We've been purchasing vitamins from Puritan's Pride since the sixties. Their products are consistently excellent, the service is irreproachable, and they offer absolutely GREAT deals. You can't do better for your general vitamin supply. Le Quadrillage needs to reserve judgement where it concerns the formulation of their multi-component products, such as enzymes. Also, they purchase their skin care products from other manufacturers, so we are unable to comment on this category.
Another provider of whom we cannot speak of highly enough is a little known New Zealand company . Their products consistently exceed U.S.F.D.A. standards, their service is outstanding and their prices are quite reasonable. Here you'll find products manufactured under the strictest standards in the industry. For ailment specific formulations, there is no one better! Here you can find the ultimate in remedies that effectively address premature aging, arthritis, bone & joint problems, cholesterol imbalance, colds, flu, immunity, depression, stress, diabetes, eyes, hair, nails, skin, heart & artery, memory & concentration, sexual health. CLICK ON THE BANNER BELOW TO VISIT THEM.
We frequently get asked what an International Unit is. We keep struggling with the answer to this because of the many factors involved. The IU can vary widely between substances. We know of no way of constructing a table that can accurately reflect all of the conversions, and the websites we know of that purport to do this are riddled with errors. An alert reader has provided a link to a conversion chart that accurately reflects conversions of the major vitamins from International to Metric units. You can get there from here. Thanks to Dan Di Cerbo
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT VITAMINS ARE DANGEROUS: 2001 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Center's Toxic Surveillance System "Over the past ten years the number of deaths resulting from taking vitamins is zero."
ANOTHER ARGUMENT FOR THE ALTERNATIVE PHYSICIAN
Medical students receive a total of two clock hoursof nutrition based studies during their school years. For most allopathic (conventional) physicians that is ALL the education in nutrition they will ever receive. In direct opposition, the so called alternative physicians make it a point to focus on nutrition extensively. That is one very strong reason for preferring an alternative provider when dealing with any chronic disorder. Allopathic physicians work to manage your illness. Alternative physicians work to cure it if at all possible. The American Medical Student Association has just released its ranking of medical schools by how well these institurions monitor and control drug industry money and perks. It appears that many professors are recipients of drug company largesse and their employers aren't doing much about it. Harvard Medical School, for one, either has no visible policy relating to how the faculty interacts with Big Pharma, including the acceptance of meals and gifts, and accepting paid consulting and speaking relationships. Of more than 150 schools evaluated by the student association, none received an unqualified endorsement of excellence in this category. It would seem that the medical schools' abhorence of nutritional supplements in favor of pharmaceutical drugs can be easily explained as a blatant conflict of interest.
FREE SUPPLEMENT EVALUATIONREPORTS
We've looked carefully at well over 1,000 vitamins and herbal supplements offered by the most prominent suppliers in the industry. We can now make this information available to our visitors without cost or obligation. Just give us the following information:
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The only supplier with our unqualified recommendation of anything they produce is a little known lab that formulates ailment specific supplements that consistently perform as represented. Their list of products is necessarily limited by their unbending policy of refusing to produce anything that cannot exceed the quality and performance of competing products. They're well worth checking out and you can get there from here!
SPECIAL COMMENTARY ON FISH OIL
The average American diet is seriously deficient in the essential Omega3's, DHA and EPA. Except for certain types of fish, there are very few sources of these vitally important fats. Now here's the problem: The principal means of producing electricity throughout the world, is by burning coal. In the United States alone, over 40 tons of mercury are released every year through burning coal for electricity! This mercury is released into our waterways and oceans, contaminating our food supply. The highest concentrations of mercury are found in Tuna, Sea bass, Oysters from the Gulf of Mexico, Halibut, and other less widely eaten fish.
That's why it pays to be very careful about which Omega3 fish oil products you consume. Puritan's Pride has good fish oil products (click on the banner above). So does Vitamin Research Products. The purest of all, in our estimation, comes to you from New Zealand. We don't hesitate to recommend any one, or all of these suppliers. However, our strongest recommendation has to go to this little known New Zealand laboratory as producing possibly the purest fish oil product on the planet. We prefer their OMEGA3/DHA Fish Oil above all others.
Vitamin A ( retinol, retinal), supports your vision and is critical to maintaining healthy eyesight. Vitamin A also strengthens the immune system with special benefits to the respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Vitamin A is a good antioxidant. This vitamin is found in chili peppers, carrots, butter, sweet potatoes, parsley, kale, spinach, mangoes, broccoli, and squash.
An excellent formulation of Vitamin A can be found here.
Vitamin A is also found in vitamin fortified milk,although we here at LeQuadrillage do not recommend the ingestion of modern processed milk,which is a species specific food. Cow's milk is good for calves! That said, if you can get raw milk from healthy cows, and if you know that your source isunfailingly reliable, drink it. Processed milk is, first of all, pasteurized, which beyond its obvious benefits, destroys the essential enzymes present in raw milk and contributes to the development of lactose intolerance in a lot of people. But then they go ahead and commit the ultimate sin. They homogenize it to increase shelf life! The process of homogenization breaks the fat globules into such tiny, submicroscopic particles that they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive process. So you're loading up your arteries with fat deposits every time you drink a glass of milk. Butter is better. In moderation it's safe to eat.
If you're deficient in Vitamin A you might have difficulty in adjusting to dim light when coming in from the bright sunshine. In extreme cases you might have night blindness, have bumps on the skin, mainly on the backs of your upper arms, shoulders, neck, buttocks, and abdomen. You might have faulty tooth and bone formation and impaired growth.
It's also very important to understand that you can overdose on Vitamin A! If you do, you can experience vomiting, joint pain, abdominal pain, bone abnormalities, cracking and dry skin, headaches, irritability, and fatigue. Normally these symptoms disappear when you discontinue the supplement. If you're pregnant and/or have liver malfunction you should not take more than 2500 International Units of Vitamin A daily. Those who make a study of these things recommend as an optimal intake, 5000 IU for adult men and 2500 IU for adult women.
All suppliers listed on LeQuadrillage, wherever found, have been investigated for consistency in reliability and product value. We will never link our visitors to any but the very best suppliers we can find. These will not necessarily be the least expensive. We take dollar value into account, but quality and effectiveness of product is paramount.
Special Osteoporosis Section Supplements To Help With Osteoporosis
Taken from Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis by Alan R Gaby, MD (Available from Amazon )
VITAMIN K covered in chapter 3 of Dr Gaby's book: This vitamin is usually associated with control of bleeding, but more Vitamin K is needed for bone building than to control bleeding. Subtle deficiencies are not easily detectable, apparently ( a Le Qaudrillage thought). Vitamin K, according to Dr Gaby, helps produce osteocalcin, found solely in bone. This material provides structure and order to bone by attracting calcium to the bone. This would be of particular interest to post menopausal women, who have elevated urinary calcium excretion. Vitamin K helps heal fractures as Vitamin K migrates from blood to bone. Dr Gaby recommends a dosage of 150mg to 500mg daily, with meals to facilitate absorption. DO NOT TAKE WITH BLOOD THINNERS!
MANGANESE from chapter 4: Post menopausal women are commonly deficient in Manganese. This causes bones to be thinner. Manganese stimulates production of a group of protien-like molecules (page 31) which provide a structure upon which calcification can take place. A deficiency of Manganese can cause bone abnormalities in people and animals, especially birds, by causing problems in the process of bone formation, remodeling and repair. Mineral deficiencies, especially in iron, Manganese, and calcium, inhibit the uptake of Manganese. Recommended dosage is 15mg to 20mg daily.
MAGNESIUM from chapter 5: "The mineral that does it all." Involved in more than fifty bio-chemical reactions. Magnesium participates in all energy producing processes that take place in the body, and deficiencies are common. Recommended dosage is 350mg/day for women, more for men.(Le Quadrillage note: Some researchers advocate more - 600mg/day) Stress depletes Magnesium because of the release of adrenaline, which draws Magnesium out of the cells and results in its being flushed out in the urine.
This mineral is easily lost through excessive noise, chronic diarrhea, excess alcohol, and some prescription drugs. (Le Quadrillage comment: If you're not taking Magnesium supplement now and intend to begin, be aware that this may cause loose bowels at first, until you get used to it.)
Chapter 5 of Dr Gaby's book is worth the price of the entire book. Magnesium is so important that the subject really needs more space than we can devote to it here. Deficiencies in Magnesium can have serious consequences.
FOLIC ACID from chapter 6: (Le Quadrillage comment: A woman's best friend). The immune system needs this! Deficiency causes anemia, psychiatric symptoms, neurologic damage. This is seen in individuals with low vegetable intake. If Folic Acid is overcooked or processed, it is destroyed by heat and light. Other factors that destroy this vital mineral are alcohol, birth control pills, chronic diarrhea, dilantin (an anti-convulsive).
Folic Acid is another wide ranging supplement that cannot be fully discussed here. For those with a scientific bent, an article out of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition might be of interest. Click on the link to access.
BORON from chapter 7: Essential for plants as a preventive for disease. In animals, a deficiency of Boron causes growth retardation, and bone abnormalities in chickens. Problems are intensified if the diet is also low in Magnesium and Vitamin D. Research indicates that Boron may also enhance the conversion of Vitamin D to its biologically active form. Boron is commonly formulated along with many supplements available from the A to Z Product Index of this website.
VITAMIN B6 from chapter 8: This vitamin may prevent Osteoporosis by improving homocysteine metabolism or enhancing the production of structural proteins. Vitamin B6 may also influence the production of bonebuilding progesterone. (Progesterone is a hormone.)
Note that cigarette smoke creates hydrazines, which destroys bone.
Recommended dosage: 50mg to 200 mg daily for Osteoporosis. Anyone desiring to take more than 100mg/day should consult a health practitioner trained in nutrition. Vitamin B6 and Magnesium work together! Zinc, Magnesium, B-Complex, Essential Fatty Acids need to be taken simultaneously with B6
ZINC from chapter 9: This mineral participates in more than twenty different biochemical reactions in the body: Protein synthesis, activity of insulin, DNA, wound healing, taste, smell & sight and normal immune system function. Here are just a few of the benefits delivered by an adequate conumption of zinc:
Helps maintain healthy vision and reduces age related macular degeneration.
Inhibits abnormal blood clotting that contributes to heart disease.
Has been shown to prevent pneumonia.
Enhances the immune system.
One of the key nutrients needed for DNA reproduction and repair.
Don't take Zinc at the same time as Folic Acid as this may cause a deficiency. Future issues of Le Quadrillage will address the subject in greater depth. Please visit us often, and patronize our sponsors.
Where it concerns Osteoporosis, Zinc enhances the biochemical action of Vitamin C and Vitamin D, which are involved in Calcium absorption and Osteoporosis prevention.
Dr Gaby recommends 15mg to 30mg of Zinc together with 2mg of Copper daily. At 100mg/day, he advises 4mg of Copper. If you get either nausea or a metallic taste, reduce the dose.
STRONTIUM from chapter 10: (Betty's note - this is the stuff that reversed my own problem very effectively!) Strontium (no relation to Strontium 90, the radioactive isotope), is the most abundant element in sea water. All living things have it in the body, nearly all of it in the bones and connective tissues. Dr Gaby asserts that Strontium migrates to sites in bones where bone remodelling is taking place. Dr Gaby's book was written in 1994, when DXA was not yet available, yet he had the correct notion that the amount of Strontium we ingest may influence the risk of developing, or not developing, Osteoporosis.
Dr Gaby does not recommend a dosage in his book, but others who followed him and study the subject have concluded an optimal dose of 340mg once or twice a day on an empty stomach give the desired results. Strontium is available from Vitamin Research Products.
COPPERfrom chapter 11; Copper aids in the production of hemoglobin; is a co-factor in energy metabolism; plays a role in the formation of connective tissue and has anti inflamation activity. Deficiency can cause anemia, low white bloodcell count, impaired immune function, cardiac arrythmias, and elevated serum cholesterol.
Animals fed copper deficient diets get elevations of serum uric acid and blood sugar, EKG abnormalities, damage to the heart muscle. (Elevated blood sugar has also been reported in humans, and copper compounds have been found to be effective in treating arthritis.)
**Copper & Osteoporosis: Copper deficiencies may be a cause of Osteoporosis (pge 94)
Dosage is one to two mg daily. Excess can cause toxicity and can cause psychiatric problems, but a deficiency is much more common. Note: Zinc interferes with utilization and absorption of copper. Individuals taking large amounts of zinc should also take several mgs of copper daily to prevent the development of copper deficiency.
SILICON Helps form cartilage & other connective tissue; plays a key role in bone health. (Chapter 11) High concentrations are found at the calcification sites in growing bone (pge 95), especially skull bones.Silicon is involved, in an early stage, in the calcification of bone. Animals fed a silicone deficient diet developed gross abnormalities of the skull, including narrowing of the frontal area, and the stunting of the parietal, occipital, and temporal bones. To see what these bones are Click Here. (Patients with Osteoporosis may require more silicon.) This trace mineral is found in some multiple vitamin and mineral supplements. Horsetail is a rich source. (Available from VITAMIN RESEARCH PRODUCTS.)
VITAMIN C Popularized by Linus Pauling, PhD in the early 70's, Vitamin C is the most popular supplement after multi-vitamins. Pages 95 and 96 detail its benefits and functions, including its ability to help prevent heart disease, assist the immune function and act as a natural antibiotic (it can kill E-Coli). Some nutritionally oriented physicians have used massive doses administered intravenously to treat acute hepatitis and other viral diseases. There is no evidence that it causes kidney stones and in fact it binds calcium in the urine, making calcium less available for stone formation.
Osteoporosis can be caused by a deficiency and excessive doses may cause diarrhia or intestinal upset. Take with food or in a buffered form. May interfere with blood thinners and may be dangerous in people with severe kidney failure.
VITAMIN D Needed for calcium absorption; a deficiency causes rickets in children, osteoporosis in the elderly. (More recently Vitamin D deficiency has been named as a significant factor in multiple sclerosis.)
200mg to 400mg daily as a minimum with higher doses recommended. Some doctors have mentioned the need for 1600 mg daily. Available from VITAMIN RESEARCH PRODUCTS.
CALCIUMFrom Chapter 12: Calcium is important but not the whole story. Calcium is just one of many nutrients used in the treatment of osteoporosis. Bone tissue is complex, dynamic, and alive and has a wide range of nutritional needs. Page 102: "We cannot just drink more milk or take more calcium supplements and expect our bones to turn out perfectly fine."
Calcium & Teeth: Prevents resorption of alveolar bone. Some doctors recommend 1500 mg daily for osteoporotic women, but Dr Gaby contends that this may be too much. "May deplete or interfere with absorption or utilization of other essential nutrients, such as iron." Excess calcium may lead to magnesium deficiency and magnesium deficiency causes abnormal calcium metabolism.
Magnesium prevents formation of calcium oxalate crystals, the most common cause of kidney stones. Magnesium, according to Dr Gaby, is "natures calcium channel blocker." On page 107, Dr Gaby contends that a deficiency of magnesium promotes atherosclerosis and can cause abnormalities of of calcium metabolism resulting in the formation of calcium deposits in places where calcium does not belong! In one study, women with osteoporosis had abnormal calcium crystals in their bones.
In an elderly individual with chronic degenerative disease, the arteries and joints may be slowly calcifying and additional calcium deposits may be developing in muscle and soft tissue. "What I'm concerned about, however," says Dr Gaby, "is that taking excessive amounts of calcium withouit adequate magenesium could accelerate both osteoporosis and soft-tissue calcification."
FUMERIC ACID Dr Helmut Christ, of Bisingen Germany found that the one common factor his psoriasis patients shared was a low level of Fumeric Acid. We all make this ourselves, but when something happens to interfere with its production, psoriasis can be the devastating result. Dr Christ began treating his patients with Fumeric Acid and was astonished at the results he achieved. Try it! When you take it, be sure you're warm. If you can work up a sweat, so much the better. If you're cold when you take it, you won't receive optimum results. Also, Fumeric Acid in and of itself, is worthless if it is not correctly formulated. Vitamin Research Products has the correct formulation! Follow the directions.
If you've never heard of Tibetan Goji Berries you owe it to yourself to at least acquire a nodding acquaintance with this outstanding product. The banner below, will take you to the world's premiere supplier of absolutely pristine Goji Berries. WHY SPEND MONEY ON THEM? The term glyconutrients describes around 200 naturally occuring, biologically active plant sugar molecules, monosacherides, found in nature. Eight of these are "essential" (not made by the body) glyconutrients which are crucial to the proper structure and function of all our 600 trillion cells. (Read they're strong anti cancer agents) These glyconutrients combine with protiens and fats to create glycoprotiens which coat the surface of the cells, forming a cell-to-cell "messaging system." Without this messaging system the cells cannot attack bacterial and viral pathogens effectively, resulting in disease.
Modern diets provide only glucose and galactose, but we need all eight of them, glycose, galactose, mannose, fucose, xylose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetyl-galactosamine, and N-acetylneuraminic acid.
Himalayan Goji Berries are an excellent source of these sugars. Research has shown that the fruit and an extract from the leaves can kill many kinds of malignant cells en vitro (in glass laboratory dishes). Goji juice also contains organic germanium which has also been shown to exhibit anti-cancer activity.
That said, if it makes you feel good to eat them, go ahead and do it. The facts we've outlined here are all correct. They can be quite beneficial as part of your diet, but not significantly more so than many other natural foods and supplements that are far less expensive. Do any of the the LeQuadrillage staff indulge? No.
GLYCONUTRIENTS A new class of missing nutrients which compose a group of around 200 naturally occuring, biologically active plant sugar molecules (monosachurides) found in nature. Eight of these are essential glyconutrients, not made by the human body, but crucial to the proper structure and function of all our cells.
Glyconutrients combine with protiens and fats to create glycoprotiens which which coat the surface of the cells, forming a cell to cell "messaging system," without which the cells cannot attack bacterial and viral pathogens effectively, resulting in disease. Modern diets provide only two of these glyconutrients; glucose and galactose, while we need these and the other six as well: mannose, fucose, xylose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylnuraminic acid.(From Cancer - Step Outside the Box, Ty Bollinger)
Two products which contain all of these glyconutrients are aloe vera and goji berries.Aloe vera, long considered a green superfood and known as an effective skin moisturizer and healer of cuts, sunburn, burns and bruises, insect bites etc. in gel form is now widely recommended for its digestive, soothing laxative properties in juices and other forms, and for treating colon and liver disease. Aloe vera is a natural antiseptic and astringent for infections, both internal and external. It is also a natural oxygenator, increasing the body's uptake of oxygen, a help in cancer treatment. (From Healthy Healing, Linda Lecter Page, PhD.)
Besides aloe vera, goji berries, also known as wolfberries contain all the essential glyconutrients. These berries grow mainly in China, Mongolia, and Tibet. Sometimes described as red diamonds, they are harvested by shaking from the vine on to trays to avoid bruising and spoilage. to their delicate nature. Sold in dried form, they are tangier, chewier, and more tart than raisins. Goji Berries contain a significant percentage of a day's macronutients: carbohydrates, protien, fats, and dietary fiber. They have antioxidant properties, particularly beta-carotine and xeaxanthin, which help fight inflamation and vision related diseases such as macular degeneration. Goji berries are also reputed to have anti cancer and immunomodulary properties.
The greatest significance of goji berries however, is their polysaccharide content. Many studies exist that polysaccharides (glyconutrients) have specific physiological roles mediated by by specialized cell receptors' master control properties over other bioactive chemicals and cells.(Wikipedia p10 of 16, Wolfberry).
WHEN YOUR DOCTOR TELLS YOU TO EMPHASIZE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN YOUR DIET, LISTEN!
Phytonutrients, also known as phytochemicals, are substances that give plants their characteristic flavor, color, aroma and not all that incidentally, their properties, which induce in us our own resistance to disease. Which is why those who care about these things urge us all to be sure to get our daily quota of fresh fruits and vegetables. The health benefits of phytonutrients continue to be discovered almost daily, are simply too numerous to detail in this short essay, and consistently fortify the premise that people who continue to adhere to whole food diets, including abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably uncooked for the most part, stand a much better chance of avoiding cancer, heart disease and many many other ailments and maladies afflicting those of us who tenaciously avoid their consumption.
Phytochemicals found in vegetables such as brocolli and cauliflower, kale and brussels sprouts (cruciferous vegetables), for example, help us metabolize toxins that are instrumental in preventing certain types of cancers. The flavinoids in citrus fruits protect us against heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Many phytochemicals are powerful anti-oxidants that protect us against cell damage and environmental pollutants.
A FEW OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT
PHYTONUTRIENTS
We interviewed numerous alternative care providers and read countless papers and books in our quest to bring you these.
Allyllic Sulphides: Found in onions and garlic. These phytochemicals strongly support detoxification and work to inhibit cancer.
Bioflavinoids: All fruits and vegetables have them and they have strong antioxidant and cancer preventing properties. They support the fight against arthritis, cancer, circulatory diseases.
Catechins: Green tea has the most, although all teas have them. Berries are rich in catechins. They are good antioxidants and detoxifiers. Very beneficial against high cholesterol, cancer, and heart disease.
Chlorophyll: In green plants and colored vegetables. This is an antioxidant containing vitamin K. Counters anemia, supports detoxification and cancer prevention, helps with healing wounds and burns.
Curcumin: Found in the spice, turmeric, it has strong antioxidant, anti-inflamatory properties and supports the fight against arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.
Ellagic Acid: Apples, berries, grapes, and tea. Good for detoxification and cancer prevention.
Flavoglycosides: In ginkgo and black tea. High antioxidant properties and effectively improve blood flow. Treat heart disease, kidney disease, varicose veins, depression, poor memory.
Fructooligosacharides: (FOS) Found in Jerusalem artichoke, chicory root, garlic, and bananas. This substance increases beneficial intestinal bacteria and is a good detoxifyer. Used extensively by alternative medical practitioners in the treatment of digestive conditions such as irritable bowell syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, yeast overgrowth, cancer, and vaginitis.
Gallic Acid: Red wine & green tea. An immune enhancing antioxidant. Prevents and treats infections and heart disease.
Glucosinolates: Found in the cruciferous vegetables; cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and brussels sprouts. Good detoxifiers, help balance hormone levels and prevent cancer.
Indoles: Cruciferous vegetables (caulflower, kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli). Detoxifyer and hormone balancer. Excellent for cancer prevention, especially hormone dependent cancers such as breast and prostate cancers.
Isoflavones: Found in soy, not on our favorites list, but it's good for hormome balancing, PMS, menopause, and cancer prevention.
Isothiocyanates: In broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and horseradish. Good detoxifier and cancer preventive.
Lignans: In flaxseeds & walnuts. Effective in immune enhancement and hormone balancing, cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention.
Limonoids: Good detoxifiers, cancer and cardiovascular disease preventers. Found in citrus fruits, especially the peels.
Lycopene: In tomatoes and red grapefruit. An antioxidant used in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
Organosulfur compounds: In chives, garlic, and onions. Antioxidants, detoxifyers, immune enhancers used in cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention as well as in general detoxification.
Phenolic Acids: Broccoli, tomatoes, berries, cabbage, and whole grains. Cancer preventive antioxidants.
Sulforaphane: In the cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, & brussels sprouts. Used in detoxification, hormone balance, and cancer prevention.
Terpenes: Strong anti cancer agents for cancer prevention and hormone balance.
If you are SERIOUS about your Health and Longevity you owe it to yourself to know what to look for in a supplement or, anti-aging program. Also, it's critical you know what your body needs in order to achieve your health and longevity objectives. Allocate 10 minutes now and become educated and enlightened by taking this 10 minute tour by clicking here.
Acai Berries: (pronounced ah SIGH ee). These berries are coming in as the latest craze in the "super food" category. They grow on trees in the Amazon rain forest and have been used for centuries by the natives for food and medicine. Look on the web and you will find all kinds of sites extolling the virtues of the various formulations of acai juice coming on the scene. Here are the realities: Most studies on the acai berry have been done in the laboratory. There, the acai berry has been found to be packed with lots of good stuff. The berries are known to have super high anti oxident content as well as huge amounts of flavenoids similar to those found in red wine. Amino acids, and phytosteroids are also among the beneficial nutrients.
Dr Brent Bauer, director of complimentary and integrative medicine at the Mayo clinic, calls the acai berry "intriguing" but feels that the solid scientific evidence is still waiting in the wings. He also has reservations about consuming the juice in unknown concentrations where the strength of the berry could be enhanced to drug proportions.
Every nutritional researcher we've spoken with agrees that acai berries seem to be justly declared a "super food." So much for the berries themselves. As Dr Bauer points out, no one knows what kind of formulations are out there and they're certainly not what the natives of the Amazon have been eating all this time. We can't recommend any product said to contain acai juice at this time and we'd advise you to use caution when consuming any juices produced by commercial suppliers until more is known about these berries.
A PRECAUTION FOR THOSE TAKING VITAMIN E
(d-Alpha Tocopherol)
Vitamin E is a good blood thinner and it facilitates easy blood flow. But it also interferes with coagulation to a small degree. Normally this is not an issue, but if you are scheduled for surgery, stop taking it two weeks before your surgery and tell your doctor. You don't want to be handing a surgeon any unforeseen problems. You can safely go back to taking it two weeks after your surgery. This caution extends to tooth extractions.
Don't take Vitamin E at the same time as any inorganic iron supplement. Ferrous sulphate destroys Vitamin E.
DO NOT TAKE VITAMIN E IN ANY INSTANCE OF HEMORRHAGING, BLEEDING STROKE, OR HEART ATTACK.
TOCOPHEROL or TOCOPHERYL?
Before Vitamin E was assigned a letter of the alphabet it was known simply as tocopherol. The word comes from the Greek "topros," meaning childbirth, and "pheros," meaning to bring forth. The vitamin was first identified in 1922 and was used to cure reproductive abnormalities in rats.
The antioxidant properties of Vitamin E were not discovered until 34 years later, in 1956. d-Alpha-tocopherol is the natural product that should be used for its full effect. The cheaper, synthetic tocopheryl is a waste of money, in our opinion and should be avoided. Always check the labels on vitamin bottles to be certain you're getting the genuine article.
VITAMIN E A fat soluble group of naturalcompounds called tocopherols and tocotrienols. Both the tocopherols and the tocotrienols four forms: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Alpha tocopherolis the most bioloically active. Gamma tocopherol is more potent in increasing the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) Gamma tocopherol is also more potent in protecting the body against diseases associated with chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is associated with diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, osteoporosis, or simply aging. As an active antioxidant, vitamin E prevents oxidation of fat compounds (including those found in cholesterol and triglycerides). So vitamin E helps keep fats from sticking to blood vessel walls and other tissues. Vitamin E also prevents oxidation of vitamin A, selenium, two sulphur amino acids, and some types of vitamin C. As a fat soluble vitamin, vitamin E enances the availability of vitamin A, another fat soluble vitamin.
Note that 60% - 70% of the Vitamin E dose is excreted as intestinal waste. The rest of the dose is stored for only a short time. Note also that 25 mcg of selenium taken with each 200 IU INCREASES THE POTENCY OF VITAMIN E. For maximum benefit, take Vitamin E with a little fat or with fatty supplements such as fish oil.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF VITAMIN E
Retards cellular aging caused by oxidation.
Keeps you looking younger.
Prevents oxidation of the components of LDLS (Low Density Lipids), the so called "bad" cholesterol.
Works with Vitamin A to protect the lungs from air pollution.
Helps prevent various forms of cancer.
Helps inhibit breast cell cancer growth.
Works to prevent and to dissolve blood clots. (Why would we need Plavix?)
Lowers the risk of ischemic (non-bleeding) strokes, and of heart disease in general.
Helps reduce the risk of cataracts.
Helps alleviate leg cramps and "charley horse" pains from over exertion or exercise.
Foods containing Vitamin E: Wheat germ, soybeans, nuts, especially walnuts, pecans, and peanuts, vegetables like brussels sprouts, dark green leafy vegetables, spinach, whole wheat, eggs.
Antioxidants fight free radicals. Antioxidants reverse cellular damage caused by free radicals. This is important because free radicals can damage cellular DNA and cause degenerative diseases like arthritis and heart disease.
Free radicals also lead to cracked nails, wrinkled skin and hair loss. The job of antioxidants is to interact with free radicals and stabilize them. Antioxidants are considered to be scavengers of free radicals.
Antioxidants neutralize the natural electical charge of free radicals.
Antioxidants prevent free radicals from "stealing" electrons from other molecules.
These actions of antioxidants result in:
Neutralizing free radical damage.
Reducing inflamation due to free radical activity.
Protecting muscle tissue, connective tissue, and the tissues of other body structures.
A single antioxidant can't do all these things alone, and neither can a group of a single kind of antioxidant. Different antioxidants scavenge different free radicals. Some antioxidants, like vitamins, are water soluble, while some are oil soluble. We need both kinds.
Some water soluble antioxidants are:
N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC)
Green Tead Extract
Seleno L-Methionine
Quercetin
Some oil soluble antioxidants include:
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
Milk Thistle Extract
Some antioxidants work directly, others work indirectly Direct antioxidants bind to free radicals, making them harmless. This activity destroys the antioxidant. Some direct antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Beta Carotine (Pro Vitamin A).
Indirect antioxidants work asa catalysts. Unlike direcxt antioxidants, the activity of indirect oxidants does not destroy them.
Indirect antioxidants boost your body's antioxidant system.
Indirect antioxidants promote the production of protective enzymes.
Indirect antioxidants protect your body against more types of damage than direct antioxidants.
Indirect antioxidants build up your body's antioxidant systems, making them work better.
An important indirect antioxidant is found in some cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. This antioxidant is called Sulphoraphane Glucosinolate (SGS)
It's no secret that people are living longer today than at any time in history (exclusive of some Biblical accounts). That's the good news. The bad news is that many of us, as we age, are being kept alive courtesy of modern medicine. Some of us, as we pass 65, are taking as many as 13 prescription drugs a day! Wow! Those of us who aren't there yet wonder if that is the future we're all facing.
Those of us blessed with "good" genes survive well into our 80s and 90s without encountering any significicant health problems. We're the lucky ones. But what about the rest of us? How can we avoid the purgatory of endless consumption of expensive and toxic drugs during our remaining years of life?
THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFESTYLE!
Now that's a decidedly unpopular concept! It seems that for most of us, anything we do, eat, or drink - if we enjoy it, it's bad for us! But the cruel fact that cannot be avoided is that 80% of chronic illnesses are caused by lifestyle choices. Yes, that's eighty percent! We all have a whole lot more control over our present and future health than we care to believe.We really don't want to know that. Well, we've just been informed of what we've been told all along; that the Standard American Diet (SAD) prepackaged, over-processed, additive-laden convenience foods age the body prematurely, if they don't kill you first. We also know that smoking and exposure to environmental pollutants cause diseases too .
OXIDANTS; THE HIDDEN CULPRITS
Now we're going to look at the real, primary cause of disease and aging; oxidants. We cannot escape them. We know them better as free radicals. These little buggers are natural byproducts of normal metabolism. We even create them when we breathe, there's no escaping them.
Free radicals cause a cascade of events. When sugars interact with protiens and lipids (fats), some of which are created directly by the body, some enter via the diet, this action forms advanced glycation and products (AGEs). AGEs damage the body's structure of protiens and cell membranes.
CHRONIC INFLAMATION The resulting cell damage creates the chronic inflamation that causes all kinds of degenerative diseases. Cell scarring and LDL Oxidation put plaque in the arterial walls, producing atherosclerosis. Plaque in the brain can lead to dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. The list of disorders caused directly by chronic inflamation is endless. Diabetes, arthritis, sometimes even cancer are caused by chronic inflamation! The exterior of the body does not escape either. The skin dries out and forms wrinkles. Hair gets dull and doesn't grow as fast as it used to.
SO WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS? The key to stopping, or at least slowing, the progression of cell damage is to prevent it in the first place. We cannot escape the oxidants. But we can control them with antioxidants. Supplements containing antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients can help prevent and reverse oxidation. Note: Supplements compliment the diet. Supplements are not meant to replace nutrient dense meals; they are meant to work with food.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The best supplements we have been able to find; products that have our unqualified approval and recommendation are: Total Balance and the Omega3/DHA Esters formulas. Click on the link for an expanded discussion of this issue (in plain English) and information about these supplements; needed by all of us.
Over 95% of Anti-aging and Supplement programs do not work! Either because they are not scientifically formulated, are incomplete or, they contain inferior ingredients. In some cases due to poor manufacturing processes many products do not even contain the stated ingredients at all! Learn more by clicking here.
HGH WARNING!
Human Growth Hormone, the latest version of the "fountain of youth," is a synthetically produced hormone supposedly identical the human growth hormone. It is available by prescription and given by injection. Indicated for cases where the patient's own natural production of HGH is impaired, it is far from the proverbial "fountain of youth" it is often represented to be. The llist of possible side effects is extensive. Here are just a few:
RECORDED SIDE EFFECTS OF HGH INJECTIONS
High blood pressure
Soft tissue swelling
Thickening of the skin
Abnormal hair growth
Glucose intolerance
Muscle weakness
Arthritis
Impotence
Breathing problems
Skin problems
Premature aging and death
POTENTIALLY NEGATIVECONSEQUENCES
HGH injections have the potential of shutting down your own natural production of the hormone. If this happens, and you discontinue the injections, you will be left with no natural production of HGH and a rapid deterioration of all your organs, along with accelerated aging will result. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has issued strong warnings against use of HGH for treating patients with ordinary obesity.
HOMEOPATHIC FRAUD A very hard-sell marketing effort for a Homeopathic form of HGH has been going on for some time. These Homeopathic supplements contain minute amounts of HGH and cannot possibly work. If taken sublingually (under the tongue), the HGH molecule is too large to be absorbed and if swallowed, it won't get past the stomach. Many unscrupulous producers are marketing a homeopathic spray version, misleading consumers by quoting entirely unrelated and irrelevant "studies." In this case, the molecule is too sensitive to survive in this form.ABSOLUTELY NO STUDIES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED CONTRADICTING THIS!
DANGEROUS PRECURSERS Taking the results of a short, seriously unrelated study by Dr Daniel Rudeman, and twisting it to suit their agenda, products known as HGH Precursers are being aggressively foisted off on an unsuspecting public. HGH Precursers are a cocktail of amino acids and are sold globally as supplemental products. High doses of these amino acids can and do raise the HGH levels temporarily - if you're still young enough. Their effectiveness decreases with age, and by the time you reach 50, you will be getting limited, if any, benefit from them.
The promotors of these products show a lot of impressive and convincing graphs and other graphics, but they never admit to what they knoe - that the levels of HGH always - yes, that's ALWAYS, A.L.W.A.Y.S., fall back to the original levels of HGH existing before the start of the program. Often the user ends up with even lower levels than they were before. The danger of long term negative effects is much too great to take a chance on using these products.
SO WHERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
It's right here. HGH is NOT a Fountain of Youth and can be seriously detrimental to your health. It is entirely possible to maintain high levels of HGH naturally without resorting to these shoddy products. Many men in their fifties and sixties are doing this successfully while enhancing their overall health. Take a look at a product called Total Balance Mens Plus. Here you will ind a lot more very good information on maintaining and enhancing your general health.
Melatonin is a hormone. Melatonin is produced from the amino acid tryptophen, by the pineal gland (a pea sized gland in the brain) in total darkness - when the lights go out at night. Melatonin is also produced in the retina, and by the gastrointestinal system, which explains the sense of sleepiness we often get after a heavy meal.Melatonin is both fat and water soluble. According to Dr Eileen M. Lynch, an oncology research scientist, melatonin can kill cancer cells. Along with its ability to both absorb and repel water, melatonin can also act as a weak preventive antioxidant, a weak metal ion chelator, and in certain circumstances, a direct free radical scavenger. As such, it can counter the oxidative stress within the chaotic tumor microenvironment.
In his 2004 report to the American Association for Cancer Research, Dr David E. Black reported that melatonin puts breast cancer cells to sleep and slows breast cancer growth by 70%. Breast cancer cells are turned on by omega-6 fats, but melatonin interacts with omega-6 fats. At a news conference, Dr Black stated, "Nighttime melatonin is a relevant anticancer signal to human breast cancers. Ninety percent of human breast cancers have speific receptors for this signal."
To help confirm this, Dr Black's team exposed lab mice to constant light (melatonin is produced only in darkness) and tumor grown skyrocketed. Additional research has corroborated the fact that melatonin can kill many types of human cancer cells. A report by Dr R. M. Sainz et al., in the 2003 issue of Cellular Molecular Life Science indicates that melatonin is a naturally produced cytotoxin which can induce tumor cell death. Dr P Lissoni in Neuroendocrinology Letter 2001, reports discovering that melatonin inhibits angiogenesis, the development of new tumor blood vessels.
Scientists presenting research at the First International Scientific Conference on Childhood Leukemia reported that light at night, and working night shifts, have both been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Compared with other working women, female night-shift workers have about a 50% greater risk of developing breast cancer. This according to William Hrushesky of Dorn Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Columbia S.C. Time release melatonin in the product at left can go a long way to alleviate this problem. Click on the bottle for more information.Eva S Schernhammer and her Harvard colleague Susan E Hankinson,, found that women who have above average melatonin concentrations are relatively unlikely to develop breast cancer. (reported in the July 20, 2005 Journal of the National Cancer Institute}.
Melatonin has been shown to act as a circadian referee and is able to regulate the body's internal clock, keeping the immune system at its highest level of surveillance. Melatonin, unless it is the time release kind at the left, is best taken about 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime. For more information on time release melatonin, click on te bottle at the left of here.
