Bank with a bank that represents your ethical concerns

The UK Co-operative Bank has had a unique Ethical Policy since 1992, which has given their customers a say on what types of businesses they do, and don't, finance. In the last 16 years, over £900 million of their customers' money has been withheld from businesses whose activities conflict with the policy. Issues have ranged from human rights to animal rights, the arms trade to the environment.

Free Travel First Aid Kit

we are curently offering a free travel first aid kit with two of our Probiotic lines:

1. Travla - minimise the chance of a holiday tummy by taking Travla probiotics. This natural health formula is a proven formulation of unique probiotic strains designed to support the traveller’s digestive health and immunity while abroad.

2. DiarSafe - Our product contains extra strength S. boulardii, an internationally acclaimed probiotic to help naturally support bowel health, comfort and function during episodes of diarrhoea. S. boulardii has undergone extensive clinical research proving its ability to flush out pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella and its therapeutic benefits against diarrhoea.

What Works In Fitness

Here's part of a newsletter I received from Reema Sarin:

We want to quickly bring you up to speed with ‘What’s in and working well’ in the world of Fitness, which is:

• Intense cardio exercise routines, ideally 20 – 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week, with a combination of strength training exercises for your arms and legs and floor workouts for toning your abdominal muscles for another 20 minutes. The combination of the above is has proven to be very effective and will give you excellent results in just a few weeks!

• Do change your cardio workouts at least twice a week to incorporate Running, Power Walking, Cycling, Swimming, Aerobics and other cardio workouts with Gym machines. Remember; never let your body get used to any one type of work out. For effective weight loss and fitness, you need to keep surprising your muscles with new types of fat burn exercises which have proven to give far greater results in a relatively shorter duration of time. For aerobic workouts, the latest trend is to keep the moves simple and repetitive as opposed to fancy choreography.

• And to get the maximum out of your workouts, choose your 3 or 4 of your favorite songs, with fast beats and good rhythm (at least 120 beats per minute). Fantastic upbeat music is a true energy booster and believe me it will simply do wonders to motivate you and make you workout to your optimum potential. Enjoy yourself and let your music work you out!

• Last but not the least, keep your diet wholesome and healthy – LOTS of water, fruits, vegetables, proteins; LOW in fat, fried foods, deserts and processed foods. And if you really want to drop weight – Cut out Alcohol and reduce your SALT intake considerably.

And watch the phenomenal Results! So folks, enjoy your work-outs with lots of good music; make your workouts interesting and keep the ‘Fitness is Fun’ spirit alive!

Reema Sarin (Fitness Consultant & Choreographer, BOLLYFIT Program) http://reemafitness.com/mlm/clink_track.php?cust_id=554&link_id=1

Studies Verify Link between Diet and Type 2 Diabetes

Here's some information from the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine:

Studies Verify Link between Diet and Type 2 Diabetes

Three long-term studies published in Archives of Internal Medicine show how food choices lead to type 2 diabetes.

Researchers at Boston University followed 43,960 African American women over 10 years, and found that type 2 diabetes developed more often among those who consumed more sweetened beverages.

Researchers at Addenbrook’s Hospital in Cambridge, England, found that higher plasma vitamin C levels and greater consumption of fruits and vegetables were associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes among 21,831 adults followed over 12 years.

A third article, from Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, found that among 48,835 Women’s Health Initiative participants, women assigned to a low-fat diet trended toward a reduced disease incidence, which authors attributed to weight loss.

Palmer JR, Boggs DA, Krishnan S, Hu FB, Singer M, Rosenberg L. Sugar-sweetened beverages and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in African American women. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1487-1492

Harding AH, Wareham NJ, Bingham SA et al. Plasma vitamin C level, fruit and vegetable consumption, and the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk Prospective Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1493-1499.

Tinker LF, Bonds DE, Margolis KL et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of treated diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women: The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1500-1511.For information about nutrition and health,

Visit www.pcrm.org/ for more health and nutritional information.

‘Bach’ And ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ Remain Generic

Today I received this news from Healing Herbs:

‘Bach’ And ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ Remain Generic

Community Trade Mark Office finds Nelson's ‘Bach’ and ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ Registrations INVALID

· We are very pleased to announce that on 11 September 2008, the OHIM (the European Community Office for the registration of Community Trade Marks) decided that the words ‘Bach’ and ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ are generic, that Nelson's Community Trade Marks were invalid and awarded costs in our favour (Euro 1,150).

· In 2000, Healing Herbs won the last round of appeal, in the House of Lords, confirming the decision at trial and in the Court of Appeal: that the UK trade mark registrations Nelsons/Bach Flower Remedies Ltd had obtained for BACH/BACH FLOWER REMEDIES were invalid because they were descriptive or generic terms.

· Nevertheless, Nelsons/Bach Flower Remedies Ltd applied for and obtained Community trade mark registrations for the very same words.

· Healing Herbs Ltd could not oppose their applications then since we had no similar trade marks ourselves.

· Of course, Healing Herbs' position has always been clear – we say that the words are generic and no-one can claim exclusive rights over them.

· What Healing Herbs could do, immediately ‘Bach’ and ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ were registered as Community Trade Marks was to apply to have these registrations cancelled. This we did.

· The OHIM, in a very clear decision, has now made a number of telling findings, including:

§ Healing Herbs had filed "abundant evidence" to show the terms were generic

§ Both the specialised public and the general public considers the terms descriptive and generic

§ Nelsons/BFRL failed to prove that the terms had acquired distinctive character when they filed their applications

§ Showing large sales and advertising expenditure was not good enough

We are very pleased that our proceedings have been successful; justice has again been done. · [Nelsons/BFRL have two months in which to file an appeal.]

We stock some of Healing Herbs Bach Flower cream and Rescue Remedy.

Free UK Postage On Nutritional Supplements

We're currently offering free UK postage on nutritional supplements and all the other great health products on our site. We already have great features:

1. Everything comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

2. We have special offers including 3 for the price of 2.

3. All our supplements are suitable for vegetarians and vegans too.

4. We sell high-quality supplements that use the latest research to make sure the dosoage and formulations are correct.

5. Order before noon (Monday to Friday) and we despatch the same day.

5. We give 12% of our profits to charitable causes.

Buy from us with confidence and right now if you live in the UK you get free 1st class postage.

Meat eating and prostate cancer

Eating meat and dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer, research by a University of Oxford team suggests. They examined the results of 12 studies, featuring a total of nearly 9,000 men.

Read more

Action On Climate Change

The UK government has enormous power to direct our energy and transport future – but it is torn between the lobby for fossil fuels, and what it knows from scientists to be true: we must cut CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, or we will not limit climate change to 2°C.We have to help create the political space in which the government can make the right climate choices, and you can help make it happen by demanding strong, fair, joined-up, climate-savvy policies.

Tell Gordon Brown to choose a climate-friendly BritainIn the next few months there is an opportunity. Key decisions that affect our climate future will be made:

• E.ON, one of the world's largest energy companies, is planning to invest in the UK's first coal power station for 30 years at Kingsnorth, Kent. Gordon Brown can stop Kingsnorth from getting the green light.

• In December, the world's governments will gather at the United Nations and try to forge international agreement on tackling climate change. Gordon Brown can be a climate champion at the UN talks.

By raising our voices, we can put pressure on Gordon Brown to choose a clean and climate-friendly Britain. We can avoid a climate catastrophe and stop climate change pushing poor people deeper into poverty.Tell Gordon Brown to lead the way on climate action

Grilled Chicken And Cancer

A new PCRM study in Nutrition and Cancer: An International Journal found that grilled chicken items at leading chain restaurants are birds of a feather when it comes to increasing cancer risk. An analysis of 100 grilled chicken items from McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse, and T.G.I. Friday’s found that all contained PhIP, the most abundant of a group of carcinogens called heterocyclic amines (HCAs)—and the HCA likely to contribute most to overall cancer risk.
Read more >>

Type 2 Diabetes And Drinking Water

A recent article in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” has linked low-level arsenic exposure, possibly from drinking water, to Type 2 diabetes.

We sell two water filters – one for the home and a portable one for when you’re on the go or on holiday – that will help minimise this problem.

Cheaper than drinking bottled water and better for the environment too.

Childhood Asthma Link

A major international study, involving more than 200,000 children in 31 countries, has found those treated with paracetamol in the first year of life had a 46 per cent increased risk of developing asthma by the age of seven.The risk was up to three times higher among children who were the heaviest users of the drug, indicating a strong dose-dependent link.

Read more about this.

Miscarriages and obesity

Women who have had a miscarriage could be at greater risk of miscarrying again if they are obese, research suggests.
Read more on this story.

Check out our weight loss program too - 60-day money-back guarantee.

Weekend Fat Loss Strategies

It's often easier (at least a bit!) to stay on track with a weight loss regime during the week, but then to blow it over the weekend. Kim Lyons has some weekend fat loss strategies to help you cope. Do have a read.

This made me laugh!

This really made me laugh this morning . It came in on eth ebottom of an email. I don't know who first said it, but enjoy it:

Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

Help knit a petition for Oxfam

Oxfam are calling on knitters everywhere to turn their knitting needles into poverty fighting needles by creating a patch for Oxfam's giant baby blanket - a 'visual petition' they're handing in to world leaders in September 2008, demanding that they honour their promises to make sure mums in poor countries get the maternal health care they need.

Click here for more info.

Has the Oympics inspired you?

Has the Olympics inspired you? May be not with any hope of ever being an Olympian, but just to get out there and get fitter?

If you have, but you know you find it difficult to sustain enthusiasm for exercise and fitness, get yourself some support in the shape of our Exercise Motivation self hypnosis CD. This CD helps you to look forward to exercise, to enjoy it, to commit yourself to getting fitter and healthier.

Check it out – we’ve got a sample you can listen to.

And remember everything in our health products shop comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so if you don’t like it you can return it and get your money back (less the carriage charge).

Go for it, enjoy yourself, get fit.

Free Web site healing experience

I received this email from a colleague Andrew Kemp:

I have now finished converting the principles I use in my kinesiology practice into a free website healing experience, with specially composed music running alongside. I have put it into a new website, along with free access to the latest version of my book 'Quantum K'. The website is http://www.quantumk.co.uk/ My goal is to provide some support to those who are interested in subtle healing but cannot afford to see a therapist regularly. It is also designed to support those who do see a therapist but need additional support in between sessions.

Air Pollution

The Olympics in China has reminded us about the problems of air pollution. Athletes have been concerned about how the pollution levels will affect both their health and their performance. Images from China show far from crystal clear air so the concerns seem justified.

It is easy to view the quality of Chinese air as a remote problem. After all, our air doesn’t look like that, does it? But there are problems with air quality in many countries, even where we cannot see any obvious cause for concern. Read On >>

herbs and spices for good health

there's an interesting study of the benefits of herbs and spices. The article in particualr focuses on the benefis of cinnamon for diabetics, but includes other herbs and spices too.

The conculsion is that we should all be using a lot more herbs and spices to increase the health value of our food.

It's easy to grow a few herbs in pots on a window sill at least in summer, and it's great to have some health advice that tells you to do something rather than things not to do!

My Child Is Being Bullied

with the return of children to school after a long break many children and parents are feeling apprehensive. Saddly for some children school is not a great place to be but is a place of torment. Bullying is a real part of many children's lives and can have lasting effects on their confidence and ability to make friends and forge relationships even later in life.

The Indigo essences - specially formulated for children - can be a great help, so I've written a piece on bullying and the Indigo essences in time for the new school year.