In this episode of the NatureCity Podcast, host Carl Pradelli sits down with Jodi-Ann Blackwood from BIONAP USA to discuss the award winning Red Orange Complex® from Sicily, Italy.  A blend of three Sicilian oranges, the Red Orange Complex® was recently named the 2025 NutraIngredients USA Ingredient of the Year in the Beauty from Within category, one of the hottest areas in the supplement world.

Tune in to discover what makes this Sicilian blood orange extract so powerful and why this blend is considered a breakthrough for skin health, healthy aging, and overall wellness. Jodi-Ann and Carl break down the science, sustainability, and the incredible benefits of this antioxidant-rich ingredient.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why Sicily’s Mount Etna creates the perfect growing conditions for ultra-potent blood oranges.
• What makes Red Orange Complex® different from regular oranges and other extracts?
• Insights from 8 published studies, including how it can help:
• Skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle depth.
• Protect against environmental stressors and reduce oxidative stress.
• Reduce appearance of dark spots.
• Relieve menopausal symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Why just 100mg per day starts delivering results in as little as 2 weeks.
• What won the judges over and sealed the Ingredient of the Year award.

Red Orange Complex® is featured in NatureCity’s own TrueNuGrow+ Hair & Skin Formula.

👉 If you’re passionate about natural wellness, healthy aging, and looking your best, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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Magnesium is one of the most important minerals for your health—and one of the hardest to get enough of from diet alone. It’s estimated that 75% of adults in the U.S. fail to reach the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).  This isn’t just unfortunate, it’s a true health concern. 

In this episode of the NatureCity Podcast, CEO and co-founder Carl Pradelli breaks down why magnesium diet shortfalls are such a widespread issue, why magnesium is so important, and signals from your body that your magnesium intake may be too low.  

You’ll also hear where some common forms of magnesium in supplements come up short and why Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate is the gold standard. Carl also shares his personal experience (and his wife Beth’s story) about how this form of magnesium made a real difference in their lives.

👉 Whether you struggle with muscle cramps, sleep troubles, mood swings, or simply want to feel and function your best, this episode will help you understand how to get the magnesium your body truly needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Magnesium supports over 300 biochemical reactions in the body.
• Most people only get 150–300 mg/day from food (well below the RDA).
• Deficiency can show up as poor sleep, muscle cramps, low energy, or mood changes.
• Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate is gentle, highly absorbable, and effective.
• TrueMagnesium provides a clean, convenient way to meet your daily needs.

Learn more about True Magnesium and True Zs: https://www.naturecity.com/

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💬 Comment below: Have you tried supplementing with magnesium? What differences have you noticed?

In this week’s episode of the NatureCity Podcast, Carl Pradelli—CEO and Co-founder of NatureCity— tackles an often overlooked, but surprisingly critical topic that could significantly impact the potency and effectiveness of your probiotics: how they’re packaged.

Many users don’t realize that elements like moisture, heat, and air exposure are the enemies of live probiotic cells - and can drastically reduce the potency of your probiotic supplement before you’ve even opened the bottle. And it gets worse – each time you open the cap to take a capsule, moisture and air enter the bottle and further destroy probiotic CFU (number of probiotic cells) counts.

Carl reveals the innovative new bottle that you should seek out for your probiotic supplements. Research studies have found it’s far superior to other common packaging options in protecting live probiotics – even after you begin taking the product.

In this episode, you’ll find out:

• Why traditional probiotic packaging (like standard bottles and blister packs) may not offer enough protection
• How the Activ-Vial bottle technology helps preserve potency—even after opening
• What scientific studies say about probiotic degradation in the various probiotic packaging options
• Why NatrueCity switched to the Activ-Vial bottle for its premium TrueLife PB probiotic/prebiotic supplement blend
• Other important “must have” supplement features that help ensure the probiotics “arrive alive” and maximize benefits and health impact

If you’re relying on probiotics to support your immune system, digestive health, gut balance, or overall wellness, you don’t want to miss this episode.

Learn more or shop TrueLife PB: https://www.naturecity.com

📩 Have questions? Contact us anytime at [email protected]

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💬 Comment below: Have you ever thought about how your probiotic is packaged?

In this episode, Carl Pradelli unpacks the surprising power of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), especially in its ultra-pure OptiMSM® form. 

OptiMSM® provides sulfur, which may not sound exciting, but is essential for life and aging well.  Traditionally, taken for joints, immune heath and antioxidant support, OptiMSM® might be your secret weapon for glowing skin and healthier looking hair.

Often called the “beauty mineral,” MSM is needed to help the body produce collagen, elastin, keratin, and hyaluronic acid — essential compounds for youthful looking skin, resilient nails, and thicker, shinier hair.

OptiMSM® helps your body inside and out. In addition to helping your appearance, it supports your body’s key antioxidant, glutathione, to help reduce oxidative stress, and can help you stay active with greater joint comfort and faster muscle recovery from activities.

OptiMSM® is one of the cornerstone ingredients in NatureCity’s advanced TrueNuGrow+ hair and skin formula.

What You’ll Discover:

• What MSM is and why it’s essential for beauty and joint health
• How it supports collagen, keratin, and hyaluronic acid production naturally
• Why OptiMSM® is the best choice for supplements
• Study-backed results for smoother skin, shinier hair, and stronger nails
• How OptiMSM® enhances joint and muscle recovery, reduces aging signs, and boosts glutathione

Like what you heard? Subscribe on YouTube and drop a comment if you’ve tried OptiMSM® or TrueNuGrow+!

🔗 Learn more: https://naturecity.com

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📩 Have questions? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you.

Is your diet unknowingly limiting your healthspan – and perhaps even your longevity?

In this episode of the NatureCity Podcast, host and NatureCity CEO Carl Pradelli breaks down compelling new research from scientists in the UK and Australia, published in Nature Food, revealing that not just the quantity—but the diversity—of flavonoids in your diet can play a critical role in how long and how well you live.

Using data from over 125,000 adults in the UK Biobank initiative, this study found that higher, more diverse flavonoid intake was linked to improved heart, immune, blood sugar, and cognitive health outcomes—and even reduced mortality rates.

Carl reviews what this means for your daily nutrition, how to make smarter choices when selecting foods and supplements, and how NatureCity's approach supports this science-backed strategy for healthy aging.

• What flavonoids are and how they support healthy aging
• Why flavonoid diversity matters more than just quantity
• Which foods are rich in different types of flavonoids
• How a single-source diet (like relying only on tea) can limit benefits
• Why supplement ingredient variety may be key to better healthspan outcomes
• How the flavonoids in the TrueBerry7 formula support multiple systems in the body

Learn more about the TrueBerry7 formula and its scientifically supported ingredients:

https://naturecity.com

Subscribe to the channel for future episodes and actionable health tips.

In Tip #2 for supplement shopping, Carl Pradelli, co-founder and CEO of NatureCity, is joined by Lauren Samot, Commercial Innovation Leader at Vitaquest International to discuss the importance of knowing the actual manufacturer of the supplements you’re taking. 

The supplement brand is usually not the manufacturer because making supplement products is a highly specialized (and regulated) activity requiring many layers of expertise to deliver quality and safe products you can trust.

What You'll Learn:

• Why the manufacturer behind your supplement brand matters more than you may have known.
• What standards and certifications like cGMP, FSSC 22000, and NSF can actually mean for the health of you and your loved ones. 
• The importance of robust in-house labs and protocols to protect against adulteration, contamination, and dosage errors.
• The transparency practices that distinguish trustworthy supplement brands and manufacturers.
• Questions you should ask before buying any supplement.

Behind the Scenes of Supplement Safety

While most consumers focus on the supplement brand, it's the manufacturer who often plays a pivotal role in determining product quality. In this episode, Lauren and Carl pull back the curtain on the manufacturing world—from rigorous testing protocols and audits to third-party certifications and in-house labs. Lauren breaks down why it's vital to know where and how your supplements are made, emphasizing transparency and trust.

You'll learn about the manufacturing tiers that separate premium producers like Vitaquest from less capable (and often questionable) operations, and why third-party testing alone isn't enough. 

Carl and Lauren discuss real examples of how early detection in quality labs prevents low quality and potentially harmful products from reaching your home. Plus, they reveal why branded, scientifically studied ingredients are your best bet for effectiveness and safety.

Like what you heard? Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Leave a review to help others discover smarter supplement shopping tips!

Website: https://naturecity.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturecitysupplements/

===== ABOUT NATURECITY =====

NatureCity is dedicated to helping people live healthier, longer lives through transparency, education, and premium supplements. Founded over 20 years ago, we make products we personally take and are proud to recommend to our loved ones. Learn more at https://naturecity.com.

In this eye-opening episode, Carl Pradelli, co-founder of NatureCity, dives into the benefits, science, and sourcing of Cartidyss, a marine collagen breakthrough sourced from upcycled wild fish cartilage.

Special guest Jocelyn Bérubé, EVP of Scientific Affairs at innoVactiv, unpacks why this clean, sustainable, and research backed collagen stands out from the crowd—offering powerful skin, hair and nail benefits at just 500mg per day.

What You’ll Learn:

• What sets Cartidyss apart from bovine and porcine collagen and other marine sources.
• How the combination of collagen peptides and GAGs like hyaluronic acid benefit your skin, joints, and hair.
• Research results showing wrinkle reduction, hydration improvements, and more youthful looking skin.
• Why sourcing, hydrolysis and digestibility, and purity matter more than dosage.
• The sustainable story behind Cartidyss from upcycled skate cartilage from Brittany, France.

This is more than just another supplement chat—it’s a masterclass in how to choose a collagen supplement that really works for skin and joint health. Whether you’re in your 30s, 60s or older, this episode provides actionable insights on choosing the best collagen product.

Subscribe for more inside wellness insights!

Loved this episode? Subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Find out more about TrueNuGrow+, featuring Cartidyss: https://naturecity.com

Think lutein is just for your eyes? Think again. In this deep-dive episode, Carl Pradelli, co-founder and CEO of NatureCity, unpacks everything you didn’t know about this essential carotenoid—and why your brain and eyes might be silently craving more of it. 

Plus, it’s not a solo performer.  To get the most from supplements with lutein, you need two other nutrients from the same antioxidant family.

Find out the best natural source of these nutrients for supplements, misconceptions about food options with these nutrients, and what the science found about supplementing with lutein and its essential nutrient partners.

What You’ll Discover:

• What lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin actually do.
• Why most diets fail to deliver enough to maintain healthy vison and cognitive function.
• Foods that seem rich in lutein and zeaxanthin —but aren’t.
• How lutein can help protect your brain and eyes from digital strain.
• What the latest studies say about supplement ingredients like the Lutemax 2020 in TrueVision.

Lutein is a powerhouse antioxidant often associated with eye health, but this episode reveals it also plays a crucial role in cognitive function. Carl breaks down why it’s so difficult to get enough lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin from food — especially in today’s processed food world — and how the USDA’s early data might still be leading to confusion in your nutrition choices.

You’ll learn how lutein and its partner nutrients can help shield your eyes from blue light damage caused by screens, supports macular pigment density, and may even boost memory and stress resilience. 

Carl explains why foods thought to provide lutein AND the zeaxanthins actually don’t, and some better diet options for these nutrients (which are hard to get from diet alone).

The episode also highlights Lutemax 2020, a science backed supplement ingredient that delivers all three essential carotenoids from a single marigold flower source — and why consistent intake may be your best strategy for long-term vision and brain support.

Liked this episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

https://www.youtube.com/@naturecitysupplements

🛒 Shop TrueVision with Lutemax 2020 & Affron Eye Saffron Extract: https://naturecity.com

Do you find shopping for supplements hard or frustrating?  Worried you’re going to choose the wrong one or it’s not going to help you? Or worse – you’ll be wasting your money?

In this episode of the NatureCity Podcast, CEO Carl Pradelli kicks off a new series on how to choose high quality supplements and avoid low-quality or fraudulent supplements. 

Tip #1: Choose branded ingredients over generic supplement ingredients. Carl breaks down what branded ingredients are, why they matter, and how they help ensure potency, purity, and protection from fraud.  

You'll also hear why all branded ingredients are not the same (or automatically good to take) and find out the standards companies like NatureCity use to ensure its customers are getting the very best in every capsule or scoop of powder.

• Branded vs. Generic Ingredients
• Why Quality Supplements Use Branded Ingredients
• Cross-Checking to Prevent Fraud in the Supplement Industry

👉 Learn more at https://www.naturecity.com

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In this episode of the NatureCity Podcast, host Carl Pradelli, CEO and co-founder of NatureCity, breaks down his 5 essential tips to help you spot premium Aloe vera supplements and steer clear of products lacking potency or containing outright fake or adulterated Aloe. 

You’ll hear why USDA organic certification is especially important for Aloe vera, and the importance of choosing Aloe vera made with freeze-drying methods to preserve the Aloe vera “nutrient orchestra” and maximize benefits. 

Plus, the best way to ensure your Aloe vera isn’t really maltodextrin or cut with starch.  If you're using Aloe vera for gut health, heart and metabolic health, joint health or to improve the appearance of your skin — this one's for you!

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Check out the featured products:

🌿 TrueAloe Capsules

🍹 AloeCran Drink Powder

💧 TrueAloe Gel (Topical)