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

Synergy Energy: A Multi that Puts Pep Back In Your Step

If a nap is all you can think about come 2:00 p.m., consider switching to an energy-supporting multi-vitamin like Synergy Energy. Synergy Energy is a unique multi-vitamin formula containing optimal amounts of recommended daily vitamins and minerals, plus herbs and nutrients that promote increased energy, enhanced mental clarity and better mood.

Synergy Energy contains optimal amounts of B-complex vitamins, which are easily depleted in individuals experiencing regular physical and/or emotional stress. It also contains ginkgo biloba, which promotes healthy circulation; coenzyme Q10, which supports energy production at a cellular level; and antioxidants like green tea and grape seed extracts, acetyl L-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid, which may help counteract the effects of aging, including mental fatigue and lack of energy.

Synergy Energy is ideal for anyone who'd like to naturally improve energy levels, or for athletes or active individuals who may generate abundant free radicals due to increased exercise and physical activity levels.

Natural Relief for Migraine Headaches

Characterized by intense throbbing pain, sensitivity to light, vision problems and nausea or vomiting, migraine headaches are a problem for more than 28 million Americans. Unlike regular headaches, migraines can last for several hours, or up to days, at a time.

While there's no cure for migraine headaches, there are some natural supplements that may provide relief. Because inflammation of tissue surrounding the brain exacerbates pain during a migraine episode, feverfew, which reduces production of inflammation-inducing prostaglandins, might help.

5-HTP, which increases the amount of serotonin produced by the brain, has also been reported to help. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep, mood and appetite. When levels fall, blood vessels dilate (swell), which can cause pain. Supplementing with 5-HTP may help elevate, or keep steady, levels of serotonin in the brain, therefore promoting reduced pain.

Other helpful herbs for migraine relief include ginkgo biloba (which enhances circulation), ginger (also supports better blood flow) and valerian and kava kava (which promote relaxation and stress relief).

Feel Better with Help from Enzymatic Therapy

What does "better" feel like? When it comes to good health, Enzymatic Therapy wants to show you.

Based on in-house research as well as published scientific studies, Enzymatic Therapy formulas provide therapeutic dosages of nutrients tailored to specific health concerns, including cholesterol, cardiovascular, digestive, cleansing, joint, energy and more.

Enzymatic Therapy uses high-quality ingredients and rigorous testing to ensure consistent quality and potency of all products. By maintaining a staff of 25 Quality Assurance and Control professionals with backgrounds in chemistry, microbiology, and related sciences, Enzymatic Therapy verifies purity, potency, and bioavailability of every one of its formulas.

Vitacost.com carries more than 150 Enzymatic Therapy protects for all your health care needs. To find the formula that's right for you, click here.

Probiotics Support Digestive & Immune Health

Probiotics - literally meaning "for life" - are a type of bacteria, or live microorganism, found in foods such as yogurt and fermented dairy products. They're also available in supplement form.

Once ingested, probiotics colonize your digestive tract and work to enhance digestion by secreting enzymes that break down nutrients. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), a well-documented probiotic, produces lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar (which lactose-intolerant people are lacking).

Probiotics shift the intestinal pH of your GI tract downward, creating a less-desirable environment for harmful bacteria, so they can't live and reproduce. Probiotics also enhance immune function by stimulating the production of certain immune cells.

In order to experience the health benefits of probiotics, a daily supplement, like Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® Probiotic 15-35 is recommended. This potent formula contains 15 strains of probiotics and 35 billion colony forming units per two-capsule serving, along with NutraFlora® FOS, a "prebiotic" that serves as a food/energy source for existing probiotics, helping to increase their number in your GI tract.