Well, it’s my 3rd outing as a blogger, and I have to admit I quite look forward to sharing my thoughts in this way. It’s really good to be able to focus on food, health and nutrition, but in such a way that things need to make sense to anyone reading this. In other words, coherence rather than chaos needs to be the order of the day.

The chaos this week involves being generously offered local authority housing with extra disabled facilities. It’s brilliant news, but of course I’m totally flat out organising things, because I have to move in 2 weeks’ time!

So far this week, I can say honestly I have missed 2 days when I should have had my healing smoothies. I have run out of fruit, and did not have time to go shopping! Planning is an important part of smoothie recipes, especially on a trial period, or things go awry very quickly.

Health-Food Update

So let’s cut to the chase. I’ve been treated for problems with my periods with Cerazette, the mini pill, which is hoped to increase my progesterone levels. As we speak I am on Day 12 of my period; I guess it’s not doing its thing then! Naturally, getting to the doctor is impossible when I’m going here and there trying to organize papers and collect house keys, so that is definitely a job for before the bank holiday weekend.

In the midst of this chaos, it’s a fair assumption to make that the smoothie factory has mostly fallen by the wayside in favour of a quick sandwich for lunch and whatever creeps from the freezer for dinner. So suddenly my fruit and vegetable intake has dropped. There is more though.

Smoothie Detox?

When I was taking my secret smoothie recipe (red fruit, banana, rice milk, Barleygrass, Hemp & Maca), after about 8 or 9 days I started developing the most dreadful wind. Yes, I know it’s not very glamorous, but I’d be delighted if anyone else could confess to a similar problem and offer advice! I accept I was working on a healthy eating regime at the same time, but I was not excessively dieting in a way that would normally affect my bowels. I don’t suffer from any condition such as irritable bowel syndrome so it was most odd. And very uncomfortable, practically ferocious (just ask my children!)

Having tried hemp & maca in the past with no ill effects, I immediately cut the teaspoon of barleygrass from the smoothies. Within 2 days I deflated a great deal, felt much more comfortable in myself, but was rather cross that I was in a position to imbibe all these wonderful nutrients in a single crazy smoothie, but my body seemed to be rebelling. Not to be daunted however, and on the advice of Claire Kelly at Indigo Herbs, I reintroduced the Barleygrass, but at only half a teaspoon per day. I can report I was a little gurgly, but nothing like as bad. Given the nature of the chlorophyll in barleygrass, and it’s need to be digested as a fibre, I can only assume from this result that a build up was occurring that my bowel could not process. Perhaps I was being a little over-optimistic in being so full on about getting started.

Take it easy!

As with any major dietary change, it seems to me that remembering that superfoods are food supplements rather than an easy pill to swallow, may well be key. Gentle changes help the body adjust more easily than a sudden boost. These are FOODS and not a quick fix, but something to be introduced over time. So although I’ve gurgled and suffered a gynaecological nightmare over the past days, I’m starting to think that the way to approach this vitamin bonanza is via a series of subtle but beneficial changes, rather than a huge effort which hopes for instant results in just one juice. I shall still see my GP about my hormonal symptoms, but I’m not giving up hope on my smoothies just yet – just being a little smoother with myself about how I use them.

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	New Newsletter Design Hello and welcome to our new look newsletter.  I hope you like the new design. This month we have a fantastic endorsement of our products all the way from Mount Everest, a new blogger to introduce, and some information about our favourite events in case you want to come and play with us in a field! Also as usual you will find a monthly discount code. Happy Beltaine xxx A Morris Dancer on The Tor
	Well Done John! Many congratulations to John McClinton a Nutritionist from England who has recently climbed on the world’s highest mountain. As a Nutritionist, John is well placed to assess the efficacy of our products and we are always interested to know how good they are. “Having trekked to Everest Base Camp and beyond, my capacity to physically function and perform to a high level, over a sustained period of time, was greatly enhanced having used Indigo Herbs products. My ability to recover more rapidly was also evident. These products were a significant contributing factor to my successful completion of this challenge” he told us. Thanks for the feedback John … Keep up the good work.  And if you want a list of our products that we think can help boost your performance, check out this sports nutrition blog post. The world’s highest mountain
	Superfood Diet Trial Here at Indigo Herbs, we believe that health and nutrition go hand in hand. You are what you eat and if you choose to include nutrition rich foods and beneficial herbs in your diet you can improve your lot in life. But not everyone is convinced by our enthusiasm. One such sceptic is mum of 3 and internet blogger Krissy Elliott. Krissy knows about Indigo Herbs through Glastonbury’s labrynthine social network and although a sceptic, she is open minded and interested in finding out whether natural health products could work for her. Not only has she decided to give superfoods a try, she has also agreed to write about her experiences on our blog for everyone to share. So check out Krissy’s Superfood Diet Trial Blogs  here to follow her story as it unfolds. Krissy Elliott-skeptic-blogger-mum
	Sunrise Celebration Summer Solstice 2012 The first ever Sunrise Celebration was held 7 years ago when Glastonbury Festival last had a year off.  That meant it happened over the summer solstice .  And that’s why this year’s event will be an extra special one. As many will know, Britain’s biggest festival, Glastonbury Festival of the Performing Arts, is taking a year off again, and Sunrise Celebration moves back to the Solstice! Billed as a “Festival of the Organic Arts”, Sunrise is a finely balanced mix of alternative culture, underground entertainment, eco-friendliness and family friendly fun.  It is a fantastic event to take the whole family to and was awarded ‘best festival 2011′ by Green Parent magazine. We will be there hanging out so why not visit the Sunrise Celebration website and buy your ticket now. Lovexperience Venus Transit 2012 And if you can’t wait that long for a love fuelled, celestially synchronized event, why not join the lovexperience collective and take part in a brand new event for the Venus transit on 6 – 6 – 12. For full information check out the Lovexperience.net website. Sunrise last year
	Monthly Discount Code As always, here is our monthly discount code. Don’t forget to make sure you enter it into the discount code field when making an order online, or mention is over the phone if you call us. Click here to to start ordering now.

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… Well, it certainly looks that way this week! Welcome back to my ordinary blog in an ordinary life.

As ordinary as it gets with a 21 day menstrual cycle, that is. With 7 days of that spent menstruating, 7 days spent growling, snarling or crying and not being quite “with it” , that leaves a 7 day window of opportunity to approach me if you’d like to get something done.

4 years ago I was sterilised, with the often common result that my cycle changed. Soon after, hormone tests via my GP showed that levels of PROGESTERONE (produced during the cycle’s 2nd half and responsible for sustaining uterine lining and therefore theoretically enabling pregnancy) were significantly lower than expected for my age. The result being that hormone levels drop, my period comes earlier because the lining of the womb is unable to stay put. I’m still not sure why the periods manage to last a whole week though….. where on earth does it all come from?

Cyclical Breast Pain Relief

In addition to this, premenstrual symptoms, especially breast pain, were very severe. I promise I am not a mad crazy woman… my family think somewhat differently, one week out of three! So as an all round health issue, this needs addressing as it affects my life in a very considerable way.

Last weekend my breasts had increased by a full cup size and were agony. My mood was OK though, I have to say. I started smoothies and reformed eating habits on Monday of week 2 of my cycle, by Thursday the pain was noticeably less, thankfully. On Saturday it had gone. On Sunday I got my period. Grrr.

Given the medical intervention involved, and the fact that my GP recommended Evening Primrose Oil to help with the pain, I went online to check how this kind of thing works…. have a look here for the official NHS view on this…

The site states that no noticeable effect is received fom Evening Primrose oil as opposed to a placebo…. so why doctors recommend it, I cannot say. But I can say for definite that most of our diets here in the Western world are deficient in omega 3 and 6 oils, simply because very few people eat oily fish such as mackerel or salmon each week. And GLA (gamma linoleic acid) is known to be low in women with breast pain.

Multivitamins alone will not provide these essential oils and acids, and even taken as a supplement the conversion process in the body can often be inefficient, leading to a lack. I happily accept that the superfoods I have chosen contain high levels of these nutrients, amongst a myriad of others. It makes complete sense to supplement an improved diet with something the body can process as a proper food, rather than with something the medical profession seems to regard as a somewhat more ineffective pill.

Smoothie

I’m happy to report that my smoothie mix from the last blog entry works extremely well with no added sweeteners…. berries, banana, rice milk, whizzed up with HEMP, MACA and BARLEYGRASS. Not just palatable, but pleasant. So it’s been easy to bring this into my breakfast routine.

I know from past experience as a slimming consultant and successful slimmer using an eating plan based largely around simple foots such as lean meats, complex carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables, with very little fat, that if I eat less cheap, cheerful and fatty food (white bread, doughnuts, biscuits, chocolate) around my PMT week, I actually do feel better for it. But it’s easy to forget. So this week I altered my diet too, and ditched the simple carbs, expecting to feel starved cravings, tiredness etc etc as it was a bit of cold turkey really. The only thing I have not managed is to drink more water, still on the coffee and tea, I’m afraid.

So I am delighted to report that a superfood smoothie in a morning ,with a light breakfast of an egg, tomato and some ham, carried me through till lunchtime without a single food craving of any kind! Now that is definitely a start. I had horrific breast pain at the start, in part due to my recently appalling diet of take aways and easy to grab foods, but also due, I believe, to the intervention of my GP in prescribing Cerazette, a progesterone only mini pill (birth control pills), to try and calm my periods.

So what has emerged from this first week?

1. A superfood smoothie seems to start the day well, helping eliminate the sugary and starchy food cravings that make beginning a plan of healthy eating so difficult.
2. My mood has remained fine through the entire premenstrual week. (My family may argue with this, but I have felt fine!)
3. MY BREASTS DON’T HURT! (This one is my favourite).

On Tuesday I clocked a rather unhealthy 12 st 13 ½ lbs, which borders on the “obese” section of the outdated but still worrying charts used by doctors and nurses to determine healthy weight ranges. I have tried to exercise a little more too. As yet, I have not weighed myself this week, but you can be sure I will report back when I do…. even though I did have toffee popcorn at the weekend! Well, a girl’s got to live a little! I enjoyed every mouthful!

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Recently we received a thank you and testimonial from one of our customers who regularly uses our products, stating that they helped him maintain the endurance required to climb the formidable Mount Everest.

Here’s what he said:

“Having trekked to Everest Base Camp and beyond, my capacity to physically function and perform to a high level, over a sustained period of time, was greatly enhanced having used Indigo Herbs products. My ability to recover more rapidly was also evident. These products were a significant contributing factor to my successful completion of this challenge.” – John McClinton, Nutritionist.

So if, like John, you’re into challenging yourself in the realms of endurance then check out our practical list of endurance enhancing herbs and superfoods below, which explains why they can help give you the edge. read the entry »

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Hello and welcome to the new Indigo Herbs blog about my superfood diet trial!

I’d like to introduce myself. My name’s Krissy, 41 year old mum of 3. Although I’m pretty good friends with all at Indigo Herbs, I’ve always been very sceptical about all these groovy superfood supplements, and whether the cost reflects the health benefits they claim to offer. So when I was invited to try a superfood diet for myself, and write a down-to-earth, honest, unbiased blog, I was up for it. read the entry »

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In this blog post I’m going to explain why Wheatgrass, Barley Grass, Spirulina and Chlorella are the top 4 superfoods and how they can benefit your diet, lifestyle and general wellbeing.

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is an absolutely fantastic superfood in the way that it is packed with natural vitamins, natural minerals and amino acids. Wheatgrass powder is made from the young wheat plant, whilst it is still in grass form, before it develops a stem and grain. It can be used for detoxing or just as part of a higher quality diet.

Yet let’s cover more than just the obvious and explore why wheatgrass is recognised as one of the best superfoods and how it could help you maintain/achieve optimal health.

Firstly it’s versatile; you can consume it in capsules if you don’t like the taste when mixed with water, milk, or juice and you can even add it to a smoothie. In a modern age like today our bodies are constantly being subject to processed foods, which are bad for us humans, and are often difficult to digest. Whereas using a superfood such as Wheatgrass actually promotes better digestion and noticeably boosts our immune system.

My personal experiences with Wheatgrass have reassured me of its benefits. I’ve been using Wheatgrass for roughly 3 years now and I’m certain it’s boosted my immune system and helped with maintaining a healthy active lifestyle. It’s anti-cancer, gives you energy, has a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals and is actually better than having a ‘multi-vitamin’ tablet every day, as ‘multi-vitamins’ are man-made synthetic isolated nutrients created in labs by men in white coats, whereas wheatgrass provides these vitamins and minerals through its natural compounds which work together to feed your body the nutrients it desires.

Barley grass

Barley grass is another classic example of an all singing all dancing superfood, used for detoxing and a good strong source of natural alkaline. It also contains a multitude of the body’s spark plugs; enzymes. Like Wheatgrass it’s packed with natural vitamins and minerals.

Many people blend Barley grass powder with Wheatgrass powder as they have the same density and consistency in powder form so work perfectly in a smoothie together.

Barley grass contains eight essential amino acids; and according to a recent study, using Barley grass can regulate blood sugar (i.e. reduce blood glucose response to a meal) for up to 10 hours after consumption, which is clearly a good way to make sure your energy levels stay healthy, stable and ready to support your active day.

Barley grass is one of Indigo Herbs’ top sellers because it offers a full range of nutrients and minerals; many of which you don’t get from processed everyday foods.

Spirulina

Consumed regularly by the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican cultures up until the 16th century, Spirulina is a superfood with a long history of use. Spirulina is absolutely in the same category as Barley grass and Wheatgrass in the way that it’s packed with much of the good stuff your body needs to properly function. Like the others, Spirulina has a massive vitamin, mineral and amino acid profile.

Spirulina is a ‘blue-green algae’. To some people the idea of eating algae seems a little out of the ordinary! Yet it’s a wonderful product which offers a significant and diverse range of proteins; this makes it another essential thing to put in your smoothie along with Barley grass and Wheatgrass.

Rich in chlorophyll, Spirulina is alkaline forming, which makes it an ideal addition to the modern lifestyle as many of us consume diets which contain lots of processed foods which causes our bodies to be very acidic. Spirulina (like Barley grass and Wheatgrass) can help balance this acid problem out by restoring natural alkaline. Like the other superfoods, Spirulina can also help improve digestion.

The information below will be particularly relevant to you if you’re holding down a strict diet with a training programme which is aimed at building muscle structure and allowing muscle recovery time.

My personal experience with Spirulina is that I use it for bodybuilding / holding a tight exercise and recovery schedule, and I’ve found that it helps give my body more natural proteins than other more processed products such as whey protein for example. Although, yes, whey protein can provide you with more protein in one dose than Spirulina can, you must remember Spirulina is very easy to digest and has a load more to offer than its already impressive protein profile.

Chlorella

Chlorella is actually one my favourite products health wise as it contains such a ‘whole’ spectrum of nutrients. Chlorella is a rich attractive food source; as when dried it contains 45% protein, 20% fat, 20% carbohydrate, 5% fibre and 10% vitamins and minerals. I know what you’re thinking “why haven’t I been introduced to this product before?” well at least that’s what I thought when I first heard of it.

As soon as I researched Chlorella I had no delay incorporating it into my morning health smoothie. Chlorella is another complete protein source. I believe this is why it’s such a bestseller; so many benefits just from 1 product! Like Spirulina it is also a single celled algae, which makes it extremely easy to digest. Like the other three superfoods it promotes healthy digestion, it is good for detoxing, and it is also good for general vitality.

I hope this blog post has helped to explain why these 4 products from Indigo Herbs are the bestsellers and explained in a little more detail than our website what they are and what they do. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this blog.

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Spring has arrived … hurrah! An even better deal ? Hello and welcome to our March Newsletter.  This month we have news of changes to our delivery services which have become better and cheaper. Also this month, find out about how we have teamed up with The Organic Food Federation who have inspected our new premises and scrutinized our quality procedures to ensure our organic produce is all up to the latest legislation. There is also a short article about the blessings of the two most widely acclaimed mushrooms from Traditional Chinese Medicine – Reishi and Cordyceps – and how they can benefit you. And finally of course your monthly discount code. Happy Spring (boing) !!!   read the entry »

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Superfood has been showing up in the news recently as people discuss and debate whether or not there really are any foods out there that are Super nutritious. So Indigo Herbs was invited up to London to answer some questions on the radio.

I was chosen as the  spokesperson and off i went to spread the message and inspire people to turn on to optimum nutrition. I did 10 regional radio interviews with stations across the country and the big question on everybody’s lips was

Why is the Superfood revolution happening now? read the entry »

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Classic Glastonbury Winter Moving on up? Welcome back to our newsletter and apologies to those of you who wondered where we have been since September. We do try and send newsletters monthly but we have been really busy lately as we have moved! More on that below. We have recently been contacted by media representatives looking for knowledgeable advocates of superfoods. They asked us if we would be interested in taking part in some radio interviews on the subject. We took this as a golden opportunity to raise awareness of superfoods like wheatgrass and spirulina in mainstream conciousness and agreed to take part. Yes, we’re going to shout about what we believe in, and we’re looking for like minded superfood eaters who might want to join us. Could this be you? More below. Also, as always, you will find the latest discount code … just in time for some last minute christmas orders. Oh and by the way our last post dates are as follows. For guaranteed pre-christmas deliver (subject to Royal Mail / Couriers) we must receive your order by midnight on the night of Monday 19th December. Or if you opt for guaranteed next day delivery Tuesday 20th. Orders received after this date will be sent as soon as humanly possible and may still arrive for christmas. Have a Fantastic Festive Season and a Merry Midwinter from all of us here at Indigo Herbs.   read the entry »

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As a busy working mum (omg is it that time already!) i have to constantly battle with being everything to everyone! I absolutely adore my job here

at Indigo Herbs, as its such a great buzz to link people up with products that are good for them, knowing that addressing one’s  health naturally is going to improve one’s quality of life. Last week we attended the very inspiring Great British Business show at Earls court, we had 2 fantastic days of cutting edge ideas about how to be a sucessful small business & here’s some of my thoughts on the train home…… read the entry »

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