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Soy Protein Isolate is aspartame free, cholesterol free, ranks #1 in protein digestibility, naturally contains Lecithin, contains all of the essential amino acids our bodies require for optimal function, and contains the most bioactive component of soy protein...Isoflavones. Isoflavones are currently being intensely researched as to the possible positive effects on heart disease, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and breast and prostate cancers.

Although soyfoods are widely recognized for their nutritional qualities, interest in soyfoods has risen recently because scientists have discovered that a soy component called isoflavones appears to reduce the risk of cancer. More research needs to be done to determine exactly how isoflavones work, but it appears that as little as one serving of soyfoods a day may be enough to obtain the benefits of this anticancer phytochemical.





Soy protein exerts several anti-atherogenic effects. First, it decreases LDL-cholesterol levels significantly .Second, it tends to increase HDL-cholesterol levels ; this is rather unique since most dietary interventions such as oat bran intake or decreased saturated fat intake significantly decrease HDL-cholesterol levels. Third, soy isoflavones, plant chemicals unique to soybeans, have antioxidant properties which protect LDL from oxidation . Fourth, soy isoflavones have favorable effects on blood vessel function.

(source:Indiana Soybean Board)



Although soyfoods are widely recognized for their nutritional qualities, interest in soyfoods has risen recently because scientists have discovered that a soy component called isoflavones appears to reduce the risk of cancer. More research needs to be done to determine exactly how isoflavones work, but it appears that as little as one serving of soyfoods a day may be enough to obtain the benefits of this anticancer phytochemical.



Traditional soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk are very high in protein. Tempeh has the highest percentage of protein of the traditional soy products providing approximately 22 grams of protein for each 4 ounce (113 gram) serving. Tofu provides approximately 9 grams of protein for a similar small serving size. The Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein for adult males (aged 25-50) is appoximately 63 grams and 50 grams for adult females (aged 25-50). Soy products can provide a significant portion of one's daily protein needs.



It is important to keep in mind, however, that the balance of amino acids (protein building blocks) in soy is not the same as meat. Because soy foods does not have an ideal balance of amino acids, some experts recommend taking in a little extra soy foods and/or combining soy products or legumes with a whole grain dish at meals where other protein (e.g., eggs, fish) is not eaten. The amino acids in whole grains combine well with amino acids in soy and legumes to make a more ideal balance of amino acids. If a person's diet is reasonably-balanced, however, there is usually no need to be concerned about getting enough protein.

Source:http://www.soyinfo.com/



Vegetarians and health enthusiasts have known for years that foods rich in soy protein offer a good alternative to meat, poultry, and other animal-based products. As consumers have pursued healthier lifestyles in recent years, consumption of soy foods has risen steadily, bolstered by scientific studies showing health benefits from these products. Last October, the Food and Drug Administration gave food manufacturers permission to put labels on products high in soy protein indicating that these foods may help lower heart disease risk.



As with health claims for oat bran and other foods before it, this health claim provides consumers with solid scientific information about the benefits of soy protein and helps them make informed choices to create a "heart healthy" diet. Health claims encourage food manufacturers to make more healthful products. With soy, food manufacturers have responded with a cornucopia of soy-based wares.



No sooner had FDA proposed the health claim regulation, however, than concerns arose about certain components in soy products, particularly isoflavones. Resulting questions have engulfed the regulation in controversy.



This came as no surprise to Elizabeth A. Yetley, Ph.D., lead scientist for nutrition at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition . "Every dietary health claim that has ever been published has had controversy," she says, "even the relationship of saturated fat to a healthy diet."



While the controversy may seem confusing to the consumer giving it casual consideration, a careful review of the science behind the rule reveals a strict divide between what FDA allows as a health claim based on solid scientific research and related issues that go well beyond the approved statements about health benefits of soy protein.

Source:http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/300_soy.html

Hydrolyzed Collagen (Type 1 and Type III) is an incredible multi function product for tendons, ligaments, skin, hair, nails, bones, teeth, energy and fat loss! Collagen is the primary connective tissue protein in your body. The word Collagen is derived from kolla the Greek word for glue. As we age, every year we lose 1% of our collagen content, collagen we need to keep us looking young as well as keeping us healthy and strong. Collagen is the most abundant protein found in our body. Additionally, more then 90% of the collagen found in our body consist of Collagen Type I and III,

A high quality milk protein that is Calcium Rich, manufactured from fresh pasteurized skimmed milk through precipitation of casein followed by neutralization and natural drying, which protects sensitive amino acids. In addition to the protein provided by calcium caseinate, this protein also provides (as the name suggests) the valuable mineral calcium. Calcium is important to bone, tendon as well as muscle growth.



Calcium Caseinate often contains Monosodium Glutimate (MSG), to which many people have an adverse reaction to.

Sodium Caseinate

Sodium Caseinate is a modified protein extracted from milk. It has no odor or taste and is used as a thickening and whitening agent in dairy products. The protein component utilizes emulsification, water absorption, gelling, and stabilization properties. It is used in dairy non-creamers to act as a creamy, white dairy substitute without the lactose that people who are lactose-intolerant cannot digest. Because of its large difference between the “milk derivative” that is sodium caseinate and real cream or milk, it is considered non-dairy. There is controversy whether sodium caseinate still has all the nutritional benefits that milk has because it is non-dairy. It is also a source of free glutamic acid. See monosodium glutamate (MSG).

"CASEIN, AMMONIUM CASEINATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE, POTASSIUM CASEINATE, SODIUM CASEINATE - FOOD RESOURCE - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY." Food Science, Cultural Foods, Glossary, Training, Education Food Resource [http://food.oregonstate.edu/], Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Web. 16 May 2011. .

"Food Additives ~ CSPI’s Food Safety." Center for Science in the Public Interest. Web. 16 May 2011. .

"Products Page." Casein & Caseinates/Prestige Proteins -- Your One Stop Global Source for Casein & Caseinates. Web. 16 May 2011. .

"Vegetarians in Paradise/ Non-dairy Creamers/ Non Dairy Coffee Creamers/Sodium Caseinate." Vegetarians in Paradise Vegetarian/Vegan Los Angeles Internet Magazine. 1 Jan. 2003. Web. 16 May 2011. .

Whey protein is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production. Some preclinical studies in rodents have suggested that whey protein may influence glutathione production and possess anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer properties; however, human data are lacking. The effects of whey protein on human health are of great interest and this protein mixture is being investigated as a way of reducing disease risk, or as a supplementary treatment for several diseases. Whey protein is commonly marketed and ingested as a dietary supplement, and various health claims have been attributed to it in the alternative medicine community. Although whey proteins are responsible for some milk allergies, the major allergens in milk are the caseins.

Proteins (also known as polypeptides) are organic compounds made of amino acids arranged in a linear chain. The amino acids in a polymer chain are joined together by the peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of adjacent amino acid residues. The sequence of amino acids in a protein is defined by the sequence of a gene, which is encoded in the genetic code.[1] In general, the genetic code specifies 20 standard amino acids, however in certain organisms the genetic code can include selenocysteine — and in certain archaea — pyrrolysine. Shortly after or even during synthesis, the residues in a protein are often chemically modified by post-translational modification, which alter the physical and chemical properties, folding, stability, activity, and ultimately, the function of the proteins. Proteins can also work together to achieve a particular function, and they often associate to form stable complexes.[2]



Like other biological macromolecules such as polysaccharides and nucleic acids, proteins are essential parts of organisms and participate in virtually every process within cells. Many proteins are enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions and are vital to metabolism. Proteins also have structural or mechanical functions, such as actin and myosin in muscle and the proteins in the cytoskeleton, which form a system of scaffolding that maintains cell shape. Other proteins are important in cell signaling, immune responses, cell adhesion, and the cell cycle. Proteins are also necessary in animals' diets, since animals cannot synthesize all the amino acids they need and must obtain essential amino acids from food. Through the process of digestion, animals break down ingested protein into free amino acids that are then used in metabolism.



Proteins were first described and named by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius in 1838. However, the central role of proteins in living organisms was not fully appreciated until 1926, when James B. Sumner showed that the enzyme urease was a protein.[3] The first protein to be sequenced was insulin, by Frederick Sanger, who won the Nobel Prize for this achievement in 1958. The first protein structures to be solved were hemoglobin and myoglobin, by Max Perutz and Sir John Cowdery Kendrew, respectively, in 1958.[4][5] The three-dimensional structures of both proteins were first determined by x-ray diffraction analysis; Perutz and Kendrew shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for these discoveries. Proteins may be purified from other cellular components using a variety of techniques such as ultracentrifugation, precipitation, electrophoresis, and chromatography; the advent of genetic engineering has made possible a number of methods to facilitate purification. Methods commonly used to study protein structure and function include immunohistochemistry, site-directed mutagenesis, and mass spectrometry.

In nature, glycerin forms the backbone of fat and oil molecules. The body uses it as a source of energy or as a starting material in making more-complex molecules..



In its common liquid form, glycerol is nonpoisonous, colorless, odorless and sweet tasting and has a high viscosity. Glycerine is an important component of fat and vegoil molecules and phospholipids

Serves as humectant, solvent and sweetener, may help preserve foods.

Solvent for flavors (such as vanilla) and food coloring.

Humectant and softening agent in candy, cakes and casings for meats and cheeses.

Manufacture of mono- and di-glycerides for use as emulsifiers.

Used in manufacture of polyglycerol esters going into shortenings and margarine.

Used as filler in low-fat food products (i.e., cookies).

calls roughage, scientists know as fiber. Fiber is an undigestable complex carbohydrate found in plants. Fiber is not a single food or substance. Fiber in itself has no calories because the body cannot absorb it. Therefore, high fiber foods low in fat are low in calories such as fruits and vegatables. Fiber can be divided into two categories according to their physical characteristics and effects on the body: Water insoluble and water soluble. Each form functions differently and provides different health benefits. Insoluble fibers, such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lingnin, do not dissolve in water. Soluble fibers, such as gum and pectin, do dissolve in water.



Many health experts are advising people of all ages to consume more dietary fiber. Much research suggest that fiber may prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.



source: www.jhbmc.jhu.edu

FDA declared that polydextrose can be called fiber. Poly-what? Polydextrose is made from glucose, sorbitol (a sugar alcohol), and citric acid. It's what puts the fiber in Fruity Pebbles (not actual pebbles). Polydextrose received FDA approval because it mimics some attributes of dietary fiber: it isn't absorbed in the small intestine, and it increases stool weight. Polydextrose mainly bulks up foods so they're not as high in calories. However, there's no research to prove that polydextrose is as beneficial as the fiber found in whole foods.



See our Blog: http://blog.foodfacts.com/index.php/2009/11/23/food-companies-are-jumping-on-the-fiber-bandwagon/#more-1196

The natural, cream-colored vegetable fat extracted from cocoa beans during the process of making CHOCOLATE and COCOA POWDER. It's used to add smoothness and flavor in some foods (including chocolate) and in making cosmetics and soaps.

Lactitol has a sweetness profile and physical properties similar to those of sucrose. It can successfully replace sucrose in many applications, offering a mild sweetness with no after-taste. With a relative sweetness value of 0.4 times that of sucrose, lactitol is ideal where bulking with a lower sweetness is required. For increased sweetness, lactitol can also be blended with more intense sweeteners

Lactitol is one of the reduced calorie sweeteners listed in the European Union (EU) Sweetener Directive, and is approved in many other countries including the USA, Canada and Japan.



Foods containing lactitol can offer a number of health benefits, including a reduction in calories, tooth friendliness and suitability for diabetics.

Water is the most abundant nutrient in our body and plays an important transmission function in every body cell and tissue. Sixty percent of our body weight is water. The fact that you can live without food for a long period of time, even months, but live only for a few days without water is true. Under normal conditions, the body releases about one quart of water daily. Therefore, replacement to equal the losses is very important for survival.

Dehydration is the most common problem of water imbalance due to water losses and deprivation. The effects of dehydration on nutrition can adversely affect ones health. Dehydration is the major cause of ones diminished ability to perform during endurance activities. Body water is lost through the stomach, respiration, sweat, and the kidneys. It is recomended that 24oz of water a day should be taken. This amount can double or even triple with endurance type exercise.



A note about water: More and more evidence shows the benifit of being well hydrated.

Studies show that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (likely applies to half the world's population), leading to possible health problems such as fatigue. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger, leading to over-eating. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.



Bottled Water: Some types of bottled water are not subject to the same regulations as tap water. These are regulated as food products, and their regulations are largely related to sanitary food handling and processing practices. Bottled water manufacturers will provide a detailed report on the quality of their product to consumers who call to request it.

Soy Protein Isolate is aspartame free, cholesterol free, ranks #1 in protein digestibility, naturally contains Lecithin, contains all of the essential amino acids our bodies require for optimal function, and contains the most bioactive component of soy protein...Isoflavones. Isoflavones are currently being intensely researched as to the possible positive effects on heart disease, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and breast and prostate cancers.

Although soyfoods are widely recognized for their nutritional qualities, interest in soyfoods has risen recently because scientists have discovered that a soy component called isoflavones appears to reduce the risk of cancer. More research needs to be done to determine exactly how isoflavones work, but it appears that as little as one serving of soyfoods a day may be enough to obtain the benefits of this anticancer phytochemical.





Soy protein exerts several anti-atherogenic effects. First, it decreases LDL-cholesterol levels significantly .Second, it tends to increase HDL-cholesterol levels ; this is rather unique since most dietary interventions such as oat bran intake or decreased saturated fat intake significantly decrease HDL-cholesterol levels. Third, soy isoflavones, plant chemicals unique to soybeans, have antioxidant properties which protect LDL from oxidation . Fourth, soy isoflavones have favorable effects on blood vessel function.

(source:Indiana Soybean Board)



Although soyfoods are widely recognized for their nutritional qualities, interest in soyfoods has risen recently because scientists have discovered that a soy component called isoflavones appears to reduce the risk of cancer. More research needs to be done to determine exactly how isoflavones work, but it appears that as little as one serving of soyfoods a day may be enough to obtain the benefits of this anticancer phytochemical.



Traditional soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk are very high in protein. Tempeh has the highest percentage of protein of the traditional soy products providing approximately 22 grams of protein for each 4 ounce (113 gram) serving. Tofu provides approximately 9 grams of protein for a similar small serving size. The Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein for adult males (aged 25-50) is appoximately 63 grams and 50 grams for adult females (aged 25-50). Soy products can provide a significant portion of one's daily protein needs.



It is important to keep in mind, however, that the balance of amino acids (protein building blocks) in soy is not the same as meat. Because soy foods does not have an ideal balance of amino acids, some experts recommend taking in a little extra soy foods and/or combining soy products or legumes with a whole grain dish at meals where other protein (e.g., eggs, fish) is not eaten. The amino acids in whole grains combine well with amino acids in soy and legumes to make a more ideal balance of amino acids. If a person's diet is reasonably-balanced, however, there is usually no need to be concerned about getting enough protein.

Source:http://www.soyinfo.com/



Vegetarians and health enthusiasts have known for years that foods rich in soy protein offer a good alternative to meat, poultry, and other animal-based products. As consumers have pursued healthier lifestyles in recent years, consumption of soy foods has risen steadily, bolstered by scientific studies showing health benefits from these products. Last October, the Food and Drug Administration gave food manufacturers permission to put labels on products high in soy protein indicating that these foods may help lower heart disease risk.



As with health claims for oat bran and other foods before it, this health claim provides consumers with solid scientific information about the benefits of soy protein and helps them make informed choices to create a "heart healthy" diet. Health claims encourage food manufacturers to make more healthful products. With soy, food manufacturers have responded with a cornucopia of soy-based wares.



No sooner had FDA proposed the health claim regulation, however, than concerns arose about certain components in soy products, particularly isoflavones. Resulting questions have engulfed the regulation in controversy.



This came as no surprise to Elizabeth A. Yetley, Ph.D., lead scientist for nutrition at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition . "Every dietary health claim that has ever been published has had controversy," she says, "even the relationship of saturated fat to a healthy diet."



While the controversy may seem confusing to the consumer giving it casual consideration, a careful review of the science behind the rule reveals a strict divide between what FDA allows as a health claim based on solid scientific research and related issues that go well beyond the approved statements about health benefits of soy protein.

Source:http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/300_soy.html

Although soyfoods are widely recognized for their nutritional qualities, interest in soyfoods has risen recently because scientists have discovered that a soy component called isoflavones appears to reduce the risk of cancer. More research needs to be done to determine exactly how isoflavones work, but it appears that as little as one serving of soyfoods a day may be enough to obtain the benefits of this anticancer phytochemical.



Traditional soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk are very high in protein. Tempeh has the highest percentage of protein of the traditional soy products providing approximately 22 grams of protein for each 4 ounce (113 gram) serving. Tofu provides approximately 9 grams of protein for a similar small serving size. The Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein for adult males (aged 25-50) is appoximately 63 grams and 50 grams for adult females (aged 25-50). Soy products can provide a significant portion of one's daily protein needs.



It is important to keep in mind, however, that the balance of amino acids (protein building blocks) in soy is not the same as meat. Because soy foods does not have an ideal balance of amino acids, some experts recommend taking in a little extra soy foods and/or combining soy products or legumes with a whole grain dish at meals where other protein (e.g., eggs, fish) is not eaten. The amino acids in whole grains combine well with amino acids in soy and legumes to make a more ideal balance of amino acids. If a person's diet is reasonably-balanced, however, there is usually no need to be concerned about getting enough protein.

Source:http://www.soyinfo.com/



Vegetarians and health enthusiasts have known for years that foods rich in soy protein offer a good alternative to meat, poultry, and other animal-based products. As consumers have pursued healthier lifestyles in recent years, consumption of soy foods has risen steadily, bolstered by scientific studies showing health benefits from these products. Last October, the Food and Drug Administration gave food manufacturers permission to put labels on products high in soy protein indicating that these foods may help lower heart disease risk.



As with health claims for oat bran and other foods before it, this health claim provides consumers with solid scientific information about the benefits of soy protein and helps them make informed choices to create a "heart healthy" diet. Health claims encourage food manufacturers to make more healthful products. With soy, food manufacturers have responded with a cornucopia of soy-based wares. (See "The Soy Health Claim.")



No sooner had FDA proposed the health claim regulation, however, than concerns arose about certain components in soy products, particularly isoflavones. Resulting questions have engulfed the regulation in controversy.



This came as no surprise to Elizabeth A. Yetley, Ph.D., lead scientist for nutrition at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition . "Every dietary health claim that has ever been published has had controversy," she says, "even the relationship of saturated fat to a healthy diet."



While the controversy may seem confusing to the consumer giving it casual consideration, a careful review of the science behind the rule reveals a strict divide between what FDA allows as a health claim based on solid scientific research and related issues that go well beyond the approved statements about health benefits of soy protein.

Source:http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/300_soy.html

Made from the Cassava root. Tapioca starch (flour) is used widely for thickening sauces, making desserts, and any place that corn starch would be used. Tapioca Starch adds a nice glossy sheen to baked goods and sauces.

Salt is one of the most ubiquitous food ingredients around. Those who think of salt only as something used to perk up flavor might wonder what could possibly give this ingredient the level of importance it has gained through the ages. In reality, there is much more to this crystalline cube than first meets the eye.



Besides enhancing taste, salt has several other functions in food products. It acts as an antimicrobial or microbiological control agent. It contributes to certain chemical reactions that create a wide variety of food characteristics.



Sometimes the terms "salt" and "sodium" are used interchangeably, but technically this is not correct. "Salt" is sodium chloride. By weight, it is 40 percent sodium and 60 percent chloride.

Most foods and tap water contain sodium and chloride. Sodium is an essential nutrient, a mineral that the body cannot manufacture itself.

Because of sodium's importance to your body, the excretory and nervous systems guard against under-consumption of salt, which is a threat to your body's nerves and muscles. Other ions such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium are also very important. Concentrations of these ions are held in narrow ranges by the kidney.



The association between eating salt and the risk of blood pressure increasing is difficult to quantify. Some people are sensitive to changes in salt intake whereas others can adjust so that blood pressure does not rise at all.



Americans typically consume 4,000-8,000 mg each day, well above their daily needs. A goal for moderation for all adults, (including pregnancy and lactation) is approximately 2,400 mg of sodium per day.

Dried coconut meat, called copra, is pressed and used to make coconut oil, which is used in commercial frying and as a component in many packaged goods such as candies, margarines, soap and cosmetics. Coconut oil-one of the few nonanimal saturated fats-is used widely in the manufacture of baked goods such as commercial cookies. Certain major manufacturers have replaced it with the more expensive unsaturated fats with an eye toward cholesterol consciousness.

Cellulose may be used in foods as a hydrocolloid. As a vegetable gum, it serves a major role as a stabilizer. Cellulose is also frequently used as a fat replacer or substitute. In foods, the cellulose ingredients are insoluble fibrous particles that are capable of holding water and suspending the dispersed particulates. It can replace fat because it gives an appropriate mouth feel and lends a glossy opaque appearance when used.

Cellulose is an excellent source of insoluble fiber. Unlike soluble fiber, insoluble fiber does not feed bacteria well and is not readily fermented into short chain fatty acids.

Flavor(s) Natural & Artificial

A combination of both what is considered “natural” and “artificial” flavoring under the Federal Drug Administration(FDA) Regulations. Artificial flavoring “means any substance, the function of which is to impart flavor, which is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof.” In other words, substances not found in nature to add flavor to a substance is considered artificial. See Artificial Flavor. Natural flavoring “means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.” See Natural Flavor.

Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 of the Us. Food and Drug Administration. Title 21. Volume 2. Revised 1 April 2010.

Alkalis counterbalance and neutralize ACIDS. In cooking, the most common alkali used is bicarbonate of soda, commonly known as BAKING SODA.

Cocoa beans are grown in pods on the cacao tree. The cacao tree is a tropical plant, meaning it thrives in the zones just north and south of the equator: the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Like coffee beans and wine grapes, cocoa beans are cultivated all around the world under widely ranging conditions,and that gives regional cocoas their distinctive characters and flavors. Stories on the health benefits of consuming cocoa products have increasingly made the news following the discovery that they are an excellent source of catechins, which are polyphenols of the flavanol group, and which are believed to protect against heart disease, cancer, and various other medical conditions. Urging consumers to increase their chocolate intake for "Health Reasons" leaves nutritional research less than credible, particularly when diabetes and obesity have become an out-of-control problem in Western societies

Pressing tree-ripened olives extracts a flavorful, monounsaturated oil that is prized throughout the world both for cooking (particularly in Mediterranean countries) and for salads. Today's marketplace provides a wide selection of domestic olive oil (most of which comes from California) and imported oils from France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The flavor, color and fragrance of olive oils can vary dramatically depending on distinctions such as growing region and the crop's condition.

Lecithin: Used to stabilize emulsions;

Lecithin is present in all living cells and is a significant constituent of nerve and brain cells.



Commercial lecithin, most of which comes from soya bean oil, which may be Genetically Modified, contains a mixture of phosphoglycerides containing principally lecithin, cephalin and phosphatidyl inositol. Other sources are egg yolk, from where it was originally obtained, and leguminous seeds, including peanuts and maize, which also may be Genetically Modified. Vegetarians should be aware that it can also be obtained from animal fat.

Maltodextrin is a flavorless, easily digested carbohydrate made from cornstarch. A natural, complex carbohydrate, it is not a simple sugar (dextrose, fructose, sucrose etc.) It can be derived from potato or corn starch; used in food industry such as sweets, drink, beer, ice cream, preserved fruit, milk powder, malted mild, cake, biscuit and bread, as well as in medicine, textile, printing and dyeing, paper making, casting and petroleum drilling; generally recognized as safe.



Maltodextrin often contains Monosodium Glutimate (MSG), to which many people have an adverse reaction to.

A gummy substance obtained from legume-family plants, used as a thickener and STABILIZER in commercial food processing.

One of the most widely used colors is caramel, the color of burnt sugar.



There are many different types of caramel color, each engineered to serve a particular purpose in food chemistry. They are all based on the cooking of sugars and starches. Sometimes acids such as acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, or phosphoric acid, are used to break the bonds between sugars to create invert sugars, or to make sugars from starches, before the sugars are raised to a higher temperature for carmelization.



The heat is carefully controlled during carmelization to get the right products from the reaction. Besides acids, alkalies and salts may be used to further control the process.



Caramel color is a colloid, a mixture in which solid particles are suspended in water. The particles in colloids have electric charges that keep the particles from clumping together and settling out of solution. The charges can be positive or negative. If a negative coloid is added to a product that has positive colloidal particles in it, the two will attract one another and clump up, making the product cloudy.



Caramel color can be made with either positively or negatively charged particles. This allows manufacturers to use negative colloidal caramel in acidic soft drinks, and positive in beers and soy sauces. Beer has positively charged proteins suspended in it, and soy sauce has a high salt content that requires the more salt-tolerant positive caramel color.



Caramel color is an emulsifying agent as well as a colorant. In soft drinks, it helps keep the flavor oils suspended in the solution.



In chocolate milk, the muddy color of caramel is darkened by the addition of FD&C Red #40 to give what the industry refers to as a "Dutch" chocolate shade. Blues and yellows are sometimes used to give a more brown color.



Caramel color is added to baked goods, to poultry, to milk to give an "eggnog" color, to malt vinegars, canned meats, syrups, and soups, stews, and gravies.



If caramel color is made in North America it is likely to be gluten-free.



The problem with caramel color is that it may or may not contain gluten depending on how it is manufactured. In the USA caramel color must conform with the FDA standard of identity from 21CFR CH.1. This statute says: "the color additive caramel is the dark-brown liquid or solid material resulting from the carefully controlled heat treatment of the following food-grade carbohydrates: Dextrose (corn sugar), invert sugar, lactose (milk sugar), malt syrup (usually from barley malt), molasses (from cane), starch hydrolysates and fractions thereof (can include wheat), sucrose (cane or beet)." Also, acids, alkalis and salts are listed as additives which may be employed to assist the caramelization process.



Source: http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/fdc_colors.html

A colorless, crystalline organic compound belonging to the family of carboxylic acids, present in practically all plants and in many animal tissues and fluids. It is one of a series of compounds involved in the physiological oxidation of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to carbon dioxide and water.



First isolated from lemon juice by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, in 1784, citric acid is manufactured by fermentation of cane sugar or molasses in the presence of a fungus, Aspergillus niger. It is used in confections and soft drinks (as a flavoring agent), in metal-cleaning compositions, and in improving the stability of foods and other organic substances (by suppressing the deleterious action of dissolved metal salts)."



Citrus fruits are notable for their fragrance, and most are juice-laden. They contain a high proportion of citric acid giving them their characteristic astringent odour and flavour. They are also good sources of vitamin C. In botanical terms, "The fruit of all Citrus trees, in which the true fruit is the peel, [is] made up of an outer layer, brightly colored and rich in glands, a spongey whitish mesocarp, and a membraneous endocarp surrounding the segments. The succulent parts we eat is only a secondary tissue developed as a filler"



List of citrus fruits:

Amanatsu

Bergamot orange

Bitter orange (Seville Orange)

Calamondin (Calamansi)

Citron

Clementine

Golden Lime - hybrid between the genus Citrus and the genus Fortunella

Daidai

Dancy

Grapefruit

Ichang Lemon

Iyokan

Kaffir lime

Key lime

Kumquat - in the related genus Fortunella, not Citrus; forms hybrids with Citrus

Lemon

Lime

Limequat

Mandarin Lime

Mandarin Orange

Meyer Lemon

Mikan

Minneola

Natsumikan

Orange

Orangelo (Chironja)

Orangequat

Persian lime (Tahiti lime)

Pomelo (Pummelo, Shaddock)

Ponkan

Rangpur (Lemanderin)

Rough Lemon

Satsuma

Shekwasha (Taiwan Tangerine)

Sudachi

Sweetie

Tachibana Orange

Tangelo

Tangerine

Tangor

Ugli

Yuzu



Some brands of Citric Acid may be made from wheat, however this is very rare.

Approved in the United States in April 1998, sucralose (a synthetic chemical) can be used in soft drinks, baked goods, ice cream, sweetener packets, and other products. It previously had been used in Canada, Europe, and elsewhere. Sucralose is safer than saccharin and cyclamate and doesn’t raise the concerns that tests on acesulfame-K and aspartame have raised.

Simply put, mono- and diglycerides are fats. They are made from oil,usually soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, or palm oil, act as emulsifiers (provide a consistent texture and prevent separation), and are used in most baked products to keep them from getting stale. In ice cream and other processed foods, including margarine, instant potatoes, and chewing gum, they serve as stabilizers, which give foods body and improve consistency.



Mono and diglycerides themselves do not contain gluten, but mono and diglycerides are almost always on lists of questionable foods for celiacs because of the possibility that wheat might be used with them as a carrier.



Under FDA regulations, a carrier used with mono and diglycerides in this manner would fall into the incidental additive category. Additives are considered incidental when they are present in insignificant amounts and have no technical or functional effect on the final food product. FDA regulations, which generally require that all ingredients of a food be listed on the label, do allow certain incidental additives to be left off the label.



However, recent concern about allergens has led the FDA to warn food manufacturers that it does not consider the eight most common food allergens (eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat) eligible for this labeling exemption. The FDA first clarified the exemption in 1996 in response to a growing number of reports of allergic reactions from foods that according to their label should have been allergen free. Now, the FDA has updated that clarification in a compliance policy guide for the food industry that says incidental additives containing common food allergens have never been considered eligible for the exemption. The Food Allergy Issues Alliance, a group of food trade associations and consumer interest groups, in May issued labeling guidelines that say incidental additives should be on the label. For celiacs this means that if wheat is used as a carrier for mono and diglycerides, it has to be declared on the label.



All this would seem to indicate that celiacs can remove mono and diglycerides from any suspicious or questionable food lists and still feel safe.



Source: http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/monodiglycerides.html

Potassium is a mineral that is found naturally in foods and is necessary for many normal functions of your body, especially the beating of your heart. Potassium is important in controlling the activity of your heart, muscles, nervous system, and just about every living cell in your body. Potassium helps activate enzymes for the use of amino acids, and is involved in bone calcification, the conversion of blood sugar into the stored glycogen for energy reserves, muscle contraction & coordination. It plays a role in maintaining the water balance & integrity of your cells. It is important to nerve transmission. It is involved in the transport of choline for acetylcholine synthesis in your brain. Protein & carbohydrate metabolism, glucose breakdown, & glycogen (stored glucose) are all potassium dependent. It is yet to be completely understood its function on the thyroid gland. Naturaly found in: kelp, fresh & dried fruits and vegetables, rice, wheat bran, potatoes, bananas, orange juice, apricots, nuts, seeds, grains, mushrooms, molasses, and some seafood.

A natural additive obtained from the bark of certain varieties of acacia tree. Gum arabic is colorless, tasteless and odorless and is used in commercial food processing to thicken, emulsify and stabilize foods such as candy, ice cream and sweet syrups.

Tricalcium Phosphate is widely used as a supplement of phosphorus(P) and calcium

Naturally occuring calcium / calcium carrier



Calcium deficiency is a major problem in the United States. 60% of children under 5 and 40% of children 6 - 11 consume less than their RDA. Of teens, 65% of boys and up to 85% of girls consume less than the recommended amounts. On average, women of all age groups fall far short. These deficiencies, especially in young women, are particularly disturbing because bone built during this time must carry them through the rest of their lives.



Calcium is A mineral essential in building and maintaining bones and teeth, as well as in providing efficient muscle contraction and blood clotting. Calcium is found in dairy products, leafy green vegetables (such as spinach, turnip greens and broccoli), sardines and canned salmon with bones and rhubarb. Calcium-fortified orange juice is an excellent source.



Deficiency Symptoms include; Loss of bone, and inadequate bone formation that lead to osteoporosis and Vitamin D deficiency. Studies are underway prove possible links between calcium and blood preasure (hypertension), and colon cancer.



Toxicity Symptoms: No adverse effects up to 2,400 mg per day for health adults. Generally not well-absorbed higher than 2,400 mg per day. Very high levels may inhibit the absorbtion of other minerals, particularly iron and zinc, and cause constipation.

Calcium deficiency is a major problem in the United States. 60% of children under 5 and 40% of children 6 - 11 consume less than their RDA. Of teens, 65% of boys and up to 85% of girls consume less than the recommended amounts. On average, women of all age groups fall far short. These deficiencies, especially in young women, are particularly disturbing because bone built during this time must carry them through the rest of their lives.



Calcium is A mineral essential in building and maintaining bones and teeth, as well as in providing efficient muscle contraction and blood clotting. Calcium is found in dairy products, leafy green vegetables (such as spinach, turnip greens and broccoli), sardines and canned salmon with bones and rhubarb. Calcium-fortified orange juice is an excellent source.



Deficiency Symptoms include; Loss of bone, and inadequate bone formation that lead to osteoporosis and Vitamin D deficiency. Studies are underway prove possible links between calcium and blood preasure (hypertension), and colon cancer.



Toxicity Symptoms: No adverse effects up to 2,400 mg per day for health adults. Generally not well-absorbed higher than 2,400 mg per day. Very high levels may inhibit the absorbtion of other minerals, particularly iron and zinc, and cause constipation.

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral. Magnesium is important for many systems in the body especially the muscles and nerves.



Magnesium oxide is used as a supplement to maintain adequate magnesium in the body.



Before taking magnesium oxide, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, allergies, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Magnesium oxide may not be recommended in some situations.

A good food source of magnesium contains a substantial amount of magnesium in relation to its calorie content and contributes at least 10 percent of the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (U.S. RDA) for magnesium in a selected serving size. The U.S. RDA for magnesium is 400 milligrams per day. (The U.S. RDA given is for adults, except pregnant or lactating women, and children over 4 years of age.)



The U.S. RDA for magnesium is the amount of the mineral used as a standard in nutrition labeling of foods. This allowance is based on the 1968 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for 24 sex-age categories set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences. The 1989 RDA has been set at 280 milligrams per day for women 19 to 50 years of age and 350 milligrams for men 19 to 50 years of age





Magnesium (Mg) is a trace mineral that is known to be required for several hundred different functions in the body. A significant portion of the symptoms of many chronic disorders are identical to symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Studies show many people in the U.S. today do not consume the daily recommended amounts of Mg. A lack of this important nutrient may be a major factor in many common health problems in industrialized countries. Common conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, migraines, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, asthma and allergies have all been linked to a Mg deficiency. Perhaps, not coincidentally, these conditions also tend to occur in clusters together within the same individual. A magnesium deficiency as a root cause would provide a logical explanation of why some people suffer from a constellation of these types of problems.

Vitamin A.

Essential in vision; enhances immunity by protecting the body from bacteria and viruses; boosts the production of white blood cells; helps build and maintain bone.



Richest sources of retinal are liver, fish liver oils, whole and fortified milk, and eggs. Carotenoids (such as beta-carotene) that the body uses to make vitamin A are abundant in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, and green leafy vegetables.



Researchers are investigating the links on vitamin A's ability to boost the immune system and fight cancer, and the results look promising. The dark side of this is people are taking megadoses of vitamin A mistakenly believing that it can ward off or cure disease, often doing serious liver damage. People can achieve the level of beta-carotene in the studies simply by eating the 5 to 9 servings recommended by health authorities.

The laymans name for ascorbic acid, vitamin C helps maintain the red color of cured meat and prevents the formation of nitrosamines, which promote cancer (see SODIUM NITRITE). It helps prevent loss of color and flavor by reacting with unwanted oxygen. It is used as a nutrient additive in drinks and breakfast cereals. Sodium ascorbate is a more soluble form of ascorbic acid. ERYTHORBIC ACID is very similar to ascorbic acid, but has no value as a vitamin. Large amounts of ascorbic acid may reduce the severity of colds and offer other health benefits.Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means you need it in your diet every day because it cant be stored in the body.

a colorless crystalline growth vitamin of the vitamin B complex found especially in yeast, liver, and egg yolk; no side effects are known.



One of the B-vitamins that functions as a co-enzyme in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. The biotin co-enzyme also serves in crucial roles in the breakdown of amino acids. Deficiency of the vitamin can result in hair loss and dermatitis, thus it is found as a popular ingredient in hair care products.

Folic acid is the synthetic form of the B vitamin folate. Folic acid is necessary for the synthesis of nucleic acids and the formation of red blood cells. Folic-acid deficiency most commonly causes folic-acid-deficiency anemia. Symptoms include gastrointestinal problems, such as sore tongue, cracks at the corners of the mouth, diarrhea, and ulceration of the stomach and intestines. Large doses of folic acid can cause convulsions and other nervous-system problems.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations require enriched grain products to contain this essential vitamin.



Current studies have discovered a link between folic acid and brain function in older people. The study divided 818 people ages 50 to 75 to take either a vitamin containing 800 micrograms of folic acid a day, or a dummy pill, for three years.



On memory tests, the supplement users had scores comparable to people 5.5 years younger, Durga said. On tests of cognitive speed, the folic acid helped users perform as well as people 1.9 years younger.

Vitamin B3



Also called Nicotinic Acid, Niacinamide, Nicotinic.



Acts as a co-enzyme in the release of energy from carbohydrates. Also needed to help breakdown fats and proteins. Aids in formation of red blood cells.

Since the 1950's doctors have used nicotinic acid to treat high cholesterol. Niacin is the only drug available that both substantially lowers the "bad" lipids (LDL), and increases the "good"(HDL) cholesterol. The reason this vitamin is not in the forefront of cholesterol therapy is because many people treated with high doses of niacin experience bothersome side effects such as; facial flushing, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea and much more serious, liver damage.



Milk, eggs, meats (especially liver), chicken, fish, and most other protein-rich foods contain a significant amout of niacin. Also in smaller amounts in coffee and tea.



Dificiency is very rare in modern countries. Symptoms include: Pellagra (diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia) Less severe symptoms of deficiency include irritability, loss of appetite, weekness and swollen tongue.

Vitamin B1, or thiamine, helps the body convert carbohydrates into energy and helps in the metabolism of proteins and fats. Vitamin B1 deficiency affects the functioning of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and peripheral nervous systems. Beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (often seen in alcoholics) are the primary diseases related to thiamine deficiency. General symptoms of beriberi include loss of appetite and overall lassitude, digestive irregularities, and a feeling of numbness and weakness in the limbs and extremities.

Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamine, thiamin and aneurin. Thiamine is the currently accepted name for vitamin B1 in the US. Aneurin is still widely used in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom.

Necessary for proper metabolism of sugar and starch to provide energy. Maintains a healthy nervous system as well as aiding proper function of the heart and other muscles. Stress increases the need for B-1 and all B vitamins.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a water soluble vitamin, although small amounts are stored in the liver. It is a member of the B group of vitamins and is vital for the formation of red blood cells, for nerve cells, and the recycling of certain important enzymes.



NOTE: Drinking alcohol may increase your requirement for B12.

EU Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is 1 mcg.

Upper Safe Level (USL) for long term use is 3000 mcg.

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is important to good health. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells, and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells . Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases B12 from protein during digestion. Once released, B12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF) before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Good sources include meat, particularly liver, salmon, cod, milk, cheese, eggs, yeast extract, and some fortified breakfast cereals.

Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is required to complete several reactions in the energy cycle. Reddening of the lips with cracks at the corners of the mouth, inflammation of the tongue, and a greasy, scaly inflammation of the skin are common symptoms of deficiency.Riboflavin (B2)- Classic riboflavin deficiency involves the lips, tongue, eyes, skin and nervous system. Vision changes, cheliosis (tiny lesions in the mouth or cracks in the corners of the mouth) tongue inflammation and discomfort eating or swallowing.



Riboflavin?s role in the body involves the metabolism of fats and proteins. Enzymes influenced by riboflavin are absolutely necessary to transport oxygen to the cells. A decrease in this vitamin can result in fatigue. New research indicates that migraine headache sufferers may benefit by riboflavin. 400mgs.day have been shown to lessen the incidence of migraines.



Required for red blood cell formation, antibody production, cell respiration and growth. Important for good muscle tone. Involved in metabolism of protein, protein fats, and carbohydrates. Necessary for good vision, skin, hair and nails.

Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is required to complete several reactions in the energy cycle. Reddening of the lips with cracks at the corners of the mouth, inflammation of the tongue, and a greasy, scaly inflammation of the skin are common symptoms of deficiency.Riboflavin (B2)- Classic riboflavin deficiency involves the lips, tongue, eyes, skin and nervous system. Vision changes, cheliosis (tiny lesions in the mouth or cracks in the corners of the mouth) tongue inflammation and discomfort eating or swallowing.



Riboflavin?s role in the body involves the metabolism of fats and proteins. Enzymes influenced by riboflavin are absolutely necessary to transport oxygen to the cells. A decrease in this vitamin can result in fatigue. New research indicates that migraine headache sufferers may benefit by riboflavin. 400mgs.day have been shown to lessen the incidence of migraines.



Required for red blood cell formation, antibody production, cell respiration and growth. Important for good muscle tone. Involved in metabolism of protein, protein fats, and carbohydrates. Necessary for good vision, skin, hair and nails.

Pyridoxine is one of the compounds that can be called vitamin B6, along with pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. It differs from pyridoxamine by the substituent at the '4' position. It is often used as 'pyridoxine hydrochloride'.

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin This means you need it in your diet every day because it cant be stored in the body.that exists in three major chemical forms: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine, It performs a wide variety of functions in your body and is essential for your good health. For example, vitamin B6 is needed for more than 100 enzymes involved in protein metabolism. It is also essential for red blood cell metabolism. The nervous and immune systems need vitamin B6 to function efficiently, and it is also needed for the conversion of tryptophan (an amino acid) to niacin (a vitamin)

Vitamin E

Synonyms: vitamin E acetate, tocopherol acetate, 2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol, various other trade names



Works primarily as a antioxident to protect cells throughout the body.



Vitamin E can be extracted from natural oils (e.g. soybean, cottenseed, corn),leafy green vegetables and some nuts. Also can be synthesized. Humans and mammals are unable to synthesize Vitamin E.

Clinical symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency include neuropathy, fetal death, and myopathy (muscle disease).

Major uses include animal feeds (approx 75% of use), as a food supplement, as an antioxidant, and in pharmaceutical formulations



Source: Foodfacts

The term “vitamin E” refers to a family of eight related, lipid-soluble, antioxidant compounds widely distributed in plants. The tocopherol and tocotrienol subfamilies are each composed of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta vitamers having unique biological effects. Different ratios of these compounds are found in anatomically different parts of a plant. For example, the green parts of a plant contain mostly alpha-tocopherol and the seed germ and bran contain mostly tocotrienols. Along with other nutrients tocopherols and tocotrienols are concentrated in the bran layers of the rye grain, and are only present at low levels in the flour endosperm. Tocopherols are also present in algae, mint teas, and other food stuff.87-93



When this family of compounds was first discovered and determined to be essential for health, a standardized test for its activity was devised for which the members of the family were rated for their biological activity. In one test, alpha tocopherol scored highest and was rated 100% with all others having lower ratings. In accordance with this rating, alpha-tocopherol was deemed to be the essential compound and was called vitamin E. One International Unit (IU) of vitamin E activity is the activity under this rating of one mg of the plant-derived form of alpha-tocopherol.94



Since the original rating method was established, many additional important biological effects of these compounds have been discovered and many nutritional scientists now consider that rating method to be incomplete. For example, by the original rating, gamma-tocopherol was only 10% to 30% as strong as alpha-tocopherol, yet more recent studies have shown it to be essential for maintaining the health of cell membranes, especially if alpha-tocopherol is being supplemented. New studies continue to elucidate the unique benefits of individual members of the vitamin E family. For these and other reasons, the original definition of vitamin E has been enhanced to include all eight family members and the related compounds that convert to them in the body.94



Vitamin E compounds are usually produced and made available in esterified form as alpha-tocopheryl acetate or alpha-tocopheryl succinate. Neither of these forms has any antioxidant activity until converted to alpha-tocopherol in the body, but they are much more stable with respect to storage time and temperature than the unesterified forms. Moreover, while the acetate form is rapidly activated within the body, activation of the succinate form is slower. The succinate form appears to access and benefit areas of the tissues that are unavailable to the other forms. For this reason, there is a tendency to regard alpha-tocopherol succinate as a distinctly different and beneficial compound. Alpha-tocopherol succinate appears to have longer half-life in the body, and does not interfere with vitamin A or K absorption.95-98



Serious vitamin takers prefer cold-water dispersible dry powder vitamin E supplements in the form of alpha-tocopheryl succinate or acetate because the cold-water dispersible forms are efficiently absorbed even when taken on an empty stomach or with a low-fat meal. The non-cold water dispersible (oil) forms of vitamin E may be poorly absorbed unless taken with several grams of fats or oils.



Cold-water dispersible vitamin E is more efficiently absorbed than some other forms. Both “acetate” and “succinate” vitamin E can come from natural sources. The importance to the consumer is how well the vitamin E absorbs into the bloodstream. Cold-water dispersible vitamin E, whether in a succinate or acetate form, always comes in a white dry powder, while non-cold water dispersible natural and synthetic acetate forms of vitamin E are always in a thick brown oil.



Source: http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00063.html

Vitamin K - Vitamin K helps synthesize at least six (out of 12) of the proteins involved in blood clotting, without Vitamin K, your bleeding would not clot and you would very likely bleed to death.



Vitamin K is found in so many foods that deficiency is rare in healthy people. Newborns are the exceptions, they are born with very little vitamin K from their mother. To control the risk of uncontrolled bleeding, most newborns get a one-time injection or oral dose of vitamin K before they leave the hospital.

Large doses of aspirin, and high doses of vitamin A or E may block K absorption.



Source: Harvard Medical School - Health Publications Group, Vitamins and Minerals

Zinc itself is an essential element for humans. It forms a part of more than 100 enzymes involved in a multitude of metabolic processes, including growth and development, immune function, blood clotting and wound healing.

Naturally occurs in meat (especially liver), fish (especially shellfish), lentils, green leafy vegetables, whole cereals (including wheat germ), brewer's yeast, cheese, milk, nuts, sunflower and sesame seeds.

Toxic doses of zinc cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, stomach irritation, depressed immune function and anemia; excessive zinc doses may decrease the level of HDL ("good") cholesterol and increase the risk for heart disease.



Zinc monomethionine (along with Zinc aspartate)is a very easily digestable zinc supplement. A very small amount of vitamin B6 increases the absorption of both zinc and magnesium in the body.



Source: Harvard Medical School - Health Publications Group

(Vitamin B5) Pantothenic acid is a vitamin widely distributed in foodstuffs and is an essential component of coenzyme A, which functions as an acyltransfer cofactor for many enzymatic reactions. Adults probably require about 4 to 7 mg/day, but no RDA has been set because Pantothenic acid deficiency is rarely observed in humans

Chromium is required for normal protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism. Chromium plays a role in regulating appetite, reducing the cravings for sugar and increasing lean body mass.



Chromium contains a special bioactive formulation called Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF). GTF facilitates insulin action by binding insulin to cell membranes, serving as a bridge between the insulin molecule and the cell membrane receptor sites. Remember, glucose is used by cells for energy, insulin is used by by the body to transport the glucose into the cells, Chromium's GTF factor essentially assist the glucose to enter the cell. Therefore, all both insulin and GTF are needed for proper glucose metabolism. Chromium deficiency can lead to Type II diabetes and heart disease. Chromium deficiency is thought to contribute to glucose intolerance.



Chromium has also been shown to reduce levels of harmful LDL cholesterol (a form of cholesterol that has been linked to heart disease) and increase beneficial HDL cholesterol (HDL cholesterol helps return cholesterol to the liver, keeping it from building up in the blood vessels).

An essential mineral that is found in many unrefined foods including Brewer's yeast, calf liver, wheat germ, nuts and cheese. Chromium is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and may help regulate blood glucose availability.



Source: GNC.com

An essential mineral that works with Vitamin E to protect body compounds from oxidation.