Power Fuel is a blend of vegetarian, gluten free ingredients that focus on improving energy via the production and recycling of ATP (a high energy molecule in cells, creates energy when broken down). This function gets worn down during physical activity, which is why you can feel especially drowsy after an intense workout.  The production and recycling of ATP is a very important function and Power Fuel helps your body improve efficiency in this area.  Its ingredients focus on recovery.  Drinking this after a workout will make you feel less like becoming a part of the couch when all the fun is over and your friends are gone.  Also, it helps your body acclimate to being worked on.  If you work hard but don’t properly take care of yourself in the process, you’re going to have a bad time.  Your body will begin to break down and you will feel it.

Drinking Power Fuel improves:

• Energy
• Exercise Tolerance
• Muscle Strength & Recovery
• Cardiovascular Output
• Oxygen Utilization
• Physical Stamina
• Athletic Performance
• Endurance

Important Ingredients that make Power Fuel your post-workout friend:

• D-Ribose – naturally occurring sugar, helps production and recycling of ATP, increases energy formation in stressed tissues
• DMG – metabolic enhaver, helps body overcome forms of stress, keeps ATP levels high
• CoQ10 – anti-oxidant, vital to production of ATP, improves cardiovascular function, increases tolerance to exercise
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine – supports heart function
• Malic Acid – involved in energy production in muscle cells
• Rhodiola – herb that supports cellular energy metabolism
• Bromelain – A proteolytic enzyme that supports muscle recovery, alleviate muscle soreness
• Protease – Another proteolytic enzyme that decreases muscle soreness after intense exercise

From personal experience, this stuff really works.  I am an avid runner, hiker and skateboarder.  All of these activities have left me sore and nearly unmovable at times, but drinking Power Fuel helps me stay alive and active when I get home.  You will feel a boost of energy right away, and you will want to do things.  Plus, your body will have a nice helper while in recovery mode.  Just mix a scoop with water and you’ll have a tasty, drinkable beverage that will help you feel better.  It’s easy and it’s fun.  And this week, there’s a 20% discount.

The benefit of taking Prob-Zyme is that it helps people of all ages.  Everybody should strive to keep their intestines in tact, so it doesn’t matter if you’re 7, 17, 27 or 77.  Prob-Zyme will support nutrient absorption and promote better health in general.  It is especially useful for anyone taking antibiotics.  Although antibiotics do help your body in a lot of ways, they tend to abuse your digestive tract in ways that people wouldn’t think without being told.  Taking a probiotic supplement like Prob-Zyme can counterbalance those negative effects and really help your body be at its best.

Further, Prob-Zyme offers a complete spectrum of microorganisms (2.25 Billion beneficial microorganisms, in fact), that span the entire GI tract, as well as some digestive enzymes to help your body’s nutrient absorption.

Prob-Zyme Supports:

• Bowel Defense
• Digestion
• Regularity
• Lactose Intolerance
• Immune System

The winter may be over, but it’s never a bad time to work on strengthening your immune system.  The weird temperature fluctuations in early spring can have unusual effects on your body, so now may be a better time than ever to work Prob-Zyme into your routine!  This product is the Special of the week from 5/-7 – 5/13 and will be 20% off during this span of time only!

Pro Purples is an amazing supplement specifically because it is jam-packed with some pretty powerful anti-oxidants, giving it a multi-functional quality.  This particular blend of exotic berries and nutrients have some anti-aging qualities because the benefits can be seen even at the cellular level.  Specifically, this supplement helps your body better handle cell-turnover, which leads to healthier blood.  Regular consumption of Pro Purples will also help your body’s cells retain water better, improving oxygen intake and absorption, which results in improved cardiovascular health.  This blend of anti-oxidants is also good for your skin because improved UV protection boosts skin elasticity, another anti-aging attribute.  Healthy skin cells are absolutely necessary in acquiring that healthy skin you desire.  Finally, the “Brain Blend” ingredients, L-Carnosine and Alpha GPC, support a healthy memory and mental clarity.  While some ingredients help your body fight the consequences of growing older, other ingredients help your brain fight other aspects of the aging process.

Here are some of the benefits that you can expect when drinking Pro Purples on a daily basis:

• Healthy aging
• Healthy memory
• Mental clarity
• Supports cardiovascular health and circulation
• Smooth, healthy, radiant skin
• Supports immune system function
• Supports nerve and brain function

And now for a list of some of these exotic berries and nutrients:

• Acai
• Goji
• Mangosteen
• Pomagranate
• Camu
• Eggplants
• Purple Carrots
• Purple Cabbage
• Beets
• Black Currants
• Plums
• Elderberries
• Bilberries
• Figs
• Raisins

This is a major reason why I believe the Pro Reds supplement we offer at Rituals Spa has the potential to help a lot of people achieve a healthier lifestyle.  In just a single serving, your body receives five servings of fruits and vegetables.  Like the Pro Oranges and Lean Greens that I’ve expounded on in prior posts, all you need to do is mix the Pro Reds powder with some water and drink it up.  Rather than potentially struggling through a pile of sour fruit and bland veggies for an hour, you can gulp down a tasty beverage in minutes (even seconds, if you chug it).

So here’s the deal:  Pro Reds is jam-packed with anti-oxidants.  Each serving offers the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value, which is a way to measure a food’s capacity to absorb oxygen free radicals.  The USDA recommends that the average healthy person requires a range of 3000-5000 ORAC on a daily basis, though people with more active lifestyle should try to get more ORAC into their diets.  Each serving of Pro Reds offers 5000 ORAC units, so drinking the supplement one to two times a day would take care of this need rather easily.  Further, regular consumption of the supplement results in improved eye, brain, liver, cardiovascular, and immune system function while providing more energy for your daily pursuits.  These nutrients help the human body feel better, which makes you feel better.  On a slightly more serious level, Pro Reds supplements Glutathione, which is one of the most important antioxidants for the human body.  Glutathione is made by our bodies, but it actually dies off over time.  Supplementing the loss of this antioxidant is important.

Now for a list of the many fruits that make up this ORAC blend:

• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Red Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Pomegranates
• Acerolas
• Papayas
• Plums
• Peaches
• Pears
• Mangos
• Watermelon
• Red Currants
• Nectarines
• Blood Oranges.

As you can see, it is called Pro Reds for a reason.  The mixture of all these red fruits contributes to a tasty Fruit Punch flavoring that is easy on the tongue.  If you don’t like the taste of fruits or veggies, or you simply don’t have the time to take in the right amount consistently, come down to the spa and check out this great supplement.  We offer these products because they really do help, and they are great for treating your body at home and on your own.

An easy way to do this would be to try Pro Lean Greens, which we currently offer at Rituals Spa.  This supplement from Nutritional Frontiers is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian-friendly.  This is not one of those extreme detox diets that can be complicated and physically taxing.  It is simply a daily supplement that supports the body’s ability to detox, cleanse and rejuvenate.  All you need to do to enjoy the benefits of Lean Greens is pour a heaping spoonful into a glass and mix it with water, then drink up.  Its appearance is rather dark and intimidating, but the taste is actually pretty darn good (with apple cinnamon flavoring).   It supports the body’s anti-oxidant defense system and boosts immune system functioning.  Further, it boosts G.I. Tract health, which is important in so many ways.  Really, we offer this at the spa because it’s a simple way to help our clients be healthier.

We recommend Pro Lean Greens for almost anyone, but especially for anyone taking medication.  Taking a lot of medication can be taxing on the liver and other parts of your body, so detoxing can be a very good thing.  Also, this supplement is really good if you’re the kind of person who is too busy to eat the recommended amount of fruits and veggies on a daily basis.  One serving will fully cover your daily requirements for vegetables, so anything else is bonus after that.

We offer a variety of treatments that help make your body feel good, but I write about these products because they’re really good for you and can be self-administered.  Come on down to Rituals to check the assortment of supplements we sell from Nutritional Frontiers.

Personally, this is my favorite supplement from the Nutritional Frontiers line that we offer at Rituals Spa.  I’ve been drinking Pro Oranges on a daily basis for about six months now and I have no plans on giving it up.  Ever.  As a person who does not, and will not, drink coffee, I found that adding this tasty supplement to my morning routine has given a kickstart that I haven’t experienced outside of chugging a Red Bull or Monster energy drink, which is kind of a weird thing to do at 8:00 A.M.  And it’s easier to make and tastes way better than coffee.  With Pro Oranges, all you need to do is dump a spoonful (or packet) of the powder into a cup, add water and stir to your delight. Within minutes of drinking up you will immediately feel the benefits of this wonderful drink.

Some of the benefits of drinking Pro Oranges include support for the following:

• Physical performance
• Glucose metabolism
• Fat metabolism
• Brain function
• Mental alertness
• Oxygen utilization
• Cardiovascular function

Some of the real good ingredients:

• COQ10
  • Good for cardiovascular function
  • Powerful anti-oxidant
  • Vital to production of ATP
• Green Coffee Bean Extract
  • Powerful anti-oxidant
  • Helps regulate metabolism
  • Fatigue fighting benefits
  • Caffeic acid provides a safe energy boost while being naturally low in caffeine
• Korean White Panax Ginseng
  • Adaptogenic herb that helps body conserve the nutrients that would otherwise be used to create energy
  • Improves how body burns sugar
• Taurine
  • Amino acid that your body naturally produces
  • Anti-oxidant
  • Helps regulate heart beat, muscle contractions and energy levels
• Inositol
  • Part of B Vitamin complex
  • Helps the body use fat as fuel
  • Helps muscles contract more efficiently

**Note for those of you in college, or for those of you who know someone in college: This was a lifesaver during exam periods.  While many students will stock up on coffee, energy drinks, or study drugs like Adderall or Ritalin, I was in the library with my single serving of Pro Oranges, kickin’ some tail.  This supplement is really effective for working out and being active, but it is also made for cognitive function and mental alertness.  In other words, it will give you that kick you need to stay awake, but it will also help you pay better attention to the task at hand.  If given the opportunity to choose between a 30 pack of Red Bull cans or a 30 pack of Pro Oranges, I will choose Pro Oranges every single time.  So if you have a child in college, head into Rituals Spa and pick up a few of the individual packets, or perhaps the 30 day supply, and send out a care package.  Introduce him or her to a whole new world.

Next Up:  We will learn more about the Pro Colors (there’s more), specifically the Lean Greens.

Now, you may be thinking, “Why should I spend money on a supplement if I can find this in a lot of different kinds of food?”  Good question. Here’s the deal.  Omega 3D is “a blend of non-GMO natural oils from fish that combines the health benefits of Omega-3 and Vitamin D3,” reports the Nutritional Frontiers website.  It is rich in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and Vitamin D3.  Those may be unfamiliar, jargony looking words, which they are, but rest assured that they are all good things.  The supplement provides a healthy balance of these essential fatty-acids that are necessary in achieving total body health.  Taking Omega 3D on a regular basis is the best way to receive the health-protecting benefits of fatty-acids and Vitamin D3.

Here is a short list describing some of the many (positive) side effects that come as a result of Omega 3D:

• Cardiovascular health
• Hair and skin health
• Support of blood pressure within normal ranges vascular integrity and cardiovascular health
• Healthy nervous system and organ function
• Joint and bone health and comfort
• Gastrointestinal, respiratory, and immune system health
• Support of Hormone balance within normal ranges
• It is especially good for older women, though everyone benefits from its consumption

It is important to note that this particular product comes in a lemon flavored soft gel capsule.  And unlike most Omega-3 supplements, Omega 3D will not leave that fishy aftertaste in your mouth.  This is a huge plus in my opinion.  A fishy taste in your mouth at an inopportune moment can have unforeseen consequences, even if it’s technically good for you.

Next Up:  Pro Oranges.  Get your energy from a tangy-tasting powder.

How Cherry Chews can help you:

• Vitamin C supports immune system function and collagen health.
• Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals to prevent damage.  The body retains the Vitamin C better in Cherry Chews because it is chewable.
• Factors such as coffee, tea, smoking, illness, strenuous exercise, and physical and mental stress all deplete Vitamin C levels in the body.  Taking Cherry Chews can easily counteract the depletion of Vitamin C.
• Cherry Chews contains Bioflavonoids, which increase the effectiveness of Vitamin C by 50%.
• Pectin has been shown to be beneficial in managing cholesterol levels within normal ranges.
• This is an excellent supplement for children and people who have difficulty swallowing tablets.
• As with all products from Nutritional Frontiers, Cherry Chews is an all-natural product with no artificial flavoring.

Cherry Chews is a popular product at Rituals because its use is so practical and it is useful for everyone.  It is especially recommended for active people and those who wish to improve their immune system.

One of the newer product lines we are especially excited about comes from Nutritional Frontiers, a company that specializes in all-natural health solutions.  Nutritional Frontiers’ mission is to “create, develop and provide safe, effective and therapeutic natural solutions to healthcare practitioners and people worldwide with excellent quality, integrity, research and service.”  Their supplements are all-encompassing, dealing with nearly all aspects of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.  For this reason, Rituals now stocks several supplements from Nutritional Frontiers.  We hope that our customers will take advantage of the opportunity to give their livelihood an extra boost.  From the website:  “All of our formulas are 100% guaranteed to meet label claim and we also only use therapeutic dosing, bioactive forms of ingredients and  all natural inactive ingredients.”

• Super B Complete
• Fantastic 5
• Omega
• Omega 3D
• D3
• DHEA EZ Spray
• Sunshine D3
• Melatonin SR3
• Green Tea 70
• Power Q
• Estro Cleanse
• Frontier Minerals
• Frontier Multi
• Prob-Zyme
• Best Whey Protein
• Super Kreatine
• Cholesto-Care Twin Pack
• Power Fuel
• Zinc Lozenge
• HA Plus
• Super Cal Plus
• Liv Clear
• Pro Oranges
• Pro Reds
• Pro Purples
• Lean Greens

As you can see, we stock a lot of supplements that deal with many different aspects of your life.  I will be detailing several of the more popular options in the coming weeks, but if you have any specific questions about any of these products, feel free to give us a call or come on down to the spa.  The staff is very knowledgable about these products and will be happy to help you make an educated decision.

Nutritional Frontiers Website