Diabetes Risk In America

Another 'Quick Hit' posting from Dr. Ray Strand on the growing diabetes problem in America:

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone that regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. The exact mechanism by which type 2 diabetes occurs is unknown, but a number of correlating risk factors - particularly obesity and physical inactivity - are well-established. Unfortunately, the number of individuals with type 2 diabetes has increased sharply in recent years, with an estimated $174 billion cost to the United States in 2007 alone.
 

A number of papers have attempted to project type 2 diabetes prevalence 5, 10, and 20+ years into the future. Unfortunately, most of these projections have relied on weak or outdated metrics, including old census data, static mortality rates, and overly simple estimations of diabetes incidence. A recent paper from researchers at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion hoped to overcome these weaknesses by utilizing recent census data and a matrix of factors derived from an extensive literature review. 

The researchers describe their results as "a sobering picture of the future growth of diabetes." Their most optimistic values point to 21% of the U.S. adult population having type 2 diabetes in the year 2050. A middle-ground scenario predicts a prevalence of 25%-28%, while high-end data points to a diabetes prevalence of 33%, or 1 in 3 adults. To put these numbers in perspective, approximately 7% of the U.S. adult population had type 2 diabetes in 2007. In 1990, prevalence was below 5%. 

Unlike some chronic diseases, type 2 diabetes risk can be reduced by relatively moderate lifestyle changes. Losing weight (if overweight or obese), improving dietary choices, and regular exercise are all known to reduce risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. The authors of this paper note that such changes "can help to decrease loss in quality of life and the future cost of providing care for people with diabetes. Indeed, such efforts are essential if we hope to moderate or slow the growth of diabetes prevalence." 

Boyle JP, Thompson TJ, Gregg EW, Barker LE, Williamson DF. Projection of the year 2050 burden of diabetes in the US adult population: dynamic modeling of incidence, mortality, and prediabetes prevalence. 2010. Population Health Metrics 8:29. 

 Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Losing Weight Requires A Lifestyle Change

Tis the season for diets.  New Years resolutions are full of people vowing to lose weight.  And so many people go on crash diets or fad diets.  They take diet pills or begin to count calories.  But the shocking fact is, many of these people will actually gain the weight back.  A successful diet, one which will lose weight and KEEP it off, requires a lifestyle change.

Lifestyle Change To Lose Weight

Changing your lifestyle is the best, and healthiest, way to lose weight and keep it off.  Is it always the easiest way to lose weight?  Maybe.  It depends upon what your current lifestyle is like.  It may only require slight modifications to what you are used to, or it may entail several changes which can take time.  Suffice to say, a lifestyle change requires only a two simple changes:

1.  Change what you eat and drink
2.  Exercise

That's it.  Yes, it's that simple.

Change What You Eat

The obvious thing to look at here is junk food and fast food.  There are so many calories built into these products, that it doesn't take long to pack on extra pounds.  Contrary to popular belief, eating fewer times does not help much in attaining your goals.  In fact, it is recommended to eat more often, but in smaller portions.  Up to 6 times/day.  A healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in smaller portions, along with snacks consisting of fruit, veggies, or yogurt.  Staying away from soda, especially diet soda, is also key.

What You Should Eat

Back in August, I wrote a piece entitled, "The Top 4 Secrets To Losing Weight".  In this post, I discussed the Glycemic Index.  I won't go into the details here, but in a nutshell there are certain foods which have a high Glycemic Index, and others with lower index ratings.  Foods with a high glycemic index spike the blood sugar levels in your body.  They also cause your blood sugar levels to come down rapidly, causing those cravings you may experience.  Whereas, foods with a lower index will rise the blood sugar slower and will come down more gradually, thus reducing those cravings.

Some examples of foods which are high glycemic would be:  pretzels, rice cakes, white bread, potatoes, and white rice.  Examples of low glycemic foods are:  most fruits and vegetables, wheat bread, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and yogurt.  You can find a larger list by visiting this site.

What About Exercise?

If you change your eating habits, cut out soda, and follow the gylcemic index chart your odds are pretty good that you will lose weight.  To improve your chances and increase the amount of weight you lose, exercise becomes very important.  Gaining weight comes down to simple chemistry.  If you consume more calories than you burn off, the excess calories are stored as fat.  It is a basic survival method of the body.

So the secret to losing weight is to burn off more calories than you take in.  Obviously, if you start to eat better you are going to be consuming less calories.  Therefore, if you lead a life where you get very little exercise, you will probably still burn off more calories/day than you take in.  It's just that the difference won't be very large.  However, if you start to exercise you will widen that gap.  Burning off more calories creates a larger difference and will, therefore, result in losing more weight.

Getting 20-30 minutes of exercise/day is all you need.  Depending upon the TYPE of exercise.  If you are doing something which increases your heart rate, then you are looking at 20-30min.  However, if you are simply walking around the block, your heart rate may not increase very much and you will need to exercise longer.

Making The Change

Now, before you go off changing your lifestyle, you may want to consult with your doctor first.  The last thing you want to do is to to do too much at one time.  An increase in the amount of exercise after leading a fairly sedentary life may cause injury.  So just be cautious.

But if you give this method a try, I think you will be happy with the results.  Not only should you start to see a decrease in your weight, but it is very possible you could see some beneficial side effects.  Things like lowering your blood pressure or cholesterol levels are just some of these benefits.  You will have more energy, you'll be in better shape, and you'll be healthier.  And best of all, you can decrease your risk of certain diseases like diabetes and heart disease.  I can recommend a system which will help you though this lifestyle change, so if you are interested simply send me an email and I will be happy to discuss it with you.

To Your Health.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Best Vitamins: What Is Your Supplement Rating?

You've made the choice to take a supplement.  But what are the best vitamins out there?  Where does your supplement Rate?  The answers may shock you.  As you saw in one of my previous posts, all supplements are not the same.  In fact, the vitamins you take to improve your health may, in fact, be doing absolutely nothing for you.

In this post I'm going to use the "Comparative Guide To Nutritional Supplements" by Lyle MacWilliam, both the 3rd and 4th editions.  This book came about at the request of Canadian Parliament so as to provide the public with information in order to make good decisions when it came to supplements.

I am going to go through some of the more popular vitamins on the market...vitamins YOU may be taking now...and showing you how they hold up to scientific study.  Are they as good as they say?  Do they actually do anything for you?  You'll find in this top 10 list.

The Top 10

1.  Centrum.  In the 3rd edition, it rates a 3.2 out of 100, and in the 4th edition...0-stars out of 5 possible.  And yes, there are several "versions" of Centrum out there, but they all rate essentially the same:  low.  The reasoning for the low rating comes down to several facts.  First, they do not always use natural ingredients.  For instance, if you have a bottle in the house, take a look at the type of vitamin E they use.  It will be the dl-Alpha Tocopheryl  form.  This is the synthetic form, and as such, it does not absorb as well into the body.  Fillers and additives are also allowed in these types of supplements, meaning if they advertise 60mg of vitamin C on the bottle, you may only be receiving a portion of that.  Suffice to say, these vitamins are not doing much for you and are probably not even breaking down and absorbing into your body.

2.  One-A-Day.  In the 3rd edition, it rates a 5.1 out of 100, and in the 4th edition a mere 1/2 star out of 5.  Again, there are several versions of this supplement, but they are all essentially the same.  And as in the case of Centrum, it runs into the same issues about synthetic ingredients and absorption.

3.  GNC.  Here we run into our first decent supplement, the MegaMan.  However, it still only rates a 21.1 out of 100 in the 3rd edition and a 2.5 out of 5 stars in the 4th edition. 

4.  Nature Made.  Weighing in at 17.9 in the 3rd edition and 0-stars out of 5.  A decent supplement when compared to the "well known" products, but still falls short of acceptable.

5.  Shaklee - Basics With Iron.  Weighing in on our first network marketing supplement, Shaklee comes up with a 30.5 rating in the 3rd edition, but was not rated in the 4th edition.  As you can see, even though the product is a comes from a network marketing company, it is rated higher than the previous store bought supplements available on the market.

6.  Melaleuca Vitality Pack.  Another network marketing company, but it doesn't fare as well as Shaklee.  A 6.2 ranking in the 3rd edition and a 1-star in the 4th edition.

7.  Herbalife - Formula 2.  Again, another network marketing company that falls a little short.  This rates at a 14.8 in the 3rd edition and a 1 star in the 4th edition

8.  Mannatech.  So far, the highest rated network marketing supplement coming in at a rating of 33.1 in the 3rd edition and a 2.5 star rating in the 4th edition.

9.  Nature's Way - Alive.  The highest rated supplement so far, at a 60 in the 3rd edition and 3 stars in the 4th edition.

10.  Pharmanex LifePak.  Rated at a nice 52.7 in the 3rd edition, and a 3 stars out of 5 in the 4th edition.  A fairly decent supplement.

So if these well-known supplements are not rated very well, then what ARE the top rated supplements?  When it comes to "stand alone" products, these are the top 4 according to the 4th edition.  All of these are rated at 5-stars.

1.  Usana Health Sciences (96.1 in the 3rd edition)
2.  Creating Wellness Alliance (not included in the 3rd edition)
3.  Douglas Laboratories (75.1 in the 3rd edition)
4.  TrueStar Health (not included in the 3rd edition)

So as you can see, what you are taking now may not be what you expected.  As I always say, you want to look for a pharmaceutical grade supplement so you can be certain of the ingredients and bioavailability. 

Is there another you are currently taking which was not included in the ranking above?  Add a comment or send me an email and I will provide you with the ranking of what you are taking.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Grape Seed Extract Benefits

There are two questions here.  First, what is grape seed extract, and second, what sort of benefits can you hope to receive.

Suffice to say, the answer to the first question is fairly straightforward.  Grape seed extract is simply an extract of grape seeds.  This extract unlocks the powerful antioxidants from the grape.

As far as the benefits go, this is not as easy of a question to answer.  For the benefits are many.  Cancer prevention and cardiovascular disease protection are just two of these benefits.

This is a substance which is 20x more powerful than vitamin C and 50x more powerful than vitamin E.  Suffice to say, its use as an immune system boost is well documented.  However, studies also suggest that grape seed extract leads to apoptosis, or self destruction, of cancer cells.  Is this a cure for cancer?  No.  However, cancer cells are created within the body every day.  Normally, your body is able to fight off and destroy these cancer cells on it's own.  The problem is when your body is not able to fend off these cancer cells.  Grape seed extract simply helps the body perform its normal function.

Another study was conducted to look at the effects of grape seed extract and reducing blood pressure.  Within 4wks of this study, the group receiving the grape seed saw their blood pressure reduced; whereas the blood pressure in the placebo group did not change at all.

Perhaps you have heard of the French Paradox.  In a nutshell, researchers noticed the fact that the French tend to eat fatty foods, such as cheese, but their risk of cardiovascular disease remains low.  Interestingly enough, they also tend to consume red wine on a regular basis.  Therefore, studies focuses on the affect of red wine on cardiovascular disease.  From there, it was narrowed down to the grape seed extract...not nearly as fun to consume, but it does the job in much smaller quantities.

If you have high blood pressure, concerns about cardiovascular disease, or even a history of cancer in your family, you may want to consider beginning a regiment of grape seed extract to help your body confront these issues.  Again, this should not be looked upon as a solution, but rather a helping hand for your body's immune system.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

The Latest Vitamin D Recommendations From The IOM

You may or may not have heard the Institute of Medicine (IOM) changed their recommendations for vitamin D earlier this week.  This is the same organization responsible for the RDA values you see on product labels.

Previously, the recommended amount of vitamin D had been set at 200IU/day.  However, they have just raised that amount to 600IU/day.  Which is a step in the right direction.


However, the IOM goes on to say that you should not go over this amount. 
This is absolute bunk.  As you hopefully saw in my last post on vitamin D, the studies show levels above 600IU/day are safe.  And not only are they safe, but they have incredible health benefits.  Especially, when you are getting 4000IU or more/day.

People are deficient in Vitamin D.
I also covered this in great detail during the 3-part series I just finished up.  The fact that a majority of the United States (anyone north of Atlanta, GA) gets absolutely no vitamin D production from sunlight for over half of the year is one reason.  Another reason is, during the summer, when you can get about 15,000IU from the sun, many people are stuck in a building working.  So you are missing the opportune time to receive vitamin D from the sun:  between 10am and 3pm.

Others are doubting the results as well.
I am not the only one calling shenanigans on the IOM.  Natural News goes so far as to say it is a deliberate attempt to keep the public deficient in vitamin D.  Afterall, with the studies showing significant decreases in the risk of everything from cancer to MS to diabetes to the flu with adequate levels of vitamin D in the blood, it does seem odd they would not have increased the recommendations further.  Or at least to say it is safe at higher levels.  As is the case with most things, one only needs to follow the money.  And who stands to profit from the public continuing to become ill?  The pharmaceutical companies.

A well known nutritional supplement company also voiced their disappointment at the latest recommendations.  They cited studies they had conducted themselves, which show the decreased levels of vitamin D blood levels.

Suffice to say, if you have any doubts or concerns I would recommend discussing the topic with your physician.  Bring along the studies which I have cited on this blog.  Or, fill out the form at the top of the page and I will send you a free copy of the recent presentation Dr. Whitcomb just gave on vitamin D.  Why is it free?  Surely there must be a catch?  There isn't.  It is important to get this information out to people.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

More Secrets Of Vitamin D - Part 3

Following a brief break from Thanksgiving, I'm back for the final article of this 3-part series on More Secrets of Vitamin D.  If you are just coming across this article, it is based upon a presentation Dr. John Whitcomb gave in October of 2010.  If you want to get caught up, part 1 and part 2 can be found by following the links.

In my last article, I touched upon a few studies Dr. Whitcomb had brought up.  In this posting, I am going to cover the other studies he brought up.  I hope you find them as insightful as I did.  I'll also answer the question, can you overdose on vitamin D.

If you will recall from part 1, once we get into the fall and winter your body does not produce vitamin D from sunlight if you live north of Atlanta, GA.  As such, it becomes necessary to supplement in order to keep your blood level up.  Here are a few more studies which support this.

In the July 2006 edition of the Journal of Science, it was reported that vitamin D actually makes your immune system work better.  At a blood level of 32, a protein called catheliciden is released.  However, is is NOT released when your blood levels are below that magic number of 32.

This protein is a natural anti-biotic.  It enables monocytes, which kill viruses.  This lends credibility to the theory of why we have a cold and flu season in the winter.  In fact, in Wisconsin the influenza season starts right around October 1st.  Coincidentally, our ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight stops around September 1st, dropping our blood levels.

These monocytes also kill tuberculosis.  The treatment many years ago for tuberculosis patients was to admit them into a sanitarium and have them sit in the sun.  And, this treatment worked!  Could it be because of the additional vitamin D production?

Another test was conducted at a California prison for the criminally insane.  A psychiatrist measured the serum levels of vitamin D in convicts.  In the focus group, he supplemented them with 2000IU of vitamin D every day.  An influenza outbreak came to the prison in March of 2006.  Not a single person of the 45 supplementing with vitamin D came down with the flu; whereas, 45% of the rest of the population became sick.

April 2010 - Japan.  Japanese scientists conducted a randomized, controlled trial with school children and influenza.  Children who had been immunized still saw a 19% infection rate.  However, children who were supplementing with 5000IU of vitamin D only saw a 10% infection rate.  Almost a 50% reduction!  Children who had no immunization had a 40% infection rate.

Another stunning report comes from the Archives of Internal Medicine where they found a 7% reduction in mortality from any amount of vitamin D.

in May of 2010, the Intermountain Heart Study conducted a randomized trial of vitamin D and heart disease.  It was scheduled to run for 5 years, but it was canceled after only 1 year.  Not because people were dying, but because of the incredible results.  They saw a 70% reduction in death in the vitamin D group where the men being studied had a blood level over 43.  In fact, you are twice as likely to survive a stroke or heart attack if your blood level is above 32 when compared to someone who has a level below 20.  If you do not supplement in the winter, this becomes a distinct possibility.

If you have been keeping up with these articles and have taken note of the studies, you may be thinking vitamin D is sounding pretty incredible.  But, you may also be asking if you can overdose on vitamin D.  The answer is...not really.  To date, no one has ever died from a vitamin D overdose.  You can take 10,000IU of vitamin D every day for the rest of your life and be safe.

Getting a shot of 600,000IU once/year is a safe level.  There have been cases of individuals getting 50,000,000IU.  They did become disoriented and confused, but did not die.  If you take 40,000IU/day for 6-months it will become toxic.  But even then, you will only suffer disorientation and confusion.  Within a week you will be back to normal.

So how do you go about getting started with vitamin D supplementation?  To start, Dr. Whitcomb recommends finding a pharmaceutical grade vitamin D supplement, as this is the only way to be certain you are getting the right amounts in the most bioavailable form.  Meaning, it will absorb into your body.  He suggests starting with a "loading dose" of 10,000IU/day for 1 month to get your blood levels up.  From there, taking 5000IU/day should get your blood level to about 60.  The optimal level is 80, but to really see the benefits you should be in a range of 53-60.  Ask your doctor to test your vitamin D blood levels to see where you are at.

Vitamin D supplementation isn't just for adults either.  In Finland, they give children 2000IU/day from the time of birth.  There is no toxicity at these levels for children.  They have also seen an 80% reduction in Type II diabetes.

I want to thank Dr. Whitcomb, once again, for this outstanding presentation.  Vitamin D is starting to gain recognition in the medical community, and the information needs to be spread to as many people as possible.  Isn't it better to prevent disease from happening, rather than treating it when it happens?  This just helps your body's natural disease prevention.  As always, if you have questions you should consult with your physician.  Bring along these studies if you need to.

In an effort to publicize this information and make as many people as possible aware of the benefits of vitamin D, you can get a free copy of Dr. Whitcomb's presentation simply by filling out the form located at the top of the page.  There is no catch...Dr. Whitcomb has made it clear that education and information is the way to go.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

More Secrets Of Vitamin D - Part 2

In my previous post I told you about the excellent presentation on vitamin D given by Dr. Whitcomb for Aurora Health on Oct 13th, 2010.  Essentially, the groundwork was laid in this first post.

In this second post, I'm going to relay some of the stunning research and conclusions Dr. Whitcomb brought up.  It's sure to raise an eyebrow.

The first bit of information to store is the 20-20-20 rule.  According to Dr. Whitcomb, this rule states that if a white 20yr old with 50% of the skin exposed gets 20min of mid-day sun on the 20th of June the body will create 20,000IU of vitamin D over the next 24hrs.  That translates to 1,000IU/minute of exposure.  However, different skin types result in changes to this rule.  For instance, and African-American would need 4-5x as much sun.  And the elderly would also need 4-5x as much due to the fact that our ability to create vitamin D from the sun decreases with age.

A 1yr old child will create about 200IU/minute of sun exposure.  And a young African American makes about 160IU/minute.  Drinking a glass of milk would give you 100IU of vitamin D.  So you would only need to drink 200 glasses of milk/day to get the same benefits as 20min in the sun.

If you put on sunscreen before even stepping out the door, and SFP-8 will reduce vitamin D production by 95% and an SPF-15 by 98%.  Does this mean you should never use sunscreen?  No.  But you should probably get some sun exposure before putting it on.  Just 15min of exposure between 10am and 3pm is all you need.

Dr. Whitcomb then got into specifics on vitamin D blood levels.  32ng is the minimum level we should be at.  An optimal amount is 60ng.  Generally, we are somewhere between 32-40ng in the summer, but only 15-20ng in the winter.  To get to a level of 60ng, we need 5000IU/day.

Why is the 32ng level so important?  Remember, vitamin D is actually a hormone which tells cells to start growing.  This includes white blood cells, which fight off viruses.  At a vitamin D blood level under 32ng, it no longer functions.  Interestingly enough, we generally hit 32ng around Sept 1st, again, due to the decrease in the amount of sun we get (for people north of Atlanta).  Just as interesting, the flu season starts about 1 month later.  Dr. Whitcomb suggest that influenza is actually a vitamin D deficiency.

One placebo controlled study in which people were given 5000IU/day of vitamin D had their blood level increase to 60ng in 1 year.  The density of their hip bone also increased by 22%.  Important because 25% of people will suffer a broken hip between the ages of 75 and 80.

Does vitamin D have an effect on cancer?  It would appear so.  In Wisconsin, the risk of breast cancer is 33% higher than in the southern U.S.  In fact, it is not just Wisconsin, but all northern states have a higher risk of breast cancer than the southern states.

A study was performed at Creighton University and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  They were studying the effects of vitamin D and the reduction of fractures over a period of 25-30 years.  However, the study was stopped after only 5 years when it was discovered that these patients had a 76% reduction in cancer within the group receiving 1100IU of vitamin D and 1g of calcium.

In the 3rd part of this series, I will report on a few other studies Dr. Whitcomb brought up, as well as information on the maximum amounts of vitamin D you can take.  Does vitamin D really help fend off the flu and help with heart health?  Can you overdose on vitamin D?  Can children take vitamin D supplements, and if so, how much?  These questions will all be answered in the 3rd and final part to this series.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

More Secrets Of Vitamin D

On Oct 13th, 2010, Dr. John E. Whitcomb gave a presentation at Aurora Health in Sheboygan,WI.  He covered multiple topics regarding vitamin D, including:  the benefits of vitamin D, why you should be using a vitamin D supplement, and vitamin d toxicity...among other topics.  You can get a DVD copy of his presentation by filling out the form on the right.

While I have done several blog posts in the past regarding the benefits of vitamin D (Vitamin D, Part 1, Vitamin D vs flu shot, and Do UV Light Bulbs Produce Vitamin D), Dr Whitcomb provided even more information on the subject.  Enough to do another multi-part series on this important vitamin.

First, let's get a foundation down and discuss some of the history and facts about vitamin D.  In the early 1900's, 90% of children had rickets...a vitamin D deficiency illness.  In the 1930's, milk was supplemented with vitamin D and this helped to drastically reduce the cases of rickets.

Vitamin D works as a hormone and tells cells to start growing.  It turns "on" 2000 genes and, interestingly, "sticks" where auto immune disease and cancers are made.  Keep that in mind.

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, our skin creates vitamin D from the sun.  However, as we grow older our skin produces less of it.  In fact, a 70yr old makes only 25% of what a 20yr old makes.  Another interesting fact is we cannot make vitamin D from the sun north of 35-degrees Latitude in the winter.  So if you live north of Atlanta, GA, you are not getting any vitamin D from the sun.  It's simply not at the correct angle in the horizon.

Let's go back to the rickets example from 1900.  Back then, and before vitamin D, they cured rickets by taking a tablespoon of cod liver oil, which happens to contain vitamin D.  In fact, it is about 400IU.  Which is why the RDI value of vitamin D today is 400IU.  As I have explained before, the RDIs are the MINIMAL amount we need to take in order to fend off these "classic" diseases.

So if we can't make vitamin D in the winter, you may ask yourself how the Inuit people living in the arctic can survive.  After all, do they not experience winter for half of the year?  That is very true.  However, their main diet is fatty fish...a source of vitamin D.  In fact, the people of Norway have a similar diet...and their rates of Muscular Sclerosis is "dramatically lower" than in the U.S.  Why is that?

That is exactly what I will cover in the next blog post.  I'll get into some specific studies regarding vitamin D,  I will also relay what Dr. Whitcomb stated were safe, advisable, and toxic levels of vitamin D.  Why influenza may be a "vitamin D deficiency" disease and how vitamin D affects your risk of diabetes, cancer, and Muscular Sclerosis  I think you will find the next article very eye-opening when it comes to potential disease prevention.

Again, I want to thank Dr. Whitcomb and Aurora Health for allowing me to report on his presentation.  The views presented here are his.  They have also given me permission to offer his presentation to you...free of charge.  Again, if you would like to receive a DVD of his presentation, fill out the form in the upper right.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Parabens And Cancer - What Is The Link?

There are now studies which link parabens to breast cancer.  So what exactly is a paraben?  In short, these are chemical compounds used in a variety of products as a preservative.  Specifically, you can find them in cosmetics and deodorant.  The Breast Cancer Fund goes into a more specific definition.

It is a simple process to determine if any products you currently use contain parabens.  But first, you'll need to take a trip to your bathroom.  Grab any shampoo, lotion, cosmetic, or deodorant you use and take a look at the ingredients.  If you see any ingredient which ends with "paraben", then you know you are using one of these products.

Some common ingredients you find may include:  methylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben.  Now, while there have been studies showing a link, there has yet to be any concrete evidence of parabens causing breast cancer.  Additional research is being conducted.

In the meantime, is there anything you can do about it?  Assuming you want to err on the side of caution.  The answer is fairly simple.  You just need to look for products which are paraben free.  This can be done by paying attention to the ingredients listed on the bottle, or by purchasing paraben free products from a trusted company.

As I said, research is still being performed on parabens and they are still approved by the FDA.  But then again, how many other FDA-approved products have been taken off the shelves due to causing harm or even death?  Consumer beware.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Tips To Stay Healthy This Winter

Winter can be fun. Who doesn’t enjoy building a snow fort in the backyard? However, winter is also a time when many dangers loom large. Whether from the cold temperatures, the shorter days with less sunlight, or even the large family get-togethers, your immune system is more susceptible in this season than any other.

Here are some helpful tips to make sure that you have the upper hand this year in the fight against winter.

• Wash your hands frequently during the day, not just before meals or after using the restroom. You never know when germs have made their way onto your hands and are ready to invade your system.
• Eat raw foods that are rich in antioxidants such as blueberries, apples, and pecans. You may not know it, but red, pinto, and kidney beans are also packed with immune-boosting antioxidants.
• Exercising and increasing physical activity helps your immune system stay in shape too. Regular exercise can increase your body’s ability to deal with stresses and builds up stronger immune defenses.
• Use a disinfectant spray in your workspace or areas where you or your guests may frequently visit.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water instead of coffee or soda. Sugar can weaken the ability of white blood cells to defend against bacteria for up to five hours after consumption.
• Take a pharmaceutical grade Vitamin D supplement to make up for the lack of vitamin D production from sunlight.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Justifing The Cost Of Nutritional Supplements

You have decided to start taking a nutritional supplement to better your health.  Bombarded by advertisements and network marketers, you decide to just purchase a popular brand name, or maybe the cheapest supplement you can find on the shelf.  But is this really giving you any benefit?

In a previous post I answered the question, "All Supplements Are The Same, Right?".  If you haven't read this post, it goes hand-in-hand with this one.  Essentially, I run down the differences between these store bought supplements (yes, even the popular ones you see on TV) and pharmaceutical grade supplements.

But how can you hope to justify the increased cost of pharmaceutical grade supplements.  Some store bought multivitamins go for around $6/bottle and will last quite awhile.  Whereas, pharmaceutical grade supplements may cost $40, $50, or more for only a 1 or 2 month supply.  Common sense would tell you to just go with the cheapest product out there.  Afterall, all supplements are the same.

Suffice to say, this is not the case.  I cover this subject in great detail in my "All Supplements Are The Same, Right?" post.  But to summarize, store bought supplements follow different regulations than pharmaceutical grade supplements.  For instance, fillers and additives are often used in these store bought supplements.  Meaning, if they advertise 100% of the RDI of, say, Vitamin C you may only be getting 50%.  The rest are fillers.

Then there is the problem of using synthetic materials to produce these supplements.  Take Vitamin E for example.  There are two types used in supplements:  d-alpha tocopheryl and dl-alpha tocopheryl.  The d-alpha version is natural, will break down, and absorb into your body.  The dl-alpha version is synethetic  and does NOT absorb into the body nearly as well, if at all.  Take a look at this picture:

This picture is an x-ray of some store bought supplements in the colon.  That's just one short stop away from the toilet.  In fact, many nurses call these well-known supplements, "bed pan pills".  Because they come out the same way they go in.  Why?  Because they do not break down or absorb into your body.

What it boils down to is this.  If you are spending $6 for a bottle of supplements at your local store, and they don't break down or absorb into your body, you are literally flushing your money down the toilet.  Not to mention the possibility of not even receiving the amounts advertised on the label.

A pharmaceutical grade supplement needs to be over 99% pure.  Higher grade materials means they will absorb into your body.  In fact, many of these companies will guarantee their bio-availability (absorption).  They are also required to contain the amounts advertised on the label in every dose.  Store bought supplements are not. 

As a result of using higher grade materials to make a pharmaceutical grade supplement, you pay more for that product.  But I ask you, isn't the higher cost worth it if you know these supplements are actually absorbing into your body and providing a benefit, rather than getting flushed down the toilet?  That's the question you need to ask yourself.

To Your Health.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Warning: Diet Soda Linked To Premature Birth

A recent study in Denmark, and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests drinking diet soda can increase the risk of premature birth.

In the study, a group of 60,000 pregnant women were followed.  Women who had at least one diet soda per day were 38% more likely to have a premature baby versus women who did not drink diet soda.  Even more frightening, women who had at least four diet sodas per day were 80% more likely to deliver prematurely.  Results were the same for both normal-weight and overweight women.

According to the March of Dimes, 13% of babies born are born prematurely.  Therefore, this study suggests women who have at least one diet soda would see that risk rise to 17% and up to 22% for those who consume at least four diet sodas.

There appears to be an indirect link with the artificial sweetener, aspartame, and premature births.  According to the Reuters article, "Aspartame breaks down into methanol and other substances in the body, which can in turn be converted to toxic substances such as formaldehyde and formic acid, the researchers explain. And studies in non-human primates have linked even very low exposure to methanol to shortened pregnancy and labor complications."

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Risk Of Lymphoma Decreased With Vitamin C

Another Quick Hit from Dr. Ray Strand:

"I have always been a proponent of supplementing a healthy diet.  I recommend that you eat 6 to 10  servings of fruits and vegetables each and every day along with taking high-quality, complete and balanced supplements.  Well, a study reported by Mayo Clinic looked at over 35,000 Iowa women between the ages of 55 and 69.  The researchers looked at the health benefits of consuming additional antioxidant nutrients from fruits and vegetables.  Those with the higher intake of vitamin C had a 22% decrease risk in developing lymphoma.  They also noted that increase intake of alpha-carotene, proanthocyanidins (found in grape seed extract), and manganese were associated with a 29, 30, and 38% reduction in the incidence of lymphoma."

To Your Health

Do UV Light Bulbs Produce Vitamin D?

With the winter months now here, I've been receiving an increased number of questions about Vitamin D.  First some background on why you may be deficient in Vitamin D during the winter months.  And then I'll touch specifically upon UV lights and UV light bulbs.

I've covered the positive effects of Vitamin D in previous posts.  In fact, you can look at part 1 of a 3-part series I did earlier.    So I won't be going any deeper in this post.  Suffice to say, Vitamin D has MANY benefits.

So let's start with some basics and get a good foundation.  Vitamin D is called the "sunshine vitamin" because our body turns the suns rays into Vitamin D.  During the summer months, 15-30 minutes of direct sunlight when the sun is at its highest (10:30am - 2:30pm) can result in 15,000-20,000 IU of Vitamin D produced by your body.

Let's dig a little deeper into that.  The sun produces two types of rays:  UVA and UVB.  Now, UVA rays are the type you hear all the negativity about.  They damage the skin and are also responsible for tanning.  Tanning salons will use UVA bulbs in their beds (though some do also use UVB).  However, vitamin D production comes from the UVB rays.  When we are talking about natural sunlight, there is another big difference between UVA and UVB.  Our atmosphere will actually deflect UVB rays.  So, depending upon the season and the time of day, you may not get much, if any, UVB rays for Vitamin D production.

In fact, from mid-October through mid-March, the sun will be at such an angle that all the UVB rays will be deflected and not even reach the surface.  That translates into zero Vitamin D production from sunlight.  To get any production, the UV Index needs to be at 3.0 or above.  You can find the UV Index for your area by looking at the EPA's UV Index website.

An easy way to keep track of this...if you live above 42-degrees latitude, then during the winter months the UV Index will be below 3.0 and you will not be able to absorb any UVB rays for Vitamin D production, due to the angle of the sun.  42-degrees latitude runs from the northern border of California through Chicago, IL, and over to Boston, MA.  So if you live north of these locations, you aren't going to get any Vitamin D from the sun during these months.

If you are in one of these locations, then you may want to consider getting your Vitamin D through other methods, due to the plethora of benefits.  My recommendation would be a pharmaceutical grade supplement, as this is the only way you can be guaranteed of receiving the full amount advertised on the bottle in a bioavailable form.  Meaning, it will absorb into your body.

However, there is another method gaining in popularity.  And that would be UV lights and light bulbs.  Light therapy is especially popular with treating SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  But do these lights actually produce Vitamin D?  Well, it depends.  You now know your body needs UVB rays to produce Vitamin D.  So it simply comes down to that.  If the light you are using will emit UVB rays, then you will be able to use it effectively as an alternate to natural sunlight.  It's that simple.

As I stated above, my personal preference is a pharmaceutical grade Vitamin D supplement.  And this one is top notch.  Not only is it pharmaceutical grade, but it is also NSF certified, so it goes through rigorous 3rd party testing.  Each pill is smaller than a Tic Tac and contains 2000IU of Vitamin D.

Just keep in mind, if you live in the northern hemisphere, and above the 42nd parallel, you're going to go almost half-a-year without sufficient UVB rays to manufacture Vitamin D on your own.

For more information, please feel free to contact me via email, Twitter, Facebook, or join our Facebook Fan Page.  And please feel free to link to my blog or share the information via your favorite social media websites.

To Your Health

Question: Are Children Vitamins Worthwhile?

I have discussed how important supplements are, but does the same hold true for children vitamins?  Do children actually benefit from taking vitamins?  And what do you need to look for when selecting one?

Obviously, this decision is left up to the parents.  But I can tell you, the importance of taking supplements for children is no different from the importance of taking them as an adult.  Nowadays, our diets just are not very good so we generally do not get enough of the vitamins and minerals we need for optimal health.  And even if our eating habits are top notch, due to food processing and modern farming techniques, we simply do not get enough vitamins and minerals from the food we eat.

Now, the big difference here is that children do not require as much as adults do.  So I believe the odds of children getting what they need from eating are a little better.  The question is...do they get what they need?  That said, there are certain supplements which can be of extra value to kids.

Fish oil is important as early as a fetus.  It helps with brain development.  And that effect continues through life.  Not to mention the added benefit of cardiovascular health.  Did you know atherosclerosis can be found in children as young as 10-years old?  It's never too early to start thinking about cardiovascular health.

Calcium is also important at a young age to help with the development of bone growth.  But make sure the calcium supplement also has magnesium included, as this assists in the calcium absorption into the bone.

When it comes to choosing a vitamin for children, the same rules apply to children as they do for adults.  You want to find a pharmaceutical grade supplement to ensure your children are getting an actual benefit from what they are taking.  To be quite honest, the gummy vitamins and "popular cartoon" vitamins you find in your local store do not provide much benefit for children.

The book "Comparative Guide To Children's Nutritionals" by Lyle MacWilliam is an excellent resource to use for making your selection.  The book rates some of the most popular children's vitamins on the market.  I use it in my business to show people the vast differences in supplements.  Incidentally, the gummy and "cartoon" vitamins I took as a kid and are still being marketed today?  They were rated 1/2 star out of 5.

If you are looking for more information on supplements, for children, I would highly recommend starting with this book.  And if you are specifically looking for information on pharmaceutical grade supplements, my other site has detailed information on ingredients and benefits.

Post a comment if there is a specific topic you would like me to post on.  I would be happy to research the subject matter and report on the findings here.

To Your Health

Top 5 Supplements For Breast Cancer Prevention

As it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I felt it appropriate to write a post detailing some of the studies out there showing how supplements may assist in breast cancer prevention, and in some cases breast cancer recurrence.  If you think about it, you have probably been told to do regular breast exams or get a mammogram to prevent breast cancer.  However, this does not PREVENT breast cancer, but rather DETECTS breast cancer.  This post will show studies which suggest certain supplements can actually reduce your risk of breast cancer, thus preventing it.

If you ever have questions regarding the use of these supplements, I always encourage you to have a discussion with your physician.  Feel free to print off the studies I reference and ask your physician to comment on them.  In no particular order, these are the Top 5 Supplements For Breast Cancer Prevention:

1. Fish Oil/Omega-3.  On July 8th, 2010, ABCNews reported on the findings of a study which looked at the effectiveness of fish oil for breast cancer prevention.  The "Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle followed 35,016 post-menopausal women who had no history of breast cancer.".  These women were followed for an average of 6 years.  It was found those who used fish oil supplements had a 32% reduced risk of developing breast cancer.  The study was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention and was also referenced in this WebMD article.
2. Olive Oil.  The people of Greece have some of the world's lowest rates of heart disease and cancer.  And now studies are showing a direct link to their use of olive oil with regards to these decreased risks. This article from National Geographic outlines a study from 2005 which showed oleic acid (the main fatty acid in olive oil) "can cripple a cancer gene responsible for 25 to 30 percent of all breast cancers.".  Another article in WebMD reported on a study which showed olive oil reduced the risk of breast cancers having the HER2 molecules.  Another major study was begun this year and will last approximately 5 years.  You can also view my previous post on the benefits of olive oil, "How Olive Oil Benefits Your Health".
3. Grape Seed Extract.  In a previous post, "The Top 5 Best Supplements For Your Health", I touted the effects of grape seed extract as it relates to heart disease and cancer.  In fact, studies show grape seed extract actually promotes apoptosis, or self-destruction, of cancer cells (see this Oxford study).  Currently, studies are being undertaken to specifically look at the effects of breast cancer prevention in humans.  However, test tube studies have been promising.
4. Vitamin D.  Back in August and September, I had done a 3-part series on Vitamin D.  You can read part 1, part 2, and part 3 if you haven't seen them yet.  But looking just at cancer risks, the results are quite stunning.  The National Cancer Institute states, "an inverse relationship was found between sunlight exposure levels in a given geographic area and the rates of incidence and death for certain cancers in that area. Individuals living in southern latitudes were found to have lower rates of incidence and death for these cancers than those living at northern latitudes. Because sunlight/UV exposure is necessary for the production of vitamin D₃, researchers hypothesized that variation in vitamin D levels accounted for the observed relationships.".  Furthermore, Vitamin D has shown to create apopotosis in cancer cells.  They also highlighted a study which followed 1300 post-menopausal women who took calcium supplements and 1100IU of Vitamin D every day.  The women taking the supplements showed a 60% reduction in cancer rates.  Dr. Christine Northrup also recommends Vitamin D supplementation as a aid in preventing cancers of all types, including breast cancer.
5. Vitamin E.  The general consensus here is that Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant.  And some cancers have been shown to be the result of free radical damage.  Antioxidants help protect against these free radicals.  When it comes to specific studies regarding Vitamin E, the jury is still out.  However, the Nurses Health Study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine 1993;328: 1444-9, studied 83,234 women for 14 years.  And they found women with a family history of breast cancer who took the highest quantity of Vitamin E showed a 43% reduction in breast cancer as opposed to women with no family breast cancer history (16% risk).

 As someone who has lost a dear friend to breast cancer, I can only hope people look into these preventative measures a little closer.  As you can tell from the studies, I am not suggesting you will never be diagnosed with breast cancer.  However, it appears as though your risks can be decreased.  Please distribute this post via your favorite social media outlet (Twitter, Facebook, etc) and email so we can get the word out.  There's a chance you could help save a life.

You can follow me on Twitter by clicking on the 'Follow Me' icon to the right.  Also, please friend me on Facebook and join our Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/ahealthieryou.

To Your Health.

Scott Huff is a professional marketer of pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  For more information on the specific products he markets, please visit our online store.  And if you are interested in seeing how easy it is to create a residual income simply by helping yourself and other become healthier, take a free video web tour where you can learn about this unique opportunity

Sugar In Soda And The Diabetes Link

Soda has sugar in it.  Nothing new there.  But it's the amount of sugar in soda that can be dangerous towards your health.  And many people do not realize how much sugar is in soda.  A 12oz cola has between 9 and 10 teaspoons of sugar.  And an orange soda has up to 13 teaspoons.  Head to your kitchen, grab the sugar bowl, and measure out 9 teaspoons of sugar into a bowl if you want the full effect.

But before you put down the soda and grab a fruit drink, take a look at the amount of sugar.  12ozs of apple juice can have just as much sugar as a soda (10 teaspoons, or 39g).  Even if it's advertised as sugar free.  Why?  Because fruit naturally has sugar in it.

So what kind of effect does this have on your risk of diabetes?  It's huge.  According to this Time article, "A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women who regularly drank sugar-sweetened soda or fruit punch gained significantly more weight and had a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than women who rarely indulged in high-sugar drinks.".  A 40% greater risk.  But the risks are not confined just to women.

But surely if you drink diet soda you're safe, right?  According to the same study, there was no significant effect with drinking diet soda.  Participants were just as likely to develop diabetes.  Unfortunately, the bad news doesn't end there for diet soda drinkers.  An 8-year study at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, found that individuals who consumed "several cans of diet soda every day were more likely to become overweight or obese than those who drank several regular sodas".

The American Heart Association also found individuals who drank at least one diet or regular soda/day had an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

So in order to cut down on your risk of Type 2 Diabetes, and a generally healthier lifestyle, put the soda down.  Have a glass of water or milk instead, and if you have to have a soda now and then, moderation is the key.

If you have found this article beneficial, please feel free to share it via your favorite social media website such as Twitter or Facebook.  And if you would like information on how you can help change the lives of others, as well as yourself, take a look at our video web tour.

To Your Health.

Scott Huff

Vitamin B May Reduce Lung Cancer Risk

A quick-hit post from Dr. Ray Strand.  Wanted to get this out, as it has important info regarding a study of the B vitamins and your risk of lung cancer.

"There are have been several studies in regards to the use of nutritional supplementation and lung cancer.  Beta carotene was one of the most famous nutrients studied.  However, a recent study just released in the June 16, 2010 issue of the JAMA looked at vitamin B levels and the risk of lung cancer.  There results suggest that above average levels of B6 and methionine reduced the risk of developing lung cancer by 50%.  When you also looked at above normal levels of folate, another B vitamin, along with vitamin B6 and methionine, there was a reduction in lung cancer by nearly two-thirds."

"Again, supplementing your diet with high-quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements including the B vitamins is an excellent choice."

To Your Health

CoQ10 - What Is It?

CoQ10 is the shorthand version of CoEnzyme Q10.  The purpose here is to show you some CoQ10 benefits.  But first, we need to explain what it is.

CoQ10 is produced naturally in your body and is essential for the functioning of cells.  Specifically, as an antioxidant, boosting the immune system, and increasing energy.  In fact, if you think of your heart as a furnace, CoQ10 is the coal that keeps the furnace going.  As such, the majority of studies done on CoQ10 have focused on it's benefits with relation to heart disease.  And these studies have all confirmed it's effectiveness.

Studies also show CoQ10 benefits when it comes to hypertension and high blood pressure.  In a study "...of 109 patients with essential hypertension, 51% were able to stop between one and three antihypertensive drugs at an average of 4.4 months after starting CoQ10 treatment..."

Another study showed individuals who started taking CoQ10 supplements within 3 days of suffering a heart attack were "significantly less likely to experience subsequent heart attacks and chest pain.".

CoQ10 even has an effect on cholesterol, as show by the University of Maryland, "Levels of CoQ10 tend to be lower in people with high cholesterol compared to healthy individuals of the same age. In addition, certain cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins (such as atorvastatin, cerivastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin) appear to deplete natural levels of CoQ10 in the body. Taking CoQ10 supplements can correct the deficiency caused by statin medications without affecting the medication's positive effects on cholesterol levels. Plus, studies show that CoQ10 supplementation may decrease the muscle pain associated with statin treatment."

To Your Health

Melatonin As A Natural Sleep Aid

Odds are you've never heard of melatonin.  It is actually a hormone created naturally in your body and helps control your sleep and wake cycles.  Thus its use as a natural sleep aid.  However, as we grow older, our bodies produce less of it.  Some individuals may have problems creating it in sufficient amounts.  This is where supplementation comes in.

Melatonin is available in a supplement form, and it is perfectly safe.  There can be very slight side effects, as this article from WebMD points out:  headaches, stomach problems, and (this will shock you) sleepiness.  Why that would be listed as a "side effect" when that is the intent is beyond me.  However, the main thing to keep in mind is that this is NOT an addictive treatment.

I have personally seen melatonin supplements work extremely well with helping people as a sleep aid.  In fact, one customer of mine had a battle with chronic insomnia which lasted several months.  She tried all sorts of insomnia cures, including snake venom!  Nothing worked.  Within a week of trying the melatonin supplement, she was actually entering REM sleep and having dreams.

Melatonin can also be used with children, but only with a doctors approval.  Another customer of mine received a recommendation from her physician to try melatonin with her child, and the results were nothing short of amazing in her case.

Suffice to say, if you know of someone who is having trouble sleeping, taking a melatonin supplement may be something to consider.  But you should always consider a pharmaceutical grade supplement, as this is the only way to ensure you are receiving the full benefits of the supplement.  I have written a few other blogs on this topic.  One was a Consumer Reports article on "over the counter" supplements found in your local store and another compared "over the counter" supplements to pharmaceutical grade supplements.

If you have tried melatonin yourself, we would love to hear about it.  Please post a comment detailing your experiences.  And if you have found this post helpful, please feel free to share it via Twitter, Facebook, or another favorite social media website.  You can also add me as a friend on Facebook.  And if you are interested in hearing more about the pharmaceutical grade melatonin supplements used by the people in my examples, please contact me or visit our website.

To Your Health.

Selenium - What Is It?

Selenium?  What on EARTH is Selenium and why am I bringing it up here?  Why?  Because it's a mineral you haven't heard about.  Nor, have you heard about the benefits of it.

So what is selenium?  Simplified, it is an essential mineral in everyone's diet and found in such foods as nuts, cereals, and fish like lobster and crab.

OK, big deal.  So what does it do for me.  Ah, that's the big question.  And the answer is something you probably have never heard of.  Cancer prevention.

A study done in 1997 by Cornell University looked at the effects of selenium on men and women.  And they found a 41% reduction in the occurrence of cancer when compared to a placebo.  

According to the governments Office of Dietary Supplements "Taking a daily supplement containing 200 μg of selenium did not affect recurrence of skin cancer, but significantly reduced the occurrence and death from total cancers. The incidence of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer was notably lower in the group given selenium supplements.

Research suggests that selenium affects cancer risk in two ways. As an anti-oxidant, selenium can help protect the body from damaging effects of free radicals. Selenium may also prevent or slow tumor growth. Certain breakdown products of selenium are believed to prevent tumor growth by enhancing immune cell activity and suppressing development of blood vessels to the tumor."

Selenium in high quantities can be toxic, but according to the studies, modest supplementation shows a benefit in the prevention of cancer.  There have also been positive results in the areas of arthritis and HIV.  Suffice to say, selenium bears a closer look in the daily supplementation needs of individuals.

As always, I recommend passing on this info to your physician if you are considering a selenium supplement.  And I always recommend taking a pharmaceutical grade supplement to ensure you are getting the proper amounts in a safe dosage.

To Your Health.