Category Archives: Supplement of the Week

Supplement of the Week: Vitamin D3

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I’m sure by now you’ve heard of Vitamin D3. Or perhaps you’ve only heard of it as Vitamin D. Also called the sunshine vitamin, D3 is created by the body from the absorption of sunlight through the skin. In today’s sun-phobic society, where sun-screens and blocks halt the absorption of any rays, many Americans are deficient in D. This vitamin is vital in so many body processes. I surfed on over to WebMD to see what they had to say about vitamin D. According to the site, here are just a FEW of the benefits and uses in the body:

Vitamin D is used for preventing and treating rickets, a disease that is caused by not having enough vitamin D. Vitamin D is also used for treating weak bones (osteoporosis), bone pain (osteomalacia), bone loss in people with a condition called hyperparathyroidism, and an inherited disease (osteogenesis imperfecta) in which the bones are especially brittle and easily broken. It is also used for preventing falls and fractures in people at risk for osteoporosis, and preventing low calcium and bone loss (renal osteodystrophy) in people with kidney failure.

Vitamin D is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is also used for diabetes, obesity, muscle weakness,multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchitis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and tooth and gum disease.

 

What do YOU eat for breakfast?

Image by Lintilla via Flickr

 

Important, right? But here’s the thing: Most Vitamin D Supplements on the market nowadays are just a plain ol’ form of Vitamin D, which is vitamin D2, produced by plants, etc. The form of D created by natural processes in the human body is D3, and so to utilize D2, it must be broken down into new substances and changed by the body into its useful form. Some of the substances D2 are broken down into, however, can be harmful to the body, so a D3 supplement is imperative.

 

Stick model of the cholecalciferol molecule (v...

Image via Wikipedia

 

Since D3 is produced in the body of humans, and of course other animals, D3 supplements have to come from animal sources. These can be tricky waters for vegetarians to navigate, especially in northern states like New England, where a D3 supplement is increasingly important during the winter months. Not to fear, though! There are vegetarian sources (not vegan, mind you) of D3. Lanolin, an oil found on the wool of sheep, is a rich source of D3. Coming from a reputable, kind company, a Lanolin based D3 supplement is a great option for vegetarians or animal lovers. A great whole foods, vegetarian company with just such an option is MegaFood, a NH based company that ROCKS! (More on them later!)

I hope you will look into a D3 supplement for this coming fall/winter season! The benefits of vitamin D are numerous, and will help protect you from the innumerable colds you are bound to run into!

Supplement of the Week: E3 Live

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Blue-Green Algae from a volcanic-enriched lake. That’s right. Lake algae. Why, exactly, does this deserve its very own supplement-of-the-week blog? Well, for starters, E3Live is a fresh-frozen algae that is a powerhouse of nutrients and vital minerals. It is harvested from Klamath Lake in Oregon, a lake rich in nutrients from volcanic springs and snow-melt from surrounding mountains.

Upper Klamath Lake Canoe trail; Populus tremul...

Image via Wikipedia

The algae is called Aphanizomenon flos-aqaue, or AFA for short.

Klamath Lake AFA bloom

Image via Wikipedia

It is packed with more chlorophyll than wheatgrass, 80% bioavailable amino acids, 14 vitamins (most prevelantly B2 and B6), trace minerals, and is an excellent (and vegetarian) source of EFA’s, or Essential Fatty Acids – Omega’s 3 and 6. Because this algae is a nutrient and vitamin concentrated food, it has the ability to increase athletic strength and endurance, improve the immune system, increase energy, improve memory, and promote natural weight loss, among others.

Because E3Live is frozen, it must be partially thawed before use so that a portion can be poured off and kept refrigerated for the week. The bottle must then be frozen to maintain peak nutrition. It is recommended to be taken in the morning as a  fresh start to the day and prior to physical exertion for athletes. It can be added to juice, blended into a smoothie, frozen into individual ice cubes, or taken straight.

This product is beneficial to so many: those seeking to lose weight, athletes, people who want to improve brain function and memory, for those that just want the added nutritional profile in their diets, and those that wish to stabilize moods or seek a natural alternative to energy drinks and caffeine.

If you’d like, visit their site here to learn more about the amazing E3Live, and to check out more of their awesome products!

Enjoy and Be Bold!

Supplement of the Week: Aloe Vera Juice

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There are few natural remedies in this world that not only help, but can fully heal, a number of both internal and external ailments quite like Aloe Vera Juice. Most know of the great benefits of external aloe, but it is gaining recognition as an internal supplement. It is available in health food stores all over. The list of benefits of aloe juice is a long one. It is primarily used for digestive disorders such as ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and acid reflux.

It is also known to detoxify the body as well as cleanse the colon. Taken twice daily at a dose of 2 oz, it can also increase energy and boost the immune system. Aloe vera juice is also effective at aiding external skin ailments from within. According to an article in the American Chronicle:

“The detoxification properties of aloe vera juice also act to detoxify your blood stream.
Aloe vera also helps to dilate the capillaries and support cell growth, thereby improving circulation.
It operates as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent, helping to prevent the onset of disease in the body.”

The active enzymes and living agents in unpasteurized aloe juice are what make it so effective. Pasteurized aloe products, while claiming to be “safer” than unpasteurized products are actually void of the living, beneficial components that make aloe juice so amazing. In my opinion, one of the best brands available are the aloe life products pictured below. They are pure, unpasteurized, and potent. They come in flavored varieties that mask the bitter taste of the pure aloe. (Orange Papaya is the yummiest!)

Aloe juice can also be used in smaller doses for pets to treat stomach problems or improve coat. It is an amazing product that is certainly worth a look! If you suffer from digestive problems, skin problems, or are simply looking for more energy, give aloe vera juice a try! And as always, live your life as Bold as Nature!

Herb of the Week: Kava Kava

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Imagine this: Its a Friday afternoon, you’re at work, and that project that you needed to finish for the big presentation on Monday still isn’t finished, so it looks like you’ll be staying late. Not too late, though, because tonight is your niece’s birthday party, and before you arrive at seven, you need to go home, change, and make sure to stop at the store and pick up a last minute card and gift, as well as the snack you promised to bring but never had the time to make.

Sound familiar? But instead of ‘relaxing’ by over-indulging your sweet tooth, or having 1 or 2 drinks at the party, there is a less destructive, natural alternative. Enter, Kava Kava root!

This popular herb, also known as Piper methysticum, is touted for its stress-relieving properties, and is a personal favorite of mine. The root induces both physical and mental relaxation. Because of the physical relaxation it triggers, it can also be quite effective in alleviating back pain. The active ingredients in the root that create these effects are known as kavalactones.

Kava Kava is found traditionally in health foods stores in both pill and tincture forms. It can also be found as a dried root, or dried root powder, than can be used to create a potent drink (for more on this, feel free to ask!). In Pacific Ocean cultures, Kava Kava takes on a social, spiritual, medicinal, and even political role, where it is often consumed ceremonially at events such as weddings and social gatherings.

Beyond relaxation, Kava Kava root may be useful in treating insomnia, menopausal symptoms, and even urinary tract infections. It also acts as a diuretic and gastrointestinal tonic.

There are, however, like most herbs, several precautions to take: In copius amounts, Kava Kava can cause drowsiness, and should not be combined with alcohol (other than the amount in the tincture). Those who take prescription anti-anxiety meds should stay away, as well as pregnant or nursing women, and those under 18 years of age. Also, if you are prone to depression, Kava Kava may aggravate that in some individuals.

Kava Kava root, all in all, is a wonder natural solution to one of today’s biggest problems: stress. While it would be ideal to avoid stress entirely, unfortunately, in this day and age, it is not entirely feasible. So next time you find yourself counting to ten to avoid a meltdown, or over-indulging as a means to de-stress, remember Kava Kava, and relax naturally, so that once again, you can feel and live as Bold as Nature!