There’s no excuse for heading out into the elements unprepared. A few simple precautions could save you a big headache! Here are my top tips for summer care the natural way.

Carry plenty of water and other fluids to balance loss of electrolytes. Vita Coco Coconut Water, available in handy size cartons, is excellent for rehydrating the body.

High protein snacks are great for keeping blood sugar balanced on a long walk. The Dru Miracle Bar is a raw, organic, snack bar made from nuts, fruits, seeds & superfoods designed to sustain energy levels – perfect for the great outdoors!

If you are camping, going to forest areas or out with children, especially in the early morning or evening, then insect repellent is essential. The most effective natural insect repellents contain NEEM, a very bitter herb which the mozzies cannot tolerate. My favourite is Bioforce Insect Repellent with Neem which is an easy-to-use spray, and safe even on broken skin. If you have a tendency to get bitten by mosquitoes you can take Pukka Neem Tincture internally or the homeopathic remedy Staphysagria 30C. Citronella oil is also helpful to deter the famous Welsh midges! And avoid eating sugar; it makes the blood very sweet. Don’t wear yellow either – they love it!

If you do get bitten, Nelson’s Pyrethrum spray is a relief for bites and the ‘Zapperclick’ a small device that stops the bites itching, can be a godsend! Aloe Vera gel or lavender oil are both very soothing for bites and many other first
aid situations such as cuts, grazes, nettle stings & even mild sunburn.

In case of an accident it’s always good to carry homeopathic Arnica 30 especially if you are climbing or hill walking. It is well known for reducing shock, injuries and bruising; it is also helps to relieve physical tiredness & aches & pains, great if you’ve had a long day. Arnica gel can also be used externally on unbroken skin where there are sprains, strains, bruising or broken bones.

Stay safe in the sun by taking a hat & clothing to cover up, even if it looks cloudy. The age old Welsh saying: ‘If you want the weather to change – just wait a minute!’ especially holds true in the mountains of Snowdonia. Use a sunscreen of at least SPF 20 or 30 for children; Green People and Lavera both do great ranges which are 100% natural. If you need extra protection you can get Spa Magic SPF 50 Natural Sun Screen which is waterproof & guaranteed to last 8 hours.

There are many creams and balms to help protect your skin and hair from the drying effects of the elements. My favourite is the locally produced range by Laughing Bird, check them out, along with the other natural products mentioned, at your local health food store.

Enjoy your summer!

We all want to look & feel our best & enjoy summer to its fullest!
The good news is that the warmer weather of summer heralds a great opportunity to improve health & wellbeing on many levels.
Here are my top tips for looking & feeling great in the next few months!

Detox & shape up
In the warmer weather our metabolism increases making it easier to lose those few pounds. Make the most of fresh fruit, greens & salads especially rocket, watercress & chard which all stimulate the liver to more effectively metabolise fat. A great way to take these is with barley grass in a green smoothie which also helps curb sugar cravings…email me for the recipe or details of our Nutrition & Detox weekend in June.

Skin care in the sun
20 mins in the sun every day will increase vitamin D levels. Do always use sunscreen to prevent UV damage – there are some very effective natural mineral sunscreen products available in good health stores. And remember to protect your lips, choose a lip balm with an SPF factor of at least 10!


Exercise in nature
In North Wales we are blessed with a wonderful green environment that many people in the world would love. So make the most of it this summer, latest research shows that just five minutes of exercise in a "green space" such as a park can boost mental health. A bigger effect was seen in a place that also contained water - such as a lake or river. If you need encouragement to get out, or like to walk with a group check out Snowdonia Walking & Yoga weekends at www.druworldwide.com

Chill with yoga
A groundbreaking new study demonstrates the beneficial effect of Dru Yoga in improving wellbeing and resilience to stress in the workplace. Research supervised by Bangor University found that a six week programme of Dru Yoga reduced anxiety and fatigue, while increasing emotional well-being and resilience to stress. Find a local yoga class at www.druyoga.com

Hit the beach
Sea air is rich in negative ions, which can help counteract the effects of the positive ions found in polluted town & city air & computer filled offices. Negative ions are thought to help boost our ability to absorb oxygen, increasing blood flow to the brain. They also improve mood by increasing the production of serotonin.

Enjoy your summer!

Greens are the ultimate in a healthy diet for so many reasons.
What is clear is that the “green superfoods” — among them wheatgrass and barley grass — are some of the easiest and best sources of nutrition available.

At 12-14 inches, the young shoots have a tremendous ability to absorb nutrients from the soil & therefore contain astounding amounts of vitamins, minerals & enzymes (needed to kick-start essential chemical reactions in the body).

Chlorophyll helps keep the body's alkaline and acidity ratio balanced. Our cells cannot adequately function if the pH range is not within a narrow band. Most processed foods are acidic, and when we consume too many of them the acidity/alkaline balance is upset. This can result in many imbalances including inflammation & fatigue.

Some of the main benefits have been found to be;

1. Skin rejuvenation - Green barley grass contains abundant minerals, enzymes and vitamins that will revitalize the body’s cellular structure. It rejuvenates the skin by improving the function of internal organs

2. Helps weight balance – The best method of weight control is to promote the action of enzymes. Enzymes activate the body’s natural fat burning process by stimulating the lipid metabolism as part of a sensible diet and exercise program. The free-form amino acids it contains, also help to curb cravings.

3. Effective against constipation – It is said that good eating, good sleeping and good evacuation are the three barometers of health. The soluble fibre in barley grass activates the intestinal tract to promote regular evacuation.

4. Lower cholesterol levels – Case studies have shown that it is very effective in reducing cholesterol levels as well as suppressing cholesterol absorption. One of the substances found in green barley, beta sitosterol, is currently being used in Japan to treat patients with high cholesterol levels.

5. Balances blood sugar level – Research has shown that not only does green barley grass powder function in much the same way as insulin and balances sugar levels, but that it helps to heal the blood vessel damage that may be caused by diabetes.

6. Other ailments – Green barley has also been found to assist in relieving dermatitis, liver & lung disease and allergies, while the high level of chlorophyll is a natural body deodorant.

Simply add daily to your favourite juice or smoothie!

‘I have been taking Dru Barley Grass for 3 months now and it has changed my health beyond belief! I used to feel very tired in the morning & now feel full of energy. I have lost weight & my skin, hair & general health have improved dramatically. I would highly recommend it to anyone!’ Lucy, Llandudno

Did you know that there are many natural ways to reduce the inflammation that causes back pain – whether acute or chronic? These practical methods are free from harmful side effects and as a bonus, will improve your health & vitality generally. Try them out and let me know how you get on!

HYDRATE
Each spinal disc acts like a sponge, it retains water to stay hydrated so it can work effectively as a shock absorber and assist with movement. As we get older the discs in our spine begin to dry out and their ability to hold water in diminishes. Likewise a damaged disc, at any age, has reduced ability to hold in water.
SOLUTION – Drink 1.5-2l. water per day or even better drink super hydrating ‘flax tea’ get the recipe at www.druhealth.com/news.php

RELAX
Long term stress, anxiety or adrenal stimulation (the use of caffeine, nicotine etc) dehydrates the body further, increases inflammation and greatly inhibits the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
SOLUTION – Learn and practice, conscious relaxation for 20 mins twice a day. Use an audio cd such as Dru Deep Relaxation and find out how good it feels to properly relax! Your body will thank you a thousand times!

MOVE
Gentle exercise has been shown to be essential for back pain sufferers! Simply lying down all day will not improve the situation. Effective blood & lymph circulation to the area is needed to deliver water & nutrients to the cells and remove the toxic by-products of metabolism.
SOLUTION – Gentle walking, swimming or yoga. I recommend Easing Back Pain a cd of gentle Dru Yoga designed by osteopaths which has helped 1000’s of back pain sufferers.

DETOX
Inflammation & pain are an indication of high cellular levels of sodium. Magnesium are potassium are needed to keep the muscles relaxed and create the correct balance of electrolytes for cellular health. Raw greens or green juice are particularly rich source of potassium but magnesium needs to be supplemented as it is lacking in the UK soil & therefore in many foods.
SOLUTION – Soak in a warm bath with a mug of Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) for 20 mins. Take magnesium citrate, preferably with a small amount of B6 to aid absorption, as a food supplement.

ALKALISE
Back pain indicates a pH imbalance in the cells in the spine – a build up of acids which need to be gently removed. Along with hydration and movement, an alkalising diet will help restore the pH balance and reduce inflammation.
SOLUTION – Reduce meat & dairy products and increase oily fish and green vegetables. Take super alkalising Green Barley Grass, start with half a teaspoon daily and increase to 1 teaspoon after a couple of weeks. Barley grass is also a natural anti-inflammatory.

For improved vitality, glowing skin, healthy hair & nails and a wonderful feeling of well being try these tips and make the most of a good spring cleanse!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring is the time of the liver, the major organ of detoxification in the body. It’s an optimum time to cleanse the liver and at the same time, because there is an extra emphasis on this organ at this time, a liver imbalance may show up as illness or dis-ease.

The naturopathic approach considers good health to be a result of homeostasis (balance) in the body. Effective elimination is an essential component of this. Adequate hydration, including drinking 1.5-2l. water a day, is a vital component of this.

Every cell in the body has the potential to eliminate every 24 hours, here is a representation of what happens;

CELL Overnight as we sleep, acids & toxins, the by-products of daily metabolism in the cell, are pushed through a healthy, EFA rich, semi-permeable cell membrane with the help of adequate magnesium and potassium.

Cell membrane health is improved by an adequate intake of essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 & 9) and lecithin.

Cellular cleansing can be assisted by magnesium (in capsule form or as magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) in a bath. Green vegetables, preferably raw or in a juice or smoothie form can give us the often lacking potassium we need to support this.

LYMPH A healthy free flowing lymph system, transports toxicity into the blood, via the lymph drainage ducts in the upper chest area.

Lymph circulation is maintained through exercise (can be as gentle as yoga or walking), also dry skin brushing towards the heart with a soft dry brush is stimulating to the lymph and especially helpful during a cleanse.

BLOOD The fast moving circulatory system quickly transports unwanted waste to the liver.

Natural blood cleansers include vitamin C, Echinacea and Garlic plus fresh vegetables and good quality water! Blood cleansing should be considered a temporary measure to relieve symptoms as the real work needs to be done on the liver to prevent toxicity in blood.

LIVER The multi-functional liver uptakes toxins from blood and releases them, along with bile, into the digestive tract. If the liver is overloaded the blood will become more & more toxic. This could show up as a skin conditions, headache or migraine, inflammation of joints or swelling of tissues, fibroids or even something as simple as PMS or heavy periods!

Liver cleansing ideally should be taken up as a regular measure to maintain health, March is the best month to start! Eat loads of vegetables, especially green leafy ones, avoid sugar, dairy and wheat as they tend to put extra work on the liver. Take a green energy smoothie daily: high in minerals, fibre and pure vitality:- in a liquidiser, blend 1 large green cabbage leaf or equivalent of spinach, rocket watercress or kale, 1 apple, 2-3 cups water, 1 tsp. barley grass & 1 tsp lecithin. Other herbs that support liver detoxification include, milk thistle, dandelion & artichoke.

COLON A healthy colon ideally eliminates 1-2 times a day, this prevents toxic waste being reabsorbed through the colon wall back into the bloodstream to give the liver even more work to do.

Soaked flax seed daily – 1 tsp in ¼ cup water for 2 hours or overnight – will help detox the colon as will psyllium husks. The green smoothie will also improve bowel function as will the dietary suggestions that improve liver function.

PLEASE NOTE: Everyone is unique in their health picture. These are general guidelines, if you have a specific condition or individual questions please consult your health professional.

Drink flax tea daily - esp. in the morning to rehydrate the body.

Recipe:

1. Soak 1 tsp. organic golden flax seeds (linseed) in 1L. water overnight.

2. Simmer for 1 hour, strain into a jug & refrigerate, keeps 2-3 days.

3. Mix ½:½ with hot water to drink.

The following are the health benefits associated with flax tea:

Flax tea may help enhance cardiovascular functions by lowering cholesterol levels and protecting against atherosclerosis.

Flax tea may be useful in fighting tumors, and hence, certain types of cancer.

Flax tea may be helpful in stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Flax tea may be helpful against disorders of the digestive system such as constipation and gastritis.

Flax tea may be helpful in prevention of colon damage.

Flax tea may be helpful in alleviating pain and tissue damage from such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and diverticulitis.

Flax tea may be helpful in the treatment of cough, sore throat, bronchitis, and pleurisy.

Flax tea contains lignins, a form of soluble fibre which absorbs toxic waste in the digestive system & reassures the colon that it is hydrated , therefore helping to prevent the body going on to adrenal alert or stress mode.

Every day we are constantly faced with many different choices about how to deal with our health given many challenges including 'anti-biotic resistant viruses & superbugs'. Here I make suggestions on improving immunity based on the naturopathic approach to health - the premise of which is that ‘the body will heal itself – given the correct conditions’.

Acute illness improves your immunity

Although very inconvenient, short illnesses with fever and acute symptoms like a sore throat, diarrhoea, runny nose, headaches, skin eruptions, vomiting etc are the body naturally cleansing & detoxifying itself. Traditionally acute illness was the most prevalent form of dis-ease, these days stress & modern attitudes have suppressed acutes and now most illness has become chronic – much deeper & long lasting.

So, if your body is throwing up an acute, stay with it & let it come out - you will feel much better afterwards! In fact the way I see it is that illness & dis-ease are the body naturally HEALING ITSELF!

Fever is good!

The body's natural healing mechanism creates a fever to burn up and eliminate toxicity through the skin via profuse sweating. Taking anything to bring down our temperature may be interfering with the body's intelligent means of healing itself. A fever (within reason) actually boosts immunity and increases our natural resilience.

So if you find your temperature rising - go to bed with a hot water bottle and sweat it out!

Prepare to cleanse

During winter months it is wise to prepare the body’s pathway of elimination to help manage this kind of clear out. As well as eating lots of fresh seasonal vegetables choose superfoods & herbs that help cleanse the liver including barley grass, bitter greens & milk thistle. Colon health will be improved by taking flax tea, soaked flax seeds or psyllium husks. Improve elimination of toxicity through the correct channels to reduce symptoms elsewhere in the body.

Use your SKIN!

The skin is the largest organ of the body & is designed for elimination. Epsom salt baths for 20 minutes and dry skin brushing with a soft natural brush will encourage the skin to remove any toxicity in the blood that may be causing headaches & other acute symptoms.

Immune enhancing supplements

Nature has provided many different herbs to help us increase our immunity. These include; echinacea, olive leaf, golden seal and my favourite elderberry, which has been found to be very helpful in post-viral conditions such as chronic fatigue and ME as well as acute colds & flu. The very best way to take elderberries is straight off the tree in the autumn. Next year maybe!

Relaxation!

Stress affects our immunity a lot more than we may realise. Anxious thoughts and feelings increase levels of cortisol and suppress DHEA which suppress the body’s natural healing abilities. Dru Yoga, relaxation and breathing exercises are some of the best ways I know to improve the feel good factor and stay positive!

Emotional Immunity

Studies have shown that staying happy and positive keeps us healthy. In winter, deprivation of natural light reduces serotonin levels which are vital for the body’s natural immunity. Using full spectrum light bulbs in your house can help greatly here, you can get a special high power full spectrum lamp that you expose yourself to for 20-30 minutes a day. Herbs such as St Johns wort, rhodiola rosea and Siberian ginseng, available from your local health food store are natural anti-depressants that increase serotonin naturally with no side effects!

As a nutrition & health practitioner I am often inspired by my clients’ ability to take control of and regain their health. One lady has impressed me greatly with her enthusiasm & dedication. Yamuna Loyal was diagnosed and had surgery for breast cancer six years ago, two years ago discovered she had bowel cancer. After a dynamic two year journey of self-healing she has created and published her story in a book. I caught up with her to ask how she bounced back to health and here are her top tips!

What was the most important factor in your recovery?

Self responsibility
The belief that I, and only I, have the power to heal myself. For me, taking charge is the number one most important priority in creating health. In know intrinsically that my body wants to be healthy and my job has been to listen to it & to help it to do exactly that. It requires full positivity on my part. I also asked for and received full support from my family, friends & practitioners to achieve this.

What changes did you make in your eating habits?

Alkalising my diet
I read many books on various diets for cancer and the one that really resonated was Dr Robert O Young’s ‘The pH Miracle’, which says that cancer cannot live in an acidic environment so I changed to an alkaline diet including organic (especially green) vegetables, sprouted seeds & grains, barley grass powder and only vegetable proteins – beans, lentils, nuts, seeds & soya. I focussed on raw foods as much as possible particularly in the summer & took green smoothies every day.

What else is important?

Oxygenating my body
I discovered the work of the German biochemist and Nobel Prize winner Otto Warburg who said ‘The prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar’. Cancer cells are created in oxygen deprived places so I took every possible opportunity to oxygenate my system through the following methods; daily aerobic exercise, deep breathing exercises several times a day and liquid oxygen taken internally.

What was the most difficult thing?

Keeping my body effectively hydrated
I worked hard to keep my body constantly hydrated taking fresh spring water, flax tea, hydrating foods like short grain brown rice, flax & fish oils and no caffeine. I learned that proper hydration is a key factor for my health as water acts as a vital transporter of nutrients into my cells and crucially toxic waste out of my cells. If my body is dehydrated or stressed (as stress creates dehydration) my body will be in ‘fight or flight’ adrenal mode and will not effectively digest & assimilate vital nutrients, eliminate toxins or have the vitality that is needed for healing.

What helped you the most?

Giving myself permission to REST!
Having learned that the body can only heal itself when it is relaxed (& hydrated) I committed myself to practicing deep relaxation & mediation 2-3 times a day. Cancer triggers and can create many deep inner tensions which need to be consciously acknowledged and released as part of the healing process. This I did through using Dru Yoga, relaxation & affirmation work – all very important vehicles to continue the vital task of learning to completely love myself!

How did you enjoy your healing journey?

The best opportunity I have ever had…
It’s been a very exciting journey and I have learned so much about myself, about life & about health. It hasn’t been easy but it’s the best thing I have ever done – in the face of fear, negativity, anger, shame & injured pride, through trusting myself & my inner wisdom I have found my own strength. It’s such a great feeling I will never go back to my old ways of thinking & being.

And the good news is – you don’t have to have cancer to heal yourself, don’t wait – go for it!

For more details see my book ‘A Survivors Guide to Cancer’ available at here or at www.yamunaloyal.com

As the cold & damp weather slowly creeps in each year, lots of people approach me wanting advice on how to they can reduce their arthritic pain & inflammation.
There are many types of arthritis the most common being osteo-arthritis which can affect most joints in the body but most commonly manifests in hips, knees, ankles, feet, wrists & finger joints. Arthritis often occurs in joints which have been damaged by injury or weakened by another condition. Many people resort to medication but what are the other options? There are several principles which if understood and applied can reduce arthritic pain. If you have arthritis I challenge you to try these & let me know what happens!


PH BALANCE
Arthritic pain is present where there is an excess of acids which build up in the cells. Create a Ph balance by increasing alkalising foods especially apple cider vinegar, green vegetables, green barley grass, alfalfa sprouts & alfalfa seed tea, & by decreasing acid forming foods such as sugar, wheat, meat, dairy, caffeine & alcohol. Mrs A, one of our Dimensions customers shares her experience... 'I was in pain for years with arthritis & every time I got up from the chair it was painful. Since I have been taking Barley Grass for a month my pain has gone!’Â


CELL MEMBRANE HEALTH
Essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 & 9) are very important to keep the semi-permeable membranes of the cells open & healthy allowing nutrients & water to enter the cells & crucially, acids, toxins & waste products to leave. Take oily fish 3-4 times a week, 1-2000mg marine fish oil daily & raw oils 3-4 tsp per day such as olive, flax, hemp, pumpkin & avocado. Reduce cooked oils which contain no omegas and also create hardening in the cell membranes.


ELECTROLYTE BALANCE
Excess sodium in the cells can create inflammation & pain & excess calcium creates hardening - arthritis is a picture which reflects both of these To balance this out increase potassium which is found especially in green vegetables, even better taken raw in a green juice or smoothie - email me for the recipe. Most importantly increase your intake of magnesium which is lacking in our soil & therefore in our vegetables - the most enjoyable way to increase your magnesium is with regular 20 minute epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) baths, you can also take it internally as magnesium citrate.


LIVER HEALTH
The body will do its very best to eliminate toxins but if the main organ of elimination - the liver - is overloaded, the body will intelligently dump toxins as far away from our vital organs as possible. This is especially common in post-menopausal women, because menstruation as an exit route for toxins has been lost. Support the health of your liver with green barley grass powder, choline bitartrate & bitter herbs such as milk thistle or dandelion.


MOVEMENT
Exercise, especially the type that focuses on gentle movement of the joints such as yoga, increases blood flow & ensure the extremities can receive the nutrients & water that is needed for health as well as ensuring adequate elimination of toxins. Mental agility is also important, in mind-body medicine the emotional root of arthritis is said to lie in habitual inflexibility of the mind, holding on to old ideas or mental rigidity - so take up a hobby, learn something new and make new friends - especially ones that get you moving!


FOODS TO INCREASE
Foods with natural anti-inflammatory properties are abundant so make sure you include plenty of these in your diet especially ginger, turmeric & lemons plus those I mentioned above. Also herbs like devil's claw, boswellia, celery and arthritis supplements like glucosamine sulphate will work even more successfully if you apply these other tips! And don't forget to hydrate your body with 1.5l. water a day - ideally warm with cider vinegar or ginger!


FOODS TO DECREASE
Foods that exacerbate acids & toxins include potatoes, peppers, aubergine, oranges, refined products such as white flour & bread, all processed foods, fried foods and fizzy drinks. Make a food diary & note what you have eaten the day before your arthritis is worse or better. Remember everyone is different so don't give up - if you need further advice pop into your local health food shop or speak to a nutritionist who will be able to look at your inherent health picture & advise accordingly.

We'll be at the Yoga Show in Olympia – 30th, 31st October and 1st November at our usual stand – J1. We'll be be doing workshops, free classes & demos as well as offering free tasters of our Dru superfoods throughout the three days. If you’re considering the Dru Yoga Course, it’s a great place to come and try out some Dru Yoga and speak to the tutors. Plus there will be some exclusive specials on our Dru Retreat weekends in Snowdonia so do come along and say hi!

Dru workshops and lectures at the Yoga Show:

Julie Hotchkiss – Say goodbye to PMS - lecture 11.45 – 12.15 Saturday

Annie Jones – Dru meditation workshop – 2.00 -3.30pm Saturday

Lalita Doerstel – Mudras for health - open class 12.45 – 1.15 Saturday

Shona Sutherland – Dru Yoga Flow - open class - 3.45 – 4.15 Saturday

Annie Jones – Dru Yoga for Natural Weight Balance - lecture – 4.45 – 5.15 – Sunday

YogaAid has become an extra special feature at the Yoga Show which takes place at London’s Olympia Oct 30, 31 and Nov 1.

It aims to raise money for a range of charities, including the Prison Phoenix Trust, The Special Yoga Centre, MS Society and Yoga Africa Project. Last year’s event saw 150 yoga fans raise £20,000 completing 108 Sun Salutations during the three hour session and included Karen Ellen, an MS sufferer who has found the benefits of practising yoga and yoga breathing one of the best remedies for her symptoms, even enabling her to complete the London Marathon despite her illness!

The Yoga Show
30th, 31st October, & 1st November 2009
Olympia London

Opening Times
11am – 6.00 pm Fri
10am – 6.00pm Sat & Sun
www.theyogashow.co.uk tel: 01787 224040

Living in tune with the seasons was totally natural to our ancestors 100 years ago or more. In the 21st century with 24 hour shopping, internet, fast food & electric heat & light, we can easily ignore the seasons that governed the lifestyle of past generations if we choose. Here are a few tips that can help us align our eating, sleeping & living with the seasonal changes that autumn brings – try them & experience the difference in your health & wellbeing.

CHANGE - Autumn is a time of change, a season to let go of the past & embrace the new. Take a few minutes to ask yourself ‘what would I like to let go of at the moment, physically, emotionally & mentally?’ and ‘what new aspects & activities would I like to embrace in my life now eg. Taking up a new hobby or exercise class?’ Listen to your intuitive self & take action on at least one thing.

FOOD – Take the opportunity to enjoy the & wide range of local apples, pears, plums & berries that are in season now. Later on squashes, pumpkins & marrows are in abundance – all very hydrating & nutritious!

SLEEP – As the nights draw in try going to bed a little earlier & waking at dawn, around 6am feeling refreshed & energised! Remember an hours sleep before midnight is equivalent to two hours after.

DETOX – Around the autumn equinox the body has the tendency to naturally detoxify, this may manifest as a cold, flu or other acute symptoms. To optimise this natural inclination to cleanse, support your body by taking ½ tsp. barley grass powder a day, drinking 1.5 – 2l. water (can be warm with ginger) per day & epsom salt baths twice a week

TEMPERATURE – Be sensitive to the weather, here in the UK it can be cold & damp even in the middle of August (sob sob)– don’t freeze in your sun top & shorts just cos it's sunny! Wear warm & waterproof clothing when necessary.

NATURE – take time out to walk in nature & enjoy the changing of the seasons. In Chinese medicine the season of earth in August/September precedes the season of metal October/November. The organs related to these are; stomach, spleen & pancreas (earth) and colon, skin, lungs & mind (metal). If you have health challenges with these organs now is a great time to treat them naturally. For more info contact me or try a Dru Yoga class to improve your overall balance & health. www.druyogateacher.com

A healthy digestion is essential to really enjoy life! Unfortunately may people now suffer with symptoms classified as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) which can make life a misery.

IBS is one of those ‘new’ conditions that traditional medicine finds it difficult to help, it is primarily caused by stress and a modern day unnatural diet.

Symptoms of IBS are wide ranging and differ with each person, they generally include either abdominal pain or bloating after eating, diarrhoea and/or constipation and possible inflammation of the bowel.

It is entirely possible to eradicate IBS through diet, stress release & a little TLC in the form of understanding & listening to your own body.

If you suffer with IBS I challenge you to try these top tips and let me know how you get on1 All the best Julie.

RELAX BEFORE EATING!
Take time to relax before eating – either lie down & focus on your breathing or go for a walk outside. If you can’t relax at will - take a Dru Yoga class to learn how. When we are under stress – fight or flight emergency mode – blood flow to the gastro-intestinal tract is limited which compromises digestion. If you are cooking & can’t do that then take a few minutes to small & taste the food you are preparing – this stimulates digestive enzyme production. Alternatively take an appetiser ideally a small portion of salad or a light soup.

BREAKFAST LIKE A KING….
According to Chinese medicine 8am is the optimum time for the stomach to digest food. Make the most of this by having a hearty breakfast which includes good proteins to keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the morning. Then LUNCH LIKE A PRINCE…and make it early, the optimum time for the small intestine to absorb nutrients in midday!

FLOUR IS FLAWED
Remove wheat flour & all wheat products from your diet! Modern wheat is so hybrid now that it hardly digestible by the body. Try 100% rye or spelt bread, the sourdough type is the best as it is very low in yeast as candida is also common alongside IBS.

FIBRE FIBRE – WHICH TYPE?
Cut down on insoluble fibre such as wheat bran which can actually exacerbate IBS. Instead increase soluble fibre, this is found in oats, vegetables, fruit & seeds. Flax or linseeds are especially good as they contain lignins which can reduce inflammation in the gut wall and absorb excess toxins. A good way to take this is in flax tea: soak 1tsp. organic golden flax seeds (linseed) in 1L. water overnight. Simmer for 1 hour, strain into a jug & refrigerate keeps 2-3 days. Mix ½:½ with hot water to drink. Take 2 cups a day – morning & evening.

ENZYMES RULE…
Without enzymes digestion cannot happen & what we eat is ultimately wasted. Enjoy the aroma of food before you eat as well as chewing thoroughly both increase enzyme production. Also take ¼ tsp of enzyme rich barley grass powder in a little water or apple juice before each meal. If all else fails try a digestive enzyme supplement for a month or two until your body can relax enough to produce its own enzymes.

HYDRATE!
Keep relaxed and reduce inflammation by adding hydrating food & drink to your diet – short grain brown rice, soups, salads, vegetables & herbal/flax teas, and removing foods & drinks that dehydrate the body – coffee, tea, alcohol, sugar, refined carbs, spicy & salty foods.

Do you know someone who is unphased by many situations that totally stress you out?

It’s obviously in their ‘make up’ but what the physiological and nutritional story behind it and what can we do to enhance our physiological resistance to stress?

Potential stress triggers are everywhere all around us and if our central nervous system is in ‘fight or flight’ mode we will most likely respond to these situations as problems that need to be sorted out. If however our nervous system is in a balanced mode we will approach these potential stress triggers in a much calmer and more creative way and will see them as opportunities to learn instead. Read on to find out how to look after your body so your response to life is ACTION rather that REACTION…

1. Our Adrenals – Secrete the hormones adrenalin & cortisol in response to stress. This puts the body into protection mode so it is most able to ‘fight or flight’ for survival. When we are exposed to stress triggers on a constant basis the adrenals need extra support. Vitamin B5 (preferably as part of a B complex) along with Marine Fish Oils strengthen the adrenal glands and make them less sensitive in their response to stress.

2. Our Nervous System – Needs balance (between sympathetic & parasympathetic) to remain healthy. Meditation is the ideal tool for this. It doesn’t need to be boring, difficult or uncomfortable. It can help you focus your mind, keep calm and feel positive and uplifted. 10 minutes can make a huge difference. To try a simple Dru Meditation go to www.druworldwide.com/meditation

3. Our Lungs – Tend to under-function when we are stressed making us shallow breathers and depriving the body of much needed oxygen. Taking deep breaths of fresh air regularly through the day will reduce our stress levels and improve our mood!

4. Our Spine –Becomes dehydrated & stiff under stress. Make an effort to keep your body hydrated by drinking 1.5-2l. of pure water throughout the day as well as exercising the whole body daily with walking, swimming, yoga or a way that works for you – use it or lose it!

5. Our Pancreas – Can get exhausted under stress due to fluctuating blood sugar levels. Do your pancreas a favour, keep your blood sugar levels stable by having proteins & good fats at every meal, especially breakfast, reducing caffeine intake and by snacking on nuts & seeds which are full of stress combating nutrients including zinc and omega 6.

6. Our Brain – Gets rigid & fixed when we are stressed. Take at least half an hour a day to be creative & out of the box, sing, dance, paint have fun or play a game (not on the computer!) You’ll feel so much more relaxed afterwards due to the production of endorphins & other ‘happy hormones’.

7. Our Environment – Is full of toxins, chemicals, artificial hormones & electro-magnetic stress that deplete the body of the precious nutrients that protect it from stress. Take green superfoods daily to alkalise your body and keep it topped up with available magnesium, iron, beta carotene & many other precious antioxidants

One health goal of almost every client I see is either weight loss or weight gain. Surprisingly enough the answers to both challenges are similar. My initial approach to weight balance is to create homeostasis, the maintenance of a constant internal environment within the body, it is the optimum situation for our body’s intelligent and highly tuned processes to create balance in all areas of our health. The following tips are based on that principle & will help your body create the conditions where weight balance can happen gradually and safely.

1. Nutrients: Your body needs them! Eat three good meals a day, breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince & dinner like a pauper. Include protein at every meal plus wholegrains, fresh vegetables, especially greens & raw cold pressed oils to give your body plenty of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids & amino acids for metabolism. Eat organic where possible.

2. Relaxation! Being stressed on a regular basis encourages the body to deposit fat around the middle, waist & hips. If this is your tendency take action to de-stress using deep relaxation, Dru Yoga and walking. For more details see ‘Fat Around The Middle’ by Dr Marylin Glenville

3. Stablise blood sugar levels: Reduce cravings by taking meals & snacks that are high in proteins & good oils to provide slow release (GL) energy. Avoid refined carbs, especially white bread & sugar, do not eat carbs alone. Always read labels on packet or processed food & DO NOT shop when you are hungry!

4. Thyroid balance: Include foods high in iodine in your diet, fish, shell fish or sea vegetables. Oily fish or marine fish oil (do not take fish liver oil as it can be toxic) are high in EPA an easily absorbable form of omega 3 that is essential for the whole endocrine system & is especially good to support adrenal stress & thyroid function.

5. Reduce toxicity: Give your liver & colon a daily detox with a ‘Green Smoothie’ 1/2 cup fresh raw greens chopped eg spinach/kale/cabbage etc , ½ -1 tsp Barley Grass, 1 lrg apple or other fruit, chopped , 2 + cups water - add water to your preferred consistency , 1 tsp lecithin granules -optional, whizz in a blender - serves 2…or pop into Dimensions to try a free taster.

6. Exercise: Daily exercise will increase your metabolism as well as circulation, nutrient absorption & elimination. Your body is built to MOVE! Use it or lose it! Find something to suit you however gentle!

7. Believe in yourself! Many scientists including Candace Pert & Bruce Lipton, are now discovering the power of the mind. Emotional balance reflects in physical balance. Make it a priority to be relaxed and stress free – you are worth it!

Our skin is the body’s largest organ, it acts as a semi permeable barrier to protect us from the world, it is also an important organ of elimination. The health of our skin reflects our overall health.

Top tips to keep skin glowing & healthy to incorporate into your lifestyle – remember to create long term benefits, it doesn’t happen overnight..,

1. Hydration – If we are dehydrated, our skin is the first to suffer as the body’s intelligence redirects crucial fluids to the vital organs. Drink 1.5 – 2l. pure water a day & watch your skin love it!

2. Cold pressed oils – Any dryness in the skin shows a deficiency of essential fatty acids in the diet. Take raw oils 3-4 tsp per day such as olive, flax, hemp, pumpkin & avocado, reduce cooked oils which contain no omegas and create hardening in the cell membranes. Try this for 2 weeks – your skin will be soft & healthier.

3. Lecithin granules – otherwise known as phosphatidyl choline, is essential for cell membrane & nervous system health, 2 tsp per day will help your skin to retain a hydrated look

4. Epsom salt baths – provide magnesium sulphate which effectively eliminated excess acids and toxins from the body via the skin. They will also provide much needed magnesium, the body’s natural relaxant, to calm your skin. Start with 50g and build up slowly, especially in the case of dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis.

5. Liver boost – If your liver is underfunctioning it may show up as skin problems. Give it a boost with green barley grass which is FULL of antioxidants and chlorophyll.

‘I suffered with psorasis for 30 years. After less than a month of taking Dru Barley Grass & hemp oil my condition has greatly improved! Mr F, Gas Engineer

6. Colon cleanse – prevent reabsorption of toxins from the large intestine by ensuring that your bowels are eliminating properly – minimum 1-2 times a day! To encourage bowel movements soak 1 tsp golden linseed (flax) in ¼ cup water overnight & take 1st thing in the morning.

7. Relaxation – Staying relaxed support skin elasticity, maintaining hydration in the body by reducing the fight or flight release of damaging excess adrenal hormones. If you are a stress head give yourself a break and try deep relaxation and Dru Yoga.

8. Natural cosmetics & skin care – Read your labels carefully – if it contains, parabens, sodium laurel sulphate or other names too long to pronounce it’s very likely to be toxic, not only for your skin but the inner organs too!

Drink flax tea daily - esp. in the morning to rehydrate the body.

Recipe:

1. Soak 1 tsp. organic golden flax seeds (linseed) in 1L. water overnight.

2. Simmer for 1 hour, strain into a jug & refrigerate, keeps 2-3 days.

3. Mix ½:½ with hot water to drink.

The following are the health benefits associated with flax tea:

Flax tea may help enhance cardiovascular functions by lowering cholesterol levels and protecting against atherosclerosis.

Flax tea may be useful in fighting tumors, and hence, certain types of cancer.

Flax tea may be helpful in stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Flax tea may be helpful against disorders of the digestive system such as constipation and gastritis.

Flax tea may be helpful in prevention of colon damage.

Flax tea may be helpful in alleviating pain and tissue damage from such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and diverticulitis.

Flax tea may be helpful in the treatment of cough, sore throat, bronchitis, and pleurisy.

Flax tea contains lignins, a form of soluble fibre which absorbs toxic waste in the digestive system & reassures the colon that it is hydrated , therefore helping to prevent the body going on to adrenal alert or stress mode.

Up to 80 percent of the population has some degree of hair loss, and each year millions are spent on treatments and cures for the problem. Here are some easy tips to incorporate into your lifestyle for fabulous hair;

1. Without enough water to hydrate your body your hair may become dry, lifeless and brittle. Drink up to eight glasses of water a day to maintain optimum overall health. Your hair will thank you!

2. A wholesome diet, rich in silica, iodine & other minerals will help reduce or prevent hair loss. Green, leafy vegetables, especially sea vegetables, are good iodine sources. Raw oats, potatoes, peppers, cucumbers and bean sprouts provide silica. Studies in the former Soviet Union have shown that silica therapy slowed hair loss.

3. Omega fatty acids & vitamin E have been shown to be a key factor in skin, nail and hair health, so include these in your diet, as well - in the form of salmon, tuna or other fatty fish, flax, olive & wheatgerm oils, nuts, seeds & avocados.

4. For women, thinning or greying hair can be a sign of an underactive thyroid or insufficient hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach. Raw greens provide enzymes that stimulate thyroid function & are known to improve stomach HCL levels. These are best take in a GREEN SMOOTHIE:

1/2 cup fresh raw greens chopped eg spinach/kale/cabbage etc
½ -1 tsp Dru Barley Grass
1 lrg apple or other fruit, chopped
2 + cups water - add water to your preferred consistency
1 tsp lecithin granules -optional
whizz in a blender - serves 2

It's fabulously nutritious, vitalising & curbs cravings, take it twice a day for a week for noticeable effects.

5. For men, the balding process can be slowed down by balancing fats in the diet. Some scientists postulate that the male pattern baldness is tied to increased testosterone levels during puberty. I suggest a low in trans fats (hydrogenated vegetable oils) & high in essential fatty acids from fish, flax, seeds & nuts. In addition a small amounts of saturated fat, important for cell membrane, nervous system & endocrine health, to balance testosterone levels & support healthy hair follicles.

6. Anaemia is one of the most frequent causes of hair loss. Eat plenty of iron-rich foods, like whole grain cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, dates, raisins & cherry juice. Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron and the chlorophyll in barley grass will assist the uptake of iron. Eggs, fish, brewer's yeast, wheat germ & lecithin contain protein & B vitamins that also promote hair growth.

7. Use only natural hair products containing no artificial chemicals eg parabens or sodium lauryl sulphate, always read the label – if you can’t pronounce it leave it alone!

8. Reduce stress levels with deep relaxation & yoga which stimulate circulation of oxygenated blood to the scalp to improve hair growth & make you feel great!

New research indicates that Dru Yoga reduces stress in the workplace.

Dru Yoga teacher Ned Hartfiel, MSc, has been conducting a Dru Yoga research study at Bangor University North Wales. The study was looking at how effective Dru Yoga is in reducing stress and improving general wellbeing in the workplace. The study found that the 48 employees at Bangor University who practiced Dru Yoga for six weeks all reported feeling significantly more energised, happy and more confident in dealing with stress,. They were also found to be a lot more satisfied with life than their colleagues who did not take part in the study..

Here are some of the comments from the staff members at Bangor University after experiencing six weeks of lunchtime Dru Yoga.

“I am much less anxious and better able to deal with stress.”

“I have a more positive and relaxed approach to work after class.”

“My neck and hip are more supple. You’ve given me something to keep using as I get older.”

“I felt completely different in the afternoon following the class.”

“My breathing was much better, and I felt more calm and in tune with myself.”

These are only a few of the positive responses which demonstrate how effective Dru Yoga can be. You can contribute to the Dru research program by sending us your own testimonials about your experience of Dru Yoga.

Or if you haven't tried Dru Yoga yet & would like to experience it for yourself check out our fabulous retreats & courses at www.druworldwide.com or try it online at www.druyogaonlinestudio.com

If you are having sleep problems, whether you are not able to fall asleep, wake up too often, don't feel well-rested when you wake up in the morning, or simply want to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep, try these:

• Listen to a relaxation CD. Dru Deep Relaxation is a very effective one.

• Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. This will raise blood sugar and later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you may wake up and not be able to fall back asleep.

• Sleep in complete darkness or as close as possible. If there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and seratonin.

• No TV right before bed.It is too stimulating to the brain and it will take longer to fall asleep.

• Get to bed as early as possible. Our systems, particularly the adrenals, do a majority of their recharging or recovering during the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.

• Eat a high-protein snack several hours before bed. This can provide the L-tryptophan need to produce melatonin and serotonin.

• Also eat a small piece of fruit. This can help the tryptophan cross the blood-brain barrier.

• Avoid caffeine. A recent study showed that in some people, caffeine is not metabolized efficiently and therefore they can feel the effects long after consuming it.

• Avoid alcohol. Although alcohol will make people drowsy, the effect is short lived and people will often wake up several hours later, unable to fall back asleep. Alcohol will also keep you from falling into the deeper stages of sleep, where the body does most of its healing.

• Avoid foods that you may be sensitive to. This is particularly true for dairy and wheat products, as they may have effect on sleep, such as causing apnea, excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, and gas, among others.

• Don't change your bedtime. You should go to bed, and wake up, at the same times each day, even on the weekends. This will help your body to get into a sleep rhythm and make it easier to fall asleep and get up in the morning.

• Make certain you are exercising regularly. Exercising for at least 30 minutes everyday can help you fall asleep. However, don't exercise too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake. Studies show exercising in the morning is the best if you can do it.

• Establish a bedtime routine. This could include meditation, deep breathing, using aromatherapy or essential oils or indulging in a massage from your partner. The key is to find something that makes you feel relaxed, then repeat it each night to help you release the day's tensions.

1. Green Energy Smoothie: High in minerals, fibre and pure vitality. Blend 1/2 cup greens or 2 large green cabbage leaves, 1/2 cup fruit of your choice, 1+ cup water & 1 tsp. barley grass - recommended daily to feel fabulous!

2. Barley Grass & Apple Juice Shot: A favourite in our Dru Smoothie bar. Use organic, cloudy apple juice, which is alkalising and high in malic acid - great for muscle fatigue.

3. Green Goddess Dressing: Whisk together 2 tbl. olive oil, 2tbl. yogurt, 1 tbl. lemon juice, 1 tbl. tahini, 1 clove garlic crushed, 1 tsp. tamari, 1 tsp. basil dried, add 1 tsp. barley grass and season to taste.

4. Green Barley-Latte: Gently warm organic milk or rice milk to 60 degrees, pour into a glass and mix with 1 tsp. barley grass and 1 tsp. agave or maple syrup to taste….mmm….try it!

5. Fruit Salad Topping: Whisk 2 tbl. full fat yogurt, 1 tsp. barley grass, 1 tsp. bee pollen, 1 tsp. flax oil…so tasty and nutritious!

7. Neat - in a glass of spring water for high energy!

Send us your favourite recipes too!

The Dru team will be giving demonstrations, free classes, workshops and mentoring sessions at the Yoga Show at Olympia, London from October 31st to November 2nd. We will be on stand H38 near the food area and have 30 free day tickets available! Please email us back if you’d like a ticket – up to 2 per person only.

Free Dru Yoga classes and demonstrations will be happening all day at Stand H38, or come along to our workshops which are listed at the bottom of this email. Some of our top tutors will be offering mentoring at the special yoga show rate of £30 for 30 minutes.

Chris Barrington - Chakra analysis

Chris has spent nearly thirty years working with Yoga, Meditation, and the sciences of self development. Chakra analysis is a powerful method of determining what the internal state of energy is in the physical and subtle bodies. Chris uses his unique insight into the chakras to enable him to determine where the energy blocks are in your life and give you the best advice and practices to help you to restore flow and balance at every level.

Chris Barrington - Jyotish

This is the name given to the science of astrology as it is practised in India. Complementary to western astrology, Jyotish focuses upon determining the external influences that the cosmos has on us and providing formulae to bring balance to those energies. Most of us are unaware just how much we are affected by planetary influences, and sometimes when things seem too much, it can be caused by a combination of negative influences that just needs to be balanced in order to relieve it.

Coby Langford – Dru Yoga for back pain

Coby is a British trained osteopath, Registered with the General Osteopathic council, and The British Osteopathic association. She has carried out post-graduate studies in cranial osteopathy in America and the UK. Coby qualified at the age of 18 as a Dru Yoga Instructor, and went on to study Osteopathy to further her understanding of the musculoskeletal system. She now combines the two approaches of Osteopathy and Yoga to provide patients with home programs for self management of back pain. Her unique holistic approach to controlling back pain stems from her naturopathic training.

Julie Hotchkiss – Nutrition for cellular health

A nutrition and health consultation involves an in-depth analysis of your current and past diet and lifestyle as well as your family health history which reveals specific factors that are influencing your present health situation. Dru Natural Nutrition is about giving back to an individual, control of your own health and enabling you to see and feel what is going on and respond accordingly. It provides the tools and knowledge to support, rather than suppress, every human being’s great healing potential.

Louise Rowan - Manifest your reality!

Ever feel like you’re stuck and not sure which way to go in life? Here is your solution! Tried and tested, this powerful technique combining movement, visualization, affirmation & mudra will help you to dissolve any fear that is stopping you from moving forward, step into your own power & self confidence and make your dreams a reality.

‘I practiced this 5 min technique every morning for 2 months and all my goals came true. I now have a wonderful boyfriend, a new home and a new job with exactly the salary I asked for in the technique. It really works!’ Sarah, London

All sessions are £30 for 30 mins, Jyotish and nutrition sessions are also available at £60 for an hour. You can pre-book via email or visit the stall to talk to the tutors.

Dru Yoga & Meditation workshops at the Yoga Show

Friday 1.45 – 2.05pm Chants and Mantras for Inner Power with Jane Clapham

Demo Stage (Turn right when you come into the main entrance)

Friday – 4.20 – 4.40pm – Dru Yoga Dance Demo

Main Stage (opposite the main entrance by the Dru Yoga stand!)

Friday – 5.00 – 5.45pm - Dru Yoga for a Healthy back with Coby Langford

Workshop area 4 (upstairs)

Saturday - 2.50 – 3.10pm – Dru – Yoga of the Heart Chakra with Louise Rowan

Demo Stage (Turn right when you come into the main entrance)

Saturday - 5.30 – 5.50pm – Yoga for all Seasons with Nanna Coppens

Demo Stage (Turn right when you come into the main entrance)

Sunday 10.30 – 10.50am – Dru Yoga Dance Demonstration

Main Stage (opposite the main entrance by the Dru Yoga stand!)

Sunday 2.00 – 2.20pm – Healing Mudras with Lalita

Demo Stage (Turn right when you come into the main entrance)

Sunday 2.00 – 3.00pm – Dru Dance taster Session with Nanna Coppens

Workshop area 4 (upstairs)

Sunday 4.30 – 5.30pm – Sound and Dru meditation with Chris Barrington

Workshop area 3 (upstairs)

See you there!

IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH at our informative & inspirational NATURAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS


Date: Every Wednesday 22 Oct to 26 Nov

Time: 7 - 8.30pm

Place: Dimensions Health Store
15 Holyhead Road, Upper Bangor.
LL57 2EG (opposite the Greek Taverna)

Cost: 7.50 per session (concs. 5.00) Includes a fabulous Dru Superfood smoothie

£35 (£25) for 6 - if paid in advance

Call into the shop, email or phone to book your place 01248 351562

22 October – LOOK GOOD, FEEL YOUNG!
Learn to slow the ageing process with a 4-step plan to create cellular health.
Bring your health questions!
Julie Hotchkiss - Nutrition Consultant, Dimensions

29 October – ETHICAL FOOD
Why I chose to set up an ethical business. It is possible with creativity and determination.
Mike Batton - Geo Organics

5 November– A HEALTHY DIGESTION = A HEALTHY BODY
Simple movements and techniques to support the digestive processes so we can fully assimilate the nutrients from our food.
Petie Opsteeg & Sandra Leary - Dru Yoga Studio

12 November – NUTRITIONAL STRESS BUSTERS
Improve your Health at the deepest cellular level to enhance well being and reduce stress levels & overcome addictions!
Bring your health questions!
Julie Hotchkiss - Nutrition Consultant, Dimensions

19 November – AYURVEDA FOR HEALTH & WELLBEING
Learn about the ayurvedic approach to health & which herbs & nutrients will best support your personal health.
Karen MacKay - Pukka Herbs

26 November – CHRISTMAS COOKING DEMO
Make delicious and nutritious dishes from cheap easy to use ingredients.
Keith Squires - Expert vegetarian chef, Snowdonia Mountain Lodge

According to John from Huddersfield Barley Grass has helped him tremendously in his efforts to climb the rankings in the bodybuilding world. He says;

‘I have been taking the Dru Barley Grass 2 or 3 times a day for 10 months now, it has helped me unbelievably as a body builder. My physique is unbelievably stronger fitter and healthier because of it. I have no pain in my joints at all – it’s very powerful stuff! Being a top body builder means that you have to be in top shape, theres no room for flaws to be one of the best you have to work so hard. It's not just training its eating and getting plenty of rest, the guys who train with me know I can go, I have that reputation and it comes from eating sleeping and training well and believing I can do it!'

John, Top Jr. Bodybuilder UK

One of the side effect of exercise is the formation of free radicals when oxygen interacts with other molecules - endurance exercise can increase oxygen utilization over a resting state and therefore the number of free radicals in the body. Free radicals lead to cell damage in the body tissue including muscle. Antioxidants are nature's defense against these agents. Your body has a defense system which utilizes antioxidants to neutralize free radicals. Help build that defence with Green Barley Grass which provides strong antioxidant support, it is rich in chlorophyll and contains enzymes which play an important role in supporting the digestive processes and nutrient assimilation.

Julie's Health & Nutrition workshops at the event;

Join me in exploring truly holistic approaches that recognise disease as a powerful and positive opportunity for change and development.

Tues 19th pm
LOOK GOOD – FEEL YOUNG
Learn to slow the aging process with a 4 step plan to create cellular health.

Wed 20th am
NUTRITIONAL STRESS BUSTERS
Improve your health at the deepest cellular level to enhance wellbeing and reduce stress levels.

Wed 20th pm
SAY GOOD-BYE TO PMS
A brilliant combination of gentle Dru Yoga and practical health tips to balance your hormones naturally.

Fri 22nd am
VITALITY HEALTH KICK
Build your long term health with organic diet, vital lifestyle and natural nutrition.


For details of the full workshop programme see www.druconference.com

Perfect for summer trips & trekking...our new flavour Dru Miracle Bars give you yummy raw, organic nutrition & energy!

'The Dru Miracle Bar is a meal in itself, giving you the nutrition & energy you need for long distance walking, it's small, easy to carry, genuinely healthy and really nice - the best snack bar around in my opinion!'
Steph, Backpacker, Hinkley

Both with Moringa from the African 'Miracle Tree' try 'orange & ginger' & 'goji choc protein' flavours of THE SNACK THAT GIVES BACK!

Thse raw, organic, natural food bars are tasty and nutritious. What’s more we give back 10% of the net profit to PureActions a charity that supports children’s projects in East Africa where the inspiration for the miracle bar originated.

Miracle Bars are uncooked to preserve the complete nutritional spectrum. In addition to superfoods they contain a combination of seeds, fruit and nuts, Dru have created nutrition-led bar that also tastes great. To preserve the high Essential Fatty Acid content of the bars they have been left uncooked, as the EFA's are easily damaged by heat.

Produced under organic standards
Soil Association Organic certification UK4

Handmade in Wales by Dru Natural Foods

‘Dru is a graceful flowing yoga that benefits everybody!’ JM, Leeds

Wondering whether Dru Yoga is for you?
Thinking of starting a yoga teacher training course?

Then roll up your yoga mat and come along to a free introductory Dru Yoga workshop in a city near you. You'll meet some of our top yoga teachers, experience Dru Yoga for yourself and find out more about the Dru Yoga training course. These two or three hour Dru Yoga taster workshops take place around the UK, from London to Aberdeen, and include flowing Dru Yoga sequences, re-vitalising yoga positions, relaxations for stress-relief and a taste of Dru meditation techniques.

Whether you're a yoga beginner or want an intermediate yoga course, the free workshop will give you a taste of Dru Yoga's fresh, energetic, positive and complete approach to health and well being.

To reserve your place go to www.druworldwide.com

Recharge your batteries at the Dru Yoga & Wellbeing Conference
Are you looking for a yoga holiday or a meditation retreat this summer? The Dru Yoga & Wellbeing Conference is an energising and relaxing alternative to the usual summer getaway – which can often be stressful in itself.
Book Online at;

www.druconference.com

“Try something different this summer. The Dru Conference will provide everything you need to revitalise your life: gentle yoga, relaxation, meditation, massage and much more – all in a beautiful setting.” Mary Raftery - Australia

Over five days from the 18 to 23 August 2008 (or alternatively, a single-day taster) in the beautiful 80-acre campus of Epsom College, you'll have the chance to learn yoga and meditation techniques, whether you're just starting out or are at a more advanced level. You can also learn the benefits of nutrition and natural health, discover practical and sustainable ways to create positive wellbeing, and much, much more – as well as simply unwinding in gorgeous, relaxing surroundings at the end of the day.

A TYPICAL DAY AT THE CONFERENCE

7.30-8.30am yoga, meditation, fitness,swimming

9.00am breakfast

10.30-12.30pm programmes & workshops

1.00pm lunch

3.00-5.00pm main session or workshops

6.00pm dinner

7.30-9.30pm evening entertainment &

1-1 coaching, therapies, guided relaxation, swimming, tennis, walking...

The conference is designed to cater for varied levels of experience and requirements. You can choose a core programme from six options which you'll follow every morning:

1. Dru Experience
2. Positive Health at Work
3. Dru Meditation Retreat
4. Dru Yoga Retreat
5. Dru Yoga Summer School
6. Dru Dance certificated course

In the afternoons you can choose a workshop (which you book on arrival at the Conference), enjoy the beautiful surroundings or book a one to one mentoring or therapy.

“This is more than a holiday. This touches you on another level and gives you lots of practical help to improve your health and wellbeing. It's great fun too!” Joanne C, UK

RELAXING VENUE
Epsom College is set in 80 acres of parkland and has great sports and outdoor facilities. It as easy road and train access from central London and Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

WONDERFUL EXTRAS
You'll have free access to leisure facilities (incl. tennis, squash, swimming, fitness and walking). You can also book relaxing therapies and individual coaching and of course we’ll bring our extensive yoga shop along!

www.druconference.com

My darling,

I’ve been meaning to write to you for a long time now, to explain how I feel, to divert your attention to me. For years now we have been partners to life’s journey, for better and for worse. Lately, so it feels to me, something hasn’t been going right. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one putting an effort into this relationship. It frustrates me, it weakens me, but you ignore it, you postpone this conversation that we need to have, you avoid me.

Everything I say in this letter I have tried to tell you in the past in countless ways, but I must not have said it clearly enough, or perhaps you weren’t listening. So please, take some time off, read this letter, and I can only hope that when you finish reading it, you’ll go back to being my wonderful, special beloved.

My darling,

Our first years together were wonderful. You loved me, I loved you, we were happy. Then things started changing, slowly and gradually. I think the crunch came during that mountain trip we took together, when I felt trust between us had really reached rock bottom. You and I have always hated smoking. We hated the smell, the taste, the suffocation. But during that trip, while flirting with the guide, you thought you were making a big impression and lit a cigarette. I coughed, I spluttered, I nearly choked – but you carried on regardless. I was then that I’d realised you hadn’t been listening to me for a long time.

It carried on at Uni. You know I am all for studying and advancing yourself in life. I’ve tried to help you as best I could. I helped you study your material; breathed in deep with you before each and every exam; came up with creative ideas on your behalf. I even accepted plain sandwiches for lunch instead of real food. But sitting in front of the computer every night till 3am? You know I like you in bed at these hours.

Then you started working hard. Hard? Barely did we have the chance to grab a cup of coffee together in the morning, and you were out of the door, running to change the world. And us? What about the change that we need?! I swallow all your anger, frustration, negative emotions. And what do I get in return?

We wanted kids, so you fell pregnant. As always, I helped you as best I could (and I think I did a great job, by the way). But you carried on eating at ridiculous hours, you continued running around like crazy, you forgot all about me. I started communicating to you that I was finding it hard. You called it ‘psychosomatic’ and ignored me. After the birth, the baby became the centre of your world; I understand that, but you forgot all about me. No trips, no rest, no sleep, no laughing, no home-made food. Just work, nerves, stress. And I dropped hints; I swear I did. Thick ones. But you just carried on regardless.

I tell you I want to go to bed – you want to watch TV.
I tell you I’d like us to go for a walk on the beach – you’re surfing the ‘net.
I need a doctor – you schedule another meeting.
I’m desperate for some good, simple soup – you give me biscuits.
My head is exploding – you ignore me. At most you tell me to take some paracetamol, you don’t even bother asking why it hurts.
I am exhausted – you tell me we must attend this office function.
And when we finally did something together – took out a gym membership – you demanded that we go every day and work out silly.
I don’t deserve this. And nor do you. I can’t go on like this.

My darling, I am begging you.
We’ve got a few more good years to spend together.
I want to be happy, to make you happy, to laugh, to love, to make love, to be healthy, to enjoy life.
I need you for that. And together we need to make a change.
Maybe you think it’s all lost, that I’ve grown too old, that the extra kilos will never disappear, that the knee pains will persist forever, that the chronic tiredness will never go. That’s not true.

Just give me the chance, I’ll show you how I go back to being young and happy.
And when I’m young and happy, you’ll be the happiest of them all.

I love you to the depths of my soul,

Yours forever,

Did you spot the green barley grass smoothie on Channel 4 News 1st May 2008?

The piece draws a parallel between complex financial products and the many ingredients that combine to make a smoothie. This interesting business and finance report highlighting the perils of risky lending was filmed at our Dru Cafe - Greens & Beans in Euston.

If you missed it you can catch the piece entitled ‘Credit crunch can still bite’ at:


http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/credit+crunch+could+still+bite/2118347

Dru Barley Grass is everywhere these days.

A universal panacea? We love to hear your success stories and you can see everyone else's at:

http://www.dimensionshealthstore.com/info/customerexperiences.html

See Dru at The Vitality Show, Olympia, London 27-30 March 2008.

*Experience a Dru workshop - over 12 to choose from.

*Watch great demos of Dru Yoga & Dru Dance.

*Visit our stand Y15 - upstairs next to the yoga stage - try our delicious, healthy Miracle Bars and Barley Grass green energy drink.

Dru Yoga... is a graceful and potent form of yoga, based on soft flowing movements, directed breathing and visualisation. With its foundations set firmly in ancient yogic tradition, Dru works on body, mind and spirit—improving strength and flexibility, creating core stability, building a heightened feeling of positivity, and deeply relaxing and rejuvenating your whole being.

Dru Dance... is a more energetic stress busting form of Dru Yoga that blends the benefits of yoga and dance. Move with music from funk to soothing rhythms, it's invigorating, exhilarating and guaranteed to wipe away any cobwebs!

Your free ticket needs to be collected from our Dru Cafe - Greens & Beans, 131 Drummond St.London NW1 2HL. Please CALL 1st to ensure availability as it is limited - 1st come 1st served - 020 7380 0857 and ask for Shona.

Can't make the show? Try one of our Taster Workshops around the UK - sign up for free www.druworldwide.com

Retailers recognised at HFI awards lunch - February 22, 2008
NATURAL products retailers from all over Britain and Ireland mixed with suppliers and industry supporters in London last month at the Health Food Institute Annual Lunch and Lecture.

The Annual Lunch — attracting around 100 people — is aimed at recognising excellence in health food retailing, and strengthening the message about the importance of training.

Three new HFI Fellows were announced at the lunch, in recognition of the outstanding commitment from each of them to strengthening the health food trade. They are:

Julie Hotchkiss, Dimensions Health
Jill Bell, Well & Good
Erica Murray, The Hopsack

There were also four HFI Awards announced at the lunch: The Teddie Marston Award went to Finn Murray of the Hopsack; The Jimmy Lee-Richardson Diploma Award went to Aoife Calman of Evergreen; and the Jimmy Lee-Richardson Development Award went to Muriel McMurray of Ashdene Health. The James Henry Cook Award went to leading natural health guru Jan de Vries.

Jan de Vries also delivered this year’s Jack Noah Memorial Lecture. Talking on the theme of The Health Food Trade Past, Present and Future, he said that the trade should expect “major changes” when the Herbals Directive comes fully into effect after 2010.

de Vries warned that many of the trade’s “bread and butter” products could be lost if manufacturers didn’t get key products registered by the fast-approaching 2009 deadline. However, he also reflected on “our wonderful industry”, commenting: “I am in my 70s now, but I am going to fight on for what we all believe in and what I am so proud to be a part of.”

Do you want to be healthy?
Drinking soda is bad for your health in so many ways; science can’t even state all the consequences. Here’s what happens in your body when you assault it with a Coke:

Within the first 10 minutes:
10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. This is 100 percent of your recommended daily intake, and the only reason you don’t vomit as a result of the overwhelming sweetness is because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor.

Within 20 minutes:
Your blood sugar spikes, and your liver responds to the resulting insulin burst by turning massive amounts of sugar into fat.

Within 40 minutes:
Caffeine absorption is complete; your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, and your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream.

Around 45 minutes:
Your body increases dopamine production, which stimulates the pleasure centers of your brain – a physically identical response to that of heroin, by the way.

After 60 minutes:
You’ll start to have a sugar crash.

Dru Yoga is on Sky every other day at the moment. Check out Channel 197, which is called Life One, and the Dru Yoga DVD features for half an hour three times a week. So if you’ve not seen the graceful flowing movement of Dru Yoga yet, have a look:

Thursday 13th December – 1.30pm

Saturday 15th December – 9.00am

Monday 17th December – 8.30am

Patrick Holford explains why diet is more effective than statins in lowering cholesterol


A recent study (1) offered evidence that statins can halt and even reverse the progression of heart disease. The results were widely reported across the press and Professor Roger Boyle, the government heart tsar, declared that statins are so safe and effective that ideally every man over 50 and every woman over 65 should be taking them.

Statin prescriptions have risen by 150% in England in the past 5 years and the National Institute of Clinical and Health Excellence (NICE) recommend that statin therapy is offered to all adults with a 20% risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years (2).


But what is the truth about statins? A growing number of experts are raising doubts about the safety and effectiveness of statins.

One study found that men over 69 didn't benefit from taking the statins at all, they didn't live longer and didn't have fewer heart attacks and women of any age didn't benefit either (3).

In addition there are side effects, including muscle pain and weakness, which are unsurprising when you look at what statins do. Statins work by blocking the production of 'bad' LDL cholesterol in the liver and in doing so block a vital substance called co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

Among other things CoQ10 is vital for energy production in the muscles. Controlled trials have shown that it has a remarkable ability to improve heart function (4,5) and is now the treatment of choice in Japan for congestive heart failure, angina and high blood pressure.

To prevent or treat cardiovascular disease take CoQ10 every day and make changes to your lifestyle and diet, focusing on a low glycemic-load diet and making sure you eat the right sort of fat such as Omega 3 found in oily fish.

Whilst statins work by reducing the 'bad' cholesterol, there is a vitamin which will raise the levels of HDL 'good' cholesterol. This is the B vitamin niacin (B3). A number of studies show that it is effective not only in raising HDL by as much as 35%, but also in reducing LDL by up to 25%. In comparison, statins only raise HDL by between 2% and 15%.

Check your homocysteine levels as high levels in the blood increase risk of stroke mortality. Fortification of flour with folic acid (an important homocysteine-lowering B vitamin) in Canada and the US has coincided with a considerable drop in heart attack and stroke rates of between 10% and 15%. Translated into UK terms, that means that increasing folic acid intake could actually save more than 5000 lives a year. And if folic acid is taken for three years, it can lower stroke risk by 31%, according to a recent analysis of all trials, published in The Lancet (6).

As well as folic acid, other B vitamins - B2, B6 and B12 - also help to lower homocysteine, along with zinc and a nutrient called TMG (trimethylglycine). These nutrients are found in greens, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and root vegetables. Cutting back on alcohol and coffee, reducing stress and stopping smoking will also help to reduce homocysteine.

Eat plenty of food rich in magnesium and supplement 300g, as it improves heart muscle function and lowers blood pressure (7). The richest source of this mineral is dark green vegetables, nuts and seeds, especially pumpkin seeds. Plant sterol and soluble fibre both have a cholesterol-lowering effect so eat more seeds, nuts and beans, especially soya, oats, barley and aubergines.

Dru Miracle Bar - with Moringa from the African 'Miracle Tree'

THE SNACK THAT GIVES BACK!

This raw, organic, natural food bar is tasty and nutritious. What’s more we give back 10% of the net profit to PureActions a charity that supports children’s projects in East Africa where the inspiration for the miracle bar originated.

The Miracle Bar is uncooked to preserve its complete nutritional spectrum. By using a combination of seeds, fruit and nuts, Dru have created nutrition-led bar that also taste great. Because of the high Essential Fatty Acid content of the bars they have been left uncooked, as the EFA's are easily damaged by heat.

Ingredients:
Sunflower seeds* 32.6%
Pumpkin seeds* 10.9%
Raisins* 28.5%
Almonds* 10.9%
Dates* 9.4%
Apple Juice Concentrate* 4.3%
Dru Barley Grass*1.7%
Moringa leaf powder 1.3%
Cardamon* 0.3%
Vanilla essence* 0.1%


* organically certified ingredients
Produced under organic standards
Soil Association Organic certification UK4


Biodegradable wrapper

Handmade in Wales by Dru Natural Foods

Recent findings on barley grass have shown that it contains superior levels of SOD (super oxide dismutase). SOD is the key antioxidant enzyme which helps to clear the cells from radiation, chemicals, pollutants and other toxins.

If one or more of the following apply then you or members of your family you may benefit from including barley grass in your diet:
* Do you use a mobile phone?
* Do you use wi-fi at work or home
* Do you use a microwave?
* Do you watch TV for more than 2 hours daily?
* Do you use a computer on a daily basis?
* Do you exhibit signs of premature aging?
* Do you suffer from degenerative illness?
* Do you eat a diet high in processed foods?
* Do you suffer from arthritis?
* Do you live in a major city?
* Do you spend 2 hours or more daily in traffic?
* Are you exposed to poor quality air daily?
* Do you travel a lot?
* Do you have amalgam fillings?
* Do you drink tap water regularly?
* Do you live near electricity pylons?

If 1-3 of the above apply to you, you may benefit from including small dosages of barley grass in your diet.

If 4-10 of the above apply to you, you may benefit from including barley grass on a regular basis, perhaps a course of barley grass daily for 3 months.

If 10-15 of the above apply to you, regular consumption of barley grass for 6-9 months may benefit you greatly.

MiracleBar highlights nutritional hope for Africa

The Dru MiracleBar is a raw, organic, nutritious and actually really tasty, new snack! This delectable treat is a powerhouse of nutrition due to the raw seeds, nuts and fruit it contains as well as barley grass powder and moringa leaf powder from the ‘miracle tree’.

Moringa Oleifera, also known as the ‘miracle tree’ in Africa and the ‘drumstick tree’ in India, is highly nutritious, it can purify water and has the potential to reduce malnutrition in the developing world. It's cheap, full of nutrients and grows anywhere – even in the most arid soil.

Julie Hotchkiss of Dru Natural Foods was inspired after a visit to East Africa last year. She said ‘It was a real eye opener seeing how most people lived. Having a background in nutrition and seeing the benefits that ‘superfoods’ such as our green barley grass have made to people’s health in Europe encouraged me to look carefully at what was available there. Everywhere I asked, the same answer came back ‘have you heard about moringa?’ As soon as I returned back to work at Dru we began the creative process of seeing what we could make from moringa and eventually came up with the idea of the MiracleBar.'

‘The moringa we add to our MiracleBar is purchased from co-operatives in Muteesa, near Kampala, Uganda at a fairly traded price. We give back 10% of the net profit from all MiracleBar sales to support projects in villages that grow and use moringa in East Africa. In that way we can encourage the growing of the Miracle Tree and increase awareness of its uses and benefits. In Muteesa School, where 270 local children receive free schooling and food, moringa leaf is included daily in the school lunches.’ Said Julie.

Moringa sounds like magic. It can rebuild weak bones, enrich anaemic blood and enable a malnourished mother to nurse her starving baby. Ounce for ounce, it has the calcium of four glasses of milk, the Vitamin C of seven oranges and the potassium of three bananas and triple the iron of spinach. A dash of moringa can make dirty water drinkable. Doctors use it to treat diabetes in West Africa and high blood pressure in India. Not only can it staunch a skin infection, moringa makes an efficient fuel, fertilizer and livestock feed.

‘Here at Dru we believe in giving back and we have created the MiracleBar so that every time one is bought it directly benefits families in Africa. That's why we call it ‘The Snack that Gives Back!’’ said Julie. ‘Not to mention giving great nutrition and the inimitable ‘feelgood’ factor to anyone who eats one – I believe it is an icon for the future of nutrition and health for all!’

1. Skin rejuvenation – According to Chinese medicine, substances are classified into high, medium and low-grade drugs. The low-grade drugs work as toxicants, the medium-grade drugs work as either toxicants or curing agents while the high-grade drugs are natural foods that bring the functions of the internal organs back to a normal state.

2. Raw vegetables, especially green vegetables contain abundant minerals, enzymes and vitamins that will revitalize the body’s cellular structure. As one of the foods that contain an abundant amount of nutrients, Green Barley Leaf powder is classified as a high-grade food/drug that will rejuvenate the skin by improving the function of internal organs

3. Helps Overweight – The best method of weight control is to promote the action of enzymes. Enzymes activate the body’s natural fat burning process by stimulating the lipid metabolism. When taken three times a day as part of a sensible diet and exercise program Green Barley will neutralise the acidity of body fluids, invigorate the function of the thyroid gland, the gland that controls the body’s metabolic rate, and improve the body’s digestive ability.

4. Effective Against Constipation – It is said that good eating, good sleeping and good evacuation are the three barometers of health. If unbalanced, disease may occur. Habitual constipation, which is frequently found in people over the age of forty, is due mainly to reduced mobility in the large intestine and the reduced muscular power of the body as a whole. Green Barley dissolves in water making it easy to assimilate and its many active ingredients promote the mobility of the intestinal tract and the associated muscles required for evacuation.

5. Lower Cholesterol Levels – Case studies have shown that Green Barley is very effective in reducing cholesterol levels as well as suppressing cholesterol absorption. One of the substances found in Green Barley, beta sitosterol, is currently being used in Japan to treat patients with high cholesterol levels.

6. May inhibit cell mutation – Cancer occurs when normal cells mutate. External carcinogenic substances such as radiation and chemicals can cause this mutation while toxins found in charbroiled meat and fish, benzpyrene and fukinotoxin, are examples of ingested carcinogens. Through exhaustive tests in both Japan and the US, it has been found that Green Barley Leaf powder contains enzymes known as peroxidase that suppresses the carcinogenic effects of introduced substances and helps to prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous.

7. Balances blood sugar level – Diabetes is a complex disease because once it has developed it is difficult to completely cure. Contributing factors include obesity, bad eating habits and lack of exercise. Diabetes occurs when the supply of insulin, a type of hormone secreted by the pancreas, is deficient. Research has shown that not only does Green Barley Leaf powder function in much the same way as insulin and balances sugar levels, but that it helps to heal the blood vessel damage caused by diabetes.

8. Other Ailments – Green Barley has also been found to assist in relieving asthma, dermatitis, liver disease, blood acidification and allergies, while the high level of chlorophyll is a natural body deodorant.

A new Smoothie Bar providing nutritious fast food, was officially opened in Bangor this week, by The Mayor councillor Derek Hainge and
outgoing Mayor, councillor Douglas Madge. After cutting the official ribbon and opening the bar, which has been created in Dimensions Health Store, the councillors and everyone present were
treated to a wide choice of wonderfully healthy smoothies made from the finest organic and natural ingredients. Dimensions in-store Nutritionist, Julie Hotchkiss said 'According to the latest research up to 3.6 million
people in Britain are suffering from malnutrition with growing numbers being
treated for deficiency diseases. From a nutritional perspective, smoothies
made of fresh organic fruit, vegetables and superfoods are the perfect fast food as they contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals as well as soluble fibre which are deficient in the diets of many of those who are chronically ill or have a pre-disposition to chronic illness.'

Up to 3.6 million people in Britain are suffering from malnutrition with growing numbers being treated for deficiency diseases, reports The Independent.

Research carried out by the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) has revealed that malnutrition currently costs the NHS more than £7.3 billion a year. This is double the estimated cost of treating obesity related disease in Britain.

BAPEN says that up to 6% of the population could be suffering from malnutrition and serious vitamin and mineral deficiencies caused by poor diet. They say that the problem is being fuelled by a growing reliance on pre-prepared foods and falling levels of micronutrients in fresh fruit and vegetables. Vitamin levels were also being compromised by binge drinking, excess sugar consumption and drug use.

The latest figures available (2002) showed that 2,729 people in English hospitals were diagnosed with malnutrition. Worrying numbers were suffering conditions usually found in the poorest parts of Africa.

Dr Mike Stroud, senior lecturer at the Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, told The Independent: “The modern diet is not providing enough vitamins. Malnourishment is going to make you more vulnerable to illnesses and less able to cope with them. The medical profession is only just beginning to take on board the implications.”

Coby Langford runs Soothe Clinic - the muscle and joint pain specialists in the heart of Manchester. Soothe reccommend Dru Barley Grass to the majority of their clients.

'There is a product called Dru Barley Grass, that we recommend to everyone we meet. It comes as a powder; you place just ½-1 teaspoon of dried Barley Grass in juice or water each day.
Drinking this has an all-over body anti-inflammatory effect and can help ease the pain of inflammation in all your joints.

1) Barley grass is very high in organic sodium which keeps calcium in solution
in the bloodstream and also dissolves calcium deposited on the joints making
it an excellent treatment for people who suffer from arthritis.
2) P4D1 offers steroid like effects.
3) The content of SOD (super oxide dismutase) raises free-radical protection
4) Barley grass are abundant in mucopolysaccharides (MPs) which are amino-sugars. These are known for strengthening connective tissue making them more elastic and resilient. They also protect the vascular system.
5) Chlorophyll acts as a natural antacid.

Not only that - the general
effects of drinking Barley Grass are:
improved digestion, generalized body detox, weight loss and improved concentration - not bad huh!'

Soothe™ Clinic: 3rd Floor 49 King Street, Manchester, M2-7AY, UK.
www.sootheclinic.com

'This is Lili my donkey taking part in the Palm Sunday parade this year' writes Shani from Derbyshire 'I rescued Lili along with her friend Angelo from Athens 3 years ago, she is in her forties and sometimes her kidneys are not 100% so we have been giving her Green Barley Grass for about 6 months now and she seems much improved. I also take it and have noticed an increased energy level'

In trials in the USA, barley grass has been given to hundreds of animals at shelters, veterinarians' offices, and private homes, where it was added to regular food. Within as few as 10 days of continued use, the majority of dog owners were pleased to note that their pets' coats were now shiny and lustrous, bad breath was eliminated, and dogs of all ages became more energetic and playful. Even the most stubborn and long-term skin problems disappeared.

Barley grass, the botanical name of which is hordeum, is proving to be an extremely valuable remedy for a host of complaints. It contains an active ingredient called proanthocyanidin - a powerful plant chemical that works at a cellular level. It is able to prevent cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals and other toxins, and helps protect immune system cells - thereby reducing the risk of inflammation, infection and cancer.1
More recently, researchers from the School of Bioresources, University of Andong in Korea, isolated yet another potent plant chemical in hordeum (barley grass) called lunasin. Also present in soya, lunasin is renowned for its ability to prevent skin cancer cells from multiplying.
Better still, the Korean scientists discovered that hordeum (barley grass) is a particularly rich source of lunasin, and when they conducted further laboratory studies they found it was able to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells too. While these preliminary findings are certainly very promising, more research is needed to determine whether it is indeed able to prevent the spread of breast cancer.2
Two areas where there is currently no dispute and plenty of scientific backing, relate to hordeum's ability to combat ulcerative colitis and blood clots - the latter making it particularly effective in helping to prevent heart attacks and stroke.
Hordeum (barley grass) can bring much-needed relief from the debilitating symptoms of ulcerative colitis
Numerous studies have shown that hordeum can help treat ulcerative colitis - inflammation of the bowel that causes severe pain in the colon and abdominal area in addition to frequent bouts of diarrhoea, which can eventually leave sufferers seriously malnourished. The condition is linked to low levels of friendly bacteria in the gut and an accumulation of toxins in the bowel. Hordeum (barley grass) helps reverse this by stimulating the growth of friendly bacteria, which in turn helps reduce inflammation and improves symptoms.
Recent research carried out by Japanese scientists from the Department of Internal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, has revealed that hordeum also contains a particular type of protein (rich in the amino acid glutamine) and a special type of fibre (rich in hemicellulose). Both of which are able to help ulcerative colitis by repairing and stimulating the growth of cells lining the inside of the bowel wall. Glutamine in particular is credited with possessing an ability to nourish and improve the metabolism of these cells.
Hordeum (barley grass) also helps combat ulcerative colitis by lowering the amount of inflammatory chemicals in the bowel, including one called epithelial NF-k, and by regulating the water content of the stools. Not only are these actions beneficial in terms of helping to improve the symptoms of colitis but they may also play an important role in reducing the frequency and duration of any relapses.3
In a study performed at the Nutrient Food and Feed Division, in Tokyo, scientists selected 18 patients with ulcerative colitis. Over the course of four weeks, half of the participants received standard anti-inflammatory medication (including steroids) and the other half were treated with up to 30g of hordeum extract each day. At the end of the study, all of the patients in the hordeum (barley grass) group reported significant improvements in their symptoms - including fewer episodes of diarrhoea and less pain - compared to the group receiving conventional medication.
In addition, further tests revealed that hordeum (barley grass) had succeeded in increasing the amount of friendly bacteria in the patients' bowels too. According to Dr Kanauchi, who led the study: "Oral treatment with hordeum may have the potency to reduce clinical activity of ulcerative colitis. We believe that these results support the use of hordeum administration as a new adjunct therapy for this condition".4
Helps prevent harmful blood clots and lowers cholesterol
There is also mounting evidence to suggest that hordeum (barley grass) may play an important role in the fight against heart disease and stroke. A stroke is caused by a blood clot which blocks the circulation of blood in a particular area of the brain, resulting in muscle paralysis, difficulty in speaking or swallowing, and memory problems. Heart attacks are caused in much the same way, in that a blood clot blocks the circulation of blood, although this occurs within the arteries of the heart rather than the brain.
It therefore follows that in order to reduce the risk of blood clots forming and triggering either of these two potentially fatal conditions, the blood must be kept as fluid as possible. This is where hordeum is proving so invaluable.
Japanese researchers have shown that 250ml of hordeum (barley grass) tea taken just once, improves the flow of blood for several hours.5
Not only that but hordeum (barley grass) also possesses another impressive heart and brain protective benefit. Scientists from the Department of Nutrition, China Medical College in Taiwan, have reported that hordeum leaf extract reduces the amount of LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol.
This is the 'bad' form of cholesterol which, when present in excess, can block the arteries and lead to a heart attack or stroke. The scientists gave 15g of hordeum leaf extract to a group of 36 patients who had high LDL cholesterol levels in their blood. They found that, after four weeks of treatment, both the levels of LDL and the amount of harmful free radicals circulating were significantly reduced. Adding 200mg of vitamin C and 200mg of vitamin E to the treatment programme was found to produce even greater benefits in terms of lowering LDL levels.6
What to take for best results
Hordeum is available to take in powder form under the name of barley grass. The recommended dosage of barley grass is one teaspoon taken one to three times a day (mixed with water or juice) before meals.
1. Marles MA, Ray H, Gruber MY. Phytochemistry 2004, 64(2):367-383
2. Jeong HJ, Lam Y, de Lumen BO. J Agric Food Chem 2002, 50(21):5903-5908
3. Bamba T, Kanauchi O et al. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2002, 17(8): 8818-824
4. Kanauchi O, Suga T, Tochihara M et al. J Gastroenterol 2002, 37(14):67-72
5. Suganuma H, Inakuma T, Kikuchi Y. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 2002, 48(2):165-168
6. Yu YM, Chang WC, Chang CT et al. Diabetes Metab 2002, 28(2):107-114

1. Drinking 2L. of pure water (warm or cold) per day supports daily elimination of toxins from the cells & out of the body, thus reducing the need to 'throw off' toxins in an acute episode such as a cold or flu.

2. Eating fresh organic seasonal vegetables especially GREENS (not incl. potatoes) as 50% of each main meal maintains cellular alkalinity, positive hydration levels & regularity of bowel movements.

3. Taking Green Barley Grass Powder (1+ tsp. per day)encourages proper liver function and elimination, cellular alkalinity & an adequate supply of enzymes & trace minerals.

4. Supplementing with 500mg of good quality vitamin C per day significantly reduced the frequency of the common cold.

5. Supplementing with a daily multivitamin-mineral supports the immune system and may decrease the number and severity of infections in at-risk populations.

6. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that alter the intestinal flora. They have been shown to enhance immune function and may reduce the duration of the common cold and decrease the number of days with fever during a cold episode.

7. Echinacea: Used effectively for upper respiratory tract infections. A number of reviewed studies have demonstrated improvements in health among those using the herbal remedy, echinacea, including reductions in the incidence and duration of colds.

8. Elderberry has traditionally been used in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of upper respiratory infections.

9. Licorice can be used as an expectorant. The component glycyrrhizin produces demulcent and expectorant effects by stimulation of tracheal mucous secretion. Additionally, licorice has anti-microbial, immune boosting and adrenal supportive properties.

10. Reducing stress with proper rest & relaxation, exercise & sleep. Relaxation & sleep provide recovery time for the body’s functions, including the immune system. Exerise ensures the lymphatic system, an important part of the elimination pathway, is functioning optimumly.

Walking with Maasai warriors in the Loita mountains, at the edge of the Rift Valley in Kenya, hacking our way through the jungle, climbing in & out of steep ravines, swimming under waterfalls, camping under the bright African night sky, learning about indigenous herbs & plants...'we really needed our green barley grass powder' said Paulette 'the Maasai weren't so sure though, it's very different from their usual diet!'
For an amazing, unforgettable experience of a lifetime see www.maasai-trails.com

Greens are the ultimate in a destress diet for so many reasons. It is one of Mother Nature’s most amazing feats that nearly every food from the earth provides humans and animals with excellent nutrition. Does it follow that those plants that have existed the longest have the most nutritional benefit? Are they the basis for all plant nutrition? We can’t say for sure, but what is clear is that the “green superfoods” — among them spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass and barley grass — are some of the easiest and best sources for nutrition available. Some variation of these ancient seaweeds and grasses can be found nearly everywhere on the globe, and their use as a source of concentrated nutrition is one of the most ancient plant/human relationships on Earth.

Western diets are becoming less and less nutritionally complete. Meanwhile, more and more antioxidants in fruits and vegetables to lower the risk of disease, fight cancer-causing free radicals, improve heart health and reduce the signs of aging. Perhaps the most concentrated greens in nature are just what the doctor ordered.

Barley grass is one of the green grasses - the only vegetation on the earth that can possibly supply sole nutritional support from birth to old age. The true beauty of barley is found in the leaves; the young green shoots of power that form before the grain. The young leaves have a tremendous ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. When barley leaves are 12-14 inches high, they contain all the vitamins, minerals, and proteins necessary for the human diet, plus chlorophyll. These necessities are easily assimilated throughout the digestive tract, giving our bodies instant access to vital nutrients.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins; 20 of them are present in the body proteins in significant quality. Proteins are the major constituent of every cell and body fluid (except urine and bile) and are thus necessary for the continual cell building, regeneration, and energy production that we need for life. An added benefit of the green barley leaf proteins is that they are polypeptides; smaller proteins that can be directly absorbed by the blood, where they promote cell metabolism (the chemical changes that we need to live) and neutralize substances that are bad for our health. Eighteen amino acids are found in barley grass, including the eight essential ones - that is, the amino acids that we must get from out diets; the body cannot produce them itself.

Green barley leaves contain a multitude of the body's spark plugs, enzymes. Enzymes supply the spark that starts the essential chemical reactions our bodies need to live. Without this spark, and these chemical reactions, we would be helpless: a bag of bones, unable to walk, talk, blink, or breathe.

Astounding amounts of vitamins and minerals are found in green barley leaves. These include potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, beta carotene, B1, B2, B6, C, folic acid, and pantothenic acid. Indeed, green barley juice contains 11 times the calcium in cows' milk, nearly 5 times the iron in spinach, 7 times the vitamin C in oranges, and 80 mg of vitamin B12 per hundred grams. Green barley leaves also contain significant amounts of chlorophyll.

Green barley leaves are extremely alkaline, so digesting them can help keep the body's alkaline and acidity ratio balanced. Our cells cannot adequately function if the pH range (which measures acidity and alkaline) is not in a narrow range. Most processed foods are acidic, and when we consume too many of them the acidity/alkaline balance is upset. This may result in possible fatigue.

Recently research has unveiled a wealth of other possible benefits of green barley leaves. Extracted compounds have found to have hypercholesteromic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer properties. A new antioxidant, 2"-0-GIV, has been isolated and reported to have antioxidant activity equal to or superior to vitamin E. Finally, studies have shown that when green barley juice is added to injured cells, the cells' DNA repairs itself rapidly. This may contribute to preventing the changes that often lead to cancer, rapid aging, and cell death.

CONGRATULATIONS to University of Wales, Bangor Canoeing Team on acheiving 2nd place in the 2006 National Student Rodeo Championship last month with the help of DRU Green Barley Grass Powder which was taken by the whole team of 15.

Gemma Dale the club secretary said 'We have some really good kayakers in our club- Rosie Cripps is on the British freestyle squad and is currently classed 7th in the world, and Tim Coles is currently 4th best mens in Britain.

This is the best result we have ever had, the Green Barley Grass went down a storm. I think the bright green colour intrigued the students!

I gave out packs to everyone and people have been finding ingenious ways of getting it into their diet. I'm not sure about one guy having it in curry (?!) but one girl told me she had it in a mango and raspberry smoothie and it's really nice!'

WHAT THE TEAM SAY: "I have been having a glass of barley grass with orange squash everyday and im feeling alot more energetic recently, this is the only thing i have been doing differently recently so yay it works!!" - Megan Taylor Rose

"I have been using green barley grass, i find it makes me get less migraines and lose weight. It also improves my energy which means i can paddle harder!" - Eve Donald

"I experienced less migraines and girly cramps were much less severe, my skin also was much clearer and softer, My favourite mix was barley grass in apple and mango juice." - Jo Walton

"I find it great for detoxing after a heavy night. My favourite way to drink it is whizzed up with OJ and frozen raspberries, mmmmmm gorgeous, and it kills snack cravings too!

How to feel virtuous after a heavy night:

*get up early
*do some yoga without falling over
*kill headaches, feel refreshed and fill that hole in your stomach with a barley grass smoothie
*go back to bed"

- Liz Neal

Despite the fact that we’re surrounded by big chain stores, Morrison, M&S foods, Aldi, Lidl, - and even a Tesco megastore nearby - we’ve still managed to flourish and grow as a health store. After 21 years we’ve tried and tested that old well-worn saying many times, ‘where there’s will there’s a way’.

My own personal way? I start the day with a big mug of warm water and fresh ginger first thing in the morning (to re-hydrate the body) and then it’s straight into my dru yoga and meditation practise. Done first thing it helps bring an amazing clarity and calmness into my whole day - helping me to focus even when half a dozen things may be demanding my attention at once.

Then it’s time for breakfast. The benefits of a porridge breakfast are becoming increasingly well-known these days and I’m sure everyone has their own special way of cooking it – I have mine with honey, flax oil and lecithin! I finish off with a spoonful of green barley grass powder in a smoothie …mmm… Barley grass powder is our best-selling Dru Health product and no wonder – as breakfast it keeps my concentration high all the morning as it balances blood sugar-levels very effectively. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone I meet, literally!

Dimensions store is very much an expression of our determination to bring real health values to people’s lives. When we bought the business 21 years ago, it was a busy fruit, vegetable and flower shop situated opposite a local hospital. Two years later the hospital closed and a large Safeway store moved in!

We’ve had to diversify. A major revamp in the early 1990s saw us completely re-brand. Now we sell only organic fruit and veg in a custom-built cold room with windows on the shop floor. Organic vegetables have a fresh, vibrant aura about them which really add something to the shop’s atmosphere. We offer an organic vegetable box collection scheme, where customers can pre-order their fruit and vegetables. This guarantees us definite sales and allows flexibility in ordering.

Our shop is now a finely tuned combination of different departments, each with an important function; takeaways and snacks bring people in at lunchtime, our massive range of own brand organic wholefoods are the mainstay for our core ethical customers, many of which who wouldn’t dream of going to a supermarket! We stock a quality range of superfoods, supplements and natural remedies, the full range of Viridian being our premium brand. Five or six years ago we opened an ethical gift department, with the help of companies such as Windhorse trading including, jewellery, cards and other leisure items. The margins improve our overall GP and it attracts customers who otherwise wouldn’t normally go near anything as healthy as an aduki bean! Over the years we’ve gradually introduced different healthy lifestyle options for our customers including offering dru yoga and relaxation classes locally, taught by two of the staff, who are also qualified Dru Yoga Teachers.

In 2004 we launched our online shop which provides a consistent and ever growing additional income and is a fantastic shop window for us.

My day is spent in many different ways. Talking with and meeting the needs of customers is the number one priority as well as organising staff on the shop floor, sourcing new lines, maybe giving an interview to the local radio on the latest health related news issues, designing packaging for new products or promoting and updating the website.

Lunch is my main meal and consists of lots of organic veggies, brown rice and either dahl, tofu or tempeh. I also love sprouted pulses and seeds and aim to drink at least 2L of water a day along with a couple of cups of earl grey tea as a treat.

In the afternoon I usually spend about an hour researching health and nutrition information for customers. We get a lot of referrals from GPs, therapists and other health stores and are regarded locally as a good resource. Our personal customer order service is critical in keeping the loyalty which sustains our business. Our customers, many of whom live 30 or 40 miles away, regularly email or call us, as well as coming into the store, knowing that we will be able to get them what they need and send it out to them if necessary.

I personally believe that good nutrition and yoga (essentially movement, breathing and relaxation with awareness) provide the best way to perfect health. After many years of studying health, I was delighted to find a course that embraces my own philosophies at the College of Natural Nutrition whose approach is truly holistic and which complements DRU Yoga perfectly.

Yoga is so mainstream now. I was amazed to receive an email from my brother, a previously sceptical merchant banker, telling me he’s now studying yoga in India! I teach Dru Yoga and natural health workshops on many of the courses that are held at the Dru Course Centre in the Snowdonia mountains. The recently published handbook ‘Dru Yoga – Stillness in Motion’ has had excellent reviews so far. We will be taking it to our first ever trade show, Natural Products at Olympia, along with our DRU Organic Green Barley Grass Powder for which we are seeking further wholesalers, Suma being our first one.
Do come and meet us on stand 1156!

Come & meet us personally, see our latest book 'DRU Yoga - Stillness in Motion' and hear about our customers amazing success stories with our DRU Green Barley Grass at The Natural and Organic Products Show, Olympia, Sunday, 9 April 2006 9.30 - 5.30 pm : Monday, 10 April 2006 9.30 - 5.00 pm

This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of natural products europe and organic products europe with more exhibitors and visitors than ever before. In total, over 8,000 industry professionals are expected to visit this year’s record-breaking show.

A must-attend event for anyone involved in the increasingly successful natural and organic products industries.

With a host of new initiatives, even more exhibitors and the best ever seminar programme, there has never been a better time to visit natural products europe and organic products europe.

“There’s a really lovely atmosphere that you don’t get at other trade shows. You feel you are among people who share the same ethos and values.”
sarah hardy, high weald dairy

We look forward to welcoming you to the show.
Visit the DRU Health stand no. 1156

Dru Yoga has a remarkable ability to improve people's lives 'off the mat' - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

This page presents the preliminary results from a recent questionnaire of Dru practitioners around the world. You will see that Dru Yoga has benefited people's lives in many different ways - decreasing stress (80%), improving energy (73%), benefiting people's backs (90%), and many more.

Mental and emotional condition

When asked how Dru Yoga affected people's mental and emotional condition:

. 80% said their ability to deal with stress improved, 38% reporting a strong improvement.

. 62% said their ability to handle relationships increased, 30% experiencing strong improvement.

. 70% experienced improvement in their ability to manage their emotions, 31% experiencing strong improvement.

. 85% experienced improvement in their ability to deal with negative thinking, 47 % experiencing strong improvement.

These results are from the first 110 of many hundreds of respondents, picked at random.

'A fantastic experience. Highly professional teaching and organisation. The teachers were brilliant:- incredibly kind, genuinely concerned about their students and astonishingly brilliant at teaching yoga and meditation. So impressed. I benefited enormously from them. Thank you.'
- Photographer, Dru Summer Congress August 2005


Physical condition

When asked how Dru Yoga affected people's physical condition:

. 90% said their spinal flexibility improved, 59% reporting a strong improvement.

. 72% said their strength increased, 26% experiencing strong improvement.

. 71% experienced improvement in stamina, 23% experiencing strong improvement.

. 89% experienced improvement in joint flexibility, 50 % experiencing strong improvement.

View more questionnaire results - back pain, confidence & more...

'Before I started Dru Yoga, I had pain in my neck and shoulders every evening. Now it's pretty much gone - and if it reappears I know how to get rid of it. Also, my sleeping is much better - before if I woke in the night I would lie awake for hours. Now I just do some deep breathing and it helps me relax and go back to sleep - magic!
Dru Yoga has really made a big difference to me. I feel that it is a really useful tool to help deal with problems. Many thanks for your lovely classes.
- Solicitor, Dru Yoga Student, Yorkshire

Recent research from Patrick Holford is showing that Chromium, an essential mineral commonly deficient in the British diet, has been found to provide major relief for two thirds of depressed patients, according to a study published today. Researchers at Cornell University gave 117 people suffering from ‘atypical’ depression either chromium supplements or placebo. Two thirds of those taking chromium had significant relief of their depression, compared to a third on placebo.

Chromium is naturally found in wholefoods but up to 98% is removed in refining sugar, rice or flour, so it is exceptionally low in a highly refined diet. What’s more, eating sugary foods robs the body of chromium. This is because chromium is essential for the hormone insulin to work properly, and insulin is released whenever a person’s blood sugar increases, for example after eating sweets or sugared drinks.

According to director of the Brain Bio Centre, Patrick Holford, who has pioneered this approach in Britain “The classic picture of depression is someone who doesn’t eat enough, doesn’t sleep enough and loses weight. We are seeing more and more patients who are gaining weight, feel tired all the time, crave carbohydrates and could sleep forever. People with this kind of ‘atypical’ depression often get instant relief by taking a 200mcg chromium supplement twice a day.”

The discovery of the link between chromium and depression was made by a psychoanalyst Professor Malcolm McLeod by accident. McLeod was treating a patient called George who had been depressed for several years. He suddenly got completely better after taking a nutritional supplement. “It was unbelievable. Without the supplement his depression returned. I narrowed it down to the chromium in the supplement.” McLeod then ran a small trial giving fifteen depressed patients either chromium or placebos and reported highly significant improvements. This latest trial, published today in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice, confirms that chromium supplements are highly effective natural anti-depressants.

“For many people chromium is the missing link” says Holford from London’s Brain Bio Centre “Most the patients we see with depression respond to simple diet changes and supplements. For some it’s chromium, while others respond to omega 3 fats or an amino acid called 5-HTP. We find out exactly what’s out of balance and correct it with nutrients rather than drugs. This is the future. Most of our patients are off anti-depressant drugs within a year.”
Chromium, which is available in health foods shops, has no known toxicity of side-effects at 100 times the ideal level of 400mcg a day for
depressed people.

For more info, click here for www.patrickholford.com
Click here to view other approaches to help depression on our website

New out is the latest in effective tools to de-stress. This Dru Yoga DVD provides a gentle, but powerful way to relieve stress, build inner strength, and condition your body. Known as the ‘yoga of the heart’, it works to rebalance your emotions as it exercises and energises your muscles.

Based on gentle, flowing movements and controlled breathing, Dru Yoga suits any age or fitness level. The idea is to develop at a pace that’s comfortable and appropriate for you. With an understanding of both Western and Eastern medicine, Dr. Mansukh Patel and osteopath Coby Langford guide you through a series of sequences, each with a different purpose.

You can use the Wake Up sequence first thing in the morning to warm up for the day ahead and focus your mind. Or you can use the Before Bed sequence to unwind, de-stress, and prepare for a good night’s sleep.

Five per cent of the proceeds from the Dru Yoga DVD will help Life Foundation International’s charity in India.

Money from DVD sales will be donated to a youth peace project in the Dandi Beach, Gujarat State region of India, where Mahatma Gandhi staged the important Salt March promoting freedom and fairness using non-violent actions. The program is designed to address youth concerns outlined by the World Health Organisation, such as suicide and disillusionment. The program, supported by the Life Foundation Trust, will empower young people to use traditional cultural tools to address important issues, including stress management and developing a sense of self-worth and purpose.

For more details see www.druyogadvd.com
For more information on Dru Yoga & Dru Meditation see www.druworldwide.com

The therapeutic properties of wheat grass and barley grass are practically identical, although barley grass is slightly more easily digested. Wheat and barley grass do not contain gluten (as the grain does) and are therefore suitable for those with allergies to wheat or barley. In powder or capsule form grasses contain slightly less chlorophyll and beta-carotene than green algae. They are less rich in protein, but the dried powders contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals depending on the soil in which they are grown.
Unlike the algae, grasses contain digestive enzymes, which help the body deal with processing toxic or indigestible material in the gut. The chlorophyll in the grasses also aids this process. The grasses contain a fraction called P4D1, which has a very powerful anti-inflammatory effect. This is in addition to the anti-inflammatory action of chlorophyll and MPs. They also contain a powerful anti-oxidant called SOD (superoxide dismutase), which slows cellular degeneration due to exposure to free radicals. Wheatgrass is more cooling and cleansing than spirulina and chlorella, but less so than blue green algae.
Wheatgrass or Barleygrass is suitable for support in the treatment of: arthritis; constipation; anaemia; fatigue; pre-menstrual syndrome; yeast imbalance; heavy metal toxicity.
Those with the following conditions should use cereal grasses with caution: weak, frail people with signs of coldness. Chlorella or spirulina may be more suitable.

Fresh wheatgrass juice is more cooling and is useful for those with a hot constitution. It may not be quite as abundant in nutrients because of the type of soil it is grown in. That said, it will retain some extra nutrients and qualities due to its fresh and minimally processed form. The dried forms are most suitable for those with signs of dampness - excess mucus, yeast imbalance or cysts.

Dosage for wheatgrass and barley grass
One rounded teaspoon of juice powder is mixed with half a cup of water. Ideally taken one hour or more before meals, on an empty stomach. Take once a day for maintenance, two or three times a day for treating disease. Due to the detoxifying nature of the grasses you might experience a mild headache, diarrhoea or other discomfort. If this occurs, halve you next dosage. If the symptoms persist, discontinue use, and try a less detoxifying product such as chlorella or spirulina.

Every green food will have therapeutic properties, try to include generous helpings of green foods in your diet to counteract environmental toxins and provide a wide range of nutrients.


Source: Paul Pitchford, Healing with Wholefood: Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition (North Atlantic Books, California; 1993)

Click here to view this product

I WISH I COULD DETOX & FEEL ENERGISED!

FEELING SLUGGISH, BLOATED and lacking in energy - even after a good night’s sleep? Pollution, stress, food and environmental factors can leave your liver, kidneys, lungs, colon and other important systems of elimination exhausted. Cut down on red meats and fats, increase your fruit, vegetable and pure water intake and use vitamins, essential fatty acids and effective herbs each day to restore vitality, enhance weight loss and improve mood.

1/ HELP alkalise your blood system with green foods including Green Barley Grass Powder.
2/ ADD some good bacteria to your gut with Probiotics.
3/ SUPPORT your liver with Milk Thistle or Artichoke capsules.
4/ MOVE out the toxins with a complete fibre complex including soluble fibres to bind to toxins and speed through the elimination process.
5/ TAKE up gentle yoga and relaxation see www.druyoga.com

I REALLY WISH I COULD GIVE UP SMOKING!

1/ REDUCE STRESS & CRAVINGS
To help reduce cravings supplement with glutamine powder and trace minerals. To reduce stress levels and support your adrenal system, consider the B-complex vitamins and the herbal adaptogen Rhodiola Rosea, which can boost energy and reduce stress.


2/ DETOXIFY YOUR SYSTEM
Cigarettes contain a cocktail of damaging chemicals including nicotine, cadmium, benzopyrene and carbon monoxide. Use Milk Thistle and Green Barley Grass Powder to help reduce acidity in the blood and aid transportation of these damaging chemicals from the body. Calcium, magnesium and zinc will also adjust alkalinity.


3/ BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
We all produce cancer cells every single day, but with a good immune system, the cells do not get a chance to develop into anything serious. Supplement daily with antioxidant minerals selenium, zinc, copper and manganese & vitamins A, C and E.

I WISH I COULD LOSE WEIGHT!

DON’T BE FOOLED by miracle diets and get-slim-quick adverts. The only diet that really works is one that includes a workable food plan, exercise and motivation.

1/ ARGININE / ORNITHINE
A duo of amino acids that can help transport fat cells to the liver where they are pooled, used for energy and metabolised. This has the benefit of using up the bodies own fat as a potent energy source and in the process actually dissolves your own body fat. Suggested dose: 1-2 teaspoons a day away from food – mixed in apple juice. Caution – Do not take if have cold sores, shingles / as arginine & ornithine feed the virus.

2/ GTF CHROMIUM
A very important mineral that not only helps to reduce sugar cravings by regulating blood sugar levels, but also helps to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle tissues. Suggested dose: 1 a day with food.

3/ CO-ENZYME Q10 WITH MCT (medium chain tri-glycerides)
Co-Q10 is a natural enzyme present in all of us, but levels can reduce with a hectic lifestyle and getting older, hence we may feel more tired and have lower energy. Co-Q10 literally helps you ‘burn’ more calories within the cell’s mitochondria. Suggested dose: 2-4 a day with food.

4/ L-CARNITINE
Energy, endurance and stamina. Carnitine is very important for fat metabolism, especially in heart and muscle cells. Carnitine helps move fat that sits outside the cells into the cell’s mitochondria for burning into energy.
Suggested dose: 2-4 a day away from food.

5/ COMPLETE FIBRE WITH FOS
Fibre is very effective at taking out excess fats in the body, via the digestive tract, thereby preventing them entering the blood stream where they can get stored. Suggested dose: 2 with half a pint of water or 4 with a pint of water - at least 2 hours away from food.

To the naked eye DRU Health’s Green Barley Grass is a green powder providing living nutrition and an optimum physiological environment for vibrant health, packaged in environmentally friendly material which is 100% recycled & biodegradable. Seen here a Kirlian (electric energy field) photograph of Green Barley Grass Powder shows it's true colours and radiance.
Over 27 years of research by Dr. Valerie Hunt at UCLA associates higher bio-electric energy fields (increased prana) with greater intelligence, mature emotional balance with less stress, increased learning ability, and overall heighten states of health. Research indicates that foods with an override frequency of 72MHz or greater (cereal grasses and superfoods) increase the body’s bio-electric energy. Foods below 72MHz (refined and processed foods) deplete the body’s energy.
Green Barley Grass is the only vegetation on earth that can supply sole nutritional support from birth to old age. After studying green plants for decades, Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara, said, "It was clear to me, then, that the leaves of the cereal grasses provide the nearest thing this planet offers to the perfect food. For reasons of palatability, higher nutrient content, and favorable harvesting features, green barley stands out as the best among these."
Health experts worldwide are now advising people to eat more 'raw', organic foods. Science has discovered that important enzymes required by our bodies to function properly are found in raw fruit and vegetables. Science has discovered that important enzymes required by our bodies to function properly are found in raw fruit and vegetables. Nowadays we just don't have the time to prepare and eat large quantities of raw vegetables that our bodies need every day! Fortunately these valuable enzymes are available in a concentrated form - green barley grass powder.
Most synthetic nutritional supplements pass straight through the digestive system and are not absorbed for use in the body. The reason for this? No enzymes. Enzymes are responsible for almost everything that goes on in our bodies, including the absorption of nutrients. You need raw, organic foods that contain these enzymes to absorb these nutrients during digestion. SOD (superoxide dismutase) is a very important enzyme. The main function of this powerful antioxidant is to remove toxic substances from our cells. Research has shown that SOD can even restore function and repair DNA in older and less active cells. These properties can lead to a reduced risk of cancer and other serious diseases. Clinical tests also show that inflammation is suppressed by SOD and osteoarthritis has been treated successfully. Green barley grass powder is the best natural source of superoxide dismutase.
‘Taking Green Barley Grass Powder every morning and evening totally raises my energy levels, concentration ability and zest for life’. Rika Lukac. Yoga Therapist, Belgium.
DRU Health Organic Green Barley Grass Powder is certified Organic by the Soil Association, packed in Wales at Dimensions Health Store and is available in 100% recyclable containers from www.DruHealth.com Info. & mail order hotline Tel. 01248 351562

Many women who begin the menopause don’t want to use Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Health concerns surrounding its use have made many women nervous, and as it is produced using animal products (mare’s urine) it may be considered unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians. This article offers several alternatives to this and how they may help. However, do not take herbal remedies alongside medication without the guidance of your GP or Health Professional.

The menopause, just like reaching puberty, is a natural life stage. It is not a disease which can be caught by mixing with other middle-aged women! The three phases of the menopause are pre-menopause (periods regular, hot flushes and mood swings may begin); peri-menopause (the ovaries reduce in function, periods become irregular and symptoms may be more severe); post-menopause (from after your last period onwards). There can also be various body changes; symptoms can consist of excessive sweating, hot flushes, palpitations, headaches, joint pains, vaginal dryness, mood swings, reduced sex drive, osteoporosis, lack of energy, changes in hair, weight gain. During your fertile life stage, your body produces oestrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). At menopause, your body literally runs out of eggs, your ovaries decline in their production of oestrogen and stop producing progesterone altogether. As a result of this, it increases the release of FSH. Adrenal glands begin to produce a different form of oestrogen called oestrone. This is why it is so important to ensure your adrenal system is well-nourished in the years running up to, and during, the menopause. Your fat cells release natural oestrogens and this is a good reason why it is better to be a little overweight than underweight when passing through the menopause. The accepted way to test for the onset of the menopause is by having a test to measure your FSH levels.

HRT is usually a combination of both oestrogen and progesterone, both of which are steroidal sex hormones. The earlier versions of HRT simply provided oestrogen and this is now only used for women after hysterectomy. HRT is commonly manufactured from pregnant horse urine, though synthetic versions are available. For those taking HRT, recent research shows an increased risk of breast cancer of 26%, though previous studies have shown an increased risk as high as 40%.; and the risk of heart disease is increased by up to 29%. Those who choose to take HRT should be aware of the risks involved and can then weigh up the pros and cons. Certainly, if you smoke, have a family history of heart disease; or if you, or a close family member, have breast cancer, a history of thrombosis, benign breast disease, fibroids, migraine or endometriosis you will want to discuss these issues very carefully with your GP.

Natural alternatives to HRT. There are a number of natural supplements that offer significant relief to distressing symptoms and can help the body into a state of balance where it will handle the transition without too many problems. Being aware of your diet and lifestyle is the first and best way to improve your experience of the menopause; stopping smoking, cutting down on refined sugars, minimising caffeine intake, avoiding fizzy drinks and consuming less processed foods have positive effects. By increasing your intake of organic fruits and vegetables, and ensuring your bread, rice and pasta choices are wholegrain help. Taking up a vegetarian diet, or at least, make (organic) meat a treat rather than a must-have item. Ease off on the dairy products and exercise regularly, if only by walking each day. All of these changes will reduce the burden on your adrenal system, increase elimination of toxins through the liver and digestive system, boost bone density and help raise your mood.
Nutritional And Herbal Plan Agnus Castus is a herbal hormone balancer, offering relief from hot flushes. It works by correcting progesterone deficiency, via the pituitary gland, which in turn helps normalise other hormones. Black Cohosh (favoured by Native Americans) offers relief from menopausal symptoms and may offer protection from osteoporosis. Dong Quai is a traditional Chinese herb, from plant-based oestrogens, with circulatory, analgesic and nerve-relaxing properties. Milk Thistle aids in detoxification via the liver. Calcium and magnesium are essential to proper bone maintenance. The mineral boron has been shown to raise post-menopausal levels of oestrogen and also to aid in calcium retention and absorption. Vitamin E relieves hot flushes, vaginal dryness, palpitations, joint and muscle pain, and has also been shown to reduce heart disease risk. B-complex vitamins are essential for bone health, stress tolerance and are supportive to the adrenal system. Essential Fatty Acids are ‘good’ fats that the body needs for everyday hormonal functions. Years of low-fat dieting can leave women with dry lifeless skin and hair, fatigue, depression and breast pain – all symptoms of the menopause, but also of EFA deficiency. Supplemental Golden Flax Seed Oil and Hemp Oil are recommended, which can also help lubricate the body generally and improve vaginal dryness.

To find out more please come along to our talk “ Menopause and Women’s Health – The Natural Way”, 7.00pm, Wednesday 3rd November, Dimensions Health Store, Upper Bangor, 01248 351562, www.dimensionshealthstore.com

Green Foods are naturally concentrated to provide all the nutritional elements necessary for optimal health. Many green foods are found in the first link of the food chain, i.e., the plankton which is made purely from sunlight and water, and green food grasses which are made from soil and sunlight. Since they are so nutrient dense, very little is required to achieve significant nutritional benefit.
Green foods also contain phytonutrients that protect the body against many degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Chlorophyll, beta-carotene in the plankton, and genistein and daidzein are four of the most powerful anticancer phytochemicals discovered. In fact, there is not a degenerative disease that can not be prevented through the increased consumption of these super foods.
Many people have experienced the benefits of eating "lighter". Not just physical benefits, but benefits to consciousness and clear thinking. As we let go of the denser foods such as meat and refined, processed foods, and include more green foods, fresh vegetables and fruits, these Green Foods are a valuable bridge for the body to make the necessary transformations.

Our most popular product recently is proving to be our ORGANIC GREEN BARLEY POWDER! Barley Grass is a green superfood rich in natural vitamins, minerals, enzymes and chlorophyll. Essentially, it is very ‘alkalising’ which is the body’s natural state and so is good for ‘rebalancing’. With this product, young barley plants are harvested and flash air-dried to ensure the living enzymes are not compromised.


Dr Yoshihide Hagiwara from Japan, at age 38 became very ill. He started using modern drugs and huge amounts of synthetic vitamins and minerals with no success. He eventually regained his health with a diet of raw, natural, unprocessed and organically grown foods.
Dr Hagiwara spent years researching green foods and finally found green barley to be superior to all others. He commented: "My research has shown that the green leaves of the embryonic barley plant contain the most prolific balanced supply of nutrients that exist on earth in a single source."
Simply add one teaspoon of Green Barley Powder to fresh fruit or vegetable juice - preferably organic - and feel the difference!

Do contact us with your requests and questions and when you are in North Wales do come and visit us at our Bangor store.