Herbs, Etc. of Santa Fe, NM, revamped Herbsetc.com to offer shoppers herbal healthcare information, answer frequently asked questions and let customers buy products directly.

Data from a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology suggested that aged garlic extract (AGE) lowers blood pressure and inhibits arterial calcification. Researchers from Harbor-University of California conducted four placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized trials involved 161 individuals. Everyone took 1,000 mg of AGE (as Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract from Wakunaga of America) or a placebo for a year. Overall AGE stopped the progression of artery calcification by 1.78-fold over the placebo. Diastolic blood pressure also went down.

The International Taste & Quality Institute honored Carlson Laboratories of Arlington Heights, IL, with Superior Taste Awards for Carlson The Very Finest Fish Oil (lemon, orange), Cod Liver Oil (lemon), MedOmega (lemon-lime), Super D Omega-3 liquid (lemon) and Carlson for Kids Cod Liver Oil (fruit splash).

Bluebonnet Nutrition of Sugar Land, TX, says that its manufacturing facility is now a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility registered by NSF International. Its Extreme Edge sports nutrition line has also earned the NSF Certified for Sport seal.

Bloomingdale, IL-based NOW Foods says its commitment to Vitamin Angels to donate 40 million vitamin A doses to Vitamin Angels by 2020 is ahead of schedule. Therefore, the company announced it will give an additional 20 million projected doses through 2016. The firm made its 40 million doses donation in honor of its 40th anniversary in 2008.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, July 2015 (online 6/11/2015)