Food Grade -vs- Pharmaceutical Grade Nutritional Supplements

What is the difference between food grade and pharmacuetical grade supplements? The difference is like coal and diamonds.

Pharmaceutical grade means that the product has been manufactured under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) conditions and is pure, safe and reliable. Under GMP every step of the process is followed using established procedures to assure the best quality possible.

This includes training, equipment, raw materials, and facilities. Processing and manufacturing can be traced back to the date, time, lot number, and equipment used.

Food grade nutritional supplements may or may not follow good manufacturing practices and may or may not contain what is actually listed on the label. The FDA allows questionable fillers and binders such as; cork by products, chemical dyes, sodium benzoate, dextrose, and propylene glycol to name a few.

In most cases, Impure ingredients are used by many companies. The FDA does not require manufacturers to list these ingredients on the labels if they are not added when making the final product.

Many times the raw materials may contain only 90% or less of the listed ingredients along with 10% or more of fillers, such as, corn starch and lactose. Lactose and corn are known allergens for some people.

Surprisingly these ingredients are legal, but what are the nutritional benefits?

Reports have indicate that some of these ingredients can be toxic at certain levels with prolong use.

There are basically three different grades of raw materials used in products, they are:

Pharmaceutical Grade - meets pharmaceutical standards

Food Grade - meets standards set for human consumption

Feed Grade - meets standards set for animal consumption

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has not finalized Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for dietary supplements, as they are required to do under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. Rather, Congress has initially stated that dietary supplement GMP should be modeled after foods.

Because of this statement, many supplement manufacturers have chosen to follow GMP for foods.

However, there are a few nutritional manufacturing companies that voluntarily follow the GMP for pharmaceuticals as the basis for its quality assurance program in the manufacturing of all of its products, meaning the company treats nutritional supplements with the same care that goes into the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.

When choosing a company to purchase your nutritional supplements from, you want a company that provides pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements using good manufacturing practices and uses the purist ingredients available and that have the least hypoallergenic effects on the consumer.

This type of company will insure that what is printed on the label is actually in the bottle. Their processing facilities are state of the art and well maintained and controlled for cleanliness and are not shy to allow the public to inspect their facilities.

Your chosen company should have a potency guarantee and will stand behind it. This company may be certified by quality assurance agencies like the NSF, which is the Public Health and Safety Company.

The NSF helps protect the consumer by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods.

There are several criteria by which pharmaceutical grade are judged. The product must be in excess of 99% purity with no binders, fillers, excipients, dyes, or unknown substances.

Choose wisely. Your health depends on it.

P.S. If you want to know which pharmaceutical grade company I use that has the high quality traits listed above, sign up for my free news letter and I will send you the information. You will love their products.

Charles

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Progentra Reviews
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Book Review - NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements, 4th Edition

Vitamins, if properly understood and applied, will help us to reduce human suffering to an extent that the most fantastic human mind would fail to imagine.

—Albert Szent-Györgyi, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine (1893-1986)

The fourth edition of the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements (Professional Edition) is now available.

This new edition is twice the size and rates three times (over 1,500) the number of nutritional supplements as the third edition. There are over 1,500 US and Canadian supplements scientifically rated and compared; compared using 18 critical Health Support Criteria required to evaluate supplements; illustrated with 300 full-color graphs so you can easily compare top-rated products.

The NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements (Professional Edition) is your road map to understanding the remarkable protective powers of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Discover recent scientific evidence that shows supplements can optimize health and retard the aging process. Determine which supplement is best for you and your family, using a scientifically-based approach.

Using 18 criteria, a Final Product Rating, based on a five-star scale, is determined. A five-star rating highlights those products whose characteristics for optimal nutrition are clearly superior to the majority of products on the market and that approach or meet the pooled recommendations of the Blended Standard.

Conversely, a one-star rating or less represents products possessing few, if any, of the characteristics for optimal nutrition reflected in the Blended Standard. The five-star scale, divisible in half-star increments, provides an intuitive means by which the consumer can compare products, based on product content.

Show Me the Science. For each Health Support Profile criterion, we provide a review of the scientific justification for those nutrients included in the criterion.

This review is a more comprehensive overview than is available in the printed 4th edition of the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements; it is provided for those wishing to delve deeper into the available scientific evidence supporting the value of supplementation with a particular nutrient or nutrient group.

The 18 criteria the Comparative Guide uses are:

1. Completeness. Over the years, scientific research has documented numerous micro-nutrients that are required for optimal health. We now know that the body requires approximately 17 vitamins and vitamin-like substances, a diverse group of plant-based antioxidants, at least 14 trace elements and minerals, and several essential fats necessary for proper cellular function. The body cannot manufacture many of these substances; they must be obtained through the diet.

2. Potency.

3. Mineral Forms. Minerals are essential components of our cells and serve as co-factors in the thousands of enzyme-controlled reactions that power the machinery of the cell.

4. Bio-activity of Vitamin E.

5. Gamma Tocopherol. Does the product contain gamma-tocopherol (or a mixture of gamma, beta, and delta-tocopherols) at a potency of up to one-half the potency of alpha-tocopherol in the same product?

6. Antioxidant Support

7. Bone Health

8. Heart Health

9. Liver Health (detoxification)

10. Metabolic Health (glucose control)

11. Ocular Health

12. Methylation Support

13. Lipotropic Factors

14. Inflammation Control. Chronic inflammation, frequently induced by uncontrolled oxidative stress, is a principal mechanism by which degenerative disease takes root.

15. Glycation Control

16. Bioflavonoid Profile

17. Phenolic Compounds Profile

18. Potential Toxicities

An exceptional complete guide comparing various Nutritional Supplements, this book also provides an education into battling degenerative disease and how all the nutrients work to provide the body with optimal health. This book is a must have.

For a complete review of the 18 criteria, please visit the Comparative Guide’s web page at: http://www.nutrisearch.ca/showmethescience/ProductRatingCriteria.html

Why You Should Take Nutritional Supplements

Vitamins and minerals are vital nutrients for bodily functions. There is an old argument that a person can get everything they need, nutrient wise, from food.

This is certainly possible, but are you doing it? The reality is that a person would need to consume vast amounts of fresh, whole foods in order to provide the body with the required levels of nutrients for optimal health.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is a very minimal level to judge today’s nutritional requirements by. The RDA was established in over 60 years ago and intended as a minimal nutrient requirement in order to ward of diseases of that time period, namely scurvy and rickets.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation is absolutely necessary for the following reasons:

Poor Digestion- Eating too much, too quickly combined with the stress of live can create an imbalance of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract which reduces the absorption of vitamins and minerals. The older you get, the more this is a factor.

Over Cooking- Over cooking can easily destroy the remaining nutrients in foods.

Microwave Cooking- Do yourself a favor – trash the microwave! Studies are on-going, but tend to reflect the concept that microwave’s alters the nutrient structure and value of foods.

Food Storage- Length of storage and freezing depletes the remaining nutrient value of foods.

Food Selection- Most people eat from a limited range of foods resulting in nutrient deficiencies.

Food Omission- Allergies to foods, on again – off again diets all omit significant nutrients to a person’s diet.

Anti-biotics- Anti-biotics alter the gastrointestinal environment and interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients.

Poor Lifestyle Habits- Smoking, alcohol, excessive caffeine, and other bad habits inhibit the absorption of vitamins and minerals and increase the loss of essential nutrients.

Stress- Can be emotional, physical and/or mental which can wreck havoc on the body’s immune system and greatly increase the need for nutrients.

Imbalance- Vitamins and minerals need to be taken in supporting levels to create a synergistic effect. Singular each nutrient is not as powerful as in combination with other nutrients.

Nutrient variance- Carrots are not equal to other carrots, and tomatoes are not equal to other tomatoes. There is a great variance from one product to the next.

You cannot tell outside of a laboratory. We have read where it takes eight Florida oranges of today to compare to the nutritional value of one Florida orange from 10 years ago. Soils are being depleted which add to the reduced nutrient content. Harvesting, processing, shipment and storage are takes much of the nutrient content out of products.

The Bottom Line- Everybody should be taking high quality nutritional supplements to ensure they are providing their body with the simple nutrients their bodies need to fight off the free radicals created from oxidative stress.

However, not all supplements are manufactured to the same standards. There are two basic standards: food grade; and, pharmaceutical grade. The educated consumer should do two things: Read the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements; and, research to see if the supplements you are interested in are manufactured to a measurable standard.

Ginger Root Tincture

I received many requests for the Ginger Root Tincture recipe, which is used for the herbal home treatment of arthritis pain, colds, nausea, cholesterol and fibromyalgia.

Below is the process to make a ginger root tincture, which will be good for a couple of years if kept in a dark colored glass container and in a cool environment.

The average dosage is 3 ml. added to warm water as needed.

Ingredients:

1 Large mouth sterile glass jar with lid big enough to hold ingredients

½ Cup chopped fresh ginger root (1/4 cup if dried ginger is used)

1 Dark colored sterile glass bottle with stopper big enough to hold strained liquid

1 Label for colored bottle

Put ginger in large mouth jar and add 1 cup vodka, if using fresh ginger. If using powder ginger add 2/3 cups vodka and 1/3 cup water. Seal the jar and shake for 1 minute.

Label and date the jar so that you can identify it later in the event you are working on making other tinctures.

Shake the jar daily for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, strain the mixture through cheese cloth into the dark glass jar. Seal the jar and add a label with the tincture name and date.

Keep the jar in a cool dark place until needed.

Remember to please sign up to my free news letter to receive more information on herbal remedies and high grade nutritional supplements.

Sincerely,

Charles

Herbal Remedy Pain Management for Arthritis Relief

There are many herbal remedies that can lessen the effects of pain cause by arthritis. Some natural cures may work individually or may need to be used in combination with another herbal remedy.

Experimenting with the following herbal remedies may be beneficial in the management of your arthritis related pains. You may even discover that some herbal remedies may outperform the doctor prescribed or over the counter drug recommendations.

Although, you must understand that what may work for one person, may not work for another.Here are just a few herbal remedies that I will cover in this article:

GINGER- used for inflammation and pain. Dosage: For a stronger dosage, take 1-2 g. of dried powder in capsule form 2-3 times daily, or 1-2 ml. of ginger tincture form 3 times daily.

To prepare, grate the ginger root and add hot water to make a tea.Ginger can be used to treat nausea, motion sickness, diarrhea and pain. Ginger has blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that can be helpful in treating heart disease.

Ginger water is also used to prevent heat cramps.Ginger interacts with WARFARIN (also known as Coumadin, jantoven, marevan and lawarin) which is an anticoagulant used to prevent thrombosis and embolism.

I will show you how to make a potent ginger tincture in a different article.

BROMELAIN- is a natural anti-inflammatory found in pineapples. Dosage: 500 mg. 3 times per day between meals. Suggested strength 2000 MCU per 1000mg or 1200 GDU per 1000 mg. Those allergic to pineapples should avoid taking Bromelain.

A mixture of enzymes found naturally in pineapples is taken with meals for a digestive aide.Bromelain works by blocking proinflammatory metabolites that accelerate and worsen the inflammatory process.

Bromelain is also used in sport injuries, menstrual pain, hemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis and autoimmune disorders. Bromelain also may be useful in the reduction of platelet clumping and blood clots in the blood stream.

BOSWELLIA- also known as Indian Frankincense helps improve function and eases pain. Dosage: 1200-1500 mg. of extract containing 60-65% boswellic acids, 2-3 times per day.Boswellia is also used in the treatment of snake bites, asthma, coughs, and a few other ailments. When burned as incense is used for relaxation.

CAYENNE- (mainly capsaicin) in cream form works to remove substance “P” from the nerves. Substance “P” is a neurotransmitter that transmits pain messages. The active ingredient in cayenne is CAPSAICIN.

Dosage: apply cream (.025-.075%) to effected area 2-4 times per day.Cayenne is used to treat pain from shingles and can be used to regulate blood sugar levels.

Capsaicin in cayenne interacts with LISINOPRIL, which is used to control high blood pressure, with coughing being the side effects.

Here is a topical oil you can make from cayenne:

Ingredients-

¼ cup high grade strength cayenne pepper powder

½ cup good quality olive oilCombine ingredients into a jar with lid.

Allow to sit for 2 weeks, shaking jar once every day. After 2 weeks strain mixture through cheese cloth.

To use, deeply massage the oil into the sore areas, avoiding the eyes, nose and mouth. When the oil begins to burn you can wipe it off. Make sure to wash your hands.

Remember to sign up for my free news letter to receive more free information covering herbal remedies and high grade nutritional supplements.

To your health,

Charles

Basic Understanding of Herbal Remedy Potency Levels

Herbal home remedies can be purchased or homemade and come in several different forms and potencies. Herbal home remedies are available in liquid, tablet, pellet and cream forms.

Although, herbal home remedies come in many forms and can be purchased premade from many health food stores, quality is best ensured if these remedies were made by you fresh at home.

When purchasing and using herbal home remedies, it is important to know the potency identification system used to determine the strength of the herbal remedy.

The system used is normally combined with a number and letter combination listed after the name of the remedy, such as 30c, 12c, 6x, 12x, etc. The 30c would be stronger than a 12c.

Here are the basic number and letter systems and what they mean:

M-(millesimal)= 1 part substance to 1000 parts dilution. This is the strongest potency level and stays in the body the longest and is usually prescribed by a practitioner.

C- (centesimal)= 1 part substance to 99 part dilution. This is a medium level potency. Used for seasonal or chronic problems.

X- (decimal)= 1 part substance to 10 part dilution. This is the lowest level potency. Used for children, sudden illnesses, and in first aid treatment. Stays in the body for a short period of time and is normally in tablet form.

Each level of potency has different time frames and dosages needed depending on the severity of the health problem. If you make your own herbal home remedies, it is important that you receive adequate training so that your remedies become effective and not harmful.

Please sign up for my free news letter to receive free information on homemade herbal remedies and high grade nutritional supplements. Many people are paying money to receive information that you will get for free.

Charles

Probiotics – For Overall Good Health

Friendly bacteria in the stomach are important, even vital, to a good working immune system, to protection against microorganisms that could cause disease, and aid in the digestion and the cellular absorption of nutrients.

Each person's mix of bacteria in the gut is different and is affected by various factors. The microorganisms in a person’s body can be crucial to the person's health and well-being, hence the good advice to take pro-biotic supplements.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, in most cases bacteria, that are similar to the good or beneficial microorganisms found in the gut. Probiotics are available to people mainly in the form of dietary supplements however the consumer needs to be careful as the well documented difference between food grade manufactured probiotics and pharmaceutical grade probiotics are great.

Bacteria in the stomach can become imbalanced primarily two ways: by anti-biotics that kill friendly and unfriendly bacteria in the gut alike; and, by micro-organisms that cause diseases – this include parasites as well.

Any number of factors can negatively impact the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, including age, stress, certain medicines, and poor diet. The effects of poor digestion can range from uncomfortable stomach upset to conditions that are potentially harmful to our long-term health.

A good Probiotic is a food supplement designed to help replenish beneficial bacteria in the gut to re-establish a healthy balance, which is essential to keeping our digestive process working properly and maintaining strong immune function.

Most adults can benefit from using Probiotics, albeit a quality product, but it is especially recommended for those who travel regularly, those who have depleted their “friendly” bacteria due to antibiotic use, or those with less than ideal eating habits.

Digestive health lies at the core of our overall health. A healthy digestive system helps our body efficiently break down many of the nutrients we consume into forms that are easily absorbed, maximizing the benefits of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and defending against nutritional deficiencies.

Healthy digestion is also important to bowel regularity—another critical component of overall good health.

Probiotics are also great for general immune system support. It is thought that up to 80 percent of the immune cells in our bodies are located in the gut. A good quality Probiotic will interact with, and stimulate, the immune system to help strengthen our natural defenses and sustain healthy immune function by promoting healthy bacterial growth.

Sign up for my free news letter and receive free information regarding high grade nutritional supplements, natural herbal remedies for home cures and many other helpful and healthful tips and information. People are paying for the information you are receiving for free.

Stay Healthy!

Charles

Beware of Energy Drinks

Energy Drinks such as Rockstar, Red Bull, etc., have become the rage. I personally know several adults who think they can’t get through the day without them. My concern is that children and teenagers are drinking them, not my children, but maybe yours!

Most of these energy drinks have as much caffeine as a cup of coffee (around 80 mgs). One 12 ounce can of soda contains approximately 16 to 50 mgs of caffeine. Not only does some of these energy drinks contain caffeine, they also have large doses of legal herbal stimulants as well.

Caffeine can make you have anxiety attacks, heart palpitations, and insomnia, as well as causes your kidney to remove extra fluid from your body. Starting to get the picture?

Children, when in school or not, do not need to be consuming any type of liquid that contains caffeine and stimulants, especially when also combined with sugar. Some of these drinks contain as much as 31 grams of sugar per serving.

Let there be no mistake about it, these drinks are advertised with children and young adults in mind. Walk around one day and count the number of children, teenagers (who are also children by the way) and young adults sucking on an energy drink. You can see the monetary stakes involved here.

Another issue is the use of herbal extracts in these drinks. There is no guarantee that the herbs used by these manufacturers are not non-toxic herbs or herbs not sprayed with pesticides, or the water source they use in the manufacturing process.

Since Energy Drinks are classified as food, the whole food grade manufacturing process does not provide for a guarantee in quality of the product. In fact, manufacturers of energy drinks are not required by law to list whether or not the herbs they use have been sprayed with toxic pesticides or manufactured with contaminated water sources. There is just no telling what toxins remain in the finished product.

By the way, the same problems reside with off the shelf, food grade nutritional products as well. If you become an avid reader of this site, you will read about pharmaceutical grade nutritional products verses food grade nutritional products, time and time again.

Another common ingredient is Taurine, which is a free form amino acid contained in foods and manufactured in the body from the amino acid cysteine. Synthetic Taurine is implicated in illnesses ranging from high blood pressure to strokes and seizures to heart disease.

Taurine has been banned in some Scandinavian countries, and Switzerland, after being linked to the deaths of three consumers. Some scientists believe that excessive Taurine has a sedative effect on the brain.

Some people, including teenagers, mixed alcohol with energy drinks as it makes them feel alert and energetic, even when they are drunk. Both dehydrate the body and a night out with alcohol and energy drinks can severely dehydrate a young or older person alike.

We recommend all people avoid energy drinks; they do nothing to add energy and can only add more toxins to an already toxic body and decrease or inhibit our body’s natural detoxification processes.

For an energy drink that is all natural and avoids the above listed problems try REV3, which can be found purchased from this site: http://tinyurl.com/rev3drink

Sign up for my free news letter and receive free information regarding high grade nutritional supplements, natural herbal remedies for home cures and many other helpful and healthful tips and information. People are paying for the information you are receiving for free.

Take Care!

Charles

Importance of Staying Hydrated

Approximately half of the human body weight consists of water. Not too many people realize that water is also a nutrient. Water is one of the most important nutrient required to sustain a healthy body. Not getting enough of this important nutrient can lead to all kinds of health problems.

The human brain has the largest concentration of water on the about at about 85%. Your cells need adequate water on order to function properly. Water is an important component in the blood and is needed to break down certain chemicals within the body. The human body uses and requires water to detoxify itself, as well as, regulate body temperature.

When the body is low on water it will tell you by the thirsty feeling you get. When you do really get the thirsty feeling, it may be a sign that you are already becoming dehydrated to a certain degree. Your urine may be darker than usual with a stronger odor.

Some symptoms that many people are currently experiencing may be a reaction to being in a dehydrated state to some degree and may not even be aware of it. By simply re-hydrating yourself and staying in a healthy hydrated state may amazingly relieve one from these symptoms that I will cover later in this article.

Water is an important element in losing weight. When your body needs H2O and is not getting it, it will retain what water it has to a certain degree. Many of us drink fluids such as coffee, tea, sodas, and beer and believe that we are getting the water and fluids that we need from that when in fact beverages containing salt and caffeine are zapping our bodies of fluids.

The many beverages that I loved to drink on a daily basis were loaded with water zapping caffeine and salt which were keeping me from my potential to being healthier. These water stealing beverages, and some foods, were my down fall as I was always in a low grade state of dehydration until I learned the importance of drinking plenty of water and taking my daily nutritional supplements.

When I started to increase my daily intake of water to an average of 8 glasses a day, more if I exercised, and cut back on salty and caffeinated beverages, I noticed some of my symptoms improving. I began to think clearer, had more energy and I did not get as many headaches as I used to. My blood pressure readings also improved dramatically.

Below are some symptoms commonly related to being dehydrated. If you are experiencing these symptoms and finally come to realize that you are not drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, try cutting back or eliminating beverages containing high salt levels or caffeine.

You should start seeing results within 48 hours. For those with medical conditions that were told by their Doctor to cut back on fluid intake should stick with that advice and consult with your Doctor if you feel you are dehydrated.

Here are the symptoms related to being dehydrated:

• Headaches
• High Blood Pressure (when the body is low on fluids, it compensates by increasing blood pressure)
• Tiredness/Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Foggy or Hazy Thinking (hard to concentrate)
• Heart Palpitations
• Irritability/Easily Stressed
• Kidney Pains
• Weight Gain
• Skin Rashes
• Muscle Cramps (really dehydrated at this point)
• Lack of sweat when exerting energy (severe sign)

Got Water!

Until next time.

Charles

Welcome to My Blog

If you are the type of person that believes nutrition should be as natural and as healthy as can be, then you have come to the right place. I am dedicating this blog to those in search of healthier ways of taking care of their nutritional and alternative medicine needs.

I believe, like many of you, that nutrition, as natural and clean as we can get it, is important to staying healthy. I believe that any nutritional supplements taken should be of the highest pharmaceutical grade as possible.

I also believe that there are many natural ways that we can take care of ourselves through the use of natural herbs and foods, sometimes not having to rely on drugs that can cause side effects worse that what they are treating for.

In my blog I will talk about nutritional supplements, natural cures and remedies and various techniques that I have used successfully over the years that have worked for my situations. Understand that what may work for one, may not work for another. This blog is in no way meant to replace the expert advice of a doctor. When in doubt check with your doctor. I am not a doctor. I have researched many of these topics, some of which worked for me and some that I know worked for others that I have talked to. Use these techniques and information at your own risk.

With that said, I will attempt to supply you with the most reliable information on each subject that I talk about. I'm the type of person who cares what goes into my body. The less harmful drugs that I can keep out the happier I am. I believe whole heartedly that many of life's ailments can be corrected through natural herbs and remedies, good pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, a healthy diet, and adequate exercise.

Always remember that there is no magic pill, especially in weight loss. If you noticed, most every weight loss pill or gimmick is accompanied by a diet and exercise chart or plan of some type. This is what I call a clue. Here is a tip many people are paying good money to hear, but I present to you for free- "Exercise and eating healthy is the secret to losing weight".

Many of you like me are probably in a situation where health concerns are a critical issue. My younger daughter is in stage 4 renal failure. Her kidney's did not fully mature while growing up and now needs a kidney transplant. The donor waiting list is long and unpredictable. I want to donate one of my kindneys, but I must get into better physical shape.

I am on a quest to better my health and life style so that when the time nears I can save my daughters life. I want to lose weight, gain more strength and purge my system of toxins so that I may provide the healthiest donor kidney for my daughter.

Soak that in for a while and I will see you right here for the beginning of our journey together. Pass this blog link on to your friends and loved ones so that we can get them started on the right path to a healthier life style. They will thank you for it later.

For a happier, healthier you!

Charles