9 Jan 2012 - Article in UK Health Food Business Magazine

Top role for Irish retailer

The health food trade in Ireland has been recognised for its role in promoting good health after a leading retailer was appointed to a ministerial body.



Alan McGrath (pictured above) has been appointed by the Food Standards Authority of Ireland to the Food Safety Promotion Board, a North South Ministerial Council body, which operates under the name of Safefood. It has responsibility for the promotion of food safety, research, communication of food alerts and promotion of scientific co-operation and laboratory linkages.

Alan has been retailing with his wife, Marian, since 1994, originally as the Spice of Life deli and health store and latterly as The Health Store, in Tuam, County Galway. He is the outgoing Chairman of the Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS), having served for the last three years.

“We see this appointment as recognition of the key role that the health food trade have played in relation to promoting good nutrition and health lifestyle,” Alan said. “Health food stores are now a key fabric in the retail sector in Ireland and the IAHS’ focus on training and good practice have ensured that responsible and safe practices are maintained and promoted in member stores.

“I see my key responsibility to bring the views of the natural product sector, smaller retailers and food operators to the table.”

5 Dec 2011 - Eat your way to a healthy winter

Hallowe’en this year was nothing to write home about weather-wise. It firmly set the tone for murky evenings and comfort food, but this doesn’t mean pure stodge! To help you out, IAHS member stores stock a wide range of nutritious, cheap – and so satisfying – pulses and beans, dried, tinned and often organic.

Think of Indian dal. As Madhur Jaffrey writes in her Curry Bible, dal is enjoyed “with equal relish by toothless toddlers, husky farmers and effete urban snobs." Traditional mung dal lentils can be elusive, but yellow split peas or red lentils will work well, cooked till creamy with added cumin, ginger, chillis, garlic and lots of turmeric. So simple to make, warming, high in protein and fibre, full of flavour from the spices - the best of comfort food, perfect served with a crunchy winter salad.

Looking at heart health, dal’s spice content is interesting, especially the turmeric , high in anti-oxidants and known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, stomach-soothing and heart-protecting effects.

We so often hear a customer say “I’m on blood pressure medication, can you help?” The IAHS Customer Care Protocol ensures that customers who are on medication and ask for advice are referred back to their pharmacists or doctors before taking any supplements. However we can always suggest changes in diet and lifestyle and increasingly health professionals are now endorsing omega-3, garlic and magnesium supplementation – though they may not know about dal!



Another frequent question we are getting these days is about safeguarding health and avoiding antibiotics. Knowledge about natural means to stay well is growing apace, and the favourite herb without a doubt is Echinacea. Luckily this remains available, mainly due to Bioforce who have applied to the Irish Medicines Board to have it registered as a medicinal herb, but the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is already resulting in reduced choice.

Sometimes it’s hard to fathom the minds of Brussels bureaucrats and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). From its bastion in Italy the EFSA has decreed that, due to lack of scientific evidence, we can no longer claim that prunes support bowel health! Luckily Marian Harkin MEP is battling for us against such idiocy.

17 Oct 2011 - Shop profile :: Well and Good, Midleton, Co. Cork

Well and Good, Broderick Street, Midleton, Co. Cork

Opened in 1997 by owner Jill Bell, Well & Good is East Cork's longest established health food shop. We are full members of the Irish Association of Health Stores. All staff have studied for professional qualifications, and we continually update our skills to underline our commitment to product knowledge and the well-being of our customers.

"Let food be your medicine", wrote Hippocrates, and this underlines our approach: the first thing you see in our shop is our food shelves packed with wholefoods from all over the world (organic and GM-free wherever possible), a wide range of baking ingredients, culinary herbs and spices, over 100 types of teas and herbal infusions, baby foods, and a variety of wheat free, gluten free, sugar free and dairy free foods for customers with special dietary needs. You'll often find us swapping information and recipes with our customers, and we are always interested in learning about and sourcing new products, especially Irish products such as local honeys.

Encouraging people to take responsibility for their own well being is central to Well and Good's ethos, so we also offer a wide range of vitamin and mineral supplements, herbal remedies and homeopathic medicines.

Why is my scalp itchy? What will keep the mossies away when I am up the Amazon? I'm all bunged up - can you help? Do you refill empty detergent bottles? Have you any organic toothpaste? Do you sell natural skincare? Thousands of questions like these keep us on our toes, and we can usually help with suggestions, advice, products or refills, as well as offering high quality gentle skincare and eco-friendly hygiene products.

> For more information please visit our new website and weblog.

20 Sep 2011 - Rude Health Show - Raffle

The winner of the raffle, held at Rude Health Show, collecting his prize at Nourish, Omni Shopping Centre, Santry branch in Dublin.

13 Aug 2011 - Rude Health Show - 'Light in Body - Light in Mind'

Rude Health at the RDS, Ireland's biggest health and wellbeing show, returns to the RDS in Dublin on September 10th, with a growing number of top speakers reflecting the popularity of this hugely successful event.

Attendance at last year's event increased by 25%, for the second consecutive year, and the sponsors of Rude Health, the Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS), expects that this year's very topical theme 'Light in body, Light in Mind' incorporating healthy living, mental health, weight loss and work / life balance issues will prove just as popular with visitors and exhibitors.

Exciting new top class speakers will include Dr. Eva Orsmond, Ireland's only private medical practitioner exclusively treating overweight and obesity in adults and children, and who is a very familiar face from RTÉ's Operation Transformation and medical herbalist Vivienne Campbell from the Herbal Hub, who proved to be very popular with followers of the RTÉ series Corrigan Cooks Naturally. As well as her lecture, Vivienne will also demonstrate how to use native herbs for health and beauty.

Also new to the hugely popular cookery demonstration area will be the UK's natural health innovator and medical chef Dale Pinnock and nutritional cook and coach Susan Jane Murray who is familiar to the public both for her weekly slot on Tom Dunne’s programme on Newstalk and her weekly column in the Sunday Independent.

Patrick Holford is back with the topics “Say No To Diabetes and Heart Disease” - and “The Feel Good Factor” - improve your mood and motivation without drugs. Last year, Patrick Holford spoke three times each day. This year, he’s back to do it again. The entry arrangements will be organised to give everyone a fair chance to hear him. He will give three free talks on both Saturday and Sunday.

Also returning is Bernadette Bohan with ‘The Truth About Nutrition and Disease’, Patrick McKeown speaks on “Anxiety and Asthma – the links”, while Karen Ward is revealing her ‘Secrets of Ageless Aging’.

One of Rude Health's most popular speakers is Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD - Marilyn is a registered member of the Nutrition Society, a Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine, psychologist, author and broadcaster who obtained her doctorate from Cambridge University and Marilyn’s talks are in high demand every year. This year’s superb speakers' lineup also includes Jan de Vries, Dr. Prannie Rhattigan and Professor Jane Plant, herself a cancer survivor who has a wealth of researched material at her fingertips.

UK speakers and exhibitors constantly comment on the Irish public’s hunger for information. “Underpinning Rude Health is the IAHS’ passionate belief in empowering customers to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. The event provides information on a wide range of health topics and products based on the latest research,” says IAHS Chairman Alan McGrath. “Many of the speakers will also have stands at the show providing visitors with the opportunity to speak personally to these experts and get their take on particular health issues", he says.





"In recessionary times it is more important than ever to keep medical bills to a minimum by staying healthy. This is evidenced by the thousands of people from all over Ireland who come each year to attend the non-stop programme of talks given by well-known speakers from the UK and Ireland over both days and to enjoy the food demonstrations and tastings in the centre of the hall.

"Many of our health stores have also noticed a marked increase in the number of older customers expressing interest in preventing ill health - they are becoming more interested than ever before in staying as healthy as possible, as naturally as they can.”

“Health stores play a key part in frontline and primary healthcare. By helping hundreds of thousands of customers deal with minor self limiting ailments and the promotion of dietary and lifestyle changes for optimal health, health stores have a key role and a unique position in reducing the pressure on our public healthcare system, thus relieving pressure on already hard pressed GP services and A&E departments.”

There are over 200 exhibitor stands at Rude Health, offering an exciting range of products to enhance healthy living from all over Ireland and the UK; there are also tastings, an artisan foods’ section, cookery demonstrations, and free advice from qualified therapists on herbs, homeopathy, nutrition and natural skin care.

Hurry to get your free ticket (worth €12) at > your local IAHS store (while stocks last). > For exhibitors, speakers and events visit the Rude Health website.

1 Aug 2011 - Autumn

The sun is glowing at the moment, one of those summer days making it hard to accept that the autumn is almost here. At this time of the year, as ever, phones are hopping and emails are in danger of hitting off each other in the ether as the Irish Association of Health Stores moves into top gear to finalise plans for our > Rude Health Show. It will be held in the RDS Main Hall on Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th September, and the range of speakers and exhibitors is as tantalising as ever. This year we are putting special emphasis on the food demo area, with extra special kitchen experts to work up a steam in front of you, and the artisan food section is being revised and extended.

Food is where it’s at. Many IAHS shops find their customers are returning for food just as they have always done, recession or no – good, wholesome food which won’t break the budget and helps keep our immunity high. We have many supplements to encourage gut health, but what goes into our mouths is fundamental to a strong immune system.

Shop in a supermarket by all means, but shop round the edges. Have you noticed that the central aisles are where all the processed foods are displayed, as well as the cleaning products to sterilise every last corner and leave your over- sanitised immune system a prey to infection? The wall aisles carry fruit and vegetables, dairy, fish and meat, so keep to the edges and leave the sugary, salty processed foods alone.

Keep an eye out in IAHS stores for high quality artisan foods which don’t appear in supermarkets. Many IAHS shops support and cherish local producers – organic apple syrup, organic rape oil and local honeys immediately come to mind, and there is a delicious new cold pressed extra virgin Spanish olive oil produced south of Barcelona by an Irish health store owner.

Check us out too for lunch box ideas when term starts – plenty of nut butters, hummous, organic pitta breads, rice cakes and wraps, dried fruit and nuts and sugar-free bars for healthy options.

1 Jul 2011 - ANH: Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is “a protectionist tool”

The Alliance for Natural Health International has slammed the European Commission’s Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive as “a protectionist tool.”

In an open letter to European commissioner John Dalli, Robert Verkerk, the alliance’s founder and scientific director wrote: “It seems that the criticism you now face in some quarters is down to the creation by the EU of what is effectively a protectionist tool; one which favours certain products of the European phytopharmaceutical system and discriminates against those of non-European traditional systems of medicine.”

Verkerk’s letter follows a forum in the European Parliament on 21 June to consider the challenges posed by the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD Directive 2004/24/EC) to traditional systems of medicine; particularly those of non-European origin.

> Read full article

3 Jun 2011 - Summer News

As I write, pessimists all over Ireland are muttering that they hope “this” isn’t our summer, “this” being the wonderful spring weather which has lasted through the Easter holidays.  The message is carpe diem – enjoy what we can while we can, and just think how fortunate we are here to have no tsunamis, earthquakes or hurricanes.

But we do have the menopause!  You’ll read elsewhere in the magazine about the different approaches to handling this time in our lives, and in health stores we constantly hear how you, our customers, have experimented to find what works.  This is a real “suck it and see” situation.  If one remedy worked for every woman you would certainly have heard about it, but the variety on our shelves proves that each person needs to discover for themselves what works best, be it a magnet, a herbal remedy, a food supplement such as essential fats, or a combination of remedies allied to dietary and lifestyle changes.

Heat, of course, can worsen menopausal flushes, and the herb of choice to help is sage, whether used externally, for example in a foot bath or as a deodorant, or taken internally as a tea or tablet.  It can even help people with a serious sweat problem.  The implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive at the start of May sadly ensured the disappearance of sage tincture from our shelves, but tablets, tea bags and the dried herb remain on sale - and there is no law yet to stop us using sage to flavour goose and turkey stuffing!

As the weather heats up requests for low-chemical sun creams increase, especially for children, and inevitably we get asked for advice by people who are red and sore.  Aloe vera gel is a great soother, especially if applied cool from the fridge, and a solution of bicarbonate of soda in water dabbed on with cotton wool is cheap and effective.  Low-chemical insect-repellents and citronella oil are always in demand, as are soothing creams  and essential oil of lavender to calm the itch of a bite. And remember, vinegar for wasp stings and bicarbonate of soda for bees, but we hope you won’t need either!

5 May 2011 - You & Me & THMPD

As retailers, we all care passionately about our business and the Natural Health Industry. We want our customers to have the right to choose what is right for them, with regard to herbal medicine.

With the new Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) coming into force on May 1st 2011, choices will be restricted, products will disappear from the shelves and the consumer will have less control over their own health.

Thanks to Alan Martin from Food for Thought, Surrey, UK for the following video.

4 Apr 2011 - Rude Health Week :: April 11th – 16th

The Irish Association of Health Stores is launching its second annual Rude Health Week to encourage ongoing healthy habits around the country all year long.

The IAHS, sponsors of the hugely successful ‘Rude Health at the RDS’ exhibition, which takes place each September, are promoting this Rude Health Week from Monday, April 11th to Saturday 16th in all participating IAHS health stores throughout Ireland.

“Many of our members have found from customer feedback that people would like a boost between our very popular annual Rude Health shows in the RDS, each September. We felt that a Rude Health Week in Spring would be a good time to highlight the need for people to look after their own, and their families, health and well being, all year round” says Kevin Connolly of the Irish Association of Health Stores.

“There was a 25% increase in attendance at Rude Health Show last September. It was clear that stress, sleeping problems were major concerns of people attending the Show and that more people than ever are looking for safe alternative solutions.

“People are also worried about hospital bugs and doctors’ bills so they are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of preventing illness and promoting wellbeing. We want this Rude Health Week to be a reminder for the public that they can come into any of our stores and talk to highly trained and qualified staff who can give them excellent advice on improving their health and lifestyles very naturally and safely.”

Members of the IAHS represent Ireland's leading health stores and their Code of Ethics ensures their staff are trained to offer professional guidance and advice on healthy diets, natural remedies, eco-friendly alternatives to standard detergents and skincare, and much more besides. In short, your local IAHS store offers a ‘one stop shop’ for the maintenance of good health by natural means.

Rude Health Week will give customers the opportunity to avail of special offers, free talks and lots more to celebrate Ireland’s independent health stores. Experts in Nutrition, Herbalism, Meditation, Reflexology and many other therapies, will be available throughout the country, ro meet customers on the shop floor. Many stores are planning a ‘Meet your local therapist day’ where you will be able to have mini consultations.

“We think mid April is a good time for Rude Health Week as this is when many of the good intentions made earlier in the year, start to flag a little bit!” says Kevin Connolly. We hope that Rude Health Week will really empower people to step into their local health store, have a chat with the trained staff, and embrace a naturally healthier lifestyle “.

Rude Health Week will take place in all participating IAHS health stores.

28 Mar 2011 - Spring has sprung

The corner from winter to spring has well and truly turned, and it’s no wonder we talk about having a “spring” in the step as we relish brighter, warmer days and longer evenings. With sunlight on our skin, moods lift and sales of vitamin D drop!

A shadow is cast on the natural health sector, however. As knowledge of the impending Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products (THMPD) is spreading fast, we are starting to hear customers asking “Will I still be able to buy Echinacea?” The answer is definitely “yes”, but from the 1st of May the number of brands available will be severely restricted, and sadly many herbal remedies in capsule, tablet or tincture form are very likely to disappear forever.

There is still a lot of uncertainty about the eventual outcome of THMPD, but it is sure to restrict freedom of choice. For many years the natural health industry has sought regulation to copperfasten consumer safety, but the EU has put such inappropriate and hugely expensive hurdles in place that very few manufacturers can afford to apply for the necessary licences and many safe products will vanish.

Maybe we will all start looking more closely at how herbs as foods can be used to promote good health, and re-learn traditional practices. A herb that has recently had a lot of publicity is cinnamon, excellent for helping to helping to stabilise blood sugar levels and see-sawing moods. And it even tastes great added to your porridge!

Brighter days send us to the mirror. If the reflection falls short of perfection, try nettle, the traditional Irish herb for spring and early summer - nourishing, blood-cleansing and a gentle detoxifier. Along with plenty of water and maybe some linseeds or psyllium husks to keep us “regular”, this is a brilliant herb to help perk up the complexion.

In health stores round the country you will find an array of skincare products free of SLS, parabens, petrochemicals and other synthetic chemicals which, in conventional products, can irritate skin and are easily absorbed through the skin into the body.

14 Feb 2011 - An industry sector is saving the State money, but is being regulated out of existence.

Healthfood stores in Ireland play a key part in frontline and primary healthcare by:
• providing free advice and guidance to the public in relation to making dietary and lifestyle changes for promoting sustainable health
• helping hundreds of thousands of people annually deal with minor self limiting ailments
• reducing the pressure on our public healthcare system, by relieving demand on already hard pressed GP services and A&E departments

Did you know that:
a. More than 50% of the Irish population currently avail of natural health care?

b. The vast majority of herbal products will no longer be available for purchase by consumers after 30th April this year, due to onerous regulation under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive?

c. Food supplements (i.e. vitamins and minerals) will become increasingly unavailable at effective dosages under the Food Supplements Directive? The Irish public has been availing themselves of these levels for the past 40 years to promote and safeguard their health.

d. It has been calculated that as a result of the current directives as many as 50% of the present healthfood stores could be put out of business? The retail sector alone counts for about 1,000 jobs. Combined with the wholesale sector we’re looking at a loss of up to 3,000 jobs.

While this Association has been advocating regulation of natural health products since the 1980’s, the above regulations are both inappropriate and disproportionate. IAHS President Jill Bell, commented, “The net result of all this heavy-handed regulation will be to greatly reduce the Irish public’s access to natural means for safeguarding their health.”

She continued, “Rather than fulfilling the EU’S stated aim of trade harmonization, some of this regulation may well constitute a barrier to trade between Ireland and other Member States”, adding, “A prime example of this is the fact that on our own island people can purchase some herbal remedies in Northern Ireland which are unavailable in the Republic.”

24 Jan 2011 - Boost your immune system

With a rise in swine flu again making headlines it is worth remembering that recent laboratory research showed, for the first time, that fresh Echinacea extract is highly effective against the swine flu virus, with the ability to inactivate the infectiousness by over 99%. The pioneering laboratory-based research was carried out using the ‘in vitro’ infection model on five influenza strains, utilising an extract of fresh Echinacea purpurea.

The group of international researchers found the pattern of activity provides support for the already widely accepted use of Echinacea extracts to help relieve symptoms in people affected by the flu virus, of which swine flu is a variant.

They believe Echinacea works by inhibiting the binding of the virus to cells, interfering with the way viruses enter cells. And no resistance was observed.

Prof. Dr James Hudson, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at University of British Columbia, Canada said: “Especially for people unwilling to be vaccinated, there is currently a need for alternative approaches to provide protection against respiratory tract infections.”

21 Jan 2011 - Traditional herbs are threatened by upcoming EU legislation

12 Oct 2010 - “D”, The Hero Vitamin

Over the last couple of years the staff in health stores seemed to spend a lot of time trying to cheer up damp customers, but this year we have certainly appreciated each day - even each hour - of sunshine.

Could the lack of sun in other years have affected the spread of coughs and colds in winter? Vitamin D is sometimes referred to as the new hero vitamin as so much research has gone into its properties recently, and one of its main benefits is to strengthen the body’s immune system. Vitamin D is also vital for efficient utilisation of calcium in the body, and is usually included in bone supplements to help prevent the development of osteoporosis. There are two common forms, D2 and D3, and the most useful is thought to be the latter, also known as cholecalciferol.

Uniquely, vitamin D is derived from sunlight as well as from some animal and fish foods including cod and halibut liver oil. It is made by the reaction of UV rays on a type of cholesterol stored in our skin. The further north you go in Europe the less UV light there is, but a good summer here should supply us with sufficient as long as we don’t constantly block it out with sunscreens.

However, if you are thinking of taking supplements and are on prescribed medication, do always ask health store staff for advice. The Irish Association of Health Stores has in place a Customer Care Protocol to ensure you only are sold what is safe and suitable. Our safety record speaks for itself!

8 Jun 2010 - Update :: IAHS petition to the EP

Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) Intl’s Robert Verkerk went head to head with Basil Mathioudakis, head of the food law unit at the European Commission, at the end of April over ANH-Europe and the Irish Association of Health Stores’ petition to the European Parliament (EP) on > Maximum Permitted Levels.

It was a win for common sense when the EP Petitions Committee > unanimously agreed to keep open the ANH's and four related petitions, that questioned how the European regulators were going about limiting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals to potentially ridiculously low levels.

13 May 2010 - A New Seasonal Challenge

Now that the swine ‘flu pandemic has fallen as flat as we had predicted, thoughts turn to another immune challenge - hay fever.

Your local IAHS health store will have a number of helpful natural options for sufferers. Increasingly hay fever seems to affect children, but sufferers of any age are well advised to practise prevention and look to support their immune systems before trouble starts.

Do ask for suggestions from our qualified staff.

18 Apr 2010 - Shop profile :: Remedies, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Remedies, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

23 Mar 2010 - IAHS member scoops both prestigious awards

Achieving international recognition at the > Health Food Institute Annual Awards Luncheon has become an annual event with IAHS members continuously receiving one or the other of the two main awards over the past 5 years. However - never before has one person scooped both!

In what can only be described as a Marathon achievement, IAHS member Kate Murray, The Hopsack, Rathmines received the two top awards, beating all competitors from the UK and Ireland in the professional diploma exam.

Kate was awarded the honours by the HFI training in the UK and received the Jimmy Lee Richardson Award for the highest overall marks AND the Teddy Marsden Award for exceptional understanding of the principles of holistic health, health foods and natural healing.



In London on Feb 9th. Kate received her awards, which underline our commitment to training and demonstrate again how well IAHS standards measure up in an international context. Congratulations, Kate!

8 Mar 2010 - Shop profile :: Sonas Wholefoods, Newcastle West, Limerick

Sonas Wholefoods, Lower Maiden Street, Newcastle West, Limerick

It was a chance invitation to set up a health food store in Newcastle West which first spurred Rosemarie Bennis into action. Now nearly eight years on, Sonas is a thriving business and, a key shopping and reference point in West Limerick.

Employing four highly trained staff, Sonas offers a full and comprehensive range of organic wholefoods and beverages, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, homeopathy and eco friendly cleaning products. Organic spelt bread is provided fresh daily, as are salad leaves in season and organic fruit and vegetables to order.

Combine all this with a chilled and frozen section, a classic range of organic wine, all natural skin and hair care, and you have, as Rosemarie suggests, 'everything for your weekly shop'.

For further details please phone: 069 78944

12 Nov 2009 - Shop profile :: Evolv, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford

Evolv - lobby view

One of the more modern health stores in the country is nestled in the historic and scenic town of Enniscorthy. Run by Matt, Nuala and their high-energy team of staff! Evolv is a shop people just love spending time in.

Newly built & designed in 06 this large store spreads itself over three levels. Certainly all you'd expect from a normal health store is here and in spades, however this is combined with a full section of books, another of incense, then there's jewellery - natural and organic body care. Fair-trade & funky clothing! Gifts, juicers, speciality teas, therapies, allergy testing, full beauty salon!!! Whoa! This store has a lot to offer!

For more info' talk to the Evolv crew on 053-923 6009. Have fun!

4 Aug 2009 - Immune Systems, Sun and Summer Fruits

In the summer, members of the IAHS generally find that you, our customer, ask about immunity mainly in terms of hay fever prevention. Will it be different this year?

At the time of writing there’s a lot of talk, but not much knowledge about swine ‘flu and whether it could become a pandemic or fizzle out like bird ‘flu.

The golden rules for protection from any virus or bacteria never change: eat healthily [be aware that sugars damages the immune system], get sufficient rest, exercise adequately and avoid stress.

Garlic, the most widely-used medicinal herb in the world, has strong anti-viral properties, as have elderberries. Echinacea helps to modulate the immune system, while vitamin C, olive leaf and probiotics boost it. Your local health store will add to the list!

Have any articles on vitamin D caught your eye recently? It is the new superhero of food supplements, with well-established benefits for immunity and fighting tumours, as well as for calcium absorption.

Vitamin D is naturally produced when UVB rays in sunlight strike our skin, which is why many of the best-formulated skin moisturisers do not contain it as a blocking agent. UVA rays are the baddies, and protection against them is sensible, and of course sunburn is also to be avoided.

So choose a moisturiser free from UVB blockers, and on that topic, ask your local health store for sunscreen products, which do not contain OCM [octyl methoxycinnamate]. This is a toxic addition to many sunscreens and best avoided, particularly for children.



As we welcome the wonderful summer fruits and vegetables, do think about buying locally, whether from your health store or farmers’ market, and if you can afford the extra cents to buy fresh and organic, go for it!

Not only are you supporting the local economy, but it’s well established that organic crops are higher in nutrients than food grown in tired soils fed with artificial fertilisers.

Health stores have a wide variety of organic oils, vinegars and mustards for your salad dressings, and what about adding a sprinkle of pink peppercorns to your salad - delicious flavour as well as a beautiful colour.

12 Jul 2009 - Opening of the New Evergreen Store

Jan deVries is cutting the ribbon in Galway.

The new Evergreen store in Mainguard Street in the heart of Galway city provides everything a health store shopper could need or want. Ten years ago Aideen and Ciaran Hurley opened their first store on this site. In the intervening years Evergreen has become a familiar part of the landscape in Barna and Moycullan as well as in Westside and Galway Shopping Centres.

The first store now becomes the fifth with its extension taking over the building next door. In his official opening of the new and beautiful store Jan deVries spoke about the positive message this store gives to the people of Galway at this time. The original building dates back to medieval times and is only a stone’s throw from the Spanish Arch, where, it is said, Christopher Columbus stopped on his way to discover America.

As well as its extensive range of products Evergreen prides itself on training with two of its team – Aoife Calnan and Polly Morgan – having won top prize for healthstore training over Ireland and the UK. Whether it’s quality bodycare, good healthy foods, or vitamins or herbs, the staff at the new Evergreen store in Mainguard St. under the command of the knowledgeable and caring Colette will be delighted to look after you.

Also check out > Evergreen’s new online shop.

21 Jan 2009 - Irish petition on EU food supplement directive kept open

On Monday, the Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS) defended its petition in the European Parliament against the European Commissions planned setting of EU wide maximum limits for dosages of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The petition, submitted originally in December 2007 with the support of 60,000 Irish citizens, claims that measures to harmonise maximum levels of vitamin and mineral food supplements under the Food Supplements Directive (2002/46/EC) - soon to be implemented by the European Commission - will unduly impact consumers, health stores and practitioners in Ireland.

Instead of being closed down, the apparent goal of the European Commission, the European Parliaments Petitions Committee chairman insisted that the petition be kept open.


Erica Murray, Dr Robert Verkerk, Kathy Sinnott (MEP) and Jill Bell outside the European Parliament's Petitions Committee room, Brussels.

20 May 2008 - Save Our Supplements Ireland

An independent film producer has released a video about EU regulation of vitamins (Food Supplements Directive), which can be > viewed on YouTube.



The issue highlighted in the video is only the tip of the iceberg for those of us who value freedom of choice in healthcare. There is more draconian regulation to come from the EU - in particular, a directive on herbal products (Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive) and a regulation on nutrition and health claims (NHCR).

21 Jan 2008 - Aspartame

IAHS members will eliminate products containing aspartame from their shelves.

Aspartame is touted as a solution for obesity and dental caries. It is widely available in products labelled 'sugar free'. Developed 25 years ago, it was licensed as a food ingredient by devious means. Consumption of it is on the increase, with 2,000 tons of the stuff currently consumed annually in Europe. As both a neurotoxin and an excitotoxin, it has proven links with a wide range of health problems, including various cancers, infertility, birth defects, grand mal seizures, ADD and ADHD, Parkinsons and Alzheimers, depression, memory loss, vision loss, vertigo and fibromyalgia, to name but a few.

As purveyors of health, it is incumbent on us not to sell a product containing a substance which carries with it the potential for causing serious health problems.