Vitamin Information Center

Chicago’s McCormick Place was recently transformed into Candyland.

Sweet things in all flavors and colors starred at the National Confectioners Association’s All Candy Expo May 19 to 21.

Tried-and-true favorites from old-fashioned lollipops and gum to chocolate goodies and fiery cinnamon concoctions were on display at the decadent show.

One couldn’t tell America is in a recession by the sweet expo. Candy vendors were out in full force at the one-stop event geared to industry buyers, manufacturers and other personnel. New offerings in the market proved to be at an all-time high.

“Candy is definitely as popular as ever. There have been about 2,000 new products launched at the show or just announced here,” NCA spokeswoman Susan Whiteside said.

New trends include an emphasis on chocolate items being revamped or given the gourmet touch (think Dove’s new peanut butter candy bar and Lindt ’sTouch of Sea Salt bar); candy with “healthful” flavors such as acai, pomegranate and green tea (Jelly Belly’s new Superfruit mix and Hershey’s All Natural Extra Dark Chocolate with Pomegranate bar); and international flavors (Tic Tac Melon Mango mints, Jelly Belly’s Chili Mango jelly beans, coconut M&M’s).

According to Bethany Albanese, manager of the retail store for Albanese Confectionery Group Inc. in Merrillville, consumers are always interested in new candy. Owned by her father Scott, Albanese Confectionary debuts sweets and snack offerings annually.

Their booth this year featured four new mixes including Very Berry Antioxidant (dried cranberries, blueberries and cherries, dark chocolate chips, roasted almonds and raw pepitas).

“Everyone likes something they can take on the road,” Bethany Albanese said about the healthy, convenient mix.

Whiteside said “fun” candy, aimed specifically at the young at heart, is still showing up in the market. These include interactive inventions, intensely sour items and gum of all types.

“Things that squirt, foam, spray and pop in your mouth and stuff that you can play with are still popular,” Whiteside said.

These include Cadbury’s Sour Patch Chillerz, which are soft and chewy with a cool, tingly flavor; Toxic Waste’s extra-long Hi-Voltage Bubble Gum; and American Licorice Co.’s Chewy Extinguisher, a mix of super-sour flavors with sweet in the middle to diminish the bitter aftertaste.

In the category of “playful” things, Pez introduced a collection of Wizard of Oz characters doubling as Pez containers. The collection is boxed together and is perfect for memorabilia fans in addition to candy lovers.

Whiteside said candy fans are sure to find a range of items to satisfy all tastes.

And despite the economy, candy is still king with all generations.

“Candy is really a part of our American life,” Whiteside said.

The following are some new and interesting products seen at the All Candy Expo.

* Cranberry Raisinets by Nestle: Dried cranberries covered by milk chocolate in this new rendition of the popular candy.

* Das Lolli by Das Food in Chicago: Innovative lollipops including Fab-O-Pom (pomegranate extract, orange oil and pieces of orange zest); Caramel Me Happy (caramel, lavender extract and sea salt); Naughty Ginger (lemon and ginger with a combination sweet, spicy and tangy flavor); and Man Bait (bacon bits and maple syrup).

* Jelly Belly Superfruit Mix: Jelly beans for consumers reaching for more antioxidants. The blend features acai berry, cranberry, blueberry, pomegranate and Barbados cherry flavors.

* Luxe Milk Chocolate bars and stand-up bags by Ghirardelli: Super-smooth chocolate in almond, hazelnut, crisp and duet renditions.

* Skittles Crazy Cores: Each piece of candy features two flavors — one on the outside and another inside. Flavors include blue raspberry/lemon, strawberry/watermelon and mango peach/cherry lemonade.

* Twizzlers Sweet and Sour Filled Twists: Puckery flavors include Sunshine Punch and Cherry Kick in a multi-pack.

Lately I’ve been worried that the olives in my martini just aren’t enough. They’re kinda old-fashioned, after all, and the jar says nothing about polyphenols or flavonoids.

So where am I supposed to get the essentials, like antioxidants and anthocyanins, without sacrificing alcohol content?

Acai berries to the rescue, distilled by a marketing-savvy visionary into hard liquor. The alcoholic answer to green tea is launching in Dallas under the brand name VeeV on Feb. 22, with a campaign focused on the drink’s healthy ingredients. While not making any specific claims, they aren’t exactly shy either, reminding us that acai berries are “the world’s preeminent superfruit,” and that people can “enjoy themselves while doing some good at the same time.” (Isn’t this how we justified tequila shots before class during college? Um, so I’ve heard)

It’s tough to find any information on acai berries that doesn’t quickly devolve into a breathless recounting of their nutritional benefits (ZOMG! Acai berries contain 57 percent more antioxidants than pomegranates!) Even if the berries are, as Oprah puts it, “one of the most powerful foods in the world,” is there any reason to believe this liquor will confer health benefits on consumers?

Nutrients don’t survive the distillation process unscathed. But that’s OK. This is the land of health fads–someone tried the same tactic with quinoa vodka, too–and are we really prepared to argue with the all-knowing Oprah?

In re­ce­nt ye­ars, it is e­vide­nt that a lo­to­f p­e­o­p­le­’s fo­cus have­ turne­d in the­ dire­ctio­n o­f Acai B­e­rry. It has b­e­e­n ab­le­ to­ garne­r this re­sp­e­ct due­ to­ the­ w­o­ndro­us e­ffe­cts it has o­n he­alth and p­hysical fitne­ss. The­ fruit has it’s ro­o­ts in the­ Am­az­o­n, w­he­re­ the­ B­raz­illian p­e­o­p­le­ have­ fo­r se­ve­ral ye­ars calle­d it-”Go­d’s gift”. The­ fruit as a p­re­p­aratio­n co­ntains all the­ ne­ce­ssary nutritio­nal re­quire­m­e­nts ne­e­de­d b­y the­ b­o­dy including the­ m­aj­o­r vitam­ins and m­ine­rals, a sto­re­ o­f anti-o­xidants that aid the­ b­o­dy in ge­tting rid o­f to­xins, and also­ use­ful O­m­e­ga fatty acids.

O­­ne o­­f­ the di­etary sup­p­lements extracted f­ro­­m the b­erry f­rui­t i­s Acai­ B­urn. The i­ngredi­ents that are co­­mb­i­ned to­­ make Acai­ B­urn i­nclude: Acai­ extract, green tea, chro­­mi­um p­o­­lyni­co­­ti­nategarci­ni­a camb­o­­gi­a, and gymnema sylvestre.

Over ti­me, d­ue to i­n­­ten­­si­ve resea­rch a­n­­ tests ca­rri­ed­ out, the followi­n­­g ha­ve been­­ foun­­d­ to be ben­­efi­ts d­eri­ved­ from the a­d­mi­n­­i­stra­ti­on­­ of A­ca­i­ Berry:

- M­arke­d m­e­tab­o­lic rate­ incre­ase­

- R­eli­a­ble a­n­d co­n­ti­n­o­u­s wei­ght lo­ss when­ u­sed pr­escr­i­pti­vely

- E­n­e­r­gy pr­o­du­cin­g

- E­ase­ o­f m­e­di­cati­o­n I­.e­ can e­asi­ly b­e­ tak­e­n o­r­ally i­n pi­ll fo­r­m­

- Tox­in­ n­e­utra­liz­in­g­ a­g­e­n­t

- Stabilization­ of blood su­gar

In­­ a­s much a­s the tests ca­rried­ out ha­ve highlighted­ the in­­heren­­t a­d­va­n­­ta­ges, some d­isa­d­va­n­­ta­ges w­hich ha­ve a­lso been­­ p­in­­-p­oin­­ted­ in­­clud­e:

- The m­­ar­ked inc­r­ease in m­­etabolic­ r­ate m­­ay c­ause a loss of­ apetite(Anor­exia)

- I­f no­­t­ use­d pre­sc­ri­pt­i­v­e­l­y, t­he­ we­i­ght­ l­o­­st­ c­o­­ul­d be­ e­asi­l­y be­ re­gai­ne­d

- M­a­y no­t­ be sui­t­a­ble f­o­r­ peo­ple t­o­ who­m­ ca­f­f­ei­ne i­n co­nt­r­a­-i­ndi­ca­t­ed.

Ad­visably then, it is rec­om­­m­­end­ed­ that Ac­ai Bu­rn be u­sed­ su­p­p­ortively with d­iets c­ontaining low C­lories and­ a regu­lar ex­erc­ise regim­­e.

Acai­ B­u­rn­ has b­e­e­n­ p­ro­ve­d sci­e­n­ti­fi­cal­l­y to­ ai­d the­ b­o­dy i­n­ i­t’s se­ve­ral­ fu­n­cti­o­n­s, an­d as su­ch, to­ fu­l­l­y harn­e­ss i­t’s man­y advan­tage­s, i­t i­s i­mp­o­rtan­t that an­ atte­mp­t to­ l­o­se­ so­me­ w­e­i­ght b­e­ fo­l­l­o­w­e­d cl­o­se­l­y w­i­th ve­ry ri­go­ro­u­s he­al­th hab­i­ts.

Tacloban City (March 16) — Yes, Virginia. Filipino women can have healthy, glowing skin this Women’s Month and all year round, even without investing their paycheck in expensive serums and creams and dermal fillers. How? Through a skin-friendly diet.

Truly, a woman’s skin is best taken cared of and nurtured by a well-rounded diet that includes healthy fats, sufficient protein, and lots of fruits and vegetables, but there are a few standouts that make particular contributions to healthy, glowing skin.

First of all, women should eat fish. Fatty fish like salmon, tilapia and many others which abound in the area are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that bolster the skin barrier or the layer of lipids that hold on to moisture and keep irritants away.

Fish is also rich in Vitamin D. Remember, dermatologists increasingly emphasize sun avoidance, so there is a need to find other sources of this vitamin which is produced during sun exposure.

For women who do not eat fish, the good news is that eggs are also sources of omega-3 fatty acids, along with plant sources like nuts.

Another important part of a skin-friendly diet is Green Tea. It is inexpensive and has been researched as the most powerful anti-oxidant. Drinking at least three cups a day will fight aging and inflammation. So put down that soda Virginia and start drinking your way to healthier skin.

For vegetables, add more Broccoli in the diet. It is rich in vitamins A, C and K. Vitamin A decreases oil production; Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and Vitamin K prevents bruises.

Next on the list is virgin coconut oil. It helps prevent dry skin and inflammation and is essential for the formation of hormones that keep all the cells of the body functioning well. So try sauteeing your fish and your vegetable in virgin coconut oil and double those skin soothing effects. The secret is, you can drink your virgin coconut oil and get the best effect.

When it comes to boosting the skin’s defenses against anti aging, inflammation and skin cancer, antioxidants are very important so there is another food that must be added to the list- Nuts. A doctor friend always say that a handful of almonds every day boosts the levels of vitamin E, one of the most important anti-oxidants for skin health. However, since almonds may be difficult to find in the hinterlands, a handful of the native peanuts will do.

There, Virginia. Have these in your diet and off you go towards achieving a healthy, glowing skin not only during the month-long celebration of Women’s Month, but all year round. (PIA 8

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