Nutritional Supplements

If you are wondering how this could be possible, the answer lies in the fact that many highly-processed foods are high in fat and low in nutritional content. This combination not only creates a scenario where individuals are consuming many more calories per day than their body burns, but the calories that they are consuming contain a low level of nutritional value as well.

The end result is weight gain, decreased energy, lack of focus and attention span, erratic mood swings, digestive and intestinal complications, a weakened immune system and a higher probability of contracting a debilitating disease.

Nutritional supplements are intended to compliment your dietary intake and provide your body with the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and nutrients that you are not receiving from the foods you consume. By consuming nutritional supplements, you will ensure that your body is receiving the nutrients required for it to perform at an optimal, disease-free level.

However, it is important to remember that there is no substitute for consuming healthy whole foods that are high in nutritional value. When giving thought to this concept, it is best to think of consuming foods that are from the earth. For example, fruits, vegetables, legumes (nuts), fish, chicken and beef are of the earth and will return to the earth when they die. Carbonated beverages, candy bars, snack cakes, processed white flour and similar foods are derivatives of the earth and are not considered natural whole foods.

Sometimes it can be difficult to consume a well-balanced diet that is solely based on natural whole foods. This is where adding a nutritional supplementation program to your daily lifestyle can help. Adding a nutritional supplement regime to your daily food intake will help to assure that your body is receiving all of the nutrients it requires to perform at its optimum level.

Below are several nutritional supplement types to consider when beginning a nutritional supplementation program:

Multivitamins

Most multivitamin supplements contain most, if not all, of the 13 vitamins and 14 minerals. Many multivitamin supplements also contain various herb, fruit and vegetable extracts, and are typically available in capsule, pill, powder or liquid form.

It is important to ensure that the multivitamin supplement you choose contains antioxidants to combat free radical damage, as well asB vitamins to enhance metabolism, improve immune and nervous system functionality, promote cell division and growth, and to maintain healthy hair, nails and energy levels. In addition, the multivitamin supplement you choose should contain an appropriate ratio of vitamin D and calcium to support good bone health.

It is recommended that you consider taking a liquid multivitamin and mineral supplement. Liquid multivitamin and mineral supplements are not only rapidly assimilated into the blood stream, but provide approximately a 90% to 98% rate of absorption. In addition, liquid multivitamin and mineral supplements are 3 to 5 times more concentrated than vitamin and minerals that are consumed in pill form.

Several of the health benefits associated with adding a multivitamin and mineral supplement to your daily dietary routine include the following:

• Increased energy level

• Improved immune system

• Improved mental clarity, stability and functionality

• Reduced probability of contracting a debilitating disease like cancer or heart disease

• Improved digestion

• Reduced levels of stress

• Improved retention of bone density

• Increased feeling of mental well-being

• Decreased rate of aging-related symptoms

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's)

Essential fatty acids are the "good fats" that the body requires to perform optimally, and must be obtained through dietary intake. Essential fatty acids are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids. There are two primary families of essential fatty acids: Omega-3 and Omega-6.

While Omega-9 is a necessary fatty acid, it is non-essential since the body can manufacture the amount required for good health as long as the other two families of essential fatty acids are present.

Essential fatty acids support several internal systems including the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune and nervous systems. cvv shop Essential fatty acids are necessary to aid in the manufacturing and repair of the cell membranes, to allow the cells to obtain nutrients, and to expel any harmful waste products.

In addition, essential fatty acids are responsible for producing prostaglandins. Prostaglandins regulate various bodily functions like heart rate, blood pressure and clotting, fertility and conception, and aid in bolstering immune functionality by regulating inflammation and assisting the body in fighting infection.

Essential fatty acids also promote proper growth and development in children, and are responsible for the development of the neural and sensory systems. Rare certain nombre d'essais cliniques ont montré qu'une majorité d'hommes recevant à cette fois du Viagra ensuite du acheter du Cialis choisissent Cialis pareillement préférence à allongé mort.

Deficiencies in essential fatty acids and imbalances in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid ratios have been linked to several of the following health conditions:

• Heart attack and stroke

• Cancer

• Insulin resistance

• Asthma

• Lupus

• Schizophrenia

• Depression and postpartum depression

• Decreased memory and hypertension

• Accelerated aging

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Arthritis

• Irregular heart beat

• Reduced immune function

• Increased probability of blood clots

• Poor vision

• ADHD and other learning disorders

• Alzheimer's disease

Protein

Protein plays an important role in every cell in the body. The human body uses protein to build and repair tissue, and to create enzymes, hormones and various other chemicals required by the body.

In addition, protein is the primary building block for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, hair, nails and blood.

Similar to carbohydrates and fat, protein is considered a macronutrient, meaning that the body requires a fairly large amount to function optimally. Conversely, vitamins and minerals are considered micronutrients, meaning that the body requires only small amounts to function properly. One important fact to remember is that unlike carbohydrates and fat, the body cannot store protein, and hence does not have a reservoir from which to draw when necessary.

For this reason, it is important to ensure that you consume an adequate level of protein on a daily basis. Primary food sources containing high levels of protein include lean beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, beans, and several different types of soy products.

The standard approach used by dietitians and nutritionists to estimate the minimum amount of protein required for an individual is to multiply their body weight (in kilograms) by 0.80. If you typically weigh yourself in pounds, then you would multiply your body weight by 0.37. The resultant number is the minimum number of grams of protein that you should consume on a daily basis. For example, if an individual weighs 150 pounds, they should consume no less that 55.50 grams of protein per day. In another example, an individual weighing 78 kilograms should consume a minimum of 62.40 grams of protein per day. If you exercise aggressively 3 to 5 times per week, especially through weight training, you should consider slightly increasing the number of grams of protein you consume on a daily basis.

Protein is comprised of essential and non-essential amino acids, which are the building blocks required for a healthy body. Protein is required for a large number of bodily functions including the following:

• Repair body cells and tissue

• Build and repair muscles and bones

• Provide a source of energy

• Control many of the bodily functions related to metabolism

While the body is able to manufacture non-essential amino acids from other amino acids in the body, it is not able to manufacture essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are derived only by consuming high quality foods that contain protein. High quality protein foods that contain all of the essential amino acids are defined as complete proteins.

High quality protein foods vary in several ways including the following:

• The variety and quantity of each essential amino acid

• The digestion and absorption rate of each essential amino acid

• The fat content

• The taste

• The quality and purity

One protein supplement that is of very high quality, is a complete protein, and contains high amounts of all the essential amino acids is whey protein. Whey protein isolate is one of the purest forms of whey protein, and is absorbed into the body quickly and efficiently. Whey protein isolate is currently the most pure and concentrated form of whey protein available, and contains 90% or more protein with very low levels, if any, of fat and lactose.

Whey protein isolate is not only ideal for individuals that regularly exercise and professional athletes, but for everyone. In addition, whey protein isolate is an excellent source of protein for individuals with the following dietary conditions:

• Individuals that are on a low-carbohydrate weight loss diet, since whey protein isolate contains low levels of cholesterol.

• Women that are pregnant.

• Individuals that are vegetarian but include dairy products in their diet.

• Individuals that are lactose intolerant. However, individuals that are severely lactose intolerant should avoid concentrated whey protein products as they contain a small amount of lactose.

• Individuals that are wheat intolerant, since whey protein isolate contains no gluten.

• Individuals that experience digestive problems, since whey protein isolate is easily digestible and rarely causes any adverse stomach or intestinal reactions.

Combining the consumption of a whey protein isolate product with a healthy dietary lifestyle is an excellent way to support and promote effective and safe weight loss. In fact, consuming a whey protein isolate supplement is the cornerstone of several of the weight loss and meal replacement programs available today since it is extremely low in carbohydrates and fat. Several weight loss studies have concluded that individuals that combine a healthy dietary program with a whey protein supplement and regular exercise retain a greater level of lean muscle tissue while losing excess body weight and fat.

Individuals that are on a weight loss program that includes a whey protein isolate supplement find that as they lose body fat, their basal metabolic rate increases and their bodies begin to naturally burn more calories per day. In addition, consuming a whey protein isolate supplement provides a feeling of being full and is excellent for curbing hunger pains. This, in turn, reduces the total number of calories an individual consumes and further promotes effective and safe weight loss.

Should You Take Nutritional Supplements?

As previously mentioned, nutritional supplements are designed to eliminate the nutritional deficiencies caused by inadequate dietary consumption. This being said, many individuals find it difficult to consume a healthy, well-balanced and nutritious diet on a daily basis. Under these conditions, nutritional supplementation becomes a must for maintaining good physical and mental health.

The human body requires specific nutrients in order to perform at an optimum level. When the body becomes nutrient-deficient, several bodily functions become marginalized. This condition places the body in a vulnerable position in which the immune system becomes challenged, thus leading to an increased probability of contracting a debilitating or chronic disease. Under these conditions, it is highly recommended that you consider supplementing your dietary intake with nutritional supplements that provide your body with all the nutrients it requires. In addition, it is highly recommended that you consult your medical physician to discuss what types of nutritional supplements would be appropriate for your current state of health.

The human body is designed to extract all of the nutrients that it requires to perform optimally from whole foods. However, many individuals fail to adhere to a dietary regime in which they consume healthy, whole foods on a daily basis.

This creates an environment where nutritional supplementation becomes necessary to ensure that all of the essential nutrients required to live a healthy and disease-free life are obtained.

While there is no substitute for consuming healthy whole foods, nutritional supplements fill the nutritional void that is created through inadequate food intake.

With several individuals leading a fairly hectic lifestyle, consistently consuming nutritious and well-balanced foods can become challenging. This being said, there are several nutritional supplement companies that offer products that are all-organic, use only high quality ingredients, are manufactured under strict guidelines and processes, and provide a high level of nutrition.

FitnessHealth101 believes that nutritional supplementation through products manufactured by all-natural high quality companies will only enhance your quality of life, health, fitness and mental well-being.

For this reason, we have created a nutritional review section specifically designed to assist you in choosing the nutritional supplement company that best suited to meet your nutritional needs.