Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) by Diet Standards

What in the world is a senior citizen (women of-a-certain-age) doing playing around with amino acids? Come on, folks, we all know that body builders, exercise enthusiasts, determined dieters, and all the ilk and kin of these folks are the ones who  use products such as this. Right? Well, sure. They exercise to build muscle and amino acids are suppose to help in the process. You can read all about it on all sorts of websites and literature that caters to the exercising crowd.  But, again, me? Why did I think I'd give the Amino HD1000 (especially a huge bottle such as this) a whirl? Well, I have heard that the elderly (such an awesome word), the seniors, and the ladies of-a-certain-age can also use amino acids to help take care of their own declining muscle mass even without all the vigorous exercise.  See the quote from a reputable website below:

Is it beneficial for basically non-exercising seniors to take amino acids? (the following quote is from ---- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2730227/)

Now that I've been using them awhile, here are my observations.

1. Sometimes I "taste" the capsule for a few minutes after taking it or them if I take two. But this is entirely because I tend to "taste" large capsules or pills - especially if it is a natural product. This goes away in a few minutes, so that is fine with me. I can handle that.
2. I think I am already seeing a bit less of a tummy. I don't know why this is or what is taking place and it may simply be my imagination, but I like less tummy!
3. I don't see any muscles building up and don't really expect to. I am truly hoping that these amino acids will help to preserve the muscle mass I currently have and perhaps regenerate some that I have lost. Am I dreaming? I don't know, but it is a happy thought, isn't it?
4. Of note: without researching this somewhat online (in addition to the previously quoted NIH.gov article) as to whether or not it is plausable or good for a senior citizen to consume this product, I would not have participated in this product review.

Branch Chain What? AminoHD 1000 BCAAs launched at Amazon recently: Don't let the name fool you. Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein.

• Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are "essential" amino acids, meaning that the body cannot synthesize them - BCAAs must be consumed through high-protein foods and/or supplements.

** Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) make up 35% of essential amino acids in muscle protein. **

Dieting Down? Use BCAAs to retain muscle mass.

Bulking Up? Use BCAAs to help build muscle mass.

BCAAs are best taken any time the body has high protein requirements and low whole food intake.

• Ideal intake times are: PreWorkout, IntraWorkout, Post-Workout, Between Meals, During Intermittent Fasting, and Before Bed.

You won't wake up after 1-day looking like a juiced up NFL linebacker.

But it just might give you the extra edge to keep and create that lean muscle tissue we're all after.

AminoHD 1000 BCAAs has only 2 ingredients: Branch Chain Amino Acids and Vegetable Capsules

• Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are shown to Support Muscle Building and Exercise Recovery!
• AminoHD 1000 is now complete with Diet Standards "MuscleDelivery Matrix" - Combines a trusted 2:1:1 Ratio of Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine.
• BCAA's + Veggie Capsules = PURE! (This is the most pure form of BCAA's you can take in a capsule.) - There are No Fillers and No other ingredients - NO: Gelatin, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, or "Pharmaceutical Glaze" (whatever that is). Just pure BCAAs!
• BCAA in Capsules: No more messy powders, sugars (real and fake), and terrible taste. Just Amino Acids that bypass your liver and directly metabolize in your muscles!

DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Stanley the Builder by William Bee - A new early literacy series (Review & Givaway)

Hardcover - $14.95
ISBN:  978156145801
Pages: 32, 8 x 8
Age: 3-7

 About the book:  Stanley is building a house. Will he make it just right?

When Myrtle buys a plot of land, she asks Stanley to build her a new house. He works step by step - from clearing the site with a bulldozer, to pouring the foundation, to painting the finished house in Myrtle's favorite colors. Luckily, Charlie helps out too. Building houses is hard work, but all three friends are happy with a job well done.

My thoughts:  Having raised two boys and three girls, we had our share of trucks, bull dozers, hammers, saws, and other stuff that makes for the building of boys.  But mind you, our three girls got their turn at sharing the tools of the trade that Stanley the Builder so enjoyed as he built a house for Myrtle.

I really miss seeing those yellow Tonka (and other brands) dump trucks, bull dozers, and other putter-putt-putt devices. Once they got to the "dirty" stage, they were relegated to yard building only. But until such time as they became encrusted in the red clay that is Piedmont North Carolina, they moved legos, Lincoln Logs, and other bits and pieces around the floor of the house.

Stanley first of all is engaged by Myrtle to build the house so the first thing to do is move  the dirt to level the area. Then comes the foundation.

I like that William Bee has in very simple story form and clear, enjoyable art laid the ground for children to understand the process involved in construction. Mom and Dad can take the child around to see their own home and talk about how the builder created the home in which the child lives.

Again, the illustrations aptly
portray what is used in building
Myrtle's House.

Between moving the dirt, laying the foundation, and Myrtle's house being finished there are pages that tell of building and finishing the home. Again, an opportunity for educating a young child in what it takes to get the roof over their head so they can have a comfortable home.

Stanley goes home after a day's hard work and relaxes at dinner before he goes to bed. 

This is sure to be good series for the young child because the illustrations are clear, pleasant, and the text is direct and simple. The book is fun, cute, enjoyable, and delightfully educational.

GIVEAWAY:  Peachtree Publisher has graciously agreed to provide one of Chat With Vera's readers their own copy of Stanley the Builder. Simply use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Begins August September 3 & ENDS September 25 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:  William Bee is an artist and commercial designer who has worked for renowned fashion houses, including Issay Miyake and Paul Smith. As well as writing children's books, he races a vintage sports car, is an international skier, and when at home tends his lawns and meadow. He lives in England.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for this review but no paid compensation. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

Foxbrim's Complete Anti-Aging Moisturizer with Retinol

Readers of Chat With Vera have already discovered that I am a proponent of using a daily moisturizer to protect, soften, and enhance your skin. Today's products offer so much more than those of yesteryear. The days of "cold cream" are gone. No longer do women need to rely on products that are simply fluffy congealed fats. While those were better than nothing, they certainly had their drawbacks and simply didn't produce the results of today's modern moisturizers.

The inclusion of Retinol in moisturizers and other skin care products hit the scene a few years ago, in fact, nearly 40 years ago. I didn't get in on that wave simply because of a couple of reasons - 1) I didn't understand how Retinol worked, and 2) I simply didn't have money to play around with many cosmetics.

Foxbrim has created a complete anti-aging moisturizer that has Vitamin A (that is what Retinol is, folks) in it - 1% Retinol which is the desired amount in non-prescription products.

I've been using the Foxbrim Anti-Aging Moisturizer with Vitamin A for about two weeks now - morning and evening. I cleanse my face and then apply a serum followed by a moisturizer. I found the Foxbrim Anti-Aging Moisturizer to be a light, creamy product that feels nice and makes a good base for applying makeup. I also found on days when I did not wear makeup that the serum plus moisturizer was nice. The cream comes in a pump bottle and it is easy to dispense the amount you desire.

I normally prefer a heavier, creamier moisturizer but would not hesitate to use the Foxbrim Anti-Aging during warmer weather when a heavier moisturizer feels a bit too much here in the hot, humid South. I do feel that I can recommend this product and really like that it is basically organic in origin.

Product Description (provided by Foxbrim) - RESTORATIVE. RESULTS. With RETINOL

The Complete Anti-Aging Moisturizer. Everything you've hoped for in a single bottle.

• Effective Retinol Complex for all of the restorative benefits without the worry. It's finally here! 
• Unveil the skin you've been wanting to show. Life's too short to wait! 
• ONLY 100% Natural and Organic Ingredients. No parabens or additives. Not tested on animals. Everything you've come to expect from Foxbrim.

What are you doing today to fight the visible signs of aging? Now's the time to fortify and enrich your skin.

DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mary (Get to Know Series - A Biography) By Nancy I. Sanders

ISBN: 9780310744801

About the book: Chosen by God, Mary was more than the mother of Jesus. She was a hero of the Bible. She said “Yes!” to God. Learn about Mary and her exciting place in history. Discover what it was like to grow up in Israel and be a part of Jesus’ life on earth. Mary - part of the Get to Know series - will teach you everything you need to know about this young woman whom God used to do great things!


My thoughts:  Having just reviewed "Paul" in the Getting to Know series, I was looking forward to seeing how the author, Nancy Sanders, brought Mary to life beyond the typical Sunday School literature and handouts. At $7 each, these little books pack a lot of information. Frankly, they are mini-commentaries wrapped in children's storybook format. As the child reads each chapter, they are presented with factoids and indepth information that is still within range for the age intended - 6-10 year olds.


This is not a "cutesie" storybook. It is indeed a reference book designed the young child in mind.  It can entertain,  but I do  not see this as entertainment material. I see this being used during family Bible study time or in the home school setting. There is a virtual plethora of information packed in this book.

The author takes the time period customs and history along with Scripture to flesh out Mary's life. I like that the simple life of a woman in the Bible, though beloved of God and chosen by God to be mother of Jesus, is told for that alone - a Jewish woman in Bible times chosen to be Jesus' mother and the wife of Joseph.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from BookLook Bloggers on behalf of the publisher, ZonderKiz, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I received no compensation for this review.

Natures True Medicine Vitamin D3 (review)

My thoughts on the Natures Ture Medicine Vitamin D3, 2000 Supplement

For a review of a product, usually I use it awhile and then tell you how I like or dislike it. With a vitamin supplement, it would take a very long time to know enough about the product to actually be able to tell you whether or not it is effective and what I think about it. So this review will focus on roughly a two-week consumption of the Natures True Medicine Vitamin D3, how I perceive this product, and what it means to me personally.

Several years ago, my primary care physician said I should take Vitamin D supplement. I took them awhile and then decided, "Enough! I'm not taking stuff I don't actually need. I eat well!" So I stopped.

Then a month or so ago, I read my medical record and saw that I actually had a vitamin D deficiency! I didn't know that before when my kind doctor said I should take the vitamin. Anyway, I got some generic drugstore vitamin D3 supplements, 1,000, and started taking them.

And then I had the opportunity to try the Natures True Medicine Vitamin D3, 2000 units, supplement. Once I started reading about the Natures True Medicine Vitamin D3 I realized that not all supplements are "created equal."

When my jar of Natures True Vitamin D3 arrived, I switched to them. Now they "look" pretty much the same. The have no taste - which I love, and so does my digestive system. The 2,000 units are double what I previously took, (1,000).

I feel confident about using these capsules and this brand. Is it better? I really don't know but I truly feel this is doing better "for me" toward correcting my vitamin D deficiency!

And here is some information I gleaned from the internet about problems with having a vitamin D deficiency: An interesting article from the Huffington Post, The Vitamin Council ,and of course there is always Wickapedia.

Product Description (provided by company)

Vitamin D3 is a vitamin that is critical to keeping both phosphorus and calcium in balance and being used properly. Dr. Oz suggests that Vitamin D3 is the second most important vitamin you can take. Many people do not get adequate vitamin D3 because they do not spend enough time in the sun. Since this vitamin is important, you want to look into vitamin D3 supplements to ensure that you are getting enough and getting the right ingredients. It's especially critiwal that your vitamin d3 does not contain the harmful  and very toxic Magnesium Stearate filler.

Anthony Norman, MD, in a recent article in Endocrine Today, stated "it is now widely appreciated by vitamin D scientists that 50% of people in North America and Western Europe are vitamin D insufficient. Given that two-thirds of the people are vitamin D-insufficient or deficient. It is clear that merely eating vitamin D-rich foods is not adequate to solve the problem for most adults."

How Much Vitamin D3 Do You Need? - Adult men and women ages 19 to 69 need to get 600 IUs each day and when 70 and over, you need 800 IUs each day, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. This is only for those with solid levels of this vitamin which a large majority of people do not have.

- Pure, Potent and all Natural Vitamin D3
- Supplement Facts: Vitamin D3 as Cholecalciferol
- Independent 3rd party lab tested, MADE IN USA
- 2,000 IU per easy to swallow softgel
- Guaranteed GMO and Preservative Free

DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Introduction to Cultures: If You Were Me and Lived in Turkey...... Portugal (Review and Giveaway)

With school resuming for the 2014-2015 school year, folks are focusing on education and one of the key fields in education that needs more emphasis is the study of geography, cultures, and peoples of the world. Today our introduction to cultures of the world takes us to Turkey and Portugal. Author Carole P. Roman continues writing her series of little books giving youngsters a glimpse into the lives of children in various countries.

TURKEY

In learning of Turkey, you first learn that it has the second largest city in the world - Istanbul; and it straddles two continents - Asia and Europe. Turkey is very old. In the year 390 the Hagia Sophia was built as a church by the emperor Justinian and over 1,000 years later it was changed into a mosque by the Ottoman sultan Mehmet II.

As in any country, folks like to eat and Turkey has food specific to that country. And you also like to shop in the market or play soccer or with your doll which is called a bebek.

 Next, the author introduces you to the names you would call your parents and in the back of the book there is a list of words in the Turkish language and their punctuation. 

Turkey celebrates with Children's Day which is a very special.

PORTUGAL

As with all of Carole P. Romans Introduction to Cultures books, we begin with locating the country on the World globe. Did you know that Portugal is the most Western country on the continent of of Europe and that its next door neighbor is Spain? 

Portugese money is called the Euro and they eat a lot of fish. You might enjoy soccer as it is a favorite sport.

They have their own holidays, too. They have a special carnival holiday with costumes, parades, and parties.

At the end of the book there is a page of words with definitions that are good to know about Portugal.

To date, Carole P. Roman has written and printed at least nine of the  If You Were Me and Lived in…… books. Chat With Vera has reviewed most of these. I invite you to read my reviews and see if these might be good books to add to the library of that special child of yours. They are especially nice to have on hand in the home school library or school classroom library.

GIVEAWAY: Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. You may be blessed to be the winner of  one copy each of "Turkey" and "Portugal" that Carole P.Roman is so generously providing. Begins September 1 & ENDS September 23  @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA addresses only. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: The author provided a complimentary copy of If You Were Me and Lived In Turkey and also .... Portugal in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not compensated for this review.

Amani Pure - Hyaluronic Acid Serum & Vitamin C Serum For Face (Review and Giveaway)

I began using vitamin c and hyaluronic acid serums for my face this summer and it was simply because the opportunity presented itself in the way of review opportunities. I have been very pleasantly surprised with the results these products have presented. I have actually tried several brands. Each performs similarly, yet I have seen some differences which my "untrained" observation has noted.

My most recent opportunity has been to use the Amani Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This product is a clear gelatinous liquid that is dispensed with a pump (see image). I use enough to spread it generously over my face, neck, and chest. I allow it to dry before applying my makeup for the day. I found that it makes the skin feel delightfully smooth and appears radiant.

I really like the very mild fragrance. I can't identify it, but it is very pleasant and gentle. I really like that this product is almost totally natural and organic. To me that means it is closer to the purity of nature. And I like that it is made in the USA.

I have enjoyed using the Amani Pure Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum for my face and like the quality of the product.

The picture below has arrows indicating how to smooth the serum onto your face. They pretty much show how I also apply the serum to my face.

GIVEAWAY: Amani Pure is providing one of Chat With Vera's readers the opportunity to win their very own bottle of Amani Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Just use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Begins August 31 & ENDS September 6 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. (NOTE: This is a SHORT/FLASH giveaway) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amani Pure on Amazon USA  Amani Pure on Amazon Canada

Product information (from Amani): NEW Dual Action Hyaluronic Acid Serum & Vitamin C Serum For Face - Skin Tightening Serum that Plumps & Hydrates Your Skin. Anti-Aging, Anti-Wrinkle, Look Younger. Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money Back. BONUS: Comes with No Mess Treatment Pump.

• Hyaluronic Acid Serum - SKIN PLUMPING & HYDRATING ELIXIR - was created from a specific blend of skin regenerative ingredients that is currently used in luxury, high-end spas all over the world.
• This Hyaluronic Acid gets RESULTS - to help fill-in fine lines, diminish the appearance of wrinkles, and stimulates collagen production. It also functions as an anti-inflammatory and a treatment for acne. Use with our Vitamin C Serum for better results. 
• Hyaluronic Acid for Face - FEELS LIKE AN INSTANT FACE LIFT - as it plumps up and hydrates dull, sagging skin while leaving your skin feeling instantly firmer, smoother and more radiant.
• Made in USA, following strict FDA Guidelines. Made with pure vegan Hyaluronic Acid and 98% Natural/ 72% Certified Organic Ingredients. 100% Money Back Guarantee. No Risk for Trying!
• IMPORTANT: With the mass influx of Hyaluronic Acid Serums on the Market, it's important to know and understand the ingredients that go into these anti-aging serums. Beware of cheap, low grade products.

DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.