Bluebonnet Nutrition Standardized Bilberry Fruit Extract 80 mg. - 60 Vegetarian Capsules
Bluebonnet's Standardized Bilberry Fruit Extract Capsules provide Mirtoselect from Indena, a standardized extract of anthocyanins, the most researched active constituents found in bilberry fruit. A clean and gentle water-based extraction method is employed to capture and preserve bilberry's most valuable components. Bluebonnet Nutrition Standardized Bilberry Fruit Extract is available in easy-to-swallow vegetable derived capsules for maximum assimilation/absorption and for a truly vegetarian/vegan formula.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take my prescription medication and supplements?
Please consult your doctor and pharmacist before combining prescription medications and nutritional supplements due to the lack of information about drug/nutrient interactions in the body.
Can I take herbal supplements during pregnancy?
Please consult your doctor and/or healthcare practitioner before combining prescription medications and herbal supplements due to the lack of information about drug/herb interactions in the body, especially during pregnancy.
Is magnesium stearate a safe excipient?
Magnesium stearate is a compound comprised of stearic acid (a naturally-occurring fatty acid) chemically bound to the element magnesium. It is used only when necessary, in very small quantities as a lubricating agent in the manufacture of supplements. Without such lubrication many ingredients would "stick" to the processing equipment, building up and interfering with the filling process. The first thing to realize is that stearic acid is very common in the human diet, comprising as much as 25 percent of total fatty acid intake and is considered a neutral fatty acid (i.e., does not increase LDL or decrease HDL cholesterol levels). Stearic acid occurs naturally in some of our most prized foods, including chocolate, Brazil nuts, coconut, dairy products, Macadamia nuts, and a variety of meats such as beef, lamb and pork. Second, because stearic acid is very digestible, it lacks the ability to interfere with nutrient absorption in any significant way. After absorption stearic acid is taken up into the liver, where it is rapidly converted to oleic acid, the highly desirable mono-unsaturated fatty acid found abundantly in olive oil. This is most likely why studies have repeatedly shown that stearic acid does not elevate LDL, total cholesterol or triglycerides. The issue of magnesium stearate's impact on immune function has also been raised. Studies have been cited that purport to show adverse effects on mouse B and T-lymphocytes. These in vitro studies are completely irrelevant for two reasons. First, extraordinarily large concentrations of stearic acid were used. Second, a crucial enzyme needed for stearic acid metabolism is present in human immune cells that mice do not have. No adverse impact on human health has ever been demonstrated for stearic acid at any reasonable intake. Finally, they use only USP (pharmaceutical grade) magnesium stearate, derived solely from non- hydrogenated palm oil is often less than 1 mg per capsule, when needed as a flow agent.
What is Bluebonnet's source for crystalline fructose?
The source of their crystalline fructose, which should not be confused with high fructose corn syrup (HFSC), is corn. However, no corn protein or genetic material is present (i.e., polymerase chain reaction [PCR] negative) and would not induce an allergic reaction in persons who are sensitive to corn.
What is the source of the gelatin in their softgels?
The source of their gelatin in their softgels is bovine. However, they do have several products that have a vegetarian softgel derived from corn, including Bluebonnet's Trimology LFO Vegetarian Softgels for weight management and Vegetarian DHA 100 and 200 mg Vegetarian Softgels, for eye, brain and maternal health.
What does it mean to be Kosher Certified?
Kosher, meaning "fit or proper" in Hebrew, refers to foods that are prepared and eaten according to a complex set of Jewish dietary laws, including what foods may be eaten at the same meal, how animals are slaughtered, and the use of food additives (for example, kosher salt is free of additives such as iodine). The kosher symbol tells consumers that a certifying agency has inspected the production process from beginning to end.
Keeping kosher has become synonymous with quality, cleanliness, purity and eating foods that have been manufactured at a higher standard, Bluebonnet products bearing the KOF-K Kosher Supervision emblem have been carefully supervised with each ingredient tracked to its origin and strict rules imposed on hygienic processes.
The general role of herbs is to support and protect bodily functions and processes. In fact, they have been used traditionally to implement a shift in underlying physiological processes so that the body can readily defend itself and/or adapt to any situation at hand. More specifically, herbs have been used safely and effectively since the time of recorded Eastern and Western history for an endless list of reasons, such as general health and wellness, healing, immunity/resistance, weight and stress management, raising and renewing body vitality/energy, and a whole cadre of structure/function applications in the body.
Aside from their medicinal qualities, herbs can also provide the body phytonutrients it does not always receive from either a poor diet or environmental deficiencies in the soil and air. Herbs contain a variety of active constituents that generally act in a wider, more general, less specific way than most single ingredient therapies. As previously mentioned, recognition of the potential health-promoting effects of plants can be traced back to ancient civilizations, including Egypt, China, Greece and India, as well as the Native Americans in the New World. In fact, many of the medicines currently available on the market today originally came from plants that have been part of the daily diet for centuries. Indeed, the writings of the 5th century Greek physician Hippocrates support the notion,
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."
Standardizing herbs is a process that ensures a precise amount in each serving of the particular active constituent(s) in a given herb, proven to have specific pharmacological benefits. Standardization requires control from every aspect of the agricultural and manufacturing processes and beyond to guarantee a consistent product every time. Bluebonnet's herbal products with standardized extracts are manufactured without using any harmful solvents and are made of the purest herbal raw materials available on the market today.
Nutrition to the Fifth Power
Bluebonnet Nutrition was founded in 1991 on the basic principle that they offer the cleanest, purest, most natural nutritional supplements offered exclusively through independent natural food retailers. Today, Bluebonnet Nutrition is proud to say that they still honor this commitment and that their devotion is true and loyal. The landscape of nutrition is changing rapidly. However, Bluebonnet Nutrition is not simply changing with it. Bluebonnet Nutrition leading the way. Since the launch of Bluebonnet Nutrition's company in the heart of Sugar Land, Texas, they have carefully sowed the seeds of success by our unwavering pledge to the five powers of Bluebonnet Nutrition: Nature, Science, Quality, Truth and Knowledge - one power for every petal of the Texas state flower from which they take their name.
The Best the Earth Can Offer
Bluebonnet Nutrition's first commitment has always been to nature. Not only so they can identify nutrients that are good, pure and wholesome, but also so they can harness nature's power and benefit from its strength. Bluebonnet Nutrition searched the world for locations where climate, temperature and soil converge to grow the finest raw materials. Conducting frequent on-site inspections, Bluebonnet Nutrition's ingredient selections are never based on price, but instead on one simple criterion: Is it the best the Earth has to offer? To preserve nature's freshness, they purchase raw materials in small quantities. And when ingredients enter their warehouse, they are quarantined and sent to Bluebonnet Nutrition's on-site quality assurance laboratory to undergo raw material identification and microbial testing. If a nutrient does not meet Bluebonnet Nutrition's stringent quality standards, it cannot be used in Bluebonnet supplements.
Everything Purple Starts Off Green
Bluebonnet's dedication to nature does not end with ingredient selection. Bluebonnet Nutrition's is an enterprise-wide effort that encompasses environmentally sound manufacturing practices and operations and green initiatives that support the philosophy of a whole new generation of health-conscious, "green" consumers who believe in reducing our dependency on fossil fuel, sustainability and social responsibility, which involves giving back to our communities, country and world-at-large, Specifically, Bluebonnet Nutrition has implemented conservational practices from instituting a corporate-wide recycling program, to using recyclable paper and corrugated packaging and shippers whenever possible, as well as biodegradable packing materials that dissolve in landfills, to printing their marketing materials with soy-based inks. Plus, Bluebonnet supports efforts and teachings on ecological preservation, which is why Bluebonnet Nutrition contributes to two non-profit organizations, United Plant Savers and American Botanical Council, devoted to sustainability and education. In addition, not only does Bluebonnet Nutrition manufacture in their own environmentally- friendly, state-of-the-art facility, but they use alternative energy sources (e.g., wind and solar) whenever possible to help reduce their carbon footprint. And most importantly, in the spirit of giving back, Bluebonnet embraces its civic responsibilities by contributing to the Houston Buyers Club, whose core mission is to improve the quality of life for people with health-related conditions through nutritional education and affordable nutritional supplements.
Innovation is Only Natural
With over 100 years of collective industry experience in nutritional science, Bluebonnet Nutrition's product development team is not only ensuring that Bluebonnet supplements are safe and efficacious, they're also committed to developing cleaner, more effective formulas. In fact, Bluebonnet has been the first to launch some of the industry's most innovative ingredients, such as ubiquinol, licorice flavonoid oil (Glavonoid), grape seed extract, vegetarian SOD (GliSODin) and nucleotides. And in a highly competitive, uninspired protein beverage market, they have included the latter two revolutionary ingredients in the most unique protein formulas to hit the market in years: Super Earth Phytonutrient Soy Protein Powder and Multi-Action Whey of Life Protein Powder.
Setting New Standards
Quality may be the most overused word in the world today. Nonetheless, for nutritional supplements, what could be more important? That is why Bluebonnet Nutrition built their own 100,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art kosher manufacturing and distribution facility with earth-friendly, pharmaceutical-grade systems that are setting new standards for quality assurance. Plus, they have also invested in the arduous process of kosher certifying our products. Since keeping kosher has become synonymous with eating foods that have been manufactured at a higher standard, Bluebonnet products bearing the KOF-K emblem have been carefully supervised with each ingredient tracked to its origin and strict rules imposed on hygienic processes. In addition to applying kosher quality standards to their operation, Bluebonnet Nutrition manufacturing process meets the rigorous model established by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia - even though they don't have to. By the time a Bluebonnet supplement appears on a store shelf, it has been subjected to stringent examinations for potency, purity, uniformity, hardness, disintegration and dissolution. And not just by in-house quality control technicians, but by respected independent laboratories. That is quality that will last even after you have opened the bottle.
Just the Facts
There are so few absolute truths in the world today - except when it comes to nutritional supplements. Nutrients are either in the supplement or they are not. Bluebonnet Nutrition makes sure they are. Not only does Bluebonnet Nutrition manufacture 90% of their products in-house, they employ a unique practice called "content uniformity" to ensure a consistent nutrient blend from batch to batch. It is part of Bluebonnet's commitment to the natural products industry, as well as their own principles. Before a Bluebonnet supplement arrives at a natural food store, it is analyzed and evaluated by lab technicians. Through HPLC assay tests, Bluebonnet documents with 100% accuracy that what is on the label is in the bottle. Bluebonnet Nutrition even performs accelerated stability tests to ensure that potency levels will be maintained through the expiration date. Bottom-line, on Bluebonnet labels, what you read is always what you get.
Meeting Nutritional Needs
Bluebonnet offers a complete line of natural vitamins, minerals, multiples, amino acids, proteins, herbal extracts, and specialty supplements, such as antioxidants, CoQ10/ubiquinol, glucosamine, omega fatty acids, fiber/digestive aids, probiotics and food supplements. All made without unnecessary colors, flavors, fillers, binders or excipients. Choose a "delivery system" that suits your lifestyle: caplets, mini-caplets, softgels, chewables, liquids, powders or Kosher vegetarian capsules. Your loyalty and trust in Bluebonnet's nutritional supplements is greatly appreciated by the Bluebonnet family.