The answer is an unequivocal “yes” across the board. In this blog, we take a good look at five supplements or herbs that begin with the letter ‘R.’ Any or even all of these are what you might want to keep handy at home or packed inside your bag(s) for when you are headed out of town on a trip (just so you don’t forget to take them and therefore break your daily regimen).
We do this periodically – pick a letter of the alphabet, one we haven’t used in a long time, to introduce (or re-introduce) you to herbs or supplements you haven’t heard (or it’s been a while) but which we would love to tell you about.
That’s what we are here for – to help keep you informed of what’s available in the marketplace and perhaps lead you toward a natural remedy (or remedies) that is/are a great fit for whatever health issue or outcome you are seeking at this time. As always, we caution you to also make it a point to discuss your possible use of any of these herbs or supplements with your personal physician or other healthcare professional. Always know what you are putting in your body and what might already be there in the form of prescription medicines that could conflict with an ingested supplement.
Five Supplements/Herbs that Start with an ‘R’
In alphabetical order:
Raspberry Ketones. These are natural chemicals that give raspberries their sweet scent. More pertinent to health considerations, though, there is anecdotal evidence that raspberry ketones in supplement form have the potential to burn off body fat and help with weight loss. This was shown to be the case in a limited study in which test subjects daily, for four weeks, ingested 200 milligrams of raspberry ketones together with 1,200 mg of vitamin C and ultimately lost both weight and body fat.
Reishi Mushrooms.These big, shiny mushrooms stand out from the thousands of other types of mushrooms found on this planet because of their many medical uses as a natural remedy. Reishi mushrooms have a centuries-old track record in traditional Eastern medicine for their capacity to bolster cardiovascular function, improve memory, and detoxify the body. They have also shown promise in strengthening the immune system, fending off fatigue, and treating asthma, dizziness, insomnia, and irregular heartbeat. It’s no wonder reishi mushrooms have such a great reputation for boosting long-term health and longevity.
Resveratrol. Resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes among other sources, is a polyphenol. That puts it in a group of compounds believed to work like antioxidants in helping to guard our bodies from heart disease, among other unhealthy chronic conditions. Popular for its reported anti-aging and disease-thwarting prowess, resveratrol has also shown an ability to ward off insulin resistance, a condition whereby the body becomes less receptive to the hormone insulin’s capacity to reduce blood-sugar levels. Diabetics take note.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2). Riboflavin is a vitamin compound whose functions include breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats residing in your body in such a way as to enhance your body’s ability to use oxygen. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to unhealthy symptoms such as itching and burning eyes, soreness on your tongue, and itching and peeling skin on the nose and scrotum, along with other symptoms.
Rutin. The first thing you should know about rutin is that it belongs to a class of substances known as flavonoids, which are abundant in many plants, fruits, and vegetables. That means rutin, as an antioxidant (and a powerful one at that), is able to fight off and limit damage caused by those ornery free radicals roaming around in our bodies looking for trouble. Furthermore, rutin is an anti-inflammatory and antiviral agent that can also enhance blood flow, help maintain a healthy blood pressure, and increase the efficacy of vitamin C.
So there you have it, a summation for each of five supplements, each beginning with an ‘R’ and with its own multifaceted potential to somehow, some way, improve your health, as needed. Be sure to discuss your use of any of these with a physician or other healthcare professional before you take the leap on any of these. Don’t be wary; just be aware and careful.