Supplements

4 Step Formula

By: Marie Spano

5 New Year Supplements For Better Brain Power And Focus

If you are one of those people who can multi-task effectively and have your email, tweetdeck, facebook messaging and text messaging turned on at the same time and still work while simultaneously answering constant interruptions, I need to meet you. Focusing on one thing is hard enough these days without the growing number of distractions that consume our time. And, even though multitasking isn't the most effective way to get anything done it may seem like a necessity at times. So how can you shut out distractions when you need to concentrate yet multitask when your time is being stretched in multiple directions? Try our Top 5 Supplements for fine tuning your brain power and focus.

1. B Vitamins:

Have you ever run low on fuel (especially carbohydrates) and felt fuzzy and irritable? And then you eat and all of the sudden you feel better and your ability to think and concentrate returns to normal. Well, it isn't just the food and increase in blood sugar that is helping you function. The B Vitamins play an integral role in brain functioning. The Bs are a part of the enzymes and coenzymes in your body that take the energy from carbohydrates, fat andprotein and help turn it into a form your body can use to function. In addition, several B vitamins are absolutely essential for proper brain and nervous system functioning.

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Several B Vitamins Are Absolutely Essential For
Proper Brain And Nervous System Functioning.

2. L-Carnitine:

L-Carnitine is a conditionally essential micronutrient. It is considered "conditional" because our body can make it but, at times our demand for L-Carnitine exceeds our supply and supplementation may be the best route for increasing our L-Carnitine levels. Our body's stores of L-Carnitine are concentrated in our heart and skeletal muscle where this micronutrient plays a vital role in energy production. Studies in rats indicate that L-Carnitine supplementation may put up a roadblock against age-related declines in memory and cognitive impairment. Does it help humans too? Some scientists believe that giving a nutrient cocktail of Alpha-Lipoic Acid, L-Carnitine andCoenzyme Q10 may be one of the most effective nutrition-based solutions for improving cognitive decline in older adults.

3. L-Tyrosine:

Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid that our body can make from the amino acid Phenylalanine (although people with PKU must consume Tyrosine). Some studies indicate that supplementation with Tyrosine may improve alertness after sleep deprivation and delay a decline in performance on psychomotor tests after skimping on sleep.

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Tyrosine May Improve Alertness After Sleep Deprivation.

In addition to possibly helping people perform better during times of sleep deprivation, supplemental L-Tyrosine may also be beneficial during times of stress. Under stressful conditions, the human brain may not synthesize enough Tyrosine to manufacture essential compounds like your flight-or-fight Catecholamines: Epinephrine and Norepinephrine as well as the neurotransmitter Dopamine, which has a number of functions in the brain from helping control behavior to learning and memory. Therefore, supplemental Tyrosine may improve performance, memory and learning during times of psychological stress.

4. Phosphatidyl Serine:

Phosphatidyl Serine is a phospholipid that is present in cell membranes and plays a role in cell functioning. Most research has examined the role supplemental Phosphatidyl Serine plays in enhancing memory and cognitive functioning. For the athlete, Phosphatidyl Serine has been shown to minimize physical and mental stress. Doses used in sports studies range from 200 - 800 mg. A study in golfers found that just 200 mg phosphatidylserine taken daily (in a bar) for six weeks had a tendency to improve perceived stress as well as a statistically significant improvement in the number of good ball flights during tee-off.

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Most Research Has Examined The Role Supplemental Phosphatidyl Serine Plays In Enhancing Memory And Cognitive Functioning.

5. Theanine:

Studies show that L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress and increases alpha-brain wave activity to produce a dose-dependent relaxed yet alert state about 40 minutes after it is ingested. Take it with Caffeine and you have one dynamic duo that stimulates areas of the brain to increase alertness, boost reaction time, memory and performance on cognitive functioning tasks.

In one study, L-Theanine (250 mg) and Caffeine (150 mg) together led to faster simple reaction time, faster numeric working memory reaction time and improved sentence verification accuracy - all functions we perform on a daily basis.

Conclusion

If you want your brain functioning at maximum capacity you need to treat it the same way you treat your body - exercise your mind by reading, solving puzzles and figuring out tasks that take brain power. And, feed your brain with the right foods including a good mix of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrate (focus on fruits andvegetables since these are among the best sources of antioxidants and essential nutrients). Lastly, try one or more of these powerful supplements that support brain functioning.

Before taking any supplement, talk to your physician. The supplements listed here are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure disease. And keep in mind, more isn't always better.

References:

1. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(4):859-860.

2. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(4):993-998.

3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99(4):2356-2361.

4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99(4):1870-1875.

5. Neuroendocrinology 1990;52(3):243-248.

6. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1992;42(4):385-388.

7. Biol Sport 1998;15(2):135-144

8. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2007, 4(1):5.

9. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2008;17 Suppl 1:167-8.

10. Altern Med Rev 2005;10(2):136-8.

11. Biol Psychol 2007;74(1):39-45.

12. Biol Psychol 2008;77(2):113-22.

13. Aviat Space Environ Med 1995;66:313-9.

14. Neurochem Res 2008;33(1):194-203.

15. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. The Role of Protein and Amino Acids in Sustaining and Enhancing Performance. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/books/0309063469/html/.

Egg Yolks

4 Step Formula

By: Alex Stewart

So What's The Big Deal With Egg Yolks, Anyway?

People have been catching flack from doctors and physicians for years over issues relating to Cholesterol. One of the major scapegoats happens to be the egg, or to be more specific - the egg yolks. The golden center is truly a buried treasure of nutrition and not at all the cholesterol soaked demon some medical science claims it to be. Historically, the egg has been a necessary compliment to the other sources protein, such as meat, in our omnivorous diet.

Egg Yolks Are Not The Cholesterol
Soaked Demons They Are Made Out To Be.

The Debate:
Popular Science VS History And Research

The healthcare industry overall is set in its belief that the cholesterol content within egg yolks is too high for people to consume on a daily basis without creating significant health risks over time. Cholesterol can collect around the interior of the arteries and some studies have suggested that this might be a response of the body to protect the artery walls. Whatever the reason, too much cholesterol is chiefly a problem when it causes a constricting of the blood flow and therefore high blood pressure.

Cholesterol has also been linked by popular medicine to the overall deterioration of the walls of the blood vessels, contributing to strokes and heart disease. Take note that high cholesterol is not a disease itself, but rather a condition that health care professionals have linked to heart disease.

It's true that when you compare egg yolks to other foods they are relatively high in cholesterol, as the average egg contains anywhere between 190 and 215 milligrams. Cholesterol is something that many people should be concerned about, but not so much in the case of eggs. Studies have shown that regularly eating eggs can actually lower your low density lipids (that's "bad" cholesterol to us lay people) and raises high density lipids.

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Studies Have Shown That Regularly Eating Eggs Can
Lower Bad Cholesterol And Raise Good Cholesterol.

The dangers of a high cholesterol diet may also have been exaggerated in the media as some studies have proven that people who maintain a low cholesterol diet still may have elevated cholesterol levels. This is because cholesterol actually serves several important functions in the body, and when you don't get enough, it makes its own. In fact the liver produces about two thirds of the body's cholesterol, with dietary intake having very little impact on the overall levels. The benefits of cholesterol, especially from a natural source like an egg yolk, have been down played, while the risks may have been terribly blown out of proportion.

Limiting dietary cholesterol intake is important but the real danger comes from saturated fats and trans fats. These two are greater factors in increased cholesterol than any typical intake of egg yolks. It doesn't make much sense to separate egg yolks to avoid the cholesterol while eating deep fried fatty foods, pizza and other junk in a normal western diet. Low fat meats like fish and chicken breast are a much preferred alternative among health conscious people. Even compared with these sources of protein the egg yolk contains a higher nutrition-to-fat content ratio. An egg yolk, while it may have a slightly higher fat and cholesterol content than say, steamed cod, it also contains more vitamins and fatty acids.

The American Heart Association has settled on the recommendation that a healthy individual shouldn't exceed 300 milligrams per day and any individual with severe cardiac disease and other circulatory problems should limit their intake to 200 milligrams or less. This is a standard established some years ago and it may be time for a review and revision, or at least expansion on the guideline.

What most healthcare professionals won't reveal to people is that there are numerous benefits to eating egg yolks as long as it's managed in moderation like anything else. It is easier, (and more lucrative) for a doctor to prescribe a pill that must be taken for the rest of your life. Too often a symptom is treated instead of the real problem. Keep the eggs, and lose the deep fried fat and red meats; that should be the more consistent message, resorting to chemistry only if necessary.

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Is Your Doctor Too Quick To Prescribe
Medication For Your Health Problem?

So What Are The Benefits?

Egg yolks actually contain all the healthy, fatty acids that are contained within the egg. It is a nucleus of wholesome goodness that supplied our ancestors with their sustenance since before they were upright. When you strip away the egg yolk and eat only the white, you're completely missing out on the benefits of those fatty acids like the Omega-3 fats.

Egg yolks also contain over 80% of the overall vitamins and minerals that can be found within the egg as a whole. The facts point to the conclusion that the egg should be consumed without division. In the process of eliminating the cholesterol intake by shedding the egg yolks, you're losing the majority of the vitamins and minerals such as:

• Iron
• Potassium
• Folate
• Selenium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin D
• Biotin
• Choline

There is a line dividing many people about whether egg yolks are safe to eat, mainly due to the issues with cholesterol. The fact remains that the bulk of the nutrition in an egg comes from the yolk (including 1/5 of the total protein). Logic would dictate that if you are a person who has an issue with cholesterol, you shouldn't eat eggs on a constant basis, but when you do you should eat the whole thing.

The issue of cholesterol is completely negligible and recent studies such as those performed by the University of Science have proven that other nutrients within the egg yolks can actually help the body manage the cholesterol intake.Vitamin B (particularly Riboflavin) has been known to aid in lowering cholesterol levels and the Lecithin within the egg prevents much of the cholesterol from even being absorbed within your digestive tract. There have also been some preliminary research done into the antioxidant Lutien which may reduce inflammation in the body, which is a much more deadly problem in the heart disease battle.

To Fry Or Not To Fry

For years weight lifters have been consuming raw eggs as means of extracting the most nutrition out of the egg. Heating the egg does cause some chemical changes that damage some of the nutrition, but not too much. Also some people diagnosed with an egg allergy find that they can eat raw eggs without any reaction at all. Raw eggs are very easy on the digestive system. It is not uncommon, however to experience some stomach discomfort when starting a new raw egg regimen. The nutritional experts that advise this behavior insist that it is a cleansing action, and is strictly temporary, eventually leading to a much leaner running human machine.

The best way to consume a raw egg is to crack it open into a glass and swallow it whole. This may be repulsive to you, but it is a habit that most people can get into. If you have a problem swallowing the yolk whole, you may wish to slice it in half with a knife. Beating the egg is not recommended however, unless it is whipped with some milk or cream. There are nutrients that oxidize and become useless to the body unless they have something to bond to, which the milk provides.

Salmonella is commonly feared as a micro organism that is sometimes found on the surface raw eggs. This infection causes a series of gastrointestinal problems, and is usually curable with pro-biotics. In very rare cases where the victim is already suffering an immune system deficiency or the source is unusually highly contaminated, people can die from Salmonella poisoning.

These horror stories have done much damage to the reputation of the egg, but the truth is that fewer than one in 30,000 is tainted. Most eggs are of the huge factory farm variety. The chickens are kept in tiny cages where they are unhealthily confined. Organic, free range farm eggs have even less chance of contamination because only sick chickens lay Salmonella eggs. Of course an egg should never be consumed if the shell is damaged at all.

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Avoid Eating Eggs If You Find
Their Shells Cracked In The Package.

Where Do Your Eggs Come From?

The sad truth is that most people have never held a really healthy egg. When compared to a grocery store egg, an organic egg has a much thicker shell. The yolk of an organic egg is also much more robust orange color when compared to the sickly yellow of a factory farm egg. The more one learns about the nature of eggs, the more one begins to realize that if we want to take into our bodies something that is wholesome and good for us, it must come from a healthy source. Some people would consider this common sense, but all too often the convenience and the profit over rule what we should already know.

In general mass produced caged chickens that are fed a diet of bone meal and other additives produce eggs of inferior nutritional value when compared to free range organic eggs. The price is higher, but in this case you get what you pay for. A free range chicken consumes a much more natural diet therefore producing eggs with superior Omega level-3 and nutrient content while mega farm eggs have less of the good stuff and more Omega level-6 fatty acids.

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Free Range Chickens Produce Eggs
With An Increased Nutritional Value.

Balance Is Key

Eggs and the egg yolks within provide significant health benefits when eaten properly. Having egg yolks or whole eggs several times a week will not significantly elevate your cholesterol level or create excess fat that is unmanageable. It is important to remember that a proper balance is necessary when physical health is your goal. Too much of anything isn't good for you and the same goes for egg yolks. Eggs are a healthy part of a regular diet, and require moderation just like the other things we consume.

It should go without saying, but always bears repeating, that it doesn't matter what you eat if you neglect to challenge your body physically. A person cannot expect to achieve a healthy body without a regimen of regular exercise. This is part of balancing your life to fit your needs. A strong heart and a fast metabolism are byproducts of cardio workouts. Combined with a healthy diet (including whole eggs) these steps will decrease your overall chances of having problems with heart disease. Health is a product of mental and physical discipline.

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It Doesn't Matter What You Eat If
You're Not challenging Your Body Physically.

Eggs shouldn't be consumed on a daily basis. Even though the cholesterol is better managed by the Lecithin and Vitamin B, it still can create an excess of cholesterol, particularly in individuals who already have elevated LDL and HDL levels. Proper health maintenance comes from educating ourselves about what our body needs and how it reacts to different foods. Not everyone reacts the same way to the same foods. The egg yolk isn't our enemy. It is an innocent bystander in a war to decide what is good for us. Independent research has shown us that the egg is a good reliable food for maintaining an overall healthy life when consumed with an ounce of reason and pound of good information.

Cholesterol

4 Step Formula

By: Maia Appleby

Just what is this matter we call cholesterol, anyway? Webster's College Dictionary, 1995 edition, states: "cholesterol, abundant in animal fats, brain and nerve tissue, meat and eggs, that functions in the body as a membrane constituent and as a precursor of steroid hormones and bile acids: high levels in the blood are associated with arteriosclerosis and gallstones."

That's a mouthful. But without cholesterol the body cannot make the sex hormones, adrenal hormones, and vitamin D. Excess cholesterol is converted in the liver to bile acids, which are normally eliminated in the feces.

Does Dietary Intake Affect Your Cholesterol Levels?

Some experts feel high levels of cholesterol have very little to do with dietary intake of it. There is a correlation between blood cholesterol levels and the incidence of coronary artery disease. One must, however, distinguish between the total blood cholesterol level and the cholesterol portion in the blood carried by HDL (high-density lipoprotein).

Before you begin a strict program to reduce cholesterol blood levels, check the total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio first. This risk ratio can be determined by a simple blood test by any medical doctor. There does exist hope, however, when one has reason for concern over their blood work. But remember--the body is a fantastic mechanism and always moves itself toward health. To help it along, it needs proper information.

This "information" that I speak of has to do with more than adequate nutrition. In addition to eating more raw fruits and vegetables, and drinking pure water, try to locate a sound nutritional supplier. Years ago, Dr. Linus Pauling's work demonstrated the value of vitamin C in helping the body dislodge and eliminate harmful arterial plaque. If you were to go to your favorite health store or drug store for vitamin C, you probably would not receive the same benefits as Dr. Pauling did. Why is that? (Pauling, Linus & Cameron, Ewan. "Cancer and Vitamin C." Camino Books. Philadelphia, PA, 1993.)

Because nutrients must be in an appropriate electrical matrix or else they are not functional to the human body. For instance, vitamin C is sold worldwide but as a synthetic supplement, usually in a chewable tablet.

Unfortunately, isolated vitamin C is not in a proper electrical matrix making it as useless to the human body as sawdust. Instead, vitamin C must be combined in a matrix form with trace minerals, bioflavonoids and electrolytes. Only when introduced in this particular matrix or pattern can the human body actually use the nutritional information present in the vitamin C.

Vitamin C has been known-for 40 or 50 years-to reduce cholesterol levels. That is not news. The reason most of us have high cholesterol -which means high plaque levels in the blood, veins and arteries - is that the liver produces low density cholesterol (LDL), then it sends it out to patch up arteries so we don't die of internal bleeding. That low density cholesterol builds up over the years and becomes plaque. Eventually, it clogs the arteries and we go into a condition of stroke.

When You Are Starting Supplementing Vitamin C...

When you start consuming vitamin C in the right electrical pattern, you are supporting the body's ability to build collagen. As the collagen restructures arteries and veins, plaque is released from the walls of the arteries. Cholesterol levels go up at first. Then they go down. The plaque build-up on your arteries goes down. Your liver stops producing LDL, because you now have collagen to build tissue.

Augmenting your nutritional program with high-quality, plant-based enzymes help the body grab stray protein profiles (plaque), digest them in the bloodstream and deliver them to the liver, which eliminates them from your body. All the tools are here for a clean and well-fed body... which means this condition may disappear, as it has in many cases.

Please do not be overwhelmed with all the technical jargon. Simply upgrade your lifestyle and eating habits. Couple that with supplements that mimic natural creation and you've got a winning combination. And who knows, maybe you'll be the next to live your own success story!

Supplements and Diabetes

4 Step Formula

By: ATDOnline

Perhaps no other disease is as closely linked to nutrition as diabetes. Not only does nutrition play a role in its development, nutrition is also one of the disease's most powerful treatments.¹

Because of this strong and critical connection to nutrition, researchers have carefully studied the use of nutritional supplements in the treatment of the disease. They found that many vitamins, such as vitamin C and the B vitamins, minerals such as chromium, as well as herbs like Gymnema sylvestre, can safely, effectively, and naturally lower blood sugars and help prevent diabetic complications.

What is even more important, however, is that these vitamins, minerals, and herbs can be combined together in a scientifically validated diabetic formula to work synergistically. That means their combined effectiveness is even more powerful. Like a group of good friends, these vitamins, minerals, and herbs do their best work when they are all together.

In this issue of Ask the Doctor, we will talk about powerful vitamins, minerals, and herbs combined in a scientifically validated formula that people with diabetes can use every day.

But before we get into the specific formula, we need to first talk about diabetes.

What exactly is diabetes?

When we eat, the process of digestion breaks down our food into nutrients. Most of the food we eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose). The sugar enters the bloodstream for delivery throughout the body and is then called blood sugar.^2,3

Insulin, a hormone that helps metabolize blood sugar, is made in the pancreas…quot;a long, skinny gland located behind the stomach. Insulin takes blood sugar from the bloodstream and delivers it into the cells that make up the various organs in our body, such as our heart, lungs, and kidneys. The sugar provides energy to the cells to keep our hearts beating, our lungs breathing, and our kidneys excreting.^2,3

Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called insulindependent or juvenile diabetes, most often starts in childhood. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin. The sugar stays in the blood instead of going into the cells where it is needed. Because of this, all people with Type 1 diabetes have to take at least one shot of insulin every day just to stay alive.⁴

Type 2 diabetes most often starts in adults and is also the most common kind. About 90 to 95 percent of all people with diabetes have Type 2. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin. However, the body does not use it effectively.

The condition known as "insulin resistance" occurs when the cells do not respond to (resist) insulin's attempt to enter with glucose. The pancreas responds by producing more and more insulin. When the cells do not respond, high levels of glucose build up in the blood, leading to Type 2 diabetes.

Almost everyone with Type 2 diabetes also is insulin resistant. Because the insulin is left unused, the pancreas thinks it isn't needed and may eventually stop making it. People with Type 2 diabetes often need to take prescription drugs to lower blood sugar levels if dietary and lifestyle changes are not enough to control the problem.⁴

In both types of diabetes, the sugar stays in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells where it is needed and belongs. When blood sugar builds up in the blood, it causes two problems. First, the cells become starved for energy. And, over a period of time, high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys.⁴

What causes diabetes?

While scientists aren't exactly sure why Type 1 diabetes happens, they do know the immune system is involved. A healthy immune system protects us from diseases caused by infections, such as colds or the flu, as well as diseases that start in our own cells, such as cancer. For some reason, in certain people, the immune system becomes confused and begins attacking and destroying the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.⁴

Scientists aren't exactly sure why Type 2 diabetes happens either; however, they have identified that it occurs most often in certain individuals. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, have high blood pressure, and have high cholesterol levels in their blood.⁴

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Type I diabetes develops very quickly.

The classic signs of diabetes include:

• Frequent urination, because the body is trying to get rid of the excess sugar in the blood
• Intense thirst, because the body needs to replace the fluid lost through the urine
• Increased hunger, because the cells need nutrients
• Weight loss, because without insulin, the body begins to starve⁴

The onset of Type 2 diabetes is often very gradual and may develop without any symptoms at all. Sadly, the diagnosis most often is made only after a complication of the disease happens.^3,4

What are the complications of diabetes?

The complications of diabetes happen in both types of the disease. All diabetic complications are caused by chronically high blood sugars. The longer your blood sugar levels are elevated, the greater your chances are of having complications.^3,4

Circulation problems
High blood sugar damages blood vessels. When high levels of sugar are continuously in the blood, the blood vessels become thicker and less flexible, causing poor circulation. Poor circulation can impair healing, especially on the feet and lower legs. High blood sugar also causes higher levels of fat in the bloodstream. The fat clogs and narrows the blood vessels. Partial blockages deprive the heart of some necessary nutrients. A complete blockage can result in a heart attack, heart pain (called angina), or stroke.^3,4

Nerve damage
Nerve damage makes it hard for your nerves to send messages to the brain and other parts of the body. It may cause you to lose feeling in parts of your body or have a painful pins-and-needles-like feeling. While nerve damage most often affects the feet and legs, it can also affect other parts of the body.^3,4

Eye problems
Diabetes can damage and weaken the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye that is sensitive to light and helps you see. When the blood vessels are weak, they can leak fluid, which causes swelling in the eye. The swelling blurs your vision. If the eye damage gets worse, your eye attempts to fix this damage by making new blood vessels over the retina. But because these blood vessels are fragile, they can break open easily and bleed into the eye. Scar tissue can then form. This may cause the retina to break away from the back of the eye, which can lead to visual impairment... even blindness.^3,4

All of these complications, however, can almost always be prevented.

How can the complications of diabetes be prevented?

Vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements can provide powerful tools for preventing serious complications and keeping people with diabetes healthy. The best nutritional supplement contains powerful vitamins, minerals, and herbs in a synergistic formula that can effectively lower blood sugars and provide the specialized nutrients people with diabetes need.

Which vitamins, minerals, and herbs should be included in a nutritional supplement for people with diabetes?

The chart, at the bottom of this page, lists the best ingredients for people with diabetes. You can see that the vitamins, minerals, and herbs in a diabetic formula should work synergistically and be clinically demonstrated to help prevent the known complications of diabetes. To get the best results, it is very important that the right ingredients are in the diabetic formula you buy.

How often should I take a diabetic formula supplement?

Read the label of the diabetic formula you are considering buying. Most quality products need to be taken twice a day. Keep in mind that you will still need to take a high quality multivitamin in addition to the diabetic formula supplement. A diabetic formula is complementary. That means that it is designed to be an addition to your multivitamin routine, not a replacement.

Could the diabetic formula lower my blood sugar level too much?

In general, too low blood sugar levels should not be a problem. A high quality diabetic formula containing synergistic vitamins, minerals, and herbs, most often lowers blood sugars to normal levels. However, these vitamins, minerals, and herbs will not excessively lower blood sugar levels that are already normal.

Do I need to continue monitoring my blood sugar when taking a diabetic formula supplement?

Diabetes is a disease that requires active participation from you. You need to be aware of your problem and be in control of it as much as possible. If you use a home glucose monitor to check your blood sugars, you may feel more comfortable by checking your levels more frequently when you first take a diabetic formula supplement. You should always follow the recommendation of your doctor or a licensed health care practioner regarding how often you should check your blood sugar levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (as well as most licensed health care practitioners), a good blood sugar range for most people with diabetes (before a meal) is from about 70 to 150.^1,2,35 An ideal range is 70-120.

Taking a nutritional supplement formulated especially for diabetics that contains vitamins, minerals, and herbs that work synergistically in a scientifically valid formula will help you keep your blood sugars right where the ADA and the NIDDK recommend.

Can't I just take the diabetic formula supplement and not worry about my diet?

Unfortunately, you cannot. Successful diabetes management means doing lots of positive things. First, you need to see your licensed health care practitioner often. You need to choose foods wisely and stay active to have a positive influence on your blood sugar levels and your health. And, taking a diabetic formula supplement every day can really help. However, the diabetic formula supplement is meant to be an addition to your healthy diet, not a substitute.

Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs recommended by the ADA and the NIDDK:

VITAMINS and HERBS	EFFECT on DIABETES
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)	With vitamin E, helps get sugar out of the blood stream and into the cells.5 Keeps diabetics' blood vessels and kidneys healthy.6,7
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)	With the B vitamins, vitamin E helps keeps the pancreas healthy and helps prevent nerve damage.8,9 Helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, and heart attacks.10,11 With vitamin C, helps keep blood vessels healthy.12,13
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCL)	With folic acid and B12, B6, helps prevents heart attacks and nerve damage.14,15 Helps prevent diabetic blindness, vision loss.16
Folic Acid	Along with B12, folic acid helps prevents strokes and loss of limbs due to diabetic complications.17
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)	Helps relieve neuropathic pain.18 Also works with folic acid and B6 (see above).
Biotin	With chromium's help, biotin (one of the B vitamins) helps insulin work better, keeps the pancreas working well, and lowers blood sugar levels.19
Magnesium (Krebs cycle chelate)	Relieves neuropathic pain and helps insulin work more effectively.20,21
Zinc (picolinate)	Helps blood sugar get into the cells and insulin work better.22
Selenium (aspartate)	Called an "insulin mimic", selenium helps take blood sugar into the cells. Selenium also protects against blood vessel and nerve damage from elevated blood sugars.23,24
Copper (picolinate)	Copper helps protect the cells in the pancreas that make insulin healthy, helps prevent diabetes-related damage to blood vessels and nerves, and lowers blood sugar levels.25
Manganese (Krebs cycle chelate)	Helps prevent damage to blood vessels and nerves.26,27
Chromium (picolinate)	With biotin's help, chromium helps insulin work better, keeps the pancreas working well, and lowers blood sugar levels.19
Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract	Helps balance blood sugars and may protect us from gaining weight.28,29
Bitter melon whole fruit extract	Helps pathways in the diabetic liver work more efficiently; lowers blood sugar levels.30
Fenugreek seed extract	Helps lower blood sugars and helps our liver and kidneys metabolize blood sugars more efficiently.31
Bilberry berry extract	Helps prevent and reduce the severity of diabetic cataracts.32
Mixed bioflavonoids (citrus)	Helps protect vitamins C and E from diabetic damage. Like bilberry, bioflavonoids help keep diabetics' vision clear and sharp.33
Vanadyl sulfate	Helps cells of both the liver and muscles use insulin more effectively.34

Conclusion

Having diabetes might make you feel overwhelmed. Restrictions on what you may and may not eat might make you feel deprived and unfairly burdened. The possibility of disease complications may make you feel anxious and scared... even angry. It is only natural to ask "Why me?"

Taking control of your diabetes, instead of letting it control you, can help with these feelings. Eating wisely and exercising every day are two important ways to improve your health. And, taking a nutritional supplement formulated specifically for people with diabetes every day can give you the critical control you need to direct your health for years to come. Many healthy years to come.

References:

1. American Diabetes Association. In the news. Available at: www.ada.yellowbrix.com/pages/ada. Accessed on December 10, 2001.

2. Guven S, Kuenzi J. Diabetes mellitus. In: Porth CM. Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 1998: 810-830.

3. Guyton AC, Hall JE. Diabetes mellitus. In: Textbook of Medical Physiology. 10th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company;2000: .

4. Grodner M, Anderson SL, DeYoung S. Diabetes mellitus. In: Foundations and Clinical Applications of Nutrition: A Nursing Approach. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2000:540-548.

5. Garg MC, Bansal DD. Protective antioxidant effect of vitamin C and E in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 2000;38:101-104.

6. Beckman JA, Goldfine AB, Gordon MB, Craeger MA. Ascorbate restores endothelium-dependent vasodilation impaired by acute hyperglycemia in humans. Circulation. 2001;103:1618-1623.

7. Gaede P, Poulson HE, Parving HH, Pederson O. Double-blind, randomised study of the effect of combined treatment with vitamin C and E on albuminuria in Type 2 diabetic patients. Diabet Med. 2001;18:756-760.

8. Gokkusu C, Palanduz S, Ademoglu E, Tamer S. Oxidant and antioxidant systems in NIDDM patients: influence of vitamin E supplementation. Endocr Res. 2001;27:377-386.

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