Green Lipped Mussel Supplement

2011-06-30 / Supplements / 0 Comments

The Green Lipped Mussel Supplement is created from the Green lipped mussel which is a shellfish, located only in the pollution free waters of New Zealand. Not only are they packed with common vitamins and minerals that are essential for life, but they also have an abundance of the amino acids, and an optimum balance of proteins, lipids, and omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for good health.

Most importantly, green lipped mussels contain glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the complex carbohydrates that are called “the glue of life” because of their importance in cellular structure. A decrease in GAG’s over time contributes to the aging process.

Many common vitamins and minerals essential for good health are in green lipped mussels. They are packed with vitamins A, B complex, D, C and E, zinc, manganese, and copper, the benefits of which are widely known.
These mussels are packed with anti-oxidants, which are vital to tissue and immune health.

Anti-oxidants prevent chronic diseases associated with free radicals, which damage tissue and lead to cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Green lipped mussels contain the amino acids, glutamine and methionine. Glutamine is useful in treatments of serious illness, injury, burns, and treatment related side effects cancer.

It is also used for muscle growth in weightlifting and other sports, and aids in recovery after surgery. Glutamine has many “cleansing” properties and is linked to healthy gastrointestinal function.

Green shelled mussels also contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Intake of omega-3 is important because the human body cannot synthesize them de nova (that is, synthesize them from existing, simpler molecules such as sugars and amino acids) so it is vital to your health to consume omega-3 fatty acids.

The list of benefits of omega-3 is a long one, it helps prevent cancer, particularly breast, colon, and prostate, cardiovascular disease, and psychological disorders. It bolsters the immune system and reduces pain in sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis. It is used to treat ADHD, autism, and development coordination disorder.

Green lipped mussels contain complex carbohydrates including glycosaminoglycans, or GAG’s. GAG’s are important to health and happiness. They are a vital component of connective tissues, cartilage, and tendons. GAG’s attract water, and thus lubricate, on a molecular level, our joints, and gives them resistance to pressure.

This prevents the inflammation and pains associated with moving around. GAG’s are known as the “glue of life” because they hold our bodies together on a structural level. As we get older, the amount of GAG’s in our body decreases.

This decrease is a factor in the aging process, both making us look older, and feel older as the pains and aches attributed with age creep up on us. They help our bodies recover quicker from physical activity, allowing us to play harder, longer, and happier.

Are green lipped mussels a miracle food? Technically no. Their health benefits stem from science, the vitamins and substances contained within them, not a miracle. But a happy and healthy life is nothing short of miraculous.

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Secrets to Supplements

2011-06-25 / Supplements / 0 Comments

There are literally thousands of supplements on the market today. It can be overwhelming when trying to decide which ones to take. This article provides an understanding of nutrients that are needed by the body. Many supplements contain ingredients that are not really needed or could actually be harmful. An understanding of needed nutrients of the body will help to choose the most needed supplements.

The first thing when choosing supplements is to do no harm. Surprisingly, many supplements on the market today contain harmful ingredients. Some of these might include arsenic, aluminum, tin, nickel and alcohol. These have all found to be toxic to the body. It is important to try to avoid these and other harmful ingredients.

Natural is not always good for you. Just because a supplement is labeled natural, does not mean it is healthy. There are natural substances found in nature that can be harmful to the body. Many prescription drugs on the market today are developed from natural ingredients. Prescription drugs are often toxic to the body with harmful side effects. Supplements can also contain natural ingredients which cause harmful side effects.

Nutrients work synergistically, this means they cooperate with each other to be used and absorbed by the body. They are all needed. The main types of nutrients that are needed by the body are vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water, proteins (amino acids), carbohydrates and lipids. This article focuses on the first three, vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

Vitamins are an organic compound that is required in tiny amounts by an organism. The body can create vitamins, but not in the quantity needed by the body. They must be obtained through diet. Before the 1900’s, vitamins were obtained solely through food intake. Today, they can be found in many stores in chemical or inexpensive pill form. It is still better to get vitamins with your food. Research is now finding out that there are many phytonutrients in addition to the vitamins found naturally in food.

If you can’t get enough in your food, you should take “whole food” vitamins, or supplements that are as close to taking food as possible. This is because they will include more of the phytonutrients instead of just the vitamins. An example of this is an apple. We know apples have lots of vitamin C. We now also know that an apple has over 100 phytonutrients. If you only eat the vitamin C, you are missing out on the other 100 phytonutrients that benefit the body and work synergistically with vitamin C.

There are 13 needed vitamins found in humans. Four of them are fat soluble (A, D, E and K) and nine of them are water soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C). The water soluble vitamins are readily excreted by the body. The fat soluble vitamins are absorbed through the intestinal tract with the help of lipids (fat). Since the fat soluble vitamins are not as easily excreted by the body, it is important to avoid ingesting too much of them at one time. They can actually cause harm. There are two types of vitamin deficiencies. The first deficiency is primary. This is from not getting enough in the diet. Secondary deficiencies are when there is another problem in the body which prevents your body from absorbing the vitamin or stops your body from utilizing it. Examples of this are smoking or alcohol consumption which cause problems in the body, preventing the absorption of vitamins.

Dietary minerals are chemical elements required by living organisms other than the four elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen present in organic molecules. Minerals can also be taken as dietary supplements. An example of this would by iodine found in iodized salt. There are 17 minerals involved in human biochemical processes. These are calcium, chloride, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulfur and zinc. These are all needed by the body.

Enzymes are also needed by the body. They are complex proteins that cause a specific change in other substances without being changed themselves. They can change starches, sugars and proteins into substances that the body can use. They catalyze or increase the rate of chemical reactions. They are essential to all bodily functions. They can be found in the mouth (saliva), stomach (gastric juice), intestines (pancreatic juice), intestinal juice, blood and every other organ and cell in the body. A good example is lactase. This enzyme is needed to break down the sugar lactose into glucose and galactose. This allows them to be absorbed by the body. Lactose intolerance is when there is reduced or absent activity of lactase, preventing the splitting of lactose. Enzymes can also be taken in supplement form to help the body.

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What to Avoid When Buying Herbal Supplements

2011-06-24 / Supplements / 0 Comments

Herbal supplements are one of the more popular products today, thanks to various announcements regarding health concerns. Today, there seems to be a supplement for everything from weight loss down to eye health, and more are probably waiting to be on the market soon. The result is a market saturated with products and consumers eager to buy herbal supplements. Some people even plan their entire family’s health through supplements because they think this is the better recourse compared with traditional vitamins. If you are looking to join this bandwagon, it is best to know what steps you should take and which ones you should not. The following are some reminders you may find useful.

Do not check the active ingredients and the additives

Many patients who buy herbal supplements seem to focus only on the hype the supplements created. The result is they get too excited to buy it that they do not bother to check what is inside the supplement. When this happens, they do not know the potential risks they could be taking.

If you are serious in buying herbal supplements, then it is your obligation to do some research. Checking the active ingredients and its additives is necessary if you want to get your money’s worth. Remember, while some suppliers promote their products as “all-natural,” you can end up getting “all-chemical” if you do not read labels and do your homework.

Do not go to the doctor

While many advertisements state that their products are safe and effective, a doctor visit is still important. Avoiding a visit to your doctor at all cost is a sure fire way to end up with complications especially if you have a medical condition. Some ingredients in herbal supplements might cause reactions in certain conditions or if you are taking some medications.

Your doctor is your first and probably the best line of defense against this scenario from happening so it is better to consult him or her. A doctor visit can save you more money in the end as you will not have to suffer hospital costs just because you want to be healthy.

Do not buy from a reputable retailer

Buying herbal supplements from a reputable pharmacy is required to avoid a host of problems. Many people who take their chances and order from just about any supplier ends up with more headaches they can handle. Some experience shipment delays, wrong product delivery, and in some cases some even end up not getting anything after paying for the products.

To avoid this situation, it is best to know the leading suppliers for these items be it online suppliers or actual drugstores. You should check the reputation of companies by reading consumer review websites to get an idea about a particular supplier. You can also try doing a background search by checking with the SEC or the FDA, or other government bodies.

The mentioned statements are there so you can avoid money and health related issues when you buy herbal supplements. If you think you will need more tips, then you should read more resources on the subject before you start buying anything.

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Intestinal Cleansers – Products Review

2011-06-21 / Other / 0 Comments

Intestinal cleansers are popular products used to enhance a colon cleanse. They come in a variety of herbs, fibers and diets; some work while others do not. Trial and error is the most popular method used to see if a product works or not. The problem with this is that some can actually cause certain health issues due to laxatives or other ingredients that just may not work for you.

Most articles review intestinal cleansers according to the commission they pay. The ones with more testimonials and higher commissions get more reviews therefore higher ratings. Unfortunately this may not be one of the best ways to tell if a product is any good.

You will not find the most popular Internet intestinal cleansers here. This intestinal cleanser product review is based on a holistic health cleansing center located in the Los Angeles, California area. They are judged by a nutritional counselor and colon hydrotherapist according to what received the best results over ten years of practice.

A good product combining intestinal cleansers of herbs and fiber was the Arise & Shine line. The complete cleanse program consisted of psyllium fiber, bentonite clay, and an intestinal cleanser called “Chomper.”

Chomper consists of Peppermint leaf, Cascara Sagrada Bark, Plantain Leaf, Barberry Bark, Fennel Seed, Ginger Root, Myrrh Gum Resin, Red Raspberry Leaf, Rhubarb Root, and Goldenseal Root. These are nicely blended to assist the fiber and bentonite to help your body remove built up toxins and waste.

This product can be found with or without cayenne added. Cayenne is a nice addition to any program as it enhances the other herbs and helps them absorb more readily into your body. It is also used by many to strengthen heart tissue as well as stimulate not only blood flow, but intestinal movement as well. Due to its strength, this herb can cause a bit of discomfort for some, so Arise & Shine made both versions.

The next supplement highly used with excellent results was Sonne brand. This was a brand was started by Victor Irons, one of the founding fathers of modern colon cleanse programs. The Irons family has kept up the tradition with this fine line of herbal supplements since 1946.

This line has a 7 Day Cleanse that uses a superior blend of fiber, herbs, green superfood supplement and even includes wheat germ oil for a complete cleanse. It also has what they call a “detoxificant,” which is their name for bentonite clay.

For those who do not know, bentonite clay is used towards the end of a normal four week cleanse to help remove what it called intestinal or mucosal plaque. It can be heavy and is best used with a very light diet and only for a short period of time.

Many health professionals first use 3-4 week general cleanse with gentler ingredients, then used more intensive programs (such as those with bentonite clay) as a 7 day fast. This helped clients’ bodies adjust to taking colon cleansing supplements and the change of diet.

The most popular and well-liked brand by therapists and clients alike is the Herbal Fiberblend (powder form and raspberry flavor only) by AIM (American Image Marketing). This is an all-in-one product and seems to work well with both first time cleansers as well as seasoned health practitioners.

It combines a combination of fibers and herbs that help along a colon cleanse. Because it is all-in-one and in powder form, the amount can be adjusted to suit any client and raised as the client’s body requires. The herbs are balanced with each other as well as the fiber so no matter what amount you take, you will get the right balance of what you need.

The Sonne brand may be found at your local health market or even in some larger markets. But the Arise & Shine and Herbal Fiberblend are both found online. Research each even more before you decide and if you are taking medications, be sure to check with your doctor before taking any herbal intestinal cleansers or colon cleanse products.

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Silica and Its Scientific Background

2011-06-20 / Supplements / 0 Comments

There are so many scientists who put in countless sleepless nights and months looking for some helpful tips to fight the process of getting older. If we take a look back in time, we can see that we have failed to impede the course of this process. Fortunately, in the last few years, science has made big steps in this area. All the scientists and health specialists agree over one important point: silicon dioxide, also known as quartz crystal works miracles for us against growing older. Silicon is the second most important mineral in the Earth and it can also be found in fine sand.

Our bodies are made only from cells. To put it differently, our organs are made from different tissues, which are also made by countless different cells. One of the main elements inside these cellular tissues is known as collagen. The mineral silica is contained in large quantities in collagen and this way, we can understand how silica exists in all the bodily formations. The process of getting older begins to develop when the cellular collagen starts to be diminished. For this reason, in case we could keep the collagen quantity in our bodies at normal ranges, we would never get old or at least we could slow down this entire process.

As said before, many scientists ran researches in this area of interest and the results with which they came up are quite amazing. They observed that when we put silica in our bodies, through artificial ways, we can upkeep the collagen quantities at high ranges. Besides this, there are many other health benefits a silica supplementation brings in our bodies. For instance, the metabolic process starts functioning at a higher pace, after applying a silica supplementation for some time. This is explained by the fact that increased energy gets to be discharged from all the food meals we consume, resulting in much more energy and strength. Also, a boost in the immune system has been noticed after a regular consumption of silica supplements.

Naturally, our bodies create silica at an average quantity, but when we reach the age of 30, the silica in our bodies starts to diminish. For this reason, the health benefits of silica or quartz crystal are so appreciated by people all over the world. It is a well known fact that for hundreds of years, people used quartz crystal as a treatment against swelling. Even the doctors of our days use the same mineral against swelling caused by bug bites and even snakes. The mineral in quartz crystal communicates instantly with the cells in our bodies, causing the enzymes that fight inflammation to start working.

People today are more and more affected by osteoporosis. Silica is the best mineral that can help gain back the bone tissues’ strength and durability. You can obtain silica in your body by simply consuming natural foods such as veggies, fruits or nuts. Also, grain cereals contain huge amounts of silica too. It is essential to consume silica because this mineral also helps other minerals such as calcium and magnesium to perform their activities in the body.

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Bodybuilding Supplements – 4 Inconvenient Truths

2011-06-18 / Other / 0 Comments

In today’s society we are all looking for ways to get results as quickly and efficiently as possible in everything that we set out to do. One of the most common areas that people want improvements as quickly as possible is in the world of bodybuilding. While the allure of being able to take a pill or powder supplement to help you quickly pack on muscle and burn fat is a very powerful one indeed, the reality is that most bodybuilding supplements fall far short of living up to their promises.

There are 4 main truths about supplements that everyone should know when considering using supplements with their bodybuilding or fitness program:

1. Supplements are expensive
2. Supplements do not live up to their promises
3. Supplements are dangerous
4. Most Supplements are completely unnecessary

Supplements are Expensive

A monthly supply of a single supplement can run you anywhere from $20 all the way up to over $100 – and that is for just one supplement. I would venture to say that the average bodybuilding enthusiast is continually taking at least 3 or 4 supplements at any given time and is spending over $100 every month on supplements with the hopes that they are going to give them the edge they need to get ripped. Sadly, most of this is simply money wasted on supplements that promise one thing yet deliver another.

Supplements Do Not Live Up To Their Promises

Ads by supplement companies promise you the world in order to get you to buy their products. Their ads are always accompanied by pictures of some ripped out steroid users who have never actually used the products they are promoting. If the these “miracle drugs” actually worked every dude in the gym would be jacked! While there are a select few supplements that are worth using, you should never fall for the lie that any supplement, or stack of supplements, will finally be the secret to getting lean and muscular.

Supplements are Dangerous

New supplements hit the market everyday; most of which have only been tested for a matter of months before becoming available to the general public. While supplements may be mostly safe in terms of your short-term health, most supplements have not undergone adequate testing to determine if there may be any long term side effects from using them. Again, there are a select few supplements that have undergone sufficient testing to be deemed safe, but the majority of them do not fall into this category and should be avoided at all costs.

Most Supplements are Completely Unnecessary

Ever notice that on just about every set of before and after transformation photos used to advertise a product there is always a section of small print that explains that the results shown are not typical and that the subjects used their product in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program? I am going to
let you in on a secret. Their diet and exercise was the reason they were able to transform their body – not the supplement! If you have been unable to significantly improve your physique, it is because your diet and training program is lacking; not because you aren’t taking the right supplements.

Stop risking your health, wasting your money and putting your hopes in the latest “revolutionary” pill or powder. There are a few supplements that are worth using, but if you are not training and eating with a purpose, you will never get a lean and muscular physique – period.

Want to discover how to train and eat for natural bodybuilding success?

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Vitamins for Stress

2011-06-17 / Vitamins / 0 Comments

Stress is experienced when the body reacts to a certain physical, mental or emotional problem. Stress is the body’s way of combating challenges and preparing the body for a particular situation requiring concentration, alertness, or stamina. Stress can be found in nearly every situation and can be experienced very frequently. It could even be said that everyone experiences stress at some time and some experience it more frequently than others.

A “stressor” is a term used to describe a particular event that provokes stress. Stressors are everywhere including school, work, on buses and trains, and even in the comfort of your own home. The body responds to stress by the activation of the nervous system and certain hormones. The adrenal glands are signaled by the hypothalamus to produce cortisol and adrenaline, which aid in the increase of an individual’s heart rate and respiratory rate. The increase in heart rate and respiratory rate will cause an increase in blood flow to the muscle groups and dilation of the pupils will occur, which improves vision. An increase in sweating is also experienced to cool down the body. These are the normal reactions of the body to stressors and this series of overall reactions is called the “stress response”. The stress response of an individual can help a person respond quickly to a particular stressor; however, stressors can cause problems to the body if the body overreacts about the stressor and fails to return to its original state.

Stress can also contribute to particular diseases or conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), insomnia, ulcers, eating disorders, arthritis, asthma, heart disease and eczema. Stress can have a wide range of causes. It can be due to environmental factors such as noise, pollution, cold or too much heat. It can be due to physical factors such as injury and illness. It can be caused by mental problems such as a current relationship status, financial problems, and/or an individual’s employment status. All of these different types of problems create an impact on the human body that will prepare the body for its response to the stressor.

There are preventative measures that an individual can take to help the body avoid stress. Avoid ingesting beverages with stimulants such as caffeine or alcohol. Smoking can also contribute to the occurrence of stress and should be avoided at all costs. Eating fresh foods and plenty of vegetables and fruits can help the body avoid stress. Regular exercise and obtaining sufficient daily sleep is beneficial as well. Allowing relaxation time each day can be beneficial and participating in yoga once a week or getting a massage can also be very beneficial to relieving tension. Organize your work loads and other stressors that are job related.

Stress vitamins and minerals can also be supplemented to your diet, which can be beneficial to avoiding stress. There are several vitamins and herbal supplements available at your local markets that are helpful in reducing stress. One such vitamin is Vitamin B Complex, which is helpful for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin C can boost the immune system during stressful times. Coenzyme Q10 helps to improve the production of energy and zinc, which maintains the health of the immune system.

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Green Lipped Mussel Supplement Types

2011-06-11 / Supplements / 0 Comments

Taking a green lipped mussel supplement is becoming an increasingly popular natural health decision, as these supplements have the unique characteristics of being able to provide both nutritional and medical benefits.

Nutritionally, the supplements will include a nutrient profile that makes it one of the most complete whole foods that have been discovered – key nutrients include:

· Omega-3 fatty acids, which are a very powerful anti-inflammatory.

· Glycosaminoglycans, which provide joint lubrication and repair and growth of cartilage

· Mucopolysaccharides, which are complex carbohydrates that play a big part in metabolism, growth – and there are studies finding these to also be related to how we age.

You can see how these nutrients are related to health benefits, or the medical aspect of taking the supplement. However, these are benefits that come from eating the raw mussels – they can be available through supplementation, but only if you take the right green lipped mussel supplement type.

Different Green Lipped Mussel Supplement Types

The green lipped mussel supplement types differ based on the kind of nutrients that are extracted from the raw mussel for processing into supplements. There are two different types of mussel extracts, these are: (1) mussel powder (2) mussel oil.

What is important to understand is that only the mussel powder can retain the same nutrients as the raw mussel after the extract is done. For this reason – you only want supplements that have been made from green lipped mussel extract.

The way the extraction is done is for the mussel powder to actually be taken from the raw mussels, but for the mussel oil to be taken from the powder after it was extracted.

When this additional process is done, the oil then only represents around 10 percent of the nutrients in the powder – and is no longer the same whole food, or able to provide the same combination of nutritional and health benefits that you are expecting from taking a green lipped mussel supplement.

Are There Any Benefits From The Mussel Oil?

This is not to say that taking mussel oil isn’t beneficial, it does still contain the lipids from the raw mussels, and those do have anti-inflammatory properties. However, consider the difference in relative effectiveness from the difference in concentration if the mussel powder is 90% greater.

So, you will still get the benefits for inflammation, but you would have to take a lot more mussel oil to receive the same yield of anti-inflammatories coming from the mussel oil – but why would anyone want to take a supplement that would give up some many other nutrients and health benefits like the green lipped mussel powder?

I also learned something else, which is another issue with the supplement differences. The actual amount of mussel oil in that kind of supplement might actually be pretty small, and it may be mixed with different oils. If this is the case, and all of the oils haven’t been studied for compatibility, it is possible that the mussel oil supplement could have an impact that adds to inflammation, instead of decreasing it.

So, buy green lipped mussel supplement types that have been made from powder extract, and then be able to receive all of the nutrients and health benefits that you want from them.

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Whey Protein – A Necessary Step for Muscle Growth

2011-06-07 / Other / 0 Comments

Whey protein is a high quality protein powder from cow’s milk. It makes up approximately 20% of cow’s milk, while casein protein makes up approximately 80%. Whey protein is a higher quality protein and is absorbed much quicker than casein protein, making WHEY the first choice among those looking for fast absorption to repair muscles after intense physical training.
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A lot of people overlook the importance of whey protein. Everyone wants instant results. A protein shake (used with consistency) is one of the best muscle building supplements. It should be a staple in your daily diet, not something you take every couple of days when you feel the need. Take whey protein daily with workout program and you will be rewarded with quality dense muscle and decreased body fat (with proper cardio and healthy diet plan).

When is the best time to drink Whey? You should drink a shake immediately after waking in the morning. Your body is in a catabolic state after fasting all night. Drink a protein shake containing 25-40 grams of protein followed by a whole food breakfast 1 hour later. Experts say that drinking a whey protein shake for breakfast can increase your metabolism by up to 25%.

Next, drink a protein shake 30-45 minutes before your workout. You want to elevate your levels of amino acids in the bloodstream prior to weight training. Pre-workout shakes prime your muscles for growth with amino acids, which help fuel your intense workouts. Taking whey proteins prior to your workout will ensure that your muscles will have a steady stream of protein during your workout so it can start to repair your damaged muscles before you leave the gym.

Last, but certainly not least, is the post-workout shake. Take 35-50 grams of whey protein immediately after your workouts. For best results, add in 60-80 grams of dextrose (for simple carbohydrates) to your shake. When you take in large amounts of dextrose your insulin levels will spike. The insulin will push the nutrients from your post-workout shake into your starving muscles priming them for maximum growth. Women looking for weight loss should skip on the dextrose, or cut dose in half (depending on fitness goals). The post-workout shake is crucial for recovery, since all of your muscle growth takes place outside the doors of your favorite gym. For optimum growth allow 48-72 hours between training body parts and remember, consistency for growth!

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Multivitamins – Essential For Children

2011-06-04 / Vitamins / 0 Comments

Recent studies show that a multivitamin each day improves cognitive function of children and is just as important as them eating breakfast every day. Studies of over 80 children 8-14 taking a low potency, one a day, multivitamin/mineral supplement for 12 weeks showed after a variety of computer based tests that their focus, reaction time, memory and recognition of familiar symbols etc increased. The children who took the supplements had a faster reaction time and could distinguish images better.

We all know that good nutrition increases children’s development and intelligence and that deficiencies affect their cognitive function. A multivitamin not only increases cognitive function but can reduce aggressive behaviour due to lowering of stress levels. Do children suffer stress? You bet they do. What do they get stressed about? Exams, loneliness, image, what mum and dad are fighting about and whether they can keep up with their friends (just for starters).

The argument that we do not need multivitamins is not valid because many doctors do not even test the levels of vitamins and minerals in the blood so there is no adequate basis for the assumption that your multivitamin level is adequate. So if your children are not performing well at school, are getting colds, coughs, asthma too often, are tired and just lie around watching TV and sleeping in, seem to lack interest in life, are aggressive, grouchy or tired check their vitamin levels.

There are many good multivitamin supplements on the market. Liquids are more easily absorbed and the iron in them tends to not be constipating. Steer clear of one’s containing wheat, yeast, gluten etc as these are not good for anyone due to food intolerances. If your child will eat chewable bears then go for that. The squishy fish oils on the market are good also to increase brain power. Add to this a good breakfast, a healthy lunch and meat and veggies for dinner, with a few in between snacks and you have a healthy eating plan for your child.

What is my response to the junk foods out there? Don’t buy them. People sometimes ‘if and but’ regarding giving their kids a treat with junk foods and my response is…they are not good for you, they have too much salt, too much sugar and help your child develop a habit for eating rubbish so you are not doing anything nice for your child. Can your kid have chocolate? Yes, maybe once a week a small bar. Chips? Yes, maybe a small pack once a week. I need to say I am shocked though when I see people taking their children to fast food outlets on a regular basis. Once in a while is fine, we need to keep a balance but often fast food is used as an excuse for just not wanting to cook.

It doesn’t take much to peel a few veggies and throw them in a steamer while you go change after work and then to throw a steak on. Your meal is cooked in about 20 minutes and if you don’t have 20 minutes to look after your health then you seriously need to assess your lifestyle. This is not unreasonable. If you don’t look after yourself now then you can expect to not be healthy when you get older and if you don’t look after what your kids eat then they will be unhealthy adults. Prevention is better than cure.

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