The Link Between Vitamins and Vision

Nutritional treatment of common eye diseases is changing. For years now, the accepted treatment is based on something called 'AREDS' - Age Related Eye Disease Study. This was research performed over 6 years using the following dosages of several vitamins and nutrients used in combination:

500 milligrams of vitamin C;
400 international units of vitamin E;
15 milligrams of beta-carotene (or 25,000 international units of vitamin A);
80 milligrams of the dietary mineral zinc, in the form of zinc oxide; and
two milligrams of copper as cupric oxide, added to prevent copper deficiency anemia, a condition associated with high levels of zinc intake.

What was concluded was that the dose used reduced age related macular degeneration by 25%. Off of this research many products were formulated, including Ocuvite Preservision by Bausch & Lomb a collaborator within the study. There were however many lower cost formulas which matched the research backed dosage manufactured by other companies, such as 21st Century Health Care's Healthy Eyes.

Now a new study (AREDS II) is being performed, mainly in part to the promotion of nutrients such as Zeaxanthin, Astaxanthin, Lutein and Omega 3 to see whether the inclusion of these can have further influence on the effects of macular degeneration and cataracts. The research was started in 2006 and if it follows the same pattern as previous will conclude in 2013.

21st Century Healthy Eyes AREDS (Ocuvite PreserVision)

Vitamin D - Pregnant, Old, Irish?

The march of Vitamin D to the top of the essential supplements list continues once again this month with a flurry of activity once again in the press covering such a diverse range of ailments that you'll soon question why you don't have any in your cupboards.

This is just a small amount of the headlines from the past few days:

Older women who take vitamin D3 may live longer‎
Could vitamin D be the most important one of all?‎
Pregnant women 'need more vitamin D'‎
Vitamin D cuts health risk in twins‎
Vitamin D May Stave Off the Big 'D'‎
'Vitamin D-deficiency may have killed Mozart'

Nearly spat my green tea out reading that last one!

The fuss about Vitamin D these past 12 months is the form Cholecalciferol or Vitamin D3. This is the form of Vitamin D that is synthesised naturally in the skin when you're subjected to sun light. Talk about supplementation of D3 is being targeted to northern hemisphere countries which experience long months will short days and long nights. 

Of course snap opinion states that we all get all the nutrients we need from a well balanced diet with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. Which in fantasy land where you have time to plan and balance your meals while you're not working long hours and looking after a family is fine. Research seems to back this, as initial findings are showing that Irish women who are pregnant are on average getting 80% less Vitamin D than is recommended.

If you are thinking of taking a Vitamin D supplement, I suggest you read up as much as you can. The NHS has helpfully published this PDF: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_111302.pdf

Buy Vitamin D3

Top 5 Wholefood Multivitamins - Juice Plus + Alternatives

The Juice Plus+ PR machine was on top form this week landing some fantastic coverage of their products in the press. It's been hailed as a fantastic way of helping you achieve your 'Five-a-day' with glowing endorsement from the likes of Bear Gryll's (real name Edward).

However for those in the know, wholefood multivitamin and food supplements are nothing new. If you're in the market for a good quality food based vitamin supplement then you're currently spoiled for choice. Are you looking for great value while covering all the basics? Are the latest superfoods and phytonutrients an essential requirement?

For decades critics have fallen back on the outdated and fictitous belief that "if you eat a healthy balanced diet, you don't need to supplement". As I kindly remind these people, you show me a person with a healthy balanced diet, and I'll show you a person who doesn't work, have to raise children or leave the house. This person does not exist in the modern world.

Here is our run down for the Top 5 Wholefood Multivitamins & Food Supplements

5 Nature's Plus Animal Parade Chewable

Nature's Plus have a large range of natural food based supplements under their 'Source Of Life' branding. However if you're looking for a quality food based multi for the kids, then you're going to run into difficulties. Often children dislike swallowing pills, so many look to chewable vitamins for the solution. The problem comes in when to counter the strong flavours given off by various vitamins and minerals they have to add a lot of colourings, flavours and preservatives.

We like that Animal Parade is free from artificial colours and preservatives, it's vegetarian and gluten free. Rather than using simple cheap sweeteners and simple sugars they have used Fructose which should break down slower in the body.

Click here for ingredients break down: http://www.naturesplus.com/products/productDetail.asp?productNumber=29980&category=12

4 Nature's Own Euro Gold

No, not a new gold seem discovered underneath the Alps, but a high quality multi marketed as a 'Food State' product. What this means is that the basic ingredients to the product are from natural sources and not broken down into their component chemicals. On top of this it also has a probiotic base - Lactobacillus bulgaricus which is found naturally occurring in the gut.

We like the approach they have taken to remove as many excipients, to which ends they've done a good job considering it's a tablet rather than a capsule.

Click here for ingredients break down: http://www.natures-own.co.uk/acatalog/info_V222b.html

3 Nature's Way Alive!

Some companies have a very clear focus on what their target customer is. Apparently Nature's Way prefer the approach of target everyone, as is apparent by their inclusion of (deep breath):

Spirulina, Chlorella, Blue-Green algae and other green superfoods.

Parsley, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower and other vegetable juices. Yum?

Papaya, Plum, Pineapple and other what they call 'Orchard fruits'.

A medicinal mushroom complex including Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake.

Omega complexes derived from flax and sunflower seeds.

Actually there is so much packed into this it's probably best you just read the label:

http://www.naturesway.com/Products/Vitamins/14925-Alive-Multi-Vitamin.aspx

We like this all out guns blazing approach, especially if someone is currently on a bit of a health kick. However, we would be less keen taking this on a regular year round basis, as certain ingredients are best used when directly treating a condition rather than as a general wellness tonic.

2 Pure LifeEssence Master Multiple

Now, a four tablet a day formula will put many off, but Pure like many believe that a single dose multivitamin is not going to be absorbed to it's fullest it the most healthy of digestive systems. Splitting that high dose multi into smaller ones that you take with meals will lead to far better absorption. Thankfully the large 240 tablet bottle size provides you enough for two months (yes I had to work that out on a calculator, why do you ask?).

Again this formula contains herbs, which not only make it threatened by the EU, but also not one we would then recommend taking year round. Complete a course of it, then switch to a more generic wholefood multi unless you are treating a specific condition.

Click here for ingredients break down: http://www.pureessencelabs.com/LifeEssence-high_potency_multi_vitamins.html

1 Solgar Earth Source Multi-Nutrient

Often when discussing Solgar, you'll overhear people mention "you're just paying for the name". Often when asked, these same people buy their supplements on offer from Lidl (I love Lidl, but wouldn't buy my vitamins from there), so clearly aren't any authority on the importance of quality and manufacturing practice.

Earth Source gives you good dosages of whole food concentrate vitamins and it's suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans. Although the recommended dosage is up to three a day, we realised a long time ago that a company to call any product a 'One A Day', it's down to what your body needs and what you're lifestyle is like.

Click here (and squint) for ingredients break down: http://www.solgar.com/pub/supplement/1027_T1_W625_H475.jpeg

As with any other nutritional supplement, we recommend you either talk to your local health food store or nutritionist or GP so that you are fully aware of what works best for you and whether you should be avoiding certain supplements due to an existing ailment or condition.

Wimbledon strawberries hold secret to anti-ageing

In no way playing off the fact Wimbledon is on this week, the Daily mail promotes the benefits and anti-oxidant activity of strawberries. Yes after years of lurking in the background while the new kids on the block (oi blueberries and goji berries, I'm looking at you!) take the lime light, it is finally time that the humble British strawberry - N.B. strawberries of other nationalities may have equal, lesser or greater nutritional value.

Anti-oxidants are compounds that act as you will have probably have guessed to prevent the oxidation of other molecules. When a molecule oxidises it can release free radicals which in turn can lead to damage or death of cells. The anti-oxidants that people are most familiar with are Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Beta Carotene, Retinol (Vitamin A), alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Ubiquionol (co-enzyme Q10). They frequently appear in higher concentrations in what the press call "super foods".

Higher Nature Super Antioxidant Protection

Herbal Medicine Awareness Week

If any one topic has defined 2011 for us so far it's herbal medicine. These past few months have seen the hopelessly out of touch EU legislation begin to be enforced. What this has meant for you our readers and customers is a greatly reduced choice. What it has meant for us is seeing products, brands, people, business and families disappearing from our industry after decades of responsible manufacture and service.

It's easy to talk about how 'big pharma' has the power and finances to form EU opinion which inevitable made proposed legilisation into reality. Unfortunately the reality of the situation is it's probably too late. I trained as a herbalist nearly a decade ago, so my opinion is biased and cynical, however what I found interesting was that certain herbalists have welcomed this crushing legilsation with open arms! What I eventually discovered that they believed (falsely) that under this new scheme, that somehow they would be levitated about mere "alternative therapists" and be given the recognition that they desperately wanted.

How wrong they were.

If you're looking to see if there are any local events in your area surrounding the herbal awareness week, please follow the link: http://www.nimh.org.uk/?page_id=1633

Apple peel may hold key to ageing gracefully - Ursolic Acid

Ursolic acid this week has been reported as being a possible cure to living comfortably into old age. The chemical which is said to keep cholesterol and blood sugar regulated as well as preventing muscle wasting is found naturally occurring in apple peel.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Dr Adams of the University of Iowa wanted to find a drug that would delay muscle wasting as "it prolongs hospitalisation, delays recoveries and in some cases prevents people from going back home. It isn't well understood and there's no medicine for it".

This isn't the first time ursolic acid has been written about in the press, as other studies have shown preliminary findings that may support it's anti-cancer effect by inhibiting the STAT-3 pathway.

Although the focus from the Mail article is on apple peel, the chemical is actually found in a wide range of herbs and fruit including basil, bilberries, cranberries, elder flower,peppermint, rosemary, lavender, oregano, thyme, hawthorn and prunes.

New Chapter Super Critical Holy Basil

A Quick Guide To Probiotics

Over the past ten years, probotic drinks have been slowly but surely invading our lives and digestive tracts. Now supermarkets have whole fridges dedicated to the huge array of choice the consumer now has if they want to improve their digestion.

But why and what's the benefit of spending what many see as an awful lot of money on these tiny little bottles?

Well they all to some extent contain probiotics. Probiotics are bacteria that are found occurring naturally in our digestive systems. What studies are showing is that we are born with a healthy amount of gut flora, but as we age and subject our bodies to poor diet and antibiotics these levels can drop.

Since the beginning of the 20th century scientists have been able to prove the beneficial effects of probitoics on the body and are currently studying the effects they have on fighting E. Coli, Helicobacter pylori, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and many other digestion related diseases.

In our opinion, the probiotic drinks that you can buy in the supermarkets are fine if you're looking to top up in general, but if you're looking for probiotics to use after a treatment of anti-biotics then we'd suggest you do some research into the freeze dried probiotic based supplements available.

One of the most 'famous' is Lactobacillus acidophilus, this has been shown to kill off Candida alibcans mainly due to the acid it produces. This used in combination with FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) which acts as a food for your friendly bacteria we have found personally to be very effective at getting your digestion back to normal.