Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Importance Of An Antioxidant Rich Diet

By: Angelo Johnson

Understanding the relationship between antioxidants and free radicals is very important for your body’s overall well-being. Antioxidants are simply molecules that slow down or prevent
the deterioration and damage of cells in the body. A low level of antioxidants in your body can cause oxidative stress and may damage or even kill off cells. Many diseases and illnesses, such as cancer, stroke, heart disease and even vision loss, are believed to be directly effected by the level of oxidative stress in a person's body. Therefore, antioxidants are important because they help to neutralize the free radicals in your body to prevent the oxidation of cells.

A diet high in antioxidants can not only help combat illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, it can also help prevent infection and to slow the aging process. As a person ages, his or her cells take more and more time to longer to replenish themselves. They also become damaged over time. Antioxidants can prevent the cells from dying, so you stay fresh and young looking for much longer.

In food science, the ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, has become the industry’s standard for assessing the antioxidant strength of foods, juices and additives. They are found in many foods such as carrots, cranberries, grapes, pomegranates, wine and much more; however,
the ORAC levels found in ordinary food may not be high enough to make any difference in some cases. For instance a cranberry has a value of 95 units per gram while our Advance Antioxidant Formula boasts 5,000 units! In this case you would have to eat over 50 cranberries in order to
receive the same amount of antioxidants as many supplements available on the market today. Other health products that are high in antioxidant properties are Pomsteen Power, Forever Lycium, Aloe Vera Gel, Forever Aloe2Go, and Meridium XN.

If you are currently in search of a comprehensive antioxidant supplement, look no further than the products we have listed above. You are just a click away from neutralizing your body's free radicals and beginning your journey to a healthier new you!

About the Author:

Angelo Johnson is committed to helping people maintain healthy and effective lifestyles. For more information on antioxidants and other health supplements please visit his website. Alternative Health Supplements

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Thursday, March 20, 2008

10 Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet

By: Elizabeth McDonnell

It’s no secret that antioxidants are incredibly beneficial to good health. It’s believed the antioxidants in food can help prevent cancer, reverse or slow aging, enhance your immune system, increase your energy and improve heart and other organ health.

Given all we know about antioxidants and their beneficial properties, it’s amazing more people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, the primary sources of antioxidants. Experts recommend a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, but say getting 7-10 servings is best.

There are 10 steps to getting more antioxidants into your diet.

1.Breakfast

Breakfast doesn’t have to be a hurried toaster tart on the way out the door. Throw some strawberries, 100% juice and yogurt into a blender; pour your delicious mixture into a cup and head out the door. You’ve just added one to three servings of fruits to your daily intake. Or
throw some berries onto your cold or hot cereal.

Say you truly have no time in the morning and usually grab something on the run. Even the Golden Arches can be some help here. Order a fruit and yogurt parfait and some apple slices. For about $2, you have a breakfast providing one to two servings of fruit.

2.Snacks

Here’s an easy way to get more antioxidants in your diet. How about a handful of raisins for a snack, or some fresh red grapes? Dip some strawberries in yogurt. You’ll feel decadent, but the berries provide the color you’re looking for. Need crunch? How about some baby carrots
dipped in hummus? Consider a handful of pecans for crunch and a nice antioxidant boost.

3.Lunch and dinner

It might sound trite, but adding a salad to each of your main daily meals can add loads to your overall health and well-being. They don’t have to be boring, and they don’t have to be just salad greens. If you’re going classic, add some red pepper slices to your green salad, some tomatoes to the Greek salad, or tart cranberries to your field greens. Whip up a broccoli salad for lunch, or be adventurous and mix up a rice salad with a mélange of fresh vegetables like string beans,
tomatoes, peppers and red onions.

4.Dessert

Berries, with or without whipped cream or chocolate are a wonderful way to end your day of healthy, antioxidant-rich eating.

5.Beverages

Replace your soda with tea or coffee, both of which boast antioxidant compounds. Have a glass of wine with dinner, or for a real change of pace, pour a glass of chai tea.

6.Think outside the box

We know we can get our antioxidant fix from berries, salads and the like, but researchers say powerful antioxidants can also be found in a variety of unexpected foods, like russet potatoes, artichokes, and small red beans. The beans, in fact, may have more antioxidant power than
blueberries, experts say. So to your rice salad full of vegetables, add some beans for even more antioxidants.

7.Cook lightly

You think you’re being good, preparing vegetables each night for your family’s dinner. But if you’re overcooking the vegetables, you’re cooking out a lot of the beneficial properties of the antioxidants. Steam (don’t boil) vegetables, and stop cooking them when they will have all of their bright color and most of their bite.

8.Plant a garden

Experts believe that people who plant and harvest vegetables from their own yards are far more likely to eat more vegetables and fruits than people who buy their produce from the store. So plant a garden, watch it grow and eat the fruits (literally) of your labor.

9.Take your healthy diet on vacation

Too many of us consider going on vacation an opportunity to take a vacation from everything, including healthy eating. Think of vacation as a way to be introduced to new foods. Order an interesting vegetable dish in a restaurant and then pay attention to how the chef prepared the
dish.

10.Learn to cook

If you’re cooking, you’re not opening bags and boxes. Cooking involves scrubbing and peeling vegetables, preparing whole foods and paying attention to how things are cooked. If you’re ordering out every night, you’re far less likely to be eating the whole foods and natural
fruits and vegetables that provide the base for our antioxidant intake.

About the Author:

Elizabeth Mcdonnell writes articles on health and nutrition. Also check out Himalayan Goji Juice for an excellent source of antioxidants.

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A New Antioxidant Fat-Burner for Overweight Diabetics?

By: Robert Rister

The natural products market in North America is saturated with products that claim to boost the metabolism to take off the pounds. You can find a hydroxycut caffeine-free fat burner, a liquid
gel green tea product, and a variety of supplements that claim to correct "glucose intolerance" (the mainstream term is "insulin resistance") specifically to help diabetics lose weight. A research study published just in February 2008, however, suggests that a combination of two safe and inexpensive supplements may:

*Enlarge and activate the mitochondria ("energy machinery") inside adipose tissue to oxidize lipids

*Activate insulin to transport glucose and fatty acids out of the bloodstream to fat cells with these activated mitochondria and

*Do all this without accelerating the heart rate or interfering with the action of thyroid ormones.

These two supplements are lipoic acid and L-carnitine.

Alpha-lipoic acid, or ALA as it's commonly called, counteracts the glycation, or "caramelizing" of hemoglobin proteins in the blood. This takes stress off the kidneys, and it also gives diabetics lower HbA1C numbers at their regular checkups. The most common form of ALA contains a mixture of chemical isomers, one of which can be used by the body (R-lipoic acid) and one that can't (the S-form of the same molecule), but every ALA supplement is at least 50 per cent bioavailable.

L-carnitine is not as well known but has some applications in diabetes, too. There's a growing body of evidence that taking 200 to 2,000 mg of L-carnitine a day may protect diabetic brain tissue.

And it was brain specialists at the University of California at Irvine and Shanghai's Institutes of Biological Sciences in China who seem to have uncovered the potential for a combination of lipoic acid and L-carnitine to aid weight control

In research just published in February 2008, the scientists exposed adipose cells to lipoic acid, L-carnitine, or a mixture of the two. Neither lipoic acid nor L-carnitine by itself had much effect on the activity of fat cells. Together, however, the two antioxidants caused the energy making organelles known as the mitochondria to literally grow overnight, burning more fatty acids and more glucose.

The combination of lipoic acid and L-carnitine also stimulated the uptake of fatty acids and sugars in the same way as the drugs Actos and Avandia with one critical difference. Actos and Avandia just get the sugar out of the bloodstream and into storage. Lipoic acid and L-carnitine
get the sugar and fat into a fat cell that's primed to burn it.

While taking 2,000 mg a day of both supplements won't hurt you (be sure to take supplemental biotin if you take lipoic acid), this study does not establish with scientific certainty that the combination of lipoic acid and L-carnitine will act as an effective diet aid. The scientists used cells taken from lab rats, not humans, and the level of the experiment was laboratory, not clinical. Still, as a way of enhancing weight loss without caffeine or thyroid hormone, this study is a very
important first step.


Robert Rister is the author or co-author of nine books on natural health including the critically acclaimed Complete German Commission E Monographs and Healing without Medication. Visit his daily natural health news website at Savvy Natural Healer. Read a more in-depth technical article on this topic here.


Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Rister





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Papaya - Good For Digestion And As An Antioxidant

By: Darrell Miller

Although seventy years ago the average life expectancy was age 62, today people are not only living well into their 80s and 90s, but they are also living better too. Doing activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, jogging, hiking, gardening, and golfing, it seems as if everyone is on the go, no matter what their age. Since nobody wants to spend retirement in a doctor’s office, it is important to start planning for a longer, more vibrant life. Huge advances are made each day in the understanding of how men and women age that help to improve our chances of living long, healthy lives. Some of the most impressive findings have shown that nutritional supplements can help, mainly specially formulated papaya preparation, which is able to fight two of the primary reasons we get old, oxidative stress and immune system decline.

Papaya, a tangy tasting fruit, is now appearing more and more in the produce departments of most grocery stores. A papaya has a bright orange flesh that is very slippery and a core filled with little black seeds. Although eating a papaya can give you a day’s worth of vitamins A, C,
and potassium, taking Fermented Papaya Preparation (FPP) could give you an additional 30 years of healthy life.

FPP is a specialized nutritional supplement that has been used in Japan for many years and is very popular in France and parts of Europe. It begins with fresh, ripe papayas that are slowly fermented over several months and then dried and ground into a fine powder. This powder
can be sprinkled into the mouth, dissolved, and swallowed. When Japanese scientists noticed that those people who had more papaya in their diet had certain health benefits, researchers studying aging decided to look at the chemistry of the papaya. Several chemicals in the plant showed
promise, causing researchers to combine papaya with specific yeasts and traditional Japanese fermentation techniques, giving a rise to FPP. FPP was then used in many scientific studies to determine its health impact and the research concluded that FPP is a superior antioxidant, a
powerful immune-booster, and a secret to a long healthy life.

Although getting older is an indisputable fact of life, we don’t have to accept the consequences of aging, which include heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, and cancer. We now have the ability to have a say in how we age by slowing down the harmful effects of aging through the use of FPP which helps reduce oxidative stress and immune system decline. By fighting oxidative stress, people are able to retain their youthful appearance for a longer period of time, as it is the number one factor in facial aging. One theory of aging centers on the fact that harmful molecules called free radicals wreak havoc in our cells. Many of our body’s normal metabolic processes produce free radicals, such as the production of ATP from glucose, as well as enzymatic actions that take place throughout each and every day. Outside sources such as environmental pollutants, chemicals, additives, and preservatives, can cause an excess production of free-radicals which leads to a great deal of damage. This excess production of free radicals is what causes oxidative stress, which is linked to almost every disease associated with aging.

Our immune systems are comprised of specialized tissues, organs, and cells, including many different kinds of white blood cells which work in specific ways to keep us healthy and disease-free. Not only do they guard us from invaders, but they also fight and wipe out microbes. As we
age, our white blood cells become less efficient in protecting us from viruses and bacteria. They mistake harmful invaders for nutrients and can sometimes be too tired to fight foreign invaders. This age-associated immune decline also allows a single cancer cell to grow into a tumor before the white blood cells can even realize their mistake. This explains why older members of society have more urinary tract infections, pneumonia, cases of bacterial meningitis, tuberculosis, herpes zoster, and cancer. Further, not only are their more cases, but the mortality rates for these diseases are usually 2-3 times higher with older adults than younger people with the same
disease. FPP can help because it helps macrophages to work faster and ingest more disease-causing microbes, along with increasing the production of interleukin, a chemical protein that is secreted by macrophages which plays an important role in wound healing. FPP also boosts the activity of NK (natural killer) cells, which can result in increased killing of cancer cells and those cells infected by viruses. FPP contains antioxidants which neutralize free radical damage by
donating an extra electron to the free radical and keeping itself more stable and less reactive. By doing this, the antioxidant stops the domino effect and ongoing free-radical damage. FPP also affects the genetic pathways that eliminate free radicals from the system.


FPP has been the subject of over 300 clinical studies which together have proven that it inhibits dangerous hydroxyl free radical, and have led to it being considered for its immuno-protective effects. Dr. Luc Montagnier, co-discoverer of HIV 1 & 2 virus recommends using FPP as part of a tri-therapy to reduce proliferation of the virus and stimulate the immune system. Because FPP has both antioxidant and immuno-stimulative properties, it appears to be an obvious choice for
fighting against AIDS. The higher free radical production found in stage II of HIV infection can be contributed to oxidative stress.

Most theories of aging state that there is a limit to how long the human body can remain workable. Although, the oldest age achieved so far was 128 by a woman who lived in the Dominican Republic. As of now, Japanese women have the longest life span, with an average life
expectancy of 85.93, while Japanese men average about 78.87 years.

Many people in Japan and Europe have used FPP for many years as an anti-aging product without any side effects. For basic anti-aging support, 3 grams per day is recommended. For additional support, up to 9 grams per day can be taken. To boost your immune system when you need it, start out with 6-9 grams a day for the first 2-3 days and then move back down to 3 grams a day. For optimum immune support, it is advised to take morning and evening doses, preferably on an empty stomach. Papaya can be found at your local or internet health food store.

About the Author:

Visit VitaNet Health Foods, VitaNet sells high quality supplements like American Health
papaya chewables
to boost health and wellness. Please link to this site when using this article.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Why Antioxidants are Important for Hepatitis C Patients

By: Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

For anyone living with Hepatitis C, supporting your liver in every way possible with the intent to slow the progression of the disease is vital. A healthy diet rich in antioxidants is one easy and effective way you can achieve this goal.

A byproduct of the cellular oxidation witnessed when a substance is broken down, free radicals are atoms with an unpaired electron. This creates a chemical instability capable of damaging the walls of cells as well the genetic materials contained within them. Antioxidants combat this process by reducing the damage caused by free radicals.

Studies have shown that oxidation plays a large role in the advancement of liver disease, Alternately, various studies showed the far-ranging benefits of antioxidants, making them vitally important to halting the progression of liver disease. From reducing inflammation of the liver as
well as the oxidative stress of Hepatitis C to slowing the progression of cirrhosis, antioxidants have proven to be a highly effective addition to the health regimen of anyone with a compromised liver. In fact, evidence suggests that antioxidants impair HCV replication, improve
liver enzyme levels and help to protect against liver cell damage. All of these benefits help make the most common medical treatment, interferon anti-viral therapy more effective.

Antioxidants are also easily accessible, found in many brightly colored vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and spinach as well as some of our favorite fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, melons, mangos and apricots. You’ll also find them in the form of easy
to take supplements, however they are most easily absorbed from food sources.

The research showing the tremendous benefit that can be garnered by simply incorporating antioxidants into your diet should not be ignored. Learn more about how antioxidants can help those suffering with Hepatitis C by reading the full article here.


About The Author...



This article was prepared for Hepatitis-Central.com. Visit us to learn more about liver health.








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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Discover The Health Benefits Of Flaxseed

By: Lee Dobbins

Flaxseed has many health benefits, so it's no wonder that this ancient crop which has been around for over 4000 years is recently been the subject of many medical studies. Rich in antioxidants, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber in omega-3 fatty acids, this little seed has been shown to help lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides and eat in preventing clogging of the arteries (atherosclerosis). In addition, researchers also think it may help
stabilize blood sugar, lower the risk of certain cancers and help reduce inflammation this is seeded with illnesses such as asthma, arthritis and Parkinson's disease.

One important reason to eat flaxseed is to help keep your heart healthy. In fact, one study showed that a flax seed every day showed lower cholesterol levels and a reduction in the tendency to form blood clots in only three months. Flaxseed contains Alpha linoleic acid (LNA) which your body can convert into EPA - the beneficial oil found in fish that is said to help reduce risk of heart attack and stroke. So if you can eat enough heart healthy fish, you can always add some flax seed to your diet.

Flax seeds provide fiber and vital nutrients such as magnesium and other trace minerals and today store well in your fridge. What you have to be careful about, however, is to be sure that you grind the seeds right before you use them. If you don't grind them, they will pass right
through your system and you won't get any of the benefits of the oil. But if you grind them ahead of time, the oil will oxidize and become rancid. You can grind them in a regular coffee grinder.

Another benefit of flax seeds is that they have a lot of fiber and can help soften your stools and relieve constipation. You do need to drink a lot of water when you are eating flax seeds because if you don't have enough liquids along with them it may have the opposite effect. Flax seeds can be and will give your food and nutty taste. Try sprinkling them over serial, putting them in your salads, eating them mixed in with cottage cheese ( the combination of cottage cheese plus flax seeds instead of cancer fighting properties) or even over ice cream.

Now if grinding up your own flax seeds every day seems like a lot of trouble you might try just adding some flax seed oil to your diet. You should store it in your refrigerator, though, as it can become rancid pretty quickly. Flax seed oil is high In the omega-3 fatty acids and you can use it on your salads, vegetables and even toast.

As with anything, you want to be careful where you buy it from. Buying organic flax seeds, or flax seed oil is your best bet and you want to be sure to get it from a trusted source so you know you're getting good quality food.


Lee Dobbins writes for Natural Health Buzz where you can learn more about natural health
and healing and find out more about flax seeds for better heart health.


Health-and-Fitness Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com






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Antioxidants May Prevent Bone Loss: Texas Sees New Treatments For Osteoporosis

By: Pat Carpenter

New research suggests that taking antioxidants may prevent bone loss in menopausal women, one of the primary health concerns associated with this condition.

Every year, 500,000 American women suffer at least one fracture of the vertebrae, and 300,000 sustain hip fractures. Fractures related to osteoporosis, or the thinning and weakening of bones, amounts to $10 billion every year in national health care costs, and approximately $977 million in Texas alone. In fact, 1.9 million Texans suffer from osteoporosis or bone loss at any given moment -- and they're not all menopausal women. That means in every city and small town -- from Dallas, to Houston, to Austin, to the Eastern plains -- someone is significantly affected by weakening bones. The repercussions this has for not only the personal health of these individuals and their families, but also on the health insurance and health care industries, are huge.

The past ten years of study have indicated that prevention early on in life is the best medicine. Menopausal women are, indeed, the most affected, and ladies in their premenopausal years do themselves a favor when they watch their calcium and vitamin D intake, as well as their levels of physical exercise and sunlight exposure -- all factors believed to affect the formation of bone. Menopausal osteoporosis, then, is the result of bone levels achieved before menopause, and the rate at which bone tissue deteriorates afterwards. The stronger and denser the skeleton becomes in youth, the more material the body has to work with later on in life.

While levels of calcium, vitamin D, exercise, and sunlight exposure are key factors affecting skeletal health, pregnancy, nursing, immobility, and low estrogen levels may also weaken bones. Contrary to appearance, bones are not inanimate structures, but are living tissues, constantly
undergoing a cycle of breakdown and regeneration. This process must be balanced; if breakdown of cells occurs at a faster rate than the body can rebuild and replace them, then thinning of the tissues occurs. Therefore, processes to ensure healthy regeneration are essential.

All that hard work shoring up on bone tissue shows its greatest benefit during menopause, when estrogen levels plummet. Estrogen, or oestrogen, appears to inhibit the activity of osteoclasts, cells that reabsorb bone tissue during the process of osteoclasis. Normally, this reabsorption is
an essential part of the body's inner workings. Bones cannot continually generate unchecked, after all, or we would soon literally be swallowed by our own skeletons. But once estrogen levels decrease, and osteoclast activity increases, osteoblasts cells that develop bone simply cannot
keep pace.

One advantage of estrogen therapies has been to keep the activity of the osteoclasts at bay. Such therapies are controversial, though. While maintaining levels of estrogen may reduce some of the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause and decrease chances of heart disease and osteoporosis, they have also been linked with certain cancers. So what if bone loss could be minimized, or better yet halted, by a different method?

The Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Musculoskeletal Disorders, at St. George's University of London, believes it may have a way. In other tissues, estrogen "opposes the activity of reactive oxygen species," or ROS, which, in turn stimulate NfKB -- a major intracellular signal that
activates osteoclasts. In experimental mice with ovariectomies, antioxidant defenses in bone marrow decreased, while administering estrogen to them increased these defenses. "What," you say. "Come again?"

The theory states that estrogen may inhibit the activity of the osteoclasts by "opposing" the activity of ROS, which stimulate NfKB, which then activates osteoclasts. By increasing antioxidant defenses in bone marrow (done through estrogen or the administration of certain
antioxidants), the degeneration process of bone may be halted or slowed. In other words, antioxidants may, in the end, have the same effect as estrogen therapy. Giving ascorbate or N-acetylcysteine (types of antioxidants) to ovariectomised mice, actually prevented bone loss, a
significant finding considering that most treatments can only slow bone loss, at best.

The implication is that bone loss may be treated with antioxidants, versus other synthetic therapies. While further experimentation is needed, it's a phenomenal breakthrough in Western medicine. Indeed, boneset -- a plant believed to be high in antioxidants -- has been used by Native American peoples to treat and speed the healing of broken bones. The growing friendship between natural medicine and Western science just may produce treatment options in the coming years we never would have thought possible.

Optimizing bone health in your younger years can have a tremendous affect on you later in life. How you take care of yourself will certainly affect you as you age, and eventually your wallet, as well.

Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at Precedent.com

Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com



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Reduce Free Radicals: Antioxidants And The Health Benefits Of Olive Oil

By: James Zeller

Nutrition used to be something like: "eat fresh food and stay away from potato chips" now we are told beware of 'free radicals' in the body. Antioxidants are supposed to be good for you, but how do we encourage one and fight the other?

"If I'd known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself." -- Leon Eldred

We live in an age where we are beginning to see an awareness developing between eating habits and good health. Several buzz phrases like low carb, high protein, and Hoodia are mentioned as a means to gaining a better life while honing a better physique.

Another phrase that is repeated often is ''antioxidants".

What exactly is an antioxidant and why is it important?

Everyone has what is called 'free radicals' that roam throughout the body. These free radicals have the potential to attack the body, primarily in the form of cancer. Antioxidants fight back. A nutrition plan that includes antioxidants can assist in staving off the potential for acute illness due to free radicals.

Drinks such as coffee and tea often have a certain amount of antioxidants, but it is fresh fruit that is especially rich in antioxidants. Fruit, of course, remains high on the list of recommended
foods by the U.S.D.A., but it may surprise you to know that extra virgin olive oil as part of a balanced diet can provide as much antioxidant as a piece of fruit.

The health benefits of olive oil remain a delightful discovery for many. It's not often something that adds significant good taste to a gourmet meal and can also be an extremely healthy choice.

A diet that is lean in saturated fats (red meat) balanced with a healthy dose of fatty acids has pointed to a number of health benefits. Most of the fatty acids that your body may need can be found in extra virgin olive oil.

The health benefits of olive oil extend to the reduction of LDL (bad cholesterol) while increasing the amount of HDL (good cholesterol).

Case Study

The University of Barcelona conducted a controlled study that followed 16 individuals that were advised to refrain from certain foods that contained phenols (an antioxidant designed to attack free radicals). After abstaining for four days the test group was given extra virgin olive oil to determine if this alone could increase the levels of phenol in the body.

50ml of olive oil was provided to test subjects while they refrained from things like butter, nuts, eggs and margarine. After the first day the total intake of olive oil was cut in half. One week later, blood samples indicated elevated amounts of the antioxidants vitamin E and phenols. Oleic acid and monounsaturated fatty acids were also seen at higher levels - both acids are indicative of lower LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation.

Some researchers believe that the health benefits of olive oil may still be untapped, and many have indicated regular ingestion of olive oil may be one of the best kept health secrets available.

Beyond its antioxidant properties, extra virgin olive oil has provided significant data to indicate it may also lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and aid in the fight against colon cancer specifically.

Isn't it time to discover the virtues of olive oil for yourself?

James Zeller writes for gourmet gift related websites such as www.cruets.com . Here is a selection of balamic vinegar gifts that he found, and a creative collection of kitchen gourmet gifts.

Health-and-Fitness Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com




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Monday, March 17, 2008

Alpha Lipoic Acid Is A Powerful Antioxidant

By: Darrell Miller

The discovery of alpha lipoic acid at the University Of Texas Chemistry Department in 1951 was not heralded with trumpets of joy at the revelation of such a powerful antioxidant, but was instead largely ignored. This is largely due to the biochemistry involved not being fully understood at that time, but by the 1980s it was a commonly used supplement, recommended for several medical conditions.

Chemically, the substance is a 5-membered cyclic disulphide with a carboxylic acid grouping. Biochemically, it’s extremely powerful antioxidant properties are largely due to the fact that it one of those rare active molecules that are soluble in both water and fats, and in fact is the only such antioxidant currently know. One of the properties that this ability enables it to possess is to cross the blood-brain barrier, and apply antioxidant propertied to the brain.

Antioxidants are essential to human life in that they destroy free radicals. These are compounds with free unpaired electrons that destroy human body cells in their hunt for electrons to pair with. Electrons come in pairs in organic animal tissue, just as they do in organic compounds. However, under certain circumstances this pairing can become destroyed, leaving a molecule with one of its electrons without a partner.

The factors that lead to this situation are many and varied, and our own biochemistry can produce free radicals during the normal chemical processes of life. However, pollution can also lead to the oxidation processes that create free radicals, common such pollutants being
cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust fumes, pesticides and the like. Excessive exposure to the UV content of sunlight can also create free radicals as can eating barbecued and smoked foods, and exposure to carbon monoxide and peroxides. Even the biochemical conversion of glucose to energy in our bodies creates free radicals.

These free radicals can destroy body cells, including DNA, and can create conditions such as premature aging due to destruction of skin cells, destruction of brain cells, strokes, cancers, diabetes, atherosclerosis due to oxidation of LDL cholesterol that deposits in the main arteries of the body, stiffening of the joints and many other undesirable conditions.

Free radicals are destroyed rapidly by antioxidants: the reaction is very rapid and most are destroyed immediately they are formed before they can do harm. Fortunately, if your diet is well maintained, the body possesses many antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, and other
substances such as Coenzyme Q10, flavanoids, xanthenes, polyphenols and carotenoids. Many of these are found in highly colored foods, and if your food is brightly colored, it should contain a good supply of antioxidants.

However, the problem with all of these is that they are either fat and oil soluble or water soluble, which means that they can either be freely carried round the body by the blood or have to be emulsified by the bile and transported via the lymphatic system that places restrictions on their effectiveness in certain organs of the body. The fact that alpha lipoic acid is soluble in both water and fats enables it to be carried to all parts of the body and to every organ, and can cross
water/fat barriers that other antioxidants cannot do.It can therefore be carried via the blood to the brain and carry out an essential antioxidant function within our brains. It took a long time
for this property of ALA to be recognized and its consequent health benefits understood. It is, in fact, the ideal antioxidant. The substance provides many known benefits to the body due to its
antioxidant properties and also helps the body to generate the maximum possible amount of energy from the blood glucose and thus improve the energy balance of your body.

However, it is with its antioxidant properties that we are most concerned here. One of the benefits of these properties is its effect in holding back the visible effects of aging on your body. Because it is both water and fat soluble, alpha lipoic acid can help destroy free radicals in every part of your skin; the areas served by the blood and the fatty and oily secretions are protected simultaneously by the same strong antioxidant. The end result is a reduction in the destruction of the cells through the dermis and epidermis and a reduction in the degree of wrinkling with age.

Its antioxidant effect in the brain renders ALA in great demand for reducing cognitive impairment with age. In fact studies have indicated that alpha lipoic acid can improve memory and brain function in the aging and the elderly. This effect appears to be increased by the
synergistic combination of alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine that work together to prevent cognitive decline in the brain through the effect of free radicals.

There is evidence that during a stroke, ALA works synergistically with vitamin E to reduce the effect of free radical damage on the vulnerable brain cells, and so reduce the longer term effects of the stroke. Together with ALC, it also reduces oxidative stress on the mitochondria of cells and in so doing helps once again to reduce the effects of aging, and maintain the body’s capacity to generate energy from blood glucose.

Cardiovascular disease is the main killer of the western world, largely due to our diets, and this is especially true of the USA. Although Americans appear unable to change their unhealthy diet, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine can be used to offset much of the damage done. ALA reduces the development of atherosclerosis through its antioxidant properties and the reduction of the adhesion of monocytes to the artery walls.

LDL trapped in the wall of the artery can be oxidized and enable monocytes to also enter under the surface of the arterial wall, where it changes into macrophages and ingests the oxidised LDL, causing the plaque that forms atherosclerosis. As the plaque thickens, the artery becomes increasingly restricted until the blood flow is significantly reduced or even stopped, causing cardiac failure or a stroke.

Alpha lipoic acid can prevent this free radical oxidation from occurring by destroying them before they act on the low density lipoprotein (LDL). Acetyl-L-carnitine works with the ALA to achieve this, as does another substance known as carnosine. Between them, these three musketeers work to keep your arteries clear and your brain functioning as it should, though it is the ALA that is most powerful due to its oil and water solubility properties.

Although alpha lipoic acid is available as a supplement, either alone or in combination with acetyl-l-carnitine, it is also available from natural food sources. It is particularly rich in offal such as heart and kidney, and also in broccoli, spinach and brewer’s yeast. It is also available in beef, and it is here that burgers can perhaps repay some of the damage that it causes. However, it is not a recommended source since burgers still cause more damage to your health than any of their constituent nutrients can allay.

Like any other supplement, you should seek medical advice before taking any substance if you have a health condition. Nevertheless, the benefits of alpha lipoic acid are such that it is difficult to see it doing anything but good. However, please consult your physician if are taking other drugs.


About the Author:

More information on Alpha lipoic acid as an antioxidant is available at VitaNet ®, LLC
Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

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Saturday, March 15, 2008

Super-Antioxidant: Vitamin E's Role In Lupus Treatment

By: Mitamins Team

Lupus disease, like any autoimmune disease, is an extremely difficult condition to treat. How can you fight against something causing you immense discomfort when that something is your own body? Because of this, lupus treatment is often restricted to controlling the signs and symptoms of lupus while the cause of the disease is found. In 90% of cases the cause is never found, meaning a long course of medication for many. This is why more and more people are turning to the natural choice of vitamins as lupus treatment. A leading light in natural lupus
treatment is vitamin E.

Lupus: The Enemy Within

What can vitamin E do to relieve the signs and symptoms of lupus? The answer to that question begins with looking more closely with what we are up against. The most dangerous and common type of lupus disease is Systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE), which can affect and damage any of the body’s organs such as skin, liver, kidney, joints, blood vessels, brain, blood, and nervous system. The second most common type of lupus disease is Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE), which only affects skin. The signs and symptoms of this type of lupus are skin rash and scaly sores appearing on the face, neck, and chest. The signs and symptoms of
SLE will be specific to the part of the body affected, although usually the rash is also present, and can often be misdiagnosed as a different disease.

The other major sign and symptoms of lupus, common to both SLE and DLE, include chronic inflammation in various parts of the body. This causes free radicals to be released, reactive molecules with unpaired electrons that reek havoc amongst healthy cells in the body.
Free-radicals are extremely destructive and so increase the severity of lupus symptoms, causing more discomfort to sufferers.

Luckily, rampaging free-radicals can be “mopped up” by antioxidants, a group of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are immensely powerful in restoring and maintaining the body’s health. It is vitamin E’s membership of this elite group that makes it helpful in the treatment of
lupus. But there is also more…

The Properties of Vitamin E

Vitamin C, E, and beta carotene are recommended by doctors to treat lupus(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Lupus.html). Vitamin E posses many useful properties that help in the treatment of lupus disease:

1. It’s a Powerful Antioxidant: Intake of Alpha-tocopherol (a-tocopherol), a form of Vitamin E, is a natural way to treat lupus disease. A-tocopherol is the most active form of Vitamin E and a powerful antioxidant, which protects the body from the ill effects of free radicals and the damage
caused by them. Because of its antioxidant properties, Vitamin E plays a key role in protecting body from a number of chronic disorders, besides lupus disease, that affect various parts of the body. Vitamin E does this by donating its own electrons to make a pair with a free radical’s
unpaired one, thereby “neutralizing” its destructiveness.

2. It Reduces the Levels of Cytokines: Vitamin E also plays an important role in the treatment of lupus disease because it possesses the ability to control the levels of pro - and anti-inflammatory
cytokines. Cytokines are a group of proteins and peptides, which work as signaling compounds and play important roles in the immune system function.

3. A study conducted on mice showed that Vitamin E can significantly lower the levels of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit the main symptom of lupus disease: inflammation.

Another study conducted on 67 people suffering from DLE showed that high doses (1,500 to 3,000 IU) of Vitamin E per day for 19 months along with pantothenic acid helped to treat DLE to great extent. However individual doses of pantothenic acid were ineffective in the treatment
of lupus disease. With vitamin supplements, as with so many things in life, commitment is crucial.

What Next?

Now that we know Vitamin E has a number of properties making it beneficial in lupus treatment, we can think about using natural supplements as opposed to synthetic drugs.

Vitamin E in the form of a-tocopherol is available as supplements. The most natural form of a-tocopherol is labeled, confusingly, with a ‘D’, while the synthetic form of this supplement is labeled “DL”. It is the more natural, D, a-tocopherol that is biologically active in the human body, and more easily absorbed to treat the signs and symptoms of lupus. A-tocopherol, vitamin E supplements are often mixed with Vitamin C to make a more effective supplement for the treatment of lupus.

Good luck! (http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Lupus.html)

About the Author:

Mitamins team bd@mitamins.net Targeted: Lupus; Safety: Avoid Vitamins Overdose, Supplement Drug Interactions; Quality: Freshly Made with Brand Ingredients.
vitamin support for lupus treatment
*

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Sunday, March 9, 2008

Win Back Your Brain From Alzheimer's Disease, Take In Antioxidants

By: Sharon Bell

There are more than 75 million baby boomers in the United States. And as the biggest portion of this generation approaches retirement age, more and more of its members are becoming concerned about memory problems, particularly Alzheimer's disease. If you belong to the baby
boomer generation, you should be concerned too; the common form of Alzheimer's disease can afflict anyone who is at least sixty years old. This disease can be more sporadic rather than hereditary, which is why Alzheimer's has become the most common cause for dementia and other ailments characterized by the decline in brain functioning.

Causes Of Alzheimer's Disease

Doctors have been continually baffled by what causes Alzheimer's. But one thing is for sure, as people age, a waxy fibrous stuff called amyloid starts to accumulate in the brain. Amyloid plaque is responsible for the degeneration of various tissues in the body; you can just imagine what this substance can do when it gathers in your brain.

On top of this, as you count the years that you have lived, millions of neurons found in the brain simply stop to send and receive impulses which are the primary means of communication for your brain cells. The overall effect is a total decline in your brain's ability to organize
and handle thoughts. The obvious solution is for your brain to create new perfectly-functioning cells. But before you can even say replacement, your brain tells you that when you are sixty, it is already having a hard time or no longer capable of creating new cells.

Is It Really This Hopeless For Aging People?

The good news is that, various studies and researches about nutrition have been found to directly affect the brain's functioning. With the right kind of diet, you can protect your brain from Alzheimer's and reverse the effects of aging to your brain. Although these findings are
relatively new, the link between food and the brain sounds promising.The Antioxidant Story

The most prominent subject in the study about the connection between food and the brain is the one about antioxidants. Basically antioxidants are organic substances that are secreted by plants as a protection from cellular destabilization caused by free radicals. Antioxidants have been
also found to effectively counter the oxidative deterioration that happens in the brain as you age.


Where do you find antioxidants? Well, if you take a look at fruits and vegetables that have bright appetizing colors, you have found your ticket away from Alzheimer's and other brain malfunctions. The bright colors exhibited by certain fruits and vegetables are actually caused by
antioxidants; theoretically, the brighter and richer the color of a fruit or vegetable, the higher concentration of antioxidant substances.

If you eat fruits and vegetables that have high levels of antioxidants, you absorb the same substances that protect plants from elements like pollution and extreme weather conditions. Antioxidants in your body will help you reverse most of the effects of aging. From painful joints, to wrinkly skin, to ailing organs, up to a malfunctioning brain, antioxidants seem to be the real fountain of youth.

Generally speaking, foods rich in selenium, vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene are also rich in antioxidants. In the case of vitamins C and E, they boost your immune system in defending against any bacterial or viral attack. Selenium on the other hand has been known to help fight
oxidation in the cells. But the most famous of all antioxidants is beta-carotene which can protect you from the harshness of solar radiation.


About the Author:

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com/


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Friday, March 7, 2008

Acai Berries - Health Benefits Of Berry Juice And Freeze Dried Powder

by Pete Marks
Acai berries and acai berry juice products are some of latest supplements to enter the health food category as a superfood. Residents and natives of Brazil are very familiar with this berry and its products. Residents have been enjoying acai fruit juice beverages and bowls for some time. Once you have tried the juice you will probably find ways to add it to you favorite smoothie or add it to recipes. Acai freeze dried powder actually goes well in yogurt. The flavor is
something to be experienced and it tastes like blueberries with a touch of chocolate and is not overpowering.
The natives of the Amazon rain forest have been using acai berries for thousands of years as a dietary staple. These remarkable little purple berries look similar to blueberries or purple grapes and are harvested off of a palm that grows in swampy floodplains. These berries
are one of the highest ORAC value super foods available. With all the buzz it is no wonder there is a shortage and it can be hard to find in local health food stores and prices are expected to increase due to availability.
People who can benefit from acai berry supplements or freeze dried powder are athletes and the health conscious or people dealing with various illnesses. Trainers are starting to realize the importance of such a superfood and many athletes and trainers are discovering and
using acai berry products for energy and stamina.
Some of the health properties of acai are anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and immune system. Some of the many uses and conditions that people are using these products for are, weight loss, cleansing and detoxing, high blood pressure, heart conditions, high cholesterol, inflammation, arthritis, allergies, eczema, psoriasis and other skin problems. Some of the health properties of acai are, weight loss, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and immune
system.
What makes these berries so special. They are loaded with protein and fiber and contain minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium and potassium. Also contains B1, B2, B3, C and E essential fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 9 respectively Linoleic acid and Oleic acid which research indicates helps maintain normal cholesterol levels.
What is even more remarkable acai berries packs the largest antioxidant punch or ORAC value of any know superfood available including blueberries, mangostien or pomegranates. Antioxidants are known to help regulate cholesterol levels and help with vascular and
cardiac function.
A high quality product source will be 100% pure USDA certified organic. Most will come in the following form, juice, puree, freeze dried powder or capsules. Some brands may call themselves an acai blend and the major ingredient listed may be acai but it you have 4 juices such as, grape, pineapple, apple and acia and the first 3 are 20% and the last is 40% then actually the product you are buying is only 40% acai berry juice always check when buying a blend if not sure write,
email or call the company. The best berry juice or products will be 100% pure with no sugars added. Consider the freeze dried acai powder as you can mix it with juices and other food products such as yogurts and smoothies.


About the author:
To review the best retail or wholesale acai products please visit Acai Berry Juice

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Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Herbal Supplements – Learn About The Benefits Of These Kinds Of Supplements

By: Marla Paulsone

Most people simply do not consume enough quality food that their bodies need in order to stay strong and healthy. This is why it is important to consider some form of supplementation to help introduce sufficient nutrients into the body for optimal health.

Unfortunately most regular supplements are man made and thus contains artificial ingredients which our bodies may have a tough time dealing with.

This is why herbal supplementation is a better choice as the ingredients used are all natural. Here are few of the most commonly used herbal supplements and their benefits to your health. Make sure that you do not have any allergies to any of the products below and it is also a
good idea to consult a doctor before your consider taking these particularly if you are currently on medications.

Gingko

Gingko is a great supplement that helps to aid your memory and also helps to maintain better concentration. If you are having trouble staying alert then this supplement may help you in maintaining high levels of mental alertness throughout the day.

Bee Pollen

There are many great health benefits to consuming bee pollen. Bee pollen is also called a super food because it has great amounts of nutrients necessary to have good health. It is a great energy booster so if you find yourself struggling with fatigue during the day then this supplement may be useful for you. It also has the added benefit of boosting your metabolism which means your body burns calories faster so it can be useful also in maintaining a healthy body weight.

Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe Vera has many great properties that can improve your health and it has been used for a very long time since it has great healing properties. It is used commonly for wounds or burns because it has great anti inflammatory properties and helps to reduce swelling. It also helps
to strengthen the immune system so that you are less susceptible to getting sick.

Ginger Root

Ginger has many fantastic health properties and it has been used widely in the east for many medicinal purposes. It helps with digestion as it is very good at breaking down proteins. It is also very good at treating nausea and morning sickness. It has also been shown to be effective at reducing bad cholesterol which is great to help reduce your chances of heart disease.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle has many health benefits the greatest of which is its ability to cleanse the liver. It is also a great antioxidant which helps to reduce your chances of getting cancer and also from aging prematurely.

Bitter Orange Extract

This supplement is gaining in popularity for its ability to increase your metabolism and help you lose weight. It also has useful anti inflammatory properties too. If you are considering this supplement then make sure the supplement has pure bitter orange extract in it.

Herbal supplements continue to gain in popularity as more and more people seek alternative methods of treatment for their health and wellbeing. Consider one or more herbal supplements to help you on the road to better health and wellness.


About the Author
:

Marla is a webmaster. Visit us and learn about the best herbal supplements and about herbal detox programs.


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Monday, March 3, 2008

Supplementary Nutrition

By: Sasi Kala

As a lot of antioxidant foods that we consume are from vegetables, people should go in for vegetables that are rich in colour and high in phytonutrients. Excellent choices of vegetables are broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and peppers. The skins of several fruits like grapes, mangoes, straw berries, peaches and vegetables that give the food colour, flavour and scent contain nutrients called phytonutrients. They are simply the best types of antioxidant foods. The supplement recommended for these types of foods is the coq10 that gives you a high antioxidant value.

Even though the best sources for antioxidants are fruits and vegetables, they are often produced with the help of chemical herbicides, pesticides, and different types of fertilizers. Therefore it is better to use organically grown vegetables that are high in antioxidants than commercially grown ones. Organically grown vegetables may be costlier but they prove to be very effective in the long run. In today's busy world we may or may not have access to organic fruits, vegetables or other sources of antioxidant foods. Therefore look for nutritional supplements that give you the phytonutrients you need.

As certain fruits like carrots can elevate your blood sugar level supplements that contain phytonutrients are advantageous. These phytonutrients extract the best from antioxidant foods leaving the calories and sugars behind. It is a wrong idea to think that fruits and vegetables are bad for you. But the problem lies in food that is produced commercially involving a lot of chemicals. High levels of sugars and calories are found in canned fruits and vegetables, which antioxidant supplements don't have. So, when you take supplements you don't have to worry about any chemicals, sugars and calories.

Although fruits and vegetables contain the most amounts of antioxidants, steak and meat are also rich in them. They also provide other great benefits such as protein. In case of non availability of antioxidant foods you can rely on supplements to give you the amount in order for your body to stay healthy.

Visit http://www.edealsuk.com/Health-beauty.aspx to buy http://www.edealsuk.com/Health-beauty.aspx

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Solubility of Antioxidants - a discussion on water soluble and fat soluble antioxidants.

ORAC Values of Acai Berry, Goji Berry, Pomegranate and Mangosteen

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Saturday, March 1, 2008

Antioxidant Dietary Supplement

By: Vincent Platania


"Antioxidant dietary supplement" is a catch phrase that is bantered about without much clarification. American's are educated in the simple definition of antioxidant: cancer fighter. There is really more to be explained about how these supplements work. Still one thing that is
unquestionably true is the high incidence of cancer especially in older people.

The American Cancer Society reported that between 1997 through 2001 the rate at which new cases of all types of cancer were diagnosed in the United States was about 470 per 100,000 people. During the same time period there were about 200 cancer deaths per 100,000 people per year. It further reported that 76% of all cancers are diagnosed in persons aged 55 and older. That would suggest that while the cancer rate is high; the death rate from cancer is not as high.

With that much cancer in the population it is no wonder that many people have decided on a course of preventative medicine. But what does an antioxidant dietary supplement really do and how does it work?

First, it must be explained that the villains as far as scientists know so far are "free radicals". These are oxygen molecules and some other reactive compounds that can damage human cells. These villains to human health are produced by viruses, pollutants, solar radiation and even
normal cell processes.There are three types of antioxidants which work in conjunction to
stabilize free radicals and flush them from the body. Fat soluble antioxidants, like vitamin E and beta-carotene, are the first group of antioxidants which neutralize free radicals. The second type of antioxidant is surface-active. These are polyphenols which are phytochemicals or light absorbing substances which occur naturally and help in plant photosynthesis. The group of antioxidants comprised of these transport neutralized free radicals from the water soluble to the third type of antioxidant. There are over 4000 known polyphenals catalogued so far, the best being found in dark red fruits and vegetables.

The last group of antioxidants is that which is water soluble such as vitamin C. This water soluble antioxidant receives the neutralized free radical from the transporting surface-active antioxidant and takes it to the liver where it is made inert for excretion.

This complex interplay amount these three distinct antioxidants is believed to prevent a range of cancers from occurring in the first place. The degree to which a food or supplement possesses this capacity is measured by a new standardized test. This measurement is expressed as the
food's oxygen radical absorbing capacity or ORAC. The best ORAC values are found in deep colored fruits and vegetables as well as green tea and herbs like rosemary. Extra virgin olive oil has the highest ORAC rating.

Only time can determine whether the American public is successful in lowering the rate at which cancer occurs. By arming itself with a basic understanding of the various substances that fight cancer's occurrence and making dietary changes accordingly they may have a positive impact on
cancer.


About the Author:

Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit http://www.stanley-home-products.com/



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