What are Phytochemicals (Phytonutrients)?
What are Phytochemicals (Phytonutrients)?
Don't be overwhelmed by this big word,
phytochemicals, there won't be a spelling test at the end of the day. You won't even need to understand all of the powerful properties of phytonutrients to appreciate what they do for you. You just need to know where to get them and you probably won't be surprised to find out that the richest sources of phytochemicals are in fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts.The problem is - you are not eating enough of them. Several years of effort to promote increases in fruit and vegetable consumption to at least five servings per day have failed to substantially change public eating behaviors. Recent records, according to Barbara Berry of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, show that Americans are eating only 3.4 servings of fruits and vegetables per day - and 52% of that consumption comes from potatoes, lettuce, and canned tomatoes.Even if you are eating the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables, you're STILL not getting all of the phytonutrients and vitamins your body MUST have to function properly! You may THINK you're getting the right assortment of fruits and vegetables. Just like the bananas you see in the store which are green, the rest of the produce is also cut before it matures. When these fruits and vegetables are picked green, they lack many of the necessary phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals.Most of these properties don't exist in the plant until the final days of ripening on the vine. When this occurs, the fruits and vegetables become very soft. This isn't feasible for our growers to do. By the time they would arrive at your local grocery store, the fruits and vegetables would be bad or destroyed. So instead, they pick our fruits and vegetables before they are ripe and allow them to ripen during the shipping process or while they sit in your local grocery stores.The solution to this problem is to pick these vegetables after they are mature or vine-ripened and flash freeze them. When vegetables are flash frozen, they turn into a powdered form and retain all of their nutritional properties. These flash frozen fruits and vegetables are then put into tablets and sold as nutritional supplements.To learn more about phytochemicals go to:
Mannatech Phytochemical (Phytonutrients) Nutritional SupplementIndependant Mannatech Associate and glyconutrients consultant
Superior Absorption of Coral Calcium
Superior Absorption of Coral Calcium
Over the past few years, Coral Calcium has received a lot of media attention as the widely preferred source of readily absorbable calcium. In 2003, a study was undertaken to compare and contrast the absorption of Ryukyuan Coral Calcium, as opposed to carbonate derived calcium.Twelve normal subjects, including six men and six women, were selected to participate in the study. None of them had taken any or other supplements that may have affected their calcium metabolism during the month preceding the experiment.The subjects were divided into three groups, one of which ingested crackers with coral based calcium added, and another of which ingested similar crackers with carbonate calcium. The third group served as a control, and did not ingest any crackers, whatsoever.The results of the study showed that 4 hours after ingestion, the group receiving coral-added crackers had significantly higher calcium levels in their urine than did the other group, even though both were tested as having the same amount beforehand. These findings indicate that the body is able to absorb Coral Calcium far more quickly and easily than other standard formulas.One reason for the increased absorption of coral based formulas may be that the calcium derived from coral in Ryukyu, Japan also contains magnesium at and average ratio of 1 part magnesium for every 2 parts calcium. Because of the fact that this is the one of the main distinguishing features of Ryukyuan Coral Calcium, it may be logical to assume that high magnesium content has some bearing upon the intestinal absorption of calcium.Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of Immune Wellness, your source for high quality information about Coral Calcium and other health products.
Natural Supplements – Help Your Body
Natural Supplements - Help Your Body
Vitamins and mineral supplements are a good way to supply your body with nutrients that you might not be getting from your diet. Go down any vitamin aisle in a drugstore, market, or health food store. The first thing you will see is all the 'natural' supplements and vitamin complex tablets that all claim to provide all kinds of benefits. There are supplements that claim to help you lose weight without exercise. Does it sound too good to be true? It is. You have to burn more calories than you consume and exercise will help you accomplish that but I digress. If you are considering adding supplements to your diet have a discussion with your doctor will help to determine whether or not adding supplements would be beneficial for you or not.Are vitamins necessary for optimum health? Most people, if they eat a healthy diet, do not need them. Most vitamins are fine and are not harmful. If someone does not eat a healthy diet or because of illness has a limited diet a vitamin supplement could be very helpful. Fruits and vegetables have important vitamins in them and should not be eliminated from a diet unless a doctor orders it. In this case a supplement would almost be necessary. Your body needs vitamins to keep it functioning.Most people think that vitamins are a source of energy that is not the case. Vitamins help regulate the body's metabolism. Vitamins also help the food we eat to release its energy. It's the food that when absorbed and broken down into the nutrients the body can use that provides our body with energy. The body more easily absorbs calcium if you are also taking Vitamin D. Most calcium supplements are already fortified with vitamin D. There are thirteen vitamins that are all important to achieve optimum health. Vitamins E & C contain antioxidants. Antioxidants help to release free radicals, which are high-energy particles. These high-energy particles damage healthy blood cells. Studies are now coming out that indicate that the consumption of vitamins and supplements may aid in fighting cancer and preventing other chronic diseases. The research is by no means conclusive in this regard. Studies continue to be conducted in an effort to provide us with the ultimate health.There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. An excess amount of vitamins in your system could cause bleeding, negative interactions with some prescription medications.Listed below are some vitamins and how overdoses can affect you.Vitamin A - Too much vitamin A can cause neurological problemsVitamin D - Too much vitamin D disrupts the balance of calcium in the body that can lead to calcium deposits in the soft tissues of the body.Vitamin C - Too much vitamin C can lessen the effectiveness of other medications.Vitamin E - Too much vitamin E can cause blood not to clot and can cause other bleeding issues.Vitamins are just one tool among many that are available to us to help us get healthy and remain healthy. Vitamins alone will not do this. A healthy diet, exercise, and regular health checkups will do this.No one knows better than I do how important it is to eat properly and take care of my body. Also, like many others I have a tendency to be drawn to the junk food much to my own detriment. You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to get some exercise in. I also take vitamins and other supplements to help my body work better.There are a variety of opinions about vitamins, supplements, and healthy eating. Vitamins are generally ok unless they are fortified with iron. The effectiveness of vitamins with iron is often hotly debated. Too much iron can cause iron overload and it doesn't get 'washed' out of the blood as efficiently if at all. There is a disease called Hemochromatosis, which is fatal, as it attacks liver function. It can be controlled and there must be liver function tests done among other things. The controversy continues to reign.You have complete control in this area. Do your research; there are a great number of websites that provides information on supplements and how they work. You should sit down with your physician and discuss your options. S/he may suggest you meet with a nutrition specialist as well. Get smart and be healthy. A little knowledge is a very good thing and in the case of vitamins the more you know how they work and how they could be harmful, the safer and healthier you will be. Trust your instincts, know your body, and get help if you need it. Good eating, good exercise plenty of water and common sense will help you to meet your goal of good health.About the Author Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes
Vitamin C and
Herbal Supplements, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.