Archive for category: Supplements & Nutraceuticals

How Many Hours of Sleep Do Teens Need?

in , , ,

It may seem that your teen can sleep around the clock, especially during school holidays. While that’s not precisely true, teens do need more sleep to help them be their best during busy days. The Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health suggests that teens should aim for 9-10 hours of sleep a day, based on scientific research and study.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adolescents who do not get enough sleep are at risk of health and behavioral challenges. Alarmingly, lack of sleep is common: the CDC analyzed data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Study and determined that 7 out of 10 high schoolers, or 72.7%, did not get enough sleep on school nights.

Added to the regular stresses faced by teens are the additional challenges posed by the pandemic, which has brought about increased sleep difficulties for many. In fact, “coronasomnia,” as researchers dub it, has increased the levels of clinically significant insomnia for all age groups.

How Much Sleep Does A Teenager Need? 

Everyone’s need for sleep is unique to them, but teens, in general, need more rest than pre-teens. That is partly due to the changes that they are experiencing in their bodies during puberty. That 9-10 hours of sleep a night allows your teen’s body to refresh and recharge itself while at the same time supporting a level of growth that adults aren’t dealing with.

Not only that, but their brains are developing as well, leading to greater emotional and intellectual maturity and cognitive development, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine. More sleep helps them negotiate their growing pains and leaves them better able to resist serious health challenges such as depression or drug use.

One primary factor affecting teens’ need for sleep is their circadian rhythm, also known as the internal clock. Circadian rhythm is influenced by the sun and other light sources to tell us when we should be awake and when it’s time to go to bed.

When a teen keeps irregular hours — up till 2 am studying one night, crashing the next at 10 pm — it’s easy for that circadian rhythm to get out of whack. Resetting it can take days and requires your teen to establish a daily routine: to bed at night and up in the morning at roughly the same time each day. Oversleeping one day and pulling an all-nighter the next, in other words, isn’t healthy for teens (or anyone, for that matter) and should be avoided at all costs.

Why Do Teens Need More Sleep?

For a larger version of the image below click here

 

Sleep Problems In Teens

Teens as a group are probably more prone to sleep problems than other groups. With their active social lives, schedules that are bursting with activities and the increasing classwork/homework demands as they progress through high school, there are lots of reasons why sleep may be long in coming even when they do get to bed at a reasonable hour.

School

High school often starts earlier in the mornings than middle or elementary schools, meaning your teens may be getting up before the sun is up. Those early start times can be hard to get used to. Plus, many students have a huge course load, which means they’re up late studying and doing work every night.

Anxiety

As anyone who’s been a teen knows, those are stressful years. But, it’s also a fun time in a child’s life — full of sports games, Friday nights out, shopping trips with friends, and all kinds of exciting things. It can be hard to balance that with school and perhaps a part-time job. Not only does the schedule add to their stress, but if you have a teen who isn’t doing well in school or is getting picked on, they may be carrying burdens that are too much to handle for anyone. Those stressors can easily lead to sleepless nights.

Screen Exposure 

Most likely, your teen has their cell phone in bed with them at night, and if they’re scrolling social media or texting friends, it might be keeping them up later than you realize. All of those bright lights and noises will keep them awake rather than help them sleep. Why? Studies show that the blue light emitted by our devices is detrimental to sleep, disturbing our circadian rhythms more than any other color of light. Experts suggest that you should put away your devices several hours before bed — but that’s a hard thing to ask of a Tik Tok-addicted teen.

Peer Pressure

During the teen years, when your adolescent children are trying to figure out just who they are in the world, it’s common for them to do a mental compare-and-contrast with their peers. If others are doing it, then they want to do whatever it is as well. And when their friends boast of staying up all night to watch YouTube videos or prepping for an exam, your teen may want to match that endeavor. Sometimes, copying the acts of others is a good thing. And sometimes it’s not. For impressionable teens, staying up till all hours may look like a way to be one of the popular kids, but they pay the price for their loss of sleep in reality.

6 Tips For Sleep-Deprived Teens

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for handling sleep-deprived teens. It may take time and effort to gradually move your teen in the direction of good sleeping habits, and you may get some pushback when you try. If you are the parent or teacher of a teen, you may have noticed that they like to make their own decisions and often distrust the wisdom of their elders. (You were probably like that yourself, once).

Here are a few ideas, however, that may help you convince your teen that the benefits of a good night’s slumber far outweigh the drawbacks.

  • Set rules about screen use. Aim to have teens shut down their smartphones 1-2 hours before bedtime. Have a charging station for family devices that’s in the kitchen or some other public space, rather than your teen’s bedroom.
  • Set a bedtime schedule. Your teen may balk at this, but as the parent, you can determine when things should quiet down in the household — which may lead your teen to bed out of boredom if nothing else.
  • Keep your teen away from heavy snacks at night. A light snack, like an apple or handful of almonds, is fine. Some foods, in fact, encourage good sleep — like the classic glass of warm milk. Stock your shelves with them, and suggest them to your teen when they’re hungry.
  • Get your teen up early on the weekends. Yes, it’s fine to let them sleep till 8 if they’re used to getting up at 6 on school days. But if you can keep them from sleeping until noon, you’ll be doing them a favor by keeping their internal clock running smoothly.
  • Invest in good bedding and a comfortable mattress. The key here is to make them want to go to bed because it’s comfortable and welcoming.
  • If your teen takes naps, encourage them to keep them short. A 20-minute “power nap” will do more to restore your teen than three hours of afternoon slumber.

Spotlight on Teens With Part-Time Jobs 

Managing school and a part-time job can be challenging, but it’s a reality for some teens. That can lead to some harsh decisions — giving up a sport, for example, that takes up considerable time for practices and games. Here are a few tips for teens working to juggle the demands of both their teachers and their boss.

  1. Schedule, schedule, schedule

Work with your teen to develop a realistic schedule that prioritizes getting enough sleep, as well as leaving time for study. Building and writing down a solid schedule doesn’t come easy to many teens, but developing this habit can yield lifetime benefits.

  1. Be vigilant

Watch your teen to be sure that they are meeting their commitments, but not at the expense of their health. If you see a study light on in your teen’s room at 2 a.m., for example, you may want to step in to help them over a rough patch by, say, relieving them of a household chore so they can study.

  1. Give them space

At the same time, it’s important to allow your teen to learn lessons without hovering over them. It’s a fine line to walk — being supportive but not overbearing — and every parent does it differently. That said, remember that sometimes a painful experience (such as getting a poor grade on a test) can lead to growth.

  1. Make your home sleep friendly

Are you up watching the Late, Late Show in the family room till the wee hours? Do you tend to sleep till noon on the weekends yourself? Consider revamping your whole family’s sleep schedule so that all clearly observe quiet hours.

Here’s The Bottom Line

Our society asks a lot of teens. We expect them to do well in school, excel at extracurricular activities, maintain a social life, and, sometimes, work — either to help support their family or so they can afford new purchases on their own. There’s one common denominator to all that, and it’s getting enough sleep. If your teen is averaging 9-10 hours of sleep a night, they will earn better grades and be able to manage a full schedule much better than if they’re burning the midnight oil regularly. It’s important to support your teen as they negotiate this tricky phase in their life so that they can be the best — and most well-rested — version of themselves every day.

Written by Slumber Yard Team     Last Updated: July 12, 2021  Medically reviewed by Lauren Castiello, MS, AGNP-C

 

References

Source:

MySlumberYard.com https://myslumberyard.com/sleep/sleep-for-teens/

 

NutriFusion®

Besides lack of sleep, teenagers suffer from lack of nutrition due to poor diets. Studies have shown that poor nutrition impacts performance at school and writing exams.

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and/or vegetable powders that are nutrient dense for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods.

Consumers may purchase our powders at: https://sales.nutrifusion.com/.  Add our powders to juice, or sprinkle on top of foods such as yogurt, pasta dishes, beverages, and baked goods such as cookies, brownies, cakes, etc.  A small amount, 225 mg, will provide 50% of the daily value from the range of nutrition from fruits and vegetables.

NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

Learn About Vitamins and Supplements Driving Beauty Innovation

in , , ,

Interestingly, there is a link between diet and beauty. There has been much research conducted in this area. People now dread illnesses for different reasons. Apart from the overall damage to health, people now fear that illnesses will rub them of their beauty.

We live in a society where people shame other people for looks, so they try all they can to look good. This means that more focus is placed on health these days. This beauty-influenced health-focused lifestyle has created many have created new habits in people.

These new habits are influenced by the information gaps between health, nutrition, and beauty that have been bridged. The reason for this is the result of the internet which has made information readily available for people. So, without prescription, consumers know about products that can help them maintain their health and, in turn, their beauty. So, instead of the old reliance on face washes, face masks, creams, ointment, etc., people now turn to vitamins and supplements. These allow them to be healthy and youthful.

Working with in-house beauty researchers at professional paper writers, we have researched the top vitamins and supplements driving beauty innovations.

Vitamin and Supplements driving Beauty Innovations.

These vitamins and supplements have the twin functions of helping people feel good as well as look good. However, consumers have always equated looking good as feeling good. They believe and take their good looks as a sign of being healthy. Beauty experts writing for buy dissertation uk find consumer view to be myopic.

The consumer view is incomplete as the definition of health has been expanded. Instead of looking good alone, the definition of health has now included psychological health, feeling optimal, and sleeping adequately. Even with data to support the expansion of health, we still have about 54% of consumers who believe beauty is health. Also, we have 47% thinking having a healthy appearance means being healthy.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a consumer favorite, and it is everything consumers crack it up to be. Vitamin A is a skin wizard. It protects and heals the skin. So, you would have great skin when you consume food rich in vitamin A such as sweet potatoes, green, orange and yellow vegetables, fruits, eggs, and cod liver oil. Foods rich in vitamin A help cure brown spots, tames the growth of wrinkles, etc. It also helps smoothen the skin roughness. In addition, it enables the skin to be elastic by enriching the elastic fibers we have in our skin.

The other name for vitamin A in the beauty industry is retinoid. So, supplements and beauty products rich in retinoid would perform similarly to those rich in vitamin A mentioned above.

Vitamin B-complex

According to the research conducted by beauty enthusiasts at buy essays online, this vitamin is what you call a pack of vitamins. Also, the vitamins are very thorough in what they do. Little wonder that they have found favor among consumers.

Vitamin A targets the skin when you look at its functions from a beauty perspective. Vitamin B-complex does so much more than that. It targets the skin, the nails, and the hairs. This pack of vitamin B is regarded as an antioxidant, and they keep the skin hydrated. Vitamin achieves this through biotin, which improves the level of Keratin in the body. Keratin helps in building collagen for the skin, thereby protecting it. Keratin is also good for the growth of the hair as it helps the hair grow longer and sturdier.

Apart from Keratin, there is Niacin (vitamin B3) which contains qualities that help brighten skin tone and hydrate it. Reportedly biotin also helps with hair growth and nail growth.

Food rich in vitamin B-complex are eggs, dark green vegetables, fish, red meat, milk and other dairy products, poultry,  shellfish,  kidney, and liver. You can also target supplements rich in vitamin B by looking for Keratin supplements, biotin supplements, etc.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a vital vitamin for our health as they help us build strong and vibrant immunity. However, apart from the health benefits we get, there are many beauty advantages with vitamin C. Vitamin C helps protect the skin from UV damage. It builds the skin to be healthy, youthful, and radiant. This vitamin improves collagen production, which helps make the skin firmer. Plus, the skin enjoys anti-inflammatory properties, which help to cure spots and acne marks. In addition, it clears free radicals, which have the potential to lead to cancer. Furthermore, these vitamins support communication between cells.

Food rich in vitamin C is yellow and red peppers, tomatoes, citrus, strawberries, green leafy vegetables, fortified, etc.

Vitamin D

When we get sunlight, our skin gets the necessary amounts of Vitamin D to have a more transparent and healthier skin. Vitamin D helps the skin from skin problems such as acne. It also has anti-inflammation qualities. Thus, it assists the skin to become smooth and soft. With enough vitamin D, wrinkles and skin roughness will disappear.

As much as it is easy to just stay in the sun to get vitamin D. In the United States, over 75% of their population suffers from a lack of vitamin D. Lack of vitamin D is bad for the skin and the body as a whole. Supplements and vitamin D can help bridge the gap, but the sun’s purest source of vitamin D. So as much as you eat vitamin D-rich foods and take supplements, it is better to find time to get sun exposure 10 to 15 minutes before noon.

Vitamin E.

Vitamin E is one vitamin that is present in abundance in different food sources. The vitamin works in concert with vitamin C to boost skin health. Vitamin E is described as a fat-soluble vitamin, and it contributes to the growth of collagen in the body. Vitamin E leads the charge against free radicals, which results in firmer and toned skin. Vitamin E is present in food sources such as vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, spinach, nuts, and asparagus.

bio:

Emily Harrinson is a top editor of a big company in London. She has edited for EssayMama and pay someone to do my assignment in Australia enthusiasts. Her hobby is reading books. But besides that, Emily is fond of sports and music. She is a very positive person

 

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient dense. They are an excellent source of nutrition and can be added or mixed with the foods. Or add ¼ teaspoon with juice, stir and drink.

Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers all ages a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient that blends easily. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables.

NutriFusion® blends help to reduce inflammation in our bodies.

NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com. To order go to:  https://sales.nutrifusion.com/

Plant-Based Vs. Animal-Based Products: Advantages and Disadvantages

in , ,

 

Many people are exploring different kinds of diet today to fit their lifestyle, schedules, and even principles in life. The two main diet categories depend on what type of food could be consumed which are either plant-based or animal-based products. There are a lot to be considered when changing or adhering to a certain diet because it would mean adapting and staying consistent to consuming food products that you might not be used to. Aside from the nutritional factor, the budget for food must also be taken into consideration since it would affect how you usually manage your finances. To help you evaluate what kind of diet would work best for you, we have come up with both pros and cons of plant-based and animal-based products below. Let’s start digging in!

Nutrients

This is perhaps the most important factor that should be well thought out before deciding on what diet to take. While meat is rich in iron and zinc, plants contain a more sufficient and wide array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Supplements would be needed to get the nutrients that are harder to absorb when in a plant-based diet.

Aside from the fact that it would be difficult to do away with animal products, there’s a risk of nutritional deficiencies when the right intake of plant-based products is not planned correctly. This will certainly affect how you feel and look. Though, when successful, there are a ton of benefits to enjoy which include lowering the risks of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.

On the harder hand, animal-based products boast the amount of protein it can give to the body which is vital for cell and tissue regeneration. The protein from animals can also be better absorbed by the digestive system compared to those obtained from plants. However, remember that animal proteins contain higher fat content which contributes to health problems that could appear in the future such as blood pressure issues and heart disease. Animal proteins can also overwhelm uric acid levels which could crystallize and cause severe pain. These situations can be prevented when animal proteins are taken moderately. Planning, coupled with discipline, is key to eating healthy which is beneficial for your skin and body as a whole.

Eco-friendliness

It is no secret that plant agriculture has a more positive impact on the environment than animal agriculture which usually requires more resources, emitting more production-related greenhouse gasses (GHG). These GHGs are nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane among others. For instance, beef emits the highest levels of GHG followed by lamb and mutton according to the Our World in Data report. Moreover, one beef cow raised for slaughter takes more than 5,000 gallons of water which could already be used for growing several plants.

 

NutriFusion

Just 1 in 10 adults meet the federal fruit or vegetable recommendations, according to a study published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). This report highlights that very few Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day, putting them at risk for chronic diseases.

Studies have shown that supplementation with extracts from fruits and vegetables may improve inflammation and oxidative stress.

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and/or vegetable powders that are nutrient dense for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods.

NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com

Learn why natural plant-based vitamins work and why synthetics do not!

in , , ,

synthetic vitamins not as good as food based vitamins

There is a trend in taking dietary supplements. People take supplements to make up for the nutrients not gained due to a poor diet or a vegetarian lifestyle. People also take diet pills when they don’t like eating, or they are undergoing a diet.  Dietary supplements are synthetic products that are taken to supplement people’s diet. It can come in a pill, chewable gum, energy bar, tablet, capsule, or liquid.

Many people in the United States favor using diet pills to get synthetic nutrients. The type of synthetic nutrient most targeted by Americans is vitamins. However, there is a raging debate in scientific quarters about the effectiveness of these synthetic vitamins. In this post, we would be collaborating with health researchers at best uk essay writing service on the difference between natural vitamins and synthetic vitamins.

Benefits of Vitamins

Vitamins are nutrients that our bodies need to function optimally. These vitamins are derived from food or supplements as the body cannot produce them on its own. However, they have many benefits for the body, and we have examined some of these benefits below.

  • Vitamin A helps with improving the eyes vision
  • Vitamin B1 contributes immensely in helping us gain energy as it breaks down blood sugar.
  • Vitamin B2 helps to break down food and also aids the growth of body cells.
  • Vitamin B3 ensures that the body’s cells work correctly
  • Vitamin B5 aids the production of hormones for the body and contributes to the energy-making process of the body
  • Vitamin B6 helps the body form red blood cells as tested by assignment helper online research enthusiasts.
  • Vitamin B7 helps to break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It also boosts the growth of hair, nails, and skin.
  • Vitamin B9 helps in the development of DNA and RNA
  • Vitamin B12 helps create a sound nervous system
  • Vitamin C helps the body create collagen. Also, it helps heal the body’s wound and contributes to the formation of the bone. In addition, it improves the functions of blood vessels, boosts immunity, and helps in iron absorption. Furthermore, it performs the functions of an antioxidant
  • Vitamin D helps to strengthen the bone
  • Vitamin E reduces stress and improves immunity
  • Vitamin K helps the blood to clot.
Meaning of Natural and Synthetic Vitamins

Natural vitamins are nutrients that the body needs to function optimally. Natural vitamins are derived from food sources, while synthetic vitamins are derived from artificial sources. These artificial sources can be drinks, energy bars, pills chewing gum, capsules, etc. Note that synthetic vitamins are different from supplements that are derived from dried food. However, the goal of synthetic vitamins is to copy the functions of natural vitamins in the body. This is poorly done.

Are there Differences Between Natural and Synthetic vitamins

fruit powder veggie powder nutrifusion whole food nutrition

The main difference has to be the difference between the way these vitamins are manufactured. Natural vitamins are made in the body by consuming certain types of food, while synthetic vitamins are made through artificial means. However, chemically there is little difference between the natural vitamins found in plant or animal sources and the ones that are artificially made.

Even with the bit of difference in chemical composition, there is a vast difference in the biological reaction of our bodies to synthetic vitamins. For instance, when you eat plant-based or animal-based food, you aren’t targeting a single nutrient but will consume many nutrients that vitamins would be inclusive. There is an interplay or interaction between these nutrients, allowing your body to absorb these nutrients and use them optimally for the body.

On the other hand, synthetic vitamins contain a single type of nutrient, and studies show the body might find it hard to absorb these synthetic vitamins. Some vitamins may be easily absorbed than others. Certain studies show that the body easily absorbed natural vitamin E than artificial vitamin E. The expert scientific researchers at essay writing service uk support this study

Conflicting Reports on the Functioning and Absorption of Synthetic Vitamins

  • For Multivitamins, some reports claim that it helps in reducing heart diseases and the risk of cancer. Other words claim it doesn’t reduce heart diseases and is more likely to increase the chances of getting cancer. A five-year study on the benefits of high-dose multivitamins for the heart revealed would not improve the heart’s Furthermore, some research shows that multivitamins had positive effects on memory. However, other studies thoroughly debunked it after carrying out a 12-year study.
  • Vitamin B, on the one hand, is touted to increase brain function. But, on the other hand, such reports are described as merely speculative as vitamin B supplement doesn’t have any positive benefits for the brain.
  • Vitamin D supplements have also become subjects of great scrutiny among scientists. Natural vitamin D has excellent effects on health and immunity, but scientists disagree about if vitamin D supplements have the same effect. Also, vitamin D helps in keeping bones healthy and strong. In addition, it helps in improving brain capacity and reduces the risk of cancer. Current studies have not reached a conclusive report of vitamin D supplements have such an effect yet. However, scientists agree that when you take vitamin D supplements with calcium, you can enjoy a healthier bone structure as an adult.

This summarizes the problem with a vitamin supplement. They could be effective, but they might need to be taken alongside other supplements. So, don’t buy a supplement on your own. Always do so upon a prescription.

How to Identify If Your Vitamin Supplement is Natural or Artificial

The obvious answer to this would be to check the label. However, if you don’t know what to look for, there is no use looking at the label for hints. When you are checking the label, do the following

  • When the manufacturer writes 100% natural. Go further to check the ingredient deck whether it is indicated that the manufacturer’s natural is plant-based or synthetic
  • Find the source of food to see if any food type is mentioned. If there is a list of food, then the supplement may be natural. If there isn’t, the supplement is artificial (Remember many supplement companies “cheat” and do not disclose or misrepresent the truth.
  • When you see salt forms such as acetate, chloride, hydrochloride, etc., know the supplement is artificial as manufacturers use salt to stabilize synthetic supplement
  • When you see the letters DL before a nutrient, such supplement is synthetic.

 

bio

Emily Harrinson is one of the most influential editors who work for a London big company. She has been with this big company since 2006. Emily is also a writer who had written essays for an essay writing service uk. She has also advised a cheap coursework writing service. She loves reading books, listening to music, and playing sports. She radiates positivity.

 

NutriFusion

Natural ingredients, no complicated chemical substances, squeaky clean label, zero synthetics, and rich in antioxidants and natural nutrition- ditch those detox and quick weight-loss gimmicks and get your glow on through real food goodness.

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient dense for when you do not have access to fresh produce…and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blends. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods.

NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

Do You Need Vitamin D Supplements?

in ,

There has been a spike in the number of people taking high-dose Vitamin D supplements and when we say high dose, this means intake of more than 1,000 IU. Deficiency in vitamin D can be a factor for increasing your risk to various health issues like depression, type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and bone fractures to name a few. And due to these worrisome risks, there has been a reported increase in vitamin D screening and use of the supplement for older adults beyond the age of 60.

A Doctor’s Take on Vitamin D

According to an associate professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine, Dr. Audrey Chun, “Having low or deficient levels is not part of normal aging, however, it is very common.” She says that the reason behind it is that as people grow older, the less time they spend under the sun which helps to stimulate specialized cells underneath the skin to create vitamin D. Add to this, as we grow older, these specialized cells also become less efficient in the production of vitamin D.

What Scientific Evidence Suggests

Ok, so we have an increasing number of people who have low vitamin D levels which leads to supplementing their diet with said nutrient. This boils down to the ever-important question, is it working? How do we know it’s working? How can we say it’s working?

So, let’s go back to the reasons why people who are deficient in said vitamin want to supplement it in their diet. Essentially, they want their risk factor for diabetes, depression, bone fractures, and other health issues related to low vitamin D to go down, right? Right!

In a review of a variety of clinical trials that studied more than 80,000 individuals with an average age of 66, they found that intake of vitamin D consecutively for a year did not lead to a significant decrease in their risk for low vitamin D related health issues—no significant decrease in risk for stroke or heart attack. And these studies were published in JAMA cardiology.

In another study on 25,000 people, 50 years and older, who had continuously supplemented with Vitamin D for over 5 years did not show any correlation with a decreased incidence of cardiovascular problems or cancer. More importantly, even those people who had low vitamin D levels to start off did not reap any benefit from supplementation.

The majority of people take vitamin D supplements to promote bone health. Sadly, in an analysis of 81 studies published in 2018 showed no evidence that intake of vitamin D supplements led to fracture and fall prevention.

Get Your Vitamin D Naturally

The population can meet normal vitamin D levels without having to supplement. Natural vitamin D can come from a 15-minute sunshine exposure or it can also come from yummy sources like canned tuna, sardines, egg, salmon, and fortified foods like orange juice, cereal, and milk.

Lastly, too much vitamin D is not good or recommended because it may make you more prone to kidney stones.

Inspired by www.consumerreports.org

Add Natural Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 to Your Products

GrandFusion® has developed a process to naturally stabilize and concentrate vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 in shiitake mushrooms. Almost all our fruit and vegetable powders contain the shiitake mushrooms to get the vitamin D2 or D3 in every application. Interested in learning more? Check out products page and all our products containing Vitamin D.

[fusion_button link=”/products” text_transform=”” title=”” target=”_self” link_attributes=”” alignment=”left” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” color=”default” button_gradient_top_color=”” button_gradient_bottom_color=”” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” type=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” size=”” stretch=”default” shape=”” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]View Products[/fusion_button]

 

Supplements or Whole Foods: Which Has Best Long-Term Health Benefits?

in ,

People turn to supplements because they contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in a single dose or pill form. And with just one gulp, whether they are hungry or not hungry, have an appetite or not, can still enjoy their daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Another reason for supplements is they that contain all the potent phytophenol that vegetables and fruits of all colors can contain, and this is undeniably more “palatable” for people who don’t like their veggies.

However, emerging research shows that nutrients coming from whole foods have better long-term health benefits. In fact, vitamins in a pill form may not have as many protective benefits as its whole food counterpart.

Supplements vs. Whole Foods

Hands down, supplements DO give health benefits and may have a positive effect on all-cause mortality primarily due to the nutrients they contain. However, all the positive health benefits may partly or largely depend on where you get these nutrients.

In fact, a cancer epidemiologist of Tufts University, Fang Fang Zhang cited that “while supplement use contributes to an increased level of total nutrient intake, there are beneficial associations with nutrients from foods that aren’t seen with supplements.”

Whole Foods for The Win With The Best Long-Term Health Benefits

It was seen that minerals and vitamins coming from whole food sources were linked to a lowered risk of death and heart-related problems.

In the study conducted by Zhang, it was done on a total of 30,000 plus people whose vitamin intake were recorded. Proper levels of copper, zinc, vitamin K, and A were linked to a decreased risk of heart diseases. But the huge eye-opener for them came when the sources for these vitamins were traced, and the results hinged on the sources of these nutrients.

Finally, Zhang concluded that those individuals who got their vitamins from supplements resulted in no reductions to their risk of heart disease. But, for those who got their nutrients from whole foods, enjoyed a lowered risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as all-cause mortality risk. Therefore, where you get your vitamins is crucial to your long-term health benefits.

It Pays to Be Health Conscious

According to Zhang’s analysis of the data from a Gallup 2013 poll, showed that as much as 51.2% of Americans take dietary supplements and as much as 38.3% took them within the last 30 days. Although supplements may not have equal nutritive value to its whole food counterpart, the regimen of taking it is linked to positive traits like the person’s high level of health consciousness. As a result, they are less likely to be obese, drink heavily, or smoke—meaning they are conscious when it comes to lifestyle choices.

Zhang reported that those people who do take supplements generally had a higher baseline nutrient intake than those who did not supplement their diets.

To drive the point of the study once again, multivitamins may be convenient, but they fall short on providing the needed long-term health benefits—as hoped. Thus, there are no shortcuts when it comes to eating right, but the health benefits do accumulate even when you start with a vegetable or two.

Inspired by www.consumerreports.org

Food Companies Enrich Processed Products with Real Vitamins From Fruits & Veggies

NutriFusion® developed our fruit and vegetable powders to specifically concentrate and stabilize the naturally occurring vitamins in minerals in fruits and vegetables. We knew that this ingredient would be incredibly important to the health of our future generations as more and more people opt for quick, convenient, and packaged options. Food, beverage, and supplement companies have now been adding our fruit and vegetable powders to their products for over 10 years. Interested in learning more about our GrandFusion fruit and vegetable powders? Download our guide to creating fuctional foods and beverages.

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

Food Vs Supplements: Which Way is Best to Get Nutrition?

in ,

Studies and research have shown that nutrients gained from whole foods are associated with a decreased risk of death. On the other end, an excessive intake of specific supplements has a detrimental effect on health.

When we talk of dietary supplements, we are focused on enzymes, amino acids, herbs, minerals, and vitamins. It has been noted that the intake of supplements helps boost your nutrient intake. As a result, a lot of health suppliers provide these supplements in a variety of forms like liquid powders, capsules, and tablets for more efficient delivery of nutrients.

When it comes to nurturing your body, supplements should NOT replace complete meals. That’s why they are called supplements because they are there to supplement your diet and not as a substitution for complete whole foods.

Data on U.S. Supplement Consumption

In 2009, a survey showed that 65% of the U.S. population takes dietary supplements. And by 2018, it jumped to 75%, which shows that consumer confidence and trust in nutritional supplements is growing strong. This led researchers to hypothesize that wellness and modern-day health regimen will always have dietary supplements as its mainstay.

Amongst the most popular supplements are calcium and vitamin D as well as other vitamin and mineral supplements. However, in the past five years, botanicals and herbals are gaining traction, especially turmeric supplements. According to surveys, the main reason people take dietary supplements is to support overall health and wellness.

Why High Intake of Supplements Can Harm You

There are many reasons why taking too much of a supplement can be harmful. One reason is that they may contain strong biological effects that can be harmful or life-threatening, especially when taken with other medication or supplements. Example, iron, vitamin D, and A can be unhealthy when taken in high amounts. Excessive calcium can cause palpitations and other muscle issues.

Dr. Zhang has stated that the studies they have conducted showed an increased level of nutrient intake with supplement use. However, the nutrients with beneficial health associations were from whole foods, which are not entirely seen in supplement intake. Foods as a source of nutrition trumps supplement intake.

Nutrients from Food Vs Supplements

Although many people use supplements, a recent study has shown that there is no advantage or decreased risk of premature death and heart diseases when you supplement with vitamin C, calcium, vitamin D, and multivitamins. But, folic acid and B-vitamin complex has shown to be effective in risk reduction of cardiovascular disease.

While ongoing studies are still being conducted on supplement benefits, some studies provide evidence of the harmful effect of excessive nutrient intake. Overconsumption of supplements has been linked to the risk of certain cancers. Here are the key findings:

  • Excess calcium supplement intake of at least 1,000-mg daily is associated with early death due to cancer.
  • Sufficient intake of vitamins K and A as well as zinc from food is linked to lower chances of dying from heart problems.

Inspired by www.medicalnewstoday.com

GrandFusion is the Best For Both Worlds

Supplement manufacturers are probably getting a little worried about some of the negative studies coming out with over supplementation and lack of complete nutrient complexes from whole foods. Well, worry no more! GrandFusion fruit and vegetable powders are here to the rescue! With our nutrient powders, you can add complete vitamin and mineral complexes from whole fruits and vegetables to your products & supplements. With only 225mg of fruit & veggie powder, you can add 50% daily value of 12 different vitamins! Are you interested in taking your supplements plant-based or just switching to real nutrients from real food? Contact us today to learn more!

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

Food Premix Market Update & Key Findings

in , , ,

Worldwide, we are witnessing a surge in the popularity of the food premix market. The global market is foreseen to have a 5.6% growth increase during 2017-2026. The market is expected to exceed $2 billion in revenue. The surge of nutrient premix consumption, for example, amino acid-based formulas in baby food show the growing preference of consumers for nutritional fortification. The demand for nutritional fortification has had a constant growth.

The growth is driven by the high rates of micronutrient deficiency diseases found in all populations worldwide. These diseases are great factors for cases of malnutrition. Maize, sugar, wheat, vegetable oils, and flour are the types of food products that are fortified with vitamins and minerals that help ensure better health.

Fact.MR is a market research firm that offers customized market research reports. 5 things to take away from the FactMR’s food premix market update report:

1.    Premix that will help manage weight

Customers will continue to prefer food premix that can offer energy and weight management. Consumers are very concerned with ailments such as obesity. Fruits and vegetables have been proven time and time again to help with energy and weight management. GrandFusion vitamins and minerals are essential to creating products that can achieve these results for consumers.

2.    Premix has a small cut in the revenue pie

During the forecast period, food premix accounts for the least in the food market revenue share. Food and beverages will most probably remain dominant applications to food premix. Although, in nutritional improvement programs sales of food premix will have a similar CAGR in beverage and food.

3.    The amino acid, a precursor to protein, is the top premix preferred ingredient

The top preferred ingredient in food premix will remain to be Amino acids. The market revenue share for vitamins and minerals will remain significant, the share will be over 33% from 2017 to 2026. Nucleotide sales will be the fastest expansion of sales in terms of value in the market through 2026.

4.    North America and Europe are the top in the premix market

Food premix’s largest market will continue to be North America followed by Europe in terms of volume and value. Western economies that have an aging population, for example, Germany, the U.K., U.S., and Italy, will have an ongoing demand for food premix. These nations focus most on being healthy by regularly exercising, maintaining good diets, and leading active lifestyles. Because of these priorities, these nations will always have a strong demand for premix.

5.    North America and Europe account for more than half of premix revenue

In Europe and North America, sales of food premix revenues will together account for over three-fifths of the market’s share. The market in APEJ, in addition, is set to have a somewhat faster expansion compared to Europe. Although it will not account for as much in comparison to market revenue share.

6.    Powdered food premix is most in-demand worldwide

Worldwide it is expected that powdered form of food premix will be the most looked for among consumers. The sales of powder food premix will always have a larger revenue compared to revenues from liquid food premix. Powdered premixes are much easier to work with and it’s one of the key reasons we developed GrandFusion fruit and vegetable powders the way we did. With such a small concentrated amount of powder, you can add up to 21 vitamins and minerals all from plants. Consumers benefit and processors are able to create products that are better for you.

Inspired by www.globenewswire.com

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing