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

Banish Wrinkles with CoQ10

After my thirtieth birthday, I began to notice fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead. I began to search for an all-natural treatment to smooth away my wrinkles and firm my skin. I discovered an all-natural treatment that is free of paraben, preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances: CoQ10 Anti-Wrinkle Cream.

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring nutrient found in every cell of your body. A powerful antioxidant, CoQ10 helps protect collagen and elastin from free radicals that can cause premature aging. Its antioxidant properties also help build and fortify new cells and tissue, promoting fresh, younger looking skin.

CoQ10 Anti Wrinkle Cream is a silky, hydrating cream that combines the power of CoQ10 with essential oils, extracts and more to help repair and rejuvenate skin cells, revealing smoother, firmer and more youthful skin. It is recommended for normal to dry skin. CoQ10 helps to renew and restore collagen and elastin, repair skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Look years younger with CoQ10!

Amazing Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of a protein used by every cell in your body for many life sustaining functions. Normally we acquire amino acids from food sources, particularly those high in protein. Amino acids are critical to the body's proper functioning. Their roles includes repairing muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments, and glands.  Amino acids also support healthy brain functioning and are believed to slow brain aging.

There are two types of amino acids: essential and nonessential. Essential amino acids cannot be manufactured in the body, and nonessential amino acids are manufactured within the body by combining two or more essential amino acids. Adequate amounts of dietary protein are needed to form all 22 amino acids—if you don’t get enough protein,  your body won’t have the 9 essential amino acids it needs to make up the other 13 nonessential amino acids.

If you do not eat a balanced diet with the recommended daily servings of protein, vegetables, and fruit, you may benefit from taking a daily amino acid supplement.  A daily serving (1 capsule) can provide 750 mg of essential and non-essential crystalline amino acids. Do your brain a favor by taking an amino acid supplement every day!

Cinnamon: More Than a Sweet Spice!

Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices that is prepared by the bark of the cinnamon tree being dried and rolled into sticks called quills. The essential oil in the bark gives cinnamon its distinctive flavor and nutritional properties. Chinese societies have used cinnamon medicinally for more than 4,000 years.

Recent studies have found that cinnamon may support blood sugar already in the normal range, and may also contain antibacterial and antifungal properties. Cinnamon also contains catechins, powerful antioxidants that may help promote overall digestive and colon health. Cinnamon is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron and calcium.

Cassia cinnamon, the kind of cinnamon normally found in grocery stores and in supplement form, naturally contains a compound called coumarin. At high levels, coumarin can damage the liver by having a "blood-thinning" effect, so cassia cinnamon supplements shouldn't be taken with prescription anti-clotting medication, such as Coumadin (warfarin), or by people with bleeding disorders or pregnant women.

Cinnamon is also believed to boost brain activity, visual motor skills and memory…so sprinkle on the cinnamon!

Build Strong Muscles!

Did you know that after an intense workout the body may be depleted of amino acids, which are necessary for repairing and building muscle? Glutamine is a very important amino acid that needs to be replenished after strenuous exercise. It can be found in protein powders, beans, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, and in Glutamine supplements.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein molecules and are used by every cell in the body for many important functions. Amino acids are critical to the body's proper functioning. Their role includes repairing muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments and glands.

L-Glutamine Powder may enhance muscle recovery after intense exercise and it also may improve protein metabolism and stimulate growth hormone production. L-Glutamine Powder contains 4,500 mg of glutamine per serving and mixes easily with water or juice. Get the most out of your workout by adding a Glutamine supplement!

Amp Up Your Energy

Did you know that vitamin B-Complex is not a single vitamin like vitamin C or vitamin E, but is made up of eight different chemical compounds? The B-Complex vitamins include vitamin B1 (known as thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5, vitamin B6 and vitamin B1, as well as biotin and folic acid.

Vitamin B-Complex nutrients are vital for stress relief and nerve function. They are required for the formation of cellular energy, as well as for hormones and proteins. Plus, they serve to transform fats into other necessary products. Vitamin B Complex is needed for the proper functioning of almost every process in the body.

Here are the 5 top reasons you need to get plenty of Vitamin B Complex:
 Assists energy production
 Promotes healthy nervous system
 Aids proper digestion
 Builds healthy skin, hair and nails
 Helps strengthen the immune system

Taking a Vitamin B Complex supplement daily will help to maximize energy and minimize stress….sounds like a winner to me!

Aloe Vera: More than Sunburn Treatment

I remember my grandmother treating my sunburned skin with Aloe Vera gel after a long, hot day at the beach. She grew Aloe Vera plants in her yard specifically to treat sunburns and skin abrasions. I wonder if she knows that Aloe Vera has more beneficial properties…
Aloe Vera juice is rich in vitamins (A, B-complex, C and E), minerals (calcium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium and zinc), amino acids, enzymes and antiseptics (glycosides and lupeol). Aloe Vera juice:

• Provides powerful antioxidant protection from free radicals, unstable molecules that attack healthy cells

• Helps relieve inflammation, supporting cardio, digestive, joint and colon health
• Promotes healthy, younger-looking skin by encouraging the creation and repair of elastin and collagen
• Boosts energy levels and strengthens the immune system
• Supports healthy weight management, nutrient absorption, and favorable cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Contributes to upper respiratory health and helps relieve allergy symptoms
• Helps cleanse and expel toxins from the body, supporting healthy bladder and kidney function
• Promotes a healthy mouth and gums

My favorite Aloe Vera juice to drink is an Organic Certified Aloe Vera Juice. It tastes delicious and does not contain any added sugar, artificial colors or flavors. I think I will send my grandma a case of Aloe Vera juice for her birthday…

Supporting Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Do you know your cholesterol level? Well, you should! It is best to maintain a cholesterol level under 200 milligrams per deciliter, but a third of all Americans have cholesterol in the borderline 200 to 240 range and about one-fifth are over 240 range.

What can you do? Maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising daily and refraining from smoking will help to support cardiovascular health and promote healthy cholesterol levels already in the normal range. Red Yeast Rice supplements may help provide therapeutic benefits for optimal cholesterol health. Red yeast rice is the by-product formed when cooked, non-glutinous rice is covered by a growth of red yeast (Monascus purpureus) and then undergoes the process of fermentation.

Red yeast rice contains fiber, rice starch and fatty acids, as well as monacolin and mevinolin, which may provide natural benefits for cholesterol health. The majority of the body's cholesterol is produced in the liver, and elements in red yeast rice may effectively restrict its production. Red Yeast Rice may lower CoQ10 levels (similar to statin cholesterol- lowering drugs). It is recommended that you consume at least 100 mg per day of CoQ10 supplementation when taking red yeast rice.  So talk to your doctor about including a red yeast rice supplement in your daily diet… and maintain a healthy cholesterol level!

Seeds and Nuts: A Dieter’s Dream

I love to snack. Cookies, chips, pretzels… I adore them all. As I get older and my metabolism slows down, I realize that I need to find healthier snack options that will satisfy my hunger without increasing my waistline. So what are my options-other than bland, boring rice cakes?

I discovered that snacking on seeds and nuts satisfies my appetite and has many nutritional benefits. Sunflower seeds taste delicious and are a great source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that promotes a healthy circulatory system and guards against the effects of free radicals that may cause cellular damage. Sunflower seeds are also full of fiber, protein and carbohydrates, making them a great snack before exercising.

Another of my favorite snacks, full of protein and fiber, are raw almonds. They are rich in vitamin B2, vitamin E, copper, manganese, magnesium and phosphorus. Almonds contain naturally occurring monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat, the “good fats” necessary to maintain overall health. The high amounts of magnesium and potassium naturally found in almonds help to support cardiovascular health and promote healthy blood sugar levels. Best of all, almonds leave you feeling full and satisfied. So throw away those salty snacks…go nutty!

Pass the Pomegranate!

Pomegranates are exotic fruits that are red in color and look like a cross between an apple and an orange. They are filled with delicious red seeds called arils which can be consumed raw or made into juice. In the Jewish faith, the pomegranate is the symbol for forgiveness, and pomegranates are even mentioned in Greek literature, specifically the myth of Persephone.

What’s so special about the pomegranate? One serving of pomegranate juice supplies about 16% of the daily vitamin C requirement for adults. It is also a great source of vitamin B5, iron and potassium. The nutrients found in pomegranates have been found to help protect cellular, immune and joint health. They also encourage healthy circulation, as well as favorable blood pressure and cholesterol levels already within normal range.

Pomegranates also contain high levels of antioxidants. The antioxidant compounds found in pomegranates include polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins. These antioxidants guard against the effects of free radicals, help improve circulation, strengthen the immune system and support normal inflammatory response. So try something exotic; replace your daily glass of orange juice with a glass of pomegranate juice!

Support Urinary Tract Health

It is estimated that there are over 50 million cases of urinary tract infections reported in the Unites States every year. Prescribed medications for urinary tract infections are expensive and require a doctor’s visit. Did you know that there are all-natural supplements available to support bladder and urinary tract health that are low in cost and convenient?

Cranberries contain chemicals called proanthocyanidins (PACS) which help block the attachment of bacteria to the urinary bladder wall, the cause of many urinary tract infections. Vitamin C supplements taken on a regular basis may promote bladder and urinary tract health. Vitamin C increases the acidity level of urine which in turn helps decrease the number of harmful bacteria that may be present in your urinary tract system.

Some all -natural supplements may help to contribute to healthy, normal bladder function and control. Pumpkin seeds contain linoleic acid, oleic acid, carotenoids, lignans and phenols. Soybean germ extract is a phytoestrogen, or a chemical produced by plants that acts similarly to the human hormone estrogen.  So take care of your urinary tract and bladder with all-natural supplements!