Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic
Welcome to our new weekly column on the YOU magazine website, www.you.co.uk Below you will find the current question and our advice, with a list of where to source the products mentioned. To look at past columns, click here. And for lots more solutions to your beauty dilemmas, visit Q&A, just click here.
October 11th, 2009: Omega-3 and probiotic supplements
Q I am looking to buy a top quality, omega-3 oil supplement and wonder what you recommend? I am 52 and getting over ME, plus I just had surgery so I also need to take a probiotic to combat all the anti-biotics my body has just been bombarded with. Please help me see through the miasma of stuff available - I know for instance that with some probiotics sold over the counter it might be just as helpful to eat the box!
A We’re huge fans of omega-3 oils. They’re also known as part of the group of Essential Fatty Acids, which are totally essential for the proper functioning of your brain and body – and for healthy skin and hair. However, your body cant make these vital nutrients so you must get them from what you eat, both as food and we believe in supplements too.
Professor Basant Puri of the Hammersmith Hospital in west London is one of the world experts on Essential Fatty Acids. He uses them clinically in many conditions including ME and has formulated a product for Igennus called vegEPA, which we know from other ME sufferers has helped significantly. (vegEPA is available from Victoria Health, £11.70 for 60 capsules; the starting dose is 2 to 4 capsules daily, see here for special offers and discounts.)
Professor Puri also says: ‘this reader should ensure that she has an adequate intake of vitamins and trace minerals. I tend to favour a good diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, but a good multivitamin and multimineral supplement could be taken initially’. (Try Improved Once A Day by Quest Vitamins, £5.67 for 30 tablets, from Victoria Health.)
We actually take another product called Essential Oil Omega 3-6-9 by Harmony Formulas, £15.95 for 90 capsules (the recommended dose is two capsules twice daily).
As you say, probiotics are also vital for helping to rebalance the gut bacteria (aka flora) after antibiotics. Pharmacist Shabir Daya at Victoria Health recommends Mega Probiotic ND by Food Science of Vermont, which contains eight strains of acid resistant bacteria. (£17.95 for 60 capsules, dose two capsules daily.)
Sarah recently interviewed Lucy Russell who has her own organic skincare line. Lucy had ME and believes that changing her lifestyle helped: ‘I saw a news report on pesticides and hormones in food, milk and tap water, which said that while the body could deal with minute single quantities, scientists didn’t know how it would react to the combined effect. I thought right! It can’t hurt me to cut out these chemicals and switch to mainly organic food and mineral water.’ She also cut out sugar, dried fruits, carbs like pasta, and alcohol – ‘one glass of wine gave me a hangover for a week’ – and took fish oil supplements. Within two to three weeks, the difference was marked: ‘I felt less lethargic and ache-y. The heavy fatigue definitely lifted. I lost weight and had many fewer infections.’
 We  . . . Palmer’s Nourishing Body Butters, £5.86. At this time of year skin is thirsty, thirsty, thirsty. (Did you know that fabrics like wool actually ‘wick’ moisture from the skin? These very rich butters from Palmer’s – a legendary brand in the world of cocoa butter! – are ultra-unctuous but smooth swiftly into skin, and contain high levels of natural butters (alongside some synthetic ingredients, NB). In big tubs, they’re real Beauty Steals, and of the four options we like Shea Butter Formula Body Butter and Cocoa Butter Formula Body Butter (which is subtly scented with chocolate). Very good indeed for dry bits.
Where to find Products
vegEPA, £11.70 for 60 capsules, is available online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders.
Essential Oil Omega 3-6-9 by Harmony Formulas, £15.95 for 90 capsules, is available online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders.
Improved Once A Day by Quest Vitamins, £5.67 for 30 tablets, from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders.
Mega Probiotic ND by Food Science of Vermont, £17.95 for 60 capsules, is available online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders.
Palmer’s Nourishing Body Butters, £5.86 for 170g, are available online from www.chemistdirect.co.uk
Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic Archive
September 27th, 2009 - Winter Skincare
September 27th, 2009 - Jawline
September 13th, 2009 - Thread Veins
September 6th, 2009 - Thread Veins
August 30th, 2009 - Vitamin C and Skincare
August 23rd, 2009 - Beat Stings and Itches
August 15th, 2009 - Sunscreens
August 9th, 2009 - Good Skin Care
August 2nd, 2009 - Lash Conditioners
July 26th, 2009 - Spa Treatments
July 19th, 2009 - Organic Tinted Moisturiser
July 12th, 2009 - Hair Protection
July 5th, 2009 - Cellulite
June 28th, 2009 - Sexy Summer Scents
June 21st, 2009 - Eyeliner Tricks
June 14th, 2009 - Natural Suncare
June 7th, 2009 - Anti Ageing Skin Care
May 31st, 2009 - Natural Nail Polishes
May 24th, 2009 - Body Polishing
May 17th, 2009 - Rosacea
May 10th, 2009 - Manky Feet
May 3rd, 2009 - Makeup Makeover
April 26th, 2009 - Facial Hair Removal
April 19th, 2009 - Teen Skin
April 12th, 2009 - Swimmers Hair
April 5th, 2009 - Make-up For Damaged Skin
March 29th, 2009 - Are Sunbeds Safe?
March 22nd, 2009 - Weak, Flaking Nails
March 15th, 2009 - Puffy Eyes
March 8th, 2009 - Camouflaging Red Cheeks
March 1st, 2009 - Hair Colouring in Pregnancy
February 22nd, 2009 - Thinning Eyebrows
February 15th, 2009 - Acne
|
