Multivitamins and Nutrition

Archive for the ‘Vitamins’ Category

Vitamins are organic substances essential in the metabolic processes taking place in the nutrition of living beings. Not provide energy, but without them the body is unable to take advantage of the food. Normally used in the interior of cells, regulating the chemical reactions of living. Vitamins must be supplied through diet because the body cannot synthesize them. One exception is vitamin D, which can be formed in the skin with sun exposure, and vitamins K, B1, folic acid B12y, formed in small amounts in the intestinal flora. With a balanced diet and plenty of fresh, natural products, we will have all the necessary vitamins and requires no additional input in the form of supplements or herbal pharmacy. An increase in the biological needs requires an increase in these substances, as in certain stages of childhood, pregnancy, lactation and in old age. The consumption of snuff, alcohol or drugs in general leads to higher spending of some vitamins, so in these cases you may need nutritional supplements. The lack of a vitamin may lead to various types of deficiency diseases. Take care of yourself and your family to have a good and varied diet to meet the needs of the body.

zinc
Prevent colds when we all know that food is a factor and vitamin C is the first thing that comes in our mind when we feed ourselves against such diseases. However, zinc also allows us to fight colds.

Zinc also promotes wound healing and strengthens the body’s defenses, and although it may help prevent colds, a recent study found that taking zinc within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms, speed recovery by reducing the severity and duration of the disease predominantly winter.

Although not yet determined the dose to be administered zinc to promote healing of a cold, we can use this information to increase the intake of this trace element in the diet and thereby prevent and successfully meet one of the most common infectious diseases population.

Zinc can be obtained from foods of animal origin, especially beef, pork and lamb, seafood and peanuts, peanut butter and legumes.

You know, to recover from a cold is not only a tea with honey and lemon will help, but zinc intake through diet can alleviate the symptoms and duration of the disease.

Different studies and research around the world have shown that moderate consumption of beer as part of a healthy lifestyle, providing benefits to the body, among which we highlight the following:

Contribution of elements as beneficial antioxidants that are for our cells.

The beer contains B vitamins and essential minerals (some of which is related to the prevention of osteoporosis). Image

Strengthening the immune system, preventing the incidence of infectious diseases.

Reducing the risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction.

It should be borne in mind that moderate beer consumption does not affect body weight, as against what had been thinking, beer is not fattening. Weight gain is related to lifestyle as a whole and the power of each person, but not by the reasonable consumption of beer.

All children need to take multivitamins?

Many healthy children and teens may be taking vitamin and mineral supplements do not need, say researchers in the February issue of Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

Experts indicate that supplements of vitamins and minerals are not considered necessary if it is a balanced diet. Children who really need these supplements are those that have not as good nutrition, are less active and come from low-income households, and thus might not be receiving the doses of vitamins and minerals they need, experts say.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamin supplements for most children older than one year, but for those with chronic diseases, eating disorders, and certain other conditions.

Overdose or poisoning by the use of supplements can be a problem, especially among younger children (2 to 4 years). An overdose can cause vomiting or more serious problems such as kidney or liver damage.

Dr. Ulfat Shaikh, study author and assistant professor of pediatrics at the Davis medical school at the University of California and a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital at UC Davis, said: “We were curious to know why some parents might choose counter multivitamins for children and others not. He explained that the study hypothesis was based on that supplements can be used to reduce adverse effects, if parents think the child is not eating well or are wondering where their next meal would come.

The authors reviewed data on vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as diet, exercise and health insurance factors of about 11,000 children and adolescents between 2 and 17 years of national survey examining the health and nutrition.

Nearly one third (34 percent) of the adolescents had used supplements of vitamins and minerals during the month preceding the interview. As expected, children who were overweight were the ones taking vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin A and precursors thereof, such as the famous carotenoids, always resurfacing in the summer when all those associated with skin care under the sun. However, the vitamin also protects us from the cold and therefore it is essential to include it in these months.

Not only strengthen the body’s defenses, helping to prevent colds and other diseases typical for this time of year, but also vitamin A retain the health of our skin, preventing dryness of the same and the mucous membranes to cold .

Vitamin A can be included easily by using carrots, squash or steamed spinach as well as we can get it from orange fruits, tomatoes, liver and egg yolk.

Read the rest of this entry »

In the diet of athletes is always present the importance of proteins and carbohydrates, but often remains relevant to the role that vitamins and minerals in the body. Certain vitamins such as B complex, are essential for the proper functioning of neuromuscular and besides, without them we can not metabolize carbohydrates well.

In addition, many minerals are lost in sweat and need to be replenished daily, as well as some vitamins and minerals have antioxidant to counteract oxidative stress produced by physical exertion, for all these reasons, if you’re an athlete, do not forget the vitamins and minerals.

Calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium are essential to prevent electrolyte imbalance, and also help the muscle contraction required for each movement.

Vitamins A, C and E meet antioxidant, while the B complex collaborate in the proper production of energy from macronutrients and allow the nervous system to function properly.

Without the vitamins and minerals intake of fats, proteins and carbohydrates is not much, so do not forget to include these micronutrients in our diet every day if we get a successful training and a great sports performance.

Excess vitamins can be useless or even dangerous, said an expert group on an analysis of Americans’ penchant to consume in the hope of having a long and healthy life.

In a panel discussion held in Washington, nutrition professionals, biochemists, toxicologists, physicians, geriatricians and oncologists indicated that there is no doubt that they are necessary and even indispensable.

However, no study has shown that the amount is equivalent to quality and no matter how many vitamins a person takes will not get to live more or better health. Read the rest of this entry »

The liver is one of the principal organs of cleansing the body, but for its proper functioning is necessary that we provide ourselves with the necessary substances. Vitamins occupy an important role in this respect and it is therefore necessary that we acquire proper eating habits, and that the liver is an organ that can be significantly affected by reasons such as excessive alcohol intake or taking very strong drugs that cause it to weaken.

As always, food will play an essential role. In this case we will help strengthen the liver and improve its status, namely the hepatocytes, which are responsible for the proper functioning of this body. To make this function correctly the liver needs input from a number of specific vitamins such as B1 or thiamine, B6 or pyridoxine, and B 12 or cyanocobalamin.

Read the rest of this entry »

Vitamin B12 is one of the eight most important vitamin B complex and is found mainly in meat, fish and dairy products, although vegetarians may be obtained from algae such as Spirulina.

According to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that meat contains one of the highest levels of the vitamin, but it is absorbed by the body when consumed.

Researchers at the University of Oslo and the University of Bergen, Norway, has found higher levels of bioavailable Vitamin B12 is found in milk, which despite having lower concentrations than the flesh is much better understood.

Read the rest of this entry »

Vitamin B12 is necessary for growth, repair and overall health, so it must be present in any type of diet, but their natural sources for obtaining further found in animal products, so vegetarians should pay special attention to get it from other sources.

For lacto-ovo-vegetarians do not have major problems that is present in dairy products and eggs, so do not suffer the same shortcomings, but a problem in other forms of strict vegetarianism, where these products not consumed.

So in place of meat as a source of production, vitamin B12 is found in milk, cheese, eggs, fortified yeast extracts, fortified cereals and fortified soy products.

Read the rest of this entry »