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    What’s All The
     Fuss Honey?

Manuka Honey

       Manuka Honey

Most of the daily newspapers over the last 12 months have carried stories about the health benefits of honey, and one honey in particular – Manuka.

 

If you dig a little deeper you find that manuka honey is now taken by patients in a Manchester hospital to counter some of the adverse effects of the treatment for mouth and throat cancer, and being used on high-tech wound dressings (to accelerate healing), as well as to kill the bacteria in the gut that causes ulcers, and as an antibacterial agent, a hand sanitizer and so on and so on. Apart from the many specific uses, Manuka honey really does have clear health benefits for all us all. And nothing heals a sore throat better than manuka honey and lemon.

 

The ‘strength’ of Manuka is usually displayed on the jar using a ‘UMF’ scale; the higher the number, the stronger the antibacterial value. ‘UMF’ simply stands for ‘Unique Manuka Factor’. Over the last year this has been added to by displaying the measurement in terms of ‘MGO’ (methylglyoxal content).

 

In recent years scientific and medical interest in honey has grown, and there are now hundreds of learned reports on the subject. At the same time there has been a growing public awareness of Manuka, particularly amongst the health conscious.

 

Manuka is in fact honey from the well known ‘Tea Tree’ (or leptospermum). Traditionally, most Manuka has come from New Zealand, where several varieties of Tea Tree grow.  However, Australia also has Tea Tree, but unlike New Zealand, it had never really concentrated on establishing its own brand or examining very closely the exact nature of its own particular variety of Tea Tree. All that has changed very recently and with startling results.

 

Examination by scientists of honey derived from the Australian native plant, Leptospermum Polygalifolium (known to Aussies as ‘Jellybush’,  a type of Tea Tree) shows that it has up to twice the antibacterial strength of ordinary Manuka. So, if ordinary Manuka can be so beneficial, imagine the potential for this honey – known as Berringa.

 

Manuka is much sought after across the world by ‘health foodies’, and with finite supplies, Manuka has become an expensive buy. At the moment the world has hardly heard of this special Australian variety. The result is that ‘Berringa – Super Manuka’ will at fist be available at a price just below that of its more common cousin.

 

There is one great additional benefit to Berringa, unlike ordinary Manuka, that can sometimes taste a little ‘medical’, Berringa has a very good traditional honey taste.

 

The bees that produce Berringa live in a remote coastal region of Australia and the honey is collected during the time of year when the bees have only the Jellybush to feed upon. The result is a pure Tea Tree honey unlike any other anywhere.

 

The bad news is that there are only limited supplies. Producing honey is not like producing widgets, you can’t simply open another factory!

 

The good news is that a UK company has secured the rights to bring this  unique ‘Super Manuka’ to UK, and we will be the only country in Europe to get it.

 

Science Pharma Ltd. a Kent based company, will be importing Berringa from August this year but only enough to supply a limited number of health shops and pharmacies and once this years harvest has gone then that will be that for another year. A number of well known High Street names have already expressed a clear interest.

  

Price and Availability

Sixtyplusurfers has negotiated a special deal introductory for its readers. Readers only can place an advance orders for Berringa and get a 15% discount on the recommended retail price. From 1st August members can order online at www.ambemedical.com. First shipment due to arrive in UK in late August and orders despatched immediately.

 

Introductory Offer - This is an exclusive opportunity for Sixtyplusurfers readers-

Berringa 250g jar. MGO 420 (equivalent to about 22+ activity manuka value)

Great value at   £19.99 (RRP)

But  15% off = £16.99 (for advance orders only  and only for limited period) 

Berringa 250g jar.  MGO 160 (equivalent to 12+ activity manuka value)

Great value at  RRP- £9.99  But  15% off =
£ 8.49  (for advance orders only and only for limited period)

Go to www.am
bemedical.com to place your order. We will be pleased to take orders from 1st August.
(Please  note offer  is restricted to UK buyers)



 

 Living Life to the Full,
 co-operative Xest      Makes  Life Easier For You & Your Loved Ones

Co-operative Xest is a brand new web site and mail order service, launched by their parent company Southern co-operatives to bring together the very best in ‘aids for daily living’.  It's a one stop-shop for a whole range of products that could make life so much easier for you, or the person you care for.  

Co-operative Xest introduced the service after extensive research showed that shopping for equipment to make life more independent and dignified can be a tough and negative experience.  There and two unique offerings both online and a friendly customer services team to help you with any queries, there is also the choice to pay for items by cheque. 

Co-operative xest also offer a one year no quibble guarantee, which means you can try and buy, and if you are still not happy with the product for whatever reason, you can return it within the 12 months from purchase.

Co-operative Xest is endorsed by This Morning Agony Aunt, Denise Robertson, who, with plenty of first-hand experience of caring for close family members, who recognises that living aids can make a real difference to people’s quality of life.

There's a diverse range of items to choose from, the rollator is a perfect product to reassert your independence and increase your mobility.  Other products include those to make bathing and showering safer, to kitchen utensils that turn difficult tasks into the achievable

So if you are looking for a source of quality products that are going to make a real difference to you or your loved ones then take a look at co-operative Xest.

Vegetarian Sourced Omega-3 Offers
Fish Oil Benefits

New vegetarian omega-3 brand Echiomega is 5 times more effective than flaxseed

Igennus has launched Echiomega, a new vegetarian omega 3 supplement that offers similar health benefits to oily fish. While most vegetarian-derived omega 3 oils only offer the benefits of short chain fatty acids, Echiomega, made from Croda Health Care’s IncromegaÔ V3 echium oil product, converts to long chain fatty acids up to 5 times greater than other vegetarian omega 3 oils.
 

Dr David Cherry, Vice President of Croda Health Care, said: “Now that Croda Health Care’s IncromegaÔ V3 has its Novel Foods approval we are delighted that Igennus is using it in their new supplement Echiomega. IncromegaÔ V3, which goes through Croda’s advanced Super Refining® process, was developed following years of dedicated research into alternative polyunsaturated fatty acids and fatty acid sources.
 

“Vegetarians, and particularly vegans, consume low levels of essential long-chain fatty acids in comparison to fish eating populations. Whilst supplementing with the oils found in flaxseed increases their consumption levels slightly, they remain significantly lower than those of fish eaters. The nutritional industry has, therefore, long searched for a vegetarian polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acid such as the type provided in Echiomega.”
 

Echium oil and its benefits
 EPA is essential for the regulation of brain functioning and plays an important role in controlling the inflammatory and immune systems.  While DHA is beneficial for maternal supplementation for infant development, eye health, depression and improving cognitive functions - especially in the elderly.
 

 
Omega 3 and The Western Diet       The human body requires adequate amounts of omega 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for healthy brain and immune function, cardiovascular health and inflammatory response. The highest yielding source is found in oily fish, whereas vegetarian sources of omega 3 (such as nuts, seeds and flaxseed oil) contain high levels of the short-chain omega 3, alpha linolenic acid (ALA).

 

                    Body Maintenance

 Good Digestive Health 

Lady drinking prune juice
                 
 Lady drinking prune juice

How can good digestive health keep you feeling fabulous?

Let's be honest - when it comes to discussing digestive health, most of us would rather steer clear of the topic altogether. But now more than ever, it is important to realize that digestion plays a significant role in your overall health!

You may know that the primary function of the digestive tract is to break down the food we eat so that it can be used as fuel by the body. What is less well-known is the importance of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract to your immune system and your total body's health. In fact, the GI tract is often referred to as the body's "second line of defence" against potentially harmful pathogens that cause disease (the first defence being the skin!). You've been pampering your skin for years, but have you been making the right dietary decisions to promote a healthy GI tract

The digestive system is stronger than you think - for example, few bacteria can survive the acidic environment of the stomach. It may not sound pretty, but the fact is the abundant mucous and digestive enzymes secreted by the digestive tract helps destroy potentially harmful microorganisms.

This "good bacteria" keeps the "bad bacteria" at bay, so we essentially have a classic case of good versus evil on our hands, and it is your job to join forces with the good by maintaining a healthy digestive system. This is not only necessary from a nutritional standpoint but also for optimizing your body's overall immunity.

Today we are overwhelmed by many products targeted toward improving digestive health. However, there is only one beverage that packs in the fibre, potassium and magnesium in a great tasting 100% natural juice, and that's Sunsweet.
 

Maintaining a healthy digestive Tract 
So what can we do to protect ourselves from digestive disorders, and ensure a healthy and regular digestive system? It all begins with living a healthy lifestyle. Two of the easiest ways to take charge of your digestive health are to monitor your food intake and control stress levels.

Foods to limit or eliminate responses are highly individual, but some of the problem foods and beverages to steer clear of or limit include:  

· Fatty foods (fried foods, cream sauces, high-fat meats and cheeses)

·  Alcohol

· Caffeine

· Carbonated drinks

· Gas-producing foods like beans and some vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower etc.)  

While veggies are a good thing, if you are sensitive to IBS you may consider steering clear of certain varieties.

Foods to incorporate into your diet
Foods that will improve your chances of avoiding IBS and other digestive discomforts include:

·  Fibre-rich foods. It is recommended that adults take in 20-35 grams of fibre each day.

·  Dried fruit. Fruits such as prunes are a delicious way to add fibre to the diet. Sunsweet make snacking on dried fruit easy with their delicious range of prunes and dried fruit.

·  Whole grains. Incorporate more whole grains into your diet by including oat bran and wheat bran cereals and whole grain cereals, breads, pastas and brown rice.

·  Fluids. Whether it's in the form of drinking water, fruit juices or the fluid in fruits and vegetables - it all counts toward the recommended 8 glasses of water per day.


Regular physical activity can help keep you "regular" too. Exercise can help prevent the uncomfortable symptoms of IBS such as constipation, gas and bloating.

Taking the steps to include healthy lifestyle habits such as proper diet and regular physical activity can help you maintain a healthy digestive system so you can enjoy your life.

The role of diet in maintaining a healthy digestive system, reminds us of the importance of consuming foods and beverages which are good sources of dietary fibre. It is recommended that healthy adults consume 20-35 grams of fibre each day to support digestive health and heart health.

So, learn where you can find fibre in foods and drinks by reading the Nutrition Facts labels on packages. Knowing which foods to limit, as well as which foods to include in your diet will help to maintain a healthy and regular digestive system, and avoid uncomfortable or irregular symptoms.

Gettting started
Get started upping your intake by enjoying a glass of Sunsweet prune juice every day to keep you regular.

Available from Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Holland & Barratt and most good health-food stores


Find out more in the article below.

      Advice for Older People
 On Keeping Fit and Well

Healthy food

One: Supplements For Preventing Infections In Older People

by Salah Gariballa
, clinical senior lecturer,Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, University of Sheffield

Supplements may have a place for some, but improved diet and physical activity will do more good

The number of older people is growing rapidly worldwide. In England alone the number of people older than 65 has more than doubled since the 1930s, and one fifth of the population is now aged 60 or more.

Ageing, disease, lifestyle, and environmental factors may all impair in older people the acquisition of food and its intake, processing, and metabolism, all leading to poor nutritional status. Ageing is also associated with decreases in physical activity and lean body mass and an increase in body fat. The accompanying reductions in energy requirements and intake of food lead to lower intakes of macronutrients and micronutrients.

Many older people exhibit poor immune responses and are at a high risk of infection. Although the mechanisms leading to the age related decline in innate and adaptive immunity are poorly understood, several studies have shown a beneficial effect on the immune system of supplementing vitamins.

Two:    Key To Keeping  Fit For Longer

Man on exercise machine

A carefully framed combination of moderate exercise and nutritional supplements could help older people maintain an active lifestyle for longer.

A Manchester Metropolitan University study has found that taking carbohydrate and protein supplements just before and just after low-resistance exercise could boost muscle performance and slow muscle wastage in people over retirement age.

Moreover, this combination appears to deliver greater fitness benefits than undertaking heavy-resistance training with or without changing one's nutritional habits.

This was the first-ever study of the combination of structured exercise and nutritional supplements to focus wholly on older people.

This groundbreaking study involved a carefully selected sample of around 60 healthy, independent-living adults aged 65 and over. The volunteers were randomly divided into groups who underwent different 12 week programmes of physical exercise and nutritional supplementation. Everyone was then re-assessed at the end of the programme.

Some groups undertook low-resistance exercise once a week; others undertook high-resistance exercise twice a week. Within each group, some of the volunteers took protein and carbohydrate supplements while others did not.

When all the participants were re-assessed at the end of the 12 week programme, it was observed that muscle size and strength had increased in all groups.However, the results suggested that older people would derive the most benefits if they took appropriate supplements coupled with low-intensity exercise.

"Maintaining muscle performance and arresting muscle wastage can offer older people real improvements in their quality of life," says Dr Gladys Pearson, who led the research. "Though we still need to assess precisely what level of exercise gives the best results, we believe we've shown
that regular low-resistance exercise complemented by the right nutritional supplements could boost the well-being of the UK's ageing population."

Dr Pearson and her team now aim to look at the effectiveness of novel combinations of strength training and nutritional supplementation as a way of speeding recovery and improving mobility for old and young orthopaedic surgery patients.

Omega Fatty Acid Balance Can Alter Immunity And Gene Expression

For the past century, changes in the Western diet have altered the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids (w6, found in meat and vegetable oils) compared with omega-3 fatty acids (w3, found in flax and fish oil).

Many studies seem to indicate this shift has brought about an increased risk of inflammation (associated with autoimmunity and allergy), and now using a controlled diet study with human volunteers, researchers may have teased out a biological basis for these reported changes.

Anthropological evidence suggests that human ancestors maintained a 2:1 w6/w3 ratio for much of history, but in Western countries today the ratio has spiked to as high as 10:1.

Since these omega fatty acids can be converted into inflammatory molecules, this dietary change is believed to also disrupt the proper balance of pro- and anti- inflammatory agents, resulting in increased systemic inflammation and a higher incidence of problems including asthma, allergies, diabetes, and arthritis.

Three:      Good Digestive Health 
You may know that the primary function of the digestive tract is to break down the food we eat so that it can be used as fuel by the body. What is less well-known is the importance of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract to your immune system and your total body's health.

 

   

 

  Sixtyplusurfers Competition     

Win a Pain Away Pain Relief Pen from Healthwize

 

Sixtyplusurfers has teamed up with Healthwize to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Pain Away Pain Relief Pen and a bottle of Flexwize  to ease pain.

           Arthritis!

   Or Just Aches & Pains?
 

These Are Great For Both  

 

Arthritis sufferers, here is the Ideal Combination to help you. Flexwize to tackle the pain from the inside and Pain Away to help tackle it from the outside.


Pain Away                          Flexwize
 

 



 

  Pain  Away   helps   the 
  body   to  reduce    pain
  without   drugs,  by  using 
  Transcutaneous  Electrical
  Nerve Stimulation. 
  Flexwize  helps  the  body
  to  repair   worn   joints 
  with   a  Pharmaceutical
  Grade    Glucosamine
  Complex. Flexwize also
  helps to reduce
  Inflammation & Pain
   

 

Price and Buy Discount…Don't wait to win the competition, try the products now and reap the benefit. All orders from this advert will get 10% discount and if you are the lucky winner and have bought products you will get a full refund plus an extra bottle of Flexwize. 
So you can buy your Pain Away pen or Flexwize NOW.
Just go to www.hwize.com/sixtyplussurfers

and get the special readers discount on your purchase.

For your chance to win a Pain Away pen
[rrp £29.95] & a Bottle of  Flexwize [rrp £16.95]

Tell us which of the following ailments is Flexwize meant to help:

               a) Toothache
            b) Arthritis

            c) Headache

            d) Indigestion

 

To Enter the Competition

 

 For your chance to win a Pain Away pen, tell us the answer to the above question. Then send your full name, postal address and telephone number to: comp@hwize.com

 

Pain Away can be used through light clothing

 
   
Pain Away being used through thin clothing 

 

Pain Away can also be used for Non-Invasive Acupuncture

Place the tip of the Pain Away directly

On The painful area or on the desired

Acupuncture point.  Press the silver

Button Consecutively 30-40 times.

 

 

Pain Away is a registered class CE IIa medical device providing totally safe, portable, drug-free pain relief.

Pain Away is suitable for any physical pain.  It is clinically tested.

Pain Away meets  the very high standards of the Medical Devices Directive which makes it suitable for use in Hospitals and the medical profession

 

How Pain Away works

Pain Away is a low frequency (1-2 Hz) stimulator fed by quartz crystals. It requires no power source or batteries. The pen is activated by pressing the silver button at one end.

 

The pen's effectiveness is based on a proven medical technique called Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). This technique is used to relieve severe and chronic pain from minor injuries.

 

Place the tip of the Pain Away directly on the painful area or on the desired acupuncture point.

Press the silver button consecutively 30-40 times.

 

Each time you press the button you will feel a small electrical impulse. This electrical impulse is sent to the brain via nerve pathways and the Brain Responds by Releasing Endorphins, a natural defence the body uses against pain.

 

You can repeat the treatment as often as you like.

There are no risks as it is impossible to overdose

 

In many cases Pain Away will promote pain relief almost immediately.

Repeated treatments act cumulatively.

Some conditions will require treatment over few days or even a couple of weeks before maximum benefit is achieved.

 

The pen has no harmful side-effects and can be used whenever the pain returns. It is impossible to "overdose".
 

What Conditions Can Pain Away Treat?

 

TENS has been used successfully in hospitals and clinics all over the world for many years.

TENS controls chronic and acute pain, such as muscular pain, backache and shoulder pain, arm and leg pain, headache and migraine, tennis elbow, sports injuries and sciatica.

 

In other words any Physical pain. 

The instruction booklet that accompanies each pen shows which conditions the pen can treat and how to locate the acupuncture points. Stimulate the suggested acupuncture point by placing the pen in the area shown in the diagrams in the booklet and pressing the button 20-25 times.

 

Acupuncture points covering many everyday conditions are shown  in the booklet. They cover use to relieve headaches, fatigue, toothache, lumbago, hangover, tired eyes and any physical pain.

 

When Not To Use Pain Away
 

    * If you have a pacemaker.

    * In the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.

    * On and around the eyes.

    * On damp or wet skin.

    * Near a metal prosthetic.

    * Near oxygen or other flammable liquids.

    * If you suffer from epilepsy.

    * On
 open wounds.

    * On aortic arteries, on the muscles of the larynx and
       pharynx and on the lower side of the neck.

    * Over the heart.

    * Whilst driving.
 

Pain Away

Designed and made in Italy

Includes quality carry bag and colour instruction booklet

 

2 Year Guarantee

Every Pain Away is individually tested before leaving the factory.

 

Take it everywhere with you it fits easily in pocket purse or handbag and can be used at any time.

 

To Purchase Pain Away or Flexwize
Go to the website at:


www.hwize.com/sixtyplussurfers
Or phone freephone 0800 083 6495

 

Cautions

Keep out of the reach of children. Never use Pain Away on children under 10 years of age without supervision.  

Keeping a Healthy Brain
By Dr. Barry Sears

With growing frequency, news items appear about the benefits of fish oil – especially about studies showing that fish oil helps the brain in some way. Fish oil has been said to thwart depression, lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and keep a host of other brain disorders at bay.

The brain operates under the same conditions as the body. Just as you want to achieve a state of wellness for your body, you also want to achieve a state of wellness for your brain.  Your brain is in a state of wellness only if you’re thinking at peak efficiency. This means you’re unhampered by mental fuzziness, jittery nerves, inability to complete tasks, or a sense of doom and gloom. Just like body wellness, brain wellness depends on increased blood flow and decreased inflammation. In order to achieve both, you have to give the brain what it loves and avoid the things it hates. Fortunately, the list is pretty short.

Brain Loves

Brain Hates

Adequate blood flow

Inflammation

Stable blood sugar

Loss of key neurotransmitters

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Excess cortisol

Let’s look at each one of these items in more detail. You’ll begin to see just how much dietary control you have over your brain’s state of wellness.

What the brain loves
Adequate Blood Flow

The most important thing the brain needs is an excellent supply of oxygen, and this comes only from adequate blood flow, since your blood cells carry oxygen to your brain and the rest of your organs.

The best way to increase blood flow to the brain (and every other organ, for that matter) is to generate more “good” eicosanoids (which are powerful vasodilators that widen the opening of arteries, veins and capillaries) and fewer “bad” eicosanoids (which are powerful vasoconstrictors that have the opposite effect). The long-chain omega-3 fatty acid contained in fish oil, EPA, will increase the production of “good” eicosanoids by decreasing the levels of arachidonic acid (the building block of “bad” eicosanoids).

Stable Blood Sugar
Even if you have adequate oxygen flow to the brain, you will need a stable supply of glucose, since the brain also needs this fuel to make ATP. The only way to maintain a steady supply of glucose to the brain is to control insulin levels. Having a spike in your insulin levels (which comes from eating too many carbohydrates) can drive glucose levels down so low that your brain function is compromised. The only way to stabilize blood sugar levels is by maintaining a relatively constant protein-to-carbohydrate balance every time you eat.

The only way to stabilize blood sugar levels is by maintaining a relatively constant protein-to-carbohydrate balance every time you eat. You need some insulin to drive glucose into your cells for storage, but too much insulin reduces blood sugar to such low levels that brain function is impaired.

By stabilizing insulin in the blood, you won’t have a dizzying drop in blood sugar. And there’s an added benefit: steady insulin will enable your body to maintain a steady level of the hormone glucagon, which releases stored blood sugar from the liver, allowing a constant supply of blood sugar for the brain. Carbohydrates stimulate the release of insulin, and protein stimulates the release of glucagons; that is why I always recommend balancing these two nutrients at every meal and snack.

Docosahexaenoic Acid
The final thing the brain loves is an adequate level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This is one of the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil (EPA is the other). More than 60 percent of the weight of the brain is fat, and most of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in the body are concentrated in the brain. Virtually all of this long-chain omega-3 fat, however, is in the form of DHA, since the brain contains very little EPA. Trying to maintain your brain function without adequate DHA is like trying to build the sturdiest brick house in town without enough bricks.