We all want to look good, feel good and feel energized. We search the stores looking for the miracle vitamin or supplement to give us good health and well-being. That being said, nutritional supplements, wellness products and vitamins is a multi-billion dollar business.
We read the claims written on the bottles and take them to be the truth. We want the claims of “revitalization”, “promotes good health”, “builds strong bones” etc., to be true, even though most of the time there is no scientific data supporting the claims.
When shopping for your next wellness product, such as vitamins, or nutritional supplements, consider the following guidelines:
1: What kind of information is available on the ingredient specifications, safety and quality testing?
2: Are the health and nutritional claims on the label (if any) based on anecdotal information or a scientific data?
3: Are the products backed by published clinical research studies? If so, is the data easily accessible for review? Is the research study published and if so is the study peered reviewed?
4: Does the company invest in and operate their own research and development center and a food and nutritional supplement manufacturing plant? Shaklee does!
5: Are there clinical studies on bioavailability (which means – does the nutrients in the product get absorbed into the bloodstream and how much of it is absorbed)? Is there published clinical research to prove the bioavailability of the product?
For instance a simple test of Vitamin E 200IU was tested for delivery into the bloodstream. The results were as follows:
Brand 1 .015 absorbed
Brand 2 15.0 absorbed
Brand 3 10.0 absorbed
Brand 4 67.0 absorbed
Brand 5 200 absorbed
Not so sure about your brand, then try this-Send a letter to the company producing your current vitamin or supplement as follows: “Please send me whatever scientific research data on your product. I would like to receive independent scientific studies or articles that have been published in peer reviewed journals, supporting your claims on the product. It is important to me to know that I am using a product that is safe and effective. Thank you very much.” The response, if any, should be on that particular product(s) you are inquiring about, not just research on the nutrient in general.
Above are just a few tips to consider when selecting your vitamin or nutritional supplement. A vitamin is not just a vitamin, cheapest is just that, and quality determines results.
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Lice
By: nagalie | 22-07-2008
I am so grossed out, tired, and aggrivated. I need help. I need some feedback. To begin with, I'm an ultra clean person but I think I have lice. I am not sure. for a week now I have been itching like crazy but didn't find anything until today. I can never find anything at will. Nothing in the seems of my clothes. I only feel them. anyway, today I found on my arm ( think it fell from my head) what I now know looks like lice according to pictures i've seen. It had 6 legs was a transparent brown exept for the dark insides of its body. It was about the size of the period at the end of this sentence but a bit larger including it's legs...(Sooo sorry that you are getting this gross info but it's quite necessary for the process of identifying my problem.) Anyway, I am pretty sure it is lice but the question i want to ask now is what kind? If it is body lice it should be treated different from head lice I think. I know you can get rid of head lice with olive oil but body lice? Here are my symptoms... I am 90% sure I got this from my dog who was in some tall grass the other day. I saw her itching intensely but shes never had any bites before so I didnt think about it. I thought it was allergies and gave her a benedryl. THEN I started itching along with her. I know its not fleas. I don't think its scabies because my bites dont run in lines or around the webbing of my fingers. Not only that but scabies dont look like lice from what I know. Now, I can't tell if it is head or body lice because of this, they are both on my head and on my body. I even feel them in my eyelashes. I have them in my nether regions...and I've never had sex.lol I have bites that look like pimples all spread out on my legs...nether region...round my belly button, on my behind, back and neck. None on my chest or face thank God for that. But head lice are supposed to remain on the head for all I know and body lice on the body. I even feel itchy in my ears. I can barely sleep. Someone help me so I can search for a remedy pleeease. If you have a remedy for either please share it with me . Thanks
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