Category: Product Promotion

MooGoo would bet their most premium grazing paddock that having healthier and longer hair was on more than one New Year’s Resolutions list this year. Probably right next to ‘start micro-investing’ and ‘try meditating every day’! They aren’t financial advisors, so you’re on your own with that one, but Meditation, on the other hand, could be connected to promoting hair growth. They’re not joking!

If you’re experiencing hair loss, or have a head that’s growing hair strands at a snail’s pace, don’t fret. The secrets to a scratch-free scalp and luscious locks that are slowly but surely lengthening are simpler than you think. By making some simple switches and building healthy habits into your week, you should start to regain your hair growth.

Secret #1: Breaking the sweat

We all know exercise is excellent for your health in so many ways, but the sweating element can come at a price. Sweat on its own is harmless, but when you leave sweat-drenched hair to sit for too long, you could start seeing some unfavourable consequences. Think blocked pores, a dry and irritated scalp, and hair that is at a higher risk of becoming brittle and breakable.

The saving grace? Common sense says to keep hair up and away from your skin whilst breaking any kind of sweat, and we would agree. But for those who are fitting in fitness more than us once-a-week-ers (we’re trying, promise!) it’s important to wash your hair regularly to remove chances of this build-up. If you’re washing your hair more regularly though, you’ll have to make sure you’re using a gentle formula that isn’t stripping your scalp and strands of all its natural moisture – that’s another road to mane misery. SLS-free Shampoo & Conditioner with natural ingredients are a must!

MooGoo’s Milk Shampoo’s unique formula is perfect for this. Made using a combination of gentle coconut and glucose-based cleansers, this shampoo does the job of cleaning without unnecessary trauma. Our formula also contains Piroctone Olamine which helps to control the microflora of the scalp, protecting you further from any frustrating flakiness. Plus, we’ve added Milk Protein for a boost of amino acids to strengthen the hair.

Secret #2: Never sleep with wet hair

As tempting as it is to skip hair drying and let your head hit the pillow after a long day, sleeping with wet hair is not recommended for the health of your hair and scalp. When hair is wet, it is in a vulnerable state as the cuticles, the outer layer of the hair shaft, are open. This makes the hair more susceptible to damage and breakage. Friction between wet strands and the surface of your pillowcase can lead to increased breakage and split ends. No thanks!

Plus, a damp scalp can create an environment conducive to fungal and bacterial growth. The warmth and moisture trapped against the scalp during sleep may contribute to conditions like dandruff and scalp irritation. Additionally, wet hair is more prone to tangling, and the friction caused by rubbing against a pillow can worsen the problem, leading to knotted and matted hair in the morning.

Allowing your hair to air-dry before bedtime is a healthier practice. This gives your hair cuticles time to close and reduces the risk of breakage. If blow-drying is necessary, use a low-heat setting and keep the dryer at a safe distance to minimize damage. Overall, promoting a dry and well-ventilated environment for your hair before sleeping contributes to maintaining the overall health and appearance of your hair and scalp, which is what you want when growing out those tresses!

Secret #3: Hydrate for happiness

Just as your body needs water to function properly, your hair requires hydration to stay healthy and vibrant. Dehydrated hair can become brittle, prone to split ends, and may struggle to grow at its full potential. Drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day is essential, but external hydration is just as crucial.

Behind every successful shampoo is a great conditioner, and MooGoo’s Cream Conditioner is no different. Instead of using Silicone to create a fake ‘hydrated’ feeling of smoothness, MooGoo opt for naturally nourishing oils like Jojoba and Olive Oil that penetrate deeply into the hair to hydrate from the inside. It’s a hair moisturiser that does the deeper work. A whole lot more effective than Silicone which just builds up on top of your hair (and your scalp) and ends up weighing it down and causing irritation.

Secret #4: Massage for the mane

A little self-care goes a long way, and your scalp is no exception! Massaging your scalp not only feels great but also stimulates blood circulation, promoting the flow of nutrients to your hair follicles. Increased blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients reach your hair roots, encouraging hair growth.

Next time you’re sudsing up your strands (with Milk Shampoo we hope!), take a moment to indulge in a gentle scalp massage. The nourishing ingredients in the shampoo, combined with a massage, create a powerful synergy that enhances blood circulation and ensures that your hair follicles receive the care they need. Incorporating this hair treatment into your routine can make a noticeable difference in promoting hair growth.

Secret #5: Trim for triumph

While it may seem counterintuitive, regular trims are essential for maintaining healthy hair. After all, there’s no point having long locks if the bottom half of them are damaged. Trimming eliminates split ends, preventing them from travelling up the hair shaft and causing further damage. Additionally, a consistent trimming routine helps maintain the shape and appearance of your hair, keeping it looking its best as it grows.

So now you know! Unlocking the secrets to growing your hair involves a holistic approach that addresses both internal and external factors. By embracing these five secrets and incorporating the right products into your routine, you’ll be well on your way to achieving the long, luscious locks you’ve always dreamed of.

If you’re new to the concept, friendly bacteria, or probiotics, are naturally occurring microorganisms living in your gut, collectively known as the gut microbiome. Maintaining a healthy balance of these bacteria is essential for overall well-being. With various options available, it is good to get some guidance on selecting the right supplement for you.

When choosing a friendly bacteria supplement for you or your family, you need to feel confident that it’s safe, well-researched and contains strains of bacteria most suitable for your needs. Optibac probiotics contain strains clinically tested across hundreds of trials in thousands of adults and children.

Optibac live cultures supplements come in capsules, sachets, liquids, and gummies, giving consumers a choice of format. For example, Baby Drops, which is suitable for both breastfed and bottle-fed babies from birth, is a flavourless liquid with an easy-to-use dropper.

Bifido & Fibre, a friendly bacteria supplement with FOS for natural fibre, comes in a powder format that can be mixed into cool, non-acidic food or drink.

Optibac also offers two gummy supplements – Gut Health Gummies and Kids Gummies – both of which contain the scientifically proven friendly bacteria strain Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2, FOS fibres, Vitamin D and Calcium to support immune and gut health.

Selecting probiotic strains backed by thorough research is crucial for optimal health. Extensive scientific studies validate the efficacy and safety of strains, ensuring they deliver the intended benefits. By choosing highly researched probiotic strains from a reputable company, individuals can have confidence in the quality and effectiveness of their supplementation.

Throughout May 2024 Naturalife is offering 20% off Optibac probiotics. So, create a healthy balance in your gut by starting with Optibac Every Day probiotics.

As spring gets underway, do you suffer with any of these symptoms … runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, streaming eyes, sneezing, itchy throat, red eyes?

This could be hayfever or it could be allergic rhinitis, which is a non-seasonal reaction to airborne allergens with hayfever-like symptoms. Allergic rhinitis symptoms can happen at any time of the year, and can sometimes appear later in life, especially during the menopause years.

Hayfever season

Hayfever fluctuates in severity depending on the time of year, as different pollens are released at different times of the spring and summer. Each individual person tends to react to their own ‘set’ of pollens, and may therefore experience symptoms at differing times to other hayfever sufferers.

• Grass pollination – mid-May to July
• Tree pollination – March to mid-May
• Weed pollination – June to October

Whether it’s hayfever or allergic rhinitis, let’s look at the causes and what can be done about them, along with some diet and lifestyle tips to help reduce symptoms.

Hayfever is a type of allergic rhinitis where the allergen your body is reacting to is pollen. An allergy to pollen affects around 25% of the UK’s population1. Contact with tree, weed or grass pollen can all bring on hayfever symptoms, though grass pollen is the most problematic – 95% of all hayfever sufferers are thought to be allergic to this2. Grass pollen mainly makes its presence felt from March to October. You may suffer all summer!

Symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to contact with tree, weed or grass pollen. Instead of ignoring these things as would normally be the case, the immune system initiates a response to kill them, as it would do with a cold virus for example, or troublesome bacteria.

This response involves releasing a chemical called histamine which, in excess, can lead to a host of unpleasant symptoms that can include: itchy eyes, sore throat/cough, blocked ears/earache, runny/blocked nose, sneezing, itchy skin/skin rash, headaches, and fatigue.

Allergic rhinitis happens when the immune system over-reacts to a harmless airborne particle, rather than just letting it pass by. This reaction can be triggered by a wide range of substances, not just pollens.

As part of this response, it releases a chemical called histamine which, in turn, can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nose. This encourages secretion of thick, sticky mucus to trap the foreign particles.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis can occur at any time of the year and, as noted above, in response to a wide range of triggers. It is far more of a long-term problem than hayfever.
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis can be very similar to a common cold infection, and usually occur immediately after coming into contact with the particular substance or substances to which your immune system has decided to object. These symptoms may include: watery eyes, itchy eyes and throat, runny nose, head and/or nose feeling stuffy, loss of taste and smell.

Usually, these problematic symptoms ease quickly as you move away from the troublesome substance. House dust mites, mould and flakes of dead skin from animals are all common allergens that give rise to allergic rhinitis.

Alleviating the Symptoms

Whether you suffer from hayfever or allergic rhinitis you can alleviate the symptoms in several ways by trying A.Vogel’s Pollinosan products.

You can try A.Vogel’s Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets. These work to address a whole range of symptoms. Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets are made from 7 tropical herbs which, together, address symptoms including sneezing, watery eyes and congestion. They are non-drowsy so will not affect your ability to go about your day-to-day life, and can be taken in combination with medications such as antihistamines, as well as alongside A.Vogel’s other herbal remedies. If a specific problem is troubling you, another one of our other remedies may add extra benefits.

You could also try A.Vogel’s Pollinosan Hayfever Nasal Spray, which provides protection against pollen and other airborne irritants and allergens. It also reduces inflammation of the nasal mucosa caused by allergies, which in turn alleviates symptoms such as runny nose, blocked nose, and itchy nose. It stabilises the nasal mucosa and supports healing and regeneration of the nasal membranes. This product is vegan and suitable for both adults and children. It is preservative-free and appropriate for those with high sensitivity.

If you suffer from itchy or red eyes, then A.Vogel’s Pollinosan Hayfever Eye Drops could be the perfect solution for you. They are also vegan, and contain moisturising hyaluronic acid alongside soothing chamomile. Suitable for those over age 7, they are also preservative-free and therefore appropriate for highly sensitive eyes, and for ongoing use. Currently on special offer of £6.99 (during April 2024).

References:

[1] https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/health/public/pollen-forecast/ when-is-hayfever-season
[2] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/many-peoplesuddenly-suffering-hay-fever-middle-age/

Why collagen?

The word collagen stems from the Greek “kólla”, which means glue. This is apt because collagen helps to hold our cells, tissues and organs together.

Our diets are generally much lower in collagen now than previous generations. This is because there is much less focus on traditional nose to tail eating, meaning many of the best sources have fallen off the menu for most of us.

Found only in animal foods, collagen is abundant in organ meats, skin, bones and any meat you eat off the bone along with connective tissue rich cuts like cheek and neck. You might be in the minority who prioritises these but for many, the focus is mainly muscle meats, breast or leaner cuts. This has shifted the amino acid profile of our diet.

Benefits

Whilst improvements to skin and hair are most often the desired targets when supplementing collagen, this is really the tip of the iceberg.

Collagen is our main structural protein, making up as much as one third of all the protein found in the human body. Made up of interwoven polypeptide chains, collagen connects the skin, tissues, muscles and many other parts of the body, including our vital organs.

Collagen fibres are also an integral part of the scaffolding inside the bones onto which the minerals including calcium are deposited, and there are several studies showing taking it can support improvements in bone mineral density in post-menopausal women with osteopenia.

Collagen is also part of our tendons which link muscle to bone and there is increasing evidence it can support those with osteoarthritis and joint pain.

It’s also a major component of our blood vessels and gut, with many people swearing by it as part of a gut protocol.

Types

Although there are over 29 different types, around 90% of this is type 1 in the human body. This type provides amazing strength and flexibility to tissues, supporting things like skin elasticity, load-bearing to ligaments and tendons and shock absorption to bones. From the age of 25, the body starts to lose its type 1 collagen reserves, resulting in conditions associated with ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and impaired joint mobility.

Expectations vs Reality

Taking collagen takes commitment to consistency. The reality is that if you are only taking it every now and then, you might wonder what all the hype is about. That said, you can start to feel benefits within days (reduced soreness after exercise) and the first few months (improvements in skin hydration and elasticity).

Individual results will vary because the body is very intelligent and will prioritise what needs the peptides the most. For example, if your diet is already low in protein, the collagen will go to support more essential processes before your skin and hair.

Marine vs Bovine

Marine collagen generally contains slightly more glycine than bovine collagen, which some may find appealing due to this amino acid’s involvement in muscle repair and calming effect on the nervous system. However, there is only a very small variation in amino acid profile of these two sources, so it often comes down to personal preference.

Why Higher Nature’s Collagen Drink

Sourced from sustainably farmed, antibiotic free fish, Higher Nature uses fish skins which would otherwise be wasted. With zero unnecessary additives or flavourings, just pure hydrolysed collagen peptides that can be easily mixed into hot or cold liquids.

Higher Nature uses a scientifically proven collagen, backed by 12 double-blind clinical studies in humans so you can be sure what you’re taking is doing you good.

Benefits of Higher Nature’s Collagen drink

• Therapeutic dose of 6000mg per scoop
• Hydrolysed marine collagen for superior absorption
• Supports bone and joint tissues
• Key protein for vital organs and blood vessels
• Helps optimise skin, hair and nails
• Great for gut health

There has been an increase in interest on the topic of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and enlarged prostate due to recent news coverage which can only be a good thing for awareness. Prostate disorders affect around 50% of men in their 50s – and almost all men over the age of 80. With that in mind, it might pay to get clued up.

BPH occurs when the prostate grows to an unhealthy size, causing difficulty and discomfort for men when urinating. Symptoms of BPH are urinating frequently, difficulty in getting a urine stream going and feeling as if you are unable to empty your bladder properly. Although not life-threatening in most cases, prostate disorders are not much fun. And you do need an official diagnosis from your doctor to rule out more serious conditions.

Are you a man ‘of that age’? Why not try A.Vogel’s free of charge ‘Prostate Symptom Check’ to learn more about this condition? Click here to find out more.

With a confirmed diagnosis of BPH, luckily there is an option for relieving those urinary symptoms associated with the condition. A.Vogel Prostasan Saw Palmetto capsules is a once-a-day remedy used to relieve the lower urinary symptoms of BPH.

Grab your Prostasan online or in-store now.