Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Prevent Hair Loss and Baldness With Vitamin B

If you are already suffering with hair loss or afraid that baldness is indeed within your very near future, listen up.

Vitamin B is essential for many aspects of human functioning and growth. It is also a very important element which can help you from losing your hair at an early age.

Vitamin B3 and Vitmain B6 supplements certainly cannot harm you if you are a heathly individual, and when you take the recommended dosages. But, as with all supplements, it is a very good idea to consult with your physician before you start a daily routine.

It is possible that some medications or underlying circumstance could interfer with vitamin supplements and cause you problems. With that said, talk to your doctor first, please.

Other vitamins you want to consider for balding problems, in addition to B include vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Biotin.

You can get all of these necessary elements from the food you eat, but most people do not get the proper daily nutrition they need. Therefore, supplementation works in addition to your diet, and also works as preventative maintenance for a number of bodily functions, with hair loss being only one of them.

So to summarize, you can treat your thinning hair by taking the following supplements daily: Vitamin B (preferably B Complex), vitamin A, vitmain E, and biotin.

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Monday, January 28, 2008

Antioxidant Vitamin Benefits

One of the major benefits of antioxidant vitamins is that they neutralize the free radicals in our body.

What are free radicals? Well, to name a few, free radicals are responsible for degenerative diseases, cancers, heart disease, and poor immune systems. They (free radicals) destroy the good cells in our body.

What are antioxidant vitamins? They include vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene. Other than the above supplementals, natural antioxidants include flavonoids, organosulfurs, isoflavones, and sterols.

If you eat a good balanced diet everyday, you should get a good supply of each and every one of these antioxidants from fruits and vegetables. How many of us eat a good, well balanced diet everyday? This is where supplements help us. When you take antioxidant supplements on a daily basis you are more likely to get the proper amount you need. Your body becomes stronger and less likey to fail you in fighting off many diseases and disorders.

Aside from fruits and vegetables, some flavonoids give the same benefit of antioxidant vitamins. These flavanoids can be found in tea (both green and dark), dark chocolate, apples, onions, red wine and red grape juice.

This is not to say that by taking antioxidant supplements (nor flavanoids) daily will guarantee you excellent health. They are a preventative measure. With constantly giving your immune system a boost, you are less likely to contract diseases and disorders that break down your body.

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Monday, January 21, 2008

Vitamins That Keep Your Skin Healthy

Vitamin B complex aids skin that may be cracking, bleeding, or prone to lesions (which can be especially dangerous in diabetics). Though hand lotions and cremes serve to hydrate and give some temporary relief, you need to evaluate your diet to make sure you are getting enough B complex daily.

Equally important are Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, as they keep your skin healthy and help in controlling damage from free radicals and environmental contaminants. Free radicals can cause the destruction of collagen and elastin, which are fibers that support the skin.

Vitamin C attributes to our production of collagen, which slowly diminishes with the aging process. It is this reduction of collagen that causes lines and wrinkles in old skin.

I might also add that collagen is also found not only in our skin, but also in our muscles, tendons, and bones.

Studies have shown that when used together Vitamin C and E can actually repair sun-damaged skin. Research has also shown that a topical solution containing both Vitamin A and Vitamin C, in some cases, can reverse damage done by sun-damage and the natural aging process.

Deficiencies of Vitamin A can adversely affect skin by causing flakiness and dryness. Dryness not only causes itching, but it can also lead to lines and wrinkles.

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Friday, January 18, 2008

How B Vitamins Aid The Digestive System

The family of B vitamins (B Complex) aid many of our bodily functions, but today we're going to look specifically at how they help our digestive system.

Having a good supply of Thiamin (B1) serves us with a good appetite for eating. Since it also aids our nervous system, it is also important for those involuntary movements of digestion.

Niacin (B3) keeps the surfaces of our digestive tract healthy. It also promotes good general functioning to keep the digestive system healthy. The tongue too is considered part of this process, therefore it needs sufficient B3 to do its part well.

B9 maintains the gastrointestinal tract. You may also know vitamin B9 as folic acid or folate, as they are one in the same.

Finally, bacteria within the digestive tract produces vitamin K. Vitamin K helps our blood to clot.

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Monday, January 14, 2008

Antioxidant Vitamin C

Also is known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C plays a very important role in many of the body functions, and is especially beneficial to the defense system.

You've probably heard people say to "drink plenty of orange juice" when you get a cold. OJ is one of the many natural sources of this defense fighting compound. It helps to fight off foreign substances that invade the body, and it strengthens your immune system. By ingesting large amounts, it can help 'push' that cold right out of your body.

Be careful with large doses though. When taken excessively this antioxidant can very easily give you diarrhea. This can be both good and bad. When you reach the stage of diarrhea, your system is being flushed to rid it of the cold or flu you may be experiencing. That is a the good thing. The bad thing is you must be careful not to dehydrate your body. Drink plenty of fluids such as water, hot tea, and fruit juices until you are back to feeling like your old self again.

Vitamin C and all antioxidant vitamins work with your bodys' natural defense system to rid it of free radical. Therefore, it aids you agaainst many diseases.

Another aspect of this vitamin is that it helps the formation of collage, which is found in the skin, teeth, and bones.

It is advisable to include C daily in recommended amounts as a means of protection. Bump up your consumption when illness strikes.

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Saturday, January 12, 2008

Vitamin D And Your Bones

Vitamin D helps our body in absorbing calcium, which is necessary for good bone and teeth structure. Bone structure is important to us all, but it is especially important for beginning and older life stages.

Pregnant women should be sure to consume enough bone vitamins and minerals to aid their baby's development. Once the child is born, proper daily nutrition is essential for these and all vitamins and minerals needed for growth.

The majority of our vitamin D consumption is absorbed from the sunlight through our skin. Though a few food sources also contain it, just a few minutes of sunshine each day can do more for you and give you that daily requirement.

Our bones contantly regenerate all through the life cycle. What happens is that we both lose and replace calcium, as it is a never-ending process. As we move on up in years, our loss of calcium becomes faster than replacement, thus bone loss is an extremely important issue for senior adults. Though osteoporosis is more common in women than men, it is an important issue for all seniors. Fractures of the bone at this stage in life can have devastating effects, especially if your overall health is also declining.

Along with calcium, two other minerals work together with the D vitamin to aid our bones. Magnesium and phosphorus should also be consumed in daily recommended amounts, as they all work together to maintain adequate bone density and structure.

If you do not eat well balanced meals and rely on supplements for maintaining your bones, be sure you are taking each supplement in its correct ratio.

I might also mention that Vitamin D is also important for a strong immune system.

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Friday, January 11, 2008

Vitamin K Sources, Benefits, and Deficiencies

Vitamin K is one of the important fat-soluble vitamins that plays significant role in blood coagulation. Our body stores vitamin K and other fat-soluble vitamins in fatty tissues. Vitamin K deficiencies are rare in practice; however, it is mostly prominent as one of the apparent side effects of long-term antibiotic treatment.

Sources of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is abundant in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce. Cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and broccoli are one of the important vitamin K sources. Green leafy vegetables satisfy almost half of the dietary needs of vitamine K supplements. Apart from that, vitamin K is plenty in wheat bran, organic meats, cereals, kiwis, avocados, bananas, meats, dairy products, eggs and other soy products.

Chicken egg yolk, cow liver, butter and cheese offer you plenty of vitamin K1, an essential dietary form of vitamin K. It is also known as phylloquinone. It is also available in mayonnaise.

Functions of Vitamin K

Vitamin K functions at different levels in our body system. It significantly affects the blood coagulation process occurred in the liver. An active haemostatic nutrient vitamin K offers a whole host of benefits in treating anticoagulant-induced prothrombin deficiency. Vitamin K functions as a coenzyme in the production of gamma-carboxylic enzymes. It also aids in translating inactive precursors into active coagulation elements.

Vitamin K consists of anti-osteoporotic property. But the exact mechanism is not yet clear. Essentially, there are two types of proteins found in the bones. These proteins largely depend on vitamin K content. These are crucially important in bone mineralization. Hence, vitamin K is responsible for bone strengthening.
Vitamin K also possesses antioxidant property. Hence it protects body and skin to fight against free radicals. Synthetically produced vitamin K has anti-tumor property.

Deficiencies of Vitamin K

Vitamin K deficiencies may occur to any one; however, newborns are highly susceptible in developing such deficiencies. Breast milk is typically not sufficient to fulfill the nutritional needs in many cases, so is true in the case of vitamin K. As much as 20 percent of the total requirement for vitamin K is supplied with breast milk. In general, infants are born having low level of vitamin K in their body. In addition, they do not possess any vitamin K producing bacteria within their intestine. Quite obviously, their digestive tracts are germ-free. This inevitably results in a variation of vitamin K deficiencies. This condition is known as hemorrhagic disorder for infants. If an infant is suffering from this condition, he or she may start experiencing continuous bleeding underneath the skin. However, it is indeed an atypical case and occurs 1 among 100 infants. In rare occasion, it causes mortality as well.

Although vitamin K deficiencies are not common among adults, it is quite apparent among people suffering from health conditions that avert from fat absorption in the body. These health conditions include cholestasis, cystic fibrosis and celiac disease. People suffering from fistula, obstructive jaundice, Crohn’s disease, intestinal bypass, and steatorrhea are on high risk of vitamin K deficiency. Adults on prolonged antibiotic treatment may suffer from vitamin K deficiencies. It is mainly occurred due to the fact that antibiotics kill the essential germs living within the digestive tract. In fact, intestinal bacteria fulfill the daily needs for vitamin K. Vitamin K deficiencies may result in bleeding gums or infected skin area.

Prevention

Typically, vitamin K deficiencies are not of a concern for the mass. However, infants and young children are always at high risk. Green vegetables, dairy products, eggs, soy products, canola oil and olive oil are good source for vitamin K and help in preventing vitamin K deficiencies.

Toxicity

Till date, no adverse effect has been reported against the usage of vitamin K, even when it is used in mega dosages. However, synthetic production of vitamin K may cause negative effects, if used in larger dosages. The toxic effects may result in various health complications such as kernicterus, hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/vitamin-k-sources-benefits-and-deficiencies-289187.html




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The Benefits Of Liquid Vitamin Supplements

It is estimated that the body can absorb liquid vitamin supplements approximately 5 times faster than the pill form. Of course, everyone's body reacts differently, so that is merely an estimate.

The fact is, liquid is much easier to swallow, thus many people are more likely to take their supplemental vitamins in this form. Myself, I hate taking pills of any kind, so taking a swig is part of my daily routine.

You can take it straight from the bottle or dropper, or add it to water, juice, or some other beverage, if the taste bothers you.

Typically, this form will also contain a combination of both vitamins and minerals, again, making your daily dose much simplier to swallow.

By comparison you will probably find the cost of liquid vitamins to be cheaper to purchase than all of those many bottles of vitamin pills.

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