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

Source Naturals: The Source of Today's Wellness Revolution

Not so long ago, the idea of combining many different nutrients, herbs and nutraceuticals into one formulation that could enhance lifestyle and support optimal health was simply that... just an idea. Those types of nutritional supplements didn't exist. But in 1982 Source Naturals changed all that.

Source Naturals pioneered the concept by introducing Source Naturals Wellness Formula, a powerful combination of Astragalus, Echinacea, Garlic, Goldenseal, Propolis, Selenium, Zinc, Vitamins A and C, Beta Carotene, Siberian Ginseng, Calcium, Magnesium and more. This potent antioxidant defense system remains the industry's number one immune support product until this very day.

Today, Source Naturals remains at the forefront of the wellness revolution with a growing number of products that naturally enhance health and well-being. Essential Enzymes is one of Source Natural's most popular products. They call it a Bio-Aligned daily enzyme supplement because it is designed to work on your digestive system, not just digestive symptoms. Source Naturals Essential Enzymes lets you absorb the full nutritional value of your food. It has a broad spectrum blend of digestive enzymes that support digestion of carbohydrates, protein, fat and fiber.

Kyolic: The Best Way to Enjoy Garlic's Health Benefits

Garlic provides cardiovascular support and helps stimulate your body's defenses. But did you know that not all garlic supplements are created equal? Basically, you have four choices:  heat distilled garlic oil in softgels, heat dehydrated garlic seasoning powder in capsules or tablets, garlic oil macerates, or Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract.

Kyolic's unique production process makes it different. While all garlic supplements deliver some nutritional value, only Kyolic can deliver potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties not found in other garlic products. And only Kyolic is guaranteed odorless. Other products claim to be odorless by masking garlic odor with chemical or sugar coatings lose their effect when the product dissolves.

Kyolic begins with 100% organically grown garlic bulbs. Under carefully controlled conditions, the clean sliced garlic is stored in a stainless steel tank and naturally aged, without heating, for up to twenty months. Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract is standardized with S-allyl cysteine (SAC). This unique process, which is quality assured from soil to shelf with more than 250 stringent quality checks, mellows garlic's harsh compounds into a stable, potent, odorless extract that is easy to digest.

Sweet Dreams with Hops

Do you lie awake at night worrying instead of getting a restful night's sleep? Some anxiety is normal. After all, today's fast-paced world is full of stress. But if too much stress and worry is interfering with your ability to live a healthy life and get a restful, regenerating night's sleep, it's time to take control.

Fatigue, insomnia, stomach problems, sweating, rapid breathing and heartbeat, shortness of breath, worry and irritability are some common symptoms of anxiety. Plants, known as "nervines" (nerve tonics) such as Hops are used in traditional herbal medicine to help alleviate anxiety. Yes, Hops... the same Hops that are used in making beer. Hops are the cone-like, fruits of the plant (Humulus lupulus), which have been shown to have mild sedative properties. Hops have been used alone and in combination with other herbal supplements like valerian to help promote relaxation and reduce nervousness, anxiety and irritability.

Natural therapies such as Hops can be an important part of your approach to relieving anxiety. Eliminating caffeine from your diet is widely recommended, as is learning to relax and creating a quiet, restful place to sleep.

FucoTHIN: The All-Natural Way to Weight Loss

Did you know that those extra pounds you're carrying around can not only compromise your good health, but put your body at risk for a number of serious diseases? Losing weight is never easy, but an effective all-natural supplement could be the answer. Metabolic support may be what you need to help you safely reach your healthy weight-loss goals, without further health risk.

FucoTHIN is an all-natural, patent-pending formula that supports fat metabolism without the use of dangerous stimulants. FucoTHIN is a whole food-based formula made from marine algae. FucoTHIN contains fucoxanthin, a carotenoid that is found in brown seaweed. But the fucoxanthin levels contained in FucoTHIN are estimated to be 250 to 500% higher than those found in wild seaweed. FucoTHIN also contains pomegranate seed oil. The unique fatty acid composition of the pomegranate seed oil works together with fucoxanthin to create a thermogenic effect that supports fat-burning metabolism. FucoTHIN is the first and only product of its kind with human clinical research to confirm its thermogenic effect. And FucoTHIN won't cause jitteriness or loss of sleep because its safe, all-natural formula is stimulant free.

CoQ10: At the Heart of Healthy Aging

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or ubiquinone, is a naturally occurring vitamin-like nutrient and a powerful antioxidant that can be found in every living cell of almost all plants and animals, including humans. CoQ10 supports cellular energy production and cardiovascular health. Since the heart has greater energy requirements than other organs, it has twice as much CoQ10 as any other tissue in the body. CoQ10 also supports healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels and helps to optimize the functioning of the body's immune system.

Since CoQ10 is so vital to good health, you might want to ask yourself if you're getting enough. CoQ10 is found naturally in foods like fish, liver and peanuts, but chances are you may need a daily supplement. Your body's level of CoQ10 declines naturally with age. This causes cellular energy production to decrease and organ function to decline. In fact, some scientists who specialize in the study of aging believe that a lack of CoQ10 is the main cause of the cell death and dysfunction that occurs with aging. Our body's natural supply of CoQ10 is known to peak at age 20. A steady decline of CoQ10 begins in the mid-thirties. By age 70, your body is functioning on less than a third of the CoQ10 supply it had in its youth.

Colostrum - Natural Antibodies for a Healthy Immune System

For the first 72 hours after giving birth, a mother's milk glands produce Colostrum, a substance rich in natural immunoglobulins. The powerful antibodies found in Colostrum help boost the baby's immune system to promote immunity and optimal health.

With a broad spectrum of natural immunoglobulins, Colostrum dietary supplements provide your body with those same immune boosting benefits. Colostrum supports enhanced functioning of the immune system while it helps increase strength and stamina. Colostrum also helps protect and repair the GI tract and supports good digestive health.

Only Colostrum supplements made from true bovine Colostrum (not cheese whey) can provide the wealth of immune-boosting health benefits. So be careful. All Colostrum products on the market may not be real Colostrum. Only the Colostrum collected from lacteal secretions during the first 42 to 78 hours after giving birth contain the biologically active proteins rich in immunoglobulins that helps boost the body's immune defenses. To make sure you're getting all the healthy antibodies of Colostrum, make sure you're getting the real thing.

Neti Pot... A Breath of Fresh Air

With environmental pollution and chemical levels on the rise, sinus problems are rising along with them. If a stuffy nose, congestion headaches, swollen sinus passages and infections have become a way of life for you the Neti Pot may be the answer.

Neti Pot keeps the sinus passages clean so you can breathe easier. The Neti Pot irrigates and cleans the sinuses naturally with warm salt water. Neti Pot gently washes away pollen, bacteria and mucus. Think of it like cleaning the filter on your vacuum cleaner or air conditioner. Once the filter is clean, the air will pass through it much easier... and the clean filter will catch more dust and pollution.

Using Neti Pot as a nasal wash is simple. It only takes a few minutes and it actually feels good. Most people use the Neti Pot as part of their daily cleansing routine, just like brushing their teeth. Neti Pot is an all-natural way to keep your sinuses healthy. Some people call Neti Pot a "nose bidet." Some call it a "nasal wash" or a "flush." Regardless of what you call it, Neti Pot is an awesome all-natural solution to keep you breathing easy.