Healthy Direct launches the latest addition to its range of vitamins and mineral supplements

The new Bilberry Extract and High Strength Bilberry product formulas have been exclusively developed by Healthy Direct (www.healthydirect.com) to aid eye health by extracting the fruit’s antioxidant properties.

Proven to strengthen blood vessels and capillary walls, and protect the eye membrane, bilberry was first noticed by British pilots in the Second World War who reported that their night vision improved when they ate bilberry jam prior to night bombing raids.

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Since then the fruit has been used as a nutritional supplement to support eye disorders such as cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. Healthy Direct has taken the potent antioxidants to produce 500mg and 5,000mg tablets which can contribute to the prevention or slow down the deterioration of eyes which occurs through age.

Bilberries also have anti-inflammatory properties which can help other health conditions such as varicose veins and gout while acting as a general all-over health supplement.

An estimated 4 in 10 people in Britain now take supplements. Developments in nutritional understanding have prompted a huge amount of public interest in the use of supplements over the last few decades with many people now realising that using supplements could be necessary not just to avoid disease, but for anyone who wants to look and feel great.

Choosing the right supplements can however be a minefield. As a general rule most people will benefit from taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement. Also essential are additional antioxidants to fight free radical and pollution damage and some omega fats for general health. Any specific health herbs and supplements can then be added.

For more information visit www.healthydirect.com or call 0800 107 57 57.

Bilberry 5,000mg (High Strength) 90 tablets – £10.99/180 tablets – £18.49

Bilberry 500mg 180 tablets – £7.99/360 tablets – £12.99

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When I first got into raw food back in 1993 there weren’t a lot of myths floating around as there weren’t many raw foodists or raw food philosophies floating around either!

Since then my, how things have changed! There’s more books, resources, foods, theories, promoters, restaurants – you name it, there’s more of it! And yes, ultimately this is a great thing… the only thing that frustrates me just a little are the myths that are created out of thin air and then get passed around like Chinese whispers and are taken as gospel! So because I’m keen for people NOT to sign up to a “truth” that’s not true, here’s my contribution to blowing these myths out of the water!

Myth #1: Talking about “THE” Raw Food Diet

The first and most misleading myth is that there is such thing as “a raw food diet” – there’s really not. If I were to say to you that I eat “a cooked food diet” would that tell you very much? Of course not! I could eat burger and fries twice a day (like I used to), or I could eat beans and rice with steamed veggies (which I later switched to) – obviously very different foods that will affect my health, energy and body very differently – but they’re all “cooked”.

And so for me to say “I eat a raw food diet” is equally unhelpful. I could major on greens, salads and sprouted foods (which is, loosely speaking, the ideal in my opinion), or I could eat predominantly complicated raw gourmet dishes mostly made in the dehydrator followed by raw chocolate cake every night. Again, very different foods which will definitely result in differing levels of health and vitality – but all raw foods nonetheless.

So, when someone says to you “I know someone who tried the raw food diet but it didn’t work for them”, try asking them what exactly that person was doing or eating. I’ve found that usually after a little probing it becomes clear that really most people don’t know what they are doing (some of the stories I have heard have been pretty scary!), many have not been eating a wide enough variety of foods (or of good enough quality), but moreover most if not all have failed to figure out and follow the 7 Steps that I teach in my Raw Food for Beginners book and classes – which is why I wrote the book! There is a method to all of this and it pays to learn it – that way success lays, and when you’ve made it happen for yourself you’ll know that there really is no such thing as a raw food diet, but there is such thing as YOUR raw food diet!

Myth #2: “If You Eat Only Raw Food You’ll Never Get Ill”

The second myth that needs busting is that if you eat all raw food you will never get ill. This is simply not true, although generally speaking eating lots of first-class raw foods certainly keeps people healthier and more able to shake off things than the average diet. But while diet is undoubtedly a very important part of the health puzzle, Step 1 of The 7 Steps to Going and Staying Raw is to learn, understand and acknowledge (as discussed in last week’s issue) that “Going Raw is a Whole Person Journey.”

Eating right (which to my mind is at least 80% raw vegan) is a brilliant tool for creating amazing health, but if you are overworking or are constantly stressed out, if your emotional needs aren’t being met, or if you don’t get enough fresh air, water, rest, sleep, sunshine or exercise then your body simply isn’t going to thrive as well as it could because other vital nutrients are missing (of the non- food variety). In fact, stress is more acidic to the body than some of the worst junk food; it can literally poison the system, regardless of how well you might be eating. So, yes, when you go raw you need to be watching more than just what you eat – you need to be taking good care of yourself right across the board and feeding yourself optimally on all levels – but that’s a good thing, right?!

Myth #3: “You Have to Go 100% Raw to Be Your Best”

The third and final myth that I really want to bust is that going raw has to be all or nothing. No, not at all. Over the years I have been at all places on the dietary spectrum, from eating all junk and lots of meat to all raw vegan – and everywhere in between. Nowadays I eat pretty much 100% raw vegan all the time (there are a few occasional exceptions, but these are a very rare event), but that’s simply because I feel and look my best when I do – but I don’t treat eating raw as a religion. When eating raw becomes a “must do” rather than a “want to”, that’s when it starts to become unhealthy. So being clear on your values and having your Big Why at the core of your eating habits ensures that you keep your emotional energy high which will greatly assist you in eating more raw and feeling happy about it – but what level you choose to go to is entirely personal to you and can and most likely will change ongoingly as you and your diet evolve. The key criteria for all of this has to be that you are happy with what you’re doing, and are consistently feeling better for it in every way, otherwise why would you do it?

(c) 2008 Karen Knowler

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Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes “Successfully Raw” – a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you’re ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach.com

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Does eating out of a can get you down? Are you tired of the same boring meals through the week but do not want to eat out? Perhaps it is time you shake the dust off those cookbooks and find new recipes to liven up your tired palate. There is no need to panic. The trick is to keep it simple and not panic or become overly stressed. New recipes should be about adventure and bringing new experiences home.

kitchen cooking
The absolute worst mistake a person can make regarding any and all new recipes is choosing something they know they will not like. If you hate any type of fish, then avoid recipes that include fish. Yes, you should try new things but consider that step at a later date when you are more familiar with the kitchen. The joy of cooking comes from enjoying what you eat.

The second step to finding kitchen cooking is to look at a variety of sources. Friends, family members and co-workers are great sources of recipes. There are also cooking light recipes on a variety of websites. Try using a search engine such as Google to find an ethnic cuisine or any other world recipes. The options for new dessert recipes are endless and are only limited by your ability to search.

how to cook

Sometimes new recipes require a different set of cooking utensils. An example would be preparing sushi at home. One of the requirements for making a sushi roll is a bamboo sushi mat. Do not attempt to improvise on some utensils because it will prove to be harder in the long run rather than just buying the required cooking utensils right from the start. Read the recipe carefully and make a note of all the utensils you will need before beginning.

Here is one further tip when trying to create new recipes. If you are preparing a new recipe for a gathering, try making it a few days in advance. The added stress of trying something new when pressured for time can often be a recipe for disaster. This is especially true if the dish does not turn out quite like you imagined. Prepare the dish, taste it and then decide if it is something you want to share with friends or family.

dessert recipes
Take a chance and toss out the regular Taco Tuesday from your menu. Let new recipes, ideas add pizzazz into your life. Home-made gourmet meals are easy to make at home and can change your outlook on eating. No more shall we be oppressed by the standard Monday Macaroni Day. Ask your family and friends for recommendations or turn on the television to a food cooking show.

Tags: new experiences, joy of cooking, home kitchen, cooking, cuisine, eating

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