Market Spirit Network

Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies use, in very small amounts, for a variety of metabolic processes. Taking vitamins ‘just in case’ is not a habit that anyone should get into and it is always recommended that vitamins are taken through wholesome and quality food.

There are many different reasons and types of people that may want or need to take supplements, some of these may include, some vegetarians, people who drink large amounts of alcohol, drug users, athletic people, pregnant and lactating women and elderly people.

Are you using Vitamins and Minerals like medicine pills?

There seems to be a trend occurring where it is believed that taking massive or “mega-doses” of various vitamins will work like medicine to cure certain conditions.

For example, vitamin C has been thought of as a cure for the common cold for generations and in fact you were probably even told this by your mother at some stage. Despite extensive research on this it has yet to be proven

Vitamins from food are best

Research indicates that most of the vitamins you get from the food you eat are better than those contained in pills. Even though the vitamins in supplements are synthesized to the exact chemical composition of naturally occurring vitamins, they still don’t seem to work as well. For this reason when selecting a vitamin supplement it is important that a natural vitamin supplement is selected

Research has shown that a food component that has a particular effect on the body when present in food may not have the same effect when it is isolated and taken as a supplement. This could be because the vitamins and minerals in foods are also influenced by other components of the food, not just the ‘active ingredient’.

Food is a complex source of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, which all work together. Supplements tend to work in isolation.

Phytochemicals (plant chemicals) are an important component of food. They are thought to reduce the incidence of cancer and heart disease. Supplements do not provide the benefits of phytochemicals and other components found in food. Taking vitamin supplements is no substitute for a varied diet

A short term measure

Taking vitamin supplements should be viewed as a short term measure. The long term use of supplements can lead to symptoms of overdosing or poisoning.

If you feel that you could be lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, it may be better to look at changing your diet and lifestyle rather than reaching for supplements. This being said if you are a highly active person you may need to constantly supplement your vitamin intake as you will be using your sources much quicker then the average person.

You should always consult you doctor if you are thinking of starting a vitamin supplement routine

Specific medical conditions that can benefit from vitamin supplementation

There are specific medical conditions that are known to benefit from certain vitamin supplementation. In this case it is recommended that you consult your doctor first and then if you are searching for a vitamin supplement ensure that you are using a natural well formulated supplement

Recent scientific studies have outlined some specific areas that can benefit largely from vitamin supplementation. These are:

•If all women of childbearing age used multivitamins with folic acid, it should be possible to reduce the current incidence of neural tube birth defects like spinal bifida by as much as 70%.

•The routine use of multivitamins and mineral supplements by the elderly could improve immune function and thus reduce infectious disease, potentially cutting in half the total number of days they are sick.

•Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D could reduce the rate of hip fracture among older people by at least 20%-meaning 40,000 to 50,000 fewer hip fractures each year in the United States-for an average annual savings of $1.5 to $2 billion.

•The potential cost savings of a prevention-oriented approach to health and diet are tremendous. A 1997 analysis predicted that if the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, stroke and hip fracture were delayed five years, total U.S. health care cost savings could equal $89 billion annually.

•While the addition of a multivitamin would benefit most people, different additional supplements should be chosen based on the specific life stage, gender or lifestyle of the individual. For example, though calcium is generally important for all men and women, it is particularly critical for children building bone mass and elderly people seeking to preserve it.

Points to remember when selecting vitamin supplements

•Vitamins are organic compounds used by the body in small amounts for various metabolic processes.

•Vitamin supplements can’t replace a healthy diet.

•Those who may need vitamin supplements include pregnant and lactating women, people who consume alcohol in amounts over those recommended as safe, drug users and the elderly.

•When taking vitamins try to take a natural brand that follows all of the FDA guidelines.

Marc Lindsay runs and operates a natural vitamin supplements | herbal supplements information site.

For information on vitamin and herbal supplementation please visit Vitamin Supplements | Herbal Supplements | Nutritional Supplements

We all own jeans and they truly are the main ingredient of any casual wardrobe. However, they are not all equal or equally flattering. We are not all born with the same shape, so, the style we wear will impact the way we look. Have you ever seen an outfit on one of your friends that looked spectacular but when someone else wore that same outfit it lost its pizzazz? That has to do with the body shapes of the two people and
sometimes the color of the garment. Both women could be the same height and weight but have a totally different shape. The same holds true for jeans. Here are a few hints when trying to find jeans that will fit and look great on YOU.

Small flat behind:

If you have a small flat behind and your jeans tend to make you look smaller, choose a design with detailed pockets that are high and slightly smaller than those found on most styles. Pockets will drawn attention to the eye and will create the illusion of width and lift.

To add curves Wear low-rise jeans in a cotton-Lycra blend. The clingy fabric hugs the body and a contoured waistband will help create curves. Choose a pair that has been lightened at the
thighs and knees to make legs look more shapely. Avoid standard boot cut jeans that have little shape.

To flatten a tummy:

Try a medium to high-rise (no higher than the belly button) in a dark color.

For the appearance of smaller thighs:

Stick to dark colors for sure and wear flared styles that will draw the eye downward and create balance. Don’t wear them too tight or too loose.

For the appearance if slim hips:

Do look for jeans without front pockets or jeans with slit pockets and stay away from front patch pockets. Buy dark colors with stitching that is the same color (or very close) as the fabric. Avoid light stitching and designs.

To prevent a gap at the waist:

If your hips are much larger than your waist then you will probably have this problem. What to do? Wear stretch denim jeans and stay away from crisp or heavy fabrics such as cotton.

To make your legs appear longer:

Wear a high-heeled shoe and flared jeans that will completely cover them.

Copyright 2004 Sheila Dicks

Sheila Dicks is a wardrobe and image consultant who teaches women
how to look slimmer by dressing to suit their body type. Visit her at
http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download a copy of her e-book Image Makeovers and get How to Build a Wardrobe ebook free.

Natural Rosacea Products - The Solution to Calm Skin? Many Say Yes

If you are one of the thousands of men and women suffering from the skin discorder rosacea or acne rosacea, you may already be familiar with the standard dermatologist-prescribed courses of action and medications.

What many people don’t know, is there are actually non-prescription, natural rosacea products that are just as effective, if not more effective, than prescription rosacea medications and topical rosacea gels and ointments.

First, let’s look at the common ingredients in pharmaceutical rosacea medications. Two popular topical prescription drugs for rosacea are Metronidazole and Azelic Acid.

As an oral medication for rosacea, physicians may utilize a variety of medications, mostly antibiotic in nature, to help control rosace by controlling severe facial flushing and swelling. Sometimes in severe cases, even cardiovascular medications are used to help control the facial flushing.

Because of the higher risk of negative reactions associated with the long term use of oral antibiotics, topical therapy is usually the preferred long term treatment method. There is also the danger of antibiotic resistence becoming a problem for people who are treated long term with anitbiotics.

Topically applied rosacea medications, especially those of a natural origin, are becoming more and more popular, since there is no risk of them becoming ineffective over a period of time, as there may be with man-made topical rosacea solutions.

In addition to topical rosacea gels, creams, and sprays, a complete skincare regimen including face wash and moisturizer should also be employed as a preventive measure for rosacea.

People with rosacea have skin that requires intense and very specific care, every day, from cleanser to makeup. It is important that anything that comes into contact with the face does not have any skin-aggravating properties, but rather possesses skin-calming and anti-redness peoperties. There are natural rosacea skincare systems that will do just that, and before you know it, you will be “back in the clear”.

Visit Natural Rosacea Treatments for more information on an effective line of natural rosacea treatment products. Danna Schneider is the founder of Cosmetics Galore Cosmetic Product Reviews

Letter to Maya Angelou is a book that is intended to entice the reader’s attention and provoke them to delve into deep thought on environmental and society issues.

One hundred breath-taking, intimate photographs of nature scenes have been included in this book. Beautiful shots of flocks of birds just taking off in flight, enchanting forests, stunning autumn color and incredible sunsets were enough to make me a fan of the book.

The photos are accompanied with poetic verses, which, unfortunately, did not strike a cord in me. Honestly, I did not even understand many of the verses. Overall, though, it was clear that the author’s intent was to encourage openness to adventure, the opportunity for growth and participation in issues that matter. I really liked a few statements in particular, “Let your heart be your guide, and the brain a tool” and “It’s always a holiday when you love”.

Oluwadahusi is a man who has been juggling many hats for some time - from being a lawyer, author and poet, to the more rewarding efforts as a teacher and father. He warns his readers that “any apparent disorder in any of the text, lack of punctuation” was done with the intent to provoke the reader to fill in the blanks for themselves.

ISBN#: 1420820486
Author: Oluwadahunsi
Photographs provided by: US Fish & Wildlife Service
Publisher: Author House

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment - Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)