Health

What new products caught the NFM editors’ eyes in the personal-care and supplement aisles at Expo East?

Retailers urged to crack down on unsubstantiated organic claims.

As a health editor and natural products-shopping mom, I want to know more about the foods and supplements my family and I eat and take—where and how they were produced, that they’re safe and exactly as advertised. A look at new consumer transparency and traceability programs from Gaia Herbs, Silk, and other industry players…

School lunch programs have been the focus of rigorous criticism and change, with junk food tossed out in favor of healthy foods. But are kids eating the more nutritious school lunches? A new behavioral-psychology approach claims that a few simple, low- or no-cost changes could help kids choose healthy school food.

Produced naturally by the body (and found in plants and minerals), silica is most concentrated in skin, hair, and fingernails, where it enhances collagen production to help strengthen locks and nails and keep skin supple and wrinkle-free. But not all types are healthy. Here’s what you should know.

These high-fiber drinks are also loaded with protein and key nutrients.

Dos and don’ts for avoiding heartburn this holiday season.

Weight loss and diet supplements can work in many ways—by enhancing fat burning, suppressing appetite, increasing metabolic function, and increasing digestive efficacy.

One critical supplement for weight loss is CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which is clinically proven to reduce body fat, particularly in the abdominal area, by improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin. The mineral chromium aids appetite control by combating sugar cravings. Digestive enzymes such as bromelain and papain can help the body digest foods fully, getting the optimum nutrition from food consumed.

Several herbs also show promise in weight management. Extracts of green tea contain epigallo-catechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine, which may speed up metabolism, while studies suggest cayenne reduces appetite and increases metabolism of dietary fats. Extracts of crape-myrtle, such as glucosol, work by blocking the sugar rise associated with eating high-GI foods, thus preventing body-fat storage.
Vitamins also have clinical efficacy in supporting weight loss. One recent study showed that increased supplementation of calcium and vitamin D had significant effects on weight loss.

Essential nutrients for women include a multivitamin, calcium, vitamin D, and folic acid.