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Are You Taking These Supplements?

September 8, 2011 by

You’re looking to make the right moves for better health.  Perhaps, you’ve made changes in the foods you eat daily.  However, are you still confused about the role of vitamins and supplements in your health plan?  Not sure what to take?

Dr. Michael Murray, is a naturopathic physician, with strong experience in natural medicine.  He suggests a supplement foundation consisting of:

  • A high potency multivitamin with minerals;
  • Greens products, such as spirulina and wheat grass; and
  • Fish oil, with omega-3 fatty acids of DHA and EPA.

Take a look at this short video, featuring an interview of Dr. Murray.  The video is courtesy of ihealthtube.com:

Health Videos – Michael Murray, N.D. Lists Three Supplements You Should Be Taking

 

The Bottom Line:  Dr. Murray offers a great perspective on the role of dietary supplements in your health plan.  His suggestions probably aren’t meant to b

twitt Are You Taking These Supplements?

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Filed Under: Dietary Supplements, Minerals, Natural/Organic, Omega 3s, Vitamins Tagged With: , , , , , ,

5 Ways Magnesium Helps You!

August 1, 2011 by 29 Comments

You probably know, how important calcium and vitamin D are for your bone health.  However, the mineral magnesium is definitely on the “A list”, in contributing to your body’s overall health.  If fact, calcium cannot work its magic without sufficient quantities of magnesium present in your body.

According to experts, magnesium is such a hard worker, it provides the following support for your body:

  1. Helps prevent Osteoporosis.
  2. May protect against type 2 Diabetes.
  3. Is essential for a healthy Heart.
  4. Helps regulate your blood pressure.
  5. Can relieve insomnia and migraine headaches.

With these great benefits, you’d figure that ads for magnesium supplements should be plastered at every street intersection.  However, true magnesium deficiency is rare in America.  Instead, there are various medical conditions which can effect the magnesium balance in your body.  Some of these medical offenders include:

  • Kidney disease;
  • Active diabetes;
  • Irritable bowel syndrome; and
  • Excessive alcohol consumption.

The fact that various medical conditions can deplete your body’s magnesium level, makes it imperative to talk with your doctor before taking magnesium supplements.  These supplements have possible side effects and medication interactions, which are best evaluated by a doctor.

Current recommended daily intakes of magnesium are:

  • Adult Men - 420mg a day; and
  • Adult Women -  310mg a day.

Special situations, such as athletic training or recovery from illness, may require an increase in daily magnesium requirement.

University of Maryland Medical Center, has a great guide to Magnesium on its website.  It includes condition-specific information and dietary sources of the mineral, for your reference.  Check it out today!

The Bottom Line:  Your body is truly a work of art.  So many minerals and vitamins, all working together for your benefit.  That’s why awareness of the role of magnesium in your health, can only add to your awe of the magnificence, that is your body.  Take care of it, and it’ll take care of you.

By the way, have you eaten whole grains or wheat bran today?

It’s your life, live well.

twitt 5 Ways Magnesium Helps You!

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Filed Under: Dietary Supplements, Mens Health, Minerals, Womens Health Tagged With: , ,

Women, Protect Your Bones! (Part 2)

July 29, 2011 by 49 Comments

In the previous post, we looked at some of the risk factors for developing Osteoporosis, and its impact as a public health issue.  Unfortunately, women bear the brunt of suffering from this “silent” disease.

What actions can you take, to reduce your risk of Osteoporosis?

According to many experts, to improve your bone health you should:

  • Get a bone-density test;
  • Take medication when needed;
  • Participate in weight-bearing exercises;
  • Eat a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium;
  • Quit smoking and avoid excessive alcohol intake; and
  • Follow your doctor’s recommendations about bone health.

Weight- bearing exercises include activities such as:

  • Walking;
  • Jogging; and
  • Stair climbing.

The above exercises, along with some resistance-training, will help increase your bone density.

With regard to the role of supplements, vitamin D and calcium in particular, there has been some recent confusion on how much of each to take.  The Institute of Medicine recommends, women over age 51 and men over 71 to have an intake of 1,200 mg of calcium a day.  The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements, has recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) of vitamin D for women and men of:

  • Age 51-70, 600 IU; and
  • Over age 70, 800 IU.

Seek your doctor’s approval, before taking these supplements in amounts greater than those referenced above.

There’s a ton of suggestions for prevention at the Osteoporosis Health Center, found on the WebMD site link here.  Take a look at this practical information today.

The Bottom Line:  Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease”, because its victims usually are unaware they have it, until the worst happens.  It’s very apparent, that your life will rarely be the same after suffering a hip fracture.  Don’t wait any longer.  See your doctor and find out the health status of your bones.  Then, take whatever actions you can to save your bones and your lifestyle.

Are you going to make your doctor’s appointment today?

It’s your life, live well.

 

 

twitt Women, Protect Your Bones! (Part 2)

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Filed Under: Dietary Supplements, Mens Health, Minerals, Vitamins, Womens Health Tagged With: , , , , ,

Women, Protect Your Bones! (Part 1)

July 28, 2011 by 44 Comments

Did you know that 24% of hip fracture patients aged 50 and over, die in the year following their fracture?  Are you aware that a woman’s risk of hip fracture, is about equal to her risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer combined?   If not, then you need to know more about the disease called Osteoporosis.

The above information is courtesy of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF).  I didn’t realize how much of a public health problem this disease represents, until I read some of their facts and figures.

Osteoporosis is a disease of low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue.  It significantly increases the possibility of fractures in your hip, spine, and wrist.  However, it can affect any bone in your body.

It’s estimated that of the 10 million Americans affected by this disease, 80% are women.  Although Osteoporosis is thought of as “an old folks disease”, it can affect people at any age.  Also, no ethnic background is safe from its wrath.

According to the NOF, some of the risk factors for Osteoporosis include:

  • Low lifetime calcium intake;
  • Vitamin D deficiency;
  • Estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause;
  • An inactive lifestyle; and
  • Smoking.

Check out all the risk factors and other Osteoporosis information, on a great pdf provided by Pharacistelink.com here.  It’s based on information from the NOF.

The Bottom Line:  The time to practice good bone health is now, not after you’ve suffered a fracture.  A nutritious diet, exercise, and proper supplementation will help protect you.  So, in my next post I’ll provide tips to help in your fight against Osteoporosis.  It will help you prepare questions for your next visit with your doctor, to develop a bone health plan for you.

See you next time!

It’s your life, live well.

twitt Women, Protect Your Bones! (Part 1)

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Filed Under: Dietary Supplements, Minerals, Womens Health Tagged With: , , , ,

Could Vitamin D and Calcium Come To Your Rescue?

July 22, 2011 by 41 Comments

Our world is so advanced, in terms of technology and various knowledge disciplines.  Yet, many processes within the human body, have yet to be thoroughly understood.  The debate about vitamin D and its effect on cancer, has been going on since the 1940s.  However, researchers continue to find viable evidence of the positive effects of vitamin D supplementation, and better health in humans.

Dr. Jean Y. Tang, and her team of researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, have published a new study regarding supplementation with a combination of vitamin D and calcium.  The study analyzed data from the Women’s Health Initiative, involving 36,282 postmenopausal women.

The focus of the study, was women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common form of skin cancer.  These women are at higher risk of later developing melanoma, a more lethal form of skin cancer.

Researchers place the women in two groups:

  • Group 1, took 400 IU of vitamin D and 1000mg of Calcium supplements;
  • Group 2, took a placebo.

The study found that the group of women taking vitamin D and calcium supplements, had 57% fewer melanomas, than women in the placebo group.

Teresa Fu, MD, a co-author of the study stated:

“Our results include the first positive cancer-reducing effect seen from the calcium plus vitamin D trial.”

This is good news indeed!  I suggest you read a great summary of the study from the NutraIngredients-USA site.  If you have a history of non-melamona skin cancer, talk it over with your doctor.  Even if you haven’t had that form of skin cancer, discuss your vitamin D and calcium intakes with your doctor, to see that you’re getting sufficient amounts of each.

The Bottom Line:  There are no guarantees in life.  But, you might as well use substantiated science information, to reach good decisions about the role of supplements in your health plan.  Don’t wait until your health falters, to start thinking about what you should do.  Act now, and be responsible for your own health and wellness.

If you don’t care, who will?

It’s your life, live well.

 

twitt Could Vitamin D and Calcium Come To Your Rescue?

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Filed Under: Minerals, New Research, Vitamins, Womens Health Tagged With: , , , ,