Saturday, December 15, 2007

7 Ways To Make Sure You Take Your Vitamins Daily

By Kavit M Haria

Vitamins are essential to our body in order to continue strong and healthy growth. Unfortunately, in today's food culture, most of our food is highly processed and manufactured that it's lost most of it's useful vitamins and minerals and so on the average day, our body doesn't get what it requires.

For that reason, I'm a strong believer in one taking vitamin supplements on a daily basis to give the body what it requires on a regular basis, allowing it to nourish and grow into a healthier being.

I recommend seven ways to ensure you take your vitamins daily:-

(1) Keep your vitamins in a small bottle that you can carry with you in your pocket or bag wherever you go.

(2) Set daily alarms on your phone to remind you to take them as many times as prescribed on the vitamin packet or bottle.

(3) Put up a post-it note on your wall each day you get to the office to remind you what you have to do.

(4) Add it to your daily to-do list and make sure you tick it off like you do with the other items on that list.

(5) Get a friend to remind you at the time. (How can you make sure your friend doesn't forget to remind you? Please send them these tips.)

(6) Be accountable to someone. Make sure you take your vitamins daily. And each day report to a close friend or family member telling them you have. If you haven't, do something massive (as a forfeit) in return for that person. You've got to pay the price of not following through, right?

(7) Make sure you know WHY you're taking them. Don't just take them because you've been told. Realise why you're taking them, the benefits they're having (or going to have) on your life and how you'll feel more vibrant.

Comment on this article: http://www.wellness-junction.com/2007/10/22/7-ways-to-make-sure-you-take-your-vitamins-daily/

Kavit Haria is the founding editor of Wellness Junction. Our mission is to help millions of people take back control of their health and get on the path of wellness. Our website is updated daily with fresh new articles from experts around the world and it is all provided free. Find out more here: http://www.wellness-junction.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kavit_M_Haria

Aloe Vera Benefits To Your Health

By Shakil Zaman

Aloe vera is a plant that is a member of the lily family. It has very succulent type appearance. The water storage capacity of these plants is very impressive as they can almost double in size after a heavy rainfall period. Also this plant is self repairing which means that if for whatever reason there is a tear in a leaf the plant will almost immediately begin to repair itself to prevent moisture loss. The dry regions of Africa is where the majority of aloe plants can be found.

There are literally hundreds of different varieties of aloe plants however only a handful are considered to offer great nutritional value and potential health benefits. The barbadensis miller variety of the aloe is considered by many to be one of the most beneficial as far as nutritional and health benefits are concerned. Aloe is primarily consumed as a drink but it is used in many other commercial applications and it is a great skin moisturizer as well as useful in providing the scalp with nutrients and thus can help people with dandruff problems.

Aloe has been reported to offer many health benefits including greater energy levels and endurance, improved immune function and better digestion. Aloe Vera gel has over 78 nutrients including over 20 minerals, several amino acids and numerous vitamins. Scientists are only just beginning to discover the power of Aloe Vera gel and its potential health benefits. However those that use aloe vera regularly in their diet report many health benefits.

In fact there are many that grow the plant right in their backyard. If the region you live in has dry climate then this plant could grow well there. Once the plant matures they simply slice a leaf off and extract the gel and mix it with a fruit drink or smoothie of some sort. There are many that believe aloe vera is the best herb as far as health benefits are concerned. It has been shown to be effective at reducing the levels of bad cholesterol, helping people with arthritis since it has powerful anti inflammatory properties and it also has the effect of alkalizing and neutralizing the generally acidic environment in most people's bodies.

It can also be useful at lowering blood pressure and providing the body with a great surge of essential nutrients that the body can absorb easily and use right away. Aloe vera can also be used in many first aid kits since it has great antibacterial properties and it has also been used to make many bandages. It is also great at lubricating the digestive tract and helping to keep you regular. It is critical to keep the colon moving because if things do start to get clogged then you may be setting yourself up for many potential health problems so if you suffer from constipation then aloe may help you.

Athletes can benefit from drinking aloe as it is a natural energy booster and will help to give you greater endurance. This is a far better alternative than taking risky supplements that can have many negative side effects. Aloe vera gel can also be applied directly to the skin as it is a fantastic natural moisturizer.

It is best to look for an aloe supplement that is made free of pesticides as these products tend to be of higher quality, look for the organic kinds if possible. Aloe vera gel can also be used as a preservative, for instance by dipping some of your fruits or vegetables in the gel it can increase shelf life significantly especially if the fruits and vegetables are of the organic type which tend to ripen and spoil much faster. Consider aloe vera gel as a natural herbal supplement to help you attain better health.

Shakil is an online researcher, author and a regular contributor to a site that shows people how to attain better health and wellness. Be sure to stop by and learn how to lose weight too.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shakil_Zaman

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

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Monday, October 1, 2007

Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care

Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care
by: Jennifer Kays


Our skin is of vital importance to our health. Our skin is responsible for providing protection from environment, providing us with an emotional sense of boundary, creating sensual awareness to communication with the "outside" world e.g. feeling pleasure or pain signals that are vital to our survival and well being.. How our skin feels physically often determines the way we feel emotionally.

Our skin is one way that we communicate information about ourselves to others. We blush, turn pale, signal "worry" or "stress"with wrinkles in our forehead or around our eyes and mouth. Our skin often is used by others to form an impression of our age, how much we are indoors or outdoors and our activity, through scars, wrinkles, colors, and texture of our skin. Our skin is a signal to ourselves and others about our overall health internally, externally, physically and emotionally. "How do I look?" i.e. "What are others seeing and, perhaps, thinking about me?", is a question about the appearance of our skin. This information comes from the tone, texture, firmness, and aroma of our skin.

Our skin is one of the largest "organs" of our body composing about 10% of our body weight. Our skin entirely replaces it's surface about every 60 to 90 days. Our skin eliminates waste, toxins, sends signals to our internal bodies, and actually breathes. Disturbances in our skin, e.g. eruptions, dryness, oil, rash, "age spots" wrinkles, blotches, etc are often an indication of our internal health..

Many of us have used synthetic prescription drugs, lotions, or creams, to care for our skin. Often these synthetic substances are accompanied by undesired and sometimes harmful "side effects". Our bodies are designed by nature to absorb and use substances that are natural. When an "unnatural", i.e. synthetic substance, is introduced into or on our body, it "interprets" that synthetic, unnatural substance as "foreign"or as an "invader".Our body protects itself either through the production of antibodies from our immune system or does not absorb these synthetic substances.

In contrast, our body readily recognizes, absorbs and uses natural substances as the appropriate material to use to build, repair and sustain itself. Our skin operates in the same way as the rest of our body in terms of what it will or will not absorb and use. Natural substances are recognized by our skin, internally and externally, as "welcome" ingredients for use in building, repairing, and sustaining itself.

There are many natural anti-aging skin care products we can use topically on the outer surface of our skin. All natural anti-aging skin care products contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and aromas from nature that our skin readily recognizes as appropriate for use. All natural lotions and ointments, help our skin to maintain it's healthy tone, texture, elasticity, aroma and to repair injury, discard waste, breathe properly, sense appropriately, release used skin cells, build new skin cells, protect us, and improve our appearance.. These all natural products contain amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, herbs, enzymes, aromatherapy oils, and other natural substances that support our skin health.

Remember that the most important factor in the health of our skin is our internal physical health. An important aspect of anti-aging skin care is healthy digestion and elimination. Our intestinal system is responsible for absorbing food, nutrients, and water and for eliminating waste and toxins from our bodies. When our intestinal digestive system is overwhelmed, it places an extra burden on our skin to increase it's waste disposal function. When our skin's waste disposal function becomes overwhelmed, we develop skin disorders. This is particularly true when we are tying to digest processed foods, dairy products, or other foods lacking fiber. Food becomes putrefied and toxic because it cannot be processed or eliminated properly. Our skin then attempts to remove these toxins. Pores may become clogged, inflamed, discolored, dry, or oily. If we want healthy anti-aging skin, we need to keep our intestinal digestive system functioning properly. We can help our digestive system with all natural enzymes, essential fatty acids, probiotics and fiber.

Digestive enzymes reduce large food particles so that the body can absorb nutrients and the entire body, skin included, benefits. Discolored skin, wrinkles, or blemishes, can be signs of enzyme deficiency and the loss of collagen that accompanies it. Digestive enzymes reduce free radical damage, help us remove toxins and maintain a healthy balance of beneficial intestinal microflora. Probiotics provide and maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora, vital to our intestinal digestive health and, in turn, the health of our skin. Beneficial flora promotes the health bacteria we need and destroys harmful bacteria that can lead to illness and infection. Unfortunately, synthetic prescription antibiotics destroy the good bacteria along with the harmful bacteria. Probiotics help restore the healthy microflora and bacteria after synthetic antibiotic use. Probiotics also help the skin to have healthy bacteria it needs and eliminate the growth of harmful bacteria.

All natural vitamins such as Vitamins A, C, and E are essential for anti-aging skin care. Vitamin A is needed for skin cell growth and renewal. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that fights free radicals, provides nourishment for the fat layer under the skin. Vitamin A deficiency results in dry, rough skin, eruptions, wrinkles, poor texture and tone. Vitamin C helps repair skin by building collagen and fighting infection. Vitamin C deficiency is connected to aging and ultra violet ray damage. Vitamin E also protects our skin from UV damage, reduces free radicals on our skin surface, and helps prevent the peroxidation of fats which results in skin cell damage.

All natural herbs improve complexion, help remove heat, toxins and swelling from our skin. Herbs can help lighten skin and maintain natural skin moisture..Herbs help prevent scar formation and facilitate new healthy skin growth.

Amino Acids fight harmful bacteria and viruses. Amino acids help carry vital oxygen throughout the body helping our skin breathe. Amino acids are part of facilitating enzyme efficiency and hormonal balance which is a major aspect of anti-aging skin care. Amino acids help stimulate collagen production. Collagen is the tissue that determines skin firmness. By increasing the production of collagen, amino acids can help our skin retain it's firmness, therefore reducing lines and wrinkles.

Essential fatty acids, EFAs, help our skin to become softer, smoother, and retain proper moisture content. Essential fatty acids have a very beneficial effect an the synthesis of prostaglandin hormones in our skin cells. Omega 3, an essential fatty acid, greatly benefits skin texture and may also help prevent the development of skin cancer and aging of our skin.

Our bodies produce Hyaluronic acid which is found to be abundant in young skin. The affects of aging and environment gradually reduces the amount of hyaluronic acid our bodies produce and maintain. Hyaluronic acid is important for our body's connective tissue, especially in our skin. Hyaluronic acid also helps to cushion, lubricate and provide needed flexibility for our skin.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is becoming well known for it's anti-aging effects and is a potent antioxidant that combats skin damage and helps repair past skin damage. Alpha lipoic acid provides great free radical defense especially when combined with other anti-aging antioxidants.Alpha lipoic acid is soluble in both oil and water. Alpha lipoic acid enhances the benefits of vitamins C and E and Coenzyme Q 10.

Coenzyme Q 10 helps decrease cellular oxidation in skin that accompanies aging. CoQ10 enters the layers of the epidermis and reduces the level of oxidation.. CoQ10 helps protect against UV light. CoQ10 activates phosphotyrosine kinases which prevents oxidation damage. CoQ10 is a very important natural nutrient for anti-aging skin care.

Our natural skin requires natural anti-aging skin care. Many all natural anti-aging skin care nutrients are available for us. They include amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, anti-aging antioxidants and anti-aging skin care formulas. We can help our skin externally through the use of topical all natural lotions, ointments, creams and solutions. We can keep our skin healthy internally through the use of all natural supplements, vitamins and formulas. Our skin keeps our internal system in place and protects our internal structure. Our skin provides valuable information about our overall health. Our skin is important not only for our appearance, but more vitally, for our complete well being.

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About The Author

Jennifer Kays has over twenty years experience with all natural health care products. Jennifer's mission is to share these all natural health care products through http://www.sweetmedicineessentials.com

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Where to Start When You Want to Lose Weight

Where to Start When You Want to Lose Weight
By John D Scott


When it comes to losing weight, trust me, you are not alone. It's estimated that over half of the American population is overweight and the majority of those people are in some way or another involved in some sort of diet or otherwise in the efforts to shed off those extra weight.

The most difficult thing to decide once you've finally decided to get started with weight loss is actually picking a weight loss program. With all the weight loss programs that now exist there are so many things people have to consider and have to watch out for as well. You really have to make sure that you find the weight loss program that is right for you and getting to that point is often very difficult.

Here's a little check list you might want to consider before you make a decision:

1. Check with you doctor before making any decision which regards your health.

There are many weight loss methods and programs that exist out there today that can be harmful to your health if you are not careful. For this reason, it is very important to speak to a health care provider before you take anything or do anything, just to be on the safe side.

2. Keep a diary.
It has been proven by nutritionists and health care providers alike that weight loss success rates are much higher when the person has a record of what they are consuming. Jotting down what you eat when you eat it and writing your feelings about it and the situation can help you look back and find patterns, good and bad habits, etc. and will help you be a huge help to yourself, almost like an outsider looking in. Your ability to analyze your behavior is an extremely helpful tool for weight loss.

3. Know your health risk factor.
It is very important to know where you lie as far as your health is concerned. If you are person just looking to shed off a few extra pounds you don't have to worry as much as someone who needs to drop the weight based on a health risk (usually a BMI of over 30 is something to be concerned about).

4. Research
There are many programs out there that promise weight loss but have a lot of risk factors you need to consider before using them. If you are interested in a particular method, research it well and then determine whether you are okay with the risks involved (if any) and whether it seems to be something that fits you personally.

5. Know what you're buying.
Once you decide to buy a product, make sure you know exactly what you are getting. Remember, there are a lot of people looking to get a quick buck by ripping people off and selling something that really doesn't work like they say it does.

Don't be afraid to ask questions like what does the program include? How many calories will I be allowed? Do I need to take extra supplements? Is anything forbidden? What will I mostly be eating? Will I have to exercise? Does the food plan change as the program moves along?

Being informed will keep you on top of your game and avoid you being ripped off or cheated by anybody looking for a quick buck. You should know that when a plan has zero physical activity, it probably isn't good for you. Also, when a plan requires too many additional supplements or too little calories are also causes for concern.

The article is posted and written by John Scott, the researcher and writer for compareop.com (Phentermine OPs Reports and Discussion board).
Tags:dieting, appetite suppressants, weight loss.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_D_Scott

The Hoodia Phenomenon

Everybody must have has heard about Hoodia. Its the new in thing for weight loss regimen. This one of a kind of desert plant has been used for centuries by a tribe in South Africa to ward off hunger during hunting trips. Because of its appetite suppressing effect it has been featured by popular TV programs such as The Today Show, BBC and your equally famous Ophrah. Its growing popularity has lead to a number of hoodia based products sprouting everywhere and so it has become difficult to choose the right kind of hoodia based product that you would want to use. Enter, www.hoodiabalance-review.com, a website that list the popular hoodia based products available in the market today and tabulates its unique feature to make it easier for consumer to decide which is the right hoodia product to choose. If you want to know more about Hoodia products kindly visit Hoodiabalance-review.com.

Monday, September 24, 2007

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Friday, September 21, 2007

Weight Loss Herbs - How Safe Are They?

Phillip England


Obesity is a sickness that can strike anyone at any age. It is a sickness that has affected millions of Americans – both young and old – resulting in serious health complications. Obesity, if left untreated, can lead to health risks such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and even diabetes. Because of this threat, Americans are taking pains to find the best and effective weight loss program and product in the market. One of these products are weight loss herbs, which vary in effects. How safe are weight loss herbs?

Two types of herbs

Weight loss herbs fall into two types. One type of herb serves to “trick” your brain believing that it is full, so you will not be tempted to eat. Another type of herb functions to boost your metabolism, thereby resulting in faster weight loss. This latter type of herb is also called thermogenic herb.

How thermogenic herbs work

Thermogenic herbs are increasing in popularity today. These herbs function as stimulants, containing substances like caffeine, in order to speed up body functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiration. The effects of these herbs make you more energetic. Meanwhile, thermogenic herbs also act as diuretics or water reducers, thereby resulting in weight loss through body water decrease.

Dangerous herbs

At present, weight loss herbs have invaded the market. Many of these have not been tested by the US FDA; hence the effects are still unknown. Weight loss herbs do not undergo the same strict testing as other drugs do, which is why several “unsafe” and “untested” herbs are being sold in the market.

However, the US FDA is taking pains to study herbs sold in the market. As of now, their list of dangerous weight loss herbs include:

• Herbal Laxatives – this usually takes the form of diet tea, cascara, senna, buckthorn, aloe and rhubarb root. These herbs can result in cramping, diarrhea, and if overused, could cause your bowels to no longer function without laxative stimulation.

• Ephedra – this popular weight loss herb is also known as ma huang. In high doses, Ephedra can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and over stimulate the central nervous system. As of now, the FDA has reported over 800 incidences – and two deaths – of unhealthy side effects brought by ingesting Ephedra. Other side effects include heart palpitations, seizures, stroke, chest pain, and heart attack.

• Herbal fen-phen – Ephedra serves as the main ingredient in the version of the dangerous diet drug known as fen-phen. Herbal fen-phen has not been shown to even work in clinical trials, but it has been attributed with serious side effects from heartbeat irregularities to death from heart attack and stroke.

Healthy products

That is not to say, however, that all weight loss herbs are dangerous. A couple of herbs that have passed US-FDA standards include:

• Cayenne – this organic spice is not for making your food taste spicy. Research has shown that cayenne contains an ingredient called capsaicin that stimulates saliva, stimulates digestion and accelerates your metabolism at a safer level.

• Green Tea – green tea and weight loss have been shown to have correlation. Green tea serves as a natural stimulant that behaves much like coffee but with the added benefit of vitamin C and flavoniods (or antioxidants). Green tea is said to boost metabolism and increase fat oxidation.

• Seaweed – seaweed is a good source of trace minerals such as chromium and iodine, acting as a natural thyroid stimulant.

• Ginseng – also said to boost metabolism

Fiber for weight loss

Another option for weight loss is taking fiber. Fiber makes one feel full without worrying about the excess calories. Aside from that, fiber also helps promote regular bowel movement, releasing harmful toxins in the body. You can ingest fiber supplements or take fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.

What is the answer?

In the end, weight loss herbs can be an option for weight loss. But these herbs should be taken with a grain of salt. When buying herbs, make sure to check if they are FDA approved. If there is no way to check, research about the product: know its ingredients and its side effects. Once you have researched about it, be sure to buy only from reputable brands and markets so you are assured of high-quality herbs.

Taking herbs and supplements are not the best way to lose weight. In the end, proper diet and exercise are the only solutions to achieving a healthy body image.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report "The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret". To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don't know, or don't want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phillip_England

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Vitamin Supplementation - 5 Must Know Facts

Joyce Nuzzo


For some, vitamin supplementation is a way of life; others feel that if they "eat healthy” there is no need to do anything further. There are, however, several important facts that everyone should be aware of when making the decision of whether to supplement their diet or not. Did you know?

1. Most vitamin pills/capsules pass through the digestive tract only partially digested.
2. Food alone does not provide all of the daily nutrition our bodies need.
3. Vitamin deficiencies are associated with many chronic diseases.
4. Vitamin supplementation plays a role in the prevention of many diseases—heart disease, prostate cancer, osteoporosis.
5. People over 50 are most at risk to suffer from vitamin deficiencies that result in chronic disease.

It’s fact! The Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Nutrition Research, Medical Science Monitor, American Journal of Epidemiology, and The Council for Responsible Nutrition Recommended Intakes of Vitamins and Essential Minerals, just to mention a few, have reported and published research supporting these findings.

Getting the Vitamins You Need

The USDA regularly monitors and evaluates the American diet. Its statistics have shown that the average adult’s diet does not provide all the essential vitamins and minerals needed to maintain health. To assure that optimum levels of nutrients are achieved, supplementation is recommended to fill these nutritional gaps. Particularly when one reflects on how fast food, skipped meals, and the lack of exercise impact our lives.

We have only one body and we have to take responsibility for its maintenance. Just as we regularly maintain our automobiles by changing the oil every 3000 miles or putting gas in its tank, we must provide the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to maintain health and “run” smoothly. When our bodies are functioning optimally, we are energized, our skin, hair, and nails mirror our health, we suffer less from colds, flus, and other maladies. Good nutrition supports and enhances the immune system, just like vaccines ward off disease by stimulating an antibody response that helps to lessen or prevent illness.

Bioavailability

Research studies have been conducted to study whether there are any significant differences between liquid and pill forms of vitamin supplementation (Journal of Medicinal Food, Vol 2, No.3, 1998, p 207). The findings of these studies concluded that liquid supplements had definite benefits over tablet or capsule forms. As a liquid, nutrients are more bioavailable; in other words, they are more easily digested and absorbed in the intestinal tract. Pills must first dissolve before they become available to your body. It’s like swallowing an apple whole versus biting and chewing bites of the apple before swallowing. Chewing breaks down the apple into smaller pieces so it can be more easily digested or processed by your body.

Supplements taken as a liquid have the added benefit of being gentler on the stomach. Have you ever noticed that after taking a multivitamin your stomach felt upset? Some individuals have difficulty swallowing pills. For older adults and children, this can affect whether a daily supplement is taken. A liquid supplement eliminates these negatives. But more importantly, taking a liquid supplement ensures that the nutrients needed to maintain normal health, growth, and repair are actually being utilized, and are not just a number on a label.

Can Vitamins Prevent Disease?

Over 40 years of clinical research point to dietary supplementation as having a role in long term good health. While no one will claim that taking vitamins guarantees good health, indications are that people who eat healthy, who supplement their food intake to ensure adequate intake of both vitamins and minerals, and who follow a healthy life style enjoy a longer active life—they live younger and die older.

Numerous blind studies have compared people over the age of 50 who were given placebos with those who were given supplementation. These individuals were evaluated for the incidence of heart disease and stroke, Alzheimer’s and cognitive disorders, periodontal disease, and wound healing. The studies consistently showed a significant decrease in the occurrence of illness in people who were supplementing their diet (some conditions with more than a 50% decrease in occurrence). The studies also evaluated the blood of individuals with disease occurrence versus those who were disease free. In ALL cases, those with disease had a deficiency of at least one nutrient, while those who were disease free had no deficiencies (see Nutrition Research, January 2002).

In conclusion, while no one is ready to claim that vitamin supplementation will guarantee a long and healthy life; indications are that there is a favorable correlation.

Selecting the Right Nutritional Supplement

There are many options from which one can choose. You know this just from taking a walk down the vitamin aisle in your local grocery or drug store. But how do you know which one is right for you? You can take the time to compare labels, but the easiest or most obvious solution is just to select a multivitamin product. Vitamins are all the same. Right? Most manufacturers claim that their particular supplement provides 100% of an adult’s daily requirements. But wait, given what you have learned earlier in this article, you know that pills are not easily absorbed in the digestive tract. So if you choose a pill form of supplementation, just how much of the 100% of your daily requirements are you really getting? Actual absorption will vary from individual to individual, but liquid supplements are proven to be more bioavailable, so it is logical that this is where one should start. Look for a complete (liquid form) supplement that provides 100% or more of your daily requirements of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These are the ingredients you need to keep those 63 trillion cells in your body healthy and strong.

As with any health product, it is advisable to consult your physician.

Joyce Nuzzo, a medical laboratory healthcare professional, has over 35 years experience in t he medical publishing arena as both publisher and author. She has a special interest in nutrition, maintaining a healthy life style, and living young longer. For more information about liquid health supplements, contact http://www.jnenterprises.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joyce_Nuzzo

Saturday, September 8, 2007

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Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Food Sources - Vitamin D And Calcium - Everything You Need To Know

John Gibb


Many food sources contain both vitamin D and calcium which is an excellent combination since vitamin D is required for proper absorption of calcium. Our body is capable of producing its own vitamin D by getting sun rays and converting them into something useful.

However, most of us work indoors and don’t go out for healthy activities involving basking in the sun or playing some sport outdoors. Because of this reason the calcium we obtain from food does not get absorbed by the blood stream and is lost through urine. We need to add food sources of vitamin D and calcium to our everyday diet to ensure maximum calcium absorption.

The best food sources of vitamin D and calcium are fish and seafood. Sardines and salmon contain adequate amounts of both calcium and vitamin D and they should be consumed at least once a week especially by calcium deficient people and women above the age of 40.

Similarly, shrimps, oysters and sea vegetables are good sources of calcium as well as vitamin D and some other nutrients. Canned seafood and other sources can also be added to everyday diet to ensure a healthy, full-of-nutrients meal.

Recommended calcium intake for people belonging to the age group pf 19 – 50 is 1000 mg/day. Teenagers should consume up to 1300 mg/day, and postmenopausal women need at least 1500 mg of calcium per day. 200 IU of vitamin D is normally enough to fulfill a day’s needs for an average, healthy person.

Milk is also one of the food sources of vitamin D and calcium. Fortified orange juice, canned tuna, mackerel, and egg yolk contain adequate quantities of vitamin D. Similarly, elderly people can use soy beverages and soy milk to fulfill their daily calcium and vitamin D requirements. Boiled bone soup is a good source of calcium and should be added to everyday diet.

Calcium supplements available on the market contain calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and many other useful minerals and vitamins. They can also be used as a source of both vitamin D and calcium. Liquid supplements are equally effective and they are ideal for children and elderly people.

Coral calcium is a variant on calcium carbonate used in making effective calcium supplements. It has a high absorption rate, and therefore it is best absorbed in the presence of stomach acid and vitamin D. It also assists in proper digestion of food and treatment of conditions associated with calcium deficiency like brittle nails, muscle cramps, joint pains and constant fatigue.

For optimal bone and joint health, we have been using a special natural calcium formula and for good reason, this formula is known as Bone Protect. We have personally been using this formula for over 3 years with excellent health results.

You can learn more about our product of choice and why we use this product above all other calcium formulas at optimal bone health

John Gibb is the manager of a series health websites. His latest addition discusses the calcium formula himself and the editors consume. For more information on calcium, coral calcium, and bone health as a whole, be sure to check out http://www.optimal-bone-health.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gibb

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

This Key Ingredient In Wine May Have You Living A Lot Longer!

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.


Now, I know you've heard about the heart healthy benefits of red wine. Research shows that people who drink a glass of red wine with dinner most days can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 62%.

But the healthy benefits of red wine don't stop at the heart.

Red wine contains a compound called resveratrol. Resveratrol is found in the seeds and skins of the red grapes used to make wine. It is a polyphenol and has been widely heralded for its antioxidant properties. But, it turns out there is a lot more to resveratrol than that.

Different studies show that resveratrol reduces inflammation, it protects brain cells and neuron pathways from damage, and it may help prevent cancers from forming. In addition, preliminary research also shows that resveratrol has an interesting affect on living cells. In healthy cells, resveratrol can help them to live longer and in unhealthy cells it can help trigger their natural death process.

In animal studies, resveratrol seems to affect certain changes in the body that are associated with aging. In doing so, it may actually slow down the aging process. 3 In one study, resveratrol slowed down both memory loss and muscle atrophy.4 Researchers believe that resveratrol will lead to a breakthrough in anti-aging medicines sometime in the near future.

You Can Take Advantage of Resveratrol Starting Today

You don't have to wait to start taking advantage of the benefits of resveratrol. You can begin eating more foods that contain resveratrol, starting immediately.

Red wine is the best-known source of this amazing compound. You can increase your resveratrol intake just by adding a glass of red wine to your dinner each day. With this strategy, you'll also get to take advantage of the heart healthy benefits of red wine.

You can also enjoy the benefits of resveratrol by eating more red grapes and by snacking on peanuts or blueberries and by drinking more grape juice. Choose a purple grape juice over a white one, and make sure you pick juice that is 100 percent juice and not packed with artificial sweeteners.

The understanding of the benefits of resveratrol is growing rapidly, and one thing is clear… this powerful compound does good things for your body, so try to add a little more to your diet.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging

www.vitalmaxvitamins.com
http://www.prostanol.com
http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com/blog

1 Mukamal KJ, et al. "Alcohol consumption and risk for coronary heart disease in men with healthy lifestyles." Arch Intern Med 2007; 167(9): 970

2 Holme AL, et al. "Resveratrol in cell fate decisions." J Bioenerg Biomember 2007; 39(1): 59-63

3 Yao Y, et al. "[Research on resveratrol's mechanism of immunity in anti-aging]" Zhong Yao Cai 2006; 29(5): 464-67

4 D.R.Valenzano, et al. "Resveratrol prolongs lifespan and retards the onset of age-related markers in a short- lived vertebrate," Current Biology 2006; 16: 1-5

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Rosenberg,_M.D.

HoodiaRush

Trying to loose weight? Then I guess you must have heard about Hoodia Gordonni. Here's a weight loss supplement that is based on Hoodia , it is aptly named HoodiaRush. It contains the most potent and purest Hoodia from South Africa. If you want to know more about the product you can visit www.hoodiarush-review.com or if you are ready to buy HoodiaRush, you can go here.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Lifestyle Fitness - Let's Talk about Supplements

Codant Wright

Giving your body the nutrients that it needs to make it through the day is essential to your well being. But, even if you think that you can do this through the foods that you eat, you are probably still missing out.

Today's foods often do not contain enough of the nutrients that your body needs to be in your best physical shape. While a diet that's full of nutrient rich food should not be replaced, it sometimes needs additional supplementation to take it to the best level it can be at.

But, what do you take? First off, find a good quality multivitamin and take that as directed. Multivitamins are a good starting point because they provide a decent dose of supplements that just about everyone needs. Multivitamins give you what your food doesn't and they are affordable solutions to your needs.

In addition to this, find out what type of supplements you can take for your individual needs and problems.

For example, if you have a need to lose weight, look for supplements that can offer weight loss benefits.

If you have heart problems, problems with gaining weight or other conditions, you can probably find a supplement or several that can address those problems for you.

How do you know how much to take? That's a trickier question. There are two routes to take. First off, realize that doctors don't always use supplementation in their practices and they may not be educated in prescribing this type of help to you.

First, start by finding a health food store or a vitamin supplier. Quality is very important if you want to see benefits from supplementation. Therefore, make sure that you have a reliable source. These individuals can also help provide you with the information you need regarding improving your conditions.

Another source for information is the web. Finding a reputable website that offers help for supplementation will help you to increase your overall well being through tackling individualized problems. Again, quality is essential to success here. Don't assume that any information that you find is reliable. Get another opinion!

Supplements can help to improve your body's function because you are giving your body exactly what it needs to do the work right. It's like always giving your car premium gas and oil to do its job even better!

Codant Wright is an author writing on Fitness and Exercise. Visit my website and get my Free Brand New 5 Part Fitness Ecourse at http://www.best-fitness.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Codant_Wright

Friday, August 31, 2007

Profollica Hair Growth System

Are your hair thinning or simply just losing your hair? Tired of trying those off shelf hair growth treatment that doesn't work. But, I guess you just can't give up.

A new Hair Growth System that really does its job is now in town. Enter Profollica, an effective hair growth treatment that does it job and does it well. Unlike any other hair growth system which contains toxic component, Profollica only contains all natural ingredients. Profollica uses a revolutionary three component system that unclogged and revitalizes your hair scalp paving a way for healthy growing hair.

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Thursday, August 30, 2007

Secret Vitamin Weapon Against Depression?

By Stephen P Smith

Vitamin B12, occasionally also known as cobalamin, is one of the most important and most intensively studied of the B complex vitamins. This group of vitamins is known as the B complex because of their biochemical similarity and because of their close interaction and interdependence in the performance of their numerous vital functions. So the B complex vitamins are commonly found together in various common food sources and, each being water soluble, will also be excreted together from the body. A deficiency in one of the complex is therefore almost always accompanied by a corresponding deficiency in each of the others.

But all of that said, the consequences of a deficiency are different in the case of each individual vitamin, and deficiencies of B12 are particularly associated with cardiovascular disease, a type of anaemia, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and depression.

Vitamin B12 is required for the body's manufacture of the essential amino acid, methionine and its associated enzyme, methionine synthase, an inadequate supply of which may lead to an excess of homocysteine, a naturally occuring protein within the body, which is well known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

But it is also now known that sufferers from Alzheimer's disease are often found to have low levels of vitamin B12 in their blood as well as the raised levels of homocysteine which are also associated with more common vascular dementias. In fact a number of studies have suggested that low B12 and high homocysteine levels may as much as double the risk of Alzheimer's.

Although conventional medicine remains reluctant to accept any causal link, it might well seem to the "intelligent layman" who takes an interest in these matters that such a link is more likely than not. And this is particularly so when it is remembered that vitamin B12 deficiency leads to a reduction in the synthesis of methionine, which is known to be essential for the methylation reactions which are in turn vital for the health of nerve cells and neurotransmitters.

Research has also noted a strong associative link between vitamin B12 deficiency and depression, that widespread and disabling, but still poorly understood and defined condition. In fact different studies have suggested that up to 30% of patients with depression severe enough to require hospital admission may be deficient in vitamin B12, and that elderly people found to be deficient in the vitamin are twice as likely to suffer severe depression as those with normal blood levels.

Again the conventional "wisdom" prefers to regard these findings as an observational association rather than evidence of a causal link. But it has been argued that such a link may be due to B12's acknowledged role in the synthesis of methionine and its associated enzymes, which are vital for the effective performance of certain neurotransmitters whose absence is known to be a factor in depression.

Evidently Alzheimer's disease, dementia and depression are all conditions which become more common and more severe with advancing age, so perhaps it should be no surprise that deficiencies of vitamin B12 are also much more frequent in the elderly population. In fact as many as 10 -15% of the over 60s may be severely deficient, but a far higher proportion than this are likely to fall below the threshold required for optimum protection against these justifiably dreaded diseases.

However, these deficiencies are unlikely to be caused by an inadequate dietary supply. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin B12 is only 2.4 mcg a day, an amount which should be readily obtainable, except perhaps for those following a strict vegetarian regime, given that a single 3 oz serving of fish or red meat may provide this quantity. For those with a taste for it, sea food may provide a great deal more, and chicken, turkey, eggs, milk and cheese are also useful, though less lavish, sources.

But good absorption of vitamin B12 from food is heavily dependent on the normal stomach acid and digestive enzymes, the quantity and effectiveness of which decreases substantially as the body ages, and on the presence in the stomach of a specialised protein known as Intrinsic Factor. The correct action of Intrinsic Factor requires the presence of adequate calcium in the body, another nutrient in which the elderly are of course notoriously likely to be deficient.

Absorption of B12 from supplements is much less problematic, however, because stomach acid and digestive enzymes are not required to release the vitamin from its protein bindings. So this is a rare case in which even conventional medical "wisdom" recognises the value of supplementation, at any rate for the over 50s.

So given that relatively small amounts of these vitamins are required by the body, and that no toxicities or adverse side effects have been reported, there really seems no reason to run the risk of a deficiency.

Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in direct marketing and with a particular interest in health products. Find out more at http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/Information.htm

Friday, August 17, 2007

SuperSlim


When it comes to the subject of weight loss, the innovation of certain products can make or break you. There is always the recommendation of exercise and proper diet but you can also put these methods into becoming more effective with the use of SuperSlim pills.

This type of pill can be compared with hypnosis, but this simply gives you the opportunity to achieve the idea of weight loss effectively. This organic appetite suppressant supplement assists an existing diet and exercise program to fully give out the desired result. Medical and herbal terms aside, this supplement “tricks” the brain to actually experience fullness and, thus, reducing the brain activity of chemicals that boosts both cravings and appetite. With this, the body turns to the stored fats that we don’t really need and use it as a source of energy, thus, releasing these unwanted fats as we sweat when we do something like exercise. The SuperSlim organic supplement is particularly functional when it comes to the idea of losing a large total of weight as well as the incapability to “resist” the food or meal intake by large portions, which can always be a problem especially when you are overweight.

Remember, you don’t need all the time in the world to lose, all you need is plenty of exercise, proper diet and the inclusion of SuperSlim supplements into your daily food intake.

Also, try out our other line of products; the SuperSlim Thermogenic, Organic Health and NuLiver.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Discover The Amazing Health Benefits Of Bee Pollen

What's the buzz about the health benefits of bee pollen?

Produced by flowering plants, pollen granules stick to the bees' legs and other parts as they go about their business of gathering nectar and are collected from bees as they enter the hive. For centuries, China recognized the health benefits of bee pollen and used it as a natural medicine and as a general tonic.

Sometimes referred to as "nature's superfood" or "nature's perfect food," bee pollen contains all of the nutrients needed to sustain life. In fact, bee pollen is jam-packed with energizing nutrition. It is rich in vitamins and contains almost all known minerals, trace elements, enzymes, and amino acids. More specifically, it contains 35% protein, 55% carbohydrates, 2% fatty acids, and 3% minerals and vitamins. It has been noted to have a high concentration of vitamins A, C, D, and E, and it is extraordinary rich in the B-complex vitamins. In addition, bee pollen has flavonoid constituents that have antioxidant properties, primarily rutin, quercetin, myricetin, and trans-cinnamic acid. However, bee pollen's composition may vary depending on plant sources and geographic region.

So, how can the heath benefits of bee pollen benefit you?

Bee pollen is often touted as an energy booster as well as one that can increase vitality due to its B vitamin content. The B complex vitamins are well renowned for their ability to help combat stress and boost energy levels. In fact, some experts refer to the B vitamins as the stress or energy vitamins.

Bee pollen is also used to boost immunity and, as such, people who are susceptible to colds or upper respiratory tract infections may find bee pollen helpful.

The health benefits of bee pollen may be of interest to anyone detoxifying. Why? Because bee pollen is so rich in nutrients and when you detoxify you reduce the intake of foods that normally keep your immune system in good running condition.

Bee pollen is a popular supplement among athletes, which is often used for endurance, strength, stamina, and mental clarity. Most importantly, many report that bee pollen helps them train hard, recover quickly, and helps increase stamina.

In recent years, Chinese researchers indicated that bee pollen inhibits benign prostate overgrowth, slows the aging process, and lowers cholesterol and other lipids. This indication came from reported results of animal studies.

According to the well renowned tome "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," written by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, who states:

"Like other bee products, bee pollen as an antimicrobial effect. In addition, it is useful for combating fatigue, depression, cancer, and colon disorders. It is also helpful for people with allergies because it strengthens the immune system." (Third Edition: Page 64.)

Phyllis A. Balch has been a leading nutritional consultant for more than two decades.

In addition to the aforementioned health benefits of bee pollen, is that it contains lecithin. Lecithin is a substance that helps flush fat from the body and it stimulates the metabolic processes and, as such, it increases the speed at which calories are burned. Therefore, bee pollen may possibly be helpful as a weight-loss aid.

Precautions And Side Effects Of Bee Pollen Supplements

Bee pollen tends to be a very safe supplement with no serious side effects. However, those who are allergic to bee stings should not use bee pollen or any other supplements derived from bees because it could cause an allergic reaction. Allergic reaction signals include wheezing, headache, itchy throat, hives, or skin flushing. One should discontinue use immediately if these symptoms develop.

If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your health care professional before using bee pollen.

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre's Opinion On The Health Benefits of Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is certainly a superstar with its rich energizing nutrition content and, as such, it's a good source for promoting vibrant health and for health maintenance such as correcting deficient or unbalanced nutrition.

Unfortunately, there is insufficient clinical research to suggest that bee pollen is an effective supplement for many health conditions.

On the other hand, there are numerous studies and clinical trails that strongly suggest that many of its benefits may be a "wee" bit more than just anecdotal. Most studies on bee pollen have been done in China and Europe.

How to reap the health benefits of bee pollen...

Buyer beware that not all bee pollen products are created equal and some, if not many have been found tainted with contaminates from air pollution (pesticides, herbicides) and large amounts of lead. Therefore, for tips on how to a quality pure bee pollen supplement, please click on the link below.

Cindy Amorin is the chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre.com an information-rich site that discusses nutritional, dietary, and herbal supplements and their potential therapeutic value.

For tips on how to buy a quality pure bee pollen supplement meet us on the web by clicking here: The health benefits of bee pollen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Amorin

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Discover The List Of Reasons To Take A Multivitamin Supplement

By Cindy Amorin

Many people everyday power up their computers in search for a list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement. However, before we delve into the reasons, let's provide you with a few examples on just how complex and complicated nutritional biochemistry is so that you can make an informed decision about the list of reasons to take a multivitamin.

Do you know that zinc will not function without vitamin B6, nor can some enzymes be made without it?

Here are a couple more examples to show you how complicated nutritional biochemistry is, both selenium and magnesium need vitamin B6 in order to function correctly and selenium is the synergist for vitamin E, meaning if you're taking a vitamin E supplement but you are selenium-deficient, you will not reap the full benefits from vitamin E.

Bottom Line

No nutrient is an island unto itself and, as such, every nutrient requires other nutrients as cofactors, either for activation or function from each of the nutrient categories vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. For activation, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids require enzymes, and for function, essential fatty acid also required.

Now that we have explained just how complex and complicated nutritional biochemistry is, the list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement will make more sense to you.

One of the most powerful arguments among experts is whether or not supplements are really necessary if you eat a healthy diet. While the arguments continue in the 21st century chronic illness and disease are skyrocketing even among the youngest of children. Indeed, we are all aware that diets that mainly consist of junk foods are main contributors to ill health. However, there are other challenges we are faced with in regards to good nutrition and obtaining optimal health.

So, can you get all the nutrients you need simply by eating a healthy diet? Quite honestly many experts say no and their reasons are multifaceted, but put simply we live in the modern civilized world.

In the good old days, our ancestors lived in pristine conditions and were given all the necessary components needed to maintain good health. Water came from natural sources and it was clean and pure. It also contained certain minerals, and those minerals served an essential purpose in promoting good health. Back then the air was fresh and clean, the skies were bright and clear, and food was rich in nutrients.

In fact, if we step back to just 100 years ago we would discover that most foods were grown and raised on small farms. Farmers rotated their crops regularly to avoid soil exhaustion and to maintain rich and healthy soil. Healthy rotated soil meant the best harvest. Livestock were allowed the freedom roam and graze at will on nutrient rich foods and, as such, food prepared from this livestock was hardy and nutritious. Indeed, back then, they did not need a list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement because they didn't need to supplement their diets.

So, what happened? Here's the list of reasons to take a multivitamin.

First, let's take a look at our soil since then. According to the 1992 Earth Summit Soil Mineral Depletion Analysis, the United States has the worst soil in the world – 85% mineral depleted. Minerals are naturally occurring elements found in earth. Minerals are also present in plants and animals, but they are imported. Plants get minerals from soil and animals get minerals by eating plants. This means that our foods have declined in nutritional value to help us to sustain optimum health.

Second, we now live in a highly toxic environment. Our research indicates that there is an estimated seven billion pounds of toxins and chemical agents added to our water, air and food each year. In fact, our bodies now contain between 300-500 known toxins in our tissues that were not found in humans prior to 1940. Toxins in our homes are said to be 5 times higher than those outdoors and 3-5 times more dangerous. There inescapable…there everywhere even in places as remote as the North Pole where Santa lives. This is due to the nature of wind, rain, and weather.

But wait, there's more on the list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement.

Third, our modern day diet is depriving us of even more essential nutrients. In the good old days there were no additives, preservatives, processed, refined, or prepackaged foods. Man had to hunt and gather food since there were no grocery stores. There were no white bread bushes or donut trees. There were no drive-through windows or canned, cooked, dried or packed in heavy sugar syrup fruits and veggies. Man did not have the option to pull French fries out of the ground and kick back with a soft drink. Back then man consumed food that was natural, fresh and highly nutritious.

Fourth, commercial farming which consist of pesticides, insecticides, and chemical fertilizers comes with a price. The cost is the loss of nutritional value of our crops. Moreover, mass production of fruits and vegetables has robbed us of even more essential nutrients because premature harvesting does not allow them to reach their natural peak of nutrition. Foods are often picked before they are ripe and allowed to ripen in transit.

Here's food for thought on just how much our fruits and veggies have declined in nutritional value. In fact, the below example will give you a clearer picture in regards to the list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement.

Two peaches back in 1951 would have provided the current RDA requirements of vitamin A for adult women. Today, a woman would have to consume almost 53 peaches to meet her daily requirements of vitamin A.

Sad, isn't it!

But wait, there's even more on the list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement.

Fifth, trace levels of pharmaceutical drugs are now present in our surface water, groundwater, drinking water and sewage. Studies have shown some 50 to 90 percent of ingested pharmaceutical drugs are not metabolized, and leave the body in urine and feces and enter the sewage system. Moreover, hospitals and nursing homes routinely dispose of "vast quantities" of unused pharmaceuticals. According to our research the ultimate effects of these numerous pharmaceutical drugs that we drink in minute amounts daily are yet unknown.

Yet, even more on the list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement.

Sixth, stress, whether psychological or physical or due to injury or illness, depletes the body of vital nutrients. Indeed, another important factor in regards to the list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement.

Seventh, many prescription and even non-prescription drugs can interact with nutrients and, over time, can cause nutrient depletion.

Eighth, heat destroys many valuable nutrients in foods. This is why many experts recommend eating a diet high in raw foods whenever appropriate.

Lastly, we are all aware of the health effects air pollutants have on the human body as it too contributes to ill health. In fact, medical research has established that environmental chemicals contribute to degenerative diseases.

While we have not exhausted the list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement, the aforementioned list gives you excellent clues on supplemental necessity.

It's important to remember that human body was actually designed to defend, heal, and protect itself from harmful threats when given the proper tools, which is good nutrition.

Indeed, when given these harsh challenges many experts feel that you cannot depend on food alone to provide you with all of the nutrition you need for optimal health. This is why health conscious enthusiast advises everyone to take nutritional supplements.

In fact, most physicians today recommend, at the very least, a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement. However, figuring out what supplement to take for optimal health is a lot like buying major health insurance or trying to make sense of all the medical charges after a major surgery -- confusing and complicated. It does help if you familiarize yourself with the functions of nutrients.

While nutritional supplements can fill in the gaps it is not an adequate substitute for a good diet. In other words, supplements can enhance a healthy diet and are not a substitute for it.

Keep in mind that not all multivitamins are created equal and nowadays there are nutraceutical companies that produce multi nutrient supplements that go far and beyond the basic multivitamin and mineral product. For example, the product may include special antioxidant nutrients such as green tea extract that are much more powerful than vitamins C and E, and it may also include many other natural nutrients that promote a host of healthful benefits that simply will not be found in a low end basic multivitamin and mineral supplement.

We hope this list of reasons to take a multivitamin supplement was useful to you.

Cindy Amorin is the chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre.com, an information-rich site that discusses nutritional, dietary, and herbal supplements and their potential therapeutic value. She is the editor of vitamin and mineral supplements a section of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre discussing recommendations as to what to look for in an ideal multivitamin and mineral supplement.

For those of you interested in learning how to buy a quality multivitamin supplement, visit us on the web at our best multivitamin web page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Amorin

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Nutrition and Nutritional Supplements for Your Health

By Diane Rose

Nutritional supplements help to maintain health of your body and to protect your body from diseases. But to know what nutrition supplements we need to take, we should have knowledge about nutrition and how it works.

Understanding nutrition is very important for your health, because if your body doesn’t get enough nutrition, it becomes weak and more disposed to obtaining diseases. We need to understand it so that we can take care of our bodies to help it to function well.

Nutrition is the study of nutrients and how it interacts with the human body. It is a study on how the body uses food as energy for its growth and activities. This leads to understanding how nutritional supplements is useful for the body.

Macronutrients and the micronutrients are the two kinds of nutrients. Macronutrients, also called the “big” nutrients, are made up of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Micronutrients, also called the “little” nutrients, are vitamins and minerals. Both of these two types of nutrients are what our body needs to be healthy.

Knowing about these two will give us a good understanding about what nutritional supplements we need to help our bodies to function well.

Macronutrients - Proteins

One of the major structural part of the body are proteins. The organs and muscles consist of proteins. So is the blood, cell membrane and immune system. The elements in proteins are called “amino acids”, which is found mainly in meats, dairy products, eggs, soy, fish and poultry.

Macronutrients - Carbohydrates

The main source of energy for the each cell in the body and fuel for the body is carbohydrate. Carbohydrates is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbohydrates are sugar, starches and fibers which are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, syrups, honey and table sugar.

Macronutrients - Fats

Fats is necessary for our bodies to be in good health, but as noted in the public eye, too much of it isn’t good for us. Fat provides linoleic acid to our body. Linoleic acid is a fatty acid necessary for our bodies growth, metabolism and healthy skin.

Fats, also, help absorb fat soluble vitamins.

The different types of fats are saturated fats, unsaturated fats, trans fats. also called hydrogenated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Saturated fats is found mostly in animal products like meat, dairy and egg. Also, some are found in some plant based sources like coconut oil.

Unsaturated fats are commonly liquid at room temperature. They are found in most vegetable products and oils. Unsaturated fats are found mainly in fish, nuts, seeds and oils from plants.

Trans fats are fats that are chemically processed that changes liquid oil into solid fats. It’s formed during the process of hydrogenation.

Omega-3 fatty acids are called essential fatty acids and are important for our health but can’t be produced by our body. For this reason, omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish and certain plant oils.

Micronutrients - Vitamins

Vitamins are organic molecules that are vital in every living organism. Vitamins are classified as water soluble and fat soluble. Water soluble vitamins are vitamins that are easily dissolved in water while fat soluble vitamins are vitamins that are absorbed through the intestinal tract with the aid of lipids. Vitamins are important for normal growth and development and in various chemical reactions in the body. There are different types of vitamins. Each has its own function in our body that is why vitamins are essential in the body’s nutrition.

Micronutrients - Minerals

Minerals are inorganic elements, “non living” elements, that are relevant nutrition for humans, animals and plants. The human body contains lots of minerals. They are the main structural part of the body. Just like vitamins, minerals have significant function in the human body.

I would like to mention that too much or too little of these nutrients are not a good thing for our health, but adequate amounts are necessary for our health.

In future articles, we will get more detailed about the nutrients to get a further understanding of how it effects our bodies and to give us better understanding of how nutritional supplements will help our bodies for health.

This article is brought to you by our blog Nutritional Supplements


Monday, July 30, 2007

Free Ebook: 43 Nutrition Secrets Revealed


43 Nutrition Secrets Revealed seeks to undo much of the diet myths that get spread around. And so we are giving you a free ebook to debunk these myths.

Download the secret here: Nutrition Secrets

Ebook courtesy of www.free-ebooks.net

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Do You Know These Secrets of Vitamin C?

By Dr. John Anne

Vitamin C also known as Ascorbic Acid is a water-soluble, antioxidant vitamin. It is important for the development of collagen. Collagen is a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. Collagen has many benefits, supports a range of the body's structures and is necessary to the formation of bones and teeth

Humans, unlike most other animals, do not generate their own vitamin C, and they need to take it through foods sources which are rich in Vitamin C. This vitamin is measured a cure-all for a lot of diseases and problems - from cancer to common cold.

Benefits of Vitamin C
1) Vitamin C in addition to avoiding Scurvy, it has been shown to diminish the length of colds and to lighten their severity. It does not, however, avoids colds or modifies their frequency. Vitamin C may help prevent lead poisoning, and some scientists suppose it can be used in the treatment of cancer.
2) Vitamin C serves a predominantly defensive position in the body.
3) It is a great antioxidant and helps defend the body against pollutants
4) It helps in the prevention of blood clotting and bruising, and strengthening the walls of the capillaries
5) Vitamin C helps in the prevention of degenerative diseases - such as cataracts, certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
6) Ascorbic acid promotes healthy cell growth, proper calcium absorption, normal tissue growth and restore - like healing of wounds and burns.
7) Vitamin C is required for healthy gums, to help defend against infection, helps decrease cholesterol level, high blood pressure and avoids arteriosclerosis.

What can happen with the Vitamin C Deficiency?
Vitamin C Deficiency result in hemorrhages under the skin and a tendency to bruise effortlessly, poor wound healing, weakness, poor digestion, bleeding gums and loose teeth.

Low levels of vitamin C have been related with a number of conditions including hypertension, gallbladder disease, stroke and some cancers.

Edema (also called water retention) also takes place due to a Vitamin C deficiency, along with aching joints, bronchial infection and colds.

Vitamin C Dosage
The average (recommended dietary allowance) RDA is 60-80mg, per day.

For young people it is 80 mg, 75 mg for adults, 100 mg during pregnancy and 150 mg during lactation. Men should take more vitamin C than women and persons who smoke cigarettes are encouraged to consume 35-40 mg more vitamin C than average adults. This is because smoking reduces vitamin C levels in the body and is a catalyst for organic processes, which damage cells.

Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin C
Symptoms of scurvy, the vitamin C deficiency disease include –

1) Bleeding gums (also called gingivitis) and skin discoloration
2) Poor healing of wound.
3) Poor immune function, including susceptibility to cold and other infections.

Vitamin C Sources
Consuming the number of foods that contain vitamin C is the most excellent mode to get the required amount of Vitamin C each day. Healthy persons who eat a balanced diet do not need any Vitamin C supplements.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, whether fresh or the dried or in powdered form.

Some of the good sources of vitamin C are oranges, kiwi fruit, mango, broccoli olives, guava, green peppers, watermelon, papaya, strawberry, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and citrus juices or juices equipped with Vitamin C.

Raw and cooked green leafy vegetables, peppers, fresh tomatoes, potatoes, pineapple are also rich sources of Vitamin C.

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mangetout, red peppers, chilies, watercress, parsley, blackcurrants are also rich sources of Vitamin C.

How to retain vitamin C
To avoid loss of vitamin C:

• Serve fruits and vegetables raw as far as possible.
• Steam, boil, or cook foods in a very minute amount of water
• Store prepared juices in Refrigerator, but no more than two to three days.
• Store cut and raw fruits, vegetables in an airtight container and refrigerate - do not store in water because Vitamin C is water soluble and gets dissolved in the water.

Eating foods rich in Vitamin C in their fresh, raw form is the finest way to maximize intake of vitamin C.

Vitamin C Overdose
Vitamin C overdose of may result in diarrhea, lip swelling, and in very severe cases difficulty in breathing.

Vitamin C overdose causes stomachaches with a lot of side effects such as stomach pain and nausea. Vitamin C Overdoes can also result in stomach cramps, skin rashes, and too much urination.

Vitamin C overdose should be avoided and must be avoided particularly by people with iron excess diseases such as Hemochromatosis.

For Complete Information on Vitamin C Deficiency and Vitamin C Overdose Visit http://www.healthvitaminsguide.com/ - Information on Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Less Stress Leads To A Better Rest

by: Vincent Platania

In the modern world of today we are constantly being bombarded with high levels of stress and anxiety. These stresses can be physical, mental or environmental. They place an enormous strain on our physical and mental health.

Most of us are aware that excessive stress can affect our ability to think straight, our digestive system, adrenal glands and heart. Research has however shown that whenever a stressful situation arises, there is a knock on effect. Firstly stress limits the blood supply going to the stomach, this hampers the digestive system and a temporary shut down of our immune system may follow. If we are overwhelmed with stress for an extended period we are likely to experience fatigue and exhaustion.

Although it may not be possible to avoid these stress factors in our lives there is help available. There are many natural herbal supplements, known for they’re relaxing properties which assist in combating the harmful effects of anxiety and stress. Several herbs are usually incorporated together to make a powerful formula.

We will take a look at some of the individual herbs, which go to make up some of these potent anti- anxiety supplements: -

* Jujube Seeds: - hypnotic and anti-anxiety effect used for hysteria, fatigue, sleeplessness, debility and restlessness.

* Magnolia Bark: - has anti anxiety, anti stress properties, lowers the cortisol, promotes relaxation and improves the mood.

* Potassium: -sustains the fluid and electrolyte balance, discharges energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat, assists in conveying nerve impulses.

* Magnesium: -is a trace mineral and its chief role is manufacturing and transporting energy, relaxing and contracting the muscles, assisting some enzymes with their task in the body and mixing proteins.

* Valerian Root: - It supports a feeling of calmness, improves sleep, reduces anxiety levels and facilitates relaxation of the central nervous system. Valerian root is non addictive and does not cause morning tiredness. It also is useful in slowing the heart in those who have the condition known as tachycardia.

* Melatonin: -is one of the most dominant antioxidants in the brain. It restores metabolism, improves the quality of sleep and slows down degenerative diseases of the brain such as Parkinson’s. Melatonin can control extreme cortical production and is therefore effectual in reducing stress levels and regulating sleep cycles.

* Vitamin B complex contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5,

B6 and B12 are all essential vitamins for the nervous system

Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com


About The Author
Vincent Platania represents the Rawleigh Products. W.T. Rawleigh founded Rawleigh Products in the late 1800s to create a line of products that possessed both strength and quality. Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com

Monday, July 23, 2007

Natural Weight Loss for Good Health and Well Being

by: Jennifer Kays

Weight loss is becoming an unhealthy obsession dealing with body images, but in some cases can improve health and fitness. When weight loss is a result of eating healthy, exercising and/or taking natural weight loss supplements in contrast to synthetic prescription drugs with the risk of harmful side effects, weight loss can be effective, rewarding, and greatly improve overall health.

Extra weight, especially extra fat on a person's body, applies significantly increased stresses on the heart, joints and back. These stresses can be extremely detrimental to one's health. Healthy weight loss can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis and other health problems, as well as generally extending an otherwise average life span. Recently, the scientific root cause or explanation of obesity has been revealed as being part of one's physiology. The internal functions of an obese person are different than those of a healthy person, and cause intense hunger pains and food cravings.

Natural weight loss supplements can help counteract this constant hunger and lead to healthy weight loss. Unbalanced hormones are a common cause of weight gain, therefore taking natural hormone balancers and herbal supplements would help to create a healthy weight loss regimen. Restoring your health allows you to lose weight naturally, without excess frustration and effort. It's all about losing weight from the inside out.

Emotional issues always accompany change, especially changes in our bodies e.g. natural weight loss. Weight loss affects our perception body image, our sense of identity i.e. who am I?, and how we feel about ourselves in general. Weight loss also effects our social relationships in that there may be people in our family or social contacts that are emotionally invested in our remaining the same i.e. overweight with all that it symbolizes e.g. friendliness, non-threatening, protective, jovial, helpful, etc. Beyond our physical health, it can be said that "size matters" cognitively and emotionally to ourselves and others. Eating and food have come to symbolize being accepted, being cared for and comfort. Having the support of others in our efforts to naturally lose weight and regain our health is a huge advantage.

We have been "conditioned" to fear any kind of loss, including weight loss. Especially if what we may lose is something with which we identify i.e. use to tell us who we are.

The emotions of fear, anger, anxiety and depression effect our weight. We often tend to "stuff our feelings" or numb these emotional feelings or stress by overeating. We may even overeat, thinking that will ease the physical discomfort caused by excess weight e.g. physical pain, lack of sleep, and lack of energy caused by moderate depression. To improve our overall health and support us through the process of natural weight loss and the emotional dynamics around it, we can take advantage of natural sleep aids, natural depression relief and natural pain relief health care products.

Our weight and health is greatly dependent upon our having a healthy digestive system or metabolism. Our digestive system converts, on a cellular and muscular level, the foods we eat, eliminates toxins, and uses and stores glucose for energy. Natural enzymes trigger hunger signals and facilitate absorption of nutrition. Good digestion with the help of natural enzymes aids in the conversion of fat to muscle.

Allergy and sensitivity to food, parasites, yeast overgrowth and emotional stress are signals of digestive disruption and inflammation. Natural essential fatty acids work to reduce intestinal inflammation, decrease harmful acids, help the liver process proteins that grow muscle, balance hormones and facilitate the elimination of toxins. Natural essential fatty acids help clear our digestive system of heavy metals, harmful bacteria, pesticides that we are increasingly encountering in our environment. Essential fatty acids along with natural fiber help us clean out the intestinal debris that harm our health and often lead to weight gain. Essential fatty acids also help our brain's neurotransmitters to function properly in order to deal with stress, emotions, and cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain.

Natural amino acids are the building blocks that make up proteins. Next to water, protein makes up the greatest part of our body weight. Amino acids help increase metabolism, build muscle, ease moderate depression, and help burn fat. Natural antioxidants help carry more oxygen to cells and muscles to help increase energy, burn fat, build muscle and process the foods we eat.

Hormone balance is essential for natural weight loss. Our metabolism slows as we get older because of the decrease or imbalance of hormones. This contributes to weight gain. Hormone balance also helps us deal with stress that leads to weight gain. Proper hormone balance helps to decrease cravings and binge eating. There are many natural hormone balancing products available, e.g. natural progesterone, promensil, soy isoflavones, essential fatty acids and hormone balancing formulas.

Our metabolism's primary task is to nourish our brains. We need healthy neurotransmitters to help us curb craving, ease depression, and deal with stress that lead to weight gain. Balancing our natural brain chemistry has a calming effect and allows us to feel a sens of well being and safety. There are many natural health care products to help balance brain chemistry, e.g. essential fatty acids, natural depression relief products, natural products to increase serotonin, and more. When our brain feels well and safe, it is prone to change our metabolism from calorie saving to calorie burning.

Our bodies were designed to move and be active. Movement requires muscle activity. Muscle activity uses the glycogen supply found in our muscles. When this glycogen supply stored in our muscles is used, our body is forced to use stored fat as an energy source. Using this stored fat through movement and exercise, results in natural weight loss. There is no reason for us to become athletes to accomplish natural weight loss. Low impact exercise like swimming, walking, etc, can be done slowly and without strain. In order to lose real weight rather than "water weight", it is important to drink extra amounts of water when exercising. Drinking more water will also help our digestive system and metabolism to use and eliminate extra weight.

Remember, the first objective, accomplished through natural weight loss, is to improve our physical and emotional health. This involves having a healthy digestive system, a healthy emotional system and a healthy nutritional system. We can build these healthy systems with natural vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, natural digestive aid, pain relief aid, natural sleep aids, natural emotional and mood aids, essential fatty acids and many more helpful natural health care products. We need to concentrate on improving our general health, feeling good, and living well through natural weight loss, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to someone else's idea about appearance from some magazine. Physical and emotional health is primary. Appearance may be important to us, but it is secondary. Through natural weight loss, we can live well and live long.


About The Author
Jennifer Kays has over twenty years experience with all natural health care products.

The provides natural weight loss products through http://sweetmedicineessentials.com/natural-weight-loss-c-3.html

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Vitamin D – Eight Important Reasons To Ensure Sufficient Intake


by: Harry Monell


Until most recently, the general consensus among health researchers and practitioners held that the primary function of vitamin D was in helping the body to maintain a healthy level of calcium in the blood, primarily for proper bone health throughout an individual's lifetime. But, more and more, research is showing that this important vitamin is playing a much larger role in the overall health of the body. The following issues are eight of the top reasons to ensure adequate bodily concentrations.

1. Increase bone density - It defends against osteoporosis by triggering the absorption of calcium into bone cells.

2. Lower risk of all forms of cancer - A large number of studies have shown positive results indicating that with adequate vitamin D, risks for most forms of cancer can be reduced. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that vitamin D supplements may lower risk by 77 percent. In fact, in many of the clinical studies, indications are that the disease may be prevented entirely. Benefits have been especially promising in clinical studies on cancers related to: Breast, Colon/Rectal, Pancreas, Prostate, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the Lungs.

3. Preserves Muscle strength - A common symptom of severe vitamin D deficiency is leg weakness. Senior citizens typically suffer from an inexorable muscle wasting that begins by age 40. In recent group studies Vitamin D blood levels were measured in elderly men and women and found that individuals who had higher readings also had greater thigh strength, concluding that blood concentration of vitamin D directly correlated with leg strength and function in these people. Another important result of the study showed that with a daily vitamin D intake of 800 units or more, falls were reduced to half of their pre-study level.

4. Energy metabolism - One of the newest identified functions of the hormonal form of vitamin D, known as 1,25-D, is its role in determining how the body manages energy. In other words, it means that without sufficient intake of vitamin D and calcium, cells burn fewer calories and store more of them as fat. And, it turns out that dairy products are more effective than plain calcium at inhibiting fat synthesis and actually augmenting fat breakdown.

5. Strengthen Immune System - Vitamin D appears to send a signal the cells triggering production of specific proteins needed to fight off disease and other conditions in which the immune system attacks the body's own healthy tissue.

6. Reduced risk of MS – Incidences of Multiple Sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases tend to be rare near the equator, where ultraviolet light from the sun is intense and people produce an abundance vitamin D. In a recent study, women getting at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day showed only a 60 percent risk of developing MS compared to women getting less of the vitamin.

7. Tooth and gum health - Low blood concentrations of vitamin D were linked to gum disease in a study involving both men and women taking part in the federally sponsored National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The rate of loss in tooth-gum attachment was 25 percent higher among those participants with the least vitamin D.

8. Prevention of Diabetes - University of Pittsburgh researchers reported that a vitamin D deficiency affects the pancreas's release of insulin and found the risk of diabetes to be one-third lower in people with the highest concentrations of the vitamin.

So, how much of the vitamin do we really need?

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies in Washington, D.C., currently recommends that people from infancy through age 50 get 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day, that those ages 51 through 70 receive 400 IU daily, and that anyone over 70 get a net of 600 IU. Sources include exposure to the sun, foods, especially dairy products and the meat of oily fish, such as tuna, salmon and mackerel, as well as, a variety of supplements.

But, no matter what the source, we now understand the importance of maintaining sufficient concentrations of vitamin D, as it contributes to the overall health and quality of life for each of us.

For additional information and important resources, please visit http://www.newdaynutrients.com/

Copyright 2007 Harry Monell. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.


About The Author
Harry Monell is writing articles encouraging consumer awareness about a wide range of health and nutritional topics. For additional information and important resources, please copy into your web browser http://www.newdaynutrients.com

Friday, July 20, 2007

Lose Those Last 10 Pounds with L-Carnitine

by: Karen Sessions

How many times have you said to yourself "I just can't lose those last 10 pounds"?

If losing those last 10 pounds is your passion, then you will appreciate the benefits of L-Carnitine supplementation!

It's no doubt that weight loss and supplements are controversial issues in the fitness industry. The basis for true weight loss is proper eating and regular exercise. Supplements are beneficial for an added kick to super charge your weight-loss program. While supplements do serve their place in a fitness program, don't rely on them as the bulk of your regimen, they are a tool.

Of the many fat-loss supplements bombarding the fitness and weight-loss industry, L-Carnitine is one that I always found useful when trying to drop extra pounds. It can help mobilize fat so it can be burned more efficiently when your rotate your calories on the lower end.

L-Carnitine is an amino acid and may aid in fat-loss endeavors. Its main function is to transfer long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria where they can be used to produce energy and burn fat. L-Carnitine can also aid in preventing fatty build up in the liver and heart.

Other benefits of the wonderful supplement are reducing triglyceride levels and improving muscular strength. L-Carnitine can also help lessen the nervousness and irritability associated with low carbohydrate eating plans. Additional advantages are suppressed appetite, increased energy, and reduced muscle fatigue. L-Carnitine can also protect against liver disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.

Your body can make L-Carnitine if you receive proper amounts of the amino acids lysine and methionine. You also need suitable amounts of vitamin B and C, as well as iron. This can also be received through nutrition, from such foods as animal protein.

Those who exercise a great deal use a lot of L-Carnitine. Therefore, it needs to be replenished to prevent a deficiency. If you are not receiving enough of these vitamins, minerals, amino's through your diet you could possibly have an L-Carnitine deficiency, making those last few pounds stubborn to remove.

A lack of L-Carnitine can result in muscular weakness and low energy levels, as well as weight gain, and cramps. Long-term deficiencies can lead to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and Alzheimer's.

Vegetarians are more likely to have an inadequate amount of L-Carnitine due to the lack of animal protein in their nutrition. Therefore, L-Carnitine is an excellent supplement for vegetarians.

Recommended Dosage

Liquid L-Carnitine is an easy way to receive the recommended dosage of L-Carnitine quickly. Supplement with 3 to 5 grams of L-Carnitine 20 to 30 minutes before cardio. Use L-Carnitine consistently for 6 weeks and then take 4 weeks off of L-Carnitine.

This product is absolutely safe. However, if you have a weak stomach, take it with a meal.

Since L-Carnitine helps to release fat more efficiently during cardio, provided your carbohydrates are not in excess, it is important that you eat foods of quality and exercise consistently. These factors are what make the fat burning process possible. L-Carnitine is the spark plug to get the fire burning!

About The Author
Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988. She is a nationally qualified bodybuilder and holds two personal training certifications. She has written 6 ebooks on fitness and has helped hundreds of clients transform their bodies. http://www.lose-weight-forever.com/

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