This column of ON MY DESK is dedicated to Winter Wellness, both preventing colds, and healing remedies for when they strike. Here’s what’s new across my desk…
This column of ON MY DESK is dedicated to Winter Wellness, both preventing colds, and healing remedies for when they strike. Here’s what’s new across my desk…
We take our cars in every few months for a warrant of fitness, so why not do the same with our bodies? Studies show that New Zealanders only go to a doctor when already showing symptoms, rather than preventing them by getting a general checkup earlier. They may blame the cost (my GP is $33 a visit) but I have to admit personally I spend that much and more on incidental things – like drinks out – that don’t help my health any.
Let’s start with an ounce of prevention and head into a pound of cure…
It’s great to begin the winter by supporting a strong immune system with a capsule such as Blackmores Immuno Shield. I have personally taken these and I reckon they have been responsible for keeping my entire family’s headcold from wrapping its tentacles around me. The bottle says one a day or two a day in times of attack – so I have done two a day!
GO Healthy is a New Zealand brand I take daily. Their GO Healthy olive leaf boots your body’s natural defence systems, and GO Healthy VIR-Defence supports your immune system. Go Vir-Defence retails for $28.90 (30VegeCaps) and $47.90 (60 VegeCaps) and GO Healthy GO Olive Leaf $29.90 (30VegeCaps) and $46.90 (60 VegeCaps). Available at health stores and www.gohealthynz.co.nz
This next product is AMAZING. I have been having a spoonful by itself everyday since it arrived. I enjoy eating it off a spoon but you could also have it stirred into hot water, as a classic lemon and honey drink. Manuka Doctor ApiWellness UMF5+ Manuka Honey with lemon $31.95 (500g) only available at The Manuka Doctor concept Store, 1 Quay Street, Auckland City.
I’m going to be doing a PHD Cleanse juice detox for the next 3 days. This morning (Thursday) is Day 1 of my PHD Cleanse 3-day Detox and I am psyched, wearing Canterbury of NZ Cheerleader Hoodie, from www.canterburyofnz.com. I have six bottles to drink per day (3 green, 1 blue and 1 white label) and have to drink the equal amount of water to flush out toxins.
Red Seal is an inexpensive brand that makes vitamins accessible to all, and is readily available at supermarkets. Red Seal cover all the bases for winter colds with these popular supplements: Garlic, Vitamin C, Echinacea & Zinc $10.92, Red Seal Olive Leaf Plus $11.35, Red Seal Olive Leaf Plus $11.35 available at Countdown, New World and Pak’NSave, and most pharmacies.
Radiance is a New Zealand-owned company around for more than twenty years, dong health products and vitamins and supplements. Their biggest seller is the Radiance Ageless Beauty collagen which I am trialling for two months. For winter wellness, Radiance have a great number of products available in pharmacies, health stores and online at www.healthpost.co.nz, including the Pro-B Immune and Radiance ManukaGuard Throat & Chest Syrup Multi-Action Formula. I took the cough syrup when I had a cough and it was great.
Radiance also look after your inner health, with Pro-B Regularity. It has sachets containing probiotic microflora for gut wellbeing and gastrointestinal health. You take a stick pack daily with food or drinks by itself or stirred into drinks or sprinkled on cereal. Available at health stores and www.healthpost.co.nz
For winter coughs…
Blackmores Respra Syrup uses the ancient botanical remedy of ivy leaf extract to soothe tickly throats. The cough syrup is $25.90 from pharmacies, health stores and supermarkets. www.blackmoresnz.co.nz
Vicks VapoNaturals come in Lemon Menthol and Cherry Menthol. Lemon is my personal fave and I have been eating a few of these with the ‘kindy cough’ going around lately! Available at supermarkets and pharmacies.
It’s sometimes nice to have a change from honey and/or lemon and I remember the grape Hubba Bubba gum from my childhood was the most amazing grape explosion in my mouth. So it was nostalgia tinged with adult practicalities that drew me to Lifestream Blackcurrent and Grape Lozenges, that really taste like grape juice. Grape juice that is good for my cough. It’s a win-win. $22.50 for 16 lozenges.
This is the wittiest winter wellness product: The Man Flu Pack. The pack, aimed at men and their near-death experience whenever touched by colds, induces eye-rolling in women everywhere. The Man Flu Pack is available from Hardy’s Health Stores with GO Vir-Defence, Nutra-Life Ester-C, and Comvita Manuka honey lozenges. You save $16 buying the Man Flu Pack at Hardy’s over the separate prices, too.
…wellness around the house
I have used up two cans of this amazing product. Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Spray is a healthy disinfectant spray. I use it on children’s shoes, toys (especially ones I’ve bought secondhand) and surfaces. You can spray it on skin and massage in, for relief from aches and pains. It smells fresh and clean and would keep any stray koalas happy with its gum tree fragrance. They have just released the Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Spray in a smaller 30g travel size for $8.99, and the larger can at $17.99.
…and just for comfort’s sake
The Green House is a locally-made, ethical company that is run by the crew who also do Geoskincare natural skincare with Rotorua geothermal ingredients. The Green House brand has home and body products completely free from harmful chemicals and housed in contemporary packaging you actually want to display on your bathroom cabinet. I used the bath salts in my bath and in the children’s bath and it smelt divine. The Green House Aches & Pains Balm $16.95, The Green House Relaxing Bath Salts $14.95, The Green House Hand & Body Lotion $14.95. For stockists and more info see www.thegreenhousenz.com
By Megan Robinson, 2 July 2013
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