Experts say it is impossible to get all the nutrition we need from our diets alone. Cheap fertilizers, long-distance shipping, long-term storage practices, and preservatives cause delicate nutrients to be lost before the food reaches our tables. Although fresh foods are far better than packaged, they are still a far cry from the wholesome, nutritious foods our grandparents had. Even if we eat "5 a day" of fresh fruits and vegetables, our bodies need more nutrition. People who are dieting or have any chronic disease state have even greater nutrition requirements. Because most vitamins are water-soluble, they must be taken daily. Most people have the best results if a vitamin is designed for twice a day dosing.
WHAT DO VITAMINS DO IN OUR BODIES?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin important in vision, bone growth,reproduction, and cell division. It helps regulate the immune system.Beta-carotene is a water-soluble antioxidant, which the body converts to vitamin A. Unlike vitamin A, beta-carotene is well absorbed even by people with chronic intestinal diseases. Getting too much vitamin A can cause liver damage. High intake of beta-carotene can cause the skin to be a yellowish or orange color, but it does not cause long-term health issues. If the body does not need vitamin A from the beta-carotene, it simply does not convert it.
Vitamin D, a precursor to a hormone, has also been called a master hormone, responsible for the proper functioning of other hormones. Vitamin D3, the most desirable form, is also called cholecalciferol. This is the kind of vitamin D the skin makes in the sunlight. Experts say that a fair-skinned person can get 20,000 to 50,0001U from the summer sun. Unfortunately, the body requires more the next day and possesses a lesser ability to make the vitamin in winter or by dark-skinned peoples. One who totally avoids the sun, needs at least 4,000IU of D3 daily to supply the body's needs. Experts say 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient. Current research indicates this deficiency is associated with many kinds of cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, birth defects, and periodontal disease. Although it is a fat-soluble vitamin, current research indicates it is much safer than once thought.
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is famous for its antioxidant properties, which may help protect the cardiovascular system due to the protection from oxidation of LDL cholesterol. It is required for proper immune function and promotes optimal, speedy wound healing. It assists the nervous system by converting certain amino acids into neurotransmitters. Due to its inhibition of certain prostaglandins, it may even help combat inflammation and pain. Vitamin C is water soluble, and too much of it results in diarrhea, Interestingly, when people have conditions in which vitamin C may be beneficial, they are able to tolerate more of the vitamin.
The B vitamins: The body cannot store these water-soluble vitamins, and significant amounts are lost during cooking or processing. They must be consumed daily to meet the body's needs. Because they rely upon one another for optimal function, they should be considered together. They help in producing energy for the cell, providing the proper substrates and mechanism for cell replication, and work together to neutralize harmful substances.
Niacin (B3), thiamine (B1), and riboflavin (B2), comprise a trinity of essential vitamins that support energy production. They work together to yield ATP-the energy substrate of the cell. The requirement for thiamine is determined by the total amount of carbohydrate consumed, and it is also required for alcohol detoxification. These three B vitamins are often found in similar food sources, so deficiencies are usually found in combination. Because nervous system tissue depends solely on glucose for energy, these tissues are quite sensitive to. deficiency. Symptoms of niacin deficiency include fatigue, poor appetite, diarrhea, irritability, headache, emotional instability, and memory loss. Severe niacin deficiency, called pellagra, is characterized by dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhea. Mild thiamine deficiency can result in difficulty in concentration, irritability, depression, muscle weakness, and poor coordination. Severe thiamine deficiency, known as beriberi, is associated with heart failure, mental confusion or even psychosis, and peripheral neuropathy. Signs of riboflavin deficiency include scaly, dry skin, cracks in the skin at the corners of the mouth, fissuring of the lips, swollen purplish tongue, and burning, itching eyes.
Pyridoxine, vitamin B6, is a coenzyme for enzymes involved in
amino acid metabolism. Such metabolism is required for processing of critical amino acid derived molecules that govern neurotransmitter function, hemoglobin synthesis, niacin production, immunoglobulin synthesis, and hormone production. The link between pyridoxine and nerve function is so strong, some practitioners use it to lessen symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, and depression.
Pyridoxine deficiency may be associated with tongue inflammation, skin disorders, cracking at the angle of the lips, or lip fissures. Neurological changes include weakness, tingling and pain in the extremities, depression, headaches, and nausea.
Vitamin B 12, or cobalamine, works with Folic Acid to support cellular replication, especially DNA synthesis. In the absence of sufficient folic acid, chromosomes become fragile and prone to breakage. Thus poor folate status has been linked to development of cancer and birth defects such as spina bifida. B12 is required for folate absorption, storage, and activation to its coenzyme forms. B 12 and folate work together to prevent certain kinds of anemia. But B12 has a unique role among all the vitamins. It is required for synthesis of the myelin sheath of nerves. Without this sheath, none of the nerves of the body function normally-not in the brain, the spine, nor the peripheral nervous system. Neuropathy of vitamin B 12 deficiency causes numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, stiffness and weakness in the legs, and an unsteady gait. In the elderly, vitamin B12 deficiency may manifest as mental disorientation, memory loss, and a yellowish tint to the skin due to anemia and jaundice.
JUST FOR MEN
A number of supplements have been associated with improved prostate health. Dietary intake of lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, is associated with lower incidence of prostate abnormalities. Saw palmetto also has a lengthy history of use for prostate health. Zinc is known to be required for a normal functioning prostate, and zinc deficiency may promote prostate cancer. The bark of Pygeum africanum has been studied extensively in benign prostatic hypertrophy and found beneficial. Ginseng, epimedium, and cnidium have been used for centuries in Asia to promote sexual health for men.
FOR LADIES OF ALL AGES
Everyone knows that men and women are different, so why use one vitamin for both? Balance for ladies of all ages can be achieved through a special blend of herbs. Red raspberry leaf contains magnesium, a tonic for uterine muscles. Chasteberry supports women through cyclic breast discomfort. Kudzu root supports regular cycles. Sage leaf has been used to decrease menopausal sweating. Ginger is widely used for its anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cardiotonic properties. Damiana, catuaba, and ginseng promote gynecologic health and sexual comfort.
Dr. Elizabeth Owings is a Medical Doctor who served as the Chief Surgical Resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Critical Care Fellow in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Children s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a Pediatric Surgery Fellow at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis. Her research into the use of vitamins, minerals and other natural remedies took her through tens of thousands of articles and published research papers, making her an expert on natural therapies.
