News and Features
Why Should I Consider Taking Vitamins or Other Supplements?
Most of us don't realize that the majority of our diets and our lifestyle habits deplete our bodies of the essential vitamins and nutrients we need to stay healthy and help prevent sickness and disease. Research shows the consumption of alcohol, use of nicotine, and even high stress levels wreak havoc on our bodies, stealing what we require in order to maintain that optimal level of health. Various prescription and over-the-counter medications often produce side effects and can lead to other health issues. Some of us have a family history of or are concerned with supporting or preventing health issues related to cardiovascular health, bone and joint health, or area of other concern.
In order to stay healthy and prevent sickness and disease, we must replenish our bodies with the vitamins and nutrients required in order to do so. Therefore, it is imperative to supplement our bodies with what it is lacking to achieve our health and wellness goals. It is important to have the professional guidance necessary when making decisions regarding supplementation in order to gain the maximum health benefits. When we look at the body as a whole, we can better determine your needs and recommend the appropriate products suited best to meet your needs.
How Important Are B Vitamins?
If I could only recommend one supplement for an individual to take, it would be a B-complex vitamin. B vitamins benefit almost every system of the body and if you are deficient in one, chances are you are deficient in another. B vitamins maintain and support the health of the nervous system, gastrointestinal system, cardiovascular system, and brain function. They help maintain and support the health of the skin, eyes, hair, liver, and mouth as well. B vitamins are involved in energy production and may help alleviate depression and anxiety in some people.
Symptoms of various B vitamin deficiencies include: numbness, tingling, pain and sensitivity, anxiety, depression, fatigue, forgetfulness, poor coordination, irritability, cardiovascular issues, skin lesions, disorders of the mouth and tongue, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, ringing in the ears, eye disorders, anemia, and insomnia to name a few.
Good sources of B vitamins include: Brown rice, fish, legumes, liver, whole grains, cheese, egg yolks, meat, brewer's yeast, and green leafy vegetables. Alcohol, nicotine, high stress levels, and various prescription and over-the-counter medications deplete our bodies of B vitamins.
What Can I Do to Prevent Arthritis?
Many people are under the assumption that joint pain is inevitable and just comes with age. Well I am here to tell you that isn't the case. Joint pain, often called or diagnosed as arthritis, is a common occurrence that we can take measures to prevent starting at an early age. Arthritis is a condition that involves the degeneration or breaking down of a joint, leading to pain and decreased mobility.
In order to keep our joints healthy, we need to keep them moving. We can do this through an active lifestyle and an age/level appropriate exercise regimen. Our joints receive their nutrients supplied by our blood. If our joints are not moving like they should be, our blood is not able to reach them and supply them with nutrients they need in order to maintain their mobility, leading to pain and decreased range of motion.
Along with exercise, there are other measures we can take to prevent arthritis. Glucosamine with chondroitin is an excellent supplement that supports joint health and may help prevent degenerative changes. Glucosamine with chondroitin helps keep the cartilage and other connective tissue surrounding the joint healthy, thus preventing arthritis and degenerative changes. If you have a family history of arthritis, have been hard on your body playing sports or other activity at some stage in your life, or just want to take a preventative measure against arthritis, a glucosamine with chondroitin supplement may be the thing for you.