The Health Benefits Of Pygeum
Prostate problems are a growing problem for many men, and it is estimated that most men will experience some type of problem with their prostate at one time or another.
Fortunately, there are a number of excellent supplements on the market that have shown great promise in treating some of the most common prostate problems. One of the most exciting of these compounds is known as pygeum.
Pygeum And The Prostate
Often, pygeum will be combined with a number of other prostate effective compounds, such as saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol and nettle. These products are often sold as "prostate health" supplements or similar items. Some of these combinations will list a huge number of ingredients, but often the concentration of each ingredient is too small to be of value. Those who are seeking such a combination product will need to learn to read the labels carefully to make sure that the product they are buying will provide the benefits they hope for.
Many prostate specific herbal remedies, including pygeum, also have strong anti-inflammatory properties, and it is these anti-inflammatory properties that seem to have an affect on the swelling often associated with prostate problems.
It is important for those using pygeum to treat or prevent problems with the prostate to seek out those extracts that have been standardized, in order to make sure that the levels of pygeum in the supplement are adequate to be of real therapeutic value.
What To Look For In Pygeum Supplements
It is also important to buy pygeum and other prostate health products only from established and reputable companies, as the manufacturing processes used can greatly influence the value, and even the safety, of herbal remedies. Buying pygeum and other supplements from firmly established companies is the best way to ensure a quality product made with the freshest and most effective ingredients.
There are many places to buy pygeum supplements, and other supplements for the treatment and prevention of prostate problems. Pygeum is available at many health food stores, both as standalone supplements and as part of overall "prostate health" remedies. It is always important to read the label carefully to make sure that the ingredients exist in the concentrations you need.
The manufacturing process is essential when it comes to herbal remedies, whether we are talking about pygeum or any other supplement. Manufacturing problems, such as contaminated or poorly functioning equipment, can easily negate the positive health effects of many supplements. It is important, therefore, to buy products only from companies who employ the best manufacturing processes when making their pygeum supplements.
It is also important for any man considering starting treatment with pygeum or other herbal medications to consult with his doctor before starting treatment. It is important for your doctor to know about all the medications you are taking, not just prescription drugs. That is because over the counter medications and even herbal remedies can interact with prescription drugs. Providing your doctor with complete information about all the remedies you are taking will help you keep your health at its highest level and side effects low.
About Nutrition
| Drinking Water |
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Good nutrition isn't just about the foods you eat, it also includes the beverages you drink. Water is a good beverage. It doesn't have any calories or artificial colorings or flavorings and your body needs it. It's also cheap when you get it from the tap. Maybe you prefer bottled water or you use a filtered pitcher to avoid impurities or you prefer the flavor.
I don't like to drink water. I don't like the way it tastes. A lot of people think that's weird because water doesn't really have any flavor. I was a picky eater as a kid so maybe that's related, I don't know. Anyway, if you're like me you can still get enough water by choosing other beverages or flavoring your water with a slice of lemon or lime. I also like sparkling water. You can choose flavored waters too. Just because they're flavored doesn't change the fact that they're almost completely water. Common Questions About Water
Drinking Water originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 10:45:21. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| Sweet Potatoes |
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Did you know that yams and sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin A and beta carotene? Sweet potatoes are also a good source of fiber. They have a naturally sweet flavor that doesn't need much extra seasoning, although they're often glazed or served in sweet potato pie. Today I wrote an article about sweet potatoes, how to choose them, how to cook them and I included some links to healthy and delicious recipes that feature sweet potatoes: What's your favorite way to serve sweet potatoes? I like mine baked and then served with a little bit of real maple syrup with a few pecans sprinkled on top. Sweet Potatoes originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 11:07:54. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| Vitamin D In the Winter |
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Vitamin D is a popular vitamin in the world of nutrition right now - it seems there's news about vitamin D research every week. Your body needs vitamin D in order to absorb calcium and various research studies have linked deficiencies with several health conditions, including high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Today I read a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology in which the authors looked at vitamin D deficiency, supplementation and cardiovascular disease risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes. The researchers (not surprisingly) found an association of vitamin D deficiency with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and also with decreased survival time. So they looked a little closer at the patients who were deficient in vitamin D levels to see if taking vitamin D supplements had any impact on survival times. Turns out the vitamin D deficient-subjects who were taking vitamin D supplements tended to have increased survival times. This was an observational study and not a randomized control trial (which provides the highest form of evidence), so there was no specific dosage used and the subjects weren't required to take any vitamin D. So there was a wide range of dosages reported, from 1,000 International Units per day up to prescription forms of vitamin D taken at 50,000 International Units bi-weekly. Interestingly, subjects who had cardiovascular disease but were not deficient in vitamin D according to blood tests, but took vitamin D supplements anyway didn't have the same increased survival times. We still have a lot to learn about any therapeutic benefits of vitamin D. You don't usually get much vitamin D from the foods you eat, although milk is usually fortified with it, you're body makes vitamin D after your skin is exposed to sunlight. Those of us who live north of a line drawn on a map from the northern border of California in the west to Boston in the east can't even get vitamin D from the sun during the colder months because the sun's rays just aren't strong enough to give us the UV exposure we need. So it's a good idea to take vitamin D supplements during the winter (or any time of the year if you avoid sun exposure). Vitamin D In the Winter originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 14:40:43. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| Dietary Magnesium and Stroke Risk |
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A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition came to the conclusion that dietary magnesium intake is inversely associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (these are the strokes caused by blood clots in the brain). The authors performed a meta-analysis, which is a type of study that involves taking the data from previous similar studies and combining them. The authors of the study used the data from seven previous studies and determined that an increased intake of 100 milligrams magnesium per day was associated with an 8 - 9% decreased risk of ischemic stroke. Eight or nine percent may not sound like much, but according to the Internet Stroke Center, stroke is the third highest cause of death in the United States and of those strokes, 88% are ischemic strokes, so something as simple as increasing a dietary mineral could be quite significant.
So this could be a good thing, but, it's important to keep a couple of things in mind with this study. The authors of this study looked at dietary intake of magnesium so it doesn't indicate that taking magnesium supplements will have the same decrease in risk, and it's important (I think) to understand that magnesium deficiency symptoms are uncommon. Also, it's possible that the reduction of stroke risk is caused by other factors besides the actual magnesium since foods that contain magnesium are generally healthy fiber-rich foods - things like whole grains, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables. Still, I believe it adds some evidence to the idea that eating magnesium-rich plant-based foods is important for good health. Dietary Magnesium and Stroke Risk originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 15:36:54. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| Nutritionist or Dietitian? |
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A reader wants to know if there's a difference between nutritionists and dietitians? Here's my answer: Nutritionist or Dietitian Have you been to a dietitian or a nutritionist? Or both? Share your experiences and opinions of the two by leaving a comment. Nutritionist or Dietitian? originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 15:32:29. Permalink | Comment | Email this |