Monday, August 28, 2006

Roles Of Vitamin B2 In Human Health And Functioning

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a member of the group of eight vitamins that make up the nutritional powerhouse known as the Vitamin B complex. These vitamins are vital to the functioning of the body in almost every way, playing important roles in each of the bodily systems.

In addition to their powerful influence on the physical health of the body, the Vitamin B complex is essential to mental functioning, including cognition and the stability of emotional response. Vitamin B2 has many roles in human health and functioning.

Vitamin B2 is an essential part of the fundamental workings of the blood. It serves in the production of red blood cells, the means by which oxygen, vital to every cell in the body, is transported through the circulatory system. It is also essential in the production of antibodies and the body’s absorption of iron.

It serves the digestive system by helping the body to make use of the energy potential in carbohydrates. It serves to protect the health of the mucus membranes, especially those that act within the digestive process to keep the foods consumed moving smoothly through the digestive tract. It is a cofactor, or partner, in the metabolism of amino acids, fatty acids, and certain proteins.

Because it plays a role in the regulation of the activity of the thyroid, it is important to normal growth and development, as well as to the reproductive system. Vitamin B2 serves as a cofactor to Vitamin B6, which could not be active within the body without Vitamin B2, in many processes and also helps in making niacin useful to the body.

It also has a role in adrenal gland function. It is important to tissue repair in the body, and helps to keep the skin healthy, as well as the hair and the fingernails and toenails. It is essential to good vision, and may play a role in the prevention of cataracts.

Deficiency in Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, can cause a variety of physical and mental symptoms. Among these are skin disorders that range from simple dermatitis to open sores on the internal and external parts of the mouth, inflammation of the inner mouth and tongue, hair loss, slow or retarded growth, vision problems, itching, burning and watering of eyes, digestive difficulties, tremors, and oily skin.

Mental symptoms include dizziness, slowed mental processes, and insomnia, which can serve to make any and all of the other symptoms much feel worse. Children, depending on size and weight, need between .6mg to .9mg of Vitamin B2 per day. Adult males generally need about 1.3mg daily of Vitamin B2. Adult females require 1.1mg daily, and should increase the daily dosage to 1.5mg if pregnant or breastfeeding.

The Vitamin B complex nutrients are essential to the functioning and health of the body and the mind, and it is important to avoid deficiencies. Nutritional supplements serve as a safe and effective means of guaranteeing that your body has the Vitamin B2 that it needs each and every day.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Zinc And Your Body

Zinc, often ignored by the average person, is an essential mineral that plays many roles in promoting the healthy functioning of the body. It is important to the body from the earliest moments of growth and development and is a fundamental part of health throughout our lives.

We need to be sure to regularly meet the recommended daily income levels of this nutrient, as our health and general well being can be significantly impacted by a failure to do so.

Zinc is an important mineral that serves many vital purposes in the body. Approximately one hundred enzymes rely on the presence of zinc to be effective in their specialized tasks within the body. Zinc has a significant role in the process of physical growth of babies developing in the womb, and for the growth of both children and teenagers.

Zinc is necessary to the synthesis of DNA and serves to keep the senses of taste and smell functioning properly. It helps the body’s immune system to be effective and strong, and it is important to note that even relatively small deficiencies of zinc can adversely impact the functioning of the immune system.

Deficiencies in zinc can cause a variety of symptoms, effecting both physical and mental processes. Among the most common are the slowing of growth of babies in the uterus, as well as the retardation of growth in older children. A lack of zinc can interfere with the maturation of the reproductive organs, as well as interfere with reproductive functions and processes. It can contribute to impotence.

Chronic diarrhea, poor appetite, and thus significant weight loss of the unhealthy and undesirable sort, hair loss, and the slow healing of wounds are all associated with zinc deficiencies. So, too, are open sores on the skin and in the mouth, strange tastes in the mouth, and inefficient or reduced mental functioning, especially cognitive processes.

The nutrients essential to body health and functioning are powerful, and it is important to remember that, just like prescription medicines, exceeding the recommended dosage can cause serious health problems.

In some health circumstances and situations, higher doses of zinc may be indicated, but these should always come with a recommendation from your health care provider or as a result of serious, in-depth research undertaken with the guidance of a nutrition specialist.

Those eating a vegetarian diet must be especially careful about monitoring the zinc levels in their day-to-day nutrition. A dietary supplement containing zinc may be their best option to keeping their zinc levels where they should be, as it is more difficult to obtain all the necessary zinc from plant sources only.

This is especially important for children that are being raised in the vegetarian lifestyle, as zinc is important to normal growth and puberty. The many health benefits of a vegetarian diet do not have to be sacrificed, even for children. A simple and safe zinc supplement is an excellent option for health.

Zinc needs to get the popular recognition it deserves for the vital role it plays in the overall health of the body. For those concerned about their daily zinc intake, a dietary supplement containing the proper dosage of zinc may be the right choice.

Why Folic Acid Is Important

Folic acid is one of the vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex. Also known as folacin and folate, this essential nutrient serves the body in many ways. While important for all age groups, folic acid is especially necessary to pregnant women and important to those entering their elder years.

However, despite all its known benefits, many people fail to meet the recommended daily intake levels, which can have real health consequences.

Folic acid is important from the very first moment of life. In fact, if a couple is even thinking about getting pregnant, the woman should immediately begin to monitor her folic acid consumption, making sure that she meets the suggested daily intake levels.

Most health care professionals recommend that every woman of childbearing age make sufficient folic acid consumption a nutritional priority. That is because this nutrient is vital to the development of the baby from the moment of conception. It can help to prevent serious birth defects in the brain and spine, called neural tube defects.

Spinal Bifida is one of the more well known of these defects. These types of defects usually occur within the first few weeks of development, which means they happen before the average woman even realizes she is pregnant.

Other important functions of folic acid within the body include, in addition to assisting in the formation of genetic material in each and every cell of the body, the formation of red blood cells essential to transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and tissue growth.

Folic acid, according to recent research, has been associated with such health benefits as protection against such debilitating diseases as Alzheimer’s disease, some cancers and heart diseases. It is also thought to offer a certain degree of protection from strokes.

Deficiencies in folic acid can cause a myriad of health problems. Among them are ulcerations in the mouth, inflammation of the tongue, peptic ulcers, and chronic diarrhea. Folic acid deficiency can also contribute to certain kinds of anemia.

Folic acid is a water soluble nutrient, which means it flows out of the body with the urine and the body’s supplies must be replenished daily. Because of its great importance in the reproductive system and the protections it offers, as well as its role in other essential bodily functions, it is a good idea to consider taking dietary supplements to ensure that the recommended daily intake levels are met.

Particularly in the realm of potential birth defects of such a serious and debilitating nature, better safe than sorry should be the philosophy when it comes to folic acid daily intake levels.

When choosing a dietary supplement, it is always important to read and understand the label. That will help you to ensure that you are getting the daily intake levels of the nutrients you seek.

For example, a prenatal vitamin will focus on different nutrients and levels of intake than a general, all-purpose daily multi-vitamin. When planning your supplement use, make an honest assessment of your eating habits. That way, you can select individual supplements that match your individual dietary needs and health goals, and avoid getting too much of some and too little of others.

So much of good health is planning and maintaining a routine that ensures the daily consumption of proper nutrients. Folic acid supplements can offer a safe and sure means of meeting the body’s daily requirements of this essential and protective nutrient.

What Biotin Does For The Body and Mind

Biotin is one of the eight vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex. A comparatively recent addition to the realm of vitamins, after isolating the compound in 1936, it took about 40 years of research before scientists unanimously declared it to be a vitamin. Sometimes referred to as Vitamin H, biotin serves many purposes in the health of the mind and the body.

There are at least four enzymes that require a partnership with biotin to function in the body. Among the purposes of these enzymes is to synthesize fatty acids and to produce glucose. Biotin is also necessary for the production of leucine, which is an essential amino acid.

Recent studies have indicated that biotin has a part in the transcription and replication of DNA. In addition to being necessary for the nervous system to function properly, biotin is associated with the production of neurotransmitters in the brain, including those associated with cognitive function, emotional well being and memory.

The most concentrated sources of biotin come from organ meats, and plant sources tend to contain a much lower concentration of biotin that also tends to be more difficult for the body to use efficiently.

Therefore, those following a vegetarian diet, especial a vegan diet, may want to consider the use of dietary supplements to make sure that their daily requirements for this water-soluble vitamin are being met. Because it washes away in the urine, the body requires a steady, daily supply of this nutrient to maintain peak performance levels.

As with all of the Vitamin B complex vitamins, deficiencies of biotin can have negative consequences for the health of both the body and the mind, some quite serious and some irreversible. Physical symptoms of biotin deficiency include such symptoms as muscle pain, disruptions of the appetite, nausea, diarrhea, dry skin and nails, brittle fingernails, hair loss and fungal infections.

Deficiency in biotin has also been associated with an increase in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, those researchers are still studying the degree of potential connection. Biotin deficiency has been found to negatively affect the body’s natural immune system, and is thought to contribute to fat collecting around the liver and kidneys and malformations of the bones. It can even result in death. Mental symptoms of biotin deficiency include depression, fatigue and negative changes in cognitive function.

Biotin is a nutrient associated with many aspects of physical and mental health. Making sure to meet the recommended daily intake levels is important for all age groups. Pregnant women should pay close attention to the biotin levels in their diet, as biotin is also important for the growth and development of the baby while it is in the uterus.

However, as with any other dietary supplement or medication taken during pregnancy, a qualified health care professional should be consulted to determine the most suitable dosage.

When used with care and according to standard dosage levels, dietary supplements are a safe and efficient means of maintaining the necessary daily biotin levels. In fact, for vegetarians, a dietary supplement containing biotin is probably a very smart choice.

Vitamins And Minerals For The Immune System

Many of us, parents especially, waver during cold and flu season when it comes to making the decision on whether or not to get the flu shot. Each new flu variation that hits the news, especially ones that sound dangerous, such as the avian flu, gives us something new to worry about.

Whatever our yearly decision may be concerning the flu shot, there are proactive things we can do to reduce the risk of colds, flu types and other illnesses and diseases for ourselves and our families. One of the most important of these is using proper nutrition to promote the optimum performance of the body’s natural immune system.

The simple fact of the matter is that, in the rapid pace of modern life, most of us do not eat properly. As we speed through our busy days, too often we succumb to the temptations of drive through cuisine or overly processed, prepared and packaged convenience foods. Most of these types of foods lack the nutrients most important to the healthy functioning of the body’s natural immune system or present them in forms that are inefficient or damaged via processing or cooking.

Vitamin C is one of the many nutrients that are thought to stimulate and strengthen the immune system. This water-soluble anti-oxidant vitamin washes out of the body daily with the release of urine. Thus, the body’s supply of this vital nutrient must be renewed daily. Vitamin C has been shown to help in the production of the white blood cells responsible for fighting infection and illnesses.

Vitamin A, another important anti-oxidant, also plays a role in the production of white blood cells and anti-bodies. Its action against free radicals makes it important to general health, as well as to the proper functioning of the immune system.

The Vitamin B complex is known for its far-reaching positive effects on the health and well being of both mind and body. In addition to its very real influence on the immune system, especially with its role in the levels of a protein called glutathione throughout the cells of the body, it is also good for counteracting the effects of stress on the body. Stress has been shown to be a significant factor in the occurrence and severity of many illnesses and diseases.

Zinc is an important mineral, especially for the immune system. Recent research has shown that even relatively small deficiencies of zinc can have a negative effect on the function of the immune system. In addition to playing a key role in the activation of almost one hundred different enzymes in the body, it also serves in the production of white blood cells and their ability to successfully fight off infection.

These are just a few of the nutrients that play a role in the body’s natural immune system. A little research or a brief consultation with a nutritionist can help you to devise a list of vitamins and minerals that you should pay careful attention to if you are seeking to see to it that your body’s immune system operates at peak performance levels.
For children that lean towards fussy eating habits, or adults that struggle to eat a balanced diet, supplements may be the best option. Prevention is always the best choice and meeting the recommended daily nutritional requirements is an excellent way to stay healthy.

Vitamins And Minerals For The Eyes

Vision is one of our most precious senses. One of the things that we can do daily to protect our eyes from harm is to be sure that each day we consume the recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

As with everything about our bodies, proper nutrition plays an invaluable role in keeping our eyes functioning as well as possible. There are certain nutrients that are known to be especially associated with ocular health.

Among these are the anti-oxidant vitamins. The eye, especially the lens and the retina, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of unchecked free radicals, which are a byproduct of oxygen, cellular processes and environmental contaminants. Anti-oxidant vitamins help to combat free radicals.

The primary anti-oxidant vitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. in addition to their important action against free radicals, they promote healthy cells and tissues in the eye. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are two more valuable anti-oxidants that recent research has found to be especially effective in maintaining the health of the eyes.

In addition to the vitamins that promote ocular health, there are several minerals that have been determined to play a significant role in the health of the eye. Among these are zinc, selenium, manganese, and copper. Zinc is an important mineral that serves to regulate sight, smell and taste and the concentration of zinc in the eye is higher than any other part of the body.

One important function of zinc in relation to the eyes is its role in the regulation of the amount of Vitamin A, essential to eye health, from the liver. People who have a deficiency in selenium have been clinically shown to be more likely to suffer from cataracts.

Recent research into the influence of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients upon the health of the eye has turned up a good deal new information. This has led to the development of specialized dietary supplements designed specifically to promote ocular health. The early results of clinical trials concerning the halting and even reversal of macular degeneration and other age-related eye diseases via specialized nutritional treatments look very promising and research continues at a rapid pace.

Those seeking to benefit from dietary supplements designed to promote ocular health and healing should familiarize themselves with the most common vitamins and minerals in these supplements, doing the research to find out what both the optimum and the safest levels of these nutrients are. Consulting an eye care professional and a licensed nutritionist can be very helpful in planning the best dietary supplement regimen suited to individual dietary needs and health goals.

Making sure that you are achieving the recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is one of the best things you can do for all over health and well being. In terms of eye health, paying close attention to you daily nutrition can make a real difference in the quality of your vision and help to keep your eyes healthy and functioning well for a good, long time. When properly taken, dietary supplements can be a valuable part of any ocular health focused program.

Vitamins And Minerals For Healthy Skin

We all want healthy skin. While the main reasons for pursuing healthy skin tend to be cosmetic in nature – healthy skin is beautiful, and keeps us looking younger than our years – there are practical health benefits to maintaining the health of our skin.

The purpose of the skin is to act as a barrier. It serves to prevent bacteria, viruses and other contaminants from entering the body and causing infection, illness and disease. There are many vitamins and minerals that help to keep skin healthy, and thus able to serve its vital role in the protection of the body.

Anti-oxidant vitamins, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are very important to healthy skin because it is these vitamins that share in the responsibility of controlling the damage that free radicals, byproducts of energy production within the body and of environmental contaminants, produce.

Among the several types of damage done by free radicals is the destruction of collagen and elastin, which are fibers that support the skin. As these are damaged, wrinkles and a lack of that youthful firmness can occur. Vitamin C also plays a part in the production of collagen, making it essential to the function and look of the skin. Recent studies have found that Vitamin C and E, used together may help to repair sun-damaged skin.

Vitamin A has its own important role in skin health and beauty, in addition to its anti-oxidant properties. In terms of diet, even small deficiencies can negatively affect skin, causing flakiness and dryness.

Dryness can make lines and wrinkles that much more apparent. Its primary use, however, is as a topical solution for the treatment of severe acne and the reduction of lines and wrinkles themselves. Recent research has found that a topical solution that contains both Vitamin A and Vitamin C can, in some cases, reverse damage done by the aging process and by sun-damage.

Deficiencies in the Vitamin B complex can leave the skin prone to cracking, bleeding and dangerous skin lesions, that allow all manner of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants to easily enter the body. But in terms of strictly cosmetic concerns, even a little shortage of the Vitamin B complex can result in scaly and poorly textured skin. Topical preparations have been found to play an important role in the hydrating of skin cells, leading to noticeably firmer, healthier looking skin.

Vitamin K has been found to relieve those awful dark circles under the eyes. Some research has found that creams made up of both Vitamin K and Vitamin A are more effective than those that just contain Vitamin K, but researchers are still following up on these results.

Minerals important to the look and health of the skin include selenium, copper and zinc. Selenium, whether used as a topical solution or taken in the form of a dietary supplement is thought to play a role in the prevention of skin cancer. Copper, zinc and Vitamin C work together to form elastin, which helps to support skin, keeping it firm and healthy.

Topical solutions and dietary supplements can help to keep skin healthy and youthful in appearance. However, it is important to recognize that these are powerful substances, and using them within the standard guidelines of dosage is essential to good health. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and the results of too much are not pretty. Used correctly, however, your skin can look better than ever.

Vitamins And Minerals For Healthy And Efficient Functioning Of The Brain

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients can play an important role in memory. Memory is far more than a practical process that allows us to remember where we left the house keys, how to delete those temporary files clogging the system or the password for the ATM card. It is place where we store that which is most precious to us, the cute baby phrases the children soon leave behind, where we were when we decided to get married, and the faces and voices of those beloved that have long since passed away.

Striving each day to reach the standard recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients is an important way to make sure that our capacity for memory last a good long time.

The vitamins that make up the powerful Vitamin B complex are essential to the healthy and efficient functioning of the brain, not only in the sense of maintaining its physical structures, but also in the sense of its cognitive functions and feeling of mental well being. That is because the brain, how we think and what we feel, come from a variety of chemical and electrical interactions.

The success of these interactions depends a great deal upon the balance of chemicals in the brain, which is often a direct result of the nutritional content the brain has to work with. Very simply, it we don’t provide sufficient fuel, the brain will be unable to function at peak performance levels.

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is necessary to the creation of the myelin sheath, which serves to protect the nerves and to speed up its electrical transmissions, which is part of how the brain communicates with itself and part of the production of cognition and emotion. Vitamin B12 is essential for memory and concentration. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, also serves to enable communication between nerves.

Vitamin B9, also called folic acid, has come to the attention of researchers as potentially yield some protection from Alzheimer’s disease. On every level, maintaining the standard daily amount of each of the vitamins in the Vitamin B complex is one of the best things you can do nutritionally to support both the physical structures and the mental functioning of the brain.

The antioxidant vitamins, Vitamin C, E, and A, offer vital protection for the brain by controlling damaging free radicals, which flourish in the brain as, in order to carry out its sophisticated functions, the brain requires a high degree of oxygenation. Selenium is a mineral that partners with Vitamin E, enhancing the work it does. The mineral zinc supports memory, as well, and iron serves to improve concentration. Nourishing the body undoubtedly nourishes the brain.

Vitamins and Minerals Especially Important To The Bones

The structure and health of our bones is dependent upon the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in our bodies. That makes it especially important that we strive to make sure that we meet the standard recommended daily intake levels of the nutrients our bodies need.

In terms of bones, this is especially important for women during pregnancy, for their babies depend upon them to provide the nourishment that those brand new bones need to develop properly before birth.

Calcium serves many purposes in the body, and among the most important is the role calcium has in the structure of our bones. The outer part of our bones, the hard part that protects the inner part, is made of calcium phosphate. 99% of the calcium in our bodies is located in the bones and the teeth.

Calcium is important at all stages of life. It has special importance to the baby the growth and development that takes place in the uterus, as well as to children and adolescents. This is because during this time, the bones are growing rapidly.

Our bones are in a constant state of regeneration, meaning that calcium is lost and replaced. The loss progresses faster as we age, making it more difficult to replace it as fast as it is lost. That means that throughout our lives, we need to be aware of our daily calcium intake.

Our needs increase as we age because of bone loss. If we neglect our calcium, we put ourselves at risk of such debilitating bone diseases as osteoporosis, in which the bones become fragile and fracture easily.

In general, children need about 800mg of calcium per day. Adolescents should have a minimum of 1000mg each day, adult women 1200mg, pregnant or breastfeeding women need about 1500mg per day, as do women who have reached menopause. Adult men should have between 1000mg and 1200mg or calcium per day.

Vitamin D is essential to bone health and structure, as it is a key element in the absorption of calcium. If the body can’t absorb the calcium, it can’t use it. Vitamin D also partners with a variety of other vitamins and minerals in the processes that result in bone mineralization.

Phosphorus is another mineral important to bone structure and health. 85% of the phosphorus in our bodies is found in our bones and teeth. Phosphorus and calcium work together to build bones, and both must be present in adequate amounts. Adults need between 700mg to 900mg of phosphorus per day, and children – depending on age and size – should have between 500mg to 1250mg per day.

Magnesium is also important to the building of bones. Adults need between 310mg and 420mg per day and children should have between 130mg and 240mg per day. Fluorine serves to keep our bones hard. Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin E also partner with other nutrients and contribute greatly to the health, strength and structure of our bones.

Our bones need to last a lifetime. It is essential that we help them to do so by making sure to achieve the standard recommended daily intake levels of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they need. Dietary supplements offer a safe and effective means to do so, when used with care and according to standard recommended dosages.

Variety Of Physical Benefits Attributed To Vitamin K

Vitamin K is among the less well known of the vitamins that are essential parts of a healthy diet. Vitamin K serves many important purposes in the body, and attention to ingesting the recommended daily intake levels is necessary to the overall health of the body. In addition to the benefits to physical health, Vitamin K has also been found to have cosmetic benefits as well.

One of the most important purposes that Vitamin K serves in the body is the control of blood clotting. In fact, it plays a significant role in the production of thrombin, which is one of the most important of the bodily substances related to blood clotting.

Deficiencies can cause frequent nosebleeds and internal bleeding. A deficiency in Vitamin K is particularly serious for infants, especially those who are born prematurely, as it can contribute bleeding in the brain.

Vitamin K is also important to the health of the bones. It is involved both in their formation and in the repair of bones that are fractured or otherwise damaged. Recent studies have found that Vitamin K may help to prevent or at least decrease the severity of osteoporosis and other bone diseases that cause what is called slow bone loss.

There are a variety of other physical benefits attributed to Vitamin K. It is important to the proper growth and development of babies in the uterus. There are very specific birth defects that are associated with Vitamin K deficiency. These include flat nasal bridges, cupped ears, shortened fingers and underdevelopment of the nose, mouth and the middle area of the face.

However, with that said, it is important to remember that high levels of Vitamin K should be avoided during the last trimester of pregnancy because, as with all dietary supplements and medications, too much can be dangerous for the baby.

You should always discuss each and every dietary supplement you take during your pregnancy with your healthcare provider, even if it is something you’ve been taking for years and is a substance you know well.

There are a variety of prescription medications that can interfere with absorption or the body’s ability to use Vitamin K. In fact, high doses of certain vitamins and minerals can do the same.

It is important, then, to discuss your supplement plan with a licensed nutritionist and, if you are taking prescription medications, with your health care provider. Vitamin K is very important to the body and must not be neglected or used incorrectly.

The cosmetic uses of Vitamin K include success in treating those dark circles under the eyes. Because of its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, research has found Vitamin K to be useful in combating the visual signs of the aging of the skin.

Using dietary supplements that contain Vitamin K can be a safe and secure means of making sure that the body meets the daily intake requirements for this essential vitamin, provided that dosage instructions are followed carefully. This is especially important during pregnancy, for although Vitamin K plays a vital role in the normal growth and development of the baby during pregnancy, too much can be toxic.

The Antioxidant Minerals

Because the antioxidant vitamins tend to get most of the press and publicity, many people are unaware that there are also important antioxidant minerals that are essential to the body’s continuous battle against free radicals and the damage they do. Making sure that the proper nutrients are consumed daily is a necessary part of helping the body to be able to keep free radical damage as low as possible.

A mineral, vitamin or other nutrient is deemed antioxidant if it, on its own or as an essential part of a group of substances, it serves to bring free radicals under control. Free radicals are unstable molecules that generally come from both environmental contaminants and some of the body’s natural processes. There are certain minerals that are an integral part of managing the free radical population within the body.

Selenium has come to be recognized as one of the most important of these minerals, though each does play an important role in free radical management. Selenium is an essential component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, and this substance is one that is able to stabilize the free radical.

Since the universal acceptance of the mineral selenium, a trace element, as an essential nutrient during the 1950’s, researchers have been studying the ways that it affects health. In 1973, researchers confirmed the antioxidant properties of the mineral selenium, and since then, numerous studies have demonstrated that it may play a significant role in the prevention of certain types of cancers.

However, it should be noted that excessively high levels of selenium can cause serious health problems – as can deficiencies of selenium – and some studies have found excessively high levels of selenium to be associated with other types of cancer. The body is a delicate balance of a variety of chemicals and substances, and optimum performance requires thought and planning.

The minerals zinc and copper form part of another of the body’s important antioxidant enzymes. This enzyme, called superoxide dismutase, is present in the body in two forms. The first form is found almost everywhere in the body, and it needs zinc and copper to function.

The second form of this important antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase is found specifically in the mitochondria, which is the part of the cell responsible for changing the energy that comes from the various nutrients into a form that can be used by the cells. In this second form of the enzyme superoxide dismutase, it is the mineral zinc and the mineral manganese that are essential to the antioxidant enzyme’s ability to function properly.

Making sure that the body has all of the minerals, vitamins and other nutrients it needs each day is very important for both day-to-day and long-term health and well-being. Dietary supplements are a safe and effective means of seeing that the body does have all of the nutrients it needs for all of its systems to work at peak performance levels, especially those that maintain daily health and those that protect health over the long-term. However, nutritional supplements are powerful agents, and must be used within the established dosage guidelines to be beneficial to the health. Used in this fashion, dietary supplements can serve as a valuable part of any health routine.

Proper Nutrition To Protect Against Aging

During the past thirty years, there has been a steadily growing body of scientific evidence showing that vitamins and minerals play a much more important role in our overall health than previously acknowledged.

The proper balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients has been linked to health benefits that include stronger immune system response, prevention of many degenerative diseases, and the slowing of the daily wear and tear that is the aging process. A well balanced diet, rich in the necessary nutrients, while difficult to achieve in our fast paced culture, has a wide range of benefits.

It is essential to overall health and longevity to keep the immune system functioning well. There are a number of nutrients that have been shown be necessary to our immune function. Antioxidants, such as the vitamins A, C, E, beta carotene, and selenium have been shown to boost immunity.

The minerals zinc and magnesium are also important for immune function. To ensure a beneficial intake of these antioxidants, you must include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Zinc and magnesium can be found in dairy products, and seafood.

Certain vitamins and minerals have been shown to aid in the prevention of some degenerative diseases, and aging disorders. Antioxidants can help to lower the risk of cataracts, and macular degeneration, which are conditions associated with aging. It is also suggested by experts that they can help slow the aging process by reducing the daily cell damage done by environmental pollution, and time.

Vitamin E has been linked with a lower risk of heart disease. Niacin, a B vitamin can help in reducing the level of cholesterol. Some other nutrients that are helpful in protecting against age related disorders are selenium, cartenoids, flavinoids, and some Amino acids.

Proper nutrition via the diet, while definitely achievable, is often a difficult process in today’s fast paced culture, particularly in combination with the social changes we’ve experienced. People often work longer and harder, and the two income family reigns supreme, followed closely by the single parent family unit.

Another difficulty involved in achieving the standard recommended daily intake levels of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients each and every day has to do with food quality. As minerals are depleted from the soil, due to growing practices that include single crop plantings and failure to rotate crops or let field remain fallow to rest and regenerate, as well as through the erosion of topsoil, the mineral content of food is not always what we think it is.

Nutritional supplements offer a reliable and safe means of ensuring that we reach our nutritional goals. Nutritional supplements are not meant to substitute for a good diet, but rather to complement it.
In fact, they tend to perform much better when they have real food to interact with. If you are inexperienced with nutritional supplements, you may benefit from a consultation with a licensed nutritionist who will be able to help you to devise a nutritional supplement plan best suited for your dietary needs and health goals.

Make Sure That Your Body Is Able To Support The Healing Process

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, aside from keeping the internal processes of the body healthy, strong and functioning well, also serve to promote the healing of wounds, both on the external and inner surfaces of the body. The rate at which wounds heal and the quality of the repair tissues depends upon adequate nutrition. There are several vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that affect the healing process.

Vitamin K is essential to the very first step of healing a wound – stopping the bleeding, via the clotting of the blood. Without Vitamin K, healing would not proceed, as the blood would not clot. Vitamin K partners with the mineral calcium in the production of the body’s primary clotting agent, thrombin.

One of the most important vitamins involved in the healing of wounds is Vitamin C. It is particularly helpful in the growth and development of new tissues, in part because it also supports the health and function of the body’s many tiny capillaries that are responsible for taking oxygen and nutrients to the far reaches of the body.

Another aspect of its importance in the growth and development of new tissues, thus in wound healing, as well as the maintenance of existing tissues, has to do with its role in collagen production. Collagen is what makes the scar that holds a wound together and makes up the connective tissue of the body. Collagen supports the structure of the skin. Vitamin C is essential to the production of collagen, meaning that Vitamin C has a great part in literally holding the body together.

Zinc is another mineral important to wound healing. There are more than 300 enzymes in the body that require zinc to perform their tasks. Many of these enzymes relate directly to the healing of wounds, such as the production of collagen. Zinc plays a role in the body being able to make use of certain proteins and in cell division.

However, it should be noted, too much zinc can interfere with the healing of wounds. That is because the body operates on a chemical system that has a delicate balance, and too much zinc interferes with how the body uses copper and other substances, thus throwing off the balance that is necessary for the best wound healing.

Copper, a mineral, is also significant to the process of healing wounds. Copper has many roles in the body, including being a component of numerous enzymes. In terms of healing, one of its most important roles is in the formation of collagen, which is essential to the wound healing process.

The vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that we consume daily are what support all of the processes of the body and the mind. The healing of wounds is essential to the body, and proper nutrition is what allows the process of wound healing to operate at peak performance, meaning that wounds heal as well and as quickly as they should. Dietary supplements are an affordable, safe and convenient way to make sure that your body is able to support the healing process.

Important Mineral Partnerships For Health

Minerals are essential nutrients that serve the body in many ways. Many minerals are active in their own right, serving individual purposes within the body. However, the much more common way of working for minerals is partnership. They act as cofactor in many complex substances and processes. Many minerals complement each other, serving as cofactor to each other in the body’s most essential processes.

The skeletal system benefits from the partnership of various minerals, as do the teeth. Calcium and phosphorus, the two minerals that are present in the highest amounts in the body, are the key mineral players in the hard surfaces of bones and teeth, with the mineral magnesium serving to help the body metabolize the calcium and the phosphorus.

The mineral manganese serves a purpose in this process as well and the mineral zinc is needed to metabolize phosphorus. This group of minerals also combine to protect the health of the nerves and to enhance the ability of the nerves to communicate, as well as ensures the ability of the muscles in the body to contract smoothly and regularly, contributing to, among other things, a regular heartbeat.

The mineral iron is responsible for the production of hemoglobin in the blood, which is what the red blood cells store the oxygen in as they travel the body, supplying the cells and tissues with the oxygen that is vital to their survival. But, without the mineral copper, the body would be unable to absorb and use the iron. A deficiency in copper results in an anemia that is similar to that caused by a deficiency of iron.

Minerals serve as cofactors in a variety of chemical combinations in the body that are essential processes of everything from food digestion to oxygenation of the body’s cells. The entire functioning of the body is built upon chemical and electrical reactions. These depend primarily upon the nutrition we consume, which serves as fuel and, once broken down to its basic elements, the chemicals needed to complete the various interactions. The balance of the complex system is delicate, but must be maintained to ensure health and peak performance.

The amount of mineral available in food and water can vary from region to region. That is because the amount of minerals found in plants depends on the quality of the soil, the type and amount of mineral deposits in the soil. Growing the same crops in the same place year after year can deplete the minerals in the soil. Topsoil erosion also can reduce the minerals available in soil.

Nutritional supplements can serve as an effective and safe means of ensuring that each day the body achieves the standard recommended daily intake levels of the minerals it need to perform the essential operations of the body. Because the balance of nutrients in the body is so important, it is a good idea to engage in a consultation with a licensed nutritionist who will be able to help you to devise a mineral supplement plan that is best suited to your individual dietary needs.

Copper For Optimum Health And Performance

Copper is a trace element mineral that serves a wide variety of purposes within the body, both on its own and as a cofactor, meaning it is an essential part of chemical processes that involve other vitamins, minerals, other nutrients or other substances. Although the body requires a comparatively tiny amount of copper per day, even that little bit is essential to optimum health and performance.

Copper came to be recognized as in the 1870’s as a basic part of our blood. This mineral is called an elemental because it is a metal. In terms of concentration, it is the third greatest metal present in our bodies.

Copper is present throughout the body, and serves many purposes that influence physical and mental health and function. In addition to the influence it has independently, it acts as a cofactor, or partner, in many enzymes and processes, affecting a wide variety of bodily functions and systems.

Copper works with Vitamin C in the production of collagen and elastin, which are connective tissues that, quite literally, hold the body together. In addition to this aspect of wound healing, copper also has a role in the first step to wound healing – blood clotting.

It also partners with iron in the making of red blood cells, which serve the essential purpose of bringing oxygen throughout the body, as well as helps the body to absorb and use iron. It is helps to make bones, working with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C.

Melanin, the substance that gives skin and hair their color, requires copper for its production. Copper has a role in the production of hormones that come from the thyroid, and thus is important to the body’s rate of metabolism, which in turn affects body weight. Body weight affects the start of puberty and the onset of sexual maturity.

Copper has a role in the nervous system, as well. It is necessary in the creation of the myelin sheath, which protects nerves and enhances their communication. The connective tissues and nerves in the brain require copper for both structure and function. Copper also serves as a cofactor in the production of the body’s important antioxidant enzymes, making a significant contribution to the control of damaging free radicals.

Copper has a role in each of the body’s major systems and processes. As a trace element, the body requires just a tiny bit of copper daily. Adults should have just 1.5mg to 3mg per day. It is important to note that too much copper can be toxic to the body’s system. The body’s systems are basic are regulated by chemical reactions, and the chemicals in the body are a delicately balanced group.

Nutritional supplements can offer a safe and reliable means of making sure that the body receives all the nutrients that it needs daily. However, when using supplements, it is important to be aware of the upper levels of tolerance, and to make sure that your dietary supplement dosages fall within that range, staying well below toxic points and maintaining the system’s healthful balance.

Be Sure To Get Your Calcium

We’ve heard it from the days of childhood – calcium is good for the teeth and bones. While it is true that calcium is absolutely necessary to the health and strength of bones and teeth, this essential mineral also serves several other important purposes in the body. Yet, many people routinely fail to consume enough calcium in their daily diets.

In addition to the benefits to teeth and bones, calcium plays a role in helping the blood to clot when it needs to, helping the nerves and muscles to perform their tasks, and the maintenance of cell membranes. It is also important to the prevention of debilitating bone diseases, such as osteoporosis.

Despite the importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium daily, some studies have found that as much as 75% of people in the United States do not have a sufficient daily intake of calcium. Those following strict vegetarian diets, especially vegan, must be particularly careful concerning calcium intake levels.

Fortunately, there are several varieties of calcium supplements on the market. Adults need between 1000 mgs and 1300 mgs of calcium per day, and should not supplement beyond 2500 mgs, as that can cause other health problems. Your health care professional can help you to choose the amount that you need daily, as preexisting conditions, such as bone loss or damage due to previous deficiencies, can make a difference in how much you should be taking daily.

Some types of calcium supplements are absorbed more easily by the body than others. However, some may be preferable for other reasons. The most common calcium supplements include calcium citrate, calcium carbonate, oyster shell or bone meal based calcium supplements, coral calcium, and calcium gluconate and calcium lactate based supplements.

In choosing your supplement, you should be aware of how to read the label to ensure that you are getting the amount of calcium that you think you are. Elemental calcium is the term used for the calcium that your body will be able to absorb. Some supplements have this and other types of calcium, but it is only the elemental calcium that can count towards your daily intake. Calcium is absorbed best in acidic circumstances, which is why many supplements are recommended for use after meals, when the stomach acids are at higher levels.

Current research has found that calcium citrate is the most efficient of the supplements, meaning that the body absorbs it easily. However, although it is absorbed easier and can be taken at any time of day, whether or not there is food in the stomach, this type often contains less of the elemental calcium, and thus more pills daily will be needed. Calcium carbonate is the most common over the counter calcium supplement and should be taken after meals, because of the increased stomach acid. These, however, should be watched for sodium content.

Calcium is essential for good health and supplements are an excellent way to ensure that you are not among the many people who regularly do not consume the amount of calcium needed daily. There are a variety of factors to be taken into account when choosing a calcium supplement. A little research and consultation with a nutritional specialist can help you to choose the best calcium supplement for your individual needs.

Vitamins And Minerals That Support The Circulatory System

The circulatory system provides essential services to the body, including the transport of oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, as well as the removal of waste products. In order for this system to be at its most efficient, it is necessary to have a sufficient intake of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are essential to the health and functioning of the body.

Many of these vitamins and minerals directly affect the circulatory system, supporting it in its tasks within the body and contributing to the various physical structures that make up the system.

The circulatory system is made up of the heart, the arteries, which transport the oxygenated blood throughout the body, the veins, which carry out waste products and return the blood to the heart to be re-oxygenated, and the capillaries, which are the tiniest blood vessels, running through the tissues of the body. In addition to oxygen, the nutrients and water that the body needs also are carried through the blood via the circulatory system.

Vitamin C is important to this process, as it is responsible for strengthening the walls of the blood vessels throughout the body. This has to do with its role in the production of collagen, which is an essential connective tissue.

Copper is a mineral that is also necessary for the process of making the body’s connective tissue. Biotin is important to the health of the circulatory system, as well as to the circulatory system’s functioning, as it has a role in several essential enzyme processes.

Vitamin E helps to promote the healthy functioning of the circulatory system in a couple of ways. It helps to dilate the veins and it has a role in the controlling of blood clotting. Another important aspect of Vitamin E is its antioxidant properties, something that it shares with Vitamin C. These vitamins, with the help of other antioxidants, serve in the essential capacity of bringing free radicals, which if left unchecked can damage body tissue, under control.

Potassium, in addition to its well known benefits to the heart, serves the other parts of the circulatory system, as well. One important function of potassium is to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the circulatory system.

Sodium shares in these important functions of maintaining the blood’s balance and pressure. We hear so much about the negatives of sodium that it’s easy to forget that sodium is, in reality, a mineral that is essential to the body’s functioning, particularly in the circulatory system. Sodium also offers a valuable lesson concerning moderation – too much of it can kill you, as can too little.

The circulatory system is essential to life itself. It makes sense to support its essential processes and functioning with a diet that each day meets the standard recommended intake levels of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Nutritional supplements offer a reliable and safe means of accomplishing this important health goal.

Because the balance of nutrients is so vital to proper functioning of the body and its supporting systems, you may want to consider devising a personalized nutritional supplement plan, according to your individual dietary needs, with the assistance of a licensed nutritionist or you usual health care provider.

Vitamins And Minerals That Effect The Blood

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the health and functioning of the body, and are delivered throughout the body by the blood. There are several vitamins and minerals that directly affect the blood and its ability to perform its important tasks within the body.

For optimum performance of the blood, as well as the body and mind in general, it is necessary to meet the standard recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients each and every day.

Blood receives its color from the red blood cells, which perform one of the most important tasks that blood has in the body. Red blood cells are responsible for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, as well as for the removal of waste products.

Because the average red blood cell lives for about 120 days, the body needs to continuously produce a new supply. There are several vitamins and minerals that are essential to the creation of these cells and the ability of these cells to perform their important work.

The vitamins that make up the powerful and important Vitamin B complex are a major factor in the production of red blood cells. Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, is a necessary part of the metabolism of red blood cells and also is required to make hemoglobin, which is how the red blood cell transports oxygen.

Men between the ages of 19 and 50 need 1.3mg daily of Vitamin B6, as do women of the same age group. However, for women during periods of pregnancy, the recommended amount is 1.9mg per day and 2.0mg while breastfeeding. Men older than 50 should have a daily Vitamin B6 intake of 1.7mg and women in that age group should take 1.5mg daily. Children need, depending on age and size, between .6mg to 1.3mg of Vitamin B6 per day.

Other B complex vitamins that have an important role in the production of red blood include Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, Vitamin B9, also called folate in its natural form and folic acid in its pharmaceutical form, and Vitamin B12, which is also called cobalamin, due to its cobalt content.

Iron is one of the minerals that is essential to the quality, health and function of blood. One of the most important tasks iron serves in the blood is in the production of hemoglobin. Approximately 60% of the iron in the body is found in its hemoglobin.

The mineral copper is also involved in the production of red blood cells, and through its enhancement of iron absorption by the body, so too is Vitamin C. Vitamin E also helps in red blood cell production. These, and the numerous other nutrients involved in making the steady supply of red blood cells essential to the body’s health and well being, demonstrate clearly the importance of the every day consumption of the standard recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Nutritional supplements can offer a reliable and safe means of making sure that your body has all the nutrients necessary each day to ensure that your blood remains healthy and strong. The quality of your blood will influence the quality of your life.

Vitamins and Minerals Important To A Beautiful Smile and Healthy Mouth

A beautiful smile and healthy mouth come from, in addition to regular brushing and flossing, a daily diet that does not lack the vitamins and minerals that make vital contributions to oral health. Many people overlook the importance of good nutrition in keeping their smile beautiful and their mouth healthy.

The mineral calcium and Vitamin D are of particular importance to healthy teeth. These two substances work together, as calcium absorption is enhanced by Vitamin D. Sufficient calcium is essential to the very structure of the teeth, as are phosphorus and magnesium.

Vitamin A is an essential part of the production of tooth enamel. A deficiency in Vitamin A can cause overgrown gums, bleeding gums and gum disease. Vitamin C, because of its role in the health and function of the small capillaries that bring oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, is important to oral health.

Vitamin C deficiencies can result in bleeding gums and loose teeth, as well as mouth sores The Vitamin B complex is also essential to mouth health, as deficiencies can cause cracking and bleeding of the lips, as well as open sores and lesion on both the inside and outside of the mouth. These open sores, aside from the discomfort they cause, offer an opportunity for a wide variety of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants to enter the blood stream.

Fluoride is widely known as an important agent in the prevention of tooth decay and is the active ingredient in the vast majority of toothpastes. In addition to acting to prevent tooth decay, it strengthens tooth enamel, working in partnership with calcium and phosphorus. Copper, zinc, iodine, iron, and potassium are other minerals that are essential to oral health.

It is unfortunate, but true, that most people do not eat well enough to obtain all of the vitamins, minerals and other necessary nutrients through diet alone. Failing to meet the recommended daily intake levels of vitamins and minerals can result in significant health problems.

Therefore, if you find that you are consistently not achieving these intake levels in your day-to-day diet, you may want to consider using dietary supplements to meet your nutritional needs. Dietary supplements are safe when used properly. However, they should not be used as a substitute for healthy food, as they are meant to complement the diet, and work best when they have feel food to attach themselves to.

If you find yourself unsure of which daily supplements you should include in your day-to-day nutritional plan, a consultation with your healthcare professional or a licensed nutritionist can help you to make the selections best suited to your individual dietary needs and health goals.

While a beautiful smile and healthy mouth are certainly aesthetically pleasing and uplifting to the self-confidence, attention to oral health serves a practical purpose as well. Strong teeth mean that a wide variety of foods can be eaten, a healthy mouth means that there are no open sores in the mouth that serve as an invitation for bacteria, viruses and other contaminants to enter the bloodstream to cause illness, infection and disease.

Making sure that your daily intake of the vitamins and minerals associated with oral health is sufficient, in addition to daily dental care, will ensure that you can have a lovely smile.

Vitamin And Mineral Deficiencies And Other Mental Disorders

When we think of the benefits of being sure that our daily consumption of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients reaches recommended daily intake levels, we usually think in terms of the physical health of the body.

However, it is important to be aware of the fact that deficiencies in the daily intake of vitamins and minerals can negatively impact our mental processes as well. Recent research has indicated that such deficiencies can even contribute to one of the most common mental disorders of all -- depression.

The Vitamin B complex is incredibly important to our mental well-being and functioning. Indeed, even relatively small deficiencies can have an adverse effect. Serious deficiencies can contribute to serious mental illnesses. In terms of mental health alone, the importance of making sure that that the daily diet meets the recommended daily intake levels of the Vitamin B complex cannot be overstated.

As an interesting aside, those with alcohol problems – often abused in an attempt to self-medicate for depression and the abuse of which often contributes to depression – are often suffering from Vitamin B complex deficiencies. That is because alcohol destroys Vitamin B in its various forms.

A lack of thiamine can lead to a lack of energy. This, in turn, can lead to deep fatigue, anxiety, depression and even to suicidal thoughts. It can bring on insomnia, which can exasperate each and every one of those symptoms. Serious deficiency in niacin has been clinically associated with such mental symptoms as cognitive slowness in regard to the processing of information, dementia, anxiety and psychosis.

Vitamin B5 has been found to play a role in the formation of hormones and other brain chemical processes that are related to mood. Deficiency can lead to feelings of stress and certain types of clinically diagnosed depression. Vitamin B6 is essential to the production of serotonin and dopamine. Long-term deficiencies in Vitamin B12 can lead to such mental disorders as serious mood swings, mania, paranoia, dementia, and even hallucinations.

Vitamin C also is important in the prevention or easing of depression. It is important to note that many common medications, both over the counter and prescription, can rob the body of Vitamin C, leading some doctors to recommend partnering such medications with Vitamin C supplements.

Deficiencies in a number of minerals have been associated with depression and other mental disorders. Among these are magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, and manganese. Some of these combine with other nutrients that are important in the formation and release of serotonin and other compounds directly related to mood.

Other mental symptoms associated with deficiencies in these essential minerals include paranoia, confusion, anxiety, depression, fatigue and tearfulness.

The brain, and thus our mental processes, is ruled by the chemical interactions that take place within it. These chemicals are delicately balanced, and nutrition plays an integral role both in the formation of these essential chemicals and the maintenance of their balance.

On every level of mental mood and functioning, it is absolutely necessary that we make sure to achieve the recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Dietary supplements, when used according to recommended dosages, are a safe means of seeing to it that our minds perform at peak levels.

The Antioxidant Vitamins

The antioxidant vitamins perform many essential tasks within the body. In recent years, a great deal of research has been done concerning the abilities of the antioxidant vitamins to prevent certain diseases, ranging from cancer to heart ailments. Many studies have shown promising results, and researchers continue their efforts at determining all of the ways that these powerful antioxidant vitamins protect our health and well being.

One of the many important tasks that antioxidant vitamins perform is that of bringing free radicals under control. A free radical is an unstable molecule, operating within the much larger context of a cell. What makes it unstable is that it is lacking an electron. Electrons are a part of the system that enables chemical reactions within the body. Chemical and electrical actions and reactions are the base of all operations of the body.

The free radical lacks an electron because it is the result of the splitting of a structure weakened by either one of the body’s natural metabolizing processes or by some external contaminant, such as pollution or cigarette smoke. The free radical attacks other molecules, seeking its missing part, which leads to its molecule victim becoming a free radical as well. When enough free radicals accumulate with a cell, the cell can be damaged, or worse.

Antioxidant vitamins have the power to bring these free radicals under control. They do this by meeting the free radicals’ most basic needs, by giving them the electrons they need to be stable. Thus, the antioxidant vitamins remove the free radicals’ motive for aggression and crime -- their motive to attack other molecules to steal their electrons, thereby creating still more free radicals -- and bring an end to the free radical crime wave that threatened the very existence of their world and restore social order and peace to their world, the cell, and perhaps even to their universe, the body.

The primary antioxidant vitamins are Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. They do not become free radical themselves when they give an electron to the unstable molecule, because they have the special capacity to remain stable with or without the electron. It is through this interaction with the free radicals that the antioxidant vitamins are able to assist in the prevention of damage to tissues and cells that could lead to disease.

Numerous studies have found that the antioxidant vitamins may offer protection against a variety of cancers. Other studies have associated antioxidant vitamins with helping to lower blood pressure. Controlling free radicals, as the antioxidant vitamins do, is thought to be an important part of defending the body and the mind against the effects of aging.

In addition to continuous studies concerning antioxidant vitamins potential in preventing cancers, heart disease, and diabetes related conditions, researchers are also paying close attention to the possibilities antioxidant vitamins may hold for Alzheimer's disease.

Dietary supplements offer a safe and convenient means of meeting the suggested daily intake requirements of these powerful antioxidant vitamins, provided that the standard dosage recommendations are followed.

The chemical balance that allows the body to operate at peak performance can be seriously disrupted by taking too much of any supplement. A licensed nutritionist or your health care provider can best advise you on the dosage most suitable to your individual dietary needs and health goals.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

What The Vitamin B Complex Does For You

The eight vitamins that make up the B complex are very important to the diet, supporting many important physical and mental processes. For anyone interested in feeling their best every day, a sufficient daily intake of this essential set of vitamins is an absolute necessity.

The Vitamin B complex is made up of several separate vitamins. These are B1, also called thiamine, B2, also known as riboflavin, B3, which is also referred to as niacin, B6, also called pyridoxine, B9, commonly called folic acid, B12, also known as cyanocobalamin, biotin and pantothenic acid.

These vitamins are essential to helping the body to convert food to energy, as well as to breaking down the fats and proteins that make the nervous system run efficiently. They support oral health, muscle tone, and help to keep the skin, hair and eyes healthy. The Vitamin B complex also helps to maintain mental functioning, including thinking and short-term memory.

Because of the many important tasks performed in the body by the Vitamin B complex, deficiencies can result in serious health problems and disease, affecting mind and body. Perhaps of these, beriberi is the most well known. This can come from a consistent and serious lack of thiamine in the diet. Symptoms include anemia and muscular weakness and spasms, particularly in the legs. Atrophy of the muscles and even paralysis can occur.

There are many physical problems that result from a failure to consume sufficient amounts of the Vitamin B complex. The negative effects can include a lack physical coordination, the eyes can become light sensitive, open sores can appear on the internal and external parts of the mouth, the teeth can become sensitive, the tongue can become swollen, severe and continuous diarrhea can occur, and the skin can develop lesions. Serious failures in the nervous system and brain damage can also stem from a lack of these vitamins.

In addition the myriad of physical symptoms associated with ongoing and serious deficiencies in the Vitamin B complex, there are also significant mental symptoms as well. These include dementia, confusion and other mental disabilities.

In many cases, even serious symptoms caused by a lack of B vitamins can be alleviated with Vitamin B complex based treatments. However, some types of damage can be permanent. It is far better to avoid such debilitating symptoms by making sure to consume sufficient daily amounts of the very important Vitamin B complex.

Vegetarians, especially those following vegan diets, need to be particularly aware of their Vitamin B complex intake, as many of the richest sources are animal based. If vegetarian, it is important to be knowledgeable about the nutritional content of the food you consume, particularly for families raising vegetarian children.
Many find Vitamin B complex supplements to be a safe and sure means of making sure that the daily intake of these essential nutrients are met.

Because they are so essential to many important aspects of physical health and mental functioning, we should all take care to meet the daily intake requirements of each of the vitamins that make up the B complex. Supplements offer a safe and sure method of doing so for many people.

All article about B Complex vitamin, B1 vitamin, B2 vitamin, B3 vitamin, B5 vitamin, B12 vitamin and other vitamin.

What Vitamin A Does For The Body

Recent government surveys have found that most people do not consume enough Vitamin A in their daily diets. This is unfortunate, because Vitamin A is essential to good health. In fact, serious health problems can result from long-term, serious Vitamin A deficiencies.

Vitamin A is important from the very beginning of life. Pregnant women must be sure to consume sufficient amounts of Vitamin A, which will be more than they needed before pregnancy, because Vitamin A plays a great role in the proper physical development of a baby. It helps to promote proper cell differentiation, which is the specialization of cells upon division to take over certain tasks, meaning that cells for the heart take on their characteristics, those for the liver take on theirs, those for the brain take on their own characteristics and functions, and so on. Vitamin A also serves in bone growth and development, as well as in the general growth and development of the body.

Vitamin A has a significant part in the quality and functioning of the body’s immune system. One facet of this functioning has to do with the skin and body’s mucus membranes. The skin and mucus membranes serve a very practical purpose for the body. These operate as barriers against bacteria and viruses, protecting against infection and disease. Vitamin A helps to keep the skin and mucus membranes healthy and able to serve their primary purpose.

As we’ve all heard through the years, carrots are good for the eyes. That is because they are a good source of Vitamin A, which is essential to vision. In fact, a serious deficiency in Vitamin A can result in blindness. Many children living in poverty in developing nations throughout the world have become blind simply because of the lack of Vitamin A in their diets.

Vitamin A also serves to keep the surface linings of the intestinal, urinary and respiratory tracts healthy. This offers protection from bacteria, as well has promotes proper functioning.

One of the more common units of measure for Vitamin A found on packaging labels of food and dietary supplements is the International Unit, or IU. Adult and teenaged males should be sure to consume at total of 3,000 IU of Vitamin A per day. Adult women and teenaged females should have 2,310 IU per day, 2,565 IU per day if pregnant and 4,300 IU per day if breastfeeding. For children ages 9 through 13, 2,000 IU is the recommended daily intake, with 1,320 IU being sufficient for those aged 4 through 8. From the first year through age 3, 1,000 IU is recommended.

Using dietary supplements to complete a healthy diet can ensure that the body receives the nutrients it needs for optimum performance. However, it is important to heed label and doctor recommendations for the best amount to be taken for your dietary needs.

Proper nutrition is essential to achieving and maintaining health. It is much better to avoid sickness than to recover from it. Taking steps to ensure that you are getting enough Vitamin A each day is an essential part of reaching your health goals.

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