Vitamin Information Center

People who take vitamin supplements may not benefit their health and could increase the risk of premature death, according to a new report.

Danish researchers found that antioxidants do not prolong life expectancy as some may hope and that beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E may actually increase the risk of death.

They did not uncover evidence that vitamin C and selenium have either positive or negative effects.

Their findings are based on a review of data from 67 randomised trials that involved just under a quarter of a million people and were released today by the Cochrane Library.

“We could find no evidence to support taking antioxidant supplements to reduce the risk of dying earlier in healthy people or patients with various diseases,” said Goran Bjelakovic, who performed the systematic review at the Copenhagen Trial Unit at the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark.

“Regarding these antioxidants we need more data from randomised trials. The bottom line is that current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general healthy population or in patients with certain diseases.”

Commenting on the review, the UK’s Food Standards Agency said: “Most people should be able to get all the nutrients they need by eating a varied and balanced diet.

“If consumers do choose to take supplements, it is important they are informed and they may also wish to also consult with their GP. For some vitamins and minerals, taking too much or taking them for too long can cause harmful effects.

By Charles Stuart Platkin

When you’re thinking about what to eat, you need to ask yourself, “Will it keep me satisfied, or will I be hungry again in 30 minutes?” “Am I getting the vitamins and minerals I need, or am I just entertaining my mouth (and mind)?” The best food choices are the most nutrient-dense — foods that contain a large number of nutrients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc.) for relatively few calories. Here are a few food comparisons that will help you focus a bit more on the total profile of the foods you eat, instead of just the calories.

McDonald’s Hamburger vs. Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

The burger (at 100 grams) is only 250 calories, but it isn’t as filling as the Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken (311 grams) at 220 calories. Pair the salad with Newman’s Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette and you have a total of 260 calories. Now keep in mind, this is really not a Caesar salad because you’re using a different dressing, but it’s a good choice. You get more than three times the volume for only 10 extra calories. And, believe it or not, the salad packs more protein: It has 30 grams versus only 12 grams for the burger — wow. The salad also offers 130 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin A (0 for the burger), 50 percent for vitamin C (2 percent for the burger), and 20 percent of your recommended calcium allowance (compared with 10 percent for the burger). Plus, a burger typically comes with other unhealthy friends, such as fries and a soda. The only problem with the salad and the dressing is the sodium — it’s off the charts. The burger is also high, but the salad and dressing have more than twice as much.

Post Shredded Wheat vs. Wheaties

Post Shredded Wheat is 170 calories for one serving (1.75 ounces), and it’s just plain whole-grain wheat — nothing else. One serving of Wheaties (about an ounce) is 100 calories; however, it has only 3 grams of fiber, compared with 6 grams in Shredded Wheat. The Shredded Wheat also has twice the protein (6 grams), and the Wheaties has 4 grams of added sugar. Keep in mind, if you compare the cereals gram for gram, they are similar in calories (in one serving you get ¾ of an ounce more of the Shredded Wheat). However, if you look at the ingredients, the Shredded Wheat is much “cleaner.” Wheaties’ ingredients: whole wheat, sugar, salt, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, brown sugar syrup, natural flavor, trisodium phosphate — not exactly a wholesome cereal when compared with the Shredded Wheat.

Hummus vs. Kraft French Onion Dip

One tablespoon of the French Onion dip is about 30 calories, whereas hummus — a Middle Eastern spread made from chickpeas, tahini (ground sesame seeds), roasted garlic and olive oil — has about 35 calories per tablespoon (1/2 ounce). However, the chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are high in fiber, folate, manganese (a trace mineral that helps energy production from proteins) and protein. Chickpeas also have phosphorous, vitamin C and iron.

If you want to make your own hummus, here is a great recipe that yields 10 ounces:

1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained

4 cloves garlic, sliced

1 tablespoon tahini

Juice of 1 large lemon

¼ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth, and you’re done.

1 tablespoon = 34.2 calories, 1.3g fat, 4.5g carbs, 1g fiber, 1.5g protein.

Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar vs. Wish-Bone Fat Free Italian Salad Dressing

The Wish-Bone Fat Free dressing is only 20 calories for 2 tablespoons. If you were to use 2 teaspoons of olive oil (however, try using a salad mister, not a spoon) that would be 80 calories, plus 14 more calories for a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar for 94 calories total. So, yes, it’s more, but you also get the benefits of the oil’s monounsaturated fats, which (in limited quantities) have been shown to help reduce your risk of heart disease. Plus, take a look at all the added ingredients and sugar in the low-fat dressing: water, high-fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, salt, garlic, soybean oil, onion, xanthan gum, red peppers, (ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, calcium disodium EDTA), spices, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), lemon juice concentrate, caramel color.

Brown Rice vs. White Rice

I’ve seen brown rice that is slightly higher in calories than white rice, but for the most part they’re close. For instance, 1 cup of cooked long-grain brown rice is about 216 calories, whereas 1 cup of cooked long-grain white rice is 205. However, that’s where the similarities end. The best place to start is the fiber: The brown rice has 3.5 grams of dietary fiber (14 percent of the recommended daily value) versus only 0.6 percent for the white rice. Fiber is helpful in a number of ways, but one key benefit is that it slows the digestion of food and prevents insulin spikes. Brown rice also has 87 micrograms or 22 percent of your recommended daily value for folic acid and 84 milligrams or 21 percent of your daily value for magnesium, which is helpful for energy and muscle relaxation. Finally, the brown rice has nearly double the amount of natural selenium (19.1 micrograms versus 11.8 micrograms), which research has shown to be helpful for those who are at high risk for prostate cancer or heart disease.

100 Percent Whole-Grain Bread vs. White Bread

Unless you’ve totally ignored the news, you already know that whole grains are better. But I’ve noticed that when people are at the market comparing food labels, they’re shocked that the whole-grain breads are often higher in calories. For instance, one slice of Pepperidge Farm 100% Natural 100% Whole Wheat Bread is 100 calories, whereas Pepperidge Farm Original White Bread is only 70 calories per slice. However, the whole-grain bread has more than triple the fiber, more iron, more calcium and double the protein. Also, keep in mind (just in case you have been a bit out of touch) that when grains are refined, other nutrients, such as vitamin E, vitamin B6 and magnesium, are removed. As a very important side note, make sure you buy only 100 percent whole-grain breads with no added ingredients. Many whole-grain breads have added sugars and other ingredients that you can certainly live without. As an example, look at Arnold Natural 100% Whole Wheat. I’m not sure what the “natural” means here, because even though all the ingredients — including added sugar, soybean oil, calcium sulfate, salt, yeast, cultured wheat starch, sugar cane fiber, molasses, etc. — are “natural” as opposed to “fake,” that doesn’t mean they ought to be in bread. And, yes, it’s only 90 calories per slice, and 100 percent whole grain, but it’s still not what you should be looking for.

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CHARLES STUART PLATKIN is a nutrition and public health advocate, founder and editor of DietDetective.com, the health and fitness network and author of The Diet Detective’s Calorie Bargain Bible (Simon & Schuster, 2007). Copyright 2008 by Charles Stuart Platkin. All rights reserved. Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter and iTunes podcast at www.DietDetective.com.

If you are looking to develop great abs then there are some important questions you must answer. How do I need to eat for great abs and what are the diet rules I need to follow? Those can be hard questions to answer. After all we see hundreds of advertisements answering those questions in hundreds of different ways.

Once you know how to train your abdominal muscles in the gym. Once you know how to burn the fat off of your stomach by raising your metabolic rate. You can really increase your success rate to six pack abs with the proper diet.

One of the key things to remember is that you don’t have to follow any of the so called fad diets. One program tells you to go low carb, one tells you to go low fat, one says to go high in protein. If you want to see your abs underneath that layer of fat surrounding your belly then don’t try to make it difficult. Don’t sway with this and that fad diet that all your friends are trying out. I like fitness expert Mike Geary’s advice. Keep it simple with the key being on balance and eating foods that are high in nutrients that have not been damaged through food processing.

Eating a proper diet is not as easy as getting your daily allowance of fruits and vegetables. The way our foods are grown, and made have made it difficult to eat right. Foods have been chemically altered for taste, shelf life, and growth. That has left us with potential adverse health effects which are still unfolding. You are much better off sticking with unprocessed nutrient rich foods.

A good ab diet can be had by following these four dieting keys.

* Consume quality protein in large amounts. You will burn more calories by the simple act of consuming protein. Foods rich in protein require more work to digest. In addition the protein builds muscle which also need energy to maintain and grow. As this energy is used calories are being burnt. If you have ever heard that eating 6 small meals a day is good for you its true. Your energy level is maintained throughout the day, you don’t crave junk food, and you burn more calories through the process of digestion.

* Take in food high in fiber. Try and take in your carbs from high fiber sources. Foods that are rich in fiber will satisfy your hunger. Natural fiber from unrefined grains, fruits, and vegetables are a much better choice than fiber supplements. It’s a good idea to stay away from foods such as sugars and fruit juice. The fiber has been removed from them to make digestion easier. A key cause of body fat struggles is refined grains and sugars. Two to three grams of fiber per ten grams of carbs is a good rule of thumb when comparing food choices.

* Some fat is good. Fat free diets can be damaging to the human body. Here are some good sources of fat. Organic meats, fish, nuts, olive oil, egg yolks, and seeds. Remember that fat gives us many of the vitamins and minerals that our body needs to function. Get rid of all fat and you create vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

* Stay away from these two enemies of the lean body. If you can stay away from processed foods you will avoid these enemies. The first is high fructose corn syrup. Unfortunately most food items that have been sweetened are high in fructose corn syrup. The second is artificial trans fats. Trans fats are neither required nor beneficial to the human body. They increase the chance of coronary heart disease among other ill effects. Most trans fats are industrially created to increase the shelf life of food. These trans fats come in the form of margarines, hydrogenated oils and shortening.

Mike Geary (fitness expert) says you will gain control of your hormone levels, blood sugar levels, and appetite by following these 4 keys. Don’t do everything right in the gym and then fail in your diet. If you really want your ab muscles to show then follow these diet tips to success.

Admit it. You are having a hard time saying no to the sweetness of chocolates or to the crunch in every bite of your favorite junk food. You say no of course as that’s the logical thing to do. You’re trying to stay fit after all.

From that corner of your eye, they tempt you even more. The craving cramps your stomach and so you give in. You take a bite. Delightful, it was! The result, you’ve consumed more than you thought you did.

And you don’t feel guiltless at all.

According to food and fitness experts, successful dieting may start with saying no to these snacks, no matter how unavoidable. Definitely though, it doesn’t end there. Sticking with that pledge and eventually making it a habit to stay away makes it work.

A good diet sticks to the proper food enriched with vitamins and minerals; fruits and vegetables never fail. These nutrients aid in healing sickness, providing energy for your body cells, prevent diseases and build and strengthen your immunity. Only these sources can offer us the life-supporting power. From a common cold to the complex osteoporosis, you definitely need to have a full range of the right nutrients that can only be found in nature’s foods.

Keeping your guard up when it comes to eating non-healthy food does pay off. The vitamins and minerals which aren’t found in your favorite stuff to chomp play a vital role in your body’s well-being. Vitamins regulate metabolism, ensure proper growth and help keep your physical well-being in the overall.

However, since our bodies don’t produce their own vitamins, acquiring them can be effectively done through proper diet.

Doing away with the traditional dieting can be tricky. While some people think that a balanced diet means tasteless diet, the opposite may be true. Nutritionists entice people to explore the wide diversity and variations of possible food choices. A balanced diet that comprises healthy yet diverse foods primarily promotes good health. It keeps you away from being deprived and eventually, depressed.

Similarly, counting your carbohydrate intake and calorie consumption can offer you great help. Remember, though, to take things lightly. When doing this causes you irritation, find better alternatives to keep track of your efforts. All weight loss experts agree on one thing, that keeping a journal of your food intake and the exercises you have performed, almost always means success. During moments of success, big or small, gives yourself a pat on back. This, other than proper dieting, is a healthy habit.

A reminder though, for the health-conscious who are either under medication or are suffering from medical condition, ask your physician on what food is right for you. Under certain circumstances, special arrangements on diets may be provided. You may be too eager to do the dieting the normal way, but some limitations or prohibitions may be applicable. Check it with your doc!

As somebody puts it, “making a different choice gives you the opportunity to live a different life.” The new you will show you that everything you have done to keep fit is well worth it.

More than a million people around the world are affected by this very disagreeable disorder of the digestive and the GI tract called Crohn’s, it has many unpleasant symptoms, to alleviate which, a remedy (drug-free) called Ablene was developed by scientists.

What is this remedy Ablene?

Forcible discharge of the nutrients from the body with diarrhea, vomiting, and fever are one of the symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease. Ablene is specifically developed to supplement these nutrients in patients with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. This makes the patients recover from such a loss.

The biggest irony of the various medical treatments for this disease is that they make the intracellular deficiency even worse. Ablene is developed to addresses this aspect of the treatment, especially.

The way Ablene works:

Apart from diarrhea and abdominal cramping, other notable symptoms are major weight loss, loss of appetite, rectal bleeding, and fever. While keeping the patients under close observation to monitor and control these, they are advised to avoid allergy-causing foods like diary products, fats, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, and cereal grains.

Ablene resists inflammation-causing substances and enzymes, as it contains anti-inflamatories.

Nutrients of optimum quality: Ablene contains sufficient quantity of those nutrients found to be ideal for digestive health, as it is designed with a view to improve the quality of life of the people whose digestive tract is affected.

The ingredients:

The body loses vital nutrients necessary for the body due to a digestive system affected by Crohn’s.

The following are some of the important ingredients of Ablene:

The extracts of iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, and copper are most important in the regulation of the functions of the digestive tract.

Vitamins A, C, E, and B-complex, natural plant extracts of olive, cat’s claw and licorice to control inflammation.

To control the side effects of Crohn’s, Inositol, choline, l-glutamine, and rutein are present in Ablene.

When combined with the physician’s treatment program, the ingredients of Ablene significantly lower the symptoms of Crohn’s. It is proved by the available research that these ingredients are very useful in the battle against Crohn’s disease and GI tract disorders.

What are the best products to treat hair loss? I found myself asking that very question, the answer may be easier than you think. There are many people around the world that suffer from hair loss, men and women alike, it does not discriminate. Here are the top 3 methods to treat hair loss that I have found. Continue Reading…

Human body is a living machine and it needs regular supply of fuel so that it runs smooth. The fuel on which human body runs comes in the form of vitamins, proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and some other such nutrients. And to get an adequate proportion of all these, the body needs a balanced diet. This is where the problem lies.

For various reasons, people cannot take balanced diet regularly and suffer from the disorders caused by nutritional insufficiency. This is the reason why companies like Solgar came into existence. They produce nutritional products that compensate the inadequacy of vitamins and other important source of energy in human body and help people live a healthy life.

The main purpose of Solgar products is to provide people with something that they can consume very easily. The real problem behind the ill-health of a number of people is not that they are unable to afford a balanced diet. Many of them are well-off and highly capable of buying all the items that make a diet fully beneficial for the body. But the problem is the shortage of time.

To help these people keep fit in spite of being unable to take a balanced diet, Solgar offer food supplements and multivitamins. All the products from this company are made with natural products. They have their own botanical garden where they produce their won raw materials to prepare the products. So, their products are not polluted by chemical ingredients.

It is not that they grow the herbs and other raw materials in their own garden. They also process them in a proper manner, keeping good care of the hygienic condition. Thus, without the touch of any harmful elements, Solgar products reach to the users. The products are also marketed and sold in both traditional and online shops. So, users find it very easy buy the products.
by John Hayden

If you are a vegan you probably don’t need to read this because you will be extremely healthy and disease-free.

Vegans eat in the following manner. 50% of their foods are in the form of fresh, raw fruits. 35% of their foods are in the form of fresh raw vegetables. 10% of their foods are in the form of grains and the balance is obtained from eating concentrated foods such as nuts, and dried fruit.

This is the vegan way of living and it guarantees optimum health and freedom from disease or illness.
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Why use anti aging eye cream? Who needs to use it? People will look at our eyes when they desire to speak to us. As we age dark circles develop below your eyes causes a person to appear older and, combined with the wrinkles that form as we grow old. We need to take better care for the appearance of our eyes. We will first look at the causes of an eye aging.
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Until now the debate over hair loss vitamin deficiency has been raging. One side says that hair loss is not due to a lack of vitamins in the body. The other side says that losing your hair due to nutrient deficiency is very real. What is the truth about hair loss vitamin deficiency?
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