Currently there is plenty of scientific information now available which is able to substantiate some of the claims with regard to just how efficient such products as Niox which contains nitric oxide are.
Certainly over the years supplements which contain nitric oxide have been gaining in favour with bodybuilders as it helps to increase the flow of blood around the body and this in turn helps to send essential nutrients around the body including muscles. This results in the muscles becoming enlarged when placed under stress. Plus it helps to reduce the inflammation and pain that is often associated with the problems occurred when muscles come under extreme pressure and stress.
When taking any kind of nitric oxide supplement a person should follow the dosage instructions provided by the manufacturer for the simple reason that these contain amino acids. Therefore the chances of a person actually overdosing on these supplements can actually occur. Also if too much of these supplements are taken it can lead to various side effects including diarrhea, nausea and weakness in some people. Therefore when first taking such products including Niox which although states a preferred amount that a person should be taking instead each person should carry out tolerance mapping instead. What this then means is that they take a small dose of the supplement for a week and note down any side effects as well as benefits that they feel it has provided to them. Then you should slowly increase the amount you are taking until you get to a stage where the benefits outweigh side effects completely.
It may well take time but soon you will meet a plateau where the two (side effects and benefits) meet and this will then be optimum dose you can take at any one time. Also if you are someone who is also using protein powders to help build up lean muscle mass it is essential that you watch how much of these you are using as well as they also contain amino acids. So it may be wise for short period to either cut back or eliminate all protein powders from your dietary requirements as you may find yourself ingesting far too much amino acids.
At all times when taking any form of supplement and not just those that are there to help increase the production of nitric oxide in the body you should discuss the matter with your doctor first.
To find out how the nitric oxide supplement can help you build lean muscle mass visit Niox Review at
For many of those searching for the next top weight loss supplement or the ideal fat pill, the idea of eating any more fat would sound counter-productive. The general thinking seems to be that fat is bad an that non-fat is better than regular. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Although are many ways to lose weight fast, there are some fats that can help weight loss by eating some!
Take for example, a top weight loss supplement; conjugated linoleum acid (CLA) This fatty acid is probably the BEST fat for fast weight loss. However, some people are still skeptical when you suggest that they should eat fat or that some fat is actually needed in a healthy and well balanced diet. For the die-hard fat fearer, the word fat equals fat and that is that!
To eliminate every single source of fat from our diets would be next to impossible to and as previously stated, some fats that are beneficial and actually need to be included in our diet daily, especially when have goals of health and weight loss. By including in your diet foods that are plentiful sources of these good fats, not only can you lose weight, but in the long run you’ll be healthier too. After eating any type of fat, our body must break it down in this case to fatty acids and glycerol, a more usable form. Fatty acids are often used as fuel for resting muscles. If needed, Glycerol can be converted back into glucose for energy, by a long sequence of reactions.
There are however, certain types of fat have no benefit for the body whatsoever – they are dangerous and should be avoided. Animal-based saturated fats are the biggest culprits, as they are simply carried back to our storage centers un-metabolized. Having such a diet that is high in animal-based saturated fats will ultimately lead to clogging and thickening of the arterial walls – or atherosclerosis, as well as elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure and hardened arteries presents a real problem for you and your heart.
The Omega 3′s and other beneficial fats like (CLA) conjugated linoleic acid, can help prevent and reduce the effects of heart disease. Damage caused by cholesterol in and around the heart have been prevented by CLA and the Omega 3′s.
Whether enhanced or working well, lipid metabolism in the body will either use the lipids for immediate energy or flush them out instead of storing them. When a fatty meal is consumed, some insulin will be released, although not nearly as much as with a high carbohydrate meal. The more likely it is that there will be some body fat storage based on the amount of insulin that is released by the body. With lipids however, the insulin release is not as high unless some carbohydrates are eaten as well (most fatty meals contain some carbohydrates). The body will tend to focus on the carbohydrates first. Essentially, adding beneficial fatty acids to the diet can enhance the body’s attempts to dispose of the excess fats – even before it has finished processing the carbohydrates.
Excellent food sources of Omega 3′s include: fatty fish like salmon, trout, and halibut; walnuts; and olive oil. CLA is found typically in beef, lamb, veal, poultry, milk, and cheese.
These fatty acids are commonly found in supplements and other fat pills or lose weight pills. Realistically, it is can be difficult to ingest enough of these fatty acids without also ingesting larger caloric amounts of protein as well. As a result, they make for top weight loss supplements, or components of health and lose weight pills.
Craig Niccerelli is the editor of the fitness and health loss blog at my topweightlosssupplement.com
Then, insist on a safe and health plan for success!
It is possible to find a place where you can original horny goat weed online. The fact is that we have a lot of online stores where you can purchase horny goat weed, but the question is; do they sell the original form of horny goat weed?
You may not get result when you the types of horny goat weed that is not natural in form, that is the types that contain preservatives. Some stores mix their horny goat weed with other ingredients. It is usually supposed to be left in its natural extracted form. The reason why these stores mix theirs with other ingredients is to get bigger amount of this supplement in to get much larger profits. It will be in your best interest to avoid such stores at all cost. They also sell at a much cheaper price to make theirs more attractive when you are actually not getting the best thing.
The best store where you can original horny goat weed extract and made into a capsule form is at favorite store. It sells one of the best horny goat weed supplement you can think of. The major reasons why it works Is because of the effect of taking their horny goat weed. It is not only safe, but it is also pure. It can be taken by either a man or a woman. It is for both sexes. Women and men who take it do not encounter any side effect from its use. You can try to one bottle first and try it to see how you sexual libido and stamina will be improved from the intake of this horny goat weed.
First off, you do not need supplements in to gain muscle. Supplements make a 20% difference in your results. It’s the hard work, eating whole foods and recovery that is the other 80% to you reaching your goals. There are many people that are muscular without taking supplements, but honestly most of us do not have the time and/or the dedication it takes to eat a balanced diet and work out consistently. This is where supplements come in to play. Supplements do not build muscle for us, but it helps our body receive the nutrients we are lacking to build muscle.
You still need to eat properly, work hard in the gym and rest in to build muscle. The question many people ask is, "there are so many supplements out there, what should I take?" The answer is not very simple because each supplement is designed to do different things. Everybodys body reacts differently to a supplement depending on each person’s needs and bodily chemistry. With that being said, there are 4 supplements that every person needs and you will find them in the cabinet of any bodybuilders home: Multivitamins, Protein Powder, Creatine, and EFA’s
Multi Vitamin
With all the processed foods inundating our supermarkets, it’s almost impossible to get all your nutritional requirements from food alone. Even if you eat nothing but whole foods, you would have to eat a large amount of food to meet all your nutritional requirements due to the inferior soils used today.
Your body is a complex machine that conducts millions of functions simultaneously. Each nutrient contributes to thousands of essential reactions that make these functions possible such as B12 for healthy red blood cell production, Iodine for thyroid regulation, and B6 for protein metabolism. Being deficient in just one nutrient is detrimental to thousands of chemical reactions within your body, which in turn will make it much harder for your body to run at its full potential.
People who put their bodies under physical stress 3-4 days a week have a higher nutritional requirement than people who live a sedentary lifestyle. I’m sure you’ve noticed after a hard workout you’re very hungry. It’s your body telling you it is low on fuel and needs to be replenished. To make sure my body is not lacking in nutrients, I like to take multivitamins with a higher potency for two reasons:
Some multivitamins use inferior ingredients and not all of that 4000% Daily Value of Riboflavin or whatever it may say will be digested by your body. On the higher potency multi vitamins, I sometimes like to split up the dosage throughout the day as there are some people in the medical field that think there are too many nutrients for your body to digest at one time.
My body’s demands for nutrients on days that I workout are not the same as the days that I rest. I don’t want to be low on any nutrient if my body needs it. I’ve even heard some people on days of extreme stress like to take two doses a day; one in the morning and one after a really hard workout. The good thing about multivitamins are many of the nutrients such as vitamin C and Vitamin B are water soluble and will be excreted out of you, depending on your body’s needs.
A good multivitamin I would suggest is Animal Pak by Universal Nutrition. It is made with ingredients that are easily digestible by the body and they contain a good balance between key nutrients for building muscle, minerals for performance and amino acids for recovery.
Protein powder
We all know in to build muscle you need to eat plenty of calories and especially protein. The rule of thumb for protein is to consume 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight for muscle building. With any good muscle building plan, you need to spread those calories into 5-7 meals a day to keep your metabolism high and your nutrient intake steady. There are some medical professionals who think the body cannot digest more than 35 grams of protein per sitting and therefore is another good reason to spread out your protein intake. With our busy schedules, it is very hard for any of us to eat that many meals a day and the protein shake is the perfect substitute for 2-3 of those meals.
The three most important times to take a protein shake:
Morning: Drink a shake in the morning as soon as you get up because it is quickly digested. Your body has not had any protein for however long you have been sleeping and if your body goes into a catabolic state it starts to eat away your hard earned muscle. I drink shake as soon as you get up and then 30 minutes later I eat a normal breakfast.
Pre-workout: I prefer to take a protein shake before I workout instead of eating a meal because your body digests whey protein powder within an hour as opposed to chicken or fish which takes your body 2 to 2.5 hours to digest. That way I don’t feel bloated at the gym and I know the protein is going straight to my muscles instead of sitting in my stomach waiting to be digested.
Post workout: This is the absolute most important time to take a protein shake. This is the beginning of the all important "recovery" phase. Your muscles have been broken down from a strenuous workout and you need to get protein to them fast in to repair and build new muscle.
It is important to take any protein powder, but I think whey protein is the highest quality protein for building muscle and as a bonus it’s also one the cheapest. Whey contains all the essential amino acids for building new muscle and is also high in bioavailability so our body can digest a high amount of it. Whey is also high in BCAA which are the amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which help with and muscular breakdown. You can get a 2 lb jug of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard for under $23 dollars.
Creatine
Has been known to build muscle since the early 1900′s but, creatine was first introduced to professional athletes during the 1992 Olympics. Many English athletes admitted after the Olympics to training with creatine, which angered other athletes as they disputed that "it gave the English an unfair advantage" as they won gold medals in several track and field events as well as rowing. No penalties or disqualifications were passed out by the Olympic committee as they discovered creatine is a naturally occurring nutrient found in every skeletal muscle in the body. They also determined that creatine is abundant in foods such as red meat and fish and it would be impossible to determine if an athlete supplemented or attained it from natural food sources.
Over the last 15 years, creatine has been the most used supplement by athletes and people wanting to gain muscle. The popularity of this supplement is not a surprise as the main function of creatine is to give muscles extra energy to perform strenuous activities. Creatine is essential for short duration, high intensity exercise such as sprints or weight lifting with a max of 8 reps. When muscles are used to lift weights or to perform any kind of work, ATP is broken down to ADP and energy is released. The amount of ATP stored in the muscle will only fuel a maximum effort such as lifting a weight for 10 to 15 seconds. After that, the muscle must rely on creatine to restock its supply of ATP. Creatine promotes intense lifting by replenishing the necessary energy molecule ATP, but there are also other muscle building effects that make this supplement so popular:
Creatine buffers the development of lactic acid so you can train harder and longer.
Creatine increases muscle volumization by increasing the amount of water stored in the cells. Do not confuse this with water retention as this is intracellular water storage and not intercellular water retention. This is important as intracellular water storage boosts hydration, resulting in higher rate of protein synthesis.
Studies have shown that creatine decreases mental fatigue by increasing the amount of oxygenated red blood cells into the brain.
Creatine can increase strength by 5-15% over a short period of time. It’s also not uncommon to gain 5 to 10 lbs in a month.
Creatine increases the amount of growth hormone release during exercise. Your body naturally releases growth hormones as you exercise and creatine allows your body to lift heavier loads more frequently, which naturally causes your body to increase the amount of growth hormone secretion.
Like any other supplement, there is the perfect time and amount to take in to maximize the effects of creatine. Many say you should "load" creatine, which means, 5-10 grams a day for 5-7 days, but I don’t think you have to do this in to achieve your desired results. You may achieve your results faster by "loading" your body with creatine, but if you add it to your sports drink before and after your workouts, you will gradually achieve the same results. Absorption time depends on if you take it on an empty stomach and if you take it with a simple sugar like juice or a sports drink.
Creatine only stays in your system for 1 to 1.5 hours and if it is not used it is excreted out of your body. To maximize the short saturation period, you should take 5-10 grams of creatine 45 minutes to an hour before your workouts so your workout coincides with the saturation period. You should also take 5-10 grams post workout as you want to keep your muscles inundated with creatine during the "anabolic window".
Creatine is a must-use supplement because it provides all these muscle building benefits with very minimal adverse side effects. In the early years it was thought that creatine damages your kidneys as it is processed and excreted out of the body through the kidneys, but later research has debunked those claims. Actual side effects are minimal but, in some cases it can cause cramping and an upset stomach. If you drink plenty of water and don’t take creatine on a completely empty stomach, this should eradicate those issues.
Essential Fatty Acids
Are as well as to gain muscle. There are 2 families of EFA’s, Omega 3 and Omega 6. EFA’s are fats that cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be obtained through our diet.
Omega 3 and Omega 6 assist with many essential bodily functions:
Heart health- Improves heart rhythm, a mild blood thinner and slows the heart rate.
Cell Regulation – Regulates many processes in the cell such as oxygen use, electron transportation and energy production.
Increase Testosterone- Required for healthy testes function.
Improve insulin action- Helps to balance blood sugar levels.
Increase fat burning- Many studies have shown that test groups taking EFA’s lose more fat and retain muscle as opposed to the placebo group.
Lower cholesterol- Helps transport cholesterol in the blood stream.
Anti inflammatory- Low grade inflammation (type people cannot feel) increases the risk of diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity and many other conditions.
Strengthen Immune system- Promote syntheses of hormones that are responsible for a healthy immune system.
Shorten recovery time- Help reduce fatigue by helping nutrients pass through cell membranes.
Brain development and function- Needed for proper nerve transmission in the brain. As you can see EFA’s are extremely important for overall health.
EFA’s are also referred to as Fish Oil as a majority of the food sources are obtained from fish and shellfish. You can also find EFA’s in small amounts in food sources such as flaxseed, hemp oil, soya oil, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, leafy vegetables. Widespread food processing has reduced the amount of Omega 3′s that are available from these food sources so it is important to supplement with EFA’s in to get the recommended daily amount of 1,000-3,000 mg a day.
Conclusion
None of these products contain dangerous hormones or any substances that are not already in your body. These supplements contain nutrients that help your body release muscle building chemicals naturally and safely. By supplementing these nutrients, you’ll be sure your body is working at 100% capacity even if your diet it not perfect.
These 4 supplements will not replace hard work, but combined with a good diet and a workout routine you will be sure to see great results. Like I mentioned earlier, you don’t need supplements in to gain muscle, but they will help you achieve your goals faster.
wants to educate people that supplements are not just for body builders or athletes, but for anybody who want to live a healthy, happy life. At StayFitNutrition.com we have . Lowest Prices, best service and fastest shipping is our commitment to you.
By the time you finish reading this, you will have a clear understanding about how to choose a fish oil that is safe for you and your family. You’ll know how to find a supplement that will dramatically improve your health, not harm it. So let me give you the simple facts about fish oil purity.
What do we mean by fish oil purity?
Purity usually refers to whether the product contains traces of contaminants or impurities. It can also refer to the freshness of the product.
Let’s look at the impurities first.
The contaminants often found in oily fish are mercury, lead, PCBs and dioxins. PCBs are chemicals that can lead to behavioural and developmental problems in children, as well as cancers. Dioxins can cause cancer too, and heavy metals like lead and mercury can affect the central nervous system and the kidneys or liver.
Most of the oily fish we eat, and that are used to make fish oil supplements, are species such as salmon, mackerel and tuna. These are all excellent sources of the important omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult for manufacturers who use these species to guarantee fish oil purity. This is because these species are the fish most likely to contain contaminants.
This is for two reasons. Firstly, they are often caught in waters such as the North Sea, which can contain these contaminants. Secondly, they are high up the food chain, meaning the contaminants get concentrated in their bodies and oil because the creatures they eat are themselves contaminated.
So the type of fish used to make supplements can have serious implications for the purity and safety of the capsules.
Now let’s look at freshness as an indication of fish oil purity.
If the fish oil you take is not completely fresh, the oil will start to oxidise. When this happens, you increase your intake of free radicals, the molecules that damage cells and help to cause aging, disease and illness.
To test the oxidation level, a supplement should be tested in registered laboratories. What you are looking for is the COA (certificate of analysis), which should be freely available on the manufacturer’s website or promotional material. Two oxidation components should be listed: the anisidine value and the peroxide value. The scores should be as low as possible. A total oxidation score of less than 20 is desirable.
So how do you choose a supplement that can guarantee fish oil purity?
Look for a product made from fish caught in clean waters, such as the New Zealand fish hoki. This is caught in the Southern Ocean, which is largely free of contaminants.
The oil should also be molecularly distilled, not simply filtered. Molecular distillation is a complicated process which removes any tiny trace of contaminant that might find its way into the product.
Next, check out the freshness of the product by examining the manufacturer’s COA. If you can’t find a COA, don’t the product! Any good supplier should be prepared to publish the results of tests that prove the purity of their product.
So there’s some food for thought when you are shopping for fish oil supplements. If you would like more information about , please visit my website to see more of my research and to find out about the products I use daily myself.
My name is Therese Samson and I promote natural approaches to health and well-being for the whole family at , where you’ll find out about the many ways omega 3 fish oil can improve heart, brain, skin and immune system health.
A lot of people out there still do not know the answer to the question, what is omega 3 good for? It is a shame that so many still do not know what a truly wonderful addition to their diets omega-3 fatty acids can be, because these essential nutrients are extremely beneficial to your health. They are effective in the prevention of many of the inflammatory diseases that afflict a large percentage of the world’s population.
Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential to the proper functioning of the immune system, which uses these inflammatory nutrients to treat all manner of illnesses and injuries. Omega-6s however can be as adept at causing illnesses, as they are at healing them. Their incessant inflammatory effects are the cause of inflammatory diseases, which is why you need to ensure that you have equal or better levels of omega-3s.
One answer to what is omega 3 good for is that it is effective in offsetting the negative effects that omega-6s can cause. These fatty acids have a way of significantly reducing the excess inflammation emitted by omega-6 fatty acids, which lowers the risk of the development of chronic ailments. It is extremely difficult to increase the level of omega-3s through diet however, because the only real source of these essential nutrients is filled with toxins.
Fish is the only food that we eat that is rich in the necessary DHA and EPA omega fatty acids that we need in to maintain our health. Oily fish are for the most part predators, so they collect toxins not only from the water that they live in, but also from the smaller fish that they eat. They have no way to process and eliminate these toxins, so they gradually accumulate over time.
What is omega 3 good for? These fatty acids are excellent for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, as they lower triglycerides, heart rate, and blood pressure. They also reduce the risk of atherosclerosis by not letting fatty deposits lodge themselves on artery walls, and they prevent clotting by keeping blood platelets from adhering to one another.
DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids are heavily involved in cognitive development, and pregnant women who supplement with high quality fish oil supplements pass this benefit to their unborn children. They are also important for healthy brain function, and are very effective in treating depression, aggression, and hostility. They deter the development of amyloid plaques in the brain that are thought to be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease as well.
What is omega 3 good for when it comes to the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases? DHA and EPA are effective in inhibiting the development of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, adult onset diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and breast, colon and prostate cancer. They are also being studied to measure their effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
So what is omega 3 good for? Just about everything that ails you and your entire family should be taking DHA omega-3 fish oil supplements for your health.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.
A health-promoting nutritional supplement program builds its foundation on a good multivitamin/mineral. But not just the first one you lay your hands on. I recommend TwinLab Daily One Without Iron. Why? That ‘s what I’m here to discuss..
I pretty much don’t know how to be casual about my recommendations, so, after 30+ years spent studying the vitamins and minerals we all need, I spent days doing computer research on multi ingredients, then more days going to health food stores to read labels and talk to people. I had ingredient labels floating through my dreams.
To arrive at my recommendation, I matched what we need against what each multi offered.
I have no connection with the TwinLab company. I receive no compensation of any sort from them. I based my choice strictly on the merits.
So, what are the merits?
TwinLab enjoys a good reputation as a quality provider of nutritional supplements. I like that.
This multi offers significant amounts of minerals. Many multis come up short in minerals, which I don’t understand. Studies show we all need more minerals. People dealing with fatigue and endocrine problems REALLY need more minerals. I want a multi that packs a punch.
The minerals are balanced, too. You can’t take minerals willy-nilly. For instance, zinc and copper have to hit a proper ratio to be a blessing and not a problem. And different forms of the minerals are preferable to others; this multi has good minerals. (More on that later.)
And my recommended multi has a simple formulation, another plus. It covers the basics well, with no frills. I like that. Today’s multis make me tense with their large array of herbs. We have very little solid research on individual herbs and NO research on combinations of herbs. Bunches of herbs create an unnecessary risk.
I’m not opposed to herbs. I take a few herbs, and I’m researching more, but throwing them in by the handful is nuts.
Simple, straightforward supplements acknowledge our uniqueness. We’re all different, our needs are different and we react differently to everything we take in. By keeping things simple, we can spot and fix problems pretty quickly.
I also like the idea of one pill getting the job done. Taking pills doesn’t make anybody’s top ten list of things to do, so having to take only one increases the chances it’ll happen. And one-pill adds flexibility. With a known problem of absorbing nutrients, I take two a day. And I’d build, say, a cancer patient up to three a day, for a while, to maximize the cancer-fighting components. So, you can ramp up without reaching overwhelming numbers. And the minerals stay in their proper ratios.
Never take a multi with iron. Long story. Just don’t do it. This multi has molybdenum, which does a lot of what iron does–plus adds a few benefits of its own–but without the risk.
As I said, this is the best multi I could find. But I can’t declare perfection.
I wish it had a different form of chromium. However, it does have a goodly amount of chromium, which significantly compensates.
I wish it included boron. Among its several talents, boron helps us absorb the minerals we get.
Finally, I wish it didn’t include soy lecithin. Soy gets me crazed. But my research says lecithin doesn’t wreak the havoc of most soy. Plus, it shows up near the bottom of the ingredient list, so there’s not much. Also, it’s in all the other multis of value, too. Sigh.
To sum up then, no other multi matches my positives, but all the other multis offer a bunch of negatives. Add the fact that TwinLab Daily One Without Iron is reasonably priced and widely available and you have it.
If I ever find something even better, I’ll let you know.
Confused about what vitamins and minerals you need? Not certain about what to look for in nutritional supplements? Bette Dowdell dug herself out of a really deep health ditch, and she wants to use her years of study to help you do the same. Don’t go dragging through life when you don’t have to. Bette’s e-book Pep for the Pooped: Vitamins and Minerals Your Body Is Starving For helps you build a solid health foundation–and takes you directly to the right brand, the best type, at the lowest price. Save time and money–plus get the knowledge you’re on the right track. Real help is waiting for you at
Health officials said the bacteria is being transmitted to humans through pigs. The increased use of antibiotics in agriculture may be behind the spread of the resistant strain.
What are ESBLs?
Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) are actually enzymes produced by certain types of bacteria, which renders the bacteria resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them.
ESBLs were first discovered in the mid-1980s. At the time they were mostly found in the Klebsiella species of bacteria, in hospital intensive care units. Until recently, few people were affected by these mutated bacteria and it didn’t appear to be a major growing concern.
That has changed, however. According to the British Health Protection Agency (HPA), a new class of ESBL (called CTX-M enzymes) has emerged, which are now being widely detected among E.Coli bacteria. These ESBL-producing E. Coli are resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins, and are becoming more frequent in urinary tract infections.
Other species of bacteria that can now produce ESBLs include:
K. pneumoniae K. oxytoca Salmonella Proteus mirabilis Pseudomonas aeruginosa The Problem is Worse Than You Think!
According to a study published October 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), there were close to 100,000 cases of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the United States in 2005, which lead to more than 18,600 deaths.
To put that number into perspective, HIV/AIDS killed 17,000 people that year.
Antibiotic-resistant disease IS a major man-made problem.
This was the study that propelled MRSA into the news last year, combined with a number of school outbreaks that took place around the same time. Discussions focused largely on reducing medical over-use of antibiotics, and proper hygiene such as washing your hands with soap and water to reduce the spread of infectious disease.
But little has been said about the rampant over-use of antibiotics in agriculture, which is a MAJOR source of human antibiotic consumption, and hence increased antibiotic resistance.
Agriculture as a Source of Antibiotic Resistance
Both MRSA and ESBL are being traced back to animals raised for food production, especially pigs.
These animals are often fed antibiotics at low doses for disease prevention and growth promotion. Animals receiving antibiotics in their feed gain 4 to 5 percent more body weight than animals that do not receive antibiotics, but the price is high for you, the end consumer, because this practice also creates the perfect conditions for antibiotic resistance to flourish.
Denmark’s health officials claim they’re unsure of how farmers and veterinarians, who have not consumed infected meat, are becoming infected. However, according to research cited on Johns Hopkins website, the main reservoir of these organisms is in the lower digestive tract, and they can persist within the gastrointestinal tract for months. So perhaps the answer doesn’t have to be all that complicated.
So, the meat industry practice of using antibiotics is indeed a driving force behind the development of antibiotic resistance in a now wide variety of bacteria that cause human disease.
The long stalemate on this issue constitutes a struggle between strong science and bad politics. The FDA finally banned the use of fluoroquinolones – a widely used class of antimicrobials — from agricultural use August 1997, but not without the Bayer Corporation kicking and screaming in vehement opposition. After all, antibiotics for livestock use is big business. It constitutes about 70 percent of ALL antibiotic use! They couldn’t replace that market with human consumers even if they tried.
Other Agricultural Sources of Antibiotics
Another heavily tainted meat product you should stay away from is conventionally raised chicken. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that bacteria from conventional chicken and from people who ate the chicken became resistant to Synercid, a strong antibiotic used to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In essence, it can cause resistance to the last lines of defense currently available in the modern medicine cabinet.
It also found that it was rare to find resistant bacteria among antibiotic-free chicken, while the majority of bacterial isolates from conventional poultry were resistant.
But, the ramifications of using antibiotics in agriculture don’t end there. Antibiotics filter down through the food chain in sometimes non-suspecting ways.
Antibiotics are also being transferred, via manure, into your food supply.
A 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Quality looked at whether food crops will accumulate antibiotics from soil covered with antibiotic-containing manure.
In a greenhouse setting, corn, lettuce and potatoes were grown on soil that contained hog manure with a commonly used veterinary antibiotic added.
The antibiotics were absorbed by all three crops, into both their leaves and tissue. Meanwhile, the antibiotics also transferred to the potato tubers, suggesting that root crops like carrots, radishes and potatoes may be particularly at risk of antibiotic accumulation.
These findings unfortunately also have implications for organic farmers, who often use manure as their main source of fertilizer. And, as it stands, manure that contains antibiotics is still allowed under the organic label.
How to Avoid Excessive Antibiotic Exposure
So how can you ensure that the food you feed to yourself and your family is pure and healthy?
Apart from growing it yourself, your best option is to get to know a local farmer near you — one who uses non-toxic farming methods. If you live in an urban area, there are increasing numbers of community-supported agriculture programs available that give you access to healthy, locally grown foods even if you live in the heart of the city.
If you are looking for a safer alternative to commercially raised beef please be sure to check out grass-fed beef. Grass-fed cattle are not routinely fed antibiotics. They may occasionally receive them for an infection, but that would be the rare exception, and even then they are only used for a few days. http://scrnch.me/82ya4 ===== “Natural” is best, organic superior, and to learn how to undo the negative effects already suffered you, visit http://scrnch.me/82ya4
is a leading natural healthcare product company that was founded by natural health practitioners. They have over 250 products like: multi-nutrients, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, essential fatty acids, and other unique compounds. Some examples of the Probiotic BioCare Supplements they carry are: Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Bifidobacterium Infantis, Bio Acidophilus, Bio Acidophilus Forte, Gingerdophilus, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, Mindlinx, Probiotic Straws, and Bannana or Strawberry flavored Acidophilus Plus.
Acidophilus powder contails 8 billion viable probiotic cells from L. acidophilus/per daily dose. This probiotic helps with maintaining the health of the digestive system. L. Acidophilus also helps to make nutrients and other compounds that encourage health in the gastrointestinal tract. This product is dairy free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
BioCare Bifidobacterium Bifidum Powder is a powdered probiotic formula. Bifidobacteria are the main bacterial in the lower small intestines that control the balance of gut flora. It also has a major effect onthe large intestines where they make up the dominant flora. This supplement has been used to enhance the effectiveness of the digestive system, has an effect in immuno-regulation, lipid metabolism, and supporting lipid levels in the blood. This products is dairy free and is suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
BioCare Bifidobacterium Infantis Powder is a probiotic that is suited for supplementing the diet of newborn infants up to the age of weaning. This product is ideal for bottle fed infants who may not be getting the Bifidobacteria like breast fed babies would. This probiotic helps to reduce the number of Streptococci and Coliforms in the gut of bottle fed babies. This product is dairy free and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
BioCare Gingerdophilus is a ginger and probiotic combination. It has been known for centuries that ginger can help to maintain a healthy digestive system. This compound also contains Lactobacilus kefir, a lactic acid forming bacterial that encourages healthy intestinal function. This product is dairy free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
is a combination of glutamine and probiotics. This product was designed for infants and children. L-Glutamine is essential for intestinal wall growth and larger amounts can help to maintain a healthy intestinal lining. The Lactobacillus acidophilus helps to promote the immune system, improve digestion, and decrease the frequency of seasonal illness or other immunity based concerns. This product is dairy free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
BioCare Probiotic Straws are a great way to get children to take their supplements. These straws contain a daily supply of L. Acidophilus, artificial sweeteners, and colorings. This product is dairy free and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
offers a full range of probiotic products to suit your immunity based needs. They offer a variety of probiotic formulas and types. BioCare offers probiotic products for infants, children, and adults. There is even a variety of ways to take your probiotics (powder, capsule, or straws).
are probably the best quality probiotics you can . Innovative DuoCap presentation alowing the deliverance of friendly bacteria right where its needed to maximised benefit
You’ve probably heard it a hundred times. Fish and seafood are arguably the best omega-3 sources in the world. But, for many reasons, people may be concerned about eating fish and seafood on a regular basis.
That’s probably one of the reasons that so many people take fish oil supplements. It is the biggest selling dietary supplement in the US, according to surveys. It’s more popular than green tea, ginkgo biloba or ginseng. Only standard multi-vitamins are better sellers.
But, are people really getting what they are paying for? Are they getting the best value for their money? Would it make more sense just to eat a little fish every day?
As long as you stay on top of the consumption advisories for fish that are high in mercury or other contaminants, then including seafood in your diet is a good choice. It is usually lower in total fat than other meat choices and it provides a variety of different nutrients. But, if you want to be sure that you are getting enough EPA and DHA to meet your body’s daily needs then a fish oil supplement is the best choice.
The amount of total omega-3s in seafood varies, as does the DHA and EPA content. Although you need both and some ALA, too, the best omega-3 is probably DHA.
DHA or Docosahexaenoic acid is found in large quantities in the brain and in the back of the eye. Numerous studies have shown that fish oil lowers total blood triglycerides and increases the blood content of HDL (good) cholesterol. At least one study has shown that DHA has a greater effect on those two health factors than EPA.
In studies concerning depression, DHA has been more effective than EPA, but the greatest benefits have been seen when both DHA and EPA are given to depressed individuals. So, the best omega-3 for depression is a fish oil supplement rich in DHA and EPA.
What about other types of supplements? Well, flax seed provides only ALA, which means it is not a “complete” supplement. Marine algae provide only DHA. So, it’s not complete, either.
The better fish oils provide DHA, EPA and the lesser known DPA or Docosapentaenoic acid, which is believed to be important to good cardiovascular health. That’s truly the most complete supplement that you can get. ALA is found in a number of different foods. So, supplementation is really unnecessary.
In terms of getting value for your money, the best omega-3 supplement is one that is rich in DHA. Looking at the grams of DHA per bottle and looking at the cost per bottle will help you determine value for your money.
You’ll also want to be sure that the supplement you choose is free of contaminants, such as mercury or PCBs. The better manufacturers post a copy of an independent laboratory analysis proving the supplement’s purity, freshness and nutritional content.
So, while seafood is the best omega-3 source, a supplement is a better choice for most people. It’s a more affordable and simply an easier option for insuring you are well nourished.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.