Summer Berries - Tasty and Good for You!

In the summer the first thing I want to do is start eating all the delicious berries that are in season. They are a better alternative than chips and ice cream. What I never realized is that I never get those nasty colds in the summer because I am taking in more vitamins in my diet. Berries contain a lot of vitamin C and lutein. Lutein is essential for eye health and also helps to improve skin, nails and hair. So maybe that summer glow has more to do with a change in our seasonal diets than we thought!

Canker Sores and Vitamins

Well if you are anything like me, summer becomes synonymous with fruit and lemonade and all sorts of acid-filled treats. This can also lead to very painful canker sores within your mouth. Turns out taking a multi-vitamin may help to reduce the time spent with canker sores as well as help prevent you from getting them. Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C and Omega-3 will all help! So go ahead and reach for more salsa with extra jalapenos!

Cosmeceuticals

I can’t deny that a good Billy Mays ad doesn’t draw me in, because there is really no invention he is hawking that I don’t need. So it should come as no surprise for someone like me to be drawn into the world of cosmeceuticals. It is a wonderful world where cosmetology and pharmaceuticals come together to make you the most beautiful you possible. But as it turns out, it may not be a sham. There are actually vitamins and antioxidants that are being researched to prove their effects on certain aspects. I myself am addicted to the idea of anti-cellulite and wrinkle creams.

- Katherine

Vitamin D

If you are pale like me and crave the vitamin D that the sun naturally provides then you are probably already sunburned. The sun comes out and we automatically overdo it. One important thing to note is to look at the expiration date of your sunscreen (because, yes, it expires!) There are also some vitamins you can take that will keep you from being as susceptible to the sun’s harmful UV rays such as omega-3, C, E, and B3. Increasing your anti-oxidants will also help to protect you. So don’t forget your vitamins, sunscreen, and of course those killer sunglasses!

- Katherine

Sleep Easy

If you are anything like me you have a hard time sleeping in the summer. The days are longer and there is more to do. All that running around gets your blood going and before you know it your sleep goes from 8 hours a night to 5. So you reach for a caffeine drink or energy supplement. But what if instead you got better sleep? Melatonin is a great vitamin that can help you relax and rest at the end of the day. You can buy it over the counter and it has a low risk of dependency. It is great for getting some rest when you are ready.

Rest Assured, Supplements May Help

I have never had sleeping issues. In high school I set my own bed time of 9:30. My college roommates use to make fun of me for my constant napping. And I cannot ride in a car for more than 30 minutes without dozing off. However, this time of year, with the sun coming up earlier and setting later, it is harder for me to get a solid nights rest. I have barley been getting my 9 hours a night! Although I have nothing close to insomnia, I have been reaching for an extra cup of coffee in the morning.

Insomnia is a medical condition where a person has a hard time falling or staying asleep and is usually a combination of many factors, including: anxiety, stress, depression, medications, herbs, caffeine, pain, or hormonal changes. Insomnia may require consulting a physician for prescription sleep-aids, but supplements may also be helpful.

Melatonin is thought to help control your body's internal clock. These supplements are most helpful for people experiencing jet lag or the effects of changing work hours. Melatonin may also help regulate circadian rhythm, or internal body clock. Your circadian rhythm dictates when you are naturally are more alert and when you are more sleepy. Optimal sleep can only occur when it is in concert with the body's circadian rhythm, so disruptions in the rhythm cause trouble in sleep patterns

Chamomile generally comes in the form of herbal teas full of numerous antioxidants. It also acts as a sedative and is thought to help relax muscles, to fall into efficient sleep if taken near bedtime.

The family of Vitamin B assist with reducing nervousness, anxiety and stress associated with sleeplessness. If the body is lacking in B12 the result can be confusion, memory loss, and an overall feeling of weariness. B5 specifically, has amino acids, which play an important role in the metabolism of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for the regulation of sleep.

Taking calcium, magnesium and zinc each day can help you get to sleep and stay that way. These nutrients are also needed to tissue repair and for muscle relaxation, which is also critical for a good night’s rest. A lack of magnesium can cause nervousness and studies have shown that low levels can lead to lighter sleep, which may lead to more awakening at night.

For better sleep, the Mayo Clinic also suggests:
Go to bed and get up at about the same time every day, even on the weekends.
Don't eat or drink large amounts before bedtime.
Avoid nicotine, caffeine and alcohol in the evening.
Exercise regularly.
Make the bedroom cool, dark, quiet and comfortable.
Sleep primarily at night.
Choose a comfortable mattress and pillow.
Start a relaxing bedtime routine.
Go to bed when you're tired and turn out the lights.
Use sleeping pills only as a last resort.

-Community Assistant

Going bald?

Forty million men in the United States have male pattern baldness. A new study out of Malaysia researched vitamin E complex (tocotrienol) as a way to help reverse this phenomenon.

The Malaysian study from Carotech studied 28 participants with male pattern baldness.
When supplemented with this vitamin E complex, 42% of the participants experienced increase hair growth. This is the first research study to look into vitamin E complex and male baldness. More research is to come.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Vitamin E helps protect your body from free radicals. Free radicals play a role in certain conditions associated with aging.Vitamin E can be found in corn, nuts, seeds, asparagus, leafy greens, and vegetable oils.