Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States, it's the eighth leading cause of death. Diabetes is characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood, which can lead to various health problems, including nerve damage, kidney damage, heart disease, and vision loss.

What is Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a form of autoimmune disease that develops when the body's immune system attacks and damages the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is necessary for glucose to enter cells and be used for energy, so a lack of insulin can lead to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. This condition commonly affects children and young adults.

In contrast, type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is a metabolic disorder that usually affects adults. In this type of diabetes, the body either becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels effectively. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with risk factors such as obesity, poor dietary habits, and sedentary lifestyles.

What are the Possible Causes?

The exact causes of diabetes are unknown, but there are several risk factors that can increase your chances of developing the condition. These risk factors include:

• Family history of diabetes
• Obesity or being overweight
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Poor diet, especially one high in processed foods and sugar
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels

What are the Early Signs?

Early signs of diabetes can include:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow healing wounds
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to see your healthcare provider to get tested for diabetes.

What Type of Supplements Can Help with Diabetes and How?

Supplements can be a useful addition to a diabetes management plan. They may help improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes. It's important to note that supplements are not a substitute for medical treatment or a healthy lifestyle, but they can be used as a complementary therapy.

1. Chromium: Chromium is a mineral that plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism. It helps insulin to function properly, which can improve blood sugar control. Several studies have shown that chromium supplementation can reduce fasting blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. The recommended dose of chromium for diabetes management is 200 to 1000 mcg per day.

2. Magnesium: Magnesium is an essential mineral that is involved in many physiological processes, including glucose metabolism. Studies have shown that magnesium supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Magnesium deficiency is common in people with diabetes, so supplementation may be necessary. The recommended dose of magnesium for diabetes management is 200 to 600 mg per day.

3. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA): Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation in people with type 2 diabetes. It may also help reduce neuropathy symptoms, which can be a complication of diabetes. The recommended dose of ALA for diabetes management is 600 to 1200 mg per day.

4. Berberine: Berberine is a plant extract that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. Berberine may also have cardiovascular benefits, which are important for people with diabetes who are at increased risk of heart disease. The recommended dose of berberine for diabetes management is 500 to 1500 mg per day.

5. Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a spice that has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood sugar control. It may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce fasting blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The recommended dose of cinnamon for diabetes management is 1 to 6 grams per day.

6. Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a nutrient that plays an important role in glucose metabolism. Several studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D deficiency is common in people with diabetes, so supplementation may be necessary. The recommended dose of vitamin D for diabetes management is 1000 to 4000 IU per day.

What are the Healthy Lifestyles and Activities Can Help Diabetes or Prevent It?

A healthy diet and lifestyle are essential for managing diabetes and preventing complications. Here are some tips for healthy living with diabetes:

• Follow a balanced diet that's high in fiber, low in processed foods and sugar, and includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Get regular exercise, aiming for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week.
• Maintain a healthy weight, as obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes.
• Manage stress through activities such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.
• Quit smoking, as smoking increases the risk of complications in people with diabetes.

What are Prenatal Vitamins?

During your pregnancy, it’s essential that you eat a healthy diet throughout the term. However, it’s likely that you aren’t getting all the vitamins you require, due to food or dietary restrictions. Whether this is true or not, it’s always a good idea to look into taking prenatal vitamins, as they’ll be able to cover any nutritional holes in your diet. While prenatal vitamins contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, the most important ones include folic acid, calcium, iodine and iron.

The Essential Nutrients

Taking folic acid on a regular basis will help in the prevention of neural tube birth defects, a condition that can affect both the brain and spinal cord. This birth defect can develop in the first 28 days prior to conception, a time period when most women don’t even know that they’re pregnant. To ensure a healthy pregnancy, planned or not, women should take 400 mg of folic acid before conception until around the 12th week of your pregnancy. There are many foods that contain folic acid, including leafy green vegetables, nuts, beans, citrus fruits and more.

Calcium is important for pregnant women to consume because it increases bone density. As the fetus grows, it needs calcium as well for proper bone growth. Additional calcium ensures that both the mother and child have strong and healthy bones. Added iron in your diet will help blood in you and your baby carry more oxygen. Iodine, the last of the essential nutrients, is critical during pregnancy. This nutrient helps in the functionality of a healthy thyroid. A lack of iodine can not only stunt the physical development of the baby, but it can also cause severe mental disability and deafness. In worse case scenarios, it can lead to a miscarriage or stillbirth.

When taking prenatal vitamins, it’s necessary that you consume ones that carry the full nutritional amount that you need. As mentioned before, you’ll need to take 400 mg of folic acid a day. In terms of the other nutrients above, make sure any prenatal vitamins you take include at least 200 to 300 mg of calcium, 17 mg of iron and 150 micrograms of iodine.

Side Effects?

Are there any side effects to taking prenatal vitamins you should be aware of? Well, some vitamins have been known to cause nausea, particularly in women who already experience nausea during pregnancy. While this can be normal, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about it. They may prescribe a different prenatal vitamin that better suits your body.

At 12 Baskets Nutrition and Health, we’ve been providing our customers with health and wellness services for over 20 years. Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, we’re a trusted health food store that specializes in all things natural, including food, supplements and vitamins, beauty products and more. We’re your trusted Canadian health store, with a staff that’s happy to help the community enrich their quality of life. Be sure to visit any one of our health store locations throughout the Lower Mainlands, or browse through our website at www.12baskets.com.

Suddenly being responsible for a small human being can be terrifying. There are many opinions about what should and shouldn’t be done when caring for a newborn baby. To narrow it down, here are several ways to care for your child in the first few weeks of their life.

Follow-up Appointments
Your newborn needs to have a follow-up appointment when they’re three to five days old, as well as seven to fourteen days old. This can be arranged while you’re in the maternity unit with the help of your nurse or as you’re leaving. Choosing a doctor is simple as you can choose between your family doctor, a new one entirely or a pediatrician.

Bathing
Your baby should be fully bathed once or twice a week, regardless of whether or not their umbilical cord is attached. The ideal temperature for maximum comfort is 75°F. To prepare, make sure you have clean baby clothes, towels, soap and a diaper nearby. Fill the sink or bathing tub with enough water to cover your baby so they don’t get cold before gently easing them in.

Choose the most comfortable position for both you and your baby as you wash their face and eyes with only water. Once that’s done, you can add mild baby soap and wash the rest of their body. Use a soft nailbrush to wash their hair. When you're finished, be sure to dry the umbilical cord, skin and hair thoroughly.

Dry Skin
Newborns don’t usually need lotion for any dry areas that may appear, but for extremely dry or split skin, apply olive oil or natural botanical oils such as Weleda’s Baby Comforting Calendula Flower Oil. If you prefer using lotion, choose something without perfumes or dyes. Bathing can dry out a baby’s skin, so don’t do it often and use a minimal amount of soap.

Fingernails
While very fine, a baby’s fingernails can be sharp and cut their faces. The safest method is to use a nail file to shorten nails, or you can try baby nail clippers. Using adult clipper can potentially cut the tip of their fingers or toes. Sleeping is the best time to do this and only needs to be done once a week.

Diapering
First, clean the newborn’s bottom with a warm washcloth. For girls, always clean front to back, and gently between the folds. White discharge is normal and temporary if you spot any. For boys, make sure to clean all the folds and creases. Don’t pull back the foreskin for cleaning if your child isn’t circumcised, as this will happen naturally during puberty.

When applying the diaper, try to keep it below the umbilical cord so it can dry out more quickly. Any pinkish or red staining on the diaper is normal for the first three to four days, indicating that they need to be fed as often as possible.

Clothing
Dress your baby for whatever temperature is in the room. If it’s around 70°F, a shirt, gown and blanket will do. As they get older, it’s safe to turn the temperature down to 62°F at the most. You’ll be able to tell if your child is too warm, as their skin will be hot to the touch and sweat will appear. Extreme heat can cause a heat rash. If their body is warm but their feet and hands are cool, they’ve reached the ideal temperature.

Going Outside
As they’re still quite vulnerable to illnesses, keep your newborn away from large crowds and avoid anyone who’s sick at all costs.

At 12 Baskets Nutrition & Health Co., we are a trusted Canadian retailer for natural health supplements and products. With stores across the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, our staff is dedicated to enriching the quality of life for each of our customers. Our 20+ year success is grounded in our passion for all things natural, spreading its healing effects throughout the community.

Visit our website www.12baskets.com for a full list of products.

Mouth sores or ulcers can be painful. These tiny inflamed irritants can pop up on your tongue or in your mouth when you least expect them. Although they are not contagious, they can be a when you’re having meals, brushing your teeth, sipping a hot drink or digging into spicy food. Worse, they can take days or weeks to heal.

More About Mouth Ulcers

The more common mouth ulcers are called Aphthous ulcers or canker sores. There are several factors that cause them.

Stress: Like most big and small ailments, stress is a major reason for ulcers. This is why you may find them right before you head out for that job interview, important presentation or a house move. If the stress lingers for days, they take their time to disappear.

Lack of Sleep: If you’ve had late nights for a few days in a row or suffer from insomnia, watch out! You may be in for an ulcer.

Stomach Ailments: Those prone to indigestion, constipation or gastrointestinal diseases quite often suffer from these annoying sores.

Vitamin B Deficiency: Skipping green leafy vegetables? Think twice. There’s a painful consequence for an improper diet. Lack of essential nutrients can lead to mouth ulcers. So can food allergies, hot and spicy foods.

Once the ulcers pop up, they can be hard to get rid of. You can apply honey or glycerin several times a day until they disappear to ease the burning sensation. There are over-the-counter ulcer gels to provide to prevent future occurrences, you may as well find ways to sleep better, beat stress, improve your diet, and take vitamin B supplements to boost your immune system. These ulcers take time to heal and tend to recur if you don’t take precautions.

The ABC of Vitamin B

Mouth ulcers are a common ailment that affects one in five adults. They are best treated by boosting overall health through vitamin B supplements. The Vitamin B group comprises of eight substances that play a key role in cellular metabolism. Since they dissolve easily in water and get flushed out daily, it is important to replenish them regularly.


Vitamin B has a wide range of functions. It speeds metabolism, growth and development; aids digestion and promotes cell regeneration. Supplements rejuvenate the body, boost the immune system and release a burst of energy to the cells. Vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid also boost cardiovascular health and neurodegenerative diseases.

Vitamin B2: Vitamin B2 or riboflavin is essential for the development of skin and body tissues, mucous membranes and the immune and nervous systems. The lack of this vitamin can manifest as skin lesions around the corners of the mouth and tongue. Although it doesn’t specifically cause cankers, your mouth turns with cracks and fissures in and around the lips.

Vitamin B7: Also called biotin, B7 is recommended for cellular growth and metabolism of amino acids. Deficiency of this vitamin can result in rashes around the mouth that can turn.

Vitamin B12: Those who suffer from recurrent canker sores have been found to be deficient in vitamin B12 called specifically. Both Harvard Medical School and The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine say that a nightly dose of 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 is an easy and effective way to prevent recurrent canker sores. The deficiency is more prevalent in those over 50 years old since the stomach produces less amino acids and nutrients that aid digestion.

The B vitamins work best in synergy with each other so you need a high dose of Vitamin B complex to combat these disorders.

12 Baskets Nutrition and Health Co.

We are your local health food store and have been dedicated to enriching your quality of life for over 20 years. You and your family’s wellness are our top priority. Our success is grounded by our passion for bringing natural healing products to you. We offer an impressive selection of health products from supplements to skin care at low prices to help you start or continue on your holistic health journey effectively. Drop by to pick up yours today or consult our specialists to understand the best brands for you.

For some of us, spring and summer mean avoiding nature at all costs while we dust our houses with hazmat suits on. We want to enjoy going outside, but sneezing every few seconds and having itchy eyes prevent us from truly experiencing a good time outdoors. If you are tired of relying on over the counter pills to combat your seasonal allergies, try these five natural allergy relief remedies.

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You may not know it, but you could be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. Covering up when you are outside, especially in the winter, causes you to block the major source of vitamin D in your body, the sun. Using sunblock during summer months also prevents your body from absorbing the correct amount of vitamin D it needs to function properly.

Vitamin D is essential for growth and development as it regulates the functions of over 200 genes in your body. Vitamin D is regulated in your body when your skin is influenced by ultraviolet radiation from the sun, or through daily intake of vitamin D supplements.

Back before the 1930’s rickets (severe childhood vitamin D deficiency) affected around 85% of children born in the US and Europe. With the advent of fortified milk and infant formula with vitamin D, it is now an uncommon problem with babies. However, those problems are now affecting elderly people and a small population of younger people who are not conscience about the dangers of not getting enough vitamin D.

Elderly people who spend a lot of time indoors, people who live in northern climates, and people who protect their skin with sunscreen at every given moment when outside are the most likely people to get a vitamin D deficiency. Without taking the right precautions to increase vitamin D intake in at-risk individuals, health complications may occur.

Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency can cause minor or extremely major problems, depending on the type of vitamin D you are not receiving. The minor problems that come with a lack of vitamin D include bone pain, muscle weakness, a higher risk of falling and fragility fractures.

Major problems occur when your vitamin D3 is deficient. These problems can include diabetes, depression, obesity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. A lack of vitamin D3 can also cause Alzheimer’s or contribute to the development of breast, prostate, and colon cancers.

Sources of Vitamin D

The sun is the most prevalent source of vitamin D we can find on Earth. It can provide us with up to 90% of our daily vitamin D intake. It is recommended that a person should be exposed to sunlight for 10-30 minutes a day while 40% of their skin is exposed. House and car windows, plus copious amounts of clothes block essential UVB rays, so make sure you are outside and properly exposed to get the vitamin D you need.

Some populations live in latitudes where the UVB light from the sun cannot properly reach humans to produce the right amount of vitamin D in their skin. Taking vitamin D supplements are required to offset the lack of exposure to the sun.

Some foods, including egg yolk, fatty fish, fortified milk, cereal, and margarine are sources of vitamin D, although they don’t contain a lot of vitamin D.

 

All credit goes to 12 Baskets Nutrition and Health Co.

Need some last minute gifts? Look no further. 12 Baskets has some affordable stocking stuffers for every person in your life.

For the man in your life: ALBA BOTANICA ALOE MINT CREAM SHAVE 227G - $4.95 CAD 

Description

Signature Ingredient: Cooling peppermint and antioxidant-rich green tea refresh the skin as nutrient-rich aloe provides for healthy skin renewal.

Product Description: Enriched with jojoba, vitamin E and organic botanicals, this highly concentrated, soap-free formula delivers a smooth and soothing shave with lasting comfort. Clean, refreshing and familiar you’ll love the tingly, cool finish.

Features and Benefits: This hydro-active cream provides ideal protection against drying and chafing while maximizing absorption of water, to lift and soften unwanted hair for effortless razor glide, thus reducing the risk of nicks, cuts, and irritation. Formulated for men and women. Who should use this product? For all skin types.

For the woman who wants smooth skin: THE SOAP WORKS EMU OIL 120 G - $1.95 CAD

Description

A deep penetrating natural emollient for softening and moisturizing skin. Naturally contains linoleic & oleic fatty acids and Vitamins E & A. For dry, irritated or damaged skin – won’t clog pores.

Emu oil is an excellent moisturizer. We enrich the bar with emu oil rather than convert the oil into soap. That way the emu oil is unchanged and its benefits are not lost or adulterated. We put in as much extra emu oil as the bar can take without becoming too soft to keep its shape. You feel the richness when you grasp the bar.

Direction: Lather, wash and rinse.

For the person with dry, cracked lips: BURT'S BEES TINTED LIP OIL #604 CARAMEL CLOUD 1.18 ML - $9.95 CAD 

Description

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Oil gives your lips a natural kiss of color while hydrating and smoothing your lips. This non-sticky formula leaves a subtle glossy finish in a sheer coral shade. The lightweight texture nourishes lips with coconut and meadowfoam seed oils to keep lips moist, soft and smooth. Apply this lip tint oil on bare lips or over your lipstick. This click and twist pen has a soft brush applicator, making application easy to get dazzling shine and a hint of gorgeous color. This product is made with 100% natural ingredients and the packaging is 100% recyclable. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Oil pampers your lips with a luminous shine and a hint of tint.

Direction: To activate the tinted lip oil pen, twist the bottom and click approximately 10-15 times. Apply as needed for natural glowing lips.

For mother and child: AROMAFORCE SWEET ALMOND BASE OIL 250 ML - $8.89 CAD

Description

Sweet almond oil softens skin when itchy.
Recommended for irritations, cracks, eczema and diaper rash.
Can prevent stretch marks.
First pressed sweet almond oil.

Direction: In massage, against itching and inflammations. Sweet almond oil has emollient and softening effects and is indicated for both baby hygiene and delicate and dry skin. When used long-term, it can prevent stretch marks.

 

All credit goes to 12 Baskets Nutrition and Health Co.