The Great Expert Blog

Your body produces over 20 separate digestive enzymes that are actually proteins; they break down food so that your body can convert it to energy, relieve certain ailments and discomforts and bolster your immune system. Your digestive enzymes work hard from the moment that food enters your mouth. Yes! Once you take a bite of food, your digestive enzymes set out to break down the meal. The more efficient that your body is at breaking down your meals, the better your body works. Therefore, investing in and using a digestive enzyme supplement is one way to improve your overall well being.

Papain is the name of one digestive enzyme used in the manufacture of a quality digestive enzyme supplement. It is made from an unripened tropical fruit that you are probably familiar with: the papaya. The unripened fruit is crushed and the juice of the green papaya is used to make Papain. This digestive enzyme supplement ingredient helps proteins create oligopeptides and amino acids. Papain is thought to have properties that help reduce swelling and inflammation. Papain is used to assist with digestion and is also used to make meat tenderizers.

Lipase is another digestive enzyme that is produced in your body. Lipase works on the fat that you eat; it breaks it down so that your body can use it. When your body doesn’t create enough Lipase to breakdown the fat, your stools will be greasy looking and very pale in color. Your body makes Lipase in the pancreas and as with all digestive enzymes, it also exists in saliva. The pancreas makes pancreatin which is essentially three digestive enzymes: lipase, amylase and proteases.

Lipase as a digestive enzyme supplement has been used to successfully aid in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. The benefits have been documented and it is regularly prescribed by medical doctors for this ailment. Lipase is also being used to see if it will provide benefits to patients with indigestion because of pancreas diseases or the inability of the pancreas to work efficiently.

Perhaps the most beneficial use of Lipase and Papain are for their tumor fighting effects. Many oncologists prescribe digestive supplement therapy in addition to standard medical treatment including chemo therapy for cancer patients. Chemo therapy upsets the stomach partly because it is so hard on the body and partly because chemo is a toxin. The body tries to rid itself of the additional toxin, so it expels any food from the stomach as well. However digestive supplement therapy increases the body’s ability to breakdown nutrients. Further digestive enzyme supplement therapy is said to have cancer fighting benefits. Whether this is because it boosts the immune system’s ability to fight tumors or whether the enzymes breakdown the tumors so that the body can expel them needs to be studied further, but there is documented success in adding digestive supplement therapy to oncology patient’s treatment regimes.

As with most things in our industrialized world, food is processed and preserved to the point that many nutrients are lost before the food is consumed. Once prepared, more nutrients are leeched from your food, so you have to consider whether or not you are getting the full benefit of any nutrient. If your meals are lacking in essential nutrients, like digestive enzyme bolsters, you may have a depletion of the essential enzymes that are necessary to your health. That is why you should consider adding a digestive enzyme supplement to your diet.

If you are a frequent flier or have a lot of stress in your life, your body is being robbed of its supply of digestive enzymes. Thus, when you are standing in line at the ticket counter after sleeping through your alarm and getting stuck in traffic, your natural supply of digestive enzymes is suffering. You can add a digestive enzyme supplement to your daily routine and increase the efficiency of your body and your immune system.

If you are pregnant or nursing, you should consult with your family physician before you take any dietary supplement, including digestive enzyme supplements.

Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, and an avid enthusiast of alternative and holistic health. Get unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keep abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our free newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: Our Nutritional Supplements and Herbal Supplements Guide

A Specialized ADHD Nutrition Plan Could Help Patients Focus

Currently one of the most widely accepted theories about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is that it is caused by nutritional problems. This theory really only applies to childhood ADHD and does not even account for all of the childhood ADHD cases, but when some dietary studies were conducted on ADHD nutrition plans for those with the disorder, there were some beneficial results. The whole nutrition and ADHD correlation emerged in nineteen ninety when an English researcher found out that certain artificial food colorings found in some foods could actually deplete the amounts of zinc in an ADHD patient’s body. Later, scientists also found that those children suffering from ADHD also had lower levels of required sulfate molecules throughout the body. Studies which attempt to prove that ADHD and diet are not related at all, citing that only five percent of all ADHD patients have something wrong with their normal dietary intake. Whatever the case, putting your child on an ADHD nutrition plan may be one possible way to help alleviate the hyperactivity associated with such a disorder.

There are several key aspects to an ADHD nutrition plan that any parent should keep in mind. The first and possibly most obvious of any diet is to make sure that your hyperactive child does not receive any sugary sweets or any candy. This should also include sodas and any other products which are high in sugar. By cutting sugars out of the ADHD nutrition plan, your child will not exhibit the hyperactive energy associated with ADHD. Also, make sure your child avoids caffeine, as caffeine has the same stimulating effect on the body as sugar. If you find that neither of these two ADHD nutrition changes affects your child, try taking any and all wheat products out of their diet. Some kids have an undiagnosed wheat allergy which can contribute to hyperactivity. Instead of the wheat products, switch to oats and rye. Finally, and this goes for any child (not just those with ADHD), make sure your child gets plenty of vegetables and fruits in their diet along with fish at least once a week.

An alternative to just cutting out sugars and caffeine from an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patient’s diet was created by Dr. Benjamin Feingold. Aptly named the Feingold diet, this ADHD nutrition plan focused on the research which linked artificial colors and flavors to the loss of zinc in certain children’s bodies. This diet has been the source of much debate over its effectiveness, but for those looking for a dietary way to combat the problems associated with ADHD, the Feingold diet may be a good method to check out.

The Feingold ADHD nutrition plan is currently a two step program with the first step requiring the elimination of all artificial colors and flavors from the child’s food. The second step of the Feingold program requires that all aspirin containing products and natural salicylate containing foods should also be removed from the child’s diet. While this method of ADHD nutrition may prove to be useful, there are actually certain claims which Feingold makes that are totally incorrect. Most importantly, certain nutritional experts have shown that in the Feingold diet cookbook many of the recommended foods are actually high in salicylates; a chemical which Feingold says can cause your child to be hyperactive.

There is much to be learned about ADHD nutrition and its effects on your child, for more on information on parenting and ADHD Nutrition please visit this author’s website ==>Parental Advise

Dennis Driscoll lives in Northern Michigan, and is the creator and a contributing author of several websites.

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Vitamins are essential to keep your heart healthy. Of
course, you need to eat the right foods with less fat and
cholesterol, but you need to supplement your food with
vitamins to keep your body in the best shape and your heart
pumping for a long time.

Vitamin E is the first vitamin that pops into the mind of
those that are looking to improve their overall heart
health. Vitamin E seems to stop cholesterol in the body
from oxidizing and harming the arteries surrounding the
heart. When cholesterol oxidizes, it’s more able to stick
to the sides of the arteries and cause buildup and possible
blockage that can lead to heart attacks and other
infarctions.

Doctors often recommend additional supplements of vitamin E.
Or, they suggest you include more foods rich in vitamin E in
your diet. Nuts, like almonds, for example, are a terrific
way to get your daily dose of vitamin E.

Vitamin E also seems to be showing a lot of promise for
those patients that have already suffered a heart attack.
The vitamin seems to prevent additional heart attacks by
encouraging the arteries to be more ‘open’ and less
conducive to blockage.

Doctors are of the opinion that supplements of Vitamin C can
help boost the effect of Vitamin E and make it work even
better. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to prevent
the damaging effects of cholesterol, and at the same time it
assists Vitamin E in its beneficial effects.

If you take vitamins E and C together, you are on your way
to creating a healthier heart and better artery function.
This is the easiest way to ensure the health of your heart,
especially if you have a history of heart disease or you are
concerned about the risk to your heart.

So how much should you take? Well, ideal doses may vary from
patient to patient, but 400IU (international units) of
vitamin E seems to work well for most people. Vitamin C is
tolerable in higher doses without harmful effects. You can
safely take 500miligram of vitamin C twice a day, mornings
and evenings, to help keep your heart fighting fit.

And studies are backing up this additional step in your day.
Talk with your doctor in case you are on any medications for
there are some that will interact or need to be taken at
different times to be more effective.

A good, nutritious eating plan is the ideal way to get your
daily doses of vitamins. But taking additional supplements
is sensible, and recommended and if you’re trying to boost
your heart health.

N-acetylglucosamine is one of the 8 saccharides known as Glyconutrients. The others are:

• Mannose
 • Glucose
 • Galactose
 • Xylose
 • Fucose (not fructose)
 • N-acetylneuramic acid
 • N-acetylgalactosamine

N-acetylglucosamine: It is used as a nutritional supplement supplying the body with a derivative known as Glucosamine.

Glucosamine: It is utilized by the body for cartilage, ligaments and tendons. Glucosamine is also used as a natural supplement to help with joint problems and digestive ailments. It is also useful in healing joint injuries. Research is being done into its healing properties for wounds.

Deficiencies in Glucosamine affects the bowel and bladder and has been found to produce diseases and malfunctions in these 2 organs. Research has found that Glucosamine helps to repair glycosaminoglycan (GAG). This is the mucosal-lining defensive barrier in the intestines.

Glucosamine has been shown to have a profound effect on the immune system and can help the body’s immune system against infections, disease and toxins. Research is still being done on this important saccharide into its possible ability to help the body fight against cancer. There is a significant lack of this nutrient in cancer patients.

Experiments are being done with Glucosamine in relation to brain activity when learning. Mice were shown to have raised levels of the sugar when being trained. Scientists have also found a link to this saccharide in connection with the nervous system. The thyroid gland also has N-acetylglucosamine receptors that may possibly have a role in thyroglobulin transportation. It is found in several other areas of the body including the liver and scientists are still researching the functional role Glucosamine plays in these areas.

What can N-acetylglucosamine be found in? It is found in human breast milk and shellfish exoskeletons to name a few. Given the present scientific findings there are no side effects or safety hazards associated with Glucosamine. All these supplements should be taken in small doses at first and gradually increased to the required level.

At this time there is still much research left to do on this vital Glyconutrient and as scientists do more studies we will be hearing more about Glucosamine. New findings will enable us to find more uses for Glucosamine that will improve our health and lifestyle.

You’ve probably heard it a million times….you should eat more tomatoes for your prostate health because they contain a nutrient called lycopene.

And this is true.

But did you know that there are a broad array of nutrients, whether they be vitamins, minerals, or other antioxidants that have shown to improve or maintain the health of a man’s prostate?

By the time you finish reading this article, you will probably know more about the best prostate health supplements to use than 95% of men out there.

And that’s a good thing to know considering that prostate cancer comes second only to lung cancer for cancer caused deaths in American men!

First, let’s talk about the mineral zinc and prostate health.

Zinc appears to play a crucial role in maintaining good prostate health, but precisely how it does this still isn’t clear.

If you aren’t getting enough zinc, consider using a supplement containing it. But, it’s important to not overdo it.

Believe it or not, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. In fact, although you are probably not aware of it, some antioxidants that normally assist the body by fighting free radicals can generate free radicals themselves if too much is taken.

In fact, one study has even shown that more than 100 mg of zinc per day can actually increase a man’s chances of developing advanced prostate cancer!

Again, this sort of harm from excess can happen for many things not just zinc.

Prostate Health Formulas

Good prostate health formulas should contain something called beta sitosterol. Everyone talks about saw palmetto, but they should be talking about beta sitosterol which is literally many hundreds even thousands of times more powerful and effective than saw palmetto.

Here’s why:

Saw Palmetto supplements are comprised almost entirely of “fatty acids” with only a very small part “sterols.” Even the best Saw Palmetto prostate supplements made from standarized extracts are approximately 85% fatty acids.

What’s important to understand here is that the fatty acids have no therapeutic value. On the contrary, it is the “sterol” component that makes up the active constituents — the part you want.

The active sterol part is the source of saw palmetto’s benefits.

Have you seen studies showing that saw palmetto sometimes works and sometimes doesnt?

In our opinion, this is because saw palmetto isn’t that effective to begin with. It just doesn’t contain enough active constituents, the sterols.

And in those studies where it does seem to work with mixed results, our conjecture is that higher quality saw palmetto was probably used in such studies.

Back to beta sitosterol as one of the best supplements for prostate health. This “sterol” component mentioned above from saw palmetto is in fact beta sitosterol.

In short, beta sitosterol is only the active component part of saw palmetto, which is why several studies have shown beta sitosterol is extremely effective.

Another one of the best supplements for prostate health is corn silk extract.

Any man who suffers from prostatitis or enlarged prostate gland problems (BPH) knows that their condition is associated with inflammation. One of the symptoms of this sort of inflammation is a weakened flow of the urine stream and dribbling.

Corn silk may be beneficial here because it acts as an anti-inflammatory and as a natural diuretic, and therefore may help to increase urine flow and reduce pain associated with the inflammation of the prostate.

Of course, there is also lycopene mentioned at the start of this article. Lycopene is indeed an important nutrient to be used in quality prostate health formulas — or you can get it from eating foods, like fresh tomatoes.

And, no, ketchup does not count as a fresh tomato food! In fact, even if ketchup did contain any good lycopene content, the benefits would be more than offset by all the horrible high fructose corn syrup in such products.

Lastly, although you can’t get these in prostate health supplements, the US National Cancer Institute did a study which revealed that men who consumed just 1/3 rd of an ounce (that’s not much at all) of onions, scallions, garlic and chives per day were far less likely to have prostate cancer.

Yes, we realize that you can buy garlic supplements and they are often sold in supplements for prostate health. But we don’t believe they are effective because the beneficial compound in garlic, called allicin, is highly volatile, and is only released when the garlic is crushed or chopped, and, most importantly, quickly deteriorates.

This is why, in our opinion, a lot of garlic supplements have been shown to be ineffective because the allicin is not stable whereas fresh garlic works since you are eating it soon after you chop it up.

So when you look at supplements for prostate health, skip the garlic and just eat more of it.

Get more info on prostate health supplements to consider using at: http://www.nutritional-supplement-info.com/prostate-herbs.html

Today, the World Health Organization and many experts in the field of human nutrition tell us that human beings only need 4.5% protein in their diets for health and fitness, and overall well-being, and that plenty of protein can be sourced by plant foods alone.

After all, even oranges have 8% protein, Romaine lettuce 36% protein, and brown rice 8% protein.

The experts also tell us that animal protein is not superior to plant protein. In fact, animal protein is related to many chronic, debilitating diseases that end life prematurely. That is the animal protein alone in animal products. Add fat, cholesterol, hormones, and antibiotics to the mix and that makes meat of all kinds less than the ideal food for human nutrition.

The infamous “Four Food Groups” is without a doubt the fattest food lie of them all that we were raised to believe and most of us still believe to this day.

Our government endorsed the “Four Food Groups.” Our teachers taught it. Remember in grade school those shiny, colorful posters and materials that displayed the “Four Food Groups?” Those materials were donated to the schools by the National Dairy Council.

Our doctors adamantly stood behind the “Four Food Groups.”

Our mothers were tickled with the “Four Food Groups.”

Why? Because that is exactly what they were already feeding their families. They could now go to bed at night feeling comforted that they were feeding their families, and had always had been feeding their families, according to recommendations by all those smart experts and by the accepted cultural standard.

How were we to know that all of us had been duped? The very foods that had been intricately woven into our culture and our habits and our beliefs, and had been the law of the land for decades and decades, were some of the very foods that sabotage our health and our lives.

It was Adolf Hitler who said, “If you tell a lie long enough, it will be believed as truth.”

We have been told the tale of the infamous “Four Food Groups” for so long that we believe it as truth. And because we have grown up with these foods, because we are so emotionally attached to these foods, and because they are so woven into our meals and our traditions, the last thing we want to do is give them up.

It is time to throw away the infamous four with which we were raised and contributed and still contribute to the premature disability, diseases, and death that strike so many of us.

It is time to embrace the real four food groups that are critical to our health, fitness, and lifelong well-beingwhole fresh fruits, whole fresh vegetables, whole grains, and whole legumes.

By the way, remember those rat experiments close to 100 years ago, rats did grow faster when fed animal protein, but they also died quicker of chronic, degenerative diseases.

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a health motivational speaker, writer, and lifestyle coach. Visit http://www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for more inspiration.

A low carb diet, also known as a low carbohydrate diet, is a diet program designed to promote weight loss while restricting the consumption of carbohydrates. The theory behind a low carb diet is that carbohydrates consumption is linked to increased insulin levels and obesity. Some nutritionists have varying opinions regarding the validity and safety of a low carb diet, but others refer to the strong evidence lending truth to the claim that a low carb diet can actually promote weight loss.

A low carb diet specifically consists of eliminating or reducing foods that contain sugar, grains and starches. With each of these products being labeled as carbohydrates, they are replaced with other foods containing increased fat and protein. Many people enjoy vegetables as part of a healthy diet and while they too are classified as carbohydrates, they are believed to be much healthier than grains.

As with most diet programs, there are two sides to the story with individuals who oppose and those who agree with the approach. Specifically, some experts believe that low carb diets carry their own risks and possible side effects, including headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and/or dehydration. By lowering or eliminating dietary fiber, many believe that constipation may also occur as a result of the fiber absence. In addition, some believe that the replacement of cholesterol and foods high in saturated fat my increase the risk of developing heart disease. There are also some concerns that kidney problems may ensue as a result of the organs becoming overworked, but there are no scientific studies to support this theory as of yet.

The acceptance of low carb diet foods have had various impacts on some of the world’s largest food producers. Pasta makers, for example, suffered a reduction in the need for their products and believed that the loss was connected to low carb diets. A popular doughnut manufacturer admitted that earnings were lower than usual and associated the reduction with low card diets, which reduced the demand for their product as well. Several companies, on the other hand, watched as their profits were on the rise as they promoted low carb products in stores and restaurants.

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or a nutritionist’s recommendation. Prior to beginning any dietary program, including a low carb diet, individuals should consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or an appropriate path toward weight loss.

To find out more about low carb diet, please visit our website at www.best-low-carb-diets.info . It contains tons of free low carb diet articles, resources and tips.