Women's Health Library

Choosing Your Multiple Vitamin

Today it’s harder for us to receive the nutrients we need from our food than it was for our grandparents. Whether it’s attributable to our busy lifestyles, environmental hazards like smog and pollution, or to foods grown in nutrient poor soil, getting all the needed vitamins and minerals directly from our diets is rarely a simple matter. The addition of a good multivitamin is more important than ever to supplement our diets.
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DHEA – The Super Hormone

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is generally known as the mother of all hormones. It is mostly produced by the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys. DHEA is an amazing steroid; it has the capacity to become any number of other intermediates and full fledged hormones that the body needs whether you are male or female. DHEA rules many of the other organ systems in the body through its hormonal production, and has protective capabilities.
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Erectile Dysfunction and Amino Acids

Our bodies break down the protein in foods into building blocks called amino acids. These amino acids are re- assembled in our cells in a specific order necessary to form functional proteins. The quantities, as well as the types, of amino acids present in our bodies are critical. Without the correct amino acids in the proper quantities, our systems cannot rebuild or repair tissues, muscles, blood proteins and cell enzymes.
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Fight Fatigue and Low Energy with Magnesium

Fatigued and no energy. That was Kelly’s story.

Sidelined by crushing fatigue, she felt like she had fallen into a hole and couldn’t climb out. After the birth of her fourth child at age 39, her fatigue was relentless. She felt as though she was holding on by her fingernails.
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Hot Flash Relief with Black Cohosh

BLACK COHOSH (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a Native American herb used to relieve menopausal and PMS symptoms. It has been recommended by the German Commission E for treating menstrual discomfort and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
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Human Growth Hormone

HGH (Human Growth Hormone) was first discovered in 1920. Scientifically engineered HGH has been available since 1985 but didn’t gain notoriety until it recently became a widespread concern for major league baseball and other sports organizations due to its popularity among the players.
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Stop Mood Swings with Amino Acids

Weight Loss Made Easy

A breakthrough revelation in the world of fad dieting: They’re all the same. A study published by Michael D. Dansinger, MD and colleagues from the Tufts University New England Medical Center compared 160 people who participated in four popular mainstream diet programs.
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Women’s Health Review

Health is a proactive choice, and a choice that should reflect the specific needs of your body. There are dietary supplements to give women options designed specifically to meet these various needs. Whether your needs are for prenatal support, help making the transition through PMS or menopause, post-menopausal prevention, or you are just looking for improvement in your overall health, we offer products that let you address your health requirements.
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Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) has recently become recognized as one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints among women between the ages of 30 and 50. The most common symptoms of FMS are generalized aches and pains, fatigue, depression, joint stiffness, disrupted sleeping patterns, reproducible tender points in the muscles and tendons known as “trigger points”, association with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tension headaches, primary dysmenorrheal (abnormal menstrual cycle), mitral valve prolapse and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
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Vitamin D and Your Health

The dark, dreary days of winter impair many people’s ability to maintain adequate vitamin D levels supplied by the sun—resulting in negative health effects. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol (kol-ee-kal-sif-eral), is a fat-soluble vitamin produced in our skin during sun exposure. Vitamin D3 is considered to be the most bioactive form versus vitamin D2, known as ergocalciferol (ergo-cal-sif-eral), which is derived from plant and fungal sources.
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Vitamin D and Low Back Pain

Many people in northern climates not only have to deal with colder weather and shorter winter days, they also have a much higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency. This is because vitamin D is made from a precursor molecule produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Ergo, the less sunlight one is exposed to, the greater the chance of a vitamin D deficiency.
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Ultimate Extract Herbs

No one needs to tell you that all herbs are not created equal. The prices alone are a good indication that something must be different from line to line. It could be how they’re grown and harvested, the methods used in manufacturing, whether the herb is cut and sifted or a powdered extract, whether part or all of the plant is used, or a myriad of other possibilities.
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Thyroid Support

Tired all the time? It could be your thyroid. Find out how to stay Energized. Many of us suffer from that mid-afternoon slump. But what if that grogginess lasts for the majority of the day? It’s estimated 12% of Americans have a thyroid disorder, and over half of the cases have not been diagnosed.
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The Benefits of Soy

Soy isn’t just hidden away at the health-food store any more. These days it’s found in all kinds of products at the grocery store: tofu is right there on the shelf in the produce department, and crisp green edamame (fresh, unfermented soy beans) are making a splash as healthy snacks.
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Supplement Saftey

Confused about dietary supplement safety? Approximately 50% of Americans take some type of dietary supplement, so it’s logical to wonder how the U.S. government plays a role in dietary supplement regulation.
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Soy - the Miricle Food

For years nutritionists and scientists alike have studied the vast differences between Asian and American diets in order to determine why people there have fewer instances of many diseases than people here. Many explanations have been offered, from our nation’s massive consumption of red meat and fast food, to the beneficial fatty acids of fish in their diet, to even coral calcium. But much evidence seems to point to the large presence of soy in the Asian diet as a large reason for the difference.
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Sound Nutrition for Weight Loss

The goal of a weight loss program is to take in fewer calories than the amount of calories expended through physical activity. However, cutting calories often results in not consuming enough important nutrients. Additionally, cutting "bad" fats such as saturated fat and trans fat in your diet often results in a loss of muscle and nutrition instead. When changing your diet to lose weight, remember to take in plenty of vitamins, minerals, and adequate protein.
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Should Your Supplements Include Iron

Most adult men and post-menopausal women don’t need extra iron. In fact, you could be doing harm to your heart and arteries if you fall in this group and are taking supplements with iron. On the other hand, iron deficiency is a common nutritional problem in the United States. The groups at risk for iron deficiency include infants under the age of two, young women, and pregnant women.
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Sexual Healing

Though few people talk about sexual dysfunctions openly, the explosive success of prescription medications such as Viagara and Cialis show that people want to maintain active sex lives even as they age. While prescription drugs for sex drive and sexual function are relatively new, there are still people looking for natural alternatives much as there are with drugs for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes.
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PMS and Menopause Support

Women suffering from the side effects of PMS (Pre-menstrual Syndrome) or menopause are often seeking natural therapies to help aid in relief. Natural products can be great alternatives to traditional therapies such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
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Nutrients to Support Your Heart

Heart conditions are a major concern for millions of people. Many fight heart disease through diet and exercise while others add prescription medications to their struggle. With our heart health category of products, we address the needs of those looking for additional cardiovascular support through dietary supplementation. We offer unique products, each with a different approach to supporting heart health.
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Mental Function and Amino Acids

Our bodies break down the protein in foods into building blocks called amino acids. These amino acids are reassembled in our cells in a specific order necessary to form functional proteins. The quantities, as well as the types, of amino acids present in our bodies are critical. Without the correct amino acids in the proper quantities, our systems cannot rebuild or repair tissues, muscles, blood proteins and cell enzymes.
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Joint Health with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, & MSM

Many members of the baby boomer population are suffering from stiff, aching joints that are often painful and lead to inactivity and possibly even depression. Individuals suffering from joint pain and discomfort often turn to doctors for relief, usually ending up on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). While these medications may be necessary to provide short-term pain relief, as with many medications, long -term use can lead to negative side effects.
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How to read a vitamin label

Would you recognize a great vitamin if you saw one? Can you spot quality? How should you compare one brand to another? What should you avoid? How can you get the most for your money when buying supplements? To choose vitamins and supplements wisely, these questions need to be answered. And, as we all know, quality varies from one supplement line to another making it difficult to know which lines represent a high quality product. The key is learning what to look for, what to avoid, and how to get the best value from your vitamin dollar.
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Heart Health and CoQ10

Hear the words, “energy crisis” in the news, and we associate it with oil, gas, and geopolitics. Energy is essential for functions of our daily lives—from the cars we drive to the fuel our bodies get from food. In fact, our bodies couldn’t survive without energy. Even at the cellular level, energy allows us to metabolize foods, remove waste, and keep organs functioning. One of the most noticeable effects of this we actually feel is with our heart muscle.
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Healthy Skin

Acquire Healthy Skin from the Inside Out Did you know that the way your skin looks and feels is merely a reflection of your food and supplement intake? Environmental factors such as humidity and pollutants can also affect the skin but to a smaller degree. Dermatologists often recommend a complete change in diet and nutrient intake in order to regress the negative effects of the normal aging process and improve skin health. Daily nutrient and fluid intake directly reflects the health of the skin and learning more about diet and supplements can save endless dollars spent on scrubs, creams and gels.
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Healthy Intestines for a Lifetime of Good Health

Beneficial Bacteria Food is vital to life because it supplies our bodies with the source of energy needed to function. Ensuring the body receives nutrition from food is dependent upon how well the intestinal tract is able to absorb and utilize the nutrients. Maintaining a healthy intestinal tract is more than just eating healthy and being regular. At 30 feet long, the intestines break food down into molecules small enough to be transported to the cellular level. The entire surface area of the gastro-intestinal tract is equivalent to the size of a football field! The intestines also help keep the immune system strong by killing harmful bacteria before they are able to reach the rest of the body. The intestines help to modify the immune system by balancing the bacterial flora present. Not all bacteria are harmful; in fact there are bacteria in our systems that are considered to be beneficial.
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Healthy Digestion

Good nutrition is not only what you eat, but also what you digest and absorb. The two most important factors in promoting proper digestion are enzymes and fiber. Unfortunately, many of us do not produce enough enzymes, nor do we ingest enough fiber through our diets to achieve optimal intestinal health. Deficiencies can lead to irregularity and the associated pain and discomfort of indigestion. Thankfully, there are nutritional measures we can take to aid in greater nutrient absorption and healthy digestion.
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Healthy Cholesterol Support

It is estimated that one out of every three women will be affected by heart disease. Cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. High cholesterol is more common then you may think. Regardless of your age, weight or daily activity, you can be one of many living with high cholesterol. If your cholesterol is not checked and under control, you may be at risk for developing CHD (coronary heart disease). Blood cholesterol is not only affected by what you eat but also how quickly your body makes “LDL” or bad cholesterol and how well it can eliminate it.
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Greens - the Super Foods

These days, many do not have time to cook and prepare vegetables for well-balanced, healthy meals. If you are on the go everyday and want a boost of colorful nutrition, consider a greens food supplement packed with vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to help maintain health. Some green foods such as spirulina, alfalfa, wheat grass, barley grass, or kelp come in supplement form, making them convenient to take any time of the day.
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Folic Acid Fights Age Related Diseases

Research has shown that folic acid may play a critical role in protecting nerve cells, which may prove to be beneficial in fighting against age-related diseases.
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Five Ways to Protect Your Heart

It’s easy to forget, that thing in our chest that keeps us alive. But if we don’t take care of our ticker, the harmful side effects spread to other parts of our body. How do we get “hearthealthy?” Below is a guide to ensure your heart is in tip-top shape.
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Fish Oil Ends Arthritis Pain

A recent study demonstrated fish oil supplements worked just as well as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for patients with neck and back pain (not related to surgery). This makes sense, because fish oil reduces inflammation (and therefore, pain) in the body in the same fashion as NSAIDs.
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Fiber is Necessary For Better Health

When you hear the word, “fiber,” does a Metamucil TV commercial with a gray-haired senior come to mind? It used to be that getting more fiber in the diet was only an issue for older adults. However, in the last few decades research has shown benefits of a high-fiber diet for all ages. Studies also show that most Americans don’t get enough (in fact, we get about half of what’s recommended). Why should we all be concerned?
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Eye health

Summer’s here and it’s time to take extra care of your eyes during these sunny summer months. Wearing sunglasses is the first step toward preserving healthy eyes, but how about prevention from the inside out?
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Eating The Right Type Of Fat

The average American diet contains far too much saturated and hydrogenated fat and yet is deficient in the beneficial fatty acids needed in the daily diet. This situation poses a serious health threat, and may play a major role in the development of heart disease.
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Combat aging through nutrition

Most of us know one or two older adults who appear radiant and youthful despite their actual age. How do these people achieve outward signs of eternal youth? While genetics play a part in how our bodies adapt to aging, healthy older adults take care of themselves. They eat right. They exercise. They maintain low stress levels and engage in social activities. In summary, they regard beauty as something that comes from within.
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Cold and flu support

Winter persists and many of us don’t expect to catch the cold or flu virus. Unfortunately, about 5-20% of the population gets the flu each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Older adults and anyone around children (or around those with children) have an even greater chance of catching a bug.
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Cleanse and Detoxify your body

You go through times eating fast foods, processed foods and rich foods or sweets that aren’t so healthy. You always promise yourself you’ll take better care of your health and you have often wondered how to detoxify your body. Sometimes you feel more than your normal share of digestive problems, which make you think about making dietary changes but you don’t know where to begin.
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Calcium and Your Health

Calcium is perhaps the most important nutrient for the maintenance of bone health. As we age, our bones become more susceptible to damage as the result of our bone building cells, known as osteoblasts, diminishing while the cells responsible for bone destruction, osteoclasts, continue to thrive.
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Brain and Memory support

It begins in the womb—with the scientific discovery that folic acid plays a key role in preventing neural tube defects, health care professionals now routinely prescribe folic acid (in addition to prenatal vitamins and minerals) supplementation before, during and after pregnancy.
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Boost Your Immune System with Probiotics

Beneficial bacteria known as “probiotics” line the human intestinal tract. Over 100 trillion of these “good” bacteria dwell on the walls of the intestines. Most probiotics in food are found in yogurt, fermented milks (like kefir) and even some fermented cheeses. Probiotics also come in capsule or liquid dietary supplement form, making consumption of probiotics easy and convenient.
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Boost Your Energy with Supplements

We may all feel the pinch when it comes to completing our never-ending “to do” lists, but there’s no reason why you can’t sustain soaring energy. Here, a few tips on how to reserve your get-up-and-go vivacity...
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Avoiding Alzheimer's

Keys. Shopping lists. Your parked car. Cookies in the oven. We’ve all forgotten a few things on our day-to-day “to do” list at one time or another. Normal forgetfulness is common, but when does it turn into a real concern? Knowing that 1 in 10 Americans over age 65 have Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia, it’s important to be cognizant of how to protect your brain now. Whether it affects an aging parent, family member, or even yourself, loss of memory and normal brain function can cause a significant burden on loved ones.
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Amino Acids - The building Blocks of Health

Our bodies break down the protein in foods into building blocks called amino acids. These amino acids are re-assembled in our cells in a specific order necessary to form functional proteins. The quantities, as well as the types, of amino acids present in our bodies are critical. Without the correct amino acids in the proper quantities, our systems cannot rebuild or repair tissues, muscles, blood proteins and cell enzymes.ells, known as osteoblasts, diminishing while the cells responsible for bone destruction, osteoclasts, continue to thrive.
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Allergy Relief and Natural Supplements

Summer may be just around the corner, but Spring’s hay fever menace still looms. Itchy eyes, runny noses and sneezing comprise the daily symptoms of many allergy sufferers. Is relief in sight? Yes—and it comes from within. Natural remedies aid in the treatment and prevention of your worst symptoms.
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Overcoming Depression, Obesity, and Insomnia with 5-HTP

Millions of American’s particularly women during their reproductive and menopausal years suffer from bouts of sadness, sleeplessness, sugar cravings and many other symptoms of serotonin deficiency. Research suggests that a stressful lifestyle and poor dietary habits are among the most common causes of this epidemic. Depression, anxiety, children’s nightmares, obesity, insomnia, chronic headaches, Fibromyalgia, and PMS are just a few of the more common conditions associated with low serotonin levels in the brain.
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The Benefits of the B Vitamins

Many of us would benefit from the addition of the unbeatable B’s in our daily supplement program. Without the Vitamin B family, our bodies can’t maintain healthy nerves, skin, hair, eyes, liver, or muscle tone. Nor can they utilize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins adequately. The Vitamin B family is an important group of nutrients, each with its own biological role to play. As a group, the B’s work together in the body and can be found in the same foods. Because of this "togetherness" they’re called the B complex vitamins. Since B vitamins are water-soluble and cannot be stored in the body for long periods of time, they must be replaced daily. Remember B vitamins are best taken with food to both increase absorption and to eliminate the possibility of causing an upset stomach.
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