As I welcome you to another Weekend Read, we are one week away from British Summer Time and with the clocks going forward next weekend we are going to take a look at some seasonal products in preparation for the warmer months.  But before we do that, I think it is rather obvious that we are more words than products, mostly because we must always uphold the importance of conversation and in that conversation we are able to communicate the information and facts which allow us to make considered choices for our health and wellbeing.

I have written rather a lot of words in recent weeks about Collagen Tripeptide Complex and it was, and is, important to do so not only because it supersedes all that has gone before, but because there is much to discuss about the benefits of collagen supplementation, so this week I want to talk about collagen and bone health.  The interesting thing here is that we often think about calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K and other nutrients to help support healthy bones, yet there are twenty-eight identified types of collagen in the body and Type I collagen makes up 90% of collagen in the body, which is the predominant type for skin, bones and joints.

Bone tissues are rich in collagen and contain between 30-40% of collagen, forming a collagen matrix upon which minerals such as calcium, magnesium and silica can deposit to maintain strong bones.  Decreased collagen content is one of the primary reasons for brittle bones and low bone density and the discussion here centres on initial studies into collagen peptides which showed promising results on their efficacy for bone density. 

Interestingly further studies were carried out on post-menopausal women who took collagen peptides for a year, with the results showing increased bone density in the lumbar spine and upper femur, with benefits continuing after a four-year period.  It should be noted here that the results of these studies were obtained by using collagen peptides, which are rather large molecules with limited absorption in comparison to collagen tripeptides (CTPs) which are absorbed from the gut directly into the bloodstream.  These innovative characteristics enable absorption by all collagen-affiliated organs, including skin, together with bones, cartilage and tendons.

And just perhaps I will continue talking about collagen tripeptides for rather a long time, but it aligns with our commitment to the cutting-edge and pioneering products which really do make a difference, and we have history, several decades of history where I have been writing about certain compounds for the longest time.  These include Hyaluronic Acid and of course Fulvic Acid, which remains one of the most outstanding ingredients I have ever written about, so as I platform Collagen Tripeptide Complex once again, I do so by linking Shabir’s article where he takes an in-depth look at the role collagen plays in bone health.
VH Editorial: Is Collagen Vital For Bone Health; DoSe Collagen Tripeptide Complex £45 for 90 Capsules

When I began writing about Fulvic Acid, I remember saying that if I had one wish, it would be that we could all benefit from the remarkable efficacy of Fulvic.  I have always believed Fulvic to be the foundation for all other supplementation for several reasons, not least because this multi-purpose liquid food supplement contains pure, patented humic-free Fulvic Acid as Ioniplex®, an ionic mineral complex, which provides cellular protection and promotes cellular energy for the rapid absorption of vitamins and nutrients.

Several years later, actually rather a lot of years later, Fulvic Elixir has become a staple for so many of us and however much I love exploring the evolutionary advancement of supplementation, which of course I do, Fulvic Acid remains as it ever was, exemplary in concept and being.  Fundamentally, we respect scientific evidence and in the words of Dr Linus Pauling, winner of two Nobel Prizes, ‘you can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment, ultimately to a mineral deficiency’.  And with that quote shared, with every order of Fulvic Elixir (480 ml), we will include Fulvic Elixir (240 ml), which has a value of £15.
VH Editorial: Fulvic: The Elixir Of Life; Fulvic Elixir £30 for 480 ml + Fulvic Elixir 240 ml Free (worth £15) (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 23 March)

And after those words, let’s do a seasonal product, seasonal in that two or three times a year we recommend taking a one-month course of Cleavers (Sticky Weed), and the discussion here centres on the lymphatic system, which is the largest circulatory system within the body.  The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, glands, spleen, thymus gland and tonsils, which carry a clear fluid called lymph.  The composition of lymph is similar to blood, except it does not contain haemoglobin or blood proteins.

The organs, ducts and lymph nodes of the lymphatic system act as filters for the removal of toxins, so in essence the lymphatic system is a detoxification system, a nutrient delivery system and it is also the home of the immune system.  Unlike the circulatory system, which has the heart as a pump, the lymphatic system does not have a circulatory pump and the notable effects of a sluggish lymphatic system include tiredness and fatigue, fluid retention, susceptibility to infection and, in some instances, weight gain.

With that said, it is important to kick-start the lymphatic system periodically to ensure the movement of lymph and Cleavers helps to move, drain and filter cellular waste out of the body.  In so doing it helps to stimulate specialised white blood cells which work to engulf bacteria and viruses which, in turn, helps to support immune health and inflammatory skin concerns as it also acts as an excellent diuretic.  I am linking Shabir’s in-depth article on the lymphatic system below and as I do, I am dropping the price of Cleavers from £19.15 to £16 across the weekend.
VH Editorial: The Lymphatic System; Cleavers by Viridian Nutrition £16 for 90 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 23 March) 

I just want to say a few more words about seasonal products because although we recommend using certain supplements periodically, it is perfectly safe to take these supplements on an ongoing basis and here I just want to reference Milk Thistle Complex.  I recently wrote about Milk Thistle Complex and the importance of cleansing the liver periodically, but I also wrote that in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is the seat of anger and emotional imbalance, so if you missed what I wrote, you can read it again here.

I often write about our emotional wellbeing, I think it is incredibly important to talk about all aspects of our health and wellbeing, not least because we are living in an extraordinarily difficult world where our emotional wellbeing is often on the line.  I understand this and I also understand how our own emotional imbalance can so often be thrown off balance by circumstances which are beyond our control, so all I really want to say here is that in such circumstances Milk Thistle Complex can be taken on an ongoing basis to support emotional health and in support of that statement, I am dropping the price of Milk Thistle Complex from £19 to £16.
VH Editorial: Milk Thistle For Liver Detoxification; DoSe Milk Thistle Complex £16 for 30 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 23 March) 

Achieving equilibrium and balance is important across all things in life, yet in order to achieve that balance we must offer transparency of concept and efficacy and in so doing we stand in the truth of our being.  This has always been so incredibly important, it is who and what we are, but it is also important to celebrate the formulations which really do stand out in the crowd and I absolutely know that I repeat message consistently, actually make that almost three decades of repeat messaging, but that’s also nearly three decades of celebrating that consistency, so one more for the road because it is one year since we launched DoSe Liposomal Glutathione. 

Glutathione is an antioxidant and it is often called the ‘master antioxidant’ because it is used by every cell in our bodies to mop up damaging free radicals.  Free radicals are unstable molecules and in order to regain stability these unstable molecules ‘steal’ electrons from other molecules and our DNA to help prevent damage and oxidative stress, a phenomenon where there are insufficient antioxidants available to support our genetic material, as well as our organs.

There are many nutrients which display antioxidant activity, but Glutathione is the most powerful donor of electrons and it is made from three amino acids, Glutamic Acid, Cysteine and Glycine.  Most of the body’s Glutathione is produced in the liver, but as with so many nutrients, our levels of Glutathione decline with age, so we can choose to supplement our bodies with Glutathione, but of course not all supplementary Glutathione is created equally and the problem with the majority of Glutathione supplementation is that the benefits are compromised by our stomach acids, defeating objectivity and purpose.

So, taking a look at the difference, Liposomal Glutathione has been formulated with GSH, the reduced form of Glutathione, which is the very best form of Glutathione as it is the active form and easily absorbed by the body, but on from that Liposomal Glutathione contains Setria® Glutathione, which is the clinically studied form of Glutathione.  Providing 450 mg of GSH in each 5 ml serving, it is pure and safe and it has an assay value of between 98-100%.  That is the difference and this is the celebration as Liposomal Glutathione drops in price from £49 to £44, so let’s celebrate all week long as this offer will end at midnight GMT, Friday 28 March.
VH Editorial: Liposomal Glutathione: Benefits & Side Effects; DoSe Liposomal Glutathione £44 for 150 ml (offer ends at midnight GMT, Friday 28 March)

Staying in celebratory mode, I invite you to join me in celebrating iS Clinical, a skincare brand which I have loved and supported through the decades.  Founded in 2002, I have been a custodian of the brand for the longest time, a role which is an honour and a privilege, most especially because iS Clinical has achieved global recognition for their clinically proven formulations created with pure, pharmaceutical-grade ingredients.  As such they are one of the most respected cosmeceutical brands in the world, yet through all of this, Bryan Johns and Alec Call, the co-founders, have remained grounded in their own reality, which is so incredibly rare in the beauty industry.

It is in that reality that we are able to honour the integrity of their formulations and together we have launched some of their most pioneering products, including Sheald Recovery Balm, which is one of the most important product launches I have ever done, but then Sheald is an epic product and it was the first formulation which could be used on open wounds to help heal scarring.  And of course it remains epic, I honestly don’t believe anything comes close, yet in the realms of epic products, it is joined by so many of their formulations, including Cleansing Complex, which is their bestselling lightweight cleansing gel, a powerful treatment product.

For the record I use iS Clinical’s Cream Cleanser, the Cleansing Complex Polish once or twice a week and their Warming Honey Cleanser which I absolutely love.  I am big on cleansers, I have a thing about them, which is why I have a wardrobe of cleansers in my bathroom, including our own, and the thing here is that whichever cleanser I am using, I always keep it on my skin for several minutes, which allows the active ingredients to penetrate on a deeper level.  These things make me happy, and on subject I always wait for at least two or three minutes before rinsing my shampoo, Fulvic Shampoo of course. 

So, the wrap here is that I am throwing a 20% discount across the iS Clinical products this weekend, but I will also include the Cleansing Complex (60 ml), which is worth £25, with every order placed for £40 or above.  Your very own wardrobe of cleansers could start right here, right now, but this is a limited offer and there is only one gift per customer enabling us to share as widely as possible.  If the Cleansing Complex fails to go into your basket, that will mean that the offer is over and, as ever, over is over.  Wrapped.
iS Clinical Products (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 23 March)