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Weekend Read 25 February 2023

Weekend Read 25 February 2023

Following through from last weekend, I just want to say a few words here about Shabir’s new column, What’s The Solution.  We honestly didn’t know what would happen, but it became abundantly clear that there is a very real need to help support health and wellbeing issues in this format, a question and answer format dealing with real issues and real concerns.  As I wrote last week, this is an open validation of the work we do each and every day in helping to resolve health and wellbeing issues with responsibility, integrity and knowledge, and we have been doing this for a very long time, nearly twenty-five years, give or take a year or two.

Your response was quite staggering, for which I thank you, so I just want to say here that we will do our very best to answer all of your questions personally prior to publication, although obviously we are unable to publish all of your questions.  If we were to do that, I would be sending you an email every day of the week, and I’m absolutely sure you don’t want me to do that, so we’ll take it as it comes and it will find its own rhythm in time.  As these things do.
solution@victoriahealth.com

Putting the logistics to one side for the moment, I really do need to thank so many of you for your amazing, and touching, emails last weekend, with a very special acknowledgement to the Sunday Times readers who have been with us since the What’s The Alternative days.  We have grown up together, we have shared our lives with each other and although the world has changed, the health and beauty industry has changed and media reporting has most definitely changed, we remain as close as we ever were because we have not changed.

Yet, through all of this products change and they change because of ongoing research and development which, in turn, dictates the need to embrace the pioneering essence of change.  I suppose it’s easy to be complacent, most especially if we are talking about bestselling products, why rock the boat.  But the boat needs to be rocked at times, most especially if we are to uphold our ethos of only ever recommending the cutting-edge products we believe to be the very best-in-class in each genre of health and wellbeing.  So let’s rock that boat.  With Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex®.

Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex® contains a patented curcumin extract containing three of the most researched curcumin compounds found in Turmeric, Curcumin, Demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC).  Absorption of these compounds ensures that our bodies receive therapeutic amounts of these active compounds.  Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex® also contains BioPerine®, a patented extract derived from black pepper which has been shown to increase the bioavailability of Curcumin compounds by up to 2000%, which is a significant advancement in the efficacy of Turmeric and Curcumin supplementation. 

Curcumin C3 Complex has been the subject of numerous trials and is a “Bioprotectant” antioxidant helping to quench damaging radicals to help prevent inflammation in the body, which is at the very core of most diseases and health concerns; Shabir discusses this in his article linked below.  With all of that said, Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex is about to become a legend in its own lifetime and as such we are recommending we all change over to Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex®, not least because Shabir formulated it and we believe it is now best-in-class. 

I wrote at the beginning of the year that Shabir had been busy formulating several new products, and this is the first to launch. To celebrate this new launch, I am dropping the price of Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex® from £26 to £23 across the weekend and let me also say that I will be drip-feeding more new product launches over the next few weeks.  And things will change.  Once again.
VH Editorial: Turmeric – The Spice With Health Benefits; Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex® £23 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 February)

I often write about urinary tract infections (UTIs) because it is such a common health concern and it affects men and women.  The most common self-treatment is the use of cranberry juice, but we really don’t recommend this because of the high sugar content found in most cranberry juices, which Shabir talks about in his article, linked below.  There are many Cranberry supplements on the market, but of course they are not all created equally, so we need to understand why certain supplements are far better than others.

Cranberries contain fructose, a carbohydrate called mannose, together with a group of very specific antioxidants called proanthocyanidins (PAC’s).  Recurring UTIs can result in damage to the bladder walls encouraging bacteria to attach to the walls of the bladder and it is there they can proliferate, causing an infection.  PAC’s have the ability to block the ‘receptors’ existing on the bladder walls, helping to improve the bladder’s ability to flush away the bacteria, thereby preventing infections.  So we need to look at a clinically validated supplement which contains a high content of PAC’s, and that product is Cysticlean, but there is more to Cysticlean than its PAC content.

Pre-clinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that Cysticlean has an anti-adhesive effect on E.coli, the bacteria responsible for the majority of UTIs, but with the continuous use of Cysticlean, the bacteria lose their adherence properties, allowing discharge through urination.  For women, the most common issue with a UTI is an intense burning sensation when trying to urinate and for men, it is suitable to use if you have an enlarged prostate, which can result in recurring infections, explained in greater detail in Shabir’s article.  The only other thing you need to know right now is that Cysticlean drops in price from £26.95 to £22.95, also across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Is Drinking Cranberry Juice A Myth; Cysticlean 240 mg PAC £22.95 for 30 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 February)

Right, let’s do another very common health concern.  We are going to be talking about the bladder once again, but this time we are talking about treating an overactive bladder.  Losing control of your bladder can be really embarrassing and is often classified as urinary incontinence.  A sensitive bladder is associated with a constant urge to urinate and two large studies have indicated that one in six adults report signs of an overactive bladder.  Interestingly, as early as 1578 a European herbal encyclopaedia mentions the use of pumpkin seeds to treat urinary problems and pumpkin seed extract is officially approved for the treatment of irritable bladder in Germany.

Although there is a long history of pumpkin seed extracts being used for urinary problems, most supplements contain pumpkin seed oil, but in recent studies the water soluble fraction of pumpkin seeds has demonstrated impressive results.  Three separate studies have shown the effectiveness of water soluble pumpkin extract with reference to urinary incontinence, which is why we recommend Water-Soluble Pumpkin Seed Extract to help alleviate this concern.  And just to add, pumpkin seed extract is rich in amino acids, the building blocks for every single tissue in the body.  So let’s drop the price of Water-Soluble Pumpkin Seed Extract from £20 to £17.
VH Editorial: Treating An Overactive Bladder; Water-Soluble Pumpkin Seed Extract by Life Extension £17 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 February)

Having written about the high sugar levels found in most cranberry juices, let’s take a look at a new supplement, KetoLiving Sugar Control and a bioactive compound, Berberine HCI, which is found in plants such as Barberry, Oregon grape and Goldenseal.  This natural compound has been the subject of several studies, which have outlined its potential to slightly lower glucose levels.  KetoLiving Sugar Control contains Chromium, Garcinia and Gymnema, which all work in synergy to help maintain blood glucose levels.  The interesting thing here is that Berberine helps to curb sugar craving, whilst enhancing metabolic activity.

Shabir does the lowdown on this supplement in his article linked below, but I would just like to reference Gymnema, which has a history of usage in Ayurvedic medicine.  It is termed ‘gurmar’ which means ‘sugar destroyer’ and several studies have indicated that Gymnema can also help reduce sugar cravings by acting on the sugar receptors on the taste buds.  Just one more thing to add, lower sugar levels in the bloodstream are less liable to damage proteins in the skin, such as the collagen network.  And that’s it, other than to say that I am dropping the price of KetoLiving Sugar Control from £29.95 to £25. 
VH Editorial: How To Stop Sugar Cravings; KetoLiving Sugar Control by Natures Plus £25 for 90 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Monday 27 February)

Let’s do another celebration, why not.  So just when you think that a supplement can’t possibly get any better than it already is, Shabir does an ingredient tweak and that supplement is elevated to new heights of brilliance.  I’m talking about Superior Joints and the formulation now contains Vitamin C and Copper.  Vitamin C to contribute to collagen formation for the normal function of bones and cartilage and Copper which contributes to the maintenance of normal connective tissues, which can be beneficial to cartilage.  Let’s sing.  Let’s dance and let’s drop the price of Superior Joints from £30 to £26.  No stone left unturned.
VH Editorial: Read This If You Suffer From Painful Joints; Superior Joints £26 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 February)

Moving away from supplementation, but staying with health, let’s do scalp health.  I’ve written reams about this subject over the years, so all I want to say here is that Fulvic Acid Mist really does come into its own as a potent and invigorating treatment for hair loss and thinning hair, helping to renew cell life and keratin function on our scalp and hair follicles.  Powered by Ioniplex, a patented compound, it has wound-healing properties and it also helps improve nail strength. It can safely be used on brows and lashes to help enhance growth and because I am in mode, if you buy Fulvic Mist (120 ml), you will automatically receive Fulvic Mist (60 ml), which is worth £12.50.
Fulvic Acid Mist £25 for 120 ml + Fulvic Acid Mist (60 ml) Free (whilst stock lasts)

It would seem that we have now entered beauty treat territory, so let’s begin this section with Sarah Chapman’s 3D Moisture Infusion Mask.  This mask is a transformative anti-ageing treatment which is loaded with active ingredients to help hydrate and plump your skin.  It sits on your face like a second skin and it should be used after cleansing.  The individual 3D Moisture Infusion Mask has a value of £15, except in a limited offer treat, I am offering you the opportunity to try this mask for £5.  And once they have gone, they have gone.  And heaven only knows when that will be.   
3D Moisture Infusion Mask by Sarah Chapman £5 (whilst stock lasts)

Let’s continue and I will do so by saying that if you buy any product from Margaret Dabbs with a value of £10 or over, we will automatically send you a free gift.  That free gift is the very fabulous Super Shiner Buffer, which is worth £9.  Using crystal technology to help instantly smooth and illuminate your nails, these crystals sit on the buffer’s surface and the quicker you buff, the quicker these particles move and the shinier your nails will become.  It also needs to be said that the nude nail is a thing right now and the last time it was a thing was during the pandemic, but let’s not go there.  And if you don’t do nude, go pale.  It’s super-smart.
Margaret Dabbs Products (one gift per customer)

Onwards and Neom Organics have just released some rather fabulous new products and in no particular order they are Complete Bliss Hand & Body Wash, Complete Bliss Hand & Body Lotion, Great Day Hand & Body Wash, Great Day Hand & Body Lotion and Great Day Wonder Balm. When a brand launches several new products at the same time, it is impossible to write about each individual product, so instead I am listing each of the new products below and at the same time I will tell you that we are offering you a 20% discount across these new products, so do please check them out because they really are quite special.
Complete Bliss Hand & Body Wash; Complete Bliss Hand & Body Lotion; Great Day Hand & Body Wash; Great Day Hand & Body Lotion; Great Day Wonder Balm All by Neom Organics

A skincare treat, actually two skincare treats, both from the Heritage Store. The first is Ancient Healing Clay, a pore-purifying clay face mask with natural Bentonite Clay, which is suitable for all skin types, but it works particularly well on oily or problematic skin types.  The second is Rosewater Moisturizer, which is a lightweight gel-cream moisturiser, which gives a burst of soothing hydration for dry and combination skin types. So the thing you need to know here is that Ancient Healing Clay has a value of £12.49, but I’m dropping the price to £6.50, and Rosewater Moisturiser has a value of £18.49 and I am dropping the price to £9.25.  Whilst stock lasts.
Ancient Healing Clay by Heritage Store £6.50 for 454 grams; Rosewater Moisturizer by Heritage Store £9.25 for 59 ml

One last thing here, this month’s offer from Temple Spa will end at midnight GMT on Tuesday 28 February.  And just in case you missed it, Exalt Firming Neck Gel dropped in price from £44 to £30 throughout February, so there are just four days left to buy this product at the reduced price.  And that’s all I really need to say other than we have just about made it through to March.  Hallelujah.  And let the sun shine.
Exalt Firming Neck Gel by Temple Spa £30 for 50 ml

Into the Saturday only treat we go and with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically send you Lano Everywhere Multi-Cream (40 ml) by Lanolips, which is a saviour for thirsty skin.  Full product details below.
Lano Everywhere Multi-Cream by Lanolips

And finally, this song was sent to me to share with each of you.  No more words needed.
Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson; The VH Playlist

With love

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 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 (GMT) and Midnight (GMT) 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.