Ask the pharmacist
James Geraghty
Want to slim down, glow with health and look your best? There are a few tricks to help you on your way.
Firstly, substitute white for brown; ditch white bread and white pasta and opt instead for healthy wholegrains. Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will also help, and not just your waist, they’re great for skin too. And chicken and fish are good substitutes for fatty meats. If you want a helping hand, you could try a Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) supplement.
HCA is derived from malabar tamarind, a native fruit of southern India and scientists believe it can help with weight loss by blocking the enzyme responsible for converting excess carbohydrates and protein into fat.
Take one 500mg capsule three times a day before each meal, bearing in mind that the effects of HCA are enhanced by following a low-fat diet!
We’ve also had some excellent results with Organic Cleavers, with some women dropping two dress sizes in only a few months. A grass-like tincture, Cleavers helps to support and cleanse the lymphatic system, a complex network of fluid-filled nodes, vessels, ducts and glands that bathe our cells and carry our body’s waste material away from the tissues to neutralize it.
This capacity to deal with toxins and decrease congestion and inflammation in the tissues also makes it a popular choice for cellulite and puffy skin, which is often the result of a sluggish or overburdened lymphatic system. If you are prone to the dreaded dimple, body brushing can also help to improve circulation and detoxification.
And to help your skin really sparkle, try Viridian Nutrition’s 100 per cent Organic Ultimate Beauty Oil, an excellent source of essential fats for spot-free skin – it’s delicious drizzled over food, or if skin is feeling particularly dry, you have any scars, stretch marks or uneven skin tone, their Organic Ultimate Beauty Skin Repair Oil with nourishing rosehip oil for topical use. A little goes a long way, so apply sparingly!
James Geraghty is the managing director of the Molloy’s Lifestyle Pharmacy Group. He has a degree in biochemistry and pharmacy, as well as 15 years’ experience of the health industry. A huge believer in the importance of exercise and wellbeing, he regularly lectures to active retirement and special interest groups around the county.
