Tuesday, July 31, 2012
NSP Advances Quality Testing Once Again
by Lynda Hammons, VP of Quality and Regulatory Affairs
Nature’s Sunshine is renowned throughout the world for our commitment to quality and the stringent testing we have in place. With the help of our Quality Assurance department, we’re constantly raising the bar for quality testing in the industry.
The Methods Development group of Quality Control has developed an improved method for testing the polysaccharide content of Wolfberries. Wolfberry, also commonly known as goji berry, is the fruit of Lycium barbarum and is a key natural ingredient in NSP’s Thai-Go. The wolfberry used by Nature’s Sunshine is from the Ningxia, Qinghai and Tibet regions of China.
The polysaccharides in Wolfberry are just one group of phytochemicals in wolfberry. There are 8 polysaccharides and 6 monosaccharides in Wolfberries. The polysaccharide content is critical in assuring the quality of wolfberries. These polysaccharides have been studied extensively and have been shown to have numerous beneficial effects on the body.
NSP developed a method when this raw material was first used in Thai-Go. Recently, however, Dr. Zhe Zhang in our Methods Development group, used the HPLC coupled with a evaporative light scattering detector to improve the method for testing these polysaccharides. The improved procedure expands the application scope of our current method so that we can better test the natural variability from wolfberries sourced from different regions as well as different harvests and weather conditions. This improved testing allows NSP to continue to raise the standard for the highest quality and guarantees lot-to-lot consistency of actives.
If you happen to be in Ningxia, China in August, stop by the two-week festival that celebrates the wolfberry and the amazing health benefits of the fruit, which is considered a national treasure.
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Many Health Benefits Of Efficient Digestive Function
A properly balanced diet is necessary for maintaining good health. The digestive system essentially converts the foods that we eat into the energy needed to support life. The anatomy of our digestive system involves a complex series of organs and glands that work in concert to break down our consumed foods into smaller molecules that can be utilized by the body.
Digestion begins in the mouth where food is partially broken down by the process of chewing and by the enzymatic action of the carbohydrate-digesting amylase enzymes present in the saliva. Food is then swallowed and makes its way down the esophagus to the stomach.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Krill Oil with Vitamin K2 and Astaxanthin
Getting adequate levels of omega-3
Getting adequate levels of omega-3 fatty acids is one of the best things you can do for a healthy heart. Omega-3s, commonly found in cold water fish as well as some fruits and vegetables, are vital to the health of the cell membrane and also contribute to a healthy heart, a healthy brain and structural system health.
Krill oil is a source of highly bioavailable omega-3 fatty acids
Krill oil is a source of highly bioavailable omega-3 fatty acids extracted from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) that contains phospholipids, which bind to the omega-3s allowing for better absorption. These phospholipids are an essential component of all cell membranes, keeping toxins out and letting more nutrients and oxygen in. Krill oil also contains natural astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant, and NSP Krill Oil adds the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin K2.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Cardiovascular Disease
Our cardiovascular health is continually threatened by cholesterol, triglycerides, hypertension (high blood pressure) and an unhealthy lifestyle. All of these factors may contribute to coronary heart disease (CHD).
Cardiovascular Health
Factors contributing to coronary heart disease.
Cardiovascular system maintenance is essential for health, vitality and the well-being of both body and mind. Our cardiovascular health is continually threatened by cholesterol, triglycerides, hypertension (high blood pressure) and an unhealthy lifestyle. All of these factors may contribute to coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD, which can lead to a heart attack and possibly stroke, is the leading cause of death in the United States and is usually a major cause of disability. CHD occurs when the arteries that supply the heart with blood become hardened by calcification and narrowed by an accumulation of excessive deposits of cholesterol and fat called plaque. When a clot forms due to unstable plaque, blood flow through the artery becomes blocked, resulting in a heart attack with varying degrees of severity. Almost 700,000 people die of CHD in the United States each year. That accounts for about 29% of all deaths in this country.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Approaches to Weight Loss
It’s not just calories…
An estimated 68% of American adults qualify as overweight or obese because they eat more calories than they burn. Although this assessment of weight gain appears logical, there may be several other factors that contribute to the preponderance of obesity in the United States.
Approaches to Weight Loss
Obesity has been a problem in the United States for quite some time now. Most health care practitioners view obesity as a prelude to a variety of conditions that range from osteoarthritis to cardiovascular disease. An increasingly serious health issue involves obesity being associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, it’s not clear if obesity or diabetes develops first and this question has been a focus of considerable debate and research in recent years.
7 flower remedies
Each of the seven products features seven ingredients. They are all designed with energetic principles, which bring the body back to balance. The name of each product affirms its purpose.
Flower Essences Emotional Remedies
What are flower remedies?
Flower remedies for emotional distress are liquid extracts made from carefully selected flowers. These emotional remedies have been used for several decades to help with emotional well-being.
The Importance Of Healthy Living
Establishing a pattern of healthy living establishes hope for a healthy future. Allowing your body to fall behind in one aspect of healthy living can negatively affect your overall health and happiness as every system in the body is closely interacting with the others. Take control of your health with the help of Nature’s Sunshine today!
Healthy Living
At Nature’s Sunshine, we are committed to promoting health and vitality around the world. In addition to providing life-changing products that deliver essential nutrients, we’d like to share our insights into how to live healthy. In this Healthy Living section you can find tips on how to improve your health for an active, healthful future.
Friday, December 23, 2011
NSP vs. The Competition - Product Comparison
More Testing Means A Better Product
Quality means giving you exactly what you want-and nothing else. Our raw materials and finished products undergo more tests than other companies’.
[Read More...]
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Digestive Health Process
The digestive system essentially converts the foods that we eat into the energy needed to support life.
Properly balanced diet
The digestive process and maintaining good health depends on a properly balanced diet. The digestive system essentially converts the foods that we eat into the energy needed to support life. The anatomy of the digestive system process involves a complex series of organs and glands that work in concert to break down our consumed foods into smaller molecules that can be utilized by the body.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Just about everyone is familiar with parsley as a culinary herb. It is often placed as a garnish on the plate and is used in salads, soups and other recipes. A member of the Apiacea family (which makes it a relative of celery, carrots and parsnips), parsley is easy to grow and harvest for home use. Native to Europe and the eastern Mediterranian, parsley is rarely found in the wild.
Parsley is a very nutritious herb. It contains vitamins A, C and E and is also a source of iron and calcium. The leaves also contain anti-inflammatory flavonoids and are a rich source of sodium and potassium salts, which is one of the reasons parsley is a good remedy for the kidneys. It also contains a volatile oil that is about 20% myristicin and about 18% apiole. Both of these compounds stimulate kidney function, giving parsley a mild diuretic action. This is why it is an ingedient in JP-X, Kidney Activator and Urinary Maintenence.
