Learn About The Health Supplements We Use And Why

Please take a few minutes to read this page in its entirety. It could be one of the most important pages you’ll ever read for your health and well being.

The editors here at Nutritional-Supplement-Guides have been taking alternative health supplements and other alternative health products for over a decade.

In time, as we became more involved in the research of nutritional supplements and the industry’s manufacturing standards, we came to several conclusions, but the most important was that it’s difficult to find an honest alternative health supplement — one that actually contains the amount of ingredients stated on the label.

Don’t just take our word for it. No less an authority than the FDA realizes the scope of this industry wide problem.

The bottom-line is that alternative health supplement makers are currently self-policed. As a result, many manufacturers of alternative health products make absolutely outrageous claims with respect to their efficacy.

Most of these claims are pure marketing hype, with little to no scientific evidence or clinical studies to back them.

The other monumental — and shocking — problem of the unregulated alternative health supplements industry is that many products on the market harbor toxic contaminants! It’s hard to believe but it’s true. Well respected consumerlabs.com, for example, has shown many supplements to be tainted with toxins.

Aren’t nutritional supplements and alternative health products supposed to IMPROVE your health, not impair it?

It’s for these reasons — and more — that we wanted this site to be more than just an informational source on the therapeutic benefits and side effects of popular alternative health supplements.

Because, in the end, what good does it do for a 50 year old man taking an alternative health supplement for his prostate or a woman taking nutrients to help mitigate menopausal symptoms if the supplement doesn’t have any active ingredients, or is contaminated?

On the other hand, in the course of our research, we did find some very worthwhile alternative health supplements on the market, but there were other considerations that disqualified them.

First, we know that many vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and specialty nutrients work synergistically or can interact with one another. This presents a whole new array of problems.

1. Most consumers understandably do not have in depth knowledge about supplements, and, as such, they do not realize that many ingredients can end up cancelling each other out, have harmful side effects when combined, or not be effective due to the lack of another nutrient it needs to function.

2. Even for those who have thoroughly researched the synergistic nature of supplements, it is very cumbersome to have to take 10 to 15 (if not more) different supplements per day (as we ourselves used to do).

Most people, due to the time and hassle, would eventually just stop taking the supplements altogether, thereby receiving no benefits. Other than that, it is just simply too expensive to have to buy all the different ingredients as individual products. It would end up costing many hundreds of dollars per month. And who can afford that!

Sidenote: There are valid reasons when you might want to take an individual product with just one ingredient. Sometimes it could be due to a certain physical condition that creates a pronounced or chronic deficiency, a special need, or simply to experiment in order to maximize the therapeutic benefits.

While we are on the subject of ingredients, let’s take a look at some high potent antioxidant nutrients that a quality formula must contain if you want excellent health benefits.

Many people have come to believe that a quality nutritional supplement will contain a bunch of vitamins and minerals and then they have the foundation for the perfect health regime. Unfortunately, many people have been mislead by the majority of hype and false claims for nutritional products as a whole.

Vitamins, although important for our daily diet, are very weak anti oxidants when compared to other, more powerful nutrients. We need high doses of antioxidants to fight off free radicals. Free radicals have been said to be the very process of what causes aging and disease in the human body. Anti oxidants balance out the acid in our internal system and help keep free radicals under control. 

Below we will take a look at some studies and excerpts taking from credible nutritional sources on the benefits of such powerful nutrients for our present and future health.

Aloe vera is a potent anti oxidant:

According to Xtend-Life Natural Products:

“Not all Aloe Vera’s are the same…

It is important to be aware that the Aloe Vera extract you see advertised is usually quite weak and the only type that gives the protection is one which is harvested and prepared in a special way which involves spray drying and concentrating to 200:1. This is quite an uncommon extract as it is more expensive to process in this manner. It is nothing like the common aloe vera sold in liquid form which also has additives and preservatives which are needed when in solution form.”

Health Turmeric..

Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, neutralizing free radical damage, and acts as an anti-inflammatory, which may help mitigate arthritis (and other) pains. Many people, in fact, swear by turmeric pain relief.

Health turmeric also harbors anti-carcinogenic properties. For example, curcumin slowed the development of prostate cancer on tumor cells in a lab dish and another study at a major University revealed that “a mixture of curcumin and isoflavonoids is the most potent inhibitor against the growth of human breast tumor cells.”

A Clinical study at UCLA revealed that curcumin from tumeric may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Specifically, it reduced the buildup of amyloid protein “plaques” in the brain of rats. Amyloid protein plaque buildup is one of the primary factors that characterizes Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that cultures such as India which use a lot of curcumin in their cooking have a much lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease than the Western world.

Ginger Root..

Ginger root herb is also a highly effective antibiotic agent, strong antioxidant (scavenges free radicals that would otherwise damage healthy cells), and harbors anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Therefore, it has been used to treat arthritis, along with bodily aches and pains. It also may benefit colds, flus, and allergies.

Medical ginger root, indeed. For these reasons and more, this is one of the most popular and sought after herbals.

Green Tea..

Because of its potent antioxidant strength, green tea extract is a powerful immune system booster, which is just one of the health benefits of green tea.

Studies and research have revealed that green tea extract may, in fact, be one of the most potent nutrients in the fight against various forms of cancer and heart disease. The benefits of green tea extract continue to impress the researchers of Modern medicine.

For example, it has been shown to reduce the damage caused by LDL (bad) cholesterol, which, if left unchecked, leads to the buildup of plaque in arterial walls. Such buildup can eventually trigger off heart attacks. In addition, green tea extract harbors a compound that appears to induce cancer cells to die off and stop reproducing.

Large studies have shown that both men and women who consumed green tea had far less pancreatic, rectal, and colon cancer. Experts are hopeful the benefits of green tea extract will prove in the future to be just as beneficial for breast, stomach, and skin cancers as well.

Lastly, green tea seems to hold great promise as a substance that can regulate glucose –- the body’s primary source of fuel. Any glucose that isn’t used becomes stored by the body as fat. Therefore, in this way, green tea may function as a weight loss aid.

Red clover..

The benefits of red clover have most been attributed to alleviating a wide range of skin disorders, such as eczema and psoriasis.

Traditionally, it was used as a cancer fighting agent, but, in this regard, there is scant scientific evidence.

Other noted benefits of this herb include: alleviating bronchitis, and associated coughing; fighting colds, flus, and sore throats; mitigating liver problems; helping to relieve arthritis pains; and improving digestion.

Red clover is rich in the following nutrients, all of which have their own respective benefits: calcium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins C and A, and the B-complex.

In addition, there are chemically active constituents in red clover that have been ascribed to have benefits for postmenopausal women. Like some other herbs, it is believed these compounds can have positive estrogen regulating effects.

Gotu Kola..

Gotu kola extract is best known for promoting healthy skin and helping skin conditions, such as burns, scar tissue, psoriasis, and the like.

More recently, however, it has been attributed a broad range of benefits that include enhancing mental acuity, staving off memory deterioration, improving blood flow by strengthening blood vessels, and mitigating unsightly varicose veins.

Unlike some other herbal remedies, where the scientific evidence is scant, the gotu kola benefits are strongly suggested by various studies.

For example, in the book published by Reader’s Digest called “The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs” it states: “In one study, 30 developmentally disabled children were found to have significantly better concentration and attention after taking gotu kola for 12 weeks…” and “In more than a dozen studies observing gotu kola’s effects on veins…about 80% of patients with varicose veins and similar problems showed substantial improvement.”

The active constituent of the herb is called asiaticoside. It is this substance which harbors properties that seem to be able to help the body build connective tissues, such as the collagen that keeps skin firm, and enhance vascular and neurological functioning.

Alpha-Lipoic acid..

Alpha-Lipoic acid acts as a facilitator to other powerful antioxidants, such as Vitamin E and C, by “recycling” them in the body, thus increasing their effectiveness. Because it is believed to be such a powerful antioxidant, it is now used to treat and prevent a wide array of age related diseases, including diabetes, cataracts, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s, along with boosting the immune system.

In particular, it has been used to treat nerve damage that can result from diabetes. The nerve damage is believed to be a result of free radicals, which can be counteracted by potent antioxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid. It has also been shown in studies to help diabetics lower their glucose levels.

Another major benefit is its ability to chelate (pull out) heavy metals (such as lead, cadmium, and mercury) and assists the liver in clearing out other bodily toxins.

Resveratrol..

1) Powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that can neutralize free radicals, which are highly reactive compounds that, if left unchecked, can lead to cellular damage. Free radicals are believed by some experts to be a major culprit in heart disease, cancer, and aging itself.

2) The study conducted by Dr. Pezzuto showed that resveratrol was effective against the progression of cancer. Most impressively, it was effective in all the major stages of cancer — the initiation, promotion, and progression.

3) Resveratrol has been shown to help lower bad cholesterol (LDL), and, therefore, may be a potent nutrient in preventing cardiovascular disease. It has also shown to reduce the clumping of platelets. Thus, such conditions as atherosclerosis and heart attacks, which are often caused by arterial blockages, may potentially be reduced by this potent substance.

Quercitin..

Bioflavonoids are potent nutrients that help maintain the health of collagen. Collagen is responsible for the firmness and health of our largest organ — our skin. Indeed, wrinkles and sagging is the direct result of the breakdown of collagen.

Quercitin, along with other bioflavanoids, can also improve the health of capillaries and connective tissues. Because of this, the many benefits of quercitin include alleviating bruising, edema, varicose veins, and fragile capillaries.

Other benefits include its ability to inhibit the release of histamine. As such, it is said to help mitigate conditions brought on by some type of allergin (ex. eczema, asthma, hay fever, etc) and has been ascribed anti-inflammatory properties. Indeed, the prestigious Mayo Clinic, after conducting laboratory tests, concluded that quercitin may be useful in helping to treat or prevent prostate cancer.

In the words of the Mayo Clinic researcher Nianzeng Xing, Ph.D who presented the findings of the study: “Our laboratory results showed quercitin blocks the androgen activity in androgen-responsive human prostate cancer cell lines.”

“By blocking the androgen activity,” he continued, “the growth of prostate cancer cells can be prevented or stopped.”

DMAE benefits..

DMAE can elevate one’s mood, counter depression, and boost cognitive functions (such as memory and concentration), and even increase intelligence. These benefits stem from this nutrient’s role in manufacturing acetylcholine, which is a substance responsible for healthy mental functioning.

Physician’s monitoring patients on DMAE have reported that such people are more congenial, upbeat, and exhibit greater mental acuity. In addition, people taking it often report sleeping better and having more energy while awake.

Lastly, one of the best DMAE benefits is that it promotes healthy skin, by preventing the manufacture of arachidonic acid, which is a substance that leads to the formation of wrinkles. For these cosmetic purposes, it can be both taken as a nutritional supplement and applied topically via a cream.

The Nutritional Health Supplements you should avoid are as follows:

• Cheap vitamin supplements from your local vitamin store – They will be bouught in bulk and adhere to none of the above that we have mentioned.
• Nutritional supplements that do not contain the ingredient’s above along with vitamins and minerals – This is because nutrients work together, and, if a certain nutrient is not contained, the effects of a certain nutrient will be rendered useless.
• Supplements that do not comply to pharmaceutical GMP compliance.
• Avoid companies that do not hold a Certificate of Analysis confirming the potency of the ingredients listed.

Our quest to find the right alternative health supplement for ourselves eventually led us to a company outside of the U.S. where the manufacturing regulations for dietary and nutritional supplements is very stringent (far exceeds FDA standards).

Here’s what we discovered…

A Comprehensive and Honest Alternative Health Supplement

What if we told you there was a supplement product available that’s jam packed with nutrients like the ones we have discussed above that have been shown in scientific studies to:

• maintain a strong, healthy heart
• boost one’s emotional well being
• enhance brain functioning and mood
• increase the body’s immunity
• elevate one’s energy level and vitality
• improve skin tone and texture
• and much much more…

Well, that product exists and if you are serious about your health, you’ll want to keep reading…

The company that produces this product is aptly named Xtend-Life Natural Products, and their flagship product, called Total Balance, was just the kind of alternative health supplement we were looking for: an all in one supplement containing almost 70 powerful nutrients to restore youthful vitality and keep the body fully functioning.

What is Total Balance?

1. It is a synergistic, comprehensive product formulated by a scientist with absolutely top notch credentials, not hyped and conceived by marketers as is the case with many other products. Each tablet of Total Balance contains the majority of the ingredients we cover in this entire site! To view the ingredients (and scientific studies associated with them) in Total Balance, click here: Alternative Health Supplements.

2. We were very impressed to see that the company adhered to pharmaceutical GMP compliance, which is among the most rigorous manufacturing standards for dietary supplements in the world.

3. In addition, they also had a COA (Certificate of Analysis) on file for each batch of product produced. In short, this confirms the potency of the ingredients used.

4. Another extremely important point to us was that they used only standardized herbal extracts. These are what contain the active ingredients of the herb, and, hence, where the therapeutic benefit lies. Many companies do NOT use standardized herbal extracts, because alternative health supplements manufactured without them are much cheaper to produce.

5. Now, one of our biggest concerns was price. We were, quite frankly, tired of spending more on our alternative health supplements and products every month than we did on groceries! After doing a price comparison of Total Balance to other products on the market, and calculating what it would cost to buy all of the ingredients separately, we were extremely impressed. In short, Total Balance represented unbeatable value for money.

6. Last but not least, Xtend-Life had the strongest money back guarantee we’ve ever come across for nutritional supplements: a full one year refund, no questions asked policy. Most places, as you are well aware, offer a scant 30 or 60 day guarantee. If you factor in the time it takes these companies to ship you their product, and the time it takes to ship it back, a 30 day guarantee is virtually worthless.

And we’re speaking from first hand experience: one of the editors returned some alternative health products once after only a few days of use from a company with a 30-day guarantee and their response was that they could not honor the refund because the product arrived back to them 1 day after the guarantee expired!

7. Our last concern was that Xtend-Life is a company based in New Zealand, while we live in the U.S. We didn’t want to buy an alternative health supplement that took weeks to arrive, never arrived at all, or had exorbitant shipping costs. In this regard, we were very pleased to find their shipping was extremely fast, with all of our orders arriving usually within several days! And the shipping cost was often cheaper than compared to other supplement companies based in the U.S.

Update: We have now been taking Xtend-Life Total Balance (and their Energy Product) for over a decade now, and have been VERY pleased with the results and the customer service: we have noticed an increase in energy levels, mental focus, and general feeling of well-being.

One of the Editor’s fathers has taken the Xtend-Life Cholesterol Formula alternative health supplement for 5 months now, and has achieved excellent results. Whether the results can be exclusively traced to the Cholesterol product is debatable, but during this time, he had changed nothing about his diet except using the product. Other family members of ours have tried Xtend-Life’s other products, such as their high quality Omega-3 Fish Oil, and reported very positive results.

Bottom line? If you are looking for alternative health supplements that will serve as the foundation of your nutritional supplement regimen, won’t break the bank account, uses only the highest quality ingredients, and is manufactured under the most stringent regulatory conditions, you may wish to have a closer look by visiting their website: Xtend-Life Natural Products

We have researched dozens and dozens of companies before deciding to recommend Xtend-Life and their products over all the rest — and only after we have taken them ourselves for a prolonged period of time.

I personally like to think of Total Balance and Xtend-Life as my secret weapon in the fight against aging and in the fight to improve and maintain optimal health.

In short, this recommendation doesn’t come lightly.

Please keep in mind, however, that everybody reacts differently to different nutrients, so only you can decide if  Total Balance is the right product for you. We also strongly advise that you consult with your physician before taking ANY alternative health supplements, not just Total Balance, since some of these nutrients can interact with certain prescription and over the counter medications.

Precautions of Health Supplements – Prevention Is Better Than A Cure

Health Supplements – The controversial conflict

Under the 1994 Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act, the regulation of dietary supplements will be under FDA or US Food and Drug Administration. And similar to how foods are regulated, manufacturers of health supplements are not required to undergo a strict operation to check whether they are safe or not.

The above is due to the fact that the lawmakers’ assumed that these supplements were derived from natural sources and thus, considered them as safe. With this ruling, different manufacturers produced different kinds of supplements and they were all allowed to be sold on the market with the condition that the product will not indicate any outrageous or exaggerated health claims.

The concrete resolution

With this ongoing problem, it is now up to the consumer on what to do to avoid encountering any complications or problems related to this problem. And today is your lucky day; you have landed on our health blog that will give you useful precautions when looking for health supplements, as well as discussing many important health nutrients.

Why do we need to take precautions when it comes to dietary supplements?

Since these supplements are not strictly regulated, the ingredients indicated on the label may not match what the product actually contains. Also, it is possible that among the many ingredients written, some of these may not interact harmoniously with each other, and thus would cause a negative effect.

We have also learnt during our years of research that many health supplements may contain harmful substances that are not indicated on the product label that could be toxic to the human body.

Precautions that we suggest

To be safe, you could consult with your nutritional doctor or any expert (ex. Pharmacist or Dietician) who could give you advice about the correct and appropriate dietary supplement for you. Different people need different nutrients and these experts may have a better idea on what dietary supplements available on the market are more or less reliable.

Some doctors may not be as well-informed in the area of natural health; however that does not mean that they know nothing and you should ignore their advice.

We suggest you choose dietary supplements produced by reputable manufacturers because they are more reliable in doing the proper research about their health products, meaning they have the capacity to produce products of high quality. Also, choose manufacturers who comply with GMP standards as they follow high standards in processing supplements.

Learn to be analytical. Study well the different claims – benefits, nutrient content claims, health claims, and if it’s suspicious and sounds too good to be true, then most likely it is.

Think long and hard too as to why you want to buy the supplement – Convinced by an ad?

Want to be cured by an illness? And after thinking it all over, do research about the supplements to find out if they really do provide such health benefits as the manufacturers claim.

The closing remark.

Problems in the nutritional supplement industry are inevitable today. It is up to us however to be attentive and to be aware of products that offer nothing more than pure marketing hype. Look for honest natural health companies that dedicate their products to actually improving our health and use that philosophy at the heart of their business.

 
Featured Health Supplement

A broad spectrum of around 80 natural nutrients that the human body needs…including natural vitamins, minerals, trace elements, antioxidants, amino acids, neuronutrients, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, herbal extracts, enzymes and other speciality complementary co-factor ingredients that all work together to give you optimal health. Learn more about the health supplements we use daily.