Five Strategies For Stress Eating

Five Strategies For Stress Eating

by Blog

Amipro

Five Strategies For Stress Eating

Have you ever felt like reaching for the pint of strawberry ice cream after a long day at work?
Or eating potato chips after an argument with a loved one?
Or even craving chocolate when feeling bored or isolated?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you might be “stress eating,” or what is commonly referred to as “emotional eating.” Stress eating is turning to food in times of psychological distress as a form of comfort rather than in response to hunger. Whether it’s stress or a specific emotion, like sadness, we may develop a coping response by eating, either overeating or under-eating. In general, emotional eating involves eating nutrient-poor foods, is often repetitive and automatic, and is not connected to body senses of physical hunger, but to an emotional stimulus.
Some of us are more prone to being high reactors to stress and may be more vulnerable than others.

Here’s a quick checklist to see whether you might be engaging in stress eating:
  • Am I eating because I’m feeling emotional about something?
  • Am I craving food as a reward?
  • Am I bored or feeling isolated?
  • Am I stressed without feeling in control of my life?
  • Am I neglecting my body’s sense of hunger?
  • Am I out of touch with my body?
  • Am I eating in a way that is automatic and repetitive?

Of course, stress eating may occur periodically throughout your life. It is natural to feel the need to comfort yourself in response to something threatening. Where it becomes problematic is when it becomes cyclical and difficult to escape the eventual feeling of powerlessness, guilt, and shame that can settle in as a result.

Here are some things you can do to break the cycle of stress eating:

Be body aware:

Practice checking in with your body on a regular basis. Most of us live “in our head” and not in our belly or even down to our toes. When you get the urge to eat, allow yourself to breathe, connect deeply to your body by getting in touch with your sensations through a simple act of focus or movement, like wiggling your toes. Once you are more present, ask yourself whether you need to eat in that moment or if you are responding to an emotion. If you are responding to an emotion, let that feeling fully express. Set an “emotional date” if you can’t express it right there and then, so you come back to it later. You might even find that when you feel an emotion, a specific part of your body responds to let you know, like flushing of your skin or a butterfly-like sensation of unsettledness in the gut. Honor that impulse from the body and either act in the moment or commit to it at a designated time.

Exercise your emotional muscle:

Most people have lost the language of emotion. When people ask how we are doing, we may give an automatic answer of “fine.”  We may even intellectualize or rationalize our emotions to the extent that we make ourselves feel like we should not be having the emotions. Some may believe emotional expression will be perceived as weakness. However, emotions are powerful forces in that they drive our behaviors. It’s been said that we move toward pleasure and away from pain. Therefore, it is best to get in touch with what we are feeling, identify the emotion, and let it flow in healthy ways.  Emotions can become problematic when we vent them in a volatile way or we repress them inside. The more we can check in with how we are feeling, the better. Try using a log at bedtime to write down key words of how you felt that day. You can also do a quick emotional check-in on your smart phone by looking at the emojis and selecting ones that resemble your feelings. Engage a friend in the check-in process via text during days that are difficult.

Develop eating alternatives:

Once you begin to get keyed in to how your body is responding and how your emotions are surfacing, you become more aware of your responses and can develop ways to navigate eating situations. If you have the urge to eat, and you know that you are not hungry and that you are feeling emotional, it might be worthwhile to have an alternative ready. Be prepared by making a specific list of at least five healthy things you can do instead of eating. For example, walking outside for 15 minutes in the fresh air, calling a friend and talking for 10 minutes, journaling in a notebook for a few minutes, or even taking a power nap. Removing yourself from the situation and resetting your neurochemistry is one way to rewire and refine your brain so that you can make other choices. Eventually, you’ll come to use different strategies when the need to unnecessarily eat arises.

Have healthy foods available:

If you get a bout of uncontrollable munchies and can’t seem to replace it with an alternative on your list, aim for foods that you will feel good about eating so you don’t have the guilt that can result from emotional eating. Ideas for healthy foods include a banana with almond butter, a pitted date rolled in coconut, an avocado with sea salt, or vegetable (beet, carrot) chips. As research suggests, eating whole, plant-based foods, such as more fruits and vegetables, is associated with a greater sense of well being, creativity, curiosity, and even happiness.  On the other hand, eating fast food and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with risk for depression.  Help offset your roller coaster moods by selecting colorful foods!

Ensure your body has enough nutrients:

Our brain chemistry can be affected by the nutrients in our diet. For example, the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, which all play a role in stress response, are determined by nutrients available to the body, including certain amino acids, vitamins (e.g., vitamin C and B complex), and minerals (e.g., magnesium). Stress tends to drain our body of these precious reserves, and, as a result, we may end up with imbalanced neurochemistry.  Therefore, it’s essential to look at what is essential for a healthy diet and incorporate foods and dietary supplements to meet daily nutrient requirements.

Stress eating can be a challenging cycle to break. There are several ways to address the cycle, whether through body awareness, emotional expression, alternative options, better choices, or simply, brain chemistry balance through nutrient sufficiency. Try out a variety of these approaches to see if you feel more empowered in your eating in times of distress.

GABA

Amipro GABA 500 (60 Caps)

Solgar Gaba 500 mg (50 Veg Caps)

Vitamin C

Lipolife Liposomal Vitamin C (30 Sachets | 250ml)

Coyne Healthcare Biomax Liposomal Vitamin C

Kirkman Buffered Vitamin C Powder Unflavored

B complex

Coyne Healthcare Biomax Activated Liposomal Vitamin B Complex 30 Caps

Magnesium

NeuroActive Magnesium L-Threonate (60 Caps)

Solgar Magnesium Citrate 60 Caps (120 Caps)

Coyne Healthcare BioMax Magnesium 30 Sachets

What are CBD Fruit Chews?

What are CBD Fruit Chews?

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What are CBD Fruit Chews?

CBD Fruit Chews are vegan gummy treats infused with CBD. CBD Fruit Chews are made with CBD extracted from high quality organic cannabis, which is third party tested to ensure it is free from THC, pesticides and herbicides. The CBD is then infused into fruit chews to create a fun and tasty way to consume CBD.

How many CBD Fruit Chews should I eat?

CBD Fruit Chews are a tasty way to benefit from CBD. Mary’s Muse CBD Fruit Chews have 10mg of CBD per chew, so you can take up to 2 per day. Although they taste delicious, they should only be consumed as directed by taking 1 or 2 fruit chews, or a maximum of 20mg of CBD per day as this is the South African daily legal limit.

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of over 113 active compounds called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. It works naturally within your own endocannabinoid system to reduce pain, anxiety and sleeplessness without causing a “high” or having any mind altering effects.

How does CBD work?

The human body’s endocannabinoid system consists of tiny receptors that play a key role in regulating mood, pain, inflammation, metabolic function and general homeostasis. CBD helps these receptors increase or stimulate necessary and beneficial functions throughout the body. One could say our bodies are hard-wired to benefit from cannabinoids like CBD. One could also say the ECS acts as a bridge between body and mind with its interactions throughout our internal systems

What are the benefits of CBD Fruit Chews?

People might tell you CBD can solve many issues. This is due to its ability to help the body achieve homeostasis (balance), which allows our systems to operate optimally. While the benefits are broad, we like to focus on CBD’s most celebrated healing powers such as assisting with anxiety, sleeplessness and pain relief.

Do CBD fruit chews contain THC?

THC is the cannabinoid that is known for its “high” or psychoactive effects. Mary’s Muse CBD products are THC-free and cause absolutely no psychoactive effects. We offer third party lab-tested reports (which prove their purity) for all our CBD products.

What can I expect from CBD Fruit Chews?

When you consume CBD Fruit Chews for the first time, you may or may not feel any effects depending on how much you consume and whether you have used CBD before. If you do feel effects, you can expect them to arise about 30 minutes after consumption. The effects are likely to be a sense of relaxation and calm, a positive mood, and relief from mild discomforts.

Are CBD Fruit Chews vegan?

Yes, we do not use any animal derived ingredients in Mary’s Muse fruit chews. What’s more, they are gluten-free and sugar-free too!

How does an edible CBD work?

Edible CBD products, such as CBD Fruit Chews, work by entering the bloodstream through the digestive system. This is the slowest way to get CBD to the bloodstream, but it is still highly effective and only takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. Once it is absorbed into the bloodstream, the CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system which helps regulate the body’s state of homeostasis. This is how the effects of CBD occur.

Are CBD Fruit Chews as effective as other CBD products?

Since CBD Fruit Chews are edible products, they are one of the slower ways to absorb CBD into the bloodstream. However, that doesn’t make them less effective, it just makes the time to effectiveness a little bit longer.

How long do the effects of CBD Fruit Chews last?

The effects of CBD can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. It depends on how much CBD you consumed, and how your individual body handles CBD. This is why we encourage our customers to start small and adjust according to their experience. Some people may find that just a tiny serving of CBD per day meets their needs, while others may enjoy using multiple CBD products multiple times per day. The effects of CBD are not mind-altering or intoxicating, so no matter how short or long the effects last, it won’t affect your daily life negatively.

TB Treatment and Healthier living with Mega Oxygen

TB Treatment and Healthier living with Mega Oxygen!

by Blog

TB Treatment and Healthier living with Mega Oxygen!

Tuberculosis: Symptoms and Treatment

Tuberculosis, or as it’s more commonly known, TB, is a relatively dangerous Bacterial Infection (i.e. an infection caused by the presence of bacteria in your system). While its presence and effects are mostly found in the Lungs, the bacteria can spread through the blood and lymph nodes and infect other organs in the body. Luckily, being exposed to TB bacteria may not lead to developing symptoms or becoming ill (at least not right away), because a healthy adult immune system can generally suppress the TB bacteria and leave it in an inactive state until it is treated. However, leaving a potential TB infection untreated is still highly dangerous, since any factors that the weaker the immune system, be they anything from viral infections like HIV, to natural factors like old age, greatly increase the chance of developing life-threatening TB symptoms.

How does TB spread?

TB bacteria travels and is transmitted through the air, usually because of fluids and bacteria being expelled by the coughing of a person with an active TB infection. Spending a great deal of time around someone exhibiting symptoms of TB greatly increases one’s chances of being exposed to the bacteria, though one’s risk of developing symptoms depends on the state of one’s immune system at any given time. As previously mentioned, people who are infected with TB but show no symptoms are not in immediate danger; even better, they won’t be able to spread the disease to others unless their TB infection and symptoms activate. This means there’s no need to panic if someone close to you is diagnosed with TB, but people who spend a great deal of time with the patient are strongly recommended to get tested for TB by a medical professional, especially if the patient has been exhibiting any of the following symptoms:

What Are the Symptoms of Tuberculosis?

When someone has a TB infection that has become Active, they are likely to experience a few of these symptoms and should seek advice and treatment from a qualified medical practitioner immediately.

A general sense of feeling unwell.
A violent and persistent Cough, possibly producing bloody mucus.
Fatigue and Shortness of breath in the absence of heavy exercise.
Rapid and unusual Weight Loss.
A persistent, Low-grade fever.
Night Sweats.
Chest pain when breathing.
When activated by a gap one’s immune system’s defences, TB bacteria kills cells and tissue in the organs it infects, damaging and causing internal bleeding (hence the bloody mucous produced when coughing). Even worse: TB combines its symptoms with those of other infections and illnesses that strike when your immune system is weakened. Not a pretty picture to be sure, but there’s not need to worry for the well-informed, as there’s plenty you can do to protect yourself, and effective treatment to cure active TB infections have existed for decades.

What are the tests for Tuberculosis?

A reliable medical test to catch latent Tuberculosis early, when it is easy and safe to treat, is known as the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as PPD. The TST, once administered by a qualified medical practitioner, is used to test for evidence of a potentially dangerous TB infection via a small injection of protein derivative (PPD). If a red welt appears at the injection site over the course of about three days, it’s extremely likely that the patient has a TB infection, and should begin treatment immediately.

Testing whether one’s TB infection has become active (and therefore dangerous and contagious) usually involves X-raying the patient’s lungs and testing a saliva sample.

What is the Treatment for Tuberculosis?
The appropriate TB treatment depends on whether the infection is in an active or latent state.

Latent TB Infection

After going over some preventative measures the patient can take to keep the infection from becoming active, doctors will generally prescribe an antibiotic called isoniazid (INH), which keeps the infection harmless and latent, and gradually removes it over the course of about 9 months. This antibiotic may lead patients to have a higher risk of hepatitis and other side effects, especially amongst older patients, but these side effects may be prevented by taking supplemental Vitamin B6 (as found in pyridoxine). As always, regular correspondence and evaluation with one’s doctor is important to ensure one is getting the best possible treatment.

Active TB Treatment

If a TB infection progresses to an Active State, doctors will need to prescribe several kinds of antibiotics to treat the infection, alleviate the symptoms, and prevent the TB bacteria from becoming drug-resistant. The most common regimen involves taking a combination of INH, Priftin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (Myambutol) over the course of three months, followed by INH and Priftin to complete six to twelve months. The severity of the symptoms and the contagious nature of Active TB require that the patient be in near-constant contact with a medical professional ensuring that their disease does not become fatal, and hospitalisation may be necessary, depending on the severity of the condition, and the patient’s risk of infecting others or the likelihood that they will fail to take their medication properly without qualified medical supervision.

Multidrug-Resistant TB

A form of TB, called multidrug-resistant TB, is caused by strains of the tuberculosis bacteria that, through mutation, have developed the ability to resist two or more common TB drugs. This type of TB is more likely to develop in patients who develop a TB infection for a second time in their life, and in patients who do not take their prescribed TB medicines regularly and in the correct doses.

TB Treatment and Healthy Living with Mega Oxygen Therapy

Since the bacteria responsible for TB is only spread through the air by patients whose infection has progressed to an active state, it’s clear that the best defence against getting infected in the first place is to be weary of extensive contact (as defined by your doctor, depending on what antibiotics both parties are on) with someone who has been diagnosed with an active tuberculosis infection, especially if they have developed coughing symptoms. Since tuberculosis can lie dormant for years in someone’s system without becoming active, it’s a good idea to request your doctor perform a TST, among other standard tests at least once a year, even if you don’t recall interacting with anyone exhibiting TB symptoms recently. The TST will only produce a reaction (a red welt) if you test positive for TB, so there’s no harm in testing, just to be sure.

Once one is diagnosed with a latent or active TB infection, it is of utmost importance that one keeps their body and immune system as strong and resilient against diseases as possible. Doing so allows the antibiotics involved in treating TB to do their work and eliminate the TB bacteria without giving said bacteria the chance to do any damage, either by itself or in conjunction with another illness.

There are many ways that a person living with TB can maintain their immune system and keep their body in a state that naturally keeps the TB infection in check, many of which will be discussed with and recommended by your doctor when you are diagnosed; but here is a way to keep healthy and safe from TB that your doctor may not know about…

Mega Oxygen, a unique, all-natural health supplement that combines the healing – made of a special blend of South African herbs, together with the Oxygen-infusing rocket-power of Magnesium Peroxide. When combined with water on an empty stomach, Mega Oxygen capsules release vast quantities of oxygen into the system. With your body’s oxygen levels blowing straight back to normal and beyond, your body can go right back to fighting diseases and supplying every one of your billions of cells with the oxygen they need to survive, thrive, and grow you into your ultimate self.

Mega Oxygen (90 Caps)

Types of Vitamin C Pros & Cons

Types of Vitamin C: Pros & Cons

by Blog

Livon Labs

Types of Vitamin C: Pros & Cons

When you think of all the Vitamin C variations by all possible supplemental forms, the types of Vitamin C possibilities seem infinite. Vitamin C, also known by the chemical name ascorbic acid, is one of the most popular supplemented vitamins. Find out the pros and cons of each type of Vitamin C.

Mineral Salts

While all Vitamin C is ascorbic acid, some types of Vitamin C supplements contain mineral salts of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid can be rough on the stomach, so its less acidic mineral salts are often preferred as supplements. The minerals “buffer” the Vitamin C to reduce digestive irritation.

Sodium ascorbate is utilized in mega-dose IV Vitamin C treatments in clinics and hospitals. It’s also common in dietary supplements, including Lypo-Spheric® Vitamin C. Calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, zinc, and molybdenum are less frequently supplemented ascorbates. Calcium ascorbate has also been shown to be better tolerated by people who have difficulty with acidic foods, though it has no effect on bioavailability in humans.

Pros: Easier on the stomach.
Cons: Higher in the other minerals. For example, people wishing to limit calcium intake may find that more difficult with these supplements.

Synthetic vs Natural Vitamin C

Synthetic ascorbic acid and the ascorbic acid in rose hip or acerola cherry powder all have the identical chemical composition. No studies conducted on humans have shown any differences in the bioavailability between natural and synthetic Vitamin C. Researchers are so confident this conclusion is infinitely repeatable that back in 2013 they recommended any additional studies on this topic are a waste of time.

They pointed out in their conclusions that the reason whole food consumption is preferable to relying on supplements is merely due to the concurrent benefits of consuming all the other nutrients in the fruit or vegetable.

Pros (natural): Allowing you to maintain the fantasy that somehow a pill, powder, or capsule is in any way natural, or that natural is always superior.
Cons (natural): More expensive than synthetic.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids

Bioflavanoids are compounds found in plants that often have beneficial antioxidant capabilities. They are often added to Vitamin C supplements, possibly in a futuristic effort to recreate plants in pill form. This is fine, if you’re a futurist, but it’s not the most effective way to absorb Vitamin C. Research has shown that bioflavonoids not only fail to enhance absorption, they may inhibit Vitamin C absorption in cells. The percentage of Vitamin C you absorb from traditional oral supplements significantly decreases in doses above 200 mg. Fruits and vegetables do not contain massive doses of Vitamin C like supplements do, thus it is more beneficial just to get your bioflavonoids from a whole orange, kiwi, or bell pepper instead of a flavorless pill.

Pros: Makes you feel like 1970s sci-fi movie predictions were accurate and flying cars can be next.
Cons: More expensive than regular ascorbic acid. Less tasty than a strawberry. Contains the substances used to make the capsules, which are definitely not found in broccoli.

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Ascorbic acid is water-soluble, which means that it does its work in water-based tissues in the body. Other antioxidants like Vitamins A and E are fat-soluble, fighting free radicals in fat-based tissue. While your body can accumulate fat-soluble nutrients, it cannot store water-soluble nutrients. That’s a major reason why Vitamin C absorption is such a heavily researched topic and why there are so many types of Vitamin C supplements: any excess, unabsorbed Vitamin C leaves your body as waste.

Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble form of Vitamin C. In test tubes, it incorporates into cell membranes. In oral supplements, that is less likely as research suggests that the digestive system breaks the compound into palmitate and ascorbic acid, thereby shedding the fat-solubility.

Pros: Increases shelf life of potato chips.
Cons: More expensive than ascorbic acid.

Gummies

Vitamin gummies are popular because some brilliant marketers figured out a way to make candy appear healthy. And vitamin gummies are just that: candy. Since sugar compromises Vitamin C absorption, a sugar-packed gummy is not an efficient means of absorbing Vitamin c.

Pros: Taste like candy.
Cons: Loaded with sugar, which interferes with Vitamin C absorption.

Drinks

A soda or hard seltzer that contains Vitamin C is still a soda or a hard seltzer. As mentioned in the gummies section, sugar interferes with Vitamin C absorption, making a sugary beverage a strange choice for Vitamin C delivery. Excess sugar and alcohol are also major sources of free radicals, which deplete antioxidants like Vitamin C.

Pros: Feel less guilty about making unhealthy decisions.
Cons: Paying extra for added vitamins that are difficult to absorb.

Pills

The classic capsules and tablets are usually nearly pure ascorbic acid with a material (like cellulose) to bind them in pill form. These products are more efficient than the sugar-packed vitamin treats and are often inexpensive. As your body has a lot of trouble absorbing doses over 200 mg, it is often recommended to stagger Vitamin C pill supplements throughout the day.

Pros: Cheap. Few extra ingredients.
Cons: Often in too high doses for your body to absorb, which can lead to gastric distress and fewer benefits. Often hard to swallow, especially for older adults. Often are not gluten-free.

Powders

Unflavored vitamin C powder is just about as pure ascorbic acid as you can get. This type of Vitamin C offers a more efficient way to supplement as you can control the dose.

Flavored powders, conversely, are much the same as Vitamin C drinks and gummies.

Pros: Unflavored powders are cheap and contain few excess ingredients. Flavored powders are quite tasty.
Cons: Flavored powders are loaded with sugar, sometimes containing 7X more sugar than Vitamin C. Doses of Vitamin C are often too high to absorb, particularly with the added sugar, and may cause gastric distress.

Liposomal Vitamin C

Liposomal Vitamin C provides a better way to absorb Vitamin C. Liposomes are nutrient-dense microscopic spheres that transport the Vitamin C from the digestive system into the bloodstream, bypassing the restrictions that make Vitamin C difficult to absorb from oral supplements. The liposomes can assimilate into the cells, dropping off the Vitamin C for absorption where it is needed. This breakthrough technology allows you to absorb more from Vitamin C supplements, negating the aforementioned 200 mg rule.

The liposomes themselves are a good source of choline, a nutrient that supports your brain and fortifies your cells. When the liposomes drop off the Vitamin C, the choline absorbs into the membrane, keeping your cells healthy and strong.

Pros: Superior absorption. No gastric distress. Peace of mind knowing you’re getting your money’s worth. Easy to swallow.
Cons: Often difficult to discern what is a true liposomal product. High-quality liposomal supplements do not have the best taste. Pricier than pills, powders, and gummies.

IV Vitamin C

Trained medical professionals administer Vitamin C injections in clinical settings, and sometimes Vegas hotel rooms. The type of Vitamin C treatment is effective as it bypasses digestive barriers by delivering mega-dose Vitamin C directly into the bloodstream. While LivOn Labs founder Les Nachman credits IV vitamin C with helping him to avoid a heart transplant, he started the company because these treatments are often inaccessible. IV vitamin C is mostly confined to med spas, medical offices, and hospitals, and treatment is costly.

Pros: Effective, extremely high-dose Vitamin C.
Cons: Expensive. Only available in specific locations.

LivOn Labs Lypospheric Vitamin C

Top-selling liposomal Vitamin C supplement since 2004 –  the original liposomal Vitamin C supplement.

Kirkman Buffered Vitamin C Powder Flavored

FREE of:
Sugar, soy, wheat, casein, gluten, milk, egg, preservatives, yeast, gelatin, artificial flavorings, colorings, tree nuts, peanuts or fish.

Kirkman Buffered Vitamin C Powder Unflavored

FREE of:
Sugar, soy, wheat, casein, gluten, milk, egg, preservatives, yeast, gelatin, artificial flavorings, colorings, tree nuts, peanuts or fish.

Why Take Zinc Supplements

Why Take Zinc Supplements?

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Why Take Zinc Supplements?

When zinc levels are low, your body can start malfunctioning. With this vital mineral so susceptible to under-consumption and depletion through common lifestyle factors, taking zinc supplements seems like a no-brainer. But it’s not that simple. If you’re taking zinc supplements, you must make sure that you’re doing it right.

Why You Need Zinc

Zinc deficiency is associated with reduced immune function, specifically depleting certain types of white blood cells. Low zinc also inhibits wound healing. The mineral plays a critical role in maintaining healthy levels of testosterone, insulin, thyroid hormone, and growth hormone.

Zinc has antioxidant properties, and multiple studies indicate an increase in antioxidants superoxide dismutase and glutathione in healthy people after supplementing zinc. Other research notes that deficiency is associated with increased oxidative stress. Because the eyes are extremely susceptible to oxidative damage, zinc’s antioxidant capacity is of particular importance to the retina.

Zinc supplements may also support healthy insulin sensitivity.

Who Can Benefit From Zinc Supplements?

Ensuring a steady stream of zinc on a daily basis through supplementing modest doses can benefit everyone. The roughly 10% of people in the US and 50% worldwide who have inadequate zinc intake can benefit from possibly larger doses.

Certain groups are more likely to consume less zinc. Up to around 45% of 60+ adults tend to consume less zinc than the recommended daily allowance.

Gastrointestinal surgery
(including bariatric) as well as digestive disorders (including conditions like Crohn’s disease) can interfere with zinc absorption.

Vegetarians and vegans
are at heightened risk for deficiency due to both low intake and malabsorption.
Meats and seafood are by far the best sources of zinc. Plant sources, like legumes and breads, may contain moderate amounts of zinc but also contain phytates which bind to zinc and prevent it from absorbing.

Up to 50% of alcoholics have low zinc levels.
Alcohol decreases zinc absorption and increases excretion of dietary zinc, which alcoholics tend to consume in less-than-adequate amounts to begin with.

The majority of adults with sickle cell disease are deficient in zinc.

Pregnancy and lactation
can also be risk factors for deficiency due to increased demands.

Common medications, including antibiotics and diuretics
interfere with zinc absorption and increase risk of deficiency. Cigarette smoke, caffeine, copper, excess calcium supplementation, and estrogen dominance are known to deplete zinc.

How To Take Zinc Supplements

Large doses can cause nausea, especially if taken on an empty stomach. It can also deplete copper, which can lead to anemia.

Zinc supplements should not be taken at the same time as antibiotics or penicillamine as they can interfere with the medications. High doses of supplemental iron may also decrease zinc absorption, so taking iron between meals is often recommended.

While the tolerable upper limit for zinc is 40 mg for adults, taking 100 mg/day for 2–4 months is confirmed safe.

Zinc is water-soluble, so it doesn’t get stored in your body, hence the common recommendation to take zinc supplements every day.

With all the medications, foods, and drinks out there interfering with absorption, it may be wise to take a zinc supplement that offers maximum absorption. With a liposomal supplement, zinc is encapsulated in a microscopic sphere that protects the mineral through the digestive system and transports it into the bloodstream and the cells. Lypo-Spheric® B Complex Plus includes 20 mg zinc, along with other B vitamins that are often depleted by many of the same conditions that lower zinc levels.

LivOn Labs Lypospheric Vitamin B Complex Plus

Kirkman Zinc Liquid (237ml)

 

Vitamins For Smokers

Vitamins For Smokers

by Blog

LivOn Labs

Vitamins For Smokers

Smokers may have once been known for their svelte figures, but the research is conclusive that they are often lacking many vital nutrients. Vitamins for smokers are those nutrients commonly depleted by cigarette smoke and are also under-consumed by smokers.

Smoking damages cells and depletes vitamins and minerals. Smokers tend fo have lower circulating levels of several nutrients, including:
Folate (B9)
Vitamin C
Magnesium

Smoking generates Free Radicals which deplete Antioxidants

Cigarette smoke contains 7000 chemical compounds, including carbon monoxide, benzene, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and formaldehyde. With a single puff, you inhale 10(15) free radicals from the tar, smoke, and water-soluble elements of the cigarette smoke.

Free radicals damage collagen, blood vessel lining, and DNA. They weaken the immune system, wrinkle skin, and overall age your body. Smokers tend to have higher levels of LDL cholesterol, which is the type prone to oxidation. The increased LDL cholesterol along with the increased free radicals can be a dangerous combination for cardiac health.

Along with higher free radicals, smokers have lower levels of antioxidants to combat them. According to a 1989 NHANES survey, smokers of 20 or more cigarettes/day had the lowest dietary Vitamin C intake as well as the lowest circulating levels. Smokers of 1–19 cigarettes/day had slightly higher intake and circulating levels, but were still significantly less than people who never smoked. The researchers noted that “smoking adversely affects preferences for vitamin C rich foods, the inverse association between smoking and serum vitamin C levels occurs independently of dietary intake.” This means smokers put themselves in a deep vitamin C hole by an apparent aversion to vitamin C rich foods (whether this is caused by smoking or is merely a characteristic shared by smokers is unknown) while the act of smoking depletes the meager amounts of vitamin C circulating in smokers’ bloodstreams.

Smoking interferes with Vitamin and Mineral absorption

Nicotine-induced kidney damage may prevent electrolyte absorption. Researchers in 2006 presented their findings to the American Heart Association that nicotine accelerated kidney damage in smokers. The kidneys are responsible for excretion and reabsorption of electrolytes — sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Electrolytes monitor fluid levels within cells so they don’t burst or shrivel, both of which end in cell death. These minerals are also critical to numerous other bodily systems, with magnesium playing a role in more than 300. This damage could at least partially account for consistently lower levels of magnesium and calcium in smokers’ bloodstreams.

Smoking damages elements that protect the stomach lining, which may interfere with nutrient absorption.

Even after correction for folate intake, smokers have lower plasma and red blood cell folate concentrations, which suggest that smoking alters folate uptake and metabolism.

Smokers consume fewer vitamins and minerals

Multiple surveys — conducted from the much smokier days of the 1960s through 2018 — all yield the same results: smokers consume fewer nutrients. Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E are frequently lacking in smokers’ diets. Vitamins C, A, and E are powerful antioxidants needed to offset some of the damage done by inhaling massive amounts of free radicals. Your body requires folate to get rid of homocysteine, which can be dangerous to your cardiac health. Since smokers are already prone to heart problems, low folate can only exacerbate the problem.

In a 2017 study, smokers reported lower intake of healthy fats, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin c, b vitamins, vitamin e, and vitamin a. Smoking alters taste buds, which changes smokers nutritional preferences, not to mention that people who smoke are generally less likely to make better nutrition decisions. Nicotine also suppresses appetite, leading to some of the fears around quitting. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5659353/ All smokers in the study had low magnesium levels, but those who smoked more than 15 cigarettes per day had levels significantly lower than that.

How to supplement vitamins for smokers

Some research indicates that Vitamin A supplements may be detrimental to smokers who need them most, possibly even increasing cancer risk. As Vitamin A is fat-soluble and can accumulate in bodily tissues, few experts recommend supplementing with it. The nutrient is also readily available in sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, milk, and so many more staple foods.

Vitamin C supplements may not only increase Vitamin C levels, but also Vitamin E. In a 2006 study, researchers found that taking 1000 mg Vitamin C supplements per day “could reduce by up to 45 percent the rate of disappearance of one form of vitamin E in smokers.” These supplements provided smokers about the same level of antioxidant protection from free radical damage as non-smokers. Lypo-Spheric® Vitamin C includes 1000 mg of Vitamin C wrapped in liposomes for maximum absorption without the gastric distress that often accompanies large doses.

Folate is vital for healthy pregnancy and is a central nutrient in many prenatal supplements, and according to some research, supplementing may even help modify adverse effects of maternal smoking. Folate may be difficult for some people to absorb, so look for a methylated folate in a supplement, like that included in our Lypo-Spheric® B Complex Plus.

Incredible Health Benefits of Camel Milk

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Incredible Health Benefits of Camel Milk

Some of the most important health benefits of camel milk includes its ability to prevent diabetes, improve the immune system, stimulate circulation, treat autism, lessen allergic reactions, promote growth and development, protect against certain autoimmune diseases and boost heart health.

Camel milk has been the primary type of milk consumed by many Bedouin cultures for generations. Although it is not in nearly as high supply as cow milk, it has a number of clear advantages over that more common form, including more powerful nutrients and better chemical compounds. Camel milk is a more environmentally friendly way of obtaining milk, as camels do not need the massive amounts of grazing area like goats and cows, thereby leaving the world a bit greener, and filled with less methane gas.

It is the closest form of milk that we have access to besides human milk, which means that it gives us an ideal nutritive mixture, with far better benefits for our body than our more common alternatives. It includes far higher levels of iron, vitamin C, and protein, as well as less fat!

Camel milk tastes similar to cow’s milk but is free from Beta-lactoglobulin, the main allergen in cow’s milk. It has more Vitamin C, B6, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium than cow’s milk. The natural antibiotics in camel milk keeps the milk fresher for a longer period. Camel milk is easy to digest and improves the immune system by fighting off bacteria and infections. Research has investigated the benefits for those who suffer from autism, diabetes, tuberculosis, cancer and stomach ulcers.

Diabetes Treatment:

Camel milk has a wealth of nutrients, including insulin, which is an essential component of human health. Insulin and glucose balance is very important for the prevention of diabetes, making it a potential natural solution for diabetes, eliminating the need for insulin injections if a steady stream of camel milk is included in the diet. If used as a preventative measure, it can also prevent you from developing the disease in the first place.

Immune System:

There is a surprisingly high level of proteins and other organic compounds in camel milk, some of which have powerful antimicrobial abilities. This means that it can help to boost the immune system and keep us healthy from the inside out.

Growth and Development:

The high level of animal proteins found in camel milk, many of which are not found in goat and cow milk, can help to stimulate proper growth and development of bones and organ systems. Protein is one of the most basic building blocks of life, and camel milk provides a lot of it. In fact, in many cultures, camel milk is given to malnourished infants and children, as it can improve health and wellness so dramatically. Camel milk was first used as a way to prolong journeys through the desert, when food and other chances for liquid were limited.

Stimulate Circulation:

The high iron content found in camel milk makes it ideal for preventing anemia. Iron is a crucial component of red blood cells, which means that camel milk can increase circulation of the blood and oxygenation of the body’s organ systems and extremities. Following childbirth, injury, or period of malnutrition, camel milk can significantly help maintain health.

Allergic Reactions:

Camel milk has been connected to reducing allergic reactions in those who regularly consume it. Furthermore, camel milk does not cause the same sorts of lactose intolerance reactions of cow milk, as it has a significantly different chemical makeup.

Heart Health:

With such a healthy and comprehensive set of fatty acids, camel milk can greatly improve the balance of cholesterol in the body. By reducing “bad” cholesterol in the body, camel milk helps to reduce atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes, and even lowers blood pressure in regular users.

Organic Camel Milk Frozen | 1L
Organic Camel Milk Powder | 100g

Why you must never buy honey in plastic bottles

Why you must never buy honey in plastic bottles

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Why you must never buy honey in plastic bottles

Let’s face it – you can’t beat glass. Even “food grade” plastic can leach chemicals and odours into your honey and there is a lot of research that shows it probably does. To me, a glass jar is a sign of QUALITY. Honey is a precious product – why adulterate it in plastic anyway? Only cheap, poor quality honey will be found in plastic. Good honey is expensive.

If honey crystallises, it’s easy to put the glass bottle gently into warm water or a very low oven, but I’d never DREAM of heating plastic!!! Imagine how much more will leach, and the taste will be plastic too. Glass is also less permeable to oxygen and UV light and it insulates better against temperature fluctuations. The only really good thing about plastic is that its dirt cheap (and nasty). So my advice is buy a good quality honey in glass only. Ever.

And don’t be misled by “safe plastics”, BPA-free etc – it’s all nonsense!! They are all going to leach xenoestrogens into your honey – that’s why you must never buy oils or liquids in plastic, but in glass. Even BPA-free plastics leach endocrine disrupting chemicals! It may be BPA free, but it won’t be BPS free (bisphenol-S) which is potentially worse.

BPA, an estrogenic plastic by-product used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics, leaches into the food and liquids from the plastic containers they are in. BPA has been identified as an estrogen-mimicking compound since the 1930s, and is known to be especially dangerous for pregnant women, infants, and children. In the 1930s BPA was used as an artificial estrogen to fatten poultry and cattle – so do the extrapolation! In the 1940s BPA was used to harden polycarbonate plastics and make epoxy resin. It is now one of the world’s highest production volume chemicals and widely known as being a suspected disruptor of your body’s hormones.

BPS is showing up in human urine at concentrations similar to those of BPA – you are still being poisoned! It is just as toxic as BPA and some research says it’s much more dangerous than BPA. Like BPA, BPS has hormone-mimicking properties and less bio-degradable. But it gets worse – BPA is not the only culprit; it’s simply the most highly publicized one. There’s also bisphenol AB and AF, bisphenol B and BP, bisphenol C, bisphenol E, F, G, M, S, P, PH, TMC, and, yes, there’s even a bisphenol Z. Any one of these can be in your BPA-free honey bottle – so stick to glass.

Bees Knees Honey in Glass Bottle.

Vitamin Absorption: How to Maximize it

Vitamin Absorption: How to Maximize it

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Vitamin Absorption: How to Maximize it

Omelette with spinach along with avocado and cucumber illustrates nutrient pairings for vitamin absorption
Optimal vitamin absorption requires ideal conditions. You can maximize vitamin absorption by pairing nutrients, maintaining ideal gut health, supplementing in proper doses, and being aware of the circumstances that cause malabsorption.

Combine Nutrients That Help Each Other Absorb

Some nutrients depend on the presence of others for absorption. The fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are best absorbed when consumed with a small amount of healthy fat, like olive oil.

Iron comes in two forms; heme form and non-heme. Animal foods contain both types while plants and fortified foods contain only non-heme, which requires Vitamin C for absorption. Eating Vitamin C-rich foods or supplementing with Vitamin C before eating plant-based iron foods can enhance iron absorption.

Vitamin D is almost always included in bone health calcium supplements because Vitamin D helps to assimilate calcium into the bones.

Maintain Proper Gut Health For Better Vitamin Absorption

Did you know that you don’t actually get all your B vitamins from food and supplements? That seems crazy since the definition of a vitamin is a nutrient that your body can’t produce. And that’s true of the B vitamins. Your body cannot produce them; some of the bacteria living in your gut can (with the exception of B12). While you still need to consume these vitamins from food, a diverse gut flora contributes B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, and B9 to your overall levels.

The villi projections in your intestines extract vitamins and minerals from foods. Poor gut health and consuming foods that cause allergic reactions blunt these villi and prevent them from extracting nutrients, leading to malabsorption.

Stomach acid is a requirement for extraction of B12 from protein sources and supports Vitamin C secretion. Lower stomach acid levels can lead to lower levels of these nutrients, whether the diminishing stomach acid is due to proton pump inhibitors, bariatric surgery, or just aging. Taking a liposomal B12 or Vitamin C supplement can help to maximize vitamin absorption when stomach acid is low since this type of supplement bypasses the normal absorption systems and delivers nutrients into the bloodstream and the cells.

Take Supplements in Doses You Can Absorb

Your body excretes any excess water-soluble vitamins and minerals, so there is no point in taking monster doses of these nutrients and it can cause some digestive discomfort. Researchers have confirmed that higher the dose, the less Vitamins C and B12 are absorbed from traditional supplements, indicating there is an upper limit to what your body can absorb at a single time.

Water-soluble nutrients benefit from real liposomal encapsulation technology, which enhances absorption by providing vehicles to transport the vitamins and minerals from the digestive system into the bloodstream and the cells. Lypo-Spheric® Vitamin C, the original liposomal Vitamin C supplement, has been shown to absorb 50% better in white blood cells than Vitamin C powder.

You can store fat-soluble vitamins (like A, D, E, and K), and excessive amounts can be toxic. Again, higher doses are not necessarily better.

Eat Mindfully to Activate Enzymes

According to integrative medicine doctors, the act of chewing is essential to nutrient absorption. Mastication activates enzymes and researchers have found that more chewing led to more healthy fat absorption from almonds.

If you’re not feeling great after you eat, your meal could be causing inflammation which interferes with nutrient absorption in the small intestine. While many people are sensitive to lactose (the sugar in dairy), other common culprits are grains, sugars, and certain oils. Less common, though still known to cause inflammation in a significant number of people, are legumes, eggs, nuts, seed, and nightshades.

Be Cognizant of the Conditions and Circumstances that Interfere with Vitamin Absorption

Carffeine
While coffee has many valuable benefits (it contains antioxidants after all), some researchers make a compelling case for drinking your morning cup after breakfast. Caffeine can interfere with vitamin D absorption, and the higher the dose the more interference. Since Vitamin D is required for calcium absorption, it makes sense that researchers also noted that caffeine interferes with calcium assimilation as well.

Medications
Many drugs, including common over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals, interfere with nutrient absorption. Certain medications are meant to be taken with food; since some of these bind with vitamins and minerals, some pharmacists and doctors recommend supplementing to avoid deficiency. Hospitals, like Mount Sinai, recommend supplementing at different times of day than when taking the medication to avoid the supplement interfering with the efficacy of the drug.

Stress
When you’re stressed, your body goes into survival mode. It shuts down what it deems non-essential processes. While you may argue digestion is an essential business — er, process — your adrenal overlords disagree. Unfortunately, in our modern life, a rabid bear did not interrupt your dinner, sending you into flight for your life. You may just be trying to shovel down a sandwich at your desk while you hastily reply to emails between conference calls.

Stress-induced digestion interference causes your body to produce less digestive enzyme and the hydrochloric acid that breaks down your food to get to a point where vitamins and minerals can be extracted and absorbed. The lack of these gastric secretions can cause undigested food to enter your intestines. Your body will either try to rid itself of this food (diarrhea) or hang onto it (constipation).

Celiac Disease
Intestinal villi, the projections that line the inner surface of your small intestine, extract nutrients from food as an important step for absorption. Celiac disease causes your immune system to attack the villi when you consume gluten. This causes villous atrophy, which prevents absorption of iron, magnesium, and the B vitamins.

Phytates
These compounds in plants can be beneficial, but they also interfere with absorption of zinc and iron. This is not a big deal, except for vegans and others adhering to a plant-based diet who get all their zinc and iron from plant foods. Phytates only interfere with mineral absorption when they are consumed concurrently. Their effects do not linger throughout the day. Functional medicine doctor Will Cole recommends soaking beans and legumes for at least eight hours prior to consumption to minimize phytate content.

Bariatric Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery alters the stomach and digestive system to cause nutrient malabsorption. Changes include diminishing stomach acid that is required for extraction of B12 from foods, and diverting digestion to avoid the parts of the intestines where Vitamin D is absorbed. Bariatric surgery also interferes with the absorption of folate, calcium, zinc, and iron.

some vitamins help your immune system

No pill can stop the coronavirus from spreading – some vitamins help your immune system

by Blog

vitamins help your immune system.

No pill can stop the coronavirus from spreading – some vitamins help your immune system

Dr. Fauci Takes These Two Vitamins to Boost Immunity

As the world waits for a coronavirus vaccine, many Americans are taking whatever they can to “boost their immunity” against COVID-19. That’s why two actresses, when they had a chance to interview Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and key member of the Coronavirus Task Force, asked him about just that. Read on to see what he takes himself, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had Coronavirus.

Fauci Takes These Two Vitamins Himself:

In an interview that was fairly kid-focused, Jennifer Garner asked Fauci, “Now, should moms be doing something just to boost our kids’ immune system? You know, do you need more vitamin C? Do they need more spinach? Is there anything we should be doing? Elderberry?”

Said Fauci: “The answer is to the dismay of many: No. So if a child is deficient…there are two vitamins that you should consider. For example, if you are deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. So I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself taking vitamin D supplements. The other vitamin that people take is vitamin C because it’s a good antioxidant. So if people want to take a gram or two at the most vitamin C, that would be fine. So vitamin C and vitamin D. Okay. Any of the other concoctions and herbs I would not do.”

“Okay,” answered Garner. “Throwing out the elderberry.”

Note that Dr. Fauci did not say taking these vitamins makes you immune to coronavirus. Nothing currently available will.

The Best Boosters are Sleep and Exercise

Earlier in the week, Dr. Fauci said something similar to another actress, Tiffany Haddish. “You know, to be honest with you, Tiffany, the things that so-called ‘boost the immune system,’ when you do really good clinical studies, it doesn’t really help much unless you have some sort of a deficiency,” he told her via an Instagram chat. “Like if you’re vitamin D deficient, you just work hard all the time, you don’t get outside. Then taking vitamin D is good. If you want an antioxidant, vitamin C. But a lot of these herbs that claim to boost your immune system in so many respects, either do nothing, or, if you take too much of them, they harm you.”

“They give you diarrhea,” Haddish interrupted. “I’m just mad. Like at first I was like, Oh, I know what I’ll do. I’llI take more vitamin D, I add ginger, turmeric. Now I just got spicy…situation coming up.”

After laughing, Fauci said: “The best way to keep your immune system’s good is to just lead a healthy life, get good sleep, exercise. Those are the things that are so much better than a bunch of herbs that really have never really been shown to do that.”

As for yourself: sleep, exercise, don’t get yourself into any “spicy situations,” and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Available From The Nutrient Well:

LivOn Labs Lypospheric Vitamin C
Kirkman Buffered Vitamin C Powder Flavored
Kirkman Buffered Vitamin C Powder Unflavored
Kirkman Vitamin D3 1000iu (120 Caps)
Vitamin D3 Premium 60 Caps

LivOn Labs

LivOn Labs perfected Liposomal Encapsulation Technology, the practice of encapsulating water-soluble nutrients in phospholipids that protect nutrients from destruction in the digestive system.

Kirkman Labs

Kirkman Labs products are tested for more than 950 environmental contaminants : No other company in the world conducts purity testing to this degree.

Supplements & Nutrition

We believe in Supplementation and the extreme imperatives of “clean products” no fillers, no binders and especially NO HARMFUL INGREDIENTS.