Six Reasons You Need More Magnesium

By Jennifer Morganti, ND, Director of Education for NEEDS

Did you know that pure magnesium is highly flammable, making it the perfect ingredient for the explosive energy needed for fireworks, jet engine parts, rockets, and missiles? It’s even more powerful in the human body, as it is involved with over 325 biochemical reactions! Because it’s used in every cell of the body, it’s frightening that 60% of Americans are deficient in this key nutrient. Some of the reasons for deficiency include the fact that we lose magnesium when stressed, sweating causes magnesium depletion, and our intake is low because poor-quality soil has lowered the natural levels of magnesium in our food. 

There is an extensive list of symptoms that indicate magnesium deficiency, and you may experience several or just one as an indicator of deficiency. Some of the symptoms on this list include muscle twitching, muscle aches and pains, headaches, anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia. It’s not easy to test for magnesium deficiency because a standard blood test only shows the magnesium levels in the blood, but the more important factor is the cellular storage of magnesium, which is not commonly tested. If you have symptoms, the easiest way to determine magnesium deficiency is to take magnesium to see if they resolve. And if you have any of the following conditions, consider an underlying magnesium deficiency as a possible root cause. 

1: Insulin Resistance 

Insulin resistance is when cells don’t respond adequately to insulin’s attempt to shuttle glucose into cells after eating, resulting in elevated blood sugar and increased fat storage. It is the hallmark of pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Research shows that people with adequate magnesium levels have appropriate insulin sensitivity and are at low risk for developing diabetes. People with the highest magnesium levels have a lower risk of developing diabetes than people with the lowest magnesium levels. The amazing fact is that even if a person possesses other diabetic risk factors such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive weight, adequate magnesium stores will compensate. 

2: Inflammation 

Inflammation is at the root cause of so many health problems, such as arthritis, heart disease, and obesity. Magnesium has been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory. More than one study has shown that as magnesium levels decrease, CRP (a marker for inflammation) increases. Elevated CRP is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and other inflammation-related conditions. 

3: Hypertension 

Magnesium deficiency may play a role in hypertension, as demonstrated by studies that have shown an inverse correlation between a magnesium-rich diet and risk of high blood pressure.

4: Asthma

Magnesium also has a dilating effect on respiratory passageways, so it benefits asthma for the same reasons as hypertension—it relaxes the airways so more oxygen can flow through. 

5: Anxiety 

Anxiety is a symptom that can have a variety of etiologies, both physical and psychological, but magnesium deficiency is high on that list. Animal studies have shown that when mice are given a magnesium-depleted diet for several weeks, they begin to display signs of depression and anxiety. Those symptoms are alleviated when the magnesium levels are restored. Clinical studies have shown that magnesium can relieve anxiety and depression alone or in combination with herbal formulas. Magnesium works in conjunction with calcium to contract and relax muscles, which contributes to its relaxing properties. Add magnesium salts to your hot bath before bed for serious calming effects.

6: Insomnia 

Insomnia can result from many factors, with magnesium deficiency being at the top. Magnesium calms the nervous system, relaxes muscles, and counters stress.

Replenishing magnesium can lead to a longer, uninterrupted sleep pattern. 

Magnesium comes in many forms, but be sure to avoid the oxide form if you want to maximize absorption. To determine the appropriate dosage, start with one or two pills, and increase the dosage over the course of a few days, until it has a laxative effect, then decrease the dosage slightly. This method determines the appropriate dosage for your individual body, based on your level of deficiency. If you want the laxative effect, then magnesium oxide or hydroxide would be a good choice. If you have a sensitive digestive tract and aren’t able to tolerate the levels of magnesium that you feel you need, add topical sources such as magnesium oil, which can be sprayed on the skin, or take magnesium salt baths. 

At first glance, magnesium may not strike you as an exciting, cutting-edge nutrient, but when you are lacking it, it can make a huge impact on your health!

How Gummy Vitamins Align with the MegaFood Way

By Abigail McShinsky

If you’ve been following along, you know that over the last couple of years we’ve been working on project Gummy Bare All, which has been a herculean effort to bring better-for-you gummies, chock-full of Farm Fresh Foods, to your local natural product retailer. Perhaps you’ve wondered why MegaFood chose to head in that direction. Read on to see how it all fits together in the first of our Gummy Bare All Final Flash series, where we unveil the finished products!

Have you ever seen the Lives Improved Scoreboard in our warehouse? You can check it out on our live cams here. Don’t worry, I’ll wait 🙂

This scoreboard is important to keep us all focused on our goal. If you’ve ever joined one of our live town-hall meetings, or have been following us for long enough, you’ve likely heard us say that we are the business of improving lives. This philosophy is infused in every aspect of our business, and it’s something we take very seriously.

We also have our eye on a bigger prize. At MegaFood, our purpose is to nourish a world in nutritional crisis. What does that mean? It means we recognize that, regardless of our socioeconomic background or where we live, we all have obstacles between us and optimal nutrition. For some those obstacles are much greater than for others, and the issues around food access are complex and numbered.

We know we can’t solve the problem overnight. What we can do, however, is make decisions and products that get us pointed in the right direction – helping people overcome obstacles between them and proper nourishment. We call this our North Star.

With that North Star in mind, we took aim at two common obstacles between folks getting the daily nutrition they need:

Difficulty Swallowing Tablets

Difficulty swallowing pills is very common – did the number surprise you? You may also be wondering why this matters. Shouldn’t those folks just get everything they need from their diet, then? Well, let’s let Dr. Erin Stokes set the stage:

“In our modern world, I don’t believe that we can get all of the nutrients we need, even from a well-rounded, healthy diet. Food is always first for vitamin and mineral intake, but we need a little help covering the gaps. The reality is that gaps in the American diet are widespread…A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition looked at changes in food composition for 43 garden crops from 1950 to 1999. As a group, the 43 foods that were studied showed declines in 6 areas: protein, calcium, potassium, iron, riboflavin and ascorbic acid. A rather important group of 6!”

So if you’re not getting enough nutrition from your diet, and you have a hard time swallowing tablets, what options do you have..?

Pill Fatigue

Instead, maybe you’re like me, and have no problem slinging back your multi, B complex, and probiotic all in one mouthful (I’m not suggesting you try it, for safety reasons, but I’m just being real here…), and the idea of being unable to swallow a tablet is completely foreign to you. That being said, aren’t there days where you can’t even look at your pill case because (despite the fact that it will take all of 4 seconds) you can’t possibly imagine a world in which you took even one more vitamin? The phrase “I can’t even” is appropriate to use here.

If you’ve felt that before, you’re not alone! There is actually a name for it. It’s called Pill Fatigue, and it’s real. Pill Fatigue is a by-product of taking a number of daily medications or supplements for an extended period of time. After a while, the stress and monotony of constant pill-swallowing turns to this hard-to-place feeling of Pill Fatigue. You can’t even.

If either of these sounds familiar to you, you’ve probably started to consider alternative options that will allow you to nourish your body in a way that works best for you. Many individuals start taking gummy vitamins for this very reason!

And if neither of those sound like you, not to fret! Gummies make a great addition to your daily multivitamin for that little nutrition boost when you need it.

At MegaFood, our purpose is to nourish a world in nutritional crisis, and our new gummies are just one way of doing that!

Choosing a Quality Fish Oil

By Valerie Villalobos

Choosing High-Quality Fish Oil

Not all fish oil is created equal. When seeking high-quality fish oil, you should look for certain features that are particularly important: Freshness, purity, potency, and form.

Making sure your fish oil supplement is fresh is important for taste and product efficacy. The primary reason people resist taking fish oil is the fear of unpleasant taste and aftertaste. Higher freshness levels result in better tasting fish oil that doesn’t cause fish burps. Taste and smell are good indicators of freshness. An unpleasant fishy smell, taste, or burps indicate that product is rancid (oxidized). Rancidity reduces the efficacy of fish oil. This applies to liquid and capsule forms of supplementation. Test your fish oil capsules for freshness by biting into them!

Clean fish oil is also critical. Fish oil must be purified to eliminate trace amounts of heavy metals, pesticides, and PCBs. A third-party product analysis can validate both purity and freshness. Pure fish oil also consists of one that contains non-GMO ingredients. Eurofins Scientific GeneScan Division, a worldwide consortium of testing laboratories, is an industry leader with over 20 years in GMO-testing. It’s a Non-GMO project accredited lab and is a trusted scientific option for non-GMO verification.

Potency is another key factor. How much omega-3 one needs depends on the individual’s unique nutritional requirements. To understand how much EPA and DHA is provided in the product, you must read the amounts of EPA and DHA on the back of the label, not the total omega-3 count on the front. EPA and DHA are the bioactive omega-3 fats that are responsible for the benefits associated with the omega-3 fat family.

Finally, it’s important to choose supplements in triglyceride form, particularly when selecting a concentrate. Many concentrated fish oils are in the ethyl ester form, a form rarely found in nature. Research suggests that triglycerides are more stable, which protects these fats from oxidation. Lastly, scientific evidence suggests triglycerides have an absorptive advantage over ethyl esters.

 

Q & A About ConcenTrace® Trace Mineral Drops

Submitted by Trace Minerals

What’s so special about minerals, and why are they an important part of our health?

In a perfect world, everyone would get all their nutritional requirements from the food they eat. But, the reality is that poor soil quality affects the very foods we rely on for optimal health. As a result, nutrients, like minerals which are essential to our well-being, and must be consumed daily for optimum health, are being supplemented to provide their needed nutrition. Like vitamins, and other nutrients, minerals are vital in the regulation and building of cells which make up the body. Minerals work synergistically with one another to ensure that a proper pH balance occurs within the body. This collaborative relationship also guarantees that proper absorption, regulation, and the activation of other nutrients we consume happens. They are also especially important in the conductivity of electrical messages within the body. Muscle contraction, such as the heart, and brain activity are all influenced by proper and balanced mineral levels.

 

What makes Utah’s Inland Sea such an ideal place for harvesting minerals?

Our mineral brines are harvested from our private ponds on the Northwest side of the Great Salt Lake, and if you look at the landscape of the Great Salt Lake, you realize very quickly that it is surrounded by mountains. These mountains have various streams and rivers, that naturally runoff into the lake, and with no outlets, it becomes a catch basin. As the snowpack melts in the spring, and this runoff makes its way down the mountains, it picks up minerals from the rocks and soil that then accumulate in the Great Salt Lake.

Information that was put together by the Utah Geological Society on the Great Salt Lake clarifies how the lake is able to self-clean without any outlets. It is important, and interesting, to note this information because while the lake has been concentrating inorganic salts in its waters for thousands of years, the total soluble concentrations of heavy metals are actually low. The information the Utah Geological Society put together states that the heavy metals, including clays, are enabled within the sediments and brines due to anaerobic conditions that then immobilize the metals.

What are some of the ways people can incorporate minerals into their daily routines and diets?

Of course, the ideal way to incorporate minerals is through our diet–water and food. However, soil depletion makes even organically grown fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, nuts and seeds, etc. wanting when it comes to minerals, so supplementing is a great way to provide minerals to our bodies. Our ConcenTrace® can easily be added to any kind of liquid–water, juice, smoothie, protein shakes, soup, tea, you name it, and should be taken throughout the day to “feed” the body all day long. Simply putting a few drops into every glass or bottle of water whether you are just carrying on with your normal activities, or working out at the gym is not only a great way to ensure we are drinking more, but also a simple way to take the minerals consistently.

For someone who might be new to learning about minerals, what’s the best product for them to start with?

Our ConcenTrace® Trace Mineral Drops is an all-natural mineral concentrate that contains a full-spectrum of naturally occurring ionic trace minerals with 99% sodium removed. It is easy-to-use and easy-to-take and is the #1 selling trace mineral supplement in the natural channel according to SPINS. It is also one of the most powerful natural health mineral supplements in the world and has many uses and applications. Additionally, it compliments other supplements that you might be taking to help with the activation and absorption of those nutrients. Whether you are a first-time user, or seasoned supplement taker, this product can easily be taken or added to whatever you are already doing.

Beyond CBD: Exploring the Virtues of Full-Spectrum or Broad-Spectrum Extracts

By Jason Mitchell, NDI ’m sure by now you have at least heard of CBD (cannabidiol), and more than likely have either used a CBD supplement or thought about it. CBD is a nutrient that is part of a class of compounds call “phytocannabinoids.” These plant derived compounds are very similar to endocannabinoids, substances produced naturally by your body.

Phytocannabinoids are most commonly derived from hemp, which is a plant in the cannabis family. Hemp is primarily different from its cousin marijuana in that it is legal and does not elicit the psycho-active effect that is more commonly associated with marijuana. The psycho-active effects are primarily derived from a phytocannabinoid called THC. Hemp derived phytocannabinoid products that contain CBD will not get you “high;” but they do offer a lot of nutritional benefits as well as support balance in the body.

The reason CBD has become so popular is because researchers have identified a new system in the body called the endocannabinoid system, which has a primary job of supporting balance, or “homeostasis,” in the body. This system is the central processing hub that acts in a regulatory manner, supporting virtually every physiological system of the body (organ function, memory, appetite, digestion, stress response, sleep, inflammatory response, and so much more).

Some scientists have referred to this system as the endocannabinodome, which aims to illustrate the interconnectedness of all systems in the body and how the endocannabinoid system acts in a manner to restore and maintain balance in the body. Now CBD is getting a lot of attention because researchers have identified that it has a positive effect on this system. In fact, CBD as well as many other phytocannabinoids and terpenes, have revealed themselves as nutrients that are unlocking many medical mysteries that have virtually eluded the medical profession for decades.

Many of the CBD products out their make a claim of being full- or broad spectrum hemp extract, which implies that they contain more than just CBD. In fact, it should mean that they contain a very broad array of common nutrients in hemp other than CBD, including other cannabinoids like CBC, CBG, CBV, CBDV, CBDA; as well as terpenes like pinene, caryophyllene, limonene; and omegas like omega 3, 6, 9, and so much more.

Research clearly shows that CBD alone is limited in what it can do for you, but if what is consumed contains more than CBD (cannabinoids, terpenes, omegas, and more) then you will find it to be a great deal more effective. If it is truly a full- or broad-spectrum product, all additional contents should be clearly displayed on the label.

Many individuals coping with issues related to stress, sleep, pain, and inflammation, are seeking products containing these active compounds sourced from hemp. The good news is, research on hemp-derived cannabinoids and plant-based terpenes shows great promise in helping us support this vital system in our body. However, keep in mind that in order to receive the most benefit, you must consume a truly full- or broad-spectrum product. Otherwise, the result may not only vary, but in many cases be ineffective.

Mission & History

By Herb Pharm

We’re Made of Plants and Ethical Decisions

We think choices work like raindrops. Each decision we make, by itself, can seem small. Almost inconsequential. But taken together, they can flow into something powerful. Something that defines who we are.

BEGINNINGS

We began back in 1979 when our founders, Ed Smith and Sara Katz, set out to make extracts the right way. They set out to make liquid herbal products that were effective and undistorted, to avoid the temptation to manipulate nature, and to do it in ways that made their community and their environment stronger. This mission and their values have propelled us forward ever since.

BEFORE HERB PHARM

Sara and Ed met at a naturopathic college in the 1970s and soon began their first herb-based venture, the “Foundation for Natural Living.” This foundation held herbal retreats and eventually evolved into a naturopathic college built on the couple’s values. While the project was a success, they learned that they wanted to do more than educate, they wanted to work with the plants themselves.

Our Mission, Our Vision

Our mission is to create the highest quality herbal extracts products possible. We’re committed to educating people on how to practice safe, effective herbalism. We believe that our work can inspire more love for plants and respect for Nature and that it will improve the health, happiness, and harmony of the Earth and all of its people.

DEEP ROOTS

In the 1970’s, our founders, Ed and Sara, searched store shelves for extracts made with high quality ingredients and a thoughtful process. They wanted purity and simplicity. They wanted herbs that were good for them and the world around them.

They didn’t find what they were looking for as the herbs and capsules they did find were pallid, aroma-less, and seemingly stripped of their natural bounty.

What they did discover was literature on how to create their own extracts. They were drawn to traditional and somehow forgotten methods of preparation. They sought out old, used books, like the United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary, to learn them.

Old is New Again

Ed and Sara found many of the books that inspired them in the Used Books section at Powell’s of Portland. These books were out of print, same dating back to the 1850’s, but it introduced them to ways of preparing herbs that they’d never heard of. The couple, along with some contemporaries, set out to revive these practices.

A GROWING COMPANY

Herb Pharm officially came to life in 1979 when the couple moved to a wooded community of herb-enthusiasts in southern Oregon’s Josephine County. They started wildcrafting in the hills around town, relying on their books to help them identify herbs, and teach them how to revive traditional methods of herbalism. By 1982, they were successfully extracting herbs they’d grown and harvested in a lab attached to their home.

Over the next 10 years, as their products became more and more popular, they turned their home into a hub for the growing company. They built an addition that housed a lab to make extracts. Their dining room became the shipping department. Sara sat at the table, using their typewriter to create labels for each bottle. Their home and lab became a classroom where Ed and Sara could pass their knowledge down to future herbalists. This training and educational system would eventually become the Herbaculture Internship Program.

To this day, the program is a powerful, residential, hands-on experience in herbalism. Many intern graduates have gone on to become herbalists in their own right. The program grew and formalized with the company. Today, herbal education is part of the fabric of the company.

 CONTINUING GROWTH

Before founding Herb Pharm with Sara, and even after the company had begun, Ed traveled the world learning about the traditional use of herbs and herbalism. He met with spice sellers in bazaars of Asia and the markets of Central America. He lived with a shaman in the Amazon. He learned from people whose knowledge was passed from generation to generation. Then he brought those learnings home.

By the mid-1980s, Herb Pharm was in a position to hire a few employees, and, in keeping with the company’s mission, they offered their new hires benefits as soon as possible.

In the mid-1990s, Herb Pharm built a large facility dedicated to extracting herbs. Over the course of the last few decades, the facility has steadily grown to accommodate growing demand for our products. We follow the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices not simply because the regulations are federally monitored, but more importantly because they help us maintain high quality control. In addition to adhering to the required regulations, we have been 3rd party audited by UL.

When Ed and Sara got the opportunity to expand their company, they purchased a parcel of land they’d admired frequently on their bike rides through the country. Parts of the land had been under-watered and over-grazed by sheep for years. It took time to nurse it back to health, but their hard work turned into bountiful harvests. This passion for supporting the soil has continued for decades through Certified Organic and regenerative agriculture practices.

AS THE COMPANY GREW, SO DID OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

Sara and Ed became leading, founding members of United Plant Savers, or UpS, a group dedicated to preserving native herb populations in the US. The organization changed the way the herb world thought about cultivation and wildcrafting. At a time when wildcrafting was considered to be the optimal way to harvest herbs, UpS observed that some wild plant populations were under threat from the practice. We worked with the organization then and in the decades since to conserve and protect native herb populations for generations to come. That’s why we became a UpS Botanical Sanctuary.

Our passion for the work UpS does is apparent in the decades of actions, stewardship, and advocacy we’ve taken to support it. These include being a Certified Organic farm, a Monarch Butterfly Waystation, Salmon-Safe, Bee-Friendly, and a Certified B Corp.

Ed and Sara remain a vibrant part of our company today. Their commitment to learning and teaching others how to ethically create high quality extracts continues to inspire us to do things the Herb Pharm way – a way that cares for every plant, animal, and person in every ecosystem we touch.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

5 WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Provided by New ChapterWe can all benefit from supporting our immune system — check out these 5 ways to support your immune system.

Whether it’s a busy season, cold season, stressful season, etc., our immune systems can take a hit if we aren’t prioritizing our health and getting the nutrients our bodies need in order to optimally support our immune system.

Our bodies are made up of complex, working systems and all of those systems rely on one another to function properly. That means when we neglect our health in one area, it’s likely impacting other areas of our health. This is particularly true in regard to our immune system.

Everything from how we eat to how we exercise and manage stress impacts our immune health.

These are 5 simple steps you can take today to help improve your immune system.

1. Take Care of Your Gut

It’s no secret that what we eat has a significant impact on our health and it’s been shown that gut health can influence other areas of our health, like our immune systems. The gut microbiome “trains” our immune systems by communicating with our cells about how to respond to infection so having a healthy gut is imperative to overall immune system health.

Our digestive system is home to a lot of bacteria. In fact, our bodies contain around 3-5 pounds of bacteria in our digestive system and the bacteria cells in our body even outnumber human cells 10 to 1?**

Our digestive systems are also home to yeast and it is important to maintain a good balance between the bacteria and the yeast present for our digestive systems to function at their normal level.

So how do you support your body for better gut health? First, check with your dietitian or doctor so they can get you on a nutrition and lifestyle plan that will support your unique needs if you ever need any help just email me or apply for our coaching.

Otherwise, try incorporating more fermented foods into your diet like kimchi, kefir, and kombucha that may promote a healthy gut environment. If you’re eating the Standard American Diet, it’s likely you’re not getting enough probiotic-rich food to support a healthy gut.

Another option I recommend to most of my clients to support overall gut health is to add in a daily probiotic to supplement their diet.

If you’re curious on what probiotic type you should use, first check with your dietitian, otherwise in general look for a company that has clear manufacturing practices, potency, and multiple strains of bacteria in the probiotic that have been shown via clinical research to help support gut health.

One probiotic to check out to see if it’s right for you is New Chapter’s Probiotic All-Flora. It’s a combination of probiotics and beneficial yeast that work to replenish good bacteria and reduce problematic yeast, prebiotics that acts as fuel for the probiotics, and postbiotics to boost probiotic activity.

Another thing to look for is the other ingredients that make up the supplement — New Chapter probiotics are non-GMO, gluten-free, and they test to verify each clinically studied strain at the DNA level.

2. Hydrate

Like gut health, staying hydrated has a huge impact on our overall health, but how does hydration directly impact our immune systems?

For starters, drinking water helps deliver oxygen throughout your entire working body which helps all of the systems in the body to function properly.

Water also helps our body do what it already does best, detox, by flushing unwanted toxins from the body (i.e. urination) and transports the nutrients (particularly water-soluble vitamins) from our food which keeps our cells healthy.

If drinking water seems like a task and hard for you to do, try incorporating warming liquids like hot tea, broths, or soups. They’re super comforting and can even help you to relax.

3. Get Moving

Exercise can be beneficial for both your mental health and physical health. In fact, keeping your body moving regularly is an important factor in maintaining a healthy immune system.

It’s been shown that that one 20-minute session of moderate exercise can stimulate the immune system, producing an anti-inflammatory cellular response.

Not to mention sweating through our skin, which is one of our largest detoxification organs, is also beneficial.

If you’re already under the weather, skip your regular workout. Instead, focus on light movement. Even just small stretches or getting up of the couch can help keep your lymphatic system moving.

4. Rest

We talk about this often at NS, but it’s important to know your limits. If you feel like you need some extra rest, listen to your body and give in to that feeling as much as you are able to. Getting the proper amount of sleep (7-8 hours a night) is vital for the body to rebuild, restore, and keep the immune system healthy.

When we sleep at night, we are maintaining our brain health which in turn helps the rest of our bodily functions. The strength of the synapses in the brain are able to restore themselves each night when you sleep which helps them to deal with and process the following day’s activities.

If you’re struggling to get your eight hours in, take a look at this article where we break down tips and tricks to establishing an evening routine and improving sleep.

5. Focus on Stress Management

When we neglect our mental health, our immune systems can take a hit. This is because both our mental and emotional health play a key role in our physical health and immune systems.

What exactly is stress? Stress is our brain’s’ reaction to any changes in our lives that demand our physical, mental, or emotional energy.

When experiencing stress, our brains release stress hormones called cortisol that put us into fight or flight mode. When cortisol is released, our bodies essentially stop functioning normally and we go into survival mode.

The energy that our bodies would typically use to keep all of our bodily systems functioning properly is instead used to fight those stress hormones. The release of those stress hormones can be beneficial when we are actually in danger, but when we live in a constant state of stress, our bodies produce far more cortisol than they actually need.

So how do we manage stress? Stress is unavoidable. It affects us all and sometimes a small amount of stress can even be beneficial. The real problems associated with stress are often a result of how we deal with and manage stressors.

To make sure stress isn’t negatively impacting us, it’s important to have stress management techniques in place for when it inevitably pops up.

These techniques will look different for everyone but focus on taking time to yourself and implementing techniques that help proactively manage stress such as meditation, deep breathing, journaling, taking a bath, or cleaning.

The big takeaway here is to find whatever helps you to relax, recharge, and manage stress and implement that daily. A resource that I recommend to clients is an app called Headspace, a guided meditation for those of you new to meditation. I also recommend starting each morning with The Five-Minute Journal, a handy journal created by the team at Intelligent Change that includes prompts to help you narrow in on what’s bringing you joy at the start of each morning, with goals for the day and affirmations.

This post was in partnership with the New Chapter Inc. — we only partner with brands that are NS approved and all our opinions are authentic and remain our own.

Permanent vs Semi-Permanent Colour – Which is best for your dream hair transformation?

Provided by Tints of NatureWe all have different reasons for dying our hair, from covering greys to changing up your tone and everything in-between.

More often than not we reach for a permanent colour, but it may not always be the best choice for the outcome we’re wanting.

Drawing on 20 years of experience making hair dye and hair care products, Tints of Nature have been looking at the difference between semi-permanent and permanent colour to help you make the best choice for your next hair colouring session.

Once you’ve decided what’s right for you, check out Tints of Nature’s naturally healthier range of Permanent and Semi-Permanent hair colour and find your perfect shade.

Free from ammonia, parabens, resorcinol and other nasties, Tints of Nature is the safer and healthier alternative to conventional home hair colour.

	Semi-Permanent Colour	Permanent Colour
Will I get regrowth?	No, Henna Cream semi-permanent colour will last approximately 12 washes.	Yes, but your regrowth will be less noticeable if you choose a colour that is close to your natural colour.
Can I go lighter?	No, semi-permanent colour will not lighten your hair. You can only go the same shade or darker.	Yes, up to 1 shade on virgin hair (hair that has not been previously coloured). To go lighter than this you will first need to use our lightener kit.
Will it cover my grey hair?	Up to about 80%. With semi-permanent colours you get more of a grey blend.	Yes 100%. For best grey coverage use a 1N to 8N as at least half of your colour mixture. Do a Tints of Nature Hydrate Treatment before colouring for best results on greys.
Can I use this if I have an allergy to oxidative pigments (PPD, PTD, PTS)?	Yes, our semi-permanent colour does not contain any PPD, PTD or PTS.	No. All permanent colours contain an oxidative pigment of some sort. Although you may be sensitive to one more than another.
Should I do a skin test before I colour?	Yes always! People can be sensitive to all sorts of ingredients including natural and organic ones. It’s always best to skin test.
How long will my colour last?	Anywhere from 3-30 washes depending on your hair. As a rule, we say 12 washes.	Until it grows out. However, over time permanent colour can fade a little depending on the condition of your hair.
Will it damage my hair?	If you follow the instructions, Tints of Nature Henna Cream semi-permanent colour will not cause any damage to your hair – in fact it contains henna extract and other organic ingredients which nourish hair during the colouring process.	Tints of Nature permanent colours work at the lowest possible pH levels and will not damage your hair if your follow the instructions carefully. You may experience damage with some other permanent hair colours.
Can I make my colour last longer?	Hair that is in good condition will always hold colour better. Tints of Nature shampoos, treatments and conditioners are designed to maintain the hair’s delicate protein and moisture balance which will help semi-permanent and permanent colours last longer.
Does the colour require mixing?	No, Henna Cream comes ready to apply.	Yes, all permanent colours require you mix colour with activator.
Can I colour over a traditional Henna colour?	Sort of… nothing horrific is going to happen if you use Tints of Nature Henna Cream or Tints of Nature Permanent Gel Colours over traditional henna powder colour. However, henna powder leaves a ‘waxy’ layer on the hair which can prohibit semi and/ or permanent colours from doing their job properly. What you may find is that not a lot happens over the previously henna coated hair. For semi and/or permanent colour to work properly the waxy henna coating needs to either be removed or grown out first.

The Undisputed Science of Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol™

Provided by Sovereign Silver

Pure and Safe* Immune Support*

When considering immune support, nature offers us a plethora of choices. You may have in the past turned to herbs and healthy foods, but have you ever considered silver? Silver is a natural mineral element found in natural spring water, mushrooms and grains, and even in mothers’ breast milk. Silver has been used throughout history to safeguard human health. The ancients used silver drinking vessels for preservation. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, wrote of the healing properties of silver. And in the middle ages, wealthy families fed their children with silver utensils to ward off illness.

The Science of Silver™ – Sovereign Silver Bio Active Silver Hydrosol™

Recent science has offered us a deeper understanding of how silver works. In fact, it is the bio-active form of silver that uniquely and powerfully supports our immune system* much like our herbal partners, yet in ways that make a significant difference –especially as we are confronted every day with immune challenges.

Sovereign Silver Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol is a combination of greater than 98% bio-active silver ions and silver nanoclusters in pharmaceutical-grade purified water. Particle size matters when it comes to the body’s utilization of silver. The smaller the particle size, the more surface area is available to offer bio-active silver ions, the active form of silver that goes to work in the body. Our Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) images, captured by 3rd party sources, not only convey the smaller particle size of our bio-active silver hydrosol when compared to other colloidal silver brands, but also illustrate the uniform and even size distribution of these nanosilver particles, the smallest particles achievable. The black areas shown in the TEM images of other brands below are clumped and aggregated larger silver particles which indicate inactive and wasted silver.10 ppm: All You Need

Sovereign Silver is only 10 ppm concentration, yet this Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol has greater than 98% bioactivity and an unprecedented small particle size, which is what makes it so safe* and effective*.

Other brands may offer higher concentrations of total silver on the label, yet have far less bioactivity

because of their larger particle size, which offers much less surface area potential. This inactive form of silver is simply wasted in the body. Just like many herbal products are standardized for specific active

forms of ingredients, Sovereign Silver Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol is the right form and right concentration of bioactive silver that is able to be efficiently utilized by the body. Safe enough to take up to 7 times a day for 70 years and still meet the EPA’s daily dosage for oral exposure.⁺

Our Story

Provided by Revitalize! CNYAt Revitalize! CNY, patient care comes first. We were the very first practice in Upstate New York to offer EMSCULPT ® – the first FDA approved device that simultaneously treats both muscle and fat simultaneously with no down time. We are now scheduling complimentary, confidential consultations. Proudly, Revitalize! CNY was the very first practice in the CNY Area to offer CoolSculpting® by Zeltiq, the only FDA cleared non-surgical fat removal. We have performed several thousands of treatments to date, successfully transforming our patients’ physical appearance and self confidence. Our office is set up to provide state of the art Dermatology and Aesthetic services to patients who’s needs fit Vaginal Rejuvenation with diVa® offered exclusively by us and EMSELLA® – the only FDA cleared non-invasive treatment for incontinence. We additionally offer Laser Hair Removal, Dermapen, PlasmaPen, Microneedling, DermaSweep, Infinity Sun Airbrush Tanning, Injectables, Fillers and so much more! We believe in meeting patients’ individual needs through comprehensive evaluation and treatment designed to help our patients achieve their desired goals. We combine leading edge techniques with proven traditional methods to provide you with the best care possible. Most importantly, we provide a personal one-on-one approach to each and every patient. Come see us today and Revitalize! your mind, body, & soul.