Our June Round Up is a collection of goodies that we have recently been trying and testing at Healthy Living London. The sun is shining and lockdown has lifted; things are looking brighter. Here are a few finds that we have recently discovered and want to share with you; we’ve been busy this month! From delicious Dalston drinks to handy dry sacks, there’s plenty of delightful finds and inspiration for summer.
June Round Up
Lashilé’s Good Hair Vitamin Gummies
Lashilé’s vegan gummies are new to the UK and designed to give hair, skin and overall health a little boost. They are packed with concentrated vitamins, minerals and active ingredients. Plus, they are vegan, contain no artificial colouring and are gluten free. They are also free of titanium dioxide (a carcinogen), as well as being 100% Kosher and Halal.
They are delicious and I look forward to my candy-like treat each day – I never forget to take my daily vitamin! The little star shapes are a sweet touch. The Good Hair gummies are delicious and have a subtle strawberry taste to them. I am going to try the Good Sun next!
With all vitamins and supplements, the results are always subjective, so it’s hard to prove the benefits. However, I can tell you how I feel; the vitamins have improved the texture of my hair as it feels softer to touch. Plus, my hair has grown a lot. Also, my nails have felt stronger and have grown quicker despite my being a nervous biter! I will continue to include Lashilé’s in my daily routine.
Find Out More: Lashilé’s website – lashilebeauty.com
Available to buy in the UK at Superdrug
~ Hannah Cox @hannahltc
Up Stuff Sacks
Up stuff sacks are an essential piece of kit for me. I love swimming and standup paddleboarding and these waterproof bags protect my belongings. These lightweight bags are made with a PU coated rip-stop nylon with double stitched and taped seams; they roll closed and form a watertight seal. I use it like a handbag or purse and it holds my wallet, keys, phone… then I clip it to my paddleboard so I don’t have to leave these valuables on the beach. Also, if you make sure you leave air in the bag before you roll the bag shut, the bag will float, should you drop it in the ocean by mistake!
Each pack contains 3 sacks in different sizes and colours. They can be used for a variety of things, but I mainly use the smaller two for water sport activities and I use the larger one for keeping wet clothes (bathing suit and towel) away from dry ones when travelling.
Find Out More: Website – 1000mile.co.uk
~ Hannah Cox @hannahltc
Dalston’s Sodas With Soul
Healthy Living London loves finding healthy and delicious food and drinks and Dalston’s sodas are just that; a refreshing soda that is 100% natural with no added sugar and no junk. Most importantly, they contain NO sweeteners, which so many other brands do.
Born out of Dalston, East London (hence the name) they make delicious drinks using real ingredients. Duncan O’Brien created Dalston Cola on a mission to make fizzy drinks that actually taste of what they’re made of. Sourcing local ingredients, Duncan honed his skill for blending and creating tasty drinks under one of Dalston’s archways. Since then, Dalston sodas are stocked nationally as well as being distributed to 10 countries.
Dalston drinks are thirst quenching and light, a refreshing drink especially during this beautiful weather that we are having in the UK right now. The drinks are delicious – the elderflower reminds me of sunny childhood summers.
Dalston’s drinks have recently released their range of ‘hard seltzers‘ – a low calorie, no added sugar alternative to beer or wine. They have blended their real fruit seltzers and with a tripled distilled spirit for a lighter alcoholic drink. Another delicious, low calorie drink perfect for the summertime sunshine.
Find Out More: The sodas are available in Cherry, Elderflower or Rhubarb from their website. The hard seltzers are available in Rhubarb or Grapefruit from their website. Other flavours are also available at Ocado, Sainsbury’s and other retail outlets.
Instagram – @drinkdalstons Website – dalstons.com
~ Hannah Cox @hannahltc
INEOS Touchless Hand Sanitiser Dispenser
When you think of hand sanitiser, you think of the clear plastic hand pumps right? With everything that’s been going on this past year, hand sanitiser has become a norm – my young children won’t even touch a snack unless they’ve put a good dollop of hand sanitiser on. We have SO many half-empty bottles littering our hallway, along the stairs and in the kitchen – they’re great to grab as you rush out the house, but horrible to have at home.
But the INEOS dispenser is beautiful. And it’s big enough so you don’t have to continually buy refills. The silver one, which I’ve got, is fairly large, but discreet – it just sits there and looks classy. You probably wouldn’t even realise that it’s hand sanitiser. And it’s automatic – so is super easy to use. Best of all, it runs off a rechargeable battery which needs to be recharged approximately every 6 months.
I’ve also started a sports massage course, so having this around for my steady stream of guinea pigs coming into my house makes my set-up look more professional. While you can attach it to a wall, I prefer to have this mobile so I can move it around to suit my needs. It’s not cheap, but if you’re after a way to prioritise hygiene which looks good in the house, the INEOS dispenser is what you need.
Find Out More: INEOS Touchless Hand Sanitiser Dispenser, £179
~ Eliza Flynn @wabbitpie
Dreamscene Kids Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets are said to use Deep Touch Pressure Stimulation, a technique commonly applied using hands or the body, to bring about a sense of calm and peace. This may be in the form of hugs, gentle squeezing, holding, or… using a weighted blanket. I’ve been trying the teddy fleece kids blanket which weighs 3kg – both on my children and myself. The weight comes from micro glass beads which have been sewn into pockets across the blanket.
I initially thought it would feel rather claustrophobic, but it does feel like someone’s giving you a full-body hug, especially with the snuggly fleecy side. On the nights when I’ve stolen it from my children, it feels really good positioned around my middle, but I wish it were bigger so I could properly snuggle underneath.
I’m keen to try a larger blanket – the Brentfords weighted blanket also has the snuggly fleece side and comes in 6kg and 8kg weight.
Find Out More: Dreamscene Kids Weighted Blanket, £19
~ Eliza Flynn @wabbitpie
Fatt Keto Snacks
This month I’ve been upping my snack game with Fatt’s nutty, vegan, low carb bars. While I don’t follow a ketogenic diet, I really enjoyed these plant-based bars and they gave me the afternoon snack treat I needed without the 4pm slump.
Fatt market’s itself as a keto snack brand, producing sweetener-free, low carb and low sugar keto products. The Fatt range currently includes bars and cookies – although the cookies aren’t vegan friendly. Most of the products come in at at less than 2g of carbs (sugar) per portion and all are all free from palm oil and gluten as well as being high in good fats and inulin, a prebiotic fibre.
I tried the Fatt Caramel & Sea Salt Ketogenic Nut Bar (RRP £1.85). It is made with macadamia nuts, almonds and pecans, along with chicory extract and inulin. The bar was deliciously sticky and smooth with a rich caramel flavour with a salty edge. It comes in at 2g of carbs and 11g of fat. My husband valiantly stepped in to try the Fatt Almond & Vanilla Ketogenic Cookies (RRP £1.85) as they contain egg and milk powder so aren’t vegan friendly. The cookies are just 1.5G of carbs and have a distinctly almond flavour. They are soft and crumbly rather than crunchy but my husband really enjoyed them.
Fatt was founded by Hannah Sutter. She embraced the keto lifestyle in 2000 and started experimenting with recipes in her kitchen, which she then refined alongside a team of food scientists and dieticians. After 21 years of hands-on knowledge – cooking, eating and making keto food, Hannah launched Fatt with a clear mission: to provide clean and convenient keto snack options that make embracing a clean and healthy keto lifestyle easy.
Find Out More: Fatt Ketogenic Nut Bars (RRP £1.85) and Ketogenic Cookies (RRP £1.85-£9.25) are available on the Fatt website, or in a number of UK outlets, including Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic, As Nature Intended Stores and Amazon. Follow Fatt on Instagram: @live.fatt
~ Lizzy Silverton @lizzy_silverton
XITE Nootropic Energy
XITE is the first range of nootropic energy drinks to arrive in the UK. They promise to help you think, feel and perform to your absolute best. Each can is packed with vitamins and natural caffeine to amplify your energy.
So what is nootropic?
Nootropics are supplements that can be taken to improve mental performance and are most often used to boost memory, focus, creativity, intelligence and motivation. Sounds awesome. Unlike traditional energy drinks, XITE uses natural green bean caffeine to energise (without that crash) and contains three active nootropics including Tyrosine*, Carnitine** and Vitamin B*** that help support mental performance.
- Nootropic blend:
- Natural Caffeine – 118mg from green coffee bean providing long lasting energy
- * L – Tyrosine – increase levels of the neurotransmitter’s dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine. By increasing these neurotransmitters, it helps improve memory and performance in stressful situations
- ** L – Carnitine – helps the body produce energy. It is important for heart and brain function, muscle movement, and many other body processes
- *** B Vitamins – have a direct impact on your energy levels, brain function, and cell metabolism
- Panax Ginseng – including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects
- Zinc – plays an important role in axonal and synaptic transmission and is necessary for nucleic acid metabolism and brain tubulin growth and phosphorylation
The range contains two delicious and naturally flavoured drinks including Raspberry & Watermelon and Peach & Passion Fruit, both of which are zero sugar, naturally flavoured, vegan and diabetic friendly and full of ginseng.
Unlike some other energy supplements, XITE can be enjoyed at any time of day. From waking up first thing in the morning, pre or post work out or for that all important late afternoon meeting, XITE can provide the focus and energy you need.
- Advisory:
- High caffeine content
- Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women
- Consume Moderately
- Not to be consumed by under 18s
Find Out More: Available in multipacks online at drinkxite.com and in-store at Holland & Barrett, Ocado and WHSmith.
~ Hannah Cox @hannahltc
Master Cafe Iced Coffee
If coffee is more your thing, we have recently discovered a delicious range of naturally sweetened iced coffees, ideal for that little boost on a hot summer’s day. Delicious and refreshing, this little half pint can is great to grab on the go.
Made with Arabica coffee beans for that natural sweetness, these creamy iced coffees come in three flavours; Classico, Mocha (my favourite) and Latte. Each flavour has a hint of natural cane sugar and absolutely NO artificial sweeteners. Plus the can is not only cool, it is also 100% recyclable.
I really like these little energy boosters. They taste delicious and are easy to grab and go. I often react with anxiety and the jitters to high levels of caffeine, but this brand did not seem to shake me or make me feel uneasy, like other well known brands have done. So, for me, this is my go to coffee treat.
- Advisory:
- High caffeine content
- Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women
- Consume Moderately
- Not to be consumed by under 18s
Find Out More: Website – snaxemporium.com/collections/master-cafe
~ Hannah Cox @hannahltc
Check out our Monthly Round Ups for further inspiration.
Got something you think we’d love? Send Healthy Living London an email to find out more.
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