vitamins for kids
May 27, 2008
Pros and Cons of Vitamins for Children: Do They Really Need Them?
Health experts say that children who eat foods based on the recommended food guide pyramid don�t necessarily need vitamin supplements. This type of diet contains all the necessary vitamins and nutrients that your child needs.
However, some factors may affect the way you prepare foods and eventually lose the vitamins contained in the food. Also, some children are just picky eaters, hence, they acquire too little nutrients to supply their daily needs.
Now the question is: In cases like this, is it advisable for parents to provide their children with vitamin supplements to cover up for whatever is lacking in their diet? Is it safe and effective to use vitamin supplements?
By definition, vitamins are elements needed by the body for proper function and promotion of normal body processes. With this, you can directly conclude that people, old and young alike, need vitamins to be healthy. And because it is a well-known fact that children don�t get enough vitamins from the food that they eat, vitamin supplements are deemed necessary.
But is this really the case? As much as people contend the viability of vitamin supplements for children, some health experts contend that they aren�t that necessary. Besides, excessive intake of vitamins may do more harm than good.
So what is the bottom line? To understand more, here are some pros and cons about vitamins for children:
Pros
1. They promote cell growth
As children grow, so do their bodies. However, to facilitate cell growth, children need vitamins. Vitamins take part in the development of blood cells and other tissues in the body.
2. Vitamins serve as antioxidants
Most vitamins serve as antioxidants. Hence, vitamins also act as preservatives by inhibiting the oxidation process or disintegration of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Antioxidants combat the free radicals in the body. Hence, children are assured of effective protection against diseases.
3. Aids digestion
Some vitamins contain fiber, which aids in proper digestion of the body. Lack of fiber may cause problems in the bowel and may even cause more serious problems such as circulatory disorders.
Vitamins also act as coenzymes because they help in conveying these different tasks.
Cons
1. Excess vitamins can cause greater health problems.
Most people disregard this, but health experts and various studies show that excess vitamins can cause serious health problems.
Let us take for example excessive intake of vitamin A. Letting your children take vitamin A more than the recommended dietary supplement, serious problems in the nervous system may take place.
Another example is vitamin D. Excessive intake of vitamin D may cause calcium resorption, which can lead to increased calcium in the blood. When this happens, functions of the soft tissues in the body, such as the lungs and the heart, may be lessened or reduced.
Excessive intake of vitamin C may cause severe diarrhea or watery stools. It can also reduce the amount of copper in the body.
2. Too much dependency
Some parents tend to allocate their child�s need for nutrients to the vitamin supplements available on the market. This is especially true to parents who can no longer prepare a healthy diet for their children because of a hectic schedule at work.
Hence, they tend to devote their children�s vitamin requirements in supplements, which in reality, may be taken in great amounts. This goes to show how parents can be vulnerable sometimes especially if they want the best for their kids and are very busy with their work.
Plus, non-monitoring of children taking vitamins can also bring forth cases of excessive intake, where children usually enjoy taking vitamins that are available as tasty, chewable vitamins.
3. Odor and taste
Contrary to number two, some vitamins just don�t smell or taste that good. Take for example vitamin B. Children find it hard to take vitamins that have repulsive tastes or smell.
All of these things lay down various options for parents to decide whether they have to give their children vitamins or not.
Indeed, the need for the accessibility of vitamins for children can�t be rejected and so it is important to know the necessary vitamins required for children. However, parents should also take note that vitamins should be regarded as something that is as delicate and destructive as any drug on the market. Hence, utmost care in choosing the best vitamins for your children is extremely important.
atkins criticism
May 24, 2008
Atkins Criticism
The Atkins diet is very popular, but it also comes with a lot of criticism. Health experts, doctors and diet specialists come from all different opinions when it comes to the Atkins diet and other low carb diets. Some believe that it is dangerous, some say that it is a healthy method to lose weight and others say that it works on a short-term basis.
However, there are also thousands of individuals who have found success with the Atkins diet. They can speak from personal experience and know that the diet works and it is an effective means of keeping weight off. There are thousands of testimonials that tout the benefits of the low carb way of living.
There are many typical criticisms of the Atkins diet. One of the first is that the diet it too high in fat. The butter, oil and fatty meats that are used in the Atkins diet are a far cry from the low-fat diet fad that recently swept the nation. For many people, the low fat mindset has prevailed and they cannot fathom eating real butter or cream with their meals. It seems like too much fat at first glance. However, those that pay close attention to Dr. Atkins guidelines and follow the program closely know that the diet focuses on good fats. Extra virgin olive oil and other helpful fats are emphasized. The proper use of these oils is important to brain function and mood management.
Another popular Atkins criticism is that it focuses too much on food and not enough on exercise. This is an unfair claim because the Atkins books clearly spell out a need for exercise. There is a lot of attention paid to food choices because they are an integral part of the program, and they are different foods than what people are normally used to eating. However, this does not mean that exercise is not an integral part of the Atkins program. Aerobic and anaerobic exercise regimens are encouraged, and both will greatly increase your weight loss efforts.
Many Atkins critics feel that the diet is hard too keep up in the long term. Critics in this category will admit that Atkins is effective in short-term weight loss efforts, but point out that the lifestyle is hard to maintain over time. However, people who have had long term success with Atkins claim it is one of the easiest diets to follow for significant periods of time. The Atkins plan has rich food that is forbidden on other programs, and it has appetite-suppressing effects. When you combine this with the quick weight loss, a motivating factor for many people, Atkins is easy to stick to long term.
The side effects of Atkins, like constipation and bad breath, have also been a topic that Atkins critics are quick to point out. However, these side effects are not as common as critics make them out to be. If they do occur, the side effects normal only last through the first phase of the diet. Additionally, drinking additional water will normally take care of both problems rather quickly.
There are pros and cons to many diets. If you don’t particularly enjoy preparing and eating meat, then Atkins is probably not for you. But if you are considering Atkins, make sure to look beyond the common criticisms for the truth about the diet.
561
Best Vitamin B6
May 23, 2008
Getting To Know Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 (also known as Pyridoxine, Pyridoxamine or Pyridoxal) is a vitamin that can easily be dissolved in water which means the body is not able to store it for a long time. This also means that person should get a regular supply of Vitamin B6 since it is easily excreted through the urine.
Since this isn�t the most popular vitamin, you might wonder about the benefits brought by this vitamin to the body. Vitamin B6 is generally needed by the body for overall health. However, here are some specific functions of B6 to the body:
� Protein Metabolism
� Metabolism of red blood cell
� Tryptophan conversion to niacin
� Proper functioning of the nervous system
� Proper functioning of the immune system
� Increases the oxygen level of hemoglobin
� Maintenance of sugar or blood glucose
Vitamin B6 plays a very important role in the maintenance of the bodies systems and it is recommend that a person takes in at least 1.3 mg of Vitamin B6 daily (men and women below 50); 1.7 mg (men over 50); 1.5 mg (women over 50; 2 mg (women who are lactating) and 1.9 mg (women who are pregnant).
The good thing about Vitamin B6 is that it can be easily soured from plants (vegetables) and animal sources. Among the foods that contain Vitamin B6 are:
� Liver
� Chicken
� Avocados
� Nuts
� Bananas
� Wheat germ
� Fortified cereals
� Flesh and skin of baked potato
� Chicken Breast
� Salmon and Tuna
Vitamin B6 is indeed an essential Vitamin for the bodies functions. Thus, a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to serious health conditions for a person. How can a person become deficient in Vitamin B6? A person who has a poor diet and who doesn�t regularly take in foods rich in Vitamin B6 can become deficient. Alcoholics are also candidates for Vitamin B6 deficiency because alcohol destroys the presence of this vitamin in the body. Children with asthma and who are treated by tehophylline should get Vitamin B6 supplements as this medication results to a low storage of Vitamin B6 in the body.
Consider the following health problems for those who are deficient in Vitamin B6:
1. Pyroluria-is an illness related to chemical imbalance as a result of an abnormal synthesis of the hemoglobin. And because B6 is an important component in hemoglobin formation, its deficiency can cause this disease.
2. Irritability/Grumpiness/Depression-A person who exhibits this symptom can be deficient in Vitamin B6. However, studies don�t conclude that depression can be treated by Vitamin B6 supplements.
3. Dermatitis or skin disorders
4. Soreness of the tongue
5. Anemia
Vitamin B6 is popular as a supplemental treatment for:
� Vitamin B6 supplements to prevent any harm from befalling the patient.
� Premenstrual Syndrome-Vitamin B6 has been used to treat this condition which is more popularly known as PMS. However, there are reports of high toxicity among women taking this for PMS.
� Carpal tunnel syndrome-There is no scientific evidence that taking in a minimum of 100 mg of Vitamin B6 daily can treat this illness. However, a lot of books are recommending this. It is important to consult with a doctor first to ensure the safety of the patient.
� Taking Vitamin B6 either in supplements or from food sources is said to be instrumental in cutting back the risks resulting from Parkinson�s disease. However, the study is still non-conclusive.
� It can be used to lessen the effects of a hangover as well as the pains of morning sickness usually experienced by pregnant women. It has been proven safe for pregnant women although a drug containing B6 was withdrawn from the market due to the high risk of birth defects among pregnant users.
� The regular intake of Vitamin B6 as well as other substances like magnesium is said to be an effective treatment for autistic children.
Some people who may still be using Vitamin B6 supplements should be careful of a possible overdose. A Vitamin B6 (particularly from supplements not from food sources) overdose can result in a deadening or numbing of the arms and legs, also known as sensory neuropathy in the medical world. However, such a condition can be reversed once the taking in of the Vitamin B6 is stopped.
where to buy multivitamins
May 19, 2008
Standards You Should Consider in Choosing Multivitamins
The daily hazard of working too hard and eating too much can lead to our body’s abuse, and now that millions of the worlds population prefers burgers and pizzas over veggies is becoming an important yet an ignored issue. However, since the development of various multivitamins over the years people have become conscious of the importance of nutrients.
Since multivitamins have received world-wide recognition it is hard to determine which vitamins to choose. This is why it is important to take note of the contents of your food supplements. Before deciding on what to buy, you must know first what you need? Some multivitamins have specifications, while others are general. Try to look for the supplement that is complete, reliable, tested, and of course natural.
A multivitamin supplement is complete if it has essential fatty acid formulas in it and about 30 vitamins and minerals. Bear in mind that the common vitamins and minerals that you must always look for are: Vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, K, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium and Folic acid. For decades these have been the fortitude of strong and healthy body.
You should note that for a complete multivitamins to be reliable there must be an approval from the food authority. It will only be approved if it has gone through laboratory tests, which will validate the composition of the supplement. You must make sure of the multivitamins reliability because supplements can either make you strong or give you side-effects.
Remember aside from these three you must also consider if there are chemicals in the vitamins. Although some multivitamins make use of chemicals, it is still better to purchase a natural supplement for the simplest reason that it is safer.
Wouldn’t you be afraid to take a mercury-and-lead enriched multivitamin? This is why pharmaceutical companies are subject to different types of scrutiny, to assure consumers that they are getting what they’ve paid for.
Other than this, experience will also dictate what multivitamins are suitable and comfortable for your body. If within 30 days you feel like the supplement aren’t doing well, better stop taking them. Though food supplements aren’t medicinal cures it is worth taking note that multivitamins energize the body. If what happens is otherwise see your doctor.
These are easy guidelines that will help you choose which of the thousands of multivitamins supplements available on the market are effective. Remind yourself of these simple guidelines so as to keep diseases away and welcome a whole new healthy life that you will cherish for the rest of your life.
SOURCES:
http://www.thedietchannel.com/How-To-Choose-a-Multivitamin.htm
http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/choosingamultivitamin.asp
when do you need vitamins the most
May 15, 2008
When Do You Need Vitamins the Most?
Everyone needs vitamins and if you have a healthy diet and lifestyle, you’ll usually get all the vitamins you need from your food. But there will be stages in your life when you’ll need more of specific vitamins.
Pregnancy A pregnant woman’s body undergoes lots of changes because of the unborn child she’s carrying. During this stage, she has an extra need for folic acid, one of the B vitamins, as well as calcium and iron. Vitamins A, C, and D will help her absorb minerals better.
Old Age As your age increases, your bones get older and weaker as well. To fortify your bones, you need an extra dose of calcium and vitamins can help you get as much calcium as you can from food.
If you expect work to prevent you from eating healthily, taking multivitamins will ensure that you meet your daily nutritional requirements.
How to Recognize Vitamin Deficiencies
There are times when your body will suffer from vitamin deficiencies. Here are indicators to watch out for and determine which vitamin you need.
Vitamin A If you can’t see clearly at night and your skin appears rough or dry, you’re suffering from Vitamin A deficiency.
Vitamin C If your wounds take too much time to heal and you’re suffering from teeth and gum problems, nosebleeds, and skin hemorrhages, you might have an inadequate intake of vitamin C.
Vitamin D Soft bones, muscular weakness, and slow and irregular healing of fractures and kidney difficulties are all possible signs of vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin E If you don’t have the usual vigor you had for sexual activities and you notice problems with your heart and muscles, you could be suffering from vitamin E deficiency.
Thiamin Known as the morale vitamin, Thiamin deficiency will greatly affect your nervous system and mental attitudes. If you’re suffering from mental depression together with gastrointestinal problems, an increased intake of Thiamin might just be the solution you’re looking for!
Riboflavin Oily skin, digestive and skin problems as well as bloodshot eyes are just some of the indicators of Riboflavin deficiency. Riboflavin is one of the vitamins in the B family.
Cobalamin If you’re feeling dizzy, sleepy, and exhausted for no reason not to mention having problems with your memory and mood swings, you could be suffering from Cobalamin deficiency.
Niacin If you don’t have enough Niacin, this could lead to headaches, loss of appetite, insomnia, and even bad breath!
Of course, you should always consult your doctor for official confirmation of your suspicions.
atkins cost saving tips
May 14, 2008
Atkins cost saving tips
The Atkins diet has a lot of health benefits, but it is not exactly easy on the wallet. Fresh meats are some of the most expensive items in the grocery store and when you follow Atkins, you’ll need to purchase a lot of them. However, there are simple steps that you can take to cut costs on this low-carb plan.
First of all, be creative in your meal planning. Remember that most diet books and written to entice readers to try new combinations of foods. The recipes within those books contain the most expensive ingredients. You don’t have to cook like a professional chef in order to be able to experience the benefits of the Atkins diet. There are many simple recipes that you can make that are within the plan and cost much less than the ones shown in the diet books. If you modify the meal plans with the books, you can enjoy the low carb lifestyle on a budget.
One of the most important steps to take is to buy your meats in bulk. When you stock up on large packages of ground beef, chicken and fish you cut down on your protein costs. You can separate the large packages into small freezer bags and freeze them in meal-sized portions. Two to four chicken breasts in a bag are easy to defrost and make a good-sized meal. You can also cook ground beef in many different varieties and freeze the cooked portions. Try doing a portion of the meat with taco spices, another portion with hamburger spices and the third portion with Italian spices. That way you’ll be able to use lots of hamburger meat and still have variety in your diet.
Also, look at less tender cuts of meat to trim costs in your grocery money. While fillet mignon may be tasty, it doesn’t fit into every budget. Less tender cuts of beef and pork make excellent crock-pot meals, and using a slow cooker will help tenderize them.
Look to alternative protein sources like eggs and tofu. Both of these items pack a powerful protein punch for a fraction of the cost of meats. Nuts are a great protein source as well, but they can become expensive very quickly. Some recipes call for expensive macadamia nuts and cashews. Walnuts, peanuts and almonds contain just as much protein for a fraction of the cost.
Mixed vegetable salads will make a large portion of your daily Atkins meals. While it may be tempting to buy bagged salad that is already chopped, you are going to be paying $2 to $3 per bag. You can buy three heads of different types of lettuce for the same cost and make the equivalent of six bags of prepackaged salad. Also, consider investing in a salad spinner. This handy device will make homemade salads crispy and satisfying.
Be creative with your menus and use produce and meats that are on sale. If you’ve got a recipe that calls for chicken breasts and turkey happens to be on sale, go ahead and substitute this week. Make sure to carry an acceptable food list with you the grocery store so you can tell whether a sale food is an okay substitution on the Atkins plan.
When you go to the store, you can also cut costs by limiting your purchase of low-carb packaged foods. These items are really expensive, and sometimes full of harmful chemicals. They may also contain hidden carbs which can stall your weight loss efforts. The Atkins plan can be effectively followed without using any of these products. Unless it’s a special occasion, skip them all together.
Finally, its best to plan your meals and your shopping trips so you can buy your groceries in an effective manner. Going to the grocery store unprepared or, even worse, hungry can spell disaster for your budget. Plan each week’s menu out ahead and time and then buy what you need to make those meals.
661
what illnesses are caused by vitamin deficiencies
May 11, 2008
Illnesses Caused By Vitamin Deficiencies
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is important for the eyes and the immune system. It is found in milk, eggs, liver, orange and red fruits, palm oil and leafy vegetables. Deficiency in Vitamin A result to blindness and ailments like measles, malaria and diarrhea.
Vitamin B
A symptom that a person lacks Vitamin B is when his health is altered or is slowly being diminished. This is primarily because Vitamin B is responsible for so many activities in the system such as transmitting the nerves, cellular differentiation, heart pulse rate, digestion, muscular contraction, brain function, energy production and through processes.
A person who lacks Vitamin B may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
ADD and inability to concentrate, easily irritated
Chronic Exhaustion
Chronic Fatigue
Crying spells and hard time to cope
Easily agitated and frustrated
Feeling of uneasiness
Fibrillation
Inability to sleep
Indigestion
Heart arrhythmias
Heart palpitations
Mental Problems
Nervousness
Paranoia and fear that something terrible will happen
Rashes
Restlessness
Soreness
Thoughts of Dying
Tingling in fingers and toes
Tingling in hands
Deficiency in Vitamin B comes when you lease expect it and can create serious problems in your health. Medical studies show that there are detectable signs that the individual is experiencing deficiencies.
When vitamin B deficiencies turn out to become long-lasting or chronic, there are side effects. This includes troubles with the persons adrenal glands and system.
Vitamin C
Lack of Vitamin C results in scurvy. In adults, the lack or deficiency is rooted from a low diet of Vitamin C. Take for example that fact that people develop the deficiency when they only eat food such as tea, toast, dried meat and canned vegetables.
Pregnancy, surgery, breastfeeding and burns can also increase the requirement of the body for Vitamin C as well as its deficiency. Smoking also increases the Vitamin C deficiency for 30 to 50%.
There are rare cases of scurvy in infants but this still happens because the breast milk that is supplied to them doesn’t have enough Vitamin C to sustain them. There are also infant formulas that aren’t fortified with such vitamins.
For adults, a few months of a diet containing low Vitamin C can result in bleeding around the gums, under the skin (Specifically the hair follicles which appear as bruises) and through the joints.
Symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency for infants include pain during movement, loss of appetite and irritability. They also don’t gain weight as normal infants do. They have impaired bone growth and anemia and bleeding may also occur.
Scurvy is diagnosed depending on the symptoms of the individual. Conducted blood tests only detect low levels of Vitamin C. The treatment for scurvy is the intake of Vitamin C supplements on a daily basis. This is also the same treatment for those who are suffering from anemia.
Vitamin D
Deficiency in Vitamin D is rooted from inadequate dosage of the Vitamin alongside inadequate exposure to the sunlight. The disorders limit the absorption of the nutrients in the body and the conditions can’t fix the metabolites like the kidney or the liver.
Deficiency in Vitamin D results in bone mineralization making these softer than the norm. Rickets may occur in children and osteomalacia in adults. These contribute to osteoporosis.
Rickets is a childhood disease that is defined as the impeded growth or deformity of the bones. Osteomalacia is a disorder where the bones become thinner and occurs in adults. The muscle becomes weak and the bones become fragile. Osteoporosis is the condition wherein the bone mineral density is reduced making the bones more fragile.
Rickets is a major health problem in the United States. This is the very reason why Americans are encouraged to drink milk. In fact, many celebrities, athletes and political icons have rendered their services in the ‘Got Milk’ ad to make drinking milk look cool and appealing to the public.
Lack of Vitamin D is also associated to the susceptibility to other diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, high blood pressure, sclerosis, chronic pain, periodontal disease, seasonal affective disorder, depression and schizophrenia.
Therefore, the best way for any individual to avoid these mentioned ailments is to make sure that they get the required dosage of Vitamins A, B, C and D on a daily basis.
what are vitamins really
May 7, 2008
What Are Vitamins and When Should We Take Them?
No person is too young or old to benefit from vitamins but whether there’s a need for taking vitamin supplements mostly depends on a persons health condition rather than his age.
What are Vitamins?
Vitamins are substances that can be found inside your body or in food. They can be water-soluble or fat-soluble. The latter type of vitamins can be stored inside your body; they will stay there until the body finds a use for them. Water-soluble vitamins on the other hand are eliminated through urination if the body has no need for them. Because of this, you should ensure that your body has a ready supply of water-vitamins prepared daily for any eventuality.
What Functions Do Vitamins Perform?
Vitamins help the body in various ways. Although specific vitamins play specific functions. Vitamin A is good for the eyes while vitamin K aids in blood clotting and vitamins in general strengthen the immune system, help body organs and cells perform their activities, and facilitate the growth and development of your health.
What are the Different Vitamins?
Vitamin A Milk, sweet potatoes, carrots, and spinach are good sources of vitamin A, and this can improve your vision and give you great-looking skin.
Vitamin B This is actually a group of vitamins made up of B1, B2, B12, B6, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, and biotin. They facilitate metabolism and the production of red blood cells. Whole grains, dairy products, poultry, fish, meat, and seafood are all excellent sources of the B-vitamins.
Vitamin C Also known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C helps your wounds heal faster and protects your body from illnesses. Citrus fruits, cabbage, and tomatoes are just some of the foods rich in Vitamin C.
Vitamin D If you are suffering from calcium deficiency, vitamin D will help you absorb as much of it as you need. This vitamin also keeps your teeth and bones stronger. Vitamin D can be found in milk, fish, and other dairy products.
Vitamin E This vitamin is also an antioxidant, which makes it able to protect body tissues from the damaging effects of toxins. Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, egg yolks, and leafy green vegetables.
Vitamin K As mentioned earlier, the primary function of vitamin K is to help in blood clotting. This activity is important because it helps your wounds heal faster. Leafy green vegetables and dairy products are considered good sources of vitamin K.
Take vitamin supplements only if you don’t have the benefit of a balanced diet and you’re suffering from any deficiency disease.
atkins unprocessed foods
May 4, 2008
Atkins and Unprocessed Foods
When you first start on the Atkins program, you may be tempted to take advantage of many of the low carbohydrate products on the market today. There are a wide variety of packaged items that are specifically manufactured to be low-carb. These include low-carb snacks, low-carb baking products and low-carb substitutes like pasta or bread. While it may be enticing to fill your shopping cart with all of these goodies, it’s best for your diet and for your health to use them sparingly.
One of the key things to remember about the Atkins diet is its focus on raw, unprocessed foods. The center of diet, as shown by the Atkins diet food pyramid, is fresh vegetables and fresh meats. Added into the mix are natural cheeses, a selection of fruits and, eventually, whole unprocessed grains. There aren’t any packaged meats, canned vegetables or instant anything.
There is a reason that the Atkins food pyramid shows these foods in their raw states. There are great health benefits in minimally processed foods. Raw, whole foods retain more vitamins and nutrients than foods that have been through chemical and industrial processing. Manufactured foods are more likely to be tainted with chemical additives that can cause a whole host of problems.
Raw, fresh food ingredients provide the best basis for a healthy diet. Many dieters rely on foods that are technically allowed on the plan, but not good for health. One example is bacon. Many people on the Atkins diet consume lots of bacon. In fact, many use it as a daily part of their protein foods. However, bacon contains high amounts of sodium nitrite, an ingredient that is known to cause cancer. The more bacon they eat, the more they expose themselves to this chemical and many others.
The Atkins pyramid, and the Atkins diet books, recommends unprocessed, unrefined and non-manufactured foods for a reason. If people follow these recommendations, they will lose weight and experience health transformations. By eating fresh and natural foods you’ll be providing your body with the nutrients that you need to have optimum health.
Back to those packaged and processed low-carb foods. Technically, they are part of the low-carb program. They can be used in moderation as substitutes for your favorite carbohydrate heavy foods. In a pinch, low-carb bread and baked goods can help you get over cravings and add variety to your Atkins diet plan. However, one look at the labels of these products shows how chemically processed these items can be.
It is recommended that you use these products sparingly. In some individuals, low-carb packaged items cause carbohydrate cravings. This can make staying on the diet even more difficult. If you find that low-carb processed foods make you want to binge on carb-heavy foods, then its best that you stay away from these products. These products may also have hidden carb counts that will increase your daily carbohydrate level without you realizing it.
If you are experiencing a stall in your weight loss on the Atkins plan, re-evaluate your commitment to unprocessed and unrefined foods. If you’ve been eating too many low-carb processed foods, you may be consuming hidden carbs and eating more than necessary. Try eliminating these products and refocusing your diet on unprocessed and unrefined foods, like those seen on the Atkins diet pyramid. When you go grocery shopping, spend time along the outer rim of the store where the fresh, unprocessed foods are. This will help you avoid the temptation of packaged foods that can lead your diet astray.
You may need to rely on packaged meats, vegetables and fruits from time to time. We lead busy lives and convenience foods are part of life. It’s understandable that you may need to use some canned soup, bacon or canned vegetables in your daily life. However, make an effort to concentrate your dietary efforts on a wide variety of fresh, unprocessed foods. Your health and weight loss efforts will be greatly rewarded.
658
water soluble vitamins
May 3, 2008
The Important Facts behind Water-Soluble Vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins are the kind of vitamins that are easily dissolved by the body. Being such, they can’t be stored inside the system and should be replaced everyday. Water-soluble vitamins are absorbed by the intestines, go through the blood, and are then carried to the body tissues where they are thoroughly utilized. After which, they exit the body via the urination process.
There are two general kinds of water-soluble vitamins. And those would be Vitamin C and the different B Vitamins, which are more popularly termed as the B-complex vitamins. There are eight B vitamins. These are Vitamin B1, which is Thiamine; Vitamin B2, Riboflavin; Vitamin B3, Niacin; Vitamin B5, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Pyridoxine; Vitamin B8, Biotin; Vitamin B9, Folic Acid; and Vitamin B12, Cobalamin.
Water-soluble vitamins are easily washed out and even destroyed during regular food preparation and storage. And it follows that the Vitamin C contained in certain fruits and vegetables could probably be lost if not they aren’t handled properly. All citrus fruits are good food sources of Vitamin C. As for foods rich in B-complex, the most common examples would be cereal grains, poultry, meat, fish, egg, milk, fresh vegetables, and legumes.
Water-soluble vitamins act as co-enzymes that help the body obtain energy coming from the food people eat. Each of the B-complex vitamins has its own function inside the body. But generally speaking, these are the vitamins that are responsible in ensuring a person of better vision, a normal appetite, a sound nervous system, and healthy skin. The normal formation of red blood cells is also prompted by these types of vitamins.
On the other hand, the main job of Vitamin C is to maintain the body’s overall health, as this is the vitamin that is tasked to hold the bodies cells together. It also aids in the healing of wounds and the formation of teeth and bones. Vitamin C is also known to strengthen the walls of the blood vessels and improve the functions of the immune system.
Because water-soluble vitamins aren’t stored inside the body, it needs to be taken on a daily basis. This is the main reason why there are many Vitamin C and B-Complex supplements available on the market today. And unlike fat-soluble vitamins, the body needs a continuous supply of these water-soluble vitamins to be ensured of good health all the time.