Probiotics 16 Back in Stock!
Our
Probiotics 16
is back, and with a whopping 13.4 billion bacteria per capsule, too!
For full disclosure, we had to change suppliers.
Our original 16-strain blend was actually a private-label version of a very
popular branded product. Alas, our former partner in probiotics decided to
ditch private label work, which yielded them less profit than selling their
branded product wholesale to distributors.
Our former partner would be happy to sell us
their fancy branded product, but at a much higher cost, which would
cause our price to members to rise over the $20 mark. Egad!
No such thing as loyalty in this industry.
It's the lot of our little Co-op, a never-ending task of scoring deals that
deliver quality like the big guys but still offer our penny-pinching members
a way to afford the supplements they most need. And, live and kicking
probiotics are a modern must, just ask
Dr. Rodier!
So, our resident vendor guru, Stephen, spent much
time and a few trips assessing probiotics manufacturers and he found one
that could duplicate our 16 strain formula. Good news. Initial testing of
raw materials was promising, and the even better news is that our new
product fully passed our independent lab test! Hurray!
Note: For those with sensitivities, the
new formula does contain a base of corn maltodextrin (not a problem for most
folks though).
Meanwhile, we look forward to getting member
feedback, so please keep this kat apprised of how our new Probiotics 16
works for you! ^..^
2008 Survey Results
The results are in! Thanks to all those who
participated in our 2008 survey! Here are a few highlights, with a link to
complete survey results below. Enjoy!
First, some of our favorite comments:
-
Keep up the great work! I have sent 3 friends to you in the past few
months, and they are all happy with the products they purchased!
-
Just love
your organization's concepts - simple, direct, honest, no hype, just
plain old common sense. These days, that combination is hard to beat.
Please stay around for a long time yet, we need people like you.
-
The Co-op is
the greatest thing since Eve enticed Adam to try an apple. Responsible,
sensible, educational, understandable, humorous and cheap...wrong,
inexpensive!
-
I really appreciate the straight forward, no nonsense, humor laced,
clear presentation, quality product you sell. Add in the consistently
outstanding service, and it's easy to see why once folks find out about
you, they don't want to go anywhere else. Once again, my thanks to you
for being there and doing what you do.
-
I am very
thrifty and I really appreciate your prices and your quality. I am
thankful I do not have to wade through hundreds and hundreds of
products. I am thankful you do not sell every fad supplement that comes
along. I feel comfortable and safe ordering through you.
-
Please keep
the Co-op attitude & don't go commercial.
-
We love you
guys! Thanks for the good work you do and for the wonderful prices. You
are what the health industry should be about -- taking care of people.
A few of your suggestions:
-
Should have
an interactive forum for members to share experiences.
-
It would be helpful if you periodically re-affirmed your standards of
quality so we know you are still on track for the best! Thanks.
-
Seems like there is a lot of plastic wasted on bigger than necessary
containers. I would prefer little containers for little pills.
-
I hope you will not diversify in product offerings so much that you get
overextended and have to start charging more for the basic supplements.
I am sure you will keep this in consideration.
-
Offer bulk discounts and a referral bonus or discount when current
members refer new members.
If you'd like to check out the
rest of our survey results,
please visit our 2008 Survey page for the scoop.
Old and Happy are Not
Mutually Exclusive Conditions!
This kat had a close friend make a rather disturbing remark recently. It
came out of their mouth like this: “I’m 73 years old and I hurt everywhere.
Why should I take a bunch of vitamins or choke down nutritional drinks? I’m
just getting closer to dying each day anyway.”
I always wonder if a person saying such things is just having a bad day.
Alas, my sense is this person always been a kind of “glass half empty” type.
Still, the discussion got me thinking about happiness and aging. Can you
really be happy as you age?
In April's issue of the American Sociological Review a gigantic,
long-duration study that is indicating old age is actually - wait, get this
- the happiest time of life.
The good news is that with age comes happiness," said study author Yang
Yang, a University of Chicago sociologist. "Life gets better in one's
perception as one ages."
The research centered on asking a diverse group of people questions about
overall life contentment. The study’s findings were based on data gathered
in 28,000 face-to-face interviews conducted between 1972 and 2004 with folks
ranging in age from 18 to 88.
The data was collected by the General Social Survey (GSS) of the National
Opinion Research Center. Social scientists consider the information gathered
by the GSS, which is located at the University of Chicago, to be quite
important. Participants were asked about their overall happiness levels. Not
surprisingly, overall happiness went up and down over a person’s life and
corresponded appropriately with good and bad economic times.
Some interesting research findings:
-
The odds of being happy increased 5
percent with every 10 years of age.
-
33% of Americans reported being “very
happy” at age 88 (versus 24% of those aged 18 to early 20s)
-
75% of Americans 57-85 engage in one or
more social activities at least once a week (socializing with neighbors,
religious services, volunteering, or group meetings)
-
Those in their 80s were twice as likely as
those in their 50s to engage in such social activities
-
Nursing home residents were not included
in the study (but they also represent only 4% of Americans aged 75-84)
Now before our fair members go getting jovial on me, let me point out
that another researcher, noted Duke University aging expert, Dr. Linda
George, thinks the reason older folks are happier has to do with lowered
expectations and acceptance of one’s lot in life.
Lowering your expectations to snatch a batch of happy may seem like a
fool’s pursuit. But plenty of research suggests a lifetime of chasing “more”
(whatever your version of “more” is) doesn’t work out so well. Baby boomers
are the least happy according to Yang’s study.
Apparently, baby boomers aren't so good at lowering their aspirations as
their parents and grandparents.
"They still seem to believe that they should have it all. They're still
thinking about having a retirement that's going to let them do everything
they haven't done yet," said Linda George.
So what’s the takeaway? Methinks it’s this simple:
“Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have.”
I am not the first one to say this, but you can quote me on it
nevertheless. ^..^
Meanwhile, at the Co-op, we subscribe to the healthy body/healthy mind/
healthy moods inter-connections.
If you want to be healthy enough to “want what you have” and enjoy those
golden years, please check out the following Co-op products:
Probiotics
The elderly often suffer from chronic constipation and probiotics deliver
dramatic improvements in nutritional uptake and elimination. Probiotics also
help women maintain estrogen levels as they age.
Digestive Enzymes
Pancreatic enzyme secretion decreases with age, thus making supplemental
digestive enzymes a priority for seniors, who can address indigestion from
fatty foods and increase uptake of proteins by supplementing their meals
with digestive enzymes.
Advanced Antioxidants
Vitamins A, C, E, D3 and selenium combine to make this formula a staple
for combating the old rusting effect of pesky and ever-present free
radicals.
Green Tea
Green tea has been used for over 5,000 years for pain, digestion, mood
maintenance, immune enhancement, detoxification, energy enhancement, and
anti-aging. Some even believe it’s helpful in weight loss (thermogenic
qualities support increased metabolic rates), and weight loss is forever
being tied to increased longevity.
