Help for an Overactive Bladder and Reducing Nighttime Bathroom Trips

An overactive bladder and the feeling of reduced bladder volume are problems that many men and women deal with once they near middle age, where they may feel like they need to use the bathroom more frequently, particularly at night. Night wakening due to feeling a full bladder is very common, and it disrupts sleep, which makes things even worse.

There is an herb that has shown benefit in studies to help with overactive bladder and in reducing nighttime urination, the extract from a plant called angelica, a flower that grows wild in Iceland and other Nordic countries. I remember reading about angelica a number of years ago and its benefits for bladder control, though at the time we didn’t have a trusted source for finding it in supplement form.

A few months ago, however, I saw an advertisement for an angelica supplement called Bladder Health by one of the brands we carry, Terry Naturally. Even better, this new product had clinical research behind it showing that people who had used it had three times better bladder control than those in the placebo group!

I was excited to try it, since I’m already not a great sleeper, but for quite a while now I’d been having consistent problems with waking up in the night to use the washroom. Now, I’m sure if I stopped drinking hot tea in the evenings that would help, but evening and before bed are my favorite times to have a relaxing cup of tea. Still, waking up in the middle of the night to use the washroom is not anyone’s idea of a good time.

We brought some of the new Bladder Health product in and I started using it, and I have to say that I’ve been extremely happy in how well it’s worked. In the past, I would wake up once, sometimes even twice to use the washroom, and after using the Terry Naturally bladder health, for the most part I now can go the entire night without using the washroom. This is kind of an embarrassing subject to talk about, but I’ve been so happy the results that I wanted to share in case it helps someone else. I’ve been using it for several months now, just one capsule before bed. I think it was after a month or so that I noticed a difference, though I wish I had paid better attention to how long it was before I felt it was working since I don’t exactly remember. Now that it’s been several months, I can definitely see what a difference it’s made.

Now, no product works for everyone, even prescriptions, but I’d say it’s worth a try.

Men can sometimes experience frequent urination due to an enlarged prostate, something that is very common as men age. In that case, the herb saw palmetto can be helpful since it’s been shown in research to help with reducing benign prostate enlargement. When the prostate is enlarged it can put pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing frequent urination.

Frequent night urination can also be a symptom of a number of health conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, so as with any changes in your health, it’s a good idea to mention it to your physician at your next checkup.

If you have any questions, stop by the store so we can help you further. We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

Flax + Algae Oil- why it's important for vegetarians and vegans

We’ve gotten in a new flax oil product by Barleans that I wanted to write about since it’s a fantastic omega 3 product for vegetarians, vegans, or people who prefer a plant based diet called Vegan Omega. The unique thing about this product is that it contains both flax and algae oil; that’s important because while flax is great (and has additional specific benefits), flax oil doesn’t have EPA and DHA (two essential parts of Omega 3s), which are really important for brain health.

Instead of EPA and DHA, flax has ALA, which the body works to convert into EPA and DHA. The problem with that is there’s no way to know how well your body is able to do that conversion, which is why we usually recommend taking an algae omega supplement for vegetarians in addition to flax oil. This new formula by Barleans is great because it combines high quality, unprocessed flax oil with algae oil, which is the only vegan form of EPA and DHA. We really recommend it. It can be taken straight off the spoon or is a great addition to smoothies. We have some right now in the store if you’d like to sample it to see how it tastes, just ask us at the counter.

We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

For more information on the difference between flax and fish oils, see our article:

Healthy Q & A: Fish Oil vs. Flax Oil

A Great New Product for Coughs

Coughing is the worst, especially since it can linger for weeks after having a respiratory infection.

We have a new product by Terry Naturally that I've really been impressed with for coughs, called Bronchial Clear-it's a combination of thyme and ivy extract, both of which have impressive benefits for respiratory health.

Its main ingredient is ivy leaf, which is not very well known as a supplement in the US, but has some really impressive benefits for respiratory health. Even though it is not very well known in America as a supplement, it has been used medicinally for thousands of years safely.

Ivy extract is great for respiratory health because studies have shown that it can help to reduce inflammation in the lungs and also help to dissolve excess mucus.

When I was doing research into the benefits of ivy leaf for respiratory infections, I found research comparing ivy leaf's effectiveness to a prescription, saying it was "as effective as the prescription Ambroxol for chronic bronchitis". That really piqued my interest because I am a person who often seems to get a cough whenever I get sick, so I'm defiantly familiar with every prescription for coughs and respiratory infections, but I'd never heard of Ambroxol. It turns out that Ambroxol is a medication for respiratory infections that usually prescribed in Europe, but apparently isn't FDA-approved.

After reading about that, I went down a rabbit hole of why that prescription for lung infections wasn't FDA approved (since often Europe has a lot more stringent regulations than the US), but it seems it's not because it isn't an effective treatment, but that the patent had expired and it wouldn't be worth it financially for an American company to pay for the costly FDA approval process.

All of this to say that ivy extract has benefits shown to be equal to European medications for respiratory infections for coughing, helping the body to clear excess mucus, easing coughs and improving lung function.

In addition to ivy extract, the Bronchial Clear product also has thyme extract, an herb that’s fantastic for respiratory health since it can help clear mucus from the lungs and reduce lung inflammation. It’s even shown benefit for people suffering from COPD, an irreversible lung disorder where people experience problems breathing due to inflammation in the airways. The active ingredients in thyme extract also show benefits for having natural anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

I've taken Bronchial Clear by Terry Naturally and really thought it helped. I definitely won't be without it from now on in the winter. We also have a kid’s cough syrup with ivy extract at the store from Garden of Life that we'd recommend, since a lingering cough can be an awful thing for anyone to deal with, at any age.

Stop by the store if you have any questions, we’d be happy to help you further. We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

Benefits of High Dose Omega 3 Fish Oil [New Research]

I've written about fish oil and its uses numerous times, but I've been reading a lot about high dose fish oil and its benefits, and I wanted to share my findings because I was really impressed with the reports.

Omega 3s are known as essential fatty acids, which means that they aren’t produced in the body and must be obtained through diet or supplements. If you’re not eating quality fatty fish multiple times a week (salmon for example), it’s likely that you’re deficient. There are vegetarian sources of omega 3s, though they generally aren’t as potent as fish oil supplements.

The two main parts beneficial components of omega 3s are EPA and DHA. Fish oil supplements vary widely in the strength of those two ingredients, so it’s always a good idea to look at the “Supplement Facts” on the back of the label to see what you’re really getting. Many products will say, “1,000mg of Fish Oil” on their labels, but actually contain far less than that of actual omega 3s and EPA and DHA. A product that’s lower in EPA and DHA per pill doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad, but in my opinion, if you’re going through the effort of taking a supplement, you want to get a good strength per dose so you’re not wasting your time.

Omega 3s have so many benefits for cardiovascular health, joint health, brain function, and more. Adding any amount of omega 3s to your diet is beneficial, though if you’re taking it to help with a specific health concern, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re getting enough to make a difference.

For general health, most people take around 1,000 mg of omega 3s per day, but if you have issues with your cardiovascular health, joints, focus, or mood, it may be a good idea to take a higher dose.

The American Heart Association just reported in their journal that they recommend 3 grams of omega 3 fatty acids as the “optimal daily dose” for helping to lower blood pressure, and that the effect was especially pronounced in people already diagnosed with hypertension.

High dose omega 3s are also recommended by physicians to help with lowering cholesterol- especially triglyceride levels. Scientists have found that 4 grams per day is what’s recommended to lower triglycerides. The American Heart Association reports that in people with severe hypertriglyceridemia (the fancy name for very high triglycerides) taking 4 grams (or 4,000mg) of omega 3s may reduce triglyceride levels by more than 30%, which is pretty impressive.

I also recently read an article about a woman living with rheumatoid arthritis that had been suffering from it for many years and having extreme problems with pain and inflammation, even after taking all sorts of prescriptions and everything else. She was recommended by a new physician to try using high dose omega 3s: 2,000-4,000mg a day, and wrote about how it literally changed her life and helped so much with reducing the pain and inflammation she’d been dealing with for years. On her physician’s advice, she began taking a tablespoon of flavored fish oil per day, with impressive results not only in her reports of reduced pain, but in lab tests of inflammation which were brought back to normal levels for the first time in years.

I don’t know that that is a typical response since I know that rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to treat, but fish oil is something that’s not harmful, and has lots of benefits, so I’d say it’s definitely worth a try.

If you're doing high dose fish oil, it's easier to do it as a liquid than to take as softgels, since generally it'll be at least 4 softgels a day to get the right strength for a high dose fish oil. We'd recommend Carlson's omega 3 fish oil liquids because of their purity and taste-they have several great tasting flavors.

Liz (the other owner of Pass Health Foods) says, "I put the Carlson orange fish oil in my smoothie and I highly recommend it. It doesn't taste at all like fish; I wouldn't do it if it ruined my smoothie."

I mentioned to her that I would be writing about fish oil but in higher dosages and asked if she would try doing a tablespoon of the fish oil in her smoothie. When I asked how it was the next day she said she actually liked it better and that it tasted so nice because the orange was such a great compliment to the fruits in her smoothie. I asked if it was too oily or changed the texture or consistency, and she said not at all.

I think the lemon is probably the most popular for people taking it straight off a spoon, but if you're mixing it in with a smoothie orange might be the best bet. Liz certainly thinks so.

I’d recommend the one by Carlson because we’ve had a lot of customers that have used their flavored fish oils for years with good results. Their fish oils are also independently lab tested for purity, and they’re in charge of every step of the process from catch (which is wild caught in Norway) to bottling, so they have better control over their product- many companies will purchase bulk fish oil from other companies and repackage it, which can lead to problems with quality control. They’re also a family owned and run American company since 1965. Even better, we have all of our Carlson products on sale for 20% off every day at Pass Health Foods, to pass on the savings to make staying healthy more affordable.

My only caution with fish oil is that it can have a slight blood thinning effect. Usually that's something that's viewed as positive for cardiovascular health, but if you are on prescription blood thinners like Coumadin, high dose fish oil may not be for you. As with any supplement, it's a good idea to let your doctor know what you're taking, just in case. Omega-3s are essential fatty acids, however, so they are definitely needed for proper body functioning.

If you have any questions about fish oil or omega 3s, stop by the store, we’d be happy to help you further. We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights, Illinois.

Benefits of Saffron for Eyes and More [New Research]

Saffron is a spice with a long history, and has been used since the time of Ancient Greece (some sources say it was even used before then). It’s collected from the small golden stigmas from the inside of the autumn crocus flower. At various times in history, the spice was worth its weight in gold! It’s been used as a perfume, in cooking and baking, and medicinally for thousands of years.

Saffron is still used in various recipes that we eat today, but beyond food, research has found several health benefits from using saffron extracts- two of the benefits I’ve been most impressed with are its uses for boosting mood and also for the eyes.

Saffron has been used by many for general eye health for a long time. Just this past month, however, I came across a couple studies that really surprised me, and convinced me to start taking saffron daily.

There are many supplements that can help to preserve eyesight and prevent vision problems, but I had not come across anything that had been found to actually improve eyesight, but that is what the two studies I read about were saying about saffron.

One of the studies found that participants who took 20mg of saffron were able to improve the light sensing cells in their eye’s retina in people with early age related macular degeneration, and that after three months of taking saffron were able to read one entire additional line on an eye chart! I have terrible eyesight, so I know how significant being able to read one more line on an eye chart is. Even more impressively, the scientists tested the long term benefits of saffron, and found that after an average of 14 months, those patients with early macular degeneration were able to read two lines further on an eye chart than they had at the beginning of the study.

The amounts used in the study were a normal dose of saffron that could be found in one pill- I mention that because some studies use amounts of a supplement in unrealistic doses that most people would not be able to take without swallowing handfuls of pills.

Age related macular degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss in people over 50. Other supplements beneficial for eye health and macular degeneration are lutein and zeaxanthin. I wouldn’t recommend stopping those supplements in favor of saffron, but would suggest adding saffron to your daily regimen.

Another impressive benefit that scientists have found of saffron is its benefit for mood and for helping mild to moderate depression. An analysis of 12 studies on saffron and depression found saffron to be significantly more effective that a placebo and as effective as synthetic antidepressants for mild to moderate depression. For boosting mood, a typical dose is around 30mg of saffron per day, and in most people results were seen after about six weeks, though benefits may be felt sooner.

Saffron is a potent antioxidant with a long safety record, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. We have saffron available in supplement form at Pass Health Foods by itself, or in a product with ashwaganda- another herb that has been used for thousands of years that has many benefits- particularly for stress and anxiety. The product with saffron and ashwaganda is by the brand Solgar, called Stress & Anxiety Relief. That’s the one I’ve been using, since it has the daily recommended amounts of both saffron and ashwaganda in one tablet. Since it’s one we really recommend, we have it on sale for 25% off every day.

The Benefits of a Daily Multivitamin

I wanted to write about multivitamins since I’ve seen a several interesting studies about them lately. I know a lot of people take individual vitamins rather than a multi, but there’s definitely something to be said about making sure you’re getting the recommended amount of all the vitamins and minerals, since realistically, it’s likely that you’re missing something- particularly if you have a special diet like people who are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, or vegetarian, or kids (and adults!) that are picky eaters.

Most research looks at people who take multivitamins long term, rather than just a few weeks.

One study, found in our May issue of Remedies Magazine (which we always have for free at the store) found that taking a multivitamin for 21 days out of the month “virtually eliminated inadequacies of B6, B12, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D”. The researchers wrote, “Adequate intake of micronutrients (vitamins and nutritionally essential minerals) is required for nearly all metabolic, developmental, and growth processes, and for good health across the lifespan.”

Many Americans are deficient in vitamins and minerals needed for daily health. Also, it’s important to note that the study above was talking about vitamin and mineral inadequacies, not severe deficiencies. If you’re severely deficient in a specific vitamin (vitamin D or iron for example, which are determined from blood tests), it’s likely you will need a higher dose that what is typically found in a multivitamin, and in that case we would probably recommend taking that supplement separately to be able to get a adequate dose to help correct a deficiency (please stop by the store for more specific info, since everyone’s nutritional needs are different).

One problem many people have with regard to diet is eating lots of high-calorie foods that are low in nutrients. A"junk food" diet high in fast food, soda, chips, and sweets gives us plenty of calories, but those foods are generally very low in the vitamins and minerals needed for our bodies to function properly. A multivitamin doesn't replace a healthy diet, but it can help to replace the nutrients that may be missing from the foods you eat.

Another recent study on vitamins linked vitamin C and E supplementation to a 38% lower adjusted risk for all cause dementia and a 40% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The supplement group also had a 23% lower risk of developing cognitive impairment without dementia.

Additionally, daily folic acid supplementation (a B vitamin found in multivitamins) helps to prevent birth defects in women of childbearing age. Almost half of all pregnancies are in women who weren’t specifically trying to get pregnant, so a daily multivitamin helps to check that box, just in case.

Another study I’ve read recently linked multivitamin use to a lower incidence of illness and infection, where the multivitamin users had a lower rate of illness and they missed fewer days of work or school compared to people who didn’t use multivitamins.

Each of the vitamins and minerals found in a multi have specific benefits, especially when taken on a regular basis. It’s not realistic to take each of the vitamins and minerals in a multivitamin separately, so a multi is a good way to go. We have a great selection of high-quality, food-based multivitamins at the store at reasonable prices, so please stop by this month so we can help find the supplement that’s right for you.

Finally, I just wanted to say that not all supplements are created equal, and that many common multivitamins and supplements found at grocery and discount stores are made of synthetic vitamins which are cheaper but not as well absorbed. A multivitamin is not a substitute for a healthy diet, but we’d definitely say it’s a good idea. We are very knowledgeable about supplements and are happy to answer any questions you may have, so please come by the store and see us. Is it the end of the world to not take a multivitamin?  No, but we’d say there are definite benefits to taking one!

Pass Health Foods is located at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights and this year we’re celebrating 27 years in business as a small, independent, women owned business!

Natural Help for Spring Allergies

We all love spring, but along with the world coming to life, the beautiful buds and blooms beginning to open can cause allergy problems for many.

For people who have problems with spring allergies, it's actually an inflammatory immune response to the tiny grains of pollen that are being released by everything bursting into bloom. With seasonal allergies, your body actually sees that harmless pollen as a damaging invader, causing immune inflammation and the symptoms we all hate: itchy, watery eyes and a stuffed, runny nose. Your body is actually trying to protect you, it’s just a little misguided.

For many people, it's hard to tell the difference to figure out if its allergies or a cold, though unfortunately allergies usually last a lot longer than cold symptoms.

Most people turn to over the counter medications for allergies, but those medications often come with side effects and many people find their effectiveness can wane over time.

Thankfully, there are natural products that can really help with allergies, without the side effects of conventional medications. One great supplement for allergies is quercetin. Quercetin has become much more well known in the past couple years, since it's great for the immune system and has potent antiviral properties.

Quercetin is great for allergies since research has shown its ability to help modulate the immune system and calm down the body’s overactive response to seasonal allergens like pollen. It also reduces histamine levels naturally- histamine is the chemical in the body responsible for symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and more. Quercetin is especially effective since it inhibits numerous anti-allergenic and inflammatory processes in response to allergens, not just histamine.

The anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin have been shown in numerous studies, finding that quercetin has a significant inhibitory effect on histamine release. One study found that quercetin affected histamine release by 95% to 97%! Quercetin has also been shown to benefit asthma and allergic asthma since it works in part to help relax swollen airways.

For allergies, a typical dose that most people see benefit from is 500mg of quercetin twice daily. We have capsules by Solaray in that dosage that are on sale at Pass Health Foods. Quercetin is a plant pigment found in citrus and other foods and has a great safety profile.

Another (delicious) remedy for allergies is local honey. We have many customers who’ve seen great results from eating small amounts of local honey each day, for both kids and adults. Our honey is sourced from local beekeeping families and we do have a limited quantity of honey harvested last spring  that we’ve been saving for allergy season. All of our local honey is great, but the spring harvested honey we especially recommend for allergies since the spring honey was made from the spring pollen from blooms in our area, the exact pollen that causes spring allergies.

Happy spring!

We Love Bees!

This month we have fresh local honey that was harvested just last month in Homer Glen from a local beekeeping family! It’s absolutely delicious, we couldn’t recommend it more!

Also we have new “Bee’s Wraps” in stock that are really unique.  They’re pieces of organic cotton coated with beeswax made in Vermont that are washable and reusable to help to reduce plastic consumption. Bee’s Wraps can replace plastic wrap and plastic bags, you can use them to cover bowls or plates or even fold them over a sandwich or snack. We have one out at the store so you can see what they look like and how they work. We have them available in a three pack of different sizes.  They’re really wonderful and are a great way to reduce waste (not to mention that they’re super cute)! They’ll be on sale for 20% off during the month of October, so please stop by to check them out! 

August is Back to School Month

August means back to school. I always think of September as the back to school month, since that’s what it was when I was little, but now most kids are going back be back in school by the third week of August if not sooner.

Hopefully this will be a more normal school year than last year, but even on the most normal of normal years, there can still be stress and anxiety for many about starting school. Theanine is a great supplement for stress and anxiety and is safe for both kids and adults. It’s an amino acid that’s found in green tea that can help kids to feel more calm and less worried. It can even be used before bed to help with sleep, not that it makes you tired, but it’s effective for sleep since it helps to encourage a calm state of mind. It’s especially helpful for school age children and teens since in addition to enhancing feelings of calm, it also can help with increasing focus (something most of us would benefit from). It’s available in gummies or capsules, and most children start with a 100mg dose, whereas most adults take 400mg.

See this article on our website for more information: Theanine for Reducing Stress and Increasing Focus

Preventing illness is always a concern once school starts again, since with so many kids packed in together, colds and other respiratory viruses are more likely. There are a number of great kid-friendly immune boosters we’d recommend, like our elderberry gummies by Zhou, which also contain a good dose of immune boosting zinc (plus they’re great tasting). A few other immune supplements that we recommend for kids are probiotics and vitamin D- we have both available in good tasting chewable supplements. Probiotics have shown in research to help with preventing respiratory infections in children, resulting in fewer missed school days, and vitamin D is a great all-around immune booster that’s great for everyone.

Here are a few helpful articles from our website with more information:

Preventative Immune Health

Keeping Kids Healthy this Winter

Manuka Honey Throat Lozenges for Cough and Sore Throat

Elderberry: A Potent Antiviral Against Colds and Flu

Finally, a few other supplements that can be helpful for kids are an omega 3 supplement and a multivitamin. Omega 3s are essential fatty acids that are crucial for brain function, and many kids are deficient because they have to be obtained through either diet or supplements, and most kids don’t eat a lot of fish. A great tasting, high potency supplement is Barlean’s Omega Swirl (for both kids or adults). We’ve found that most kid’s omega 3 chewables or gummies have very little actual omega 3 in them, so we recommend Barlean’s Omega Swirl liquid as an easy way to get the recommended amounts in just one teaspoon (it’s not at all oily or fishy, it tastes like lemon cream).

See our article Improving Children’s Concentration at School for more information.

Multivitamins are great for kids or adults that are picky eaters or people without the best diets, since they help to fill in nutrition gaps. A multivitamin is not a substitute for a healthy diet, but it’s a simple way to ensure you or your children are getting the nutrients you need every day for optimal health.

Please stop by the store this month so we can help you to find the supplements that are right for your individual needs.

Bilberry and Cataract Prevention

Bilberries are small berries native to Europe related to blueberries that have been used for many years for eye health.

My dad was the first to tell me about bilberry and its benefit for cataracts. He read about an Italian study on bilberry being beneficial for cataracts that really impressed him. The article he read was a small-scale study with people who had been diagnosed with early-stage cataracts that were given bilberry extract daily, the article reported that almost all of those in the study found that bilberry stopped the growth of their cataracts.

He’s been taking bilberry ever since (at least over a year) and he says he is sure that it’s helped, and that he even feels like his eyesight has even gotten better.

Other animal studies have also shown the benefit of bilberry for reducing the progression of cataracts as well as macular degeneration, with impressive results.

Bilberries are full of potent antioxidants that can help to combat oxidative damage in the body and are especially beneficial to the eyes, showing benefit for cataracts, macular degeneration, and even diabetic retinopathy- an eye condition that is a complication of diabetes that damages blood vessels in the eyes. Bilberries can also help with reducing inflammation throughout the body, and are also used to help with IBS, ulcerative colitis, and even to improve brain function.

My dad has been using Solaray’s One Daily Guaranteed Potency Bilberry every day and has been really happy with it, and that’s the one we recommend as well since it’s the strongest bilberry extract available per pill.