by Kate Haisch
In this final part of our series on supplements, we talk about the safety and effectiveness of supplements in treating various health issues.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is commonly used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Clinical studies have consistently reported that supplemental glucosamine is safe.  Research data suggest supplemental glucosamine may help keep joints healthy and prevent cartilage degeneration and treat arthritis.  It may also help relieve pain associated with arthritis and increase joint mobility.  However, results of clinical tests of glucosamine as a medical therapy for osteoarthritis have been conflicting …

by Kate Haisch
If you have a relatively balanced and varied diet then most of your nutrient needs are being met and supplementing with extra vitamins and minerals is unnecessary and may even be unhealthy.
Taking vitamins and minerals in excess may create an unhealthy imbalance in the body, which may be just as unhealthy as not getting enough vitamins and minerals at all.  Oftentimes, the symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiency are the same as toxicity.   It is not true that taking vitamin and mineral supplements can make up for an …

by Kate Haisch
Many people regularly take fish oil supplements to increase their consumption of omega-3 fats. These fats have been proven to reduce the incidence of coronary artery or coronary heart disease.  They have also been found to reduce the development of cardiovascular disease and inflammation.
Fish oil has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the incidence of heart disease by lowering cholesterol.  In addition, fish oil may help control glucose in diabetics.  It also may lower blood pressure, improve rheumatoid arthritis and help reduce risk of death from heart attack.
Omega-3 …

by Kate Haisch
Oftentimes, we find ourselves bombarded with advertisements for weight loss, muscle-building and athletic-performance-enhancing supplements.
Do they really work?  Do they really help people lose weight and build muscle?  Let’s take a look at some of the more popular supplements in the market today.
Chromium
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that appears to have a beneficial role in the regulation of insulin action in the body. There have been some evidence that suggest Chromium may help control diabetes and may lower cholesterol.  Many people use Chromium to help reduce body fat …

by Kate Haisch
Over the years, sales of supplements have steadily increased and billions of dollars have been spent on supplements each year.  Nearly 40% of Americans regularly take some sort of dietary supplement. Do we really know what we are taking? Are supplements safe? In this series of blogs, Nutrition for You discusses the most popular supplements in the market today. We will talk about the pros and cons, which hopefully will help you in making an informed decision.
Are Supplements Safe?
Supplement safety can be difficult to assess. Unlike drugs, …

by Manuel Villacorta
You may have heard the alarming statistics about America’s weight problem: 65% of Americans are obese or overweight.  Ten years ago about 10-15% of the nation was labeled obese today it is 20-29%.   So, what should we do?  Should we wait until a pharmaceutical company discovers a magic pill?  Or should we learn how to eat properly and control our self-destructive behaviors?
Pharmaceutical companies have spent millions of dollars researching the “magic pill.”  Many have been released on the market only to have dire consequences.  These companies propagate the …