An Update from Jo

Welcome back to our first newsletter of 2025, we hope the year has started off well for you all and those with children are well prepared for the beginning of the new school year.

This month we formally welcome Claire to the team at Bethlehem Health Shop. You may have seen her around the shop, as Claire completed work experience with us last year during her final year of Naturopathic studies. Now fully qualified, and a registered Naturopath, Claire will be in the shop on Wednesday afternoons and some Saturdays. 

Naturopathic appointments are currently available on Mondays and Fridays at introductory prices. Contact Claire at emailclairegeorge@gmail.com for an appointment or more info.

We also have our Naturopath Beverley available for appointments at the shop on Wednesdays and Karen our Homeopath takes bookings for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We will be closed this week on Thursday 6th February for Waitangi Day and look forward to supporting you with your health and wellbeing needs again this year.

Our Vision

At Bethlehem Health Shop, we support ethical suppliers and sell quality, researched products. We offer sincere advice from our team of caring, trained staff.

Thank you so much for supporting your locally owned Community Health Store.

• Spend $69 or more on Living Nature and get a FREE Aqua Gel Mask valued at $54
• Tints of Nature Hair Colours - 15% off
• Speick Range of Mens Deodorants - 20% off
• Natures Sunshine Range - 25% off
• New Era Cell Salt Range - 25% off
• Weleda Citrus Deo Twin Pack - $25 save $10.80
• Weleda Face Care selected items - 20% off
• Mitchells Beef Liver Caps, Beef Liver and Spleen Caps and Beef Tallow 450g - 10% off
• My Sunshine Tinted Mineral Sunscreen 60ml - save 20% usually $48 now $38.40
• Sacred Moon Journal - save 20% usually $47.90 now $33.50

All of the above specials and offers are only valid while stocks last.

• Tui Baby Gift Pack - 3 x 40g tins - Baby Balm, Bug Balm and Throat and Chest Balm
• Harker Herbals Gut Biome Balance for adults and Gut Biome Builder for children
• Nutra Organics Beef Bone Broth Powder with adaptogenic mushrooms
• Vogel Dentaforce Mouthwash 100ml
• Equinox Botanicals Mullein and Garlic Ear Drops 15ml
• Organic Formulations 500ml Shampoo and Conditioners - range includes moisture repair, replenishing and sensitive
• Prime Mind 60 capsules
• Great Lakes Marine Collagen 227g
• Ceres Biotin and Collagen Hair Oil 56ml
• Hopes Relief soap free Cleansing Bar 110g

New products will be added to our website as soon as we can. If you want to purchase these online before we get a chance to do this, please call us to order over the phone instead on 07 576 9442

Newest additions to the Mitchells Nutrition Range

This month we wanted to introduce you to some of the newest products from Mitchells Nutrition. They are a local company based at the Mount and their Bone Broth Protein Powder (featured on our new signage outside) is one of our most popular products!

Mitchell's Beef Liver Capsules 

Packed with essential nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin A, biotin, copper, and more, Beef Liver is a 100% whole-food, comprehensive blend of essential vitamins and minerals. This all-in-one multivitamin supports overall energy, bone health, hormonal balance, healthy skin, hair, and nails, and immune health, offering a complete solution for whole-body wellness. 

Mitchell's Beef Liver & Spleen Capsules 

Discover the ancient secret to naturally boosting iron, blood health, and energy. Beef liver, one of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth, pairs perfectly with beef spleen, which is rich in heme iron but lacks key nutrients for absorption. Together, they create a powerful synergy—enhancing iron absorption and supporting overall health

Mitchell's Beef Tallow 

The rightful return of a timeless kitchen classic. Sourced from 100% grass-fed and finished New Zealand beef, beef tallow is a nutrient-rich, all-natural cooking oil, perfect for high-heat recipes. Offering a clean, traditional approach to food prep, tallow not only supports your health but also adds a buttery, rich depth of flavour to your favourite meals. 

We also have in store Mitchell's Protein SPORT which is a premium, all-in-one powder that combines 100% grass-fed & finished bone broth protein with 2000mg of Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps mushrooms to support focus, performance, and recovery.  

More and more children and adults are experiencing mental restlessness that can hinder their ability to focus and learn. This condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is characterized by challenges like difficulty in decision-making, task completion, forgetfulness, hyperactivity, impatience, and an inability to concentrate.

Ritalin, a widely prescribed psychostimulant, is often used to treat ADHD. It primarily affects the prefrontal cortex, a critical part of the brain involved in attention and decision-making. The active ingredient in Ritalin is methylphenidate hydrochloride, a compound chemically similar to amphetamines. By stimulating the central nervous system, methylphenidate helps improve focus and reduce symptoms of hyperactivity.

Methylphenidate works by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, enhancing their availability in the brain. It also increases the release of dopamine after each stimulus, creating a calming effect in individuals with ADHD, despite its stimulant properties. This helps both children and adults improve alertness, reduce fatigue, and extend their attention span. However, the long-term effects of Ritalin remain unclear, and many seek natural alternatives to avoid potential side effects.

Parents often turn to Ritalin to help their children maintain focus in school, but the decision is not without concern. Some are wary of potential health risks, while others experience anxiety over administering medication to their children.

Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, a well-known physician, voiced his concerns, stating, “No one has ever been able to demonstrate that drugs such as Cylert and Ritalin improve the academic performance of the children who take them. The pupil is drugged to make life easier for his teacher, not to make it better and more productive for the child.”

In addition to medication, physical activity is essential for managing ADHD. Regular exercise can be one of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments. It helps burn off excess energy, improves coordination, promotes overall health, prevents depression, and supports relaxation. For many children with ADHD, exercise is not just a recommendation but a necessity.

In today's world, many children also face poor diets, excessive stress, and too much screen time. The average New Zealand child, for instance, spends around six hours a day in front of a screen when they could be using that time to engage in physical activities that help channel their energy.

While medications like Ritalin can be beneficial for some, it is important to consider a holistic approach to managing ADHD. Incorporating exercise, improving diet, and reducing stressors can go a long way in supporting the mental well-being of both children and adults.

The Nature’s Sunshine Medical and Scientific Advisory Board identified the need for natural support in this area, and designed a powerful formulation called Focus Attention. Nature’s Sunshine Focus Attention is a safe, natural formulation that can be taken by both adults and children to help ease the psychological anxiety and apprehension, while simultaneously helping to promote mental clarity, acuity and focus

(Article supplied by Natures Sunshine)

This month two lucky people will each win a bottle of Natures Sunshine Focus Attention

Fresh Peach, Orange and Almond Cakes (Gluten Free) 

METHOD 

Grease a 6-hole ½-cup capacity muffin tin and fully line each hole with baking paper 

Preheat the oven to 160°C fan bake. Combine the ground almonds, coconut sugar, rice flour, coconut and the spices together in a large bowl. 

Whisk the cooled butter, eggs, honey, vanilla and orange zest together and stir into the dry ingredients. 

Divide the batter evenly between the tin and top with slices of peacharine. Scatter over the almonds. 

Bake for about 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and the cakes are risen and firm.  

Makes 6 cakes depending on the size of the tins used  

If you would like the cakes to have a glossy sheen, warm a little apricot jam and brush over the cakes when cooked.