Saturday 4 April, Easter weekend and I want to begin this Weekend Read with a conversation about sharing, what it means to us, what it means to you, so in effect what it means for all of us. I can’t imagine a world without sharing, it really is the invisible thread that holds everything together, the difference between a solitary experience and the collective memories which sustain us, as we demonstrate to each other that we are never alone in this world, a world which can often be so incredibly lonely.

Essentially, sharing is the heartbeat of who and what we are together, a heartbeat founded upon our shared values, our sense of belonging and, of course, our vulnerability. This matters because social isolation and loneliness have high risks for mental health, this matters because sharing is transformational and this matters because vulnerability is the birthplace of belonging, the core and foundation of our experiences.

Sharing is also the fundamental pillar of our health and wellbeing, a sharing that must surely move beyond the superficial marketing which has become somewhat synonymous with the health and beauty industry. We set the bar high, extraordinarily high, but just as I can’t imagine a world without sharing, I can’t imagine a world where we would endorse and recommend products which would make little, if any, difference to our health and wellbeing.

I have always believed it is that difference that sets us apart and it is that difference that can often be lonely, lonely because we will not conform, or be subservient to a narrative that undermines the choices we make for our optimal health and wellbeing. I further believe that the following quote from Friedrich Nietzsche serves each of us: ‘The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself’.

In differing ways, that quote is also a catalyst for sharing, because there can be no doubt that challenging the established status quo indicates a paradigm shift, a paradigm shift that can often face resistance or scepticism, before the evidence supporting that shift becomes undeniable. The gap between a paradigm shift and undeniable evidence can often take several years, but notwithstanding the pause of accepted implementation, we can only ever go out on a limb, as it were, with your support, trust and loyalty which, in and of itself, is an immense privilege, so with that said I am throwing a sitewide discount* of 15% across this Easter weekend.
Shop The Site (15% Sitewide Discount Ending Midnight BST, Monday 6 April)

Acknowledging and recognising that privilege, I want to take a moment to say that there are a few products where we are unable to offer the sitewide discount, all of which are noted on individual product pages, but I also want to take a moment to cite a few instances of how undeniable evidence supports the products we endorse and recommend, so I am going to begin with Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex, because if we are talking about setting the bar high, Curcumin C3 Complex doesn’t just set the bar for curcumin supplementation, it creates the industry standard for botanical ingredient integrity.

A recent study by the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) found that 20% of curcumin globally has been adulterated, which is a shocking statistic and remains a concern, and it really is a concern when generic reporting about turmeric supplementation appears unable, or unwilling, to expose the dangers of adulteration. Reiterating words I have often written, Curcumin C3 Complex sets the gold standard in curcumin and backed by decades of science, it has been the subject of over 114 clinical studies, it is the most researched curcumin in the world delivering 95% curcuminoids, the highest concentration available, every dose, every time.
VH Editorial: Turmeric: The Spice With Health Benefits; DoSe Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex

Every dose, every time really does underline our approach to the ethical endorsement of pioneering compounds, but it also underlines the efficacy of the cutting-edge formulations which carry the DoSe branding. Citing another example, and it’s an example which I have been extraordinarily vocal about, I honestly don’t know how long it will take for collagen tripeptides to receive mainstream acceptance, which is difficult to comprehend given that clinical evidence has determined that collagen tripeptides have far greater efficacy than collagen peptides, the industry norm. Actually, I find the denial of undeniable evidence quite astounding.
VH Editorial: Does Your Collagen Supplement Contain Collagen Tripeptides; DoSe Collagen Tripeptide Complex

In all of this, we often explore the remarkable versatility of specific compounds because it is too easy to overlook the extensive reach of these compounds, often focusing on a single well-known benefit. However, many bioactive compounds support a wide spectrum of health concerns, such as Collagen Tripeptide Complex which aside from supporting the health of our skin, also supports bone health, and plays a crucial role in how acne scars form and heal.
VH Editorials: Is Collagen Vital For Bone Health; Collagen For Scars

The list of compounds which have an extensive reach is long, very long, and most certainly Hyaluronic Acid has that extensive reach, but some words here about NAD+ Generator because studies have determined that NAD+ and its precursors show promising results for treating dry eye symptoms by repairing age-related meibomian gland dysfunction. The meibomian glands release a special oil that prevents the evaporation of tears, they lubricate the surface of the eye and stabilise the tear film helping to prevent symptoms of dry eyes and gritty eyes.
VH Editorial: NAD+ Supplements: Benefits & Side Effects; DoSe NAD+ Generator

While the underlying science may be complex, I have always believed that our messaging should be simple, straightforward and accessible, so aligning with simple messaging, I just want to say that outside of the sitewide discount, the TEMPLESPA offer for the month of April looks like this. Four of their serums drop in price from £50 to £40 and those serums are Clear To Me, Let’s Concentrate, Be Strong and Be Firm.
Clear To Me Skin Clarifying Serum £40 for 28 ml; Let’s Concentrate Skin Brightening Serum £40 for 30 ml; Be Strong Face Serum £40 for 30 ml; Be Firm Skin Lifting Serum £40 for 30 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Thursday 30 April)

As I leave you, I am linking our Travel & Sun curation below and a note of serendipity here because a couple of weeks ago, I jumped in my car and made a mad dash to the supermarket. As I got in the car ‘Here Comes The Sun’ was on the radio and when I got home an email was waiting for me from a VH Addict who thought we should be singing that song, and coincidentally or otherwise, she also wrote that she had read the pre-clinical trials about NAD+ for dry eyes and that NAD+ Generator had made a real difference to her eyes. Love that.
Travel & Sun

All that is left is for me to wish each of you a restful Easter break and to say thank you to each and every one of you for holding hands with us, with a special mention to the VH Addict who mailed me at 3.30 am on the morning of the first Formula One race of the season to make sure I was awake. For the record, the race was in Australia and I was awake. The rhythm of the VH heartbeat, the smile on our faces and the song. Once again.
Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x