Perfect Food Vitamins

Top 6 Health Mistakes That Most of Us Make

2010-04-26T12:33:00.001-07:00

Today we take a broader look at health. Most of us feel that the 'rules' about health are fairly flexible … that we can take the cheap multivitamin instead of the whole food multivitamin with little difference, that we can have an extra painkiller when our headache won’t go away, and that putting off a doctor's visit won't really matter. Actually, all of these things can have serious consequences for your health! Today we look at the top health mistakes that most of us make, from buying generic herbal supplements instead of respected products like Garden of Life, to cutting all sorts of health-related corners.

Thinking that switching to diet soda will hep you lose weight
If a simple switch from Coke to Diet Coke were all that occurred, this would be true. In practice though, almost everybody tends to 'spend' some of the calories that they just 'saved' … usually on a 3,000 kJ muffin or another slice of 1,500kJ pizza. Always think of your calorie intake in total terms - keep a food diary if it helps. You can also try herbal supplements like FucoThin by Garden of Life.
Not getting a second opinion
Doctors have done a lot of training. But they aren’t infallible, and they aren't all created equal. Before undertaking any major treatment, always get a second opinion.
Taking extra acetaminophen
We all do this to try to hurry up the effects when we can’t stand a headache any longer. However, too much acetaminophen can and does cause liver damage, and actually kills around 100 people per year.
Quitting prescribed medication
Whether they are antibiotics or anti-depressants, many medications have as many side effects to coming off them as going on them. Always 'go off' a medication under medical supervision.
Not following up
If we are generally feeling healthy after a doctor's visit, most of us neglect to fulfil the follow-up appointment. However, they aren't just profit mongering … in many cases they actually do need to perform further tests to make sure you are healthy, and give you advice to keep you that way.
Drinking too much/smoking cigarettes
Both of these activities have underestimated health implications. Many people think that social smoking, or social drinking is okay … in fact both of these greatly increase your risk of many major health conditions.

Supermarket Skeptics -- How Healthy is Your Trolley?

2010-04-26T12:31:00.001-07:00

For many of us, implementing changes in our diet (and even, carrying on the same bad habits) requires a trip to the supermarket. Only a lucky few have any nearby farmer's markets, and although whole food supplements are readily available through home internet shopping, they are still supplements, and organic vitamins can't substitute for the real thing. The supermarket can be a confusing place, though - today we cast our eye over several common supermarket bamboozlements designed to keep companies in business … with the unfortunate side effect of ruining your health.

Do You Buy Any of the Following?

If you do, you might be sabotaging your health, even though you have the best of intentions.

Organic items of processed food

Organic doesn't automatically equal healthy. There are quite a lot of organic manufacturers that seek to differentiate themselves in other ways than simply getting the 'organic' label - New Chapter is a great example. Remember, brown sugar can be organic, wine can be organic, and even marijuana can be organic. Does that mean any of the above are healthy? Not necessarily.

Fruit drink

Fruit drinks often have very little juice in them - they are mostly water. They also often have lots of artificial preservatives and sweeteners. Having a fruit drink is unfortunately very different to having fruit - or even to having fruit juice! Cast your sceptical eye over drinks that say 'juice drink' or 'juice cocktail' also.

Yoohoo as a 'milk drink'

In fact, Yoo Hoo is a 'chocolate drink'. It has less calcium that a couple of spinach leaves. Real milk (in moderation) is much better for you - don't kid yourself into thinking Yoo Hoo is anything but junk food.

Products that claim to be made with 'natural flavors'

There are soooo many products that are 'health-washed' by claiming that one or another of their ingredients is natural. Gasoline has some natural ingredients … is it good fro you to drink? I'm not saying that natural is bad, only that there is more to health than a single natural ingredient.

5 Ways to Manage Your Triglycerides

2010-04-17T20:26:00.001-07:00

Having high triglyceride levels is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease. High triglyceride levels are a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself - for example, most people have high triglycerides because they eat too many fatty foods and don't get enough exercise. Today we're looking at ways you can manage your triglycerides, with comprehensive solutions like dietary or exercise alterations, as well as simple helpers like Vitamin Code Perfect Weight America.

1. Limit saturated fat in your diet

This is one of the simplest things you can do to lower your triglycerides. Dietary fat is readily converted into fat circulating in the bloodstream. You don't need to turn into bran-loving, celery-munching, joyless rabbit, though. Replace your saturated fats with unsaturated or healthy fats. Use avocado instead of butter, vegetable oil instead of lard, etc.

2. Limit carbohydrates in your diet

People who eat absolutely no fat in their diet can still get fat. Glucose can be converted by the liver to be stored as body fat. Another thing to be aware of is that many foods rich in carbohydrates are simultaneously rich in (hidden) fat … cookies and cakes are a great example of this.

3. Remember to supplement

A new wave of vitamins and minerals is now available as whole food supplements. They come in a form that is easier for your body to absorb and use without creating nutrient 'lockouts'.

4. Stop smoking!

You may think that the way that cigarettes help keep you thin is actually doing your triglycerides a favor. It's not. Smokers have almost uniformly higher triglyceride levels. You might gain a little weight to start with, but with some effort that can easily be rectified.

5. 2.5 hours of exercise per week

This is the CDC recommended amount of exercise. Do it in at least 10-minute blocks, and make sure it is moderate intensity. 2.5 hours of window shopping doesn’t count, unfortunately … you have to be able to really feel your blood pumping. Brisk walking, tennis and cycling are good examples.

Sex Drive and Supplements

2010-04-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

Much as we don't like to talk about it everyday … or around our bosses, or with our Moms and Dads, or with the children within earshot … sex is an important part of all of our lives! It releases so many feelgood hormones and keeps lots of bits of that body of yours 'in alignment'. So many women fall into the trap of thinking that because they don't feel like sex (and never really feel like it), that it doesn’t hold anything for them. Today we look at low sex drive in women, and the lifestyle changes and whole food supplements like New Chapter Native Woman that can help boost your downstairs department!

Physical causes of low sex drive

Before you start supplementing yourself to boost that sex drive, you'll need to make sure there aren’t any underlying issues. All the medicinal mushrooms in the world won’t help you feel like 'it' when you're surviving on 5 hours of broken sleep a night (thanks, parenthood … you're so rewarding). Look to these issues first:

Pain during sex
Medical conditions like arthritis, cancer, neurological diseases, etc
Prescription medications
Alcohol or drugs
Surgery
Fatigue

Mental issues that lower sex drive

You might also want to speak to a counsellor or psychologist if any of the following issues pervades your life and affects your sex drive:

· Poor body image following surgery, pregnancy, etc

· Infertility treatment can put you off having sex - both guys and girls

· An inability to orgasm (or not knowing how to bring yourself to orgasm) can definitely affect your sex drive

Supplementing for sexual satisfaction

There is actually an enormous range of whole food supplements that can get your sex life back on track. Obviously, different nutrients or glandular support will help women with different causes of low sex drive. The supplement categories that can often help are:

Supplements that help you sleep well can increase energy, and therefore sex drive. Note that the natural hormones produced during sex help you sleep well too!
Whole food supplements that provide glandular support to ensure that your hormone levels are well balanced can help
And of course, there are some whole food supplements, like New Chapter's Native Woman, that focus specifically on the problem of low sex drive, and have other great benefits as well.

5 Tips to Sleep Well and Be Well!

2010-04-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

Sleep is pretty important for our bodies. In evolutionary terms, anything that makes us so vulnerable to predators for an enormous 1/3 of the time we are alive MUST be critical to our survival! Even for those of us who diligently get our 8 hours sleep per night, a poor quality of sleep can still affect your everyday functioning. Today we look at some lifestyle choices, some nutritionist's recommendations, and some organic vitamins that can help you make the most of your nighty-nights!

High GI carbs at dinnertime

High GI carbs in general are something that must be taken in moderation. However, the crash after high-GI carbs is actually something that you WANT at bedtime! Studies have shown that higher GI jasmine rice helped promote sleep compared to low GI long-grain rice.

Drink warm milk or herbal tea? Perhaps not…

These are two folk remedies for helping fall asleep, but unfortunately their effectiveness hasn’t been proven. And in fact, while they may help some people get to sleep initially, they often create a poor quality of sleep by ensuring that your bladder is uncomfortably full most of the night.

Organic vitamins for sleep

Many 'sleep herbs' have not been fully proven to be effective. One exception is valerian root, which features prominently in New Chapter's Tranquilnite Plus. If you have trouble initially getting to sleep, this could be a valuable friend.

Skip the wine with dinner

If you are having trouble sleeping, don't drink with dinner. One theory is that alcohol suppresses REM sleep, which is critical for actually feeling rested in the morning. Drinking at dinnertime can also make you wake up more during the night, both because of a filling bladder and other causes.

Bedtime snacks

Having a bedtime snack can help stop you waking up during the night due to hunger. Often we don't even realise that we are hungry when we wake up during the night time … we just feel tired. If the cause of your insomnia isn’t determined, try a low GI snack just before bed. Keep it small, though, or your nutritionist will have something to say about it!

The Nutritionist's Take on: Headaches

2010-04-15T19:34:00.001-07:00

So many of us (both husbands AND wives!) take headaches for granted as a fact of life. We feel them coming on and just struggle on through … not really present, definitely not enjoying whatever we're doing, but believing that everybody gets them.

In fact, headaches are NOT normal - pain one of our body's signals that something is wrong! Today we look at what nutritionists have to say about headaches … and how you could start truly enjoying your life, headache-free, from now on.

How headaches and nutrition are linked

Nutrition is rarely a direct cause of headaches (although there are exceptions to this rule). However, in many ways headaches and nutrition are inextricably linked. Here are some of the ways they go together like birds and bees:

Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can lead to arterial spasms: If you eat too many high GI foods or skip a meal, the change in blood sugar levels can sometimes lead to a spasming of the artery walls. This will cause pounding, horrible headaches. This is one reason that you can't simply take whole food multivitamins on top of a diet completely devoid of fruit and veg.
Caffeine withdrawals can cause headaches: Here is one of the direct nutritional links.
Poor nutrition can exacerbate stress: Stress alone can be a major headache … simply trying to battle with your thoughts not to fall into a depressive or angry spiral is enough to give you a headache. However stress can also nullify the effects of painkillers, reduce your natural endorphin levels, and lower your tolerance to pain.
Hormones can affect headaches: And your nutrition is well known to affect your hormones. This is particularly relevant for women, for whom a lack of estrogen can exacerbate headaches.
Infections: If your body's natural resistance to infection is impaired by poor nutrition, you will be more prone to headaches related to infection in your ear nose and throat, all of which can cause related headaches.
Nerve damage: Vitamin deficiencies can sometimes cause nerve damage, which would then cause you to develop recurrent headaches.
Diabetes and headaches: Poor nutrition is a prime cause of type 2 diabetes - a diet that includes frequent peaks and troughs in blood sugar often increases the body's resistance to insulin. And diabetes itself, as well as the drugs used to treat it, are prime causes of headaches.
Dehydration: Don't forget the liquid component of your diet! Nutritionists will tell you that water is an incredibly important part of your diet … become dehydrated, and it isn’t only your head that is suffering. Every cell of your body starts crumpling and not working properly.

In many of these cases, whole food multivitamins will help support your body through times when you just don't have the time to make salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, you need to have a good underlying diet as well … there is no substitute for the real thing, in the long term. Whole food supplements can help, too.

The Nutritionist's Take on: Allergies

2010-04-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Nutritionists and allergies have been long-time foes! There are certain foods which are extremely rich in nutrients and energy, but there are many individuals across the globe who are sensitive to them … meaning that they have to jump nutritional backflips in order for their bodies to get what they need. Today we look at some of the most important things that nutritionists want you to know about food allergies, and how to correct them with whole food supplements.

Common food allergies

Some of the food allergies most common in children are:

Eggs
Milk
Wheat
Soy
Peanuts

Less commonly, kids might be allergic to shellfish, tree nuts, or even strawberries. However, adults more commonly have problems with:

Peanuts
Tree nuts
Shellfish
Other fish

Nutritional causes of allergies

It is also worth considering that some allergies are developed in response to certain eating habits. For example:

Excessive fluid intake at mealtimes can increase the likelihood of allergies
A diet which encourages overgrowth of candida albicans can increase the likelihood of allergies
Eating a single food repeatedly can cause an allergy to it
Food additives can cause allergies to the carrier media

Correcting for allergies with other foods

Most of the foods that both adults and children commonly develop allergies to are especially rich in nutrients, or are an integral part of our diets. It is often a major undertaking to cook for a family where one of the members is allergic to wheat, for example. Which is why most nutritionists recommend …

Correcting for allergies with supplements

Often the safest and simplest way to correct for allergies is with supplements. For example, if an adult is intolerant of milk, they'll need to eat around a kilo of spinach every day to get the same amount of calcium as they would from milk products.

However, whole food supplements are always recommended, as they come in a base closest to the way the body would naturally encounter the vitamins and minerals, making them easier to absorb.

What's a Paraben?

2010-04-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Humans have done a wonderful job of manipulating our environment to suit ourselves. No other animal on Earth has managed to make their living conditions conform to their wishes quite so well. However, we haven't always been the best at anticipating the effects of some changes (quite understandably!). The effects of various chemicals on our health is one significant area where questions about safety are growing, and parabens are one of the focuses. Today we look at parabens from top to bottom and inside to out, as well as some natural skin care products alternatives that don't contain parabens.

Where are parabens found?

Usually in any topical pharmaceuticals, many skin care products, shampoos, cleansers, shaving gels, lubricants, etc. Almost anything sold in a chemist that doesn’t say 'all natural' on the label will include parabens. Parabens are also sometimes used as food additives.

What's the problem with parabens?

Parabens have been implicated in a variety of health conditions. However it must be noted that there is very little solid, clinical evidence out there … perhaps due to the fact that there is a lot of money available to invest in saying that parabens are safe, and no money to be made in discovering they are dangerous.

Parabens can be identified in blood tests only minutes after the application of a paraben-containing product. In conjunction with this fact, there are several characteristics of parabens that are causing wary consumers to opt for natural skin care products, to be on the safe side:

Mimic estrogens in the body: This ability means they could be a factor in the development of breast cancer. Another study showed that parabens could adversely affect testosterone secretion in newborn male animals. Additionally, a UK-based study found parabens in around 90% of breast tumours excised from patients.
Reaction with UVB light: The parabens in cosmetics may react with UVB light from the sun to increase your risk of skin cancer, as well as hasten photoaging and DNA damage. Just the opposite of what your sunscreen or foundation aims to do!
Potential for allergic reaction: Some people are sensitive to parabens, so even products marketed as for sensitive skin will cause irritation and allergic responses.

Be safe - use only natural skin care products!

Water: It’s Not Just for Drinking Any More

2010-03-31T08:57:00.001-07:00

Water is life’s mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.”

~Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Nobel Prize for Medicine (1937)

Water is truly life’s elixir, as the good doctor noted. By now you may have heard the advice to drink at least 8 glasses of pure of water each day for greater health. That’s a great idea, and as good health involves body, mind, and spirit, I’d like to pass along some other really fabulous and stimulating tips from wellness experts John Travis and Regina Sara Ryan in The Wellness Workbook.

For incorporating the planet’s most abundant element into your life, here are six super ideas to add energy, fun, and even intimacy and meaning to your day.

1. Wake up in the shower. When you want to stimulate your circulation, take a shower alternating hot and cold water for 30 seconds each. You’ll be rarin’ to go!

2. Have a water fight. Make yourself laugh! Those belly laughs are good for your spirit and your health, plus having fun with someone is a great way to really connect.

3. Gentler Exercise. If you are looking for a low-impact workout, water aerobics could be your thing! Check out classes at local Y’s and gyms.

4. Create your own foot spa. Add hot water or mild soap or baking soda to a basin. Add feet, and notice how your whole body relaxes as well as your bubbly toes! Dry with a coarse towel and massage. For more pleasure, exchange this favor with someone you adore.

5. Visit a hot springs. If you don’t live near one, put it on your next vacation itinerary and discover why their curative powers have drawn adherents for ages. How about making it an annual ritual? Imagine the possibilities with a partner or group of good friends? Now that's natural skin care!

6. Cleansing your energy field. When you need to move on from the “heaviness” of an illness or sadness, create a ritual involving water in which you purify your spirit. You might want to incorporate healing or sacred water in the ritual. May peace be with you.

Remember that you, like the earth, are composed primarily of water. We come from water. Like air, it can completely envelop us. Let the waters surround you, enter you, and heal you. As you continue, complement your holistic experience with water with the whole food vitamins and whole food supplements that will sustain you on your journey toward wellness.

Four Tips for Fabulous Mature Skin

2010-03-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

Good self-care involves taking care of our whole bodies, outside and inside. Being in vibrant health means having energy, a light step, and glowing skin. For us women, as our skin ages, we need to take extra care if we want to keep our healthy glow!

This will mean changing some of our old routines. For one thing, our skin does not produce new cells as quickly. Also, we can see how biology and environment seem to conspire against us, conjuring up wrinkles, freckles, and age spots.

Here are five well-tested recommendations for “mature skin” from dermatologists and skin-care experts:

1. Wear sunscreen daily. As the days are now lengthening, this is especially important. Did you know that wearing sunscreen daily can reduce signs of aging (including age spots and wrinkles) and also decrease your risk for developing skin cancer? Fortunately there are new sunscreens that feel GOOD to put on your skin. Try some of the natural skin care products that are on the market now with the SPF you need for your skin. You will feel the silky smoothness!

2. Change to the skin care products you need now. More mature skin can be easily irritated by the alcohol-based products we needed for teenage skin! By age 40 or so, most women find that using mild, unscented products year round helps their skin feel better. Seek out skin care products that help you manage your skin, such as creams with ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C. Be sure to apply moisturizers, especially after bathing. There are many natural, plant-based and fruit-based products that can refresh and moisturize your skin. If you are not sure what your skin needs, see a dermatologist.

3. Manage stress. Chronic stress raises your level of cortisol, which in turn increases oil production and related skin problems. It also slows down the skin healing process and appears to in increasing the risk of developing skin cancer.

4. Eat a well-balanced diet. When you eat lots of good healthy food and drink plenty of water, you area giving your body the elements it needs to both repair and hydrate your skin from the inside out. To make sure you aren’t skimping on those vitamins and minerals, add a quality supplement. (There are many out there available from reliable health supplement vendors; personally, I take New Chapter Inner Beauty Every Woman’s Multivitamin.

What you don’t know will hurt you

2010-03-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

For years I thought that as long as I don’t overindulge in certain foods I didn’t have to worry about their effects on my health. I finally realized that the perfect food in one man’s eye is not always so in another man’s eye. It’s very important to know everything that goes into the foods you eat so that you can understand how that particular food is helping or hurting the systems of your body.

You see, food lost its value a long time ago; people don’t generally pick a food to eat because it is going to help give them soft and healthy hair. People eat foods because they taste good and because they crave them. A billboard isn’t going to have a picture of a bowl of vegetables and say how that food will help your heart. Advertisers use billboards to speak to food cravings, such as having a picture of a fat, juicy hamburger. That entices a craving and a run by the drive-through. The dietary benefits to food is lost to taste. This is why so many people have to add whole food multivitamins to their diet; because they don’t get enough of the recommended vitamins from the foods they crave every day.

We need to be teaching our children a new way to look at food so that they don’t get caught up in using food as a crutch or for comfort as so many over-weight individuals do now. We need to be teaching the importance of weight loss and how living in a country with record numbers of obese people is a major factor in our health care system. Getting our kids back on a healthy track should be the main concern of our educators and parents alike. We are raising unhealthy kids and it never used to be like that.

You are what you Eat

2010-03-20T19:25:00.001-07:00

The next time you fill your plate and your mouth with that hamburger and fries from that fast food restaurant you might want to know exactly how that food is going to help or not help your body. You might want to consider your digestive health before you eat a large helping of red meat that can sit in your digestive track for days and cause you all kinds of problems.

So many people don’t think twice about what they put into their bodies; they just think if its food, it has to be helping them. This isn’t always true because foods are supposed to have specific purposes for the different systems of our bodies. There isn’t a perfect food so much as there is lots of perfect foods that work together to fuel the cells that feed our bodies. The problem with food is that it tastes so good and we want to consume too much of it. Certainly there are foods that are very bad for us and should only be eaten in very limited quantities.

Our digestive system is an amazing thing. Once the food gets to our digestive track it gets broken down and picked apart to get all the good stuff that we need and is picked up by the cells and delivered to all areas of the body. When the digestive track gets sick we don’t get the good stuff that we need. That is why adding probiotics to your diet can help you in so many different ways. It helps to make the digestive track run smoothly to get all the good stuff and to efficiently remove all the bad stuff that can send toxins throughout your body. Getting proper digestive track health is vitally important to good nutrition.

Natural Cures

2010-03-16T19:23:00.001-07:00

When I became ill with chronic digestive problems my doctor put me on several different types of medications. One medication was for the inflammatory problems in my digestive track and the other two were for side effects from the first medication. I decided, early on, that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life taking medications. I began researching the effectiveness of probiotics to help build a healthier digestive system. Once I had gotten enough information I began using them daily and within a month I noticed a significant difference in how my digestive system was working. I had less pain and a much more normal routine.

I completely eliminated the medications my doctor put me on and added whole food supplements to my diet. The more I researched about my condition the more I realized how much of this problem lies with the diet I was on. I changed my eating habits and began eating foods that help to make my digestive system function properly and with less effort. The foods I had been eating worked against my natural digestive system and caused it to have to work too hard which caused inflammation which in turn caused the pain I was having.

I gave up carbonated drinks and began drinking a lot more water and real fruit juices. I found that fried foods were a main cause of my digestive dysfunction so I stopped eating all fried foods and began eating baked or BBQ. I subscribed to ahealth newsletter that comes monthly and has many recipes and tips to help me continue living a pain free and medication free lifestyle. Too many people think they have no control over their bodies especially when it comes to illness. I have proven that we can take control and eliminate many of the dysfunctions of our bodies simply by changing what we eat and what we put into our bodies. I have never felt better.

The Business of Health

2010-03-16T19:21:00.001-07:00

I am a certified and licensed nutritionist and have spent most of my career helping people to change their unhealthy lifestyles. I own and actively work in a health spa. We teach and guide people through weight loss clinics that help them to establish a long term healthy routine in their lives. We like to call it a total mind and body overhaul and we have successfully helped hundreds of people make major changes in their lives.

I personally teach classes on nutrition and have developed a diet that is both healthy and satisfying. The problem with so many people is they think they have to completely give up all the foods they have enjoyed over the years. I teach moderation as well as improving the diet by adding more organic and whole foods to the diet along with herbal supplements to ensure their bodies are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need. I stress how important these foods are but also explain that it’s ok to have the occasional piece of cheesecake or slice of pizza now and then as long as it doesn’t turn into a pattern of unhealthy eating.

I also stress the importance of using probiotics to help build a healthy and strong digestive system which then, in turn, helps to build a healthy immune system. All the systems of the body are connected and if one system isn’t functioning well, the other systems will suffer. When you have a healthy digestive system the food you eat can be properly broken down and then distributed to all the cells of the body. When the digestive system isn’t working well, your body isn’t getting fueled properly which leads to it not functioning at top performance. What you eat and how it affects the body is the foundation of a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle. I am dedicated to ensuring that all my clients understand the importance of dietary supplements and eating a healthy diet.

Living a Long Healthy Life

2010-03-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

I learned a long time ago that in order to live a long and healthy life I had to take care of the one and only body I was given. It’s so easy to be tempted into an unhealthy lifestyle by eating the wrong types of foods and not taking enough time for proper exercise but I know doing this will shorten my life and not help me to stay healthy during the flu seasons. By eating a good diet and taking herbal supplements and getting plenty of exercise I know I am better prepared for what life has to throw at me.

I’ve also began using probiotics to help maintain a healthy digestive system. When we have a lot of stress in our lives related to our work or relationships, our digestive systems can get out of whack. When the digestive system isn’t working right, we aren’t getting the nutrients from the foods we eat. I have a great deal of stress in my life so I found it quite necessary to include the probiotics in my diet so I wasn’t losing any of the vitamins and minerals from the food I was taking in.

I began using natural skin care products that have no artificial and harmful preservatives. My skin feels and looks at least ten years younger. I know that using natural products is much healthier for my skin than the other products on the market. I decided long ago to do everything I can to ensure my body gets the best of what it needs. Getting the best of what it needs doesn’t always mean the most expensive; it means the best of what makes my body responds and function in the most natural of ways. We can’t always get everything we need from the food we eat so it’s important to include whole food supplements along with plenty of exercise, rest, and a healthy diet.

Your Body, Your Health

2010-03-09T12:04:00.001-08:00

Some may say the garden of life begins with what you put into your body to make it grow. Consider the health of humans long ago prior to manmade preserved foods. There was far less sickness and diseases before preservatives came along and I’ve come to realize that the more we get back to the natural food sources the better.

I put myself on a strict diet of only organic foods and began using organic whole food vitamins. Within two weeks of beginning this new life style I found that I was sleeping better, had much more energy, food tasted much better, my skin and hair had a new look to it, and overall, I felt 15 years younger. I removed harmful foods from my diet such as soda, sweets, fattening carbohydrates, and anything that wasn’t natural. All the meat that I eat is organic and has no preservatives.

Using the whole food multivitamins has made a big difference in my life. I can almost feel my body working more efficiently in the manner it was designed to function. My digestive system is working much better than it ever had before. I haven’t had the irritated bowl symptoms I used to get after every meal I ate. Because I have stopped drinking soda and started drinking more water, I can tell that my skin looks and feels much healthier and younger.

I feel it is very important to take care of our bodies in the way they should have been taken care of all along. By making much needed changes in your diet and by taking whole food vitamins, you could extend your life by ten or twenty years at least. There really is no telling how long you can live as long as you maintain your body and keep it healthy.

8 of the Most Nutritious Foods on the Planet

2010-02-18T19:06:00.001-08:00

If you had a personal nutritionist, and they had only eight words that they could say to you, this is what they would say! Today we are looking at eight superfoods … foods that are big on health, big on taste, and big on benefits. You probably have quite a few of them in your cupboard anyway … read on to bump up the nutritional value of your next meal!

Kidney beans, boiled without salt
Kidney beans can go in so many different dishes. They are great for tacos and all types of Mexican foods, and delicious n lasagne. They are also a nutrition powerhouse, with 45% dietary fiber (great for your gut), almost 0% calories from fat,, and plenty of protein.
Kellogg's All-Bran
Yes, there are some healthy things in the world that come out of a box! You'll have to add fruit and soy milk to make All Bran palatable, but it is so good for your intestines and digestive health. High fiber products have also been thought to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease
Nonfat mozzarella cheese
Yum! Cheese in general is very fattening, but nonfat mozarella cheese actually makes it onto the nutritionist's superfoods list. It is high in sodium, but if it makes eating other ultra-nutritious veggies more palatable, then it does an excellent service.
Raw lemons
Lemons are a great source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, vitamin C, potassium and copper.
Bluefin tuna
Packed with omega 3 and other nutrients, having a can of tuna on a toasted sandwich is a great way to bump up the health factor of a pre-packed lunch.
Eggs
Eggs got a bad rap for cholesterol over the past couple of decades, but nutritionists have always stuck by them. Eggs are made to be a complete food to grow a chicken from nothing more than two little zygotes, to a fully functioning little bird. What can be bad about that?!
Coleslaw (homemade)
The fact that we are eating these vegetables raw is one of the main reasons that home-prepared coleslaw is so healthy. Actively try to use low-fat and salt ingredients though, otherwise you wipe out the net health benefits.
Flaxseed
It had to be on the list! Full of antioxidants, omega-3 and complex carbs, flaxseed is easy to add to other foods and ultra-healthy.

5 More Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy Organic

2010-02-18T19:03:00.000-08:00

Many people are actually put off going organic by the amount of chemicals we are actually forced to ingest as part of everyday life. Understandably, some people feel that if they are going to be breathing in cleaning chemicals, having synthetic fabrics rub against their skin and wearing chemical makeup anyway, what is the point in eating organic strawberries? What they probably don't realize is the sheer number of products that are available in organic form nowadays. We go through five unexpected ones, from organic vitamins to organic mascara!

Organic mascara and other cosmetics

The fact that cosmetics are such personal products, applied daily to some of our most delicate skin, has been a major factor in the push to develop organic versions. Now even mascara, previously an invariably chemical-filled goo, has organic versions.

Organic veges in pill form

Did you know that you can get organic whole food multivitamins … you don't actually have to do all of that spinach and squash eating every day if you don't have time, but can still get the benefit of nutrients in an organic medium.

Organic clothing

You can get organic tshirts, skirts, dresses, pants, socks, underwear … everything! Organic clothing might be made from organic cotton or even bamboo fibers, and recycled suede and leather are also popular.

Organic tea and coffee

There are hundreds of thousands of people all over the world who drink more than one cup of coffee or tea per day. It's a Western ritual, and yet another area where you can make the choice to go organic for your health.

Organic toilet cleaner

Usually the most potent and nasty of all household cleaners, toilet cleaner is available in organic form, utilising natural ingredients that are organically grown and processed. The story of a person who had toilet cleaner spill inside their car, and subsequently had it written off by the insurance agency, saying that it would never be fit for a human to ride in again because of lingering fumes and damage to the chassis, has convinced many to switch!

More tips for feeling good

2010-02-17T19:46:00.001-08:00

As a whole, the people of our world are living longer than we ever have at any time in the past. With the amazing advancements in medical science that allow us to overcome diseases, it becomes more important than ever to keep our bodies in good shape. We'll be using them for many decades! Today we continue our look at the concept and science of anti-aging - keeping our bodies as close to their young and healthy state as possible. We've got some great dietary supplement tips, as well as lifestyle changes to ensure you have not only a longer, but also a better life.

Don't drink much alcohol

Yes, some types of alcohol have antioxidants in them. However, so does a piece of broccoli! Drinking alcohol for the antioxidants is counter-productive, if you are embarking on an anti-aging quest. The alcohol will harm your liver, meaning that toxins cannot be filtered out of your body as effectively, and your general health suffers. Alcohol is generally a downer on good health. Enjoy … but keep it to an absolute minimum! You'll probably find that once you get out of the habit of drinking, it really doesn’t hold the same temptation.

Look to Japan

Researchers have been trying to pinpoint what it is about the Japanese lifestyle that helps them live so long, so healthily, for many decades! There is no single answer yet - but eating sushi, staying away from saturated fats and meats other than fish, and meditating will certainly not hurt your anti-aging aims.

Reduce stress

If you have done any research into the effects of stress on the body, your heart rate probably went up a bit thinking of how mean you have been to your heart, your brain, and your organs in general on all those horrible days at work! Everybody needs to do something they love at least once a day … otherwise what point is there in living til you are 90? Do what you love, and don't do what makes you stressed for best anti-aging effects.

Get moving

It hardly seems appropriate that this is at the end of the list - however we did mention exercise for anti-aging early on, as an 'antioxidant'. In reality, the benefits of exercise are too numerous to mention. It helps your heart, lungs, muscles, brain, liver, endocrine system, and just about every other little bit in your body to work properly. You need to do exercise at least six times a week - dietary supplements alone can't do all the work!

Awesome Anti-Aging Tips

2010-02-17T19:44:00.001-08:00

The term anti-aging is relatively recent, yet the concepts that anti-aging specialists are using are actually very traditional and time-tested. It is simply that the media, the public and scientists are now drawing together all the facets of the science of anti-aging into a single discipline. We have been looking at some of the most important tips for keeping your body working well, as well as looking great. From whole food multivitamins to giving up the cancer-sticks, here are some top anti-aging tips!

Quit smoking

Of course, in one way smoking can keep you young … your friends will never remember you as an old person, because you will most likely have died by middle age. Smoking is one of the number one killers in our society, and decreases both lifespan and quality of life the longer you do it. It affects your lungs, your skin, your liver, your heart, your brain … it is hard, but ultimately worth it.

Always wear sunglasses

One of the only places in our body where cells are not naturally regenerated is our eyes. This is why macular degeneration and cataracts are such concerning conditions. Wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from UV radiation, which your retinas and lenses don't get damaged in the first place … which keeps your eyes younger!

Always Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide

The Australian Cancer Council created this ditty to help remind people how to be sun-smart:

Slip on a shirt
Slop on sunscreen
Slap on a hat
Seek shade
Slide on sunglasses (which we already talked about!)

You do need vitamin D (from sunshine) for good health, but ten minutes a day on your face and hands is plenty. The sun has far more harm to do your body than good, if you want to stay as 'young' as possible.

Take omega 3 dietary supplements

If everybody in the world ate their two servings of fish per week, we would quickly run out of fish. Taking an organic whole food supplement focused on Omega 3 is both the healthy and environmentally responsible thing to do.

Awesome Anti-Aging Tips

2010-02-17T19:43:00.001-08:00

It isn’t just simple vanity … often being able to turn back the clock in your body means that you will live a longer and more fulfilling life. Anti-aging is so much more than just getting rid of wrinkles … if it wasn't we would all just booking a Botox session and be done with it! Today we start a series of anti-aging tips (including ones on both lifestyle and dietary supplements) to help every man and woman look, but more importantly feel, their best.

Drink plenty of water

Water has several benefits to your body. For starters, most of us don't get enough for our kidneys, liver and brain to function at their optimal level. Secondly, drinking water means that you are not as likely to reach for soda, sugary flavoured milk, or highly caffeinated drinks. Having enough water in your body is essential to keeping your skin, teeth, and inner organs young. Use it to wash down some dietary supplements, and get double the benefit!

Focus on complex carbohydrates

People are often confused about what constitutes a complex carb … really it is simple. The opposite of a complex carb is (as you would expect!), a simple carb. Simple carbohydrates are sugars. Complex carbohydrates are broken down in to sugars. They are foods like seeds, wholemeal bread, brown rice, oatmeal, etc. They are packed with antioxidants, and help maintain digestive health just like probiotic dietary supplements do.

Make use of 'free' antioxidants

Antioxidant dietary supplements can be really handy if you lead a busy life, but one of the most effective antioxidants is free … oxygen! Oxidative stress occurs in an anaerobic environment … maximising the oxygen in your blood is a quick antioxidant boost , and has sooooo many other benefits!

Take your bacteria, every day

New Chapter's Probiotic anti-aging formula helps re-balance the bacteria in your gut, which can have quite a knock-on effect in other areas of your health, and a huge effect on how well you age.

Beating Candidiasis: 10 Diet and Whole Food Multivitamin Tips

2010-02-10T09:52:00.001-08:00

Candidiasis can be such a frustrating disease. For those who are predisposed to yeast infections, and especially for those who are on long term antibiotics (such as for acne), or the contraceptive pill, they can be a daily part of life. Today we are looking at some strategies for getting rid of those nasty little bugs, and taking control of your body back, including diet tips and fungal defense complexes.

Avoid sugar. Yeast needs simple sugars to survive, so in addition to doing your pancreas and liver a favor, cutting down on the sugar will starve those little yeast organisms.
Avoid yeast. Eating white bread, white flour products that have been 'risen', crackers, pastries, etc will only put more yeast back into your body … and you want them OUT!
Avoid alcohol. Beer is not the only drink that is made with brewer's yeast - again, you don't want to put more yeast in your body when you're trying to get rid of it!
Avoid fruit juices and fruits. Fruit does have lots of essential nutrients, buit it also has a high percentage of natural, simple sugars. You'll be feeding the colonies.
Avoid coffee and tea. Pau de arco tea is the only exception to this - even green tea and herbal tea is sometimes seen to contribute to candida proliferation.
Avoid chlorinated tap water. This ultra-sterile environment may help the candida colonies grow - tap water can contain natural probiotics that will help outcompete the candida.
Avoid old leftovers. You can freeze any dinner that you don't eat, but if something has been in the fridge for more than three days after being cooked, it is a breeding ground for yeast.
Fungus foods like mushrooms and blue cheese should be avoided.
Peanut butter - it seems that candida likes this as much as kids do! You can use almond butter in place of peanut butter, for a lovely flavor and more nutrients.
Take a fungal defense holistic capsule as often as directed. Look for one that is made from organic vitamins and minerals, and has fermented whole foods.

Is Bottling the Answer to the Water Dilemma?

2010-02-10T09:49:00.001-08:00

To answer the question posed by today's blog title … NO! If you are wondering why bottled water is certainly not the solution to the problems that our tap water often has, keep reading. We know that tap water is often filled with low levels of agricultural chemicals, chlorine, and various organic pollutants. We also believe that this low level chemical exposure is a huge contributor to degenerative diseases that proliferate in our society … completely negating the good effects of all those organic vitamins that you are taking! Today we give you six reasons why bottled water is not the answer to the water dilemma, but filtration is.

It takes three bottles of water to make one bottle of water
The water input come in the processing, waste, manufacturing of the plastic to hold it, and transport. Seems crazy to keep drinking such a wasteful substance!
Bottled water is TERRIBLE value
Bottled water costs thousands of times what water from the tap does. However, there are no guarantees that it is any purer or fresher than what comes out of your tap! In many cases, all he bottler does is put a label on it and do some marketing to give the impression that it is purer … but doesn’t actually filter anything. You aren't helping your body or assisting your organic vitamins by buying bottled water.
Bottled water creates garbage
Even if you faithfully recycled all of your water bottles, there would still be resources in the form of energy and water needed to melt them back down and convert them into another usable form. If you don't recycle, your water bottles end up as landfill or litter. Given that there are 60 million of them in movement on any given day in the US alone, this is no small problem.
If we spent equaivalent money on public water systems instead of bottled water, we would have much more efficient solutions
Buying bottled water puts your dollars in the hands of those that least need it. It might not feel like, it but it would actually be more sensible to donate what you would have spent on bottled water to your water authority.
Bottled water has contaminants, too
There are no regulations, either state or federal, that require bottled water to be better, cleaner or safer than tap water. It must meet minimum standards, of course … but so must your tap water!a

If you want to make a difference in your body, buying a water filtration system is the best way to support all your other organic vitamins and healthy activities. Bottled water is a waste of money and resources!

Why Are Supercritical Supplements So Good?

2010-02-09T10:04:00.001-08:00

If you've stumbled across the New Chapter range of whole food multivitamins and organic vitamins, you are probably also wondering about the "Supercritical" label that many of them have. Many people take it to mean that the supplement is one of the most critical elements of their diet … and while this can be true of the nutrients these little pills contain, it isn’t the intended meaning! Today we take a look at exactly what supercriticality is, and some of the products that utilize this technology and extraction method.

What is a supercritical fluid?

Rather like the superheroes of old, who were not quite man, not quite monster, supercritical fluids are stuck between two physical states. The critical point represents that highest pressure and highest temperature at which a substance can exist as a liquid and vapor in equilibrium. Above a certain pressure things trend towards being solid, while above a certain temperature they trend towards becoming liquid, then vapour -- think water turning to steam as it heats up.

However, there is a magical point at which something can be a solid, liquid and gas all at once. There is also a temperature and pressure range above which a substance is considered supercritical, and has the properties of both liquids and gases, both dissolving other materials and diffusing through solids.

What does supercritical mean with supplements?

It doesn’t actually mean that the organic vitamins exist in a supercritical state, partway between solid and gas … although that would be a neat trick! It means that their ingredients are obtained by supercritical extraction -- that a herb is taken to its supercritical zone to distill a substance from it.

What are the benefits of supercritical extraction?

It is the gentlest way to extract vitamins and minerals from a herb, and means that chemical solvents don't have to be used in the process.

What are some examples of supercritical supplements?

New Chapter has the market in supercritical supplements pretty much tied up! Check out some of their products if you want to see what difference taking supercritical, rather than ordinary, supplements could make to how you feel. Their range includes:

6 Quick Facts About Bone Health

2010-02-09T10:02:00.001-08:00

Our bones really do tend to get used and abused .. .even if they are never broken! They tend to be ignored until there is a problem with them -- while plenty of people do preventive cardiovascular exercise, they try to take care of their livers by not drinking alcohol or eating too much meat, and we are very protective of our skins, our bones just don't get that same focus. Today we take a quick overview of bone health at all stages of life, perhaps telling you something you didn’t know about the strategies and whole food multivitamins that can help ensure your bones stay healthy and strong!

Did you know the teen years are actually the most important ones in the prevention of osteoporosis? If you have a healthy diet and exercise pattern as a teenager, your peak bone mass grows, and you'll be able to get better effects from weight-bearing exercise andwhole food multivitamins.
Eating disorders can ruin your bone health. One unfortunate and long-lasting side effect of eating disorders is the leaching of calcium from your bones, through malnutrition.
Dairy products are a good source of calcium, but supplements aren’t always. If you hate milk or are lactose intolerant, be aware of how much calcium you take as a supplement. Taking too much calcium can actually cause it to leach from your bones -- not the desired effect!
The greatest calcium intake is usually required during the reproductive years. Between the ages of 20 and 45, there is no excuse for ignoring your bone strength!
Weight bearing exercise is critical for increasing bone strength. When you put pressure on your bones, they form tiny, tiny tears and fractures. When these heal, they are stronger than the previous bone was. When you're doing cardio, make sure you do plenty of jogging as well as swimming.
You should also make sure you get enough vitamin D to support calcium's role in maintaining strong bones. You get vitamin D from sunshine, so if you have an indoor job you may suffer during the winter months. Always be sun smart, though -- 10 minutes sunshine a day on your face and hands will get you plenty of vitamin D.

Boffin Update: What Science is Doing With Maitake New Chapter Mushrooms

2010-01-19T20:03:00.001-08:00

Japanese people have been widely studied in the past several decades, with their seeming natural resistance to many of the common diseases of the Western world. Diet has been found to be an enormous factor in this good health, and as such, scientists have been studying traditional Japanese foods to see how their active ingredients work in the body. Now whole food supplements are incorporating them, including New Chapter organic supplements like Maitake caps and Maitake extract. Today we are doing a scientific rundown of the findings of various studies about maitake mushrooms and their effect on health.

Sugar from Maitake studied for antitumor effects

The department of microbial chemistry at Kobe Pharmaceutical Univeristy found the a polysaccharide (sugar) from maitake mushrooms, also known by their botanical name of grifola frondosa, has antitumor properties. It does this by promoting expression of mRNA in the spleen, as well as enhancing the cytotoxic (cell death, usually cancer cells), of natural killer cells.

Maitake for gastric cancer

This study was done at Tottori University in Japan, in the Division of organ pathology. A water-soluble extract of maitake mushrooms was studied in vitro on four different cell lines of human gastric cancer. A particular type of gastric cancer cell, TMK-1 cells, showed 90% inhibition after treatment with a 10% solution of maitake extract for only 3 days. Of course, in vivo tests will be needed to discover whether this can be translated to use in the body.

Chromium enriched grifola frondosa could be useful for insulin-resistance

Insulin resistance is an important precursor to type II diabetes, one of the biggest killers in the west. Maitake extract, at least of a chromium enriched kind used in this Sichuan University study, could help lower insulin resistance. Mice that were fed the chromium enriched grifola frondosa (CEGF), showed significantly improved glucose disposal rates.

Maitake helps natural killer cells to kill

A study at Kobe Pharmaceutical University has found that maitake mushrooms have an enhancing effect on the action of NK cells, natural killer cells, which are an important component of a strong immune system. D-Fraction, which is a sugar extracted from maitake caps like in the New Chapter organic supplement, can also activate macrophages, dendritic cells and T-cells, as well as inhibiting the growth of tumor cells.

It seems that cancer and insulin resistance are two of the most important potential treatments incorporating maitake … watch this space!

Micronutrients and Whole Food Vitamins

2010-01-19T20:01:00.001-08:00

Taking care of our bodies helps us to stay healthy as we age. We know that eating right and exercising can help our bodies to stay healthy. The only problem is, that many of us lead very busy lives and it is hard to get the proper nutrition that our bodies need on a daily basis. Face it; we have all had those days when the only thing we have time to eat is a burger from a fast food restaurant or a doughnut and some coffee at the office. Living on a diet made up of processed foods is not good for our bodies. This is where taking whole food supplements can help give our bodies the nutrition that they so desperately need to function properly.

Taking whole food vitamins can help keep our bodies healthy when we are not always able to eat right. Whole food supplements are made from whole foods not synthetics like many of the other multivitamins on the market. These supplements are made from whole foods that contain micronutrients. Micronutrients are found in fruits and vegetables. They work with the other vitamins that are contained within a whole food to give the body optimal benefits. These nutritional benefits are lost when taking an isolated vitamin alone.

There are also many options that companies are now offering their customers when choosing whole food vitamins. Some are 100% vegan and others are only made with only organic fruits and vegetables. Both still contain micronutrients and are a good choice. Vitamin Code is a great vegan multivitamin brand and Garden of Life supplements make wonderful organic whole food vitamins.

Isolated vitamins and other synthetic multivitamins can irritate the stomach when taken without food. A whole food multivitamin does not irritate the stomach and can be taken on an empty stomach. This is because the body processes the whole food supplements the same way it breaks down any other type of food that is digested. This can be beneficial for those that suffer from stomach or digestive tract problems.

By taking whole food supplements can help all of us get the micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that we need. With not all of us being able to eat healthy every day, taking organic whole food vitamins can help us get the nutrition that our bodies need. Taking good care of our selves will help many of us live a long and healthy life.

Making a Healthy Resolution

2010-01-16T20:02:00.000-08:00

The first day of January is when many of us make our resolutions for the year. Unfortunately many of us make resolutions that are not realistic to stick to for a few months, let alone a whole year. This year, try to make a few small ones that will make a big difference in you over all health. One resolution that I have made was to start taking vitamins and supplements everyday in order to help my body get the vitamins and minerals that it needs to stay healthy.

I did a little research and consulted a nutritionist on what I need to be taking to help improve my over all health. With many of us having different health and nutritional needs, it was important to me to find the right supplements and brands that I should be taking. For me, takingorganic whole food supplements was the right choice. I found that this type of multivitamin would help my body to stay healthy. After all, many of us do not have enough time to exercise or eat right on a daily basis. By taking a product that was all natural also made me feel better about what I was putting in my body. The Garden of Life products were the perfect brand for my health and nutritional needs.

After deciding to start taking the Garden of Life supplements, I then decided that not only was taking vitamins for my body a great way to start improving my health, that I wanted to do something healthy for my skin. I found many great natural skin care products that would help my skin to become healthier too. By taking care of my inner body by taking vitamins, I should also be taking care of my outer appearance. TheMyChelle skin care products were just what I needed to take better care of my skin. This has made a big difference in how my skin reacts to all the environmental stresses that can make our skin look dull or dry.

Just by taking a few small steps can help one to stick to that resolution all year round. Not only will you be doing something healthy for your body everyday, you will start to feel better. By doing small things for my health has helped me to stay on track and not to break my resolutions this year.

Digestive Health Blunders - The Worst Foods for Your Gut

2010-01-10T20:33:00.001-08:00

There is one thing all foods have in common … that is that they will all give you energy. This base definition of a food, unfortunately, doesn't allow for any additional indication of whether the food is good or bad for you! When we eat certain foods, we are aware of the risks to our heart, liver, pancreas, and even the circumference of our thighs. But we rarely think about what our foods could be doing to our humble digestive tract! Today we check out some of the worst foods for your gut health, which whole food supplements are called upon to cure.

Chicken nuggets
Chicken nuggets are a staple for kids around the world … especially in restaurants, where they often won’t eat anything else! Yet they are incredibly hard on the gut. They contain huge amounts of fat -- the breadcrumb coating soaks up a large quantity of oil during cooking.
Spicy food
Spicy food often has quite high levels of antioxidants and other nutrients that our bodies crave. Unfortunately, it can also irritate the lining of the digestive tract as well. A good general rule is to eat less spice if your stomach starts noticing it.
Chocolate
It isn't only your waistline that suffers when you eat chocolate -- your stomach also expands from the inside! Chocolate causes your esophageal sphincter to relax, and stomach acid to make its way back up.
Raw onion
It's delicious on sandwiches, but raw onion can also irritate the lining of your gut. Using whole food supplements and probiotics can help build up numbers of friendly bacteria in your gut and alleviate irritation, according to anecdotal evidence.
Ice cream
Around 80 percent of the people in the world do not naturally produce the enyme lactase, to help them digest lactose, or sugar found in milk. This makes ice-cream, along with cow's milk on cereal, in coffee, in cheese, etc, quite an irritant to the digestive system.
Raw broccoli and cabbage
Strong as they taste raw, some people like to eat them this way because they are supposed to have more antioxidants. The annoyance they are to your gut due to gas buildup can be avoided by just blanching them slightly.

Fucoxanthin and Dieting

2010-01-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

The New Year's resolution to lose weight can sometimes by hard to stick to for the whole year. Many of us start off the first month with the ambition to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle. Most of us then lose momentum and give up because we are not hitting that weight goal at the end of the month. This does not have to happen; by taking advantage of many of the great natural weight management products on the market can help achieve those weight loss goals.

We all know that there are many basic steps that we can take in helping us win the battle of the bulge. The three most important rules to follow are eating healthier, exercising on a daily basis and taking a whole food multivitamin. Sometimes though, this is not enough to really help speed up our metabolism and we need some help, such as a weight management product.

One of the newest ingredients that is being added in many weight management products is called fucoxanthin. This is very different from many other stimulant-type metabolism enhancers that are found in many of the popular weight management products. Fucoxanthin has been clinically proven to be a non-stimulant thermogenic. Unlike caffeine, ephedrine or guarana, fucoxanthin can be taken without the worry of it raising the blood pressure drastically or speeding up heart rate. This is because it bypasses the nervous system and does not cause one to feel shaky or hyper like many of the other more common ingredients in weight loss products. The ingredient fucoxanthin also has antioxidant properties which help the body fight off toxins and free radicals in the body.

Weight management products that contain fucoxanthin help aid in reducing the amount of visceral fat. Visceral fat is the fat that covers organs in the abdominal cavity. This fat is commonly found around the liver. Excessive visceral fat is now becoming a major health risk because of the diet habits in the United States.

FucoThin is a weight management product made by Garden of Life that contains fucoxanthin. This product can help aid the body in reducing that amount of visceral fat in the body. Garden of Life products are all natural and only made from the highest quality of ingredients.

By taking better care of our bodies, we can win the battle of the bulge. Eating a healthy diet, exercise and taking whole food vitamins can help improve our health. Following these simple rules can help one to not break that resolution.

6 Most Effective Foods and Whole Food Supplements for Digestive Health

2010-01-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

Our digestive system is perhaps one of the most undervalued in the entire body! We realize how important our circulatory system is, and we notice immediately if there is any disturbance in our nervous system. Even the endocrine system, despite having the least known name, gets more press than our poor old gut! However, the body is a unified symbiotic whole, and you can't ignore any system more than the others. Today we are looking at some great foods and whole food supplements for protecting your digestive health.

Soups and bone stocks
Many people have absolutely no idea that one of the most detrimental changes in our diets comes simply from using artificial stocks, rather than animal bones, for our soups. The integrity of your digestive tract is built up with these anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory soups. You can make them with turkey, duck, chicken, beef or lamb bones.
Smooth Food 2 by New Chapter
These vegan capsules encourages bowel cleansing, helps soften stool to increase ease of elimination, and also provides nutrients for proper digestive function.
Coconut oil
Did you know that despite the fact that coconut oil is pure fat, its strong antimicrobial properties do wonders for your gut? They help relieve the symptoms of Crohn's disease and candida, and can also help combat viruses.
Omegazyme Ultra Ultimate Digestive Blend
This Garden of Life product is formulated according to alternative medicine principles to help increase digestive tract health. It contains digestive enymes, cofactros for these enymes, as well as trace minerals.
Salmon
Salmon is a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, those wonderfulsubstances that seem to cure any manner of ailments. While this is available in supplement form, unfortunately you can’t use capsules to get all of your daily nutrient requirements … which is why we're recommending the real deal!
Primal Defense Ultra Capsules by Garden of Life
These vegan capsules not only help maintain digestive health, but support the immune system and brain function also. This particular brand has been shown to dissolve more completely than other brands of whole food vitamins.

Sun Exposure During the Winter Months

2010-01-04T20:56:00.001-08:00

Many of us now understand the importance of protecting our skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun. When someone mentions putting on sunscreen before they go outside, many of us associate this with the summer months. The truth is, we also need to take care of our skin during the winter months. With the growing concerns of skin cancers, many of us are now applying sunscreen even during the winter months when enjoying outdoor winter activities. This is very important since sunlight can reflect off of the snow, making it easier to get sunburned when skiing or sledding with kids.

Much of the aging that occurs is caused by exposure to sunlight. A great way to keep skin healthy is to apply sunscreen such as one of the great MyChelle products. Using a good sunscreen can help avoid those uncomfortable sunburns and reduce the signs of aging of the skin.

Not only applying sunscreen helps the skin during the winter months, but also keeping the skin hydrated helps. Many can achieve this by using natural skin care products such as a good quality lotion and applying it every day. Drinking plenty of water, eating right and taking whole food supplements can also help to keep the skin healthy and hydrated. After all, the skin is the largest organ on the body. It just makes sense to take care of it no matter what life has in store for us.

Taking natural organic whole food supplements not only nourish the body, they also help the immune system in fighting off those cold and flu bugs. By taking supplements and vitamins is another step for keeping skin healthy not only during the winter, but also all year long. Combining sunscreen, keeping the skin hydrated with lotion and drinking plenty of water will help avoid many of the skin conditions that can occur during those colder months. This can be dry itchy skin due to chapping or sunburn. That is why it is important to take care of the skin.

By taking basic care of our skin can help us to avoid many of the problems that can occur when exposed to sunlight during the winter months. Remember that hydration and sunscreen is key in helping our skin to remain healthy during all those fun winter activities.

4 Favorite Savory Recipes with Garden of Life Coconut Oil

2009-12-15T11:56:00.001-08:00

When you think of coconut oil, if you’re anything like me, then lazy days on the beach as a teenager come to mind. Slathering yourself with SPF4 and rotating slowly might have hurt those shoulders afterwards, but the scent was heavenly! Little did I know it might have done more for my physique (in a healthier way!) if I'd used an edible form rather than a tanning formulation. Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a versatile whole food supplement that can be used in a huge range of dishes -- today we look at four of our favorites 'a la carte' that can utilize it.

Mussels with Thai Red Curry

Nothing can put your imagination on a tropical Asian beach faster than the combination of seafood and coconut flavors. This recipe calls for both coconut milk and butter -- you'll use your Garden of Life Coconut Oil in place of the butter rather than the milk. As a bonus, this one is really fast -- it is designed as a first course, and you could throw it together while your guests or family are waiting at the table.

Cold Curried Carrot and Coconut Milk Soup

Sounds odd, tastes delicious is the general verdict on this recipe! You can sauté your scallions and onion as well as the gingerroot in the coconut oil, rather than in ordinary butter if you like. It helps create a more comprehensive flavor.

Seared Salmon and Thai Vegetables

You can use the coconut oil in cooking the rice in this recipe -- there are no heavy sauces to weigh you down, so the Garden of Life whole food supplement is as healthy as its context, in this recipe! There's a bit of prep to do and a few seasonings to buy, but it should become a weekend favorite.

Coconut and Red Lentil Soup

Dhal is a South Indian staple, and this version of the recipe uses coconut milk to create a filling meal with a silky texture. You can simply add a little Garden of Life coconut oil to the recipe, or use it to sauté the onions, garlic, ginger and spices to bring out their flavors.

You Put the Lime in the Coconut … 4 Yummy Ways to Use Your Coconut Oil Supplement!

2009-12-15T11:51:00.001-08:00

And we guarantee that none of the ways to use your coconut oil whole food supplement contained in this article will make you call the doctor and wake him up, saying "Doctor! Ain't there nothing I can take … to relieve this bellyache?"

Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

This ultra-healthy dietary oil can be used in place of butter for cooking and spreading on your toast. It is more quickly converted to energy that standard milk-butter is, and enhances the thermogenic capacity of the body. It is free of trans-fats, helps maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and is both vegetarian and organic. We are looking at different ways you can incorporate it into your daily diet.

Frying

In terms of preserving antioxidants, frying is actually quite a healthy way to cook your food. Boiled vegetables and fruits have lost up to two-thirds of their antioxidant potential … and frying with Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil makes it so much healthier!

On bread and toast

Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil has the consistency of butter … so you don’t need to make every sandwich an adventure into Texas oil country to enjoy the benefits of coconut oil over butter throughout the day. It goes beautifully with exotic flavors in your sandwiches, and even along with peanut butter for your toast in the morning.

In baked products

With the same consistency and a similar fat content to butter (just a change in the way the body processes that fat), Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a healthy substitute for butter in baking. You can use it to grease cake tins and muffin trays, rub it together with sugar and blend with egg for moist and delicious cakes, blend it with flour to create a beautiful breadcrumb texture for scones, and much more.

Sauces

All the best sauces are also the most buttery sauces! You normally have to go easy on the sauce if you are trying to improve your health - but if you make your own with Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, you get to indulge. From a creamy béchamel to delicious carbonara, coconut oil in place of butter creates a fascinating and addictive flavor.

Arrrgggh! Meditation and Herbal Supplements for Stress Relief

2009-12-14T19:45:00.001-08:00

Stress is a common disorder nowadays. Our bodies are designed to experience stress as a survival mechanism - but when the stress continues well past the point where our evolutionary ancestors would have either escaped the saber-tooth tiger, or been eaten, our bodies don’t cope very well. Removing stressors is a big part of the equation -- but in the meantime, help your body get back to the state it was in before that fight with your boss, or the close call on the freeway, with one simple whole food supplement and one simple technique.

Meditation

There are a hundred different ways to meditate. One method that is recommended for the reduction of stress is the mindful meditation method, where you focus solely on the present moment, and let thoughts of the past and the future go altogether. Here is a guide:

Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably. The floor is good, but a chair is fine if you have knee or back problems.
Tell yourself that you will be meditating for a certain amount of time. Start with five minutes, work your way up to ten, fifteen, twenty and thirty minutes. Let your brain know that it does not need to worry about things or sort them out in this time. There will be plenty of time for that afterwards -- you will simply be focusing on the task at hand.
Set a timer so that you aren't disturbing your meditation by constantly worrying about the clock. Your mobile phone most likely has a convenient timer.
Close your eyes and pay attention to your breathing. Notice how it feels to breathe in, and then to breathe out. See how there is a pause in between each breath. You might like to use a breathing pattern -- there are several recommended ones, like breathing in for a count of 3, holding for 3, breathing out for 3, holding for 3.
If your mind wanders, don’t beat yourself up. Just bring your attention back to your breathing. It doesn’t matter how many times you have to do this -- all you have is time. As the minutes go by it will get easier.

Whole Food Supplements for Stress

Stress sets off complex chains of reactions in your body and disturbs metabolic processes. Times of stress are more critical than all others for getting the nutrients you need, and often the residual bodily stress of the disturbance means that it takes longer to recover from a stressful event because 'you still don’t quite feel right'. We recommend New Chapter Rhodiolaforce 300 -- it uses rose root to help with adaptive stress management. The herbal supplement also helps with cognitive performance, cardiovascular function and immune boosting.

Don’t just sit there and take stress -- there are simple and easy ways to get rid of it!

Top 4 Lifestyle Changes for Healthy Bones

2009-12-14T19:41:00.001-08:00

It's often said that you don’t know what you've got until it's gone … and this is true of our bones more than most things in life! While even young people can be coerced into paying attention to their brain and heart health, bone health is something that people don’t think about until they've done a lifetime of ignoring the very thing that gets you up in the morning! Fortunately lifestyle changes that are healthful for your bones are good all round -- let's look at the top 4 changes you can make for good bone health and the most popular brands of whole food supplements for your skeleton.

1. Have cereal instead of toast for breakfast

This simple change helps ensure that you get at least one serving of calcium in a day -0- most women in America get less than 500 mg a day, when 1,000 mg a day is required for optimal bone health. The protein and fat in milk also helps you feel fuller for longer than the empty calories that are in most commercial breads, anyway.

2. Walk wherever you can

Get into the habit of going for a daily walk, and do a little jogging within that space as well. The weight bearing exercise stresses your skeleton, and induces it to form new bone to heal tiny, microscopic fractures and stresses. The same theory works for muscle development -- stress and tiny tears induce your body to create newer, bigger muscles. If you find that getting the energy to go walking is a problem, there are plenty of organic whole food supplements that are designed to help boost energy and vitality.

3. Stop smoking and drinking

A classic example of a lifestyle choice that is toxic not only to your bones, but your entire body. Smokers generally need more than one reason to quit -- I understand, I smoked for many years and still count giving up cigarettes as one of the hardest things I ever did. You negate the effects of your whole food supplements and also your dietary calcium to a large degree when you drink and smoke. If you do both, you lose about 8% bone mass over a year.

4. Make whole food supplements a part of your daily life

It is so easy to let the days slip by, and one week realize that you haven’t had a balanced diet, all day, for over a month. Organic whole food supplements are the most healthful way to take your vitamins and minerals, apart from getting them from fresh food. Calcium is a mineral that exists in delicate balance in your body -- it needs other minerals present for absorption, but not in too high concentrations. Whole food supplements give you the delicate balance, ready-made. Bone Strength Take Care is a great example.

Don't Make These Weight Mistakes

2009-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

Weight loss is both simple and complicated, all at the same time. Eating right is difficult in our modern society -- getting enough exercise is also, when many of us work 9-10 hours a day and commute for a further 2 … and then have to clean your house and play with your kids somewhere in there! It is achievable for everybody though -- morbid obesity is not a part of human evolution. There were no overweight cavemen! Today we are looking at some more of the top reasons that people find it easy to put weight on and hard to take it off. We'll also check out some of the organic whole food supplements that can help on your journey to your perfect weight.

1. Not drinking enough water

Water not only fills space in your belly that you might otherwise be tempted to fill with food, it also allows your metabolism to function normally -- dehydration slows down the rate at which you burn energy. Taking organic whole food supplements that assist with your weight loss, along with a big cool glass of water, is a double weight loss hit.

2. Ignoring a food group

Whether you choose to ignore carbs, dairy, or protein in your quest for the perfect weight, you are almost invariably doing your body a disservice. Even fats should not be ignored on a diet -- avocado and olive oil are great for general health and having the mental focus and energy to exercise. Dairy has calcium, which is essential for fat metabolism specifically.

3. Drive-through fast food

It's so, so easy to just pick up dinner by waiting in a short line, not even getting out of your car and them just dumping it on the table at home. There aren’t even any dishes to do. But the temptation of milkshakes, ice-creams and upsizing is huge when getting drive through -- even if you order the salad. Put convenience into your diet with organic whole food supplements rather than empty calories.

4. Weighing yourself daily

Focus on feeling good, having energy, enjoying your increased brain power from a good diet and exercise … but don't focus on the numbers on the scale. They don’t provide an accurate picture of overall health.

5. Get exercise

The key to motivating yourself to exercise is finding something you WANT to do! Swimming offers precious quiet time … Ping Pong or Frisbee are awesome fun, and team sports boost your sociability as well as your health.

6. Set a realistic goal

If you either fail to set a goal, or set an unrealistic one, you don’t get the benefit of motivation that achieving something you set out to do provides. Set a goal like "Having noticeably firmer thighs and belly," "Being able to run to the bus stop without breaking a sweat," or even "Improving my hockey game to the level of our team's better players."

Avoiding the Freshman 15 with Whole Food Supplements

2009-12-10T11:45:00.001-08:00

The freshman 15, those notorious 15 pounds that many men and women stack on soon after starting college, come right at a time when you need to be your mental and physical best. The phenomenon may be widespread, but it by no means HAS to happen. Today we are looking at ways of avoiding packing on the extra pounds when you go to college with sensible whole food supplements, meal timing and discipline tips. No acai berry involved!

Why does the Freshman 15 occur?

Teens and young adults often pack on the pounds when going to college because it is the first time they have been in total control of their own diet. They choose their own portion sizes for meals, have a constant supply of snacks and no parents telling you to leave some for everybody else! These environmental and choice factors are the main reasons behind it -- not complicated age-related metabolism issues.

Dining hall tips

The salad bar is not always the healthiest line to be in if you want to control your weight! Fresh vegetables often have much fewer calories per serving -- as long as you don’t add butter. Wholegrain pasta will be much more filling, also. Don’t load up more than a quarter to a third of your plate with protein (usually meat).

I ain't gonna chew carrot sticks while everyone else is having midnight pizza!

And I don’t blame you for that! If you keep a food diary, you can keep track of how often that's happening, though, and try to fill up on healthy things beforehand so the temptation to pig out is lowered. Or you can grab a salad from the pizza place instead, and just have one slice.

But college is all about drinking!

Yep, and that's also why college is also all about putting on weight! Alcoholic drinks are often quite high in calories -- and not just the exotic ones like cocktails. Beer is a big contributor to weight gain -- they don't call it a "beer belly" because it's just a cute alliteration.

Whole food supplements

Without vitamins and minerals, you'll have neither the energy to exercise, or the brain power to concentrate on classes. The urge to binge eat and binge drink usually passes -- you can help yourself get through it unscathed with whole food supplements. Where single supplements can be ineffective or dangerous, whole food supplements are the next best thing to eating veggies!

Diet and Travel: How to Explore without Losing Your Health

2009-12-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

We all know the importance of getting your travel vaccinations before leaving for another country. We know how critical it is that you buy bottled water, and never have unprotected sex while you’re abroad -- or even travelling within your own continent. But the other aspects of health slowly slide down the gurgler while we are on holidays! Today we are looking at some easy ways to maintain your health regime while you are travelling, no matter how long or short your trip might be. We'll explore everything from juices to whole food supplements.

Make your own fresh snacks

Where it is possible, make your own fresh snacks up and portion them out into Tupperware containers or ziplock bags. Put a few sticks of celery, carrot and cheese in a bag and dip into a container of peanut butter. Create your own nut and dried fruit mix,or use a commercial trail mix. Snacks like potato chips and chocolate bars are even easier to overeat when you are travelling.

Fast food tips

Think small with your main meal portions -- we know upsizing sounds like good value for your wallet, but it isn’t a good investment in your future health. Stick as close to nature as you can get with your side dishes -- corn, mashed potatoes and peas are all preferable to coleslaw … even if it is technically a salad. Don’t dress your salads, use salsa rather than sour cream and cheese for baked potatoes or tortillas, and look for a sandwich shop where possible.

Juices

If you've never been introduced to the joys of vegetable juice, travelling is an excellent time to start! Most people find a combination of fruit and vegetable juice is the easiest for them to drink -- some vegetable-only juices taste like cold soup. You can usually get these in individual packs as well -- no need to worry about refrigerating a bottle. As good as whole food supplements for getting your daily dose of vitamins and minerals.

Always pre-portion

We did touch on this earlier -- but the portioning stage of your preparations is critical. If you eat straight from a bag or box, you open the floodgates for mindless eating. There have been innumerable studies showing that people tend to eat more when there is more food before them … but that when they eat less, they don’t feel less full.

Whole food supplements

These are one of the easiest ways to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients that you would from healthy home-cooked meals, but without the kitchen bench, the hours of prep time and the slow-cooker! Whole food supplements exist in a 'complex' of nutrients that all support each other much better than single supplements can do, and are great for travellers.

5 Practical Tips for Boosting Your Immune System

2009-12-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

Our immune system is just as critical to normal bodily function as the respiratory, circulatory or nervous system. And if you’re the sort of person that tends to catch everything that's going round, from measles to the common cold, you know how important it is also! Today we're looking at the five kindest things you can possibly do for your immune system, from herbal supplements to sleep.

Immune Booster 1: Diet

This is critical to preventing and treating so many different conditions. Yet people continue to eat processed foods, ignore the fruit and veges, and load up on the saturated fats. It is in part due to our modern lifestyle -- fruit and veggies can take significantly longer to prepare than ripping the wrapper off a muesli bar … so the choice is obvious. But if you don't want to catch a cold by looking at someone sneezing across the street, you need to make that time! Your diet can be helped by whole food supplements, but they certainly don’t make up for a processed-food diet.

Immune Booster 2: Sleep

Studies are starting to show us just how vital sleep is to normal bodily function. It is during this time that immune cells like killer T cells, helper T cells and B cells are being regenerated, and also that they are fighting any latent infections. Have eight hours now to save yourself eight days off work later!

Immune Booster 3: Water

Chronic dehydration is common in the Western World -- in places where the most abundant sources of clean fresh water are found. Chronic dehydration stresses many bodily systems, including the immune system. Drink water, not coffee or cola.

Immune Booster 4: Herbal Supplements

In some people's bodies, energy and nutrient resources are prioritized differently -- in some cases they are prioritized away from the immune system. Herbal supplements containing extracts like elderberry and seaweed are particularly good for stimulating immune function. Take them as a preventive rather than curative -- every day during flu season is advisable.

Immune Booster 5: Quit the sugar

Sugar can become addictive just as quickly as any other prescription or non-prescription drug can. Your body builds a tolerance, and then needs more and more. It's a vicious cycle that results in damage to the pancreas, liver and brain -- the entire body is affected. Make your own cakes, biscuits and sweets with healthier sugars such as stevia or agave, keep them in the freezer and avoid temptation.

Easy Ways to Eat Your Garden of Life Detoxifiber

2009-11-17T12:26:00.001-08:00

Fiber powder on its own may be edible … but not many people have tastebuds that predispose them to it! If you’re thinking about giving up your fiber whole food supplement because it is too hard to take, think again! There are tons of easy ways you can incorporate it into your daily meal plan, no matter what your taste preferences are. Here are eleven easy ideas for using Garden of Life Detoxifiber in your everyday meals!

With yogurt for breakfast: Depending on your preference, you can mix around 2-4 tbsp of Detoxifiber with 6-8oz of yogurt. Add some other fruit, especially juicy ones like oranges, grapefruit and watermelon to counteract the thickness, if you prefer.
In spaghetti sauce, for dinner: Detoxifiber is easy to mix into your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe -- even for those of you that like carbonara! It works best with bolognaise, puttanesca and napoletana, but you can safely mix in a tablespoon with a 4-person serving of carbonar with no ill effects.
Make your own bread: If you aren’t already doing this, and are concerned about your health … put a breadmaker on your Christmas list and get going! A huge amount of the salt in our diet comes from processed bread. Cut it all out and make your own, adding Garden of Life Detoxifiber
Pancakes or toppings: You can use Garden of Life Detoxifiber as either part of the flour constituent of your pancake recipe, or mixed with maple syrup, etc.
In salad: For those who find the thickness hard to deal with, this is an excellent option. You could even mix it into your salad dressing to make the texture a lot more subtle.
Chicken parmagiana: Who doesn't love it? Half the quantity of flour for your crumbed fillets, and add Garden of Life Detoxifiber instead.
Broiled fish: A great way to get both fiber and Omega-3s, which many people are deficient in. Again, mix the Detoxifiber whole food supplement with seasonings and shake over the fish before cooking
Peanut butter and Detoxifiber on toast: Delicious and nutritious … peanut butter has its own health benefits, as well as effectively disguising the fiber granules.
Soups: Whether you are a can or homemade devotee, Detoxifiber is easy to add to soup and makes it wonderfully filling as well as very healthy.
Frittata: Does your family love frittata? Mine do. And when there's a little Detoxifiber pressed into the pastry, and a little more in the egg, and a little more sprinkled on top for crunchy brownness, they don’t even notice all that goodness!
Smoothies: You don’t even have to make your own -- empty your own Garden of Life Detoxifiber into a bought smoothie once or twice a week.

Tread Gingerly! Ginger Root and Your Health

2009-11-17T12:22:00.001-08:00

Ginger is a common ingredient in many of the cultural dishes of people who have unusually low instances of Western disease -- Indian, Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisines all use the root extensively. This was probably what tipped scientists off to start investigating the strange looking, knobbly but delicious herb! There are plenty of ginger whole food supplements available -- New Chapter is one of the best known and most respected manufacturers of ginger supplements like Ginger Honey Tonic, Stamina Ginseng Ginger Tonic, Daily Ginger and Supercritical Ginger Extract. Today we are looking at the everyday health issues that ginger can help resolve, as well as some of the more exotic ailments ginger whole food supplements are used for.

Nausea

Pregnant women everywhere bow down to ginger and hail its anti-nausea effects, instead of bowing down to the porcelain throne every morning. People now make ginger lollipops and crystallized ginger that you can snack on to get the smell and taste, while your ginger whole food supplement gives you all the active compounds in concentrated form. It also works for stomach bugs, chemotherapy nausea, and motion sickness.

Migraines

There is no one remedy that works for every person who gets migraines. There is not even any one remedy that will always work for a particular person. But when a migraine is going to strike, you know you want everything possible available in your arsenal. It is not only the smell and taste that helps change the inflammation of blood vessels in your brain -- taking ginger capsules or dried ginger was found to have the same effects.

Arthritis

The inflammation that rheumatoid arthritis causes can be alleviated somewhat by ginger, according to studies. Ginger whole food supplements do not have the side effects that many standard anti-inflammatory medications do, but have been shown to help with pain and swelling in many cases.

Aches and pains

General aches and pains associated with other conditions like menstrual cramps, cold and flu aches, ulcerative colitis, sore throats, headaches and also fever, have been shown to be alleviated by ginger in various studies. Remember that results vary from person to person.

Also remember that if you are pregnant, you should check in with your doctor about any whole food supplements you take -- they aren't just water, like homeopathic remedies are. They have real benefits and effects, so check with a pharmacist or physician about pregnancy doses and medication interactions.

4 Garden of Life Products to Splash Out On

2009-11-11T20:37:00.001-08:00

In many cases, people find that whole food supplements give you many of the same benefits, but ultimately are more cost effective, than buying the same amount of fresh food. So with all that money you are saving, there's no reason to shy away from products at the higher end of the price scale. Today we are looking at some of the Garden of Life whole food supplements that maybe a little pricier, but can have some great effects in your body.

FucoTHIN

Fucoxanthin is a relatively new weight loss whole food supplement. It has not been tested extensively, but the science behind it is promising. If you rarely use your gym membership, trade it in for a bottle of Garden of Life FucoTHIN, and go for a walk or a swim instead! 180 capsules of FucoTHIN retails for $79.95, but our price is just $55.97.

Perfect Food Caplets Super Green Formula

One serving of this powder is equal to 140g of fresh grass juice … and if you can’t stand what the taste of wheatgrass does to your watermelon and mango smoothie, this is an excellent alternative. Grass juices are high in antioxidants, spirulina for immune system support, and algaes and cereal grasses that help alkalize the body. You can get these in smaller quantities for as little as $15, but grab a value pack and ensure that you always have enough. 300 caplets are $47.37

PrimalDefense Ultra

Probiotics … who'd have thought, twenty years ago, that deliberately eating bacteria could be good for you?! We now have the science to prove it -- there are both digestive and immune benefits to probiotics. The 216 caplets size of this popular formulation is best value, at $47.37.

RM10

It might sound like the codename for a secret agent … possibly because that is how it acts in your body, keeping the baddies in line and ensuring good prevails! There have been some big health benefits seen in scientific studies of tonic mushrooms -- this blend includes ten different species. 120 caplets are $40.77, although you can get fewer for less money the big packs are much more cost effective.

Single Supplement Cautions - Can Selenium, Iron and Calcium Cause Disease?

2009-11-11T20:33:00.001-08:00

We are often told that our daily vitamin intake is likely to be less than adequate. And broadly, this is very true! However, unless you are a biochemist, the dangers of self-dosing with single supplements (only vitamin C, only selenium, pure iron tablets, etc) are real and can be huge. Simply because they are natural, doesn’t mean they are good for the body in any dose. Today we look at four cautionary research stories on single supplementation, and follow up with your best and safest alternatives … whole food multivitamins.

Iron Linked to Parkinson's Disease

You know all those antioxidants that you try to consume, and even supplement with, day after day? If you are taking more iron than your body can use, you might be whittling away all that oxidation protection from your blueberries and wheat bran. Harvey Checkoway, PhD, of the University of Washington in Seattle conducted a diet survey on several hundred newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients, and found that those whose iron intake is in the top 25% of people were 1.7 times more likely to be Parkinson's patients. If you take iron and manganese single supplements (to put your total intake in the top 25%), you are almost twice as likely to develop Parkinson's, according to the study.

Calcium Linked to Prostate Cancer

Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of Wisconsin recently collaborated on an analysis of the 2800 or so men who participated in a nationwide diet study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study authors stated that there was a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer in men in the top third of calcium consumption compared to the bottom third.

Selenium Linked to Diabetes

Taking a single selenium supplement of 200 micrograms daily was shown in a recent study to increase the risk of developing type two diabetes. The Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial gave the supplement to over a thousand people, and found that the risk of developing diabetes actually increased when taking a single supplement of this mineral, rather than a whole food multivitamin containing it.

However, this certainly does not contradict earlier scientific studies finding that a well rounded vitamin and mineral intake can help slow aging and prevent disease. It simply means that self-diagnosing and dosing with single supplements may be doing you more harm than good. Whole food multivitamins are specially formulated to deliver a range of vitamins in safe, complementary doses from natural sources. Much harder to overdose on, and much better for you!

The Basics of Prenatal Vitamins -- What You Should Know

2009-11-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

Prenatal vitamins are recommended for most women. There are few women who get the required intake of folic acid daily through their diet, and this is important for neural tube growth in the baby as well as general fetal health. Iron is another common mineral that pregnant women quickly become deficient in, exacerbating the symptoms of tiredness and irritability that are common in early pregnancy. Prenatal vitamin complexes are the best choice, as overdoing any one vitamin can hurt either you or your baby -- however, there are still things you need to know about them! Today we are going over the basic precautions and methods for using prenatal whole food multivitamins.

Only one product, only the recommended dosage

Some medications it is safe to take in conjunction with other common ones -- for example, you can safely take Tylenol and NSAID painkillers together, even during pregnancy. Yet, despite the fact that they are more natural, it is less safe to take two different brands of prenatal whole food multivitamin together. Each will contain similar substances, and overdosing on some of them could cause internal bleeding to your or your baby, and even birth defects.

Vitamins A, D, E and K could have serious effects for pregnant women if taken in overdose. So may minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. If you get any of the following symptoms after taking more than the recommended dosage of prenatal whole food multivitamins, go see your doctor immediately:

Stomach pain
Peeling skin
Tingly feeling in the mouth
Severe back pain
Blood in your urine
Easy bruising and bleeding
Very pale skin
Weight loss

Don't eat as much dairy

In addition to increasing the risk of overdosing on calcium, extra calcium in the body may block absorption of some other minerals and vitamins. Look out for antacids containing calcium if you have spent the money on prenatal whole food multivitamins, also.

Effects on breastfeeding babies

The effect of multivitamins filtered through the bloodstream and those passing into breast milk are very different. If you are pregnant and also breastfeeding an older child, ask your doctor if the prenatal whole food multivitamins you are taking are safe.

Scientists Excited About Reishi Mushrooms

2009-11-08T14:55:00.001-08:00

It takes quite a while for herbal and vitamin or mineral based remedies to be accepted by the scientific world. In the case of reishi mushrooms, it may have taken several centuries! Reishi mushrooms (scientific name ganoderma lucidum) are now being investigated to see if they have potential in helping people with a host of Western diet related problems, like diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

The main study is being undertaken at the University of Western Sydney's Center fro Complementary Medicine Research, and its principal aim is to find out whether high blood sugar conditions can be corrected by using whole food supplements containing reishi mushrooms. Other health problems will also be examined in the study, however the blood glucose question will be the main focus.

People with high blood glucose, obesity and high cholesterol are often classed ashaving a metabolic syndrome. One of the cruel paradoxes of the syndrome is that once a person develops it, it can be difficult and dangerous to make the required lifestyle changes to correct it. In some cases, lifestyle changes alone do very little to correct the syndrome.

Reishi mushrooms could hold the answer, though, as recognized by science (not just marketers). The study's proponents say that the mushroom has been revered in China for its ability to fight a range of diseases, enhance vitality and apparently delay aging. Whole food supplements that contain both reishi and cordyceps sinensis mushrooms (or taking a combination of the two whole food supplements) was noted by Nerida Klupp, of the Sydney center, as especially effective. Both have the same effect on blood glucose, and at present there doesn’t appear to be any dangerous interactions.

More recently, reishi mushrooms were studied in conjunction with green tea whole food supplements for their potential to slow the growth of sarcoma (cancerous cells). This combination was found to slow the deaths of mice from sarcoma, and an even more positive effect may be found in humans, after suitable study.

Fantastic Flax: Smoothie Ideas for Flax Seed Whole Food Supplements

2009-11-05T09:10:00.001-08:00

You just can’t get any better as a health food than flax seed & fruit smoothies … all those great vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in the fruit, the fiber and omega-3s of the flax seed, and the probiotics that you can incorporate via the yogurty base. Nutritious -- and much more delicious than some of the world's other healthiest foods, like brussel sprouts! Today we're looking at different smoothie recipes for your flax seed whole food supplements, to keep your life both healthy and interesting.

Strawberry Pineapple Flax Smoothie

This one has that distinct tang of pineapple and strawberry to balance out the rich nuttiness of flax seed whole food supplements. Use a cup of pineapple juice, ¾ cup of strawberries or other berries, half a cup of yogurt and 2 tbsp of your flax seed. Blend and drink!

Flaxseed Chocolate Dessert Smoothie

This one uses fruit and chocolate for an extra sugar hit with the goodness of flax. Mix 3 cups chocolate milk with a banana, ¾ cup strawberries and ¼ cup raspberries. Mix in half a cup of yogurt (look for a brand without high fructose corn syrup), and 2 tbsp of your flax seed whole food supplement. Blend and drink!

Flaxseed Breakfast Smoothie

The flax provides fiber that other breakfast smoothies have little of, as well as all its other important benefits! It uses many of the same ingredients: ½ banana, 5 strawberries, a cup of orange juice and ½ cup plain yogurt alongside a tbsp of your flax seed. You can add a tablespoon of whey protein powder if you like, also.

Afternoon Fresh Flax Smoothie

This one looks pretty crazy, and the ingredient list doesn’t sound nearly as sweet and tempting as some of the other smoothies! But once you taste it, you'll be an instant convert. Grab 2 cups of spinach and a cup of almond milk -- blend with a banana, a tablespoon of flax seed whole food supplement, and a handful of ice. Note that you can substitute a portion of your flax seeds for other whole food supplements if you like.

Fantastic Flax -- How Does it Work?

2009-11-05T09:06:00.001-08:00

Flax seed is often recommended by dieticians for its various beneficial effects in the body. However, if you're anything like the average person, you wouldn’t know a flax seed if it came up and kissed you in the street! Today we are looking at the benefits of flax seed whole food supplements as a regular part of your diet, and exactly how they work in the body.

Flax is also known as linseed; it is this name which is most commonly used when flax is incorporated into bread. The nutritional basics of flaxseed, for a hundred gram quantity, are:

450 kCal
41 grams of fat
28 grams of fiber
20 grams of protein

Flax whole food supplement is known to be extremely high in fiber -- it is one of the foods highest in dietary fiber known to humans. Fiber has a whole range of health benefits, including making people feel full faster (and therefore reducing the risk of overeating), speeding the passage of foods through the digestive system (and reducing the re-absorption of harmful chemicals in the waste), lowering LDL and total cholesterol, and helping regulate blood sugar (reducing mood swings, insulin resistance and the risk of diabetes).

Flax is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, and for people that don't eat fish (or are concerned about heavy metal contamination of fish), is a great dietary source. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown in various studies to help in conditions like:

Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Immune-suppressing conditions
Autism and ADD
Rheumatoid arthritis

Like other whole grains and bran cereals, flax seed whole food supplements are high in lignans. These are known to be potent antioxidants; this is the reason for flax's possible anti cancer potential.

There are, however, a few cautions about the use of flax seed whole food supplements for certain individuals. These include:

People at increased risk of prostate cancer should not take flax seed oil -- the Mayo Clinic completed research showing that alpha linoleic acid in flax oil could increase prostate cancer risk.
People with irritable bowel syndrome may have an adverse reaction to flax seed, experiencing worse cramping and diarrhea.
Ask your doctor if the phytoestrogens in flax seed whole food supplements could interact with any of your conditions or other medications.

Taking Vitamin for Optimal Health

2009-10-15T21:14:00.001-07:00

Many people are not getting the proper nutrition due to lack of a healthy diet. In a world filled with so many food choices, it is hard sometimes to make the right food choice. The American diet is high in trans fats, sodium, refined sugars and preservatives. These types of eating habit have taken a toll on our bodies and had caused health care costs to soar. By decreasing the amount of processed foods that we eat can increase over all health. Small positive changes in the diet can have long lasting positive effects on our health. Taking vitamin supplements can also help the body to get the nutrition it needs to function properly.

Organic whole food supplements can help the body get what it needs to function efficiently on a daily basis. There are no preservatives in these types of nutritional supplements. These all-natural whole food supplements are the best choice when it comes to vitamins. Supplements can help add nutritional support to the body that is not taken in by eating the proper foods every day. This can help the body fight off infections and boost the immune system.

During the cold and flu season it is imperative to make sure that the immune system is working properly. By taking vitamin and mineral supplements this can help to boost the immune system and keep some infections at bay. There are many vitamins on the market that help with supporting a healthy immune system. Some of the top brands on the market are Garden of Life and New Chapter Organic Supplements just to name a few.

Many people who start taking vitamins and nutritional supplements notice a difference in energy levels and mental focus the first few weeks. This is because the body is starting to get many of the minerals and vitamins it has been lacking from an unhealthy diet. Some will also go through a form of detox that subsides after a few weeks. Detox happens when the body is able to fight off the free radicals and toxins that we are exposed through diet and environmental factors.

Studies have shown that small changes in eating habits and by taking supplements can help improve ones over all health. Many doctors and nutritionists are now recommending to patients the importance of taking vitamins and to keep a healthy life style. With these small changes, anyone can improve their health.

The Benefits of Organic Vitamins

2009-10-15T21:10:00.001-07:00

While in the process of recovering from a particularly aggressive case of the flu, I found that I felt completely lagged and out of sorts. For weeks, I felt sluggish and weak, which I attributed to the toll the illness had taken on my body. I tried getting extra rest, eating good foods, drinking enough fluids and followed the advice commonly recommended for recuperating, but nothing seemed to work. It wasn’t until I realized how badly depleted my body was that I realized the need to take better care of myself on the whole so that I didn’t feel this way again.

I needed to receive the proper nourishment that I could only get from adding organic vitamins and foods to my daily diet. I started by going shopping and purchasing some fresh fruits and vegetables and added four to six servings of each to my diet. I then searched online and found some high-quality vitamin supplements from beyondprobiotics.net, which were another addition. Within a matter of a few days, I felt like I was well on my way to become a healthier person just by doing these two simple things.

The organic vitamins I purchased from beyondprobiotics.net were called Vitamin Code One for Women Formula. Contained in the organic vitamins I was surprised to find many different raw, food-created nutrients that I didn’t find in grocery or health-food store supplements. The capsules are a once-daily formula which meet my unique nutritional needs and make me feel better and more energetic than I have felt in a very long time.

I found the vitamins also provide certain protection for my body like breast and reproductive health, bone strength, energy, healthy heart and skin. The vitamins are make from uncooked, unprocessed, unadulterated foods completely free of binding agents, contain on fructose, maltodextrine or magnesium stearate or corn starch, like other vitamins. The vitamins are easy to digest and have specially targeted peptides to provide the maximum amount of nutrients for my body.

The addition of these vitamins to my diet is convenient and contains everything I need to allow my body to be at its best health wise. Never again will I ever put myself in a position to have a weakened immune system, since adding these vitamins and organic foods to my diet, I feel like a completely new person. I would highly recommend any woman who wants to experience better health and quality of life adds the vitamins to her diet, the results are well worth it.

Make Your Metabolism Work For You: Scientific Discoveries and Nutritional Supplements

2009-10-12T19:55:00.001-07:00

Your base metabolic rate has an enormous effect on your weight loss efforts. In fact, raising your base metabolic rate can help you burn the same number of calories as you would by jogging around the block several times a day -- but without actually doing anything! It's scientifically proven -- so how do you do that? We look at what science and the organic whole food supplement industry have to say about boosting your metabolism.

Three minute high intensity bursts

We've been told a multitude of things about the intensity and amount of exercise time needed for health benefits. From being told that 20 minutes four times a week of moderate exercise is sufficient, to saying that an hour of vigorous exercise five times a week is needed … it's all a bit confusing! However, now scientists at the University of Edinburgh have research to suggest that doing just three minutes of very high intensity exercise a few times a week dramatically improved metabolism, glucose clearance and the action of insulin.

Cut down on fructose

Fructose, a fruit sugar, could stimulate our brains to crave higher food intake and stimulate obesity, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found. Your whole food supplements designed to cut down on your appetite could be negated by consuming large amounts of fructose - which is found in more foods than you might think. Spring onions, for example, have high levels. Soft drinks, processed foods with corn syrup, and table sweeteners all have high fructose levels.

Check your prolactin

Excess prolactin (the hormone that stimulates breast milk production) in both men and women can be produced by stress, some brain tumors and some medicines can also cause raised levels. Doctors are now finding it can also interfere with insulin action and disturb metabolism. So before you begin a course of whole food supplements designed to boost your metabolism, make sure your body isn’t silently working against you.

Look for fucoxanthin

There have been enormously promising studies in trials on rodents showing that up to a quarter of body weight can be lost in four weeks, with the greatest fat loss from the belly, using a substance found in brown seaweed known as fucoxanthin. There are quite a few Garden of Life products with fucoxanthin included -- these whole food supplements can come in the form of an energy bar, in an omega 3 tablet or in a specific metabolic boosting formula. Look for organic whole food supplements like Fuco THIN, Oceans 3, and FucoProtein bars.

Cooking for Health -- How to Preserve the Antioxidants in Your Food

2009-10-12T19:31:00.001-07:00

Antioxidants are readily available from whole food multivitamins -- however, they are also readily available from foods! You'll note that most nutritional supplement bottles state that the product is not a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet. If you’d like to make sure that you have an excellent, healthy nutrient base, and your supplements are just a bonus and a surety, read on for the best cooking methods to preserve antioxidants in your food.

Boiling

Boiling caused the greatest antioxidant loss in cauliflower, peas, zucchini and green beans. In most vegetables, antioxidant loss was significant after vegetables were boiled. If you boil most of your vegetables, organic whole food supplements of antioxidants are still recommended.

Pressure-cooking

Pressure cooking was second only to boiling for antioxidant loss in vegetables. Beets and garlic retained most of their antioxidants after these cooking methods, but that is about all! You'll want to hang onto those antioxidant nutritional supplements for a while longer.

Baking

Baking showed moderate antioxidant loss for most vegetables, apart from green beans, beets, and garlic.

Microwaving

Overall, microwaving produced one of the lowest drops in antioxidant levels after vegetables were cooked. One notable exception comes from a different study done five years earlier, which showed that microwaving broccoli caused a huge 97% drop in flavonoid content.

Griddling

Griddling, or frying without oil on a flat metal surface, helped most foods retain the highest level of antioxidants. Break out the barbeque if you’d like to get the benefits of whole food supplements of antioxidants, but from your actual food!

Steaming

In the broccoli study mentioned in the microwaving section, steaming showed the smallest flavonoid loss of all the cooking methods. There was almost no different in antioxidant content between raw and steamed.

Inconsistent results

Unfortunately, the effect of cooking a food on its antioxidant content is not consistent! For example, tomatoes and corn show higher antioxidant levels once cooked, while potatoes, broccoli and carrots show lower levels.

Remember, though, that eating foods raw is the best way to guarantee that you are getting the antioxidant content that you hear about in studies. If you definitely aren't a raw food person, then keep that bottle of whole food multivitamins handy for a while longer.

The Omega-3 Power Series: More Conditions Omega-3 Can Help With

2009-10-12T13:18:00.001-07:00

I'll bet you thought after reading the first part that there couldn’t possibly be more that this little molecule could do for the human body … considering that depression, obesity-related complications, prostate cancer, macular degeneration, asthma, arthritis and diabetes could all be alleviated with omega-3s! In case you needed another five reasons to maintain your daily omega-3 organic whole food supplements, here they are.

Kills cancer cells: At a cellular and a molecular level, omega-3 nutritional supplements can reduce leukocytosis (an accumulation of white blood cells), oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, all of which have been associated with the growth of cancerous tumours.

Reduce harmful effects of chemo drugs: Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug that often causes kidney damage. Taking DHA, a type of omega 3 whole food supplement, reduced the damage done by cisplatin to the kidneys and also had its own chemoprotective effects.

Protect against strokes: Plaque in the carotid arteries can sometimes come loose and lead to a stroke, by blocking a major blood vessel in the brain. In a recent study, plaque scraped from patients who had begun having neurological symptoms that indicate possible stroke were compared with asymptomatic patients. Those who had started having neurological symptoms has two times less DHA, and 1.5 times less EPA in their plaque samples.

Gum disease: Dental researchers have been looking at resolvins, a family of omega-3 whole food supplements, for their potential in preventing tissue damage and tooth loss from the chronic inflammation caused by the bacteria in gum disease patients. The organic whole food supplements don’t only provide a preventive effect, but could also restore sick gums to health.

Parkinson's: LSU Health Sciences Center researchers in New Orleans have found that omega-3 consumption can prevent the misfolding of a protein, which occurs in gene mutations seen in Parkinson's and Huntington's disease patients. Having a defective Ataxin-1 gene causes a protein to misfold, and then not be properly processed by cells. Tangled clumps of the proteins eventually lead to cell death, but omega-3whole food supplements could prevent that misfolding.

Intelligence: A study of almost 4,000 teenagers published in Acta Pediatricia showed that 15-year-old boys who ate fish once a week had improved cognition, over those who ate fish less frequently. Those who ate fish more than once a week showed around an 11% improvement in verbal, visuospatial and combined intelligence scores.

Brand Review: Mt. Capra Whole Food Nutritionals

2009-10-12T13:15:00.001-07:00

Mt. Capra has a smaller product range than most, as they focus on goat milk products for whole food supplementation. However. they are well regarded in the natural health industry, and have been in business for over 20 years, constantly expanding since their inception. The goats milk for their products comes from their own farm, utilizing free range goats on a large property in the south of Washington state. Here are some of their more popular products!

Capracleanse

This whole food supplement aims to assist cleansing throughout the entire body, from the larger digestive down to a cellular level. It is supposed to be used daily to help remove mucoid plaque, cleanse the blood with chlorophyll and correct and prevent constipation. Their Activated FIber blend is popular, and contains arabinogalactan, psyllium husks, flax flour, apple fiber powder and rice bran solubles.

Capracolostrum

When I had just had my first baby, I was shocked to hear from the doctor's mouth that Olympic athletes would be climbing all over themselves to get their hands on my colostrum (made before breast milk comes in) if they could! The CapraColostrum whole food supplement makes it much easier than chasing around expectatant mothers. It provides dopamine and serotonin, and helps support the immune system.

Vital Energy

This quick selling Mt. Capra product contains five herb blends, that all aim to help your metabolism function optimally. It has predigested minerals and electrolytes, anti-inflammatories and melatonin as some of the notable ingredients. The immune system, your stamina, and stress-related conditions all benefit from this whole food supplement.

Capra Mineral Whey

A whey powder made from goat's milk, the most similar milk to human's in composition, this nutritional supplement has an enormous range of benefits. It is an alkaline mineral food, helping support a healthy environment in the body, and assists with conditions like:

Weak and painful joints
A weakened immune system
Soothing the digestive tract

Caprobiotics Advancved Shelf Stable Formula

Probiotics have an enormous range of health benefits for humans, and the Caprobiotics organic whole food vitamins and probiotics are especially natural and helpful. People with any of the following conditions can benefit from taking probiotics like the Mt. Capra products daily:

Peptic Ulcers
Allergies
Gastric distress
High cholesterol
Family history of cancer or celiac disease

Effective Nutritional Supplements and Skin Products Under $20

2009-10-11T19:21:00.001-07:00

Nutritional supplementing can be an expensive process, with some whole food supplements costing in excess of $60 for a standard size bottle. All of them have awesome benefits, but sometimes the simplest formulations and the cheapest products can have just as great benefits as more expensive items.

For budget watchers, today we are checking out 7 of the most effective nutritional supplements and natural skin products available for under $20.

1. Garden of Life Clean Energy Mind and Muscle, 60 caplets for $17.97

This represents a 30% saving off retail prices, for the #3 selling herbal formula in the entire whole food supplements industry. The energy blends it contains are stimulant-free, and support energy and metabolism, help give you endurance and encourage a healthy response to stressful events.

2. Garden of Life Detoxifiber, 300g powder, $12.57

You save 30% off the RRP buying this product also. The certified organic fiber supplement helps your gut naturally cleanse itself. One serve provides 20% of your daily fiber needs, more than adequate for whole food supplementation.

3. New Chapter Probiotics Anti-Aging, 90 capsules for $17.97

There is not only one strain of probiotics in this whole food supplement, but ten, aiming to help offset the effects of oxidation and help support the immune system. The probiotics are said to both help boost the immune system's action, and help directly kill pathogens in your gut for optimal health.

4. New Chapter Supercritical Antioxidants, 60 capsules for $17.97

Antioxidants are New Chapter's speciality, and these supercritical formulation antioxidants come in an easy-to-swallow soft gel form. They help support your cellular enzyme system and are backed by clinical research.

5. New Chapter True Tamanu Oil, 1 fl. oz for $17.97

Tamanu oil has been used for centuries by Pacific Islanders to assist with the healing of cuts, blemishes sores and burns. It promotes the formation of new skin tissue and prevents microbial infections.

6. Mt Capra Alkalizing Goat Whey, 12.7oz powder for $16.07

Acidic conditions in the body are thought to lead to a host of diseases. This whey powder is not only good for helping build muscle after workouts, but for creating a healthy, disease repellent environment in the body, according to the manufacturers.

7. MyChelle Clear Skin Spot Treatment, 2.3oz for $13.46

This formulation is made specifically for teenage skin, and aims to help take the infection out of spots and heal blemishes faster than your body can alone. The sulphur in works as both an antiseptic and an exfoliant, while improving the texture and tone of skin also.

Losing Weight with Probiotics -- What Science Has Found

2009-10-11T19:18:00.001-07:00

Probiotics are one of the newest fields of study in science, helping to combat disease in a more natural way by recognizing that not all bacteria are bad, and that some are quite necessary to human life. Reserachers are now finding out about what role probiotics play in weight management, including regulating metabolism and helping maintain a healthy weight throughout pregnancy.

Uncertain, but definite potential

A recent study by Amsterdam researchers may not have uncovered any clues about HOW probiotics help people maintain a healthy weight, but it provided some unarguable facts. The team studied 256 women who had recently gotten pregnant, and divided them into three random groups. The first group received probiotics capsules as well as dietary counselling and food samples. The second group received dietary counselling and a placebo capsule, while the third group received a placebo capsule and no dietary counselling or food samples.

The women continued taking the capsules until they began their babies on solid foods and stopped breastfeeding exclusively, at around 6 months of age. Ther results were as follows:

25% of the women who received probiotics and diet advice showed symptoms of central obesity. Their average body fat percentage was 28%.
43% of the women who received a placebo and diet advice showed symptoms of central obesity. Their average body fat percentage was 29%.
40% of the women who received only a placebo showed symptoms of central obesity. Their average body fat percentage was 30%.

Central obesity was defined by the study as having a BMI (Body Mass Index) over 30, and a waist circumference of greater than 80 centimeters.

Speeding up the metabolism with probiotics

In a study that has been published for over a year now, researchers from Imperial College London and Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, gave two different types of commercially prepared probiotics drink to mice that had human gut microbes transplanted into them.

The mice that were treated with probiotics metabolized bile acids differently; the function of these acids is to emulsify fats in the upper gut. Being able to absorb more fat from the food you eat could contribute to obesity, while excreting more of that fat would have positive implications for weight loss.

Brand Review - New Chapter Products Organic Vitamins and Probiotics

2009-10-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

New Chapter may sound like a young, upstart company -- but in reality it has been a considerable force in the whole food supplement arena for more than 24 years. You'll often hear that it is far more beneficial to get your nutritional needs from the food you eat, rather than from chemical isolates. New Chapter's whole food multivitamins are a big step in the right direction, as every ingredient is grown or cultured, rather than synthetically put together or reduced chemically. Here we look at the differences between New Chapter's dietary supplements and what you'll find at the pharmacy.

Potent but not dangerous supplement levels

New Chapter focuses on providing an effective dose of many nutrients and probiotics to support health, without overdosing. The true daily required intake of many vitamins and minerals is much lower than what is included in a conventional multivitamin tablet. In the case of some minerals, having too much can cause adverse health effects or even lower their potency. You will also find that in the case of many New Chapter products, while the milligram measure is lower than conventional dietary supplements, the cellular activity of the substances when absorbed this way is much higher.

Fermented soy base

Many people have trouble digesting natural or raw soy. Fermented soy is used for culturing many probiotics and deriving vitamins and minerals in New Chapter products, and this form of soy agrees even with many people who are sensitive to it.

Suitable products for pregnant or nursing mothers

New Chapter has also created a line of dietary supplements for nursing and pregnant mothers.

Fridge-free dietary supplements

Many whole-food supplements and probiotics require storage in the refrigerator. New Chapter products are formulated for shelf-stability, so you can still get the full effect without clogging your refrigerator door. However, if you live in relatively humid conditions, the efficacy of your products may be influenced by the moisture in the air. The fridge is usually the driest place in the house, so you can extend the life of your New Chapter products by storing them in the fridge.

Vegan and gluten-free options

New Chapter has herbal supplements and dietary supplements that have been derived according to vegan principles, with no animal products, by-products, or testing. There are also a range of gluten-free products, nor any ingredients that the Celiac Sprue Association considers harmful to gluten-intolerant persons.

Top 5 Women's Whole Food Supplements - What a Girl Wants!

2009-10-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

You don’t have to be a high maintenance sort of girl to need certain things! Today we look at what a good women's whole food supplement needs to include, to help you achieve optimal health.

1. Folic acid

This is too often seen as only a pregnant woman's vitamin. It has an enormous range of health benefits in addition to helping prevent birth defects. Folic acid can help lower homocysteine levels to aid in preventing heart disease, reduce the risk of developing clinical depression, and improve memory and mental agility. Macular degeneration can also be slowed with folate whole food supplements, according to some studies.

2. Vitamin E

It is not only important for top brands of shampoo -- your body needs it as well. Vitamin E deficiency is rare, but can cause neurological problems and anemia. Combined with other common vitamin and mineral ingredients in whole food supplements, vitamin E has shown to be beneficial in reducing macular degeneration risk, and some studies have shown a reduction in Alzheimer's development associated with vitamin E intake.

3. Iron

Iron is essential for carrying oxygen around the body, and due to our monthly blood loss, women are often low on iron. Iron should be taken as part of a whole food multivitamin as iron toxicity, or an overdose of the mineral, carries health risks just as significant as deficiency.

4. Calcium

We all know that women are at increased risk of osteoporosis, and that calcium helps support our bones and teeth and in turn reduce that risk. However, most of us don’t realize how little calcium we actually have in our diets! Health consciousness leads many women to shun the dairy foods that are high in calcium, and a dislike of spinach doesn’t help either. Your whole food multivitamin should have a moderate amount of calcium, no more than 600 mg in a tablet, because the more calcium a supplement contains, the less is absorbed.

5. Green tea

Whole food supplements are your best bet for upping your intake of green tea if you don’t particularly like the drink. Green tea helps support the function of estrogen in the body, and the EGCG compound helps our bodies metabolize fats. Hooray!

Extra, Extra - Read All About It

2009-10-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

As promised, here’s the next news installment we found during our probiotics research. This story is courtesy of Fox 7 News!

If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffers from stomach issues like bloating or constipation, relief may be as close as the grocery store! 7's Diana Diaz shows us why some doctors are making the Push for Probiotics.

Look in almost any supermarket or health food store and you'll see them: products that promise to strengthen your immunity and regulate your digestive system with probiotics.

But do they really work?

Karen Cohen is a busy mother of three.

"After I delivered Jarod, my second, I started having hoarseness, and I thought it was sinus," Karen says. But what Karen was feeling wasn't a sinus problem, it was actually a digestive problem. "I looked into it further and found it was reflux."

So she went to see gastroenterologist Charles Gluck at Memorial Regional Hospital for help.

He says the digestive system requires a critical balance. "There's a hundred trillion bacteria living in the colon, and they are an ecosystem just like any other ecosystem. If they're out of balance, you're out of balance."

Imbalances in the system can be caused by taking antibiotics that wipe out both the good and bad bacteria, causing a variety of symptoms.

"It could present itself as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas," Dr. Gluck says, adding that probiotics are "friendly" organisms that can be found in supplement form or by eating foods like Activia and DanActive yogurt. "What you are doing in that situation is flooding your colon with non-gas-forming friendly bacteria, thereby crowding out some of those aggressive or disease-causing organisms."

Karen had been taking a prescription medication for her reflux but wasn't getting relief.

Then she started taking two different probiotic supplements daily and watching what she eats.

"So, two weeks in, three weeks in, I started noticing I wasn't as hoarse, feeling better."

Dr. Gluck says there is no downside to taking probiotics, even though they might not work for everyone. All Karen knows is they worked for her!

News on the Probiotic Front

2009-10-03T20:34:00.001-07:00

As we mentioned before, we’re always on the lookout for the latest and greatest probiotics news…check out the following Fox News report!

Regular consumption of a yogurt-like fermented milk product containing the digestion boosting probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis appears to ease digestive discomfort, researchers report.

An open-label study of healthy adults who ate or did not eat Activia (Danone, Ltd.) daily for 2-weeks suggests "the daily consumption of this specific probiotic food improves digestive comfort," Dr. Denis Guyonnet told Reuters Health.

Guyonnet is the senior research scientist with the Activia Health Benefit Team at Danone Research in Palaiseau, France, and the study was supported by a grant from Danone.

Previous research has shown probiotic products -- those containing microorganisms that aid digestion -- are beneficial for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other digestive problems , Guyonnet and colleagues point out in their article in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.

The findings of the current study suggest "people experiencing some digestive troubles, even without diagnosed gastrointestinal diseases like IBS, can benefit from the consumption of this specific probiotic product," said Guyonnet.

The study participants included 360 healthy men and women, 18 to 65 years old, who had no diagnosed gastrointestinal problems but reported some digestive discomfort in questionnaires completed at the start of the study.

For a 2-week period, 144 and 147 of these men and women, respectively, ate one or two servings of the fermented milk product daily, while 69 participants (controls) did not. The investigators urged all participants to otherwise maintain their other normal dietary and exercise habits.

After 2 weeks, about 83 and 84 percent of those eating one or two servings of the probiotic product reported improvements in digestive comfort. Just 3 percent of the control group reported the same.

Among those eating the fermented milk probiotic, "the bother from different gas-related symptoms (feeling bloated, excessive or trapped wind, swollen stomach) was significantly reduced," Guyonnet noted.

These findings suggest an overall positive effect from the regular consumption of probiotic food, Guyonnet and colleagues conclude. However, they acknowledge, a proper clinical trial, in which participants do not know if they are getting an active of placebo product, is needed to confirm the beneficial effects.

We’ve got one more hot news story to pass along…stay tuned for the next installment!

Have You Been to the Dentist Lately?

2009-09-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Here's something you may never have considered; probiotics can play a major role in good oral health. Just like brushing your teeth, probiotics can be essential for maintaining healthy teeth. The benefits of probiotics have been catapulted into mainstream media in the past several months. The reason for this incredible growth in popularity is because the benefits of probiotic ingestion has started to become more mainstream. Recent clinical studies have proven that the ingestion of regular probiotics can help to lessen and prevent most common oral and dental diseases.

One of the most devastating dental diseases that probiotics can help prevent is the development of dental caries or cavities. Cavities are formed when bacteria eats into the enamel. As the bacteria continues to progress, the tooth will become more sensitive, discolored, and much weaker. If you're constantly noticing your teeth are often sensitive, you should consider a regular probiotic supplement as a way to help combat your problem.

Another common oral disease that may be preventable and treatable through the use of probiotic supplements is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an inflammation of the gum tissue. Gum tissue helps to support the teeth and hold them into place. But periodontal disease does not affect just the gums. In fact, periodontal disease can affect the exterior roots of your teeth (or rather, the outer layer of your teeth roots), as well as the bone that anchors your teeth into place. The bacteria causes inflammation of the gums. The most common cause of this bacteria is poor oral hygiene. Streptococcus bacteria that live within the plaque on the teeth can infect the gums causing pockets, pain, loose teeth, bleeding gums, and bone recession. Some people even form abscesses or lose their teeth altogether. Believe it or not, the regular ingestion of probiotic culture can help to inhibit the growth of the Streptococcus bacteria that causes periodontal disease to develop in the first place.

And finally, likely the most prevalent problem caused by oral bacteria is halitosis. Halitosis is better known as bad breath. As we all know, having bad breath is a major social faux pas. Not only that, having bad breath can be an indication of a more troubling problem. Up to 90 percent of the causes for halitosis originate in the mouth. That means a bacterial buildup or bacterial disorder on the back of the tongue, or elsewhere in the mouth, produce foul odors. It is commonly believed that the back of the tongue is the most prevalent source of halitosis. Research indicates that the administration of probiotic supplement surprises the buildup of overproducing bacteria, thereby resulting in a decrease in number of smells produced in the mouth. With a decrease in number of smelly gases, probiotic enthusiasts have fewer instances of bad breath.

If your internal health and well-being isn’t enough to put you on a probiotic supplement routine, perhaps the idea of eliminating your bad breath, protect yourself from cavities and other oral diseases, and perhaps saving your teeth will be enough to pique your interest in probiotic vitamins.

Natural Experts

2009-09-28T12:55:00.001-07:00

As you know, we spend a lot of time researching probiotics and taking assessment of what other people have to say about whole food and whole food vitamins. During our research, we found some material published by Orville Campbell, MD, an internist and nephrologist. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. We liked what we read so much that we’ve decided to pass part of it along to you. As such, we’ve put together a short article based on the high points brought forth by Dr. Campbell.

If quality matters to you, then make sure the source of your vitamins is whole foods. Is your supplement a synthetic vitamin? If it is a whole food vitamin, then the company will usually be proud to advertise as such and list the source of the vitamin. Here are the critical points you should know about whole food vitamins.

Don't ever select a vitamin based solely on price. There are significant reasons why one vitamin is cheaper than the other. When you decide on what is an acceptable quality, then comparison shop for that similar quality vitamin so you are comparing oranges with oranges and apples with apples. Watch out for companies with well recognized names who have purchasing power. Read the label even more.

Your body prefers to absorb vitamins and other nutrients from natural or whole foods. In other words, these are foods in their natural, unprocessed or unpolished states. Therefore, most health and wellness experts agree that whole food sources of vitamins and minerals and other nutrients are superior. Synthetic may mimic but will not be superior as good as natural. Your body will absorb and utilize the whole food vitamins more than synthetic

The fewer additives the better, and the fewer opportunities there are for allergic reactions. Remember, avoid artificial flavoring and colors. The supplement market is very competitive; the better the quality the better and more prominent the labeling stating such. Vague labels with minimal information are strong indicators of lower quality.

Vitamins are supplements. Just as all dietary supplements, they are not cure alls for disease states. They supply what the body is missing to heal itself for perform natural physiologic functions. They are not medicines. However, if not used in an appropriate manner they can harm you. For example, if you are on a blood thinner such as coumadin for whatever reason, you would not want to take vitamin K supplements. It will oppose the coumadin to try and thicken the blood.

Remember, natural whole foods are an ultimate health source. As such, doing your part to ensure your family gets what it needs will mean spending some time in assessment of those needs and doing what you can to bridge the gap.

Travel in Digestive Style

2009-09-21T15:01:00.001-07:00

Summer is winding down, and that means that many people will be taking those last-minute trips or heading out on a vacation to take advantage of end-of-season discounts as they get those last few kicks in before the fall and winter months are in full swing. And while travel is fun and exciting, it can also mean a few difficulties…

At no other time is digestive health more critical than when we travel. It’s no fun to be jammed into an airplane with only a few bathrooms when you're faced with a digestive emergency. It’s even less fun to face one of these episodes halfway through a thigh-crunching hike or during a night out sampling local cuisine.

Our first hero in the quest for trouble-free travel digestion is a good probiotic supplement. Probiotics help replenish the beneficial bacteria in your gut. You want to keep an optimal balance of good bacteria as the majority and bad bacteria as the minority.

Probiotics help alleviate occasional diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating. Plus, because more than 70% of your immune system is located in your gut, they help boost immunity! Many experts recommend taking a probiotic supplement before and during travel for the best results.

You’re probably eating a lot of unfamiliar food when you travel. Exotic fare can be fun, but when you need a little extra help breaking things down, digestive enzymes may be your #1 appetizer choice. When taken with a meal, a digestive enzyme supplement supports efficient breakdown of carbs, fats, sugars, and proteins. When your body is breaking food down efficiently you’ll probably notice you have more energy, less digestive upset, and better transit time.

A lot of us have trouble with digestion when we travel, from occasional constipation to diarrhea, gas, bloating, or just general stomach distress. It might be the different foods we eat, the water we drink, even a change in altitude – the bottom line is; there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, it’s a fact of life, and as long as you’re doing what you can to support digestive health, its one fact of life that will run as smooth as silk!

Your Skin - Your Health

2009-09-21T14:58:00.001-07:00

We’ve been talking about your skin as a window for the internal functioning of your body. If you’ve determined that you’re lacking in some nutritional area or another that’s been affected by your body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients, you may be frustrated by your options. Fortunately, you can support healthy digestion and healthy skin in a variety of ways.

Probiotics, the beneficial bacteria found in supplements and probiotic rich foods, support healthy digestion, a healthy urinary tract and a healthy immune response. An immune imbalance can also affect the health and appearance of your skin. Probiotics help to modulate the immune system so it is active enough but not too active (certain probiotic strains help produce the substances that down-regulate your immune response when it’s no longer needed). All this action makes for balanced digestive and immune systems, and healthy skin.

Natural healing is an excellent approach to reactivating your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Consider visiting your natural health doctor for information on what you can do to boost your body’s natural abilities. If you don’t have a natural doctor, and your comfortable discussing your desires with your regular physician, he or she may be able to recommend some more natural methods for managing your nutrition levels.

Minimally processed whole foods that are rich in nutrients help boost healthy, functional digestion. Digestive support supplements such as probiotics, digestive enzymes, colostrum and more are also becoming popular ways to support digestive health, intestinal lining health, and immune health.

A healthy diet can also do more for skin health than we realize. Junk food and foods high in sugar can contribute to acne and other skin sensitivities. Cutting down on sugary processed foods, drinking plenty of water, and supporting balanced immune and digestive systems all help make your skin as healthy and radiant as it can be!

Take the High Road

2009-09-21T14:44:00.001-07:00

Did you know that it’s possible to be taking in all the nutrition you can get your hands on and still be low on specific vitamins and minerals? It’s true. Sometimes the human body does not absorb nutrients properly, and this can mean some serious health trouble down the road.

If the body is not absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste properly, this can show up in your skin. Our skin reacts in many ways to an internal imbalance with responses like acne, excessively dry or oily skin, dark circles under the eyes and more.

We often treat the skin with a something topical like a cream or balm. But the skin is made up of three primary layers—the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous fat layer—and each of these layers is directly linked to what’s going on internally with your body, not just externally.

For example, the epidermis (the layer of your skin that’s visible) contains no blood vessels. It relies on the deeper layers for nutrients and oxygen. And, in turn, the deeper layers of skin rely on the entire bodily system to receive their nutrients. If your digestion, absorption, and elimination are out of whack, this imbalance can affect your skin.

Recognizing problems with your skin as an indicator of internal issues is a good way to monitor your body’s needs as time goes by. If you’re concerned about the things that may, or may not, be happening in your own body, there are measures you can take.

Either way, you don’t have to settle for inferior health. Spend some time researching natural methods of healing and don’t waste any more time feeling bad, looking bad, and wasting life.

Do Your Vitamins Make the Grade?

2009-08-18T20:49:00.001-07:00

It is common practice in these modern times for people to suffer from a nutritional deficiency and remain completely unaware of it. Unfortunately, most people base the assessment of their own health on how they feel. Just because you feel good now does not mean that you’re at an optimum level of health.

Because we are all living busy lives and navigating a hectic lifestyle, the majority of us will become victim at some point to a vitamin or nutrient deficiency. The best way to ensure that you're not among the individuals who falls victim to a nutritional deficiency is to first take an assessment of your current diet.

If, upon assessment of your current eating routine, you find that you eat more fast food than fresh food, more sugar than fiber, and more fat than protein, it's very likely that you are suffering from a vitamin deficiency and should be engaging in a supplementation routine. The best bet for boosting your current nutrition level is to research high quality multivitamins and nutritional supplements that are designed to target the body’s specific needs. Upon assessment of these products, you can make an educated and informed. decision as to the best supplement program for you.

Don't be one of the many thousands of people who will suffer needlessly from health detriments based on the fact that they did not take the time to engage in an assessment of their current level of personal health and current diet plan. Living the standard American lifestyle almost automatically means that you will suffer from some form of vitamin deficiency. If you're like most of us, today is very likely the day to make a change at a step in the right direction.

It’s also important to remember that not all supplements are created equally. If you do plan to embark on a routine that includes a supplement program, you should first take the time to explore the factors that make particular supplements either superior or inferior. Consider searching customer reviews of the brands you’re planning to purchase. You may also find it beneficial to obtain a full list of ingredients so you can research the components of your potential supplement. Some people even go so far as to schedule an appointment with a physician to get recommendations as to which supplements they should be taking and why. This approach will ensure that you take your supplementation seriously and that you make the most of your efforts.

Probiotics and the New You

2009-08-18T20:38:00.001-07:00

There are a multitude of scientific developments that point to probiotics as the key to excellent health. These products assist the body with optimum health, also relieve suffering. Inflammation for example causes joint pain and exacerbates existing medical conditions. If, through the use of supplements, a way to reduce suffering can be obtained by assisting the body with the elimination of toxins, waste by-products of the digestive processes, then the supplements that need to be consumed must be focused on micro biotical principals.

Probiotic health proponents argue that they formulate their products with the assistance and collaborative efforts of the scientific community. Proponents of probiotics passionately embrace the relationships they create when working with people that are scientifically in the know about the deep relationship of biochemistry and digestion in the human body.

Both scientist and probiotic proponents see the value of using the body’s own systems as the means to elimination of disease. If they can create whole natural foods that will assist in reduction of disease, then together they will have helped all of humanity. While these may sound like lofty goals, it seems to be the motivation behind the probiotic health movement – an admirable quality on every account.

You may be wondering how to get these probiotic bacteria and yeasts in your body. The good news is that these bacteria are naturally occurring in the body and come from the foods we eat. The positive effects of these bacteria are that they help to keep our body systems clean by assisting the body’s natural process of breaking down and converting sugars, carbohydrates, and lactose into lactic acid When there is enough probiotic activity in the body, these bacteria and yeasts act as little workers in our system. They eat the toxins and allow the natural systems in our body to function in a most favorable and efficient way.

See For Yourself!

2009-08-18T20:34:00.001-07:00

Do you wonder if taking immune boosting supplements and eating whole foods is mostly hype, and more a marketing gimmick for companies to make money? When you purchase a substandard quality of products, or do not get sage advice about how to use supplements and incorporate healthy eating and exercise into your lifestyle, you are right to question whether there will be any personal value to you. When you purchase your products through Christine’s Cleanse Corner, you can rest assured that you will only receive the highest quality merchandise, the best and most complete information about lifestyle changes and suggested products, and information that supports the use of these products and the introduction of a consistent exercise routine.

Christine Dreher, a nutritionist, herbalist and author, as well as the founder of Christine’s Cleanse Corner, encourages you to ask questions. She wants you to be involved in the process of modifying your life to promote greater health and well being. She wants you to enter her site with lots of questions and leave with all of your answers and more. The author of The Cleanse Cookbook, Christine Dreher started the company in 1995 and has a competent staff of experts who field and answer customers’ questions, recommend products and lead them to educational resources, when appropriate.

Often people ask the questions: “What are whole foods and why are they important?” To provide the simplest, yet most complete answer; whole foods are foods that are unrefined and unprocessed. These foods are the most nutritionally dense, packed with vitamins and minerals, as well as necessary proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, enzymes, antioxidants and micronutrients. The human body needs these powerful ingredients to stay well and fight off illness; however, in our modern diets of fast food and high calorie and fatty cuisine, we often do not get enough whole food ingredients, thus do not maintain proper nutrition levels and need to take dietary supplementation. These dietary supplements do help optimize health and energy; however, eating nutrient-rich foods, too, is a necessary step to take. Getting regular exercise allows your body to properly use the nutrients it takes in, thus strengthening your immune system and making your body work more efficiently.

Doctor Knows Best

2009-08-18T20:30:00.001-07:00

David Juan, M.D. and Richard P. Murray, D.C., P.A. are experts on the human body and on the effects vitamins and minerals have thereon. A research document outlining their ever growing field of study was recently published and we feel it bears some recognition. If you’re interested in the benefits of natural whole food vitamins versus the man made synthetic variety, consider the following information as derived from the above sources.

Whole food supplements are derived from naturally occurring, full-spectrum food extracts. To understand this better, it's crucial to define what naturally-occurring' means. By taking a nutrient rich-plant, removing the excess water and fiber via a chemical-free vacuum process, to later package it for stability, is the most common way of obtaining a naturally-occurring' vitamin. This way, the entire vitamin complex is captured intact, retaining its nutritional integrity and full spectrum values. Whole food supplements can be defined as highly complex structures that combine a variety of enzymes, coenzymes, trace elements, antioxidants, and activators that all work together synergistically in your body as co-factors for each other's efficacy. Natural vitamins contain the essential trace minerals necessary for the synergy with your body to occur.

On the other hand, synthetic vitamins contain no trace minerals and are forced to use your body's already existing resources and mineral reserves to perform like the whole food, natural supplements. If within the chemical compound of synthetic vitamins, one part is missing, or is fractionated, the entire chain of metabolic processes cannot proceed normally.

Only intake of naturally-occurring vitamins, found in wholesome organic foods can most benefit our body's performance. Numerous studies and articles have proven that daily consumption of synthetic vitamins from A-Z' create toxic and adverse reactions in the body. There is an enormous difference between vitamins found in natural foods unaltered chemically, and those manufactured, drug-like substances that are called vitamins which are in no way beneficial.

For a nutritional effect, repair, and maintenance of all biochemical activities in the body, only natural, whole vitamin "complexes" as they exist in whole foods are acceptable and make a positive difference. Unfortunately, most vitamin products fond in healthy food stores and pharmacies, primarily contain synthetic vitamins. Numerous studies conducted, have proven that the intake of isolated vitamin pills and supplements does not function as effectively as complete natural vitamin intake and is not efficiently utilized in the body.

Powerhouse Probiotics

2009-08-13T19:29:00.001-07:00

As fall approaches and we get back into the swing of school and sports schedules, we’re bound to forget what it means to take time out for health. As such, we’ve decided to do a little reiteration on the importance of probiotics for health and wellness. In order to keep the information fresh, we’ve compiled some recommendations from health professionals and other probiotic experts.

As you know, Probiotics are called "friendly" bacteria. These little health powerhouses are naturally present in the digestive tract and vaginal area in women. Probiotics are microbial organisms that are considered beneficial to the body. People are consuming these little beneficial bacteria for many reasons; including but not limited to the fact that they are considered to promote overall health, they are known to suppress the growth of harmful bacteria that hinders immune function. And they enhance the protective barrier found in the digestive tract, and finally, they are known to produce Vitamin K in the body!

Probiotics and natural vitamins, along with other dietary supplements and herbal therapeutics offered by some of the top nutritional companies can be found online. This makes living a healthier life very convenient and easy. These supplements also contain important nutritional cofactors and mircronutrients that are missing from isolated vitamin formulas that have been man made in a chemical laboratory somewhere. Because whole food vitamin supplements are made from whole food, the body recognizes them as food so they are absorbed and utilized better by the body.

It is possible to add probiotic supplements to your diet via a capsule, in a liquid, in a tablet, or in powder form depending upon your personal preference. Probiotic supplements can be found in health food stores, grocery stores, and of course online (our preferred method). However, we must inform you that If you would rather eat your probiotics, you will find them in cultured dairy products like yogurt. Do be careful however, because the quantity of content in probiotics tend to differ from brand to brand.

The Probiotic Way of Life

2009-08-13T19:25:00.001-07:00

Beginning in probiotics regimen is a great way to protect yourself against the wears of life. Believe it or not, engaging in an act of probiotic regimen can even help prevent weight gain. As the school year gets underway, and we begin the hustle and bustle of ball games, after school activities, and the to and fro of life, we tend to forget the importance of eating healthily.

As we age, it's very common to experience age-related weight problems. As such, doing what we can to avoid those weight problems is imperative for maintaining ideal health and confidence as the years pass.

Even those who are relatively young, say age 30, can still experience age-related weight gain as metabolisms began to slow. Scientifically, however, the body's metabolism should not change that drastically so early in life.

Because we live in a society of over-processed foods, alcohol and drug abuse, and a reliance on man-made chemicals and components for simply living, we have deprogrammed our bodies natural metabolic methods. The good news is, this deprogramming can be reversed. It is possible to reprogram your body and your immune system to fight off cancer before it ever occurs.

Studies indicate that our over processed food and sedentary lifestyles have contributed to a slower metabolism at a very early age in comparison to our ancestors. As such, we've done some research to help promote an understanding that whole vitamins and probiotics are ideal for men and women suffering from a number of ailments.

Even with mountains of evidence piling up, you should still keep in mind that there are lots of products that claim to be just as beneficial as probiotics, but upon reviewing the research on both and comparing all the facts we found that there is nothing comparable to probiotics.

Consider talking to your doctor or herbalist about the benefits and cost effectiveness of probiotic health care. While many mainstream doctors fail to see the whole picture, the evidence speaks for itself. We challenge you to try a probiotic regimen for three weeks just to see for yourself!

Go Back to School with a Perfect Complexion!

2009-08-02T19:37:00.001-07:00

It’s time to head back to school, and one of the most prominent concerns for students from 10 to 30 is maintaining the look of clear skin. As we all know, problem skin can wreak havoc on a young person’s confidence and can affect everything from social interaction to academic performance. The good news is that you can help your teen care for his or her skin, while picking up some tips for yourself, by studying organic health and whole food vitamins.

Typically, people suffering from problem skin have tried all natural products before but did not feel that they actually supplied you with the natural wellness and defense you need to life the healthiest life possible. Now you have a site that is full of information and products that not only will offer you the natural defenses and organic products you and your family need to reach the health goal you have set for your life.

MyCelle is just one of the many health products that incorporate natural skin care to keep the young looking young and help the older peel off years. Not only that, but the professionals at MyCelle will help you keep your household’s skin blemish free so you can take pride in your appearance every day.

With a little online research, you will gain access to information and price lists that include skin care packages and other products as well as other helpful information in beginning your journey to a healthier you.

Browse other popular skin products such as different cleansers like Apple Brightening cleanser offered in different sizes, Cranberry cleanser, Fruit Enzyme cleaners, as well as Honeydew cleansers and wonderfully refreshing Apple brightening mists, deep repair creams that are available in unscented creams, a variety of eye treatment like Fabulous eye cream or Fresh eyes cream. Also among the list you will enjoy products such as Fruit enzyme mist, oil free grapefruit cream as well as Love Your Lips products.

Throw the store bought and chemically laden skin care products away and start trusting the care of your skin and your family’s skin to the professionals who make it their lives in offering you all natural top quality skin care.

Protect Your Family and Your Pocketbook this School Year

2009-08-02T19:33:00.001-07:00

With the rising cost of health care butting heads against the falling economy, most of us have to stay health conscious just to avoid going broke. Thanks to this phenomenon, many companies are capitalizing on our needs. Now more than ever there are online companies that claim to sell you all natural products to include vitamins, whole foods, skin care products and all natural remedies, but sadly, many of these companies are bogus…as such, you have to make sure you are buying from a reputable company.

There is an endless number of choices when it comes to natural health-care products, but buyers must keep in mind that not all products are truly natural and won’t benefit your body nor your family. Quality research online and being sure to buy from a professional health care company is imperative.

When you choose the company that offers all natural products as well as an information base that will help you to expand your knowledge in the area of natural health, you will find that you save lots of time, money, and gain a heavy dose of peace of mind. With the availability of information and products from Garden of Life supplements, you will find complete satisfaction.

Enjoy the peace of mind that will come with purchasing all your natural vitamin and supplements as well as skin care products, weight loss products, whole food supplements and wonderful all-natural vitamins for your children’s health when you purchase all your organic needs from a knowledgeable and dependable online company.

You will be amazed at the time and money you will save by choosing the top-of-the-line company that offers the top of the line organic and whole food products at a wonderfully low price and delivered to your front door. You will be amazed by the improvement in your bodily function as well as your energy and that of your loved ones when you surround your life with organic vitamins, supplements, skin care needs, and other products.

After you have searched through the wonderful selection of products you can complete your order with material to support your vitamins, skin care, weight loss, and other all natural products. Purchase books that will set your mind at ease and answer questions that your local health food and supplies store may not know. You will be able to keep books on hand that will offer ideas as well as explanations and that are full of all the information you need to complete your organic lifestyle.

Taking Charge of Your Health Through Natural Means

2009-07-25T19:32:00.001-07:00

You will find that some companies will claim to sell health food and organic products; however, this may not be true in the whole meaning of the words "natural foods". Therefore, it is very important you research and purchase natural foods and products as well as books from a reputable company whether online or in your local city. While committing to leading a healthier life and eating healthier the way nature intended and our bodies are designed, you must stay informed of the true natural foods as opposed to foods and products that only claim to be organic.

Foods that are minimally processed and do not contain ingredients like refined sugars or flour, sweeteners, milled grains, flavorings or hydrogenated oils are considered natural foods. Now, this may sound like a tasteless diet -- however, you can enjoy replacing these items with raw honey, agave syrups, and maple syrup, which add a wonderful flavor to your foods. You can even continue using salt in your diet by replacing table salt with sea salt.

It has been argued that refined ingredients lead to heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes, as well as contribute to obesity, which is a rising concern in America today among adults as well as our children. Avoiding artificial products and processed foods like refined sugar and white flour can aid in reducing this nationwide concern.

Choices used to be limited when trying to purchase natural foods and products -- today, your choices are endless. Grocery stores, restaurants, and even cookbooks take advantage of natural food ingredients and encourage the use of natural foods in your regular diet. You can find various natural foods and other organic products such as vitamins and minerals along with natural drinks as you local natural food stores, many food cooperatives, and whole food markets either online or in your city.

Put an end to obesity in yourself by changing your diet by replacing all your foods with natural foods or just starting with the items you use to season your foods. By changing your eating habits and those of our children we will be contributing not only to a healthier life for ourselves and our children but for our nation as well.

Installing water purifications systems in your home you can ensure you are removing all the harmful and dangerous minerals along with the unhealthily amount of chlorine in your regular tap water. If you prefer to purchase bottled water over installing a water purification system is sure to research the company selling the product as well as the location your water has been taken. There are various differences and effects in certain bottled water as well as misleading facts on certain bottles of water.

Internal Cleansing - The New Trend in Health

2009-07-21T10:15:00.001-07:00

While many people view the undertaking of an internal cleanse as a quick and easy way to lose weight, it's important to note that a cleanse, while it will help flush excess waste from the body and thus reduce body weight, it is not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise. In fact, after completing a cleanse, if you go back your old routine, in no time you'll be right back where you started. It is recommended that you embark on a healthy diet and exercise program and regularly take a whole food vitamin supplement.

If you're at all interested in health and wellness, you've probably heard about the growing trend of internal cleansing. People all over the world are taking a variety of herbs and other helpful supplements in efforts to perform an internal cleanse.

The idea behind in the internal cleanse is that the individual performing the cleanse will rapidly eliminate toxins from the body, lose some weight, boost their immune system, and eliminate unnecessary bloating. Because of these intense properties, many people view the internal cleanse is an excellent way to jumpstart a new fitness routine.

It is entirely impractical to think that even the most fit among us can constantly eat healthily. Let's face it, with a fast food restaurant on every corner and convenience foods in every freezer section across America, the advent of the whole food vitamin is not only necessary, but is also one of the most helpful ways to keep your body in check.

Some of the more obvious benefits of performing an internal cleanse includes the removal of toxins from the body as well as the potential for a boost to the immune system and maximized weight loss. Thanks to our modern American lifestyle, most of us have a system that is rife with toxins and carcinogenic chemicals. Believe it or not, most of what you eat contains these toxins and chemicals. However, a whole food vitamin supplement as part of an internal cleanse can help to combat the effects of negative eating, while also giving you the added physical boost in the effort of jumpstarting any physical fitness routine.

You don't have to settle for feeling sluggish or being overweight. In fact, the right combination of supplement, diet, and exercise can almost guarantee that you'll be looking and feeling your absolute best in record time.

Are You an Irritable Bowel Sufferer?

2009-07-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, as many as 20% of the adult population in the United States will experience symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. As we mentioned before, the most prominent symptoms of IBS are bloating, abdominal pain, and discomfort. However, some symptoms vary between individuals. Some sufferers will experience severe constipation, while others have extreme urgency when visiting the restroom. And other individuals experience both symptoms. Most people will find these symptoms come and go over a period of months.

So, we've again decided to remind you of some of the more common ailments that can be treated through the use of a probiotic supplement. Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a relatively common disorder characterized by abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and gas. Sufferers of IBS experience severe discomfort and distress. The good news is, IBS does not permanently harm the intestinal tract and typically does not lead to any serious disease. For the most part, irritable bowel syndrome is treatable.

Irritable bowel syndrome is typically diagnosed after a primary care physician orders a specific series of diagnostic tests. Most of these tests include blood testing, x-rays, in the collection of the stool sample. Many sufferers of IBS also report undergoing a colonoscopy to provide a better view of the inside of the colon. If your physician can rule out any other ailment, you may be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome based on your symptoms.

Unfortunately, research has yet to provide us with any specific cause for irritable bowel syndrome. One medical theory is that sufferers of IBS have particularly sensitive large intestine and colon. It has been proven that IBS is more reactive to certain foods and stress. It's also believed that the body's immune system is involved in the symptoms of IBS.

The good news is, scientists now proven that a regular ingestion of a probiotic supplement can help to eliminate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome will find great relief and knowing that they can almost completely eradicate the symptoms of their ailment in a relatively short period of time by incorporating a probiotic supplement into their daily routine. If you've suffered for years from IBS, and nothing you've tried has really worked, consider undergoing a probiotic supplement routine.

Whole Food Vitamins and a Healthy Lifestyle

2009-07-21T10:02:00.001-07:00

Some time ago, we discussed the true benefits of whole food vitamins. However, we still get lots of questions pertaining to just that. So, here's a review of things you may have heard;

You’ve likely heard about the benefits of living vitamins, whole food supplementation, and organic eating. However, many people have no idea as to why living the whole foods lifestyle is vastly superior to its counterpart. Let's take a look at some of the reasons whole food supplements, and the organic lifestyle in general, will provide you with advanced health and vitality.

First of all, standard vitamins (isolates) are inferior to whole food vitamins because they are merely designed to mimic individual nutrients found in nature. For example, let's assume you're eating an apple; apples contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that exist in nature and will work together to benefit your body in a variety of ways. However, when you purchase a traditional vitamin supplement, you typically only receive one portion of the nutrient bundle found in the apple. Even if you purchase a top of the line multi-vitamin, the combination of nutrients found therein will in no way resemble the nutrient bundles found in natural food, and will therefore neglect to provide you with the same nutritious benefits. Whole food vitamins such as Garden of Life or New Chapter are designed to allow your body to reap the health benefits of natural nutrient bundles.

Basically, whole food vitamins are made from actual whole foods, and therefore provide you with the same benefits. Unfortunately, traditional vitamin supplements available at most grocery stores and drugstores across America are man made derivatives that only seek to mimic actual nutrition. Now that you’ve learned a little about whole food supplements, let's move on and take a look at some of the benefits of organic eating.

Organic produce, and other products made from organic foods, do not contain any of the pesticides, growth hormones, and other man-made chemicals that are designed to improve the appearance and marketability of our food. For example, when you go to the grocery store you will find that most of the produce shiny, and brightly colored, and the overall visually appealing. However, most of the time these foods have been infused with waxes and dyes and a host of other chemicals that are designed to add to the product’s shelf life and aesthetics. None of the chemicals used in these processes benefit the human body in any way. In fact, most of them are carcinogenic materials that promote the development of cancer and other diseased cells.

Let's face facts, we take vitamins and eat food to maintain healthy bodily function. It stands to reason that the vitamins and nutrients we ingest should be as close to natural as possible. Unfortunately live in the material age, wherein instant gratification and profitability are more important than natural process. Your body is not artificial and your nutrition shouldn’t be artificial either. If your desire is to maintain optimal, overall health, the wisest choice you can make is to let nature take its course.

Trimming the Fat

2009-07-08T19:40:00.001-07:00

Well, it's official, we're in a recession. While economic professionals maintain that the recession is slowing, most of us are still feeling the pain when it comes to our pocketbooks and bank accounts. Unfortunately, thanks to our economic hardships, many people find themselves trimming the fat (no pun intended) off of every area of life. Unfortunately one of the places where Americans are cutting corners is in the purchase and ingestion of proper nutrition.

Sadly, many people are finding the cost of purchasing whole foods, produce, and other healthy alternatives is too expensive in comparison to purchasing microwavable processed meals. Believe it or not, it is cheaper to buy a bag of chicken nuggets than it is to buy a bag of whole raw chicken. As such, if you're among many Americans who have cut corners when it comes to nutrition, it's important that you fill the void in your nutritional life.

If you leave your body void of nutritional value, you'll find that you eventually start to feel sluggish and less with it. However, you can combat these feelings through the ingestion of an organic whole food vitamin. Organic whole vitamins are designed to fill nutritional voids in those of us who have either experienced a lack of nutrition due to the economy and budget, or those of us who experience a lack of nutrition, because we’re simply poor eaters.

It’s impossible to doubt the truth about the importance and benefit of a whole food vitamin, a very minimal amount of web research will reveal that the ingestion of an organic whole food vitamin means the avoidance of isolated compounds. Basically, by ingesting a whole foods vitamin, you will get more bang for your buck, so to speak.

Remember, the ingestion of an organic whole foods vitamin has been proven to fight a variety of illnesses, increase energy levels, prevent infection, fight depression, and even promote fertility levels. So, if you've been faced with a number of health problems -- as well as a number of financial problems -- you may find that cutting the corners in the kitchen is the perfect opportunity to embark on a whole foods vitamin regimen.

Pump Your Health and Your Pocket Book!

2009-07-08T19:33:00.001-07:00

Once you’ve decided to embark on a whole food vitamin regimen, it will be important to choose a retailer with a proven track record that can provide supplements through e-commerce. Shopping for your whole food vitamins online can ensure that you pay wholesale prices on what would normally cost retail. It's also important to choose your whole food vitamin retailer after reviewing their track record. Make sure that the products you purchase are 100% verifiable, and nutritionally beneficial.

Believe it or not, the purchase of specific whole food vitamins can make a huge difference when it comes to both your health and your pocketbook. Because whole food vitamins are not isolated compounds, a smaller amount can provide users with maximum return. Basically, you’re getting more bang for your buck. Not only that, as we‘ve established before, in a whole food vitamin, elements are delivered to the body as they are found in nature. That means that your body can better absorb, and thereby better use, each nutritional element.

To better give example of what makes a good supplement choice, we’ve compiled a short list of vitamins that are derived from whole food products and can provide you with optimum health at minimum calls are bee pollen (bee pollen is a very popular whole food supplement proven to increase energy and vitality, promote longevity, prevent infection, promote fertility, reduce depression and fatigue, improve cholesterol levels, prevent the development of cancer cells, help to regulate the function of the intestine, and even help alleviate menstrual cramps (among a host of other benefits).

Two other whole food supplements proven to show dramatic health benefits at a fraction of the cost of standard whole food, or manufactured vitamins, are alfalfa and chlorella. Both of these vitamins have been proven to improve cellular function, prevent toxin buildup in the body, and boost the electrolyte levels of the body. Because both alfalfa and chlorella contain a high concentration of body benefiting vitamins and minerals, the combination of alfalfa, chlorella, and bee pollen is a powerful whole food combination that costs mere pennies on the dollar.

Don't sacrifice your health to save a dollar. Spending a little time in research of the best whole food vitamins that can be purchased for relatively low cost will ensure that you'll be doing your part to maintain economic stability, while also ensuring you live the life of optimum health and wellness.

A Whole Food Vitamin Does A Whole Lotta Good

2009-07-04T08:32:00.001-07:00

A long time ago we introduced you to the world of whole food supplements. Today, the benefits of whole food vitamins are showing up everywhere! From Hollywood to the Nutritionist’s office, it’s easy to find someone singing their praises. So, why is it that so many people still have questions? Let’s compare and contrast the difference between whole food vitamins and their synthetic counterparts.

First of all, standard vitamins (isolates) are inferior to whole food vitamins because they are merely designed to mimic individual nutrients found in nature. For example, let's assume you're eating an apple; apples contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that exist in nature and will work together to benefit your body in a variety of ways. However, when you purchase a traditional vitamin supplement, you typically only receive one portion of the nutrient bundle found in the apple. Even if you purchase a top of the line multi-vitamin, the combination of nutrients found therein will in no way resemble the nutrient bundles found in natural food, and will therefore neglect to provide you with the same nutritious benefits. Whole food vitamins such as Garden of Life or New Chapter are designed to allow your body to reap the health benefits of natural nutrient bundles.

Basically, whole food vitamins are made from actual whole foods, and therefore provide you with the same benefits. Unfortunately, traditional vitamin supplements available at most grocery stores and drugstores across America are manmade derivatives that only seek to mimic actual nutrition. Now that you’ve learned a little about whole food supplements, let's move on and take a look at some of the benefits of organic eating

Organic produce, and other products made from organic foods, do not contain any of the pesticides, growth hormones, and other man-made chemicals that are designed to improve the appearance and marketability of our food. For example, when you go to the grocery store you will find that most of the produce shiny, and brightly colored, and the overall visually appealing. However, most of the time these foods have been infused with waxes and dyes and a host of other chemicals that are designed to add to the product’s shelf life and aesthetics. None of the chemicals used in these processes benefit the human body in any way. In fact, most of them are carcinogenic materials that promote the development of cancer and other diseased cells.

Let's face facts, we take vitamins and eat food to maintain healthy bodily function. It stands to reason that the vitamins and nutrients we ingest should be as close to natural as possible. Unfortunately live in the material age, wherein instant gratification and profitability are more important than natural process. Your body is not man-made and your nutrition shouldn’t be man-made either. If your desire is to maintain optimal, overall health, the wisest choice you can make is to let nature take its course.

Priobiotic Facts - A Review of the Benefits

2009-07-04T08:29:00.001-07:00

You’ve heard all the hype about probiotics, and for the most part, you’ve probably accepted the fact that these powerhouses are good for you. Unfortunately, too many people have no idea what probiotics actually ARE and how they truly HELP the human body. As such, we periodically do a little probiotic recap to help health-conscious consumers like yourself.

Probiotics are a dietary supplement and microorganism that contain bacteria or yeasts that are beneficial to your health. Probiotic bacterial cultures assist the development of your body’s already naturally occurring ecology of microbes and gut flora. These microorganisms provide close to the same healthy benefits that bacteria already living in your body. Thus probiotics assist with your digestion and help to protect your body from harmful bacteria.

You can consume probiotics in foods like yogurt, fermented or unfermented milk, miso, as well as juices and soy drinks. Foods that contain probiotics and supplements that contain probiotics have been known to help treat and prevent illnesses such as diarrhea, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections.

Products containing probiotics also treat irritable bowel syndrome, reduce the recurrence of bladder cancer, as well as shorten the gestation time of intestinal infection. Probiotics will also prevent and treat inflammation that usually occurs after colon surgery and will help prevent eczema in children. Some studies even show that probiotics strengthen the immune system so you can overcome allergies, alcoholism and even stress!

As we’ve mentioned before, the list of companies and health food organizations that carry products containing probiotics are endless and the availability is as simple as locating a reputable company before deciding which needs you wish to fulfill or which disease or you wish to overcome. The variety of foods that contain probiotics make this an easy to come by and easy to take microorganism.

Keep in mind there are numerous products that claim to be just as beneficial as probiotics, however once you do the research and compare the facts, you will find that there is nothing comparable to probiotics. The affordable price you will pay along with the benefits will allow you to see healthy results in your body for a lifetime. Stop wasting time and money on products that claim to cure or reduce health problems to no avail. Start taking a supplement that will actually benefit your health.

Mt. Capra products are wonderful

2009-06-15T20:57:00.001-07:00

I first found out about Christine Dreher and Christine’s Cleanse Corner from a friend of mine. I kept getting sinus infections, which required me to take antibiotic after antibiotic, and inevitably, I would get a vaginal yeast infection every time. Over the course of a year, I had three sinus infections and four yeast infections. I was so sick of taking prescription medications and decided that I needed to take a different approach to restore my health. Through Christine’s Cleanse Corner, I found out about whole foods and whole food supplements, as well as Mt. Capra products, which have made a world of difference. Out of sheer frustration and desperation, I started using CandaCleanse through the Mt. Capra line of products. The product helps the body get rid of excess Candida Albicans yeast and regain proper health and efficacy through establishing the right balance of yeast and bacteria in the body. Yeast is important to have in your body; however, when there is an overgrowth that is when problems occur.

Based on the success of using that product, I decided to see how some other items worked. I purchased CapraCleanse, which is a detoxification and cleansing agent that is made of botanicals, essential oils, enzymes, probiotics, fiber and alkalizing minerals from predigested goats’ milk. The product is all natural and can be used every day, and it really does support liver and gall bladder health. Prior to using this product, I would periodically have problems with gas and indigestion, as well as constipation. Those problems have almost completely disappeared.

Next I decided to check out CapraGreens, which includes Capra Mineral Whey, green vegetables and botanicals. Specifically, the mixture includes organic broccoli, acerola cherries, organic spinach, garlic and cinnamon. It is consumed in the form of a dirnk, with the ingredients ground together into a powder form. The drink contains a 2,700-unit oxygen radical absorbance capacity, which provides you with three or more vegetable servings. It is a great way to boost your nutrient intake, which, in turn, boosts your immunity and healthy body function.

And finally, I use Capra Vital Energy to help increase my stamina throughout the day. As a college student majoring in biology and hoping to be admitted to medical school in two years, I appreciate the increased mental and physical energy I get when I use this product, as well as the protein, which sustains me and keeps me going. The probiotics give my body’s immune system an extra boost.

I love MyChelle natural skin care

2009-06-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Lacey had a 16th birthday party recently and we had so much fun. Her mother thought it would be a fun treat to buy all of us girls who attended a MyChelle sampler, which includes an assortment of MyChelle natural skin care products. I have always had trouble with breakouts at least once a month, and sometimes more often when I am under lots of stress. So, I used the products for a couple weeks and decided I could not live without them. I logged on to the Beyond Probiotics Web site, where Lacey’s mom bought the samplers and I was so excited when I saw the variety of products available, and how affordable they were. Initially, I purchased the Oily/Acne All in One kit, which included a 2.25 ounce bottle of fruit enzyme mist and trial sizes of cranberry cleanser, fruit enzyme cleanser, pumpkin renew cream, cranberry mud mask, incredible pumpkin peel, fruit enzyme scrub, clear skin serum, the perfect C serum, oil-free grapefruit cream and a mini size of sun shield with SPF 30. My skin looks and feels so great. I have been getting constant compliments about how perfect it is—without a single blemish.

My mom even commented on how gorgeous my complexion is these days. She is always complaining about how dry her skin is, and how she would like to get rid of the wrinkles and fine lines on her face. So, for Mother’s Day, I surprised her by buying a Dry/Mature All in One kit. That kit includes a 2 ounce bottle of fruit enzyme mist, trial size containers of fruit enzyme cleanser, creamy pumpkin cleanser, serious hyaluronic firming serum, the perfect C serum, deep repair cream, fruit fiesta peel, guava cactus mask, sun shield SPF 28 and mini sizes of revitalizing night cream and fabulous eye cream. My mom was so happy with the gift. She loved the results so much that she bought the line of full sized products and uses them religiously. We both love the fact that the entire MyChelle line of products is paraben-free and gentle on sensitive skin. And I must say, all of the products smell so yummy and feel so fresh and natural. She and I both agree that we feel like we are pampering ourselves each time we use the products. It’s almost like we’re spending each morning and each night at the spa.

Host of products improve quality of life

2009-06-10T20:19:00.001-07:00

With so many high-quality products available from which to choose through Christine’s Cleanse Corner, you can be sure that whatever you buy, you will get the best supplements available to help you improve the quality of your life and your general health and well being. Whether you choose Primal Defense, Primal Defense Ultra, Perfect Food, Zyflamend, Host Defense, Living Multi Vitamins, Perfect Prenatal, Every Woman Vitamins, probiotics, digestive health supplements, maker's diet, herbal supplements, raw vitamins, herbal supplements, dietary supplements, weight loss products, bone strength take care, every man multivitamins, every woman multivitamins, Berry Green, Blockade - Immunity Take Care, Prostate 5LX, Capra Mineral Whey, Capra goat whey, supercritical sinus and respiratory, turmericforce, vitamin code garden of life, living multi, perfect cleanse, detoxifiber, fungal defense, FYI Ultra, OmegaZyme Ultra, RM-10 Ultra, Goatein, Perfect Food Original, Perfect Meal, Super Seed, Super Seed fiber, fucoprotein, capra cleanse, capracleanse, capra colostrum, goat colostrum, Mineral Goat Whey, CaProtein, goat protein powder, mychelle natural skin care, coenzyme b food complex, every kid vitamin, all flora probiotic, supercritical omega 7, cimmamonforce, supercritical dha 100, estrotone, gingerforce, supercritical holy basil, oreganoforce, tranquilnite, immortal mushroom, liver force, new chapter mushrooms, new chapter ginger or any of the products for purchase, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing that the products have been well researched and are recommended by a nutritionist, herbalist and author. Christine Dreher takes great pride in the merchandise that is available on her site, Christine’s Cleanse Corner. Through her site, she is able to educate prospective, first-time and return clients about the needs of the body, and the importance of ensuring proper nutrition and cleansing.

Because modern diets do not include the nutrition necessary to maintain optimal health, supplements derived from the fermentation of whole foods are a great option to boost immunity, enhance body function and restore health. Avoidingprocessed foods and getting regular exercise also are essential components to living a healthy lifestyle. That is why the advice available through Christine’s Cleanse Corner stresses the importance of making changes at all levels in your life to achieve true happiness and well being. The inclusion of the proper allocations of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other micronutrients—including phytonutrients or phytochemicals—can make all the difference. If you sign up for one of Christine’s newsletters and read through her books on probiotics, you, too, can be armed with the ammunition you need to change your life in a positive way.

Take a walk through Christine’s Cleanse Corner

2009-06-10T20:12:00.001-07:00

Take a walk through Christine’s Cleanse Corner and you will be introduced to a vault of knowledge about holistic approaches to health and well being, as well as volumes of information about the benefits of adopting a whole foods diet, rich in mostly raw foods, which are packed with essential proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other micronutrients that improve health and general well being. You can find out all about the products available on the Web site of nutritionist, author and herbalist Christine Dreher, which is dedicated to helping people improve the quality of their lives through healthy lifestyle choices. Whether you are trying to lose weight, investigating alternative therapies to treat bacterial, viral or fungal illnesses, or finding out how to improve the quality of your skin to combat breakouts, blotchiness and/or aging, you will find answers on the site.

Through the use of brand-name products available through Garden of Life, Mt. Capra, New Chapter and MyChelle, you will be introduced to the best products available to address any and all nutritional needs you might have, as well as products to help you lose weight, improve well being and improve your overall health. The Perfect Weight America line through Garden of Life offers educational materials, as well as supplements, energy bars and a variety of foods. Whether you choose Perfect Weight America or another reliable system through the site, you can use Christine Dreher’s book “The Cleanse Cookbook” to find ways to change your life, one step at a time. The Web site also stresses the importance of incorporating a healthy exercise routine into your life. Exercise is an essential component to living a healthy life and reducing daily stress. Making these changes in your life will ultimately improve your well being and effectiveness.

Another book worthy of reading is Jordan Rubin’s "The Perfect Weight America". This book, and the accompanying weight loss and maintenance plan, helps individuals eat for their “perfect weight,” reducing the number of empty calories in their diets and helping them customize a diet plan according to their individual body type, age, gender and geographic region. This plan is not only an interesting and valuable resource: It is changing lives. Through regular exercise, healthier eating habits and the elimination of toxins from inside and outside the body, people are taking charge of their lives and learning the importance of positive thinking on their mental and physical wel- being.

There’s a new me thanks to Christine Dreher

2009-06-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

In high school, I was sort of what you would call a nerd, I guess. I always had an oily complexion and pimples, and always carried about an extra 40 to 50 pounds around with me. I was always self-conscious. I felt isolated and alone. I was teased a lot and called horrible names, and it really hurt. I never had a single date and was too much of an introvert to reach out to people. After high school, I was convinced that I needed to do something to change my life and take it in a positive direction. I researched skin care products and weight loss products together and found Christine’s Cleanse Corner. I am so glad that I took the time to investigate the types of products available through this site. I have been using MyChelle natural skin care products for about a year now. The products are plant-based and incorporate essential oils, antioxidants and antimicrobial extracts. They do not contain harsh chemicals or artificial color agents, parabens or any type of fragrances. The formulations are never tested on animals, only on humans, and are 100 percent vegetarian.

I was so happy with the dermatologic products available through Christine’s Cleanse Corner that I decided to check out Perfect Weight America. Through this plan, I have been able to take the excess weight off by changing my diet and my outlook on life. I feel better about myself and it really shows in everything that I do, everywhere that I go. Perfect Weight America has helped me change my life. No, it isn’t perfect, but it is wonderful and I am realizing my potential for the first time ever. I have learned how to eat for my perfect weight, eat for my individual body type, age, gender and region and maximize my intake of nutrients, while lowering my calories. I also started an exercise plan once I was on board with the dietary part of Perfect Weight America. I walk three times a week for at least a half hour each time. The exercise regimen really has helped me increase my energy and lower day-to-day stress. I have learned how to improve my mental health and emotional well being by treating my whole body with respects well as by finding an inner balance for my mind and spirit.

I challenge anyone who reads my story to be inspired and check out Christine’s Cleanse Corner. You will have nothing to lose but unwanted weight and negativity, and so much to gain. You will thank me for this suggestion and you, too, will thank Christine Dreher.