Vitamin D for Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes low bone mineral density and can lead to increased bone fractures. Osteoporosis is linked to low calcium intake. Vitamin D is found to help absorb the calcium into the bone. Vitamin D has been added to calcium supplements recently for this reason.

For vitamins to make a "health claim," the claim itself must be approved by the FDA. The FDA just finalized an amendment to add vitamin D to the claim that calcium helps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Postmenopausal women are the most likely to develop osteoporosis, though it may also develop in men. It is recommended that women in their twenties start taking a calcium supplement with vitamin D to help fight against osteoporosis later in life.

Omega-3 during Pregnancy?

Does eating fish during pregnancy have an effect on your baby's infant development? New signs point to "yes." A recent Danish study found that women who ate the most fish during pregnancy and had greater duration of breast feeding were more likely to have children with higher developmental scores at 18 months. These differences in scores were even seen as early as 6 months of age.

In addition, mothers with a higher omega-3 intake may have lessen their risk of post partum depression. Omega-3 can be found in supplements and cold water fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines.

Omega-3

I have been taking Omega-3 for many years, but little did I know all the benefits of this supplement. Research has been showing omega-3 benefits heart, eye, joint, mind and immune system health. Emerging science is also focusing on omega-3's link to skin health.

The universal awareness and public acceptance of the health benefits of Omega-3 ingredients has translated into rising consumer recognition. Marine-sourced Omega-3, EPA and DHA are the most popular forms, gaining a majority of the attention for their heart and brain benefits. Even the infant nutrition sector is booming due to new fortification in both Western and Asian markets. Formulation diversity means that most foods and beverage are available for fortification. Products ranging from bread to milk, juice, tortillas, chocolate, yogurt, peanut butter and even meat are all boasting Omega-3 nutrients.

Even with fortification becoming more popular, the best way to know exactly how much Omega-3 you are taking is via supplement. Omega-3, in food or in supplements, seems to be here to stay. Stay tuned to more research on the benefits of omega-3.
-Community Assistant

Olympians and Supplements

There is good news for vitamin and supplement companies following this summer’s Beijing Olympics. According to the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA), 90% of the 11,000 athletes in attendance at the Olympic Games used dietary supplements of some kind, and to top that, there was not a single supplement contamination case. In the run up to the games, some Greek weightlifters and a US athlete blamed contaminated supplements for doping offences. This argument has never held much weight with the World Anti-Doping Agency, or the public, and the athletes were banned. Perhaps Beijing marks a turning point for the supplement industry and been given a lift by its clean performance. ESSNA chairman Dr. Adam Carey notes, if there are safe products on the market that can benefit an athlete’s performance and overall health, it is verging on negligence to advise athletes against them. And of course safe supplements are just as important for the general public. The 2007 introduction of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and pending Adverse Event Reporting regulations (AERs), mean quality control in the dietary supplements industry has never been in better shape.
-Community Assistant

Say Cheese!

I have never been one to drink the milk out of my cereal bowl after I was done eating my Lucky Charms. Nor is milk my first choice of drink when sitting down to dinner. According to a study out of Brazil, I may change my habits. Low dietary intakes of calcium may increase the prevalence of overweight or obesity by 24%. Calcium has been debated as a method of helping to enhance weight loss, especially in recent “milk” advertisements suggesting that if you drink 24 oz of milk every 24 hours it can help you lose weight. Researchers suggested two potential reasons for this result. Calcium may have an effect on certain hormones that play a role in fat build-up and calcium may help to bind more fatty acids in the intestines, thereby inhibiting fat absorption. I find this is an excellent excuse to eat cheese and crackers for dinner- with a glass of milk.
-Community Assistant

Is Your Brain Shrinking?

As we get older, our body starts to deteriorate. However, there are things you can do now to keep try to keep your body in a "younger" state. One of those things is keeping your brain healthy.
Brain atrophy (wasting away, deteriorating, shrinking, etc.) is linked to Alzheimer's Disease. An article published this month in Neurology hypothesized that vitamin B12 is linked with the loss of brain volume in the elderly. They studied 107 elderly people over 5 years and found that adults with low levels of vitamin B12 have a higher risk of brain atrophy. According to the Mayo Clinic, Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to other "abnormal neurologic and psychiatric symptoms" as well.

Are you getting enough vitamin B12 in your diet? Vitamin B-12 is naturally found in eggs, milk, and meat (especially liver and shellfish). Those who are vegetarian or vegan can get a god amount of vitamin B12 by eating fortified cereals. If you are not getting enough vitamin B in your diet (2 to 3 micrograms per day) you may want to consider taking vitamin B12 as a dietary supplement.

Can vitamins keep away mosquitoes?

I love my husband. You know who else loves him? Mosquitoes!! Whenever we are outside at night or trekking through forests mosquitoes are attracted to him. Are mosquitoes attracted to some people more than others? Studies show this is definitely true, however, the question is "Why?"

Many people say that vitamin B helps to produce a skin odor that keep away mosquitoes. There are many companies out there that highlight their vitamin B supplements as "mosquito repelling." According to an article in The New York Times recent studies show that vitamin B has no effect on keeping away those pesky bugs. Both a study published in 2005 in The Journal of American Mosquito Control Association and a study by Brazilian scientists showed no evidence that vitamin B did anything to help. For now, it is best to stick to the 100% deet mosquito repellent sprays or lotions.

New Joint Health Supplement - No Shellfish, No Pills, Once-a-day

The most recommended supplement for joint health is glucosamine. Over the past few years as I've spoken with physicians about our Neoflex caplets for joint health, I've gotten two major complaints over and over about joint supplements in general.
#1. What about my patients that are allergic to shellfish or keep kosher (Note: Glucosamine is usually made from shellfish.)
#2. My patients have trouble swallowing joint supplements. (The chondrotin used in joint supplements can make them on the larger side.)

After hearing these comments again and again we decided to do something about it! I'm excited to announce that I've been working on launching a new product called Neoflex Powder. Neoflex Powder has the same research recommended doses as Neoflex Caplets (glucosamine HCL (1500 mg), chondroitin (1200 mg), and MSM (500 mg). However, the new Neoflex Powder contains no shellfish, no pills, and is taken once-a-day!

Neoflex Powder utilizes a non-shellfish, non-animal glucosamine derived from a patented fermentation process. The great tasting, orange flavored powder is mixed with water once daily.
A one-month supply comes in a bag of thirty single-serving packets-easy for on-the-go.

I'm very excited about this new product launch so I thought I'd share it with you! If ever you have any suggestions or questions regarding supplements feel free to contact me directly at vitaminlearning@gmail.com or comment right on this blog.