Health store help

Independent health store advice on vitamins for optimum health

Looking for advice on natural wellbeing? Your local independent health stores can offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise. This issue we speak to Elaine Joyce from Ylang Ylang in Westport, Co Mayo

Independent health store advice on vitamins for optimum health

Ideally all our essential nutrients should come from our diet through fresh organic, locally-produced food. However, the need for supplementation has increased in modern times due to a convenience and processed diet and lifestyle, overuse of pesticides and mass production of nearly every food group. There are 13 vitamins that are essential to your body working well and fighting off disease. The body cannot produce vitamins itself, therefore they must be obtained through the food we eat or supplementation.

There are two types of vitamins – fat soluble vitamins and water soluble vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins are stored in our fat cells and as a result need fat in order to be absorbed by the body. These include vitamins A, D, E and K.

Vitamin A is essential for eye health, skin health, growth and development, respiratory health and immune function.

Vitamin D is essential for bone health due to its role in calcium absorption, immune health, blood sugar management, mood disorders and fatigue, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin E is essential for cardiovascular support, cell protection, female health, skin health and is a very powerful antioxidant or free radical scavenger.

Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, bone health and cardiovascular health.

Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger. It is essential for immune health, eye health, cardiovascular health, detoxification, wound healing, viral/bacterial/fungal infections.

The other main type of vitamins are water soluble – they are not stored in your body and therefore need to be taken daily to ensure good health and wellbeing. Water soluble vitamins are B complex vitamins B1 (Thiamin) B2 (Riboflavin) B3 (Niacin) B5 (Pantothenic acid) B6 (Pyridoxine) B7 (Biotin) B9 (Folic Acid) and B12 (Cobalamin) as well as vitamin C.

B1 is essential for energy production, nerve function, memory and mental enhancement (fatigue and stress), and liver protection.

B2 is essential for energy, eye health and detoxification.

B3 is essential for energy, cholesterol and fat reduction, circulation, detoxification, blood sugar control and histamine regulation.

B5 is essential for energy production and fat metabolism as well as adrenal gland support. It can be helpful against arthritis, constipation and cholesterol.

B6 is essential for energy, hormonal health (PMS), brain health and cardiovascular health.

B7 is essential for energy production, hair skin and nail health as well as blood sugar regulation.

B9 folic acid is essential for foetal development, mental health, cardiovascular health and female health.

B12 is essential for the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbs, mental health, cardiovascular health, blood building and nerve function.

At Ylang Ylang Healthstore, we like to take our time with customers, have a chat and try to match what we think will help them with the advice they have sought. For example, in the winter we recommend a good vitamin D and vitamin C. For bone health, a good vitamin D and K (or the two together sometimes), for general health and wellbeing, a good B complex, or niacin as part of a cholesterol-lowering plan. We like to recommend food-based vitamins for ease of absorption which is so important. A good multivitamin should have high potency, be food based, easily absorbed, and preferably in a capsule or liquid.

Who’s who and what’s what at Ylang Ylang

“I set up Ylang Ylang in 2003,” says owner-manager Elaine Joyce. “After my son was born I wanted flexible work and I had studied aromatherapy. There wasn’t a dedicated health store in Westport at the time, so it seemed like an opportunity. Over the years we have built it up and got to know our customers very well.

“Our team is myself and sales assistants Maggie Gibson, Tara Clarke, Margaret Nyland and Christine Prescott. We are all part-time and work well together. We are very much customer focused and try to give them the time and attention they need and will find out what we can do to help.

“Our shop is very well stocked with a wide variety of products including lots of supplements, which would be our biggest seller. We stock detergents and eco cleaning products, aromatherapy oils and gifts such as Irish soy candles, little buddhas, angels, incense, CDs, books and oil burners. Our bodycare and cosmetics stock is very popular and we try to support Irish brands where possible. We stock bamboo toothbrushes and environmentally-friendly products such as recycled clothes pegs.

“Our speciality foods include middle Eastern produce, herbs and spices, dried fruits, beans and legumes, a gluten-free range, organic prepacks, things you can’t get easily elsewhere such as preserved lemons, miso, chestnuts and a range of seaweeds. Our fridge holds probiotics, flax oil, coconut cheese, sauerkraut, kimchi, tofu, kombucha, veggies burgers and nut roast. Our freezer holds frozen wheatgrass.”

Visit: Ylang Ylang, James St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo
PHONE: 098 28802
SPEAK TO: Elaine Joyce, Maggie Gibson, Tara Clarke, Margaret Nyland and Christine Prescott

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