Vitamin C Overdose

Using Vitamin C products beyond recommended the limits may cause stomachaches and diarrhea. Even though the body would only use as much as it needs of the vitamin, Vitamin C Overdose can hinder metabolic activities in the body.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Vitamin C in nonsmoking adults is 75 mg per day for women and 90 mg per day for men. For smokers, the RDAs are 110 mg per day for women and 125 mg per day for men. A dose of 200 milligrams daily is almost enough to maximize plasma and lymphocyte levels.

Higher levels of Vitamin C are needed when under environmental stress such as trauma, fever or infection. Full saturation is reached with daily intakes of 200-500 mg per day (in 2-3 divided doses). This is a water-soluble protein, and anything in excess is excreted by the body. Vitamin C Overdose can cause diarrhea, gas, or stomach upset. Other side effects could be stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea, and an increased risk of developing kidney stones. Large amounts of Vitamin C reduce body levels of copper, an essential nutrient. People with iron overload diseases must avoid Vitamin C Overdose, as it increases iron absorption. Special medical advice must be taken by individuals who have kidney stones. If a pregnant mother takes 6,000 mg of Vitamin C, the baby may develop rebound scurvy due to a sudden drop in daily intake. Hemochromatosis patients should not take Vitamin C due to enhanced accumulation of non-heme iron in the presence of this vitamin.

Vitamin C provides detailed information about vitamin C, benefits of vitamin C, topical vitamin C, vitamin C creams and more. Vitamin C is the sister site of Frequent Sinus Infections.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside

Vitamin For Energy

Lack of energy and the feeling of fatigue is an age-old complaint. Vitamins boost the energy levels of the human body. Vitamin B is known as the ‘energy vitamin’ and is vital for an energetic and long life. Although Vitamin B is abundant in a variety of natural foods, the typical American diet is deficient in Vitamin B. B-Vitamins are easily flushed out of the body. Alcoholics and people on weight-loss diets are more prone to Vitamin B deficiency.

The B-complex vitamins are a group of eight vitamins, which include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), cyanocobalamin (B12), pantothenic acid and biotin. Each vitamin plays a significant role in energy production. Deficiencies usually include more than one type of B-vitamin. To increase energy levels, a supplement of B-complex must be taken along with any single B-vitamin.

The B1-Thiamin vitamin plays an important role in the metabolic process of food and alcohol. It improves the function of the adrenal gland and boosts immunity. Low levels of the B2-Riboflavin cause fatigue, blindness and anemia. Riboflavin is required for the production of energy. Doctors also prescribe riboflavin for migraine and arthritis pain.

The vitamin B3-Niacin also helps the body produce energy. Niacin is used for treating neurological diseases and high cholesterol. In combination with Vitamin C, Niacin reduces the production of lipoproteins, a major risk factor in heart patients.

B5-Pantothenic acid is one of the main energy boosters. It is also referred to as the ‘anti-stress’ vitamin.

Vitamin B12 also helps fight fatigue. It is a vital nutrient for the formation of red blood cells. Red blood cells, in turn, are linked to our energy levels.

The B-complex vitamins work to keep the energy levels high. They can help prevent diseases since they are capable of repairing nucleic acids and immune cells. These vitamins are the foundation of good health and nutrition.

Vitamins provides detailed information on Vitamins, Natural Vitamin, Multi Vitamins, Vitamin Stores and more. Vitamins is affiliated with Liquid Vitamin Supplements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely

Technorati Tags: Vitamin, vitamin, vitamins, Vitamin b

Vitamin For Acne

Acne is common skin disorder among teenagers. It is caused by excessive production of oil by the sebaceous glands. Acne occurs mainly on the face and in rare cases, appears on the neck, chest, back and shoulders. Most forms of acne are a result of heredity or hormonal deficiencies. Stress, the use of oil based cosmetics and environmental pollutants, may also cause acne.

Acne causes blackheads, pimple, cysts and infected abscesses. Dark spots with open pores in the center are known as blackheads. Recurrent red spots or swellings found on the skin, form pimples. Blackheads can develop pustules, which form cysts up to an inch large, on the surface of the skin.

A suppressed immune system and poor digestion may result in a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, contributing to excess production by the sebaceous glands. Hormonal imbalances may also cause excess production by the sebaceous glands and in effect, increased acne outbreaks.

Since vitamins support the body’s ability to create energy and provide basic nutrients, vitamin supplements play an important role in the treatment or spread of acne. A regular intake of Vitamin E helps maintain the skin and retards cellular aging. Zinc absorbs Vitamin A and regulates levels of Vitamin E in the blood. It boosts the immune system and helps kill harmful acne bacteria. Magnesium plays a major role in maintaining hormonal balance, a major cause of acne. Doses of selenium help maintain elasticity of the skin and boost the action of anti-oxidants. Vitamin A also prevents the spread of acne but should be taken only under the supervision of a medical professional.

Vitamins are not a cure for acne. They only play a vital role in the treatment of the overall physiology of a person. Vitamins can offset some of the causes of acne, including stress and poor nutrition.

Vitamins provides detailed information on Vitamins, Natural Vitamin, Multi Vitamins, Vitamin Stores and more. Vitamins is affiliated with Liquid Vitamin Supplements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely

Vitamin A Fun Facts

Vitamin A is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. It is found in foods that contain fat, and is absorbed and transported with other dietary fats. This means the vitamin can be stored in your body, which brings to light two significant facts: One, you can go a few days without eating any vitamin A since you'll have some stores; and two, there is a potential to get an overdose-even a toxicity-if you eat too much of it, because it will remain in your body.

How would a person get too much vitamin A? The occasions are fairly rare, and pretty limited to either overdosing on a lot of supplements, or eating too much polar bear liver-an excellent source of this vitamin. Excessive amounts of chicken liver, beef liver, or fish liver can be harmful as well, but this would mean for most people eating several ounces a day, every day, for many weeks in a row. Feel free to enjoy an occasional meal of chicken or beef liver (once a week), by all means, and don't worry about overdosing! Other sources of vitamin A include egg yolks and fortified milk.

Why, then, are carrots named as such a great source of vitamin A if they are a vegetable? There is a compound in carrots, and in many brightly colored fruits and vegetables, called beta carotene. This compound can be converted to vitamin A in your body. Even though the actual vitamin is found only in animal sources, a vegetarian could get all they need from the beta carotene in a good variety of green and orange vegetables, mangoes, peaches, and sweet potatoes.

Can you overdose on beta carotene and have toxic symptoms like people who overdose on vitamin A? The answer is no. Your body will only continue to convert beta carotene to vitamin A for as long as you are in need. You can take in too much beta carotene, and people have done this while on juice fasts or carrot binges. It takes an awful lot to get to the point of 'too much' and then the main symptom is that your skin will turn orange. This is much more common in infants (because of their tiny body mass) who may develop a taste for orange or dark green vegetables (pumpkin, squash, carrots, spinach) and have their overjoyed mothers continue to feed them all they want. Just stop when the baby turns orange and the condition will reverse itself soon.

What does vitamin A do for your vision? It can't improve your distance vision or help you see more clearly, but a deficiency can certainly harm your vision in several ways. One form of vitamin A in your body, retinal, helps nerves transmit the image of what you see to your brain. When you are in a dark situation (such as driving at night) and light flashes (such as oncoming headlights), certain compounds in the visual cycle are bleached out and need to be refreshed by having a good supply of retinal available. If a person is deficient in vitamin A it takes much longer for their eyes to adjust to be able to see again.

Another way vitamin A helps your vision is by maintaining the moisture of your mucous membranes. In some underdeveloped countries, vitamin A deficiency is rampant (not enough fruits, vegetables, or meat around, and certainly no fortified milk available). These people suffer from a hardening and drying of their mucous membranes, including their eyes, the lining of their nose, lungs, stomach and intestines. The eyes can become so hardened that blindness results. The healthy linings of the lungs are no longer able to fight infections. The damage to the digestive tract causes digestive problems. These people can die of a vitamin A deficiency, but most likely they are suffering from multiple deficiencies because they do not have access to healthy foods.

Fortunately we rarely see serious vitamin A deficiencies in this country. Be sure to get a good source of beta carotene or vitamin A at least every other day, either from meat or dairy products, or from colorful fruits and vegetables; and help your eyes and your immune system keep you well!

Laurie Beebe is a registered dietitian certified in adult weight management. Please visit Laurie's website, "Shaping Your Future" at http://www.mycoachlaurie.com for diet tips, links to great books and websites, or to sign up for a free monthly newsletter!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurie_Beebe

Technorati Tags: vitamin, Suplement, Body

Vitamins - Who Needs Them?

Are you like many of my patients? Despite your best efforts, do you find that you have difficulty actually consuming as many fruits and vegetables as you know you should? Do you have trouble consuming even 2-3 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day? Would 8 - 9 servings a day be impossible? Do you wonder what's wrong with "Wonder Bread"?

Are you confused about supplements? When you go into the vitamin section are you overwhelmed with options and unsure exactly what you need? Are your cupboards full of vitamins but you can't remember what they are supposed to do? Have you heard that vitamins are just a form of creating expensive urine? Do you think a "balanced diet" is all you need for optimal health? Are you unclear as to what actually constitutes a balanced diet?

The good news is that science and medicine has started to pay attention to the need for good nutrition and appropriate supplementation. We are beginning to understand the role nutrition plays in the development of diseases of "affluence" - chronic degenerative disorders. Disease of "affluence" simply means we have enough money to enjoy lifestyles that are not healthy, including eating the...

* wrong amounts of the
* wrong foods at the
* wrong time!

All the while, you are time-pressured and chronically stressed! This includes diseases from heart disease to diabetes to arthritis and even cancer. But the scientific information to help guide you is scattered throughout various medical disciplines and scientific journals, making it hard for even the best physician to keep up-to-date and capable of making creditable recommendations, much less the lay person.

In 2002, Harvard medical school researchers concluded that "due to poor eating habits and nutritionally depleted food sources..."

* every American should be taking a quality multi-vitamin and mineral a day.

In addition, they concluded that due to common malabsorption issues,

* elderly Americans should be taking 2 multi-vitamins and minerals per day.

They published their data in the respected Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA

Do you consume 2 servings of cold water fatty fish per week? In 2007, the well-respected American Heart Association or AHA published their findings on this topic in the prestigious medical journal Circulation. They concluded:

* Every American needs 2 servings or more of cold water fatty fish per week!

What if you can't eat fish, you have high lipids or heart disease? Then you need to supplement! Use fish oil capsules or other sources of omega 3 like flaxseed. Who else needs omega 3's in their diet?

If you are fighting a chronic level of inflammation every day such as arthritis, chronic pain or a multitude of autoimmune or degenerative disorders, the anti-inflammatory qualities of omega 3 essential fatty acids are vital to your diet. Omega 3 essential fatty acids enhance your body's own anti-inflammatory pathways and can neutralize the harmful effects of inflammation. They can impact on pain, reduce stiffness and even cross over into your brain to boost your mood! They support hormone function and are important for the developing fetal brain.

If you are like millions of other Americans and don't consume fish weekly, then supplement with fish oils or other omega 3 sources such as flaxseed. In fact, even if you do consume fish regularly, you may still consider supplementing for the very reason that your levels of inflammation or other needs may far exceed the amount of omega 3 essential fatty acids you can consume in a diet.

Are you having trouble getting a full 5 or more servings a day of fruits and vegetables into your diet? Do you have intestinal issues that limit how many servings a day you can eat before discomfort sets in? The National Cancer Institute now recommends eating 5 to 9 servings a day as part of a healthy, active lifestyle to lower the risk for all of these diseases. If you have trouble consuming this amount, you should know that there are now supplements containing the "good" molecules called bioflavonoids, contained in fruits and vegetables, that can impact positively on your health and minimize inflammation in your body. One great supplement for fighting your inflammation is called OPC or oligomeric procyanodins. OPC's are large molecules found in many foods - grapes, grape seeds, wine and even in certain types of pine bark. Extracts of these natural substances have up to 50 times more anti-oxidant activity than vitamin C to neutralize free oxygen radicals in your body.

Free oxygen radicals are molecules that your body produces either when undergoing normal metabolic processes or when you are exposed to toxins in your environment, such as UV rays from the sun, smoke, dirty air and other contaminants. These molecules are very destructive to your tissues - joints, skin, intestinal system, brain, etc - because they contain an unpaired electron in the molecule. This unpaired electron acts as a powerful irritant to the body as it searches throughout your system to find another electron to pair up with and create a balanced molecule. This irritant creates inflammation in your body.

While concentrates of fruits and vegetables may not provide all the nutrients of the whole food itself, fiber supplements can enhance their activity and still give you some of the benefits of the whole foods. If you have excessive inflammation and pain or if you are challenged in getting fruits and vegetables into you daily diet, then you need a quality supplement rich in OPCs.

For optimal health as well as fighting inflammation, begin today eating healthy whole foods and supplementing with a quality multi-vitamin, fish oil or flaxseed and consider the power of bioflavonoids such as OPC. The science in and the evidence is compelling. Supplementation makes sense for everyone!

Dr. Pamela Avery, the Natural MD, is a board-certified physician and specialist of over 30 years in the management of pain through natural methods. She offers free articles, weekly newsletters and online pain management lifestyle coaching. She has developed a lifestyle system for chronic pain entitled "Live Pain Free! 6 Steps to a Pain Free Life." It can be accessed at http://www.drpamavery.com Her free special report, "The Truth about Supplements", as well as her E-zine, "Natural Solutions", can be accessed at http://www.the-natural-md.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_Avery,_MD

Technorati Tags: Vitamin, Suplement, iced nutrition