How To Choose Nutritional Supplements

Walk through any supermarket or retail chain store and you will find rows of health supplements; in fact, go to the mall and you will find entire stores dedicated to them. It is absolutely mind boggling how many there are to choose from, and it leaves a person wondering if they should buy several supplements for their health, or go with a once-a-day vitamin to cure all their nutritional ailments.

In theory, a nutritional supplement is supposed to supply nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids, that are missing from a person's diet and are essential for someone's health. Herbal supplements are also included under the umbrella term "supplements."

Most herbs and botanicals that are found in these supplements are naturally occurring in different parts of the world. Somewhere along the way, someone came up with the idea of bottling and selling them. Some Supplements claim to help you reduce your risk of just about everything, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, anxiety and fatigue. And there are also supplements that claim to help increase your motivation, concentration, and your metabolism. So, which do you choose?

First, before you buy anything, you should assess exactly what it is that you are trying to accomplish. Choosing supplements that are designed to work to lower your blood pressure are not going to help with your cholesterol problem. Next, talk to your doctor about your health, if for no other reason than to let them know what you are taking. Sometimes naturally occurring substances, no matter how harmless they seem, can have an adverse reaction to your health when mixed with prescribed medication.

So, when searching for supplements specifically to keep your heart healthy, you should look for those that contain ingredients that address the major risk factors that can lead to heart disease. These include: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, stress and physical inactivity.

Without a doubt, there are a lot to choose from, and you must be careful that you don't get caught buying a product that will provide no benefit at all. Make sure that the company producing the vitamins has published clinical trials of their studies related to the product.

In order for one of these studies to get published in a scientific journal the scientific community as a whole must agree upon the findings. There are not very many natural health companies with published studies. Most companies hire their own scientists and do biased testing on their products.

However, within the good natural health companies there are a number of great products that have been designed by nutritionists and researchers to naturally lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure levels, reduce stress and increase energy levels throughout the day; as a direct result, these also encourage an increase in physical activity. Some supplements that do just that are Green Tea, folic acid, magnesium, and C and B vitamins.

If stress and anxiety seem to plague your health, don't worry, there's a natural supplement for that. For anyone, you know that short-term stress is unavoidable. Sometimes, chronic or long term stress can be caused by your job, financial worries and your personal relationships. This too may be unavoidable.

Without a major life change, it is often impossible to alter these specific situations; luckily, it is possible to change the way you respond to them. Chronic stress can also lead to depression, which often accompanies heart disease.

One of the supplements you can take to help with anxiety is Ginkgo Biloba, combined with ginger. This supplement has been shown to reduce anxiety caused by chronic stress. Individuals in chronic stress situations should also consider taking extra vitamin C because stress quickly zaps the level of vitamin C in your blood stream. A lack of vitamin C can lead to low energy and can mimic the symptoms of iron deficiency, so it may be worth a check with your doctor to rule out anemia.

In addition to all the above, it is also important to note that a recent 2007 study found that regular supplementation with vitamin E, beta carotene, and vitamin A increased mortality by four, seven, and 16 percent respectively. Not only can supplements help you have more energy and feel better, they can help you live longer too! Who can argue with that?

Overall, most agree that supplements are a good way to fill in the health gaps that your not-always-balanced diet leaves behind. In addition, for those times when you are not able to get a good night's sleep, or you are suffering from a bad week at work, these natural products can help ease your anxiety and make you feel as though you are back on a level playing field.

When it comes to your health you just can't neglect your body and what you are putting into it.

To Your Health,
Diet Health & Fitness
'Blog Squad'
DietHealthandFitness.com

How To Get Vitamins From Eating

If you struggle with things like fatigue, obesity, stress, or anxiety one of the main reasons is because your body is not getting the essential daily intake of vitamins that it needs. There are two ways to get vitamins in your body: food and/or supplements.

Food is obviously the best way for your body to get the vitamins it needs, but if you don't have the self discipline or the time to stick to the list below then you might want to consider supplements.

Vitamin supplements can get you what your body needs, but you need to make sure they are of the highest quality. Most vitamins that you can buy are poorly made and do not get broken down by your body. They simply pass right through you. Even high quality supplements should be taken along with food or a meal, this helps ensure their absorption by the body.

Whether you take supplements or not you should try to implement as many of the foods below into your diet as possible. Here are the food sources of your most important vitamins:

* Vitamin A - Fish oils, butter, egg yolks, liver, whole milk, goat's cheese, and dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale.

* Vitamin B1 - Brown rice, wild fish(not farmed), nuts, organic poultry, wheat germ, molasses, legumes(peas, beans etc.), sunflower seeds, soybeans, asparagus, oatmeal, plums, raisins, brussel sprouts, and broccoli.

* Vitamin B2 - Whole grains, nuts, molasses, almonds, spinach, brussel sprouts and brewer's yeast.

* Vitamin B3 - Organic poultry, wild fish, peanuts, eggs, molasses, and legumes.

* Vitamin B5 - Legumes, whole grain cereal, wild fish, organic poultry, goat's cheese, eggs, avacados, nuts, dates, orange juice, cooked mushrooms, and orange juice.

* Vitamin B6 -Wild fish, eggs, peas, organic poultry, spinach, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and walnuts.

* Vitamin B12 - Wild seafood, liver, eggs, dairy products, sea vegetables (kelp etc.) and goat's cheese.

*Vitamin C - Oranges, lemons, green peppers, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, potatoes, bananas, cantaloupe, grapefruit, papaya, tomatoes, and strawberries.

* Vitamin D - Egg yolk, fish oils, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, spinach, and the sun, from exposure of naked skin. To ensure the proper amount of vitamin D everyday stand in the sun for 10-15 minutes. Do not where sunglasses (most of the Vitamin D you get from the sun is taken in through your eyes), but don't stare at the sun either.

* Vitamin E - Dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, oatmeal, peanuts, tomatoes, raw fuits, watercress, and whole grain cereals.

Well, there you have it, those are the foods that carry the important vitamins your body needs everyday to be healthy and function properly. Hopefully you can make an effort to eat all of these different foods on a regular basis.

If you can you should feel better, have more energy, feel less stress, lose weight and notice a difference in your overall health and wellness.

To Your Health,

Diet Health & Fitness
'Blog Squad'
DietHealthandFitness.com

The Importance of Daily Vitamins

We all know that vitamins are vital to our overall health. Your body cannot function properly without receiving the necessary vitamins and minerals every day. Sometimes called "micronutrients" by doctors and nutritionists, vitamins and minerals work in conjunction with proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to keep us healthy.

In our fast-paced world, many of us have problems meeting all of our nutritional requirements each day from diet alone. We are on the run and do not always have time to eat healthy meals. To make up for some of the vital vitamins and minerals we may be missing, many doctors recommend that everyone take a multivitamin each day.

Since vitamins and minerals help your body function properly, you cannot afford to miss out on the daily requirements. Sure, you may not notice health problems immediately, but over time, missing out on essential vitamins and minerals can really take a toll on your body.

Moreover, studies have shown their importance in combating certain diseases, such as cancer. Vitamins and minerals help in many ways. For instance, they keep your organs functioning properly, aid in healing fractures, and help your eyesight remain clear and sharp.

Take vitamin A as an example. Among other things, this vitamin helps your immune system. To get the required amount of this vitamin each day, you need to eat four or more servings of vegetables and fruits.

Also found in vegetables and fruits is vitamin C. Chances are, you may not be getting enough of this essential vitamin, especially if you smoke. Smokers often do not get enough because they need more than non-smokers.

Other people need additional vitamins and minerals as well. For instance, pregnant women need vitamins rich in folic acid. Some people need additional iron in their diets. Your lifestyle may necessitate that you need more of certain vitamins.

In addition to a multivitamin, many doctors recommend that some patients take omega-3 supplements. Heart patients, for instance, routinely are told to take additional omega-3 supplement pills to help maintain a healthy heart.

Just as not getting enough vitamins is bad for you, taking too many vitamins is equally bad. Your body has trouble eliminating certain vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K. You want to take the correct amount of these vitamins to optimize the healthful benefits.

Taking a multivitamin is one way to insure you are getting all the valuable vitamins and minerals you need. But which one should you take? The marketplace is flooded with vitamin supplements.

The best way to choose a multivitamin is to look for ones that contain 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of most vitamins and minerals. Also, buy from a reputable brand name that has been around for years.

It's important that your supplement not contain hazardous materials, and the manufacturer of your multivitamin should have research information available on their website.

You can find most major brands of vitamins at your local drug or grocery store. In addition, many companies sell vitamins on the Internet. Like the companies at your grocery store, online companies offer multivitamins that helps you meet your daily requirements.

When deciding what vitamins you need and how you can stay healthy, do your research. Visit the websites of several companies and see what their products have to offer.

More important, read about what testing they do to ensure that their products are safe and meet your nutritional needs. A company that is sure of its products will have performed testing and will have a proven record of success.

Although supplement manufacturers have had to meet certain requirements for years, in June 2007, the FDA augmented existing laws. Now companies that sell vitamin and herbal supplements must test their products for impurities and contaminates.

Moreover, all companies must prove their claims. Some companies have been testing their products for years and publish this information on their websites.

When choosing vitamin supplements, always look for a company that strives to make the safest and most effective supplements on the market. After all, when it comes to your health, you can't afford to take any risks.

To Your Health,

Michael Toscano & Brue Baker

Owners / Founders
http://www.DietHealthandFitness.com/