The new school year is approaching, you have probably ordered the uniform, tried on school shoes, and stocked up on the stationery but have you thought about how to help look after your child’s health?

Read on to find out our essential back-to-school health tips to keep your children feeling their best.

It is typical that children to catch between 7 – 10 colds a year who attend nursery or school, not to mention all the other bugs and germs that circulate so quickly around schools, so it’s a great idea to look after their immune systems to help fight these colds and keep them feeling their best.

AvaCares Child Multi-Vitamin is a great product to ensure they are getting everything they need to keep their immune systems healthy. It contains an optimum balance of essential vitamins and minerals as well as being 100% Vegan.  For the little ones, our Baby Multi-Vitamin will do the trick (use from 4 months) to help keep their immune systems healthy.

The Department of Health recommends all children from six months to five years old are given supplements that contain vitamins A, C, and D, so giving them some vitamin D with their breakfast can help overcome the dark winter days, boosting their immunity.

Vitamin D also supports a normal healthy immune system, but also more importantly contributes to bone health. The Department of Health recommends that all adults and children should consider taking a vitamin D supplement. AvaCares Vitamin D3 & K2 offers a plant source of Vitamin D as well as scientifically researched K2 which studies have shown in children increases bone-relevant mechanisms associated with better bone health.

Happy Back to School!!

How does Omega 3 benefit our children’s brains? We all have heard of Omega 3 but how exactly does it benefit our children, especially their brain? We take a look at how from the early stages of pregnancy throughout childhood.

Our bodies require essential fatty acids to function optimally. Among these fatty acids, DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is especially important during pregnancy and infancy as it has been linked to numerous health benefits. Studies have shown that our brains are 60% fat, of which 20% should be Omega 3 fatty acids such as DHA. Therefore, it is important for pregnant women and infants to get sufficient amounts of DHA in their diet in order to ensure the best possible growth and development.

There is no way about it, Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for the development of a healthy brain. It is especially important for the formation of synapses between neurons, which is known as synaptogenesis. Research has shown that babies with Omega 3/DHA deficient diets have a higher risk of developing cognitive and learning impairments later in life. DHA, in particular, plays a critical role in this process.

Omega 3 fatty acids, specifically DHA, have been shown to have a positive effect on brain volume. Studies have found that people who consume higher levels of Omega 3 in their diets have increased grey matter in certain areas of the brain. This is important for cognitive function and overall health.

So how do we make sure our children and ourselves are getting enough Omega 3? The best way to achieve this is either from supplements such as AvaCare Child Multi-Vitamins with Omega 3 (which our children LOVE) or from your diet. Foods such as fish, nuts and seeds are rich in Omega 3.

Omega 3 continues to benefit your health throughout adulthood, helping to keep your heart, lungs, blood vessels and your immune system working the way they should be.

You may or may not know that Vitamin K is a nutrient that was discovered in 1929 and is split into two forms. Vitamin K1 is mainly for supporting blood clots, while vitamin K2 is mainly used for reducing heart disease and boosting bone health.

Reason 1: How does vitamin K2 reduce heart disease?

In the UK, around 3% of the population suffer from heart disease, and most of these cases can easily be prevented.

One way heart disease is caused is calcium deposits slowly blocking up arteries over time. When this happens less blood and oxygen can reach the heart so this can increase the risk of a heart attack and heart disease. Vitamin K2 helps to prevent that and delivers calcium straight to the bones.

“But can’t vitamin K1 deliver the same results?” Nope, it’s proven that Vitamin K1 has been found ineffective when it comes to reducing heart disease.

Reason 2: Vitamin K2 and helping bone health:

Osteoporosis is a serious bone condition that causes bones to become weaker and less dense than usual. This leads to the affected bones being damaged or broken easier than others.

Vitamin K2 helps prevent bone disease by modifying a protein to allow it to bind to minerals contained within bones to help prevent calcium loss. This is important because calcium is the main ingredient in making bones, and provides the foundation for good bone strength and structure throughout the body.

Reason 3: K2 and dental health:

Vitamin K2 helps with the condition of not only the bones but teeth as well. This is because vitamin K2 works together with vitamin D. Calcium removed from the bloodstream is used by the organism to strengthen bones and teeth. One theory (that is yet to be proven) is that vitamin K2 may be able to help prevent tooth cavities.

Reason 4: How K2 helps to fight cancer:

A variety of studies have found that vitamin K2 can help to reduce certain types of cancer. Studies show that taking vitamin K2 can reduce the chances of liver cancer returning. K2 may also increase the chances of survival.

Another study with 11,000 men participating has suggested that if men consume vitamin K2 regularly they will reduce the chance of having prostate cancer by 63%.

More studies are being done to see if K2 can help when it comes to other types of cancer.

Reason 5: K2 and Skin Benefits:

Since K2 helps remove calcium build-ups and places the calcium in required places, K2 helps remove calcium deposits from soft tissues.

Calcium deposits cause elastin fibres. When these fibres harden it causes skin wrinkles, K2 activates proteins to inhibit this. Vitamin K2 can help with acne problems and other skin conditions. In skincare, Vitamin K2 improves the work of Vitamin A which is a key for cell growth.

Summary 

The use of vitamin K2, either through food or supplementation, will improve overall health by strengthening bones and eliminating calcium deposits in the arteries that may potentially cause problems in the future. The problem with finding Vitamin K2 in foods is that it is difficult to find it at the level required.

The Japanese food Natto, made from fermented soybeans, is one of the richest food sources. Natto can also be found in Eels and Beef liver, but all of these require a certain taste recognition, which is why we thought that a vegan vitamin K2 spray would be more appealing! Check out

References:

• (2018). Vitamin K2: Everything You Need to Know. [online] Available at: https://www.healthne.com/nutrition/vitamin-k2#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
  Accessed 12 Jan. 2022]
• bhf.org.uk. (n.d.). Research into atherosclerosis: 4 scientists talk about their work. [online] Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/atherosclerosis
• NHS (2019). Overview – Osteoporosis. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/
• Chris Kresser. (2012). Nutrition for Healthy Skin: Silica, Niacin, Vitamin K2, and Probiotics. [online] Available at: https://chriskresser.com/nutrition-for-healthy-skin-silica-niacin-vitamin-k2-and-probiotics/#Vitamin_K2

[Accessed 19 Jan. 2022].

Let’s make the world a little better! ????

 

Over the last few months, we have been working with local food banks and organisations to help give back to families in need. We know it’s a difficult time for a lot of families right now, but we strongly believe that every person should have access to the supplements they need.

We have donated over 3000 of our Immunity C Liposomal so far and continue to work with other organisations to reach even more families.

Our work with Vitamin Angles UK also continues.

AvaCare donates a percentage of sales from our website to Vitamin Angels UK. Vitamin Angels are a worldwide charity set up by Howard Schiffer. Howard has a passion for making the world a healthier and better place, his work has resulted in the charity helping thousands of children and women and giving them the opportunity to have a healthy and meaningful life.

For every £1, we help Vitamin Angels UK reach 4 pregnant women or children throughout the UK and around the world with life-changing nutritional support. We would like to thank you for allowing us to support such an amazing charity.

If you would like to donate to Vitamins Angles, all customers are given the chance to donate further at checkout.

AvaCare Baby Multi-Vitamin Drops

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new, improved and much-loved Baby Multi-Vitamin Drops.

After selling out of our most loved baby product we decided it was time to look to see if there was anything we could change and make even better – and guess what, that’s exactly what we have done! We are always looking for innovative ways to improve our products using the best vegan ingredients available.

We know that during their first years of life babies’ immune systems, growth and development need a little extra help from certain nutrients to support them, our new formula includes everything that your little ones need.  With an optimum balance of essential vitamins and Zinc, including Vitamin A for vision, Vitamin B for energy, and Vitamin D for bone growth.

 

What have we improved?

• To improve the absorption of Vitamin C, we have added a blend of Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Ascorbate.
• We have improved the flavour to tasty Tutti Frutti from Mixed Fruits.
• For even better absorption we have substituted Zinc Citrate with Zinc Gluconate.
• Only the naturally occurring methylated versions of Vitamin B9 (L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate) and Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) are used. Both forms of vitamins are better absorbed and have better bioavailability than other forms of Vitamin B9 and B12.

What makes this product amazing?

• Optimum Balance of Essential Vitamins and Zinc
• No peanut oil and No Propylene Glycol
• Vitamin A for vision, B for energy release, & D for bone growth
• No artificial sweeteners, colours or flavours
• Zinc and Vitamin C for the Immune system
• Registered with the Vegan Society
• From 4 months
• Made in the UK
• A simple once-a-day dose
• Does not require refrigeration after opening

As with all of our products, our Baby Multi-Vitamins Drops are Vegan, we are extremely proud to be registered with the Vegan Society. This formulation has been designed to provide your children with just the ingredients they need. We have built this formulation based on research and studies from the following institutions:

• The Royal College of Paediatric & Child Health
• The National Health Service
• The World Health Organization
• University of Maryland Medical Centre
• The Mayo Clinic

Our Baby Multi-Vitamin Drops are suitable from 4 months. We would recommend the switch to our Child Multi-Vitamin & Minerals with Omega 3 from around the 1-year mark.

We would love to hear what you think of our new formula, make sure to follow AvaCare on Instagram (@VitaminsByAvaCare)  we love to see your pictures and videos, don’t forget to tag us!!

**Update**

15th February 2023

AvaCare has been liaising with local unions regarding the second strike date in February, and for now, we have decided to postpone the strike date due on the 21st of February. We will of course continue our communications with local trusts and will update any further information on their page or via email.

AvaCare is STRIKING with our NHS

AvaCare, a private company, is striking alongside our NHS In the last year, 25,000 nursing staff around the UK left the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register.

Poor pay contributes to staff shortages across the UK, affecting patient safety. There are 47,000 unfilled registered nurse posts in England’s NHS alone.

During COVID the public clapped to show our gratitude and support. AvaCare will join the NHS and show our support by joining them on the picket line with strike action.

 

Why are we doing this?

Reason 1

No NHS (or public sector) employee should be faced with the burdensome decision of whether to go on strike or not. We are standing with them, striking with them, so they know they are not alone.

Reason 2

At AvaCare we believe every person must have access to what they need to live a healthy life. To help achieve this, we want our beloved NHS to still be here tomorrow. The NHS is being decimated and we do

not believe the current government is paying attention to what the people of the UK want. We are therefore asking other private business owners large and small to join us on strike.

The first-ever strike held by privately owned companies is Tuesday 20^th December 2022. The second-strike date will be February 21^st 2023.

Are you a business owner who wants to see our NHS still here tomorrow? Then we ask you to join us in strike action, down tools and support your NHS in their fight for the basic rights to safe working conditions and fair pay. The danger is we do nothing, the NHS falls apart and private pharma companies step in.

The RCN is campaigning for a pay rise of 5% above RPI inflation, which has left experienced nurses 20% worse off since 2010. Only by paying nursing staff fairly will the NHS recruit and retain people in the profession.

 

Here is what you can do if you want to join us:

Sign up for the mailing list to keep up to date with all the latest news of our planned strikes. This can be found below.

Prepare for strike days. Post your efforts on social media, display banners on our website and turn on your out-of-office replies, explaining why you will be alongside the NHS on their strike days.

Join the NHS on their picket lines or create your own outside of your local NHS hospital, in a visible and safe area which does not interfere with the day-to-day running of the hospital. We want our NHS to feel supported and we will be there to make sure they know they are not alone.

Contact Local Press, Radio stations and trade news with your own press releases. Feel free to copy or take from our press release as you see fit

Don’t forget your placards and signs, ensure the NHS staff can see why you’re there.