Blog

From collagen formation to its function as an antioxidant and for the immune system – vitamin C (also: ascorbic acid) fulfils important tasks in our body. Here you will learn everything about individual vitamin C requirements, which functions the vitamin fulfils in the body and which foods provide you particularly well with the antioxidant.

Oxygen plays a crucial role for nature and is the elixir of life. But oxygen can also trigger reactions that one would like to do without. Flowers wither, harvested fruit becomes unsightly, and oil turns rancid – free radicals and oxidative stress are squarely the culprits for these reactions.

Many people are conscientious about what they put on their skin, nails, or hair. They moisturise, use sunscreen, and spend money on special polishes, shampoos, and conditioners. But the truth is that beauty starts on the inside.

Aging is accompanied by many changes in your body, and your eyes are no exception. Some vision changes are expected with age. It can become harder to see things up close, or you may notice difficulty differentiating between some colors. Some people notice their eyes take longer to adjust when walking from light to dark rooms. But you can take steps to protect your eyes, starting at any age. Here's what you should know about aging and eye health.

Immune health is a hot topic, but what exactly does it mean to have a healthy immune system? It doesn't mean that we never feel a bit under the weather because that's just a part of life. Instead, immune health means our body keeps us well most of the time and helps us bounce back quickly if we feel less than our best.

Whether it's coffee or tea, many people reach for that cup of caffeine first thing in the morning. It's a ritual that jumpstarts the day and provides the energy needed to power through. Still, if you find yourself struggling to make it through the afternoon, you might want to consider mushrooms as your new best friend.

Magnesium is a critical mineral involved in many processes in the body. You may think of magnesium as a nutrient for bone health—nearly 50 to 60 percent of the magnesium in the body is found in the bones. But bone health is only one of magnesium's many roles in your body.

Taking supplements to support your health goals can be overwhelming. With all of the different options on the market, it's tough to know which products are right for you, and the truth is that not all supplements are created equal. Some may contain ingredients that are not well-studied. Others could be missing key components or using less than effective vitamin or mineral forms. And still, others may be adulterated with contaminants. So how do you know which one is right for you?

Bio-individuality is the concept that each of us has a unique set of genes and environmental factors that influence how we respond to food, exercise, and other determinants of health. The relevance of bio-individuality to nutrition is that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to eating or supplements. What works for one person may not work for another. Everyone has a different genetic makeup, so it makes sense that an individualised approach to nutrition could lead to better health outcomes—this is what nutrigenomics is all about.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and they play a vital role in human health. In fact, there are over 20 different amino acids that make up the proteins in our bodies. While most people only think about amino acid supplements for athletic performance, these nutrients offer a range of benefits for your health. In this article, we will explore the various benefits of supplemental amino acids and how they can support wellness.

Advice for heart health can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. While cardiovascular wellness is dependent on so many different factors, making healthy adjustments to modifiable risk factors (things you can change) like diet and exercise can go a long way in helping to keep your heart healthy. You can take the benefits even further with unique ingredients that work with your body to optimise your heart health and support overall wellness. This blog post will discuss these three ingredients—magnesium, l-arginine, and garlic—and the reasons why they are so

It’s not uncommon to consider the importance of your diet once you or your partner is pregnant, but what about before? Optimizing the health of both partners, along with consulting your physicians, can set the stage for a healthy pregnancy. The months leading up to pregnancy are considered a “critical period” to ensure healthy nutrient stores that optimize health before, during, and after pregnancy. If you are planning to get pregnant or even think you may want to have a baby someday, taking a closer look at your

The B vitamins are a large group of water-soluble vitamins. These nutrients play many roles in your health, from brain function to red blood cell production. But one of their most important jobs is to support energy production in your cells.

Is there a link between the food you eat and the way you feel? If you’ve ever wondered this, you aren’t alone. People are increasingly aware that even general discomforts like low energy or itchy skin may connect to your diet. Food sensitivities, food allergies, and food intolerances are all related to what you eat, but the underlying reasons why they happen differ significantly. If you think you are reacting poorly to something you are eating, it’s helpful to understand the difference between these three, so you can

Every day we are exposed to environmental toxins without even knowing it. Environmental toxins are all around us, and they come from a variety of sources. They are found in the food we eat, cosmetics and personal care products, building products, furniture, clothing, water, cleaning products, and so much more.

Purchasing a supplement on your own can feel overwhelming. Whether at a store or online, you're faced with what feels like hundreds of options with different ingredients, price points, and dosages. Food supplements can be powerful tools for your health, but it is mostly up to the individual supplement manufacturer to ensure quality and efficacy. Since quality is not always guaranteed, it's critical for you as the consumer to understand how and why to choose a trusted, well-respected brand.

In theory, the idea of working from home sounds great. No commute, pyjamas as a dress code (at least on the bottom), and easy access to the kitchen make remote work sound quite appealing. But over the last few years, working from home has become a reality for so many people, and some of the not-so-great parts of using a kitchen table as your workstation are apparent. Remote work can be a dream for some people, but it can also mean less social support, feelings of isolation, and a need to be

Public health messages consistently tell you that food has a direct and critical impact on your heart. We know a diet high in inflammatory foods can adversely affect cardiovascular health, but several other nutrients play an essential role in keeping your heart healthy. Vitamin K and Omega-3 fatty acids are two of these special nutrients – and each one has unique properties to support your cardiovascular system.

There’s no way around it; sleep deprivation can be overwhelming. It makes it harder to do anything, negatively affects your mood, and even can increase your cravings for sugar. But even further, sleep deprivation is associated with weight gain, immune system dysregulation, and increased risk for other health concerns.

For the average healthy person, digestion probably isn’t something you think about on a daily basis. But the amazingly complex digestive system involves multiple steps so you can break down food and absorb the nutrients. One of these steps involves the secretion of digestive enzymes. Your body naturally makes enzymes to help transform your food into substances your body can actually absorb and use. Sometimes supplemental digestive enzymes are also taken to provide digestive support while also optimising the absorption of the nutrients from our food.

Polyphenols are active chemical compounds found in plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, or tea that provide health benefits. They are often the reason a plant will have a bright, vibrant colour or give it a distinctly bitter flavour. Interestingly, the function of polyphenols is to protect plants against potential threats from the outside world, such as ultraviolet radiation or pathogens. Luckily, we can use polyphenols to our advantage to support healthy cellular function and antioxidant defences when we include them in our diet.

People take supplements to improve or optimise their health. So what happens when you look at the label, and the ingredient list is filled with unrecognisable additives?

You’ve likely heard that you can obtain all the nutrients you need for optimal health if you eat a healthy diet. But is this true? Food should indeed set the foundation for your nutrient intake. But multivitamins can help fill in any gaps to better support wellness on top of a healthy diet. There are many reasons why even if you eat a healthy diet, it may not contain everything you need.

Inflammation, an immune-mediated reaction, is how your body defends itself against potential harm. Redness, swelling, or fever are all typical, healthy examples of acute inflammation. If you are hurt or sick, acute inflammation sends a message to promote healing and repair. It usually only lasts a few days, and soon the body can relax into a normal state of equilibrium.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a nutrient that is essential for cellular energy production. It helps protect your cells from oxidative damage. Found in every cell of your body, CoQ10 helps generate energy for all of life’s activities, including muscle contraction, organ function, and even thought processes. Healthy levels of CoQ10 are vital for keeping your body healthy and energised while protecting against free radical damage.

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the human body. It is a foundation of support for your connective tissues. There are many types of collagen in the body, but type II collagen specifically impacts your joint health. Along with normal wear and tear, the production of collagen drops as you age. This reduction impacts the health of your joints and even your ability to heal from injuries.

The familiar public health message tells us to focus on calcium for strong bones. While this is true, it is an oversimplistic view of bone health. In reality, many other nutrients are just as important. These bone-supporting vitamins and minerals work together as a team — along with calcium — to keep your bones strong and healthy from childhood through the older years.

The use of digital devices is a normal part of our daily life, and most people don't think twice about it. In fact, you are likely reading this on a screen right now. But, unfortunately, our reliance on screens has a downside. Studies have shown that people who use screens more often are at risk of developing age-related eye conditions. The concern has to do with increased exposure to a potentially damaging type of light emitted from your device — blue light.

Feeling good about the way you look starts with how you feel on the inside. Many of the same things that contribute to chronic health conditions – inflammation and oxidative damage – can also influence your skin’s appearance. It takes a holistic approach to address the health of your skin to help reduce the impact.

The diet industry is a multi-billion dollar business, so it’s no surprise that you are constantly bombarded with ads for the hottest diet or supplement promising quick fixes. In reality, weight management is a complicated balance of hormones, stress, sleep, movement, and genetics.

Menopause, the significant biological and psychological shift in a woman’s life, can represent the entrance into an age of more profound wisdom and freedom for a woman. But this transition can feel less than idyllic if you are struggling with undesirable symptoms.

What does detox mean to you? For many, the word detox brings up images of restrictive diets where drinking nothing but lemon juice for a week somehow translates into enhanced wellness. In reality, detoxification is not a wellness trend. It’s a physiological process that runs behind the scenes in your body every single day.

We all know how important the microbiome is for gut health and health overall. Probiotics can help improve our gut flora, so it is no surprise that people are looking for that one perfect food or supplement to solve all their digestive problems, but what other solutions are there to improve gut health?

Stress can manifest in many different ways - from emotional suffering to physical symptoms like back or stomach pain. The body is designed to withstand small amounts of stress. When faced with a stressful event, your body releases specific hormones like cortisol that activate a range of physiological symptoms.

It is impossible to talk about wellness without considering your immune health. While the phrase wellness can mean something different to everyone, at its core being well is about nourishing the body so you can thrive at all stages of life. Your immune system is the foundation that supports that journey.