Magnesium Deficiency

Most people are unaware of the significant role that magnesium plays in the body. It activates over 300 biochemical reactions necessary for our bodies to function.

Millions suffer from magnesium deficiency without knowing. Or, at least they don't realize that their health problems may be due to a lack of magnesium. Symptoms associated with and/or directly related to PMS, leg/muscle cramps, Osteoporosis, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, high blood pressure, kidney stones, and irregular heartbeat may be due to low levels of magnesium in the body.

Calcium intake may be one reason many people are magnesium deficient. Calcium needs magnesium in order to assimilate into the body. If too much calcium is consumed, the body will pull magnesium out of body parts creating a deficiency. Many Americans drink pasteurized milk as a way of obtaining calcium. Unfortunately, milk is about 8 parts calcium to about 1 part magnesium - much more calcium than the 2:1 ratio needed for proper assimilation. All the extra calcium can result in calcium deposits such as kidney stones, gallstones, and arthritic conditions.

Calcium and magnesium also work together in the muscles. Calcium causes the muscles to contract and magnesium causes them to relax. Therefore, insufficient magnesium can cause cramping and muscle stiffness. PMS is mostly due to a magnesium deficiency. Besides cramps, a common symptom of PMS is a craving for chocolate.

Chocolate happens to contain magnesium, and a sudden craving may be a sign more magnesium is needed. Besides chocolate, magnesium is also found in foods such as spinach, avocados, nuts, beans, bran, oatmeal, rice and tofu. Due to modern farming practices, many foods are lacking the minerals that foods once had, because they are no longer grown in mineral rich soil. Therefore, magnesium supplementation is recommended.

Many heart attacks are the result of insufficient magnesium. The heart is a muscle and without magnesium it cannot properly function and will stop beating. Racing or an unusual change in beats, angina pain, or collapsing from heavy physical exercise could be early signs of this type of heart attack.

Other factors that may deplete the body of magnesium are stress, coffee, sugar, alcohol, soda, tobacco, diuretics, diabetes, low thyroid, medical drugs, and high perspiration. Many products are now fortified with calcium in an effort to combat Osteoporosis and other health related problems. But, without the proper balance of calcium and magnesium, the problem will likely worsen.

It's important to understand that many of the mineral supplements and mineral-fortified foods on the market contain powdered rocks and metals. These rocks and metals (mineral compounds) are mined from the earth and pulverized into powder and added to supplements and foods.

The human body cannot adequately digest these compounds - and with increasing difficulty with age. In fact, even plants rely on soil microbes to pre-digest mineral compounds so that they can then assimilate them.

To realize how ill-informed the public is about minerals, consider the questions that are often asked about mineral supplements. For example: "What type of calcium or magnesium should I take." The fact is there is only one type of calcium and one type of magnesium on the planet: the actual elements calcium and magnesium.

Magnesium citrate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, and even magnesium chelate are compounds, not the pure, actual elemental magnesium.

Magnesium, calcium, and other minerals are available in pure, crystalloid, ionic, water-soluble, non-compound, elemental form.

Those who are experiencing the symptoms of magnesium deficiency will greatly benefit from supplementing with elemental magnesium.

[ Copyright © 2005 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

The Importance of Nutritional Supplements

The human body is made up of nutrients, not drugs or man-made chemicals. Without minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other important nutritional building blocks, life as we know it would be impossible.

Scientists have concluded that every disease can be linked to a mineral or nutritional deficiency. Cultures with people who enjoy youthful, disease-free lives and live to be over 100 years of age are getting a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. When our bodies become nutrient-deficient, disease is the inevitable result.

It was once believed that all we had to do to maintain adequate levels of nutrients was to eat a variety of foods - including fruits and vegetables. However, times have changed and food is not what it used to be.

Our farmlands are seriously over-farmed and their soils are nutrient depleted. At best, farmers will replace a narrow spectrum of minerals back into the soil. These minerals do little to enhance the nutritional quality of the crop and merely affect appearance (marketability). Many farmers make an effort to replace nutrients by growing a crop that is not harvested but tilled back into the soil. However, if the minerals are not in the soil to begin with, they won't be in the crop that is being worked back into the soil.

Furthermore, plants rely on soil organisms to pre-digest minerals for them. These helpful microbes are often absent, due to the condition of the soil and the destructive chemicals used in farming.

Beside the harsh chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides that our foods are contaminated with, there is a wide range of processing techniques that further alter their value as safe, healthy foods. They are subjected to high heat which destroys essential vitamins and enzymes, additives are used to help change their otherwise suspect appearance, and preservatives are added to embalm them for their long transport and potentially lengthy stay on store shelves.

A tomato grown in organic, nutrient-rich soil has a deep red to burgundy appearance on the inside, and it has a delightfully strong and pleasing flavor. A farmed, store-bought tomato often has a pink to clear appearance when cut open and lacks the rich flavor of the homegrown tomato. Even farmers understand this, and avoid foods from their fields and opt for those grown in their own personal, organic garden.

Medical doctors are now catching up with science and understanding the need to supplement with dietary supplements, due to nutritional deficiencies. A recent article in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) announced that a vitamin supplement should be taken to help prevent chronic disease.

If nutritional deficiencies did not exist, neither would the problems associated with them. Nutritional supplements are an excellent way to ensure that you are getting the nutrients that are necessary for your health and longevity. [ Copyright © 2005 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

The Truth About Calcium

Calcium is among the most talked about and commercially available nutrients in North America. It (or something posing as it) is added to many processed foods and beverages. It's even in our toothpaste. There are many Calcium products on the market and a sea of information concerning the need for dietary Calcium intake.

So, why are there so many problems (e.g. Osteoporosis) that are purported to be associated with a Calcium deficiency? Are we not getting enough? Yes, in a way. Though, it's more likely we are not getting enough of the right form of Calcium: true elemental Calcium in an readily assimilable form. And, perhaps we may be getting too much of the wrong kind of Calcium.

Most of the so-called Calcium on the market is not elemental Calcium that is found in healthy plants and fresh, natural sources of water. Most Calcium products and Calcium-containing processed foods use a hard-to-digest Calcium compound.

Calcium compounds are identified by the term Calcium with another word immediately following it. For example, both Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Citrate are Calcium-containing compounds. Compounds can be difficult or nearly impossible for the body to breakdown for use to any significant degree. Among the worst are Calcium Carbonate and the recently popular Coral Calcium. Calcium Carbonate is used as chalk and for making concrete, and is more suitable for lawncare than healthcare. Are we supposed to eat rocks, metals, or coral? Not likely.

Some manufacturers and medical professionals must believe that we are meant to consume metals and rocks in the exact form in which they are mined from the earth. However, even plants rely on microbes in the soil to pre-digest (breakdown mineral compounds) before they uptake them. Does it seem logical for us to eat rock dust, metal powder, or ground coral (Coral Calcium)?

Nutrients need to be in a size and form that can easily move in and out of our cells. Many popular mineral-compound supplements contain rock and metal powders in which any given particle can be thousands of times larger than a human cell, and difficult to breakdown to be of any significant use. Could these large particles buildup and cause health problems? Perhaps. This is cleary demonstrated in heavy metal toxicity.

Calcium is best when it is acquired from mineral rich plants and natural water sources. However, due to over-farming, excessive food processing, polution, and other demineralization and environmental problems and conditions, it's difficult to be certain that adequate amounts of Calcium and other minerals can be obtained in the modern diet. Therefore, supplementation with elemental, ionic mineral supplements may be necessary.

Calcium is important. Though, more importantly, one should be sure to supplement with true, elemental Calcium.

[ Copyright © 2005 World Image Naturals™, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Colostrum and Autoimmune Disease

Colostrum is the fluid secreted by the mammary glands of all mammals at the time of birth. It promotes growth and jump-starts the immune system.

Supplementing with Colostrum has many health benefits ranging from anti-aging to fat burning, but for those suffering from an autoimmune disease it is its ability to regulate the immune system that may be of greatest importance. Colostrum contains a Proline-rich Polypeptide (PRP), a hormone that regulates the thymus gland. PRP can help stimulate an under active immune system or calm an overactive system. An overactive immune system attacks healthy tissue and can cause serious and debilitating damage as seen in autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Lupus, Scleroderma, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Colostrum is not a drug, rather a food designed by nature. It's a safe and natural substance with no known side effects. Research has shown that most of the important immune and growth factors for humans can be provided by bovine (cow) Colostrum. It is the only Colostrum that is not species specific. Bovine Colostrum provides health benefits for adults, children, and other mammals such as dogs, cats and horses.

Colostrum is best when it comes from certified dairies in the northern United States of America (USA). Inferior forms of Colostrum come from pasture fed cows in warmer climates such as New Zealand. Cows from the northern USA are fed vitamin, mineral, and other nutritional supplements, and they develop robust immune systems due to the extremely cold winters. Cows from New Zealand are left to graze on vegetation from nutrient depleted soils, and are more likely to have weak immune systems.

[ Copyright © 2005 World Image Naturals™, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Smoking Moms & Vitamin C

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - If an expectant mother can't quit cigarettes, she might counter some of the bad effects by taking extra vitamin C if an animal experiment is anything to go by.

The findings from a monkey study suggest that vitamin C supplementation may help limit the damaging effects that exposing pregnant animals to nicotine has on the lung development of their fetuses.

Previously, Dr. Eliot R. Spindel, from the Oregon Health & Science University in Beaverton, and colleagues had shown that nicotine can cause fetal lung damage.

To see if vitamin C might be protective, the researchers evaluated the lung function of newborn monkeys born to nicotine-exposed mothers that were give vitamin C during pregnancy and those that were not.

Vitamin C did indeed prevent the significant decrease in lung function seen with nicotine exposure, the investigators report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

"These findings suggest that vitamin C supplementation may potentially be clinically useful to limit the deleterious effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on offspring's lung function," Spindel's team concludes.

Metabolism & Your Health

Metabolism involves the chemical processes in which the body builds up and maintains itself (anabolism) and the breaking down of substances (catabolism) to be used for energy. Your body needs energy to sustain life.

Our bodies need many nutrients for our metabolism to function properly. Even a slight deficiency of a particular vitamin, mineral, or enzyme can cause metabolic problems. It is important that you receive the proper nutrients that your body requires for optimum health.

An improperly functioning metabolism can lead to obesity and serious disease. Exercise, a healthy diet, and supplementation are all essential to a well-conditioned metabolism.

Zinc Improves Memory of 7th Graders

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) Zinc improved the memory of seventh-graders who took part in the research, a study found. A total of 209 of them were involved in a study at the federal Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks from 2002 through 2004.

James Penland, the project's lead researcher, said students who were given 20 milligrams of zinc a day with a glass of orange juice performed better in recalling information than students who were given 10 milligrams or students given a placebo with no zinc.

Penland, a research psychologist, launched the study to help the government determine recommended daily allowances for adolescents, most of which are based on research involving adults.
Uplink Your Views

The study found no ill effects in students' school performance or social interactions from the higher zinc intake, he said. "I'm most confident of the findings with memory,'' Penland said.

Penland said the risk of zinc deficiency is higher for adolescents because they are going through a time of rapid growth.

"We're in the midst of writing it up for publication,'' he said of the study, "and I think we're going to try to target adolescents who are more likely to be zinc deficient." [Associated Press]

Best MultiVitamin Advice

Historically, conventional thinking from the medical field has maintained that most adults get sufficient nutrition from their diet, and that vitamin supplements are not necessary. However, a growing number of medical doctors and health associations are catching up with science. Multivitamins can save your life and make it more enjoyable.

A recent article in the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) announced that all adults should take vitamin supplements to help prevent chronic disease. Many studies have shown that most diets fall well below the Recommended Dietary Allowance for many nutrients. Vitamin supplements are a proven way to bridge the gap between what we should eat and what we actually eat.

Nutritional professionals, medical doctors, and scientists agree that taking a daily multi-vitamin supplement can be an inexpensive and effective way to safeguard your health. The pressures of the modern world, along with deficiencies of essential daily nutrients, put our bodies under tremendous pressure. Stress, smoking, and environmental toxins further increase the need for vitamins.

Also important to note, a poorly formulated multi-vitamin may provide a false sense of security and, more importantly, lead to unwanted health problems. Be sure to take a balanced multi-vitamin formula that is free of additives and does not contain hard-to-digest compound-minerals (e.g. WIN-Daily Multivitamin is an excellent choice).

Daily supplementations with multi-vitamins can promote good health and help prevent disease. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals™, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Cat's Claw - Healing from the Rainforest

Cat’s Claw is a vine that grows in the Peruvian rainforests of South America. It is referred to by some cultures as the “Sacred Herb of the Rain Forest,” and in Peru it is protected as a valuable medicinal resource. It gets its name from the small thorns at the base of the leaves that look like a cat’s claw. Cat’s Claw has been used by for hundreds of years for wide variety of ailments.

Some of the alkaloids in Cat’s Claw have been proven to boost the immune system. One of its major alkaloids, rhynchophylline, may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack by lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation, reducing heart rate and controlling cholesterol. It also contains constituents with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties.

Cat’s Claw has long been used to provide help for intestinal ailments such as Crohn’s disease, gastric ulcers and tumors, parasites, colitis, diverticulitis, and leaky bowel syndrome. It has also been used to help with such conditions as arthritis and rheumatism, diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and prostate problems. Its stimulating affects on the immune system can also improve the bodys response to viral and respiratory infections and has made it a prominent herb currently being studied for use in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Cat’s Claw should not be used by individuals with skin grafts or tuberculosis or by those receiving organ transplants. In theory, it should not be taken by anyone taking immunosuppressive medications because of its stimulating affects on the immune system. (Sufficient scientific research has not been done to properly test this theory). Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children should not use Cat’s Claw, without first consulting their nutritional oriented healthcare provider.

Discuss the benefits of Cat’s Claw with your healthcare provider, to learn more about how it may help you. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals™, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

More Benefits for Using MSM

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is one of the most beneficial nutritional substances available.

MSM is well-known for helping combat allergies, alleviating pain and inflammation, and promoting healthy skin, hair, and nails. However, many do not know how much MSM helps by maintaining a healthy body and mind.

MSM helps to make the cells in your body more permeable, which allows nutrients to flow in and toxins to flow out. Your cells thus become enriched with life-giving oxygen (and other nutrients) which flows throughout your body.

So, if you haven't been taking MSM, there are plenty of reasons to start. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Natural™, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble vitamin or vitamin-like substance present in small quantities in a variety of foods and synthesized in the body tissues. It is involved in several steps of energy production within the cells and functions as an antioxidant.

The antioxidant or free radical-reducing qualities allow CoQ10 to reduce oxidative damage to tissues slowing aging and age-related degenerative diseases.

CoQ10 is critically important to the heart because of the high energy requirements of the cells in the heart muscles. The severity of heart failure correlates directly with the severity of CoQ10 deficiency.

Under perfect conditions, the body can manufacture adequate supplies of CoQ10. Unfortunately, the levels of CoQ10 in the body inevitably decline with age. Stress and some medications also reduce natural levels even in younger individuals. The decline of CoQ10 in the blood correlates so well with the aging process, that it is regarded as one of the most accurate biomarkers of aging.

CoQ10 is best taken in supportive formulas that contain other antioxidants such as Rose Hips and Grape Seed Extract. Be sure to take only additive-free nutritional supplements. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Alzheimer’s and Antioxidants

Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading cause of death in adults. Half of all patients in nursing homes, and half of all people over the age of 85 probably have it. While the cause remains largely unknown, it has been definitely linked to oxidative damage to the brain cells over a period of time.

Though there is no known cure for the Alzheimer’s disease, a number of studies have indicated certain substances can slow the progression of the disorder. There is overwhelming clinical evidence that antioxidants are effective in preventing and beating back symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Several studies suggest vitamin C supplementation seem to be associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s. It is important to take an additive-free vitamin C supplement with bioflavonoids.

Grape Seed Extract (a natural bioflavonoid) is one of the most poweful antioxidants available. It's antioxidant properties are known to be 20 t0 50 times stronger than those of vitamins C, E, and beta carotene. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Help for Arthritis Pain

According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, more than 20 million Americans suffer from the pain of arthritis. The most common, osteoarthritis, also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, is caused by the breakdown and loss of cartilage in the joints.

Ironically, the best thing for arthritis may be to increase physical activity. Walking or gentle exercise like swimming, eases stiff joints, improves flexibility, and elevates mood.

Nutritional supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin may help repair and rebuild lost cartilage, thus reducing pain and inflammation. Glucosamine, a substance found naturally in the body, stimulates the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin, another natural substance, helps prevent the further breakdown of cartilage. These two supplements have been widely used for years in Europe to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Are you getting enough sulfur?

Sulfur deficiency increases with age. Too low a body concentration of sulfur may result in adverse physical and mental stress, tissue and organ problems, lack of energy, and increased susceptibility to diseases.

MSM is a natural, organic form of nutritional sulfur that should be taken daily, to avoid problems associated with sulfur deficiency.
[Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Little known facts about Vitamin C

Vitamin C:

... can’t be produced by the human body, therefore we must rely on an external supply from foods or supplements.

... is needed in large quantities by the eyes to prevent the lenses from becoming cloudy. (A condition known as cataracts.)

... can promote the excretion of heavy metals such as lead and mercury found in dental work, environmental toxins, and cigarettes. (up to 25mg of vitamin c is destroyed with each cigarette smoked).

... prevents nitrates (found in drinking water and processed foods) from being turned into carcinogenic nitrosamines.

... in mortality study of 11,000 participants in 2001, showed supplementing with just 800mg or more of vitamin c daily increased the average life expectancy by 5 years!

... helps allergies by preventing the excretion of histamines and regulating their decomposition without any side effects.

... strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

... is of particular importance to diabetics and smokers who need greater amounts of antioxidants.

... is a natural pain killer- it blocks prostaglandins similar to the way aspirin works.

... deficiency can manifest itself in bleeding gums, joint pain or swelling, nosebleeds, and slow wound healing.

... is easily destroyed by cooking- especially cooking in copper or iron.

... works synergistically with Original-MSM. (they have a greater effect when taken together.)

... is nearly impossible to overdose on because any excess is excreted through the urine. (bowel intolerance is used to measure the maximum dosage- if diarrhea occurs, reduce the dose.)

[Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals™, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Terrorist Cells & You

Did you know that there are unstable cells in your system that are doing all that they can to damage your body - promoting disease and premature aging?

It's true, dna-destroying free radical cells produced by the air we breathe, foods we consume, and environmental chemicals are internal terrorists that restrict blood flow, hinder fat and plaque removal from your body, and potentiating life-threatening disease.

There's help! Grape Seed Extract is a natural bioflavonoid which strengthens and protects cells from free radicals (terrorist cells). It is used successfully in Europe as pharmaceutical remedy for an array of medical conditions, and is available in the USA without prescription. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Antioxidants for Life

Antioxidants protect from the cellular damage that can be caused by pollution, cigarette smoke, x-rays, alcohol, inflammation, aerobic respiration, and even normal metabolic processes. They are believed to help prevent the development of many serious medical conditions including heart disease, stroke, cancer, cataracts, Alzheimer’s, and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Because our bodies are constantly bombarded with free radicals (bad cells) and our natural ability to combat them lessens with age, it is important to replenish our supply of antioxidants every day. Whole foods like peaches, apples, prunes, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, melons, celery, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, squash, string beans, broccoli, onions, garlic, beets, nuts, and mushrooms are all good sources of antioxidants. If you don’t eat a good quantity of these foods everyday, Grape Seed Extract, Vitamin C, Manganese, selenium, Zinc and CoQ10 (found in YF-8) are all excellent antioxidant supplements. (Note: Many foods are nutrient deficient, so supplementation has become strongly recommended.) [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

MSM for Fitness and Bodybuilding

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a dream come true for those who are serious about execise and fitness.

MSM can increase blood flow.
MSM can reduce muscle soreness.
MSM can reduce inflammation (swelling).
MSM can protect against free-radical damage.
MSM can reduce lactic acid buildup in the cells.
MSM can inhibit pain impulses along nerve fibers.
MSM can decrease microcellular damage inside muscle fiber.
MSM can increase strength levels allowing more intense workouts.
[Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com]

Chromium for Weight Loss

Chromium is an essential nutrient that facilitates the metabolism of sugar, fat and cholesterol as well as helping insulin to regulate blood sugar. Major studies have suggested that chromium supplementation can reduce body fat, regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and help build lean muscle.

Chromium Picolinate is a compound that is often used in dietary supplements. However, Chromium Picolinate (Picolinic Acid) is poorly absorbed by the body, and can have an abnormal effect on human cells. The FDA does not recognize Picolinic Acid as safe.

A safe and far more effective form is Chromium Polynicotinate. Make sure your weight loss supplement contains Chromium Polynicotinate. You can also use Chromium Mineral Supplement (Ionic Chromium Mineral) in liquid form. [© 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com]

Magnesium Stearate: Are you ingesting it?

Many dietary supplements on the market contain Magnesium Stearate. It is often found listed in the 'Other Ingredients' section of the label - though, in some cases, it may not be listed.

Magnesium Stearate is one of the most common additives found in supplements, because it is inexpensive and easy to use.

It is an execeptant that is used to bind tablets and make them smooth. Magnesium Stearate is also used in pharmaceuticals, foods, talcum powder, ammunition, and as a drying agent in paints.

When it is used in vitamin or supplement preparations, it may bind the tablets together so tightly that they may not dissolve causing tablets to pass though the body intact (unabsorbed).

Chances are your intention is not to continually supplement with Magnesium Stearate. For optimum health, it is best to avoid Magnesium Stearate, and use only additive-free supplements. [© 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com]

3 More Uses for MSM - Methylsulfonylmethane

Make Your Own “Mineral Hot Spring”

Natural mineral springs are very high in sulfur content. Sulfur (MSM) is a key ingredient in the healing properties of hot springs. Since MSM is a naturally occurring sulfur, adding it to a warm foot bath may provide many of the same benefits as a soak in natural hot spring. Simply add a handful of Original-MSM to a foot bath, or a cup full to your warm bath water.


Give MSM to Your Pet

MSM can provide similar benefits for cats, dogs, horses, and birds as it does for humans. Sprinkle some Original-MSM powder (or the contents of a couple additive-free Original-MSM™ capsules) into your pet’s food or water, to help with pain, skin problems, or for general health maintenance.


Add MSM to Your Favorite Personal Care Products

Some companies offer products such as lotions and shampoos containing MSM, though at a premium price. You can make them yourself and save money. MSM can be added to your favorite personal care products you already have in your home. Although the greatest benefits are derived from taking MSM internally, putting some on your toothbrush may help gum or mouth problems. Adding Original-MSM™ to a lotion or hair care product may increase the benefits to the skin and hair, and provide additional pain relieving benefits. [For best results, no more than 15% of the total volume should be MSM.]

[© 2004 W.I.N., Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com]

Should You Avoid Coral Calcium?

Calcium is one of the most important minerals you can supply your body. It is used in every cell in the body – and is responsible for the regulation and health of all of your body systems (circulatory, skeletal...).

Probably the worst form of calcium being sold for human consumption is Calcium Carbonate. Any nutrition expert can tell you that Calcium Carbonate is a very poor choice in which to obtain your daily, dietary intake of calcium.

Calcium carbonate is nearly non-absorbable and may contain toxic heavy metals. It is often used in the manufacture of cement, chalk, and lawn fertilizer.

Recently, Coral Calcium has been praised on infomercials, websites, and various advertisements as being the best form and quality of calcium available. Actually, Coral Calcium is better suited for lawncare than healthcare. Coral Calcium and calcium carbonate are the same! Save your money and your health – steer clear of Coral Calcium. Ionic Calcium is the smart alternative - completely absorbable. [© 2004 W.I.N., Inc. worldimagenaturals.com]

Silicon Dioxide: Beware You Might Be Taking It!

If you take dietary supplements, chances are you are also taking Silicon Dioxide which is often contained within most supplements.

Silicon Dioxide is an anti-caking agent that may account for up to 3% of a vitamin formula. It is used in the manufacture of glass, electrical components, optical lenses, abrasives, and ornamental and building stones.

According to its MSDS, (Material Safety Data Sheet), it is a hazardous chemical requiring safety glasses, neoprene gloves, protective clothing and a respirator when handling. Prolonged exposure to this chemical can cause fibrosis of the lungs and may lead to death.

It is classified by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as "probably carcinogenic to humans" and has "sufficient evidence" of carcinogenicity according to the NTP (National Toxicology Program).

Read the ingredients on your supplement label - especially those listed in the "Other Ingredients" section. Choose additive-free supplements for optimum health and maximum effectiveness. [© 2004 W.I.N., Inc. worldimagenaturals.com]

Water: Most Important Supplement

Drink Water for Health & Weight Loss

About 60-70 percent of adult body weight is water. Water helps protect body organs and regulates body temperature. It dissolves solids and carries nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Water plays an important role in converting foods to energy, and eliminating toxins and wastes from the body. Though we can survive for many weeks without food, we can live only a few days without water. Water is essential to life.

Unfortunately most people do not drink nearly enough water to maintain a healthy body. We need at least 64 ounces daily, even more when exercising or on hot days. If that seems like a lot, remember that most drinking glasses hold 12-16 ounces, and many brands of bottled water are packaged in 16-20 ounce bottles.

Drinking a glass of water before meals may make you feel full, and help you to eat less. Sufficient water intake prevents bloating and fatigue. The best way to combat water retention, and the bloating associated with it, is to drink more water. If you are not taking in a sufficient amount of water, your body will hold on to what it has. The more you drink, the more willing your body will be to “let go” of its stored water.

Often thirst is mistaken for hunger. Try drinking a glass of water before reaching for a snack. Also, what some people think are “hunger headaches” may actually be due to lack of water (dehydration).

When dining out, save money and calories by drinking water with your meal. Plan to have fresh drinking water available wherever you go. Avoid chlorine and other contaminants by drinking safe, filtered water. [© 2004 W.I.N., Inc. worldimagenaturals.com]

Effective Ephedra Alternative

Researchers have recently learned that Citrus Aurantium induces thermogenesis (the act of speeding up the rate at which the body uses calories), without affecting blood pressure and heart rate.

Citrus Aurantium is a natural digestive aid, derived from the bitter “Seville” orange fruit.  It has been used nutritionally for thousands of years. 

Citrus Aurantium is a safe, effective alternative to Ma Haung (Ephedra). Ephedra has been added to most weight loss supplements, and has similar thermogenic fat-burning properties.  However, Ephedra can cause elevation of blood pressure, over-simulation of the heart, and adrenal debilitation (to a person who is already low in energy).

Concerns with the problems associated with Ephedra use have prompted the FDA to prohibit its distribution and use in dietary supplements.

Weight loss supplements such as Perfect W-eight contain Citrus Aurantium, a superior alternative to Ephedra, to increase the body’s ability to metabolize stored body fat and provide the body with a greater amount of energy.

[© 2004 W.I.N., Inc. worldimagenaturals.com]

Are You Supplementing With Animal Parts?

Most consumers use nutritional supplements to promote and maintain good health. However, often unknown to consumers, there are "other ingredients" that are added to or used in the making of many dietary supplements.

Realizing the poor quality and problems associated with the use of tablets, because of the binders, adhesives, and other chemicals, some supplement companies have opted to manufacturer their products in capsules. Unfortunately, gelatin capsules have been the capsules of choice.

Gelatin is protein made by boiling the skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments of cows and pigs with water. It is then exposed to extremely harsh conditions including prolonged exposure to highly acid or alkaline solutions. Gelatin is used to gel, thicken, stabilize, emulsify, and bind many products. In 1992, the FDA requested bovine materials from countries where BSE (mad-cow disease) was present, not be used in gelatin products. However, in 1994, it stated that it no longer objected to its use. Nutritional supplements are often encapsulated in gelatin-based capsules. Although these capsules are less expensive, they may not be as safe or desirable as vegetable-based capsules.

If you do not intend to supplement with gelatin, make sure your supplements are encapsulated in capsules made from vegetables.

A growing number of manufacturers are joining World Image Naturals in using pure vegetable capsules, rather than gelatin, for the encapsulation of their nutritional supplements.

More information on supplement additives can be obtained in the report "Supplement Additives: A Special Report on the Undesirable Additives Commonly Found In Nutritional Supplements" available from World Image Naturals (www.worldimagenaturals.com).

[© 2004 W.I.N., Inc. worldimagenaturals.com]

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

THOR-Plex™ is formulated to naturally improve male health and performance. Benefits may include: energy, harder erections, increased testosterone, improved circulation, potency, stamina, and improved overall well-being.
Men, if you are experiencing a few or more of these symptoms, you may have a problem with low testosterone levels.

- Decreased sex drive (poor libido)
- Problem obtaining and maintaining erections
- Increased depression
- Fatigue (Get tired easily)
- Inability to concentrate
- Decline in memory and cognitive skills
- Decreased muscle mass and strength
- Loss of body hair
- Smaller, softer testes
- Decreased bone mass that may lead to osteoporosis
- Abdmonial fat (Pot Belly)
- Pectoral (Breast) fat
- Psychological symptoms: such as swinging mood, depression, anxiety, lack of vitality and sleep problems.

If you believe you have a problem with low testosterone, consult with your nutritionally-oriented health care provider. Ask her or him about using a natural supplement such as THOR-Plex, to increase your natural production of testosterone. [© 2004 W.I.N., Inc. worldimagenaturals.com]

Nutritional Supplements and Prescription Drugs

If you're concerned about whether or not you should take a particular nutritional supplement, because of a health condition or prescription drugs you are taking, consult with your doctor.

You may wonder what good this will do, since many doctors know very little about nutrition and dietary supplements.

Your doctor may not know much about nutritional supplements, but she or he should be familiar with any potential problems associated with a particular substance and how it relates to your health condition or prescription drug regimen. [Pharmacists can also be of some help.]

To avoid any personal bias or competition from your doctor regarding a supplement, simply ask if the ingredient(s) of the supplement (from a copy of the "Supplement Facts" panel that you bring in) can cause you any health problems or present any particular concerns. You can avoid product names (trademarks) and your reason for supplementing - and specifically focus on the ingredients (and amounts) as they apply to your personal health.

Though problems with the use of most nutritional supplements are rare, in some cases supplements should be avoided. For example, if you are about to undergo surgery, certain supplements, foods, and drugs that thin your blood may not be advised.

Nutritional supplements are very safe, and many have been used for thousands of years without any significant problems. If you have a serious health condition or using prescription drugs, it is best to consult your health care professional for advice. [© 2003 W.I.N., Inc. worldimagenaturals.com]

Nutrition: A Way of Life

Your body is composed of and uses the elements (nutrients) of the earth to sustain life and maintain its well-being.

If your body becomes deficient in one or more nutrients, dis-ease and degeneration often result.

Certain nutritional supplements can help supply these life-sustaining nutrients, which are increasingly difficult to obtain from deficient foods.

Nutritional supplements should not be confused with prescription drugs. Drugs are often prescribed for a period of time in attempt to chemically address a particular problem. Drugs are designed to take the place of (or alter) your body's natural processes. Prescription drugs usually have a list of undesirable side effects. Be sure to get a second opinion from a qualified health care professional before taking any drugs.

Conversely, nutrition (including proper supplementation) is meant to be a life-long commitment. Fruits and vegetables should be a part of your everyday diet. A doctor may discontinue your use of prescription drugs. Nutrition is for life. Serious health problems may result from nutrient deficiencies.

Keep in mind, the results from eating a fresh garden salad, or taking dietary supplements may not be immediately apparent, though (with regular use) may be in seen in your longevity and quality of life.

If you fail to provide your body with the nutrients it needs for health, the consequences will be undesirable.

Make nutrition a way of life - a healthy habit.

[P.S. Visit our website for details on informative reports regarding the dangers of additives which are commonly found in processed foods and many dietary supplements.]

Copyright 2003 World Image Naturals, Inc. - www.worldimagenaturals.com