Independent health store advice on Christmas gifts

Looking for advice on natural health and wellbeing? Your local independent health stores can offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise. This issue we speak to Catherine Devine, manager and Donna Troy and Phyllis Molloy, sales assistants of Horan’s Healthstore in Fermoy, Co Cork

Don’t let Christmas lose its sparkle this year by getting overwhelmed with last-minute preparations or shopping. Staff in health stores around Ireland are here to help you relax, sit back and enjoy the big day.

Preparations for baking the traditional Christmas cake and pudding will soon be under way. Health stores stock delicious organic spices, fruits, nuts and gluten-free flours ideal for baking treats for members of the family with special ingredient needs.

This Christmas, why not spoil yourself and your family with a wide range of delicious organic hampers and gift sets from your local health store. Staff select only the finest products exquisitely presented in wicker baskets of various sizes. Choose from a wide range of pre-made hampers or have a hamper personally tailored to your needs. Hamper suggestions include a quick ‘pick-me-up’ hamper filled with beautilicious organic soothing face and body care products, a de-stress hamper filled with organic aromatherapy oils and scented candles, or a gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free or sugar-free hamper with delicious non-alcoholic mulled berry punch, mouth-watering cordials and gluten-free mince pies.

Don’t forget the fabulous healthy foods on offer in health stores including sugar-free chocolates, raw chocolate and carob Santas. There’s something to suit the tastes and needs of every member of your family and they make good stocking fillers too.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without sparkle and light to brighten up the long dark days. Why not increase the sparkle and light in your home this Christmas with a sprinkling of fairy dust, or choose your stocking fillers from a wide selection of angels, crystals, healing stones, relaxation CDs and health awareness books.

Give your home a festive feel with essential oils. After a hard day Christmas shopping curl up beside the fire with the scent of cinnamon, clove and orange in an oil burner, or light a natural candle with the relaxing scent of jasmine, clove and apple or pink champagne. Look for candles made from natural plant wax that can burn for up to 50 hours.

And if you find you overindulged over the Christmas season, put a pep back in your step for the New Year with detoxification products such as milk thistle and vitamin B complex. There’s no doubt that you can find something for everybody in your local health store.

Who's who and what’s what at Horan’s in Fermoy

Horan’s Healthstore opened its doors in 2003 and manager Catherine Devine and sales assistant Donna Troy remain the stalwarts of the service to customers in the popular store. More recently Phyllis Molloy joined the team.

“The store has a good selection of natural foods and carries a large range of wheat-, dairy-, gluten- and sugar-free products as well as herbs and spices,” says Catherine. “Our freezers and fridges carry a variety of dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and wheat-free products.”

Horans stocks all the major brands of health supplements and sports nutrition products such as hemp protein and natural drinks such as coconut water.

“One of our most popular products would be spirulina,” says Catherine, “as well as multi-vitamins and protein products. All of our customers are very individual and we try to treat them all equally by paying attention to their needs.”

If you are looking for environmentally-friendly skincare and make-up products for the party season look no further. “All of our beauty products are natural, organic and skin-friendly,” says Catherine. “We also stock a wide range of natural hair colours.

“We are a great place to shop for stocking fillers and Christmas presents, with incense, angels, crystals, CDs and books as well as bigger gifts such as salt lamps.

“An exciting development in Horans is our new five-in-one health check,” says Catherine. “We test customers for zinc deficiency, iron levels, glucose levels, blood pressure and do full body composition testing, all free of charge. It is proving popular with our regulars.”

Visit: 55 Patrick St, Fermoy, Co Cork
Check out: Food intolerance testing for €99; iridology testing which costs €25 for a 30 minute session. Coming soon – free skin analysis testing for all customers.
Speak to: Catherine, Donna or Phyllis
Buy online: //www.horanshealthstore.com

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