How to Stay Healthy with Kidney Stones - Womens Health

So many womans health is effected by kidney stones. Boy! do they hurt. We all want to learn how to stay healthy. In an effort to help you learn to stay healthy, especially with womens health, I copied this from "Ask the Scientist" at http://GetHealthyReleaseWeight.usana.com/


"Many studies have investigated the role of nutrition in helping to reduce kidney stones. A recent study conducted by Brigham and Womens' Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that previous recommendations to limit dairy products in an effort to reduce the risk of kidney stones were misguided. This study, conducted on more than 90,000 women showed that "women with the highest intake of dietary calcium had the lowest risk of kidney stones". This suggests that calcium may actually have a protective effects by binding to oxalate in the gut and preventing its absorption into a form that leads to kidney stones.

Another large scale study on calcium and kidney stones concluded that high calcium intake decreases the risk of symptomatic kidney stones. Perhaps, just as importantly, the study found that individuals consuming less than 850 mg of calcium per day actually had a higher incidence of kidney stones.

Wow! That sure will help us stay healthy! More calcium - less stones.

In general, the intake of calcium through food or supplements does not contribute to an increased incidence of kidney stones. In fact, with a very few exceptions, getting adequate dietary calcium actually reduces your risk for kidney stones."

Common sense says if you currently suffer from kidney stones and really want to have good health, we recommend consulting with a physician to determine the best course of action.

For men and womans health it is best to take calcium supplements with meals in order to effectively inhibit oxalate absorption."

In an effort to help you learn to stay healthy with womens health I copied this from "Ask the Scientist" at http://GetHealthyReleaseWeight.usana.com/

Women - Menopause - Thyroid and Weight Gain

Menopause is a time of profound transition which is a nice way of saying Yipes! I'm getting old!

Menopause effects both the mind and body, particularly the thyroid and for those of you who don't know - Hypothyroidism makes you FAT!! In my opinion, the best way to restore healthy thyroid function is naturally through food and supplementation. My opinion comes from my personal expereince working with a wonderful women Naturopath - Dr. Laura Heib, Renton, Washington.

Nutrient-rich foods to replenish thyroid health

* Iodine (I): seaweed (e.g., nori), clams, shrimp, haddock, oysters, salmon, sardines, pineapple, eggs.
* Selenium (Se): smoked herring, smelt, wheat germ, Brazil nuts (just one nut provides ~139 mcg), apple cider vinegar, scallops, barley, lobster.
* Zinc (Zn): fresh oysters, ginger root, pecans, dry split peas, Brazil nuts, egg yolk, whole wheat, rye, oats, peanuts.
* Vitamin E: wheat germ oil, olive oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts.
* Vitamin A: dark green leafy veggies, liver, winter squash, cantaloupe, stone fruits, papaya, and cod liver oil.
* B vitamin complex: brewer’s yeast, wild rice, brown rice, whole wheat, beans, peanuts.
* Vitamin C: Red chili, guava, parsley, dark green leafy veggies, strawberries, papaya, citrus fruits.
* Support your adrenals. If this is the only thing you do, I promise it will benefit your health on many levels. Not only will supporting your adrenals lighten the burden on your thyroid, it will also help restore your energy levels and overall well-being.
* Start using a quality multivitamin–mineral. I encourage all my clients, especailly perimenopausal and menopausal, to take a pharmaceutical-grade supplement like our Essential Nutrients. Giving your body proper nutrition by supplementing your diet may be all you need to get yourself back on track.PLEASE NOTE: The FDA regulates supplements in the USA - they only check the health standards of the manufacturing company. The DO NOT check for quality and quantity of ingredient in the products. In other words, They often RIP YOU OFF AT THE COST OF YOUR HEALTH.
* Consider supplementing with selenium and iodine. Ask your practitioner to test your iodine levels in addition to your multivitamin. You can do this through the foods you eat or with selenium or iodine supplements.

Please work with a professional Naturopatic Doctor to monitor your levels appropriately. And when it comes to selenium supplements, I do not recommend taking more than 200 mcg/day.
* Reduce stress. Most Women give too much to those around us. Learn to say "No, I can not do that for you." and reduce YOUR Stress. Don’t feel guilty about asking for help yourself. You deserve a break — and so do the cells in your body!

Remember to have your Naturopath check your thyroid levels once a year, to stay on top of any changes. Prevention is easier than repairing your thyroid.

New Technology Means Less Suppliments for the Same Bang

I don't understand the technology but I love the idea of taking less pills each day. Remember - always choose Pharmacological Grade Supplements. Get what your paying for.

Usanais proud to be a leader in the evolution of nutrition technology,” said Dr. Tim Wood, USANA Executive Vice President of Research and Development.

UsanaNutritional Hybrid Technology illustrates our commitment to innovative manufacturing practices and production of high-quality nutritional products.”

Through Nutritional Hybrid Technology, Usana can now combine two distinct formulas into one bilayered tablet, allowing for advanced ingredient combinations while providing product stability. The technology will also help consumers simplify their nutritional regimen by decreasing the number of tablets they take each day.

Two new Usanaformulas, Proflavanol® C100 and Hepasil DTX™, were created with the new manufacturing technology and also unveiled at the company’s convention.

Proflavanol C100 combines powerful proanthocyanidins from grape-seed extract with high-potency vitamin C to promote sound cardiovascular health, immune function, and healthy-looking skin. An in-house Usanastudy found that the combination of grape-seed extract and vitamin C in Proflavanol C100 provides long-term antioxidant activity and better protective effects than if they were not combined.

Usanaupgraded Hepasil DTX formula contains a proprietary blend of ingredients to maintain optimum liver support and aid in the body’s detoxification processes.

Nutritional Hybrid Technology allows USANA Usanato boost key ingredients in the supplement while maintaining product quality and stability

Fish Oil Supplements Reduce Breast Cancer

There are several different classifications of breast cancer. New research adds strong support to the use of fish oil supplements in reducing the most common classification, known as invasive ductal carcinoma.

CAUTION Most of the Fish Oil Supplements you can buy in retail stores is RANCID aka ROTTEN. I suggest always getting oil that has been refrigerated and comes in darkened bottles. The supplements will stay fresh much longer if treated with care. Be mindful of the high levels of Mercury in many fish also. It is very hard to get good quality supplements in the USA do to lack of regulation.

A recent study conducted by experts at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, included 35,016 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 76. Participants were members of the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) study group. Subjects completed a 24-page baseline questionnaire that asked about recent (current versus past) supplement use. Frequency and duration of supplementation were also recorded. The women were asked specifically about the use of supplements other than basic vitamins and minerals.

We are really lucky to have the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle though I hope none of us ever need it.

After six years of follow-up, researchers found that regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 32 percent reduction in breast cancer risk. The reduced risk was limited to the most common form of breast cancer (the aforementioned invasive ductal carcinoma), which represents nearly 80% of diagnosed breast cancer cases. The highest level of benefit was also determined to be in women who were current users of fish oil.

Fish oil is a rich source of EPA (eicosapentoaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), two omega-3 fatty acids that have been studied extensively for prevention and treatment of various health conditions, including heart disease, arthritis and inflammatory conditions, macular degeneration, and depression. The results from this study give strong support to the possibility that regular fish oil consumption may also be associated with a reduced risk of the most common form of breast cancer.

Brasky TM, Lampe JW, Potter JD, Patterson RE, White E. Specialty Supplements and Breast Cancer Risk in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Cohort. 2010. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 19(7):1696-708.

Preventing Osteoperosis with Supplements

More Proof: Vitamin D is a Prevention for Osteoporosis

As far a supplements go Vitamin D and calcium are a must for all women. And according to the above study they are a must for girls too. Please note the study uses Pharmaceutical Grade Supplements from the highest rated supplement manufacture in the USA available without a prescription.

Spend your money wisely - Buy the best Usana

Vitamin B and Depression

Low intakes of the B vitamins are thought to contribute to depression in some people, but until now there has been little supporting evidence from population-based studies of older adults.

In a recent study published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined whether certain dietary intakes of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid correlated with symptoms of depression.

The study group consisted of 3,503 adults aged 65 and older who were followed over an average of 7.2 years. Vitamin intakes from diet and supplements were assessed using food frequency questionnaires, and the presence of depression was measured periodically using a standardized version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale.

After ≤12 years of follow-up, higher B vitamin intakes (including supplementation) were associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. The lowered risk remained after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, income, and anti-depressant medication use. The risk of developing depression symptoms decreased by 2 percent for every 10mg (milligram) increase in daily vitamin B6 intake. The same effect was true for every 10µg (microgram) increase in vitamin B12 intake. Increased intakes of the B vitamins through food intake alone did not significantly reduce depression incidence.

Both vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are involved in healthy nervous system function, but because older adults often have difficulty absorbing the B12 found naturally in food, fortified foods and a multivitamin may be necessary to reach beneficial levels.

The results of this research indicate that high total intakes of vitamins B6 and B12 may be protective against depressive symptoms in older adults. Be sure to always get Pharmaceutical Grade Supplements
Supplements are not regulated in the USA for their potency. Research before you waste your money and your health.

Skarupski KA, et al. Longitudinal association of vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12 with depressive symptoms among older adults over time. AJCN ePub ahead of print, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2010.29413. Retrieved online June 2, 2010.

New Research on Preventing Retinitis Degeneration

New research supports the use of 12 mg of lutein each day to slow visual field loss in adults with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye condition.

The right supplement at the right time.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a common form of retinal degeneration. This disorder causes a progressive loss of photoreceptor cells in the eye and can eventually lead to blindness. Daily intake of 15,000 IU of vitamin A palmitate is known to reduce the progression of the disease and can sometimes postpone blindness for many years.

In newly published research, scientists sought to determine whether supplementation with lutein – a nutrient found in yellow/orange and dark green leafy vegetables – could slow visual decline in patients with RP who were already receiving vitamin A.

A randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial of 225 nonsmoking patients (ages 18 to 60) took place over 4 years. Each day, patients consumed a tablet of 12 mg of lutein or placebo. All participants were given 15,000 IU/day of vitamin A palmitate.

Over the course of the study, a decrease in visual sensitivity loss was seen in the lutein+vitamin A group. The average decline was smallest in the individuals with the highest serum lutein levels.

In this group of participants, lutein supplementation of 12 mg/day was effective at slowing visual sensitivity loss, and could therefore delay or prevent the occurrence of blindness even better than treatment with vitamin A alone.

Berson EL, et al. Clinical Trial of Lutein in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa Receiving Vitamin A. 2010. Arch Ophthalmol 128(4):403-11.

Preventing Heart Disease with Zinc

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are important risk factors for heart disease. My first and most powerful suggestion as an Online Weight Loss coach to my clients to reduce chronic inflammation is cut out processed food and refined sugar. Adding Pharmacultical Quality Supplementation is my second and equally important suggestion.

Zinc is an essential mineral with both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Because of these properties, zinc may play a role in protecting the heart.

To examine the effect of zinc on markers of inflammation, researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of zinc supplementation in elderly subjects. Forty healthy elderly subjects (aged 56-83 years) were randomly assigned to 2 groups. One group received placebo; the other received 45 mg of zinc per day for 6 months.

Compared to the placebo, six months of zinc supplementation increased plasma zinc concentrations and decreased several markers associated with inflammation. Higher zinc levels were also related to a decrease in markers associated with oxidative stress.

The findings of this research suggest that zinc may have a protective effect in coronary artery disease thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Stupid Reason to be FAT #8

As women reach menopause they experience a natural slowing of their metabolism. Estrogen favors weight gain in the lower body so with the loss of this hormone women can begin to accumulate fat around their middle. The hormonal changes also can bring on depression, cravings and poor sleep.

These are also the exact same symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome. So maybe menopause isn't the real problem. But it is a great time to really take charge of your health and explore a new and healthier lifestyle. A few simple and easy changes can bring tremendous relief from so many of our bodily complains: aching joints, exhaustion, mood swings and weight gain.

I have found an excellent product I use daily which has provided much relief from menopause fun. I have done extensive research from un-biased sources to choose what supplement brand I use. My choice is created from natural ingredients with no additives, chemicals or toxins. All the products have been tested and guaranteed to have exactly what the label claims in them. Always and only buy products that have a pharmaceutical guarantee. If you can't find any brand that holds these standards I suggest you save your money.

More information on how to reverse Metabolic Syndrome and healthy lifestyle choices go to:

Your On-line Weight Loss Coach

American Suppliment Industry Scam

Though I am very much against Government regulations this is what we get without any standards. Profit at the cost of YOUR health.


In its latest review of multivitamins, ConsumerLab.com found defects in over 30% of the multivitamins that it selected for review. And many products exceeded tolerable upper limits for certain vitamins or minerals. Specific problems found in the multivitamin reviews include:

Three of four popular children's multivitamins reviewed were too high in vitamin A.

One men's multivitamin was contaminated with lead and another had too much folic acid -- associated with more than doubling the risk of prostate cancer.

One general multivitamin had no more than 50% of its folic acid. Another was missing 30% of its calcium.
A senior's, a prenatal, and a women's multivitamin each had only 44.1%, 44.3%, and 66.1%, respectively, of their vitamin A.

A vitamin water had 15 times its stated amount of folic acid, so drinking one bottle would exceed the tolerable limit for adults; less than half a bottle would put children over the limit.

A pet multivitamin was contaminated with lead and another had only 46% of its vitamin A and 54.7% of its calcium.

The only products I have found that can be purchased without a Doctor's prescription come from a company called Usana http://gethealthyreleaseweight.usana.com/.

Their Supplements are on list of the top 25 products for ConsumerLab.com and the have received a 5 Star rating from the Comparable Guide to Nutritional Supplements published by Lyle MacWilliams MSc, FP.