Have you ever looked at the label on a supplement and wondered why it contains inactive ingredients?

For instance, the label on a B-complex vitamin should list all of the different B vitamins that are included in the product, such as Thiamin, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Biotin, and other added minerals.

Next to each ingredient you will find a number stating the amount of that ingredient. These are considered the “active” ingredients because they are intended to have a therapeutic effect.

Then you will see a list of inactive ingredients, sometimes listed as “other” ingredients. As a consumer, you probably want to know (and have a right to know) why these ingredients are included if they are not intended to be beneficial to your health. The answer is often simple. Most inactive ingredients are included to provide flavoring, to preserve the product, or to bind the ingredients together.

We have picked a few common inactive ingredients found in many vitamin and mineral supplements and divided them into categories depending on their function. Listed below each ingredient, you’ll find where the ingredient comes from and its uses.

Flavorings

The following ingredients are typically used to add flavor to the product or as a flavor enhancer, though they can be used for other purposes.

Carob

• Derived from the pod of the tropical carob tree (locust bean)
• Low fat alternative to cocoa powder that is used as flavoring or to color soft gels, which protects active ingredients from light

Cellulose, methyl

• A fiber derived from plant sources
• Used as product stabilizer, thickener, emulsifier or flavoring

Fructose

• Simple sugar (monosaccharide) derived from corn or isolated from refined sugar
• Used as a sweetening agent because it absorbs more slowly from the GI tract than table sugar (sucrose)

Maltodextrin

• Non-fermentable sugar obtained from cornstarch
• Flow agent; stabilizer and thickener; improves texture; nutritive sweetener

Maltol, natural

• Isolated from naturally occurring sources such as beech wood, pine needles, or chicory
• Flavor enhancer

Sorbitol

• A sugar alcohol that is half as sweet as sugar
• Sweetening agent and sugar substitute; adds moisture to products

Preservatives

Many of these ingredients are commonly used as preservatives in supplements, and some are used in foods as well.

Benzyl alcohol

• Antimicrobial preservative
• Preservative included in FDA inactive ingredient list used in foods

Glycerin

• Occurs naturally in fats and oils
• Preservative; adds moisture; sweetening agent

Potassium sorbate

• Non-sodium salt of potassium; the mineral potassium combined with sorbic acid (synthesized or naturally occurring substance from berries)
• Antimicrobial preservative widely used in foods

Sodium benzoate

• Commonly used preservative
• Antimicrobial preservative; flow agent

Binders and Flow Agents

Many inactive ingredients are used as flow agents, which help all the ingredients flow smoothly during the manufacturing process. Binders and stabilizers ensure that tablets do not break inside the bottle, and some of these ingredients are used to add moisture to the product as well.

Calcium stearate

• Mineral calcium with stearic acid, a fatty acid derived from animal or vegetable sources
• Flow agent and emulsifier

Cellulose microcrystalline

• Fiber with increased water-solubility derived from plant sources
• Tablet binder—ensures that tablets do not break apart in the bottle and, interestingly enough, also helps tablets disintegrate during digestion

Cellulose, powdered

• Fiber derived from plant sources
• Used as a stabilizer, thickener, or binder

Dicalcium phosphate

• Inert naturally occurring mineral composed of calcium and phosphate
• Tablet binder and sometimes used as a source of calcium or phosphorous

Glyceryl triacetate

• Derived from fatty acids
• Provides moisture, flavoring, and used as a flow agent; other form also used to coat and stabilize tablets to improve texture (glycerol monostearate)

Hydrogenated vegetable oil

• Mixture of fatty acids taken from vegetable oil; processed for stability
• Small amounts used as flow agent and as a tablet binder

Magnesium stearate

• Combination of the mineral magnesium and stearic acid (a fatty acid)
• Flow agent

Silicon Dioxide

• Naturally occurring form of the mineral silica (sand)
• Keeps ingredients from getting too sticky; used for flavoring, emulsifier, and adds moisture to aid in the formation of tablets

Stearic acid

• A fatty acid derived from vegetable or animal fats
• Emulsifier and flow agent

Xanthan gum

• Polysaccharide produced through fermentation of a carbohydrate, then purified
• Stabilizer and emulsifier

Next week, we’ll take a look at the differences between natural and synthetic ingredients and what that means for the consumer.

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Riding a bike is a great way to get exercise, save on gas money, and to encourage kids to get away from the television or computer screen during summer vacation. Whether you’re commuting to work or cycling for fun, being safe on the road means following the rules and making yourself visible. It is the responsibility of both drivers and cyclists to learn how to safely share the road.

As a bike rider, keep in mind that some drivers are not as aware of cyclists as you might be when driving a car. As a driver, you’ve probably seen many bikers break the rules, which makes it frustrating for everyone on the road. That’s why we’ve written this post to help both bicyclists and drivers keep the road safe for everyone this summer.

Wear a Helmet

In many states, cyclists are required by law to wear a helmet, but it’s important to wear a helmet at all times even if you are not required to wear one. Not only does it protect you from a head injury, but wearing a helmet also makes you more visible to drivers.

Make sure your helmet fits properly and that you have the right type of helmet. Helmets designed for skateboarding are not recommended for cycling. Old or damaged helmets are dangerous due to the compromised materials. Check with your local bike shop to ensure that you have a proper helmet that is sized correctly.

Use Bike Lanes

While bike lanes are not available in every town, most towns and cities have a bike lane or a wide shoulder that cyclists can use. Stay in the bike lane when possible, and stay in the right lane, unless you are making a left turn. Some places do not allow bikes on sidewalks, but if there’s a safety concern, use the sidewalk or walk your bike.

Be Alert and Aware of Surroundings

Always be alert and aware of your surroundings when riding on the road. Remember that you must follow the same rules as drivers. Don’t ride when you are tired, distracted, or under the influence of alcohol. Drivers, watch out for cyclists, and be extra cautious when passing bikers.

Use Proper Hand Signals

Know the proper hand signals and use them. This is important for drivers as well. Click here for the basic hand signals. Drivers, learn the signals and slow down when you see a cyclist making a hand signal.

Wear Bright or Reflective Clothing

Make yourself as visible as possible. Wear brightly-colored clothes, or put reflective tape on your jacket or messenger bag. You can find specially-designed neon clothing that makes you more visible at all times. Check out local bike shops or go online for deals.

Use Lights at Night or When Necessary

Part of making yourself more visible includes having a light on the front and back of your bike, especially if you are riding at night or in bad weather conditions. Some states require all cyclists to use lights at night. Flashing lights are ideal.

Keep Your Bike in Good Condition

Keeping your bike in good condition can prevent accidents. A sudden flat tire or broken chain can cause you to lose control of your bike. Make sure you get a tune-up once a year and be sure that you know how to maintain your bike, including greasing the chain and checking for worn out break pads or faulty gears. While it may seem obvious, be sure you know how to properly shift gears to avoid skipping gears and losing control.

Know the Rules and Follow Them

The most important bike safety tip is to know the rules of the road and to follow them. If you are on a bike, you are considered another vehicle on the road, so it’s important that you follow the same rules as drivers. This includes the following:

• Stop at red lights and stop signs
• Yield to cars and other cyclists when entering traffic
• Go the correct way down one-way streets
• Pay attention to all traffic signs
• Familiarize yourself with local and state traffic laws

Keep these tips in mind, and you can help keep the roads safe. Happy riding!

Last week, we got you started with four juice blends that were created to support certain aspects of your health. We continue our two-part summer juices post with four more juice recipes that include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients to get your summer off to great start.

All you need are fresh ingredients and a good juicer. If you don’t have a juicer, you may want to add one to your kitchen tools. You may be able to find quality juicers at thrift stores or yard sales at an affordable price if you take some time to look around.

Blood Sugar and Digestion

If you are looking to help maintain normal blood sugar levels, this drink is perfect for in between meals or right after a meal. Ginger and lemon is the magic combination in this drink. Lemon is known to help maintain normal blood sugar levels, and ginger can help with digestion, among other benefits, such as joint and muscle support. Ginger may also provide support for a healthy inflammatory response. * Plus, it gives the juice a nice kick.

Ingredients

• Apples – 2 medium, sweet
• Carrots – 2 medium
• Ginger – 1 piece, ½ inch
• Lemon – 1 with rind

Directions: Use a juicer to process all ingredients and serve chilled.

Relaxation Juice

This is a very simple drink recommended for people who have trouble falling asleep due to an overactive mind or having too much caffeine. The high calcium in celery may help with maintaining normal blood pressure, and raw celery is recommended for optimal benefit. The honey gives it a nice flavor and can be soothing to some people. This recipe makes approximately 8 ounces.

Ingredients

• Celery – 5 large stalks
• Honey – 1 tbsp

Directions: Use a juicer for the celery. Mix in honey and serve at room temperature.

Healthy Skin Blend with Blueberries

Blueberries make everything better, and they provide flavor and antioxidants in this blend for supporting healthy skin. Antioxidants are not the only benefit to this drink. It also contains a multitude of vitamins that can help support skin health, especially in the summer when your skin gets more exposure to the sun. The amino acids and folate in the broccoli and the lycopene in the tomatoes can also support healthy skin and hair. The high vitamin C content in the carrots also support skin health, and along with immune support.*

Ingredients

• Apple – 1 medium sour apple
• Blueberries – 1 cup
• Broccoli – 1 stalk
• Carrots – 6 large
• Tomato – 1 medium whole

Directions: Use a juicer to process all ingredients and serve chilled.

Hangover Juice

While you may love to party outside in the summer, hangovers are never fun. This drink may help you recover when you don’t feel like eating. It’s full of the necessary nutrients the body needs to stay hydrated. While you may want to leave out the jalepeno if you are feeling ill, it may give you a little burst of endorphins when you feel as if you just can’t move. Remove the seeds to reduce the spice. The ginger in the drink may also help soothe an upset stomach. *

Ingredients

• Tomato – 3 medium whole
• Celery – 2 stalks
• Lemon – 1 medium with or without rind
• Ginger – 1 piece, ½ inch
• Jalepeno – 1 (optional)
• Cucumber – ¼ of a large cucumber

Directions: Juice and mix ingredients, and feel better!

Now that summer is officially here, why not drink to your health? Many people start thinking about their health when the weather gets warmer. Increased outdoor activity typically encourages better eating habits to ensure that our body gets the nutrients it needs for energy and recovery after a hard workout. For some, getting rid of all the toxins that may have built up over the winter is an important part of feeling rejuvenated. Making your own juice is a great way to get in the vitamins and minerals you need to be active and feeling strong.

From detoxification to immune support, here are four healthy juice blends to kickstart your summer. Some juice blends can be prepared either with a juicer or a blender. The selected mixes also contain similar ingredients to provide you with more options when you purchase your raw materials.

PREPARATION NOTE: Beets will stain your hands and clothing, so be careful when peeling or chopping beets. You can purchase spirulina at most health food stores.

Detox Juice

Beets give this drink its detox powers. Beets are often used to help cleanse the blood, colon, and liver. The spinach in the drink provides iron and helps build blood cells, and the copper in the beets helps the body absorb the natural source of iron. The choline from beet juice detoxifies the liver, so this drink is good to have after drinking too much alcohol. Be sure to drink plenty of water to help eliminate the toxins from your system.

Ingredients

• Beet – 1 medium red beet
• Celery – 2 large stalks
• Spinach – 3 cups of fresh spinach
• Spirulina – 1 teaspoon, dried

Directions

This blend requires a juicer. Peel the beet, and put all ingredients into a juicer. Add ginger for a kick. Stir mix and serve chilled.

Spicy Beet Ginger Juice

This drink gets its spice from ginger and jalapeno.  Ginger is known to help with digestion, and helps relieve nausea for some people. The fiber in the spinach and the cellulose in beets can help maintain regular bowel movements. Beets and carrots have also been used in supporting heart health and maintaining normal levels of cholesterol. This drink has many other potential health benefits, but its best feature is the taste!

Ingredients

• Beet Root – 1 medium red beet
• Carrots – 3 large
• Celery – 2 large stalks
• Ginger – 1 small piece
• Lime – ½ fresh with rind
• Jalapeno – 1 pepper (seeded for less spice)
• Spinach – 2 cups, fresh

Directions

Place the ingredients in a juicer, stir and serve chilled. If you do not like hot or spicy foods, leave out the jalapeno or de-seed it. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching jalapeno seeds and avoid touching sensitive areas.

Dr. Oz’s Green Drink

This drink was designed by Dr. Oz, and it was featured on Oprah. Dr. Oz drinks it every morning, and Oprah called this drink a “glass of fresh!” Most people are interested in this drink due to the claim that it increases libido because it contains parsley, which is a blood builder and can stimulate brain activity. Other potential benefits include maintaining normal blood pressure, respiratory support, and support for normal digestion.

Ingredients

• Apples – 2 medium sweet (such as Honeycrisp)
• Celery – 3 large stalks
• Cucumber – 1 medium
• Ginger – 1 small piece (peeled for blender
• Lemon – ½ with rind (peeled for blender)
• Lime – 1 with rind (peeled for blender)
• Parsley – 1 bunch
• Spinach – 2 cup

Directions

This drink can be made in a blender, but peel the lemon, lime, and ginger first. If it isn’t sweet enough for you, add an extra apple.

Immunity Blend

If you are looking for immune support, this drink is for you. It’s simple, refreshing, and packed with potential health benefits.

• Apple – 1 medium
• Carrots – 3 medium
• Garlic – 2 cloves
• Ginger – 1 small piece
• Parsley – 1 handful

Directions

Put ingredients in a juicer and serve chilled. Use one clove of garlic for a less potent taste.

Next week, we’ll cover more juice blends to help you get your summer off to a great start. What are some of your favorite juice blends? Share your recipe with us on Facebook, and we’ll include your drink in next week’s post.

Whether you are training for a marathon or just trying to get in shape, it’s the time of year that many runners start getting serious about their training. If you want to be in the best shape possible, don’t forget the value of strength training for runners.

According to an article in Runner’s World, strength training can help reduce the risk of injury and improve overall performance. It can also help you keep off those few extra pounds: “Studies have shown that strength training can improve body composition by helping you maintain or increase your lean body mass and can decrease your percentage of body fat, helping you look leaner and burn additional calories.”

This year, add some strength training to your exercise regimen. This post covers some essential exercises to get you started. You don’t necessarily need to use weights for these exercises, but make sure you warm up before attempting any type of strength training exercise. You can try these at home or in the park after a run.

1. Split Squats

Muscles Worked: Quads, glutes, core, calves.

Stand up in a lunge position with the toes of the back foot on the bench or a step. Slowly lower your torso keeping your back straight and bending the front knee. This is not a lunge, so keep the front knee behind the toes. When the forward thigh is parallel to the ground, hold it for a few seconds and then slowly come back up without locking the front knee. Repeat 10 to 15 times on each leg. Hold a ten-pound weight in each hand to increase workload.

Alternative: You can also turn this into a single-leg squat if you don’t have anything to prop your back leg on. Simply balance on one foot and slowly squat down and bend at the knee, putting the other leg in front, with your hips back, as if there’s a chair behind you. Once in the “seated” position, come back up to the standing position. Repeat 8 to 12 times before switching. This helps increase balance and strengthens core muscles.

2. Planks

Muscles Worked: Core, shoulders, back.

Get into a push-up position, and plant both hands directly under the shoulders, making sure your body is aligned from top of your head to your heels. Lift each leg alternately about six inches off the ground, and tighten the abs with each lift. Hold for at least 30 seconds for eight counts. Try to build up how long you hold the position every time you do this exercise.

3. Push-Ups

Muscles Worked: Chest, core, biceps, triceps, back.

Plant hands shoulder-length apart, and bend elbows down until chest is a few inches from the ground, and lift back up slowly. Do 10 to 12 of these for as many sets as you can do. Rest between each set. Place knees on ground if you don’t yet have the strength to do a full push-up.

4. Lateral Lunge

Muscles Worked: Hip flexors, quads, calves, core, hamstrings, glutes.

Stand with legs together and then step a few feet out to the side with one foot. Keep the chest up and the abs tight. Be careful not to lunch forward when bending down, and keep the standing leg straight. Make sure the hips are back, keeping the abs tight and chest up. Engage glutes to power back up to standing position. Repeat 10 to 12 times on each side. Add a 10-pound weight in each hand if desired.

5. Lateral Step-Up

Muscles Worked: Quads, hamstrings, glutes, core.

Hold a 10-pound weight next to a two or three foot high box or bench or box. Step onto the box with the nearest foot while engaging the core and the glutes in that same leg. Bring the other knee to a 90-degree angle while stepping onto the block.  Hold it for a few counts and slowly lower back down using control. Do 10 to 15 reps before switching sides.

What’s your latest workout? Find us on Facebook to share your success story!

Source: Competitor.com

After I moved into an apartment building with a fitness center, I could no longer justify paying for a gym membership. But the one thing I do miss about my gym is the sauna. While I found many benefits to using the sauna after a workout, here are the top five.

1. Eliminates Toxins in the Body

Sweating helps release toxins that build up in your body. Because many of the toxins from our environment get trapped in the water molecules of your body’s cells, these pollutants are excreted through urine or sweat. The deep sweating caused by sitting in a sauna increases the elimination of toxins—which can reduce blood flow and disrupt cell energy and reproduction.

2. Soothes Sore Muscles

Many people use the sauna after a workout because it reduces the soreness of overworked muscles. When the body heats up and blood vessels dilate, it speeds up the healing process. In addition, deep sweating after a workout helps rid the body of the lactic acid that causes muscle pain. The heat from a sauna can also help soothe achy joints.

3. Improves Blood Flow

One of the best benefits of sauna use is that when your body heats up, your heart rate increases, which increases blood circulation. This has some of the same overall effects as exercise. Increased blood flow can also help to reduce high blood pressure and encourage the healing of bruises, cuts, and muscle injuries. It also burns extra calories and reduces excess water retention.

4. Reduces Stress and Illness

In addition to lowering blood pressure, another sauna benefit worth mentioning involves stress reduction. First, the heat helps produce endorphins, which can give you a general sense of mental well-being. The release of endorphins may also help you get better sleep and feel more rested during the day. Plus, many people simply feel more relaxed after sitting in the sauna even for just 5 minutes.

Stress can also shut down your immune system, so when you do what you can to reduce stress levels, you are maintaining a healthy immune system. The heat from the sauna also increases the production of white blood cells, which work to fight off illness. If you have chronic allergies or sinus problems, the sauna can help relieve symptoms, such as congestion or sinus headaches.

5. Improves Skin and Immune System

Sweating can help improve the skin by cleansing the pores and replacing dead skin cells, which can give your skin a softer look and feel. It can also help wash away bacteria from the epidermal layer. Some studies have shown that the nutrients and minerals in sweat may even help maintain the collagen in the skin, which can help prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging.

While there are many benefits of sauna use, you can do more harm than good if you aren’t careful. Most saunas maintain a temperature of anywhere from 160 to 180 degrees. If you are pregnant or have health issues, it’s important to speak with your doctor before using the sauna.

Most experts recommend that you do not stay in the sauna for more than 20 minutes at a time. In addition to limiting your time, avoid eating or drinking alcohol before or after using the sauna. Be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and to help with detoxification.

What benefits do you get from the sauna? Share your experience and add to the conversation on our Facebook page!

Resistance bands can give you a whole new type of workout. They’re perfect if you want to shake things up at the gym or if you have a small budget, small space, and small amount of time. For women, they can provide strength training while creating tone, instead of bulk.

Things to Keep in Mind

Resistance training isn’t quite the same as weight training. Instead of feeling that one portion of the full movement is easier (due to gravity), you’ll feel like the band holds tension throughout the movement.

Think about how you would complete the movement with dumbbells or a machine. Then try to use similar form, but keep in mind that the difference lies in where the band is placed. For example, when you do bicep curls, you can do them the same way you would with weights, but you’ll have to create the tension by standing on the middle of the band.

You can always change your position or the band’s position to change the way the exercise works your muscles or the difficulty level.

4 Best Resistance Band Exercises

The Tricep Blaster

While standing and holding the band by its ends, one in each hand, stretch it across the front of your chest. Bend one elbow so that your fist hits just in front of your chest, then reverse the motion, all the while focusing on your tricep and keeping the motion in your elbow, instead of your full arm. Do 15-20 reps. Repeat with the other arm.

The Butt/Bicep Combo

Standing and holding one handle in each hand, step on the middle of the resistance band with one foot. Lift the other foot up and back, engaging your glutes. You’ll need to engage your core, as well, for balance. With your palms facing toward each other and your arms at your sides, pull up on the band, bending your elbow to curl the handles as if they are dumbbells. Repeat for ten; then switch feet and repeat for ten.

Half Boat + Wings

Sit with your feet together on a mat. Wrap your band around your thighs, over your quads and under your hamstrings so it forms an X. Lift your feet and lean back to balance on your butt. Engage your abs and press outward against the band with your legs, then bring them back to center. Do three sets of 12 reps.

Standing Chest Fly

Stand with your back to a pole or other surface around which you can easily wrap a band at waist level. Hold the resistance band with your palms facing forward, one end in each hand. (Bands with handles work well.) Lift your arms to form a T with your body, and use your chest to bring the handles together in front of you so that your palms face inward and nearly meet each other in the middle of your chest. Reverse the motion. Complete 3 sets of 15 reps.

Most importantly, have fun! Have you tried any of these resistance band exercises? Tell us about it on our Facebook page!

All right folks, we’re back again with another awesome smoothie recipe that supports energy and muscle recovery to keep you at your brightest.*

Healthy shakes are a dime a dozen. But delicious healthy shakes? Those are hard to come by.

This one is incredibly simple. It includes just five ingredients and a power punch for your morning or after a good workout. In the spring, it’s a great choice for its green content and for added energy support.* DMG is included to support recovery and oxygen utilization, as well as to support antioxidant power!*

What you’ll need:

• 1 heaping or 2 tiny tablespoons of natural peanut butter
• ½ cup milk
• 2 (washed) small handfuls of spinach or baby spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 milliliter liquid DMG (about 20 drops)

What you’ll need to do:

Grab a blender. Add milk, DMG, banana, spinach and peanut butter, in that order.

Blend. I use the liquefy setting.

It will be greener than green and might look a little funky, but it won’t taste that way. Peanut butter and banana take over the scene! It’s also very easy to drink, so you can gulp it right down.

Pour into a glass and enjoy!

This week, hemp seed oil kept coming up in our health conversations. As it seems to be a staple of many nutrition and beauty companies’ offerings, and our customers are interested, we decided to look into it a little further. So, what are the benefits of hemp oil?

Some advocates call hemp seed oil “Nature’s Perfect Food.” Derived from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant, it does not contain the psychoactive compound THC.

Instead it contains perfectly balanced concentrations of omega 6 and 3 fatty acids.  The ideal ratio is about 3:1 for humans, recommended by the World Health Organization for best utilization by the body. Hemp seed oil features 80% essential fatty acids. That’s the highest of any plant! It also contains omega 9 to support wellness from all angles.*

Known for supporting cardiovascular health, normal LDL and HDL cholesterol, joint health and comfort and neurological function, essential fatty acids aren’t produced in the body, so they must be obtained from the diet.* For the development of the nervous system, EFAs are vital. They’re also widely renowned for supporting skin, hair and nail health and hydration.*

In popular supplementation, fish oil provides omega fatty acids in high concentrations—but these oils aren’t vegetarian. Hemp seed oil is a perfect alternative, especially because of the nature of its balance.*

Additional Benefits of Hemp Oil

One of hemp seed oil’s coolest uses is as a natural sunblock. It has properties that allow it to deflect some UV rays without interference with the sun nutrient, vitamin D. As an added benefit, it also contains vitamin E, fatty acids and chlorophyll, so in using hemp seed oil on your skin, you’d be smearing supportive antioxidants on your sun-drenched self—necessary when you’re hanging out at the swimming hole or in the backyard.

Another crazy thing about hemp seed? Hemp can be used as a protein powder, too, and it’s a complete protein, meaning you’ll get the amino acid support you’re looking for.*

What do you think about hemp seed oil? Have you used it or any other oils for supplementation? What was your experience? Tell us about it on our Facebook page!

At the end of winter, my skin isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the healthy glow of summers past. Gone is the moisture of humid June air. And sticking with me, of course, is the dry, flaky feeling of five months of freezing. And I’m sick of it.

Wouldn’t it be great if I didn’t have to go through these cycles? Wouldn’t it be lovely to have something—anything—to support normal skin health and hydration all year long? Because FoodScience skin care supplements are designed to do just that, I decided that this year I would assist myself with normal upkeep from the beginning, so the end wouldn’t be so…rough.

It seems like everyone is looking for a good skin care supplement these days. Skin is the largest organ in your body—and its comfort is paramount. When it’s uncomfortable, you’re uncomfortable. On top of that, it’s the organ you constantly display to the world. It says: Hey, this is me. And if it’s healthy, it says: Hey, this is me, and I feel good.

But how do you support its health? Surely, the lotions and oils of today’s drug store chains aren’t ideal; you don’t need unmarked hazards like mercury plaguing your conscience or your epidermis. Plus, we believe healthy begins within—just think about what a healthy diet does for your skin! (But we do love Skin A.D.E., which lets antioxidants work topically to support cellular health.*)

For all these reasons, we’ve developed formulas that support skin health from the inside, out, so you never lose your sparkle or have to worry about roughing it through the winter…again.* Perhaps the most popular skin health ingredients are omega fatty acids, which support hydration and cellular integrity, as well as your body’s normal ability to heal, giving your skin a trifecta of support.*

While omega fatty acids are known for their relationship to a healthy inflammatory response in the body, other skin care supplements are known for antioxidant support, like grape seed extract and Aller-DMG.* Both of these contain specific antioxidants geared toward supporting a healthy histamine response, thereby supporting comfort and appearance.*

Pycnogenol®-50 is another option for skin support, and that’s for a variety of reasons.* First, it acts as an antioxidant, supporting immune system health.* Second, it supports a normal histamine release.* And third, it supports capillary strength and circulation.* Weak capillaries can contribute to bruising, elastin and collagen dysfunction, excess fluid in tissues and circulatory insufficiencies. When all of these things remain normal, though, skin feels the benefit.

FoodScience has supported skin health from the very beginning, with DMG—an antioxidant and immune system support supplement. But now we’ve expanded our line, and with that came a plethora of options to support comfort, beauty and overall wellness: combination formulas like Superior Purples and Beauty and Brains, single nutrients like grape seed extract, and the ever-popular omegas.*

We know everybody’s tried oatmeal and honey masks, egg solutions and drug store shelves, but not everyone has tried supporting skin health with vitamins and supplements. Are you ready to give it a shot? Tell us how you fare on our Facebook page!