Quick Hit Video on Vitamin D

Winter is fast approaching.  For the benefit of some of the new readers, I wanted to put together a quick video on Vitamin D.  If you want further information, you can find it in some of my earlier posts.

Vitamin E - What Is It?

For those of you who have been following this series, thank you.  And you're probably wondering, "Hey...the last one you did was Vitamin C, but now you're on Vitamin E.  What happened to Vitamin D?".  Well, I've actually done quite a bit on that already, and you can find those posts here, here, and here.  So I thought, rather than rehashing what I've already talked about, I would just provide links to those articles and move forward to Vitamin E.

The first thing you should know is there are two forms of Vitamin E available:  d-alpha tocopheryl and dl-alpha-tocopheryl.  If you are currently taking a multi-vitamin, go ahead and grab your bottle now and see what form of Vitamin E you are taking.  If you bought your vitamins off the shelf, odds are you'll see that you have the dl-alpha form.  So what does that mean?  The d-alpha is the natural form of Vitamin E; whereas, the dl-alpha form is synthetic.  There's a problem with that.  The synthetic form (dl-alpha) does NOT absorb into your body very well, about half as well.  So if it's advertised on the bottle that you're getting 50IU, you may only be absorbing 25IU.  And if you aren't absorbing the full amount, then it's really not doing as much as it could be.

Now that we have that out of the way, what exactly does Vitamin E do for you?  First of all, it is a very good antioxidant, so it is providing you those benefits.  Beyond that, supplementing with natural forms of Vitamin E have been linked to a decrease in cardiovascular disease and death.  For instance, in one study it was found that individuals consuming over 10.5IU of Vitamin E were 35% less likely to die from a heart attack when compared to individuals consuming less than that amount.

Another study looked at men who had recently undergone bypass surgery.  In this study, it was found those taking 100IU/day dramatically reduced the progression of atherosclerosis.  However, there are other studies which have shown no benefit to taking Vitamin E.  But additional studies are ongoing and these mixed-reviews may be related to how the vitamin is being administered.

Recently, a study showed that supplementing with Vitamin E can actually increase your risk of death by 6%.  However, you would need to consume over 2000IU/day.  Which is much more than the average person actually consumes.  The upper limit (UL) for individuals over 19yrs of age has been set at 1000IU/day.

So what does this mean for you?  As I stated earlier, Vitamin E does function very well as an antioxidant and it does boost the immune system.  Research also confirms that it assists the body in defending against cancer cells, causing apoptosis (self-destruction) of those cancer cells.  A process your body does naturally, this just helps the process along.  The Linus-Pauling Institute feels there is enough evidence available to recommend taking 200/day with a meal, and this amount "may help protect adults from chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and some types of cancer".

As always, you should always consider speaking with your physician if you are thinking about starting a supplement plan.  I would also recommend you look into taking pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, as this is the best way to ensure you are receiving the most benefit in a safe form.  You can also view this site to see how you can actually start a home business by marketing pharmaceutical grade supplements to people just like you.

To Your Health

What Is The Function Of Vitamin C?

Ah, Vitamin C.  In my opinion, probably the most well-known of all the vitamins.  Everyone knows you get Vitamin C from eating citrus fruits or drinking orange juice.  Why does everyone know that?  Because their moms told them.

The most common perception is that Vitamin C will help to prevent colds or shorten their duration.  Nearly everyone has heard of this, but is it true?  Well...somewhat.  Studies have been done which indicate taking Vitamin C at the first onset of cold symptoms may reduce the length and severity of the cold.  And what about preventing the cold?  Studies have been done on this as well, and the results have been mixed.  Taking 2g/day for the average adult showed no change in the frequency of colds.  However, when 1g/day was given to a subgroup of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers training in the Arctic, the frequency of developing a cold was cut in half.  So if you lead a strenuous life, there could very well be some benefit for you.  This study, and more information on Vitamin C can be found here.

Regardless, Vitamin C has been shown to stimulate the immune system and aids in the development of white blood cells.  Not to mention it is a powerful antioxidant.  But the benefits do not stop there.  As you can see from the link above, there are many other benefits.

For instance, one study showed that men taking 50mg/day of Vitamin C had a 42% lower rate of death from cardiovascular disease.  Another study showed a 42% lower risk of stroke in people who have adequate levels of Vitamin C in their body.  However, these individuals primarily received their dosage from fruits and vegetables.  Another study looked strictly at supplementation.  500mg showed no benefit, but the results of this story have also been challenged by the Linus Pauling Institute.

A study of 870 men, followed for 20yrs, showed a 64% reduction in lung cancer when taking 83mg/day.  And "...premenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer who consumed an average of 205 mg/day of vitamin C from foods had a 63% lower risk of breast cancer than those who consumed an average of 70 mg/day.".

So as you can see, the most commonly known use for Vitamin C is only somewhat helpful when it comes to colds.  But according to other studies, there can be significant benefits.  So maybe mom was right afterall.

To Your Health

Vitamin B Complex - What Is It?

Continuing with my series, the next topic up for discussion is the Vitamin B Complex.  Many people just assume there is only Vitamin B, but actually it is broken down into several types of the vitamin...8 to be exact.  Some of which are very well known.  In general, the main purpose of them is to convert food into energy, so if you feel run down and out of energy, you may want to look into the B vitamins.  However, there are other benefits for each.  So without going into too much detail, here are those 8 types of the Vitamin B Complex:

1. B1 - Thiamine.  Research tends to indicate that B1 may strengthen the immune system.  It also appears to help the body handle stressful conditions.  There is no toxicity level of B1.
2. B2 - Riboflavin.  Not only does this vitamin help in the creation of energy, but it also acts as a powerful anti-oxidant.  It also assists in converting B6 into a usable form, and helps with the production of healthy red blood cells.  Some research indicates 400mg/day can cut migraine occurrences in half.  It can be found in several foods such as almonds, yogurt, broccoli, and spinach.  However, boiling foods can result in the loss of some of the vitamin.  Again, there is no toxicity level.
3. B3 - Niacin.  This one you may have heard of because it is often prescribed to individuals with high cholesterol levels.  Not only does it help reduce cholesterol levels, but it also improves circulation.  You can find it in such foods as liver, certain fish, and sunflower seeds.  There can be side effects with high dosages, so it's best to check with your physician.
4. B5 - Pantothenic Acid.  There is a long list of uses for B5, though more scientific research needs to be conducted.  The list includes:  acne, asthma, ADHD, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, enhanced immune system functionality, and chronic fatigue.  Just to name a few.  It can also be used on the skin to provide relief from itches, bug bites, mild eczema, and diaper rash.  There are no toxicity levels.
5. B6 - Pyridoxine.  Another one you may have heard of.  The main purpose here is to make neurotransmitters, but it also assists with healthy brain functionality.  And, it helps with creating certain hormones such as melatonin which helps regulate sleep.  It also works with B9 and B12 to reduce homocysteine levels in the blood.  If you are not familiar with homocysteine, I'll be doing a post in the future on this.  But for now, think of it as spurs which nick up the artery walls, allowing cholesterol to stick to the walls and create blockage.  It is also needed to help with B12 absorption, and some studies have shown positive effects with arthritis and inflammation.  Chicken, turkey, liver, milk, and spinach are just some of the food sources.  There may be side effects at high dosages, so again, check with your doctor.
6. B7 - Biotin.  Used for strengthening hair and nails, but it's use is not limited to this.  Some studies have shown benefits in eczema patients, and it is also extremely important with respect to fetal growth.  You can find it in egg yolks, sardines, nuts, and bananas.  No toxicity levels exist.
7. B9 - Folic Acid.  Yet another you have probably heard of.  Especially if you are expecting.  It plays an important part in brain function and development, and helps with the production of DNA.  Especially when cells and tissues are just developing, thus the reason it is so important when pregnant.  However, it also helps to control homocysteine levels and may help protect against certain types of cancers.  1mg/day seems to be the upper limit, so check with your doctor.
8. B12 - Cobalamin.  If you want healthy nerve cells, then this is the vitamin for you.  It also assists in the production of DNA and red blood cells.  A deficiency may cause fatigue in individuals.  Meat and dairy products contain B12, so vegans are at risk of becoming deficient.  There are no toxicity levels.

So as you can see, there are several uses for the B vitamins.  Everything from fetal development to cardiovascular health to energy production to healthy skin.  The complex is extremely important for normal body functionality.

I have listed several foods where you can receive these vitamins, but as my previous posts have shown...it is difficult to get everything you need simply from the food you eat.  Not to mention cooking many of these foods will reduce the amount of the vitamin you will receive.  As such, you may want to consider a pharmaceutical grade supplement to make sure you are getting what you need.  If you have any concerns about taking a supplement, just check with your physician.

If you decide to look into supplementation, you may want to give some consideration to these supplements, as they are both pharmaceutical grade and NSF certified.  Just click on the link.

To Your Health.

Vitamin A - What Is It?

In this new series of posts, I will be explaining what certain vitamins and minerals do.  Specifically, what are the benefits of certain vitamins and minerals and, outside of supplementation, how do you get them.

I thought the best place to start is at the beginning of the alphabet...Vitamin A.  So, what are the benefits of Vitamin A?  It helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, and skin.  In fact, people suffering from acne may see some improvement with increased levels of Vitamin A.

But what it is probably best know for is helping with eyesight, especially in low light.  Beta-carotene is a carotenoid which turns into Vitamin A.  You can find beta-carotene in certain plant foods...such as carrots.  Thus the old tale, rabbits have good eyesight because they eat a lot of carrots.  What are some more Vitamin A foods?  You can look to eggs, milk meat, liver, cod, and fish oil.  And sources of beta-carotene foods include:  carrots, pumpkins, sweet potato, broccoli, grapefruit, and spinach.

Vitamin A is also one of the very few vitamins and/or minerals you can get too much of.  It is possible to get Vitamin A poisoning, but you would need to receive over 100,000IU/day for several months before you ran the risk of reaching toxic levels.  As always if you have concerns, just check with your doctor.

In the next post, we'll be taking a look at the B vitamin complex.

H1N1 Vaccination May Contribute to Miscarriages

The National Coalition of Organized Women (NCOW) has released a report stating the H1N1 vaccine has "contributed to an estimated 1,588 miscarriages and stillbirths".  If that wasn't bad enough, the number of cases might actually be as high as 3,587.  They go on to accuse the CDC of failing to inform vaccine providers that there may be side effects related to fetal deaths, based upon data they had.

The actual study was performed on pregnant women aged 17-45, who were administered a H1N1 flu vaccine.  This is a staggering report, and will hopefully provide pregnant women something to consider.  And let's not forget, the vaccine has been banned in Australia because it was causing seizures.  There are safer alternates to the flu shot, as I recently wrote about in my Vitamin D article, found here. 

In that article, I provided a link to a study performed earlier this year in Japan, which showed that the flu shot was effective in flu prevention only 8% of the time in children; whereas Vitamin D supplementation was effective in preventing the flu in over 50% of the children studied.

In fact, Dr. Myron Wentz has stated that physicians are beginning to recommend supplementing with 5000IU/day of Vitamin D, rather than getting a flu shot.  So you can see, there are safer alternatives.

Should you decide to look into a high quality, inexpensive Vitamin D supplement, may I suggest you visit our website and see if our pharmaceutical grade Vitamin D supplement is what you are looking for.

To Your Health

The Top 5 Best Supplements For Your Health

What are the most important supplements to keep your health in check and fight off disease?  I have composed a Top 5 list of the best supplements which, in my opinion, are the most important when it comes to your health and protecting against free radical damage.

1. A Multivitamin.  Yes, I realize this isn't really a "specific" supplement like the others.  However, a high quality multivitamin is essential to your health because it creates a base.  When you look at a pyramid, the largest part of the structure is the base and everything is built on top of that.  The base is what makes the structure strong and gives you the ability to build up from there.  The same can be said of a high quality multivitamin.  Sure, you can skip it and simply take other supplements on their own, but the thing about vitamins and minerals is that they work synergistically with each other.  Meaning, they compliment each other.  For instance, you need magnesium to work with calcium in order to help get it into the bones.  Build your base with a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin to strengthen your body, and then "build up" from there with other supplements.
2. Vitamin D.  Odds are, you are not getting enough Vitamin D in your diet.  This is especially true if you live in a northern climate.  If you are taking a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin, you are ahead of the game.  However, during those winter months you may need to supplement in order to compensate for the Vitamin D you are missing out on from natural sunlight.  I won't go into too much more detail here as I have just posted a 3-part series on Vitamin D which you can check out here.  However, I will mention a study which was just done in Japan earlier this year which showed that Vitamin D supplementation was 42% more effective than the flu shot.  Vital information with flu season coming up.
3. Fish Oil.  Probably the supplement getting the most attention lately is fish oil.  Even physicians are seeing the benefits and are recommending fish oil to their patients for helping with cholesterol levels and general health.  If you read my earlier post, Fish Oil vs Statin Drugs, you saw two studies which showed that fish oil lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease.  Another study even showed fish oil was more effective than statin drugs (Lipitor, Crestor, etc).  But not only does it help protect your heart and cholesterol, it has also been linked to relieving arthritis, joint pain, and inflammation.  There has been evidence of fish oil helping with ADHD and depression.  It helps to prevent Alzheimer's Disease as this article from WebMD explains.  And it has shown to be very beneficial to both pregnant woman and their unborn child.  According to the Mayo Clinic, babies born to mothers who took fish oil show  an increase in verbal skills and motor skills, and less behavioral problems.
4. Grape Seed Extract.  Have you heard of "The French Paradox"?  Very briefly, it shows that the French suffer a relatively low incidence of cardiovascular disease, despite the fact that their diet is high in saturated fats.  And it boils down to their consumption of red wine.  Grape seed extract gives you an even greater benefit, though not nearly as much fun.  It can help with the circulatory system and protects against free-radical damage (even more than Vitamin C or Vitamin E).  It exhibits anti-inflammation characteristics as a natural COX-2 inhibitor.  And most importantly, it may induce apoptosis, or self-destruction, of cancer cells as shown in this Oxford study and a Med Page Today article.  Keep in mind, I am NOT touting grape seed extract as a CURE for cancer.  Your body actually creates cancer cells every day, but normally your body takes care of them.  Obviously in some cases it cannot handle all of them, and tumors develop.  These studies show that grape seed extract can support that function by causing cancer cells to die off; thus preventing the formation of cancer.
5. Olive Oil.  Again, this is another topic which I have recently reported on, so I won't go into detail.  If you would like to see the full article, it is located here.  Essentially, studies by the Mayo Clinic (found in my previous post) show that olive oil can lower your risk of heart disease by decreasing LDL cholesterol.  And there were significant benefits related to cardiovascular health reported in "The Seven Countries Study".

So there you have it.  The top 5 best supplements you can take to improve your health and protect your body against disease.  As always, you should consult with a physician to determine if nutritional supplements are the right choice for you.  For instance, Grape Seed Extract is a natural blood thinner and, as a result, could have negative effects with certain individuals.  Now that you have the information, ask yourself...how many are you taking?


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 our free video web tour where you can learn about this unique opportunity.