CEO's Desk

Help, it's already April!

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:59:24 +1000

Wow! Here we are at the end of April already with winter approaching fast and deadlines even faster.

When I last wrote in January I mentioned that we were working on a new, gluten free variant of Akta-Vite. Many refinements and much tinkering later, we are just about to package our first batch of delicious Akta-Vite Gluten Free. With 20 percent cocoa, NO dairy, NO GMO, NO artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and boosted with Akta-Vite’s special blend of eight essential vitamins & minerals, this delicious new drink is just in time for winter. This new addition to the Akta-Vite range is in a powder format that dissolves more readily than the crunchy granules of original Akta-Vite. Whichever your preference, I’m sure you will enjoy the rich chocolate taste and pure Aussie goodness of Akta-Vite.

Akta-Vite Gluten Free is endorsed by Coeliac Australia (www.coeliac.org.au). If you are diagnosed Coeliac or have questions about the disease, visit their website as it contains clear and reliable information regarding symptoms, diagnosis and eating gluten free. Products endorsed by Coeliac Australia are instantly recognisable as gluten free with a “crossed wheat” logo.

Many people are discovering the benefits of reducing gluten intake and thankfully Australian food labelling laws are stringent enough that if a product claims to be “gluten free” it is. Interestingly, some sufferers of gluten intolerance also suffer lactose intolerance. Both Akta-Vite original and Akta-Vite Gluten Free are dairy free and can be enjoyed with your favourite non-dairy beverage or snack.

While we are talking digestion, I’d like to highlight another Myerton product, Breath Pearls. Breath Pearls combine pure peppermint and parsley seed oils in a soft gelatine capsule and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and no sugar. Breath Pearls provide long lasting fresh breath but may also provide relief from painful stomach symptoms such as those associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Peppermint has long been recognised as an anti-spasmodic and may provide relief for symptoms such as bloating and cramping. If you are looking for a natural remedy that doesn’t cost a fortune, why not try Breath Pearls? Breath Pearls has a new look black pack and can be found in the Oral Care section of your pharmacy or health food store. Breath Pearls are now available at Chemist Warehouse (see www.chemistwarehouse.com.au for locations).

In Myerton’s home state of Victoria there has been a cold blast of weather this week. Winter may be on its way but here in the Myerton office we are keeping warm with hot Akta-Vite Gluten Free served with marshmallows for added indulgence. If you are in the warmer climes of Perth or Brisbane, you might still enjoy Akta-Vite Gluten Free in a smoothie with banana and milk. At any time of the year, Akta-Vite is a delicious way to enjoy pure Aussie chocolate goodness.

Best wishes,

Tony Myer

Happy New Year

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:42:16 +1100

Welcome to 2012!

Myerton Australia has started the New Year with a new look and we hope you enjoy exploring our new website. We’ve drawn together all our products and services under one site so that information, products and special purchases are easier to find. Of course you can still visit aktavite.com.au and breathpearls.com.au and take a link to the main Myerton website from those pages.

In this post I thought I would explain a few features of our new website and talk about what the year ahead holds for Myerton Australia.

Firstly, we now use the Myerton.com.au website as a starting point for displaying all our service and product offerings. You can also purchase some of our products using PayPal from the Myerton website.

You will notice our “Brands” page now lists all the brands we sell and represent in Australia. These include:

our own products, AktaVite and Breath Pearls
Inverness Ear Piercing and One Touch Waxing from the USA
Toncadò computer accessories from Italy

Using secure PayPal, you can purchase a case of 12 x 375 gram cans of AktaVite for $69.95 (incl. GST) delivered anywhere in Australia or 3 x 50s Breath Pearls bottles for $24.00 (incl. GST) delivered anywhere in Australia. We are also offering a 3 pack of large One Touch Wax Applicators for $45.00 (incl. GST) delivered anywhere Australia. We can also deliver 6 bottles of 50s Breath Pearls anywhere in the world for AUD$48.00! If you would prefer to make a payment via credit card over the phone or directly into our account, please call the Myerton office on 03 9419 8255 or email sales@myerton.com.au. These deals are great value and shipped directly from our warehouse in Abbotsford.

We are also excited about a new generation AktaVite product that will launch in 2012. AktaVite Gluten Free 200g is a gluten free version of the original formula. With a rich chocolate taste and more soluble powder formula, AktaVite Gluten Free retains the best features of the original formula. It is fortified with eight essential vitamins and minerals, is low in fat and still Dairy Free and free from GMOs.

Gluten Free products are now hitting mainstream food retailers as more and more consumers become aware of the effects of gluten on the body. A rise in diagnosis rates of Coeliac disease and more consumers preferring the health benefits of gluten free products, are contributing to expanded gluten free sections in supermarkets and specialty food retailers. Look out for AktaVite Gluten Free 200g in supermarkets this year. I would also be interested to hear your comments and thoughts regarding why you purchase gluten free products. Please drop me an email to sales@myerton.com.au.

There is talk that this year will be a difficult one financially around the world and I’m sure some of you might be struggling with job security issues, rising living costs etc. However, I believe that having a positive outlook and remaining engaged with family, friends and community are important factors in surviving difficult times and remembering the important things in life.

Best wishes to you and your family for 2012.

Tony Myer

January 2012

Aktavite & Milk

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:22:52 -0600

Most animals enjoy milk as babies only but humans’ consumption of milk and dairy products continues long after weaning. And this presents many people, especially of non-European descent, with biochemical challenges when consuming milk.

The sugar in milk is called lactose and it is digested by an enzyme called lactase. In many populations around the world, lactase peaks in infancy and declines with age, meaning that lactose intolerance in adults is actually quite normal.

Without lactase, the lactose in milk can cause havoc in the large intestine where it is metabolised by bacteria which produce painful carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane gases. Diarrhoea and bloating can be exacerbated by sugars drawing water from the walls of the intestine too, adding to discomfort. Myerton’s Breath Pearls can be useful in combatting the abdominal symptoms associated with bloating, cramping and gas. The peppermint and parsley seed oils used in Breath Pearls are known anti-spasmodics and have been shown to soothe painful stomach symptoms.

But low levels of lactase in adults don’t mean all dairy products need to be avoided. Many people find that they are able to tolerate a small amount of milk each day, without severe symptoms. For example half a cup of milk on your morning cereal may be fine. Good quality yoghurt contains bacteria that generate lactose-digesting enzymes that work in the small intestine and cheese contains little or no lactose as most of it is drawn off in the whey.

Many of us believe dairy consumption is the most important component in maintaining adequate calcium levels, to avoid osteoporosis and ensure bone density. A balanced diet and weight bearing exercise are beneficial and supplementary calcium may be prescribed by a health professional if necessary. However dairy, whilst important, is only one source of calcium in the diet. Other sources include dried beans, nuts, canned fish with bones and tofu. In addition, Vitamin D is essential to ensure efficient absorption of calcium from food. Vitamin D is present in eggs, fish and shellfish and is activated by sun exposure. Also worth noting is that high salt and high animal protein intakes can adversely affect calcium intake as they increase the excretion of calcium in urine.

Myerton’s wonderful product, AktaVite, is unique in its appeal to both people who are able to tolerate lactose and those who are lactose intolerant. AktaVite is dairy free but with 17 percent cocoa and a special crunchy texture, it can be enjoyed by all in many different ways, whether stirred into hot milk or cold soy milk, sprinkled on ice cream or over yoghurt, or sandwiched between bread. AktaVite is a wonderfully versatile product the whole family can enjoy.

Best wishes,

Tony Myer

CEO, Myerton Australia