We've Moved: Swanson Vitamins Blog Has a New Home

Customer Spotlight: Meet a Vitamin Junkie!

Posted by Kayla:

 

A long time Swanson Health Products customer and product reviewer, Darlene Roy, is featured in our latest Customer Spotlight. Darlene, along with her significant other Tim, lives in New England with their two Rottweiler dogs. Darlene is a self-proclaimed vitamin junkie. After seeing family members struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, Darlene wanted to live a more natural life and has turned to supplements to help support her health.

Vitamin D Benefits: Can It Help Prevent Diabetes?

Posted by Ben:

It seems there’s nothing Vitamin D can’t do. It’s becoming the kryptonite to all serious diseases. A 2009 review published by researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing concluded that an adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed.

What Supplements Should I Take? See What Dr. Oz Recommends

Posted by Ben:

Every once in a while, we hear the questions “What supplements should I start with?” or “What are the most important supplements to take?” You can find different answers depending on where you look. But in each of those differing opinions, you’ll almost always find three key nutrients. And as the following video shows, even Dr. Oz agrees on these top 3 supplements.

Want to Help Us Fight Child Malnutrition?

Posted by Ben:

It’s been over two months since the devastating earthquake hit the small island nation of Haiti. Millions of people are still displaced, including countless children who are now at risk of illness and disease due to malnutrition. Swanson Health Products is hoping you will help us in the fight against child malnutrition and deliver needed vitamins and nutrients to the children of Haiti. Will you join us?

A Beginner’s Guide to Supplements (The Perfect Resource to Share with Friends & Family)

Posted by Ben:

How to choose the right dietary supplements? Most of us are beyond this point, being seasoned veterans in the world of supplementation and healthy living. But if you’re like me, you remember how difficult it was to find the best starting point for beginning a supplementation program. Even picking the right multivitamin was a challenge. Having a step-by-step guide to supplements would have been very helpful then! Hence, our creation (and recent revamp) of “The 7 Basic Supplements for Good Health,” a guide for beginners.

Founder of Master Supplements & Creator of Theralac: My Interview With Randy Porubcan

Posted by Ben:
 
Probiotic supplements are one of the most popular categories of dietary supplements on the market. With the poor quality of the Standard American Diet (SAD), it's no wonder that people need help maintaining a healthy digestive system. But until I started working in the natural health industry, I didn't realize that probiotics can do more for the body than just support digestion. To help us all understand the full potential of probiotic supplements, I decided to interview Randy Porubcan, founder of Master Supplements and expert in digestive health supplements.

Why Coconut Oil is ‘The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’

Posted by Ben

Not only is coconut a delicious ingredient found in my favorite girl scouts cookie (you know which one I’m talking about…there’s a box hidden in the back of your cupboard right now, isn’t there?), coconut oil is a wonderfully practical resource with an abundance of uses. 

From your kitchen to your bathroom, coconut oil is an extremely versatile gift from Mother Nature. Everyone knows that the best tools are multipurpose tools, and all-natural coconut oil can find a use in just about any room of your house. Don't believe me? Well, here’s a list of what you can do with coconut oil…

Is Our 'Natural' Freedom of Choice in Danger?

Swanson Vitamins started out in 1969 because our founder was an avid consumer of natural health products. He loved knowing he was in control of his own health and not at the mercy of the health care industry. Forty years later that legacy continues today, as most of us here at Swanson are consumers of vitamins and dietary supplements.

We also share a responsibility, as a company and as consumers, to stay informed of the issues that matter...the issues that could change the natural health industry. Recently, I came across one such issue, and everyone who enjoys having a choice when it comes to their health needs to know about it.

How Are Dietary Supplements Regulated? Swanson Vitamins Explains...

According to Mark Blumenthal, the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC) and Editor/Publisher of HerbalGram (an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal), one of the biggest myths surrounding the natural health industry is that herbs and dietary supplements are unregulated. “Not true,” he says, “it’s totally a myth.”

 

To the contrary, the natural health industry is closely regulated by the U.S. government for the safety of all consumers. But do you know exactly what’s being done to ensure your safety?

My Top 10 Supplements for 2008

This month I've been reading Christmas letters from family and friends to my dad in the nursing home. They're a great way to keep up with cousins and former neighbors who you no longer see on a regular basis. But when you don't know the individual very well and the letter metastasizes into five l-o-n-g pages typewritten with a Times Roman 10-point font, they're overwhelming to the reader and seem more self-serving than friendly. I got to thinking about the Swanson blog. I think I should shorten these posts down. People nowadays prefer brief bits of information. Our brains aren't used to processing data in the same way they did years ago before all the gazillions of glossy picture magazines,TV sound bites and and bullet-pointed internet copy. So that's my goal for 2009, and I'm trying to start today.

One thing I'm often asked by my close associates, fellow Swanson employess and even a few people in the elevator when they find out where I work is "What supplements do you take?" So with the watchword of "brevity" fixed in mind, I composed my 2008 top-ten list of favorite Swanson products, with minimal copy explaining my choices. 

CamoCare Treatment Toner I revel in the sparkling lavender smell and the way it makes my skin feel. An ingredient called Gatuline In-Tense smooths out the appearance of wrinkles and crinkles. It's pricier than others, but it's organic and less then half the cost of a similar toner from Stella McCartney.

Chlorella Never want to be without Kyoto Chlorella! It's the perfect thing to pop when my diet is less than perfect, which lately seems to be just about every other day. Helps keep my system regular, too. I definitely notice a difference when I take chlorella! I don't use the upper dosage either (45 tabs). I only take about 15 tiny, little tabs per day. Mike Adams (The Health Ranger) rates our Swanson Kyoto Chlorella best value on the internet!

Coconut Oil Simply indispensable. I use it to fry potatoes. I also substitute it for half the butter when baking. And I mix it with body lotion (again, half and half) to apply head to toe after a bath. You might think I'd be one big greaseball, but it quickly sinks into the top layers of skin, making them incredibly soft. It's the best! You already know my cat thinks it's better than minced mice, too!

Himalayan Crystal Salt All other salt seasoning has been tossed from my cupboards. After doing extensive research in preparation for writing the Swanson landing page for Himalayan Crystal Salt, I became enthralled with it. I also use it to make my own salt scrubs, mixing it with coconut oil and a few drops of essential oil. I'm telling you, my hubby likes touching my skin. Even my sister asked how I get it so "velvety."

Krill Oil No surprise here, I'm sure. I've talked about krill oil in my blogs as much as I have David Wolfe! It's the Omega-3 supplement that helps keep nearly every part of my body running smoothly. Joints, skin, heart, brain, eyes--my entire being owes a big thanks to this miracle from the oceans. Krill is the main diet of gigantic blue whales, and I'm now beginning to understand why they can be so graceful despite their enormous size. Enough said.

Probiotic I haven't been loyal to one product this year. Instead, I've tried several of them. I especially like the Ultimate Probiotic in the Lee Swanson Signature line and the Acidophilus Pearls from Enzymatic Therapy. One thing is certain. It helps keep me regular (that's big when you get past 50), and with a year filled with stressful events, it's been essential for keeping my immune system strong.

Smoothie Ingredients I lumped these items into one. I make a smoothie everyday for breakfast, or at least try to. It's either that or a pile of cookies and extra strong coffee. I place the following in the VitaMix blender: a handful of romaine, a handful of frozen berries, an apple and coconut water. Then I toss in Swanson Aktivated Barley (for amazing energy!), raw honey from YS Organics, and our new freeze-dried strawberries, which give it an intense fruity flavor, a bit more antioxidant power and a deep pink color. I whole-heartedly recommend this recipe for anyone who finds it difficult to get the nutrition they want from regular meals. Just be sure and remove the silicon dioxide packet from the strawberries before shaking them in the blender. Yep, I was drinking the usually creamy smoothie this morning and couldn't figure out why it was so gritty. Then I discovered bits of paper with writing on them, and I knew what had happened. So I ate a pile of cookies instead.  

Swanson System for Rejuvenated Skin I largely owe the relatively good texture and tone of my 50+++ skin to this kit of four supplements. I've skipped taking them for a period of months, and really notice the difference. My skin looks droopier and not quite as firm and smooth. My skin is the one part of my appearance that still garners numerous compliments, and I realize that Swanson System for Rejuvenated Skin is a big reason why. At the very least, when my dear ol' dad with dementia refers to me as his wife, most people will now confidently correct him.

Vitamin Code 50 & Wiser Women The multi-vitamin category is another one that I've experimented with this past year. I recently started taking this supplement and I'm hooked. Maybe I just like the word "Wiser" in the name of it. I'm positive that it gives me noticeably more energy. I like the way the individual nutrients are prepared, and I can't say enough good things about Garden of Life, the manufacturer. They focus on quality every step of the way, although you will have to pay more for it.

Vitamin D-3 With all the press out there about the merits of Vitamin D, this one doesn't need any explanation. My multiple gives me 1000 IU of D, and so does this single-ingredient supplement. That should do it--at least until we learn something new next month!

A Gift for All Seasons

Isn't it exciting to give presents to people and watch their faces light up when you hit the jackpot with something they really wanted?  I think the best present I ever gave was to my brother Jon, two years my senior. Ever since he convinced me to buy the Beatles' debut album with 32 dimes from my piggy bank, he was my go-to guy for anything related to music. If he had told me that John Lennon was named after him (even though he was 11 years old at the time), I would have believed him. That was 1964, and by 1978 he owned hundreds of LPs (remember them?), with some very obscure titles in his collection. Yet even he couldn't locate an early album by Carole King called "The City," and it became his obsession to find it. Today, it would be simple to search for it on eBay or amazon, but back in the day, one had to be a bit more resourceful. I stumbled upon an ad in the back of Rolling Stone for an out-of-print record store in Los Angeles, and by some miracle, they had it. Wrapped up in gold paper and placed under the tree, I was more excited than Jon for his present to be opened that Christmas Eve. The shocked expression on his face is something I treasure to this day. 

For various reasons, some people don't observe Christmas. It may not be a part of their culture or religion. It may have lost its appeal when they realized Jesus wasn't born on December 25th (convincing evidence in the Bible likely places his birth in October). Or perhaps many find the commercialization of the season just too disgusting to celebrate. Who can rightly blame them? When a country determines whether it's in a recession or not by how much was hauled in over Black Friday weekend, you have to wonder. Still, unless you're Scrooge himself, giving gifts is something everyone loves to do. It's seasonless. It's an appreciated way to communicate to our loved ones how much we care. And since we cherish our health, we usually welcome gifts that encourage it. So I've put together a few ideas that you may not have considered for those on your list who could use a little TLC:

7 Basic Supplements Package--The 7 Basic Supplements for Good Health feature on our website has been very popular with customers, more than a few writing to express how much better they feel since making the program a daily part of their health regimen. For $51.93, you can give all seven supplements: Swanson Whole Food Multi, Calcium Citrate with D, Psyllium Husks (for fiber), EPA/DHA (for Omega-3 essential fatty acids), Kyoto Chlorella, ProBiotic-4, and CoQ10. Read the customer reviews on any or all of these products if you need more convincing. Get a big colorful holiday gift bag, wrap up each supplement individually, and affix a number (1 through 7) to each of them to build anticipation as they're being unwrapped. To make it more fun, you might even include a "supplement #8" personally selected for the recipient. It could be anything: money, a silk tie, a CD, etc., with a note that says, "I didn't forget the 8th basic 'supplement' for your good health--cash." (or "style" or "music" or whatever the gifted really enjoys).

Himalayan Crystal Salt Package--The salt bundle includes everything needed to make Dr. Barbara Hendel's Sole, including the book "Healthy & Fit with Water & Salt." Himalayan Crystal Salt was once viewed as a priceless commodity due to its many health benefits, and to this day, we derive the word "salary" from "salarium," the Latin term for "payment in salt."  The salt bundle is a fascinating experience for anyone who desires optimal health or who mentions cleansing/detoxifying during conversations. For a trusted friend on whom you regularly depend, your card could read, "You're My Treasured Salt of the Earth." Buy these items together and save 10% off the price of the items if purchased individually.

Swanson Organic Spices--Buy all ten of the Swanson Organic Spices for just $32.76. Give the whole set with a cookbook or a beautiful soup tureen filled with our Spicy Pumpkin Coconut Soup (or the recipe for it, if you're not up to cooking). You can also use them individually as stocking stuffers, secret Santa gifts, etc.

Celadrin Cream--This is my personal pick. I love, love, love Celadrin Cream because it works like nothing else!! (Check out my last post for the reason why.) So do other people, as evidenced by a customer review and feature articles about Celadrin in several fitness magazines. Even my husband is amazed at how terrific his lower back feels when I rub the muscles with it. Everyone needs a jar of Celadrin on hand at all times! Celadrin has a refreshing light mint fragrance. It doesn't smell like all those medicated sports balms. Scoop it into a pretty glass jar for a special gift that can be set out on the bathroom vanity. It will be used over and over again.

A few of my other favorite things are a practically delicious Hand Repair Kit from Burts Bees for just $8.34, an assortment of healthy treats for the four-legged family members, and gift certificates, which are always appreciated.

Truly there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving. And when the recipient is equally thrilled, it's sheer bliss.

Tend & Mend with Plant Power

Physical therapy. Psychotherapy. Speech therapy. Shock Therapy. The word "therapy" often calls to mind the idea of hard work; a kind of health treatment that requires a person to go beyond his or her comfort level in order to get well. In the world of therapies, however, there is at least one type that breaks the mold. While many therapies temporarily increase stress in a person's life, this one instantly de-stresses the body and mind in the most pleasurable of ways. It's known to millions as aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is my kind of health program--something that offers relief through the sense of smell. It accomplishes what eating-for-comfort only attempts to do. While the latter often ends up burdening the body even further, plants used in aromatherapy have the potential to heal us on many different levels. Anyone who has stepped down into a warm bath sprinkled with several drops of lavender essential oil knows exactly what I'm talking about. When you feel like you're spring-loaded and ready to pop, lavender's power to calm frazzled nerves seems near-miraculous. Besides soothing the savage beast in all of us, lavender imparts a fresh, clean feeling to the user ("lavender" comes from the Latin word "lavare"--to wash), plus it is a pleasant-smelling disinfectant for all kinds of cuts and scrapes. Ever burn your forehead when straightening bangs with a flat iron? Smooth a few drops of lavender essential oil across the reddened skin. Not only will it minimize the pain, but the skin will heal without leaving a mark. Lavender is one of only two essential oils that can safely be applied to skin neat, which means undiluted. (The other one is tea tree oil.) Most should be mixed with a carrier oil like almond or jojoba before applying to the skin. If lavender were a celebrity, it would surely be Meryl Streep for its unprecedented versatility. I rely on lavender like Toula's dad used Windex in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Here are a few other favorites from my medicine cabinet:

Rosemary--Its fresh, green and cerebral qualities really wake me up in the morning. One whiff and my whole body feels uplifted. It also helps strengthen nerves and soothe tired muscles. Rosemary is excellent when inhaled in a morning bath or shower (which reminds me to order some tomorrow). Celebrity counterpart: Gwynneth Paltrow

Ylang ylang--This exotic flower is a bit heady for some people, but it lends a delicious, sensual note when used with lemon and sandalwood in a massage oil. I particularly like it for softening and rejuvenating the skin. It also stimulates the part of the brain that releases endorphins. Celebrity counterpart: Angelina Jolie

Peppermint--Who doesn't love refreshing, exhilarating peppermint? It's bursting with freshness! I mix 50 drops of peppermint essential oil in a 4-ounce spray bottle filled with distilled water and mist my body when I'm feeling hot, exhausted and completely worn out. Celebrity counterpart: Meg Ryan

Lemon--The citrusy scent from the rind of the lemon is liquid sunshine--happy, radiant and bright. Corporations in Japan use lemon oil to induce clear thinking in their employees. It's also a disinfectant and balances oily skin. Clears the air of stale smoke when mixed with cedar. Celebrity counterpart: Kate Hudson

Sweet Orange--A surprising and versatile aroma. Even though orange is a fresh, lively scent, the essential oil is relaxing to our psyche.  It also soothes rough, calloused skin and helps rejuvenate agng skin. Sweet orange is especially good for calming anxiety and nervousness. Celebrity counterpart: Annette Bening

Clove--Sweet, spicy, and very exotic. Clove is a lingering scent that you won't easily forget. It's terrific mixed with sweet orange and patchouli. I use a mixture of these 3 essential oils in a diffuser or in a carrier of walnut oil to polish woodwork in my home. It smells heavenly! Celebrity counterpart: Halle Berry

Patchouli--Woody, earthy, smoky--you either love it or hate it; there's no inbetween. Patchouli is the classic scent of the 60's counter culture. Highly regarded as an aphrodisiac, this thick resin from the mint family is serious about healing wounds and infections, too. Celebrity counterpart: Madonna 

I was thrilled when we decided to carry essential oils at Swanson. My employee order is getting larger and longer. Still, I figure I'm coming out ahead. Psychotherapists get upwards of $100 an hour. All I have to do is take a bath, and I feel good as new. Well, at the very least I smell herbaly, which isn't too bad either.

Supplements for a Hard-Pressed Economy

Today I discovered that I have been more affected by the current financial crisis than I realized. As I got out of the bathtub, I absent-mindedly reached in the Q-Tip caddy only to discover it was empty. Normally, this situation wouldn't throw me into a panic. My reaction was out of character today, though. I ran into the bedroom, wet footprints tracking across the laminate floor, to pull my suitcase out of the closet. "There must be a few stashed in a baggie somewhere," I thought to myself. I wasn't going to spend even five cents more than I had to at the grocery store. Whew! There amidst an assortment of plastic bags and expired boarding passes was a baggie with at least three dozen cotton swabs. I'd be set until payday, at least.

So what has prompted this miserly behavior? Aside from the evening news, which lately is spookier than any Anne Rice novel, I received notices from not one, but two credit card companies that the interest rates on my cards were being raised due to no fault of the cardholder. I asked my friend Melissa, an officer at one of the nation's largest financial institutions, what's up with that. She said it's a common practice right now, as smaller banks are struggling to stay afloat. They're grasping for money anywhere they can. A client from my part-time health counseling practice, who works for a smaller bank in Illinois, added further facts when she confirmed reports that banks don't even want to lend to each other. Her bank was told last night that it won't be able to borrow as much money until the current situation turns around.

This morning I contemplated where else I could cut back. Books and magazines? Absolutely. Skin care products? Hmmm...not yet.  Supplements? I take a lot of them, but...Here's how I reason on that subject. In hard times you need supplements and organic foods more than ever. Stress is the big health buster. It takes an enormous toll on the immune system. And what am I going to do if I'm sick and can't work? Or my my brain is frazzled and I can't think clearly? Life is becoming more stressful with each passing day, to be sure. On top of that, my 87-year old father, whom you met several blog posts back, has his own set of woes, financial and otherwise. Consequently, he's coming to live with my husband and me, at least temporarily. No, I'm not giving up chorella, krill oil, probiotics and the other nine supplements that I take regularly. My husband concurred. In fact, he's thinking about increasing his salmon oil dosage because it significantly helps his back pain, which is exacerbated in times like these.

A while back, I posted a list of 7 things to help keep your immune system strong. Briefly they are: cut back on sugar, eat more garlic, get adequate sleep, reduce stress in your life, exercise more, wash your hands often and take krill oil. At that time, I commented that five of them were a part of my regular routine, but I struggled with eating too much sugar and not exercising. As I comtemplated the same list today, it struck me that my habits have completely changed! I've practically cut sugar entirely from my diet, and I'm finding exercise to be essential for working off built-up stress. On the other hand, lately I haven't been preparing enough meals to eat much garlic, I'm no longer sleeping a full 7 hours, I'm adding stress to my life by the hour, and I wouldn't even think of paying for the essential oil towelettes that I once kept in my purse to clean my hands. I do still take krill oil, however. I'm hoping this complete reversal of habits may somehow be a metaphor for what the economy can do. One can dream...

Tighten Your Skin Without Loosening the Purse Strings

A funny thing happened on the way to work today. My husband walked me out to the car, and as we stood to chat about what we'd make for dinner tonight, I felt him rubbing underneath my chin with the side of his index finger. Instinctively this made me uptight and a little suspicious. What was he looking for? Had he found a pesky, stiff hair that didn't belong there? I got right to the point. "Are you playing with my double chin?" He laughed. "You don't have a double chin," he replied without missing a beat, as would any sharp-witted husband who looked forward to having a nice day. He continued, "No, I was noticing how smooth and firm your skin is. How come it's like that?" Then he started feeling his own chin. "I think my skin is saggy, and I was just wondering what you do to get your chin and the rest of your face so...well, young-looking. You don't even have crow's feet--not even a toe." Wow! This was either the most unctuous show of diplomacy I'd ever seen, or he was sincerely paying me a compliment--and a really nice one, at that.

As I drove off to Swanson's, I thought about his question. Apparently, years of targeted supplements to help build collagen are paying off. The truth is, I've noticed it, too. Not on my chin so much, but around my hips and other places that aren't readily exposed to the world. While I definitely have inches to lose, the skin covering those inches looks pretty darn good, especially for someone in her 50s! I decided I'd blog about the experience today because Ronald and I aren't the only two people interested in firm skin. I was reminded from my TotalBeauty email this morning that the collective globe spends billions of dollars on creams and potions and exercises and cosmetic surgical procedures to tighten up. So if Swanson supplements can save you the $1000+ you'd shell out for a single Thermage session, I'm here to tell you what I know!

As with every facet of health, there is no one big secret to wellness. Rather, health is like a giant tapestry, and every positive thing we do for ourselves is represented by one of the thousands of threads stitched together to form a work of beauty. Still, I know that key supplements have significantly contributed to the resiliency, texture and tautness of my skin. Since I've been taking them, I've seen a visible difference. I've said it before, and I'll loudly proclaim it again: dermatologist-to-the-stars, Dr. N. V. Perricone, knows his subject. Several years ago he identified DMAE, ascorbyl palmitate, alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine as 4 supplements that help keep skin firm, even reversing signs of aging once they've begun. After reading his books, I decided I'd be remiss if I didn't try them, especially since I work for a supplement company. Now that I've been taking all four of them regularly for about two years, I'm impressed with the results, to say the least. Not only has the skin on my face firmed up, but my thighs, stomach and arms have too. The Swanson System for Rejuvenated Skin was created based on Dr. Perricone's success with these four supplements, and at only $25.96 for the entire kit, I highly recommend it as a "must-have" for anyone desiring firmer, more youthful skin. Follow the directions for use as outlined in the included booklet, which differ slightly from those on the individual supplement labels.

Recently I've also added MSM powder to my daily routine--and lots of it!! I throw a heaping scoop, which is the equivalent of about 10 grams, into my morning fruit smoothie. This form of sulfur is helpful for increasing the elasticity in joints and muscles. What it does for them, it does for collagen in the skin, too. I figure that as I'm s-l-o-w-l-y losing weight, I want to give my skin every advantage so it can retain its resiliency rather than hang loosely as the pounds disappear.  David Wolfe (raw foods guru that I quote all the time because he's...well, in a word...brilliant) says experience with MSM has shown that it works best when taken in small quantities initially (1/4 to 1/2 tablespoon twice per day--this is small according to him..ha!), and then it should be built up to one, two and even three tablespoons, twice each day. It mixes well in pure water, but as stated above, I toss it in my smoothie. I still only use it once a day, though. I'm gettin' there...

Tomorrow I'll make a smoothie for Ronald, too. Not only will it help firm up his chin, but it will distract him from mine. One of these times he's going to find that pesky, stiff hair.

Run Fargo, Run!

I'm pleased to introduce a guest blogger this week. Theresa is the Public Relations Specialist for our company, and the planner/executor of Swanson Health Products'  sponsorship of the 2008 Fargo Marathon. Some runners view this event as the kick-off to the marathon season in America, sort of like the Kentucky Derby in horse racing. I think Theresa was as exhausted as one of the nearly 14,000 participants when it was all over. Before she could put this event to rest, though, we asked her to tell you all about it.---Jani

Saturday mornings are usually spent sleeping in or reading the paper and relaxing with a cup of coffee. On May 17th Swanson Health Products sponsored the Fargo Marathon Health & Fitness Expo held at the Fargodome, and it was buzzing with excitement by 6am as nearly 14,000 runners were getting ready to run a race of a lifetime. Emotions flooded the Fargodome floor as bib numbers were pinned to shirts and chips were clipped to shoe laces in preparation for the 8am start.

As the largest city in North Dakota with just over 90,000 residents, Fargo is a big city with a small town feel. When events such as the Fargo Marathon take place, the whole community comes together to support all participants. Police and city workers came together to shut down the streets of the marathon course, over 1,200 volunteers helped with registration, handing out runner's packets and assisting with traffic control and companies like Swanson Health Products supported the runners by cheering them on throughout the course and handing out water as they ran.

As the main sponsor for the Health Expo, Swanson Health Products was there to support runners and offer some products for sale and to sample. A big hit for samples was the Swanson Organic Trail Mix and Swanson Organic Raisins. Our national vendors sent samples of some multi-vitamins and joint health support products. New Chapter had a sample of Zyflamend, which was a big hit for those looking for joint support products. Another big hit was our Arnica products; Nature's Way sent samples of Boericke & Tafel's Arniflora Arnica, which helped soothe sore muscles after the runners were done with the race. We also had two brands of gender specific multi-vitamins as samples: New Chapter Every Woman and Every Man; and Country Life Maxine for Women and Max for Men.

The biggest seller available was the Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Sports Rub, which provides soothing relief for aches and pains due to backaches, arthritis, over-extertion, joint pains, stiffness and sprains.

We also set up an area where runners could share their running stories on video. View them at www.swansonvitamins.com/marathon. People of all ages and from all 50 states and almost all the Canadian provinces were represented at the Fargo Marathon. The energy was palpable as the first full-marathoner neared the finish line. Spectators and vendors alike all stopped to see him cross the finish line and cheer him on. That energy continued throughout the day as each and every one of the nearly 14,000 runners crossed that finish line. One after another you could see smiles and tears, elation and exhastion and even a cartwheel as they accomplished a goal that took some years of training.

The Fargo Marathon will bring in thousands of dollars for local charities, and Swanson Health Products was a part of this to bring together our community and to help raise money for good causes while being part of an excellent opportunity. We hope to see you next year at the Finish line!