A new study reveals that Pycnogenol,an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree can balance stress hormones, which lowers adrenaline and dopamine,resulting in a decrease of ADHD in children.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Vitamin D on Swine Flu ??
1. Believe or not: the best recommendation to prevent swine flu was, Vitamin D. Please read on:
Warning: Swine Flu Shot Linked to Killer Nerve Disease
Warning: Swine Flu Shot Linked to Killer Nerve Disease
2. Vitamin D – Popular Science
It's D-lightful, It's D-licious, It's D Vitamin...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Vitamin D: how much we know about it?
1. Vitamin D in the News
• Promotes the proper synthesis and functioning of important proteins essential for proper calcium utilization
• Supports the maintenance of bones
• Supports immune health
• Helps maintain cardiovascular health
• Helps maintain normal blood pressure
3. Sources of vitamin D
• Fat-soluble vitamin can obtain from:
• Food (Salmon: 360 IUs; Mackerel: 345 IUs; Tuna: 200 IUs; Sardines: 250 IUs; Fortified Milk: 98 IUs)
• Supplementation
• Sunlight
• Supplementation
• Sunlight
4. Vitamin D Deficiency
• More than1 billion people worldwide do not consume adequate amounts of vitamin
• More than 50% of postmenopausal women taking medication for osteoporosis have suboptimal levels of vitamin D
• Without adequate vitamin D, only 10-15% of dietary calcium is absorbed
• Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences ( Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Apr;87(4):1080S-6S)
• Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic.
• Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D are often inadequate to satisfy either a child's or an adult's vitamin D requirement
• Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and will precipitate and exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in adults
• Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of common cancers, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, and infectious diseases
5. Research findings
• Vitamin D supplementation and total mortality (Arch Intern Med. 2007 Sep 10;167(16):1730-7)
• A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials including 57,311 participants.
• Intake of ordinary doses (300 to 2000 IU) of vitamin D supplements seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates.
• Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk ( Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1586-91)
• A 4-year, population-based, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial.
• 1179 healthy postmenopausal women aged >55 years.
6. Current Researches
• Vitamin D may reduce prostate cancer metastasis by several mechanisms including blocking Stat3 (Am J Patholo. 2008 Nov;173(5):1589-90)
• Double-dose vitamin D lowers cancer risk in women over 55 (J Fam Pract. 2007 Nov;56(11):907-10 )
7. Use of vitamin D in clinical practice (Altern Med Rev. 2008 Mar;13(1):6-20)
• Natural vitamin D levels, those found in humans living in a sun-rich environment, are between 40-70 ng per ml.
• Treatment of vitamin D deficiency in otherwise healthy patients with 2,000-7,000 IU vitamin D per day should be sufficient to maintain year-round 25(OH)D levels between 40-70 ng per mL.
• In those with serious illnesses associated with vitamin D deficiency, such as cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, autism, and a host of other illnesses, doses should be sufficient to maintain year-round 25(OH)D levels between 55 -70 ng per mL.
8. Why Vitamin K2?
• Promotes normal calcium absorption
• Promotes healthy arteries
• Active form of vitamin K with highest bioavailability
• Women with low bone density have been found to be deficient in vitamin K
• Addresses the “calcium paradox”
• Vitamin K1 vs. K2
• Both are naturally occurring forms of vitamin K. Different chemical structures resulting in different pharmacokinetic properties
• K1 is absorbed primarily in the liver where at high doses it may interfere with anticoagulant medications
• K2 is transported primarily to the bones and blood vessels
• Only 10% of dietary vitamin K is in K2 form
9. Why take vitamins D and K as supplements?
• Most people are vitamin D deficient or insufficient
• Diet
• Sun exposure
• Very little vitamin K is stored in the body
• These vitamins work together
• Promotes the proper synthesis and functioning of important proteins essential for proper calcium utilization
• Supports the maintenance of bones
• Supports immune health
• Helps maintain cardiovascular health
• Helps maintain normal blood pressure
3. Sources of vitamin D
• Fat-soluble vitamin can obtain from:
• Food (Salmon: 360 IUs; Mackerel: 345 IUs; Tuna: 200 IUs; Sardines: 250 IUs; Fortified Milk: 98 IUs)
• Supplementation
• Sunlight
• Supplementation
• Sunlight
4. Vitamin D Deficiency
• More than1 billion people worldwide do not consume adequate amounts of vitamin
• More than 50% of postmenopausal women taking medication for osteoporosis have suboptimal levels of vitamin D
• Without adequate vitamin D, only 10-15% of dietary calcium is absorbed
• Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences ( Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Apr;87(4):1080S-6S)
• Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic.
• Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D are often inadequate to satisfy either a child's or an adult's vitamin D requirement
• Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and will precipitate and exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in adults
• Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of common cancers, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, and infectious diseases
5. Research findings
• Vitamin D supplementation and total mortality (Arch Intern Med. 2007 Sep 10;167(16):1730-7)
• A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials including 57,311 participants.
• Intake of ordinary doses (300 to 2000 IU) of vitamin D supplements seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates.
• Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk ( Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1586-91)
• A 4-year, population-based, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial.
• 1179 healthy postmenopausal women aged >55 years.
6. Current Researches
• Vitamin D may reduce prostate cancer metastasis by several mechanisms including blocking Stat3 (Am J Patholo. 2008 Nov;173(5):1589-90)
• Double-dose vitamin D lowers cancer risk in women over 55 (J Fam Pract. 2007 Nov;56(11):907-10 )
7. Use of vitamin D in clinical practice (Altern Med Rev. 2008 Mar;13(1):6-20)
• Natural vitamin D levels, those found in humans living in a sun-rich environment, are between 40-70 ng per ml.
• Treatment of vitamin D deficiency in otherwise healthy patients with 2,000-7,000 IU vitamin D per day should be sufficient to maintain year-round 25(OH)D levels between 40-70 ng per mL.
• In those with serious illnesses associated with vitamin D deficiency, such as cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, autism, and a host of other illnesses, doses should be sufficient to maintain year-round 25(OH)D levels between 55 -70 ng per mL.
8. Why Vitamin K2?
• Promotes normal calcium absorption
• Promotes healthy arteries
• Active form of vitamin K with highest bioavailability
• Women with low bone density have been found to be deficient in vitamin K
• Addresses the “calcium paradox”
• Vitamin K1 vs. K2
• Both are naturally occurring forms of vitamin K. Different chemical structures resulting in different pharmacokinetic properties
• K1 is absorbed primarily in the liver where at high doses it may interfere with anticoagulant medications
• K2 is transported primarily to the bones and blood vessels
• Only 10% of dietary vitamin K is in K2 form
9. Why take vitamins D and K as supplements?
• Most people are vitamin D deficient or insufficient
• Diet
• Sun exposure
• Very little vitamin K is stored in the body
• These vitamins work together
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Important ingredients that support neurological, metabolic, and digestive health
Various ingredients that have shown a role in helping those with neurological and digestive health issues. To date, there have been countless studies documenting these effects from some of ingredients like
· Folic Acid
- Vitamin B6 (P5P)
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Zinc
- Calcium
- Magnesium
No doubt that many people have heard of folic acid, an important B vitamin for many processes in the body, specifically for the nervous system. Folinic acid is the metabolically active form of folic acid and one less step is required for its conversion in the body. Usually folic acid has to be activated but it’s more readily available by using folinic acid. Folinic acid aids in the conversion of sulfur-containing compounds to glutathione, an antioxidant found in the body. Studies on folinic acid have shown improvements in sleep, communication, social interaction in those with neurological, metabolic and digestive needs. The Better-Worse ratio is 11 :1, meaning supplementation with folic acid caused 11 children to get better for every one that got worse.
Another extremely important vitamin is vitamin B6. Food sources include beans, meat, poultry, fish, and some fruits and vegetables. Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P) is the active form of vitamin B6 and it has been shown that the conversion to P5P is problematic in some children. Some studies have shown a low activity of pyridoxal kinase, which is the enzyme required for the conversion to P5P. For this reason, it is best to only supplement with the P5P form. B6 is also involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain and peripheral nerve cells, which are critical for the development of language, attention, alertness etc.
Vitamin B12 is naturally found in foods that come from animals, including fish, meat, and poultry. It’s a vitamin needed for many processes, including nerve cell activity, DNA replication. It’s best to use methylcobalamin, rather than cobalamin, as evidences indicate this form is utilized much more efficiently, especially in children with methylation defects. Every cell in the body expresses the folate/methionine cycle, defects in transmethylation can affect vital biochemical reactions at many places in metabolism. This is important, as some children do have methylation defects. So it makes sense to consume B12 in a form in which it's already metabolically active and maximally reduced, and thereby put less of a strain on our bodies' antioxidative capacity.
Zinc is a mineral that can be found in the following food sources: oysters, red meat, beans, nuts and grains etc. It is an essential mineral that is a component of more than 300 enzymes needed to repair wounds, synthesize proteins, aid in the development and maintenance of the brain, help cells reproduce, preserve vision, boost immunity, and protect against free radicals, among many other functions. It is a known fact that when zinc levels are down, copper levels are often increased. 90% of children with neurological and digestive needs have this abnormal zinc to copper ratio. Excess copper can lead to copper imbalance in the body and organs and copper imbalance in children is associated with delayed development, anti-social and hyperactive behavior, and learning difficulties. Because zinc helps facilitate the excretion of excess copper, it is important to make sure a multivitamin has an adequate amount of zinc. You should avoid copper-containing supplements for these children. Also, the B:W ratio for zinc is 22:1, even higher than that of vitamin C!
In support of the use of these ingredients for certain children, Adams and co-workers (Adams J et al. Pilot study of a moderate dose multivitamin/mineral supplement for children with autistic spectrum disorder. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 10(6):1033-1039, 2004) conducted a small pilot study using a strong, balanced multivitamin/multimineral formulation. 20 children ages 3-8 years old with neurological and digestive issues. This formulation included the P5P form of vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin B12, calcium, among others. The results clearly indicated statistically significant improvements in sleep and GI health. They also determined a functional need for more B6 and vitamin C in these individuals.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Free radicals: the hidden killers of your health
Free radicals are unstable, unbalanced, and unpaired molecules. They can react quickly with nearby molecules to capture needed electron to gain stability. As they find needed electrons, it leaves behind another unstable radical and a chemically unstable chain reaction of similar events occurs. In this process, delicate biological tissues vital to life encounter a radical, the reactive radical may cause destruction in the tissue/cell, resulting in human diseases. They are very destructive and non-selective.
The typical FREE RADICALS impacting our human body are: Superoxide anion ( O-2 and O-2 rich salts), Hydroxyl radical ( OH- ), Hypochlorous acid (ClO- ),Nitric oxide ( NO- ),Singlet oxygen ( O- ), hydrogen peroxide ( H2O2),Fatty acid hydroperoxides , and oxidized Protein, etc.
Free Radicals can be generated from metabolism, ionizing radiation, smoke, inflammation, UV, air pollution etc.
Free Radical Attack Related Diseases:
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Alzheimer's Diseases
• Parkinson's disease
• Emphysema
• Autoimmune diseases (Asthma, Diabetes • • •)
• Arthritis
• Cataracts
Antioxidants have been proven to protect the body against the destructive effects of free radicals. They can neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, ending the electron-"stealing" reaction. They typical antioxidants and their electron donating capacities are:
( - vitamin E [1e-]
- vitamin C [2e-]
- flavonoids [>2e-]
- OPC [>50e-]
Effects of Antioxidants:
- Protect us from free radical damage: a leading causes of tissue injury
- Prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol
- Helps cells produce energy (CoQ10)
- Enhance synthesis & protection of collagen (Vit C)
- Protect skin from radiation damage (Vit E, Beta Glucan)
- Improve circulation and oxygen delivery (Ginko, OPC)
- Reduce inflammation (OPC, Ginko, Vit E)
The best way to ensure adequate intake of the antioxidant nutrients is through a balanced diet and/or taking supplements per day.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Detoxification: start from food
There is no doubt that there exists toxin accumulation in our body, which is often overlooked. However, such a silent accumulation may surprise us (cause diseases) someday. Here is a list of food that will help our body detoxification based on experts:
1. Colon detoxification
· apple
· black wood ears
· blueberry
· Grains
· red bean
· soy bean
2. Liver detoxification
· carrot
· garlic
· grape
· aloe juice
· Chrysanthemum tea
3. Kidney detoxification
· cucumber
· cherry
· lotus seed
· CommonYam Rhizome
Certainly it is more effective by taking some natural supplements.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)