Serotonin is a very important brain chemical. One of the ways that we see serotonin in use is inour moods and especially in the way that we think. Think of serotonin in your brain as a funnel that just slowly drains goodness, if you have stress, don’t get our enough, get sick, then your serotonin production in your body will drop until that funnel has nothing to give your brain. This is bad. This is what causes depression in many people and there are ways to stop depression causing low serotonin levels.

Basiclally what you need to increase the creation of serotonin in your body is diet change, exercise, exposure to bright sunlight and if all else fails then SSRI antidepressent drugs.

The dietary supplement 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) is promoted as a treatment for insomnia, depression, migraine, obesity and attention deficit disorder in children. It is a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan and, in fact, the body makes it from the tryptophan present in foods such as beef, chicken, fish, dairy products and other high protein foods. I have found a lot of evidence that people swear by supplementing their diet with 5-HTP so this is something that you can try.

Exercise increases serotonin. We all know how important exercise is for improving our physical health and concentration as well as mood and it is the endorphin creation that fuels higher serotonin levels. Get exercise everyday. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder, dairy products, depression, Dietary Supplement, important brain chemical, insomnia, Lexapro, migraine, obesity, Prozac, seasonal affective disorder, treatment for insomnia

Belly fat can is the most stubborn fat to work off the body. In fact, where diets and exercise fail, a diet pill or dietary supplement may give you the flat, toned tummy you want. It may sound too good to be true, but biochemical research has yielded amazing advances that can make obtaining the body of your dreams as easy as taking a pill.

There are several types of diet pills, and it’s important to know exactly what each one does in order to determine which pill is right for you. The three primary types of diet pills are fat burners, fat absorption blockers, and appetite suppressants.

Within these three categories, you will find some pills are prescription only, while others are available over-the-counter. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that prescription pills are better or more effective. Some over-the-counter diet pills produce incredible results.

Many over the counter diet pills consist of all natural, herbal ingredients that change the body’s reaction to substances like carbohydrates or fats. Zilacetin increases heart rate and suppresses the appetite to create the dual effect of higher metabolism and lower calorie intake. Unlike many diet pills, Zilacetin does not contain stimulants.

Low carb dieters may benefit from a product like Advantage Carb Blocker. This product aids the body’s fat-burning ketosis state by blocking the conversion of carbohydrates to fat. It also works as an appetite suppressant, further aiding weight loss and combating carb cravings.

Another option is Meta Gen, which is a dietary supplement. Meta Gen helps keep weight under and control and destroys belly fat when used in conjunction with a sensible diet and exercise program. Products like Meta Gen give dieters an extra edge that makes weight loss more successful.

If you’re significantly overweight and looking for a prescription medication to help you get the pounds off, ask your doctor about Phentermine. Phentermine is a stimulant that works as a powerful appetite suppressant. It is meant to be used for short periods of time under the supervision of a doctor.

Xenical is another prescription medication that provides weight loss benefits. Xenical works by blocking the absorption of fat and should be used in conjunction with a low calorie diet and under doctor supervision. A less concentrated formula of Xenical is available over the counter under the label Alli.

If you’re looking for a prescription drug that provides both appetite suppressant qualities with metabolism boosters to finally get rid of the extra weight around your middle, ask your doctor if Didrex is right for you. Didrex is a short term diet supplement that works as a stimulant, increasing heart rate and decreasing appetite.

All diet pills, whether prescription or over the counter, herbal or chemical, may have negative and even potentially dangerous side effects. It is important to thoroughly research any diet aid you are considering taking. A doctor can provide guide you in your selection.

Tags: Dietary Supplement, ketosis, Xenical

Pain is a feeling that all of us would want to avoid, but often end up experiencing. Be it in the form of a headache, period pain, muscle ache or joint inflammation, an ache never leaves our side for too long a time.

The method that most of us follow to get rid of a pain is to pop an over-the-counter (OTC) painkiller into our mouth. While OTC medicines are effective in treating pain, they are also associated with a number of side effects, especially if used regularly or on a long-term basis.

Though many of us are unaware of this fact, there are a number of natural pain killers that can help relieve aches, without presenting the danger of side effects. In the following lines, we have listed some of the most effective natural remedies for pain, including the herbal ones.

Natural Pain Killers

Boswellia
Boswellia is the name of an Indian herb that has been found to be effective in treating the pain occurring from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Boswellic acids, the active constituents in boswellia, are responsible for bringing relief from the ache. This particular herb is available in the form of supplements as well as topically-applied creams. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ache, aches, arthritis, back pain, chemicals, Crohn's disease, Dietary Supplement, Environmental Protection Agency, fibromyalgia, fish oil, gastritis, gout, headache, headaches, inflammation, inflammatory chemicals, lower back pain, migraine, migraine headaches, muscle cramps, muscle injuries, natural remedies, oil, pain, pains, peptic ulcers, rheumatoid arthritis, sinusitis, South Africa

I have been compiling info on artificial sweetners for years and there are some that are OK and some that are really bad for you but here is a bit of an overview of he dangers of using different artificial sweeteners to try to drop your calorie intake.

Aspartame

Aspartame, a dipeptide of aspartic acid and a methyl ester of phenylalanine, is approved for use in pharmaceutical products and is being used increasingly in chewable tablet and sugar-free formulations. Labels for both prescription and nonprescription products must include the phenylalanine content. The major consideration in the use of aspartame in children is in patients with autosomal recessive phenylketonuria. Although heterozygotes do not appear to have clinically significant increases in phenylalanine after ingestion of even large amounts (equivalent to 24 12-oz cans of diet beverages), homozygotes with strict dietary restrictions should avoid aspartame. Children without dietary restrictions could safely ingest 10 mg/kg/day. Dietary consumption of aspartame is typically less than 5 mg/kg/day; young children, however, could ingest considerably more. For example, a 2-year-old child weighing 12 kg consumes 17 mg/kg from drinking one 12-oz can of diet soda and one serving of a sweetened product (eg, cereal, pudding, gelatin, or frozen dessert). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: absence seizures, affective disorders, albuminuria, allergy, American Herbal Products Association, American Medical Association, artificial chemical, artificial sweetners, aspartame, aspartic acid, bladder cancer, blisters, Brazil, cancer, chemical, dairy by-product, dairy products, depression, diarrhea, diet beverages, Dietary Supplement, dietary supplements, dizziness, eczema, epilepsy, evidence, fda, FDA/National Cancer Institute, food, food additive, Food additives, food processors, food products, headache, headaches, Hypersensitivity, insomnia, Japan, Japanese government, migraine headaches, mitral valve prolapse, nausea, neuropsychiatric disorders, nonprescription products, oliguria, panic attacks, Paraguay, pharmaceutical agents, pharmaceutical products, phenylketonuria, placebos, product, prurigo, pruritus, Saccharin, salty applications, SeaLife SL 200C 35mm Film Camera, seizure disorders, seizures, sodium chloride, Stevia, strabismus, Sucralose, tachycardia, Tagatose, United States, urticaria, vascular headaches, visual hallucinations, wheezing

Well this was a long time in coming and we will have to wait to see the effect but the FDA has set new rules for standards and purity for all of those supplements that we see out there.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced a final rule establishing regulations to require current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) for dietary supplements. The rule ensures that dietary supplements are produced in a quality manner, do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled.

“This rule helps to ensure the quality of dietary supplements so that consumers can be confident that the products they purchase contain what is on the label,” said Commissioner of Food and Drugs Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. “In addition, as a result of recent amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, by the end of the year, industry will be required to report all serious dietary supplement related adverse events to FDA.”

The regulations establish the cGMP needed to ensure quality throughout the manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and storing of dietary supplements. The final rule includes requirements for establishing quality control procedures, designing and constructing manufacturing plants, and testing ingredients and the finished product. It also includes requirements for recordkeeping and handling consumer product complaints.

“The final rule will help ensure that dietary supplements are manufactured with controls that result in a consistent product free of contamination, with accurate labeling,” said Robert E. Brackett, Ph.D., director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Under the final rule, manufacturers are required to evaluate the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements. If dietary supplements contain contaminants or do not contain the dietary ingredient they are represented to contain, FDA would consider those products to be adulterated or misbranded.

The aim of the final rule is to prevent inclusion of the wrong ingredients, too much or too little of a dietary ingredient, contamination by substances such as natural toxins, bacteria, pesticides, glass, lead and other heavy metals, as well as improper packaging and labeling.

The final rule includes flexible requirements that can evolve with improvements in scientific methods used for verifying identity, purity strength, and composition of dietary supplements.

As a companion document, FDA also is issuing an interim final rule that outlines a petition process for manufacturers to request an exemption to the cGMP requirement for 100 percent identity testing of specific dietary ingredients used in the processing of dietary supplements.

The final CGMP and the interim final rule are effective August 24, 2007. To limit any disruption for dietary supplements produced by small businesses, the rule has a three-year phase-in for small businesses. Companies with more than 500 employees have until June 2008 to comply, companies with less than 500 employees have until June 2009 to comply, and companies with fewer than 20 employees have until June 2010 to comply with the regulations.

Tags: Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner, consistent product, Dietary Supplement, dietary supplements, director, fda, FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Robert E. Brackett, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

For years we have looked at antioxidants as being one of those magic substances that will heal our bodies from the ravages of free radicals and also the natural breakdown of the body.

New Scientist has an article today that disputes the help of antioxidants on getting rid of free radicals and even mentions a couple of reports and studies that support their hypothesis.

I am not to sure how much to trust this story but it is always important to look at any studies with a critical eye and watch as more and more come out. For now I will continue taking my vitamins and working on getting as many antioxidants into my diet as possible.

Wondering about what exactly an antioxidant is? Here is some info from Wikipedia:

Since the discovery of vitamins, it has been recognized that antioxidants from the diet are essential for healthful lives in humans and many other mammals. More recently, a large body of evidence has accumulated that suggests supplementation of the diet with various kinds of antioxidants can improve health and extend life. Many nutraceutical and health food companies now sell formulations of antioxidants as dietary supplement. These supplements may include specific antioxidant chemicals, like resveratrol (from grape seeds), combinations of antioxidants, like the “ACES” products that contain beta carotene (provitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E and Selenium, or specialty herbs that are known to contain antioxidants such as green tea and jiaogulan. However, to date, the FDA finds insufficient evidence to endorse health claims that have been made regarding antioxidant supplementation (see Clinical Trials above).

Tags: antioxidant chemicals, Dietary Supplement, E, fda, health food, New Scientist, Scientist

Many people understand the importance of good nutrition, but believe that a daily vitamin pill will substitute for actually eating the fruits and vegetables that they know are good for them.

The more we learn about nutrition and the human body, however, the more we realize the importance of eating whole foods. That is why the American Dietetic Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture still recommend that we eat two to four servings of fruit and three to five servings of vegetables a day.

Here is an example of what science has found. During the last 15 years, a number of studies have shown that people who eat a diet rich in beta-carotene have a lower rate of several kinds of cancer. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant chemical naturally found in foods such as sweet potatoes, winter squash and carrots, and is also available in a pure, synthetic form.

The pure form of beta-carotene has become a popular dietary supplement, either by itself or as an ingredient in multi-vitamin pills. A number of recent studies, though, have not shown that taking beta-carotene in pill form lessens the risk of cancer.

Why should a nutrient in a pill be less effective than the same nutrient obtained from food?

Scientists are still studying this issue, but one thing seems clear: beta-carotene and other nutrients are most beneficial to health when they are consumed in combination with each other, as naturally found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.

These foods contain not only the well-known vitamins (A, B, C, etc.) that are often found in vitamin pills, but also hundreds of naturally occurring substances, including carotenoids, flavonoids, isoflavones and protease inhibitors.

These substances appear to protect against cancer, heart disease and other chronic health conditions. They work in different ways, and we are only beginning to understand their healthy role. Often, though, they work best when in combination with each other.

There is nothing wrong with taking multi-vitamin supplements to help ensure that we get certain nutrients every day. Pills, however, will never be able to give us the healthy combination of phytochemicals and other substances found naturally in food.

These can only be gotten from eating a varied diet, rich in plant foods. Fruits and vegetables in particular are virtual gold mines of health-enhancing substances. Don’t cheat yourself of their benefits by relying on supplements that contain just a few of the better-known nutrients.

by Maj. Vivian T. Hutson, Deputy Chief, Nutrition Care
Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii

Tags: American Dietetic Association, antioxidant chemical, cancer, Deputy Chief, Dietary Supplement, food, hawaii, heart disease, Nutrition Care Tripler Army Medical Center, other chronic, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vivian T. Hutson

Chitosan: Origins of Chitosan

Chitosan has long been considered as the potent substance that binds fat and stop it from accumulating in our bodies. Chitosan is effectively a fantastic fat inhibitor which work wonders for those in search of a safe way to lose that body fat.

What is chitosan made from? It is taken from chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and cell walls of fungi. It is manufactured by removing the shells from the shellfish like lobster, shrimps and crabs.

The History of Chitosan

The origin of chitosan can be traced back to 1811 when “chitin”, from which it is derived, was first discovered by Braconnot, a then professor of the natural history in France. According to some researches, while Braconnot was conducting research on mushrooms, he isolated what was later to be called chitin.

Twenty years later, there was a man who wrote an article on insects in which he noted that similar substance was present in the structure of insects as well as the structure of plants. He then called this astounding substance as “chitin”.

Basically, the name chitin is derived from Greek, meaning “tunic” or “envelope”. The concept was further known in 1843 when Lassaigne demonstrated the presence of nitrogen in chitin.

Following the discovery of chitin, the name “chitosan” emerged in the scene. It was first discovered by Rouget while experimenting with chitin. Rouget observed that the compound of chitin could be manipulated through chemical and temperature treatments for it to become soluble. Then, it was in 1878 when Ledderhose identified chitin to be made of glucosamine and acetic acid. It was not actually until 1894 that Hoppe-Seyler named the tailored chitin, chitosan.

During the early 20th century, several researches took chitosan as their subject of study. They then involved sources of chitin, including crab shells and fungai. It was the work of Rammelberg in the 1930s that led to the confirmation on the identity of chitosan from these sources. It was also noted that by hydrolyzing chitin in several ways, it was determined by experts that chitin is a polysaccharide of glucosamine.

During the 1950s, the use of x-ray analysis had advanced the study of the incidence of chitin or chitosan in fungai. However, it is only the most advanced technologies that proved the most reliable in accepting the existence of chitin as well as cellulose in the cell walls. The first book on chitosan was published 140 years after the initial observation of Braconnot, and that was in 1951.

During the early 1960s, chitosan was examined for its ability to bind with the red blood cells. That time also, the substance was considered as a hemostatic agent. Then, for the past three decades, chitosan has been used at water purification plants for detoxifying water. It is spread over the surface where it absorbs greases, oils, and other potential toxins.

Nowadays, Chitosan it is known as a dietary supplement that is good for weight loss. In fact, it has been marketed for such purpose for about 20 years in Japan as well as in Europe.

What is Chitosan used for

Chitin has long been viewed as the nature’s second most abundant polymer. This is for the fact that it is found not only in shellfish, but also found in insect shells and fungi cell walls. Chitosan, a refined form of chitin, is prepared by removing the shells from shellfish. The shells are then ground into a pulverous powder, which is deacetylated or stripped of specific chemical groups allowing the compound to actively soak up fats. This aspect of it being able to absorb fat is the main feature which makes it effective in helping weight loss.

There are a number of functions or uses linked to chitosan. Because of these applications, chitosan is now marketed as a dietary supplement and is used to thicken foods, paints and makeup.

Liquid Chitosan

Chitosan is made in two main types, namely the dry and flakey product, and the liquid chitosan.

Although these forms are marketed as dietary aids, it is actually the liquid chitosan which gained a lot of interest from the people. This is mainly because the liquid chitosan is said to eliminate clumping problems or stomach pains as it causes the fat to form into hundreds of tiny calorie-free beads that are far gentler on your digestive tract.

The liquid chitosan is often identified by its appearance, color, protein content, degree of deacetylation, viscosity, insoluble, and other factors. Here is a summary of these factors:

Liquid chitosan is clear and yellow. Its protein content is less than 0.5% and often results to 0.14% if measured by Kjeldal method. Its degree of deacetylation is more than 90% with a result of 95% if measured through colloidal method. If you will prepare liquid chitosan by stirring 30 minutes, you can get a viscosity of about 50cps. Liquid chitosan has less than 0.5% insolubility if 20 grams of liquid chitosan is dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water. Liquid chitosan has a pH level of less than 5.5. Liquid chitosan has no taste and smell.

Liquid chitosan is commonly used as a weight loss supplement these days. Many of those who have used the flakey product have turned to the liquid form noting that liquid chitosan works better in the system than the flakey form.

Based on certain reports, instead of forming large clumps, the liquid chitosan causes the fat to form into hundreds of tiny calorie-free beads that are gentler in your digestive tract. However, it is important to note that in addition to binding fats, it binds the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, making them unavailable to the body. This is the reason that most experts recommend a supplement with high-quality multivitamin.

Chitosan Recomendations

So, although Chitosan is taken as a ‘wonder’ pill of today, it has been around for ages and has been a subject since 1811. I am still not convinced about the abilities of Chitosan but again I say that in the absence of any side effects this is another product that you can try for weight loss, maybe for a couple of months, and then decide how it made you feel and whether you had a good response to it and go from there.

Tags: acetic acid, Braconnot, chemical groups, Dietary Supplement, Europe, flakey product, France, Japan, professor of the natural history, Rouget, x-ray

Some women may think that their weight loss and hormone swing problems are permanent. Zalestra is a completely natural product that can improve a womans problems with weight loss and hormones by equalizing hormone levels.

Features of Zalestra:

• Developed to help menopausal and premenopausal women lose weight
• Naturally help support women’s hormonal balance
• Reduce the symptoms of menopause, including alleviating hot flashes, mood swings, and decreased energy
• Reduce the feelings of nervousness, tension, and irritability
• Increase libido or sex drive

What is Zalestra?

Zalestra is a thermogenic agent supporting an increased metabolism so that you are burning more calories all day long. Zalestra supports thyroid function aiding weight loss that can be slowed by an under-producing thyroid gland often seen in women of this age. Zalestra contains jojoba extract which helps to control appetite and cravings. Zalestra contains natural phyto-estrogens that aid in balancing crucial hormones that can be diminished during this phase of life.

Lagging estrogen levels are associated with both weight gain and a negative emotional state. Zalestra contains DHEA, a precursor to estrogen in the body. DHEA. because of its conversion to estrogen in the body, alleviates many of the negative symptoms associated with menopause. Zalestra also contains protective ingredients such as Indole-3-Carbinol which may lower risk of disease.

Label Information with Zalestra

Specifically Formulated For Pre-Menopausal & Menopausal Women Struggling With Weight Gain and Changing Hormones. The common problems associated with this delicate stage of life are about so much more than hot flashes… It’s about Weight Gain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and a Decreased Sex Drive. If you are a women over 35 and ordinary diet products are not working for you… Zalestra may be just what you need!

Zalestra Is So Much More Than a Diet Pill. Zalestra is the Most Complete Balancing/Weight Control Compound Ever Developed For Pre-Menopausal/Menopausal Women How Does Zalestra Work? Zalestra is a thermogenic agent supporting an increased metabolism so that you are burning more calories all day long.

Zalestra supports thyroid function aiding weight loss that can be slowed by an under producing thyroid gland often seen in woman of this age. Zalestra contains Jojaba Extract which helps to control appetite and cravings. Zalestra contains natural phyto-estrogens that aid in balancing crucial hormones that can be diminished during this phase of life.

Lagging estrogen levels are associated with both weight gain and a negative emotional state. Zalestra contains DHEA a precursor to estrogen in the body. DHEA because of its conversion to estrogen in the body alleviates many of the negative symptoms associated with menopause. Zalestra also contains protective ingredients such as Indole-3-Carbinol which may lower risk of disease. Try Zalestra now risk free and expierance the physical and emotional edge you need to look and feel your best!

Indications with Zalestra

Formulated For Pre-Menopausal & Menopausal Women Struggling With Weight Gain and Changing Hormones.

Ingredients in Zalestra

Serving Size: 2 Capsules Servings Per Container: 45 Amount Per Serving Green Tea Leaf Extract 200 mg Guggul Extract(2.5% E+G guggulsterones) 200 mg Octopalean® (octopamine HCL) 100 mg Maca Root Powder(lepidium meyenii) 80 mg Jojoba Meal Extract(60% simmondsin) 40 mg Indole-3-Carbinol 30 mg Borage Oil Powder(borago officinalis)25 mg Manganese(amino acid chelate 20%)10 mg Black Cohosh (2.5% triperpene) 10 mg DHEA (dehyproepiandrosterone) 7.5 mg Vitex Fruit Extract(5% vitexicarpin 5mg Bioperine® 2 mg Other Ingredients: Gelatin, Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate.

Directions for Zalestra
As a dietary supplement take 2 capsules twice daily, once in the morning before breakfast and once mid afternoon.

Safety Information with Zalestra

As with any dietary supplement please contact your physician if you have any heart disease, high blood pressure, or hypertension. Do not consume if pregnant or nursing

Zalestra is the best of the best for any woman trying to lose weight while struggling with hormone change. This is a tough time for a womans sex drive and it will help you with this as well. Try Zalestra today

Tags: decreased energy, dhea, Dietary Supplement, estrogen levels, heart disease, high blood pressure, hormonal balance, hypertension, increase libido, increased metabolism, natural product, ordinary diet products, physician, premenopausal women, sex drive, Tea Leaf Extract, thyroid function, zalestra

http://www.supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=1272I just found a great research article on Vanadium. Canadium is a trace mineral that we all get a little of in our diet. I used to take Vanadium back in the early 90’s as it was supposed to promote better cell maiintenance for weight training. I have not used it since but have found some more information on Vanadium today.What’s Next In Health – Dietary Supplement “Vanadium” Plays Role In Speeding Recovery From Infections
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Dietary Supplement, Vanadium