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Need to know more about the magic of calcium supplements, preventing colon cancer and shedding those extra pounds?
I have very active teenage girls. I tell them they need to be on a calcium supplement. They think I’m being a worrywart. Help me here. – K.D., Santa Monica, CA
Here are the facts, according to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 80% of teenage girls are not getting the recommended 1,000 mg of calcium from their diets each day. Your advice to take a calcium supplement is very sound. Studies have shown that those teenagers who get adequate amounts of calcium each day develop greater bone mass. This is very protective in later years when concerns about osteoporosis become an issue.
A calcium supplement is a quick safe way to insure your teens are getting the calcium and vitamin D they need during these key growth years. Teens who are lactose deficient or dislike dairy products in general will definitely need supplementation.
Osteo Guard contains the key supporting nutrients that promote the best utilization of calcium in the body. The combination of these nutrients will likely produce stronger nails and healthier hair. I am sure your girls will like that. Good luck.
Colon cancer scares me. It seems to be everywhere. I’m only thirty, but is there anything I can take to reduce my risk? – M.N., Louisville, KY
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the USA. Last years there were 146,940 new cases diagnosed. The number of deaths was 56,730.
There are two things you can start doing at your age. The first recommendation is to eat a healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. It is also important to keep your diet free of excess saturated fat. This will provide your body the fiber and antioxidants needed for good colon health.
Results from the Nurses Health Study (88,000 women followed for 16 years) and the Health Professional Follow-up Study (47,000 men followed for 10 years) revealed that men and women with a calcium intake of 700-800 mg per day had a 40-50% lower risk of colorectal cancer. A recent double-blind placebo controlled study done by Harvard Medical School found that 1200 mg of calcium per day, given as a supplement, reduced the reappearance of precancerous colonic polyps in patients who had polyps removed previously. These studies have convinced me that taking a calcium supplement is a good way to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
I gotta lose this winter fat. I know soy protein is good for me, but can it also help me lose weight? – C.S., Albuquerque, NM
You are right, soy protein is an excellent protein choice. Soy is one of the few plant proteins that it contains all nine essential amino acids. This makes it a complete protein just like meat. What is even better is that soy contains virtually no fat or cholesterol. The result is that it is a very low calorie protein package. Obviously, reducing caloric intake is fundamental to losing your winter fat. If you don’t routinely prepare soy protein meals, we recommend a soy protein shake as a meal replacement. We added fiber and fortified 25 grams of soy protein with key vitamins and minerals to give you a healthy low calorie shake. You use this to replace a meal each day. This allows you to eat two healthy meals that you choose. No matter how you do it, soy protein is a good low calorie alternative to animal proteins.
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