L.A. Lifestyle - Nutritional Products

As L.A. Lifestyle, our vitamins and supplements are pure, with each ingredient contributing to a formula that will nourish your body and contribute to optimum health. Many people are curious as to how vitamin compounds are extracted from plants and certain foods. Simply put, vitamins are organic compounds found in foods that are essential in certain amounts for bodily growth. Most cannot be produced in the body, if they can it is in very small amounts. Vitamins and nutrients are extracted from plants primarily by saturating them with liquids such as alcohol, hydrocarbons or water and distilling the remaining solution. The liquid used depends on the structure of the vitamin and whether it is water-soluble or fat-soluble. Now, however, most vitamins are manufactured rather than extracted. They are produced either by complex chemical reactions or from microorganisms that generate individual vitamin compounds.

In a constant effort to ensure the highest production standards are met, we own an interest in the manufacturing plants where we produce all L.A. Lifestyle nutritional products. We also source all of our ingredients through suppliers we have established relationships with, and these suppliers provide certificates (assays) with each shipment verifying the ingredients and quality of the goods delivered. This enables us to make sure that only the best quality ingredients complete our formulas and eventually make their way to your doorstep. Having a part in manufacturing, production and distribution fulfils a company need to adhere to both honest business practices and FDA Good Manufacturing Processes (GMPS) so that the customer is satisfied and can start living the L.A. Lifestyle.

Pregnancy Health

Taking vitamins and eating well are at the foundation of pregnancy health. The body is undergoing so much change and needs to compensate and nourish the little child growing inside. I have noticed that the amount of pregnancy information was limited many years ago, and now there is a wealth of knowledge for women to tap into. Where vitamins and supplements are concerned, your Doctor will be able to tell you the exact amount of each vitamin needed to nurture a healthy baby. It is important that women gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy. Gaining too much weight can be problematic, due to health problems that may occur, as well as the difficulty of losing the weight after the baby is born. Healthy eating will ensure the baby has a normal birth weigh, reduces the risk for premature birth, builds up fats and fluids for use during breastfeeding and reduces the risk for complications during pregnancy. It is also important that women continue to eat well after birth, especially if the baby is breastfeeding.

Some tips for healthy eating during and after pregnancy:
• Eat fruits and vegetables daily to ensure proper nutrient intake
• Get protein from chicken, lean meats, tofu or low-fat dairy sources
• Eat 2 servings per week of fish and limit the intake of white or albacore tuna to no more than 6 ounces per week. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish due to high levels of mercury
• Take in most of your carbs as whole grains: brown rice and whole wheat.
• Decrease intake of refined carbs (pastries, breads, pastas)
• Avoid sodas and juices that are full of sugar and calories
• Limit caffeine consumption
• Stay away from processed foods as much as possible
• Eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full
• Give in to your cravings once and a while, but try to limit the amount of food you consume
• Create a moderate exercise program that will help keep you energized throughout your pregnancy

With the prevalence of obesity in America, especially in young children, there has been much effort made to try and prevent it with education, better food choices in schools and now prescription drugs. Available for both adults and children, anti-obesity drugs are the latest attempt to curb appetite and are prescribed only in cases where weight loss would save the individual’s life. Many companies are scrambling to jump on the bandwagon with their own version of anti-obesity drugs that suppress appetite.

Anti-obesity drugs typically do one of the following:

-Suppression of the appetite

-Sibutramine (Meridia)

-Increase of the body’s metabolism

-Blockage of cannabinoid receptors in the brain

-Rimonabant, an experimental drug currently available in Europe

- Interference with the body’s ability to absorb specific nutrients in food

-Orlistat (Xenical and Allī) blocks fat breakdown, preventing fat absorption

Many studies have been published recently to document these effects. A recent study I read about Rimonabant proves that weight loss drugs given to children are showing negative effects regarding brain development. While Rimonabant may suppress appetite by blocking cannabinoid receptors in the brain, it has been shown that this drug affects the adaptive rewiring of the brain necessary for neural development in children. These drugs may facilitate weight loss over a period of time, but the long-term health benefits of taking them remain unclear and the safety of these drugs is still being determined. Anti-obesity drugs are marketed to Americans on a daily basis primarily through advertisements on the internet and television. Many are available over the counter, raising concerns of just how far the obesity “problem” is going to go. It provides people with a quick fix for weight problems and prevents them from developing habits that will lead to a healthier lifestyle. There is still a large risk in taking these drugs. I believe that America’s obesity problem can be fixed, and it can be done the old-fashioned way.