Easing Arthritis Pain with Glucosamine & Chondroitin Supplements
September 7, 2008
If you suffer from arthritis pain, chances are you’ve heard of a relatively new over-the-counter remedy called Glucosamine. But what is Glucosamine, and how does it work to relieve arthritis? In this article, I’ll introduce you to this new treatment and provide you with the pros and cons of its use. By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on whether or not Glucosamine is right for you.
What is Glucosamine?
Glucosamine, together with a related ingredient called Chondroitin, are substances which exist naturally in your body. It is believed that glucosamine helps to build and repair cartilage (the soft, spongy material between your joints), while chondroitin lends to the elasticity and flexibility of joints. A deficiency of either one can lead to increased wear and tear on the joint, and cause redness, swelling and stiffness as a result. When used together, glucosamine and chondroitin act as a tag-team of arthritis fighters, improving flexibility, soothing inflammation and reducing swelling caused by achy joints.
Where Can I Buy Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplements?
I Have a Headache!
September 5, 2008
Actually, my headache is not the result of just thinking ? it’s due more to what I’ve been thinking about. I can normally go for months and months and months without any perceptible twinge of intracranial discomfort. No problems at all. Well unless I decide to chance it and watch more than one reality show in a week. Then I’ll notice a bit of distress. But apart from that, life is good and the old gray matter just keeps cruising along in the smiley mode.
But today is different. Here’s what happened. I decided to do a bit of research on healthy living to include diets (not necessarily to lose weight) and supplements. In the course of doing this, I naturally came across a pile of information related to what foods to avoid and what other foods or supplements could potentially prevent physiological malfunctions. A big pile of information. A gigantic pile of information! A super-mega-humungo pile of information! (Are you beginning to get a clue as to why I have a headache?)
In an attempt to turn all of this into a positive, beneficial experience, I need to pass along what I’ve learned. So here it is.
Vitamins and Minerals Help Ensure A Good Healthy Heart
September 2, 2008
Taking good care of your body means that you are able to maintain adequate amounts of the minerals, vitamins and nutrients that are needed to ensure a totally healthy well-being. Also, it is very important to note that the heart requires a significant amount of attention too, in order for it to be able to function well and be able to have a healthy circulation of blood around the body. When the heart is healthy, it is able to respond efficiently to the body’s changing needs for oxygen and nutrients, which vary with different activity levels throughout the day and night. There are several vitamins and minerals that specifically support the heart in these important tasks.
Potassium is a mineral that is quite important to how the heart can function more properly. At the most basic level, potassium is essential to the rhythmic, smooth and continuous pumping of the heart. This is because potassium supports the nerve transmissions and greatly takes part in making sure that every muscle in the body gets to move. Potassium greatly helps in regulating a person’s heartbeat.
Health Benefits of Taking Spirulina Daily - Real Health Part 5
August 31, 2008
As I mentioned in Part 4 of my Real Health diet series, I believe that taking green foods, particularly spirulina and chlorella, is very important to your health. This article will focus on why you should take spirulina.
You may have heard these words, spirulina and chlorella before. What are they though? Basically they are green microalgae. They are microscopic plants which grow in fresh water. They are green due to chlorophyll.
It is sold in the form of powder. I take mine in veggie capsules. I believe the best comes from the Nutrex company in Hawaii. They sell under their own label. They also provide the spirulina that I buy from Jenny Lee Naturals, which sells a 580 capsule bottle.
First, spirulina. Spirulina is an amazing food. And it is a food, not a medicine. First, it contains protein. A lot of protein. Three times more protein by weight than beef. And this protein is more digestible than beef, so you take in more of it into your system. And spirulina contains complete protein, all eight essential amino acids.
What Are Nutraceuticals and Why Are the Drug Companies Upset?
August 29, 2008
If you break the word apart, Nutra has to do with nutrition, and Ceuticals has to do with drug companies ? pharmaceuticals. So what is the big deal? Nutraceuticals are god-given nutrients that are readily available for our good health, but drug companies want to make them illegal to buy and use ? unless they can sell them to increase their bank accounts.
Another word you need to know is CODEX (the European Food Supplements Directive). The purpose of Codex is similar to Nutraceuticals. The government wants to control supplements so that we are made totally dependent on doctors, drug companies and the government.
Your first response is "What the heck does Europe have to do with me? I live in the US." Well, this is one of the first steps in controlling healthy things ? supplements, vitamins, minerals, and healthy foods. If it is successful in Europe, they (multinational governments) will bring CODEX to the US.
The Beneficial Effects Of Vitamins On Your Digestive System
August 26, 2008
As much as we would like to deny it, the digestive system is our favorite system of the body. Why? Because it involves food of course. It is through the digestive system that the body is able to make use of the vitamins, minerals as well as the other nutrients that we consume daily. The digestive system actually breaks down the food that we put into our bodies until it is in a form that can be used by our cells in order to ensure our being healthy. However, not everything that we put into our mouths constitutes as being "healthy", there are several vitamins and minerals that directly affect the quality and efficiency of the process of digestion. A conscious effort to consume the proper amounts of these nutrients daily is a good start towards having a well functioning digestive system.
First, let’s break down the digestive process, beginning in the mouth, with the saliva and the teeth. Healthy teeth are essential to proper chewing, which breaks down the food into teeny tiny pieces so that it can pass through the esophagus while the enzymes start on their work. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin D and Vitamin C are all essential nutrients to having healthy teeth. Your teeth’s very structure depends greatly on these vitamins and minerals. Calcium and phosphorus are the primary building blocks of the teeth while Vitamin D helps enhance the calcium absorption by the body and rounding off this process of having healthy teeth are magnesium and vitamin C.
Developing Those Elusive Bright Eyes… With Vitamins and Minerals
August 23, 2008
Vision is one of our most precious senses. Without it the world as we know it would be blank. One of the things that we can do daily to protect our eyes from harm is to be sure that each day we consume the recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that we need in order to keep our eyes healthy. As with everything about our bodies proper nutrition plays an invaluable role in keeping our eyes functioning as well as possible. There are certain nutrients that are known to be especially associated with ocular health.
Among these are the antioxidant vitamins. The eye, especially the lens and the retina is particularly vulnerable to the effects of unchecked free radicals which are a byproduct of oxygen, cellular processes and environmental contaminants. Antioxidant vitamins help to combat free radicals. The primary antioxidant vitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. in addition to their important action against free radicals they promote healthy cells and tissues in the eye. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are two more valuable antioxidants that recent research has found to be especially effective in maintaining the good health of the eyes.
I Love My Glyconutrients
August 21, 2008
In today’s modern world most people, like us, just do not feel well and have no energy! Everybody around us is either getting sick, has some terrible disease or is dying! What in the world is going on, why is all this stuff happening to us, and what can we do about it?
This world that we live in is becoming more diseased every day. Thirty to forty years ago society suffered from four known autoimmune diseases. However, now we suffer from over eighty, isn’t that incredible? And the numbers keep rising.
The number one killer diseases in America today are heart disease and cancer. Do you know what your chances are of developing heart disease? One out of two! These are not very good statistics. And in addition to that, for fully forty percent of all cardiac disease related deaths, the first symptom is sudden death! Oh no, our chances for healthful survival are diminishing. And we have not even talked about all the other disease that are out there.
Building Muscle Power Through Vitamins and Minerals
August 19, 2008
The muscles of the body actually depend heavily on the vitamins, minerals as well as on the other nutrients that we take in so as to ensure that they’re always well taken care of. Consciously taking care of your body through the proper exercise, a well-balanced diet and a stress-free mind all contribute greatly towards keeping healthy and building a good set of muscles.
Muscles actually serve a far more important physical function apart from making fit people look good as well as the ability to lift heavy objects. Actually unknown to most people, the heart is the most important muscle of the body, as it runs the circulatory system. Our muscles help keep our internal organs in place and gives us the ability to perform each and every movement we make, from chewing and swallowing to controlling our bladder to sitting, standing and walking. Healthy muscles are essential to our day-to-day lives. Several vitamins and minerals actually work well together in keeping us fit and having stronger muscles.
Using Natural Remedies For Constipation
August 16, 2008
There are two basic types of constipation - organic and functional. Organic constipation is a result of some physical change, obstruction, or distortion in your colon. This type of constipation needs immediate attention from a doctor.
This article only covers Functional Constipation. This type of constipation is a result of not following a proper diet, drinking enough fluids, having good emotional health and not having a good lifestyle - a lifestyle that promotes good movement of digested foods through the intestines and colon.
Even though there are many definitions for constipation, constipation is simply a condition where the fecal matter traveling through your colon remains too long in your colon before traveling out the rectum.
Constipation is a symptom and not a disease. It is a condition that tells you your colon is not working properly or that you have some underlying gastrointestinal disease you are not aware of.
Constipation may be a warning that your diet and lifestyle are causing an imbalance in your body. It is a symptom that many people ignore or that many people try to eliminate by using unnatural and oftentimes dangerous drugstore laxatives.
