Advantages & Disadvantages of the Alkaline Diet

The alkaline diet is an alternative diet that attempts to correct the body’s pH by emphasizing foods that have alkalizing reactions in the body. Although few medical studies have linked the alkaline diet to specific health benefits, proponents claim that the diet treats a variety of conditions from digestive problems to cancer. For best results, talk to your dietician before undergoing a drastic change in your eating habits.

Proponents of the alkaline diet claim that certain foods lead the body to become overly acidic. These acidic foods – such as sugar, caffeine, animal protein and processed foods – are kept to a minimum of 25 percent or less of your total caloric intake, while alkalizing foods – including fruits, leafy greens and root vegetables – should make up the remaining majority of your consumption. Despite its claims, the alkaline diet has produced few studies in support of its methodology. The body has multiple mechanisms for correcting your pH to the ideal levels of 7.35 to 7.45, registered dietitian Stephanie Vangsness of The Brigham and Women’s Hospital explains.

Advantages

According to the Wolfe Clinic website, which promotes the diet, when the body is acidic it resorts to leaching minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium from vital organs. In this state, your saliva, muscles, bones and teeth may deteriorate, causing a variety of negative symptoms, such as muscle cramps, twitches, electrolyte deficiency and brittle bones. Supporters of the alkaline diet purport that reducing your intake of acidifying foods and increasing your intake of alkalizing foods can help reverse symptoms caused by acidity. Despite the lack of mainstream medical evidence, the alkaline diet may provide many nutritional benefits by supporting the consumption of foods that are generally considered healthy, such as vegetables, root crops, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, green tea and lean proteins such as fish and eggs.

Disadvantages

Vangsness advises against the alkaline diet because it promotes the exclusion of some healthy foods. Certain fats and oils that are restricted from the alkaline diet can provide essential fatty acids, which are required to maintain immunity and make healthy cells. Beans and legumes are also discouraged, limiting your intake of helpful phytonutrients that may boost the immune system and lower your risk of cancer.

Safety Concerns

Talk to your doctor before adopting an alkaline diet to reduce the risk of malnutrition and other negative effects. Because of the lack of scientific evidence, the alkaline diet may not be appropriate or safe for all people, and it is generally suggested that you make necessary concessions as your body requires.

Grape Seed Extract with Resveratrol Health Benefits

Grape seeds contain high concentrations of important nutrients. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, flavonoids and OPCs--oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes, as well as linoleic acid--an essential fatty acid--are constituents of grape seeds, while resveratrol, a similar compound to OPCs, is mainly found in grape skins, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Grape seed extract with resveratrol has become a popular supplement used to assist health and healing in a variety of conditions.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

One of the most well-documented uses for grape seed extract is in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that leads to pooling of blood in the legs with accompanying pain and swelling. The OPCs in grape seed extract have been found to be effective at relieving these symptoms. A study of 40 patients with chronic venous insufficiency published in the 2002 journal Phytotherapy Research found improvement in symptoms after one month of treatment with grape seed extract.

Ulcerative Colitis

Resveratrol showed marked ability to inhibit ulcerative colitis in mice within seven days in a study published in the May 2010 Archives of Medical Research. Markers of inflammation were seen to decrease, and anti-inflammatory markers were seen to increase. The December 2008 Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology reported on the effect of grape seed extract on ulcerative colitis in rats and found it to inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration, suppress the inflammatory response and promote repair of damaged tissue.

Cholesterol

A study of the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins on rats fed a high-fat diet for 13 weeks found that the grape extract normalized triglyceride and LDL--low density lipoprotein--levels. The study, published in the September 2009 International Journal of Obesity, concluded that proanthocyanidins have a powerful effect on prevention and treatment of lipid-induced cardiovascular disease.

Breast and Prostate Cancer

In a study on breast cancer published in the July 2010 Journal of Nutrition, reseveratrol was found to prevent silencing of the tumor-suppressing protein BRCA1. The May 2010 journal Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis reported on a study that examined the effect of grape seed extract on prostate cancer and found it to have an inhibitory effect on cell migration. The researchers concluded that grape seed extract had potential for preventing metastasis of prostate cancer.

Hypertension

Resveratrol was found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and prevented the buildup of smooth muscle cells in the lining of pulmonary arteries in rats given 25 mg per kg of body weight per day. The study was reported in the September 2009 journal Hypertension. The researchers concluded that resveratrol may contribute to the prevention of pulmonary hypertension.

5 Tropical Fruits That Can Change Your Life

In many parts of the country, snow and ice still have a deathgrip on the local climate. In my neck of the woods, we still have massive piles of ice and snow on every street corner and at the end of every driveway. So it’s only natural that many of us are looking for a way to bust through the winter blues.

One thing that often works is to enjoy more tropical fruits, such as mangoes, bananas, coconuts, or papayas. These fruits are usually available all winter long, and are like an early preview of summer’s warmth. But beyond these warm feelings, many tropical fruits have far more powerful abilities.

Did you know that one tropical fruit can be used as a substitute for IV fluid in an emergency? Or that another tropical treat has been shown in studies to kill cancer cells? Aside from their health benefits, there are plenty of other reasons to love the following tropical fruits…and some of these benefits will definitely surprise you.

1. Coconuts

You might think of coconut as the sweet topping on German chocolate cake, but this fruit has plenty of health benefits as well. Coconut water has a ton of health benefits. It’s a sterile source of clean water, useful for survival hydration. On top of this, coconut water has the same level of electrolytic balance human blood. In the Pacific Theatre during World War II, coconut water was frequently used in the field as an emergency plasma transfusion for wounded combatants.

Coconut water makes a better sports drink than commercial products, as it is lower in salts and sugars and higher in potassium. And, of course, the flesh and oil of the coconut is also edible and good for you!

2. Mangosteen

The mangosteen is a small fruit with white flesh, popular throughout Asia. One group of scientists has proposed that alpha-mangostin, an antioxidant found only in mangosteen, can cause cell death in leukemia cells, effectively treating the disease. While more research needs to be done, mangosteen is also said to have powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

3. Avocado

You might think of it as a vegetable, but this is actually a fruit. And not just any fruit, but a fruit that has been shown to lower cholesterol. They are also rich in folic acid, which can prevent some kinds of common birth defects. Even more interesting is that avocados are the ultimate life hack fruit: when you eat an avocado with other vegetables, you absorb more nutrients from the meal than you would have from eating the vegetables alone. Top your salad with a few slices of avocado, and you’ll be increasing your intake of vitamins and minerals from the meal.

4. Mango

A single mango will contain half of your recommended daily allowance of both Vitamin A and Vitamin C, as well as some B-Vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, beta-carotene, and…well, maybe it would have been quicker for me to list the few nutrients that this little fruit DOESN’T contain…

I picked up an interesting tip about quickly ripening mangoes from the book “Urawaza”, which I reviewed here recently. If you pick up a mango at the supermarket that is still hard, soak it in simmering water for just 10 minutes to speed up the ripening process. The sooner you can eat one, the sooner you can start to enjoy its beneficial qualities.

5. Longan

Longan berries, native to China, have long been said by Asian herbalists to have relaxing properties, making them the perfect snack to enjoy to lower your stress levels. It is also said to have anti-cancer, antioxidant, and liver-protective properties. The longan contains high levels of iron, potassium, and large amounts of vitamins A and C. Finding them in a form other than fresh at your local market may be tough, but dried and canned longan are also available.

Conclusion

In general, eating more fruits is good for your health. Overall, tropical fruits have been known to reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease. On top of these benefits, a diet rich in tropical fruits ensures that you will have improved digestion and GI function. Best of all, these fruits can neutralize free radicals, protecting you from asthma, joint pain, and the above-mentioned heart and cancer risks.

You are what you eat. If you want to be smart, eat smart, and reach for these tropical fruits the next time you are craving a snack.

How Much Water Should You Drink Every Day?

Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.

How much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.

Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.

Health benefits of water
Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.

How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day.

What about the advice to drink 8 glasses a day?
Everyone has heard the advice, "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day." That's about 1.9 liters, which isn't that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the "8 by 8" rule isn't supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it's easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," because all fluids count toward the daily total.

Factors that influence water needs
You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

• Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 1.5 to 2.5 cups (400 to 600 milliliters) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, and the duration and type of exercise.
• Intense exercise. During long bouts of intense exercise, it's best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you're finished exercising.
• Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.
• Illnesses or health conditions. When you have fever, vomiting or diarrhea, your body loses additional fluids. In these cases, you should drink more water. In some cases, your doctor may recommend oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. You may also need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions, such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases, may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.
• Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink about 10 cups (2.3 liters) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume about 13 cups (3.1 liters ) of fluids a day.

Beyond the tap: Other sources of water
You don't need to rely only on what you drink to meet your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake. For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are 90 percent or more water by weight.

In addition, beverages such as milk and juice are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is still your best bet because it's calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.

Staying safely hydrated
Generally, if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and your urine is colorless or light yellow — and measures about 6.3 cups (1.5 liters) or more a day if you were to keep track — your fluid intake is probably adequate. If you're concerned about your fluid intake or have health issues, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. He or she can help you determine the amount of water that's right for you.

To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. It's also a good idea to:

• Drink a glass of water or other calorie-free or low-calorie beverage with each meal and between each meal
• Drink water before, during and after exercise

Although uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners who drink large amounts of water, are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who eat an average American diet.

Potential Benefits of Multivitamins

Multivitamins are dietary supplements that come in tablet, capsule or pill form and provide you with an array of essential vitamins and minerals. You can find them in most grocery stores, as well as health food stores. Taking a multivitamin every day may provide several health benefits. Before taking vitamins, consult your doctor; pre-existing medical conditions or medications you are taking can affect how your body responds to multivitamins.

Illness Recovery

When you're sick, your body isn't functioning at its peak performance and may not be able to use or get all the vitamins and minerals it needs to quickly recover, according to the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus. The institutes say a multivitamin taken during this time can help immediately provide your ill body with the nutrients it needs to recuperate.

Dietary Restrictions

Strict dieters--for example, those consuming 1,600 calories a day or fewer--or those following a vegan or vegetarian diet may not be able to get all the minerals and vitamins they need through food intake alone. A multivitamin can help ensure proper nutrition, according to the Mayo Clinic. For example, some vegans may have low levels of certain B-vitamins that are chiefly found in animal products but can get the vitamins through a daily multivitamin.

Prenatal Health and Lower Birth Anomalies

A pregnant woman has much higher vitamin needs than a non-pregnant woman because she's supporting the life and nutritional needs of her baby. Thus, a doctor may suggest a pregnant woman take prenatal multivitamins that provide a wide array of vitamins designed to provide the nutrients needed by the woman and the baby. Regular use of a prenatal multivitamin can help decrease the risk of numerous congenital anomalies in the baby, according to an August 2006 meta-analysis published in the "Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada," a peer-reviewed medical journal that focuses on women's health, obstetrics and gynecology. The meta-analysis analyzed the results of 41 studies.

Improved Cognitive Functioning

As people age, their cognitive functioning may decrease. A May 2007 medical research study published in "Nutrition Journal" analyzed 910 women and men ages 65 or older. The study found that the use of a multivitamin helped reduce the risk of micronutrient deficiencies and also helped to improve cognitive functioning in some of the group's subsets, including those ages 75 and older.

Improved Energy

Multivitamins contain several vitamins, such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, that may help improve your body's energy. Arizona State University's wellness office suggests students take a daily multivitamin for improved energy and a better physical response to the various stress factors encountered in college life.

Health Benefits Of Caffeine

A cup of coffee in the morning may pack more than just an energy boost.
More and more research is emerging to suggest that there may be several health benefits associated with drinking this dark black beverage, from helping prevent diabetes to lowering the risk of liver disease.

In 17th century England the popularity of the drink gave rise to a number of coffee houses which were dubbed 'penny universities', because with one penny a person could buy a cup of coffee and have intellectually stimulating conversations with other people.1

Nowadays, with over 400 billion cups consumed every year, coffee is one of the world's most popular drinks. But what makes it special?

Nutritional breakdown of coffee

Calorie count

Regular black coffee (without milk or cream) has a very low calorie count. A typical cup of black coffee only contains around 2 calories.

However, if you add sugar and milk, the calorie count can shoot up.


Antioxidants
Coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S., according to researchers at the University of Scranton.
Joe Vinson, Ph.D., lead author of the study, said that "Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close.
The authors of the study emphasize moderation, stating that only one or two cups a day appear to be beneficial.
Caffeinated and decaffeinated versions provided nearly the same levels of antioxidants.

Health benefits of coffee

The potential health benefits associated with drinking coffee include: protecting against type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, liver disease, liver cancer, and promoting a healthy heart.3

Coffee may protect against type 2 diabetes

Coffee may be protective against type 2 diabetes. Researchers at UCLA identified that drinking coffee increases plasma levels of the protein sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG controls the biological activity of the body's sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) which play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.4

Dr. Simin Liu, one of the authors of the study, said that an "inverse association" exists between coffee consumption and risk for type 2 diabetes.

Increased coffee consumption may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes - the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers gathered data from three studies. In these studies, the diets of the participants were evaluated using questionnaires every 4 years, with participants who reported having type 2 diabetes filling out additional questionnaires. In total, 7,269 study participants had type 2 diabetes.

The researchers found that the participants who increased their coffee intake by more than one cup a day (on average, an increase of 1.69 cups per day) over a 4-year period had an 11% lower type 2 diabetes risk over the subsequent 4 years, compared with people who did not change their intake.

Coffee may help prevent Parkinson's disease

Researchers in the U.S. carried out a study that assessed the link between coffee consumption and Parkinson's disease risk. The authors of the study concluded that "higher coffee and caffeine intake is associated with a significantly lower incidence of Parkinson's disease".5

In addition, caffeine in coffee may help control movement in people suffering from Parkinson's, according to a study conducted at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC) that was published in the journalNeurology.6

Coffee may lower the risk of liver cancer

Italian researchers found that coffee consumption lowers the risk of liver cancer by about 40%. In addition, some of the results suggest that if you drink three cups a day, the risks are reduced by more than 50%.7

The lead author of the study, Dr. Carlo La Vecchia, from Milan's Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, said "our research confirms past claims that coffee is good for your health and particularly the liver."

Coffee may help prevent liver disease

Regular consumption of coffee is linked to a reduced risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare autoimmune disease of the bile ducts in the liver.8
In addition, coffee consumption can lower the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver for alcohol drinkers by 22%, according to a study at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, California, USA.

The authors of the study concluded that the results "support the hypothesis that there is an ingredient in coffee that protects against cirrhosis, especially alcoholic cirrhosis."9

Research published in the journal Hepatology in April 2014, suggests that drinking coffee is linked to a decreased liver cirrhosis death risk. The researchers suggest that drinking two or more cups of coffee every day can reduce the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%.16

A study published in the journal Hepatology indicates that drinking decaf coffee also lowers liver enzyme levels, suggesting the benefits are not linked to caffeine content.

Coffee may be good for the heart

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard School of Public Health, concluded thatdrinking coffee in moderation protects against heart failure. They defined 'in moderation' as 2 European cups (equivalent to two 8-ounce American servings) per day.10
People who drank four European cups on a daily basis had an 11% lower risk of heart failure, compared to those who did not.

The authors stressed that their results "did show a possible benefit, but like with so many other things we consume, it really depends on how much coffee you drink."

The Health Benefits of Drinking Water

Water is the main component of the human body. In fact, the body is composed of between 55 and 78 percent water, depending on body size. Adequate and regular water consumption has numerous health benefits. As an added plus, it has no calories, fat, carbohydrates or sugar.

The amount of water you consume everyday plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body. Experts recommend drinking eight to 10 glasses of water each day to maintain good health.Water helps keep the body well hydrated, which is essential because almost every cell in the body needs water to function properly.

Health benefits of drinking water.

1. Relieves Fatigue

If you often feel tired, there is a high chance that it could be due to inadequate consumption of water which makes the body function less efficiently. In fact, fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration.

2. Improves Mood
Research indicates that mild dehydration (even one or two percent lower hydration level of hydration than optimal) can negatively affect your mood and ability to think.

3. Treats Headaches and Migraines
If you have a headache or migraine, the first thing that you can do to get some relief is drink plenty of water. Headaches and migraines are often caused by dehydration.

5. Aids Weight Loss
In a clinical trial, scientists found that drinking two eight-ounce glasses of water prior to meals can help suppress appetite and hence support your weight loss efforts. When you drink water, it fills your stomach and reduces the tendency to eat more.

6. Flushes Out Toxins
Water is an excellent detoxifier as it helps flush out toxins from your body and get rid of waste primarily through sweat and urine.
It also promotes kidney function and reduces kidney stones by diluting the salts and minerals in urine that cause kidney stones.

7. Regulates Body Temperature

An ample amount of water in the body also helps regulate body temperature. The thermal properties of water and its ability to release heat from the body when sweat evaporates from the surface of the skin greatly helps maintain an even body temperature.

8. Promotes Healthy Skin

Water keeps the body well hydrated and improves capillary blood flow, which promotes healthier and younger-looking skin. Water helps replenish skin tissues, moisturizes skin and increases the elasticity in your skin.

9. Relieves Hangover

Drinking water works as a simple yet effective way to get rid of hangover as well. Being a diuretic, alcohol causes you to pee much more than you take in. Thus, water helps rehydrate the body and speed up recovery.

10. Beats Bad Breath

Bad breath is a clear sign that you may not be drinking sufficient water. It keeps your mouth moist and washes away food particles and bacteria. It also dilutes the smelly compounds that oral bacteria create.

So, drink sufficient water and also rinse your mouth with water, especially after having a meal or snack to control odors and remove bacteria and food debris stuck between your teeth and gum line.

To conclude, it is essential to make necessary efforts to drink adequate amount of water daily. To derive the various health benefits of water, make sure to drink filtered water. Along with water, also take more fluids and eat more fruits and vegetables that are high in water content.

How to Detox Your Body Naturally

Detoxing is a popular buzzword on the health scene. However, there are two schools of thought on the topic: those who believe you can benefit from doing a detox and those who believe detoxing is just hype.

Our bodies are naturally built to detoxify us: The liver, colon, kidneys, lungs, lymph system and even skin help rid our bodies of toxins. The problem is that in this day and age we are bombarded with so many toxins that our bodies can become less effective at handling toxins and can benefit from outside help.
We're exposed to toxins in a variety of ways: hormones and antibiotics in meat and dairy, chemical additives in packaged foods, mercury and PCBs in fish, chlorine and fluoride in our drinking water, pollution, alcohol and chemicals in beauty products, cleaning products and even scented candles.

Whether we ingest, inhale or slather these chemicals on, our bodies have to process them.

According to the National Liver Foundation, the liver converts the nutrients in our diets to substances the body can use, stores these substances and supplies cells with them when needed. It also converts toxic substances to harmless substances or makes sure they are released from the body. In this way, the body naturally detoxifies itself. If your diet has nutritional deficiencies, your liver will have a more difficult time eliminating toxins, which then increases the toxins produced by your body.

Detoxing: What It Is and How to Do It Naturally
You don't need expensive pills or juice cleanses to detox. Simply eliminating the sources of toxins in your diet and adding in antioxidant and nutrient-dense foods that support your detox organs is enough.

Doing a food detox allows you to effectively reboot your digestive system and support the body's natural detoxification processes.

A three-day detox regimen is long enough to see results. In general, you should eliminate the foods that might be contributing to your toxin load, zapping your energy or backing up your digestive tract, including processed foods, wheat, dairy, meat, alcohol, caffeine, tea and chocolate. In their place, you want to add in fresh vegetables and fruit as well as whole grains, seeds and legumes and, of course, plenty of water.

Three days of a high-fiber, high-nutrient, plant-based diet should leave you with more energy, less bloat, an elevated mood and brighter skin — and could even help you drop a few pounds.

While there are a number of foods that support the detox system, three of the most powerful include:

Dark, leafy greens: Kale, Swiss chard, collards, spinach, dandelion and other dark, leafy greens get their deep, dark-green hue from chlorophyll, an antioxidant with multiple health benefits.

Cruciferous vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower contain isothiocyanates and indoles, which may increase the activity of enzymes that play an important role in the detoxification and elimination of carcinogens.

Turmeric: Studies show this bright-yellow spice to be a potent liver detoxifier and anti-inflammatory, not to mention an antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer agent.

The Health Benefits of Dietary Supplements

While a healthy balanced diet often provides a source of vitamins and minerals, taking dietary supplements on top of your healthy diet may prove beneficial in ensuring your body may be the nutrients it needs each day. Dietary supplements, which are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, are marketed as a solution or preventative measure for a number of disorders, or to supplement nutrients lacking in your diet. To safely reap the benefits of taking dietary supplements, always consult with a physician before taking any supplement to help avoid negative side effects.

Proper Metabolism

After a meal, your body breaks down the carbohydrates, proteins and fats from your meal, and also absorbs the other nutrients in the meal. Absorbing these nutrients partially relies on a number of vitamins -- the B-class vitamins -- that you must consume each day. Supplementing your diet with B vitamins can help prevent the numerous effects of vitamin deficiencies, including skin disorders, joint pain, nerve damage and anemia, according to Colorado State University.

Promotes Tissue Maintenance and Repair

Consuming dietary supplements may also aid in tissue maintenance and repair, processes that occur throughout your life. Your day to day activities put a strain on your tissues, and specialized cells within your body continually produce proteins that make up healthy new tissue to replace old, damaged tissue. Defects in tissue repair and maintenance lead to diseases, such as osteoporosis, that develop from bone wasting that commonly occurs as you age. You can help promote proper tissue growth and bone strength by taking calcium and vitamin

Prevents Disease

The consumption of some dietary supplements may also help prevent cancer. A number of essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E, act as antioxidants in the body. They work to neutralize chemicals called free radicals that cause oxidative damage within your cells. The National Cancer Institute explains that oxidative damage to your cells promotes cancer development. While studies on the effect of antioxidant supplements in preventing cancer in humans have proved inconsistent so far, consuming moderate amounts of antioxidant vitamin supplements may prove beneficial to your health.