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AI 101: AI Explained
Do you struggle with AI? Have parents, friends, and others who struggle with terminology and understanding what AI is good for?
The guide defines basics terms that are often mentioned in numerous online videos and definitely can be confusing to a new user.
Check out my guide, free to use, no data collected.
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Which supplement should I take? #Supplement Explorer
Are you always on your phone looking at which supplements you should take? Do you look at reviews? How do you decide what to buy?
As someone who has been in the nutraceutical industry for over 10 years, I’ve worked with many suppliers and companies to understand why an ingredient is chosen, what research is behind it, and how to sell it to a consumer, so if you are looking for some answers to questions you may have, drop a comment, or even better check out the Supplement Explorer on the site. It is free to use, 3 questions, and a simple output. No info is stored.I made the Supplement Explorer purely for my use and then thought, well, if it is useful for me, maybe it is useful for others. The tool is not affiliated with any company or brand, but was just a way for me to showcase what I find useful. If you use it, do give me feedback as to what you’d like to see it on too.
Stay well and remember, before taking any supplements, check with your doctor if it is a good fit for you or not!
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Neem–An Ayurvedic ingredient set to expand in the US!
Neem is a plant that grows in India and the Middle East. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for many years to treat for fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. It should be taken with food, as it lowers blood sugar and can drive levels too low if taken on an empty stomach. Because of its antifungal and antibacterial component, it often shows up in shampoos and hair care products.
Neem is rich in antioxidants so it can stimulate the liver and kidneys to help eliminate toxins quickly. It is often applied as a paste on the face/skin or consumed as a supplement to help with detoxification (much like activated charcoal). Also, since neem is rich in essential fatty acids (like oleic acid and stearic acid etc.), triglycerides, Vitamin E, and calcium, it is showing up in more and more skincare products as all these nutrients hinder the oxidization process as well as may stimulate collagen production (since collagen goes down with age resulting in wrinkles and loose skin) which improves the skin’s elasticity.
Neem is sold in the US as powder, tea, leaves, and oil. As with Amla, neem products like neem powder are slowly expanding to the US. The reason it isn’t everywhere is because it is hard to find organic, it has to be imported, and there is tremendous crop-to-crop variability due to where it is grown, resulting in difficult standardization in terms of nutrient levels. Nonetheless, it is another ingredient to keep an eye out for.
Disclaimer: this is an opinion post and should not be taken as an endorsement or lack of for any product by me or my employer.
Neem leaves ..A great source of nutrients!
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Amla-Indian gooseberry with tons of health benefits!
This week’s ingredients will be Ayurvedic ingredients that are now becoming mainstream in the US. Turmeric started similarly and is now fully mainstream so let’s see what else is in store…
Amla or Indian Gooseberry:
Amla is native to India and has been consumed either directly or by cooking it or using it as a juice for many years there. Amla contains vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, chromium, zinc, and copper. Amla’s naturally-occurring tannins help retain most of its nutritional content after drying (dehydration). Since Amla is rich in antioxidants, it may help support the digestive, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. It may also help promote a healthy liver and support brain health.
Because Amla is a fruit that is effective in reducing cell damage which reduces the free radicals that can cause health issues, some studies have shown it to be possibly beneficial in decreasing cholesterol as well as reducing inflammation. Side benefits include better hair, skin, and nails as Amla contains gallic acid, a phenolic compound, that has been shown to repair damaged hair and nails. Amla can be found as an oil, juice, or powder. Right now, Amla is slowly gaining traction in the US but expect it to continue to grow. The reason it isn’t everywhere is because it is hard to find organic, it has to be imported, and there is tremendous crop-to-crop variability due to where it is grown, resulting in difficult standardization in terms of antioxidant levels. Amla- a powerful ingredient that is yet to be fully capitalized on!
Where can you buy Amla products? Best bet would be to go into an Asian or Indian store as they can guide you as to which is best. Other options include Wholefoods and Amazon. I’ve seen the whole fruit at Wholefoods though rare but you can definitely find the juice and powder on Amazon. Amla tends to be slightly bitter so if you are consuming the juice, a dab of honey might help with taste!
Disclaimer: this is an opinion post and should not be taken as an endorsement or lack of for any product by me or my employer.
Amla– looks like grapes but tastes completely different
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Breaking: Saturday Special–Gyms and Product Testing
Check out this great op-ed (my first national one) on product testing at gyms! Do you try new products from your gym or does your gym not carrying anything you’d like to try?
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Collagen-Bone protein that impacts your skin health!
Taking a walk through the beauty aisle or a supplement shop, you are bound to see products that have collagen in it. Collagen is a protein that is found in our body (bones, muscles, skin, etc.) that slowly declines as we age resulting in floppy skin, wrinkles and less tightness. Lifestyle factors too play an impact on your body’s collagen level so having too much sugar in your diet or tanning excessively or smoking can all impact how good your skin looks as you age. Supplementation with collagen may help slow some of this degradation.
Think of collagen as a glue that holds your skin together so if you are buying skincare products, you are buying them to help preserve this glue such that you don’t rapidly develop wrinkles and loose skin. However, one thing to remember is that to see the effects of collagen more effectively, it is best to get it from a supplement or bone broth that you have to orally take vs topically as otherwise the large molecule will sit on you face and moisturize it and never penetrate through the skin.
Other benefits of taking collagen is that it can improve your gut health which will impact your skin health. If you suffer from psoriasis or eczema or acne, consider supplementing with collagen because the healthier your gut is the more likely your outward appearance will also improve. Also, since we know collagen impacts skin elasticity, it only leads to the conclusion that collagen supplementation may help with reducing stretch marks. Finally, a side benefit of taking collagen is that you can see an improvement in your hair and nails too so it is a protein that your body needs to keep itself healthy.
Where can you buy collagen? You can find bone broth at many places including WholeFoods, Amazon and skincare topical collagen products are available at your favorite beauty supplier retailer. My favorite way to get collagen into my diet is by adding the bone broth to my morning smoothie because it has no taste.
Disclaimer: this is an opinion post and should not be taken as an endorsement or lack of for any product by me or my employer.
What is collagen? How does it help you?
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Glutathione-An unknown but beneficial skin supplement
Glutathione is an antioxidant that is produced by the body. Remember, an antioxidant is a substance which gives up electrons to neutralize oxidants like free radicals that can impact your health; or rather, antioxidants protect cells from damage when chemicals reacts with oxygen—hence, we typically reach for Vitamin C when we are sick to build up our immunity. Based on the definition of antioxidants and previous posts regarding Vitamins C and E, you can see why glutathione is an important part of your skin care health.
Glutathione levels are usually reduced by lifestyle factors like stress, poor nutrition, pollution, cigarette smoke etc. so supplementation might be necessary. Benefits of taking glutathione include possible skin brightening as it reduces melanin production. Glutathione is a good detoxifier too so I won’t be surprised if it shows up in activated charcoal masks soon. It may also help alleviate symptoms of those with psoriasis and eczema due to its antioxidant properties.
Vitamin C, E, and glutathione are all valuable to add to your diet as antioxidants react to protect each other. Vitamin C can react with damaged Vitamin E and help convert it back to its antioxidant form and Vitamin C can be returned to its antioxidant form by glutathione. Skin care products that capitalize on these three ingredients probably offer you the best value for your money as well as most benefit for your skin!
Disclaimer: this is an opinion post and should not be taken as an endorsement or lack of for any product by me or my employer.
glutathione, a complex molecule with huge benefits!
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Vitamins for Skin Rejuvenation!
We all know that we need to eat our fruits and veggies daily for proper functioning but the standard diet is hardly guaranteeing that we are meeting our daily RDA. Consumers often have to supplement what they eat with various products that have vitamins and minerals to ensure positive well-being but did you know that the vitamins you take are doing more than making your immune system stronger? Vitamin C and E are two important vitamins you can take to help rejuvenate your skin.
Vitamin C is a good antioxidant so if you are suffering from skin damage due to sunlight or have dry skin or redness, consider adding it to your diet. The reason you often see Vitamin C in skincare products is because it plays a huge role in helping your body produce collagen, which will keep you looking younger. If you want to significantly impact how your sunscreen works, consider taking a Vitamin C supplement daily. Remember, Vitamin C is water soluble so too much of it will be flushed out when you urinate unlike Vitamin E.
Another vitamin that you see often in skincare products is Vitamin E. Studies have shown that Vit E may protect against aging effects by destroying free radicals which cause degeneration in skin and blood vessels. What does this mean? Basically, if your skin has the right balance of sebum, then dryness or skin inflammation will not occur but if you do, then perhaps it is time to increase your Vitamin E intake.
Vitamin E is also an antioxidant but it is a fat soluble vitamin so over consumption with supplementation is possible. An effective skincare product will usually have both Vitamin C and E as both provide benefits against sun damage, dark spots, and even wrinkles but to reap effective value from both vitamins a healthy diet consisting of Vitamin C and E is also necessary.
Disclaimer: this is an opinion post and should not be taken as an endorsement or lack of for any product by me or my employer.
two important vitamins for your skin!
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Borage Oil—Improve your beauty from within!
Yesterday, you read about EPO, today let’s discuss another oil that has similar benefits as EPO, borage oil. Borage oil is also rich in a fatty acid, GLA or gamma linolenic acid. It too is seen in many beauty products today as most people want to look younger, right? Borage oil supplements can be found at WholeFoods, Amazon, GNC and more but before taking it, do your research and ask a doctor if you have any other questions about it.
Borage oil is higher in GLA content so typically tends to be slightly more expensive. Like EPO, borage oil usually has anywhere from 7 to 30% GLA in it, based on what the manufacturer has done during the processing as well as what else is in the supplement. If you are not a fan of the supplement, this too can be found in superfood powders that you can add to your smoothie but again beware that you might not be getting high doses in these forms. Typically, 500mg is usually good for most individuals but as you Google and shop, you’ll see this supplement in 1000 mg as well. If you want to see if this is working for you, then try to find a supplement that only has it and nothing else so that you can quickly tell that the effect you are seeking is coming from the borage oil. I know a few people who like to apply the borage oil topically too so that may drive your purchase decision as well. Also, remember to note that no supplement can outperform a poor diet and even if your diet is in check, supplements take time to work so don’t expect miraculous results overnight. Remember to make an informed decision and check with your doctor prior to taking a supplement.
Now that we have discussed where to buy and what to look for in terms of buying it, you are probably wondering why should I buy it, right? Like EPO, borage oil can impact and alleviate symptoms of PMS, inflammation and skin conditions. If you suffer from chronic pain, perhaps the combo of the fatty acids and Omega 6s in the borage oil can help alleviate that pain. Due to borage oil being a great antioxidant, it may also help to reduce skin irritation and drying so it might be a good contender for psoriasis and eczema patients. For the same reason as EPO, the GLAs in borage oil provide the necessary means to flush out any toxins from your skin and reduce clogged pores when you have acne. Other benefits of using borage oil may be seen in minimizing hair loss, improving heart health, and possibly help with respiratory issues. How it works for you depends on your lifestyle factors so if you have made the decision to try it, note where you are seeing improvements along with where you were hoping to see the improvement—you might be surprised by the power of borage oil!
Disclaimer: this is an opinion post and should not be taken as an endorsement or lack of for any product by me or my employer.
borage oil supplements for skin health
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Products and Supplements
Interested in products or items that I have talked about in my posts..visit the link below on Amazon and my fave products are there for you to browse:
Check back frequently for updates!
https://www.amazon.com/shop/2howyalldoing
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Evening Primrose Oil—Skin health cheat!
This week I’ll be discussing about skin health and some supplements and products that you can take to improve your skin health. However, you should remember no matter the supplement, the best product to take is WATER as it is nature’s way of removing toxins from your body so definitely increase your intake of it as well.
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) is supplement that you can find at WholeFoods, Amazon, GNC, and many such stores plus it is also seen in many beauty products. Why is that? EPO is rich in a fatty acid, gamma linolenic acid or GLA. Because of this fatty acid profile, the Omega 6s present in EPO can have profound impact on your health.
Do you have wrinkles? One way to minimize these is buy taking EPO. EPO contains high levels of antioxidants that prevent a reduction in skin oxidation. EPO can also help reduce acne breakouts due to the high level of fatty acids which may help decrease pore clogging. If you Google, there are studies that show that EPO can even reduce symptoms of psoriasis and eczema patients as the gut lining is improved by GLA when consumed—typically, most treatments for these conditions is topical but EPO provides a way to treat from within. There are many other uses for EPO including hair loss, arthritis, osteoporosis, fertility, and headaches. The uses are many but make sure to check with your doctor prior to consuming any supplement including EPO.
What should I look for when I am buying EPO? Well, look for the EPO content and the GLA content. If the label breaks down to show Omegas in it as well, that’s a plus. Typically, you will find bottles that have 500 mg EPO and the label will then show the amount of GLA which should be between 7 to 30% of the EPO—this amount depends on what the manufacturer did to make that product. Look for bottles that have just EPO in it only, not other additional supplements in it, that way you can isolate and determine if it is working for you. If you don’t like taking softgels, there are plenty of other superfood powders that have EPO in it that you can add to your smoothie, just have to look for that ingredient and the level it is at to determine if it will actually help you or not.
Disclaimer: this is an opinion post and should not be taken as an endorsement or lack of for any product by me or my employer.
Evening primrose supplements are great for skin health.
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You’ll go monkey for this Banana ice cream!
When it comes to getting our potassium, the first thing that comes to mind is that I should eat bananas but did you know that bananas have other nutrients that are just as good for you. Not only does the fiber keep you full, bananas also have calcium, managanese, iron, magnesium, and even B vitamins!
However, the problem with bananas is that once they overripe, most people throw them out. Some freeze them for later use but most end up as food waste. The recipe that follows is so simple and should be used on overripe bananas.
Bananalicious:
1) To a blender, add frozen bananas (no skin) and blend
2) The consistency should go from thick to creamy–add some water (to lower the thickness), if still too thick for you
3) Once creamy, enjoy!
** If you need more items in the mix, add your favorite nut butter or fruit or vanilla extract
Bananas..more than just potassium!
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