Who needs food supplements?

While food supplements should never replace a balanced and healthy diet, they can provide a useful top up for people who smoke and drink to excess, or who fall into certain demographic categories that put them at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Lifestyle Factors

A side effect of smoking arethe free radicals created in our bodies which deplete it of vitamins and minerals. Food supplements can provide a key role in replacing those vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C food supplements can help reduce nicotine cravings and vitamin E food supplements can help reduce the heart attack risks that comes with smoking.

Alcohol depletes your body of vitamins and minerals because they are needed by your liver to metabolise the alcohol. Food supplements containing vitamin C, magnesium, and B complex vitamins are some of the things that can help your body restore itself to its natural equilibrium after a big night out.

While a lot of people get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a balanced diet, there are also plenty of people who do not. It is this group who need food supplements.

While takeaway based diets can contain protein and carbohydrates, they are often lacking in folate, iron, calcium and fibre – all critical for good ongoing health.

Another group of people who often need food supplements because of lifestyle factors are vegans. In many ways a healthy way to live, vegans can also be missing some key vitamins and minerals. Food supplements containing vitamin C, vitamin D, long chain omega-3s, iron, calcium and zinc should also be considered by vegans.

If you think your lifestyle could be causing you to miss out on essential vitamins and minerals, food supplements can be an appropriate course of action. If in doubt, check in with your Doctor.

Demographic Factors

We all know older people are at heightened risk of osteoporosis because of calcium deficiencies. Calcium based food supplements are commonly taken by older people to help manage this risk.

In addition, older people can need vitamin B12 food supplements. Vitamin B12 is important. It helps create red blood cells and maintain a healthy nerve function. If you’re older (or not so old) and not eating enough fruits and vegetables, you run the risk of a folate deficiency. Again, food supplements can help out.

In summary, vitamin B12, calcium, and folate are the key areas where food supplements can help older people.

Younger in years are women of child bearing age. Reduced rates of certain vitamins and minerals can reduce the chance of conception. Depending on your point of view, this may or may not be a bad thing. But it’s overall impact on your body is negative.

Although you may not yet be pregnant, you want your body to be in the best shape possible if you do fall pregnant to avert issues during pregnancy. Women of child bearing age need to think about their folate levels and vitamin B12 levels. Low levels of folate can increase the risk of problems like spina bifida and anencephaly. Food supplements can help keep your folate and vitamin B12 levels up.

Finally, breastfeeding Moms… You’re looking after two people. Your milk needs to be full of nutrients to give your baby the best possible start to life. Food supplements can boost your vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and iodine levels – all crucial to a baby’s development.

Overall

Food supplements are not a replacement for a healthy and balanced diet. But most people don’t eat ideal diets. Food supplements can help them turbo charge their health.

Why detoxing your body is healthy

Discover top reasons why detoxing your body is healthy

If you have ever considered detoxing your body through different diets to get rid of toxins, you should know that the body already has its own natural detoxification methods. Your sweat glands, lungs, kidneys, digestive system, liver, and urine all help eliminate toxins naturally. However, there are times when you need to enhance your body’s natural detoxification system in order to feel healthier. Detox diets take the pressure off your vital organs so they can function at optimal level. Although there are many different types of body cleansing diets that provide different results, there is no denying their benefits for the body. Here are some of the reasons why detoxing your body can benefit you.

Increased energy levels

One of the top benefits of detoxing is the energy boost you will feel to get you through the day. The modern lifestyle can be extremely strenuous and play havoc on the body. Rather than resorting to caffeine and sugar to keep you going, you can keep your energy levels stable throughout the day by opting for a healthy detox diet instead of experiencing an energy crash by the end of the day.

Clearer complexion

Even the most sophisticated skincare regimes and creams cannot work if your diet isn’t healthy. Detoxing is of the best ways to clear your complexion by helping you sweat out the toxins that clog up the pores. Just be prepared for new breakouts while the body is going through the detoxification process. Your skin will look and feel clearer soon after.

Better digestive health

The foods we eat every day, the beauty products we use, and even the air we breathe, all contain many chemicals and toxics that pass through the digestive system. By cleansing your system from such pollutants, you will improve your digestive health as well as aid liver function.

Improved physical and mental health

When you are feeling stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, which results in decreased liver function. By cleansing your system, not only will your cortisol levels decrease, but you will also start feeling healthier both mentally and physically. Cutting out the processed foods and alcohol from your diet will give your adrenal glands a new lease of life and they will be able to function better. Too many toxins in the body can cause insomnia and lethargy, which can all affect your mood so it is important to cleanse your system through natural detox diets.

Of course not all detox diets are healthy for people with certain medical conditions. If you suffer from high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels, you should first speak with your doctor before trying out a body cleansing diet. Keep in mind that some detox diets aren’t recommended as a long-term solution, especially for people who have medical problems. For long-lasting results, it is best that you eat a healthy diet of whole grains, fruits, veg, and lean proteins. As a healthy individual, once you have chosen a suitable body cleansing diet that works for you, you may want to use it as a jump-start to your healthier lifestyle.

Which supplements work well with the ketogenic diet?

The keto diet has taken the world of nutrition by storm – and not surprisingly, considering how far-reaching the benefits of this diet are for many people who try it. Because ketogenic diets mostly consist of whole and unprocessed foods, they’re a good way of getting the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. However, it’s important to make sure your nutritional intake is balanced every time you make dietary changes.

If you have recently adopted a keto diet, or are considering getting started, you’ll want to know how to cover all your bases to make sure your body benefits from it. Here’s a list of the 4 main supplements that can boost the positive effects of a keto diet.

1- Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Keto diets are rather heavy on nuts, seeds, fatty fish, and seafood, which are important sources of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. In turn, fatty acids are crucial when it comes to keeping your bones, brain and heart in top condition. However, for your body to stay healthy, Omega 3s and Omega 6s need to be in a balanced ratio of between 1:1 to 1:4. If you’re new to keto, you may be eating too much of a good thing and disrupting the balance in the process. Most people on keto get enough Omega 6s from their diet, but not so many Omega 3s, so it’s not a bad idea to take supplements (e.g. fish oil or cod liver oil).

2 – Biotin

Biotin (also known as Vitamin B7) plays an essential role keeping your nails, hair, and skin strong and healthy, and helps metabolise energy. Some research studies in mice have shown that low carb and high fat diets (like keto) led to a biotin deficiency, so if you’re on keto and suffer from dull skin or hair and brittle nails, consider taking a good-quality biotin supplement. The recommended intake for most adults is between 35mcg to 70mcg / day.

3 – Sodium

During the first few days of a keto diet, some people experience an unwanted side effect known as “the keto flu”. The main symptoms are headaches, irritability, nausea, and general weakness and fatigue. In some cases, these symptoms are caused by an electrolyte imbalance, which tends to happen when your carbohydrate intake is low. If keto flu symptoms persist, you can try sodium supplements, or have a couple of cups of bouillon-style broth every day to stabilise your sodium levels.

4 – Potassium

Muscle cramps, twitching, and heart palpitations are experienced by some people after going on a keto diet. In many cases, these symptoms are caused by a potassium deficiency. According to medical sources, the recommended potassium intake for adults is around 4,700mg / day. Consider supplementing if you don’t reach that value through your diet alone, or increase your consumption of potassium-rich foods like avocados and nuts.

It’s also important to remember that our bodies and metabolisms vary greatly, and different people will have different reactions to dietary changes. Always seek professional advice (either from a qualified nutritionist or from a doctor) before starting a new diet and / or before you begin to take supplements.

The rise of the medicinal mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms, having been the focus of scientific research in recent years, are experiencing a surge in popularity due to a boom in the health industry as well an increase in the number of people who are adopting a vegan lifestyle. Mushrooms, that is the fruiting bodies of a fungal colony, have been used in medicine for centuries and Chinese medicine is notable for its use of fungal remedies for a variety of ailments. Scientists, seeking evidence of the healing powers of mushrooms, have tried to identify chemicals in fungus that are capable of treating health problems. These medicinal mushrooms, available as powders and extracts, are available in health food stores and coffee shops.

Turkey tail and other polypore mushrooms could be used to fight cancer.

Certain polypore mushrooms, or fruiting bodies where spores are released via pores instead of through gills, contain compounds that could be used to treat cancer and which may provide the basis of future anti-cancer drugs. Trametes versicolor, also known as the Turkey tail mushroom, could enhance the immune system’s ability to destroy cancerous cells while Phellinus linteus is thought to suppress the growth of tumours. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy suppress the immune system, reducing the amount of t-cells that are available to destroy cancerous tissue, and the ability of medicinal mushrooms to improve immunological response to malignant cells could improve cancer treatment.

Lion’s Mane mushroom may improve cognitive function.

The chemical constituents of Hericium erinaceus, or the Lion’s mane mushroom, are thought to improve cognitive function and may reduce the symptoms of some neurodegenerative disorders. Erinacines and hericenones, present within the mushroom, are known to stimulate the production of biomolecules which promote the growth as well as the maintenance of neurons. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is one such biomolecule that promotes neurogenesis, that is the creation of new nerve cells, and prevents the death of neurons in the sensory and sympathetic nervous system. This mushroom’s ability to prevent neuronal apoptosis, or nerve cell death, may bring hope to those suffering from dementia.

Certain types of medicinal fungi have antimicrobial properties.

Networks of fungal cells, known as the mycelium, live in soil or in decaying wood and are capable of forming the largest as well as the longest-living organisms on earth. The mycelium, producing mushrooms for reproductive purposes, is able to form symbiotic relationships with benevolent organisms while synthesising antimicrobial chemicals that protect it from pathogens. Fungi that produce antimicrobial compounds, such as Oyster mushrooms, are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry and may lead to the development of new generation of drugs. Medications derived from Laricifomes officinalis, or the Agarikon mushroom, are able to neutralise Influenza and Herpes viruses.

The reasons why medicinal mushrooms have become more popular in recent times.

The rise of medicinal mushrooms in the second decade of the twenty-first century is due to a resurgence of interest in traditional medicines, new research into the therapeutic properties of certain fungi and the buyer decisions of health-conscious consumers. The tendency of fashionable cafés to infuse coffee, hot chocolate, juices, smoothies or tea with dried and powdered medicinal mushrooms has made these types of fungus popular with young and aspirational patrons. Some medicinal mushrooms, such as Reishi and Shiitake mushrooms, are known for their culinary uses as well their therapeutic benefits while others may have a bitter or earthy taste than needs to be disguised. The global market value of medicinal mushrooms, worth an estimated $14 billion in 2014, is predicted to rise to $50 billion by 2024.