"Watch Out: This Popular Vitamin May Actually Deplete You of 7 Vital Compounds"

These supplements only focus on about 12% of the healthy compounds available in its natural form – and if high levels of the one they contain flood your system, they can potentially deplete the other 7,
wreaking havoc on your body. Buyer beware…

It is very clear to me that the best possible nourishment you can get comes from the foods you eat.

If you eat a balanced unprocessed diet, full of high-quality raw and fresh organic foods, you'll provide your body with the vital nutrients it needs for reaching or maintaining optimal health.

The challenge is not only following this sound dietary practice, but also getting the diversity of nutrients you need from a wide variety of wholesome foods. Generally speaking, this is where I believe certain types of supplements can complement your diet and provide some insurance when you might unknowingly come up short.

But with all this said, I do raise a caution flag with supplements. Why?

First of all, I certainly do not support using supplements as a way to justify poor food choices. Secondly, I believe that in order to optimize any supplement, you must invest the time to carefully analyze each formula's ingredients.

One of my main concerns is, to save time, you might simply go out and buy the least expensive one you can find. There's nothing wrong with trying to save money, but the risk with 'cheap' supplements is that you are frequently better off not taking any supplement at all. Cheap supplements may compromise your health.

A major issue with many cheap supplements is they tend to be made from inferior synthetic ingredients. But I'll be the first to admit that identifying synthetic ingredients is not always easy. I can tell you from personal experience that frequently the label on a supplement bottle doesn't always disclose everything you should know about the ingredients.

To help you better understand this, let's focus in on one particular supplement that is now part of my daily supplement regimen. I'll share with you the steps I've taken to make sure I avoid any synthetics and other potentially risky ingredients… and why I recommend you do the same.

Avoid Synthetic Forms of This Vital Nutrient

If you take synthetic forms of some types of vitamins, not only will your body risk being deprived of the nutrient benefits, you could actually cause more harm than good.

Let's take synthetic vitamin E as an example. So what are the issues with synthetic vitamin E and how could it create such a negative impact?

Here are a few key points on vitamin E you should be aware of…

You're better off not wasting your time and money on synthetic forms of vitamin supplements. And vitamin E is no exception.

• Natural vitamin E is a family of eight different compounds: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols…
• If you eat certain wholesome foods, all eight of the different vitamin E compounds are naturally available…
• When it comes to a synthetic vitamin E supplement, only one of the eight compounds is available (alpha-tocopherol). The other seven compounds are not typically available in a chemically-derived form…
• Synthetic vitamin E supplements only focus on about 12% of the healthy compounds available in naturally-occurring vitamin E found in certain foods…
• Many clinical studies evaluating vitamin E have only observed results using synthetic vitamin E and the single compound alpha-tocopherol, and often ignored the other seven health-boosting compounds…

At this point, you should understand why I don’t recommend taking synthetic forms of vitamins… especially vitamin E. But first, as I already mentioned above, finding a non-synthetic form of vitamin E is not always an easy ‘slam-dunk.’ And here’s something to watch out for…

Health Risks Associated with Soy You Need to Know About

Even so-called 'natural' forms of supplements may not be all they're cracked up to be if they contain ingredients like soy--which is typically used in most vitamin E supplements.

Soybean oil is simply not a healthy oil. The majority of soy grown in the US is genetically engineered (GE). As a result, it contains the potent herbicide glyphosate.

Whether it is organically grown or not, soy also contains a number of problematic compounds that can potentially wreak havoc with your health, such as…

• Goitrogens – These are found in unfermented soy, whether it's organic or not. These substances can block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and interfere with iodine metabolism.
• Isoflavones: genistein and daidzein – Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen, which is a plant compound resembling human estrogen. Even more worrisome, there's evidence isoflavones may disturb endocrine function and potentially cause infertility.
• Phytic acid – Phytates (phytic acid) bind to metal ions, preventing the absorption of certain beneficial minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. This can be particularly problematic for vegetarians, because eating meat reduces the mineral-blocking effects of these phytates.

These are some pretty compelling reasons why I recommend you avoid soy in any food you eat, and in any supplement you take. Wouldn't you agree?

Why a Balance of All Eight Nutrients Is Key

Remember natural and organic ingredients need to be closely scrutinized when considering any supplement.

There's also another key factor that must be considered. And that is… how do the ingredients within a formula react with one another? How well-balanced is the formula to help you benefit the most?

When it comes to natural vitamin E, you may remember that there's more than one compound other than just alpha-tocopherol. There are a total of eight natural compounds… more specifically…

• Tocopherols:
• Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta
• Tocotrienols
• Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta

If you're serious about supplementing with vitamin E and avoiding synthetic formulas, it is vital to get a balance of all eight nutrients in a vitamin E supplement you take to complement your healthy diet.

Unfortunately, the majority of research studies and supplement manufacturers have only focused on alpha-tocopherol. To me, they have totally missed the boat on the importance of a balanced vitamin E formula.

You see, if the vitamin E supplement only contains alpha-tocopherol (synthetic or natural), there's another major issue. If high levels of alpha-tocopherol flood your system, they can potentially deplete the other tocopherols and tocotrienols from your body.

How an Antioxidant Blend Works in Your Favor

Antioxidants are generally classified into two broad categories… water-soluble (hydrophilic) and fat-soluble (hydrophobic).

Vitamin E is an important fat-soluble antioxidant that helps fight pesky free radicals. Having a balance of all eight vitamin E compounds (tocopherols and tocotrienols) only helps this antioxidant 'force' perform at its best.*

Your body needs both water- and fat-soluble antioxidants because each one targets different types of cells and tissues for free radical scavenging…

• Water-soluble antioxidants – These are present in aqueous fluids, such as blood and intracellular and extracellular fluids. They react with oxidants in the cell cytosol (fluid portion of cytoplasm) and blood plasma. Examples of water-soluble antioxidants include vitamin C, glutathione, and catechins.
• Lipid-soluble antioxidants – These are localized to your cell membranes and lipoproteins. They protect your cell membranes from fat peroxidation.* Examples of fat-soluble antioxidants include vitamins E, A, and astaxanthin.

The bottom line… to fight and help neutralize pesky free radicals, you need a blend of both types of antioxidants from as many sources as possible.* When taken together, the efficacy of water- and fat-soluble antioxidants is enhanced even more.

And when it comes to fat-soluble antioxidants, I believe vitamin E is very important in your daily dietary regimen.

Wholesome Foods Packed with Vitamin E

Many raw nuts and seeds offer good sources of vitamin E.

As you probably already know, when it comes to taking supplements, I view them as taking in addition to, not in place of, a healthy diet. Without eating plenty of unprocessed and preferably organic foods, supplements will not provide healthy meal replacements.

With vitamin E, there are some excellent food choices that can provide you some good natural sources. I strongly recommend you include some of these in your diet prior to ever considering a supplement.

Here are a few examples of wholesome vitamin E foods with approximate concentration per serving size...

Food	Serving Size	Vitamin E (milligrams)
Wheat germ oil	1 tablespoon	20.3 mg
Sunflower seeds	1 ounce	7.4 mg
Almonds	1 ounce	6.8 mg
Sunflower oil	1 tablespoon	5.6 mg
Hazel nuts	1 ounce	4.3 mg
Avocado (sliced)	½ a whole avocado	2.0 mg
Broccoli (boiled/steamed)	½ cup	1.2 mg
Mango (sliced)	½ cup	0.7 mg
Spinach (raw)	1 cup	0.6 mg

What the above chart shows is that you have quite a few natural food choices to get vitamin E. Most nuts and seeds are good sources. And eating as many of these foods raw is best because cooking will deplete some of the natural nutrients.

The question here is do you eat enough of these foods on a regular basis to get a good balance of vitamin E? Remember, I believe balance is important with all eight of the healthful compounds (four tocopherols and four tocotrienols).

One of the issues with balance is that there's very little information available to help you determine how much of the eight vitamin E compounds can be found in foods. The focus for years has been primarily on alpha-tocopherol… with little mention of the other seven healthy compounds. Things are starting to change in this area but data is still somewhat sketchy.

So, one of the reasons I recommend you consider a high-quality vitamin E supplement to complement your diet, is to help ensure you get that balance. But this is easier said than done because very few supplements I've found contain the proper balance.

That's why I put together a thorough checklist to help you scrutinize and find the best vitamin E supplement…

Your Checklist for a Top-of-the-Line Formula

Here's a checklist you can use when searching for a high-quality vitamin E supplement. If you look at the label on a vitamin E bottle and it doesn't clearly spell out the content you're looking for, I recommend you avoid it and continue searching.

A vitamin E supplement I would consider recommending…

• Is free from synthetic vitamin E – This is a tricky issue in identifying synthetic vs. natural vitamin E. It may not always be apparent. But the way to tell is synthetic is most-often listed with a "dl" (dl-alpha-tocopherol), while non-synthetic uses a "d" (d-alpha-tocopherol).
• Does not contain soy or soybean oil derivatives – Due to the potential health risks from soy (detailed above), avoid vitamin E supplements that contain this.
• Avoids incorporating any genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in the formula – This is a bit challenging because supplement manufacturers are not required to list specifics on GE ingredients. Since vitamin E is naturally formed in a variety of plants and many of these plants are now genetically modified (particularly in the US), I recommend you avoid a supplement made from corn, soybeans, or cotton seed.
• Has a balance of all four tocopherol nutrients – If it's a synthetic form of vitamin E, it most likely will not contain any of the other tocopherols (beta, gamma, and delta). I believe these are important to your overall health and should be included in the formula.
• Has a balance of all four tocotrienol nutrients – Rarely do you find these important compounds listed on any vitamin E label. That's mainly because if the formula is synthetic, it won't contain healthy tocotrienols. They're a must-have for me.
• Keeps alpha-tocopherol dosage low – Due to potential risk factors and to avoid depletion of the other tocopherols and tocotrienols in the formula, my preference is for a daily serving size of less than 300 IU for alpha-tocopherol.
• Employs a reliable delivery system from a high-quality manufacturer – Once you find a formula that fits all of these very tight requirements, you certainly don't want it compromised by potential leakage or inconsistent quality.

Now, you can search yourself for a high-quality vitamin E supplement. Or, you can save a bunch of time and take advantage of the thorough effort my research team put in. I put my team to work to find what I consider the best of the best of vitamin E supplements…

So, why do I believe this vitamin E supplement is so great?

Balance of Tocopherols and Tocotrienols = Priority One

First of all, one of my main focal points was that the formula must provide a balance of tocopherols and tocotrienols.

It's important to remember that if a formula only contains alpha-tocopherol (natural or otherwise), then this compound taken by itself may deplete the other tocopherols and tocotrienols from your body. That's why the balance is so vital.

Here's how my Vitamin E supplement provides a fantastic balance of all four tocopherol and tocotrienol compounds…

• Vitamin E (as d-alpha-tocopherol) – 200 international units (IU)
• Tocopherol complex – 150 milligrams (mg) with alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and delta-tocopherol
• Palm and Rice Tocotrienol – 35 mg with alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienols

There are very few formulas I've run across that come close to this type of balance. And when it comes to tocotrienols, there are even fewer choices available.

But I've not touched much on tocotrienols and how they might benefit you. Let's take a closer look at…

How Tocotrienols Could Give Your Health a Boost*

With tocotrienols, the challenge is that despite potentially healthful benefits, scientific literature on these compounds only accounts for roughly 1% of the total vitamin E literature.

But despite all that, the scientific community has started to wake-up to the potential benefits of tocotrienols. Here are just a few examples of potential healthful benefits and why I made sure tocotrienols were included in my Vitamin E formula.

Tocotrienols (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma) potentially…

• Help support normal cholesterol levels*
• Protect against free radical damage and the normal effects of aging*
• Promote brain health (in combination with tocopherols)*

With all four of the tocotrienol nutrients in my Vitamin E supplement, you can be assured this formula is one of the best my team could find… I wouldn't have it any other way. That's why it's now part of my daily regimen and why I recommend you consider it for yourself.

The Sunny Healthy Alternative to Soy

Sunflower seeds and oil come from plants that are not genetically engineered, and are excellent sources of vitamin E.

When looking for a good alternative, I wanted to not only avoid soy but also wanted to make sure whatever natural source of vitamin E was used was not genetically engineered (GE). This was another one of my top priorities.

As you can see in the 'food' section above, sunflowers are an excellent natural source of vitamin E. And when compared to soy, here are some unique points you should be aware of about the overall processing that takes place with the source I discovered…

• Sunflower seeds and oil are derived from plants that are not genetically engineered…
• Unlike soybean oil, the sunflower oil in my vitamin E supplement is naturally sourced because…
• The alpha-tocopherol molecule does not go through a transformation process… it is the true molecule without modification…

This is such an important point because soybeans must go through a transformation process that can chemically change the alpha-tocopherol molecule… this is not the case with sunflower seeds.

Just to give you a feel for how involved the process is to produce the sunflower oil that goes into my Vitamin E formula, here are some interesting points provided by my manufacturer of choice…

• 1 acre is composed of about 20,000 sunflower plants
• It takes almost a fifth of an acre (0.18 acres) of sunflower plants to produce a single bottle of the supplement (30 of our Licaps® capsules)
• For every single 200 IU capsule, approximately 120 sunflower plants are required

Why a Reliable High-Quality Delivery System Is a Must

Licaps® is an extraordinary innovation in liquid-filled capsule technology that uses a thin shell for fast release of nutrients.

Just like all the supplements I offer on my site, I only wanted the best delivery system for my Vitamin E supplement. And with the astonishing Licaps® capsule technology from Capsugel, you can have peace-of-mind knowing each capsule is of the highest quality.

Here are just some of the benefits the 'liquid-filled' Licaps® capsule technology brings to the Vitamin E formula...

• Delivers a capsule shell matrix that is highly impermeable to atmospheric moisture and oxygen for superior degradation protection…
• Incorporates a thin shell (without plasticizers or preservatives) for rapid and complete shell disintegration for fast release of nutrients…
• Provides optimal containment with a robust sealing zone for formula integrity…

Plus, the Licaps® capsule is not only visually appealing, it also helps to mask taste and unpleasant odors often found in other capsule technologies.

With the superior Licaps® technology, the possibility of a Vitamin E capsule leaking has virtually been reduced to zero. I believe this is by far the best high-quality delivery system available and I've personally visited the manufacturer, Capsugel, to closely observe their incredible Licaps processes.

Supplement Report Card – Why This Nutrient Is Part of My Daily Regimen

So, where does my Vitamin E formula stand with my selection checklist outlined above, and how does it generally stack up with other formulas available?

Here's a summary chart that should provide you with all the assurance you need that this is indeed one outstanding vitamin E supplement.

Checklist criteria	Dr. Mercola’s Vitamin E	Other available formulas
Is free from synthetic vitamin E?	Yes – no synthetic tocopherols or tocotrienols are in the formula.	Many formulas use synthetic ingredients, particularly, dl-alpha-tocopherol.
Does not contain soy or soybean oil derivatives?	Yes – my formula is free from soy or soybean oil by using sunflower oil instead.	Most formulas (even so-called 'natural' ones) incorporate soybean oil.
Avoids incorporating genetically engineered (GE) ingredients?	Yes – no GE ingredients are used in the formulation whatsoever.	Some vitamin E supplements use GE ingredients in their formulas.
Includes a balance of all four tocopherol nutrients?	Yes – all four tocopherol nutrients are balanced in my formula (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma).	Not all manufacturers incorporate all four tocopherols in their formulas. Most only use alpha-tocopherol and many employ the synthetic form.
Includes a balance of all four tocotrienol nutrients?	Yes – the formula provides a balance of all four tocotrienol nutrients from palm and rice sources (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma).	Very few vitamin E supplements even address these nutrients and the synthetic formulas rarely include them.
Keeps alpha-tocopherol daily serving size low.	Yes – to avoid risk factors and depletion of other tocopherol and tocotrienol nutrients, 200 IU is serving size.	Some vitamin E supplements provide a serving size of 400 IU or more of alpha-tocopherol (synthetic or natural).
Employs a reliable delivery system from a high-quality manufacturer?	Yes – with the use of the phenomenal Licaps® capsule delivery technology, a very reliable and high-quality delivery system is employed.	Many 'cheap' alternatives may have to cut corners on the delivery system and quality of processes to keep costs low.

Consider Making This Part of Your Daily Regimen, Too

By now, I would think you're as excited as I am about my new Vitamin E. I believe this supplement is the best on the market.

If you've been searching for a high-quality vitamin E, my formula certainly fits the bill.

And despite all the complex processes needed to produce sunflower oil, the supplement is a relative bargain at only $24.97 for 30 Licaps® capsules and a 30-day supply.

So, order today, and receive one of the most balanced vitamin E antioxidant formulas available.* Join me in adding this exclusive formula to your daily regimen, and receive my unconditional guarantee at the same time (http://products.mercola.com/vitamine/index-b.htm?e_cid=20130603_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20130603).

Thoughts on Supplements

I get asked about supplements a lot. In fact, I just gave a presentation about it last weekend. My take home message from that talk, which I would like to share with you, is this: 

“In the sports world, where millions of products with special ingredients are marketed with claims of enhanced performance, it is ironic that sports foods containing an everyday nutrient (carbohydrate) may be best able to deliver on these claims.”

 -British Journal of Sports Medicine

There are so many products that promise everything, literally! However, the best thing you can do (and most delicious!) is to make sure you are meeting your energy demands, or calorie, by eating enough carbohydrate. That is the fuel your body really needs. Consider adding sport drinks, gels, or other food products that are rich in carbohydrate to supplement your training and leave the other stuff alone. I think you will be happy with the results!

Reference:

BJSM reviews: A–Z of supplements: dietary supplements, sports nutrition foods and ergogenic aids for health and performance Part 2Br J Sports Med 2009;43:10 807-810

Ignored Since the 1950s - Now a 'Miracle' High-Protein Super Food?

Article by Dr Mercola at: www.mercola.com

Imagine a plant that can nourish your body by providing most of the protein you need to live, help prevent the annoying sniffling and sneezing of allergies, reinforce your immune system, help you control high blood pressure and cholesterol and help protect you from cancer.Does such a “super food” exist?

Yes. It’s called spirulina.

Unlike plants you may grow in your garden, this “miracle” plant is a form of blue-green algae that springs from warm, fresh water bodies.

Spirulina vs Chlorella -- Similarities and Differences

Chlorella is another form of algae that is sometimes confused with spirulina. The fundamental difference between spirulina and chlorella is that spirulina is many thousands of years older and does not possess the hard cell wall that makes chlorella closer to being a plant than algae.

Chlorella is an excellent way to detoxify your body from mercury, which most of you are contaminated with if you’ve ever had dental fillings, received a vaccine,used certain types of cookware or eaten fish. Spirulina simply is unable to remove heavy metals like chlorella as it lacks a cell membrane.

Chlorella has also been proven to be of benefit to those who suffer from degenerative disease. This report, however, will focus on the specific benefits that can be attributed to spirulina in particular.

Spirulina History -- Could This Super Food Help End World Hunger?

Spirulina is a simple, one-celled organism that got its name from the Latin word for ‘helix’ or ‘spiral’ because of its spring-like physical characteristic. Its scientific name is Arthrospira platensis, and it belongs to the cyanobacteria family.

The use of spirulina as a food source dates all the way back to 9^th century Chad and it is believed spirulina was used by the Aztecs in 16^th century Mexico. Historical records report the harvesting and selling of cakes made from spirulina harvested from Lake Texcoco. It was rediscovered in the 1950’s in the same place where it has said to have its origins by a European scientific mission. The spirulina was being harvested and sold in dried flat cakes called, “dihé” at the local markets where natives would use it as a staple for many of their meals.

Spirulina didn’t come into commercial production until the 1970’s when a French company began the first large-scale spirulina production plant. Within a few years, America and Japan began producing their own spirulina.

Today, these nutrient-rich algae are being used around the world to help treat illness and are being seriously discussed as a sustainable source of food with the potential to end world hunger. Unlike most plants, which need to be cultivated and nurtured, spirulina is a survivor, able to withstand extreme temperature variations and neglect and still thrive. According to studies, spirulina is being successfully used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including those who’ve been poisoned by arsenic-contaminated water.

How Spirulina Helped Save Millions from Arsenic Poisoning

Most of us take clean, healthy drinking water for granted. Unfortunately, in some countries like Bangladesh, it is a luxury. As I stated in this previous article, much of the Bangladesh water supply is loaded with arsenic and up until the mid-1990s, little could be done to treat dying arsenic poisoning patients.

Bangladeshi researchers conducted a three-month-hospital-based study where spirulina was given to 33 patients while 17 received placebo doses. 82 percent of those taking spirulina showed tremendous improvement.

An Immune-System Power-Boost -- Spirulina’s Impact on Candida and AIDS

According to a study done by the Department of Aquataculture in Taiwan, spirulina shows significant immune-boosting properties. Researchers exposed white shrimp to seawater containing a hot-water extract of spirulina before transferring them to seawater with a pH level of 6.8. The control group was not exposed to spirulina.

The shrimp exposed to the spirulina seawater showed a faster and more promising recovery rate to the high levels of pH than those not given the dose of spirulina first.

Now, let’s take a look at what this immune-system boosting power can mean for you:

Candida

If you have an autoimmune disease such as Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, Lupus or fibromyalgia, chronic candida yeast can both cause and worsen your symptoms. Spirulina has been shown to encourage and support the growth of healthy bacterial flora in your gut, which can help keep candida overgrowth under control.

HIV and AIDS

Drugs such as AZT used to treat HIV and AIDS patients can actually cause the symptoms they are supposed to cure. However,spirulina has been shown to help inactivate the human immunodeficiency virus associated with HIV and AIDS.

Nothing to Sneeze At

If you suffer from seasonal or perennial allergies, you’re not alone. Millions of people are allergic to pollen, ragweed, dust,mold, pet dander and a myriad other environmental contaminants, ensuring the makers of Kleenex will always stay in business.

Unfortunately, many people who have allergic rhinitis treat it with prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that often do more harm than good. Antihistamines are designed to suppress your immune system, which leads to decreased resistance to disease and dependence on the drug. Certain asthma drugs have been linked to serious side effects as well.

This is where natural methods such as the use of spirulina come in. According to one study, patients treated with spirulina reported relief of symptoms commonly associated with allergic rhinitis, such as nasal discharge and congestion, sneezing and itching when given spirulina.

Balances Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health concern that affects millions of Americans today. If you have high blood pressure, you are at increased risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke.

The good news is, following a healthy nutritional plan, getting adequate exercise and applying stress modification techniques such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can help normalize blood pressure and get you back on track to optimal health. According to a study done by the Department of Biochemistry in Mexico, 4.5 grams of spirulina given each day, was shown to regulate blood pressure among both women and men between the ages of 18-65 years with no other dietary changes made during the 6 weeks the experiment was run.

For more information about high blood pressure and how to normalize it without resorting to potentially dangerous drugs, please see this link.

Help to Normalize Cholesterol Naturally

Are you on a cholesterol medication? Tens of millions of people take cholesterol-lowering medications every day and, according to “experts”, millions more should be taking them, including children! If you are skeptical about this recommendation please see this page, which contains a list of articles addressing the dangers of statin drugs.

Statin drugs are responsible for a host of unwanted and dangerous side effects including:

• Sexual dysfunction
• Anemia
• Immune depression
• Acidosis
• Pancreas or liver dysfunction (including a potential increase in liver enzymes)
• Cataracts
• Increased cancer risk

Cholesterol-lowering medications have also been linked to severe muscle problems such as polyneuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and feet) and rhabdomyolysis (a serious degenerative muscle tissue condition). There is even evidence to suggest that taking statins can increase your risk of developing Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Thankfully, there are natural ways to lower your cholesterol. Avoiding fructose and grains, and getting appropriate exercise top the list (for more information, please see this previous article), but spirulina may also help. According to a study done on elderly male and female patients ages 60-87, those given 8 grams of spirulina per day for 16 consecutive weeks showed lower cholesterol levels than those who were given a placebo.

Lowers Stroke Risk

Those with sickle-cell anemia or congenital heart defects are at greater risk for a condition called brain ischemia or cerebral ischemia. Brain ischemia refers to a lack of blood flow to your brain, which causes oxygen deprivation and can lead to a stroke. Just ten seconds of interrupted blood flow to your brain can cause unconsciousness and lead to serious health consequences.

In a study done at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology in India, it was found that a dosage of 180mg/kg of spirulina had a protective effect on the brain and nervous system of rats exposed to high amounts of free radicals, compared to rats not given the spirulina before the experiment. This lab test shows the promising effect of spirulina on stroke prevention.

Helps Reduce Cancer Risk

Cancer is the leading killer of adult Americans under 70 and in the case of this frightening disease, prevention is worth much more than a pound of cure. It could literally save your life.

My first recommendation in cutting your cancer risk is to eliminate sugar/fructose, grains, and processed foods from your diet. Additives such as fructose feed cancer cells and help them to thrive. I also recommend healthy sun exposure, which will boost your levels of natural vitamin D and help cut your cancer risk by half!

But spirulina may have potential benefits here as well. According to a study done in China, selenium-infused spirulina inhibited the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Healthy for Vegetarians -- More Protein than Red Meat

When you think of protein, you probably imagine sitting down to a meal of organic eggs or grass-fed beef or maybe even drinking a whey protein shake.

If you’re a vegetarian, you may turn to plant-protein sources such as nuts, beans, lentils and soy products. Unfortunately, soy is not the health food it claims to be. None of the above-mentioned sources of protein compare to the protein punch delivered by spirulina. Spirulina is 65-71 percent complete protein compared to beef, which is only 22 percent, and lentils, which is only 26 percent.

In addition to being protein-rich, spirulina is an excellent source of vital amino acids and minerals easily assimilated by your body. You would need to consume only two tablespoons of spirulina as a protein substitute for a meal.

Optimal Spirulina -- Types and Dosing

There are many types of spirulina out there so it is important to do your homework before making a purchase. Since spirulina grown in an uncontrolled environment has the potential to become contaminated with heavy metals and other toxins, it is important to choose organic spirulina from a reputable source.

Spirulina comes in capsules, tablets, powders and flakes. The recommended daily dose is typically betweeen 3 to 5 grams. You can spread the dose out to twice or three times a day if you like. It is safe to take higher doses, but this is a good place to start.  Remember to increase your intake of spring or filtered water when taking spirulina to help it absorb into your system.

An Important Note on Dosing

In addition to being your powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals, spirulina is a potent detoxifier. For that reason, it is best to start with a small dose and work your way up. Once you see how your body responds, you can then gradually increase your intake.

Potential Adverse Reactions

Spirulina is a safe source of protein, nutrients, vitamins and minerals that has been used for centuries. Though there are no known side effects associated with spirulina, your body may react to it based on your current state of health. Let’s take a look at some of those reactions, what they mean, and what you can do to alleviate them.

The most prominent reactions you may experience are:

• Slight Fever -- The high protein content in spirulina increases metabolism, which may elevate body temperature.)
• Dark Green Waste Matter -- Spirulina can remove accumulated waste product in your colon, which may cause darker stool. Also, spirulina is high in chlorophyll. This will also turn waste matter green.
• Excessive Passing of Gas -- This may indicate that your digestive system is not functioning properly or you have an extreme build-up of gas.
• Feelings of Excitement -- Your body is converting protein into heat energy, which may cause temporary feelings of restlessness.
• Breakouts and Itchy Skin -- This is caused by colon cleansing process and is only temporary.
• Sleepiness -- This is caused by the detoxification process and may indicate your body is exhausted and needs better rest.

Remember, your body may go through an adjustment period with spirulina and your best bet to reduce reaction is to dose gradually to see how your body will react. Increase your water intake, reduce your stress levels, eat according to your nutritional type and get plenty of rest.

Important Contraindications for Spirulina

Even though spirulina is entirely natural and generally considered a healthful food, there are some contraindications you need to be aware of.  You should not take spirulina if you have a severe seafood or iodine allergy. And, if you are pregnant or nursing or have hyperthyroidism, consult your healthcare provider before taking spirulina.

Conclusion

As you can see, spirulina can serve as a potent ‘super food.’ Just remember to do your research and arm yourself with knowledge. It is the best way to take control of your health!

Stress and Food Cravings

How well do you handle your stress? Stress is a part of life, but there are ways to help cope. Do you think that it causes you to choose unhealthy foods? Read this article from Food & Nutrition Magazine, "Does Stress Lead to Food Cravings and Weight Gain?" Follow the simple steps outlined:

1. Relax! Physical relaxation techniques.
2. Change your thoughts. Be positive!
3. Get out and move
4. Connect and confide
5. Think small. Small steps to big changes!