Vitamin Information Center

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?

Xoçai Healthy Chocolate is being sold by Karen J. Rankin of Bedford through a direct-marketing sales approach. Made with unprocessed cacao powder and combined with açai berries and blueberries, the combination of these ingredients in their natural state provides a tasty product packed with powerful antioxidants.

The chocolate products include power squares, nuggets, cookies, an antioxidant beverage and protein bars.

Also, the company is selling Xobiotic Squares, which contain probiotics for intestinal health. The chocolates contain no caffeine, preservatives, fillers, waxes, processed sugar or trans fats.

Rankin points to 22 reasons why people should incorporate dark chocolate and açai into their health regimens, including that the chocolate is more nutritious, contains fiber, balances cholesterol, may aid in weight loss, scavenges free radicals, is full of antioxidants, fights pathogens, cleanses and detoxifies and boosts a person’s sense of well-being.

According to a company brochure, “Xoçai products are the perfect delivery system for the antioxidants your body needs while eliminating almost all of the fat and sugar typically found in other chocolate products.”

Rankin will sponsor “chocolate tastings” in Bedford for those interested in joining the business or buying the products. The first will be at 7 p.m. Friday at The Company Concourse, 14th and H streets, and the second is slated for 7 p.m. Monday at The Company Concourse.

A new range of topical vitamins designed to counteract skin aging have been released marking the launch of Vitivia, the aesthetic division of US-based JSJ Pharmaceuticals.

The Pro:Vitamin line will add to the growing number of anti-aging products that are distributed through physicians offices, reflecting the company’s strong links in this area and the strength of the channel.

Achieving stability of the compounds

According to Vitivia the benefits of most topical vitamins have been limited by the inability to stabilize the compounds when exposed to air and light, which many companies have addressed by adding preservatives to the formulation.

However, the Pro:Vitamin products have an individualized dispensing system, which solves the problem of product stability, stated the company.

The range can then remain preservative free which Vitivia hopes will appeal to the modern consumer who is attracted by all things natural and chemical free.

Small biodegradeable capsules contain a daily dose of the formulation therefore offering the consumer a consistent product that offers the same formula on the first and last day of the treatment period.

Single vitamin formula

The Pro:Vitamin line includes three products - Pro Vit A15, Pro Vit C10 and Pro Vit E5 containing pure vitamin A, C and E respectively.

Pro Vit A15 contains vitamin A at 15 percent and promises to increase skin cell turnover rate, smooth fine lines and reduce skin inflammation.

Pro Vit C10 promises to protect against free radical damage and stimulate the synthesis of collagen, whereas vitamin E has been shown to reduce inflammation and enhance the activity of other antioxidant systems.

The fact that the vitamins appear individually in the formula sets the product apart from other topical vitamin formulas currently available on the market that usually offer a combined formulation.

This separation allows for greater individuality of treatment, although a consumer will be able to combine the products without any adverse affects, assured Betty Sweet from JSJ Pharmaceuticals.

Physician dispensing a natural step for Vitivia

As Vitivia is a division of JSJ Pharmaceuticals - a producer of prescription only skin treatments - the physician’s office seemed like a natural choice for the Pro:Vitamin line, explained Sweet.

The company has strong relationships within the medical community, she said, adding that depending on the success of the product line it may expand into other distribution networks in the future.

Similarly, the product range will be limited to US distribution for the time being.

More and more people today now prefer to prepare food for their dogs instead of relying on commercial dog foods. Some do because they are concerned about what ingredients are contained within these commercial dog foods, whilst others want to have more control over just what it is their dog is eating. But many prefer to make their own homemade dog food as this ensures that their dog’s meals are not only nutritious but well balanced and healthy as well.
Continue Reading…