The ingredients used in natural products and supplements are a fascinating topic and the Tap~Root team has written articles, blogs, marketing materials, and scientific pieces about the ingredients and the companies that supply them to the natural products industries.
Ingredients Articles
Emerging Enzymes
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Natural Products Insider
Enzymes—an exciting category given its current growth and potential. While retail and research focus is on newly elucidated effects of enzymes on systemic health, such as the immune and cardiovascular systems, the humble workhorse function of enzymes in the digestive system is highly noteworthy. Still the biggest market for these products, digestive enzymes fill a need for the ever-growing segment of the population managing food sensitivities and intolerances. Read the article “Emerging Enzymes” on NaturalProductsInsider.com
Building Better Joint Health Supplements
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for New Hope 360 Blog
Joint-health ingredients either maintain cartilage or alleviate inflammation and pain. A comprehensive therapy should use both avenues. Risa Schulman, Ph.D., details the functional ingredients that should be top of mind for any new product introduction. Read the article “Building Better Joint Health Supplements” on NewHope360.com
New Research Links CoQ10 and Bone Health
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Ask an Expert on Ubiquinol
Among the important energy and antioxidant functions of CoQ10, two new research studies are now uncovering a very interesting action of CoQ10 – one that supports bone health. The health and strength of bones involves many factors, but chief among them is a process called resorption, a balance between bone formation and bone dissolution. Read the article “New Research Links CoQ10 and Bone Health” on ubiquinol.org
Why Isn’t it Working? How Your Genetics May Affect Your Body’s Use of CoenzymeQ10 and Ubiquinol
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Ask an Expert on Ubiquinol
So you’ve figured out that you should be taking Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and have been faithfully on the right regimen for a few months now, but you don’t feel any difference. What may be happening is that your body has a particular genetic mutation that does not allow it to utilize the CoQ10 you ingest. How does that happen? And would taking Ubiquinol instead make a difference? Read the article “Why Isn’t it Working? How Your Genetics May Affect Your Body’s Use of CoenzymeQ10 and Ubiquinol”on ubiquinol.org
What is the Difference Between Coenzyme Q10 and Ubiquinol?
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Ask an Expert on Ubiquinol
For many years, there was just coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone. Then there was something new on the market — Ubiquinol. What is this new form? Does it play a different role than coenzyme Q10? What are its unique benefits?Ubiquinol and coenzyme Q10 are in fact very similar molecules. But the small alteration that makes them different is what gives them their unique role in energy production. Read the article “What is the Difference Between Coenzyme Q10 and Ubiquinol?”on ubiquinol.org
How the Use of Statins Can Affect Your Coenzyme Q10 Levels
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Ask an Expert on Ubiquinol
Statin drugs (Lipitor®, Zocor®, Pravachol®, Crestor®, and the like) are prescribed to lower a person’s cholesterol level. They do this by inhibiting the body’s internal production of cholesterol (they do not affect the cholesterol that you eat). But what many people do not know is that at the same time, these drugs inhibit the body’s production of coenzyme Q10.1-4 This means there is less coenzyme Q10 and Ubiquinol (the reduced form of CoQ10 – see the post, “What is the Difference Read the article “How the Use of Statins Can Affect Your Coenzyme Q10 Levels”on ubiquinol.org
How Do We Know How Much?
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Ask an Expert on Ubiquinol
The recommended intake level for Ubiquinol can be found on the product packaging. But how are these levels determined? Kaneka uses data from human studies, which point to an intake level of 100-300 mg per day. Let’s understand how that works.The kind of study that is used is called a pharmacokinetic study (it can also be called a bioavailability study). It measures the amount of a supplement or its metabolites that can be found in the blood after ingestion. Read the article “How Do We Know How Much?” on ubiquinol.org
Best Supplements for Your Heart
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Ask an Expert on Ubiquinol
Heart health continues to be on everyone’s radar these days. The good news is that there are so many supplements that can help keep your ticker ticking along happily. Keeping the heart healthy involves the entire circulatory system, from the heart tissue itself, to the arteries, to the proper lipid balance and flow of the blood. The star heart health supplements cover many of these areas, including: Supporting energy production in tissues Maintaining healthy arteries Read the article “Best Supplements for Your Heart” on ubiquinol.org
Differences in CoQ10 Form
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Natural Products Insider
FDA recently issued new requirements for warnings on statin drug labels, including cautions that statins may affect blood sugar levels and cause memory loss. What they did not say is that statins are also well known to deplete the body’s store of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which can result in chronic fatigue and muscle pain. It wasn’t included yet, that is; in Canada, statin drug labels currently include a black box warning recommending they be taken in conjunction with CoQ10 for this reason. Read the article “Differences in CoQ10 Form” on NaturalProductsInsider.com
Cocoa Flavanols May Contribute to Vascular Health
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for the American Botanical Council
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and chocolate have been shown to improve endothelial function in healthy, hypertensive, and glucose-intolerant individuals; however, the effects have never been tested in hyperglycemic individuals. Hyperglycemia can cause endothelial dysfunction and impair nitric oxide (NO) production, both of which can lead to atherosclerosis. Read the article “Cocoa Flavanols May Contribute to Vascular Health ” on HerbalGram.org
Systematic Review of Cinnamon for Glycemic Control in Diabetes
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for the American Botanical Council
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and other disorders. Control of glycemia can be a key modulator that reduces the risk of these disorders. A number of animal studies have been performed to assess the effects of cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum syn. C. cassia) on glycemic control. In addition, it has been used for this purpose in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Read the article “Systematic Review of Cinnamon for Glycemic Control in Diabetes” on HerbalGram.org
Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Fish Reduce Risk of Macular Degeneration in Women?
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for Eye Doc News
A hot-off-the-press, ten-year prospective study from Harvard showed that women consuming the highest levels of DHA had a 38% reduction in risk, and of EPA a 34% reduction in risk, of developing macular degeneration (AMD). Read the review “Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Fish Reduce Risk of Macular Degeneration in Women?” on EyeDocNews.com
The History and Health Benefits of Chocolate
Author Risa Schulman, PhD for HerbClip News for the American Botanical Council
Chocolate has been known and loved for many centuries as food, medicine, and currency. This article explores the history of chocolate and the evidence for its health benefits. The cacao tree has the Latin name Theobroma cacao, the genus being a term for “food of the gods.” It was first introduced to the Europeans in the 1500s when Columbus went to Honduras and grew in popularity when cane sugar was added. The Mayans and Aztecs drank it with chili peppers, corn mash, vanilla, and other spices, and called it xocoatl, meaning “bitter water.” From here the word “chocolate” was derived. The native people drank cocoa before long expeditions to improve their stamina. Read the article “The History and Health Benefits of Chocolate ” on HerbalGram.org
Differential Effects of Blueberry Proanthocyanidins on Androgen Sensitive and Insensitive Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines
Author Barbara Schmidt, PhD for Cancer Letters
Blueberries are rich in health-promoting polyphenolic compounds including proanthocyanidins. The purpose of this study was to determine if proanthocyanidin-rich fractions from both wild and cultivated blueberry fruit have the same inhibitory effects on the proliferation of LNCaP, anandrogen–sensitive prostate cancer cell line, and DU145, a more aggressive androgen insensitive prostate cancer cell line. Read the article on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
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