| Natural nutritional supplements are getting | | | | conditions, dysfunctions and disorders. Zinc, for |
| increasingly popular because of their countless | | | | example, is a very essential trace metallic |
| beneficial effects to everyone's health. The | | | | element. Although it is commonly found in many |
| production of dietary supplements is a multi-billion | | | | food sources, a growing number of people are |
| industry, with millions of people relying heavily on | | | | suffering from zinc deficiency. |
| them for attaining and maintaining healthy life. | | | | The World Health Organization now considers |
| GMP guidelines | | | | sever zinc deficiency as a threat to global health. |
| An independent survey conducted and involving | | | | Almost half of the world population suffers from |
| leading manufacturers of supplementary pills, | | | | varying levels of zinc deficiency. |
| creams, drinks and tablets, among others, | | | | Zinc is very essential in many metabolic processes |
| showed that most of them do not adhere to the | | | | in the cellular level. One particular study has shown |
| most stringent manufacturing guidelines set by | | | | that zinc significantly improves the circulatory |
| leading authorities in the world. No less than the | | | | system by reducing unhealthy level of LDL |
| World Health Organization intently recommends | | | | cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood stream. |
| the use of GMP guidelines. | | | | The bane of unhealthy foods and lifestyle |
| Good Manufacturing Practices is designed to | | | | According to the data released by the American |
| ensure that only the best nutritional supplements | | | | Heart Association last December 2008 in Austin, |
| are made available to the millions, if not billions, of | | | | Texas, one American dies from any heart |
| the consuming public. It specifically requires | | | | diseases every 34 seconds! Most common form |
| documentation for quality control, right from the | | | | of heart diseases is atherosclerosis, which is |
| growing of identified plant and animal sources to | | | | characterized by the gradual accumulation of |
| actual extraction and production, before | | | | atheromatous plaques inside the arteries, leading |
| government authorities certify those products are | | | | to constricted of totally blocked blood circulation. |
| safe and made available in the market. | | | | Once the blood vessels fail to deliver the essential |
| Change has come belatedly to the United States, | | | | nourishment and oxygen to certain vital organs, |
| in particular. Responding to intense lobbying and | | | | like the heart or the brain, cellular death occurs |
| campaign efforts from health advocates, the US | | | | within five seconds with serious and fatal |
| congress passed and made into law the GMP act, | | | | consequences. |
| requiring those guidelines for companies based in | | | | The continuing onslaught of the environment, like |
| the country and imported products sold in the US. | | | | air and water pollution, led to increased amount of |
| This law, however, takes effect in 2010. | | | | toxins and free radicals in the body. Natural |
| What are the benefits from taking these | | | | nutritional supplements supply the body with the |
| supplements? | | | | essential elements with anti-oxidant properties |
| Natural nutritional supplements are increasingly | | | | since the typical foods served in the tables utterly |
| becoming a regular fixture in every home | | | | lack them. |
| worldwide. They are specifically formulated to | | | | To ensure maximum benefits, one should have a |
| provide the essential vitamins, minerals, amino | | | | better understanding that only those made from |
| acids and other nutrients. In fact, amidst the | | | | natural ingredients should be consumed. Many |
| continued deterioration of modern diet and food | | | | products are heavily laden with harmful synthetic |
| lifestyle, they are slowly being regarded as a | | | | compounds mimicking only the pharmacological |
| "staple" since they augment what is lacking or | | | | behaviors of natural substances but cause |
| missing with regular foods in the table. | | | | unwanted side effects in the process. Choose |
| Western foods are heavily laden with empty | | | | only companies adherent to GMP guidelines to |
| carbohydrates and fats, resulting to various body | | | | ensure natural nutritional supplements. |