Were curious to know how the LivOn Labs came to be. Can you tell us about the Founders? Have they always been interested in the world of supplements?
My aunt and uncle, Cindy and Les Nachman, founded LivOn Labs in 2004 after my uncle was given a terminal diagnosis. In 2002, his doctors informed him if he didn’t receive a heart transplant, he would most certainly die.
He quickly sought another medical opinion. On the advice of a maverick cardiologist and renowned virologist/epidemiologist, Les started lifestyle modifications including intravenous vitamin C three times per week.
My uncle calls the results “miraculous.” But, the discomfort, costs, and 8-hour drive from his home in the Las Vegas area to receive IV treatments meant he had a lot less time to enjoy his new life.
Through his involvement in the dietary supplement industry, he was convinced there was an easier, more affordable way to get high doses of Vitamin C without the major gastric distress that accompanies traditional oral pills and powders.
The solution had existed since the 1970’s, but the dietary supplement industry had never applied it: Liposomal Encapsulation Technology, the practice of encapsulating nutrients in phospholipids to protect them from destruction in the digestive system.
After two years working with scientists, Ph.D.s, and manufacturers, Les and Cindy (a former professional ballroom dancer turned CPA), had finally developed a product that delivers high dose Vitamin C.
Given this discovery, the two founded LivOn Labs in 2004 with Cindy as President. Their original mission, that still exists today, is to heal the world by introducing their proprietary brand of Vitamin C to people in a similar situation to Les. They began processing orders from the second floor of their home and everything evolved from there. That’s how LivOn came to be.
What are the benefits of taking liposomal supplements in comparison to the usual vitamin pill or powder?
We say it at LivOn all the time, but the difference is the absorption. When you take pills or powders, you’re not absorbing as much as you think. Absorption from the digestive system varies by nutrient. Vitamin C, for example, requires transport factors to take it from the small intestine to the bloodstream, then from the bloodstream to the cells. These transporters are in limited supply, and without them, Vitamin C isn’t absorbed. Keep in mind, Vitamin C is water-soluble, so your body doesn’t store any excess. That’s why so much of the vitamin content from pills, powders and even foods is passed as waste.
Liposomes are smart and can get to your cells without transporters because they are made with the same material that makes up your cell membranes. These liposomes can easily pass through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream where they make their way to the cells for assimilation through the cell membrane.
Liposomal encapsulation offers a better way to absorb water soluble vitamins or vitamins that are difficult to absorb. That’s why we chose Vitamin C, the B vitamins, Glutathione, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Acetyl L-Carnitine and Magnesium L-Threonate for liposomal encapsulation. They’re nutrients that your body needs, but they have a tough time getting through barriers to absorption.
“Liposome encapsulation technology" Technology!? What's that?
Great question! In short, Liposome Encapsulation Technology is the process of encapsulating a nutrient in a double layered sphere made from essential phospholipids. This encapsulation enables the nutrient molecules to bypass the body’s restrictive absorption barriers for delivery to the cells where they are needed to perform vital functions.
The science has been around since the ‘70s, but LivOn Labs was the first dietary supplement company to utilize liposome technology. We believe that liposome technology yields more effective supplements.
There are tons and tons of supplements on the market. How does one navigate the options with quality control in mind? Any suggestions?
I think it’s important to use brands you trust. More often than not, especially in the supplement industry, it’s incumbent upon the brands to ensure what they are providing the consumer is top quality. Trusting that the brand is testing raw ingredients, and using good manufacturing practices is key.
LivOn takes quality very seriously and manufactures products using four key principles:
Develop Exceptional Formulas.
Each Lypo-Spheric TM formula spends at least 2 years in research and development with formulators who have over 25 years of experience in Liposomal Encapsulation Technology (LET).
Samples are tested at regular intervals for active ingredient content, changes in consistency and encapsulation efficiency of the active nutrient. When a formula is finally approved, we’re confident it will consistently produce a highly stable liposomal product.
Use Premium Ingredients.
Every Lypo-Spheric TM product is made with ingredients that are non GMO, hexane free, gluten free, sugar free and vegan friendly. We only work with highly qualified suppliers who verify that each ingredient is made from non GMO materials and that strict quality processes are followed to maintain the integrity of the ingredient.
We routinely test each product for DNA markers to make sure there is no GMO DNA in the finished product. To make our liposomes, we special order a high grade blend of phospholipids fractionated from Identity Preserved (IP) soy, meaning the plant’s origin and identity is tracked thoroughly and guaranteed to be non GMO from seed to harvest.
Test Everything. Then Test it Again.
We’re dedicated to meeting the most demanding safety and quality standards in the industry. LivOn uses independent, accredited laboratories to test every batch of every ingredient we receive. We reject all ingredients that don’t meet our strict specifications.
We manufacture all of our products in the USA. Each facility is routinely audited and certified by NSF International, an international organization dedicated to maintaining public health and safety standards, ensuring compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
Customer Support.
Our commitment doesn’t end once we sell the product, we offer full time customer service for any customer questions.
Any suggestions as to how to best use your products?
I get this question often. On a pretty much daily basis, I hear things like, “I don’t like the taste.” I get it... I’ve been taking these products for so long, I’ve sort of numbed out to it.
Here’s what I recommend. Drink all but the last ounce or two of your beverage of choice. It could be juice, water, a smoothie, wine and even tea or coffee as long as it’s cooled to about room temperature. Squeeze in whatever Lypo-Spheric supplements you’d like to take that day into the last ounce or two of your beverage and drink it in one big gulp. Sort of like a shot of tequila or wheatgrass. You can combine multiple supplements in the same “shot”, if you'd like.
Don’t swish it around in your mouth and try to taste it. Trust me! It's not delicious since we don’t use any artificial flavorings, sweeteners or sugar. Just gulp it.
My current combo is Vitamin C and Glutathione, and either B Complex or Acetyl L-Carnitine in the last of my room temp Earl Grey tea every morning. I’m sensitive to B Vitamins, so I rotate them with Acetyl L-Carnitine for my daily metabolism support supplement.
What are you top 5 favorite CAP Beauty products?
Just 5? I love visiting the stores! I have a bad habit of leaving with too many good things!
First, I love a CAP Matcha latte with CAP Coconut Butter and Moon Juice Beauty Dust. So decadent, delicious and just the right pick-me-up. I’ve received detailed how to instructions from the NYC store and still have not completely mastered your magic. I may need another lesson.
The CAPtivator. I recently picked this up and can’t stop. I love the scent (as a bonus, so does my husband) and I swear it lifts my mood.
De Mamiel Exhale Daily Hydrating Nectar. I moved to the desert (LivOn is based in Henderson, NV) a few years ago and this has been a lifesaver. Between the dry air and intense sun, this has made a world of difference.
RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-up. I travel a lot for work and also log hours of laptop time. Both are tough on sleep and tend to strain the eyes. The concealer forgives a lot of the paces I put my eyes through.
Goop "The Martini” Bath Soak. I don’t make time for a soak every day, but by the time Sunday rolls around, you can find me in the tub. Love the scent and the relaxing sensation.
