The source of Stroud’s Sunshine
Having been a regular customer to Stroud’s Sunshine Health shop for several years, I wanted to learn more about its history, and why the Hill family who run it are so passionate and knowledgeable about what they do.
Through this five-part video interview we explore the history of Sunshine and the family business, what alternative healthcare means, and the importance of natural supplementation to restore adrenal function, reduce stress and improve gut health, the three key factors in resolving many chronic health conditions.
In the first of this five-part interview, Andrew Hill explains how his father, a naturopath and former Chairman of British Herbal Medicines Association started wholefood wholesaling in the 1960’s.
The Hill family have been running Sunshine Health in Stroud since the mid 1980’s. With a supplement shop in the High Street and food shop in Church Street, Sunshine offers a vast range of commercial and own label natural foods and supplements.
With the award-winning Stroud farmers’ market every Saturday, many more people from the wider area are exploring the town and discovering the gems like Sunshine and other local independent shops.
One of the things I love about Sunshine is Andrew’s vast knowledge which he is always happy to apply and help people find the right things for them. As he says in his own words:
“One of the most important things that we offer, is to try and educate people to realise that prevention is better than cure….too many people believe there is a ‘pill for every ill’.
It’s clear then that many of the tinctures, remedies and products in stock are not to treat a specific condition, but to maintain and keep good health. This I’m now realising is the key distinction between orthodox and alternative medicine.
Taking Essential Fatty Acids as an example, Andrew recalls the rise in popularity and use of these supplements through his career, and how they are benefiting people of all ages.
Research is finally supporting some of the reputed health benefits, although ultimately it comes down to common sense and a willingness to maintain good health rather than risk long term health conditions.
For those suffering chronic pain, Andrew explains that in addition to good diet and nutrition (hence the Sunshine food shop), the most important and 
currently overlooked thing you can do to help your body recover is to support and restore balance of your adrenal system.
Constant physical pain will eventually exhaust the body’s natural supply of cortisol, leaving the adrenal system unable to maintain all its other functions. This will in turn eventually cause other problems such as pain, panic, nervousness, anxiety, sleep disorders and stress.
There are very few drugs designed to balance the adrenal system, hence orthodox medicine has a hard time diagnosing and addressing this problem.
By using a range of natural products and supplements to rebalance and support the adrenal system, together with removing or controlling the source of chronic physical pain, you can significantly improve your health.
And finally, two things that everyone can benefit from to maintain good health and reduce the risk of developing long term chronic conditions in the future:
- Reduce stress, using natural remedies like essential oils and supplements
- Maintain good gut health, with good sugar-free sources of probiotics, especially after a course of antibiotics