Health & Lifestyle | Optibac Every Day, Adult Gummies & Intimate Flora For Women Probiotics review

There's not a day that seems to go past without someone mentioning how they are improving their Gut Health on social media, and this post is yet another reminder of how important it is to look after your gut. In addition to eating a wide variety of different foods, taking probiotic supplements can also help to boost the number of friendly bacteria that live in your gut, thus helping to revitalise your overall health in the process.

What Are Probiotics?

First things first though, what exactly are probiotics? Probiotics are the name for the numerous strains of live bacteria and yeasts that live in your body. They can be found in lots of different foods that are mainly fermented or cultured in some way such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, miso, tempeh, and certain types of yogurts. If you eat a healthy plant-based diet, you're probably already consuming a lot of these! 

Why Do We Need Probiotics?

Probiotics are essential to supporting a healthy digestive system; one easy way to remember them is to think of them as the 'good guys' as they are the friendly bacteria that we need to keep our gut nice and balanced. Unfortunately, many of us don't eat a varied diet in the Western world, and things like alcohol and junk/ultra-processed foods can upset the delicate balance of the good versus bad bacteria in the gut. This imbalance can lead to digestive problems such as IBS and 'leaky gut' (where your body finds it difficult to retain essential vitamins and minerals), as well as issues with your immunity. 

On top of this, stress and antibiotics also cause gut imbalances, so much so, that countries such as Germany and Sweden often provide a course of probiotics when you're given a prescription of antibiotics to counterbalance the side effects on your gut. It's also a useful reminder to only take antibiotics when you absolutely have to. 

How Do Supplements Help?

Probiotic supplements can be a very useful way to top up the friendly good bacteria that your body needs but not all supplements are created equally, so make sure you read the label before purchasing. Brands such as Optibac offer expert advice online to help you to choose the formula that's right for your individual needs, and with a good range to choose from, there's something to suit everyone. Here are just three examples of what they have to offer your gut health, all of which are packaged in glass jars or compostable pouches. And for everyone who has a vagina, there's a specialist supplement just for you at the end of this post!

Optibac Every Day* (£12.99, 30 capsules, one month supply, link)

For a good all-rounder that will suit most people, Optibac Every Day is an excellent choice. This daily supplement contains six highly researched strains of friendly bacteria which have been proven to survive the acidity of the stomach so that you can properly reap the health rewards. These strains are Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11®, Lactobacillus acidophilus/helveticus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175, Lactococcus lactis Rosell-1058, Bifidobacterium breve Rosell-70, and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71. Optibac has also added FOS fibres which are scientifically proven to increase your natural gut bacteria. 

With five billion live cultures in each capsule, this supplement is vegetarian-friendly, yeast and gluten-free, contains no added sugars, is free from artificial colours, and is safe to consume during pregnancy. I've tried many probiotic supplements over the years from various brands and you really can't beat the price point vs quality from Optibac, making them the most affordable in the market.  

How to use: take one capsule per day in the morning, ideally with breakfast. Can be increased to two capsules a day if professionally recommended and is suitable for ongoing use.

 

Optibac Adult Gummies* (£12.99, 30 gummies, one month supply, link)

If you're not keen on taking capsules or have difficulty swallowing them, the Optibac Adult Gummies are a brilliant alternative. These gummies have a delicious mixed berry flavour, are gluten-free, contain no added sugar and have no artificial sweeteners, colours or preservatives. They are also Vegan approved so there's no nasty gelatine. This formula contains the scientifically proven strain Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 and is combined with FOS fibres, Vitamin D, Zinc, and Calcium to provide a gut and immune health supplement all in one. Each gummy has five billion live cultures of the good stuff.

How to use: take one gummy per day, with or without food, do not exceed this recommended daily dosage. Can be used on an ongoing basis, but please consult with your GP/medical professional if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a serious medical condition before consuming.

Optibac Intimate Flora For Women* (£19.99, 30 capsules, one month supply, link)

Lastly, I wanted to feature the Optibac Intimate Flora For Women because I have personally found these so useful for helping me to lessen the number of UTIs (and to recover more quickly from) that I used to experience. If you have a vagina, you need to try these! This is a very specific and specially formulated supplement that contains friendly bacteria strains which are naturally found in the vagina and urinary tract; all of which have been scientifically researched and proven to reach the vagina, with over 30 years of research to back up this all-important formula to support the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome. So to recap, this isn't one for your gut!

Each capsule boasts three strains; Lactobacillus paracasei F-19®, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®, and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® with 2.5 billion live cultures. As the bacteria in the vagina is different from the gut, it makes sense to support it with a specialist supplement, so you can take this alongside one of the other gut formulas above. These are vegan-friendly, gluten & yeast free, and suitable to take during pregnancy.

How to use: take one capsule per day in the morning, preferably with breakfast. You can take these on an ongoing basis or intensively to help rebalance your vaginal health if you have a UTI (if the latter, I would recommend increasing to two capsules per day which is what I have done in the past - and it worked really well for me!).

Shop the full range of Optibac supplements and take advantage of 15% discounts when you subscribe and save: optibacprobiotics.com/uk/

Have you tried any probiotics?

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Women's Health: Suvi Labs Botanicals + Collagen Supplements review

 

Heads up ladies! There's a brand new female-led health and wellbeing brand called Suvi Labs on the market and their first innovation has been developed to support women over 40 experiencing perimenopause, as well as younger women with PMS symptoms.

Co-founded by two mums in their 40s who were going through the perimenopause themselves, Kathrin and Charlene have used their experience in branding and marketing to launch Suvi Labs, a chic, all-natural supplement brand based on extensive research, trials, and expert-led advice. 

Their first product is called Botanicals + Collagen which is a powerful supplement comprised of just seven natural ingredients, each carefully chosen to help relieve the most common symptoms of hormonal fluctuations that are caused by the perimenopause and PMS. 

What's In It?

A daily serving of two capsules contains 15ug Vitamin D3 (300% NRA), 30ug Magnesium Citrate, 1000mg Marine Collagen, 80mg Ashwagandha Root extract, 80mg Turmeric extract, 30mg Saffron extract, and 4mg Siberian Ginseng extract.

What's Not In It?

There are no artificial fillers, bulking agents, or any additional ingredients in this supplement. However, it should be pointed out that it does contain Marine Collagen which is derived from fish so it's not suitable for vegans to use.

What Does It Do?

Each ingredient serves its purpose with Turmeric helping to ease joint pain and headaches, Vitamin D3 supporting brain function and the nervous system, and Magnesium to boost low mood, PMS, and increase sleep quality. A hefty dose of Marine Collagen is included to improve skin quality because collagen production slows down as we age so supplements containing this as highly beneficial for increasing skin's elasticity and the fight against fine lines and wrinkles. 

Elsewhere in the supplement, extracts of Ashwagandha restore a sense of calm and help to regulate blood sugar levels, with Saffron playing an important role to reduce those annoying hot flushes, low mood, and boost libido, and Siberian Ginseng to restore energy levels and provide further mental focus and clarity. 

Overall Thoughts?

This is an excellent supplement that has been well thought out by women, for women, to support them through life's natural hormonal changes. Whether you're experiencing perimenopause or monthly PMS symptoms that are impacting in your day-to-day routine, trying a dedicated supplement like this can help to reduce the severity of those symptoms, to help you to get on with your life.

Suvi Labs Botanicals + Collagen Supplements* (60 capsules, 30 day supply) retails for £45 from suvi-labs.com

Do you take daily supplements?

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Sustainable Periods with WUKA Period Pants & Sea + Flo Menstrual Cup #SustainableLifestyle

 

Let's talk about periods. They're not much fun and they can be uncomfortable and annoying at the best of times, and horribly painful at the worst, yet nearly half the population experiences them every month. One way to make periods more comfortable is to switch your menstruation products from disposable plastic pads and tampons, to comfy period pants and menstrual cups. The environment will thank you as well!

We've all seen the factual memes and awful images of the ever-growing plastic pollution problem that is damaging our oceans and the environment. Much of the focus of this has been on disposable, single-use plastic products that we use every day, but it's only been fairly recently that awareness has been made of all the disposable menstruation products that are clogging up our rivers and beaches too.

I started my periods when I was 11 years old and back then, things like period pants, reusable pads/cloths, and menstrual cups weren't readily available, so like everyone else's family that had young girls, my mum went to Boots and bought me a packet of sanitary pads. It's scary to think of just how many pads and tampons I've used since then, and how many are languishing in landfill sites all around the world still decomposing right now.

But it's never too late to change and make a difference, so ladies, if you're reading this, it's time to say goodbye to disposable pads and tampons and embrace sustainable periods! There are so many different reusable options available nowadays, and I wanted to share just two that have helped me to make the switch.

WUKA Ultimate Bikini Briefs (from £17.99, link)

When I first began researching period pants, there was one brand that kept coming up time and time again and so many friends and family members have recommended them to me, so now it's my turn to rave about them! WUKA (which stands for 'Wake Up Kick Ass') has the best range IMO and they are wonderfully ethical with a strong focus on education to break the taboo around periods, body positivity, inclusivity and female empowerment in general. Their period pants are made from sustainable and plant-friendly materials which are responsibly sourced, and they're delivered in plastic-free packaging. 

I absolutely love their Ultimate Bikini Briefs which are made from organic cotton and come in a range of sizes from 2XS to 4XL. These period pants completely replace the need for pads or tampons and hold 15ml of period flow so they can be worn for up to 8 hours. After use, simply pop them in the washing machine as normal without any fabric conditioner, hang them out on the washing line to dry, and then re-use again and again!

They are SO comfortable to wear and I had no issues with leaks or odours. They do run a little on the small side so I'd recommend going up a size when ordering. Also available in packs of 3 and 5, and with different flow options to suit your needs.

Sea + Flo Menstrual Cup* (£25, link)

If you're a tampon wearer, you'll probably prefer a menstrual cup and these really are such a great eco-friendly option as they can last up to 10 years with the correct care. They're also ideal for those who want something a bit more convenient and discreet than period pants, plus they are amazing for travel! 

The market for menstrual cups has grown massively in the same way as period pants which means there are lots of different brands to choose from. I like this one from Sea + Flo as the cup is made from 100% FDA-approved medical-grade silicone so you can rest assured that there are no unnecessary toxins such as parabens or BPA, and no latex which makes it ideal for those who have allergies.

Menstrual cups are surprisingly very comfortable to use and wear, though it can take a few tries at first to properly insert them - there are loads of handy tips and YouTube vids for guidance on this. Sea + Flo has some excellent articles, as well as cup sizing recommendations on their site so do check them out! Like period pants, I have no problems with leaks and you can wear one for up to 12 hours, day and night.

Overall thoughts

I know what you might be thinking; the initial cost seems to be the main reason why women don't make the switch or put off making the purchase until later on. I had the same feeling, but whilst the initial outlay may seem high at first, you will save money in the long term. Not only are reusable menstrual products a healthier, safer, and far more comfortable option than their mainstream disposable counterparts, the benefits to the environment mustn't be ignored here. Yes it sucks and it's unfair that as women we have to pay for these things, so why not go with the more sustainable product? After all, can we really put a price on our environment?

Have you made the switch to sustainable period products?

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Introducing: Fleur - Eco Luxury Femcare / Period Subscription Box review

 

Subscription boxes are a great way to treat yourself every month, and with Fleur, you can even make your periods more convienent, bearable and dare I say, a tiny bit enjoyable?! OK, it's probably wishful thinking for the latter part but at least opening this box is fun!

I was recently introduced to Fleur via Instagram and their positive attitude to creating a 'feel good' luxury femcare subscription box with an eco-friendly vibe, definitely resonated with me. Their boxes have been specially curated to mimic a spa experience to help you enjoy some period self-care me-time, so if you're looking for a mix of skincare and yummy snacks and treats, in addition to your femcare essentials, you're in the right place.

Fleur were kind enough to send me a box to show you all, so let's get stuck in and see what's inside.

Plastfree Sanitary Pads Night Pack

When you subscribe to Fleur, you can specify whether you'd like to receive sanitary pads, tampons or a mix of both, and everything that they send you will be organic and plastic-free. In my box, I found a pack of 10 Night Sanitary Pads from Plastfree. These pads are biodegradable, eco-friendly, fragrance-free and free from any additional chemicals, with leak-proof wings and a high absorbency layer. Unlike mainstream plastic-based sanitary pads that can take over 500 years to decompose, Plastfree pads will biodegrade in just two years.

Jade Facial Roller

I was excited to see what kind of pampering products Fleur would include their boxes and I love this handy Jade Facial Roller which is perfect for indulging in some facial massages with. There are lots of techniques that you can use with these to depuff and encourage healthy collagen production and blood flow, and I find they work very well with your favourite facial oil.

Glam Up Clarifying Oatmeal Mask, Revitale Gold Collagen Eye Masks and UpCircle Eye Cream sample

I must admit that I was a little disappointed to see a selection of disposable, single-use sheet and eye masks in a box that has such an eco-friendly ethos about it. However, I've tried them out and they are lovely products. The Glam Up Clarifying Oatmeal Mask is a nice me-time treat that most skin types will enjoy, and the Revitale Gold Collagen Eye Masks are perfect for soothing tired eyes after a long day. I'm already a big fan of UpCircle's skincare and their Eye Cream helps to brighten and firm the delicate eye area.

Baylis & Harding Jasmine & Apple Blossom Luxury Hand Gel

Next up, there's a travel size bottle of Baylis & Harding Jasmine & Apple Blossom Luxury Hand Gel which smells beautiful! Formulated with added moisturisers, it doesn't leave your hands feeling stripped or dry afterwards and kills 99.9% bacteria.

Popcorn Shed Sweet & Salty Mini Popcorn

Moving onto the snacks, this bag of Popcorn Shed Sweet & Salty Mini Popcorn really hits the spot when you can't decide which flavour sensation to go for. It's vegan-friendly, gluten-free and less than 133 calories per pack for a guilt-free treat.

NOMO Caramel Choc Bar & Moo Free White Bar

Indulge your sweet tooth with these two delicious vegan-friendly chocolate bars! I love NOMO and their Caramel Choc Bars are literally heaven on earth with smooth and gooey caramel centre, whilst the Moo Free White Bar is a sweet and creamy solid bar of dairy-free white chocolate. Yum!

Rose Sweets & Heath & Heather Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea Bags

To round off the box, I found a selection of lovely rose-shaped gummy sweets and two samples of Health & Heather Raspberry Leaf Tea Bags which are caffeine-free and help to alleviate period pain.

Fleur Box is available as a monthly subscription from £17.99, or can be purchased as a one-off box for £22.50 from fleurstore.co.uk

Do you subscribe to any boxes like this? 

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Health & Lifestyle: Sundose - Personalised Supplements review

We consume billions of pounds worth of health supplements in the UK, with an estimated 71% of the general public stating that they take some form of a multivitamin every day in a recent survey. But as everyone's health needs are different and individual, should we be looking at a more personalised approach to supplements? 

With my interest in health and wellbeing forever growing, I've been fortunate enough to speak to numerous professional nutritionists and health experts over the years, and most are in favour of supplements being taken to ensure that we get all of the vitamins and minerals that our body requires to perform at its best. There are many factors involved, but common thoughts on why supplements are beneficial are based on busy lifestyles that include more travel these days, longer commutes, longer working hours and family commitments, poor diets that are reliant on packaged and convenience foods, and a lack of many key minerals in our soil due to environmental pollution and intensive farming practices.

However, it's important to actually stop and think about your individual health and lifestyle needs before you simply buy the nearest multivitamin on the shelf. For example, if you're a woman who has periods, you'll usually require more iron than a man, or if you do a lot of exercise, it's likely that you may need a top up of magnesium as exercise depletes your body's magnesium stores. 

Personalised Supplements

This is why I was interested in the opportunity to trial Sundose who specifically tailor their supplements to your personal health requirements. When you sign up to their health service, you're asked a number of questions to assess your needs and for an even better, tailored guarantee, it's recommended that you submit to them a copy of your recent blood test results. This approach will allow their lab to individually compose and 100% match the Sundose supplements to exactly what your body needs. Pretty neat, huh?

What Is Sundose?  

Sundose is a composition of high-quality vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics and antioxidants, which are designed to be taken every day to boost your overall health. It's free from preservatives, colourants, anti-caking ingredients and fillers, so it has a short shelf-life and needs to be kept in the fridge so that it remains fresh. Boxes contain a month's supply which are delivered to you, and your Sundose supplements change as you change, as the composition is recalibrated every month. You can even download the Sundose app and track your progress, plus they have supplements available which are suitable for those who follow a vegan diet.

How Do I Take Sundose?

For ultra-convenience and freshness, Sundose is packaged into individual daily sachets which contain a powder that you mix with water and drink (you can choose the flavour of this when you sign up), and a range of supplements that you swallow with a glass of water. It's recommended that you take your Sundose drink and supplements after breakfast.

What's In My Personalised Sundose?

To give you an example of what you can expect, here's how my Sundose was composed:-

The Powder part (that you mix with water to drink) contains a high amount of Vitamin C (606mg) with Folic Acid, Selenium, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Thiamine, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin, Panthothenic Acid, Zinc and Magnesium all covering my daily requirements. It also includes Vitamin D, Iron, Molybdenum, Manganese, Calcium, Vitamin E, Copper, Potassium, Iodine, Chromium, Lycopene, Coenzyme Q10 and Lutein in varying amounts.

For the Supplements, I received four capsules to swallow:-

• An antioxidant capsule which contains Silymarin, L-ornithine and Choline.
• An omega fatty acids capsule which contains Fish Oil, EPA and DHA.
• A probiotic capsule which contains Saccharomyces boulardii, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus plantarum LP01 and Inulin.
• A further antioxidant capsule containing L-theanine, Bacopa monnieri extract, Ashwagandha extract and Korean Ginseng extract.

Overall thoughts?

I took Sundose for one month and thought that it covered all of my essential health needs and more, especially with the powder that you make into a drink - I found this useful for boosting my overall energy and immunity. The probiotic element helps to support gut health, whilst the two antioxidant supplements addreses anxiety, sleep, fatigue, energy levels and healthy hormone regulation. I always feel that it's good to comsume more essential omega fatty acids, and despite being a vegetarian, I have always had good results from taking fish oil (it's my only exception to the vegetarian rule) so again, this worked well for me. This is definitely something that I would look into continuing with in the future as it covers all bases of health in my opinion, and does what you want your supplements to do for you.

Sundose* retails for £69 per month and is available from uk.sundose.io

Would you consider personalised supplements?

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Health & Lifestyle: Gumi Sugar Free Energy, Multivit and Beauty Gummies review

If you don't like swallowing large tablet supplements and instead, want to find a more enjoyable and tastier way to take your vitamins and minerals every day, why not try these ones from Gumi?

I often get emails from readers asking me to recommend them supplements that aren't in the traditional capsule or tablet format, as it seems that many of you don't like or find it difficult to swallow larger pills, so this feature is especially for all of you! I was recently introduced to Gumi, a bright and colourful, family-friendly supplements brand that specialises in a wide range of 'gummies' which help to support your daily health and wellbeing needs.

All of Gumi's supplements are sugar, gluten and lactose-free, as well as being free from artificial colours, artificial flavourings and preservatives. Unfortunately, they aren't suitable for vegetarians or vegans as they contain bovine gelatine, however, the brand is currently working to develop veggie-friendly gummies in the near future, so I'll be sure to update this post when that happens.

For all the non-veggies out there, Gumi's gummies come in different fruity flavours (depending on which supplement you're taking), which makes them easy to give to children, and there are family, women's, children's and men's ranges available. Below are just three examples of what Gumi have to offer.

Gumi Family Energy Gummies* (60 gummies, £12.99, link)

Suitable for everyone in the family to take (from the ages of 3 years), the Family Energy gummies have been formulated to help revitalise the whole family to keep those energy levels active and balanced throughout the day. This special blend features Vitamins A, D3, E, C, B1, B2, B6, B12, Biotin, and Iodine, which can help to support the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, whilst also keeping your metabolism and immune system working properly, and contributing to normal healthy cognitive and psychological functions.

It's recommended that you take two gummies a day and these have a yummy orange flavour. Like all the Gumi products, they have a childproof locked lid so adults can have complete control over the correct dosage amounts.

 Gumi Women's Multivit Gummies* (60 gummies, £12.99, link)

Developed especially for women on the go, Gumi's Women's Multivit gummies are an easy way to ensure that you're getting all of your daily nutrients and can be taken all year round. These strawberry flavoured gummies are packed full of a multi-tasking blend of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin and Pantothenic Acid, making them a great all-rounder for busy women everywhere. Two gummies a day are all you need to see the full benefits, but do be aware that these are not suitable for pregnant women.

Gumi Women's Beauty Gummies* (60 gummies, £12.99, link)

Beauty supplements are the most searched for in the Health & Lifestyle section of this blog according to my blogger stats, so I had to include Gumi's Women's Beauty gummies when I spotted them on their website! With a specialised blend of active ingredients and vitamins, the Beauty gummies help to support the maintenance of healthy hair, skin and nails with its expert blend of Vitamins B6, B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Zinc and Selenium. You take two gummies a day and they have a delicious fruity berry flavour, so it's a quick and tasty way to rediscover your beauty glow from within.

Shop the full range of Gumi supplements at gumivits.com - currently on a 3 for 2 offer!

Disclaimer: Food supplements should never be used to replace a healthy and varied diet with plenty of exercise. Always consult your GP before taking if you have any queries, existing medical conditions or are taking any medication.

Do you prefer taking gummy supplements like these?

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Healthy Lifestyle: Comvita Olive Leaf Extract Immune Support & Vision Maintenance supplements review

Looking for some new supplements to add to your daily routine to give your health a boost? These two from Comvita will help to support your immune system and keep your eyes in tip-top condition.

 Comvita Olive Leaf Extract Immune Support* (60 capsules, £24.98, link)

Usually, you'd start to see immune supplements popping up on blogs before Winter, but for me, there's nothing worse than suffering from a Summer cold! Who wants to have a fever when it's boiling hot outside?! Keep those pesky colds and flu at bay with a daily high strength dose of Olive Leaf Extract, Copper and Zinc. Each soft gel capsule contains 66mg of Oleuropein (derived from Olive Leaf which is picked and harvested on Comvita's own farms in Queensland, Australia), plus 11 other naturally occurring polyphenols that creates a synergistic action that's more powerful than taking Oleuropein alone.

Olive Leaf Extract has been proven to be effective in helping to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels, as well as lowering blood pressure, which in turns lowers your risk of cardiovascular problems and boosts your overall health. In addition to the Olive Leaf Extract, these supplements also contain Copper and Zinc which are essential for maintaining a healthy, functioning immune system. I've been taking one a day since the start of June and so far haven't had any of the colds that have been going around, so I feel like this may be a long-term daily supplement for me. I'm curious to see if it will continue to work come Autumn/Winter - let me know if you take anything similar?

Comvita Vision Maintenance* (30 capsules, £34.99, link)

Most of us take our eyesight for granted, but it's such a special part of our everyday experience with how we interact with the world, that I feel we should all be putting in a lot more effort than we do to protect our peepers. I've always had good eyesight until I hit my late 20s, and then I started to need glasses as I was struggling to see signs and objects in the distance. Although it's very common, it did make me realise how grateful I am to be able to see so I've been looking into what I can do to protect the health of my eyes for the years to come.

These Vision Maintenance supplements from Comvita tick all the boxes for me as I wanted something that was one-a-day and easy to swallow. They contain 50mg of Anthocyanins which are derived from New Zealand Blackcurrants, 10mg of Lutein and 2mg of Zeaxanthin that are extracted from Wild Marigolds, and 4.8mg of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), all in one vegetarian capsule.

The combined natural formula helps to protect the delicate eye cells from oxidative stress which can damage their health in the long term, whilst in nature, Lutein and Zeaxanthin appear to absorb excess light energy to prevent damage to plants, particularly from high-energy light rays called blue light. These two substances are found in high concentrations in the macula of the human eye and there's been a lot of research into their benefits. Vitamin B2 is also an important component as it's an essential vitamin that the body needs every day as it helps to maintain normal vision.

On top of taking these supplements, I also make sure that I wear sunglasses in Summer (and on those cold but sunny days for the rest of the year) that have proper UV protection lenses as our eyes are ten times more sensitive to UV damage than our skin, so every little preventative measure helps!

What daily supplements do you take?

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Women's Health: Spatone Liquid Iron Supplement - 6 Week Trial review

Throughout most of my adult life, I've struggled with having low iron levels and have suffered from bouts of anaemia and fatigue as a result. Iron supplements though are very hit and miss, but I think I've finally found some that work for me!

Why Is Iron Important?

Iron is one of the most important minerals that the body needs a good supply of every day. It's essential because iron is a vital component in making the red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. This helps to maintain normal energy levels, reduce tiredness and fatigue, keep your immune system healthy and stabilise normal cognitive function.

However, most of us struggle to get enough iron from our daily diet alone, and women under menopause age and young females are especially prone to iron deficiencies as most of us have periods or extra nutritional demands, such as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Vegetarians, like myself, and vegans are also at risk because although iron is found in many green vegetables such as Broccoli and Spinach, the body does not absorb it as easily as it does with iron that's found in red meat.

Not All Iron Supplements Are The Same
When I first had some blood tests done as a teenager, I was immediately prescribed some heavy duty iron supplements which came in a tablet form. These were not only hard to swallow (they were HUGE!), but they caused me to have the most unbearable stomach cramps, which were so bad that I had to stop taking them. I was put on a lower dosage which I put up with for a few years, but these still gave me a lot of stomach problems and although it's TMI, I had constipation issues as well which isn't fun, let me tell you! So, after getting fed up with the side effects of prescribed iron tablets, I tried out a bunch of different brands and formulas that I purchased from health shops, all with varying degrees of success until I tried Spatone.

Over the past six weeks, I've been taking part in a trial of Spatone Liquid Iron Supplements, where I have been consuming one packet per day. Spatone is made from 100% natural iron-rich water that's sourced from the Trefriw Wells Spa in Snowdonia, North Wales. They have two versions available; an Apple flavoured one that contains added Vitamin C to enhance absorption and an Original one that's just iron-water.

As it's a liquid iron supplement, it's a lot more gentle on the stomach than iron tablets and has been scientifically proven to be a highly absorbable source of iron with an average absorption rate of 40%. This might sound low, but as the body only absorbs around 5-20% of the iron that's found in foods, it can help you to reach your daily iron requirements as part of a varied diet (each Spatone sachet contains 5mg of iron).

How To Take Spatone

Spatone is packaged in individual sachets and it's recommended to take one a day as a top up for your body's iron levels. The brand suggests mixing it with fruit juice and I would highly recommend doing this because it doesn't taste good on its own (I tried it just to see what it was like and the Original flavour is like drinking liquid metal - the Apple flavour is much more palatable!). However, once mixed with juice, you can't really taste it. 

Iron supplements are best taken on an empty stomach, and the Vitamin C in your juice helps the body to increase the absorption of the iron. If you absolutely can't take it on an empty stomach, avoid consuming it with carbonated drinks (phosphates), tea (tannin), coffee (caffeine), dairy, raw cereal (phytates) and any supplements that contain calcium, as all of these will inhibit the absorption rate. Allow a 30-45 minute gap from when you take it to eating a meal for the best results.

Overall thoughts?

Spatone is by far the best iron supplement that I've ever taken. I have had no problems with any side effects such as nausea or stomach cramps/complaints, no issues with constipation, and after six weeks of taking it daily, I have noticed a slight increase in my energy levels - which for someone who regularly suffers from fatigue, this is a really big deal! 

I'm so happy with it that I've since purchased another four months' supply, as I feel it may well be a long-term daily supplement for me, and I'm curious as to whether I'll start to see any more differences in my overall health in the future from taking it on a regular basis. I'll be sure to update this post if I do!

Spatone* is available in packs of 14 or 28 sachets and can be found in the Original flavour and an Apple flavour which has added Vitamin C. I'd recommend the latter! Prices start from £6.99 and Spatone can be found in major retailers such as Superdrug and Holland & Barrett. Full stockist info at spatone.com

Do you take iron supplements?

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Women's Health: LIVIA 'The Off Switch For Menstrual/Period Pain' - 3 Month Trial Review

Period pain is something that affects a huge percentage of menstruating women, and levels of its severity and impact on day-to-day life can vary from woman to woman - there's no singular pain factor that's the same for everyone. 

My experience with Period Pain

Some women can go through much of their adult lives and not have their periods bother them that much, but for others, they can be absolutely awful, and I've struggled a lot with severe period pain ever since I started menstruating at the age of 11. I remember having to take a lot of time off school because the pain was so bad, and after countless trips to the GP, I was simply told to take some higher-strength Ibuprofen and basically 'get over it'. For the first couple of years, this seemed to work to some degree as it dulled the worst of it, but by the time I was 16/17, my body had built up a tolerance to both high-strength Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, to the point where they no longer did anything and I still have issues with them doing nothing for me to this day.

At college, a friend recommended that I visit her female GP who was more understanding of these issues, so I requested a transfer and was accepted at her surgery. She asked me a lot of questions about the pain and prescribed Mefenamic Acid, an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) which worked wonders! It even helped with my heavy periods and I felt happier than I had done in years. My periods were no longer a problem, until two years later, when the Mefenamic Acid suddenly stopped working. The crippling period pain was back, so I made an appointment and saw the same GP, who then prescribed Naproxen, a different type of painkiller. I had a lot of side effects from it (heartburn, nausea, headaches etc) and eventually stopped taking it after five months when I started to get heart palpitations. The GP suggested trying Mefenamic Acid again which I did, but it no longer worked for me. That was the point where she shook her head and suggested I look at alternative methods, as I had exhausted all of the options that she knew of.

Here's Livia in action - the gel pads are slightly higher up than usual as I was getting more pain in those areas on the day that I took this photo, but you can adjust them to wherever you need them to be and you can use them on your lower back as well.

I've done a lot of Googling and chatting to other women over the years, and have tried so many different methods to manage the severity of my period pain. These include exercising more, acupuncture, diet changes, different painkillers, taking different versions of the Pill, and even trying hypnotherapy. Some helped more than others, but none of them had a noticeable impact.

Last year, I came across a news story online about a new drug-free solution to period pain called Livia. The startup business behind it had successfully crowdfunded over $1.7 million dollars via Indiegogo, which perhaps gives you a good indicator of how many women worldwide have been looking for an alternative like this!  

What is Livia and How Does It Work?

Livia is basically a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device which works as a pain management treatment system by using electrotherapy. The device is composed of a rechargeable unit which sends light electrical pulses into the body through the skin via two electrodes which are placed over the areas where you're experiencing the pain. This means that the high-frequency electrical signals sent out by the device effectively 'blocks out' the pain signals and stops them from being delivered to your brain, so that you no longer 'feel' the pain. Low-frequency bursts of mild electrotherapy also help to activate the natural pain control response that we all have, by releasing additional beta-endorphins - pretty clever stuff eh?

How Do I Use It? 

The first thing you'll need to do is charge the Livia unit for 12 hours before using (it's easy to charge it via a USB or phone charger). Once charged, you simply attach it to the waistband of your trousers/skirt etc, and plug in the electrodes which are attached to flower-shaped gel pads. Stick these onto the area where you're feeling pain, making sure that they're at least 10-15 cm apart in distance, and then switch Livia on. You can increase and decrease the strength as you wish by pressing the plus and minus buttons. There's no time limit for how long you can use it for, but I found it most effective for around 15-20 minutes as the effects continue for a little while afterwards. As always, I recommend reading the instructions in full before using any new device.

What Does It Feel Like?

I tried out the lowest setting first and it felt like a series of gentle, small vibrations. It's a little strange at first, but definitely not painful. As I adjusted to the higher settings, the vibrations get more intense of course, so I'd suggest working your way up to them, rather than going straight in at the deep end. That said, once you get used to the sensation of it, you quickly realise that it's not painful - it just feels weird to begin with!

Did It Work For Me?

I tested out Livia for three months to see if the results or feelings would change from period to period, and I found that it was pretty consistent throughout. I get the most period pain during the first three days of my period and I found that Livia definitely helped with the severity of the cramps. However, it didn't make them go away completely and I still experienced some moderate pain during those first three days each time, though it was a lot less than I usually felt. If you have milder period pain, it may eliminate all of that, but as a severe pain sufferer, I'd say it helped to reduce the pain by about 50-60% to give you a rough idea, though I appreciate that we're all different with our pain levels.

Overall Thoughts?

Livia is by no means the miracle product that I desperately wanted it to be, but it has certainly helped me to discover a much better method of period pain management and I'm thrilled that it's something that women can try which is a drug-free option. I strongly believe that many young girls and women are taking far too many painkillers on a regular basis for period pain, which can result in a tolerance being built up that may have problematic consequences for them later in their lives (I know it has done this for me), so I fully support any methods that could help to reduce that dependency. 

I do feel that Livia is very expensive for what it is though, and you could probably find a similar TENS device for a much cheaper price (you must factor in purchasing additional gel pads etc). But for those who have the budget for it, it's a wonderfully convenient piece of kit to have in your handbag, ready to blast away those pesky cramps so that you can get on with your day.

LIVIA* is currently on offer as a complete kit for £119 (original price £149) and is available direct from mylivia.com

Would you use a product like this for period pain?

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