Supplementing your health
In a 2013 article, which appeared in Forbes.com, titled “Nutritional Supplements Flexing Muscles As Growth Industry,” contributor David Lariviere writes: “One of the fastest growing industries in the world is the nutritional supplement group, or more broadly known as Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements, or VMS. Producing about $32 billion in revenue for just nutritional supplements alone in 2012, it is projected to double that by topping $60 billion in 2021 according to the Nutritional Business Journal.”
It should come as no surprise that the increasing prominence nutritional supplements play in everyday life dovetails with the maddeningly hectic pace of modern living, with men and women nowadays multitasking throughout the day and taking on even more professional responsibilities in the face of a volatile economy and a fiercely competitive job market. In the mad rush to stay ahead, people have replaced nutritional homecooked food for their meals with processed food that has little to no nutritional value, supplementing their body’s nutritional needs with a variety of dietary supplements that helps fortify their health from succumbing to the stresses at work and at home.
One of the most reputable sources of nutritional supplements is General Nutrition Centers (GNC), “a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- based American commercial enterprise focused on the retail sale of health and nutrition-related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, diet, and energy products.”
With a global network of stores, GNC in the Philippines has been around for over 20 years and is still growing with branches in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Of the wide array of nutritional supplements that GNC Philippines (www.gnc.com.ph) carries, its clientele has been paying more attention to GNC Herbal Plus Turmeric and GNC Super Foods Black Cherry Concentrate — and with good reason. Studies have shown that these gifts from nature have health benefits that range from helping boost cognitive function and supporting joint and muscle health (turmeric) to aiding in the relief from joint pains and muscle injury (black cherry), conditions that are the unfortunate byproducts of the unhealthy lifestyles of modern societies.
A graduate of Medicine at the Far Eastern University, Class 1988, with a practice in Integrative and Complementary Medicine, Dr. Victor Vesuna extols the value of nutritional supplements. “The life span of Filipinos these days is increasing, and they want to live the best way they can. They don’t want to get sick and, worse, be hospitalized. Nowadays, people are well-informed: They Google for information, they read, and they are more open to natural treatments and health supplements than just plain medication which can be harsh.”
An increasing number of people are turning to the black cherry to address colds, whooping cough, bronchitis, and other lung problems. Studies have also shown black cherry to be effective against diarrhea, gout, digestive disorders, and pain, and beneficial in cancer treatment.
Margie Cerrada, a doctor in education, says that GNC Super Foods Black Cherry Concentrate has had a “big impact on me because it improved my health, particularly my arthritis. It helped me walk well and even go up and down floors.” She adds that it has made her “even look younger, and I’m already 71 years old.”
Many studies have shown turmeric to fight body-wide inflammation, boost detoxification, support cardiovascular function and even natural weight loss. Better still, turmeric has been shown to promote youthful radiant skin.
Herbal Plus Turmeric and GNC Super Foods Black Cherry Concentrate are available at GNC stores nationwide.