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

Skin-Sensitive Sunscreen

Why is it so important to wear sunscreen on a daily basis? Sunscreen helps to absorb certain ultraviolet rays from the sun, keeping them from penetrating your skin. This protection is important because these rays can hurt you, causing painful sunburns that damage the tissues beneath the surface of your skin. Damaging your skin's deep elastic layer can cause wrinkling and aging. Doctors have found that being in strong sunlight frequently at a young age, as well as having many sunburns, can cause real problems many years later.

Unfortunately, many sunscreens contain potentially harmful chemicals such as benzophenone, homosalate and octyl methoxycinnamate (also called octinoxate). So what is the solution? There are many sunscreens available that effectively protect your skin without harmful chemicals and that are made with all-natural or organic ingredients.

My favorite sunscreens are Alba Organics Hawaiian Green Tea SPF 30+ Sunscreen and Burt's Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen SPF 30. Both provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and help keep skin hydrated without using harmful chemicals. Titanium dioxide, a naturally occurring mineral, creates a micro-fine barrier on your skin to reflect the sun's harmful rays. These products also include aloe, green tea extract, hemp seed oil and ginkgo biloba leaf. They are effective immediately upon application and safe for kids. Try an all-natural sunscreen to keep your skin safe!

Vitamin A Earns an A+!

Most of us have heard that vitamin A is a good for our eyes, but are there any other health benefits concerning vitamin A? You’d better believe there is! Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps promote healthy body tissue and build strong teeth and bones. It also contributes to soft, smooth, healthy skin.

Vitamin A, also called retinol, generally comes from animal sources such as fish oil.  Plant-based foods supply beta-carotene, which your body then converts into Vitamin A. It is recommended that women consume 700 mcg and men consume 900 mcg of vitamin A daily. The best sources of vitamin A include beef liver, egg yolk, cheddar cheese and milk. Beta-carotene can be found in fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach and cantaloupe.

Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that supports cardiovascular and immune system health. Vitamin A is also believed to help reduce the damaging effects of stress and aging. It is important to not take more than the recommended daily amount of vitamin A; too much can be absorbed in the body and have damaging effects. Make sure that you get the recommended daily amount of vitamin A…your eyes and bones are worth it!

Miraculous Jojoba Oil!

Every makeup removal product I’ve tried in the past either did not effectively remove mascara or left my skin feeling dry and cracked. Well, I have found nature’s remedy: jojoba oil. It is a rich skin moisturizer and makeup remover, and it is all-natural and gentle!

Jojoba oil liquid content extracted from the seed of the Jojoba plant, found in Arizona, California and Mexico. It is colorless and odorless, and not actually considered oil. It is what is called a wax ester. Out of all of the compounds in nature, this wax ester is the most similar to human skin oil (sebum). It is theorized that applying jojoba to the skin can “trick” the skin into thinking it is producing enough oil, thus balancing oil production. And best of all, it is non-comedogenic (does not cause or promote acne).

Jojoba oil can be used in a myriad of ways; for removing makeup and unclogging pores, and softening your hands and feet after bathing. It also can be used as a massage oil and scalp treatment to manage dandruff. You can apply it as hair treatment while in the sun or as an aftershave moisturizer. It is suitable for even the most sensitive skin.  So treat your skin well… try jojoba oil!

Gluten-Free Goodness

Do you love to bake cookies, brownies or muffins but are sensitive to food that contains gluten? Well, there are delicious gluten-free baking mixes available that are healthy, nutritious and taste like grandma’s home cooking. Pamela’s Products were created on the belief that wheat-free and gluten-free foods can taste great and still be good for you!

Pamela’s Products include gluten-free bread, brownie, cake, frosting and cookie mixes. My personal favorites are the chocolate chunk cookies; they taste exactly like a cookie you would purchase from a gourmet bakery!

So if you love to eat warm cookies or brownies fresh from the oven, but require a gluten-free diet, Pamela’s Products are for you. They are affordable, all-natural and tasty alternatives to prepackaged, bland, gluten-free desserts you can purchase at the health food store. Indulge your sweet tooth with Pamela’s Products gluten-free dessert mixes!

Resveratrol for Cardiovascular Health

It is common knowledge that a glass or two of red wine is contains health benefits. But it isn’t the alcohol in wine that is good for you; it is the antioxidants (polyphenols, anthocyanidins and resveratrol) it contains.

Resveratrol is a plant-derived chemical known as a polyphenolic compound, which is believed to promote antioxidant activity, cleansing and skin rejuvenation within the body. Resveratrol is produced by plants in response to injury or fungal infection. It also protects plants from UV radiation and other harmful substances. Resveratrol is believed to promote similar protective benefits in humans. Its antioxidant activity, or ability to neutralize free radicals (unstable molecules that attack healthy cells and damage membranes and DNA), may account for its cardio-protective effects. Resveratrol appears to promote healthy blood composition and circulation, and may also reduce incidence of inflammation.

Resveratrol is a great daily supplement that can offer antioxidant and cardio-protective benefits. It features a unique liquid delivery system that provides rapid absorption and preserves the integrity of its ingredients. Keep your heart healthy with Resveratrol!

Powerful Vitamin D-3

Did you know that sunlight exposure is actually beneficial to your overall health? Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is a form of vitamin D that the body manufactures when skin is exposed to UV radiation from the sun. It's converted from food sources and sunlight into its active form, calcitriol, by the liver and kidneys.

It's estimated that a significant percentage of adults suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a variety of health complications, including rickets (in which bones are unable to properly calcify, or harden) in children, poor prostate health in men and poor bone health in older adults.

Getting the recommended daily amount of Vitamin D3 (2,000 IU per day) is important because it helps the body absorb calcium for strong bones and teeth, encourages healthy blood pressure already in the normal range, helps the body maintain a normal inflammatory response and strengthens the immune system. Become a sun lover…by taking a daily vitamin D3 supplement!

Ginkgo Biloba: Enhance Your Brain Power

The Ginkgo Biloba tree has literally been around since the age of the dinosaurs; it is the oldest known living species of tree on planet Earth. Extract from the Ginkgo Biloba leaves has been used for centuries in China to enhance circulation, support memory and boost brain functioning. In Europe and the United States, ginkgo supplements are among the best-selling herbal supplements.

Ginkgo leaves also contain two types of chemicals (flavonoids and terpenoids) believed to have potent antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge free radicals -- damaging compounds in the body. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoking and air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging particles. Free radicals are believed to contribute to a number of health problems.

It is believed that Ginkgo Biloba extract may enhance blood circulation to the brain, in turn promoting mental alertness, clarity and concentration. It also promotes delivery of oxygen and glucose to nerve cells, and may enhance blood flow to the brain, especially in elderly individuals. It may also help with eye health and mood. Ginkgo Biloba may increase risk of bleeding, so individuals with clotting disorders or pregnant women should not take Ginkgo Biloba supplements.

Ginseng to the Rescue!

Ginseng is an herb native to Siberia and much of the Asian continent. It has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years as an energy tonic, stress treatment and memory booster. Western medicine has recognized the health benefits of ginseng and many studies are currently under way to test its therapeutic properties.

Ginseng is known as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are substances that that may help individuals cope with physical and emotional stress. Ginseng is believed to support overall cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels already within the normal range, increase endurance and reduce the effects of stress. Ginseng is also widely used to support healthy immune function and may stimulate the body's activity of immune cells, including T-lymphocytes and neutrophils.

For healthy adults who wish to enhance physical and mental energy, boost immune function and improve resistance to stress, take up to 2,000 mg of ginseng daily for two to three weeks, followed by a break of two weeks. Try a ginseng supplement; it is an affordable, all-natural ginseng supplement that will boost your energy with no caffeine or dangerous stimulants added.

Powerful Papaya!

Papaya is not only a delicious fruit to eat, but contains it a valuable digestive enzyme known as papain. Papain has a mild, soothing effect on the stomach and aids in protein digestion. It is often used as a meat tenderizer. Papaya supports regular bowel functioning and colon health. It also supports normal inflammatory response and immune system functioning.

Papaya is an orange, oblong fruit with a sweet flavor and a buttery texture. Christopher Columbus referred to papaya as the “fruit of the angels.” Papaya trees produce fruit year round and it is readily available in supermarkets. It is rich in antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids, vitamin B, vitamin A, vitamin E, potassium, in magnesium and fiber. It also contains arginine, an essential amino acid that promotes healthy skin.

There are many options available to those who would like to enjoy the nutritional benefits of papaya, including juices, supplement tablets, dried fruit slices, facial cleansers and lotions. Enhance your overall health with this powerful and delicious fruit!

Pass the Fruits and Vegetables!

The U.S government’s dietary guidelines recommend that five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables should be consumed daily. Impossible, you may be thinking! In our fast-paced society, it is often difficult to prepare nutritionally balanced meals that meet our nutritional needs. But don’t fret! There is an all-natural supplement available that provides important nutrients without having to consume large amounts of the actual food every day.

Fruit and Vegetable dietary supplements can contain concentrated phytonutrients (antioxidants) from tomatoes, blueberries, apricots, whole red wine grapes, ginger, sweet potato and more. It can also contains extracts of chlorella, spirulina, alfalfa, wheat grass and barley grass which are rich in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is full of minerals vital for normal functioning of the heart, nerves, muscles, blood vessels and bones. Chlorophyll is also known to feed the “friendly bacteria” that reside in your intestines, promoting healthy digestion and intestine/colon function.

So if a hectic schedule keeps you from eating the recommended daily amounts of fruits and veggies, try a Fruits and Vegetable dietary supplement. Take care of your health-naturally!