Today’s Top Stories
Allow Me to Introduce My Story…
“Optimum health addresses the mind, body and spirit. Through small adjustments in lifestyle, nutrition and prudent supplementation, you can better adapt to the changes that time brings, and achieve and maintain optimum health over your lifetime.” - Andrew Weil, M.D. I firmly believe that no matter what your age, appearance, or health problems, it is still possible to look and feel better. Furthermore, I believe that it is never too late to start. However, this leads to the...
Written on December 23rd, 2009 in Thoughts from the COO
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New Year Resolutions – Make Them Last This Year
“Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average… which means, you have met your New Year's resolution. "Jay Leno Above quote was meant to be a joke, but brings many other thoughts to a professional as myself. Where are we going as a nation? With the market swarming with healthy low fat, sugar free food choices we still seem to struggle with losing weight and keep it off for good. Maybe information overload is what...
Written on December 31st, 2009 in Guest Bloggers
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Celebrating Heart Health Month – A Lesson in Good Nutrition Practices and Omega-3’s
What comes to mind once February rolls around? You usually think Valentine’s Day, right? While most others are sharing their heart with others this month, why not take the time to share some love with your own heart this year? You only have one heart so why not think about treating it right. As a dietitian in a renowned Heart Hospital, I often come across people from all walks of life that haven’t made the best dietary choices, which have led them to develop coronary artery disease...
Written on February 1st, 2010 in Uncategorized
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NutraOrigin’s Pharmaceutical Grade Omega 3 Fish Oil Selected in Sleep Deprivation Study
One of the main goals of the NutraOrigin blog is to help you, the consumer, make a more informed decision about nutraceuticals by raising awareness of health and wellness studies as well as professional viewpoints. As National Sleep Deprivation Awareness Week comes to a close, we would like to offer some insight into a new study which closely links the benefits of Omega 3 fish oil to the reduction of the effects of sleep deprivation. While it is fairly common to read about the positive...
Written on March 13th, 2010 in Uncategorized
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Lori STARTS! Walking: Getting into a Healthy Cardio Habit
Today is National Start Walking Day , and when NutraOrigin asked me to contribute a short piece for their blog – I took a walk. I’m a walker. There I said it. There was a time in my life not too long ago when I would not have easily admitted to this fact. 1. It wasn’t true :o) 2. Somewhat of a gym snob – I would not have thought “just walking” would give me the intense – rev up your heart rate type of cardio benefit – that say biking or even an intense...
Written on April 7th, 2010 in NutraOrigin Team
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Announcing The Omega Store by NutraOrigin!
Jul 28th
A new day has dawned at NutraOrigin. (Drumroll, please.) I am happy to announce the opening of our new online store, The Omega Store by NutraOrigin! Here you’ll see the first wave of a new line of exciting products, all providing beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids. I don’t have to tell you how important Omega-3 fatty acids are to your health. You have told us. You also told us what Omega-3 products you want. Amazingly, after scouring the Internet we didn’t see any merchant offering all the products you’ve been looking for in one place. Sure, I could give you a list of ten Websites, each with a couple good Omega-3 products, but who wants to go to ten sites to get what they need? Our goal is to be the one-stop-Omega-shop for you and your family. We’re adding products for your kids, too. Even your pets. Exciting, right? Let me lay it all out for you.
Our most coveted product has long been our extremely potent, high DHA/EPA Omega-3 fish oil – it is made from pharmaceutical grade, molecularly distilled fish oil and is so superior to the competition that it was selected for a clinical study on sleep deprivation. And, of course, our fish oil showed compelling results. Our customers have responded to this product, making it far-and-away our best seller. We can barely keep it in stock. Our customers have also told us what they want from us next: Omega-3 fish oil supplements and products for kids, for pets, in liquid form and flavored. How could we say no?
NutraOrigin has been known as the leader in advanced nutritional supplements, and we thank you for your loyal business. Don’t worry, we won’t ruin a good thing; all the formulas you know and trust will remain. But The Omega Store is what’s next, and we have delivered it. Lori Olsen, my Senior Director, Marketing, and I have been hard at work in the Omega Lab (or something like that!), looking to have the best Omega products on the market. After months of hard work, this first round includes: Enteric Coated Softgels to eliminate that fishy taste; Orange Softgels for a bit o’ flava; Pina Colada Omega Shakes to make Happy Hour into Healthy Hour (there’s no alcohol, don’t worry!); Krill Oil and Salmon Oil, for some additional Omega options; Kids’ Lemonade Omega Shake and Kids Omega Gummies, to make being healthy more fun; Vegan Berry Omega Shake, with plant-based oils; and Flax Oil for Pets, good for your kitty, your doggy, even your horse!
As a special Grand Opening Offer to you, all our new products will be Buy 1 Get 2 Free when you go on Auto Ship. Get huge savings now, and always free shipping – you can pause or change the frequency of your shipments or cancel without a hassle at any time (although the canceling would make me sad). Here’s a special code, Gomega5, to get an additional $5 off any order! Share it with your family and friends, spread the wealth, spread the health.
Visit our Store, come back to this blog, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or sign up for our email newsletter just stay in touch. There’s much more to come from The Omega Store!
-Cheers, Tim
Even a Small Business Can Do Big Things for The Planet!
Apr 21st
NutraOrigin cares about the earth, we care because of what we sell.
The success of our advanced nutritional supplements is closely tied to the health of the planet. For Earth Day, I would like all our friends to know, that without a healthy planet, NutraOrigin could not craft high-quality supplements to support your health. Our products are comprised of hundreds of ingredients, made of plant and mineral, from land and sea, originating from all corners of the globe. The purity and potency of these ingredients matters to us. We want quality, just like you.
We source plant-based ingredients, like aloe vera,artichoke, bilberry, caraway, ginkgo, and maca, as well as papaya and wild yam. We search for key minerals, like boron, calcium, folic acid, silica, vanadium and zinc. To bring this really close to home – literally to my backyard on sunny Long Island, New York – my garden happens to have many of the plants that we also get from suppliers around the world. They are familiar to many of you and include black cohosh which has really nice white flowers, but spreads like crazy! Echinacea which is one of the most colorful and toughest flowers I have. These are planted in reds, purples, whites, and oranges. You should grow them too. There is also feverfew, a beautiful, really easy to grow daisy as well as bold and bright red clover which are usually found in expensive flower arrangements from on-line flower sellers. My Garden also includes peppermint, another active spreader, but everyone loves the smell and a few sprigs in some lemonade during the summer is really refreshing Finally valerian is big and a little weedy, but great looking. The point of all this is to say that we are not all about beakers and lab coats at NutraOrigin. Our feet are firmly planted in the natural world. Whenever possible, we use the products of the earth to make products for your health. Yes, chemistry will always be in play. You can’t get certain critical enzymes, for example, without a bit of science. But NutraOrigin is about the natural world.
We care because we share this earth.
We all have to do our part. What’s the alternative? I will be the first to admit, there are actions we can take that we haven’t yet. We need to look at shipping material, for example. We have recyclable bottles, but we have not explored using recycled materials in their manufacturing. There is more, but I want to focus your attention on some of the more earth-friendly decisions we have already made. One area to spotlight is our vegetarian products. They make up the majority of our products, except where, by definition, the product cannot be vegetarian. What do I mean? Going back to my explanation about plants and minerals above, most of our products have plant-derived ingredients. The ones that can’t are fish oil and our joint health product, which includes shellfish-based ingredients. Further, something that sets us apart from the competition, is that we choose to use vegetarian capsules. Most capsules are gelatin-based. This means they are animal-based, a by-product of pigs and cows. This doesn’t necessarily mean gelatin is bad, of course. We just feel it is unnecessary. If you are taking a product made from plants, why encase it in pig? For vegetarians, as well as for those who follow certain Jewish and Muslim religious practices, this at least makes it possible for these groups to take some of our supplements. It costs us more to do this, but you – and the earth are worth it!
We want to make a difference: Help us with your ideas and we will help you!
We have a modest headquarters in an office complex on Long Island. These offices are pretty earth-friendly – lights are motion-sensitive and fluorescent; there is a recycling program; lot’s of natural light, and so on. But I am sure we could do more. Post a real, doable, concrete idea here on our blog and I will thank you with a special offer code. Personally. After you post, just email me: tim@nutraorigin.com and I will respond. Help us make a difference, we will be glad to help you!
Cheers, and Happy Earth Day!
Tim
Timothy Peterson is the Vice President of Marketing for NutraOrigin. He has over 20 years of experience as a merchant and a marketer. He has founded and operated two businesses and was in retail for over a decade before moving into e-commerce and the multi-channel world. Today he is focused on promoting natural supplements as a key part of a healthy lifestyle. Timothy has a B.A. from Yale and currently resides in Long Island, New York.
Lori STARTS! Walking: Getting into a Healthy Cardio Habit
Apr 7th
Today is National Start Walking Day , and when NutraOrigin asked me to contribute a short piece for their blog – I took a walk.
I’m a walker. There I said it. There was a time in my life not too long ago when I would not have easily admitted to this fact.
1. It wasn’t true 
)
2. Somewhat of a gym snob – I would not have thought “just walking” would give me the intense – rev up your heart rate type of cardio benefit – that say biking or even an intense elliptical session would provide. So why bother?
When a series of unexpected life events resulted in a change of location – with no gym membership or my beloved spin classes in the immediate vicinity, I looked to the great outdoors to become my new fitness facility. At first, I began walking the neighborhood with my 14 year old Labrador to do his “business” and as a way to become more familiar with the area. From there, I started walking at a nearby beach which provided an amazing view and a more intense hike due to the dunes and rocky terrain. And guess what else… a pretty high heart rate and a number of other unexpected benefits.
Why do I love walking now?
- No excuses. On any given day, I can usually count on being able to put one foot in front of the other. That is really all it takes. No matter where I am, how I feel, what other things I need to get done – walking fits.
- Mood Lifter. No matter how stressed I am (about something probably not all that important), by the time I am done with my walk I feel better – mentally. Call it endorphins, or “walkers high” – but I have been known to return to my car or home singing after an intense OR leisurely stroll.
- Versatility. You can make your walk what you want it to be. Intense heart pounding, arms pumping, fast, hill climbing or a slower pace/longer duration. You can multi-task during your walk (talking to your mother-in-law or teenager while walking actually does help to increase your heart rate!). Mall walking is now infamous, as well as making your destination part of your social plans. You can walk alone when you need solitude or with friends if you crave companionship.
- I get to eat more. No kidding. When I reviewed what has changed in my life over the last year to determine why I have been losing a few pounds – the only thing I could come up with is my daily walking routines.
- Problem solver. Try this: If you have an issue that you need to resolve, think about it intensely before and casually while you are walking. See if you don’t come back from your walk with at least one good solution.
- It is FREE. In these times, who doesn’t love FREE? No gear, no special outfits, no training, no membership fees. Just get out there and do it.
More information on National Start Walking Day on the American Heart Association website here
Lori Olsen is Senior Director, Marketing for NutraOrigin. She has over 20 years of marketing experience specializing in customer acquisition and revenue generation for consumer businesses through online and offline media. She has a passion for healthy living and has worked in the natural supplement business for 5 years. Formerly from Long Island, NY, she can now be found power walking the beaches of Central Florida.
NutraOrigin’s Pharmaceutical Grade Omega 3 Fish Oil Selected in Sleep Deprivation Study
Mar 13th
One of the main goals of the NutraOrigin blog is to help you, the consumer, make a more informed decision about nutraceuticals by raising awareness of health and wellness studies as well as professional viewpoints. As National Sleep Deprivation Awareness Week comes to a close, we would like to offer some insight into a new study which closely links the benefits of Omega 3 fish oil to the reduction of the effects of sleep deprivation. While it is fairly common to read about the positive correlation of omega 3 fish oil and heart health, a study performed by the Advanced Brain Monitoring Organization shows that the supplement may be more beneficial than first thought. This study found that NutraOrigin’s Omega-3 supplement reduced the effects of sleep deprivation and overall drowsiness and was also associated with a trend toward reducing signs of physiological anxiety.
There are several reasons why NutraOrigin’s supplement was chosen for the study. Of the selections reviewed, it was determined NutraOrigin Omega 3 Fish Oil met all three main criteria necessary for the success of the trial- high EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)/DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) concentration,molecular distillation and product stability, or freshness. Molecular distillation reduces heavy metal contamination, reducing potential mercury poisoning and other concerns. Molecular distillation is also associated with fewer digestive side effects, such as “fish burp” that are associated with taking fish oil supplements.
The whole NutraOrigin team is so proud to receive this recognition of our advanced product. You can read more about the study on our website.
In the spirit of this study we would like you to help us educate with your personal experiences. Tell us why you take pharmaceutical grade omega 3 fish oil. What benefits have you seen?
Timothy Peterson is the Vice President of Marketing for NutraOrigin. He has over 20 years of experience as a merchant and a marketer. He has founded and operated two businesses and was in retail for over a decade before moving into e-commerce and the multi-channel world. Today he is focused on promoting natural supplements as a key part of a healthy lifestyle. Timothy has a B.A. from Yale and currently resides in Long Island, New York.
Celebrating Heart Health Month – A Lesson in Good Nutrition Practices and Omega-3’s
Feb 1st
What comes to mind once February rolls around? You usually think Valentine’s Day, right? While most others are sharing their heart with others this month, why not take the time to share some love with your own heart this year? You only have one heart so why not think about treating it right.
As a dietitian in a renowned Heart Hospital, I often come across people from all walks of life that haven’t made the best dietary choices, which have led them to develop coronary artery disease (CAD). Often a patient ends up needing either a cardiac catherization and stent(s) or worse, have to undergo surgical procedures such as a coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG, bypassing blocked arteries. Think about your diet for just a moment, do you eat lots of animal products high in saturated fat and cholesterol, like cold cuts, bacon, red meat, baked goods, whole milk products? Why not make some dietary modifications to trim down the fats in your diet. Limit your intake of fat to 25% or less of your total daily calories. Choose lean meat and avoid high fat meats such as luncheon meats. Limit high fat choices to twice a week or less. Trim the visible fat from meat and removed the skin from poultry like chicken or turkey, before cooking. Bake, broil, grill, or steam foods instead of frying.
Include low-fat or nonfat foods in your diet. Use fat free or reduced fat cheese and yogurt rather than the regular, full fat versions. Replace regular salad dressings with a vinaigrette, low-fat or nonfat dressings. Try putting your salad dressing in a mister bottle and spray on just enough salad dressing to lightly coat your salad without drenching it and taking in all that extra, unnecessary fat and calories.
When cooking, try to use vegetable oils, ¾ cup of liquid oil may be used in place of 1 cup of solid shortening. Olive oil, Canola oil, and Peanut oil are good examples of vegetable oils, just to name a few.
Try to limit or avoid altogether anything that contains Trans fats. Trans fats can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Trans fats are created by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils during a process called hydrogenation. Trans fats may be found in commercially baked goods, stick margarine, and vegetable shortening, and they are often used to fry foods.
Unsaturated fats on the other hand, mainly come from plants. They can be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are high in total fat and have as many calories as saturated fat. However, choosing unsaturated fat is a healthier option than choosing a saturated fat or a trans fat. Good sources of polyunsaturated fats are corn oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil & seeds. Good sources of monounsaturated fats are avocados, canola, olive & peanut oil and most nuts.
Last but not least Omega-3 fatty acids are fats which seem to positively influence a number of factors related to protection from cardiovascular disease. Good sources of Omega-3 fats are fish oil, flax oil, canola oil, fish such as herring, mackerel, and salmon, walnuts, butternuts, soybeans, and ground flax seed. If you find it hard to consume a diet rich in Omega-3’s why not try a supplement instead. By including Omega-3’s you are playing an active role in protecting yourself from CAD. Try to incorporate more grains, vegetables & nuts into your diet, consume more of a plant-based rather than a meat-based diet.
I hope this is gives you a good start to a heart healthy you!
Dina has been working as a Clinical Dietitian at St. Francis Heart Hospital in Roslyn, NY for the past 10 years. She is a Certified Dietitian Nutritionist, and a Registered Dietitian. In addition Dina works as a consultant for several doctor’s offices providing nutrition counseling ranging from gastrointestinal ailments to cardiac conditions as well as obesity/weight loss. In this capacity she helps prepare patients for bariatric surgery as well as consulting them post operatively.
Dina received her Masters of Science degree in Medical Nutrition Therapy from Long Island University, CW Post and holds a Bachelor’s in Biology from Adelphi University.
New Year Resolutions – Make Them Last This Year
Dec 31st
“Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average… which means, you have met your New Year’s resolution. “Jay Leno
Above quote was meant to be a joke, but brings many other thoughts to a professional as myself. Where are we going as a nation? With the market swarming with healthy low fat, sugar free food choices we still seem to struggle with losing weight and keep it off for good. Maybe information overload is what creates the notion that we are right on track to a healthier us? With the constant breakthroughs in medicine we are living longer, but that does not mean we are healthier at all.
Fact: 2 out of every 3 Americans are overweight or obese – defined as having a body mass index over 25. You can calculate your BMI on http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html. According to the Center for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC): “American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, nonhealthful foods, and physical inactivity”. We all hear how dangerous obesity is and how it makes us prone to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure to mention a few.
We are full of great excuses to put off our plan to eat better or exercise. I ask my clients what stops them from loosing weight. The answers: “My wife cooks too damn good”, or “Friday night with my friends I go to the bar and those stuffed mushrooms just go so well with my beer”, or “Such a rush in the morning, so I grab a coffee and donut on a way to work…I blew up my morning so I just continue to eat what I feel like. I will start my diet on Monday”. I cannot even count how many times my clients look so disappointed that as a dietitian I do not have some “ magic “ way to help them melt those pounds away. Well the truth is there is no quick fix. There comes to mind another fact:” In order to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you consume”. If you planning on having that rich cake or a bigger meal, plan for it and adjust the rest of your intake that day accordingly, take that walk or take those stairs. At the end of the day you need to burn more than you put in your body.
Searching the internet I came across a great website, that I might give hope to people overwhelmed by “ I need to give up all the foods I like…” http://www.smallstep.gov/index.htm In my opinion that is a great start to a new year – small changes might just be an answer. This government website is full of small steps for every day you can take and see a gradual weight loss. Two quote a couple:
1) Try fast food options such as smaller burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches or salads with low-calorie dressings, cups or bags of fresh fruit, low-fat milk, 100% fruit juice and bottled water
2) Be flexible. You don’t need to worry about just one meal or one day. Find your right balance between what you eat and the physical activity you do over several days.
There are 100 of small steps you can find there and some of other resources, like interactive diet planning or portion control information.
Go on and pick one a day and start those changes as you begin your New Year weight loss plan. About 80% of resolution-makers abandon their resolutions by mid-February. Forget all the diet wonders you heard, eg.“cabbage soup diet” a friend gave you because it helped her loose 10 pounds. Next time you see her ask if she was able to keep it off or did she gain it all back once she went back to her regular food intake. Get your mind set for a long term weight control, lifestyle that will become a part of how you are. Start small and succeed.
Monika Benitez, RD, CNSC
Registered Dietitian since 2007, currently working in Queens, NY in a hospital setting.
My professional motto: Practice what you preach.
Allow Me to Introduce My Story…
Dec 23rd
“Optimum health addresses the mind, body and spirit. Through small adjustments in lifestyle, nutrition and prudent supplementation, you can better adapt to the changes that time brings, and achieve and maintain optimum health over your lifetime.”
- Andrew Weil, M.D.
I firmly believe that no matter what your age, appearance, or health problems, it is still possible to look and feel better. Furthermore, I believe that it is never too late to start. However, this leads to the question “Start doing what?” I have invested a lot of personal time and effort into coming up with the answer, and as a result, many years later, NutraOrigin’s set of goals was outlined and the product line was created.
Here is the story:
I became a health enthusiast after joining the army. Being a part of the Special Forces, I quickly came to realize that my performance completely relied on my physical condition. This led me to believe that being in better shape equals better health. Such a naïve consideration collapsed after my term of service came to a close and I moved on to begin college. It was shortly after that when I started to experience a number of unpleasant symptoms, which gradually increased in severity over time.
I went to doctors first and, then hospitals, with no resolution. I was in much better physical shape than most of my friends and I never smoked, while some of them did. My family had an excellent health history which was not the case for some of the healthier guys I knew. I held a routine training regiment as a number of my friends never even exercised. The doctors could not help and as my symptoms continued to get worse my list of activities began to shrink and life was becoming less and less appealing. I quickly came to realize that I had no other choice but to rely on myself. I began reading books about alternative medicine and I met with scientists who were conducting research in the field. As a result, I was able to develop a program, the foundation of which was the intake of nutritional supplements and soon enough I got my life back. It was a good lesson on what nutraceuticals can do and one that would change my life forever.
There were many factors that influenced the formation of my own concept on health related issues we all face as individuals and as a society as well. I spent many years working as an Environmental Engineering Consultant leading a number of large projects aimed to reduce pollutions for industrial and urban zones. I also worked hand in hand with many health organizations and agencies which had a lasting effect on my thinking as well
As time passed, I advanced in my career, I raised a family, and, my interest in nutritional supplements and a healthy lifestyle was always a big part of my life.
Knowing my passion and willingness to help, led many of my friends, colleagues and neighbors to ask me to help them build supplement regiments that would optimize their health. This was how I became the sort of “nutritional guru” in this small circle of people. Being involved in such a process, I faced a number of challenges:
- There were very few quality complex formulations designed for specific health concerns.
- Many products on the market contain such an ineffective concentration level of the formula’s ingredients (due to the production cost restrictions), that it would require the intake of several bottles per month in order to reach the needed effect.
- It takes a significant investment of time and logistic efforts from the average consumer to do research, build a needed regiment, and obtain nutritional products, unless you consider involving health professionals and dealing with expenses usually not covered by insurance.
The next logical step in my mind was to form a company that specializes in the development of state-of-the-art comprehensive formulations designed to nutritionally address some of the most devastating health concerns in North America.. The result was the birth of NutraOrigin.
Years later, I find myself fortunate enough to work with a great team of dedicated professionals who prides themselves on manufacturing only those products that provide legitimate results for the consumer.
We are a performance oriented company which means that all of our new product introductions arise from genuine advances in technology and performance. We have always and continue to pride ourselves on our commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Each and every one of our products guarantees:
- Purity and Potency
- Integrity of Formulation
- Adherence to Label Claims
One of our main priorities at NutraOrigin is to never take professional or ethical shortcuts. This is why all of our formulations are developed with no cost or time restrictions in order to ensure the highest level of effectiveness and to provide:
- Highly concentrated dosages of each ingredient.
- Multiple effective components that deliver the full spectrum of nutritional benefits.
- Synergistic compositions that maximize the integrity and absorption of all individual components
in our products.
When comparing our product line to that of other nutraceutical brands, it is plain to see that our formulations greatly supersede most of our competitors because we offer a greater amount of ingredients in higher concentrations. All of our products are manufactured in facilities which are independently inspected and certified as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Many NutraOrigin products include herbal ingredients or components derived from plants and we also use vegetarian capsules. This is why most of our products are vegetarian.
As a company it is important to NutraOrigin that we understand our customer’s nutritional needs, challenges and accomplishments. This is the reason why we have created these communities such as the ones you will see here as well as on our Facebook and Twitter. Our goal is to hold a forum where all of us can learn from each other through shared experiences. As we go into 2010, it is our hope to evolve with the community in order to provide better health and wellness for you all. We welcome you into our network and I hope to hear what makes you motivated, feel good and challenged to take yourself to the next level.
—Alex
Alex Khesin
Chief Operating Officer
NutraOrigin