Supplements

	Hari Dev's List of Supplements The following products are items Shakta and I use or recommend to support wellness.	The Year in Review: Top Nutrients of 2007 By Dr. Allen S. Josephs Co-Founder & Chairman Vitacost.com 01/10/2008 I'd like to start this New Year with a review of the most important nutrients that made news in 2007. I think hands down, vitamin D took the top spot last year. 2007 saw a host of excellent peer reviewed medical journal studies that discussed the wonderful benefits of this amazing nutrient. It has become increasingly clear that most Americans are not getting enough vitamin D in their diets. For the longest time, it was thought that vitamin D only helped enhance bone metabolism and promote healthy bone mass. What we have learned, however, is this nutrient has a myriad of beneficial effects that go far beyond just supporting bone health. So positive has the data been on vitamin D, that last July the New England Journal of Medicine1 did an extensive review article on vitamin D and vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Michael Holick, the author of this article, cited some incredible studies. In one study, he noted that 93% of patients between the ages of 10 to 65 years old admitted to hospitals with muscle aches and bone pain were actually vitamin D deficient. There have been numerous studies indicating vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle weakness and impairment of balance. In a study published in the February 2007 edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society2, it was found that elderly people given 800 IU a day of vitamin D had a decreased number of falls compared to those given lower doses or placebo. Vitamin D appears to be directly related to immunity and cellular health. Studies indicate that to provide optimal benefits for breast and colon cellular health 2,000 – 4,000 IU per day is required. Vitamin D also appears to promote healthy heart function. As a result of these studies, every Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) Synergy multi-vitamin is being reformulated to increase the vitamin D3 to 2,000 IU per day. I believe that the second most important nutrient for 2007 was omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) from fish oil. The main components of the omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahaxaenoic acid (DHA). The omega-3 fatty acids have been so well accepted in the medical community that I believe they are now recommended by many physicians as the routine standard of care promoting healthy heart function, triglyceride levels, mood and many other health concerns. In the March 2007 issue of the journal Atherosclerosis3, 81 Japanese patients suffering with elevated blood sugar were randomly assigned to receive 1,800 mg daily of EPA or placebo. During the two-year study, those patients treated with EPA showed a significant overall decrease in the thickness of the carotid arteries. Narrowing of these arteries can lead to stroke. In another study from the July 2007 edition of Psychiatry Research4, 105 patients were supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids. There appeared to be overall positive effects on personality and impulse control. I recommend NSI®'s Mega EFA® because it is derived from high-quality, pharmaceutical grade and molecularly-distilled fish body oil that delivers three times more EPA and DHA than other EFA supplements on the market. I recommend consuming 2,000 mg per day of EPA and DHA based on the medical studies. The third nutrient on my 2007 list is actually two, acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) and alpha lipoic acid (ALA). These nutrients are two of the most powerful anti-aging products available. Animals that have been administered these two nutrients have shown clear benefit in cognitive performance and pathologically have shown actual regeneration of brain tissue. Human studies indicate these nutrients do appear to have beneficial effects in improving energy levels, helping to promote healthy nerve ending function and seem to also have benefit in promoting brain health. I have given these nutrients to some of my elderly patients, typically 1,000 mg twice a day of acetyl-L-carnitine and 300 mg twice a day of alpha lipoic acid and they have reported back to me improvement in energy and reduction in fatigue. This has been borne out in clinical trials as well. Another amazing nutrient I recommend that works synergistically with ALC and ALA for cellular energy production and provides antioxidant benefits is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Please read the customer reviews for the NSI® CoQ10 to get a range of actual health benefits customers are experiencing. The NSI® ToCoQ10™ is what I recommend because it is 100% natural Japanese CoQ10 combined with rice bran oil and tocotrienols, Bioperine® to improve absorption and antioxidant activity. I recommend 100 mg – 400 mg per day for most people and 1,200 mg per day if you have neurological concerns. The next nutrient worthy of this special mention is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), an important component of green tea. This nutrient appears to have several benefits primarily relating to improved immunity and antioxidant activity. It may also be beneficial in reducing body fat. There was an interesting study published in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition5. Forty-two subjects were treated with either 300 mg a day of EGCG or placebo in a double-blinded placebo manner for about two weeks. It was found that those individuals who were given the EGCG had improvement of blood flow, which is so critically important to maintaining optimal heart and brain function. I recommend NSI®'s 500 mg standardized green tea extract, which has a very high level of polyphenols and EGCG. Another nutrient that has been increasingly in the news and catching my attention is the soy isoflavone, genistein. In a study published last August in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism6, a group of almost 400 post-menopausal women were treated for 24 months with either 54 mg a day of genistein or placebo. Both groups were also given calcium and vitamin D. However, the group that was given the genistein along with calcium and vitamin D and ate a healthy diet had favorable effects in blood sugar control and some cardiovascular risk markers. Genistein has been clinically demonstrated in at least one double-blinded study to have beneficial effects with post-menopausal hot flashes and other symptoms. In addition, it has been demonstrated to have positive effects on bone mineral density in osteopenic post-menopausal women. Genistein is also being studied by scientists as a possible nutrient that may enhance immune function. NSI®'s PhytoEstrogen Ultra contains the most powerful and standardized genistein available along with other beneficial nutrients such as borage oil, evening primrose oil and black cohosh. Finally, I would like to introduce you to an exciting new antioxidant called fucoxanthin. This nutrient has been shown in animal studies to produce weight loss by increasing fat burning. Interestingly, fucoxanthin is found in seaweed. However, you do not have to go down to the seashore to consume this product. Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) has just released fucoxanthin that also contains chromium and pine nut oil. Taken together, these nutrients appear to be a safe and natural approach to reducing excessive body fat and promoting healthy weight when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. May 2008 be a year of health, happiness and success for all of you. 1. Holick MF, Vitamin D Deficiency, New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 357:266-281, July 2007. 2. Broe KE, Chen TC, Weinberg J, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Holick MF, Kiel DP, A Higher Dose of Vitamin D Reduces the Risk of Falls in Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized, Multiple-Dose Study, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Volume 55, Number 2, February 2007 , pp. 234-239(6). 3. Mita T, Watada H, Ogihara T, Nomiyama Y, Ogawa O, Kinoshita J, Shimizu T, Hirose T, Tanaka Y and Kawamori R, Eicosapentaenoic acid reduces the progression of carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes, Atherosclerosis, Volume 191, Issue 1, March 2007, Pages 162-167. 4. Conklin SM, Harris JI, Manuck SB, Yao JK, Hibbeln JR and Muldoon MF, Serum ω-3 fatty acids are associated with variation in mood, personality and behavior in hypercholesterolemic community volunteers, Psychiatry Research, Volume 152, Issue 1, 30 July 2007, Pages 1-10. 5. Widlansky ME, Hamburg NM, Anter E, Holbrook M, Kahn DF, Elliott JG, Keaney JF and Vita JA, Acute EGCG Supplementation Reverses Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 26, No. 2, 95-102 (2007). 6. Atteritano M, Marini H, Minutoli L, Polito F, Bitto A, Altavilla D, Mazzaferro S, D'Anna R, Cannata ML, Gaudio A, Frisina A, Frisina N, Corrado F, Cancellieri F, Lubrano C, Bonaiuto M, Adamo EB and Squadrito F, Effects of the Phytoestrogen Genistein on Some Predictors of Cardiovascular Risk in Osteopenic, Postmenopausal Women: A Two-Year Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study , Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, August 2007, 92: 3068 - 3075.
	Whey Protein Powder - 5 Pounds details - $25.99 I start every day with 25 grams of this protein, either in a smoothie or on my cereal. It blends very well with most foods, so you can easily add it to pancakes, cereals, yogurt or any other food that is complemented by vanilla flavor. Add this to your kids' food, they will not detect it at all. Also available in chocolate flavor (but that is harder to blend with other foods).
	Stevia Liquid Drops - 4 oz. details - $10.99 Totally natural product, just the nectar of a leaf. Zero calories but very, very sweet. Does not work well with baked goods. Also available in powder form (good for traveling).
	Coconut Oil - 54 oz. details - $20.19 My favorite cooking oil, and it is the best oil for popcorn.
	"Detour" High Protein Bars About $19.90 for 12 bars (each bar about 3 oz.) DETOUR bars deliver a phenomenal taste along with an outstanding nutrition profile - with 30 grams of high quality protein powered by Designer Whey™ and with just 4 grams of net sugar carbs. These are so good that you can even fool kids into thinking it is a candy bar! Caramel Peanut Bar - details Peanut Butter Bar - details
	L-Lysine - 1,000 mg / 90 tablets details - $3.99 L-Lysine is an essential amino acid. It assists in the body’s absorption of calcium. It also promotes the formation of collagen, contributing to healthy bone, cartilage and connective tissue. It is a building block for all protein. L-Lysine boosts the immune system, enhances circulation and helps maintain healthy blood vessels.
	Vitamin D-3 2,000 IU details - $11.99 Vitamin D is necessary for the maintenance of healthy calcium and phosphorous levels in the body. Calcium, the main structural element in bones and teeth, can only be absorbed by the body when vitamin D is present. Vitamin D is therefore essential for building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It's also believed to contribute to increased muscle strength, which may help improve balance and reduce the risk of falls among the elderly.
	Mega EFA details - $15.19 240 small caps Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) are polyunsaturated "good" fats found in oil from cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna, or in seeds of flax, walnuts, hemp and other plants. They're classified as "essential" because your body needs them for complete health, yet cannot produce them on it own. They must be obtained through diet or supplementation.
	Alpha Lipoic Acid & Acetyl L Carnitine 240 caps details - $39.99 Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), known as the universal antioxidant, is present in almost all tissues of the body. It plays an important role in generating energy from food and oxygen in mitochondria (the power plants of cells). ALA is both water- and fat-soluble, meaning it can easily cross cell membranes, and may provide both interior and exterior cellular free radical protection. Acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) is the acetyl ester of the amino acid L-carnitine and is similar in form to the amino acid L-carnitine. It's absorbed into the bloodstream more efficiently than L-carnitine and passes more easily through cell membranes and is utilized more efficiently in the mitochondria of the cell.
	CoEnzyme Q10 details - $10.99 Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or ubiquinone, is a naturally-occurring nutrient found in cell mitochondria, where energy is produced. The heart, with greater energy requirements than other organs, contains significantly higher amounts of CoQ10 than other tissues in the body. Unfortunately, levels of CoQ10 naturally decline with age, which may result in less efficient functioning of the heart and other organs.
	Green Tea EGCG details - $14.99 Green tea is very high in antioxidants and an excellent nutrient that supports cardiovascular and immune health. It may not be practical for many of you to consume green tea on a daily basis. So, in addition to our other fine green tea supplements, we're offering a highly-concentrated, purified form of green tea that offers all the benefits of green tea in one daily capsule. Teavigo is a pure, highly-concentrated green tea supplement that provides 94% EGCG, the main antioxidant compound in green tea. This is higher than standard green tea. Best of all, Teavigo is caffeine free, so you may enjoy all of its healthful perks without the jittery side-effects.
	PhytoEstrogen Ultra details - $13.99 Phytoestrogens are natural compounds found in plants. Phytoestrogens are not the true estrogens our bodies produce, but they can influence natural estrogen activity in the body to help promote comfort during hormonal fluctuations. The antioxidant activity in flavonoid and lignan phytoestrogens helps support breast, heart and bone health. NSI® PhytoEstrogen Ultra is an advanced formulation of natural plant compounds. It contains Dong Quai (to help balance estrogen levels, reduce hot flashes and other symptoms), Wild Yam (with natural progesterone to promote good mood) and Black Cohosh (which helps the body create and balance estrogen and progesterone). NSI® PhytoEstrogen Ultra contains natural oils like flaxseed, borage seed and primrose. These also help regulate estrogen activity in the body and ease symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations, such as hot flashes and night sweats.
	Fucoxanthin details - $19.99 Fucoxanthin with PinnoThin™ helps curb appetite and boosts metabolic rate. It also supports the healthy breakdown of fat, particularly belly fat. Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid, a natural compound found in seaweed that is responsible for its brown coloring. Commonly found in Asian cuisine, such as miso soup, fucoxanthin has thermogenic properties that increase the body's metabolic rate, effectively burning off body fat, including stubborn belly fat. It also enhances the body's ability to process energy and contributes to healthy cholesterol levels. In addition, fucoxanthin supports healthy liver function, an important factor in keeping weight under control.