Top Selling Supplements for the Winter

For many, winter can mean long cold weather, little sunshine, and less exercise—all of which can affect a person’s immune system negatively. That’s why supplement distributors will often see changes in product sales patterns as their customers make an effort to meet the special nutritional needs of the season.

During colder months, consumers are likely to seek supplements that improve immunity, protect hair and skin from extreme conditions, and assist with weight loss. Distributors who can fulfill these special demands will soon discover that their sales and profits will see significant growth, resulting in stronger return on investment (ROI) for their business.

Although single letter vitamins such as vitamin C can be effective in warding off winter illnesses, a multivitamin provides comprehensive support and ultimately offers better convenience for the end user. In developing a multivitamin product, distributors are advised to consider formulations that contain unique ingredients to differentiate themselves from competitors. For instance, a multivitamin with herbal extracts sourced from ginseng or ginko can help a supplement stand out in the marketplace.

Aside from selling unique multivitamins, partnering with a leading vitamin manufacturer is the surest way to rise above the competition. For more information on winter’s top-selling supplements, call these manufacturers today.

Get to Know Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 is one of the eight B vitamins. Also known as niacin, B3 is an essential vitamin because it helps in the proper breakdown of protein and fat. Higher amounts of niacin are known to improve cholesterol levels and minimize cardiovascular risks. The vitamin also helps the body produce various sex and stress-related hormones necessary for a healthy liver, skin, and eyes.

Although Vitamin B3 deficiency is rare in developed countries, the possibility remains. In the U.S., alcoholism is the number one cause of vitamin B3 deficiency. Symptoms of mild deficiency include canker sores, fatigue, vomiting, indigestion, and depression. Severe deficiency can lead to a condition called pellagra, which is characterized by cracked and scaly skin, diarrhea, and dementia. Symptoms of vitamin B3 deficiency can often be treated with proper diet and supplementation.

High doses of B3 are available by prescription. However, B3 can be toxic at extremely high doses. Individuals are advised not to take more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) unless prescribed by a physician.

Vitamin B3 is available in different supplement forms including niacin, niacinamide, and inositol hexaniacinate. Supplements can be purchased in tablet or capsule form. Doctors recommend regular liver tests when the vitamin is taken in high doses.

Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Pregnant Women

It is no secret that a pregnant woman shares the vitamins and minerals she ingests with the child she is carrying. Therefore, it is important that a pregnant woman have a balanced and healthy diet. However, this is often easier said than done.

Fortunately, reputable vitamin manufacturers create vitamin supplements for pregnant women. These supplements help them get the vitamins and minerals they need to have a healthy pregnancy. Essential vitamins and minerals for pregnant women include:

Calcium

For the same reason children are advised to drink milk, pregnant women should consume calcium-rich food to help their child’s bones develop. Additionally, calcium helps muscle and nerve function in the child. Calcium also reduces the risk of blood clots.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is often associated with helping a person ward off illnesses. In addition to the immunity boost it provides, vitamin C helps a pregnant woman and her child absorb iron more effectively. This results in healthier blood cells and better oxygen flow.

Folic Acid

Folic acid helps prevent neural tube birth defects, a pregnancy threat that typically develops during the first 28 days after the baby has been conceived. A healthy amount of folic acid also helps support the placenta.

Filling in Nutritional Gaps with Nutraceuticals

In an attempt to provide children with healthier meals at school, President Obama signed a child nutrition bill in 2010. Although many schools have been able to adjust to the nutritional standards of the bill and the cost of supplying children with healthier food choices, many children still do not eat healthy, balanced meals on a regular basis.

This is probably because of the steadily increasing prices of food, especially of fruits and vegetables that carry a lot of the essential vitamins and nutrients children need to grow. Although people can still afford healthy food options, prices are definitely taking a toll on the budgets of parents. As a result, American families might not be eating healthily enough.

Fortunately, private label nutraceuticals have been able to provide Americans with a steady supply of nutritional supplements at affordable prices. These products are designed to help fill in the nutritional gaps a person might have due to having a less-than-ideal diet.

When choosing a nutritional supplement for your child, be sure to read the information on the packaging. Try to choose a supplement that contains essential vitamins and minerals such as the B vitamins, vitamin C, and iron. By using nutritional supplements responsibly, you and your children can lead the happy, healthy lives you deserve.

Tips on Selecting a Multivitamin for Your Child

Many children suffer from vitamin deficiency, thanks to their picky eating habits and unhealthy diets, among other reasons. Fortunately, children can make up for the vitamins they miss out on by taking vitamin supplements.

However, selecting a multivitamin can be difficult due to the many choices available. When checking the label of a multivitamin, remember to be on the lookout for the following details:

Content

Be sure to choose a multivitamin that is as complete as possible. At the very least, make sure that the multivitamin you get contains vitamin C, the different types of vitamin B, and vitamin K, as these are essential to proper growth and development.

Percentages

After checking the content of the multivitamin, check the percentage levels of each ingredient. These percentages often represent the daily value of each vitamin. Try to select a multivitamin that has 100 percent listed for the essential vitamins previously mentioned.

Extras

Most multivitamins will come with extras such as probiotics and antioxidants. While these extras are not essential, they offer several benefits, such as better digestion.

If you are unsure about what to choose among the vitamins available on the market, you can ask for a recommendation from a doctor. You can also look into contacting a custom vitamin manufacturer.

Common Vitamin Deficiencies in Children

Vitamin deficiency is a common problem among children in the United States. The following is a short list of common vitamin deficiencies that children develop:

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is oftentimes the vitamin that children lack the most. Many experts have pointed to the rise of video games as a reason why this is so, as children who remain cooped indoors playing these do not get enough exposure to sunlight, the body’s main source of vitamin D. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include irritability and delayed growth.

Vitamin C

Insufficient amounts of vitamin C can cause children to have poor appetites, joint pain, and frequent nose bleeds. Severe vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy. This problem can easily be prevented by eating vitamin C-rich foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and broccoli.

Vitamin A

Children lacking vitamin A typically feel weakness and fatigue faster than children who receive adequate amounts of the vitamin. If vitamin A deficiency is left ignored, children can develop symptoms such as night blindness, scaling of the skin, and respiratory infections.

Unhealthy diets and picky eating habits are typically the main culprits in vitamin deficiency cases among children. Fortunately, using vitamin supplements can easily prevent them from developing any ill effects that a vitamin deficiency can cause. As such, be sure to give chewable multivitamins to your children to keep them happy and healthy.

Liquid Nutraceuticals: A Growing Trend

Today’s consumers are constantly seeking innovative ways to obtain the general health maintenance they need. They are also looking for more variety and benefits beyond the traditional tablet and capsule technologies that have lorded over the nutraceutical industry for years. Consumers are discovering that drinkable supplements are a new and effective way to address their health needs.

Liquid nutraceutical products offer features and advantages never before seen in traditional tablets and capsules. These diverse products include a wide array of single-serve bottles, single-serve shots, and multi-dose concentrates. Vendors benefit from innovative manufacturing and formulation methods that they can capitalize on to attract and retain customers.

Many people prefer the convenience and simplicity afforded by drinkable products compared to that of pills and capsules. Liquid nutraceuticals ‘go down’ easier than their solid counterparts, and this characteristic can be enticing to people who are resistant to the idea of swallowing too many pills in one day, or are simply unable to swallow a tablet or a capsule.

In response to growing demand, nutraceutical manufacturers have now expanded their liquid production capabilities. Many have recently added syrups, liquid dietary supplements, liquid suspensions, energy drinks, oxygenated water, and nutrient-enhanced vitamin water into their wide range of selections.

The Characteristics of High Quality Vitamins

Many vitamin manufacturers claim to manufacture the best vitamins. However, it's not possible for every competitor to be on top at the same time. There are good vitamins, not so good ones, and ones that do more harm than good. Reputable vitamin manufacturers ensure that their supplements are absorbable. If these supplements do not get dissolved in the digestive system easily, then they will not get into the bloodstream to nourish cells.

Good vitamins should also be potent enough to have an effect on the body. Naturally-occurring vitamins will always be more complex than simplified and formulated supplements. Because of this, it is necessary for people who wish to improve their health to take higher amounts of these vitamins, as prescribed by their physicians and other health care specialists.

High quality vitamins are manufactured in such a way that each intake is able to deliver the same positive impact on the human body. These supplements should be devoid of unnecessary fillers, and should come from quality sources. Ingredients necessary for making vitamins are extracted from raw materials. Different vitamin manufacturers have different sources. A reputable vitamin manufacturer does not compromise the quality of the raw materials used because it would, in turn, affect the quality of their products.

Boost Your Immune System with Vitamin C

It's the immune system's job to stop viruses, bacteria, and parasites from damaging the various parts of the human body. Once body parts start functioning improperly, the chances that a person will succumb to diseases rises significantly. To prevent this from happening, people need to consume organic compounds rich in ascorbate—otherwise known as Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is just one of the many nutrients that are classified as water-soluble vitamins. Aside from protecting cells and boosting the performance of the immune system, water-soluble vitamins—particularly B vitamins—all contribute to the act of metabolizing digested food. These vitamins do not linger in the body for long; it caters to the short-term needs of various systems before being excreted via urination. The absence of a storage place for water-soluble vitamins requires individuals to source them from their daily diet.

If you think your immune system has been weakened, and you've been sick a lot or feel exhausted most of the time, then you should diligently consume vitamin C to improve your condition. Aside from eating fresh fruits and vegetables rich in the said nutrient (like broccoli, oranges, strawberries, and spinach), you can also take vitamin C supplements. Seek the advice of a doctor to determine the amount of vitamins you'll need to be in top shape again.

Improving a Product's Package Design

A product will be able to sell well if the packaging is striking enough to attract the customer's attention. Market trends state that like advertising in any form, it takes a maximum of 15 seconds for the customer to decide whether to buy a product or not; any longer and they'll move on. In light of this, how do you grab the attention of customers in such a short span of time, especially in the case of medication that has already been FDA-approval? There are ways to go about this.

First, conduct extensive market research and surveys to determine the product's target demographic group. Prior to performing market research, you will have to establish certain preliminaries—for example, market research and surveys should note if the product is unisex or aimed at a certain gender. Analyses of similar products from the competition should be factored in as well. The resulting data will help the marketing and design teams fashion the products to target the preferences of these demographic groups.

The product's main features should be highlighted in the design, and slogans should be employed when necessary. The company's design and marketing divisions will also need to coordinate their work to ensure that the product's final design synchs with the proposed campaign. The new product has the potential to sell well if the company's design and marketing people do their homework. Post-release consumer research can also improve sales.

Pills or Liquid? Medicine Explained

The key for medicine to work is absorption; if it doesn't get absorbed by the body, no effect can take place. At first, medicine came in the form of ground matter, which was made into teas and ointments, or even eaten raw. Then came the pills, which surprisingly aren't a modern invention; they've existed as early as 1500 B.C. Today, medicine comes in other forms, such as lozenges, liqui-gels, and caplets (which are a hybrid of capsule and tablet).

Pills need to break down as fast as possible before they pass through the digestive system, or so it seems. Liquid medicine, according to experts, gets absorbed by the body the fastest due to its fluid nature. So why the need for pills? That's where the myth of “faster is better” is debunked; fast doesn't necessarily mean an immediate effect. In some cases, slow absorption is better, namely for essential nutrients. Liquid medicine suffers from the disadvantage of an uneven distribution of ingredients.

Tablets and capsules wrap the essentials in one neat package, helping people get more out of their meds. Tablets, in fact, are relatively easy and affordable to produce compared with other forms of medicine in the market. Capsules, on the other hand, are suitable for digestive tracts that have a hard time breaking down tablets due to their gelatin encapsulation. In the end, no form of medicine enjoys superiority; it depends on the stuff that's inside.