Natural Supplementation

For more information on vitamins, minerals herbs and Natural Supplementation visit our sister website www.thecrystalcavern.co.uk

Or contact Sue Ponting on 07808 267060 or use the email link on the contact page.

Don’t be S.A.D. this winter!

Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. as it is more widely known is a formally recognised depressive disorder linked to the amount of daylight we’re exposed to during the changing seasons. There are many symptoms associated with S.A.D. including cravings for carbohydrates and sweet foods, a disinterest in social activities, sleepiness, irritability, weight gain and fatigue. Several of these are similar to symptoms of depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is usually associated with the winter months when the days are short and lack sunshine, grey rainy days and just generally the whole ‘thought’ of winter looming ahead of us. For some of us just the thought of the long winter nights and gloomy winter days sends us into a deep spiral of feeling unsettled and unhappy. All we want to do is to curl up in a ball and hibernate. Most people ‘survive’ until about November and then it really hits home.
The feelings don’t begin to lift until the daylight hours are on the increase in spring but sometimes if symptoms are sever not until early summer do people start to feel good again.

S.A.D. and Vitamin D

It may be a surprise to you that more and more people find they have a deficiency in Vitamin D. And some of the symptoms associated with a lack of vitamin D — such as low energy and fatigue, depression and sleep irregularities — look much like those we see in seasonal affective disorder. It is now a recognized fact that a lack of Vitamin D can lead to the symptoms of S.A.D.

Vitamin D3 can be readily manufactured in our bodies when our skin is exposed to the ultraviolet rays of natural sunlight. It is then stored and converted in the liver and kidneys into the active form when we need it. During the winter months, however, those of us who live who live in areas where the sun is lacking are not exposed to enough natural sunlight. By exposing ourselves to the rays of the summer sun, our bodies are fully capable of stocking up enough D to last the winter. But the truth is, for whatever reason, many of us just don’t get adequate sun, and many people’s vitamin D stores run surprisingly low, even in the summer months.

Our bodies are designed so that they convert natural sunlight into Vitamin D however there are a few foods sources that are naturally rich in Vitamin D, Pink Salmon, Sardines and mackerel. The best form of vitamin D is what you make yourself by exposing your skin to natural sunlight. But given the limitations of our lifestyle and dietary sources, replenishing your stores with a high-quality multivitamin with D can be helpful in minimizing symptoms of SAD. In fact, there is evidence that people with S.A.D. felt significantly better after taking high quality vitamin D supplementation.

Don’t Be S.A.D. this winter – what can help?
You don’t have to dread the arrival of winter, apart from boosting your Vitamin D levels and general nutrition, there are several other things that you can do to help symptoms of S.A.D. If you suffer generally from depression or have been diagnosed with a severe depressive disorder then you should work closely with your healthcare practitioner. Prescription antidepressants are useful for some people and should not be abandoned without guidance from your healthcare practitioner.

On the other hand, there are many safe natural ways to relieve symptoms of seasonal sadness, irritability, carbohydrate cravings, and lethargy. Trying out one or two of these alternative treatments for S.A.D. may be adequate. Or, you may need to follow each and every one to get lasting results. Yes, this approach requires more effort than popping a pill, but when used mindfully — with the care you certainly deserve — these methods will not harm you, and they may even be more affordable and effective.

If these lifestyle changes seem too overwhelming for you in your current state, just try them for two weeks. Just try them for two weeks. You may be amazed to find how much better you can feel, inside and out.

•  Get outside every day. Spending time outside is one of the easiest solutions to ease seasonal depression. Just 15 minutes outside during the warmer days will help your body to produce your own vitamin D. Connecting to nature by just walking, watching and feeling the things around you will empower your whole body. If you cant get out try to place your desk near a window so you are exposed to natural light.
  
• Supplement your diet with vitamin D. If you feel that you have S.A.D. and suspect your vitamin D level is low, ask your doctor to test your levels and then get them back up to normal. Some people may need to take between 2000–6000 IU per day for several weeks to reach adequate levels and reverse symptoms of S.A.D. But before supplementing your diet with high levels of vitamin D, have your levels tested — vitamin D is fat-soluble and toxic at high doses and your body doesn’t have a way to rid itself of D once it gets too much. So you can’t do this on your own. That said, people with vitamin D-dependent S.A.D. can transform their lives by supplementing their diet with D, so this is well worth investigating.
• Get some exercise. Walking is a great way to exercise, it not only gets you outside in the air but gets your cardiovascular system working that little bit harder, especially if you power walk or walk quicker than normal. It’s a healthy way to increase your serotonin levels. Try just going walking for 15 minutes to start with and gently increase it. Other exercises you could participate in are swimming, dancing, playing with the children outside, this also shows the children that it is fun to be outside and encourages them to have a healthy exercise regime.
  
• Consider phototherapy. Light therapy has been shown to be very successful for many people suffering from symptoms of SAD. A recent study performed in Canada tested light therapy against the commonly prescribed fluoxetine (Prozac) for SAD patients. The study found that both treatments relieved symptoms equally well, but the light therapy worked much faster — showing positive results at less than one week! Phototherapy less likely to cause side effects such as agitation and sleep disturbance.
  
• Pay attention to the seasons, and eat accordingly. What and when we eat has such a profound effect on our physical and mental health. When we eat with the seasons, our energy levels better correspond to the time of year. In the spring and summer — nature’s active, expansive (yin) time — fresh greens, brightly colored berries, and water-laden fruits and vegetables are abundant. When you eat these foods, you feel light and full of energy. Grains ripen for harvest in the fall, nature’s time for contracting, prompting us to bake bread and prepare heavier (yang) meals. That extra bulk takes more energy to digest, so we may feel contented or drowsy after a meal. In winter, nature encourages us to eat starchy, stick-to-your-ribs foods that store well over time, like potatoes, winter squashes, and oatmeal. This is how our ancestors survived the harsh winters when food was hard to come by. It is also a good idea to carry out of seasonal detox at the beginning of each new season. This cleanses the whole body and gets not only the body cleansed and ready for the new season but it also helps the mind and emotions. For a good natural herbal cleanse visit www.thecrystalcavern.co.uk and the Healthy Starter Pack.
  
• Choose whole grains and complex carbohydrates. If you have S.A.D., your body will crave serotonin, and it’s so easy to reach for refined carbs and sugars that give you that good feeling. But those foods will only set you on a cycle of ups and downs with a negative effect on both your mood and your weight. Anything with white flour, white sugar, or processed chemical ingredients can set you up for cravings. So, put down the cakes & biscuits and have a nice hot bowl of vegetable soup instead. To prevent cravings you need to eat protein first thing in the morning and a little at every meal. Synerprotein has been proven to balance blood sugar levels and cravings to find out more visit www.thecrystalcavern.co.uk.
  
• Take high-quality nutritional supplements. Treating the whole body means giving every system the highest possible level of support. Because the practices of our modern farming and food processing industries strip our food supply of its nutritional value, everyone can benefit from taking high-quality vitamin and mineral supplements. If you suffer from SAD, you may greatly benefit from adding extra vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and especially fatty acids like omega-3’s, to your diet. You can take advantage of these through our sister site www.thecrystalcavern.co.uk where you can complete a health analysis, which has been designed by American Herbalist Steven Horne, RH (AHG), to assist in correctly choosing supplementation needed for your body or if you prefer contact Sue Ponting direct at info@innerlightholistics.co.uk

What if you don’t suffer from S.A.D.

 It is now a well known fact that we all need good supplementation because our diets and lifestyle have changed considerably and collectively these changes have a negative effect on the quality of our health. Generally people eat too much refined and processed foods, our diets are high in sugar, salt and bad fats and even the ‘good food’ can lack valuable nutrients because of modern day intensive farming and manufacturing practices.

Supercharge Your Immune System

Millions of times a day our immune system saves us from the ravages of disease without us even noticing. Each day we are bombarded by microscopic bacteria, fungi, and viruses that want to invade our bodies. They try to enter with the food we eat, they attempt to attack us through our respiratory system and they try to assault us through a sore or cut in our skin. The onslaught does not stop even while we are sleeping.

A healthy immune system protects us against harmful organisms, also called pathogens. Most people are surprised to learn that the skin is our body’s first defence against infection. Skin acts as a barrier, preventing bacteria from entering in to the body.

The second line of defence against harmful organisms is called non-specific immunity/. Our blood contains compounds that kill most pathogens before they have a chance to reproduce, and our white blood cells seek out invading organisms and digest them.

The third way the body fights infection is a process called acquired immunity. Our body reacts to an invading pathogen, by ‘memorising’ how the pathogen looks, and builds specialised tools to fight it. The next time the body encounters the same harmful pathogens; it knows exactly how to fight it. That is why most of us only get chicken pos once in our lifetime, because our bodies remember how to fight the virus.

Coughs & Colds

On rare occasions, the immune system does not work properly and the body succumbs to infection, catches a cold or has a reaction. This is when most of us stop our immune system doing its job, by taking medications that mask the symptoms but do not treat the real problem.

For example, when you have a runny nose, your body is trying to flush out harmful organisms from your sinus cavities. When you cough your body is trying to harmful organism and old mucus out of your lungs. When your body produces extra heat creating a fever it is trying to stimulate the immune system. Taking medication to stop these symptoms prevents the immune system working properly.

When we prevent these immune responses, we run the risk of developing more serious health issues.

Instead of hindering the immune system in these ways, we should strengthen it, so that it does not become weakened as often.

Nature’s Sunshine provides a range of nutritional and herbal supplements that support natural immunity and help supercharge the immune system.

Echinacea

Echinacea
Echinacea has been used for thousands of years to stimulate the immune system, and research demonstrated the herb’s ability to increase the number of white blood cells (a vital part of the immune system’s defence against invaders). This humble annual herb has shown to fight bronchitis, colds, flu, infection, strep throat, and other immune problems. It is rich in organic nutrients including cobalt, zinc, chromium, iron, manganese, niacin, riboflavin, selenium and vitamin C. Nature’s Sunshine’s Echinacea Blend Extract is in liquid form which is quickly and easily assimilated in the body.

Protect your children too with Chewable Elderberry Plus

This is a combination of Elderberry fruit concentrate plus powerful adaptogens, known for their ability to support the immune and respiratory systems in a great tasting chewable, lemon & lime flavour tablet. Elderberry Plus is just one in the range of ‘Herbasuars’ children’s products.

Immune Formula

This is a fantastic combination product to raise our immunity and better prepare our body tod eal with invading organisms.

Immune Formula contains a powerful blend of natural substances known to support and boost the immune system, increase immunoglobulin proteins in the intestinal tract to combat foreign invaders and promote the repair of DNA. It also acts as an antioxidant. This formula promotes macrophage activity, leading to a chain reaction of immune activity, which strengthens the body against enemy attach. Immune Formula is a combination of betaglucans, arabinogalactan,colostrums, reishi mushroom, maitake mushroom and cordyceps.

When the body has these building blocks available, it can repair damaged tissue and manufacture immune cells whenever necessary.

These products are available from our sister web site www.thecrystalcavern.co.uk or if you would like more information please contact Sue Ponting at info@innerlightholistics.co.uk