Monday, December 31, 2007

Best Weight Loss Supplements-How To Find The Top Ones To Help You Lose The Weight You Need

Here are some tips to finding the best weight supplements for
you even if you do not fall under the obese category and just
want to shed those extra kilos around your belly. Weight loss
through diet supplements and not hardcore exercise or weight
training is what every obese and overweight is looking for.

Starving yourself to death for a day or two has never worked
for anybody and it will not work for you either. The third day
or the third week you tend to give in to the temptation of
having a good elaborated meal or fall back upon your old diet
for refuge.

The reason that diets don't work is very simple: most people
deprive themselves in one certain area of nutrition, and
therefore, while they may in fact lose weight from the diet
they've embarked on, they will actually be less healthy as a
result. Also, often times diets revolve around depriving your
body of the food it needs, as well as the food you enjoy.

Many people are able to do this for a certain amount of time,
but sooner or later will cave into the temptation of eating the
foods they love. In fact, when they do cave and start eating the
same foods they always have, they will probably eat even more
than they used to, and as a result will end up even heavier than
they were before they started the diet. Most times, with a diet
you simply have to changing your eating habits all at once, and
without a gradual build up, you will shock your system, and it
won't be long before you are eating the way you always have
been.

It is better to keep your weight in check by taking natural
weight loss supplements that money can buy. Protein supplements
which takes longer to digest and thus making you feel less
hungry can be the best supplement you are looking for.

Diet pills, fat burners and all other supplements should not be
taken with simply your own judgment as it might bring the side
effect of sweating profusely, headache, nausea and terrible
kidney failures. Consult a nutritionist and dietitian who can
advise you better. A little exercise i.e. walking or visiting a
fitness center four days a week for an hour has always been
suggested by fitness professionals.

Remember, when exercising, make sure you start out gradually
and work your way up. As with diets, many people simply start
out doing it too fast, and begin doing workouts that their body
can't handle or are simply very difficult to do at first.

As a result, they will begin dreading their workout time, and
will probably quit pretty shortly after starting. When you
gradually work your way up, you give your body time to
recuperate and gradually build up your strength so that soon you
can handle much more than you ever could in the beginning.

Replacing one or two of your day's meal with these healthy
weight loss supplements, such as shakes and juices have brought
wonderful results. Who knows; it might be the supplement you are
looking for. For weight loss nothing works better than
organizing your life in a routine diet full of proteins,
vegetables, fruits, water and exercises and do not loose hope if
you don't get results in couple of months.

Choose the best weight loss supplements that help you increase
your body metabolism. People who have a lean and thin body have
higher rate of metabolism naturally and active people loose
weight by constant physical activity.

About The Author: To learn about the best weight loss
supplements, visit http://best-online-nutrition.com. Get info on
healthy weight loss supplements and more.

Health And Wellness From Natural Nutritional Supplements

Concerned over the health and wellness of children at home, many parents have searched for alternative methods to treating illnesses. The parents have found that natural nutritional supplements work better in fighting illnesses than medicinal methods they have used in the past. Using nutritional supplements on a regular basis had a great affect on how the body's immune system fights infection.

Natural nutritional supplements such as vitamin C and honey were found to be very effective in fighting colds and treating coughs due to colds. People that used nutritional supplements and followed a healthy diet plan were found to have fewer respiratory infections. By following a daily regimen of increased doses of vitamin C, other people noticed a big difference in the texture of the epidermal layer of skin on the face and the severity of blemishes caused by adolescent acne dramatically decreased when nutritional supplements vitamins C and E are consumed every day.

Families with a history of cardiovascular problems have used nutritional supplements such as fish oil to remove harmful forms of fatty acids from the blood. Cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy treatments have also used fish oil to achieve health and wellness. The nutritional supplements contained in fish oil were found to be very effective in boosting the regeneration of cells in the immune system, which had been destroyed by the chemotherapy treatments.

The amount of nutritional supplements ingested into the body will differ by sex. Men will require a higher dosage than women based on the simple fact that men have a higher body weight. While some nutritional supplements are beneficial to both sexes, the intended effect or result for taking the supplement might be different for each sex and for the correct result to be obtained, the dosage amounts will need to be regulated carefully.

Women need calcium supplements to fight osteoporosis because calcium helps to build a strong and solid bone structure. Men who have been diagnosed with prostrate cancer would benefit more from taking a vitamin D supplement in place of calcium supplements because studies have found that calcium supplements promote prostate cancer. Other vitamin and mineral supplements such as vitamin E, lycopene, zinc, selenium, and beta-carotene can be used to prevent prostate cancer.

Families that have a history of arthritis will find nutritional supplements such as glucosamine to be very helpful. This nutritional supplement is found in the shells of most shellfish but has been manufactured to be taken in pill form. Glucosamine has been found to help in healing sprains, wounds and knee pain because it helps to improve the cartilage that surrounds many joints in the body. A family with children will find that this nutritional supplement will cut down visits to the doctor.

While many families continue to use natural nutritional supplements on a daily basis, the Food and Drug Administration has not endorsed the use of any nutritional supplements to treat any medical disorder. Home remedies and natural cures have been used for centuries, and the use of these healing methods is left up to each individual. A qualified physician should monitor all home medical treatments that rely on nutritional supplementation.

James Brown writes about http://www.vitaminsdietshop.com

Friday, December 28, 2007

Why Pyridoxine May Be The Most Vital Of All The B Complex Vitamins

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been known to medical
science since the 1930s, and like the other B complex vitamins
performs numerous functions which are essential for human
health. A regular supply must be ensured from the diet because
the vitamin can be neither synthesised nor stored in the body.


Vitamin B6 has probably attracted most attention from medical
researchers and nutritional therapists as a means of reducing
blood homocysteine levels, because an excess build up of this
compound is well established as an indicator of an increased
risk of cardiovascular disease. One European research project,
for example, reported in 1997 that the risk was more than
doubled in subjects who showed levels of blood homocysteine in
the top 20% of the range revealed by the tests.

Vitamin B6 is known to operate together with vitamins B12 and
folic acid to break down homcysteine into the harmless, and in
fact beneficial, amino acids, methionine and cysteine; and the
effect is potentially very significant. Some research in fact
suggests that moderate supplementation with B6 may consequently
reduce disease risk by as much as a third. But as important as
this function of pyridoxine is, it's just one of the many health
benefits it can offer; benefits which have led some
practitioners to conclude that B6 may be the most vital of all
the B complex vitamins.

On a general level, vitamin B6 is vital for the body's
production of prostaglandins, hormone type compounds which are
responsible for the proper operation of so many of the body's
vital functions, including the blood supply and respiratory
system, that imbalances are suspected to be a major cause of
ill-health. Pyridoxine is also essential for the functioning of
at least 100 enzymes governing such biochemical reactions as the
manufacture of necessary proteins, genetic matter and amino
acids; and the digestion of dietary carbohydrates and fats.

More specifically, good intakes of pyridoxine have been
strongly linked to a robust immune system, particularly in older
adults; whereas deficiencies appear to be directly correlated
with a reduction the number of the body's T cells, the most
vital for immune system function.

There is also evidence to suggest that vitamin B6 may help
stabilise blood sugar and reduce the tissue and particularly eye
damage which commonly follows the blood sugar problems
associated with diabetes.

Vitamin B6 is also particularly associated with women's health,
and is important in maintaining the correct balance of oestrogen
and other female hormones. This relationship with the sex
hormones has led to pyridoxine being used by some therapists as
treatment for the depression that often accompanies the
contraceptive pill. And more general depression is just one of
the neurological disorders, along with epilepsy and impaired
cognitive function for which B6 is claimed to be beneficial.

Vitamin B6 has been used for the relief of morning sickness in
pregnancy since the 1940s, and is also believed to help
alleviate pregnancy related high blood pressure. Vitamin B6 has
also been used with some success in the relief of pre-menstrual
tension and with the yeast growth, candidiasis.

On the face of it, given its wide availability in common foods,
the Western world should never see deficiencies of vitamin B6.
But like the other B complex vitamins, it is all too easily
removed from the body by the normal process of excretion.
Intensive exercise, sweating, and the taking in of excessive
fluids may therefore increase the body's requirement. The
body's need for B6 also appears to be greater in proportion as
it is comprised of lean, particularly muscle, tissue and more is
required the more protein foods are consumed.

So even orthodox opnion therefore acknowledges the probable
benefit of supplementing with B6 at a level sufficient to ensure
an intake of at least 2 mg per day. Some practitioners,
however, recommend a normal target of 50 mg a day because of the
wide ranging benefits attributed to the action of pyridoxine.
But even higher doses of 100 mg may be recommended when
attempting to tackle specific conditions. This kind of intake
is in fact the suggested safe maximum suggested by the US Food
and Nutrition Board, limits which are always set at very
conservative levels; and the only toxicities observed from
vitamin B6 intake have been in consequence of amounts very far
in excess of this dosage.

But when taking B vitamins it needs always to be remembered
that they are so closely dependent on each other that no single
one of them can discharge its functions effectively in the
absence of an adequate supply of each of the others. It is for
this reason that the B complex vitamins are commonly found
together in foods, and why any additional B vitamins should only
be taken in the form of a supplement including the entire
complex. Importantly as well, like all vitamins, those of the B
complex operate best when in the presence of good quantities of
all the nutrients required by the body. Most authorities
therefore recommend that they be taken in conjunction with
comprehensive multi-vitamin and mineral supplements, magnesium
being particularly important in maximising the effect of vitamin
B6.

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

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Could Vitamin B12 Be The Secret Weapon In The Battle Against Depression?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About The Author: Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter
specializing in direct marketing and with a particular interest
in health products. Find out more at
http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/VitaminB12-2.htm

Why Is This Natural Compound The World's #1 Best-selling Muscle Building Supplement

If you've been working long and hard in the gym but find that
it's weeks or months since you saw any appreciable gains in
strength or muscularity, you may well get used to hearing that
these sticking points are entirely normal and that there's no
alternative to working ever harder until your body somehow
miraculously trains its way through the problem.

But unfortunately when it comes to activities such as lifting
weights, body-building, field athletics, sprinting or contact
sports, the idea that "more is better" simply doesn't work. The
problem is that the stronger you get, the more intensively you
need to train to maintain your progress, placing huge demands on
the energy reserves in your muscles and your body's powers of
recovery.

So this can be an intensely frustrating time. Your progress has
inevitably slowed, yet if you try to force the pace beyond your
body's recovery ability you risk ceasing to progress altogether,
and may even find yourself getting weaker.

Not surprisingly then, strength and power event athletes have
searched desperately for anything that might help them get past
this barrier – even turning in large numbers to the illegal and
highly dangerous, but often extremely effective anabolic
steroids. But those sensible enough on grounds of ethics or
self-preservation not to go down this route needed something
else.

The isolation of creatine, a 100% natural substance that seemed
to mimic the effects of steroids therefore produced enormous
excitement. While even now the science behind creatine remains
to some extent in its infancy, the key to its importance seems
to lie in its relationship with another compound in your body
called adenosine-tri-phosphate (ATP), which is the vital source
of energy your muscles need when engaged in an intensive, quick
burst activity such as lifting weights or sprinting.

The problem is that in most people supplies of ATP are
exhausted as quickly as within 10-15 seconds, to be replaced by
the useless by-product, adenosine-bi-phosphate (ADP). Amazingly
enough, it seems that the creatine stored within your muscles
can then convert the ADP produced by this process back into ATP,
producing more energy for your muscles, rather in the way that a
car turbocharger works.

More energy in your muscles means the ability to perform
longer, harder workouts, which can't help but dramatically
accelerate your gains in greater strength and power – always
provided of course that you allow adequate time for recovery.
And although less well understood, there is evidence that
creatine can enhance the process of protein synthesis by which
your body repairs and strengthens muscle tissue, potentially
reducing the necessary recovery time between workouts.

Creatine is produced in the liver by the synthesis of three
essential amino acids – arginine, methionine and glycine and
around 95-98% of your body's supply is stored in the muscles –
typically in a concentration of around 3.5-4 grams per kilogram
of bodyweight.

So the crucial question was: would supplementing these natural
levels enhance creatine's effects? When research indicated that
the answer to this question was yes, it was no surprise that
creatine quickly became the biggest selling sports supplement of
all time. In fact as long ago as 1988 more than $200 million
worth of creatine products were sold.

But a couple of cautionary words are necessary. Some of the
marketing behind this astonishing figure has been ethically
dubious to put it politely. It has to be stated that creatine is
definitely not some miracle formula for superhuman strength.
You're not going to be able to pop a pill and sit back on the
couch with a pizza while your body quickly and painlessly
transforms itself into that of an elite strength athlete.

Creatine may dramatically enhance the results of your workouts,
but in no way can it be a substitute for them. If you want the
results, you still have to put in the work, a point by the way,
which is often forgotten, but equally true of anabolic steroids.

Secondly, creatine seems only to be really effective for
certain kinds of physical activity; those which demand muscle
strength, bulk and explosive power. The benefits have proved
much harder to assess in the case of endurance events such as
long distance running, swimming cycling or triathlon, although
there is some evidence that creatine may help in slowing down or
reducing the build up of lactic acid, the substance that causes
that characteristic and painful burning sensation as your
muscles fatigue during exercise.

Remember, too, that creatine occurs naturally within the body,
and as with other such substances the amounts vary from
individual to individual. So understand that if you're one of
those who naturally produce high levels, further supplementation
may produce little or no benefit. Conversely, if your body
produces only moderate to low amounts, a good quality supplement
may well produce very rapid developments in your physique.

The only real way to tell which category your body falls into
is to give it a test drive with this new muscle fuel supplement.
A month of supplementation, combined of course with regular
tough workouts, should be enough to find out whether creatine's
going to help you.

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

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Don't Overlook Familiar Anti-Oxidants Like Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is an important member of
the water soluble B complex of vitamins and has of course been
well known as an essential nutrient for many years, hence its
popularity as a fortifying agent in commercially produced
breakfast cereals and breads etc. But in the current craze for
tracking down new anti-oxidant "superfoods" it's easy to
overlook the more familiar, but nonetheless vital, nutrients
such as the B complex vitamins.

Riboflavin, for example, is essential for the body's production
of certain enzymes, known as flavocoenzymes, which are needed
for the production of energy through the metabolism of the
proteins, fats and carbohydrates consumed in the diet.
Flavocoenzymes are important in the breaking down and the using
or neutralizing of chemicals, including drugs and toxins within
the body, and it has also been noted that they are a precursor
of the specialized proteins needed for the proper functioning of
the brain cell mitochondria.

Impaired oxygen metabolism within these mitochondria has been
identified as a possible cause of migraine headaches, Although
tested on only a small sample of patients, supplementation with
high levels (400 mg) of riboflavin has been duly found to have
significant effects in reducing the frequency of migraine
attacks when continued over a three month period. Despite the
limited scope of the research so far, orthodox medicine regards
riboflavin as worthy of further investigation for use in
conjunction with conventional drug therapies.

Riboflavin is also important as an anti-oxidant in enabling the
proper functioning of glutathione, the crucial anti-oxidant
enzyme. Glutathione is needed to neutralize the hydrogen
peroxide which is released as a by-product of normal metabolic
reactions within the body. Left unchecked hydrogen peroxide can
interact with other free radicals to produce hydroxyl, the most
damaging of all. Glutathione is particularly important in
protecting the delicate fatty structures, eg the membranes, of
every cell in the body.

Although anti-oxidants are required to protect every cell in
the body, particular attention has been focussed on their role
in the lens of the eye, where light induced oxidative damage has
been found to be a risk factor for the development of cataracts,
one of the most significant causes of vision loss in the
elderly.

Measuring by reference to glutathione activity, research has
suggested that individuals in the highest quintile of riboflavin
levels may have only around half the risk of developing
cataracts as those in the lowest quintile.

In addition to facilitating the action of the fat soluble
glutathione, riboflavin is also essential for the body's
manufacture of another enzyme, xanthine oxidase, which is needed
for the formation of uric acid, one of the most powerful water
soluble anti-oxidants.

In common with all the vitamins of the B complex, a deficiency
in riboflavin is likely to be associated with, and to cause, a
deficiency in each of the others. Deficiency in riboflavin,
however, has also been particularly associated with problems in
the absorption of iron, and consequent anemia and lowered immune
system function.

The US Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for riboflavin is
set at the very low sounding levels of 1.3 mg per day for men,
and 1.1 mg for women, In Europe the slightly higher figure of
1.6 mg is suggested. To put these in perspective, a cup of
fortified cereal may provide between 0.6 and 2.3 mg; 8 oz milk
perhaps 0.35 mg, and a single large egg 0.3 mg. Meat, fish,
chicken and green vegetables also provide a certain amount.

So these food values would seem to suggest that the RDAs should
be easily achievable by those eating a normally balanced diet –
and indeed they should. The problem is that the RDAs are set at
levels designed to ensure protection against outright deficiency
disease, which is not at all the same as optimal health. There
is also good evidence that few of us in any case, in fact
succeed in eating such a diet, and this can be a particular
problem for older adults. Some research suggests that as many as
a quarter of over 65s fail to achieve their RDA of riboflavin
though their normal daily diet, and of course that which they do
take in tends to be less well absorbed than that consumed by
younger people. The result is that as many as 10% of the over
65s show signs of severe deficiency, an alarming and
unforgivable statistic in wealthy Western societies.

But such symptoms of deficiency may not be confined to the
elderly. Younger adults who achieve only these minimal levels of
riboflavin intake may also be at risk if subjecting their bodies
to unusual stresses, amongst which must be included physical
work, intensive athletic or sporting activity, and the use of
alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.

There are no known toxicity issues with any quantity of the B
complex vitamins conceivably likely to be consumed, and the Food
and Nutrition Board has specified no upper safe limit. The
vitamins are water soluble with any excess being easily excreted
by the body. So given the difficulties of absorption which
become more pronounced as the body ages, and the increased
requirements for these vitamins which seems to arise with the
increasingly stressful lives we lead in the 21st century – not
to mention the nutritional poverty of much of the heavily
refined and processed foods we now routinely consume, there
seems no reason not to supplement with riboflavin and the other
vitamins of the B complex.

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

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Best Multi Vitamin

When choosing the best multi vitamin, you have to ask yourself
certain questions. For example, there are many different multi
vitamins on the market today. There are those for children, men
and women. There are those for senior citizens, pregnant women,
active women, active men and even teenagers. There are also many
different brands and forms of multivitamins. While many
multivitamins are tablets or pills, others are made of gel that
are easier to swallow, some are chewable and liquid vitamin
supplements are now becoming all the rage.

About 40 percent of the people in the United States take a
multivitamin, but only seven percent actually get the nutrients
their body needs on a daily basis. Vitamins give us the
nutrients we need to fight off disease, keep our bones healthy
and strong, protect our skin and hair, ward off colds, keep our
cardiovascular system in check, help with pregnancy, give us
energy and in general, just keep us healthy. Vitamins we need
for every day living are found in most foods, but most people do
not get the right amounts of these foods to get the proper
nutrients needed from these essential vitamins.

When choosing the best multivitamin, you should first learn
something about different vitamins and what they do. For
example, if you are an older woman who has a family history of
osteoporosis, the best multivitamin for you would be one that
contains additional calcium. You might even want to talk to your
physician about taking additional calcium tablets.

If you have children who frequently catch colds, especially if
they are school age, the best multivitamin for them may be one
with extra Vitamin C. There are several children vitamins on the
market today and some have extra vitamin C. It is very difficult
to overdose on vitamin C, so many parents opt for vitamins that
contain extra vitamin C, particularly if they have school aged
children who are always catching colds.

If you are a man who needs an extra boost, there are several
options for you. In addition to many vitamin supplements that
will do everything from increase your energy level to your
libido, there are many different multivitamins that contain
ingredients you need to stay active and fit. Read the label of
the different multivitamins available for men and see what types
of supplements are included. Depending on your needs, the best
multivitamin for you can be one that promotes good cholesterol
or one that gives your more stamina.

All multivitamins have supplement information printed on the
back label. This will tell you what percentage of the nutrients
are included in the vitamins. Read this carefully to make sure
that you are getting enough of what you need.

You should be getting plenty of B vitamins in your diet. These
vitamins are the most beneficial in warding off disease as they
are powerful antioxidants. They are often found in dark green
vegetables, of which people do not eat enough. Make certain that
your multivitamin contains 100 percent of the daily recommended
dosages for all of the B vitamins.

If you frequently suffer from feeling tired, the best multi
vitamin for you may be one that includes iron. Iron is often
given as a supplement to pregnant women, but is also found in
many multivitamins. Look on the label and make sure that the
multivitamin that you choose includes iron. This will give you
that extra boost that you need and eliminate that tired feeling.

If you dislike swallowing tablets or want a quick effect, why
not try a liquid multi vitamin supplement? These are becoming
more and more popular and take less time to take effect in the
body. In addition, because they are swallowed as a liquid, the
nutrients are not watered down. For those who want a quick boost
or who do not like swallowing pills, the best multi vitamin may
be a liquid vitamin supplement.

Senior citizens will benefit from those multi vitamins that
cater to the needs of the elderly. These generally have extra
supplements that boost memory, promote memory and concentration
and add energy. The best multi vitamins for senior citizens are
those that are made specifically for them as they often address
the nutritional needs of the elderly better than the other multi
vitamins on the market.

Depending upon your lifestyle, age, sex, and needs will
determine the best multi vitamin that is right for you. If you
are suffering from a physical condition, ask your doctor to
recommend the best multi vitamin for your condition. If you are
confused while at the drugstore, the pharmacist will also be
glad to assist you in choosing the best multi vitamin.

About The Author: Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has
written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more
information about best multi vitamin checkout
http://www.myvitaminguide.com/public/department88.cfm.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

A Bodybuilder's Supplement

The market for bodybuilders' nutritional needs has an abundant
source of all things good as supplements. The problem is, with
all the sources and manufacturing companies specializing on
products for reducing fat, developing muscles and getting fit,
the consumers who need them most doesn't have a solid basis as
to what is better against what is best for them. It is all too
confusing but there are still factors you can look in to before
you choose the right supplement for your body and your training
needs.

Since there are so many bodybuilding supplements that are out
in the market, it is most ideal for you to ask for an expert's
advice first of all. Don't just select from an aisle of bottles
bearing the labels such as "fat burning" or "muscle gaining"
capsules or powder juices. Choose the right supplement for your
body depending on the amount of training that you need. It isn't
just a matter of picking what you feel what will be compatible
for you.

Before asking for an expert's advice about this, it's important
for them to know the kind of training that you are going through
at the moment. Include in informing a fitness expert the food
that you eat, which is your diet and other important factors
that comprise your bodybuilding training.

A warning in choosing a supplement is that most of these
marketed products doesn't contain much of the proper description
that it should bear on its labels. These supplement makers may
tell whatever they want and you can see that very well on the
inscription on the bottles but ask yourself first if it's really
reliable.

All in all, be aware of the benefits and disadvantages (if
there are any) that a supplement can cause before taking any
chances.

About The Author: Shareen Aguilar is a writer for Bodybuilding
Training Program http://www.body-building-book.com which has
information on Bodybuilding and other fitness topics.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Vitamin A and Carotenes - Why We Need Vitamin A In Our Diet

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that is essential to the healthy development of strong bones, teeth, healthy skin and also helps to maintain clear vision. Working together, Vitamin A along with Carotenes which are plant based forms of Vitamin A, carry out many important functions.

Although there have been close to 600 types of Carotenes that have been identified, research has found that at least 30-50 of them have been found to involve Vitamin A activity and hence they share a direct positive relationship with Vitamin A.

Carotenes are naturally-occurring, brightly colored plant pigments that are vital to the process of photosynthesis. They are also what help protect plants as well as the body against the potentially damaging effects of free radicals.

The ability of the free radicals to oxidize cells gets eliminated by antioxidants which are found mainly in milk, fruits and vegetables. Once the cells in the body get oxidized it can lead to fatal health complications that include heart diseases, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts and arthritis among others.

Consumption of adequate levels of Vitamin A can help delay the signs of aging. It has the ability to ward of wrinkles and so has been rightly labeled the 'Anti-aging' Vitamin.

It also helps enhance the body's immune system which in turn keeps the mucous membranes inside the throat, lungs, eyes, mouth, digestive tract, kidneys, bladder and reproductive system healthy. Vitamin A has also been known to lower cholesterol levels and assists in hormone production.

Vitamin A also helps in the production of Ribonucleic Acid(RNA). When RNA reproduces in large amounts it assists in the creation of new cells so that the old and worn out cells can be efficiently replaced.

Fish liver oil is one of the most commonly found natural sources of Vitamin A. Cod and halibut have the highest concentration of this vitamin. Other sources include eggs, milk and fruits such as nectarines, cantaloupes, apricots, mandarin oranges, plums watermelons and mangoes.

Among vegetables the dark green and brightly colored ones like kale, collard greens, escarole, chicory, endive, romaine lettuce, broccoli, peas, carrots, red pepper, pumpkin, squash, turnips, sweet potato and tomatoes are all excellent sources of Vitamin A.

The ideal amounts of vitamin A people should have is between 500 to 800 micrograms daily. The recommended amounts are 600 micrograms for males, 500 micrograms for females . However during pregnancy women need to consume around 800 micrograms a day and roughly around 850 micrograms while breast feeding.

Vitamin A deficiencies :

Deficiency of Vitamin A affects ones vision, in particular the ability to see clearly at night or in dim light. Night blindness and dry eyes are typical symptoms of this deficiency. In addition to vision problems it can also lead to skin problems like acne and psoriasis.

A poor diet is usually the cause of Vitamin A deficiency. Particularly vulnerable are the elderly and those living in parts of the world where poor diets prevail.

Tired of reading outdated fitness and health articles on the web? Well, wait no longer, check out http://www.1-stop-fitness.com for up-to-date information on living healthy.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Super Foods Everyone Needs To Be Eating For Nutrition, Health, And General Wellbeing

Take a more in depth look at what the positive effects are to eating more color rich, dense plant 'super foods', and in eating more of the health enhancing properties of good 'super food' fat foods.

'Super Foods' are a classification of certain types of whole foods (minimally processed whenever possible) that are believed, and have been shown, to be good for you. If you begin to make a conscious effort to include more of these super foods into your weekly diet, and commit to understanding why they are good for your body, then you will be living a healthier life inside your body.

Of Course, you should know fresh and raw is best but, whether canned, frozen, or minimally processed, it is far better to eat them this way than not to eat them at all. Eating these health enriching 'super foods' will help you look and feel your best, and younger. They will, also, help you lose excess weight and maintain it, reduce your risks of life long diseases, give you longer lasting energy, and a feeling of full satiation after eating them. So let's get started on some of the best super foods you need to be eating to reach your healthy body goals.

What plant super plant food is good for helping to soften your skin? Pomegranates.

Pomegranates are loaded with an antioxidant vitamin, vitamin C. Plus, the juice from the seeds contain ellagic acid and punicalagin. The first substance fights free radical damage; the second substance may increase your body's ability to preserve collagen. Collagen helps keep skin looking moist, young, and soft.

What super plant food helps smooth fine lines in the skin? Blueberries.

Blueberries have become notoriously known for their antioxidant power. They have more antioxidants than almost any other plant food. Blueberries help protect your skin, and acts as a natural sunscreen to protect skin against sunburning, strengthens overall brain functioning, and helps you fight emotional stress.

What super plant foods help firm skin, giving it more elasticity? Kale and spinach.

These two veggies, and many others, have high levels of the antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. and other compounds known as phytonutrients. These natural plant food substances help guard against sunburning the skin, strengthen heart (cardiovascular) health, and helps protect you from developing cancer.

What cold water fish sources, also known as super foods, helps keep skin, hair, and joints healthy and properly lubricated? Sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, and other small ocean fish species.

Do not care for the taste of fish? Well, you can still get your omega-3s in smaller amounts in flaxseed, walnuts, almonds, grass-fed beef and free range poultry meats and eggs. Omega-3 fats are great for sharp mental functioning, reduces risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and lowers the risk of developing behavior and mood disorders (depression).

What super plant food helps control brown age spots on the skin? Green, black, and white teas.

These healthy brews contain a substance called catechins. This phytonutrient helps prevent skin damaging sunburns. Another substance found in green, black, and white tea leaves is another phytonutrient known as polyphenols. This nutrient chemical may possibly help to reverse, or prevent, brown age spots on the skin.

Both of these phytochemicals have also shown to help protect us against heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

Tea contains half the amount of caffeine than coffee. Black tea, in particular, has been shown to improve oral mouth health. Teas can be drank either hot or iced, and can be used as a flavoring agent in marinades and other dishes.

What healthy fat oils help maintain a rosy skin glow? Olive oil, coconut oil, and lean animal saturated fats such as grass-fed beef and free range poultry meats and eggs.

Olive oil is mostly a monunsaturated fat. It also contains a small amount of polyunsaturated fat, so do not over use it. Extra virgin olive oil has a higher level of the antioxidant vitamin, vitamin E. Olive oil also activates the secretion of bile in the gallbladder, and regulates pancreatic hormones better, and more naturally, than prescription drugs. Consequently, it also lowers the incidence of gallstone formation.

Coconut oil increases energy levels by boosting your metabolism. It is mostly a saturated fat food source (60%), to a lesser degree, it has a small amount of monounsaturated fat oil, and a trace amount of polyunsaturated fat.

I would suggest cooking with both of these healthy fats, alternating their use in specific dish recipes, for example; coconut oil for stir frying and frying meats and vegetables, olive oil for salad dressings and meat marinades.

Lean sources of poultry and animal fats come from mostly grass fed, free range livestock. As mentioned earlier, these healthy proteins and fat food sources are higher in omega-3s than conventionally, mostly grain fed, meat sources. Omega-3s improve blood circulation, leaving skin with a rosy, supple look and feel.

What dietary fluid substance helps to better distribute all of these healthy food nutrients to where they are needed throughout your body? Why it is water, of course.

No other fluid solvent does this more efficiently than pure water. Water will, also, carry away toxic body wastes, hydrate all body cells, and consistently lower and maintain a more desired body weight, naturally.

Would I kid you here?

No, I absolutely would not. After all, this is a chosen area of serious passion for me. This strategy does work, and I might add, eating more as nature had intended for us to eat has brought me out of a state of ill health, to enjoy a much healthier body and lifestyle today!

You can do it this way too, and be most successful at eliminating, or easing, many different health challenges that you are currently, and frustratingly, tolerating at the moment. At the very least, it should make you feel better knowing that you are actively trying to do something to improve your dismal situation.

Brenda Skidmore has spent the last four plus years actively researching natural health care alternatives. It is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your health today visit http://www.mywater4life.com

Thursday, December 6, 2007

What's In Nutritional Dietary Supplements

There are a number of nutritional dietary supplements that have
been widely held and have gained enormous popularity in the
different parts of the world. Let us look into some of them.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid is basically an antioxidant. It is
distinctive because it soluble either in fat or in water. This
acid performs a key role in the metabolism process as it works
to turn glucose we get from the food we eat into energy. As an
antioxidant combating free radicals, alpha lipoic acid helps to
treat damage in nerve cells particularly diabetic neuropathy
which is a nerve injury resulting from elevated blood sugar
levels. Alpha lipoic acid is also known to be good for people
with heart disease, damaged blood vessels and kidney problems.
People suffering from an annoying burning mouth syndrome may
find relief in using alpha lipoic acids as well. Sources of this
fatty acid include spinach, liver and certain meats and
vegetables. For people who fail to get this fatty acid in their
diet, they can get them from 100 to 200 mg nutritional
supplement capsules.

Biotin

A coenzyme like Alpha lipoic acid, biotin plays an important
part in energy metabolism particularly in glycogen synthesis,
amino acid metabolism and fat synthesis. This micronutrient
which is also a vitamin b-complex contains carbon dioxide.
Because biotin works to convert the carbohydrates, proteins and
fats that we get from food into energy, the resulting benefits
include low blood sugar levels and weight loss. Shiny and
nourished hair is a good sign that you have an efficient supply
of biotin in your diet. It is time to take in some supplements
when you get the following symptoms of biotin deficiency such as
a red scaly rash, numbness and tingling in some extremities,
lethargy, and hair loss.

Dhea

Dhea or Dehydroepiandrosterone supplements has become widely
popular among men and women alike as they augment the
testosterone and estrogen hormones of our adrenal glands whose
levels gradually decline from our bodies when we reach our 20's.
Dhea is known to be a defense against the aging process. We
often find this in supplements that boast of enhancing body
parts that have matured over time. Most people take dhea
supplements to keep stress in check, maintain sex hormones at
normal levels, increase energy, toughen the immune system, and
even improve one's mood. Also, dhea has shown to have a remedial
effect for certain medical conditions such as cardiovascular
diseases, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, obesity,
diabetes, Parkinson's disease, osteoporosis and depression. You
know that you need supplements with these symptoms: chronic
fatigue, headaches and depression. Too much dhea however can
cause certain side effects like menstrual irregularities,
irritability and even cancer so it is important to keep dosages
in check.

Omega 3

Most tuna products nowadays boast of an added feature, omega 3.
This is because this nutrient is principally obtained from cold
water fish. Omega 3 are polyunsaturated fats namely
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Their main goal is to keep our
bodies level of cholesterol low and thus reducing the
possibility of high blood pressure. Omega 3 acts as natural
blood thinners and can help lessen inflammation and pain.

About The Author: James Brown writes about
http://www.buyvitaminsmart.com

What's In Nutritional Dietary Supplements

There are a number of nutritional dietary supplements that have
been widely held and have gained enormous popularity in the
different parts of the world. Let us look into some of them.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid is basically an antioxidant. It is
distinctive because it soluble either in fat or in water. This
acid performs a key role in the metabolism process as it works
to turn glucose we get from the food we eat into energy. As an
antioxidant combating free radicals, alpha lipoic acid helps to
treat damage in nerve cells particularly diabetic neuropathy
which is a nerve injury resulting from elevated blood sugar
levels. Alpha lipoic acid is also known to be good for people
with heart disease, damaged blood vessels and kidney problems.
People suffering from an annoying burning mouth syndrome may
find relief in using alpha lipoic acids as well. Sources of this
fatty acid include spinach, liver and certain meats and
vegetables. For people who fail to get this fatty acid in their
diet, they can get them from 100 to 200 mg nutritional
supplement capsules.

Biotin

A coenzyme like Alpha lipoic acid, biotin plays an important
part in energy metabolism particularly in glycogen synthesis,
amino acid metabolism and fat synthesis. This micronutrient
which is also a vitamin b-complex contains carbon dioxide.
Because biotin works to convert the carbohydrates, proteins and
fats that we get from food into energy, the resulting benefits
include low blood sugar levels and weight loss. Shiny and
nourished hair is a good sign that you have an efficient supply
of biotin in your diet. It is time to take in some supplements
when you get the following symptoms of biotin deficiency such as
a red scaly rash, numbness and tingling in some extremities,
lethargy, and hair loss.

Dhea

Dhea or Dehydroepiandrosterone supplements has become widely
popular among men and women alike as they augment the
testosterone and estrogen hormones of our adrenal glands whose
levels gradually decline from our bodies when we reach our 20's.
Dhea is known to be a defense against the aging process. We
often find this in supplements that boast of enhancing body
parts that have matured over time. Most people take dhea
supplements to keep stress in check, maintain sex hormones at
normal levels, increase energy, toughen the immune system, and
even improve one's mood. Also, dhea has shown to have a remedial
effect for certain medical conditions such as cardiovascular
diseases, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, obesity,
diabetes, Parkinson's disease, osteoporosis and depression. You
know that you need supplements with these symptoms: chronic
fatigue, headaches and depression. Too much dhea however can
cause certain side effects like menstrual irregularities,
irritability and even cancer so it is important to keep dosages
in check.

Omega 3

Most tuna products nowadays boast of an added feature, omega 3.
This is because this nutrient is principally obtained from cold
water fish. Omega 3 are polyunsaturated fats namely
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Their main goal is to keep our
bodies level of cholesterol low and thus reducing the
possibility of high blood pressure. Omega 3 acts as natural
blood thinners and can help lessen inflammation and pain.

About The Author: James Brown writes about
http://www.buyvitaminsmart.com