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Acidophilus
Acidophilus is one of several microbes known collectively as probiotics (literally, "pro life," indicating that they are bacteria and yeasts that help rather than harm). Others include the bacteria L. bulgaricus, L. reuteri, L. plantarum, L. casei, B. bifidus, S. salivarius, and S. thermophilus and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. Your digestive tract contains billions of bacteria. Some of these internal inhabitants are more helpful to your body than others. Acidophilus and related probiotics not only help the digestive tract function, they also reduce the presence of less healthful organisms by competing with them for the limited space available. For this reason, use of probiotics can help prevent infectious diarrhea.
Use of antibiotics can disturb your inner bio-balance by killing friendly bacteria. When this happens, harmful bacteria and yeasts can move in and flourish. Conversely, it appears that the regular use of probiotics can help prevent infections and generally improve the health of the gastrointestinal system. Whenever you take antibiotics, you should probably take probiotics as well, and continue them for some time after you are done with the course of treatment.
Cultured dairy products such as yogurt and kefir are good sources of acidophilus and other probiotic bacteria. Supplements are widely available in powder, liquid, capsule, or tablet form. Grocery stores and natural food stores both carry milk that contains live acidophilus.
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Amino Acids
Amino acids are the chemical units or "building blocks" that make up proteins. Amino acids contain about 16 percent nitrogen. Chemically, this is what distinguishes them from the other two basic nutrients, sugars and fatty acids. Proteins are a necessary part of every living cell in the body. Next to water, protein makes up the greatest portion of our body weight. The enzymes and hormones that catalyze and regulate all bodily processes are proteins. Proteins form the structural basis of chromosomes, through which genetic information is passed from parents to offspring. The genetic "code" contained in each cell's DNA is actually information for how to make cell's proteins.
The proteins that make up the human body are not obtained directly from diet. Dietary protein is broken down into its constituent amino acids, which the body then uses to build the specific proteins it needs. Thus, it is the amino acids rather than protein that are essential nutrients.
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Antioxidants
Antioxidants is a classification of several organic and inorganic substances, including vitamins C and E, vitamin A (which is converted from beta-carotene), selenium (a mineral), and a group known as the carotenoids. Carotenoids, of which beta- carotene is the most popular, are a pigment that adds color to many fruits and vegetables -- without them, carrots wouldn't be orange, for example. Together as antioxidants, these substances are thought to be effective in helping to prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles called free radicals. In humans, free radicals usually come in the form of O2, the oxygen molecule. The oxygen molecule wants to be oxidized (remember that stuff from your chemistry class?), and this oxidation process can sometimes be carcinogenic. Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within and among cells. They are also created by exposure to various environmental factors, tobacco smoke and radiation, for instance.
Free radicals can cause damage to cell walls, certain cell structures, and genetic material within the cells. In the worst case scenario and over a long time period, such damage can become irreversible and lead to disease (e.g., cancer). This is where antioxidants come into play. Antioxidants can eliminate free radicals before they get a chance to do harm in your body. Researchers have postulated that antioxidants prevent the possible carcinogenic effects of oxidation.
In terms of heart disease and stroke, it is possible that higher levels of antioxidants slow or prevent the development of arterial blockages, a complicated process involving the oxidation of cholesterol. Moreover, antioxidants may deter the collection of plaque on arterial walls.
Some of the antioxidants: alpha-lipoic acid, bilberry (herb), coenzyme Q10, cysteine (amino acid), gingo bioba (herb), green tee, melatonin (hormone), selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E.
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Bee Propolis
Bees create propolis by collecting a resinous sap from trees and then mixing it with wax back at the hive. They use this material much the way people use caulk: to seal their homes. Chemically, propolis is exceedingly complex and contains a rich variety of potent terpenes and benzoic, caffeic, cinnamic,and phenolic acids. It's also high in flavonoids, which by themselves may account for many of the benefits attributed to propolis-and some researchers refer to propolis as a type of flavonoid.
Most medical articles point to the value of propolis as a powerful, natural antibiotic. That doesn't mean eating propolis will let you throw away your antibiotics - only that you may not need them quite as often.
Propolis works against bacteria in several ways. One study reported that it prevented bacterial cell division and also broke down bacterial walls and cytoplasm, which is how some prescription antibiotics work.
Perhaps more remarkable is that propolis acts against viruses, which antibiotics do not. A number of medical journal reports have discussed the role of propolisin fighting upper respiratory infections, such as those caused by the common cold and influenza viruses.
Some of its components,like the flavonoids and ethanols, function as antioxidant free-radical scavengers.
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene belongs to a family of natural chemicals known as carotenes or carotenoids. Scientists have identified nearly 600 different carotenes. Widely found in plants, carotenes (along with another group of chemicals, the bioflavonoids) give color to fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Beta-carotene is a particularly important carotene from a nutritional standpoint, because the body easily transforms it to vitamin A. While vitamin A supplements themselves can be toxic when taken to excess, it is believed that the body will make only as much vitamin A out of beta-carotene as it needs. Beta-carotene is also often recommended for another reason: it is an antioxidant, like vitamin E and vitamin C.
Sources:
In general, 2 mcg of beta-carotene in supplement form is thought to be equivalent to 1 mcg of vitamin A. Dark green and orange-yellow vegetables are good sources of beta-carotene. These include carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, romaine lettuce, broccoli, apricots, and green peppers.
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Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, making up nearly 2% of total body weight. More than 99% of the calcium in your body is found in your bones, but the other 1% is perhaps just as important for good health. Many enzymes depend on calcium in order to work properly, as do your nerves, heart, and blood-clotting mechanisms. In spite of calcium-fortified dairy, most Americans are calcium deficient. Calcium supplements are a way to make sure you're getting enough of this important mineral. One of the most important uses of calcium is to prevent and treat osteoporosis, the progressive loss of bone mass to which postmenopausal women are especially vulnerable. Calcium works best when combined with vitamin D.
Various medications may impair calcium absorption or metabolism, either directly, or through effects on vitamin D. People who use these may benefit by taking extra calcium and vitamin D.
Milk, cheese, and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium. Other good sources include orange juice or soy milk fortified with calcium, fish canned with its bones (e.g., sardines), dark green vegetables, nuts and seeds, and calcium-processed tofu.
Cat's Claw
There are two primary species of cat's claw used medicinally: Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis.
Cat's claw is most often marketed as a treatment for viral diseases such as herpes, shingles, AIDS, and feline leukemia virus. However, the evidence for these uses is preliminary. One study on cat's claw suggests that the Uncaria guianensis species might be helpful for osteoarthritis.
Cat's claw has also been proposed as a treatment for allergies and stomach ulcers, but there is no significant evidence as yet that it is effective for these conditions.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is a powerful antioxidant discovered by researchers at the University of Wisconsin in 1957. The name of this supplement comes from the word ubiquitous, which means "found everywhere." CoQ10 is found in every cell in the body. It plays a fundamental role in the mitochondria, the parts of the cell that produce energy from glucose and fatty acids.
Japanese scientists first discovered the therapeutic properties of CoQ10 in the 1960s. CoQ10 appears to assist the heart during times of stress on the heart muscle, perhaps by helping it use energy more efficiently. CoQ10's best-established use is for congestive heart failure. Other research results suggest that it may also be useful for other types of heart problems, Parkinson's disease, and several additional illnesses. It is generally used in addition to, rather than instead of standard therapies.
Because CoQ10 is found in all animal and plant cells, we obtain small amounts of this nutrient from our diet. However, it would be hard to get a therapeutic dosage from food. The typical recommended dosage of CoQ10 is 30 to 300 mg daily, often divided into 2 or 3 doses; higher daily intakes have been used in some studies. CoQ10 is fat soluble and may be better absorbed when taken in an oil-based soft gel form rather than in a dry form such as tablets and capsules.
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Dimethylglycine (DMG)
Dimethylglycine (DMG) is a derivative of glycine, the simplest of the amino acids. It acts as a building block for many important substances, including the amino acid methionine, choline, a number of important hormones and neurotransmitters, and DNA. DMG has been found to enhance the immune system and to reduce elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It improves oxygen utilization by the body, helps to normalize blood pressure and blood glucose levels, and improves the functioning of many important organs.
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Echinacea
Stimulates certain white blood cells and has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Good for the immune system and the lymphatic system. Useful for colic, colds, flu and other infectious illnesses.
Enzymes
Enzymes assist in practically all bodily functions. Digestive enzymes break down particles for storage in the liver or muscles. This stored energy is later converted by other enzymesfor use by the body when necessary. Enzymes assist the kidneys, liver, lungs, colon and skin in removing wastes and toxins from the body. Enzymes also utilize the nutrients ingested by the body to construct new muscle tissue, nerve cells, bone, skin and glandular tissue. Enzymes prompt oxidation of glucose, which creates energy for the cells. Enzymes also protect the blood from dangerous waste materials by converting these substances to forms that are easily eliminated by the body. The functions of enzymes are so many and so diverse that it would be impossible to name them all.
Enzymes are often divided into two groups: digestive enzymes and metabolic enzymes. Digestive enzymes Digestive enzymes are secreted along the gastrointestinal tract and break down foods, enabling the nutrients to be absorbed into the blood stream for use in various bodily functions. There are three main categories of digestive enzymes: amylase, protease and lipase. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates Protease, found in the stomach and pancreatic juices, helps to digest protein. Lipase aids in fat digestion.
Metabolic enzymes Metabolic enzymes are those enzymes that catalize the various chemical reactions within the cells, such as energy production and detoxification. All of the body's organs, tissues and cells are run by the metabolic enzymes. They build the body from proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Each body tissue has its own specific set of metabolic enzymes.
Food enzymes
While the body manufactures a supply of enzymes, it can also obtain enzymes from food. Since enzymes are very sensitive to heat, one must eat raw foods to obtain enzymes from the diet. Enzymes can be found in many different foods: avocados, papayas, pine apples, bananas, mangoes, sprouts - have highest content of enzymes.
Ephedra
Acts as decongestant, aids in the elimination of fluids, relieves bronchial spasm, and stimulates the central nervous system. Also may decrease appetite.
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Fennel
Used as an appetite suppresant. Promotes the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and spleen; also clears the lungs. Useful for acid stomach. Good after chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments for cancer.
Flax
Promotes strong bones, nails, and teeth, as well as healthy skin. Useful for colon problems, female disorders and inflammations.
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