| Penny Wise, Pound Foolish | | | | hundreds of studies confirm that glucosamine and |
| Times are tough. Even the government | | | | chondroitin can ease pain and may even help |
| acknowledges that we're in a recession. So we | | | | boost the integrity of your joints. |
| scrimp where we can and keep a sharp eye out | | | | If heart disease runs in your family, consider |
| for new ways to save. But there's one area | | | | taking resveratrol to protect against |
| where spending a little now can actually save a lot | | | | atherosclerosis. According to a new review, |
| later on. I'm talking about your health. | | | | Chinese researchers have confirmed that |
| According to the Milken Institute, an independent | | | | resveratrol regulates how well your arteries |
| economic think tank in California, more than half | | | | expand and contract, fights against free radical |
| of all Americans suffer from one or more chronic | | | | damage, quells inflammation, prevents the |
| diseases - and, as a result, it's costing all of us | | | | oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and keeps blood |
| more than $1 trillion each year. That's the big | | | | platelets from sticking together. |
| picture. | | | | It's also smart to minimize your cardiovascular risk |
| On a more personal level, fighting cancer, heart | | | | factors like high cholesterol and high blood |
| disease, diabetes, COPD, or mental illness can cost | | | | pressure. If your cholesterol levels are slightly to |
| you thousands of dollars yearly in medication, | | | | moderately high, consider taking red yeast rice. In |
| doctor visits, and treatment. Wouldn't it be more | | | | one recent trial, 74 patients with high cholesterol |
| cost-effective to prevent these health problems | | | | were given either red yeast rice and fish oil or a |
| in the first place? Adding supplements to a healthy | | | | statin drug. At the end of the study, the |
| lifestyle can help you do just that. | | | | researchers noted that both therapies worked |
| The Basics | | | | equally well to lower cholesterol levels. The one |
| When money is tight, it's important to prioritize. | | | | difference they did note? Those taking the red |
| Which supplements are most essential? While | | | | yeast rice and fish oil combo also lowered their |
| everyone is different, there are a few nutrients | | | | triglyceride levels. The participants in the statin |
| that can benefit everyone. In my opinion, there | | | | group didn't see any difference in their |
| are four supplements that are absolutely essential | | | | triglycerides. |
| for good health - a multivitamin, an omega-3 fish | | | | Borderline high blood pressure responds well to |
| oil supplement, alpha lipoic acid and vitamin D. | | | | supplemental garlic. According to one review, garlic |
| Your multivitamin may be the most expensive | | | | reduced systolic blood pressure by 16.3 mm Hg |
| product you buy, but it is definitely the most | | | | and diastolic blood pressure by 9.3 mm Hg |
| important since, tablet for tablet, no other | | | | compared to a placebo. Clinical trials have |
| supplement covers as many nutritional bases. | | | | successfully used 600 to 900 mg. per day in two |
| There are many multivitamins on the market - | | | | or three divided doses. |
| basic one-per-day multis and more comprehensive | | | | Cancer is another potentially catastrophic disease |
| formulas that require 3 or more tablets per day. | | | | where prevention can be key. If you or a close |
| There is a trade-off between the nutritional | | | | relative has a history of cancer, consider taking a |
| potency of a multi and the number of tablets in a | | | | supplement designed to protect against the |
| suggested dose. Lower potency one- or | | | | specific type of cancer risk you may have. For |
| two-per-day formulas cover the basic vitamin and | | | | instance, if the men in your family tend to |
| mineral needs, but only the basics. Because you | | | | develop prostate cancer, taking selenium can |
| can't put beneficial amounts into one or two pills, | | | | lower your risk. A double-blind trial of 1,312 men |
| most multivitamins leave gaps. Higher-potency | | | | given 200 mcg. of selenium per day or placebo |
| formulas require that you take 3 or more tablets | | | | found that those taking the nutrient had 63 |
| per day, but they provide higher amounts of key | | | | percent less risk of developing prostate cancer. |
| nutrients and fewer nutritional gaps. This is | | | | Men over 50 should also take beta-sitosterol to |
| definitely a case where you get what you pay | | | | protect against benign prosthetic hyperplasia |
| for. | | | | (BPH). |
| Omega-3's have gotten a lot of press over the | | | | Women at risk of breast cancer should take |
| past decade - and with good reason. Studies | | | | supplemental broccoli extract along with their |
| show that omega-3's from fish oil promote heart | | | | other supplements. Broccoli is rich in |
| health, discourage runaway inflammation, keep our | | | | indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane - both proven |
| brain in top form, protect against Alzheimer's | | | | cancer fighters that target breast tissue. And |
| disease, guard against cataracts and age-related | | | | don't forget your bones! Older women (and some |
| macular degeneration, help ensure healthy bones, | | | | men too) are at risk of osteoporosis. Taking 600 |
| and boost immunity. To get the most out of your | | | | to 750 mg. of calcium twice a day with meals can |
| fish-oil supplement, it's important that you take | | | | help keep bones strong - especially if you take it |
| 3,000 to 4,000 mg. every day. | | | | along with the vitamin D you should already be |
| Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is another must-have. This | | | | taking. |
| vitamin-like antioxidant is soluble in both fat and | | | | One Last Thing... |
| water. One of ALA's most valuable qualities is that | | | | No matter what supplements you take, you may |
| it can re-activate other heart-healthy antioxidants, | | | | be able to save some money with shrewd |
| including vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme-Q10. | | | | shopping. First and foremost, keep an eye out for |
| Research out of Canada shows that ALA can | | | | sales and specials. Sign up for newsletters and |
| modulate blood lipids, protect against LDL | | | | promotional emails from your online supplement |
| oxidation, and help lower blood pressure. For | | | | supplier. If your online retailer lets you sign up to |
| general antioxidant protection, I recommend | | | | receive re-ordering reminders or announcements |
| supplementing your diet with 50 mg. of ALA | | | | about special offers, definitely do that. |
| twice a day. | | | | Signing up for an auto-ship program can also save |
| Vitamin D is another superstar. These are very | | | | money - and it prevents you from running out of |
| inexpensive softgels and very easy to take. | | | | important nutrients. If you don't want your |
| There is abundant research underscoring the | | | | supplements shipped to you automatically at set |
| importance of vitamin D - from boosting bone | | | | intervals (for example, once a month or once |
| and heart health to protecting against a variety of | | | | every two months), make sure that you order |
| cancers. Most experts are recommending 1,000 | | | | well-enough in advance so that you can use the |
| IU per day of vitamin D, an amount far above | | | | least expensive shipping method without running |
| what most multis provide. | | | | out of your supplements. |
| Consider Adding on | | | | Once you get your supplements, it's important to |
| Co-Q10 plays an important role in providing | | | | store them properly so they stay as potent as |
| energy to the cells, especially those in the heart, | | | | possible. That means taking them out of your |
| and low levels are implicated in virtually all | | | | medicine cabinet and keeping them in a cool, dark |
| cardiovascular diseases, including angina, | | | | place like your linen closet. |
| hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and congestive | | | | Research Brief... |
| heart failure. Unfortunately, Co-Q10 levels | | | | It's no secret that obesity is quickly becoming an |
| decrease as we get older. And statin drugs | | | | epidemic in America. But here is a startling |
| deplete stores of this critical nutrient, making it an | | | | prediction: According to researchers at Johns |
| indispensable supplement for anyone taking these | | | | Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 86 |
| medications. Take at least 60 mg. daily. | | | | percent of Americans could be overweight or |
| Green tea extract offers protection against | | | | obese by the year 2030! But, if you are among |
| everything from heart disease to cancer. The key | | | | the millions who want to lose weight, forget crash |
| to green tea's therapeutic benefits comes from | | | | diets. |
| water-soluble antioxidants called polyphenols and | | | | Taking calorie restriction too far actually works |
| catechins. These natural disease-fighters neutralize | | | | against you, not only by slowing your metabolism, |
| a broad range of free radicals that can damage | | | | but also by weakening your bones. A study |
| cells and lead to premature aging and disease. You | | | | conducted at the University of Missouri found that |
| can get the goodness in green tea by either | | | | after putting middle-aged women on a very |
| drinking several cups a day or by taking a green | | | | low-calorie diet for three months, followed by a |
| tea supplement. Opt for the equivalent of 1,000 | | | | weight-maintenance diet for nine months, the |
| to 1,500 mg. daily. | | | | dieters' bone-turnover rate was significantly higher |
| Vitamin C is important for cardiovascular and | | | | when they were losing weight too quickly. |
| immune health. But it also guards against gingivitis, | | | | If you are planning to lose more than five percent |
| cataracts and glaucoma, seasonal allergies and | | | | of your total body weight, keep your calorie |
| premature skin aging. If that weren't enough, this | | | | count to at least 1,200 calories a day and |
| free-radical fighter accelerates muscle recovery in | | | | incorporate some high-impact, weight-bearing |
| athletes. For optimal antioxidant protection, take | | | | activities into your exercise routine to keep bones |
| 2,000 mg. of vitamin C daily. | | | | strong. |
| Pinpoint Your Health Needs | | | | To sign up for Advanced Natural Medicine FREE: |
| As I pointed out recently, adopting a healthy diet, | | | | Click Here. |
| exercising at least 30 minutes a day, taking a | | | | References: |
| multivitamin, and keeping a lid on stress can go a | | | | Becker DJ, Gordon RY, Morris PB, et al. |
| long way toward preventing chronic disease. But, | | | | "Simvastatin vs therapeutic lifestyle changes and |
| if you are at an increased risk for certain health | | | | supplements: randomized primary prevention trial." |
| problems, you can target these conditions with | | | | Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2008;83:758-764. |
| specific supplements. | | | | Clark LC, Combs GF Jr, Turnbull BW, et al. Effects |
| If you suffer from arthritis, you probably already | | | | of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention |
| know that taking glucosamine and chondroitin can | | | | in patients with carcinoma of the skin. Journal of |
| help slow down the deterioration of your joints. | | | | the American Medical Association. |
| Despite attempts by conventional medicine to | | | | 1996;276:1957-63. |
| discount the efficacy of these two nutrients, | | | | |