VitaBlog The Vitacost Blog: Views and News on Vitamins, Supplements and Herbs

Did You Eat Too Much This Thanksgiving?

After feasting on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and other favorites this Thanksgiving (and the few days following!), you may find your pants are a little more snug than usual.

Putting on a few extra pounds during the holidays is common. Fortunately, there are things you can do to avoid weight gain while still enjoying the festivities.

• Choose healthier options. Instead of veggies smothered in butter, cheese or cream sauce, pile your plate with salad and fixings.
• Don't starve yourself. Cutting back a few days before the holidays (when you know a feast is ahead) encourages overeating. Keep your diet as consistent as possible.
• Stay active. Take a walk around the neighborhood with family or friends after your holiday meal.
• Try supplements like hoodia gordonii or green tea to curb your appetite. Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® has a great selection of all-natural diet products that may help you maintain a healthy weight, even during the holidays. Click here to learn more.

Beat Bladder Woes with Cranberry Extract

Mashed into sauce, baked into breads or strung with popcorn in a garland, cranberries are a cheerful presence this time of year. Besides satisfying your sweet tooth, these round, red jewels may also help support urinary tract and kidney health.

In the 1920's, scientists discovered that people who ate a lot of cranberries had notably acidic urine. Because bacteria can't survive in acidic environments, it was believed that a diet rich in cranberries could contribute to urinary tract health.

Recent laboratory studies have shown that cranberries help prevent E. coli (a bacterial organism) from adhering to bladder wall cells. They're also a potent antioxidant that protects healthy cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Cranberries are available fresh, frozen or canned; in juice form; or powdered (in capsule form). For best urinary health protection, drink three ounces of cranberry juice daily, or consume 400 mg cranberry extract capsules, four times a day. View Vitacost's complete selection of cranberry products by clicking here.

The Doctor Is In! Try Doctor's Best Supplements Today

Combine scientific research with traditional wisdom—that's the philosophy behind Doctor's Best supplements.

Founded more than 15 years ago by a physician, Doctor's Best manufactures herbal and nutrient supplements based on current studies on nutrition on health. Each formula is carefully researched and contains the finest-quality raw materials from around the world.

Vitacost.com carries nearly 60 deeply-discounted Doctor's Best products, covering health concerns including cardio, vision, bone, bladder, sleep, anti-aging and more. Each is accompanied by an annotated "fact sheet" with detailed background information, FDA-approved structure-function claims and references.

To view our complete selection of Doctor's Best products, please click here.

Protect Skin & Hair Health with PABA

It's a mysterious ingredient often seen on sunscreen labels—"PABA." Short for para-amniobenzoic acid, PABA is a water-soluble, vitamin-like amino acid found in eggs, wheat germ, brewer's yeast and liver. It's also synthesized by friendly bacteria in the intestines.

When applied topically, PABA protects skin from the damaging effects of UVB and UVA radiation as well as other environmental pollutants, including cigarette smoke, pesticides and ozone.

When taken orally, PABA is reported to help with hair health, promoting thickness and retention of natural color. It also contributes to red blood cell health and may promote healthy circulation and lung function.

There is no recommended dosage for PABA in oral form; however, 500 mg capsules are available from Twinlab. Because topical application may irritate skin, be sure to test a small area before applying PABA lotions or sunscreens liberally. Try Mill Creek's Moisturizing Lotion with Aloe Vera and PABA as an option!

Smart Basics Lotion & Lip Balm: Soothing & Natural!

Long lists of ingredients—especially ones you can't pronounce—should make you re-consider body care product choices. Bigger bubbles and scrumptious scents may be fun, but the chemicals used to produce them can be harsh and damaging to your skin.

Smart Basics skin and lip care products feature natural ingredients such as buttermilk, honey, coconut oil and aloe vera. They're non-drying, non-irritating and nourish the skin with added herbal extracts and vitamins for antioxidant protection.

For sensitive skin, or for those looking for an "everyday" or after-shower lotion, Smart Basics Buttermilk Body Lotion is ideal. Its light, creamy texture rubs on smooth and leaves skin moisturized and soft to the touch. Smart Basics Milk & Honey lotion is deeper penetrating and helps soften normal to dry skin.

Natural beeswax, coconut and sunflower oils and herbal extracts make Smart Basics Beeswax Lip Balm perfect for soothing dry, chapped lips or providing everyday protection from the wind and sun.

November is National Healthy Skin Month

Bundling up for colder weather this month should be a good reminder that your skin needs attention too. November is National Healthy Skin Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology. The organization encourages individuals to schedule a checkup with a dermatologist, and to review current skin care practices for potential improvements.

Besides contributing to "good looks," healthy skin is important for other reasons, including protecting immune health. As your body's largest organ, skin helps shield your inner body from bacteria and viruses. Skin also provides protection from heat and light, regulates body temperature and stores water, fat and vitamin D.

Make improvements to your skin care regimen during Healthy Skin Month by regularly applying sunscreen (even in cloudy or cool weather), using natural moisturizers and protecting skin from the elements with gloves and scarves.

To view our entire selection of bath, beauty, and skin care products, click here.

Try Slippery Elm for Throat Relief and More!

Slippery elm bark, extracted from the inner bark of the slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) tree, was traditionally prepared into a "slippery salve" by Native Americans, who applied it to wounds, burns and infections and also ingested it for digestive relief.

Today slippery elm is recognized not only for promoting digestive and respiratory health, but also for the relief it provides for soreness and irritation to the mouth and throat. It provides a soothing coat to the lining of the throat and may help ease the urge to cough.

Slippery elm lozenges, in cherry or original flavor, are available from Thayer's Natural Remedies through Vitacost.com. Slippery elm can also be consumed as a tea, or in capsule form, with a recommended dose of two capsules (containing 250 mg to 500 mg of slippery elm bark each) daily.

Count on Carlson for Pure Fish Oil Supplements

Back in 1965, John and Susan Carlson started selling vitamin E. Today, the Carlson name appears on the labels of more than 250 highly-developed nutrient formulas, and the family-owned and operated business has become one of the leading producers of natural and organic supplements nationwide.

Carlson Laboratories has devoted more than 30 years to building a sound reputation for its products. They manufacture a complete line of vitamins, minerals, and other supplements to fulfill a variety of nutritional needs.

Omega-3 fish oil and cod liver oil supplements are one of Carlson's specialties. Available in liquid and capsule form, Carlson fish oil products are regularly tested for potency and purity by an FDA Registered laboratory. To view the selection carried by Vitacost.com, please click here.

Juniper Berries Promote Digestive, Urinary Health

Small, grayish-blue berries that grow on certain evergreen shrubs in Europe and the western U.S., juniper berries are perhaps best known for flavoring gin as well as some game meat dishes and stews.

Native Americans and early settlers used juniper berries—dried and ground into a tea—for its beneficial effects on digestion. Juniper berries are believed to increase the flow of digestive fluids, helping to reduce gas, cramping and other stomach discomforts.

The antiseptic properties of juniper berries may also help assist with the removal of waste and toxins from the body, promoting urinary tract health. In addition, they may help eliminate excess water retention and contribute to temporary weight loss.

Vitacost.com carries both capsule and liquid varieties of juniper berry. For more information, click here.

Supplements May Help Ease Depression Naturally

Besides feeling sad or blue, depression may involve difficulty sleeping and concentrating, weight loss or gain, unexplained pain or headaches and changes in energy. While there's no cure for depression, some natural supplements may help improve mood and improve other symptoms associated with the condition.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs), for example, are believed to a part in healthy mood. Studies show that individuals whose diets are low in omega-3 EFAs are at higher risk for depression and other mood disorders. Because these nutrients help nerve cells communicate with one another, they're believed to help maintain good mental health.

Some herbs may also help promote improved mood. St. John's Wort is one widely-studied herb that's been shown to not only relieve mild to moderate depression, but also enhance energy levels and promote better sleep. Ginkgo biloba, which improves circulation (including to the brain), is also reported to help with memory, concentration and mood.