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Acrylamide is a chemical used primarily in sewage and wastewater treatment, paper production, plastic manufacturing and the processing of synthetic dyes.  Cigarette smoke is also a major source of exposure.  Acrylamide has been found to cause cancer in animals and is thought to also cause cancer in humans.  Research has also shown this carcinogenic chemical to be prevalent in the standard American diet.

According to the National Cancer Institute, (National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health, 2008)  Acrylamide forms in high amounts in foods cooked at high temperatures (greater than 248 degrees Fahrenheit / 120 degrees Celsius) usually via frying, baking, or grilling – especially foods high in carbohydrates, like potatoes, crackers, breads, dried fruits, even coffee heated to too high a temperature or left on a burner for a long period of time.  Boiling or microwaving foods for short periods of time (in glass, not plastic containers) does not appear to produce as much acrylamide.  Cooking or holding foods at medium heat (120 degrees Fahrenheit) for long periods of time can also increase the production of acrylamide.  Some vegetables high in the amino acid Asparagine, like potatoes, tend to produce high amounts of acrylamide when cooked at high temperatures or for long periods of time.
Trace amounts of acrylamide are in our environment and food supply.  But you can limit your exposure by taking the following steps:

• Don’t smoke or expose yourself to second-hand smoke.
• Avoid foods processed with high heat: chips, crackers, French fries, and deep fried foods.
• Don’t overcook your foods.  Burnt toast, breaded and blackened foods, and char-broiled foods are high in acrylamide.
• Don’t eat foods held at a heated temperature for long periods of time.  Coffee left sitting on a burner for hours, scalloped potatoes sitting on a steam table all through lunch, hash browns sitting under a heat lamp at a breakfast buffet – all sources of acrylamide.
• Store potatoes in a cool, dark place, like a cupboard or pantry, but do not keep them in the refrigerator.  The colder temperatures of the fridge will increase acrylamide production in the potatoes once they’re cooked.  Blanching potatoes before they’re baked or fried (plunging them into boiling water for a few seconds) has also been shown to help decrease the production of acrylamide.

In addition to limiting your exposure, you can improve your chances of combating the detrimental effects of acrylamide and other environmental toxins by supporting your liver and the immune system:

• Get plenty of sleep.  Most people need 6-9 hours per night to maintain good health.
• Drink lots of water – at least 2 Liters each day.  If you drink a 12oz glass of water when you get up in the morning, and one before each meal or snack throughout your day, it’ll be easy to meet this goal.  This will help your body flush out toxins.
• Take a daily antioxidant supplement and support your liver with Milk Thistle extract.  The antioxidant will help your body deal with free radical damage and the Milk Thistle will aid your liver in getting toxins out of your body.

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Milk thistle's antioxidant compounds help support liver function when combined with a healthy lifestyle.*

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If you are looking for the highest quality Vitamin and Mineral Supplements personalized for you, please go to www.personanutrition.com and take their on-line questionnaire providing individualized vitamin and mineral recommendations. Persona is the only Science Based supplement provider on the web today! Take advantage of their knowledge and use it to your health’s benefit!

This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information from this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

Nutritional supplements are exactly that, they are supplementary nutrition, not a substitution or replacement for nutrition.  Vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements function as nutrition boosters and are intended to work with dietary intake(s) as a compliment.  Nutritional supplements can either be stored within your fat cells or excreted daily.  The vitamins and minerals that are stored in your fatty tissue include vitamins A, E, D, and K.  All other vitamins are water soluble and cannot be stored within the body. Nutritional supplements combine with the macro and micro nutrients ingested and act in a synergistic fashion working to increase the body’s utilization of nutrients.  If the body has enough of a certain vitamin or mineral that particular nutritional supplement is not necessary. Our bodies do not need an excess of vitamins or minerals.  Our bodies will excrete any vitamin or mineral that is taken in excess through the urine if that vitamin or mineral is water soluble.  There are certain dangers associated with excessive daily supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals as the body cannot excrete such nutrients through the urine.  The body continues to absorb fat soluble vitamins and minerals as they are ingested, which can lead to toxicity.

Nutritional supplements are necessary for those unable to maintain a balanced diet or that have food allergies, food restrictions or practice a specialized diet in which whole food groups are not eaten. Individuals who are vegan, vegetarian, lactose and dairy intolerant as well as celiac and gluten intolerant should investigate the benefits of nutritional supplementation.  Such demographics have a higher predisposition to dietary and nutritional deficiencies.

Although Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and could potentially cause toxicity in excessive dosages, most individuals require supplemental sources in order to maintain overall mental and physical health.  If you have not considered a daily regime of Vitamin D, speaking with your physician would prove beneficial and would offer the necessary insights into the importance of beginning such supplementation. The minerals calcium and magnesium are also needed by most individuals and should be considered along with Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin B complex and a quality multi-vitamin and antioxidant. The fore mentioned supplements are generally considered an effective and low-cost means to ensure one’s health.

If you are looking for the highest quality Vitamin and Mineral Supplements personalized for you, please go to www.personanutrition.com and take their on-line questionnaire providing individualized vitamin and mineral recommendations. Persona is the only Science Based supplement provider on the web today! Take advantage of their knowledge and use it to your health’s benefit!

This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information from this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

If you are like me, you do your best to eat right, exercise and to take your vitamins.  You understand how important it is to take excellent care of your mind, body, and soul.  You buy healthy food, you stay as active as possible and you buy high-quality vitamins.  You probably know that pairing oil with vegetables helps your body absorb all the good nutrients you eat and that combining cardio with moderate weight lifting is an excellent way to stay fit, but you might not know what to eat and drink to get the most out of your vitamins.

Why Take Vitamins with Orange Juice

Good vitamins are expensive and when I buy them, I do everything I can to make sure my body absorbs them.  Starting with this: I never take my vitamins when I am having coffee.  Coffee acts as an inhibitor.  Any beverage or food containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and soda hinder the benefits of vitamins and minerals.  The chemical properties in caffeine impede their uptake and increase the rate at which they are excreted from the body.  So, please do not swallow your pharmaceutical grade multi-vitamin with your morning joe.  Take them with your OJ.  Citrus, like orange juice, actually increase the effectiveness and uptake of your vitamins and minerals.  Minerals, in general, are absorbed in the highest rates when paired with citrus or acidic foods.

How to Absorb Vitamin Supplements Better

Most vitamins and minerals are absorbed most effectively paired with a balanced meal.  If you are taking a fat soluble vitamin such as Vitamin D, make sure you are eating some fat.  For example, if you prefer to take your vitamins at breakfast and you have invested in a high-quality Vitamin D, make sure you add peanut butter or almond butter to your toast or nuts to your granola.  This effectively increases your body’s utilization of the supplement.  This holds true for Vitamins A, E, K and Coenzyme Q10 too.

In most cases, having food in your belly is a good thing for the maximum utilization of your vitamins, but, there are a few cases when an empty stomach is best.  When taking amino acids, herbal supplements or enzymes, an empty stomach is a good thing.  Most medical professionals agree that the optimal times for taking amino acids, enzymes and herbs would be 30 minutes before a meal or two hours after.  This is ample time for your body to do what it needs to do and for the supplement to do what it is meant to do!

If you are taking any fiber supplements, please do not take your vitamins at the same time.  If you do so, the fiber will increase the motility of your intestines and more likely than not, you will simply pass your vitamins without any uptake at all.  In large doses, calcium and magnesium compete for bioavailability and require separate dosage times.  Both calcium and magnesium are better absorbed with Vitamin D.  Adding dairy to your diet will help increase your body’s utility of calcium and magnesium.

It is actually quite simple to ensure optimum utilization of your vitamins.

1. Remember that Vitamin C will increase the bioavailability of most other vitamins.

2. Caffeine decreases the effectiveness of most vitamins and minerals.

3. Taking your vitamins with a balanced meal is key in most instances.

High-quality vitamins and minerals can do wonders for our bodies.  But they can only do so if we do our part in making that happen.  With these tips you can eat and drink to increase the effectiveness of your vitamins and minerals.  Now that is a tasty way to get healthy!

Unsure which vitamins or supplements you should be taking? When you take the Persona Assessment, a team of nutritionists and doctors will provide a personalized vitamin regimen for your unique health goals and needs.

This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information from this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.