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

Rachel Perry Makes Skin Young

Rachel Perry Elastin-Collagen reads like a who's who of vital nutrients: ginseng, marshmallow, wheat and marine proteins, avocado lipids…with comfrey and coneflower.  What's up with all this food in my facial?

The skin, as do all organs, must be nourished to stay healthy. And between bad diet and sheer neglect, our face and hands get beat down by the elements, drained of the nutrients needed to keep skin young looking. 

Rachel Perry's Immediately Visible Facial floods skin pores with amino acids and proteins to rebuild cells and rejuvenate epidermal layers. Bladderwrack, the active ingredient in Rachel's Elastin-Collagen, works to firm up skin and minimize inflammation caused by dryness, malnutrition and overexposure to wind and sun.

Will Rachel Perry set your clock back? Nope, but Elastin-Collagen twice a day will brighten up your complexion.

Quercetin: Powerful Antioxidant

Bioflavonoids such as quercetin have been implicated in promoting a number of health benefits associated with antioxidants. This plant compound, which naturally occurs in green tea, onionskins, kale, red cabbage, green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, strawberries, cherries and grapes, is an excellent detoxifier for the liver and may help reduce the inflammation associated with hay fever, allergies, bursitis, gout, arthritis and asthma.

Quercetin in high concentrations, common to quality quercetin supplements, may boost immune function and increase the longevity and health of vital organs. Similar to other plant-based antioxidant constituents, quercetin shows potential in balancing cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and inhibiting the buildup of plaque on arterial walls, resulting in cardiovascular well-being.

A daily quercetin supplement delivers far higher levels of this bioflavonoid compound than most of us could hope to obtain in our daily diets. It's one reason why antioxidant supplements are so popular among the new generation of nutrition enthusiasts. Quercetin supplements come in a variety of grades and often include the benefits of other nutrients as well. They're priced relatively low and are a nice complement to a balanced diet and exercise regimen.

Pycnogenol to Protect Vital Organs

Pycnogenol is pine bark extract and a powerful antioxidant. It comes in supplement form and is high in bioflavonoids – free radical fighting compounds found in various fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains and which occur naturally in beverages such as tea and red wine.

As is the case with most antioxidant herbs and plant derivatives, pycnogenol works as an immune booster and cardiovascular protectant and, in the case of pycnogenol supplements, may fight inflammation and help control hay fever and allergies. Pine bark extract is also very good for the skin, say nutritionists, as proportions of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids in the nutrient selectively bind to collagen and elastin to keep skin moist, flexible and healthy looking.

Pycogenol has gotten a lot of coverage in the press lately and is on its way to being a widely-recommended antioxidant used to promote a wide variety of health concerns. But antioxidants can't do the work alone. Eating right and getting plenty of rest and exercise are important factors in good health, along with supplementing your diet with antioxidants such as pycogenol.

Protein Powder Wheys In

Whey protein is a complete protein and, in supplement form, delivers all the benefits of protein without the fat and carbohydrates of eating meat, milk, dairy products and cheese.
Protein powder is well-known among athletes looking to boost endurance and build lean muscle and among vegans and vegetarians who abstain from consuming animal products but need to supplement their diets with complete amino acid sets and whole proteins.

Finding a protein powder that caters to your dietary needs isn't difficult, once you determined a few simple facts. First, many smoothie products masquerade as high-grade protein powders but contain processed and raw sugars are high in calories and fat and often low in whey protein amounts. Stay away from these. Secondly, you don't have to pay big bucks for a good protein powder supplement, as quality whey and casein protein powders should cost in the $20 range or less for two to three pounds. Do some research; try a few different products, and whey the benefits of protein powder in your diet.

Protein Benefits are a No-brainer

Protein is a nutrient essential to every body function. Without protein in the diet, our body would begin to cannibalize itself, slowly devouring the existing protein in muscles, bones and the brain. It's not a pleasant experience.

Typically, those who follow a diet that includes a protein-rich balance of whole foods such as meat, chicken, fish, milk and other dairy products get enough daily protein. These whole foods contain complete proteins and aid in the building and maintenance of lean muscle mass. Vegans and vegetarians, however, are challenged to find sources of complete proteins that fall within their dietary guidelines. Although soy, various legumes and other vegetables contain protein compounds, it often requires an educated combination of various protein-containing vegetables to arrive at a complete protein set with nutritional significance.

There are many good protein powder supplements that cater to the vegan lifestyle and match the amino acid profile of animal proteins. These products ensure that people who exclude meat and dairy from their diet get all the essential amino acids the body needs to build lean muscle. Products that come to mind are NSI Rice Protein and Naturade Veg Protein Booster.

What is a Healthy Prostate?

The prostate male sex gland is about the size of a walnut and lies just behind a man's urinary bladder. In all practicality, a healthy prostate is tumor-free and allows for pleasant, forceful ejaculation during sex and a normal urine flow free of pain and discomfort.

You can easily maintain a healthy prostate through good nutrition, plenty of exercise and regular prostate exams, say nutritionists. Although prostate tumors are typically associated with age, they can grow slowly and go undetected for years in young men. Prostate supplements can aid in keeping your prostate happy and healthy and are often suggested for those with weak urine flow, erectile dysfunction and frequent, painful urination.

What is a prostate supplement? Any dietary supplement that acts as an antioxidant in body is said to aid prostate health. These include lycopene, omega-3 EFAs, mangosteen, a variety of bioflavonoid supplements and polyphenols, compounds which fights free radicals and work to inhibit tumor growth. 

You can also significantly reduce your chance of prostate problems by cutting back or eliminating alcoholic beverages in the diet, especially as you approach middle age and beyond.

Probiotics for Digestive Relief

Stomach upset, indigestion, acid reflux and other digestive disorders are typically a result of too many bad bacteria in the system and not enough good. The concept behind probiotic supplements is rather simple: they introduce non pathogenic bacteria and friendly germs to the system; thus, inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria.  Naturally occurring probiotics in food include lactobacilli and bifidobacteria common to dairy products and lactobacillus acidophilus found in yogurt.

As most of us underestimate the role healthy digestion plays in quality of life and health, probiotic supplements continue to gain in popularity. They support immune function, fight yeast and fungal infections and help to pass simple sugars and excess carbohydrates onto excretion. Although the introduction of probiotics in supplement form is rather new to the world of nutrition, their benefits may far exceed their risks and may provide a simple solution to some very complex digestive disorders.

Prenatal Vitamins: What Baby Mothers Need

Most prenatal vitamin formulas contain heightened levels of folic acid, iron, calcium, soy and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) essential for the growth and functional development of the infant brain. Other than these, prenatal multis typically contain a moderate daily dose of the nutrients women lack in their daily diet. Therefore, taking a prenatal vitamin whether pregnant, nursing or not, may benefit health if consumption of whole foods is anything short of balanced.

But proceed with caution when considering prenatal vitamins with iron. A Finnish study conducted a few years back revealed that healthy pregnant women should think twice about prenatal supplementation, as heightened levels of iron – beneficial in cases of anemia – may create problems for children in their formative years.   

It's no secret that iron supplements in excess can harm young children and similarly a fetus. Although there's little doubt that pregnant require more iron, consulting a physician prior to engaging of regimen of prenatal vitamins is highly advisable.

Pectasol Chelation Complex is Powerful Detox for Everyone

Pectasol Chelation Complex is user friendly and doesn't bind and eliminate healthy nutrients the way EDTA chelation therapy does, a more intense form of detoxification commonly used to treat lead poisoning.  Chelation therapy refers to the detoxification of heavy metals in the body. So, whether you've got a job where you come in regular contact with heavy metals or you just want to flush out the environmental toxins we all encounter in food, water and air every day, you should consider taking Pectasol Chelation Complex daily to cleanse and refresh body systems.

Pectasol Chelation Complex combines the antioxidant strength of PectaSol® (modified citrus pectin extracted from the white rind of lemons, oranges and grapefruit) with nutritious, toxin-neutralizing AlgiMate®, a brand of pure seaweed extract.

Although the Pectasol Chelation Complex sounds simple in nature, citrus is a longtime cleanser of the body and blood and for centuries seaweed and algae have been utilized not only as a nutritious foodstuff, but medicinally to fight viruses, infection and the development of tumors.