An Update from Jo

Welcome to our September newsletter and, once we get to the Spring Equinox on the 23rd of September, the beginning of Spring. With the clocks changing to daylight saving time just a few days later, we will have longer days again.

I enjoyed a couple of hours at the Tauranga Food Show a few weekends ago. I saw some of our regulars there too and many of our suppliers. For those who attended and enjoyed lots of yummy goodies, we wanted to share with you a few of the brands we already have here at the shop in case you want to restock. These ranges are Kiki Seed Crackers, Nut Baby, Solomons Gold, Viberi, Wild Fermentary and our newest addition after tasting their very refreshing Raspberry Lemonade is Barrier Buzz Sodas. These drinks are naturally sweetened with wild Aotea mānuka honey and just 5g of natural sugars per 100ml. The company is proudly New Zealand owned, made and crafted, plus they come in glass bottles with no artificial sweeteners. If there were other brands you enjoyed tasting at the show, we would love to hear from you so we can enquire as to whether they might be a good fit for the shop.

We have recently added Dr Libby's Iconic Iron product to our shelves after many requests. We would be interested in hearing from you if you have used other products from her range and would like to be able to buy them from us too. It is important to us that we keep up with what's changing out there in the market and have new and exciting products to meet your needs.

Have a great month everyone, we look forward to seeing you again soon.

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.

• PollenNation Bee Pollen - 10% off
• The Hemp Farm Hemp Seeds 500g and 1kg - 10% off
• Ceres Organics Cacao Powder 250g - 10% off
• Ceres Organics Ground Turmeric 120g - 10% off
• Niugini Coconut Oil 320ml and 650ml jars - 10% off
• Natures Way Systemwell 90's - 10% off
• Weleda - 20% off Skin Food products
• BHONE 4-in-1 Collagen + Protein Bone Broth Powder - Purchase a 418g bag and get a FREE stick blender
• Spend $69 or more on Living Nature and get a FREE Advanced Renewal Night Serum valued at $49 
• Spend $59 or more on Herb Farm products, and receive a FREE Repairing Rosehip & Calendula Oil valued at $32.90
• Buy any TWO products from the Kooshoo Hair Accessory range and get a 2 pack of plastic free hair scrunchies FREE
• Buy any TWO Holistic Hair products and get a FREE trial size Herbal Finishing Rinse Concentrate 

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

• Calmora Calm Days - Saffron, L-Theanine, Magnesium and B6, 60 Capsules
• OnBlends by Dr Libby, Iconic Iron, 60 vege caps
• Phytoceutics CellRecover Advanced - Spermidine & Quercetin, 30 vege caps
• Phytoceutics Reversatrol - 200mg Resveratrol, 30 vege caps
• Symphony range of Maca products for women - Femmenessence Macalife & Maca Pause, 120 vege caps
• Symphony Revolution Maca for men - Macaflow, 90 vege caps
• Symphony pH Quintessence, 90 vege caps
• BHONE 4-in-1 Collagen + Protein Bone Broth Powders, 418g (19 serves) available in Vanilla Chai Heaven, Vanilla Bean Dream, and Chocolate Delight flavours
• BHONE 4-in-1 Collagen + Protein Bone Broth Powders, 22g individual servings. Flavours as above, plus Salted Caramel Bliss
• Naturoceutics Apimile Bioactive, 30 caps
• SNAP Blood Sugar, Green Apple flavour, 60 sugar-free gummies
• SNAP Irish Sea Moss blend, 60 vege caps
• Tohora Kawakawa range - Hand Sanitizer, Kawakawa Massage Oil, and Kawakawa Hemp & Lavendar Massage Oil, 100ml
• Lotus Organic Rosehip Oil - Rosa eglanteria 25ml, Virgin rosa canina 50ml
• Barrier Buzz drinks - 300ml bottles - Ginger Beer, Lemonade and Raspberry & Lemonade

We have recently added a selection from Tohora's beautiful range of Kawakawa products, created for sensitive skin.  This month we are highlighting their Kawawaka, Hemp and Lavender massage oil, which we have a giveaway for below. We also have the Kawakawa massage oil without lavender and their Kawakawa Hand Sanitizer. Later in the month we will also have in stock Kawakawa rollers that are great for teething.

This month we have a bottle of Tohora Kawakawa, Hemp & Lavender Massage oil to give away to one lucky customer.

According to the founder of Tohora, Nicole, this product is useful for women suffering from menstrual cramps.  "I dedicate this product to my daughters, as they suffer from chronic period pains and endometriosis, and use it throughout their menstrual cycle which helps ease the pain."

To be in to win a bottle for yourself, simply reply to this email and tell us the three ingredients in this massage oil.

Congratulations to Jonea Dance and Mandy Boreham who were last month's lucky winners of the Gutsi Duo Packs.

We have all experienced pain at some point in our lives, but while we may be able to explain the experience as best we can, we can never fully understand how pain feels for anyone else.  It is a very individual and subjective experience.  While pain begins as an electrical signal, as it travels to the brain it is influenced by a number of factors that turn that signal into a complex experience of mind and body.  

A Gut-Brain Link
There is now a strong understanding of how our gut health influences our mood and brain function.  So therefore, it also corresponds that our gut will influence our experience of pain through its influence on the brain.  

As the gut microbiome is responsible for producing a large amount of our serotonin and GABA, a healthy microbiome is important.  These neurotransmitters act as a handbrake on pain signals, so low levels not only stop pain inhibition, they also contribute to sleep disturbances, low mood and anxiety associated with chronic pain.

Both serotonin and GABA interact with the brain via the vagus nerve; the ‘Master Nerve’ that carries sensory information from many organs and the central abdomen.  It is our vagus nerve that is also involved in the fight or flight response, and when it is overworked through chronic stress it can further influence our pain signalling.  

Furthermore, the microbiome in the gut has a great influence on the immune system, regulating inflammation that can turn acute pain into chronic pain if our inflammatory response is left un-checked.

Research has shown that those with poor gut health, stress and mental health issues such as anxiety or depression are more likely to experience ongoing, chronic pain.  

Pain Management
There are a number of different pathways that we can target to naturally assist with managing chronic pain.  

Traditionally we might first go to herbs and nutrients that have anti-inflammatory properties to calm our immune system.  Turmeric or curcumin, along with Omega-3 fatty acids are useful in this area.  As both these options have interactions with some medications, Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is another option with minimal side effects that has shown to reduce pain in both acute and chronic pain conditions.

General support of the gut microbiome and gut integrity may also help to reduce pain through their influence on both neurological signalling and inflammatory pathways.  Probiotics with Lactobacillus strains have shown beneficial effects in pain associated with osteoarthritis and endometriosis.  Supplementing short chain fatty acids such as butyrate may also help to reduce inflammation and calm neural pathways for pain. 

As explained previously, neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA act as a handbrake in the brain for pain signalling.  Therefore, we can supplement with things like 5-HTP, vitamin B6 or magnesium to support levels of serotonin and GABA; particularly if you are experiencing a change in mood alongside pain symptoms.  5-HTP has shown to be particularly useful for fibromyalgic pain. Ensuring light exercise, adequate sleep and stress management are included in your daily routine can also support healthy neurotransmitter levels.

If pain is interfering with sleep, this can create a cycle that exacerbates chronic pain.  Therefore pain management in terms of sleep assistance can help to break this cycle.  Think about supplementing in the evenings with magnesium, passionflower, tart cherry or L-Theanine to assist with sleep.

Often people also find a topical treatment for pain is also helpful.  We have a range of creams, balms and massage oils which can be rubbed onto specific painful areas to provide temporary relief of pain.

If you are continuing to experience pain daily, come have a chat with us in store to explore ways to naturally manage your pain.

Article supplied by Claire George, one of our staff Naturopaths. Claire is available for neuro integration treatment and naturopathic support appointments at our shop clinic on Mondays and Tuesdays.  See www.headfirsthealth.co.nz for more information.

Dark Chocolate Hemp Turmeric Fudge with Bee Pollen

A chewy raw fudge that's packed with superfood ingredients.  The ground turmeric gives this fudge a unique flavour that any golden milk fan will appreciate, but if you’re not keen on that, you can leave it out.

If you don’t have bee pollen on hand, we have jars available in store (which are also on special this month).  Alternatively, you can top your fudge with something else instead: hemp seeds, cacao nibs, chia, or chopped nuts all work just fine.

Prep Time 10 minutes    

Combine all of the ingredients except the pollen in a food processor and process until the mixture is completely smooth. This might take several minutes, depending on the power of your food processor.

Transfer the fudge mixture to the prepared baking dish and use a spatula to spread it into an even layer.

Sprinkle the fudge with the bee pollen, then press down on the toppings a bit so they stick.

Refrigerate the fudge until it's solid, then pull up the parchment to remove it from the baking dish and cut it into squares.

Store the fudge in an airtight container in your refrigerator or freezer. (You can totally eat the fudge straight out of the freezer!)