Archive for the ‘Supplement’ Category
How Echinacea helps the immune system
December 20th, 2010 | 
Author: In this day and age everyone is looking for ways to boost their immune system. In recent years their has been an herbal remedy that seems to provide some relief to colds and flues and assist your immune system is Echinacea.
What is it?
Echinacea is one of the oldest and popular herbal supplements in the world. Echinacea is a Native American plant that is a natural fighter. It is categorized as an immunostimulant, which is a substance that is known to boost a body’s immune system.
How does your immune system work?
White blood cells are part of the body’s cells that make up the immune system. These are the body’s first line of defense. If a flu virus enters an individual’s body and begins to multiple, the white blood cells calls in for help from the T-lymphocytes, and also they can get help from lymphocytes. All these working together allow the body to destroy the viruses that have invaded it.
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Keep Your Liver Healthy with Health Supplements
It is very important to take care of your liver. Any problem in the liver can result is the malfunctioning of other organs. Proper antioxidants and minerals are required to keep your liver healthy. Due to the present food habits of people the work load of the liver had increased considerably.
The present day food habits have resulted in damaging the liver. The chemicals added to the food in the form of flavors and additives are difficult to digest so they are metabolized by the liver. Therefore liver secrete more hormones to digest these harmful substances. Therefore it is oblivious that your liver can get damaged very easily. So it is advisable to have health supplements that will protect your liver from major diseases.
Choose a Good Health Supplements
As people become aware of how their food choices affect their health and well being, many are trying to make smarter choices when it comes to the food they eat. But despite their best efforts, they are still probably not getting the nutrients they need for good health.
This is probably partly due to the fact that no one has the time to properly research and plan meals to make sure they are getting in all of their vitamins. Another reason has to do with modern farming techniques which has depleted the ground of nutrients and which result in food that is not as nutritious as it used to be. Adding health supplements seems to be the only way to ensure you are getting all you need for good health.
How Can SAMe Supplements Help Me?
What is SAMe?
SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is a naturally occurring compound found in all human tissue and organs. It is a “building block” necessary for the production of many compounds produced by your body, and is used in over 35 different biochemical reactions. SAMe actually donates a part of itself to form these new compounds through a process called methylation or transmethylation. SAME is one of the few dietary supplements on the market today that combines the benefits of several nutrients into one, because the body uses the substances produced from SAMe for numerous bodily reactions and processes.
SAMe is a supplement formed in the body by an enzymatic reaction between adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) and methionine. It was discovered in 1952 in Italy and has been researched and manufactured there. SAMe works closely with folic acid and vitamin B-12 and functions as a methyl donor. This nutrient carries and donates methyl molecules necessary to facilitate the manufacture of DNA and brain neurotransmitters.* Tissue levels of SAMe are typically low in the elderly.
How can SAMe help me?
SAMe might be an effective treatment for depression, with fewer side effects than antidepressant drugs. But the real benefits and risks of SAMe are still unclear. In theory, it may increase the risk of heart disease. People with depression or joint pain should seek medical advice before trying SAMe. Supplementation with SAM-e increases levels of serotonin, dopamine and phosphatides, and improves serotonin and dopamine receptor site binding. Some research has shown that SAM-e provides relief from arthritis pain, without the stomach irritation caused by aspirin and similar drugs.
Are there any side effects associated with SAMe supplementation?
SAMe is a very safe dietary supplement. Minor side effects include nausea and gastrointestinal irritation, due to its sulfur content. These were only noted at very high doses (1200-1600mg) and symptoms diminished with continued use. Persons suffering from manic depression (bipolar disorder) should not take SAMe without prior consultation with their physician. If you experience any of the symptoms above for an extended period of time, you may be allergic to SAMe, or it may not be the right supplement for you.
Benefits
• treatment for depression
• improves serotonin and dopamine levels
• relief from arthritis pain
Tips For Boosting The Body's Immune System
The human body is constantly under attack from millions of microorganisms with which we share the planet, which is why it is important not to take your immune system for granted.
What can you do to help keep your immune system healthy and ready to shield your body from infection? To answer this question, Shaklee Corporation recently formed the Center for Immune Research, which offers these important tips:
1. Find ways to relax. Because stress produces many different effects on the endocrine systems, scientists believe that immune function may be diminished by chronic stresses. There are a number of techniques to help you relax, such as deep breathing or yoga, which can reduce mental and physical stress as well as lower blood pressure and slow down your heart rate.
2. Sleep matters. Besides leaving you feeling sluggish, irritable and forgetful, not getting enough sleep can temporarily reduce the activity of certain cells in your immune system by up to 50 percent. Strive to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
3. Feed your immune system well. Not getting enough calories and getting too much dietary fat may weaken immune response. This is one important reason why nutritionists recommend a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains.
4. Get physically active. Regular exercise helps to strengthen your immune system, cardiovascular system, heart, muscles and bones. Being active also stimulates the release of endorphins, improves concentration and other mental functioning, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and may lower cortisol and other stress hormones.
5. Learn about interferon. Although most Americans have never heard of interferon, this natural protein helps protect the body from the daily exposure to millions of germs that can lead to serious infection. Activated when an invading virus attacks a cell, interferon signals neighboring cells into action and triggers their resis-tance mechanisms. Interferon also activates other immune cells that kill invading pathogens.
Because interferon plays such an important role in immune health, Shaklee Corporation is raising awareness about NutriFeron™, a new dietary supplement that naturally increases the body’s production of its own interferon.* The Japanese scientist who originally discovered the existence of interferon in the body-Dr. Yasuhiko Kojima at Tokyo University-developed NutriFeron™ after more than 40 years of research on natural interferon-inducing compounds.