Posts Tagged ‘core’

Lets Take A Closer Look At International Fish Oil Standard

In the quest for searching the best quality fish oil products most of us rely on known quality standards. Most popular one is IFOS, International Fish Oil Standard.
But have you ever given it a thought that what exactly is it? Who they are? How to they test? What are the parameters?

With the growing popularity of omega 3 more and more people are demanding these supplements and therefore more and more players are entering the market. With recent scientific studies reporting high contamination levels in sea water and hence in all marine by products it becomes all the more important that there should be one central agency that regulates the standards so that there is not room left for cheap or ineffective products.

IFOS is an international program that tests the omega 3 health supplements for various safety standards as mentioned by World Health Organization and Council for Responsible Nutrition so that these supplements are safe for human consumption.

This standard is different from ISO and Good Manufacturing Practices because both these standards concentrate more on the process where as International Fish Oil Standard focuses on the purity of end product. If a company follows an ISO 9001 process it means that the process to manufacture is well documented and followed every time. They do not deviate from the process but that does not guarantee best quality of the end product. It may be useful to a certain extent but it can no way tell you about the level of toxins present in the end product.

IFOS tests products on four parameters -

Concentration
This is a one to one comparison of level of DHA/EPA present in the product vs. as claimed on the label. If you examine the label of any fish oil you will see that presence of DHA is mentioned like 200mg per 1000mg. These tests make sure that manufacturer is not supplying misleading information to the customer. If the product is IFOS compliant then you can find the true levels mentioned in the product report.

Purity and Safety
This checks for the levels of harmful chemicals like Mercury, PCBs and Furans.According to CRN standards the level of Mercury and PCBs should be 90ppb and 100ppb (ppb = Parts Per Billion) respectively and as per WHO standard Furans should be 2ppt (Parts per Trillion). If you take a look at the safety report of the product you will come that if your product is actually following safety standards or not.

Stability
This tells about the oxidation levels of the fish oil gels. These are core chemistry related details; instead of getting into details let us just keep ourselves limited to understanding that the lower the oxidation the better it is for us.

Presence of Heavy Metals like Lead, Arsenic, Nickel etc.
All these are toxic chemicals that are very very harmful for human beings. If the level of these chemicals should be below the safety limit as suggested by WHO only then the fish oil is considered safe for human consumption.

Companies that produce omega 3 can enroll in this program and get their product tested for purity and freshness. The certificate from International Fish Oil Standard is a clear indication of credibility.

If you are looking for a healthy omega 3 supplement for your family then make sure that the products that you buy follow IFOS or a standard which is stricter than them. You can find all this information on the website of the company.

This is the easiest way to stay away from the cheap products and select the best and effective supplements that give long lasting results to you and your family. If you want to learn more about omega 3 supplements and there benefits; visit my <a target=”_blank” href=”http://omega3brief.com”>website</a> where I have listed them in detail.

Chuck Blake is an active researcher and consumer of fish oil products.Visit his website http://omega3brief.com today to learn more about the powerful benefits of omega-3 fish oils.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/lets-take-a-closer-look-at-international-fish-oil-standard-1363618.html

Improve Core Strength and Abs with Fitness Ball Training

The main reason that a fitness ball is great for all kinds of exercise is their instability. Whenever you are sitting or balancing on the ball, you are constantly adjusting your muscles just to keep from falling off. Overall, some of the best benefits of using a fitness ball include:

- Easy to use
- Increases endurance, strength and flexibility
- Improves functional body movement
- Tones muscle
- Improves balance, alignment and posture
- Can easily target your lower back and abs

By adding some fitness ball exercises to your routine, you can take advantage of the unique qualities of the ball. By having to constantly manage your balance, you are forced to put more effort into each exercise. These exercises can strengthen core muscles and help to define your abs.

Leg Raises

A very basic route for use with a fitness ball. Lie down with your stomach on the ball, and alternately raise your arms and legs. First lift your left arm straight in front of you, while simultaneously lifting your right leg behind you. Then switch.

This exercise helps work your core muscles as you manage your balance during the moves. It may seem very simple, but you’ll be surprised at the challenge.

Hip Extension

For this exercise, lay down on the floor, lying on your back. Put your feet up on the ball, keeping your knees bent at a 90 degree angle. Keep your feet on the ball and lift your hips while keeping your shoulders and upper back on the floor. Your pelvis should be in line with your knees, and your belly button sucked in slightly. This is great for developing your abs and strengthening your core.

Pelvis Tilt

Add this to your regular abs workout and you have that 6-pack in no time. Of course, no exercise will do that alone. You’ll have to lose those extra pounds so your newly toned abs can be seen.

With your feet flat on the floor, rest your waist and back on your fitness ball. Lift your pelvis and hips a few inches, then lower back onto the ball. Make sure you use your abs for this movement and not just your legs.

Abdominals and Obliques

You’ll work both your abs and obliques with this exercise. Lie back on the ball with your feet on the floor, and knees at a 90 degree angle. Cross your arms over your chest. Tighten your abs as you curl your upper body forwards. Each time you curl up, twist to the right and then to the left.

These are just a few examples of how a fitness ball can add variety to your workout and help work your core muscles.

Douglas Robson is the editor of My-Healthy-Lifestyle-Choices.com, your guide to a fit and healthy life. Find more information about the best core fitness training at his site.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/improve-core-strength-and-abs-with-fitness-ball-training-1486243.html