The Magic of Vitamins – Your Guide To Top Vitamin Supplements In The UK

vitamin tablets

 

Exploring Vitamins in the UK

Hello, health buddies! Today, we’re exploring the world of vitamin supplements, specifically looking at what’s available in the UK. The aim? Helping you to step towards better health and feeling your best. So, let’s dive into the must-knows about some top vitamin supplements you can easily grab in the UK and discover how they can be your secret weapon for good health.

The Must-Have Vitamin Supplements in the UK

 

  • Vitamin C: A real friend to our immune system and skin, Vitamin C helps us stay healthy and look our best. From tasty chewables to fizzy drinks, there’s a Vitamin C supplement for everyone in the UK.
  • Vitamin D: Known as the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D keeps our bones and immune system strong. Vitamin D supplements, available as capsules or sprays, are useful in the UK, where we might not always get enough sunlight.
  • Our body create energy and keep our nervous system healthy. You can find them in individual or combined forms as B-complex supplements in the UK, readily available through Vitamins UK. These supplements provide a convenient way to ensure you’re getting all the essential B vitamins your body needs for optimal health.
  • Vitamin A: Key for our vision, immune system, and skin health, Vitamin A supplements come in forms like capsules and soft gels for easy use.
  • Vitamin E: A protector of our cells thanks to its antioxidant properties, Vitamin E can be found in the UK as oils or capsules to help you maintain your overall health.

Finding the Right Vitamin Supplement for You

 When choosing a vitamin supplement, consider quality, how much you need to take, and in what form. It’s always a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional to get advice for your health goals and needs. Choosing well-known brands also helps ensure you get safe and effective supplements.

Conclusion: Unlocking the Power of Vitamins in the UK

 Including vitamin supplements in your daily routine can give your body a real health boost. Whether you’re looking to improve your immune system, get more energy, or support particular areas of your body, the wide range of vitamin supplements available in the UK has something for everyone. So, get ready to unlock the power of vitamins and step towards a healthier, more vibrant you!

 

7 Cocktails That Are Actually Quite Healthy!

 

healthy cocktails

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Is there such a thing as a ‘healthy’ cocktail? You could argue that any cocktail with alcohol in it can never be healthy. That said, some cocktails are clearly much healthier than others due to their choice of mixers. In fact, some mixers are so low in calories and high in nutrients that they can help to counterbalance much of the potential damage caused by alcohol. All in all, if you’re looking for a tipple and want to keep it relatively healthy, these are some of the best cocktails that you can choose.

Bloody Mary

The primary ingredients of Bloody Mary are tomato juice and vodka. The tomato juice is what makes this cocktail so healthy – it’s packed with vitamins A, B, and C. At only 95 calories, it’s also one of the lowest-calorie cocktails you can make. It’s become traditional to add other ingredients to Bloody Mary to give it some spice including tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish (which can add extra nutrients). Try this Bloody Mary for a tasty full-bodied version of this cocktail. 

Screwdriver

‘Screwdriver’ is a fancy name for what many commonly refer to as Vodka and orange juice. When containing a single shot of vodka, this cocktail contains only 121 calories, making it a great option if you’re trying to watch your waistline. A screwdriver is also full of nutrients due to its orange juice mixer, which is one of the richest sources of vitamin C. Make sure to use fresh orange juice to keep your screwdriver completely healthy. 

Greyhound

A greyhound is made up of two ingredients: vodka and grapefruit juice. It’s pretty much like a screwdriver but with grapefruit juice instead of orange. Containing 134 calories, a greyhound has slightly more calories than a screwdriver but is still 30 calories less than a vodka and coke. It’s similarly high in vitamins and is particularly rich in vitamin A, which is great for our vision. All in all, it’s a great choice when you’re looking for a refreshing summer cocktail.

Pomegranate martini

Pomegranate juice is often hailed as the healthiest of all fruit juices. It is densely packed with a range of nutrients which give it superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s believed to be particularly good for the heart and cardiovascular system. A simple way to incorporate pomegranate juice with alcohol is in a pomegranate martini – which contains pomegranate juice, vodka, Cointreau, and a dash of lemon juice (removing the Cointreau will make it healthier by reducing the sugar content). 

Whisky beet

Beetroot juice is very good at lowering blood pressure due to its unique mix of nutrients. It’s particularly high in vitamin C and folate as well as containing plenty of potassium and iron. It doesn’t work well with many spirits (which is why you rarely see it in cocktails), however, it does seem to work very well with whisky. Because whisky can be quite calorific, this may not be the best drink for those counting calories. However, it is a good option for those wanting to pack some nutrients into their cocktail. In fact, beetroot juice is so dense in nutrients like iron and potassium that it can actually provide too much if you drink it too often  – so don’t go overboard on this cocktail. Check out this whisky beet recipe to try this cocktail.

Mulled wine

Mulled wine is a popular winter cocktail made from red wine, brandy, orange, cloves, cinnamon, and sugar. It’s relatively healthy compared to other cocktails because it uses red wine as its main ingredient – which contains powerful antioxidants. Mulled wine does pack a lot of calories, however, it’s possible to lower this calorie content by taking out the sugar and choosing lower-calorie red wines. It’s worth keeping spices like cinnamon as these can provide an extra antioxidant punch. 

Gin and tonic

Gin and tonic contain fewer calories than any other cocktail – a single dry gin shot served with skinny tonic water can result in a cocktail that contains as little as 55 calories. While this does mean you can drink gin and tonic without worrying about piling on the pounds, it is worth noting that gin and tonic don’t really have any nutrients to counterbalance its alcohol content and is therefore not as healthy as other cocktails in this respect. It’s also important to avoid flavoured gins, as these typically contain more sugar. Some flavoured gins use more natural fruit flavourings, which can mean extra vitamins – these could be better than regular flavoured gins. 

How Self Care Changes As You Get Older

Aging is a natural fact of life, and we all have to go through it. That said, it’s important to recognize that doing so is the most natural thing in the world, and while time can take some things away, it can also enrich your inner world, grant you the wisdom that you’ve always wanted, and help you see what really matters in life and why it’s important to understand how self care changes as you get older. 

I’ve found that as I age, priorities shift, and needs differ. All of a sudden, that which seems so important in youth and middle age isn’t as pressing as you had imagined, and more than ever, family, connections, and being positive are everything.

This can have a deeply restorative effect, and anyone who has felt that sense of authenticity develops knows exactly what I’m talking about. So, in this post, I hope to discuss how self-care and cultivating your best outlook on the world changes as you get older, hopefully helping some people who are embracing aging into their golden years:

Social Events Become Fewer, But More Enjoyable

As you get older, you can still party and have fun. After all, age is just a number. However, often you do focus on spending time with those who are most important, from close friends to your beloved relatives and family, and as such who you spend time with tends to become more important to you, and that time also feels deeply cherished.

You begin to prize the little things, such as relaxing and laughing with your grandchildren, heading on slow walks along the beach with your sibling, or taking some time to reminisce with a school friend. You may even make new friends at this time, such as by joining new hobby groups or by meeting new people at Prestwick Care. Big social events reduce in number, but the simple pleasures are those you look forward to most – and for good reason.

You Stop Having “Guilty Pleasures,” They’re Just Pleasures

When you get older, you start to realize that you don’t have to justify anything to anyone, provided you’re not causing harm. The guilty pleasures you enjoy? Those are just pleasures, and if you need them to feel happy and conduct self-care, that’s wonderful. This might involve salsa dancing as a novice taking lessons for the first time, singing your heart out to Adele or whatever other singer you love, and reading pulpy, silly, but eternally interesting 

A Good Sleep Schedule Is Everything

Don’t worry, I know you’re not someone who falls asleep in the armchair six times a night, but it’s true that as we get older, sleep becomes much more necessary. That doesn’t mean you have to sleep or nap all the time, just ensure you’re keeping consistent with your bedtimes, unwinding well before bed (reading is always a lovely habit for this), and improving sleep hygiene by getting good ventilation and the right tog duvet. This self care, will help you retain your energy, help your body sustain itself thanks to getting the rest and recovery it needs, and over time, will keep you energized and positive. As anyone over sixty knows, a bad night of sleep can be very laborious to deal with, even if you’re in general good health.

With this insight, you don’t have to worry about being an uber-militant health nut in your progressing years. You can have fun, and focus on the simple things. Trust me when I say, you’ll thank yourself for practicing this kind of self-care.

Things That Men Do Not Need To Hear

One of TV’s most cringy moments was, in my view when lightweight Kendra Wilkinson offered up far too much information on live television during I’m A Celebrity Get me Out of Here. After a dismal performance, she blamed her lack of stars on the fact that ‘she was on her period’.

I recall Ant, poor lad, turning away in embarrassment, whilst cheeky chappie Dec, bravely glossed over the statement and battled on regardless.

Of course ‘boys’ these days, are taught about these mysterious ‘girl’ things at around 11 years old, and as my own Grandson reliably informed me, even during THE lesson many of them were hiding behind their hands, sniggering in the back of the classroom, and have probably been going ‘yuk’ ever since.

Personally, I’d far rather ‘Miss’ had banged on to the boys a bit more about treating girls with kindness and respect, which will stand them in more good stead than knowing how a tampon expands in a glass of water!

So even though mature men know all about the inner workings of the female body, I think most of them just want to leave it there, no further informative updates are required, thanks very much.

And I agree with them.  I think girls today share far too many intimate details about their bodies with their partners, and indeed in Kendra’s case, millions of strangers.

I mean seriously, of all the inappropriate things to say, in the jungle in front of Ant and Dec on live television, ‘I’m on my period’, must get TV’s embarrassing moment of the year award!

She was almost loud and proud; BUT in reality, ‘I really look forward to my period’, said NO woman EVER!

Let’s be honest, it’s a messy and sometimes painful old business, and unless you are some tree-hugging, Mother Earth, nut job, who loves to embrace her inner woman, it just interferes with our lives and we hate it.

Men generally want their women to be a vision of loveliness at all times.  Yes of course they ‘know’ that periods happen, but don’t really want it spelled out to them that it is actually happening, like today, right here,  right now!

I’d love to see girls going back to being a little more mysterious and discreet, ‘I’m not feeling too good today’ can be far more effective than a full-on period alert, and who is really interested anyway.

Yes, when it comes to men and the monthlies, NOT sharing, IS more caring!

How do you feel about it? In this day and age, should girls ‘share’ or do you think some things should remain personal.

I Forgot To Remember To Tell You Something

 

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Maybe it’s happening already, lol. I think we need to talk about the big one that we all avoid. Let’s talk about dementia. Wow. The “D word”. But the fact remains dementia is a strong possibility for all of us as we get older. It’s more of a blanket term for age-related issues like forgetting things, diminished mental capacity, and language problems. But I think you will agree that dementia is an essential subject to discuss.

It’s a terrifying subject, and if you want to avoid talking about it, I understand entirely. But it’s not wise to avoid the real issues. But as French philosopher Charles de Montesquieu once stated, “Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them.” Corny, I know, but together we can help each other face real issues like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

It Might Happen to You

Currently, there are approximately 50 million people globally with dementia-related illnesses. I think you will agree with me that this is a shockingly high figure. Even more shocking, though, is projected to increase by 204% to 152 million by 2050. This means that if you are in your 40s or 50s now, you could potentially be a part of this statistic. This is because dementia is more common at the age of 65 and above.

The effects of dementia-related illnesses are pretty severe. You’re probably aware of the memory problems caused by Alzheimer’s and the uncontrollable shaking of Parkinson’s. But there are lots more serious symptoms that might require someone to seek out respite care. For example, the blood vessels to the brain can become restricted, causing vascular dementia. This causes stroke and impaired cognitive function to the point of constant care requirement.

Can We Avoid It?

I can give you some good news, though. New studies have shown that the effects and illnesses related to dementia can be reduced. Basically, we need to look after ourselves. That’s it. This means regular exercise, a healthy diet, and NO SMOKING. Yeah, the big one. Smoke. I shouldn’t have to tell you how bad smoking is for your health in this day and age. Oh, yeah, and the health of others; In the United States alone, second-hand smoke accounts for 41,000 deaths and over 7,000 cases of lung cancer each year.

Seriously though, the Alzheimer’s Society has some great information. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, doctors can see a correlation between a poor lifestyle and related illnesses. So I want you to be as healthy as possible, ditch the cigarettes and alcohol, eat less harmful sugar, eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and stay active. Literally, get your skates on. 

Going Mental

In addition to a healthy and active lifestyle, the onset of many of the cognitive issues associated with dementia can be delayed by regular mental exercise. I know you’re probably thinking, “what does that mean?“. Mental exercise is simply anything that stimulates the brain. This can be completing puzzles, writing crosswords, solving arithmetic riddles like Sudoku, or learning a new language.

I know some of those might be a little on the nose, so reading a book or playing a game like Scrabble are also viable options. Recent studies have also found that playing video games can help with dementia-related illnesses. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you go and steal your grandkids’ PlayStation. Still, smaller smartphone apps provide games designed specifically for memory and logic puzzles.

 

WHY YOU SHOULD SAY NO TO THE FLU VACCINE

I’ve never had a flu jab in my life, and I never will. But does my decision make me a potential burden to the NHS, if I succumb to the flu through my own negligence, and consequently need to see a Doctor, or even worse, be hospitalised. Frankly, I’ll take my chances on that one, but here are just a few reasons why you should say no to the flu vaccine.

Here are the scenes at my local surgery at around 11.00 am last Sunday,  where people were queuing to have an injection to prevent something that will probably not happen.

There they stood confirming their support to the NHS, and on exiting, almost courageously fist pumping their bravery, albeit with a slightly sore arm.

 

People queueing for a flu jab

The Flu Jab rush.

By the law of averages, I’d hazard a guess that within the queue, there may have been more than one person who might describe themselves as allergic to pollen as it gives them a runny nose, perhaps one or two who couldn’t eat dairy as it upsets their stomach, some who wouldn’t touch shellfish as just looking at a prawn makes them feel sick. Yet, whilst all of these people won’t go near these perfectly natural things, they were still happy to offer their body up to be injected with some of the following chemicals.

  • Formaldehyde
  • Aluminium
  • Aborted Fetal DNA
  • Fetal Bovine DNA

I think you’ll agree it’s a heady mix, and the above is only the tip of the iceberg.  However every year when the banner goes up outside the local surgery, offering free flu jabs, people put blind faith in what they are told and can’t wait to be first in the queue.

Doctors recommend that people get flu jabs to boost their immune system and prevent getting them flu. However, flu vaccines have been shown to be highly ineffective and toxic for humans.

Such reassuring ingredients

AND WHAT ABOUT SHEDDING?

Viral shedding means that those who are vaccinated breathe out more influenza virus and spread it more than the unvaccinated. So when your surgery offers the vaccine by telling you “the vaccine protects you and those around you,” it is simply not true.

What they are actually doing is ‘selling’ the vaccine to you, which generates vast income for the giant pharmaceutical companies.

Viral shedding also means that those who are vaccinated are spreading more virus into the air around them just by breathing compared to those who have not had the vaccine that same year and/or the flu vaccine from the previous year.

The implication is that those who are vaccinated are a greater risk to the vulnerable, such as cancer patients, the elderly and the very young, AND that the unvaccinated spread the disease LESS and protect others better!

I know which side I’d rather be on!