Health food shops

Modern health food shops offer more products and services than you would imagine. The image of drab, musty-smelling shops full of endless shelves of inedible chewy bars is thankfully a thing of the past. Spurred on by the rising popularity of alternative food and medicines, many health food shops have added various services to their range, such as food intolerance and bone density testing, aromatherapy and sports nutrition.

Todays health food shops offer the public safe food that is good for them, together with herbs and health supplements to enhance the way they live. They will stock organic food, free from chemicals and pesticides, together with a range of gluten free, wheat free, dairy and sugar free products for allergy sufferers. health food shops will also offer a range of diabetic foods and foods suitable for vegetarians and vegans. You will find healthy dried fruits full of fibre, and nuts and seeds high in minerals and omega-3 essential fatty acids to keep your heart healthy. health food shops will also have a wide range of healthy alternatives to tea and coffee. These include such things as cereal beverages, dandelion coffee and herbal and fruit teas.

Here at Country Living you will find an extensive range of all of the above, together with honey from around the world (including Manuka honey in strengths ranging from 5+ to 25+). Our dried fruits and nuts, muesli, herbs and spices and yoghurt and chocolate coated snacks are freshly packed on the premises.

health food shops will also offer a range of environmentally friendly cleaning products and will usually stock cruelty free cosmetics. At Country Living we have an extensive range of Ecover environmentally friendly cleaning products and cruelty free cosmetics from Beauty without Cruelty.

Depressed with the state of the NHS and looking for an alternative cure, consumers are increasingly turning to health food shops . Here at Country Living we have knowledgeable staff who can help and advise on the vast array of products we sell.

health food shops will usually have a much wider range of supplements and herbal remedies than other outlets. They will stock products from trustworthy manufacturers who have strict quality control procedures in place, allowing you to purchase with confidence.

Country Living stocks products from reputable manufacturers such as Doves Farm, Epicure, Meridian, Solgar, Quest, A.Vogel (formerly Bioforce), Natures Plus, Bio-Health, Viridian, Pharma Nord, Natures Aid, Lifeplan and many more.

Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies have been used by cultures around the world for centuries and are now available in a variety of forms such as tinctures, tablets, fluid extracts, loose herbs and herb teas. A health store will offer the widest selection.

Herbal remedies can play a significant part in the prevention and treatment of many conditions, both chronic and acute and offer a mild form of treatment with very beneficial effects.

Many Herbal remedies can work as fast as any modern synthetic drug to bring relief for minor ailments, but in the treatment of chronic disorders such as rheumatism or bronchitis, the action of Herbal remedies is slow, gentle and cumulative. Herbal remedies work to strengthen and stimulate the various systems of the body over a long period of time.

Before making the transition from drug remedies to Herbal remedies , consult your health care practitioner, as many drugs cause unpleasant side effects when combined with other substances including Herbal remedies. The body can become hooked on many drugs including painkillers and tranquillisers If you are not taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, Herbal remedies will provide safe, effective health care.

How long should you go on taking herbal remedies? Most herbal remedies are fairly mild, and can be safely taken over a long period without risk, in the doses suggested by the herbal remedy supplier. However, herbal remedies should not be seen as a substitute for the efficient working of your body's own natural defence system. The best herbal remedies in the world cannot do much in the long term for somebody who is undermining his or her health by inadequate diet, too little exercise and excessive stress. Once you feel that the condition for which you are taking a herbal remedy is much improved, you should try tapering off the dose gradually.

At Country Living health Store you will find herbal remedies from manufacturers who use only the finest ingredients to produce premium quality supplements. Some of the most commonly sold herbal remedies are:

• Agnus Castus: mainly used for gynaecological disorders such as menstrual problems and infertility. Also, due to its hormonal link, it may maintain a healthy menopause.
• Artichoke: Artichoke leaf extract possesses choleretic (stimulates liver to increase bile production) and a mild diuretic action.
• Bilberry: Bilberry fruit extract is included in many of the eye health herbal remedies on sale. It promotes good vision and is mainly used for day and night blindness, retinitis and visual acuity. Bilberry may also be used for blood vessel problems (including varicose veins) and also in the management of gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhoea.
• Butterbur: Primarily used in the treatment of migraines, and as an anti-spasmodic agent for chronic cough and asthma.
• Cranberry: Cranberry fruit extract is mainly used in herbal remedies to help defeat urinary tract infections.
• Devils Claw: Devils Claw root extract is used for arthritis, gout, muscle pain, and forms of muscular rheumatism, lower back pain and rheumatic disease in general.
• Dandelion: This herb is commonly recommended to help with liver and gall bladder complaints and as a diuretic for fluid retention.
• Echinacea: Has been shown to be a potent immune stimulant and as such can be taken to help prevent or speed recovery from colds, influenza and general infections.
• Ginkgo Biloba: Has been shown to improve circulation to all parts of the body including the brain, hands and feet. Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest medicinal herbs known to man and an excellent herbal remedy for the health of older people. Ginkgo improves arterial circulation and cold hands and feet. Ginkgo is also known as the memory tree. However, do not take this herbal remedy if you are using Warfarin or Aspirin regularly without consulting a healthcare professional.
• Milk Thistle: Its active ingredient, silymarin is a strong antioxidant and is a potent liver protector. One of the most popular herbal remedies sold during the festive season.
• Rhodiola: is particularly useful during prolonged periods of stress.
• Saw Palmetto: Is effective at reducing the size of an enlarged prostate and the related symptoms such as frequent urination, and urinary discomfort.
• St Johns Wort: St Johns Wort herb extract possesses sedative and astringent properties. It is most widely used for the treatment of depression but also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
• Valerian: Possesses sedative, nerve relaxant properties. Valerian is included in almost all herbal remedies for insomnia.

You will find all of the above herbal remedies, along with many more at our Poynton store, as well as from our online shop, healthstore.uk.com.

Natural Health Products

The best way to stay healthy in old age is to prevent disease before it starts. Remember that it is in wholesome Natural Health Products such as fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds and pulses that vitamins, minerals and trace elements are found and not in processed or pre-packaged goods

Health food store shelves are full of Natural Health Products to help us live a long and active life.

Here you will find organic flour, pasta, beverages, dried fruit, nuts and pulses etc. free from harmful pesticides and additives.

At certain times we may want to increase our consumption of foods high in particular vitamins. For example, an increase in health food products containing vitamin B such as whole grains, leafy green vegetables, eggs, milk and yeast extract could help if we are under stress. If we feel our immune system is compromised then we should increase levels of vitamin C rich foods. Many fruits contain high levels of vitamin C including citrus fruits and kiwi fruit. Vegetables, including peppers also contain high levels of vitamin C. Eating health food products rich in vitamin C can also help those of us who bruise easily, are slow to heal and suffer from excessive tiredness.

There will be times however when we cannot obtain sufficient vitamins through food alone. We can then turn to the vast array of supplements available from health food stores. These natural health supplements can help us obtain higher levels of vitamins, minerals and trace elements which can be very beneficial during times of illness for example.

Natural Health Products from Quest Vitaminsare manufactured using only the finest ingredients. All products are free from artificial preservatives, colours, flavours, sucrose, lactose and yeast. Their herbal formulas do not contain any irradiated herbs. Herbs are subject to mould growth and a common method to control this is to irradiate the herb material. Quest works with growers and extractors to obtain high quality potent herbs without the use of irradiation. All QuestNatural Health Products are also free from hydrogenated fats which have been linked with an increased risk of heart disease. Natural Health Products from manufacturers such as Solgar, Bio-Health, A.Vogel, Nature's Plus and Nature's Aid are also produced using only top quality ingredients.

At Country Living you will find Natural Health Products to suit all ages. In addition to the extensive range of wholesome foods and natural health supplements, you will also find Natural Health Products to help with body and hair care, together with cruelty free make up and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Natural Health Supplements

Food supplements usually come in the form of capsules, tablets, liquids, powders or ampules, but there are a number of recognized all-natural foods that have a highly beneficial healing effect on the body and can be considered as a natural health supplements. These natural health supplements act as nutritional powerhouses in helping to build resistance to the ravages of illness.

Fish Oil

Fish Oil has emerged as one of the best natural health supplements for boosting overall health. In the last 30 years research has focused on a family of essential fatty acids (EFAs), fats that your body needs daily but can't make itself, called omega-3s. The healthiest of all dietary fats, omega-3s have been shown to ease joint pain, protect the heart, sharpen memory, and improve mood. In fish oil there are two Omega-3s at work: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Today's fast and processed foods have nearly squeezed Omega-3s out of the diet and therefore taking fish oil as a natural health supplements will ensure an adequate supply of these important nutrients. If you are a strict vegetarian, taking Omega-3 in fish oil is not an option, but there are choices. Flaxseed oil is the most common vegetarian source of Omega-3s.

Garlic

Garlic, long considered a natural health supplement for the cardiovascular system, is a prime concentrated source of many nutrients, partly due to its high sulphur content. Garlic is a natural health supplements that has been used all over the world to treat coughs, toothaches, earaches, fungal infections and poor circulation. Before the advent of antibiotics, garlic was widely used to combat infections.

Lecithin

Lecithin is a natural health supplement usually taken from defatted soya beans, whose chief power is in being a phospholipids; that is, melting away body fat and keeping cholesterol in check.

Spirulina

Spirulina Blue Green Algae: Spirulina is a naturally occurring food which consists of at least 60% vegetable protein. It also contains the most extraordinary concentration of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients. It contains more functional nutrients than in any other plant, grain, food or herb known to man. Rich in chlorophyll (a pigment found in green plants which absorbs light and converts into energy), this naturally occurring plant could be considered as the building block for life itself. Spirulina also contains:

• Enzymes - Which play a crucial role in metabolic function and therefore energy levels.
• Numerous vitamins - Particularly B12, often lacking in strict vegetarian and vegan diets.
• Beta carotene - The content is 10 times greater than found in carrots.
• Minerals - Such as iron and magnesium which can be easily taken into the cells of the body after digestion and absorption.
• Essential Fatty Acids - Such as Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).

Propolis

Propolis a truly remarkable natural health supplement: Propolis is a sap-like substance, gathered by bees from the leaf buds or bark of trees, especially poplars. Bees use propolis to seal up holes in the hive and is referred to as "bee glue". Scientists the world over have found that this same propolis taken as a natural health supplements, has powerful antibiotic activities. It is available as a tablet, capsule, cream or liquid, and also in cough syrups and chest rubs. It is the all - natural health supplements from the beehive

All of the above natural health supplements can be purchased from Country Living Health Store or from our online shop healthstore.uk.com.

Alternative Health Supplement

Today more people than ever are taking alternative health supplements. Numerous studies have demonstrated that most people consume a diet inadequate in nutritional value and that an alternative health supplements makes them feel healthier.

Dealing with hazards of modern living may be another reason why many people take an alternative health supplements. Environmental and lifestyle factors can destroy vitamins and minerals. For example, it is known that smokers require at least twice as much vitamin C as do non smokers. Smokers should therefore consider an alternative health supplements . We should also consider the effect of alcohol consumption, food additives, heavy metals, carbon monoxide, and other chemicals associated with our modern society that are known to interfere with nutrient function.

The very term, alternative health supplements, denotes that the beneficial compounds are supplementary measures to good health. A person cannot make up for poor dietary habits, a negative attitude, and a lack of exercise by taking pills whether the pills are drugs or alternative health supplements.

The need for alternative health supplements is being confirmed and validated by scientists the world over. Just as our foods lose their vitality and spark of life, so do our bodies slowly wither on the vine. Aging is no longer the bane of the over-fifty group. It is to be seen in youngsters who may have a calendar age of eighteen but have various problems that were formerly confined to the elderly.

Health stores are committed to your well-being and supply a range of quality foods and alternative health supplements to help you live a long and healthy life. In addition to essential nutrients (e.g. vitamins and minerals) there are a number of food components and natural physiological agents that have demonstrated impressive health-promoting effects when taken as alternative health supplements. These include flavonoids (e.g. quercetin, rutin, green tea), probiotics and coenzyme Q10. These alternative health supplements exert significant therapeutic effects with little, if any toxicity. These alternative health supplements can play a major role in preventing illness.

At Country Living we have health supplements from all of the major manufacturers and our staff are always willing to help and advise on the best health supplement for your needs.

Health Food Supplement

Today more people than ever are taking a health food supplements. The idea that a well-balanced diet is essential for a healthy body is nothing new. But despite the knowledge that proper nutrition can help us experience good health, few of us put this theory fully into practice. For instance, experts agree that we need at least five good portions of fruit and vegetables a day to provide vital vitamins and minerals. However, the vast majority of us eat less than half this amount. As a nation we've become much more reliant on processed 'convenience' foods, which can lose essential nutrients along the way.

Much of our food today has been robbed of its natural elements until it is perhaps 'taste-tempting' but otherwise undesirable in terms of holistic health. This lifeless, polluted food drenches your body with chemicals that serve to hasten the onset of many ailments. Because of this nutrient loss resulting from chemical farming and processing, there is a pressing need to obtain essential elements from good food sources and from health food supplement . The need for health food supplement is being confirmed and validated by scientists the world over.

It is also worth remembering that those of us who put our bodies through more physical and mental demands than average may benefit from not only ensuring that our diet consists predominately of health foods, but also to add a daily health food supplement into their diet as a precautionary measure. After all prevention is better than cure. At certain times, e.g. during or after illness, we may have an extra need for nutrients over and above the supply normally available from our diet. Multivitamin and mineral supplements can help to meet this extra need. Even a good, 'balanced diet' cannot always supply all the vitamins and minerals we require when we have special needs.

Many groups of people are known to have extra requirements for vitamins and minerals and will therefore benefit from a health food supplement.

• Those on restricted diets, e.g. coeliacs, diabetics, vegans food allergy suffers etc.
• People with poor appetites, e.g. the elderly and the infirm
• People with digestive disorders
• Slimmers (reduced calorie intake leads to poorer nutrient levels)
• Smokers and drinkers (extra need of antioxidants, in particular)
• Athletes and very active people

Here at Country Living we are committed to your well-being and supply a range of quality foods and health food supplement to help you live a long and healthy life. We supply health supplements which may help to boost your body's defences against infections and other minor illnesses, especially in the winter, health supplements to help with digestive problems (probiotics, digestive enzymes etc), health supplements to help when hair, skin or nails are in poor condition and health supplements to help with joints, bones and muscles.

Bach Flower Remedies

Dr Edward Bach was a physician and a homeopath that developed a complete system of 38 flower remedies, each one of these Bach Flower Remedies has been prepared from flowers of wild plants, trees or bushes.

The Bach Flower Remedies are designed to support a patient's fight against illness, by addressing emotional factors such as; depression, anxiety and trauma. By using the Bach Flower Remedies to help cope with these emotional states when we are ill, it is thought to aid our physical healing. The Bach Flower remedies can also be used in a preventative way, when we are experiencing stress and anxiety, and for those who generally feel tired or unwell but do not have a specific medical diagnosis.

If needed they may be taken in conjunction with medical treatments as they will not conflict with any medication, have no side effects and are non addictive. (We would however always advise you to inform your GP/Consultant that you are taking alternative medicine if you are receiving medical treatment).

At Country Living, popular Bach Flower Remedies include: Impatiens - Keyword: Impatience Impatiens is the Bach Flower remedy for people who are easily irritated.

White Chestnut Keywords: Unwanted thoughts; Mental arguments White Chestnut is the Bach Flower remedy for people who have obsessive, worrying thoughts, which seem impossible to control.

Olive Keywords: Lack of energy Olive is the Bach Flower remedy for those who are exhausted in body and mind. This could be due to, for example, a long period of strain through personal difficulties, a long illness or nursing someone for a long time.

Hornbeam Keywords Monday morning feeling Hornbeam is the Bach Flower remedy for weariness, mental rather than physical. For those who wake up doubting their ability to face the day's work.

As well as the 38 individual Bach Flower Remedies, Dr Bach also created one remedy that contained 5 of the flower remedies, (Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose and Clematis) this he called Rescue Remedy.

Rescue Remedy is the Bach Flower remedy to choose in emergency situations, for example; receiving sudden bad news, bereavement, feeling fearful or when in terror. Rescue Remedy may also be taken for a stressful event, such as; a visit to the dentist, sitting an exam, taking your driving test etc, Rescue remedy will help to calm your fear and nerves. At Country Living we regularly suggest this to our High School members of staff whilst taking their exams.

Each one of the 38 Bach Flower remedies is used for a different emotional state and it is important to choose the correct one for your situation to ensure it works for you.

Several simple books and leaflets are available to help you choose your Bach Flower Remedies. The 38 Flower Remedies details each remedy and how it can help with emotional problems.

In addition to the Bach Flower Remedies, there is Rescue Cream which is very useful as a healing ointment for dry and chapped skin. Rescue remedy is also now available in a convenient spay form. New to the Bach Flower Remedies range are Rescue Pastilles.

Whilst Dr Bach may have passed away over 70 years ago his range of Flower Remedies continues to help many thousands of people each day and will no doubt continue to do so for many more years to come. Buy all the above from Country Living Health Store and online at healthstore.uk.com.