Salmon Fish Oil and the Ratio of Omega 9, Omega 6 and Omega 3 Make All the Difference
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Anti-Inflammatory, Blood Pressure, DHA and EPA, Fish Oil Supplements, Main Content, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Comments Off
Salmon fish oil might not be your best choice for omega-3 supplementation. While Wild Alaskan salmon is the most commonly recommended food choice, because of all of the nutrients that it provides, some of the oils on the market are high in omega-9 fatty acids. Those can have negative health effects.
According to the lipid (fat) analysis provided by one of the major manufacturers, the oils contain an average of 288mg of oleic acid. Some studies indicate that oleic and other monounsaturated fatty acids are associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated.
It could be that the omega-3s counteract the negative effects of oleic acid, but ideally, you would want a supplement that contained less. Other species are higher in omega3s, low in omega9s and very low in omega6s.
Researchers feel that typical Western diets are too high in omega6 and too low in omega3. They suggest decreasing omega6 intake while increasing intake of omega3s. One of the easiest ways to lower your intake of omega6s is to cut corn oil out of your diet. It contains 40 times more omega6s than 3s.
Of the lipids in the salmon fish oil mentioned above, only about 60mg are omega6s, which is pretty good, but there are some brands that contain less than 40mg of omega6s. That’s even better.
You see, omega6s and 3s compete for conversion into hormones within the body. The hormones produced from omega6s are pro-inflammatory. The ones produced form omega3s are less inflammatory and stimulate the production of molecules that end the inflammatory process.
Everything within the body is about balance. Inflammation is a necessary function of the immune system, but in recent times there has been a noted increase of autoimmune diseases, in which the inflammatory process turns on healthy cells.
Does salmon fish oil have a high degree of anti-inflammatory activity? The clinical trials and laboratory studies have used oils from other species. So, the answer to that question is unclear.
What one scientific study did show was that one concentrated salmon fish oil supplement contained high levels of mercury. At the recommended dosage, the weekly intake of mercury would be higher than amounts known to cause impaired cognitive skills, tremors and sleep disturbances.
The biggest drawback to including more fish in our daily diet is increasing our intake of mercury. There are some species that cannot be safely consumed, at all, because of mercury contamination. Those species include wild bass, bluefish, wild sturgeon, king mackerel and blue-fin tuna. Other species, like Atlantic and Washington salmon, croaker and flounder should be limited to no more than one serving per month due to PCBs, cancer-causing chemicals.
Food and supplement manufacturers are not required to evaluate a catch for mercury or PCB contamination. It is up to the consumer to look for health alerts from the Environmental Defense Fund and other public health organizations.
Instead of buying salmon fish oil, you might want to consider looking for one that comes from the New Zealand hoki, a small species that swims in very clean waters. It might be a little harder to find, but it is the safest choice.
Valerie Rosenbaum thinks taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
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Will Lutein Supplements Improve Vision? - Some Facts to Ponder
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Cholesterol, Enteric Coating, Eyesight, Lutein, Main Content, Natural Supplements, Nutritional Supplements, Total Balance Supplements, Zeaxanthin | Leave a Comment
If you are wondering will lutein improve vision, you may have seen or heard a commercial for a health supplement. Here are the facts that were probably not included in that commercial.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are two powerful antioxidants that are highly concentrated in the macula, a small area of the retina responsible for central vision and good visual acuity. Some studies indicate that increased intake helps reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration or AMD. Some studies have concluded that high supplementation (10mg zeaxanthin, 50mg lutein) lowers the risk of cataracts and may actually improve visual acuity in AMD by 20% or more.
So, if you have AMD and you are wondering will lutein improve vision, the answer is “maybe”. It is difficult to be more certain than that, because so many other factors come into play. Every health problem that affects other parts of your body also affects visual acuity. Many health problems increase the risk of AMD. If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, then supplementation may not help. If you are obese or your diet is high in fat, it may not help.
Promising results from a single supplement when there are so many other factors to consider would be dishonest. Yet, some manufacturers focus only on the possible benefits and never mention the importance of a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
If you do not have AMD and you are wondering will lutein improve vision, some people have reported improved eyesight after improving their nutritional intake with a totally balanced supplement. A single nutrient is probably a waste of time. Here’s a question for you. How’s your diet?
If you run through the day grabbing fast foods or snacks from the vending machine and then come home at night to eat meat and potatoes, then a good multi-nutritional supplement that includes mixed carotenoids should help you see better. If you remember being told to eat your carrots, there was a good reason for that. We didn’t know much about different antioxidants, until recently, but we have known for many years that eating carrots supports eye health, because of the carotenoids they contain.
The problem today is that most of the supplements on the market contain synthetic vitamins. There is now way to be sure that the synthetics are beneficial at all. If the latest studies are any indication, they probably are not.
The answer to will lutein improve vision might depend upon where the manufacturer got it. Is the source natural or is it a petrochemical? Many people are surprised to learn that their vitamins contain petrochemicals. People that would never expose themselves to cigarette smoke are ingesting possible carcinogens, every day.
Not all petrochemicals are carcinogenic, at least as far as we know, but many of them are. They are all made in the same factory. It is safe to assume that petrochemicals are bad for our health.
Luckily, there are some reputable manufacturers that use only natural ingredients. Now, instead of asking will lutein improve vision, why not learn more about how to choose a good multi-nutritional supplement.
Valerie Rosenbaum has made it her mission to provide the public with information. The best nutritional supplements will include a full complement of over 70 bio-active ingredients to create a healthy balance of nutrients and antioxidants within the body. Learn what she uses and recommends at http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
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Zeaxanthin Dosage For Improved Vision in Anti Aging Supplements
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Antioxidant, Enteric Coating, Eyesight, Lutein, Main Content, Nutritional Supplements, Total Balance Supplements, Zeaxanthin | Leave a Comment
When you are trying to learn about an adequate zeaxanthin dosage, information is hard to come by. The experts do not seem to agree about how much is enough to reduce your risk of age-related eye diseases. One of the things that they do agree about is that this single nutrient is not a miracle pill.
Every time researchers learn something new about a nutrient and the media gets involved, new supplement manufacturers appear on the scene. Often their websites contain videos from TV news stories or talk shows. In the US, supplement manufacturers are prohibited from making misleading statements, but media reports can be just as misleading.
Resveratrol is a perfect example. You may have seen news reports about how that antioxidant is responsible for the health benefits of red wine. Supplements containing just that single ingredient are being touted as “anti-aging” formulas.
While there is no doubt that resveratrol is a potent antioxidant, new research has shown that it could not be the only compound responsible for the health benefits of red wine, because the amount present is too low and it is not readily absorbed into the bloodstream. Researchers have concluded that the benefit is more likely due to all of the different antioxidants found in the skins of red grapes. Those include proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, as well as resveratrol.
When it comes to the health of the eyes, a zeaxanthin dosage is not the only important nutrient. The eyes need lutein, anthocyanins, beta-carotene, glucosamine, n-acetyl cysteine, B12, B2 and l-carnosine. A deficit in any of these nutrients could result in poor vision and age-related eye diseases.
A lutein and zeaxanthin dosage is most commonly recommended because they are the primary pigments found in the retina. In age-related macular degeneration or AMD, there are inadequate amounts of these nutrients circulating in the bloodstream. Low circulating levels are also associated with high cholesterol, which in turn is a risk factor for AMD. A well-designed multi-nutritional supplement can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce other risk factors for the disease.
If you have tried health supplements in the past and been disappointed by the results, the problem was probably the manufacturer, not the nutrient itself. Most manufacturers, particularly suppliers of the cheap multi-vitamins on the market, use synthetic forms of vitamins and minerals.
There have never been any studies comparing the efficacy of natural vitamins versus synthetic ones. But, natural health experts are firm in their belief that the synthetics are not good for you. Many of them are made from petroleum. You may as well call them plastic vitamins.
If they do include the natural form of the nutrient, they often do not include enough. One of the more expensive eye health supplements on the market contains a zeaxanthin dosage of less than 1mg. That might be enough for a child, but for an older adult, at least 10mg per day would be necessary.
The latest studies indicate that the most effective formula for countering AMD is a combination of antioxidants, not a single zeaxanthin dosage. It just isn’t enough.
Valerie Rosenbaum has made it her mission to provide the public with information supporting the use of natural and clinically tested ingredients in their anti aging supplements. The best nutritional supplements will include a full complement of over 70 bio-active ingredients to create a healthy balance of nutrients and antioxidants within the body. Learn what she uses and recommends at http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
What Good is Lutein?
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Enteric Coating, Fish Oil Supplements, Heart Disease, Lutein, Main Content, Natural Supplements, Nutritional Supplements, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Total Balance Supplements, Zeaxanthin | Leave a Comment
If you’re wondering; what is lutein used for, you’ve come to the right place. Until recently, its most common use was as a natural coloring. It would be added to foods to impart colors ranging form yellow to orange-red, depending on the amount that was added. It imparts these colors, because it absorbs blue light.
It was also used to fortify chicken feed. A chicken’s skin is not naturally yellow, unless it eats lutein-fortified feed. A fortified diet, of this kind, also results in eggs that have a darker yellow, nearly orange, yolk. The lutein that is present in eggs is a result of chicken’s eating fortified feed. Chickens do not naturally produce it. It is produced primarily by plants.
As long as fruits and vegetables are consumed, it is a nutrient included in the human diet. It is just one of the reasons that eating fruits and vegetables (other than white potatoes) is so important.
If you are wondering; what is lutein doing in nutritional supplements, the answer has mostly to do with the eyes. Inside of the eye is the retina. Light receptors called rods and cones are found in the retina. These are nerve cells responsible for transmitting signals to the brain and receiving signals from it.
Each of the rods and cones contains a membrane composed of protein and retinal or Vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiencies can cause blindness, but a more common problem, night blindness, is due to a lack of it in the diet.
Another component of the retina is the omega3 fatty acid called DHA. It is the most abundant fatty acid found in the retina, as it is in all nerve and brain cells.
Within the retina is found the macula, a spot in the back of the eye, responsible for central vision. A high concentration of lutein, along with zeaxanthin, is found in the macula. If you were wondering what is lutein, because you have seen it in a health supplement, zeaxanthin was probably another ingredient. Zeaxanthin is the dominant pigment in the central macula. Lutein dominates in the rest of the macula.
Both are members of the carotenoid family of pigments. Beta-carotene and lycopene are also carotenoids. Beta-carotene is converted within the body to vitamin A.
At one time it was believed that only beta-carotene was important to healthy vision. Now, it appears that the other carotenoids are just as important. If you ate a salad containing spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, carrots and tomatoes, you would get a mixture of all of the carotenoids. If you took a health supplement, you might only get beta-carotene. You would have to read the label to be sure.
You could be wondering what is lutein because your eye doctor suggested it as a dietary supplement. You may be at risk of macula degeneration, an age related eye disease that can result in partial or total blindness. It is believed that supplements containing a variety of carotenoids, along with other vitamins and minerals may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. That covers what is lutein. Maybe you should learn about the other nutrients that are important to good vision, for life.
Valerie Rosenbaum has spent years researching the claims of anti aging supplement products and skin care products to find out which ingredients and products are most effective at slowing or even reversing the aging process. If you are interested in restoring your youthful vigor and appearance then visit her website NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
Lutein Enriched Multi-Vitamin Supplements
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Enteric Coating, Fish Oil Supplements, Lutein, Main Content, Nutritional Supplements, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Total Balance Supplements, Zeaxanthin | Leave a Comment
If you are shopping for lutein enriched multi-vitamins, you may be shocked by the prices. One formula costs $40 per bottle and it contains only six nutrients. Of course, price is not the only consideration. Here are some things to consider. Let’s start with a recommendation about where “not” to buy it.
E-bay and other auction sites are great if you are buying collectible figurines, but it’s not the place to buy healthcare products of this kind. E-bay resellers pick up salvaged goods. There is no way to determine what has been sitting alongside that supplement or what nutrients it contains. Even if it is the same brand that you have been using, it could easily have been contaminated.
Additionally, the potency of a product reduces over time. You really shouldn’t buy anything that is even close to its expiration date. These products are manufactured years before they expire. You really don’t want to take something that has been sitting on a shelf for years.
The next thing to consider when buying lutein enriched multi-vitamins is the other nutrients that are included in the formula. Are they 100% natural? Is the vitamin E natural or synthetic? Does it even include vitamin E?
According to the latest research, the most effective supplement is one that contains mixed carotenoids, not just beta-carotene and lutein, but also zeaxanthin and lycopene. The multi-nutritional supplement used in the latest study also included alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), bilberry extract and DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid. Like lutein and zeaxanthin, DHA is one of the major components of the retina.
You will have to buy a separate omega 3 supplement, because the nutritional formula that works best for the eyes must be protected by an enteric coating. It cannot be mixed with fish oil, which is the best source of DHA. The enteric coating allows for the highest degree of effectiveness.
Those $40 lutein enriched multi-vitamins that I mentioned in the first paragraph contain no vitamin E. It does contain lutein and zeaxanthin, but the dosage of zeaxanthin is less than what nutritional experts recommend for a 5 year old. These supplements are normally marketed towards older people with failing eyesight. They would need at least 50mg of lutein and 10mg of zeaxanthin to see any improvement.
The $40 supplement contains too much taurine and not enough alpha lipoic acid. Research and development teams may disagree about the proper dosage. So, there may be an honest explanation for the poor quality of expensive lutein enriched multi-vitamins, but in most cases, the manufacturer is taking advantage of the customers’ limited knowledge.
For $41, you can get a supplement that provides 91 different nutrients, including essential vitamins and minerals. So, you would no longer need to take a daily multi-vitamin. If you are over the age of 40, you should be taking calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K2 to reduce your risk of osteoporosis or bone loss. The job of vitamin K2 is to put calcium where it is need and make sure that it does not get deposited in the arteries.
The best lutein enriched multi-vitamins, contains all of the nutrients mentioned in this article. They are specially formulated to stave off all age-related diseases and to provide improvement for people that already have them.
Valerie Rosenbaum has made it her mission to provide the public with information supporting the use of natural and clinically tested ingredients in their anti aging supplements. The best nutritional supplements will include a full complement of over 70 bio-active ingredients to create a healthy balance of nutrients and antioxidants within the body.
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