HealthJag » Vitamins/Supplements

Amino Acid Supplement May Add 10 Years to Your Life

dennis — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:24:59 +0000

I firmly believe that humans will eventually find the elusive Fountain of Youth through research into genetics and nutrition…………..unfortunately it is unlikely to come in my lifetime. Thus far, the only proven treatment that results in extended lifespan is calorie restriction. And for me, this cure may be worse than the disease,

However, researchers have recently been able to lengthen the lifespan of mice by 12% by feeding them a cocktail of 3 essential amino acids. Leucine, isoleucine and valine, known as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), account for a fraction of the 20 amino acids from which proteins are made, but appear to have special anti-aging properties. And these amino acids are readily available today in nutritional supplements available to consumers. I found a 90 capsule bottle of these amino acids in a nutritional supplement available on Amazon.com for $13.95.

I don’t know about y0u, but I would pay $4.65 per month to add 10 years to my life.

To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

Most Dangerous Nutritional Supplements

dennis — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:01:24 +0000

Those of us who are health conscious know that nutritional supplements work. However, we also know that this is a totally unregulated industry and there is always the possbility that a nutritional supplement could actually be dangerous to our health. Consumer Reports has released the 12 Most Dangerous Nutritional Supplements, compiled from a list prepared from FDA data.

The dozen are aconite, bitter orange, chaparral, colloidal silver, coltsfoot, comfrey, country mallow, germanium, greater celandine, kava, lobelia, and yohimbe. The FDA has warned about at least eight of them, some as long ago as 1993.

Take a look at your vitamin shelf, and if you see any of these there, throw them out. Also, look at all of the nutritional supplement labels, many of these ingredients may be contained in supplements that have been renamed from branding purposes.

To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author, dennis@healthjag.com

Foods with the Highest Ratio of Protein to Calories

dennis — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:05:50 +0000

To build muscle, or even more important conserve muscle if you are trying to lose weight, eating foods high in protein is essential. But to design your diet in the most efficient way, you want to add proteins to your diet without a lot of added fat, carbs, and calories. Here is a list of foods that offer the highest ratio of protein to calories.

Lean Poultry and Fish

Skinless poultry and fish are excellent food sources of protein in comparison to the amount of calories they provide. For example, about 3.5 oz. of roasted light meat chicken offers 27g of protein and only 150 calories. Roasted chicken breast provides about the same amount of calories and protein. Breast meat from a roasted turkey, about 3.5 oz, is even lower in calories and higher in protein, offering 135 calories and 30g of protein. Less fatty fish offer a lot of protein per calorie. A 3-oz. portion of Atlantic baked cod offers about 90 calories and 19g of protein. The same amount of cooked king mackerel offers about 114 calories and 22g of protein. A 3-oz. portion of canned, water-packed light tuna offers 99 calories and 22g of protein.

Soy Foods

Soy protein isolate is pure soy protein powder. Most brands of soy protein isolate powder supplements provide 25g of protein and 95 calories per 1 oz., or 28g, of powder. Light firm tofu is also very low in calories but rich in protein. A 100-g serving, or about 3.5 oz., provides 8g of protein but only 55 calories. One slice of soy-based vegetarian meatloaf or patty (about 56g) offers approximately 12g of protein and only 110 calories. Vegetarian hot dogs or frankfurters provide 11g of protein for just under 75 calories for each link (about 57g). Textured vegetable protein (TVP), also known as “soy crumbles” when rehydrated, are rich in protein. On average, 2/3-cup offers about 10g of protein and 70 calories.

Dairy Products and Eggs

Nonfat dry milk powder is rich in protein but low in calories. For example, 1 oz., or 28g, which is enough to make one 8-oz. glass of fluid milk, offers 10g of protein for 99 calories. Nonfat yogurt, sweetened with a low- or no-calorie non-nutrative sweetener, on average offers about 100 calories and 10g of protein for an 8-oz. container. The amount of protein and calories varies by brand, flavor and type. Lowfat (1 percent milkfat) cottage cheese is a low-calorie, protein-rich food. A 4-oz. serving provides about 14g of protein yet only 80 calories. Other types of cheese are high in protein, but also very high in calories. One egg is the equivalent of 1 oz. of meat in the amount of protein it has. A whole egg provides about 7g of protein and about 80 calories. Most of the protein in an egg is in the white. So, dried egg whites are excellent, concentrated sources of protein. About 28g, or 1 oz., of dried, powdered egg white provides 23g of protein but only 107 calories.

Whey Protein

Whey protein powder which is derived from milk, is widely used by athletes and body builders. It is a great source of quality protein that is easy to digest and is very low in fat. A typical whey protein powder will contain about 23 grams of very high quality protein with only 120 calories. Whey protein smoothies are a great way to build muscle, kill your appetite and lose weight.

For me, I cannot control my appetite without eating protein with virtually every snack and meal. Carbs only make me crave more carbs. When I am on my most efficient healtjag, lots of protein is the key.

To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic in U.S.

dennis — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:47 +0000

Only 45 percent of 18,883 people (who were examined as part of the federal government’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) had 30 nanograms per milliliter or more of vitamin D, the blood level a growing number of doctors consider sufficient for overall health. Scientists are now linking Vitamin D deficiency to a host of chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cancer and multiple sclerosis. One of the leading sources of Vitamin D is sunlight, and many people in the U.S. are now avoiding exposure to the sun to reduce the chance of skin cancer, or are sunlight deficient in the winter months. Many people believe that since milk is fortified with Vitamin D, they receive the minimum government recommended daily allowance, but you would have to drink around a quart of milk a day to get that amount of Vitamin D from milk. The U.S. government’s recommended daily allowance for Vitamin D for adults is only 400 IU, and more and more scientists are recommending 1000 IU. The only realistic method of obtaining this amount is through a dietary supplement. My personal physician recommends this amount, and my informal survey of Vitamin D toxicity on the internet did not reveal any concerns about toxicity at this higher level. I was not previously aware of how common deficiency is in this Vitamin, and the health concerns that result. My daily multi-vitamin provided 400 IU, but I am going to increase this to 1000 IU tomorrow.

To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

Huge Sale at Drugstore.com

dennis — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:00:18 +0000

Drugstore.com is having a huge sale through August 28, 50%-70% off plus free shipping on selected items.

Unregulated Industry Accounts for 11% of American Out of Pocket Health Costs

dennis — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:33:16 +0000

A survey conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health concludes that Americans spend about $34 billion per year on alternative therapies that are not covered by insurance, things such as homeopathic medications and nutritional supplements (more details can be found at their website). This is approximately 11% of the total spent for ALL out of pocket health care in this country. Unlike medications that are prescribed by physicans, this market is highly unregulated and most of these remedies have not undergone rigorous testing for efficacy or safety. Basically, our government is saying BUYER BEWARE for a huge percetage of our national health care costs. I don’t believe I have heard this mentioned at all in the debate over the President’s health care intiative.

11 Vitamins to Avoid

dennis — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:00:55 +0000

Consumerlab.com, an organization that evaluates nutritional supplement and vitamin claims found that many multi -vitamins do not contain the quantities shown on their labels, may contain contaminants, and in fact singled out 11 that were particularly bad. There is so little control over the labeling and manufacture of vitamins and supplements that you should only purchase known brand names.

Is It Safe to Take Fish Oil with Aspirin?

dennis — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:18:52 +0000

Many health and medical professionals recommend supplementing your diet with fish oil and a low dosage of aspirin on a daily basis. I have added these supplements to my diet as my family has a history of heart disease. However, I have wondered whether the blood thinning effects of aspirin would be multiplied in an unsafe way by adding fish oil. Dr. William Harris, former professor of medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Director of Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research at the University of South Dakota Health Research Foundation has reviewed the medical literature for studies that relate to this issue and concludes that “omega-3 fatty acid supplements do not increase the risk for clinically significant bleeding, even in patients also being treated with anti-platelet or anti-thrombotic [blood-thinning] medications”.

I was happy to find this article because I have been trying to find an answer to this question for some time. You can read the details of the interview with Dr. Harris at Vitalchoice.com.

Deadly Soy Secret: Soy Is Harmful to Men

dennis — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:00:48 +0000

Americans ingest hundreds of millions of tons of soy annually in their diet. If you are NOT a soy eater, think again. Read the labels on all the processed foods in your pantry. I guarantee that you will find soy added to many if not most of these products. The agricultural industry along with the multi-national companies that supply the consumer products food industry have conspired to slip soy into almost all of our processed foods. We have been sold on this “healthy” protein supplement, but the facts about soy are very disturbing and have not been publicized.

More and more studies are showing harmful effects of soy, especially to men. Diets high in soy have been shown to lower testosterone levels. Low testoste0one levesl can have severe adverse consequences including weight gain, lower sperm count, reduced sex drive, breast enlargement, and erectile problems. Testosterone gradually declines in men after the age of 30. Adding large amounts of soy to a man’s diet may make it difficult to maintain healthy testosterone levels.

In a major ongoing study involving over 3,000 elderly Japanese-American men, those who ate the most tofu (soy curd) during midlife had up to 2.4 times the risk of later developing Alzheimer’s disease. As part of the three-decade long Honolulu-Asia Aging Study, 27 foods and drinks were correlated with participants’ health. Men who consumed tofu at least twice weekly had signifcant cognitive impairment to those who did not consume tofu.

Additionally, higher midlife tofu consumption was associated with low brain weight. Brain atrophy was assessed in 574 men using MRI results and in 290 men using autopsy information. Shrinkage occurs naturally with age, but for the men who had consumed more tofu, there was unusually large shrinkage compaired with normal brains. Details of these studies and more soy studies can be found at Soy Online Service: Abstracts Click Here

So stay away from the soy unless you want to turn into a senile girly man!

Add Fiber Without Even Knowing it: Metamucil Clear & Natural

dennis — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:00:52 +0000

Metamucil is not just for grandpa anymore! Many of us have become wise to the health benefits of fiber in our diet but it’s difficult to eat enough raw fruits and vegetables to get our daily quota. Metamucil, the laxative of choice of our grandparents, has come up with a product that is great for our hectic lifestyle. If you’re looking for an easy way to add fiber to your diet, without changing the taste of many of your favorite beverages and foods, try Metamucil Clear & Natural.

Metamucil Clear and Natural is 100% natural (hence the name) and is made from a natural vegetable product called inulin which is harvested from chicory roots and is completely dissolvable in most beverages and foods, making it clear mixing and with no discernable taste. This product won the “ChefsBest” award (an independent judging organization dedicated to recognizing and honoring America’s best products). A heaping teaspoon added to your food or beverage adds 5 grams of fiber. Follow this link to get a free sample: http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/metamucilnaturals/brandsampler-login.jsp

Resveratrol, the French Secret

dennis — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:30 +0000

The French paradox is the observation over the centuries that even though the French consume a diet high in saturated fats, are crazy smokers, and Parisians are not known for their physical activity outside of the bedroom, they have a much lower incidence of coronary artery disease than Americans. The most recent explanation for this phenomenon is their consumption of red wine (although I don’t think we should discount the relationship of their bedroom activities to longevity ). Recently Dr. Oz, Oprah’s health guru, endorsed the dietary supplement resveratrol, the ingredient in red wine that is believed to be the source of these health benefits. High doses of resveratrol have been linked to longevity and cancer prevention in species other than humans.

However, no real scientific studies have proven the link in humans. This is another case of trying to decide whether to take a nutritional supplement before legitimate science proves its benefits. Since Dr. Oz meets my definition of a highly respected health leader, and the benefits seem to be so potentially staggering, I have decided to take the plunge and add resveratrol to my diet. Although Dr. Oz endorses resveratrol, he does not endorse any particular brand. He does suggest 500 mg per day. Note this is the equivalent of dozens of bottles of red wine per day. Even though I love red wine, I don’t think it would be wise to try to outdo the French in my red wine consumption. If you decide to add the supplement to your diet, try to find one branded by a reputable company. I am purchasing the Walgreen’s brand because I have some faith in the quality control of a national chain. I have not notice any side effects as of yet but will keep you posted.

And if you decide to ingest yours the old fashioned way. Pinot Noir seems to have the highest concentrations of the resveratrol.

Dennis

How I Know Nutritional Supplements Work

dennis — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:33:48 +0000

Baseball.

It’s as simple as that. We now have a consensus that the home run records of Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa were fueled by steroids, the ultimate nutritional supplement. We also know that marginal major league baseball players and 45 year old pitchers have been catapulted to MVP performance levels by steroids.

I am not suggesting that steroids are a good thing, only that they demonstrate that we know for sure that certain nutritional supplements do have a dramatic effect on your body’s performance AND your health. Most of us want to take advantage of the health benefits that nutritional supplements can provide. The biggest concern is the unregulated nature of the supplement market. There is no guarantee that what the label says about those pills is actually what’s inside those pills. Nor are there guarantees about ingredients or impurities not listed on the label. We don’t know for sure that they are effective or that the negative effects don’t outweigh the positive. There are hundreds of unregulated supplements advertised on the internet and I am sure that most of them are either useless or harmful.

Vitamins and dietary supplements, both those made domestically and those made internationally, do not need to get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they are sold to the public. Nor does the FDA have any regulations establishing a minimum standard of practice for the manufacture of dietary supplements and vitamins.

So how do we decide on which nutritional supplements to take and which brands to buy? The easy way is to get all of your nutrition naturally and forget the supplements. But since I want to lead a vigorous life to at least 100, I want the same advantage that Bobby, Mark and Sammy wanted against the rest of the world. What I am doing is trying to see if there is a consensus on a particular supplement’s benefits by major respected health leaders and if there is scientific evidence to support the claims. Then when I make a decision to take a particular supplement, I will try to find a brand that is labeled by a major manufacturing company or retailer in the United States. I understand the major holes in this method. But until there is some regulation of the supplement market, there is little else that we can do.

In the coming weeks I will share with you the supplements that I think are beneficial. Please share yours with me!

Come With Me On a HealthJag!

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:16:25 +0000

Two years ago my sedentary lifestyle and poor diet left me unable to effectively fight the everyday battles that life brings. It had sapped my physical energy levels, drained my intellectual energy levels and affected my personal relationships. I felt that if I had totally lost control of everything in my life, and didn’t know how to regain it. Many of the self-help books and tips that I read told me that control over your life is an illusion anyway so you have to learn to accept this reality. But for a control freak, that is not an acceptable answer. I know that I can’t control how the economy is affecting my life, and I can’t control the choices that other people make that affect me. But as I thought about it, I came to realize that there are a few things in my life that I can control. I CAN control the choices I make each day of what to put into my mouth, and the choices I make about my daily activities, and the choices I make about what I am thinking. And these choices have a major impact on the quality of my life, in spite of the fact that the rest of the universe seems indifferent to my existence. So I chose to end my crying jag and begin something more productive: a HealthJag.

I came to realize that my Health is NOT the most important thing in my life. It is the ONLY important thing. With great health, I have the energy to be more focused, productive, adventurous, attentive to relationships and make better decisions about everything. Without my Health I am capable of none of these things. My HealthJag is about having fun while exploring the things that matter about living a healthy and vigorous life, and about feeling well enough to live each day to the fullest. It is my hope that this HealthJag will last a long time. I know the longer it lasts, the longer I will live, the better I will feel, and the happier and more fulfilled I will be.

During the last two years I have lost 40 pounds, climbed the Grand Teton and learned that a HealthJag can lead to a more adventurous, vigorous and fulfilling life. But this is just the beginning of my journey. I want to invite you to come on a HealthJag with me. On our journey together we will discover and share information about what we can do each day to live healthier and more energetic lives. I will try to share something each day with you and I hope that you will share your comments with me.

Dennis Wilson