This article is intended to be an introduction to dietary health supplements and is not in any way intended to be, nor should it be taken as, medical advice. If you have a health issue, you should always seek the advice of a health care practitioner.

To ensure that we start off correctly, I think that it is important to understand the difference between dietary health supplements and vitamins.

The term ‘vitamin’ first became popular in the early nineteenth century as a combination of the words ‘vital’ and ‘mineral’. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by the body, and must be obtained from the diet. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often

There are an almost infinite amount of dietary supplements and we shall be covering only the ones that:

a) Claim to be heart healthy or curative
b) Are very popular or widely acclaimed

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These healthy fats have emerged as the runaway heart-helpers, with numerous studies showing they can help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis and subsequently the need for heart bypass surgery. If you’ve had a heart attack, omega-3s appear to reduce the risk of suffering another one. Fish oil is by far the best supplement source of omega-3s.

CoQ10
At this point, there are no complete, sure bets with CoQ10. It is suspected to be beneficial in numerous applications, most notably heart-related damage, but until additional larger, longer and better-controlled studies are performed, no one can say for sure.

Currently, however, CoQ10 has shown the most definitive benefits in treating hypertension, or high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure have been shown to have less CoQ10 than normal, and CoQ10 has been shown to reduce high blood pressure in early research. The treatment of hypertension is the only CoQ10 application that has so far received a “B” rating, meaning there is good, solid scientific evidence that Co Q 10 may be helpful.

Green Tea
There are claims that the benefits of green tea include a lot of healing and preventive processes that cater to diseases like cancer, heart disease,rheumatoid arthritis, infections, impaired immune functions, and cardiovascular diseases.

The claims also suggest the benefits of green tea also help to alleviate problems with high cholesterol and improve the overall cholesterol level in the body.

It is further claimed that by drinking recommended amounts of green tea, the human body is cleansed from toxins that may cause a lot of health problems.

In 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.
University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound found in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the cholesterol ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, infections and impaired immune function.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid
According to State Canadian researchers in the November 2003 issue of The Journal of Nutrition, Alpha-lipoic acid has been identified as a powerful antioxidant that is found naturally in our diets, but it appears to have increased functional capacity when given as a supplement in the form of a natural or synthetic isolate. They also noted that Alpha-Lipoic Acid supplements may help to prevent cardiovascular risk factors such as LDL oxidation and high blood pressure.

Aged Garlic
Garlic has been found to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, blood pressure, and plaque formation. One study at the University of California found that 200 mg of aged garlic extract taken daily lowered heart attack risk by 65%.

A study from December 2008 examined the effects of a standard garlic supplement versus a placebo in 42 men with hypercholesterolemia. By the end of the 12 week trial, the garlic supplement group reduced total cholesterol levels by a mean average of 7.6% and 11.5% more than the placebo group.
The LDL (”bad”) cholesterol fell by almost 14%. The participants HDL (”good”) cholesterol rose by almost 12%. The dosage found to be most effective was 600 mg a day.

A 2007 experiment examined the effects of garlic supplementation in a total of 112 volunteers. Half of the men and women were diagnosed with heart disease, the remainder were described as having at least “one or more risk factors of cardiovascular pathology”. The exact figures of this Russian study weren’t available, but the summary states that 6 months of garlic supplementation resulted in a “moderate hypolipidemic” (cholesterol lowering) and “antioxidant effect”.

The researchers concluded that people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease would likely benefit in both the short and long term from a dosage of 600 mg daily. 300 mg was the recommended dosage for those with at least one risk factor, but who lack clinical diagnosis of heart disease.

In April 2009, a review of garlic’s role in the management of high cholesterol was published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. This meta-analysis looked at 13 clinical trials that included over 1,000 participants. The authors of the study summarized their findings in the following way: “The available evidence from randomized controlled trials does not demonstrate any beneficial effects of garlic on serum cholesterol”.

Resveratrol
Resveratrol is claimed to be a key ingredient that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces “bad” cholesterol and prevents blood clots.

Most research conducted with resveratrol has been conducted on animals, not people.
Research in mice given resveratrol has indicated that the antioxidant might also help protect them from obesity and diabetes, both of which are strong risk factors for heart disease. However, those findings were reported only in mice, not in people. In addition, to get the same dose of resveratrol used in the mice studies, a person would have to consume 100 to 1,000 bottles of red wine a day, which is why supplementation would be required to achieve such benefit.

Some research shows that resveratrol could be linked to a reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting, both of which can lead to heart disease, but more research is needed before it can be confirmed whether resveratrol was the cause for the reduced risk.

Here is a summary from The Linus Pauling Institute:

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, red wine, purple grape juice, peanuts, and some berries.
When taken orally, resveratrol appears to be well-absorbed by humans, but its bioavailability is relatively low because it is rapidly metabolized and eliminated.

Scientists became interested in exploring potential health benefits of resveratrol when its presence was reported in red wine, leading to speculation that resveratrol might help explain the “French Paradox.”

Moderate alcohol consumption has been consistently associated with 20-30% reductions in coronary heart disease risk, but it is not yet clear whether red wine polyphenols, such as resveratrol, confer any additional risk reduction.

Although resveratrol can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in culture and in some animal models, it is not known whether high intakes of resveratrol can prevent cancer in humans.

Resveratrol administration has increased the lifespans of yeast, worms, fruit flies, fish, and mice fed a high-calorie diet, but it is not known whether resveratrol will have similar effects in humans.

At present, relatively little is known about the effects of resveratrol in humans.

The French paradox does seem to lend some weight to the argument. The paradox is the observation that the French appear to suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats. The term French paradox was first coined in 1992 by Dr. Serge Renaud, a scientist from Bordeaux University in France.

Nattokinase
Nattokinase has been the subject of more than 17 studies, including two small human trials.

Researchers from Biotechnology Research Laboratories and JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. of Kobe, Japan, have tested its ability to dissolve a thrombus in the carotid arteries of rats. Animals that were treated with nattokinase regained 62 percent of blood flow, whereas those treated with plasmin regained just 15.8 percent.

Researchers from JCR Pharmaceuticals, Oklahoma State University, and Miyazaki Medical College tested nattokinase on 12 healthy Japanese volunteers (six men and six women, between the ages of 21 and 55). They gave the volunteers 200 grams of natto before breakfast, then tracked fibrinolytic activity through a series of blood plasma tests. The tests indicated that the natto generated a heightened ability to dissolve blood clots. On average, the volunteers’ ELT (a measure of how long It takes to dissolve a blood clot) dropped by 48 percent within two hours of treatment.
Volunteers also retained an enhanced ability to dissolve blood clots for two to eight hours. As a control procedure, researchers later fed the same amount of boiled soybeans to the same volunteers and tracked their fibrinolytic activity. These tests showed no significant change.

Conclusion:
Nattokinase is a particularly potent treatment because it enhances the body’s natural ability to fight blood clots in several different ways.
Additional benefits Include the convenience of oral administration, confirmed efficacy, prolonged effects, cost effectiveness, and the fact that it can be used preventatively. It is a naturally occurring dietary supplement that has demonstrated stability in the gastrointestinal tract.

The properties of nattokinase closely resemble those properties of plasmin in that it also dissolves fibrin directly. More importantly, it enhances the body’s production of both plasmin and other clot-dissolving agents.

Nattokinase may actually be superior to conventional clot-dissolving drugs such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activators (rt-PA), urokinase, and streptokinase, which are only effective therapeutically when taken intravenously within 12 hours of a stroke or heart attack.
Nattokinase, however, may help prevent the conditions leading to blood clots with a dose of only 2,000 fibrin units or 50 grams, of natto per day.

Terminalia Arjuna
Terminalia arjuna is a medicinal plant of the genus Terminalia, widely used by Ayurvedic physicians for its curative properties in people with heart problems including angina, hypertension and deposits in arteries.

Research suggests that Terminalia is useful in alleviating the pain of angina pectoris and in treating heart failure and coronary artery disease.

Terminalia may also be useful in treating hypercholesterolemia. The cardio protective effects of terminalia are thought to be produced by the antioxidant nature of several of the constituent flavonoids and oligomeric proanthocyanidins, while positive inotropic effects may be caused by the saponin glycosides.

There are documented studies on humans which appear to be sufficient enough to confirm the theraputic benfits of this dietary health supplement.

Pycnogenol
The extract has four basic properties – it’s a powerful antioxidant, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binds to collagen and elastin, and finally, it aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels.

There is a large amount of clinical trial information that appears to support the efficiency of this dietary health supplement with particular emphasis on heart health.

Supplements often undergo clinical trials and more so as they become more popular. This will mean that although every care has been taken to detail the current information accurately, as new trials are undertaken, some of this information may become redundant.

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Super foods are full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals but they also contain amino acids, which are the basic structural building blocks of proteins. Proteins make up the bulk of all your cells structure. They also act as enzymes for cellular reactions. There are eight essential amino acids they are:
#1 = Tryptophan which reduces anxiety and depression, helps with migraines, helps the immune system, reduces heart spasms, it is also a natural relaxant and aids in normal sleep, taken with Lysine it reduces cholesterol levels in the blood.

#2 = Lysine improves formation of bone cartilage and connective tissues, it aids in the absorption of calcium, it aids in the production of enzymes, hormones and the production of antibodies that help fight diseases and illness.

#3 = Methionine is the supplier of sulfur which prevents problems with hair, nails and skin. Methionine aids in the liver’s production of lecithin, reduces liver fat and helps protect the kidneys. Methionine also aids in reducing bladder irritations and infections and promotes hair growth.

#4 = Phenylalaine keeps you awake and alert, it is used in the brain to produce a chemical that transmits signals between the brain and the nerve cells, phenylalaine helps to improve your memory and also reduces hunger pains.

#5 = Threonine aids in digestion and intestinal tract functions; it also helps reduce liver fat.

#6 = Valine calms emotions and aids with mental vigor; it also aids with muscle coordination.

#7 and #8 work together; they are Leucine and Isoleucine, they help to produce essential biochemical components in the body, production of energy, stimulate the brain and aid with alertness.

There are also non-essential amino acids, why they are called non-essential is some what of a mystery, since all of them are needed for different biochemical reactions in the body as you will see.

Arginine improves immune response, promotes wound healing, aids in regeneration of the liver, and is needed for muscle growth.

Tyrosine aids in healthy functioning of the thyroid and pituitary glands, helps to improve memory and transmits impulses to the brain.

Glycine is required during cell production to release oxygen, it also aids in the production of essential hormones in the immune system.

Serine is essential in storing glucose in the muscles and liver, also aids in the immune system and produces a fatty acid cover to protect nerve fibers.

Aspartic acid aids in the removal of ammonia from the body. Ammonia is toxic to the body and aspartic acid helps to protect our body from the poison until it is expressed through the urine.

Glutamic acid helps improve mental capacities, aids in healing ulcers and helps with fatigue.

Alanine is a source of energy for the muscles, brain and nervous system. Alanine produces antibodies that help the immune system.

Cystine is an anti-oxidant and aids in the protection against pollutants, it can help slow the aging process, it is necessary in the production of skin.
Proline is vital in the functioning of joints, and helps to strengthen the heart muscle.

Taurine is necessary in the removal of free-radical waste from the body, it is a factor that is necessary for changes that take place during aging.

Histidine is found in the blood, it is used to treat several diseases such as RA, (rheumatoid arthritis) ulcers, and anemia. These are just a few of the amino acids that are essential in your diet for better health.

It is very important that you choose foods that are rich in amino acids as well as vitamins and minerals for your health.

Super foods are believed to contain the highest numbers of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. If you go to Google and type in super foods, you will find several sights, all telling you about the same thing, that eating a natural diet will protect you from several diseases and illnesses. Here are the ones that most people agree on, they are readily available in markets: Apples, avocados, tomatoes, bananas, cabbage, carrots, garlic, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, oranges, cantaloupe, broccoli, watermelon, dry beans, spinach, kale, salmon and other oily fish, flax seed, oats, soya, blueberries, cranberries, squash, almonds, beets, ginger, olive oil, tea, chili peppers, mushrooms, papaya, pineapple, kiwi, mangoes, apricots, pumpkin, walnuts, yogurt, parsley, sage, rosemary, cinnamon, brussel sprouts, lentils, pomegranates, concord grapes and brazil nuts.

After much research I found that not all of the foods I studied were true super foods. You have to consider where and how your food is grown. They do however; contain the necessary ingredients to be beneficial in your diet. It is absolutely true that you need various foods that react together for improved benefits in the body. If you consume an avocado you will reap the rewards but if you consume a grapefruit with your avocado they work as a team to fight disease and illness. This is true for most foods, there are however exceptions and they are; Wild salmon, tomatoes, broccoli and broccoli sprouts, kale, spinach, garlic, onions, blueberries, walnuts, pomegranates, depending how and where they are grown, then there’s goji berries, mulberries, goldenberries, sauco berries, acai berries, noni fruit, mangosteen fruit, bee pollen, royal jelly, green tea, sea vegetables, quinoa, and umeboshi plum.

Sea vegetables are true super foods, they contain significant amounts of protein and they also contain all the minerals found in the ocean. They offer 10 to 20 times the vitamins and minerals found in plants grown on land with just a few exceptions. There is a reason for this; we, as a population, have depleted our soils of the necessary nutrients that plants absorb. We also use chemicals and pesticides on our crops, these chemicals and pesticides are non-selective and destroy everything even the micro bacteria and micro fungi that is digested by the plants. When you purchase an apple from the store it is usually lacking most of the minerals that the soil once provided, minerals that are essential to our health. This is not true for the sea vegetables, the ocean is still productive, we have yet to destroy it and therefore it is a rich source for your health. Kelp, blue-green algae, spirulina, chorella, dulse, alaria, sea lettuce, irish moss, kombu, wakame, and nori are all rich in vitamins, minerals and all the essential amino acids.

Some fruits that are grown wild in other parts of the world are also true super foods and are still rich in nutrients because the soils are not depleted. The Mangosteen fruit is native to South East Asia, it has been studied for 20 years by independent labs and doctors for its medicinal uses; it contains 25,000 anti-oxidants, the highest number ever found in one food source, it contains amino acids as well as a vast majority of vitamins and minerals. The Goji berry is native to Asia; it contains amino acids and essential minerals and vitamins. Mulberries are native to Turkey; they are high in vitamin C, iron, calcium and protein. Goldenberries are native to Colombia and Peru, Sauco berries are native to South America, Umeboshi Plum is native to Japan, Noni fruit is native to Polynesia. The Acai berry has 30 times more anti-oxidants than blueberries, all eight essential amino acids and trace minerals. The list goes on, but what you eat is up to you, your health is in your hands.

If you are already suffering with a disease or illness or you’re prone to certain diseases or illness, due to family history, then there are a few things you need to know. If vegetables are cooked at over 118 degrees the heat will destroy most of the beneficial properties. You can not eat as much as you need, which is 8 to 10 servings a day, but there is a solution, you can juice your way to health. The food pyramid has changed which came as no surprise to me, I still have trouble with this type of system, not everyone needs the same things, and every person on this planet is different and has different nutritional requirements. There are some terms you need to understand before we continue:

Vitamins = nutrients that are necessary to your health, a shortage or an excessive amount for extended periods can cause health problems.

Phytonutrients = these are anti-oxidants that are plant-derived; they help to improve your health but are not required.

Carotenoids = they are in the dark coloring of the skin of fruits and vegetables (pigments), they are also anti-oxidants; there are dozens of carotenoids.

Free-radical = they disrupt living cells by attacking them, free-radicals are missing an electron and they steal one from other cells, they are responsible for all diseases and illness due to their damage. Free-radicals are in air and water pollution, and in junk foods we eat. You can not escape from them; they are a part of life. Free-radical damage accumulates with age if you do not protect yourself.

Anti-oxidants = they neutralize free-radicals by donating their extra electron; all anti-oxidants have an extra electron. Anti-oxidants protect us from free-radical damage. Anti-oxidants are called scavengers; they prevent cell and tissue damage which leads to disease and illness. They are absolutely required for optimum health in very large numbers every day.

Synergy = nutrients that are taken in combinations; these combinations cause the nutrients to become more powerful then when taken alone.

Notice that the list above states that people agree that blueberries are a super food. Not all foods have been studied, take the cherry; it’s deep rich red color is full of carotenoids or it would not have that great color. The cherry has not been extensively studied yet. What does this mean for you? Be wise and eat fruits and vegetables that have the darkest and richest colors, in combinations, to receive maximum benefits. Do not make the mistake that others have made and write off all the unlisted fruits and vegetables, everything that grows in the ground has benefits for your health. Your food choices are a life or death decision, so do your research and find the best solutions for your health.

Beans may reduce the risk of heart disease; lentils support heart health; berries of all kinds have synergistic effects and are scavengers of free-radicals; citrus fruits are all full of anti-oxidants; vegetables steamed on low heat are a great source of fiber and complex carbohydrates; sea vegetables are bursting with carotenoids, vitamins, minerals and amino acids and can be found in many forms, tablet or powder. Sea vegetables support your whole body; green leafy vegetables are bursting with eye health nutrients as well as supporting the heart, brain and bones. Nuts help reduce the risk of heart disease; oats are a prime source of complex carbohydrates and full of fiber. Cold water – wild fish, not farm raised, contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, necessary for coronary heart health. Wild salmon, trout and tuna all contain different amounts and should all be consumed; seeds and nuts help balance hormones and have anti-oxidant activities; soy packs a punch with its anti-oxidation effects; mangosteen fruit is bursting with anti-oxidants and works in your entire body for your overall health.

There is some evidence that men and women need different nutrients to support biological needs. Men need to protect themselves against prostate cancer, bladder cancer, testosterone levels, sperm counts, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Men should add five tomatoes, or five servings of tomato sauce, a week to their diet to protect them from prostate cancer. Three oysters a day have the full day’s supply of zinc which is essential for the male reproductive system, testosterone and sperm counts. Men are three times more likely to get bladder cancer than women; broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage, eaten five times a week, shows a reduction in this disease according to the studies. Eating a handful of un-salted peanuts every day helps lower your bad cholesterol levels, helping to reduce the risk of heat disease. Potassium can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Watermelon and other melons can help reduce your chances of developing high blood pressure. Women need to protect themselves against gallbladder disease, breast cancer and fight osteoporosis. Women tend to be anemic due to low iron levels, and women suffer with menopausal hot flashes. Women with low vitamin C levels are more likely to develop gall bladder disease than those with higher levels of vitamin C; papaya has twice the amount of vitamin C than an orange. Flaxseed is rich in an estrogen like compound called lignans. Make sure to get the seeds and grind them in a coffee grinder. You can put them on cereal or mix in muffin mix as there are no lignans in flaxseed oil; lignans have effectively slowed tumor growth in women that already have breast cancer. Vitamin K along with vitamin D and calcium are all important nutrients for fighting osteoporosis. Women that get enough vitamin K are 30 percent less likely to suffer factures in their later years. Collard greens are the best source for this protection, although dark green leafy vegetables, brussel sprouts, spinach and broccoli are also good sources. Women tend to be lower in iron than men due to menstruation and this can cause sever fatigue. To get the highest doses of iron you should try buffalo meat, you get an easily digestible 3 milligrams of iron in a 3 oz portion of this very lean meat. In later life women tend to suffer with the dreaded hot flashes. There may be relief found in tofu. A half cup of tofu contains 30 mg of isoflavones, which are plant chemicals that have a structure that is similar to estrogen, and may offer some relief from hot flashes.

For men and women alike, make sure to add super foods to your diet, such as; sea vegetables, mangosteen fruit juice, Goji berry juice, or other berry juices. For information on the mangosteen and its medicinal properties call 1-888-374-4148, for all the other super foods just go to Google, type them in and do your research.

Being healthy takes effort on your part, do not put your health into someone else’s hands, they are not you and their nutritional requirements may be different than yours. Everyone is an expert when it comes to their own health, read and listen to the information but please make an informed choice for yourself.

Do the research! Your life and the quality of your life is in your hands.

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