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The dark side of vitamins

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It is always advisable to take supplements in moderate measure. Excessive in-take of supplementary nutritional products will cause adverse effects. The best way to take-in vitamins is through natural food sources. You must not entirely rely on vitamin supplements.

There are some points to consider when talking about vitamin supplements. Vitamin supplements are processed. This means that a certain amount of chemical reaction is used to make them. Even though the manufacturer may deny it, there definitely is some chemical process involved. Chemicals are not a good thing to have in your body unless they are within certain limits.

Vitamins and minerals if taken in excess will turn toxic. Excessive vitamins are stored in the liver, or be deposited off as fat in the adipose tissue. Over time they accumulate and become toxic.

Too much vitamin A will cause the body to lose its oxygen rapidly. Nausea sets in. Due to lack of oxygen the skin may go pale. Too much vitamin A intake also causes a lot of overload on the liver, ultimately leading to its damage.

Excessive vitamin D intake causes problems in the kidney. Kidney stones are the last thing you want. They are painful depositions of solidified vitamin D. Excessive vitamin D also causes hypertension. It could lead to a heart attack.

Vitamin E is the safest of all of them. That’s because it dissolves in fat. Excessive usage might not cause serious problems. In fact excessive usage is recommended to prevent heart attacks.
So all these are the dark side of vitamins.

 

 

 

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Possible Benefits to Prenatal Vitamins Discovered

Many nutrition experts contend that taking vitamin supplements is not especially helpful. They say that the other socioeconomic factors that tend to accompany vitamin-taking as a habit, such as medium to high incomes, good diets, and regular physical activity, are more significant for maintaining health. However, a recent study shows that vitamin supplements may be helpful for women who are expecting, or at least for their developing child.

As reviewed briefly by The New York Times, a study published in the journal Epidemiology showed that women who reported taking prenatal vitamins were 40% less likely to give birth to children who later developed autism or autism spectrum disorders. The primary author Rebecca Schmidt and her team took blood samples and analyzed the expression of genes associated with the metabolism of folate and found that the women who had folate metabolism genes that were a slight variation from most of the population had seven times higher risk of having a child with autism.

 

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Folate is a kind of vitamin B that is very important in fetal development. Children conceived in a mother with inadequate folate are more likely to be born with spina bifida, or when the backbone does not close before birth, which can cause a severe disability depending on its extent. A lack of folate has recently been associated with the development of autism, and in the case of this study, it is believed that pre-natal vitamins are providing folate which prevents autism from occurring.

 

Folate is present as an enrichment in many cereals, and is also found in leafy green vegetables, legumes, and organ meats, in addition to prenatal vitamins.

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Understanding Essential Vitamins

Vitamins are very important for the human body to function properly. They are very important for the normal growth as well as for the essential organ development. It is very important for a person to consume varied diet to get all the essential vitamins to avoid deadly diseases and illnesses. Some of the most essential vitamins are vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E and K.

Vitamins are normally divided into fat soluble vitamins and water soluble vitamins. Vitamin A, D, E, and K are fat soluble vitamins whereas vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, and C are water soluble vitamins. Each vitamin has different benefits and the need for the vitamins vary with the age of a person, health conditions, and gender. Mostly vitamins are found in normal healthy foods and do not require any supplementation.

Vitamin A is very important for the proper vision and also for the production of white blood cells. Vitamin B enhances metabolism and energy, offer great protection against birth defects in the pregnant women, and also properly maintains the nervous system. Vitamin C is very important to prevent infection and to protect tissue in the body.

Vitamin D protects bone whereas vitamin K is very important for the free flow of blood without any clots. Vitamin E protects lungs and provides healthy skin. However, a person must take extra care to understand what their body needs and consume vitamins accordingly. Vitamin D is hard to obtain in foods so it is best to get sunshine regularly.

 

 

 

 

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Minerals Supplements for your daily diet

If food is considered as the raw material required for our survival, then minerals are the integral part of human growth and nutrition.  Generally, the minerals are classified into two major categories i.e. macro and trace. The macro is the group of minerals which are required in large quantities by our body, whereas the trace is one which is required in just the small fraction. The Minerals are the integral part of our diet. Following is the list of minerals which are very important for your daily diet:

  • Calcium: Calcium is essential for strengthening our bones, for burning of excess fat and for the effective muscle movement. This mineral is found in large quantity in the dairy products like milk, butter, curd etc.
  • Sodium: Extremely important to maintain the proper flow of fluid in our body. It is also important to maintain the effective acid base balance at the time of loose motions and puking.  The mineral is found in food products which are rich in iron sources.
  • Iodine: It is responsible for the maintenance of our hormonal system.  It is usually found in large fraction among salts.
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Although these minerals are essential part of your diet, but be careful, excessive consumption of minerals can be a reason of the serious damage to your body and immune system.  So, never ever try to use these minerals as supplements. The minerals should be kept effectively, exposure to air; water may reduce the effectiveness which one may get with the consumption of these minerals.

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Vitamin Deficiencies Drives Vitamin Supplement Market

Vitamins are nutrients required in small amounts for the normal functioning of the body. There are many vitamins but the major ones are Vitamin B, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Vitamin E. Dietary supplement is a multi billion dollar market and vitamins supplements are the most common dietary supplement sold in the pharmacies. Though these vitamins are available in plenty in our regular diet, imbalance in diet and addictions such as smoking, alcohol consumption or drugs and health problems can hinder their absorption. Fast foods, ready-to-eat foods and eating out too often can also lead to an imbalance in diet. These factors can lead to vitamin deficiencies.

Each vitamin has specific role to perform in our body and each one has recommended dietary allowances to be consumed each day. If an individual falls short of these recommended dietary allowance, for a prolonged period of time it leads to vitamin deficiency. That’s the reason millions of people consume multi vitamin tablets to ensure that they get all the essential vitamins every day. Since vitamin deficiency can lead to a lot of health problems, every country has come up with what is called as fortification of foods.  In food fortification, these essential vitamins and minerals are added in minute quantities in the essential food items. Essential food items such as milk, flour and salt that are commonly used by everyone.
Fortification of essential vitamins and minerals in such items will help vitamin deficiencies in individuals. And as even people in lower class can also afford such common and essential food it helps eradicate vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin supplement can be taken without doctor’s prescription and is sold over the counter across countries. However, people with specific health problems need to consult doctor before taking such supplements. People should also be cautious as an overdose of vitamins can also affect health and can be lethal. Vitamin supplements are also available for children in variety of forms such as gums, tablets, capsules and syrups. This makes it easier for children of all age group to consume vitamins.

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Minerals Supplement Promotes Health

Different Minerals

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Minerals are essential nutrients required in small measures for the proper functioning of the body. Minerals can be classified as micro and macro minerals. There are lot of minerals which are needed for the body but the most common ones known to many are calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and iodine. Awareness on the importance of minerals is very high and so the market for mineral supplement is also huge. Calcium is an important mineral which helps in bone formation. Deficiency of calcium in women leads to osteoporosis. That’s the reason doctors usually suggest calcium supplements for women after the age of 30.

Children also need minerals for normal growth and functioning of their body. Iodine deficiency usually leads to a disorder called goiter. Iodine deficiency can be completely eradicated with fortification of salt with iodine as the amount required by the body is very less. Zinc is another mineral gaining interest. It’s known to be effective for its anti inflammatory properties and is included in lotions and creams. Some research also suggests that it’s good for hair growth and in treating common cold. Mineral supplements are available in pharmacies in capsule or tablet form. Minerals formulations are found in combination of one or more minerals. Usually companies manufacture multi- mineral formulations which contain all essential minerals in a single tablet.

However, since calcium deficiency is quite common, calcium is available in different forms and strengths as a stand alone mineral. Mineral supplement has become a multi- million dollar market as people have realized the importance of minerals in their diet. Women also prefer to take calcium tablets to avoid health problems which have increased the sales of calcium. Calcium as a stand alone mineral is the highest revenue generator in the mineral supplement market. Minerals are also available along with multi vitamins. This combination is what is preferred by millions of people as both vitamins and minerals are available in a single formulation. Doctors also recommend a multi -vitamin and mineral combination to patients.  This makes it convenient as people do not have to take too many supplements.

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