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Nutrition

Vitamin Supplements – Why We Need Them & How They Can Help Improve Our Quality of Life

It is very easy to become confused about what is a healthy diet when there are so many opinions on what we should be eating, in what quantities and when. The same goes for vitamin supplements – are they good for you or not? Do we need to take them? If so, which ones and in what quantity?
In a perfect world we would all eat a healthy balanced diet. We would eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drink loads of water and eat very little saturated fats. Processed meals would disappear and we would all go back to home cooking.
But we don’t live in an ideal world. Real life often gets in the way. Most of us don’t grow our own fruit and vegetables so if we do eat “fresh” produce from the supermarket, just how fresh is it? The vitamin content in fruit etc starts to decline from the moment it is harvested. By the time it gets to our fruit bowls, the vitamin content has dramatically reduced.
So what can we do? If you live near farms, you should be buying local produce. If you are based in a city, you should eat frozen fruit and vegetables as their vitamin content should be higher. We should eat as wide a range of produce as possible. Think of all different colors when shopping and planning meals. Eat plenty of brightly colored vegetables. Aim to introduce a different type of vegetable to your menu every week.
Meat is a great source of vitamins and minerals but buy better quality in lower quantities. A small piece of steak is much better for you than a large portion of bacon or sausage. If you can afford to, chose organic as it won’t contain antibiotics and other chemical agents.
We have all heard the saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Have you ever wondered why? Some varieties of apples are anti carcinogenic, anti inflammatory and anti viral. An apple is a good source of vitamin C although some people say that you could just take a vitamin supplement. But there are other chemicals in apples that appear to work with the natural vitamin C to make the overall effect much stronger.
There are some people that should take a good quality vitamin supplement. The obvious would be pregnant women or those trying to conceive who need additional folic acid. Vegans and vegetarians may struggle to get sufficient vitamin B from their diet so a supplement may be in order. People who are stuck indoors due to ill-health or those who wear all encompassing black robes for religious reasons may suffer a lack of vitamin D which comes from natural sunlight. A vitamin D tablet may help these people.
If you have been ill or been through a very stressful situation such as death or divorce, your doctor may recommend a course of vitamins to give your system a kick start back to health.
In summary, the road to good health is not necessarily a vitamin supplement but for those people who are not eating a completely balanced diet, a good quality vitamin supplement can help to fill in the gaps.…

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Health Articles

The Best Weight Loss Supplements – How Can You Know?

Losing weightA�is such a popular topic that it’s no surprise an entire industry has sprung up offering weight loss supplements to consumers, especially women. How can you know, however, what works and what doesn’t, and even more importantly, what is safe for you to consume?
With the proliferation ofA�products and advertising, it can beA�a challenge to know what to spend your hard-earned money on. It is important to be informed about healthy, effective choices, and weight loss supplement advertising can often be misleading. To get the best weight loss results in the most healthy way, here are some tips:
Referrals: While any advertisementA�can make claims about weight loss products, it’s the tried and true that will help you. Find people, perhaps friends or people you know, who have actually gotten the weight loss results you want, and ask them what they did. Look for people with your body type and lifestyle, and ask them pertinent questions not only about supplements but about diet choices and exercise habits as well. Which brings us to:
The big picture: Losing weight is a whole-body endeavor, and involves the variety of daily choices you make. There is no point taking a diet supplement and then eating a hamburger with fries for lunch every day. Your approach must take into account the types and amounts of foods you eat, the amount of regular activity you get, your stress levels, and much more, including your overall goals. When talking to people as in the point above, try to ascertainA�the lifestyle changes they made, and see what you can realistically include as part of your own plan. As the saying goes, the level at which a problem was createdA�cannot be solved by thinking at the same level; you must be willing to change some things in order for your life, and your physique, to change.
In short, by investigating and then implementing a plan which includes a variety of healthy foods, regular physical activity, and other lifestyle choices which lead to health and vitality, you can beA�sure that the weight loss supplements you choose, if any, are given the optimumA�chance to succeed in helping you reach your weight loss goals.…

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Health Facts

Hair Vitamin Supplements – 5 Keys to Picking the Right One

The dietary food supplement industry has simply exploded in recent years. You can literally buy vitamins for just about anything, and hair care is no different. There are literally hundreds of different hair vitamins that address every conceivable hair concern. And while there’s no question you can gain all sorts of benefits from using a natural hair supplement, which one is the best for you? Here are a few points to consider when looking:
What do you need a vitamin for?
You want to be careful and find a product that addresses your primary hair concern. For example, if you’re dealing with hereditary pattern hair loss, a vitamin formulated for fast hair growth, would not be the best choice. This is because hair loss vitamins typically contain some kind of anti-DHT nutrient, while a vitamin for faster growing hair probably loads up on protein to feed and energize the hair.
Reviews
Check to see if the product you’re considering has a lot of recent, positive feedback from other users. People love to share their good experiences, so a vitamin with minimal or no positive testimonials or reviews probably isn’t the best to try. It’s ideal to make sure any reviews posted are fairly recent, any reputable company will be glad to show off positive feedback from users. Plus checking out user reviews from 3rd party retailers like Amazon can help validate any claims a product makes.
Ingredients
Regardless of the specific concern a hair vitamin addresses, any good one is going to contain a few key ingredients. This is simply because all hair has very similar nutrition needs to be healthy. The three (3) primary things to look for are Niacin, Biotin, and Amino Acids (or proteins). Amino Acids in particular are vital. After all, your hair is actually made of a specialized amino called keratin. So avoid any hair vitamin supplement with very little protein (4mg – or less).
Hair Type
Hair type is good to consider because some vitamins for hair may contain ingredients that can help certain hair types more than others. For instance, if you have very dry hair with excessive breakage, a supplement that contains moisturizing essential oils will offer more benefit to you than one that doesn’t.
Shampoo / Conditioner
What? But we’re talking about hair vitamins! OK, so it’s true that your hair is going to get a lot more benefit from what you eat then what you rub on your head. However, if a vitamin supplement has a shampoo or conditioner specially designed to go along with it, you can possibly multiply the benefits by promoting healthy hair from inside the body and outside!…

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Healthcare Articles

Supplements and RDA’s

When you go to the supermarkets or health food shops looking for a multi vitamin/mineral and you pick one up and on the label it says “vitamin A 100% RDA, vitamin D 100% RDA” and so on, so you think “I’ll take this one as it has the full amount of RDA’S for all these vitamins”.
But, the thing is that these guidelines set by the government and health experts are basically the bare minimum for each of these micronutrients to stop diseases such as scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), beri-beri (thiamine deficiency), pellagra nicotinic acid and tryptophen deficiency), rickets (vitamin D deficiency) and so on, although these amount are the bare minimum needed to keep these diseases at bay, it is by no means enough to stay in peak condition, the distance between a diet to prevent these conditions and a diet to stay in the best of health are a million miles apart.(10)
It is impossible to say that such and such is the amount for the RDA’s for everyone on the planet. Every single person needs different and varying amounts of each vitamin and mineral, and this all depends on sex, age, where you live (country or city), what medication you are on, which country you live in, weight, fitness, activity, what exercise you do, your job, anything you suffer from (any conditions, ailments or diseases), family history, allergies, diet, if you smoke or drink the list goes on and on, as there are hundreds of factors that contribute to your well being.
Let’s take a couple of examples:
If you live in a busy city as opposed to out in the country, then one of the things you will need more than the ones who live in less polluted areas are antioxidants. There are way too many antioxidants to list, but whereas RDA,s tell you vitamin A 800ug, vitamin C 60mg and vitamin E 10mg, it really should be more like vitamin A 2,500ug, vitamin C 1,000- 2,000mg and vitamin E 300mg (11) as a much stronger level of anti oxidants will be required to fight all of the extra free radicals from exhaust and pollution.
But increasing your vitamins and minerals is only part of the story. Another thing that people may not realise is that certain vitamins and minerals help each other and are needed in certain combinations and certain ones work against each other. Pretty much everyone knows that calcium is needed for strong bones and teeth, but this does not make the slightest bit of difference unless there are suitable levels of vitamin D, magnesium and phosphorus because these all work together for the maximum uptake by the body. Iron needs vitamin C to increase absorption, potassium needs magnesium to hold it in the cells, sodium works with potassium in order to maintain water balance and proper nerve and muscle impulses, and then on the other side of the coin zinc and copper are highly antagonistic as they stop each other working properly and phosphorus is hindered by high levels of iron, magnesium and aluminum to name but a few.…

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Health Products

Cure Acne, Have You Considered Taking Vitamin Supplements? Find Out What Vitamin Can Help Your Acne

Acne is a skin complaint characterized by red, inflame spots. Acne is most common among teenagers. Hormonal changes at puberty increases the output of the oil-producing (sebaceous) glands in your skin.
When these glands produce too much sebum, the pores become blocked and prone to infection. High-fat ‘fast-food’ and anxiety are thought to make the condition worse. A good diet and skin hygiene are essential for improving skin health.
Here are the vitamins that can help acne problems.
* Vitamin A is vital for healthy skin and boosts the immune system to fight infections.
* Vitamin B3 reduces inflammation.
* Vitamin B6 helps regulate sex hormone.
* Pantothenic Acid stimulates cell growth and promotes wound healing.
* Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps clean out the system.
* Vitamin E helps skin heals and reduces scar formation.
Here are the minerals that can help acne problems.
* Selenium is an antioxidant that makes glutathion peroxidase, an enzyme that protects your body from damage by free radicals.
* Zinc reduces inflammation and detoxifies the body.
There are also other nutrients that help to solve acne related problems.
* Omega-6 oils; evening primrose oil reduces skin inflammation and balances hormones.
* Acidophilus restores friendly intestinal bacteria destroyed if taking antibiotics to treat acne.
Besides taking good vitamin supplements, you must also choose the right foods to eat such as fresh fruit and vegetables, oysters, whole grains, peanuts, eggs, sunflower seeds and chicken.
Avoid fried food as it creates free radicals, which can aggravate acne.
There are specially formulate vitamin supplements to help improve skin health.…

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Health Department

Health and Vitality for People With Diabetes – Vitamin Supplements

Our bodies need the proper fuel in order to function at optimal levels. For the diabetic, this is more important since there is an imbalance present that threatens health and vitality. For any individual, a healthy well-rounded diet is the foundation When diabetes is present, this becomes even more important, as does the need to learn which foods to eat and when.
It is well known that no single food provides “all the nutrients in the amount that you need” (The 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans) and the meats, dairy and grain products, and many fruits and vegetables in today’s daily diet will not be adequate sources of vitamins and minerals. These are the substances found naturally in plants and animal foods that are essential in minute quantities for the normal growth and activity of the human body..
Vitamins are highly beneficial diabetes supplies. For added protection against the risks which go hand in hand with diabetes, people who live with unstable blood glucose levels may want to consider a range of supplements including vitamins to best complement their diet.
A pair of supplements that encourage health and vitality are vitamins C and E. Each of these vitamins is considered an antioxidant, a substance involved in the prevention of cellular damage caused by free radical formation. Free radicals are present in the environment thanks to pollution, ultraviolet light, X rays, cigarette smoke and even the body’s own metabolism. A diabetic patient may be prone to such damage – there is a higher risk for health concerns such as premature aging, nerve diseases, heart disease and cancer. Both these antioxidants are believed to play a role in disease prevention. Supplementing a diabetic diet with antioxidants is certainly worth discussion with your personal clinician and Health Care team.
Studies have revealed that supplementation results in an improvement in blood glucose levels and also in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The introduction of any supplement into the diabetic diet should always be with the knowledge of the patient’s personal physician and health care team and he or she will likely be prescribed a limited/maximum dose mg per day in order to avoid any adverse side effects such as an upset stomach or kidney stones.
Vitamin C is already well known to have a substantial beneficial impact on human health. It can help healing, and boosts the immune system, increasing protection against colds and viruses.. It assists the absorption of iron from green vegetables. People with diabetes tend to have lower levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water soluble vitamin found in citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, kiwifruit, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes and fresh green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, and green peppers.
Vitamin C helps keep Vitamin E in active form.
Water soluble vitamins don’t stay around in the body, they travel in cellular fluid and the bloodstream and what is not used immediately is excreted. So they need replacing often.
Vitamin E is fat soluble antioxidant and will be stored in the body until it is needed. The long term benefits of Vitamin E supplementation are not proven and less is known about its role in disease prevention. Evidence from studies in the last decade supports the belief that daily dosages of Vitamin E supplements improve insulin resistance in overweight adults who also have low levels of antioxidants and so delays the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Studies continue to explore the belief that vitamin E supplements help in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and the optimal health of kidneys and eyes.
Current recommendations are that the diabetic should take no more than a small dosage of vitamin E per day but at this level the antioxidant function may not be so effective. Further research on vitamin E supplements is ongoing, and for this reason alone the health care team or the patient’s clinician must be involved in determining the right dosage for each patient with diabetes..
Learning to manage diabetes takes time, discipline, the right fuel and information. Supplement the daily diet and those diabetes supplies with the vitamins that bolster health and vitality!…

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Health Store

Practical Steps, Including the Use of Nutritional Supplements to Shake Those Mid-Winter Blahs

Autumn, with its multi-colors was beautiful. Then the days began to grow cooler, and with less and less light each day. This continued until the winter solstice. Then for most of us (and the further north you are, the more extreme this can be, for example the folks that live in Northern Canada or Alaska) the winter solstice brings at the very least a sigh of satisfaction knowing that the days ahead will begin to lengthen. At this time the Holidays are over. The weather is generally uncooperative. The sun is still very stingy, and it seems a long, dreary stretch between mid-winter and the time when the flowers will once again bud. You may feel irritable, bored, sluggish, and can start packing on a few pounds. This is called the Mid-Winter Blahs!
Some folks are affected by a form of depression referred to as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but many of the rest of us are simply feeling the winter blahs, or what is commonly called cabin fever. Science itself has found that most people’s moods slumps when the weather gets colder, it is believed that this is at least partly due to the lack of light in the colder months.
If it is your experience to feel less then perky in the winter season, here are some tips that will help you overcome the blahs!
Practice Brightening up. Open up the shades and curtains in your home to let the sun light in. Especially on sunny days!
Practice Going Outside. Unless it is particularly harsh winter weather you need to go outside. If its cold, that is what coats, gloves and hats are for! Take a walk, appreciate the beauty of winter. For even though “old man winter” may at times be harsh he still has a beauty of his own, and that beauty is there if we look for it, and the appreciation of the beauty of God’s creation will brighten our day. You may feel adventurous and want to go ice skating or sledding. The brisk air, and the exercise will help you feel more energetic.
Practice Making Plans. The darkness and cold of winter undoubtedly causes most all of us to be held up inside more in the winter then in the summer months, especially if one does not have to get out to go to work. However, to keep feeling more productive and less isolated write a list of thing to do for the day, like running errands, meeting a friend for lunch or just a cup of tea, cleaning your closet, planning your next season’s yard and garden. These winter days and evenings can also be a very good time to dream out loud together with those closest to you about future events that you wish to see transpire in your lives. For remember it is said, “One can can stand still with out, when traveling with in.” So keep the dreams of your heart alive and bright, even though the darkness and cold of winter may be forcing you much more in doors then what you wish to be.
Practice Putting Color Into Your Surroundings. Decorate your home or office with green plants, and keep something that is orange on your desk or coffee table. Other mood lifters are yellows and reds. A bright scarf, hat, or coat can also boast your mood.
Practice Exercise. Your body is stimulated with happy hormones when we under go blood-pumping exercises, this happens while you build immunity at the same time. Find a reason to get yourself going. This may be on your treadmill, or simply taking a walk or jog in the outer doors. But remember, our Creator designed our bodies to move. Every person’s body strives better with exercise, and when the body feels good our mood is lifted.
Practice Paying Attention To Nutrition. Remember it is said, “A person is what he eats.” As this is true emotionally and psychology it is also true in regards to our food intake. Endeavor to resist the urge for sugar snacks which send energy and mood levels up and down as on a roller coaster ride. Also in the dark days of winter vitamin D will be found lacking in your body’s store. Vitamin D not only strengthens teeth and bones but will elevate your moods and help protect immunity. Omega 3 is also a proven mood booster. Also with these disciplines make sure you are eating plenty of brightly colored foods which will include fruits, vegetables and dark leafy greens.
Practice Shoring Up Your General Nutritional Needs. A general nutritional supplement is a must for insuring lasting health and well-being. Choose a general supplement that provides the broad spectrum of the basic nutrients that every person’s body is in need of. You will find …