By coming to this website, you have possibly shown interest in window shopping, looking around to see what the marketplace has available, and which natural remedies might be the right fit for your needs and wants. It can be a little overwhelming – so many great products to look at; so many offerings to consider as possibly suitable for you.
If you are like most people in search of the right supplement(s) or nutrient(s), you already have a few products in mind, perhaps even some of the “big hitters” in this world, the superstars. Those that come to mind include berberine, turmeric/curcumin, and vitamin B12, among others. But once again, in the ninth edition of this series, we’re here to let you in on some little secrets – there are also supplements or their ingredients that you don’t know much about but which are worth checking out.
In this blog, we take a quick look at three items – alpha tocopherol, horse chestnut extract, and black currant oil – that you will probably never find on a theater marquee, but which might surprise and even delight you for what health benefits they can offer.
Alpha tocopherol. Described in some quarters as “the most active form of vitamin E,” many health experts cut to the chase and treat alpha tocopherol as synonymous with vitamin E, pure and simple. One and the same. So please excuse us as we switch back and forth in using either AT (alpha tocopherol) or vitamin E in summarizing this substance, most often found as a component of a natural remedy. The first thing to know about AT is that it is a robust antioxidant, first and foremost, slotting it as a substance that can help protect cells from the harm often dished out by free radicals. In similar fashion, vitamin E can also boost immune function, guard against blood clots, and enhance skin health with the capacity to moisturize skin while thwarting unwanted inflammation. AT might also contribute to the health of your eyes and help ward off chronic diseases. Some foods with an abundance of vitamin E include meats, dairy products, and leafy greens.
Horse chestnut extract. The name doesn’t sound particularly appealing in terms of something you would actually put in your mouth and then swallow to take up residence in your body, but let’s live a little, okay, maybe even healthier thanks to this natural remedy? Horse chestnut extract, sourced from a tree native to the Balkan Peninsula, is best known for its anti-inflammatory action capable of helping to relieve pain and inflammation. It also might be suitable to treat hemorrhoids and male infertility linked to swollen veins. Its main active component is aescin, which is believed to be able to enhance blood flow where needed. Two of horse chestnut extract’s other key components are quercetin and kaempferol glycosides – a pair of antioxidants praised for their prowess at fighting back against some diseases.
Black currant oil. This might sound like an alien substance familiar to longtime fans of the classic TV series “The X-Files,” but black currant is the real deal when it comes to promoting heart health, counteracting inflammation, and protecting your eyes. What, you ask, are black currants? They are dark purple berries that sprout on shrubs. Some of them look like darker versions of blueberries; other types are red and white. Black currants have an abundance of antioxidants and nutrients that can work for you in a variety of ways such as reducing the risk of heart disease and helping in recovery after a strenuous workout, or bolstering digestion and strengthening your immune system. Menopausal women like it (if they know about it) because it might also help delay or at least slow down bone loss from osteoporosis.
Although each of these three natural remedies offers an assortment of health benefits, always be sure to discuss their use with your personal physician or other healthcare professional to make sure they are a good fit for you.