As we become more health conscious
and determined to control our bodies, we tend to start looking for
the magic pill. Everyone knows what happened to Alice when she drank
from the little bottle saying "Drink Me" Instant results!
Doctors prescribe little bottles of "magic stuff" for
us all the time, so why shouldn't we believe in magic?
Truth is,
we can magically affect our bodies with what we put in them. But
food is the safest way to control how your body feels and looks.
You would be amazed at how quickly your energy and general well
being will improve, simply by increasing the green leafy and yellow
vegetables, fiber and lean meats like chicken and fish in your
diet.
When restricting
your food intake or when participating in intense physical activity
on a regular basis, it's more than likely that you may need a
basic vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure your daily intake
meets your nutritional needs. However, when considering taking
more than a simple daily supplement, you really should consult
your physician. Furthermore, individuals with medical conditions,
especially those already taking prescribed medications, should
always consult their physician before adding any concentrated
substance to their regimen. Just because the bottle says "natural"
does not mean it is safe for you. Always remember, arsenic is
100% natural and quite deadly.
Supplements
can contain powerful ingredients that may react negatively with
or cancel the beneficial effects of, medicine currently being
taken. Aspirin, vitamin E and ginko biloba can thin the blood,
which is sometimes good, sometimes bad; quite a problem for a
person with a bleeding ulcer or upcoming surgery. Taking St. John's
Wort can significantly reduce the effectiveness of certain drugs,
a doctor may prescribe, for depression, heart disease, oral contraception,
seizures, HIV and some cancers.
So how
do you know if you should trust the claims of health benefits
from a particular supplement? Luckily our government provides
information on questionable supplements if you know where to look.
Recent topics include:
Comphrey:
Recent warning by the Food ad Drug Administration regarding the
effects of Comfrey on the body:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr06.html
LipoKinetix:
FDA warning 11/19/2001 to immediately stop using as LipoKinetix
as it seems to be associated with serious liver injuries:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-lipo.html
Aristolochia:
FDA warning to immediately discontinue of products containing
Aristolochia which has been associated with permanent kidney damage
and the development of certain types of cancers.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/addsbot.html
You
can magically have more energy and feel more alive, naturally,
by stocking you refrigerator with health conscious foods and removing
junk foods from your house. Set a goal for your daily intake consisting
of:
· Leafy green vegetable
· Yellow or orange Vegetable
· Green vegetable
· Fruit
· Whole grain pasta or bread
· Alternate, poultry, red meat and fish
· Dairy
· Occasionally include nuts, bananas, eggs
What
you have heard about liver is correct. It is just packed with
nutrients. And although beans and legumes are not a staple in
the American diet, they also have great nutritional value. When
cooking dried beans, quarter a potato and drop it in the water
with the beans, to reduce their gas producing effects.
Our knowledge
of nutrients is constantly evolving as we continue to experiment.
Two seemingly reputable studies, can come up with very different
results, and in our money hungry world someone is always rushing
to market with a new cure before it is really proven effective.
For a complete listing of vitamins, minerals, herbals and their
effects or drug interactions, you may want to visit Ohio State
University Extension.
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