In the 2004-05 National Health Survey, 699,600 Australians (3.5% of the population) reported having diabetes. Based on the 1999-2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study, around one million Australians are estimated to have diabetes with the number expecting to increase over the coming decade. Rates of Type 2 diabetes in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are among the highest in the world. In some Indigenous communities as many as one third of the population may have diabetes.
The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases with age. Nearly 1 in 4 people aged 75 and over have Type 2 diabetes compared to less than 1 in 1,000 people in their 20s. However, rates of diabetes are increasing in all age groups. You can help reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, doing regular exercise, and eating a balanced diet.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
How many Australians have diabetes?
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy in about 3-8% of females not previously diagnosed with diabetes. Screening tests for gestational diabetes are usually performed around the 24th-28th week of pregnancy. It is a temporary form of diabetes and usually disappears after the baby is born. However, it is a marker of much greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is marked by reduced levels of insulin (insulin deficiency) and/or the inability of the body to use insulin properly (insulin resistance). The disease is most common among people aged 40 years and over and accounts for 85-90% of all people with diabetes. Many people with this form of diabetes eventually need insulin therapy to control their blood glucose levels.
According to the 2004-05 National Health Survey, 582,800 people (approximately 3% of the population) reported having Type 2 diabetes. Information from the 1999-2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study, the most recent national survey in which blood glucose levels were measured, estimated that more than 850,000 Australians aged 25 years and over (7.2% of that population) had Type 2 diabetes in 1999-2000. Around half of the people in the AusDiab study who tested positive for diabetes were not aware that they had it. Do you know your BGL (blood glucose level)?
Learn more
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is marked by a total or near-total lack of insulin. It results from the body destroying its own insulin producing cells in the pancreas. People with this form of diabetes require daily insulin therapy to survive. Type 1 accounts for around 10-15% of all people with diabetes. It is one of the most serious and common chronic diseases of childhood, with about half of the people with Type 1 diabetes developing the disease before age 18. Type 1 diabetes is sometimes called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes.
The most recent national estimates of diabetes prevalence come from the 2004-05 National Health Survey, which collected self-reported information. From this survey it was estimated that 91,900 Australians (0.5% of the population) had Type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus has a substantial impact on the health of Australians. The disease may result in a range of complications responsible for disabilities, reduced quality of life, shortened life expectancy, and pregnancy-related complications for the mother and the foetus or newborn baby. As one of the top 10 causes of death in Australia, diabetes is responsible for an enormous public health and social burden.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition in which blood glucose levels become too high because the body produces little or no insulin, or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body to use glucose (a type of sugar) for energy.
There are several types of diabetes, with different causal mechanisms. The three main types are:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Vitamin D and Bone Health
Not just Calcium - Vitamin D is just as important
Many of us are aware of the importance of calcium and its role in osteoporosis prevention. However, we sometimes neglect an essential co-factor in bone health management - Vitamin D.
Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. It regulates how much calcium remains in your blood and how much is deposited in bones and teeth.
Osteoporosis is most often associated with inadequate calcium intake. However, a deficiency of vitamin D also contributes to osteoporosis by reducing calcium absorption.
According to the National Institutes of Health, people with vitamin D insufficiency absorbs less than 10% of available calcium. In other words, even if you have an adequate calcium intake, you may not absorb it effectively if you have low levels of vitamin D. Indeed, researchers from the Harvard Medical School published results of a large-scale study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in February 2003 confirming this. The study concluded that there was a lower risk of hip fractures only in individuals with a higher intake of calcium coupled with a higher intake of vitamin D.
Vitamin D - How much?
Average adults including pregnant women need 200 IU of vitamin D daily while adults over 50 need 400 IU daily. The recommendation for vitamin D intake further increases to 600 IU for people over 70 years of age.
Vitamin D insufficiency is common among people over 50, with reported prevalences between 25% and 50% of the population. Insufficiency rate is even higher among elderly living in nursing homes. Non-institutionalized older adults, however, are still at risk of vitamin D insufficiency if they live in the northern region where sun exposure is limited. A report published by Danish researchers in March 2004 showed that daily supplementation of 400 IU of vitamin D can reduce the risk of bone fractures in non-institutionalized elderly living in the northern European region.
Key: Vitamin D is found in fortified milk, cod liver oil and some fish such as sardines, salmon, tuna and mackerel. Some yogurt and breakfast cereals are also fortified with this vitamin. It is wise to routinely check the nutrition labels and look for Vitamin D-fortified foods.
If you are wearing sunscreen of SPF 8 or more, it is very unlikely that your skin is able to convert sunlight into vitamin D. Many researchers suggested that adults over 50 as well as pregnant women should take a vitamin D supplement daily.
http://www.myhealthysupplement.com
The Myth of Calcium Supplements:
The role of calcium in bone health is indisputable. We've previously talked about food sources of calcium (Calcium Nutrition), we will spend some time discussing the different forms of calcium supplements.
The Dietary Reference Intake DRI for calcium for adults is 1000mg -1300mg depending on age and gender. As one serving of dairy product provides ~300mg of calcium, those who do not consume enough calcium from food sources may need calcium supplements to meet their daily requirement.
Calcium Supplements
When purchasing calcium supplements, ensure to look for the elemental calcium content, not the total content. For instance, a pill containing 500mg of Calcium Carbonate provides 200mg of elemental calcium. Hence one pill in this example only provides 200mg of calcium, not 500mg.
Calcium is absorbed in small intestines. Not all calcium we consume will be absorbed. The amount of calcium absorbed is dependent on a number of factors such as the acidic condition in our intestines, Vitamin D level, estrogen level and the type of calcium supplement.
Different Types of Calcium Supplements
One important factor affecting calcium absorption is how well the pill dissolves. Try buying calcium pills of US Pharmacopeia's standards. The "USP" on the label indicates that the calcium pill meets the USP standards of supplying adequate elemental calcium and how well it dissolves in our intestines.
Calcium Citrate e.g. Active calcium from www.MyhealthySupplement.com: Calcium is best absorbed in an acidic environment, hence calcium citrate is the best absorbed supplemental form of calcium. It does not require extra stomach acid for absorption; hence we may take it anytime in a day, even on an empty stomach. However Calcium Citrate usually provides less elemental calcium per pill, therefore one may need to take a relatively more numbers of pills per day depending to the needs. Cautions: people with acid reflux may not be able to tolerate calcium citrate
Calcium Carbonate e.g. Tums or Caltrate: Most calcium pills in the market are in the form of calcium carbonate. It requires extra stomach acid for better absorption, hence it is best taken after meals.
Dolomite, Bone Meal or Oyster Shell: These naturally occurring calcium pills may contain heavy metal or lead. At the moment, calcium supplements are not tested by any regulatory agency for lead content. Therefore, it's best to avoid.
Calcium Gluconate and Calcium Lactate: These types of calcium pills contain low content of elemental calcium. Hence, one may need to take a large amount of tablets to meet the calcium requirement!
Coral Calcium: This type of calcium is marketed for more than bone health. Its infomercial claimed that it can cure 200 human diseases. It's indeed only Calcium Carbonate. Read Alert! Coral Calcium Supplement Scam
Nutrition Calcium
Common names
- Calcium
- Males and females 19-50 yrs: 1000 mg/day
- Males and females 51-70 yrs: 1200 mg/day
What's Calcium for?
- Involved in bone and teeth structure
- Aids in muscle contraction, blood clotting, blood vessel contraction and dilation, secretion of enzymes and hormones, and nerve function
- Protects against osteopenia, osteoporosis, and hypertension
- May play a role in preventing high blood cholesterol, diabetes, colon cancer, and obesity
Best Food sources
- Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese
- Kale, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, mustard and turnip greens, bok choy, parsley, watercress, some seaweeds
- Canned fish with the bones in
- Calcium fortified juice, soy milk, tofu, and cereals
Calcium Nutrition:How to choose calcium rich foods
Average adult men and women (including pregnant women) need at least 1000mg of calcium daily, while post-menopausal women need up to 1,200mg a day.
Common Calcium-Rich Foods
Use these guidelines to help make sure you get the recommended amount of calcium in your daily diet.
Dairy:
Milk (1 cup): ~ 300 mg
Yogurt (175 mL): ~300 mg
Frozen Yogurt (1/2 cup): ~ 100 mg
Ice Cream (1/2 cup): 85 mg
Cheese is also a good source of calcium, but the amount contained in a serving depends on what kind of cheese you eat.
If you have lactose intolerance, there are still choices in the market. You can enjoy the pre-treated milk with 99% less lactose, or consume lactase enzyme tablets or drops. And some dairy products – such as firm cheese, yogurt, and buttermilk – are naturally low in lactose.
Soy:
Calcium-fortified soy drink (1 cup): ~300 mg
Tofu (1/2 cup): ~250 mg
Canned Fish:
Canned salmon with bones (3 oz): ~ 200 mg
Canned sardines with bones (3 oz): ~ 250 mg
Calcium is also found in dark green vegetables and dried beans. Or, you can use calcium-fortified products such as orange juice, cereal bars, or fitness water to help you fill in any gaps in your daily calcium consumption.
If you decide to supplement with calcium pills, look for the amount of "elemental" or available calcium in the supplements. If in doubt, ask your dietician or pharmacist to assist you in choosing the right calcium supplement. `
Key: Look for % M.F or % B.F on the label and choose dairy products with lower fat. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits, and include at least 2 -4 daily servings of lower-fat dairy products. In addition of getting enough calcium, physical activity can strengthen your bones as well. So start doing some weight-bearing exercise such as walking and hiking to maintain healthy bones!
Osteoporosis and Nutrition
Signs and symptoms of osteoporosis don't usually appear until later of life. In America, osteoporosis affects seniors over age 70. Osteoporosis progresses slowly and silently and as our bones become more porous and fragile, we often won't realize we have osteoporosis until we fracture a bone. Nutrition plays an important role of keeping our bones strong and healthy and slowing the natural loss.
Calcium: Nutrition for Healthy Bones
The Myth of Calcium Supplements: which ones are the best?
Calcium Citrate vs Calcium Carbonate
Vitamin D and Osteoporosis
Lactose Intolerance
Soy and Osteoporosis
Coral Calcium and Barefoot scam Alert
Vitamin K and Bone Health
Sunday, August 19, 2007
What can we do?
Heart Smart
Avoid using cooking oils that are high in saturated fats and/or trans fats such as coconut oil, palm oil or vegetable shortening. Instead, use oils that are low in saturated fats and high in mono- and polyunsaturated fats such as canola oil, olive oil and flax seed oil.
minimize using commercially packaged foods which are high in trans fats. Always read labels to look for trans-fat free alternatives.
as saturated fats are found in animals products, use lower-fat version dairy such as 1% or skim milk instead of whole milk. Trim visible fats and skins from meat products.
You may consider using a weight management food replacement that can help you with constipation, heart problem, bowel movement and weight loss at www.myhealthysupplement.com
Good Fats and Bad Fats
The fact is: we all need fats. Fats helps nutrient absorption, nerve transmission, maintaining cell membrane integrity etc. However, when consumed in excess amount, fats contribute to weight gain, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Fats are not created equal. Some fats promote our health positively while some increase our risks of heart disease. The key is to replace bad fats with good fats in our diet.
Bad Fats
Saturated Fats
Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Saturated fats are mainly found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood. Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats such as coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil
Trans Fats
Trans fats are invented as scientists began to "hydrogenate" liquid oils so that they can withstand better in food production process and provide a better shelf life. As a result of hydrogenation, trans fatty acids are formed. Trans fatty acids are found in many commercially packaged foods, commercially fried food such as French Fries from some fast food chains, other packaged snacks such as microwaved popcorn as well as in vegetable shortening and hard stick margarine.
Good fats
Monounsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated fats lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and increase the HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Nut, canola and olive oils are high in monounsaturated fats.
Polyunsaturated Fats
Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Seafood like salmon and fish oil, as well as corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils are high in polyunsaturated fats. Omega 3 fatty acids belong to this group.
A Good source of Omega3 can be purchased from US Nutritional manufacturer at www.myhealthsupplement.com
at wholesale prices and delivered to your door.
Components of a Nutrition Facts panel
Nutrition Facts
Common nutrients, such as total fat, cholesterol, and sodium, are required fields. Other nutrients, such as potassium and Vitamin K, are optional and not required to be listed. Each package must identify the quantities of specified nutrients and food constituents for one serving. It is important to note the following:
1 g of fat = 9 kcal
1 g of protein = 4 kcal
1 g of carbohydrate = 4 kcal
1 g of alcohol = 7 kcal
Serving Size
Serving sizes are standardized to make for easier comparison among similar food items. They are expressed in both common household and metric measures. It is always important to pay attention to a serving size. For instance, a serving of chocolate chip cookies is typically 2 pieces. Hence, if you eat 4 pieces, you will need to double the amount of nutrition content listed on the label.
Calories (kcal)
Calories provide a measure of how much energy you obtain after eating a portion of food. It is always important to find out the total calories. Many consumers are surprised to find that a fat-free product is not necessarily low in calories. Similarly, a sugar-free product is not always low in Calories or low in fat.
Nutrients listed
Total fat, saturated fats, cholesterol, total carbohydrate (including fiber and added sugars), protein, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron are required on the label. Other nutrients are optional and may be listed at the discretion of the manufacturer.
In addition to total calories and total fat, a few other nutrients relevant to heart health are important to pay attention to when reading a label. These include saturated fats, cholesterol and fiber. Effective Jan 2006, all labels should also include trans fatty acids.
Percent Daily Values
Percent Daily Values provide an estimate of the percentage of a nutrient from one serving in a typical 2000 kcal diet.
Daily Reference Values Footnote
This footnote reminds consumers of the daily intake of different foods depending on their own nutritional needs
Be Smart - Understanding Food Labels and Nutrition Facts
Grocery shopping and reading labels are a delight for some and a real headache for others. Regardless of how you feel about them, determining whether a particular food product fits into your healthy diet plan has become easier. In addition to listing the amounts of macronutrients (fat, protein and carbohydrate including fiber), a food label may also indicate vitamin and mineral content of the product. This provides good information to help a consumer determine if a particular food product meet his or her nutritional needs.
What is on A Nutrition Facts Label?
Food labels are designed to help consumers make healthy food choices. In 1990, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act went into effect. The USDA and the FDA developed these guidelines so that consumers would have access to useful nutritional information to help make smart choices.
But how do you make sense of a food label?
According to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, all packaged food products must contain the following information:
- Common name of the product
- Name and address of the product's manufacturer
- Net contents in terms of weight, measure or count, and
- Ingredient list and Nutrition Facts
Health Conditions That a Good Fiber Diet Can Prevent
Back in the 1940s, Dr. Denis Burkitt began to notice the importance of diet to good health. Working as a surgeon in East Africa, he rarely saw conditions, like constipation, hemorrhoids, and appendicitis, that were widespread in the Western world. He came to believe the amount of fiber, or roughage, people eat could explain why.
Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains your body canntt digest. There are basically two kinds, both important in keeping you healthy. Soluble fiber which dissolves easily in water and becomes a soft gel in your intestines. Insoluble fiber which remains unchanged as it speeds up your food's trip through your digestive system.
In his book, Eat Right - To Stay Healthy and Enjoy Life More, published over 20 years ago, Burkitt pointed out that people in developing nations tended to eat about 60 grams of fiber a day. In Western countries, the average amount was about 20 grams.
Today fiber intake is even lower. According to the National Institutes of Health, Americans eat only 5 to 20 grams of fiber a day. If you are among those eating the lowest amounts, you fall far short of the recommended 20 to 35 grams. Many nutritionists believe you'd be healthier with the higher amounts Burkitt recommended.
8 conditions you can fight with fiber
Increasing the fiber in your diet can help you avoid these conditions - or deal with them in a healthier way.
- Diabetes.
Fiber helps improve the way your body manages insulin and glucose. That means you can lower your risk of diabetes by eating whole grains rather than refined carbohydrates. Dark rye bread, whole-wheat crackers, multi-grain bagels, and bran muffins are good choices. - Heart attacks and strokes.
The soluble fiber in foods like oatmeal, okra, and oranges helps eliminate a good deal of the cholesterol that can clog your arteries and cause a stroke or heart attack. - Constipation and hemorrhoids.
"If fiber intake were adequate, laxatives would seldom be required," said Burkitt. Apples, sweet potatoes, barley, and pinto beans provide this roughage. Burkitt thought "softage" would be a better name for fiber, because it keeps the stool moist, soft, and easy to eliminate. - Appendicitis.
"Keeping bowel content soft," said Burkitt, "seems to provide the best safeguard against the development of appendicitis." Treats like apricots and peaches are a tasty way to do this. - Diverticulosis.
As your body processes fibrous foods, like peas, spinach, and corn, it tones up and strengthens your intestinal muscles. This helps prevent pouches, called diverticula, which can cause abdominal pain if they become inflamed. - Weight gain.
The best and simplest way to lose weight is to eat low-fat, lowcalorie vegetables and grains. "The more bulky fiber-rich foods you eat," said Burkitt, "the less fat you will be consuming, and vice versa." And since the fiber swells, you'll feel satisfied faster. If you have room for dessert, choose fruits like plums or strawberries. - Impotence.
It's probably never been imagined that navy beans, brussels spouts, and zucchini squash could improve your love life. But these fiber-filled vegetables help maintain strong blood flow to the penis by lowering your cholesterol and keeping your blood vessels unclogged. The beans, in addition, contain L-arginine, a protein that also helps improve potency. - Cancer.Burkitt believed a high-fiber diet defends against colon and rectal cancers in two ways. His cultural studies showed the more animal fat in a diet, the higher the incidence of bowel cancer. Eventually, he realized that the more bulky, fiber-rich foods people eat, the less unhealthy fat they consume. Not only that, but a healthy portion of fiber speeds cancer-causing compounds out of the digestive system more quickly - before they have a chance to make trouble.
Even if experts debate how all this really works, anyone who loads their plate with whole grains, legumes, fresh fruits, and vegetables will say there's no arguing with natural success.
Burkitt also considered fiber a protector against other conditions, like gallbladder disease, varicose veins, and hiatal hernia.
To get a good dietary fibre in a meal replacement formula why not consider The Weight Loss program whose foods have very low GI rating. You can choose from a variety of shakes and bars to complement you meals and can either order by phone or Online Shoping.
For more information on a top quality weight management product go to MyHealthySupplement.com for more deatils
or email customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com for assistance.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Soluble Fibres
Functions of Soluble Fiber
- bind with fatty acids
- prolong stomach emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly
Benefits of Soluble Fiber
- lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) therefore reducing the risk of heart disease
- regulate blood sugar for people with diabetes
Food Sources of Soluble Fiber
- Oat/Oat bran
- Dried beans and peas
- Nuts
- Barley
- Flax seed
- Fruits such as oranges and apples
- Vegetables such as carrots
- Psyllium husk
A Food supplement that is high in these fibres and has a very low GI can be found at MyHealthySupplement
Insoluble Fibres
Functions of Insoluble Fiber
- move bulk through the intestines
- control and balance the pH (acidity) in the intestines
Benefits of Insoluble Fiber
- promote regular bowel movement and prevent constipation
- remove toxic waste through colon in less time
- help prevent colon cancer by keeping an optimal pH in intestines to prevent microbes from producing cancerous substances
Food Sources of Insoluble Fiber
- Vegetables such as green beans and dark green leafy vegetables
- Fruit skins and root vegetable skins
- Whole-wheat products
- Wheat oat
- Corn bran
- Seeds & Nuts
A Good Meal Supplement is available at http://www.MyhealthySupplement.com
The Importance of Calcium in your Family's Diet
How is Calcium Important and how is it used?
Most of us know calcium is important for the maintenance and growth of healthy bones and teeth--but its benefits don’t stop there. Calcium is also required for blood clotting as well as proper muscle, cell and nerve growth. For example, did you know that a muscle twitch is caused by an insufficient supply of calcium to the neuromuscular cells? Calcium is one of the most important nutrients your body requires, and a calcium deficiency can cause serious health problems in both the young and old.
Calcium is continuously being used to build new cells. To supply your body with the calcium it needs, the intestines, ideally, absorb it during digestion. Our body cannot produce calcium on its own, so a constant supply is vital to keeping our body healthy and strong. If we are not providing our body with a sufficient amount of calcium in the foods we eat, the calcium already deposited into our bones is “borrowed” to produce the much needed new cells. If the “borrowed” calcium is not replaced and your body continues to lack the calcium it needs, osteoporosis will be inevitable.
You may be thinking, this is a newsletter for parents with toddlers, why are we discussing osteoporosis? Well, because the younger we start to build strong bones, teeth, muscles etc… the longer our bodies will stay strong--and the sooner we teach our children (which toddler’s soon become) what foods are healthy and why, the sooner they’ll learn to care for themselves.
Foods with Calcium
Calcium is found in a wide variety of foods. Dairy products contain large amounts of calcium, along with many types of fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables and soy products.
Calcium maybe be taken from food supplements to bridge the gap in the nutrient level of your daily intake. To get a very good supplement you may visit http://www.myhealthysupplement.com
Product Quality Check List for Nutritional supplements
Here is a quick do-it-yourself ten point test to help you evaluate whether a particular product is worthy of your consideration. Ask yourself these questions:
Is the product delivered in a single dosage? (a once a day product cannot simply provide the potency needed for optimal nutrition without being too large to swallow.)- Are the potency levels of the ingredients high enough to provide optimal daily nutritional intake without compromising safety?
- Are the ingredients provided in their most bioavailable form?
- Is the safety profile of each ingredient thoroughly researched and evaluated?
- Does the company meet pharmacuetical guidles- not food GMPs?
- Is the products formulated to meet pharmacuetical standards for full disintegration and dissolution?
- Is the product potency guaranteed for a specified shelf life?
- Is the product independently tested and guaranteed for potency?
- Is the product manufactured in-house?
- Is the product free of ingredients that may have cumulative toxicities ( pre-formed Vit A and iron)?
Want to be Healthy for Life?
Dr. Strand lectures on nutritional medicine across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and England and is now coming to a city near you… Australia- NZ- Singapore- Malaysia.
Dr. Ray Strand presents cutting-edge medical evidence that will help protect your health. Learn what you can do to improve your health and reap the benefits of cutting-edge discoveries in nutritional science. Dr. Ray Strand’s books, “What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know about Nutritional Medicine May be Killing You” and “Healthy for Life” encompass cutting-edge medical and scientific research that supports his approach to preventive and nutritional medicine.
This is a fantastic opportunity to invite preferred customers and guests to listen to a world-renowned nutritional expert give advice on how supplements can protect and improve our health.
This is a meeting focused on your True Health, not wealth, so invite all your preferred customers and guests so they can experience what True Health really means.Take charge of your health today! Book tickets for pre-purchase ticket price.
Call Vicki on +61 (0)422049690 Australia and Claude +60 (0) 17 658 0506 Malaysia
or email Customer Service on customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com for more information of dates, timings and ticket prices
Friday, August 17, 2007
Benefits of Calcium
Calcium helps our bones as well as :
- Lowers blood pressure
- contipation and Bowel movement
- muscle fatigue and Muscle pain
- Migranes
If you take a good calcium supplement and along with a potent grape seed antioxidant you can help over come these problems.
These products are available from MyHealthySupplement
PS: These are my personal notes taken attending lectures on health and are by no means trying to be an authority on nutrition and health but rather I feel i must share what I have learnt. Please be free to assist me in helping others know more about nutrition by writing to customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com with any ideas you may have. Or you are welcome to leave a comment for our readers.
Calcium and Kidney stones
Higer levels of calcium could lead to kidney stones and cancer .
Stones are caused by less fluids intake and non bioavailable calcium being taken into our bodies.
Studies have shown that diets high in salts can cause higher occurances of stones.
Coffee intake more than normal, ie 1 cup a day and certain teas with high caffiene can also cause calcium loss from the bones.
High Levels of calcium helps to reduce Hypertension and helps control blood pressure.
Avoid products that are processed with high salts such as soya sauce and chilli as these can leach calcium from our bones and lead to osteoporosis.
PS: These are my personal notes taken attending lectures on health and are by no means trying to be an authority on nutrition and health but rather I feel i must share what I have learnt. Please be free to assist me in helping others know more about nutrition by writing to customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com with any ideas you may have. Or you are welcome to leave a comment for our readers.
Vit D
Vit D is very important in our bodies as it is required to help with the absorption of Calcium.
This can only happen when Vit D is synthesised by sunlight. It is so important that you take time out to be in the sun for a little while and expose even a small part of your body for this to happen.
For adequate amounts of Calcium intake we need good eating habits, Vit D and exercise to be present in our daily routine.
PS: These are my personal notes taken attending lectures on health and are by no means trying to be an authority on nutrition and health but rather I feel i must share what I have learnt. Please be free to assist me in helping others know more about nutrition by writing to customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com with any ideas you may have. Or you are welcome to leave a comment for our readers.
Menopause and Bone Health
Its strange when you hear that someone fell and broke her bones due to the fall. Knowing all along she had Osteoporisis. The sad thing is that while she was walking her bone snapped as it was too porous and that caused her to fall. Not the other way round.
So!
Why This bone lose?
The rate of bone lose is more rapid starting from the age of 55. especially following menopause. Now days we see younger women in their forties victims of this disease.
We need calcium based products such as Soy to help with this condition. Soy products can help reduce the mood swing and help replace female hormones.
Non Modifiable factors are :
- Gender: Women are more prone
- Age: Bone loss increase as we age
- Body size: The larger the person the more the calcium bank and hence lower the risk
- Sunlight: Older people exercise less outside and hence Vit D cannot be synthesised to help with the absorption of Calcium
We strongly recommend Calcium manufactured by LeadingUSCompany.
PS: These are my personal notes taken attending lectures on health and are by no means trying to be an authority on nutrition and health but rather I feel i must share what I have learnt. Please be free to assist me in helping others know more about nutrition by writing to customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com with any ideas you may have. Or you are welcome to leave a comment for our readers.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Which Supplement
In a good calcium supplement there are two types of calcium present.
You will find both the citrate and the carbornate form of Calcium present.. By combining the two types of calcium you are getting between 80 to 90 % calcium absorption into your bodies. If you choose any other brand on the market you will get around 20%.
So if other brands are also using calcium carbonate and if it is not so good why does some companies put it in.? To get the same effect with calcium carbonate you will need to take more. Hence it reduces the amount of carbonate and replaces it wih citrate.
Leading Nutritional manufacturer has found that by combining the two types it can increase the rate of absorption yet still keep it small enough to swallow.
PS: These are my personal notes taken attending lectures on health and are by no means trying to be an authority on nutrition and health but rather I feel i must share what I have learnt. Please be free to assist me in helping others know more about nutrition by writing to customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com with any ideas you may have. Or you are welcome to leave a comment for our readers.
Bio-availability and Chelated
Bio availability is a term that means that the best form of supplement is the one that is available for our body to absorb for its immediate use or for future storage for optimum health. A label that says a supplement has the following does not really mean you are getting what you are paying for in the right amounts.
Chelated Minerals:
What does this term mean. Its a greek word meaning " Claw". In other words it means that the mineral is able to claw or grab onto a co factor such as an amino protein to make itself better available to be absorbed into our cells.
There are good and bad chelated mineral. Some of the good chelated are Picolinates, Gluconates, lactates and citrates, and amino acid chelated minerals. these are more stable in our bodies.
Bad chelated minerals are those such as oxides, sulphites and chlorides.
When you buy a calcium supplement look to see if these are present and select the one with teh good chelated minerals in them.
A safe a trusted supplement is the Calcium manaufactured by Leading US Nutritional Company and the only way you may buy them are online. The supplements were by rated by Yahoo7 TodayTonight Channel 7 on the 9th August as the best in Australia.
You may purchase these by clicking on the link MySupplement
PS: These are my personal notes taken attending lectures on health and are by no means trying to be an authority on nutrition and health but rather I feel i must share what I have learnt. Please be free to assist me in helping others know more about nutrition by writing to customerservice@myhealthysupplement.com with any ideas you may have. Or you are welcome to leave a comment for our readers.
Calcium Requirements
The average person daily requirement is 1000mg to 1300mg per day.
For children below 19yrs its 1300mg
From 9 to 18 years old the child needs the most calcium
19- 50 years old its 1000mg
and from teh age of 30yrs + the calcium intake tends to fall due to a number of reasons, mainly diet and lifestyle choice such as not enough exposure to sunlight as we tend not to want to go out as much as we get older.
So how does one tend to bridge this gaps with the down turn to calcium absorption in our bodies?
We can turn to a number of ways such as:
- Calcium enriched foods
- dairy Products
- Calcium rich vegetables
or we can turn to finding a very good supplement.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
How Much Of Calcium Does One Need daily
Our last message was that an average person only gets approximately 200mg per day of Calcium. Now the amount needed is atleast 1000mg and a person should atleast take 1300mg at the lower end. The uppper limit of calcium intake is at 2500mg per day.
Now as we grwo older we change our eating habits and so our calcium intake decreases due to reduce intakes of dairy products. More over older people need Vit D to be synthesised by sunlight to help with the absorption of Calcium. As we grow older our physical activity decreases and so affects our Calcium intakes daily. The levels of calcium in our bodies tend to slide down hill from the ages of 15 to 50 years and then a much steep fall from 50years +.
In 1997 the medical world realised that the RDA for Cacium alone was not enough. Suprisingly before that doctors promoted RDAs.
They realised that the RDA amounts of Cacium were not sufficient to prevent the onset of degenerative diseases. This basic amount was just good enough for bone maintainance.. So to prevent DD we need multiple dosages of RDAs over come what is now called degenerative diseases, or DD.
DRI or dietary recommended intakes, are to optomise health and to slow down chronic diseases.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Calcium In Our Meals
So How do we take calcium in our food?
Most of us are only aware that calcium comes from milk or dairy products. Yes these are rich sources of calcium yet we can also get calcium from our vegetables too.
Most diets today especially in comprises of rice, green leafy vegetables and fish. Now thats not eaten by everyone yet this is a good example. Well lets break the calcium intake down in this meal:
- Rice will give us approximately 5 mg of calcium in that meal
- Spinach will contribute a bit more at 58 mg
- Fish will add another 9mg
This gives us a total of 72 mgs of Calcium in that one meal. So if we eat three meals of the same above foods we will get say just over 200mgs as our daily intake.
Now from Clinical Trials that have been done the average adult needs arrox 1000mg a day at the minimum.
So where does that leave us. Short I should say. What are the consequences to less calcium in our daily intake over a long period of time?
Look out for our next post.
The Importance of Calcium in our Bodies
What is Calcium?
The answer is that Calcium is a mineral. Where is it found? Its found in mineral deposites in the ground. How do we as humans use this Calcium?
The calcium we use mostly come from calcium enriched foods such as milk, or dairy products, certain calcium rich vegetables which we can incorporate into our diets.
So where does this calcium get deposited in our bodies? The most calcium gets deposited into our bones, infact 99% of our calcium is in our bones and the rest 1% is in our soft tissues or blood.
What are the key functions of Calcium?
Everyone may say that calcium is only need for healthy bones. The answer is right or partly right. Yes it is need for our bones but it has a number of other major roles in our bodies functions. Sadly most people are not aware of these.
The key functions of Calcium are :
- Primarily to build strong bones as discussed earlier
- To assist in muscle contraction, which in turn helps in all our muscular functions, especially breathing, walking and bowel movement
- Enzymes protection or production: This is very important if you are diabetic. Do you know that calcium is need for the proper production of insulin in our bodies.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
The value of nutritional supplements in promoting and protecting humanhealth is intensely debated. Some argue that supplements provide aconvenient and effective means for supplying the optimal intakes ofessential nutrients that people need for good health. Others argue thatthere is no conclusive evidence that supplements provide any true healthbenefits at all. The latter argument has been bolstered over the pastseveral years by a steady stream of negative research reports published inleading medical journals.
This paper examines the supplement debate and questions some of the recentevidence suggesting that nutritional supplements are ineffective and unsafe.It is argued that much of the current controversy and negativity surroundingnutritional supplements results from inappropriate use of a pharmaceutical,acute-care model in the clinical evaluation of nutritional products;products whose real value is in preventing rather than treating disease. Asa result of this mismatch, nutritional supplements are often testedinappropriately, results of studies are interpreted less than objectively,and valid but non-clinical evidence of benefit is often discounted orignored.
As a case in point, I focus on vitamin E supplements and their role inpreventing heart disease. But the central tenets raised in this paperpertain to nutritional supplements in general, and to much broader issuessurrounding the field of primary prevention as a whole. We now spend about$2.0 trillion dollars annually on healthcare in the US. Ninety-eightpercent of this spending goes to the treatment of injuries and disease.And, the lion�s share goes to the treatment of chronic degenerative diseases(e.g. heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes), the leading causes ofpremature death and disability in our society. Only 2% of our healthcaredollars are spent on primary prevention; measures designed to keep healthypeople healthy. This despite the fact that most chronic degenerativediseases are highly (60-90%) preventable.
In this light, increased emphasis on primary prevention holds tremendouspotential for improving the effectiveness of our healthcare system. MostAmericans have the opportunity to add years of health to their lives byembracing prudent lifestyle strategies and habits over the long-term.Clearly, such strategies need to be broad-based, encompassing diet,nutrition, exercise, stress management, and the avoidance of harmful habitslike smoking. And just as clearly, a program of responsiblesupplementation, designed to compliment healthy eating habits and providethe advanced levels of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidantsrequired for lifelong health, can play an important role in this endeavor.The science, when approached broadly with an open mind, is convincing onthis point.
Here is an email I received from one of my team members
I have left the team members name out but alot of us have been on the Reset and have been finding similiar benefits.
Claude
PS : if you have an interest in health and want a good supplement or a meal replacement product then please go to our website at Supplements
I am very excited by the results I am having with the RESET program andwanted to write about another benefit I am finding! The clinical trialsdone are impressive.
I bet if there was testing done on systemicinflamation, there would be a substantial decrease in that too! That's what I am wanting to write about.
I have a disease called TransverseMyelitis, which is a very rare autoimmune disease, a cousin to MS. As withmost autoimmune diseases, I have substantial inflamation in my system. I have investigated how diet will help with inflamation, together with oursupplements, and Biomega 3 and proflavonol in particular. Eating a highalkaline diet is indicated - no meat, wheat, dairy, coffee, tobacco, orwine.
Doing the RESET program pretty much ensures a low glycemic AND A HIGHALKELINE diet and I am amazed to be waking up each morning withsubstantially less pain than I usually experience.
So, I am very excited about another benefit of our RESET program and plan tocontinue with Phase II for a long time.... All the best, AP Canada
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Today Tonight Yahoo7 News 8th August 2007
Vitamins: tested and rated Click here to view article as seen on TV
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Reporter: Helen Wellings
Broadcast Date: August 07, 2007
From A to zinc, a staggering 70 per cent of Australians buy nutritional supplements, spending on average $200 per year: a total of $2.3 billion.
But it is hard to know which to choose, from a mind-blowing 30,000 different types on the market. An extraordinary scientific analysis by a team of Canadian and US biochemists may come to the rescue.
They have thoroughly examined more than 100 leading multivitamins available in Australia and New Zealand, evaluating and comparing their formulations by separating and measuring each ingredient: vitamins, minerals antioxidants and other components.
Dr Lesley Braun, Pharmacist and Naturopath from the National Herbalists Association of Australia and Dr Marc Cohen, Professor of Complementary Medicine at RMIT are the authors of Herbs and Natural Supplements.
We showed them the latest comparison of multivitamin products which scores brand by brand.
"What you've got is seven experts from the US that have put together what I would call a wish list, a list of ingredients they believe would be the ultimate to have in a multivitamin," Dr Braun said.
Professor Cohen added: "It was done on a range of issues, which include how absorbable the vitamins were, the range of vitamins and minerals that were in the tablet and whether they were in the appropriate amounts and in the appropriate form" says Professor Marc Cohen.
Dr Braun explained the research further.
"Their aim is to try to find a product on the market that is as close as possible to their wish list of the most comprehensive, of the highest doses, for them what they would consider the best," Dr Braun said.
"It is very important when you look at a vitamin supplement that not only have you got the key ingredients, but you've got them in the right combinations."
They say the absolutely perfect multivitamin tablet would be a huge "poly-pill", the size of a walnut, but Professor Cohen says we should be aiming for the following.
"The full range of vitamins e.g. A, the full range of vitamin Bs - and B should be done in a complex, not just 1 or 2 of the vitamins - certainly vitamin C and a range of minerals," Prof Cohen said.
"There is also an argument to say you should not put everything in the one pill because things absorb differently, e.g. the fat soluble vitamins."
Now the results
First, the final top 5 scorers. Remember they're rated against an ideal multi-vitamin pill.
Best: USANA Health Sciences Essentials scores a very high 74 per cent, followed by Solgar Omnium at 56.5 per cent.
Thorn Research Al's Formula scored 47 percent, Clinicians Vitamin and Mineral Boost 45 per cent, and NFS Nutraceuticals Ultimate Sports Multi 44.5 per cent.
But you won't find them at the supermarket nor pharmacies: they're available online, some through naturopaths and herbalists.
What is it that gave these brands such top ratings?
"They do contain a lot of the B group vitamins, the antioxidants that are traditional vitamins, so bioflavonoids. And they contain a few other little bits and pieces as well in high doses, such as the minerals with magnesium and calcium," Dr Braun said.
"A lot of the key ingredients are in very high doses. So when you match it up to the wish list that the US experts put together, it looks very good."
Most of the multivitamins tested scored lower than 20 per cent. Again though, all were rated against the ideal.
About one-third only managed single figure scores. Bottom of the list, unbelievably, some of our top supermarket and pharmacy brands: Myadec and Nature's Own Multivitamins and Minerals both with just 2.4 per cent,
Herron Clinical Nutrition All-in-One Multi-Vitamin and Mineral scored 2 per cent, Guardian Multi Vitamins and Minerals Hi Potency also 2 per cent, and last was Advocare Macro-Mineral Complex at just 1 per cent.
But at a fraction of the price of the top scorers, our expert nutritionists say you do get what you pay for.
"They tend to have fewer number of ingredients compared to the ones that rated very highly," Dr Braun said.
"Also the strength of the ingredients tended to be lower.
"So I see them as just a very basic stopgap for someone whose diet really needs some work, whereas as they go higher in the list, they become more sophisticated and have better combinations."
Professor Cohen said: "I think the ones in the supermarkets and pharmacies are competing on price. You could have the vitamin on the label and only a very tiny amount. It won't actually do anything for you, but it is still on the label and consumers don't really know how much is the correct amount."
So are the right vitamins worth the money?
"Go with the ones that are comprehensive in good doses, the ones on the list," Dr Braun said. "Ideally though, go to a health professional, get your diet looked at, start working on the diet and get the right supplement for you."
"There is strong evidence now that everyone over the age of 55 should be taking a multivitamin every day to prevent long-term diseases," Prof Cohen said.
"I'd extend that to say everyone should be taking a multivitamin because the risks are very low and the benefits are potentially very high."
So what does an expert take daily? Here's a tip: don't waste your money taking multivitamins with a cup of tea.
"The best way to take them is in the morning with breakfast, big glass of water," Prof Braun said. "Tea not so good because it binds some of the iron and you won't get the absorption, cancels out the iron."
Dr Lesley Braun takes:
"Dona Glucosamine" by Your Health.
"CoQ10", Co-enzyme Q10 by BioCeuticals for healthy cardio-vascular function and good for people taking statins for lowering cholesterol. Lesley also takes them for migraine.
"Multi-biocomplex" with selenium, a multivitamin by Nutrimedicine.
A bowl of blueberries which are neuro regenerative - to combat the loss of brain-cells due to ageing. If she can't buy fresh in season, she buys frozen blueberries.
National Herbalists Association of Australia.
Website: www.nhaa.org.au
Dr Lesley Braun and Professor Marc Cohen wrote "Herbs and Natural Supplements: An Evidence Based Guide. Published by Elsevier, November 2004. ISBN 0729536823. Contains 567 pages. Price $A40.
TEST RESULTS
The scores and brand analysis of multi-vitamins, as mentioned in our story, are in Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements. A Compendium of over 100 Products available in Australia and New Zealand, written by Lyle MacWilliam BSc, MSc, FP. (Northern Dimensions Publishing, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Revised 1st Edition).
But it is not in bookshops in Australia. Go to www.uniprotools.com.au. You can order the book from that site by selecting Lyle MacWilliam's name on the left-hand side of the page. Price is $40 including postage and handling.
Nutritional Supplements sorted by score
USANA Health Sciences Essentials 73.7
Solgar Omnium 56.5
Thorne Research Al's Formula 46.9
Clinicians Vitamin and Mineral Boost 45.1
NFS Nutraceuticals Ultimate Sports Multi 44.5
Thorne Research Basic Nutrients V 44.4
Thorne Research Basic Nutrients III 38.7
Solgar VM-2000 37.9
Pharmanex Lifepak 28.1
Amway NutriWay Double X 27.3
GNC LiveWell Women's Ultra Mega 26.1
Pharmanex Lifepak Women 25.6
BioCeuticals Multi Essentials 25.3
Pharmalliance OxiChel 24.8
Neways Orachel 24.1
Solgar Formula VM-75 23.1
Radiance Multi-Power 22.6
Nutra Life Active Men's Multi 22.3
GNC LiveWell Mega Men 21.2
Pharmanex Lifepak Prime 21.0
Nature's Sunshine Supplemental Vitamins & Minerals 20.6
Thompson's Multifort 17.5
Nature's Way Mega Multi 17.1
Thompson's Immunofort 16.9
Nutra Life Active Women's Multi Plus 16.4
Eagle Tresos B PluSe 16.4
Nature's Way Women's Energy Mega Multivitamin 16.4
Pharm-a-Care Women's Mega Strength Multi-Vitamins 16.4
Bioglan Women's Complete Multi Compex 16.4
Pretorius Women's Live Better Multi Vitamin & Mineral 16.3
Kordel's Men's Multi (without Iron) 15.4
Nutrition Care Formula SF88 15.1
Blackmores Women's Vitality Multi 14.1
Metagenics Multigenics 14.1
Red Seal Women's Multi 14
Nature's Own Daily Multi Peak Performance 14
Mannatech GlycoLEAN Catalyst 13.9
Natural Nutrition Mega Potency Women's Multi Vitamin with Selenium 13.7
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel 13.5
Metagenics Multigenics Phyto Plus 13.5
Blackmores Women's Multi & Evening Primrose Oil 13.4
Natural Nutrition Mega Potency Fifty Plus Multi Vitamins 13.4
Blackmores Sustained Release Women's Multi Vitamins & Minerals 13.3
Natural Nutrition Mega Potency Men's Multi Vitamin with Selenium 13.3
Red Seal Men's Multi 13.3
Pharm-a-Care Men's Mega Strength Multi-Vitamin 11.7
Bioglan Men's Complete Multi Complex 11.6
Nature's Way Men's Energy Mega Multi-Vitamin Iron-Free 11.6
Blackmores Sustained Release Multi Vitamins and Minerals 11.5
Swisse Women's Ultivite Formula 1 11.5
Pluravit Time-Release Multi 11.5
Thompson's Men's Multi with Antioxidants 11.3
Herbs of Gold Executive Multi Vitamin & Mineral 11.1
Golden Glow Senior's One-A-Day Multi 11.1
Swisse Women's Ultivite No Iron or Iodine 10.9
Swisse Men's Ultivite Formula 1 10.8
Blackmores Sustained Release Multi Vitamins & Minerals + Selenium 10.7
Melaleuca Vitality for Women 10.6
Reliv Now 10.4
Nature's Own Multivitamin Plus Omega 3 Fish Oil 9.1
Avon VitAdvance Women's Complete II 9.1
Good Health Men's Multi-Plus 9.1
Pharma Foods Pharma Day with Selenium 8.7
Herbalife Formula 3 8.7
Kordel's Women's Multi Plus EPO 8.6
Cenovis Mega Multi 8.4
Thompson's Femmefort 8.3
Microgenics Mega Multivitamin 8
Melaleuca Vitality for Men 7.5
Reliv Classic 7.5
Nutrition Care Formula 33SE 7.4
Microgenics Women's Pro Active Multi Vitamin 6.8
Golden Glow Super One-A-Day 6.7
Herron Clinical Nutrition Men's Multi-Vitamin & Minerals 6.2
Blackmores Men's Performance Multi 6.2
Good Health Women's Multi-Plus 6
Vitaplex Professional One a Day Multivitamin 5
New Vision Essential Vitamins 4.7
Centrum Select 50+ 4.3
Amway NutriWay Daily 4.2
Microgenics Men's Essential Multivitamin 4.1
Myadec Gold A-Z Guard 4
Red Seal Total Multi with Minerals 3.9
Centrum Complete from A to Zinc 3.9
Cenovis 50+ Multi 3.8
Guardian Women's Multi Vitamins & Minerals 3.6
Herron Clinical Nutrition One-a-Day Women's Multi-Vitamins & Minerals 3.6
Cenovis Multivitamin and Minerals 3.4
Amcal One-A-Day 3.3
Berocca Performance 3.2
Healtheries Women's Multi (AU) 3.2
Cenovis Women's Multi 3.1
Nature's Own Daily Multi Essentials 3.1
Pluravit Women 3.1
Golden Glow Women's One-a-Day Multi 3.1
Blackmores Multi + Gingko for 55+ 3
Pluravit 50 Plus 3
Healtheries Women's Multi (NZ) 2.7
Hivita LiquiVita 2.6
Red Seal One-a-Day Multi & Minerals 2.6
Amcal Multivitamin & Mineral Effervescent 2.6
Golden Glow Men's One-a-Day Multi 2.5
Bioglan Daily Plus Max 2.5
Cenovis Men's Multi 2.5
Myadec Multivitamins and Minerals 2.4
Nature's Own Multivitamin & Mineral 2.4
Herron Clinical Nutrition All-in-One Multi-Vitamin & Mineral 2.1
Guardian Multi Vitamins & Minerals Hi Potency 2.1
Advocare Macro-Mineral Complex 1.1
Source: Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements by Lyle MacWilliam, BSc, MSc, FP (Northern Dimensions Publishing, ISBN 0-9732538-3-5
