Supplements

Vitamins are natural substances essential for growth and development of the human body. Consumption of the right kind of food ensures a sufficient supply of vitamins. However, there are times, such as during pregnancy and childhood, when the body needs more vitamins than usual. A dosage of multivitamins is necessary to make up for the deficiency. Multivitamins are preparations of more than one vitamin and are usually in the form of tablets or liquid that can be taken orally or injected.

Multivitamins correct dietary imbalances, but it is a good idea to exercise caution prior to consumption. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking any multivitamins. Cases of severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies require medical treatment and cannot be supplemented just by multivitamins.

Multivitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B6, iron and potassium can prove toxic if...

Vitamins are essential for the growth and development of the human body. Vitamins are found in natural foods. A good diet virtually ensures an abundant supply of vitamins. Sometimes due to certain medical conditions, the body is deprived of certain vitamins, leading to a deficiency.

Vitamin A deficiency is a common disease in poorer parts of the world and causes night blindness. Vitamin A is found in fish, liver and green vegetables. Failure to consume sufficient quantities of meat, milk or milk products leads to a deficiency in Vitamin B12. This deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia and, if severe enough, can result in irreversible damage to the nerves, liver and intestinal tract. A person can experience hallucinations, memory loss, eye disorders and anemia.

Vitamin C, found in green vegetables, berries and citrus fruits, helps prevent infection, enhances immunology and...

Very often, women prefer non-surgical solutions to improve their appearance and health. Features such as weight and height influence appearance. Mankind has always visualized a perfect body and has always looked for solutions to alter its shape.

The alteration a woman’s breast size has been necessitated by many conditions, both psychological and physical. One of the solutions offered is a natural method that claims to alter the breast size. This natural method utilizes pills that are classified as supplements. Supplements are defined as natural or synthetic products composed of chemical compounds that are consumed for certain deficiencies with or without a prescription from a medical practitioner.

Estrogen hormones that are present in women induce breast formation. These hormones are activated during puberty and are active for a number of years. Breast size is a largely a ...

Both glucosamine and chondroitin are both essential parts of what makes up connective tissues, and are key components of the joints. Glucosamine can be taken as a supplement by people whose joints have begun to deteriorate. Clinical trials have proven that taking this supplement is effective in the treatment of patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

Chondroitin is similar to glucosamine in that it is a major component in cartilage. Chondroitin is however much different than glucosamine in its composition. Chondroitin is a much more complex and larger molecule than glucosamine. Like glucosamine, chondroitin has been subject to many clinical trials for the treatment of osteoarthritis. These clinical trials have proven that supplements of chondroitin are also an effective treatment in osteoarthritis.

The taking of the combination of these two products as supplements is...

Herbal supplements have been around forever, but only in recent years have they received the kind of attention they deserve. Although doctors have ignored the potential health benefits of herbs and natural remedies for quite some time, they are now starting to realize that they can in fact treat and often cure a variety of health conditions, even more effectively than prescription medications in some cases.

The first use of herbal preparations for medicinal purposes can be traced back thousands of years, with ancient peoples using the extracts of different plants to treat everything from stomach aches to depression to insomnia. Modern science has shown that many of these herbal dietary supplements can not only treat various health conditions, but also prevent illness and promote general health and wellbeing. There are herbal supplements that can lower cholesterol, boost memor...

The use of nutrition supplements, to prevent the onset and progression of age-related vision loss, has been supported by recent research into the lines between antioxidant vitamins and minerals and healthy vision. Antioxidants can help neutralize potentially damaging free radicals that trigger aging of the body generally, and aging of the eyes in particular.

These nutrition supplements can be beneficial to sufferers of two common eye diseases, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. It is wise, however, to take the following precautions in relation to supplements:

Do you suffer from osteoarthritis? If you do, you may have taken glucosamine for pain relief.

Glucosamine has been proven to relieve pain in both humans and pets. Everyone produces a certain amount of glucosamine within their bodies. The level of glucosamine your body produces dramatically decreases when you get older and causes cartilage in joints such as hips, knees, and those in the hands to deteriorate and harden to form bone spurs. The formation of these bone spurs can cause pain, deformed joints, and limited movement of the joint.

Taking glucosamine as a supplement has been proven to slow degeneration of the cartilage in the joints associated with osteoarthritis. Glucosamine has been used for over 40 years in humans, and it is known to have little or no side effects. In fact, during clinical studies there were more side effects recorded in patients who took the...

You caught a cold but it hasn’t gone away yet and breathing through your nose is still difficult. You feel a throbbing or pounding in your face or behind your eyes. What started out as a cold may have progressed into something called sinusitis. Sinusitis is simply another name for a sinus infection, which is literally an infection of your sinus cavities. The sinuses are air-filled spaces found in the bones of the head and face.

Sinus infections affect millions of Americans every year. Not all colds turn into sinus infections, but colds are a common cause of acute sinusitis. Acute sinusitis is a sinus infection having a rapid onset and following a short but sever course.

When the linings of your sinuses become infected, usually due to viruses, fungus or bacteria, they may swell, causing an obstruction and interfering with the normal drainage of mucus. Sinusitis can c...

Discount nutritional supplements are those special vitamins and other types of nutrients that can be taken in pill, powder, or liquid forms, and cost a fraction of what they might have cost. When nutritional supplements first hit the markets across the world, they were beyond the means of the common man. The companies claimed that the entire process of creating these supplements was expensive. But then, with research and development, the same companies found ways and methods of lowering manufacturing costs in order to bring discount nutritional supplements to consumers.

These discount supplements contain all essential nutrients, leaving out the more expensive ones, without which no harm would be done to the body. Also, in case a company is looking to promote a new product, they sell the initial batch at discounted rates. Or sometimes a supplement may have been too highly priced,...

For those who are concerned about avoiding or treating influenza, there may be an herbal and homeopathic alternative. Flu shot medicine or vaccine contains only three strains of dead viruses. Leaving a number of strains, including the strain referred to as the bird flu, that is currently making people very ill in parts of Asia and India.

Andrographis paniculata is one herbal and homeopathic alternative. Flu shot medicine is designed to create an immunity to specific strains of flu virus. These viruses are constantly changing, thus the reason for a different vaccine each year. Andrographis paniculata is recommended because it stimulates the entire immune system and studies have shown that it is effective in the treatment of influenza. One study in Volgograd showed that andrographis paniculata, not only contributed to quicker recovery, but also reduced the risk of post-flu c...

Vitamin supplements have often been used by serious bodybuilders to augment their physique, and improve their body's response to exercise. But they can also provide a way for those simply interested in losing weight to get faster, more healthy results.

Probably the most interesting news from the scientific quarter is the study that suggests that vitamin C can help lower body fat levels, and that a deficiency in vitamin C may be linked to a gradual increase in body fat in people who aren't dieting. In the study, 20 obese men and women were either given a placebo or 500mg of vitamin C a day. All of the people in the study were put on a low fat diet.

At the start of the trial, researchers found that those who had the most body fat also had the lowest levels of vitamin C (as measured in the blood). During the trial, those taking the vitamin C supplement had blood levels of vit...

One creature in nature has provided man with gifts out of all proportion to its size. The honey bee provides us with Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen, Bee Propolis, and of course honey.

Many people are aware of Royal Jelly. This ‘super food’ is fed only to a bee that is destined to become a queen bee and it sustains her during her six year life. Such is the power of Royal Jelly that the queen lays up to 3000 eggs each day during her six years, a lifespan that compares to four to six weeks for the ordinary worker bee.

So what does this ‘super food’ contain that gives such power to the queen bee? Royal Jelly is actually a milky secretion derived from the pharyngeal glands of the honey bee. It contains vitamins A, C, D, and E, and is also a rich source of the B-complex vitamins. A major ingredient is vitamin B5, one of the most important substances in our bodies and esse...

Herbal tea, also called “tisane,” is an herbal mixture made out of dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots. It is not made out of tea leaves. Boiling water is poured over the choice of herb leaf, flower or root, and then left to steep for a while. Sometimes seeds and roots are boiled and served after sweetening.

Herbal teas can be made from many ingredients. In Japan, a tea made from roasted barley, known as mugicha, is made and drunk cold in summer. In China, chrysanthemum tea is common, while hibiscus is popular in the Middle East. Chamomile tea is sometimes used as a sedative. Orange, lemon and other citrus peel are also used. In the Andes, coca tea helps lessen altitude sickness. Spices like fennel and ginger are used to cure a variety of ailments. In some parts of North America, Labrador tea is consumed. Nettle, sage, thyme and basil have been used from time immemorial to ma...

Herbal Nutrition Supplements are dietary supplements which contain herbs either individually or in combination to cater to various nutrition requirements. There is an overwhelming response to such products as numerous varieties and brands are available in the market well supported by an extensive demand from the buyer’s side. This response probably is a result of the growing sentiment towards natural and herbal therapies.

These products can be immensely beneficial to people who are unable to meet their nutrition requirements through diet because of medical constraints, allergies or mere diet imbalances. They may also be used with traditional medicine. However, there are no strict standards globally to govern the production of herbal products. It is in our best interests to be cautious while verifying the purity and strength of these supplements. Scientifically tested and approve...

Galactose is one of the 8 saccharides known as Glyconutrients. They are vital nutrients to the body and are:

• Mannose
 • Glucose
 • Galactose
 • Xylose
 • Fucose (not fructose)
 • N-acetylglucosamine
 • N-acetylneuramic acid
 • N-acetylgalactosamine

Galactose is found in sugar beets and dairy products. It is a sugar and is also known as brain sugar. Because it has food energy it is known as a nutritive sweetener. It is not very water-soluble and is less sweet than glucose. When joined with glucose it forms the disaccharide known as lactose found in milk. Alone galactose is known as a monosaccharide.

Galactose is a vital nutrient in our body and deficiencies can cause serious metabolic disorders:

• Mental retardation
 • Cataracts
 • A rare deficiency UDPgalactose-4-epimerase deficiency can cause nerve deafness
 • Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl tra...

Our bodies have a variety of mechanisms for dealing with this toxicity, but the current total load exceeds the body’s ability to adapt. When our bodies fail to break down or remove these toxins, the only other way to deal with them is through sequestration. The body will try to deposit these compounds into tissue to minimize their potential damage. For example, lead may be sequestered into bone, displacing calcium and increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

The overall load of these toxins is sometimes called our “Body Burden”. A high body burden has been implicated in: Immunotoxicity – leading to asthma, allergies, cancers and chronic disease; Neurotoxicity – leading to cognition impairment, memory loss as well as sensory and motor dysfunction; and Endocrine toxicity – leading to reproductive issues, loss of libido and metabolic impairment.For more information see: www.bodyburden....

Aloe vera juice is made from aloe vera gel. It is one of the aloe vera products that can be taken internally so a person can get the internal benefits of aloe vera. Although there have not been many studies involving how beneficial aloe vera juice can be, many people have experienced the benefits and aloe vera juice is now quite popular.

There are many benefits to aloe vera juice. When aloe vera juice is taken twice daily in 2-4 oz doses it can help a person to maintain good health. Aloe vera juice can help to detoxify the body and cleanse the colon. The detoxification properties of the juice also work to detoxify the blood stream. Aloe vera juice can also benefit a person with intestinal or stomach problems. It can aid in the healing of ulcers and help the digestive tract to work smoothly. Aloe vera juice can also improve circulation. The aloe helps dilate the capillaries and a...

What did people take for vitamin supplementation before they discovered how to manufacture pills? Or even before that... How did people live before they discovered vitamins? This begs the next question: do we actually (really) need to take multivitamin supplements?

Scientists tell us we will be alright if we eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables everyday. Coupled with that habit, we need to exercise, get adequate rest, and manage stress correctly. Well, forget the stress part; it could be somewhat stressful just thinking about our stressed existence right now. But there is something sinister here...

We are also advised that it is better to use all natural vitamins if we do take them. But they also say the environment is no longer capable of producing foods of the same nutritional quality it used to. How natural are chemical extracts anyway?

So we have deplet...

As a result of the ongoing wellness revolution, more and more people are learning that they need to add high quality nutritional supplements to their diet in order to help prevent and reverse a wide array of chronic degenerative diseases. The basic reason for this is very simple--we are genetically programmed to eat only the simple, whole foods that were consumed by our stone-age ancestors. To whatever degree we deviate from this kind of diet, we deprive our bodies of key necessary nutrients and ingest substances that actually cause them harm. (93)

Tragically, about 90% of the average American diet now consists of mummified foods that are lacking in the key nutrients we need; even worse, they commonly contain a wide array of ingredients that are either downright toxic or that seriously disrupt the functioning of our bodies in many ways. And even the natural produce we eat--un...

The old saying “you are what you eat” rings true. If you eat in an unhealthy way without moderation your body will reflect your diet and it will spill over into your lifestyle. Food is a primary factor in our overall health.

The common food classes that put on weight are:

1. Fats and oils: The body needs these in moderation. Most of us eat foods that are too high in these substances.
2. Carbohydrates: this group of foods is necessary for the body but is commonly the cause of weight gain, as people eat an excess of these foods.
3. Sugar: The body does need saccharides but many people eat too much of these sugars, especially sucrose which leads to weight gain. Sugar is an oddly addictive food the more you eat the more you want to eat.
4. Empty calorie foods: termed as “junk foods”-they just have calories but little or no nutritional value. The 2 commonest for...