When Eating Vegetables is not Enough

Vitamins and vitamin supplements supply specific nutrients to the human body and are vital for excellent health. Vitamin supplements are intended to offer nutritional or dietary value to those individuals who consume them, either filling in nutritional gaps or providing extra nutrients to produce a particular effect or cure a certain ailment. Therefore, supplements are usually taken to complement the daily intake of food to provide additional vitamins that the body will be able to use. Taking vitamin supplements provides an opportunity for individuals to optimize their health, especially if their diet is lacking in one or more substances.

What Are Vitamins?

Vitamins can be defined as nutrients or organic substances that the body needs to maintain normal metabolic functioning. These substances are required for appropriate functionality and ongoing health. With only a few exceptions, vitamins are not produced actively by the body; but must be ingested either through an extremely well-balanced natural diet or through supplementation. In some cases, alternative means exist for obtaining certain quantities of vitamins that can be absorbed by the body. For example, the body absorbs vitamin D from sunlight. Another example of obtaining vitamins from a source other than food is the ingestion of vitamin supplements.

What Types of Vitamins Are There?

Two different types of vitamins exist – water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Typically, water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins are found in different types of foods. This is the main reason why it is important to eat a varied diet.

Fat-soluble vitamins can be obtained by eating fatty foods. They are found in liver, butter, dairy products, and certain types of fish. The body stores these fat-soluble substances within the liver until such time as it needs them. The four fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K.

Water-soluble vitamins can be obtained by ingesting a variety of vegetables and fruits. Since they are not stored in the body but are used immediately, it is necessary to ingest these vitamins on a regular basis. Typically, any excess water-soluble vitamins are eliminated by the body after it absorbs what it requires. The list of water-soluble vitamins includes vitamin B_6, vitamin B_12, vitamin C, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin or vitamin B₂, and Thiamin or vitamin B₁. Since water-soluble vitamins are easy to eliminate through bodily waste, individuals are less likely to overdose on them.

Vitamin Supplements

Avoiding a nutritional deficiency is almost impossible. The sad reality is that the majority of individuals do not consume sufficient varieties of unprocessed foods to ensure adequate nutrition. Vitamin supplements may be used to complement the daily diet in an effort to provide the body with essential nutrients. From healthy skin to strong teeth and bones, vitamins offer the body an opportunity to maintain health and well being. High premium quality vitamin supplements are readily absorbed by the body and provide an added advantage as well. They can be purchased in particular quantities designed to treat a particular condition and restore specific areas of a person’s health; and are often used to counter medical imbalances and disorders.

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A Nutritional Supplement a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Nutritionists present guidelines on dietary values in foods for the general public, and the experts hope that the general public will follow such guidelines to maintain a healthy diet. Those who meticulously follow the guidelines are likely to have flawless skin, a healthy heart, impeccable health and significant energy. Unfortunately for a variety of reasons, the majority of the public cannot or do not follow the recommendations of the experts. Some are too busy to prepare the suggested menus and would rather flock to fast food outlets on their way to and from the daily commitments of work and family. Others may have dietary restrictions, allergies or preferences that prevent them from maintaining a well-balanced diet.

Consult an Expert

Knowledgeable experts on health and fitness will explain the benefits of quality nutritional supplementation to assist individuals in search of optimum health. The information is available from a variety of sources, but some of the best consultants are pharmacists, nutritionists, naturopaths and qualified fitness experts. They will explain the products available (usually on specialized websites dedicated to health and fitness). Optimum fitness requires an excellent and highly nutritious diet, plus a well-planned exercise routine.

Nutritionists and other medical experts often recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements as insurance against nutrients missing from an individual’s diet. Although most individuals endeavor to eat nutritiously, they do not always achieve this goal. Some individuals do not even come close to meeting basic nutritional guidelines in their existing diet. Adding the missing nutrients in the form of supplements is an advisable practice for most individuals and a necessary step for those individuals who have poor nutritional habits. Overuse of these products is possible, but if used correctly the supplements should not produce a health risk.

Wise individuals will select special products that meet their specific medical and nutritional needs. For many, taking a daily multivitamin may be insufficient or result in a nutrient overdose, as it encourage the over-consumption of some nutrients and the under-consumption of others. Many vitamins and minerals are present in unprocessed foods; however, including appropriate amounts of these substances in the diet through natural foods is often difficult. Quality supplements provide the nutrients in a balanced, synergistic, optimized fashion. Quality of components is far superior to large quantities of poorly absorbed or inferior quality ingredients.

Choosing the correct nutritional supplement is an important decision. Overdose and over-consumption of vitamins and minerals is linked to a wide variety of illnesses, so one premium multivitamin/mineral complex is far superior to a dozen bottles of less expensive but poor quality individual components that are poorly manufactured and lacking in many nutrients that aid in the absorptions and utilization of the nutrients by the body. I recommend Bionx Multivitamin/Mineral Complex

Following specialized nutritional therapies may also be beneficial in producing very positive results, as many vitamins and minerals are specifically linked to the treatment of different illnesses.

Read the UltraFitnessDynamics Review for Bionx Multivitamin/Mineral Complex

Weight Loss via Natural Cleansing

Interest in weight loss has never been higher, and it is easy to understand why as America’s obesity epidemic has become front-page news. But as story after story illustrates, individuals who “diet” rarely lose the weight permanently. Too often their weight ends up on the so-called ‘yo-yo’ path, rising and falling as the new miracle diet or pill of the month is used than abandoned, in the search for the perfect simple solution. To make matters worse, doctors have discovered another hidden danger to this type of dieting: nutritional deprivation.

An Alternative to Traditional Dieting

Nutritional cleansing is one way to jump-start a healthy eating plan, while flooding the body with the crucial vitamins and nutrients to avoid a drop in metabolic rates. A quality nutritional cleanse will provide fluids, vitamins and minerals to naturally enhance energy levels and eliminate toxins from the body. Individuals often report feeling brighter and more “alive” because the body is not taxed by the digestive process and it receives the necessary nutrients for maintenance and purification.

Nutritional cleansing which mandates significant quantities of water to be consumed, which aids both in maintaining metabolic rates and eliminating toxins and the layer of fat cells encapsulating same. The more fluid consumed, the more efficiently the metabolic process operates, and hence the greater number of calories used.

Bodies work optimally, as would be expected, when they are not battling a host of impurities. From chlorine and fluoride in our water, carbon monoxide and particulate matter in our air, chemicals and preservatives in the foods we consume, the burden of our modern environment places tremendous strains on our bodies, depleting our resources. A nutritional cleanse is one way to eliminate those toxins, allowing the body to function as a well-tuned engine, provided that the individual embarks upon a largely unprocessed source of nutrition, a premium multivitamin/mineral complex, antioxidants and a consistent fitness regimen. If these steps are taken, and periodic purification through nutritional cleansing is undertaken, the risks of obesity, invading toxins and associated diseases may be significantly curtailed. While of course genetic factors may come into play, reducing the levels of toxins in the body is one very simple way to reduce the risks associated with disease and illness.

Rest as Important as Exercise

Nutritional cleansing requires rest to enable the body to maximize the benefits of the cleansing ritual. Rest has several important benefits for in any weight loss plan. It allows the body to devote the necessary resources to eliminating toxins and impurities. If one considers the unprecedented number of pollutants in today’s world, it is apparent that significant work is required of the body to eliminate such toxic build-up. Since it is impossible to avoid all forms of toxicity present in the modern environment, steps not required in the past are now a necessity in today’s world of pesticides, automobile emissions, contaminated water supplies, generically-enhanced foods, and hormone-injected meats.

Two natural hormones, leptin and ghrelin, have been shown to be a critical factor in one’s perception of hunger and these hormones are directly affected by the amount and quality of sleep. Give yourself the gift of sleep – for many reasons – but particularly during a deep nutritional cleanse. The results may well amaze you in their efficacy and speed.

When considering your weight loss goals and strategies, consider nutritional cleansing as a way to start yourself on the path to a leaner, stronger you. We strongly recommend ISAGENIX Cleansing Programs, click for more details.

THE DANGERS OF OBESITY

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and is a serious issue in most developed countries. Starting with the Industrial Revolution, labor-saving inventions were welcomed into our homes and workplaces, making us far more productive, but also far more sedentary. We no longer beat the rugs; we vacuum carpeting. We do not chop wood; we turn up the thermostat. Rather than walk to town or ride a horse, we drive a car. And we rarely cook foods from scratch, rather we are far more likely to buy packaged foods for convenience, or have a meal in a restaurant.

The Silent Killer

But hidden in the midst of such convenience exist some recently-discovered dangers. Eating more and moving less has created millions of Americans who are overweight, and tens of thousands who have reached the level of obesity. Obesity is defined by the National Institutes of Health as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. For someone 5’10” tall, that would equate to weighing over 209 pounds. “Overweight” according to the BMI index, would be between 174 and 208 pounds, or a body mass index of 25 to 29.9.

The most dangerous aspect to obesity is that, in essence, it is a nearly silent killer. Weight is usually gained slowly enough so that the body adjusts, and the effects are not felt for some time. Additionally, many of the most dangerous effects of obesity are hidden inside the body: the strain on the heart, narrowed arteries, and increased blood flow are not easily recognizable symptoms, and hence are easily ignored. But sooner or later, if left unchecked, these tiny cracks in the foundation of one’s health will result in devastating consequences.

Obese individuals have a 50% to 100% greater chance of dying from a given cause than those of normal weight. To make matters worse, extra poundage stresses the body, compromising the immune system, causing such individuals to more easily fatigue, and depressing the immune system. Thus, when an obese individual catches a cold, the flu, or other illness, he or she has far fewer resources for fighting the disease.

Obesity stresses the lungs as well as the heart, resulting in more labored breathing. Reduced lung function may lead to an increase in colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Being overweight and obese has also been shown by several studies to be linked to an increased risk of cancer. Often the specific tie between the cause and effect has yet to be identified, but research indicates that factors such as decreased immune system functionality or increase in the amount of adipose tissue, (where cancer cells are often found) may well play a significant role. Lack of exercise is also a proven risk factor, especially for breast cancer. A study by the Women’s Health Initiative showed that even 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week of brisk walking may reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 18%.

The Good News

The good news is that weight is a situation individuals can control. Changes in diet, increases in exercise, talks with a doctor, and evaluation of the many products available to assist in the quest for lower weight can all have a positive impact. Taking control of your weight is the first step in reducing the dangers of obesity to your overall health. Nutritional cleansing has been shown by abundant anecdotal evidence to drastically reduce the level of obesogens present in the body. With the absence of these toxins, the body no longer needs to hold on to the associated fat needed to protect its vital organs. This results in a measurable drop in body fat levels which in turn leads to weight loss. Isagenix Cleansing Programs will give you the head start you need. Order now

Antioxidants

Antioxidants – you hear the word bandied about in the press and on television, but what are they? Supposedly they are good for you, but good in what way? Here are answers to some of the most frequently-asked questions about antioxidants.

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are naturally-occurring substances found in many foods; they are generally referred to as a member of the vitamin family, and they help protect the body against damage from free radicals. Technically, an antioxidant is any product that slows or prevents the oxidation of other molecules. When oxidation occurs, free radicals are released; it is these free radicals that damage cells in the body. Antioxidants form a ‘buffer’ between the body and such free radicals.

Oxidation within the human body is now being widely studied. It is believed to potentially play a part in, or even be a main cause of, various diseases from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to cancer and strokes. If the body can be protected from the progression of these diseases, or even their onset, individuals would live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.

Different Types of Antioxidants

We are all familiar by now with the most well-known of the antioxidants, vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. Although found in both plants and animals, it is abundant in citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, but also in often-overlooked products such as papayas and strawberries.

Melatonin is another antioxidant that significantly impacts overall health. Melatonin has been shown to have an effect on the sleep cycle, and individuals with low melatonin levels often experience poor sleep length and quality. Melatonin easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, allowing its beneficial aspects to enter the cerebrospinal fluid and thereafter the brain. Supplementation with melatonin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cluster headaches as well as migraines. There is early evidence of interaction with the human immune system, though studies are still being conducted to discover the full extent of this interaction.

Benefits of Antioxidants

Even if all the effects of antioxidants are not yet known, what we do know is that antioxidants form an important part of the human body and thus are of crucial importance to overall health. At therapeutic levels, the beneficial effects of antioxidant supplementation may lessen the effects of aging and disease. Even at maintenance levels, antioxidants may help maintain the body at peak condition and vigor.

In addition to the damage wrought by free radicals within the body, external contact with chemicals, heavy metals, tobacco and poisons – just to name a few – expose an individual to a barrage of aging compounds. Antioxidants are the first level of defense. They protect the body from free radicals, and at therapeutic levels may even help repair existing damage.

To ensure that one is consuming adequate amounts of antioxidants, it is wise to consider the use of antioxidant supplements such as The Ultimate Antioxidant from Baseline Nutritionals which provide rich benefits from various plants and herbs. While supplements should not be used as a substitute for unprocessed fruits and vegetables, they are essential for a less than optimal diet.

Meal Replacement Powders

As the incidence of obesity in the American public has reached epidemic proportions, more and more individuals have begun searching for a way to lose weight that fits within their hectic lifestyles. With time for exercise often difficult to find, reducing our food intake is the next best option.

Meal Replacement Powders

The most significant barrier to weight loss is food consumption. Reducing portion size, eliminating comfort foods, and relinquishing long-held habits are difficult for most. Endeavoring to conduct one’s daily affairs while famished is not the answer. And this is precisely why meal replacement powders can assist dieters. Meal replacement powders are high-protein; nutrient-dense, low-fat powders intended to be mixed with milk, fruit juice, or water to create a complete and filling balanced meal. Rather than take the time to prepare a meal or, worse yet, consume highly processed foods, one can quickly and easily prepare a healthy meal replacement shake that will satisfy cravings and satiates appetites in a healthy manner which support the nutritional requirements of the body at a very low caloric expense.

Furthermore, quality meal replacement powders have a low to moderate amount of carbohydrates, which may aid individuals with risk factors for diabetes to moderate their blood sugar levels. Of course, one of the greatest risk factors for type 2 diabetes is obesity, and many who lose sufficient weight have seen their diabetes disappear as well. Additionally, meal replacements are low in sugar and cholesterol, two components that nearly everyone, not simply diabetics, should endeavor to minimize in their diets. Premium meal replacement powders have vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, with no artificial additives and only high-quality ingredients. Thus while losing weight; one is nourishing the body with healthy nutrients to enable optimal cognitive and physiological functionality.

The Numbers

How many calories does the average meal replacement powder consist of? Most meal replacement powders contain 250-350 calories per serving. Compared with the average fast-food meal consisting of 800-1000 calories, the majority of which are composed of sugar and fat and the benefits of meal replacement powders are easily discerned.

While fruits, nut butters and other ingredients can be added to the meal replacement drink for variety, it is advisable to monitor the calorie count. With this caveat, it is clear that meal replacement powders/shakes like IsaLean are one of the easiest ways to continue to move towards enhanced health.

PROTEIN POWDER SUPPLEMENTATION

The resurgence of interest in healthy weight-loss has spurred an interest in overall health, and many individuals have begun asking questions about nutritional supplements. Are they necessary? Can they help? Are they right for me? And the answer is quite simply, yes.

What Are Protein Powers?

A high quality protein powder is made from highly absorbable forms of protein, no fillers and an absence or reduced level of traditional allergens. Many nutritional experts and personal trainers include whey products when constructing personalized nutritional plans for their clients. Whey protein, in particular, contains some compounds that appear to boost immune systems, to enable benefits in addition to weight loss.

Depending upon how the protein is processed, it may be much more easily absorbed by the body than the standard proteins found in eggs, meat, or dairy products. And for those who are lactose-intolerant, protein powders may be much easier on their digestive tract than the proteins in milk or cheese. There can also be a cost benefit. Pound for pound, protein powder provides more protein for less money, as compared to meats, fish or other traditional forms of protein. That said, such powders should be used solely as a supplement as opposed to simply a replacement for natural foods.

Health Benefits

Meats and cheeses have some of the highest percentages of fat of any foods on the market today. Even lower-fat cheese and lean meat contain fair amounts of animal fats, which can be difficult for the digestive system to metabolize. Additionally, they may raise cholesterol levels and elevate risk for heart disease and stroke. Protein powders do not carry the same risks.

Some, of course, are more expensive than others, in part due to the cost of the raw product from which they are made, and in part due to the process of extracting the protein from the base element. Looking to replenish your body quickly after an intense workout? Try a protein powder made from whey protein, as it is easily absorbable and releases its benefits rapidly. Protein powders with casein as their base provide a much slower release. Protein powders are excellent supplements, but it is important to remember that they are not meal replacements. However such protein powders may become an important supplement to one’s overall nutritional plan. I recommend Nutribody Protein, click to order now.

Detoxification

The detoxification movement, traditionally a little-known branch of naturopathy, has been quietly gaining momentum over the past few years and is now poised to enter mainstream health management. During detoxification, one strives to eliminate or purge impurities from the body while minimizing exposure to new poisons. One follows a cleansing diet consists of nutrient rich drinks and foods, and allow extra time for sleep and rest, thus allowing the body to utilize pure foods and drinks to eliminate toxins.

What is Detoxification?

Fasting, the simplest form of detoxification has been used as part of health and religious practices since the commencement of recorded history. There are many records of individuals fasting and praying, and the benefits of periodic fasting are well-documented. Rest is usually one aspect to a proper cleanse. Resting during the day or sleeping longer periods at night allows the body to use its energy for improved well-being. When we are up and about, fighting off the environmental toxins that surround us is virtually a full-time job; resting during the detoxification process is necessary and allows the body to cleanse itself more efficiently.

Many of today’s detoxification plans encourage the consumption of pure foods and beverages that support the body’s ability to heal itself. Fruits, vegetables, herbs and filtered water are some of the more common components. Detoxification is centered in the concept of enabling the body’s natural immune system to function naturally. When we eat packaged, salted, preserved or unnatural foods, we tax our bodies in ways we are only now becoming cognizant of. Detoxification allows our bodies to enjoy a proverbial “breather”. During detoxification, only “whole” foods, such as whole grains, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and clean, healthy water are consumed, precluding chemicals and preservatives so prevalent in modern-day meals.

Easier than Ever Before

For those who do not want to research the various combinations that support detoxification, there are a few quality products that perform the nutritional cleansing or detoxification process quickly and easily like Isagenix Cleansing Programs. Typically, homeopathic doctors are much more likely to be well-versed in detoxification and cleansing. Although it has been used for centuries, the mainstream medical profession in the United States often does not recognize its benefits.

The liver and colon have long been recognized as essential to optimal health. They regulate not only the benefits reaped from the food and drink consumed, but also how quickly waste products are eliminated. Detoxification can be used to periodically cleanse the body of nutrients. Modern weight-loss programs suggest starting with a detoxification period in order to prepare the body for a new, healthier regimen. It is a new idea that has been in existence for centuries.

Purifying Yourself through Nutritional Cleansing

In this modern environment, we are battered by chemicals, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and yes, even poisons on a daily basis. Our bodies are fully capable of eliminating certain issues fairly easily; liver, intestines and colon are designed simply for that purpose. But Mother Nature never imagined the pollution that humans would unleash on the planet, and our bodies have not adapted sufficiently to eliminate the toxins wrought by the industrial age. Over time, these pollutants escalate within the body, impacting the physiological and cognitive functioning. This is where nutritional cleansing may be able to assist.

What Nutritional Cleansing Does

Nutritional cleansing provides the body with pure, healthy, nutritionally dense liquids, replenishing energy levels and providing the strength to eliminate toxins and pollutants. The pure foods included in a nutritional cleanse are blended in ratios to provide the body with its requirements for optimum health. When the body’s requirements are met, the excess toxins and pollutants may be eliminated naturally.

No area on our planet is safe from environmental and man-made pollutants. They have even been found in Antarctic ice! If toxins travel to the four corners of the globe, it is inevitable that our bodies contain such poisonous materials. One need look no further than the recent evidence of BPA (Bisphenol A) contamination; the chemical found in plastics included in products ranging from baby bottles to Nalgene water containers. Indeed, the FDA has found that the plastic may leach these chemicals into whatever liquid or food is included inside the container. This plastic typically is labeled with the number 7 for easy identification.

A more common plastic is one labeled with the number 1 on the container, and concerns have been raised that this type of plastic may leach polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE, into its contents. This plastic is used for most disposable water and soda bottles, and thus the cumulative effect of PETE exposure over years can create a tremendous stress on an individual’s body.

Reestablishing the Body’s Balance

Nutritional cleansing helps to bring one back into balance. Infusing the body with healthy substances rather than chemicals and toxins is the first step to optimal health. Many individuals who start nutritional cleansing report feelings of purity after only one day of detoxification. Of course, depending upon the level of toxins in each body, it may actually take up to a week to feel the effects. Nutritional cleansing is new, but is gaining momentum rapidly for a very good reason – the benefits are numerous based upon anecdotal and testimonial evidence.

Provide your body with what it needs via nutritional cleansing. Treat your body to healthy support, rather than living with unwholesome toxins. You will notice the difference! I personally recommend Isagenix Cleansing Programs.

Just One Cigarette Makes the Heart Work Harder

While social smokers, who claim to enjoy a cigarette on occasion, may believe themselves to be free from the dangers that face the true nicotine addict, it now appears that just one cigarette is all that is necessary to adversely affect the circulatory system.

Smoking Stiffens Arteries

A recent study conducted by the McGill University Health Center in Canada examined the effect of smoking on arterial stiffness, which is an important factor in determining how hard a heart must work to perform its basic functionality.

Researchers led by Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou studied the effects of smoking on people between the ages of 18 and 30 and discovered some shocking results, likely to be of concern to even the least active social smoker. The survey examined the arterial stiffness of both smokers and non-smokers while at rest and after exercise. While non-smokers’ arteries responded well to physical exertion – demonstrating a noticeable drop in arterial stiffness after even a small amount of exercise – the smokers’ vessels became 2.2 percent stiffer with exercise, 12.6 percent stiffer after chewing a piece of nicotine gum and 24 percent stiffer after smoking only one cigarette.

The results are alarming because stiffened arteries force the heart to work harder and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Hearts Working Harder

Dr. Daskalopoulou noted that her team’s research indicated that arterial damage, compromising the body’s ability to respond to physical exertion, was likely the first damage inflicted when an individual begins his or her smoking habit. She added that the oxygen circulation of the smoker was not only compromised while indulging in this addiction, but that lingering effects continued to impact their system.

Young Smokers’ Systems Compromised

Dr. Daskalopoulou stated, “In effect, this means that even light smoking in otherwise healthy young people can damage the arteries, compromising the ability of their bodies to cope with physical stress, such as climbing a set of stairs or running to catch a bus. It seems that this compromised ability to respond to physical stress occurs first, before the damage of the arteries becomes evident at rest.”

Anti-smoking campaigners will not be surprised by the revelation. Pursuant to Heart and Stroke Federation spokeswoman, Dr. Beth Abramson, the study served only to reiterate the importance of the long-standing efforts to alert individuals to the very real dangers of smoking.

Protection Against Smoke Damage

While time and money will continue to be poured into efforts to prevent new smokers from starting down the path to compromised circulation, established smokers may be asking what they can do to reverse the damage.

Most important is of course to case smoking completely, and while the preparation and process may take some time, holistic practitioners recommend augmenting the diet with supplements such as vitamin C, and the antioxidant grape seed oil which can help equip the body to fight against the ravages wrought by smoking.

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Is it Possible to Counteract the Risks of Smoking?

Smoking is hazardous to one’s health. Smoking causes cancer. Smoking harms unborn babies. Second-hand smoke poses an increasing number of health-related risks. These are the warnings printed on the packaging of tobacco products in some countries across the world today. And yet, despite these dire warnings, some of which are accompanied by graphic pictures of diseased lungs and cancerous tongues, many individuals continue their smoking habit, or worse, begin to smoke, despite the research, in the 21^st century.

The highly addictive nature of nicotine is widely recognized, and eliminating this addiction is an arduous task requiring a strong will and great determination, albeit there are alternative techniques, such as acupuncture, NLP, and hypnotherapy that have proven successful for some individuals. Irrespective of the alternatives for cessation of smoking, the fact is that smoking is once again rising as a habit across a wide spectrum of individuals, of varying ages and socioeconomic status.

Smoking on the Rise

Estimates approximate that 1,000 individuals begin the nicotine habit each day in America. This figure accounts for a one percent rise in the number of smokers in the country in 2008, when health officials were celebrating an all time low in the smoking rate for the US. The figures make for depressing reading, particularly for health professionals and anti-smoking campaigners, who have worked tirelessly over the past 50 years to reduce the number of smoking related illnesses and deaths in countries throughout the world.

Fighting Smoking Related Illness

While the first generations to die of cigarette related cancers could not have known what fate their habit might bring, the same cannot be said for the smokers of today, which makes the decision to start or continue smoking even more incomprehensible. And while work to address the numbers of smokers will continue, some have begun to question what can be done by way of damage mitigation for those who insist upon continuing this unhealthy habit.

Supplements for Smokers

Some holistic practitioners have begun to suggest that perhaps health levels amongst smokers might be improved by education on counteracting the damaging effects of the chemicals contained in cigarette smoke, which toxins have been shown to correlate with diseases such as lung, bladder and bowel cancer, as well as an array of cardiovascular diseases.

One school of thought is that supplements should be introduced to the diet to balance the chemical intake caused by smoking. While nearly every individual would benefit from a premium multivitamin supplement, smokers may wish to consider additional supplements tailored to meet the specific needs of their weakened immune systems.

A vitamin C supplement is an excellent addition to the smoker’s regime as this nutrient is quickly depleted by nicotine in the blood stream. Other recommended dietary supplements for smokers include CoQ10 – an enzyme with antioxidant properties currently undergoing scientific testing as a possible weapon in the fight against cancers – and grape seed extract, which contains antioxidants useful in the prevention of heart disease.

Smokers Should Protect Themselves

While the best defense against smoking related illness is cease the habit entirely, smokers who find this difficult should explore alternative techniques while paying enhanced attention to their nutritional needs, supplementing their diet with vitamins and antioxidants where possible to provide the best possibility of resisting cigarette related damage.

We strongly recommend Bionx Multivitamin/Mineral Complex, to mitigate smoking related damage.