Product highlight: Ultra flora control

Fascinating! A growing body of evidence is substantiating the link between the gut flora and the regulation of body weight and body fat. The microbiome can significantly influence weight gain through its control of the amount of energy extracted from food.

People with a propensity to weight gain can actually be seen to have a more efficient gut microbiota, capable of harvesting more energy from food. This is a great survival characteristic, however any energy not used immediately is stored as fat.

The Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (B-420) can help control this process, by controlling total body fat, reducing waist circumference and controlling abdominal fat. Ask about this product if interested.

Coffee revitalises more than just our mind!

A coffee bean is not actually a bean, rather it is a seed. A coffee tree actually has a lifespan of about 50 to 70 years and on average 1.4 billion cups of coffee are drunk a day.

Many of us are trying to reduce the amount of coffee we are reaching for but now a British Liver Trust report (2016) confirms coffee is good for liver health. It is the first time that the entire body of current research and evidence has been reviewed and compiled into a single report.

Studies in patients with a variety of liver diseases have all found moderate coffee drinking has a positive effect on limiting the rate at which disease progresses. In essence:

• Regularly drinking moderate amounts of coffee may prevent liver cancer – the World Health Organisation has recently confirmed this reduced risk after reviewing more than 1,000 studies in humans.
• Coffee also lowers the risk of other liver conditions including fibrosis (scar tissue that builds up within the liver) and cirrhosis.
• Drinking coffee can slow the progression of liver disease in some patients.

NB: Pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg a day, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. One cup of coffee usually has about 100 to 200 mg, a cup of tea usually has no more than 70 mg.

Vitamin D is crucial for Winter! 

If you are already a DP Herbals customer, you will know that I am absolutely strongly connected with this tiny little fat soluble vitamin.

Vitamin D deficiency may have negative effects on your health and prevent you from looking and feeling your best. If you have poor bone health, are lacking muscle strength or are catching every cold or flu around, this may mean your vitamin D levels are low.

Vitamin D is a vital nutrient required by your body for a wide range of jobs, such as helping to boost your immunity so you are less likely to end up in bed feeling sick; playing a role in mood modulation – helping you feel good; and supporting your physical structure – making your bones and muscles strong.

Darker skin people tend to have lower levels of Vitamin D as are the “cuddly” and those who work constantly indoor. Other groups include those who live in the South (particularly here in the South of NZ) as down under sits at the wrong latitude for UV conversion to vitamin D. The last group that are seen more and more deficient are babies who are breastfed.  

Herbs for you to beat the flu!

Herbs I typically use are thyme, echinacea, liquorice, kumarahou, grindelia, adohata, golden seal, elderflower, eyebright….the list goes on. The choice of herbs will of course depend on the ailment. If you have a winter ailment just contact me and many times I can make one up for you based around a small phone conversation. 

Let’s stay in touch!