Wine Making
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Vitamin Supplements - Are they Beneficial or Just Hype?
   
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What Type Of Arthritis Do You Have?
Arthritis dates back to prehistoric times and is seen all through the ages in the joints of the skeleton remains.
Most of you will have problems with your .....
Arthritis dates back to prehistoric times and is seen all through the ages in the joints of the skeleton remains.
Most of you will have problems with your .....
Vitamin supplements have been increasing in popularity and
availability over the past 30 years. In North America it has
become a multi billion dollar industry. Vitamin supplements
have been hailed as powerful antioxidants that fight against a
wide variety of health conditions such as cancer and heart
disease. They are also credited with causing reverse affects in
the aging process, and enhancing athletic ability.
The question is, however, do these claims have substance or is
it a product of the giant corporate machine that preys on
societys fears, fuelled by the media. The media has a tendency
to sensationalize certain ideas and findings, often
misrepresenting them. This is one process by which consumer
trends are created or molded.
On Dis-ease
We are all terminally ill. It is a matter of time before we all die. Aging and death remain almost as mysterious as ever. We feel awed and uncomfortable when we contemplate these twin afflictions. .....
If this is the case, the following question may be raised. WhichWe are all terminally ill. It is a matter of time before we all die. Aging and death remain almost as mysterious as ever. We feel awed and uncomfortable when we contemplate these twin afflictions. .....
food trends are inspired by factual information that is truly
beneficial to health? In other words do certain products really
deliver on promises made by industry or the media? If not, then
who is to blame?
The media may be partly to blame for playing up on certain
fears, facts or ideas. At the same time the corporations could
be partly responsible as well. Where the real problem lies is in
miscommunication. These problems would be solved if a reliable
and effective stream of communication existed between the
scientific community, the government, the media and the
corporate world.
This is the objective these organizations should be striving
for. Until such a system is put into place there will be no
accurate way of telling whether the consumer can count on every
benefit promised.
Now lets get back to vitamin supplements. In order to find the
facts we must go right to the source. In other words we have to
look at results from scientific studies. A recent study, that
included tens of thousands of subjects, showed that vitamin E
and beta carotene supplementation did not lower the risk of
heart disease or death from heart disease. Foods, however, that
contain antioxidants are still recommended. (1)
Over the last twenty years there have been many similar studies
with varying results. In fact they have been largely
contradicting. And so to this day the subject remains
controversial. If you look at the facts as a whole, you will
find that vitamin supplements show no clear benefits in healthy
people with well balanced diets.
On the other hand, in cases of malnutrition or other forms of
vitamin deficiencies, vitamin supplementation subscribed by
physicians has been proven to be beneficial and essential.
Countless studies have proven that vitamins and nutrients from
real food sources are much more effective.
In fact several key studies were done to determine why certain
areas around the world had low incidents of heart disease and
cancer. Evidence suggested that these low rates were attributed
to diet. And in all these studies vitamin supplementation was
virtually nonexistent. These areas of study have included the
Mediterranean region, Japan, France, the Arctic, Africa and
South America. It was found that these cultures contained diets
with foods rich in natural antioxidants.
Some of these foods include fresh and cooked vegetables, wild
greens, fruits, wine and variety of nuts. Compared to the
American diet these diets contained higher contents of unrefined
carbohydrates and/or higher fish contents and much lower
quantities of red meat, hydrogenated fat and dairy products.
One reason why vitamin supplements have become so popular in
North America is the type of lifestyle we lead. As a result of
our busy, fast paced way of life we find less and less time to
prepare proper well balanced meals. Most of us, therefore, are
not getting enough essential vitamins and nutrients from our
diet. We are eating too much of the wrong foods and often feel
tired and burned out.
Instead of improving our eating habits, we get sold on the pitch
that we need vitamin supplements to increase strength and
vitality. If we had well balanced diets in the first place, we
wouldnt have to throw away large sums of money on supplements,
the vast majority of which are completely ineffective.
The wiser thing to do is try to incorporate some of these diet
patterns that have been proven beneficial to health in the
regions mentioned earlier. First of all we must increase fish
intake and decrease consumption of red meat. Increase intakes of
fruits, vegetables, whole unrefined carbohydrates and decrease
amount of simple carbohydrates like sugar and products with
white flour, saturated and hydrogenated fats made from animal
sources, margarines, creamy dressings and dips, and gravies. In
other words, decrease the amount of processed food.
Furthermore, when combining a well balanced diet with regular
exercise participation, the health benefits become tenfold. You
will become more relaxed and able to sleep better. Your energy
threshold will be increased, enabling you to perform at a higher
level while feeling less tired. You will lose weight, your
health and appearance will improve, and youll feel better about
yourself.
References:
1 http://www.clevelandclinic.org, Fighting heart disease:
Should you be pro or anti antioxidants, retrieved 29 Oct.
2004 from
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/disease/cad/
Creating Supportive Environments
Im writing this on my laptop in a Cosi caf in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. The reason I am here has nothing to do with me or my business, but the reason I can continue to be successful in my work .....
vitamin_e.htm Im writing this on my laptop in a Cosi caf in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. The reason I am here has nothing to do with me or my business, but the reason I can continue to be successful in my work .....
About the author:
John Tiniakos helps make weight loss easier through proven
weight loss methods using information and analysis from the
worlds leading scientists. To subscribe to his free monthly
newsletter that includes valuable, up to date tips on diet,
weight loss and health visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com.
For more information on his latest ebook Nulife Natural Weight
Loss Program visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm