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I see that you sell many different brands of vitamins and supplements. Which brand is right for me? Everyone's taste is different. The brand that you use is your preference. We carry brands that we believe in. We strongly recommend the NSI® brand of vitamins and supplements, but it is your choice to decide which brand to purchase. Back to top |
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Are the items you carry pharmaceutical grade? We carry a tremendous amount of items, not all of them pharmaceutical grade. Please read the description of the product on this web site to see if the product is pharmaceutical grade. Back to top |
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Do your probiotic products ship refrigerated? No, they do not. We keep our products in a temperature controlled environment in our warehouse, but they are not refrigerated. Back to top |
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Are all of your products kosher? No, they are not. Only the ones specified as kosher on our web site are kosher. Please visit the "Kosher" section of our web site to view our kosher products. Back to top |
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I see that in some of the products you have some fillers listed in the ingredients. Why is that? Excipients and dilutions are a necessary part of encapsulation. As a general rule of thumb, products need a dilution or excipient in order to accurately make the capsule. It is added only for the purpose to ensure accurate fill weights and product distribution into each capsule. This in no way compromises the potency of our products. Back to top |
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I am interested in your fish oil products by NSI. What types of fish does the oil come from? Mostly coldwater fish, such as mackerel and salmon. Back to top |
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What is the source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin? Glucosamine sulfate is an artificially synthesized salt of glucosamine made from oyster and crab shells. Chondroitin sulfate is also derived from animal products, including shark and cow cartilage. Back to top |
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Where does your MSM come from? Our MSM (OptiMSM®) is from Cardinal Nutrition in Vancouver, Washington. This the purest form of MSM made in the world today. Back to top |
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Where does Phosphatidylserine come from? PS belongs to a special category of fat-soluble substances called phospholipids, which are essential components of cell membranes. It is derived from soy. Back to top |
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Where does L-Arginine come from? L-Arginine comes from sugar. The sugar comes from sugar cane Back to top |
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What is the source of NSI® Acetyl L-Carnitine? Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl is synthesized from amino acids. Starting with the L-Carnitine base, it is reacted with Acetic Acid and HCl to get Acetyl L-Carnine HCl. Back to top |
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What is the source of NSI® policosanol? Policosonal is extracted from sugar cane. It can come from beeswax or other plants, but the policosonal we use is from sugar cane. Back to top |
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On your NSI® Fruits and Vegetables supplement, what does concentrated 100:1 mean? It means that we use 100 pounds of fruit to make 1 pound of concentrated fruit powder. Back to top |
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I see on some of your products that ingredients are measured in “CFU.” What does that mean? CFU means "colony-forming units". In Microbiology, a colony-forming unit (CFU) is a measure of viable bacterial numbers. Unlike in direct microscopic counts where all cells, dead and living, are counted, the CFU measures viable cells. A sample is spread or poured on a surface of an agar plate, left to incubate, and the number of colonies formed are counted. CFU number is not an exact measure of numbers of viable cells, as a colony-forming unit may contain more cells. Back to top |
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Are softgels better than capsules? Easy-to-swallow softgels are fast becoming one of the preferred dosage formats delivered by pharmaceutical companies. One of the biggest benefits of softgel products is their ability to encase liquid formulations and allow companies to deliver highly therapeutic oils and vitamins in liquid form. Natural products such as Cod Liver Oil and Fish Oil are a rich source of goodness, and a therapeutic dose can be successfully incorporated into a softgel product. Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies can now use softgels, widely used for immediate-release products, for controlled-release delivery to enhance the absorption of poorly soluble compounds. Improved absorption and bioavailability formulations can enhance bioavailability or produce quicker onset of action. NSI® is proud to provide consumers with many products in the softgel form. Back to top |
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How long does it take for your capsules to dissolve? Suppliers must meet the same USP (United States Pharmacopeia, www.usp.org/ ) disintegration requirements. So virtually every supplement and pharmaceutical product on the market, using gelatin capsules, will dissolve in approximately the same time. Digestion time in the stomach is generally 2-4 hours, depending on the type of food and amount of stomach acid (e.g. complex carbs take longer to digest than simple sugars). It then moves to the small intestine for 5-6 hours and then to the colon for 12-24 hours. Nutrients are absorbed throughout the digestion process. Back to top |
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When looking at the homeopathic medicines you carry, they have their own unit of measurement (6x, 30x, 100x, etc). Which one is the strongest and which one is the weakest? Homeopathic remedies are defined by potency. This is stated by how many times the original material has been removed within the formula. So, a 6x is actually closer to the original essence than, say, a 100x. By the time it gets to 100x, there is but a mere shadow of the main ingredient material. Depending on the condition being treated, and the sensitivity of the person, the "shadow" may be as effective as a 6x. For most people, the 6x is sufficient and not too strong. Back to top |
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I have an arthritic condition and do not know how much calcium to take. Can you help? Calcium has many important biological roles in humans, the most important being to support bone health. The average person needs about 800-1,300 mg of calcium every day, which is the equivalent of three to four servings of dairy products. Most health professionals recommend that you get your nutrients from your diet first, so calcium-rich foods are the first thing they recommend. There are many forms of calcium, and certainly for women with osteoporosis, calcium supplementation is recommeneded. It is highly recommended for women in the middle-age group, because it may actually help in prevention of this disease.
Not only that, but calcium is also important for many normal functions in the body, such as blood clotting, transmission of signals in the nerve cells, and muscle concentration. It may also help in the reduction of high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
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I am hearing a lot about Coenzyme Q-10. What can you tell me about it? Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or ubiquinone, is a naturally occurring, vitamin-like nutrient in every cell of the body. Found in highest concentration in cell mitochondria (where energy is produced), its primary function is to help with the conversion of food and oxygen into energy. CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant and may help neutralize damage-causing free radicals. Although CoQ10 is involved in every bodily process that requires energy, it's believed to be of fundamental importance in cells with high metabolic demands, such as cardiac cells. The heart, with greater energy requirements than other organs, contains twice as much CoQ10 as any other tissue in the body. Studies show that CoQ10 supports healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels while also promoting healthy immune-system function. Studies in Parkinson's disease indicate that between 400 mg and 1,200 mg daily is safe and may be effective at slowing progression of this crippling disorder. Optimal benefit was obtained at 1,200 mg per day. Other studies indicated CoQ10 clearly can protect brain cells (neurons) from deadly free radicals. CoQ10 may also help with periodontal diseases, especially gingivitis. Research indicates that the gum tissue of individuals with periodontal disease is significantly deficient in CoQ10. Supplementing may provide the increased energy production needed by cells to maintain healthy gum and mouth tissue. Levels of CoQ10 decline with age, which may result in less efficient organ function because of reduced energy supply. Some scientists studying aging believe the decline of energy production within the cell is the main cause of cell death and dysfunction that occurs with aging. Statin drugs, taken for high cholesterol, also deplete the body of CoQ10. Although found naturally in foods such as fish, organ meats and peanuts, supplementing with CoQ10 provides a potent dose of this important nutrient that may be lacking in your diet.
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I see that you sell some varieties of coffee. What are the benefits of coffee? Coffee has shown an ability to improve such conditions as migraine headaches, kidney stones, gallstones and asthma. Coffee also boosts athletic performance by improving the body’s ability to release fat from storage and burn fat rather than carbohydrates during heavy exercise. Coffee’s reputation for increasing blood pressure is not deserved because the increase is barely measurable in most people and is almost always temporary – it does not contribute to chronic high blood pressure. Also, coffee has the ability to increase cholesterol, but only if you prepare it without a filter. Coffee filters effectively remove the oils that contribute to the raising of LDL cholesterol. Back to top |
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I see that some of your products are hypo-allergenic. What does that mean? The term hypo-allergenic is used to describe products that are free of binders, fillers, excipients, dyes, and common allergens. Back to top |
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I see in some ingredient listings, the term "Standardized at 10%, 20%," etc. What does that mean? A standardized ingredient is one that guarantees the precise concentration of what is considered the active, or pharmacological, ingredient of the product. When an ingredient is not standardized, the amount of the key constituent cannot be determined nor can it be consistent from one capsule to the next. Ingredients that are standardized provide consistent, maximum nutritional benefits. Back to top |
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What is the difference between Glucosamine Sulfate and Glucosamine Complex? Glucosamine Complex contains three different forms of glucosamine: glucosamine sulfate, n-acetyl-d-glucosamine, and glucosamine HCl in addition to vitamin C and manganese. Some health care professionals feel that this provides broad-spectrum joint support not achieved with Glucosamine Sulfate alone. Glucosamine Sulfate remains the most well-researched form of glucosamine. Back to top |
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What is the difference between glucosamine HCl and glucosamine sulfate? Glucosamine sulfate is a form of glucosamine that is easily absorbed and has been extensively studied. Potassium chloride is added to provide product stability. Some professionals believe that their clients may experience enhanced joint support from the sulfate and potassium that this particular form provides. Glucosamine HCl is believed to be a slightly more stable form of glucosamine and has been only recently studied for joint support. Both have been shown to support joint health. Back to top |
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I am trying to lose weight, and I have been hearing some good things about CLA. What can you tell me about it? CLA is short for “conjugated linoleic acid.” Our CLA, by NSI®, is a clinically proven and patented conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) formula. CLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid, derived from safflower seeds (a premium dietary source of CLA). Studies have shown that CLA inhibits lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fat from our diet so that it can be absorbed and stored in the body. By suppressing this enzyme, CLA helps reduce the amount of fat deposited and stored throughout the body. Each NSI® Tonalin® XS-CLATM softgel features clinically proven and stimulant-free Tonalin, containing 72-82% CLA, up to 35% higher than other brands. Tonalin® XS-CLATM helps to increase lean muscle, which burns more fat calories, resulting in natural slimming. In a trial published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Tonalin® XS-CLA® was shown to reduce body fat mass (BFM) in healthy, but overweight adults. Because you're reducing body fat, not water, the weight loss is more permanent and healthy. As evidenced by multiple studies published in Cancer Research, CLA is an effective antioxidant, shown to impart immune-boosting properties. Research also suggests that CLA may reduce the inflammation that occurs when the immune system is challenged. Various animal studies have shown that Tonalin® XS-CLA® may also offer benefits for arteriosclerosis by lowering both the LDL ("bad") and total cholesterol, along with triglyceride counts.
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I am taking medication prescribed by a doctor. How do I know that a particular product is safe to take with the medication I am currently taking? You should always contact your physician or a pharmacist to make sure a product is safe to take with the medication you are currently taking. Back to top |
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I want to order a product, but you do not seem to carry it. Is there a way you can start carrying it? We love to hear your product recommendations and requests. On our home page, www.vitacost.com , you can click on “Request a Product,” and fill in the appropriate information. That request goes to our purchasing department for review, and possible ordering. Back to top |
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Where is your magensium stearate derived from? It is derived from coconut and palm oils Back to top |
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