Global Public Articles

Vitamins and minerals play an essential part of how our body functions and stays healthy. Vitamins work individually for certain purposes but function properly as a partnership with other vitamins and minerals in our body. They need other nutrients and substances within our body to process and function well to achieve their full potential.

Vitamins are organic compounds necessary for the body to function. The body uses vitamins as building blocks and they are necessary for various functions. To be at your best, you must have an adequate amount of each of the vitamins daily. Many people will use supplements to obtain their optimum nutritional needs in addition to a well balanced diet. Many factors, including lack of abundant nutrients in our soil, have led our food values to be questionable.

Vitamins are characterized as water-soluble or fat-soluble. The B complex, C and bioflavonoids are water-soluble vitamins measured in milligrams. They are easily absorbed into the body. The fat-soluble vitamins are A, E, K, and D and measured in units. They are stored in the fatty tissues of the body. Taking excess amounts of these vitamins can lead to toxicity.

Minerals are also essential nutrients for you physical and mental health. Minerals form the part of the tissue structures and are components of the hormones and enzymes that regulate your immune system processes, the growth and energy in your body. The enzymes and hormones depend on minerals to function properly.

Minerals regulate the flow of fluids and water levels in the body. They are necessary to rejuvenate your energy when you become fatigued and help improve your memory and concentration. Minerals also help strengthen the nervous systems and the skeletal system.
Minerals are necessary for hair growth, to keep your heartbeat normal and many other functions.

The body needs all the essential nutrients to function properly. If there is a deficiency in just one mineral, for example, your body’s overall system begins to weaken and work less efficiently. Then eventually disease will set in. Without minerals, vitamins have no purpose. Without vitamins, however, the body still uses minerals.

The Vitamins and Minerals Your Body Needs:

The vitamin B complex group includes Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid or simply Foliate), Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) and Biotin (Vitamin H).

Vitamin B complex group affects every major system of the body and plays an important role in every function and process.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) promotes how we process sugars and energy from food. It’s necessary for correct functioning of the heart and nervous system. Thiamine builds blood, prevents fluid retention and maintains muscles.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is needed for growth and reproduction, helps red blood cells form and promotes healthy skin, hair and nails.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is needed for the formation of hormones, aids in circulation, controls cholesterol levels and aids in the use of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) forms proteins, maintains the functions of the intestinal tract and aids in wound healing.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is needed to produce hydrochloric acid that breaks down the digestion of foods and alleviates nausea and crucial for the production of antibodies and red blood cells.

Folic Acid helps prevent heart disease, builds red blood cells and aids in the division of cells, body growth and reproduction. It is known as a cancer fighter and anti-stress vitamin.

Vitamin B12 promotes growth, increases energy and memory.

Vitamin C accelerates healing and is necessary for bone and teeth formation, collagen production and the prevention of the common cold.

Vitamin D is needed for strong teeth and bones and skin respiration.

Vitamin E is an anticoagulant and antioxidant.

Vitamin K is necessary for normal blood clotting and is important to the liver.

Minerals:

Calcium acts with phosphorous to build and maintain bones and teeth.

Chromium is needed to move glucose through the cell walls.

Iron is essential for the formation of hemoglobin and myoglobin to transport oxygen throughout the body.

Other essential minerals include magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc.

John Tolmachoff is the chief editor of health related sites such as http://www.liquidvitaminsreviews.com and http://www.beautytipssupplies.com. Get a FREE $49.00 audio eBook at either one of these sites.

Many people are often confused about their nutrition needs and what vitamins they need to stay healthy. It’s often hard to make sense of the poor information seen in advertisements and by the media. So, how do you know which vitamins you should take?

Actually the right answer is all of them in the correct amounts are necessary to stay healthy.

Vitamins are essential for life since they aren’t stored in the body and cannot be created by the body. There are 13 vitamins your body needs. The vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and folate are the vitamins needed in every diet.

Vitamins are necessary for proper growth and health. Your vitamins and minerals should come from a variety of foods you consume but you can take supplements for what is lacking.

A supplement should be both high in quality and offer complete vitamin amounts. A multivitamin is a better choice than choosing many individual vitamin supplements. The supplements are intended to improve nutrition and give you the proper amount of micronutrients needed every day.

Each of the vitamins has a certain job to do. For example low levels of vitamin D could lead to rickets while other vitamins are necessary for preventing medical problems such as vitamin A that prevents night blindness.

Vitamins come in two different categories. There are the water-soluble varieties that are easily absorbed by your body. Your body can’t store them. Some of the water-soluble vitamins are: Folic Acid or folate helps the body make new cells and prevents anemia. It is found in dark leafy vegetables, beans, oranges and grains.

The B1, thiamin, helps use carbohydrates for energy and is found in lean meats, legumes and nuts.

B2, riboflavin, helps process protein and fats and is found in lean meats, eggs, dairy and nuts.

B3, niacin, helps process protein and fats and is found in whole grains and fish.

B5, pantothenic acid, helps your body process nutrients and make red blood cells. It is found in organ meats, beef, chicken, lobster, milk, peanuts, peas, beans, yeast and whole grains.

B6 helps the body use proteins and fats and supports the nervous and immune systems and helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. It can be found in organ meats, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, bananas, carrots and yeast.

B12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is needed to make genetic material in the cells. It’s found in liver, poultry, clams, flounder, sardines, eggs, milk and blue cheese.

C, ascorbic acid, helps connective tissues form and acts as an antioxidant, found in broccoli, spinach, citrus fruits, tomatoes and potatoes.

The fat-soluble vitamins need your body’s bile acids to absorb them. They are stored in body fat. Some of the fat-soluble vitamins are:
A, retinal, is needed for vision and healthy skin and is found in liver, fish, dairy and tomatoes.

D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorous, prevents fractures and osteoporosis and is found in eggs, fortified milk and saltwater fish.

E is an antioxidant and helps repair body tissues and is found in fish, milk vegetable oils and fruits.

K is important for forming blood clots and is found in cheese, spinach and cabbage.

The human body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy body and regenerate cells. Eating a well balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains, cereals, meats and dairy products and taking supplements when necessary can keep the body functioning properly.

John Tolmachoff is the chief editor of health related sites such as http://www.liquidvitaminsreviews.com and http://www.beautytipssupplies.com. Get a FREE $49.00 audio eBook at either one of these sites.

The rest reads as follows…”But will interest his patients in diet and nutrition, exercise and the care of the human frame. He will teach them about the cause of all disease.”

This statement was by Thomas Edison, back in the day when there wasn’t a pill for every “disorder” under the sun. Realize it was different era and there has been great advancement in so many areas of the medical field, but somehow, his words still ring true today.

A caring doctor will prescribe nutrient foods and perhaps supplements if needed. A good doctor will only want to see you once a year, and recommend you stay out of hospitals. It is wise to get annual checkups, but lets touch on the subject of prescription’s for just about everything and how not to get caught in that trap.

It first starts with us taking care of ourselves, having self worth and wanting to live a long, healthy, productive life. A healthy lifestyle can be started at any age, the younger the better. All you teenagers out there need to realize what a pivotal and exciting time it is. Being a teen may be awkward…acne breakout, puberty, esteem issues, but one thing you can do is take control of your diet and exercise.

Creating great habits of a healthy lifestyle will benefit for the rest of one’s life. An active teenager can eat practically anything and not get fat, but if that “anything” is a steady diet of fast foods and empty calories, it will catch up down the road. You will find out that if you exercise on a regular basis, having a burger, fries and a coke doesn’t give the body what it needs. Don’t believe it? Go and get a double whopper and some of those salty fried up fries prior to a workout and see how you feel.

A lot has changed since the days of Edison, mostly good, but not all. One of the not so good things is the amount of additives and preservatives that is added to the foods we buy at the local grocery store. I won’t get on a soapbox about it but my goodness, some products have an ingredient list longer than a car rental agreement. Still have not figured out what “red#7″ is. We are all aware that our society in the States wants convenience so being able to pop a meal into the microwave and have it done in a couple of minutes is very appealing, but not healthy.

It will take more than an apple a day to keep the doctor away. It takes change where change needs to be made. For instance, instead of getting canned vegetables and fruit which have lost all their nutrients in the process, go get the real stuff, preferably organic. Parents, try giving your kids real spinach, i.e. spinach salad, instead of that salty, soggy form of spinach that comes from the can and see how they will actually like spinach.

We are the most obese country in the world and all the junk that is added to a lot of the foods has to have a part to play in correlation to the high cancer rate we have in the States. Raw apricot seeds are one of the healthiest food sources on the planet and yet, the FDA bans them. Hoping the day will not come when all apricot orchards will be done away with.

Usually the less expensive the food or drink, the more it is full garbage. Take some time while shopping and look at what is in the stuff your choosing. The kids may love Sugar Pops for breakfast, but how about fixing them a couple of eggs, some regular oatmeal or some other hot cereal to start their day. Put a little honey in it and they will like it, trust me. Mix in some fruit and maybe some whole wheat pancakes. You get the picture?

We have to change our stinking thinking because most doctors will not mention about nutrition. Not knocking doctors but they make a nice living off people being sick. Think about it.

Joni Bell has many years of extensive study in the area of natural cancer prevention and treatment. He has numerous success stories of people being diagnosed living cancer free with use of alternative methods. Get Healthy

Do you want a smoothly working digestive system and stronger immunity against diseases? Then try eating yogurt every day. This fermented milk food, which has been around for hundreds of years, is packed with nutrition, helps digestion and helps the body fight infections. Eat yogurt every day and enjoy the health benefits of yogurt.

Packed With Nutrients

Yogurt is produced by fermenting milk with good bacteria, usually lactobacilli bulgaricus and lactobacilli thermophilus. As these good bacteria “digest” the milk proteins, they produce nutrients for themselves. However, these nutrients are also good for us.

As a result, yogurt has more vitamin B12, vitamin B3 and vitamin A than milk. The B vitamins are essential for releasing energy from food, maintaining the nervous system, and regulating cholesterol. Vitamin A helps keep our skin and eyes healthy and is also important for fighting infections. Eating yogurt is an easy and delicious way of ensuring that you receive the optimal amounts of these nutrients, even without taking supplements.

Good Digestion

The good bacteria in yogurt also help the intestines to have the right acidity. This helps prevent constipation and diarrhea, while also aiding in the absorption of nutrients from food. Yogurt can be beneficial for those who suffer other digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic indigestion, and other conditions.

Lactose intolerant people can usually take yogurt without problems, because the good bacteria have already pre-digested the lactose in milk to produce yogurt.

Good Bacteria In, Toxins Out

Finally, the good bacteria in yogurt kill harmful bacteria and fungi in our gut, as well as keeping the growth of toxins in check.

In the early 1900s, Dr. Eli Metchnikoff discovered that yogurt could reverse bacterial infection. Responsible for identifying and naming the good bacteria lactobacillus bulgaricum, Dr. Metchnicoff discovered that the good bacteria in yogurt displaced harmful bacteria. Good bacteria are also good against allergies, tumors and environmental pollutants like mercury, radiation and pesticides. They also help increase the number of cells in the immune system.

It’s a good idea to eat yogurt every day to enjoy these benefits of yogurt. However, beware of buying yogurt from the grocery. These usually contain a lot of refined sugar and little to no good bacteria. Make sure the yogurt you eat has plenty of live good bacteria.

Your best bet is to make your own yogurt at home, so you can have the benefits of yogurt every day. It’s simple and allows you to make the yogurt that best suits your taste and diet.

Alexis Rodrigo is a stay at home Mom and maintains an informational site on natural parenting. She shows how to make yogurt easily in her blog, where she also provides exclusive information and special offers through her newsletter. Subscribe at http://naturalmomsblog.com

Almost fifty per cent of our children today take packed lunches to school. As parents we’re usually happy about that because that way we know what our kids are eating.

We have some control over it and we feel we are giving our kids a healthy meal, but are we? Or are we filling them up on fizzy sodas, cake bars and candy that our kids see on TV and beg us for? After all, ‘EVERYBODY’S Mom lets them eat that!’ Are you tired of hearing that? So tired of it that now you have given in too?

You don’t have to. You can give your children healthy food in their packed lunch boxes - even without them realizing. After all, as parents we often have to pick our battles, don’t we? But a healthy diet should be non-negotiable for us all, including the children in our care. However, there are ways to get your children to eat healthily at lunch time, without all the tears and tantrums.

Here are just a few ideas to provide your children with healthy packed lunches: Use wholegrain alternatives. Many of us with our modern diet of refined and processed foods (children included) lack fiber in our diet.

A packed lunch is easier if they don’t have a gluten intolerance because then you can just use wholegrain bread. Even pita breads, which children love, come in wholegrain varieties. If your child is unable to eat wheat, rice crackers can also be a good and tasty alternative which are low in fat and high in fiber.

Find alternatives to sandwiches: A packed lunch doesn’t have to mean sandwiches. You can include colourful and nutritious pasta salads or rice salads. That can include tiny morsels of vegetables to give your child vitamins and minerals in a format they will enjoy. They may also like celery sticks smothered in peanut butter. I know I do, and my children too!

Cut the fat: Sandwiches don’t necessarily need mayo or even butter. Don’t just put them on there because you always have. If the sandwich filling is moist you probably won’t need butter or mayo. That will go a long way toward cutting the fat in a packed lunch. Choose low fat meats like chicken, turkey or lean ham for a healthy option and add some salad vegetables too. Tuna in brine, cottage cheese, Edam cheese or even a banana are all low fat sandwich fillings that go down a storm with children.

Add some fruit and vegetables: Children love finger foods, and if they can get messy, so much the better. If you cut up brightly colored raw peppers, cucumber and carrots and team it with a tasty, healthy dip made of creme fraiche or even yogurt as its base is a healthy option and one that the kids will have fun with. You can add a dessert of fruit yogurt or dried fruit.

Winter warmers: Now, the winter chills are coming and you’ll probably agree that salads aren’t the most attractive of options when it’s so cold you can see your breath in front of you. That doesn’t mean that you have to go back to giving the kids unhealthy packed lunches. Soups made of heaps of vegetables and perhaps barley for added fiber is a very healthy alternative. They can easily be taken to school in a thermos and it’s very comforting on a cold day to wrap your hands around a warm mug of soup. Kids will love that too, and there are many easy to open kids thermos flasks on the market.

Keep them sweet: Eating a healthy diet does not mean that your kids can’t have any sweet treats. Heavens! If it meant that, not many of us would follow a healthy diet for long, would we?

Fruit cut up into bite-sized chunks are always popular with children. Again, to make them even more attractive, you can include a pot of yogurt, creme fraiche or fruit puree for them to dip the fruit into.

A little of what you love does you good, too. So don’t be afraid to include some chocolate in your kids packed lunches now and then. Chocolate covered raisins are a great option. Home-made wholegrain scones and fruit breads are also healthy and delicious alternatives to sugary, calorie-laden cakes and cookies and children will still love them.

Drinks: Once you’ve done all this good work of making sure your kids eat healthily at lunch time, don’t spoil it by finishing off their meal with a sugary soda packed with caffeine and additives. Instead, pop unsweetened fruit juices or smoothies, unsweetened yogurt drinks or even semi-skimmed milk.

So you can see that sending your children off with a healthy packed lunch that they will love does not necessarily have to be a problem task. You can quite easily give your child food they enjoy which will help to keep them healthy too.

Time 4 Lunch is the authors website that offers the transformers lunch box and the ever popular spiderman lunch box as well as many more kids lunch boxes and bags