quinta-feira, 31 de dezembro de 2015

Noom Weight Loss Coach – Weight Loss App

Noom Weight Loss Coach Review

Noom is a new weight loss app available for iOS and Android. Find out how this weight loss app works today in our review.

What is Noom Weight Loss Coach?

Noom Weight Loss Coach is a recently-released mobile app available for Android and iOS.

The app promises to help you lose weight by encouraging small changes to your lifestyle over time – like healthy habits that lead to a better diet and exercise routine.

One of the core features of the app is its online food catalog. You can enter your foods into that diary and get calorie information and track your daily and weekly food consumption – including your macro nutrient levels, calories, and more.

To maximize the effectiveness of Noom, enter your weight, height, and future fitness goals. Then, Noom will calculate the number of calories you need to consume and burn daily to meet your weight loss targets over time.

The base app is free to download although there is a pro version that grants a few extra features. That pro version is priced at around $10 per month but you receive a big discount buying it annually.

There’s also a “Platinum” version of the app that gives you personalized one-on-one coaching for $39.99 per month. In this version of the app, your group is led by a registered diet and fitness expert who provides individual guidance based on your fitness goals.

Noom Features

At its most basic level, Noom is a calorie counter and exercise tracker. But it has a number of other features that make it a more useful weight loss app. Here are some of those features.

Weight Loss Speed: Do you want to lose your target weight in 1 week, 1 month, one year? Your weight loss speed will decide how drastic your diet and exercise changes have to be.

Easy Food Log with Extensive Database: Like all good food tracking apps, Noom Weight Loss Coach has an extensive food catalog with an intuitive search feature. Just type in your food and it should pop up from the list. There are also multiple types of simple portion size options. One reviewer claims she was even able to find “local Indonesian dishes” in the catalog.

Traffic Light Food System: Foods are separated into three categories: green, yellow, or red. These colors correspond to traffic lights. Green are healthy foods. Yellow are foods you should eat in moderation. And red are foods you should eat very rarely or not at all. Foods are categorized based on their calorie density and other macro nutrients and how they might affect your weight loss goals.

Exercise Log: Noom won’t track your exercise automatically. It will, however, prompt you to record your exercise habits, like your runs, walks, and even your yoga. You’ll definitely want to track your exercise because the app uses it to adjust your calorie expenditure for the day.

Health Coaching Points: These “points” include things like getting enough sleep and tracking your mood. You might also see tips about how to improve your antioxidant intake by eating a diverse variety of fruits, or how to avoid hidden sugars in foods and fruits you eat.

Encouragement and Motivation: If you’re the type of person who needs motivation to stick to their diet plan, then you’ll find it just a tap away with Noom. Slide your finger down on the Noom Coach home screen and you’ll see a fast message of encouragement telling you about how awesome you are.

Reminders: Noom will prompt you throughout the day to record your food and exercise habits. So if you forget to record a meal, you should receive a quick reminder.

Weekly Weigh Ins: Noom prompts you to weigh in weekly to track your progress over time and see how close you are to achieving your weight loss goals.

Groups (Pro Version): Noom’s pro version lets you join a group. You’re automatically assigned to a group when you join the app. Your group is based on your fitness goals, the length of your plan, and other personal characteristics and goals.

Personal Coaching (Platinum Version): Priced at $39.99 per month, the Platinum version gives you personalized coaching

How to Download Noom

Noom is available for free for iPhone here and Android here.

Here’s how the additional pricing levels break down:

Pro – $9.99 Per Month

— Join A Virtual Support Group
— Unlimited Access To Articles And Challenges
— One Touch Logging With Healthy Recipes

Platinum – $39.99 Per Month

— Groups Led By Licensed Lifestyle Coach
— Private Chats With Your Coach
— Structured Weekly Program Accompanied By Coaching

How Does Noom Coaching Work?

Noom claims that each weight loss expert is assigned a group of up to 200 patients.

This weight loss expert helps the individual solve “the root causes of their chronic illnesses by improving adoption, adherence, and outcomes.”

That expert also claims to use sophisticated analytics to uncover patterns in data. Basically, the expert will look at your weight loss results over time and use that information to make a better plan for your future.

Ultimately, Noom is a well-reviewed personal fitness app that tries to upsell you hard on the $40 per month coaching package or $10 per month personalized groups package. If you don’t need either of those options, however, then you’ll find that the free version of Noom provides ample value and performs a wide range of helpful roles – from tracking the foods you eat to monitoring your exercise habits.



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quarta-feira, 30 de dezembro de 2015

Ghee & Clarified Butter Differences And Benefits

Ghee Butter Guide

Ghee Butter, which is similar to clarified butter or drawn butter, has been becoming more popular lately for its health benefits. Find out what you need to know about ghee butter today in our guide.

What is Ghee Butter?

Ghee Butter consists of the translucent golden butterfat left over after the milk solids and water are removed from regular butter.

Regular butter contains compounds like butterfat, milk solids, and water. When making ghee butter, the milk solids and water are removed.

The butter is also known as clarified butter or drawn butter – although ghee is not exactly the same as clarified butter.

Essentially, ghee is just butter that contains only pure butterfat.

One of the unique characteristics of butter is that it has a higher smoke point than regular butter. That means you can cook it for longer at higher temperatures without ruining the dish. It also means it won’t spoil as quickly.

Ghee is also prized for its health benefits – as you’ll learn at the bottom of this page.

Ghee Versus Clarified Butter

Ghee is a specific type of clarified butter. Ghee is clarified butter that has been cooked longer to remove all the moisture. The milk solids in the butter are browned (i.e. caramelized) in the fat before being strained out. This gives ghee a rich nutty taste.

This difference in processing also gives ghee another advantage: it has a longer shelf life both when it’s refrigerated and when it’s at room temperature.

Ghee is commonly found in Indian cuisine. You can purchase butter ghee from a wide range of online and offline retailers, or make ghee yourself at home.

How to Make Ghee Butter at Home

Making ghee butter at home is probably easier than you think: you basically just boil butter until it melts, then allow the compounds to separate from each other naturally with heat. Here’s the step by step guide:

— Step 1) Place one pound of unsalted butter in a pan on your stove. 1 pound of butter makes approximately 1.5 cups of clarified butter or ghee.

— Step 2) Melt the butter over low heat. After the butter has melted, continue heating it over low heat.

— Step 3) When the butter starts to boil, it will begin to foam and sputter as the water inside boils off. Continue to boil the butter (uncovered).

— Step 4) Eventually, you’ll notice that the butter has separated into three layers. The top layer of the butter is a thin layer of foam. That’s the butter’s water content boiling away. The middle layer contains the liquid. And the bottom layer is where the milk solids have settled.

— Step 5) Continue heating the butter until the foam or water on top has boiled off. Eventually, you’ll notice that the liquid on top becomes more and more transparent. When the clarified butter has a golden transparent color, that means that the foam has all but disappeared from the surface. The solids will have settled to the bottom. This entire process should take about 30 minutes, depending on your stove and assuming you’re heating on low heat.

At this point, your clarified butter is ready. Skim off the foam and let the butter cool while solids continue to settle. You’ll need to filter the butter to remove additional impurities (see below for filtering tips).

If you’re making butter ghee, however, then you’ll need to keep cooking and follow these steps:

— Step 6) Continue to slowly cook the butter over low heat, watching it carefully and stirring it from time to time. You’re waiting for the milk solids on the bottom of the pan to caramelize and turn brown. When this happens, the liquid will deepen to golden and turn translucent and fragrant. You should notice a popcorn smell.

— Step 7) Immediately remove from heat once you notice the solids are browning. If you wait too long, then you’ll burn the residue and all of your ghee will have an unpleasant burnt taste. It may take a few tries to get this perfect.

Additional Tips For Making Your Own

Here are some additional tips for making your own clarified butter or butter ghee:

— As soon as the foam or water on top of the butter has disappeared, remove it from heat immediately, as it’s very easy to burn the butter.

— Pour the hot melted clarified butter through a cheesecloth, fine-mesh skimmer, or tea strainer to effectively filter out any foams or solids, leaving you with pure clarified butter.

— Pour the hot melted butter into a container and allow it to separate on its own while cooling, and then refrigerate. As the butter solidifies, you can easily scrape the hardened foam off the top.

— Some people also separate their butter using a gravy or fat separator, while others strain the melted butter through a coffee filter

— Use unsalted butter or organic butter or the best butter you can purchase. Cheap butter will contain higher levels of water and chemicals and will burn more quickly.

— 1 pound of unsalted butter will give you about 1 ½ cups of clarified butter or ghee. Always start with about 25% more unsalted butter than the amount of clarified butter you need.

Health Benefits of Ghee Butter

Ghee butter has been connected with a wide range of health benefits and cooking benefits. Here are some of the reasons why people enjoy using ghee or clarified butter:

— Higher Smoke Point when Frying Foods: Ghee can be used as a replacement for olive oil, normal butter, and coconut oil when cooking, making it an ideal choice for frying foods.

— Better Digestive Health: Ghee is rich in butyrate, which is a short chain fatty acid linked to an immune response. That immune response can decrease inflammation and improve your digestive system.

— Topical Skin Treatment: Ghee can also reduce inflammation when rubbed topically on your skin. Some people use ghee to treat redness or inflammation across the body, for example. In traditional medicine, ghee was also used to treat burns and swelling.

— Tastes Better than Butter: Ghee has a distinctive flavor from regular butter. Most people agree that it’s nuttier than regular butter. If you’re sick of that same old butter flavor on your popcorn, rice, vegetables, and bread, then ghee may be a tasty replacement.

— Lasts a Long Time: Ghee can last for up to three months if you store it in an airtight container. It also does not need to be refrigerated.

— Non-Dairy: Ghee has virtually no lactose and is also very low in casein, which is the main protein found in milk. If you can’t have dairy, then you should be able to enjoy ghee.

— Vitamins and Minerals: One tablespoon of ghee can give you 15% of your daily recommended value of vitamin A. The butter also contains high levels of vitamins D, E, and K.

— Facial Moisturizer: Women in India have traditionally used ghee as a moisturizer on their skin and hair. You can use it on your scalp to fight dryness or to hydrate your face.

In India, ghee has a long and interesting history. The ancient Dharmasutra laws of India, for example, mention ghee as being a key part of religious rituals. Today, ghee can be found at health food stores across the world and can easily be ordered online or made yourself.



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GNC Herbal Supplements Lawsuit

Everything You Need to Know About the GNC Herbal Supplements Lawsuit

GNC is in more hot water this past week after its own shareholders filed a lawsuit against the company, GNC Holdings Inc. (GNC).

The lawsuit is related to General Nutrition Corp (GNC)’s herbal supplements. Specifically, shareholders allege that GNC stood pat while stock prices inflated before prices eventually tumbled after it was revealed the GNC’s herbal supplements did not feature accurate product labels.

GNC Legal Issues

This shareholder lawsuit follows two legal claims that had already been filed against GNC this year, including a cease and desist order in New York and a lawsuit in Oregon.

The New York Cease and Desist Order Against GNC in February 2015

GNC’s New York cease and desist order was filed in February 2015. The attorney general’s office of New York State accused GNC of selling mislabeled products.

After that New York announcement, stock prices for GNC began plummeting. From August 5 to December 27, stock prices fell a further 43%.

Then, things became worse for GNC after the Oregon herbal supplements lawsuit was made public in October. Stock prices fell once more.

The Oregon Lawsuit Against GNC in October 2015

The Oregon lawsuit against GNC was filed by Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum, who claims that GNC used illegal ingredients in its products.

Those illegal ingredients included Picamilon and BMPEA, both of which are illegal in the United States. Oregon reportedly found these ingredients in dietary supplements and nutritional supplements being sold by GNC.

This practice violates Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

In a statement, Rosenblum tore apart GNC, stating:

“It is scary to know that certain products sold by GNC contain an ingredient that is not even labeled–let alone approved in the United States. When Oregonians buy a dietary supplement, they deserve to know that the ingredients in the products are safe and comply with the law. There are 25 GNC stores in Oregon that sold thousands of these products over the span of a couple of years.”

GNC is also accused of selling products that listed botanical acacia rigidula as an ingredient – yet they had been “spiked” with unlabeled BMPEA.

What Are Picamilon and BMPEA?

Accusing a company of adding illegal substances to their supplement is a big accusation. So what exactly are Picamilon and BMPEA?

Picamilon is a synthetic chemical developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. The drug is a combination of niacin and GABA. In Russia, Picamilon is sold as a prescription drug. It’s one of the few substances capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to raise GABA levels in your brain, which then produces an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) response.

BMPEA, on the other hand, is described as an amphetamine-like substance and works as a powerful stimulant. The full name for the substance is β-methylphenethylamine. In studies, it’s been shown to vastly increase your risk of cardiovascular events because it’s more likely to raise blood pressure than act as a stimulant.

The FDA has recently started cracking down on BMPEA after an otherwise healthy 53-year old Swedish woman suffered a stroke while working out after taking a dietary supplement (Jacked Power) that contained BMPEA. The only change she had made to her routine was beginning to take BMPEA 30 minutes before her workout.

Neither ingredient is approved in the United States.

The Shareholder Lawsuit of December 2015

As a result of New York’s cease and desist order and the Oregon lawsuit, GNC shareholders decided to take action. In December, they launched their own herbal supplement lawsuit against GNC.

The shareholder lawsuit says:

“The declines in the price of GNC common stock after the corrective disclosures came to light was a direct result of the nature and extent of defendants’ fraudulent misrepresentations being revealed to investors and the market,”

Shareholders are understandably upset about the fact that GNC misrepresented its products on product labels. But they also have an additional complaint: there are displeased by the lack of reporting by the company when things began to go south.

GNC reportedly agreed to strengthen its testing protocols after the first cease and desist order came to light, although the company never mentioned any real or potential damages or the potential for negative pressure on stock price that eventually occurred as fallout from the cease and desist order.

That lawsuit specifically targets the time period between November 28, 2011 and October 28, 2015. The lawsuit claims that GNC violated the Exchange Act through deliberately misleading actions.

The legal case for this herbal supplement lawsuit is filed under James Martin et al. v. GNC Holdings Inc. et al, Case number 2:15-cv-01522, in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Stay tuned to see what happens to GNC and its shareholders as this lawsuit moves forward throughout 2016!



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Sciote Advanced Super Moist Hylauronic Serum

Sciote Advanced Super Moist Hylauronic Serum

We’re at the start of chilly weather and I’m exposed to dry hot air heat at work and home. It’s nice to be toasty but it also adds to my existing dry skin woes. I was looking forward to using Sciote Super Moist Hyaluronic Serum($75 in the shop), hoping and expecting to experience great results. I have used several of Sciote products and have become somewhat of a cheerleader for the brand.

From the first time I used the serum my skin did not experience the soothing sensation of moisturizing. Rather, I felt a film that had a a tight feeling to it. Perhaps that is what this serum is meant to do and others may respond positively to this result. I did not immediately apply moisturizer, wanting to see how the serum felt after a few moments. Within 3 or 4 minutes I really needed to apply a moisturizer. My skin felt extremely dry, as though I had (lightly) applied a mask. This result occurs every time I use the product. Sciote recommends following up with a moisturizer, you can also use alone or as a hydration booster, but I simply cannot use this serum without applying moisturizer. There is nothing about the product or my reaction to it that makes me feel I should not use it. On the contrary, the tightness may be the result of hyalurosmooth, the key to this serum.

Sciote’s Hyaluronic Serum’s most beneficial ingredient is hyalurosmooth, their botanically derived hyaluronic acid, which holds up to 1000 times its weight and draws moisture from the environment to your skin, locking in moisture, filling in fine lines, plumping and smoothing skin. This ingredient makes up 50 percent of the serum. The second key ingredient is MSM which Sciote says is the purest form of sulfur which helps dry skin. 

The product comes in a 1 oz pump. A small amount of the clear fluid is all you need. It is scented with geranium essential oil, which has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and encourages the regeneration of new cells.

I wish my love affair with Sciote included the Hyaluronic Serum, but it does not. I have a high regard for the brand, and the ingredients in this serum are great. I’m not sure why my results are what they are. Perhaps my over-60 skin is simply too sensitive for an ingredient. I’m still a big fan of their products, but unfortunately this serum doesn’t do it for me. 



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Skoother Skin Smoother – Easily Remove Calluses

Skoother Skin Smoother Review

Skoother is a handheld skin smoother that promises to help you smooth away rough skin on your feet, knees, elbows, and hands. Here’s our Skoother review.

What is Skoother?

Skoother is a handheld tool you can use to smooth away rough skin across your body – like your feet, knees, elbows, and hands.

The device itself consists of a flexible, waterproof, silicon micro abrasion screen that allows fine particles of exfoliated skin to pass through the filter without clogging.

By using Skoother regularly, you can enjoy softer, smoother, younger-looking skin.

You can also use it on targeted areas of your body to get rid of calluses and other skin imperfections.

Some of the big claims made by the manufacturer include the fact that it’s a simple, pain-free process that effectively and gently smoothes skin all across your body. The device also claims to be better than any other skin smoothing device – like metal, stone, emery smoothers and motorized sanders.

Each device is priced at $10 and comes with two replaceable smoothing screens.

How Does Skoother Work?

Skoother’s key to success is its “safe and highly effective dermabrasive” silicon screen.

That screen is ergonomically designed so it fits in your hand and also wraps easily around your feet, ankles, elbow, or other body parts.

The manufacturer of Skoother doesn’t go into great detail about the technologically behind the device. basically, the silicon screen has lots of small holes in it. As you rub the Skoother across your body, those small holes let dead skin pass harmlessly through.

Skoother Pricing

Skoother is priced at $10 plus $6.95 shipping and handling.

That offer comes with 2 bonus smoothing screens (as well as the one smoothing screen already included in the device).

You can pay an additional $6.95 for a second skin smoother and two more bonus screens.

You can buy Skoother online at Skoother.com. All purchases come with a 30 day money back guarantee.

You can contact the company at (781) 763-7333 to request a refund and get in touch with customer service.

What Do Customers Have to Say About Skoother?

All “As Seen On TV” products make bold claims about their benefits. But how does the Skoother measure up in real world testing?

Unfortunately, there are no legitimate unbiased reviews for Skoother posted online at this time. You can find numerous affiliate write-ups for Skoother that are suspiciously positive about the product – but customers don’t appear to be writing about Skoother online anywhere.

The lack of reviews for Skoother isn’t surprising given that it’s a relatively new product.

Similar products – like Sof Feet and Foot Smart – have generally positive customer reviews online. Since these devices all work in basically the same way, it’s expected that Skoother will be fairly similar.

Sof Feet has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon with 379 reviews in total. Customers typically praise the device’s ability to remove calluses and smooth your skin – although some people claimed you can still cut yourself if you apply too much pressure.

Among negative reviews, customers typically complained that the device did not effectively remove calluses.

Ultimately, Skoother is a new skin smoothing product that uses a silicon screen to gently slough away dead skin cells from your body. The product is relatively expensive compared to other skin smoothing tools, but remains affordable at a price of $16.95 USD in total. You can use Skoother to smooth away skin on your elbows, knees, feet, ankles, and other parts of your body.



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Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution

Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution

by Sandy Borglum

I used Dr. Gross’ Alpha Beta pads for quite a number of years, both the face and the body pads, and I was impressed with the results. So I was excited to try Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution ($88 in the shop). 

I am a Caucasian woman with red hair and freckles. I have fairly normal skin — not overly sensitive, but a little oily in the T-zone. I am now in my early 50s and having issues with my freckles. I really don’t mind them, but some of them have become darker and more noticeable as I’ve aged. The freckles under my eyes look like my mascara has smeared. There are freckles that have grown into “patches” on the left and right sides of my face, near my ears, and on my forehead.  Freckles around my lips accentuate any lip lines I’m developing. And mark-free skin is always younger — and healthier — looking.

I love that the serum has ferulic acid and retinol, to address lines and wrinkles. But, since there are other reviews for this product on the TIA site that address the effects of ferulic acid and retinol, I want to focus on the product’s ability to fade spots and even out skin tone.

Among the list of ingredients is potassium azeloyl diglycinate. This is a derivative of azelaic acid, created for a higher solubility in water and better whitening effects.  It also causes less skin irritation. I recognize a number of botanical extracts that are typically used for lightening skin and reducing the appearance of spots, such as licorice root, bearberry (arctostaphylos uva ursi leaf extract), and arbutin. One of the ingredients I didn’t recognize is morus alba leaf extract. This extract originates from China and is derived from the white mulberry. It’s been used for centuries in their skin care to create the fair, even skin tone they treasure.

Dr. Gross’ solution is also full of antioxidants — obviously ferulic acid, but also salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid), derived from willow bark, as well as salix alba bark extract, also from willow bark. In addition to boosting collagen production and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, antioxidants prevent and reduce age spots.

This product is delivered with a dropper — it’s very watery, meaning it’s slippery and it runs — it’s not thick like a cream or viscous like some serums. The box is difficult to read — the type is very small and is either white on bright orange (on the outside of the box) or bright orange on white (on the inside). The directions on the box say, “use daily AM &/or PM….  To target specific areas…apply with enclosed micro fiber pads….” It doesn’t say how much of the solution to use, and it doesn’t give directions on how to use the pads with the solution. There are no instructions included in the box. So I used about half a dropper for my entire face and neck. I tried the pads, but since it was unclear how to use them, I stopped after a few days.

I detected no particular scent to the solution. The solution appears a little cloudy, actually almost a pale orange or yellow, but not much color otherwise. Both morning and evening, I put the solution in my hands, and then applied it to clean dry skin on my face and neck, even my eyelids. It didn’t sting or irritate my face. It has no particular “feel” to it, either; it feels like water, basically. I had to be careful when first using it to make sure it didn’t drip out of my hands.

I used my phone to take before and after photos in my bathroom, so the lighting couldn’t be controlled as well as I’d liked.  In comparing them, I do see that the freckles under my eyes and on my eyelids do appear lighter. Both in the photos and in my mirror, I see an overall improvement in the evening of my skin tone.

Before and after photos of Sandy's eye area freckles

I’m not fooling myself into thinking a non-prescription topical can work that aggressively to lighten my freckles — I’m sure I’d have to invest in some peel for that. But I do like how my skin looks more even, and I like how my skin feels — smoother and softer. The pores look smaller, the skin looks more refined. And I’ve received compliments on my skin while using this.

Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid & Retinol Brightening Solution isn’t cheap: $88.00 for one ounce. I’d like to have more information and instructions on the best way to use this; I’m curious what the pads would have done I have a feeling I could have used less product on my face than I did. If so, the solution would definitely last longer, and that would increase its economic value.

I do see improvement, however. After only 30 days, that’s impressive. I could see myself investing in this solution, but I do want more information about how to best use it before I invest.



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Hydrolyzed Collagen – Crucial For Youthful Glow

What is Hydrolyzed Collagen?

Collagen is a protein that plays a crucial role in the appearance of our skin. Hydrolyzed Collagen is a way to rejuvenate your body’s collagen levels and treat conditions like arthritis.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. About 65% of the body’s total protein content is made up of collagen.

Collagen itself is a polypeptide molecule. Like all proteins, it’s made up of a chain of amino acids – like glycine, proline, arginine, and hydroxyproline. Collagen is not only the most abundant protein in the body, but it’s also the largest: it’s made up of over 1500 amino acids.

Based on this complex chain of amino acids, it’s understandable that collagen has a complex series of processes in the body. It affects almost every part of our body that has connective tissue, including the heart, skin, lungs, muscles, hair, arteries, bones, joints, discs, cartilage, nails, blood cells, liver, and prostate.

Collagen Loss

As the body gets older, our collagen levels naturally decrease. One of the most noticeable signs of decreased collagen levels is in our skin: through a process called ptosis, our skin and muscles start to sag as we get older.

Decreased collagen levels lead to more than just skin and muscle problems. They also cause instability and weakness in the organs. The heart and prostate may become enlarged, for example, while other organs may start to get weaker.

Your bones will also start to lose density as collagen levels naturally drop with age. Your joints and ligaments will become weaker and less elastic. Collagen typically acts like a cushion between your joints and bones. When that collagen isn’t as abundant anymore, it can degrade this cushion and cause health problems.

Collagen also leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems as you get older. Arteries will weaken and become less able to resist plaque formation.

Have you ever noticed that older people will lick their fingers when they thumb through the pages of a book – but younger people don’t have to? That’s related to collagen loss and aging.

How Does Your Body Get Collagen?

Your body forms its own collagen by assembling together parts from the foods you eat.

For example, your body puts together the amino acids you get from your food and turns those amino acids into collagen.

In order to turn those ingredients into amino acids, they must first be broken down many times in the digestive system. Then, they’re absorbed through the walls of the intestine and enter your bloodstream before being reassembled as collagen at the target site within your body – like your skin.

One of the problems with getting collagen through this method is that protein digestion is often incomplete, which can lead to very large peptide chains within the body. These peptide chains may not be utilized efficiently, which ultimately leads to lower collagen levels.

Hydrolyzed Collagen is Easier to Absorb

Hydrolyzed Collagen, also known as collagen hydrolysate, is a specific type of collagen that is pre-engineered to be easier to absorb. Instead of forcing your body to break down amino acids and then re-assemble those amino acids into collagen, hydrolyzed collagen skips that step.

Hydrolyzed collagen basically gives your body small, usable chain peptides and amino acids that are ready to go within your body.

These hydrolyzed collagen supplements are typically made from high-grade gelatin (often extracted from cattle hides). A formula might look something like this:

— 83% Protein
— 15% Water
— 2% Minerals

Why gelatin? Gelatin actually contains all the essential amino acids required by the human body (except one, tryptophan). Those amino acids include glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, glutamic acid, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, and several others.

Gelatin also has the unique quality of being highly bioavailable. The compound has 95% bioavailability according to some clinical studies, which means that very little of it goes to waste.

Scientific Evidence for Hydrolyzed Collagen

Now that you know some of the science behind hydrolyzed collagen, let’s look at some of its results at rebuilding skin.

2008 Study in Tokyo Shows Hydrolyzed Collagen Improves Skin Hydration

In a 2008 study performed in Tokyo, 33 women between the ages of 40 and 60 were instructed to take 10 grams of hydrolyzed collagen daily for 2 months. By the end of the study, these women had exhibited a 91% increase in skin hydration and resilience.

2008 Study in France Shows an Increase in Skin Smoothness and Hydration

A study in Lyon, France exhibited similar results to the Tokyo study. In this study, participants between ages 35 and 55 took 10 grams of hydrolyzed collagen daily for 12 weeks. Their results were measured using Corneometer and Skin Image Analyzer technologies. Participants who took hydrolyzed collagen experienced 41% less furrowing and fewer wrinkles. Their skin was also observed to be more hydrated and more resilient.

Hydrolyzed Collagen for Joint and Bone Health

Hydrolyzed collagen can also be used to improve the health of your joints and bones as you age.

Some studies have shown that a daily intake of hydrolyzed collagen increases bone mass density. It appears to do this by stimulating osteoblasts activity, which basically means it fuels the cells that generate bone (as opposed to osteoclasts, which destroy bone).

Nevertheless, the joint and bone health benefits of hydrolyzed collagen are far from certain. A follow-up study to the one above was performed in 2011 by the European Food Safety authority Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies. That panel returned with a verdict that “a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of collagen hydrolysate and maintenance of joints.”

How to Use Hydrolyzed Collagen

Typically, you buy hydrolyzed collagen in the form of a topical skin cream – like a moisturizer.

Look for creams that can provide 10 grams of daily hydrolyzed collagen content. This is the amount that has been used in the studies listed above. At that dosage, hydrolyzed collagen has proven to be effective at reducing the effects of aging and targeting wrinkles.



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Genie Hour Glass – Body Shaping Waist Trainer

Genie Hour Glass Review

Genie Hour Glass is a body shaping “waist trainer” that promises to help you look 2 sizes slimmer. Here’s our Genie Hour Glass review.

What is Genie Hour Glass?

Genie Hour Glass is a “waist trainer” sold as part of the As Seen On TV product lineup.

The waist trainer promises to slim down your waist, helping you look two sizes smaller. It’s meant to be worn under your clothes.

It’s called the Genie Hour Glass because it gives your body that coveted hourglass shape.

How Does Genie Hour Glass Work?

Genie Hour Glass is made from polypropylene material. You wrap it around your waist to tighten your core and push your skin closer into your body.

By smoothing out your body’s rolls and bulges, Genie Hour Glass claims it can make you look 2 sizes slimmer in seconds.

The device also promises to continue shaping your waist the more you use it – even when you’re not wearing it.

To wear the Genie Hour Glass, you follow this two step process:

— Step 1) Fasten the compression shaper around your torso
— Step 2) Adjust the training bands to your preference and size

Waist training has been around for decades. As the name suggests, the process involves training your waist to get in better shape. For years, people have been wearing corsets and similar devices to tighten their body. Some people even resort to extreme measures – like wearing a corset all hours of the day and night – to shape their bodies the way they like.

The Genie Hour Glass is meant to be worn only for short periods of time. It can be worn overnight, but the manufacturer doesn’t advertise it in that way.

That means after you take off Genie Hour Glass, your body will return to its normal size.

Is Genie Hour Glass Safe?

All waist training devices come with some major risks.

Basically, you’re restricting a big part of your body to make yourself look better. Depending on how extreme your waist training gets, this restriction can cause some serious health issues, like:

— Difficulty breathing
— Fainting
— Reduced bowel functionality and digestive problems like heartburn
— Damage to internal organs, including liver, spleen, and kidney damage
— Skin damage around the applied area

The creators of Genie Hour Glass don’t advertise or warn consumers of any of these dangers. However, when you use the device according to their instructions, your chances of experiencing any sort of injury remain low.

Genie Hour Glass Features

— 80% polyester, 10% polyamide, 10% elastane material (with polypropylene support)
— Hand washed only
— Small/Medium size fits waist lines 23” to 31”, or pant sizes 0 to 6
— Large/Extra-Large fits waist lines 32” to 39”, or pant sizes 8 to 16

You can get Genie Hour Glass in sizes up to 4X.

Genie Hour Glass Pricing

Genie Hour Glass, like many As Seen On TV offers, is priced at a 2 for 1 deal whether you like it or not. Here’s how the pricing breaks down:

— 2 Genie Hour Glasses (one nude color and one black): $19.99 + $15.98 shipping and handling

All purchases come with a 60 day refund policy, although you won’t be able to get a refund on your shipping and handling charges.

The $16 shipping and handling charge on Genie Hour Glass is a lot of money to pay for a couple small garments. Since you don’t get a refund on shipping and handling, it appears that the manufacturer wanted to dissuade you from returning the product – which is a common tactic in the As Seen On TV product world.

To request a refund, you’ll need to call the Genie Hour Glass customer service hotline at 973-287-5133.

Who Makes Genie Hour Glass?

Genie Hour Glass is made by a company named Tristar Products. That company holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has over 1,000 closed complaints through the BBB.

Tristar is a giant in the As Seen On TV industry. They’ve also released a number of other products under the Genie name, including the Skinnie Genie, Ankle Genie, and Genie Zip Bra.

The company has faced many similar complaints over the years, including that the products are made from cheap material or they don’t work as advertised. Many complaints also revolve around poor customer service experiences.

The company also has a rating of 1 star out of 5 on Consumer Affairs, although there are only 26 ratings for the company.

Tristar is based in New Jersey at the following address:

Tristar Products
490 Route 46 E Ste 492
Fairfield, NJ 07004

In addition to the Genie lineup of products, Tristar has produced products like Power Juicer, X-Step, Aqua Rug, Ab Coaster, and HealthMaster Elite over the years. As mentioned above, they’re a pretty big deal in the “As Seen On TV” industry.

Ultimately, Genie Hour Glass is a waist training product similar to most other waist trainers on the market today. When you wear it, you can slim down your appearance by 2 dress sizes. However, don’t expect it to give you any long-term results: this isn’t a solution for weight loss or looking thinner.



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Vitality Air – Rocky Mountain Bottled Air

Vitality Air Review

Vitality Air is a new bottled air product that comes in a durable aluminum bottle. We know what you are thinking… Is this a joke? – Well it started out that way. See what actually transpired out of this gag. Here’s our review of Vitality Air.

What is Vitality Air?

Vitality Air is a bottled air product that comes in a sturdy aluminum bottle. The bottle is designed to be taken anywhere you go: like when you’re working out, playing sports, or going on a hike.

As you may already know, the human body cannot function without a regular supply of high-quality oxygen. We can live without food and water for weeks, and without sleep for 7 days, although we can’t live without oxygen for more than a few minutes.

By supplying customers with fresh, clean air, Vitality Air promises to rejuvenate your oxygen levels, leading to benefits like:

Better Energy Levels
— Reduced Hangover Symptoms
Better Mental Alertness
— Better Athletic Performance

Vitality Air is bottled in the Rocky Mountains of Canada in Banff and Lake Louise. The air in the mountains is remarkably clean. In a sales description for Vitality Air, the company discusses how thousands of trees, clean water, and clear skies all contribute to what makes Vitality Air special.

The bottles of air are priced at around $20 for a 3 liter bottle (with 80 breaths). the company actually differentiates between its Banff and Lake Louise air supplies (they’re sold in different bottles). However, their pricing is identical.

According to a report in August 2015 by the Calgary Herald, the company was selling about 300 bottles per month over the summer. The company only started selling the bottles in June 2015.

The company actually has interesting origins: the two founders originally started selling bags of Canadian Rocky Mountain air on eBay. They sold their first bag for 99 cents. They sold their second bag for $160 USD. These were literally just Ziploc bags filled with air.

Today, Vitality Air uses a little more intense of a bottling process. The company can fit more air into a canister of compressed air.

How Is the Air Bottled?

Vitality Air bottles its air in two locations: Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta.

In the Calgary Herald interview above, the founders of the company claim to sit out at a location “for about 10 hours gathering all the air” before taking it back to their headquarters and putting it all into the bottles bottles.

When the interviewer asked how exactly they bottled the air, they claimed that they couldn’t disclose that information because “it’s a little bit of a trade secret”.

How to Use Vitality Air

Each bottle of Vitality Air comes with a two-in-one cap/mask device. The goal of the mask is to lock out the air you’re currently breathing and ensure you’re breathing nothing but fresh, clean, pure Canadian air.

You pop the bottle off the air, place the mask over your mouth, then breath.

The air is particularly popular in polluted cities around the world. The founders claim that they have primarily targeted markets in China, Dubai, and India, where pollution is a major health concern that isn’t going away any time soon.

Vitality Air Pricing

The company sells air from Lake Louise and Banff separately in bottles ranging from 3.3 to 7.7 liters. Pricing is identical across both types of air. Here’s how the pricing breaks down:

— 3 Liter Bottle of Banff or Lake Louise Air: $20
— 7.7 Liter Bottle: $32
— Twin Pack 7.7 Liter Bottles: $59
— Twin Pack 3 Liter Bottles: $32
— Premium Oxygen 3L: $18.99
— Premium Oxygen 10L: $28.99
— Twin Pack of Premium Oxygen 3L: $27.99
— Twin Pack of Premium Oxygen 10L: $48.99

How much air do you get with each canister? A 3 liter bottle claims to contain about 80 breaths of fresh air, while the 10L bottle contains about 200 inhalations.

The Premium Oxygen, by the way, contains 95% pure premium oxygen and is different from the core Vitality Air products.

You can purchase Vitality Air from the official website at VitalityAir.com or from Amazon.com.

The air is also sold at gas stations across Alberta, at retailers in China, and in select retailers in the United States. To view a list of retailers in your area, you can visit the Vitality Air official website store finder on their website: VitalityAir.com

About Vitality Air

Vitality Air was founded by two guys named Moses and Troy in 2014.

These two made it their goal to create a company that gave everyone fresh air – regardless of where they lived. The company originally started as a gag gift (as mentioned before, the pair originally sold 99 cent Ziploc bags of Canadian air on eBay). Today, however, it’s blossomed into a successful business with hundreds of monthly bottle sales.

The pair of founders grew up in Alberta and the company is currently headquartered in Calgary. You can contact Vitality air on their website for more information.



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21 Day Sugar Detox Diet Program

21 Day Sugar Detox Review

21 Day Sugar Detox is a diet program that promises to help you avoid sugar and carb cravings and manage your blood sugar levels. Here’s our review of the 21 Day Sugar Detox.

What is the 21 Day Sugar Detox?

The 21 Day Sugar Detox is a 3 week diet program that consists of an eBook and an online membership service. There are also 23 days of audio support recordings and one on one support available over the forum.

You can also buy the 21 Day Sugar Detox printed book from Amazon and all major bookstores.

The goal of the diet is to reduce your cravings for carbs and sugar by using a carefully structured diet over a 21 day period. By the end of the program, you should be able to more easily manage your blood sugar levels.

The program is mostly targeted towards women. However, the diet claims to be safe for all members of the family – including kids and pregnant or breastfeeding moms.

After paying the one-time joining fee for the 21 Day Sugar Detox, you receive membership for life. You can perform the detox multiple times or just do it once.

How Does the 21 Day Sugar Detox Work?

What kind of foods will you be eating on the 21 Day Sugar Detox?

The diet advocates real, whole, nutrient-dense foods while avoiding refined, highly-processed foods.

There are three different levels – so if you’re feeling really motivated to detox hard, then you can jump in at level 3. And if you don’t want to get too stressed out about the diet, then level 1 might be best.

The diet comes with a Yes/No list of foods. Your goal is to follow that list for 3 whole weeks.

21 Day Sugar Detox promises that you won’t need to buy powders or supplements or anything weird that you wouldn’t find at a grocery store.

To get an idea of some of the recipes you’ll be following on the detox, read through the recipes listed here. Some sample dishes include:

— Orange Braised Beef
— Smashed Potatoes with Onion and Garlic
— Skillet Peach Cobbler
— Garlic & Ghee Roasted Chicken
— Fresh Cabbage & Bok Choy Slaw
— Mini Sweet Potato Flatbreads

Many of the dishes are also paleo-friendly. You can also choose dishes that are vegan or vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, or meet other specialized recommendations.

21 Day Sugar Detox Features

21 Day Sugar Detox Quick Start Guide: This 80 page eBook gives you all the basics you need to know to get started on the diet program.

Modification Guides: These modification guides are targeted towards special individuals who may not be able to follow the normal diet. Those include athletes, pregnant or breastfeeding moms, people with autoimmune conditions, and other individuals.

Audio Support: There are a total of 23 MP3 audio recordings included with 21 Day Sugar Detox, each of which is between 15 and 20 minutes long. You’re supposed to listen to the audio recordings each day to learn what to expect from the program.

Daily Detox Emails: The diet program includes detox emails that are delivered throughout your 21 day program. These daily emails include support, motivation, tips, and recipes you can use to make sure your diet proceeds as efficiently as possible.

Community Forum & Support: You can use the forum to connect with other detox members. The forum is also moderated by a team of diet experts who can answer any questions you have about the program.

2 Printed Books: Plus and Premium 21DSD members receive two printed books with over 200 recipes, including the 21-Day Sugar Detox book and the Cookbook, both of which are 240 pages.

21 Day Sugar Detox Pricing

As mentioned above, 21 Day Sugar Detox is available at a one-time price. After paying that joining fee, you get unlimited access to the program. There’s no monthly fee. Here are the three membership levels available:

Basic Package: $37

— Includes Quick Start Guide eBook
— Modification Guides eBook
— Audio Support Series in MP3s
— Daily Detox Emails
— Member Support Forum

Plus Package: $57

— Includes Everything from the Basic Package
— 21 Day Sugar Detox Guide Book (240 page printed book with 90 detox recipes)

Premium Package: $77

— Includes Everything in the Basic and Plus Packages
— 21 Day Sugar Detox Cookbook (another 240 page printed book with another 90 recipes)

All of these purchases are processed through Clickbank. Your membership comes with a 14 day money back guarantee: if you’re unsatisfied with your program for any reason within the first 2 weeks of purchasing it, then you can return it for a full refund.

You can also buy the 21 Day Sugar Detox guide book in bookstores and online. Amazon sells the book for $21.38 (printed copy) and $7.23 (Kindle).

Who Made the 21 Day Sugar Detox?

21 Day Sugar Detox was created by a woman named Diane Sanfilippo, BS, NC. Diane can be found online at BalancedBites.com or @BalancedBites on Twitter.

Diane has created a number of diet programs and recipe books over the years, including Practical Paleo. She’s a Certified Nutrition Consultant with a specialization in paleo nutrition, blood sugar regulation, food allergies and intolerances, and digestive health.

You can learn more about Diane here: http://ift.tt/1midK8Y

Ultimately, 21 Day Sugar Detox is a dietary program that claims to have over 50,000 participants. If you find yourself frequently craving sugar and carbs that kill your diet, then 21 Day Sugar Detox may be the right program for you. It’s a selection of low-sugar recipes that advocate eating healthy, whole, nutrient-dense foods.



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New FDA Office of Dietary Supplement Program

FDA Office of Dietary Supplement Programs

Important Information Regarding the New FDA Office of Dietary Supplement Programs

Today, the FDA announced the launch of its new branch which they named the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP). This new branch will cause some changes pertaining to how the FDA regulates dietary supplements, despite the fact that it’s an older FDA program that is just now getting its own separate office. The ODSP used to be a branch of the FDA’s Office of Nutrition Labeling and Dietary Supplement Programs.

What changes will the new branch bring to the market of dietary supplements? Does the new office have more power to influence the dietary supplement market? Keep reading.

The Booming Dietary Supplement Industry

This surge in popularity of dietary supplements has been going strong for the past 20 years and seems to get stronger with every passing year. This continuous boom has prompted the FDA to alter how it deals with dietary supplement manufacturers and marketers, due to nefarious methods used by some to sell their products. Not to mention because of the sheer volume of supplements available in the market and how many people buy them per year.

In the past, the FDA only lived up to the F and D in their name. That means that they only primarily only dealt with things that were classified as foods or drugs. Since dietary supplements fell under neither category, the FDA didn’t bother regulating them. That oversight led to manufacturers taking advantage of the free reign they were granted to make outrageous claims about their product in hopes of capturing a portion of the large market. The only limitation that manufacturers faced was that their claims couldn’t pertain to the ability to cure any particular disease or illness.

Nevertheless, only one branch of the FDA was responsible for controlling the massive dietary supplement industry in the United States. This branch was initiated 2 decades ago when the dietary supplement market was first blooming. Things have obviously changed in that time. To put it into numbers, the market was bringing in a grand total of $6 billion in yearly sales 20 years ago. Now, they bring in $35 billion.

In a press release, the FDA stated that, “Elevating the program’s position will raise the profile of dietary supplements within the agency, and will enhance the effectiveness of dietary supplement regulation by allowing ODSP to better compete for government resources and capabilities to regulate this rapidly expanding industry.”

In short, the FDA realized how much the dietary supplement market has grown and that much more regulation of said market was needed. The problem was that the FDA lacked the funding to create a new division that looked over the massive industry because it wasn’t viewed as an important thing to regulate within the FDA.

However, the birth of the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs will alter that perception and bring the issue of regulating the diet supplement industry to the forefront.

Functions of the ODSP

The Office of Dietary Supplement Programs will be responsible for dealing with dietary supplement manufacturers who release potentially harmful products. A big problem within the market is that makers whip up wild concoctions of vitamins and minerals and call it a diet supplement. Due to former weak regulation, that product could easily end up in the market and consumers would buy it, take it, and get sick because of it. The ODSP will do its best to tackle that issue head-on.

On top of that, the ODSP will look to tackle the corruption in the dietary supplement industry. The lack of regulation gave rise to a lot of fraudulent practices being used by various companies.

Another function of the ODSP is to carry out the dietary supplement good manufacturing practices (GMP) regulation. What is this? It gives special attention to claims of GMP violations that:

— Possibly call into question the safety of a product

— Pertain to a lack of sufficient or even valid labeling of a product, which puts buyers at risk

— Could lead to the misleading of consumers through questionable advertising and insufficient or incomplete labeling of all of the ingredients in the supplement

Another function of the ODSP is one inherited from its predecessor – which is the ability to take dangerous products out of the market. Hopefully with the additional funding and importance given to this branch, it will be able to more effectively deal with the plethora of harmful products floating around. The ODSP will be able to work in conjunction with the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in this capacity to effectively weed out the harmful products being marketed as supplements and get them out of the market ASAP. This cooperation will be especially helpful as it pertains to finding products that masquerade as dietary supplements but are actually harmful pharmaceutical drugs.

All of these functions were performed in one way or another by the predecessor branch, but that previous branch never had the amount of funding, power, and scope that the new ODSP has. This is very good news for consumers of dietary supplements, as way more of the crappy fake products with overblown claims and BS endorsements will be taken off the market.

The Effect the ODSP Will Have on the Whole Dietary Supplement Industry

If a company is completely honest and straightforward about the benefits and ingredients of their products, they will have nothing to worry about. Well, that’s implying that their products are safe, of course. In fact, a majority of the big boys in the dietary supplement market were in support of the expanded role of the FDA in the market through this new office. The letter that announced the creation was approved by the big wigs of various companies such as American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Natural Products Association (NPA), and United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA).

Basically, this wasn’t the FDA trying to screw over the entire industry, no matter how reputable the company is. This is just an effort to get rid of the bad apples.

The companies who are looking to scam their consumers will have the FDA breathing their necks all the time now thanks to the ODSP and the additional funding coming along with it. The playing field will be much more evened for those nice and honest companies who release legitimate products.

No restriction or law has really changed with the emergence of this new organization. It’s just that the organization has more power and money to enforce the already set laws on a much larger scale.

What Exactly Are These Laws That Are Already Set in Place?

In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was signed into law. It’s the FDA’s, and more specifically the ODSP’s, job to enforce the provisions of this act on the dietary supplement industry.

The DSHEA makes it a point that dietary supplements are to be treated differently than foods and drugs. This means that a whole new set of regulations had to be put in place to ensure the quality of dietary supplement products being released to the public.

The two key points of the act are:

It is unlawful for dietary supplement manufacturers to mislead consumers with false advertising about their product. Many of the big companies have set up specific chapters within the company to deal with analyzing the safety of their product and ensuring the proper labeling is present so that the product passes all of the DSHEA requirements.

Tackling companies that try to sell misleading products to consumers is the FDA’s responsibility. The FDA cannot do anything until the product has already been released into the public market. This means that a good amount of people can be scammed and even be harmed by unsafe products before the FDA has a chance to take down the manufacturers of said product.

There is a glaring problem here and I’m sure you’ve seen it. The companies behind the dietary supplements have the power to decide if their product is safe for human consumption or not. Now, of course, this is nothing to worry about if the company is honest and reputable. Unfortunately, this freedom is abused by many of the smaller companies who are looking to strike it rich quickly and then drop out of the market once they’ve made a pretty penny, with no regard to the potential harm that they’ve done to consumers.

A company literally has the freedom to cook up some insanely dangerous concoction, have an “inspection team” full of “established scientists and drug experts” put their stamp of approval and safety on it, and then market it as a miracle weight loss pill. And guess what? They’ll be able to rake in the profit until the FDA finally finds out about it and takes them down.

The creation of the ODSP is definitely a step in the right direction for the entire dietary supplement industry. It will give the FDA more power and a much larger budget to carry out the laws set forth by the DSHEA. That said, new laws should be put in place to prevent dangerous products from hitting the market in the first place. Companies should NOT be able to perform their own safety tests, due to obvious biases and the bad intentions of some companies in the industry.



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terça-feira, 29 de dezembro de 2015

Garcinia Cambogia Premium – Can You Trust It?

Garcinia Cambogia Premium Review

Garcinia Cambogia Premium is a dietary supplement that is compromised almost solely of Garcinia Cambogia. This Garcinia Cambogia contains 60% hydroxycitric acid (HCA), the perfect balance to encourage weight loss after consumption.

Because of this, the makers of Garcinia Cambogia Premium make bold claims about their product being the “best Garcinia Cambogia supplement out there.” Bold, indeed. Keep reading to find out if it lives up to that moniker.

Who Makes Garcinia Cambogia Premium?

Before that, let’s backtrack a little and look at the background of the company responsible for this product. Garcinia Cambogia Premium’s base of operations is in Georgia. Atlanta, Georgia to be exact. The company is rated an astoundingly pitiful F by the Better Business Bureau.

Why?

15 complaints were filed against Garcinia Cambogia Premium over the course of three years. What’s more is that the company only formally responded to two of those complaints. As if it can’t get any worse, the product they offer is mostly viewed negatively by the online consumer base.

Many of the negative reviews are centered around the claim that the product did not work as advertised. Based on just that, the F rating from the BBB seems pretty legitimate and justified.

How Does Garcinia Cambogia Premium Work?

First it’s important to know what Garcinia Cambogia is. It’s a fruit that is pretty plentiful around the world, growing in all different areas. Many growers harvest it and use it in all different kinds of foods. However, Garcinia Cambogia’s real claim to fame is the fact that its skin has high concentrations of a helpful chemical called hydroxycitric acid (HCA).

This chemical has shown promising results as an agent of weight loss. However, most of these claims and potential benefits were unknown until popular TV personality Dr. Oz did a segment about it on his television show. That segment raised a lot of interest in Garcinia Cambogia and led to the dietary supplement market getting a bunch of companies selling their own “special blend” of Garcinia Cambogia diet supplements. Of course, all of them boast to be better than their competitors. Most of it is hogwash, yet people still believe it and buy.

That said, this particular company (Garcinia Cambogia Premium) states that its product contains 100% pure Garcinia Cambogia. On top of that, they state that their Garcinia Cambogia has 60% HCA, which is perfect for suppressing the appetite and inducing weight loss in those who take it.

The company attempts to use a study conducted in Japan to legitimize their product. What did the study find? Well, the study showed a correlation between consuming 60% HCA Garcinia Cambogia and diminished abdominal visceral fat. That said, most of those who participated in said study indicated that they didn’t notice any “significant differences in BMI or body weight.” Ouch, they reference a study in which its findings seem to contradicts their marketing claims of their product being “the Holy Grail of Fat Loss.”

Getting Technical

The product itself is made without any fillers, binders, or additional ingredients. It’s also GMP certified, and despite all of the flak it gets, it is manufactured in a facility registered with the FDA.

To get into the nitty-gritty of it, each Garcinia Cambogia Premium pill is composed of 70 milligrams of Potassium and the aforementioned Garcinia Cambogia, in which it contains a whopping 800 milligrams of it. And of course, this Garcinia Cambogia has 60% HCA, which trumps its competition by up to 30%.

Doctor’s Orders

Okay, so they’re not from a doctor, but rather from the official site of the company. Anyways, the site instructs you to take a single 800 milligram pill 2 times a day. Both pills should be taken a half hour before eating a meal. If you do this, the site claims that you should begin noticing results as soon as a week and as late as a month of daily use. You get 60 pills in one bottle, which is enough for a month of daily use if you follow these instructions.

And naturally, the company claims that their product causes no side effects. That is bullsh*t, as side effects including headaches and nausea have been reported. That said, the product typically is harmless and does no damage to your body if you use it for only 12 weeks. Of course, talk to your doctor or a trusted health expert before taking Garcinia Cambogia Premium.

How Much Does It Cost? Can I Get a Refund if it Doesn’t Work?

You can purchase Garcinia Cambogia Premium either straight through the company’s site, or through popular online marketplace Amazon. When buying straight from the maker, they will give you four packages to choose from. They are:

Sampler’s Package: You pay $48 for one bottle (30 pills). Good for one month if you follow the recommended dosage.

Beginner’s Package: You pay $91 for three bottles (90 pills). This rounds out to roughly $30 per bottle and will last you three months if you follow the recommended dosage.

Moderate Package: You pay $112 for four bottles (120 pills). This rounds out to roughly $28 per bottle and will last you four months if you follow the recommended dosage.

Best Selling Package: You pay $138 for six bottles (180 pills). This rounds out to roughly $23 per bottle and will last you six months if you follow the recommended dosage.

As you can see, the cost per bottle goes down if you buy in bulk. Many sellers utilize this technique to get people to purchase their bulk packages.

Also, Garcinia Cambogia has a very nice 100% satisfaction, 90-day money back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the results of the product, you can call their customer service at (888) 503-1757 to initiate the refunding process. Don’t have a phone? Just don’t want to go through the hassle of talking to people? No problem, you can contact them over the Internet by going here: http://ift.tt/1mhuv4h

Beware, several people have reported difficulty in getting their refunds processed. The manufacturer reportedly tried to dodge refund requests. On top of that, some have reported that those manning the customer service positions were quite rude when dealing with consumers. Bad customer service is definitely a big no-no for a company trying to make it in the 21st century.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

— As stated (many times) above, their Garcinia Cambogia has 60% HCA, which is vital for weight loss.

— The study that showed that the supplement can diminish visceral abdominal fat

— The alleged (see Cons) 100% satisfaction, 90-day money back guarantee

— The company won’t try to scam you into an autoship program. This is a big problem in the online dietary supplement market.

Cons:

— Much like a majority of dietary supplements in the market, Garcinia Cambogia Premium is not FDA approved. Although, it is created in a facility registered with the FDA.

— The aforementioned poor customer service and reluctance to actually issue refunds. Customer service representatives are reportedly very rude to consumers and try to avoid issue refunds at any and all costs.

The Verdict

Buyer beware. The dietary supplement market is filled with unproven companies trying their hand at making the “perfect” blend of supplements based on what’s trending currently. Garcinia Cambogia Premium definitely seems to be one of the companies. You can take solace in the fact that you aren’t getting locked into a BS autoship program, though.

I’d tell you to look for a more reputable company that is selling Garcinia Cambogia products. This company has promise, but there are too many red flags that indicate it’s a new company with a lot of kinks to work out if it wants to survive and thrive in this harsh market. But hey, that’s just my opinion. If you think that the price is right and that you won’t need to go through the horrible customer service experience, go ahead and buy. Nobody’s stopping ya but yourself. But again, I insist, BUYER BEWARE.

…And always consult with your doctor before consuming any product like this. They will definitely be more up front with you than the company who wants you to buy your product.



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Neurodrol – Miracle Nerve Solution

Neurodrol Review

Neurodrol is a new nutritional supplement that calls itself a “miracle nerve” solution. Here’s our review of whether or not Neurodrol actually works.

What is Neurodrol?

Neurodrol is a nutritional supplement that claims to relieve nerve pain, numbness, and tingling using natural ingredients.

The supplement claims that you can cure your nerve pain by nourishing your nerves with the right nutrients. Using a “custom blend of ingredients that work together to re-nourish nerves”, Neurodrol promises to relieve nerve damage throughout your body, including:

— Nerves In The Hands
— Nerves In The Feet
— Nerves In Your Legs
— Neuralgia Nerve Pain (stabbing and burning pain common in the face and neck)

The supplement is available exclusively online for $65.95 per capsule.

How Does Neurodrol Work?

Neurodrol uses a combination of natural ingredients and synthetic formulas to quickly relieve nerve damage. Some of the key active ingredients include all of the following:

— 2-Aminoethanesulfonic Acid: This molecule purportedly plays a key role in neurotransmitter activity and has a relaxing effect on your nerves and mood. It’s also key in your musculoskeletal systems as well as your heart and nervous systems – although the creator of Neurodrol doesn’t really explain how it’s important.

— Acetyl-L-Carnitine: ACL may improve nerve fiber regeneration, according to Nutro Labs (the creators of Neurodrol).

— Cyanocabalamin: This is a critical ingredient in the myelin sheath, which is the coating that surrounds nerve cells and neurotransmitters. Healthy myelin sheaths reduce your risk of degenerative neurological conditions.

— Cholecalciferol: According to the creator of Neurodrol, this compound has “exhibited an association with the regulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis”.

— Benfotiamine: Produces beneficial effects on nerve health for both diabetics and non-diabetics according to one German study where participants decreased nerve pain, tingling, and numbness within 3 weeks.

All of these ingredients sound good and they make bold claims about the effectiveness of the Neurodrol formula.

But there’s one major problem with Neurodrol: the entire formula hasn’t been collectively tested in any major clinical study. It hasn’t undergone third party testing of any type.

That means all the claims made by the manufacturer of Neurodrol are just wild speculations: there’s no evidence that Neurodrol can actually treat nerve damage. Until the supplement undergoes some type of testing, it’s impossible to say whether or not it works.

Neurodrol Ingredients

The manufacturer doesn’t go into great detail about the way in which Neurodrol works.

They also don’t go into any detail about the ingredients included in the supplement. We know that the formula contains the five ingredients listed above. We don’t know their dosages, however, which makes it impossible to decide whether or not they actually work.

The ingredients might work at certain dosages. There have been studies performed on the individual ingredients. We know that the ingredients work at those specific dosages. We don’t, however, know the dosages in Neurodrol – which makes it impossible to assess its effects.

The lack of ingredient information is worrying – especially when you’re taking a supplement that promises to target your nervous system.

Neurodrol Pricing

Neurodrol is available exclusively online through Neurodrol.com. You won’t find it on Amazon or other online retailers, nor will you find it in any store.

Neurodrol is priced at $65.95 per bottle for a 30 day supply (60 capsules).

You can contact Neurodrol’s manufacturer for a total refund by emailing support@neurodrol.com or calling (800) 972-7083. Refunds are given within 30 days without no questions asked: although you’ll need to pay your own shipping costs to return the bottle.

Payments are processed through Neurodrol.com. You can pay via any major credit card.

The Terms and Conditions section for Neurodrol also lists details of a 14 day trial, where you pay only $4.95 for shipping and handling and then pay the full price 14 days later. However, that trial did not seem to be available at the time of writing our Neurodrol review. It appears the manufacturer may have ended the trial and decided to go exclusively with the per bottle pricing.

Who Makes Neurodrol?

Neurodrol’s terms and conditions section lists its manufacturer as Optimind and Nutro Labs, LLC.

You can contact the company toll-free by calling 1-800-972-7083 or by emailing support@neurodrol.com.

A quick Google search for Nutro Labs reveals little information about the business. There is a similar manufacturer named Nutro Laboratories Inc. that is based in South Plainfield, New Jersey. However, it’s unclear if that manufacturer is the same one behind Neurodrol.

Neurodrol lists its return address as the following:

Nutro Labs, LLC.
1580 Sawgrass Corporate Pkwy Suite 130
Sunrise, FL 33323

That address is a nondescript office building in suburban South Florida.

Neurodrol was released onto the internet in November 2015.

Ultimately, Neurodrol is a mysterious supplement that makes brash claims about its benefits – like its ability to totally cure your nerve damage – despite providing no evidence that it actually works. The supplement claims to use powerful natural ingredients – but the manufacturer hasn’t listed the dosages of those ingredients. Furthermore, Neurodrol is priced at a lucrative $65.95 USD per bottle, which seems high for a nutritional supplement with only 60 capsules. For all of these reasons, Neurodrol is one nerve supplement that seems too good to be true – and it probably is.



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8 Ways to Manage Your Stress

8 Ways to Manage Your Stress

These days, a good majority of the population suffers from stress, anxiety, and depression. There are various culprits responsible for that, different for every person.

Have you ever dealt with depression or stress? Both?

Well it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Just about everyone out there has faced depression and dealt with stress at some point in their life. The funneling of bad thoughts into your head isn’t controllable and it is really hard to avoid getting them.

How To Deal With Stress

Never fear, there are ways to manage it so that you better live your life. People need the will power and positive energy to handle their stress and depression.

Ensure your mood stays fresh or else you’ll find a lot of trouble fighting stress. I have organized a list of steps you can take to deal with your stress and keep depression away.

Start Off Your Day On a Positive Note

I recommend that you go to bed thinking positive thoughts and also wake up with positive thoughts. There’s no better way to fight off negative thoughts than starting your day off positively. That sets the trend for the rest of the day and should keep you positive almost all day. This ties in with my earlier recommendation to keep your mood fresh every day, as well.

Accept that Some Things Can’t Be Avoided

Look, there are things out there that you just won’t be able to avoid or control. Try as you might, you just won’t be able to ignore them. An example of one of those things is waking up and going to school or work in the morning. You won’t be able to weasel your way out of this and you’ll be saddled with whatever responsibility you’re given there. That said, doing this task shouldn’t stress you out and instead of feeling stressed, motivate yourself to get it done and over with. Accept that you have to do things in life that you may not like to do because that is what life is all about. Overcoming tricky hurdles that you often won’t like.

Keep Quiet and Don’t Speak

Look, if you have nothing relevant to contribute to a conversation, just stay quiet. Talking about irrelevant nonsense will only make things worse for you. Whoever you’re talking to will get bored of what you’re saying and may even give you a negative response. That’s the last thing you need at this point! The negative response will just get you down and make it harder for you to be positive. Just learn how to silence yourself and keep stupid things from slipping out. You will feel so much better.

Consider Someone Who Inspires You

Sources of inspiration can be found anywhere and everywhere. Find at least one person that is really inspirational to you. Strive to be like that person and develop your positive personality around being like that person. And look, nobody’s perfect, so don’t focus on the negative aspects of that person. Look at all of the good they do, look at the good advice they give, and live your life accordingly. All it takes is seeing someone else living a positive life to make you motivated to do the same. You could even find a few inspirational people and blend the positive aspects of all of them and make it into your own unique positive personality. Get out there and find your inspiration(s).

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Do your friends often get you down? If you answered yes to that question, it’s time to find some new friends. All of these suggestions I’ve made won’t do jack squat if you stick around people who get you down and make you think negatively about yourself or others. This can be especially destructive to your personality and it could turn into a terrible chain reaction. Surrounding yourself with fellow positive people lets the positivity flow and it will make it much easier for you to get rid of the stress and negative thoughts that you’re thinking. This is key in achieving peace of mind and maintaining a positive outlook on life.

Listen to Soft Music

If you’re like me, you know a lot of people who only listen to face-paced dance music or pop, both of which are very popular with the youth. The problem is that these kinds of music are not good for those who are stressing out. Instead of relaxing you and alleviating the stress you’re feeling, they tend to make it worse. A better option would be to listen to soft music or even classical music such as Mozart. Soft and classical music gives you peace of mind and lets all the stress melt away while you’re in a state of maximum relaxation. It does wonders for your mind and soul.

Do Good Deeds

Be kind to other people and exhibit positive behavior towards them, as well as other animals. You would never believe how great doing a good deed for someone else would make you feel. It’s so easy to do something positive for someone else, too! It’s as simple as just telling someone not to give up on what they’re doing, or telling them that they are doing a great job. Easy things like that make the person you’re talking to feel great and make you feel even greater. This helps block out any negative thoughts that are trying to sneak into your head. Other examples of good deeds are giving charity or even just smiling and saying hi to someone. These simple things go a long way in making you a happier healthier person.

Focus on your blessings rather than problems

Everyone knows that life isn’t easy and has a lot of pitfalls. However, you can alleviate the pressure those pitfalls cause if you focus on good things instead of on the bad things that stress you out. Only keep positivity in your mind and boot any negativity you feel right out. You don’t want negativity to become intertwined into your personality, or else you’ll never achieve peace of mind. And all of the good in life will pass you by because you’re too busy being a negative Nancy.

There you have it. If you follow all of these tips, you should be able to manage your stress and effectively and achieve some sort of peace of mind.



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How To Take Your Best Selfie

How To Take Your Best Selfie

Move over Kim Kardashian, you aren’t the only one to take the perfect selfie. I must admit that my new-found shutter skills come after taking the most appalling pictures of myself. Since it is the season for sending distant relatives selfies wearing their Christmas issue hats, sweaters, whatever, I wasn’t being let off the hook. After several utterly cringe-worthy, hit the delete button now, experiences, I realized that the selfie requires a bit of technique. So, from one who learned the hard way, here are a few tips.

The most important selfie rule is angle. It will take a bit of trial and error to find out what is the most flattering for you. Mine turns out to be slightly above the eyeline and a slight angle pointing down, say 45 degrees. Result: no double chins, dodgy shadows or flared nostrils.

Avoid fluorescent light and if at all possible face natural light full on. If you are at an angle or sideways to a window, the light will fall on your face at an unflattering angle and give the impression of harsh wrinkles.

Work out your look. Do you look better full face to camera, or at a slight turn? Better with a grin from ear to ear or a subtle smirk? Experiment, find out what looks best and then make it all your own.

Oh and the selfie stick is social death.

And once you have perfected your selfie, send them in to Truth In Aging. To get the ball rolling, these are my selfies (before and after figuring it all out).

marta before and after perfecting her selfie

With the holiday season winding down, tell me, what do you do to keep yourself feeling your best — inside and out — this time of year?



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LifeVantage PhysIQ Smart Weight Loss System

LifeVantage PhysIQ Review

LifeVantage PhysIQ Smart Weight Management System is a new nutritional supplement lineup that recently launched across the United States and Canada. Here’s our review.

What is LifeVantage PhysIQ Smart Weight Management System?

LifeVantage PhysIQ Smart Weight Management System is a new lineup of nutritional supplements that promise to help anyone achieve their fitness goals.

The products include protein powders, probiotics, fat burners, and cleansing supplements, among others.

The first products in the LifeVantage PhysIQ lineup launched in December 2015. The remaining supplements are expected to roll out over the course of 2016 and 2017.

LifeVantage Corporation is a publically traded network marketing company (LFVN) that claims to take a science-based approach to nutritional supplement manufacturing.

In a press release announcing this latest product lineup, LifeVantage talked about how it was

“dedicated to visionary science that looks to transform health, wellness and anti-aging internally and externally at the cellular level.”

LifeVantage PhysIQ Products

All LifeVantage PhysIQ products can be found online at LifeVantage.com, where you’ll find a brief description of the science behind each product as well as a complete nutritional label. Pricing information is not publically available through LifeVantage: you’ll need to purchase products directly from a company distributor.

Products in the lineup include all of the following:

PhysIQ Protein Shake

Each container contains 30 servings and 1 pound (525 grams) of powder. It promises to use a slow-release protein formula to curb your appetite and make you feel fuller for a longer period of time. It also promises to support the growth of lean muscle mass – which is the same promise made by every other protein powder.

There’s a blend of two different proteins in this formula, including whey concentrate and casein protein. There’s 12 grams of protein in each 17.5 gram scoop, which is relatively low for a protein powder. LifeVantage has also not listed the ratio of casein protein to whey protein – which can be annoying for those who are concerned about getting the correct protein throughout the day.

PhysIQ Fat Burn

Fat Burn promises to use two registered trademark formulas called Sinetrol and Svetol to help you melt unwanted inches from your waist by activating your body’s “fat metabolism.”

In terms of science, Fat Burn cites one study where Sinetrol led to a 270% greater reduction of waist size and hip size compared to a placebo. Sinetrol is made up of “bioactive polyphenols”. Svetol, on the other hand, is a green coffee bean extract.

Most of these ingredients are hidden behind a proprietary blend (650mg total). However, LifeVantage does claim that there is less than 22mg of caffeine in each serving of the supplement (2 capsules). That’s low for a diet pill. As the manufacturer explains, all of that caffeine is naturally occurring and no additional caffeine has been added.

PhysIQ ProBio

ProBio delivers 6 billion CFUs of healthy bacteria into your digestive system to boost immune system efficiency and improve digestive health.

ProBio’s two key ingredients include BIO-Tract and Wellmune, both of which are registered trademark formulas that claim to release bacteria over a long period of time.

There’s a blend of six different probiotic bacteria strains in the supplement, including Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus casei, Lacotbacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium.

PhysIQ Cleanse

PhysIQ Cleanse has been announced but has not yet been released onto the marketplace. We don’t know any details about Cleanse – although we can assume it will use high levels of antioxidants and other ingredients to release toxins from your body.

The supplements just recently became available through the LifeVantage website and have begun rolling out to certain distributors.

About LifeVantage

LifeVantage Corporation is a Salt Lake City, Utah based multilevel marketing company that is publically traded (Nasdaq:LFVN).

The company has previously been well-known for creating supplements like Protandim, TrueScience Anti-Aging Skin Care Regimen, Canine Health, and the Axio energy formulas. It still sells those supplements – PhysIQ is just another product lineup that will be sold over the coming years.

The company has distributors in over 20 countries around the world, including a presence in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Mexico, and Thailand.

The company is headquartered at the following address:

LifeVantage Corporation
9785 S. Monroe Street, Suite 300
Sandy, UT 84070

1 (866) 460-7241

You can contact the company by email form at their official website: http://ift.tt/1OqwoSa



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Matrixyl 3000 – Popular Anti-Aging Formula Ingredient

Matrixyl 3000 Review

Matrixyl 3000 is an anti-aging formula found in a variety of skin creams sold today. Here’s our Matrixyl 3000 review.

What is Matrixyl 3000?

Matrixyl 3000 is an anti-aging formula that claims to work in a different way than most other skin creams on the market.

Other anti-aging skin creams offer a “short-term” fix for aging skin: they freeze your skin in place and minimize the production of wrinkles. They work in a similar way to Botox but are significantly less effective.

Matrixyl 3000, on the other hand, promises to be a long term fix for aging skin. The formula claims to use special ingredients that boost collagen production and stimulate skin repair.

There are two types of Matrixyl formulas: the original Matrixyl and the new Matrixyl 3000. Both are designed to treat the root causes of aging.

How Does Matrixyl Work?

Before talking about Matrixyl 3000, it’s important to recognize how the original formula, simply called Matrixyl, works.

The primary ingredients in Matrixyl are peptides. Many skin care formulas boast about their peptides, but few actually list which peptides are included in the formula.

Matrixyl is different: Matrixyl uses a specific peptide called palmitoyl-pentapeptide 3. That peptide purportedly stimulates collagen synthesis and skin repair, making it a powerful long-term aging treatment.

Matrixyl was first created after a French research professor named Professor Maquart published an article discussing the use of matrikines. Matrikines are described as

“small molecules composed of a short sequence of amino acids, including a peptide derived from the surrounding extracellular matrix and constituting a signal in order to regulate cell activity.”

Essentially, Matrikines are just one specific type of peptide that purportedly reduce the effects of aging.

So how does Matrixyl 3000 work and what makes it different than the original Matrixyl formula? Keep reading to find out.

How Does Matrixyl 3000 Work?

Matrixyl 3000 claims to work using two new peptides that are not related to palmitoyl-pentapeptide 3 in any way.

The two new peptides are palmitoyl-tripeptide and palmitoyl-oligopeptide. The creators of the Matrixyl 3000 formula claim these ingredients work synergistically to mimic the appearance of broken down collagen.

When your body notices that there’s broken down collagen in the skin, it responds by making more collagen along with elastin.

Scientific Evidence for Matrixyl 3000

The company that owns the patent behind Matrixyl 3000 conducted a study involving two panels of 24 volunteers aged 39 to 74. At the end of this study, the group that took Matrixyl 3000 exhibited better results than the original Matrixyl at regulating skin cell activity.

Obviously, as is the case with any study that involved 48 volunteers (2 groups of 24), the data is extremely limited. Nevertheless, here are the results observed in that study:

— 15% reduction in main wrinkle depth and 18% reduction in main wrinkle volume

— 14% reduction in roughness

— 16% reduction in complexity and “lifting” parameters

— 200 microns decrease in the area occupied by deep wrinkles (44% decrease) and a 37% decrease in density

— 15% increase in skin tone

All of these numbers were in comparison to the group using the original Matrixyl formula.

Unfortunately, this is the only published clinical test involving Matrixyl 3000’s effects on humans thus far.

Scientific Evidence for Matrixyl

The original Matrixyl formula, however, has been the subject of more legitimate studies over the years.

In early 2013, for example, researchers at the University of Reading found that Matrixyl nearly doubled the amount of protein collagen needed to give skin its elasticity. That research was led by Reading’s Professor Hamley, who has an extensive research history of looking for ways to use peptides to stimulate wound healing. You can read more about this 2013 study here.

Who Makes Matrixyl and Matrixyl 3000?

Both Matrixyl and Matrixyl 3000 are made and trademarked by the Sederma Corporation.

Today, you can find both formulas in all sorts of different anti-aging skin creams on the market. Sederma licenses out the formula for use in all sorts of different creams.

Sederma is a division of Croda, Inc., a 50+ year old company responsible for manufacturing a variety of cosmetic ingredients and personal care products.

Sederma itself was founded in 1964 and joined Croda International Group in 1997. Today, Sederma’s About Us page described the company as

“dedicated to the development of active ingredients and in the creation of innovative concepts for Cosmetics, based on the mastery of biotechnology, fine chemistry and vegetal extraction.”

Matrixyl Versus Matrixyl 3000

The only relationship between Matrixyl and Matrixyl 3000 is that they’re both based on peptides.

Since many other anti-aging formulas on the market are also based on peptides, this isn’t exactly a huge connection. Peptides are just small protein fragments representing short chains of amino acids – so they’re not some rare chemical compound by any means.

In fact, it appears that Matrixyl 3000 was named that way simply to capitalize on the popularity of the original Matrixyl formula.

As it stands, the name “Matrixyl” is the only real thing the two formulas have in common. Aside from that, they’re chemically dissimilar.

It’s also important to note that there’s a significant difference in the scientific evidence between each of the formulas: Matrixyl has a well-supported history of being used to increase collagen and elastin production.

Matrixyl 3000, on the other hand, was shown to provide strong anti-aging benefits in a study involving just 48 volunteers. These results have also been demonstrated in petri dish studies but have not been replicated in human testing – which means further testing its necessary before we can definitively say that Matrixyl 3000 is superior to the original Matrixyl.

How to Buy Matrixyl and Matrixyl 3000

You can purchase both Matrixyl formulas as part of other anti-aging skin creams.

You can also purchase the formulas as a stock solution and create your own formula. By combining it with a moisturizer, for example, you may be able to create a powerful anti-aging formula.

Sederma – the manufacturer of the Matrixyl formulas – recommends using a concentration between 3% and 8%. If your skin cream does not list its concentration of Matrixyl, then it’s best to avoid that skin cream.

If you want to include Matrixyl 3000 into your own skin cream, then it’s important to know its formula characteristics. Some of the properties of Matrixyl 3000 include:

— Incorporation: Matrixyl™ 3000 should be incorporated at the end of the emulsion, at cool down, below 40C (104F).

— Suggested Usage: 3 – 8%

— Appearance: Opalescent Gel

— Solubility: Soluble in water

— Long Term Storage: Recommended at 39.2°F (4°C)

Source: LotionCrafter.com



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