I’ve always been curious about coenzyme Q10—probably because it sounds more like a laundry detergent than a health supplement. The other day as I was house cleaning, I came across the book YOU Staying Young by Dr. Mehmet Oz, which I forgot we had. I flipped to the index to see what the famous TV host and heart surgeon had to say about coenzyme Q10.

In Chapter 2, Oz and co-author Dr. Michael F. Roizen explain the role of this funny-sounding compound. “Mitochondria (inside cells) convert glucose into electric energy, and one of the molecules carrying electrons in this process is coenzyme Q10,” the book said.

Who knew that coenzyme Q10—usually called CoQ10—is produced by our bodies, found in every cell, and plays such a vital role in generating energy for metabolism?

CoQ10 May Help Prevent Chronic Disease     

Research has found that our naturally produced CoQ10 levels decrease as we age. Scientists have also discovered that patients with chronic diseases such as heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophies, and HIV/AIDS have lower levels of CoQ10 than the general population. That’s why researchers around the globe are studying whether CoQ10 supplementation can help treat, or even prevent, chronic disease.

Study results are mixed so far, but here are some things we know:

• Research suggests that CoQ10 may reduce symptoms related to heart failure. In his book, Dr. Oz says CoQ10 supplements “seems to protect against heart failure and other inflammatory processes by improving the efficiency of the mitochondria.”

• In controlled trials, CoQ10 supplementation has proven beneficial to Parkinson’s disease patients, improving their symptoms and visual function.

• CoQ10 supplementation seems to improve muscular dystrophy patients’ exercise capacity, heart function, and overall quality of life.

Research suggests that statin drugs designed to lower cholesterol interfere with the body’s production of CoQ10, which Dr. Oz says may account for the muscle cramps some statin users experience: “Your arteries are literally being starved of energy and are crying for help,” he wrote. To combat this, he recommends a daily 200 mg dose of CoQ10 for people taking statin drugs.

Can a funny-sounding supplement like CoQ10 be the answer to many of society’s toughest public health problems? Stay tuned for more research results.

- Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus contributor

In much of the United States, houses are closed up tight in the winter. During these frigid months, cooking smells, pet odors, and other “aromas of living” get trapped inside the house. Growing up in Michigan, we used to call it “house-a-tosis”—our word for the stale air that greeted us when we arrived home.

I always suspected house-a-tosis was to blame for the gloomy mood that descended upon us in the wintertime. Being stuck inside with stale air can leave a person longing for Spring, or at least a warm-weather getaway. But if Aruba is out of the question, you can always try a little “home aromatherapy.” I’m talking about fragrances made for the home that can transform stale air and lift your mood, just like a tropical breeze.

Stale air remedies: a booming market

According to a study by market research firm Packaged Facts, home fragrance sales totaled more than $5 billion in 2007 and were expected to reach $6 billion by 2012. In fact, the market for aromatic products that refresh stale air has grown steadily over the decades, driven by pioneers like Claire Burke, an interior designer who began experimenting with herbs and flowers more than 50 years ago to create aromatic sachets for her friends.

Many ways to make stale air smell better

These days, consumers have literally hundreds of home fragrance scents to choose from. They also have a multitude of delivery methods for banishing stale air.  Here are the basic home fragrance categories available today:

• Reed infusers
• Electric fragrance warmers and refills
• Simmering oils (to heat up on the stove or in a special heating vessel)
• Fragrance sprays
• Potpourri
• Scented candles, including tea lights, votives, tapers, pillars, and glass-poured

If stale air is getting the best of you this winter, why not plan a multi-prong attack, using the same scent in different places? For example, if you love the clean scent of citrus and verbena, you could put a reed infuser in the living room, a plug-in fragrance warmer in the study, a spray in the bathroom, and a lovely botanical candle in the bedroom.

Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor

Ever wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of your dog scratching? It might be a thump, thump, thump or a jingling from his dog tags. Or he may walk into the bedroom and shake himself silly, as if he’s drenched with rain.

Our little terrier has been doing all of that and more lately. I’ve checked him for fleas, ticks, and other menaces. Nothing there. Then I noticed white flakes on his fur. Hmmm, I didn’t know canines could develop dandruff. Turns out, it’s a sign of dry skin in dogs—which can often get worse in the winter months.

Dry Skin in Dogs: Natural Treatment and Prevention

Cold, snow and ice outdoors means our dogs are confined to the heated house most of the time. The air is dry, and without fresh air blowing through the windows, the house can accumulate dust and other allergens quickly. These environmental conditions lead to dry, flaky, itchy skin in dogs, but there are a number of things you can do to make your pet more comfortable:

Get out the brush. Most dogs love a good brushing, especially with a natural bristle hairbrush. To the dog, it feels like a wonderful massage, so it’s a great way to bond with your pet. Regular brushing brings the natural oils out of the skin and removes the dandruff flakes that form when dead skin cells are sloughed off.

Use a gentle dog shampoo. Dry skin in dogs can be made worse by using a shampoo that’s too harsh. Look for an all-natural dog shampoo containing soothing ingredients for irritated skin, such as oatmeal, aloe vera, chamomile, and neem oil.

Don’t bathe too frequently. In the winter, when Fido isn’t playing outside and getting as dirty, warm water baths may be enough. Remember that part of relieving dry skin in dogs is making sure you aren’t stripping the dog’s skin of its natural oils.

Provide skin and coat support. Look for supplements containing natural ingredients to support improved skin tone and a healthy coat in dogs. These formulas come in chicken-flavored chewable tablets or tasty oils that your dog would love to have drizzled on his food. They contain essential fatty acids that can resolve disorders such as dry skin in dogs.

- Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor

In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, my husband and I recently began working with a personal trainer/nutrition coach at our local gym. He has taught us some interesting things about what to eat—and when to eat—to burn off fat. Protein powder keeps coming up in the conversation.

“Protein powder? I asked. “Isn’t that just for big-time body builders?”  I’d seen the enormous plastic tubs of protein powder at the vitamin store, with labels showing bulging biceps and “six-pack” abs.

“No, it’s good for anybody who needs an additional source of lean protein,” he said.

Eat a Solid Breakfast with Help From Protein Powder

“Protein powder helps you get the right amount of protein into your breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day,” he said. “You can stir it into your oatmeal, sprinkle it on whole-grain toast, or mix it into a smoothie.”

The trainer told us we should also eat small, protein-based snacks in between breakfast and lunch to keep our metabolism running at peak efficiency. “For example, drink half of your smoothie with the protein powder in it at breakfast, and take the other half with you for your 10 a.m. snack.”

Intrigued, I went to the vitamin store for a closer look at those gigantic protein powder tubs. I bought a sample-sized packet of vanilla-flavored whey protein powder so my husband and I could try it on our morning oatmeal.

The taste was not unpleasant, but it was very sweet—and the vanilla flavoring put me off. We had given up sugary breakfast foods long ago, and even though this stuff was sweetened with sucralose (i.e., Splenda) rather than sucrose or high fructose corn syrup, we agreed to look for an unsweetened, unflavored protein powder. First stop: the Internet.

The Wide World of Protein Powder

Who knew there were so many kinds of protein powder out there? Here are the various categories we discovered in our research:

Whey-based protein powder: Whey is by far the most common protein supplementation source; it’s a byproduct of making cheese from whole milk. Whey isolate and whey concentrate formulas undergo even more processing in the laboratory. Most of the whey powders we found were flavored (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry) and sweetened.

Casein protein powder. Casein is a slow-digesting protein also derived from milk that is used by the body to build muscle. Most are sweetened and flavored.

Egg white protein powder. Egg whites are high in essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and contain no fat or cholesterol. But the majority of these powders are flavored and sweetened. We’d rather just eat real eggs!

Soy protein powder: This product is fast digesting and contains the healthful isoflavones found in soy. It’s a good source of protein for those allergic to dairy products. Some products are flavored and sweetened, while others are not. Check the label.

Hemp protein powder: This one has a nutty, earthy flavor that may not appeal to those who like chocolate and vanilla breakfasts. Unsweetened and rich in protein, hemp powder has Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids and dietary fiber. It’s the winner so far at our breakfast table.

Brown rice protein powder: Made from sprouted brown rice, this product is a nice vegetarian alternative to soy and hemp. Some products are sweetened with rice syrup solids.

Pea protein powder: Peas? Yes, peas! We are eager to try this one next. Turns out pea protein powder is high in essential amino acids, highly bioavailable, and easily digestible—and we did see a few non-flavored, non-sweetened formulas.

By Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus contributor

Remember when gas station attendants filled your tank for you? Or when department stores wrapped your holiday gifts at no charge? Oh—you’re too young to remember those things? OK—how about when it was “bags fly free” on every airline?

You get the drift. We consumers used to enjoy a lot of free services. But then economic forces exerted their pressures and suddenly we had self-serve filling stations. And paid gift-wrapping kiosks. And—except for good old Southwest Airlines—fees for checking your luggage. 

Free shipping appears to be succumbing to similar pressures. Economists are predicting that this country’s free shipping “bubble” is going to burst eventually. Why? It boils down to simple economics: if shipping rates rise faster than inflation, online merchants will not be able to absorb shipping costs within their already-thin profit margins. And that’s exactly what’s happening.

High Shipping Rates are Killing Off Free Shipping 

UPS has been raising its shipping rates a minimum of 5 percent every year. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service will be raising shipping service rates again in January—this time by an average of 4.6 percent. Then there’s the cost of cardboard, which is also on the rise. And the cost of oil to transport all those cardboard boxes? It has quadrupled in the last 12 years!

Predictions are that even giant online retailers like Amazon.com won’t be able to offer free shipping much longer, due to eroding profit margins. Ironic, isn’t it, since Amazon was the company that conditioned us to expect free shipping in the first place?

New Standard Shipping and Free Shipping Rates

At All Vitamins Plus, they’ve got their eye on the ball. They want to continue offering the same high-quality, natural products at the absolute best prices without “hiding” the shipping cost in the price of the product. Nor are they interested in cutting corners and shipping goods cheaply and unreliably, which some “free shippers” have started to do.

For these reasons, All Vitamins Plus decided to raise their eligibility requirement for Free Shipping. You now get free shipping on orders of $49.99 or more, everywhere in the United States.  If you ask me, shipping rates are still a good deal at All Vitamins Plus. Standard shipping on any size order (regardless of weight or cost) is $4.99 for orders shipped within the contiguous 48 states, and $6.99 for orders shipped to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

You also get great customer service—for free! Got a question about a product? Need advice choosing a gift? Just call (866) 437-4002 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm EST to talk to a real, live human being.

Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus contributor

We’ve all heard the standard flight attendant speech before takeoff:  “In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop down from above…” Did you ever think, “Gee, I’d like to wear that oxygen mask right about now”—especially since the atmosphere inside a typical airline cabin consists of at least 50% recirculated air?

Too bad. As human beings, we aren’t usually given pure oxygen unless it’s a medical emergency. But these days, oxygen—which accounts for two-thirds of the mass of the human body—is being used in various ways not only to make us well, but also to keep us well.

Oxygen Therapy Goes Mainstream   

We’re not talking about hyperbaric oxygen chambers like the one pop star Michael Jackson reportedly bought to sleep in. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy only to treat relatively rare medical conditions, such as decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and gangrene—not as an everyday health tonic.

Instead, we’re talking about a growing number of commercial establishments that offer “oxygen therapy” to improve health and vitality. These establishments fall into two categories.

In an oxygen bar, you pay by the minute to breathe in oxygen mixed with your choice of aroma or “flavor,” such as blueberry, peppermint, or wintergreen. This recreational use of oxygen has become trendy in nightclubs around the U.S. The inhaled oxygen is marketed as a treatment for stress, hangovers, headaches, and sinus problems while increasing energy and alertness and relaxing the body.

At an oxygen spa, your whole body except your head is exposed to pure oxygen in a treatment that claims to detoxify the cells. You are placed in an aromatherapy steam bath that opens the pores of your skin, allowing high-density oxygen diffused into the steam to seep into your skin. Over a 30-minute period, this process supposedly rids cells of “oxidized debris,” in some cases leaving black residue on your towel at the end of the session. Advertised benefits of oxygen spa therapy include stimulating the immune system, slowing down the aging process, and improving brain function and memory.

Liquid Stabilized Oxygen for Sustained Energy

Many people seek to experience oxygen’s restorative effects through the use of liquid stabilized oxygen. Using this therapy, you put drops of the highly concentrated oxygen into water and use it as a dietary supplement.  One manufacturer claims its liquid stabilized oxygen formula has been proven to raise blood oxygen levels in humans. The resulting health benefits may include increased energy and endurance and faster recovery for active individuals.

By Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus contributor

Do you remember your first taste of cranberry? Chances are it was on Thanksgiving or Christmas, when your mom put a spoonful of cranberry sauce on your plate next to the turkey. It looked like thick cherry Jell-O, remember? But it sure didn’t taste like that (I remember spitting mine out)!

Or maybe you discovered later in life, as I did, that cranberry juice could fend off UTIs (urinary tract infections). I was skeptical at first, but sure enough, it worked—and saved me many trips to the doctor.

Cranberry: Nature’s Wonder Drug?

As this year’s cranberry harvest winds down in the Northeast and fresh cranberries begin to appear in the market again, it’s an excellent time to check out the health benefits of this shiny red berry beyond its helpfulness in the urinary tract.

Here are some of the latest cranberry research findings, from an informative website called The World’s Healthiest Foods:

• Antioxidant Protection – Cranberries contain a powerful combination of antioxidants, including resveratrol, Vitamin C, and manganese, that work synergistically to maximize the body’s ability to fight free radicals that can damage cellular structure and DNA.
• Anti-Inflammatory Benefits – The amazing array of phytonutrients found in cranberry are known to play a role in reducing inflammation—in the digestive tract, in the mouth and gums, and in the cardiovascular system. As such, researchers believe dietary cranberry may help lower the risk of developing periodontal disease, stomach ulcers, and arterial sclerosis.
• Immune Support – Recent studies on small numbers of human participants showed intake of cranberry extracts improved many aspects of immune function and lowered the subjects’ frequency of cold and flu symptoms.
• Anti-Cancer Benefits – Since chronic excessive oxidative stress and chronic excessive inflammation are two key risk factors for the development of cancer, it’s only logical that cranberry may reduce the risk of cancer. Indeed, research over the past 10 years suggests that cranberry may be effective in preventing breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer. 

Tart But Tasty Cranberry

The challenging part about incorporating cranberry into your diet is the fruit’s tart, almost sour, taste. Commercially produced cranberry juice contains a lot of sugar to make it palatable to mainstream consumers. A healthier alternative is to buy unsweetened cranberry juice and balance the tartness yourself with honey or stevia. Or, if you just don’t like the taste, look for a cranberry supplement you can take with liquid and avoid that tartness altogether.

By Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor

What do celebrities Russell Brand, Carrie Underwood, Paul McCartney and Ellen DeGeneres have in common?

Well, besides being attractive, famous, and rich, they’re all vegetarians. They are among the estimated 7.3 million U.S. residents who profess to follow a vegetarian diet. And in order to get the rest of us thinking about it, the North American Vegetarian Society has designated October “Vegetarian Awareness Month” with a tempting little contest:  give up meat, fish, and poultry for 30 days and you can enter to win up to $1,000.

The Benefits of Vegetarian Eating

Of course, even the chance to win money wouldn’t be enough of a carrot (pun intended!) for some people to forgo burgers, steaks and chops for a month. But there are distinct health and societal benefits associated with vegetarian eating:

• According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarian diets reduce the risk of developing major killers such as heart disease, stroke, cancer (colorectal, ovarian and breast cancers), diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
• Growing plants to support a vegetarian diet uses much less fossil fuel (and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions) than does raising and processing animals for their meat.
• As the North American Vegetarian Society points out, vegetarian diets “save animals from suffering in factory-farm conditions and from the pain and terror or slaughter.”
• On a global scale, vegetarian diets remove the incentive for third-world countries to convert rainforests and other precious ecosystems into pasturelands.

Eating Vegetarian Without Skimping on Nutrition

It can be difficult for vegetarians to get enough vitamins, minerals, and protein to meet their daily needs. The key is to eat a wide variety of plant-based foods, including whole grains, lentils, beans, soy products, nuts, and seeds. Dairy products and eggs are also excellent sources of protein and nutrients (but are not included on the stricter vegan diet).

Vegetarian-friendly vitamin and mineral supplements are always an option when you’re too busy to eat balanced veggie meals. Nutrition experts say Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B-12 and Iron are especially important for vegetarians leading hectic lives.

Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor

Health columnist Jane E. Brody of the New York Times recently wrote about how yoga benefits orthopedic problems. It was a fascinating look at how certain yoga moves can strengthen key muscles to relieve joint pain and loss of function. In addition to that, the article said, yoga benefits the bones—actually increasing bone density in a controlled study of people with osteoporosis.

Orthopedic Issues and Yoga Benefits

As a yoga lover and one who’s had a few orthopedic issues in my life, I sat up and took notice. I sent Jane Brody’s column to all my friends. And I thought about the overall yoga benefits I have derived since breaking my right leg two years ago: better muscle tone, more flexibility, deeper breathing, improved balance, and easier relaxation at bedtime.

But to learn that yoga benefits the very ailments that sideline many of us Baby Boomers, such as piriformis syndrome, rotator cuff injury, and loss of bone mass—to me, that was like icing on the cake! According to Brody’s article, a specialist in physical and rehabilitative medicine with New York-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital successfully treats rotator cuff injuries with a modified form of a yoga headstand. Goodbye surgery!

The same specialist has shown that yoga benefits osteopenia and osteoporosis patients not only by decreasing the risk of falls, but also by increasing bone density in their hips and spines. The patients in the study did just 10 minutes of yoga daily over a two-year period.

Gain Yoga Benefits Without Investing Big

One of my favorite things about yoga is that it doesn’t require much equipment. All you really need is a good yoga mat and clothes that allow you to move freely. You can usually find yoga classes at your local gym or YMCA, or follow along to a yoga DVD at home. You may find that to hold the positions effectively enough to experience true yoga benefits, you may need sticky gloves or sticky socks. And some people like to increase the range of their yoga stretching using special straps.

For both men and women, the good news is that yoga benefits your body and mind in ways we’re still learning about, even though the practice is thousands of years old.

Yoga

Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor

Years ago, a friend called to say she’d spent the weekend getting rid of something her twin daughters brought home from school. No, it wasn’t a stray dog.

“Head lice! Yeccchh!” my friend said. “First I had to work this noxious-smelling stuff into their scalps, then I had to comb the lice eggs out of their hair, one by one. Then I had to launder all their clothes and bedding and spray the entire house…We’re at war over here!”

I was aghast. Until then, I didn’t know that children got lice from other children through head-to-head contact, or by sharing hairbrushes, hats, or barrettes. I learned that head lice are equal-opportunity pests; boys and girls of all ages, races, and socio-economic backgrounds get them. And they’re a lot of work to completely eradicate. 

How to Recognize Head Lice

An itchy scalp is the first sign. You may see head lice first on the nape of the neck or behind your child’s ears. They are tan or grayish-white and about the size of a sesame seed.

Adult head lice must feed on the host’s blood every three to six hours to survive. They can live up to 30 days on a person’s head and lay between 50 and 150 eggs, or “nits.” Nits are very tiny—about the size of a knot in a thread—and stick like glue to individual hairs at the base of the scalp. Bathing will not kill head lice or nits.

Winning the Head Lice War

In battling any stubborn enemy, you must be persistent and use the right weaponry. The first line of attack here is the scalp treatment. Fortunately, today’s parents have more options than my friend did 10 years ago!

One treatment is a non-toxic, pesticide-free product that goes by the wacky brand name of Fairy Lice Mothers’ MagicMousse and claims to be 99-percent effective in removing head lice and easing nit removal. The company also makes an easy-to-grip “Magic Wand” nit comb as well as special shampoo and conditioner to help prevent reinfestation.

Speaking of reinfestation, did we mention that nits take seven to 10 days to hatch? That’s why it’s important to:

• Treat your child’s head a second time, seven to 10 days after the first treatment.
• Check for head lice on other family members, and begin treatment immediately if lice or nits are spotted. Don’t let them win the war!
• Vaccum carpets, furniture and draperies to capture any live head lice or nits that may have fallen there.
• Launder bed linens and clothes in hot water (at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit).

 Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor