Just alone in the United States of America, more than half of the population take some form of supplement, spending more than U.S.$20 billion a year in an effort to help maintain good health and well-being. Around the world, more and more people are reaching to vitamin supplements to attempt to better their health.But how do consumers know that they’re spending their money on the right supplements and using them in the right dosages?

According to Edward C. Geehr**, M.D.,a member of the National Scientific and Medical Advisory Board of LifeScript, a leading provider of personalized nutritional supplements, there are certain questions consumers should ask themselves before starting a supplement program. Although most individuals can benefit from a well-designed supplement program, there are important things to consider when making decisions about supplements. Here is his list of some of the more important questions you should be asking before you begin taking supplements.

* Do I even need nutritional supplements?

Be informed before taking vitamin supplements

There is no substitute for a well-rounded diet. Whole foods contain protein, energy and fiber that are difficult to obtain from supplements alone. Balance is the key. A good diet, coupled with a well-designed supplement program, can satisfy the dietary requirements of most people. For those on a restricted diet, however, such as vegans, athletes, body builders or dieters constantly trying to lose weight, supplements may be essential for good health. Restricted diets also diminish nutrients intake. Supplements can help fill in the nutrient gaps in diets such as these.

* Am I taking supplements to try to treat a disease or illness?

You should never treat yourself for a disease or illness with supplements. There is little or no conclusive evidence that supplements are beneficial for many serious medical conditions. Those with chronic diseases or taking prescribed medications should discuss their medical condition with their physician before taking supplements to avoid potential serious drug interactions and harmful side effects.Having said that, it is important to note that there is an emerging body of evidence suggesting that some vitamins and herbal preparations may be useful for managing certain conditions. Talk to your doctor or dietitian to get the most up-to-date and accurate information about promising dietary supplements for certain medical conditions.

* Are the supplements and the quantities I’m taking right for me?

Its always best to consult with an expert before beginning a regimen of supplements. Registered Dietitians, Certified Nutritional Specialists and physicians are all well qualified to review your diet and make supplement recommendations.

* Does it matter if my supplements are natural?

There appears to be little difference between synthetic and naturally occurring vitamins. Natural vitamins are no more effective at delivering nutrients than synthetic ones and may be much more expensive. Herbal preparations are usually naturally derived, although it may be difficult to determine the actual content or purity of the active ingredients. The most important factor is the quality and reputation of the manufacturer and whether or not assays are performed to verify the supplement ingredients.

* Will taking more of a supplement provide me with beneficial results faster?

More is not always better. Certain vitamins and minerals considered to be essential to maintaining normal health can be toxic in high doses. For example, too much vitamin A can cause liver toxicity, adversely affect bone growth, and cause yellowing of the skin and palms. In general, supplements should not be taken in amounts that exceed the daily RDI (Reference Daily Intake) unless directed by your dietitian or physician.

* Can I mix my medications with my supplements?

Some supplements may interfere with certain medications, resulting in serious side effects. The medications of greatest concern include blood pressure and heart medications, blood thinners (Coumadin or warfarin), certain antidepressants, immuno-suppressant drugs, seizure medications, certain cancer therapies, and anti-arrhythmic drugs. If you are taking any medications, check with your physician or medical specialist before taking supplements.

* Should I stop taking supplements if I’m scheduled to have surgery?

Recent reports note a higher incidence of bleeding problems (either hemorrhage or blood clots) during or after surgery in patients who were taking certain supplements. Some supplements may also interfere with anesthetics used in surgery. Its recommended that all supplements be stopped at least four weeks before surgery unless specifically permitted by your physician.

**Edward C. Geehr, MD, is a member of the National Scientific and Medical Advisory Board of LifeScript, a leading provider of personalized nutritional supplements. Dr. Geehr formerly was national Chief Medical Officer with Inpatient Consultants, and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the Wilderness Medical Society (co-founder) and the National Association of Inpatient Physicians. He previously was Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and is a graduate of Yale University and Duke University Medical School.

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As so many of you know, the Philippines, especially the island of Luzon, has suffered greatly this past year from numerous typhoons.

It has been estimated, by international organizations, that it will take nearly 5 billion U.S. Dollars to repair all the damage to the country’s infrastructure.

Each and every affected family has their own horror story and our family is no different. Needless to say, our home suffered damage but far less than other families. Over the past two months, my husband and I have been busy with repairing damage and trying to get back to some sort of order in our lives.

Our home need major roof  repairs and repairs to cracks in the exterior walls. We had to re-build our car port as the high winds had pulled it down. We had experienced electrical fires inside our walls due to water getting into the main breaker box. The breaker box was replaced and the wiring was repaired. After all the repairs were done and all the appliances repaired, we decided that the entire house need a new coat of paint on the exterior.

It was a lot of work but we are happy that things are back to some level of normal and, most importantly, the damage was far less than others. It will allow our family to enjoy the holidays knowing our house is safe and sound.

I am sorry to my many readers that I was absent from Pinoy Lifestyles but there just wasn’t ample time to devote to posting articles. The days went by so quickly that I was asleep within minutes of lying in my bed each night. Of course, it goes without saying that the normal, every day tasks that go with having a large family were included in each and everyday.

So, I thank each and everyone of you for your understanding and your continuing loyalty.  Please allow me a few days to do some changes to Pinoy Lifestyles to bring it up-to-date. By next week, we will be back and up to full speed.

Technorati Tags: Philippines, Typhoon Damage, Typhoons in the Philippines

CoQ10 is one of the most popular and fastest growing supplements in the US. With more than 8,000 people in the US turning 60 every day, the growing list of ways that CoQ10 benefits emerging seniors is getting a lot of attention.

More than $413 million was spent on CoQ10 supplements in 2007, and the rate of consumption of the coenzyme is rising every year.

CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) Moleule

A vitamin-like substance essential to the production of energy at a cellular level, CoQ10 is present in every cell in the body. However the older we get the less we produce, and medical research has shown that there is a direct correlation between levels of this important substance and many of the problems associated with aging, including heart failure, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and more.

One of the foremost of CoQ10 benefits is that it’s a powerful antioxidant. As such it actually repairs and reverses the cellular damage done by destructive compounds called free radicals, which interfere with healthy cellular metabolism.

Cellular damage by free radicals plays a major role in the aging process. Studies have shown that oxidation damage accumulates throughout life. Some of the newest, most exciting research on aging indicates that many of the general health and fitness declines associated with aging show a positive response to antioxidants.

The risk of heart disease, the world’s number one killer, is known to increase with age. Both US and European research has clearly demonstrated a correlation between levels of the coenzyme and heart health. It is used with successful results as an adjutant therapy for patients with heart disease, as well as for those who have suffered heart failure or who are recovering from heart surgery.

Studies have proven that CoQ10 is an important factor in maintaining and protecting brain health and cognitive abilities, especially as related to aging. It is also being tested for effectiveness in preventing or treating a host of other age-related problems, including prostate and other forms of cancer, adult-onset diabetes, and vision problems like macular degeneration. It is even known to work against skin aging, and in fact in Europe the primary CoQ10 benefit is seen as an anti-aging skin treatment.

Alzheimer’s disease, the number seven cause of death in the US, may actually be treatable with CoQ10. Further research is needed, but a 2006 study by Johns Hopkins University demonstrated a clear relationship between supplementation of the coenzyme and improvement in the kind of cognitive impairments Alzheimer’s creates.

The study used groups of animals with Alzheimer’s-like brain damage. The group that got daily supplements showed no signs of neurological dysfunction and remained cognitively as competent as animals with no brain damage, while the group that received no supplementation showed rapid and increasing cognitive impairment.

The Johns Hopkins researchers said CoQ10 benefits include prevention against Alzheimer’s-like cognitive problems and dysfunction. Their findings concluded that supplementation of the coenzyme improves learning and memory deficits, possibly by inhibiting oxidative stress.

So how does it do it? Researchers think it may all be possible on account of CoQ10’s ability to inhibit blood clot formation, improve energy production in cells, and act as an antioxidant.

Antioxidants are substances that hunt for free radicals and escort them out of the body, which prevents the free radicals causing oxidative damage to cell membranes and DNA when they accumulate in the tissues and blood as a result of pollution, UV light, cigarette smoking, and as a by-product of normal metabolic processes.

Free radicals cause us to age more quickly, and they contribute to a number of health problems including heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants such as CoQ10 can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

CoQ10 may have found its perfect partner in another potent antioxidant: vitamin E. Together they are the principle fat-soluble antioxidants in cells, and CoQ10 may help vitamin E act more effectively in the body.

Another friend of CoQ10 is the spectacular antioxidant dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). It’s unique in its ability to zap every known free radical that occurs in living tissue; it’s also readily absorbed and has a very low toxicity.

CoQ10 may not work as effectively alone, so to take advantage of its enormously helpful health benefits, be sure to combine your good quality supplements with a healthy diet, stress reduction techniques, and responsible levels of exercise.

Orchard Nutrition Center On-Line Store carries an extensive line of CoQ10 supplement products. For more information, please visit their on-line store by clicking link below:

ORCHARD NUTRITION CENTER COQ10 PRODUCTS

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As many of you know there has been a series of horrible storms which hit the Philippines during the past six weeks. One storm alone flooded 80% of Metro Manila in a matter of hours.

The Philippines Needs Your Help Today

These storms have caused hundreds of deaths,scores injured,displaced over 1,000,000 people, and caused billions of pesos in damage.A large part of the Philippine rice crop has been destroyed. In the aftermath, diseases are now setting in and people are getting sicker by the day. To make matters worse, the typhoon season will not end for another two months.

As other disasters around the world grip the attention of the world, the Philippines is losing much needed attention towards it own serious situation. Unlike other countries that have more financial resources, the Philippines is a poor nation that needs all types and levels of assistance to recover from the disasters that have plagued them.

The easy way to help is to donate money to the Philippine Red Cross. It doesn’t matter how small the donation is; it is important that we all donate.

Please click on the Philippine Red Cross logo to donate:

Philippine Red Cross Logo

We thank you for your kindness.

Please take the few minutes necessary to help by your donation. The Philippines needs you help.

Technorati Tags: Philippine Disasters, Philippine Flooding, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Typhoons, Philippines

Weight-loss claims exaggerate real evidence.

Anyone exposed to commercials on television, radio or the Internet has probably witnessed ads for diet products that claim to absorb fat or block calories in the digestive tract.

It is "buyer beware" when choosing weight-loss products

Many of these nonprescription supplements base their claims on a kernel of scientific fact, but the truth is that these claims are usually greatly exaggerated.

The active ingredients in many diet products can often be shown to absorb carbohydrates or fat in a test tube. But they usually don’t contain enough ingredient to cause a significant reduction in weight.

The same problem occurs with diet formulas that swell up in the gut to create a feeling of fullness — supposedly reducing the urge to overeat. While this sounds like a logical approach to lose weight, it ignores the simple fact that many overweight people don’t stop eating when their stomach signals that it is full. Even worse, if the diet aid decreases food absorption, someone may eat more to compensate.

When Australian researchers conducted a comprehensive review of nonprescription weight-loss products, they found that most products’ claims were misleading or unfounded.

An Australian newspaper listed the products that recent scientific studies showed didn’t work. These include: caffeine, capsaicin, L-carnitine, chitosan, chromium picolinate, ginkgo biloba, grapeseed extract, lecithin, horse chestnut, pectin, St. John’s wort and sweet clover.

The old saying “Buyer Beware” applies when dealing with quick weight-loss products.

The only true and lasting way to lose weight is through a well planned program developed by a medical professional.

Technorati Tags: Calorie-Blocker Pills, Effective Weight - Loss, Weight - Loss Plans, Weight-Loss Products, Weight-Loss Products Ineffective