Useful Best Multivitamins Articles on Minerals and Supplements. - Page 7 of 7 - Best Multivitamins for Men and Women Reviews and Comparisons

Best Arthritis Supplements For Pain Relief?

by admin on June 24, 2011

Too often, Arthritis is treated only when it hurts. That’s the first mistake. Arthritis is a very commonplace condition that has to do with inflammation of the joints. It could be due to your immune-system malfunctioning, imbalances in your body causing it to attack itself, infections, uric acid crystals, inflammation calcium pyrophosphate crystal build-up and more.

You are can learn more about this condition here.

Taking glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation will often do the trick for most suffers of mild form of arthritis as these are generally inexpensive. However, if you have tried those supplements that was just mentioned, perhaps you should further look for supplements that also contain the following ingredients:

Methylsulfonylmethane

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) accelerates wound healing. It is a naturally occurring, organic sulphur-containing compound. It may be beneficial in allergies, chronic fatigue, interstitial cystitis, osteoarthritis, diabetes and skin disorders.

S-adenosylmethionine

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a naturally occurring molecule that is distributed throughout body tissues and fluids. It is also used to treat conditions such as depression, fibromyalgia, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, slowing the aging process, improving intellectual performance, Parkinson’s disease, and heart disease.

Celery
Celery has anti-arthritis effects too. The applicable parts of celery are the fruit and seed. It has anti-inflammatory properties that reduces joint swelling and pain in many arthritic conditions and helps to reduce further joint degeneration. Celery was also discovered to be a good treatment for gout as well.

Find one of the best arthritis supplements called Not Just Joints manufactured by Xtend Life.

Image Source: cdn2.hubspot.net

{ 0 comments }

Eye Vitamins – Best Eye Supplements?

by admin on June 24, 2011

Why do we need eye vitamins? The main reason for this is that the eyes undergo certain changes owing to increasing age, underlying disorders and regular strain it experiences through prolonged PC screen exposure. Age related changes can result in various disorders such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataract, etc. Underlying disorders such as diabetes and hypertension can also have an effect on the eye function. A recent trend which affects the eye is the increased use of computers or other video devices. These gadgets strain the eye to a large extent resulting in conditions such as dry eyes.

Numerous supplements have been studied for eye care and they have been found to have beneficial effects. These effects may be through slowing down of the destructive process, preventing them or by reversing the effects to a certain extent. ^1-3

Certain plant pigments known as carotenoids have been widely studied for their effect on the human eyes. Lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are major carotenoids present in human blood and tissues. Numerous studies have proven that these carotenoids may provide significant protection against the damage caused by light striking the retina. Lutein and zeaxanthin especially have been shown to filter high-energy wavelengths of visible light and also act as antioxidants to protect the eye against the free radicals. ^4-6

The xanthophylls is another carotenoid which may act to protect the eye from ultraviolet rays and also have antioxidant properties. An intake of lutein and zeaxanthin especially through diet has been associated with a significant reduction in the risk for cataract and age-related degeneration of the eyes. Further research studies have also suggested that dietary factors including antioxidant vitamins and xanthophylls may contribute to a reduction in the risk of the degenerative eye diseases associated with increasing age.⁷

The anti-oxidant vitamins A, C and E have been implicated as protective vitamins that prevent the damage of the lens and retina either due to progressing age or it’s over use. As the vitamin intake in the middle aged and elderly individuals may be inadequate in many cases, vitamin supplementation is frequently advised. Supplementation of vitamins A and E are helpful in prevention of various eye diseases. Vitamin B has been linked to a reduced risk of cataract, while vitamin C prevents cataract formation.

Zinc may be beneficial in a condition known as macular degeneration which is generally age related. Selenium is another mineral that has an anti-oxidative properties which is beneficial for eye health. Use of selenium has been associated with a reduced risk of cataract formation and it also activates the antioxidant enzymes to prevent oxidative damage of the eyes. Other minerals including copper have also been associated with prevention of eye disorders, although to a lesser extent.

An essential fatty acid known as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) has been found to be useful in disorders such as Sjögren’s syndrome that are frequently associated with dry eyes. GLA may also be helpful in other dry eye conditions.

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered to play an important role in retinal development. ^{1, 2, 8}

Gingko biloba, a plant extract was found to improve the vision in some individuals suffering from normal tension glaucoma. ²

The supplementation may be highly beneficial in middle-aged and elderly individuals, while the requirement of a proper natural eye supplement is growing in the young adults.

To learn more about eye care and our recommended eye vitamin supplements, please visit Xtend Life.

Reference:

1. Brown NA, et al. Nutrition supplements and the eye. Eye. 1998;12 ( Pt 1):127-33.

2. Bartlett H, Eperjesi F. An ideal ocular nutritional supplement? Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2004 Jul;24(4):339-49.

3. Schmidt-Erfurth U. Nutrition and retina. Dev Ophthalmol. 2005;38:120-47.

4. Roberts RL, Green J, Lewis B. Lutein and zeaxanthin in eye and skin health. Clin Dermatol. 2009;27(2):195-201.

5. Sies H, Stahl W. Non-nutritive bioactive constituents of plants: lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2003;73(2):95-100.

6. Stringham JM, Hammond BR Jr. Dietary lutein and zeaxanthin: possible effects on visual function. Nutr Rev. 2005;63(2):59-64.

7. Moeller SM, Jacques PF, Blumberg JB. The potential role of dietary xanthophylls in cataract and age-related macular degeneration. J Am Coll Nutr. 2000;19(5 Suppl):522S- 527S.

8. Cakiner-Egilmez T. Omega 3 fatty acids and the eye. Insight. 2008;33(4):20-25.

Image Source: beauty-advices.com

{ 0 comments }

Best Calcium Supplements

by admin on June 24, 2011

How to Choose The Best Calcium Supplements

Our modern diet often fails to supply us with adequate amounts of nutrients among which calcium is one of them. An inadequate supply of calcium to our body can result in weakening of the bones in the long run. Calcium supplements are advised to be taken on a regular basis especially in cases of individuals with osteopenia or osteoporosis, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, mothers who breastfeed multiple infants, vegans, and amenorrheic women. Calcium is also considered necessary for the prevention and treatment of hypertension, and, possibly, colon cancer. ^1-4 To learn more about calcium deficieny related disease, please click here.

Various forms of calcium supplements are calcium available to the consumer. These supplements are commonly available in the form of capsules, tablets, chews, wafers, powders, and liquids. ¹ The calcium in a compound is known as elemental calcium and it is this form which ultimately becomes available to be absorbed into the blood. ³ The different forms of calcium supplements available and their pros and cons are discussed below.

Types of Calcium Supplements Available

Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Citrate

The studies on calcium carbonate and calcium citrate revealed that the absorption rate of both were identical when taken with a meal. However, differences existed in the amount of elemental calcium is about 40% in calcium carbonate while calcium citrate supplement only contains about 21%. Calcium carbonate is known to be well-absorbed and tolerated in most of the individuals when taken with a meal.

As calcium carbonate supplements provide greater amounts of elemental calcium one requires taking fewer tablets than other forms of calcium. However, in case of calcium citrate supplements, the amount of tablets or capsules to be taken to make the dose equivalent to that of calcium carbonate is more.

Calcium carbonate is the cheapest and easily available form of calcium. It requires an acidic environment in the stomach for its better absorption. Hence, individuals suffering from conditions such as achlorhydria (reduced formation of stomach acids) or individuals who are consuming medications to reduce stomach acidity should take calcium citrate supplements. If you are a busy individual who finds it difficult to take supplements at meal time then you should use calcium citrate, which can be taken with or without food. ^{1, 5, 6}

Coral Calcium

Coral calcium was being supplied as a type of calcium supplement until recently. However, now it is known that coral calcium is nothing other than calcium carbonate. ^{1, 6}

Calcium Lactate and Calcium Gluconate

Other two forms of calcium supplements available are calcium lactate and calcium gluconate. These are much lesser concentrated forms of calcium which contain very little amount of elemental calcium. Calcium lactate contains about 13% elemental calcium while calcium gluconate contains only 9%. Because of this, the number of tablets to be consumed to attain the desirable dose is high compared to other supplements. ^{1, 3, 5}

Calcium from Bone Meal

Calcium supplementation from bone meal which was quite famous initially has now fallen out of favour as it was found to be contaminated with poisonous substances such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. ^{1, 2}

Others

Hydroxyapatite was also being used as a form of calcium supplementation. However, further amount of research is required to know its potential and its safety. ¹

For good quality calcium supplement, we recommend Bone Protec manufactured by Xtend Life.

Reference:

1. Straub DA. Calcium supplementation in clinical practice: a review of forms, doses, and indications. Nutr Clin Pract. 2007;22(3):286-96.
2. Murray TM. Calcium nutriton and osteoporosis. Can Med Assoc J. 1996; 155 (7) 935-39
3. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Calcium Supplement Guidelines. Available from: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/health/az1042.pdf
4. Whiting SJ, Wood R, Kim K. Calcium supplementation. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 1997;9(4):187-92.
5. Reinwald S, Weaver CM, Kester JJ. The health benefits of calcium citrate malate: a review of the supporting science. Adv Food Nutr Res. 2008;54:219-346.
6. Levenson DI, Bockman RS. A review of calcium preparations. Nutr Rev. 1994;52(7):221-32.

Image Source: dailymail.co.uk

{ 0 comments }

Natural Weight Loss Supplements

by admin on June 24, 2011

Safely Lower Your Weight With These Natural Weight Loss Supplements

Obesity is a growing problem in most developed countries which results in a significant amount of disabilities and even death. The efficacy of conventional medicines being used to treat obesity is limited necessitating alternative therapies for weight loss which include lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, herbal medications and dietary supplements. ¹

Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss

Numerous studies have evaluated the safety and efficacy of the different natural and synthetic supplements that are available for weight loss treatment.

Usnic acid is one of the substances that have been used worldwide for various purposes. In the United States it has been marketed as a dietary supplement to aid in weight loss. However, its safety was questionable and hence further research is being conducted for proving its safe use. ²

Chitosan, when used as a dietary supplement was reported to decrease body weight in many studies. A significant amount of weight loss along with a decrease in total cholesterol and blood pressure were also noted in some studies. Further trials are being conducted to emphasize its safety and efficacy. Chitosan has the ability to precipitate fat and is being promoted for its ability to bind fat in the intestines so that it is not absorbed. ³

Green tea has been considered as the fourth most commonly used dietary supplement in the US. Some studies have questioned its safety while others have promoted its use. Green tea is said to be rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances which have been shown to reduce the cholesterol levels as well as reduction of body fat. More number of detailed studies is required to prove these effects.^{4, 5}

Certain soyfoods have been implicated to have multiple benefits such as improvement in weight, fat loss and cardiovascular health. Overall, the current data available suggests that soyfoods are equally good for promoting weight loss when compared to other protein products. It has also been proposed that soyfoods may have additional benefits. ⁶

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are another substance which is supposed to exert numerous positive effects on health of an individual along with reducing body fats. Other fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) along with CLA have been said to influence the body activities and reduce body weight and/or fat deposition. The safety of these products need to be proven based on further studies. ^{7, 8}

Other herbal supplements that are being promoted as weight loss supplements include Garcinia cambogia, and Citrus aurantium. Garcinia has been considered as a safe, natural supplement for weight management. It has a positive effect on the fat utilisation and was noted to decrease the body weight and BMI to a notable extent. No significant adverse effects were reported in the study.

Ephedra when combined with caffeine has also been shown to be quite effective in promoting weight loss; however its safety is questionable. ^{9, 10}

Pyruvate is another supplement that has consistently shown positive weight loss effects across numerous studies. ¹¹

Confused? One of the best natural weight loss supplements is a Weight Management package manufactured by HerbaLife.

Reference:

1. Cherniack EP. Potential applications for alternative medicine to treat obesity in an aging population. Altern Med Rev. 2008 Mar;13(1):34-42.
2. Guo L, Shi Q, Fang JL, Mei N, et al. Review of usnic acid and Usnea barbata toxicity. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2008;26(4):317-38.
3. (Jull AB, Ni Mhurchu C, Bennett DA, et al. Chitosan for overweight or obesity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jul 16;(3):CD003892. ).
4. Basu A, Lucas EA. Mechanisms and effects of green tea on cardiovascular health. Nutr Rev. 2007 Aug;65(8 Pt 1):361-75.
5. Sarma DN, Barrett ML, Chavez ML, et al. Safety of green tea extracts : a systematic review by the US Pharmacopeia. Drug Saf. 2008;31(6):469-84.
6. Cope MB, Erdman JW Jr, Allison DB. The potential role of soyfoods in weight and adiposity reduction: an evidence-based review. Obes Rev. 2008 May;9(3):219-35.
7. Fischer-Posovszky P, Kukulus V, Wabitsch M. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and their relevance in the reduction of body fat. A critical review of the currently available data. MMW Fortschr Med. 2008 Jan 17;149 Suppl 4:128-31.
8. Li JJ, Huang CJ, Xie D. Anti-obesity effects of conjugated linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Jun;52(6):631-45.
9. Heber D. Herbal preparations for obesity: are they useful? Prim Care. 2003 Jun;30(2):441-63.
10. Preuss HG, Rao CV, Garis R, et al. An overview of the safety and efficacy of a novel, natural(-)-hydroxycitric acid extract (HCA-SX) for weight management. J Med. 2004;35(1-6):33-48.
11. Lenz TL, Hamilton WR. Supplemental products used for weight loss. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2004;44(1):59-67.

{ 0 comments }

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements

by admin on June 23, 2011

Omega 3 which is found mostly in fish oil is known to have an array of positive effects on the human body and is hence advised by many as dietary supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are fatty acids found in fish and other sea food as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is considered to be essential for the growth and development of the human brain. Furthermore its positive effects on the heart are also well proven. Other advantages of fish oil includes a decrease in the proliferation of tumour cells and reduced risk of numerous diseases such as hypertension, arthritis, atherosclerosis, depression, diabetes mellitus, and some cancers.1, 2

Drawbacks

The consumption of fish and fish oil must be practised carefully due to the potential presence of environmental toxins such as mercury (methylmercury), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and other contaminants. Thankfully, the risks of being exposed to such harmful environmental factors are substantially reduced through elaborate purification processes used to develop certain selected concentrated fish oil supplements and prescription preparations. 3

Good Fish, Bad fish

Larger, longer-living predators such as swordfish and shark have higher tissue concentrations of methylmercury, while smaller or shorter-lived fishes such as shellfish and salmon have very low concentrations. Properly processed fish oil capsules are said to contain about 20% to 80% of EPA and DHA by weight with little to no mercury, and variable levels of PCBs and dioxins. 4, 5

Salmon (especially farmed salmon) are considered as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. However they are believed to contain high concentrations of contaminants listed before. 6

Some of the fish species that provide an adequate amount of omega-3 PUFAs include sardines, mackerel, herring (Atlantic and Pacific), lake trout, salmon (Chinook, Atlantic, and Sockeye), anchovy (European), sablefish, and bluefish. 7 A properly chosen fish oil supplement based on the type of fish used and type of purification process followed to remove environmental contaminants is beneficial for regular use.

What Do We Consume?
For years we have been consuming pure and natural fish oild from New Zealand by Xtend Life, find out why here.

Reference:
1. Horrocks LA, Yeo YK. Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Pharmacol Res. 1999 Sep;40(3):211-25.
2. DeFilippis AP, Sperling LS. Understanding omega-3’s. Am Heart J. 2006 Mar;151(3):564-70.
3. Bays HE. Safety considerations with omega-3 fatty acid therapy. Am J Cardiol. 2007 Mar 19;99(6A):35C-43C.
4. Mozaffarian D, Rimm EB. Fish intake, contaminants, and human health: evaluating the risks and the benefits. JAMA. 2006 Oct 18;296(15):1885-99.
5. Costa LG. Contaminants in fish: risk-benefit considerations. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2007 Sep;58(3):367-74.
6. Hamilton MC, Hites RA, Schwager SJ, et al. Lipid composition and contaminants in farmed and wild salmon. Environ Sci Technol. 2005 Nov 15;39(22):8622-9.
7. Sidhu KS. Health benefits and potential risks related to consumption of fish or fish oil. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;38(3):336-44.

Image Source: pharmaceutical-technology.com

{ 0 comments }