Monthly Archives: September 2017

e-cloth® – Featured brand

eClothSusan Brown Health and Wellness EditorLooking for an economic and environmentally friendly way to clean your home? Professional Supplement Center now carries e-cloth®, a line of microfiber cleaning cloths that pick-up dust, grease, grime, and bacteria without the use of chemical-based cleaning products. Scientifically shown to remove 99% of bacteria from hard surfaces; the fiber size, composition, and density of e-cloth® results in true chemical-free cleaning using only water.

Each e-cloth® was developed for optimum performance and a specific purpose. As a green cleaning solution, e-cloth® thoroughly cleans stainless steel surfaces, microwaves, and large and small appliances. e-cloth® quickly cleans kitchen and bath, as well as windows, glass and mirrors for a lint-free, smudge-free, and fingerprint-free result.

After use, simply rinse the cloth under hot water and wash all the impurities down the drain. Guaranteed for 300 weekly washes, these advanced polyester and nylon microfiber cloths don’t absorb, but naturally draw dirt and grime into the fibers, trapping and locking away impurities until the cloth is rinsed or washed.

To see more products from e-cloth®, please visit professionalsupplementcenter.com

General Purpose...General Purpose Cloths (4 pack): The most versatile e-cloth®, the General Purpose cloth cleans all types of hard surfaces including stainless, enamel, ceramic, glass, chrome, granite, marble, slate, tile and wood. General Purpose e-cloths clean with water, leave no chemical residue, and may be used without water as an effective dusting cloth.

Stainless Steel...Stainless Steel Cleaning Pack of 2 Cloths: This pack includes one Stainless Steel Cloth and one Finishing Cloth for a complete cleaning and polishing solution. Double sided for use on brushed or polished stainless, The Cleaning Cloth removes grease, grime and bacteria. The Finishing Cloth removes fingerprints for a smudge-free buffed finish.

Bathroom PackBathroom Pack: The extra thick and absorbent Bathroom Cloth removes soap scum, mildew, grime and bacteria to clean tubs, showers, sinks, vanities, faucets, tile, windows and mirrors. May be used wet or dry if surface is already wet. This pack includes a Glass and Polishing cloth for a streak free finish.

Home Cleaning Set...Home Cleaning Set 8 pc.: Green clean your entire house with this set of 8 e-cloths. Set includes everything needed to naturally clean kitchen, bath, windows, stainless, stovetop, and all types of hard surfaces. When used dry, the e-cloth® has a natural positive charge that attracts dust.

Pet Cleaning &...Pet Cleaning & Drying Towel: Soft, cuddly and perfect for rainy days, this pet towel quickly removes and locks away moisture, dirt, mud, and bacteria. Highly moisture absorbent for fast towel drying and cleaning.

Alpha Lipoic Acid and Blood Sugar

BloodSugarJacquie Eubanks RN BSN

Well known as a potent water- and fat-soluble antioxidant, lipoic acid is naturally produced by the body. Often referred to as alpha lipoic acid (ALA), lipoic acid is believed to have the ability to cross cell membranes, offering free radical protection both inside and outside cellular structures. Aging is marked by a decline in the concentration, synthesis and recycling of important antioxidants such as glutathione, CoQ10 and vitamins C and E. The loss of antioxidant function allows free radicals to proliferate, potentially impairing immune function, damaging organs, cell membranes and DNA strands, and contributing to degenerative disease risk.

Those with diabetes know that keeping blood sugar balanced is challenging. Associated conditions, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, also require management to prevent complications that can impair quality of life and limit functionality. With its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, ALA has been shown to be useful in managing high blood sugar and its associated health problems. Large clinical trials have found that ALA has a role in treating the symptoms of neuropathy, and may aid in improving insulin sensitivity, vessel tone, inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood sugar and blood lipid levels.

-Studies show that nearly half of American adults are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Lipoic acid may be considered a helpful aid for those with elevated blood sugar. By helping to facilitate the proper function of insulin receptors and insulin-dependent glucose transporters, lipoic acid plays an important role in blood sugar regulation.

-In supplement form, lipoic acid appears to improve insulin sensitivity and may also relieve complications and symptoms of diabetes, such as numbness caused by nerve damage, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiovascular problems. There is also evidence that supplemental lipoic acid can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This potential lowering of blood glucose can help protect from nerve damage.

-The inner lining of the blood vessels, known as the endothelium, plays an important role in vascular disease. Individuals with diabetes often have impaired endothelial function. In a randomized controlled trial, lipoic acid was found to improve flow-mediated vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels, resulting in improved vascular function.

-Neuropathy, or nerve damage, results from poorly controlled blood glucose levels. Peripheral neuropathy can cause pain, numbness, and muscle weakness largely in the legs and feet, and less often in the upper extremities. Autonomic neuropathy affects the nerves in the autonomic nervous system that controls the heart, lungs, stomach and other organs. Research shows that lipoic acid may help ease the symptoms of both peripheral and autonomic neuropathy.

-Oxidative stress and diabetes can have detrimental effects on eye health and vision. By helping to counteract oxidative stress, lipoic acid may help to inhibit diabetes-related cataract formation.

As an antioxidant recycler, lipoic acid regenerates the antioxidant powers of vitamins C and E, helping to stave off free radical damage and slowing down the cellular damage behind diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. As an essential co-enzyme, lipoic acid plays a vital role in mitochondrial energy production. By fighting free radicals and rejuvenating mitochondria, lipoic may help to combat signs of aging and support better overall health and function.

Professional Supplement Center carries these and other fine products in support of overall wellness:

Alpha Lipoic Acid...Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg by Pure Encapsulations®: One capsule provides 600 mg of ALA, an exceptionally versatile and multifunctional nutrient that plays a vital role in metabolic processes and antioxidant activity. Gluten and soy free, Non-GMO vegetarian formulation.

Alpha Lipoic AcidAlpha Lipoic Acid by Klaire Labs®: This high quality pure product is formulated for sensitive individuals. One serving provides 150 mg of ALA in support of antioxidant activity and liver detoxification. This kosher, vegetarian product contains no artificial ingredients, and is free of gluten, soy, dairy, wheat, soy and common allergens.

Lipoic AcidLipoic Acid by Integrative Therapeutics: This vegetarian product provides 200 mg of alpha lipoic acid per serving. Free of gluten, soy, wheat, dairy, yeast, and artificial ingredients.

 

Alpha lipoic Acid...Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg by Now Foods: One serving provides 600 mg of ALA in support of antioxidant activity, healthy neural tissues, proper glucose metabolism and cardiovascular function. Gluten, wheat, soy, and dairy free, vegan formulation.

 

Alpha-Lipoic Acid ...Alpha Lipoic Acid by Douglas Laboratories®: One tablet supplies 100 mg of ALA in support of antioxidant defenses and energy metabolism. Soy free, vegan formulation.

 

References:
Unique ‘Mitochondrial Antioxidant’ Fights Premature Aging. https://nutritionreview.org/2013/04/rlipoic-acid/
Half of Adults In The U.S. Have Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes, Study Finds. https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2015/09/08/50-percent-of-adults-in-u-s-have-diabetes-or-pre-diabetes-study-finds/#1fb3891f47bd
Lipoic Acid. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/lipoic-acid
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Diabetic Neuropathy. http://www.healthline.com/health/alpha-lipoic-acid-and-diabetes#overview1
Alpha Lipoic Acid. http://www.diabetesaction.org/site/PageNavigator/complementary_5_12

Our Love of Alcohol

LoveAlcoholJacquie Eubanks RN BSNThroughout history alcohol has been an integral part of human culture. In fact, our taste for alcohol may be a hardwired evolutionary trait, resulting from a single genetic mutation. Scientists theorize millions of years before modern humans began making wine, ale and spirits, this enzyme mutation provided our ancient ancestors with the ability to break down the ethanol found in rotting, fermented fruit eaten when other food was scarce. For the past 10,000 years or so, people have made alcoholic beverages by fermenting sugars in whatever fruits, grains, or roots were available. Because ethanol has antimicrobial benefits, in the days before modern sanitation, beer, wine and other fermented beverages were healthier to drink than water.

Recent data shows alcohol consumption in the U.S. has significantly increased in the last decade. While underage drinking declined slightly, adult consumption increased across all demographics. Older Americans, minorities, women, and people of lower levels of income and education have seen the largest increases. Some medical professionals see this as a concerning trend, a wakeup call with potentially dire implications for American’s future health care, wellbeing and mortality. According to a study published recently in JAMA Psychiatry, the number of adults who binge drink at least once a week may be as high as 30 million. A similar number of people reported alcohol abuse or dependency.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks on one occasion for women, and five or more for men, as well as exceeding those limits at least four times a month. These quantities of alcohol raise the blood-alcohol level to well over the .08 legal limit for driving. Research shows that binge drinking is a common occurrence among females, with one in eight women and one in five high school aged girls engaging in the behavior. Per the CDC, 24 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 24 binge drink, followed by 20 percent among high school girls and women aged 25 to 34, at which point the rates decline.

One in four men binge drink, twice as many as the number of women who do. However, due to simple physiology, binge drinking affects females differently than males. At the same consumption levels, women tend to reach higher blood alcohol levels than men, even when taking body size and other factors into consideration. Patterns of excessive drinking show that during individual evenings of drinking, bad choices are more likely to be made and injury risks greatly increase. For women, binge drinking heightens the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and unwanted pregnancy.

While binge drinking is not the same as alcohol addiction, it is by far the most common pattern of excessive alcohol consumption. Per CDC director Thomas Frieden, “at least 80 percent of binge drinkers are not alcohol dependent. Still, over 90 percent of people who are drinking too much are binge drinking,” leading to some 23,000 deaths among American women and girls each year. Both men and women regularly exceed the minimum number of drinks set to determine binge drinking status. Men typically average nine drinks per episode roughly five times a month. For women, it’s an average of six drinks per episode about three times per month. When one’s drinking causes distress or harm, it may be considered an alcohol use disorder. Drinking alone, temporary blackouts, isolation, irritability, making excuses to drink and choosing to drink while ignoring other obligations can indicate alcohol abuse. Prolonged drinking puts one at risk of developing serious health complications and may have other potentially life-threatening consequences.

Heavy drinkers have a greater risk of liver and heart disease, depression, stroke, serious stomach issues, several types of cancer, traumatic injury and fatal accidents. While low-risk drinking is not without risks, staying within low-risk limits is a good option for many. You can reduce alcohol-related risks by staying within low-risk drinking limits, taking steps to be safe when drinking or stopping altogether. For men, low risk drinking limits mean no more than four drinks on any single day and a maximum of fourteen drinks per week. For women, it means no more than three drinks on any day and a maximum of seven drinks per week.

The good news is that responsible moderate drinking may be beneficial for healthy people. There’s some evidence that moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of developing heart disease, and possibly reduce the risk of ischemic stroke and diabetes. Moderate drinking is defined as one drink per day for women of all ages and men over age 65, and up to two drinks per day for men aged 65 and younger. One drink may be smaller than what most people realize. One drink equates to 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, 3-4 ounces of sherry or port, 2-3 ounces of a cordial or an aperitif, or 1.5 ounces of brandy, cognac or distilled spirits.

Those suffering from alcohol addiction are more likely to experience numerous vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies. These may include calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, and vitamins B and C.

Professional Supplement Center carries these and other high quality formulas to support alcohol related nutrient deficiencies:

Kudzu RecoveryKudzu Recovery™ by Planetary™ Herbals: Traditionally used in Chinese medicine to safely address alcohol overuse, this proprietary herbal formulation helps to lessen the desire for alcohol and provides liver cleansing and detoxification support.

 

Anti-Alcohol with...Anti-Alcohol with HepatoProtection Complex by Life Extension: This formula provides broad-spectrum nutrients to support healthy liver function, combat alcohol-induced free radicals, and neutralize alcohol metabolites. Non-GMO formulation.

 

Buffered Vitamin CBuffered Vitamin C by Integrative Therapeutics®: This complex provides buffered vitamin C, plus  calcium and magnesium in support of healthy skin, bones, and teeth and a healthy immune response. Gluten, soy, dairy, soy and artificial ingredient free, vegetarian formulation.

 

L-Glutamine 1,000 mg...L-Glutamine 1,000 mg by Pure Encapsulations®: This free-form amino acid complex supports healthy gut integrity and enhances the mucosal lining of the intestinal tract. L-glutamine supports proper nutrient utilization and absorption, and helps to limit the amount of toxins that pass through the intestinal barrier. Gluten and soy free, Non-GMO vegetarian formulation.

 

AntiOxidant FormulaAntiOxidant Formula by Pure Encapsulations®: This synergistic broad-spectrum antioxidant formula is designed to protect against cellular free radical damage. Gluten and soy free, Non-GMO formulation.

 

B-Complex with...B-Complex with Metafolin® by Douglas Laboratories®: This comprehensive B complex provides eight essential B vitamins in highly absorbable form, as well as intrinsic factor, a nutrient necessary to optimal B12 absorption. Gluten, soy, dairy and artificial ingredient free, Non-GMO vegetarian formulation.

References:
America’s Drinking Problem Is Much Worse This Century. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-09/america-s-drinking-problem-is-much-worse-this-century
Health Buzz: Americans Are Drinking a Lot – and It’s Scaring Researchers. http://health.usnews.com/wellness/health-buzz/articles/2017-08-10/americans-are-drinking-a-lot-and-its-scaring-researchers
Making Sense of the Stats on Binge Drinking. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2013/01/17/making-sense-of-the-stats-on-binge-drinking
Origins of Human Alcohol Consumption Revealed. https://www.livescience.com/48958-human-origins-alcohol-consumption.html
Rethinking Drinking. https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-is-too-much/
What’s “low-risk” drinking? https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-is-too-much/Is-your-drinking-pattern-risky/Whats-Low-Risk-Drinking.aspx
Alcohol: If you drink, keep it moderate. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551?pg=1