http://blog.herbspecialists.com Holistic Health Journal http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 2008 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:48:08 -0700 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:48:12 -0700 iBlog 2.0 RC3 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C1270026469/E20081010114153/index.html Since the discovery that cocoa benefits are not just limited to pleasing the taste buds, cocoa has continued to gather support for its healthful properties. Cocoa, the primary component of chocolate, is a rich source of epicatechin, a flavonol believed to be responsible for the health benefits of chocolate. Teas (green and black) and red wine are also noted for their epicatechin content, but cocoa has a higher concentration. <br><br><br>A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that consuming cocoa flavonols improved vascular function in persons with type II diabetes. Loss of vascular function is one of the primary markers for the development of cardiovascular disease. This is especially true in diabetic individuals. <br> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:41:53 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C1270026469/E20081010114153/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C1839783826/E20081010101730/index.html <br>The new Ultimate GreenZone formula has been nutritionally enhanced by the addition of chia, quinoa and flax seed lignans. <br><br>Chia (Salvia hispanica), is an ancient seed that was a staple in the ancient Aztec diet. The name chia is derived from the Aztec word chian; meaning oily. The chia seed is considered to be a good source of unsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, dietary fiber and folic acid. Chia seed is also a natural source of protein; its protein content is approximately 23%. Chia also has antioxidant activity. Antioxidant compounds found in chia seeds include quercetin, kaempferol, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acids. Animal studies show that chia may promote cholesterol levels already within the normal range. A recent human study suggested that chia may support heart health. Chia seeds are gluten-free. <br> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:17:30 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C1839783826/E20081010101730/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928162030/index.html <br>International Aloe Science Council Certifies Quality and Purity If you want some of the best aloe vera products in the world, look no further than Nature's Sunshine. <br><br>But don't take our word for it. Just ask the International Aloe Science Council. <br><br>Following a recent inspection of NSP's raw and finished aloe products, the IASC awarded those products the council's seal of approval, certifying the finest quality and purity. <br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:20:30 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928162030/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928160458/index.html <br>We used High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to measure the amount of melatonin in randomly selected samples of popular brands of melatonin products. We then compared the actual amount of melatonin found in each sample to the amount listed on the corresponding product labels. As you can see, most of the products tested fell short of their label claims, some substantially. One sample exceeded its label claim by 57 percent, which may be more melatonin than some customers want. Trust Nature's Sunshine to provide you with products that have exactly what the labels indicate. <br><br><br><br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:04:58 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928160458/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928110252/index.html <br><br><br>We tested an NSP product against three random samples of popular, over-the-counter antacid products to see how much acid each would neutralize. Since high levels of stomach acid can lead to many forms of discomfort (heartburn, indigestion, etc.), the product that neutralizes the most acid in a given time period should provide superior relief. Using pre-established scientific testing methods, we placed a sample equivalent to one tablet of each product into separate beakers containing 70 ml of water plus 30 ml of hydrochloric acid (the same acid found in the stomach) and stirred for 15 minutes. Then we measured the amount of acid remaining in each beaker. Deducting this from the original 30 ml of acid, we calculated how much acid was neutralized. <br><br><br><br><br><br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:02:52 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928110252/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928103745/index.html <br>We tested NSP Kava Kava against three popular brands, measuring the amount of kavalactones (the key active component) per capsule. Our test showed that NSP Kava Kava had the highest number of kavalactones per capsule.<br><br> <br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:37:45 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928103745/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928095857/index.html In a swell (absorption) test, equal amounts of NSP Psyllium Hulls and two other brands of psyllium (single) products were placed in containers with 100 ml of water. NSP Psyllium Hulls absorbed significantly more water than the other two products. In fact, you would need to take almost twice as much of these competing products to equal the absorbing, bulking action of NSP Psyllium Hulls. <br><br><br><br><br><br><br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:58:57 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928095857/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928085711/index.html <br><br><br>We tested three popular brands of cascara sagrada products against NSP Cascara Sagrada, measuring total hydroxyanthracene derivatives (THAD) and cascarosides (CAS), two active components in the plant. Of the samples we tested, NSP Cascara Sagrada had the highest amount of both components. <br><br><br><br><br><br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:57:11 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928085711/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928083336/index.html <br>Garlic provides tremendous benefits to the body, especially in promoting immune response and supporting optimal circulation. One of its key compounds, allicin, appears to be a potent agent. Numerous studies show garlic supplementation supports healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels. <br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:33:36 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928083336/index.html http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928071408/index.html <br><br><br>Nature's Sunshine is committed to providing products of uncompromising quality. To ensure this, we frequently use highly sophisticated methods to test NSP products against top-selling, competitive products. <br><br><br> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:14:08 -0700 http://blog.herbspecialists.com/C2118357105/E20080928071408/index.html