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

Red clover blossoms ease menopausal and prostate symptoms

Red clover grows wild throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Red clover blossoms are egg shaped and pink to purple in color. They are rather sweet tasting and have a light, honey-like fragrance. For something so seemingly delicate, red clover blossoms can be quite powerful and versatile! 

Red clover blossoms have been traditionally used for detoxification and sedation, and also for treating respiratory problems. It has been used as a topical remedy to soothe and cure skin ailments. Red clover blossoms are a source of many important nutrients, including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, tryptophan, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine and vitamin C.

Red clover blossoms are also a rich source of isoflavones. It is believed that these isoflavones ease menopausal symptoms in women without the safety concerns attributed to estrogen replacement therapy. Studies have also shown that the isoflavones found in red clover blossoms promote prostate and urinary health in men.

Red clover blossoms are believed to enhance cardiovascular health and bone density, and have been used as an appetite suppressant and as a treatment for easing skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. So if you are looking for a natural alternative to certain synthetic remedies, you may want to look into a supplement that contains red clover blossoms.

NSI® Pine Bark Extract – a Potent Antioxidant Supplement

Antioxidants are important to help your body fight off the damaging effects of free radicals. While the body produces antioxidants naturally, they become less abundant with age. You can acquire antioxidants through certain foods such as berries, broccoli, tomatoes, red grapes, garlic, spinach, green tea, soy and whole grains.

However, it may not be that easy to incorporate a beneficial amount of these foods into your diet on a daily basis. To make sure your body gets the right amount of antioxidants it needs, why not try a supplement that contains a very powerful source of antioxidants–pine bark extract.

Pine bark extract, also known as Pycnogenol, comes from the inner bark of certain pine trees. As a scavenger of free radicals, pine bark extract is even more powerful than vitamins C and E! Pine bark extract is rich in compounds known as oligomeric proanthocyanidins, or OPCs for short. OPCs are part of a potent class of polyphenols derived from the various parts of some plants.

NSI® Pine Bark Extract is a great dietary supplement to try if you want premium antioxidant protection. NSI® Pine Bark Extract is standardized to 95% OPC, which means each 100 mg single serving capsule provides a high quality dosage of pine bark extract each and every time.

PowerBar® Brand Helps Provide the Energy You Need

Has your get up and go gone up and went due to strenuous workouts? Well then, how about a nutritious kick start before going out there again? PowerBar® Brand is a line of delicious nutrition bars that can help you on your way.

Each PowerBar Energy Bar contains 45g of carbohydrates, supplying fuel to your muscles so you can stay on track with your workout goals. These bars are packed with vitamins A, C and E, as well as vitamins B6 and B12, which your body uses to readily convert food into energy. PowerBar Energy Bars also have milk protein, rich in essential amino acids that help your body build and repair muscle tissue after exertion. What is most important, however, is that PowerBar Energy Bars come in the following crave-worthy flavors: chocolate, peanut butter, cookies and cream, chocolate peanut butter and oatmeal raisin.

PowerBar PROTEINPlus Bars also help build, maintain and repair your muscles. Providing a knockout combination of high quality proteins and carbohydrates, each bar can be readily consumed right after exercise to help maximize recovery. They are also filled with nutrients, including the B-complex vitamins, vitamins C and E, amino acids, glutamine calcium, iron and magnesium.  Not only nutritious, PowerBar PROTEINPlus Bars are delicious, too! You can get them in these tempting–but still nutritious–varieties: chocolate peanut butter, vanilla yogurt, cookies and cream, chocolate crisp and whole grain cherry crunch.

They say wherever you go, there you are. PowerBar® Brand provides you with the fuel you need to help keep you there!

L-Theanine Promotes Calm and Relaxation

If you're like most people, you have a lot going on. Also like most people, there may be times you need a little help relaxing–but you don't want to become so relaxed that you get drowsy. There are plenty of remedies out there that claim they can help you de-stress, but you need to be careful because they may literally put you to sleep.

When choosing a supplement, look for one that contains L-Theanine, an amino acid commonly found in tea, particularly green tea. In fact, L-Theanine makes up 50% of the total free amino acids in the green tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and is believed to the main constituent that gives green tea its taste.

L-Theanine helps put you in a relaxed state because it enhances serotonin, dopamine and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) levels in the brain. However, unlike most amino acids and anti-stress herbs, L-Theanine can be taken with or without food. Because it does not make you sleepy, it can also be taken at any time of day.

It is also important to note that L-Theanine is a very pure compound and is not subject to fluctuations in efficacy as herbs can be. So if you are interested taking an anti-stress supplement that is safe and effective, but does not sedate you, choose one that contains L-Theanine and relax!