Organico Bantry

Staying healthy and free from infections is so important in the winter. Getting plenty of sleep is vital, as well as not eating too much sugar or drinking too much alcohol or coffee. Sugar in particular depresses the immune system which allows viruses and bacterial infection to get a hold of us.

I’m doing a few different things to stay healthy this winter. I am taking 2 yoga classes per week with Esther Ekhart at the Boab Centre which helps to keep me strong physically and I am reducing my sugar intake because I think I get fewer colds this way. Of course I  try to eat really healthily – we hear ‘eat your fruit and veg’ so many times that we might be in danger of tuning out but don’t – it is so important to eat well.

I also use some natural products regularly over the winter to keep me healthy. The first thing I reach for when I feel a sore throat coming (for me a cold always starts with a sore throat) is Echinaforce by A.Vogel. Echinacea is a well established immune stimulant and recent research has shown that taking it regularly (during winter months) reduces your risk of getting a cold by over 50%, and hugely reduces the length of time you suffer also. A.Vogel also make Ivy Thyme which I find amazing for helping to prevent a cold taking hold in the chest area – if you are prone to chest infections this is a good remedy to try.

Kyolic Garlic is another of my favourite supplements. Books could be written about all the health issues is can help. Kyolic Garlic is much stronger than regular garlic capsules. It has benefits that range from heart-protection to anti-candida to immune-stimulation. Coming from Japan, with hundreds of clinical studies to back it up, Kyolic Garlic is something of a super-supplement. The strengths range from Kyolic 100 to Kyolic 1000. The standard one we would recommend to most people if they want to fight off colds would be the Kyolic 600; I take 2 per day when I feel un well and 1 per day most of the winter. (Because Kyolic Garlic is ‘aged garlic’ it is naturally odourless, so you don’t have to worry about your breath!)

Added to that I always take Vitamin C. There are a lot of different Vitamin C products on the market but the one I prefer is Higher Nature’s True Food C, easy on the stomach and supported by lots of research which shows that it absorbs into our blood very effectively. A high serum (blood) level of Vitamin C is what we need to help fight infections, so it is important to take one that is easy to absorb.

Finally, a traditional local remedy that I always recommend is Carrageen Moss. Made into a drink with water, lemon and honey, Carrageen is soothing for the throat, boosts energy and is a great source of micro-minerals that aid convalescence. Call in for the recipe!

For more information and dietary advice contact Organico on 027 51391, visit us online at www.organico.ie or pop in and see us at No 2 Glengarriff Road, Bantry.

One of the conditions we receive the most questions about in Organico is joint pain and stiffness. Many people have been to their GP and have perhaps tried anti-inflammatory medications, which may not have relieved their pain and on top of that may have given them side effects that increased their discomfort. The difficulty for us is that from the natural perspective it is necessary to make some dramatic dietary changes to help arthritis, and not everyone wants to hear that.
However, there are some natural products that can help. Atrogel and Atrosan are two recently licensed herbal medicines for the treatment of muscular pain and stiffness and aches and pains in the joints. Atrogel (formally Arnica Gel) can also be very effective for shoulder and neck pain, swelling, bruising, and sore feet (I took some on my recent trip to Prague and pretty much coated myself in it every day!). Atrosan is a tablet made from Devil’s Claw which is used for rheumatic or muscular pain, as well as sore joints. Atrogel works pretty much instantly; Atrosan takes some time to be effective. Both can be used long term.
Glucosamine Sulphate is another supplement that is regularly prescribed by GP’s and alternative practitioners for helping to re-build damaged cartilage in the joints. Quest Glucosamine is fantastic value and very effective.
Lastly, AquaCal from Nature’s Calcium is one of the best calcium products that we sell in Organico. Nature’s Calcium is made from seaweed harvested off West Cork’s coast (it is purified, before you ask) and it provides a uniquely pure source of calcium. So many calcium supplements contain Calcium Carbonate which is just a fancy name for chalk! Eating chalk is not something most people would do – for good reason, as it is nearly indigestible and un-absorbable. Besides being far more absorbable, Aquacal is also useful for combating acidity in the body. In nearly all cases of Arthritic pain, over-acidity is a significant factor.
On Friday the 17th of October we have Gabrielle Mcauley offering mini-consultations in Organico between the times of 10.30 and 3.30 pm. Gabrielle works with and has trained with Jan de Vries. She can answer questions on any health topic. If you would like to avail of a free consultation with Gabrielle, please call Organico Shop on 51391 and make an appointment. Otherwise, call in any time for dietary advice, for free samples of Atrogel, for healthy tasty food, or just to say hello!