Hot Deals for the Holidays Shopping in December 2013

Hot Deals for the Holiday Shopping in December!

Our partner store team has been working on some great deals to help you make the most of the holiday shopping season with SHOP.COM. We’re hosting an incredible Holiday Giving Extra Cashback Event, with amazing extra cashback deals from stores like Barnes and Nobel, Bloomingdales, Groupon and many more.  Leverage the power of SHOP.COM this holiday season with these amazing extra cashback offers!  Share them with your friends, family, team, and customers, so they can take advantage of these amazing deals too!

Increases:

• Claire’s – Was: 4% CB, Now: 6% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v249289-c.xhtml)
• Peruvian Connection – Was: 2% CB, Now: 4% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v243964-c.xhtml)
• Cheryl’s – Was: 6% CB, Now: 9% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v243931-c.xhtml)
• Barefoot Tess – Was: 0% CB, Now: 5% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v250899-c.xhtml)
• Greencupboards – Was: 4% CB, Now: 5% (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v248519-c.xhtml)
• AHAlife Holdings, Inc. – Was: 4% CB, Now: 5% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v247958-c.xhtml)

Hot Deals and Exclusive Offers: (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/Hot+Deals-t.xhtml)

• Bloomingdales: (4% CB) Save now at the Bloomingdale’s Private Sale! Hurry ends December 26^th, 2013!
• Kohl’s: (2% CB) Kohl’s Friends & Family Shopping Days. Spend $100 or more; Save 25% through December 9. Promo Code: FF25DEC
• Macy’s: (3% CB) Macy’s Friends & Family – Save 40-60% + an Extra 25% off Winter Bedding at macys.com! Offer valid 12/3 to 12/9
• JCPenney: (3% CB) In Store & Online 15% off. Online only 25% off $200 or more. Apparel, Shoes, Accessories, and Home. Hurry! Ends 12/7
• Kmart: (2% CB) Exclusive Savings! EXTRA 10% off at Kmart.com with orders of $75 or more! Use code: KMART10PSAVINGS
• Target: (2% CB) Cyber Week – New Daily Doorbuster Deals! Valid 12/01-12/07
• Saks Fifth Avenue: (2% CB) Designer Sale! We’ve taken up to 40% off. Select Styles. Shop now! Online & In-Stores
• Victoria’s Secret: (2% CB) PINK Favorites Collection. 2 for $30 and 2 for $40. Shop now at Victoria’s Secret!
• Coach: (2% CB) The Semi-Annual Shoe Sale! Shop now.
• Webroot: (20% CB) HOLIDAY SPECIAL! Save more than 60% on Webroot SecureAnywhere 2014 products. The Fastest & Lightest Security Available! Limited Time Only!
• Home Decorators Collection: (4% CB) Free Shipping on Seasonal Décor! Ends 12/16.
• QVC (4% CB) Holiday Free Shipping! Shop now!
• Sears (2% CB) Better things happen with Sears! Save $5 off $50 with Code SEARS5OFF50!
• Lids: (5% CB) Take 20% off orders of $60+, plus free shipping at Lids.com!

Now LIVE: Holiday Giving Extra Cashback Event (12.05.13 to 12.26.13)

• Aldo (US) – Was: 4% CB, Now: 6% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v250376-c.xhtml)
• Anthropologie – Was: 3% CB, Now: 5% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v249716-c.xhtml)
• Barnes & Nobles – Was: 3% CB, Now: 5% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v247299-c.xhtml)
• Beyond The Rack – Was: 0% CB, Now: 2% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v244777-c.xhtml)
• Bloomingdales – Was: 2% CB, Now: 4% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v243223-c.xhtml)
• Competitive Cyclist – Was: 6% CB, Now: 8% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v248445-c.xhtml)
• Crocs – Was: 2% CB, Now: 4% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/-v243496-c+.xhtml)
• David’s Cookies – Was: 6% CB, Now: 8% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v246423-c.xhtml)
• DogFunk – Was: 6% CB, Now: 8% (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v249149-c.xhtml)
• Dress Barn – Was: 4% CB, Now: 6% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/-v246175-c+.xhtml)
• Entertainment – Was: 6% CB, Now: 8% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v252098-c.xhtml)
• Fab – Was: 4% CB, Now: 7% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v249868-c.xhtml)
• Free People – Was: 3% CB, Now: 5% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v249588-c.xhtml)
• FTD – Was: 8% CB, Now: 10% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v242908-c.xhtml)
• Groupon – Was: 4% CB, Now: 6% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v244632-c.xhtml)
• LivingSocial – Was: 2% CB, Now: 4% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v247749-c.xhtml)
• Maurices – Was: 4% CB, Now: 6% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v245045-c.xhtml)
• McAfee – Was: 25% CB, Now: 30% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v250305-c.xhtml)
• Mighty Leaf Tea – Was: 2% CB, Now: 6% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v244707-c.xhtml)
• MiniInTheBox.com – Was: 4% CB, Now: 8% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v249926-c.xhtml)
• MyJewelryBox – Was: 8% CB, Now: 12% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v242991-c.xhtml)
• Sally Beauty – Was: 4% CB, Now: 9% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v247741-c.xhtml)
• Stumpz – Was: 12% CB, Now: 16% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v243556-c.xhtml)
• The Popcorn Factory – Was: 5% CB, Now: 14% CB (http://www.shop.com/customizeme/v244364-c.xhtml)

Bromelain Benefits Have Power to Heal

Bromelain Benefits 
Have Power to Heal

Research suggests that this pineapple-sourced ingredient can help you protect, repair and recover from injury and illness. 
By Deedra Mason, N.D., Clinical Faculty Member 

Fruits have always brought with them a plethora of health benefits. Vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients and more come from just about any fruit imaginable. And yet, science is always finding new, amazing benefits around every corner.

Take the pineapple. Not only is the fruit rich in vitamins and minerals, but its stem contains a mixture of enzymes known as bromelain — one of the most researched ingredients in the nutritional supplement world over recent years thanks to its variety of benefits.

Bromelain Infographic - Try it Here

Healing, Inflammation Benefits
Therapeutic doses of bromelain have been shown to “[reduce] edema, bruising, pain and healing time following trauma and surgical procedures” until the body has completely healed, according to published studies in Alternative Medicine Review.
As a treatment for injuries such as muscle strains and torn ligaments, bromelain proved to be successful in “[reducing] swelling, pain at rest and during movement, and tenderness” while also reducing “effects of unaccustomed exercise and accelerate [the] recovery of muscle tissue.”
Bromelain’s inflammation benefits go beyond sore muscles and exercise, though. Those with sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinus cavity due to infection, allergies or autoimmune issues, have also benefited from bromelain. One study found that 85 percent of individuals who took bromelain “had complete resolution of [sinusitis] and complete resolution of breathing difficulties.”

Arthritis Benefits
Numerous studies have been conducted
on the benefits of bromelain as it relates to arthritis; in particular, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. And, with more than 50 million Americans affected by some form of arthritis, it’s not hard to find someone looking for relief. For many of those people,

bromelain could be a key to rediscovering their old selves.
Researchers have found that bromelain research “looks promising” and “may provide a safer alternative or adjunctive treatment for osteoarthritis.” 

One study found that a four-week regimen of bromelain supplementation “resulted in significant decrease in pain and stiffness in patients with knee osteoarthritis.”

Cancer Benefits
Perhaps most promising is bromelain’s potential for cancer patients. This exciting research — while still in its infancy — could provide the basis for new non-invasive treatments that can help millions upon millions struggling with the variety of forms this disease takes on.
For example, research out of Norway has found bromelain demonstrates the ability to “significantly and reversibly reduce adhesion, migration and invasion” of primary brain tumors, or gliomas. The study’s authors wrote that, “to hinder the migration of the invasive glioma cells without negative impact on neighboring bystander cells represents an attractive treatment approach ... [Bromelain] may provide a complementary treatment strategy in combination with surgical removal.”

Another recent study supports the hypothesis that bromelain does more than support
more conventional cancer therapies; rather, it directly affects a specific genetic marker associated with cancerous inflammation. According to researchers, bromelain causes
cancer cells to die while not affecting healthy, outlying cells.
This is due to bromelain’s properties as
a protease enzyme, which helps dissolve non-needed structures, such as scab
material once healing has occurred. Cancer cells “protect” themselves from detection by shielding themselves in a protein layering. Protease enzymes like bromelain help break down that layer, thus making it easier for your body to fight off the cancerous cells. These enzymes activate a so-called “cellular house cleaning” important to the maintenance of cellular health.
The potential benefits of bromelain are astounding. Helping everything from
daily aches and pains to some of modern medicine’s most concerning health conditions, bromelain can provide not only a treatment, but a preventative measure that can keep us healthy day in and day out. 

Doubling Daily Intake of Protein Promotes Weight Loss while Saving Muscle- Its a Win Win!

Typically when people think of weight loss, they think of restricting calories or food groups, such as carbs. And many may think that adding more protein to their diet will pack on muscle, which may lead to weight gain. But in addition to be satiating, increasing your protein intake may help you lose weight while maintaining fat-burning muscle, according to new research. 

The latest research, published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, finds that doubling one’s daily intake of protein will prevent the loss of muscle mass while promoting fat loss during short-term weight loss.

According to researchers at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, who conducted the study, the 31-day regimen followed three groups: Those who took the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of protein, those who doubled that amount, and those who tripled their protein intake.

What is the RDA of Protein?

Protein RDAs are calculated using 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. A 175-pound man should, according to this calculation, take in approximately 63.5 grams of protein each day.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has simplified the equation into basic requirements.  According to the CDC, the average adult man should take in 56 grams of protein a day, while the recommendation for the average adult woman is 46 grams of protein a day.

The Protein Study

After observing all groups and controlling their diet and exercise regimens, they concluded that the group that doubled their RDA saw increased muscle mass and fat-burning benefits compared to the group following the U.S.-recommended protein intake.

The group whose protein intake was tripled did not see added benefit beyond the group that doubled their RDA, researchers concluded. According to lead researcher Dr. Stefan Pasiakos:

We believe that the RDA for protein should be based on a level to optimize health, as well as prevent deficiencies, and our data demonstrate a potential inadequacy of the current RDA for sparing muscle mass during weight loss, which may affect a significant portion of the population. 

"The average male and female should be consuming approx 120 grams of protein per day"

Finding it difficult to get your optimal amount of protein?  Try a quality shake or bar.

     Protein is an integral part of any healthy diet and it should be considered just a diet food we all need protein to give our body the energy to get through the day and it plays an important role in regulating body weight

Protein keeps you full for little longer and keeps your metabolism in high gear.

One other nutrient most people aren't getting enough of is fiber.  Fiber goes far beyond digestion and regularity - fiber rich complex carbohydrates such as fruits vegetables and whole grains keeps us feeling full for longer.

Fiber stabilizes your blood sugar and gives you longer-lasting energy but not only that but fiber can help maintain healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels those are just some the reason is important to get enough protein and fiber throughout the day.  Unfortunately that's not happening for most of us because we are eating convenience foods that are sorely lacking in protein and fiber.

GLUTEN FREE

Many people are gluten sensitive and many others who can benefit from reducing the amount of gluten they consume.  Gluten is the sticky substance in wheat and other products responsible for the elastics texture of dough that can draw water out of the intestines and feed bacteria in the intestines that can cause gas, bloating and indigestion.

Gluten even a mild sensitivity to it has been shown to spark systemic inflammation.  Even the smallest amount of gluten can have a prolonged inflammatory effect in the body if you're sensitive.  Traditionally eating gluten-free means cutting back on fiber intake from whole grains or missing out on vitamins you normally get from fortified foods

Choice Protein Bars

That's what's so great about Choice Bars.

----- not only are they gluten-free but they give you the protein and fiber you need 

it's absolutely a win-win

Get your protein and lose the weight while saving your muscles.

Ingredients That Improve Bone-Joint Health

Bone and joint health is one of the most common areas of health that people deal with on a daily basis. The numbers back it up:

• The CDC reports that 30 percent of Americans experience some type of joint pain each month. That number increases depending on who’s doing the reporting.
• One in five people suffer from chronic pain and the same amount, according to the CDC, have been diagnosed with arthritis by their doctor.
• By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

These statistics have led to a surge in the bone & joint health industry, as experts predict that the sale of bone and joint supplements will exceed $9 billion globally by 2017. This booming market has led researchers to identify the top ingredients for bone and joint health – not from a marketing perspective, but to let the public know what actually works to help improve your bone and joint health.

Outside of calcium and vitamin D – long proven to benefit your bones – there are a multitude of ingredients and products claiming to improve your bone and joint health. So what works? Recently, the experts weighed in, and here’s what they found:

Vitamin K: The correlation of vitamin K to cardiovascular and bone health directly focuses on supporting proper calcium utilization. Known as the calcium paradox, it simply means getting calcium in the right place: into the structure of the bone structures instead of the artery walls). One particular form of vitamin K – vitamin K2 – promotes the synthesis of proteins involved with calcium utilization, thereby supporting bone retention and arterial health.

Magnesium: According to researchers, up to 80 percent of people do not get enough magnesium. This can have a lasting effect on bone & joint health, as magnesium is a critical component of the mineralized part of bone and supports the normal metabolism of potassium and calcium in adults. Magnesium – the fourth most abundant mineral in the body – also supports more than 300 enzyme systems, including nerve function, adaptation to stress, metabolism and more.

Glucosamine: Naturally produced by the body and a key component of cartilage, glucosamine is concentrated in joint cartilage, and has been scientifically proven to support healthy joint function and promote the normal production of synovial fluid, which lubricates your joints and regenerates cartilage.

Omega 3s: We’ve written about the benefits omega 3 fatty acids have on inflammation before, and the bone and joint health industry is catching up. The American Heart Association has recommended omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the risk of inflammation not just to improve your heart health, but your overall health, as well.

One ingredient the experts failed to mention that has been shown to help the body’s inflammatory response is Pycnogenol. Research has shown that Pycnogenol – a water-soluble, flavonoid complex extracted from the bark of the French Maritime Pine tree – may inhibit the activation of NF-kappa B and AP-1, both of which are proinflammatory mediators. In addition, studies have shown the ability of Pycnogenol to cross-link collagen fibers and strengthen connective tissue proteins.

Probiotics, Cholesterol and Heart Health

Posted by Dr. Mark Lange

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that, by 2030, cardiovascular diseases will affect approximately 23.6 million people around the world.  High blood cholesterol is a factor in 45 percent of heart attacks in Western Europe and 35 percent of heart attacks in Central and Eastern Europe.  Heart attack risk is three times higher in those with hypercholesterolemia, compared to those who have normal blood lipid profiles.

The Pros of Probiotics Infographic

Keeping blood cholesterol levels within normal ranges typically includes exercise, monitoring dietary intake and drug therapy.  However, pharmaceutical agents to control cholesterol are expensive, often suboptimal and have negative side effects.

Cholesterol is made in the liver from bile, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the upper portion of the small intestine after food intake.  Bile acts as a biological detergent, used to emulsify and solubilize dietary lipids.  Bile is made from cholesterol, and any in fact, about half of the bodys cholesterol is used to make bile.  Under normal conditions, bile is reabsorbed into the bloodstream from the intestinal tract and taken up by the liver.

Probiotic bacteria – especially Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus and Clostridium– produce enzymes that convert bile into a less soluble form which is excreted in feces before reabsorption into the bloodstream.  Replacement bile, lost in excretion, is then replenished by drawing upon serum cholesterol as the building material; leading to a reduction in serum cholesterol. Oral administration of probiotics has shown to reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 33 percent in animal and human studies.  These cholesterol-lowering effects can be partially ascribed to bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity.

Here is an abbreviated list of bacteria having demonstrated ability to lower serum cholesterol through BSH activity in randomized controlled trials.  There are dozens of bacterial species having BSH activity, but to be used as a probiotic, it must be safe for human ingestion and have tolerance of physiological stresses: e.g., low pH, osmolarity change and bile.

• Bifidobacterium breve
• B. infantis
• B. longum
• Lactobacillus acidolphilus
• L. casei
• L. fermentum
• L. rhamnosus
• L. plantarum

The cholesterol reducing effect of probiotics is also attributed to their ability to bind with cholesterol in the small intestine.  In vitro studies reveal that the capacity to bind cholesterol and the amount of cholesterol assimilated varies widely among strains. Interestingly, although live bacteria remove more cholesterol than dead cells, heat-killed cells also will remove some cholesterol, indicating that cholesterol binds to the cellular surface.

Increasingly, it is being demonstrated that many aspects of general health begin and reside in the metabolic processes surrounding digestion. The benefits of probiotic activity in relation to cholesterol levels is one such example.

Did you know...

 "Oral administration of probiotics has shown to REDUCE CHOLESTEROL LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 33%"- in animal and human studies.

What Makes NutriClean® Probiotics Unique? 

NutriClean Probiotics

Diversity of strains, total bacterial count and protection of the probiotics are key elements in a powerful probiotic product. The digestive tract is home to 400-500 different types of microbes. These microbes include both healthy bacteria (probiotics) and potentially unhealthy bacteria. Maintaining optimal digestive and immune health depends in large part on maintaining optimal bacterial balance within the digestive tract. With such tremendous diversity naturally present in the digestive tract, it is important to supplement with not just one strain, but numerous strains of probiotics, so that the most comprehensive benefit is received.

Many products on the market deliver a high total probiotic count, but they are only coming from one or two strains. These practices yield products which do not deliver comprehensive support. According to research published in Food Research International, probiotic products which deliver multiple strains can offer more benefits than a single strain. Market America’s NutriClean Probiotics delivers 10 billion CFUs from 10 different strains with patented LiveBac® and Bio-tract® technologies to help keep the probiotics viable during both bottling and throughout the digestive process.*

Each strain has a unique purpose and the strains work synergistically to support numerous areas of health from immunity to stomach comfort and bowel regularity. Your body is a bacterial battlefield. As with a true battle, there may be lots of different types of good guys and lots of different types of bad guys. On “Good Guys Team” (NutriClean Probiotics), you have the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. Each component of the team brings a unique area of expertise and, working together, they achieve their goal. When your good guys are outnumbered, you don’t want to just bring in more Navy, you need a variety of strong, capable resources with unique talents.

“The Good Guys Team” (NutriClean Probiotics) are 10 carefully selected bacterial strains – six lactobacilli strains and four bifidobacterium strains – each with a unique role to help your body maintain bacterial balance and optimal digestive health.  

ShopBuddy Makes Online Shopping Simple!

ShopBuddy is an incredible feature on SHOP.COM that makes finding the best deals online a piece of cake. Recently we’ve made some new updates and enhancements to this great tool which will help make your shopping experience with us even better!

We’ve got a new video to help explain how ShopBuddy works, and how you can use this incredible feature to make the most of your online shopping experience! Downloading ShopBuddy is quick and easy, and can really help you save money when shopping online.

Have a look at this great video below, and make sure to share it with your friends, family and help them save big!

Dr. Oz: Fight Wrinkles With Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Watch Dr. Oz to see how it works

Dr Oz talking about it...

Before you waste your money on expensive creams and lotions you need to exfoliate your skin.  This is the best way to exfoliate your skin
Alpha Hydroxy Acids work by removing the top layers of dead skin.  Watch Dr. Oz to see how this helps reduce wrinkles and restores your youthful look.  This is one of the most important anti aging moves your can make.




Fight Wrinkles With Alpha Hydroxy Acids!

Timeless Prescription Advanced Hydroxy Face Peel and Neutralizer is a two-step process that removes dead skin cells, and provides an antioxidant defense that leaves skin looking smoother, younger and healthier. The peel combines powerful alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids with vitamins A, C and E, and herbal extracts to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. Green tea extract and chamomile soothe the skin after the peel in the antioxidant-packed neutralizer.

Timeless Prescription

Primary Benefits of Timeless Prescription® Advanced Hydroxy Face Peel and Neutralizer:

• Promotes smoother, younger, healthier-looking skin
• Supports skin thickness
• Preserves skin’s water balance
• Soothes skin
• Combats negative effects of pollution and UV rays
• 4.0 pH is optimized for maximum effectiveness and safety
• Measured dose pads provide accurate application
• Applicator pads are disposable and hygienic
• Promotes even skin tone, minimizing the look of discoloration
• Increases radiance by removing skin-dulling dead surface cells
• Visibly reduces pore size and may help prevent breakouts by supporting normal oil production
• Promotes clean, even, firm texture
• Provides professional-quality exfoliation
• Face peel removes dead skin
• Neutralizer helps give skin a smooth, healthy appearance