Vitamin Information Center

Alternative Medicine
Synonyms
Traditional medicine; Holistic medicine
Definition
Alternative medicine encompasses techniques of treatment
and prevention of disease that are regarded by
modern, Western medicine as scientifically unproven
or unorthodox. Alternative medicine includes different
therapies such as chiropractic, homeopathy, acupuncture,
herbal medicine, massage therapy, aromatherapy,
naturopathy and many others. Although many alternative
therapies have been successfully used for a long
time in the treatment of disease, the scientifically oriented
modern medical establishment is often strongly
opposed to the use of alternative medicine.
Cross-References
 Complementary Medicine
 Holistic Medicine
 Traditional Medicine

If you are trying to lose weight, gain lean muscle, and improve your overall health, there are 6 rarely spoken of things through out the “Lose Weight” community you need that effectively and rapidly improve your health. Losing weight and embarking on a healthier lifestyle is a battle, inputing the following six weapons into your arsenal can help you win the battle outright!

The first is: Apple Cider Vinegar: Lower cholesterol, weight loss, increase metabolic rate are just some of the benefits of this great supplement, and to top it all off, it’s natural! You can take ACV up to three times daily. It’s best to take it before each meal as it will help in curbing your appetite thus reducing the amount of portions you would usually get with your meals. The recommended amount to take is 1-3 tablespoons (3 is recommended), mixed with a glass of water and a little honey to lower the acid taste. Make sure to consult a physician before taking this or any other supplement.

Second: Fish Oil or (Omega 3 Fatty Acids) Fish oil have two main fatty acids: DHA (docosahexanoic acid) / EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). Make sure the supplements you purchase contain an adequate amount of these two fatty acids. They are also found in fish such as salmon. Fish oil is important to take on daily basis as it helps with mental health, helps in prevention of colon, prostate & breast cancer, also, heart health, and overall health. Make sure to consult a physician before taking this or any other supplement.

Third: Multi-Vitamin Just about everyone has heard of Multi-Vitamins. But, most don’t realize how important taking this supplement actually is. Due to busy lifestyles, and/or poor eating habits, most of us are lacking in important vitamin and mineral intake that our body need for optimum functionality. Choosing multi-vitamin brands can be a little tough. I recommend to search around and do good research on the different types of vitamins on the market today. Also, try to get multi-vitamins that are more tailored to you, i.e. (active lifestyle, for men, for women, for seniors, etc.). Make sure to consult a physician before taking this or any other supplement.

Fourth: Ice Cold Water I know, I know, who else doesn’t know that you need to drink plenty of water daily if you want to stay/get in great health! But, did you know that drinking ICE COLD water is really what does the trick with helping you lose weight? When you drink ice cold water your body begins to burn fat so that it can warm the water you’ve just drunk to body temperature. This is also known as the thermogenic effect. You won’t burn a large amount of calories, but drinking large amounts is still incredibly important for your health.

Fifth: Olive Oil Olive oil consist of unrefined monounsaturated fats, which is healthy for your body. Olive oil can also increase fat burning, healthy HDL cholesterol levels and more! Replace all of your usual cooking oils with olive oil. You can also use it as a base for salad dressing. Refer to healthy salad dressing recipes for more information on how to make this healthy alternative dressing to the usual high calorie and carb dressings on the market today. Before you take any type of supplement, even Multi-Vitamins, it’s important to consult with your physician first.

Sixth: Green Tea Green tea is highly recommended daily. Powerful antioxidants that helps cleanse your body, plus lowering cholesterol levels, weight loss, speeding up your metabolism, helping in treatment is skin disorders and so much more! In conclusion, as with any program, supplements, etc., nothing is going to work correctly without maintaining a consistent routine of exercising.

It’s often said that good health is the foundation of beauty. I’m willing to take that statement a step farther and claim that a balanced diet is the foundation of good health - and, therefore, beauty. For proof, just read the numerous medical studies that link healthy eating with disease prevention and disease reversal. These same studies connect high fat intake, high sodium consumption, and diets with too much protein to numerous illnesses, including obesity, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diverticular diseases, hypertension, and kidney disease. And of course, there are all the looks-stealing side effects of a poor diet, such as thinning hair, scaly skin, breakouts, pale complexion, nail disorders, and excess weight. A nutrient-weak diet can also exacerbate existing skin conditions such as psoriasis and rosacea.

There are all kinds of health reasons to curb your salt intake to the recommended limit of 500 mg per day. For those prone to breakouts, iodine - a mineral found in iodized salt and seafood is believed by many professionals to contribute to acne flare-ups.

But what exactly is a balanced diet? Generally speaking, it is a diet comprising carbohydrates, dietary fiber, fat, protein, water, 13 vitamins, and 20 minerals. More specifically, it is a diet built around a wide variety of fruits, legumes, whole grains, and vegetables. Animal protein, high-fat foods, high-sodium foods, highly sugared foods, sodas, and processed foods are consumed sparingly, if at all. Of course, there are several ways to get your daily allotment of nutrients. Here are several of the most common diets.

All about omnivores

How healthy is an omnivorous diet? It depends. Omnivores may eat cheese, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, or seafood every day, choose refined snacks, and get only one daily serving of fruits and vegetables. This is not the healthiest option for those on an omnivorous diet.

On the other hand, those omnivores who limit animal-based foods to two or three times a week, choose water over soft drinks, and get the recommended five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables have a much healthier diet. The usual complaints about traditional omnivorous diets revolve around the diet’s high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat (found in animal-based foods), which can increase the risk of cancer diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. However, an omnivorous diet can actually be a healthy one, provided that thoughtful choices are made. To keep cholesterol and saturated fat to a minimum and nutrients to a maximum, omnivores should aim to eat five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables, choose whole grains over refined grains, enjoy daily legume or soy food protein sources, and limit their consumption of animal-based foods.

Everyone gets sick sooner or later. Even though you can’t entirely stop a cold you can prevent it from getting stronger and lasting longer. I would like to share with you today a few things you can do to over come your common colds.

When you get sick it is a virus that has entered your body. You have what I like to call helper cells that multiply to fight the illness that is upon you. The thing is your cells create new cells every time a new virus enters your body. A certain cell is created specifically for the virus that is affecting you at the time. Once your cells have defeated the virus you will never get sick from that same virus again because you have those cells in your body ready to fight before it affects you. There are many different forms of every virus so although it may seem like your getting the flu for the 50th time it’s actually the flu but a different type than the other 50.

Things you can do to over come these colds are simple but very effective. You can get a shot which is pretty much like planting those helper cells in you so they are there to fight instead of waiting till your sick to form and fight. This way is the most effective when it comes to fighting the common colds.

Another way you can prevent the common cold is to make sure you get a lot of vitamins everyday. I know people that have been taking vitamins all there life and they are never sick. Now I’m not saying you won’t get sick, I’m just saying this will help. Vitamins help strengthen your immune system which is like your army for the war against the cold.

A few other things that can be done are what most people do; go get the cold medicine at the local pharmacy or store. The pharmacies are always getting the newest kinds of medicine for all types of aches and pains but sometimes can be very expensive. The other things you can do are eating healthy and take care of your body. Make sure you brush your teeth at least two times a day and take showers everyday. It is also good to have some sort of yearly check ups with your family doctor. If you have been keeping a good hygiene and taking good care of yourself you will be fine.

I love greens for so many reasons, but mainly because they TASTE GREAT!!! In salad, sautéed in olive oil with a bit of garlic or stir fry in a festive mix, greens are my favorite food. However I know that many of you will only be coaxed into trying greens with a list of all of the great nutritional properties of these most wonderful vegetables, so here goes. Continue Reading…

Many people consider it unnecessary to take supplements. They believe that we get all the nutrition we need from our food. Maybe that used to be so. Our ancestors didn’t need nutritional supplements. The food they consumed was mostly fresh and unprocessed so, therefore, rich in vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. Continue Reading…

Candida is a fungus which habitant the digestion system. It appears almost from birth, and its existence is harmless as long as is it maintained in normal levels. This is achieved by the liver, kidneys, and the urine system functioning normally. But, when the delicate balance is violated unpleasant phenomenon might appear. The good news is that it is curable and the excellent news is that you can stay healthy and balanced for life. Continue Reading…

February 25, 2008 — On February 21, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) issued guidelines intended as a reference for clinicians in diagnosing and treating osteoporosis in men 50 years and older and in postmenopausal women. A recent study in the February 22 online issue of Osteoporosis International also highlights the use of the World Health Organization (WHO) fracture risk algorithm. Continue Reading…

Six-year vitamin E supplementation increased tuberculosis risk by 72% in male smokers who had high dietary vitamin C intake, but vitamin E had no effect on those who had low dietary vitamin C intake, according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
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If you take a close look at the average lifestyle that people have these days, you will find out that we are constantly subjecting our bodies to unnatural chemicals and substances that may not always be beneficial to our health.

For instance, a lot of the foods that we eat these days have been processed in some form or contain artificial ingredients such as preservatives. The average diet also contains more saturated fats and refined sugars than are needed by the body.
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