Alternative Health Supplements
Your health is your most valuable asset, and must be protected. Alternative health supplements can help you do this. Made from herbs and other natural components, these supplements have enabled millions of users to rejuvenate their health and quality of life.
In the present fast-paced world, problems like high blood pressure, stress and tension occur at a very early age. As an aftermath of these, one not only faces physical strain but also loss in terms of beauty and performance. Alternative health supplements offer a natural way of keeping all these ailments at bay, in an extremely easy manner. Harnessing the therapeutic qualities of herbs and natural extracts, these supplements come in form of pills, capsules, syrups or powders and offer simple, healthy therapy.
The concept of shedding those extra pounds by simply popping a pill, or looking younger by simply drinking a syrup, has revolutionized the medicinal world. Health-conscious people are buying these supplements in large numbers. With no time to indulge in traditional therapies, these supplements are becoming an ideal option for people yearning for a healthier life style.
Alternative health supplements are available in varying compositions for different applications, age groups and sexes. Though there is evidence that they are harmless, it is still wise to consult a doctor before you take them. Some of the advantages of alternative supplements include their effectiveness, natural ingredients, lack of side effects and ease of use.
These supplements are largely sold over the Internet. Products sold online come with various discount offers and schemes to lure customers. Giving unprecedented impetus to the medicinal world, these supplements are increasingly become a part of everyday life.
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Natural Hair Care
Bromelain Enzyme and the natural hair care
Bromelain is one of several compounds known as proteolytic enzymes, all of which aid in the digestion of protein. Bromelain supplements are now included in some of the natural hair care products. The plant enzyme bromelain has yet to get the hair care product recommendations. But there is more to bromelain than hair care.
The natural plant enzyme bromelain obtained from the pineapple is known to provide a number of health benefits as discussed below.
Bromelain Research
By 1891, researchers identified the proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which they found in the fleshy part of the fruit. This enzyme was discovered to break down protein, and as such, is still used to day as a natural meat tenderizer and digestive aid. By 1957, bromelain was widely recognized and research also began into such areas as muscle and tissue inflammation, burn recovery, infection, and even sinus problems.
The most recognized use for bromelain is as a digestive aid. This enzyme is commonly used in cases in which an individual’s own digestive enzymes are deficient, frequently resulting from pancreatic disorders. In such cases, bromelain supplements can relieve gastrointestinal symptoms including bloating, gas, pain and cramps from indigestion and diarrhea. Studies show that proteolytic enzymes like bromelain may also indirectly relive food allergies thought to occur from a condition called leaky gut, in which whole protein molecules from foods leak into the blood causing an allergic or immune response. Bromelain’s digestive properties are particularly enhanced when used along side other enzymes such as amylase that digests starch and lipase, necessary for fat digestion. Some laboratory studies suggest that bromelain may also be useful for reducing bad intestinal bacteria.
Bromelain is so effective at digesting protein that workers who frequently cut the fruit often lose their fingerprints to the active properties of the enzyme. As well as this fruit’s amazing digestive qualities, it is also an excellent source of vitamins A and vitamin C, a benefit the Spaniards took advantage of on their many extended trips out to sea.
The fibrous nature of pineapple however, is also known to relieve constipation, as well ancient cultures frequently used pineapples to cure jaundice and kill intestinal parasites. Ripe pineapple juice is well known as a remedy to induce menstruation and relieve painful periods. Bromelain’s photolytic properties also make this enzyme a natural blood thinner. The digestive substance in the enzyme breaks down the blood clotting protein called fibrin, which inhibits circulation and prevents tissues from effectively draining.
European studies have consistently shown that bromelain is also an excellent treatment for those recovering from sports injuries and in tissue repair necessary after surgery.
Evidence suggests that some supplemental enzymes in particular can be absorbed directly into the circulatory system in their active form where they then exhibit anti-inflammatory and pain relieving actions.
Bromelain has proven especially effective when applied directly to the skin to remove dead tissue resulting from severe burns that have reached all skin layers. These third-degree burns as they are known, are extremely susceptible to infection and swelling. The digestive properties of the bromelain cleanse the areas and remove the excess dead tissue and as well, its anti-inflammatory properties may help to reduce the pain caused by swelling. Countries such as Japan and Taiwan and in the state of Hawaii where pineapples are abundant, widely recognize bromelain as a remedy to cleanse wounds. Another interesting use for bromelain may be as a cough suppressant and nasal decongestant
Commercial Bromelain: Dosage
Commercial bromelain products for treating number of human and animal disorders are now available in the market.Health professionals suggest that while choosing a commercial a bromelain product, choose the enzyme supplement that uses a variety of other enzymes. It is best to blend enzymes with activity units at various pH levels to assure maximum effectiveness.
According to experts, in most cases, bromelain should only be taken for between 8 and10 days. There are two recognized drug reactions with bromelain. This enzyme is said to enhance antibiotics. One study shows that amoxicillin blood levels are increased when combined with bromelain. Additional studies show that the antibiotic tetracycline is better absorbed when used in conjunction with bromelain, however researchers say that further investigation is still necessary since studies in this area are conflicting.
If you are taking the herbs gingko, ginger, vitamin C or garlic or medications such as aspirin or warfarin, a common blood thinner, bromelain could potentially increase the risk of bleeding. It is therefore best to avoid this enzyme. In any case, if you are taking any type of prescription medication, it is always best to speak with a health professional prior to adding any herbs or supplements since interactions are often common.
The author is involved with the hair growth research, he is also writing on subjects like the nutrition, and http://hairlosssupplements.com/hair-growth-vitamins/hair-growth-vitamin-index.shtml nutritional diet vitamin supplements and http://www.hairlosssupplements.com/index.shtml natural hair care products and supplements to educate people so that they don’t fall an easy prey to the hordes of synthetic nutrient growth supplements advertised on internet.
Hair Growth Vitamins and Minerals
There is some evidence from a few small studies that the western diet has changed significantly in the last 20 years and there are certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies likely to be found in a typical American diet.
There are nutrients and herbs that have the potential to affect hair growth in a positive or negative way.
There are three basic ways that nutritional diet vitamin supplements and amino acid supplements may act influence the hair follicles. The mineral rich and vitamin supplements may act directly on hair stimulating or inhibiting growth activity or they may act indirectly through other intermediaries. For example, a vitamin supplement or herb may influence the production of a hormone to which hair follicles are sensitive. This change in hormone activity in turn may change the activity of the hair follicles.
Some minerals and vitamins can influence the activity levels of another vitamin and minerals. For example, intake of lysine, vitamin B12 and vitamin C help in absorption of other factors like iron. It is worth bearing in mind that the complexity of the body means there are many potential interactions for even the simplest nutrient.
Vitamins for hair & hair growth
Since Vitamin C, helps the absorption of other factors, it is of some significance. Others are of secondary importance to hair growth like vitamin E. Vitamin E is necessary to provide good blood circulation to the scalp by increasing the uptake of oxygen. Not fundamentally required in a hair growth supplement, vitamin E is often present largely because people expect to see it in the ingredients – and the customer is always right!
Other common ingredients like the amino acids – L-Cysteine and L-methioine are of questionable value. Although they are fundamentally required for good hair growth, even a rather unhealthy diet should provide enough of these amino acids and supplementation is rarely required.
Vitamin supplements’ vitamins
The supplement industry is worth several billion dollars a year and it is still growing rapidly. Vitamin supplements, mineral supplements and herbal supplements available on net come in all shapes and forms, many of which are specifically advertised to promote healthy hair growth.
These ‘vitamin supplements’ vitamins are marketed by different names such as liquid vitamin supplements, natural vitamin supplements, daily vitamin supplements, nutritional vitamin supplements and also by such names as mail order vitamin supplements or best vitamins supplements.
But the for the most part, with a few notable exceptions like vitamin A & Folic acid, taking these supplements probably does not harm hair growth. But whether they can really help promote hair growth depends on what the actual cause of the hair loss is and how the supplements or active ingredients in herbs interact with the hair follicles.
Vitamin and herbal supplements
To buy online health supplements or herbal treatment requires you to go for quality. Unfortunately there is no universal method by which quality supplements can be identified. So it is best to depend upon the natural vitamins supplements or fresh foods.
Typically, vitamins and minerals are most concentrated in fresh foods, the older the food is, and the more processed it is, the less nutritious it is. So in principle, the average diet of the early twenty first century may be more deficient in certain nutrients required for healthy hair growth compared to the average diet of the mid to late twentieth century, but it should be emphasized that vitamin and mineral deficiency is still rarely a cause of hair loss.
Hair loss vitamins & minerals
In other words, do not waste your time on searching for vitamin supplements on net unless you have a deficiency detected by a blood test. A comprehensive test for vitamin and mineral levels when one or more is suspected as a cause of hair loss would include; serum iron, serum ferritin, and total iron binding capacity, serum zinc. The deficiency which directly affects hair growth can be related to vitamin (H) biotin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. You can go for testing for others if they are on offer, but biotin and B6 testing is enough to cover 95% of vitamin deficiencies related to hair loss. And only when such a deficiency is detected by the tests that you need to buy and eat the ‘vitamin supplements’ vitamins. So the bottom line is that it is better to have the natural supplements through a balanced diet.
The author is involved with the hair growth research, he is also writing on subjects like the nutrition, amino acid supplements and nutritional diet vitamin supplements and herbal supplements to educate people so that they don’t fall an easy prey to the hordes of synthetic nutrient growth supplements advertised on internet.