Hello, welcome to the Weekend Read and on this last weekend of June we have reached the halfway point of the year, a time to reflect on the first half of the year and a time to look forward to the second half of the year.  I think it is important to say that we live and we learn, most especially if we are talking about the advancement of the dedicated research and development that allows and enables a deeper understanding of the ingredients which support our health and wellbeing.

The identification of pioneering compounds is always tremendously exciting, but that is just the beginning of a long process.  It can often take two to three years to bring a product to market, which becomes somewhat difficult for the impatient side of me because if we know about pioneering compounds that knock everything else out of the water, we want to share that knowledge as soon as we possibly can. 

There have been moments in my life when I have written the Weekend Read in my head two years before an actual launch, and at other times I have written certain sections of the Weekend Read several months ahead of publication. That is certainly true about the launch of the DoSe branding, both the supplements and the skincare products, and it is also true of Collagen Tripeptide Complex which I wrote six months prior to its launch in February and NAD+ Generator, written three months prior to launch.

In all of this, we embrace advancement, but we also embrace the depth and dedication of research which, in turn, allows us to communicate that advancement, often superseding all that has gone before.  The reward really is in the sharing, the sharing of clinical evaluation, the sharing of pioneering compounds and the sharing of transparent reporting.  Yet over and above all of this, innovative formulations really do make a profound difference to our health and wellbeing, so with all of that said, Collagen Tripeptide Complex drops from £45 to £40 and NAD+ Generator drops from £32 to £29, as we continue the innate philosophy of sharing.
VH Editorials: Does Your Collagen Supplement Contain Collagen Tripeptides; Are NAD Supplements Beneficial; DoSe Collagen Tripeptide Complex £40 for 90 Capsules; DoSe NAD+ Generator £29 for 30 Capsules (offers end at midnight BST, Sunday 29 June)

In many ways, the launch of Collagen Tripeptide Complex defined the first six months of this year, but it also defines an ongoing commitment to stand outside the narrative of the health and beauty industry, more of which I will write about next weekend, but for now I want to take a look at Limitless Plus, a nootropic that supports and helps improve the functions carried out by the brain, such as attention, focus, memory and the ability to recall information.

I think it is interesting to note that during perimenopause and menopause brain fog is a tremendously common concern, but of course brain fog is not only attributable to the menopausal years, it will also affect each of us at some point in our lives.  Whenever I write about nootropics, I caveat it with a warning about synthetic nootropics which are synthesised in laboratories, and lacking long-term studies their safety may be questionable, so it is important to take a natural nootropic which has been formulated with safe, effective and proven compounds.

Limitless Plus combines two of the safest herbal extracts, Numatoes and Neumentix, both of which have been thoroughly researched.  Numatoes is an extract derived from the non-GMO tomato plant which is loaded with a broad range of vitamins for brain function, including vitamins C and A together with potent antioxidants, including Lycopene which has been extensively studied and has been found to help promote the function of the synapses, which are complex junctions between nerve cells used to transmit signals of information to process, store and recall information.

Neumentix is a unique extract derived from non-GMO spearmint which contains over fifty different types of polyphenols, which are naturally occurring compounds found in plants, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  One of those compounds is rosmarinic acid, which helps support brain function by protecting the nerve cells from damaging free radicals and enhances the amount of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which is involved in learning and memory.

I will conclude this by saying that Numatoes, having antioxidant properties, work to quench inflammation, which is thought to be responsible for the degradation of the nerve cells in the brain, and Neumentix has been shown to help promote nerve cells.  So, as I drop the price of Limitless Plus from £32 to £29, I will also say that the effects of Limitless Plus are cumulative, so the longer you take this supplement, the more effective the benefits, both short and long-term.
VH Editorial: Nootropics For Sharper Brain Function; DoSe Limitless Plus £29 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 29 June)

I rarely write about Bamboo Extract, basically because if I am writing about supplementation for hair, skin and nails I will always recommend Ionicell, as I did last weekend, but actually I should write about Bamboo Extract more often because this formulation contains biotin and silica, the latter of which is a relatively unknown mineral which plays an important role in many vital processes within our bodies, including bone growth, so that is where I am going to throw the focus.

Silica, which is also known as silicon, is a combination of silicon and oxygen and is absolutely essential for bone growth, and although we were each born with large amounts of silica and low amounts of calcium, the ageing process determines that with age our silica levels decline and our bodies deposit calcium in our glands, which can lead to the calcification of our tissues and the eventual loss of gland function.  Calcium requires vitamin D3 for its absorption, but it also requires silica for the utilisation of calcium to help promote strong bones and teeth.

A calcium deficiency is invariably associated with a deficiency in silica and several studies have indicated that broken bones heal faster when silica levels are high, irrespective of the calcium levels in the bloodstream.  Silica also promotes the proper mineral balance between calcium and magnesium, which in turn helps with hormonal balance.  This is important because it has been established that these hormonal imbalances can lead to osteoporosis and achieving hormonal balance enhances bone mineralisation, so silica becomes invaluable in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. 

Silica is used by every single cell and every internal gland within our bodies, and in an article linked below, Shabir takes an in-depth look at the impact silica has on strengthening the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system.  As ever, not all silica formulations are created equally and most formulations use Horsetail extracts which only supply between 5-8% of organic silica.  Bamboo Extract is the richest known source of silica and containing over 70% of organic silica, it is ten times more potent than Horsetail extracts.  So, as I refer you to Shabir’s article, I am dropping the price of Bamboo Extract from £21 to £18 across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Silica Supplements For Hair, Skin And Nails; DoSe Bamboo Extract £18 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 29 June)

Moving on, published studies suggest that a high percentage of men will endure some form of prostate-induced discomfort, and several decades of research identify Saw Palmetto as the ‘gold standard’ for natural prostate support.  Prostate enlargement affects nearly 50% of all men over the age of fifty and almost 90% over the age of eighty.  This condition is referred to as Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE) and is also known as Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH).  BPH occurs when normal prostate cells grow abnormally and as the prostate gland enlarges, it presses onto the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder to discharge.

It remains unclear as to why some men get BPH and others don’t and with the only established risk factors for BPH being age and family history, some scientists believe that the decrease in the male hormone testosterone could lead to what is termed as oestrogen dominance where oestrogen becomes dominant in the bloodstream, possibly encouraging cell growth.  Others state that a substance called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which occurs as a result of testosterone metabolism, accumulates in the prostate gland.  DHT is an inflammatory compound which is thought to encourage rapid cell growth, leading to prostate enlargement.

With BPH explained, natural remedies remain invaluable in the prevention of BPH and most specifically, several studies have indicated that Saw Palmetto berry works by inhibiting the enzymes which convert testosterone into DHT, with some studies further indicating that Saw Palmetto’s efficacy is equal to most drugs prescribed to improve urinary flow.  PalmettoGuard, a natural supplement formulated with Beta-Sitosterol to support prostate function, is free from side effects and it can be used alongside conventional therapies to help regulate inflammatory actions in the prostate gland.
VH Editorial: Benign Prostate Enlargement; PalmettoGuard by Life Extension £20 for 30 Softgels

I have often written that certain compounds help support differing health concerns, so a few words here about the powerful antioxidant, Astaxanthin which is loaded with health benefits and supports the whole body.  As ever, not all supplements are created equally because Astaxanthin is known to have low absorption levels, so here we recommend Astaxanthin with Phospholipids, a propriety blend of four phospholipids to facilitate maximum absorption of Astaxanthin into the bloodstream, where it is transported to cells throughout the body.  Astaxanthin with Phospholipids drops in price from £14 to £12.  And that is that.
VH Editorial: Astaxanthin Protects The Whole Body; Astaxanthin with Phospholipids by Life Extension £12 for 30 Softgels (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 29 June)

Onwards and let’s do some tidying up and I’m going to begin with an article written by Sarah which appeared on the Weekend Read recently, well 24 May to be precise.  I am linking it again for two reasons, the first is to reiterate that there is little difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 and the second reason is because in writing that our lips, eyelids and ears are particularly vulnerable to UV damage, Sarah recommended Ultrasun’s SPF30 Eye Protection and then it went out of stock.  So, another mention for Ultrasun’s SPF30 Eye Protection where it drops in price once again from £20 to £18.  Hopefully this time it will stay in stock.
Sun Protection Tips For Lips, Lids And Ears by Sarah Stacey; Ultrasun SPF30 Eye Protection £18 for 15 ml (for the interim)

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the benefits of Sleep Tight Plus for sleep deprivation, most specifically referencing jet lag, because it is a huge issue.  Anyway, I linked an article about sleep deprivation and the banner on that article was the product, obviously, propped up by a Drowsy sleep mask, and I fully intended to write about the Drowsy masks at the end of that Weekend Read, because they are more than fabulous, except I forgot and I only realised I had forgotten to mention them at around 6 am on the morning of publication.  So, I’m writing about them now, but actually all I really want to say is that I am throwing a 15% discount across the entire range this weekend.
VH Editorial: Signs & Symptoms Of Sleep Loss; Drowsy Products (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 29 June)

And whilst I am in mode, I am also throwing a 15% discount across each of the Gloves In A Bottle products for the interim.  I honestly don’t know how many years ago it was when Sarah wrote an article about Gloves In A Bottle, linked below, but I suppose you could say it is one of our heritage products because we launched it in the UK in 2005. I actually lost count of the number of times Sarah wrote about it in YOU magazine when she was health editor and she has probably lost count too.  Anyway, we are all still here, fully acknowledging the brilliance of heritage products, because that is what we do.
Helping Hands With Gloves In A Bottle by Sarah Stacy; Gloves In A Bottle Products

Finally, a reminder that the Temple Spa offer June ends at midnight BST, Monday 30 June and this is where Life Defence SPF 30 and Life Defence SPF 50 both drop in price from £45 to £35.  With the products linked below, each product offers UVA/UVB protection, creating a barrier against pollution and UV radiation.
Life Defence SPF 30 by Temple Spa £35 for 50 ml; Life Defence SPF 50 by Temple Spa £35 for 50 ml

Into the Saturday only treat, and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically send you Olverum Bath Oil (5 ml), which is most definitely another heritage product, a rather magnificent heritage product which has been offering an indulgent aromatic ritual of relaxation for over nine decades.  Full product details listed below. 
Olverum Bath Oil

Finally, gently easing us into the weekend, music to soothe our souls.
Teymas Y Ser (In The Realm Of The Summer Stars) by Ceredwen; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x