Swanson Vitamins Blog

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!

A Supplement that Turns the Hose on Sunburn

Think of an expression or a sentence with the word "burned" in it. The cook burned my hamburger. Once burned, twice shy. I'm burned out. With only a few exceptions, the word "burn" and all its tenses are usually descriptive of a bad experience or have a negative connotation. Did the expression you thought of bear this out? ( I know a few dissenters out there either thought about passionate love or CDs, and I'm sincerely in awe of your optimism.) True to the nature of the word, when it comes to the external aging of the body, experts say there is nothing worse for the skin than the kind of uncontrolled burn we get from too much time in the sun. As you already know from a previous post (May 14), I can attest to this from early childhood. I sustained several sunburns on my nose that were so severe, they would be classified as third-degree burns by emergency room standards. A thick, lumpy—and very unattractive—crust formed on top of my entire nose, inspiring my dad to nickname me W.C. Fields until the scab fell off. Even to this day, my nose has the characteristic shiny, smooth and red appearance of skin that's recently had a chemical peel, and the tiny thread veins along the side of it are a dead giveaway of previous sun damage.

Yes, sunburns should be avoided at all costs, and we've got a little somethin' to help you accomplish this goal. About a week ago, our graphic designer, Tracey, found an article on the msnbc website that was so enthralling and new that I couldn't resist writing about this "hot" topic yet again. It discussed a product called HelioCare, which is a pill that prevents sunburn—even if you're barely covered and all stretched out on the white sand beaches of someplace tropical like Barbados. As I read the article, my instinctive reaction was naturally skeptical. "Could such a thing really exist?" I read on, however, and halfway down the page, the critic in me melted while my spirit of ambition soared. "How could we get it here at Swanson?" I'm afraid I couldn't steer my thoughts away from the selfish, though. "Because I want it—I need it!" But I redeemed myself by thinking of you, too. "And so does every other fair-skinned person out there who is at all concerned about the health of his or her skin."

I excitedly emailed Laura, the head of our new product development team, to solicit her opinion about this product. To my surprise, she informed me that we already carry a similar supplement, which essentially does the same thing. It's called GliSODin, and we offer it in the Swanson Ultra line. I'm familiar with this SOD supplement, or so I thought. I know the liver naturally produces SOD (SuperOxide Dismutase) as the body's own internal antioxidant defense system. I'm also a believer that it's one of the most powerful antioxidant supplements—when it's in a form like that of GliSODin. This patented product isn't immediately destroyed by stomach acid like many other SOD formulas, but it is delivered intact to the cells of the body. I had no idea it could prevent sunburn, though! Laura handed me an armful of literature to sift through, and sure enough—there was evidence-a-plenty (including trials with real live human beings!) to support this application for it. A burn is the reaction of our skin to oxidative stress, but if the stressor (UV rays from the sun) encounters an antioxidant as potent and efficient as GliSODin, the reaction doesn't occur. One study found that fair-skinned individuals required eight times greater UV exposure to produce a burn than those in the placebo group. That's impressive indeed—especially if you're headed for the outdoors! The daily dose in most of the trials was 500 mg. You can learn more about the amazing benefits of GliSODin at the manufacturer's website.

The going rate for HelioCare is $54 to $59 for 60 capsules. Swanson offers GliSODin on sale right now at $17.99 for 60 capsules. (I didn't even plan this.) The regular everyday low price is only $29.99, which is still almost half that of HelioCare, but at 40% off and a savings of $12, now is the time to get it. Believe me, you won't get burned on this deal!    

Probiotics Hit Below the Belt

WARNING: This post contains material that may be offensive to anyone with a weak or sensitive constitution.

If the description above fits you, likely you need the information more than readers with cast iron stomachs, though. I'll just say it flat out. The subject is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is a broad topic, but I'm talking about a specific facet of it known as sudden onset diarrhea. There. If you're gagging—go. On the other hand, if you've ever needed help with this concern, you may be surprised and greatly relieved to know that one simple supplement can work wonders for helping you reclaim your social life. In my original draft I attempted to lessen the revulsion factor by simply referring to diarrhea as "the big D." When it came time for editing, however, I realized that it sounded corny, even childish, so I changed it. I suppose if we can handle discussions about war, we can talk about diarrhea, right?

Inconvenient as it may be, diarrhea serves a useful function—besides being an impervious excuse to stay home if you're not up for your spouse's company picnic. The body has many tricks to rid itself of any kind of foreign material that threatens to compromise health, like sneezing, coughing, sweating, fevers, vomiting and yes—diarrhea. I'm aware of this fact every time I do a system cleanse and then eat something overly processed a day or so later. The reaction is almost instantaneous. No wonder it's called "Irritable" Bowel Syndrome. That's exactly how it feels. Like your intestines are so infuriated with you because you've exposed them to toxins again, that they're going to take action—right now! They don't care where you are or what you're doing, either. That may not be the debilitating part about diarrhea, but it's definitely disconcerting. Although I haven't set one foot near Mexico, I came down with a bout of Montezuma's Revenge about a week ago. I didn't have the flu, I wasn't cleansing, I hadn't consumed anything unusual (but I hadn't eaten my salmon salad for a few days, either), and I wasn't under inordinate amounts of stress. Quite honestly, I don't know why I got it. I just think my system became unbalanced for some unknown reason. But the effects were undeniable, and for six days my afternoon ritual consisted of several trips to the bathroom right after lunch. I tried to look at the positive side by pondering all the weight I must be losing. But by last Friday, I'd had it. I also couldn't remember exactly when I last took a probiotics supplement, so I determined it was time to start one up again.

It was the best decision I've made in a long time, and I didn't expect it to work so well or so fast! I still had trouble Saturday, but fortunately, I was home when the "the big D" hit. (Ok; I left in one reference to it.) Sunday I was not so fortunate. I had just left the Moorhead Drugstore at Center Mall when the rumblings of Mount Vesuvious began to rear up and disrupt my peaceful day. Not again! I began to panic, which didn't help the situation. By the time I got out of the parking lot, I was breathing heavily, all the while gripping the steering wheel and driving like a maniac toward the McDonald's on 8th Street, which was the closest bathroom I could think of. Whew! Just in time! The only thing that could have made this ordeal any worse is if I'd been stopped for speeding. By Monday, however, I was completely fine again. I think it took about three days to repopulate my intestines with the kind of friendly bacteria that eclipse the more unruly ones. It's no surprise that probiotics now joins my list of "never miss" supplements. (In fact, I'm pausing for a moment of silence to take it right now.)

Currently, I like Enzymatic Therapy's Acidophilus Pearls Express, which are delivered in a Pixy Stix. The little kid in me is drawn to this idea. Remember the straw-like paper containers of  youth? You bite off the end and pour the fruit-flavored sugary powder into the mouth. I love Enzymatic Therapy, too! They do things right, like using stevia as a sweetening agent in their formula. No doubt, you've seen the ads for Activia on TV. This new yogurt from Dannon is actually a pretty good food, but I don't like the fact that it contains sugar, fructose corn syrup, sucralose or a combination of all three, depending on the form and flavor. The bad bacteria in our intestines feed on sugar, so it seems counterproductive to solving the problem. Swanson has formulated several good probiotic supplements, too, which I would definitely consider if I wanted it in the form of a capsule.

Well, it's over. That wasn't so horribly disgusting, was it? I suspect that some day you'll appreciate knowing this information, too. Hopefully, umm...it won't be too late. Eeewww!

The Low Price of Oil

Low price of oil! Huh? Yep; oil from the Middle East. Some of the finest and most precious oil in the world originates from the region. I'm not referring to petroleum, though, but rather an oil dating back to antiquity that was a staple in every home for thousands of years before our modern era. It was used for cooking, for lamp oil, for medicine, and for moisturizer. It was even used to anoint kings! What else could it be, but olive oil? Based on my recent experience with it, I bet those Bible women like Rachel and Leah had skin that would leave even Dr. Perricone awe-struck. I remember reading that it was Sophia Loren's best-kept beauty secret. She used it to remove make-up, as a hair conditioner, and to give her skin a healthy-looking sheen that enhanced her famous hourglass figure. (Bodybuilders aren't the only ones who know that trick.) Olive oil works wonders on the inside of the body, too. As a monounsaturated fat it helps keep cholesterol in the healthy range, transporting LDL out of the body, while simultaneously raising levels of HDL. It also contains Omega-9 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation, offering more comfort, greater freedom of movement, and a younger-looking appearance to grateful consumers of them. Yes, I'm a bonafide fan of this amazing liquid, and the best kind is an extra virgin olive oil that is the color of a beautiful pale green peridot.

What I'm particularly excited about is the pairing of olive oil with salmon oil, resulting in a combination I call Omega-12. (Omega-9 from olives + Omega-3 from salmon = Omega-12, get it?) I like the number 12 because it seems complete. Like a dozen roses or the number of months in a calendar year. As a writer focused on health, I bet I've read nearly everything there is to know about salmon, and I realize it's likely the most perfect food out there--next to chlorella and other algae, which the salmon eat to make them so healthy in the first place. But up until now, nothing could make me like the taste of this fish. Not even a five-star recipe for maple-glazed grilled salmon. It tastes too fishy to me. I mean it is fish, afterall, so what do I expect? (Chocolate ice-cream, that's what.) Instead, I've opted for salmon oil softgels, which I'm sure I'll continue to take until I can no longer swallow, and then I'll have to start a line into my arm to receive the numerous benefits. Still, I agree with health experts who claim the body derives more from a whole food than an isolated fraction of it. In the case of salmon, you not only get the Omega-3 fatty acids from the whole fish, but you also obtain hard-to-get DMAE, which is a super nutrient for the brain and skin. Recently I discovered a recipe for pasta salad, and it's made me change my mind about salmon. In fact, this salad has been my lunch for about ten days straight. Believe everything you read about salmon! I swear that when I eat it, the world seems to be in perpetual springtime, constantly blooming and coming to life. There's something very magical about olive oil and salmon, particularly when they're combined as they are in this dish. If you're feeling achy and tired, or you need to brighten your mood fast, I urge you to give it a try. I think the Italian herbs, mustard, Parmesan cheese and kalamata olives take the "fishiness" out of the salmon, and I can honestly say I enjoy the taste of it--even look forward to it. Not only is it chock full of Omega-3 and Omega-9 fatty acids, it also contains plenty of lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene, plus the good fat in the salad helps the body better absorb these precious carotenoid antioxidants. Here's the recipe:

1 pound of penne pasta (try whole-wheat for extra fiber), cooked 10 minutes and drained

1 14-ounce can of Alaskan red sockeye salmon, drained

2 tablespoons of prepared stone ground mustard

1 cup of oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes, drained and julienned

1 sweet red pepper, water-packed, drained and diced

1 cup of pitted kalamata olives, halved

5 ounces of grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon of sea salt

1 tablespoon of dried Italian seasoning herbs

6 ounces of washed fresh spinach leaves, torn into small pieces (about 5 cups)

1 cup of olive oil dressing (below)

Dressing:

3/4 cup of olive oil—I use Swanson Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, of course!

1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar

1 packet of Good Seasons Zesty Italian salad dressing mix

1 tablespoon of water

In a very large bowl (or the pot used to boil the pasta), combine the salmon and the mustard. Fold in the pasta, tomatoes, red peppers, olives, cheese, sea salt, Italian seasoning and spinach. Combine well. Mix the four ingredients of the dressing, pour over the salad and combine. Chill for several hours.

This recipe actually makes about 8 servings, but I divide it into 5 larger ones (as I do with most food!), placing each serving in a plastic storage container so I can bring one to work each day of the week. I nibble on it throughout the entire afternoon so I'm not tempted to grab something less nutritional like Cheetos or M&Ms, and 've been leaving work each day with more energy than I've had in a long time. We really are what we eat!

So why the headline "The Low Price of Oil?" Because I can't think of a single thing that delivers such outstanding and noticeable health benefits for so little cost as the combination of olive and salmon oils. Don't take my word for it, though. You gotta try this for yourself!

Cease Fire for Healthier Habits

It's Memorial Day, and the two men I love most are war veterans. My dad was a Seabee in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and my husband was with the 101st Airborne Division during the war in Viet Nam. I once saw a T-shirt that read "Making War for Peace is like Making Love for Virginity." Something inside all of us knows that mankind's wars can never bring about peace, but we can't seem to help ourselves—or so it seems. Take a scary stroll through the centuries of world history for a reality check. No matter what form of government ruled the day—from dictatorships to democracies, war was consistently a part of the political agenda. Yet never once did any of these governments achieve lasting peace. Never. I find it quite ironic that even when the United Nations declared 1986 as the International Year of Peace, and representatives of every tribe, tongue and nation from around the globe assembled together in Assisi, Italy to pray to their various gods for blessings, the fighting in the world didn't stop for a single day! Not even for one hour! Isn't it way past time to seek out a means other than war to achieve peace?

I bring up this topic not only because it's Memorial Day, but because I've been thinking that, while we maybe can't change the way the world operates, we can change how we govern ourselves, specifically in the matter of health and wellness. My personal fallacy is sugar. In the same way that many people believe war is necessary to secure peace, I talk myself into the idea that I need sugar to feel good. As much as I want to believe it to be true, though, sugar depresses the immune system, destroys collagen and other protein tissues, and advances aging in the body. The pleasure it brings is momentary at best. Yet, even armed with this knowledge, I still find myself impulsively stockpiling chocolate ammo at my desk with all the faith and hope in the world that this is precisely what I need to be happy. I choose to believe the lie. And I'm not alone in this regard.

Recently I read a really interesting article outlining the seven most effective ways to keep the immune system strong. It was on a competitor's website; oh, I'll just say it—it was on Dr. Mercola's website. I don't really think of him as competition. I have too much to learn from him to be his enemy. Besides, we're all together in the fight for health, and he really has helped me undo a lot of erroneous thinking. Anyway, the seven ways are:

1. Eliminate sugar (yep, there it is!)
2. Exercise (anyone in the mood to start a new war?)
3. Eat garlic on a regular basis
4. Get adequate sleep
5. Control stress
6. Take a krill oil supplement
7. Wash hands often

This morning I asked my husband which of these seven habits would be the hardest for him to do on a regular basis. Without even hesitating, he chose "eliminate sugar," while feasting on a blueberry filled doughnut. As far as the rest of the list is concerned, we both already take krill oil (#6), and we like fresh pressed garlic in salads and pasta, too (#3). I hate the feeling of dirty hands, so I always carry individually wrapped towelettes scented with organic essential oils in my purse (that covers #7). Sleep and stress management take effort, but they're both so pleasant and rewarding that it's well worth the time and attention (#4 and #5). And then there's exercise. I won't even say a word because, if you've read just about any other post in this blog, you already know what I'm thinking. Loving sugar and hating exercise are two notions that I must work very hard to root out of my thinking. If I can actually accomplish such an undertaking, peace can't be far behind. 

Perspective on Pain

Pain is a funny thing. Not funny as in ha-ha, laugh-out-loud funny, but funny as in peculiar. Sometimes hard to identify. Indescribable. I was aghast when I took my 86 year-old dad to the clinic for his annual check-up, and the doctor asked him to rate his quality of life on a scale from 1 to 5, five being the best. My dad replied in a hearty, good-natured voice, "well, I'd say at least a four and a half." What?! This is a man who can barely stand up without a walker, who is diabetic, has high blood pressure, high cholesterol and bladder problems, and he's taking Zoloft for anxiety. He has hand tremors, although he hasn't actually been diagnosed with Parkinson's, and likely he is in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease, too. A four and a half?! While I admired my dad's positive attitude, I couldn't imagine that he really felt that way. I'm not a four and a half!  Lately I'm beginning to understand his answer, though. When you live with pain and illness on a daily basis, you sometimes don't remember what life used to be like. You lose your original point of reference.

I discovered this truth last week. If you've been reading the Swanson blog, you know that a few posts back I described opening 500 capsules (at least) of magnesium and potassium because I needed the minerals in loose powder form to experiment with a mineral wrap. It was no big deal at the time. And that's another funny thing about pain. It's all innocent at the moment of injury, but it sneaks up and bites you a few days later. For weeks after the above incident I've been bemoaning a sharp pain in my right wrist that I thought might be carpal tunnel syndrome. My chiropractor says that it's more likely a soft tissue injury, which can take a long time to heal. But the persistent pain gnawed away at me every minute of every day, and it was really bothering me. I read on Dr. Mercola's website that he uses cetyl myristoleate (CMO) when his own wrist flares up from too much time on the computer, and I knew we sold that supplement as trademarked Celadrin in both a topical cream and in softgels. What did I have to lose but a few bucks? I ordered both of them last Wednesday on employee order day. As soon as Marlys delivered it, I cracked the seal on the Celadrin cream and slathered some of the peppermint-scented balm on my wrist. Then I waited. About twenty minutes later, everybody within ear shot heard me exclaim, "You guys! This is too weird, but my wrist doesn't hurt! Could this stuff really work?" It's not that I don't have faith in our supplements; I know they're good, and I use a lot of them. I just didn't expect Celadrin to act so fast. Its fresh smell made me wonder if I should toss out my Aveda Rosemary Mint Body Lotion, and replace it with the Celadrin cream instead. My grandma used to do that with Vicks Vapor Rub (gag).

What happened next is the real heart of my post, though. If the cream was so effective, what would the Celadrin softgels do? I began taking them last Thursday, and by the weekend I actually felt like I wanted to do something physically active—maybe even exercise! (No kidding.) Friday night I clamped on my iPod and got on the elliptical, pedalling through Jimi Hendrix and Creedence Clearwater and the Doors without really thinking much about it. I did the same thing Saturday and Sunday nights, too. Plus I was outside enjoying the warmer weather during the daytime. Suddenly it hit me. For all my protesting about how much I hate exercise and not understanding why, there's been a valid reason for those feelings all along. I've hated it because I've been in pain—a low-grade but chronic type of pain—for an unknown period of time, and I wasn't even aware of it. Maybe it started six years ago when I was involved in a serious car accident. I don't know. Like my dad, if you had asked me if I was actually experiencing pain, though, I would have said, no. The Celadrin softgels have obviously settled down some sort of persistent inflammation, and now I realize that all this time I could have felt better. I'm not saying it can cure every ache and pain, but I'm not saying it can't, either. I'm not sure what it can do. You may want to read for yourself how Celadrin works on the outer membrane of the cell. What I do know is that I'm ecstatic to solve the why-I-hate-exercise mystery, which really is no mystery after all. And here I thought I was going to require therapy! So the next time someone asks what's our best supplement for weight loss, you already know my answer. Before you can look good, you have to do everything possible to feel good first.

Make Your Next Habit a Good One

Why is it so hard to do the right thing when it comes to one's health? With all the knowledge out there about eating right, exercising and leading a clean lifestyle ("clean," as in toss the cigarettes, cork the bottle after one drink, wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them, etc.), America is finding it harder than ever to listen. I'm one of them. I can empathize with anyone who's nodding his or her head right now because I struggle with at least a few bad habits. Perhaps the grand daddy of them all is just plain laziness.

Recently I started thinking about how a few of the supplements I've been taking don't seem to be working for me any longer. I use all four supplements in the Swanson System for Rejuvenated Skin (I call it "the Perricone kit"), plus gotu kola and grape seed extract to further boost up the collagen synthesizing potential of my body. As I pondered this situation, my initial feeling was one of utter disappointment. I didn't ever want to set foot on that slippery slope called Botox onto which so many people have fearlessly ventured, for I know with my all-or-nothing personality, it wouldn't be long before I'd be carved, sliced and stitched from head to toe. So far I thought it was a moot point, anyway. These six supplements seemed to be doing the trick, and it was disillusioning to think they were failing me now. Then it hit me like a thunderbolt. When was the last time I even took them? I realized that for all my faith in them, I was the problem. I was completely out of the habit of taking my trusted supplements on a regular basis, and had fallen into a bad pattern of taking them only when it dawned on me. How could I expect to stave off aging with a haphazard approach like this one? I have to admit, I dislike swallowing pills. It's really illogical, too, because it isn't even hard—not like exercise is hard (more about that in a second). So I had a much needed talk with myself and considered that perhaps the problem was the inconvenience of pulling out a supplement planner from my purse every time I ate. Originally I thought it was a good idea, but it had become a burden. Plus, I especially didn't like the skeptical questions flung at me from mealtime companions about why I take so many supplements. So for the past month now, I load up my Swanson Weekly Supplement Planner every Sunday night, dividing the pills into three rounds—those that I take first thing upon rising for the day, those that I take with breakfast, and those that I take with my evening meal. The supplement planner doesn't leave the house, so nobody has to know, and if I'm going out for dinner that night, I eat a few spoonfuls of cottage cheese and take my supplements with them beforehand (keeps me from overeating at dinner, too). The good news is I've quit browsing plastic surgery websites because I've already noticed a difference in my skin. They say it takes 21 days of regularly doing something to make it a habit, and I think I'm well on my way. One habit down, way too many more to go...

Which brings me to exercise. This one's a tougher nut to crack. When I was much younger, the way to get me to do something unpleasant was to tell me one of my favorite celebrities did it. As a kid I hated brushing my teeth, but that abruptly changed when I found out that ooh-la-la Angie Dickinson (who in the 70s would go on to play Pepper in Police Woman) brushed her teeth with Colgate toothpaste. I was hooked. Brushing my teeth with Colgate made a deep groove in my brain and gifted me with some very strong teeth, too. To this day I cannot fall asleep without brushing my teeth. Celebrities have lost their influence over me, though. I've read the workout routines of an entire galaxy of stars, and they don't inspire me to do even a single lunge. Still, I haven't given up. I'm counting on the power of the pod, as in iPod, to help me get on my elliptical every day. I haven't passed the magical three week mark, yet, but I'm almost there. If I make it (c'mon where's my positive attitude—when I make it), I'll let you know. I'd better load up a few more tunes on my Shuffle.