Strong Nails

Hair and nails which split and break easily can be a source of frustration for many. There are so many products on the market which claim to make hair and nails stronger, most of which are topically applied, but do any of them actually stop the problem from recurring? Does strengthening or hardening nail polish really create strong nails? What happens when we remove the product? In order to truly address the problem, we need to look for the true cause.

Healthy hair and nails are considered to be a sign of good health and vitality, and poor quality hair and nails are often the first indicators that we may be lacking some vitamins and minerals.

Strong nails without ridges or spots are a sign of good vitamin and mineral levels in the body. But what if our nails are in poor condition? Key nutrients needed for healthy and strong nails include calcium, magnesium, silica, iron, biotin and zinc. But how can you work out which ones you need? Here is a quick and easy guide for strong nails:

•White spots on the nails – zinc
•Vertical ridges (running from the base of the nail to the tip) – magnesium, silica
•Horizontal ridges (running across the nail) – calcium
•Concave (spoon-shaped) nails – iron
•Brittle nails – silica, iron, biotin

The right kind of vitamin and mineral supplements are also important if you want optimum amounts of nutrients for healthy hair and nails. Natural vitamins and organic minerals are better absorbed into the bloodstream which means there are more nutrients available to the body to create strong nails and healthy hair.

Keep in mind also that it takes up to 6 months to completely grow strong nails from base to tip. In order to have strong nails which are noticeably better you may have to wait a few months for them to grow, but when supplementing with the right nutrients, the results are worth waiting for. The same goes for healthy hair – “It won’t happen overnight...” but keep taking your supplements and hopefully you will not only notice a gradual improvement in your hair and nails, you might just feel healthier on the inside too.

For more information on multivitamin supplements for healthy hair and nails, click here.

Australian spirulina supplements are growing in popularity and are now seen not only in health foods shops, but also in pharmacies and even gyms and fitness clubs. Most Australian spirulina consumers take this product to increase energy levels, to increase performance and endurance, for antioxidant protection, and to improve overall health and vitality. It is often taken in tablet form which makes it very convenient compared to other superfood supplements.

Spirulina is known as a superfood as it has the highest concentration of nutrients of any plant food on earth. Australian spirulina products are popular as they are packed with naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and highly digestible plant protein. Spirulina is a great choice for vegetarians, vegans, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people who exercise frequently, as well as those wanting just a little more energy in their day.

Whether it be an Australian Spirulina tablet one which has been grown overseas, you can be assured that the spirulina has been grown in a pollution free environment as these plants only grow well and flourish in pristine waters. Therefore Australian spirulina, American spirulina and those cultivated in other countries by large producers should all be of a premium quality.

There are also government regulations in place in Australia to ensure that contaminated health products of any kind do not appear on our shelves. Australian spirulina supplements have to adhere to strict quality standards and are routinely tested to ensure they are free from pollutants and chemical residues.

Most Australian spirulina supplements only contain spirulina and are not fortified in any way. Space O2 is the only Australian spirulina product which has been boosted with added vitamins, minerals and alpha-lipoic acid, for added energy, antioxidant and blood glucose balancing actions. This makes it a great choice for those looking for an Australian spirulina product to help improve energy levels, and it can also be taken alongside a daily multivitamin. For more information, click here.

Vitamin B12 supplements

OneVitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient that is vital to the body’s overall health and wellbeing.  It contains the element of cobalt and as a result one of the formal or scientific names for vitamin B12 is "cobalamin". 
Vitamin B12 assists the body in more ways than one – although one of the key functions it performs is to help in the making of red blood cells. These cells help deliver oxygen to the body’s vital organs, including the heart and brain.  This oxygen is important in providing you with the necessary energy to get through each day.  Vitamin B12 also assists in white blood cell production, which is crucial to keeping the immune system strong, which in turn keeps the body healthy.
Another way vitamin B12 benefits the body is by properly maintaining the nervous system and helping to keep nerve cells healthy, which keeps the brain functioning the way it should.  It is an important component in the myelin sheath which forms a protective layer around nerve fibres. The B12 vitamin also assists in the creation and regulation of DNA, which is present in every cell in the body.  Since this nutrient is also a very powerful antioxidant, it helps fight off free radicals which researchers have said can lead to diseases including cancer. Vitamin B12 supplements are also used in conjunction with vitamin B6 and Folic acid to reduce elevated homocysteine levels which helps to protect the body from inflammation and cardiac disease.
It is imperative that your body gets some vitamin B12 each and every day.  This particular nutrient helps in the metabolism of food so it can be turned into energy for the body to use.  More specifically, it does this by helping turn carbohydrates into glucose - when the glucose is released into your system, it gives you energy.   Many people who experience fatigue and low energy often have an absence of vitamin B12 in their body.
Vitamin B12 can be found in meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.  If your lifestyle does not permit some of these B12 rich foods, it’s important to take supplements that will top up your daily requirement. Although some B12 can be synthesized by bacteria in the digestive system, it is not yet proven whether this synthesized B12 is then absorbed into the bloodstream. If you are vegetarian or vegan, it is important that you get your B12 levels regularly tested by your doctor. By making sure you have enough vitamin B12 in your body, you can avoid permanent nerve damage with associated symptoms like pins and needles, numbness, tingling, memory loss, attention deficit disorder, depression, dizziness, fatigue and mood swings.
The best vitamin B12 supplements for Australians are made from natural ingredients and are found in most pharmacies and health food stores. A good quality multivitamin containing B12 can be a sensible insurance policy for those whose diets are insufficient.

For more information of Vitamin B12 contained in Space Vitamin supplements click here

How many people do you know who complain they have no energy to get through their day? Low energy or no energy is experienced by so many otherwise healthy people. Sometimes we resort to fake forms of energy such as caffeine and sugary treats, but these instant hits can also be a further cause of no energy later in the day. Let’s look at some possible reasons for a lack of energy, and what steps we can take to fix them.

Do you skip breakfast?

It’s a cliché to say it’s the most important meal of the day, but in this case it’s clichéd because it’s true. It’s hard to eat breakfast if you have no energy in the morning, but your body will thank you for the effort. A nutritious breakfast with some complex (whole grain) carbohydrates and lots of protein is the best way to start the day. Be careful of pre-packaged breakfast cereals – many are loaded with sugar in some form (sucrose, fructose, evaporated cane juice, concentrated fruit juice... these all have the same effect on energy levels as sugar does). A sugary start to the day can play havoc on your blood glucose levels and you may find yourself with no energy and craving sweets or coffee by 11am.

Have you been burning the candle at both ends?

Our lives are busier and faster paced than they used to be. Sometimes we have been busy for so long that we don’t even notice this causes strain on our bodies... until we get sick. Having no energy may be our bodies’ way of telling us to slow down and take a break to recharge. Take a step back – are you finding time to eat well, exercise and relax? If you don’t make time now, it is very likely you will pay the price later.

Are you stressed?

Stress can cause our adrenals to become overworked and sometimes even exhausted, which may result in anxiety, depression, no energy and even chronic fatigue. No energy can be a sign of early stages of adrenal burnout.

“But I can’t take a break!”

Then take steps to protect yourself in other ways, by eating well and taking a good quality multivitamin supplement high in B vitamins. This will help by nourishing your adrenal glands and providing the extra nutrients that are needed when the body is stressed.

Remember, having no energy may be your body’s early warning system letting you know something’s not quite right. Having no energy could be a sign that you need to take some time out for yourself, rebuild and recharge. For more information on supplements which can help support you in busy or stressful times, click here.