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CuraMed Coupon Darrell Miller 11/18/23
Understanding the Benefits of KAL Brand L-Glutathione SR 500mg Darrell Miller 6/15/23
7-Keto-DHEA: The Metabolite That Can Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight Darrell Miller 8/19/22
Curcumin Absorption: How CuraMed Beats Other Supplements Darrell Miller 8/11/22
Vitamin K2 promotes healthy arteries and cardiovascular protection Darrell Miller 5/7/19
Whey protein supports recovery from muscle loss among the elderly Darrell Miller 3/27/19
How one bacteria might help prevent sepsis infections in infants globally Darrell Miller 8/29/17
Eating This for Breakfast Every Morning HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT FASTER THAN YOU EXPECT!! Darrell Miller 5/10/17
Omega-3 and cancer recovery: How supplementation helps reduce hospital stays after operations Darrell Miller 5/7/17
TWO CUPS OF THIS DRINK DAILY AND THESE 9 EXERCISES IS ALL YOU NEED TO GET A FLAT STOMACH!! Darrell Miller 4/29/17
THIS COLON CLEANSING REMEDY HAS POWERFUL EFFICACY, You Will Need Just 2 Ingredients! Darrell Miller 4/20/17
8 Signs That You Have A Leaky Gut And How To Fix It Darrell Miller 12/6/16
The Benefits of Vitamin C Related to Skin, Nutrition & Health Darrell Miller 12/5/16
How to eat for an energy boost Darrell Miller 11/28/16
Can I Use Tea Tree Oil As A Deodorant? Darrell Miller 9/16/15
6 Types of Depression Darrell Miller 4/15/14
CLA in Weight Loss Darrell Miller 1/21/14
What is Myrrh and How Does it Boost My Health Darrell Miller 4/25/11
Controlling Diabetes with Nutritional Supplements Darrell Miller 12/15/06
Ergopharm Dietary Supplements Darrell Miller 7/29/06
Pain - Post Op and Relaxation Darrell Miller 7/13/05
Sources of Essential Fatty Acids Darrell Miller 6/25/05
The Colds & Flu Report Darrell Miller 6/18/05
Vision Quest - help fight eye problems. Darrell Miller 6/18/05
The Blood Sugar Blues - help lower blood sugar Darrell Miller 6/12/05
The Flex Factor Darrell Miller 6/11/05
Summer Sports Nutrition Guide Darrell Miller 6/11/05
CALCIUM D-GLUCARATE - Estrogen Detoxification Darrell Miller 6/1/05




CuraMed Coupon
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Date: November 18, 2023 10:26 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: CuraMed Coupon

The Magic of Turmeric Unleashed: Terry Naturally CuraMed (Save with our Coupon)

Terry Naturally CuraMed is your perfect partner for a healthy, vibrant life, harnessing the potent power of the ancient spice, turmeric. This product packs the incredible benefits of curcumin, the most potent component of turmeric. Hailed for centuries for its health benefits, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and inflammation-buster, helping your body perform at its best.

Curcumin has a rich history dating back thousands of years. This golden spice was widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and applauded for its anti-inflammatory properties. Modern science has corroborated these ancient practices, supporting the benefits of curcumin for brain, heart, and liver health, as well as immune system support.

Curcumin works in the body by modulating numerous molecular targets and signaling pathways. It is known to inhibit the production of inflammation-causing enzymes, thus reducing inflammation in the body. This makes Terry Naturally CuraMed an ideal choice for those seeking an effective, natural anti-inflammatory supplement with no side effects.

Our customers are health-conscious individuals seeking a reliable, natural supplement to reduce inflammation and optimize their overall health. Terry Naturally CuraMed is perfect for these needs. Its patented formula ensures enhanced absorption and sustained release, ensuring the curcumin stays in the blood for as long as 8 hours.

CuraMed Features:

  • Superior Absorption Curcumin: The patented formula ensures enhanced absorption, giving you the most benefits from each dose.
  • Turmeric Essentail Oil: This unique patented formula suspends Curcumin in a turmeric essentail oil giving it a sustain release effect in the body allowing curcumin to travel the blood stream longer.
  • Sustained Release: The curcumin in CuraMed is absorbed quickly and remains in the blood for up to 8 hours.
  • Clinically Studied: CuraMed's curcumin is the most clinically studied, enhanced absorption curcumin in the world.
  • High Antioxidant Value: It has a high antioxidant value of over 1,500,000, protecting your cells from oxidative stress and free radicals.
  • Chemical Free: Sourced from non-GMO turmeric grown without chemicals.

Additional Benefits of CuraMed:

  • Supports liver, brain, heart, and immune health.
  • Helps maintain a healthy inflammation response.

Tips for Using CuraMed:

  • For optimal results, take CuraMed consistently.
  • Combine CuraMed with a balanced diet and regular exercise for maximum health benefits.

Special Offer for CuraMed 750mg in 120 Size only!

We are thrilled to announce a special offer for our esteemed customers. Currently, we are offering a discount coupon of $20.00 off on each bottle of CuraMed 750mg in the 120 size. If you mention this page while making your purchase, you can avail this additional $20.00 off each bottle! Moreover, we are sweetening the deal with free shipping on your order. This is a fantastic opportunity to continue your wellness journey with CuraMed, so don't miss out. Grab your bottle while this offer lasts! at checkout, just mention $20 off or copy and past the URL into the comments and we will remove $20 off each bottle purchased and always rememeber, Free shipping with Terry Naturally products. This offer good through end of 2023.

Are you ready to unlock the health-boosting secrets of turmeric? With Terry Naturally CuraMed, you are not just purchasing a supplement; you are investing in your health. This is your chance to harness the power of the most clinically studied, enhanced absorption curcumin in the world. And right now, we're offering a special deal: mention this page and get $20 Off each bottle plus free shipping. Do not wait.

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6590)


Understanding the Benefits of KAL Brand L-Glutathione SR 500mg
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Date: June 15, 2023 02:12 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Understanding the Benefits of KAL Brand L-Glutathione SR 500mg

When it comes to maintaining optimal wellness, it's essential to prioritize your immune system and liver health. There are many supplements in the market that claim to boost your health, but Kal L-Glutathione holds a unique position in enhancing overall well-being. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body to fight toxins and protect against oxidative stress.

A Rich Antioxidant: L-Glutathione is a potent antioxidant that effectively fights free radicals in the body. These free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause DNA damage and contribute to the aging process. L-Glutathione's antioxidant properties help to neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidative stress, which is critical for maintaining good health.

Supports Liver Function: The liver is responsible for breaking down toxins and eliminating them from the body. L-Glutathione plays a crucial role in liver function by assisting in the detoxification process. It helps to eliminate harmful substances like alcohol, pollutants, and heavy metals, which can damage the liver and cause liver disease.

Enhances Immune System: Our immune system helps to fight off viruses and infections. L-Glutathione has been shown to promote healthy immune system response. It does so by stimulating the production of white blood cells, which are responsible for combating harmful bacteria and viruses.

Sustained-Release Capsule: KAL® L-Glutathione 500mg supplement comes in a sustained-release capsule that slowly releases the supplement in the body. A sustained release formula ensures that the supplement stays active for longer in the body. This slow-release mechanism ensures that the body can absorb the supplement in a gradual manner, thus maximizing effectiveness.

In Summary: L-Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that provides several benefits to the body. It offers excellent support for liver function, enhances the immune system, and promotes overall wellness. Additionally, the sustained-release capsule ensures that the supplement stays active for longer in the body, and the vegetarian capsule makes it suitable for those who follow a plant-based lifestyle. In summary, if you're looking for a supplement that can help you achieve optimal well-being, then KAL® L-Glutathione SR 500mg is the perfect supplement for you.

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6577)


7-Keto-DHEA: The Metabolite That Can Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight
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Date: August 19, 2022 12:20 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: 7-Keto-DHEA: The Metabolite That Can Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight

As we age, our bodies produce less and less Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its metabolite 7-Keto-DHEA. This can lead to a decrease in metabolic rate, making it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. That's where 7-KETO® comes in. This unique ingredient has been shown to help with weight maintenance when combined with a healthy diet and exercise routine.* Want to learn more? Read on!

What is DHEA and what does it do?

DHEA is a hormone that is produced naturally in the body. It is responsible for a number of functions, including regulating metabolism and supporting the immune system. DHEA levels decline as we age, which can lead to a number of health problems. supplementing with DHEA has been shown to improve mood, increase strength and stamina, and promote healthy skin and bones. It can also help to boost the immune system and fight the effects of aging. If you are considering taking a DHEA supplement, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider first to ensure that it is right for you. 7-Keto DHEA is a metabolite of DHEA, but the great thing about 7-Keto, it does not convert to pro hormones like estrogen and testosterone, it stays as DHEA in the body.

How can 7-KETO® help with weight maintenance?

7-KETO-DHEA is a hormone that is produced in the body naturally. It helps to maintain lean body mass and promote thermogenesis, which is the production of heat in the body. 7-KETO also helps to boost metabolism and support a healthy weight. In addition, 7-KETO has been shown to provide some protection against age-related weight gain. Studies have shown that 7-KETO can help to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass in both men and women. Furthermore, 7-KETO has been shown to help improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. As a result, 7-KETO may be an effective tool for maintaining a healthy weight.

Who should take 7-Keto-DHEA supplements and how much should they take per day?

Generally, 25mg - 100mg per day is sufficient for men and women.

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6433)


Curcumin Absorption: How CuraMed Beats Other Supplements
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Date: August 11, 2022 11:15 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Curcumin Absorption: How CuraMed Beats Other Supplements

If you're looking for a curcumin supplement that is highly absorbable by the body, look no further than CuraMed. With its patented BCM-95 turmeric essential oil process, CuraMed beats other supplements on the market when it comes to absorption. In fact, studies have shown that CuraMed is up to 10 times more absorbable than regular curcumin supplements! So if you're looking to get the most out of your curcumin supplement, make sure to choose CuraMed.

What is Curcumin and what are its benefits?

Curcumin is a yellow compound that is found in the spice turmeric. It has been used for centuries in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine. Curcumin has many potential health benefits, including reducing inflammation, boosting brain function, and fighting cancer. The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been studied extensively. Curcumin is known to block inflammatory molecules, which can play a role in conditions like arthritis, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The brain-boosting effects of curcumin are also well-documented. Curcumin has been shown to improve memory and increase levels of BDNF, a protein that helps to protect brain cells. Additionally, the potent antioxidant properties of curcumin may help to protect against the development of cancer. Although more research is needed, the potential health benefits of curcumin are very promising.

How is CuraMed different from other curcumin supplements?

CuraMed is a unique curcumin supplement that uses the patented BCM-95 process of manufacturing. This process increases the absorption of curcumin significantly and the turmeric essential oils extends the time at which the curcumin stays in the blood stream, making it more effective and longer lasting than other supplements on the market. In addition, CuraMed does not contain black pepper, which can cause stomach upset in some people. as a result, CuraMed is a more gentle and effective option for those looking to improve their health with curcumin. One can add bioperine which is standardized black pepper to increase absorption further.

How does the BCM-95 turmeric essential oil process increase absorbability?

BCM-95 is a patented process that significantly increases the absorption of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. Curcumin is notoriously difficult to absorb, so this process is a major breakthrough. BCM-95 uses the essential oils from the turmeric plant, which further increase absorption. This unique process results in a product that is absorbed up to 10 times better than standard curcumin supplements. In addition, BCM-95 maintains blood levels for up to 8 hours, while standard supplements only last for 2-3 hours. This makes BCM-95 the most effective turmeric supplement on the market today. If you're looking for a turmeric supplement that will give you maximum benefit, look for one that contains BCM-95.

Key Points:

  • CuraMed is a highly absorbable curcumin supplement, due to its patented BCM-95 process.
  • CuraMed does not contain black pepper, which can cause stomach upset in some people.
  • The BCM-95 process increases absorption of the active ingredient in turmeric by up to 10 times.
  • The essential oils in BCM-95 maintain blood levels of curcumin for up to 8 hours, while standard supplements only last for 2-3 hours.

In summary:

CuraMed is a highly absorbable curcumin supplement that uses the patented BCM-95 process to increase absorption by up to 10 times. This patented curcumin BCM-95 formula also help to maintain blood levels of curcumin for up to 8 hours, making it the most effective turmeric supplement on the market today. If you're looking for a way to improve your health with curcumin, CuraMed is definitely worth considering.

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6426)


Vitamin K2 promotes healthy arteries and cardiovascular protection
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Date: May 07, 2019 04:13 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Vitamin K2 promotes healthy arteries and cardiovascular protection





Vitamin K2 may help protect you against becoming one of the 17 million people estimated to die from heart disease this year. Vitamin K2 helps to moderate how much calcium builds up in the body and where. This is significant because the calcification of plaque-narrowed arteries plays a major role in heart disease. Vitamin K2 can help ensure that your body’s calcium supply stays in your bones and out of your arteries and other soft tissue, and can reduce your risk of heart disease by 50 percent or more.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number one cause of death and illness worldwide is attributed to heart disease and it is estimated to cause about 17 million deaths each year.
  • Artherosclerosis, or the accumulation of calcified deposits in the arteries, has been known by researchers to be a major cause of heart disease.
  • Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and the maintenance of bone density. It is found in two forms in the body – Vitamin K1, and Vitamin K2.

"In one study, daily consumption of more than 32 micrograms of dietary vitamin K2 reduced the risk of arterial calcification and death from heart disease – by an incredible 50 percent."

Read more: https://www.naturalhealth365.com/vitamin-k2-nutrition-news-2650.html

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6272)


Whey protein supports recovery from muscle loss among the elderly
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Date: March 27, 2019 10:31 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Whey protein supports recovery from muscle loss among the elderly





Whey protein is good for building muscle especially in the elderly. Studies have shown that whey protein can help elderly people build lost muscle from long hospital stays or illness. Lack of strength in the elderly can affect their balance and the ability to perform simple tasks. A controlled study of sixteen men and fifteen women between the ages of sixty-five and eighty, were given whey protein or collagen for five weeks. During the study there was no difference between the two, but after the study, whey proved to recover more muscle than collagen. The right supplements can help keep you healthy when paired with a healthy diet and exercise.

Key Takeaways:

  • Exercise enthusiasts use whey protein to build up their muscle and surprisingly, it has been discovered that this supplement can be beneficial for the elderly.
  • A study on protein supplements employed 16 men and 15 women who were aged between 65 and 80 years to study the effects of these supplements on the elderly.
  • Whey protein is considered a high quality or complete protein because it contains very high amounts of all the essential amino acids and leucine.

"A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that whey protein can help seniors rebuild lost muscle from inactivity linked to illness or long hospital stays."

Read more: https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-01-26-whey-protein-supports-recovery-from-muscle-loss-elderly.html

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6096)


How one bacteria might help prevent sepsis infections in infants globally
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Date: August 29, 2017 09:14 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: How one bacteria might help prevent sepsis infections in infants globally





Beneficial bacteria has been found in some fermented vegetables, such as Kimchi and a few other food products, which can help counter Sepsis. This would help globally save lives of babies in areas that have higher risk. A study took place and results produced incredible numbers that significantly reduced the amount of children that had a high probability of getting this infection. This bacteria stays in the gut where it can be nourished by every meal eaten. There has also been results of reduction in lung infections and pneumonia.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bacteria can change our immune system to help protect us from diseases
  • Sepsis is a very preventable disease that kills many babies each year worldwide
  • Probiotics can help prevent bad bacteria from getting into our blood system

"However, much like drugs, the probiotics need to be fully tested before they can be used widely."

Read more: https://today.mims.com/topic/how-one-bacteria-might-help-prevent-sepsis-infections-in-infants-globally

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5192)


Eating This for Breakfast Every Morning HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT FASTER THAN YOU EXPECT!!
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Date: May 10, 2017 11:44 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Eating This for Breakfast Every Morning HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT FASTER THAN YOU EXPECT!!





Eating breakfast every day gives you energy and accelerates you metabolism for the day to come. A study done on men and women was done with some eating oatmeal, while others ate cornflakes or just drank water. Findings showed that eating oatmeal for breakfast have long lasting effects on cravings for more food and maintaining healthy, steady glucose levels resulting in taking in fewer calories during the day. Oats provide fiber which can keep you full, help digestion and lower your cholesterol. Oatmeal also fight heart diseases and various cancers, it's the best breakfast food you can eat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyqws8dTKGM&rel=0

Key Takeaways:

  • If you are trying to lose extra weight, you should never skip the breakfast, as that will simply boost the unhealthy cravings during the rest of the day.
  • Oatmeal stays longer in the stomach, while cornflakes raise blood glucose levels, and then the individual experiences a sudden drop in sugar.
  • Numerous studies have confirmed the same findings, and it has been found that oatmeal for breakfast helps weight loss and reduces the calorie intake by 31-50%, and its effects are long- lasting.

"The most important meal of the day is undoubtedly the breakfast, so you should always make sure it is healthy and nutritious. This meal provides the needed energy for the day and accelerates the metabolism."

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4582)


Omega-3 and cancer recovery: How supplementation helps reduce hospital stays after operations
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Date: May 07, 2017 07:14 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Omega-3 and cancer recovery: How supplementation helps reduce hospital stays after operations





New evidence has shown that taking Omega-3 supplements after GI cancer surgery can recover quicker due to a reduction of inflammation and an increase in immunity. The best way to receive the benefits is to start supplementing 5-7 days before the surgery. The supplement combats, decreased immunity, malnutrition inflammation and surgical stress. It however is to be noted that the sample size of research patients was small with researchers cautioning that this study should be used to encourage further research.

Read more: Omega-3 and cancer recovery: How supplementation helps reduce hospital stays after operations

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4553)


TWO CUPS OF THIS DRINK DAILY AND THESE 9 EXERCISES IS ALL YOU NEED TO GET A FLAT STOMACH!!
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Date: April 29, 2017 02:14 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: TWO CUPS OF THIS DRINK DAILY AND THESE 9 EXERCISES IS ALL YOU NEED TO GET A FLAT STOMACH!!





So many people want to flatten their stomach, but soon find that it is harder than they ever imagined it could be. It is true that it is difficult to lose fat from the stomach, but it is not impossible. If you know the right remedy, you can get a flat stomach that you love in no time. This drink and exercises are all that you need to make great strides in your desire for a flat stomach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=665qdTOzvgg&rel=0

Key Takeaways:

  • Orange juice, honey and apple cider mixed in a drink can help reduce belly fat.
  • Apple Cider helps digestion and reduces the time fat stays in your stomach.
  • Research show half a grapefruit consumed before meals help reduce weight gain.

"A flat stomach is everyone’s desire, and it is not simple to achieve, as you need to exercise regularly, but you should also change the food you consume. Today, we are going to reveal the recipe of a remedy which will burn the abdominal fat accumulated in the abdominal area, and prevent gain weight again. It cleanses the body from all harmful toxins and waste, removes retained fluids, and boosts the function of the brain."

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4503)


THIS COLON CLEANSING REMEDY HAS POWERFUL EFFICACY, You Will Need Just 2 Ingredients!
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Date: April 20, 2017 04:44 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: THIS COLON CLEANSING REMEDY HAS POWERFUL EFFICACY, You Will Need Just 2 Ingredients!





No one really thinks about how vital the colon is to your body. Your colon must be clean and clear of anything that may cause can affection. The colon does so much for the body that not a lot of people realize because they don't see it. The colon has a lot to do with your metabolism, the cleaner it stays the faster your metabolism is. A colon can simply be cleaned by the stuff you put into your body. This video provides two ingredients that will help keep your colon clean on a regular basis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCp5g0TaV6o&rel=0

Key Takeaways:

  • Waste can pile up in the colon and cause problems in the body.
  • Flaxseed flour is a cost efficient way to reduce waste in the colon and improve health.
  • While taking flaxseed flour it is best to consume 2 liters of water a day to get the best results.

"The intestines process 100 tons of food and 40000 liters of fluids during a period of 70 years, meaning that about 10 pounds of fecal deposits and toxic waste pile up in the stomach every year, and thus contaminate the blood and lead to great damage to the body."

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4438)


8 Signs That You Have A Leaky Gut And How To Fix It
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Date: December 06, 2016 02:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: 8 Signs That You Have A Leaky Gut And How To Fix It





Do you have a leaky gut? It is a potentially dangerous condition that could cause a whole host of problems that you'd never guess had anything to do with intestinal health, from chronic fatigue and headaches to skin problems and joint pain. A healthy, happy gut is a key part of your overall health, and you can take some simple steps to ensure it stays in top shape.

Key Takeaways:

  • This is alarming, given that intestinal permeability has been mentioned in medical literature for the past century.
  • Meaning, if you suffer from increased inflammation due to leaky gut syndrome and have a predisposition within your joints, higher levels of inflammation will likely result in pain.
  • As fewer antimicrobial peptides are produced in the skin, the severity of inflammation and the possibility of infection increases.

"Leaky gut syndrome is just as it sounds. It’s an abnormal increase in the permeability of your small intestine."



Reference:

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=//www.thealternativedaily.com/how-to-fix-a-leaky-gut/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGmZmMDFkMTU2YWMzMmQ5OTU6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH7-X1UVrgNM8U770qPtiCDdrYVvg

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3584)


The Benefits of Vitamin C Related to Skin, Nutrition & Health
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Date: December 05, 2016 07:59 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: The Benefits of Vitamin C Related to Skin, Nutrition & Health





Vitamin C is one of many essential nutrients that our bodies require to function properly. The list of benefits of getting the proper amount of this vitamin is quite long. Some of the main effects of vitamin C include stimulating the immune system to avoid illness and help in collagen production to discourage signs of aging and maintain connective tissues. Many foods can have vitamin C artificially added these days, so it’s important to read labels. Foods that naturally provide this wonder-supplement include citrus fruits, green vegetables, strawberries, milk, and potatoes.

Key Takeaways:

  • body requires a lot of vitamins on a daily basis in order to stay healthy. Vitamin C is one of these and its benefits are very much a major player in making sure the body stays healthy.
  • The development and maintenance of connective tissues such as such as fat, muscle and your bone structure.
  • It’s a powerful antioxidant that protects blood cells and your eyes.

"Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an necessary nutrient for humans and certain other animal species, in which it functions as a vitamin."



Reference:

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=//infloria.com/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c-related-to-skin-nutrition-health/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjVkYjY3ZDViNDdiNGM3ZTc6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFNxtVG6xULNyHsFOpIuoK3SHMIUw

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3571)


How to eat for an energy boost
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Date: November 28, 2016 12:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: How to eat for an energy boost





Many companies are trying to cash in on the need for many people to get more energy. There are so many products these days that claim they will give you extra energy that it is ridiculous. While vitamin B does play a role in helping your body get energized, overdoing it on the vitamin will not make you any more energetic. The keys to giving your body energy are to eat slow-digesting carbohydrates and get the right amount of sleep. By eating three to five meals a day of slow carbs, your body energy stays more constant.

Key Takeaways:

  • We eat for many reasons, but the bottom line is that food is fuel for our bodies, so what we eat affects how energetic we feel throughout the day.
  • An energy-optimal meal or snack includes a mix of high-quality carbohydrates for energy with some lean protein and healthy fat for staying power.
  • Going too long between meals can leave you running on fumes, and trying to satisfy a raging hunger with a large meal can leave you lethargic while your body works overtime to digest it.

"Vitamins and minerals don’t give us energy, per se. Energy comes from calories — specifically, calories in the form of glucose, which is found in carbohydrate-containing foods — and from sleep."



Reference:

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=//www.bradenton.com/news/local/health-care/article114738583.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjVkYjY3ZDViNDdiNGM3ZTc6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFr2q3Fow1bDBEKZIwsyCWl9mX4vQ

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3526)


Can I Use Tea Tree Oil As A Deodorant?
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Date: September 16, 2015 09:40 PM
Author: Darrell Miller
Subject: Can I Use Tea Tree Oil As A Deodorant?

Most people use deodorant to control their body odor. But what they don’t know is the several hazards it causes. People usually apply these deo sprays under their armpits and over their body to control sweat and body odor. But these causes several health issues that should never be ignored.

Deodorant


Hazardous ingredients in deodorants

Some of the common substances used in deodorants include Parabens, aluminum, Triclosan, etc. Aluminum causes several health issues such as kidney problems, seizures, breast cancer, bone formation disorder, etc. Alzheimer and Down syndrome are also results of aluminum which people using these chemical deodorants suffer from. Apart from this, most deo sprays available in the market use parabens. These Parabens often mimic estrogen in the body, thereby disturbing the hormonal balance. It can cause hormonal cancer, early onset of puberty and more. If that’s not all, these deodorants also cause birth defects in unborn children. Along with this, the Triclosan included in body sprays also cause cancer, several allergies and fever.


Will these cause health problems?

There are numerous studies that show how deodorants and antiperspirants cause health issues. These can either be in the form of allergies to serious health hazards such as cancer. The chemicals used in these are extremely harmful for the body since it blocks the sweat glands.


Using tea tree oil as an alternative

The best thing is to use natural deodorants such as tea tree oil. It has several antiseptic properties that work well to control body odor. But the best thing about this essential oil, it is extremely safe to use and doesn't have any side effects. You can use it on your skin without worrying about the side effects.

Since tea tree oil can cause minor skin irritation in some people, it is always a good idea to use diluted oil under the arm pits. It works extremely well to mask odor and stays longer on your body, unlike deodorants. It also removes body odor once and for all, with regular use.


References

//www.intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/11/05/5-surprising-hazards-using-deodorant-solution/

//www.diynatural.com/natural-homemade-deodorant/

//www.pua-zone.com/showthread.php?341-Teatree-Oil-Deodorant-Alternative

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6 Types of Depression
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Date: April 15, 2014 10:36 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: 6 Types of Depression

biology of depressionTypes of depression

Major / Clinical Depression

This kind of depression is ordinarily known by individuals in light of the fact that it is one that shows clear side effects, dissimilar to gentle or even direct depression which now and again go unnoticed. It is the established or what is alluded to as clinical depression. An individual who has this kind of depression gets discouraging contemplations and is unable to control it. He stays with being pitiful for a long time of time and despises himself instead of putting the fault on to others for the way he is. He maintains a strategic distance from individuals and minds his own business.

Moderate Depression

Moderate depression lies some place between mellow depression and significant depression. The manifestations of moderate depression are normally perceptible and in the event that it is left untreated, it could raise into a significant one.

depressionMild or Gentle Depression

Gentle depression is the minimum extreme structure that a sufferer may encounter. The indications are gentle and along these lines don't result in a significant effect on the sufferer. Sufferers of mellow depression may encounter pain and disturbance yet frequently disregard their condition with the presumption that the manifestations are not serious enough to warrant medication.

Childhood Depression

As the name recommends, this alludes to depression that surfaced throughout youth. Adolescence depression might be characterized as a sickness when the sentiments of depression continue and meddle with a tyke or youthful's capacity to capacity.

Bipolar Depression

Bipolar depression is otherwise called manic-depression and alludes to a case whereby the sufferer has extensive disposition swings that extends from extremely fiery to great lows. Both mind-sets may keep going for a few weeks on end.

Psychotic Depression

Crazy depression is a standout amongst the most serious sorts of depression. An individual experiencing this may encounter mind flights, begin to hear voices in his mind and along these lines gets silly about what is occurring. A crazy breakdown may happen if an individual experiencing maniacal depression does not get the important help.

Luckily, depression is an ailment that might be cured. There are incalculable of cures in the commercial center extending from unreasonable conferences to self improvement guides that shows you how to take out depression regularly. All in all, what you have barely learnt in this article is the 6 separate sorts of depression and distinguished the sort of depression you are experiencing. Having a finer comprehension, you can now settle on a more good choice in which sort of cure might help you.

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CLA in Weight Loss
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Date: January 21, 2014 10:05 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: CLA in Weight Loss

What is CLA

claCLA, or conjugated linoleic harsh corrosive, has been the subject of an assortment of exploration in the previous numerous years. Over 200 studies have indicated that it may assume an exceptionally vital part in weight reduction, as well as in serving to battle disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis (solidifying of the corridors). It is not made in the human figure, and is discovered commonly in meat and dairy fats, or as an over-the-counter supplement. Artificially, it is a marginally changed type of the fundamental greasy harsh corrosive, linoleic harsh corrosive, and an omega-6 fattening harsh corrosive. The CLA discovered regularly in the sustenance sources is most astounding in dairy cattle and bovines that expend an eating methodology rich in grasses, and the individuals who are nibbling in pastures; instead of the aforementioned bolstered monitored food, for example, grain, feed or silage. To quote Larry Satter, an Agricultural Research Dairy Scientist, "Pasture-nibbled cows had 500% more CLA in their milk than those nourished silage." Since the fat is the particular bearer of the CLA, the substance of the fat in the milk is extremely paramount. The higher the fat substance, the more stupendous the CLA sum is in the milk. This is as opposed to what is proposed when drinking milk. Skim or 1% is constantly proposed over the entire or 2%, to maintain a strategic distance from the overabundance calories and fat, since normally drain was tanked for the calcium content (or the protein). This adds an entire new profit to drain and dairy items, clearing a path for science to control the CLA substance of milkfat, and may open the entryway the CLA-improved sustenances.

Study on CLA

Scientists accept CLA helps square fat cells that are in the figure from topping off with fat by meddling with a fat-archiving compound regarded as lipoprotein lipase, and additionally, by expanding the affectability of units to the hormone insulin. Creature studies have likewise demonstrated an expansion in lean bulk and fat lessening, or fat blazing; furnishing positive progressions to form sythesis, a decline in general muscle to fat ratio ratios. It is known as a "fat eliminator" on the grounds that it revs up muscle metabolism, in this way, helping increment lean tissue, bringing about the figure to need more calories to capacity (since fat units smolder next to zero calories), accordingly accelerating the fat smoldering procedure to make vigor.

Much stays to be looked into the underlying instruments by which CLA pushes its assorted physiological impacts. The profits are genuine, in spite of the fact that more research with people requirements to be carried out. You ought not feel that taking CLA alone would phenomenally make you shed pounds, in the event that you are not joining a brilliant, solid, overall adjusted eating methodology and activity program on top of it.

Reference:

  1. //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjugated_linoleic_acid

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What is Myrrh and How Does it Boost My Health
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Date: April 25, 2011 04:22 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: What is Myrrh and How Does it Boost My Health

Myrrh And Your Health

Myrrh is one of the oldest herbal remedies in the East and the West. It had a strong presence in many religious traditions of the ancient world. It was even compared to gold in value at some time in history. Early physicians noted its antibacterial properties and added it to poultices and health tonics. Modern medicine has started to look into its medicinal potential in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar.

Inhibits Pain Chemicals

Myrrh is obtained from the plant species Commiphora myrrha, though there are other related species that produce the same resinous gum. It is native to the Levant and the surrounding regions. As its use were quite common during the ancient times, it spread to eastern countries, eventually reaching India and China, where it remains an important part of folk medicine practices to this day.

In addition to its pleasant aroma, myrrh was prized for its antiseptic and analgesic properties in the old days. It was one of the ingredients used by ancient Egyptians in the mummification of their dead. Throughout the centuries, myrrh has been used primarily as a perfume or wound salve. It has a soothing effect on lesions of body surfaces that seem to remove the perception of pain.

Improves Insulin Resistance

Earlier studies have noted the benefits of myrrh to patients suffering from diabetes, drawing on its uses in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. In India, physicians that practice both conventional and Ayurvedic medicine have ascribed certain species of myrrh with properties that remove disorders of the circulatory system, notably high blood sugar. Myrrh decoctions are the usual herbal preparations, but it is also available as liniments, balms, salves, tinctures, and incense.

In one laboratory study, myrrh extracts appear to lower serum glucose levels. It is postulated that it ameliorates symptoms of metabolic syndrome by enhancing the effects of the hormone insulin. It increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin, even promoting faster glucose metabolism. In the Middle East, it is one of the mainstays of treatment for diabetes type 2.

Reduces Total Lipid Levels

Myrrh has been the subject of decades-long research on its role in the management of cholesterol. In the latter half of the 20th century, it was discovered that low-density lipoproteins play a major role in many cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. The dichotomy of bad and good cholesterol hit the mainstream media to promote awareness of the lifestyle factors tied to cardiovascular diseases.

High-density lipoproteins are dubbed good cholesterol in contrast to low-density lipoproteins, or bad cholesterol. Low-density lipoproteins are actually involved in the formation of plaques within the blood vessel walls that leads to many complications. It has been observed that myrrh reduces total lipid levels in the blood by raising high-density lipoproteins and lowering low-density lipoproteins.

Give myrrh a try and experience its health beneficial properties for yourself!

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Controlling Diabetes with Nutritional Supplements
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Date: December 15, 2006 04:07 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Controlling Diabetes with Nutritional Supplements

Controlling Diabetes with Nutritional Supplements

 

Perhaps no other disease is as closely linked to nutrition as diabetes. Not only doe nutrition play a role in its development, nutrition is also one of the disease’s most powerful treatments.

 

Because of this strong and critical connection to nutrition, researchers have carefully studied the use of nutritional supplements in the treatment of the disease. They found that many vitamins, such as vitamin C and the B vitamins, minerals such as chromium, as well as herbs like Gymnema sylvestre, can safely, effectively, and naturally lower blood sugars and help prevent diabetic complications.

 

What is even more important, however, is that these vitamins, minerals, and herbs can be combined together in a scientifically validated diabetic formula to work synergistically. That means their combined effectiveness is even more powerful. Like a group of good friends, these vitamins, minerals, and herbs do their best work when they are all together.

In this issue of Ask the Doctor, we will talk about powerful vitamins, minerals, and herbs combined in a scientifically validated formula that people with diabetes can use every day.

 

But before we get into the specific formula, we need to first talk about diabetes.

 

Q. What exactly is diabetes?

 

A. When we eat, the process of digestion breaks down our food into nutrients. Most of the food we eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose). The sugar enters the bloodstream for delivery throughout the body and is then called blood sugar.

 

Insulin, a hormone that helps metabolize blood sugar, is made in the pancreas-a long, skinny gland located behind the stomach. Insulin takes blood sugar from the bloodstream and delivers it into the cells that make up the various organs in our body, such as our heart, lungs, and kidneys. The sugar provides energy to the cells to keep our hearts beating, our lungs breathing, and our kidneys excreting.

 

Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes, most often starts in childhood. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin. The sugar stays in the blood instead of going into the cells where it is needed. Because of this, all people with Type 1 diabetes have to take at least one shot of insulin every day just to stay alive.

 

Type 2 diabetes most often starts in adults and is also the most common kind. About 90 to 95 percent of all people with diabetes have Type 2. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin. However, the body does not use it effectively. The condition known as “insulin resistance” occurs when the cells do not respond to (resist) insulin’s attempt to enter with glucose. The pancreas responds by producing more and more insulin. When the cells do not respond, high levels of glucose build up in the blood, leading to Type 2 diabetes. Almost everyone with Type 2 diabetes also is insulin resistant. Because the insulin is left unused, the pancreas thinks it isn’t needed and may eventually stop making it. People with Type 2 diabetes often need to take prescription drugs to lower blood sugar levels if dietary and lifestyle changes are not enough to control the problem.

 

In both types of diabetes, the sugar stays in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells where it is needed and belongs. When blood sugar builds up in the blood, it causes two problems. First, the cells become starved for energy. And, over a period of time, high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys.

 

Q. What causes diabetes?

 

A. While scientists aren’t exactly sure why Type 1 diabetes happens, they do know the immune system is involved. A healthy immune system protects us from diseases caused by infections, such as colds or the flu, as well as diseases that start in our own cells, such as cancer. For some reasons, in certain people, the immune system becomes confused and begins attacking and destroying the cells in the pancreas that makes insulin.

 

Scientists aren’t exactly sure why Type 2 diabetes happens either; however, they have identified that it occurs most often in certain individuals. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, have high blood pressure, and have high cholesterol levels in their blood.

 

Q. What are the symptoms of diabetes?

 

A. Type 1 diabetes develops very quickly. The classic signs of diabetes include:

 

-Frequent urination, because the body is trying to get rid of the excess sugar in the blood

-Intense thirst, because the body needs to replace the fluid lost through the urine

-Increased hunger, because the cells need nutrients

-Weight loss, because without insulin, the body begins to starve

 

The onset of Type 2 diabetes is often very gradual and may develop without any symptoms at all. Sadly, the diagnosis most often is made only after a complication of the disease happens.

 

Q. What are the complications of diabetes?

 

A. The complications of diabetes happen in both types of the disease. All diabetic complications are caused by chronically high blood sugars. The longer your blood sugar levels are elevated, the greater your chances are of having complications.

 

Circulation problems

 

High blood sugar damages blood vessels. When high levels of sugar are continuously in the blood, the blood vessels become thicker and less flexible, causing poor circulation. Poor circulation can impair healing, especially on the feet and lower legs. High blood sugar also causes higher levels of fat in the bloodstream. The fat clogs and narrows the blood vessels. Partial blockages deprive the heart of some necessary nutrients. A complete blockage can result in a heart attack, heart pain (called angina), or stroke.

 

Nerve damage

 

Nerve damage makes it hard for your nerves to send messages to the brain and other parts of the body. It may cause you to lose feeling in parts of your body or have a painful pins-and-needles-like feeling. While nerve damage most often affects the feet and legs, it can also affect other parts of the body.

 

Eye problems

 

Diabetes can damage and weaken the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye that is sensitive to light and helps you see. When the blood vessels are weak, they can leak fluid, which causes swelling in the eye. The swelling blurs your vision. If the eye damage gets worse, your eye attempts to fix this damage by making new blood vessels over the retina. But because these blood vessels are fragile, they can break open easily and bleed into the eye. Scar tissue can then form. This may cause the retina to break away from the back of the eye, which can lead to visual impairment-even blindness.

 

Kidney damage

 

Diabetes can also damage the blood vessels in the kidney so it can’t filter out the body’s waste. High blood pressure is also associated with kidney damage. If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, it is important to keep them both under control as much as possible. The longer blood sugar levels are left uncontrolled, the greater the amount of kidney damage that can occur. If the kidney damage isn’t stopped, some individuals may progress to needing kidney transplants or dialysis machines.

 

All of these complications, however, can almost always be prevented.

 

Q. How can the complications of diabetes be prevented?

 

A. Vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements can provide powerful tools for preventing serious complications and keeping people with diabetes healthy. The best nutritional supplement contains powerful vitamins, minerals, and herbs in a synergistic formula that can effectively lower blood sugars and provide the specialized nutrients people with diabetes need.

 

Q. Which vitamins, minerals, and herbs should be included in a nutritional supplement for people with diabetes?

 

A. The vitamins, minerals, and herbs in a diabetic formula should work synergistically and be clinically demonstrated to help prevent the known complications of diabetes. To get the best results, it is very important that the right ingredients are in the diabetic formula you buy.

 

Q. How often should I take a diabetic formula supplement?

 

A. Read the label of the diabetic formula you are considering buying. Most quality products need to be taken twice a day. Keep in mind that you will still need to take a high quality multivitamin in addition to the diabetic formula supplement. A diabetic formula is complementary. That means that it is designed to be and addition to your multivitamin routine, not a replacement.

 

Q. Could the diabetic formula lower my blood sugar level too much?

 

A. In general, too low blood sugar levels should not be a problem. A high quality diabetic formula containing synergistic vitamins, minerals and herbs, most often lowers blood sugars to normal levels. However, these vitamins, minerals, and herbs will not excessively lower blood sugar levels that are already normal.

 

Q. Do I need to continue monitoring my blood sugar when taking a diabetic formula supplement?

 

A. Diabetes is a disease that requires active participation from you. You need to be aware of your problem and be in control of it as much as possible. If you use a home glucose monitor to check your blood sugars, you may feel more comfortable by checking your levels more frequently when you first take a diabetic formula supplement. You should always follow the recommendation of your doctor or a licensed health care practitioner regarding how often you should check your blood sugar levels.

 

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (as well as most licensed health care practitioners), a good blood sugar range for most people with diabetes (before a meal) is from about 70 to 150. An ideal range is 70-120.

 

Taking a nutritional supplement formulated especially for diabetics that contain vitamins, minerals, and herbs that work synergistically in a scientifically valid formula will help you keep your blood sugars right where the ADA and NIDDK recommend.

 

Q. Can’t I just take the diabetic formula supplement and not worry about my diet?

 

A. Unfortunately, you cannot. Successful diabetes management means doing lost of positive things. First, you need to see your licensed health care practitioner often. You need to choose foods wisely and stay active to have a positive influence on your blood sugar levels and your health. And, taking a diabetic formula supplement every day can really help. However, the diabetic formula supplement is meant to be an addition to your healthy diet, not a substitute.

 

Conclusion

 

Having diabetes might make you feel overwhelmed. Restrictions on what you may and may not eat might make you feel deprived and unfairly burdened. The possibility of disease complications may make you feel anxious and scared-even angry. It is only natural to ask “Why me?” Taking control of your diabetes, instead of letting it control you, can help with these feelings. Eating wisely and exercising every day are two important ways to improve your health. And, taking a nutritional supplement formulated specifically for people with diabetes every day can give you the critical control you need to direct your health for years to come. Many healthy years to come.

 

 

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Ergopharm Dietary Supplements
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Date: July 29, 2006 03:01 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Ergopharm Dietary Supplements

About Ergopharm Supplement company.

"Welcome to Ergopharm, a division of Proviant Technologies, the leader in innovative sports supplement technology. Led by world famous chemist Patrick Arnold, Ergopharm employs a full team of chemists, food scientists, and microbiologists to bring you the most effective and highest quality products in the sports supplement marketplace.

Ergopharm started as the industry leader in prohormone products, but has since expanded its line to offer a full spectrum of cutting edge dietary supplements - including fat loss products, protein powders, cellular energizers, and mood enhancers.

As always, Ergopharm stays committed to stringent quality control and its facilities follow strict GMP guidelines. Ergopharm has in-house chemical, physical, and microbiological analytical instrumentation and staff to ensure its products live up to every specification necessary.

If you are not buying Ergopharm products, then you are missing out on the future of sports nutrition."

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Pain - Post Op and Relaxation
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Date: July 13, 2005 09:24 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Pain - Post Op and Relaxation

Relaxation, Music Reduce Post-Op Pain. New research has found that relaxation and music, separately or together, significantly reduce patients' pain following major abdominal surgery. The study, published in the May issue of the journal Pain, found that these methods reduce pain more than pain medication alone. Led by Marion Good, PhD, RN, of Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, the study is supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), at the National Institutes of Health. "This is important news for the millions of Americans who undergo surgery and experience postoperative pain each year," said Dr. Patricia A. Grady, director of the NINR.

"Better pain management can reduce hospital stays and speed recovery, ultimately improving patients' quality of life." Dr. Good and her research team studied three groups of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. In addition to the usual pain medication, one group used a jaw relaxation technique, another group listened to music, and a third group received a combination of relaxation and music.

Findings revealed that, after surgery, the three treatment groups had significantly less pain than the control group, which received only pain medication. "Both medication and self-care methods which involve patient participation are needed for relief," said Dr. Good.

"These relaxation and music self-care methods provide more complete relief without the undesired side effects of some pain medications." The findings have important implications for the 23 million people who undergo surgery and experience postoperative pain annually in the United States. Pain can hamper recovery by heightening the body's response to the stress of surgery and increasing tissue breakdown, coagulation and fluid retention. Pain also interferes with appetite and sleep and can lead to complications that prolong hospitalization.

Dr. Good and her research staff worked with 500 patients aged 18-70, who were undergoing gynecological, gastrointestinal, exploratory or urinary surgery. Prior to surgery, those in the music, relaxation or combination groups practiced the techniques. The relaxation technique consisted of letting the lower jaw drop slightly, softening the lips, resting the tongue in the bottom of the mouth, and breathing slowly and rhythmically with a three-rhythm pattern of inhale, exhale and rest. Patients in the music group chose one of five kinds of soothing music--harp, piano, synthesizer, orchestral or slow jazz.

On the first and second days after surgery, all patients received morphine or Demerol for pain relief by pressing a button connected to their intravenous patient controlled analgesia pumps. The groups receiving the additional intervention used earphones to listen to music and relaxation tapes during walking and rest, while the control group did not. The research team measured the patients' pain before and after 15 minutes of bed rest and four times during walking to see if the sensation and distress of pain changed.

Dr. Good found that during these two days postsurgery the three treatment groups had significantly less pain than the control group during both walking and rest. "Patients can take more control of their postoperative pain using these self-care methods," says Dr. Good. "Nurses and physicians preparing patients for surgery and caring for them afterwards should encourage patients to use relaxation and music to enhance the effectiveness of pain medication and hasten recovery."

Dr. Good's findings have implications for future research into the effectiveness of self-care methods on other types of pain, including chronic pain, cancer pain, and pain of the critically ill.

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Vitamin D Lack Linked to Hip Fracture. Vitamin D deficiency in post-menopausal women is associated with increased risk of hip fracture, according to investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass. In a group of women with osteoporosis hospitalized for hip fracture, 50 percent were found to have a previously undetected vitamin D deficiency. In the control group, women who had not suffered a hip fracture but who were hospitalized for an elective hip replacement, only a very small percentage had vitamin D deficiency, although one-fourth of those women also had osteoporosis. These findings were reported in the April 28, 1999, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study, conducted by Meryl S. LeBoff, MD; Lynn Kohlmeier, MD; Shelley Hurwitz, PhD; Jennifer Franklin, BA; John Wright, MD; and Julie Glowacki, PhD; of the Endocrine Hypertension Division, Department of Internal Medicine, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR. These investigators studied women admitted to either Brigham and Women's Hospital or the New England Baptist Hospital, both in Boston, between January 1995 and June 1998.

A group of 98 postmenopausal women who normally reside in their own homes were chosen for the study. Women with bone deterioration from other causes were excluded from the study.

There were 30 women with hip fractures caused by osteoporosis and 68 hospitalized for elective joint replacement. Of these 68, 17 women also had osteoporosis as determined by the World Health Organization bone density criteria. All the participants answered questions regarding their lifestyle, reproductive history, calcium in their diet, and physical activity.

Bone mineral density of the spine, hip, and total body were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technique, as was body composition. Blood chemistry and urinary calcium levels were analyzed. The two groups of women with osteoporosis did not differ significantly in either time since menopause or bone density in the spine or hip. They did, however, differ in total bone density.

The women admitted for a hip fracture had fewer hours of exercise than the control group. Fifty percent of the women with hip fractures were deficient in vitamin D, 36.7 percent had elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (a hormone which can stimulate loss of calcium from bone), and 81.8 percent had calcium in their urine, suggesting inappropriate calcium loss. Blood levels of calcium were lower in the women with hip fractures than in either elective group.

These researchers propose that vitamin D supplementation at the time of fracture may speed up recovery and reduce risk of fracture in the future. Current Dietary Reference Intake Guidelines contain a daily recommendation of 400 IU of vitamin D for people aged 51 through 70 and 600 IU for those over age 70.

"We know that a calcium-rich diet and regular weight-bearing exercise can help prevent osteoporosis. This new research suggests that an adequate intake of vitamin D, which the body uses to help absorb calcium, may help women to reduce their risk of hip fracture, even when osteoporosis is present," observed Dr. Evan C. Hadley, NIA Associate Director for geriatrics research.

"Osteoporosis leads to more than 300,000 hip fractures each year, causing pain, frequent disability, and costly hospitalizations or long-term care. "Prevention of such fractures would greatly improve the quality of life for many older women and men, as well as significantly reduce medical costs." The bones in the body often undergo rebuilding. Some cells, osteoclasts, dissolve older parts of the bones. Then, bone-building cells known as osteoblasts create new bone using calcium and phosphorus.

As people age, if osteoporosis develops, more bone is dissolved than is rebuilt, and the bones weaken and become prone to fracture. Also in many older persons, levels of vitamin D in the blood are low because they eat less or spend less time in the sun, which stimulates the body's own production of vitamin D.

Experts do not understand fully the causes of osteoporosis. However, they do know that lack of estrogen which accompanies menopause, diets low in calcium, and lack of exercise contribute to the problem. Eighty percent of older Americans who face the possibility of pain and debilitation from an osteoporosis-related fracture are women. One out of every two women and one in eight men over the age of 50 will have such a fracture sometime in the future. These fractures usually occur in the hip, wrist, and spine.

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Sleep Apnea, Diabetes Link Found. Adults who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea are three times more likely to also have diabetes and more likely to suffer a stroke in the future, according to a new UCLA School of Dentistry/Department of Veterans Affairs study published today in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Sleep apnea, a serious condition marked by loud snoring, irregular breathing and interrupted oxygen intake, affects an estimated nine million Americans. The culprit? Carrying too many extra pounds.

"The blame falls squarely on excess weight gain," said Dr. Arthur H. Friedlander, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the UCLA School of Dentistry and associate chief of staff at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Los Angeles. Surplus weight interferes with insulin's ability to propel sugars from digested food across the cell membrane, robbing the cells of needed carbohydrates. Diabetes results when glucose builds up in the bloodstream and can't be utilized by the body. Being overweight can also lead to obstructive sleep apnea, according to Friedlander.

"When people gain too much weight, fatty deposits build up along the throat and line the breathing passages," he explained. "The muscles in this region slacken during sleep, forcing the airway to narrow and often close altogether." Reclining on one's back magnifies the situation. "When an overweight person lies down and goes to sleep," Friedlander said, "gravity shoves the fat in the neck backwards. This blocks the airway and can bring breathing to a halt."

Friedlander tested the blood sugar of 54 randomly selected male veterans whom doctors had previously diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. He discovered that 17 of the 54 patients, or 31 percent, unknowingly suffered from adult-onset diabetes. Using the same sample, Friedlander also took panoramic X-rays of the men's necks and jaws. The X-rays indicated that 12 of the 54 patients, or 22 percent, revealed calcified plaques in the carotid artery leading to the brain.

These plaques block blood flow, significantly increasing patients' risk for stroke. Seven of the 12, or 58 percent, were also diagnosed with diabetes. In dramatic comparison, the 17 patients diagnosed with diabetes showed nearly twice the incidence of blockage. Seven of the 17 men, or 41 percent, had carotid plaques. Only five of the 54 patients who displayed plaques did not have also diabetes. If he conducted this study today, Friedlander notes, he would likely find a higher number of diabetic patients. After he completed the study in 1997, the American Diabetes Association lowered its definition for diabetes from 140 to 126 milligrams of sugar per deciliter of blood.

"This is the first time that science has uncovered a link between sleep apnea and diabetes," said Friedlander. "The data suggest that someone afflicted with both diabetes and sleep apnea is more likely to suffer a stroke in the future." "Persons going to the doctor for a sleep-apnea exam should request that their blood be screened for diabetes, especially if they are overweight," he cautioned. More than half of the individuals who develop diabetes as adults will need to modify their diet and take daily insulin in order to control the disease, he added.

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Stress, Surgery May Increase CA Tumors. Stress and surgery may increase the growth of cancerous tumors by suppressing natural killer cell activity, says a Johns Hopkins researcher.

Malignancies and viral infections are in part controlled by the immune system's natural killer (NK) cells, a sub-population of white blood cells that seek out and kill certain tumor and virally infected cells. In a study using animal models, natural killer cell activity was suppressed by physical stress or surgery, resulting in a significant increase in tumor development.

These findings suggest that protective measures should be considered to prevent metastasis for patients undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, according to Gayle Page, D.N.Sc., R.N., associate professor and Independence Foundation chair at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. "Human studies have already found a connection between the level of NK activity and susceptibility to several different types of cancer," says Page, an author of the study.

"We sought to determine the importance of stress-induced suppression of NK activity and thus learn the effects of stress and surgery on tumor development. "Many patients undergo surgery to remove cancerous tumors that have the potential to spread. If our findings in rats can be generalized to such clinical settings, then these circumstances could increase tumor growth during or shortly after surgery." The research was conducted at Ohio State University College of Nursing and the Department of Psychology at UCLA, where Page held previous positions, and at Tel Aviv University.

Results of the study are published in the March issue of the International Journal of Cancer. In laboratory studies, Page and her colleagues subjected rats to either abdominal surgery or physical stress, and then inoculated them with cancer cells. In the rats that had undergone surgery, the researchers observed a 200 to 500 percent increase in the incidence of lung tumor cells, an early indicator of metastasis, compared with rats that had not received surgery.

The experiment also showed that stress increased lung tumor incidence and significantly increased the mortality in the animals inoculated with cancer cells. "Our results show that, under specific circumstances, resistance to tumor development is compromised by physical stress and surgical intervention," says Page.

"Because surgical procedures are life-saving and cannot be withheld, protective measures should be considered that will prevent suppression of the natural killer cell activity and additional tumor development. "Researchers do not yet know how to prevent surgery-induced immune suppression, but early animal studies have shown increased use of analgesia reduces the risk."

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, and the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Health. Lead author was Shamgar Ben-Eliyahu, Ph.D., and other authors were Raz Yirmiya, Ph.D., and Guy Shakhar.

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Sources of Essential Fatty Acids
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Date: June 25, 2005 08:38 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Sources of Essential Fatty Acids

Sources of Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids are found in both plant and animal sources, although primarily in plants. The EFA family is composed of two main forms, Omega-3 and Omega-6. The following explains exactly what these forms are.

OMEGA-3: The most common forms of Omega-3 are eicosapentaenioic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid, which comes from plants and helps create EPA and DHA. Omega-3 is usually derived from fish oils. Dr. Roger Illingworth, associate professor of medicine and biochemistry at Oregon Health Sciences University, explains that Omega-3 fatty acids are “long-chained metabolic products from linolenic acid. . . When animals consume and metabolize plants rich in linolenic acid, they produce Omega-3.” EPA and DHA are liquid and remain that way, even at room temperature. It is said that they protect fish by providing a body fat that stays fluid even in cold temperatures. OMEGA-6: The most common form of Omega-6 is is gammalinolenic acid (GLA). GLA is known to provide the following benefits, among many others:


1. Helps facilitate weight loss in overweight persons (but not in people who do not need to lose any weight).
2. Reduces platelet aggregation (abnormal blood clotting).
3. Helps reduce symptoms of depression and schizophrenia.
4. Alleviates premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
5. May help alcoholics overcome their addiction.

Omega-6 is usually found in plant sources. The oils of coldwater fish such as salmon, bluefish, herring, tuna, mackerel and similar fish are known as Omega-3 fatty acids. The freshpressed oils of many raw seeds and nuts contain Omega-6 fatty acids. The most popular sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 include:

BLACK CURRANT SEED OIL: This oil is rich in linoleic acid (44%) and provides almost twice as much gamma-linolenic acid as evening primrose oil. Black currant seed oil also is an excellent source of an Omega-3 precursor known as stearidonic acid. BORAGE OIL: This oil comes from Borago officinalis, a plant with blue flowers. It is widely recommended in Europe to strengthen the adrenal glands, alleviate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and relieve inflammation. Besides possibly helping with heart and joint function, it may also assist the growth of nails and hair. Borage oil is also an excellent source of GLA. In The Complete Medicinal Herbal, herbalist Penelope Ody asserts that it is “helpful in some cases of menstrual irregularity, for irritable bowel syndrome, or as emergency first aid for hangovers.” SALMON OIL: This oil is high in Omega-3 essential fatty acids. These types of EFAs are known to thin the blood, prevent clotting, regulate cholesterol production and strengthen cell walls, making them less susceptible to viral and bacterial invasion. Salmon oil has a natural ability to help the body relieve inflammation. In the ground-breaking book The Omega-3 Breakthrough: The Revolutionary, Medically Proven Fish Oil Diet, professor Roger Illingworth writes that Linolenic acid is a fatty acid with 18 carbons and 3 double bonds.

It is manufactured exclusively by plants. When animals consume and metabolize plants rich in linolenic acid, they produce Omega- 3. Plankton, a minute form of marine life, is part plant and part animal. Its plant component manufactures linolenic acid. Fish eat the plankton, and the linolenic acid breaks down in their bodies in two types of Omega-3 fatty acids: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) . . . The liquidity of EPA and DHA serves a vital function in fish, who require body fat that remains fluid even in very cold water. Fish oils, besides containing Omega-3 fatty acids, have shown to benefit those suffering from migraine headaches, arthritis, and high cholesterol levels.

FLAX: Flax is a plant said to date back as far as 5000 B.C. It has been used since approximately 5000 B.C., making it one of the oldest cultivated crops. It is exported from several countries, including Argentina, Canada, India, Russia and the United States. The flowers are usually blue, although they are sometimes white or pink. The mucilaginous seed is, of course, called flaxseed. The oil primarily provides Omega-3/linolenic acid, and provides an average of 57 percent Omega-3, 16 percent Omega-6, and 18 percent of the non-essential Omega-9. Flaxseed oil is said to contain rich amounts of beta carotene (about 4,300 IU per tablespoon) and vitamin E (about 15 IU per tablespoon). In the October 1995 issue of Let’s Live, the history and uses of flax were highlighted by herbalist Carla Cassata. She writes, . . . It’s no wonder the Cherokee Indians highly valued the flax plant. They mixed flaxseed oil with either goat or moose milk, honey and cooked pumpkin to nourish pregnant and nursing mothers, providing them with the needed nutrients for creating strong and healthy children. It was also given to people who had skin diseases, arthritis, malnutrition as well as men wishing to increase virility. They believed flax captured energies from the sun that could then be released and used in the body’s metabolic process.

This belief has merit. Flaxseed oil, rich in electrons, strongly attracts photons from sunlight. To be effective, EFAs must be combined with protein at the same meal. This flaxseed oil/protein/ sunlight combination releases energy and enhances the body’s electrical system. Also, this combination, along with vitamin E, can be beneficial for infertile couples and women suffering from premenstrual syndrome . . . Flaxseed oil, having an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, can benefit the 40 million Americans suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. To achieve optimum results, however, substances that activate the sympathetic nervous system—like refined sugar, soda, coffee, fluoride— must be eliminated. Stress must also be reduced, because it too, activates the sympathetic nervous system, promoting inflammation.

EVENING PRIMROSE: This flower is indigenous to North America, although the oil is particularly popular throughout Europe for therapeutic purposes. It is also known as night wil - low and evening star. It is an excellent source of both linolenic and linoleic acids. Both of these nutrients must be obtained from the diet, as the body cannot synthesize them. The seeds contain gamma linolenic acid. This polyunsaturated EFA helps with the production of energy and is a structural component of the brain, bone marrow, muscles and cell membranes. Evening primrose oil has also benefited those with multiple sclerosis, PMS, hyperactivity and obesity. It is estimated that it takes about 5,000 seeds to produce the oil for one 500 mg capsule.

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The Colds & Flu Report
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Date: June 18, 2005 08:38 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: The Colds & Flu Report

The Colds & Flu Report by Sherrill Williams Energy Times, October 13, 2004

The nose knows the misery of a cold: stuffiness, watery eyes, sore throat and nagging cough. These annoyances are especially frustrating when there's not enough time in your busy schedule to be sick.

Traditional remedies help: Slurping a cup of Grandma's chicken soup. Sweating in a hot bath. Climbing under the covers until further notice.

While no one can guarantee you won't catch a cold this year, a few simple measures can limit your sick days and give you the best chance to dodge upper respiratory distress. The common cold is a frequent and expensive problem, causing about 15 million lost work days for Americans each year. Some people seem just about immune to the group of viruses that cause colds. But others may endure as many as 12 colds per year. For the lucky ones, a cold's irritations last a couple of days. For the unfortunate, a cold can drag on for a couple of weeks.

Influenza (commonly known as the flu) has many of the same discomforts as a cold, and both disorders originate in the upper respiratory tract. But while a cold usually stays on tract, the flu is often accompanied by fever, prominent headaches and severe aches and pains around the body. Fatigue from the flu can last as long as two to three weeks during recovery. All this distress demonstrates that your body is fighting off the invaders.

Earnest Echinacea

Traditional healers advocate the use of the herb echinacea at the first sign of getting sick. Echinacea, commonly known as purple coneflower, is native to North America and was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia until the 1950s.

Rosemary Gladstar, a Vermont herbalist and author of Family Herbal (Storey Books), suggests taking echinacea (Echinacea ssp.) in frequent small amounts in tincture or tea form at the first sign of cold or flu.

" Most of the compounds in echinacea are water soluble, so it makes a fine tea," says Gladstar. She also encourages echinacea tea as a gargle or spray to relieve sore throats.

Research at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts validates what traditional healers such as Rosemary Gladstar have known: echinacea works best if taken at the onset of colds or flu. In an animal study, scientists found that echinacea triggered a humoral immune response, an immune reaction that spurs the production of special proteins that latch onto and destroy viruses (Immunopharmacology & Immunotoxicology 2003 Nov; 25(4):551-60).

In another study, researchers found that echinacea enhances immune actions called T cell subsets or helper cell activity (Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2004 Jul; 27(7):1004-9). Helper cells are lymphocytes that take part in the destruction of viruses. In the quest for the kind of immunity that makes you less vulnerable to infection by troublesome viruses, Gladstar says that "echinacea is safe for children, the elderly and everyone in between."

C Is for Colds-And So Is E

The reputation of vitamin C as the anti-cold nutrient has been batted back and forth in the media for decades. Your body can't store up much of this antioxidant water-soluble vitamin, so you have to consume it every day on a regular basis. And while vitamin C may not prevent the common cold, research does demonstrate that it can help reduce a cold's severity and make it go away faster (Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics 1999 Oct; 22(8):530-3).

Adequate vitamin C is crucial for a healthy immune system. Even a marginal deficiency of this nutrient can leave you more vulnerable to the viruses that cause cold and flu. Plus, if you get a runny nose, researchers believe vitamin C can act as a mild antihistamine, slowing that runny nose to a walk.

In a University of Texas study reported at the 60th Anniversary meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in 2003, daily doses of vitamin C were shown to significantly aid immunity.

After two weeks of taking vitamin C, the people in this study had their blood examined. Researchers found increased numbers of NK (natural killer) cells, immune warriors that destroy infected cells. In addition, vitamin C activated T cells, a class of immune cells that also fight viruses.

And now a newsbreak: you can add vitamin E, vitamin C's antioxidant companion, to your cold prevention shopping list, at least if you're a senior citizen. According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2004; 292(7):828-36), nursing home residents aged 65 and older who took vitamin E enjoyed a 20% risk reduction when it came to developing upper respiratory infections.

Don't Be Sick, Stay Happy

" When you smile, the whole world smiles with you" is a melody that is music to immunity. Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have found that folks who are relaxed, happy and maintain positive emotions are less likely to catch colds. In addition, people who are depressed, nervous or angry are more likely to complain of cold symptoms whether or not they actually have a cold (Psycho Med 2003 Jul; 65:652-7). According to Sheldon Cohen, PhD, "Study participants who had a positive emotional style weren't infected as often and experienced fewer symptoms compared to people with a negative emotional style."

So you don't have to be a passive cold victim this winter. When viruses threaten you, according to Mary L. Hardy, MD, you can also try:

  • • Tea made from elderflower, linden or yarrow to reduce fever.
  • • Thyme to ease breathing.
  • • Taking fenugreek or fennel to loosen mucus.
  • • Loosening sinuses by adding hot pepper, horseradish or ginger to your diet. If you have another medical condition beside your cold, are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your health practitioner. Also, consult a practitioner before giving herbs to children.

    " The first caution I give people is to get a good diagnosis," says Dr. Hardy. "If your cold is not acting like a normal cold, or if it has lasted more than a short amount of time, make sure you don't have a more serious condition, such as pneumonia." In that case, seek professional help.

    But if you've contracted a run-of-the-mill winter cold, keep your spirits and immunity up! Even if you've been impulsively singing and dancing in the rain, the chill and wet won't result in a cold if you let a smile be your immune umbrella!



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    Vitanet ®

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    Vision Quest - help fight eye problems.
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    Date: June 18, 2005 08:34 AM
    Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
    Subject: Vision Quest - help fight eye problems.

    Vision Quest by Phyllis D. Light, RH Energy Times, February 11, 2004

    Since your eyes are in constant use every day, exposed to the damaging energy of sunlight and pollutants that waft through the air, these delicate orbs are often in danger of wearing out.

    To keep this vital part of your anatomy functioning as you age, you have to feed and care for your eyes properly. Otherwise, you are in real danger of losing your vision and independence.

    Your vision may be in danger. Experts estimate that 8 million Americans over the age of 55 are at serious risk of blindness linked to a condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD can wipe out your central vision and is the primary cause of blindness in Western society.

    While AMD causes no pain, it blurs the sharp, central vision necessary for driving, reading and other activities where you need to see either up close or straight ahead. During AMD, the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to pick out fine detail, is destroyed. The macula sits at the center of your retina, the nerve center at the back of your eye that senses light and sends optic signals to the brain.

    Age is not the only risk factor for AMD. Scientists have isolated a genetic defect that can lead to some forms of macular degeneration (Nature Genetics 2001; 27:89-93). Smoking and excessive exposure to sunlight are other hazards best avoided if you want to save your sight.

    In many cases, AMD progresses so slowly that victims of this condition don't even notice that their vision is deteriorating until much of it is irrevocably gone.

    Dry and Wet AMD

    Wet AMD occurs when blood vessels in back of the retina start to overgrow and leak blood. As this occurs, blood and other fluids push on the macula and quickly damage its sensitive nerve endings. When wet AMD occurs, you lose your central vision rapidly. If straight lines appear wavy to you, you may be suffering from wet AMD. If you notice this or other unusual vision changes, contact an eye care specialist as soon as possible. You need what is called a comprehensive dilated eye exam that can uncover signs of AMD.

    Dry AMD strikes the eye when light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly deteriorate, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD progresses, a blurry spot in the center of your vision may appear. Eventually, as more of the macula becomes dysfunctional, the central vision in the eye can gradually disappear.

    The most common sign of dry AMD is slightly blurry vision. This can make it hard to recognize faces and also make it harder to read without very bright light. Dry AMD generally attacks both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye stays normal. In the early stages of dry AMD, drusen, yellow deposits that gather under the retina, may form. Dry AMD progresses in three stages:

  • • Early AMD: Small drusen form but vision is unaffected.
  • • Intermediate AMD: Many medium drusen appear or, alternately, one large drusen occurs. Center vision is often blurred and reading requires bright lights.
  • • Advanced Dry AMD: Drusen formation is accompanied by deterioration of tissue in the macula. Blurs in central vision expand, eventually destroying most vision. Note: Because of the fast destruction it causes, wet AMD is an advanced form of this disorder that is considered more severe than the dry version.

    Vitamins and Minerals for AMD

    Fortunately, scientists have found ways to combat AMD: An analysis of a study called the national Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) shows that more than 300,000 Americans could avoid losing their sight to AMD if they took daily supplements of antioxidant nutrients and zinc.

    This conclusion, reached by scientists at Johns Hopkins' Wilmer Eye Institute, is based on research involving more than 4,500 adults suffering various stages of AMD. The study demonstrated that people who already had some AMD could lower their risk of the more advanced form of this condition by 25% when they took vitamin C, natural vitamin E and beta carotene along with zinc. Those suffering from advanced AMD lowered their chances of losing vision by about 19%. (Supplements did not affect the risk of cataracts or the chances of some vision loss for people in the early stages of AMD.)

    " Without treatment to reduce their risk, we estimate that 1.3 million adults would develop the advanced stage of AMD," says Neil M. Bressler, MD, professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins and author of the current study, published in Archives of Ophthalmology (11/03).

    According to Dr. Bressler and the other researchers, people who now have intermediate AMD (some vision loss) in one eye have about a 1 in 16 chance of having their vision deteriorate until they have advanced AMD. They also calculate that about 1 in 4 of those with intermediate AMD in both eyes and 43% of those with advanced AMD in one eye will develop advanced AMD in five years without treatment.

    In their view, older people at risk of AMD blindness should take daily supplements of 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 milligrams of natural vitamin E, 15 milligrams of beta carotene, 80 milligrams of zinc as zinc oxide and 2 milligrams of copper as cupric oxide. Evidence also exists that a diet which is high in fat can cause AMD to progress to an advanced stage. The exceptions: The healthy fats found in fish and nuts (Archives of Ophthalmology 2003; 121:1728-37).

    Lutein Protection

    Oddly enough, some of the same pigments that color vegetables and other foods also color your eyes. And scientists believe that those pigments, which are classified as carotenoids, help protect the eyes by helping them fight off the negative effects of caustic molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are formed when the energy from sunlight strikes the eyes and disrupts the composition of natural chemicals found there.

    When scientists compared healthy eyes with eyes suffering from AMD, they found that AMD eyes contained lower levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoid pigments contained in egg yolk, spinach, broccoli and other dark green vegetables (Ophthalmology 2003; 109:1780). Furthermore, they found that levels of these chemicals generally decline as you grow older.

    " This research is a major step toward large-scale clinical studies to prove the extent to which lutein and zeaxanthin protect against age-related macular degeneration," says Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD, at the University of Utah School of Medicine at Salt Lake. "We know that these carotenoids are specifically concentrated in the macula of the human eye."

    Dr. Bernstein adds that, as you age, taking supplements containing lutein and other antioxidants may lower your AMD risk. In his investigation, people with AMD who did not take lutein had one-third less lutein in their eyes than older people whose vision was normal.

    Avoiding Cataracts

    Another eyesight hazard is cataracts, in which the eye's lens-the part that focuses incoming light onto the retina-becomes cloudy. Cataracts form when the proteins found in the normally clear lens become damaged; signs include progressively blurred vision (especially outdoors), focusing problems, seeing streaks of light from headlights and stoplights, and colors that look faded.

    Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. One of every six Americans 40 and older suffers from some degree of cataract; it affects half of all Americans who reach age 80. Nuclear cataracts, the most common form of this disorder, develop in the center of the lens and tend to grow slowly. Cataracts may also develop at the back of the lens; this form is linked to eye trauma and long-term use of certain medications, including steroids.

    Like AMD, cataracts become more common as people age. Up to 40% of individuals between the ages of 75 and 85 have them, compared with only 5% to 10% of those folks under the age of 65. And like AMD, sunlight exposure and smoking increase the risk of developing cataracts, as does the presence of diabetes.

    Lutein and zeaxanthin, the carotenoids that are so plentiful in the macula, are also found in the lens (although in lower concentrations), leading many researchers to believe that these nutrients may help drop your risk of cataract development. Early studies indicate that an increased intake of lutein and zeaxanthin reduces one's chances of needing cataract surgery, the most common surgery in the United States (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999; 70(4):509-16; 517-24).

    Antioxidants and the Lens

    Scientists believe that free-radical damage is a leading cause of cataracts, and so it isn't surprising that antioxidants have proved useful in preventing this problem.

    Almost 500 women filled out diet questionnaires as part of a very large research effort called the Nurses' Health Study; those who had taken vitamin C supplements for 10 years or longer enjoyed the lowest rates of nuclear cataracts (Archives of Ophthalmology 2001; 119:1009-19).

    So the answer to lowering your risk of eye problems is clear, whether you are already in your mature years or plan to be someday: Lead a healthy, eye-friendly lifestyle, eating a diet filled with colorful fruits and vegetables. Take frequent walks and jogs around the block.

    And yes, when you kick back and take your just-as-frequent doses of antioxidant supplements, you're allowed to take your sunglasses off and see the world clearly.



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    The Blood Sugar Blues - help lower blood sugar
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    Date: June 12, 2005 08:08 AM
    Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
    Subject: The Blood Sugar Blues - help lower blood sugar

    The Blood Sugar Blues by Carl Lowe Energy Times, July 10, 2003

    The cells in your body run on the sugar they get from blood. Normally, this energy distribution system functions efficiently. When things go awry, however, blood sugar fluctuations can cause serious problems.

    If your blood sugar stays too high, your pancreas, heart and other organs suffer. But stabilize your blood sugar and you can stabilize your health.

    Problems linked to too much blood sugar are widespread. Diabetes, in which the body becomes increasingly unable to regulate blood sugar levels, is one of the most serious and widespread conditions. Plus, researchers now know that elevated blood sugar, even if you don't suffer diabetes, elevates your risk of heart disease and pancreatic cancer (JAMA 5/17/00).

    Researchers at the Northwestern University Medical School have shown that with every bump up in your blood sugar levels, your chances of contracting pancreatic cancer rises significantly.

    "Because the prevalence of type 2 (adult onset) diabetes and obesity, including childhood obesity, is steadily increasing, identifying a potential causal association between hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and pancreatic cancer could have important preventive and prognosticative implications for this cancer," notes Susan M. Gapstur, MD, a professor at Northwestern.

    In other words, measuring your blood sugar can go a long way towards measuring the odds of developing this devastating condition. In the United States, pancreatic cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer. The disease is difficult to discover, and tumors in the pancreas usually remain hidden until the cancer has spread throughout the body.

    Blood Sugar and Heart Problems

    A collection of researchers now believes your blood sugar level so closely predicts your heart disease risk that blood sugar may be a more accurate heart disease predictor than cholesterol. According to a study in England (BMJ 2001; 322:15), the higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of heart disease and other serious health problems.

    In particular, a type of blood sugar called glycated hemoglobin may provide an indication of what kind of trouble your heart and arteries may face in the future.

    Glycated hemoglobin is blood glucose (sugar) that has latched onto your red blood cells. The levels of this type of attached sugar climbs when blood sugar levels consistently stay too high. After a while, this sugar not only sticks to blood cells, it also starts sticking to other tissues, an occurrence that can lead to cardiovascular disease.

    While about one in twenty people in their late 40s or older has diabetes, experts estimate that almost three out of four have at least some degree of elevated glycated hemoglobin.

    Higher and Higher

    Men and postmenopausal women are at highest risk for elevated blood sugar. Your blood sugar also generally increases:

  • * As you age

  • * When you gain weight around the middle

  • * When you eat a diet high in saturated fat (such as meats, butter and fried foods)

    You can lower your risk of forming glycated hemoglobin by taking the antioxidant vitamins C and E and drinking three or four alcoholic drinks a week (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000: 71(5)). In addition, losing weight and exercising also drops your glycated hemoglobin.

    Helpful Chromium

    When glucose enters the bloodstream after a meal, it has a variety of possible destinations. It can be picked up by brain cells, which use glucose as their only source of fuel (this explains why low blood sugar can cause headaches, dizziness and shakiness). Glucose also can enter muscles, which can burn either glucose or fat for energy. Or glucose can enter fat cells for storage-not a desirable option for someone who is already overweight.

    One reason blood sugar may rise to unhealthy levels is a condition called glucose resistance or intolerance, which occurs when insulin, the hormone-like substance that shepherds glucose into the body's cells, can't do its job efficiently. That leads to blood which is too rich in both sugar and insulin.

    Researchers believe that the element chromium can help the body use insulin more effectively, which, when combined with adequate exercise, allows glucose to more easily enter muscle cells.

    "In experiments, chromium supplementation has actually been found to improve glucose tolerance in some diabetics and in people with impaired glucose tolerance," says nutrition researcher and teacher Shari Lieberman, PhD, in The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book (Avery/Penguin).

    In a number of investigations, chromium has not only helped improve glucose tolerance, but it has also decreased circulating insulin, glycated hemoglobin and cholesterol levels (Journal of the American College of Nutrition 1998; 17:548-55). (People with elevated glucose levels often suffer from elevations in cholesterol as well. In the search for ways to improve cholesterol levels, Germany's Commission E, an herbal authority respected around the world, has approved the use of garlic to help support healthy cholesterol.)

    Ginseng and Blood Sugar

    American ginseng, an herb known as an adaptogen (which means it helps the body cope with everyday stress) is another tool for controlling blood sugar. Research at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto shows that taking American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) about 40 minutes before you eat can reduce your blood sugar (Archives of Internal Medicine 4/9/00).

    According to Vladimir Vuksan, MD, lead investigator for the research team, these findings may have important implications for the treatment and prevention of diabetes. "Although preliminary, these findings are encouraging and indicate that American ginseng's potential role in diabetes should be taken seriously and investigated further. Controlling after-meal blood sugar levels is recognized as a very important strategy in managing diabetes. It may also be important in the prevention of diabetes in those who have not yet developed the disease," says Dr. Vuksan.

    Fat vs Sugar

    Supplemental helpings of the fatty acid conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) have also been shown to control blood sugar and lower your risk of diabetes (Journal of Nutrition 1/03). "In previous work, we found that CLA delayed the onset of diabetes in rats," says Martha Belury, PhD, the senior author of the investigation and an associate professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University. "In (our latest) study, we found that it also helped improve the management of adult-onset diabetes in humans."

    Dr. Belury's research shows that CLA may help lower levels of leptin, a hormone believed to regulate fat levels. By reducing leptin, CLA may help reduce body fat, which, in turn, may lower the risk of diabetes and high blood sugar.

    Sweet Workouts

    A consistent, long-term exercise program is one of the single best ways to convince your body to temper blood sugar levels and lower your risk of developing diabetes (Clinical Exercise Physiology 2/15/02).

    "It now appears that there is...a long-term beneficial effect from regular exercise, most likely due to the fact that a significant amount of fat is lost," says exercise physiologist Cris Slentz, PhD. "Long-term exercise leads to loss of fat in the gut (stomach) region, which is especially beneficial since this fat is thought to be directly linked to increased risk of diabetes and heart disease."

    Dr, Slentz's study examined how exercise influences the way the body uses sugar in people who have a high risk of diabetes.

    In this research, five overweight individuals who had never exercised before engaged in an intensive workout program for nine months. Afterwards, they went back to their couch potato lives.

    Dr. Slentz and other investigators measured their blood sugar before they started the exercise program and then remeasured these levels at one day, five days and thirty days after the nine-month regimen ended.

    The researchers also looked at these people's insulin sensitivity, a measure of how well their bodies controlled blood sugar.

    "Insulin sensitivity, or its ability to stimulate glucose metabolism, was higher after nine months of exercise, and the fasting insulin levels were lower," Slentz said. "Just as importantly, 30 days after stopping exercise, insulin sensitivity was still 24% higher than pre-exercise levels, indicating that beneficial effects of exercise persisted."

    In this study, people pedaled exercise bikes, walked on treadmills and climbed stairs. By the end of the research, they were working out about an hour a day.

    So if you've put off devoting yourself to an exercise program and taking care of your blood sugar, you now have more reason to start as soon as possible. Paying attention to blood sugar pays off.



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    The Flex Factor
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    Date: June 11, 2005 05:18 PM
    Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
    Subject: The Flex Factor

    The Flex Factor by Thomas Dunville Energy Times, February 10, 2004

    Arthritis, according to recent research, presents its sufferers with a Catch-22: The nagging pain of this condition can send your spirits plummeting. But, then, the depression spurred by the disconsolate persistence of arthritic pain can make the condition worse.

    Part of the trick is not to give in. If you can keep a bright mood even as your joints start to ache, the pain may lessen.

    While nobody can offer a guaranteed, 100% effective cure for arthritis, you don't have to be a passive victim. Exercise, the proper nutrients and a positive, can-do attitude can ease arthritis pain so effectively that scientists have been able to measure the difference. While medical researchers recognize the existence of over 100 types of arthritis, most people with achy joints suffer from osteoarthritis, which is caused by everyday wear and is found in just about everyone over age 60. When this condition occurs, the body's cushioning, its cartilage, thins and the inner surfaces of joints grind together painfully.

    Although aging itself increases your chances of enduring achy joints, other factors can also put you in the way of osteoarthritis. If you carry too much weight, it can wear on your joints. In addition, suffering a joint injury when you're young can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis as you age.

    In another prevalent form of joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the membranes lining the joints, causing swelling and pain. About 2 million Americans suffer from RA, which affects women about twice as often as men.

    Exercise Away Arthritic Woes

    Weekend warriors, don't despair! Arthritis doesn't have to mean the end of your weekend athletic wars. Matter of fact, in many cases, experts now recommend exercise to reduce the effects of arthritis.

    While that might sound counterintuitive, a study out of the Netherlands shows that folks in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis who work out twice a week for about an hour each session may enjoy better physical and mental health than couch potatoes who receive physical therapy.

    The Dutch study took 150 people, many of whom had just started to suffer from rheumatism, and enrolled them in RAPIT, an acronym for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Training. Rather than letting these folks rest their inflamed joints, twice a week the research team took them to the gym where they did:

  • • Weight lifting: 20 minutes
  • • Stationary biking: 20 minutes
  • • Playing a strenuous sport like basketball or volleyball: 20 minutes
  • • Cooling down with stretches: 15 minutes

    When the researchers compared the physical changes in these arthritis sufferers with 150 others with similar arthritis complaints who underwent physical therapy without organized physical activity, they found that after two years the exercisers had benefited greatly. They were stronger and more aerobically fit, could perform everyday tasks more effectively and possessed a better, more optimistic mental attitude (Arthritis and Rheumatism 2003; 48(9):2415-24).

    However, the exercisers who were already suffering severe rheumatoid arthritis did experience some extra joint damage, so the researchers believe this kind of program is better for those in the early stages of the disease. " This study demonstrates that participation in long-term high-intensity exercise classes decreases the level of psychological distress in RA patients," says researcher Zuzana de Jong, MD, a professor at the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands.

    Fish Oil Lowers Arthritis Risk

    Fish oil-in particular, cod liver oil-may be able to help ease osteoarthritis.

    In looking at the effects of fish oil, researchers at Cardiff, Wales, discovered indications that "...the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil can reduce cartilage degradation and inflammation in arthritic disease," according to Bruce Caterson, PhD, one of the scientists involved.

    Dr. Caterson adds, "Our most recent work shows that by exposing human osteoarthritic cartilage to cod liver oil in the laboratory for just 24 hours we can turn off, or reverse, the action of the degradative enzymes and inflammatory factors affecting the tissue." John Harwood, PhD, another member of the Cardiff research team, adds, "This is where science and old wives' tales coincide. Our findings are consistent with advice that taking cod liver oil in early adulthood could prevent the onset of osteoarthritis and would reduce the harmful symptoms associated with the disease."

    Dr. Caterson further explains that the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil inhibit enzymes that break down aggrecan and collagen, substances that cushion joints. Consequently, cartilage stays healthier, inflammation is lessened and arthritic pain decreases. The anti-inflammatory action of omega-3s in fighting rheumatoid arthritis is also supported by studies performed in the US (Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71(1 Suppl):349S-51S).

    Other research shows that if you take natural vitamin E along with fish oil, you may improve even further your odds of relieving arthritis or lessening its effects (JACN 10/30/00).

    Glucosamine Repair

    Glucosamine, the stuff that cartilage is made from, has been shown to lower the risk of arthritis and possibly relieve its pain. This natural substance, made from a sugar and a molecule called an amine, is a building block of joint tissue. As a result, experts believe, when you take it in supplemental form, the body may use it to repair joints that have been damaged by arthritis. For instance, an investigation of osteoarthritis of the knee performed at the University of Liege in Belgium showed that taking glucosamine could stop joints from deteriorating.

    The study, which involved more than 200 people suffering from osteoarthritis, found that in three years of taking glucosamine supplements, many arthritis sufferers found that their condition actually improved (Lancet 2001 Jan 27; 357).

    Other Arthritis Fighters

    Chondroitin sulfate is another material that goes into the making of cartilage. Chondroitin helps cartilage stay hydrated and permits the flow of nutrients through the joint tissues. In addition, researchers believe that chondroitin helps fight inflammation, which can otherwise cause pain and stiffness as well as joint destruction.

    Taken together with glucosamine, chondroitin is believed to hasten the healing of bone and cartilage. Another substance that may help ease the ache of arthritis is methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a naturally occurring sulfur-bearing compound. "MSM appears to have anti-inflammatory effects when administered orally, intravenously or topically," says MSM researcher Stanley Jacob, MD, FACS, of the Oregon Health & Science University. That means it has shown an ability to reduce the heat, pain and swelling associated with arthritic conditions. MSM may also be able to reduce muscle spasms around joints and reduce the formation of scar tissue.

    Herbal Aid

    Herbal medicine has long been used by folks with achy joints. The yellow spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), a staple of Indian cooking, is a traditional Indian remedy for arthritis because of its painkilling properties. Ginger (Zingiber officinale), another culinary favorite, restrains the production of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. And willow bark (Salix sp), the source of aspirin, is longer-acting and doesn't irritate the stomach lining.

    Those who suffer arthritis know that its pain and discomfort are often no laughing matter. But if you don't take arthritis lying down and manage to keep a smile on your face-and avail yourself of nature's remedies-you can get the upper hand on this often debilitating condition.



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    Summer Sports Nutrition Guide
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    Date: June 11, 2005 03:54 PM
    Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
    Subject: Summer Sports Nutrition Guide

    Summer Sports Nutrition Guide by Joyce Dewon Energy Times, June 18, 2004

    If you're hooked on exercise you're probably just as hooked on using top-notch equipment when you work out. Those who are serious about staying in shape buy the best running shoes, carefully pick out the best bikes and tread on durable treadmills. But do you pay just as much attention to your nutrition?

    Scientists who have studied exercise have found that what you eat before, during and after workouts is crucial to maintaining your health, getting into shape and staying fit. To achieve your best athletic performance without getting injured or sick depends on optimum nutrition. When you carefully plan what to feed your exercised body, it rewards you by feeling and looking better.

    Short 'n Sweet

    If you thought long exercise sessions were the only ways to get decent exercise benefits, take notice: small doses of exercise during the week can go a long way. " The important thing, apparently, is just do it," says Howard D. Sesso, ScD, author of an American Heart Association study on exercise and heart disease. In his study, exercisers demonstrated that several short sessions of exercise were as good for the body as a single long session (Circ 8/00; 102:975-80). " Short sessions lasting 15 minutes long appear to be helpful,"Dr. Sesso explains. Even walking about three miles per week, which is a moderate level of exercise, lowers your risk of heart disease by 10%.

    No Sweat?

    Some people glorify in working up a sweat; others curse the dampness. But putting in extra effort in even short bursts of activity pays off: experts have found that intense exercise burns more calories than more relaxed sessions, more effectively reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. In addition, it stimulates production of human growth hormone, which offsets some of the effects of aging (Exp Biol Med 2004 Mar; 229(3):240-6).

    But don't go crazy if you haven't worked out in a long time. The intensity of the workout should match your physical fitness. According to the American Heart Association, when people exercise at a comfortable pace, their heart rate and level of exertion stay within a safe range, but still high enough to benefit their health. Strenuous activities, for those who can handle them, produce the most physiological bang for the jog. But brisk walking within your own level of fitness still offers significant benefits.

    Feeding Your Muscles

    When you exercise, you work and develop your muscles, which are made primarily out of protein. Despite this fact, many exercise experts have advocated high-carb diets for athletes. But, as John Ivy, PhD, and Robert Portman, PhD, point out in their book The Performance Zone (Basic Health), "[While] there is no doubt that aerobic athletes require more carbohydrate than strength athletes...we are now discovering that the addition of protein to a carbohydrate supplement offers significant benefits to aerobic athletes."

    That is why researchers believe that consuming plenty of protein along with carbohydrates offers the best fitness benefits. Protein helps fuel activity more efficiently and aids in recovery after a session at the gym, allowing your body to repair muscle damage and build up muscle fibers.

    During exercise, you break down muscle tissue. It is during recovery, after your exercise session ends, that muscles are rebuilt. At the same time, other cellular processes take place that adapt the body to working out.

    According to Ivy and Portman, timing your intake of nutrients after exercise is crucial: "The ability of the muscle machinery to regenerate itself decreases very rapidly after a workout, so that the nutrients consumed more than 45 minutes after exercise will have far less impact in helping the muscles regenerate than nutrients consumed earlier."

    Stresses and Tears

    Engaging in athletics can cause microscopic muscle tears. These tears can cause a range of problems that, when you exercise excessively, can cause pain and injury.

    Inflammation is the body's response to cellular damage. The damaged area can swell as the body sends white blood cells and other cells to repair the injured area. Unfortunately, the swelling can further damage the muscle cells.

    Since inflammation can take 24 hours or more to cause the collection of cells in the injured area, it can be a day or two before the resulting muscle soreness reaches its peak painfulness and then starts to subside.

    Cortisol, a hormone produced when you exercise strenuously, which can result in muscle fiber damage. Cortisol boosts protein breakdown, so it can be used to fuel muscle movement. But the more protein breaks down, the more potential exists for muscle fiber injury. Free radicals are caustic molecules that are created when the mitochondria (small structures in cells) create energy; these marauders can also cause microscopic shredding of muscle strands. As you increase your use of energy during exercise, you simultaneously increase the production of free radicals. This collection of free radicals can outstrip the body's antioxidant defenses, leading to extensive muscle damage and dampening of the immune system.

    All of these cellular events can make you sore. They are also the reasons that athletes who overdo it day after day are liable to come down with nagging colds and a variety of infections.

    Muscle Fuel

    Your muscles use different substances for fuel depending on what you ask them to do. Lift a heavy weight and muscles recruit two processes called the creatine phosphate system and glycolysis to generate a large amount of quick energy. These are known as anaerobic types of energy production.

    But if you jog, swim, bike or perform any other aerobic activity, the cells use oxygen in what is called cellular respiration to supply energy to working muscles.

    When you exercise aerobically for extended periods of time, the energy available is generally limited by how much oxygen your body is capable of taking in and supplying to the muscles, where it takes part in energy production. In athletic circles, this upper limit is known as your VO2max.

    The carbohydrates your body burns for energy during aerobic activity are taken from blood sugar and carbohydrate reserves called glycogen. (The muscles store glycogen, as does the liver.) During a workout session, your glycogen supply is limited to what is stored with your muscles. But blood glucose can be boosted by carbohydrate drinks, energy gels or bars.

    Most people who work out have enough glycogen and blood sugar to fuel moderate aerobic activity for about two hours. After that, the body turns mostly to fat and protein stores to fuel exercise.

    Fat Into the Fire

    In contrast to the body's quickly diminishing supply of glycogen and blood sugar, fat can last for hours and hours of exercise. According to Portman and Ivy, a 200-pound man with 15% body fat has, theoretically, enough fat energy to run from Washington DC down to Miami Beach-and still has enough energy left over to jump into the ocean.

    But using fat for energy is complicated; fat is stored in fat tissue and not readily available to working muscles. Plus, to burn fat for energy, the body needs carbohydrate-it cannot burn fat all by itself. What's more, the conversion of fat into energy doesn't go as quickly as carb conversion.

    Protein is also used for energy when carbs run low. But the more you use protein for energy, the more you risk soreness as muscle fibers break down.

    Prepare to Energize

    To maximize your energy during exercise and minimize soreness, Portman and Ivy recommend some simple nutritional steps:

  • • Drink 14 to 20 ounces of water or a sports drink with electrolytes about a half hour before you work out. Consuming fluid helps stave off dehydration longer, helps you sweat more (which cools your body) and moderates the rise in body temperature that takes place during exercise. Portman and Ivy favor sports drinks to help you retain fluid and maintain your mineral balance.
  • • Eat carbohydrates an hour before exercising, which boosts glycogen and increases blood sugar and insulin. Portman and Ivy add that, alternatively, you can also consume a protein/carbohydrate sports drink about half an hour before working out. The protein helps protect muscle protein from being broken down.
  • • Drink small amounts of fluid frequently as you exercise to replace water lost through sweating. While some experts recommend only drinking enough to quench your thirst, most researchers agree that a sports drink with electrolytes is best to ensure proper mineral balance in your body.
  • • Consume carbs and protein during exercise. Portman and Ivy note that soccer players who consume sports drinks that contain electrolytes, carbohydrates and a bit of protein can perform more effectively. Cyclists who go on bike rides of three hours or more enjoy more endurance when they eat energy bars or consume other sources of carb and protein. Portman and Ivy advocate drinks that contain carbs and protein in a 4:1 ratio.

    Limit Soreness

    Taking protein and carbs while working out can limit muscle damage and curtail soreness. Carbs apparently drop your cortisol levels, and thereby limit muscle injuries linked to this hormone. While the mechanism that helps protein limit muscle soreness is not completely understood, it is possible that taking in protein while working out keeps the body from shredding muscle tissue in search of fuel.

    Supplements that contain antioxidants such as natural vitamin E and vitamin C (Portman and Ivy think you should take these during exercise) may limit free radical damage to muscle fibers.

    Muscle Reconstruction Plan

    If you want to help your exercise plan make you stronger, you should focus your after-exercise sports nutrition plan on these steps:

  • • Help your muscles recover from damage during activity and stimulate the rebuilding process
  • • Replace glycogen (carbohydrates) the muscles have used up during your workout
  • • Reinforce your immune system
  • • Replace water and minerals lost in sweat Even after you stop exercising, your muscles are still breaking down, according to Ivy and Portman. The key to putting the brakes on this breakdown and initiating the rebuilding process is by consuming a combination of protein and carbohydrate within 45 minutes after your workout is completed.

    The protein part of the equation is vital: don't merely indulge in only carbs after exercising. A recent study found that while carbs could help muscles rebuild, adding protein can make a big difference in improving your fitness (J App Phys 2/04).

    This combination of nutrients stimulates the pancreas so that it releases insulin. The release of insulin is the key, initial step that sets off a cascade of physiological events that speeds muscle recovery. Although many people think of insulin as an undesirable hormone-if you never exercise, too much insulin may help drive your blood sugar down and cause other problems-for exercisers, this hormone plays a crucial function in benefiting from exercise.

    By eating carbohydrate and protein soon after working out and stimulating insulin, according to Ivy and Portman, you help your body boost its synthesis of protein by:

  • • Increasing the amount of amino acids (protein building blocks) that get into the muscles-this can increase by up to 50%
  • • Increasing the production of protein synthesizing enzymes by up to two-thirds
  • • Slowing the breakdown of muscle proteins

    Drinking for Exercise The most obvious nutrient you lose during intensive exercise is water in your perspiration. However, that perspiration also contains an array of minerals known as electrolytes. So, for optimal performance and health, experts recommend you replace both the water and its minerals.

    Merely drinking water-instead of electrolyte-filled sports drinks-during prolonged aerobic activity can be dangerous. It leaves you vulnerable to a condition called hyponatremia, which can occur when your blood levels of sodium and other electrolytes drop, but your blood volume stays steady or increases because you drink lots of water.

    According to Edmund Burke, PhD, in his book Optimal Muscle Performance and Recovery (Avery), one out of four athletes who seek medical attention after a long race are suffering hyponatremia.

    " Typically," he says, "conscientious athletes get in trouble because they adhere too diligently to one recommendation: the need to drink lots of fluids. They tend to ignore another recommendation: The need to keep electrolytes up...for most endurance athletes the real problem is drinking too much water." Dr. Burke warns that you can possibly suffer hyponatremia even if you don't drink a lot of water.

    Signs of hyponatremia can be similar to those of heat exhaustion. But, while resting and cooling down can help alleviate heat exhaustion, that doesn't help hyponatremia. " To protect yourself against hyponatremia, start by paying attention to how much you sweat," Dr. Burke says. If your sweat seems very salty, burns your eyes or leaves an evident, white residue on your skin, you may be losing a great deal of sodium and should be diligent about eating salty foods. " You can also make sure you're getting enough sodium by drinking sports drinks instead of plain water during long (exercise) events," Dr. Burke notes.

    Exercise Matters

    Of course, no matter what you decide to eat or drink while exercising, the most important factor for your well-being is to get out to the gym, onto the track, or just on to the sidewalk, and do something, even if you only want to go out for a walk. No matter how old you are or what kind of shape you're in, you'll benefit from exercise.

    " It's solid evidence that across-the-board declines occur when people stop exercising," says Charles Emery, PhD, professor of psychology at Ohio State University (Health Psychology 3/04).

    Don't decline or remain supine. Let your fitness climb.



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    CALCIUM D-GLUCARATE - Estrogen Detoxification
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    Date: June 01, 2005 09:25 AM
    Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
    Subject: CALCIUM D-GLUCARATE - Estrogen Detoxification

    CALCIUM D-GLUCARATE

    From the womb to the tomb, we are subject to the effects of estrogen, the potent female hormone that shapes our lives. Variations in estrogen levels can have a dramatic effect on our cellular development. Source Naturals is proud to introduce a nutrient that may help the body remove excess estrogen, thereby giving relief to estrogen-sensitive tissues. Calcium D-glucarate is currently the subject of numerous clinical studies. It is proving to have great potential for addressing health concerns closest to our heart.

    One of life’s most delicate balancing acts is found in the ebb and flow of hormones that is constantly taking place in the human body. These messenger chemicals are fundamental to the process of life. Produced by endocrine glands, hormones travel throughout the body, communicating with each other as they direct cellular activity. For example, the hypothalamus gland monitors hormone levels in the body. It signals the pituitary gland, advising it to send messages to the ovaries to either produce or stop producing estrogen.

    Estrogen is an extremely powerful hormone whose activity can be measured in parts per trillion. Therefore, it doesn’t take much to create an imbalance. Like all hormones, estrogen communicates with a cell by docking to a particular receptor site on that cell’s membrane. If there is an excess of these estrogen-sensitive receptors, or an excess of circulating estrogen in the bloodstream, normal cellular metabolism can be altered. Another problem is that estrogen receptors are not very particular; they will accept many chemicals – both natural and synthetic – other than estrogen.

    How the body removes excess estrogen

    One of the processes by which estrogen and estrogenic compounds are metabolized and broken down is through glucuronidation. In the liver, they’re bound to glucuronic acid and then excreted in the urine or feces. This process can be disrupted by an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which is found in the gastro- intestinal tract. It frees the bound-up estrogen or estrogenic compound, releasing it to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream – to again affect cells. Obviously estrogen is needed by the body; however, too much can lead to cellular disruption. Since it can be very difficult to avoid the estrogenic chemicals rampant in our environment, another strategy is needed, and that is to reduce their negative effects by supporting the body’s natural ability to remove excess estrogen and other hormones and toxins.

    Calcium D-glucarate and hormone metabolism

    The removal of excess estrogen can be increased by a natural substance called Calcium D-glucarate (CDG), because it inhibits beta-glucuronidase activity in the body. This means that estrogen bound for excretion stays bound, and the total estrogen load on the body is reduced. In clinical trials, tissues that are sensitive to excess hormones – such as breast, liver, and lung – have been shown to respond favorably to CDG. In addition to estrogen and estrogenic compounds, CDG helps promote excretion of other hormone metabolites as well as cellular toxins and steroids.

    CDG is made naturally in small quantities in the body; it is also found in a variety of fruits and vegetables: oranges, broccoli, carrots, spinach, and apples. Vitamin A has been shown to have a synergistic effect with CDG. One 500 mg tablet of Source Naturals CALCIUM D-GLUCARATE is equivalent to the phytonutrient activity found in 82 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. The suggested use for preventative health maintenance is 3 to 4.5 grams per day. No toxicity has been found with its usage.

    Phytonutrients also help reduce estrogen exposure

    Another strategy to reduce the effects of excess estrogen is to increase the intake of plant estrogens. This helps for two reasons. First, by occupying estrogen receptor sites, these natural estrogenic compounds block synthetic estrogens from attaching to these sites. Second, phytoestrogens only mildly activate receptors. One of the best phytoestrogens is genistein, the isoflavone in soybeans responsible for soy’s beneficial influence on the human body. Increased intake of genistein and/or soy is being recommended by many health professionals, especially for post-menopausal women. Please see Source Naturals product literature on GENISTEIN as well as MENOBALANCE, our nutritional menopause formula with genistein and black cohosh. Both are part of our advanced line of nutritional support for women As new research sheds light on the importance of proper hormone balance to our health, it’s vital to protect ourselves from the increased burden of estrogen that we are encountering today. Source Naturals CALCIUM D-GLUCARATE is a timely nutrient that can make a real difference in our lives.

    References

  • • Colborn, Theo. Our Stolen Future, New York: Dutton, 1996.
  • • Curley, R.W., Jr., et al. (1994) Life Sciences 54(18): 1299-303.
  • • Dwivedi, C. (1990) Biochemical Medicine & Metabolic Biology 43(2): 83-92.
  • • Heerdt, A.S., et al. (1995) Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 31(2-3): 101-05.
  • • Robbins, John. Reclaiming Our Health, Tiburon: HJ Kramer, 1996.
  • • Walaszek, Z., et al. (1986) Carcinogenesis 7(9): 1463-6.



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