Aventura, FL (PRWEB) February 6, 2007

Buying vitamins is supposed to lead to better health – but a new study says just the opposite.

According to a new report by ConsumerLab.com, 11 out of 21 brands of vitamins tested did not meet quality standards – which means they contained too much or too little of a vitamin, could not be absorbed by the body or, worse, contained toxic ingredients such as lead.

“When it comes to vitamins, you get what you pay for,” says Simon Astor, D.O.M., founder of the Iluma Center for Health in Aventura, Florida, and a top expert on vitamin therapy and holistic medicine. “Vitamins aren’t regulated by the FDA, so it’s important for consumers to be very scrupulous. This means buying only from reputable brands, talking to a doctor or nutritionist and reading the label thoroughly before each purchase.”

Dr. Astor’s clinic provides a variety of vitamin therapies to its patients, and it relies solely on what is called “pharmaceutical-grade” vitamins. Although pharmaceutical-grade vitamins are often only available through doctors or health care providers, they are guaranteed to be free of contaminants, use safe levels of ingredients and are third-party verified.

But for consumers who plan to stick with store-bought vitamins and supplements, Dr. Astor offers these eight tips to buying safer pills:

1)    ”Choose a reputable brand”: It’s better to buy vitamins from a well-known brand than a cheaper unknown. Questions to consider are: How long has it been in business? Are its products widely available? Does it have a large product line?

2)    ”Standardized ingredients”: Check the label to make sure it cites “standardized” active ingredients (e.g., vitamins, enzymes or herbs), instead of just listing the whole amounts of vegetable or fruit products, which can vary in nutritional quality.

3)    ”Certification”: Are the vitamins certified to be of high quality? If so, the label will show a logo of “GMP certified” (Good Manufacturing Practice) or “ISO 9000,” an international standard of quality.

4)    ”Ask a doctor”: The best way to buy safe is to first check with a doctor, health care provider or nutritionist. They can help consumers find the vitamins – and brands – that are best for them.

5)     “Price is a clue”: Cheaper isn’t always better. The difference between a and a bottle isn’t just the price – it can also be the quality. If the price on the bottle seems too good to be true, it probably is – the company may have cut corners to produce it.

6)    ”Country of origin”: Is the vitamin manufactured in China, or the U.S.? Certain countries like China don’t require vitamin manufacturers to meet high standards. Before swallowing that pill, consumers should check where it was made.

7)    ”Expiration date”: Always check the expiration date before buying vitamins or supplements. If an expiration date isn’t shown, don’t buy it.

8)    ”Call the company”: If consumers have any questions or concerns, they should always call the company directly. Ask them to provide a “third party assay” – this verifies the vitamins’ quality. If a company can’t provide this, it may be unsafe to use.

About Dr. Astor:

U.K.-born Simon Astor, D.O.M., founder of the Iluma Center for Health in Aventura, Florida, is a top expert in the holistic treatment of chronic health problems through non-drug therapies. Dr. Astor’s 9,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art health clinic provides the latest holistic treatment advances, including vitamin infusion, detoximins, chelation and bioidentical hormone replacement. Website: www.ilumahealth.com

###

Find More Vitamins & Supplements Press Releases

Alternative Remedies Allow For a Pain-Free Lifestyle

Alternative Remedies Allow For a Pain-Free Lifestyle

Free Online Articles Directory

Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
AB Answers

Publish Article

0 && $ .browser.msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($ .browser.version);
if(ie_version Hello Guest
Login

Login via

Register
Hello
My Home
Sign Out

Email

Password


Remember me?
Lost Password?

Home Page > Health > Alternative Medicine > Alternative Remedies Allow For a Pain-Free Lifestyle

Alternative Remedies Allow For a Pain-Free Lifestyle

Edit Article |

Posted: Nov 13, 2009 |Comments: 0
|

68-year-old Ginger Williams wakes up each morning and jogs five miles near her Memphis, Tenn., residence. To her, jogging each morning is a way to start the day clearing her mind, body and soul.

Growing up she was never fond of running but over the last several years she’s realized the comforting serenity it brings. Her endurance levels have risen which helps her focus more on the benefits of exercise while enjoying the adrenaline she experiences upon completion of her morning ritual.

The toughest barrier she’s had to overcome hasn’t been the motivation needed to wake up early each morning for her daily trek. Instead, it was pain.

But this wasn’t just any ordinary pain. For years Ginger suffered from the same pain that’s actually the leading cause of disability among Americans. Every day Ginger dealt with painful arthritis in her legs, back and hips, which severely discouraged her from everyday activities like walking and bending. Years ago, running was never an option because of the arthritis.

To combat that pain, the one option she deliberately chose to ignore was prescription pain medications and remedies. She didn’t want to deal with the way prescription pain medicines made her feel, in addition to the dangerous side effects, like liver damage. Plus, it’s no secret that prescription pain medications can get very expensive under the current health care system.

Fortunately for Ginger, she had alternatives in dealing with arthritis and joint pain. And according to leading research, she’s not alone.

In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Americans recently spent about billion annually on alternative remedies, especially for pain relief. This number represents nearly one-third of money spent on prescriptions for pain relief. Clearly, more people are finding success with alternatives that are safer, less expensive and with better results.

Arthritis and joint pain is more than just a headache for roughly 46 million Americans. Arthritis can leave people writhing in pain leading to severe disability and chronic suffering for years. And although many people over the age of 50 often have an increased form of arthritis or joint pain, the disease affects many of today’s younger generation as well. As an example, 17-year-old Grace Claire Cordes, third-runner up in the Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen Pageant, suffers from juvenile arthritis – a disease affecting young adults and even children.

Among the many alternative therapies being used today include energy healing, relaxation techniques and acupuncture. Growing in even more popularity by the day are vitamin supplements with natural ingredients that work to relieve the joint pain.

Aside from the expensive costs involved and the dangerous and uncomfortable side effects, prescription pain medications don’t actually treat the root cause of arthritis and joint pain. Instead they serve merely to mask the pain so you don’t feel the symptoms. This can be very dangerous, though, because in this situation you can actually do more harm to your body without realizing the damage being done.

Vitamin supplements are becoming more popular as a replacement remedy because they’re less expensive, there’s no need to maneuver around confusing health insurance (which itself can also be very expensive for millions), and there’s no dangerous side effects since they’re manufactured with all-natural ingredients.

What’s more, an important ingredient known as cetyl myristoleate (CM8) can do wonders for arthritis and joints because it has been found to reverse the damage caused by arthritis. Acting like a WD-40-like lubricant for joints, CM8 can promote optimal joint health by helping to stimulate the lubricating fluid in the joints, support stronger cartilage and increase total mobility.

This healing process is the main reason why these natural vitamins have been such an important part of Ginger Williams’ life. And they’re also a major reason why she can get out of bed each morning and enjoy the five-mile jog around her beautiful Tennessee home.

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/alternative-remedies-allow-for-a-painfree-lifestyle-1456588.html”

(ArticlesBase SC #1456588)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!

Tamer Elsafy –
About the Author:

Tamer Elsafy is the CEO and founder of Flexcin, the only natural vitamin supplement with the cetyl myristoleate ingredient (CM8) clinically proven as an arthritis treatment to help repair joints from arthritis and other forms of joint pain. For more information please visit http://flexcin.com.

Questions and Answers

Ask our experts your Alternative Medicine related questions here…200 Characters left

In cold weather I suffer from partial headache either on left or right side. I am unable to figure out whether it is

Dr. Tim offers only the best supplements

Cuisipro Herb Keeper

• Keep herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano and dill fresh longer
• Also great for keeping vegetables like asparagus and celery fresh and crisp
• Slots in removable tray hold and hydrate herb stems while keeping leaves above the water
• Sized for storing large quantities of herbs; designed to fit in most refrigerator door shelves
• Measures 4-3/4 inches in diameter and 9-1/2 inches tall

Today’s home chef demands tools that deliver consistent, superior performance with every use. Cuisipro tools have been created to perform specific tasks with precision and ease while always providing the finest results. The Herb Keeper is a smart storage tool to keep herbs fresh longer. The clear plastic container is 9-1/2-inch tall and holds large grocery store or farm market sized bunches of herbs. Use the knob on the lid to lift the tray, add about an inch of water to the bottom, and insert h

List Price: $ 20.00

Price:

The Key Vitamins, Minerals and Nutrients You Need for Young-looking, Glowing Skin – Part 2

The Key Vitamins, Minerals and Nutrients You Need for Young-looking, Glowing Skin – Part 2

Free Online Articles Directory

Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
AB Answers

Publish Article

0 && $ .browser.msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($ .browser.version);
if(ie_version Hello Guest
Login

Login via

Register
Hello
My Home
Sign Out

Email

Password


Remember me?
Lost Password?

Home Page > Beauty > Skin Care > The Key Vitamins, Minerals and Nutrients You Need for Young-looking, Glowing Skin – Part 2

The Key Vitamins, Minerals and Nutrients You Need for Young-looking, Glowing Skin – Part 2

Edit Article |

Posted: Jul 30, 2009 |Comments: 0
|

In Part 1 of this article, I discussed a handful of vitamins and nutrients that you can take internally to benefit your skin. You can also “feed” your skin by applying biologically-active vitamins and nutrients topically. Here are eight vitamins, minerals and nutrients you can apply to your skin for anti-aging skin care — to achieve a more youthful, vibrant appearance.

 

Please note there are many products on the market that contain the following ingredients. I personally favor cosmeceuticals — skin care products that contain the purest pharmaceutical-grade biological actives. While this article isn’t a product review, if you need help deciding which products to buy, I encourage you to contact my office (see my information at the bottom of this article).

 

REPAIR IT

 

Vitamin C, available without a prescription, has emerged as the wunderkind of topical skin repair agents. Its antioxidant action is clinically-proven to reverse damage caused by free radicals while also stimulating collagen growth. This is a good thing.  More collagen equals visibly younger-looking skin. One caveat: vitamin C preparations are notoriously unstable, and can actually cause free-radical damage once they degrade.  Therefore, make sure to store your vitamin C cream or other preparation in a cool dark place and discard if the color changes. An anhydrous (non-water containing) vitamin C cream, or one that also contains ferulic acid, enhances the vitamin’s stability.

 

Retin A, also known as tretinoin, is a form of vitamin A available by prescription. A tretinoin cream works in a variety of ways to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and to minimize the signs of aging.  Some of these ways include increasing the skin’s thickness, regulating oil production, stimulating collagen production, and even possibly turning back the aging clock of skin cells. Take care with using Retin A, though, as some people develop local irritation when using it.

 

Copper peptides are absorbed deep into the dermis, where they’re effective in stimulating the skin to heal and repair itself. The result is increased collagen production and decreased wrinkles. A copper peptide product is also good to use following the exfoliant use of alpha hydroxy acids and Retin A to promote optimal healing and repair.

 

CoEnzyme Q10 levels diminish in the skin as we age. A cream containing this vitamin-like compound increases your cells’ ability to produce energy. The likely outcome for users of topical CoEnzyme Q10 is diminished wrinkles, improved texture and increased elasticity — in other words, better, younger skin.

 

HYDRATE IT

 

Hyaluronic Acid, which also diminishes in our skin through aging, attracts many times its weight in water. A moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid can “plump” skin, filling fine lines for a noticeably younger appearance. One note: in dry climates, the hyaluronic acid may try to pull water from the skin instead of the air. Be on the lookout for drier skin, and increase your moisturizer use accordingly.

 

SMOOTH AND EVEN IT OUT

 

Alpha hydroxy acids, present in many moisturizers, are clinically-proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and to even out skin tone. Look for preparations that contain at least eight percent AHA but that don’t exceed 15 percent (at least not without the supervision of your dermatologist).

 

Niacin A was featured in a recent 12-week study, and showed that a five-percent niacin preparation reduced fine lines and wrinkles, faded extra pigmentation and blotchiness, and smoothed rough skin. A bonus: this topical vitamin is very safe and easy to use.

 

Vitamin K is a vital component of the blood’s clotting factors. Along with a diet rich in vitamin K or a supplement, a vitamin K cream can be applied topically to reduce dark under eye circles.

 

With a practical routine of repair, hydration and smoothening, a vibrant, youthful appearance is close at hand when you “feed” your skin with biologically active vitamins and nutrients.

 

 

 

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/the-key-vitamins-minerals-and-nutrients-you-need-for-younglooking-glowing-skin-part-2-1081853.html”

(ArticlesBase SC #1081853)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!

James Fairfield –
About the Author:

James C. Fairfield, MD, has established the oldest and most respected dermatology practice in the Delaware Valley. For more free cosmetic dermatology information and resources, visit his web site at www.cmderm.com.

Questions and Answers

Ask our experts your Skin Care related questions here…200 Characters left

Is isotonic