frequently asked questions

Due to differences in a person’s metabolism, general health and lifestyle, it is difficult to determine how long it will take for an individual to reap the full benefits of a dietary supplement. It is recommended that you continue to follow the directions as indicated on the label or consult with your health care practitioner.

Experts have historically agreed upon the need for every American to consume an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals to help fill the nutritional gaps in his or her diet. Even vegetarians, who some consider to be the archetype of the healthy lifestyle, may need a multi to get the nutrients their diets don’t provide in adequate amounts. In general, our bodies simply cannot obtain all the nutrients we need from the food we eat. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association◊, even people who maintain a healthy diet should supplement with vitamins to improve their overall health. Aside from exercise and eating right, a daily multivitamin can help support your immunity, help fight free radical damage, and help your body get the extra support it needs as you age.* Look for a whole food concentrate multivitamin, as it supplies your body with naturally occurring nutrients found with fruits, vegetables and whole foods – such as bioflavonoids and antioxidants – in a convenient delivery system. In addition, timed release formulas offer the benefit of both immediate and extended nutritional support throughout the day.

In a single daily serving of 1000 mg, Ester-C® delivers 24-hour immune system support.* It increases vitamin C levels in the body – getting into white blood cells quickly, an important part of your immune system. Ester-C® is an easy form of vitamin C to take because it is non-acidic and gentle on the stomach*; and it was formulated to be absorbed quickly, maximizing retention and absorption of vitamin C in your body. The benefits of Ester-C®, Vitamin C are documented by years of science and clinical research.

Vitamin C is also known as “ascorbic ACID,” because it is acidic and difficult to take for many individuals with sensitive stomachs. Because Ester-C® is non-acidic, it is well-suited for acid-sensitive and non-acid-sensitive individuals.

Yes, many probiotic products are free of lactose. Check the product label for allergen statements, and always check with your healthcare practitioner before beginning a supplementation regimen.

Probiotic supplements should be discontinued when taking antibiotics.

Bio-active microorganisms and “colony forming units” are interchangeable terms to denote the number of probiotic bacteria per serving.

Different strains of probiotic bacteria are beneficial in different parts of the digestive tract. For example, Lactobaccilli typically colonize in the small intestine while Bifidobacteria will colonize in the large intestine.

Acidophilus is a natural form of probiotic bacteria found mainly in the small and large intestines of the digestive tract. Probiotics is a term used to describe the “good” and “healthy” bacteria. Two main types of acidophilus are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria acidophilus, which can be obtained through fermented daily sources as live culture yogurt. However, the potency and bacteria strains vary greatly in yogurts, so if you are looking for a higher count of clinically studied strains, you may want to consider supplementation.

Your digestive tract is an important system in maintaining a healthy lifestyle through healthy digestion. It is important to supplement because, as we age, the composition of intestinal microflora can be altered due to antibiotics, poor eating habits, stress and certain health conditions that result in occasional diarrhea.

By maintaining a proper balance of intestinal microflora, we are able to increase the acidic environment of the intestines, which allows our bodies to maintain healthy bacteria. It will also support proper digestion, healthy immune function- (70% of immune cells are located in the gastrointestinal tract) – and allows us to properly absorb nutrients from the foods we eat.

It is more than just an upset stomach and regularity. Research now suggests digestive health is a key contributor to immune health. Digestion is a complex process of transforming the food we eat into energy while ridding our system of waste and toxins. Not only is the gut important to digestion, but it is critical to the overall performance of the immune system. Here the gut is able to recognize and reject microorganisms that may challenge the body’s defense system. Research suggests that probiotics help to support the barrier in the intestines which aid in the protection against harmful agents.*

We all have both good and bad bacteria in our systems. We need the good bacteria in our digestive tract to help keep the bad bacteria in check. Probiotics have been shown to stimulate the growth of good bacteria in the intestinal tracts, help replenish depleted good bacteria after taking antibiotics,* encourage proper nutrient absorption and promote immune health.*

Ideally, the digestive tract should contain a balanced ratio of good bacteria and bad bacteria. Stress, poor diet, disease and even medications are just a few of the things that can disrupt digestion and its healthy balance of bacteria in our system. Probiotics add back the good bacteria which helps maintain this natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines.*

Part of the decline of the good bacteria is due to increased usage of higher and stronger antibiotics. Many of us have been told by healthcare professionals to eat yogurt because antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria.

Good bacteria have now become casualties in our mission to provide a cleaner and healthy world. Recently, with the introduction of “antibacterial products,” we have been on a mission to rid our environment from disease and all bacteria. In combination with food safety regulations, increased additives in our foods and heat processes used to extend shelf life, neither the bad nor good bacteria are surviving the manufacturing process.

To restore a level of digestive wellness, we need to put the good bacteria back into our systems.

Enzymes are biochemical catalysts that convert food into nutrients your body can absorb, and making these nutrients available for the body’s energy needs, cell growth and other vital functions. There are many different types of digestive enzymes with specific roles – amylases are responsible for breaking down carbohydrates into simple sugars, lipases breakdown fats into fatty acids, and proteases break down proteins into amino acids – together they promote complete and proper digestive balance.*

Enzymes are produced naturally by the body during the digestive process; however we all do not produce enzymes at the same levels – some more some less. In fact studies suggest our bodies decrease enzyme production overtime. While enzymes are produced mainly in our digestive system they can also be found in some whole foods like papaya, which is a rich source of the enzyme papain, a powerful protein-dissolving natural enzyme.

Enzymes promote nutrient absorption, natural regularity, immune health and gastric wellness.* Supplementing with a quality enzyme formula is a basic approach to supporting proper digestive wellness.*

◊ Journal of the American Medical Association, June 2002.