Archive for the ‘Supplements’ Category

PostHeaderIcon 5 Super Supplements You Should Take Everyday



1. Multivitamins- Taking your multivitamins every day is critical! Don’t put it off to tomorrow, to next month or to next year. Start today! Did you know that studies have shown that only about 1% of us get all the nutrients and vitamins we need through the foods that we eat naturally? That means that the rest of us are walking around “nutrient-starved”.

So give yourself the power advantage. When choosing a multivitamin, make sure that it is 100% of the daily value of all the 12 essential vitamins and minerals.

Recommended Daily Dose: Take half in the morning and half at night.

2. Vitamin B12 – Recent studies have shown that this extremely valuable vitamin has been effective in fighting off the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Published in the Oct. 19, 2010 issue of Neurology, researchers found that there is definitely an association between vitamin B12 blood levels and Alzheimer’s risk.

271 elderly Finnish people were monitored over a period of 7 years, during which blood samples were taken regularly. At the start of the study, none of the subjects had dementia – however by the end of the seven year period, 17 people developed Alzheimer’s disease. What researchers found was that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s was significantly higher in people with elevated levels of homo cysteine (an amino acid produced by the body and which increases the risk of heart attacks, vascular disease, and strokes), while the risk was lower in people whose vitamin B12 levels were higher. It was also very interesting to note that the higher levels of vitamin B12 can also lower homo cysteine.

Here’s another reason to make sure to take a B12 vitamin supplement daily – people with Vitamin B12 deficiency display symptoms of depression, confusion, and memory loss. So Don’t Worry – Be Happy! And Take your Vitamin B12.

3. Calcium/Magnesium /Vitamin D – Not only is Calcium responsible for building strong bones and teeth, studies have also shown that taking calcium can help reduce fractures by about 43%. So you need to take your calcium. But not on it’s own.

Be sure to take your calcium with Magnesium, (which will help prevent the constipation that normally occurs with calcium intake) and with Vitamin D (which helps the body absorb the calcium). Taking Calcium with Magnesium also has a very desirable side effect – it promotes restful sleep.

Recommended daily dose: 600mg Calcium, 400 mg Magnesium, 1000 IU Vitamin D.

4. Omega-3 Fish Oil: Omega 3 benefits are absolutely astounding. Taking Omega 3′s on a daily basis can help you:

Prevent pain and inflammation like the effects of arthritis, cystitis and pretty much anything ending in “itis”; Reduce the chances of heart attack and stroke. When plaque builds up on arterial walls and then breaks loose, it causes what’s known as a thrombosis, which is a fancy way of saying clot. If a clot gets stuck in the brain, it causes a stroke and when it plugs an artery, it causes a heart attack. Research shows fish oil fatty acids break up clots before they can cause any damage. Promote better brain function and higher intelligence. It also improves memory, recall, reasoning and focus. Pregnant and nursing mothers can greatly impact the levels of intelligence and general well being of their babies by taking a daily supplement of omega 3 fish oil with DHA. Reduce depression – Psychiatry department researchers at the University of Sheffield UK, found that fish oil supplements “alleviated” the symptoms of depression, bipolar and psychosis. [Journal of Affective Disorder Vol. 48(2-3);149-55] Reduce the incidence of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Fish oil has been shown to help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer – breast, colon and prostate. Science tells us that it accomplishes this in three ways – by stopping the alteration from a normal healthy cell to a cancerous mass, by inhibiting unwanted cellular growth and by killing off cancer cells.

These “heart healthy” fats can be found in fatty fish (such as salmon), walnuts, canola oil, soybean products, ground flax seed, and flax seed oil.

Recommended daily dose: 600mg DHA Omega-3 supplements with breakfast.

5. Baby Aspirin: Traditionally, baby aspirin has not been regarded as a daily supplement as it is normally used to reduce fever and relieve mild to moderate pain from conditions such as muscle aches, toothaches, common cold, and headaches. However, you may not be aware that this seemingly insignificant product is also one of the most widely prescribed products for preventing strokes and heart attacks, as it is very effective in thinning the blood and preventing blood clots and inflammation in the arteries. It has also been shown to prevent the onset of colon cancer.

The studies also showed that there is also a downside to aspirin intake – an increased tendency for bleeding, particularly from the gastrointestinal tract. It is therefore highly recommended to take the minimum dosage possible. Baby aspirin, with approximately 81 milligrams of aspirin, fits that requirement as it is about a quarter of the 325-milligram dose in an adult aspirin pill.

Recommended daily dose: 2 Baby Aspirin after the age of 40.

PostHeaderIcon Take Flax Seed Daily, Not Just Vitamin Supplements



There is an ongoing misconception surrounding vitamin supplements and how its daily intake could substitute for the prescribed consumption of nutritious food. True, every multivitamin brand manufactured by pharmaceuticals has been formulated to convey traces of vitamin and mineral compounds to the body. But then again, vitamin supplements are intended only to augment dietary imbalances for natural vitamins such as vitamins A, C, E and the rest of the over 20 vitamin compounds found active in the affairs of human nutrition. Besides, there are other vital nutrients that the body cannot synthesize on its own such as fats and dietary minerals, both requiring daily supplementation to aid in proper growth, metabolism and health maintenance. Among the nutrients critical to human nutrition is the essential fatty acid called Omega 3 which can only be derived from the diet or through the food consumed.

Fish oil is deemed as a great source of Omega 3 nutrients in terms of volume. Although the likelihood of chemical impurities contaminating its essence makes it a less preferred supplement for essential fatty acids or EFAs. A viable alternative to fish oil is the top plant resource for Omega 3 which is the flax seed. Omega 3 nutrients may be available in lesser quantities with the flax seed but taking frequent servings of its milled kernels that are distributed over the three main meals of the day, helps fill the gap for this nutrient. A daily intake of at least 4 grams of Omega 3 EFAs is currently recommended by the National Institute for Health for a 2,000 calorie diet. A serving of around 25 grams or 1/4 cup of ground flax seed on the other hand provides over 10 grams of total fat with saturated fats comprising only about 1 gram of the total fat proportion.

Omega 3 nutrients are the precursor of the High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), also known as the good cholesterol. HDL transported to the bloodstream clears the undue buildup of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or the bad cholesterol narrowing the walls of the arteries-a condition that sets the stage for hypertension, heart disease and other cardiovascular ailments. Apart from that, Omega 3 fatty acids also support a number of physiological functions that involve the regulation of body metabolism and blood sugar levels, the enhancement of immune system defenses and the treatment of neurological disorders like depression and ADHD. Moreover, in every tablespoon of milled flax seed, the body benefits from the dietary fibers abundant with the husk as well as from the health advantages of lignans, vitamins and minerals available with the oil secured inside the husk of the flax seed.

In the end, nothing beats nourishment available from natural sources such as flax seed. Synthetic vitamins and dietary supplements could provide nutrition support but in diminished quantities for that matter with the nutrients artificially isolated from its organic source.

PostHeaderIcon Antioxidant Dietary Supplements and Orac Scores



How do you choose which antioxidant juice is best for you?

With so many antioxidant drinks claiming ORAC-score victory, the task seems daunting.

And if you’re watching a loved one dying of heart failure, cancer or other fatal disease, only the best will do.

Choosing an antioxidant drink with the highest ORAC score certainly makes perfect sense, but there’s more to it than just the ORAC test.

The 5 Primary Free Radicals

Companies tout their ORAC scores, but what about the other free radicals? Fact is there are no less than 5 primary free radicals with a different test for each:

Free Radical…………………………Test
Peroxyl……………………………..ORAC
Hydroxly…………………………….HORAC
Peroxynitrite………………………..NORAC
Superoxide Anion……………………..SORAC
Singlet Oxygen……………………….SOAC

Different free radicals have different effects on various organs. So apart from selecting a drink with the highest ORAC score, you want to chose an antioxidant drink that also tests highest in the four other scores as well.

Fortunately there’s an antioxidant supplement drink that tests highest in all 5 scores

The Colors of the Rainbow

In plants, pigments form the first line of defense against free radicals. While most plants are rich in vitamins like C and E, these nutrients are a secondary line of defense for the “quenching” of free radicals.
Plant pigments (Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Greens, Blues and Violets) are the first line of defense against free radical damage in plants.
The same is true in the human body.
So consuming foods the colors of the rainbow provides the best cellular nutrition, as the more colorful fruits, in particular, are very rich in antioxidants.
The nutrients common to a plant pigment, aids and protects the gene pool associated with its corresponding organ.

One Magic Ingredient?

Many imply that an antioxidant supplement product based on one, or even a few, ingredients and colors can fully aid the health of all of your organs. It’s simply not possible.

It’s like exercising only your right bicep to build all the muscles in your body. Clearly, all you’re developing is a powerful right bicep.

The Danger of Heavy Metals

If you have heavy metals present in your system, free radical creation is accelerated by several thousand or even millions of times. Any antioxidant’s benefits you are seeking are likely gone.
The list below shows the various pathways heavy metals enter our system. If you have exposure to any of these sorts of external sources, then realizing antioxidants benefits through a juice is an absolute must for you.

Metals-containing products Toxins (environmental) Toxins (generated by Candida) Pharmaceutical or recreational drugs Air pollution Radiation from sunlight Alcohol Smoked or barbequed foods UV light Deep fried foods Cigarette smoke Inflammation Ozone

Flash Pasteurization

Look for an antioxidant drink that uses the newest flash pasteurization process. This scales back the amount of preservatives currently required by over 80%.

The Importance of an Antioxidant Juice

Decades ago the FDA recommended we consume 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Now they tell us to eat 9-13 servings every day. Why? Because our soils are so depleted that now it takes 26 peaches to equal 1 peach from the early 1950s.

But few people have the time and resources to shop and prepare that many servings of fresh, wholesome fruits and vegetables for an entire family on a daily basis.

That’s Where Antioxidant Juices Come In

It’s possible to find an antioxidant juice that equals a full 13 servings of natural fruits and vegetables in a single ounce, and at a mere fraction of the cost.

With the advent of antioxidant juices, convenient, low-cost health care was born.

Taking charge of your health has never been easier.

When choosing, know exactly what you’re getting. Especially when the health of your family is at stake.

PostHeaderIcon The TOP Resveratrol Products – Which Anti Aging Supplement Should I Buy? (No Bull!)



Which Resveratrol should I buy? Which one is the best for anti-aging, weight loss or just looking and feeling my best? Do these sound like familiar questions? For many of the people who enjoy our articles they ARE, and are the daily challenges you face each and every day when shopping for the sorts of supplements BEST suited to help you live longer, stronger and healthier.

The TRUTH About the Best Resveratrol Products is This…..

All you really should care about is 2 things: How much genuine Resveratrol is in each and every serving, and are there any extraneous ingredients that you DON’T want any part of. The one “extra” consideration I’ll add is this – Is the company a legitimate entity that stands behind their product and offers top notch customer service? I add that only because some of the health and wellness nutracutical companies online have had such quick growth, that their customer service has suffered, or simply started out nonexistent to begin with..:-)

Everything ELSE You Hear About When it Comes to the “TOP” Resveratrol Products is…..

Full of sound and fury, and signifying nothing as Shakespeare said so long ago..:-) You want pure Resveratrol, in the best concentration you can get it. And you want to make sure your product gets delivered problem free. That’s it. In a few years, TRUST me, the big pharmaceutical companies WILL have their own big and expensive Resveratrol products, with the multi-million dollar ad campaigns and commercials, and the exclusivity reserved JUST for the rich, famous and folks who can afford it. Until that happens, we’re LUCKY to have real Resveratrol available to all of us right now! (and why we should take advantage of it while we can).

PostHeaderIcon Do You Need Daily Vitamin Supplements?



This is very controversial, and everyone claims to have the right answer. This Dr. says this, another Dr. says something different, then come the nutritionist, then the salesman. I am not going to lie to you daily vitamin supplements are good, but really not needed.

How do you know.

It can depend on a few things. Do you feel tired, lethargic, or lack motivation? Then a daily vitamin supplement can help, but then it might not, that’s why going to the Doctor is important. These can all be symptoms of something serious. There are numerous diseases that can make you feel tired, and lethargic.

So how do you know if you need them?

Look no further than your diet. Does it consist of a rainbow of fruits, and vegetables, with some meat and fish? Perhaps you eat more than the other, or have a special diet like being a vegan or vegetarian. Certain diets lack vitamins like B vitamins, not to mention many minerals which are needed by the body. Having a perfectly balanced diet will ensure you get enough of what your body needs, and taking a vitamin or mineral supplement once in a while will ensure you have plenty of enough. But if your diet is not that good then a daily vitamin supplement can be vital to your health and wellbeing.

How’s your diet?

If you are constantly eating breads, and sugary processed products, and greasy fried foods, then more than likely you don’t feel energetic and motivated. You probably have highs and lows. Sometimes you feel ready to take on the world, then at other times you barely can get out of bed. If this sounds familiar than the problem is nothing more than the food you eat. Being balanced brings good health, and tons of controlled energy. Even with this diet a daily vitamin supplement would do you some good.

Whole food supplements vs “standard” supplements.

Bioavailability, and dosage. What’s safer is the real question you need to ask yourself. Yes whole food supplements almost always cost more, but that’s because it takes a lot more to create these products. Your body will be able to use these vitamins more, than if they were by themselves. The body is a synergistic entity. It does not operate on only one source of fuel, it is the combination of many elements which allows us to function. Whole food supplements are the best daily vitamin supplements you can use.

How long should you use them?

Depending on your condition a month or two is all that is needed for a daily vitamin supplement. However taking it for several months may be warranted if you suffer from malabsorption problems, or have other health related issues where you do not obtain enough nutrients from your food.

My personal experience.

I have used numerous vitamin supplements, and derived usually nothing from them. I purchased a daily vitamin supplement from the local drug store some years ago. I remember it saying it “contained” whole food, but the vitamins themselves were not derived from “whole food”. The whole food in the vitamin was put there to help the digestion of the synthetic vitamins. Anyhow to make a long story short, my urine glowed florescent whenever I used it. This was because all the B vitamins were being excreted by my kidneys.

Conclusion: It’s best to obtain your nutrients from food, however if you have health related issues or are seeking to regain your health which was diminished from a poor diet then a daily vitamin supplement, which is whole food is absolutely beneficial.

PostHeaderIcon A Guide to Children’s Omega 3 Supplements



Childrens Omega 3

Parents need not look specifically for so-called “childrens omega 3 supplements” to get their kids the best product.

A label is merely a label — often just used for marketing purposes to appeal to a niche, in order to drum up sales.

You must judge a product on its merits despite who it’s advertised for. Before we discuss what criteria you should look for when deciding on childrens omega 3, let’s talk briefly about its importance.

Omega 3 fatty acids are vitally important for our diets, and most of us in the Western world are deficient in these nutrients.

The reason childrens omega 3 supplements are in especially high demand is because toddlers and kids are still growing. Because the brain vitally requires copious amounts of omega 3 fatty acids in its developmental stage, and because many kids are lacking in omega 3′s — just like us adults — concerned parents are trying to give their children the best start to life possible.

This is precisely the reason I myself started to look for a high quality childrens omega 3.

Choosing a Quality Product

The best omega 3 source hand’s down is fish oil. Fish oil is preferable to vegetable and plant sources like flax seed. The reason is because in plant sources like flax seed, the omega 3 comes in ALA form which must be converted by the body into the other two crucial omega 3 fatty acids, called DHA and EPA.

This conversion does not always happen efficiently, which means getting DHA and EPA directly from fish oils is the best bet.

Just how important are DHA and EPA? Well, almost 60% of the brain’s mass is fats, and half of those fats are DHA!

In short, DHA and EPA are crucial for optimal brain functioning and development.

Childrens Omega 3 Supplements

However, if you want to use fish oil as a childrens omega 3 supplement, like I do myself, then you should watch out for a few things:

1. You must only buy purified fish oil products. This is simply because much of the fish in the world harbors toxins due to contaminants in Ocean waters. This is regrettable, but it’s a fact of life nonetheless. Purified fish oil products should use a process called molecular distillation which removes all contamination and leaves only the pure fish oil rich in omega 3 to be used in the products.

2. You must understand that not all fish species yield equally high amounts of omega 3 fatty acids — DHA and EPA. I have personally discovered a fish oil supplement product that I use myself and also have my children using daily that contains naturally high DHA and EPA. You can learn more about this below. But just understand here that not all fish oils will give equal quantities of these omega 3′s.

3. You should only buy what are called “pharmaceutical grade” fish oils, which are the highest quality products on the market.

Having said all of this, you should also understand, as we alluded to in the beginning, that there is no such thing as “childrens omega 3 supplements” per se. This is just clever marketing.

If you pick a good childrens omega 3 it will work for adults as well, and visa versa.

Now, it may be true your children are too young to swallow typical fish oil sized capsules. But, if such is the case, then you may do what I do personally for my kids: I simply cut gently into the fish oil capsule and then squeeze the contents into their meals, giving them their needed omega 3 fatty acids without need for swallowing capsules.

This also helps you determine the amount you are giving them.

The bottomline is that I give my children the same omega 3 fish oil supplement that I personally take myself, only in smaller amounts.

Once I was satisifed from extensive research that I had found the highest quality, purified fish oil on the market, it was only a matter of making sure my kids could also use them without having to worry about swallowing them.

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