VitaBlog

New Blogs and Content at Vitacost.com

Vitacost — 2012-03-14T12:00:00-04:00

As someone who’s interested in healthy living, we know you’re always hungry for up-to-date information and insightful inspiration. That’s why we’ve partnered with a plethora of experts on various health topics, from bodybuilding and yoga to gluten-free living, healthy cooking and so much more.

Check out the brand new Blogs & Advice section at Vitacost.com to read the very latest from our amazing team of bloggers.

But wait, there's more!

For cutting-edge, timely information about natural health & wellness, head on over to Wellness Times. This brand new site features content that is scientifically-validated and written by leading experts and journalists in the field of natural health.

When you're done learning, don your fuzzy slippers, grab a glass of vino and check out Momonomics.com, the place to vent about stress, indulge your secret slacker-self, and embrace your inner sex goddess! It's like a mom's night out - without the watered-down cosmos!

And as always, check back here on the VitaBlog for daily updates about your favorite products, hot topics in the world of health and of course, all the exciting things happening at Vitacost.com.

Vitamin Spotlight: Five Fast Facts about Vitamin B12

Vitacost — 2012-03-13T12:00:00-04:00

1. Vitamin B12 is vital for supporting normal carbohydrate metabolism and energy production, as well as hemoglobin production within red blood cells.

2.Vitamin B12 is water-soluble, meaning it is not stored in the body and must constantly be replenished.

3. The B-vitamin complex was originally thought to be a single compound (vitamin B), but was later discovered to be made up of many different substances, each named with a number. Eventually, scientists narrowed down the list to include only certain substances – which is why the nutrient is named B12, even though there are only 8 B-vitamins!

4. Food sources of vitamin b12 include beef liver, clams, fish, pork, red meat, poultry, eggs, milk and fortified foods – yum!

5. Adults and children over the age of 14 should consume 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 per day – pregnant and lactating women require 2.6 mcg and 2.8 mcg, respectively.

Read up About Sleep

Vitacost — 2012-03-08T10:42:00-05:00

It's a particularly rainy morning at the Vitacost.com headquarters in south Florida - the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up on the couch and nap the day away. It also happens to be National Sleep Awareness Week, so we figured now was as good a time as ever to highlight this often-neglected, but absolutely necessary activity.

We all know that sleep is important for mental focus, but did you know it can also help your heart and your waistline? Read up on the latest sleep-related news from Wellness Times:

Sleep more, eat less, lose weight.

Insomnia could harm your heart.

Trouble sleeping? Here's some sound advice.

And if that wasn't enough motivation to snag some shut-eye, here are six reasons why you should sleep in.

Now if you'll excuse me, all this sleep-related blogging is making my eyelids rather heavy...

~Katie

Official statement regarding Vitacost radio ads from CMO David Zucker

Vitacost — 2012-03-06T14:03:17-05:00

Here at Vitacost.com, our goal is to take the cost out of healthy living by offering thousands of healthy products at affordable prices. To promote this mission, we launched a national radio advertising campaign in January that airs on many different programs, including the Rush Limbaugh show. As a result of the derogatory comments Mr. Limbaugh made on his program, we decided to remove our advertising. We appreciate and support Mr. Limbaugh’s right to voice his opinion, just not how he delivered his message. Our decision was in no way a statement about Mr. Limbaugh’s or his listeners’ political views, but rather his lack of respect for another human being. Vitacost.com takes healthy living very seriously, and we believe that respect for others is a huge part of that healthy lifestyle.

Thank you,

David Zucker, CMO

3 Ways to Get More Omega-3s

Vitacost — 2012-03-05T12:00:00-05:00

The current recommendations call for the consumption of 2 grams of omega-3s (and some researchers say you should consume upwards of 4 grams per day) - it doesn’t sound like a lot, but chances are you’re not getting enough! Here are 3 quick ways to add some omega-3 EFAs to your day:

1. Soup up your salad: Give your greens an omega boost by topping your salad with whole foods such flaxseed and walnuts, two sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Just ¼ cup of walnuts and a tablespoon of flaxseeds is enough to provide nearly 4 grams of this crucial nutrient.

2. Serve up some salmon (with a side of squash): You may already know that salmon is excellent source of omega-3s, but what about winter squash? One cup of this delectable vegetable offers .3 grams of omega-3s. When it comes to cooking, grill or steam your fish and veggies instead of frying to ensure that they retain their valuable nutrients.

3. Turn to supplements: Not a fan of fish or flax in food form? Not to worry – you can still reap the benefits of omega-3s in the form of capsules, softgels, chewables and even liquid omega-3 supplements. There are many options for carnivores and herbivores alike. If you choose fish oil, opt for a product that’s been molecularly distilled to remove impurities.

What's your favorite way to get omega-3 EFAs?

~Katie