 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Reasons for Supplementation
Poor food selections and calorie restriction go hand-in-hand with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Major national nutrition survey have reported that we do not consume the Recommended Daily Amounts of many nutrients, including vitamins A, C, various B vitamins, folic acid, and the minerals calcium, iron and magnesium. A national survey of over 21,000 people showed that not one of them received 100% of the RDA for ten basic nutrients from their diet alone. (J.B. Condaro, President of the Council For Responsible Nutrition, In testimony before the sub-committee on Health and the Environment of the U.S. House of Representatives on July 29, 1993.) Hence, supplementation has become a necessary and important part of a healthy lifestyle. In healthy people, sub-optimal nutrition may result in vague symptoms, such as depression, fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability, and poor concentration. Here are some reasons why those who eat a nutritious diet may still need supplements: Practicality of Obtaining Nutrients from Supplements Supplementation may be advised when it is impractical to obtain a nutrient from the diet at the levels required to achieve a particular effect. High intakes may be required, or the nutrient may be inconsistently consumed in the diet. When you feel healthy, your life is more dynamic. At Pharmanex, we recognise the importance of achieving dynamic health through proper nutrition, exercise, and a low-fat diet. There is no one product that will meet the needs of every person. What are Free Radicals and Antioxidants? A free radical is an atom or molecule that has one or more unpaired electrons and is therefore unstable. Free radical reactions are constantly occurring in the body. Pollution, poor diet, exercise, and stress contribute to the production of free radicals. These free radicals disrupt the normal function of cells in the body. Antioxidants are compounds that stabilise free radical reactions.
Vitamin E
Phytonutrients Optimal levels of nutrients vs. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) RDAs are also referred to as reference nutrient intakes (RNI), recommended dietary intake (RDI), and daily values (DV). The RDAs are set to prevent overt nutrient deficiencies, such as Scurvy and Beri Beri. Many of the health benefits from nutrients are present at levels much higher than the RDAs. On the other hand, levels lower than the RDA may be healthier in some cases. The Pharmanex products are based on current scientific research. The levels of our nutrients are set at the levels that maintain optimal health. The RDAs provide sufficient levels of a nutrient to take care of normal bodily processes, such as metabolism, nerve transmission, fluid balance, etc. Once these essential functions are taken care of, many nutrients may be needed in excess of the RDA. Specific instances where higher than RDA intakes are needed are during exercise, periods of stress or injury, and to provide antioxidant benefits. Specific examples are vitamin E, vitamin C, and iron. The RDA of vitamin C prevents Scurvy, whereas higher intakes provide antioxidant protection. Current research indicates that lower intake of iron may decrease the risk of serious lifestyle diseases. High iron intakes have been indicated to raise blood iron levels, which may increase cardiovascular risk. Webster's dictionary defines natural as: "being found in its native state, not artificial, synthetic, processed or acquired by external means." To the consumer, natural means all of the above plus purity, perfection and high performance. Unfortunately, there are not many natural ingredients that fall clearly under the Webster definition, because often times natural ingredients have to be extracted and purified by chemical processes. Vitamins may be derived from both plant and animal foods or made by synthetic production. Although many people feel that naturally derived nutritional ingredients are simply the best, research indicates this to be clearly incorrect. The vitamins that we do extract from natural sources, like vitamin E and beta carotene, have been shown to be better than the synthetic form of those same vitamins. The natural sources contain a broader family of Carotenoids and Tocopherols, respectively, not found when made synthetically. Some vitamins exist in several related forms that differ in chemical or physical properties. By utilizing these synthetic forms, Pharmanex is able to insure optimal bioavailability. We evaluate each individual ingredient to determine whether the natural or synthetic form provides the most optimal and high quality source. Our goal is to incorporate into our products the best of science and nature. Pharmanex is dedicated to producing quality products through incorporation of proven ingredients from natural and synthetic sources. |