Key Points One of the most important functions of vitamin D is to enable access to the information stored within DNA for a cell’s proper response to routine signals and stimuli, processes that occur constantly within every body tissue; adequate concentrations of vitamin D are necessary to enable a full and proper response Immune cells can become activated with vitamin D and vitamin D can inhibit cancer cell growth, just a few examples of processes that are turned on or off by the action(s) that vitamin D has on specific genes within those cells A significant “dose-dependent” effect was observ ..read more

With new red light therapy equipment options emerging in the tanning market, there has been a surge of claims from equipment distributors boasting superiority for various reasons that, upon closer inspection, often fail to hold water. One claim is that offering a broader spectrum of light translates to enhanced effectiveness. However, this assertion falls flat when scrutinized. In reality, utilizing a wider variety of light spectrums doesn’t necessarily equate to better results. By incorporating a broader range, these units may dilute the crucial spectrums that truly matter for therapeutic pur ..read more

From GrassrootsHealth A review of the strongest evidence available identifies differing optimal vitamin D levels needed to help prevent diseases known as major causes of death Dr. William Grant is a GrassrootsHealth scientist panel member who has published many papers on vitamin D which been cited over 20,000 times, according to Scholar.Google.com.  He is listed as a top author for both Vitamin D and Vitamin D Deficiency, and has received the “World Expert” title for sunlight. A new review by Grant et al. has defined optimal vitamin D levels necessary to ..read more

By Scott Nichols, salon GM and consultant Sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste – five of the most common senses. Senses are used to feed our minds with information and that information helps us make everyday decisions. If these senses can help create decisions, can we use the customer’s senses to help guide them in their decision-making? This is sounding kind of Sci-Fi, isn’t it? But what if it’s not? What if we could use senses to help create a better experience for someone? Or better yet, can these senses help us retain customers and increase the ability for them to spend more money? If yo ..read more

Inflammation is a natural part of the body’s healing process, but too much inflammation can wreak havoc on the body. Inflammation is typically caused by things that put the body under stress. There are physical causes of inflammation like injuries and wounds, but inflammation also occurs in response to biological factors like infection, poor nutrition, dehydration, inadequate sleep, and stress. Pain is a result of inflammation. When the body is stressed or injured, pain lets us know that something is damaged and attention is required. Our bodies have a number of biological response mechanisms ..read more

Most owners of independent tanning businesses seem to pride themselves on customer service. But what does that really mean? If you think it’s all about being nice and knowledgeable, your salon is missing some of the components that will make your business shine above its competitors. While bigger chains offer seemingly unbeatable prices, owner-operated outfits face a fork in the road: Do you try to match them, or go down a different road completely? Even in an economy of tight purse strings, lowering prices is not always the answer – in fact, it’s never the answer when customer satisfaction is ..read more

From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) – Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day As part of our What is Vitamin D Good For? series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for o ..read more

Technology has leveled the playing field for small businesses. Particularly with marketing, you no longer need a substantial budget, specialized training, or designated staff to replicate much of what companies with far more extensive resources are doing. In our February edition, we discussed how digital marketing platforms have made it possible for any business to deliver ads to more potential customers for less money. In addition to that, online platforms now make it possible for novice designers to quickly produce attractive, professional-looking ads and other marketing materials. These res ..read more

 In recent years, the worlds of wellness and skin care have collided, as consumers have become more conscious and considerate of not just what they’re putting in their bodies, but also what they’re putting on their skin. When it comes to the tanning industry, the trend toward clean and natural ingredients has been apparent for years in the offerings from our industry product manufacturers. Now, while that trend continues to be prevalent in both skin care and the broader wellness industry, a different development in consumer preferences is coming into focus. According to a report from mult ..read more

A large discrepancy exists between how much vitamin D people think they they are getting from their diet and how much they are really getting, according to the 2013 Functional Foods Consumer Survey. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed by the International Food Information Council Foundation thought they were obtaining adequate daily vitamin D, but only 32 percent actually met the recommended Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). It’s also important to note the government’s DRI of 600 IU, which most people are not reaching according to the survey, is far less than the intake recommended by mo ..read more