QSpeed Nutritionals CoQ10 Fast Melt Tablets Review #QSpeedCoQ10

I’m always looking for a way to boost my body naturally. But I want things that have been proven to work. Not the latest “flash in the pan” fad supplement that some talking head on TV claims is a miracle pill or will cure all that ails me overnight. So about a year ago, when I turned 30-*mumbles* years old, I started taking CoQ10. It is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in the body, but tends to decrease with age. But taking a handful of supplements every morning and night gets…tiresome to say the least. Enter QSpeed’s Fast Melt CoQ10 200mg tablets.

Used for years now to aid or combat everything from blood pressure and heart disease to even asthma, chronic fatigue, and high cholesterol. The jury is still out as to whether it aids at all in exercise performance, fatigue or diabetes. In fact, it’s been all but disproven to be effective against things like Alzheimer’s disease. So if you temper your expectations, QSpeed’s CoQ10 can become an indispensable tool in maintaining your overall health and wellness.

A novel approach to getting your daily dose of healthy stuff is gummies. Or fast-melt tablets. I’ve already reviewed the former a while back, but now it’s time for the latter. QSpeed’s novel approach to a healthier lifestyle is their naturally-orange-flavored 200mg CoQ10 fast melt tablets. Coming in a 40 count blister pack, and lacking that usual chalky mouth feel, it’s even sugar free (though it does have mannitol and sorbitol), gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, soy, milk, dairy, corn, sodium, preservatives, and uses non-GMO ingredients. No preservatives or artificial flavors. Just what you want, none of what you don’t, quick, easy and simple. The taste is actually pretty good too. QSpeed has hit a lot of good metrics here, but for me, it missed the boat in one: Price.

The 40 tablets are currently priced at about $25. The recommended dose is one to two tablets per day. You can find comparable products for much less, as long as your OK with taking a pill the old fashioned way. So what it comes down to is convenience versus price. If you hate pills, or are just tired of taking them, then this is your huckleberry.

Connect with QSpeed Nutritionals:

• On the web
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On Pinterest
• Buy from Amazon
• #QSpeedCoQ10

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Speed Nutritionals.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Advertisement

Diet Standards: AMINOHD 1000 Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) #AminoHD1000AmazonReview

I received from Poliquin Group, the opportunity to try Branch Chain Amino Acids and quickly knew it was something my Husband would like.  Below is his review of the product and the details. .

I’ve been using supplements now for almost 2 decades. I know what works for me and what doesn’t. I use very few because, honestly, most of them are junk and don’t do squat. Of the few I’ve taken with regularity, BCAAs are some that I feel work for me. So when Diet Standards offered to let me try their product in exchange for an honest review, I jumped at the chance. There’s some good stuff, and a little bad here, so let me explain.

Ingredients (as listed on the site):
AminoHD 1000 BCAA contains only Branch Chain Amino Acids and Vegetable Capsules. Nothing else deserves to be in your BCAA supplement. – Ingredients: L-Leucine (250mg per capsule), L-Isoleucine (125mg per capsule), and Valine (125mg per capsule) in Vegetable Capsules (Vegetable Cellulose).

-The Good-

These BCAA’s are very competitively priced in this market. You get 450 500mg capsules for $29.99. That’s a fantastic value. They advertise no fillers or artificial ingredients, and as near as I can tell, there aren’t any. I’ve opened the capsules to mix with my post-workout shake, and mixed some in with my pre-workout drink as well. No horrid taste that I can detect. As far as results, I exercise to maintain my health, strength, and fitness level, not to get fitter, bigger or stronger. So in that regard, I give the product high marks, now two weeks in, for being not all the different than the “optimum” branded product I was using before. No better, and no worse. So that should be high praise indeed.

-The Bad-

The recommended servings are INSANE. 2 capsules between meals, before workouts, and after workouts That’s a LOT of damn pills, people. Unless you’re looking to get jacked up like, say, a Ronnie Coleman, that’s massive overkill. And that many BCAA’s without an extremely intense, long workout are a total waste. Also, the capsules are kind of flimsy, which leads to the powder “leaking” out, or getting crushed easily, or popping open. No bueno. But if that’s the price I pay for a more natural gel capsule, I’ll live with it. Just keep a zip-top baggie handy if you need to transport them.

Overall, these are a tremendous value for the quality, and I’m glad I got to try them. I can say that when this bottle is done, I’ll probably be ordering another. Thanks again, Diet Standards!

Connect with Diet Standards on:

• Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Diet Standards.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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.

Swaggable: Belegenza RoMANce Deep Conditioning Treatment #Review

 

I read up on Belegenza and their products on-line. Belengenza’s (bel-a-jen’-za) name is made up of two italian/latin words, where Bel meaning beauty and Gen for genesis. The company’s website was very informative and they make hair products that fit everyone’s needs. Their products are gentle but effective and very in tune with nature by using natural ingredients.

I used the shampoo and let’s see how the conditioner plays with my hair!

Belegenza RoMANce Deep Conditioning Treatment: A formula made to nourish your hair from tip to tip. Helps replenish moisture and also keep it there, but also encourages a healthier growth due to it being kind to your scalp. Referred as the “energizer” due to it’s combination of naturally derived ingredients, this deep treatment is perfect for fine to even coarsely textured hair. You have again the very welcoming Aloe Vera as a base and 3 different kinds of seaweeds to nourish your strands. It does not stop there, also Jojoba essence, Honey, Coconut extracts and oils from Olives and Lanolin. Don’t forget your vitamins, Belegenza also feeds your hair with a healthy dose of Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E. A powerful combination of ingredients and also free of fillers, sulfates, silicone, alcohol…..well, let’s say with the smoothie craze at an all time high, the above blend is surely going to feed your hair!

Ingredients as listed on their site: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hypnea Musciformis (Hawaiian Seaweed) Extract, Gelidiela Acerosa (Gulfweed Seaweed) Extract, Sargassum Filipendula (Red Mapleweed) Extract, Sorbitol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Metosulphate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Honey, Cetyl Alcohol, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Secret Salon Ingredient, Acetyl Tyrosine (Amino Acid), Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Lanolin Oil, L-Cysteine (Amino Acid), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Pyridoxine HCL-5-Phosphate (Vitamin B6), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), Panthenol, Oleyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Benzophenone-4, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Phthalate-free fragrance.

Performance: The treatment again smells so good when applied that it is seriously aromatherapy in the shower. I applied a small amount and it dispersed well through out my hair. A little goes a long way and I left the conditioner on for 5 minutes. Rinsed out nicely and you get instant softness and shine. I towel dried my hair and then proceeded to blow dry. You can feel moisture is locked-in but not the heaviness. My hair still had it’s natural body and lift, so it does deep condition without that flat and even greasy film some deep treatments leave behind. Belegenza had none of that! My hair was easy to style and I felt the treatment did help and especially with the stress my hair gets from heated elements like a flat-iron to blow drying. The RoMANce is definitely there because Belegenza loves my hair but forgives me for not always being the best gal to it.

Price Point: $36.00; Trial size bottle available for $17.00

Again very happy with the performance of the Belegenza products and how they left my hair feeling and looking healthy.

For more information on the above product or to view the full Belegenza line, please visit:

• On-line- https://belegenza.com/product/romance-deep-conditioning-treatment/
• Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/Belegenza
• Twitter- https://twitter.com/Belegenza
• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/Belegenza

I received the above product free of charge from Swaggable and Belegenza.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

POMx: The Pomegranate Capsules by PomWonderful #Review

If you know me by now, or even just a little, it is well known that I am a Pomegranate addict. I love incorporating the fruit with savory and sweet foods alike, or just drinking a glass reduced with sparkling water because nothing makes me smile more than a fizzy POM drink. I have been drinking POM branded drinks from back when all their teas and juices came in an actual glass bottle. I still have a POM tea glass that I use today.

When I saw the POMx pills come out, I was super curious and just could not wait to get my paws on them. Paws has pills!

What does POMx offer:

One capsule is the equivalent to the antioxidant dosage you would get from a 8 ounce glass of 100% Pomegranate juice. That is a powerful little capsule and even though I love the flavor of the juice, sometimes I just do not want the calories so this fits well being zero calories. POMx states in their pamphlet that there are more antioxidant properties in their capsule versus any other 100% natural antioxidant supplement! You get 1000mg of natural Pomegranate Polyphenol extract in every capsule. No artificial sugars, colors/dyes, or fillers. No preservatives and the pills Vegan and Kosher friendly. The capsules are made with the same California Pomegranates that POM makes their juice from and I am also a fan of their fruit.

Free Radicals and why you should “x” them out:

This super-pill helps with the everyday exposure to free radicals. Free radicals are those molecules/atoms which destabilize and start to misbehave but in a seriously bad way. It goes beyond just sending them to “their room” because they have the potential to damage the cells in your body. A damaged cell does not seem like a big thing since it’s not like we don’t have plenty of cells running through our bodies. The theory is that cells become oxidative. Think of cells like sticks of dynamite, alone and unlit the sticks cause no worry or hazard. Have someones drop a match and you have trouble! Once this trouble starts, you want to quickly diffuse it. Diffusing it would be where the naturally occurring antioxidant superoxide dismutase comes in. It’s what takes the potential harm away from a healthy cell……It’s the bucket of water!

Antioxidants are helpful in reducing and preventing damage from free radical reactions because of their ability to neutralize the radical without forming another.

This has led to the theory that large amounts of antioxidants with their ability to decrease the numbers of free radicals, might lessen the radical damage causing chronic diseases, and even radical damage responsible for premature aging.

Where I come in on this:

I feel aging is a part of life and it’s not like taking these pills will provide us with magical shoes that will allow us to remain young. I am a strong believer of making the best of what you have and just not putting out a welcome mat for ailments if I can help it. I go by proven facts that reducing inflammation helps and a diet rich in antioxidant foods is usually not shunned by anyone. Pomegranates are placed highly on the scale when it comes to antioxidants and if they could help with other things like aging and maybe saving me from ailments….I’ll take it.

POMx was very clear when it came to the claims and made sure to use “preliminary studies” in their wording. Clinically tested and 15 studies have been published regarding the POMx pills.

I took the leap and was happy with the daily pills. I felt the same effects like do when I take the juice, which is also great in preventing or relieving bloating. Think of a cranberry but with a superhero’s cape, that is how I see Pomegranates.

Price Point: 1 month supply of 30 superpills is $29.95, plus $4.95 for a trial bottle. You can opt auto-shipment on a monthly basis (cancel at anytime) and the shipping fees are waived. Save if you have them ship quarterly (3-month supplies when shipped), where each bottle is then $25.95 and shipping is still free. Cheaper when it comes to each pill yielding the same benefits you would get if you purchased the juice and consumed 8 ounces of pomegranate juice a day. POMx provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so they do stand by their products.

Get your POMx fix at:

• On-line– https://shop.pomwonderful.com/pills/buy_pills.aspx
• POM on Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/pomwonderful
• POM on Twitter– https://twitter.com/pomwonderful
• Capture the fruit in pictures on Pinterest– http://www.pinterest.com/pomwonderful/

I received the above product free of charge from POMx.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Swaggable: The Honest Kitchen FORCE Dehydrated Dog Food

Our mutt is the type of dog that finds the cheapest toys the most fun to play with but when it comes to food, she is offended by the oddest of things. Actually gives me that face questioning if I am serious about her eating something she is particularly not fond of (at that second) and then comes the waiting game. I try to wait until she eats it and she waits until something else (better) is served. I have seen this dog eat a Flaming Hot Cheeto (extra hot edition), so she does not convince me she has some kind of “refined” palette after she ate that! I also find her liking raw carrots one day and not the next, so this is her plan to drive me crazy. I don’t appreciate how she acted like they were radiated and left me a exploded carrot by her dish as a sign of protest!

In comes Force, a dehydrated whole foods product by The Honest Kitchen. First thing that catches me eye, it states “Human Grade” on the package. Okay, I’m not even sure everything I eat is such a grade so this definitely is the dog one upping me! The flavor sounds more like a dish you order, Free-Range Chicken with Vegetables and Fruit (grain-free). Makes my all-beef hot dog I had for dinner not so special now, even though I opted for spicy brown mustard 🙂 You have other details like a Guaranteed Analysis disclosure, which let’s you know the crude protein, fat, fiber to even caloric count. The food is made in an FDA inspected facility! So, this is all good but does the Cheeto Bandit approve?

Simple Preparation:
I added Organic Low-Sodium beef broth I had left over from making stuffing to the dehydrated food. Think instant oatmeal for dogs when preparing this dish for your pet. The food actually smells like chicken and contains potatoes, celery, sweet potato, apples, organic alfalfa to even organic flax seed and herbs like basil and rosemary. You mix the package with 1/3 of a cup of warm water (foo-foo broth in my case), wait about 5 minutes and serve. The food absorbs the liquid and you do not even need to stir, so no need to walk in with the “dog’s spoon” that must be put in the dishwasher ASAP.

Mutt Approved:
I did the above and served it. The pooch inspected and sniffed and then wagged. If she wags while eating and looks back but continues eating, that means it’s a “Yay”. If she sniffs, looks back and then comes over and looks at your hands to see if you got anything else to offer the Dog Goddess, it’s a “Nay”. The goddess approved and I did not get my paws checked for other offerings. She ate it all and cleaned her bowl better than my dishwasher cleans that last glass in the corner!

I thought the idea of making my own wet food for my dog would be……well, icky but this is not only a Honest Kitchen product but a clean one. It’s simple and easier than making a cup of soup in the microwave, and that means no microwave is needed and no mixing required. She loved it and the ingredients are remarkable. Force loves their furry consumers more than some companies like us humans! You can also opt to serve the product alone or as a topper for their kibble, so you can skip on adding any liquid. I also like that 10 pounds of Force food makes 40 pounds of fresh food! Force products are also GMO free, Gluten free and produced in the USA by a family owned and operated business.

Connect with Force at:

• On-line – http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/force
• Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheHonestKitchen
• Twitter- https://twitter.com/honestkitchen
• Pinterest- http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/stay-connected

I received the above product from Swaggable and Force, free of charge. I am not obligated in providing positive/favorable feedback, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the brand and/or it’s products, which may differ from yours.

Swaggable: Cloud Star’s Dynamo Dog Functional Treats Hip & Joint (Bacon & Cheese)

I received a package of the Dynamo Dog Functional Hip & Joint,Bacon & Cheese treats and because we had been out all day, I needed a treat that would make-up for our absence.

I opened the sample pack and the product had a doggy treat smell but not like those that are very off and the last thing you want to do is touch them. These smelled beef-like and close to what the better dog jerky treats smell like. A little soft when you squeeze it and I did appreciate that the treat comes in a perfect bite size for your pet, so no cutting needed.

Doggy Taste Test:
Our dog, Sweety took the treat and then went off to inspect it as it is a “new” snack for her. She did a few bites and then spit it out to inspect some more and for some reason she does this with all new treats….she expects a juicy center or something! A few more sniffs and then it must have passed the “test” because she finished it and came back with the give me more eyes. I gave her one more due to the hour of night and of course this is game she never knows or wants to end.

Next day, inspection of the treat was not needed so I made sure to give her a couple more and she seemed more than pleased with them. In a scale where she loves roasted chicken as her favorite treat, which we give a 10. I would give these a 6 in her enthusiasm for them. Sweety, then likes Salmon at a 9 and Fresh Pineapple and Coconut Water at an 8, so this dog has unusual taste.

Being that products on the market geared towards pets tend to read like a science experiment, I like that there is some nutritional and health benefits attached to these. These treats are grain free, wheat and corn free, and no soy. Cloud Star also does not add artificial colors or flavorings or any by-products. No fillers for once! Sweety is getting up there in age even if she does not act like it, so I see adding these to the treat rotation.

• Cloud Star has a large line of treats to fit your needs, so check them out at:  http://www.cloudstar.com/
• You can find their products on Amazon and this variety is currently $5.35 for an 8 ounce package: http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Star-Dynamo-Functional-5-Ounce/dp/B00BBQ7CC6

I received the above product from Swaggable and Cloud Star, free of charge. I am not obligated in providing positive/favorable feedback, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the brand and/or it’s products, which may differ from yours.

Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips in Nacho, Pico de Gallo, Sea Salt, Unsalted, and Salt N’ Pepper

Let me preface this by saying that mine is not a “Chip” household. We don’t buy a lot of potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, or cheese puffs. It’s just not our preference. So to fall so much in love with Beanfields Bean & Rice Chip’s floored my husband and I both. The taste, the texture, the quality…I could go on for days. So instead I’ll just highlight the best of the brand, and hope I do justice to this wonderful food.

I got my introduction to this brand through the “Love with Food” box I got in February. Included was a little sample bag of Beanfields Bean & Rice “Pico de Gallo” flavored chips. I kind of passed them over at first, because, hey, chips are chips, right? Big mistake. Hubby and I dove in like 2 staving people after the first taste. The flavor dust had barely been wiped from our lips when I decided I should contact Beanfields and see what else they had to offer and where I could get more! A wonderful person from Beanfields replied and said they’d be sending me a variety to sample and review for my blog! Zounds and gadzooks!! What an awesome company! When the package arrived it was like Christmas in March, and oh, the presents we did get!

A few asides about Beanfields before we dive in. This is a family-owned, farmed and made in the USA company. All natural, Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, low-sodium, gluten free, corn free, dairy free, soy free, no fillers, no binders, no artificial colors or flavors, no trans fats, no cholesterol, high fiber, high protein snack. Wow. All that’s left for Beanfields is cold fusion.   Take the time to check them out because your taste buds will thank you!

Facebook – www.facebook.com/beanfields

Website- www.beanfieldssnacks.com

Twitter-  www.twitter.com/beanfieldssnack

So, without further ado, let me introduce what will hopefully become a pantry staple for every person who reads this blog: the multiple-award winning Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips, in 5 mouthwatering varieties!!

Up first, and our favorite, Salt N’ Pepper.

Oh. My. Gosh. Out of the park, on the first swing. Great flavor, great texture. We had to stop ourselves from polishing off the entire 6 ounce bag. Strong enough to dip, tasty enough to not. The first thing that hits you when you finish is, it’s not greasy or oily in any way. Not on your fingers, not in your mouth, nowhere.  And then it hits you: these chips are made from beans! Not corn, like just about everything else in the market. The ingredients are simple, too: Beans, rice, oil, and flavorings. And lo and behold, I can pronounce everything. How’s that for awesome?

Close up of Salt N’ Pepper Chips

Next up, Pico de Gallo.

Another winner, and a close second. Another great flavor with an ingredient list that doesn’t read like a science experiment. Simple ingredients like onion powder, green bell pepper powder, celery powder, garlic powder, tomato powder…Hey, I’ve got all this stuff in my fridge and pantry! I don’t need a PhD in chemistry to understand what it is I’m putting in my mouth! And the best part is, you can taste that someone put a lot of thought into this chip. Not just about how to get you to buy and eat more of them, but on how to make it taste good. I appreciate that, and I think you will too.

With that we move on to the Sea Salt bag.

K.I.S.S. comes to mind. No, not “I Wanna Rock-n-Roll All Night”, you goofy husband. Keep It Super Simple. It should be the mantra if every person who makes food for yourself, your family, or your job. But very few people do it, and fewer still do it well. Beanfield’s get’s it 100% right. And they’re three for three. You can taste the richness of the beans, the long grain rice. And the salt. Oh, did I mention that aside from a little oil, that’s all that’s in these chips!! Holy cow, it seems so simple, but it’s an amazing snack experience, from the first bite to the last. I can’t wait for the next flavor.

Close up of Sea Salt Chips

Luckily, I don’t have to, so it’s on to Unsalted!

Do these people do anything halfway? Even with the lack of flavorings, the ingredients shine through. The perfect dip chip that goes with anything. You got salsa? Good to go. You’ve got queso? Go for it. Spinach artichoke? Bring it. This chip handles them all.  Want it on it’s own for a guilt free snack? This chip has your back. I can see how Beanfields won so many awards. Nothing but beans, rice, and a little oil, and it still taste like a million bucks.  I had a nice green Tomatillo salsa with these and it was delicious.

Now, let’s see if Beanfields goes 5 for 5 with Nacho flavor.

Beanfields included some materials for us in the package of yum. One of them mentioned that this flavor a Best of Show award, and labeled this the Vegan answer to Doritos. It’s arguably the market leader in this category. And let me tell you, that this comparison sells Beanfields short. Because this chip leaves Doritos in the dust. Orange colored, salty fatty dust. You’ll never look at a Dorito the same way again, realizing Beanfields chumps them. Hard. While this was our least favorite of the five, it’s head and shoulders over the usual suspects you’ll find in the market. And let’s not forget it’s still a simple ingredient list populated entirely with things you know, understand and can pronounce. Beanfields is a winner, five out of five. I can’t remember a company that I loved everything they make.

You owe it to yourself to seek Beanfields out and try them for yourself.  You’re doing yourself a disservice not doing it. You’ll wonder how you went this long without them!

I received the above products free of charge from the manufacture.  I am not obligated in providing a favorable/positive review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the products, which may differ from yours.