The Supplement Stigma

Men have a general stigma about what supplements really are. A lot of men assume they are only used for roided up juice monkeys that wear bedazzled t-shirts and sunglasses long after the sun has gone down. This theory may hold some validity based on precedent, however, supplements can and should be used by everyone. The question is, which ones should you be taking and why?

First up we have Saw palmetto which comes the Serenoa plant. It is used to strengthen prostate health and has potential use for prevention and treatment of male pattern baldness.

Next up is Omega 3, whether it comes from fish oil, hemp, or flax seeds. Omega 3 is great for reducing inflammation on your body as well as your mood. It has also been proven to prevent dementia as you grow older.

Looking for a way to reduce mental and physical fatigue without the help of dangerous energy drinks? Then you are looking for our next essential supplement, B complex.

Resveratrol is a phytochemical good for strengthening the lining of our blood vessels, helping with weight loss and longevity. If that wasn’t a sweet enough deal, you consume Resveratrol when you drink most red wines.

Concerned about your more private parts? Use Lycopene, it helps with male infertility issues and prostate health.

Plaugued by heartburn induced by your favorite foods? Don’t stop eating them, just start taking Turmeric, it acts as an acid blocker as well as an anti-cancer agent.

Probiotics have received a lot of attention these days with various yogurts and other products geared towards women. That doesn’t mean that it’s not beneficial for men, providing digestive support.

Finally, if you live your life on the edge, eat without caution and consume alcohol on a regular basis then you should be taking Milk thistle to ensure your body is protected from your bad decisions.

So next time you associate supplements with the scary guy at the bar doing squats on the dance floor, just remember they are extremely useful and should be utilized by everyone.

Stop Bad Cravings Before They Start: Salt in Infancy

Take our craving for salt. It starts early. Some of the first foods we eat as babies – cereal and crackers, for example — are high in sodium. Bread, too. Last month, Time magazine reported that research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found an association between early exposure to salt and an affinity for it later.  

In a similar article in the Los Angeles Times, one of the researchers spoke of a “sensitivity window” in infancy when certain flavors and tastes seem to be imprinted on babies’ brains. It gets worse. Later in the article, the same researcher said that babies learn about flavors in their mother’s breast milk! (That would mean bad flavors, too, including too sweet.)

We need salt. But many of us eat double (or more, more, more than double) the recommended amount. It’s everywhere, especially in processed and starchy food. And you’ve seen people who use that salt shaker like a machine gun, raining bullets on their plate. But if bad habits can start early, so can good ones. Don’t you wish you’d never tasted some of the foods you love that you know are bad for you?

There are a million ways to add flavor to food besides using salt. Herbs, spices, vinegar; look for cookbooks geared toward healthy eating. Experiment. Start cutting back gradually if that’s the only way you’re going to do it.

The Institute of Medicine has recommended that the US government regulate the amount of salt in processed and restaurant food.

Can we overcome the way we’re programmed? Yes, and education is the first step. And with what we now know, be careful about what you feed your babies.

Maybe it's time to take Dr. Miller's Wholy Tea.

Did you know that over 5 pounds of your current weight could be undigested toxic fecal matter plaquing your colon? It’s time for a cleanse!

The colon is the end portion of the human digestive tract. It is about 5 feet long and 2 ½ inches in diameter. Its major functions are to eliminate waste and to conserve water. Waste, (accumulated garbage) impacted feces, dead cells, mucous, parasites, worms, flukes, etc. pose an eventual problem/problems to health. The material is very toxic, and one can experience part of the toxicity in the form of acid reflux. This is simply waste that needs to go out the other end, but it is prevented/blocked. These poisons enter and circulate in the blood stream, making us feel, ill, tired and weak. Secondly, when the colon is blocked, the body cannot properly use nutrients properly.

This huge problem is prevalent in all ‘civilized’ societies. Common signs include: headaches, backaches, constipation, fatigue, bad breath, body odor, irritability, confusion, skin problems, gas, bloating, diarrhea, sciatic pain, and many other problems which are simply parasites feeding on bacteria. Remove the bacteria; you will remove the food chain. Colon toxicity is very common, but certainly not limited to the colon. The toxin is found in fat tissue, joints, arteries, muscles, liver, and all other organs. Wholy Tea effectively eliminates large quantities of toxic waste, affecting the condition of the entire body. While the lungs, skin, and kidneys also serve to eliminate toxins, if the health of the colon is optimum, the whole body can work together as the well-tuned, balanced work of art, the way it was supposed to be.

There is no other product that is as easy and pleasant to consume as Wholy Tea. It is absolutely essential that we take care of our colon or suffer the consequences. You take a shower, you brush your teeth, do you drink Wholy Tea? It is far more important to keep your colon and body clean than it is to brush your teeth and take a shower, but you do not forget to brush your teeth and take a shower do you? Then it is time to start cleaning your insides just like you clean your outsides.

The human body is able to naturally expel unwanted material on its own, but due to industrialized living the body is exposed to chemicals and toxins that it is unable to flush. The body’s inability to properly rid itself of these toxic elements causes an unhealthy build up within the digestive organs in its system.

Exercises for Seniors: Good for the Heart

While our Cardioflex nutritional product is specifically designed to benefit you heart, exercise is important. We found this nice little article that provides easy physical activity recommendations for senior citizens to promote "hearty" health.

4 Best Exercises for Older Adults:
Improve strength, balance, flexibility and endurance

By Sharon O'Brien, About.com Guide

For older adults and seniors who want to stay healthy and independent, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend four types of exercises:

Strength exercises build older adult muscles and increase your metabolism, which helps to keep your weight and blood sugar in check.

Balance exercises build leg muscles, and this helps to prevent falls. According to the NIH, U.S. hospitals have 300,000 admissions for broken hips each year, many of them seniors, and falling is often the cause of those fractures. If you are an older adult, balance exercises will help you avoid problems ar you get older. If you are a senior, balance exercises can help you stay independent by helping you avoid the disabilities that could result from falling.

Stretching exercises can give you more freedom of movement, which will allow you to be more active during your senior years. Stretching exercises alone will not improve your endurance or strength.

Endurance exercises are any activity—walking, jogging, swimming, biking, even raking leaves—that increases your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. Build up your endurance gradually, starting with as little as 5 minutes of endurance activities at a time

Source URL: http://seniorliving.about.com/od/exercisefitnes1/a/4seniorexercise.htm

3 Quick Tips to Eat Healthier

1. Keep a food journal. Many agree, the most important tool for weight loss or any dietary change is a food diary (in which you keep note of every single thing you eat throughout the day for at least a week). It helps you track what you're eating, makes you accountable and makes it easier for you to identify areas for change. 

2. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Even if you sometimes skip it, you will always feel more energetic and alert when you have it. At home, eat either oatmeal (sometimes topped with fresh fruit), whole wheat bread with cheese or with peanut butter, or cottage cheese with fresh fruit. These are healthful choices, and the protein fills you enough to keep me going all morning.

3. Small steps can add up to big permanent changes – whether you are trying to lose weight, lower cholesterol or simply feel better. For instance, measure the amount of oil you use in some of your recipes and cut it in half. You can do this with stir-fry, a common favourite; it still tastes delicious, and  saves about 150 calories each mealtime – based on frying once a week. Over a year, that adds up to 7,800 calories – or a weight loss of two pounds. 

Source URL: http://www.canadianliving.com/health/nutrition/how_to_eat_better_top_12_healthy_eating_tips.php

Magnesium is an essential mineral. Do you get enough Mg?

Listed below are some findings on the benefits of Magnesium as it relates to a number of health conditions.Getting enough Magnesium may help conventional treatment for the following conditions work better:

Asthma

Several studies show that intravenous (IV) magnesium and magnesium inhaled through a nebulizer can help treat acute attacks of asthma in children aged 6 - 18 as well as adults. But there is no evidence that taking oral magnesium helps control asthma symptoms. Low levels of magnesium may increase risk of developing asthma. A population-based clinical study of more than 2,500 children aged 11 - 19 years found that low dietary magnesium intake may be associated with risk of asthma. The same was found in a group of more than 2,600 adults aged 18 - 70.

Diabetes

People who have type 2 diabetes often have low levels of magnesium in the blood. A large clinical study of over 2000 people found that getting more magnesium in the diet may help protect against developing type 2 diabetes. Some -- though not all -- studies suggest that taking magnesium supplements may help blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes or prediabetes.

Fibromyalgia

A small preliminary clinical study of 24 people with fibromyalgia suggest that a proprietary tablet containing both malic acid and magnesium may improve pain and tenderness associated with fibromyalgia when taken for at least 2 months. Other studies suggest the combination of calcium and magnesium may be helpful for some people with fibromyalgia.

However, a review article evaluating a number of studies found that magnesium with malic acid offered no pain relief. More studies are needed.

Noise-related hearing loss

One study suggests that taking magnesium may prevent temporary or permanent hearing loss due to very loud noise.

Arrhythmia and heart failure

Magnesium is essential to heart health. It helps maintain a normal heart rhythm and is sometimes given intravenously (IV) in the hospital to reduce the chance of atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). People with congestive heart failure (CHF) are often at risk for developing cardiac arrhythmia. For this reason, your doctor may decide that magnesium should be a part of the treatment of CHF. One well-designed study found that taking magnesium orotate for a year reduced symptoms and improved survival rates compared to placebo in people with CHF. Magnesium and calcium need to work together at very precise ratios to ensure your heart functions properly. If you have a cardiac history, talk to your doctor before taking magnesium supplements.

Results of studies using magnesium to treat heart attack survivors, however, have been mixed. Some have reported lower death rates as well as fewer arrhythmias and improved blood pressure when magnesium is used as part of the treatment following a heart attack. But one study found that magnesium slightly increased the risk of sudden death, chance of another heart attack, or need for bypass surgery in the year after a heart attack. If you have had a heart attack, your doctor will decide if magnesium supplementation, either IV or orally, is right for you.

High blood pressure

Eating low-fat dairy products along with lots of fruits and vegetables on a regular basis is associated with lower blood pressure. All of these foods are rich in magnesium as well as calcium and potassium. A large clinical study of more than 8,500 women found that a higher intake of dietary magnesium may decrease the risk of high blood pressure in women. A few studies also suggest that magnesium supplements may help lower blood pressure, although not all studies agree.

Migraine headache

A few studies suggest that taking magnesium supplements may help prevent migraine headaches. In addition, a few clinical studies suggest that magnesium supplements may shorten the duration of a migraine and reduce the amount of medication needed. People who have migraine headaches tend to have lower levels of magnesium compared to those with tension headaches or no headaches at all.

Some experts suggest combining magnesium with the herb feverfew along with vitamin B2 (riboflavin) may be helpful when you have a headache.

However, some studies suggest that magnesium sulfate may be less effective than prescription medications for preventing migraines in those who have 3 or more headaches per month. The only exception to this may be women who get migraine headaches around the time of their period.

Osteoporosis

Not getting enough calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and other micronutrients may play a role in the development of osteoporosis. To prevent osteoporosis, it is important to get enough calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D; to eat a well-balanced diet; and to do weight-bearing exercises throughout life.

Preeclampsia and eclampsia

Preeclampsia is characterized by a sharp rise in blood pressure during the third trimester of pregnancy. Women with preeclampsia may develop seizures, which is then called eclampsia. Magnesium, given in the hospital intravenously (IV), is the treatment of choice to prevent or treat seizures associated with eclampsia or to prevent complications from preeclampsia.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Scientific studies suggest that magnesium supplements may help relieve symptoms associated with PMS, particularly bloating, insomnia, leg swelling, weight gain, and breast tenderness. One study suggests that a combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 may work better than either one alone.

Restless legs syndrome

A small clinical study including only 10 patients found that magnesium improved insomnia related to restless legs syndrome (a disorder characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs, which are worse during periods of inactivity or rest or while sitting or lying down).

• Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Source URL: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/magnesium-000313.htm

10 Foods you should eat! But you probably don't...

We found a great article in Men's Health through msn.ca that talked about good foods to eat that are uncommon in many people's diets. We made a Cole's Notes version of the slideshow, here it is.

^ ^ ^     Goji Berries     ^ ^ ^

The 10 Best Foods You Aren't Eating

10: Beets. Packed with folate and betaine. Eating it raw is best. Grate it and add it to a dish.
9:   Cabbage. Lots of Sulforaphane that promotes cancer-fighting enzymes. Make coleslaw.
8:   Guava. High in antioxidants and in potassium(+63% than bananas). Eat the whole fruit.
7:   Swiss Chard. Bitter veggie, great for your eyes. Goes great with grilled steak/chicken.
6:   Cinnamon. Helps control blood sugar cellular metabolism of sugar. Sprinkle on oatmeal.
5:   Purslane. Plant with most omega-3 fatty acids. Contains tons of melatonin. Add to salad.
4:   Pomegranate Juice. Reduces blood pressure. Lots of Vitamin C. Just need a small glass.
3:   Goji Berries. Raisin-size fruits high in anti-oxidants. Used in Tibet for 1700+ years.
2:   Dried Plums. Fights cancer-causing radicals in the body. Tons of great recipes out there.
1:   Pumpkin Seeds. Magnesium-loaded. Toast 'em and eat them whole.

Try to incorporate some of these into your diet!

Source URL: http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com/health-fitness/diet/rodale-gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=29861292