NAD vs. NAD+ vs. NADH... What’s the Difference?

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. While this is unprecedented in modern times and sounds really scary, medical experts around the world are working to slow the spread while a vaccine is created. To help protect ourselves and our loved ones, let's remember to follow their recommendations and make small changes to our daily routines and interactions, including: Washing your hands frequently with soap and water Practicing social distancing (6 feet distance between yourself and others) Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when you cough or sneeze Because of the nature of this virus, those who are most at risk are the elderly and those with compromised or weakened immune systems. For the greater good, it is important for all of us to be vigilant about both contracting the virus and spreading it. For more information on the latest from the WHO, visit their website. What can I do to protect myself? At Organika, our goal is and has always been to help people live their healthy best. While scientists are working tirelessly to mitigate the spread and eradicate the virus, we don’t know how long that will take. During these uncertain times, your best shot at protecting yourself and your loved ones is to follow the WHO's recommendations listed above. In addition, now more than ever, we should be taking the steps to living a healthy life and supporting our immune system, our bodies' line of defense, as best as we can. Here are some of our products that can help keep your immunity going strong. Quercetin Quercetin is a type of flavonoid. Flavonoids have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Quercetin in particular, once absorbed, stays in circulation a long time – which allows it to act as protective for a longer period of time during the day [1]. Some other properties that make Quercetin a great immune support are: It is anti-inflammatory: Quercetin can modulate the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, one major one being TNF-alpha. By doing this, it causes an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing inflammatory markers [2]. It's shown promise as an antiviral: Quercetin stays in circulation for an extended time while providing protection. Past research has shown quercetin to inhibit entry of a virus into human cells, including such viruses as Influenza A [3]. Mushrooms You know we love a good 'shroom. While we can go on and on about them for days, let's keep it to the top 2! Shiitake: Shiitake mushrooms have been proven to build blood cells [4]. Production of white blood cells in particular (aka. what is in your immune system!) is aided by shiitakes. Cordyceps: Like shiitake, these are great for building immune cells in the human body [4]. Cordyceps have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, AND antioxidant properties. They can also help combat fatigue. Summing it up, if your immune system is strong, you are more likely to be able to fight off viruses! Bee Propolis When we breathe in pathogens (like bacteria or viruses), they come into contact with our tonsils. Our tonsils, along with enzymes in our oral mucosa, will fight off pathogens and protect the body from them. A spray like Bee Propolis is the perfect companion on a flight! Use it to help fight bad bacteria and viruses, especially when stuck on a plane breathing in recycled air. Bee Propolis is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. Used in a tincture or a spray, it will help support the body during times of sickness threats [5]. Thanks, bees! NAC NAC is a precursor for glutathione, one of the most potent antioxidants in the human body, which helps support any stress the body is going under. It has been shown to improve signs of upper respiratory distress and lung functioning. If you've been following the news, you'll remember respiratory distress is one of the main concerns related to COVID-19. Bone Broth A good diet is probably the number one defense against anything viral. Good diet, exercise and sleep is key. Bone Broth provides our bodies with the vitamins and minerals we need to keep everything working well. So while you're practicing social distancing: Netflix and sip Bone Broth – doctor’s orders! Garlic Garlic is a potent source of allicin, known for its benefits to heart health and traditionally reducing infections of the respiratory tract. It’s a commonly used antiviral and antioxidant. Things might feel a little bit out of our control, but what we can stay on top of is our own actions and doing our best to keep our immune systems in tip-top shape. This can be a nerve-wracking time. It is more important than ever to take care of yourself and those around you. Stay well! Resources Morand C, Crespy V, Manach C, Besson C, Demigne C, Remesy C. Plasma metabolites of quercetin and their antioxidant properties. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 1998 Jul 1;275(1):R212-9. Nair MP, Mahajan S, Reynolds JL, Aalinkeel R, Nair H, Schwartz SA, Kandaswami C. The flavonoid quercetin inhibits proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor alpha) gene expression in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells via modulation of the NF-κβ system. Clin. Vaccine Immunol.. 2006 Mar 1;13(3):319-28. Wu W, Li R, Li X, He J, Jiang S, Liu S, Yang J. Quercetin as an antiviral agent inhibits influenza A virus (IAV) entry. Viruses. 2016 Jan;8(1):6. Guggenheim AG, Wright KM, Zwickey HL. Immune modulation from five major mushrooms: application to integrative oncology. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal. 2014 Feb;13(1):32. Lotfy M. Biological activity of bee propolis in health and disease. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2006;7(1):22-31.

Businesses are open, employees are heading back to the office and kids are back in school (hooray!). With cooler temperatures around the corner, the time to support our health is now, more than ever. We can all benefit from getting some fresh air, clean water, and exercise, but this winter people are looking to go the extra mile and take a preventative approach to staying well. Maybe you are someone who's interested in maintaining your health and also protecting your cells from free radicals and prevent inflammation. Can you do it all at once? We have a 'NAC' for that! What is NAC? NAC Creates a Powerful Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the supplement form of an amino acid (a part of a protein) found in onions, meats and vegetables like broccoli. It bonds with other amino acids to form glutathione. Glutathione is an antioxidant that is present in almost every cell in the body, plays roles in detoxification, counteracts free radicals and balances inflammation in the body. Glutathione is a critical antioxidant for supporting overall health and NAC helps us make it. One of glutathione's most important functions is detoxification. Think of glutathione as a scrub brush that goes around cleaning up your cells and eliminating toxins. Why Antioxidants Are Important Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage the cells in your body. They are everywhere: computer screens, cell phones... we even produce free radicals when we exercise! Fortunately antioxidants neutralize free radicals. However, an imbalance in the body with too many free radicals (and not enough antioxidants) can cause illness, premature aging and a host of diseases. Shop Antioxidants Are There Other Benefits of Taking NAC? NAC has also been shown to prevent inflammation in the body and improve respiratory health. Because NAC helps break down mucus, it is used to treat many respiratory illnesses. NAC may also protect the lung tissue through its antioxidant activity, and has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for chronic bronchitis. When To Consider Taking NAC If the body makes glutathione naturally should you still take NAC? The answer could be yes. Lifestyle choices may mean you are depleting your stores of glutathione faster than your body can make it. Additionally as we age, natural production of glutathione decreases, and supplementation of NAC can help offset that decrease. Low glutathione levels are seen in people with a wide variety of contributing factors including: neurodegenerative disorders, poor diet, chronic exposure to chemicals, high levels of alcohol intake, and even athletic overtraining. These are all excellent times to consider NAC supplementation. The bottom line, NAC plays many roles in human health and because it boosts glutathione levels it can be used in connection with many health conditions. Shop NAC References https://err.ersjournals.com/content/24/137/451

The evidence says, collagen may improve your hair. As the body’s most abundant protein, collagen gives structure to many parts of the body, including... hair! Because the amount of collagen you produce significantly decreases as you age, collagen supplements have been the focus of combatting structural losses, such as hair health. Let’s review how collagen can support your hair, including whether it helps with hair growth. Collagen has amino acids that help build the hair. Although there are not a lot of human studies on the use of collagen to increase hair growth directly, it has been shown the collagen helps to build the protein necessary for creating hair. Hair is made up of keratin (a protein). To make keratin the body needs proline. Collagen (being primarily made of proline, glycine and hydroxyproline), can provide your body with the building blocks for hair. Collagen may be useful in age-related hair thinning. The quality of your hair can be attributed to the health of the hair follicle itself. This is tied into the fact that collagen contributes to the elasticity and strength of the dermis (mid-layer of the skin). As you age, the cells in the dermis lose their elasticity due to the loss of collagen. Since the dermis also contains the root for each hair, maintaining a healthy dermis is key to hair strength. Since hair grows out of skin, and collagen supports skin health, helping improve the strength of your skin cells can in turn contribute to decreased hair thinning and potential better growth. Which collagen is best for hair? Collagen types 1 and 3 have been found in hair follicles. Therefore, supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen peptides that offer both types are best. Enhanced Collagen Original made from bovine collagen contains both types. Maximize your hair health If you’re interested in strengthening your hair, it’s a good idea to couple it with hair focused supplements. Enhanced Collagen Pure Beauty - combines Canada's #1 Collagen Powder* rich in type 1 and 3 collagen peptides, blended with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, zinc and silica to maximize hair and skin health. Specifically, silica can help to strengthen hair and prevent hair loss. Hair Plus - combines five potent ingredients to improve the nutrient content and availability required to strengthen the health of your hair, including: Ginkgo Biloba, Horsetail Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Fo-Ti Powder, and Barley Juice Extract. This article has been fact checked.