An Update from Jo

My favourite season of the year has arrived! Though we have had a great summer weather wise, I personally enjoy the more moderate temperatues of Autumn and Spring. A lot cooler for early morning walks and sleeping, though still plenty of sunshine for that much needed Vitamin D during the day.

Speaking of Vitamin D,  a few of you have asked about the Prima Home Test Kits lately which we haven't had on our shelves. Our supplier has recently changed for these which makes it much easier for us to order anything from the range. Vitamin D and UTI test kits will be available next week, and we can take orders for any of the others including Iron, Helicobactor and Bowel Fob.

Our Boody Loungewear, Sleepwear and Underwear range has been extending again and we now have smoothing shorts in black and nude. Full bust wireless bras and period undies are available to order. We can also order any of the sleepwear range in their new Ruby Red or Sage Green, though we currently only have one display item of each of these colours. 

Easter is a bit earlier this year and we will be closed Friday 29th March and Monday 1st April so our wonderful staff can enjoy the last weekend before daylight saving with their families. 

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 $59 or more on The Herb Farm Products and receive a FREE Refining Hand & Decollatage Cream (valued at $32.90)
• Buy 2 or more Lifestream Products and get a FREE Glass Smoothie Tumbler
• Buy any two Holistic Hair products and get a FREE travel size Herbal Finishing Rinse Concentrate or a Salt of the Earth Volumising and Texturising spray
• Spend $50 or more on Living Nature and get a FREE Hydrating Glow Exfoliant or a Hydrating Toner (subject to availability which one we will have from the beginning to the end of month)
• Buy any Nutra Organics Kids Gutsy Gummies Powder and get a FREE gummie mould
• Weleda Citrus Roll on Deo - Two for $25 - normally $16.90 each
• Weleda Calendula All Purpose Balm 30ml - 20% off now $13.50
• Be Pure Super Boost C 200g - was $54 now $39.90
• Nectar Range of Lip Balms and Lip Scrubs - all 30% off
• The Herb Farm Exfoliating Creams - 30% off
• Solgar Taurine 500mg 50 tabs - was $30.90 now $19.90
• Solgar Potassium 100 tabs - was $26.90 now $20.90
• Harney Decaf Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea 115g - 20% off now $22
• Kiwi Herb Stress Arrest 100ml Liquid - was $32.90 now $26.30

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

• Martin and Pleasance Rest and Quiet Kids Formula and Teens Formula - 20ml Spray both alcohol free
• Gaia Herbs Male Libido Phyto Caps 60's
• Green Trading Organic Neem Lip Balm 5g
• Scout Cosmetics Mineral Foundation SPF20+ - Available in 3 shades
• Scout Nail Polish New Colours
• Boody Smoothing Shorts in black and nude - limited quantities and sizes available at the moment but more will be available next week
• Boody Night Dress in Ruby - other items can be ordered in this colour 
• Wallaby Cookie Dough Bites 130g - double chocolate hazelnut and chocolate macadamia 
• Brookfarm Prebiotic Wholefood bars 40g - chocolate, almond & coconut, and salted caramel & almond
• Gevity Sweet Guts Chocolate 90g - no sugar added
• Ethical Nutrients Travel Bug 20 caps - was discontinued - now available again
• Ethical Nutrients Mega Magnesium Relax 60 tabs - contains lavender oil and magnesium
• Ethical Nutrients Kids 3-in-1 Probiotic Gummies 50's
• Mitchells Beef Liver Capsules 150's

Note: 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

The story of Charity Tea™ 

Charity Tea ™  exists to make a social, environmental and climate impact. 

Charity Tea™ started with a single call from a friend working for a non- profit organisation in Haiti. She told Gill about a baby girl who had been abandoned at the local hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti.   

Unable to forget this call, Gill decided to make this “her problem” and sent money to feed the child for a year. Within a few days, she heard about 6 more hungry children. She learnt that in Haiti many children only had 1 or 2 meals a day. These meals often lacked proper nutrients. More so, she learnt that food was not provided to children in the hospital. Children that were abandoned or had no one to feed them, simply had to go hungry. 

Gill started Ten18 International (www.ten18International.com), a charity that raises money in New Zealand to support hungry children here at home, and in Haiti. She is also the  founder of Charity Tea™, a luxury organic loose leaf tea with health-promoting blends that nourish the drinker. Revenue from sales of Charity Tea™ support charitable purposes.  Charity Tea currently partner with the Kai Kitchen Trust in New Zealand to support their school lunch programmes, and partner with Little footprints Big Steps in Haiti to run feeding programmes. 

We are proud to stock Charity Tea here at the Bethlehem Health Shop where each time you purchase Charity Tea you are providing a meal for a child or several children.  Each tin or refill bag feeds one child. 

We currently have in stock a range of Charity Tea in tins - Good Morning (English Breakfast),  Mintuka (Spearmint and Manuka Leaf),  Kawa (Kawakawa, Lemon and Ginger) and Cleanse (10 beneficial herbs including dandelion and nettle combined together to form a healthy tea blend for the liver, kidneys and lymphatic system). Plus individual gift tea bags with "Thank you,”  "Get well" or "Thinking of You"on the tea envelope. Other varieties are available on the Charity Tea website

The Lymphatic System is a part of the circulatory system and a crucial part of the immune system. It consists of glands, lymph nodes, the spleen, the thymus gland, and the tonsils. The lymphatic system has multiple functions such as: 

• Removing interstitial fluid from tissue 

• Absorbing and transporting fatty acids and fats from the digestive system 

• Transporting white blood cells to and from the lymph nodes into the bones 

• Transporting antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, to the lymph nodes where an immune response is stimulated 

Unfortunately, the lymphatic system is out of balance in many people due to nutrient deficiencies, high intake of processed foods, and lack of physical activity. The following health conditions could suggest that your lymphatic system requires a serious cleansing: arthritis, skin conditions, digestive disorders, frequent headaches, sinus infections, excess weight, chronic fatigue or unexplained injuries. 

The circulatory system and lymphatic system rely on one another. While blood circulates around the body via blood vessels, some fluid naturally leaks out and makes its way into tissue. This is a normal process that brings nutrients, water and proteins to cells. The fluid also gathers cells’ waste products, like bacteria or even dead or damaged cells like cancer cells. 

Tissues located around the body can become inflamed and painful when circulation slows and inflammation builds. A healthy lymphatic system nourishes muscle, joint and other tissue because lymph vessels have tiny openings that let gases, water and nutrients pass through to surrounding cells (called interstitial fluid). The fluid then drains back into the lymph vessels, then goes to the lymph glands to be filtered and finally to a larger lymphatic vessel located at the base of the neck called the thoracic duct. The thoracic duct dumps cleaned lymph fluid back into the blood, and on and on the cycle goes — which is why circulation is important for keeping the system running smoothly, otherwise tissue can become swollen with excess waste.  

How to maintain a strong Lymphatic System: 

THE FOOD WE EAT The more nutrient-dense your diet, and the less chemicals entering your body, the better your lymphatic system can work. Foods that put stress on the digestive, circulatory and immune systems include common allergens (like dairy products, gluten, soy, shellfish or nightshades, for example), low-quality animal products, salt, sugar refined vegetable oils and processed foods that contain chemical toxins. 

Anti-inflammatory foods, on the other hand, supply much-needed nutrients and antioxidants while also lowering free radical damage (also called oxidation stress) that ages the body and lowers immunity. 

Some of the key high-antioxidant foods to focus on include: green leafy vegetables and cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.), berries, omega-3 foods like salmon and wild seafood, nuts and seeds (chia, flax, hemp, pumpkin, etc.), unrefined oils like extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil, herbs and spices (like ginger, turmeric, garlic). Other nutrient rich and cleansing foods include avocados, garlic, brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, cranberries and other low sugar fruits. Drink clean water and herbal teas that promote Lymph health, such as Nettle, Dandelion, Echinacea, Cilantro and Parsley.

EXERCISE The lymphatic system doesn’t have its own active pumping system and it needs the body’s movement, breathing, intestinal activity, and muscle action to create flow and push the toxins out of the body. The lymphatic system works best when you move your body, which helps keep fluids circulating and nutrients reaching your cells. There’s a reason why being stagnant causes you to feel more achy, stiff and prone to becoming sick.  

The most stimulating exercise for the lymphatic system is rebounding on a small trampoline. Just 5 to 10 minutes of jumping daily can really get your heart rate up and help keep your lymphatic system running smoothly. 

Regular exercise is key, such as simply walking but some exercise seem to be particularly beneficial, including yoga (which twists the body and helps fluid drain), high-intensity interval training (also called HIIT workouts, which is great for improving circulation) or rebounding as mentioned above.  

BREATHE DEEPLY Our bodies have 3 times more lymph fluid than blood, but there is no organ to pump it. The pumping action of deep breathing will help the lymphatic system transport the toxins into the blood before they are detoxified by the liver. 

DRY BRUSHING and HOT & COLD SHOWERS Brush your dry skin in a circular motion for 10 minutes by using a natural bristle brush, and then take a shower. You can combine dry brushing with hot and cold showers for better effects. The hot water helps dilate the blood vessels, while the cold water shrivels them. This creates a “pump” action that forces out the toxic fluids that have remained in the body. This therapy is not recommended for pregnant women or for those who suffer from cardiovascular disease. 

AVOID WEARING TIGHT CLOTHES By wearing excessively tight clothing, you are reducing circulation in the lymphatic system. Tight clothing can cause blockages in the lymphatic system, which can lead to an accumulation of toxins.  

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS Lymphatic drainage massage is a type of specialised massage therapy that helps cells release toxins and breaks up lymph congestion. Infrared Sauna Treatment, Acupuncture and Flo Presso therapy are other effective treatments that will help you stimulate lymph flow and help remove toxins from the body. 

Ref: https://draxe.com/health/lymphatic-system/

https://synergyhealthassociates.com/cleanse-clogged-lymphatic-system/ 

Luisa Plum and Fennel Salad with Burrata 

Recipe Harriet Boucher, Images Ashlee Decaires  

Credit Ref:  https://nourishmagazine.co.nz/luisa-plum-and-fennel-salad-with-burrata/ 

"This is a refreshing summer salad, and who doesn’t love burrata? I used the frozen pizza dough from Vetro, proved it, rolled it out with some semolina flour and grilled it with lots of olive oil and sea salt. If you are after a quicker option, serve it with your favourite fresh bread, flatbreads or pita"

Finely shave the fennel on a mandolin, or finely slice then place in a bowl. Add the olive oil, vinegar, brown sugar and the zest and juice of the orange to the bowl and mix in. Allow the fennel to marinate for 10–15 minutes. 

Halve and pit the plums, then thinly slice lengthways. Julienne the radish. Add the plum, radish and fennel fronds from the bulb into the bowl of fennel. Give it a gentle mix so you don’t damage the plums. 

In a shallow serving bowl, place the burrata in the middle. Arrange the salad around the burrata. Sprinkle the sumac and salt and pepper over the salad, then garnish with torn basil leaves. Serve with chargrilled flatbreads or pita.