Around the world in traditional headdresses – Happytrips

01

What people wear tells a lot about them; their culture, geographical location, weather condition and even their socio-political status. Similarly, headdresses and hats too have been a crucial part of a traditional dress; in some places, these have become icons of the countries. The world is home to some interesting headdresses; from fur caps to conical hats, here are some fascinating headdresses from around the world, with equally interesting stories around them.

02

If you see a person in a fur hat with earflaps, he/she must be a Russian in all probability. The country is known for its extreme and harsh winters, which is why Ushanka hats, with earflaps are extremely useful here. The name of the hat is derived from a Russian word Ushi meaning ears. These headgears keep the wearer warm by offering near-total head and face coverage.

03

Dont get into the pronunciation as we are talking pure Scottish here. These headgear belongs to Scottish men, who have been wearing Tam o shanters since the 16th century. Until the 1920s, these floppy hats were worn strictly by the men of Scotland; but later, a design for females was introduced in Europe and America.

04

These hats belong to the British men. Designed in the 19th century, the bowler hats are said to have been made as an alternative to the top hat. Soon, it became popular among the working-class men across the UK and America. These hats have also been a crucial part of Bolivian womens traditional dress since they came to South America in the 1920s.

05

Hijab, also known as batula and niqab, is unique to women of Islam religion living in the middle east countries and the Indian subcontinent. It is a kind of head covering worn by Muslim women to meet the Islamic standards of modesty. The hijabs are made using breathable material to keep the wearer comfortable.

06

Sombreros are Mexicos signature hats. These wide-brimmed headgears were designed to save people from the sun. The name of the hat is derived from a Spanish word for shadow or shade. No one knows the exact origin of this hat, but a theory traces its history back to the Mestizo cowboys of Mexico. A sombrero also tells a lot about the status of the wearer; decorative elements, wider brims, and the materials used indicate wealth.

07

These are probably the most stylish hats and have been rocked by eminent people like John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Vladimir Lenin. Made using traditional wool, the history of these fishermans caps date back to the early 19th century. Soon, navy sailors and coastal Mediterranean villagers were seen donning these caps.

08

The kufi is a fitting cap worn by Muslim men throughout the world and is a part of their traditional dress. In the world of Islam, crocheted kufi hats are immensely popular while patterned caps are preferred by Jews and African Christians. However, a kufi can represent a plethora of faiths in the US.

09

These conical hats are not unique to any particular country in Asia but can be seen in certain regions. These hats are extremely practical for everyday use and are worn by men and women in East and South Asia. Designed to shield people from sun and rain, these are perfect for farmers, be it in Japan or Vietnam.

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Codie’s Corner: Navigating the Ongoing Impact of Coronavirus – TravelPulse

Do you remember back in March when rumors began spreading about the possibility of having to stay home for two weeks? And then when we finally wrapped our brains around that, the safer at home orders went into effect for a month, then two months.

Here we are approaching the end of summer with what sometimes feels like no end in sight. The travel industry is struggling. Some destinations are suspending reopening plans; the No Sail Order was once again extended, and some travel companies are beginning to go out of business.

ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby continues to stress the need for relief in the travel industry. According to Kerby, more than 70 percent of agencies will be out of business in six months or less without federal relief.

Although its important to prepare for a post-coronavirus world, travel advisors also need to deal with the current situation they are in.

David DiGregorio, a consultant to several destination tourism offices, recently moderated a virtual webinar sponsored by USTOA. He explained that the travel industry needs to start dealing more with todays reality instead of only looking to the future.

We do not want to look at the post-COVID world, but how to deal with the ongoing impacts of the virus, DiGregorio stated.

So how can you shift your focus to deal with today instead of only setting sights on the future?

Some agents are thinking outside the box to adapt to the new normal or travel. From learning more about how to sell domestic destinations to providing new accommodation options such as villas, you need to find ways to adjust your clients' current travel plans. The good thing is, Americans are still interested in traveling, even now.

Airlines, tour operators and resorts, among other companies, have been quick to keep up with the changing demand. Airlines are leaving middle seats empty; some hotels and resorts are purposely keeping occupancy low, and tour companies are creating new private tour options.

Select hotels and resorts have even started to offer extended stay packages, allowing travelers to book a reservation for a longer period of time with the comforts of home in order to work remotely, keep the kids active and be able to safely enjoy scenery other than what they see from their homes.

This is the type of information you need to be relaying to your clients who are interested in travel but are still a bit leery. If someone wants to travel, there are plenty of options for them to do so safely. Make sure you know what they are.

If your agency is in need of relief, that is another thing you can be focusing on at this time. ASTA is encouraging travel advisors to call on Congress to act. As Congress works on the next round of COVID-19 relief legislation, Kerby points out that it is critical that the travel industry receives additional aid. ASTA has created a form for travel agents to fill out.

Focusing on the future is just as important, but there are also several actions travel agents can be taking right now in order to keep their businesses above waterand keep in mind these actions may differ from business to business.

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Codie's Corner: Navigating the Ongoing Impact of Coronavirus - TravelPulse

Travel Watches – Watchmaking is motionless travel – Trends and style – WorldTempus

You've been locked inside your home for weeks on end, have had to wield your ID just to get a breath of fresh air and have shelved you travel plans for the foreseeable future. No more airplanes, faraway lands, exotic destinations and changes of scenery. Our right to journey, and some plain rights too, have been sort of crushed of late. But do not despair, for there's an alternative, a diminutive, plain as day solution that can take you to a land far, far away. Behold the travel agencies you didn't know existed : watch shops.

Timepieces are small worlds unto themselves, doors leading to imaginary places, dream spaces and graphic utopias. Their dials, inspirations, design, extravagance and that of their creators have the power to take us to lands that do not always exist, yet where one can go by merely conjuring them.

First, one can find oneself in the midst of landscapes and settings lying thousands of miles away. In Lisbon with the series of Patek Philippe Azulejos unique pieces.

At the door of a Japanese temple with Blancpain's Villeret Mtiers d'Art Binchtan / Travel to Lisbon with a Calatrava Azulejos by Patek Philippe David Chokron/WorldTempus

Deep in a forest, in the dead of night, surrounded by howling wolves with the Arceau Awoooo from Herms. At the gates of a Shinto temple, in front of a Torii with the Blancpain Villeret Mtiers d'Art Binchtan.

Hear the call of the wild with the Arceau Awoooo by Herms David Chokron/Worldtempus

One can also travel beyond what's possible. Arnold&Son offer a trip to the times of their founder, as the Tourbillon Chronometer No. 36 reminds of that era when chronometers were helping rule the world. Mimic a James Bond scene with Urwerk's AMC, a great suitcase-like master clock that looks like it can trigger the impending nuclear strike the hero will fend off at the last minute. Travel to the heart of Paris, rue Cambon, inside Coco Chanel's home with the Mademoiselle Priv Coromandel, as their magnificent dials are reminiscent of Mme Gabrielle's lacquered folding screens.

Back to the future with the 18th century-like structures of Arnold & Son's Tourbillon Chronometer No. 36 / One minute into the life of Gabrielle Chanel with a Mademoiselle Priv Coromandel David Chokron/WorldTempus

You're swimming next to a giant pink jellyfish, somewhere along Australia's great coral reef thanks to MB&F x L'Epe's Medusa. You're taking it easy along the banks of a pond inside the Magic Lotus Automaton from Jaquet Droz, watching a Koi carp swim next to a dragonfly.

Dip your feet in the fresh waters of the Jaquet Droz pond with the Magic Lotus Automaton / Beware of the Medusa by MB&F x L'Epe David Chokron/WorldTempus

You're rising up with a hot air balloon from the Les Arostiers collection by Vacheron Constantin. A bit higher even when you're staring inside the small wrist planetarium that is Jacob & Co's Astronomia Clarity. Top that of with a lazy ride on the tail of a comet conjured by a diamond fairy, on the dial of the Lady Arpels Nuit Frique by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Behold the Astronomia Clarity from Jacob & Co, a small wrist-worn planetarium David Chokron/WorldTempus

Easy for me to say, I'll grant you. I have watches from all over coming to my wrist, shown to me in the hope I'll show them to you. I do travel for free, indeed. But the thing with watchmaking is that it allows you to become a stowaway and ride for free just like that. Just enter a watch dealer, try anything you bloody well want and become a fellow traveler. And who knows, you might just like what you see, buy the watch and become an expat...

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Travel Watches - Watchmaking is motionless travel - Trends and style - WorldTempus

When will Disneyland reopen? COVID-19 surge keeps California theme parks in limbo – USA TODAY

Here's what the parks could look like when they reopen their gates. USA TODAY

Disney World reopened nearly a month ago, and mostDisney theme parks around the globe have also reopened after closing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

One that hasn't: Disneyland.

And it's unlikely that the Anaheim, California, park will reopen anytime soon. California leads the nation in coronavirus cases more than 550,000 as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins data and state officials aren't ready to let theme parks reopen.

"Theme parks are not permitted to open in California at this time, under current public health orders," said Kate Folmar, a spokeswoman for California Health and Human Services. "We will continue to review health data to determine when and how theme parks may consider reopening at lower risk to staff and visitors."

Disneyland is waiting on guidance from state officials, and the company did not offer additional details.

The park was tentatively scheduled to reopen on July 17, but that was put on hold as coronavirus cases surged.

Anaheim and surrounding Orange County are in early Stage 3 (of four) of their reopening plan. The guidance posted on the city's website indicates that Disneyland Resort hotels, shopping, dining and theme parks will open in phases among Stages 2, 3 and 4, but no date has been set for the theme parks.

Still, a reopening may be possible this year. Cedar Fair, owner of Disneyland's rival in Orange County, Knott's Berry Farm, indicated Tuesday that it "will remain in a state of readiness as park teams continue their dialogue with authorities about the possibility of opening."

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Disney World in Florida reopened its Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks on July 11, followed by Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios on July 15. Its resorts began reopening in June, though many remain closed.

The parks require visitors to wear face masks and respect social distancing requirements. They canceled events such as parades, fireworks displays and its big Halloween celebrationthat draw large crowds and closed attractions that involve person-to-person contact.

Disney executives conceded in a quarterlyearnings presentation Wednesday that Disney World hasn't drawn the attendance they expected, even accounting for the reduced capacity. They noted a drop-off in visitors coming from out of state. Air travel is nowhere close to what it was before the pandemic, and many states have imposed quarantine requirements on people traveling back from states that are coronavirus hot spots. AndDisney posted scaled-backoperating hours at the Magic Kingdom and several other Florida theme parks over the weekend.

Florida is catching up to California in coronavirus cases, with more than 525,000 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins data.

J.D. O'Connor, an associate professor of cinematic artsat the University of Southern Californiaand a Disney expert,said Disney World relies more heavily on long-distance travelers who book flights and rental cars and stay in Disney resort hotels. Disneyland draws more people from Southern California, who drive there but don't stay overnight.

"Disney World takes in fewer people from within a three-hour drive than Disneyland," O'Connor said, which may give Disneyland an advantage over its Florida counterpart when it reopens.

O'Connor, who wrapped up a summer graduate course on Disney last week, said Disney's businesses are tightly interconnected.

When the company is working on all cylinders, he said, the movies drive people to the parks. The parks, in turn, are built on the content produced by the movie studios, which had to shut down for many of the same reasons.

Disney is watching what's happening in Florida closely, O'Connor said, in addition to its parks worldwide. He calls Disney World a "nice prototype for what its like to be open in a pandemic" and expects that the company will apply the lessons it learns in California.

It will also look to see what happens once schools in Orange County, California, reopen with students in the classroom. Orange County is on the state's monitoring list, meaning schools are not able to have in-person instruction immediately.

If coronavirus cases don't surge again after school starts, it might be a sign that Disneyland can reopen soon.

"That would be if everything goes right," O'Connor said.

Disney makes movies and television programs and operates cruise ships and resort hotels. Its theme parks though, make big profits.

On Wednesday, Disney reported its earnings for April, May and June. The numbers were not pretty. The company posted a nearly $5 billion loss for the quarter, including a $2 billion loss in its parks, experiences and products segment.

Disney World and Disneyland, the cruise lines and resort hotels were all shuttered for the entirety of the quarter. Its cruise operations remain shut down; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended its March no-sail order through Sept. 30.

It may take a while to get the operation back in balance.

"It will be at least a year of very bad numbers," O'Connor said.

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Hays Travel staff put to work on Covid contact-tracing operation – The Guardian

Hays Travel, the holidays agency that took over Thomas Cook last year, has customer service centre staff working on the governments Covid-19 contact-tracing operation, the Observer and openDemocracy can reveal.

The Sunderland-based company, owned and run by the married couple John and Irene Hays, pitched for work on the coronavirus response in March, a spokeswoman confirmed, as the virus was spreading and the travel industry was plunged into crisis. The spokeswoman said that Hays Travel does not have a contract directly with the government, but has been subcontracted by two providers, whom she said the company could not name due to client confidentiality.

Serco, the logistics company believed to have the largest private contract with the government for Covid-19 contact tracing, confirmed that it has subcontracted Hays Travel to do some of the work, and more companies from the travel sector and other industries. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care also confirmed that: Hays Travel has been subcontracted by Serco to provide support for NHS Test and Trace. Hays Travel was also subcontracted by Teleperformance [a French call centre customer experience corporation] to provide limited support for FCO travel advice at the height of the pandemic and also some support for the 119 [testing contact centre] service.

A Hays Travel internal memo telling staff the company had secured the contract to do contact tracing, seen by the Observer and openDemocracy, explained to employees:

This is to help to call people who may have been in contact with someone who has the coronavirus. We need to recruit a significant number of people really quickly.

Talking to people who may be carrying Covid-19 should be done by people with knowledge and experience of public health

The company told staff it would like to employ people who are recommended by you, friends, family or previous colleagues people who you think would do the job really well and look after the Hays Travel brand for us all.

The memo said people recruited to do contact tracing would undergo about four hours Webex training online, and be able to start work on the same day. The company spokeswoman said that, in fact, for tier 3 contact tracing, which involves initial calls to people who have tested positive and the contacts they give, nine hours training is provided.

Neither Serco nor Hays Travel gave details of the size or value of the subcontract for the contact-tracing operation. Hays this week announced almost 900 redundancies, saying that the governments requirement for returnees from Spain to go into 14-day quarantine had severely affected its holiday business.

There has been intense scrutiny and criticism of the national operation to trace and talk to people who may have had close contact with those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, particularly for the limited numbers of people it is reaching and encouraging to self-isolate. Experts, including David McCoy, professor of global public health at Queen Mary University of London, have criticised the outsourcing to private companies such as Serco and the limited training given to call centre staff, and called for experienced local public health teams to have greater responsibility for overseeing the management of contact tracing. Blackburn with Darwen council, the local authority with the countrys highest infection rate, has set up its own contact-tracing system due to frustrations with the national programme.

McCoy said it was ludicrous to have a travel agency tracing contacts of Covid-19 sufferers, and said the minimal training provided was hopelessly inadequate.

Talking to people who may be carrying Covid-19 and encouraging them to self-isolate is skilled work and should ideally be done by people with knowledge and experience of public health, and legitimacy to be listened to, he said. It makes no sense to have the work done by a travel agency in a call centre disconnected from the public health system. The private outsourcing is taking resources away from strengthening the public health front line, where capacity needs to be developed.

The Hays Travel spokeswoman responded to criticism about the limited training by saying: Training was provided as required by the client [Serco] by our highly skilled training academy.

She said that as a travel company, Hays is highly skilled in dealing with people with complex requirements, and that: Our call handlers meet the high standards required by our client at the level at which they operate.

She said the idea to seek contact-tracing work initially came from an employee, in response to the downturn in work at Hays as the virus spread and demand for holidays plummeted. Senior managers at the company approached a particular service centre that had been contracted to work on the response to the coronavirus but did not have enough skilled staff.

Back in March, in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, we could see our industry facing crisis and we decided to be very proactive in trying to secure work for our people many of them did not qualify for the furlough scheme, the spokeswoman explained. They are quality people and we wanted to find work for them to do.

A Serco representative said the company does not disclose profits made on individual contracts but that the work that we are doing to support governments on Covid-related work is at lower margins than our normal work.

The DHSC spokesperson said: As the public would expect, we are doing everything we can to respond to this unprecedented global pandemic this includes working with public and private sector partners where necessary.

All contact tracers and call handlers receive appropriate training and follow detailed procedures and scripts.

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Hays Travel staff put to work on Covid contact-tracing operation - The Guardian

Mask-wearing protocols and politics – Travel Weekly

Felicity Long

A recent kerfuffle in a neighboring town in Massachusetts where my family and I spend our summers made the news when an ice-cream shop reported customers flouting Covid-19 protocols and abusing staff who attempted to enforce the state-mandated rules. The shop owner, who had just reopened after months of virus-imposed lockdown, promptly reclosed in protest.

While not uncommon in some parts of the country, this kind of aggressive noncompliance is relatively rare in the Commonwealth, where the battle against the pandemic has been successfully carried out without drama, thanks in part to an early shutdown, a slow reopening and resolute personal sacrifice on the part of the citizenry. As a result, most locals don't take kindly to the noise created by the anti-masker movement.

Does all this have anything to do with Europe?

Well, it might if we attempt to export that lack of unity about disease-fighting strategies to our vacation mindset.

Take Ireland, where so-called bad behavior by incoming American tourists has reportedly rankled locals. At issue has been the current two-week self-quarantine rule for visitors arriving from the U.S., which apparently is being regarded by some travelers as a suggestion, rather than a mandate.

Of course, you could argue whether it's realistic to even allow people to fly to a destination if they have to spend two weeks in their hotel. What's the point of going?

But it is likely that countries overseas are factoring our divisive pandemic response -- along with our infection-rate numbers -- into their decisions about whether to take us off the persona non grata list.

Certainly, the thought of truculent tourists creating incidents at European museums and attractions by refusing to comply with health and safety regulations could give them pause.

Ruth Moran, publicity and communications manager for Tourism Ireland, described her country's arrivals strategy diplomatically.

"We are renowned for the warmth of our welcome, and this will not change," she said. "When the time is right, the tourism industry, and the population in general, look forward to renewing the special bond that exists between the U.S. and Ireland."

In the meantime, Ireland is accessible for incoming tourists from the U.S., but with the two-week quarantine requirement. The arrivals restrictions, which are being monitored by local authorities, were renewed July 20, and as of this writing, there is no immediate, specific end date, Moran said.

One thing travel advisors can do to help prepare their clients for a rewarding travel experience in Europe is to alert them to the Covid protocols of the country they will be traveling to and reinforce the advisability of abiding by them.

Many hotels have stepped up their domestic marketing efforts to fill the void.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, because Europe is experiencing its own uneven virus-mitigation strategies, despite pleas from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to come up with unified guidelines. In fact, the WTTC Covid-19 siteincludes the language: "The global outbreak of Covid-19 has led many countries to introduce border closures and travel restrictions. Travelers should be prepared these could change suddenly and without warning."

While most European countries mandate the wearing of masks on public transportation, for example, the rules for shops and other indoor venues vary by country -- in some cases, by region.

In France, masks are mandatory in all enclosed public spaces, and noncompliers will be fined. Germany has a countrywide mask policy for shops, but in Switzerland, only the cantons of Jura, Vaud and Geneva require masks in shops.

Scotland, Ireland and England started mandating masks in shops this month, but, as of this writing, Wales has not.

Masks are not required at all in Norway and Denmark, although they are recommended, and Sweden -- famously at this point -- doesn't necessarily even recommend them.

I could go on, but you get the idea -- and we should point out that even these regulations are shifting under our feet.

Of course, all this is not only confusing for travelers, but negatively impacts Europe's GDP, which relies heavily on tourism for its jobs and economy, by chipping away at vacationer confidence. To bring some semblance of unity to its advice for travelers, WTTC unveiled a simple graphic designed to offer suggestions for best practices.

Bottom line, what's a travel advisor to do when preparing clients for European travel? In addition to trying to stay on top of evolving regulations, they can encourage would-be vacationers to abide by and be respectful of local protocols -- and when in doubt, in the words of the latest viral meme to hit social media, "wear the damn mask."

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Mask-wearing protocols and politics - Travel Weekly

TRMarketplace registration now officially open – TRBusiness

TRBusiness and Bluedog Productions are pleased to announce that DF&TR stakeholders can now register in earnest for TRMarketplace [click below to register]. Registration will close on 24 August.

There are now less than eight weeks to go before the travel retail and duty free industrys first digital conference and networking forum takes place on 28 September 2 October. However, the platform opens a full month prior to the inaugural event on 28 August, to allow users to book meetings in advance.

A wave of visitors and brands have already pre-registered for the platform, which allows suppliers to connect, network and host meetings via intuitive Brands Hubs.

Attendees will benefit from a wealth of educational interaction and comprehensive knowledge & insights in the form of a daily e-learning programme in association with m1nd-set and the Institute of International Retail (IIR).

WIDENING PARTICIPATION

Those who do not qualify for the visitor and supplier/brand categories at TRMarketplace can meet brands and enjoy the e-learning programme for a one-off fee of UK GBP 350 [NB: The fee precludes access to TRMarketplace visitors ].

Nigel Hardy and Janice Hook, TRBusiness Owners and Joint Managing Directors said: After months of hard work by the teams at TRBusiness and Bluedog Productions, we are delighted to announce that registration is officially open for TRMarketplace.

Everyone recognises that the nature and scale of the devastation caused by coronavirus in the past few months has been and continues to be unparalleled. But adversity has bred strength, ingenuity and differentiation in decision making, the likes of which we havent experienced in our 30-plus years in the business. This has been made infinitely easier by advances in technology.

A new dawn for networking has surfaced and TRMarketplace is at the forefront of this step-change in the industry. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity and we robustly encourage anyone with a vested interest in DF&TR to sign-up now and take full advantage of the innumerable opportunities available through the platform.

[For the latest list of visitors and Brand Hub partners, see footer.]

Earlier this month, TRMarketplace launched its standalone website http://www.travelretailmarketplace.com as anticipation builds ahead of the business networking event.

Nigel Hardy and Janice Hook, TRBusiness Owners and Joint Managing Directors.

As reported, Heineken, Ritter Sport, Dufre, Mondelez World Travel Retail and Nuwave Channel Partners are just a handful of the latest companies to have taken Brand Hubs [see below walkthrough video] or sponsorships or both.

They join countless high-profile visitors from the worlds leading travel retailers, airlines and major international airports keen to maximise business opportunities as the industry battles back to health after a hellish 2020.

More recent additions to the programme include Tokyo Narita, Amsterdam Schiphol, Groupe ADP, GMR Hyderabad and Manchester Airports Group.

Airlines such as KLM and flyDubai have also registered. To read more testimonials from suppliers/brands and visitors, click the respective links.

The new effective networking platform, TRMarketplace, gives an immense opportunity for retailers, airports and airlines buyers gain free access which was not available earlier, said Soumya Salvin, Inflight Product Development, flyDubai.

This is great for live events like product demos, customer training, and other technical sales topics. It will give the chance to create and deliver high-quality visual content that can have a positive impact on buyers visual platforms. Cost effectiveness to companies by reduced employee travel time and trip costs.

Having a wider audience base engagement ensures an increase in brand awareness and makes it really easy for lot of like-minded people to join & get connected. No doubt TRMarketplace is indeed a wonderful strategy to teach and sell at the same time. Great way to attract new eyes, generate new leads, and help speed up the processes.

BRAND HUBS: DEADLINE EXTENDED

Brand Hub owners will gain full disclosure of the visitors list and have the opportunity to book meetings up to four weeks prior to the event start date to maximise ROI.

All TRMarketplace content will be available for six months after the event has concluded.

Since TRMarketplace was launched earlier this year, the Brand Hubs have received a tremendous response and as a courtesy gesture TRBusiness has decided to extend the deadline to register for a Brand Hub until 14 August [*see footer for further information].

Brand Hub owner Carambar & Co. says TRMarketplace offers visibility to the companys brands and an opportunity to communicate its presence in travel retail.

Another Brand Hub owner, Multi Duty Free Department, highlights the potential to explore and develop new business ideas with customers, partners and friends.

Dagmar Berentzen, Managing Partner, Multi Duty Free Department says TRMarketplace permits connections with existing clients while fostering new ones.

We see a really good opportunity to reach out to people we dont know; a lot of important customers still missing. We think we have something interesting to propose to them as the market is changing every day and everybody is looking for something new. We definitely encourage our customers and partners to use TRMarketplace; its a very innovative idea.

In line with TRBusiness mission to help the industry grow, the company has also recently unveiled the TR Talent Pool initiative for those who have lost their jobs in DF&TR due to Covid-19.

TR Talent Pool allows free-of-charge entry to TRMarketplace to help job seekers book meetings with participants and discuss potential career opportunities. In this way, the initiative galvanises an abundance of skills in the industry and funnels critical experience and knowledge through the lens of a powerful networking platform.

The deadline to sign-up for a Brand Hub has been extended to 16 August.

Retail operators can enjoy complimentary access to TRMarketplace, while brands/suppliers can exhibit for a fixed price of GBP 4,495 (ex VAT), which represents tremendous value to stakeholders.

Brands can upload all relevant documentation for visitors to browse and download(access restricted). Brands will even be able to facilitate the launch of new products.

Each brand representative can schedule video conferences with retailers and other partners using the platforms secure integrated software, alleviating the need to install any third-party add-ons. The number of brand representatives is unlimited. The number of concurrent video conferences that can take place is also unlimited for each brand.

*To find out more about TRMarketplace and to invest in a Brand Hub, contact[emailprotected],[emailprotected]and[emailprotected]

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TRMarketplace registration now officially open - TRBusiness

Royal Caribbean cruise worker may finally be sent home to Peru after 7 months of living in Florida hotels – Fox News

After months of waiting, a stranded cruise ship workermay soon be going home.

A Royal Caribbean worker traveled to the United States in January to receive treatment for a back injury he reportedly sustained on the job. Since then, however, he has reportedlybeen stuck living in Florida hotels, unable to return home despite his constant pleas.

A cruise ship worker may finally return home in September after months of living in Florida hotels. (iStock)

Paul Cordova injured his back working on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2017, the Tampa Bay Times reports. He underwent surgery in November 2018 and traveled to the U.S. from his home in Peru for follow-up treatment in January. Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit and Cordova has reportedly been unable to return home since.

OVER 12,000 CRUISE SHIP WORKERS STUCK AT SEA MONTHS AFTER SHUTTING DOWN: REPORT

According to the news outlet, the man requested to be placed on multiple repatriation flights over the last 95 days but has so far been unsuccessful. The cruise line reportedly told him that his repatriation was either impossible at the time, or didnt respond to the requests.

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Things finally may havechanged, however.

In a statement shared with Fox News, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said, We have been working with Mr. Crdova to get him home in a challenging international travel environment and currently understand the next opportunity to do so is on Sept. 1. We all share the same goal of getting him home as quickly and safely as possible.

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According to the Tampa Bay Times, there are still more than 100,000 cruise ship workers stranded around the world, unable to return to their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic and the travel restrictions it has caused.

Cordova originally stayed at the Plaza Hotel in Fort Lauderdale and was later moved to the Clarion Inn and Suites in Miami Springs. He has reportedly passed the time by talking to his family through his laptop and studying plumbing schematics for cruise ships.

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Royal Caribbean cruise worker may finally be sent home to Peru after 7 months of living in Florida hotels - Fox News

Role of Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals in Enhancing Skin Health and Appearance – Pharmacy Times

Role of Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals in Enhancing Skin Health and Appearance

The health of the skin and the integrity of its barrier function can be affected by various factors, and especially by nutritional status.3 Basic skin functions accompanied by changes in cutaneous structure and texture that affect the appearance of skin can also be modulated by dietary intake and nutritional supplementation.3

A nutraceutical can be defined as a food (or part of a food) that provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and/or treatment of a disease.4 Unlike nutraceuticals that may be presented as a sole item of a meal, dietary supplements often contain 1 or more essential ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, or herbs, and are often used to increase the intake of nutrients in addition to a meal.5

The roles of various dietary supplements and nutraceuticals in enhancing skin health and appearance can be observed in the vitamin deficiency diseases that present with dermal manifestations. These include patchy red rash and seborrheic dermatitis on account of vitamin B deficiency, as well as the vitamin C deficiency called scurvy, which can be observed through skin fragility and impaired wound healing6. This reaction to deficiency helps to illuminate, for example, how dietary supplementation with vitamin C can promote cutaneous wound healing, increase epidermal moisture content, and improve skin hydration.7 It can also aid in collagen formation and functions as an antioxidant.

Supplements containing vitamin A and its derivatives, such as retinoids, play an important role in regulating the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of skin cells.7 Retinoids are able to enhance the repair of UV radiation-damaged skin through their ability to increase proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.7

Vitamin E has been shown to suppress lipid peroxidation, modulate photocarcinogenesis, and photoaging. It also exhibits anti-inflammatory roles.7 Additional supplementation with -tocopherol, flavonoids, -carotene, lycopene, and lutein may help protect the body from UV damage, which can lead to photoaging and cancer.1

Apart from vitamins and other elements, such as selenium, that protect the skin from UV damage, nutraceuticals containing a combination of marine collagen peptides (MCPs) and plant-derived antioxidants can help improve skin properties safely and effectively without oxidative damage.2 Also, studies show that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation can decrease some dermal signs of aging, such as wrinkles, and improve overall skin smoothness.2

Another class of nutraceuticals that improve dermal health are polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-based formulations. PUFAs are recommended for consumption and are beneficial for skin health. Omega-3 PUFAs, such as eicosapentaenoic acid, have been reported to protect the skin from dangerous UV radiation effects and reduce UV-induced inflammation and indicators of photoaging and photocarcinogenesis.2

It is apparent that among all the organs in the body, the skin is the most exposed to external agents, placing it at risk of certain factors, particularly UV radiation. The resultant photo-oxidative damage is a significant cause of extrinsic skin aging, a term popularly referred to as photoaging.8 Exposure to the sun is also considered a major risk factor for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers.1

For these reasons, it is important to introduce dietary supplementation with nutraceuticals containing vitamins, essential trace elements, and oils not present in sufficient amount in daily food intake. This will aid in no small way to provide photoprotection, antioxidant activity, ensure skin integrity, and improve the general appearance of the skin.

REFERENCES

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Role of Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals in Enhancing Skin Health and Appearance - Pharmacy Times

What Is the GOLO Diet? – WTOP

As Americans increasingly struggle with their weight, the number and range of weight-loss products and diets in the market have

As Americans increasingly struggle with their weight, the number and range of weight-loss products and diets in the market have only grown. Today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 70% of Americans are overweight or obese. And apparently, we know it. As of 2019, the weight-loss market totaled a whopping $72 billion in the U.S.

A portion of this market share belongs to commercial diet plans that enroll members or subscribers into programs or plans that are designed to educate them on the principles of healthy eating and weight loss that the company has developed. They typically include counseling and one-on-one support , and sometimes they sell supplements or food items to further support weight-loss goals.

A relatively recent entry into this niche of the diet industry is GOLO, the Newark, Delaware-based company founded in 2009 that offers a metabolic plan and supplements that are intended to help you lose weight. Its an acronym for GoLose Weight, GoLook Great, GoLove Life. GOLO reports that 500,000 people have used the diet.

Jennifer Brooks, president of GOLO, says GOLOs Metabolic Plan is based on eating real, whole foods while avoiding processed and packaged foods. Its not a conventional diet but rather a healthy eating plan.

Elena Gagliardi, clinical nutrition services manager in the ambulatory nutrition services department at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California, says the diet is designed to help people who are overweight or obese obtain a balance of nutrients from conventional foods, eat defined portioned meals leading to gradual weight loss and participate in a low to moderate level of daily exercise.

The plan includes directions on how to put together meals to support sustainable weight loss, and Brooks says one of its best aspects is that nothing is off limits all the time. You can still enjoy a birthday dinner or night out and not ruin your progress. And, if you feel you over-indulged, you can get right back on track.

[See: The 10 Best Diets for Healthy Eating.]

Foods on the GOLO Diet

GOLO emphasizes eating real, whole foods, and Brooks notes that you dont have to look for unusual ingredients or things youve never heard of to follow GOLO.

Recommended foods include:

Proteins such as chicken, beef and fish.

Grains such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and oatmeal.

All vegetables.

All fruits.

Dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter.

Nuts.

We dont tell you specific things that you have to eat, but simply give you a guideline to follow, Brooks explains. The diet does recommend limiting your portions and keeping total daily calories to less than 1,800. Since you choose the foods you eat, you can personalize the plan to your own individual tastes and preferences, and no food is strictly forbidden. We find that this significantly increases the chances of customer success as it puts them in control.

Correcting Insulin Resistance

One of the key factors that sets GOLO apart from other commercial diet plans is its premise that individuals who struggle with weight loss do so because of hormone imbalances, says Matthew Black, a registered dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. The idea is that these hormone imbalances will eventually damage your metabolism, further preventing you from being able to lose weight.

GOLO specifically targets the hormone insulin, with an eye to correcting insulin resistance, a condition in which your bodys cells do not respond to insulin as efficiently as they should, and can serve as a precursor to Type 2 diabetes, Black explains, a condition known as prediabetes.

GOLO claims these hormone imbalances, including insulin resistance, can be fixed with proper diet, activity and by taking GOLOs proprietary supplement called Release. Insulin resistance typically doesnt cause any noticeable symptoms, and you would need to be evaluated by your primary care provider in order to be properly diagnosed, Black adds. Plus, Gagliardi notes that the insulin hypothesis is not consistently supported by research.

Nevertheless, GOLOs aim, Brooks says, is to help people lose weight in a healthy, sustainable and realistic way and not be reliant on the diet industry. We offer a healthy eating plan based on sound nutrition, an all-natural supplement that is meant to be phased out as the user loses weight, free support and coaching, and discounts to our customers for re-orders for other GOLO products. We want everyone to be able to reach their goals and never have to diet again.

[See: The Best Diets to Prevent and Manage Diabetes.]

Leveraging a Supplement for Faster Weight Loss

A signature aspect of the GOLO plan is its proprietary supplement called Release. Adding Release, our all-natural supplement, helps you to lose weight faster, Brooks says, adding that we know this because we tested it in a double-blind placebo trial.

That trial compared the weight loss outcomes of a group of dieters following GOLOs Metabolic Plan alone to a second cohort using the metabolic plan plus the Release supplement. Both groups did lose weight, but the group that took Release lost 79% more weight and 209% more inches around their waists than the placebo group during the same period of time.

The Release supplement contains a patented formulation containing seven natural plant-based ingredients and three minerals zinc, magnesium and chromium. Black says these minerals have demonstrated potential effects on improving insulin resistance, but studies are limited.

The supplement also contains a number of plant extracts that are considered generally safe and have shown some effectiveness for improving metabolic processes in studies, including:

Banaba leaf extract.

Rhodiola rosea.

Berberine.

Salacia reticulata extract.

Gardenia jasminoides fruit extract.

Apple polyphenol fruit extract.

Myo-inositol.

With regard to the efficacy of the supplement, Black notes that the company only provides highlights of the studies that were conducted. GOLO doesnt divulge all the details of these studies, other than quoting random statistics when compared to placebo. As with any research study, its important to know all of the data, rather than trying to make conclusions based on favorable highlights. The studies were not published in a peer-reviewed journal and Gagliardi adds that since the author was funded by the GOLO company, theres a conflict of interest and therefore the results are questionable.

In addition, Black says that generally speaking, using supplements isnt typically recommended for weight loss, nor should supplements be used to treat insulin resistance, especially without guidance from a health care practitioner. He notes that its possible to reverse insulin resistance just by decreasing your caloric intake, losing weight and increasing physical activity.

Gagliardi agrees that the supplement might not be necessary. The diet alone is a positive shift in eating, such as eliminating processed foods, adding whole fresh foods, adding filling, fibrous foods, and portion and calorie control. The diet, coupled with exercise, should propel you towards weight loss, hormone regulation and improved insulin sensitivity without any need for pricey supplements.

Beyond simple need, Black cautions about taking supplements for any condition, especially those containing proprietary blends because the FDA does not regulate them as long as ingredients fall into the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) category. Many supplements on the market today arent backed by sufficient research.

Because they arent regulated, some supplements may not contain the amount of a specific ingredient thats listed on the label or contain something else entirely. That can be a problem if the supplement interacts negatively with another supplement or medication the dieter is already taking.

Gagliardi also says that while the companys website states there are over 100 published independent experimental studies supporting the safety and efficacy of the ingredients in Release, keep in mind that they are referring to testimonials, not actual peer-reviewed studies.

GOLO maintains that its Release product does not interact with any medications, does not contain caffeine and is entirely safe and effective.

How Much Does it Cost?

There are a few different options to choose from if youre looking to get started with GOLO. All come with the GOLO for Life Plan, which shows you how you can optimize gut health, digestion and restore your metabolism with food, and access to an online support site that provides meal plans, health assessments and support from GOLO coaches. You also get the Overcoming Diet Obstacles booklet, which includes weight loss tips and tricks. All orders ship free and the company offers a 60-day money -back guarantee.

Plan options cost:

$49.95 for the GOLO for Life Plan with one bottle of Release supplements (90 pills). This supply lasts 30 to 60 days and is intended for weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds.

$79.90 for the GOLO for Life Plan with two bottles of Release supplements (180 pills). This supply lasts 60 to 90 days and is intended for weight loss of 21 to 40 pounds.

$99.90 for the GOLO for Life Plan with three bottles of Release supplements (270 pills). This supply lasts 90 to 150 days and is intended for weight loss of 41 to 60 pounds.

In addition to the pills and the diet plan, you also have to factor in the cost of food, which youll be purchasing on your own. GOLO emphasizes inclusion of whole, affordable foods like butter, eggs whole milk and cheese, meats, fruits, vegetables and grains, including bread and pasta.

[See: 15 Best Weight-Loss Diets at a Glance.]

Does It Work?

Testimonials on the companys website show several people whove had great success with GOLO, losing more than 100 pounds in a year or 20 or 30 pounds in a few months. The amounts and rate of weight loss advertised are in line with other commercial weight loss programs such as Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem.

Brooks says the plan is very effective, touting a 98.4% customer satisfaction rate. Studies were conducted between 2009 and 2018, with consistent results observed across the studies. Study participants not only lost weight and inches but improved health risk markers.

From her perspective, looking at the principles of the diet in terms of what to eat and how much, Gagliardi says, its a good one. Its a relatively simple concept, appears easy to follow and incorporates a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods while eliminating processed foods. While their meal plan might encourage whole foods, you would still just be following a calorie-restricted plan that wont help you make long-term behavior changes.

Black notes that the principles of the plan are the same proven strategies as recommended for any healthy diet consuming fewer calories, eliminating processed foods and exercising more. The GOLO plan promotes keeping daily calorie intakes to between 1,300 and 1,800 calories. Because most adults are recommended to consume about 2,000 calories daily to maintain weight, a 200 to 700 calorie per day deficit should result in weight loss for most people.

Avoiding calorie-dense and nutrient-limited processed foods, as the GOLO plan does, can also promote weight loss. GOLO encourages increasing physical activity too, which Black says can help support overall health.

As for the supplement, Black says you may not need it. The reversal of insulin resistance typically results as a by-product of weight loss, healthy diet and physical activity. Since these are requirements of GOLOs plan, it would be difficult to conclude the effectiveness of the Release supplement specifically in terms of its effect on insulin resistance.

Plus, the Release supplement, which GOLO insists is a vital part of its weight-loss plan, appears to lack independent, peer-reviewed research and is costly, so you may want to consider this before making the expense, Black adds. The hard truth is, if you continue to consume too many calories and live a sedentary lifestyle, then you probably are still looking for a magic pill solution to weight loss.

Gagliardi recommends being wary of supplements that say proprietary blend. Never take a supplement from a company that does not disclose its level of ingredients. It may not be standardized and you may get a vastly different amount from one bottle to the next, or none at all. Also if you are on certain medications, this supplement may interact, so be sure to speak with your doctor before starting this or any other weight-loss plan.

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What Is the GOLO Diet? originally appeared on usnews.com

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What Is the GOLO Diet? - WTOP

The 10 Best Vitamin C Supplements of 2020 – Healthline

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.

Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in some of your bodys most vital functions.

Whether your goal is to give your immune system a boost or support skin health, youre going to want to get plenty of vitamin C.

Vitamin C is a particularly unique nutrient because it also functions as an antioxidant that protects your cells against potential damage (1).

Vitamin C deficiency is rare in developed countries, but inadequate intake can lead to symptoms like dry skin, achy joints, bleeding gums, and poor wound healing (1).

Acute vitamin C deficiency is known as scurvy and potentially fatal if left untreated (1).

If you smoke, have kidney disease, take certain medications, or consume a very limited diet, you may be at an increased risk of vitamin C deficiency (2).

Vitamin C can be found in a variety of whole, plant-based foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, and broccoli (1).

Obtaining nutrients from whole foods is always the best approach, but if you have difficulty meeting your nutrition needs for any reason, a supplement may be necessary.

The supplements on this list were chosen based on quality, manufacturing standards, usability, and price.

Here are the 10 best vitamin C supplements of 2020.

General price ranges with dollar signs ($ to $$$) are indicated below. One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher price range.

Generally, prices range from $0.02$1.48 per serving, or $14$35.60 per container, though this may vary depending on where you shop.

Gummies and liquid formulations generally have a slightly higher price per serving, compared with tablets or powders.

Note that serving sizes vary by product.

Pricing guide

Capsules are the most popular form of vitamin C supplements. These are among the best on the market.

Price: $

Thorne is well known for producing some of the highest quality supplements on the market, and this product is no exception.

Each capsule provides 500 mg of vitamin C and 75 mg of citrus-derived flavonoids. These compounds are found in fruits and vegetables and boast both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits (3).

Thornes manufacturing facilities are certified by several globally recognized third-party regulatory agencies, including NSF International and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

All of Thornes supplements are tested for potency, purity, and quality multiple times throughout the manufacturing process, so you always know youre getting a top-tier product.

Shop for Thornes Vitamin C with Flavonoids online.

Price: $$

Integrative Therapeutics is a supplement company that has held a strong reputation for quality for over 3 decades.

Each capsule provides a dose of 1,000 mg of vitamin C with added minerals that may improve digestive tolerance. This feature makes it a great option for anyone with a sensitive stomach or history of difficulty tolerating nutritional supplements (4).

Integrative Therapeutics holds itself to some of the highest ingredient sourcing and manufacturing standards in the industry, so you never have to wonder whether youre getting a good product.

Their manufacturing facilities are certified by NSF International, a third-party regulatory agency.

Shop for Integrative Therapeutics Buffered Vitamin C online.

Price: $

Kirkland Signature provides an affordable alternative to expensive, high-end supplement brands without sacrificing quality.

Each of their vitamin C capsules contains a 1,000 mg dose of vitamin C and citrus-derived flavonoids for an added antioxidant boost.

Kirkland Signatures vitamin C capsules are verified for purity and quality by United States Pharmacopeia (USP), so you can rest assured youre getting exactly what the label claims.

Shop for Kirkland Signatures Vitamin C online.

Price: $

If youre not a fan of swallowing pills, NOW Foods chewable vitamin C tablets may be the product for you.

NOW Foods is a reputable brand that produces a variety of affordable, high quality nutritional supplements.

Each orange-flavored tablet provides a 500-mg dose of vitamin C and contains just 1 gram of added sugar. Theyre also 100% vegan and free of major allergens.

NOW Foods prides themselves on their meticulous testing protocols. Each supplement is tested in-house for purity and potency, and all of their manufacturing facilities are certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Shop for NOW Foods Chewable C 500 online.

Gummy vitamins are one of the hottest trends in nutrition supplements and understandably so. Whether youre a kid or a kid at heart taking your vitamin C has never been easier or more delicious.

However, although gummy vitamins are convenient and taste great, they should not be confused with candy.

Its important that you dont exceed the recommended dose, as too much vitamin C could lead to unintended side effects. Like other supplements, be sure to store them away from little ones to avoid a potential overdose.

Price: $$

Nordic Naturals vitamin C gummies are made from high quality, natural ingredients and suitable for adults and children over the age of 4.

Each 2-gummy serving contains 250 mg of vitamin C and 4 grams of added sugar.

The orange-flavored gummies are sweetened with cane sugar and colored with natural fruit and vegetable juices. They dont contain any artificial sweeteners or flavors and are gluten- and dairy-free.

Nordic Naturals vitamin C gummies are third-party tested for purity and potency, so you know youre getting what you have paid for.

Shop for Nordic Naturals vitamin C gummies online.

Price: $$

Carlson Labs vitamin C gummies for kids are a great option if youre looking for a quality supplement specifically designed with your children in mind.

Each orange-flavored gummy provides 125 mg of vitamin C and contains only 2 grams of added sugar. They dont harbor any artificial colors, sweeteners, or preservatives and are 100% gluten- and soy-free.

When it comes to quality, Carlson Labs has been an industry leader since 1965. All of their products are manufactured in an FDA-certified facility and come with a purity and potency guarantee.

Shop for Carlson Labs Kids Vitamin C Gummies online.

Liquid supplements are a convenient option for anyone looking for a supplement that can be easily mixed into beverages and absorbed quickly.

Price: $$$

Pure Encapsulations liquid vitamin C is made with a unique, liposomal form of vitamin C thats encapsulated in sunflower oil.

Research suggests that liposomal forms of vitamin C may boost your bodys absorption, so you get more out of each dose (5).

Each teaspoon (5 mL) provides 1,000 mg of vitamin C and doesnt contain any added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

All of Pure Encapsulations products are certified gluten-free and third-party tested for quality, purity, and potency.

Shop for Pure Encapsulations Liposomal Vitamin C Liquid online.

Price: $$$

Garden of Lifes vitamin C spray is made from a variety of 100% organic, whole foods like strawberries, blueberries, and tart cherries.

Youll receive a 60-mg dose of vitamin C in every 5 sprays, and it doesnt contain any added sugar or artificial sweeteners. It comes in two flavors and is suitable for adults and children over 4 years of age.

The dose of vitamin C in this product is lower than many traditional supplements, making it a great option for anyone who eats a variety of vitamin-C-containing foods but still needs some extra help filling in potential nutrient gaps.

All of Garden of Lifes products are third-party tested for quality and purity, and its manufacturing facilities are FDA certified.

Shop for Garden of Lifes Organic Vitamin C Spray online.

Powdered supplements are a great, flexible option. Whether you plan on drinking them mixed into juices and smoothies or want to fill your own capsules with customized doses, powdered vitamin C is the way to go.

Price: $

Swansons vitamin C powder contains nothing but 100% pure, powdered vitamin C.

It dissolves easily into almost any liquid, and you dont have to worry about any added fillers, sweeteners, or preservatives.

Each scoop provides 1,000 mg of vitamin C, but you can tailor the serving size to fit your needs.

When it comes to purity and quality, Swanson holds themselves to exceptionally high standards. All of their supplements undergo in-house and third-party testing, so you can rest assured youre getting a great product every time.

Shop for Swansons Vitamin C Powder online.

Price: $

Bulk Supplements vitamin C powder is pure vitamin C without any added ingredients, such as preservatives, sugars, or fillers.

Each scoop provides a 750-mg dose, but like other powdered supplements, its easy to adjust the serving to meet your needs.

All of Bulk Supplements products are produced in an FDA-approved facility and third-party tested for purity and potency.

Shop for Bulk Supplements Vitamin C Powder online.

Selecting the right vitamin C supplement depends on a variety of factors, including the form, quality, dose, and price.

You can start by considering how youll be using the supplement. For instance, if you prefer to take a pill, youll want to check out encapsulated vitamin C supplements.

If you dont like swallowing pills or want to mix it into beverages, your best bet is to consider liquid or powdered supplements.

Next, you want to check the supplements quality. Evaluate whether a brand is reputable by exploring their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing standards. A good product will also be tested by third-party organizations, such as USP, Consumer Labs, or NSF International.

Take a look at added ingredients, too. If youre trying to limit your intake of added sugars, you want to opt for a supplement that doesnt contain sugar.

Another factor to consider is the dosage. The recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adults is 90 mg for men, 75 mg for women, and up to 120 mg for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. However, certain medical conditions may require that you take much higher doses (1).

Children have lower vitamin C requirements, which range from 2575mg per day, depending on their age. However, its not generally advised to give children a vitamin C supplement unless their pediatrician has recommended it.

Note that the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for vitamin C for men, as well as women ages 19 and above, is 2,000 mg. Meanwhile, the UL for children ranges from 4001,800 mg, depending on age. Daily intakes at or below these amounts are unlikely to result in any adverse health effects (1).

Vitamin C supplements come in a wide range of dosage options. If youre looking for a high dose, it may be more economical and convenient to find a concentrated supplement. This way you wont be stuck consuming multiple servings of a lower dose option.

Generally, high doses of vitamin C are unnecessary and could contribute to harmful side effects. Only consume high doses if your healthcare provider recommends doing so.

Finally, you want to consider your budget. Some professional-grade brands can be expensive, but keep in mind that a higher price doesnt necessarily mean a better product. There are plenty of high quality options available at various price points.

Check out these two articles to help make supplement shopping a breeze:

Although vitamin C is a natural compound, getting too much of it can cause uncomfortable and potentially serious side effects.

Some of the most common reported side effects include headaches, flushed skin, nausea, and vomiting (2).

Consuming high doses of vitamin C for prolonged periods may also increase your risk of kidney stones (2).

Always consult your healthcare provider prior to adding any nutritional supplement to your routine.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that plays a diverse role in keeping your body healthy.

Although vitamin C deficiency is rare in developed countries, it can cause serious health problems that, if left untreated, could be fatal.

If you have trouble getting enough vitamin C from your diet, supplements are a great option. They come in a variety of physical forms, dosages, and price points.

Always consult your healthcare provider prior to adding any new supplements to your health and wellness regimen.

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The 10 Best Vitamin C Supplements of 2020 - Healthline

FDA Will Take Its Time on CBD But Industry Does Not Have to Wait to Get Ready – JD Supra

Tell me if youve heard this one before the regulatory issues surrounding CBD will be completely resolved after a certain legislative fix is passed. Remember all of the articles in December 2018 declaring CBD legal after the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill? Dont expect Congress or FDA to wave a magic wand and make all of the current CBD industry practices permissible or adequate. Even if Congress were to sweep away the exclusionary clause as applied to CBD, or FDA engaged in rulemaking to the same effect CBD would still need to go through all of the regulatory hurdles applicable to foods or dietary supplements in order to be lawfully used as an ingredient in either product. Companies intending to market foods or dietary supplements containing CBD should be working right now to address the issues FDA has identified, and working to build the type of robust documentation FDA expects before marketing these products.

Refresher on the Exclusionary Clauses

One of the most pressing FDA regulatory obstacles facing the CBD industry are the so-called exclusionary clauses of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. In essence, the exclusionary clauses prohibit the use of a substance in a food or dietary supplement if that substance has been the subject of substantial clinical investigations that have been made public, or approved by FDA as a new drug. There are exceptions to the exclusionary clause; however, FDA takes the view it has not to date been provided with information sufficient to change their current position that CBD is prohibited from use in food and dietary supplements under the exclusionary clauses.

FDAs interpretation of the exclusionary clauses as applied to CBD is a legal bar preventing FDA from recognizing or regulating CBD as a food or dietary supplement ingredient; however, these provisions have not prevented the CBD marketplace from flourishing. As a result, the CBD market forged ahead without FDA oversight as part of a premarket authorization review such as the method of manufacture, appropriate specifications, establishment of an acceptable daily intake (ADI), contaminants, labeling, and many other issues. Many states have begun regulating CBD in foods and dietary supplements, but the state by state approach has led to a patchwork of requirements that is challenging for any company trying to market a product nationally.

Even if Congress passes legislation that removes CBD from the exclusionary clause or FDA establishes a regulatory framework for the lawful marketing of CBD as foods or dietary ingredients, it is expected that any such actions would be conditioned on satisfying FDAs premarket requirements to use CBD in foods or dietary supplements. The CBD industry does not have to wait for FDA to say more; there are lessons to learn from FDAs regulation of foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, new drugs and yes, even tobacco products, that can help shape what CBD companies do now.

Food and Dietary Supplement Regulatory Hurdles Still Remain

For foods and dietary supplement uses of CBD, we know the type of data and information that FDA would expect to support the safety of new food and dietary ingredients. The industry has great success in achieving favorable reviews of GRAS notifications and food additive petitions because the agency expectations on the type of safety data need to support the marketing of the food ingredient are well understood. Companies interested in the CBD market should be working with food and dietary supplement regulatory counsel and consultants now to assess the underlying data and identify potential data gaps. FDA has identified several potential safety concerns with CBD, including liver injury, drug interactions, and male reproductive toxicity. A thoughtfully prepared dossier would address each of these issues and would identify whether additional studies would be warrantedand the type of studies that should be conductedto addressthe agencys concerns. FDA also stated that it needs additional information about cumulative exposure, special populations (children, elderly, pregnant and lactating women, adolescents), as well as the effects of CBD on animals before allowing food or dietary supplement uses of CBD.

FDAs statements suggest that CBD is unlikely to receive special treatment by the agency when being evaluated as a food or dietary supplement ingredient the same type of data and information required for any other food or dietary ingredient is expected. And FDA is not alone in raising potential concerns about CBD safety. A coalition of consumer advocacy groups including Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) recently sent a letter to Congress highlighting FDAs concerns with CBD, and urging Congress to provide more authority for FDA oversight of CBD products, and that Congress should not shortcut FDAs review of CBD safety. Thus we can anticipate that consumer groups, in addition to FDA, will continue to press for the same premarket rules to be applied to CBD as any other food or dietary supplement ingredient.

Beyond satisfying the premarket requirements for foods and supplements, CBD companies should also work with counsel to identify the aspects of their production and marketing of current CBD products that do not fit within FDAs regulatory framework for that product category. Special attention should be paid to the claims that are being made about the product. Foods and dietary ingredients can bear properly substantiated claims regarding the effect of the substance on the structure of function of the body. Disease claims, however, must be avoided. Addressing manufacturing and labeling practices that are at odds with FDA precedent now not only puts a company in the best possible position if FDA does greenlight a new regulatory pathway for CBD it also gives the company credibility.

Next Steps

Accepting FDA regulation and oversight of a budding industry that has been subject to relatively little enforcement is difficult to navigate; just see how bumpy the first four years of FDAs regulation of e-cigarettes has been for the industry. It has been over a year since FDAs public meeting on scientific data and information on cannabis-derived compounds, and yet a number of questions posed by the agency then remain on the table, and time to shape the agencys view before a regulatory framework is developed could be running out. Companies that want to be successful long-term in this space should take seriously the concerns raised by the agency and develop regulatory and safety dossiers addressing those concerns and supporting the lawful marketing of their products.

FDA Consumer Update, What You Need to Know (And What Were Working to Find Out) About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds, Including CBD, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis.

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FDA Will Take Its Time on CBD But Industry Does Not Have to Wait to Get Ready - JD Supra

Essential vitamin B12 soon to be in bread or yoghurt – Innovation Origins

People who eat little or no animal products run the risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Thats why vegans take food supplements or vitamin pills. Researchers from the University of Helsinki, Finland, have now found a way to add the essential vitamin B12 to bread or yoghurt-like products by means of fermentation.

Vitamin B12 is naturally present only in animal products. Humans need it for the maintenance of their nervous system and the formation of blood cells. Doctoral student Chong Xie of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki, Finland, has developed a method to add vitamin B12 to other foods by means of fermentation. This method uses the Propionibacterium freudenreichii bacterium, which is used in the production of Emmental cheese, more commonly known as Swiss cheese.

The fortification of foods with B12 through fermentation could be a more cost-effective alternative to vitamin pills and other dietary supplements. Cereals are the staple food of the world. They are therefore excellent for micronutrient enrichment, he explains.

Xie used 11 different cereal-based materials and fermented them with Propionibacterium freudenreichii, the only B12-producing microorganism permitted for food products. This microbe produced significant amounts of vitamin B12 in most fermented cereal materials. During the three-day fermentation process, rice bran and buckwheat bran showed the highest B12 production.

When we select the right strains of the microbe and create the right conditions, we can encourage the bacteria to synthesize large amounts of vitamin B12 in its cells, says Professor Vieno Piironen of the University of Helsinki. We have been able to establish that this form of vitamin B12 is actually beneficial to humans, while some of the microbes generate a form of the vitamin that is useless to humans. In fact, many previous research results can be traced back to this phenomenon.

The microbes that produce vitamin B12 can be cultivated in a growing medium of grain or fava beans. These media can then be used as ingredients in various foods, such as bread or yoghurt.

The natural enrichment of foods is one of my favorite research topics, says Vieno Piironen. Many B-family vitamins can be produced by fermentation. We have already overseen many masters theses and dissertations on this subject and there are more to come. Only now are we starting to make full use of these data.

Link:

Essential vitamin B12 soon to be in bread or yoghurt - Innovation Origins

Advocates hopeful bill will pass this month to open California to CBD in supplements and foods – FoodNavigator-USA.com

The bill (AB-228- which was introduced last year but has been on hold for several months) is supported by the US Hemp Roundtable, a group of hemp farmers, processors and manufacturers of finished goods.

Rand Martin, a lobbyist with the firm MVM Strategy that has been engaged by the group to help advance the statute, said that while some states have forged forward with their own plans on the marketing of hemp/CBD products, California has followed the federal lead in taking a dim view of the legality of this class of ingredients.

Martin said in California officials have generally taken the view that the US Food and Drug Administration should be the final arbiter of food safety law. At the moment FDAs position is that CBD is an unlawful dietary ingredient based on its prior investigation as a drug under the brand name Epidiolex, which has been approved to treat seizures in some forms of intractable childhood epilepsy.

An advisory put out by the California Department of Public Health follows that thinking, and has prohibited the use of CBD and/or hemp extracts in foods, beverages and dietary supplements in the state, restricting the market primarily to topical products.

We have been working since last year with Gov. Gavin Newsoms office to get that advisory overturned, Martin said. The bill had progressed rapidly through the State Assembly and then landed in the State Senate appropriations committee. Then events overtook the effort, Martin said.

The pandemic got in the way of everything and slowed things down. But we had no choice but to try to move forward. We are within 28 days of the end of the session and if we dont get a law passed by the end of August, it wont happen until next year, Martin said.

The bills language would allow the sale of foods, beverages and supplements containing hemp and/or CBD assuming that it is derived from crops that meet the federal definition of industrial hemp, which is less than 0.3% THC content by dry weight.

The bill also included language that would require firms that handle both cannabis (or Cannabis sativa raw material that has higher levels of THC) and industrial hemp to be able to demonstrate that no cross contamination of the raw material streams could occur. This would include submitting architectural drawings to demonstrate how the material flows would be segregated within a facility.

In addition, all hemp products sold in California would need to be verified by accredited third party testing laboratories.

Martin said the bills advocates are pushing hard on the economic benefits of the plan, which he believes could be a winning strategy during the sharp economic downturn that the pandemic has wrought.

California is facing its worst economy since the Great Depression, Martin said. The state just announced it is forecasting another $8.7 billion budget deficit. That is on top of the $54 billion deficit that was built into the budget they passed in June.

We remain guardedly optimistic that we can get this done, because I dont how the governor and the state legislature will be able to turn a blind eye to all of the potential new tax revenue. This is a brand new industry that will bring new jobs, Martin added.

Opening up the state to CBD products could be a huge boon to the industry. California, with its $3.2 trillion GDP in 2019, would rank as the worlds fifth largest economy if it were considered as a separate country.

Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the US Hemp Roundtable, said while the organization is intimately involved in the California bill, it is also keeping the pressure dialed up on seeking an eventual federal regulatory solution. The organization started out as a group of hemp farmers in Kentucky, and has since morphed into one that has national scope and a variety of member companies. Miller said the groups ultimate goal is to harmonize regulations nationwide.

Whats happening on the state levels has created a patchwork and has made it difficult for farmers and producers trying to sell across state lines, Miller said. Having a federal regulatory program would solve that.

Miller said there are some signs that FDA is moving forward on a CBD regulatory framework, but the organization is seeking some protection for producers in the meantime.

Wed like to see some formal enforcement discretion while they undertake the multiyear path to regulate CBD, he said.

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Advocates hopeful bill will pass this month to open California to CBD in supplements and foods - FoodNavigator-USA.com

7 Foods That Are High in Magnesium – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

From the first cereal commercial you see as a kid, you learn that you need vitamins and minerals in abundance. Like magnesium, for one. Your body needs it to function correctly, says registered dietitian Anna Taylor, RD.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

Heres how to know if youre getting enough and what to eat to keep your levels up.

Magnesium is a real heavy hitter, Taylor says. Its necessary for more than 300 enzymatic processes in the body, including:

The problem is, many people dont get enough, forcing the body to compensate.

When your magnesium levels are down, your body filters out less magnesium than normal to keep adequate levels in your body, Taylor says. But thats not a great long-term strategy.

Its usually not a problem if you have days here and there where you dont get enough magnesium. But an ongoing lack of it in your diet can lead to magnesium deficiency.

Certain conditions (and some medications) can also make it harder for your body to have adequate magnesium levels. These conditions include:

Early signs of magnesium deficiency include:

As magnesium deficiency gets worse, other symptoms may occur, including:

To get enough magnesium in your diet, experts recommend:

But before you pull out the calculator, Taylor has some advice: I rarely recommend people tally up magnesium or other vital nutrients, she says. Its tedious, difficult and ungainly. Instead, make sure to include a variety of fiber-rich plant foods in your diet every day.

Here are Taylors top picks.

Tap, mineral and bottled waters can be magnesium sources but its difficult to know how much magnesium they contain because it depends on the water source, Taylor says. Its anywhere from 1 milligram per liter to 120 milligrams per liter.

So, if you drink the recommended two liters of water per day, that could be up to 240 milligrams of magnesium.

To reach the recommended amounts, Taylor recommends eating:

Magnesium supplements can be helpful if a doctor determines that you have a magnesium deficiency. But if you have no major health problems, Taylor says you should get magnesium from your diet.

Food first is my mantra, she says. If you take a dietary supplement for magnesium and take too much, youre going to get some uncomfortable side effects, such as cramping, diarrhea and nausea.

Eating magnesium-rich foods also gives you more nutritional bang for your buck. Youre not just getting magnesium from these foods youre also getting so many fantastic nutrients, such as vitamins, other minerals and phytonutrients, she says. Phytonutrients are plant compounds that are antioxidants, immunity boosters, anti-cancer agents and anti-inflammatories.

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7 Foods That Are High in Magnesium - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Omega-3 Market To Reach USD 4.50 Billion By 2027 | CAGR: 7.2% | Reports And Data – PRNewswire

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The GlobalOmega-3 Marketis projected to reach USD 4.50 billion by 2027. The Omega-3 market is fueled by the rising awareness for food nutrition and dietary improvements. Moreover, various factors such as developing economies and subsequently increasing incomes of consumers, adoption of e-commerce and m-commerce platforms, and demand for the overall organic supplements & functional foods are expected to create enforcements in the market.

Avocado benefits, avocado benefits for skin, avocado nutrition, avocado benefits for hair, avocado oil benefits, avocado recipes, omega-3 fatty acids for dogs, omega-3 fatty acids benefits, omega-3 fatty acids capsules, omega-3 foods, omega-3 capsules, omega-3 fish oil, fish oil supplements, fish oil pills, fish oil dosage, omega-3 supplements vegan, omega-3 weight loss, to name a few are some of the most crucial corresponding factors and topics that have been influencing the market growth in many ways, have been additionally discussed in the report in detail.

Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/3393

While dietary improvement is a desirable goal for many common individuals ranging in various age bands, changing dietary patterns seems extremely hard for most of them also. Thus, it is becoming a common practice that many people are consuming additional dietary supplements to augment the daily intake of nutrients so that they may lead a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, rising numbers of patients with heart diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and eyesight problems, among others, are the reasons the demands for the omega 3 are being raised.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis:

The COVID-19 pandemic has created endless disruptions to the manufacturing or production industries due to a shortage of resources in different parts of the world. The leading players in the industry are skeptical about the market's future and try to redesign their strategies to support the challenge. The pandemic had a serious impact on the distribution chains as a result of regular lockdowns. The manufacturing industries have been disrupted due to reduced available human resources. The companies are incorporating different techniques to increase the production volume and trying to develop innovative solutions at an affordable price, which can meet customer requirements at a much lower cost.

To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below:https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/omega-3-market

Further key findings from the report suggest

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For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data has segmented the global market on the basis of type, source, end-use verticals, and region:

Type Outlook (Revenue: USD Billion; Volume: Kilo Tons; 2017-2027)

Source Outlook (Revenue: USD Billion; Volume: Kilo Tons; 2017-2027)

End-Use Verticals Outlook (Revenue: USD Billion; Volume: Kilo Tons; 2017-2027)

Regional Outlook (Revenue: USD Billion; Volume: Kilo Tons; 2017-2027)

Browse more similar reports on Health Food and Sports Nutritioncategory by Reports And Data

About Reports and Data

Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help client's make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise.

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Omega-3 Market To Reach USD 4.50 Billion By 2027 | CAGR: 7.2% | Reports And Data - PRNewswire

The Laws And Regulations On Hemp CBD In All 50 States – The Fresh Toast

The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act did not affect or modify the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) or the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) ability to promulgate regulations and guidelines that relate to hemp under. The FDA regulates a wide variety of medical and consumer products sold in the United States including food, drugs, dietary supplements, medical devices, cosmetics, and tobacco products.

The FDA has approved of the use of CBD in the prescription drugEpidiolex. As a result, the FDA has indicated in press releases, enforcement letters, and its website that Hemp CBD cannot be used in foods, beverages, or dietary supplements. This is because under the FDCA, any article that is investigated as a new drug cannot be used in food, beverages, or dietary supplements, unless the article was widely marketed in those products prior to the drug investigation.

In addition, the FDA has taken a hard line against Hemp CBD in unapproved drugs. The FDA determines whether something is a drug based on its intended use, and determines a products intended use, in turn, based on how it is marketed. If a manufacturer or distributor makes any type ofhealth claim(CBD cures cancer or CBD may treat inflammation) or human structure claim (CBD may increase levels of calcium in bones) about a product that the FDA has not investigated and approved as a drug, the FDA will consider it a drug. Foods, ingredients in foods, drugs, and dietary supplements are all subject to premarket FDA approval.

RELATED: Federal Policy On Hemp CBD Is Taking Shape: What Needs To Be Addressed?

The FDA also regulates tobacco and nicotine tightly but does not have clear regulatory authority ofsmokable hemp products, such as dried flower, e-liquid and vape pens. Thats because generally, these products dont contain any tobacco or nicotine. To clarify, the FDA likely could have regulatory authority over these products, but it hasnt established a clear jurisdictional hook.

Though the FDA is a federal agency, its policies have a significant impact on the states. Some states have aligned themselves with the FDAs position. Others have taken a more permissive approach. Many states have provided little to no guidance on the subject of Hemp CBD.

Almost 90 years ago, in 1932, Supreme Court JusticeLouis Brandeiswrote a dissenting opinion inNew State Ice Co. v Liebmann, which contained this timeless passage:

To stay experimentation in things social and economic is a grave responsibility. Denial of the right to experiment may be fraught with serious consequences to the nation. It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.

This concept of states as laboratories of democracy remains a happy incident of our federal system to this day. States can experiment with their own laws without subjecting the citizens of other states to the related risks (or, including them in the upside).

Photo by TinaKru via Pixabay

Experiments are complicated and require close observation. That can be tough when you have 50 laboratories of democracy all operating at once. Over the past few years, states have been experimenting with how to regulate products containing Hemp CBD. This has resulted in a complex system of inconsistent policies on Hemp CBD. For businesses that are distributing Hemp CBD products across the country, it seems that these laboratories of democracy have created a logistical monster.

RELATED: The Latest Report From The FDA Shows How Poorly It Has Handled CBD

Our attorneys have watched this play out in real-time and in doing so, developed a method to track how each of the fifty states treat Hemp CBD. Our approach is to answer the following questions for each state:

Guided by these seven questions, we developed a Hemp CBD risk matrix that covers all fifty states and is updated each month by a team of Harris Bricken attorneys. We look at each of the seven questions for every state and update the risk matrix accordingly.ClickHEREto download a sample of the risk matrix.

The matrix provides a snapshot of each states laws, regulations, and policies regarding Hemp CBD products. By simply updating a website or issuing a memorandum, a state regulator can totally change the legal landscape for Hemp CBD products overnight. In addition, both the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are actively working on regulations and policies that could impact the states.

The risk matrix can help your business with the following:

If you are interested in purchasing the Hemp CBD Risk Matrix, you can do so entirely online through thispage. You can also email me directly at daniel@harrisbricken.com to learn more about the risk matrix.

In addition, below are links to each post from our Hemp CBD Across State Lines series which covered each of the 50 states, as well as certain U.S. territories and Tribes. Unlike the risk matrix, which is updated monthly, these posts may be out of date due to the fast-changing nature of this industry.

States, Territories and Tribes

Daniel Shortt is an attorney atHarris Bricken. This article was originally publishedon theCanna Law Blog and has been reposted with permission.

See the rest here:

The Laws And Regulations On Hemp CBD In All 50 States - The Fresh Toast

The role of functional food and beverage in the era of COVID-19 – SmartBrief

Prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Americans were already feeling anxious and stressed. The Hartman Groups Health + Wellness 2019: From Mindfulness to Moderation report highlighted rising anxiety as a primary health issue facing consumers. Now, with more than half of 2020 behind us and with the ongoing pandemic fear of contagion adding fuel to the ever-increasing stress of daily life, it is not surprising that the issue of anxiety continues to be prominent. Routine activities such as work, shopping, dining out, and childcare have all been disrupted contributing to a national mood that feels generally fearful and uncertain.

Realizing that the resulting anxiety along with stay-at-home orders would have impacts on household routines and the pandemics role as a catalyst for engagement with health and wellness, The Hartman Group fielded a new study that coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Functional Food & Beverage and Supplements 2020 report finds that 89% of those aware of the pandemic cited disruption to their household. These disruptions and concerns are prompting reconfiguration and re-examination of daily routines.

Most households are seeing significant change to their shopping, cooking, and eating routines. To boost immunity and overall health and wellness within the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly seeking out functional food and beverage products that they believe might aid in the bodys defenses.

Engaging in comfort food consumption for emotional well-being, consumers are also proactively stocking pantries for physical health.

Our Functional Food & Beverage and Supplements 2020 report finds that almost a third of consumers say theyre consuming more supplements (31%), functional foods or functional beverages (29%). This can take the form of adopting entirely new solutions or rededicating oneself to regular use of familiar ones.

According to the report, at least half of adult consumers claim to use functional food (58%) or beverage (56%) solutions to treat or prevent a specific condition, including general prevention efforts. They tend to look to food for help with energy, weight management, digestion, and cardiovascular conditions. Beverages are used, not surprisingly, for hydrationbut also for energy, bone and joint health, and immunity.

It is estimated that almost 90% of adult consumers today look for functional benefits in their food, beverages, and, of course, supplements. Supplements are more traditionally and transparently functional, with claims around benefits and potency explicitly linking their ingredients to desired outcomes. The food and beverage space is a bit cloudier, as it encompasses both inherent and enhanced or fortified versions of products. But even the lines between supplements and functional foods/beverages are blurring, as some supplement formats (such as powders and syrups) are added to food and beverages.

These efforts to address mental and physical health reflect holistic notions of health and wellness, and consumer desire for empowerment and resilience. As one Millennial consumer told us:

This coronavirus has made me a lot more diligent about my health routinemaking sure I take my supplementson top of probiotics, getting those fermented foods in my diet, making sure I'm taking that multivitamin every day...

We have witnessed consumers during this era of coronavirus stocking up for health. A Boomer put it to us this way:

Due to COVID, I stock up on oatmeal, sardines, tuna, nuts, dried seaweed and Emergen-C drink.

The cultural spotlight has swung far away from a desire for products produced artificially and we find consumers increasingly embracing proactive wellness lifestyles, with health paradigms shifting toward "knowing thyself" through feeling well, resting, exercising, acting preventatively and above all, eating fresh, less processed, and what they view as, "good food." The consumption of "good foods" (and beverages) is an especially important part of understanding what's functional today, since consumers increasingly see foods and beverages as the foundation of wellness and consequently are seeking whole forms that are inherently nutritious.

In the days ahead, consumers will continue to expand their interest in positive nutrition with consequent focus on the inherent nutritional characteristics of unadulterated foods and beverages that cue fresh and less processed. At the same time, consumers are open to dietary and nutritional techniques to prevent or manage a wide range of health conditions but need help and expertise.

Consumers will be trying to understand more about how specific foods or beverages used to manage a health condition might be combined with pharmaceutical interventions (if needed). Successful products will call out functional, real, food ingredients that consumers associate with inherent health rather than scientific creation.

Related stories:

As CEO of The Hartman Group, Demeritt drives the vision, strategy, operations and results-oriented culture for the company's associates as The Hartman Group furthers its offerings of tactical thinking, consumer and market intelligence, cultural competency and innovative intellectual capital to a global marketplace.

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The role of functional food and beverage in the era of COVID-19 - SmartBrief

The Connection Between Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Inflammation – One Green Planet

While all of the omegas offer health benefits, as well as drawbacks, omega-3 fatty acids have received most of the attention lately.

Why are omega-3 fatty acids important?

Studies have illuminated an incredibly important connection between omega-3 fatty acids and overall health, specifically their effects on reducing chronic inflammation. A variety of clinical trials have also shown beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in patients taking omega-3 supplements.

With that said, there are a few different forms of omega-3 fatty acids and only one of them can be sourced fully from plant-based foods called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The ALA form of omega-3 fatty acids doesnt have that same powerful inflammation-alleviating effect as the other two forms.

Of course, plant-based eaters are not at a loss!

Lets take a closer look at omega-3 fatty acids, their relationship to inflammation, and how to go about getting adequate amounts in a plant-based diet.

geralt/Pixabay

Omega-3 fatty acids are part of an entire family of essential fatty acids that play important roles in your body. They are labeledessentialdue to the fact that your body cant necessarily produce them, therefore you have to get Omega-3s from your diet.

I say necessarily because theres a bit of a caveat to that based on thetypeof omega-3 fatty acid youre talking about.

Yep, as I mention in most of my posts its never simple, theres another layer to the omega-3 puzzle!

If you break down omega-3 fatty acids further, youll discover three different types: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). While ALA is a straight forward essential fatty acid, meaning that your body cant make it, certain forms of this omega-3 fatty acid can actually be convertedby your bodyinto EPA and then to DHA, but only in very small amounts.

This is where a lot of misinformation gets thrown around.

Even though your body is able to convert ALA into the other two forms of omega-3 fatty acids, its not quite enough to get adequate levels. Therefore, in order to get EPA and DHA in appropriate amounts, its recommended to turn to either food sources of dietary supplement form depending on your diet.

When you hear about obtaining omega-3 fatty acids from food, theyre referring to alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This is the most common omega-3 fatty acid in your diet and is used by your body for energy. As mentioned, ALA is also converted into the biologically active forms of EPA and DHA.

Alpha-linolenic acid is found in plant-based foods such as flax seeds, flaxseed oil, canola oil, chia seeds, walnuts, hemp seeds, and soybeans.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may be the most difficult form of omega-3 fatty acid for plant-based eaters to find as its found in animal products, such as fatty fish and fish oil. With that said, there are vegan-based supplements that source EPA from microalgae, which is the only plant-based source of this form of omega-3 fatty acids.

While EPA has a variety of roles in the body, part of it is converted into Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), which happens to be the most important of the omega-3 fatty acids.

Why is docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) the most important of the omega-3 fatty acids? Turns out that this form is a key structural component of your brain, the retina of your eyes, and numerous other body parts. Similarly to EPA, DHA is found in animal products such as fatty fish and fish oil as well as meat, eggs, and dairy from grass-fed animals.

Yet, much like EPA, DHA can be sourced from microalgae supplements.

DamianNiolet/Pixabay

Lots of attention has been shown on omega-3 fatty acids lately due to the fact that recent research has illuminated a wide variety of impressive health benefits that come along with getting the appropriate amounts of this nutrient.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to reduced depression, anxiety, and childhood specific-ADHD symptoms, better eye health, increased brain health during pregnancy and better brain function in early life, improved risk factors for heart disease, reduced metabolic syndrome symptoms, aids with autoimmune diseases, fights cancer, reduces the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, improves bone and joint health, may improve sleep, and has been shown to help fight age-related mental decline and cognitive issues.

On top of that, omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to reduced chronic inflammation, which is a bodily state that has been linked to a slew of serious health conditions and diseases. Its this link to inflammation that has many researchers curious as to the lengths that omega-3 fatty acids can be used as an agent for better overall health!

VSRao/Pixabay

Fighting chronic bodily inflammation is becoming a trend in the health world.

And for good reason!

While inflammation is a natural process where your body fights against things that harm it, such as infections, injuries, and toxins, in an attempt to heal itself, chronic inflammation takes place when this response lingers, leaving your body in a constant state of alert. Recent research has found that chronic inflammation may have a negative impact on your tissues and organs and may even play a role in a range of conditions, from cancer to asthma.

While a plant-based diet, in general, helps to fight chronic inflammation via antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids may be a key nutrient in the battle!

Omega-3 fatty acids may reducethe production of molecules and substances linked to inflammation, such as inflammatory eicosanoids and cytokines. Multiple studies have looked at the reaction between omega-3 fatty acid consumption and chronic inflammation, finding a consistent connection between higher omega-3 intake and reduced inflammation.

This has been found true in a variety of observational studies such as this Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseasesstudy performed at The Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health in Washington, DC, this analysis Effect of Marine-Derived n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on C-reactive Protein, Interleukin 6 and Tumor Necrosis Factorco-performed at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and the APCNS Centre of Nutrition and Food Safety in Hangzhou, China, and this randomized controlled trial Omega-3 Supplementation Lowers Inflammation and Anxiety in Medical Students performed at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Ohio State University College of Medicine in Ohio.

Nested Naturals Vegan Omega-3/Amazon.com

One of the benefits of switching to a plant-based diet is that it naturally helps reduce inflammation. Plant-based foods are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are all key dietary ingredients that fight chronic inflammation. While other factors play a huge role such as consuming processed foods and alcohol, drug use, and your level of physical activity and exercise a simple switch to a primarily plant-based diet can do a world of good for reducing bodily inflammation.

Of course, there are always two sides to every coin.

For instance, when switching to a plant-based diet its important to make sure youre getting all the necessary nutrients from those lovely plants. There are a few nutrients that are a bit more difficult to source from plants, including theEPA and DHA forms of omega-3 fatty acids.

Heres where a supplement can help you out!

With that said, before you dive in and start taking a new supplement, make sure to talk it over with your doctor, nutritionist, or dietitian! Every human body is different, therefore take a personalized approach by investing in professionals to help you look at your current levels.

One of the most common reasons to take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement is to make sure youre getting the appropriate omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.

Omega-6 includes polyunsaturated fatty acids, also called PUFAs. This form of omega-6 fatty acid has been linked to a wide variety of health issues including cardiovascular disease, inflammation-stimulated diseases (cancer, arthritis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, to mention a few), increase risk of strokes and obesity, and even some psychiatric disorders.While omega-6 is important for a healthy diet, too much omega-6 in conjunction with too little omega-3 is obviously very damaging.

Currently, its been estimated that the Westernised diet is said to be around a 15 to 1 or 16 to 1 ratio, which means you might be getting only 7 [percent] of the omega 3 you should be.

Implementing a low processed product, high plant-based food diet is one way of reducing omega-6, yet incorporating an omega-3 fatty acid supplement is yet another way to make sure youre getting more of that wonderful omega-3!

There is a slew of health benefits that have been linked to the specific DHA and EPA forms of omega-3 fatty acids including increased cognitive function, healthier eyes, and even better visual acuity!On top of that, EPA has been found to actually inhibit the enzyme delta-5-desaturase (D5D) which is responsible for the production of the omega 6 fatty acid known as arachidonic acid (AA).This means that the more EPA you consume, the less inflammation you may have from excess omega 6.

This also means you dont have to rely on the super complicated and slow process of the natural bodily conversation of ALA to DHA and EPA. While the body will do the work for you, it never hurts to give your body a helping hand every once in a while!

While there are a few studies that show consuming enough ALA from plant-based sources will do the trick of boosting DHA and EPA in the blood, the current government standards are actually hard to meet! Right now the US Department of Health and Human Services says we should be getting around 250 mg of EPA and DHA per day.

For those that are unable to meet that high quantity, having an omega-3 fatty acid supplement handy is a great way to easily make sure youre body is taken care of!

alexdante/Pixabay

Ive mentioned that getting adequate, balanced doses of all three omega-3 fatty acids ALA, EPA, and DHA is difficult on a plant-based diet, and therefore integrating a trustworthy supplement may be the best bet for strict plant-based eaters.With that said, there are a few plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids that also have a slew of other health benefits!

Flaxseeds are one of the most popular sources of both omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber for plant-based eaters! These teeny seeds pack a whopping punch of nutrition with one ounce (28 grams) offering 5 grams of protein, 7 grams of dietary fiber, and 6388 mg of omega-3 fatty acids. This is not to mention the levels of vitamins and minerals such as folate, choline, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium.

Along with flaxseeds, flaxseed oil is another great source of omega-3 fatty acids!

In fact, flaxseed oil is a more potent and rich extraction which means there are even more omega-3 fatty acids per serving. For instance, in the same serving size, one ounce (28 grams), youll get a 14,925 mg dose of omega-3 fatty acids. With that said, due to the fact that the product has been processed, flaxseed oil offers less of the other nutrients.

Try a few of these flaxseed recipes: Summer Stone Fruit Waffles, Wholegrain Flaxseed and Sesame Crackers, Superfood Biscotti, or this Lentil Loaf with Tomato Glaze.

Chia seeds are not only a staple in a plant-based kitchen, but theyre also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids!

When introduced to a liquid, these minuscule seeds puff up with a gelatinous coating making them perfect for plant-based pudding or as an egg-binder-substitute in a variety of baking recipes. A one-ounce serving (28 grams) offers 4915 mg of omega-3 fatty acids along with a whopping 10 grams of dietary fiber, 4 grams of protein, and moderate doses of calcium, phosphorous, and potassium.

Try a few of these chia seed recipes: Mixed Berry and Tahini Chia Pudding, Peach Poppyseed Overnight Oatmeal, Blueberry Grape Chia Seed Refrigerator Jam, or these Glow Buns Energy Balls.

Nuts, in general, are one of the best sources of healthy fat, dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, yet when it comes to getting your daily dose of those omega-3 fatty acids, youll want to focus on walnuts. One cup of chopped walnuts offers 10,623mg of omega-3 fatty acids.

Of course, its not just about the omega 3s!

Alongside those fatty acids, youre also getting a hardy dose of protein (17.8 g), dietary fiber (7.8 g), monounsaturated fat (10.5g), polyunsaturated fat (55.2g), and saturated fat (7.2g), plus a slew of vitamins and minerals primarily vitamin A, choline, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium.

Try a few of these walnut based recipes: Chinese Walnut Cookies (also has chia seeds!), Mushroom & Nut Burgers, Creamy Walnut White Sauce Pasta, Fudge Walnut Brownies, or this Potato Salad With Caramelized Onions and Walnuts.

Another great seed to include in your omega-3 fatty acid focused plant-based diet is hemp seed!These teeny seeds are rich in flavor and can be easily added to smoothies, salads, or sprinkled on top of a central dish for an extra oompf of nutrients!An ounce (28 grams) of hemp seeds offers a whopping 6,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids. Yet, hemp seeds are also a great source of protein, healthy fat, vitamin E, and minerals, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, and iron.

Try a few of these hemp seed-based recipes: Crunchy Hemp Coconut Fruit Salad, Vegan Lemon Blueberry Superfood Granola, Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta (also has walnuts!), or this Cherry Hemp Oat Bars.

While soybeans are the most plentiful source of omega-3 fatty acids, they do contain a modest amount. For one cup of cooked soybeans, you get around 637 mg of omega-3 fatty acids.What soybeans may lack in omega-3 fatty acids they provide elsewhere. That same cup of cooked soybeans offers over 22 grams of protein, over 7 grams of dietary fiber, and vitamins, A, C, and folate and minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium.

Try a few of these soybean-based recipes: Homemade Soy Milk, Spicy Coconut Plantain Soy Bean Curry, or this Soybean Noodles in Peanut Butter Spinach Sauce.

Knowing how important Omega-3 fatty acids are, its probably a good idea to learn a bit more about getting these nutrients in your diet! Plus, what about theotheromega fatty acids? Furthermore, what about healthy fat all-around in a well-balanced plant-based diet? Here are a few more resources to get you started!

Wholegrain Flaxseed and Sesame Crackers/One Green Planet

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help withchronic inflammation,heart health,mental wellbeing,fitness goals,nutritional needs,allergies,gut healthandmore!Dairy consumption also has been linked many health problems, includingacne,hormonal imbalance,cancer,prostate cancerand has manyside effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading theFood Monster App with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about theenvironmentalandhealth benefitsof aplant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter!Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please considersupporting usby donating!

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The Connection Between Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Inflammation - One Green Planet

How to boost your metabolism naturally: seven workout and diet tips from HIIT and better sleep to spicy food – T3 (US)

If youre aiming to boost your metabolism in order to lose weight and keep it off, exercise is definitely one of the best ways to do it, as well explain here. But there are other ways to speed up metabolism and lose weight in the process. Weve collected seven tips to help boost your metabolism and to kick-start your weightloss journey today. Although please note that while these ways to speed up your metabolism are easy to understand, they do require some effort to carry out.

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A slow metabolism can cause a lot of trouble over time but luckily, you don't have to put yourself through the horrors of intermittent fasting or the keto diet in order to boost metabolism although both those diets have been researched thoroughly and shown to aid weight loss, with the right application.

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An improved rate of metabolism can help you keep weight off, and generally turn you into a healthier and leaner individual. As usual, there's no instant fix to be had here, but being fit and having a faster metabolism quickly become a virtuous circle.

If you want to lose weight, you should consider applying some of the tips below to your daily routine. Who knows, they might help you lose belly fat sooner rather than later.

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Why should you try HIIT workouts? For one, it improves metabolism and burns calories long after you finished with your daily HIIT session, making you a fat-torching machine that's on 24/7. The best thing about HIIT workouts is that they can be done anywhere using any sort of equipment: you can do a full body HIIT workout in the park or even follow the ultimate HIIT workout that uses your bodyweight only (and a skipping rope).

You can also have a HIIT sessions on a treadmill, elliptical trainer or rowing machine but even if you haven't got the best home gym setup, you can do HIIT with cheap fitness equipment still available to buy online. Try to do HIIT workouts in the morning: research reveals what is the best time for exercising for weight loss.

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Eating moderately spicy food has lots of benefits and including spicier dishes in your diet can help boost metabolism too. Capsaicin, the chemical that gives chilli peppers their 'hot' taste, is said to help burn more calories and reduce the risk of obesity too. As a 2017 research cites, "epidemiological data revealed that the consumption of foods containing capsaicin was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity" and "dietary red pepper can suppress energy intake and modify macronutrient intake through appetite and satiety regulation".

In another study about capsaicinoids, "it was observed that consumption of capsaicinoids increases energy expenditure by approximately 50 kcal/day, and that this would produce clinically significant levels of weight loss in 1-2 years."

What does this all mean? Spicy food will help regulate your food intake by making you less hungry ("satiety regulation") and it will also help you burn more calories without any exercise. Granted, not many calories, but applying this small change alongside all the other lifestyle tweaks, you can effectively supercharge your metabolism in a sustainable way.

However, don't try to overdo the heat by eating spicy food all the time. As they say, "the dose makes the poison", and eating too much hot food can have an adverse effect on your digestive system.

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According to research cited by Healthline, "proteincauses the largest rise in TEF (thermic effect of food). It increases your metabolic rate by 1530%, compared to 510% for carbs and 03% for fats." As Healthline explains, the "thermic effect of food caused by the extra calories required to digest, absorb and process the nutrients in your meal."

Since digesting protein takes more effort from your body, by eating more of it you will basically work out using your metabolic system (we might be exaggerating here). Protein is also essential for muscle repair and recovery, so if you are actively working out, it is recommended to take between 1.6-2 grams of protein per body kilogram per day.

You should source protein from a variety of food stuff like lean meat, nuts, green veg and eggs. Supplementing protein is also popular among athletes: protein powder shakes are probably the most convenient way to get your protein fix on the go but you can also have protein bars or jerky as well as post workout snack.

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As well as increasing your protein intake and reducing bad fats and carbs in your diet, you should also keep an eye out for a good balance of micronutrients, minerals and vitamins. as in the case protein, these micronutrients should be sourced from vegetables, fish, lean meat etc as the natural sources contain other beneficial substances as well, not just synthesised vitamins found in food supplements.

Probiotics can also help improve metabolism and maintain a healthy gut microbiome, essential for well-functioning digestion. In a research paper published in 2013, the researchers concluded that "Probiotics may restore the composition of the gut microbiome and introduce beneficial functions to gut microbial communities, resulting in amelioration or prevention of gut inflammation and other intestinal or systemic disease phenotypes."

B vitamins have also been said to improve metabolism as they play an essential role in metabolising macronutrients efficiently. Good sources of B vitamins include legumes, eggs, lean meat and bananas

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Everyone likes to sleep in every now and then and we are not suggesting you should wake up super early every day for no reason. Waking up and going to bed roughly at the same time can help your body build a routine which in turn will have a positive effect on your metabolism too. This is especially beneficial for people who otherwise like to hit the snooze button 20 times each morning until they can roll out of bed.

Instead on going cold turkey and wake up much earlier on day one, try moving the wake up time a little bit earlier each day/week until you reached the preferred wake up time. Once you used to the new wake up time, your body will wake up automatically, even without setting an alarm.

It's also beneficial to have food roughly at the same time throughout the day so your metabolic system is at the ready when the food is on its way. Food will be digested more efficiently and quicker too if you stick to an eating schedule. Again, no need to have breakfast 8AM on the dot every morning, but having it around that time will definitely improve metabolism.

Needless to say, eating healthier food stuff can also boost metabolism significantly: fibrous food and plenty of water is key to maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

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This technique may have a very complicated-sounding name Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis and a vaguely annoying acronym NEAT but it's actually very simple. NEAT means adjusting how you live your day-to-day life, in order to be more active. You know when exercise experts say, 'Take the stairs, not the lift' and you think, 'Oh yes, good idea,' but then you don't do it? Well NEAT is actually doing things like that.

Like a lot of great ways to get fit, NEAT is perfectly straightforward in principle, but it does require some effort on your part. However the great thing about NEAT for many people is that it specifically does not involve going to the gym or setting aside time for exercise. Although of course, it can also be used as one component of a healthy lifestyle, alongside gym, running, cycling, watching Joe Wicks, etc.

Learn about using NEAT to speed up your metabolism

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Caffeine found in coffee and teas can boost metabolism significantly. Not everyone reacts to caffeine the same way and it is also recommended not to drink too many cups of coffee/caffeinated beverages in a day. Green tea has a lower caffeine content so combining coffee and green tea consumption can have better results.

Drinking more water can also improve metabolism: combine increased water consumption with more fibrous food for the best results.

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How to boost your metabolism naturally: seven workout and diet tips from HIIT and better sleep to spicy food - T3 (US)