If you are a health-conscious and busy mom, or anyone else interested in maintaining your health and the health of family members, you understand the need for additional supplements to maintain health, energy and activity levels. The pace of everyday living today can zap your strength and play havoc with your health, no matter your age.
Additional Supplements
There are any number of supplements that have been proven to enhance well-being, like vitamins, antioxidants, herbals, amino acids, enzymes, and minerals, but there are other lesser-known supplements that can go a step further in improving the health of individuals. Whether a person is already on a supplement regimen or is thinking about starting one, there are additional supplements that are credible choices. Here are seven supplements that you may or may not have heard of that are worth investigating and discovering whether they are valid and safe for supplementation.
1. Beta-glucans
Beta-glucans are polysaccharides (simple sugars or polymers like starch and cellulose) that enhance the immune system. They may help to regulate blood sugar levels and cholesterol as well as deal with specific cancers and autoimmune disorders. Beta-glucans originate from plants like oats, barley, yeast and selected mushrooms, and they also come from specific fibers found in particular yeasts, bacteria, algae, and fungi.
In addition to possibly lowering total cholesterol, certain beta-glucans have been used in combination with chemotherapy to combat specific cancers. Gastric, cervical, head and neck cancers, and some of the more involved cancers may be offset with beta-glucans, but continued research is needed to determine their usefulness. Beta-glucans don’t directly kill cancer, but they do boost the immune system to attack and fight off cancerous tumors and bacteria.
Autoimmune diseases such as AIDS have also been helped with beta-glucans as have infections that follow surgeries and any kind of trauma. Supplement manufacturers even want to tout the ability of beta-glucans to bring on a feeling of fullness that assists with diets and weight loss, but the current research lacks substantive evidence concerning this claim.
Beta-glucans are available in capsule form, injectable and topical creams, which have been helpful for people with burns and certain skin conditions.
2. Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid, which is a chemical in the form of a fatty substance that encompasses and protects brain cells and transfers messages between the cells. The body can produce it, but it can also be found in foods. It was originally made from the brains of cows, but it is now produced from soy or cabbage.
Its common purpose is to maintain the mind and memory, but with age, the effects are less pronounced, which makes it a good supplement for elderly individuals.
Studies have proposed that the use of phosphatidylserine may prevent mental deterioration and age-related mental decline. Those using phosphatidylserine have seen improvements in concentration as well as short-term memory, and it has even been used in studies involving Alzheimer’s disease, but evidence is scanty as to its support with this condition. It has also been found to be effective in dealing with muscle aches and pains brought on by athletic performance and stress-related exercise. In addition, it may be of help with improving ADHD (attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder) in children and teenagers. Depression can also be helped in older individuals as well as thinking ability and other related conditions.
3. Carnosine
Carnosine is a potent amino acid, anti-aging nutrient, and antioxidant that is a major element of muscles. It is formed from the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine (dipeptide). This amino acid is found throughout the body and is concentrated in heart, brain, nerve and skeletal system tissues. Though found in greater concentrations at a younger age, carnosine levels decline in mid-life and can also show a reduction in the body due to stress and trauma. It is extremely important to the maintenance of heart and artery health.
Carnosine has other benefits that include its ability to scavenge for free radicals and alleviate oxidative stress that has been brought on by lifestyle choices and environmental factors, such as smoking, poor nutrition, radiation exposure and environmental hazards. Carnosine neutralizes those free radicals that can contribute to the development of diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and other degenerative and aging conditions.
Use of carnosine and its ability to cancel out free radicals and prevent oxidative stress gives this supplement the additional capacity of combating aging issues and keeping them to a minimum. Other studies indicate that it protects the body from radiation damage and benefits the healing of wounds. It also monitors enzyme activity and reduces heavy metal accumulation in the body and acts as a messenger or neurotransmitter throughout the nervous system.
Other benefits of carnosine include minimizing the deterioration of the skin due to aging as well as problems associated with cataracts, diabetes, neuropathy, muscle atrophy, kidney failure, inflammation of joints, stomach ulcers, autism as well as immunity and inflammation issues.
4. Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is a fat and water soluble nutrient and antioxidant that is formed in small amounts in the mitochondria of cells. It acts with other antioxidants to advance cellular generation of more antioxidants and associated enzymes. It can also be found in a number of fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, Brussel sprouts and spinach with larger amounts found in red meat and organ meats.
Though the body naturally makes alpha lipoic acid (ALA), its production decreases with age or with a suppressed immune system difficulties. Supplementation is found to be of help with several different health-related conditions. It is effective in balancing thyroid levels, promoting healthy skin, normalizing blood sugar levels, enhancing memory, protecting muscles, preserving the liver and providing for a healthy heart.
It is also effective with skin aging issues, and further research has found it to be useful for treating glaucoma, migraine headaches, kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease and other medical conditions.
Side effects are limited, but alpha lipoic acid may cause rashes, nausea, vertigo, and skin irritation through direct application of creams to the skin.
6. Mimosa Pudica
Mimosa pudica originates from a small shrub or creeping plant that is native to South America (Brazil) and other tropical regions throughout the world. It is known for its pink, rounded flowers and compound leaves that have a distinguishing namesake, “touch-me-not,” which is probably due to a defense mechanism within the plant that causes the leaves to close in order to hinder exposure to heat or excessive moisture.
The plant is helpful in a number of health-related conditions, and different parts of mimosa pudica offer varying means of support for the kidneys and skin as well as with the neurological and immune systems of the body. The remedies with this small plant range in their use. Snake and insect bites, infections, asthma, dysentery, coughs, and fever, as well as wounds, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, muscle pain, epilepsy, heavy metal chelation and even cancer, can be helped with this supplement.
7. Gugulipid/Guggul
This medicinal herb originates from the myrrh tree and utilizes its resin for supplementation. It has been used in Ayurveda (India) traditional medicine for thousands of years in the treatment of numerous conditions.
Guggul is beneficial in dealing with high cholesterol and has the ability to lower not only bad cholesterol (LDL) but high blood triglyceride levels, and it is also known for its ability to boost the level of good cholesterol (HDL). In addition, it curtails blood clot formation, plaque formation in the arteries, and it is highly sought after for its overall ability to protect the heart and help manage heart disease.
Additionally, the antioxidant capacities of the herb protect the body from free radical damage to cells that lead to early aging and other diseases. Interestingly, the herb was originally used to reduce pain from arthritis as well as provide treatment for obesity, so the herb’s anti-inflammatory properties are well-known, but research continues concerning the supplement’s ability to relieve irritation and inflammation throughout the body.
Gugulipid supplements are non-toxic, and they rarely cause problems other than minor gastrointestinal issues, but as a supplement, it should not be used by pregnant women or those on cholesterol-lowering drugs. The supplement does appear to be a good alternative for those seeking a natural way to control cholesterol levels but should be used with caution, like any other natural supplement.
Any of the seven supplements reviewed here should not be taken or used without first consulting with a health care provider, and if any of the supplements are used for medical conditions, they should be examined for their purity and potency as well as researched for their manufacturing origins and GMP, or Good Manufacturing Practice, facilitation. Labeling of supplements should also be checked for their strength and standardization. Natural supplementation, like any other form of medical treatment, should be used judiciously and approved for use through a healthcare provider.