Posts Tagged ‘vitamin C’

What are the uses of raw foods?

 We are in an age of speed. We do not have enough time to prepare food using fresh fruits and vegetables. To ease the situation, many food processing units have brought out the concept of ‘processed food’ or which some call as ‘ready made food’.

 It is available in most of the retail shops, grocery shops and shopping malls we normally visit. We take these processed foods only to save time. While we are conscious of time, we are not conscious of the need for natural food which is essentially required for the body.

 We see young people who quite often complain of much sickness. In fact, at their age, they should have been robust and energetic. This situation is caused because they take processed food instead of raw foods.

 Why should we desist from processed food?

 Those who manufacture processed food normally add certain percentage of preservatives so as to keep the food fresh for quite some time. The preservatives are nothing but chemicals and in the long run, preservatives cause many side effects.

 On the other hand, while preparing the processed food, food articles are heated at high temperature. When the food is heated at high temperature, much of the vitamins and antioxidants are lost because of extreme heat.

 For example, Vitamin C is an antioxidant which cannot stand extreme heat. This vital antioxidant will be lost when it is heated at high temperature. This processed food will not have any vitamins and antioxidants and it is just ‘junk food’. Unaware of this basic issue, we consume this junk food.

 Uses of raw food:

 Raw food is very essential for the body. It supplies the necessary antioxidants and other vital minerals required by the body. Eat enough raw food; nutrition experts suggest that at least 60% of the food we eat every day should consist of raw food.

 They also suggest that vegetables should not be cooked fully. At the same time, they also suggest not to cook the vegetables at high temperature. This is to ensure that the antioxidants are preserved in the food.

Urinary Tract Infection – Home Treatments And Some Myths

 One common concern nowadays, especially for women, is Urinary Tract Infection, more commonly referred to as UTI. Although it is advisable to consult a doctor for this condition, there are treatments already available for UTI that are effective and long-lasting.

 With the proliferation of home treatment and relief programs, and with the effectiveness of word-of-mouth promotion, there are some popular beliefs about UTI that need to be corrected or put in proper perspective

 I will be presenting some clarifications on common Urinary Tract Infection home relief methods.
While it is true that cranberry juice helps flush away the bacteria that cling on the urinary tract, it is important to note that drinking Cranberry juice will help only if it is unsweetened.

 Cranberry juice cannot be a replacement for water. You have to drink plenty of water. This means that you need to drink more than the required volume of eight glasses a day to experience its effects on your Urinary Tract Infection problem.

 You can opt to drink ten to twelve glasses or more per day. If you exercise regularly, the increase in water intake will help you replace the water that you lose when you work out.

 Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C but do not overeat. This may lead to stomach problems. Instead, you can take a substantial amount of vitamin C supplements and increase vegetables and fruits with Vitamin C in your diet and avoid eating salty food and junk food. Change your eating habits and that alone is enough to improve your health.

 A lot of people resort to home remedies in treating UTI, and we tend to get all sorts of advice on how to treat it. It is important to make sure that we have the right facts for the particular home treatment that we are going to adopt.

 Misunderstanding or ignorance of facts may not help you in your situation; in fact it can even worsen the condition. You can research about the specific treatment that you want to adopt. There are many resources available that cover this topic.

An Immune-boosting Diet

 How often do we complain about feeling exhausted and drained of energy and often most of us fall prey to infections, flu , cold and such other minor ailments.

 But, do you know that the right type of diet can build the body’s natural defense mechanism and prevent you from falling ill very often? A diet rich in certain types of food items can help safeguard you against many minor ailments and also prevent any life-threatening diseases from developing in your system. Below are some guidelines for an immune-boosting diet.

 Vitamin C is the potent anti-oxidant that fights infections and builds immunity. Vitamin C fights flu, common cold and cough and is found in oranges, lemon and other citrus fruits, pineapple, and spinach.  Another potent infection fighting food is garlic.

 Garlic increases the effectiveness of the cells in the immune system and it contains sulphur compounds which further enhance the capability of the immune system in the body. Studies also reveal that having more than six garlic cloves a week can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 30% and of stomach cancer by 50%.

 Beta carotene is an extremely important Vitamin that increases the number of infection fighting cells of the immune system. Carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes are excellent sources of beta-carotene and must be consumed regularly to fight infections and keep your body healthy.

 Vitamin E enables the increase in number of B-cells in the immune system. These B-cells produce anti-bodies that fight infections and keep diseases at bay. Whole grains, egg, avocado, etc are good sources of Vitamin E.

 Low-fat yoghurt is the super food known to keep your digestive system healthy and also fight infections. Mushrooms also increase the production of white blood cells in the cells that keeps the body healthy.

Importance of Antioxidants

 What is antioxidant?

 It is a chemical compound or matter that stops or neutralizes free radicals that are found both inside and outside our body.

 What are these chemical compounds and substances?

 Vitamins such as E, C and A (beta carotene) have been tried and tested to promote healthy skin and body cells as free radicals not only affect the skin, but cause serious internal illnesses as well. They are especially formulated to protect and treat skin and body diseases that are commonly caused by the sun, pollutants, weather conditions and free radicals naturally produced inside our body.

 What are these free radicals?

 Free radicals are harmful molecules humans are exposed to, such as many pollutants found outside our homes like dust, dirt and smoke. Our skin is the most vulnerable part of our body when it comes to the free radicals. It causes premature skin ageing, fine lines, wrinkles and even diseases as serious as skin cancer.

 Free radicals also exist naturally inside our body. The many activities our body performs daily, such as the digestive system where enzymes are produced to digest food, or the consumption of sugar to supply the energy needs of our body, generate free radicals as a by-product while these activities take place, including processing of certain medicines.

 How can we protect ourselves from free radicals?

 As discussed earlier, free radicals exist in our body. We can protect ourselves by taking antioxidants to reduce harmful effects.

 Dietary food supplement

 If you think you have failed in providing right nourishment to your body, get help of large variety of food supplements that you can take to fight free radicals.

 Skin Care Products

 If your skin is damaged or even if it is not, protecting and treating it is made possible through many beauty products that have antioxidants properties. Products like sunscreen and moisturizers are designed to protect skin from the damaging effects of free radicals.

 Facial Care Products

 Special treatment and protection must be given to our face. Use Vitamin A like Retin-A to enhance fibers like Collagen and Elastin that holds skin in place. Stop oxidation too by using products like, sunscreen, moisturizers or day and night cream, and cleansers. Even makeup nowadays is being formulated with antioxidants.

Benefits of Green Tea

 Green tea is considered a miracle drink because of the benefits it can bestow on your health. Most importantly, it is an anti-viral and anti-bacterial agent, which is capable of eliminating a number of diseases from our system.Green tea is effective if you are suffering from influenza. Green tea is prescribed for maladies of the bone and can help delay the osteoporosis from attacking you. The brew has a number of vitamins: Vitamin C and Vitamin B are found in abundance in green tea. These can bring down your blood pressure.

 Green tea can reduce sugar content in the blood, thus it will be helpful for people suffering from diabetes. Surprisingly enough, because of its qualities Green tea is prescribed to prevent ageing symptoms. Green tea supplies anti-oxidants in good measure so that it prevents arthritis from occurring in your body.

 Believe it or not, diabetes can be controlled if you drink green tea daily. Green tea helps in metabolic activity because of its antioxidant qualities and thus increases absorption of glucose, which automatically brings down blood sugar levels in your body.

 It can also help you in losing your weight, since it burns away extra calories. A systematic approach for reducing calories can be adopted if you include green tea into your daily diet menu. It reduces bad cholesterol and also prevents obesity.

 It helps increase metabolism in the body, apart from healing cancerous cells, especially when they are malignant. Green tea is prescribed for people who are suffering from various kinds of cancerous conditions.

 If a female suffers from cramps during her periods, green tea can help to relieve her condition, apart from reducing menstrual flow during those days.

Avoid Foods That Cause Gout

 Hold your breath; even the food items which you consume regularly may be causing your gout attacks!  When you identify these food items, you will be able to avoid them and ensure that you are not prone to repeated attacks of gout.

 Gout is just another type of arthritis which afflicts the middle aged people in their big toe, though it may also manifest in knee-joints, wrist and elbow-joints and other places. Gout affects both men and women, though men are more prone to it. Let us look into some foods which can bring about flare ups of gout.

 Seafood: Gout flare-ups can appear when you take too much of seafood because it has lots of purine, so banish it from your menu.

 Yeast: Most food items that we consume have yeast. Since it also contributes to gout, keep off from beer containing alcohol and white bread for some time.

 Red Meat: Red meat is the villain in bringing gout attacks. Avoid all kinds of red meat, since its purine level is high and contributes to gout flare-ups. Instead of red meat, opt for chicken or tofu.

 In the case of gout attacks, you may have to act contrary to what has been always said about proteins, as it has been proved that a diet containing a large amount of milk, cheese and other dairy products can actually help you remove the purine levels, so that you are able to fight gout attacks. Though dairy products are high in proteins, if you are affected by gout, they can help you in resolving the issue.

Role of Vitamins in weight loss

 True, doctors always say that obesity is an invitation to many serious ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer etc. They advise people to burn the extra calories so that they can remain free from these ailments.

 How to reduce weight:

 Many in their eagerness to reduce weight take to shortcut methods. They fall prey to some advertisements claiming weight reduction in a short of span of time. Doctors always advise that such short cut methods should not be adopted as these are always dangerous and an invitation to many more serious ailments. The weight reduction should be gradual and properly regulated. By regulating the intake of vitamins, weight can be reduced.

 Role of vitamins: Vitamins play a pivotal role in the process of weight reduction. By properly regulating its intake, weight can be effectively reduced. In fact this is the safest method. Those who lose weight by regulating the vitamins are not likely to regain the lost weight. A brief discussion on different types of vitamins is made here:

 Vitamin B 2: This Vitamin makes the Thyroid Gland healthy and regulates the metabolic production and reaction. Almonds, Milk, Liver, green leaf, Eggs are some of the foods that are rich in Vitamin B2.

 Vitamin B 3: The role of Vitamin B3 is vital in regulating the blood sugar level. It builds a tolerable level of the blood sugar. Apart from this, it also regulates the Thyroid hormones. Salomon Fish, Cheese, dry fruit, Brown Rice, Egg and Barley are some of the food products rich in Vitamin B3.

 Vitamin B 5: The main function of this Vitamin is to convert fat into energy, which is essential for various cells in the body. Wheat Germ, Oats, Barley, Beans, meat, kidney green vegetables and Egg are some of the food rich in this Vitamin.

 Vitamin B 6: The function of this Vitamin is similar to that of Vitamin B2. Mackerel, dry fruit, Banana, Cabbage, Wheat Germ and Bran, and Brown Rice are some of the common food items rich in this Vitamin.

 Vitamin C: This Vitamin converts glucose into energy and thereby helps to fight obesity. Cabbages, Sprouts, Oranges, Green Pepper and Broccoli are rich in Vitamin C.

 Chon Line: This is a part of Vitamin B produced by Liver. Deficiency of this Chemical causes deposition of fat in the Liver. Peanuts, Egg Yolk, Cauliflower and Cucumber are rich in Chon Line.

Staying Healthy with Liquid Vitamins

Vitamins are needed in preserving a fit regimen and stopping specific diseases. Vitamins are commonly in capsule shapes. However, you can also opt to consume liquid vitamins. As the name indicates, the vitamins are really in liquid form. The liquid vitamins are then taken in by your body. Some people are not familiar with the advantages of taking liquid vitamins. Read on to understand more how liquid vitamins can improve your physical well-being.

Compared to tablet vitamins, a liquid vitamin is very easy to metabolize. It is better taken into one’s form. Pills function by using binders and fillers to preserve its entire structure.Your body will have some difficulty attempting to breakdown these binders and fillers. The problem leads to the needed nutrients being taken out of the body instead of their absorption.Liquid vitamins do the contrary. All the nutrients are readily placed into the body. The liquid form of the vitamins does not need binders to keep the entire form. Studies have shown the success of liquid vitamins. Their absorption capacity is around 98 to 99 %. Vitamin pills only absorb 10 to 20 percent. The liquid shape is readily placed into the blood stream as opposed to the pill shape.

Its liquid form also allows it to be easily part of the digestive system. The digestive system actually prefers absorbing vitamins and minerals from liquid. It has a more difficult time with nutrients in capsule shapes. The easy absorption ofthe liquid vitamin enables your body to contain a higher amount of vitamins.

Some people may be disheartened by the high price of liquid vitamins. However, the expensive cost just shows the vitamin’s high quality. You get your money’s worth, unlike expensive medicine vitamins whichyour body cannot fully consume. You can buy a big amount of liquid vitamins without feeling cheated.

Liquid vitamins are also a high source for vitamins A, C, and E. The liquid vitamins have these so that they will be just as efficient as the capsule vitamins. The mentioned vitamins are not made by the body but are still needed from our diet. Without these vitamins our body isn’t sufficient enough to fight certain conditions. One will also be weaker and have less endurance for daily activities.

Liquid vitamins are a practical asset to the potential of your long-term well-being. Unlike tablet vitamins, you can pour them in a glass and have them with your daily meals. This will decrease the likelihood of you forgetting to consume the vitamins. Vitamins play a crucial function in maintaining your health. Besides a proper food regimen and workouts, you have to have the vitamins to work against dangerous environmental influences. Nutrients will also enable you the strength to keep physically fit and enhance the healthy meals you eat. Consuming the appropriate liquid vitamins will give you the complete results of these benefits. Begin looking around local and online pharmacies for accessible liquid vitamins. You will not regret choosing this healthy option.

Vitamin Solutions For All Your Skin Problems

Vitamins are a very important skin care ingredient whether you include them in your diet or if you apply them topically in the form of kin care products. There are a variety of vitamin enriched skin care products available in the market in the form of serums and creams. And they can provide relief against all major skin concerns you may have.

Problem: Wrinkles & Fine lines

Solution: Vitamin A

Wrinkles and fine lines are the prime sign of aging and skin damage. And if you haven’t done much to prevent it, its about time you treat it effectively. Use anti aging skin care products containing retinoids. Retinoids are derivatives of Vitamin A also available in the form of Retin-A and Renova. Retinols can help stimulate the collagen production within the skin cells. As a result, the kin becomes smooth and supple. Try NIA 24 Skin Strengthening Complex. It is a superb cream that is neither too light nor too heavy. There is a visible reduction in wrinkles and fine lines with regular use. This is because it enhances the barrier function of your skin and accelerates the repair process by supplying moisture.

Problem: Sensitive skin with a Dull Complexion

Solution: Vitamin B3

People with sensitive skin are advised to avoid using exfoliating products containing harsh ingredients like glycolic acid and salicylic acid. However, it is still important to exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin cells that form a dull complexion. Therefore, use mild exfoliating products that contain ingredients like Vitamin B3 or niacinamide, a derivative of Niacin. Unlike chemical exfoliators, Vitamin B3 is less acidic in nature and so, don’t cause any irritations. Use Nia 24 Physical Cleansing Scrub. It removes dead skin cells and calms, hydrates as well as soothes the skin. Pro-Niasomes wash away visible imperfections caused by the sun and aging.

Problem: Sun Damage

Solution: Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant that prevents the damage caused by free radicals protects the skin against them. Free radicals are responsible for a variety of skin problems right from hyperpigmentation to even skin cancer. However, by using a a concentration of about 10% Vitamin C in a skin care product, you can protect yourself from any sun damage including sun burns, tanning and premature aging of the skin. Use a Vitamin C enriched serum everyday in addition to the sunscreen and you will notice a significant reduction in discoloration. Try Kinerase Cream, an anti-aging cream that improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increases the skin’s capacity to retain moisture. Kinerase cream contains Kinetin, a plant based agent that helps the skin retain moisture.

Problem: Dry and Rough Skin

Solution:Vitamin B5 or Vitamin E

Both Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E have excellent moisturizing abilities. Also, they are powerful antioxidants that eliminate the damage caused by free radicals and keep your skin protected. Because they are mild, they are ideal for people with sensitive skin. Try iS Clinical Firming Complex by Innovative Skincare. It contains natural fruit acids, antioxidants, and bio-nutrients to increase skin firmness to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. At the same time, it encourages skin regeneration at the cellular level and controls acne.

Problem: Dark Under Eye Circles

Solution: Vitamin K, Retinol & Vitamin C

Dark circles under the eyes are a major concern among women. They can be caused because of a variety of reasons including lack of sleep, poor treatment of skin on the eye contours, sun damage and so on. The tiny capillaries under the skin break and the blood clot is what causes the dark color. And the best treatment for this is Vitamin K because of its excellent ability to help against blood coagulation. Use a night eye cream that has effective ingredients that will nourish the under eye skin and lighten the dark circles. Try using Skin Care Heaven Eye Serum. It reduces the the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles along with dark circles and puffiness. This eye serum is enhanced with powerful antioxidants from green tea and hydrated with Hyaluronic Acid.

By Naomi Andrews

Naomi Andrews is an expert esthetician and skin care professional. She has extensive experience of managing spas and doing laser treatments, facials and chemical peels. She believes that every women can achieve healthy skin by practicing a good skin care regimen and makes suggestions for dry and sensitive skin care and so on.

Best Vitamins for Women

The nutrients which regulate the process of body-metabolism, involving various chemical reactions, are known as vitamins. Some vitamins help you get glowing skin and long hair, while some charge the battery of your body with lot of energy and some are responsible for preventing excessive weight gain. Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K are the main types of vitamins. Our body uses the fat soluble vitamins as per requirement, as they can be stored in the body. Water soluble vitamins travel through the bloodstream and are not stored in the body and so they need to be refilled daily.

A well balanced diet can fulfill the body’s demand of vitamins and minerals and can assure good health. Vitamin deficiency can lead to various disorders and even to serious diseases. Men, women, children, everyone requires all types of vitamins, so actually, all vitamins are best vitamins for women. A woman’s body has to undergo various changes during the onset of puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause etc. These changes make their bodies prone to certain illnesses. Moreover, as one ages, the type and quantity of vitamins required by the body may change. Here is an overview of all the best vitamins for women to take.

Best Vitamins for Women

Vitamin A: Vitamin A regulates the tissues and maintains healthy bones, keeping the skin, eye, bone and teeth healthy. Vitamin A is found in milk, egg yolk, carrots, leafy vegetables, oranges, lime and pineapple. Along with boosting the immune system, it protects the eyesight. The recommended intake of vitamin A for women is about 5,000 IU (international units) per day, with at least 20% of this being beta-carotene.

Vitamin B: Vitamin B is crucial in almost all activities of the body, as it supplies the energy. The following are the types of vitamin B.

• Vitamin B1: Vitamin B1is known as thiamine, which strengthens the body’s immune system. With respect to the proper supply of B1, the brain and the nervous system can function more efficiently. It helps in the metabolism of food so that the body receives the required energy for all activities.
• Vitamin B2: Vitamin B2 is known as riboflavin and it produces energy through chemical reactions. Lack of riboflavin often makes women feel sluggish and tired.
• Vitamin B3: Vitamin B3 is known as niacin which controls high cholesterol and is responsible for increasing woman’s energy.
• Vitamin B5: Vitamin B5 is known as pantothenic acid and it strengthens the body’s immune system.
• Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is known as pyridoxine and it protects the arteries. It helps to regulate the hormone levels and by working on woman’s brain chemicals, it boosts the immunity. Vitamin B6 can prevent heart disease in later life. Women should have 2 mg of vitamin B6 daily.
• Vitamin B9: Vitamin B9 is known as folic acid and it is responsible for the formation of the red blood cells which maintain the energy levels. Folic acid is important to women of child bearing years as it prevents birth defects in earlier days of pregnancy. It prevents neural tube or spinal cord birth defects in the first 28 days of pregnancy. It prevents anemia and boosts normal cell growth. Women need 400 mcg per day. Pregnant women need 600 mcg per day. Breastfeeding mothers need 500 mcg per day.
• Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is known as cyanocobalamin and it helps absorb foods to produce energy. It helps retain nerve function and memory and also relieves depression. It may prevent heart diseases in later life. Women need 2.4 mg of Vitamin B12 per day.
• Biotin: Biotin facilitates both fat and protein metabolism and thus helps convert food into energy.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is required for all types of cellular functions like tissue formation and maintenance of the cell membranes. It also converts food into energy. It is present in citrus fruits and vegetables, like oranges, lime, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, peppers and cabbage.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D boosts the health of the bones and teeth. Milk, egg yolk, salmon and other seafood are packed with vitamin D. In women it prevents osteoporosis. Vitamin D is helpful in reducing the chances of colon cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Vitamin E: Vitamin E plays an important role in hair growth, tissue healing and other metabolic processes. It protects the tissues of the eyes, skin and liver. It is present in nearly all types of fruits and vegetables. It is a very important antioxidant for women. Women need 400-800IU (international units) according to age. Vitamin E offers good reproductive health to women and also helps promote healthy skin, nails, and hair. It prevents cataracts, heart diseases and cancer too.

Vitamin K: Vitamin K is essential for coagulation and/or clotting of blood. Dairy products, soybean and green leafy vegetables are packed with vitamin K. It is good for the bones and prevents heart diseases in women. Women need up to 90 mcg per day of Vitamin K.

After knowing about all the necessary vitamins, we can now have a look at the specific vitamins for different age groups.

Best Vitamins for Women in their 20s

For women in twenties, there is still 10% more growth to deal with. Vitamin D and calcium is required to get the most out of your body later in life. Calcium (600 mg daily) builds bone mass leading to strong bones. This can prevent osteoporosis later in life. Vitamin D (1000 IU daily) enhances the absorption of calcium by the body. These are the years more susceptible to mood swings and depression, because of the changing hormones. Vitamin supplements like fish oil capsules (1 to 2 g daily) containing omega 3 fatty acids can enhance the flow of brain chemicals like serotonin which help fight your mood swings.

Best Vitamins for Women in their 30s

Women in their 30s may suffer from iron deficiency leading to fatigue. Grape seed oil helps to avoid signs of aging. Grape seed oil supplement(100-400 mg daily) is an antioxidant protecting the elastin and collagin, healing your skin. Along with iron (27 mg daily) and grape seed oil, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K help to keep your skin smooth and supple. Zinc (15-30 mg daily), folic acid (400mcg/day), Vitamin B6 (50mg/day), B12 (50mcg/day), Vitamin C (1000mg/day) and vitamin E (15 mg daily), selenium (55-100 mcg/day) are the best vitamins for women trying to get pregnant. Folic acid prevents birth defects and is present in dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli. Vitamin B is good for reproductive health. Vitamin C and E increases the chance of conceiving. Prenatal supplements and best multivitamin for women are recommended by the doctors and are easily available in market.

Best Vitamins for Women in their 40s

Women in their 40s suffer from more stress as they try to juggle careers, families and increased number of responsibilities. They feel tired and run down. Higher level of cortisol is noticed in women in their 40s which leads to weight gain and increases the risk of cancer. The body metabolism starts to slow down after the age of 40. Along with anti aging vitamin C (1000 mg daily), if you add chromium (25 mg daily), it can keep your blood sugar stable and can control your weight. Vitamins A, B6, C and E, bioflavonoids, inositol, lycopene and zinc are the vitamins and minerals beneficial for immune system support. If you consult your physician, he can prescribe some best vitamins for women to take during their 40s.

Best Vitamins for Women in their 50s

According to the statistics, about 78% women in their 50s can have breast cancer. Taking 500 mg green tea extract having EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) daily, can lower the risk of breast cancer by 13-15%. With increased intake of Arginine (1-3 mg daily), you can beat hot flashes during menopause. Best vitamin supplements for women are available in market which can help you fight menopause and the related disorders.

Best Vitamins for Women in their 60s

Niacin (35 mg daily) can help you control the cholesterol level. It helps reduce harmful fat and it also increases the good cholesterol level. If you maintain the magnesium level (325 mg daily), then your blood pressure will also be under control. Multivitamin supplements are recommended to maintain energy levels.

I hope this article provides you all the required information about the best vitamins for women and it is safe to conclude that vitamins, which form an important part of your diet, should be consumed in proper proportions daily, if you want to enjoy a healthy life.

By Leena Palande