Vitamins and Supplements

Nutrition – What are the Nutritional Needs?

Nutrition as it applies to our daily lives means that we take in what we need to maintain our body’s healthy state. Nutrition has become an important word thanks to the involvement of the USDA in our daily food requirements, and the FDA’s involvement in determining what is and is not dangerous for us to consume.

But what is our responsibility in the nutrition game? Do we understand what our nutritional requirements are, how to fulfill those requirements, and how to look for real nutritional value in our foods?

I’m not sure that nutrition has been successfully addressed in its own right. We hear nutrition in relation to our vitamin intake, our fortified cereals and milk, and in the context that we need “nutritional value” from our food choices. But what really is nutrition when applied to our daily bodily functions?

Today, we must determine how much nourishment we need, how much physical exercise we need, and how best to accomplish those ends. Calorie needs, nutritional needs, physical needs, and education about those needs now is information we should all understand, at least as it applies to our individual self.

If you will visit your local doctor, library, or fitness center, there is massive amounts of information available to help educate and to help you make good health choices, no matter what the age group.

Nutrition refers to the nurturing of our body, in our ability to keep it healthy and functioning as it is supposed to do. Our ability to provide the body with all it’s necessary food, vitamins, and minerals so that we continue to thrive in our daily life processes.

If you were to take a cross section of the population, and check for adequate levels of the most used and fortified vitamins and minerals, you would probably find that as high as 80% or the population is lacking in a least one of the vitamins and minerals.

Now, that doesn’t sound too bad, until you stop to think, what if it’s calcium? A calcium deficiency brings on osteoporosis, a deteriorating of the bone. This disease alone costs millions in medical expense to the population.

Can you see how a little more cooperation and open-minded participation on the part of our medical field could result in far fewer health problems? It would also have provided the general population with a viable way to discern their nutrition, vitamin and mineral needs, accurately.

So how do we determine that we are providing the essential nutritional needs? That knowledge comes by educating ourselves about what our individual needs are, the needs of our family, and then taking that knowledge and applying it to the foods we buy, that we prepare, and that our families consume.

Quite often, our vitamin and mineral needs outweigh our caloric needs. In those instances, we turn to manufactured vitamins and minerals to fill the gap. This is a part of our nutritional needs, also.

Nutrition is one of the most complex areas to gain useful knowledge about, because there are so many components, and because each person has their own individual needs.

Women needs differ from those of men, and older women’s needs differ from those of a young girl. As we age, our needs constantly change; therefore continual education about nutrition is a fact of life. The nutritional needs of a cardiac patient are different than those of a healthy, middle-aged hiker.

Can you see the complexity of the situation now? What we really need is to develop a scale that determines the nutritional needs of our bodies on a cellular level, so that as we age, as our physical condition changes, or our health changes, we can recalculate our needs, based on cellular changes and content in our body.

Individuality is the key to understanding each person’s nutritional needs, and then working to educate us is the key to fulfilling those nutritional needs. Good nutrition should be the ultimate goal of every person alive.

Nutritonal Food Supplements

by ashu
Diets

Why don’t diets work?

It is a widely reported FACT that 95% of diets don’t work! That fact doesn’t stop over 75% of people saying they had been on diet in the last year. So this being the case what’s the point in losing 20 Lbs, and gaining back 25Lbs and why do people do it? There is no doubt that there is great pressure over the last few years to look ‘thin’.

So why do diets fail? That’s the million dollar question. The main reason diets fail is we are guilty of falling for the latest cleaver marketing campaign. Over the last 10 years there has been a stack of diets on the market many endorsed by Hollywood stars.

Many of these diets DO work, BUT only short term. They often do produce quick weight loss and fantastic results. The problem is maintaining the weight loss as it is very difficult to stick to these eating plans. They are simply too boring. Once you lose the weight it is all too easy to slip back into your old ways and go back to your normal calorie intake. This will result in weight being put back on probably as fast as you lost it – often you will end up heavier that when you started the ‘diet’.

Healthy eating plan
The best method to lose weight is through a healthy eating plan and exercise. It’s about re-educating how you eat and what you eat. It’s not rocket science. Don’t fry food or take fast food takeaways. Cut out the chips and chocolate or least cut it back. Have fruit instead. Drink lots of water. If you are finding it difficult to stick to the healthy eating plan don’t torture yourself, allow yourself a treat once a week, but don’t over do it – always moderation.

Exercise is key
The bottom line is that exercise is good for you and helps with your entire wellbeing. It doesn’t matter if you run, swim, play football or do 1-on-1 Pilates – exercise is what your body needs. Exercise will improve your muscle tone, help you control your weight, reduce your blood pressure, help prevent heart disease.

Let’s face it: Not everyone can be thin. But you can reach and maintain your best weight! It’s not easy. But it’s possible. Your genes may affect your susceptibility to obesity, but some people simply eat too many calories. So battle the bulge with a plan that includes developing – and maintaining -a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. So in conclusion eat sensibly and maintain some sort of exercise even if it just a 10 minute walk each day!

Free Healthy Balance Diet Information

by ashu
Diets

Healthy Dieting Tips

Effective dieting is all about changing long term eating habits rather than cutting down excessively on food in intermittent bursts.

As well as eating a healthy and balanced diet that is low in fat and refined sugar, there are a number of other things that you can do to help you shift those extra pounds and ensure that they stay gone for good.

Here are some top tips to help you do just that:

1. Avoid going shopping when you are hungry.

2. When you go shopping write a list in advance and stick to it so that you do not buy calorific treats.

3. Always eat breakfast containing complex carbohydrates to help fight mid morning sugar lows

4. When you feel peckish drink a glass of water instead of reaching for a snack; you may find that it stops you feeling hungry.

5. Avoid going shopping when you are hungry

6. Watch fat content in prepared foods. Try not to eat food with more than 4% fat.

7. Take some form of exercise every day. It is very easy to fit this into your daily routine by looking for opportunities to walk rather than drive.

8. For the best results, exercise early in the morning (ideally before lunch). Aim to exercise for twenty to thirty minutes at least three times a week.

9. Ask friends to give chocolates a miss on your birthday or at Christmas.

10. Alcohol is full of calories. You can try and limit your alcohol intake by interspersing alcoholic drinks with soft ones on nights out.

11. Weigh yourself no more than once a week in the morning before eating or drinking.

12. Avoid going shopping when you are hungry

13. Take a Vitamin B complex as B vitamins are used for efficient fat metabolism.

14. Don’t set yourself unrealistic targets, they will only make you feel depressed. Stick to the weight height guidelines set out by the NHS.

15. Watch out for food claiming to be fat free or virtually fat free. Although they might not contain much fat they are often loaded with sugar.

Free Healthy Balance Diet Information

by ashu
Vitamins and Supplements

Improve the Health of Your Heart with Vitamins

Vitamins are essential to keep your heart healthy. Of
course, you need to eat the right foods with less fat and
cholesterol, but you need to supplement your food with
vitamins to keep your body in the best shape and your heart
pumping for a long time.

When it comes to boosting heart health, Vitamin E, is the
vitamin that most people think of. It can help it seems, to
control the oxidization and build-up of cholesterol deposits
on the heart’s arteries — oxidized cholesterol attaches
itself to artery walls more easily. This can create
blockages that contribute to the risk of heart disease or
cause other health problems.

Doctors recommend an additional dose of Vitamin E. They
advise patients to eat foods rich with Vitamin E such as
nuts and almonds.

Vitamin E is also very helpful in the recuperation process
post heart attack. It prevents additional heart attacks by
encouraging the arteries to be more open mand less
susceptible to blockage.

To make vitamin E work even better, those concerned about
heart disease may want to supplement their diets with
vitamin C as well.  As an antioxidant, it also helps to
prevent the damaging effects of cholesterol, but it is also
being shown to aid vitamin E in its healthful effects.

When taken together, vitamins E and C are helping to create
a healthier heart and artery function.  Those who have a
history of hearth disease or who are concerned that they
might be at risk should consider taking supplements in
addition to adding healthier foods to their diet.

While the perfect dosage varies from one patient to another
,it seems that 400IU (international units) of vitamin E per
day is the most effective dose.   For vitamin C, patients
can take a fair amount a day and still not overdose, but a
500 milligram supplement in the morning and again in the
evening is recommended to aid the heart.

Endorsed by studies, additional supplements of vitamin C are
good for your heart. It is always a good idea, though, to
consult your doctor before taking any supplements. Just make
sure that the vitamin supplements you take don’t interfere
with some medication you are already taking. Or your doctor
may recommend that you take your vitamins at a different
time.

While your diet is the best way to get your daily allowance
of these vitamins, supplementation is recommended for those
who are trying to improve their heart health.

For Vitamins Supplements 

by ashu
Vitamins and Supplements

The Role Of Whey Protein In Achieving Significant Muscle Gain

When most people think of protien, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to protien than just the basics.

Most bodybuilders would agree that supplementing with whey protein is an important element in achieving serious muscle gains. This article will examine the facts relating to whey protein as a supplement and help you decide whether you need to follow this particular strategy.

Whey protein is produced during the process that sees milk turned into cheese. It is also found naturally in dairy products, eggs, soy and vegetable proteins but none of these compares in quality to whey protein powder. It also scores highly in providing the branched chain amino acids (BCAA’s) that are important in the building and retention of muscle.

Whey protein is highly favored by bodybuilders because it provides the necessary building blocks to produce the amino acids that the body uses to build lean muscle tissue. Many studies have shown that whey protein contains the perfect combination of amino acids, in just the right concentration for optimal performance in the body. It is also thought that whey protein has a role as an anti-oxidant and immune system builder.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about protien. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

It is best taken in powder form mixed in juice or milk, spread throughout the day to maintain a positive nitrogen balance. Serious bodybuilders often consume up to 150 grams each day but as a rule of thumb, daily protein intake for active trainers can be calculated by taking your weight in pounds and multiplying by 1 or 1.5. But remember, you need to work out how much protein is taken from food and other sources, and then spread the remaining whey protein balance over the day.

Whey protein is a relatively safe supplement but no more than 30 grams of protein should be taken at one sitting as excessive single doses could overload the liver. The safety of whey protein has been well documented in many scientific studies and there is clear proof that taken consistently, coupled with regular exercise, it will result in meaningful muscle gain.

For High Protein and Low Protein Diet

by ashu
Diets

Healthy Diet For Your Child

It is the belief of most parents that children are eating a relatively healthy diet, but if not, they throw up their hands and give up. Children are then plied with multivitamins. Though this is not a bad thing to do, many children think they are candy especially now that they come in gummi candy, gumballs, and cute animal and cartoon characters.

This is extremely serious because if they are with a kids reach, they could be taking more than you know about. If there is the remotest chance your child has ingested too many, immediately call Poison Control and get them to the emergency room.

If your child overdoses with multivitamins with iron your child could become seriously ill or die. All manner of medications must absolutely be kept out of the reach children. If you think your child needs them generic multivitamins are fine but for the most part, children get a lot of their vitamins in their diets. If your child is either allergic to dairy products or won’t eat them, calcium will need to come from other sources. A consultation with your child’s pediatrician is important. One vitamin daily is all a child needs even if his diet has been questionable for that week.

The absorption of other vitamins could be blocked if there is too much of any one vitamin. For example, too much calcium can prevent the absorption of other vitamins such as iron. Healthy food choices are not a child’s priority you can expect to be giving your child vitamins well into their teens. Before buying vitamins you should know that opinions about vitamins with iron for children vary greatly. One belief is that you should, in fact, be giving vitamins with iron. Another philosophy is that never should a child be given vitamins with iron in them.

In infancy my own child showed signs of iron deficiency as an infant. Always check with your child’s doctor; my child’s doctor put him on iron fortified vitamins and he is healthy now. A disease called Hemochromatosis is caused by too much iron in the blood.

The iron becomes unusable by the body and it is not washed out of the body easily. It is almost always a fatal disease and can cause serious health issues. Calcium helps build strong bones and muscles and is a very important part of your child’s diet.

Calcium is a mineral. Kids who eat ice cream, yogurt, and cheese or who drink milk usually get enough calcium from their diets. Some do not like dairy products, still others are allergic to them. Children can be assisted in getting what they need by consuming calcium fortified juices, cereals and vitamins.

Drinking fluoride treated tap water and bottled water and/or using fluoridated toothpaste is enough for most children. Your child should not be given fluoride supplements without checking with your pediatrician. Your child’s teeth could be permanently stained if they get too much fluoride.

This defeats entirely, the purpose of the treatment of water and the use of toothpaste meant to protect your child’s teeth. Infant multivitamins in liquid form is available and usually administered with an eye dropper.

The drops contain vitamins A, C, and D and may have added iron. Also they may have other vitamins and minerals such as thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B-12. Chewable children’s vitamins are available in the forms of cartoon characters and/or animals. Now vitamins are available in gummi candy and gumballs.

Try buying gum ball vitamins or cartoon characters if your child is difficult about taking vitamins. Your child should always be supervised while he’s taking his vitamins. My son never gets to take his vitamins on his own, I give them to him.

He may or may not take it or he could take too many. Children’s vitamins could be a very good thing but too much of a good thing could be fatal. They should not be left in the reach of children. Eating what is right is not your child’s top priority so giving him vitamins may offset some of that.

Adjustments to child’s diet should always be discussed with your child’s pediatrician, it’s better to err on the side of caution. It’s fine to have fun shapes but your child could think they are candy and they should be kept out of reach of children or locked in a cabinet.

Healthy Diet For Children

by ashu
Vitamins and Supplements

Use Iron and B Vitamins To Improve Your Brain Activity

Iron and Dementia

In the US iron deficiency has been found to be a major problem in people of all ages. Everyone knows the lack of iron causes anemia. Iron is the center of our red blood cells, which allow oxygen to be carried throughout your body and into your brain. Your brain uses over 20% of the oxygen available in the blood. Lack of oxygen has a major impact on your brain’s health and in the formation of dementia.

When a person is deficient in iron, they may have difficulty in keeping a conversation or in keeping a good attention span.

The actual ability to absorb iron into your body is dependent on the amount of acid you have in your stomach. If you have acid reflux or heartburn and are using drugs or antacids to get relief, you are affecting your ability to absorb iron.

To absorb iron, the pH in your stomach has to be normal, 1 – 2 pH. Under these conditions, iron in your stomach chemically reacts with other chemicals and is prepared for absorption in the small intestine.

When you take drugs to reduce the acid in your stomach, the iron does not chemically react and change for proper absorption in the intestine. The result is iron deficiency.

Here are some of the best foods that have iron.

Fired liver, fried kidney, fired chicken liver, wheat bran, ovaltine, coco powder, spinach, parsley, radishes, peas, leeks, carob bar, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, dried coconut, cashew nuts, muesli, cornflakes, oatmeal, brown rice, total cereal, baked potato
Use 25 to 50 mg of iron supplement daily. If you take iron supplements check with your doctor to see if you really need them. Take excessive iron can result in poisoning. Keep iron supplements away from children
B-Vitamin

The B-vitamin folic acid and B12 have also been a major problem in the US. B12 has been consistently found deficient in people with Alzheimer’s. Folic acid and B12 have been found to improve mental health in people who were in metal institutions.

Folic acid and B12 work to produce neurotransmitters and replace nerve cells. The lack of neurotransmitters is responsible for loss of a good memory.

To make sure B vitamins work for you in keeping your mental capacities in tack start making sure you are getting them in your diet or taking them as a supplement. If supplementing, use the B50 or B100 complex.

It appears that after a certain age B12 will not help in alleviating mental changes or problems.

Here are some the best foods that have B vitamins.

* fish and seafood
* whole grains breads, cereals, oats, and barley
* chicken, beef, eggs
* most leafy green vegetables, avocados
* cheese, milk and yogurt
* beans and peas
* oranges, lemons, grapefruits
* various nuts

It is always best to get your minerals and vitamins in food. In food, minerals and vitamins are combined with other chemicals that allow your body to absorb them better than supplements.

Vitamins Supplements 

by ashu
Diets

Milk and It’s Benefits

Milk is rich in proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and is therefore an important source of nutrients. One pint (600 ml) of milk supplies 7/8 of the calcium, slightly less than 1/3 of the riboflavin, over 1/4 of the proteins, and just under 1/5 of the vitamin A requirements of a moderately-active man for one day. If we also consider that one pint of cow’s milk supplies about 1/5, and buffalo’s milk about 1/3, of the daily calorie requirement, then the importance of milk in nutrition becomes apparent. Milk Benefits in some health disorders like:

1) Bone health

2) Osteoporosis

3) Hypertension

4) Colon Cancer

5) PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)

Some of the nutritional benefits of milk, per 8-ounce glass:

  • Protein: 8 grams
  • Carbohydrates – lactose, 11 grams
  • Fat: Depending on what kind of milk you choose (nonfat to whole milk), milk contains anywhere from negligible amounts of fat in non-fat milk to eight grams of fat per 8-ounce glass in whole milk.
  • Calcium: 300 milligrams or 35 percent of the RDA for school children. Note that the percentage of calcium absorbed from dairy products is much higher than that absorbed from most vegetables. Milk is fortified with vitamin D, which boosts calcium absorption.
  • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 8-ounces of milk supply half the RDA for children under three years, one-third of the vitamin B2 requirement for school-age children, and one-fourth the requirement for teens and adults.
  • Vitamin B-12: 30 percent RDA for children
  • Zinc: one eight-ounce glass, 10 percent RDA for children
  • Vitamin D: 25 percent RDA for children and adults
  • Vitamin A: 10 percent RDA for children and adults

While milk isn’t the perfect food, it still delivers a lot of nutrition in all its various forms, such as cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Besides, milk and dairy products are foods that kids will eat and drink willingly. Despite the bad press about milk, it has a lot of good nutritional things going for it.

by ashu