For Lasting Vision And Healthy Eyes

Eat plenty of spinach (full of beta carotene), citrus (for vitamin C), nuts (for vitamin E) and lean beef (for zinc) now. An organic diet consisting of such food items can reduce the risk of vision loss by 35 percent for people between 70 and 85 years of age, as per a new study in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Foods brimming with the kind of antioxidants mentioned above help fight an age-related eye disease called macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in older people. Antioxidants counter the effects of oxidation on the tissues and structure of the eyes. The body attempts to counter the effects of oxidation by producing and using antioxidants such as are found in Vitamins.

The following Vitamins have been found to improve, protect and support eye health;

• Vitamin C found in fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, strawberries, rosehip and broccoli, reduces pressure in the Glaucoma, slowing deterioration in macular degeneration, and reducing the risk of cataracts.

• Vitamin A found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and liver may reduce risk of cataracts, and night blindness. Its deficiency might cause blindness, and corneal ulcers.

• Vitamin E found in many nuts, such as almonds and hazelnuts, uses its antioxidant properties to reduce the risk for macular degeneration and cataracts.

Besides vitamins; Minerals play a vital role in maintaining and improving eyesight. Minerals are inorganic compounds (Carbon free) that actually metabolize vitamins in the body. They help maintain flow of information (electricity) necessary for every element.

Some minerals and compounds believed to be crucial to the health of eyes are: Zinc (found in red meat, wheat, oysters); Selenium (seafood, yeast and nuts); Lutein (spinach and collard green - reduces dry eyes); Bioflavonoids (citrus fruits, bilberry, and strawberries - improve night vision); Carotenoids pigment (red, orange and yellow fruits and plants, leafy green vegetables - prevents macular degeneration and cataracts)

Ideally all the above mentioned nutrients should be present in normally available food. But that’s not the case because modern farming practices - read pesticides and fertilizers - and the depletion of nutrients in the soil has resulted in fruits and vegetables not so rich in vitamins and minerals. Hence, the need for food supplements and ‘organic food’.

But not everyone can have organic food; for lack of money or for lack of access, so a Vitamin Supplement is a good option to get those missing nutrients and avoid potentially dangerous diseases such as macular degeneration.

1. Bilberry - Bilberry is a herb used for both gastrointestinal and eye health. It contains active ingredients called Anthocyanidin Bioflavonoids, which are are antioxidants that help improve the flow of blood through the capillaries in eyes. It's also used to treat diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.

2. Grapeseed - Grapeseed improves the peripheral circulation in our eyes, and also strengthens the capillaries.

3. Eyebright - Eyebright makes a great eye home remedy. It's great for sore eyes, and has an anti-inflammatory and soothing action.

4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Research from Harvard Medical School has found that taking Omega-3 oils reduces the chance of getting dry eyes. Try taking 3 to 6 grams of a good quality fish oil supplement daily.

Now Food Supplements packed with all the above nutrients are readily available. They do help, but it is important to note that care should be taken while determining the appropriate quantities. If health concerns are a factor, consulting a dietitian or physician may be prudent.

To know more about nutrients and vitamin supplements essential for eye health, check out the articles and other material at www.VisiVite.com/amdarticles.html.

Food And Vitamin Loss Over Time

You know the claim on food value from the label that is stuck on it; let's pick a nutritious drink product and on that drink is some nutritional claim that states it has a shelf value of two years. After those two years that product still needs to contain 100% of the vitamin C level.

Vitamin deterioration
That does not mean that when the drink product was manufactured it contained 100% of vitamin C and after the two year has gone, it only contain half that level of vitamin C. What it means is that the manufacturer had to put an overage of that vitamin in the product because the vitamins will deteriorate over a period of time. Usually the higher the temperature the higher rate of deterioration, and the longer it is stored means something too.

Vitamin C is the most sensitive vitamin. The government does routinely inspect the food manufacturing companies with products that have this problem. What the food companies and food scientist does when the product is formulated they will add an overage of vitamins and minerals. It protects the product during the shelf life.

200% of vitamins in the product
So if they want the product to contain 100% of vitamin C after 2 years, then they have to put 200% of vitamins in the product, because of the deterioration that takes place. 2 years later it will have lost half of its value, and contain the claimed amount.

Food companies have documentation on all food products that they have manufactured. They know the exact deterioration rate on all their products, and therefore they can predict the deterioration rate of new and similar products. That means that a new nutritional beverage formula can be based on the level of a know products nutrition values.

Vitamin questions
That makes me ask my self. Can I trust that the food I buy from the store has the nutrition value that it claims? Can I feel sure that my body gets all the vitamins it must have to function? I say better be safe than sorry!

Thank you for your time.

Five Things Anyone Can Do To Stay Healthy

While there are many lifestyle choices a person can make to stay healthy, most experts agree that there are five main behaviors we can initiate in order to increase our chances of staying in optimum physical health. The beneficial tips presented in this article are by far not an all-inclusive list. In research studies all over the world, health experts have shown that our participation in the following five healthy functions is essential towards maintaining a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

Let’s Eat

We hear it all the time, eat healthy! Nourishment of the physical body is very important but the general term “eat healthy” doesn’t really explain how we can get the best food into our bodies and stay healthy. Since this topic alone could take up pages of explanation on what "eating healthy" means, let’s look at some valuable tips you can use in order to make the best choices starting today.

* Don’t stuff yourself. It has long been known that overeating can cause weight gain, take our stores of body energy down to a very low level, as well as create dangerous imbalances and havoc on our metabolism or metabolic rate. The best advice here is to eat in moderation and only till you feel satisfied. Eat smaller meals throughout the day.

* Eat a majority of healthy foods. Fresh raw vegetables and fruits, lean meats, less fat and whole grains. Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike should research and find the best foods for their bodies. Whatever your choice of dietary and nutrition lifestyle, make sure you stay away from sugar and processed foods (anything in a box).

* Lastly, make mealtime one you look forward to. If you look at food as something to be enjoyed and savored, you are less likely to make meal time something you are resigned to "have to do". Stop the trips to fast food restaurants or popping a frozen meal into the microwave. Take time for meal planning. Learn how to cook or find recipes that are healthy. Cook ahead several meals and have them ready to heat.

Overall, eating healthy means making wise choices for your body. Wise choices come from researching the healthy foods. There are many foods considered "superfoods" and they need to be part of your nutritional routine. Almonds, avocados, skim milk, green tea, blueberries, and raw or fresh vegetables and fruits, salmon, oatmeal, and cantaloupe are just some of the superfoods you could be enjoying right now. Along with eating healthy from food sources, we must be sure to include vitamin and supplements into our daily routine.

It’s Time to Take Your Vitamins

Along with the suggestions on finding healthy foods to eat, intake of the proper amounts of vitamins and nutrients are equally as important. Your body is going to require some very important vitamins and nutrients necessary to not only stay healthy but to survive. Here’s some tips to get you on the right track.

* Research and learn about vitamins and supplements.

* As mentioned above, researching "healthy" food and nutrition habits are essential. While you’re looking in that area, start exploring your vitamin requirements.

* Take a multi-vitamin everyday. If nothing else, get started with taking a multi-vitamin every day.

Read the label and be sure that:

* If you are pregnant you are either taking a pre-natal vitamin or one with folic acid.

* As a female you are getting the proper amounts of calcium for your age category and watch the iron intake. Women that are post-menopausal don’t need the extra iron.

* If you’re a male, make sure that you get the proper amounts of lycopene which has been shown to protect and maintain prostate health.

Now that we have discussed eating healthy and the proper vitamin intakes and supplementation, your body needs just a few more things to maintain good health.

Let’s Get Moving

Exercise is as essential to the body’s good health as proper nutrition. Many of us seem to think that we have to run 10 miles a day or work out in the gym for hours to get the right amount of exercise. Experts have stated that we do need exercise in the form of those that increase our heart rate (cardiovascular) and those exercises that tone the body (stretching types). Exercise also needs to be of the FUN type. Here are some ideas for you to consider when adding exercise to your daily routine.

* Any amount of exercise is better than no exercise at all. If you just cant stand the idea of going to a gym and working out several hours a day then try these:

* Put the remote control next to the television and leave it there. Get up to change your channels.

* Park in the furthest parking spot you can whenever you go somewhere.

* Use the stairs and not the elevators.

* If an exercise routine does appeal to you then think about these suggestions:

* Choose something you are passionate about. Did you take dance lessons as a child and just loved it? Find a dance teacher that will instruct adults after work.

* Find a gym that offers a good rate and has a personal trainer included with your membership.

* Start using that pool in your backyard or neighborhood.

Most physical fitness experts agree that a minimum of 30 minutes a day would be better than nothing at all. Finally, two of the most important health tips that can be offered besides proper nutrition, vitamin intake and exercise are a good night’s sleep and drinking lots of water.

Time to Say Goodnight

It is astounding the research that has come out in the early 21st century about sleep. We simply don’t get enough. Our busy hectic lifestyles seem to have placed sleep or even rest periods at an all time low on our priority lists. There is only one major suggestion to offer here. Get some sleep. Studies have found that children today in 2006 are falling asleep in classrooms. They are continually late or tardy to class. They have little energy to make it through the day. Wonder where they could be picking up this habit?

Adults are also tired. Studies of production rates at some major corporations say the culprit of over tired adults is working too much, stress (or the inability to relax and reduce stress levels) or they simply are staying up too late at night.

Our bodies require rest and sleep. Sleep is the time our bodies repair themselves. These repairs can range from healing and thwarting off potential illness, rejuvenating our energy systems, maintaining our emotions and keeping them in balance, to name a few. Find out what you require in sleep hours. Whether you need 6, 7 or 8 hours asleep, go to bed at a time where this can be done.

Hydration! Hydration! Hydration!

Add to your list of "things I need to do to stay healthy", WATER. Drink as much water as you can tolerate. There is an endless list of the benefits of hydrating your body with water. Some are:

* Hydration means elimination. Naturally, what goes in must come out. Staying hydrated means healthy and less painful waste elimination.

* As a feel good benefit, hydrated skin is less dry, itchy and flaky. It also appears more vibrant and healthy looking.

Do some research into the new healthy drinking waters. Many of these have extra vitamins, no sugar and no artificial colors or flavors. They are a great source for healthy fluid intake. Some are geared especially for women’s needs as well as the special requirements of the more athletic. Take a bottle with you on your new exercise routine.

For many of us, implementing any of these five suggestions for healthy living may be very difficult. Taking the time to research what to eat, the proper vitamin intakes, being sure to drink enough water and finding the exercise routine that will get us moving may seem daunting at first. Adding to that, we must find the time to get enough sleep. In order to live a long and healthy life these behaviors must become a part of our lives. The most important investment we will ever make in our lives will be the commitment to start healthy habits as a daily routine.

Five Steps to Choosing a Great Vitamin

Have you ever waltzed into your friendly neighborhood Nutrition Store or frantically surfed the worldwide web searching for that elusive miracle pill, deluding yourself into believing that maybe, just maybe, it would somehow magically transform your so-called body into the next Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie? Or perhaps you want pecks like Arnold. Or the energy to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Or heck, maybe you’d simply settle for enough energy to pry your sleepy little self out of that comfy bed as your annoying alarm clock goes berserk Monday morning, like a runaway freight train on steroids. If so, then you’ve probably encountered a severe mega-dose of chronic overwhelm. Yikes! We are continually bombarded with a never-ending avalanche of pills and potions. Plus, you’d almost need the bank account of Bill Gates or Donald Trump to afford the buffed-up body you’d “really” like to have. Meanwhile, Madison Avenue persistently insists that you won’t be able to live with yourself until you finally succumb to today’s latest nutritional fad.

So what’s the solution?

If you’ve read this far, you are probably convinced that supplementing your diet with vitamins is critically important. You probably already know how depleted our topsoil is. Chances are, you’re also cognoscente of the highly processed state of the foodless foods we consume on a regular basis. Taber's Medical Dictionary concludes that vitamins are indispensable for the maintenance of good health. Likewise, The Journal of American Medical Association concluded that everyone should take a multi-vitamin everyday.

So it’s not a question of whether or not we should take vitamins. Rather, the question we ought to be asking is, “With so many brands of vitamins on the market, which one is the smartest choice?”

Great question.

However, before we can even begin to answer that question, we have to answer a series of other sub-questions, such as:

1. Are cheap, synthetic vitamins just as good as all-natural vitamins?

2. Which vitamins and minerals do my body need?

3. What dosage should I take?


Let’s narrow the playing field by addressing those questions one at a time.

Are cheap, synthetic vitamins just as good as all-natural vitamins?

First, let’s compare synthetic vitamins with all-natural vitamins. I just completed an article entitled “Vitamin Wars: Natural VS Synthetic.” Putting everything into a nutshell, synthetic vitamins simply cannot measure up to nature’s finest. Over 3,800 different compounds have been identified in foods as having nutritional significance. However, in a laboratory, twenty nutrients are about all that modern science can reproduce and put into a vitamin product.

But even more of a concern than the ineffectiveness of these synthetic vitamins is the harm that they can cause. One of many examples is a recent study on Vitamin C as synthetic ascorbic acid. It was found to thicken the walls of the arteries.

On the other hand, all-natural vitamins made from whole-food sources have many positive benefits that synthetic vitamins just can’t duplicate in a lab. Whole-food vitamins derive their nutrients directly from fruits and vegetables. Unlike synthetic vitamins, whole-food vitamins do not rob precious nutrients from the body. Rather, they supply the individual cells with the nutrients they need to flourish. For greatest gains in terms of health, take only whole food vitamins. When evaluating a vitamin supplement, simply read the label. Rather than multi-syllable, unpronounceable chemical names, you should find the names of foods listed as the vitamin sources. What a concept! This is your way of knowing that you are getting the best possible absorption and retention of your vitamins.

Which vitamins and minerals do my body need?

The short answer is, there are many benefits to all vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin A is important for our vision, while preventing cancer and promoting wellness of bones, eyes, hair, mucous linings, membranes, nails, skin and teeth.

Vitamin B2 promotes healthy skin, nails, and hair.

Vitamin C extends life by enabling protein cells to hold together.

And we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface.

Minerals are critical

Minerals are also critical to maintaining good health. Approximately 75% of the people living in the Western World are not ingesting the right amount of Magnesium, approximately 68% are not ingesting enough Calcium, approximately 58% are not ingesting enough Iron, and approximately 40% are not ingesting enough Zinc.

Make sure your minerals are chelated – here’s why:

Most minerals found in synthetic supplements are cheap and not what we would recommend for the body. They are not chelated minerals and therefore it is extremely difficult for the body to absorb and utilize these minerals after ingesting them. Many times they cause problems with the digestive tract and other systems of the body.

What you might not know is that a chelated mineral acts differently within the body. A chelated mineral is a mineral that is bonded with amino acids or malates naturally found within the food in a stable form. Since 95% of amino acids are absorbed through the intestinal tract, it makes it very easy for high quality chelated minerals to be absorbed and utilized by the body.

Don’t forget to take your Probiotics!

You may be asking, “Probi – what – ics”?

The term “probiotics” simply means “pro life.” Their role in maintaining good health is tremendous. In the scientific community, they are known as “friendly bacteria.” Probiotics aid the digestive system and strengthen the immune system. Bottom line, probiotics have such a wide range of positive roles that nearly everybody could improve their health by supplementing their diet with probiotics.


The importance of Enzymes

Like probiotics, enzymes also aid digestion. Proper digestion of food should be your body’s top priority. Why? Because all other bodily functions, including the immune system, energy production and even brain functions, are all put on pause until the body digests its food. When digestion is functioning properly, food is broken down and nutrients are made available by the body itself for repair, metabolism, and healing without undue stress. Many negative factors wreck havoc on our digestive systems: the way our foods are grown and processed, toxins in the environment - even undue stress and anger. As a result, up to 70 million Americans experience a whole range of digestive disorders such as bloating, gas, and stomach cramps.

What dosage should I take?
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)

RDA's are based on scientific research and are set at levels to provide for 98% of all healthy persons living in the US. There is a cushion built in so that if you get 67% of the RDA for a nutrient, you should be getting a minimum amount as an average person. Remember that the RDA's are based on preventing deficiency symptoms specific to each vitamin and mineral. So when choosing a multi-vitamin, check to see if a daily serving contains 100% of the RDA, providing, of course, that a daily value has been established.

So in summary, there are five Steps to Choosing a Great Vitamin:

1. Choose a multi-vitamin made from the highest grade of Whole-Food sources. Do NOT choose a multi-vitamin that contains a concoction of synthetic ingredients that you can’t even pronounce.

2. Choose minerals that are chelated.

3. Choose a multi-vitamin containing Probiotics.

4. Choose a multi-vitamin containing Enzymes derived from vegetables.

5. Choose a multi-vitamin containing 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowances whenever established.

Keeping the above criteria in mind dramatically narrows the playing field.

It’s also a good idea to select a product that gives you a money-back guarantee. Quality multi-vitamins are not as cheap as synthetics, but they are affordable.

I hope this information has educated you and will help you make smart choices. Remember - you only get one body in this life. Treat it well and stay healthy!

For additional information, visit:

http://www.TomsVitamins.com.

Exciting New Clinical Research on Arthritis Supplement

For the millions of Americans who suffer from arthritis, the search for relief is often long and confusing.

For many, the recall of the arthritis medication Vioxx served as a wake-up call. To avoid side effects, many people looked for an alternative source of relief in supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin.

However, a recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that these supplements used alone have not delivered hoped-for results in alleviating arthritis. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that people who are taking a supplement known as SierraSil have shown significant improvement.

A recent clinical trial found that 85 percent of those taking SierraSil, a mineral complex from the Sierra Mountains, experienced relief from arthritis symptoms within two weeks or less.

The complex is comprised of numerous, naturally occurring macro and trace minerals.

"SierraSil is one of the few natural products to have passed rigorous scientific research with flying colors," said Dr. Alan Xenakis, M.D., author of numerous books on health and nutrition. "What is most impressive are the results from this recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrating that it is safe and effective for significantly reducing pain and inflammation in patients with arthritis."

If you turn off the inflammation, then the joints can start to rebuild naturally.

Unlike other nutraceuticals, this complex works by suppressing gene expression associated with inflammatory responses. The combination of these minerals works as an anti-inflammatory agent.

While the human body can make many vitamins, it cannot produce a single mineral. Due to mineral depletions in the soil, you can no longer rely on getting all the necessary minerals your body needs from the food you eat.

Studies have shown that this mineral complex promotes joint mobility and protects cartilage. Many people who have tried it also report increased energy, enhanced athletic performance and a renewed sense of well-being. Vancouver native Elsbeth Turner said, "I have been taking SierraSil regularly since the summer of '05 and find that I am free of all my joint discomfort. It is a great product; I am feeling so much better overall."

A recent study, published in the international Journal of Inflammation, found that taking SierraSil helps to reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis.

Many people who use the supplement would agree. One of its biggest fans is golf legend and former CBS-TV analyst Ken Venturi. "It's been amazing! After using SierraSil for a short period of time, the strength has come back to my hands, and I have more flexibility than before," said Venturi. "I'm back to hitting golf balls almost every day, and I've picked up distance again. And what it's done for me most of all, it's given me back the game of golf, which I love so much."

Thousands of people, including athletes and doctors, are using the complex for daily relief.

According to Mark Miller, Ph.D. and professor of cardiovascular sciences and pediatrics at Albany Medical College, NY, the complex may "offer exciting new approaches to limiting the joint destruction and lack of mobility associated with arthritis."

This can be good news for anyone who is restricted by arthritis pain and seeks a safe, natural method of relief.

"An effective, new mineral supplement offers a natural solution-without any side effects-to people who suffer from arthritis"-Dr. Alan Xenakis, M.D., co-author of "Mineral Miracle."

Ephedra Supplements May Not Be Worth The Risk

Ephedra supplements are hard to find in stores because of the dangers linked to them, but they are still legal and available to anyone determined to take them.

I see them now and then in gas station markets or 7-11s, usually sold at the counter in colorful little packets labeled something ridiculous like ‘Super Boost’ or ‘Ultimate Energy Pills’. If you’re thinking about taking some of these, just be careful not to over do it, and to avoid other stimulants.

Even ephedra by itself boosts your chances of having heart attacks, especially in people who already have heart trouble or blood pressure issues. The irony is that most people that would want to take ephedra supplements to lose weight are the exact same people who are at the most risk by taking them.

Ephedra supplements used to be a very popular way to promote weight lose in the obese. Like most stimulants, ephedra supplements significantly boost metabolism and lower appetite, so they make an effective and tempting alternative to diet and exercise.

Because of the risks associated with it, ephedra supplements have waned in popularity as diet pills. They’ve been replaced by a host of other ‘natural’ and ‘herbal’ supplements that are every bit as dangerous but just haven’t gotten a bad reputation yet.

Don’t be fooled by the term ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’; these two words are by no means synonymous with ‘healthy’ or ‘safe’. After all, ephedra comes from a 100 percent natural herb, and so do hemlock and nicotine.

Most of the ephedra supplement overdose cases I hear about these days have been in college aged kids taking ‘herbal ecstasy’ concoctions. Herbal ecstasy is basically a combination of epehdra, caffeine, and pseudephedrine, all of which together act synergistically to really put your heart into overdrive.

For many the result is just a lot of sweating and teeth clenching as they go dancing from club to club, but every now and then the cocktail proves too much and causes heart failure.

Ephedra supplements are definitely a risky and unhealthy way to lose weight. While not an especially dangerous drug in itself, mixed with caffeine or other stimulants ephedra can become a serious risk to your health.

Every year there are some reported cases of people who unknowingly overdosed by taking some kind of ephedra supplement and then going on to have coffee, Sudafed, or some combination of other stimulants that put them over the top.

Eat healthy Live Long

To accomplish a healthier status and preserve weight diet must combine with exercise, since one without the other will not work. The body and mind is intricate, however both work together to manufacture results. Many experts, including theorists, doctors, scientist, and philosophers are continuing to find answers to the body’s functions.

Beauty, health, and nutrition are all included. If you eat a balanced diet you will be able to continue your physique and glowing beauty externally and good health inside. A balanced diet is one that provides all the nutrients you need, the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat.

To achieve goals you need to ensure a good balance in your diet, set up variety into your meal, and practice moderation. The basis of nutrition lies in your height, weight, size, and your daily energy needs. Once you know this you can compute what your daily calorific needs are and set goals for weight maintenance, gain, or loss. By regulating your diet you can be active as well as happy.

Eat plenty of whole fruits, grains, and vegetables. They will supply you with essential vitamins, minerals, and protection from several diseases.

Map to exercise every day. Either walk or take up aerobics, dancercise, or join a gym for the fitness. Exercise will not just burn calories but put a glow into your skin; your body will shine, tone your muscles, and strengthen your bones. Exercises also remove accumulated toxins from your body and make you fit.

Create a time-table for your meals. Never fast, starve yourself, or skip a meal. Eat when your body demands nourishment but not huge quantity.

Read more at :-
http://www.healthsuperstore.com/

Don't Fear Heart Disease. Take Your Vitamins!

Heart disease kills many people every year. One of the risk factors for heart disease is high cholesterol. If you are diagnosed with heart disease, your doctor will undoubtedly prescribe a cholesterol-lowering drug and request that you follow a diet low in cholesterol. Vitamin E naturally keeps cholesterol at a healthy level by limiting the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol that enters the bloodstream. While there are discrepancies in the reports, many studies indicate that it takes as much as 100 milligrams or more of vitamin E for people to experience the benefits. Eating foods, such as eggs, fish, and whole-grain cereals can contribute to the recommended amount. However, you will still need to supplement your diet with vitamins to reach the benefit amount. The good news about vitamin E and heart disease is that vitamin E is not only a preventive measure, but it also can benefit individuals who already have heart disease or who have had bypass surgery.

Including plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet is a good plan for good health. When you do this, you obtain a steady source of antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C. If you are concerned about heart disease, you may want to increase the amount you consume. Vitamin C is present in many foods; however, to obtain benefits related to heart disease, it is recommended that an individual take 500 milligrams each day. This is an extreme amount and is generally recommended for individuals who already have heart-related illnesses or who use cigarettes or other tobacco products on a regular basis.

Niacin (B3) has a twofold benefit when taken on a regular basis. It can lower your triglycerides, a risk factor for both diabetes and heart disease. Niacin also reduces the amount of LDL and increases the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the bloodstream. While consuming just 2 milligrams of niacin each day can provide protection for heart disease, it is very minute protection. Studies indicate that the best improvement in cardiovascular health by taking niacin is in at least 1000 milligrams. Consuming niacin in this amount can result in your face feeling flushed. This side effect can take place from a few minutes to an hour after taking niacin.

While vitamin supplementation in most cases is harmless, it is a good idea to check with your health care professional before starting to take any vitamins. This is especially important if you have been diagnosed with heart disease or any other health condition.


To check out the supplement we take daily and highly recommend, be sure to check out http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/what-we-use.html

Does your child need children's vitamins?

This question has been has been tormenting parents all over the world. Yet, there are no easy answers to it. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)says that "a diet based on the Food Guide Pyramid provides adequate amounts of all the vitamins a child needs." But then, there are a lot of other factors that decide whether your child is getting adequate amounts of vitamins, such as the child's eating habits, composition and quality of the diets, etc.

One important thing to note here is that the quality of most foods available now has declined. The only good ones available now are organically grown food. Just look at these figures: the amount of calcium in broccoli has fallen by a whopping 50 per cent, the iron content in watercress is down by a steep 88 per cent, the vitamin C in cauliflower has fallen by a huge 40 per cent... You may not be giving your child the usual fare of refined food spiked with sugar and fat and carbohydrates. Yet, there is no guarantee that he or she is getting her required daily dose of children's vitamins.

Still experts disagree much on this subject of children's vitamins. The AAP advises giving your child a vitamin supplement only if your pediatrician recommends it. That is because most of the daily foods are fortified. However, the AAP acknowledges that a daily dose of children's vitamins won't hurt your child unless it exceeds the recommended daily allowance for any vitamin or mineral. Also, such a daily dose of children's vitamins help fill in any gaps in a child's nutrition, and also helps children who are sensitive to certain foods. What is to be borne in mind here is that children's vitamins cannot replace good food. They can only supplement your child's food. If your child is not eating well, you should not only give him children's vitamin supplements but also take steps to improve his eating habits and his diet.

Oh yes, there is one more reason why you should be giving your children a proper diet. Recent research says diet and behavior are interlinked. The Appleton Central Alternative High School replaced vending machines with water coolers and started offering fresh vegetables, fruits, whole-grain bread and a salad bar in place of the hamburgers and french fries. The result: No longer does a police officer patrol the school's hallways, there is no vandalism, there is no litter.

Go for food-based children's vitamins

Now comes the important question. What kind of children's vitamin should you give your child? You should start with a food-based vitamin. No questions about that. Synthetic vitamins are out. Scientists and doctors now prefer to use natural vitamins. This is where glyconutritionals come in. They are foods and nutritional supplements that provide saccharides along with other glycoforms essential to the body. Glyconutritional blends are made from fruits and vegetables and contain the essential vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients, and provide support for the body's immune system.

The saccharides in glyconutritionals are necessary for proper 'cell-to-cell' communication and helps keep the body's glands and organs functioning well. They also help the immune system and the endocrine system in top order, and the body in optimal health.

Worried about how you will make your child swallow all those pills? Well, children's vitamins and nutritional supplements now come as delicious, multicolored, flavored, chewable tablets. Your children will eat them up just as they eat up the junk foods and candies!

Does Your Body Need Vitamins?

Why bother taking vitamins at all? Our forefathers survived just fine without multi vitamin packs, why can't we? The answer to that question is easy, go look in your cupboards. Our forefathers ate a lot better than we do. High processed, homogenized, pasteurized, canned and prepackaged fast food means less chance of natural occurring vitamins surviving for any length of time.

While some of us pick our own fruit and grow our own vegetables, most of the country chooses to rely on packaged, store bought fruits and veggies. These aren't as healthy as they look, either. The longer the apples and tomatoes are off the vine, the faster they begin to lose their nutritional value, losing vitamins during processing and shipping.

Your body needs vitamins to boost your immune system, ward off colds and other viruses, and even keep you even tempered, so to speak. Did you know with a vitamin deficiency that you are less likely to clot when you cut yourself? Vitamins play a much bigger part then we think, and the average diet does not include all the vitamins necessary to keep the body in top shape.

A good multi-vitamin is your best choice, but here again you can be misled into believing that 100% of the USDA recommended dosage is good enough. They mean 100% total, not 100% of each vitamin necessary. Think about it, they can't possibly pack the right amount of every kind of vitamin that you need into one pill a day, and most multi vitamins sold in your local grocery store are cut with fillers and preservatives. Nope, you'll have to visit your local food co op and get some natural, all inclusive vitamin supplements. Along with eating well, these supplements contain everything you need for balanced vitamin intake, with none of the fillers and preservatives that I, for one, resent paying for.

So let's talk B vitamins as an example. You need several different kinds of B vitamins alone. B6 and B12 are just two, but the most commonly talked about. Vitamin B6 promotes the development of red blood cells, and 12 helps promote energy and fights Alzheimer's disease. You need these and other vitamins to be in the purest form possible in order to be the most beneficial. Let's skip back for a moment, the history of vitamins, if you will. Vitamins began being "discovered" by scientists and surgeons around 1914, and the word "vitamin " comes from the word "vital" as in vital energy for life, but as far back as the 1600's sailors knew to eat citrus fruits to prevent scurvy. It wasn't until later that they knew it as vitamin C.

Now we will skip forward to the future. Many vitamins are now available as liquids. Remember cod liver oil? Well now most vitamins can be taken from a spoon rather than choked down (although if you were one of the kids forced to down cod liver oil, you were choking anyway), what's more, they taste good now as well.

Now before you get all excited and run out to stock up on each vitamin that you are deficient in, let me remind you that you can, in fact, 'overdose' on vitamins, kind of. The water soluble vitamins such as B's and C's will simply be expressed through your urine if you've taken in more than your body needs, but fat soluble vitamins such as D and E can accumulate and cause problems such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and rash.

I recommend contacting a homeopath to test for vitamin deficiencies before you run out and spend a lot on vitamins. Knowing exactly what you need the most and in what daily dosage will save you some money, because again, you really need to purchase each vitamin separately, rather than in a multi-vitamin pill.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read. Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

Does Creatine Really Help Build Muscle?

If you are a gym rat or bodybuilder or simply interested in beginning an exercise program you have probably heard a lot about creatine and the muscle miracles it performs. Unfortunately, most people believe that creatine helps build muscle and it does in a way, but probably not the way you are thinking. The best way to describe creatine is to say that it helps the muscles help themselves build muscle. If that is not clear enough, continue reading.

Creatine does exactly what it claims to do and that is to retain water in your muscles. This is the point of creatine and it really is effective at keeping water in the muscles. Now, what happens is when your muscles are retaining water they are in an optimal state for building new muscle. As a result, when you take creatine and water is retained in your muscles then when you weight train you will get more of an effect because your muscles are better capable of building muscle. After this period you may develop more strength and increased endurance as well. So, if you are taking creatine to help you build muscle and you understand what creatine does and how it helps you build muscle then you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, if you are taking creatine and hoping it will simply grow you bodybuilder’s muscles without putting in the work then you are mistaken.

The best thing to do is begin taking creatine and working out with weights on a regular routine or even with a trainer. By taking the creatine your muscles will be poised to grow and get stronger while building endurance. However, keep in mind you have to put in all the hard work and that all creatine does for you is helps your muscles retain water in order to be in a state where building muscle is easier. Over time you will see your muscles growing and should not see any loss of definition because of the retained water in your muscles. Don’t become confused about creatine building big muscles; it just helps your muscles build themselves stronger and better when you put in the work.

Do You Need to Supplement Your Cat's Diet with Vitamins and Minerals?

Despite obvious physiology differences, your cat is not that different from you. Just as humans, cats require vitamins and minerals to survive. Whether or not you need to supplement your cat's diets with vitamins depends largely on their diet and current health status.

The vitamins that cats need include both fat soluble and water-soluble vitamins. These vitamins are essential to a cat's growth and for the efficient processing of fats in the body. These vitamins ensure that a cat's bones are healthy and that they have sufficient protection from disease. Cats are prone to cuts and vitamins can help to repair wounds quickly. Fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins E, D, A, and K. The water-soluble vitamins include the B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, and B12) and vitamin C.

Vitamins are easily absorbed in a cat's system. Minerals, on the other hand, require that the cat's system is healthy for proper absorption. Any slight infection can affect a cat's ability to absorb minerals. The minerals that cats require the most include calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium chloride.

The good news about foods for animals is that they are formulated to meet all the nutritional needs of the animal. Feeding your cat food is typically all that is necessary for them to obtain all the nutrients they need. However, there are some things that can affect the amount of nutrients in cat food. For starters, cat food can lose some of its nutritional value. This often happens if the food is kept on a store shelf for a significant amount of time.

If a stray cat has made its way to your doorstep, the condition of the cat may warrant the need for vitamin and mineral supplementation. Stray cats, especially abandoned kittens are susceptible to infections and diseases. The first step you should make when attempting to care for a stray cat is to have a veterinarian inspect the cat for diseases. The veterinarian will give you instructions for caring for the stray cat, including vitamin and mineral supplementation. You should follow the instructions given to you. An excessive amount of a particular vitamin or mineral can cause a toxic reaction in a cat that could be fatal.


Why not check out our nutrition guide at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/nut-ebook.html

and also what supplement we personally use for our nutrition needs at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/what-we-use.html

Do you have the Symptoms of Folic Acid Deficiency?

The debate around the basic of taking dietary supplements is continuing to rage.

While many health care professionals maintain we get all we require from the foods we eat, others prefer to suggest vitamins when their patients are under a stress such as a pregnancy or illness or even aging or when the patients body's function is deficient or overloaded. Others maintain that vitamins are preventative and should be taken routinely to prevent diseases and maintain health.

Studies maintain that taking extra B vitamins, specifically folic acid and B12 have reduced birth defects by 72 to 100% . And since regulations authourising the addition of folic acid to grains have come into force in the USA the incidence of birth defects their have dropped by 19%, although sceptics claim there could be alternative reasons.

So what are some of the symptoms of folic acid deficiency? If your tongue is sore and you suffer from loss of appetite, "shortness of puff", are irritable, forgetful and mentally sluggish, you may have a folic acid insufficiency. Folic acid is one of the B group of vitamins and most animal and plant foods are poor sources of it. The exception is liver which most individuals don't eat a lot of these days. Various dietary habits and health conditions can also result in causing a deficiency of this vitamin. Celiac condition, alcoholism and irritable bowel syndrome are three such conditions.

Studies have also suggested that when older people suffer from "the blues" it is caused by a absence of folate (B9) . It should be taken alongside B6 and B12 to support its absorption and function in the body. These three vitamins work closely together and help relieve symptoms of depression. They do this by decreasing the total amount of homocysteine, which is thought to play an major part in causing the depression. Occasionally the amount of folate in proportion to the other two may be required to be increased in order to be effective. Solgar Homocystein Modulators are a good supplement to take and can be found online at www .solgar .co.uk .

Some population-based studies across the USA have also established that numerous cancers are less usual in people who have high levels of folic acid. These people also consumed high amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber. One large study of 50,000 women established that adequate intakes of folate essentially reduced the risk of breast melanoma.

Some prescription medications for inflammatory bowel illness have been found to interfere with the bodies ability to absorb folate (folic acid) and the deficiency has also been linked to some men's infertility and heart complaints.

Foods that offer the most folic acid are dark leafy greens, brewers yeast, cows liver, some seafood, orange juice and dairy. Root vegetables and whole grains also supply small amounts.

Side effects from folic acid supplements are rare, though they can occur if the dose exceeds 15000 mcg . Taking any one of the B group of vitamins on their own can produce a deficiency in the others, so don't be too keen to buy without advice. Check out if you really do need it and make sure your health care practised knows your purpose in order to grasp why you want to take these supplements. Some prescription medicines such as antibiotics and warfarin can react adversely to this health programme, while others like ibuprofen and aspirin can actually cause a deficiency. Methotrexate, prescribed to treat some cancer and rheumatoid arthritis conditions increases the body's need for folic acid, and its side-effects are greatly reduced by addition of this vitamin without impairing its results, so if you must take this medication be sure see your health care professional about adding folic acid to your diet - it could save you experiencing further side-effects .

Do Children Need Vitamins?

It probably won't surprise you that experts disagree on whether or not children should take vitamins. On one side of the debate are medical experts who believe that children obtain a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals from their diet. On the flip side are medical professionals who view the need for vitamin supplementation for adults to be the same for children. Experts with this belief recognize that children, like adults, don't always consume the foods they need to obtain sufficient nutrients.

For example, children commonly have an aversion to vegetables, such as broccoli. Children may also have health conditions that prevent them from consuming a particular food. In these cases, children may not obtain sufficient amounts of nutrients. This concern is significant for children because the nutrients are imperative to their growth.

One element that is significant to a child's growth is fluoride. Fluoride contributes to healthy teeth and bones. Most children obtain all the fluoride they need from drinking water. However, the growing popularity of bottled water places many children at risk of fluoride deficiency. There are also many communities that use non-fluoridated drinking water. Children older than six months who are affected by these situations are good candidates for fluoride supplementation. Parents should inform their medical doctor of these circumstances so that the physician can possibly recommend fluoride vitamins for the child.

Similar to fluoride, calcium is another mineral that children need for strong teeth and bones. Children rarely have a calcium deficiency. There are, however, a small percentage of children who do not obtain the recommended amount of calcium for their age group (from 800-1399 milligrams). These children either have an allergy or consuming dairy products or are vegetarians who do not consume dairy products.

Deciding to supplement a child's diet with vitamins is not a decision that parents should make alone. While an excess of most vitamins in adults may cause mild side effects, children may experience more severe side effects. In addition, vitamins for children often look like candy and should be stored in a location out of the reach of children to prevent overdose.




To check out the supplement we take daily and highly recommend, be sure to check out http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/what-we-use.html

Nutrition supplements

DMAE Supplements...Do We Need Them?

DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol) is a chemical produced in the brain. This naturally occuring amino alcohol is produced in minuscule amounts by the brain, with higher concentrations being typically found in anchovies and sardines. Known primarily as a precursor to choline and acetylcholine (chemicals in the brain responsible for nerve transmissions and cognitive function), DMAE has been used most predominantly to improve memory and focus while stimulating neural activity. Many researchers believe that it may serve an anti-aging function by increasing the body’s capacity to produce acetylcholine – a deficiency commonly associated with memory loss.

DMAE is a memory booster substance common to a number of drugs that are known to stabilize cell membranes. Cell membrane degradation has been proposed as one of the prime mechanisms of aging. DMAE is increasingly favored by medical practitioners for its role in boosting brain power. DMAE has shown positive results in the treatment of a variety of cognitive and disruptive disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and memory lapses. DMAE is even being used in skin care products designed to treat sagging skin and age spots.

DMAE may enhance water retention in connective skin tissue, causing the surface of the skin to tighten. The second, and more likely, explanation involves DMAE’s cholinergic feature, which enhances the skin’s ability to transmit acetylcholine. The neurotransmitter’s function in sending signals from nerves to muscles may promote a form of muscle tightening in the skin. It is important to note that although DMAE cannot fully reverse existing facial sagging, it may reduce its further progression. Some people report a cumulative effect with continued use of the compound.

Benefits
• improves memory and focus
• assists with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• treats sun spots and sagging skin

Discount Vitamins Online And Buying Precautions

Discount vitamins online ordering can be easy, efficient and cost-effective. However, there are certain precautions to take. In fact, whether you order discount vitamins online or buy in a store, cheaper is likely not better! Here are some considerations when buying discount vitamins on the internet:

• Does the online store value your privacy and confidentiality? Is their privacy policy available to read if you'd like to see it? Be sure your email address won’t be sold and they will maintain your personal details in the strictest privacy.

• How long have they been in business? You may feel more comfortable with an online store that has been in business for some years.

• Does the discount vitamins online store have a way to contact them? Legitimate companies will make it easy to contact them in several ways.

• What if you’re unhappy with your purchase -- do they have a refund policy? A refund policy of at least 30 days is great and even longer is better. If there’s no refund policy, stay away.

As for the products, keep in mind that vitamin manufacturers are not regulated. Since buying discount vitamins online is about your health, pay attention to finding the best value, not just the cheapest price. Buying discount vitamins online presents many possibilities, but in general, you'll get what you pay for.

Discount vitamins are a poor value when they consist of cheaper, lower quality ingredients and will not include other beneficial nutrients known to provide major health benefits. These kinds of discount vitamins tend to use high quantities of cheaper ingredients, which can even lead to an unhealthy imbalance of nutrients. In the case of nutrients, more is not always better. And the cheapest part of nutritional supplements are the vitamin and minerals.

When buying discount vitamins online, try to feel comfortable with answers to these questions:

1. Is the price low because cheap, inferior ingredients are used? There can be huge differences in the quality and costs of individual ingredients. Since your health is the issue, priority should be given to quality since the final product is only as good as the raw ingredients used. For example, most beta carotene used in supplements is synthetic and contains only about 3% beta carotene that costs about $60 per kg. However, a much more effective higher potency 98% natural beta carotene costs about $2,800 per kg. The more effective natural form of Vitamin E d-alpha tocopheryl succinate costs more than the synthetic version called dl-alpha tocopheryl.

2. Does the manufacturer conform to pharmaceutical standards in their manufacturing processes? Very few manufacturers do so. High-volume discount manufacturers can cut costs by shortening the mixing time and by mixing at higher speeds. This can mean that the product must be tableted harder, which can result in a vitamin that will be more difficult to dissolve and may pass right through your system unused.

3. Besides basic vitamins and minerals, does the discount vitamins online product contain other essential nutrients that your body needs? Your body requires and will use a wide array of anti-aging nutrients - amino acids such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L-Carnitine plus antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients, certain herbal extracts, enzymes and so on. And these nutrients have to be in the correct proportions to each other.

There ARE manufacturers designing and making supplements available online that provide high quality at very reasonable prices. There is one in particular that uses pharmaceutical grade ingredients, many supported by clinical studies. Ingredients are linked to the related clinical studies on their website. Their multivitamin/nutrients supplement is so complete, you can eliminate having to take numerous supplements individually.

Buying quality discount vitamins online is about improved health and energy, freedom from disease, improved sexual vigor and slowing the aging process. Learn as much as you can about what finding the best discount vitamins online really means. Before you spend your money, be informed about the nutrients and substances you'll be putting into your body every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Discount Vitamin And Mineral Buying Precautions

Discount vitamin and mineral buying is easy. Just stop by any supermarket or drugstore and you'll find many possibilities likely claiming to be the cheapest, the best and so on. How do you really know which discount vitamin and mineral product is the right one to choose? It's a valid question and an important one, since vitamin manufacturers are not regulated.

And are vitamin and mineral supplements really needed? Numerous studies have concluded that because of soil depletion that has been ongoing for decades, overall nutrient value of foods continues to decline. Less than one out of ten people meet or exceed the USDA food pyramid's daily requirements for consumption of important vegetables and fruits. So taking a quality discount vitamin and mineral supplement daily to help fill in the 'nutrient gaps' that everyone has is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Again, the question is - which one? Is the cheapest one the best way to go?

Here are questions you should ask for any discount vitamin and mineral product you're considering taking:

1. Is the price low because cheap, inferior ingredients are used? There can be huge differences in the quality and costs of individual ingredients. Since your health is the issue, priority should be given to quality since the final product is only as good as the raw ingredients used. For example, most beta carotene used in supplements is synthetic and contains only about 3% beta carotene that costs about $60 per kg. However, a much more effective higher potency natural 98% beta carotene costs about $2,800 per kg. The more effective natural form of Vitamin E d-alpha tocopheryl succinate costs more than the synthetic version called dl-alpha tocopheryl.

2. Are potencies listed actually contained in the product? How do you know that what you're paying for is actually included in the product? And does the manufacturer have a system in place to verify that the ingredients used are what their suppliers claim?

3. Are there impurities in the discount vitamin and mineral product? Cheaper raw ingredients may include other substances, some unwanted, that should not be in the product. Does the manufacturer do heavy metal testing to ensure that there is no contamination with mercury, lead, arsenic or cadmium.

4. Does the manufacturer conform to pharmaceutical standards in their manufacturing processes? High-volume discount manufacturers can cut costs by shortening the mixing time and by mixing at higher speeds. This can mean that the product must be tableted harder, which can result in a vitamin that will be more difficult to dissolve and may pass right through your system.

5. Does the product come with a money-back guarantee? You should be able to get your money back if you are not completely satisfied.

Buying a discount vitamin and mineral is not the same as buying a cheap pair of socks or a shirt - it is about the nutrients and their quality that'll be going into your body. You generally get what you pay for, and there are dozens of discount one-a-day vitamins. However, taking a one-a-day multivitamin is probably a waste of money. It's impossible to fit the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for a quality supplement in a single tablet or capsule - it would be much too large to swallow.

Cheap supermarket supplements are a poor value for the money as they consist of cheaper, lower quality ingredients and will not include other beneficial nutrients that provide documented health benefits. These kinds of discount vitamin and mineral products tend to use high quantities of cheaper ingredients, which can lead to an unhealthy imbalance of nutrients. In the case of nutrients, more is not always better. And the cheapest part of nutritional supplements is the vitamin and mineral part.
There ARE manufacturers that design and make supplements that provide high quality at very reasonable prices. There is one in particular that uses pharmaceutical grade ingredients, many supported by clinical studies. Ingredients are linked to relevant clinical studies on their website.

Taking a quality discount vitamin and mineral supplement should be about better health and energy, freedom from illness, improved sexual vigor and slowing the aging process. Learn as much as you can about what finding the best discount vitamin and mineral supplement really means - before spending your money, be informed about the nutrients and substances you'll be putting into your body every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Dietary Supplements – Do We Need Them?

No dietary supplement can provide that, but with the assiduous use of vitamins and minerals, we can often achieve optimum health for our age group and certainly ease the symptoms of diseases we may suffer from.

Dietary supplements can be divided into two main types; nutritional, (vitamins and minerals and amino acids) and botanical (herbal types).

But is it really necessary for someone who is young and healthy to take dietary supplements? You may consider that your diet is healthy enough, but vegetables and dairy food can only be as good as the soil in which they are grown and many farmers will agree that their soil is worn out. Why else do they have to add chemical fertilizers at ever increasing rates? If the soil were farmed organically, instead of with an eye to profit all the time, it would be in much better health and so would we.

Another point to consider is the freshness (or otherwise) of the products we buy. Most vegetables are at least a week old by the time they get to our homes. Although many are kept in cool storage, this length of time causes the nutritional value to greatly decrease. Fruit is often picked before ripe and put into cold storage for weeks or months, then when it is needed, hit with a gas to make it ripen quickly. This gas is supposed to be safe in small amounts, but it is carcinogenic….

Some dietary supplement exponents declare lack of magnesium to be a major cause of high blood pressure. People who have found the usual blood pressure medications to cause more discomfort than they cure tried out magnesium supplements and in some cases were able to stop using their prescription medication entirely within two months. Of course, you should never do this without consulting your health care professional.

There are some people who claim that dietary supplements do nothing but give us expensive urine. That may be true if you have a super healthy diet and are therefore less likely to be lacking in vitamins, but health-care professionals are increasingly advising extra supplements for those under stress such as illness, pregnancy, or periods of sudden growth spurts.

If your tongue is inflamed and you suffer from loss of appetite, shortness of breath, are irritable, forgetful and mentally sluggish, you may have a folic acid deficiency. Folic acid is one of the B group of vitamins and most animal and plant foods are poor sources of it. The exception is liver which most people don’t eat a lot of these days. Some habits and diseases like celiac disease, alcoholism and irritable bowel syndrome, also play a major part in causing a deficiency of this vitamin, so if you suffer from any of these problems, ask your doctor if you need a supplement.

Did You Know Calcium Needs Magnesium To Be Absorbed?

For all the people suffering from bone loss, did you know that calcium requires magnesium in order to be utilized by the body? Magnesium by its self doesn’t need calcium to function in the body. Calcium should never be taken without magnesium if you are supplementing just calcium you are actually reducing the amount of magnesium in the body which can be a bad thing. Few people realize the importance of the mineral magnesium. Magnesium influences many of the body’s processes such as digestion, energy production, muscle function, bone formation, creation of new cells, activation of B vitamins, relaxation of muscles and helps in the function of the kidneys, heart, adrenal glands, the brain and nervous system.

Every day we loose magnesium due to mental stress, caffeine, sugar intake, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, high perspiration, low thyroid, diabetes, chronic pain (causes stress), diuretics, and diets high in carbohydrates, sodium, and calcium. The most common symptoms of magnesium depletion that millions of people suffer from every day are low energy, fatigue, PMS and Hormonal imbalances, inability to sleep (insomnia), body tension, headaches, muscle tension, muscle spasms and craps, backaches, calcification of organs, weakening bones, heart related difficulties, anxiousness, nervousness and irritability. Everybody needs magnesium.

What country has the highest rate of pasteurized milk consumption and what country has the highest Calcium supplement consumption? The United States! So if this is true, wouldn’t you think the United States would have the lowest rate of osteoporosis caused by calcium loss making bones fragile? False! More calcium does not eliminate a calcium deficiency, only by adding magnesium to your diet will your body be able to handle a calcium deficiency and provide adequate magnesium for the body to dissolve excess calcium from the body like bone spurs while helping the body absorb more calcium all at the same time.

Magnesium is needed for major biochemical process such as digestion, energy production, and the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. According to Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, “calcium has been called the major mineral or the major nutrient mostly because there are a lot of books on osteoporosis (bone disease especially common in the elderly), and everybody thinks calcium is the major treatment for that. But if you don’t have magnesium, calcium doesn’t even work in the body.”

Milk contains 8 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium per glass. In order for the body to absorb the calcium in milk the body has to make up for the missing magnesium, milk will rob the body of vital magnesium in order to process its calcium. Heavy milk drinking can cause a magnesium imbalance in the body and lead to the negative effects associated with a magnesium imbalance that was listed above. In America, calcium is now added to cereals, crackers, juice, antacids and much more. None of these products add extra magnesium to bring balance back. If you’re eating dairy products and eating lots of organic yogurt, kefir, and green vegetables you’re getting a plenty of absorbable calcium. Yogurt does not contain magnesium and if you cook your vegetables the magnesium found in the veggies will be destroyed, so what you need is just a basic magnesium supplement to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The statements in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease please consult your health care physician before discontinuing medication or introducing herbs into your diet if you are currently on medication of any kind.

Diabetes: The $132 Billion Dollar Pandemic

You know, it's not everyday a fellow like me gets to announce a major paradigm shift, much less concerning diabetes …or any other medical condition.

You don't know what a paradigm shift is? Well, if I mentioned events and names like: Gutenberg, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Louis Pasteur, and Werner von Braun …you would probably guess a paradigm shift is major shift in thinking…and you would be right.

Back in the 1960's, Thomas Kuhn wrote a famous book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. In it, he destroyed the common misconception so many of us have about science.

We tend to think scientific progress is ushered in by a slow, line upon line, piece by piece development of thought over time.

Thomas Kuhn showed that, historically, scientific progress occurs in leaps …and is always confronted by a struggle with an "old guard." The old scientific theorists hold tenaciously to their (usually tenured or profitable) positions and array themselves against the new discovery, attempting to drive it away.

But, the new guard - the new discoverers, inventors, explorers- takes the new discoveries and advances it over the thinking of the old establishment. Rarely is the old guard converted to the new patterns of thinking (new discovery). They just die off. The new position wins by attrition …truth…and perseverance.

Diabetes: The $132 billion dollar pandemic

Diabetes is on the front edge of such a paradigm shift.

Diabetes now afflicts over 18 million Americans. That is double the number of people with diabetes just since 1991 alone.

According to the CDC, one in every three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Let that sink in…one in every three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

It is estimated over 40 million Americans can be classified as "pre-diabetes" meaning they have blood sugar levels higher than normal but still below the type 2 diagnosis level which helps to define diabetes.

By anyone's standard that is pandemic (goes far beyond epidemic proportions). The cost for this carnage is over $132 BILLION DOLLARS. So much expense, grief and sorrow…and unnecessary.

Diabetes: A reflection of our culture.

We are a fast food, sedentary, "get-our-fix-now" generation. More than one in every two Americans are overweight. We don't exercise as we should. All of which affects glucose levels. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease…and we've got the lifestyle.

Diabetes: The important announcement

That said, diabetes is a condition which CAN be turned around. Glyconutrition is the new discovery shaking the medical and scientific worlds. There are four Nobel Prizes and MIT testifying to the fact that glycobiology is one of the 10 technologies/discoveries which will shape our world.

Glyconutrition is more than just a promising new treatment for diabetes. Many are starting to whisper "VICTORY" over diabetes in their approach to disease.

Whether that is the case, time will tell.

Oh no… The problem is not a failure of glyconutrition. It is the building block VITAL to healthy cellular function and it is extremely vital to the proper functioning of the IMMUNE system. Those are known facts.

Diabetes is an auto-immune disease meaning, your body's immune system gets misguided messages. Thus, it starts attacking the islet cells in the pancreas which produces insulin. Voila...diabetes!

But, the problem is NOT whether glyconutrition really works. Anecdotal evidence (market buzz!) is already overwhelming in favor of glyconutritional therapy for diabetes. As is the professional research.

No…the actual science is NOT the problem. The problem is the old guard again. Thomas Kuhn's book is almost prophetic. The old guard, the medical and pharmaceutical establishment, just can't accept the findings of (their own) research… "What! A nutrient… to treat diabetes?" "Hogwash," one can almost hear them say.

Actually, I wish they were saying that out loud. The reality is, they just ignore the issue. You see, too much is at stake. Like billions of dollars…uh…a $132 billion dollars. All of that money (read, "business") disappears if glyconutrition continues to "pan out" the way the research shows us. But, for now, the only thing "panning out" is a diabetes pandemic.

Yet, glyconutrition gets shunned as an official diabetes treatment approach.

A study published in the 1997 issue of the Proceedings of the Fisher Institute for Medical Research showed that people with type 1 diabetes who were given glyconutrients "…reported a dramatic improvement in their health, including a decrease in vision problems, better wound healing, less infections, and lower blood pressure." (Miracle Sugars, by Rita Elkins, M.H., Woodland Publishing, p. 26)

"Glycobiology has achieved critical breakthroughs in the medical field, primarily by addressing what could be the greatest plague in health care today -- auto-immune diseases. Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn's disease and colitis are just a few of these diseases." - Dr. Neecie Moore, Ph.D. (cf. Rita Elkins, M.H.
Miracle Sugars, Woodland Publishing, p. 18.)

Also, mannose (one glyconutrient) can stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin "…thus lowering the amount of insulin needed to control this disease." (Miracle Sugars, p. 27).

Reality Check: The lives of 1 out of every 3 Americans are affected directly by diabetes and there is a $132 billion dollar diabetes pandemic running amuck in our midst. So, I sure hope this paradigm shift - glyconutrition - gets less opposition from the "powers that be" (the "old guard"), and is given its rightful place in the sun…soon.

But, with the money being made by the pharmaceuticals and their drugs, and the astoundingly simplistic view of disease treatment ("Blast that disease with technology and drugs!") it is doubtful if Thomas Kuhn's "paradigm shift" will work out any differently for diabetes across the land.

The old guard will attack and ignore the discovery - arguably, the greatest in medical history in over a hundred years - and, a la Kuhn, they will simply go the way of the Dodo Bird and diabetes treatment will receive its due.

Diabetes "So Far So Good"

There was this guy who jumped off the 37th floor of a tall building. As he fell, people at each floor inside the building heard him say as he passed them, "So far, so good…so far, so good..."

Diabetes is a disease which cannot be "trusted." I know that's an odd way of putting it, but bear with me for a moment here. As a medical professional, I have dealt with countless cases of diabetes. I have always been amazed people will plan for the future as they build lives, careers, families, dreams…creating and pursuing commitments for the long term… And yet, one issue stands out consistently. People with diabetes tend to hope the disease will just "maintain itself," that it will just stay at status quo for the long term.

Diabetes cannot be trusted to stay anywhere…much less at status quo. Like the guy falling from the 37th floor, people with diabetes tend to keep telling themselves… "So far, so good…so far, so good…so far, so good…" Folks, hope is NOT a strategy. It is a necessity, but it is NOT a strategy in dealing with a disease like diabetes.

Diabetes: The "fall out" is too great to ignore…

As I said earlier, I am amazed how well people can plan for the long term, creating and pursuing future commitments but do NOT plan long-term for diabetes. Of course, the natural question is: "What are the long term issues with diabetes?"

With diabetes, a person is two to four times more likely to develop cardio-vascular disease. Being a cardio-vascular surgeon, I saw this particular problem constantly in my field. And I saw it consistently in young and middle aged people with diabetes.

With diabetes, people are TWENTY-FIVE times more likely to develop retinopathy (deterioration of the retinas). Because of diabetes, 24,000 people lose sight every year!

With diabetes, 60-70% of those afflicted suffer nerve damage which can lead to non-traumatic lower limb amputations. This is due to the fact that open sores that do not heal, accompany diabetes. As they become ulcerated, the diabetic faces complications which can lead to amputation of limbs.

People with diabetes are AT RISK for kidney failure.

Diabetes is responsible for the increased risk for strokes…two to six times more likely because of their condition.

Diabetes: the good news or the bad news…

Well, which do you want…the good news or the bad news first?

As a doctor, having dealt with diabetes in many patients, it's always best to know the BAD news up front. Why? Complacency is harmful to your health. The danger with diabetes is people get complacent. Nothing seems to happen until, suddenly, it seems to sneak up on you with its complications…

The bad news can be REALLY bad if you are someone who has any of the following conditions which terribly complicate diabetes. Complicating factors are:
1 smoking,
2 high cholesterol,
3 high blood pressure,
4 obesity,
5 physical inactivity

With these factors, predicting the progress of diabetes is very problematic. Simply put, they MUST be brought under control, if possible. Diabetes thus becomes very unpredictable.

By keeping your blood glucose under control, you can reduce the risk of complications of diabetes up to 76%. That's good news.

More good news: By healthy eating, responsible dietary weight loss, regular physical activity, monitoring blood sugar… you can reduce risk in diabetes.

Bad news: Status quo again. You're still "stuck" with diabetes.

Diabetes: Being hit by "friendly fire."

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are auto-immune conditions. In type1 diabetes, the immune cells are mis-instructed to attack islet cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

Mind you, there is nothing wrong with the islet cells. There is MIScommunication by the immune system of the body. In other words, immune attack cells can get faulty messages and destroy healthy tissue. Isn't it just awful that your diabetes can be caused by "friendly fire?" (Military terminology here. The good guys are hitting their own good guys with artillery fire.)

MIS-communication …. hum. Sounds like what's needed is a healthier communication system at the cellular level so the body isn't attacking its own healthy cells.

Now, for some really good news…

Glyconutrition is the nutritional provision which provides the body with healthy CELLULAR COMMUNICATION. In other words, for diabetes, this means less "friendly fire."

A study published in the 1997 issue of the Proceedings of the Fisher Institute for Medical Research showed people with type 1 diabetes who were given glyconutrients "…reported a dramatic improvement in their health, including a decrease in vision problems, better wound hearing, less infections, and lower blood pressure." (Miracle Sugars, by Rita Elkins, M.H., Woodland Publishing, p. 26 -Excellent quick reference incidentally!)

Remember, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are auto-immune conditions. Read carefully, this next statement by medical researcher, Dr. Neecie Moore:

"Glycobiology has achieved critical breakthroughs in the medical field, primarily by addressing what could be the greatest plague in health care today -- auto-immune diseases. Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn's disease and colitis are just a few of these diseases."

Research on glyconutrition is growing wonderfully. For example, the Ophthalmology Department of Harvard University in 1995 reported that one of the glyconutrients (mannose) can be an energy source for diabetes (instead of the damaging glucose), providing energy without risk of eyesight damage. (Miracle Sugars, p.27).

Also, mannose can stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin "…thus lowering the amount of insulin needed to control this disease." (Miracle Sugars, p. 27. I told you this was a good book! In case you're wondering, I receive no remuneration from it whatsoever. Remember, I'm a physician. Doctors "make money the old fashioned way"…they charge you.)

Oh yes. Glyconutrients are NON-prescription. Anyone can get them and they are non-toxic (they're food!) Safe, NON-prescription, effective…That's the stuff real medical discoveries are made of. Diabetes may very well become a scourge of the past.

Think of it. No more friendly fire.

No more diabetes "status quo."

…So far, so good…

Daily Intake Vitamin - Are Daily Vitamins Really Absorbed?

A good daily intake vitamin crucial issue is related to how absorbable the vitamin supplement really is. The majority of daily vitamin and mineral supplements dissolve in the stomach, and that's a problem. So what's the problem?

When you swallow a tablet, capsule, or take a supplement liquid, what happens is the active ingredients are released in the stomach. Stomach acids attack the ingredients and break them into smaller particles. Depending upon the ingredient, most of it is destroyed by the acids. And poor quality tablets made with cheap binders can pass through both the stomach and the intestine and out of the body with little or no absorption.

The 'delivery system' that provides the best daily intake vitamin absorption uses a process called "enteric coating". This delivery system is state of the art and is usually only found with advanced pharmaceutical products. This coating which is made up of pH sensitive polymers attaches to the tablets and remains intact in the acidic environment of the stomach. Once it passes through the stomach, the coating disintegrates in the small intestine where the highest percentage of ingredients can then be absorbed.

In an ideal world, recommended daily intake vitamin and nutrient requirements would be supplied from your diet. However, many people make poor food choices every day. Junk food, processed food, sodas and sweets are the basis for the diet of millions. Even with a well-balanced diet, studies have found the nutrient values of foods have been declining for decades because of soil depletion.

Choosing one of the high-quality, broad-spectrum daily intake vitamin supplements helps fill the 'nutritional gaps' that everyone has. Daily vitamin essential nutrients that the body requires are extensive and are much more than just vitamins. When considering which daily intake vitamin to take, remember that the least costly ingredients in a daily vitamin are the vitamins and minerals. Your body also needs a wide array of anti-aging natural substances proven to provide specific health benefits.

High quality daily intake vitamins should include nutrients such as amino acids, antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients, certain herbal extracts, enzymes and specialized substances such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid, acetyl L-Carnitine and so on. Nutrients such as these have been proven by clinical studies to provide important anti-aging benefits. And these nutrients have to be in the correct proportions to each other based on the latest research.

Finding highly absorbable daily intake vitamins can be difficult but there is a quality manufacturer that incorporates enteric coating in their vitamin supplements. Read more and understand the significance of the term 'bio-availability' as it applies when vitamins, minerals and nutrients are being taken every day. After all, it's your health and wellness that's at stake.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Daily Complete Vitamins - Recommended Daily Vitamin Considerations

Daily complete vitamins should perform important functions such as slowing the aging process, strengthening the immune system and increasing energy levels. When considering which daily complete vitamins to take, remember that the least costly ingredients in a recommended daily vitamin are the vitamins and minerals. Your body also needs a wide array of anti-aging natural substances proven by clinical studies to provide specific health benefits.

Ideally, recommended daily vitamin and nutrient requirements would be supplied from your diet. For whatever reasons, many people make poor food choices every day. Junk food, processed food, sodas and sweets have become the norm for millions. Even with a well-balanced diet, studies find that nutrient values of foods have been declining for decades because of soil depletion.

Choosing one of the high-quality, broad-spectrum daily complete vitamins helps fill the 'nutritional gaps' that everyone has. The recommended daily vitamin essential nutrients that the body requires are extensive and are much more than just vitamins. High quality daily complete vitamins should include nutrients such as:

• Amino acids like L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L-Carnitine that have powerful proven health benefits.

• Bioflavanoids such as quercetin. Studies suggest quercetin may have inhibitory effects on various forms of cancer including breast, leukemia, colon, ovary, oral squamous cell, endometrial, gastric and non-small-cell lung carcinomas.

• Enzymes such as lipase and protease that improve the bioavailability of the nutrients.

• Immune system enhancing nutrients such as aloe vera, beta glucan 1,3 and polysaccharides.

• Neuronutrients like DMAE that is reported to minimize buildup of age spots in the brain. DMAE has been shown to stimulate lucid dreams, suggesting possible sleep pattern enhancement and memory enhancment.

• Eye health nutrients such as bilberry, lutein and zeaxanthin.

These recommended daily vitamin nutrients must be in correct proportions to each other based on the latest research. Few persons are qualified to design daily complete vitamins formulas, and most qualified persons are employed in the pharmaceutical industry. There are many different 'fractions' of each natural ingredient that must be examined individually, and the interactions of the various fractions followed at the molecular level to determine what metabolic pathway they may take in the body. For example, most people know that zinc benefits the male prostate, but few manufacturers/marketers know that most forms of zinc will not follow the metabolic pathway needed to get to the prostate.

And the 'delivery system' for daily complete vitamins is crucial. The active ingredients in most tablets, capsules, and liquid supplements never reach the intended organs. This is because they are damaged by stomach acids, or in the case of cheap tablets made with binders, pass right through your system. Done correctly, the daily complete vitamins and nutrients are released along with the enzymes intact in the duodenum (small intestine) where maximum absorption can occur.

If you are serious about slowing down the aging process, remember that no single magic pill or recommended daily vitamin supplement will help you achieve this objective. The best anti-aging daily complete vitamins are not the one-a-day vitamin type. One capsule or tablet cannot hold all that's needed in necessary quantities as it would be too large to swallow. The minimal vitamins found in the typical one-a-day supermarket vitamins are just the beginning and probably a waste of money.

And if you try to design your own vitamin supplement plan, it's easy to end up with a dozen or more individual vitamins, minerals and supplements to take daily, which is a hassle and expensive. Further, if certain substances are out of balance, it's possible they can combine to produce other unwanted compounds that can be harmful.

Another important consideration for daily complete vitamins is that women need a different vitamin formula than men. Women's supplements need nutrients proven by clinical studies to support the balancing of female hormones in the years before, during and after menopause. And the best complete vitamins for men should contain ingredients proven to support healthy male prostate.

Learn as much as you can about what finding the best anti-aging daily complete vitamins really means. Your health, energy and wellness is the issue. Before spending your money, be informed about the health products you'll be taking every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Coral calcium supplement information: Questions and Answers

Question: What exactly is coral calcium?

Answer: Quite simply, coral calcium is a source of calcium found in the oceans of the world. The reason people make such a fuss about the benefits of this nutrient as a supplement are many. For one, coral calcium contains calcium, magnesium, and trace minerals that the human body require, and what’s more, coral calcium contains a perfect ratio of the proper nutrients for the human body.

Question: What makes a coral calcium supplement beneficial to my health?

Answer: For one, there is the obvious answer that calcium helps support the growth and the strengthening of bone and teeth. What few people know, however, is that calcium also aids in achieving healthy muscles and maintaining nerve functions. Also, calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. These reasons alone are enough proof that coral calcium can be beneficial to your health. Also, however, there are many side benefits a coral calcium supplement can help you with. For one, coral calcium has the best absorption qualities out of any type of calcium.

Coral calcium also has the highest HDL (good cholesterol) density. In addition to strengthening the bones and teeth, coral calcium aids in cleansing your kidneys, intestines, and liver, while simultaneously breaking down heavy metals found in your body. Coral calcium supplements also help to boost your immune system!

Question: Where exactly does this “coral” come from?

Answer: Coral is composed of small organisms known as coral polyps. These polyps take calcium carbonate and limestone from the ocean so that they can build protective structures around themselves.

Since coral reefs in the ocean are under protective laws due to how fragile their ecosystem is, the coral found in any coral calcium supplement has to be found in an outside, non-living source. Usually, this type of supplement is found in old sea beds long-buried in the desert or mined from fossilized coral that has accumulated on the ocean’s floor.




Why not check out our nutrition guide at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/nut-ebook.html

and also what supplement we personally use for our nutrition needs at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/what-we-use.html

Coral Calcium : Promoting Life's Healing Properties

Coral calcium is the most highly dissolvable and easily assimilated forms of calcium (long know to be extremely important in bone health) naturally occurring in the realm of the planet. Long used by alternative and holistic healthcare professionals and practitioners such as chiropractors, naturopaths and acupuncturists, coral calcium is now regarded as an essential supplement to healthful and natural living.

In this day and age of fast-paced living, it is increasingly important to care for the only body we will ever have. We are a highly complicated system of checks and balances and the only way that we can perform at our highest level of efficiency is to make sure that all of our biomechanics are maintained and optimized. Coral calcium helps regulate the alkalinity of our bodies assuring that cell health is maintained by controlling the acidity that we introduce into ourselves by being exposed to environmental and consumed pollutants. By maintaining an alkaline environment in our bodies, we are ensuring continued health and longevity of our tissues, both muscular and skeletal.

Long used in Japanese culture to promote health and longevity, coral calcium is made from surface coral which means that no living coral is endangered in the making of this healthy supplement. We are all becoming increasingly concerned with not only the health of our own bodies, but with the general health of the planet, especially marine life. Not only does coral calcium help promote our own health, it in no way harms marine life as it is harvested from nonliving, above ground coral.

From the time we start walking, we assault our bodies with our physical activities, poor diets, atmospheric pollutants, daily stresses and general abuse. Coral calcium helps to reverse these damages by promoting removal of waste and harmful toxins from the body. By providing highly absorbable sources of calcium and other important minerals, coral calcium helps the body restore itself to optimal levels of health and happiness.

Bone strength and density is huge concern for most women and an ever increasing number of men. The foods we eat, the beverages that we eat and the lifestyles that we lead often sap our bodies of the minerals that we need to support our ever increasing frames. Osteoporosis is an alarming epidemic and is something that we all need to be aware of. Coral Calcium is composed of the a very similar structure and combination of minerals that our own bone structure is made up of. Thus it promotes healing and strength of the very frame of our bodies the we have spent our lives breaking down.

The best part of coral calcium is that it is 100% natural and doesn’t contain any of the scary synthetic additives that many supplements contain that got us into our weakened position in the first place. By following the advice of many holistic healers and supporting your diet with coral calcium, you are helping your body heal itself with the very minerals that it is made up of. An excellent source of calcium and magnesium, coral calcium is proving to be an additional supplement to a healthy diet.

Company Wraps Calcium Into Candy

Doctors will tell you that as you age, bones lose strength because they lose calcium. They also stress the need to add more calcium to your diet, either with dairy products or supplements.

Your dentist will say that your teeth are made up of calcium, to a large extent, so the need for calcium is important in order to ensure your teeth stay strong. Meanwhile, cardiologists are discovering that one of the critical elements of a healthy heart is the level of calcium in the body.

So how do you add more calcium to your diet? One option is to double the daily intake of low-fat dairy foods such as milk and cheese, but this may be unrealistic.

Most nutritional supplement providers offer a calcium pill. But to many, swallowing a large, chalky tasting pill is also not the best option. Dallas-based Mosaic Nutraceuticals has introduced a new approach: calcium supplements in candy form.

"We're making it easier to take the supplements that we all need by putting those supplements into candy," said Charles Townsend, chief executive officer of Mosaic.

Mosaic's Premium Calcium soft candy chews are loaded with vitamin supplements, he said. The chews have 500 milligrams of calcium as well as vitamins D and K.

Common Herb Proven To Reduce Excessive Sweat

Could an ordinary common kitchen herb really reduce excessive sweat?

Hyperhidrosis sufferers reading this will certainly hope so.

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating far beyond what the body needs to do to control body temperature. It results in moisture laying on the surface of the skin instead of evaporating like it normally would.

Some sufferers have problems with grip because of near-permananet wet hands and others need to have several changes of clothing each day. It usually affects the hands and feet but can extend to other parts of the body including the head, trunk and under arms.

Treatment is limited to Iontophoresis (using electric currents to disrupt the sweat glands), Botox injections and a surgical procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS)whereby the nerves serving the sweat glands are blocked or cut.

None of these treatments are without risks and all are very expensive. Their effectiveness also seems to vary from patient to patient and and horror stories are common - particularly relating to the surgical option (which requires each lung to be collapsed in turn in order to reach the nerves in the chest cavity).

Clearly then, the prospect of a totally natural, risk-free treatment involving an inexpensive kitchen herb will be greated heartily by anyone with an excessive sweat problem - particularly when the herb in question has actually been medically proven.

The treatment, tested by a group of researchers at the School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran, is a simple “tea” solution made from the dried leaves of a common herb, and water.

In the medical study, thirty-five patients (18 men and 17 women, aged 8-49 years) who had been diagnosed with either palmar or plantar (hand or foot) hyperhidrosis were given the treatments three times a day for six weeks.

The solution was simply applied to the skin (they didn't drink it) where excessive sweating was a problem. After six weeks of this treatment the people in the study who received the tea experienced significantly more relief from their sweating than the people who were given a placebo.

In fact, the solution was shown to reduce sweating in the hands, feet and under arms by as much as 37% as a result of the herb's astringent properties.
These are the directions if you want to make the solution at home...
Use three spoonfuls of dried leaves mixed with 250 ml (8.5 ounces) of room temperature water and leave to steep for 24 to 48 hours.

After straining, the resulting solution can be applied to underarms, hands or feet. The researchers also suggest a further treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis which affects the soles of the feet. They recommend a dry powder of the herb, placed in the shoes. The powder can be made by grinding dried leaves with an electronic or hand mill.

The solution or powder should be applied to the problem area three times a day and the area should be completely dried before application.