Something About Supplements Tips
Read these 15 Something About Supplements Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Alternative Health tips and hundreds of other topics.
Supplements & Osteoporosis
Herbs & supplements that are helpful for inflammation include Boswellia, feverfew, and white willow. SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine) has been shown to increase the formation of healthy tissue and reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling - better than ibuprophen & naproxen. This was by using 400 mg taken 3 times a day.
Naicinamide (250 mg 4 times a day) has also been shown to help joint mobility, improved muscle strength and decreased fatigue. Also, D-phenylalanine, (250 mg 3 or 4 times a day) helps inhibit the enzyme that breaks down some of the body's natural pain killers.
Many people also find some relief by using cayenne creams as a muscle-type rub. This helps relieve pain by stimulating the release of sensory nerve neurotransmitters, which then interfere with pain messages being sent. This is a temporary remedy, but can help reduce pain a bit.
The What & Why of Grape Seed Extract
Grape seed extract belongs to the flavonoid family and contains nutrients called proanthocyanidins or PCO's for short. These PCO's have been found to strengthen capillaries, stabilize collagen and maintain two critical proteins in connective tissue. Bilberry, cranberry, black currant, green tea,& black tea contain OPC's, but a higher concentration is found in pine bark, grape seed & grape skin. Add a grape seed extract to your daily routine for its extra benefits.
Improving Sperm Count
Infertility problems in men can often times be connected to a deficiency in vitamin B-12. Supplementation of vitamin B-12 (1000 mcg daily) can sometimes improve sperm count.
What Are Bioflavonoids?.
Bioflavonoids are a class of water-soluble plant pigments and they can be broken down into categories like isoflavones, anthocyanins and flavones. Some better known bioflavonoids include the genistein in soy and also quercetin (found in onions). Their main claims to fame are that they can act as anti-inflammatories, antihistaminics and antiviral agents. They help improve the absorption of Vitamin C and they also offer antioxidant properties that can help protect LDL-cholesterol from oxidative damage. Bioflavonoids are very important to capillary health, especially Bilberry, which can be helpful to the eyes for helping to fight cataracts, and also helpful to the body if you are prone to bruising.
Bioflavonoid content is present in citrus fruits (mainly the white membrane of the fruit), soy products (flavanones), and anthocyanins in wine and bilberry. Flavans are also present in apples and tea.
The most common recommended doses are 1,000 mg of citrus bioflavonoids or 400 mg of Quercetin taken three times a day.
Supplements During Menopause
Registered pharmacist and author, Steven Ottariano recommends menopausal women take 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E to help ease hot flashes; 1500 mg calcium (not calcium carbonate but microcrystalline calcium hydroxyapatite (MCHC) or calcium citrate; 500 to 750 mg magnesium to help calcium absorption; and 1,000 to 2,000 mg vitamin C to help with vitamin E absorption and to help decrease capillary fragility. These should all be taken daily.
Vitamin C & Tooth Damage
Lots of folks prefer getting their daily doses of vitamin C in the form of tasty, chewable tablets - BUT researchers at John Hopkins Hospital suggest you stick to tablets you swallow whole. Why, you ask? Chewable vitamin C supplements in larger doses (500 mg or more) may cause your teeth to discolor due to the large amounts of acid released when chewed.
What Should I know About Evening Oil of Primrose?
Evening Oil of Primrose (EPO) has no reported problems with adverse interactions with any medications at this time. It is advised, however, to make sure you take magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin B to insure the full benefits of the supplement. IEPO has been used to treat diabetes, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, alcohol withdrawal, fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, atherosclerosis, MS, irritable bowel syndrome, Raynaud's disease, and attention deficit disorder.
Researchers generally recommend using between 3,000 to 6,000 mg of EPO daily.
Supplements And Bipolar Disorder
Supplements given some credence for helping Manic Depression (Bipolar Disease) include Fish Oil (typical dose is 3 to 9 g daily) and lecithin (also possibly helpful for Alzheimer's). The typical dosage for psychological and neurological conditions have been as high as 5 to 10 mg taken three times a day. The supplement SAMe has been mentioned regarding Bipolar Disease, as has Oil of Primrose, but there has been concern that these may actually trigger manic episodes, so until more testing is done, I would avoid these.
Calcium Absorption Test
To see how well your calcium supplement absorbs into your body, drop one calcium tablet into 6 ounces of room temperature vinegar. Stir every 3 minutes. IF the tablet does NOT dissolve within 30 minutes, get yourself another calcium supplement that DOES dissolve when doing this test.
Potassium For Blood Pressure
Potassium is one of the essential minerals we obtain from a number of common foods like bananas, orange juice, potatoes, avocados, tomatoes, cantaloupes, and peaches. Potassium citrate supplements appear to be moderately helpful in lowering hypertension, especially among people who eat too much salt. Current therapeutic dosage is between 200 to 400 mg taken 3 to 4 times a day. It's advised to also include magnesium & extra B-12 as well.
Supplements For Acne
To combat acne, supplement and herb-wise, some people have benefited by taking 2.5 grams of pantothenic acid 4 times a day, and also by taking 30 mg of zinc 2 or 3 times daily for a few months, then cutting down to 30 mg daily. (The results from zinc may take up to 3 months.) The herb Burdock helps rid the system of toxins, and it can be taken as a capsule, tablet (1 or 2 grams 3 times a day) or in liquid extract form (2 to 4 ml daily).
5-HTP The Super Supplement
5-HTP, (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a supplement that has been quite successful in treating depression, migraine headaches, obesity, fibromyalgia, insomnia and anxiety. Therapeutic doses range between 100 to 200 mg 3 times a day, but once appreciable results occur, you can usually cut the dose back and still maintain the good results you've achieved. Since this supplement raises serotonin levels, DO NOT mix with any prescription antidepressants unless given the green light by your doctor. Also, DO NOT mix with the Parkinson's disease drug Carbidopa, as this could put you at risk of developing the tissue disease scleroderma.
Why Calcium Is Good For You
Recommended intake levels of calcium range from 1,000 mg daily if you're under 50 and 1,500 mgs if you are over 50. The reasons behind the need for this ever-so-important element in your diet include keeping your bones strong; lowers high blood pressure; wards off PMS; fights colon cancer; prevents kidney stones; helps avoid breast cancer; aids in weight loss and helps give you an extra edge against strokes.
Quercetin & Nettles For Allergies
Stinging Nettle has been widely used in Germany for treating allergies, hayfever and prostate problems. A typical dosage is two to three 300 mg capsules of freeze-dried nettle. There has been some concern that nettle can interfere with diabetes or high blood pressure medications, but no actual cases have been proven. Other helpful supplements for allergies include quercetin and other flavonoids. Some studies suggest that quercetin actually works like the drug Intal, which halts the release of allergenic substances into the body. The recommended dosage for quercetin is 200 to 400 mg three times a day - and it's better absorbed if taken on an empty stomach.
NADH For Alzheimer's& Parkinson's?
NADH, also known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, helps enzymes accomplish their jobs throughout the body, especially in the areas of increasing energy, as well as aiding in the production of L-dopa, which is turned into the neurotransmitter dopamine. Researchers are now taking a closer look at NADH to determine if it may be a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Current therapeutic dosage ranges between 5 to 50 mg daily.
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