Bee Pollen Supplements

Even though a lot of people don't actually realize it, a lot of antioxidant foods that we consume are from vegetables. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and peppers are all excellent choices with some great benefits for your body. When consuming vegetables, you should always go for those that are rich in color, as they are high in what is known as phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients are nutrients found in the skins of several fruits and vegetables, which give the food color as well as flavor and scent. Phytonutrients are quite simply the best types of antioxidant foods that you can find anywhere. If you are looking for a supplement value, the coq10 offers you a high level of antioxidant value.

Although fruits and vegetables are the best sources for antioxidants, the problem with them is that they are produced by the use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, and different types of fertilizers. Over the years, studies have shown that fruits and vegetables which are organically grown are high in antioxidants, and boast a much higher concentration than those that have been produced commercially.

In the busy world of today, it can be very tough to eat like we should, nor can we eat organic fruits and vegetables all the time. If you can't or don't have access to organic fruits or other sources of antioxidant foods, you should look into nutritional supplements that offer you the phytonutrients you need in your diet.

Supplements that contain phytonutrients do have advantages when compared to certain fruits, such as carrots – which can elevate your blood sugar level to a very high level. Phytonutrients found in supplements are the extract of pigments where nutrients are concentrated, meaning that they draw the best from antioxidant foods, leaving the calories and sugar behind.

Bee Pollen - The Famed "Elixir Of Life"?

It starts out as the male seed of a flower, collected to be processed and stored by honey bees in their hives. As it is based on a natural sexual cell, it contains all substances necessary for the healthy development of new organisms, including essential amino acids, a large variety of vitamins, enzymes and carbohydrates. It has been described as one of the most complete foods for human consumption, with some research claiming that a human could survive indefinitely on bee pollen and water only. It contains all of the nutrients necessary to sustain life.

Bee pollen can only be produced by bees - it cannot be reproduced in the laboratory due to some of its chemical components being "unknown" to modern science and therefore unidentifiable.

Uses
All body functions can benefit from its use, especially the reproductive, immune and nervous systems. Some of the more common uses are:
Improving the functions of the liver
Strengthening of the heart
Treatment of burns and other skin injures
Promote healing
Sore throat
Bronchitis
Asthma & allergies
Anti-aging
Chronic fatigue
Protection against "free radicals"
Ulcers
Prostate disease
Menopause
Kidney disorders
Impotence and infertility
High blood pressure

Health Benefits From the Kelp Forest

Sea vegetables, like kelp grow in abundance in the kelp forest of Nova Scotia and provide organic iodine, which is crucial as a nutrient when taken internally. These natural sources of iodine are essential for a healthy thyroid. Kelp forest extracts in particular, with its balance of natural iodine with other minerals, vitamins and trace elements, is considered a body balancer, promoting adrenal, pituitary and thyroid health. The bio-availability of organic iodine in natural kelp forest liquid kelp can assist in normalizing thyroid disorders, obesity and lymph system congestion. Digita Laminaria from the kelp forest detoxifies and eliminates heavy metals and toxins, very effectively helping to purify the blood.

Liquid kelp from the kelp forest of Nova Scotia can be used effectively for weight loss by aiding in eliminating excess stores of fat and fluids. Its easily absorbed organic minerals and trace minerals provide energy and stamina, while organic vitamins boost the immune system and act as viral protectors, all from Nature's own kelp forest.

Seaweed from the kelp forest contains natural digestive enzymes help the body’s metabolic and digestive systems with assimilation. Liquid kelp, extracted from the kelp forest in its concentrated form, is very quickly assimilated, with just an ounce providing the recommended daily dosage. The kelp forest liquid form is soothing to a sensitive or troubled digestive system, aiding greatly in treating recurrent constipation and gastric bloating.

Topically, liquid kelp forest extracts have added benefits, promoting healthier skin, hair and nails. Misting kelp forest liquid onto the skin helps regenerate and firm skin while protecting against moisture loss.

Liquid kelp is extracted from one of the best species of kelp forest vegetation, Laminaria Digitata, which produces the highest levels of organic iodine and other nutrients, including over 70 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements. Farmed from the kelp forest of Nova Scotia, this kelp is cold water grown, so it has the best nitrogen levels. Laminaria Digitata is an arterial cleansing agent, giving tone to the walls of blood vessels and reducing deposits in the arteries while restoring their elasticity. It also strengthens the circulatory system and helps to lower cholesterol. The kelp forest plant extracts and assimilates vital minerals from ocean water and miraculously converts them from unavailable inorganic substances to available organic minerals that our bodies can then use for overall health.

What Is Flower Pollen Extract?

Flower pollen extract has an extremely rich history, first used in Sweden where it has shown tremendous health aid for both men and women. Flower pollen extract is entirely different from bee pollen. Flower pollen extract is made up of several strains of specific organic grass and flower plants, which is the reproductive fluid of the plant, which has spiky coating, dust, fungi, and other allergens removed. This liberates the potent nutritional portion that fertilizes grasses and plants, virtually eliminating any of the allergenic effects that are associated with raw pollen.

Flower pollen extracts are gathered directly from plants in the field, as the husks that contain bacteria, fungi, toxins, and pollutants that cause hay fever and other allergies are removed through an enzyme-based process. By using non-toxic methods, both the water and fat-soluble portions are obtained which are rich in vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, amino acids, enzymes, proteins, phytosterols, lipids, ribonucleic acids, peptides, and fatty acids. Surprisingly, flower pollen extract is unusually rich in all of these nutrients, as well as many others.

Flower pollen extract should not be confused with the bee pollen that is sold at health food stores, as flower pollen extract is harvested hours before the bees arrive and is collected from specific plants that are grown in specific greenhouses or fields. Bees go from plant to plant, making their pollen an eclectic mixture, so it is hard to create a therapeutic effect from a supplement of such uncertainty, but flower pollen uses very specific extracts.

Flower pollen has been suspected to be a non-hormone method of helping women who experience PMS, making it an important contribution to public health. In order to determine whether this assumption was true, first a small study was done for premenstrual syndrome. Although patients knew they were receiving an intended remedy, flower pollen extract showed a positive outcome. After these results, a second, much larger study was done on women with PMS. The results were very impressive. Thirty-two women aged 27 to 50 years old were studied after giving two months of active treatment. The results showed that overall symptoms were lowered significantly by about 27 to 57 percent. Premenstrual weight gain was also reduced by 50 percent compared to those women who were taking a placebo. These results show that using flower pollen extract as a herbal therapy can provide substantial symptomatic relief of PMS with minimal risk of adverse effects.

Iodine Deficient? A Simple Self-Test Can Show You Now

In the United States alone, nearly 13 million people suffer from some type of thyroid imbalance and are, usually, totally unaware of it. Iodine is a necessary nutrient, not only for proper thyroid functioning but, it is also essential for the normal functioning of body cells, nervous system, muscles, brain development, oxygen utilization, metabolism, a strong immune system, and a whole lot more. Understanding how important a critical trace mineral is, such as this one, to your overall health is well worth the time spent in learning more.

Many people who were deficient in iodine have witnessed some amazingly positive results from supplementation. While it is commonly recognized in the traditional medical community, in how this mineral plays an important role in helping hormone production in the thyroid gland. Common symptoms of thyroid malfunctioning are; fatigue, unexplained weight loss or gain, muscle weakness, hair loss, concentration problems, increased allergies, fluid retention, and being irritable.

According to Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D., a former professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and endocrinology at the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine, and a leading authority on iodine says, the limits of sufficient iodine levels in the human body go far beyond this, other possible body healing functions of iodine include:

1.Regulates moods
2.Prevents cancer (especially in breasts, ovaries, uterus, prostate, and thyroid gland)
3.Prevents and treats fibrocystic breasts in women
4.Regulates blood pressure
5.Helps regulate blood sugar, and prevents and treats diabetes
6.Helps to prevent abnormal cardiac rhythms

Life Essentials - Multi-Vitamin & Mineral

One gram of refined iodized table salt, which has a high chloride content, contains 77 mcg of iodine. Some experts estimate that only about 10 percent of this iodine can be absorbed by the body. Therefore, a superior form of salt is needed by your body. A better source of iodine and several other trace minerals, which is naturally present in unrefined sea salt, is a wiser choice. It will cost considerably more but, the health benefits are worth it. You can find this type of salt in most health food stores.

Other sources of iodine in our diets comes from dairy products, meat, and eggs. The level of iodine can have varying amounts, though, depending on contents of animal feed. About 40 years ago, iodate was used as a bread stabilizer in commercially produced baked goods, further increasing our iodine intake. Recently this practice has declined, in the last 30 years, with iodate being replaced with bromide as it was considered to be safer. Other dietary sources are certain multivitamins, and ingesting so-called health foods such as kelp. They are, however, largely unregulated and unrecognized.

If you suspect you might be deficient in this necessary trace mineral you can perform a simple self test, although it may not be completely accurate. Paint a two inch spot on a soft skin tissue area such as your inner upper arm, or upper thigh, with tincture of iodine. If it takes longer than 18 hours for the stain to disappear, it is a good indicator you are iodine sufficient. If it absorbs more quickly, say 2 to 3 hours, you may possibly need to supplement. You may, then, want to have a more accurate, in depth, simple saliva or urine test performed.

Iodine utilization problems can be further restricted by ingesting goitrogens (substances that may cause enlargement of the thyroid gland) such as fluoride, bromine and bromides, and chlorine. The neat thing about being sufficient in this mineral, is that Dr. Abraham's work showed that sufficient iodine levels help promote the excretion of toxic minerals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium out of the body, and the halogens fluoride and bromide as well.

Water is the main fluid choice that will help flush these harmful substances out of you, more quickly and efficiently than any other beverage. That is something you will be able to see and feel, as water is the basis for all sound nutritional diet success stories.

Increase Male And Female Fertility

In females - many of the studies suggest - ginseng supports uterine function. This will strengthen the female uterus and aim to make it more fertile. In males, ginseng acts in much the same way by stimulating testosterone levels.

Treatment of Cold and Flu:
In many cases, Siberian ginseng has helped to stimulate the immune system to both decrease the symptoms of cold and flu and support the body by warding off infection of cold and flu, entirely.

Other Noted Pathologies Relieved by Siberian Ginseng

• Decreased symptoms of Alzheimer's
• Decreased symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
• Decreased symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
• Decreased symptoms of multiple sclerosis
• Decrease in general fatigue associated with PMS

The Skinny On Siberian Ginseng

Ginseng is yet another addition to the category of Hot supplement topics. Of course - if there is a naturally occurring substance that helps to stimulate mental and physical energy, decrease incidence of cancer and ward off colds and flu - I certainly want answers! Although I'm still left a bit confused about all the different varieties - Siberian ginseng appears to be a popular, commercially available and beneficial form.

The Claims:
Decrease/Prevent Stress and Stress Related Illness:
Created from the root of the Eleutherococcus senticosus plant native to Siberia, Siberian ginseng has been used as an energy tonic by the Chinese for over 5,000 years. This is exciting news as it appears that ginseng improves both mental alertness and attention to detail. It has been noted in many studies to improve endurance and increase overall energy in many athletes. For me, this begs the question: "Could ginseng be a natural solution to ADD?" It does appear so. And where stress is concerned - in documented patient studies, rates of stress were lower in individuals who supplemented. Ginseng has shown promise in both the relief of stress and decreased incidence of stress related diseases, such as arteriosclerosis, by improving circulation and normalizing blood pressure.

Relief of Menopause Discomforts:
Siberian ginseng - in many of the articles and studies I found - works to stabilize hormone levels to decrease or relieve the discomforts of menopause, i.e. emotional instability and hot flashes. Also ginseng is used in much the same way to stimulate the endocrine gland and also assimilate vitamins and minerals.

Health: How To Read Food Labels

You cannot measure every morsel that passes your lips, but it is a good idea to measure most foods and beverages until you get a feel for portion sizes.

It is a supersized world out there, and most people are surprised to find that their idea of a single serving is actually two or three.

If you are into bells and whistles, there are food scales that are preprogrammed with nutritional information, as well as scales that will keep a running total of your daily food and nutrient intake for you. The only tools you really need, however, are a simple and inexpensive gram scale, dry and liquid measuring cups, and idea on reading food labels.

Among all of the mentioned tools, reading food labels seem to be the most effective way of determining the right kind of food to be bought in the supermarket. It lets you make sensible food selections. Through the “Nutrition Facts” section in a particular item in the grocery, you can identify the amount of serving sizes provided in that product.

With food labels, you can clearly understand the amount and kinds of nutrients that are provided in the item. Usually, it contains the information on saturated fat, sodium, total fat, fiber, and cholesterol amount “per serving.”

Supplements And Nutrition For Constipation

Emphasize fiber. "You don't see much constipation in countries with high-fiber diets," observes Marion Nestle, Ph.D., chair­person of nutrition and food studies at New York University in New York City. "You see it in countries like the United States, where many people eat a low-fiber diet."

To increase your fiber intake, Dr. Nestle recommends eating whole grains, beans, fruits, or vegetables at every meal and as snacks. Wheat bran, the leading constipation preventive, is an ingredient in dozens of breakfast cereals such as All-Bran and Bran Buds. Popcorn makes a satisfying high-fiber snack. Enjoy bean soups and bean burritos, or munch on low-fat tortilla chips with bean dip. Prunes, raisins, broccoli, carrots, figs, and dried apricots also contain generous amounts of fiber.

Banish the binders. Some foods are binding, meaning that they contribute to constipation, Dr. Simons says. Limiting your consumption of bananas, cheeses, white rice, applesauce, and foods made with white flour can help keep you regular.

Quaff coffee. Many people have noticed that coffee has a laxative effect on them. The caffeine in coffee helps relieve constipation by stimulating peristalsis. If you're not a coffee drinker, tea, cocoa, and cola may also supply enough caffeine to get your bowels moving.

Supplements
Cure constipation with C. "High doses of vitamin C cause loose stools," Dr. Brauer says. "While that can be a problem for people who are prone to diarrhea, it can help those who are constipated." He recommends taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C every 2 waking hours until you're able to go to the bathroom.

Find relief in folic acid. One study found that women who experienced problems with constipation had low levels of the B vitamin folic acid in their blood. When the women began taking folic acid supplements, all of their symptoms subsided. Try taking up to 5,000 micrograms a day until the condition subsides, advises clinical nutritionist Shari Lieberman, Ph.D. But check with your doctor first, since dosages of folic acid over 1,000 micrograms should only be taken under medical supervision.