Time to break down health vitals for each sex

This is the third and final installment of our series about supplements, and how vital it is to have a health expert guide you on what's most important to take for your body...

Whether men and women are equal in many facets of life will always be debated, but one thing we know for sure – as sexes we need different supplements.

Let's make it easy and recommend just two more supplements each sex should have daily.

For women:

• Calcium. Calcium is renowned for its healthy body benefits: strong bones, healthy teeth, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission and blood clotting. Due to its multiple functions in the body, calcium intake must remain sufficient throughout the lifespan. Inadequate consumption of calcium forces the body to leech calcium from the bones to fulfill necessary task throughout the body – over time this can lead to brittle bones, fractures and osteoporosis. Women are more susceptible to these conditions than men due to the loss of estrogen that occurs with menopause. Estrogen facilitates absorption and retention of calcium. Vitamin D is necessary for optimal absorption of calcium. Women should try to achieve 1500 to 2000 mg of calcium per day through food consumption and supplements.

• Iron. Iron supplements are not for every woman, but women should work with their doctor to carefully monitor iron levels, because many women experience lower levels due to monthly menstruation. Iron is vital for transport of oxygen to your brain, muscles and organs. Women with low iron may experience bruising, fatigue, weakness or have difficulty concentrating.

For men:

• Boron. Boron is essential for improving testosterone levels in men and plays a role in maintaining cognitive function. Adequate levels of boron have been linked to prostate health. In studies, men with adequate levels have been shown to reduce their risk of prostate cancer by 65 percent.

• Selenium.  Selenium is found in abundance in soil and is generally easily obtained from the food supply. In some areas of the country, poor soil conditions lead to low levels of selenium. Inadequate levels of selenium have been linked to an increased incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease and impaired male fertility. Talk to your doctor before supplementing selenium – excessive levels can worsen certain diseases and conditions.

We know that it can get confusing, which is why it's just as vital to your health that you read The Supplement Pyramid and have Dr. Michael A. Smith, a senior health specialist, act as your guide. He offers us a life-changing guide on what we individually need for optimum health and why.

The book offers step-by-step instructions and detailed medical quizzes, along with useful information about blood testing, which will help readers determine the most important nutritional supplements for their bodies. This then becomes an ideal personalized menu from which to choose.

To find out more about The Supplement Pyramid and other tools to improve your health, go to www.basichealthpub.com

What supplements men and women need daily

This is the second installment of our series on the importance of adding supplements to your diet. We'll break down what should be the daily essentials for both men and women...

Most of us admit that our diets could be much healthier. Even if you think your diet is ideal, you need to know that many other factors contribute to the absorption of these vital nutrients. That is why, despite all the debate, supplements are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.

Health experts say that bioavailability and absorption are two important factors when it comes to sufficient intake of micronutrients. A common example is consuming milk with a meal containing eggs – it is highly unlikely you will absorb much of the calcium in the milk.  Iron, found in eggs, binds calcium in the intestines, limiting absorption. For this reason, supplements are essential.

Supplements found in grocery stores and lining the shelves of vitamin shops are not held to any heavy mandates or quality standards. Manufacturing conditions are often poor and labels are classically found to be inaccurate  (many times the supplement is more filler than nutrient). Pharmaceutical-grade supplements, on the other hand, maintain higher-quality standards of manufacturing, labeling and nutrient content.

There are several vitamin and mineral supplements that both men and women should take on a daily basis and a few others that come more highly recommended for each gender.

For men and women:

• Multivitamin. Everyone can benefit from a multivitamin. This is a great way to avoid taking a million pills every day and still supplement the nutrients you need. When choosing a multi, examine the label – find one that offers the nutrients you need most.

• Fish Oil. Despite what some studies suggests, you can benefit from the powerful omega-3s found in fish oil. Omega-3s are linked to higher levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), improved metabolism and better nutrient absorption. Just be sure to choose high-quality supplements with high levels of DHA and EPA.

• Vitamin D3. If you haven’t heard by now, sufficient levels of vitamin D are essential for maintaining good health. Low vitamin D has been linked to several types of cancer, weight gain, depression, poor nutrient absorption and low bone density. Vitamin D3 is the most bioavailable form. The sun’s rays, when absorbed by the skin, convert to D3 in the body; however most Americans do not get enough sun year round. Studies have shown that high doses of vitamin D3 supplements – more than 800 IU/day - can have great benefits.

• Coenzyme Q10.  CoQ10 is well-known as an inflammation fighter. Inflammation in often the root cause of excess pounds, arthritis, headaches and heart disease. Daily doses of 100 mcg of CoQ10 have been shown to improve many of these conditions – but be sure to choose a soft gel over the powder capsule.

• Folic Acid (Folate). Most people are familiar with the importance of folate for women during their childbearing years to decrease the risk of children born with disorders of the brain and spinal cord.  However, you may not be aware of the numerous benefits folate has for men and women of all ages. Folate is an essential B-vitamin that has been proven to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and improve arterial blood flow – lowering your risk of hypertension and heart disease as well.

Now that you know the essentials to take, you'll need a guide to narrow down the best ones for  your specific health needs.  That’s where Dr. Michael A. Smith, a senior health scientist, and his new book, The Supplement Pyramid, enter the picture to offer us a life-changing guide on what we individually need for optimum health and why.

Being user friendly is an understatement in this much needed book. Step-by-step instructions and detailed medical quizzes, along with useful information about blood testing, help readers determine the most important nutritional supplements for their bodies. This then becomes an ideal personalized menu from which to choose.

To find out more about The Supplement Pyramid and other tools to improve your health, go to www.basichealthpub.com


Coming next: We'll break down what supplements each sex needs the most and why. 

Bodies cannot thrive with a good diet alone

This blog kicks off a three-part series on why supplements are so critical for optimum health...

If you want to fight disease and achieve maximum life span, you can't do it with diet alone. You need the extra nutritional boost that only supplements can provide.

In many ways, supplements are to humans what fertilizer is to plants. Give a plant adequate amounts of sunlight and water, and it will survive. Add some nutrient-rich fertilizer, and the plant will thrive.

For us humans, the same principle applies. A healthful, balanced diet supplies the body with sufficient nutrients to carry out routine tasks. Supplements such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and more enrich the body's internal environment to fortify cellular protection, repair, and regeneration and support the renewal process.

Finally, a medical expert has written a book that will not only guide us through the maze of the supplement world, but also confirm why they are so needed in our daily routine no matter how healthy our diets.

With such a staggering amount of choices on the market and some people saying that supplements aren't needed, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and confused. That’s where Dr. Michael A. Smith, a senior health scientist, and his new book, The Supplement Pyramid, enter the picture to offer us a life-changing guide on what we individually need for optimum health and why.

Smith is often asked by people who eat a healthy diet if they really do need supplements. His answer is always a resounding yes with plenty of medically sound reasons why. In The Supplement Pyramid, Smith covers the many reasons why even the healthiest diets fall short in terms of supplying the optimal amount of nutrients we need – not just to survive but also to thrive.

Like traditional food pyramids that help us design and follow a healthy diet, The Supplement Pyramid is an educational tool that can be personalized to meet anyone’s specific nutritional needs. With its three-tiered plan comprised of the foundational, personalization, and optimization level, this book helps readers design a nutritional regimen that meets their unique needs.

Being user friendly is an understatement in this much needed book. Step-by-step instructions and detailed medical quizzes, along with useful information about blood testing, help readers determine the most important nutritional supplements for their bodies. This then becomes an ideal personalized menu from which to choose.

Knowing which supplements to take is only half the battle. Purchasing high-quality nutritional supplements is essential for success, so Smith covers all the information readers need to know to be sure they are making the best investment in their health. He writes in easy-to-understand language and provides a wealth of vital information.

The Supplement Pyramid will put all the questions to rest so we can each move toward an optimal personalized supplement regimen – free of any more confusion with a healthy future ahead.

To find out more about The Supplement Pyramid and about other health books that can help guide you to optimum health,  go to www.basichealthpub.com

Spring sunshine brings plenty of health benefits

We all know that sunshine makes us feel good and happy, but most people don't know how much healthier it makes us too. Spring has arrived and with it, warm and sunny days are bringing us one of nature's best vitamins for free – vitamin D.

The vitamin D story exemplifies the populist revolution in health care that is sweeping the country, as more and more people gravitate toward natural alternatives, eschewing more risky and expensive medical interventions.

Vitamin D—from the sun, from our diet, and from dietary supplements—keeps a range of chronic and life-threatening diseases at bay, from osteoporosis and osteoarthritis to breast cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and many others.

Readers of the book, Sunshine and Vitamin D, will be ahead of the curve on one of the most exciting health stories of the 21st century. Author Frank Murray spotlights the latest research into how and why this much-maligned and misunderstood vitamin is finally coming into its own, and how to gain the greatest benefits from it.

Reader will learn:

• How and why vitamin D is crucial to helping the body absorb calcium and phosphorous, and to strengthening bones.
• How the news media often exaggerate the dangers of sunshine and downplay the benefits of vitamin D from the sun and other sources.
• How much sun exposure and/or vitamin D supplementation is needed by people of all skin types.

• Why older adults are especially prone to vitamin D deficiency and how they can best address this for optimal health.

To learn more about vitamin D and how to take your health into your own hands, visit www.basichealthpub.com

Doctor and supermodel offer road map to look Younger Today

Carol Alt guides readers to a
younger and healthier life.

Want to look and feel younger today? Then you must be willing to forget everything you think you know about aging and stop blaming your genes for your health issues. The bottom line – there's  no reason to live another day feeling tired and worn down.

There’s finally a natural way to recapture your youth with a new eye-opening book,  Younger Today, which provides the road map—no gadgets, gimmicks, or unnatural solutions required. In Younger Today, readers will discover the anti-aging secret that’s been within our bodies all along – cellular health.

When our bodies’ cells are healthy, we’re healthy, and authors Dr. Vincent Giampapa and Carol Alt are here to show readers how to make it happen. With a medical doctor and supermodel as their guides, readers will tap into an all-natural, cell-boosting lifestyle that restores that youthful glow and minimizes the signs of premature aging today.

Filled with simple nutrition, exercise, and meditation strategies that slow aging at its roots, Younger Today is the ultimate resource for improved health at any age.

Readers are urged to dive into Younger Today to:

• Learn what cell-healthy foods to eat and when to eat them
• Discover the all-natural nutrients that can slow down aging
• Discover an exercise routine that benefits the body in minutes
• Learn why stress ages us and how

To learn more about Younger Today and to buy the book, go to www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com

Have you had your coconut oil today?

We know from Dr. Mary Newport's powerful story what a health wonder coconut oil has been in improving her husband Steve's condition with Alzheimer's.  Long avoided because it's considered a source of harmful saturated fats, research is starting to show that coconut oil may actually be a source of healthy fats, along with being a versatile ingredient that has dozens of uses beyond cooking.

The Huffington Post rounded up 11 things you ought to know about coconut oil — some of them might surprise you...

Hydrogenated coconut oil is not a great choice: Coconut oil got its bad reputation in part because of its use when hydrogenated. Hydrogenated oils and trans fats are especially unhealthy because they both raise our LDL or "lethal" cholesterol while lowering our HDL or "healthy" cholesterol. If you purchase coconut oil, look for labels that say "virgin" and make sure it's not hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated and contains no trans fats.

Vegans dig it: Because coconut oil is solid at room temperature, it makes a great substitute for butter, margarine, or other spreads. Vegans don't eat any animal products, including butter or margarine, which makes coconut oil a great alternative for them.

So do Paleo dieters: People following a Paleo diet eschew dairy, which means they don't eat butter. Many of them have turned to coconut oil as a delicious substitute.

They do have saturated fats: It's true that coconut oil contains saturated fats — 12 grams per teaspoon, in fact. If you are supposed to be watching your saturated fat intake, talk to your doctor before adding coconut oil to your diet.

It's rich in medium-chain fatty acids: Medium-chain fatty acids have molecules that are composed of eight to 10 carbon atoms, compared to the 12 or more found in the more-common long-chain fatty acids. There is some research indicating that MCTs can help with weight loss, though this potential effect isn't fully established yet.

It's delicious: Coconut oil doesn't taste as strongly of coconut as coconut milk or meat, but it does have a lighter version of that flavour, without overpowering dishes. Try it spread on toast instead of butter! You might be quickly converted.

It's not a miracle food: No single food is a magic bullet, coconut oil included. An internet search will bring up dozens of webpages claiming that coconut oil can do everything from clear up your acne to cure cancer. It'd be great if that were true, and research into the food continues, but there is no scientific evidence supporting the majority of the health claims made for coconut oil.

It's a source of lauric acid: The majority of the saturated fat in coconut oil is in the form of lauric acid, which is why many consider it to be a healthier choice than other fat sources. There are studies that show that lauric acid can increase your HDL or "healthy" cholesterol and lower your LDL or "lethal" cholesterol.

It's high in calories: Regardless of the form it comes in, each gram of fat has nine calories. So if you're on a calorie-restricted diet, you'll want to watch your coconut oil intake—like any oil, it's high in calories. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it in moderation, whether it's for the taste or any potential health benefits; it just means you'll have to account for it in your daily intake totals.

It's great for your skin: Dreading dry winter skin? Buy a jar of coconut oil — it makes a great moisturizer from head to toe, particularly for dry lips and rough hands and feet.

Diaper cream: It's thought that coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties—that and the fact that it's moisturizing and gentle makes it a great choice for an all-natural diaper cream or baby salve. As a bonus, it's safe to use with cloth diapers.

Massage oil: Like other natural options, coconut oil is great to use for massages. And the fact that it's solid at room temperature makes it a less messy option than liquid oils. You'll be moisturized and relaxed.

Isn't it time to take control of your own health? Check out the leader in health publications at www.basichealthpub.com

How coconut oil takes on, improves Alzheimer's

This post concludes our series on Alzheimer's...What if there was a Cure? The ground-breaking book by Dr. Mary Newport has helped improve many symptoms of the disease and offered much needed support to all those who are affected. Dr. Newport gives a detailed guide on how to implement coconut and MCT oils into your diet...

Quick start guidelines for coconut or MCT oil..

Begin with:
1/2 to 1 level teaspoon (2.5 to 5 ml or grams) per serving
2 to 3 times a day with food

If tolerated increase:
1/2 to 1 level teaspoon (2.5 to 5 ml or grams) per serving
Every 2 to 3 days

Increase to:
Coconut oil: 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml or grams) per serving, or more,
as tolerated

MCT oil: 4 teaspoons (20 ml or grams) per serving
3 to 4 times a day with food

Quick coconut oil tips:

• Store at room temperature (solid at 76º F / 25º C and below).
• Mix into something warm, OR
• Pre-warm before mixing into cool foods.
• Becomes chunky in cold foods.
• On stove, use medium heat or lower to avoid smoking.
• Add small amount of olive, canola or peanut oil to cook above medium heat.
• In oven, use maximum temperature of 350º F / 175º C

Quick MCT oil tips:

• Stays liquid and is stored at room temperature.
• Usually mixes easily with cold foods without solidifying.
• On stove, use low heat to avoid smoking.
• In oven, use maximum temperature of 320º F / 160º C

For more information about Dr. Mary Newport and to buy her book in its second edition, go to www.basichealthpub.com. Next: Learn about the other health benefits of adding coconut oil to your diet. 

How coconut oil greatly improved quality of life for couple dealing with Alzheimer's

Our Alzheimer's series continues with a report on how Dr. Mary Newport's husband Steve is doing today and how adding coconut oil to his daily diet greatly improved his symptoms...

Though Dr. Mary Newport has provided professional care to newborns since 1983, she's led a double life since 2000 when she became a caregiver at home. That's when her beloved husband, Steve, first showed signs of Alzheimer's disease. 

After his deterioration accelerated in 2004, Dr. Newport began avidly researching ways to keep him functional for as long as possible. She put her medial knowledge and research skills to work and found new research showing that medium-chain fatty acids, which act like an alternative fuel in the insulin-deficient Alzheimer's brain, can sometimes reverse or at least stabilize the disease. When she gave Steve about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (a source of these fats) at breakfast before a memory test that he had previously failed, Steve miraculously passed the test. Since then, Steve continued to maintain improvement while taking daily doses of coconut oil and MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil with meals. 

Dr. Newport's story of Steve's reprieve from Alzheimer's provides hope for caregivers eager to learn about readily available fatty acids in foods that may reverse the ravages of this dreaded disease. Changes in loved ones may take many forms, including improved memory, return of personality, resumption of activities and social interaction, and relief from certain physical symptoms. Because ketone esters, a synthesized form of these powerful fatty acids, work faster and more comprehensively than fatty acids in foods, Dr. Newport has become an ardent advocate for ketone ester research, with FDA approval her final goal. 

Caregivers for the more than 5 million people in the United States who suffer from Alzheimer's disease are searching desperately for hope, relief, and a cure. They will find all that in this book that summarizes Dr. Newport's research and Steve's reprieve, the importance of medium-chain fatty acids, and how Alzheimer's patients can make the transition to a healthy diet rich in these vital fats. 

So how is Steve doing today? He had already outlived his diagnosis by several years. Dr. Newport updates us...

"It has now been almost six years since Steve improved dramatically with coconut oil in his diet. His improvement continued for a full year to the point where he was able to read and relay information he had read earlier in the day as well as recall events that occurred days and weeks earlier.  Overall I feel that we went back in time two to three years. He has had some setbacks since then but he is still taking coconut and MCT oil.  I feel that using coconut and MCT oil consistently in his diet has been well worth the extra, better quality time we have had. I have also heard now from nearly 400 people  with Alzheimer's, other dementias, Parkinson's, ALS and a number of other disorders who have improved as well. Some of them have improved and stabilized for two or more years."

Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure? continues to be a bestseller and is in its second edition. Dr. Mary Newport is hard at work on her next book. For more information and to buy the book, go to www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com. This series concludes Sunday with a guide on how to implement coconut and MCT oil into your diet and the extended health benefits.