Rude Health News & Events

The latest news, research and events from the world of natural health

Pat Curran Award results

Many Rude Health readers recently took the opportunity to recommend their Favourite Health Store Staff Member for the Pat Curran Award for Excellence in Customer Service for 2023. The member of staff who is the overall winner will receive a €500 cash prize and their store will also receive €500, which they can give to a charity of their choice. The winner this year was Helen Mannion who works at Evergreen health store in Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Road, Galway.

Pictured right: Michael Donnellan, Olive Donnellan, Ciaran Hurley, Helen Mannion, Deirdre Walsh from Cope, Galway

Read the full story here...

Ubiquinol into ubiquinone best for heart support?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Heart failure alone has been defined as a global pandemic that results in millions of deaths and impairs the quality of life of sufferers of the condition.

Recent studies have suggested that the vitamin-like compound coenzyme Q10 may be a useful source of nutritional intervention for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease in patients with heart failure.

However, the studies have not clearly distinguished between ubiquinone, the oxidised form of co-enzyme Q10, and ubiquinol, which is the reduced form of the compound. Apparently, there is a vital difference between the two. Ubiquinone is backed by solid science, and this is the reason why this particular form of co-enzyme Q10 is what the Austrian researchers recommend in their new meta-analysis.

Writing in the science journal Current Cardiology Reports, researchers from the University of Graz in Austria explain that they examined a number of studies looking for those that used placebo-controlled cross-over studies of co-enzyme Q10, using the two search terms “ubiquinone” and “ubiquinol”. Out of 238 studies in total, they ended up with 28 eligible studies, which they carefully analysed.

The scientists found that there are several reasons why it makes better sense for consumers as well as scientists to choose ubiquinone instead of ubiquinol. First of all, the available research points to ubiquinone as the most obvious choice. Secondly, the body converts ubiquinol into ubiquinone, once ubiquinol comes into contact with body fluids. And finally, the ubiquinol form is far more expensive and technically challenging to manufacture and handle.

The best of Ireland’s health food retailers celebrate in the 2024 Awards

The New Natural Business/Health Stores Ireland Retailer Awards 2024 were announced last month with some worthy winners.

Innovation & Business Development: Well & Good, Middleton. Special Commendations for Licorice, Portumna and Nature’s Hand, Limerick.

Training & Education: Organico, Bantry. Special Commendations for Bee Healthy, Monaghan and Remedies, Dungarvan.

Community Engagement: Healthy Vision, Roscrea. Special Commendations for Bee Healthy, Monaghan and Nice N Natural, Cootehill.

Local Producer Champion: The Aloe Tree, Ennistymon. Special Commendations for Loop de Loop, Castletownbere and Simple Simon’s, Donegal.

Environmental Initiatives: Healing Harvest, Kinvara. Special Commendations for Open Sesame, Gort and Only Natural, Wexford.

Digital Marketing and Social Media: Horan’s, Tralee. Special Commendations for Organico, Bantry.

New Store: Here’s Health, Cork.

What’s in season in March and April?

Brussels sprouts, butterhead lettuce, cabbage, carrots, cauliflowers, leeks, onions, mushrooms, parsnips, potatoes, spinach, swedes, turnips, cooking and eating apples.

March events

Future Fertility Show, RDS
2-3 March
Workshops, live talks and many exhibitors taking a full circle approach to fertility. Expert presenters and speakers, support services from holistic therapists to counsellors, legal to nutrition specialists, surrogacy, adoption to fostering services. Tickets from €29, www.futurefertilityshow.com

Mother's Day
Sunday 10 March

Find more natural health events here...