Emsworth TDG Feb23

Dear

However, we are not quite there yet, and the winter months can be tough for many of us and our loved ones, which is why our chosen charity this month is the amazing Mind. They have given us their tips on Winter Well-being Support - take a look inside to find out how you can best support yourself and others.

As we are all emerging from our winter hibernation, it is important that well-being practices and health remain at the forefront of everything we do, which is why we are focussing on self-care this February. Show yourself some self-care, and enter our competition to win a Purifying Palmarosa Skincare Kit and Aromatherapy Rituals Collection from Neal’s Yard! A perfect addition to your self-care ritual!

February is a wonderful time to plant physical and metaphorical seeds of intention that we can enjoy later in the year. So why not start by reading our ‘Top of The Pots’ article on how you can brighten up small to medium-sized gardens with flowers, shrubs, and plants that you can reap the benefits of as 2023 marches on!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Directory edition without our favourite competition…Find Barney! Spot the lovable Barney in four of our adverts and enter for a chance to win £50!

We hope you enjoy this edition and have a great month!

Denise Lloyd, Managing Director

The

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Are Vitamins Vital?

In the early 20th century when vitamins were first discovered and their role in preventing illnesses such as scurvy and rickets began to be understood, it was deemed a revelation in healthcare. Back then, diets were nutritionally insu cient enough to cause serious health problems, and even death.

Yet now, in 2023, we have access to an abundance of fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat, making such diseases an anomaly in the western world.

However, a 2018 Food Standards Agency report found that about half of UK adults took food supplements on a regular basis, suggesting a belief at least that these special pills can either prevent and cure illness, or both. And of course, such magical thinking is understandable given the information we are fed via the media.

It’s always worth bearing in mind that a well-balanced diet ought to have you covered in any case. Not only that, but vitamins and minerals in their natural state are easier absorbed by your body.

The question is then, does your diet have you covered? Well, as long as you aren’t excluding one of the main food groups, then yes. However, if you are following a vegetarian or vegan plant-based diet, taking a multivitamin that contains vitamin B12, iodine and choline, along with

vitamin D, could be beneficial. Similarly, those averse to oily fish should consider an omega 3 supplement.

Women who are pregnant or intend on becoming pregnant are advised to take a 400-microgram supplement of folic acid, daily, as research shows that this reduces the risk of neural tube defects in babies.

Calcium is also vital to those breastfeeding, so any new mums who are lactose intolerant ought to seek it by other means.

Ageing can also have a detrimental e ect on your body’s ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals; for example, as we get older our stomachs struggle to produce hydrochloric acid – vital for the absorption of vitamin B12 – so those over the age of 50 are advised to take a B12 supplement.

In conclusion, supplements tend to benefit those whose diets are lacking. That said, you might just want to take a multivitamin for peace of mind; after all, the only negative e ect it can really

have is to your wallet!

Us Brits spend around £500million every year on multivitamins and dietary supplements, but are we actually getting our money’s worth?

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Top of the Pots

A solution for brightening up small to medium-sized gardens, with big potted flowers, shrubs or plants. Step forward the humble pot.

The answer for those looking to create interest, texture and variation to an outside space, is to consider clever use of pots; here’s why:

1. Versatility

Using pots as a way to house things you grow in your garden, means you can move them around at will. This may suit you across the changing seasons, or simply satisfying your changing moods as your garden evolves over time.

2. Budget

Pots are generally very cheap, and last across the seasons, and while the plastic variety may feel and look cheap, they can be painted assorted colours and hung from walls, stacked along sills, or placed on benches.

Similarly, if the time comes that you want to invest in something a bit showier, simply repot.

3. Colour

Work pot colour into an area of your garden, either as a way of blending with a background, or perhaps with the intention of adding standout value that will wow visitors.

4. Multi-use

Whether placing inside it a small shrub or a strapping tree, your perfect pot o ers a happy home for all manner of living matter.

5. Design

Pots come in all shapes and designs; from the basic terracotta round variety, to elegantly glazed, right through to the steely grey industrial look that suit a rather more contemporary garden.

Other considerations When choosing which type of containers you would like, first consider your space. If you just have a window box or modest balcony, smaller plastic or tin planters work best.

If you have an entirely concrete space, choose larger vases made of clay, either plain or painted. These will bring life to the dank corners and transform a brutalist set of stairs into a picturesque path.

It can be tempting to assemble an assortment of di erent pots and containers, but this can start to look messy, so choose a theme and stick to it.

Similarly, as far as flowers go, you don’t want to throw just any seeds in and hope for the best. Consider which colours work best together and try to pick flowers of equal heights. Poppies and dahlias complement one another magnificently, as do tulips and peonies.

For trees and larger plants, obey all the usual rules in terms of factoring in shade and direct sunlight.

Of course, the good news is if you do position your pot in the wrong place, it’s very easy and quick to move… and the same can’t be said about a tree anchored 3ft in the ground!