Liquid Vitamins and Minerals - Why You Should Take Liquid Vitamins and Minerals

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Are you like millions of other people who wonder if they are getting the proper amount of nutrients from their diet? Very few of us can claim to follow a balanced diet. Some of us have absolutely horrible diets that are loaded with sugar, fat and over processed foods. Maybe you have thought about taking vitamin and mineral supplements, but hate the idea of swallowing tons of pills. If so, liquid vitamins and minerals might be the answer.

Let's be honest. It's very hard to maintain a so called balanced diet. Many of us lead fast paced lives and find it difficult to prepare healthy nutritious meals every day. Some people hate fruits and vegetables. To make matters even worst is that we are constantly bombarded with commercials from the fast food giants enticing us with their high fat, high sodium meals.

We all know how important it is to get the proper amount of nutrients to stay healthy, that's why ten of millions of Americans routinely take vitamins and mineral supplements. Even still, millions of people do not take any kind of nutritional supplements because they hate swallowing pills. If you hate taking vitamin and mineral supplements in pill form you can still get the nutrients you need by taking liquid vitamins and minerals.

There are three great advantages for taking liquid vitamins and minerals. Those advantages are number one, there are no pills to swallow. Number two, liquid vitamins and minerals have a better absorption ratio than pills. And number three, even if you are consuming a fairly "good" diet, there is an ever increasing deficiency in our soil which means that our produce may not contain the optimum amount of nutrients. Let's examine each of these points.

There are no pills to swallow. More people than you might think avoid taking vitamins and minerals just because they have serious difficulty swallowing those huge horsey pills. For some people swallowing pills gives them a choking sensation. I myself have had a few frightening episodes where a few pills were lodged in my throat. For a few scary seconds I thought I was actually going to choke! With liquid supplements you get to drink your nutrition quickly, easily and comfortably.

Liquid supplements have a better absorption ratio than pills. Pills have a much slower absorption rate than liquid supplements and the body uses much more of the actual nutrients from liquids than from the pills. In fact, only 3-10% of the nutrients from pills actually make it throughout your body and into the bloodstream. Because most vitamins and mineral pills have no fat, proteins or carbohydrates, there is no signal to the liver to react and send bile juice to help turn the vitamins and minerals into enzymes.

Here is something that most people don't realize. The quality and the potency of our produce isn't the same as it used to be. Way back in 1936 a senate document alerted Americans to the fact that there was a massive vitamin and mineral deficiency in our nations farmlands.

The frightening fact is that our food (fruits,vegetables,grains) no longer contain enough of certain nutrients. This means that no matter how well you may think your diet is, you may not be getting enough of vital nutrients needed to keep you healthy. That is one of the major reason why you must supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals and one of the best ways of doing so is to consume liquid supplements.

When you take into account that pills are difficult for some people to swallow and that they take much longer to be absorbed into the body, as well as our produce may lack certain vital nutrients, supplementing your diet with liquid vitamins and minerals makes a lot of sense.

Michael Sibley is a former amateur boxer, fitness enthusiast and the owner of Ultra Nutrition Plus, a website featuring high quality natural whole food vitamins and preventative health products. Sign up today for a free news letter for important health tips as well as to receive valuable coupons for great insider discounts on Ultra Nutrition Plus products.

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Vitamin Supplements - Do They Work?

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Vitamin Supplementation is huge worldwide. Most of us take vitamins now or have taken vitamins in the past. The US ranks top in dietary supplementation globally. 18.9% of Americans had taken at least one dietary supplement in 2004. Over 100 million Americans use vitamin and mineral supplements everyday. The global market has become a multi-billion dollar industry and the dietary supplement sector is growing the fastest.

The most common reason for supplement use is "to improve overall health and general well being." It is a popular belief that vitamins are antioxidants and can therefore protect us from oxidative stress that causes many health conditions.

The most common supplements taken are:
multivitamin/multiminerals - 22%;
multivitamins plus vitamin C - 15%;
vitamin C as a single vitamin - 13%;
herbal and botanical supplements - 7%;
vitamin E as a single vitamin - 6%.

Over the years, more and more reports on the health benefits of vitamin supplements have emerged, ranging from cardiovascular benefits to cancer prevention. This is mainly due to the antioxidant properties of vitamins that can protect us from oxidative stress. As a result several studies have been conducted to confirm these reports. Some of the latest studies summarized below reveal surprising results to say the least.

One of the very first studies to comprehensively examine the health effects of vitamin supplements was carried by Danish researchers in 2007. They performed a meta-analysis on data pooled from several clinical trials which used supplementation of the antioxidant vitamin A, vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium used as stand-alone or as combination supplements to treat a wide range of health conditions, from cardiovascular disorders to cancer. Their results were a surprising, even troubling. For one, no benefits of these "antioxidant supplements" were found. Second, supplementation with vitamins A and E and beta-carotene (but not vitamin C and selenium) actually increased overall mortality. This study prompted other researchers to take a second look at the benefits of vitamin supplements.

In a more recent review paper, the same researchers done another meta-analysis of more data from several clinical trials, this time involving over 200,000 people who are healthy as well as those with existing health conditions. The researchers only considered studies which compared the efficacy of antioxidant supplements against placebos in the primary and secondary prevention of different medical conditions. The authors reported that they "found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention. Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E may increase mortality."

Another meta-analysis examined the anti-cancer properties of antioxidant supplements, particularly against gastrointestinal cancers. They looked at data of trials which studied beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, and E and selenium. The authors concluded that "we could not find convincing evidence that antioxidant supplements prevent gastrointestinal cancers."

One of the most recent developments in vitamin supplement research is the long-term SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial) study of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The study evaluated the efficacy of selenium and Vitamin E in preventing prostate cancer and enrolled 35,000 male participants in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The participants were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: group 1 were given vitamin E supplements only, group 2 were given only selenium, group 3 took both supplements in combination, and group 4 were given placebos only. Five years into the study, the NCI decided to stop the trial because of some "concerning" findings, namely:

1. The analysis found no lower risk of prostate cancer in men taking the supplements, either alone or together.

2. Men who were taking only vitamin E actually had a slightly higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

3. Men taking only selenium seemed to have a slightly higher risk of developing diabetes.

Another study evaluated the efficacy of combined folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 in reducing cancer risk among women. Their result show that combined folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 treatment had no significant effect on overall risk of total invasive cancer or breast cancer among women during the folic acid fortification era.

A study published in December 2008 evaluated whether vitamins C and E and beta carotene supplementation have an effect on overall cancer risk. The data was taken from the Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study and occupied 8,171 women who were cancer-free at the beginning of the study about 9.4 years ago. The findings of the study showed that "supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta carotene offers no overall benefits in the primary prevention of total cancer incidence or cancer mortality."

The Women's Health Initiative Calcium/Vitamin D Trial evaluated the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplements on blood pressure and risk for hypertension risk of 36,252 healthy postmenopausal women. The women were assigned in 2 groups: one group received a daily supplement of 1000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D3 daily. The other group received placebo only. The researchers reported that "calcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation did not reduce either blood pressure or the risk of developing hypertension over 7 years of follow-up in postmenopausal women."

The Physicians' Health Study II evaluated whether vitamin E or vitamin C have cardioprotective properties that can reduce risk for CVD in men. A total of 14,641 American doctors were enrolled in the study, aged 50 years and older, and were followed up for 8 years. The study results showed that "neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplementation reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events. These data provide no support for the use of these supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older men."

This study evaluated whether antioxidant (vitamins E, C and/or beta-carotene) supplements can prevent atherosclerosis. The researchers done a meta-analysis of 22 trials which involved 134,590 participants. The researcher conclude that "...the majority of studies included in this review does not support a possible role of antioxidant supplementation in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease ... no definite conclusion can be drawn to justify the use of antioxidant vitamin supplements for the prevention of atherosclerotic events."

Folic acid is routinely prescribed for pregnant women to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. It has also been thought that folic acid, which reduced the levels of homocysteine in the blood, can prevent cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine is an amino acid used as biomarker for cardiovascular disorder. This trial investigated whether a vitamin combination pill with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 (vs. a placebo) can reduce cardiovascular risk. It enrolled more than 5,400 American women with a history of cardiovascular disease or with moderate to high risk profile for ccardiovascular disease. After 7.3 years of treatment and follow-up, a combination pill of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 did not reduce a combined end point of total cardiovascular events among high-risk women, despite significant homocysteine lowering.

While most of the evidence from studies summarized here does not seem to support the health benefits of vitamin supplements, there are some studies which indicate that vitamin D supplementation is worthwhile, even essential. Vitamin D is unique because we cannot get our vitamin D requirements from food alone. Instead, vitamin D is synthesized by the body upon exposure of the skin to the sun, thus earning it the title "sun vitamin." However, since the sun is said to cause skin cancer, people tend to avoid exposure leading to widespread vitamin D deficiency.

American health experts are convinced of the necessity of vitamin D supplements and thus, routinely prescribe vitamin D supplements even for newborn babies. Milk and other dairy products in the US are fortified with vitamin D but not in many parts of the world. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidelines for vitamin D supplementation to recommend the doubling of the dose for babies and children from 200 IU to 400 IU per day.

According to a review paper, "vitamin D is not only important for calcium metabolism and maintenance of bone health throughout life, but also plays an important role in reducing risk of many chronic diseases including type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, deadly cancers, heart disease and infectious diseases."

In summary, antioxidants in fresh fruit and vegetables have been shown to have extensive health benefits. Unfortunately, except for vitamin D, the use of vitamin and mineral supplementation does not seem to reproduce the protective effect of natural food stuffs, as shown by many different studies summarized here. Worse, some studies suggest that vitamin supplementation can increase risk for certain health conditions and mortalities. The largest part of the studies cited were long-term randomized, placebo-controlled trials relating thousands of participants. The data they presented are therefore, highly reliable.

The antioxidant supplement pill fits in quite nicely in this era of convenience food and lifestyle on the go. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like a real healthy lifestyle and convenience can go hand in hand. The take home message is, when it comes to nutrition, there is no substitute for natural food stuff. Nature is still the best source of our nutritional needs.

Best vitamins for women

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A multi-vitamin is a necessity for every woman unless you are one of the 7% of women who actually get the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. For women and men, multi-vitamins are formulated with a specific mix of vitamins and minerals that work together to ensure proper absorption. Taking a multi-vitamin is more cost efficient than purchasing each vitamin separately and are even formulated now for children, adolescent girls, women, senior women, women with menopause, and women with osteoporosis and other health issues.

If targeting a certain issue, then, it is appropriate to take a specific vitamin. Below are certain vitamins that women need to target specific problems.

Folic Acid
Folic Acid is necessary for women who are considering having a baby or are pregnant. Folic Acid prevents anemia and birth defects, helps prevent preterm delivery, Alzheimer's, depression, cancer and high blood pressure. Although most multi-vitamins do have Folic Acid, their dose is lower than pregnant and breast feeding mother's should take. If pregnant, up your dose to 600 mcg, and if breast feeding be sure to get 500 mcg. For women who are taking a birth control pill, it is advisable to take Folic Acid because the pill actually prevents your body from absorbing B12 and Folic Acid.

Vitamin B12
If you are pregnant of breastfeeding, it is important to get extra B12. B12 prevents anemia, depression, heart disease, and maintains nerve and brain function. If you are taking a birth control pill, you may have to supplement your diet with extra B12 because the pill prevents your body from absorbing this essential vitamin.

Vitamin B6
If you are pregnant, B6 reduces morning sickness and risk of depression and high blood pressure.

Calcium
With osteoporosis on the rise, getting enough Calcium is essential. If 19-50 make sure you are consuming at least 1000mg to help prevent osteoporosis, high blood pressure and possibly colon cancer. After 50 years old, increase your dose to 1200 mg.

Copper
Copper aids in nerve transmission, red cell formation, and helps maintain nerve, brain, heart and immune function. It is suggested that it also helps prevent against birth defects.

Iron
Women need iron because of loss of blood during their period. It also helps prevent fatigue, boost immune systems, and maintain alertness and memory. Ages 19-50 should consume 18 mg daily, if you are pregnant 27 mg, and over 50 years of age 8 mg. A lot of women are sensitive to iron or cannot process iron in a supplement. Discuss with your doctor if you have any adverse reactions after taking a multi-vitamin with iron or supplement. You can increase your iron in food by eating red meat, fish, poultry, beans, peas, leafy greens and whole grains.

Zinc
Zinc speeds healing, boosts immunity and helps prevent pregnancy complications. Normally 8 mg is sufficient, but if pregnant increase dose to 11mg and 12 mg if you are breast feeding.

Black Cohash
It may help control hot flashes during menopause. If you are pregnant or have breast cancer do not take this herb.

Although a multi-vitamin contains most of the vitamins and minerals essential for men and women, consult your health care professional if you are pregnant or experiencing certain side effects. Your doctor should be able to help you find the appropriate dose for vitamins to help target your immune system, nerve system, heart health or mental health and memory.

What are Vitamins?

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Vitamins are substances which are present in certain foods and are necessary for the proper functioning of animal tissues. Deficiency of vitamins in the diet leads to a number of diseases which are specific for each particular vitamin. Many of the vitamins exert their action by taking part in the complex chemical reactions which occur within the cell.

It is important to realize that provided a sufficiency of vitamin is taken, which should be provided by a good mixed diet, that is no advantage to be gained by taking further large doses of the various vitamins, in fact the taking of excessive amounts of certain vitamins may even be harmful. But these general guidelines apply if you're are one of these groups:

Infant and Children

Most babies are given an injection of vitamin K at birth as the newborn's immature intestional tract may not produce enough to supply sufficient amounts to the baby.

Smokers

Smoking interferes with incorporation of a number of vitamins; most importantly, vitamin C. Smokers should be sure their diets are rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as high doses of antioxidants vitamins may actually be harmful.

Alcoholics

The most dangerous deficiencies among alcoholics are from vitamin C, vitamin B1, folic acid, Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine ) and vitamin B2 ( riboflavin ).

Older adults

Deficiencies of vitamins and also important minerals have been observed inalmost one-third of elderly people, who offen fail to eat regular, balanced meals. Older adults may have vitamin D, B12, B6 and folic acid defiencies. One study reported that the immune systems of elderly people might benefit from vitamin E in levels higher than the daily recommended dosage.

Dieters and Vegetarians

Vegetarians who do not eat dairy or meat products may need riboflavin , vitamin D and vitamin B12 supplements. Those who eat eggs and dairy products need only watch their iron levels to guard against hair loss caused by iron deficiency.

Pregnant and breast-feeding women

The recommended dose for folic acid prior to conception and during pregnancy is 400 mcg. During breast feeding, between 260 and 280 mcg is suggested. Choline, another B vitamin, is essential for pregnant and nursing women

- 450 mg during pregnancy and 550 when breast feeding. Experts recommend that pregnant women take in no more than 8000 IU of vitamin A per day as it can pose a danger.

Vitamin A.D.E.K are fat soluble vitamins whereas vitamins c, pyridoxine and folic acid are water souble vitamins. Each vitamin's function varies. Lack of vitamins will cause diseases and excessiveness is harmful to the body and can pose a danger.

Fruit juices - adding colour and health to your life

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Easy to prepare, a good friend of your taste buds, a hit all through the year and good for your health – that’s a glass of fresh juice, which can also add glow and energy to your life. Fresh juice is healthy and we all know that drinking the real thing is better than the sugary alternatives that are packed months before they reach the consumers. Fresh juices benefit us in the following ways:


They provide minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates and proteins

Help improve energy levels

Good for the skin

Strengthen the immune system

Make the bones stronger
Despite all the benefits that fruit juices offer, there are certain things we need to know about fresh juice.

Is it OK to drink as much juice as we want daily?

No, water should be the main source of liquid and it is always better to have fruits in their natural form rather than as juice. Why? Because we all add sugar and salt to the fruit juice we make at home. This increases the amount of sugar in our diet and thus, the calorie load. But we don’t really perceive drinks to be food. Eating a whole pomegranate or having three or four oranges in a row is a cumbersome job. But we would gallop a big glass of juice in a few seconds and even forget to count them as calories. So, if you take two servings of fruit in a juice, ideally you should forego your evening snacks.

Should we drink juice daily?

Drinking juice is an easy way to have two fruit servings per day that is good for the daily quota of vitamins. But, keep a check on the sugar added to the juice. It’s best to have fresh juice without any sugar or salt. Though such juice might taste a bit bland and sometimes sour as in the case of orange juice, you would gradually develop a taste for them. The best choice for a daily habit of juice is carrot, apple and ginger, made with only one piece of fruit. Carrots are sweet but lower in calories and have about half the carbohydrates of fruits. Celery is also a nice low-calorie filler. Have a look at the amount of carbohydrates different fruits have.

Orange –16 g

Grapes – 28 g

Pomegranates – 26 g

Pineapple – 19 g

Apple – 21 g
How to use the juicer?

Now the next thing is how to use the juicer at home to get the best juice. The foremost thing is to get a good quality juicer, preferably ISI marked. If you want the fibre benefits, then put all the vegetables and fruits into a blender and don’t use a juice extractor. While ordering fresh juice from outside, be sure about the hygiene and ensure that they are using a blender, not an extractor. Extractors make a smooth drink but they remove the all-important fibre from the juice.

Are juices good for children?

Replacing water with juice for children can cause diarrhoea. Having juice everyday can help to develop lifetime sweet tendencies in children. So, juices should be an occasional drink for children. Eating fruit in its natural form and relying on water, as the source of liquid, are better alternatives. Nevertheless, fruit juice is better than having aerated drinks.

Tips on getting best out of your juices


Always wash fruit and vegetables – even organic produce could carry bacteria.

Include the stems and leaves of vegetables because they have a high vitamin and mineral content.

Drink a juice within half an hour of preparing it, or it can get oxidised by exposure to air and develop a sour taste.

If you must prepare juice early, keep it refrigerated with a tight lid. Or freeze in daily-serving- size containers immediately and drink it straight after thawing.

Include the white inner skin of citrus fruits, as it is full of beneficial bioflavonoids.

Add lemon juice to preserve the natural colour and reduce the oxidation of essential nutrients.

If you want to lose weight, then drink vegetable juices, as they contain fewer calories than fruit juice.

If you have a sensitive stomach or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ensure that you dilute juices with water (three parts of juice with one part of water).
Easy to make juice-based drinks

Watermelon drink

Ingredients - 3 cups watermelon (washed and cut into small pieces), sugar (as per taste), 3 tablespoon skimmed milk, ice cubes.

Method - Blend the ingredients in a blender and refrigerate. Pour the prepared drink into serving glass, add ice cubes and serve.

Nutritive value of the watermelon juice - Apart from providing energy, watermelon protects against age-related symptoms of vision loss, fights heart disease, reduces cancer risk and is loaded with anti-oxidants. So, a glass of watermelon drink everyday not only quenches your thirst but also offers a range of health benefits.

Carrot, celery and cabbage juice

Ingredients - 2 cucumbers, stalks of celery, a piece of ginger, a handful of parsley, piece of apple or citrus fruit

Method - Wash all vegetables and juice them together. Serve it fresh.

A glass of fruit or vegetable juice takes very little digestion. It goes right into your body and is a very yummy way of getting instant energy. Fruit juices can energise your life.

A Vitamin a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

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Vitamins to me have made some annoying issues subside or diminish.

Mind me it's not about serious health issues but mostly annoying issues.

In some of my other articles I have mentioned what the vitamins I have been taking have made some great changes in very annoying symptoms I have experienced.

One that made my life so much more bearable by that I mean not having those flashing bright lights happening much more than I could bear.

And with this small vitamin that most of us take every day or just once in a while has stopped these lights.

But when I stop for a short time these lights come back and even worse than before.

This very important vitamin is a garlic pill, oh yes, and this is such an easy way to either diminish them or stop them altogether as they have done this for me.

I have not had a single episode in over 3 years.

Now that is wonderful.

I am not a Doctor and I just have experienced these and just could not wait to share it with all.

Another vitamin is the Primrose Oil.

Yes it worked for me when I have tender breasts, I have no idea how it works but these painful issues stopped within a couple of days just taking the suggested amount.

Vitamins sometimes are quite a quick fix.

But you and I know that vitamins do not take the place of our fruits, veggies, etc. They are there for those of you who don't eat properly and these little vitamins can make such a huge difference in your well being.

This is not new to us, we read about vitamins everywhere.

But some of you think, sure a little ole vitamin can do this?

Oh yes, and I have proven that it works for me and I am here to tell you what these 2 vitamins have done for me.

So just try a bottle if you have any of these issues?

But if you are on any medications check first with your Doctor.

The Effect of Vitamin C in Tackling Ordinary Cold Common Cold and Winter Cold

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Cold is commonly experienced by many people. It is believed that vitamin C supplements can effectively tackle it, but latest research revealed that the supplements afterall cannot fight cold. During the winter or rainy season, many people would be susceptible to cold within this seasons- a highly contagious ailment caused by several different strains of virus that somehow seem to change from one season to another. Cold affects all parts of the body, and usually begins in the nose and throat.

Cold is due to the virus infections of one type or another. It should also be noted that the common cold is the most prevalent of all the diseases known to man and it is not a respecter of race, age or sex. For instance, if one member of a family has a cold, there is a tendency that if not well treated, other members of the family may be infected. The allergic disorders of the nose and throat could also make a person more susceptible to cold and other virus infections. "anybody can experience colds at anytime, but it is more common during the wet seasons. Chilling of the body also seem to play a major role particularly in those whose body resistance is already weak. Lack of adequate sleep may be a factor in some people, while the cold virus may be carried by anybody.

But children under six years usually catch cold easily and can pass it to other members of the family. In fact, cold is always more serious in younger children". There is also a general belief that Vitamin C supplements can prevent or treat cold. Many people are also of the opinion that apart from anti-catarrh drugs, vitamin C supplements is very effective in warding off cold and its associated symptoms. But the fact is that Vitamin C supplements cannot ward off cold as commonly believed. and "the idea that vitamin C supplements can wards off cold is a myth. No evidence found that high doses of the vitamin have any effect against colds for an average person.

Also the extra vitamin C is only beneficial for people under extreme physical stress, such as marathon runners and soldiers, who are fifty per cent less likely to catch cold if they take daily supplements. But for people living normal life, the benefits conferred by Vitamin C is so small that it would not be worth the effort or expense. It does not make any sense to take vitamin C 365 days a year to lessen the chance of a cold." It would also be recalled that vitamin C's reputation for fighting the common cold cannot be justified.

There is no how vitamin C can effectively tackle common colds, although there were hints of possible benefits in some conditions. however, vitamin C can not prevent cold in people taking up to two grammes daily. However, there were slight exceptions because in the number of cold was halved with vitamin C. The number of cold cut in marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to cold temperatures and/or physical stress. Those benefits in children who regularly took vitamin C had cold symptoms for fourteen per cent fewer days. But for adults, days with cold symptoms fell eight per cent with regular vitamin C use. The vitamin's cold-shortening pattern was consistent, but it may have questionable significance in the real world.

About The Author Ponnac Okwy, I'm An Adent Writter On Health Reports To Health Magazines And Other Health Organisations. You Can Read More Of Health, Fitness, Care And Other Related Issues. Click http://healthfitnessandcare.blogspot.com To Read More.

You Might Also Want To Read About Stock Market, And Other Financial Investments As Well, Visit Stock Gurus Blog

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3 Little Known Tips For Avoiding Vitamin C Supplements That Waste Your Money

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One of the biggest scams supplement consumers fall for is high potency vitamin C supplements. There are lots of nutrients being marketed as "high potency" these days, but with vitamin C, it's particularly bad.

Why is this?

It's because vitamin C is so popular. Everyone, even kids, knows that vitamin C helps your body stay healthy. You don't have to be sold on the effectiveness idea of vitamin C, unlike, say, grape seed extract. You're already receptive, so companies can turn huge profits by producing cheaply formulated products and using a little deceptive marketing to sell them.

In this article, we'll break down high potency vitamin C supplements and give you a better alternative. You'll never waste another dime on the wrong products.

(1) No Synergy

Vitamin C is often sold as a single-ingredient supplement. The label will make a claim like "3000 % Recommended Daily Allowance" or something. But this sort of product has no synergy. Synergy is when a nutrient in a supplement formula becomes more effective by combining with other nutrients. This is very important; it's why you should only buy supplements that are scientifically formulated by a biochemist.

Synergy with other vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and herbal extracts makes vitamin C more effective and more absorbable by your body. A daily mega-dose can't do that.

(2) Cheap Ingredient

Did you know that vitamin C is one of the cheapest ingredients for supplement companies to use? Does that change things for you, knowing that? Companies produce high potent vitamin C supplements, not because they're more effective, but because there's little cost in manufacturing them. Cheap supplements are cheap for a reason.

Vitamin C supplements are the domain of bottom feeders in the dietary supplements industry---companies with zero formulating expertise, little respect for the consumer, but a whole lot of experience in tricking people out their money.

(3) Lack of Other Nutrients

What about other nutrients? By taking high potent vitamin C supplements, you're ignoring everything else, even nutrients that are 50 times more powerful than vitamin C. Are you going to take each nutrient as an individual supplement? Have you considered the enormous cost of doing that?

Instead of mixing and matching supplements on your own (which won't work), you should look for a comprehensive supplement. One that contains 60, 70, or 80 ingredients scientifically blended, including vitamin C in its proper amount. This kind of supplement maximizes health benefits.

Now do you understand why you should leave vitamin C supplements on the shelf? These 3 tips should have made it clear to you. Whenever you think of buying a vitamin C supplement, just remember what you'll be getting:

No Synergy
Cheap Ingredient
No Other Nutrients
It may seem like I'm bashing vitamin C pretty good in this article. But it's not vitamin C that's the problem; it's how these lowlife supplement companies package it as a high potency vitamin. Any professional-grade supplement should contain vitamin C and lot of other nutrients.

Be smart - a supplement is long-term investment in your health.

Zach Zufall is the author of the free 6-Day Mini-Course, "The Consumers' Guide to Choosing a Supplement That'll Slow Your Aging Process".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zach_Zufall

The Hidden Costs of Buying Vitamins For Cheap

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Be honest - are you one of those people who puts price above all else when buying vitamins? Well, you're not going to like this article, because cheap vitamins...as you probably already know somewhere deep down...are cheap for a reason.

When purchasing most things, price should weigh heavily in your decision-making. Take jeans, for example, you can pay hundreds of dollars for designer jeans or just by a pair of Levis for $30. Jeans are jeans to you and Levis are quality jeans and will do just fine. So why pay more?

But this is not how it works with dietary supplements. Cheap vitamins provide you with poor health benefits at best. To find out 3 reasons why, keep reading.

(1) No Manufacturing Oversight

To save money, most vitamin supplement companies contract out the manufacturing of their products. They don't directly oversee production or audit the manufacturer's facility, which are two red flags. These contract manufacturers often buy ingredients in bulk to reduce costs. And they neglect to perform quality control tests on those ingredients---again---to cut costs.

What tests should they do?

Before production, they should do microbial or heavy metal testing of the raw materials. And also test the potency of the active ingredients.

After the production process, they should retest the final product to ensure that there was no contamination during manufacturing.

Before buying vitamins, find out who manufactured them. The best vitamin supplements are manufactured in-house; it's more expensive but it shows a commitment to excellence to the consumer.

(2) No Enteric Coating

Drug companies all use enteric coating. It's the outside layer on tablets that provides protection from stomach acid. This is the main reason why pharmaceutical drugs are so effective and fast-acting, the ingredients pass through the stomach unharmed and are released into the bloodstream.

Why don't most supplement companies use it? It's expensive. But it's also vital for absorption. So how do supplement companies get around this? Instead of paying extra for enteric coating, they formulate supplements only using ingredients unaffected by stomach acid.

This is why you see so many vitamin-only supplements or vitamin and mineral supplements. It's not because they're effective. It's because they're the easiest to produce.
Before buying vitamins, find out if they use enteric coating. Any vitamin supplement that contains herbal extracts, amino acids, or phytonutrients must have it to guarantee absorption.

(3) No L-Glutathione

This is a key ingredient. In fact, I wouldn't recommend any vitamin supplement without it.

What is it?

It's the most abundant antioxidant in your body, but your body makes less of it as you get older. It's critical for cell health and organ functioning. But here's the thing...

It needs to be included in its "reduced" form or it will be poorly absorbed by your body. A lot of companies use regular l-glutathione knowing full well that it can't pass through cell membrane walls.

Why?

Because l-glutathione (reduced) is expensive. Seriously, it's 80 times more expensive than vitamin C. Before buying vitamins, see if l-glutathione (reduced) is on the label. If not, you can be confident that you're looking at a mediocre product.

Now, after reading just 3 examples, I hope you can see why cheap vitamins are cheap. As you learned, cheap vitamins lack:

Manufacturing Oversight
Enteric Coating
L-Glutathione (reduced)

Hidden costs? How can you possibly quantify the costs of contamination, no potency confirmation, poor absorption, and lack of one of the most effective ingredients? Let's just say, they're huge. Two bad things are happening at once when you buy cheap vitamins---you throw money away and you receive pitiful health benefits.

Buying vitamins is a long-term investment in your health - Get it right the first time.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zach_Zufall

Are Kiwis Really a Negative Calorie Food?

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Kiwi is a fantastic fruit that although strange looking, provides an amazing amount of vitamins as well as tastes great. Kiwi is also a negative calorie food, remaining so popular among people on and off of the negative calorie foods diet that it is even part of a common daily search term: "negative calorie foods kiwi."

The Kiwi is an edible fruit, and all of it is edible, including the skin and many seeds. The kiwi is a berry, and yes, it is one of the rare fruits that even has protein. The kiwi is one of the most popular negative calorie foods, and has a massive amount of vitamin C, as well as a lot of vitamins A and E. In addition to that, kiwi also has almost as much potassium as the much publicized banana.

Kiwi skin also has a lot of anti-oxidants, as well as great fiber. Long before the negative calorie foods diet came along, kiwi fruit has been widely praised in many nations for its effects in reducing the risk of blood clots, things the blood, and lowers fat in the blood stream. This makes kiwi one of the healthiest fruits out there.

It's true that among negative calorie foods kiwi is near the top both in substance, fuel, and health. You can argue all you want whether or not it's technically a negative calorie food, but if you replace candy bars with kiwi, you're going to lose a lot of weight. Same deal with replacing simple carbs with kiwi.

Kiwi is one of the healthiest fruits out there, so if you're looking for a high vitamin healthy negative calorie food, kiwi is one you should definitely look at.

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The Effects of Exercise Training and Competitive Sport on Vitamin Needs

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An athlete in regular training and competition will have a requirement for a higher intake of vitamins compared to a sedentary individual. Exercise, even of the moderate kind, places extra stresses and demands upon the body and metabolic processes are increased, all requiring the use of vitamins taken in from food and drink. Heavy exercise and competition increase vitamin requirements further.

During training, the athlete is taking in and utilizing much more oxygen as part of the energy production process than when at rest. Increased use of oxygen results in a higher level of free radicals which need to be disarmed by the antioxidant enzymes (which are created from vitamin B2 and a number of minerals) and the antioxidant vitamins, A, C and E. Without a good supply of antioxidant vitamins, the athletes' body is likely to incur a high level of free radical damage. As well as potentially causing disease, free radial damage has also been connected with post exercise muscle soreness, therefore, a lack of these vitamins might mean that the athlete finds it harder to recover from training and competition. Athletes training outdoors are also at risk of free radical damage from pollution in the air.

Training increases the physical stress on the body which depletes the body of vitamin C and the B vitamin complex. Also the energy production process requires all the B vitamins and biotin, either directly or in the creation of enzymes needed for energy production. All these vitamins are water-soluble and cannot be stored in the body, without an adequate daily supply, the athlete would soon be lacking in energy and finding training difficult.

Red blood cells are vitally important for energy as they transport oxygen around the body, making them essential for good athletic performance. Iron is required for red blood cell formation and good intake of vitamin C aids absorption of iron from food. Vitamin B12 is also required in the formation of red blood cells. Low levels of red blood cells, or anaemia, can reduce VO2max and impair performance so athletes need to ensure a good intake of these nutrients.

During training, damage to muscles occurs and stress is placed on ligaments, tendons and bones. The body has to repair damaged structures and strengthen them against the possibility of future damage. Vitamin B6 and folic acid help in this process as they are needed for amino acid metabolism. Vitamin C is also important for repairing and strengthening tissues as it is needed for production off collagen found in skin, bones and connective tissues.

In order to ensure the athlete's body is functioning optimally, able to withstand heavy training and competition, able to recover well from training and be generally healthy with a strong immune system, they would need to ensure a high intake of vitamins. It is highly likely that the athlete will need these vitamins at levels higher that the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), which is just designed to prevent deficiency diseases.

An athlete is likely to be eating more food than the average sedentary person and therefore likely to be consuming more vitamins, but the extra consumed may not be enough to cover the extra requirements as a result of their training. Also, many antioxidant vitamins are obtained from fruits and vegetables, and as these foods are high in fiber it would be difficult for an athlete to consume much more of them than should be consumed by a sedentary person, as the bulkiness of these foods may leave them too full to consume the higher carbohydrate foods required to fulfil their energy needs.

Therefore, it is recommended that the athlete eats mostly nutrient rich foods in the form of unrefined carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and quality protein and that they also look at backing this up with a vitamin supplement. When choosing a supplement, they should look at the Suggested Optimal Nutrient Intakes (SONAs) which have recently been established. These give levels of vitamins which more closely match what is needed for optimal health and are more likely to cover the needs of an athlete.

Helen writes on all aspects of running, fitness and nutrition.

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Slow Aging - 8 Foods You Can Eat to Inhibit Aging

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While there's no way to fully stop the aging process, you can slow it down by maintaining a balanced diet and enjoying more healthy foods. If you're interested in looking young and feeling great, keep reading for a list of 8 foods you can eat to slow aging.

Ginger

Ginger is probably nature's best health tool. Not only does it boost the immune system, it can also give a much-needed kick to your circulatory and digestive systems.

With that added boost, your circulatory system becomes more efficient at delivering nutrients and oxygen to your body's cells, particularly skin cells. Meanwhile, a faster digestive system means toxins are evacuated rather than released into the skin.

Soya

Soya and soy bean products have been proven to help maintain healthy levels of estrogen and oestrogen in women. This vital hormone is a crucial element in the aging process since as a women's estrogen levels decrease, the aging process increases in speed.

Water

While not technically a food, water is worth mentioning as nature's true fountain of youth. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will almost guarantee well-hydrated, fresh looking skin for life.

Not only does water hydrate the skin, but it also helps to flush toxins from our body and improve cell production.

Berries

Berries, particularly dark berries like blackberries and blueberries, are very high in antioxidants, which regulate free radicals. Because free radicals break down cellular structures and expediate the aging process, eating handfuls of berries is a good - and tasty - practice.

Avocado

Whether you're smearing it on your face as a mask or eating it in a sandwich, avocado is nature's skin miracle. It's a great source of monounsaturated fats, but it's also full of Vitamin E, which is great for your skin. Additionally, the avocado is high in potassium.

Bananas

Like avocados, bananas are high in potassium which stops fluid retention and improves digestion. This means your body and skin will flush out toxins faster, leading to brighter and fresher looking skin.

Beets

Beets are full of iron and women who don't consume enough iron tend to be prone to pronounced, dark circles under their eyes. So, step up your iron levels with beets or other high-protein foods.

Winter Squash

Most varieties of squash are full of skin-loving vitamins A and C. Vitamin C helps boost collagen production and skin elasticity while Vitamin A offers the added benefit of reducing infection and boosts elastin growth.



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What Vitamins Should Women Take?

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The amount of vitamins you need depends on your age, health and lifestyle. For example, the RDA (recommended daily allowance) for children is often lower than that for adults. Older people, those with specific medical conditions, pregnant women, and people on special diets may need to increase their intake of certain vitamins and minerals.

The Department of Health recommends taking supplements in respect of only three vitamins: vitamin A, vitamin D and folic acid.

1. Pregnant women

Women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant are advised to take 400 micrograms of folic acid per day up to the twelfth week of pregnancy. This is over and above the 200 micrograms assumed to be obtained from their diet. Remember, it is best to avoid taking any vitamin A supplements during pregnancy, as this may damage the development of your baby. For the same reason, liver, which is rich in vitamin A, should also be avoided.

2. Children

Children between the age of 6 months and 5 years may need vitamins A, C and D. Supplements may not be needed if your child is a good eater and has a varied diet. Ask your health visitor or GP for further advice.

Children whose bodies are continuously covered due to their cultural dress are at potential risk of rickets caused by a lack of vitamin D that we get from sunlight.

3. Women

Women have special nutritional needs that may not be met by their diets. In today's world of fast food and meals on the go, it is important that women assess their nutritional status and make up for any deficiencies by taking either a multi-vitamin or the vitamins that they are lacking.

Premenopausal women have been found often to consume low amounts of calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

4. People on special diets

Vegetarians or vegans can sometimes miss out on vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron and zinc which are mainly found in meat and dairy products. You don't need to take supplements if you eat a balanced diet. Iron and zinc are found in eggs, whole-grain cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals. For calcium, vitamins B2 and B12, try to eat two servings of low-fat dairy products a day. If you don't eat dairy products, try soya milk, fortified orange juice, dark leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, tahini, tofu, or almonds.

As animal products provide the best source of vitamins B2 and B12, vegans who avoid animal products altogether may benefit from taking supplements.

It's important that your body gets enough vitamins and minerals every day in order to keep you fit and healthy. Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly. Vitamins affect every part of your body, including:

1. the way your hair, nails and muscles develop and grow,

2. your sight,

3. the way you digest food,

4. your heart and your nervous system.



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Spirulina - The Oldest Food on Earth

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Spirulina is the oldest food on Earth, being the first plant life, unchanged for eons. It is arguably the most nutritious plant life on Earth as well.

A simple, one-cell organism - Green Algae - soaks up sunlight (solar energy) and converts it to Chlorophyll, at twice the strength found in Wheatgrass or Green Barley. It also contains very high concentrations of minerals and trace elements, notably Iron. It is 58 times richer in Bio-available Iron than Spinach. Spirulina is high in essential Amino Acids (an egg has all 8 Amino Acids, but Spirulina is even better than eggs).

It is very rich in Vitamins, and in Spirulina, they are all Bio-available, i.e., the body can absorb them all, unlike synthetic Vitamins. Bioflavenoids provide the Anti-oxidants, GLA and Arachidonic Acids - the Low Fats, and it is rich in easily digestible Carbohydrates and Essential Fatty Acids.

Its Proteins include Isoleucine (Growth, Intelligence, Nitrogen equilibrium) and natural Phenylalanine (not to be confused with the synthetic poison in artificial sweeteners). It is 65 to 71 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance. In comparison, beef is only 22 percent protein. Spirulina has a photosynthetic conversion rate of 8 to 10 percent, compared to only 3 percent in such land-growing plants as soybeans.

In addition, Spirulina is one of the few plant sources of vitamin B12, usually found only in animal tissues. A teaspoon of Spirulina supplies 2 1/2 times the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin B12 and contains over twice the amount of this vitamin found in an equivalent serving of liver. It is highly recommended for vegetarians.

(This Article based mainly on a Lecture on Spirulina, by Dr Ranganath Nayak, Leadership Seminar at Cidade de Goa Resort, Goa, India, October 2005. Dr Nayak is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, as well as an expert in Nutrition, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Reiner Hoyer
http://www.healthyforever.ca

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Womens Vitamins - Vitamin Shoppe - Vitamins 036

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Vitamins are organic that are prerequisite by active organisms. Vitamins are essential in minute amounts by the body. Vitamins are essential for a advantageous body.

The food relations eat must offer them with personal amounts of vitamins. The body may show signs of paleness if it is not with the necessary amounts of . An being deprived of all sources of a individual vitamin will in due course feel pain from diseases peculiar to that . In cases where a form is not supplied vitamins through his food, he can take them out loud in the form of pills.

Vitamins are basically of two types, water-solvable and fat-fathomable. Vitamin A, D, E, and K are fat answerable while B and C are water-soluble.

Vitamins are sold at vitamin stores. Consumers can gain huge when they merchandise in bulk. Vitamin store incorporate vitamins and for anxiety, arthritis, folk pressure, flu, fat, diabetes, depression, and menopause. Most and clinics buy in general quantities from the vitamin stores. Vitamin stores can be with no trouble accessed operational.

Almost all the leading stores have a Web site and most of them can be originate in the milky . By marketing on the Web, most vitamin stores have increased sales. The Web phantasm makes the stores products to be had to a total arcade. People from all over the Earth can order a class of vitamins from the comfort of their homes.Lack of can grounds completely a few condition difficulties. Some of them are , weak bones, melanoma, earaches, insomnia, skin glitches and many . Vitamins cannot be as an critical cure for these . They only play a central role in the usage of the overall physiology of a individual.

Many populace take vitamins because of alleged anti-mature properties, but it's a fact that you need to attachment your as you get older. The anti-oxidant of Vitamins C and E are acknowledged and help to neutralize cell depreciation.Vitamin B12 is one of the vitamins that many first-born individuals can be missing. B12 is one of the that our body by chemical comportment inside our stomachs.

Some community don't take up B12 properly and need to get their vitamins supplemented. Over the age of 50, up to 30 percent of the population will have some badly-behaved with B12 amalgamation. Sometimes delightful B12 by outlet can help. However, if the delinquent is that the stomach sop up B12 vitamins, it may be necessary to get B12 shots, which introduces the vitamins directly into the bloodstream.

Your clinician can do plasma tests to plaid your B12 levels.As we get of age, our ability to products D also declines. While sun contact lonesome is enough to trigger suitable production of D in most citizens, by the time we range age 70 our skin only produces one-quarter the D vitamins it did from the same amount of sun experience when we were 25.

Seniors who are snowed in, who live in the north parts of North America, or who cannot go outside without sunscreen are in the offing to need to get their D from supplements.Certain medications can also interfere with the body's ability to use the we usually get from food. Be true with your Ph.D. around your diet and daily life and ask what supplemental vitamins you have a duty to be compelling. Liquid life supplements restrict all the essential nutrients required by your body. This codicil contains several , and . Liquid life contains minerals derived from the TRC plant. To satisfy your taste it comes in two i.e. Mango and Cherry Berry. This annex also contains fresh nutrients some are as follows.

Vitamin B one plateful of Liquid life cherry berry contains 2 mg of B6, 1000 mcg of vitamin B12. Vitamin B is a family of quite a lot of further vitamins like B6 and B12 etc.Vitamin B12 also known as ‘’ is man-made by present-day in the . This is essential for panicky orderliness, manufacturing of red kinship and progression of social body remarkably at earlier stages. It also helps in the creation of DNA during the cell type activity. Its shortage may cause worried scheme and abnormal cells formation also known as anemia.

Vitamin B6 also known as ‘pyridoxine’ in uptake. It can also help reduce and PMS . This vitamin can also degrade lipid level and is important of hair and skin. Vitamin B6 is normally start in milk, eggs, fish and meat.

Folic acid is also careful as a supporter of the B complex. Each quota of Liquid life contains 500 mcg of folic acid. Folic acid is essential for the move of vitamin B12 during the making of DNA, henceforth in formation of new . It also protects the , create in the cells, from genetic disorders. Folic acid also helps in trust skin nutritious. This is generally bring into being in jade vegetables.

Vitamin COne portion of Liquid life cherry berry contains 800 mg of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is a water resolvable and is essential in the formation of a special called collagen. Collagen plays an important role in the augmentation and development of muscles, bones, relatives vessels and cartilage. Vitamin C is also good for your teeth and important role raptness of iron which is very essential for anthropological body.

Vitamin DOne allocation of Liquid life cherry berry contains 400 IU of D. Vitamin D is a fat decipherable vitamin and in outgrowth of great . It also helps in the engagement of phosphorous and from intestine which are also very essential for humanoid body. The inadequacy of this vitamin may cause damaged during childhood or failing of in the later . Vitamin D is easily formed when skin is radical- cheerful. Other instinctive take account of toadstool and yeast.

Vitamin Kone helping of Liquid life cherry berry contains 80 mcg of K. Vitamin E is produced in the intestines and is fat doable. The main sources of E bring in flora and bacteria. Many can synthesize the vitamin. Vitamin E plays an important role in governing origin thickening, is also bring around glucose to glycogen. It is also involved in the enlargement and repair of bones. Deficiency of this may cause center hemorrhage and nosebleeds.

Breakthrough Supplements Reviewed The Side Effects of Green Tea How Does Flaxseed Help Cure Skin Conditions? 5 Of The Healthiest Super Foods Vitamin B12 Benefits Does Your Body Harbor Disgusting Parasites and 20 Lbs of Waste? You'd be Surprised! Discover Turmeric Health Benefits Daily Detox Program Hypothyroidism And Weight Loss Facts About Calcium Supplements - Interesting Facts About Calcium Supplements The Forgotten Supplement Side Effects of Fish Oil Supplements How To Choose A Good Vitamin Supplement Creatine and Phosphagen Elite Help You Increase Your Muscle Mass Understanding The Benefits of Vitamin B Complex Most Published

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What Are B Complex Vitamins

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There are eight vitamins that make up the vitamin B complex:

1. Thiamine or Vitamin B1

2. Riboflavin or Vitamin B2

3. Niacin or Vitamin B3

4. Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6

5. Cobalamine or Vitamin B12

6. Choline

7. Inositol

8. Para-amino benzoic

Much discussion has surrounded the B complex vitamins benefit to the human body. The eight vitamins that make up the B complex each have a specific function to perform in the human body. In the B complex vitamin all eight individual vitamins help maintain a healthy human body.

Since the B complex vitamin is water soluble they must be taken daily. The reason for this is because water soluble vitamins are difficult to restore in the body.

The age of an individual will determine how much vitamin B complex they will take. There are several good benefits you can receive by taking vitamin B complex. Nervousness and pressure can be lessened if you take vitamin B complex. If you suffer from tiredness this can be reduced by taking vitamin B complex. In addition, a regular intake of vitamin B complex can help individuals recover sooner from sickness.

In addition, your body's appearance can benefit from a regular intake of vitamin B complex. You will grow healthier hair with B complex vitamins. There are also skin creams that will help your skin condition which contain vitamin B complex. Vitamin B complex can also be used to help treat dermatitis.

Bette Daoust is the writer of - B Complex Vitamins She writes articles for - vitamins diary and general nutrition info - vitamins, minerals.

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The Effectiveness of Vitamin C

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We all know that vitamin C is one of the most popular health supplements which acts as a stimulant for the immune system of our body. Recent research has revealed that vitamin C could play a part in cancer prevention.

Food Sources

Some of the sources of vitamin c are cabbage, cauliflower, guava, kiwi, papaya and strawberries.

Who Needs Extra Vitamin C?

Although all of us need vitamin c there are others who need it more than us. Who are they?

1. Elderly Folks

As one grows older the ability to absorb vitamin c also decreases.

2. Smokers

Smoking not only harms the lungs but it also depletes vitamin C from the body.

3. Undergoing Surgery

If you are undergoing surgery you would need an increased dose of vitamin C as your body would need it to recover.

How it helps in preventing cancer?

Vitamin C neutralises the free radicals and thus reduces the chance of cancer cells from developing. Those who eat vitamin C regularly have shown to be at a lower risk level in getting cancer.

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Vitamin For PMS - Vitamin B6

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In this article ‘Vitamin For PMS: Vitamin B6’, you will discover:


What is vitamin B6?
Why vitamin B6 is the vitamin for PMS?
How much vitamin B6 do you need to take for PMS?

What Is Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a water soluble vitamin.

The following foods are rich in vitamin B6:


Avocados
Bananas
Corn
Green Vegetables
Legumes
Nuts
Potatoes
Seeds
Wheat Germ
Whole Grains Cereals
Yeast
Vitamin B6 is needed to process amino acids and to make the hormones, serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine.

Vitamin B6 is needed to regulate moods and mental processes.

Why Vitamin B6 Is The Vitamin For PMS?

Vitamin B6 is considered the best vitamin for PMS because clinical trials have shown that by taking vitamin B6 supplements you can help to reduce your PMS symptoms.

How Much Vitamin B6 Do You Need To Take For PMS?

To help reduce your PMS symptoms try taking 50 mg – 400 mg per day of vitamin B6 for up to three months.

Warning: It is best to start with doses of up to 200 mg of vitamin B6 per day to start with.

This is due to the fact that doses of over 200 mg per day of vitamin B6 can cause side effects.

Always remember to consult your doctor when taking any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, suffering from a health condition or on medication.

So, to sum up…

Vitamin B6 is a water soluble vitamin.

Clinical trails have shown vitamin B6 to help reduce the symptoms associated with PMS.

To help reduce your PMS symptoms try taking 50 mg – 400 mg per day for up to three months.

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Importance of Vitamin Supplementation

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Vitamin supplement - why is it important?

Vitamin supplement or supplements are very important for us because if we do not intake enough vitamins necessary for our bodies, the vitamin supplement will substitute for the shortage of the amount of vitamins in our system. Many times a good diet will be enough, but when it is not, the vitamin supplement will make sure that you intake enough vitamins for you to be healthy.

Vitamin supplement - vitamin A.

Why is it important to use vitamin A vitamin supplement? Many health sources state that vitamin A plays an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division and cell differentiation. Vitamin A can be found in many animal foods like liver and eggs and in some plants. But if you don't intake enough vitamin A with you foods, the vitamin supplement will definitely help.

Vitamin supplement - vitamin D.

Another important vitamin supplement is the supplement for vitamin D. The major function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Vitamin D can be found in foods (for example vitamin D fortified milk, fatty fish, and fish oils). Another important source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet rays).

Vitamin supplement - vitamin E.

Vitamin supplement for vitamin E is another example of important supplement. Vitamin E is a very powerful biological antioxidant, which plays a great role in preventing cell damage that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Vitamin E can be found in, for example, vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables. If you do not intake enough vitamin E with your foods, the vitamin supplement will help.

The Nutrients and Benefits of Apricots

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The Nutrients and Benefits of Apricots
By Cindy


Apricots are a good source of dietary fiber with insoluble cellulose and lignin in the skin and soluble pectins in the flesh. The apricot's creamy golden color comes from deep yellow carotenes (including beta-carotene) that make the fruit a good source of vitamin A. Apricots also have vitamin C and iron.

The bark, leaves and the inner stony pit of the apricot all contain amygdalin which is a naturally occurring compound that degrades to release hydrogen cyanide or prussic acid in your stomach. Apricot oil, treated during processing to remove the cyanide, is marked FFPA to show that it is "free from prussic acid".

Extract of apricot pits, known medically as Laetrile, has been used by some alternative practitioners to treat cancer on the theory that the cyanide in amygdalin is released only when it comes in contact with beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme common to tumor cells. Scientifically designed tests of amygdalin have not shown this to be true. Laetrile is illegal in the United States.

The most nutritious way to serve apricot is when it is dried. Ounce for ounce, dried apricots are richer in nutrients and fiber than those fresh apricots.

Diets that may restrict or exclude apricots are low-fiber diet, low-potassium diet and low-sodium diet (dried apricots contain sodium sulfide).

Cindy is the host of http://www.asianonlinerecipes.com, a Free Asian Recipes website dedicated to all things on Asian Cooking and Culinary Guide.

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