VR Columns
Say Yes to NO—Nitric Oxide
Research on nitric oxide used to be in the realm of obscure scientists. All that changed in 1998 when the Nobel prize for physiology and medicine was awarded to three men who explained how production of this powerful natural compound—a gas called nitric oxide—is used by the body to fight off infection, reduce blood pressure, ...
A Comparison of Benzodiazepine Drugs and the Amino Acid L-theanine
Stress and anxiety are commonplace for many Americans—and there is a class of medications known as benzodiazepines that are widely prescribed for anxiety. In fact, hundreds of millions of prescriptions for benzodiazepines are written every year.1 L-theanine (gamma-ethyl-amino-L-glutamic acid) is a neurologically active amino acid, which is also used for stress and anxiety.2 While benzodiazepines ...
Energy for the Weary
“Graded” exercise and proven supplement workhorses provide hope for chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that does not improve with bed rest. Between one and four million people in the United States—approximately 2.5 percent of the population—have chronic fatigue symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by ...
Specific Antioxidants for Specific Benefits
The term antioxidant has become a mainstay in the lexicon of the natural products industry. Furthermore, as I pointed out in an article last year from this same issue of Vitamin Retailer magazine, over the past few decades the choices for nutraceutical antioxidants have increased exponentially, as have the number of articles written about those ...
Natural Answers to Depressive Mood
The prevailing myth is that our intellect is in the driver’s seat, and, with strength of will, we can overcome mood. In fact, the opposite is true. Mood colors our perceptions and strongly influences our reactions. While it is true that, with effort, people can learn to better manage their moods and develop coping mechanisms, ...
Sugar Alternatives: The Benefits of Stevia
Last year, in my article on sugar alternatives for Vitamin Retailer magazine, I included information on several natural sugar alternatives, including stevia. Since not much has changed since then with regard to any new natural sugar alternative entering the market, I decided to make stevia the focus of this year’s sugar alternatives article with an ...
Calcium Performance
Calcium formulas must contain a bioactive vitamin D for maximum absorption. Calcium is vitally important for overall health and is one of the most important minerals for human health. Almost every cell in the body uses calcium in some way. As we age, we absorb less and less calcium. This causes the body to take ...
Garcinia Cambogia: More Than Weight Loss
Last year, I wrote an article on Garcinia cambogia for Vitamin Retailer. In that article, I focused on the weight loss-related benefits of this nutraceutical. In this article, I will share other research that demonstrates Garcinia cambogia’s value in lowering triglycerides, increasing glycogen production and preferentially promoting the use of fat as a fuel source ...
The Myth of Effortless Weight Loss
Supplements can help, but lifestyle changes are mandatory. The dietary supplement industry is crowded with “wonder” products that guarantee you’ll lose “20 pounds in 20 days” or your money back. The only “wonder” part of the product is often wondering where your money went when the product doesn’t deliver on its promise. However, that is ...
Supplement Delivery Systems: More Options
When the natural products industry first began, there were four basic types of delivery systems for dietary supplements: tablets, capsules, powders and liquids. Today, those basic four still exist, and still probably represent the majority of supplements on the market. However, delivery system options have expanded and now include soft gels, liquid caps, lozenges and ...
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