In response to the humanitarian crisis in the Philippines, Modus and Glamour Magazine will be partnering to present The Great Modus Glamour Bake off and Sample Sale this Friday 29th November in the Modus Showroom Events space, with all proceeds going to support the crisis.
Health and wellbeing specialist, Liz Earle, goes through her top three natural remedies to keep bugs at bay this winter.
Looking for natural ways to keep the winter bugs at bay? Liz Earle, creator of the award-winning Liz Earle Beauty Co., mother of five, organic farmer and more recently founder of Liz Earle Wellbeing, shares her top three immune-boosting natural medicines.
GARLIC
ELDERBERRY
GINGER
Read the full article here: www.lizearlewellbeing.com/latest-news/beat-the-winter-bugs/
Durex and MTV Staying Alive Foundation (SAF) celebrate change with the #someonelikeme campaign; combatting the preconception that HIV is not relevant by making young people aware that the virus could (and does) happen to ‘someone like me’
Did you know more than 35 million people now live with HIV; that last year there were 2.3 million new HIV infections; and every hour 50 young women are newly infected with HIV?
The ‘Someone Like Me’ campaign, launched by Durex and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation (MTV SAF), will combat the preconception that HIV is not relevant by making young people aware that the virus could (and does) happen to ‘someone like me’.
On Saturday, 30 November, the eve of World AIDS Day, parties will be held in multiple countries around the world to encourage and drive change. The celebrations will be held in London, Sydney, Shanghai, Singapore, Berlin, Mexico City and Bogata, Columbia.
With the global parties Durex and SAF aim to encourage safe sex with the aim of young people taking action to help shape a world free from HIV.
The #SomeoneLikeMe global sex education campaign, led by young people for young people, aims to build the someonelikeme.tv hub into the world’s largest peer generated content hub on sex, sexual health and sex education.
The campaign features a specially made documentary and a month long global social media campaign which culminates on World AIDS Day on Sunday 1 December.
Georgia Arnold – Executive Director MTV Staying Alive Foundation:
“For the past 15 years, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation has worked tirelessly to influence positive sexual behaviour among young people around the world in creative and innovative ways. At MTV SAF, we believe that this generation will change the course of the HIV epidemic, and are thrilled to be partnering with Durex on a campaign that will empower young people to do just that.”
Volker Sydow – Durex Global Category Director, Reckitt Benckiser:
“MTV SAF and Durex have a shared vision to improve sexual health for young people around the world and the energy, commitment and passion to make that happen. With ‘#someonelikeme’ we are excited to provide to young people around the world a new and revolutionary platform to speak up, sharing their stories and fundamentally driving change for them to experience in their lifetime an HIV-free generation.”
In the run up to World AID’s Day on Sunday 1st December, Durex is also donating 10 million condoms to HIV and AIDS projects around the world to encourage safe sex and to help young people experience an HIV-free generation in their lifetime.
Liz Earle, creator of the award-winning Liz Earle Beauty Co., mother of five, organic farmer and more recently founder of Liz Earle Wellbeing, tells us about the health benefits of red wine and shares her favourite recipe for mulled wine.
“The benefits of red wine have been widely publicised in recent years, with most scientists agreeing that, when drunk in moderation, it may help protect the heart, prevent blood clots and strokes, and even ward off certain cancers including colon and prostate.
A glass of red wine contains high amounts of natural polyphenols or antioxidants which not only help our cells fight against free radical damage but also increase our levels of ‘good’ cholesterol. It also contains procyanidins which help reduce blood pressure and protect against hardening of the arteries. Studies have shown that red wine may boost brain power too, especially for older women, although the jury’s out as to whether this benefit comes solely from wine or includes other alcohol. Don’t forget, it’s only a glass or two that may keep the doctor away, not a whole bottle!!
If you’re in need of a little seasonal cheer, why not enjoy a glass of delicious mulled wine. Adding spices such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise also boosts our antioxidant levels. This is my personal favourite recipe which will be served to guests at an upcoming candlelit carol concert in aid of my charity, LiveTwice. A heart-healthy winter warmer!”
Ingredients:
Use the below as a guideline, but feel free to add your own additional spices such as vanilla and cardamom.
· 2 oranges, organic (or well scrubbed)
· Peel of 1 lemon (organic, un-waxed or well scrubbed)
· 100g caster sugar
· A generous pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
· 3 sticks cinnamon
· 6 cloves, plus extra for garnish
· 2 fresh bay leaves
· 2 bottles of fruity inexpensive red wine, preferably organic
· 500 ml water
· 5 star anise
Method:
Peel and juice one orange into a large saucepan along with the lemon peel, sugar and all the spices apart from the star anise. Add just enough water or a little wine to cover the sugar, then simmer gently until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to boil for a few minutes to infuse the spices until you have a sticky syrup. Then add the bottles of wine and star anise to the pan and heat gently until warm. Be careful not to let the mulled wine boil at this stage otherwise the alcohol will burn off, together with many of the healthy benefits of red wine! Ladle into glasses and decorate with a wedge of orange (studded with a few extra cloves if you wish). To make a less alcoholic version, simply add a little more orange juice and water. For a non-alcoholic version, replace the red wine with cranberry juice.
For more advice and tips on wellbeing from Liz Earle, head over to www.lizearlewellbeing.com and for more details and tickets to the LiveTwice candlelit carol concert and a chance to meet Liz and the Wellbeing team please visit www.livetwice.org/shop/christmas/candlelit-carols-adult/
I don’t know about you, but we’re on the road to a natural healthy lifestyle; one of the ways we’re achieving that is but drinking herbal teas. What’s not to love? Aside from being natural and healthy, they taste/smell great, they’re low in calories and relaxing. If that’s not enough, there’s one for almost every common ailment going. Take this list with you when you’re on your next grocery shop, I think you’re going to like it…
1. The Wake Up Call – Peppermint
Mint stimulates, restores, and revitalises the body; one cup in the morning kick-starts the system, refreshing the mind, and blowing away the cobwebs. It also helps with your digestion, flatulence, and digestive issues. A cup of peppermint tea will ease nausea and vomiting, especially if you suffer motion sickness; aaaand reduces stomach cramps and headaches!!! Other health benefits of this tea are control of muscle aches and chronic pain, clearing of congestion and mild coughs, mild asthma and reduction of stress.
2. The Relaxant – Camomile
Camomile soothes the stomach, relieves bloating, indigestion, calms the mind, helps you relax, and deal with your stresses. Drink a cup before you go to bed to fight insomnia and fall asleep naturally.
3. The In-house Doctor – Nettle
Made with the ever feared stinging nettle leaves, nettle is one of natures best remedies for a bunch of ailments such as high blood pressure, anaemia, arthritis, rheumatism, coughs & colds, congestion, urinary tract infections, and kidney and bladder problems!
4. The Energizer – Ginger
Ginger is an energizer and a stimulator. Drinking ginger tea both stimulates and soothes the digestive system, it has also been known to aid people experiencing nausea. Arthritic people have found ginger tea helpful since it has anti-inflammatory properties.
5. The Regulator – Hibiscus Flower Tea (Sorrel)
Known to lower blood pressure, reduce high cholesterol, strengthen the immune system (with it’s vitamin-C goodness), and reduce hypertension. Hibiscus tea aka Sorrel is rich in antioxidants, protecting the body against cell-damaging free radicals.
6. The Wonder Herb – Green Tea
It ain’t called the ‘Wonder ‘Erb’ for nothing…ok deep breath – green tea contains potent antioxidants called polyphenols, which help suppress free radicals; so drinking green tea lowers cancer risk, stopping certain tumours from forming. It lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels and thereby promotes heart health; it also lowers blood pressure, prevents and fights tooth decay and dental issues, and inhibits different viruses from causing illnesses.
7. The Cheerleader – Lavender
Not only used for making a room smell nice, or rubbing on your temples to soothe away a headache – you can drink it too! A cup of lavender tea can soothe your mind and body, inducing sleep. If you are feeling down and depressed, it can help uplift your spirit. Lavender tea also helps sooth and treat flatulence, colic, bowel infections and an upset stomach. As well as a wash on the chest to help reduce cough, bronchitis, asthma, cold and other respiratory issues. For both children and adults, lavender is used to reduce body temperature during fever. Lavender also has healing properties; use a wash of lavender tea to help heal wounds, cuts, ulcers and sores.
8. The Health Booster – Rosehip
The fruit of the rose plant, rosehips are one of the best plant sources of vitamin-C, great for the immune system, skin and tissue health, and adrenal function.
9. The Prevention & The Cure – Echinacea
Enhances the immune system, relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and has antioxidant effects. Echinacea is widely used to prevent or cure the common cold.
10. The Indigestion Reliever – Cardamom
You may know cardamom for the aromatic seeds used in Indian cooking, well guess what, yes you can drink it too! It helps treat indigestion, prevents stomach pain, relieves flatulence, and nausea. Cardamom tea fights pulmonary disease where lots of phlegm is present, relieves coughs, and detoxifies the caffeine from your system if you’ve had too much coffee. This is your best friend if you’re a woman who experiences mood swings during your period.
11. The Cold Sore Remover – Lemon Balm
Lemon balm tea calms nerves and anxiety. Cold lemon balm tea bags help relieve cold sores, or genital sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. Mix lemon balm leaves with valerian to treat anxiety, stress and insomnia. Lemon balm when mixed with peppermint can calm an upset stomach, sooth the digestive track and reduce flatulence. Drink it if you suffer from nerve pain, and to help strengthen memory and brain functions. You might also like to know that it also uplifts your mood.
12. The Muscle Relaxer – Rosemary Tea
Rosemary tea aids in muscle relaxation, is a great digestive aid, and also relieves symptoms of gall bladder and liver complaints. Rosemary tea also relieves cough and mild asthma symptoms.
So what have we learnt? Well if you have digestive problems you can pretty much drink any herbal tea going; but if you have something a lil more acute there’s almost certainly a tea out there for you. Buy a few boxes for your tea cupboard and mix it up a little.
