3 Nutrients Women May Need When They Exercise

If you are a young woman who is an athlete or simply looking to improve exercise performance, listen up!

Liposomes: The Nutrient Carrier You Need to Understand

Many of us have been passengers in airplanes at some point in our lives. And we all know the importance of having airplanes that are in the best condition possible, in order to increase our chances of arriving at our destinations safely. For example, airplanes must successfully be able to withstand turbulence, as well as weather and atmospheric conditions in the sky.

The Importance of Vitamin C for Older Women… and a Few Problem Signs

For the longest time, I used to associate vitamin C deficiency with scurvy. Maybe this was from watching too many pirate movies when I was younger or my interest in maritime history that came from growing up on an island. But for whatever reason, whenever I heard about not getting enough vitamin C in my diet, I immediately conjured up visions of toothless pirates in the 18th Century.

When Eating Protein Becomes Deadly!

Meegan Hefford was a 25-year-old bodybuilder competitor and mother of two. She seemed to be the perfect picture of health. As she prepared for an upcoming competition, Hefford visited the gym religiously and maintained a strict diet that included egg whites and protein supplements.

You Need More Than Calcium Supplements for Healthy Bones

As a child, I was always told I needed calcium for strong bones. So, I drank lots of milk and made sure to eat foods rich in this mineral. As an adult, I took calcium supplements. I figured I was doing what I was supposed to be doing from a nutritional standpoint in order to protect my bones.

What Makes Some Vitamins More Dangerous than Others

As a young adult, I used to get obsessed with whether I was eating well and taking an appropriate amount of supplements. The problem was I rarely concerned myself with whether I was taking too much of certain vitamins and minerals. I now know there may be health consequences to getting more than the recommended daily amount (RDA) of any of the six nutrients, which include minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and water. I discussed the problems associated with over-consuming minerals in “Minerals: The Forgotten Nutrient.”

Be Aware and Be Proactive for Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. Autism is a developmental disorder that usually becomes apparent in children between the ages of 2 and 3 (sometimes as early as 18 months) It is also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in order to reflect the differences or variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, (NIH), “[s]ome people are mildly impaired by their symptoms, while others are severely disabled.” This disorder may continue throughout the whole life of the person affected.

How vitamin B12 can help prevent memory loss as you age

Did you know vitamin B12 is critical for brain function? When you don’t have enough of this essential vitamin -- found in foods such as beef, fish and dairy products -- you may start to experience mental decline, such as memory issues or depression.

The trend toward vitamin D, fish oil and probiotics over the traditional multivitamin

Americans’ use of supplements has remained consistent over the years, with just over half saying they take supplements. But the supplements of choice are changing. A new study published in JAMA found that fewer Americans are taking a multivitamin, whereas vitamin D, fish oil and probiotic supplements are rising in popularity.

What you should know before reaching for the calcium supplements

Calcium supplements are pretty popular, but they may not be helping your health like you think they are. Many people take them for their bones, but research shows “the more the merrier” just isn’t the case with calcium. Taking in excess calcium (more than you need) in the form of supplements or food won’t make your bones less likely to break. Plus, calcium supplements may cause bloating, constipation, interference with medications, and particularly in men, greater heart attack risk (due to vascular calcification).

Be proactive! Do your research before using male herbal supplements

You may have heard about the recent case of a famous athlete who was found unconscious after taking excessive amounts of sex-enhancing herbal supplements. Even though we may never know the whole story, we know there are inherent risks with excess use of stimulants, even if they are “herbal.” There are also risks of possible drug interactions, supplements being laced with undeclared sexual enhancers like Viagra- and Cialis-like substances, and possible contamination with unhealthy ingredients.

Too much of a good thing? Make sure you’re not overdosing with vitamin D

There are new studies every week, it seems, linking low vitamin D levels with various illnesses and diseases. And with deficiency being so widespread, it’s no wonder vitamin D sales are booming. But even with vitamin D, you can still have “too much of a good thing” and end up overdosing from taking too many supplements. Interestingly, you don’t have to worry about vitamin D overdose from sunshine exposure, because your skin stops making it from sunlight when there is enough. So, how much is too much vitamin D?