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.druexperience.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.