Well Being
Health alteratives
Serene scene
Edinburgh's first five-star urban day spa has opened in Edinburgh. Serenity has a series of six Japanese-inspired single and double treatment boudoirs, including the candlelit Buddha lounge and the Zen water bed relaxation room (pictured), all decorated in decadent black with red accessories.There is an extensive list of specialist treatments to soothe mind and body, from rejuvenating facials, hot stone massage, detox aroma wraps and cellulite therapy to nail care, spray tanning and a men only grooming programme. Serenity can be booked for an exclusive private party, a glamorous hen night, a birthday celebration or a unique corporate event. Student discounts are available every Tuesday. Serenity in the City, 9A Castle St., T 0131 226 7459, www.serenityinthecity.com - Vivien Devlin
Good news for chocaholics
Blue manna, maca, yacon, agave, purple corn, durian, suma, camu camu. What may sound like exotic flowers or birds are, in fact, fruits, berries and roots - some of the 'super foods' we've been hearing about lately.Super foods are foods or raw ingredients which have added health benefits. Others include wheatgrass, barley grass, acica berry and goiji berry. While not very common at your local juice bar, you'll find them in juices and smoothies at Edinburgh's Red Sugar.
The store itself is a monument to eco-consciousness. When you step through the door, you will be breathing clear, clean air via an air purification system, the furniture and the paint on the walls are chemical-free, sustainable woods and recycled glass were used for the build and the water is reverse osmotic de-ionised, making it cleaner than tap water.
However, the highlight has to be the luxurious, sweet delights on offer - raw chocolate and raw food desserts. Raw chocolate is made by heating it to only 42 degrees Centigrade, retaining all the anti-oxidants, enzymes and other nutrients. Commercial chocolate manufacturers cook theirs to 200 degrees Centigrade, destroying all the useful compounds. Raw chocolate, on the other hand, contains phenylethaylamine (the 'joy molecule'), anandamide (the 'bliss chemical'), MAO inhibitor (an appetite suppressant) and polyphenols (heart nutrients). Who said chocolate isn't good for you? Red Sugar, 27B Raeburn Place, T 0131 332 8455, www.red-sugar.co.uk
Exotic detox
1detox is a confidential detox package at exclusive destinations in India, Thailand and Spain. Forthcoming trips include Ronda in Andalucia (September 22-29) and India (early November). A typical five-week package includes a three-week dietary adjustment plan leading up to a seven to ten day trip, finishing with five to seven days at home to adjust to the regime. The package mixes eastern philosophies of mental fitness with western-influenced physical fitness. The detox regime often results in dramatic, long-term weight loss, reduced cholesterol and blood pressure, improved digestion and liver function and enhanced cardio-vascular fitness. Further info www.1dtx.com24 carrots? EU bureaucrats are proposing a limit to the strength of supplements. They want you to be restricted to a dose level for the antioxidant beta-carotene equivalent to the amount found in two average carrots (whatever they are) or the quantity of selenium calculated to be present in two Brazil nuts. These limits are laughably low. Few, if any, supplements have been found to be generally harmful. In fact, most are potentially beneficial to your health now and for the future. If the EU gets its way, shouldn't there be warning labels and dosage instructions on every carrot?
Get the point? Instead of splashing your cash on diet programmes, fad foods, juicers, blenders and gym memberships, why not invest in a course of acupuncture? Acupuncture helps control the craving or withdrawal effects which occur when you try to cut down your food intake. It also helps reduce stress and regulate your metabolism. It will aid you in losing those extra pounds in a gentle, sustained way, and you won't be tempted to slip back into your old habits.
Multiple choice Research has found that taking multivitamins regularly helps reduce your appetite. Men who took regular vitamin supplements had lower body weight and fat levels than non-takers, while women who took them were less hungry. Why? Vitamins and minerals are involved in the synthesis of hormones such as insulin, which regulate the energy balance. They are also part of the manufacture of neurotransmitters, which control food intake. Supplementing your diet with multivitamins and minerals may optimise your metabolism and help you cut out excess food intake. Result: weight loss with no effort.
One step at a time If you're looking to get fit and lose a few excess pounds, perhaps you should splash out on a pedometer. A team at California's Stanford University has found that a pedometer helps speed up weight loss and reduces blood pressure. It's to do with motivation and goals. Use your pedometer and keep a diary of the number of steps you take each day. Aim to increase your daily step number gradually. More steps mean more exercise and therefore greater weight loss. I'm tempted to suggest you forget the gym, save your money and stick to brisk walking, measured by your relatively cheap pedometer. - James Brunton (A trained pharmacist, James publishes a free-bi-monthly newsletter on a variety of health topics. He also sells informational booklets on complementary therapies. These are available as digital downloads or in printed form. Further info www.healthexplored.co.uk)
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