Supplements and Vitamins


Everyone knows vitamins are essential for a healthy body. Vitamins are required for humans and animals for normal growth, reproduction and maintenance. But how much do you know about vitamins?

Vitamins were discovered in 1906 by English biochemist Sir F.G. Hopkins. He found that most foods contain extra substances necessary for health. The word comes from the term vitamine from the Polish-American biochemist Casimir Funk. In 1912 Hopkins and Funk formulated the vitamin hypothesis of deficiency disease or the theory that certain diseases are caused by a lack of specific vitamins in the diet.

Originally vitamins were only seen as a preventative against deficiency diseases. Now studies have found there are additional benefits from vitamins. Many of today’s food products have added vitamins.

You might know that vitamins are classified by their solubility in water or fats. They are usually classified alphabetically as well. The fat-soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K and the B complex and C vitamins are classified as water-soluble. You may not have heard of the vitamin P group that decrease blood capillary fragility since they are no longer considered vitamins.

Lets look at some of the vitamins and their roles.

Vitamin A is known as retinal and is a fat-soluble lipid. It is essentially for skeletal growth and normal reproduction. It is also important to the health of the skin and mucus membranes. A deficiency can cause night blindness, abnormalities of the skin, and susceptibility to serious infection.

There are several vitamins in the Vitamin B complex group.

Thiamine or B1 is a factor in the maintenance of the appetite, normal function of the intestines, and the health of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. A deficiency could lead to beriberi.

Riboflavin or B2 is important to oxidation of the cells. A deficiency leads to inflammation of the tongue, skin disease and severe irritation of the eyes.

Niacin is known to prevent pellagra. In 1912 an American medical researcher, Joseph Goldberger found pellagra as a result of the niacin deficiency. The amino acid tryptophan is the predecessor of niacin. A deficiency can cause skin disease, diarrhea, dementia and death while a deficiency in dogs can cause black-tongue disease.

Phosphorous or B6 is necessary in the metabolism of amino acids, glucose and fatty acids. Deficiency can affect the central nervous systems such as causing convulsions in infants, inadequate growth and weight loss or anemia.

Pantothenic acid, another B vitamin, is a component important to coenzyme A. The adrenal glands are important to pantothenic acid activity. There are no known deficiencies.

Biotin aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and amino acids. No known deficiencies have been found.

Folic acid directly affects the synthesis of nucleic acids. Inadequate amounts of folic acid in pregnant women can lead spina bifida in newborns.

Vitamin C is the most common vitamin. It was first found in citrus fruits by American biochemists Albert Szent-Gyorgyi and Charles King in 1928-1933. It is necessary for the synthesis of the body’s collagen, dentin, cartilage and bone matrix. It’s also an antioxidant that’s necessary for many metabolic processes. A deficiency can result in scurvy.

Vitamin D is actually hormones but continues to be classified as vitamins. It plays a role in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorous and prevents rickets in children. Deficiency symptoms in children include knock-knees, bowlegs, and more severe crippling deformations of the bones. In adults the deficiency can result in a softening of the bones.

Vitamin E is necessary for cell membrane maintenance. It’s a strong antioxidant and many studies have found it is effective against arterial plaque buildup and cancer. It also is helpful in preventing problems specific to premature babies.

Vitamin K is essential to blood clotting. Danish biochemist Henrik Dam identified Vitamin K in 1934. A deficiency leads to slow blood clotting and hemorrhaging of tissues. It can cause hemorrhagic disease in infants and liver damage.

Vitamins are essential for the human body to remain healthy and the little known facts could help you prevent health problems.

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.

Good nutrition filled with essential vitamins and minerals is necessary for strong healthy hair. Damage caused by illness or medications or from over processing due to perms and color treatments, hope is not lost for beautiful hair! There are many vitamins that can help you repair your hair. Incorporate the right vitamins in your diet daily to promote healthy hair.

Extremely poor eating habits from our fast paced world have left our health lacking in many essential nutrients. It affects not only our general energy levels but the way our skin, hair and nails look as well.

There are many factors that can cause damage to your hair. Stress, toxins, sun exposure, cigarette smoke, excess alcohol drinking and lack of sleep all contribute to poor health.

How your hair looks is often a reflection of your overall body condition. If you’re healthy and well nourished, you hair will be shiny and healthy. On the other hand, if your health is suffering or you are ill, your hair might stop growing or become dry or brittle.

So which vitamins can help me have healthy hair?

Amino acids are a type of protein. Proteins are necessary for the growth and repair of the body. They can be found in nuts and soy products as well as meats and dairy products.

The B-Complex multi-vitamins are needed for a great head of hair. Vitamin B6 aids in building tissue. It can be found in raw fruits and vegetables. Vitamin B3 or niacin, also promotes scalp circulation. It is found in fish, chicken and turkey. B5 helps prevent hair loss and graying. B12 also aids in preventing hair loss. Most B vitamins can be found in brewer’s yeast, meats, fish, and whole grains.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that promotes scalp blood circulation. It is essential for healthy skin and hair. It’s found in leafy greens, dried beans, soy beans, and nuts.

Vitamin A is an antioxidant. It aids in the production of sebum, a secretion by the hair follicles. Good sebum secretion is very important to healthy hair. It is naturally found in meat, milk, cheese, eggs, spinach, most yellow fruits and vegetables, cabbage and peaches.

Vitamin C is another antioxidant that helps to maintain the skin and hair. It promotes immunity. It’s found in citrus fruits, strawberries, cantaloupe and pineapple as well as tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers and dark green vegetables.

Biotin helps produce keratin to prevent hair loss or graying. It’s found in whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk.

Good nutrition should include a variety of vitamins and minerals for overall good health. Healthy hair comes from a healthy body. You’ll need to be consistent with any supplements you take before you will begin to see any results. High quality liquid multivitamins should provide your body with the needed vitamins and minerals. The following recommended doses are needed for hair growth:

Vitamin C - one to grams daily
Vitamin B complex - 50 mg of the major B vitamins
Vitamin E - 400 to 800 IU daily
Beta-carotene - 10,000 to 15,000 IU daily
A recommended dose of magnesium, zinc and sulfur
Flaxseed oil - 1 tablespoon daily or one tablet

Healthy hair depends on the body obtaining certain vitamins and minerals. Without the proper nutrients hair will become damaged, fall out or turn gray. Making lifestyle changes to include healthy nutritious foods and a daily multivitamin supplement can boost your hair’s healthy look.

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.

Every year it happens. The kids go back to school, the nights get longer and the days colder, and pretty soon the whole family starts to get hit by the cold and flu season. Something to consider adding to your daily health plan is immune system supplements and making sure your body has all the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy and run at peak capacity.

The truth is that we are susceptible to colds and the flu all year round, and thanks to stressful jobs, constant business, and poor on the go eating choices, we make ourselves vulnerable to catching a bug. It is important to really work hard to boost the immune system and keep in it top performance so that your body is able to fight off the minor infections and viruses and better protect you in case of a serious health risk.

The first and cheapest types of immune system supplements are the basics to any sort of healthy lifestyle; water, exercise, and the right balance of vitamins and minerals are what you need to be fit and vigilant against the flu. Most of our susceptibility to colds comes from the simple fact that we lower our body’s immune system response through the lifestyle we live. A liquid vitamin with all of the daily recommended dose of nutrients, a little water, and exercise could be all you need to maintain a peak immune system on the day to day.

Now some times your will start feeling a cold coming on no matter what you do. This is when you take a quick immune system supplement boost to knock out the cold early. Many people swear by additional vitamin c, zinc, Echinacea, or probiotics.

Each of these can benefit you in their own way. Unfortunately, there aren’t any conclusive scientific studies to explain exactly what has the most or least effect, so it is worth speaking with friends and family and relying on your own personal experience to decide what helps you best.

Of the list, probiotics is a much newer addition, as more and more people have come to understand the importance a healthy intestinal system can play in keeping the rest of your body in good health. Probiotics are good bacteria that your body needs in the stomach to regulate its function and help your body digest the vitamins and minerals from your food.

Because getting the proper nutrients to your body’s cells is so important, liquid supplements are often recommended for boosting the immune system. This is due to the fact that liquid vitamins and minerals are easily absorbed by the body and into the blood stream. Supplements in pill form are much more difficult for the body to break down and for that reason, much of the health benefit of the pill is lost as it is flushed out of the system before the nutrients have had time to be absorbed.

Take your immune system health seriously and consider what supplements might help you and your family avoid the flu this year.

James provides information about the immune system supplement through his liquid mineral guide.

Great. You have made the decision to get healthy and have heard a lot about liquid supplements and how they might be a good way to get the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Now the question is where do you go to find your supplement and make sure that it is safe and reasonably priced?

As most people have started to learn, many products can be found at much lower prices online than if you were to go to a store at the mall. Plus, it is far more convenient to having something shipped to your door as opposed to driving around on a lot of errands.
The most difficult thing is that since you are not meeting someone face to face in the store, it can be difficult to know if you are working with a reputable business that works professionally, or a fly by night company that may not be around very long.

The key to finding liquid vitamins and minerals online at a good value is to do a little research upfront.

Start off by taking a look at the supplement section of your grocery store. Write down the brands and prices that you see there. This will give you the information that you need once you get home to conduct a little research over the internet. This little bit of time spent researching the supplements will really pay off in finding a good deal on a quality brand of vitamin.

Make sure you buy a reputable brand of minerals and vitamins. Those same supplements that you saw in the store are going to be from larger vitamin companies with a reputation on the line, so you can feel much more confident in the supplement you buy online. Check that everything that is shipped to you is in an unsealed original container.

As you research the various supplement brands, you will be able to compare the online stores’ prices and will usually see how you can save significantly from the grocery store prices. This is the reason for buying your liquid vitamins online. The same product can be 20 to 40 percent cheaper over the internet.

Also, get a feel for the online stores websites. How professional do they look? Do they earn your trust with good information sources? A company that has taken the time to and effort to create an attractive, informative site is planning to be around for the long haul and will probably work harder at its customer service.

Now you can balance between the price of your vitamins and the professional appearance of the website to decide which company you will use for purchasing your health supplements online. Start off with a small order, maybe a one month supply to check how quickly the orders are shipped and after they have proved themselves reliable, you have a great source for buying safe, reasonably priced supplements online.

James provides information about liquid vitamins and minerals online through his website on liquid minerals and vitamins.

No one likes to look in the mirror and not recognize the face looking back at them. We would all love that perfect anti aging supplement that would always keep us looking our best and feeling young and healthy. The truth is that there is no magic cure for aging and the effects of time will change all of us.

With that said, you can preserve your looks and body by doing a few simple things like getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs in your everyday health plan, reducing your sun exposure, getting exercise, and not smoking.

I know this does not sound all that exciting, but the best anti aging supplement is making sure your body is getting the nutrients and water it needs. So many people are going about their day to day lives making terrible dietary choices that rob their bodies of the exact vitamins and minerals it needs to keep you looking young and healthy. By simply taking your vitamins, drinking plenty of water, and getting a little exercise, your body and completely transform itself.

No you can’t go back to looking 20 years younger, but you can definitely have people guessing you are really way below your true age. And part of looking younger is being healthy and feeling healthy. Adding a little spring in your step, and zip to your day is a great start to your anti aging.

Remember that as you get healthier, no amount of anti aging supplements can offset extensive time in the sun or smoking. You are asking to look ten yours older if you are hitting the tanning booths and chain smoking your way to wrinkles and sunspots. Unfortunately the effects of the sun are cumulative from an early age, so there may not be much that can be done if you have already spent a few decades getting burnt at the beach, but smoking is about as pro aging as you can get, so make the sacrifice, get some support, and kick that age killer.

In terms of looking younger, vitamins and minerals, along with water is a good start, but you need to add in some serious exercise too. Put 30 minutes of aerobic exercise into your daily health routine and you will see the effects in no time. In order to stop the aging process, you have to get out of your own way and start being responsible for your health.

I am sorry that they have not invented the miracle anti aging pill yet. It means it is time for you to take responsibility for your health so that you can diminish and even roll back the signs of aging. I hope this article has helped start you on your way to getting health and staying young in appearance and at heart.

James provides information about an anti aging supplement through his liquid vitamin guide.

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