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The start of school presents many unique challenges for students. There’s lots of new information to learn, a new schedule to adjust to, and let’s not forget one of the first things kids bring home besides homework are back-to-school bugs and general immune mayhem. Here we’ve compiled the top 5 back-to-school supplements that support your child’s immune system, concentration, energy, and stress levels.

Multivitamins are a good way to make sure there are no nutritional deficiencies in your child’s diet. Vitamins and minerals are the building blocks for your child’s immune system, growth, healthy energy levels, and brain development.

Fish oil contains brain boosting omega-3 fats like EPA and DHA. Studies show that low levels of DHA are associated with poor concentration, mood, and behavioral issues.(1) Support your child’s brain with our assortment of flavored fish oil pills, gummies, and liquid swirls.

Magnesium is truly a miracle mineral and is especially important for kids going back to school. Best known for its relaxing anti-stress properties, magnesium also supports healthy bone growth, muscles, and nerve function. A recent study suggests magnesium also enhances memory and learning abilities in children.(2)

Probiotics help establish healthy gut bacteria which support our immune system and digestion. Did you also know that the gut is now being called our second brain?(3) Gut bacteria are responsible for the manufacture of certain vitamins, hormones, and neurotransmitters.(3) Choose one of our chewable or liquid multi-strain probiotics in many kid friendly flavors. 

Bacopa is an herb with some pretty amazing benefits and is a perfect back-to-school addition for students and parents alike. Studies have shown that this Ayurvedic herb is a potent stress reducer that also boosts certain neurotransmitters which help with anxiety and depression.(4) However, the biggest benefit of bacopa maybe for ADHD symptoms. In a recent 12 week study children who took just 50 mg twice daily showed significant improvements in mental control, logical memory and learning ability.(5) Amazingly, these benefits lasted months after stopping the supplement.

Give your child their best chance this year with these targeted supplements for health, energy, and memory. Here’s to a happy and healthy school year.

References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23826114
2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127121524.htm
3. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-feelings-the-second-brain-in-our-gastrointestinal-systems-excerpt/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12046860
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2915594/

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January 22nd, 2016

The new year brings with it new resolves to get healthy and stay that way. We all know that achieving our ideal weight and keeping it there is hard work requiring a healthy diet and exercise program. Here are 5 things you can add to your program to help support your efforts and achieve your goals faster.

1.  Have your vitamin D levels checked, and if you are low, take a D supplement. Vitamin D is responsible for supporting hormones such as insulin, parathyroid and leptin activity in the body which play a role in controlling weight.

2. Protein powders. Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, and it can support weight loss by slowing down digestion which will keep you feeling full longer and reduce cravings for high carb or sweet foods. Including a protein powder is an easy and fast way to increase protein intake.

3. Choose good fats. Replace butter and vegetable oil with high quality coconut oil. Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) fats are very easy for the body to breakdown and use for energy. So by replacing other fats with MCTs you will be not only consuming fewer calories, but will have more energy for exercise!

4. Supplement with white kidney bean extract. This extract works on the enzymes that convert carbohydrates into glucose. It inhibits excess carbohydrates from being converted into fat by helping remove carbohydrates before they enter the bloodstream.

5. Don’t forget the fiber. A fiber called glucomannan has been shown to cause weight loss in several studies. This is a type of fiber that absorbs water and “sits” in your gut for a while, making you feel more full and deterring food cravings. 

What do all 5 tips have in common? They have the ability to support stable blood sugar levels and switch your body This means switching your body from a “Sugar Burner” to a “Fat Burner”.  The more sensitive your body is to insulin, the easier it can push the excess glucose from the foods we eat out of the blood to the body cells to be used for energy. The more “resistant” your body is to insulin, the more glucose is stored as fat rather than used for energy. Your body becomes resistant to the hormone insulin by eating diets high in simple carbs and sugars because it taxes the body’s natural process and it will begin to need more and more insulin to do the job. Many experts believe the key to losing unwanted pounds and keeping them off is by stabilizing blood sugar. Exercise and diet can make a big positive impact on your blood sugar levels.

Sunflower Shoppe is here to help support you to reach your goals. Look for upcoming seminars about these topics and come by and see us at the Shoppe, where great health is just a way of life!

SOURCES

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/138/12/2309.full

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10641960600798655

http://www.menshealth.com/weight-loss/burn-fat-fast

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00895.x/abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15614200

http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/10/1/10

The content and opinions expressed in this “Shoppe Talk” blog are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or to provide medical advice. We are not medical doctors and we do not prescribe medication. If you have any questions about the relationship between nutrition and supplements, we recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified and licensed health practitioner. Our opinions are based on the literature and data from a variety of medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, biochemists and other professional researchers. You are encouraged to make your health care decisions based on your own research and the advice of a qualified health care professional.

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