It’s NOT Easy to get this Super Nutrient from Your Diet!

Submitted By LifeExtensionObtaining enough vitamin K through your diet can be difficult. The most common form of vitamin K, known as K1, is present in leafy green vegetables. Not only do many people avoid these types of vegetables, but the K1 is also tightly bound to the plant fibers so it’s not easily absorbable.

In contrast, vitamin K2, which is found in meat, egg yolks, and dairy, is up to 10 times more bioavailable than K1 and remains active in the body for far longer. If you have to avoid these foods for health reasons, it’s essential to take a K2 supplement!

Super K with Advanced K2 Complex provides the three forms of vitamin K that can be utilized by the body: vitamin K1 and dual forms of vitamin K2, known as MK-4 and MK-7. This comprehensive vitamin K formula promotes both bone and arterial health.

 Super K with Advanced K2 Complex Benefits at a Glance:

• Maintains bone density by facilitating calcium transport into bones
• Promotes a healthy heart and vascular system
• Includes the most bioavailable forms of vitamin K1 and K2
• Bioavailable over a sustained 24-hour period

The method by which vitamin K supports bones and arteries is related to its relationship with calcium. Research has shown that low vitamin K status interferes with the function of a protein called matrix Gla-protein (MGP). This protein is vitamin K dependent and must be carboxylated to function properly.

Without adequate vitamin K, MGP remains uncarboxylated. Studies have found that uncarboxylated MGP accumulates at the site of arterial calcification. Without normal levels of carboxylated MGP, calcium in the blood can bind to the arterial wall resulting in calcification.

 Health Benefits of Vitamin K

The Rotterdam Heart Study, a largescale, well-controlled clinical trial that tracked 4,800 subjects for seven years, revealed that people who consume the most dietary K2 have healthier hearts when compared to people who consume the least. Additional studies have shown that higher vitamin K levels also correspond to less calcium deposits in the aorta and can even cause a 37% regression of preformed arterial calcification.

Different Forms of Vitamin K

Super K with Advanced K2 Complex makes it easier to get enough vitamin K by including the two forms of vitamin K2, MK-4 and MK-7. The MK-4 form is the most rapidly absorbed type of vitamin K. However, it only lasts in the bloodstream for a few hours. In contrast, the MK-7 form is available to the body for a full 24-hour period at much higher levels. Combining two forms of vitamin K2 provides both rapid and sustained absorption of this critical nutrient, so your healthy blood levels are maintained throughout the day. Just one daily softgel of Super K with Advanced K2 Complex provides 100 mcg of vitamin K2 (MK-7); 1,000 mcg of vitamin K2 (MK-4); and 1,500 mcg of vitamin K1. This unique super K complex is the most comprehensive vitamin K formula and an excellent way to get your daily dose of vitamin K!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Turmeric Adulteration

By Dr. Jen Palmer, Naturopathic Doctor (ND) & NEEDS Education Director

One of the most popular dietary supplements on the market today is curcumin, the active compound from the Indian herb turmeric. Some authorities report that it’s been the number one selling supplement for the past five years, and that’s a well-deserved status. Curcumin has been extensively researched and proven to be effective for a multitude of health conditions. It reduces inflammation and has been shown to significantly improve symptoms of osteoarthritis (joint pain).

In one study, a group of patients with arthritis took curcumin supplements with their medication and felt significantly greater relief from pain as compared to patients that just took the medication alone. It is also a potent antioxidant and can support the liver in detoxification. Curcumin has the advantage of being able to cross the blood-brain barrier, meaning it has the ability to protect the brain from free radical damage and potentially reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as shown in several studies. In fact, in India where turmeric is used abundantly as a spice in foods, Alzheimer’s rates are significantly lower than in the United States.

The downside of an herb becoming this popular and in such high demand, is that unscrupulous raw material suppliers may adulterate the herb in order to make it more profitable for themselves. Historically, there have been examples of this occurring in the industry, such as with goldenseal. Goldenseal is expensive, so dishonest raw material suppliers would try to pass off less expensive herbs of the same golden color as the more expensive goldenseal.

Turmeric sales have doubled between 2013 and 2016, and as a result, it has fallen prey to unscrupulous practices as well. The American Botanical Council recently published a bulletin on this topic as part of the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program in cooperation with the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the National Center for Natural Products Research. What they found is that some raw suppliers are adding cheap, synthetic curcuminoids to natural supplements to increase their profits. One of the authors of the bulletin stated, “The adulteration of this plant species is an extensive, complex, and multifactorial enterprise driven by economic incentive within the food ingredient category.”

Sadly, basic testing cannot differentiate between synthetic and natural curcuminoids. It requires expensive carbon isotope testing to distinguish the fake from the natural. Visually, the fake and real products may appear to be identical through the use of colorants. These colorants may pose a health risk considering that some are derived from lead chromate or metanil yellow. The typical curcumin user may take a gram or more of the supplement per day, meaning it could add up to ingesting a large quantity of toxic colorants.

The take home message here is that it is wise to purchase curcumin from brands that can be trusted. It is very important that a manufacturer takes the steps necessary to ensure that proper testing of the curcumin raw material is completed and to only source from reputable raw material suppliers. We’ve done the research for you and feel confident in recommending the curcumin products found on our website: https://www.needs.com/prod_detail_list/htc_Curcumin.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Stop Headaches WITHOUT the Risk!

By Terry Lemerond, Author & Co-Owner of Terry Naturally

Whether it’s a migraine, tension, sinus, or a cluster headache, a lot of people think that ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin are their only choices for relief. With very little research, you can see all the side effects and problems these analgesics cause while trying to take away headache pain. Thankfully, there are ways to stop headaches without the risk by using natural ingredients.

Almost everyone gets headaches and when it happens to you, pain relief is foremost on your mind! The problem is the drugs used to treat headaches, can be more dangerous than the headaches themselves. Yet there is widespread belief that they are safe for frequent use, but that’s not the case.

Common analgesics, whether it’s aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen, have terrible effects on the liver, heart, mood, and immune system. For example, acetaminophen was recently found to affect serotonin levels and suppress emotion. It destroys glutathione production in the liver and is the number one cause of acute liver failure. In addition to its blood thinning effects, constant aspirin use can cause bleeding in the intestinal tract and the brain and make you more vulnerable to the shingles virus. Ibuprofen slows kidney function, doubles and triples your risk of heart attack and stroke, and causes excruciating “rebound” headaches. You may be shocked to learn that 16,500 people die every year from the adverse effects of ibuprofen! Death is definitely an unacceptable side effect for a headache.

 The Nutrients That Stop Headaches

Curcumin: To me, curcumin is the king of botanical medicines. Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric that has been used in India for thousands of years and is well-known for its strong anti-inflammatory properties. Because of its ability to reduce inflammation, I think it is a must for anyone who deals with any type of headache.

This is why I recommend curcumin that uses turmeric oil for better absorption—up to 500 times that of turmeric—and has better blood retention time. The curcumin gets to where it is needed most and sticks around to help stop headache pain. What are the side effects of curcumin? Stronger DNA, fewer overall aches and pains, and it’s very likely you’ll have a better state of mind.

 Boswellia: If you suffer from cluster headaches, boswellia is an herb you want in your corner. Not only does it fight inflammation differently than many other botanicals—inhibiting 5-LOX where others typically fight COX-2—but it also has been shown to reduce the frequency and intensity of headache pain in individuals with chronic cluster headaches.

Not every boswellia is the same. Unstandardized boswellia, for example, provides very little of one of the most important pain-fighting compounds. I believe boswellia is most effective when it is standardized to its primary anti-inflammatory compound AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid) and beta-boswellic acid, which is a pro-inflammatory compound (the last thing you need when fighting headaches!) that is screened out.

 DLPA: Also known as DL-phenylalanine, this amino acid contains two forms of phenylalanine. The “D” form of phenylalanine appears to block a nervous system enzyme (enzyme carboxypeptidase A) that intensifies pain signals and inhibits another enzyme (enkephalinase) that breaks down enkephalins—one of the brain’s natural pain-killing and “feel good” chemicals, which is in the same family as endorphins. The “L” form improves mood-elevating chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.

DLPA ultimately converts to tyrosine, which is a precursor to helpful neurotransmitters like dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine; melanin, a healthy pigment in the skin; and thyroid hormone. Many studies have looked at using DLPA for headaches with great results.

 Magnesium: This premier mineral helps promote a sound mind and body and has a long history in migraine research. That’s because it has been estimated that about half of all migraine sufferers are magnesium deficient. With this in mind, studies have shown that pretreatment with magnesium reduced migraines in children and stopped migraines in adults. Other work shows that magnesium deficiencies are potentially at the root of a number of neurological and mood disorders, including depression and anxiety, which have been treated conventionally with some of the same drugs used for migraines.

 Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of headaches in people who are genetically susceptible to migraines. That’s because it helps lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is associated with damage to blood vessel walls and greater risk of stroke. Homocysteine is commonly found in individuals who suffer from migraines with auras. I recommend vitamin B6 in its pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) form. Unlike commonly used pyridoxine hydrochloride, this form of B6 is already in its active form and does not require conversion by the liver before it can be used by the body. Many people are not efficient converters of B vitamins, which is why I recommend they be taken in their active forms whenever possible.

 Stop Your Headaches Safely

You can stop headaches without resorting to OTC drugs that destroy your stomach lining, stress your liver, deaden your emotions, and cause terrible “rebound” effects. The ingredients I’ve recommended here can help stop—and prevent—headaches regardless of their cause or type. You can take them every day without worry because they are effective and safe. If you’ve been looking for a natural headache solution, this is it!

Reference:

https://www.terrytalksnutrition.com/health-articles/stop-headacheswithout-risk/

 

 These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.