Nutrients that Combat Restless Leg Syndrome

If you suffer from that creeping feeling in your legs that gives you the irresistible urge to move them, then you are well aware of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). It's been thought to be a neurological condition, but recent research suggests that it's caused by a common gene variation.

However, some people's RLS troubles are merely the result of nutrient deficiencies -- specifically iron, folate and magnesium. A doctor can run a blood test to determine if you're low on any of these nutrients. If your iron levels are less than 50 mcg/l, iron supplementation may ease RSL.

Testing for magnesium isn't always very accurate, according to Dr. Nan Kathryn Fuchs, author of Women's Health Letter. Stress is the culprit for magnesium deficiency, she claims, adding that she usually tries supplementing her patients with magnesium before trying anything else.

While RLS mostly strikes middle-aged people, a person of any age can suffer with it. Reducing or eliminating caffeine may also help to ease the annoyance as well as getting enough sleep, massaging your legs, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco.

Sources:
www.womenhealthletter.com
www.rls.org
www.webmd.com
www.mothernature.com

Breaking Addictions with Nutritional Therapy

Only about 25 percent of people struggling with substance abuse stay on the wagon a full year after receiving conventional treatment from talk therapy, support groups and pharmaceutical drugs. The remaining 75 percent go back to feed their cravings.

However, research is finding a more promising means to end abuse -- and not just to alcohol, drugs and tobacco, but also to the seemingly benign addictions to starches, sweets, caffeine and chocolate.

Nourishing the brain with a healthy diet, nutritional supplements and herbs can help balance the brain's biochemicals and end the cravings. In fact, a study published in the International Journal of Biosocial and Medical Research found that more than 70 percent of substance abusers were able to abstain with the help of nutritional support.

People who don't get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet are at a higher risk of depression, which is linked to addiction. This essential fat helps nerve cells communicate, which contributes to good mental health.

Cold-water fish -- such as salmon, tuna and mackerel -- as well as flaxseed, chia seed, certain eggs, walnuts and dairy products from grass-fed cows are great sources of this essential fat. Omega-3 fatty acids comes from three forms: alpha linoelic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The non-fish sources contain ALA, which your body can often convert into EPA and DHA. However, taking fish oil supplements daily is a sure way to get this healthy fat.

Addictive bodies are also usually deprived of amino acids -- the building blocks of neurotransmitters, which facilitate communication between brain cells. For example, cravings for alcohol and sugar are brought on by low levels of serotonin. However, supplementing with L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) can help restore the needed brain chemical, and therefore, reduce the craving.

For more information on specific amino acids and how they help with various addictions, visit The Addiction Recovery Guide's Web site. They have a comprehensive chart to help determine which amino acids help best with specific addictions.

Studies have also found that the Asian herb kudzu can considerably help heavy drinkers lower their intake. It's not clear why it has that effect. However, participants in one study went from drinking six beers a day to four in just one week.

Smokers can also find help for their addiction by taking lobelia, a relaxant. The herb acts to diminish the smoker's high, making smoking less desirable.

Of course, feeding your body a nourishing diet should be the basis for healing any addiction. A poor diet can be just as much to blame as genetics and stress for substance abuse. An unhealthy body and mind will lead to unhealthy cravings, but creating a healthy body and mind will produce healthy desires.

Sources:
Alternative Medicine, September 2007
AddictionRecoveryGuide.org
Wikipedia.com

Your Body's Response to Drinking Coke

Recent headlines have already told us that drinking any kind of soda is bad for you, but below is some food for thought about what happens in your body after you consume a Coke (courtesy of Better Health News). It probably applies to any kind of cola. It'll make you think before you grab that next cold one.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DRINK A COKE

In the first 10 minutes:
Ten teaspoons of sugar slam into your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) Instead of vomiting from the extreme sweetness (which would most likely occur if you actually somehow managed to ingest ten teaspoons of actual processed sugar all at once), phosphoric acid cuts the flavor allowing you to keep it down.

At 20 minutes:
Your blood sugar spikes, which causes your pancreas in turn to emit an insulin burst. Just like a domino, your liver will in turn respond to this by changing any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (And you've just ingested plenty of sugar, so your liver is finding a lot to work with.)

At 40 minutes:
Your body has completely absorbed the caffeine by now. Your pupils dilate and your blood pressure rises. You liver responds and releases more sugar into your bloodstream.

At 45 minutes:
The dopamine production in your body is increased, which stimulates the pleasure centers of your brain. Heroin, and most other drugs, work in exactly the same way.

Over 60 minutes:
The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.

Over 60 minutes:
The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play and you'll have to run to the bathroom. It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.

Over 60 minutes:
As the party inside of you dies down you’ll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You'll also lose valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like hydrating your system or building strong bones and teeth.

Source:
Better Health News

Preventing Cancer with Vitamin D

The other day my husband and I found out that the dark mole on his back is melanoma. So while he goes off to enjoy life, I go online to research skin cancer. Discovering that melanoma is the deadliest of all forms of cancer because it spreads so quickly, I prepared for the worst. I can't tell you the relief I felt today to learn that his melanoma is in the earliest stage, which means that once it's completely removed, he should be fine.

Honestly, my husband was the last person I'd suspect of getting melanoma. He's not fair skinned and freckle-faced like me. He didn't have excessive sun exposure as a child like me. What happened? More importantly, what now? Once you've been diagnosed with melanoma, you're chances for getting it again are significantly greater.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon a study out this summer that vitamin D can dramatically reduce cancer risk. Research from Creighton University School of Medicine found that participants cut their risk of cancer by 77 percent when taking 1100 IUs of vitamin D3 combined with 1,400-1,500 mg of calcium. Calcium alone was found to make no difference.

Ten minutes of sunshine a day without wearing sunblock also supplies the body with the vitamin D3 it needs. People living in northern states and countries above the 37th parallel can't rely on the sun for their intake during the winter months.

Since we live where the winters are long and cold, I'll be sure that my dear husband is supplemented with vitamin D3 when the season changes. He can also look forward to my regular reminders to have his dermatologist check his moles. Now that I know he's going to be just fine, I plan to keep him that way.

Pine Tree Extract Reduces Skin Discoloration

Many woman are familiar with the term "pregnancy mask", the dark skin discoloration over the face that can accompany pregnancy. However, melasma is also linked with the use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy -- both synthetic and bio-identical.

Chinese researchers discovered that taking pycnogenol, a standardized antioxidant extracted from the bark of the maritime pine tree, is an effective remedy for significantly reducing melasma. The study had 30 woman with the condition taking 25 milligrams of pycnogenol three times a day for a month. The extract was found to have an 80 percent effective rate, helping to even out skin tone and lessen the intensity of the discoloration.

Additionally, study participants experienced no negative side effects from pycnogenol. As a bonus, they did find that it helped reduce fatigue, constipation, anxiety and various body pains.

Source:
Nutrition & Healing, August 2007

Is Bottled Water Really Better?

If you drink bottled water because you think it's purer than tap, you may be disappointed to find that it's not all what it's marketed to be. On the flip side, you may be happy to know that tap water isn't as bad as you thought either.

Water that is bottled in the same state where it is sold is exempt from federal regulations. Unfortunately, the majority of bottled water is packaged and sold in the same state, and therefore, is unregulated.

Earlier this year, Cynthia Sass, RD a sports nutritionist, presented her findings on bottled and tap water at the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Summit in Texas. Sass found that almost a quarter of the bottled water she tested contained synthetic chemicals, bacteria and arsenic. Furthermore, the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) found that 25 percent of bottled water comes from municipal tap water.

On the other hand, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that more than 90 percent of water systems meet their quality standards. To find out where your area's water comes from and what's in it, read EPA's annual water quality report.

To ensure pure, uncontaminated drinking water, especially for those living in areas with poor quality tap water, you can install an independently certified water filter in your kitchen. NRDC's Web site lists a number of options. Sass recommends a reverse osmosis filter, which is found in many water bottling plants. It can be installed under the kitchen sink where it will filter out 98 percent of all impurities. Specifically, reverse osmosis removes certain parasites as well as cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, arsenic, barium, nitrate/nitrite, perchlorate and selenium.

I'm also a big fan of reverse osmosis for purifying tap water. As soon as I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, my dear husband quickly became concerned about the possibility of lead in our 90-year-old home's water pipes. He researched the various filters, decided reverse osmosis was best for us, and quickly ran out to buy one.

The best part of having reverse osmosis is that I no longer have to carry those heavy bottles of water from the grocery store. I also bought some stainless steel bottles so I can take my purified water on the go. In addition to saving money and my back on bottled water, it's also a lot better for the environment.

Sources:
Alternative Medicine, September 2007
MedicalNewsToday.com

A Little Nutrient that Makes a Big Impact on Health

The latest health headlines claim what common sense already knows, that a healthy lifestyle is key to preventing most illnesses. So you exercise, eat right and don't smoke, but how's your boron intake? That's right -- the overlooked micronutrient that most Americans are severely lacking in their diet.

Boron deficiency has been linked to low bone density, increased rate of osteoarthritis, decreased magnesium and calcium retention, increased risk of prostate cancer, poor memory and decreased mental alertness.

Boron is found in the soil of dry, desert-type areas so drinking water in those regions usually contain a good amount. Most multivitamin supplements usually don't contain this particular trace mineral so your best bet is eating the right foods. Great sources for boron are apples, pears, grapes, non-citrus fruit, legumes, nuts, wine and green leafy vegetables.

There is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for boron. Too much can be toxic. However, if you eat four servings of fruit and green leafy vegetables a day along with a handful of nuts, your daily boron intake can safely be around 3 to 6 mg. But aim for at least 2 to 3 mg per day in order to give your body the little bit needed to help stave off the unwanted health woes you've been avoiding.

Vibrant Glow Nominated for Best Health Blog

This morning I shamelessly nominated VibrantGlow.com for the Blogger's Choice Awards' best health blog. The reason? While I think it's a pretty good natural health and beauty blog, I am also trying to get it accepted into Glam.com's blog network. Glam.com only accepts blogs that receive 1000s of hits a day, have won an award and/or are giving away freebies.

Since VibrantGlow.com began several months ago, I have had more people reading my posts via the Web site, RSS feed and Feedblitz subscription than I ever dreamed. However, tens of thousands haven't found it yet. So I figure that VibrantGlow.com needs to win an award for Glam.com to take notice.

I also plan to start giving away freebies soon too, like my favorite MyChelle Dermaceutical skin care products. I'll keep you posted on that.

In the mean time, if you enjoy reading the articles from VibrantGlow.com, I would appreciate your vote for best health blog. You can vote by either clicking on the Blogger's Choice Awards badge located at the upper left side of the Web site or go directly to: http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/25538. You'll first need to register to vote, but it's a quick process.

Your vote is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading VibrantGlow.com!

Salon Quality Healthy Alternative Hair Products

Keeping my tresses looking their best has always been a priority for me. So I wasn't too quick to convert my conventional hair products over to the healthy alternative kind. I don't know how it happened, but slowly I made the change to gel, conditioner and shampoo without sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens and other chemicals that I can't pronounce.

Admittedly, it wasn't easy at first. I tried everything in the body care aisle of Whole Foods. Without any recommendations, but strictly by trial and error, I eventually found myself exclusively buying Giovanni hair products. Why? Because they are salon quality that deliver a nutritional diet to my hair. They are not a pseudo-healthy alternative that has a drop of botanicals and loads of harsh chemicals. They are the real deal that truly make my hair look great.

Fortunately, they are easy on the wallet when compared to salon products, too. For example, Giovanni's L.A. Hold Hair Spray costs just over $7. This spray holds great, doesn't flake and is made with organic oils like rosemary, nettle, thyme and chamomile. The Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database even rates it a one (out of 10) for being minimally hazardous. In fact, they rate most of Giovanni's products a one or two.

In addition to shampoos and conditioners, Giovanni's hair line includes lots of products for styling and finishing. As an added bonus, Giovanni's packaging is just as elegant as what you'd buy in a salon, but in keeping with the company's biodegradable philosophy.

Thankfully, just because I've pitched conventional hair care products, my tresses haven't sacrificed a bit. In fact, they look as good as ever and are even healthier.

Healthy Nail Polish Promotes Support for the Cure

The other day Nubar, a leading manufacturer of innovative nontoxic nail polish, sent me their new Support for the Cure Collection, which the company is giving a portion of its sales toward cancer research, education and outreach.

The four pack of nail products looked so pretty I couldn't wait to try it out. In addition to a bottle of base coat and a fast-drying seal and shine, there are two bottles of nail polish that are perfect for everyday wear. Keeping with the "Support for the Cure" theme, they are both beautiful shades of pink. Pink Cami is a very pale shimmering pink and Je t'aime is a pearly peachy pink.

Ten percent of the $28.00 retail price of the Support for the Cure Collection goes toward St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Cancer Treatment Research Foundation and the Cancer City of Hope.

The best part about Nubar's products is that they are free of formaldehyde, toluene and phthalate (DBP), which are known carcinogens.

In addition to the Support for the Cure Collection, Nubar has a huge variety of cool nail colors to choose from, and all of them are free of the chemicals and toxins found in conventional polish. To check out their complete product line, visit their Web site at http://www.bynubar.com/.

Beauty Products Going Paraben-Free

As consumers have become better educated on the possible dangers of parabens--synthetic toxic preservatives found in cosmetics and personal care products--skincare companies are taking note and responding to their customers' demand for paraben-free products.

Parabens are considered to be endocrine disruptors. A number of recent laboratory studies have shown that various types of parabens (benzyl, benzyol, ethyl, methyl and propyl) mimic estrogen.

Additionally, studies have found parabens in human breast tumors. While these findings do not conclude a positive link between exposure to parabens and the development of breast cancer, they have has stirred considerable controversy because of the possibility.

Fortunately, many skincare companies are deciding to remove these hormone-mimicking preservatives from their lines. MOP (Modern Organic Products), Zia Natural Skincare, Annemarie Borlind and Doll Face have either begun purging or have plans to remove parabens from their products, according to Alternative Medicine.

VibrantGlow.com is a big fan of MyChelle Dermaceuticals because they've never put parabens in their skincare products. In fact, this highly effective skincare line is so pure and natural that their products have always been free of phthalates, propylene glycol, ureas, EDTA, fragrances, particles and artificial colors.

If you check the labels on your personal toiletries and cosmetics, you'll be amazed to see how prevalent parabens are. Fortunately, with the number of companies stepping up to remove them from their products, it may not be long before the trend goes completely mainstream.

Save More Than 20% on MyChelle Dermaceuticals!!

Almond Pasteurization Mandate Starting Soon

Since I read the The Perricone Prescription, I've been turned on to almonds as a healthy snack and have been munching on them ever since. I usually buy them raw so that all the amazing nutrients stay in tact.

I was alarmed to recently find that beginning Septemeber 1 all U.S. grown almonds -- which are only grown in California -- must be pasteurized. They will either be treated with heat or a chemical fumigant. However, their labels can still simply state that they are raw, which can be misleading to consumers.

The new mandate is a result of two salmonella outbreaks in 2001 and 2004 that came from conventional farms. Apparently, the decision was made quietly without barely any input from consumers.

For true raw foodists this plan is especially troublesome because almonds are a staple food in their diet.

The one exception to the mandate is that almond growers can sell true raw almonds on roadside stands. However, the rest of us living in the other 49 states won't benefit from this rule.

Almonds, longed shunned for their high fat content, has in recent years become touted as a superfood because they're a great source of protein, unsaturated fat, dietary fiber, vitamin E, magnesium and calcium. Additionally, research has found that eating just a handful of almonds may help to combat obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

For more information about the new almond mandate or who to contact to voice your concern, visit these Web sites:

westinaprice.org
cornucopia.org

Take Supplements to Save Big on Health Care

Americans could save $24 billion in health care costs while improving their health over the next five years by taking a few key dietary supplements, reports a study commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA).

The study found that if seniors 65 years and older took calcium with vitamin D daily, they could potentially avoid about 776,000 hospitalizations from hip fractures and save about $16.1 billion. Additionally, if that same group of people also took 1800 mg of omega-3 fatty acids a day, another 374,301 hospitalizations for coronary heart disease may be cut, saving another $3.2 million.

Taking 6-10 mg of lutein with zeaxanthin each day would not only help more than 190,000 people with age-related macular degeneration maintain their independence, but it would also save $3.6 million in assisted-living expenses.

Lastly, if more than a quarter of the 44 million American women of childbearing age took a daily dose of 400 mcg of folic, they could prevent 600 cases of neural tube defects, which could potentially save $1.4 billion.

An Apple Peel A Day May Keep Cancer Away

Eating an apple a day can do more than keep the doctor away. Researchers at Cornell University have identified a dozen compounds called triterpenoids contained in apple peels that either inhibit or kill cancer cells in laboratory cultures.

Previous studies found that apples not only fight cancer cells in the laboratory but also reduce the number and size of mammary tumors in rats. This new study found that the apple peel had several compounds with potent anti-proliferative activities against human liver, colon and breast cancer cells and may be partially responsible for the anti-cancer activities of whole apples, says the study's lead researcher Rui Hai Liu, Cornell associate professor of food science.

Liu has previously studied phytochemicals in apples and other foods, which also appear to have anti-cancer properties.

People wanting to reducing their risk of cancer and other chronic diseases may want to heed Liu's advice and eat five to 12 servings of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables a day. Based on the latest findings, don't forget to include an apple a day in that mix.