Vitamins

antioxidant question

BlakeM — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:44:10 GMT

Hello fellow health enthusiasts, I want to add a antioxidant supplement to my health regimen. My question is wether all free radicals are the same and can be combated with a single source of antioxidants (i.e. purple defense grape seed extract) or wether it is best to try and fight free radicals by combining many different sources of antioxidants to ward off those pesky free radicals. Any help is fully appreciated. Thanks.

Do vitamin supplements halp in high blood pressure?

dharan2005 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:04:15 GMT

Hi Glen,

I have just started Purple Defence and Cardio Essentials along with supplements you recommended. I will be reporting their effects on my overall health in two weeks or so. Also, now I am on week 2 of the ideal Mixed Type Diet. I will let it go for two more weeks before I post you the progress. However, I have some new questions for you now.

1. I have read a bit vaguely that taking Vitamin C, E, and Lysine helps in cardiovascular health in general and also lowers high BP. What are your thoughts on this? Is this true and well established?

2. If yes, could you please suggest the doses, frequency and how long one needs to take them to notice improvement?

Thanks for your help. Kind regards,

Ballabh

Miracle Whey

kloretto1014 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:24:57 GMT

Any opinions/reviews of Miracle Whey? Taste as well as cooking with

Colloidal Silver

TeresaHK — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:50:23 GMT

Hello,

I have been reading some conflicting information about colloidal silver. Some people say they no longer get sick, other say if they do get sick, it is much shorter and milder.

Then there are people who say that there is no proof that silver has any value and it is dangerous.

I am already taking many supplements like Olive leaf, oregano, cod liver oil, holy basil, NAC, magnesium and other things to prevent getting the flu. Everyone in my family has asthma, and 2 are overweight.

We have all eliminated sugar, all grains, increased our raw vegetable consumption dramatically. I was hoping that silver might be something that we could add to further reduce our chances of getting sick. We get sick several times a year, and it always goes into our lungs. We are working to turn that around.

Is colloidal silver, if you get the right kind as Mercola talks about, beneficial?

Thanks!

Teresa

carbonyl iron

lightways — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:08:43 GMT

hi is there a form of iron called amino acid , am i correct on what ive heard? is it safe for children as im finding it difficult locating iron carbonyl with out added magnesium sterate?

any advice

iron supplement

lightways — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:56:45 GMT

Hi i have been told by my daughters GP that she (4yr old) is low in Iron and needs to be supplemented, unwilling to take from them, what do you suggest i give please?

Pro Optimal Whey vs. Defense Nutrition Whey/Milk?

Luigi_Scarsilloni — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:48:42 GMT

I always trust Dr. Mercola's products due to the rigorous process that his team performs to test and ensure the quality of the products sold on this site. Recently I have purchased and used Mercola's Pro Optima Whey and have had good results. However this product is expensive and I accept that top quality products are expensive. However I am wondering if anyone has reviewed/tried or had any experience with the Whey sold by Defense Nutrition named Defense Nutrition Whey Protein or Defense Nutrition Warrior Milk? The quality of this whey (see detailed write-up) seems similar to Pro Optimal whey at about half the price. Any comments are welcome.

Thank You

Miracle Mineral Supplement

mxd198 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:48:34 GMT

Does anyone know anything about the MMS (Miracle Mineral Supplement) and how it is used to detox your body? I would wonder what Dr Mercola thinks about this product.

What do I use?

SyntheticShield — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:10:51 GMT

Ive taken a multi-vitamin for a very long time but recently Ive been looking more into the quality of the vitamins and supplements and which ones, if any, should I be taking.

Last year I was diagnosed as having gout. I had some mobility issues after I started a fast and so I went to the doctor to see if I was in any danger and the resulting blood test showed my uric acid elevated (actually, just a tenth outside of the accepted limits). So I started looking at and taken a few additional supplements to address this (tart cherry extract and so forth. Supplements there were reported to help you metabolize uric acid and reduce inflammation). Well come to find out the issue was not gout. I learned Uric Acid spikes from fasting and while I did experience some issues from the fasting due to that, the rest of my mobility issues were related to my shoes. Poor arch support and support in general.

Well all that said to say this. I started looking more into supplements as a preventative maintenance thing. I absolutely love vegetables and I eat very little red meat. I eat mostly fish, turkey and chicken. But I want to do more. The problem is if I were to take everything that is 'recommended' or the new 'hot' supplement Id have a full belly on pills, and that doesnt even get into the quality and efficacy points.

Ive been buying my supplements from Swanson Vitamins simply because I just dont know anything about the quality of the supplements you get off the shelf in the store. But even so, how does one determine one multi-vitamin or other supplement is a quality one? Additionally, how do I know which to take. There's multi-vitamins, joint supplements (Glucosomine, Eggshell membrane, Type II Chicken Cologen, etc), brain supplements, heart supplements (CoQ10, Ubiquinol, etc), prostate supplements and lets not even get into the amino acids and so forth and heaven forbid you throw in absorption rates and so on.

So how does one determine which supplements are a quality product? Then, how does one determine which supplements need to be taken? Some of these products are quite expensive and while I dont mind spending the money, I do want to make sure that Im taking something that is effective and something I need to be taking. Beyond that, to confuse the matter further, theres also the issue of interactions. Does one supplement reduce the effect of another and what, if any, ill effects are there from taking certain combination's.

Anyway, sorry to write a book but Im at a point that there is an overload of information and little to none of it seems to have any basis in fact or research and I just want to cut through the clutter and do whats best.

fit for life online - prenatal supplementation - what do I need to know?

fit4lifeonline — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:15:10 GMT

What do I need to know?

Pregnancy can be the most exciting time of our lives, but it can also be a confusing time with so many questions to answer. A common question asked is “Do I need to take a multivitamin or any specific supplements?”. Ideally our diets would provide everything we need to nourish this growing being and still have some left for mum but unfortunately the foods consumed in today’s busy lifestyle often don’t provide all the essential nutrients required for this time of rapid growth and development.

During pregnancy the RDI (recommended dietary intake) of most nutrients increases, including B vitamins (especially folic acid), zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium. A deficiency in any nutrients can result in unwanted, but often preventable, symptoms during pregnancy from cravings and morning sickness through to pre-eclampsia (fluid retention, high blood pressure and protein in the urine).

Here’s a look at some specific nutrients required in doses above and beyond our normal dietary intake:

Folic Acid

It is important to begin prenatal preparation at least 3 months prior to conception. To date folic acid is considered the most important nutrient for supplementation for its role in helping to preventg neural tube defects, where the brain and spinal cord fail to develop properly around the fourth week of gestation. It is recommended to supplement at least 400mcg daily of folic acid preconception and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy; however it is important that the other B vitamins, including Vitamin B12, are taken along with folic acid, so choose a prenatal multivitamin or a well rounded B complex that contains 400mcg of folic acid. Understanding that we don’t all have the opportunity to supplement prior to conception, although not ideal it is generally not too late to start folic acid as soon as you become aware of your pregnancy.

Iron

Increased iron intake is essential to help maintain the large increase in blood volume your body now has to sustain. The RDI for iron during pregnancy increases to 27mg, which can be quite difficult to obtain from diet alone. Many iron supplements are high dose but are not well absorbed, which means constipation is a certainty. Check you are taking the right form with your health care professional to avoid this.

Essential Fatty Acids

Supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in omega 3 essential fatty acids, during pregnancy and lactation has an important effect on the development of the foetus and infant, including better development results of body, visual acuity, intelligence and a healthy birth weight.

Calcium

Calcium supplementation appears to reduce the risk and occurrence of pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery in those who have a daily dietary calcium intake less than the recommended dietary allowances. Approximately 50%of women of child bearing age consume less than the RDI of calcium, which is 1000mg. Co-enzyme Q10 has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing pre-eclampsia in women at risk.

Vitamin A

Regulation imposed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requires supplement labels to warn pregnant woman against taking more than 8000IU of vitamin A daily. Whilst this warning is warranted due to potential birth defects caused by these extremely high doses, it can also cause women to be overly cautious and avoid this essential vitamin altogether. Vitamin A is involved in reproduction, growth and development, making it an important nutrient for conception and pregnancy. Most pregnancy multivitamins contain beta-carotene (pre-vitamin A) for safety reasons, but you may take vitamin A in low doses to help relieve specific symptoms, such as skin complaints, during pregnancy.

Some other common complaints that can be treated through herbs and nutrition:

Leg cramps – calcium and magnesium before bed
Morning sickness – ginger (capsule or tea) and vitamin B6
Fluid retention – vitamin B6 with B complex
Fatigue – B complex, CoQ10, iron, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Heartburn – slippery elm bark powder, meadow sweet tea
Constipation – slippery elm bark, increased water intake
Dry, itchy skin – essential fatty acids, vitamin A, increased water intake
Acne – zinc, vitamin A.

A Healthy Outcome

While making your pregnancy as simple and enjoyable as possible being a wish for every expectant mother, the ultimate outcome is to give birth to a healthy baby. Inadequate nutritional intake for women during pregnancy can result in low birth-weight, which occurs in approximately 24% of births worldwide. Having a low birth-weight can have serious consequences for your child in the early years, as well as a negative impact on their health in later life. The best way to achieve a ‘healthy’ birth-weight is to consume a healthy and nutritious diet, not over-indulge and certainly don’t diet or under-eat with the aim of putting on a minimal amount of weight.

A good quality multivitamin and separate essential fatty acid (fish or flaxseed oil) supplement are usually sufficient to assist in maintaining a healthy pregnancy and producing a healthy baby. If any unwanted symptoms do arise you then have the option to take any of the above mentioned nutrients as well as your multivitamin.

Should I take a Magnesium supplement?

erickates — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:13:04 GMT

Recent CMP blood test shows electrolytes, specifically Calcium, Potassium, and Sodium, are well within range, however Magnesium was not tested. If I was magnesium deficient wouldn't my calcium and potassium levels be off? What benefit would a magnesium supplement provide and what are the chances of taking too much magnesium if my body doesn't need it?

Glutathione.......have you heard about the Glutathione Accelerator?

connieclark — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:37:28 GMT

I've been reading a lot about glutathione and the new breakthrough health product that allows the body to produce its own glutathione. I've learned that our body starts declining in producing glutathione (which is vital to life and health) about the age of 20 and continues to decline 10% to 12% each decade. Plus, all the pollution, stress, illness, drugs, radiation, injury, trauma, burns, aging, poor diet and more continues to decrease the body's production of glutathione even more. My understanding is that there has been research since the 1800s to find a way to get the body to accept glutathione but it hasn't been possible until very recently.

Glutathione (GSH) is a small protein produced naturally in our cells when certain required elements are present. It functions both as an antioxidant and an antitoxin, and is a major defense system against illness and aging. Our glutathione level actually indicates our state of health and can predict longevity. Although there are more than 70,000 published papers on the beneficial effects of glutathione replacement, it is still largely ignored by mainstream medicine. Supplements containing glutathione alone will NOT increase the body's GSH levels. This is because the digestive system breaks down ingested glutathione and it will not be absorbed into your system. On the other hand, this new product, MaxGXL, provides the proper nutrients needed to promote the body's own ability to manufacture and absorb glutathione. It also aids in liver support by destroying environmental poisons helping the liver to function as the main production site and storehouse for glutathione.

The data indicate MaxGXL's effectiveness not only in populations who are immune-suppressed, but also in those who are stressed, aging, lacking sleep, or with any prolonged illness. In these situations, it stimulates the body's production of glutathione to compensate for the body's accelerated use of it, strengthening your natural defenses, decreasing your risk of illness and guarding agaianst the effects of the body's aging process.

I would love to know what Dr. Mercola's thoughts are about this need for glutathione and how this product works to enable the body to do what it was meant to do. Dr. Robert Keller MD, MS, FACP, MaxGXL creator (given a composition patent reserved usually for the pharmaceutical drugs), was able to verify signigicant increases in every subject tested.

I know that there are some excellent whey protein drinks that can get some glutathione into the body, but NOT at the cellular level and not to any signigicant levels to do what MaxGXL is able to do.

Any thoughts on this?

Swami Ramdev Medicine | Divya Churna for Constipation

herbalcure30 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:46:34 GMT

Swami Ramdev Medicine | Divya Churna for Constipation. Divya Churna for Constipation helps in curing constipation,abdominal pain, flatulence, heaviness, nausea & takes out the faeces adhered in the intestines.

Swami Ramdev Medicine | Divya Churna for Constipation

So is Krill Oil the best source of Omega-3 supplements?

narattah — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:34:45 GMT

I know that Krill Oil is better than Fish Oil, but I have seen videos from youtube about a better source and how Krill oil is bad.

New Zealand Greenlip Mussels Oil > Krill Oil

It said it has a much higher content of Omega-3 and antioxident than Krill.

The product is called Maxxor.

http://www.mymoxxor.com/ProductOverview.aspx

Flax Seed Oil > Krill Oil

One doctor said to avoid all Animal Oil and use plant-based Oil instead. Animal Oil is rancid and they cause cancer.

Animal Oils are Fish, Krill, Mussels etc.

Omega-3 experts, please enlight me on these confused issues.

By the way, is Mercola's Krill Oil is the best Krill Oil out there on the market? There are so many that are claiming their best out there.

Thank you.

Teaching Cancer to self destruct

Sandralray — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:09:06 GMT

3 years ago I was diagnosed with breat cancer in both breast. A surgeon wanted to remove both breasts. I had 2nd mamogram that confirmed the first.

My freind told me about Black Salve which is made from the Bloodroot plant that is native to North America which the indians have used for over 200 years for curing tumors and growths.

My Doctor was stunned when I told him I was going to used the Black Salve, just for the record he really works with me now and is amazed.

A year later I had another mamogram and he was delighted to tell me that my cancer was not growing it had stopped. I am still breast cancer free.

I must add that I stopped taking the Black Salve and I got Lung Cancer and Lymph Cancer at the same time nearly 2 1/2 years later. I started my Black Salve again (12 pills a day every 6 hours) and I am again in a very short lenght of time free from Cancer.

I also to keep track of myself by doing a Bio Balance Machine that comes out of Europe, It will tell you all about yourself even if thier is one cell gone bad.

I even used Black Salve on my min-pin and it worked it was amazing. The tumor went down in a week.

Sandra L Ray 641 990 0942 or Sandralray@hotmail.com

Swami Ramdev Medicine | Divya Arshakalp Vati for Piles

herbalcure30 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:08:04 GMT

Swami Ramdev Medicine | Divya Arshakalp Vati for Piles. It helps in curing all types of piles like bleeding piles & helps in relieving complications like pain, burning sensation, itching and colic pain.

Swami Ramdev Medicine | Divya Arshakalp Vati for Piles

Organic Germanium Ge-132 supplement

Nithyananda — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:25:06 GMT

Hi, i bought recently Ge-132 Antioxidant formula, developed by Japanese scientists.

Capsule content are as follows: Active Organic Germanium 20%, Rose Bud Enrichment 16%, Twice Shark Protein 6%, Wild Royal Jelly 26%, Red Grape Seed 16%, Green tea 16%.

Organic Germanium was produced in Japan by the Asai Institute.

Seems like nice formula, can you give your oppinion.

Chemistry expert needed: How do I convert umols of CoQ10 to mcgs

BioBrother — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:51:00 GMT

I have recently received a CoQ10 measurement of 1.63 umol/L. Does anybody know how to convert this number to mcg/ml?

Thank you

Fish Oil Dosage?

outofmire — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:40:24 GMT

I'm confused by the differing dosage amounts in Dr. Mercola's articles.

Many times he recommends one, 1,000 mg capsules per 10 pounds of body weight. He even specified in one article the dosage for a 160 lb adult - 8 capsules taken twice a day. That's 16 capsules per day!

In another article about trial to see the effects of fish oil on cancer patients, I believe, the patients were given eleven, 1,000 mg capsules per 10 pounds of body weight, and that was called a high dose. Even then some patients couldn't tolerate the high dose.

Then there's the recommended dose on the fish oil bottle, one 1080 mg capsule taken twice per day - that's only 2 total, regardless of weight.

So, I guess you can see why I'm confused. I understand that a higher dosage is recommended for sick people and a lower dosage for healthy people, but I don't know if I'm healthy or not. I'm overweight, and just starting to get serious about what I eat; so I guess i could assume I'm probably some form of "sick", but I don't want to take 15 capsules and have an adverse reaction. Should I just start with the minimum, and gradually add more?

Any help would be appreciated.

Maca

Fernando — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:47:49 GMT

Is this really something we should be incorporating into our diet as it is supposedly an effective adaptogen? For those of you who take it, how much and when do you consume it?

Fish Oil is it really safe?

AskQuestions — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:56:31 GMT

Tried to post this before but didn't work.

I recently came across some credible information that is not in support of fish oil....it also says that it can be dangerous. I hope Dr. Mercola sees this and responds. I trust him and know that he will look into this. I know he is big on fish oil but I also know that he is a man of integrity and not afraid to admit he was wrong on something...if that is the case. If he cares about his patients & viewers which I'm sure he does then he must respond to this.

http://www.beyondfishoil.com/ The article

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By8icw-ua8g Video format

Too Much Selenium?

sarge64 — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:11:50 GMT

I'm currently taking Dr. Mercola's whole food multi (which has 200 mcg of selenium) along with the melatonin (another 50 mcg of selenium), as well as eat a healthy diet that provides more selenium. My concern is that I'm getting too much. The supposed upper safe limit is 400 mcg a day but anything 200+ is considered "mega dosing. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

CoQ10 natural source?

Vinster — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:56:23 GMT

Quoted part from this site: http://www.answers.com/topic/coenzyme-q10

It looks like there are some natural sources. I suspect there are many more. I expect that the supplements are widely made from cow hearts,, anyone know where pharmaceutical companies pull their sources?

Natural sources; (from the above link)

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"Cold-water fish such as mackerel, salmon, sardines, and tuna are particularly high in CoQ10. Meats and vegetable oils are also good sources. The human liver manufactures adequate amounts to fulfill the need not met in the diet. Some whole food nutritionists may believe that people who are deficient in B vitamins, selenium, vitamin C, or vitamin E may not be able to make as much coenzyme Q10 as they need since all these nutrients are required in order to produce it. The belief is that liver production and consumption of foods rich in CoQ10 may not provide the amounts needed to treat certain cancers, and for that reason, some people consume the enzyme in supplement form. It can be found formulated as capsules, gel caps, liquids, and tablets. The latter may be the best choice as it generally includes a source of fat that improves absorption. Vitamin E is a helpful stabilizing additive as well."

From the above, I expect that prior to taking CoenzymeQ10, a person should be sure they arn't dificent in the vitamins C, E and B. And never forget natural vitamin sources are easly absorbed, while pills tend to pass right through you.

Now go eat a some fresh fruits, nuts and veggies (don't forget the UNCOOKED nuts) and be heatlhy by eating right :)

DNA determined supplementation

gnostichg — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:50:32 GMT

With the high cost of DNA testing, how do we know that vitamins and supplements formulated based on it are ethically formulated? The concept is great. How do we know if the promise is delivered without testing every order since every order is custom made?

Is Mercola going there, or is the process proprietary?

B12 analog blocking effect

helpful — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:58:28 GMT

Does anyone know how long the B12 receptor blocking effect lasts after you ingest B12 analog plant based foods or supplements? Are we talking hours, days, weeks?

I have been taking a green drink in the morning (organic wheat grass powder, barley grass powder, alfalfa grass powder, and spirulina) as a nice source of nutrients. However since all of those ingredients are considered B12 analogs, now I am concerned that they may be blocking my ability to absorb B12 from animal based protein foods that I am eating at lunch and dinner. I'd like to be able to continue to take the green drink but not if it is creating a B12 deficiency.

I have been struggling with a lot of the symptoms attributed to a B12 deficiency, and I am now wondering if the green drink might be doing more harm than good, if it is blocking absorption of real animal protein based B12 throughout the day.

Would appreciate input on this, and any articles or studies that might help to clarify the blocking effect.

Thanks,

Hoku