What Blood Pressure Should Be

By Carolyn Wick, Purchasing Team Lead on Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tracking your blood pressure is how you know if you have hypertension, and knowing how to lower your blood pressure today could save your life tomorrow.

High blood pressure is a dreaded disease that usually sets in during the adult years (40 years old and older). It can be defined simply as, “a common condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems…” High blood pressure per se may not be a cause for worry, instead what you should be concerned about is the complications that arise from it, as they can be debilitating and even fatal.

The ideal blood pressure reading for adults is less than 120/80 mmHg for persons who do not have any other chronic diseases. A reading of over 120/80 indicates prehypertension (120 to 139 over 81 to 89), stage 1 hypertension (140 to 159 over 90 to 99), stage 2 hypertension (160 and over to 100 and over) and hypertensive crisis (higher than 180 over higher than 110).

The cause of primary high blood pressure is unknown, thus its other name “essential hypertension”. Essential hypertension accounts for 95 percent of all high blood pressure cases. However, several risk factors can increase the likelihood of having the disease. It's worth mentioning that most of these factors are preventable by lifestyle and behavioral changes and there are a few over which we have no control.

Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure

• Age – As you grow older, your risk for this disease goes higher. It's more common in men through middle age and in women when they reach menopause.
• Genes – Persons with one or both parents having high blood pressure are at greater risk for the disease than those who don’t. Around 30 percent of primary hypertension can be traced to genetic factors.
• Overweight or Obesity – Being overweight is measured as having a body mass index between 25 and 29.9 and obesity as having a body mass index of 30 and higher.
• Lack of Exercise – Physical inactivity leads to higher heart rates. This, in turn, increases the work on the heart and the force on the arteries.
• Too Much Fat and Salt in the Diet – Salt causes fluid retention in your body and fat adds to the cholesterol deposits in the arterial walls. Both can trigger high blood pressure.
• Smoking – The chemicals in cigarettes can cause an acute attack of hypertension and chronic injury to the arterial walls, increasing blood pressure. Second hand smoke has the same effect.
• Stress – Stress releases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which can elevate blood pressure over time.
• Too Much Alcohol – Alcohol coats the blood vessels and arterial walls, increasing tension. It also depletes the body of calcium and magnesium, essential minerals that help maintain normal blood pressure levels.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure may be present but some people do not feel any symptoms while others may experience dizziness, headache, nape pain or nose bleeding. It's easy for a doctor to diagnose high blood pressure. A consistently high reading of blood pressure over 120/80 is hypertension and treatment should commence immediately. There is no cure for high blood pressure; you must manage and control it so that it remains at a normal level.

People with high blood pressure have a higher risk of getting heart attack, stroke, diabetes, congestive heart failure and other diseases affecting the vital organs, memory and comprehension. Don’t wait for this silent killer to rear its ugly head and maim or kill you. Convert to a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise and a positive attitude. To complement a lifestyle change, take natural supplements that have undergone research and been found to help control high blood pressure. Here are some guidelines you can follow so that you can prevent high blood pressure or manage it properly.

• Avoid too much fats and salt in your diet. Fast food offerings such as hamburgers, French fries, milk shakes and pizzas, and processed foods contain high sodium and fats. So do red meats and dairy products. Stick to broiled chicken without the skin, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
• Make exercise a regular part of your life. An exercise regimen of three to four times a week at 30 minutes to 1 hour each time is good. Do cardiovascular activities such as brisk walking, swimming, biking and aerobics.
• A combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise can also keep obesity at bay. Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for hypertension.
• Don’t smoke and limit your alcohol intake to the physician’s recommended amount.
• Learn how to manage stress with coping techniques like meditation, deep breathing and yoga, or simply change your attitude when faced with a stressful situation.
• Take natural and organic supplements that contain ingredients, vitamins and minerals to aid in the prevention or management of high blood pressure.

Look for products that contain vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D (ergocalciferol) and vitamin B complex (niacin, thiamine and riboflavin), vitamin B6 and B12.

Read the label and look for the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, chromium and zinc. Other ingredients that reduce high blood pressure are alpha-linoleic acid, blond psyllium, cayenne, horsetail leaf and many others.

Natural compounds and herbs that help in blood pressure control are CoQ10 (ubiquinone), garlic, Hawthorne berry, lecithin, grape seed extract and fish oils (Omega-3 fatty acids, cod liver oil, flax seeds, etc.).

When it comes to hypertension, there are several options and various ways to control high blood pressure. Success may come from one supplement or several of them working synergistically, and the best results may come from not just changing your diet but also your lifestyle.

High blood pressure is a killer disease. It's never too early to prevent it from coming into your life, or taking the necessary steps to manage it. Help your body fight high blood pressure by eating the right foods, exercising and having a positive outlook. Don’t forget to take the vitamins and supplements that come from nature’s resources.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

What Are Diabetes Vitamins?

By Carolyn Wick, Purchasing Team Lead on Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Find out what vitamins and lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of diabetes.

Diabetes: a leading lifestyle disease that can cripple you, make you blind and just about destroy all your other body systems if left untreated. Uncontrolled diabetes can wreak havoc on your cardiovascular system, your eyes, kidneys, nerves, digestion and skin. What makes having diabetes even worse is the knowledge that by taking diabetes vitamins, eating the right food and doing regular exercise, your chances of getting the disease would've been greatly reduced. Diabetes, while largely genetic (meaning you get it from your ancestors), is also an environmental disease. An abusive lifestyle -- smoking, drinking sugar-laden sodas, eating foods rich in fat, carbohydrates, salt and calories -- and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to the insidious onset of this deadly disease.

Here's the good news though, you can still reduce your odds of getting diabetes through behavior modification. A change from a morbidly unhealthy lifestyle to one that promotes physical fitness and psychological well-being can spell the difference between a life full of limitations and a life of pleasure and enjoyment.

The proper diet and regular exercise prevent obesity and ward off the onset of diabetes.  Keep tab of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, avoid smoking and alcoholic drinks to keep your sugar levels in check. Adding diabetes vitamins to your diet also enhances prevention and treatment. If you have prediabetes (a fasting blood sugar level between 100 to 125 mg/dl), you can arrest it and inhibit its progress into full-blown diabetes. Diabetes supplements can help in the management and control of the disease and its terrifying consequences.

Two Major Types of Diabetes
There are two major types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, usually occurs in children and young adults. An autoimmune disease, Type 1 diabetes is triggered by external factors in people who are genetically predisposed to it. It’s not common and accounts for only 5-15 percent of all diabetes cases.

Type 2 diabetes is non-insulin dependent diabetes, since the body can still produce some insulin. However, the amount may be inadequate or the cells in the body may not function properly to react to the insulin. It’s more often a lifestyle disease, the result of poor eating habits and lack of exercise. It usually occurs in people at the age of 40 years old and over but with the decadence of modern living, it can now be found in younger people.

Vitamins, Minerals and Herbal Supplements for Diabetes
When looking to buy diabetes supplements, read the labels carefully and choose the ones that contain ingredients that, singularly or in conjunction with others, have been proven to keep glucose levels under control and grow healthier cells. Here are some of the best:

• Vitamins B1, B6, B12 – Vitamin B1 may help in the reduction of blood glucose levels, vitamin B6 may help prevent heart diseases and vitamin B12 reduces the numbness and tingling sensations caused by nerve damage.
• Vitamin C – It helps in normalizing blood sugar and cholesterol levels in diabetics.
• Vitamin E – This vitamin may help in improving glucose tolerance and the body’s response to insulin.
• Chromium – This is an essential mineral that regulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism and improves the response of body cells to insulin.
• Magnesium – Magnesium is a mineral that has several benefits for diabetic persons. It helps blood sugar reach normal levels, promotes bone density and improves muscle and nerve functions, cardiac rhythm and the immune system.
• Vanadium – A mineral that copies the actions of insulin in the body, it decreases insulin resistance and helps lower blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Dosage should be calculated since this mineral can be toxic.
• Zinc – Zinc is a mineral that helps the body produce insulin, enhance its absorption and minimize unnecessary excretion. It transports blood sugar to the cells to convert it into energy. It's especially effective for people with Type 1 diabetes.
• Ginseng – An herb, specifically Panax Quinquefolius, that may improve control of blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin that's used to monitor the fluctuation of blood sugar over a three month period.
• Aloe Vera – The gel in aloe vera reduces levels of blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin.
• Gymnema – It's an herb that can make the blood sugar level in Type 2 diabetes drop; people taking this supplement should monitor their blood sugar level closely.

Risk Factors for Diabetes
Smoking can aggravate the existing poor blood circulation that’s already present in people with diabetes. The nicotine in cigarettes damages the major blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular and kidney problems. Active smokers increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 44 percent. Moreover, diabetics who smoke have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels than non-smokers.

Drinks that have high sugar content include regular sodas, purchased fruit drinks and restaurant milk shakes. Too much of these can raise your blood glucose to dangerous levels and add pounds to your weight. People with diabetes or prediabetes should stay away from these drinks and replace them with low-sugar ones or use artificial sweeteners instead.

Obesity increases the risk for getting diabetes by putting extra stress on the body and increasing insulin resistance. If you live in a modern, affluent nation - specifically in Western nations like America, Canada and England - you have easy access to high-caloric foods that are rich in fats, carbohydrates, sugar and sodium. Overweight or obese people are those with a body mass index of more than 25, a waist circumference of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women. An overweight person has more fat cells than muscle cells. Fat cells have a stronger resistance to insulin, the glucose-controlling hormone in the body. The weakened action of insulin prevents the glucose from being used as energy; it remains in the blood and diabetes develops or becomes worse.

A sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity and poor diabetes management. Exercising regularly helps in weight management and maintenance of proper blood sugar levels. A 30-minute exercise, done three to four times a week, is sufficient for diabetic people. However, diabetics need to be extra vigilant when exercising since there is the risk of a dangerously lowered blood sugar level or hypoglycemia, which can be fatal. Make sure to stay adequately hydrated before, during and after doing exercise activities to keep body cells in optimum condition.

Now that you know what can possibly cause diabetes and how you can avoid it, don’t wait for it to control your life. Plan your diet and exercise regimen, keep to your ideal body weight and take diabetes vitamins. It’s your life. It’s your rule!

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

The Best Male Multivitamin: Think Performance and Hair

By Michael Angelo, Senior Editor on Monday, August 22, 2011

The best male multivitamins should include ingredients that address the most common conditions in men. See if your multivitamin meets the standard.

Here's a tip for discovering what the best male multivitamin is: find out what matters most to a man in his life – and know what food and vitamins will enhance it. Men’s needs differ vastly from women’s, owing to each sex’s unique genetic makeup, the social and cultural norms they grew up in and the gender expectations that men and women have been brought up to conform to. Hence, the supplements men should take must contain the vitamins and minerals that support their needs.

Male multivitamins address the issues of sexual dysfunction and hair loss, the two most common anxiety-provoking concerns of the male species. You see several of these products in pharmacies and health stores, with bewildered men looking them over and getting more confused over which one to buy. These multivitamins are combined with natural and organic supplements to produce the desired effects quickly, safely and permanently. If you’re a man and you have gotten this far, continue reading and increase your knowledge of the appropriate supplements for improving the overall quality of your life through enhanced intimacy and a better self-image.

Men have always believed that the most important measure of their masculinity lie in their sexual performance. Being great in bed and the ability to please one’s partner is the hallmark of manhood. It defines machismo and is the ultimate symbol of virility. A decrease in the desire and quality of a man’s sexual function is a major cause of anxiety and creates a vicious cycle because anxiety further impairs performance. The causes of sexual dysfunction are both physical and psychological. Physical causes include medical conditions and their treatments. They affect the desire for and quality of the sex act. These are heart conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure, neurological and hormonal changes. The drugs used to treat them can also alter their libido. Psychological conditions include stress, anxiety, relationship problems, depression and past traumatic sexual experiences. Altered sexual performance comes in the form of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and inability to achieve orgasm.

Increase the pleasure and intensity of your sexual performance by having stronger and longer lasting erections combined with staying power. Look for male supplements that contain vitamins B complex and E mixed with potent natural aphrodisiacs. Here are the most popular herbal energy ingredients that men swear by and have been taking since way back in time:

• Ashwaganda (The Ginseng Of India)
• Fo-Ti
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Horny Goat Weed 
• L-Arginine
• Muira Puama (The Viagra Of The Amazon)
• Panax Ginseng 
• Peruvian Maca
• Propionyl L-Carnitine
• Saw Palmetto Extract
• Tongkat Ali
• Tribulus terrestris

These organic nutrients and herbs all work independently or together to increase blood flow to the penis, cure impotence and enhance endurance, strength and stamina to boost the male libido. Products don’t have to contain all of them in one pill or cream. Male multivitamins for making sexual performance an exciting experience can come in the form of tablets, capsules and soft gels. These oral pills can be further complemented by potent creams for topical application that give the immediate effect of harder erections with increased lasting power.

Another aspect in a man’s physical appearance that he puts great significance in is his hair. Hair is a symbol of power and masculinity. It gives a man inner strength and boosts his body image, making him self-confident and secure enough to face challenges and meet new people. Rightly or wrongly, people tend to view a man with a full head of hair in a more positive way than a bald man. Think of all those mean jokes about bald men and you get the idea.

Hair loss in men is caused by several factors: genes, age, hormones, stress or trauma. Genes are responsible for 95 percent of male pattern baldness. These genes can come from the paternal or maternal side of the family. As a man grows older, his hair follicles shrink and the hair eventually fall out, contributing to his baldness. The speed and frequency of this occurrence is genetically related, which explains why hair loss happens to some men and not to others. The male sex hormone, testosterone and its relation dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are produced in higher levels during puberty and adulthood. They are the same chemicals that cause the many changes in the puberty stage, such as change in voice, growths spurts and sexual development, including axillary and pubic hair. Excessive production of DHT accounts for male pattern baldness. Other causative factors are stress and trauma to the head.

Prevent hair loss and reclaim your identity and self-confidence with advanced quality formulations that contain a blend of proven herbal ingredients that revitalize hair follicles and control further hair fallout. Read the labels on products carefully and look for these hair vitamins that promise re-growth of healthy, strong and thick hair:

• Vitamins B12 and D
• Biotin
• Calcium
• Copper Peptides
• Folate or Folic Acid
• Green Tea
• He Shou Wu herbs
• Iron
• Pantothenic Acid
• Procyanidin (B2 & C-1)
• Saw Palmetto
• Silica
• Zinc

These hair loss treatments can be taken as oral medicines in the form of pills and as creams and shampoos for a more powerful effect and faster delivery. They give new hope to men who have long suffered from the embarrassment of baldness. Even more visibly, they open up doors of opportunities in the personal, social and professional milieus. Job placements or promotions, relationships and social standing become more accessible to men with hair on their heads than to the bald ones.

Sexual capability and a full head of hair – both boost a man’s self-esteem and body image. Having great hair makes a man confident and confidence can have a positive effect on sexual performance, although not vice versa. If you have one or both of these problems, act now. Don’t be a passive onlooker, watching your hairline recede day by day or imagining yourself as the next Hollywood actor who can get any woman. Sexual enhancement and hair loss treatment products are readily available and the best male multivitamins are just w

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Vitamins and Children: Boost Brain Power with Vitamins

By Marcelina Hardy, Staff Writer on Friday, August 19, 2011

Studies show that giving children daily vitamins increases their brain capacity. Find out what supplements you should be giving your little ones right here.

Vitamins can boost a kid’s brain power? Yes, that’s right. Supplying your children with adequate nutrition and supplementing with vitamins can greatly enhance their memory, alertness and clarity. In fact, according to Dr. Ray Sahelian^[1], author of Mind Boosters, “Nutrition plays a significant and crucial role over the long run and the short run in brain health.”

Take your child’s learning power to a completely new level by supplementing with vitamins to help them reach their full potential.

Vitamins to Boost Brain Power
Vitamin C
Not only is vitamin C essential to the immune system to help your children stay healthy, it’s also has a special benefit to the brain. The brain actually has a mechanism that draws any excess vitamin C out of the blood for use in the brain. The vitamin C is a roadblock to free radicals before they cause any damage to the brain. Vitamin C also makes neurotransmitters in the brain, which is what processes stimuli (such as, information learned in school).

Vitamin B12
A deficiency in B12 can lead to memory loss and mental slowness, so it’s important to brain health that the body receives enough of this vitamin to prevent this from happening. Vitamin B12 is found in meat or by supplementing with B complex or a standalone B12 supplement.

Vitamin B6
Without enough vitamin B6, you’ll feel irritable and fatigued. If you have enough, your brain is able to make enough dopamine (another type of neurotransmitter). An increase in dopamine can help increase alertness so that children can pay more attention to lessons taught in school.

Iron
Iron is also important in the production of dopamine. It’s been found in a study^[2] that 84 percent of ADD/ADHD children had low levels of iron, which correlated with their level of low attention levels.

Zinc
Zinc also has to do with dopamine but not like how vitamin B6 and iron do – zinc makes sure that the brain uses the dopamine efficiently. Low levels of zinc means that the brain doesn’t respond as well to the dopamine and low level of inattention result.

HelpGuide.org^[3] recommends that children receive 20 mg of zinc, five days a week to help with academic performance.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help the brain function properly and keep toxins away, according to Your Family Clinic^[4]. It helps many bodily functions by protecting cells from damage. Its main role is keeping red blood cells healthy so that they can carry oxygen to the brain, according to KidsHealth.org^[5].

Fish Oil
Omega 3s are essential to brain functioning and can enhance memory. According to Your Family Clinic, children who don’t get enough omega 3s early in life may have lower IQ scores later in life.

Selenium
Selenium isn’t a vitamin but it has beneficial brain effects so it’s worth mentioning. It’s actually a mineral and usually found in healthy grains, garlic, meat, seafood and Brazilian nuts. In a research study mentioned on the Your Family Clinic Web site, participants felt more clearheaded, confident, euphoric and had more energy after taking it for three months.

How to Choose What to Give
This is a big list of supplements to give a child and it’s not meant to be a grocery list of pills. It’s a guide of what your child should be getting in his nutrition to boost brain power. If your child’s diet doesn’t include one or more of these vitamins, then supplementation may be a sound idea and investment.

Discuss Vitamin Supplementation with Your Doctor
Before you begin giving your child anything new, speak to your doctor. Vitamins do carry risks, can interact with other drugs and overdose is possible. Advise your doctor of any medications, supplements and medical concerns you have so that he can give proper guidance on how and if you should supplement your child’s nutrition with these vitamins.
 

Sources

1. ^[1] - The top 5 vitamins and minerals to boost your brainpower, Nourishing Your Noggin, MedicineNet.com
2. ^[2] - Brain Tip: Vitamins and ADD/ADHD Brain Power, ATalentedMind.com
3. ^[3] - Healthy Eating for Kids and Teens, Education.com
4. ^[4] - Foods and Vitamins that Help Brain Development and Repair Damage, YourFamilyClinic.com
5. ^[5] - Vitamins, KidsHealth.org

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Teens and Vitamins: Fight the Acne Battle

By Marcelina Hardy, Staff Writer on Thursday, August 18, 2011

Acne treatments don't have to be prescription drugs. See what vitamins help teens fight acne naturally.

Zits are a common occurrence for adolescents everywhere. In fact, 85 percent^[1] of teens deal with acne. But just because almost everyone has at least one pimple on their face, doesn’t mean you have to deal with the embarrassment of it. There is hope, even if you’ve tried everything.

Getting to the Last Resort with Acne Treatment
You're probably like most teens who've rushed off to the store to buy every product on the shelf that promises to banish acne forever, when you first started developing pimples. The letdown happened when you brought it home and it didn’t work as well as it said it would on the box.

The next step you might have made was going in to see your doctor. This is when the prescription drug round started. You may have tried one drug, then another one and then another one. One may have worked better than another but not quite good enough. After a while, with a red irritated face, you may have thought, “Forget it, I’ll just deal with it.”

Research on Vitamins for Acne
The good news is that you don’t have to deal with it – you still have hope in fighting your skin problems – vitamins! Yes, it may sound like it will never work, but consider these findings:

• The Australia’s RMIT University and Royal Melbourne Hospital Department of Dermatology conducted a study that found a direct link between diet and acne development.
• A study by Dr. Lit-Hung Leung published in 1995 found that high doses of vitamin B5 decreased pore size and solved acne problems.
• Zinc has been effective in the treatment of acne and recognized by The National Library of Science.
• The Department of Dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York finds that vitamin A, tea tree oil and zinc are effective acne treatments.
• The Lasky Skin Clinic in 2008 found that Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-acne properties.

The Vitamins for Teens with Acne
Vitamin B
As you read above, Dr. Lit-Hung Leung stumbled upon the finding of how vitamin B5 works in attacking acne and many sufferers have found it to be effective. Vitamin B5 helps create coenzyme-A, which helps metabolize fat in the body. Since a buildup of fat in the body from eating a fatty diet is one of the causes of acne, this helps slow down outbreaks.

According to The Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institute of Health^[2], vitamin B6 can also help settle down some of the inflammation you may experience with your acne. If you face is inflamed, it may be because you are deficient in this vitamin.

Vitamin A 
Vitamin A is one of the most popular vitamins for acne. It’s also known as retinol and is an antioxidant, which has great effects on the skin. It protects skin cells from damage and can even slow down the aging process (once you’re down worrying about the acne!).

Skin that's rough and dry looking is usually showing signs of vitamin A deficiency. Take vitamin A supplements with vitamin E because the fat from the E vitamin helps the body better digest the nutrients of the A vitamin.

Vitamin E
This antioxidant fights acne, but it also promotes healing. Scars from past blemishes can slowly disappear by rubbing the liquid of an opened vitamin E softgel on the skin. Of course, liquid vitamin E is also available, which can save you the messy process of opening softgels. Different strengths and dosages exist too, so a little trial and error may be necessary.

Niacin
Like vitamin E, either you can ingest this or you can break open the pill and use it as a mask on the skin. Niacin helps open blood vessels to improve circulation, which helps the skin breathe, preventing toxins from building up under the skin causing acne outbreaks.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C isn’t just good for improving your immune system to ward off colds, it can also attack acne. Collagen is an important skin protein and supports body tissue. Vitamin C helps the production of collagen and detoxifies the body to eliminate toxic substances, which could lead to build up and acne development.

Zinc
Hormones…teens have them and they can be a major cause of acne. Zinc plays an important role in regulating hormones and can work wonders on hormonal-based acne.

Fish Oil
Fish oil is also an anti-inflammatory and can help simmer down those pimples that seem to have flashing, bright red light bulbs on top of them.

Chromium
This isn’t a vitamin but chromium is a helpful mineral. It helps with regulating blood sugar. Some acne sufferers seem to have flare ups when they experience blood sugar level fluctuations and this may help counteract this effect.

Talk to Your Doctor
Before you jump into vitamin treatment of your acne, give your doctor a quick call. In most cases, it’ll be okay to supplement your diet with these vitamins, but you need to make sure. Sometimes, taking too much of a vitamin can make you sick, especially if you are taking other supplements or prescription drugs. It’s best to check with the medical experts whenever you start a new treatment for any medical problem.

Sources

1. ^[1] - Don’t let acne ruin those important teenage years, UC Davis Health System, UCDMD.UCDavis.edu
2. ^[2] - Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Blemish-Free Skin, Holistic Healing, About.com

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

What Are Fat Burners?

By Michael Angelo, Senior Editor on Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fat burners are among the most popular supplements sold today, and knowing what they are and how they work are important factors when choosing the right one for yourself.

If you belong to the 68 percent of overweight or obese Americans, you have most likely tried losing weight through sheer willpower alone. And the probability that you've been unsuccessful in your efforts is overwhelming. After quite a few failed attempts, it's best to accept the reality that you can’t lose weight and keep it off without outside help. This is the first step towards achieving your weight loss goal, and the sooner you look beyond your fluctuating self-control and seek intervention, the faster you can reach your desired weight.

A popular tried and tested approach to aid in losing weight are fat burners. Fat burners are weight loss supplements that produce the following actions in the body:

Increase metabolism
In a nutshell, metabolism determines the rate at which the body burns its calories and the speed or sluggishness with which the body sheds off the pounds and loses weight. There are several factors that impact the metabolic process. It slows down as people age - at a rate of approximately five percent for every decade after 40 years old. In general, men have a higher metabolic rate than women do, and heredity plays a role in a person’s metabolism. Metabolism increases in direct proportion to lean body mass. Another factor that influences metabolism is weight. The heavier you weigh, the faster your metabolic rate is. This explains why weight loss is easier at the beginning of a program and reaches a plateau when you are several pounds lighter. Your lighter bulk slows down the metabolic process and losing weight becomes harder.

Increase energy level
As fat burners increase metabolism, there is a corresponding increase in the energy in your body. Some fat burners contain stimulants that are thermogenic, raising energy levels and body temperature. This is an opportune time to hit the gym for workouts and aerobic classes or engage in sports activities. Having more energy gives you the stamina to sustain these physical activities and the endurance to complete its duration. Obviously, when you increase physical exertion, more calories are expended and more fat is burned. The resulting weight loss is a foregone conclusion. Mood elevation is one positive side effect to an increase in energy level and there is a motivation to persist in attaining your weight loss goal.

Suppress the appetite
Some fat burners act on your body’s central nervous system and send a message to the brain telling it that you are not hungry. When hunger pangs are repressed, you can control the tendency to overeat. As a result, you reduce your calorie intake and this makes you leaner. Even when faced with your favorite foods, you can resist the temptation to indulge because you have a feeling of satiety.

Now that you're planning to buy fat burners, you face the dilemma of choosing which one to get from among the hundreds being sold in the market. This situation can overwhelm even the most unflappable person. A good guide would be to pick the ones that produce maximum results with the least side effects. Fat burners made from natural herbs do not contain harmful chemicals that may damage the vital body systems with prolonged use. These nutraceutical products are derived from high-grade organic materials that have been proven effective and are safe for human intake. Here are some components of fat burners:

• 1. Acai Berry – Grown in the Amazon rainforests of Central and South America, the acai berry is a reddish purple fruit that has weight loss inducing properties. It's also rich in antioxidants that help build a strong immune system. Acai berry is combined with other natural weight reducing ingredients in fat burners to produce a powerful, safe and healthy weight loss supplement.
• 2. African Mango – As one of the safest ingredients in weight reduction supplements, the African mango is a fruit that increases the amount of leptin in the blood of people taking it. Leptin is an enzyme that functions as an appetite suppressant and metabolism regulator. Its other health benefits include the maintenance of normal blood sugar and cholesterol levels, making weight loss possible in a short span of time.
• 3. Ephedra – Abundant in Mongolia and China, this herb works as a stimulant that increases the heart rate and raises the energy level of people taking it. Physical activity is enhanced and more calories are burned. It's also used as a treatment for asthma and allergies. Ephedra should be taken with medical supervision since it may cause cardiac problems in healthy people.
• 4. Green Tea – Taken in conjunction with other synergistic herbs, green tea effectively aids in weight reduction. It increases fat oxidation rates by as much as 17 percent after intake and even more during physical workouts. Polyphenol, a green tea extract, also improves glucose tolerance and controls diabetes.
• 5. Hoodia Gordonii – A cactus that grows in South Africa and Botswana, hoodia was the food of hunters searching for prey in the African forests. They found that hoodia effectively suppressed their appetites for a long time. This enabled them to hunt for long periods without the interruption of hunger pangs. Since hoodia is a natural element, there are no negative side effects to the body.
• 6. Hydroxycitrate – HCA, as it is also called, is a natural extract taken from the fruit of the Garcinia Cambogia tree that grows in the south of India. HCA acts by holding back the production of citrate lyase, an enzyme that helps convert carbohydrates into fat. Without citrate lyase, the body’s ability to form fat tissues is hindered so that it resorts to burning the carbohydrates.

Other fat burning components that come from natural organic materials are caffeine, apple cider vinegar, kelp, chitosan and grapefruit. There are several testimonies confirming their effectiveness in weight loss programs. Proprietary blends of these ingredients make up the supplements that are flooding the market and are better known as fat burners. If you honestly think that willpower is not one of your strengths and you are frustrated with the yo-yo effects of dieting and exercise alone, don’t you think it’s about time you give fat burners a chance?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Dogs and Vitamins: What to Know

By Carolyn Wick, Purchasing Team Lead on Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Your dog needs its daily vitamins just as much as you do, and here's where you should start looking if you're going to supplement Spot's diet.

The access to too much information regarding dog vitamins has gotten pet dog owners confused. There are hundreds of dog supplements in the market, each one claiming to be superior over the competition, but distinguishing hype from real value can be a daunting task. What is unarguable, however, is the fact that dogs need their vitamins as much as people need theirs. Dog owners who love their dogs realize the important role of these supplements in the preservation and maintenance of their dogs’ health.

The foods you give your dog do not contain all the principal nutrients to keep it fit and healthy. Further, there are external factors in the environment and unavoidable events, such as aging, that affect your dog’s condition negatively and make it vulnerable to potential illnesses. Free radicals contribute to air, land and water pollution, which is a lethal combination for your dog if exposure is frequent and in large quantities. Thus, it helps to be correctly informed about the essential vitamins and minerals that you must give your dog to protect it from harmful elements and maintain its good health and attractive appearance. Here are the key dog vitamins and minerals you should look for when shopping for your dog.

1. Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine is a natural compound found in the cartilages of healthy dogs while chondroitin is a form of carbohydrate derived from the articular cartilages. As dogs grow older, arthritis sets in. Obesity and inactivity contribute to the onset of this very common canine disease. A glucosamine and chondroitin composition can help prevent arthritis and alleviate the symptoms of joint pains. Both amino sugar elements help in the repair of damaged cartilage and support cartilage growth in the joints and bones of dogs.

2. Calcium, Copper and Phosphorus
Calcium plays a vital role in the growth and maintenance of healthy and dense bones and in the function of important body systems. Calcium needs phosphorus for it to be absorbed and used properly in the dog’s body. Phosphorus is a major element in the formation of bones, teeth and RNA and DNA. Copper aids in the production of red blood cells, collagen, melanin and myelin. These three minerals are significant elements in dogs’ anatomy and physiology. A lack of any of them may bring about anemia, bone abnormalities, lowered immune system and abnormal metabolism. As dog supplements, they help in the prevention of infections, bone fractures and promote healthy bones and cells.

3. MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
MSM is a form of sulfur that's present in plants and animals. In combination with glucosamine, it alleviates the pain of arthritis, decreases bone deformities that're caused by osteoporosis and aids in the treatment of other skeletal disorders. It's also a remedy for skin diseases, hair loss and allergies. It promotes and speeds up wound healing. It may come in the form of creams or gels for direct application to the skin or it may be tablet or capsule forms to be taken by mouth.

4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are not produced naturally in dogs’ bodies; thus, they have to be supplied as dietary supplements. These essential fatty acids are abundant in fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, lake trout and sardines. Taken as dog vitamins and minerals, pet omega 3 fatty acids lower the risk for heart diseases, cancer and other chronic illnesses. They are also nutrients that enhance memory and brain performance and correct behavioral problems like lethargy and mood swings.

5. Vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E and K
Dog vitamins contain these principal vitamins to promote optimum health and maintain their hair and skin. They also function internally to preserve strong bones, muscles, nerves and tissues and support dogs’ physical and mental development. They are found in dog food but the amount may not be sufficient; hence, there is a need to add them to the dogs’ diets through tablet or liquid forms.

6. Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium, Sodium, Chloride and Zinc
Like vitamins, these are minerals found in dog food but in small quantities. Each one has its special purpose in promoting healthy canine anatomy and function of their various body systems. Working together or separately, they help develop healthy dog organs so that metabolism, circulation, heart and lung function, elimination of free radicals from the body and all the other physiological functions performance properly.

Signs of a Healthy Dog
A visual inspection of your dog will help you recognize signs of health and prompt you to take immediate action if you detect an approaching illness.

• Skin and Hair – A healthy skin color is pale pink, brown or black depending on breed. It's smooth and elastic, not rough or limp. Check for the presence of scabs, red areas or growths by running your hand over the dog's back and stomach or part the hair and look for fleas, lice or cuts and wounds. The dog’s hair or coat should be glossy, smooth and not too oily.
• Eyes – Eyes should be bright, alert and clear. The whites should not be yellowish. Watch out for excessive mucus and tearing, yellow discharges and eyelid inflammation. These are signs of eye disease that need a vet’s attention and treatment.
• Ears – The skin inside the ears should be free from lice. It should be a healthy pink, smooth and clean. Some amount of wax is normal but too much leads to crusting. Dogs with ear problems often scratch or shake their heads frequently. Dog breeds with long, hairy ears need more care and attention than others who have normal size ears.
• Mouth, Teeth and Gums – Normal, healthy gums should be pinkish, black or spotted depending on the dog’s breed. Teeth should be white and clean. Check for substances that cover or surround teeth; this is plaque or tartar that should be removed by brushing. Check your dog for bad breath and inspect the gums for infections. If you suspect mouth infection, take the dog to the vet immediately. Mouth diseases can lead to problems that are more serious.
• Nose – A cool and moist nose without excessive nasal discharges is a sign of health; however, a warm nose is not a conclusive indicator of fever. Nasal discharges should not be yellowish, bubbly or foul smelling, as these are signs of respiratory illnesses.

Dogs make amazing friends and companions. They are playful, protective and loyal. Treat your dog well and care for it. Giving your pup the best dog vitamins as a part of its daily diet is one way of ensuring that your dog remains healthy and happy, giving you the priceless treasure of many years of dog devotion and friendship.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE