Somehow, this is the last weekend of October and I’m not quite sure how we managed to get here, but we will be in November next weekend, so let’s wrap October and I will begin by saying that I consider it the privilege of my life to share my words with so many of you, and I write rather a lot of them each weekend. In many ways, we are a continuing story, a story embracing education, knowledge and critical thinking where the process of evaluating research allows us to make informed decisions for our health and wellbeing.

The practice of rigorous, rational questioning dates back to ancient Greek philosophy and philosophers, such as Socrates, who challenged unexamined assertions and societal norms. Known as the Socratic Method, he developed a method of enquiry through persistent questioning to stimulate critical thinking and expose flawed reasoning, believing that an unexamined life lacked value. Emphasising the importance of self-reflection and intellectual honesty, this process allows an active pursuit of truth, rather than passively accepting information.

I have always believed that we need to stand outside of the products we endorse and recommend and come back in again, reflecting the critical distance required to maintain perspective and objectivity, and we uphold this stance with the sharing of Shabir’s in-depth articles. It is this critical distance that also determines each of the DoSe products, which are of course formulated by Shabir, so we are going to begin by talking about one of those products. That product is CholestSafe and the subject matter is high cholesterol.

Cardiovascular disease is the biggest cause of death in the Western Hemisphere and in rather a lot of instances high cholesterol does not produce any symptoms until significant damage has been done, so my first suggestion here is to recommend that you have your blood tested regularly to understand your current situation. On from that, there has been a notable increase in prescribed medication for this concern over the past few years, and although it is of course a considered choice, it is well established that the side effects of statins can include muscle pain, tiredness and sleep problems, and in some instances, they can negatively impact the liver.

With that said, many people seek natural solutions, CholestSafe is one such solution and it has been formulated with some of the most cutting-edge and cholesterol-lowering herbs, including Red Yeast Rice, Policosanols, Phytosterols, Artichoke Leaf Extract and nutrients such as CoEnzyme Q10 and Chromium Polynicotinate. Red Yeast Rice contains a small amount of lovastatin, together with numerous other compounds that have been clinically evaluated and shown to reduce elevated cholesterol levels by approximately 30% within eight weeks, without any side effects, albeit we each respond differently to all forms of medication, allopathic and complementary.

As ever, it is really important to understand any given health concern and Shabir explains the difference between the two types of cholesterol, good and bad, in his article linked below, as I drop the price of CholestSafe from £29 to £26 across the weekend. And with the emphasis on the word ‘safe’, it should be noted that the majority of cholesterol production occurs during the early hours of the morning, so we recommend splitting the dose to one capsule in the morning and two in the evening.
DoSe CholestSafe £26 for 90 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 October)

Staying with natural solutions to lower cholesterol levels, there are more than 100 scientific studies proving the positive benefits of oat beta glucans for high cholesterol levels. So, some news here because Oatwell Powder has been discontinued and replaced with CardiOat® High Strength Oat Beta Glucan. CardiOat® High Strength Beta Glucan has more than 70% oat beta glucan compared to Oatwell Powder which had 28%. Proven to reduce cholesterol, improve digestive health and reduce blood sugar peaks after eating, the dosage is one heaped teaspoon (4.5 grams) per day and CardiOat® High Strength Beta Glucan drops in price from £21.49 to £19 for the interim.
VH Editorial: How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally; CardiOat® High Strength Beta Glucan Powder £19 for 28 x 4.5g Servings

With the clocks going back tonight, we gain an extra hour in bed, but this can often disrupt our internal body clock, known as the circadian rhythm, and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a condition that can intensify during the clock change. With shorter days and reduced exposure to natural daylight, the changes in sunlight can lead to mood changes, decreased energy and heightened feelings of sadness and fatigue.

SAD is a recognised disorder and is often treated by a combination of treatment strategies including light therapy and antidepressants, and if your symptoms are severe, then please seek professional help and advice. However, if your symptoms are mild it may be beneficial to take Magnolia Rhodiola Complex, our bestselling supplement to help lower levels of anxiety. Containing a potent extract of Magnolia, Magnolia extracts have been shown to help reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, so here I am dropping the price of Magnolia Rhodiola Complex from £29 to £26 across the weekend.
DoSe Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £26 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 October)

On subject, at times of stress the adrenal glands place a huge demand for the water soluble B and C vitamins and with both vitamins required for the manufacture of anti-stress hormones, deficiencies cause stress in the adrenals resulting in greater amounts of cortisol being produced. Additionally, vitamins B and C have been shown to directly affect the neurotransmitters in the brain and evidence suggests that both these vitamins achieve balance in the body by metabolising chemicals known to cause anxiety and depression. Here we recommend TerraNova’s Vitamin B and Vitamin C Capsules which are delivered in a food base for maximum absorption.
VH Editorial: Seasonal Affective Disorder; Vitamin B and Vitamin C Capsules by TerraNova £12.38 for 50 Capsules

Having written about how SAD can lead to decreased energy, each of us will experience phases of low energy at various intervals and we are particularly susceptible following illness, including viral infections, and constant tiredness can often be indicative of adrenal stress. The adrenal glands seem to be having a moment, but they are primarily responsible for releasing hormones when we are stressed, and this stress can be physical or hormonal, the latter being as a result of hormone production declining with age.

Whilst the adrenal glands are busy producing cortisol, they do not produce sufficient energising hormones and enzymes, resulting in constant tiredness. Daily Energy will help address this lack of energy and formulated with a blend of highly nutritive compounds, it also contains Siberian Ginseng which helps to ensure the adrenal glands continue to produce the energising enzymes and hormones our bodies require. Daily Energy is safe to be taken on an ongoing basis, but it can also be taken periodically as and when required and it drops in price across the weekend from £24 to £21.
VH Editorial: Enhancing Energy; DoSe Daily Energy £21 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 October)

Following through on viral infections, both colds and flu are caused by a wide variety of viruses, yet there are differences because the symptoms of a common cold include runny nose, congestion, cough and a sore throat, while the symptoms of flu tend to be more severe as the virus is capable of infecting the lungs and affecting our joints, and this often occurs as a result of compromised immunity.

In his article, When Colds Strike, Shabir takes an in-depth look at the lifestyle factors that can compromise the immune system, one of which is eating too much sugar which can severely affect the immune system. In this article Shabir talks about how Astragalus can defend the body against infection and how a review of the research carried on Zinc indicated that if taken within one day of the first symptoms, Zinc can reduce the time you have a cold by twenty-four hours. I think the easiest thing here is to link the article below and as I do that, we are throwing a 15% discount across all products mentioned in that article across the weekend.
VH Editorial: When Colds Strike (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 October)

On theme, another article, referencing sugar cravings and how to stop them. Several studies have indicated that stress is one of the factors for sugar cravings, and as we know, stress results in the production of the stress hormones which can cause the pancreas to release more insulin. This extra insulin burns sugar for energy causing a depletion of sugar in the blood which results in the body wanting more sugar, hence sugar cravings. Once again, I am linking an article written by Shabir where he recommends KetoLiving Sugar Control, which helps curb sugar cravings, whilst enhancing metabolic activity and helping to control healthy weight.
VH Editorial: How To Stop Sugar Cravings; KetoLiving Sugar Control by Natures Plus £28 for 90 Capsules (drops from £31.95 for the interim)

Skin Health

Continuing our focus on the ingredients that support skin health, retinoids, such as Granactive Retinoid, are powerful compounds derived from vitamin A and are known to improve skin texture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as treating compromised skin concerns. Studies have indicated that vitamin A, and its derivatives, such as retinol and retinoids, slow the skin’s ageing process and they work by enhancing the exfoliation of dead skin cells, increasing cell turnover to help reveal fresh skin underneath.

Granactive Retinoid is a next-generation retinoid and is one of the most bio-available, non-prescription forms of vitamin A, having far fewer side effects than Retinol, which can cause irritation, redness and peeling. There are thousands of retinoids on the market, but unlike other retinoid emulsions and serums, Granactive Retinoid 5% Serum has been formulated with Ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant with multiple benefits for ageing skin and Hyaluronic Acid to support the hydration of skin. Going one step further with this formulation, we believe Granactive Retinoid 5% Serum stands out in the crowd, a rather large crowd, and it drops in price across the weekend from £22 to £19.
VH Editorial: How Does Granactive Retinoid Work; DoSe Granactive Retinoid 5% Serum £19 for 30 ml (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 October)

Seasonal Products

On a roll with seasonal gifts and arriving in TEMPLESPA’s limited edition seasonal packaging with a stainless steel display tray, Hand On Heart features a luxury hand wash and hydrating hand lotion. All In Hand Cleansing Hand Wash (300 ml) is a wonderfully refreshing hand wash which leaves hands soft, clean and naturally fragranced and All Is Well Hydrating Hand Lotion (300 ml) is a beautiful aromatherapy hand lotion that deeply nourishes hands, nails and cuticles with an invisible layer of protective moisture. Thoughtful gifting. Thoughtful self-gifting.
Hand On Heart Luxury Hand Care Set by TEMPLESPA £35

Two seasonal gifts from Aromatherapy Associates, the first being the Heritage Collection, where four of their most iconic products and bestselling blends are offered to provide an ultimate aromatherapy experience. Those four products are De-Stress Mind Bath & Shower Oil (55 ml), Revive Body Oil (100 ml), De-Stress Muscle Gel (150 ml) and Deep Relax Sleep Mist (50 ml). The Heritage Collection is £75, but it is worth £197. The second product, The Forest Therapy Hero, really is heroic as this luxurious essential oil blend inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing), encourages relaxation and renewal, calming the senses.
The Heritage Collection by Aromatherapy Associates £75; The Forest Therapy Hero by Aromatherapy Associates £14 for 9 ml

And from Lanolips, the Holiday Mini-Bites, a set of three lip balms in mini baby sizes with each 101 Ointment packed with three sweet holiday flavours, Candy Cane, Glazed Donut and Gingerbread. They are beyond cute and of course I’ve got a huge soft spot for Lanolips because we launched the brand in the UK in 2010 with just one product, Lanolips 101 Ointment and here 101 arrives with a limited edition key ring bauble which you can hang on your tree, give as a gift or keep it for yourself. Hero product, hero brand and in a nostalgic moment, I’m linking my conversation with Kirsten in 2013 when we launched Banana Balm. We rocked it. What a time.
Gill Meets Kirsten Carriol; Holiday Mini-Bites by Lanolips £12; Lanolips 101 Ointment + Key Ring Bauble £9

Finally, just to say the Repose campaign ends at midnight GMT, Friday 31 October, so I have linked that below as we head into the Saturday only treat and with every order placed for £35 or above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include In Good Condition (50 ml) by TEMPLESPA, with the product details also linked below.
Repose Duo by TEMPLESPA £48; In Good Condition

Going Back

A touch more VH nostalgia stemming back to the early days when the world was a very different place and we danced on the What’s The Alternative platform in The Sunday Times each weekend. So many of you have been with us since that time and we have grown up together, sharing the seasons of our lives, and in that early season, we worked hard, but we played even harder.

I honestly can’t remember how this began, but we formed a group, as it were, with several of the Sunday Times journalists and we would hold ‘Bad Taste In Music’ evenings, which was rather amusing because we actually loved the music. We themed those evenings, so one evening we would ‘perform’ ‘Evita’, another evening we would sing our way through ‘Tell Me On A Sunday’ and others such as ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. Each of us performed a solo act, with the exception of Shabir, who sat it out despite my suggestion that he might want to be my backing singer. He didn’t.

For the record, my most favourite solo performance was ‘Take That Look Off Your Face’ from the musical ‘Tell Me On A Sunday’, but memorable others include ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ from ‘Evita’ and a collective rendition of ‘You Must Love Me’ also from ‘Evita’. So, three songs this weekend and as I link each of those songs below, I am using Julie Covington’s version of ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ which she recorded for the original ‘Evita’ concept album in 1976 and Madonna’s version of ‘You Must Love Me’ from the musical film ‘Evita’ released in 1996.
Take That Look Off Your Face by Marti Webb; Don’t Cry For Me Argentina by Julie Covington; You Must Love Me by Madonna

With a note to say that I don’t think anybody can surpass Julie Covington performing ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’, I will leave you with the VH Playlist, with a suggestion that you may want to take the weekend to sing your way through it. Invite friends.
The VH Playlist

Happy weekend, happy everything and as ever, together with Shabir and Lara, I thank you for your ongoing support and loyalty, through the decades. Several of them.

With love

Gill x