Natural

Heart-warming Sunlight

Lack of vitamin D may affect your heart health as well as contributing to weak bones and muscles, say researchers writing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Their findings suggest that low levels of the vitamin increase your chances of developing high blood pressure and diabetes – and of becoming obese.

Sunlight on the skin triggers the body’s natural production of vitamin D. It’s estimated that being outside in the summer for just fifteen minutes a day can give you all the vitamin D you need, but an increasing tendency for people to stay indoors, as well as concerns that over-exposure to sunlight will cause skin cancer, are meaning that many of us are not producing enough.

To be sure you don’t suffer the long-term ill effects of vitamin D deficiency, boost your intake of salmon, sardines or cod liver oil, or consider eating foods that have been fortified with vitamin D. Supplements are available, too. Do make the most of the sun when it shines, too – but if you’re planning on being outside in bright sunlight for more than half an hour, remember to use a suitable sunscreen.

Getting the Balance Right

New Balance Activ offers women the chance to deal with “sensitive issues” that can get in the way of everyday activities. Read on to learn all about it.

GETTING THE

BALANCERIGHT
It is just as important to look after your body on the inside as well as you do on the outside. But however careful you are, you may feel uncomfortable ‘down there’ or notice a strange odour, especially around the time of your period or after sex.

The reason? The balance between the ‘bad’ and ‘good’ bacteria, which live naturally in intimate regions and help
to protect sensitive areas from infection, can easily get out of synch. As a result you may feel discomfort, notice an unusual discharge, or become concerned about a distinctly fishy smell.

Embarrassing though you may feel these symptoms are, you are not alone. This condition affects one in three of us at some point in our lives. It is a common problem called ‘bacterial vaginosis’ – or BV for short.

It’s not known exactly why some of us get BV. Some experts think that it develops when there is an imbalance in your vaginal pH. Hygiene habits such as douching, using intimate hygiene products or scented bubble baths – as well as the natural hormonal ups and downs that occur during your menstrual cycle – may be responsible for raising your pH. You may also be more likely to get it if you have an IUD (intra-uterine contraceptive device) fitted. It is not caused by poor hygiene nor is it a sexually transmitted infection.

Luckily there is a quick and easy solution. balance activ vaginal gel has been especially developed with this common problem in mind. This unique product contains two active ingredients that will immediately neutralise any embarrassing odour and work with your body to correct your vaginal pH balance instantly.

balance activ vaginal gel also nurtures the ‘good’ bacteria, meaning that even after discomfort has disappeared, you can carry on using it to help maintain the natural balance in your most intimate area and help prevent any future discomfort.

BV or thrush?
Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of the yeast candida in the genital area.
BV occurs when the vaginal pH (acid/alkaline) level rises, creating an unsuitable
environment for the growth of the ‘good’ lactic acid bacteria (which live normally in the
vagina). This new environment promotes the growth of the ‘bad’ bacteria that create the
symptoms associated with BV.

HOW TO USE balance activ
balance activ vaginal gel comes in easy-to-use single application tubes. All you have to do is twist
off the cap, insert the whole of the neck of the tube into the vagina, and squeeze out the contents.
You then throw away the tube.

To relieve symptoms: use one tube daily for seven days
To keep problems at bay: use 1-2 tubes a week
To help maintain pH balance while taking antibiotics: use
1 tube a day at the end of the course for 4-5 days
Around the time of your period: use 1 tube at the end of your
period for 1-2 days.

** balance activ vaginal gel is safe to use
during pregnancy and menstruation