Role Of The Liver In Your Body

1 Carbohydrate metabolism
The liver helps maintain normal levels of glucose in the blood. When blood glucose levels are high, the liver helps change glucose to glycogen. And when blood glucose levels are too low, the liver breaks down glycogen into glucose, so the body is able to use it again. 

The liver also converts some amino acids (products of protein metabolism) and lactic acid, into glucose. It also converts sugars such as fructose (from fruit), and galactose (from dairy) into glucose. It also converts glucose into triglycerides (or fats). 

2 Fat (Lipid) Metabolism
The liver stores some neutral (in terms of ‘good’ fats and ‘bad’ fats) fats, called triglycerides. It also breaks down fatty acids in a process called beta oxidation. And it converts excessive amounts of the product of beta oxidation into ketone bodies. This process is called ketogenesis, and is the goal of the Atkins diet, although having excess ketone bodies in the body is not really healthy. 

The liver also creates lipoproteins, which are used to transport fatty acids in the body to and from the body’s cells. Fatty acids are essential for health, so good liver function supports this aspect too. Lipoproteins also transport triglycerides and cholesterol. Liver cells make cholesterol and use it to make bile salts, which are used in the digestive process. 

3 Protein Metabolism
The liver is essential in protein metabolism, and if it wasn’t for the liver’s role in doing this, we would die in a few days. 

The liver removes an amino acid group so that the proteins can be used for cellular energy production, or converted into fats and carbohydrates. The amino acid group it removes is toxic (ammonia), and the liver changes this into a less toxic product (urea), so that it can be excreted in urine. 

The liver cells also create most blood plasma proteins, which are essential in the body. And the liver can also do a process called transamination. This involves transferring one amino group from an amino acid into something else so that one amino acid can be converted into another. 

4 Liver Detoxification Of Drugs and Hormones
The liver detoxification and excretion (in bile) of drugs such as penicillin and antibiotics, as well as chemically changing or excreting thyroid and steroid hormones, is important to remove them from your body. This includes estrogens. 

5 Excretion of Bile
Bile is used in the digestion of fats, but it is also an excretory product. For example, the breakdown of old red blood cells has a by product, called bilirubin, which is absorbed by the liver, and transported out of the body in bile. In the intestines, bacteria break down the bilirubin, and it is eliminated in the feces. One of the things that bilirubin is broken down into in the intestines in fact gives feces their regular brown color. 

Bile is also a natural laxative, so healthy bile function is involved with healthy bowel function 

6 Creation of Bile Salts
Bile salts are essential for the breakdown and digestion of fats into smaller molecules that the body can use. 

7 Storage
Believe it or not, the liver is quite a storage vessel. As well as glycogen (mentioned above), the liver stores the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as the water soluble vitamin B12. It also stores iron, and releases it into the body when it’s needed somewhere. 

8 Breakdown of old cells
Old red blood and white blood cells and some bacteria are broken down by the liver. 

9 Activation of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones. The skin, liver and kidneys are all involved in the process by which vitamin D is activated.

• Sallow skin – can mean there are drug residues, or waste build up from the liver due to poor liver detoxification and overload
• age spots – waste build up in the liver
• adult acne and uneven skin texture – waste build up from environmental pollutants, poor diet, overburdened liver, and stress – Angyal states that these things can all lead to an increase in the creation of free radicals, which can destabilize cellular membranes
• wrinkles and sagging skin – refined carbohydrates like sugar and flour products, and the above causes of an increase in free radical activity, can affect the collagen and elastin in your skin
• puffy eyes, dark circles under the eyes – this can be caused by allergies, or be a sign that your kidneys aren’t functioning as well as they could
• bad breath – could be a sign of digestive problems or that your body isn’t eliminating toxins efficiently, including through liver detoxification
• psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis – may indicate problems with digestion, allergies, or needing certain nutritional changes including supplements (such as omega 3’s)
• rashes or skin sores that aren’t healing – allergies, or nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin C or zinc

_____________________________________________________________________

* Detoxification Tips
Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments. 

How are we going to do this?
It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean 

Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool. Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination. Also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.

Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural! 

The role of liver detoxification is to help support the liver in its many essential functions, and so improve digestive and overall health. There are many herbs and supplements that help support liver function, but it’s helpful first to understand exactly what the liver does. 

Remember olive oil

Olive oil has many proven health benefits, from neutralising cancer-causing free radicals and preventing heart disease, to strengthening bones and reducing inflammation and healing wounds. And now, it may hold clues to finding treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests.

US scientists have identified a naturally occurring compound in extra virgin olive oil that’s been found to prevent cell damage that leads to dementia in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

The antioxidant compound, called oleocanthal, was found to prevent the destruction of synapses in the hippocampus, the part of the brain involved in learning and memory and the first area to be affected by the disease.

Whether eating more olive oil will protect people from developing Alzheimer’s disease is not clear from the research, but the results could point the way towards developing new drugs to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s, the scientists said.

“The findings may help identify effective preventive measures and lead to improved therapeutics in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr Paul Breslin, of the Monell Chemical Senses Centre in Philadelphia and lead author of the investigation in a statement.

Meanwhile, previous studies have shown that natural compounds such as curcuma, an anti-inflammatory agent found in turmeric, resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, and the herb ginkgo biloba may also ward off Alzheimer’s disease.

Healthy for life Food Pyramid

Refer to the Food Pyramid in our previous post regarding “Boost your diet to defend off the flu”,  that is the Food Guide Pyramid for Malaysian. Bread and cereals have historically formed the broadest rung of the pyramid. Its primary focus is on decreasing the consumption of any kind of fat, while encouraging generous recommendations of grains. The question is who formulated the food pyramid? Like many health campaigns in this nation, the food pyramid has been more politically motivated than based on science.

Referring to Dr.Ray Strand’s book titled “HEALTHY FOR LIFE”,  the Healthy for life Food Pyramid, on the other hand, is science-based and is primarily focus on the consumption of good carbohydrates, good proteins, and good fats. When you look at this new pyramid as below, you will see that the base is built with good carbohydrates such as: fruits and vegetables. You need to be eating eight to twelve servings of whole fruits and vegetables each and every day. This will most likely be the landmark change made to your choice in foods. You will need to reorganize the number and size of your food portions as well as your pantry. Eight to twelve servings may seem like too many, but keep in mind that many of our typical portions actually count for two or more servings.

Remember, carbohydrates are not the problme – processed and high-glycemic carbohydrates are. This change is the most critical aspect of the healthy lifestyles needed to reverse any of the stages of aspect of the healthy lifestyles needed to reverse any of the stages of insulin resistance and allow you to release fat. Processed carbohydrates are your main enemy in achieving your goal of being able to reverse insulin resistance and begin releasing fat. However, eliminating or significantly decreasing all carbohydrates from your diet will create even greater health problems. Good carbohydrates are the main source of our vitamins, antioxidants and minerals as well as the fuel source the body prefers (glucose).

Proteins and Fats make up the second level of the Healthy for Life Food Pyramid. The best protein is found in vegetables, legumes and nuts. These proteins rate the highest because they also contain all of the good fats (omega-3 and monosaturated fats). These foods also contain the phytochemicals and miconutrients your body needs as well as fewer toxins than animal fats. These foods are also low-glycemic foods. The next best protein comes from cold-water fish, which contain high levels of the omega-3 essential fats. The third best source of protein comes from foul, wild game, lean pork, and lean red meats.

Whole grains and whole cereals make up the third level of your new food pyramid. These are not processed carbohydrates, rather, whole rolled-oats, whole wheat, steel-cut oats, barley, whole wheat bread, etc. Dr.Ray Strand has placed them at this level because overall we need to cut down our quantity of these carbs. When we consume these foods, it is critical that they are made from whole grains and not white or wheat flour.

The top of the food pyramid is made up of all the sweets, pastries, cakes, donuts, white bread, white flour, processed rice, bagels, etc. This is logical since all of these foods spike the blood sugar more quickly than even table sugar or candy. These must all be treated like candy.

Proper Balance between Carbohydrates, Fats and Proteins
The balance with which you consume the three major macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins and fats, has been the subject of debate among many of the leading weight loss experts and health care professionals for years. Dr.Strand generally recommend that between 40 to 50% of your calories come from cabohydrates, 30% of your calories come from fat and 20 to 30% of your calories come from protein.

Chnaging the balance of these macronutrients has been the driving theory behind the work of D.Dean Ornish, Dr.Robert Atkins, and Dr. Barry Sears for the past 30 years. The health care community also has its diet recommendations published through the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the US Health Department. Needless-to-say, dietary advice often leaves consummers confused and uncertain as to what is best.

Obviously, since over one-third of the population is presently trying to lose weight and another third is trying to maintain theirs, losing weight is typically the leading considerations in determining which diet is chosen. Be assured The Healthy for Life Program will not only allow you to lose fat effectively but it will also be a healthy diet that is not affected by politics, hype or popular trends.

The most important key to this eating plain is not necessarily the balance between these nutrients; rather its focus is on the quanlity of the individual carbs, proteins and fats you choose to eat. The goal of a healthy eating plain is to eat the foods that provide the body with necessary building blocks to make healthy cells, enhance the body’s natural antioxidant defense system, natural immune system, natural repair system, while providing hormonal balance. Your body not only needs a healthy balance between this maconutrients; t also requires high quality carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Boost your diet to defend off the flu

We seldom think much of the common cough and cold. However, the recent influenza A (H1N1) pandemic made us pay attention to how something that started out like the usual cough and cold can become fatal. At highest risk are those who has a weakened immune system, which bring to attention the importance of keeping our body’s immune system healthy. 

YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
The human immune system consists of acquired and innate immunity. The innate immunity is your first line of defence against harful germs that invade your body. Acqured immunity is what you get after you’ve been vaccinated. By getting vaccinated, your body is able to boost antibodies, identify and attack harmful invaders. Together, the acquired and innate immunity work in tandem to keep you healthy from the inside out. 

Groups that ae high risk for influenza infection:
- Children and the elderly
- Pregnant women
- Healthcare and daycare workers
- Food service handlers 

STRENTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Dietitians have long lauded the benefits of a balanced diet for all aspects of well-being. “Generally, we see people from poor countries succumb to diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and measles due to malnutrition. Hence we know that a healthy diet plays a defining role in the multi-faceted area of health and immunity,” explains Indra Balaratnam, consultant dietitian in private practice.  So, what can you do to ensure your diet helps you to toughen your immune system to better fend off the flu? 

NUTRITION CHECKS AND BALANCE

Start by eating in a balanced way. ” Take a good hard look at your diet and see if in incorporates the four major food groups from the Food Guide Pyramid for Malaysians.” explains Indra. The Food Guide Pyramid for Malaysians consists of:
- Complex carbohydrates: rice, noodles, whole grains, breads, pasta, tubers
- Protein sources: lean meats, seafood, eggs; or vegetarian protein sources such as tofu, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds
- Dairy: milk, yoghurt and cheese
- Vegetables and fruits 

“The reason for ensuring your daily diet has food sources from each group is for essential nutrients to support the complex functions of your body – not just once in a while, but every day,” states Indra. Your approach to nutritional well-being to boost your immune system needs consistency. Nutrition is like a saving account - when you put money into it monthly, it grows and over time, this puts you in a better position financially. If you keep taking money out, eventually your savings will deplete. Financially, you won’t be sound. Your body works the exact same way. Eating proper foods daily will strenthen your nutritional status. Skipping meals or eating low-quality foods will leave you deficient in essential nutrients. Your body’s first line defence system will be the earliest to suffer, leaving you susceptible to the flu. 

FEAST ON FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with fibre, beta caortene (which turns into vitamin A as the body needs it), vitamin C and minerals. Unique to fruit and vegetables are antioxidants, which act as scavengers to neutralise free radical cell damage. Extensive reasearch on high antioxidant intake show benefits in strenthening the immune system. Other studies point towards vitamin C as a strong stimulant of white blood cells to function better. Foremost, flu researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US documented that white blood cells are more efficient at destroying infected cells when subjects had sufficient vitamin C in their diet. 

The recommended dosage is at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits per day. “Many Malaysians still do not meet the recommended intake for a varienty of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis, especially children, teens and young adults,” notes Indra. 

Indra’s top tips to sneak in more fruit and vegetables:
- Stock up on fruit at home or in your office. Snack on them when you’re feeling the need for something sweet.
- Have dishes that are centred around vegetables. Examples are meat and vegetabe stirfries, vegetable egg omelette, vegetable soup, vegetarian dishes, fried rice or noodles with an assortment of vegetables, just to name a few.
- Go for vegetables when you’re in the mood for a light snack. Consider corn on a cob, steamed chickpeas, an assortment of fresh cut vegetables with a dip or a cup of vegetable broth. 

MAKE FRIENDS WITH FRIENDLY BACTERIA
Influenza vaccinations work by including a minute dose of the virus into your body. This stimulates your immune response to build its natural immunity. However, there is a more natural and less invasive method of boosting your immune system. 

“There is promising evidence in research involving probiotics, namely the Lactobacillus Casei Shirota strain(LcS) type, which appeared in Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology in 2002 and 2004,” offers Indra. “The research done on immune-compromised mice showed a decrease in the amount of flu virus in the upper respiratory tract, hence resulting in milder flu symptoms and fewer influenza virus deaths. In both studies, the researchers observed significantly higher activity of natural killer cells at attacking invaing virus-infected cells.” 

Probiotics in general are found in cultured milk products such as Yakult, yoghurt, cheese and fermented beans such as tempeh and miso. 

Therefore, start taking these simple dietary steps towards strengthening your immune system. The three main rules are to eat a sensible varienty of foods, increase your intake of fruit and vegetables and inclue servings of foods with probiotic. As Indra nicely sums it up, “It’s easier than you think!”

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Orange Fever

It’s that time of the year again when you can sink your teeth into segments of sweet, juicy mandarin oranges. Select mandarin oranges that are unblemished and heavy for their size. Avoid those with cuts, soft or mould. High in dietary fibre, vitamins A and C, mandarin oranges are great thirst quenchers during the festival season. Even then, they should be eaten in moderation due to its high sugar content.

Tip: Do not throw away orange peels beacause it can be sun-dried and added in traditional Chinese desserts for its tangy flavour. The peels are also used in traditional Chinese medicine to regulate the qi, enhance digestion and reduce phlegm.

Heavy load on the heart

DECADES of progress in the United States on cutting cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking are being stalled by rising obesity rates, and heart disease will kill around 400,000 Americans this year, experts said.

A study by British scientists found that around half of those deaths could be averted if people ate healthier food and quit smoking, and experts warned there was no room for complacency when it came to heart health risks.

Simon Capewell of the University of Liverpool said recent weight trends were “alarming”, with 1.5 billion adults worldwide expected to be overweight by 2015.

“Although (heart disease) death rates have been falling in the US for four decades, they are now levelling off in young men and women,” he wrote in a study in the World Health ­Organisation’s weekly journal.

“Recent declines in total blood cholesterol have been modest, blood pressure is now rising among women, and obesity and diabetes are rising steeply in both sexes.”

The researchers calculated the number of deaths based on lifestyle trends, taking the year 2000 as a base. They found that almost 200,000 lives could be saved if certain heart risk factors were cut, even modestly.

Two-thirds of American adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese – a condition that increases their risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

But Shanthi Mendis, an expert on chronic disease prevention at the Geneva-based WHO, noted that the US was not alone in facing an obesity epidemic, and said lifestyle choices now directly affected the health of many of the world’s people.

“Worldwide, nearly one billion adults are overweight and, if no action is taken, this figure will surpass 1.5 billion by 2015,” she said in the study.

“By avoiding tobacco, eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity, people can dramatically reduce their risk of developing heart disease, stroke or diabetes.”

The Five Steps of a Breast Self-Exam

Health experts advise women to begin breast self-exams by the age of 20. Women should have a clinical breast exam by a physician every three years until the age of 40. After the age of 40, women should have a clinical breast exam and mammogram every year. It is recommended that women do a breast self-exam about a week after the first day of their period, when breasts are no longer swollen and tender due to hormonal fluctuations.

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here’s what you should look for:

• Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
• Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:

• Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
• A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
• Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

 Step 3: While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

  Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.

Breast Cancer Prevention

There are a number of simple and sensible actions which can reduce the risk of developing this frightening disease. Breast fat stores many of the chemicals and toxins which enter the body. Alarming reports of large concentrations of toxic household cleaners found in woman breast milk shows just how serious this is. Wearing bra can prevent these chemicals from being flushed out of the breast via the lymph vessels. Having these toxins stagnating in breast tissue, could be a major factor in the development of breast cancer.

1. Don’t wear a bra more than 12 hours per day (This section was described in the section on breast cancer, but we feel it is so important, especially for young women, that we repeat it again in this prevention section). The ‘burn the bra’ movement in the 1950’s might have been more therapy than a fashion fad – had it been implemented long term. In their 1995 book “Dressed to kill” the authors investigated 4,500 women in the USA, 1/2 of whom had breast cancer, and the other 1/2 did not. The results are too striking to be ignored:
* 3 out of 4 who wore a bra for 24 hours per day
*1 out of 7 who wore their bra for more than 12 hours
*1 out of 152 who wore their bras for less than 12 hours

In non-bra wearing cultures, the incidence of breast cancer in women is similar to men, and when Maori women converted to bra wearing, their breast cancer incidence became the same as that of European women. So to minimize the risk of breast cancer, wear a bra for less than 12 hours daily.

2. A regular breast massage helps the lymphatic tissue take the toxins away. Using massage oil, gently massage the breasts up and outwards – towards the shoulder and arm pit. You can either do this yourself, or, maybe much more fun – have your partner help you!

3. Pregnancy – Women who have their babies before 25-30 years of age reduce the risk of subsequent breast cancer. If a person has a strong family history of breast cancer, it might be advisable to consider having children earlier in life rather than later if this is feasible and so achieve this protective effect.

4. Under-arm deodorants – the evidence for the role of deodorants in breast cancer is still unclear. In one 2002 study there was no difference between women who shaved their armpits and used deodorants, from those who didn’t. But another study suggested breast cancer at a younger age. Parabens found in deodorants may act like oestrogen and perhaps increase the cancer risk. A study showed 18 out of 20 breast tumors contained the preservative parabens. (However, to be fair, just because parabens is present does not necessarily prove that it caused the cancer.)

5. Breast implants – so far there is no evidence that silicone or other implants increase the risk of developing cancer, although there is some suggestion that the cancer may be more difficult to detect and diagnose.

A remedy for DIABETES

When cooking carb-rich foods, add a little vinegar. Vinegar helps to block digestive enzymes that convert carbohydrate into sugar, thus slowing down the absorption of sugar from a meal into the bloodstream. A study by Italian researchers showed that when healthy subjects consumed about four teaspoons (20 mililiters) of white vinegar as a salad dressing with a meal that included white bread, there was a 30 percent reduction in their glyceamic response, a rise in blood sugar, compared with subjects who had salad with a dressing made from neutralised vinegar.

Be Supplement-Smart

Modern Living comes with a price
Depleted soil conditions, pollution, chemicals, food processing procedures, junk food, medicines like antibiotics, and lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol and lack of exercise – all conspire to deprive us of our essential nutrients.

Anyone unable to have a balanced diet – which includes at lest six fruits and vegetables a day, whole grains, dairy products and small servings of lean meat, poultry or fish, may need daily supplements. There is no one “magic bullet” which contains all the essential nutrients. The ideal foundation for everyday good health includes taking a multivitamin, antioxidant and fish oils, combined with a balanced diet, which includes plenty of pure water.

The main reason for taking supplements is to address any nutritional deficiencies – because many of us rely on fast-food and have no time to prepare well-cooked nutritional meals.

Omega-3 esseital fatty acids (EFAs)

EFAs are essential for proper nervous system and brain function. They can be found in dark oily fish like tuna and salmon, flaxseed oil and pumpkin seeds. Flaxseed oil is nature’s richest source of omega-3 EFA, containing 35 to 65% alpha-linolenic acid. It also contains other fatty acids inlcuding 20% omega 6 linoleic acid and 18% oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega 9 fatty acid. Because it is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, flaxseed oil can help to correct an Omega 3 deficiency, which may be the underlying cause of some chronic skin conditions. It helps to nourish your skin from the inside out and is a favourite of skin and beauty therapists worldwide.

Fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids – sardines, trout, mackerel, anchovies, and tuna are highly recommended. Fish bones from tinned salmon and sardines are also a very good source of calcium. Howere, one would have to eat a lot of such fish to get the right amount of nutrients. Therefore, if one does not consume adequate amounts of fish regurlary, the fish oil supplements may be helpful. Fish oil provides 2 special Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). 

DHA makes up to 25% of the brain’s grey matter and is essential for maintaining a healthy nervours system and mood balance. It is also very important for the health of the eyes  and vision. Recent research suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.

Antioxidants
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced during normal metabolism or as a result of an unhealthy diet or exposure to pollution, tabocco smoke and chemicals. Research shows that they are linked to over 100 different diseases including arthritis, heart disease and even some forms of cancer. Antioxidants, which can neutralise the damaging effects of free radicals, are found naturally in many foods, including fresh, colourful fruits, vegetables and nuts. Common antioxidants include Vitamins A, C, E, betacarotene and trace minerals like Selenium, Zinc and Manganese.

Some experts believe that certain minerals are depleted in our soil, and therefore much of our produce may be deficient in important minerals as well. For example:

• Zinc is important for our immunity
• Chromium aids carbohydrate metabolism
• Selenium is an antioxidant and appears to preserve elasticity in the skin and hair. Selenium is believed to be defcient in most soils worldwide.
• Magnesium  – when we are stressed, magnesium may become depleted, and so a constant supply may be required. Magnesium can be naturally foun in green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

Essential [Including: AO Pro + Chelated Mineral] [84 Tablets / Bottle Price : RM233.00 / set]
		USANA’s Essentials, including AO Pro, are designed to support general health and well-being and to combat the damaging effects of free radicals. Together with Chelated Mineral, the Essentials provide the advanced nutritional foundation that every adult needs every day for lifelong health. Chelated Mineral contains a broad spectrum of minerals including zinc, selenium, magnesium, chromium, iodine, copper, manganese, and vanadium to give your body the elements needed for optimal health. Minerals play many essential roles in the body. Many vitamins and enzymes need a mineral co-factor for proper function.