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

Resveratrol May Slow Aging

By now you may have heard of the many health benefits of resveratrol. It's a compound concentrated in the skins of grapes and subsequently in red wine, which researchers say may be responsible for the French Paradox, the uncanny connection between a French diet high in red meat and wine and the low incidence of high cholesterol and heart problems.

I was at first skeptical about taking a resveratrol supplement, if for no other reason claims of the nutrient to protect the cardiovascular system and slow the aging of vital organs sounded too good to be true. But now going on six months, I can honestly say that while in the absence of resveratrol, as I waited patiently for a back order to arrive, I felt as though something was missing. Feelings of vitality had waned and my overall energy level wasn't as good.

Time after time I find myself making the same recommendation to friends and family: try resveratrol and enjoy a long life rich in health and wellness. The power of observation and personal experience has told me so.

Red Yeast Rice to Reduce Your Cholesterol

Yes, it's true that red yeast rice may contain properties similar to many cholesterol-lowering statin drugs and may indeed be useful in helping you maintain a strong heart. Early red yeast rice literature predates the ninth century, when it apparently was used as a preservative and a flavoring for food and wine.

Many have turned to red yeast rice supplements as a natural alternative to statin drugs, as oftentimes the impact of natural compounds is more conducive to long-term good health than their chemically synthesized counterparts. Red yeast rice supplements work to suppress the production of cholesterol in the liver and in doing so, stimulate blood circulation and help to balance triglycerides.

The use of red yeast rice to lower cholesterol remains controversial. Although supplements such as NSI Red Yeast Rice and Doctor's Best Best Red Yeast Rice with CoQ10 have been rated high by consumers, most nutritionists suggest consulting a physician before including a red yeast rice supplement in the diet.

Red Raspberry Leaf and High ORAC

Did you know red raspberry is a member of the rose family of plants? Neither did I. So when you stop "to smell the roses," pick up some antioxidant red raspberry leaf along the way. The Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity (ORAC) of raspberries ranks near the top of all fruits due to high levels of antioxidant vitamins A and C, flavonoids and anthocyanin pigments, free radical fighting compounds that combat oxidative stress.

Teas brewed with red raspberry leaf have been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat wounds, colic pain, upper respiratory disorders and complications with childbirth. Now, available in supplement form, red raspberry leaf is popular among women for its ability to enhance hormonal balance and promote a smooth monthly cycle.

You may find incredible value in red raspberry leaf, as Nature's Answer, Nature's Herbs and Nature's Way brands of red raspberry leaf capsules are all priced less than five dollars.

Rainbow Light Multivitamins Packed with Benefits

"Multivitamins: Should you Buy this Insurance?" reads the headline in a Harvard Medical School publication. You'd think, at first, this was another article throwing vitamins under the bus. But it wasn't. It pointed to trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine and to opinions formulated by the National Institutes of Health, all of which found insufficient evidence to recommend either for or against the use of vitamin supplements to prevent chronic disease. This is good, because nutritional supplements were never designed to prevent chronic disease or illness. A consensus, by the way, the FDA agrees with.

Rainbow Light multivitamins are 100 percent natural and hypoallergenic. They contain high levels of the vitamins and minerals and an herbal complement of dong quai for women and saw palmetto for men.   

Do Rainbow Light multivitamins and others actually benefit health? Chair of Harvard's nutrition department, Dr. Walter Willett, says a daily multivitamin regimen is good policy, despite the recent spate of negative publicity.

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.