Woodford Files: On Lemon Herbs, Benefits of Bitters, and Vitality’s New Digital Magazine

Now that spring has fully taken hold of our bodies and souls, urging us to cast off heavy clothes and throw open our windows to the sun, many of us feel the need to purge the old and welcome the new.

Invigorating our spring diets with fresh herbs, nourishing soups, and raw vegetables is one way to feast on the green energy of the season. This month we bring you a delectable feature by Pat Crocker, a culinary herbalist who shares kitchen wisdom and ‘lemony herb’ recipes for enlivening spring meals. From bergamot’s citrus flavour in green salads, to lemon balm’s calming effects in teas and marinades, the world of herbal magic is explored here. Even sea buckthorn berries are included as a prime source of vitamin C and a lovely citrusy addition to teas and trail mixes.

Herbs can also function as green medicines, and this month Michael Vertolli, one of Canada’s top registered herbalists, explains the benefits of bitter-tasting plants. Although the topic might make you pucker, it’s worth knowing that not only do bitters help to cleanse the liver, they also improve digestion. According to Vertolli, “…improving digestion tends to reduce food sensitivity reactions, leaky gut, systemic autoimmune reactions, and improves the balance of microorganisms in the gut.” (Eating bitters can also be refreshing for the palate – the salad on our cover contains bitter radicchio, watercress, and arugula.)

The spring season is also about starting new projects, and this month we are delighted to announce the launch of our brand new digital edition. Now the print magazine that you know and love can also be read on your computer or mobile device. By signing up for a free subscription, you can get the magazine delivered to your Inbox ten times per year as each new issue is released, and you can enjoy the added features that come with the digital edition. For example, you’ll be able to turn the pages with the click of a button, zoom in and out of the pages, drag your mouse over the advertisements to view coupons, special offers and videos, and click on any web address in the articles or ads to be transported directly to that website.

I’m not much of a techie myself, but I’m already having great fun playing with the features in the digital Vitality. We expect that a lot of people will enjoy the convenience of this new platform, and we look forward to serving readers in ever greater numbers as the demand for good quality information on natural health solutions continues to grow. Not only are we experiencing increased demand for Vitality within the province (from Niagara Falls to Ottawa), but many outlets in Western Canada have also been asking for shipments. Now we can share Vitality’s digital edition with readers right across Canada (and even the U.S.) with the push of a button. To get a free subscription to the new digital Vitality,

click Subscriptions

We’d love to get your feedback on this or anything else we do, so please send comments to: letters@vitalitymagazine.com

Julia Woodford, Editor