Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Factors to Consider When Buying Vitamins and Supplements

Vitamins and dietary supplements are some of the most popular forms of health assistants with many people. They provide energy and replenishment when we don’t get the correct amount of natural nutrients from our eating habits. Not all food will provide us with the exact amount of minerals and vitamins that we need each day and we can end up with a serious deficiency. If you feel that you need to start including minerals and vitamin supplements, you should know the right ones to buy.

Generally, the first step is to visit your doctor and find out if you have any deficiencies in your body. You can do this through blood tests or just by talking to your doctor about any symptoms you are displaying, such as tiredness or fatigue. Those could both be symptoms of an underlying condition, or a deficiency in certain substances that your body needs in order to function at its peak. If you speak to your doctor and find out that you do need supplements, take their advice and buy what they suggest.

Never take more than the recommended dose of the vitamins and supplements because despite their natural properties, your body can only use what it needs. You should also consider the nature of your eating habits. You may require supplements simply because you are not eating in a healthy way. Some foods are far less nutritious than others and if you tend to eat more fast food than healthy options, you can certainly become deficient in minerals and vitamins. Improving your eating pattern can help to regain some of your lost minerals and vitamins, but supplements will replenish the rest.

There are also times in your life when you might need some supplements because of age related conditions. Calcium becomes more important as we age, as does iron and zinc and Vitamin K. Depending on your age you should consult your doctor as to any age related issues that would benefit from an intake of supplements to ensure continued good health.

The brand you choose is also important. There are many brands on the shelves, all claiming to be the best and offer special ingredients or exclusive ingredients. Make sure you are taking a genuine product with a good reputation and not a cheaper brand that is synthetically produced. If your aim is to always use natural products in your body, make sure that what you are buying is in fact a genuinely natural product. While synthetically produced vitamins and minerals may help you, natural products always contain traces of the actual source from which they come, such as plants and herbs. Don’t mistake the fake for the real thing, when shopping for vitamins and supplements.

Choosing the Right Natural Homeopathic Formula

Whilst many people trust the notion of homeopathic medicine, it has come in for some serious debunking over its long history. Homeopathy has its roots in a system originated by Samuel Hahnemann, who began work on his theory around 1796. His method of treatment was ‘like cures like’ using the entire symptoms of the entire person. This holistic form of treatment has had some success but scientists have found no true basis for its effects. However, despite this, homeopathy has continued to gain in popularity and over the last sixty years or so, homeopaths have improved their formulas of natural forms of medicine to good effect.

As homeopathy is a concentration of the entire body and the symptoms it is always conducted as an overall method of treatment. When a person visits a homeopathic healer the healer will ask many questions regarding their general health, their medical history and their personal circumstances. The body responds in different ways to stressful situations or pressure and as every person is individual, we all respond differently to various treatments.

There are hundreds of homeopathic remedies on the market, ranging from treatments for acne to yeast infections. The spectrum of homeopathic remedies covers the entire alphabet. If you know little or nothing about homeopathy it is always best to consult an expert, because while homeopathic medicine can heal it can also harm if taken incorrectly. As with all medicine never take anything that has not been recommended by someone who understands how it works and what it will do for you.

When you decide that you want to experience a homeopathic treatment for a specific ailment, check out local homeopathic practitioners. It is recommended that you find one with good reviews or testimonials and always make sure you see their accreditations.

Most homeopathic medicine is a diluted version of the original herb or substance, normally diluted to six hundred times the original strength, although some vary in their strengths. The substance is mixed with water, and the patient takes this remedy in pill or liquid form. Many medical doctors are advocates of homeopathic remedies, while others believe it acts more as a placebo. Many doctors who are proponents of homeopathic remedies will often work with their patients to assist in the holistic method, working alongside scientific medicine for an overall healing experience.

There is no specific ‘formula’ to homeopathic remedies. Every remedy is an individual system of healing, based on the person and their symptoms. The tailor-made formula is based on every part of the assessment and is designed to reduce stress and otheralth symptoms. One other thing to note is that homeopathic remedies are also designed to fend off potential symptoms and keep the body in its natural balance.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Benefits of Organic Vitamins and Supplements

There has long been a discussion about the benefits of choosing organic items over non-organic. Foods, fruits and vegetables have been the topic of debate and discussion, each side arguing that they are best. Organically grown fruit and vegetables contain no residue from chemical fertilizers and foreign substances, while regular fruit and vegetables, grown non-organically have a tendency to contain some residue.

Many people, who are starting to favour a more pure idea of eating eco-friendly food, look for organically grown produce. The same rules apply to any edible consumables. Herbal supplements, vitamins, minerals and homeopathic medicines should all be made from natural products, which do not contain any ‘alien’ substances.

The vitamins we see on most supermarket and grocery shelves may have been synthetically created, in much the same way that chemical prescription drugs are created. They have additives and preservatives which do some harm to the body, taken over a long period of time. The coating on the tablets or capsules is also non-organic and therefore can also contain residue contaminants. While these are not deemed unsafe for public consumption, many people do feel dubious enough to steer away from store brand and non-organic supplements.

The general difference between non-organic and organic vitamins and supplements is that organic items have been created from ingredients grown naturally and the tablets or capsules have been produced in as natural a way as possible and without additives. If you decide you need certain supplements or vitamins and minerals, buying organic will assure you that what you are taking is purely natural. The benefits on the body are also noticeable. You might only feel it on a psychological basis, but it’s kind of like eating a salad and feeling as though you have cleansed your body. The same applies to taking organic produce compared to non-organic and the feeling is similar.

There is a difference between ‘natural’, ‘all natural’ and ‘organic’, when it comes to buying supplements. Many will claim to have natural properties and ingredients but still contain some contaminants. Others will claim to be organic, but not actually have been fully produced in an organic way from inception to completion and some will have all organic elements. It is advisable to always check the labels on the bottle of any products that claim to be organic. Their ingredient list should verify that the contents are fully organic, including the coating. If you only want to use an organic product, check this first.

Organic produce is cleaner, greener and far healthier for the body than synthetic produce. With synthetics, despite government guidelines, it is not always easy to know exactly what has gone into the making of the item you are buying.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Are Bodybuilding Supplements Good for Fitness and Health?

Bodybuilding has become one of the most popular forms of fitness in the UK over the last few decades. Many men spend countless hours in the gym, perfecting their abdominals, laterals and pectorals. The subject has also been quite contentious when it comes to the use of some substances. As we know, some substances that can enhance performance are banned from the sporting arena, which technically means that a person who uses them shouldn’t be competing. On the flip side, if you are not a professional sportsperson you do not have to adhere to the same rules. However,this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t seriously consider the health and safety consequences of bodybuilding supplements before putting them in your body.

Bodybuilding supplements can consist of certain types of steroids that can be bad for your general health and wellbeing. Taking them for a short amount of time is far less dangerous than taking them over lengthy periods of time, but always do your research before you indulge. Talk to your doctor about your personal health, blood pressure level and other issues that might be sparked or aggravated by taking a substance that your body isn’t used to.

Many supplements can be an excellent assistant in the health and fitness of the body. Some can enhance your energy, others can assist in giving the body extra protein to help with muscle building. You should always check the ingredients of any supplements you intend to take, though. Make sure the ingredients are natural and can easily be absorbed safely into the body without causing harmful side effects. Always take supplements as part of a natural and healthy eating and exercise program, rather than just to obtain a quick fix for a quick workout in the gym.

The ingredients are probably the most important factor in choosing which supplement to take. Calcium, omega 3, vitamin D and other supplements that the body needs are good when it comes to over-all physical health, but some ingredients should only be used on a sporadic or rare basis. Always check the label to be sure you are not in danger of overdosing on certain substances. Although they may be perfectly natural and healthy, it is possible to get too much of a good thing, which can make you feel ill.

You should also only consider supplements that are right for you and your body. Your stature might be smaller than someone else’s or bigger. You may be thin framed or large framed. There are many things to consider in terms of safety to your own wellbeing that could affect you adversely if you take something that is not meant for you. Check some of the most popular websites that contain the most accurate fitness and health information before you plunge into taking supplements.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

All You Need To Know About Multivitamins for Women

We all need multivitamins at some point in our lives. Our eating patterns may change as our daily habits alter and we don't always get the right supplements we need. If we work long hours and don't get enough breaks we can also suffer from fatigue and tiredness. Our immune system can also suffer as we get older. Many women feel the need to take a supplement at some time or another, especially older women. Those over the age of fifty will need different types of supplement than those who are younger. Menopause can affect a woman's metabolic rate, hormone levels and other internal systems.

Younger women from twenty to fifty should look for supplements that help them stay active and agile. Vitamins that help keep the skin looking young and supple are important, as well as calcium for good bone structure. Iron and zinc are also vital for energy and healthy blood and a strong immune system. A lack of iron in your body can make you anemic and tired. Magnesium, vitamin K and B12 are also vital to the body, especially for athletic women.

Pregnancy can affect how a woman's body behaves and reacts. She will be concerned about the inner health of her baby and she will want to make sure that she gets all the proper supplements she needs. Most multivitamins for women contain at least fifty percent of the RDA-recommended daily allowance-that a woman needs. The other fifty percent should come from her eating pattern, containing healthy choices of fresh fruit, vegetables and water. This is largely to prevent any overdosing on the vitamins that the body cannot always ingest or process.

Women over the age of fifty, or those who have stopped menstruating should take different multivitamins to those who are younger. Vitamin C is important in the production of collagen. It helps the skin retain its elasticity and flexibility. Vitamin B3 is excellent for naturally breaking down the blood sugar, so it can be converted into natural energy. Vitamin K is vital for the blood, as it helps in clotting. In older women, a simple cut can become a gushing wound if the blood does not clot in time to stop the bleeding. Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption and helps keeps bone strong. The proteins involved in white blood cell production can be adversely affected by a lack of vitamin B6, so make sure your multivitamins include B6 when you check the label.

Generally, a good healthy eating pattern will consist of most of the daily requirements your body needs in order to stay healthy. However, if you feel you need to take supplemental multivitamins, consult your doctor and get the best advice on what to take and where to buy.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Advantages of Natural Health Supplements

There are a great number of mysteries surrounding health and nutritional supplements. Many of these mysteries are grounded in the lack of real information, where to get that information and who to listen to. Many people seem to think that if they have a healthy, balanced eating pattern—let’s not call it a diet—they will not need supplements. However, this could, in some cases, not be further from the truth. As we get older our bodies don’t retain the same level of vitamins and minerals as they did when we were younger. This can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue and a failing immune system. Just because we eat plenty fresh fruit and vegetables, it doesn’t necessarily mean that our body is getting the exact amount of nutrients that it needs on a daily basis.

To the contrary, how many of us can truly say that we are getting enough fresh fruit and vegetables every day? The 5-a-day notion is good in theory but do we all adhere to it? The answer to that is, probably not. This means that if we don’t have a balanced and healthy eating pattern we are not getting the correct recommended daily allowances of each vitamin and mineral that we need. If we only get around fifty percent each day, by the end of each week our bodies will be fifty percent short in the balanced levels we need. Come Friday we will be exhausted and wonder why. We will put it down to lack of sleep or over-work but in reality, if we had the right amount of minerals and vitamins we might have felt a little better by the end of the week. That deficit carries forward into the next week, too, leaving you even more fatigued. This is definitely something we should all be vigilant about.

One of the advantages of natural health supplements is to provide our bodies with the right amount of minerals and vitamins to perform to its full potential. If we take a daily supplement and still hit our RDA—recommended daily allowance—via our eating pattern, we end up with a boost. There are some vitamins that it is not healthy to overdose on, however, so do make sure you are not ingesting too much of a certain vitamin.

Natural health supplements are made from time honoured traditional methods using natural herb extracts and plants. There should be no chemicals in natural supplements and therefore no ‘side effects’ from taking them. Always read the label and make sure you are taking the right herbs and supplements to suit your body. Talk to a natural health expert or your nutritionist and get the proper advice before you take supplements that you may not even need.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Crucial Steps to Buying Wholesale Vitamins

The terms wholesale and retail differ in many ways. Purchasing goods wholesale usually requires buying bulk items for resale in a store, online or just for personal consumption because it’s cheaper. Retail usually indicates buying one item at the retail price. If you own a health shop or are a practitioner, you will definitely want to be in a position where you reduce your overheads and make the most of your profit. Buying wholesale can certainly help reduce those outgoing costs, but there are 5 crucial steps in choosing the right wholesale vitamins.

Step 1: Quality Control

You might need to sign a contract with a wholesaler for the goods you buy. If this is the case, you will need to make sure you compare their products with other recommended products on the market. Make sure you buy vitamins that are made from natural ingredients and have a good reputation. If no contract is needed you are free to shop anywhere and you can choose your products according to quality and pricing.

Step 2: Brand Favourability

Many health food shops prefer to sell a specific brand of natural products and vitamins. You will probably have seen in other shops that they are affiliated with an exact product label. If you find a brand that you prefer and you know to be high quality, stick with it and use it as a brand your own shop. It is still ok to sell other labelled products but if you choose a particular brand it should be the most prominent on your shelves to entice customers to choose it too.

Step 3: Reliability

Make sure that the wholesaler you choose to purchase from has everything in stock when you need it. Many times you will find that if you go to buy a product it might be out of stock and there is a long waiting period before the next order arrives.  This is not good customer service on your part and it is important that when your own customer’s request a product from you, you can have it to hand or get it quickly.

Step 4: Personal Choices

It is also important that you can work with a wholesaler who will customize your order if needed. You may want to vary your purchases from week to week or month to month, or if a specific customer requests a certain item.  A wholesaler should not make you stick rigidly to a specific commitment and you should be able to buy whatever stock you need.  If you are a practitioner you will also need personalized choices for new clients.

Step 5: Delivery

How soon can your wholesaler deliver if you need it? How fast can they get to you with a rush order? Not all wholesalers provide a delivery service but if yours does, you will need them to get orders to you as fast as possible.