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Fountain Of Youth

Filed under: Nutrition Hall — admin at 7:24 pm on Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Aging, a steady decline

The History of the world is filled with stories of individuals trying to find eternal youth. Wealthy people going to private centers for magic elixirs. Many individuals taking megadoses of certain vitamins, drink green tea, use coenzyme Q10 etc, hoping to find the “fountain of youth”. Lets take a closer look and see what happens to our bodies as we age.

Time,our worst enemy

Growth Hormone declines steadily at the age of 31 and at the rate of 14% per decade. Along with aging, we become vulnerable to diseases. Our ability to fight illness declines, the body’s ability to metabolize sugar, handle cholesterol, and clear the kidneys of toxins, becomes more and more difficult. Ultimately, the slow deadly disease of aging creeps in.

As a person ages, hormone levels fall. Decreasing levels of certain hormones shows symptoms such as:

-gray hair
-wrinkly skin
-reduced skin thickness
-forgetfulness
-low sex drive
-weight gain
-bone or joint problems
-immune system weakens
-decreased muscle strength

These symptoms can be the possible result of, reduced
Human Growth Hormone. Until age 21, Human Growth Hormone is abundant in the body being solely responsible for muscle building, bone growth, skin elasticity, increased energy, lean body mass, and sexual vigor.

Graying Hair

Gray hair is caused by the slowing production of melanin over time within the hair follicles. When this happens, the hair follicles produce less and less melanin, and the result is a loss of hair, color and strength.

The Skin

Hormonal breakdown and free radicals is the major contributor of skin aging because of the reduction of the body’s Hormone production or lack of. Hormones such as Human Growth Hormone and testosterone are only produced in noticeable quantities up to the age of 20. These Hormones are responsible for physical fitness, regeneration and the immune system. Due to a declining Hormone level, the breakdown of organs, tissues and cells begins.

Another factor are free radicals. These are parts of molecules that are found in the Human Body. As a result of external factors such as ultraviolet light(too much sun), smoking or unhealthy eating habits, under these circumstances free radicals are inclined to react. Meaning that they are in search of other chemical substances to bond themselves with. Ultimately, the breakdown of the skin begins. The body protects itself against these aggressors with naturally occurring anti-oxidant’s. Until
you reach the age of twenty and onwards, this natural defense mechanism slowly declines, until eventually the skin can no longer defend itself.

Supplementing with vitamin or supplements
and a better, healthier life style is your best defense against skin aging.

What can be done about aging?

Well,about your actual age nothing, but could a healthier lifestyle, proper diet, or maybe vitamin and supplement intake, would that help turn back the aging clock? Is there something out there that could:

-Alleviate menopausal and premenstrual symptoms
-Reduce body fat
-Restore gray hair
-Increase energy
-increase sex drive enhancement in both men and women
-Restore the function of organs and glands
-Improve memory
-Improve vision
-Enhance one’s spirits
-Stabilize blood pressure
-Enhance the immune system

Well quite possibly, there just might be! Read below…

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Understanding Amino Acids and their Importance in Diet

Filed under: Nutrition Hall — admin at 4:11 pm on Thursday, April 17, 2008

The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well known to nutritional scientists, and widely understood by the general population. Indeed, every bodily system is directly or indirectly supported by protein. For example, protein supports the structural development of cells, helps ensure the integrity of tissue, aids digestion, carries hormones, and strengthens the immune system[i].

More recently, however, the motivation for people to choose protein-rich foods has been fueled by carbohydrate-free and carbohydrate-reduced diets, such as the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet and Isometric Diet. Via each of these diet programs, millions of people are vigilantly scanning food labels, and asking pertinent health questions when eating out. Added to this growing number of protein-aware people are, of course, the millions of bodybuilders, powerlifters and athletes who have demonstrated for centuries the irreplaceable value of protein in building and maintaining muscle.

As impressive and inspiring as it is to see that more people than ever before are “protein-conscious”, there is still more useful protein information to learn. It is well past time to add an understanding of amino acids to this protein knowledge base.

Many people - understandably — do not recognize that amino acids are not acids as they are conventionally understood. Rather, they are the molecular units that comprise protein. They are, quite simply, the very building blocks of protein.

Amino acids are organic compounds that contain two groups of molecules: amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH). There are a total of 19 amino acids in the human diet, of which 11 are non-essential, and the remaining 8 are essential. It is this critically important fact - that there are 2 kinds of amino acids — that should be well understood and acted upon by eaters everywhere.

If the term “amino acid” does not readily suggest the link to protein, the terms “non-essential” amino acids and “essential” amino acids can be sources of even greater confusion. The nutritional world is fond of the word “essential”, and uses it often to describe something that is important, or critical, or irreplaceable. For example, a nutritionist may rationally inform her patient that eating 50 grams of protein per day is essential; and by this she means “very important”.

This same application of the term does now, however, flow to the “essential” and “non essential” amino acid vocabulary.

Non-essential amino acids are those that the body is able to synthesize itself. This does not mean, of course, that the body can create these non-essential amino acids out of nothing. Rather, it means that the body’s own internal laboratory can create these 11 non-essential amino acids from raw materials. It is for this reason that these 11 amino acids are called non-essential; it has nothing to do with the term “important” or “unimportant”. These 11 non-essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order:[ii]

- Alanine
- Arginine
- Asparagine
- Aspartic Acid
- Cysteine
- Glutamic Acid
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Histidine
- Proline
- Tyrosine

The remaining 8 amino acids are called essential; and this refers to the fact that they cannot be synthesized. The body can only receive them exogenously (eg. through food). These essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order:[iii]

- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Serine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine

Understanding the importance of amino acids is critical, because a failure to eat foods that contain these essential amino acids can lead to deficiency and adverse health effects. These effects can include - but are not limited to — fatigue, allergies, loss of memory, and even heart disease[iv]. When one considers the pain and suffering caused by any of these four ill health effects, and the myriad of subsequent ailments that they can provoke, it becomes readily apparent that a knowledge of amino acids, and especially “essential” amino acids, must be a part of an intelligent eater’s knowledge base.

While there has been some movement on the part of nutritional supplement companies to provide eaters with convenient and palatable sources of protein, many of them have put their marketing needs first and ignored amino acids altogether. As a consequence of this omission, some eaters are actually suffering from an “overdose” of incomplete protein. This is because what they are eating may not provide them with the total, essential protein that they need. The only complete proteins on the planet are derived from dairy, meat, fish, poultry and soy, and these foods are not present in our most common foods. There are, however, protein supplements that also offer proteins with the full spectrum of amino acids.

The solution here is uncomplicated and accessible. Eaters must simply choose to eat foods and nutritional supplements that offer a “complete” source of protein. This means that all 19 essential amino acids must be present including, of course, the “essential 8″ amino acids that the body cannot synthesize.

There are some companies - though still clearly in the minority - that create nutritional supplements that carefully ensure that all of the amino acids are present. It is notable that these companies do not necessarily have to do this, since neither the Food and Drug Administration nor many consumers are demanding this from their food labeling; at least, not yet. This is all the more reason to laud those companies that are putting people and nutrition first, and marketing a distant second.

ABOUT PROTICA

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

REFERENCES

[i] Source: “Amino Acids. Diet-and-health-net.
http://www.diet-and-health.net/Nutrients/AminoAcids.html

[ii] Source: “Amino Acids”. About.com.
http://exercise.about.com/library/Glossary/bldef-amino_acids.htm

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Source: “What are Amino Acids?”. Vanderbilt University.
http://vanderbiltowc.wellsource.com/dh/content.asp?ID=759

Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

The Benefits of Coral Calcium as a Dietary Supplement

Filed under: Nutrition Hall — admin at 7:09 pm on Sunday, April 13, 2008

It was such a dynamic breakthrough when researchers found out that coral
calcium it can be used as a dietary supplement. Most of the time, when we
take calcium supplements or multivitamins the body cannot absorb the proper
amounts of nutrients going to the bloodstream. As a result, people still
need to spend a lot amount of money just to be able to supply the needs of
the body to prevent from getting sick and contracting diseases.

The coral calcium is designated to increase the immune system to be able to
fight the bacteria that can be the cause of having diseases or sickness.

Do you know what a coral is? The Coral is the oldest organism that is living
in the earth. Coral reefs and corals sands are all related to coral. Coral
calcium is definitely sourced from the shed of these reefs. There are a
number of divers that go and get some reefs in order to make dietary
supplements.

The corals have different kinds and varieties. However the most complete
coral that contains the exact composition of calcium, magnesium, potassium
and sodium is the Sango which can be located in the skeleton of a human.

Coral calcium’s main uses are to supplement the diet of a person with an
absorbable form of calcium that will protect the body from illness and
diseases as well as strengthen the body. It also increases a person’s energy
level.

A lot of individuals are just walking around having low levels of calcium
and they are not even aware of it. Until the time has come that there are
symptoms and deficiency that are already seen. Some of these deficiencies
and symptoms are white spots in the nails, fatigue, cramps, high blood
pressure, acne, arthritis, abundant cavities, and a lot more.

There are already different ways on how to intake enough supplement of coral
calcium in the body. They can be in the form of capsules, pills, powder or
liquid that can give the body absorbable calcium which will help to fight
away health problems.

The benefits of the coral calcium is that it strengthen the immune system,
allows the body to fight back all forms of infections, viruses, parasites,
and soon it will fight back cancer as researches continues. On the other
hand, the benefit that you can get in coral calcium is that you free
yourself from getting sick and infected by diseases and that is the very
first in the list.

There are still other uses of coral calcium. This is to reverse the signs
and symptoms of osteoporosis. Always put in mind that refined sugars and
foods have high oxalic acids and as a result it lessens the amount of
calcium inside the body.

People who undergo training must have a higher amount of coral calcium
supplement in their body. Most especially those people who has vices like
drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking.

Coral calcium has a perfect ratio of magnesium and calcium. This is very
effective for the maximum amount of absorption into the bloodstream. Coral
calcium is very in demand in the market today because of the benefits it
offers to the people most especially to those who are conscious about their
health. Popping a pill or capsule is not much compared to the benefits it
will provide your body.

http://www.for-your-vitamins.com/CoralCalcium.html

Online Health Supplements

Filed under: Nutrition Hall — admin at 2:11 pm on Saturday, April 5, 2008

The internet, a relatively new invention, presents us with new ways to make the purchases of items we need. Another relatively new craze would have to be the world’s obsession with health supplements. In an increasingly health-aware society, there are many easy options out there to help keep your health robust. Many of them are offered online, and here is a quick primer on some of the online health supplements offered:

Coral calcium: This supplement is a great choice to help your body develop properly. You probably know that your body needs calcium to maintain its bones and teeth, but most people don’t realize that you need a certain level of calcium in your bloodstream as well. If you don’t keep replenishing this calcium, your body will begin to sap the calcium from your bones and teeth to maintain the level in your blood. This can result in bone and teeth shrinkage, and can make them brittle and cause movements to be painful.

Coral calcium is a source of calcium that surpasses most of the others in terms of absorption and lack of side-effects. Available in online health supplements, coral calcium can be a great buy.

DMAE: A substance that can be found in high concentrations in anchovies and sardines. In addition, the human brain also produces a trace amount of DMAE. Throughout the years, it has been widely acclaimed that this wonderful nutrient can be of help to those with hyperactivity or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Also, it has been conjectured that DMAE helps to treat memory lapses and Alzheimer’s disease. When this substance is harvested from the bodies of fish, it is purified and concentrated and offered in online health supplements.

Also, it can be very important to get all the vitamins your body needs. On a daily basis, it is important for our body to receive proper levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. These can often be found together in a simple pill form, and there are plenty of online health supplements that offer all of these vitamins and more in a simple format.

Why not check out our nutrition guide at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/nut-ebook.html

John Gibb is the owner of Nutrition guides, a website offering free nutrition advice and a quality nutrition book with special offers for newsletter subscribers.

http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com
Dedicated to optimising health.