Vitamin Overdose

Vitamin overdose, also commonly known as hypervitaminosis, can occur if you are not careful with what you eat. Vitamins are grouped into two categories - water soluble vitamins and fat soluble vitamins.

Both types of vitamins can be easily ingested by the body and any excess is passed out. Cases of vitamin overdose are extremely rare and not well documented. For instance, vitamin c is something that we are all familiar with. Some people even believe that it is impossible to get harmful effects from excessive consumption of vitamin c. This is because vitamin c is water soluble and people believe that excess is passed out of the system before it can do any damage to the body. Unfortunately, this is not true. Anything in excess, including water, can be harmful to the body.

We get our vitamins from a variety of sources. Some we get from the sun (vitamin D), but mostly, we get our vitamins from food sources. Those who are deficient may wish to make up for what they lack by consuming supplements. It is very difficult to get to a level of toxicity just by consuming natural foods. Usually, toxicity occurs due to consumption of supplements for a prolonged period of time.

People consume supplements for different reasons. Some believe that the supplements can help boost metabolism and improve overall health. This is largely true. But they then try to replace regular food with supplements. Some even ignore the recommended dosages and consume supplements in amounts greater than what is needed. Usually, what happens is that the excess gets passed out very quickly by the body. However, when the system can't eradicate the excess fast enough, problems start to arise.

Common symptoms of overdose include diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, and feeling nauseous. If you experience such symptoms, stop your supplements intake immediately and consult a doctor. Other side effects include thinning of blood or having excessive calcium in the blood stream. The side effects you experience depend on the type of vitamins you are taking.

So how do you prevent vitamin overdose? First, determine if vitamins are really what you need to improve your health. For instance, many people experience depression at some point of their lives. And some people actually believe that vitamins can help bring them out of depression. The right thing to do is to get a proper diagnosis from the doctor and figure out what is causing the depression. Tests can be conducted to determine if the body is deficient in certain vitamins. If so, the doctor will be able to prescribe the right supplements with the appropriate dosage.

Consuming supplements on your own is not dangerous. In fact, it is highly recommended that you consume one multivitamin a day. It is when supplements are taken in excess that there is a need for concern. Finally, supplements can never replace natural foods. So don't skip meals just because you are consuming supplements. Take proper meals first. If you think your body needs more nourishment, then take your supplements.

Why Evaluation of Nutritional Supplements is Crucial to Get the Maximum Benefits

With so many products in this multi-million dollar market, the evaluation of nutritional supplements can be quite a task. However, once you know exactly what to look for in the best supplement, it becomes much easier. 
  
A little research beforehand goes a long way, so check out the website or even the labels of the ones that interest you. Ensure that only natural ingredients are used, and that many different nutrients are present like herb extracts, vitamins, mineral, amino acid and antioxidants for example. 
  
A good evaluation of nutritional supplements like this means you will benefit much more later on. One easy thing to look for that separates out a good company and product from a bad one is the type of coating used. Most have cheap veggie caps which dissolve in the stomach along with all the benefits! 
  
Higher-end products use an enteric coating to protect the contents from the stomach acid, allowing safe passage to the upper intestine where it is released. Here is where the maximum impact is gained. 
  
 When selecting any type of supplements, it is wise to research carefully, making sure a certificate of analysis (COA) for each ingredient is present and that the company in question adheres to strict GMP manufacturing processes. 
  
This basically means that they use a good manufacturing process, using no harmful additives like silica and colourings and that the label is a true representation of the contents, vital for the correct evaluation of nutritional supplements. 
  
Another useful thing to know is that many of the best sources are to be found online, rather than your overpriced health shop or the supermarket. Online companies can keep their overheads low and instead put their resources into the finest ingredients so don't be put off if you haven't heard of them. 
  
If you apply these tips and some good old common sense, your evaluation of nutritional supplements will be successful and you can start enjoying the wealth of health benefits they bring

Evaluation of Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional supplements are very popular these days and because they are generally unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration board, it is not easy to know which ones work, which ones are a waste of money--and to some extent, are harmful for you. Evaluation of nutritional supplements varies greatly, depending on your current health, needs, and medical history. Below are some tips on choosing nutritional supplements. It is still best to consult with a physician, however, regarding the right nutrition supplements for you (or if you really do need them in the first place).

1. Check labels

Evaluation of nutritional supplements starts with knowing and researching the product in question. Check the label of the nutritional supplements and see to it that it has all of the following:

a. The name of the herbal supplement

b. The net quantity of contents

c. The disclaimer: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

d. A Supplement Facts panel (including serving size, amount, and active ingredient)

e. Other ingredients whose daily values have not been established, and

f. The name and address of manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

For an evaluation of nutritional supplements, check all the ingredients listed on the labels against potentially dangerous dietary supplements listed by the FDA, which can be viewed on their website. 
2. Look for standardized supplements

A good practice for the evaluation of nutritional supplements is to look for a nutritional supplement that has a "USP Dietary Supplement Verified" seal-- indicating that the supplement has met certain manufacturing standards for cleanliness, uniformity, and freedom from contaminants, as outlined by the U.S. Pharmacopeia.

Other groups that also have their own standards of evaluation of nutritional supplements include NSF International, Good Housekeeping, and ConsumerLab.com.

3. Buy supplements manufactured in the US or other countries which are reputable. 
Be extremely cautious and wary when buying nutritional supplements manufactured in other countries. Some of them have been found to contain prescription drugs and toxic ingredients.

4. GMP Compliance

You should also see to it that a product is GMP compliant. This compliance validates that the manufacturer of said nutritional supplements meets good manufacturing practices, assuring safety of product and the accuracy of the amount of ingredients and content as stated on the label. This also assures that the product does not contain any known contaminants or prohibited drugs.

The product we personally use called Total Balance - http://www.health-product-we-use.com is the most natural and effective supplement we have come across. We have been using this product for over 3 years with excellent health results.

Herbal Nutrition Supplement Anti-Aging Benefits

Herbal nutrition supplement anti-aging health benefits -- is it possible that an anti-aging herbal nutrition supplement can slow the aging process? Absolutely! Numerous clinical studies have shown and are still discovering the wide-ranging health benefits of many herbs and nutrition supplements.

A healthy lifestyle includes having a sensible diet with nutritional supplements, adequate quality sleep, reasonable exercise and weight management. And slowing down the aging process includes providing your body all the nutrients it requires. Taking a high-quality, broad-spectrum vitamin/mineral/nutrition supplement helps fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have.

Vitamins and minerals are only the beginning. Your body needs and will use a wide array of herbal nutrition supplement nutrients that have been proven to have specific health benefits. Here are examples:

1. Bilberry Extract - improves eye health and night vision. Clinical tests confirm that the herbal nutrition supplement bilberry is effective in treating eye diseases such as cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and myopia.

2. Cranberry Extract - used for prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections and type 2 diabetes.

3. Ginger Extract - may be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome, morning sickness, nausea, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, gastro intestinal disorders, hay fever, HIV support, low back pain, migraines and rheumatoid arthritis.

4. Gingko Biloba Extract - this herbal nutrition supplement promotes mental clarity and concentration, increases alertness and short-term memory and is used in cardiac protection formulas. It offers significant protection against the development of Alzheimer's disease, hearing loss and strokes.

5. Green Tea Extract - may be helpful in improving cognitive performance, treating stomach disorders, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. Green tea may be beneficial in reducing the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and gastric cancer. May be beneficial to maintain remission in persons with Crohn's disease, to prevent Parkinson's disease and help protect against heart disease, dental caries and kidney stones.

6. Guggulipid Extract - is used for arthritis, lowering high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, nodulocystic acne, skin diseases and weight loss.

7. Hawthorne Berry Extract - used for cardiovascular conditions such as congestive heart failure and coronary circulation problems and to treat both low and high blood pressure.

8. Mahonia Grape Extract - this herbal nutrition supplement is used to treat acne, chronic constipation, colds, flu, eczema, gallbladder conditions, dysentery, malaria, parasites, psoriasis and urinary tract infections.

9. Olive Leaf Extract - used for fungus and yeast infections, frequent colds, asthma, vaginal yeast infections, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, bacterial infections, herpes, AIDS, chronic fatigue, flu and colds.

10. Tumeric Extract - may be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, atherosclerosis, bursitis, genital herpes, hepatitis, HIV support, low back pain and osteoarthritis.

Should you take each herbal nutrition supplement individually? When trying to design your own supplement plan, it's easy to end up with a dozen or more individual supplements to take daily, which is both a hassle and expensive. Besides, if certain substances are out of balance, they can combine to produce other unwanted compounds that can be harmful.

Also, women need a different formula than men. A woman's herbal nutrition supplement product should contain nutrients proven by clinical studies to support the balancing of female hormones. For example, red clover is helpful for menopausal symptoms, hot flashes and cyclic breast tenderness. A men's product should contain ingredients that support healthy male prostate like saw palmetto that is used for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), improving sexual vigor and stimulating hair growth.

Women's Health and Nutrition

When it comes to Women's health and nutrition, there are some specific health issues and nutritional needs just for women.

There are a few medical conditions that are of great concern to a women's health like heart disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. Statistics show that heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women. Although more men die of heart disease than women, females tend to be under diagnosed, often to the point that it's too late to help them once the condition is discovered.

Recent findings show that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of death for women. You can prevent many kinds of cancer by simply controlling your weight, exercising, and quitting smoking.

There are steps women and teen girls can take to avoid osteoporosis, as it is largely preventable. Your body will do what it can to repair bone damage, but you have to provide the tools for it to do its job. Adequate calcium and vitamin D consumption and weight-bearing physical activity are a must throughout your life.

Women's nutrition is essential to preventing most of the top health issues found in women. The nutrients that women need to pay most attention to are iron, particularly if pre-menopausal, calcium, and folic Acid just to name a few. The great news is you can stay ahead of the game and it all can be prevented.

Some of the essential nutritional requirements and dietary needs for women's optimal health are to get the recommended servings of the major food groups, follow a nutritious diet, get the correct amount of calories for energy, exercise regularly, and take additional vitamins and minerals to supplement their diet as most of the foods consumed in this day and age have little to no nutritional value.

Women's Health and Nutrition is a short summary of the health problems that can occur if you avoid taking care of your health and don't pay attention to what is going into your body. If you want to get on the right path to preventing many of the diseases mentioned above, take the first step toward that goal of optimal Health and Nutrition today!