Archive for the ‘nutritional supplements’ Category

Lose Weight and Beat the Bloat

Monday, April 23rd, 2012
Healthy Weight Loss

Healthy Weight Loss

Do you want to reboot your system and eliminate bloating, and lose weight?  Toxins, enzyme inefficiency and food intolerance can be the culprit. Give your system a rest from digesting processed and toxic foods and nourish your liver and gastrointestinal tract.  The result will be newfound energy and clarity and a slimmer, trimmer body.  Just like you weed, seed, fertilize and till your garden to prepare for planting, you can do the same for your body in order to plant seeds of health and vitality.

We hold on to weight to avoid releasing the build up of toxins. Many of the foods you eat have traces of herbicides, pesticides, preservatives, dyes and chemicals and processed ingredients that are not found in nature.  They are stored in your fat and released as you lose weight.

You may not have sufficient digestive enzymes to handle the load this creates on your body and bloating can result from undigested or partially digested food. Antibiotics found in foods, decreases the healthy bacteria in your gut.  These unnatural substances build up over time and contribute to your digestive and detoxification systems not working as efficiently as they should.

Some foods are more likely to cause allergies or subtle effects of intolerance such as headaches, muscle aches, swelling, mucous, bloating, fatigue, lack of clarity and more.  Eliminating these foods and providing nutrients to nourish the gastrointestinal tract and liver can give your system the rest and rejuvenation it needs to make you feel so much better.

  • Weed out foods most likely to cause intolerance or allergy – grains with gluten, dairy and processed foods, peanuts, tree nuts such as Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts and eggs, soy and shellfish
  • Seed your gut with probiotics -healthy bacteria that are essential for a healthy immune system.  Choose a supplement with several types of strains of Lactobacillus, Bifidus and Saccharomyces boulardi
  • Feed your body with nutrients that support growth of healthy bacteria such as fructose oligosaccharides (FOS) and aid liver detoxification such as N-cetyl cysteine, L glutamine, high antioxidant vegetable extract blend,(what is this) fiber and alpha lipoic acid.  The best liver detoxifiers are dandelion, milk thistle (silymarin), artichoke leaf, and yellow dock root extract.
  • Add or replace enzymes that help your digestion with supplements containing betaine, pepsin, bromelain, and pancreatin (a combination of amylase, lipase and protease).
  • Eat organic, especially the “dirty dozen”: Apples, bell pepper, celery, cherries, grapes, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, pear, potato, spinach, and strawberries.

There are many products on the market that contain these ingredients in powders and capsules, however the quality of the supplements can make a difference. A body cleanse does not mean eliciting diarrhea and it does not mean fasting.  Cleansing means eating healthy, toxin and preservative free foods, decreasing irritants, enhancing elimination and supporting your body with nutrients to heal.  But, be sure to choose high quality supplements that support both the liver and gastrointestinal tract and consult with your healthcare provider regarding the products that are most appropriate for you.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine www.howtoliveyounger.com  in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier; Click Here to Get my Best 7 Tips on How to Live Younger and Healthier!

What is Co Q 10?

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Coenzyme Q 10, otherwise known as CoQ10 or ubiquinone is an important nutrient for energy production and is a potent antioxidant that guards against oxidation of lipids. It resides in the membrane of the mitochondria of every cell in your body. Your mitochondria are like furnaces that burn fuel and produce energy. Co Q 10 is that essential ingredient like the spark that ignites the wood in a fireplace; you can’t burn fuel without it. It keeps the fires going. If you have issues with energy, consider supplementing with CoQ10.

Co Q 10

Co Q 10

Co Q 10 deficiency can occur if you have inadequate intake or internal production or increased use. Your levels decrease with age, drugs like beta- blockers, and statins for lowering cholesterol, as well as sun exposure. Many other nutrients are needed to produce CoQ 10, therefore, nutrient deficiency can affect your internal production, Only small amounts are available from food such as chicken and beef so consider taking a supplement.

Co Q 10 supplementation has been used to improve the following conditions:
• Congestive heart failure
• Muscle pain from taking statin drugs
• Migraine headaches
• High blood pressure
• Periodontal disease
• Parkinsons and more

It is best absorbed in an oil base and products vary considerably in their absorption. Highly absorbable products generally cost more, however you need a lower dose to get the same effects. Get advice from a healthcare professional when purchasing and consider having a micronutrient analysis to determine if you lack CoQ 10 and the other nutrients necessary to produce it.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is a consultant to corporations wanting to improve the health and productivity of employees and has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine in Short Hills, NJ.

Protein Powder Recall

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Protein Whey Recall

Protein Whey Recall

The protein powders you are taking to stay healthy may be making you sick. Whey protein powders manufactured by Vitalabs under various names were voluntarily recalled due to potential contamination with Salmonella. This was announced by the FDA on March 10, 2011. I continually express concerns over the quality, safety and form of supplements my readers take and advise all of you to become educated consumers. Know your companies, be sure they are pharmaceutical grade, join watchdog organizations such as Consumer Labs and get advice from a professional. Here’s why:

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems the infection can be serious and sometimes fatal. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (e.g., infected aneurysms), infections in the heart and arthritis.

The manufacturer supplied whey protein to various brands such as Dr. Bill’s Choice Whey Protein, HCG Buy Direct Whey-26 Protein, The Healthy Way Protein, Innovative Nutra Labs Nutrapure Whey Protein Isolate, Iron Mag Labs Whey Isolate Protein, Len Rossi’s Whey Protein, Nature’s Pantry Whey Protein, Northeast Ohio Endocrinology Whey Protein, Nutrition World Ultra Whey Protein, Peachtree Natural Foods Whey Protein, Sharp Labs G Booster Plus, SouthFit Supplements Whey To Go, Susan’s Essential Formulas Daily Whey Isolate Protein, Team Kattouf Whey Boost, Team Kattouf Whey Boost, Trainer’s Choice Ultra Whey, Unlimited Nutrition Athletic Protein, Vitalabs, Inc. Ultra Whey, X3 Nutrition X3 Whey, YourHCG.Com Whey Protein.

Consumers who purchased any of the affected lot numbers are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund or credit. Consumers with questions may contact Vitalabs, Inc. at 1-800-241-3017, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

For a complete list of products and lot numbers, go to the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm246790.htm

Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner familiar with supplement quality and manufacturers who subscribe to watchdog organizations and are knowledgeable about quality assurance before purchasing supplements.