 Vitamin A Supplements
We all know that vitamins and minerals are essential to our well being. They give us energy, prevent all types of illnesses and ailments and generally keep our body and mind in great condition. But one vitamin that is well known, but not necessarily talked about a great deal, is Vitamin A.
Where Vitamin A Can Be Found Naturally? This essential vitamin is found in many popular foods that most Australians already have in their diet. These include foods like carrots, green leafy vegetables, fish, dairy (cheese, yoghurt and milk), red meat and eggs. As all of these food items are readily available to most of us, so ensuring your Vitamin A intake is taken care of is quite easy.
Why We Need Vitamin A
Many people don’t understand just how helpful vitamins are. In particular, vitamin A maintains the healthy function of mucous membranes like nasal passages. It also assists in the prevention of hay fever and respiratory allergies. For those who do experience hay fever, which can sometimes be quite debilitating, it’s important to look at how much vitamin A you are getting – it could be the answer to getting rid of watery eyes, sneezes and runny noses in the Spring months!
Another essential reason to ensure you have enough vitamin A in your diet is because it assists in healthy eye function and prevents the deterioration of our vision as we age. Many people have said that they have experienced improved vision just by having more vitamin A rich foods in their diets or by taking a vitamin A supplement or its precursor, beta-carotene.
On average, the human body stores a two year supply of vitamin A, which is often why people do not require the assistance of a supplement as such. However, if you do have a poor diet that lacks many essential foods like eggs, dairy, red meat, vegetables and fish it is important that you try to introduce some of these foods on a regular basis or take a supplement to avoid illness and damage to your body. It’s a very simple and quick way to improve your health... and your body and mind will thank you for it. For more information on Space Vitamin products click here. |
|
Thursday, 10 December 2009 00:00 |
|
Constant tiredness
Why is it that some people are busy yet still brimming with energy and others fall in a heap as soon as they have too much on their plates? Chronic tiredness can affect our lives to the point where work, social lives and relationships can all start to suffer. It is even more annoying if the cause of this tiredness is not known.
Constant tiredness can be a sign that our bodies are not coping with the amount of stress we are putting them under. Constant tiredness can also point to a depleted immune system, especially if the fatigue started with a virus.
Chronic tiredness caused by the above situations can be exacerbated by a lack of key nutrients that are required to make us feel happy and energetic. Sometimes our bodies become depleted and if we don’t take time out to rest and recover, we are on the back foot and find it difficult to regain our health and vitality. Even if we are eating a good diet, we may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals to replenish our depleted stores. Constant tiredness is often our body’s early warning sign to slow down and take steps to recover.
Stress
When we are stressed, our adrenal glands produce adrenalin to activate what is called the “fight or flight response,” a biochemical process designed to make us more alert in times of danger. At first, this seems like a great thing, because we feel more alive, more productive, and more efficient. Continued stress however, can cause the adrenal glands to become depleted, and we can experience symptoms such as anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia. Eventually as the adrenals become exhausted we may experience constant tiredness, poor nervous system function and even depression.
Nutrients that are helpful for restoring correct adrenal function and nervous system health include B vitamins and magnesium. Herbs such as Withania somnifera and Siberian ginseng may also be helpful as they have adrenal restorative properties. Chronic tiredness and exhaustion are traditionally seen as key indications for the use of these herbs.
Immune Depletion
How often have you heard someone say “I haven’t been well since...?” Often our constant tiredness can be traced back to a period of ill health where we had some sort of virus or infection. Even what seems to be a small cold or flu at the time can deplete our bodies of essential nutrients such as vitamin C, Zinc and Iron, and this can not only cause constant tiredness, it can also leave us susceptible to more illness or infection in the future. Herbs such as Olive leaf can also be helpful to boost immune system function and improve our resilience.
Taking some simple steps such as eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and taking time out to relax are extremely important for building nervous system and immune system health. If your body has become depleted and you feel constantly tired, adding a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement can help to top up your reserves and bring you back to good health and vitality. For more information on supplements, click here. |
|
Thursday, 10 December 2009 00:00 |
|
Feeling tired for no reason? Too exhausted to get off the couch? Lethargy causes us to feel depressed and unmotivated, and it becomes frustrating if we can’t pinpoint the reason.
What Causes Lethargy?
Causes of lethargy can be extremely varied and complex, and often it is not one single factor, but instead a combination of smaller factors, when put together, can deplete our energy levels. Below are some of these factors which can become lethargy causes.
Stress and Adrenal Depletion
Adrenal depletion is a condition which can occur after a long period of stress. Our adrenal glands normally produce adrenalin in response to stressful situations, but eventually become exhausted and unable to function correctly. Adrenal exhaustion is one of the biggest causes of lethargy in menopausal women, but it can happen at other ages also. The adrenal glands need B vitamins and magnesium in order to function properly, so supplementation with these nutrients can often help to support these important organs during stressful times. Herbs such as Withania somnifera and Siberian ginseng may also be helpful.
Blood sugar imbalances
Our pancreas secretes insulin in response to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. When we eat foods that are sugary, sweet, or high in simple carbohydrates (such as white flour products or alcohol), our blood glucose rises and it is the job of insulin to mop this up and bring levels back down to normal. Unfortunately this is one of the causes of lethargy as a side effect of high amounts of insulin in the blood is moodiness, sleepiness and fatigue. To prevent this cascade of events, the best idea is to eat more complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, include protein with every meal, and avoid problem foods that are high in sugar. A multivitamin high in B vitamins, magnesium and chromium can also help to balance blood sugar and prevent the sudden fluctuations which are lethargy causes.
Iron – are you getting enough?
Iron is one of the most important nutrients for women and low iron is one of the most common lethargy causes in women of menstruating age. If we are low in iron we can feel exhausted and depleted. Try and eat foods high in iron such as red meat, dark green leafy vegetables and legumes such as brown lentils. High dose iron supplements are often not well tolerated by the digestive system, causing symptoms such as constipation, bloating and stomach pain, due to the main ingredient being an inorganic (crude) form of iron which is poorly absorbed. Instead, try a maintenance dose of organic iron amino acid chelate in a multivitamin supplement to keep levels topped up.
B Vitamins and Magnesium
B vitamins are essential for energy production in the body, and are also needed for the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the body. Low amounts of B vitamins and are one of the most common lethargy causes, as we become tired very quickly if the body is depleted. Low magnesium levels are another one of the major causes of lethargy as magnesium is also required for the production of energy in the body and the prevention of muscle soreness and fatigue.
If you are feeling tired or exhausted, try to take time out to slow down and look after yourself. Nourish your body with nutrient-dense foods, get your iron levels checked with a simple blood test at the doctor, and support your body with a premium quality, easily absorbed multivitamin supplement. For more information on multivitamins, click here. |
|
Thursday, 10 December 2009 00:00 |
|
Vitamin D and weight loss article |
|
Vitamin D and Weight Loss Article
Presented at the Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting, June 10-13, 2009, Washington D.C. [OR14-5] Plasma Vitamin D: A Predictor of Subsequent Weight Loss Success.
SD Sibley, M Turner, C Earthman, Dept of Med, Univ of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Dept of Food Sci and Nutrition, Univ of Minnesota, St Paul, MN
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with obesity; the cause-effect nature of this relationship is not clear. Aim: To determine the temporal relationship between baseline plasma vitamin D and subsequent weight loss success.Materials/Subjects and Methods: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations were measured in 38 obese individuals before and after an 11-week weight loss intervention consisting of a 750 calorie deficit/day from estimated total needs. Body composition and fat distribution were measured through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography. Results: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxvitamin D were correlated with each other, both at baseline (R = 0.52, P<0.001) and post-weight loss (R = 0.44, P = 0.006). Separate regression analyses confirmed baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D each predicted weight loss (P = 0.020; P = 0.015, respectively), and abdominal subcutaneous fat mass loss (P = 0.050; P = 0.038, respectively), but not lean body mass loss (R = -0.017, P = 0.613; R = -0.016, P = 0.352, respectively).
Baseline Vitamin D and Subsequent Weight Loss
25-hydroxyvitamin D1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
coefSEPcoefSEP
Weight loss (kg)0.1960.0810.020 0.1070.0420.015
Total lean body mass (kg)-0.0170.0330.613-0.0160.0170.352
Total body fat loss (kg)0.0850.0680.2200.0640.0350.074
Abdominal fat loss (kg)0.0560.0330.0980.0380.0170.033
Abdominal SQ fat loss (kg)0.0500.0250.0500.0280.0120.038
Adjusted for gender
Conclusions: Plasma vitamin D predicts subsequent weight loss, suggesting a potential role for vitamin D in promotion of weight loss, perhaps through effects on adipose metabolism. Studies are needed to confirm our findings and define underlying mechanisms.
Supported by NIH K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award No. DK-59445; University of Minnesota General Clinical Research Center Award #M01-RR00400.
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Session Info: ORAL SESSION: CLINICAL - Therapeutic Interventions for Diabetes & Obesity (11:15 AM-12:30 PM)
Presentation Time: 11:15 AM
Room: 152AB
Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts are embargoed until the time of their presentation at ENDO 09. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to the start of ENDO 09. For additional information, please contact The Endocrine Society’s Public Affairs Department at 301-941-0240 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
|
Friday, 27 November 2009 00:00 |
|
|
