Knowing What’s Worth Paying For in Vitamins

WHEN I stock up on ibuprofen (my painkiller of choice), I typically buy a 500-count bottle of a store brand like Kirkland or Rite Aid. After all, ibuprofen is ibuprofen. Each pill costs me about 3 cents — or only one-third the cost of 9-cent Advil.

Yet, when it comes to vitamins — which I take only when I feel run down — I turn to name brands like Centrum or Nature Made. My thinking has been: Why mess around with quality when it comes to the essential ABCs?

But now that I’ve done some research, I might soon change my vitamin-buying ways. Read on to find out why. Read the rest of this entry »

Sublingual vitamin b12 is a fast acting form of vitamin b12. Because of the sublingual application, the impact of this b12 is much like having a shot of the nutrient — as a matter of fact, it was created as an alternative to having it injected.

Sublingual vitamin b12 comes in several different forms. There is a pill form, in which the pills are placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve. There are capsule forms, where the capsule is pierced and the liquid is placed under the tongue. And finally there are drops that are placed under the tongue.

Sublingual application is one of the best delivery methods. One of the quickest ways to get any type of medication or vitamin into the blood stream is by placing the medication under the tongue. The area under the tongue contains blood vessels that allow for easy absorption, and anything placed in the area is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream. It is very important that the sublingual vitamin b12 is held under the tongue for the length of time that is needed to make sure it is absorbed. Read the rest of this entry »

On the seemingly ever-changing list of what vitamins and minerals we ought to be taking–and in what amounts–vitamin D has long been a solid, boring standard. For years, we were told that we’d have our needs covered if we drank fortified milk, got a few minutes of daily sun exposure (which delivers the vitamin directly to us through our skin), or took calcium or multivitamin supplements containing additional amounts of vitamin D.

That accepted wisdom is no longer. Recent research shows that many people living in the United States and around the world are getting insufficient levels of vitamin D, putting them at risk for health problems. If you spend a lot of time indoors at work or home, have dark skin, are older or severely overweight or have certain medical conditions, you’re more likely to be vitamin D deficient. Even if you spend a lot of time outdoors but wisely cover up with sunscreen or sunblock, you also keep the vitamin D in sunlight from reaching your skin and being stored by your body. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you suffer from arthritis or another inflammatory condition? You may be happy to learn about the benefits of fish oil supplements on inflammation in the body. There have been numerous studies which have shown what an improvement regular supplementation can make on your system.

The Omega 3 Fatty Acids work to reduce inflammatory compounds in the body. Several of these inflammatory compounds include arachodonic acid. This is one of the components of several inflammatory compounds that can make symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis much worse. It can also reduce the levels of interleukin 1-beta that the body can produce. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for the fountain of youth you may just find it in Resveratrol molecules. You want to look and feel younger on the inside and the outside. Well, new studies are showing that exact result from this anti-aging remedy. Resveratrol is the anti-aging ingredient in red wine that gives you all the benefits. In this article we will be discussing some of those benefits.

It’s hard some mornings to look into that mirror and see the hands of time taking their effect, but you can significantly slow them down. We want to have all the energy that we have had in the past. We want to not suffer from the typical aging diseases, like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease or heart disease. Oh, and we want to keep that old tire around the belly out of sight. Surprisingly, these are some of the wonderful benefits that come from the molecule Resveratrol. Recent studies are showing such results. Read the rest of this entry »

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. -A new clinical trial investigating the health benefits of acai won top honors during the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine on Jan. 23 and revealed promising initial results for using Sambazon Acai PowerCaps™ Organic to improve vascular health, lower fasting blood sugar levels and lower bad cholesterol.

This pilot study demonstrated the ability of the Sambazon acai pulp product to significantly lower several markers of cardiovascular risk in a relatively short period of time. Given these promising results, and the biologically active components in the acai fruit, further study is merited, said Dr. Jay Udani, M.D., CEO and medical director of Medicus Research, a contract research organization with functional food experience.

Medicus Research recently conducted a pilot study with 10 slightly overweight, but healthy adult male and female participants (representing 1/3 of the American population). Each study participant consumed 100 g of Sambazon acai frozen fruit pulp twice daily for one month. Researchers measured participants’ baseline fasting plasma glucose, plasma insulin levels, lipid levels, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and blood pressure. After 30 days of consuming Sambazon acai, participants’ fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly reduced, as compared to the baseline. In addition, post-prandial increases in blood glucose levels were significantly reduced. Read the rest of this entry »

Omega-3 fatty acids, from fish like Sardine, anchovy and other sources, have for years been shown to help lower levels of heart disease and cardiac death.

New research suggests the fatty acids may possess an even more fundamental benefit: Heart patients with “high omega-3″ intake had relatively longer “telomeres,” which are stretches of DNA whose length correlates with longevity.

Cardiologists from the University of California, San Francisco, and other hospitals measured telomere length over five years in 608 patients who had coronary-artery blockage and previous heart attacks. Researchers found that people with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their white blood cells experienced significantly less shortening of telomeres over five years, as compared with patients with lower omega-3 levels. Read the rest of this entry »

In recent years, Big Pharma has produced a variety of widely hyped bisphosphonate drugs including alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), risedronate (Actonel) and zoledronic acid (Reclast) that are aimed at preserving bone mass and reducing the risk of fractures. Unfortunately, as NaturalNews has reported, the more these medications are pushed on patients, the more serious side effects are being reported, from dangerous heart arrhythmias (http://www.naturalnews.com/026027_d…) to dental problems, esophageal ulcers, abdominal pain and severe damage to the jaw bone. But a new study involving almost 70,000 people from throughout the U.S. and Europe shows that nutrients calcium and vitamin D taken together offer a natural, side effect-free way to prevent fractures.

Because broken bones are a major cause of disability and loss of independence for elders, these findings are of particular interest to older people. In fact, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), fall-related injuries are the leading cause of accidental death among Americans age 65 and older. However, fractures can be serious at any age, causing pain, sometimes necessitating surgery and almost always restricting activities. Read the rest of this entry »

In the high-stress, fast-paced world we live in today, many people do not take the time to focus on what really matters, their own health. They also do not realize that by following just a few simple steps they can not only improve their health, increase their energy levels, but also reduce their stress.

Get Some Sleep

The most important part of your day may be the one you are not even awake for. A proper nights sleep can be the key to a better day. People who get the recommended six to eight hours of sleep a night are, in general, more alert and focused the next day since their minds and bodies have had ample time to rest and recharge. Too little sleep can cause lack of focus and poor concentration levels. On the other hand, too much sleep can actually make a person feel more tired the next day. The best way to ensure a good nights sleep is to stick to a regular schedule.

Take Your Vitamins Read the rest of this entry »

Building a strong immune system is one of the most important steps in preventing the spread of modern illness. The best way to improve your immunity is through natural foods and supplements like these:

Vitamin D

An important regulator in immune response, vitamin D is a key factor in maintaining strong immunity. The properties of vitamin D activate the body’s natural defense against pathogens and viruses, triggering the proper response when the body is exposed to a harmful microorganism.

Natural food sources for vitamin D include egg yolk, Atlantic herring, shrimp and other types of seafood. However, vitamin D supplementation is generally recommended in addition to a healthy diet. Ideally you should supplement with a source like fermented cod liver oil, which is a highly concentrated source of natural vitamin D. Otherwise, a high-quality Vitamin D supplement is the next best choice. Read the rest of this entry »