the price of Daily Multivitamins from £30 to £27 because this food-state high potency multivitamin contains over thirty vitamins and minerals, together with fruits, vegetables, enzymes and antioxidants.  Breaking that down, it contains a full spectrum of amino acids, the building blocks for protein, six varieties of mushrooms to support the immune system, the minerals used are chelated, which are easily absorbable, iron is presented in its bisglycinate form, which is gentle on the stomach, and the dosage is one tablet daily.  Making it easy.
VH Editorial: Are All Multivitamins The Same; DoSe Daily Multivitamins One-A-Day £27 for 60 Tablets (Two months’ supply) (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 13 October)

Staying on subject, and referencing my words of caution about supplementation for children, Invisible Veg is an organic, natural, plant-based product suitable for children aged three and upwards and it has been formulated to support the normal function of the immune system and gut health.  It is also an extraordinarily easy way to get children to eat vegetables, fruits and seeds as it can be sprinkled, mixed or blended with food or liquids.  Acting as a multivitamin, it is free from fillers, flavourings and anything artificial.  There are two other products in the range, which I have linked below for ease.
Invisible Veg by Super Powders £16.99 for 150 grams; Seed Squad by Super Powders £16.99 for 150 grams; Wonderchoc by Super Powders £16.99 for 150 grams

Let’s do nootropics, basically because there is much nonsense written about nootropics, but by definition a true nootropic must be able to enhance memory with the ability to assimilate and process information and protect the brain tissues from chemicals and toxins.  Supporting brain function, most especially at times of extreme stress, it is important that no side effects are displayed, and so, ticking all the above, we are going to take a look at Limitless Plus which provides both short and long-term benefits for the brain.

Containing two safe herbal extracts, Numatoes™ and Neumentix™, Numatoes™ is an extract derived from the non-GMO tomato plant.  The tomato fruit is loaded with a broad range of vitamins for brain function including vitamins C and A, as well as antioxidants including the extensively studied antioxidant, lycopene.  In studies Numatoes™ has been found to promote the function of synapses, which are complex junctions between nerve cells used to transmit signals of information to process, store and recall information.  It also works to quench inflammation, which can disturb the processing of information, and may also be responsible for the degradation of nerve cells.

Neumentix™ is another unique extract, this time derived from non-GMO spearmint which contains over fifty different types of polyphenols, including rosmarinic acid which helps improve brain function by protecting the nerve cells from damaging free radicals and enhancing levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.  It also promotes new nerve cells, so with all that said, Limitless Plus is an innovative botanical supplement and with a special emphasis on its ability to clear brain-fog, I am dropping the price of Limitless Plus from £32 to £29, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Nootropics For Sharper Brain Function; DoSe Limitless Plus £29 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 13 October)

A moment here to talk about out-of-stock products, which is a theme at the moment basically because raw ingredient shortages are ongoing and problematic.  This whole scenario intensified during the pandemic, which is understandable, but far from easing it seems to have got worse, so all I can really do is let you know when products come back into stock, and one of those products is Hylamints, a dry mouth remedy containing hyaluronic acid to help provide relief from dry mouth symptoms, which is extraordinarily common.

And then there’s burning mouth syndrome, which is not so common, but according to current research it still affects up to 10% of the population with women more affected by men, particularly women going through the menopause.  Burning mouth syndrome is a condition where you feel a burning or hot sensation in the mouth, but it can also be localised to the lips or tongue, and this sensation may be continuous or intermittent.  Shabir takes a look at this condition in his article linked below, and because burning mouth syndrome is often accompanied by dry mouth syndrome, we recommend Hyalmints to ease both concerns.
VH Editorials: A Natural Lubricant For Dry Mouth Symptoms; Burning Mouth Syndrome; Hylamints Lozenges £16 for 60 Mint Lozenges

Right, let’s go seasonal once again, because I am still working my way through seasonal gifts and I am going to begin by saying that I am over-excited about a new product from Margaret Dabbs.  I can’t help it, there are several things that excite me and with socks on that list, please allow me to introduce you to the Luxury Hemp Socks, which are the perfect finish for a home pedicure, but they also work rather well with Foot Hygiene Cream allowing the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of hemp to keep your feet, fresh, healthy and moisturised.  Would I sleep in them, yes I would.  Would I drop the price of Foot Hygiene Cream, yes I would.  From £22 to £19.
Luxury Hemp Socks by Margaret Dabbs London £12 (one size); Foot Hygiene Cream by Margaret Dabbs London £19 for 100 grams (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 13 October)

On theme, rather a lot of you have chosen to sleep with the recently launched 12-Hour Overnight Lip Mask (15 grams) from Lanolips, a deliciously thick, butter lip mask for dry lips infused with lip-hydrating lanolin and lip treatment actives, and now it arrives with 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm (15 grams) as the Lip Heroes Day & Night Duo, which is of course a limited edition product.  And there are two more limited edition products in the range, Lip Rituals Scrub & Balm Coconutter and Lip Rituals Scrub & Balm Strawberry, both containing the Lanolips Lip Scrub (10 ml) together with the iconic 101 Ointment (10 ml) in their respective flavours.
Lip Heroes Day & Night Duo by Lanolips £18; Lip Rituals Scrub & Balm Coconutter by Lanolips £18; Lip Rituals Scrub & Balm Strawberry by Lanolips £18

Before I move on, I am throwing a Lanolips treat into the equation, as follows: if you spend £30 or more on any Lanolips products, we will automatically include Lano Rose Hand Cream Intense (50 ml), which is worth £8.99.  There is only one gift per customer and this offer is only available whilst stock lasts, so if it fails to go into your basket then the offer will have finished. Product details below.
Lano Rose Hand Cream Intense; Lanolips Products

Across the years we have launched many brands, the list is long, but there are those brands which really stand out and Peep Club is one such brand.  Their products are quite exceptional, and two of those products have been all wrapped up as festive treats, they are both limited editions with the first being the Festive Mini Coconut Eye Balm, infused with caffeine to help de-puff the under-eye area and castor oil to nourish eye lashes.  The second product is a perfect festive pick-me-up or gift, and it is their clicky-pen Eye Rescue Lidstick, which sits alongside Peep Club’s epic Heated Eye Wand as being a bestselling product.  Bravo Peep Club.  
Festive Mini Coconut Eye Balm by Peep Club £15; Festive Eye Rescue Lidstick by Peep Club £15; Heated Eye Wand PRO by Peep Club £75

Rolling on with TEMPLESPA and this gift is really beautiful and somewhat decadent, which is why it sits in the luxury gift category on our site.  The Champagne & Truffles Gift Set is a collection of four rather indulgent products, including Skin Truffle Ultra Radiance Moisturiser (15 ml), Trufflelixir Super Luxe Luminosity Serum (10 ml), Eye Truffle 24-Hour Eye Rejuvenation (5 ml) and Trufflesque Hydrating Mask (15 ml).  As ever full details are on the product page and the Champagne & Truffles Gift Set is £50, with a product value of £130.
Luxury Gifts; Champagne & Truffles Gift Set by TEMPLESPA £50 

Another gift from TEMPLESPA and this gift sits in the stocking filler category, and I’m actually wondering if it will fit into a stocking, but notwithstanding that, the Fresh Start Refreshing Grooming Essentials is a three-piece gift set for men and it includes Seize The Day Power Gel (50 ml), Peace Be Still (50 ml) and Cool, Calm & Collected Clear Thinking Cologne (50 ml) which has aromatic notes of Lemon, Bergamot, Basil, Thyme and Rosemary with a spicy, woody undertone of Cedarwood, Patchouli and Cardamom.
Stocking Fillers; Fresh Start Refreshing Grooming Essentials by TEMPLESPA £20

Two more gifts to write about this weekend and the first is from Aromatherapy Associates.  I really think that Aromatherapy Associates have some beautiful gift sets this year and their Morning Ritual Duo Gift Set is no exception.  It contains Revive Shower Oil (50 ml) and Revive Body Oil (100 ml), both fragranced with energising Rosemary, refreshing Grapefruit and revitalising Juniper Berries to awaken the body and mind for a refreshing start to the day.  The Morning Ritual Duo Set is £30 and it has a product value of £67, and of course it is a limited edition gift set.
Morning Ritual Duo Set by Aromatherapy Associates £30

And the final gift is also from Aromatherapy Associates, and the name of this gift is incredibly fitting because the Ultimate Bath & Shower Oil collection truly is an ultimate gift.  It is the perfect introduction to Aromatherapy Associates’ transformative essential oil blends as it contains ten bath and shower oils (9 ml each), transformative because each blend creates a deeply beneficial bathing experience with a note here to say that if you are self-gifting, Inner Strength is amazing, it always has been and I’ve often gifted this to friends when they need it the most, so a separate link to that as a stand-alone.
Ultimate Bath & Shower Oil Collection by Aromatherapy Associates £78; Inner Strength Bath & Shower Oil £58 for 55 ml

And what would a Weekend Read be without a final fling, so let’s do that fling for a few reasons, the first being that I didn’t include it in the Fulvic curation, the second because it continues to be one of our bestselling products and the third reason is because as I am writing this, a review flashed onto my computer screen saying that Fulvic Nail was the best product ever used to strengthen nails and prevent them from flaking.  So, with a thank you to the customer who left that review, I am dropping the price of Fulvic Nail Cream from £14 to £11 because that review made me happy, and I want to share and spread that happiness.  Shabir will have a fit.  Don’t care.
Fulvic Nail Cream £11 (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 13 October)

Into the Saturday only treat we go and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include Good Hair Day Shampoo (50 ml)* from TEMPLESPA, which is a frequent-use shampoo, with full product details listed below.
Good Hair Day

As we come to the end of another Weekend Read, I think it is pretty obvious that I often use this platform to campaign about the things that really matter to me.  It is not always about products, and I absolutely know that I often write about the health and beauty industry, the VH Addicts will attest to that, but I really detest injustice and I feel strongly about the constant duping of consumers and I know I’m not alone.  It takes courage to stand up to the health and beauty industry, so the deepest respect to Viridian Nutrition for their stance, for their ethics, for their amazing products and for their truth. It matters. It always has.  

And this song. Let’s ride this. Together.
Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga; VH Playlist

With love and wishing each of you a restful weekend.

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 after discount 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.