Skin Care & Health Supplements

There are a lot of myths and theories surrounding supplementary drinks and pills and not one seems to agree with the other. Some schools argue that the body doesn't need additional supplements while others are of the idea that yes, aiding the body with the intake of extra supplements can actually be beneficial.

I find myself somewhere in the middle. As far as vitamins and minerals go, unless prescribed by a doctor due to deficiencies, I don't think the body needs supplements for them as with a balanced diet, it's easy to keep up the required daily levels; and besides, the body will excrete any excess vitamins and minerals anyway as we are not able to store them.

On the other hand, there are other supplements the body might actually find to be beneficial, such as collagen drinks/pills, immune boosters and natural laxatives to name a few. While we were in Japan, I found myself picking up a supplement drink from the convenience store on the daily to keep my energy levels in check. I would sometimes opt for a collagen or Vitamin C drink to change it up a bit and I think they did help in some way or another as I didn't get sick for instance. Now that we're back in Malta, I would like to show you my favourite skin and health supplements and why they have become part of my lifestyle.

I'll start with my favourite - Imedeen Derma One. I was introduced to Imedeen two years ago at their launch event and haven't looked back since. These are basically collagen and moisture pills which you take in the morning to boost collagen and hydration levels in your skin, hence giving your skin an overall healthy appearance and sustenance. I encourage you to read a more detailed post I had written about Imedeen and the results achieved which I will link here so you can see for yourself what a difference they make. I usually take a course of Imedeen every other month so as to alternate and give my body a break every once in a while.

Next up, are ImmunAction immune system boosting capsules from Erba Vita. I take these in winter to avoid getting sick basically and so far, they have worked! Erba Vita has become my go-to brand for natural supplements and I have also tried their Aloe Vera juice which works wonders at aiding digestion and MgKC which is more of a summer product for me as it helps replenish lost salts and minerals. Their Propoli range is worth checking out too, especially in autumn and winter as well as ErbaLax & CarbonFlor when your digestive system needs a bit of help.

The winning product from Erba Vita goes to Lietoson for it has been amazing in counteracting jetlag when we were abroad and it still comes in useful whenever one of us can't sleep!

What do you think of skin care and health supplements? Have you ever resorted to them? Do you notice any improvements?

Erba Vita Aloe Vera with Anti-Oxidant Fruits - The Natural Way To Detox

Ridding our bodies from unhealthy, toxic substances is something that has been practised for a long time and among all the different substances and super-foods advocated to help this detoxification process, Aloe Vera almost always makes an appearance - be it masks, drinks or lotions.

Today I want to share with you my latest find from Erba Vita, the Aloe Vera drink. Enriched with anti-oxidants from 5 super-foods, this is the perfect way to rid your body of toxins right from the beginning of your day or before you go to bed.

Let's have a look at the benefits of Aloe Vera, it's actions and what can be achieved upon regular consumption of the Erba Vita Aloe Vera juice. First of all, the Aloe Vera sourced by Erba Vita is of regulated origin since it's cultivated in its natural habitat at non-GMO plantations where no pesticides or artificial fertilisers are used. Skinning of leaves is done manually after harvest and all leaves originate from plants which are at least 5 years old since these would contain a higher amount of active ingredients. The juices obtained are then cold-pressed and do not undergo any thermal processes of any kind.

Scientific and clinical studies have shown that Aloe Vera aids in purifying, detoxifying and depuration of our bodies. It also aids our digestive system and it also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent within this same mechanism and other parts of our bodies.

Erba Vita have combined all the benefits of Aloe Vera together with 5 anti-oxidant super berries to produce the Aloe Vera juice I will be talking about in this blog post. The five berries are goji, noni, açai, bilberry and mango sourced from all over the world, all of which have exceptional antioxidant properties and further help our bodies to break down lipids and help in metabolic functions. Antioxidants offer protection against free radicals and since Aloe Vera has bio-activator functions, meaning it causes an increase in bio-availability and absorption of anti-oxidant vitamins such as Vitamins C and E which occur naturally in all the fruits in the juice mix, they are in perfect synergy.

The juice comes in a 500ml opaque PET bottle which helps prevent compromisation due to light sources. It comes with a small cap which you can use to make sure you are taking the right dose. The juice has a purple colour and has a sort of berry taste but it not sweet - I'd say it's an acquired taste. It is recommended to take the Aloe Vera juice once or twice daily as required. I prefer to take 1 capful right before going to bed as it further helps the body to de-toxify during sleep.

I've been taking this Aloe Vera juice for about a month now and it did help with my otherwise difficult digestion but not only. Detoxifying my body has helped with breakouts too. At first, I had some pimples here and there on my face but that's a natural process the skin goes through when ridding itself of toxins but now my skin has started to clear up and it looks brighter as well.

One last thing, this is a food supplement, not a replacement and hence, it should complement a healthy diet. Erba Vita Aloe Vera with Anti-Oxidant Fruits is available in all pharmacies.

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Replenish lost salts and minerals with Erba Vita MgKC

Whether we like it or not, sweating is an essential function for our bodies to cool down in the heat - be it while exercising or just because temperatures reach soaring heights. Through sweat, we do not only lose water but also salts and minerals which are essential for our bodies to function properly. To counteract this, we are advised to drink at least 2 litres of water every day, but this only replenishes water levels in our bodies. To replenish salts and minerals, we need a little extra help, and this is where Erba Vita MgKC comes in.

Each box of Erba Vita MgKC comes with 20 sachets of powder containing magnesium, potassium and vitamin C that you dissolve in water and drink in order to replenish your body's mineral and hydration levels. MgKC also contains extracts of acerola which is rich in vitamin C, and also contains vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. It is also known that athletes use acerola to improve endurance. Baobab extracts further enhance the MgKC formula with their excellent levels of potassium and re-mineralizing properties. Moreover, Baobab has been identified by the World Health Organization as an optimum natural re-hydrator: in fact, when comparing the effects of intaking a solution containing Baobab to a standard saline solution, usually used for re-hydrating children affected by diarrhoea, the benefits registered were significant.

To get maximum benefits out of the product, it is advised to have 1 to 2 sachets per day, leaving at least 4 hours in between and preferably consume them between meals. If you suffer from high blood pressure though, it is advised to only consume 1 sachet a day because of the potassium content, but always consult your doctor or pharmacist. MgKC tastes of citrus which I like and they are great for travelling because of their size too! What makes MgKC better than other mineral-replenishing products? Well, it's sugar-free and has stevia instead (making the product suitable for diabetics) and real orange juice.

Staying hydrated has never been easier! Get yours from pharmacies and all Good Earth shops!

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Raise Your Legs for Erba Vita Sollievo Venis Gel!

We all know the feeling after getting home from a hard day's work - all we want to do is just kick back, relax and raise our legs. My job requires standing for long periods of time and more often than not, I end up with heavy, swollen legs at the end of the day; so much so, that I tend to avoid wearing short skirts if I'm going out afterwards.

Thankfully, Erba Vita have come to my rescue once again with their Sollievo Venis Gel and let me tell you, I am not the only fan in the house! Life happens and currently, me and my better half are going through a very busy yet exciting time in our life - he is taking care of construction works at our new house and his full time work while I manage the one we are currently living in, wedding plans, my job and of course this blog and all the glitz that comes with it; and well, our legs have definitely felt the strain.

We tried the Erba Vita Sollievo Venis Gel for the first time after a full day of manual work for him and a 12 hour shift for me. Let me tell you more about the product and our experience using it.

The gel is presented in a box with contains a 150ml tube of gel of course and an information leaflet. As with other Erba Vita products, the gel is composed of mainly natural ingredients and herbal extracts which aim to restore swollen, heavy legs to normality in no time. If we have a look at the ingredients, you will notice there are no PEG's, petroleum or parabens. The main ingredients are Aloe Gel, Vite Rossa, Centella, dried extracts of horse chestnut as well as mint, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils and enriched with avocado oil to name a few.

Mint has quite a predominant scent and you can actually smell it as soon as you open the box. The gel is a clear yellow in colour and is meant to be massaged morning and night to ensure the well being of our legs. When I first applied the gel, (in upwards, circular motions), I couldn't feel anything and honestly thought it doesn't work but after a minute or so, a very welcome, cooling sensation kicked in and I could feel my legs coming back to normal as time went by. The morning after, I applied it again before going to work for another 12 hour shift and well, in the evening, my legs weren't as swollen as the day before. As for my fiancé, he applied the gel after a though day at our new house and he could immediately feel a tingling, cooling sensation that offered almost instantaneous relief from any pain.

I have been using the gel in the morning before work and in the evening to minimize swelling after a day of standing on my legs and this has greatly improved how my legs feel after work or a weekend of wearing heels. As for my significant other, he really enjoys the cooling effect of the gel and his legs feel a lot lighter after applying it. One thing to note is that unlike other cooling gels I have tried in the past, this one doesn't feel sticky on the sticky and the cooling effect kicks in after a couple of seconds rather than immediately upon application.

Tempted? You can try your luck and take part in the giveaway on my Facebook page where you can win your very own Sollievo Venis from Erba Vita! Alternatively you can pick it up from pharmacies for just €12.

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Boosting Our Immunity The Natural Way with Erba Vita

Getting sick is something no one enjoys. Ever. But sometimes you can't help it, your body's defenses give in to germs and unfavourable weather conditions and we end up sick.

I was recently introduced to Erba Vita which is a brand that since 1982 has had the most natural kind of well being at heart. Their products cover every aspect of human well-being and the company is accredited under ISO 9001:2015, and a certified HACCP institution so you know you are getting top-notch quality products from a reliable company which takes its manufacturing processes very seriously.

I was given two products from the brand which I will be talking about in today's post of course - ImmunAction capsules and Propoli EVSP Effer Prop Effervescent tablets.

ImmunAction Capsules (€11.50 for 60 capsules)

I'll start with Immun Action which is marketed as a natural shield for our well being. In fact, even the art-work on the products depicts a shield as the product is intended as a boost to our immune system. The transparent capsules contain a brownish powder which contains all the beneficial ingredients needed to boost our immune system. The main ingredients are Echnicaea, Tabebuia, Cat's Claw, Astragalus Papaya and Angrographis, each of which exerts a specific function to promote our bodies' defense mechanisms against disease. As a matter of fact, ImmunAction is the perfect supplement during the colder months to further protect yourself against say for example the common cold. 

As luck would have it, after only two days of starting the month-long supply, I got sick with tonsillitis and I'm not going to lie, my immediate reaction was 'maybe these things don't work at all' but for the sake of this blog and because I hate bashing a product after the first use, I still proceeded with taking ImmunAction capsules daily and finish the pack, after all, our bodies take time to get used to something new. I'm glad I did. For starters, I was only sick for a day - usually it would last three days for sure. I was prescribed a course of antibiotics by my doctor which I had to take to get better and while I'm usually all sleepy while I'm on antibiotics, I wasn't feeling so bad and kept going. I guess ImmunAction did have something to do with it.

I continued taking 2 capsules of ImmunAction every morning with a glass of water and I think it did help in preventing me from getting sick so this gets the thumbs up from me! After one month of taking ImmunAction, it is recommended to give the immune system a break from Echinacea as it increases the number of white blood cells (the cells that fight off infections) and it's good to have them return back to your normal levels. Of course, always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements especially if you are or think you might be pregnant.

PropoliEVSP Effer Prop Effervescent Tablets (€11 for 20 tablets)

The second Erba Vita product I'll be sharing with you is the Propoli EVSP Effer Prop Effervescent tablets. These came in very handy to gargle with and soothe my throat and since they are propolis based, they act as an antiseptic too. These tablets are my favourite out of the two because they taste really good and well, the kid in me enjoys seeing them effervesce in water ;) Propolis is a resinous mixture that bees make to close off any unwanted open spaces in their hives. It is a known natural antiseptic and in these Effer Prop tablets it is mixed with Vitamin C and Zinc to aid the immune system in functioning to maximum levels. I usually dissolve one tablet in a glass of water and drink up for a healthier me! 

In conclusion, I am not one to down medicinals for no reason or just becasue I feel a bit sick - I usually let my body fight it off on it's own so a boost is always appreciated; and, when I do need to take antibiotics, I'm sure that Erba Vita has the right products to keep me going!

PR Samples - Erba Vita is distributed in Malta by E.J. Busuttil.
Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements.