Brown Seaweed Extract Burns Away the Pounds

If you're looking for magic in a bottle to lose weight, you'll be happily surprised to learn that numerous Japanese studies suggest that supplementing with brown seaweed extract may be the ticket to shed those unwanted pounds.

Actually, it's the pigment--known as fucoxanthin--which gives the brown seaweed its color that contains the fat burning benefits.

Fucoxanthin, a non-stimulant thermogenic, has been popping up on health food stores' shelves over the past year.

You can find the extract in Garden of Life's Fucothin, Nature's Vision Brown Seaweed Extract with Fucoxanthin, and In Shape's Fucoxanthin.

Of course, a healthy diet along with exercise should be included in any weight loss plan.

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Herbal Remedy that Kills Bad Breath & Fights Tooth Decay

A stress-relief herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine is now being hailed as a cure for halitosis.

Researchers found that when study participants used a mint containing magnolia bark extract, it killed 61 percent of the oral bacteria that causes bad breath and tooth decay within 30 minutes. On the other hand, the study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry also found that flavorless mints without the herbal extract only killed 3.6 percent of the bacteria.

Mints containing magnolia bark extract were found as effective at combating bad breath as gargling with 20 ml of Listerine mouthwash.

Currently, finding mints and gum containing magnolia bark is almost impossible, but not for long. Coming on the heels of this research, Wrigley's recently announced that Eclipse with magnolia bark extract will appear on store shelves this summer and mints will follow this September.

In the meantime, you can freshen your breath by making your own mouthwash from magnolia bark tea.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Raising the Bar Again

If you're a regular reader of Vibrant Glow, you know that I'm a big fan of MyChelle Dermaceuticals and that's why it's the only skincare line that's in VG's Amazon store. It's free of toxic chemicals, but it's so effective (see review).

Recently, MyChelle has taken their products a step further by incorporating more organic ingredients into them and making their ingredients compliant with the European Union Cosmetic Directive (EUCD)--which has extremely stringent guidelines. While skincare products here in the United States are allowed to contain parabens and phthlates, which have been linked to cancer, as well as other dangerous substances, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, the EUCD has banned them and all ingredients classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction.

The EUCD also requires that every ingredient be listed on a label. Unfortunately, U.S. manufacturers aren't required to be as transparent and often omit listing ingredients.

Going the extra mile when they don't have to and raising their already high standards even to greater heights, makes me love MyChelle Dermaceutical even more. It tells me that they truly care about their customers.

With all the upgrades made to already great products, I have to admit that I do miss the pineapple smell in the Fruit Enzyme Cleanser and Toner, which now has a grapefruit scent. One VG reader who was smitten with the smell of the Revitalizing Night Cream wrote to me expressing her dismay when she recently purchased the reformulated product to find it lost its heavenly scent. It is one of several products that is now unscented. I could empathize with her. However, the results from using MyChelle products are so amazing and the ingredients are by far the purest and most effective on the market, I still won't put anything else on my skin no matter how enticing the smell.

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Wonder Why Stress Makes Your Skin Breakout?

You may have always noticed that stress seems to quickly result in an unsightly breakout on your face. Well, a new study gets to the bottom of this unfortunate cause and effect.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that when people are under stress their skin is less able to fight off the bacteria that can result in a blemish.

I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise given that other research has shown that stress weakens the body's overall immune system as well as increases inflammation.

So for better skin and a healthy immunity you may want to chill out with exercise and deep breathing.

Finding Local, Farm Fresh Produce

It's almost summer and who isn't looking forward to fresh, vine-ripe strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, zucchini, and loads of other antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies?

The quality of produce found at the corner supermarket pales in comparison to the bounty flowing over at the nearby farmers market. Locally grown food doesn't just taste better, but it's more nutritious. It's also good for your local economy to buy directly from your nearby family farms and better for the environment since it didn't travel halfway around the world to arrive on your dinner plate.

For those who aren't connected with where to find locally grown food, I strongly recommend that you check out LocalHarvest.org. It's a great site that will help you locate farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.

While LocalHarvest supports all small growers, it also promotes organic farming.

Photo: Courtesy of USDA NRCS