Floradix Liquid Iron

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	High quality herbal and fruit supplement
Disadvantages:	Short storage life once opened

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Following a recent bout of flu my mother-in-law recommended that I bought a bottle of Floradix to help combat the extreme tiredness that I was feeling. Every movement was an effort and I was feeling as though I had done ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer! I had lost all my appetite and as a consequence had survived on very little sustenance no wonder my body was complaining. I found that it helped me ‘get back on my feet’ again and was a very useful aid to my recovery.

What is it?

Floradix is a food supplement which supplies the goodness needed by the body to sustain fitness and health. It is bought in liquid form. It is made from numerous herbs, fruits, vitamins, yeast, ocean kelp and organic iron. Vitamins C, B6, B12, Thiamin and Riboflavin are a part of the supplement and each providing a part of the recommended daily allowance. The iron is provided in a highly absorbable form and the makers claim that it is in a ‘non-constipating’ form which is very reassuring since no-one want s to suffer in that way. There are no artificial colourings or flavourings in the supplement and it is free of alcohol and chemical preservatives.

Who makes it?

It is made by Salus-haus in Bruckmuhl in Germany however the UK Distributor can be found at 17, Grosvenor Grange, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 4SF. Their telephone number is 01925 825679 and their fax is 01925 814449.

Background.

Salus-Haus was formed in 1916 by Dr Otto Greither. His aim was to harness natural products and to provide excellent quality and enhance the company’s reputation throughout the world. The herbs used in the products are subjected to numerous scientific tests and quality control methods to ensure that high standards are maintained.

Who can take it?

Floradix can be taken by children and the dose adjusted accordingly. The makers particularly recommend it for womenwho can be prone to anaemia and it can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. Of course men can also take the supplement too and anyone in fact whose diet is lacking in vitamins or iron.

How much should I take?

The bottle comes with a measuring cap and it is recommended that you take 10ml which is 2 teaspoonsfuls every morning and evening before your meal.

For children between 6 and 12 years of age it recommends a total of 10ml per day. You can of course decide to take less that the recommended amount and I decided to just take a 10 ml dose at breakfast to see how I got on with the supplement and to make sure that I did not have any unwanted side effects. I am pleased to say that I did not suffer from any discomfort or have any ill effects from taking the supplement. The makers state that as a liquid supplement the body is better able to absorb the product because the main ingredients have already been dissolved thus speeding up the absorption rate. Each 250ml bottle can provide twentyfive 10 ml (two teaspoonfuls) of supplement. It is suitable for Vegetarians.

Storage.

As Floradix does not contain any preservatives of any sort it is necessary to place the bottle in the fridge after use and in this way the bottle can last for up to four weeks. Unopened the product has a long shelf life as my bottle could last unopened until October 2007. This information is stamped on the top of the box and is difficult to read in poor light.

Packaging

The dark brown traditional medicine bottle is hidden inside a brightly coloured box measuring 8 x 19 cms. The box will look quite eye catching on the shelf and has two shades of red and a white centre on the front of the box. On the right side of the front there are attractive drawings of various fruits and herbs including rose hips and fennel. The writing is very clear black print and stands out against the central white area.
The contents of 250 ml are boldly printed in the centre of the front.

Appearance

The product is a mid brown liquid with reddish tones. It is a very thin consistency and pours out of the bottle very quickly and easily.

Smell

I think that this has a very unusual smell which combines several recognisable smells and blends them to create something strange. I found the smell neither pleasant nor unpleasant just different to anything else I have come across. My nose could recognise a sweet slightly cloying smell and there is definitely rose hip syrup smell trying to dominate. That is up against the heady dark smelling yeast type smell, slightly musty and old smelling like old leather boots.

Taste

The smell does not really entice me to linger over the taste but in the interests of ciao I will take my time and give a view. The first sensation is of sweetness from the honey which is quite overpowering and abit sickly with a definite rose hip flavour. Behind this sweetness lurks the yeasty darker flavour reminiscent of hops and breweries. Amazingly these were the only strong flavours that I could discern from the tasting despite there being extracts from carrots, nettles, spinach, quitch roots, angelica roots, fennel, ocean kelp, mallow blossom and orange peel which make up 54% of the ingredients. The fruit element accounts for 29% and contains pears, red grapes, black currants, oranges, blackberries, cherries and beetroots!

Because the liquid is thin it does make it easy to swallow and once it has disappeared I did not find that it repeated on me or left any strong after taste. This makes the process of taking this supplement a lot easier and more palatable.

Where can I buy it from?

I bought my bottle in Holland and Barrett where it costs £7.79 for the 250ml bottle. They have an online store at hollandandbarrett.com where you can buy the 250ml bottle. They deliver and post and packing costs £1.99. You can phone them on 0870 606 6605.

It is also available at expresschemist.co.uk for £7.48 for 250ml and £11.95 for 500 ml and the postage and packing is £2.95.

Can I buy other Floradix products?

If you can’t tolerate yeast or gluten there is a Floradix product called Floravital which is an iron formula without the yeast/gluten.

Floravital Kindervital for children.

Floradix Salusan Liquid Herbal

Floradix Calcium Liquid

Floradix Magnesium Liquid

Floradix Gallexier Liquid – a natural artichoke food supplement to aid digestion

Salus Alpenkraft Herbal Syrup

Salus Honey and Fennel

Salus Epresat Liquid – Multivitamin

Floradix Saludynam Liquid calcium magnesium, zinc with vitamin D

Floradix herbal organic teas and filter bags

Conclusion:

I think that this is a very useful supplement for the whole family especially for short periods of time when for what ever reason people need a bit of a energy boost. Based on my own experience I can recommend the supplement as a great kickstart to a healthy and fitter New Year.