With more than two thirds of the UK’s population estimated to be snorers, most of us have come into contact with snoring – either as someone who’s been kept awake by the signature rumbling or as a sufferer. Snoring can be a serious ailment and is often considered a symptom of underlying problems. In addition, it can also be so disruptive as to lead to marriage breakdowns. With snoring receiving such bad press, we decided it was time to highlight another side of snoring and have put together our favourite facts about this noisy affliction. 

Is it a bird, is a jet plane? No, it’s someone snoring.

The average loud snore registers at 69 decibels. To give you an idea just how loud this is, a pneumatic drill is 70-90 decibels. Yet some people snore louder than a low flying jet plane, as is the case of Jenny Chapman whose snores register at an ear-splitting 111.6 decibels.

What’s up doc?

There’s no hard evidence to explain it, but those who share a bed with those who snore visit their GP more frequently than those who bed-share with non snorers.

Never mind the guitar, start learning the digeridoo

A Swiss study published in the British Medical Journal in 2005, revealed that playing the didgeridoo could help alleviate sleep disorders, amongst which, snoring was one.

Snorken, snarchen, snarka

The verb ‘to snore’ is thought to have been derived from the verb ‘to snort’ and was often used to describe the noise animals made. It is also believed to have originated from the Dutch ‘snorken’, the Middle High German ‘snarchen’, and / or the Swedish ‘snarka’.

Shy snorer

Women more than men are likely to be embarrassed by their snoring but one woman took it further than most. In an Iranian divorce case in 1997, one woman was forced to admit that she was so self-conscious of her snoring that she drugged her husband so that he wouldn’t hear it!

Bad behaviour predictions

Snoring can often be an indicator of other underlying health problems but can snoring also predict bad behaviour? A study by Yeshiva University found that children who suffered from sleep-disordered breathing were at least 40% more likely to develop neuro-behavioural problems by the time they reached seven years old. Hyperactivity, anxiety and depression were among the behavioural measures which were monitored.

Spacemen snore less

Microgravity in space results in astronauts snoring less. This is because on earth, snoring occurs when the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat are pulled back by gravity, thus partially obstructing the airway. In space, however, because there is a lack of gravity the tongue and soft tissues aren’t pulled back creating less obstruction of the airway and therefore less snoring.

If you or your partner suffer from snoring, there are many ways to help alleviate the problem. One way is through Asonor, an innovative anti-snoring spray which works immediately by tightening up the muscles in the throat to prevent the signature vibrational noise. It’s effective in 77% of users and is available for £9.99 online.

 Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders, with approximately 50% of adults reporting having experienced it, 10% chronically. There’s many things which can cause insomnia and its often hard to pinpoint exactly what causes it, mainly because it can be triggered by a range of lifestyle, medical, mental and physical factors.   

Insomnia is starting to be thought about as a problem with the brain failing to switch to its sleep cycle (it has two cycles – an awake and a sleep cycle and they can’t both operate at the same time) which can be caused by either having too much ‘wakefulness’ or not enough ‘sleepyness’. Anxiety-led insomnia can occur regardless of physical health and at any age and can be hard to treat as there aren’t any quick fixes. The good news is that there are tips and tricks to reduce anxiety which can greatly improve sleep.

Anxiety often makes it hard for people to fall asleep and to stay asleep. It’s not unusual with the quiet inactivity of the night, for worries and fears to surface uncontrollably.

Here are our top 5 ways to treat anxiety-led insomnia:

1. Offload your mind

A major cause of anxiety-led insomnia is caused by an overloaded mind and it can affect people in different ways. Sometimes it’s a fear of not remembering everything you have to do and sometimes it is associated with feeling overwhelmed. In these instances, keep a pen and notebook by your bed so you can write down all the things you need to do or even just one thing that you’re going to complete the next day so you can put your mind at ease that you won’t forget anything. The physical act of writing down what’s on your mind can be enough to help you feel like you’ve mentally dealt with it and can now relax and therefore sleep. Similarly if you’ve got worries on your mind, write those down and see if that helps you sleep better.

2. Find time to breathe

Even though we don’t think twice about breathing (after all, it comes naturally), the way we breathe can greatly impact our body and mind. By taking deep breaths and focusing on drawing out the inhale and exhale for longer than we normally would, we can naturally relieve stress and anxiety. Deep breathing relaxes the body by affecting the nervous system and inhibits stress-producing hormones. Try closing your eyes and breathing in and out slowly five times. You should feel your shoulders relax and tension leave your body. This is a great practice to try before bedtime and any time you wake during the night and feel stressed. 

3. Relax before bed

Too many of us have forgotten how to relax! We mistakenly turn to our phones, scrolling numbly through social media accounts, or switch on the TV and sit slumped before it, often whilst eating our meals. Trying to do too many things or by watching stimulating TV (stay away from action films, thrillers and suspense programs especially), we don’t allow our brain or body to prepare for sleep. Find ways to wrap up your evening which promote true relaxation; having a warm bath, reading, listening to gentle music or just going through the routine of getting things prepared for the next day e.g. setting out clothes or packing your bag can help.

4. Use acupressure points

Acupressure has been a form of Chinese healing for many years and works by applying pressure to certain points of the body. There are invisible energy lines running over the body which connect to various points and by using firm pressure on these points, energy blockages can be released to restore good health back to the body. For anxiety, there are several acupressure points which you can try. However, you don’t need to use them all so start with one which is fairly easy to find – the HT7 point. If you draw an imaginary line down the space between your ring finger and little finger and intersect it just below where your wrist creases, you’ve found the HT7 point. Press this firmly with your thumb for a few minutes before swapping sides. Do this any time you feel stressed and especially before bed to help reduce anxiety. If you want to make sure you’re getting the full benefit of this pressure point, you can buy patches which apply pressure on this point for you whilst you sleep. It is called H7 Insomnia Control. Apply it at night on both wrists and see results after 6  to 15 days. This is ideal for those who want to find an easy and natural way to aid a good night’s sleep.

5. Reframe your mind

If one of your main reasons for not being able to sleep is due to excessive worrying or a fretful mind, then changing the way you think about things can greatly improve anxiety-led insomnia. If you’re a worrier, remind yourself that there are some things which you can’t control. By surrendering to a concern or a situation beyond your control and acknowledging that even if you don’t particularly like it, you will accept it, you can bring on feelings of release and relief.

There are many ways to help reduce anxiety-led insomnia so take time to experiment and find a technique which works best for you. Not being able to sleep isn’t normal and if you’re experiencing anxiety or disrupted sleep make an appointment to see your GP or health professional.

To start, let’s go through all the ingredients in our immune-boosting recipe to find out why we’ve included them and how they benefit you:

Turmeric = contains an active compound called curcumin which makes it one of the most powerful herbs around. There are over 6,000 articles discussing the health benefits of turmeric alone. The root, when peeled, is a dark orange colour which was also once used as a dye. It’s often considered to be as powerful as some modern medicines but without any of the side effects, used as an anti-coagulant, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory and joint pain management. 

Ginger = contains anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols which make it effective in helping alleviate join pain. In addition, it can help boost your immune system, as well as promoting healthy sweating which is useful if you’re suffering from a cold. The good news is that you don’t need too much either as it is so potent.

Lemon = if you also have a sore throat then lemons can help fight infection as it has anti-bacterial properties. It also helps to balance the heat from the ginger.

Nutmeg = not only does nutmeg add spice and flavour to the tonic but it’s also used to help calm the body as it is rich in magnesium; this can help increase levels of serotonin released which is the hormone responsible for helping you feel relaxed and calm.

Honey = honey is used to make the tonic more palatable but it can also be a good way of boosting your hayfever resilience naturally, especially if you use local honey.

Black Pepper = we use black pepper in this recipe as it increases the bioavailability of turmeric, due to its key chemical, piperine.

How to Make our Turmeric & Ginger Tonic Recipe

This recipe will make enough for 8 servings.

Ingredients

• 3 inches fresh ginger, peeled
• 2 inches fresh turmeric (or 1.5 tsp ground turmeric)
• 1.5 lemons, peeled
• 1 tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ cup fresh water
• Honey (1 tsp per cup)

Method

1. Blend all ingredients well, aside from the honey, until the mixture is smooth.
2. Place in a clean bottle with a secure lid and keep in the fridge until needed.

This tonic is designed to be made in a batch and kept in the fridge to be used as needed. Keep refrigerated for a maximum of 3 days. When needed, pour a little into a mug, add a teaspoon of honey and top up with hot water.

There are also other ways to boost your immune system and for those who are time-poor and lead busy lifestyles, supplements such as VitaDSO Immune System may help. View product details here >

A weekend of partying is a wonderful way to spend summer but what about that Monday morning when you have to drag yourself into work? Or face the kids? We’ve got the ultimate festival essentials to help keep you feeling perky, fresh, safe and full of energy so that when you need to, you’ll bounce straight into the week!

Here’s our top products for keeping you festival-happy:

1. VitaDSO Immune System, £24.50

Your natural defences need as much support as possible, especially when you’re exposed to pollen and potential allergens, rain (you can’t have a good festival without rain!), lack of sleep and lots of excitement. It can be hard to eat well and sleep well during festivals but VitaDSO Immune System can help build your resilience so that once your festival is over, you’ve got the good health to jump straight back into things. As well as superoxide dismutase which is a powerful antiaging enzyme, it also contains zinc, selenium and vitamin B12.

Buy it here >

 2. STERiZAR Hand sanitiser, £3.05

Free from alcohol and perfume and made from natural products, Sterizar foam hand sanitiser is pocket-sized so fits in nicely to pockets and bags. There’s powerful stuff in such a small product and it has been specifically designed to kill dangerous bacteria including C. Diff, MRSA, E. Coli, Salmonella, Legionella and Listeria.

Buy it here >

 3. -TEN- Skincare Luminescence Skin Exfoliation, £23.99

This exfoliation cream works to gently shift ingrained dirt and grime leaving cleansed, fresh skin. Use it with a damp flannel if you don’t have access to running water – you only need a little bit to see the difference and feel rejuvenated. -TEN- Luminescence Skin Exfoliation Cream also contains AHA, which sloughs off dead skin and golden jojoba oil, which moisturises skin deeply, yet allows the skin to breathe.

Buy it here >

 4. Waterless Bathing Shampoo Cap, £2.74

No shower? No worries! The waterless bathing shampoo cap is specifically designed to clean hair after only a few minutes massage using this handy device, leaving it towel dry and ready to style. It’ll remove all dirt and give you that fresh shower-clean feeling. Without a shower.

Buy it here >

 5. Waterless Bathing Wash Mitts, £2.12

Wash yourself from head to toe with these super-sized disposable wipes. Lanolin and alcohol-free, these are kind to skin and easy to use. No water is required and best of all, you won’t have to queue for any cold or dirty festival showers.

But it here >

 6. Clear Plasters, £7.45

You never know what’s going to happen at festivals so it’s best to always be prepared. Stock up on plasters so you can deal with any incidents, whether that’s small cuts or blisters. You need to keep your feet happy! They’re discreet, waterproof and come in several sizes so even with a few cuts and scrapes, you can keep on partying.

Buy it here >

What festivals are you going to this year? Which one are you most looking forward to? If you are looking to put together a festival first aid kit you can buy a pre-made one, or call us on 020 7060 9189 for help making up a bespoke one.

What is acupressure

It’s a little known fact that acupressure actually pre-dates acupuncture. And did you know that it’s often used instinctively, for example, when you press your fingers to your temples when you have a headache? This gives you a clue as to what acupressure is – it’s pressure applied to specific points (also known as acupoints) on the body. The Chinese discovered acupressure more than 5,000 years ago when pressure on certain points of the body relieved pain. Strangely, they found that pressure on one part of the skin also benefited other parts of the body too. In time, it was revealed that pressure applied on these ‘points’ could also improve the functioning of internal organs.

Acupressure points are the same as acupuncture points and, like acupuncture, acupressure is based around the theory of chi, or life energy. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are pathways in the body along which the chi flows, which are called meridians. There are 14 of these and any imbalance or blockages along these meridians can cause illness. By stimulating certain points on the body through pressure, these blockages and imbalances can be cleared. It is said that the acupressure points are nerve endings along the meridians. Unlike Western medicine, acupressure looks to root out and fix the cause of illness, rather than treat the symptom.

 Benefits of acupressure

There have been many benefits reported from acupressure treatment, most commonly for:

• Nausea relief
• Pain relief in lower back
• Tension headaches
• Anxiety & Depression

Often people turn to acupressure because they are looking for ways to help the body heal itself and fix the cause, rather than turning to Western medicines to alleviate the symptom. Sometimes people use acupressure when all other types of medicine haven’t achieved the results they want.

When looking at acupressure, it’s important to take into consideration that medical studies have been small, although they’re increasingly growing. Whilst many people report on benefits such as those listed above, nothing conclusive has been drawn yet; some Western medical practitioners suggest that acupuncture may be a placebo effect or that those taking part in studies may have a bias towards this treatment already. Either way, the fact remains that it has been reported to help alleviate many chronic symptoms and for some, regardless as to whether it’s a placebo or not, people are reaping the benefits - after all, the power of the mind can be incredibly powerful.  

Can anyone have acupressure?

Yes, acupressure can be safely used on most people but it is worth going for treatment with a trained professional if you have any of the following:

• Bone cancer or treatment which would involve pressure placed on or around a cancerous tumour
• An illness which can be made worse through physical manipulation, for example, bone disease, spinal injury or rheumatoid arthritis
• Pregnancy, as certain pressure points can induce contractions

How does acupressure work in modern life?

With so much stimulation going on in our busy life, it’s not uncommon for us to grow out of touch with our bodies. We rely on a quick-fix paracetamol or two to help soothe headaches, tablets for uncomfortable stomachs, coffee to keep us awake and so-on. It may be easy to think there’s no place in our lives for acupressure; after all, this costs money and takes time - things we may not have or be prepared to spend. Plus, such treatment can take time to take effect and often we want to be made better ‘now’.

However, for those who are fed-up of modern living’s sticking plaster health ‘solutions’, acupressure can be a life-changer. And it’s also not necessary to see a specialist or take time out of your busy schedule to apply acupressure yourself to your body, especially if you are buying specialist medical solutions. From nausea to insomnia, there are non-invasive devices which harness the power of acupressure and ancient Chinese medicine to provide natural health solutions.

H7 Insomnia Control 

H7 Insomnia Control is a sleep aid unlike no other; it doesn’t require medication and can be applied without needing professional help. It works on the practise of acupressure and the H7 point, which is also known as Heart 7 or the Spirit Gate. Applying pressure to this specific point can help calm the body by relieving anxiety, nervousness and tension and has been used for thousands of years to help the insomniacs sleep.

H7 Insomnia Control consists of 20 patches which are applied to the H7 acupressure point on the wrist and has been proven to help promote sleep in 75% of people within 6 to 15 days. This is a relatively short time if you’ve been battling with insomnia for years!

Want to try H7 Insomnia Control for yourself? Buy it here >

So how do foods affect our body and cause insomnia? During digestion, certain foods can stimulate the production and / or stimulation of certain brain chemicals whereas others can stimulate certain hormones that gives us a surge of energy and so prevent our natural sleep cycle.

Here’s a list of the top 5 food which help you sleep

Bananas

If there was ever a food that’s made for sleep then it’s the banana – with an excellent proportion of potassium, magnesium and also tryptophan, these nutrients are ideal for promoting sleep. Tryptophan is an amino acid which is needed by your body to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter which is also known as the ‘happiness hormone’; serotonin can help lessen anxiety and boost mood, all of which can help you sleep better. The potassium and magnesium are used by the body in muscle activity and nerve conduction and its role in helping you get a better night’s sleep is by helping to reduce brain activity – so there’s less likelihood of your thoughts keeping you up at night. These nutrients can also help relax muscles.

If you’re struggling to sleep at night, have half to a whole banana an hour or so before you go to bed. You can even whizz it up with some warm milk (or nut milk if you prefer) and some turmeric, ginger, salt and black pepper for the ultimate ‘sleep easy’ drink.

Tart Cherries

Similarly, to bananas, tart cherries (also known as sour cherries or Montmorency cherries), contain a whole host of nutrients which promote sleep, including B vitamins, magnesium and potassium. However, it is best known for containing melatonin.

“Montmorency cherries contain high levels of melatonin, the brain chemical naturally produced by the body to regulate the sleep-wake cycle,” says Philip Weeks, an expert on natural medicine. Indeed, a study by the School of Life Sciences at Northumbria University discovered that drinking 30ml of Montmorency cherry juice concentrate twice a day for 7 days saw participants record an increase in their total sleep time by 25 minutes and increase their sleep quality by 6%.

Try taking a tablespoon of Cherry Active (pure Montmorency concentrate) twice a day to bring on the zzzz’s.

Oatmeal

We often think of oats as being something that only appears at breakfast time. But it may be time to start eating oats a few hours before bedtime. And here’s why… Firstly, it’s a good source of complex carbohydrates, so it breaks down more slowly than simple carbohydrates such as white bread and white pasta, and doesn’t provide the sugar high. Plus, it doesn’t overload the digestive system. Secondly, it contains our favourite sleep nutrients – magnesium and potassium. Enjoy a small warm bowl of porridge with milk or nut milk and a few seeds and nuts sprinkled on top – Brazil nuts are ideal.

Almonds

Always have almonds in your house if you want to get a good night’s sleep! They’re rich in sleep-inducing B-vitamins, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. For such little things, they are certainly packed with nutrients. All of these help regulate brain activity, relax your body and increase the secretion of melatonin, which is vital for sleep. As if that wasn’t enough, almonds are also rich in tryptophan which are used in the production of serotonin and melatonin. 

Turkey

Turkey isn’t just for Christmas, but also for times when you can’t sleep properly. Out of all common protein sources, turkey is an ideal source of tryptophan which helps the body produce serotonin which helps settle your mood and provide a calm state of mind. As well as tryptophan, it also contains B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Why not enjoy a light turkey salad for dinner?

If you’re still struggling to sleep and your diet isn’t helping, then maybe it’s time to turn to another non-invasive method, such as H7? By stimulating your H7 acupressure point through a special patch, this calms your body and mind and sets you up for a good night’s sleep. H7 Insomnia Control has a 75% success rate for improving sleep. Buy it here >

       Lightweight Cotton Medical Dress

Come summer, especially on busy days, there’s going to come times when long scrubs  trousers just get too hot. If you’ve got freedom to pick and choose the ultimate summer workwear, then this lightweight medical dress is the ultimate essential.

Knee-length and with short sleeves, this Eldan medical scrubs dress is smart and professional-looking, suitable for hospitals, beauty parlours, dentist surgeries, vets and more.

Colours available: Azure, blue, black, celadon, ink blue, kiwi, lavender, plum, turquoise, white and yellow.

                                 Embroidery available? Yes

View the Eldan Kinga Short Sleeve Medical Scrubs Dress >

   Sporty Men’s Scrubs

Made from 50% polyester and 50% cotton, these lightweight  trousers are available in 11  colours. They’re roomy but stylish and are easy to move around in so whatever you need them for, you’ll not be restricted.

These are smart and somewhat tailored, with belt-loops and four pockets for practicality.

Colours available: Azure, blue, black, celadon, ink blue, kiwi, lavender, plum, turquoise, white and yellow.

View the Eldan Men Sporty Medical Trousers >

Summer Capri Scrubs

These three-quarter length scrubs trousers are perfect if you want something that is breezy yet demure. With a large fitted waistband, it’s built for comfort whilst giving you more opportunity to stay cool.

They hang mid-calf and can be teamed with all styles of medical scrubs tops.

Colours available: Blue, celadon and white.

View the Eldan Ladies Capri Scrubs >

Summer-Style Clogs

Feet get toasty too! They swell up in warm weather and can get rather sweaty. These Klima Flex clogs are unisex and come in 8 summer colours. Plus, they’ve got breathable holes, are backless yet keep your feet secure in them and can also be machine-washed. Moreover, they come with a non-slip sole. What colour will you go for?

Colours available: Azure, beige, black, blue, brown, celadon, green, grey, ink blue, plum, turquoise and white.

View the Klima Flex Unisex Clog >

ScrubsUK is the leading online medical and healthcare supplies store, providing for the NHS, care homes, dentists, doctors, beauty salons, veterinary surgeries and individuals. With thousands of products available from skincare to disposables and emergency supplies, it’s got all your needs covered.  

At The University of Southampton, a small study tracking the sleep patterns of 10 adults over two weeks was undertaken; for one week, half the participants slept in a lavender-scented room whilst the other slept in a placebo room (it was scented with sweet almond oil). Then they all switched rooms. At the end of the study, the participants who slept in the lavender-scented room reported improved quality of sleep by 20%.

It was also shown that the scent of lavender before and during bed, increased slow-wave sleep – the restorative sleep element during which muscles really relax and the heartbeat slows. This phase is also thought to be responsible for the brain organising memories too.

So, are you keen to get a better night’s sleep using lavender? We’ve got a really easy recipe for a sleep spray which you can spritz on your pillows just before you go to sleep to help you drift off.

Lavender Sleep Spray

-          1 cup distilled water

-          1 ½ teaspoon witch hazel*

-          12 drops lavender essential oil

1.      In a clean jar, combine the witch hazel and lavender oil together and shake well for 10 – 20 seconds. It’s important to combine these two before you mix it with the water so the lavender oil can combine properly with the water; the essential oil needs the witch hazel (or vodka) to do this.

2.      Add the water to the jar, mix well and decant into a clean spray bottle.

3.      Squirt a few sprays onto your pillow a few minutes before you go to bed.

4.      Sleep well!

*If you don’t have witch hazel, you can also use vodka.

NOTES

-          When buying lavender oil, be sure to look at the label – only buy 100% pure essential lavender oil and steer clear of anything that says it is ‘fragrance’ or ‘perfume’ oil. If it is labelled ‘therapeutic grade’, also know that this isn’t an actual grade or qualification as there is no regulated grading system for essentials oils so avoid buying this.

-          Never use essential oils undiluted unless you know what you are doing or have professional advice.

-          Steer clear of using any essential oils, in any form, during the first trimester of pregnancy, on small babies or children and make sure it is kept away from pets, especially cats as it is thought to be poisonous.

-          Dark glass bottles work best for storing the spray as it helps prevent UV rays from breaking down the essential oils.

Do you find it hard to get to sleep? We’d love to hear from you if you make our spray and find it useful. There’s also other ways to enjoy a better night’s sleep – H7, our insomnia patches which work off ancient Chinese acupressure points and Asonor, our anti-snoring sleeping spray.

So how does this make it an anti-aging enzyme?

The aging process is actually thought by researchers to be a process of increasing disease in the body. This means that the older we get, the less able our bodies are to keep our cells healthy and this can lead to all sorts of age-related problems, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and arthritis. We need antioxidants like SOD in our body to help slow the aging process and keep the onset of disease at bay. There are many antioxidants which help our bodies and SOD is one of the most efficient and powerful.

What is SOD and how does it work?

During cell metabolism (which creates energy for our body to use), the free radicals, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (also known as hydroxyl radicals), are produced as a waste by-product. These free radicals can greatly damage and ‘age’ cells but that’s where superoxide dismutase (SOD) comes in – it helps neutralise the free radicals by breaking them down so they can no longer cause damage. Generally, these free radicals are kept in balance by antioxidants such as SOD. Aging and even disease can happen when there are more free radicals than appropriate antioxidants to combat them. This results in cells which age and die faster. In some cases, the replacement cells are weaker than before and this can have a knock-on effect on the body, speeding up the aging process even more. Unfortunately, our natural production of SOD decreases as we get older, yet our body’s exposure to toxins continues.

Having high levels of SOD in your body can help you maintain your health and even improve cell resilience and slow down aging. For example, it is thought that inflammation is the precursor which leads to disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis or psoriasis, and symptoms can be alleviated through appropriate antioxidants. When applied to skin, such as is the case with some beauty products, it can help wounds and burns heal faster, reduce redness and help protect against the sun’s UV rays. SOD can help your body, inside and out!

How to increase SOD in your body?

Once discovered, there was a rush to create an oral supplement to boost our body’s production of SOD and keep us all young-looking and healthy – maybe this was the key to stop us aging?  However, it wasn’t as easy as that and it was found that the stomach’s harsh acidic nature destroyed any SOD taken as a pill. What has recently been discovered is that by combining SOD with gliadin, a wheat protein, SOD can be protected until it enters the body through digestion and as a result, several supplements containing SOD are now available. Previously, researchers were (and still are), experimenting with injections and nasal sprays which enter your bloodstream faster.

There are many foods which naturally contain SOD so you can also try and boost your SOD levels through diet, although it’s not guaranteed the enzyme you need will be functioning after hitting the stomach.

These are the best foods for high levels of SOD:

Fruits: Honeydew and cantaloupe melons

Green vegetables: Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage

Mineral-rich foods: Foods containing copper, zinc and manganese can also help boost SOD levels, such as spinach, chard, asparagus, sesame seeds, strawberries, oats, green beans and pineapple.

Vitamins: Vitamin E, found in almonds, spinach, sunflower seeds and broccoli, especially can boost SOD levels by approximately 30%

Some researchers also believe that eating a little wheat (which contains gliadin) with your fruit and vegetables can help protect the SOD from stomach acid.

However you look to increase your SOD levels and prevent aging, remember that a healthy diet is essential, along with adequate exercise and steering clear of known toxins, including smoking, pollution and excessive alcohol consumption.

VitaDSO, the SOD supplement

VitaDSO is a range of 7 supplements, each focused on increasing superoxide dismutase levels whilst supporting a range of lifestyle requirements, for example, the immune system or a healthy heart. View the full range here >

Long Deep Breathing, £0.79 for iPhone

The Long Deep Breathing app isn’t just for helping you sleep – it actually claims that we don’t breathe properly and by breathing into our lungs fully, we can better remove our alveoli of mucus and therefore clean our lungs. According to the makers, this can also calm our mind and emotions, allowing us to be more productive and focused during the day. They have a bonus feature which is specifically for overcoming insomnia.

aSleep, £0.79 for iPhone

aSleep works by lulling you to the land of nod with a variety of soothing sounds. Some people listen to podcasts or music but because they contain words, the brain can try and make sense of the words and therefore find it harder to fall asleep. Types of sounds featured on aSleep include nature, instruments and basic lullaby tunes. We especially love the bubbles sound.

Pzizz, free for iPhone and Android with in-app purchases

A serious app with a funny name, Pzizz claims to use scientifically proven techniques to create a personalised sleep sound program to help you fall asleep faster. NLP (neurolinguistic programming), binaural beats and special sound effects are combined so that each time you fall asleep, an entirely different tune is played.

Sleep Cycle, Free for iPhone and Android with in-app purchases

Touted as an ‘intelligent alarm clock’, Sleep Cycle is one of the most commonly-known sleep apps. By monitoring your movements (either through the microphone or through it’s accelerometer), it can judge which part of the sleep cycle you’re in and tracks this so that it can wake you during your lightest sleep (the part of your cycle where it’s most natural to wake) and also help you discover just how well you’re sleeping so you can make changes as necessary to your routine.

Sleepmaker rain 2, free for iPhone & Android

Sleepmaker rain focuses on one thing and one thing only – the dreamy sound of different kinds of rain to help lull you to sleep. Choose from options such as gentle rain running down gutters, or onto drains, or even rain with thunder in the distance! Similar to white noise, the constant drumming of rain can block out other sounds that can distract your brain subconsciously and has a clever feature which gradually fades out the sound to help keep you snoozing long after the ‘rain’ has stopped.

Still can’t sleep? Don’t let a sleepless night get in the way of life. If you’re at your wits’ end then try H7, a drug-free insomnia patch that works by stimulating the ancient H7 heart point used in Chinese medicine to reduce anxiety and stress.

There’s an interesting sleep debt experiment which involved playing havoc with 48 healthy men and women’s sleep patterns. Before the experiment, each had been getting between 7-8 hours a night sleep on average. Split into 4 groups, the first were made to stay awake for 3 days straight (no napping allowed), the second group were allowed to sleep for 4 hours a night over 2 weeks, the third group were allowed to sleep for 6 hours per night for 2 weeks and the fourth group were allowed 8 hours of sleep for 2 weeks. During the experiment the guinea pig’s participants were tested on their physical and mental performance. 

As you can imagine, the fourth group – the ones who were given the luxury of 8 hours sleep – came out of it just fine; there was no decline in any of their thinking, attention span or motor skills. However, for the poor victims who were receiving 4 or 6 hours sleep a night, their results steadily declined each day. As you can imagine the ones allowed 4 hours sleep a night did the worst but the 6-hour sleep participants weren’t far behind.

And from this experiment, they discovered that sleep debt is cumulative; the less sleep you get over a period of time, the worse your brain function, attention and movements. They discovered that 2 weeks of sleeping on only 6 hours of sleep a night had the same effects on your body as not sleeping for 48 hours. Their attention span, mental and physical performance gave results that were the same as those who hadn’t slept for 2 days.

What’s also interesting is that when asked to score their own abilities, participants felt that their performance worsened for a few days and levelled out or returned to how it was before. This means that we could be going about our days, operating machinery, writing important documents, cooking and driving, without realising that we have sub-optimal brain power, reaction times and physical performance. It’s scary that we could be living in a zombie-like state, believing we’re doing the best we can, when we’re not.

So how much sleep do we need a night before our mental and physical performance starts to wane? Based on several studies, it appears that 7 or 7.5 hours is optimal and that for the majority of adults, 95% require between 7-9 hours’ sleep to function at their best.

The answer to optimal performance? Prioritise sleep! If you are getting less than 7 hours sleep a night, reshuffle your lifestyle and make changes to ensure that you’re getting enough. And if it’s really impossible, then see if you can take a nap during the day – one longer nap at around midday is better than several shorter ones scattered throughout.

If you find it hard to get to sleep or remain asleep, try H7, an innovative sleep patch which stimulates ancient acupressure points to calm the body and relieve anxiety, letting you slip into a good night’s sleep for the whole night.

Get Singing Lessons

It doesn’t matter whether you can actually sing in tune or not, what matters is that specialized singing lessons can actually give your throat a workout and this can help you stop snoring. Snoring is caused by a partial obstruction to the throat so singing lessons work by toning the muscles around the areas which would normally cause snoring, such as the soft palate, tongue and nasal passages.

Use Gaffer Tape

And no, we don’t mean you should tape your partner’s mouth or nose shut, no matter how frustrating their snoring is. Well, actually we do – just their mouth in fact. If snoring occurs for you due to a soft palate blockage, using tape that runs from your chin to your cheek can help keep your mouth closed whilst you sleep. This also prevents the soft palate from blocking the throat. Just make sure you use tape that’s easy to get off, otherwise you’ll end up with an unexpected wax… ouch!

Wear Flight Socks. On land.

It does sound a little bizarre but flight socks aren’t just for long-haul journeys, according to a Toronto study; wearing these during the day could help reduce obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a snoring-related condition that is thought to affect approximately 3 million people in the UK. It seems that the socks help prevent fluid build-up that occurs in the lower limbs during the day. This build-up of fluid is what can cause OSA during the night as this fluid travels towards the neck due to gravity when lying down; so less fluid in the body during the day results in less fluid at night and fewer noisy night times.

Sleep with a Tennis Ball. No, not like that!

Sleep position can impact your chances of snoring and if you like to lie on your back, you’re more likely to snore as this position increases your chance of the tongue and soft tissues falling into the back of your throat and blocking airways. And this is where that tennis ball comes in! If you’ve gone to sleep on your side but automatically roll onto your back in the middle of the night, placing a tennis ball at the back of the T-shirt you wear to bed will soon stop you! It’ll force you to sleep on your side or your front until you get used to it.

Buy New Pillows

Who would have thought new pillows could help you stop snoring? Apparently a build-up of allergens and dust mites can impact breathing and be the cause of snoring so it’s recommended to change them every 6 months. But if you don’t fancy spending so much on pillows, make sure they’re well-cleaned instead.

And if neither of these solutions work for you, there’s always Asonor, an innovative anti-snoring nasal spray which works immediately and is effective in 77% of people.

This can lead to us being run-down – a state which can make us feel perpetually tired, unexcited, unmotivated, often ill and just ‘meh’. Often, we don’t even realise that we’re run down until we’ve been forced to rest and take stock and regain our energy and resilience.

Being run-down can seriously affect our immune system and mental resilience, and can eventually lead to sleeping problems, illness and mental health issues. So what can we do about it? Taking a complete break and switching off completely is the best option but often that’s just not feasible. There are other options too and if you’re in the position where you’re feeling like you’re not operating at your optimum level, then you may benefit from adopting one or more of these tips.

1. Sleep more effectively

It’s all very well to say ‘get more sleep’, but as well as getting more sleep, we can learn to sleep more effectively. For example, sleeping in a cooler rather than warm room helps improve our sleep, as does removing electrical devices from our near proximity. And flashing lights (e.g. from charging phones or toothbrushes) are a big no-no. Experiment with light levels in your room – blackout blinds may help you fall asleep more easily, especially in summer, or you may enjoy waking up with the sun. Eating 3 hours before you go to sleep will also help your digestive system and avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening will also ensure you don’t skip out on stage 3 sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, which is when tissue growth and repairs happen internally.

If your partner or yourself snores, then try a non-invasive sleeping aid, such as Asonor, an anti-snoring spray, and if you find it hard to drift off and remain asleep, then you may want to invest in H7, a series of patches that are clinically proven to improve sleep for those suffering from insomnia.

2. Change your diet

It shouldn’t be any surprise to us that diet can affect our health. As well as affecting our sleep however, it can also affect our energy levels and how well we bounce back from illness, as well as affecting how susceptible we are to falling victim to colds. Eating food that nourishes our body is essential and it doesn’t mean denying yourself of the foods you love; add spices such as turmeric to your cooking, make bone broth (or enjoy good quality Vietnamese Pho), eat enough protein, start your day with hot ginger and lemon and choose foods in their whole state, rather than processed. There’s many good ‘fast-food’ outlets such as EAT and Pret A Manger which have a varied range of fresh food, including eggs and spinach if you get hungry whilst out and about.

3. Add garlic to your diet

Garlic is a natural antimicrobial and also contains allicin which can help improve your immune system. Chop it up and add it to soups or stews, crush it in with meats or stir-fries or, if you really don’t like the taste or don’t cook much at home, invest in garlic tablets. 

4. Avoid alcohol and sugar

Alcohol and sugar are immune system suppressors so steering clear of these for optimal health is important. Watch out for sugar as it can take many forms, including in fruit (don’t skimp on fresh fruit but don’t go overboard either!), drinks and pre-prepared meals.

5. Eat more veg

You can never have enough veg! Especially include leafy greens, and brightly coloured veg, such as sweet potato, butternut squash and carrots in your diet. Keeping meals to 65% veg and 35% everything else will stop you experiencing that deadly ‘food coma’ which saps energy and productivity.

6. Get outside more

Especially to green spaces, such as parks or the countryside, where the air is cleaner and there is more nature. Fresh air will clear your lungs and your head and can also help energise you and help you sleep more. And make the most of sunny days, especially in spring and summer, when you can soak up Vitamin D naturally.

7. Drink more water

It’s very rare that we ever drink enough water but for cells to function properly we must drink at least 2.5 litres a day, throughout the day.

8. Invest in a probiotic

It’s estimated that 70% - 80% of the immune system is in your digestive system so making sure your gut is healthy gives you a better chance of overall health and resilience to illness. Instead of going for a yoghurt or milk-baesd probiotic, choose a pill which has at least 6 billion active cultures in.

9. Invest in a supplement that suits your lifestyle

There are many supplements out there so how do you choose? The main vitamins that the majority of people could benefit from and are lacking are A, C, E, zinc and selenium. Either choose supplements individually or go for a combined one, such as the VitaDSO range, which even has supplements for energy, immune system and general healthy living.

10. Say ‘no’ more

If saying ‘no’ goes against what you would normally do, or you often feel overwhelmed by all the things people have asked you to do, then try saying no. After all, you have to be fit and healthy in order to do things for others well. It may seem hard at first but it’ll be hugely beneficial in the long run as it will free up your time and headspace.

Got any additional tips that you particularly find effective in helping prevent you being run-down? Then we want to know about it! Let us know on Twitter or message us on Facebook.

So what can you do if you experience sleepless nights on an ongoing basis? Seeking medical advice is a must but there are also other options you can explore, especially if you prefer to stay free from medication. We’ve rounded up some of the more unusual, yet just as valid, ways to improve your sleep. And remember, everyone’s different so what method works for one person, may not work for another – there are so many different causes of sleeplessness, it can be hard to find the source but once you do, it’s invaluable knowledge.

Better bedding.

If you’re eating well, living a healthy lifestyle and aren’t troubled by much and just for the life of you can’t work out why you’re not sleeping properly, examine what you’re sleeping on. Having a comfortable mattress is essential and decent bedding, too. Temperature can significantly affect our sleep and if you’re too hot or too cold, then you may want to look at changing your bedding to help you control your body temperature whilst you sleep. It may sound strange but wool has come out top of the league for the best bedding due to the way the fibres are arranged – it can help cool the body during hot temperatures and traps heat during cold temperatures. Invest in a decent wool duvet cover and pillows and see if that makes a difference.  

H7 Insomnia Solution

Working entirely on ancient Chinese medicine, these special plasters work by stimulating the HT7 ‘insomnia pressure point’ (Shen Men) which is located at the point on the wrist just below the little finger. This clinically-tested solution also has a high success-rate, with over 75% users seeing an improvement in their sleep between 6-15 days after first application. It works by relieving tension and emotional issues which relaxes the body and lets the user drift off and remain asleep naturally.

Clean Your Room

Apparently weird and bad smells can interrupt sleep, especially for teenagers. Although whilst teenagers are one of the main culprits of unhygienic rooms, many of us would also have a better night’s sleep with better habits. This includes making sure rooms are clean and tidy and that the windows are opened once a day to circulate fresh air as rebreathed air is low in oxygen.

Have you suffered from sleepless nights and have a solution that you swear by? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

At ScrubsUK, we stock the following products:

• Face Masks
• Footcare Socks
• Handcare Gloves

From head to toe, we have your main beauty needs covered!

Each of the Iroha products are unique in their combination of ingredients yet they all share similar qualities which easily make them a must-have for your bathroom:

Single use products – convenient and easy to use

Quick – treatments take a maximum of 15 minutes to use

Great for use anywhere - with their individual packaging you can pop one in your bag for travel or holiday so you can enjoy the ‘spa treatment’ wherever you are

Innovative design – many of the products don’t require anything aside from what’s in their packet, meaning you can apply it straight away

No fuss – No rinsing needed unlike many other brands so you can move straight from pampering to whatever else is on your to-do list

We’ve outlined the range for you below so you can easily see which one would best suit you and your beauty requirements:

Face Masks

We stock three types of Iroha face masks – Intensive Tissue masks, Creamy Moisturising Masks and Peel-Off Cleansing masks. Each are very different in their benefits and all can be used together.

Each has been designed for maximum comfort, efficacy and ease of use. Each of them is recommended to be used once a week, for 15 minutes. All of them meet a different need, from combatting dull skin, to intensive moisturising to intensive anti-aging.

Intensive Tissue Masks’ first function is to moisturise and they do this through its innovative technology using a serum-saturated non-woven tissue layer to create fast, deep active penetration into the skin. By combining cool serum with heat from the skin, a microcirculation effect occurs, allowing the active ingredients to be easily absorbed by the skin during the recommended 15 minutes. There is an extensive selection of masks to suit all beauty needs including antioxidant Vitamin C + hyaluronic acid, Collagen Plus, Hyaluronic Plus, Firming Q10, Pearl + hyaluronic acid, Moisturising, Regenerating and Rejuvenating.

ScrubsUK stocks 3 Creamy Moisturising Masks – Sensual Day with Chocolate which is ideal for recovering moisture, Magic Day with Honey for nourishing and Fun Day with coconut for intensive moisturising. Each of these comes in a multi-use sachet which contains up to 6 applications, with recommended use once a week.

For those wanting to cleanse and purify the skin, there are also the Peel-Off Face Masks which come in handy sachets and contain 5 applications. The Green Tea face mask helps balance oily skin and the Cleansing Lemon gently removes build-up of dirt and pollutants on the skin.

In addition, if you’re after something more localised, we also stock the Cooling Eye pads, which are perfect for the morning after the night before to reduce puffiness, as well as the Lifting patches which are designed to reduce expression lines around the face and eyes.

Intensive Treatment for your hand and feet

Hands come under so much wear and tear that they need pampering every now and again. Exposed to the elements, subjected to all sorts of environmental toxins from washing detergents to cleaning products to pollution, we rely on them for everything. It’s no wonder  that our hands can be one of the first parts of our body to age. That is unless you take good care of them! 

In the Iroha range on ScrubsUK, we have everything that the busy independent woman needs to keep hands nourished and young from rejuvenation with roses, regenerating with peach and grapefruit, and extra soft using argan oil.

And don’t forget to thank your feet! Feet are the most overlooked part of the body yet we work them hard and expect them to look perfect in our summer sandals. But they take work and need rewarding!  

ScrubsUK retails everything you need to keep your feet loveable – from extra fresh with menthol, extra soft with argan oil, exfoliating with lavender, relaxing with peppermint, and repairing with peach.

Both the gloves and socks use similar technology – incorporating a waterproof outer protective layer and lined with a serum-filled inner layer. The heat of the skin on the active ingredients creates a sauna effect which opens pores and allows for easier absorption of nutrients. Both are to be applied for 15-20 minutes and there’s no need to rinse either so you can get on with whatever’s next on your list.  

Whatever your beauty needs, we have it covered. From anti-aging, to nourishing to revitalising tired skin, Iroha has a product that is easy and convenient to apply and gives great results. If you’re a busy, independent woman who is time-poor yet with high standards, then this range is for you.

Take a look at the full range >

There are so many things that can impact a good night’s sleep, including the light of your room, street noise and more. However, we’re sure you never knew about these!

Your Other Half

We’re sorry to say this, but the one you love may be the reason why you’re not getting your fair share of sleep. What do you love more? Your sleep or your partner?! There’s many reasons why sharing a bed may have a negative impact on your sleep, from them moving around, getting up in the middle of the night, snoring or making the bed too hot. People often have varying degrees of how they feel hot or cold, so this too can impact your night-time comfort.

So what to do? Whilst it sounds harsh, the first thing to do would be to kick them out of bed! No seriously, it’s the first step to working out what’s causing your sleepless nights. Try it for a week and see if there’s any difference. If there is, then at least you know your other half is the cause and can take it from there. If it’s not, then let them back under the covers and keep looking for the source of your sleep troubles.

All is not lost if your other half IS the cause. There are many ways to successfully co-habit the bed at night. For example, if your partner wakes up earlier than you and their alarm disrupts your sleep, try using a fitness tracker instead as many have silent alarm. If snoring is the issue, then a white noise machine can help, or an anti-snoring spray such as Asonor. If your partner moves around a lot then don’t rule out getting a bigger bed!

Your Period

Obviously, this is something that only affects women, although if you’re the other person in the bed, it’s likely to impact your sleep quality too. It’s no surprise that monthly hormonal changes, as well as affecting your emotions and water retention levels, can also wreak havoc on your sleep. Those who are especially sensitive to the fluctuating levels in oestrogen and progesterone can find that a few days before their period they can find it hard to fall asleep and instead feel energised at night. Primarily this is due to the oestrogen levels; it’s a hormone that is thought to promote restorative sleep so when it drops every month it can be harder to fall and stay asleep.

So what can you do? At the very least, keep up a sleep routine and prepare for these times by ensuring you don’t expect too much of yourself. It can also help to use a period tracker so you know when your period will arrive. For severe sleep issues that you think may be caused by your period, speak with your doctor about a hormonal birth control option which can regulate hormone levels.

Posture

Who knew that the position you lie in bed can affect how easily you drift off to sleep? In general, sleeping on your side is thought to give you better quality sleep, whereas those who sleep on their fronts get the least. However, it actually doesn’t matter if by the time morning comes, you feel well-rested.

 It also turns out that your posture during the day can also impact your sleep – if you don’t sit up straight during the day, it can cause misalignment in your spine which can create extra tension across your body and prevent you from breathing properly. So how does this impact sleep? It’ll make it harder for you to physically relax before bed. The best thing to do before bed in this instance is some gentle stretching as part of a bedtime routine, along with a hot bath and a chance to listen to relaxing music. If meditation or mindfulness is your thing, spend 10 minutes practicing before bed.

Your Clock

You know the proverb, ‘a watched pot never boils’ – and it’s the same with clocks. If you’re struggling to fall asleep or get back to sleep, don’t have a clock anywhere near you. As well as causing panic, it can also create cyclical anxiety which is very hard to get out of. For example, if you can’t sleep and look at the watch, you’ll realise how late it is and renew your efforts to fall asleep again. However, if you still can’t fall asleep, you’ll take a second peek at the clock and panic even more as you start working out how much sleep time is left and fear that it’s not enough to leave you well rested by morning.  Our advice? Cover it up with something if you can’t avoid looking at it, or remove it from the bedroom altogether.

Your Bedtime

Do you drag your feet to bed, wanting to get one last episode of Making of a Murderer in? Or Prison Break? Or Dexter? Maybe you get home late from work, wolf down your dinner and then snuggle up for sleep? For some, you may finish with a glass to wine to take the edge off the day and to help you sleep? We hate to break it to you but your favourite way to unwind may not be the most suitable for a good night’s sleep. Watching exciting TV programs can stimulate the brain, making it harder to fall asleep, and if you eat just before bed then your digestive system can’t work properly for many reasons including the fact you’re lying down. Even a glass of wine before bed can be disruptive as the process of metabolising alcohol also releases by-products that are stimulating. Neither of these may be enough to stop you falling asleep but they can disturb your quality of sleep and prevent you from the periods of deep sleep that you need. 
 

Still finding it hard to sleep? Try H7, innovative and non-invasive patches that use research from hundreds of years ago to help you get a better night’s sleep. Trials have shown a 75% success rate in improving sleep. It’s perfect for insomniacs.

Further studies revealed that the secret to muskmelon (Cucumis melo), also known as cantaloupe, was an enzyme called Superoxide Dismutate or SOD for short. This is an enzyme that’s found in all living cells and which is used to speed up certain chemical reactions in the body. It works by helping to break down potentially harmful oxygen molecules in the cells, thereby helping prevent damage to tissues. Studies have demonstrated that SOD can play a critical role in reducing many symptoms in the body, including internal inflammation and lessening pain associated with conditions such as arthritis. It is believed that levels of SOD in the body decreases with age which is why heart disease, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases become more prevalent.

So will eating more cantaloupe help keep me healthy?

Unfortunately not. Even though cantaloupe contains high levels of SOD, this is deactivated after consumption when it reaches the hard acids and enzymes in the stomach. Even though eating this type of melon has many benefits (it is low in calories and is a great source of vitamin A), it cannot pass on its SOD benefits.

How can I get SOD benefits to stay healthy inside and out?

As we mentioned above, eating naturally-occurring SOD in melons won’t help. Until recently, SOD would have to be injected into the body to feel any benefits but now scientists have managed to create bioavailable forms of Superoxide dismutase using natural melon extracts combined with a natural protective substance so it can pass through the stomach and be absorbed through the intestines into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, SOD can do what it’s meant to do – neutralising potentially harmful substances and reducing oxidative stress.

The VitaDSO range

The VitaDSO range consists of 7 different supplements. Each one contains Superoxide Dismutase and each one is targeted to help maintain health in a specific part of the body. For example, all of them help to reduce oxidative stress in the body and by combining them with other vitamins and minerals, can help target support for other organs and areas of the body, including joints, heart and the immune system.

See the full VitaDSO range here >

According to the St John Ambulance Census (February 2014), only 38% of households have a first aid kit at home and of those, only 8% check the kit regularly to make sure items are there and in date. And did you know more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else?*

Are you a household which has a first aid kit?

If not, not to worry, first aid kits don’t have to be expensive. We’ve put together our guide for what you need in your kit.

The First Aid Box

You can buy First Aid kits that come in a portable box with a green or even red case for easy visibility. However, there’s no law that says what kind of box you need to keep it in, so if this is for your home, then you can use any box. Some things you may want to think about:

• Is it big enough?
• Does it have a lid and is it waterproof so none of the items can be spoiled?
• Is it easy to open in an emergency?

First Aid Basic Essentials

There are many items you can have in a First Aid box and some of them you’ll use a lot, and some of them, hardly at all. We’ve put together a list of the most commonly used and useful items. No, this won’t cover every first aid requirement, but it’s a good start and you’ll find that over time you’ll add to it.

Alcohol-free cleansing wipes – in a first aid situation, grazes and cuts will require cleansing.

Plasters –

Small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings – these are perfect for attending to wounds that require more than a plaster. They are also suitable for head wounds and can be secured with the rolled bandages.

Crepe rolled bandages – suitable for sprains and strains.

Disposable sterile gloves – for tending to wounds where there is risk of infection to both parties.

Scissors – having a dedicated pair of scissors will help ensure there’s always a pair of clean scissors available.

Tape – for securing bandages. You can also use safety pins but these can cause additional injury if not placed correctly.

Burns Dressing – Every one and a half minute, someone in the UK suffers a burn or a scald. Whether or not hospital treatment is required, burns are extremely painful and whilst clingfilm can do the trick when you’ve got nothing else to hand, having proper burns dressings is essential. Usually containing a gel pad, these prevent oxygen getting to the wound, whilst at the same time keeping it cool and soothing the area.

Torch – useful for examining wounds more clearly and other areas of the body where light may be restricted.

First Aid Manual – regardless of whether you have first aid training or not, it is always useful to have a manual in your first aid box for people to refer to.

Where to keep it

According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, most accidents at home happen in the lounge or living room. Whilst it may seem logical therefore to keep it there, it doesn’t actually matter where it is, as long as it is stored in a cool, dry place, out of the reach of small children but easily accessible to adults. If this isn’t possible, make sure it’s locked, but keep the key to hand.

Upkeep of your first aid box

There are two things that you must do every 6 months:

1. Check your first aid kit regularly to ensure items are in date and intact. Replace any items that are missing or have expired.
2. Check that the flashlight works – if needed replace the batteries.  

If you want to buy a ready-made First Aid kit and are looking for one for the home, take a look at our selection.

* http://www.rospa.com/home-safety/advice/general/facts-and-figures/

Superfoods are all the rage with lucuma, mach and moringa being touted as the ‘must-have’ product. And yes, there’s likely to be some benefits from these foods, but the definition of superfood in itself is a food that’s nutrient-rich. Guess what? You’ve got plenty of nutrient-rich foods at home in your cupboards right now - some that you’re probably eating every day. We’ve highlighted our top 5 superfoods that we suspect you already have at home.

GINGER

What is it? Ginger is a flowering plant which originates from China and is closely related to turmeric, cardamom and galangal. The main part that is normally eaten is the root.

Why is it a superfood? Ginger has been used for centuries to help aid many illnesses as it is considered a powerful anti-inflammatory with anti-oxidant effects. It has been used to treat nausea for people undergoing chemotherapy to those suffering from morning sickness. It is also thought to help reduce day to day progress of muscle soreness (or DOMS - delayed onset of muscle soreness) and improve osteoarthritis.

How to eat it? You can eat ginger fresh, steeping it in hot water with lemon to make a nourishing drink, or use it to flavour broths and other dishes. It can also be used dried, powdered or as an oil or juice.

BEETROOT

What is it? Considered a modern vegetable, it was cultivated by the romans. there’s  classic central and eastern european dish known as borscht - beetroot soup. Earth, delicious and distinctive. Same family as chard and spinach, both leave sand root can be eaten. Root is sweet, leaves are bitter. Has a high sugar content.

Why is it a superfood? The root of beetroot contains potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B6 and folic aid. The leaves are rich in calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. The nitrates in the root are often eaten by athletes as it can increase oxygen in the blood and therefore improve sports ability. For many years, beetroot has been commonly used to treat disorders of the liver as it helps stimulate the liver’s detoxification process. It’s also a rich source of glutamine which is an amino acid essential to the health and maintenance of the intestinal tract.

How to eat it? Beetroot is hugely versatile - you can eat the root raw, cooked, pickled or in smoothies. You can even eat the green leafy part as you would spinach - steam it lightly and serve alongside a main meal. Beetroots come in many different colours, including white, golden and candy-striped but only red beetroots contain the cancer-fighting compound betacyanin.

CANTALOUPE MELON

What is it? Cantaloupe melon was first given it’s name after an Italian town in Rome called Cantaloupo. Seeds were brought from Armenia and planted during the 1400’s tp 1500’s. It’s a member of the Curcurbitacaea family which includes cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, gourds and other melons. It has firm, orange sweet flesh with small flat oval seeds in the middle.

Why is it a superfood? Cantaloupe is rich in vitamin A and whilst it doesn’t beat carrots for its beta carotene levels, it still have 30 times higher levels than that of oranges. The seeds are a good source of omega 3 in the form of alpha linolenic acid and it’s thought to be an anti-inflammatory. These types of melons also contain a powerful enzyme called Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), whose primary role is to protect your cells against the cell-damaging free radical superoxide. As you age, the amount of SOD in your body decreases, which is thought to be the reason why people get wrinkles and a breakdown of organs over time. However, in its natural form, the body cannot metabolise the SOD for its own benefits.

How to eat it? Melon flesh is most often eaten raw but it can also be blended into smoothies. You can also eat the seeds too - they’re little powerhouses of nutrition - rinse them in a sieve and bake with a little olive oil on a low heat until crunchy. If you want to gain the benefit of Superoxide Dismutase, then the best way to do this is through capsules which have been specially produced so that your body can metabolise it.

CORIANDER

What is it? Also known as cilantro, coriander is a herb whose whole plant can be eaten, but most commonly, the leaves and seeds.

Why is it a superfood? Coriander is a good source of dietary fibre, manganese, iron and magneiusm, as well as vitamin C, K and protein. Coriander is often taken by those suffering from anaemia as it’s high in iron and it's also been shown to help reduce blood pressure.

How to eat it? Serve the leaves as a garnish, or in curries. The seeds can be dried and eaten on their own as a snack or ground into a spice - it is a main component of garam masala. Love it or hate it, coriander has many heath benefits, including helping rid the body of heavy metals.

TOMATOES

What is it? Tomatoes didn’t come to the UK until the 1590’s and due to their shiny red fruit and relation to the nightshade family they were considered poisonous so it wasn’t until the mid 18th century that they were accepted in meals. Technically a fruit, they can also be considered a vegetable much to the confusion of some.

Why is it a superfood? A good source of vitamins S, C and K, as well as vitamin B6, folate and thiamin, tomatoes are also a good source of minerals including potassium and magnesium. Tomatoes are perhaps most famous for their lycopene content, a red carotene and carotenoid pigment. Lycopene is surprisingly, not an essential nutrient for humans, but it’s an antioxidant which can help defend against some cancers, including prostate cancer, cervical cancer and cancer of the stomach and rectum.

How to eat it? Whatever you do, don’t eat the leaves as they’re considered poisonous! The fruit can be eaten raw in salads, in sauces, as soup or juice. Surprisingly the lycopene content in tomatoes increases after heat-treating which is good news for tomato ketchup lovers. If you don’t have time to eat fresh tomatoes, but still want the benefits then a supplement such as Lyc-O-Mato may be best for you.

What’s your favourite ‘superfood’? Tell us on  Facebook  on Twitter.

 A comprehensive glossary of common terms used to describe and explain conditions and physiologies around snoring.

 Airway - The path that air flows along to enter and exit the lungs. Normally, air goes in and out the mouth and nose. Once in the mouth, the air passes through the pharynx (back of the throat) and continues to the larynx (voice box), down the trachea and finally through the bronchi where it reaches the lungs.

Airway obstruction - When the airway is partially or fully blocked. An obstruction can occur at any point on the airway path. Snoring is caused by a vibration of soft tissue in your throat which can cause partial obstruction to your airway. 

Apnoea - First derived from the Greek word ‘apnous’ which means ‘without breath’. Its modern day meaning is the temporary or voluntary cessation of breathing. It can occur in some newborns and also during adulthood, most commonly as sleep apnoea. It can also be spelt apnea.

Breathing - The intake of air into the lungs and expelling it. Air flows through the airway, taken into the body through muscle contractions and to the lungs where respiration takes place. Air from the lungs is then exhaled back out the mouth and nose due to muscle relaxation.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) - A broad condition which encompasses several sleep disorders. Symptoms are persistent sleepiness, often combined with a general lack of energy, even during the day and after prolonged nighttime sleep. This can be caused by sleep apnea and disturbed sleep caused by snoring.

Insomnia - The inability to fall asleep, stay asleep or both, despite feelings of fatigue. Sufferers often wake up feeling tired and un-energised, which can lead to health issues, lack of concentration and imbalanced mood. Many adults experience insomnia at some stage of their lives but for most people, it is not persistent.

Nasal Passage - The channel in the nose which air flows down. During sleep we’re designed to breathe through the nose. If however, there’s a reason why air can’t flow easily through the nasal passage (and this could be due to the size of the nostrils, a collapse in the nasal passage, congestion or other obstruction), we are forced to breathe through the mouth. This can lead to snoring. 

Nasal Strips - An over the counter type of adhesive bandage with embedded splints that is applies horizontally across the bridge and sides of the nose. They are used to aid breathing at night and prevent snoring, as well as during certain sports where participants have to wear a mouthguard; a nasal strip can help improve breathing.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) - a condition where the walls of the throat relax and therefore narrow during sleep. This interrupts normal breathing and are either characterised as apnoea, where total blockage of the airway occurs for 10 seconds or more, or hypopnea, which is a partial blockage of more than 50% of the airway for 10 seconds or more. This is the most common form of sleep apnea.

Palate - The roof of the mouth which separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity. It has two sections to it; the hard palate at the front of the mouth and the soft palate.

Sleeping pills - Also known as Hypnotic (from the Greek work Hypnos, to sleep), sleeping pills are a class of drug whose primary function is to initiate, sustain or lengthen sleep. They can be used to treat insomnia. They are often thought to reduce snoring but studies have shown that they can make this condition worse.

Somnoplasty - Derived from the Latin root somnus, meaning sleep, and the Greek word plastia, meaning moulding, somnoplasty is a 30-40 minute medical procedure undertaken to treat three conditions - snoring, nasal obstruction and obstructive sleep apnoea. When snoring is targeted, radio frequency ablation is used to shrink the tissues of the soft palate and uvula.

Tongue base snorer - The tongue is the muscle in your mouth used for tasting and mastication of food. If air is trying to get into your lungs whilst you sleep through a restricted airway and it vibrates the tissue at the base of your tongue, this is known as tongue base snoring. Sometimes a mouthguard can help reduce tongue based snoring.

Uvula - Hanging down at the back of your throat, the uvula is a projection of flesh from the soft palate. Whilst it is required in the pronunciation of certain consonants used in certain languages such as Hebrew and French, it’s exact function is unknown. It can contribute to snoring during sleep, if it is elongated.

If you or a partner suffers from snoring and it is interrupting sleep, don’t ignore it - lack of quality sleep can lead to many health concerns including lack of concentration, constant fatigue and even a higher risk of heart disease. Please see your healthcare professional of GP. As a temporary measure to reduce snoring, Asonor is an innovative and non-invasive nasal spray which works immediately by firming the muscles around the throat and thereby reducing the vibrations that cause snoring. Find out more here >

It’s estimated that 25% to 40% of couples sleep apart due to snoring. Snoring has also resulted in divorce and is in fact, cited as the number one medical reason for couples splitting up. However, what if it’s just you in the bed? If you’re the only one in the room, does it matter that you do?

In a word, yes. Absolutely yes. Especially if you’re a frequent snorer. It can have a massive detrimental impact on your health. And here’s how:

 5 Ways that Snoring Interferes with your Health and Wellbeing

1. It can lead to poor sleep at night. This leads to drowsiness during the day, poor concentration and irritability. It can have knock-on effects for your career, relationships and the safety of others and yourself, especially if you drive or operate machinery. Did you know that more than 100,000 car crashes a year are caused by falling asleep at the wheel, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
2. Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnoea. Those who snore due to this disorder are 40% more likely to die earlier than their peers due to stroke or heart attack. Sleep apnoea is caused by interruptions of breathing whilst you sleep which last from a few seconds to several minutes and is caused by partial or total obstruction of your airway.
3. It cause put a strain on your heart. Sleep apnoea often results in higher blood pressure which can cause enlargement of the heart. This has associated increased risks of heart attack and stroke.
4. It can affect your mental well-being. General grumpiness is one end of the spectrum. The other is depression. His study showed that those who reported more daytime sleepiness the greater their chances of also suffering from mild depression or anxiety.
5. Take a look at your waist-line - are you overweight? Snoring can actually be an indicator of obesity as excess fatty tissue around the throat can obstruct your airway when you lie on your back. Extra weight carries with it a multitude of health issues, from diabetes to joint problems to heart disease.

 Snoring isn’t something to laugh off. It can be an indicator of more serious health problems. If you think you’re a habitual snorer, it’s worth making lifestyle and health changes [link to below article] but also make sure you book an appointment with your GP.

This article is written in association with Asonor, an innovative non-invasive nasal spray that can reduce or stop snoring on first use.

8 Ways to Stop Snoring

Snoring is a sleep disorder that can severely affect your health, wellbeing and mental health, even if you don’t share your bed with anyone. You’re more likely to snore as you get older and sometimes the way we’re built can result in snoring. However, by incorporating lifestyle and health changes, snoring can be improved and even prevented.

Try these 8 ways to stop snoring:

1. Lie on your side. Sleeping on your back allows the fatty tissue and poor muscle tone to obstruct airways and cause the rasping snoring sound. Lying on your side doesn’t let this happen. Even losing a few pounds can decrease or even stop snoring.
2. Lose excess weight. Incorporate a healthier diet and get moving more - being overweight or out of shape results in excess fatty tissue around the throat that can cause partial blockage to your airway.
3. Exercise. This will help with the weight loss but exercising arms, legs and abs also tones the muscles in the throat, keeping them tighter when you sleep.
4. Keep your nose and throat clear. Use a nasal decongestant before bedtime and if dairy products produce excess mucus, avoid them.
5. Quit smoking. Smoking irritates the membranes in nose and throat. This in turn can block airways and cause snoring.
6. Avoid alcohol and sedatives, including sleeping pills. These relax the muscle in the throat and can interfere with your breathing. If you’re worried about what you’re taking, speak with your doctor - some medication may even cause a deep sleep that makes snoring worse.
7. Establish sleep patterns. Creating a routine before bedtime and sticking with it can help you get a better night’s sleep and will often reduce snoring.
8. Use Asonor. This innovative, non invasive throat spray works by tightening muscles and has improved 75% of users’ sleep.

If snoring persists, you may have sleep apnoea. 75% of those who do snore suffer from it. This is where breathing stops from between several seconds to minutes, due to a blockage in the throat. Please see your GP immediately.

“I've always envied people who sleep easily. Their brains must be cleaner, the floorboards of the skull well swept, all the little monsters closed up in a steamer trunk at the foot of the bed.” - David Benioff, City of Thieves

Our sleep cycle is carefully balanced and there’s many things that can put it out of sync. These include medication we’re taking, the food we eat, the type of day we’ve had, our emotional state and our health. It’s very difficult to identify what exactly prevents us from getting a good night’s sleep, but there’s one thing for sure, 80%* of us have one bad habit which is spoiling our sleep. It’s smartphones.

Technology is supposed to make our lives better and more efficient, right? In some cases, it has detrimental effects on how we are functioning, with sleep being one of those victims. Do you take your phone to bed with you? It’s likely that you do. And why not? After all, emails don’t stop coming in just because we’re sleeping. And people don’t stop liking or commenting on our Instagram photos. Between the ages of 18 and 44 years, the majority of us keep our phone in our room** which leaves us susceptible to the temptation of checking it ‘one last time’ before we sleep or even in the middle of the night if it buzzes or we just can’t sleep.

There’s more bad news about the link between smartphones and disrupted sleep; the screens emit a blue light which disrupts melatonin in our body, the hormone that helps with our sleep timings and circadian rhythms. Research undertaken by Anne-Marie Chang made the discovery that when her subjects read from an iPad rather than a paper book, they took longer to fall asleep and spent less time in REM sleep (REM sleep is important as it the restorative phase of sleep). iPads emit the same blue light as smartphones do.

In addition, social media and responding to emails before night stimulates our brain which can prevent it properly ‘powering down’ just before bed. And in a similar way that sugar gives us a high, so does the excitement at receiving a tweet or Facebook message, similarly keeping us alert.

So what to do? Here’s five ways to help you break this bad habit and get a better night’s sleep:

1. Stay away from all devices up to two hours before you go to sleep. Everyone reacts different to smartphone stimuli but it is thought that at least two hours is required to help settle our body.
2. Keep smartphones, iPads and Kindles out of the bedroom. This will keep the temptation to check your phone at bay or look to reading if you can’t sleep.
3. Replace Kindles and iPad books with paper books. It’s time to return to the old school way of reading!
4. Practice 5 minutes of meditation before you sleep. This can help calm your brain down and program it get ready to sleep.
5. Use H7 Insomnia Control, a patch which has been clinically tested to control insomnia and uses the Heart 7 pressure point, also known as the ‘insomnia press point’ to induce a natural night’s sleep, without drugs or invasive technology.

Got a tip we’ve not thought of? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

The human body is truly amazing. Our understanding of the inner workings of organs is superb, but doctors and medical professionals are always learning new things that are of the utmost importance. If something goes wrong inside our bodies, it can have drastic consequences, which is why so much time, effort and money has been put into making sure we keep ourselves as healthy as possible.

Here are the top health tips you should follow, to ensure your vital organs stay healthy.

Our brains may only make up 2% of our body weight, but it is definitely running the show. It uses 20% of all oxygen & energy your body takes in , but it puts it to good use as it is responsible for all functions, including thinking, breathing, digesting & learning. So it is vitally important that we keep our brain healthy, and here is how we can do that:

•   Challenge yourself with brain games and stimulating puzzles.
•   Keep your thoughts happy & think positive.
•   Stay socially engaged.
•   Eat fish once a week.
•   Get physically active.

'You only get one heart, so it's important to make it last'. The heart is the muscle that pumps blood and delivers oxygen and nourishment to every part of the body. When something goes wrong with this organ, more often that not there are fatal consequences. A healthy heart is key to our survival and here's how to improve our chances:

•   Exercise at least five times a week, for at least 30 minutes.
•   Eat lots of fruit & vegetables.
•   Stick to a balanced diet, to prevent becoming overweight.
•   Reduce salt & fat intake.
•   Eat more fish.

It's probably not something you think about much, but your liver is a key part of your body's digestive system. Everything you consume, whether it be food, drink or medicine has to pass through your liver. So you need to treat the organ right to make sure it remains healthy and does its job – here is how:

•   Moderate your alcohol intake.
•   Eat more fibre.
•   Be careful with weight loss pills.
•   Maintain regular exercise.
•   Cut down on fatty foods.

Everyone knows how important their lungs are, but the facts really are staggering. Your lungs pump roughly 10,000 litres of air in and out of your body every day, with the help of 200 million intricate air sacs. For a healthy pair of lungs it really is simple – maintain regular exercise and don't smoke, but here are a couple more tips to keep your lungs in shape.

•   Don't smoke (or give up now!).
•   Exercise more.
•   Improve indoor air quality.
•   Eat a healthy diet (vegetables & fish).
•   Perform lung cleansing exercises.

Maintaining a healthy digestive system could mean the difference between a healthy life and one filled with chronic illness. The digestive organs break down food and decide if it should be put to work in your body or removed as waste. One particular food type that is key to this process is fibre, which feeds good bacteria. You should make sure you follow these tips for a healthy stomach:

•   Eat a high-fibre diet.
•   Stay hydrated (plenty of water).
•   Exercise regularly.
•   Manage stress levels.
•   Eat on a schedule.

The kidneys really are incredibly versatile, they're always doing more than one job. The kidneys cover all aspects of health inside your body, from helping to strengthen bones to the regulation and production of red blood cells. Kidneys keep your body at the perfect balance in terms of fluid and chemicals, so it's very important that you take care of them and here is exactly how to do that:

•   Reduce your intake of salt - eat right.
•   Drink lots of water every day.
•   Avoid self medication.
•   Don't resist the urge to urinate.
•   Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol.

Our eye sight is something we all take for granted. While we always image we will be able to see, sometimes disaster strikes. So in order to prevent your eye sight deteriorating with age or over a shorter period of time, looking after your eyes is a daily task that should be carried out. Here are a few tips:

•   See your eye doctor regularly.
•   Protect your eyes from dry air and UV rays.
•   Follow the 20-20-20 rule when working with computers.
•   Maintain a healthy diet (including carrots, broccoli &).
•   Say no to smoking.

Some people are still surprised by this fact, but the skin is actually the largest organ of your body. Our skin protects our insides from harmful UV rays and dry air, but sometimes it needs a bit of help from ourselves. Maintaining healthy and clear skin can be a great confidence boost but is also essential for a continuous healthy life, and here's how to retain that radiant glow:

•   Drink lots of water to keep hydrated.
•   Protect yourself from the sun.
•   Don't smoke (it causes wrinkles).
•   Treat your skin gently (daily cleansing and moisturising).
•   Eat a balanced & healthy diet.

As well as natural elements like exercise, a healthy diet and stress management, supplements are also great for staying healthy and keeping your body fit. There are a number of food supplements out there, to help you look after yourself and the content of each capsule or spoon full is vital to how effective it will be. Some of the most effective supplements include VitaDSO, which contains S.O.D, to help promote healthy joints & heart. Another is Lyc-O-Mato which contains Lycopene, which promotes a healthy heart.

If you follow the above tips you should live a long and healthy life. However, if you ignore the advice, you may find yourself in hospital under the care of men & women in medical scrubs & medical uniforms providing you with medical supplies – look after your body, you only get one.

Sources       1.   http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/health+advice/care+for+your+organs+to+be+healthy,9467

Adults need an average of seven to nine hours of sleep a night, but insomnia can keep them from getting the sleep they need. It’s the most common sleep disorder in North America and Europe. It tends to be more common in women and more likely to occur with age. It’s thought that a third of people in the UK and in the US have episodes of insomnia. Those people cannot sleep well enough at night to function well during the day.

The Great British Sleep Survey interviewed 20,814 adults in 2012. It found that, of those who had trouble sleeping, 77% reported having relationship difficulties as a result, while 62% reported issues of concentration, 74% said they were less productive at work, 77% reported problems with their mood and 88% with energy levels.

But what about the financial implications of insomnia?

This sleep disorder costs the US government and industry billions of dollars a year.

• The Institute of Medicine estimates that billions of dollars are spent annually on medical costs that are directly related to sleep disorders.
• Employers spend approximately $3,200 more in health care costs on employees with sleep problems than for those who sleep well.
• According to the US Surgeon General, insomnia costs the U.S. Government more than $15 billion per year in health care costs.

 There are a lot of remedies for insomnia out there, but it’s best to use medication only as a last resort because they can cause dependence or worsen the situation by causing drowsiness, irritability or even amnesia.  Sometimes, simple changes to your lifestyle and daily habits can help with the sleepless nights. One of the most common ways to treat insomnia is to keep a sleep diary so you can pinpoint habits and behaviours contributing to your insomnia. Then you can change those bad habits and create a new night-time routine to sleep better. For example, you can stick to a regular sleep schedule, avoid stimulating activity such as vigorous exercise, or stressful situations (big discussions or arguments) and limit caffeine, alcohol and nicotine in the evening.

There are also some unusual remedies, such as the technique called autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR.  This technique uses a variety of sounds and visual stimuli that relax the brain and cause a pleasurable, tingling sensation in the head or body. This method basically consists on watching a simple YouTube video!

Unfortunately, if you’re looking for any serious scientific evidence backing the ASMR technique, you’re out of luck. Current research hasn’t explored how effective ASMR is for stopping insomnia, so for now you’ll need to rely on the testimony of many of the satisfied YouTube subscribers.

Among the non-drug remedies, you can find the H7 Insomnia Control®. It is a simple, painless and effective product, clinically tested to help with insomnia without drugs. 

Bacteria and viruses, things we typically call 'bugs', are all around us. We cannot see these microscopic organisms travelling through the air or living happily on our computer keyboards, but they are present nonetheless. Our daily exposure to them has created an ongoing battle for pre-eminence within our bodies. It is a good bug versus bad bug war that will continue for as long as humankind exists on the earth.

Because there are just as many good bacteria as there are bad. If we were to eliminate all of the good bugs our bodies are exposed to, there would be a lot more sickness and disease in the world. Good bugs tend to balance out the bad, for the most part, keeping our bodies working the way they are supposed to. For purposes of clarification, let us look at a few examples.

Just the mention of the word 'bacteria' can cause some people to run for the antibacterial gel. Sometimes this is warranted, especially when dealing with bacteria we already know cause serious problems such as strep throat, meningitis and food poisoning. Salmonella bacteria are a good example. A person who accidentally ingests it by way of contaminated food could become violently ill; maybe even die. However, not all bacteria are bad.

Do you enjoy yogurt? If so, you are eating a food that is packed full of live, active bacteria. Nevertheless, the bacteria in yogurt are good for you. It helps to regulate your digestive system and clean out some of the bad bugs and toxins in your body. If you are someone who is lactose intolerant, you may find a friend in the good bacteria found in fermented milk. Studies have shown that these bacteria can help with digestion of dairy products, reducing cramps and diarrhoea.

Above and beyond the foods we eat, there are numerous forms of good bacteria that naturally live inside the body. They work to boost the immune system so that it can better fight off sickness and infectious disease. Without these bacteria, you would not be nearly as healthy as you are. Examples of these include a strain of probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum, lives in your stomach and can help to repair stomach ulcers and treat constipation. Another good example is Lactobacillus acidophilus, which resides in the intestines & helps the digestion of food.

The world of viruses is very similar to that of bacteria in terms of having both good and bad. In the bad category, some of the main players that come to mind include HIV and the rhinovirus that causes the common cold. The streptococcus virus is another bad one that can cause severe sore throats and other uncomfortable symptoms. We should do our best to avoid exposure to these bugs.

On the other hand, some viruses are actually good for us. Those viruses can be found living right alongside the good bacteria in our digestive systems. Research suggests that these viruses can help protect us from sickness and disease in the absence of the necessary good bacteria that should be there but, for whatever reason, are not. In simple terms, the viruses act as reinforcements to bacteria in the war against infection.

One particular virus that is showing promising signs of being classed as good, is the HTLV-1 virus, which can significantly lower a person's chances of developing stomach cancer, if they're infected with the virus.

As you can see, there are both good and bad bugs we are exposed to every day. This tells us that it is not a good idea to go overboard in trying to prevent exposure to bacteria and viruses. We should do our best to stay healthy, but going to an extreme to combat bugs may actually be more harmful in the long run by not allowing our immune system to work as it is designed to work.

1. Live Strong – http://www.livestrong.com/article/337181-what-is-the-difference-between-good-bacteria-bad-bacteria/
2. New Scientist – http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26592-good-viruses-defend-gut-when-bacteria-are-wiped-out.html#.VNTcO9RGjUY
3. https://beckteria.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/good-viruses/

We’ve rounded up a list of the favourite products on ScrubsUK to inspire and intrigue you. Maybe there’s something on here you didn’t realise we stocked? With hundreds of products on our website and many being added each week, this highlights some of our most useful.

First Aid Travel Kit 

Whether you’re on a road trip or at home, having a first aid kit is essential for peace of mind. Especially if you have kids, you’ll know too well that cuts, scrapes and grazes are only too common yet with a First Aid kit at the ready, wherever you are, you’ll have them cleaned up and plastered in no time.

They’re small enough to fit into a bag or large pocket and can sit discreetly in a car or at the top of a rucksack for easy access.

Take a look at our range of travel first aid kits, starting from £2.18

Asonor Anti-Snoring Spray

It’s a fact that people value their sleep so it’s no surprise that the Asonor Anti-Snoring is selling like hotcakes. The innovative spray solution gently tightens muscles in the throat, preventing snoring immediately. Clinical trials have shown a 75% decline in snoring in users and best of all, there’s no prescription needed.

Sleep is vital for our body to repair itself and for optimal brain function so if you or your partner snores, have a read for more information.

Eldan Scrubs

If you work in a hospital, vets practice, beauty clinic or dentist, you’ll know that most scrubs are scratchy, stiff and shapeless. Eldan, a Polish brand, have changed all that with their range of fitted and stylish, yet practical workwear. Comfort is their first priority and they even stock maternity scrubs.

Take a look at the trousers, tunics and dresses.

AHC - Hyperhidrosis Deodorant

It is thought that 3% of the population suffer from hyperhidrosis. If that doesn’t sound like a lot, think again. It’s 211 million. The body sweats to control body temperature yet there are many who sweat more than others. It can be a debilitating issue and one that can greatly impact confidence. The AHC range of hyperhidrosis deodorants have been designed to use all over the body and can reduce sweating by 80% - 100%.

Our most popular anti-sweat product is the AHC20 Sensitive

Health East Herbal Teas

Normally only available to practitioners, this is the first time that Health East Herbal Teas have been on sale for general consumers. These four flavours of tea each have different benefits - for beauty, energy and cardiovascular health. Hailing from Taiwan, the teas pass the strictest of tests to ensure that they are free from toxins and heavy metals, unlike a lot of brands you find on the high street.

Drink you way to healthier living >

Ideal Omega Fish Oil

With more people taking responsibility for their health, investing in supplements is another way that one can stay as healthy as possible. Omega 3 is vital for mind, mood and brain function and these pharmaceutical grade fish oil tablets are one way of getting your daily dose easily.

Ideal Omega Fish oil capsules surpass all purity and product excellence requirements making them one of the best on the market.

Buy Ideal Omega now >

Waterless Bathing

Waterless bathing sounds a little like sci-fi but these set of products really are life-changing, especially for those who are limited in movement. With products such as a shampoo cap (like a shower cap that fits over the head) or the bed bath, you can get clean from head to know easily and with as little stress as possible.

They’re also useful for those going camping or to festivals.

Review the waterless bathing range >

Blood Pressure Machine

Having a blood pressure machine at home is a good way of being in control of your health, especially if you are at risk or have been diagnosed with hypertension - something that may not have symptoms and can only be diagnosed with blood pressure tests. However, there are several factors which should be taken into consideration before you decide it is worth investing in a blood pressure monitor: age (the older you are, the more likely you are at risk), family history (the condition seems to run in the family), weight (being overweight or obese increases your risks), smoking (this increases your risk also), salt intake and alcohol consumption.

If any of the above apply to you or you are worried about blood pressure, consult with your doctor first.

If you are thinking of buying a blood pressure monitor for the home, take a look here >

Eye Wash Pods

Summer is on it’s way yet that also brings a lot of ailments that you don’t often see in winter. For example hay fever and dust or sand blowing into eyes. This can happen whether you’re in the city or on the beach. Individually packed eyewash pods are the perfect size for any handbag or pocket in case of emergencies and also fit snugly into first aid kits. Each pod is a one-time use only and sterile.

Choose your eyewash pods >

Gloves in a Bottle

Gloves in a Bottle is exactly what it says it is - an innovative shielding lotion, it’s a liquid that forms a barrier when applied to skin. It’s ideal for putting onto hands with sensitive skin underneath traditional gloves, for those with dermatitis and and psoriasis. And there’s no need to wash off! It naturally comes away when you shed skin cells after 3-4 hours.

Buy Gloves in a Bottle here >

Are there any products that you wished we stocked? Or is there something in particular you are looking for? Email us on sales@scrubsuk.com to discuss further.

The common cold is so common that many of us think we know an awful lot about this viral infection. However, it turns out that much of what we believe about the common cold is not true. For example, did you know that it is very difficult to catch a cold by kissing someone who is already infected? It's true. Research has shown that only one of 13 people who kiss someone with a cold is likely to come down with one themselves.

Here are six more surprising facts about the common cold:

The Cold Virus Doesn't Make You Feel Ill As with many other common illnesses, the cold virus is not actually that which makes us feel ill. The symptoms of a cold are the direct result of the immune system fighting back against a foreign invader. It is the work of the immune system that causes the runny nose, sore throat, and cough associated with a cold.	The Common Cold Has No Cure Despite what you may believe, the common cold has no known cure. Unfortunately, medical suppliers have become obsessed with pushing products such as antibacterial gel as a means of preventing colds. Nonetheless, these only work on bacteria ‐ a cold is caused by a virus. Vitamin C doesn't help much either, once the symptoms of a cold begin to appear.
Old People Are Less Likely To Catch A Cold If it seems like young people are more affected by colds than older people are, it is not your imagination. Research has shown that the older one gets, the less likely he or she is to catch a cold. People over the age of 75 tend to have just one cold per year while children will typically catch colds 4 to 8 times annually.	Keeping Your Distance Can Help You Avoid Colds Research has shown that the water droplets expelled when a person sneezes can travel as far as 6 feet. Experts say you can avoid catching a cold by keeping your distance from people you know are already infected, as well as people you know who have been exposed to others with a cold even though they themselves might appear healthy.
Women Are More Likely To Catch Colds Than Men Statistics show that women are more likely to catch colds than men are. Experts suggest this is because they have more contact with children who, as we have already seen, are the most susceptible to the common cold. Furthermore, colds are most contagious in the 48 hours between virus exposure and the appearance of symptoms. This means that mothers do not even realise their children have the cold virus until days after they have already been exposed. It also means they are more likely to get sick right along with their kids.	Cold Weather Makes Catching A Cold Easier Your mother was right when she told you cold weather increases your chances of getting a cold. However, her reasoning may have been wrong. It is not a lower body temperature that causes the problem; it is low humidity levels. The less moisture in the air, the further the cold virus can travel in water droplets that are coughed or sneezed. Furthermore, cold weather produces dry air that dries out the nasal passages to provide the perfect environment for the cold virus to multiply.

There is a lot more to the common cold than many people think. Furthermore, avoiding colds requires a little bit more than just purchasing medical supplies. The next time you are not feeling well, keep in mind what you've learned here about that virus that's bothering you.

Sources

1. Daily Mail – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-141121/Four-surprising-facts-common-cold.html

2. NHS – http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/coldsandflu/Pages/Fivefactsaboutcolds.aspx

3. Smithsonian – http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-surprising-facts-about-the-common-cold-23293218/?no-ist

Asonor, the innovative anti-snoring spray, recently surveyed 1000 participants about snoring habits and since then, there have been several articles talking about the reasons, insights and advice about this noisy topic.

With snoring affecting  approximately 15 million adults in the UK (that’s 1 in 3), we decided to collaborate all the useful information and put it into this Snoring 101 article of our own.

For a start, did you know that what you eat could even be a cause of smoking?!

What causes snoring?

The distinctive rumbling sound of snoring is caused by muscles in the throat relaxing during sleep. The airways become obstructed which constricts breathing and so the soft tissue vibrates as air is drawn over them. This only happens when you’re asleep as awake, the muscles are tense.

Why is snoring a problem?

Snoring & health

Snoring can be an indicator of ill health and can even cause fatalities. For example, it has been linked to people falling asleep behind the wheel, causing horrific accidents, affecting both the snorer and innocent people.

Snoring could be a sign of several medical conditions, including obstructive sleep apnoea. This occurs when the muscles and soft tissue in the throat relax, collapsing sufficiently to cause a total blockage of the airway. Airflow can be stopped for ten seconds or more before the sleeper wakes up and restarts breathing.

If you have a collar size that’s larger than 17 inches, you snore often and you’ve got high blood pressure, this may be a sign of cardiovascular disease. Make sure you get an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can.

As well as the above, snoring can greatly impact quality of sleep, which leads to tiredness in the day. This can result in lack of concentration, mood swings, lowered immune system and even depression.

Snoring and relationships

Snoring doesn’t just affect the person who snores but can affect the whole household too, more so if you’re sharing the bed with a snorer. Between couples, snoring can cause arguments – easily understood when it is revealed that 89% of people whose partners snore lose approximately 1.5 hours of sleep each night, leaving them tired and grumpy. A fifth of people even value a good night’s sleep so much that they have considered breaking up with their snoring partner. And sex? Forget it; snoring has been shown to leave 1 in 10 people lacking in sex drive.

So what can those who share a bed with a snoring partner do? Dr Chis Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service and president of Sleep Medicine Section of the Royal Society Medicine has some recommendations below.

Ways to help reduce or stop snoring

If you do snore, or have a snoring partner, you don’t have to suffer an eternity of sleepless nights. There are many ways that you can alleviate snoring, even without the need for invasive or expensive treatment.

Here are 6 of the most effective ways as recommended by Dr Chis Idzikowski:

Use Asonor – this nasal spray delivers lubrication directly into the nasal passage which softens mucous membranes in the throat, and it tightens the muscles. The lubrication helps prevent a dry mouth which a lot of snorers get and the tightened muscles makes the user less likely to snore.

Sleep on your front – this helps your tongue fall forward and provides less constriction of the throat. If you keep moving onto your back, try using pillows to keep you in the right position.

Get a humidifier – it may not sound like the most common cause of snoring but a lot of snorers suffer from nasal congestion or allergies; the humidifier helps clean the air.

Quit smoking – the smoke you inhale from your cigarette can irritate and inflame the linings of your nose and throat which makes it more difficult to breathe. Even if you can’t give up smoking, then try and reduce smoking before bedtime.

Lose excess weight – snoring can be caused by an excess amount of fatty tissue in the back of the throat. By losing weight generally, you can also decrease the fat in your throat.

Watch what you eat – steer clear of caffeine, heavy meals and dairy for two hours before bedtime. Some snoring is caused by allergic reactions that inflame the throat or increase mucus production and whilst it hasn’t been confirmed, it is thought that milk and dairy products may increase mucous production.

If all else fails, try a short but sharp dig in the ribs!

Useful Links to other articles

Silver Surfers - ASONOR® Snoring treatment proven to help up to 75% of snorers

Huffington Post – Could your partner’s snoring be scuppering your sex life?

Mail Online - HEALTH NOTES: More than 10 per cent of couples say snoring ruins their sex life

BT - 10 ways to stop snoring – and get a good night’s sleep

 6 Things only those who live with a snorer will understand

 Some people liken it to the noise of a train. Others, to a chainsaw. Some to an unworldly beast that destroys sleep with one swift snort. Regardless of how it’s described, many are in agreement that living with a snorer can leave them at their wits’ end.

 Here are 6 things that only those who live with a snorer will understand:

 It’s a race.

Unless your other half gives you a tactical ‘head start’, it’s a desperate race to get to sleep. Never has getting to sleep before ‘the noise’ starts been more important to you. Especially when you’re sleep-deprived from the night before.

You need restraint.

The amount of times you’ve envisioned the sweet silence as you clamp a pillow over the snorer’s face is more numerous than the decent nights’ sleep you’ve gotten. You have, in the past, resorted to pinching, shouting, nudging and other mild forms of violence, but you’re a hair’s breadth away from getting issued with ABH.

Not the alcohol!

Smelling alcohol’s pungent scent on your snorer’s breathe is enough to make you cry into your pillow. You know that a pint or two of beer is enough to ramp up the noise a decibel or two and no matter how fancy your earplugs are, they’ll cut right through it.

Hate. A powerful emotion.

Most people associate sleep with relaxation and calm. Not you. Your whole body tenses when you think of bedtime and that’s before the waves of hate start. Whether you’re woken up mid-sleep by a hearty snore or you’ve not managed to get to sleep in the first place, many thoughts run riot through your head; “why are they doing this to me? Why don’t they get it sorted? Why is it me who’s affected?” to… “How dare they sleep whilst I’m away. How dare they do this to me. I hate them so much!”

 It’s a feeling that works you up until you’re seeing red and regardless of whether the snoring’s stopped or not, there’s no chance of falling asleep with all that rage in you!

Earplugs are your best friend.

And you’ve tried them all. You’ve even got spares. God forbid they go missing or roll off the side table and under the bed. These are worth more to you than gold. Only at night, of course.

Snoring has special powers.

And not a good one. It has the strength to creep into your room and your head, even if you’re two doors away. Have you snuck downstairs to the sofa? You can still hear it. Not loudly, but enough to stop you sleeping. Maybe you’ve got your trusty earplugs in – they’re helping, but only marginally. If you listen carefully (and you do), there’s still a faint outline of a snore. AGH.

 From a serious point of view, however, snoring is a big issue for those in a relationship with a snorer. In 2001, 65,000 divorces were granted on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour. Along with adultery, unreasonable behaviour is one way to get a divorce granted without the need for 2 years separation. However, out of those 65,000 divorces, at the number one spot for reasons cited, SNORING was number one. ‘Not enough sex’ and ‘too much sex’ followed.

 It’s easy to see how snoring gains this unfortunate status; if the snorer gives the snoree (for want of a better word) a headstart and goes to bed later then this can hugely impact the intimate physical and emotional moments a couple would normally have before they sleep; there’s no chance to cuddle or discuss the day’s happenings – an important part of bringing couples closer together. If the snorer sleeps elsewhere, this creates a physical distance as well as an emotional one and this can make couples feel less appreciative of each other and can enhance feelings of selfishness.

 There’s also the disrupted sleep – snoring interferes with quality and quantity of sleep, leaving both snorer and snoree feeling ill-tempered, grumpy, resentful and irritable.

 And don’t forget about the snorer – they can feel embarrassed and ashamed and this can manifest as anger. After all, they’re not doing it on purpose.

 Sounds like a recipe for disaster for any relationship, right?

 So what to do about snoring?

There are a great many ways to help prevent snoring, the first being seeing a doctor, as snoring can often be a sign of ill-health. However, there are more immediate solutions available also, including Asonor, an innovative, award-winning nasal spray that can stop snoring instantly. Since its launch, it’s helped up to 75% of snorers get relief and a better night’s sleep (and their other halves!). It works by tightening the muscles around the throat so they remain more open.

 For more information about Asonor and to buy a bottle, click here >

January always brings with it magazine articles screaming ‘New Year, New You’ and promises of how this year will be ‘your best year yet’. And as a result, new year’s resolutions will be made, all with good intentions, and they may even be continued for several months. However, we can guarantee that by summer, those resolutions will have fallen beside the wayside, only to be dusted off again when the next new year comes around.

Sound familiar? Don’t get disheartened, the reason why this happens is because resolutions are rarely realistic. Often, they’re around going to the gym 3 times a week, or giving something up. But life can get in the way, whether it’s illness or a late night at work, or a late night with friends that sends you off the path of good intentions.

If your resolution this year is to improve your health, then we’ve got just the answer. We’ve put together 7 immediate changes you can make for a healthier life. And the good news? Start slow and just pick one. Implement it into your life every day for 3 months and voila, you’ve turned it into a habit and it’ll just be something you ‘do’. Each of the 7 changes listed below will create long-lasting, beneficial habits that will slowly but surely make you feel better,

Increase your sleep and the quality of it

Studies on sleep have revealed that sleep is essential for an optimal healthy body. Did you know that there’s a period of sleep where your body actively repairs itself? You can also sleep yourself skinny – a lack of sleep comes with the rick of potential weight gain. You’ll also be able to make better decisions and think more clearly. In addition, your memory will improve, as will your body’s natural defences, helping you fight off illness quicker. Make sure you get at least 7 hours sleep – either get to bed earlier or wake up later, if you can.

And quality is important too! Did you know that drinking alcohol, watching TV, doing exercise or playing on your mobile phone just before bed can delay the onset of recovery sleep, meaning that even though it feels like you slept your body didn’t get the full benefit. Give yourself at least 30 minutes before bed in a screen-free environment, how about with a hot cocoa and book?

Got a snorer in the family? Not to worry, there are plenty of devices to help with that, including Asonor, an easy to apply and effective nasal spray that’s said to decrease snoring in 3 out of 4 users.

Meditate

Meditation and mindfulness are all the rage nowadays and there’s a reason for it. People notice that their minds are more settled, that things that would normally stress them out, don’t, and scientifically too, there’s been studies to show that those who meditate have longer telomeres on their chromosomes – shorter telomeres have been linked to a range of age-related diseases, such as heart disease and some cancers.

There are several types of meditation, including Vedic meditation where you focus on a mantra and guided meditation, where you follow instructions as given. Benefits are felt instantly and it doesn’t take long – for as little as 10 minutes, you can get your meditation hit!

If you’re not sure where to start with meditation, try the Headspace app or book yourself in for a meditation weekend with Will Williams.

Drink more water

This is so important yet most people don’t drink enough water. Water is being lost all the time from your body, through urine, tears, sweat and more. And did you know that water is vital for digestion, absorption of nutrients and minerals, blood flow, creation of saliva and maintenance of body temperature? Water also helps energise muscles and keeps skin clear and healthy.

So how much water should you get? Guidelines claim 8 glasses of water are ideal but it really depends on your body and the activity that you do. Drinking regularly is the key, rather than amount so take a water bottle around with you if you’re out and about a lot and refill it every few hours.

For anyone wanting to succeed with this, set yourself a specific goal, e.g. drink 1 glass of water every hour at work, or if you don’t like water, replace it with something such as tea. There are some great teas out there and you’re getting added nutrients. For example, Rosebud Beauty tea tastes delicious, helps with period paid and can also improve your skin. If you’re after tea that boosts your overall health, the Ginseng Vitality tea contains ginseng extract, Rhodiola Rosea and Astragalus Root.

Eat more greens

Green leafy vegetables should appear on your plate at least once a day because they have so many dietary benefits; they’re rich in vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which help fight disease. They also contain fibre, which can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Some (collard and kale especially) contain calcium which are good for strong teeth and bones. And don’t forget that green veg is also a good source of folate which is an important component in the production of serotonin so as well as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and memory loss, it could also help improve your mood.

So what should you be eating? Green vegetables include cabbage, spinach, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts and swiss chard are all good to get on your plate. And variety is key – try and eat a wide range each week. And if you’re stuck for ideas, there’s loads of things you can do with them – add them into stir-frys, steam and eat on their own, make them into soup, roast them or even add them into your smoothies (spinach goes excellently).

Get outside more

With so much air conditioning and central heating, our skin and lungs are bombarded with dry air, as well as dust and mould spores that can build up in houses and offices.

Being outside, especially in a park, allows fresh air into your lungs and you’re more likely to walk more when outside, increasing your daily steps and calories burned. You’ll feel better for the added exercise and it helps you ground yourself with the outdoors – after all, we spend so much time indoors and occupied with everyday stresses that it’s nice to get back to nature and realise how small you are in the grand scheme of things.

Make your own lunches

Basically, stay away from processed food! Instead of popping out for a ready-made sandwich or heating up that microwave macaroni cheese, prepare your meals in advance. They don’t have to be anything spectacular – for example, you could make a batch of pasta with tomato sauce, a red lentil soup, salmon with brown rice and green beans, a sandwich on brown bread, risotto, a stir-fry or casserole.

If making a whole week’s worth sounds like an immense task, try sticking to one lunch a week. It’ll make a difference in improving your health, we promise!

Set aside time for yourself

How often do you sit down and do something that’s all about you? With families, friends and work clamouring for our time, we rarely leave time for ourselves. So every day, try and spend at least 10 minutes doing something that you enjoy that’s entirely selfish. This may be a cup of tea with a good book, a meditation session, a short run, a walk.. it could even be time spent thinking about all the good things that happened to you yesterday or setting your intentions for the day ahead.

Regardless of what you decide, having that precious time to bask in the present and enjoy life will settle your mind, help your body relax and allow you to feel grateful for everything and everyone around you.

Let us know which you choose and how you get on with this. Got any suggestions for ideas that we should try too? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter or email us at sales@scrubsuk.com

It is no secret that global warming is affecting our planet, and it is also no secret that carbon dioxide emissions has a lot to do with it. In 2013, CO2 emissions hit 36 billion tonnes – a record high for annual human emissions.

To help tackle this growing problem, governments across the world are urging us all to reflect on our own individual carbon footprints and think of ways to reduce CO2 output in our daily lives.

If you work in the medical profession, besides the obvious factors like travelling to work by public transport rather than car and being economical with lights, your choice of medical scrubs and how you maintain them could also play a key role in helping you lower your carbon footprint.

When you buy a pair of scrubs, you probably have nothing else on your mind but finding a medical uniform at a suitable price. However, have you ever considered how the material being used to make these scrubs could be affecting your carbon footprint?

The vast majority of scrubs today are made using either a polyester/cotton blend or, in cheaper products, 100 per cent polyester. Now, while polyester is very affordable, it is also made from petroleum, which is a by-product of processing oil. Also, polyester is not the best material in the world when it comes to durability and will not last as long as other materials such as 100 per cent cotton scrubs.

Some materials that are much more eco-friendly and have greater longevity than polyester include bamboo scrubs – which is grown without pesticides and is naturally antibacterial – and organic cotton scrubs are coloured with natural or vegetable-based dye.

As well as the material and construction, the location of manufacture is another important consideration when choosing scrubs that are environmentally friendly. It is no secret that many of today’s leading clothing brands are made in China and the wider Asian continent – India, Bangladesh, etc. Medical scrubs are no different.

The two leading industry brands – Dickies and Cherokee – both outsource the manufacture of their medical wear and many others do the same. The simple reason for doing this is that it is cheap – material and labour costs less.

While scrubs made in Asia are generally cheaper to buy, their impact on the environment is much greater than scrubs that are manufactured in Europe and the UK. Not only does the making of scrubs in such high volumes result in greater pollution – the clothing dye proving the biggest problem – the shipment of products, first to the US and then to Europe is also a significant carbon footprint issue.

On average, a plane produces about 244 pounds of carbon dioxide for each mile it flies. A flight from Shenzhen in China to Washington DC in the US is approximately 8165 miles, meaning the transport of scrubs can result in 1.9 million pounds of CO2 – almost 1000 tonnes. And that is without the further shipment of items to Europe.

There is a simple way to avoid being part of this carbon footprint and that is to buy scrubs that are manufactured in the UK or Europe. While they are not as widely available as Dickies or Cherokee, there are brands such as Eldan who are based in Poland that have a much smaller carbon footprint. When shopping around, pay special attention to where brands are made and look for something manufactured close to home.

One of the best ways to be environmentally friendly around the home is to use the washing machine less. Of course, if you wear scrubs to work this is not always possible. Scrubs must be cleaned after every shift to remove germs and clear away any stains – without a clean pair you will probably not be allowed to work.

Foregoing washing your scrubs is not an option but there are ways to keep your uniforms clean and help lower your carbon footprint in the process.

The first thing you could do is switch the dial on your washing machine from 40-degrees to 30-degrees. Modern detergents are powerful enough to wash just as well at lower temperatures and you will be using 40% less electricity in the process.

Another option is to wash all your scrubs together on your days off, rather than on an ad hoc basis. Obviously, you need to have enough clean pairs of scrubs to last throughout the week to do this, but a full load is much more economical than washing scrubs one pair at a time.

Finally, consider making the switch to environmentally friendly detergents and non-polluting products such as Eco-balls,

Scrubs might only play a small part in your carbon footprint, but when it comes to saving the planet, even the littlest changes help.

 Supplying medical supplies is one of the most important aspects of the ScrubsUK business. Our customer base is varied and so ScrubsUK delivers medical supplies throughout the UK, as well as internationally – on time and with precision.

We do not however supply any of these devices above :) !

Definition of ‘Medical Supplies’ (school research material)

Medical supplies is a broad term for devices and pharmaceuticals that aid with identifying and treating illness. Medical supplies can be categorized into medical devices and equipment, and pharmaceuticals.

 Medical devices and equipment are generally intended for use in the diagnosis of illness, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of illness, disease or other condition. It is these types of medical supplies that ScrubsUK provides.

 Pharmaceuticals are a type of medical supplies that achieve their goal through pharmacological, metabolic or immunological means.

 Types of medical supplies

The medical equipment and devices that ScrubsUK supply are focused at a variety of users, from patients themselves to doctors, nurses, facilities such as nursing homes, and government-run organisations.

For example:

• Medical scrubs for doctors
• Dressings for patients
• Antibacterial supplies for companies and healthcare organisations
• Spill packs for schools, colleges, nurseries and health care facilities
• Incontinence products for personal and professional use
• First aid & medical supplies for schools, companies, mobile units, festivals, individuals etc.
• Opthalmic supplies for optometrists
• Injections for nurses, doctors and patients managing diabetes

If you can’t find a product that you’re looking for or want a medical supplies pack put together just for your specific requirements, please contact us by calling on 0870 080 2332 or emailing us at sales@scrubsuk.com.

What is snoring and why do I snore?

Snoring is a sound (can be loud or soft) that is caused by obstructed air movement during breathing. The obstructions are usually caused by over-relaxed airway muscles or of an accumulation of excess tissue in the airway.

Men are 50% more likely to snore than women and snoring can be an occasional event, or a chronic, ongoing condition.

Causes for snoring include:

 - Taking sedatives such as sleeping pills, cough medicines or antihistamines.
 - Sleeping on your back
 - Drinking alcohol or smoking
 - Being overweight or unfit
 - Age
 - Nasal and sinus problems

Health risks associated with snoring

Snoring can be an indicator of the following (2)(3):

 - Increased risk of diabetes
 - Heart disease
 - High Blood Pressure
 - Being overweight

Snoring can also lead to sleep apnoea. Normally, this is where you stop breathing for a couple of seconds but it can be a potentially life-threatening condition. Often, you may find you wake yourself up with a snorting sound as you clear your airway. This can lead to interrupted sleep and drowsiness during the day.

Snoring can also affect your relationships with a partner whose sleep may be affected due to your condition. A lack of sleep can lead to increased health problems, irritability, decrease in mental ability and more.

How to stop snoring

There are many effective ways to stop snoring, it is just a matter of finding the one that’s right for you.

For example:

 - Lose weight
 - Exercise
 - Quit Smoking
 - Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills and sedatives
 - Establish regular sleep patterns
 - Sleeping on your side

Often, a combination of these can successfully stop your snoring.

Asonor, Instant Relief from Snoring - Nasal Spray proven to be 77% effective

July 22, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A recent study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health took into account 1500 people for the past 22 years, it was found that people that snore heavily are at 4.8% higher risk of developing cancerous tumors than non-snorers. It was found that snoring leads to oxygen starvation which in turn promotes the growth of the tumor cells, leading to cancer. All the participants' age, sex, weight and smoking habits were considered during the study.

Dr. Nieto said that now it has been proven that Sleep-Disordered Breathing, which leads to oxygen deprivation, is closely connected with cancer growth which in turn can help patients undergoing cancer treatment to simultaneously take anti-snoring remedies to cure snoring. But the unique element that emerged was that cancer risk was higher in lean people who snored than the obese snorers.

The current results of the sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and snoring study were presented at the International Seminar of the American Thoracic Society and have been published and included in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

We feature Asonor on this blog because as far as nasal drops are concerned it acts by lubricating the soft tissues and mucous membrane. It also tightens your throat muscles and allows for easier breathing, whilst reducing snoring.

Not only has Asonor shown to stop snoring but in the long-run reduces the chances of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. By limiting snoring and sleep apnea, Asonor can increase normal breathing throughout the night, helping the body maintain its oxygen levels

Tanner Medico manufactures and internationally distributes Asonor, one of the leading anti-snoring solutions that have been clinically-tested and proven in Copenhagen and London for its effectiveness.

Caring for someone at home is becoming more and more popular. If you’re a carer, you may be looking after someone who is getting older but would prefer to stay in their own home, rather than go into residential care. You may be looking after someone with an illness such as cancer. Or, there may be temporary care required following an operation or illness.

ScrubsUK caters for companies as well as individuals who are home carers. We have a wide selection of home care items to suit your every need. With so many products under one place, shopping for the essentials becomes even easier. ScrubsUK can also help you source any items you can’t find on our website (we have thousands more that aren’t currently featured), so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a query. We aim to answer all queries within 24 hours, if not sooner. You can either email us at sales@scrubsuk.com or call us on 0870 080 2332

Care at Home Supplies include:

WASHING

Washing can often be a problem for those after surgery or operations and as a home carer, sometimes it’s not convenient or appropriate to use the shower or bath. Therefore, ScrubsUK has a range of innovative and easy-to-use products that will help you care for someone at home.

Waterless Bathing – With the Oasis Bed Bath Mitts and the Nilaqua No Rinse Body Wash the person you care for can feel clean even if they’re bed-bound. Heat up the Oasis Bed Bath Mitts in the microwave for a couple of seconds and gently cleanse the body from head to toe. There’s no need to rinse. The Nilaqua No Rinse Body wash works by directly applying this to skin, massing and towel-drying. Grime and odour are removed instantly.

Oasis Bed Bath Mitts (unscented) £2.12 incl VAT >

Nilaqua No Rinse body Wash £2.35 incl VAT >

Cleansing Wipes – Cleansing wipes are good for quick cleans. These are effective, easy to use and suitable for use on all parts of the body. Nilaqua’s No Rinse Bathing Wipes can also be warmed in the microwave, are single use and disposable, and are luxuriously thick and removes all odours and grime. The Oasis Bed Bath wipes are a perfect cleansing solution for those that are bed-ridden or require partial assistance. These can also be warmed in the microwave and come in a set of 10 disposable wipes that are dermatologically approved and pH balanced for healthy skin.

Nilaqua No Rinse Bathing Wipes £3.65 incl VAT >

Oasis Bed Bath Antibacterial Wipes £2.65 incl VAT >

DRESSINGS

ScrubsUK features one of the widest range of dressings, bandages and gauze for all your needs. Often, bandages need to be changed every day and with the most cost effective prices, without compromise on quality, you can be sure that you find what you need at ScrubsUK.

Shop our range of dressings here >

HAIR CARE

Depending on mobility and strength, every day tasks such as washing hair can become hard to manage. Also, if surgery has recently taken place, it can also be hard to shower without bandages getting wet.

Rinse-Free Shampoo caps – these are ‘caps’ that the user puts in the microwave for 20 seconds before being placed over the hair and head and massaged. The condition shampoo is released and after a couple of minutes, the hair is left clean and towel dry.

There is no need for bowls of water or access to running water.

Oasis Rinse Free Shampoo Cap £2.74 >

Nilaqua Rinse Free Shampoo Cap £3.98 >

INCONTINENCE

If you’re a home carer for someone who is bedridden or frail, using products such as an underpad or a mattress protector will save time and energy for those who may not be able to relieve themselves in time. Even if able to stand or walk on their own, it can often be a reassurance to have the mattress protected.

Disposable underpants – these are sealed on all sides and have a soft fluff fill for maximum comfort. They often come with varying absorbency levels and are an essential for care home supplies.

Shop for bed underpads here from £34.98 incl VAT > 

Bed protectors – these bed protectors by Tena are designed to cover mattresses in order to absorb leakages, reduce odours and maintain dryness. Using 100% virgin fluff pulp the absorption and retention levels are greater than other draw-sheets or wadding-filled pads.

Tena Bed Protector 60cm x 90cm £66.26 incl VAT >

WOUND MANAGEMENT

Care at home can require items such as tubular bandages, plasters, stockinettes, skin closure strips, adhesive tape, gamgee tissue and dressing film. With our extensive list of

See the full range of wound management products > 

Dressing packs - For ongoing wound management, home carers may want to consider dressing packs. These are sterile and comprise of the most often-used items such as cotton balls, gauze swabs, dressing forcep, gallipot and drape. These are also disposable. 

Sterile Dressing packs (100) £123.00 >

If required, we can also put together bespoke dressing packs for you. Please enquire for further details by emailing us at sales@scrubsuk.com or calling on

ANTIBACTERIAL

Cleanliness is an important factor for care at home. Home carers need to ensure that the environment is as clean as possible and with ScrubsUK’s wide range of products, covering antibacterial hand gel, antibacterial hand rub, laundry disinfectant, surface wipes, hand mousse, surface sprays, anti-bacterial skin cleansing wipes and more.

View the full range of antibacterial products >

ScrubsUK is supportive of those who offer care at home and we do our best to continually offer the widest range of consumables and products. If there’s anything you can’t see on our website, then please get in touch, it is most likely we have it.

Email ScrubsUK at sales@scrubsuk.com   

Call us on 0870 080 2332

Eat Well

In order to keep your body looking great on the outside, you also have to look after it on the inside. With our lives getting busier, people often skimp on high-quality, nutritious food, if in fact, they eat some meals at all. As a result, you can feel tired, have bad skin and it can even affect your moods. It can even lead to more chronic illnesses or diseases.

To keep your body and mind healthy, there are many health supplements that can give you the nutrient boost that you need.

You may not be getting the right nutrients if:

• You skip lunches or other meals due to being too busy.
• You’re eating the wrong foods, such as microwave meals.

Some of our most popular Health Supplements

Keep joints from creaking with Omega 3 Fish Oil, £22.99 for 60 capsules.

Take Lyco-Mato for all-round health*, £12.98 for 30 capsules.

Drink Well

And we don’t mean alcohol.

Drinking enough water is so important – water helps flush out the toxins from your body, carries nutrients to cells and keeps areas such as your throat, ears and nose effectively moist.

So how much water should you drink? Depending on your body, it varies. Many official healthcare sites state between 2-3 litres. However, if you have a  medium to large-sized glass of water every couple of hours, this will be one way of ensuring you drink enough water.

Sleep Well

Sleep is important for keeping your body looking and feeling younger. Whilst you sleep, your body repairs itself – sleep allows your body to restore tissues, energy levels and also recover from any illnesses. Sleep is also vital for your mind – it helps reduce stress levels and restores your mental balance.

There are several ways to help get a good night’s sleep. For example:

• Don’t take in caffeine after dinner. This includes coffee as well as chocolate and fizzy drinks. Have a cup of hot water with honey and lemon in, or a glass of warm milk.
• Calm your mind before bed. Avoid high-energy or scary films, music or books before you sleep. Avoid any emotional discussions if possible.
• Ensure your bedroom is set up for a good night’s sleep; keep any electrical items such as televisions or laptops outside and switch off any devices with bright lights. Also make sure you’re a comfortable temperature.

However, there are some disruptions to your sleep that you have no control over. Snoring. If you have a partner or someone you can hear snoring, then it’s time to do something about it. And we don’t mean get rid of them…

The Good Night Anti-Snoring (£29.99) device is a non-invasive metal ring that users wear at night. Using acupressure techniques from 3,000BC this anti-snoring device reduces snoring immediately.

Read more about the good Night Anti-Snoring device here >

Exercise Well

Exercise is important for a healthy, younger-looking body as regular exercise helps prevent diseases, increases stamina, controls your weight, improves your quality of life, strengthens and helps with flexibility. 

Whether you’ve got a gym membership or not, that’s no excuse to not exercise – you can join a sports team, sign up for Pay As You Go sports lessons or change your everyday habits, for example, getting off the bus one stop early.

If you haven’t done exercise before, or for a while, start off gently but make sure you start!

Care for your skin. Properly.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and with it being so exposed to the elements,

Best skincare products for:

Cleansing – use Gamila’s Secret Cleansing Bars, from £21.. They’re safe for sensitive skin and come in 10 different variations.

Hydration – with glowing reviews, the –TEN- Hydration Cream, £31.80 is a must if you suffer from dry skin. Using 7 different types of oils and vitamins, this softens, smoothes and keep skin supply. Perfect for pregnant women too, as it alleviates itchiness and flakiness.

Anti-Aging – Using an extract of Snake Venom, Snake Plus Anti-Ageing Cream, £39.95, diminishes wrinkles by blocking the nerve signals that contract your muscles. It is also intensely hydrating. 

Damaged Skin – Dermonu’s Acne cream, £26.74 isn’t just for acne – using the active ingredient, Rose Bush Oil, it fades visible acne scars, and other skin imperfections such as whiteheads, blackheads and discolouration. It can even be used to reduce pigmentation in birthmarks.

What are your secret tips for eternal youth? Do you think we should do away with all these and just accept our wrinkles? Or try and fight it all? Let us know. 

*Studies suggest that lycopene supplements can help keep your heart healthy, slow down eye-ageing and even prevent the likelihood of cancer. 

Le Metro! Sweat trop!

Who is bothered by sweating? Quite a few people judging by the number of searches made on average, each month on Google. ‘Excessive sweating’ brings up some 22,200 monthly searches online, and that is not taking account of all other relevant searches  under ‘ stop sweating ‘ or ‘stop excessive sweating’, or even ‘ hyperhidrosis’. Those who are not affected, will not know about hyperhidrosis (ie. excessive sweating), whilst others know too well. However I would wager that many of us are affected by it or know someone that is. Circa 1.53 million people in the UK are affected by excessive sweat, which is quite a lot of us! And there must be those of us who suffer in silence and would not even make up the statistics.

Think hot, confined, stifling, squeezed like sardines in a box…You have it the Tube or Le Metro, particularly at peak times, can smell fishy. Whether or not you suffer from Hyperhidrosis, the tube, will test even those of us who would never describe themselves as ‘ sweaters’. All these bodies squeezed together at peak time, generate more heat, and before you know it our armpits, our backs, chests start making themselves noticed, and not in a good way. Ever stood next to someone who has to hold on to a rail over your head, and if you are 5.6’ like me, you stand a good chance to get better acquainted with their armpits. Breathing air in and out of your mouth is one way of coping! The vision of a man applying a well-known deodorant on a beach and suddenly attracting a horde of women, crumbles to pieces. Instead, whilst travelling on the tube, running away comes to mind…so where are all these amazing deodorants?

If like some of us, you sweat a lot, and it has been a sore point with your social life for most of your years, those arms stay as close to your body as possible. Alternatively, you might even have an extra layer on to help absorb some of that extra sweat. Talk of a vicious circle!

Sweating is of course an important function of our body given that it helps regulate our body temperature. Hyperhidrosis can either be generalized or localized to specific parts of the body. Hands, feet, armpits, and the back area are among the most active regions of perspiration due to the relatively high concentration of sweat glands;

Primary hyperhidrosis is found to start during adolescence or even before and seems to be inherited.  Primary hyperhidrosis must be distinguished from secondary hyperhidrosis, which can start at any point in life

Nervousness or excitement can exacerbate the situation for many sufferers. Other factors can play a role; certain foods and drinks, nicotine, caffeine, and smells can trigger a response.

There is a plethora of products out there to deal with sweat and b.o, and what works is often the result of trial and error. Some products, which contain aluminium chloride, can often have side effects such as temporary burning, itching, prickling, or tingling in treated areas. We found AHC antiperspirants very effective, it reduces sweating from 80 to 100%, and is found on www.scrubsuk.com. AHC naturally, closes up the pores in the middle and upper skin layers. Unlike some remedies, it works after the first application. The body still has enough other evaporation areas, so your well-being will not be affected. The AHC range includes extracts of old man’s beard, clove oil and sage, so it is extra gentle.

Acne is a very common skin condition, and most of us will have experienced it to varying degrees! Most people think of acne as a condition, which primarily affects teenagers. However, getting rid of acne is not that easy and can last well into your late twenties or even thirties! For some, the scars left by acne will be a painful life-long reminder. Acne can be an embarrassing issue, affecting relationships, confidence and the mental health of sufferers.

Why does it happen in the first place? At puberty our body starts to produce hormones called androgens. These cause the enlargement and over-stimulation of the sebaceous glands. The extra sebum (a natural oil that lubricates your hair and skin ) which the sebaceous glands produce, mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria on the skin's surface. This leads to the formation of blocked pores, where bacteria multiply and cause skin inflammation, leading to the spots associated with acne.

What are the different types of acne?

TYPE 1 Mild Acne:

Opened and closed blackheads, which are small and cover small areas. There are no inflammatory lesions and no marking.

TYPE 2 Acne Comedonica (Moderate Acne):

Blackheads are mainly open. Spots and some pimples. Spots are small and granular. The lesions may be inflammatory. No markings.

TYPE 3: Acne Papulopustulosa (Severe acne):

Spots and pimples. The pimples are yellowish and swollen. This aspect is accentuated by breaking the wall of the follicle. The nodules are small, full of knots visible by contact. Scars may appear.

TYPE 4: Acne Congobata (Serious Acne):

Blackheads and some spots, lots of pimples, nodules, cysts and abscesses. It is a serious but not very common form of acne.
Who suffers from acne?

Acne affects young adults the most, but can also be a problem for older people (adult acne). It usually starts in puberty, between ages 12 and 14; more than 90 per cent of teenagers have acne. Approximately 1 in 20 women and 1 in 100 men aged 25 to 40 continue to be affected by acne, or develop it at this age (late-onset acne). Did you know! Newborn babies can get acne in the first few weeks or months of life. Women are generally affected at a younger age, the peak severity being between ages 17 and 18, while men peak between 19 and 20 years old. Men tend to be worst affected by this skin problem because they produce more testosterone.

- Armpits,

- Hands

- Feet

- Forehead and neck

- Chest

- Back

- Belly

- Buttocks

- Forarm

- Folds of skin