TIP ON STORING OMEGA-3S

Relatively few people are placed on omega-3 supplements by their doctors. If you happen to be one of those people and you are suffering from the side effects of stomach upset and/or fishy burps here is a little advice. Storing your omega-3s in the refrigerator may reduce those side effects.

Cold-water fatty fish ie salmon, sardines, halibut, etc are good ways to get omega-3s naturally.

CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS VS CALCIUM FROM FOOD

It is best to get your calcium from food rather than from supplements according to Stephen Honig, M.D. According to Dr Honig, "In general, calcium supplements are not well absorbed - getting it from food is much more effective." Because the body can take in only about 250 mg at a time, try to spread out your intake over the course of the day. A strawberry banana smoothie made with almond milk is a good way to start your day.

VITAMIN C: FOOD VS SUPPLEMENTS

A few years ago, a roundup of over 30 research studies concluded that taking vitamin C supplements didn't decrease the number of colds we were hit with.  However, a study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that getting vitamin C from the foods in your diet helped a lot. In the study, women whose diets included more than 200 mg of vitamin C a day had a 49% lower chance of coming down with a cold or the flu than did the women whose diets included less than 100 mg a day. You might want to include the following in your diet during cold and flu season rather than spending your money on vitamin C supplements (unless recommended by your doctor for other reasons).

• 1/2 cup of strawberries = 49 mg
• 1/2 cup raw red pepper = 142 mg 1/2 cup cooked = 116 mg
• 1 cup cooked broccoli = 101 mg
• 1/2 cup guava = 188 mg
• 1 medium kiwi = 70 mg
• 1 medium orange = 70 mg
• These are just a few suggestions to help you increase the vitamin C in your diet.

ARE CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOU?

Let me start by saying I am not a medical professional! However, I have spent many hours studying health journals, etc to improve my own health after being diagnosed with many various illnesses.  I only post factual information here that is gleaned from the above mentioned research, if I post something that is only my opinion it will be stated as such.  Having said all that, I am going to post something that you may find controversial.

It is recommended in most cases that one has 1,000 mg of calcium a day or 1,200 mg if you are over 50. Here are some tips to help you get that calcium without taking a supplement.

• The body can't absorb large amounts of calcium at once.  That means your calcium consumption is best spread throughout the day in smaller increments rather than a large dose tablet at once.
• Aim for one calcium-rich food per meal/snack - ideas include 1 cup skim milk in the morning, 1/2 cup almonds as a snack, a handful of almonds and a cheese stick for a snack, low-fat yogurt with lunch, 1 cup broccoli at dinner, a glass of milk rather than coffee with dessert.  These are just ideas, base your consumption on your own tastes and circumstances.
• When buying juices and bread, opt for the calcium-fortified products. Read the nutritional panel to get the amount of calcium per serving.  As you know, I always encourage you to read the nutritional panel on all food products.

Some calcium rich foods

 

SUPPLEMENTS

As you can see below, this is an old article I am reposting. The importance of this article has recently had a bright light shined on it in my world. My 72-year-old husband kept falling because his legs would just fold up under him. About a week and a half ago he fell three times in one day. My son and grandson had to carry him to his bed because his legs were too weak to hold him up even with their help. He ended up getting an ambulance ride to the hospital where he stayed for 5 days and was then released to rehab for therapy. Tests showed him to be very low in sodium, potassium, and his adrenal gland function was low. He is a COPD patient and didn't like to eat because it was hard to eat and breathe at the same time. He had been relying on Ensure Plus, a good supplement but not a complete diet for the average person. His leg muscles had almost atrophied from lack of use. He was walking very little because of the falls. Long story short, with three good meals a day and extensive therapy he is now walking with a walker and/or a cane. We are made to take care of our bodies with food. It is important to eat a balanced diet (avoid fad diets, they always leave out something your body needs) and get some exercise if you want your body to function as God intended.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Some supplements, vitamins, etc may be needed to keep your body operating efficiently.  However, I do not recommend taking such products without discussing it with your doctor.  While the proper supplements, vitamins, minerals, etc can be very helpful, sometimes they can be harmful or simply a waste of money.  It is best to get what your body needs from food whenever possible.

I qualify that statement by saying I was on supplements for years and my doctors were aware of it and told me to take them.  Thus back to my point; I am not saying don't take them, I am saying discuss it with your doctor first.  If your doctor is one who won't even discuss such matters, perhaps you need a new doctor!

An example of harmful effects is zinc.  While zinc may be very helpful in some situations, it may actually hasten the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.  I am not talking about taking a zinc tablet occasionally but researchers think that a buildup of zinc may cause those prone to Alzheimer's or in the early stages of the disease, to have their symptoms brought on more quickly.  Laboratory experiments have shown that zinc can transform the protein in brain cells into abnormal tangles indistinguishable from those of Alzheimer's.  Other studies have also shown that large-dose zinc supplements may bring on the progression of memory loss and other signs of the disease.

Again, based on my own experience, I no longer take supplements.  Because of having so much of my colon removed, I don't absorb them.  When I am low on a vitamin, mineral, etc, I have to have a shot.  So no matter how many high-powered supplement tablets I would take, I wouldn't absorb them enough to benefit.  So it would be a waste of money.

The supplement business in America today is big business.  Don't be fooled, discuss the situation with your doctor and go by what he/she recommends. And remember this, those who are trying to sell you supplements are usually making money off what you purchase.

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