The health of your gut is not just about digestion — it impacts many other areas of our well-being, including our immune system. Our gut microbiome, the collection of microorganisms that live in our digestive tract, plays a crucial role in regulating our immune response. When the balance of bacteria in our gut is disrupted, it can lead to immune-related disorders, such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, and even cancer. If you aren’t focusing on your gut health, you may find you suffer from poor immunity that could leave you puzzled as to why you’re constantly suffering from the sniffles or sickness.
In this article, we will dive deeper and explore the fascinating relationship between gut health and immunity and provide practical tips on how to improve your gut health to support a robust immune system.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition or disease. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before changing up your nutrition plan or adding any supplements to your regimen.
Several factors can contribute to gut health issues. You have everything from the food you put in your mouth to environmental conditions and much more. The last thing you want to do is disrupt your gut health and create issues that could have been avoided.
Some of the most common causes of gut health issues include:
By identifying the underlying cause of gut health issues, it is possible to take steps to improve gut health and support overall health and well-being.
The answer to this question is quite simple — who wants to or has the time to get sick? I highly doubt you wake up in the morning hoping you have the sniffles or sneezes. Therefore, improving the health of your immune system is incredibly important.
You will want to improve your immunity and health for several reasons:
Yes, there is growing evidence that suggests gut health can significantly impact the immune system. In fact, research has found that as much as 70-80% of your immune cells are found in the gut.
The gut microbiome, which is the community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract, plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system. Research has found that disruptions in the gut microbiome can lead to various immune-related disorders, including autoimmune diseases, allergies, and even cancer.
The gut microbiome and your overall gut health help regulate the immune system by interacting with immune cells and influencing their function. It also helps to maintain the integrity of the gut lining, which is essential for preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream and triggering an immune response.
Therefore, poor gut health can weaken the immune system, making it more susceptible to infections and other health problems. To maintain a healthy immune system, taking care of your gut health is essential by eating a well-balanced diet, avoiding processed and high-fat foods, staying hydrated, and incorporating probiotics and prebiotics into your diet.
The gut is home to a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that is vital in regulating the immune system. The gut microbiome helps to train the immune system to distinguish between harmless and harmful substances and to mount an appropriate response when needed.
Additionally, the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining, which acts as a barrier to prevent harmful substances from entering the bloodstream and triggering an immune response. A weakened gut lining, also known as leaky gut syndrome, can lead to chronic inflammation and contribute to various health issues.
Therefore, taking care of your gut health is essential to preventing poor immunity and helping you maintain a healthy and optimized body.
Now that we’ve established the importance of gut health as it relates to immunity, let’s dive a little deeper into some simple steps you can take and things you should avoid to improve and maintain your gut health.
One of the hardest things for people to do is improve their diet. Therefore, supplements can be used to simplify the process. When it comes to gut health and immunity, a solution would be to include Simple Supplements Fiber Cleanse into your regimen.
Simple Supplements Fiber Cleanse is not only a delicious fiber and probiotics powder, but it includes crucial and patented ingredients like PreforPro® and psyllium husk to improve gut health, minimize gut inflammation, and support optimized immunity. Try it today and experience the difference it makes in your daily life and health!
]]>When was the last time you thought about your blood glucose level?
Unless you have diabetes or your doctor said you're pre-diabetic, probably never. Right? There are several reasons why you should pay attention to your blood glucose level to ensure you are in a normal range.
In this article, we are going to dive deeper into understanding your blood glucose level, what that is, what constitutes a normal level, health complications from not managing your blood glucose level, as well as things you can do to help keep your levels normalized.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor if you feel you may have diabetes or are having issues managing your blood glucose level. Never use a supplement in place of a medical prescription or doctor's recommendation. Speak with your doctor if you have diabetes and are looking to include blood glucose management supplements into your regimen.
If the terminology is a little confusing, you may have heard of something called blood sugar. Blood sugar and blood glucose are the same thing, just different terminology.
Blood glucose is a type of sugar that is found in your bloodstream. Glucose is a source of energy your body needs and uses to function properly. These sugars come from the food you eat, especially carbohydrates, which are broken down into glucose during digestion.
When you eat a meal, glucose is absorbed into your bloodstream, and your body produces a hormone called insulin, which helps your cells take up that glucose and use it for energy. This process helps keep your blood glucose level within a healthy range.
However, if you eat too many carbohydrates and your body doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use it effectively, your blood glucose levels can become too high, leading to a condition called hyperglycemia. Conversely, if you don't eat enough carbohydrates or your body produces too much insulin, your blood glucose levels can become too low, leading to a condition called hypoglycemia.
For many, acute levels of hyper- and hypoglycemia aren't a major concern unless your blood glucose level stays elevated or low for too long, which is where health issues may arise.
Unfortunately, many people don't concern themselves with things they cannot monitor by looking in the mirror. It's easy to pay attention to your weight when you can look in the mirror, see how your clothing fits, and hop on a scale.
When it comes to your blood glucose level, it can be challenging unless you have the means of testing your blood sugar level. Since most people have no way to test their blood sugar, it's the old ostrich sticking its head in the sand scenario where we don't concern ourselves regarding our blood glucose level until our health starts to fail.
Non-diabetics should pay attention to their blood glucose levels, as high blood sugar can be a sign of an underlying health issue or could lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Blood glucose levels are affected by factors such as diet, exercise, and genetics. Monitoring them can provide insight into one's overall health and help identify any potential issues before they become bigger problems.
Additionally, maintaining a healthy blood glucose level is essential for overall health and can help prevent chronic conditions. While non-diabetics may not need to monitor their blood glucose levels as frequently as those with diabetes, it is still important to get regular check-ups and to make healthy lifestyle choices that can help maintain a normalized blood glucose level.
For non-diabetic adults, a fasting blood glucose level between 70-99 mg/dL (3.9-5.5 mmol/L) is considered "normal."
However, your blood glucose level can fluctuate throughout the day depending on what you eat and your activity level, so a one-time measurement may not be indicative of your overall health.
A healthy blood glucose level range after eating can be up to 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) within two hours of the start of a meal. After around two hours following a meal, your blood glucose level should return to normal.
For individuals with diabetes, target blood glucose levels may be different and should be discussed with your doctor.
It is also important to note that some factors can temporarily affect your blood glucose level, such as illness, stress, and certain medications, which is why (again) it's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
Keeping your blood glucose level within a healthy range is vital for your overall health and well-being. Having a high or low blood glucose level over time can lead to complications such as:
The good news is that there are several things you can do to better manage your blood glucose level. Some of the ways you can do such are by:
A healthy and balanced diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can help stabilize your blood sugar level.
Regular exercise can help improve insulin sensitivity, which can help regulate your blood sugar level (strive for a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week).
Stress can cause an increase in blood sugar levels, so it is important to practice stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.
If you have been prescribed medications for diabetes, it is important to take them as directed by your doctor.
Regularly checking your blood sugar level can help you make necessary adjustments to your diet and lifestyle to better manage your blood glucose level.
Lack of sleep can cause an increase in blood sugar levels, so it is crucial to get enough sleep each night (strive for a minimum of seven hours each night).
Smoking can cause an increase in blood sugar levels and make it harder to control your blood glucose level, so quitting smoking is key.
There are many supplements out on the market that can help naturally manage your blood glucose level. These supplements are not meant to be used as a replacement for diabetes medications such as insulin prescribed by your doctor. However, they can be used by individuals who wish to ensure their blood glucose level does not become too elevated to the point health issues may arise.
If you're looking for high-quality supplements that can help manage your blood glucose level, check out the various supplements we have at Simple Supplements. We have individual glucose support supplements as well as a blood sugar health bundle that stacks some of our most potent products. You can check them all out here!
]]>Have you ever felt terrible after meals? Perhaps you felt bloated, gassy, or even sick to your stomach?
This can all stem from not being able to digest your meals properly. For years, digestive enzymes have been a common solution to the problem, but now, an additional ingredient is being added to digestive enzyme formulas and making a world of difference. What ingredient are we referring to? Ox bile.
Now, some of you may have said, “Wait… what?” out loud, and that’s understandable. But in this article, we will dive deeper into precisely what digestive enzymes do, why you should consider utilizing them, and how ox bile comes into play to enhance digestive formulas.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. You should speak to your doctor before using a digestive enzyme supplement and if you feel you are having digestive issues.
Digestive enzymes are proteins that help to break down food in the digestive system. They are produced by various organs, including the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. These enzymes break down the complex molecules in food, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, into smaller molecules that can be easily absorbed and used by the body.
These enzymes are necessary because they help the body to properly digest and absorb nutrients from food. Without enough enzymes, the body may not be able to properly break down food, leading to digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and malnutrition. Additionally, enzymes can also help to prevent and improve certain health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Those who do not produce sufficient digestive enzymes (as mentioned above) may benefit from using a digestive enzyme formula or a digestive enzyme supplement.
Digestive enzyme supplements are oral supplements that contain enzymes that aid in the digestion of food. These enzymes can include proteases for breaking down proteins, lipases for breaking down fats, and amylases for breaking down carbohydrates. Some people also take these supplements to help with nutrient absorption and to support overall digestive health.
Ox bile is a liquid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that is released into the small intestine during the digestion of fat. It contains bile acids, which are vital for the digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K) in the small intestine.
Bile acids emulsify fats, which means they break large fat droplets into smaller droplets, increasing their surface area. This allows the enzymes that break down fats, such as lipases, to have better access to the fat molecules and break them down more efficiently. The bile acids also neutralize stomach acid to help the enzymes work better.
The bile acids are then reabsorbed by the small intestine and transported back to the liver, a process called enterohepatic circulation. This allows the bile acids to be reused multiple times before being excreted by the body.
Ox bile is also used as a dietary supplement in some cases, particularly in people who have had their gallbladder removed or who do not produce enough of it naturally, as well as in some instances of malabsorption or maldigestion of fats.
There are several benefits of using digestive enzymes with ox bile extract as a supplement that can aid digestion and support optimized health.
Some of the benefits of using such a supplement include the following:
Digestive enzymes can help to break down food more efficiently, relieving symptoms of indigestion such as bloating, gas, and stomach discomfort. Ox bile, specifically, can help break down fats by increasing the amount of bile produced by the liver.
When food isn’t properly digested, it can create intestinal gas and pressure that can cause bloating and discomfort. Digestive enzymes and ox bile extract can help reduce bloating by improving the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients.
By breaking down food more effectively, digestive enzymes and ox bile can help the body to absorb more nutrients from the food we eat, such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Using digestive enzymes with ox bile can help increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K.
Some studies suggest that taking digestive enzymes can help to reduce inflammation in the gut and throughout the body.
In certain conditions, such as celiac disease, lactose intolerance, and pancreatitis, digestive enzymes with ox bile can help to alleviate symptoms and improve nutrient absorption.
Digestive enzymes with ox bile extract can help to break down and metabolize fat, which can lead to weight loss.
Digestive enzymes can help to maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, which is important for overall health.
People without a gallbladder may have difficulties digesting fats; therefore, supplementing with digestive enzymes with ox bile extract can help aid in digestion. Additionally, ox bile can help reduce the symptoms experienced by those with gallbladder disease, such as bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Digestive enzymes are generally considered safe for most people to use, but it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any supplement, including digestive enzymes and ox bile extract.
Certain groups of people may not be able to use digestive enzymes or should use them with caution. These individuals include the following:
The whole point of eating food is to be able to use the nutrients found in your meal. If you can’t properly break down and absorb the nutrients, they simply get wasted, and that’s, well… a waste.
If you want to improve your digestion to help maximize your health, look no further than Simple Supplements Digest Ultra. This isn’t your typical digestive enzyme supplement, it’s packed with Betaine HCl, Pancrelipase, Pancreatin, Fenugreek Seed Powder, Pepsin, Amylase, Papain, and the star of this article, Ox Bile Extract.
This simple-to-use digestive enzyme supplement with ox bile extract is to be used before or with meals or as directed by your doctor. Best of all, one capsule is all you need to reap all the benefits.
Don’t consume your meals only to flush the vital nutrients down the toilet, use Simple Supplements Digest Ultra digestive enzymes with ox bile to improve your digestion today!
]]>As much as we’d like to believe that a multivitamin is a multivitamin, that’s simply not true. Not only are there varying qualities of multivitamins on the market, but also varying dosages per ingredient along with the actual full ingredient profile of the multivitamin supplement. That said, a new patented ingredient called Supershroom® is changing the game in terms of health benefits associated with typical multivitamin supplements.
In this article, we are going to not only look at how to pick and choose a quality multivitamin but also dive deeper into how Supershroom can improve your overall health and why you should look closely to ensure your multivitamin contains this powerhouse of an ingredient.
If you were to look at the average American adult’s diet, you’d find they are drastically deficient in key nutrients. Why? Because the typical American eats junk that is calorically high and not very nutrient-dense (it lacks many key vitamins and minerals). What this causes are gaps in their nutrition that need to be filled.
Your body is a machine, and in order to optimize that machine and allow it to function properly, it needs adequate amounts of crucial vitamins and minerals. Gaps in various nutrients can cause illnesses, diseases, and in severe cases, death.
By utilizing a quality multivitamin, you can fill in those nutritional gaps (assuming you’re using a quality multivitamin supplement and the key word there is “quality”).
Some of the benefits of using a quality multivitamin include:
When you look at the supplement facts panel on a multivitamin, you want to see 100% or higher pretty much down the list. Some people may think more than 100% is overdoing it, but you also need to think about the person using the multivitamin.
If you are an active individual, your body is going to require higher amounts of critical micronutrients since they will be used in various processes when exercising or by being physically active.
To further illustrate the point, think along the lines of the needs of an elite athlete who pushes their body to its limits versus a couch potato who is sedentary and does not engage in any form of exercise or daily physical activity. Their needs are completely different and on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Furthermore, if you are searching for a quality multivitamin, look for one that utilizes chelated minerals. Why? It’s because chelated minerals allow the body to more easily digest and absorb the minerals found in the multivitamin supplement. The chelation process is one that binds minerals to organic compounds (in many cases to amino acids).
Then comes the added features and benefits of a multivitamin when they take things one step further by including powerful ingredients that add a compounding effect to the profile and ingredients. What is a powerful ingredient you should look for and be aware of? Patented Supershroom.
Are you a fan of mushrooms? If you are, that’s fantastic. Unfortunately, many people feel nauseous at just the thought of mushrooms. Mushrooms have extremely potent properties with very powerful effects. But if you don’t consume mushrooms on a regular basis, you’re missing out on all the benefits. That’s where Supershroom comes into play.
You no longer need to hold your nose to choke down some mushrooms, add nasty mushroom powders to your favorite cup of coffee in the morning, or even think about mushrooms.
The inclusion of patented Supershroom into a multivitamin formula allows you the ability to take your normal multivitamin, only with the added benefits associated with this commanding ingredient.
What can Supershroom help with?
Supershroom is a combination of seven different mushroom strains that are 100% organically grown in the United States that are a combination of the fruiting body (the above-ground portion of the fungus) and the mycelium (the fungal root systems that exist below the ground).
If you want to dive a little deeper and get a little more scientific, Supershroom was specifically created to support the immune system and protect health by providing the body with beta-glucans that activate the complement pathways that facilitate the phagocytic activity of white blood cells.
Now, what does all of that mean in layperson’s terms? Supershroom helps increase a specific type of white blood cells that help protect and guard your body against harmful bacteria, foreign particles, and damaging pathogens that make their way into the body and can do harm to healthy cells. If they aren’t stopped, healthy cells can be damaged, mutated, or killed — essentially creating an environment and a perfect storm where you can find yourself sick. These white blood cells, through the help of Supershroom, go out and help keep your immune defenses elevated and optimized.
If you were to take the highest quality ingredients, dosed appropriately, tossed in some patented Supershroom, encapsulated them, and put them in a bottle, what would that look like? I’ll tell you… Simple Supplements Multivitamin with Chelated Minerals and Organic Mushroom Blend.
Each bottle of the Simple Supplements Multivitamin contains 120 capsules of true purity and optimized health. Simply take two capsules a day and let the powerful ingredients work their magic. No longer do you need to worry about nutritional gaps, a lack of energy, brain fog, a compromised immune system, or poor performance.
Simple Supplements Multivitamin was built from precisely what the active American needs to function optimally and help maintain their health through improved immunity and performance.
Stop complicating things — keep them simple with Simple Supplements.
Through the use of Simple Supplements Multivitamin, you can feel confident knowing that what you’re putting in your body is of the highest quality, utilizes transparent labels so that you know exactly what you’re putting in your body, and that every ingredient is dosed appropriately to help maximize results and optimize health.
Give Simple Supplements Multivitamin a try and feel the difference!
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Not being able to breathe easily can be quite a scary situation.
The shallow breaths and wheezing when you’re feeling under the weather can shake people to their core. And while this article is not meant to treat or diagnose any disease, there are a few things you can do to help open up your airways and breathe better when the only thing you want to do is lay in bed and beat whatever ailment you’re fighting.
First and foremost, why may you have some respiratory issues that are causing you discomfort and breathing difficulties? Let’s jump into some of the common respiratory issues that many Americans face daily, especially when the colder months arrive.
There are many reasons why you may find yourself having some respiratory issues. Your doctor may have diagnosed you with asthma, allergies, or even an illness such as a cold, flu, or other viruses that can affect your breathing and respiration. Any of these conditions can lead to shallow breathing, an inability to take deep breaths, severe coughing, and wheezing.
Some issues you may be faced with can be acute and only last a matter of days or, in a worst-case scenario, a chronic condition that could follow you throughout your entire life. If you are finding that your respiratory issues are lasting more than a few days, it may be best to schedule an appointment with your doctor to get checked.
Should it be needed, your doctor may prescribe a prescription to help alleviate your symptoms and allow you to breathe better. However, there are some over-the-counter (OTC) supplements that you can use on a regular basis to not only help promote overall health and wellness but that can also play a role in reducing respiratory issues and allow you the ability to breathe better if you do find yourself with the sniffles, coughs, and/or congestion.
Again, it needs to be reiterated that supplements should never supersede a doctor’s recommendation or the medication your doctor prescribes. Utilizing a supplement such as NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine) does not have the strength of a prescription or steroid recommended under your doctor’s supervision. That said, there are some extremely powerful properties that NAC can help with when it comes to respiratory issues and helping you breathe better.
To start, what exactly is NAC?
NAC is the supplemental form of cysteine. This potent amino acid is necessary to help create glutathione. Glutathione is the most powerful and abundant antioxidant in the body where it helps prevent you from getting sick and fights off foreign pathogens that enter the body.
Both NAC and glutathione are heavily concentrated in the liver and the lungs — which is why NAC has been found to provide so many respiratory benefits. As we breathe, we are constantly inhaling various pollens, dust, pollutants, bacteria, and viruses. Think about that for a second. You breathe 24/7. Therefore, your body is constantly fighting off bacteria and other pathogens that can do the body harm.
Antioxidants help protect the body from stress, free radicals, and other foreign invaders that can cause inflammation and make you sick. NAC is also able to act as an expectorant which can help loosen and clear up mucus that may be obstructing your airways and making it difficult to breathe.
Taking that into account and understanding what NAC and glutathione are capable of doing, it’s no wonder that this combination can do a lot of good as it relates to your respiration and their ability to help you breathe better.
NAC plays a role in helping prevent oxidative stress in the body from doing you harm. Oxidative stress can reduce glutathione levels as well as increase inflammation in the body. Inflammation in the lungs from inhaling pathogenic agents can lead to many acute and even chronic respiratory issues as the inflammation can block the ability for air to enter the lungs and be effectively pushed out into the body.
If you want to breathe better, NAC can help reduce the inflammatory response by minimizing the adverse effects that can take place through oxidative stress.
Researchers have even looked at how NAC can play a role in helping reduce respiratory issues and inflammation in the lungs caused by something like COVID-19. One study found that “NAC administration may assist in improving markers of inflammation or oxidation, systemic oxygenation, the need for/duration of ventilation, rate of patient recovery and clinical improvement score.” This study also found NAC was able to help with acute respiratory conditions.
If you’ve ever been congested and full of mucus, you may find it difficult to breathe. In fact, you may even think the constant coughing is making it hard to breathe. Being that NAC is an expectorant, it can help clear out the accumulation of mucus to help open up your airways. When sick, your bronchial tubes could have a buildup of mucus, which can block the passage of air to properly enter the lungs and be utilized.
NAC supplementation has been found to be able to help reduce mucus, support proper air passage, and reduce the frequency and severity of coughing and wheezing.
Allergies and infections affect a large portion of the US adult population. For that reason, many are looking for ways to help manage the adverse effects and minimize the symptoms they experience. One of the common symptoms many are presented with is nasal and sinus congestion. When this takes place, it can cause respiratory issues. If you want to breathe better, supplementing with NAC may be the answer.
Research has found that NAC has the ability to reduce congestion from sinuses, allergies, and other infections.
While there are no direct NAC-specific foods that you can add to your diet, you can still take in the amino acid cystine naturally in your diet. You can accomplish this by adding foods like eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, lentils, beef, and chicken breast.
Want an easier way? Supplement with NAC.
By including Simple Supplements NAC in your supplement regimen, you can take in an additional 1200mg of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine per day. If you want to increase your glutathione levels, help reduce respiratory issues, and breathe better, add Simple Supplements NAC to your nutrition plan.
In addition to helping improve respiration, Simple Supplements NAC can also help aid in kidney and liver detoxification and reduce your heart disease risk.
Try it today and feel the difference this powerful supplement can make!
When was the last time you thought about kidney health? Maybe never? You’re not alone. But the fact of the matter is that you cannot and should not dismiss the health of these very important organs. In this article, we are going to look specifically at the kidneys, what makes them incredibly important, and how you can improve kidney health.
]]>In this article, we are going to look specifically at the kidneys, what makes them incredibly important, and how you can improve kidney health.
If you were to make a fist and put them on both of your sides towards the bottom of your rib cage, that would be almost the exact location and size of your kidneys. The shape of your kidneys resembles a “bean” shape, which is another reason why you have a certain bean called a “kidney bean.”
While having multiples of organs isn’t common (sure, you have the lungs being multiples, but the majority are singular when looking at organs such as the liver, heart, brain, etc.), you can live with only one kidney. It wouldn’t be ideal to have a need to remove a kidney, but if one were to fail or get injured, it could be removed, and you could live a normal life with only one.
The kidneys wear a bunch of hats and serve many purposes. It’s for that reason that kidney health should be a priority of yours and a main reason why you should focus on keeping them healthy.
The kidneys are responsible for helping:
Unfortunately, the kidneys can get beat up pretty badly before you start to feel and notice any symptoms. For instance, those who suffer from high blood pressure but never knew it could die due to the kidneys failing. Kidney disease is a serious condition, and many times, the severity of the kidney issue is so great that by the time symptoms appear, the damage may already be irreversible.
Some of the common signs of kidney problems include:
Disclaimer: It should go without saying, but if you feel you may have kidney issues, seek out the guidance of a medical professional. This article is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. Additionally, this information should never supersede a doctor’s diagnosis or replace any medications you may be on.
It should go without saying, which is why we’ll get it out of the way now, as it shouldn’t come as any surprise, but you want to quit smoking and reduce your alcohol consumption. Both of these can increase your risk of kidney disease.
Getting what should seem like a no-brainer out of the way, below are seven ways that you can support kidney health.
If you ever want to know how to improve the health of anything, exercise and increasing your activity level will generally do the trick. When it comes to kidney health, it’s no different. If you want to maintain kidney health, put more focus on exercise and staying active. Unfortunately, more than 60% of American adults are overweight, which puts them all at a higher risk for kidney disease, but if only they could live a more active lifestyle, they would have a better chance at managing their weight and overall health.
By exercising and staying healthy, you can help lower blood pressure which is a significant contributor to kidney issues.
The second way to help improve kidney health is by having a clean diet. Again, this should come as no surprise. Those who are in a caloric surplus and consume most of their calories from unhealthy fat and carbohydrates have a higher probability of gaining weight and storing body fat. The cycle then repeats itself as what was mentioned in number one.
Pay close attention to your sodium levels as they can directly affect the kidneys, cause them to work harder, and can even cause damage.
Other than the obvious hydration benefits, drinking water throughout the day is great for kidney health. When you drink water, it helps flush out the toxins and excess sodium. Drinking enough water can also help prevent kidney stones from forming.
There is a great debate on how much water you should consume daily. Some say to take in at least a gallon a day, some say eight glasses is good enough, and others say to take 0.55 and multiply it by your body weight to figure out how many ounces you should be drinking.
One way to ensure you drink adequate water is to carry around a water bottle. Sip on it throughout the day and when it’s empty, fill it back up. Those who are physically active during the day, exercise regularly, or live in a hot climate, should focus on drinking even more water to help prevent dehydration.
High blood pressure is a major issue and, if undetected, could lead to severe kidney damage or even death. High blood pressure is commonly referred to as “the silent killer.” If you notice consistently high blood pressure, you should speak to your doctor about what options you have.
In many cases, high blood pressure can be managed by cleaning up your nutrition, exercising, and drinking adequate water. If nothing seems to help, your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medication to get it under control.
When it comes to kidney health, an abundance of glucose in the system is similar to an abundance of toxins in the body. If your body is unable to manage the amount of glucose, the kidneys need to work extra hard to control and manage it.
Those who are diabetic or even pre-diabetic need to pay close attention to kidney health. If these conditions are controlled, or you don’t have either of these conditions, you can dramatically reduce your risk of showing signs of kidney damage.
Do you regularly use over-the-counter pain medication? If so, you are at a higher risk for kidney damage. If you need to use pain medication, you may want to speak with your doctor to see if there is another option or therapy you can use. As with most things, overuse and abuse heighten the likelihood of health issues, and the use of OTC medications is no different.
Now, if you occasionally use OTC pain medications such as ibuprofen or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for headaches or aches and pains, your risk is much lower.
If you are concerned about kidney health and you want to stay on top of keeping your organs in good working order, a kidney support supplement would be a great addition to any supplement regimen. As mentioned earlier, you’ll want to speak with your doctor before utilizing such as supplement (especially if you have existing kidney issues).
That being said, kidney support supplements can be extremely beneficial from a kidney health standpoint and have the ability to help the kidneys function optimally. One supplement that was specifically formulated to help improve kidney health is Simple Supplements Kidney Support Formula.
Through the help of this powerful supplement, you have the ability to help the kidneys eliminate toxins, provide nutritional support for the kidneys, aid in flushing out excess uric acid, help normalize fluid balance, and support urinary tract health.
Whether you were told to use kidney supplements to improve your kidney health or simply want to stay on top of your organ health, Simple Supplements Kidney Support Formula can be the perfect addition to a sound workout, nutrition, and supplement regimen.
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Berberine is not something new. In fact, it’s been around for centuries. However, just recently, it’s been getting on people’s radar as more and more information surfaces about this amazing natural alkaloid. How can it help improve your health and physique? That’s precisely what we are going to dive into.
While berberine has been used as a Chinese medicine and by the Assyrians for thousands of years, this plant-based alkaloid does not come from one specific plant or even one specific part of a plant. It comes from many.
Berberine can be found naturally from goldenseal, goldthread, European barberry, tree turmeric, Oregon grape, and phellodendron, to name a few. It can be sourced by as many as 500 different plants and from different parts of the plant, such as the root, stem, leaves, bark, and fruit.
In its natural state, berberine is yellowish in color and bitter to the taste. It’s not uncommon for berberine to also be used as a natural yellow dye. For these reasons, it’s recommended to use berberine in the supplement form.
Being that berberine has been deemed safe and effective, what benefits may you experience through its use? Below are some health and physique benefits of utilizing berberine in your supplement regimen.
Disclaimer: You should always speak with your doctor before introducing any new supplements into your regimen to ensure you are healthy enough to do so and that the supplement will not interfere with any medications you may be taking. Being that berberine plays a role in regulating blood sugar, people with diabetes must get such a supplement cleared from their doctor as it could cause blood sugar to drop quickly from its use alongside insulin. This supplement and article are not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition or supersede a doctor’s recommendation.
Here are seven incredible benefits associated with the use of berberine.
Your body is constantly at battle with foreign pathogens that enter the body and want to do harm. Furthermore, there are things we do in our daily lifestyle that can cause an increase in free radicals and oxidative stress (exercise, for example). The immune system is not something you want to be compromised, as it’s your main line of defense that helps prevent you from getting sick.
Berberine has natural antiviral properties as well as showing some powerful antibacterial properties that can help boost the immune system and fight harmful pathogens.
When your body is under stress, encounters environmental toxins, suffers from sun damage, or even the natural aging process can cause free radicals and oxidative stress levels to increase. When this occurs, it can attack healthy cells and damage, mutate, or even destroy them. Luckily, berberine possesses potent antioxidant properties that can seek out and destroy free radicals before they can do the body harm.
Another benefit associated with berberine is the ability to better manage your weight. Research has found that those who supplement with berberine can decrease body fat and improve health markers due to weight loss.
There are many factors involved with how berberine can enhance weight loss, one of which is due to its ability to help regulate blood sugar levels and by increasing leptin to help you feel full so you don’t overconsume on calories during meals.
Lastly, berberine can help prevent the growth of fat cells.
With the many meals you consume on a daily basis (along with sporadic snacking), your gut is constantly being put to work. When your gut health suffers, it can lead to digestion issues as well as diminishing your ability to properly digest and absorb the nutrients from the food you consume.
Berberine has been found to help reduce intestinal permeability, which is where enzymes and nutrients leak out of the gut and cause issues. By improving the integrity of the lining of your bowels, it can help reduce discomfort and leakage.
Furthermore, the healthy bacteria in your gut can be improved through the use of berberine. Enhancing gut flora and gut health, in general, may also help better regulate various hormones.
One of the most common reasons for someone to gravitate toward the use of berberine is due to its ability to help manage blood sugar levels. Many Americans have issues maintaining normalized blood sugar levels and find that they may have huge spikes following meals, while others have levels that may stay elevated without ever lowering at all (think along the lines of pre-diabetes and diabetes).
The power of berberine has been noted as researchers have found it to be comparable to the diabetes medication Metformin. Those who suffer from type 2 diabetes have found through various studies that berberine can drastically reduce blood sugar levels.
Through supplementing with berberine, it was also shown that A1c, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels can be improved.
Let’s circle back and retouch on a few things mentioned earlier to understand how they tie into inflammation. When your body is fighting an illness, foreign pathogens, free radicals, etc., inflammation can occur. It’s normal when the body is fighting something. Any inflammation that takes place in the body can become severe, but when it comes to the brain, things can become deadly.
Berberine has been found to help protect the blood-brain barrier and contains natural anti-inflammatory properties. This can help prevent conditions from exacerbating and essentially opening up the floodgates to some severe medical conditions and issues to come into play.
Supplementing with berberine has been shown to be able to improve heart health and function. By helping the heart push blood out into the body and supporting the health of blood vessels by allowing them to properly expand puts less stress on the heart.
Something else to note is that fatty deposits can accumulate onto the walls of blood vessels. This causes the heart to work harder to push blood through narrowed vessels, which may also cause blood pressure issues. Berberine can help minimize the accumulation of fat in your blood vessels to help keep them open and functioning properly while also supporting normal blood pressure.
There’s no way to sugarcoat this one — getting old sucks. Those who refuse to take care of their body and health seem to feel its effects well before those who exercise regularly, eat a healthy and well-balanced diet, and stay active. But you can take things one step further by adding berberine to your supplement regimen.
Anti-aging is possible through the use of berberine due to the antioxidant benefits, activation of AMPK (boosting metabolic rate), managing blood sugar levels and insulin, and preventing the accumulation of fat in blood vessels and around the waistline.
Want healthier-looking skin? Berberine may be the answer. Those who utilize berberine have noted less skin inflammation while also improving skin strength and structure. Want to look younger? Berberine may be the answer!
How much is your health worth? Do you want to look and feel your best — even with each passing birthday? The research is there, and it appears that berberine is a supplement everyone should be utilizing.
The earlier you start using a product like berberine, the better off you will be. That said, there is no better time to start leveraging the power of berberine, regardless of your age or physical condition, than right now. Simple Supplements Berberine is a high-quality Berberine HCL supplement that can be taken 1-2 times per day to provide you with anywhere from 600mg to 1200mg.
Try Simple Supplements Berberine today and experience why so many people use and trust Simple Supplements for their supplement needs.
]]>When you hear the word “bergamot,” what do you think of? Probably a scent, right? Well, you’re not wrong. Maybe you or a family member utilizes a bergamot oil in your home? But there’s more to bergamot than some oil sitting on the shelf of a beauty and perfume store where many people use it for aromatherapy and its ability to help reduce stress (which is still an amazing benefit).
Bergamot is also being utilized as a supplement that can help improve your health. Unfortunately, not many people know of or even understand what this plant is capable of providing. So, with that being said, it’s time to shine some light on the subject and talk about some of the many ways that bergamot can help improve your health when used as a supplement.
Disclaimer: You should always consult with your doctor before introducing any new supplements to your regimen to ensure you are healthy enough to do so that to ensure the supplement will not interact with any medications you may currently be taking.
First thing’s first… what is bergamot? As mentioned above, bergamot is a plant that bears fruit. The fruit from the plant is generally green in color, but that resembles something along the lines of if a lemon and an orange had a baby.
While bergamot is a fruit, its purpose is not to sit down and eat it like you would another piece of fruit. In fact, bergamot is extremely sour and provides a zingy and intense citrus flavor that is quite off-putting.
However, it was back in the 1700s that bergamot started getting some attention — much of which began in South East Asia but has since been commercialized heavily in Italy. It is said that around 80% of bergamot comes out of Calabria.
The juice is extracted from the fruit, and it’s from that liquid (as well as cold-pressing the rind) where many of the health benefits can be achieved. Whether for perfumes or supplements, bergamot has several benefits — five of which we will discuss below.
For the sake of this article, we are going to look specifically at what bergamot can do when used daily as a supplement.
This first benefit may have caught your attention, but the fact is, bergamot is not a miracle fruit or supplement. You’re not going to be able to simply squeeze out the juice and press the rind to magically look in the mirror and be lean with visible abs. You’re still going to need to do your part from an exercise and nutrition standpoint, but bergamot can help give you that little extra boost you need to help you burn body fat.
The polyphenols found in bergamot can help increase fat metabolism, which aids in controlling your body weight. Being that bergamot can also help control cholesterol and triglycerides, you have an even better ability to manage your weight. Combine bergamot with a sensible nutrition plan and workout program, and the combination can prove to be extremely beneficial.
There is even more research on this topic, as those who suffer from metabolic syndrome can find some relief through the use of bergamot as the polyphenols can help support weight loss.
Bergamot contains natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As you may know, inflammation and oxidative stress can cause many issues in your body. It can diminish the immune system and bring upon various illnesses, cause joint pain and discomfort, create swelling, and many other adverse effects. This powerful fruit extract can even help manage inflammatory bowel issues.
By adding bergamot to your supplement regimen, you can add an extra layer of protection to help prevent free radicals from doing the body harm. The potent antioxidants found in bergamot also help neutralize and absorb free radicals.
If you suffer from elevated blood sugar levels or are possibly pre-diabetic, you may want to speak with your doctor about bergamot supplementation. While bergamot and this article are not meant to treat, diagnose, or overstep a doctor’s recommendation, research has found that bergamot can help manage blood sugar levels.
Another study backs up this discovery, also mentioning that bergamot can help control glucose levels.
Over 90 million Americans suffer from high cholesterol — that’s no small number.
But the good news is, bergamot has the ability to support healthy cholesterol levels by helping to decrease bad cholesterol (LDL) and increasing good cholesterol (HDL). How can bergamot do this? It’s thanks to the high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids.
One of the reasons for cardiovascular issues is due to elevated triglycerides and cholesterol. While this benefit directly ties into #4, it definitely needs to be called out further. One study looking at the effects of bergamot supplementation found that this fruit had the ability to reduce bad cholesterol by 30%, increase good cholesterol by 40%, decrease blood sugar levels by 20%, and lower triglycerides by 40%.
Take all of those benefits into consideration, and you can better manage your cardiovascular health in the long term through the use of bergamot.
As mentioned above, bergamot is an incredibly beneficial supplement to add to your current regimen. You can take things one step further by utilizing a patented and extremely powerful form of bergamot called Bergamonte, which comes from the company HP Ingredients.
According to the website of this patented ingredient, it mentions that “Bergamonte contains bioactive compounds of extract of the juice and albedo of Citrus bergamia Risso, standardized to >38% polyphenolic flavonoids consisting of naringin, neohesperidin, neoeriocitrin, 1% melitidin, and 2% brutieridin. Bergamonte is produced using patented extraction technology through collaborative works of various universities and research institutions in Italy. These flavonoids are clinically proven to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, healthy blood glucose levels, increase HDL-cholesterol, and promoting healthy weight management.”
The HP Ingredients website also contains several studies showing precisely how advantageous this ingredient is when looking at all of the benefits it is capable of providing.
All of that being said, how can you get your hands on this patented version of bergamot? Simple Supplements Bergamonte Extract is affordable and available for you to purchase and reap all of the benefits. Each serving will provide you with 500mg of Bergamonte Citrus Bergamot. Try it today and experience the power and strength of this bergamot supplement.
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Cortisol isn’t something many people think about but should. Our body tries to manage cortisol 24 hours a day, and it’s constantly changing based on the things going on around us as well as what we are doing. That being said, balancing healthy cortisol levels for athletes should be on the top of your mind if you want to help maintain and improve performance levels and stay one step ahead of your competition.
Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland but controlled by the hypothalamus. The body is good at controlling cortisol as it can become elevated and then managed quite quickly. While the rise of cortisol in most cases is acute, chronically high levels of cortisol can cause many issues that can damage health and diminish the performance levels of athletes.
As an example, when you exercise or train, cortisol levels rise due to the level of stress the body is put under. This rise in stress hormone is what helps produce energy for the body to perform. Cortisol also has anti-inflammatory properties that can ease pain, which can also help athletes continue to push themselves during training and competition.
This stress hormone also helps your body fight off infections and illnesses. But, again, this all comes down to balancing healthy cortisol levels and not allowing the rise in levels to become chronic and out of control.
Your body is capable of balancing healthy cortisol levels, but if for some reason your body isn’t capable of managing your levels and they remain high, it can cause the following issues:
There are a few things to consider when you’re an athlete. For starters, the duration of your training session may determine how much cortisol is released into the system. One study has shown that training for more than 60 minutes can cause a spike in cortisol release.
Another piece of research looked at cortisol levels in athletes and found that endurance athletes had a higher long-term cortisol exposure, which, when you think about it, aligns with what the study mentioned above found. The longer a training duration (irrelevant of intensity), the higher the levels of cortisol.
When you are able to support healthy cortisol levels, there are many benefits that you may experience. Many of these are extremely advantageous if you are an athlete who puts great demand on your body and needs it to perform and function optimally.
Below are some of the benefits you can experience when you’re able to create healthy cortisol levels.
Chronically high levels of cortisol can lead to fatigue. Much of which is due to poor sleep patterns. However, through balancing healthy cortisol levels, your body can better manage energy production both when cortisol levels naturally rise during exercise and training as well as when you’re going through your normal everyday life.
When cortisol levels are under control, you can experience better quality sleep patterns. By getting a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night, you can better recover from the stress of the previous day as well as the stress that came along with your workouts and training where you taxed your body and broke down muscle fibers that need to be rebuilt and repaired. This is incredibly important for athletes as they put high demand on their bodies to perform.
One of the negative aspects of chronically high cortisol levels is weight gain. This is due to ghrelin (a hunger hormone) being released as a result of increased stress and cortisol. The rise in ghrelin can cause hunger and lead to a caloric surplus and overeating, which then causes an increase in weight and body fat. Balancing healthy cortisol levels can minimize these effects and help promote and maintain a healthy body weight.
Chronic stress can impair brain function due to a rise in cortisol. It has also been said that if cortisol levels remain elevated, it can lead to mental illnesses such as depression. In addition, higher levels can decrease memory, processing speed, and overall cognition. By balancing healthy cortisol levels, you can improve brain function and think and process things more clearly, which can provide you with a competitive advantage as an athlete.
Immunity plays a role in all of our lives — it’s not just something athletes should focus on and worry about. If your body is stressed and unable to manage that stress and the reaction of cortisol levels spiking, it can diminish the immune system and cause the body to be less protected against viruses and harmful pathogens that enter our bodies. By controlling cortisol and keeping it normalized, you can better protect your immunity and your ability to stay healthy.
Healthy levels of cortisol can help improve your athletic performance by fighting inflammation and decreasing pain. Athletes push their bodies to the limit, and contact with others as well as the constant pounding of the joints can create both inflammation and pain if not controlled. By balancing healthy cortisol levels, you can help your body push harder and further by better managing the inflammatory and pain response.
Researchers have done extensive studies looking at how cortisol levels rise and fall throughout the day, which includes even when you aren’t training or competing. Generally speaking, they found that cortisol levels are much higher in the morning than they are in the afternoon.
The message behind this finding is that if you want to perform optimally and the demands put on the body are going to be intense, save the workout or training session until later in the afternoon when cortisol levels are lower.
Should you be worried about cortisol? The short answer is yes. Should you be concerned about cortisol levels from your training? Yes and no. Again, your body can do a good job of producing healthy cortisol levels around training, but one of the main concerns that should be focused on is elevated stress levels from work and unhealthy environments.
What can you do to help better manage your stress and cortisol levels? The hardest yet best plan would be to remove what’s causing you all of the stress. While that’s easier said than done, solving the issues causing you the most stress can dramatically and very quickly help you decrease your cortisol levels.
Do you feel like you need some help lowering cortisol? Are you looking for something that you can take which can help with balancing healthy cortisol levels? Try Simple Supplements Adrenal Support. This specifically formulated supplement utilizes the highest quality ingredients to help you reduce cortisol levels, decrease stress, improve brain function, reduce fatigue, improve mood, and help maximize energy levels and performance.
When balancing healthy cortisol levels is a concern of yours, turn to Simple Supplements Adrenal Support to help deliver the results you desire!
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No one wants to get sick. In fact, most people would do just about anything to prevent the coughs, sniffles, and sneezes. And forget about the dreaded nasal drip where you’re going through a box of tissues or two a day, and your nose resembles Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s. Sure, you could load up on vitamin C, eat a well-balanced diet, and exercise regularly, but there’s one thing that not many people think about when it comes to boosting their immunity — Vitamin D.
Nearly half of the US population has been found to be deficient in vitamin D. It could be due to not getting enough direct sunlight or a poor nutrition plan and supplementation regimen. Regardless of the reason, being deficient in vitamin D can put you at risk of getting sick — no matter what virus, pathogen, or bacteria finds its way into your system and does harm.
Unfortunately, most people only worry about the immune system after they’re already sick — which it’s too late at that point. Keeping your vitamin D levels high is a good idea and something you should focus on (and not just after the sniffles near their ugly head). The goal is to prevent illnesses, not try to play catch-up once you get sick.
In this article, we are going to look at how you can stay protected from illness and the importance of vitamin D.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to treat or diagnose any conditions. It is strictly for informational purposes only. See your doctor if you are sick or in need of medical attention. The use of vitamin D should not supersede a doctor’s diagnosis or treatment protocol.
The pandemic has caused people, businesses, and entire countries to slam the brakes and sit on the sideline, hoping and waiting for the virus to pass. During this time, researchers have been looking at many different factors when it comes to what’s putting people at risk. One of their findings was that 82% of those who contracted the virus had a vitamin D deficiency.
Another study showed that individuals who had adequate vitamin D levels had a 51.2% lower risk of suffering from severe complications or dying if they contracted the virus.
Again, this article and information are not meant to make any sort of claims or describe vitamin D as a treatment method but rather show what researchers have found regarding vitamin D levels as it relates to COVID cases.
Regardless of whether the pandemic is spreading or completely eliminated, vitamin D is a supplement you need to consider including in your daily regimen. Let’s look at what vitamin D can do for you.
Vitamin D can be produced by the body when we get enough direct sunlight. Exposure to sunlight can be absorbed by the skin and then help create vitamin D. You can also take in vitamin D through your diet and supplements.
Sadly, you’d need to eat a ton of food per day and spend a lot of time outside in order to achieve your daily requirement, but that doesn’t mean it still can’t help. When you combine food, sunlight, and supplementation, you can help better protect yourself from illness and disease.
A common issue that many face is when the colder seasons roll into their area. Shorter days with limited sunlight can drastically decrease your ability to take in natural vitamin D through sunlight. This is where supplementation becomes incredibly beneficial. It’s also a reason why many people may suffer from seasonal depression, as sunlight and vitamin D play a vital role in helping improve mood.
Below are three things that vitamin D can help with.
Vitamin D has been researched heavily over the years and has been found to help prevent many different diseases and illnesses. One of the most common that people tend to get in the colder months is the flu. Vitamin D has been shown to help fight off the flu along with helping to prevent heart disease and even multiple sclerosis. There are also plenty of studies that show vitamin D can help reduce and prevent type 2 diabetes, the deterioration of bone health, various forms of cancer, and even premature death.
When we think of inflammation, we tend to think about the pain and discomfort that is found in our knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, and other joints of the body. However, inflammation can happen throughout our bodies and can cause illness. When you take in adequate amounts of daily vitamin D, you can help reduce inflammationthroughout the body and keep yourself better protected. You can consider it another piece of armor that helps prevent you from getting sick.
No one enjoys getting sick. And that’s where vitamin D comes into play. If you want to boost your immune system, you can’t neglect vitamin D. One study has shown that a main function of vitamin D is its ability to help active killer T cells in the body. When your body detects foreign and harmful pathogens in the body, killer T cells are sent out to seek and destroy. A weakened immune system cannot effectively fight off all of the harmful bacteria and pathogens that make their way into the body, which can cause you to get sick. Ensure you take in enough vitamin D daily to help keep your immune system functioning optimally.
The fact that we all live insanely busy lives can cause us to not get enough direct sunlight regularly. This would typically cause your vitamin D levels to plummet. However, with the right supplements, you can better manage your levels and prevent a deficiency.
Simple Supplements has two products that should be of interest if you are concerned about your vitamin D levels. The first product is their straight Vitamin D3. Each serving of Vitamin D3 contains 5000 IU of this important vitamin. This product can support bone strength, muscle function, cardiovascular health, and help promote overall health.
The second product that should be on your radar is Vitamin D3 with MenaQ7®. This product is a step up from the standard Vitamin D3 that Simple Supplement carries. This product contains 5000 IU of vitamin D3 along with 180mcg of MenaQ7® (vitamin K2). The addition of MenaQ7® helps shuttle calcium to the bones, while the combination of these two powerful ingredients helps improve bone strength, muscle function, antioxidant protection, and supports overall health and immunity.
If you want to fulfill your daily vitamin D requirements, look no further than Simple Supplements!
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When you think of turmeric, what comes to mind? Probably a supplement that aids in improving overall health, reducing inflammation, and has some claims that it can even help prevent certain illnesses and diseases, right? Well, you wouldn’t be wrong. But what if I were to tell you that turmeric has some pretty amazing benefits for athletes as well?
In this article, we will look at five ways that supplementing with turmeric can help enhance your athletic performance and give you that extra edge and advantage that can put you ahead of your competition.
Turmeric is actually nothing new or groundbreaking. In fact, it’s been around for many years and has been the yellow-colored spice used in many delicious dishes. The benefits of turmeric actually come from a curcuminoid found in turmeric called curcumin. Many times, turmeric and curcumin are used interchangeably.
When it comes to understanding the benefits of turmeric, there is no shortage of research out there showing just how effective it is at protecting and improving health. While we could create an entire article on all the health research out there, for the sake of this article, let’s dive specifically into how it can benefit you as an athlete.
Whether you’re training hard in the gym or pushing yourself to compete at the highest level on the playing field, your muscles are being broken down and exhausted. While many will reach for a protein shake or amino acid supplement to improve muscle recovery, you may find that turmeric can also help prevent muscle damage and soreness.
One study showed that those who supplemented with turmeric were able to minimize the adverse effects of muscle damage due to intense training. Some have even claimed that prolonged use of turmeric can even help enhance recovery from injuries.
You are probably well aware of the soreness that comes from DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness), which can last several days following intense muscular activity. This can decrease your athletic performance if you aren’t able to recover quickly. Therefore, on top of your muscle recovery protocol, consider adding turmeric to your supplement arsenal.
If this benefit caught your eye, it certainly should. Anything you can legally use as an ergogenic aid to improve athletic performance is something you’d want to consider implementing, no?
Turmeric has the ability to help improve your endurance during exercise and activity while also helping to minimize ammonia and lactic acid from building up in your muscles and decreasing your muscle function and performance.
This powerful ingredient is also extremely promising when it comes to muscle glycogen levels (a source of fuel used by your muscles that gets diminished through physical activity and needs to be replenished). It has been found that through the use of turmeric, you may be able to drastically increase and restore muscle glycogenfollowing intense bouts of exercise and training.
As a result of exercise or athletic activity, it’s common for inflammation to occur in the body, such as in the muscles. In addition, the constant demand on the joints can also create some inflammation. It should be noted that inflammation is a natural process that takes place in the body and tends to follow exercise. However, such inflammation is generally acute and does not last long. That said, should you suffer from chronic inflammation, that’s where some issues may arise.
Earlier, we touched on the fact that turmeric is known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. This is important as inflammation can hinder your athletic performance as well as your workouts if not managed properly.
To better manage inflammation, turmeric can be supplemented. A piece of research looked at the various methods of decreasing inflammation and found that turmeric can be just as effective at reducing inflammation as common over-the-counter anti-inflammatory products like aspirin or ibuprofen.
Piggybacking off of the previous benefit, turmeric can help minimize joint pain and arthritis. As an athlete, your body takes a beating – especially your joints.
Repetitive motions and movement, such as a pitcher throwing a baseball, can cause some inflammation and arthritis in the shoulder and elbow. To remedy this issue, you can add turmeric to your post-workout routine and get a jump-start on removing inflammation before it turns into something more serious.
Athletes are constantly watching tape, studying plays, and trying to outsmart their opponent on the playing field. In order to do this, you need optimal brain function and memory.
One such benefit of supplementing with turmeric is that it can help improve brain function and memory. A cognitive study was done looking at individuals who were suffering from memory issues and found that by supplementing with turmeric, those who took the supplement, compared to those who did not, improved their memory by as much as 28%.
Does this crossover to athletes who have no signs of memory issues? That has yet to be studied, but even if a minor increase was found, it could have a profound effect on your athletic performance.
That being said, inflammation can play a role in brain function and memory, and the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric could maintain current levels if not improve them while helping minimize the risk of cognitive decline and disease.
I guess the cat is out of the bag now, but elite athletes have used turmeric for years to help them perform and recover better. The science and research are out there, and more and more athletes are jumping on board. Will you be next?
If you’re looking for a high-quality turmeric supplement, look no further than Simple Supplements Turmeric + Black Pepper Extract Combo. This product utilizes turmeric extract (98% curcumin) to help you perform at the highest level. In addition, black pepper extract (95% piperine) has been added to the combo to help increase the body’s ability to absorb the turmeric and maximize its effectiveness. Black pepper extract can aid with pain relief, support digestion, and increase nutrient absorption.
With the laundry list of benefits from turmeric that can help unlock your true athletic capabilities, it’s no wonder so many athletes are loading up on the powerhouse of a supplement. If you want to experience it for yourself, grab yourself a bottle of Simple Supplements Turmeric and find out what top athletes have been keeping secret all of these years!
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Have you been focusing on your gut health? Probably not, right? I fully understand, as it’s not something that many people focus on. But just because it’s not something you can physically see, like your skin health or physique, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put your best foot forward with improving it, and psyllium husk is just one way you can help take control of your gut cleansing.
Gut health is one of the most frequently discussed topics right now, and for a good reason – it plays a significant role in your overall health and immunity.
There seems to be an endless amount of information floating around on the internet these days, and it can be hard to separate the facts from conjecture. Hence, in this article, we will talk about the importance of gut health and how psyllium husk can impact the same.
Note: As always, it is advised that you speak with your doctor before implementing any nutritional changes or supplements into your program or regimen to ensure they are suitable for you and your current health status.
Gut health refers to the overall digestive tract health. It is a term that has become relevant over the past couple of decades as more studies have been done into what makes a healthy gut and how it affects your overall health.
In general, gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that are present in your digestive system. This is also known as the gut microbiome or more easily remembered as “healthy bacteria.”
Now, why is the gut microbiome important?
The gut microbiome is responsible for all sorts of things happening in your body, including absorption of nutrients and helping with proper digestion of the food you consume. It also helps to regulate things such as bile, vitamin levels, and supports your overall immune system.
Now that you are aware of the importance of gut health, the gut microbiome, and how it affects your overall body, let’s talk specifically about psyllium husk and how it helps in gut cleansing.
Psyllium is a fiber that is made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds. It is commonly known as a laxative, which helps loosen stool as well as keeps your bowel movements regular. While it’s not the sexiest thing to talk about, it’s a matter of understanding how it affects your health.
The husks are generally ground into a powder and are considered a rich source of soluble fiber. What this means is that it dissolves easily in water and then forms a gel-like substance that helps softens stool and eases bowel movements. Psyllium husk can improve regularity without an increase in flatulence.
Research has shown that taking psyllium husk has many benefits to various parts of the human body, such as the pancreas and heart.
Here are some notable benefits of psyllium husk when it comes to gut cleansing:
As discussed earlier, psyllium husk supplements are bulk-forming laxatives. Again, this means it dissolves and disperses in water and eases your bowel movements. It can be a great natural supplement to relieve constipation, and you can also add it to your everyday diet for better regularity and overall digestive health.
Those who are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease are already all too familiar with bowel irregularity. Studies have shown that psyllium husk can help them in treating these conditions. One study found that psyllium husk actually had a better impact than wheat bran, an insoluble fiber, on the total weight, moisture, and stool texture.
Research shows that psyllium husk supplements help to treat diarrhea. It works as a water-absorbing agent, increases stool thickness, and slows down its passage through the colon.
Other studies showed that psyllium husk might decrease diarrhea in those who went through radiation therapy as a cancer treatment.
After you consume food, carbs like pasta and bread are broken down into simple sugars, and those are then absorbed into the bloodstream. Generally, most sugar absorption takes place early in the process of digestion. Psyllium husk supplements trap some of the simple sugar and carbohydrates. This can delay the absorption process so that some of it is absorbed in the later stage of the digestive process.
Due to psyllium husk supplementation, it has also been shown to help maintain a healthy and normalized blood sugar level.
The gel-like fiber substance that is created when you mix psyllium husk supplements with water plays a vital role in decreasing your “bad” LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol, and it does not have any effect on your “good” HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. This is due to the help of a similar mechanism to that of certain cholesterol-lowering drugs.
This mechanism helps psyllium husk bind with bile acid in your gut and prevents reabsorption. Additionally, this has important implications as studies have suggested that high LDL cholesterol levels may lead to various heart diseases.
While there is no such general consensus on the dosage, most of the advantageous effects can be experienced when you take around 3.5g-6g one or two times a day (preferably before meals). It is advised that when you are consuming psyllium husk supplements, you should increase your water intake for the day as well.
Psyllium husk is a great and effective supplement for gut cleansing and overall gut health.
If you’re looking to improve your gut cleansing and gut health, Fiber Cleanse enhanced with PreforPro® is a simple solution. Not only are you getting a patented and clinically proven ingredient that can help positively impact gut microbiota, but also a full 6g of psyllium husk as well.
Fiber Cleanse can help support healthy gut bacteria, maintain proper bowel health, reduce gut inflammation, improve cholesterol levels, aid in managing blood sugar, support weight loss, and help overall heart function. If that checks all of the boxes you’re looking for, give it a try for yourself!
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Today, we hear so much emphasis being put on probiotics that it’s easy to skip over prebiotics altogether. When it comes to gut health, many people don’t put much focus into it. The inner workings of our body can easily be neglected as they are something we don’t generally think of on a day-to-day basis – nor is gut health something we can physically look at in the mirror and evaluate.
When’s the last time you thought about your gut bacteria? Probably never, right? You’re not alone. People tend to become lackadaisical with parts of their health that they can’t physically work on, such as their muscles, cardiovascular system, etc. But gut health is incredibly important, and that’s where prebiotics can come into play.
Prebiotics are specialized plant fibers that help healthy bacteria develop in your gut. Your digestive system has the ability to work better through the help of prebiotics by improving the healthy gut bacteria in your system. You can think of gut bacteria as “good” versus “evil.” The evil or bad bacteria in the body have the ability to cause damage and may increase your risk of getting sick. The good bacteria, on the other hand, is there to help combat the “evil” (bad) bacteria and prevent them from doing harm and spreading.
Prebiotics can be present in a bunch of the foods you may already be consuming on a daily basis. Gut health-improving prebiotics can be found in various vegetables and fruits – especially in those that have complex carbs, such as resistant starch and fiber. These carbohydrates are not digestible by our body, so they go through the digestive system to become food for the healthy bacteria along with other microbes.
You may be wondering, if your body already possesses healthy gut bacteria, what’s the point of adding prebiotics? For starters, you want to maintain the health of the healthy bacteria in your system. Should the healthy bacteria be attacked or decrease, your immune system may take a hit, increasing your risk of getting sick.
One of the biggest benefits of taking prebiotics is that they are incredibly stable, being unaffected either by long-term storage or temperature. If you were to look at this from a supplement standpoint, some supplements are affected by temperature and are unstable in warmer conditions. When this is the case, they generally need to be kept in the refrigerator, otherwise, the contents could become harmed, damaged, and destroyed.
Prebiotics are also resistant to our body’s enzymes and gastric acids, which means they are not digested, destroyed, or absorbed as they pass through our digestive system. Unlike many probiotics, prebiotics reaches the colon unaltered and intact.
PreforPro is one of the most popular prebiotics in the market, as it serves many beneficial purposes such as:
One of the most popular benefits of prebiotics is the stimulation of the immune system. Gut microorganisms are known to have an impact on multiple aspects of the adaptive and innate mucosal immune system.
Dysbiotic intestinal microbiota is the main reason behind inflammatory bowel disease. Prebiotics can improve the gut mucosal barrier and modulate the microflora. Hence, it helps prevent IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).
Internal dysbiosis is one of the primary reasons behind constipation. Prebiotics stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria that helps in relieving constipation.
Gut microbiota is linked with the development of low-grade inflammation that disrupts glucose metabolism and the absorption of fats. These disruptions are features of obesity. Prebiotics do the work of improving the gut barrier integrity and lowers low-grade intestinal inflammation, hence promoting weight loss and boosting metabolic alterations.
Prebiotics can be beneficial in the prevention of colorectal cancer as it modifies the composition or activity of the colorectal microflora.
You can get prebiotics from a lot of food sources and supplements. Out of all the supplements, a patented ingredient known as PreforPro has been one of the most groundbreaking prebiotics to hit the market in recent years.
Deerland, a Georgia-based probiotics and enzymes expert, has come up with a clinical study that demonstrates the efficacy of the bacteriophage cocktail PreforPro in supporting the systemic markers and gut microbiota.
PreforPro is a prebiotic bacteriophage cocktail that makes the gut ensure that healthy probiotic bacteria have the ability to grow and flourish. PreforPro is not fiber or starch-based, and therefore, it needs quite a small dosage compared to typical prebiotics, and it has been found to be effective in hours, not days.
There have been more than 20 studies confirming the safety and efficacy of PreforPro.
In a human clinical study, PreforPro was shown to influence the microbial population present in the gut. At the same time, it also had a positive impact on cholesterol and immune response. Results of the study showed an:
In another human clinical study that was done to investigate whether PreforPro with probiotic would provide additional advantages to gastrointestinal functions and augment the microbiota in the gut as compared to the probiotic by itself. The results showed a:
Prebiotics are primarily fibers or starches that are known to be beneficial. However, they may have some drawbacks, such as:
This is where PreforPro comes into play, as unlike fiber and starch-based prebiotics, it does not require massive doses to be effective, and it does not cause flatulence.
It functions in both the large and small intestine, as discussed earlier, and it is not affected by the nutrients of varying gut environments. In essence, it provides the digestive system an effective boost.
PreforPro gets to work on the harmful bacteria in the gut within few hours of consumption by destabilizing the bacterial barrier. It releases nutrients into the gut environment, which can then be consumed by the good bacteria present in the GI tract.
Without proper focus on gut health, you could be at risk of gut inflammation, failing bowel health, and the destruction and killing off of healthy gut bacteria. To help prevent all of this, you can implement easy-to-use Fiber Cleanse in your daily nutrition plan.
Available in a delicious Pineapple-Mango flavor, Fiber Cleanse provides you with everything you need to help improve your gut health. Simply mix one scoop of Fiber Cleanse in water one or two times a day, and that’s it. You can even combine Fiber Cleanse with your daily protein or nutrition shake for an even easier way to get in your healthy prebiotics.
Fiber Cleanse contains patented PreforPro and other helpful ingredients that may improve gut health, such as psyllium husk and high-amylose resistant corn fiber.
When you want to improve your health but don’t want to put a ton of thought into how to accomplish it, reach for Fiber Cleanse – your all-in-one gut health and prebiotics formula!
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Are you forgetful? Would your family and friends say that you’d forget your head if it weren’t attached to your neck? Well, you’re not alone – and there are specific things you can do to help, such as leveraging the power of DHA. The majority of your brain is made up of fat. For that reason, you need to supply your body and brain with healthy fats to keep things running like a well-oiled machine. That’s where supplements like fish oil and DHA come into play. What many people fail to realize is that healthy fats are crucial for many processes in your body to take place – such as hormone production and balance.
]]>Are you forgetful? Would your family and friends say that you’d forget your head if it weren’t attached to your neck? Well, you’re not alone – and there are specific things you can do to help, such as leveraging the power of DHA.
The majority of your brain is made up of fat. For that reason, you need to supply your body and brain with healthy fats to keep things running like a well-oiled machine. That’s where supplements like fish oil and DHA come into play. What many people fail to realize is that healthy fats are crucial for many processes in your body to take place – such as hormone production and balance.
If you’re not a fan of eating fish, you may be missing out on some of the brain health benefits that come along with consuming healthy fats. When you look at fish and fish oil supplements, one aspect that is often discussed is the quality and quantity of DHA present in the product.
In this article, we will look at what DHA is and how it can help improve your brain health.
Disclaimer: You should never use any supplements without first consulting with your doctor to ensure there will be no interaction with any medications you may be on or cause a reaction due to health conditions or allergies.
One of the most commonly used supplements out on the market today is fish oil. Those who don’t regularly consume fish oil throughout the week may find themselves deficient in healthy fats – especially if they also don’t consume nut butters, avocados, nuts, seeds, or cook with healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or macadamia nut oil.
Omega-3 fatty acids are unable to be manufactured by the body alone and therefore need to come from our diet or supplementation. Unfortunately, not many people focus on consuming fatty fish or healthy fats with their meals which can lead to some mental and cognitive issues over time.
DHA (or docosahexaenoic acid) is one of the healthy fatty acids present in fish oil. This specific fatty acid is known for its ability to help maintain and improve brain function and performance. A fatty acid such as DHA can also help regulate hormones in the body that, without, could cause some negative and adverse effects on both mental and physical health.
Regardless of your age, DHA has shown to be beneficial for the young, the old, and the sick.
If you want to learn more about fish oil and all of the benefits that can be experienced, check out our article titled, “Fish Oil 101: Key Health Benefits to Understand.”
You don’t need to enjoy fish to get brain health benefits – that’s where useful supplements that include omega-3 fatty acids and DHA come into play. By supplementing with a high-quality fish oil supplement that contains DHA, you may see the three main benefits mentioned below.
Your system is constantly trying to reduce and battle inflammation. While inflammation in your body may not be life-threatening, inflammation that takes place in the brain can have deadly consequences if not prevented and controlled.
Inflammation in the brain can happen due to a lack of physical activity, age, poor circulation, heart failure, chronic stress levels, and respiratory issues.
Antioxidants do a great job of fighting free radicals to help prevent inflammation from taking place, but even that isn’t always enough. Healthy fats such as DHA can help manage inflammation in the brain and may prevent certain cognitive diseases and disorders.
DHA possesses natural anti-inflammatory properties that can specifically target the brain and help preserve brain health and functioning.
As mentioned in #1, stress, poor nutrition, and age all play a role in inflammation targeting the brain. All of these factors can negatively affect your overall brain functioning and performance.
While we can’t do anything about the aging process (Father Time does not take pity on anyone), we can improve all of those other aspects by making them a priority and specifically focusing on improving them.
However, you can take things one step further by adding a fish oil supplement to your nutrition plan and regimen to help increase your DHA levels. Research has found that those who consume omega-3 fatty acids were less likely to suffer from cognitive issues and diseases.
One study showed that healthy fatty acids such as DHA could help prevent cognitive decline.
Another aspect of brain health and functioning comes down to proper circulation. When blood flow is restricted to the brain, a whole host of issues can unfold. DHA has the ability to help improve blood flow and circulationby dilating the blood vessels. The better the blood flow, the easier it is for oxygenated blood and nutrients to fuel the brain.
A common issue that arises with age is memory loss. In addition, with age, American adults may be more at risk for cognitive disorders and diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Researchers have found that those who supplemented with DHA were better able to preserve memory as they age.
Another study also confirmed that DHA can improve memory function while also finding another benefit of being able to improve the ability to learn and support mental performance.
There have also been studies looking specifically at how DHA levels in the body help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. One such study has shown that individuals who possess higher levels of DHA were at a lower risk for memory loss and diseases that directly affect memory and recollection.
I’ll admit, that was a lousy attempt at a DHA and brain benefit joke. However, that being said, utilizing and throwing a fish oil and DHA supplement into your regimen can bring you many overall health benefits – more than just what can be experienced by the brain.
In fact, Simple Supplements Omega3 isn’t your ordinary fish oil supplement – it’s BETTER! In addition to all of the health benefits you can experience by adding a fish oil and DHA supplement into your regimen, Simple Supplements Omega3 also contains two powerful ingredients – Coenzyme Q10 and Astaxanthin.
Coenzyme Q10 can help boost exercise performance, improve brain health, and support healthy skin. Then you have the added benefit of Astaxanthin which can help fight free radicals thanks to its natural antioxidant properties, elevate exercise performance, support heart health, minimize joint pain, and improve skin health.
Simple Supplements Omega3 is an all-in-one powerhouse of a supplement that only needs to be taken once a day. And unlike my poor comedic skills earlier, this is no joke. Try Simple Supplements Omega3 for yourself and feel the difference!
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Are you a fish lover? Do you consume fish regularly throughout the week? If you are shaking your head, dry-heaving, and answered “no,” You’re not alone. However, if you aren’t consuming fish all that often, you may not be getting adequate amounts of healthy fats in your diet. Even if you aren’t a fish lover and tend to avoid it like the plague, that doesn’t mean you can’t supplement with a fish oil product and help take in omega-3 fatty acids that have many health benefits.
In this article, we will look at exactly what fish oil is, who should take it, and four of the health benefits you can improve upon through its use.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’ve heard the horror stories of people who take fish oil supplements, and all you hear about is how disgusting the fish burps are. Well, don’t worry, as technological advances have been made to the encapsulation process, and many fish oil supplements possess a time-released gel-cap that slowly allows the fish oil to be released rather than an all-at-once release that can have you burping a fishy taste for hours.
All of that being said, what exactly is fish oil? Fish oil supplements are nothing more than the healthy fats and oils that are extracted from fish and put into a concentrated (generally) soft gel capsule.
While fish oil is made up of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, it also contains other helpful vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin D. Additionally, when you look at fish oil supplements (such as the profile on the label), you may also see things called out on the label such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
DHA and EPA are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that the body requires to help function and perform optimally while also aiding with the health benefits we will dive into shortly.
Fish oil is one of those supplements that can benefit individuals of all ages. Babies actually get a good amount of healthy omega-3 through their mother’s milk supply. Unfortunately, once the child is weaned off of his or her mother’s milk, they could become deficient if not provided enough foods containing healthy fats.
While most supplement manufacturers will have a warning on their label that their product should not be used by anyone under the age of 18, if done under a doctor’s supervision, a young child and even adolescent can safely use a fish oil supplement if they aren’t taking in enough healthy fats and omega fatty acids through their daily nutrition.
It should be noted that those who are allergic to fish or shellfish should probably stay away from using fish oil supplements unless recommended by your doctor – otherwise, a severe allergic reaction could occur.
Disclaimer: You should never use any supplements without first consulting with your doctor to ensure there will be no interaction with any medications you may be on or cause a reaction due to health conditions or allergies.
Fish oil is loaded with tons of health benefits, and the four below tend to be the ones that cause people to want to start including a fish oil supplement into their regimen.
Does heart disease or heart issues run in your family? If so, this benefit should be a main focus of yours. While there is no 100% certainty that supplementing with fish oil can prevent heart disease, studies have shown that individuals who consume fish, fish oil, and/or omega fatty acids have a much lower risk of heart disease.
How does fish oil play a role in heart health? There are several ways, actually. Supplementing with fish oil can help reduce triglyceride levels by as much as 30%, improve HDL cholesterol levels (the good/healthy cholesterol), and lower LDL cholesterol levels (the bad/unhealthy cholesterol).
Your brain loves fat – more specifically, healthy fat. The brain itself is actually comprised of around 60% fat. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that in order for your brain to function and perform optimally, it demands healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids.
While the goal of pointing out the brain health benefits isn’t to make direct claims, it has been shown that those who wish to help prevent cognitive decline and help lower the risk of mental diseases and disorders can do so by supplementing with fish oil if they are not consuming enough healthy fats in their diet.
Whether you feel the effects or not, your body is constantly battling inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s way of dealing with damage, stress, illness, as well as injury. Your body is under attack from free radicals on a daily basis, which, if it isn’t taken care of, can increase inflammation and lead to joint health issues as well as an increase in illness.
Fish oil possesses natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation. That said, one of the most common issues people experience with inflammation is joint pain. Inflammation in the joint can also cause stiffness and lead to more severe issues such as arthritis. Those who utilize a fish oil supplement may find that they can decrease inflammatory joint pain as well as help minimize the symptoms commonly associated with arthritis.
With more than 60% of adults being classified as overweight and more than 40% being classified as obese, many people are in search of a healthy and natural way to help improve their weight loss success. Enter fish oil.
Research has found that those who engage in aerobic activity, while also including fish oil supplements into their regimen, were able to improve body composition and lower their cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Additionally, in another study, researchers found that young adults who utilized fish oil were better able to boost weight loss.
No fish burps, no fishy aftertaste, no fillers, just an ultra-purified fish oil. That’s what you get with Simple Supplements Icelandic Omega3. Not only do you get a total of 1980mg of total omega-3 fatty acids, but Simple Supplements Icelandic Omega3 is also enhanced with natural Astaxanthin as well as Coenzyme Q10. These two ingredients help separate this product from all of the others out on the market.
The health benefits from the sea don’t merely end with fish oil itself. Astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment that is common in fish such as salmon (and it’s what gives them their vibrant pink color), contains powerful antioxidants to help fight free radicals. It has also been shown to help improve skin health by maintaining moisture which keeps skin looking plump and healthy while also playing a role in preventing wrinkles. If you live an active lifestyle, astaxanthin can boost endurance during physical activity. Do you find your joints hurt? Astaxanthin can help reduce inflammation and minimize joint pain. Lastly, who wouldn’t want improved heart health? Astaxanthin supports heart health by supporting blood vessel health and potentially lowering the risk of heart disease.
Add all of that in with Coenzyme Q10’s ability to improve skin health, enhance exercise performance, and boost brain health, and you have yourself an incredibly powerful supplement to add to your regimen.
If you’re looking to support cognitive functioning, improve cardiovascular and cognitive health, and minimize harmful inflammation in the body, look no further than Simple Supplements Icelandic Omega3. All you need is a single serving per day, and you can find yourself with a laundry list of health benefits that you may not only see but feel. Grab a bottle today to help prevent a deficiency in healthy fatty acids.
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Our body needs essential nutrients in the form of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to perform important functions. While vitamins can be obtained through a healthy lifestyle, many people seem to be deficient in many micronutrients, such as vitamins D and K.
Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential for our bodies in order to function optimally and maintain health. Our bodies cannot produce vitamins themselves, so we must take them via our daily diet as well as through proper supplementation.
The advantage of utilizing a supplement form is that you can easily fill in any nutritional gaps you may have. Many people may find it challenging to get all of the micronutrients they need through their diet alone if they aren’t consuming a wide variety of food, and in some cases, in a fairly high volume.
In this article, we will discuss and focus on two of the most important fat-soluble vitamins out there that many may find themselves deficient in – vitamin D and vitamin K.
Vitamin D is vital for strong bones as it helps our body take up and use calcium from the foods we consume. Vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” as it is produced in our skin when we are exposed to direct sunlight. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, essentially a family of compounds that consists of vitamins D1, D2, and D3.
Unfortunately, many people (without them knowing until they notice some changes to their mood and health) don’t realize that they are deficient in vitamin D. As mentioned earlier, our body can produce vitamin D when we are outside taking in sunlight, but other than that, you’ll need to get it via certain foods and supplements.
Vitamin D has various functions, such as:
Those who suffer from a chronic vitamin D deficiency may find themselves faced with bone issues such as osteoporosis or osteomalacia.
Vitamin K, similar to vitamin D, belongs to a group of fat-soluble vitamins that plays an important role in bone metabolism, blood clotting, and the regulation of blood calcium levels.
Our body needs vitamin K to create prothrombin, a protein and clotting factor essential in bone metabolism and blood clotting. Deficiency in vitamin K is not extremely common but can happen. When deficiencies occur, in some cases, it can increase clotting time which can lead to hemorrhage or excessive bleeding.
Vitamin K has various benefits for our body and overall health. Here are some of them:
Now that we know how vitamins D and K are related to bone and cardiovascular health, let’s look at some common cardiovascular issues that people face.
Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are quite common age-related issues associated with mortality, disability, and morbidity.
Brittle bones and cardiovascular health go hand-in-hand. There have been many studies that show a link between cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis.
Some studies have identified that there are links between osteoporosis and some cardiovascular diseases, which include:
Low bone mineral density is related to an increase in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.
Vitamins D and K are the dream team when it comes to improving bone and cardiovascular health.
Cardiovascular health issues affect a lot of people around the globe and, according to the WHO, account for at least a third of all deaths worldwide.
It’s important to understand the potential synergistic interplay of vitamins D and K to understand their functionality together. One of the most important factors is that vitamin D triggers the production of vitamin K-dependent proteins present in our body.
Once created, the proteins will need vitamin K to function at an optimum level. In this way, our body makes sure that the calcium level is well distributed throughout. Without the presence of vitamin K, the proteins cannot carboxylate in order to function properly.
Vitamin D and vitamin K work together to make sure calcium is distributed throughout our bodies. As vitamin D plays the vital role of stabilizing bodily calcium levels present in our blood, vitamin K makes sure the calcium is distributed to our bones.
They can only work well if they are present in adequate amounts and combinations. Research shows that low levels of vitamins D and K may increase systolic blood pressure and can increase your risk for hypertension. Therefore, in the right proportions, both of the vitamins can be an integral part of maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system and better bone health.
Vitamins D and K are the yin and yang when it comes to health improvements. An easy way to ensure you aren’t deficient in these two micronutrients is to include them in your diet and supplement regimen.
If you want a high-quality vitamin D and vitamin K supplement, Simple Supplements Vitamin D3 Enhanced with MenaQ7™ (Vitamin K2 as Mk-7) would be a preferred choice. This daily single capsule dose will provide you with 5000 IU of vitamin D3 and 180mcg of vitamin K2 as MenaQ7.
The combination of powerful vitamin D3 with MenaQ7 can help you support bone strength through calcium utilization, improve muscular and cardiovascular function, provide antioxidant protection, and enhance your overall immunity and health.
Don’t wait until something happens to find out you’re deficient in vitamins D and K, include Simple Supplements Vitamin D3 Enhanced with MenaQ7 in your daily regimen to help take control of your health.
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A fun fact that not many people realize is that collagen is actually the most abundant protein found in the human body. You can think of it as the glue that holds your body together. Therefore, it makes sense to consider a collagen supplement, right? While many consider the use of collagen supplements as only being beneficial for hair, skin, and nails, it has some amazing and helpful benefits when it comes to your joint health.
No one likes to think about the aging process, but the truth is that we aren’t getting any younger. With each passing year, we put our body and health at risk if we aren’t proactively doing something to help keep things running in tip-top shape.
One thing that tends to become an issue as we age is our joint health. You may even already be at that stage where you wake up with aches and pains in your joints. Your knees hurt with each step you take, your shoulder range of motion has become limited, your elbow has a nagging pain, and it seems like Father Time is reminding you that you’re no longer a teenager where you can do anything and feel invincible when you wake up the next morning.
Those suffering from severe joint pain or joint diseases may lay in bed wondering how they’re going to get out of bed and tackle the day.
In this article, we will look at how supplementing with collagen can help improve and maintain your joint health. Let’s dive into it!
Disclaimer: You should always consult with your doctor before introducing any supplements into your regiment. This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any health conditions.
Collagen is made up of amino acids (primarily glycine and proline) and is the structural component that makes up the connective tissues in your body. You can think of this as your cartilage and tendons. The amino acids necessary to ensure joint health are considered non-essential amino acids – which the body has the ability to make the necessary amino acids needed.
However, as with most things, when we age, collagen production starts to diminish, and your cartilage and tendons can begin to deteriorate – especially if you live an active lifestyle and aren’t focusing on joint health. It’s not uncommon to notice these changes start to unfold in your late 20s or early 30s.
The good news is that collagen is an easy-to-digest form of protein that, unlike whey protein (in some individuals), should not cause any stomach or digestive discomfort.
Below, you will find four benefits of supplementing with collagen and why you should consider adding it to your supplement regimen to help improve joint health.
Inflammation in the body can cause pain and discomfort. Your joints are no different. Inflammation can occur due to overuse, joint diseases, injury, poor nutrition, and even free radical damage.
Those who suffer from joint pain may have mobility issues and chronic pain that can negatively impact their everyday lives. Supplementing with collagen has been found to help decrease inflammation in joints and also reduce overall perceived joint pain.
Piggybacking off of #1, there are a bunch of studies out there that explain the invaluable benefits that supplementing with collagen can produce in regard to joint pain. One study showed that athletes who suffered from joint pain and were given a collagen supplement showed significant improvements. After 12 weeks, the athletes had less joint pain compared to the placebo group.
Some studies have been conducted that have shown that supplementing with collagen can help reduce joint pain from those already suffering from joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Even adults who live a healthy and active lifestyle can benefit from supplementing with collagen to improve joint health. Another study showed that consistent use of collagen supplements helped significantly reduce joint pain in adults and allowed them the opportunity to better maintain their active lifestyle.
It goes without saying, but the ability to prevent joint injuries by strengthening cartilage and tendons should be something everyone is interested in. If you injure your knee, shoulder, elbow, [insert whatever joint you want here], think about how that will affect your life. Can you afford to have surgery on a joint or be in a cast or brace for weeks or even months?
Regardless of if you’re an athlete or an adult living an active lifestyle, supplementing with collagen can help improve your joint health and may also help prevent injuries that can create a massive setback to your lifestyle.
As you age, you put yourself at greater risk for degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, which is one of the most common forms of arthritis you can suffer from. More than 32.5 million adults in the United States suffer from osteoarthritis alone.
Another prevalent joint disease is rheumatoid arthritis. However, those supplementing with collagen have been found to be able to help minimize and prevent rheumatoid arthritis.
Your risk of a joint disease depends on your race, gender, weight, age, genetics, and how much stress you put on the joint itself (such as repetitive movements or pounding to the joint such as the forces placed upon it when running). If you want to help lower your risk of joint diseases, consider supplementing with collagen.
While supplements should not be used without a doctor’s supervision for those under the age of 18, anyone over that age should absolutely consider supplementing with collagen to help improve and maintain joint health. It’s never too early to take control of your overall health.
The longer you can maintain your independence and longevity in life, the better. Once your joint health starts failing, things can quickly go downhill, and you may find yourself dependent on others to help you do everyday tasks – no matter how little or “simple” they may be.
For that reason, Simple Supplements has created a patented and 100% non-GMO avian sternum type II collagen supplement called KollaGen II-xs™.
KollaGen II-xs utilizes collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid to aid in improving and preserving joint health, cartilage health, joint lubrication, and more.
Simple Supplements Kollagen II-xs can help enhance your athletic performance, improve joint recovery from intense training, and even has some non-joint benefits such as helping to boost the immune system, improving skin health and elasticity, and even enhancing the digestive system.
If you want to take control of your joint health and start supplementing with collagen, grab a bottle of Simple Supplements KollaGen II-xs and feel the difference for yourself!
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Have you ever wondered how to detoxify your liver? Probably not, as there aren’t many people out there who put liver health high on their priority list – which could be a huge mistake. Your liver is an incredibly important organ that needs to be maintained to allow proper functioning – even if you don’t feel the effects of your liver working.
Our liver is the largest organ present inside of our body (the skin being the overall largest we possess). The liver carries out more than 500 vital tasks in our body. Considered as a part of the digestive system, the liver carries out essential functions such as protein synthesis, helps detoxify toxins, and produces chemicals that boost digestion. The liver regulates most chemical levels present in the blood and excretes a product known as bile.
Therefore, liver health should be a focus we put on our health, and it lies in helping detoxify your liver.
Let’s discuss the essential functions of the liver and why it is necessary to detoxify your liver and improve its overall performance.
The liver can be classified as a gland that is associated with various essential functions (over 500 distinct roles).
The primary functions of the liver are:
Bile helps the small intestine to break down and absorb cholesterol, fats, and vitamins. Bile is made up of bile salts, bilirubin, cholesterol, water, and electrolytes.
Vitamin K is vital for the creation of certain coagulants that aid in blood clotting. Bile is essential for vitamin K absorption, and it is produced directly in the liver. If the liver fails to produce enough bile, blood-clotting factors cannot be created. Hence, to regulate blood clots, you must detoxify liver health and preserve its health.
All the blood that is leaving the intestines and stomach passes through the liver, and it does the work of removing by-products, toxins, and other toxic substances.
The liver removes excess sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream in the body and stores it as glycogen. When needed, it can convert glycogen back into sugar or glucose. Hence, if you’re able to detoxify your liver, you can help effectively process and manage the glucose in your body.
Albumin is the most common protein present in blood serum. It helps to maintain the correct pressure and prevent leaking of blood vessels by transporting things like hormones and fatty acids.
These are only some of the essential functions of our liver out of all the 500+ essential ones that take place on a daily basis (a whole book could be written on the benefits associated with a healthy liver). It’s for this reason that you need to focus on how to effectively detoxify your liver and ensure you keep it running in tip-top shape at all times.
Now that we looked at the importance of the liver, let’s next talk about how you can naturally start the process needed to help detoxify your liver.
The liver may not be the CEO of our body, but it still plays a pivotal role and is still doing all of the important work to keep us fit and healthy.
While most people understand that abusing alcohol might damage your liver, there are many other ways in how your liver can sustain damage. When the liver becomes compromised, it is unable to detoxify your body effectively and efficiently, which can cause some serious health complications.
Therefore, it is imperative to take good care of your liver health at all times. Below are some simple and natural ways of how you can help detoxify your liver.
Again, a no-brainer, your diet plays an important role when it comes to your overall liver health. Some things you can focus on include:
Physical activity can be great for your musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, but it can also be quite beneficial for your liver.
In a piece of published research, it was examined how exercise can help people recover from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is one of the most common liver issues in the United States as well as worldwide.
It was concluded that cardio and resistance training could help prevent fat growth in your liver, which such fat build-up is linked directly with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
A brisk walk or run around your neighborhood, a trail, or anywhere you enjoy being outdoor can be a great addition to your weekly workout routine and improve your liver health. As recommended by the CDC, you should already be striving to achieve a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity each week.
The liver processes chemicals that enter our body through our mouth as well as our nose and skin. There are a few everyday household products that many people regularly use which contain harmful toxins that can damage liver health – and even compound the effects further if you come in contact with them regularly.
It’s for that reason why many people only shop for natural and organic cleaners to use in their homes to help protect their overall health. You’ll want to avoid using products that contain pesticides or herbicides and take precautions when you are around and can potentially inhale any kind of chemical fumes.
If you are bound to use chemicals or aerosols, such as paint, make sure your house is well ventilated, and be sure to wear a mask.
There are many supplements out there on the market that boast themselves as being able to help detoxify your liver.
If you want to go the route of adding liver health supplements to your daily regimen, it can be an easy way to take a first step in the right direction if you haven’t changed any of the other things mentioned in this article.
There are some nutrients and ingredients out there that can support liver health by minimizing the effects of any toxins or chemicals that may enter the body. Some supplements such as milk thistle, chlorella, turmeric, activated charcoal are generally considered safe to use (among other ingredients). It is still recommended that you consult with your doctor before taking any supplements to ensure there will not be any interaction with anything else you may be taking.
Do you want to boost liver health and help detoxify your liver? If so, check out the Simple Supplements Liver Support Formula. This all-in-one liver product can help promote liver cell regeneration, aid in removing harmful toxins, and can protect the liver against free radical damage through its powerful antioxidant properties.
Simple Supplements Liver Support Formula combines milk thistle, artichoke, and n-acetyl cysteine to create a potent mixture of liver-protecting ingredients. Liver health is something we should not avoid, and if you want to help improve the overall health of your liver and help detoxify your liver, pick up a bottle of Simple Supplements Liver Support Formula and help preserve and improve your liver health.
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What do you think about when you hear someone say vitamin C? Maybe orange juice? Maybe a vitamin C supplement? How about when someone says pre-workout? You probably think of caffeine, energy, focus, and muscle pumps. Now, what about post-workout recovery? Possibly protein, amino acids, even some rehydration ingredients, right?
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What do you think about when you hear someone say vitamin C? Maybe orange juice? Maybe a vitamin C supplement? How about when someone says pre-workout? You probably think of caffeine, energy, focus, and muscle pumps. Now, what about post-workout recovery? Possibly protein, amino acids, even some rehydration ingredients, right?
All of those things are accurate and commonly used and considered when taking a pre-workout or post-workout supplement. Many fail to realize that vitamin C is incredibly powerful and beneficial when it comes to maximizing recovery and minimizing catabolic stress.
In this article, we are going to take a deep dive into exactly why you should consider leveraging vitamin C as a pre- or post-workout addition to your supplement regimen.
Disclaimer: You should always speak to a doctor before using any supplements and before engaging in any exercise program to ensure you are healthy enough to do so. This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
We can all agree that there’s nothing exciting about a vitamin C supplement. It’s not like a pre-workout that you’re going to feel it working and energizing you, nor is it like a flavored protein or amino acid supplement that is a refreshing reward following an intense workout. Instead, vitamin C is one of those supplements that get to work without you really being aware of what’s going on behind the scenes.
By now, you’re probably wondering why exactly you should consider using vitamin C around your workouts? You don’t hear much about it other than the fact that it’s commonly used for boosting immunity. Below are some of the important benefits you can achieve when using vitamin C around your workouts.
When it comes to exercise, you are probably all too familiar with muscle soreness following intense workouts. When DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) sets in, it can remind you all day long (and even for multiple days) that you pushed yourself hard and taxed the muscles during your previous workout.
The process of breaking down muscle fibers can lead to inflammation, and inflammation leads to soreness. While some muscle soreness can be minor, some could be severe depending on how much damage was done to the tissue during the workout.
By supplementing with vitamin C around your workouts, you have the ability to help reduce muscle inflammation and soreness as vitamin C has natural anti-inflammatory properties.
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is fine when normalized but can cause some issues when it increases. When the body is under stress (such as during workouts or work/family issues), cortisol is released. Luckily, shortly after the rise in cortisol, in the case of exercise, it levels back out and normalizes without any intervention needed following your workouts.
That being said, when cortisol levels in the body remain elevated and become chronic, it can cause a domino effect to take place within the body. Chronically high levels of cortisol can cause the release of a hunger hormone called ghrelin which can cause you to be hungry all of the time – more than likely leading to a daily caloric surplus and ultimately weight gain.
Cortisol also causes a rise in estrogen, which combats your body’s testosterone production and can inhibit muscle growth and recovery. Increased levels of estrogen can also cause you to more easily store body fat.
To reduce levels of cortisol in the body, you can supplement with vitamin C around your workouts which can help preserve your lean muscle mass and prevent catabolism (the breakdown of muscle tissue). A healthy maintenance of normalized cortisol levels can also help speed up recovery and allow you to better manage your weight.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and, as such, can help prevent oxidative stress from doing harm to the cells and the body. Surprisingly enough, your body is battling free radicals every day without you ever knowing or feeling it.
You can think of oxidative stress as rust forming on a metal pole outside. A similar reaction takes place in your body, where free radicals move throughout the body and can damage, mutate, or kill healthy cells. This can lead to health issues and even some forms of disease and cancer.
What can cause oxidative stress? Well, for the sake of this article, the main focus would be on your workout. Because of the demand and stress you put on your body during workouts, oxidative stress can increase. For that reason, supplementing with vitamin C around your workouts can help minimize oxidative stress and help protect your cells from harm and support your overall health.
Workouts are incredibly taxing on the body and muscles. Vitamin C can help repair connective tissue, reduce muscle soreness, and support your body in its effort to promote new muscle tissue growth. Vitamin C is also used to help form collagen, which is vital for the health of your ligaments, cartilage, bones, and tendons (that clearly play a vital role in your workouts and performance).
Something else to consider which ties in with #2 is that because vitamin C helps control cortisol, it indirectly also helps naturally boost levels of testosterone due to a decrease in cortisol which also means a reduction in estrogen. The increase in testosterone can help support lean muscle tissue growth and overall muscle recovery following workouts.
Workouts can take a lot out of you and can negatively impact the immune system due to the amount of stress put on the body to not only perform optimally but then try to recover fully following grueling workouts. A decline in immunity can open up the door for harmful pathogens to do harm to the body. This is clearly something you want to prevent.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help boost the immune system and keep it functioning properly.
Go ahead and take your favorite pre-workout products and follow up your workouts with a delicious protein shake, but if you’re skipping vitamin C around your workouts, you’re truly missing out. For the price of vitamin C, you may be nuts to pass up on adding this powerful micronutrient and antioxidant to your supplement regimen.
If you want a high-quality vitamin C supplement, look no further than Simple Supplements Buffered Vitamin C. This buffered form of vitamin C is perfect for those who have sensitive digestive systems where high intakes of vitamin C can cause discomfort and digestion issues.
Simple Supplements Buffered Vitamin C helps improve workout recovery, boost immunity, protect cellular health, lower cortisol, and manage inflammation. Additionally, Simple Supplements Buffered Vitamin C includes two additional extremely beneficial ingredients – bioflavonoids and rosehips. Together, these additional ingredients enhance the formula by improving the absorption of vitamin C, supporting proper blood flow, and further improving the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Don’t let muscle soreness and poor recovery prevent you from maximizing your results. Add vitamin C to your supplement regimen today!
]]>Father Time isn’t exactly kind to us. He seems to feel the need to cause us to be more proactive with our health and fitness if we wish to keep it. One such thing that Father Time does is decrease testosterone in men once they hit the age of around 30. A decrease in testosterone can cause muscle loss, an increase in body fat accumulation, a higher risk for heart issues and other illnesses, and a reduction in strength. It’s time you push back and take control by leveraging things that can boost testosterone naturally.
In this article, we will look at several things you can do starting TODAY that can help effectively boost testosterone naturally to support your overall health, fitness, and physique.
One of the best things you can do to boost testosterone naturally is to lift heavy weights. Now, that doesn’t mean you need to max out on every lift. Instead, focus on using a heavy weight that can be controlled and allow you to achieve anywhere from 8-12 reps to promote hypertrophy.
Put your focus on compound movements like the squat, deadlift, bench press, and military press, which involve multiple muscle groups to complete the exercise.
Lifting heavy weights can also help you better maintain your lean muscle tissue as you age, as well as support your strength. The more lean muscle mass you are able to keep as you age, the easier you may find it to prevent gaining body fat, thanks to your lean muscle tissue keeping your metabolism revving all day long to support muscle contraction and functioning.
Your body will also demand energy (from burning calories) to help repair and recover broken-down muscle fibers from your intense workouts.
I get it, you like to burn the midnight oil getting work done or catching up on your favorite television shows. However, if you’re not getting adequate sleep, you may be causing your testosterone levels to plummet.
If you want to boost testosterone naturally, you need to focus on getting a minimum of seven hours of quality sleep each night. A study looked at what sleep deprivation can do to hormone levels and found that those who only get five hours of sleep each night showed a decrease in testosterone by as much as 15%.
In order to boost testosterone naturally, focus on getting to bed early enough to get the recommended seven hours (minimum) of sleep. If you must, set an alarm for when you need to get to bed in order to achieve this. For instance, if you need to wake up at 6am, make sure you get in bed by 10:30pm to ensure you’re asleep by 11pm to get a full seven hours of quality sleep.
It’s no surprise that stress can negatively affect your hormones. In fact, stress affects a few different hormones. If you’re stressed, it can cause an increase in a stress hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol then starts a domino effect, such as increasing a hunger hormone called ghrelin. If you’ve ever been stressed and all you want to do is eat, that’s precisely the reason why.
When cortisol rises, it (alone) has the ability to lower testosterone levels. It can also cause you to increase estrogen levels which may cause you to store excess body fat and gain weight – both of which can further cause your testosterone levels to take a nosedive.
To boost testosterone naturally, you need to manage and reduce your stress levels. This may be easier said than done but find ways to relax. This can be through workouts, meditation, reading a book at night, sitting in a quiet room, and focusing on your breathing, yoga, [fill in the blank with what works for you here].
Something that doesn’t get enough attention these days is just how essential healthy fats are when it comes to hormones. Unfortunately, far too many people jump on fad diets that can not only damage their metabolism when they are being told to eliminate entire macronutrients, but it can alter your testosterone level as well.
Eating sufficient amounts of healthy fat in your diet can help boost testosterone naturally. A few things you can do to increase your healthy fats would be to consume more fatty fish, include natural nut butter in your diet, use oils such as coconut or olive when cooking, include nuts as part of a healthy snack, and consume more eggs, just to name a few options.
Last on our list of effective ways to boost testosterone naturally is to pay closer attention to your vitamin D levels. While there’s no test you can do at home on a daily basis to ensure you are getting an adequate intake, merely look at the foods you’re consuming, the supplements you’re taking, and how much exposure to sunlight you’re getting each day.
Something that no one is talking about is that most people in the United States are vitamin D deficient without even knowing it. Levels can get severely low in the colder months when people are not outside in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
By supplementing with a minimum of 3,000 IU of vitamin D each day, you have the ability to increase your testosterone by as much as 25%.
If you know you aren’t getting enough vitamin D from your nutrition and are not spending time outdoors in direct sunlight, it would be wise to supplement with a quality vitamin D product to ensure you are not deficient. If you want a quick and easy way to get enough daily vitamin D and boost testosterone naturally, consider a product like Simple Supplements Vitamin D3.
Simple Supplements Vitamin D3 is a simple solution to your micronutrient needs. This once-a-day supplement contains 5,000 IU of high-quality vitamin D3 to help you take in and utilize all of the benefits that can be had from this extremely powerful and vital micronutrient. Don’t allow Father Time the ability to change your current health and physique. Boost testosterone naturally through the help of vitamin D!
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Yes, you read that correctly… black pepper. Black pepper contains a powerful chemical called piperine that possesses many benefits.
In this article, we will take a deeper dive into precisely what black pepper is and how black pepper can help optimize your supplements – allowing you to get the most from your investment into your health.
Disclaimer: It is recommended that you always speak to your doctor before using any supplements to ensure you are healthy enough and that they won’t interfere with any medications you may currently be taking.
A spice that is quite commonly used in diets across the globe is black pepper. In addition to its ability to alter and change the flavor of the food it’s added to, it can also be used as a preservative.
In order to get black pepper, peppercorns are harvested and dried until they turn black in color.
When not used in food and food prep, black pepper is known for some of its many health benefits due to its potent bioactive compounds (such as piperine which is the most important when looking at the common health benefits).
While some supplements out on the market contain black pepper or piperine as one of their ingredients, you can also purchase black pepper as a standalone supplement to use and combine with whatever other supplements you want. It can also be used during meals to help improve the digestion and absorption of key nutrients as well, which makes black pepper multifaceted when it comes to a supplement that can be used for many different purposes.
Let’s look at four ways that black pepper can optimize your supplements. One thing to take note of is that black pepper and piperine have compounding effects where one benefit helps enhance another benefit, and a domino effect can take place. This will make more sense when you read the four benefits below.
It has been shown that supplementing with black pepper (piperine) can help increase supplement and nutrient absorption and bioavailability. This is important because if you are taking a particular supplement, you would want to fully utilize all of the nutrients rather than not being able to break down and wind up excreting it.
Black pepper should be used in conjunction with any meal or supplement you take where you wish to maximize the absorption and get the most benefits.
It should be common sense that you can’t absorb what you don’t digest. If you aren’t able to properly digest and break down the supplements and nutrients you consume, they can pass straight through the digestive tract without ever being absorbed and utilized. Should this be common, it could lead to deficiencies in certain nutrients – which is why so many people lean on black pepper to help support proper digestion.
Black pepper can help stimulate hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach (also referred to as stomach acid), which has the ability to effectively break down the contents in the stomach into something more absorbable that can be shuttled out into the blood and transported throughout the body.
One thing to mention is that if you suffer from bloating and abdominal discomfort after eating or taking certain supplements, that could be a sign that you aren’t properly digesting what you consumed. This, again, is where black pepper can come into play to help alleviate some of these digestive issues.
Gut health is incredibly important, and black pepper supplements can help support proper health and functioning. Unfortunately, not many people focus on gut health, which could be why they are finding themselves running into constant digestion issues. Not only does gut health help improve your ability to fully digest and absorb nutrients and supplements, but it also plays a vital role in immunity and immune system functioning.
Healthy gut bacteria or flora can aid in digesting and absorbing the supplements you take on a daily basis by producing enzymes that break down proteins and carbohydrates, for example, and can then pass through the gut wall into the bloodstream.
Touching on gut health when it comes to immunity, healthy gut bacteria support your body’s defense mechanism by attacking bad bacteria as well as harmful pathogens that can enter the body. Black pepper can help improve healthy gut bacteria but also aid in boosting white blood cells to further add an additional line of defense against viruses and other harmful pathogens.
There are a lot of moving parts with this benefit, and I’ll try to keep them as separated as possible, even though they both work hand-in-hand.
Due to black pepper containing piperine, it contains a natural source of antioxidants that can seek out and destroy free radicals that can do the body and digestive system harm. Your body is under attack every day by different forms of stress that can produce free radicals and oxidative damage. This can cause minor issues all the way to major issues where cells are destroyed or mutated – causing diseases that include various forms of cancer.
If your gut health isn’t optimized and is not functioning correctly, it can cause inflammation. When the digestive system is inflamed, it can cause issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), among other issues. Over time, this inflammation can lead to diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and prevent your body from absorbing the food and supplements you consume. Black pepper contains a natural anti-inflammatory property that can help reduce the risk of your digestive system from becoming inflamed.
Do you suffer from digestion issues? Are you worried that you’re not getting all of the benefits from the food and supplements you consume? Then it’s time to add black pepper to your supplement regimen and feel confident in your ability to absorb and utilize the essential nutrients you’re taking in.
Simple Supplements formulates products to help solve issues that many people face. Being that digestion issues are quite common in the United States, they’ve released a supplemental Black Pepper Extract to alleviate many digestion and absorption issues.
This easy-to-swallow supplement contains 10mg of black pepper extract to help maximize breakdown and nutrient absorption, support digestion, improve gut health, and even have many other health benefits such as helping reduce pain, boosting brain function, and increasing beta-endorphins.
Stop using supplements and paying for meals that you’re not getting any benefit from. Improve your ability to break down and utilize the nutrients you put into your body with the help of Simple Supplements Black Pepper Extract. Try it today and feel the difference!
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If you were to ask people why they exercise and eat a well-balanced diet, many would tell you it’s because they want to improve their health and appearance. When you break down the “I want to improve my health,” many aren’t able to describe what that actually means, or they give the typical response of they want to improve their heart health and prevent disease. That’s great, but what about your organs? Do you ever think about their health, such as liver health? What about TUDCA? Have you ever heard of that?
It’s common among adults to pay next to no attention to their organ health. Why? Because organ health isn’t something you can see with your eyes or in the mirror, and most expect them to “just work” and do their job without us needing to think about it. Unfortunately, this can be a dangerous and slippery slope that can lead to some pretty severe issues down the road.
The downside to having this type of mentality is that as the years pass, damage to your organs can compound, and before you even realize the symptoms, a bigger issue has been created. Your liver is no different. But thanks to cutting-edge and potent supplements like TUDCA, you can help protect your liver health.
Note: It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before using or implementing any supplements into your daily routine to ensure they will not cause any issues with any other supplements or medications you may be taking.
TUDCA or tauroursodeoxycholic acid is a water-soluble bile acid (also referred to as a bile salt) that is found naturally in the body but has been used in traditional medicine for many years. When used as a dietary supplement, TUDCA can help protect the liver and preserve its health and proper functioning.
Unfortunately, our body does not produce a substantial amount of TUDCA, which means your liver is susceptible to damage all the way down to the cellular level. Clearly, such damage to the liver can create issues and lead to disease and illness.
If you’re looking to help detoxify your liver and improve liver health, TUDCA supplementation may be the answer you’re looking for. Let’s dive deeper into how TUDCA can positively affect your overall liver health.
The first question you might be asking is, “Why should I protect my liver health in the first place?” It should really go without saying, but your liver is an essential organ to help you maintain your health and longevity. The liver performs life-sustaining activities that we must not take for granted. Unlike some organs, you cannot live without a liver. That said, should part of your liver get damaged, it can function with less than half and can even regenerate and grow back in a matter of several months (although researchers are unsure how it’s able to do such).
Your liver helps:
Bile is a necessary chemical that is produced by the liver that aids in breaking down food and improving the digestion process. By being able to effectively break down food, you are better able to absorb and uptake the nutrients to be used by the body.
When you consume various medicines and alcohol, it can create toxins and waste. The role of your liver is to help remove these toxic substances from the body and eliminate them so they cannot do harm.
Your liver is responsible for helping to control blood sugar levels. The liver is capable of not only putting sugar into the blood when it’s needed, but it can also help remove it when there is too much present.
The liver is one line of defense when it comes to battling pathogens and viruses that are detected in the body. When the body detects harmful pathogens and bacteria are present, the liver can send out cells (from the liver itself) to seek out and destroy these dangerous invaders before they can do damage.
We now know the role of TUDCA in the body and how it plays a role in liver health, as well as why you should be concerned about your liver health. Next, let’s look at three key liver health benefits that TUDCA supplements can assist with.
Regulating and controlling blood sugar and insulin is vital to helping prevent diabetes. Research using TUDCA has found that through the use of this supplement, you may be able to reduce your blood sugar levels by as much as 43%. TUDCA supplementation could be highly advantageous for those looking to improve glucose tolerance and support insulin sensitivity.
It should also be noted that TUDCA may help increase energy expenditure at the cellular level. Why is this important? Because it can help the body better regulate insulin levels.
Free radicals and oxidative stress can also damage the liver and affect insulin sensitivity. TUDCA can help protect those endothelial cells from becoming damaged, destroyed, or altered.
TUDCA has been shown to aid in fighting liver cirrhosis. In fact, one study found that 100% of the participants who supplemented with TUDCA showed lower liver enzyme levels and without any side effects.
Supplementing with TUDCA essentially cleans and detoxifies the liver as a whole, which can drastically help prevent diseases and liver health deterioration.
Again, it should be noted that TUDCA supplementation should never replace any medications you may be on that support liver health. Follow the protocol in place by your medical doctor.
A lack of bile secretion (as well as too much secretion) can create various health concerns and issues. When not enough bile is in the small intestine, but there’s an abundance (essentially a backup) in the liver, it can cause cholestasis. Cholestasis is also where bile salts can destroy and kill healthy cells. TUDCA helps prevent the backup of bile while also aiding in protecting the cells.
TUDCA can help increase bile volume and flow as well as improving the composition of the bile itself. The improvement in composition and quality can help improve digestion and the breakdown of the foods you eat.
By improving bile, TUDCA helps regulate your metabolism, remove waste, and also eliminate excess cholesterol.
TUDCA is such an amazing supplement that can help protect and improve liver health. Those who may be at a higher risk of liver diseases, such as those individuals who are heavy drinkers, smokers, have high cholesterol levels, and who expose themselves to harsh chemicals and toxins, can benefit significantly from supplementing with TUDCA.
Supplementing with TUDCA also has many benefits other than those that relate to liver health. TUDCA is a powerful antioxidant, can improve brain health, lower cholesterol, boost metabolism, protect the kidneys, restore a healthy gut microbiome, and even improve eye health.
If you’re looking for a high-quality TUDCA supplement, check out Simple Supplements TUDCA. Simple Supplements TUDCA provides you with 250mg of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in a single vegetarian v-cap.
It’s time to take your organ health more seriously and support your liver health by using TUDCA. Start today, so you’re not forced to play catch-up later if your liver health starts to fail!
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The truth of the matter is that there’s nothing sexy about joint health supplements, and therefore they don’t get much love out there on the market. They aren’t fun like pre-workouts, they don’t burn fat like thermogenics, and there just isn’t much buzz surrounding them. However, that’s all about to change.
In this article, we will look at joint health, why you need to work on improving and maintaining it, along with three key ingredients that make up some of today’s most effective joint supplements.
If you’ve never woken up and gone through your day in constant pain, you wouldn’t understand what many people go through on a daily basis. Knee pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, the list goes on and on. Normal everyday activities become a challenge and painful when you lose your joint health.
Every single thing you do during the day (other than sleeping and sitting still) involves movement. A movement that can bring upon excruciating and unbearable pain and discomfort. While the goal is to maintain your joint health before it becomes severe, many people only put their focus on it once they start experiencing symptoms.
While joint health supplements may not be the end all be all fix for every situation, utilizing supplements that include glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM can prove to be extremely beneficial. Let’s discuss each in a little more detail to get the full picture of what they can do for you.
There are three ingredients that have stood the test of time when it comes to maintaining, supporting, and improving joint health – glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. One thing to take into consideration is that joint health supplements do NOT work immediately. What that means is that you’re not going to feel an immediate benefit from your very first dose. It’s a steady buildup effect that can take a few weeks to truly notice any type of change or improvement.
When looking for joint health supplements, it’s common to find glucosamine and chondroitin on the same label as together they have a compounding effect that can help repair and rebuild ligaments, tendons, cartilage, skin, and bones. The combination also helps keep the joints lubricated properly through a lubricant called synovial fluid.
The role of glucosamine is to help maintain the health of your joints and cartilage. Glucosamine can also help reduce inflammation and help prevent and improve osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
The role of chondroitin is to help prevent or slow down cartilage in the joints from being broken down as well as helping to stimulate the repair of cartilage. Chondroitin can also help reduce joint pain while improving joint health and function.
The role of MSM is to help reduce inflammation, minimize joint pain, improve joint stiffness, as well as boost immunity. MSM has also been used to help treat arthritis and other joint-related conditions.
Below are five incredibly important joint health benefits that everyone should understand when supplementing with glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM.
If you were to lose your joint health and started having some severe and chronic issues, you risk losing your mobility as well as your independence. Bad hips, bad knees, and other joints can be debilitating and may require you to have assistance during the day – even to accomplish routine everyday tasks such as getting dressed and help to get up from a chair or bed. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM joint health supplements can help prevent such issues from arising. The key is to focus on it NOW rather than later.
If you’re an athlete or an avid exerciser, you’re putting your body through a lot of stress. Heavy weights and quick and explosive movements all put a tremendous amount of stress and force on your joints, ligaments, and cartilage. If you lose your joint health, elasticity, and synovial fluid, you put yourself at a greater risk for many different injuries. For example, if you are squatting with a heavy weight and drop too low, you’re putting a lot of stress on your knee capsule to the point where if the ligaments and tendons aren’t pliable, they risk tearing or rupturing.
Joints that lose their mobility due to ligaments losing elasticity can limit your overall range of motion for that specific joint. Losing flexibility in the joint can circle back to increasing the risk of injuries mentioned above. Many shoulder injuries occur due to a loss of flexibility. On top of supplementing with joint health supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, you should also put an emphasis on stretching following your workouts or training sessions for athletics.
In order to effectively target a muscle, you need to be able to put it through its full range of motion. If you have bad hips and knees, that’s going to limit the lower body movements you are able to complete not only safely but effectively to overload the muscle and promote the breakdown of muscle fibers to encourage muscle tissue growth. Additionally, if you don’t have strong tendons and ligaments, you run the risk of injuring them during resistance training. Through the help of glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM joint health supplements, you can help prevent injuries and support your muscle-building goals.
Living with pain and inflammation is no way to go through life. The last thing you want to do is wait until something happens to be preventative and focus on your joint health. Pain and inflammation can be acute or chronic, but in either circumstance, it can cause some adverse effects. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM can help reduce pain and inflammation and allow you to improve the quality of your life.
Of course, you do! No one wants to live with the issues mentioned in the article above. However, the key is to START NOW and do not delay. Flex Builder is the ULTIMATE glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM supplement if you want to take control of your joint health.
Providing you with 500mg of glucosamine, 400mg of chondroitin, and 500mg of MSM, this efficaciously dosed joint health supplement can help support connective tissue repair, improve flexibility, relieve stiffness, reduce harmful inflammation, minimize joint pain, and MORE!
How much is your independence and joint health worth to you? Are you willing to roll the dice and risk a lifetime of pain and mobility issues? Try Flex Builder today and find out why so many happy customers trust this powerful and beneficial supplement to keep their joints healthy.
]]>Those who suffer from digestion issues may be recommended digestive enzymes to assist with the breakdown of meals they consume. That being said, there are actually some really amazing benefits to utilizing digestive enzymes that can improve your health and recovery from intense workouts.
This article will look at not only what digestive enzymes are but how you can leverage them in your supplement regimen to maximize your health and results in the gym.
Note: As always, it is advised that you speak with your doctor before implementing any nutritional changes or supplements into your program or regimen to ensure they are suitable for you and your current health status.
When you eat, food travels down into the stomach and then passes through to the intestines. These two areas are where food is broken down, absorbed, and then ultimately shuttled out into the body to be used.
Without the ability to break down food (naturally or through the help of digestive enzymes), you may find you’re at a greater risk for health issues and nutrient deficiencies.
Each macronutrient found in your diet breaks down differently, such as:
If your body doesn’t produce enough bile or hydrochloric acid (stomach acid), you may not be fully digesting your food which means you’re not getting the most (nutrients) from the food you’re consuming. These digestion issues can cause nutrient deficiencies as well as additional problems with the digestive tract, such as bloating, diarrhea, gas, leaky gut syndrome, fatigue, and even inflammation.
Digestive enzymes are used to alleviate some of these issues as well as support the digestive system with efficiently and effectively breaking down food.
The use of digestive enzymes can also help improve:
When looking at the big picture, your gut plays a central role in almost everything. A healthy gut helps improve the appearance of your skin, helps improve the immune system, plays a role in physical and mental performance, and can even affect your mood.
There are many enzymes that your body uses on a daily basis – some of which you may have heard of before. Many enzymes have “-ase” at the end of their name, which denotes it as a particular type of enzyme. For instance, lactase is a commonly talked about enzyme that helps break down the sugar lactose.
Some other common digestive enzymes you should become familiar with as they can support proper digestions include:
Issues can arise when the body does not produce enough natural digestive enzymes on its own. There are several factors that can come into play that can negatively affect your body’s ability to make these very important enzymes.
Some of the common reasons this can happen are due to:
Now, for the meat and potatoes of the article. How exactly can utilizing digestive enzymes help improve your health and recovery?
The act of resistance training and even cardiovascular workouts can cause microtears in muscle fibers. In order for those muscle fibers to recover and be rebuilt, the body needs to break down protein into amino acids, which can then be used to support the repair and growth of muscle tissue.
Unfortunately, many people have issues breaking down protein and other vital nutrients that play a role in muscle recovery. Digestive enzymes are generally suggested for those who find they are having digestion issues such as bloating, gas, and stomach cramping due to consuming high amounts of whole food sources of protein and even protein powders and protein supplements.
Through the help of digestive enzymes, they go to work attacking and breaking down the protein you consume during meals to allow for better and more efficient absorption of amino acids to aid in muscle recovery. Research has shown that supplementing with digestive enzymes can drastically help improve muscle recovery and muscle-building when compared to a placebo.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (also referred to as DOMS) can rear its ugly head up to three days following an intense workout. In addition to digestive enzymes helping to improve recovery, they have been shown to also play a role and minimizing perceived muscle soreness both immediately following a workout (muscle pain and tenderness due to the stress and strain on the muscle), as well as several days after a workout when DOMS would typically set in.
Part of the reason for a decrease in muscle soreness stems from the ability of digestive enzymes to help reduce inflammation in the body – similarly to that of something like aspirin.
Taking things one step further, digestive enzymes have also been found to help reduce joint stiffness and osteoarthritis-related pain. This can be extremely advantageous to those who may not be as young as we once were and who are feeling the effects of Father Time reminding us of that fact through daily aches and pains. By making these improvements, you can continue pushing yourself during workouts and allow the digestive enzymes to do their job at reducing the soreness, so you won’t need to take additional time off to recover before getting after it in the gym again.
Your body is under attack from harmful toxins and pathogens on a daily basis. In fact, it’s under attack all day, every day, which makes keeping your immune system healthy of extreme importance.
Digestive enzymes can actually help protect your body by strengthening white blood cells. White blood cells (also known as killer cells or lymphocytes) help improve your natural defense system by boosting immunity and seeking out and destroying harmful bacteria and pathogens.
Utilizing digestive enzymes can also help maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Your digestive tract contains good bacteria that combat harmful bacteria, helps produce vitamins, regulates the immune system, and also plays a prominent role in digestion.
Through the use of digestive enzymes, they can help reduce the amount of stress put on the digestive system to break down food which can help maintain its overall health and proper functioning.
The good news is that just about everyone can benefit from using digestive enzymes (unless your doctor tells you otherwise). With all the benefits that can be had through their use, many find the common issues they were having following meals (bloating, gas, heartburn, etc.) were alleviated and better managed.
If you want to start benefiting from digestive enzymes to help improve your health, recovery, and overall digestion, Ultimate Digestive Support uses a comprehensive blend of the highest quality enzymes to help provide you with the best results possible. Ultimate Digestive Support also uses vegetarian v-caps (the capsule itself) for those who have dietary restrictions or follow a very specific diet.
Can you afford to push food through your system without properly breaking it down? Of course, not! That’s why there’s Ultimate Digestive Support to provide you with all of the digestive enzymes your body needs to help break down, absorb, and utilize the nutrients you consume. Try it for yourself, so you can notice and feel the difference!
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