Are Supplements Safe?

Every once in a while, a new study comes out implying that supplements don’t work or that they harm. One recent study says that supplements increase mortality.  I don’t believe it for a minute! Proper use of supplements is a safe and important aspect of our lives. Ideally it would be great if we all ate delicious, organic, whole foods at all meals and that we met all our nutritional requirements through diet alone, but the reality is that we don’t. So when a study like this ones come out, discouraging vitamins, it upsets me because for many people it’s the only way they get enough of certain nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and iron. If you would like to learn more about using supplements correctly and to find out what you need on a personalized level, contact us at 1-800-869-9159.

Here is a blog from Dr. David Brownstein. He has a strong opinion about this recent study, and I agree with him. What do you think? Continue reading “Are Supplements Safe?”

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Recipe: Grilled Salmon with Strawberry Ginger Salsa

This recipe is extremely easy and so delicious – it is full of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, as well as anti-inflammatory properties. You can tone down the heat by adding a little less ginger, especially if you have kids. And since strawberries are coming into season, this is a perfect way to use them. According to the Environmental Working Group’s 2010 report “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides,” though, strawberries are among the 12 foods where pesticide residues have most frequently been found. Additional research in 2011 has also shown non-organically grown strawberries to contain residues from up to 14 different pesticides. Therefore, I would definitely recommend choosing organically grown strawberries.

Read this previous blog about how to choose salmon.

Recipe from California Strawberry Commission

Grilled Salmon with Strawberry Ginger Salsa

1½ cups (375 mL) strawberries, hulled and coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons (30 mL) chopped red onion

2 tablespoons (30 mL) fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon (15 mL) minced fresh ginger

½ tablespoon (7 mL) honey

1 tablespoon (15 mL) chopped fresh basil

1 tablespoon (15 mL) chopped cilantro leaves

Four 8-oz (227 g) salmon fillets

1 teaspoon (5 mL) olive oil

salt and pepper

Mix strawberries, onion, lime juice, ginger and honey in a small bowl. Set aside for flavors to combine.

Brush salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on barbecue over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side. (Alternatively, sauté in large sauce pan for 2 to 3 minutes per side.) Transfer to a serving platter. Add basil and cilantro to strawberry mixture and spoon over salmon.

Makes 4 servings

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Where Do You Keep Your Supplements?

Although the bathroom or the kitchen may be the most conveniant place to keep your supplements and medications, a new study by Purdue University has shown that high humidity degrades the vitamins and health supplements stored in those rooms, even if the lids are on tight.

Lisa Mauer, a Purdue associate professor of food science, has shown that subjecting certain products, such as vitamin C, to humidity can chemically change their compositions, eliminating the health benefits associated with those products. She also says that crystalline substances – including vitamin C, some vitamin B forms and other dietary supplements – are prone to a process called deliquescence, in which humidity causes a water-soluble solid to dissolve.

Keeping those supplements away from warm, humid environments can help ensure their effectiveness.  So where should you store vitamins? Try a drawer in your bedroom or on your dresser as an alternative.  And if you have children, make sure that they are out of reach of their curious hands.

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Folic Acid Increases Cancer Risk?

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association  found that treatment with folic acid plus vitamin B12 was associated with increased cancer outcomes and all-cause mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease in Norway, where there is no folic acid fortification of foods.

So do you throw out the folic acid and B12?  Not just yet. Folic Acid and B12 are important B vitamins. I would recommend that if you are a healthy individual without any heart disease, stick to the RDI which is 400mcg per day.  Pregnant women should continue to take 800mcg to prevent neural tube defects and spina bifida.  And of course, always consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking large doses of any supplement.

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