Vital Nutrients for Optimum Health and Longevity

As most of us have heard before, maintaining a properly balanced diet of proteins, complex carbohydrates, and essential fats is vital for good health. With the right mix of foods, we can help insure our bodies receive most of the vital nutrients needed for optimum health.

Due to various circumstances, it may be useful to supplement your diet with some key natural herbs and vitamins to help boost your immune system…and create the vitality and longevity you desire

Unfortunately, many of the foods available in today’s world are preprocessed…and even many of the fresh grown fruits and vegetables are lacking in essential micronutrients necessary for good health. Mass production methods for growing fruits, vegetables, and even livestock have created nutrient deficiencies…and even deadly toxins in many of the foods we now consume. Therefore, it becomes even more important than ever that we supplement our diets with natural herbs and vitamins to help rid the body of toxins and boost its natural supply of micronutrients.

While growing and raising much of our own food would be one of the best methods for ensuring we eat the healthiest foods possible, it’s just not practical for most of us in today’s society. Fortunately, there are organically grown foods available (which I recommend you consume as much as possible)…but many of these foods can be expensive, and there’s no guarantee that these foods will still have all the vital nutrients our bodies need.

Along with concerns about how our foods are produced, it is also important to note that even normal metabolic and immune system functions within our bodies can produce deadly free radicals that over time can wreck havoc on our body’s cells…creating life-threatening disease, and conditions that can severely impact our health and longevity.

Fortunately, there are natural antioxidant substances available that can boost our immune systems and neutralize many of the cell destroying free radicals…thereby helping to slow the aging process

One of the best micronutrients available for improving glucose control and eliminating free radicals is the valuable substance called  Alpha Lipoic Acid. This important vitamin-like nutrient is available naturally in many foods such as spinach, broccoli, and beef…and even small amounts are produced in the body itself.

One of the main functions of Alpha Lipoic Acid is to help the body burn glucose…which helps improve insulin sensitivity and lower free radicals within the body. As with most supplements, the natural version is much more potent than the synthetic version…so supplementing with natural Alpha Lipoic Acid should always be your first choice.

Next in the antioxidant arsenal is Vitamin E. This powerful vitamin is the body’s main fat-soluble antioxidant… and it is an excellent source for destroying free radicals in the body’s fatty structures.

Due to it’s excellent antioxidant properties, Vitamin E has been linked to the prevention of many devastating diseases such as Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Cancer. For best results, this powerful supplement should always be taken in its natural form with some variation of "d-alpha-tocopherol" in the label.

Along with the other two powerful micronutrients just discussed, Vitamin C is another very important nutrient for the elimination of free radicals and glucose control. In addition to it’s powerful antioxidant functions, Vitamin C is also vital for boosting the body’s immune system functions for battling against unwanted bacteria, viruses, and infections.

Through the informed use of these vital nutrients (and others not discussed here), you can build a strong immune system…and achieve the health, vitality, and longevity you desire and deserve

Natural remedies and supplements have been developed and used for thousands of years…and even today’s modern practitioner of alternative medicine use time-honored knowledge to develop natural alternative remedies that can help you body fight against…and in some cases, actually cure life-stealing diseases and vitality draining symptoms.

Along with the very powerful nutrients just talked about, there are an enormous amount of very potent natural herbs, minerals, vitamins, and mixtures created to help the body fight and strengthen against the deadly toxins and conditions that can adversely effect your health and vitality. Due to the importance of this topic, I encourage you to explore this vital subject further.

James Noyes
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/vital-nutrients-for-optimum-health-and-longevity-734176.html

Posted on May 26th, 2010 by admin and filed under Diabetes Insulin Sensitivity | No Comments »

What are the Green Tea Extract Benefits to our Health?

What are the green tea extract benefits to human health? Is the research complete? Are there proven results? Here’s a look at the answers to those questions.

What first began as a satisfying beverage, healthier than drinking coffee or sodas all day long, has now become a common component of diet aids, multi-nutritional supplements and even chewing gum. This is due largely to published reports containing the results of scientific studies.

It seems to increase fat oxidation and insulin sensitivity during exercise, which is why it is being promoted as a fat burner. It has cancer-preventative activity, may reduce the risk of heart disease, and appears to be beneficial in type II diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, Crohn’s disease, arthritis and a number of other health problems.

It has natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Because chronic inflammation and oxidation are two of the big causes of cellular aging, green tea extract benefits every cell of the human body and may extend your life-span.

Some would say that all sounds too good to be true, but we know what the causes of aging are. We also know that specific nutrients and extracts counter those processes. Whether or not we can live longer healthier lives depends on a variety of different things. Lifestyle, of course, plays a role, as does one’s diet. But, most health experts, nutritionists and naturopaths agree that multi-nutritional supplements can help.

They must be properly formulated and include different nutrients that are known to work together. A tablet with an enteric coating is the best method of delivery, because of the detrimental affect that stomach acid has on many nutrients. In foods, the fiber and other components protect the essential nutrients, somewhat. But, nutritional supplements, without an enteric coating have no protection. In other words, you cannot expect to see the green tea extract benefits, unless it makes it to your upper intestine, where it can be fully absorbed.

The best supplements are not found in discount stores and they are a bit more expensive than the multi-vitamins that you are probably taking every day, but they are well worth the expense. There is no doubt in my mind about that. I have experienced the benefit, myself, and so has the rest of my family. We get the green tea extract benefits and much more.

Generally speaking, we feel better. We rarely have colds or other viral infections. We have more energy. We sleep better. Our skin and hair looks healthier. And, I know that we are doing everything that we can to protect our long-term health.

The supplements that we take include antioxidants to fight free radical damage, anti-glycation agents, because glycation is just as dangerous as free radical damage, and anti-inflammatories to reduce the effect that foods and toxins have on our bodies. They also contain methylation agents, because methylation is needed to form various compounds necessary for continued good health. If you want the best value for your money, find a supplement that provides all of these things, as well as the green tea extract benefits. If you have a couple of minutes to spare, please take a look at my website now.

Gordon Hall
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/what-are-the-green-tea-extract-benefits-to-our-health-723884.html

Posted on May 15th, 2010 by admin and filed under Diabetes Insulin Sensitivity | 3 Comments »

Decrease your Blood Pressure With Dr Atkins Diet Plan

Low carb Atkins diet remains to be possibly one of the most accepted low carbohydrate diets in the world today. Low carb Atkins diet popularity has helped spring a lot of related diets who work on the equal workings of low carbohydrate, high protein diet. These days people who want to lose weight have many low carb diets to pick from.

Tests have proven that protein high diet has scores of helpful effects as well as produce significant drop in weight without the need to limit calorie intake. Numerous people who make use of the high protein diet invented by Dr. Atkins have been reporting this. There are studies that show that high-protein, low-carbohydrate intake enhances triclycerides, lowers blood sugar for diabetics and people with beginning diabetes and increases helpful cholesterol (HDL). Low carb nutrition has been medically proven to enhance insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure and bring down blood insulin levels. If we measure it up to low fat diets, low carb diet users also lose less muscle size.

While it is not proven by science, there are lots of diverse positive consequences reported by dieters using low-carb, high-protein diet by Dr.Atkins. Some of these include extra energy, lower need for sweets, better focus, improved temper and decrease of depression form of signs.

On the other hand there are also some advantages specific to the high-protein, low-carb Atkins diet. If you have been a low fat dieter earlier you will enjoy eating all previously prohibited foods that once you had to go without. Butter, steak and cream are a normal element of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet. Many people enjoy eating foods once off limits to them. People on low carb diet are encouraged to have their full of meat, oils, fats and cheeses.

Diet invented by Dr. Atkins is also uncomplicated to use if measured up to some other high protein diets that you have access to these days. Naturally there are some of basic food calculations that you will have to learn, but once you do that, you are going to be free to munch a meal of any kind from the acceptable food listing.

Dr. Atkins additionally underlined the need of finding your own private carb level. Various individuals have diverse amount of carb acceptance. While some people put on weight with merely 90 grams of carbs per day, other people can eat as many as 120 grams of carbohydrates daily. Throughout your continuing dieting stage and pre-maintenance stage of the diet invented by Dr. Atkins, you will learn your personal carbohydrate number that is going to help you establish your carbohydrate goal from now on.

The status of high-protein, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet can in reality make your weight loss much harder then it should be. Since there is loads of advice offered on the high protein, low carb Dr. Atkins diet, which makes it very easy to get resources and help, but can also divert you from your goal. There are many, many Atkins books written and additionally there are endless amounts of internet websites that give you information, tips and group support. On the other hand practically everyone you know has heard of diet devised by Dr. Atkins and most likely has a outlook on it. You must know that there are a lot of misunderstandings present concerning the characteristics of the Atkins diet, and you will, for sure, have to stand up for your new found eating methods once in a while.

Besides that there are also a few of the additional problems to using the low carbohydrate Dr. Atkins diet. You must calculate carbohydrates in every piece of food you eat to be confident that you are keeping within your own carbohydrate limit. Additionally, there is the issue of Induction, the most fervently argued about aspect of the diet devised by Dr. Atkins. Induction is very often difficult to endure if you have tried a diet that concentrates on carbs and sugar. Furthermore, loads of people trying to lose weight try Induction and incorrectly think that this is the way that the complete diet will be. They end up quiting without even starting the actual Atkins diet.

Every so often although if it does not occur very often, some people are going to live through a carbohydrate crash usually on the 3rd and up to 5th day of the diet invented by Dr. Atkins. That kind of reaction is a consequence of their body experiencing the ketosis phase or running on fat as an alternative to carbs. The effects are only temporary nevertheless many individuals have resigned from low carb diets totally because of this minor accident.

Taken as a whole, with the few negligible problems considered, low carbohydrate, high protein Atkins diet remains to be one of the most popular high-protein, low-carb diets because of one reason. It works. Numerous people trying to lose weight have had success with the low carb diet invented by Dr. Atkins and the low-carbohydrate, high-protein fashion of nutrition.

Manfred Stohl
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/decrease-your-blood-pressure-with-dr-atkins-diet-plan-122673.html

Posted on May 8th, 2010 by admin and filed under Diabetes Insulin Sensitivity | No Comments »

Breaking News for Coffee Drinkers!

New research out of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health shows that coffee may lower a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes!

Coffee drinkers can now drink their coffee without worries. Of course, decaffeinated is still a better choice, as the research showed that postmenopausal women who daily consumed more than six cups of coffee had a 33 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women who did not drink coffee.

“Having a healthy diet, controlling your weight, and exercising are essential to preventing the onset of diabetes, but drinking coffee has the potential to further reduce risk of diabetes,” said Mark Pereira, Ph.D., lead author and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “It may be necessary to rethink the idea that drinking coffee does more harm than good.”

Why does coffee help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes? Well, it appears from the research that coffee contains minerals and antioxidants that aid in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity and possibly delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

The report was described as “not surprising” by Rob van Dam, a research scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health. He was part of a research team in the Netherlands who first reported the protective effect of coffee in 2002. Several other studies, including one done at the Harvard School of Public Health, have backed up those original findings.

“We found exactly the same protective effect of decaffeinated coffee,” van Dam said. “People think that if coffee causes it, it must be the caffeine, but coffee is a very complex mixture,” he added.

One component of coffee that has caught van Dam’s attention is chlorogenic acid, which seems to be able to slow the absorption of sugar by cells. Studies in rats found that the molecule lowered blood-sugar levels, he said.

There’s another reason to hope that chlorogenic acid is beneficial: According to van Dam, it’s abundant in both red wine and chocolate. “People think that nutritionists are always recommending things they don’t like, but that’s not true,” he said.

Did you know there are over 20 million Americans who have diabetes, with 6.2 million of these cases being undiagnosed?

It should also be noted that the research found that higher coffee intake was associated with lower body mass index and rates of hypertension.

Pereira and van Dam agreed that it’s much too early to single out any one component of coffee as beneficial.

Of course, you still need to control your weight and do your daily exercises, but isn’t nice to know that you can actually have your coffee without guilt.

So, when you go to pour your next cup of coffee, remember, it may actually good for you!

Valerie Slaugther
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/breaking-news-for-coffee-drinkers-56684.html

Posted on May 1st, 2010 by admin and filed under Diabetes Insulin Sensitivity | No Comments »

5 Fantastic Fat Cleanse Secrets

Losing fat is not as easy as losing weight. Losing weight with the wrong diet program can make things worse and cause your body to lose muscle while accumulating fat. This can cause a mushy look, which makes you look fatter while weighing less. A fat cleanse may be the solution.

You can help your body flush fat during a weight loss program. Fat cells store waste. If you want those fat cells to shrink you have to help it get rid of this stored waste. Here are five fat cleansing secrets that can help.

Secret 1 – Drink warm lemon water throughout the day. Lemon juice is a natural cleanser for our bodies. Since fat cells get bigger as toxins are stored in them, a good fat cleanse will help flush these toxins from the fat cells into your lymphatic system for removal. This is your opportunity to be sure that your body removes them instead of storing them again.

Secret 2 – Avoid bread and bread products for at least a week. Even whole grains can cause bloating and many wheat flour products contain high amounts of pesticides and other toxins. In addition, labeling can be confusing and cause you to believe a food is whole grain while still being a “junk food.”

Add to this the fact that wheat products are a high glycemic-index food which triggers a strong insulin response. This strong response can lead to problems including food cravings, surges and falls in blood sugar, and diabetes. This can cause fat storage.

Avoiding bread and bread products for even just a few days will increase your sensitivity to these effects. This will help you to instinctively want to avoid these foods. Remember, the first few days are the hardest so hang in there.

Secret 3 – Your thyroid regulates cell activity. Decreased activity means a sluggish metabolism and weight gain along with fat storage. But why are so many people afflicted with low thyroid activity these days?

There are many environmental toxins around us in modern, industrial society. Our drinking water contains chlorine. If you drink bottled water, you get the toxins from the plastic. Any foods that you eat that are processed, including breads, cereals, and most boxed and canned foods, are processed with tap water. This adds up over the years. Unfortunately, chlorine is a toxin that can get stored in the thyroid.

Another environmental toxin is perchlorate. The CDC has completed a study proving that levels common to American people have negative effects on the thyroid.

Unfortunately, this toxin has been infiltrating our water that we drink and that feeds our vegetables and fruits for many years. Some cities are just now starting to clear this accidental chemical out of the systems.

Help your body clear these waste products so your thyroid can work the way it is supposed to, by keeping cells active, metabolism strong and to clear waste instead of storing it. Eating a healthy, clean diet of mainly organic fruits, vegetables and proteins will be a good start.

Dark green superfoods are an excellent supplement to use during a fat cleanse and can help clear these toxins. They are known to absorb toxins and bind with them to aid removal from your body. This will take the burden off your thyroid while ensuring that stored toxins leave your body.

The common green superfoods that work like this are spirulina, chlorella, cilantro, kelp, barley grass and wheat grass. You can find these supplements in powder or pill form at your local health food store. Look for the organic versions.

Secret 4 – Help your body cleanse by clearing waste that may be stored in the intestinal tract. Calcium plaque can build up in arteries even though blood flows 24 hours a day. A plaque buildup of protein has been found in patients with alzheimers.

Plaque can also build up in other areas of the body, including your intestines. This can add pounds and cause your metabolism to be sluggish. Fiber can help your body clear any buildup and prevent intestinal plaque from forming.

Good fiber supplements to use include psyllium husk, crushed flax seeds and apple pectin. Be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water per day to help the fiber and any waste to leave.

Secret 5 – Walk for exercise. Walking is one of the best exercises to help your body clear fat and waste. It stimulates movement of the lymphatic system, raises your metabolism, aids digestion, and stretches and tones your muscles all at the same time. And it doesn’t cost very much.

Start with a daily walk for twenty to thirty minutes per day. Consistency is the key to seeing benefits. Wear comfortable shoes and stretch a little before and after your walk – you may find that you have used muscles which have been inactive for a while.

Help your body lose weight and fat. Most body cleansing programs can be turned into a fat cleanse when tweaked the right way. These tips can get you started.

Cindy Papp
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/5-fantastic-fat-cleanse-secrets-686488.html

Posted on April 23rd, 2010 by admin and filed under Diabetes Insulin Sensitivity | No Comments »