Health Consultive

Archive for the ‘Dietary Supplements’ Category

Whether you?re pregnant or just considering having a baby, you probably have a dozen things on your mind. While images of a blanket swaddled newborn might dance in your head, you?re probably considering other issues like bottle versus breastfeeding, what type of maternity clothes to buy, and what names you might choose for your little bundle of joy. If you?ve visited your OBGYN for your prenatal appointment or simply to discuss getting pregnant, your doctor has probably prescribed prenatal vitamins.

Prenatal vitamins are by no means necessary for the health of your newborn, but they can be a good safety measure to ensure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs during this especially important time. If you?re very health conscious and eat the right foods, chances are that your body is getting the nutrients it needs. However, during pregnancy many women experience nausea and sickness or simply find they have cravings for certain foods that may not be the healthiest choices. A prenatal vitamin can fill in the gaps, making sure your baby gets all the vitamins he or she needs to grow and thrive.

Among the benefits of a prenatal vitamin is the fact that it ensures your body gets an adequate amount of iron. Studies have proven that most women don?t consume enough iron during their pregnancies. Iron deficiency can result in anemia, a condition that can easily be avoided by taking a proper prenatal vitamin.

Another important component of prenatal vitamins is folic acid. Important in pregnancy, folic acid has been found to reduce the risk of birth defects. In fact, many doctors recommend that women who are trying to conceive begin taking a folic acid supplement or boosting their folic acid consumption at least one month before trying to get pregnant.

Although prenatal vitamins are not a necessity, they certainly contain many benefits. With one dose a day, you can rest assured that your baby-to-be is receiving all the nutrients he or she needs, keeping his or her development and growth right on track so you increase your chances of having a healthy newborn.

DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol) is a chemical produced in the brain. This naturally occuring amino alcohol is produced in minuscule amounts by the brain, with higher concentrations being typically found in anchovies and sardines. Known primarily as a precursor to choline and acetylcholine (chemicals in the brain responsible for nerve transmissions and cognitive function), DMAE has been used most predominantly to improve memory and focus while stimulating neural activity. Many researchers believe that it may serve an anti-aging function by increasing the body?s capacity to produce acetylcholine ? a deficiency commonly associated with memory loss.

DMAE is a memory booster substance common to a number of drugs that are known to stabilize cell membranes. Cell membrane degradation has been proposed as one of the prime mechanisms of aging. DMAE is increasingly favored by medical practitioners for its role in boosting brain power. DMAE has shown positive results in the treatment of a variety of cognitive and disruptive disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and memory lapses. DMAE is even being used in skin care products designed to treat sagging skin and age spots.

DMAE may enhance water retention in connective skin tissue, causing the surface of the skin to tighten. The second, and more likely, explanation involves DMAE?s cholinergic feature, which enhances the skin?s ability to transmit acetylcholine. The neurotransmitter?s function in sending signals from nerves to muscles may promote a form of muscle tightening in the skin. It is important to note that although DMAE cannot fully reverse existing facial sagging, it may reduce its further progression. Some people report a cumulative effect with continued use of the compound.

Benefits

• improves memory and focus
• assists with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• treats sun spots and sagging skin

More women fear breast cancer than any other disease. Yet cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims over ten times as many women?s lives as breast cancer. In fact, CVD is the nation?s leading cause of death for both men and women. That?s the bad news. The good news is that CVD is almost entirely preventable. nutraOrigin, makers of high quality vitamins for women, shares the secrets of cardiovascular wellness.

What influences cardiovascular health?

One way to support cardiovascular health is to play by the numbers. All five of the following measurements tell you something about the state of your heart.

Cholesterol: excess cholesterol gets deposited in, and narrows, the artery walls
Triglycerides: elevated triglycerides are associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease
Blood pressure: high blood pressure puts stress on the artery walls and increases the heart?s workload
Homocysteine: too much homocysteine degrades the structural integrity of the arteries
C-reactive protein: elevated C-reactive protein is associated with a higher risk for hypertension and CVD
Risk Factor Desirable Borderline Undesirable
Total cholesterol Below 200 200-239 240 and above
Triglycerides Below 150 150-199 Above 200
Blood pressure Below 120/80 120/80-140/90 Above 140/90
Homocysteine Below 10 mmol/L 10-18 mmol/L Above 18 mmol/L
c-reactive protein (CRP) Below 1.0 1.0-3.0 Above 3.0

Supplement secrets for heart health

Everyone knows that eating a healthy, whole foods diet and getting regular exercise are important for cardiovascular wellness. But did you know that select nutritional supplements can also make a big difference? Here are three to consider.

CardioBalance
Developed by nutraOrigin, Cardio Balance features 10 mg of high quality policosanol. Multiple studies indicate that natural policosanol provides a worry-free way to support healthy cholesterol levels. Cardio Balance features policosanol from sugar cane ? not the rice or wheat used in lower-quality products ? which is the only form of policosanol proven to deliver cholesterol benefits. This policosanol supplement is produced using a proprietary, all-natural extraction process that delivers the highest quality finished product.

Omega-3 Essentials
Chances are you?ve heard about Omega 3 fatty acids, because they?re good for so many things. At nutraOrigin, we believe supplementing with Omega 3 fish oil, or Omega 3 for short, is one of the best things you can do for your heart. Here are just some Omega 3 benefits:

? Helps maintain healthy levels of triglycerides and C-reactive protein
? Promotes a desirable blood pressure
? Supports a regular heart rhythm

You can buy these essential fats as liquid Omega 3 oil, but most people prefer the convenience of Omega 3 pills. Whichever Omega 3 supplement you choose, just keep in mind that quality differs tremendously among different brands. nutraOrigin?s Omega 3 pills are highly concentrated, purity-certified, readily absorbed, and stabilized with antioxidants.

Nutra Multi Iron-Free
Because so many vitamins and minerals are essential for heart health, taking a comprehensive multivitamin like nutraOrigin?s Nutra Multi Iron-Free is a great way to take care of your heart. This one multiple contains: 1. a plethora of antioxidants, which protect against free radical damage, 2. the trio of B vitamins known to support healthy homocysteine levels, and 3. magnesium, essential for the integrity of the heart muscle.

The experts at nutraOrigin recommend taking all three formulas together for maximum synergistic effect.