Are you getting enough nutrition from your diet?

by James Jones

Why take Vitamins?

Vitamins are micronutrients that are essential to life and healthy living. And, as everyone is aware, failing to get the necessary amounts of specific vitamins can cause deficiency states that are unhealthy and even dangerous.

However, vitamins can play a much larger dietary role in our ongoing quest for health than the FDA's Reference Daily Intakes (formerly known as recommended daily allowances, or RDA's) might suggest.

As many scientific studies now indicate, vitamins, when taken in amounts greater than the RDI's, may reduce the occurrence of certain illnesses and degenerative disorders, improve the functioning of the immune system, and, perhaps, even allow us to live longer and healthier lives.
Is my "Diet" adequate? There is an increasing tendency to associate the word "diet" with special food combinations that help you lose weight, but this is not the true meaning of the word: simply put, your diet is what supplies the body with the vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and fiber it needs to sustain life--your life.

Without adequate amounts of healthy nutrients, it is a proven fact that you will become more vulnerable to infection and illness. Eyesight, memory, mood, energy level, lifespan--everything that defines your life experience is directly affected by what you eat. With so many food choices available, it's important to know which foods are the best sources of nutrients, and how these nutrients function in the body.

Supplements? What are they, and should I be taking them?

Nutritional supplements are important for at least two simple reasons. The first is that many of us rely too much on fast foods and highly processed foods. And the second rationale for nutritional supplements is that evidence continues to mount that many of the nutrients and health promoting substances that we might take to achieve optimum health levels cannot be obtained through normal diet alone.

Of course, any nutrient that is not acquired through normal eating habits may be classified as a supplement. And this includes vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes, as well as a host of other nutrients. The key to nutrition is to keep track of and know the amount of nutrients you are getting from your normal eating habits each day and if this is not meeting the RDI's suggested requirements, you should be taking a multi-vitamin every day.

Here are the values suggested by the FDA, taken from, ("Daily Values" encourage healthy diets, by Paula Kurtzweil, member of the FDA's public affairs staff)

* vitamin A 5,000 International Units (IU)
* vitamin C 60 milligrams (mg)
* thiamin 1.5 mg
* riboflavin 1.7 mg
* niacin 20 mg
* calcium 1.0 gram (g)
* iron 18 mg
* vitamin D 400 IU
* vitamin E 30 IU
* vitamin B6 2.0 mg
* folic acid 0.4 mg
* vitamin B12 6 micrograms (mcg)
* phosphorus 1.0 g
* iodine 150 mcg
* magnesium 400 mg
* zinc 15 mg
* copper 2 mg
* biotin 0.3 mg
* pantothenic acid 10 mg Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs) (Based on National Academy of Sciences' 1968 Recommended Dietary Allowances)

About the Author
Bios
Vitamins should be designed to nutritionally support your entire body! Make sure they use only the highest grade Whole Food Vitamins, Chelated Minerals, Probiotics, and Vegetable Enzymes. Your health is worth everything. Start treating it right, and give your body the nutrients needed to support optimal health. Don Lapre

A South Beach Diet Vitamin Supplement May be Needed

by Remy Jirek

South Beach Diet vitamin supplement: Do I need one? Many people on low carbohydrate or no carbohydrate diets will benefit from taking some sort of multivitamins or herbal supplements. Any time you significantly reduce one form of food, you should supplement that reduction with a multi-vitamin.

Finding the right nutritional supplement can seem overwhelming if you have never taken a vitamin before. There are literally hundreds of different vitamins and multi-mineral supplements available at every grocery store. To help aid you in your search for the perfect nutritional supplement, here are some guidelines. Of course, this is not an extensive list of everything you should know, but it is a starting point for those that are unfamiliar with buying vitamin supplements.

Don't Believe the Hype

Just because a vitamin or supplement has a really good advertising campaign does not automatically make it the right vitamin for you, or even a good vitamin to begin with. Many companies can afford to spend thousands on their marketing ads but still provide a fairly poor product. Advertisers bet that their fancy ads will lure you into buying their products without paying attention to what ingredients are actually in them.

Gain Knowledge

Spend a little time figuring out what types of vitamins you are going to need according to your eating and activity habits. Consider getting a blood panel that can tell you what your vitamin levels are. Knowing where you are now is the best starting point for figuring out which vitamins you need to add to your diet.

The Internet is a great resource and full of valuable information on everything you can think of. Write down some specific questions you might have and start looking them up on the Internet. You might be surprised at how many people had similar questions and the answers are easily available.

Don't Spend Too Much

Yes, vitamins are expensive. But there is a difference between the cost of a generic brand of vitamin and a name brand vitamin. Don't spend your money on a name brand just because they advertise well. Look at the ingredients on the back of each bottle and compare the contents. You might be surprised at how similar two varieties of multivitamin supplement pills can be.

By being informed, you can avoid spending more for a product that is identical to a much cheaper version of a product. Why spend extra money if you don't have to? None of us like to spend money on things that we don't have to and even the richest of people don't want to just throw their money away. Take a second and compare labels; it will save you money!

Vitamins are a great way to add nutrients to your diet when you are not able to incorporate them into your meals. Be a smart shopper and do your research before making a purchase. By spending a couple extra hours finding out what is right for you, it will be more likely that you will find the right vitamin supplement to fit your needs.

Finding the multivitamin supplement that is right for you can be quite a challenge. For helpful and informative articles, resources, facts and tips to assist you toward better health please visit us at: http://www.yourmultivitaminsupplement.com/

Protein Supplements to Improve Health

by Noah Lam

Most of us find their source for protein by eating foods like eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, vegetables, and meat. The recommended daily value is about 50g of protein based on a 2000 calorie diet (you should consult your healthcare professional to discuss your unique dietary needs). Some individuals require additional protein in their current diet which maybe needed to improve skin health, muscle strength, reduce wound healing time, and build the immunity system. Typically the following groups require extra protein are bariatric patients, renal patients, cancer patients, surgical patients, seniors, and body builders who need to build muscle. Protein powders are made from whey, and is and excellent source of protein because of its amino acid profile, peptide profile, and digestibility. Whey is produced when milk is processed into cheese. Protein powder is usually mixed with a liquid. You can make a simple and delicious protein shake by blending ice, milk or juice and your choice of fruit. An example of a medical grade whey protein is Beneprotein. Liquid proteins can be made from collagen hydrolysate, made from predigested papain, a fruit enzyme. This hydrolyzed protein increases absorption and assimilation because the large protein molecules are broken down into free amino acids and polypeptides. This method for protein supplement provides a high dose of protein in a single ounce. It can be easily mixed with many foods and beverages without clumping or decrease the food's palatability. Where protein powders may leave a gritty feeling if not mixed properly. Examples of liquid proteins are Pro-Stat and Proteinex. IsoPure is a whey protein isolate in a clear liquid form.

Additional protein can be found in nutritional supplements like Boost Plus and Ensure Plus.
When using these protein supplements you should consult your healthcare provider to monitor your usage of such products. For more information, please visit http://www.cwimedical.com/high-protein.html

About the Author
Noah Lam has over 15 years of experience of providing high quality medical supplies and healthcare products from Acute Care Facilities to parents and children. His company, CWI Medical is a leading provider of protein supplements to healthcare facilities and for home use. In addition, CWI Medical is an ACHC Accredited organization maintaining standards

How To Get Rid Of Belly Fat

by DS

Combine the eating healthy with a consistent workout schedule. Since you're looking primarily for weightloss, focus on high calorie burning exercises. However, I'd also recommend core strengthening exercises to build your central trunk. This way as the fat is burned away you will see the toned muscle below. Note that there is no way to target where weight loss occurs. Instead take several measurements across your body (upper arm, thigh, waist, chest, and hips) . Then look at these measurements throughout your progression to note your gains. Also, it will remove the focus of staring ar your stomach all the time.

I would recommend bikeriding, swimming, aerobics, and weightlifting. daily. All of these are meant to tone the body.

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About the Author
How To Get Rid Of Belly Fat

Green Tea

A number of health claims have been made for green tea(http://www.jcm.co.uk/bookshop/v3/tea/news.phtml), claiming that its polyphenol content has antioxidant properties that can help prevent cancer. There is also the suggestion that it can increase endurance in exercise by improving fat metabolism.

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Grapefruit

Grapefruit (Citrus X paradisi) is a sub-tropical tree of the family Rutaceae and its citrus fruit.The evergreen tree is usually found at around 5-6 m tall, although it can reach 13-15 m.

The leaves are dark green, long (up to 15 cm) and thin. It produces 5 cm white four-petalled flowers. The fruit is yellow-skinned, largely oblate and ranges in diameter from 10-15 cm and has an acidic yellow segmented pulp. Varieties include the white grapefruit and the red, of which the 1929 US Ruby Red (of the Redblush variety) has a patent. The fruit has only become popular from the late 19th century, before that it was only grown as an ornamental plant. The US quickly became a major producer of the fruit, with plantations in Florida and Texas. In Spanish the fruit is known as the toronja.

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Garlic

Garlic is claimed by some to have many significant medicinal benefits, but there has been no demonstration of the effects of garlic that meets commonly accepted scientific standards.

The cloves are used by aficionados for infections, especially chest problems, digestive disorders, and fungal infections such as thrush. They are claimed to be an effective long-term remedy for cardiovascular problems reducing excessive blood cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis, the risk of thrombosis, and hypertension but these claims are disputed as there has been no clinical trial that has demonstrated any such benefits. Garlic is also alleged to help regulate blood sugar levels, and so can be helpful in late-onset diabetes, though people taking insulin should not consume medicinal amounts of garlic without consulting a physician. Best used fresh.

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Folic Acid

Folic acid (the anion form is called folate) is a B-complex vitamin (once called vitamin M) that is important in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in the developing human fetus.

Folate and folic acid are forms of a water-soluble B vitamin. Folate occurs naturally in food. Folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin that is found in supplements and fortified foods. Folate gets its name from the Latin word folium, leaf. A key observation of researcher Lucy Wills nearly 70 years ago led to the identification of folate as the nutrient needed to prevent the anemia of pregnancy. Dr. Wills demonstrated that the anemia could be corrected by a yeast extract.

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Fish oil

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of fatty fishes. This oil naturally contains the Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Fish oil is now recommended for a healthy diet. It is beneficial to eat fish once a week (or more) but care must be taken to avoid the fish species which contain the toxin mercury or other contaminants such as Chlordane.

The list of fish includes: Largemouth Bass, Sturgeon, and others such as Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, and Tilefish. Note that these species are often predators, which can accumulate toxins due to their position at the top of the food chain.

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Fatigue

Fatigue is a feeling of excessive tiredness or lethargy, with a desire to rest, perhaps to sleep. Often it causes yawning.

It is typically the result of working, mental stress, jet lag or active recreation, but also from boredom or disease or simply lack of sleep. It may also have chemical causes, such as poisoning or mineral or vitamin or deficiencies.

Fatigue can also be quite dangerous when performing certain duties that require constant concentration, such as driving a vehicle. When someone is sufficiently fatigued, they may experience microsleeps that can cause them to lose concentration.

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Exercise

Physical exercise is activity performed in order to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health. Frequent and regular exercise is an important component in the prevention of some of the diseases of affluence such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:

Flexibility exercises such as stretching improve the range of motion of muscles and joints.

Aerobic exercises such as walking and running focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance.

Anaerobic exercises such as weightlifting increase short-term muscle strength.

Exercise can be an important part of physical therapy, weight loss or sports performance. Proper nutrition is as important to health as exercise. When exercising it becomes even more important to have good diet to ensure the body has the correct ratio of macronutrients whilst providing ample micronutrients, this is to aid the body with the recovery process following strenous exercise.

"Exercise bulimia" is a disorder in which too many calories purged from the body through exercising.

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Erectile Dysfunction

Impotence or, more clinically, erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse regardless of the capability of ejaculation. There are various underlying causes, many of which are medically reversible.

Due to its personal nature, the subject has been taboo for a long period of time, and is the stuff of many urban legends. Since the 1930s, folk remedies have been advertised widely for the condition. The introduction of sildenafil (Viagra®) in the 1990s caused a second wave of public attention, propelled in part by heavy advertising.

The Latin term impotentia coeundi describes simple inability to insert the penis into the vagina. It is now mostly replaced by more precise terms.

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Endurance

Endurance is the act of sustaining prolonged stressful effort.

Endurance exercise

Endurance exercise consists of performing low- to medium-intensity exercise for very long periods of time. E.g., jogging or running several miles to hundreds of miles; cycling dozens of miles to thousands of miles; swimming hundreds of yards to dozens of miles.

Physical endurance is differentiated from other forms of physical stress in that in endurance exercise fatigue of the muscles and cardiovascular system do not force the effort to end. The need for sleep, the buildup of non-recyclable waste chemicals, the depletion of convertible energy stores and other needed chemicals (e.g., water, sodium), physical injury, psy

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Echinacea

The purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, is a drought-tolerant perennial of the flowering plant Family Asteraceae and native to North America. It has daisy-like purple flowers arranged in a large cone-shaped head.

Herbal remedy

As an herbal remedy, Echinacea is attributed with the ability to boost the body's immune system and fight off infections. It is used in the treatment of:

Colds, coughs and flu and other upper respiratory conditions

Enlarged lymph glands, sore throat

Urinary tract infections

Other minor infections

Herpes and candida

Wounds, skin regeneration and skin infections (external use)

Psoriasis, eczema and inflammatory skin conditions (external use)
There are three species of echinacea — E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida. Depending on which species is used, herbal medications are made from the above-ground herb (aerial) and/or root portions. It is not clearly known which of echinacea's many chemical components are responsible for its effects, although all species possess a certain marker compounds of the chemical class called "phenols" (cichoric and caftaric acids are phenols that are present in the aerial and root portions of E. purpurea, and echinacoside is a phenol found in higher levels specifically within E. angustifolia and E. pallida roots). When making herbal remedies, these phenols serve as markers to evaluate the quality of echinacea in the product. Other constituents that may be important include alkamides and polysaccharides.

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Dong Quai

Angelica sinensis is a herb from the family Apiaceae. Its root is commonly know as Dong Quai or Danggui and is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat gynecological ailments, fatigue, mild anemia and high blood pressure. Dong quai has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and sedative effects. The plant's phytochemicals are comprised of coumarins, phytosterols, polysaccharides and flavonoids.

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