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How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally in 28 Simple (!) Steps Darrell Miller 7/31/18
Try These 5 Tricks To Speed Up Your Metabolism Naturally Darrell Miller 5/29/18
I Used These 4 Tricks To Cure Candida In A Week Darrell Miller 1/19/18
Get Rid of Eye-Bags and Dark Circles Naturally Darrell Miller 1/10/18
4 Easy Tricks To Remove Pesticides From Your Produce, Naturally Darrell Miller 12/12/17
Personal Health: The Subtle Signs of a Thyroid Disorder Darrell Miller 7/28/17
These raised bed gardening tricks beat traditional gardening every time Darrell Miller 3/29/17
JAPANESE WOMEN'S SKIN CARE SECRETS WITH ANTI AGING BENEFITS - Tebura Darrell Miller 2/19/17
How To Preserve Your Mental Health As An Entrepreneur Darrell Miller 11/27/16
Diet soda harms your body, does far more harm than good Darrell Miller 11/6/16
Hoodia For Weight Loss Darrell Miller 9/18/09
What are you really Getting? Darrell Miller 8/21/06
Staying on Your Diet throughout the Holidays Darrell Miller 1/18/06




How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally in 28 Simple (!) Steps
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Date: July 31, 2018 09:53 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally in 28 Simple (!) Steps





How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally … in 28 Simple (!) Steps

There are all kinds of natural tricks for reducing your bad cholesterol. Too much of this bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein, can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. A diet with less bad cholesterol or more good cholesterol (aka high density lipoprotein) can reduce your overall level of bad cholesterol and the resulting plaque in your blood vessels. Olive oil, nuts, seeds and salmon are all full of good cholesterol. Another potential avenue to explore is foods like turmeric or garlic that help with the smashing inflammation associated with plaque buildup.

Key Takeaways:

  • Low density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, can build up as plaques in your arteries and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
  • High density lipoprotein is a good form of cholesterol found in nuts, seeds and olive oil.
  • Limiting your intake of sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol can help to keep your bad cholesterol levels within healthy parameters.

"There are tons of natural remedies out there for how to lower cholesterol levels, often promising quick results with next to no effort required on your part. But while it’s true that there are tons of options to keep cholesterol levels in check, it can actually be as simple as swapping out a few foods in your diet for healthier options, switching up your workout routine or adding a supplement or two into the mix."

Read more: https://draxe.com/lower-cholesterol-naturally-fast/

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5685)


Try These 5 Tricks To Speed Up Your Metabolism Naturally
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Date: May 29, 2018 05:16 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Try These 5 Tricks To Speed Up Your Metabolism Naturally





Try These 5 Tricks To Speed Up Your Metabolism Naturally

The best way to lose weight (and keep it off!) is not to spend time and money on trendy dietary fads, or on extreme crash diets, but to try to harness the natural power of your metabolism to burn off weight. Getting enough sleep, adding interval exercises to prevent overly repetitive workout routines, eating wholesome, organic, unprocessed foods and drinking plenty of water and green tea can all help you to boost the rate at which your metabolism burns off fat.

Key Takeaways:

  • By building more muscle you will naturally increase your metabolism due to muscles burning calories faster than fat.
  • If your body is dehydrated, your body will have an average two percent decline in its metabolism.
  • Those who do not get enough sleep have a higher body mass index due to the impact it can have on your metabolism.

"Involving many chemical processes, your metabolism is much more than a mechanism you can tweak. It is required to sustain life, as these processes occur in each and every call. Helping you turn the food you eat into usable fuel, your resting metabolism is what accounts for most of the energy you burn."

Read more: https://www.thealternativedaily.com/how-to-speed-up-your-metabolism-naturally/

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5616)


I Used These 4 Tricks To Cure Candida In A Week
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Date: January 19, 2018 03:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: I Used These 4 Tricks To Cure Candida In A Week





Our body does not survive on its own but rather through the assistance of numerous micro organisms. In our gut system for instance, bacteria and yeasts thrive in billions. However, these can turn into harmful creatures if their numbers are not checked. A good example is 'Candida Albicans' species of yeast. If the immune system weakens, it can multiply to hazardous quantities. The body becomes sick. First symptom is strong sugar craving. Then there is chronic mental fog, joint swelling and mood swings. To cure this condition, avoid sugar and antibiotics. include in your diet probiotics, apple cider and lemon juice.

Key Takeaways:

  • Candida is a normal habitant of your body and does good things for you.
  • Yeast feed very well of sugar, so staying away from that will make a difference in the growth patterns.
  • Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice will help clear up the yeast by helping your body pH get back on track.

"When a person’s immune system is weakened — whether through diet, stress, antibiotics or all of the above — candida can no longer be held in check and begins to expand outwar"

Read more: https://www.thealternativedaily.com/all-natural-tricks-to-cure-a-candida-overgrowth/

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5496)


Get Rid of Eye-Bags and Dark Circles Naturally
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Date: January 10, 2018 03:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Get Rid of Eye-Bags and Dark Circles Naturally





Eye bags can be a worrying thing. While not necessarily a health risk, the can show that you are not sleeping enough. They are almost like bruises, with blood pooling under the skin and showing those dark circles. You can help these problems with a few easy tricks. The first involve being more healthy, by cutting back on smoking and alcohol. You can also place potatoes or cucumbers on those areas, acting almost like a ice pack, to help bring down any swelling.

Key Takeaways:

  • there are a number of causes for dark eye circles including genetic, environmental factors and the very thin skin under our eyes
  • all eye dark circles are not created equal, there is hyperpigmentation of the skin and other causes
  • here's what you can do to help: no smoking, less alcohol, a clean face at night, wear your sunglasses outside

"Although under eye dark circles are not exactly a health hazard but they may impact one’s look and hence confidence negatively."

Read more: http://www.business-standard.com/article/health/get-rid-of-eye-bags-and-dark-circles-naturally-118010800598_1.html

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5488)


4 Easy Tricks To Remove Pesticides From Your Produce, Naturally
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Date: December 12, 2017 03:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: 4 Easy Tricks To Remove Pesticides From Your Produce, Naturally





Pesticides are needed to keep pests off of produce when it is growing, but ingesting these pesticides can be harmful to the health! Rather than risk your good health while trying to eat right, you can remove the pesticides from the produce quickly and easily, eliminating any worries. It is rather simple to remove pesticides off of your produce. Use one of these four tricks and pesticides on your produce is the least of your concerns.

Key Takeaways:

  • even after making it to the supermarket dangerous pesticides are often still on produce.
  • the toxicity from pesticides can cause damage to the brain and central nervous system.
  • water with apple cider vinegar mixed in can clean and remove dangerous pesticides.

"But the vast majority of Americans have no real concept of just how toxic most fruits and vegetables really are."

Read more: https://www.thealternativedaily.com/4-ways-to-remove-pesticides-naturally/

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5434)


Personal Health: The Subtle Signs of a Thyroid Disorder
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Date: July 28, 2017 09:14 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Personal Health: The Subtle Signs of a Thyroid Disorder





There are many signs of a thyroid disorder that you should not ignore. Sadly, any people do ignore these signs, assuming they're no big deal or that it is just their mind playing tricks on them. The truth is, this is a real condition, and one that is very serious. A quick diagnosis can change things, however, so pay attention to even the most subtle of signs, like the little ones that you will find listed here.

Key Takeaways:

  • Symptoms of an overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, include weight loss, increased appetite, anxiety, insomnia and heart palpitations, including atrial fibrillation, a risk factor for stroke
  • Unfortunately, older adults experience fewer of the typical signs and symptoms associated with thyroid disorder. This can make diagnosis difficult
  • Experts believe that between 40 percent and 60 percent of people with thyroid disease do not know they have it

"Thyroid disorders can affect a wide range of bodily functions and cause an array of confusing and often misdiagnosed symptoms."

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/well/live/the-subtle-signs-of-a-thyroid-disorder.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5048)


These raised bed gardening tricks beat traditional gardening every time
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Date: March 29, 2017 11:59 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: These raised bed gardening tricks beat traditional gardening every time





Raised bed gardening methods involves preparing crops in a variety of ways using elevated garden beds. Benefits of raised garden beds include better drainage as well as better retention of moist soil. This makes raised beds particularly effective in rainy environments. In addition to better drainage, raised beds also provide better aeration. Raised beds allow effective use of the loose soil such as air circulation and nitrogen being converted to useful minerals. Other benefits include better weed control, pest control, and improved mobility.

Read more: These raised bed gardening tricks beat traditional gardening every time

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4316)


JAPANESE WOMEN'S SKIN CARE SECRETS WITH ANTI AGING BENEFITS - Tebura
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Date: February 19, 2017 05:59 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: JAPANESE WOMEN'S SKIN CARE SECRETS WITH ANTI AGING BENEFITS - Tebura





Japanese woman tend to maintain soft and supple skin well into their 50s. They use gentle cleansers free of alcohol. They don't apply a lot of product to their skin and when they apply moisturizer, they lightly tap the skin to stimulate blood flow. Eating seaweed based products, drinking more water and green tea also keeps skin supple. This and several other healthy maintenance tricks keep Japanese women looking younger and can help anyone who adheres to these techniques.

JAPANESE WOMEN'S SKIN CARE SECRETS WITH ANTI AGING BENEFITS - Tebura

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3972)


How To Preserve Your Mental Health As An Entrepreneur
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Date: November 27, 2016 10:59 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: How To Preserve Your Mental Health As An Entrepreneur





Life is stressful. It can be even more so when you are an entrepreneur with a lot of responsibilities. If you want to keep your sanity while running your own company, it is important to take some time for yourself. By having some quiet time right away in the morning, you are able to store up your energy and get yourself organized. You should also give yourself a break periodically and give your body energy in the form of food and caffeine regularly. You must also be able to walk away when others around you get upset instead of reacting.

Key Takeaways:

  • According to a 2012 study in the British Medical Journal, people with even mild mental health problems may have a lower life expectancy.
  • Caring for the mind is as important and crucial as caring for the body.
  • The morning silence yields the invisible push which will be noticed in the later part of your routine. Not only does it generate peace of mind but also it prepares you for the upcoming hurdles and flim-flammery

"What’s the difference between a normal mind and a stressed mind? You would probably know if you are an entrepreneur trying to keep your cool nature wherever you go and behave consciously whenever you are distressed. Here are few tricks and tips to uphold your mental health as an entrepreneur."



Reference:

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://inc42.com/entrepreneurship/preserve-mental-health-entrepreneur/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjFmZmViMTExOGM5Mzg5YTQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH4dIEfQsa6gF7HJDMxelKXKbUL5w

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3518)


Diet soda harms your body, does far more harm than good
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Date: November 06, 2016 01:04 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Diet soda harms your body, does far more harm than good



The debate over diet soda continues but now, facts show that it is actually more harmful to the body than it is good. If you consume these diet drinks, even periodically now is the time to switch your drink of choice. This article provides more information about the devastating effects of diet soda to your body.

Key Takeaways:

  • From adding inches to your waist to increasing the risk of diabetes, diet soda doesn't score any better in terms of health than regular sugary drinks.
  • The sweet taste of artificial sweeteners in diet soda tricks the body into believing it is getting a proper meal. This, however, creates confusion. While it is expecting calories and energy, it gets a useless chemical instead.
  • Furthermore, the review highlighted the fact that diet soda drinkers who maintained a healthy weight still had a significantly increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes – the top three killers in the United States.

"From adding inches to your waist to increasing the risk of diabetes, diet soda doesn't score any better in terms of health than regular sugary drinks."



Reference:

//www.naturalnews.com/055851_diet_soda_artificial_sweeteners_side_effects.html


(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3397)


Hoodia For Weight Loss
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Date: September 18, 2009 10:20 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Hoodia For Weight Loss

The hoodia plant is a leafless, spiny plant. It is a succulent in the milkweed family. Hoodia can be found growing in South Africa and Namibia. The plant thrives in very high temperatures, taking years to mature. Bushmen from the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa have used hoodia for centuries to help fight off hunger during long treks in the desert. This ancient band of nomadic hunter-gatherers eats bite-size chunks to stave off thirst and curb their appetites on long hunting trips in the wilderness.

In early 2004, the first supplements containing a hoodia compound were introduced in the United States. These supplements were intended to be an aid for obesity and weight loss. Hoodia contains an appetite-suppressing component that is similar in molecular structure to glucose, only stronger. This component is known as P57. It is responsible for sensing a signal to the hypothalamus which tricks the body into thinking it is no longer hungry. The P57 compound seems to increase the amount of ATP in nerve cells of the hypothalamus, which is the brain’s control center for regulating thirst, hunger, and temperature. ATP is an energy-producing molecule that is created from glucose. When ATP levels are increased in hypothalamic nerve cells, those nerve cells fire as if you had just eaten, even if you haven’t.

Some people claim that hoodia works immediately for them, within twenty to thirty minutes of taking the capsules. However, more often, people require up to two weeks of taking regular doses before they start noticing significant results. These results include a reduced interest in food, a prolonging of time after a meal before being hungry again, feeling full more quickly, and a general sense of well-being.

Studies that have been done on the effects and safety of hoodia are continuing in the United States and abroad. The prospects for the future development of this herb look very promising.

Don’t make the mistake of believing that all you have to do is take a supplement of hoodia everyday and the fat will just disappear. While some claim that has been the case for them, the majority of dieters need more help than solely diet pills. It should be remembered that the only thing the hoodia does is suppress appetite. It does not improve a bad diet or address problems of overeating. It you have a terrible diet and ten to overeat even when you are not hungry, you will not receive any benefits from hoodia. If these things describe you, you first need to tackle those issues before considering hoodia. This herb will not build muscle or burn fat. Your muscles are fat burning machines and responsible for burning fat all day long, even when you are resting. The more you have the more fat you’ll burn. Your metabolism also plays a huge role in burning fat. The only way to build muscle and speed up your metabolism is to exercise.

The stem of the hoodia plant is used to provide anorectic, aphrodisiac, and mood enhancer properties. Primarily, this herb is extremely helpful in treating diabetes, obesity, and weight loss. For more information on the many beneficial effects of hoodia, please feel free to contact a representative from your local health food store.

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2082)


What are you really Getting?
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Date: August 21, 2006 05:20 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: What are you really Getting?

 

Supplement labels can be confusing!

 

The list of ingredients on some supplement labels can tax the mind of even a Ph.D. in nutrition!  What’s worse, although labeling laws exist to counter misleading and non-uniform labeling, confusing and deceptive labeling, confusing and deceptive labeling practices continue to abound.  Here’s some help to aid you in making better sense of supplement labels.

 

1.Begin at the Bottom

 

The supplement facts panel on the label of every nutitional supplement sold in the U.S. tells you about active ingredients in a product. Before analyzing this information, look beneath the panel, where the OTHER INGREDIENTS are listed.  Here, at a glance you can begin to spot a questionable product.  Synthetic colors, flavors, preservatives, or the absence of certain information, are early warning signals. 

 

Poor Label

 

 

Good Label

1.other ingredients: Cellulose, stearic acid, sucrose, sodium, silicoaluminate, talc, titanium dioxide, mineral oil, FD&C red #40, FD&C yellow, aluminum lake, polysorbate 80.

  1. other ingredients: Cellulose(capsule), vegetable magnesium state, silica.
  2. this product contains no gluten, wheat, yeast, eggs or dairy, no synthetic colors or flavors , and no toxic levels of lead or other heavy metals.
  3. Lot# 123456

Expires: 01/08 or use by: 01/08

 

 

  1. Other Ingredients: supplements can be natural only by degree, since their manufacture often requires the use of binders, flowing agents and other items.  Such materials may come from natural and artificial sources. They must be listed in descending order by quantity.
  2. Contains No / May Contain:  Sometimes, supplements are derived from sources that could cause reactions in allergic individuals (eg. Soy, shellfish).  Better labels tell you which allergens are absent, as well as those which may be present.
  3. Expiration date & lot Number: shelf life varies fro different supplements, but most will diminish in potency and quality over time.  Better labels provide a USE BYE or EXPIRATION date.  They also note a LOT NUMBER for identifying product origin (for tracking any product related problems).

 

2.Directions, Dose & Value

 

Poor Label

 

Good Label

 

DIRECTIONS: Take 6 tablents daily, two with each meal.

 

Directions: Though not required on labels, directions tell how and when to take supplements.  This is important because timing your doses can affect absorption. In general:

 

·        Vitamins are best absorbed when taken with food, and in divided doses throughout the day.

·        Fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K) require dietary fat for absorption, so are best taken with meals.

·        Many minerals can be absorbed effectively at any time.

·        Most herbs, probiotics, amino acids & proteolytic enzymes (not digestive enzymes, which should be taken with meals) are best taken on an empty stomach.

 

Poor Label

Good Label

Supplement facts

    1. serving size 3 tablets
    2. servings per container 20
    3. % DV (Daily Value)

Supplement facts

1. Serving Size 2 Tablets

2. Servings per container 30

3. % DV (Daily Value)

 

1. Serving size: SERVING SIZE is required on labels. It recommends the number of tablets, capsules, spoonfuls, ect. Taken at one time.  Be ware that a serving is not necessarily the total recommended daily amount.

 

2.      Cost-Effectiveness: To determine, first find the SERVING SIZE.  Then read the directions to see how much servings are suggested daily.  Finally, divide the number of servings needed into the number of SERVINGS PER CONTAINER.

 

Example: Assuming the two bottles above have the same ingredients and cost. The product on right offers more servings, and is a better buy. Product on left just has less nutritive ingredients, or more filler, in each pill.

 

3.      % DV (Daily Value): The daily value of a nutrient represents the amount expected to meet the daily needs of an “average” healthy person.  On labels, % DV indicates provided by one serving.  DVs have not been established for herbs, essential fatty acids and other nutrients.

 

Note: Many experts in nutrition think that suggested DV levels for some nutrients are far too low to optimize health.  This is why certain ingredients may be present at greater than 100% DV levels.

 

3.Games Labels Play

 

There is no free lunch in the world of supplements.  A bottle that costs less probably contains less – either fewer nutrients, or less effective forms of nutrients.  Educate yourself; compare ingredient amounts, forms and sources, and watch out for labeling tricks such as these.

 

“Padding” the label

 

padding” the label is a common way for supplement marketers to make their ingredients list look more complete and beneficial than it really is.  Padding methods include:

 

Poor Label  amount per serv.

Good Label  amount per serv.

1.CoQ10……….1000mcg

2.Oat Bran………20mg

   Oat fiber……….1mg

3. Oat flavonoids…25mcg

1. CoQ10………….50mg

 

  1. Pixie Dust:  Adding useful ingredients in therapeutically useless amounts. Some brands use tiny amounts of nutrients just to get the ingredient on the label.  Learn how much nutrient is required, and be watchful of inappropriate measurement sizes. (See Weights & Measures below.)

 

Example: CoQ10 useful range is 30mg to 400mg (milligrams.)  product on left provides 1000mcg  (microgram) of CoQ10, the equivalent of just one mg!  product on right provides a beneficial 50mg.

 

  1. Sounds Good:  Adding impressive but irrelevant ingredients, often in useless amounts, that are of no benefit to the formula.

Example: Whole grains such as oats are part of a heart healthy diet, but the product on left provides less than a pinch 20mg of oat bran.  Product on right includes no irrelevant ingredients in useless amounts.

 

  1. Expanding Assets:  Separately listing the parts of a single ingredient to give the illusion of additional ingredients. 

Example: Fiber and flavonoids are part of oats, not more ingredients.

 

The “Name’s the Same” Game

 

A common trick is to provide unproven, weak or useless forms of familiar, good ingredients.  Buyer beware!

 

Poor Label  .

Good Label   .

Pygeum Bark Powder

Pygeum Africanum…..100mg

Pygeum Bark Extract

Pygeum Africanum (Standardized to 13% total sterols……….100mg

 

Example: Studies suggest that Pygeum bark standardized extract helps support prostate health.  Product on left uses unresearched powdered bark.

 

 

Proprietary Blend = “It’s a Secret”

 

Some companies may hide the quantity and quality of their ingredients by calling their formula  a “Proprietary Blend.”  This term may allow manufacturers to use a lot of nutrient from a cheap source and very little from a good source without disclosing how much of each you are actually getting. 

 

This deceptive practice is legal—as long as the secret blend:

·        Is labeled “Proprietary Blend” (or fanciful trademark name)

·        Lists individual nutrients in descending order by weight

·        Lists the total weight per serving

 

When you see the word “Proprietary,” ask: “how relevant is the first or second ingredient?”  Sometimes, the most abundant ingredients are either fillers, or inexpensive, less effective forms.

 

Poor Label              amount per serv.

 

Good Label             amount per serv.

Special Proprietary Women’s Blend

Alfalfa herb, Black Cohosh root, Chaste Tree berry, Dong Quai root, Licorice root………….350mg

Black Cohosh root

Cimicifuga Racemonsa (2.5% total triterpene glycosides)…….125mg

Chast Tree berry

Vitex agnus-castus (0.5% agnusides)………………..100mg

Dong Quai root

Angelica sinensis (5:1 extract)..75mg

Licorice root

Glycyrrhiza glabra……………50mg

Example: Legally, product on left could contain 99% alfalfa filler and only 1% of all the other herbs together! The Good Label tells all.

 

Hiding Outside the Box

 

Another clever way to hide the quality of ingredients is by listing them outside the Supplement Facts box, in the Other Ingredients section located beneath the box.  This section is usually intended for listing agents used in the tableting or encapsulation process.

 

 

Poor Label

 

Good Label

Other Ingredients: Cellulose, stearic acid, spirulina, lycopene, grape seeds.

Other Ingredients: Cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate.

Example: Agents used in supplement manufacture (i.e. cellulose and stearates) should be listed under Other Ingredients.  Product on left also uses this section to list catchy sounding spirulina, lycopene, and grape seeds.  With no amounts listed, assume these ingredients are present in low levels that provide little value.  A supplement maker who is proud of a product’s nutritive ingredients will fully disclose amounts within the Supplement Facts box not list these ingredients along with manufacturing agents in the Other Ingredient section.

 

4.Understanding Herbs

 

 

Herb Forms: Powders, Tinctures, Extracts

 

The form, preparation and concentration of an herb affects its potency and influences the herb’s potential for therapeutic effectiveness.  the potency of all herb forms except standardized extracts are uncertain and depends on factors invisible to the consumer (i.e. soil quality, rainfall, seasonal climate, harvesting methods, storage methods and age).

 

            Know Your Plant Parts: Medicinal plants often have specific parts that are most effective therapeutically, such as the root for goldenseal, the leaf for raspberry, and the blossom for clover.  Products using irrelevant plant parts may cost less, but offer little or no benefit!

 

Powdered Herb

 

Often encapsulated or used as tea, powdered herbs are more likely than other forms to lose potency when exposed to air.  Fresh, high quality powdered herb may add therapeutic or nutritional value to a supplement.  Low quality powders may provide little benefit.  Look for expiration or “use by” dates.

 

Poor Label

 

Good Label

Saw Palmetto………..320mg

Saw Palmetto berry

Serenoa repens……320mg

Example: If the label doesn’t say otherwise, assume the form of herb is powdered.  Better labels specify plant part and latin name (genus and species).  Sometimes a less effective species of a plant is used to save money.  Check to see if other related species may be equally effective.

 

Tinctures and Fluid Extracts

 

Tinctures contain the soluble parts of dried or fresh herbs, often extracted in a mixture of alcohol and water, vinegar or glycerin.  Tinctures are usually dispensed by drops. This form is more stable and thus has longer shelf life than powdered herb.

 

Poor Label

 

Good Label

Saw Palmetto berry

Tincture…………..320mg

Saw Palmetto berry

Serenoa repens 1:5 tincture, 40% alcohol………………..320mg

Example: Better labels specify tincture strength as a ratio.  Regular tinctures are made using 1 or 2 parts herb to 10 parts solvent, yielding strength ratio of 1:10 or 1:5.  higher potency tinctures (also known as fluid extracts) use more herb in less solvent, yielding stronger 1:3, 1:2, or even high strength 1:1 ratios.

 

Concentrated and standardized extracts

 

Concentrated or standardized extracts (solid, powdered, liquid) are generally prepared from evaporated herbal tinctures or teas.

 

Poor Label

 

Good Label

  1. Saw Palmetto Berry Extract..……..320mg
  2. Saw Palmetto berry standardized extract………..320mg
  1. Saw Palmetto berry

Serenoa repens extract 5:1…………320mg

  1. Saw Palmetto berry

Serenoa repens (standardized to 85%-95% fatty acids and sterals)………320mg

 

  1. Concentrated extracts commonly use 4 to 8 parts of plant matter to make 1 part extract (4:1 to 8:1).  Some may use up to 200 pounds of herb to make 1 pound of finished product (200:1)!

Example: A better label tells you the concentration strength by noting the ratio of herb to extract.  This is often appears after the plant name.

 

  1. Standardized Extracts are lab-analyzed to provide a verified amount of one or more nutritive ingredients.  In many cases, proportional amounts of other constituents are also present, retaining the natural “fingerprint” of the whole herb.  Standardized extracts are the most consistent, and often the most potent, form of an herb.  They are used in the majority of studies demonstrating therapeutic effectiveness.

Example: Standardized extracts provide a set percentage of an herb’s researched nutritive ingredient.  Useless this percentage is noted on the label, the term “Standardized” is meaningless.

 

5.Beware of False Claims

 

Is it science of is it marketing?  To avoid being misled, question all claims on supplement labels as well as in advertisements.  Although government guidelines restrict the types of claims that manufacturers can legally use to promote their products, not all companies comply.  Many promises mount to little more than marketing hype.

 

Use common sense to decide if a claim seems realistic.  Be aware of emotionally charged, misleading language in advertising.

 

When doubt, contact the company and request information to support a claim.  Unbiased research and human studies are most relevant.  If the science seems legitimate, verify that the form and dose used in product match form and dose showing benefit in studies.

 

Weights & Measures

1 kilogram (kg) = 1000grams (g)

1 gram (gm) = 1000 milligrams (mg)

1 milligram (mg) = 1000 micrograms (mcg)

1 liter = 1000 milliliters (ml)

946 milliliters (ml) = 1 quart

30 ml = 1 fluid once

1 teaspoon, medical = 5 milliliters (ml)

1 tablespoon = 15ml = ½ fluid ounce

28.35 grams (gm) = 1ounce

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

Vitamin E

Measured in mg alpha-tocopherol equivalents 1 mg alpha tocopherol = 1.49 IU

Beta Carotene 1mg = 1667 IU

Vitamin A

1 RE (retinol equivalent) = 5 IU

1 RE = 6mcg of beta carotene

1 RE = 1mcg of retinol

Vitamin D

Measured in mcg cholecalciferol

1 mcg cholecalciferol = 40 IU

 

 

 



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Staying on Your Diet throughout the Holidays
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Date: January 18, 2006 12:22 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Staying on Your Diet throughout the Holidays

The temptations of the holiday season don't have to mean a bigger waistline in the new year and yet another resolution to get in shape. With just a few tricks and tips, you can keep your weight in check and still celebrate with everyone.

Pre-Party Dos

While you might be invited to more parties than usual, you can do a lot before you even arrive to keep yourself from eating too much.

One way of keeping your food consumption down is to eat before you go out. An apple or a large glass of water before leaving home will keep you away from the dessert cart at the party.

At-the-Party! Dos and Don'ts

Now that you have lined your stomach, all you have to do is to take care of your calories, maintaining them at a sensible level. Do keep away from the high calorie sips. Alcohol, for instance, has a high calorie content that will easily build up to shatter your calorie allowance. It's a good idea to talk about anything but food, and try avoiding holding a plate! it helps to do something else with your hands, so they are occupied.

If you really must eat, you'll find that the vegetable and fruit trays can be the best places to fill up your plate. If you put these items on your plate first and then put smaller servings of other higher fat items, you'll be able to have everything without the caloric damage.

During the main course, you can balance your calories by eating only half of what is on your plate. You can easily explain it away by complementing your host on the meal, while pleading you couldn't possibly eat more. Or you could tell them the truth, one that most people readily accept! that you are being careful about your diet.

When you're at home

If you're doing the cooking during a holiday, you are more in control of your eating. Why not make items that are low in calories so you don't have to avoid anything?

When cooking, ask a family member to do the tasting. They will be only too thrilled to do this and you can save yourself from consuming added calories.

You might also want to freeze any cookies or other tempting items until you will be eating them for a meal or a gathering. It's a lot harder to eat something that's frozen.

At the end of it all, these dos and don'ts may even take a couple of inches off your waistline at the New Year. But if they don't, and you still weigh the same, you accomplished what you set out to do! now that calls for a party!

Tania Makevey operates the website and writes for R You Diet which a site dedicated to researching diet related topics and contains all the very latest diet news and views. For more details please visit //www.ryoudiet.com



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