Smart Supplementation

Does Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 Cause Lung Cancer?

2009-11-23T18:08:00Z

A Norwegian study recently published in the November 18, 2009 issue Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) [1] indicated that heart patients supplementing with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements had a 59% higher risk of developing lung cancer than those who did not supplement. So does that mean we should all stop supplementing with folic acid and vitamin B12? To answer this question, let's take a closer look at this study. Flawed Research Various experts have examined and commented...(read more)

Should I Avoid All Plastic Containers (Including Dietary Supplement Containers) Due to Health Risks from Bisphenol-A?

2009-11-18T17:47:00Z

To answer the title question, let us begin with an explanation of bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in some food and drink packaging (e.g., water and infant bottles), compact discs, impact-resistant safety equipment, and medical devices. Epoxy resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products such as food cans, bottle tops, and...(read more)

Is There a Difference Between Natural & Synthetic Vitamins?

2009-11-09T15:31:00Z

In order to answer this question fairly, we must first agree upon the definition of what constitutes a natural vitamin. Definitions of natural Some would choose to define a natural vitamin based upon its source. In this instance, the definition of a natural vitamin would be, "Vitamins provided from food or plant sources." In this case, the vitamin C found in a fresh glass of orange juice would be considered to be natural vitamin C. Others consider the chemical form of a vitamin to be the factor that...(read more)

Turmeric: An Anti-inflammatory Herb…And More

2009-11-02T17:13:00Z

Turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) is a bright yellow, ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring based on records dating back to 600 BCE. Turmeric's natural curcuminoid content inhibits 5-lipo-oxygenase (LOX) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX), resulting in a healthy inflammatory response (Chandra 1972; Arora 1971; Mukhopadhyay 1982). Protects From Oxidative Damage Curcumin exhibits strong antioxidant activity (Toda 1985), enhances cellular resistance to oxidative...(read more)

Reducing Abdominal Fat with Licorice Flavonoid Extract

2009-10-26T13:08:00Z

Excess body fat around the waist (abdominal and visceral fat; "having an apple shape") is not only undesirable from a cosmetic/fitness standpoint, but it can also be characteristic of metabolic syndrome-a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes [i] -which is estimated to be present in 76 million U.S. adults aged age 20 and older. [ii] Consequently, there are many good reasons for reducing abdominal fat. Of course a sensible program that...(read more)

D-Limonene: Citrus Treatment for Heartburn, Tumors and Gallstones

2009-10-19T14:16:00Z

D-limonene a major constituent of several citrus oils (orange, lemon, mandarin, lime, and grapefruit), and is listed in the Code of Federal Regulations as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for a flavoring agent that can be found in common food items such as fruit juices, soft drinks, baked goods, ice cream, and pudding [1-2]. In addition, d-limonene has some specific medicinal properties for human health, including natural heartburn protectant, slowing tumor progression and helping to dissolve...(read more)

Acetyl-L-Carnitine: The Memory Amino

2009-10-12T18:49:00Z

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) occurs naturally in the body. Carnitines (amino acids) produced in the body exist as a "carnitine pool" consisting of L-carnitine and several acetyl-carnitine esters. Intracellular enzymes and cell membrane transporters can rapidly interconvert the carnitines to the needed form and transport them between the tissues and extracellular space. ALC, the most important carnitine ester, is converted to L-carnitine. [1] [2] The distribution of inside the cell was found to be 60%...(read more)

Beyond Glucosamine & Chondroitin: Supplements for Arthritis

2009-10-06T12:55:00Z

When you think of dietary supplements for the joints and arthritis, chances are that you're thinking of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate--which makes sense since there is good research to support the use of these nutraceuticals for this purpose. What many people don't know, however, is that there are other nutraceuticals which also can be used effectively for arthritis. Three of these are hyaluronic acid, calcium fructoborate and bromelain. Hyaluronic acid Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occuring...(read more)

Methylselenocysteine: The Preferred Form of Selenium

2009-09-28T19:00:00Z

Methylsenocysteine (MSC) is a relatively simple organic selenium compound formed naturally in various plants, including garlic, wild leeks, onions and broccoli grown on high selenium soil. [1] It is the preferred form of selenium for a few different reasons. First, for the past 15 years or so, selenium research on the incidence of cancer cell development has focused heavily on MSC, and MSC rich foods have shown good activity in reducing the incidence of cancer cell development without excess tissue...(read more)

Inadequate Vitamin K Intake Accelerates Diseases

2009-09-21T16:33:00Z

In analyzing hundreds of articles published over three decades, researchers have concluded that current recommendations for vitamin K are not being met, which may place people at increased risk accelerated bone fragility, arterial and kidney calcification, cardiovascular disease, and possibly cancer. [1] Although vitamin K is primarily known for its role in facilitating blood coagulation, various vitamin K-related proteins play other important roles as well in promoting bone health and cardiovascular...(read more)

Are Natural Vitamins Better for You Than Synthetic Vitamins?

2009-09-14T15:13:00Z

Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory Herb & More

2009-09-08T14:39:00Z

Turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) is a bright yellow, ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring based on records dating back to 600 BCE. The rhizome (underground stem) is the part of the plant used, and its key constituents include curcumin and essential oils (p-tolymethylcarbinol). Its health value is essentially due to its curcumin content. The curcumin inhibits 5-lipo-oxygenase (LOX) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX), resulting in a healthy inflammatory...(read more)

Soy Protein May Reduce Cholesterol Levels in Diabetics

2009-08-31T13:28:00Z

In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially recognized the cholesterol-lowering effects of soy protein, but allowing a new health claim which stated that 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. Now, in a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers have found that in increased intakes of soy protein may reduce cholesterol levels in people with type-2 diabetes. This study emphasized prevention by studying adults with type-2 diabetes who...(read more)

Probiotics Reduce Cold and Flu Symptoms in Children

2009-08-24T19:19:00Z

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS Probiotics, or friendly bacteria, are generally known for the role they play in gut health or-thanks to yogurt commercials-immune health. Based upon new research, the role of probiotics in immune health has expanded to include reducing cold and flu symptoms in children. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Leyer et al, 2009), 326 children (3-5 years of age) received either Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, or L. acidophilus NCFM in combination with Bifidobacterium lactis...(read more)

Does Acai Promote Weight Loss?

2009-08-18T12:57:00Z

Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is the berry from an Amazonian palm tree. It contains an interesting mix of nutrients and phytochemicals including protein, lipids, calcium, vitamin A, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1, vitamin C, several anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and other flavonoids. The anthocyanins are pigments that give the ripe fruit its purple color. Anthocyanins are also potent antioxidants. Acai fruit pulp has a very high antioxidant capacity. It has more antioxidant content than cranberry,...(read more)