Herbal Supplement Guide – What to Look For Before You Buy

Any visit to a supermarket or drug store will reveal a bewildering array of herbal supplements for every condition imaginable. If you have some health issues or simply want to start a preventative health program, then an herbal supplement program is well worth taking every day. The problem is, how do you know which one to choose? Do you save money and start with the cheapest? Or do you believe you get what you pay for and go for the most expensive? Choosing the right brand goes beyond a pretty label to what’s inside those capsules and tablets. Here are some general guidelines to help you get the best value for money.

Quality
Compare supplements between companies. While some will skimp on the quantity and potency of the ingredients, the best health supplement companies will offer a higher amount of the active ingredients. Although they may be more expensive, in the long run they will do the job, which cheaper, inferior products will not.

Guarantee
Companies which can be trusted will offer excellent unconditional money-back guarantees, often for a full 90 days. This peace of mind means that if you are ordering a product for the first time, you get to try it with a safety net. If it does not suit you, you can return it and get your money back without any hassle. Avoid companies which are not prepared to back their herbal supplement with a fair guarantee.

Long-Standing Reputation
Word of mouth recommendations or customer feedback is a good way to assess which companies are best. If you know someone who regularly takes supplements, then ask them where they buy their herbal supplements. Alternatively, look on the internet. Avoid amateur-looking websites which just sell a single product. They are not likely to be supplying the best natural health products. Some companies display the ‘BBB’ symbol which stands for the ‘Better Business Bureau’. Complaints of companies selling ‘quack’ supplements will be listed with them, and conversely a BBB accreditation is an impressive recommendation.

Bulk Buying Deals
Good companies may be slightly more expensive, but their products are likely to be better quality. One way to get an extra discount is to buy 2 or 3 bottles of the product at the same time. Remember, with a money-back guarantee there is no risk, and you can lower the price by 50% or more for a small financial outlay.

 

Blood Pressure Supplements: Top Ingredients for Natural Relief

As our bodies change with age, our rate of metabolism can be affected. This in turn can lead to higher blood pressure which is a dangerous and undesirable medical condition. Many patients are prescribed drugs to lower their blood pressure, but it is much safer and healthier to lower blood pressure naturally using natural blood pressure supplements. Here are 5 ingredients which support healthy blood pressure the safe and natural way.

Potassium

Potassium is known to stimulate the kidneys which process our body’s waste products. This is essential in order to avoid sodium retention which directly results in high blood pressure. Good natural sources of potassium are potatoes, bananas, tofu and beans.

Calcium

Known for giving us healthy bones and teeth, calcium also keeps our balance of sodium, potassium and magnesium correct in each cell for proper blood absorption. Milk, cheese, broccoli and oranges are good food sources. Calcium is also a key ingredient in all natural blood pressure supplements.

CoQ10

This substance is found naturally in our bodies, but is produced less as we get older. A CoQ10 supplement can help maintain a regular heart beat. It ensures healthy heart function as it also helps control our blood circulation.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is good for building natural immunity against colds and flu, but a recent study by Oregon State University together with Boston University show that Vitamin C also improves biological activity of nitric oxide, resulting in lower blood pressure.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid

It is a well known fact that Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain good HDL cholesterol levels whilst lowering the bad LDL cholesterol. If your diet is not rich in mackerel, salmon and tuna, consider taking fish oil as one of your natural blood pressure supplements.

With a little help from nature these natural ingredients can help you manage your blood pressure, naturally and effectively.

For more information on blood pressure supplements, visit HealthyChoiceNaturals.com.

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Top Herbal Supplements to Help You lose Weight

Losing weight is a tough battle. According to the American Heart Association, more than 142 million Americans aged 20 and over are overweight or obese. We are all aware that being overweight leads to many health problems including higher cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and increasing many more health risks, yet we are unable to shed those unwanted pounds. Perhaps a little help from nature’s bounty with a choice of herbal supplements is all we need to convert our efforts into successful weight loss. So, what are the options?

Hoodia is a very effective product which acts as an appetite suppressant. Hoodia gordonii is a cactus-like plant found in the South African desert and used for centuries by the bushmen who would chew the leaves to ward off hunger on their hunting trips. Although hoodia does not in any way shed fat, it helps reduce hunger cravings which can help those cutting calories and trying to eat less, but it still requires willpower and a change of diet to be effective.

Acai can be found in a number of forms and as well as being beneficial to general health it also supports an increase in energy levels naturally, helping to burn calories and fat. It also detoxifies the colon, liver and kidneys, helps normalize cholesterol levels and assists with a healthy weight loss.

Green Tea makes a healthy calorie-free drink or can be taken in capsule form and is a popular natural aid to weight loss.

CLA is an all-natural supplement which can be taken to help boost the rate of metabolism and help increase the burn rate of fat, thereby assisting weight loss.

Although no single product will magically melt fat, these supplements may help dieters stick to their weight-loss program and see encouraging results. While some products reduce cravings, others increase the rate at which we burn calories and fat. The best way to choose a weight loss aid is to take a balanced formula of herbal supplements which are combined in an easy-to-take capsule. Look for a product which is Ephedra-free, all natural and can help increase metabolism and burn fat whilst suppressing cravings. A reliable company will supply their product with a money-back guarantee, ensuring that you have nothing to lose except unwanted fat!

If you would like to get more information on Weight Loss Herbal Supplements , visit HealthyChoiceNaturals.com.

Study Shows Schools Drinking Water is Contaminated

Over the last 10 years the drinking water at thousands of schools across the U.S. has been found to contain unsafe levels of lead, pesticides and dozens of other toxins.

The results came from an A/P investigation and found that contaminants have surfaced at public and private schools in all 50 states, both in small towns and inner cities alike.

Shockingly, the problem has gone largely unmonitored by the federal government, even as the number of water safety violations has multiplied.

"It's an outrage," said Marc Edwards, an engineer at Virginia Tech who has been honored for his work on water quality. "If a landlord doesn't tell a tenant about lead paint in an apartment, he can go to jail. But we have no system to make people follow the rules to keep school children safe?"

Experts and children's advocates complain that responsibility for drinking water is spread among too many local, state and federal agencies, and that risks are going unreported. Finding a solution, they say, would require a costly new national strategy for monitoring water in schools.

It should be noted that schools with unsafe water represent only a small percentage of the nation's 132,500 schools. And the EPA says the number of violations increased over the last decade largely because the government has gradually adopted stricter standards for contaminants such as arsenic and some disinfectants.

Many of the same toxins could also be found in water at homes, offices and businesses. But the contaminants are especially dangerous to children, who drink more water per pound than adults and are more vulnerable to the effects of many hazardous substances.

The AP analyzed a database showing federal drinking water violations from 1998 to 2008 in schools with their own water supplies. The findings:
• Water in about 100 school districts and 2,250 schools breached federal safety standards.

• Those schools and districts racked up more than 5,550 separate violations. In 2008, the EPA recorded 577 violations, up from 59 in 1998 — an increase that officials attribute mainly to tougher rules.

• California, which has the most schools of any state, also recorded the most violations with 612, followed by Ohio (451), Maine (417), Connecticut (318) and Indiana (289).

• Nearly half the violators in California were repeat offenders. One elementary school in Tulare County, in the farm country of the Central Valley, broke safe-water laws 20 times.

• The most frequently cited contaminant was coliform bacteria, followed by lead and copper, arsenic and nitrates.

"There is just no excuse for this. Period," said California Sen. Barbara Boxer, Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. "We want to make sure that we fix this problem in a way that it will never happen again, and we can ensure parents that their children will be safe."
The problem goes beyond schools that use wells. Schools that draw water from public utilities showed contamination; too, especially older buildings where lead can concentrate at higher levels than in most homes.

Schools that get water from local utilities are not required to test for toxins because the EPA already regulates water providers. That means there is no way to ensure detection of contaminants caused by schools' own plumbing.

But voluntary tests in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Seattle and Los Angeles have found dangerous levels of lead in recent years. And experts warn the real risk to schoolchildren is going unreported.

Many school officials say buying bottled water is less expensive than fixing old pipes. Baltimore, for instance, has spent more than $2.5 million on bottled water over the last six years.

In California, the Department of Public Health has given out more than $4 million in recent years to help districts overhaul their water systems.

Let us know what you think about this outrage.

 

Could a Soda Tax Help Fight Obesity?

Health Experts say a proposed national tax on soda and other sugary drinks of 1 cent per ounce could aid the United States' obesity epidemic, while generating $14.9 billion the first year alone.

The tax could help fund programs to prevent obesity, say a group of prominent researchers in an article in the Sept. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The authors believe such a tax would deter people from buying non-nutritious sweet drinks, thereby helping Americans to lose weight and reduce their health risks.

The tax would increase the cost of a 20-ounce soft drink by 15 to 20 percent.  Researchers suggest the increased cost would lead to a minimum reduction of 20 calories a day per person from sweetened beverages. The revenue collected would benefit individual states and the federal government.

The concept of levying a "Twinkie tax" first gained attention in 1994, when Yale University psychology professor Kelly D. Brownell made the proposal in a piece in The New York Times.

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama said such taxes could help cover the cost of overhauling the U.S. health care system.

Meanwhile, studies continue to link consumption of beverages sweetened with sucrose (regular sugar), high-fructose corn syrup or fruit-juice concentrates to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, not to mention dental decay.

One such study found that each additional serving of sugar-sweetened beverage increased the risk of obesity in middle-school students by 60 percent.

In another study involving 100 high-school students, eliminating such drinks led to a significant decrease in body weight.

While the tax strategy has reduced cigarette and alcohol use, there's no guarantee it would work with food.

The beverage industry opposes a soda tax and also disputes the connection between consumption of sweetened drinks and obesity.

"Excise taxes on soft drinks simply do not reduce obesity rates," the American Beverage Association said in a statement issued Wednesday. "West Virginia and Arkansas are two prime examples -- both have excise taxes on soft drinks, yet rank fifth and sixth highest in the nation for obesity rates, " it said.

What are your thoughts on the proposed tax? Leave a comment and let us know.

5 Natural Supplements that May Help You Live to 100!

We all know the current life expectancy of those fortunate enough to live in the USA. According to the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, a US resident born in 2004 has a life expectancy of 77.9 years. Of course most of us hope to live even longer so we can watch our generations of family grow as we age. Studies suggest that taking natural supplements can help us live long and healthy lives. So, what have we got to lose? Improving the quality of our life, however long it may turn out to be, is a big bonus.

The following are 5 supplements known to support longevity and the reasons why they are great for aiding a long and healthy life.

1. Omega-3 is proven to promote a healthy heart. It also lubricates joints, which are going to get a lot of wear in your potential 100 years of active life. It is difficult to get sufficient Omega-3 in your natural diet, so take a supplement of at least 420mg of EPA and 280mg of DHA. Choose a well-established and respected brand which uses sustainable sources of fish.
2. A Vitamin B complex that includes B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine) as well as folic acid, B12, pantothenic acid and biotine. Each of the B-vitamins is essential to good health and this family of natural supplements work together to be even more effective when taken together.
3. Alpha Lipoic Acid 400mg taken daily is heralded as ‘the universal oxidant’ shown to protect the integrity of our cells, from the brain to the liver. Dr Nicholas Perricone is a staunch advocate of this natural supplement and the role it plays in the body’s defense network, the repair of collagen damage and the control of inflammation.
4. Acetyl-L-Carnitine supports mental energy, improves mood and slows the aging of the cells, particularly brain cells.
5. Vitamin D is high on the list of health supplements for long life. It is associated with a decreased risk of many health problems and is important for maintaining natural calcium levels. It is particularly important for those who do not live with year-round sunshine.

There are of course many more all-natural supplements which help to enhance our health, but the above products have a bias towards a longer life. Here’s to many more birthdays for us all!

If you would like more information on herbal supplements for a healthy lifestyle, visit HealthyChoiceNaturals.com

 

Quit Smoking Naturally – Tips to Quit for Good

Giving up smoking is likely to be one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do in your life. You want to quit smoking and you know you should, for your health, for your family and to save money, but although your mind is willing, your long-term willpower may be weak. Quitting smoking is tough, and some find it almost impossible to do. Nicotine is a powerful addict, and although many people choose to start smoking of their own free will, most people do not continue to smoke because they want to, but because they are addicted.

Many wise smokers do not want to add more drugs to their body, so they choose to quit smoking naturally. If you are serious about wanting to quit smoking naturally, use some or all of our tips and make this the time you succeed!

5 Tips to Help You Quit Smoking Naturally

• Add exercise to your new lifestyle. It occupies your mind and gets you through those moments of weakness. When you really, really want a cigarette, put on your running gear and take off.

• Add low-fat, high-fiber foods to your diet to speed detoxification and maintain energy. These foods also help avoid weight gain.

• Tell your non-smoking friends and work associates that you have quit smoking. The thought of them catching you smoking and mocking you may be just enough to stop you taking that first backward step.

• Put your cigarette money in a jar, then treat yourself to a reward - a beauty treatment, a good book or a weekend away will give you the pat on the back you deserve.

• Look for an all-natural formula of products which work together to help reduce the cravings and desire to smoke. There are some excellent stop-smoking packages which include several aids to help you quit smoking naturally. Natural products such as echinacea are known to help your body resist cravings, whilst sarsaparilla helps prevent the dreaded weight gain and passion flower helps reduce tension and feelings of anxiety. Add to this burdock root, kelp and hyssop which are all known to cleanse the body of nicotine deposits, making you feel healthier and livelier. The package may also include an aromatherapy oil to be used at times when the urge to smoke becomes almost irresistible. Rub the oil under your nose; the action and the vapor together will help you overcome the urge safely and naturally. One final component in the package is a low-dose formula to help you maintain your new status as a non-smoker.

No-one can do it alone; we all need a little help. Natural formulas are very safe, affordable and effective in helping to overcome the urge to smoke. Making the decision to quit smoking naturally is the first step in your successful bid to quit smoking for life.

For more information on ways to quit smoking naturally, visit healthychoicenaturals.com.

Krill Oil’s Top 3 Benefits

Krill Oil’s Top 3 Benefits

 

Few people have heard of krill oil and are unaware of the potential benefits of including this all-natural product in their diet. Krill are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans which are 1-6cm long. They live on phytoplankton and are in turn eaten by whales, seals, penguins, squid and other fish. They are primarily fished in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. The oil is extracted and used as a natural health supplement. It is usually taken in capsule form, like other fish oil supplements.

Here are the top 3 benefits of this little known health supplement.

 

Krill Oil is a Powerful Anti-Oxidant

We are well aware of the benefits of taking fish oil, but in terms of Oxygen Radical Absorptancer Capacity values, krill oil was found to be 48 times more potent than other fish oils. It contains Vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D and canthaxanthin, which is similar to astaxanthin which makes it an incredibly potent anti-oxidant and an excellent all-natural supplement which should be considered as part of any daily health regimen. Antioxidants protect our body cells from free radicals, substances believed to be a contributing factor in some chronic diseases.

 

It protects against Ultra-Violet Rays

The algae which the krill eat produce a red pigment called astaxanthin which give lobsters and shrimps their red colour. The astaxanthin found in this all-natural product has been found to provide excellent protection against harmful ultra-violet light which causes skin damage.

 

Excellent Source of Omega 3’s

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) include both Omega-3 fats and Omega-6 fats. EFAs are called essential because your body cannot make them. Therefore, EFAs must be obtained through your diet. Americans consume a dangerously insufficient amount of Omega-3 acids, while our intake of Omega-6 is too high.

Seafood is a good source of omega-3 fats. However, many people are concerned about eating fish because of concerns to exposure to mercury and toxic substances. Krill is an excellent source of omega-3-fats and because krill are at the bottom of the food chain, they are not be as heavily exposed to marine pollutants, making them a safe substitute for seafood.

 

When looking for a krill oil supplement, make to look for krill that are harvested in the Antarctic which is held as the gold standard. Antarctic krill oil is derived from remote, deep-water seas. This ensures that the krill to be processed are not heavily contaminated by industrial pollutants and are processed through a cold extraction method.

Healthychoicenaturals has more information on the incredible benefits of Krill Oil.

 

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Manage Blood Pressure Naturally - 12 Effective Ways

With over 100 million American's with, or at risk for high blood pressure, it is important to take measures to control your blood pressure in order to stay healthy.  Fortunately, many people can successfully manage their blood pressure naturally by maintaining some healthy lifestyle habits.

Here are 12 things you can do to manage your blood pressure naturally:

 

1. Exercise – One of the most effective ways to control your insulin levels is through exercise. A regular exercise program can go a long way towards maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Exercise 5-7 days a week for 30 minutes and you could drop 4-9 points.
   
   
2. Follow a low fat diet. A diet high in fruit, veggies and low-fat dairy, and low in fat, red meat, sweets and sugary beverages. Following a healthy diet can drop your blood pressure by 8-14 points.
   
   
3. Lose weight.  It’s estimated that you could drop 5-20 points for every 22 pounds you lose.
   
   
4. Limit your sodium intake to 2,400 mg day and you could drop 2-8 points.
   
   
5. Limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day for men, 1 for women and you could drop 2-4 points.
   
   
6. Sleep Well.  Not getting enough sleep may contribute to hypertension.
   
   
7. Reduce your stress. It can raise your blood pressure and over time, may contribute to the permanent condition of hypertension. Find ways to relax.
   
   
8. Potassium. Make sure to get enough by eating a varied diet containing plenty of fruit, veggies, dairy and fish.
   
   
9. Calcium.  Make sure you are getting 1,000 mg a day if you’re under 50 and 1,200 mg if you’re over 50.
   
   
10. Vitamin C. Studies indicate that daily intake of 500 mg supplementary vitamin C may have beneficial effects on blood pressure.
    
    
11. Get enough omega-3 fatty acids by eating fatty fish and by taking a high quality fish oil supplement.
    
    
12. Normalize your vitamin D levels – It has recently become clear that normalizing your vitamin D levels can have a powerful effect on normalizing your blood pressure.

Simple efforts on your part can result in measurable differences in your blood pressure and a vast majority of people can manage their blood pressure by implementing healthy lifestyle habits. 

If you are concerned about your blood pressure, Healthy Choice Naturals Blood Pressure Formula is an all-natural, scientifically developed combination of herbs and vitamins, including magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamins c and d, formulated to help maintain optimum blood pressure levels.

100% Natural Ingredients – Order Today!

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Blood Pressure Formula

 

 

Studies Support Value of a Healthy Lifestyle

According to 2 new studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association following the heart-healthy advice about eating the right foods, exercising and losing weight does pay off with a substantially reduced risk of heart problems.

The reports, both originating at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, focused on different aspects of cardiovascular risk in two large groups: 83,882 women in the Nurses' Health Study, and the 20,900 men in the Physicians' Health Study. Both arrived at the same conclusion: Do the right things and you get measurable benefits.

 

Weight #1 Factor in Both Studies

The women's study looked at the association between high blood pressure and six lifestyle factors: obesity, exercise, alcohol intake, use of non-narcotic painkillers, adherence to a diet designed to prevent high blood pressure and intake of supplemental folic acid. All six were found to be associated with the risk of developing high blood pressure in the 14-year study, and the association was cumulative.

Women who followed advice on all six factors had an 80 percent lower incidence of high blood pressure than those who followed none of the rules. The incidence was 72 percent lower for the women who followed five lifestyle rules, 58 percent lower for the women following four rules and 53 percent lower for the women who followed three rules. Obesity was the most important risk factor.

The study in men looked at the relationship between the lifetime risk of heart failure and six lifestyle factors: obesity, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, consumption of breakfast cereals, and consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The 22 year study reaffirmed the direct relationship between following healthy lifestyle habits and the risk of heart failure. The risk of heart failure was about one in five in men who ignored the advice about all beneficial lifestyle factors and one in 10 for those who following at least four or more of healthy lifestyle factors.

The highest contributing factor in the men’s study was also weight. The risk of heart failure was 17 percent in men who were overweight or obese, and about 11 percent in those of normal weight.

 

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