Radiance Experts: Midi Fairgrieve on Travel Wellbeing

by Christina Agnew,

Radiance's Executive Nutritional Therapist Midi Fairgrieve explains how to stay well when you are travelling abroad:

It's no fun spending your holiday sick in bed, while 'out there' a wealth of new and exciting adventures are waiting. Believe me, I've done it and as a result missed out on some wonderful experiences. One which comes to mind was the opportunity to meet Sherpa Tenzing at the Tenzing Institute in Darjeeling, India. While my travel companions came back with faces lit up with the experience of having met a truly exceptional mountaineer, I was being sick into a rusty bucket wondering if I would live or die. 

On other adventures I have had dysentery, tropical ulcers, sun stroke and intestinal parasites; but it wasn't until I began to study nutritional medicine that I realised just how much can be done to prevent becoming ill. I began to introduce natural remedies into my travel kit with fantastic results, and on my next travels to South America I didn't have even a whiff of trouble - a first for my bowels! As a nutritional therapist I have come across many travellers and holiday-makers whose health has suffered after becoming ill while travelling, which not only affected their holiday but in some cases they are still feeling the effects many years on.  

There are a number of natural remedies you can take to make sure you have a problem free trip. It really depends where in the world you are going how much care you need to take. If you’re travelling off the beaten track you will be much more at risk of picking something up. Stomach upsets affect up to 50% of travellers in a two-week stay and what you eat and drink is the commonest route for bugs and parasites and disease-causing organisms to enter the body.

Making sure the water is safe to drink hugely minimises your chances of becoming ill. If in doubt, don't drink the water, use bottled or boil it. You can also add grapefruit seed extract drops to the water which is antiseptic and antibiotic. Added to drinking water, it protects against harmful bacteria and parasites.

With food, there a saying: "Wash it, peel it, boil it, or don’t eat it". It’s pretty good advice if you are travelling in under-developed countries and want to avoid intestinal problems. It’s best to avoid raw salads or unpeeled fruit, and make sure you are careful about washing your hands before eating. Avoid raw fish (sushi, ceviche), and raw or under cooked meat. Busy restaurants are less likely to have food sitting around for too long, and if they're busy they're likely to have a good reputation.

However, trying local dishes is all part of the travel experience, just take care.

Prevention is better than cure:

Your intestinal system is the number one route of entry for unwanted organisms. It can be really protective before you go to start taking anti-parasite remedies and pro-biotics for at least 2 weeks before travelling and keep going for a month after you return. Three of the most effective anti-parasitic remedies are Garlic, Artemesia and Grapefruit Seed Extract. It is also a good idea to boost the population of friendly bacteria in your intestines by taking a pro-biotic supplement before, during and after your trip.

None of these remedies take up much room in your luggage and are well worth the effort.

These are my favourite supplements when travelling with no. 1 on the list being:


Botanical Beauty on John Lewis Roof Garden

by Clare Ward, , link

As part of John Lewis' 150 year celebrations they have transformed their Oxford St, London store roof top into a glorious roof garden. There are a series of events taking place and we love the sound of one happening this Thursday, 17th July.  Hosted by expert natural facialist, Abigail James, and renowned ethnobatnist, James Wong, on behalf of Liz Earle skincare, it promises to be an afternoon dedicated to botanical beauty.  Abigail will be teaching facial yoga and giving out her tips for natural skincare, whilst James will be showing you how to grow your own beauty food. The Liz Earle team will also be present, giving complimentary hand massages and skincare advice. No tickets are reqiured so simply turn up and enjoy their talks whilst taking in the view.  

 

 The schedule for the talks is as follows:

  • 11am: James Wong – Grow your own beauty patch (20 minutes)
  • 12pm: Abigail James – Facial yoga (20 minutes)
  • 1pm: James Wong – Grow your own beauty patch (20 minutes)
  • 2pm: Abigail James – Facial yoga (20 minutes)
  • 3pm: James Wong – Grow your own beauty patch (20 minutes)
  • 4pm: Abigail James – Facial yoga (20 minutes)

Radiance loves... Organic sun lotions by Green People

by Rosie Guest, , link

With the sun making a much needed appearance we are relying on Green People's natural sun care range to protect our skin. It's made with over 80% organic ingredients; vital when you consider that up to 60% of a substance can be absorbed through the skin. Many sun lotions are full of synthetic chemicals which can block the pores, causing prickly heat. Just as importantly, they can damage marine life such as corals and where they contain chemicals that mimic the effects of oestrogen, these chemicals seep into the sea, having major effects on aquatic life, with the long term affects leading to fish turning into hermaphrodites.

Green People do not use parabens, pore-clogging silicones and mineral oils, synthetic fragrances, artificial colours or skin-drying alcohol in their products. Instead their sun creams are made with a blend of minerals that sit on the surface of the skin to naturally bounce away harmful UVA and UVB rays. A filter derived from cinnamon and the mountain flower edelweiss, which has developed a natural defence against UV light, neutralises UV rays to offer broad-spectrum protection.

Even better, Green People have packed their sun lotions with natural antioxidants and skin vitamins A, C and E from avocado, green tea and rosemary extract. So they are actually good for your skin!

Content Founder Imelda Burke says 'When choosing your sunscreen, forget the numbers and look to the additional topical antioxidant ingredients they use. It is a common misconception that SPF30 gives you twice as much protection as SPF15. Infact an SPF 15 filters about 93% of UVB while a SPF30 only gives you an extra 4% protection filtering 97% of UVB. Our first protection is always avoiding the sun between the hours of 11am and 3pm. If you can't avoid it be sun safe and ensure you apply sunscreen liberally and often.'



Established London 2009
100% Organic Cold-Pressed
Delivered across the UK