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Vitamins – the basics : Vitamins

Article by Mark Kimathi

Vitamins are micro-nutrients. They were discovered by Eijkman (1897) in Indonesia, Java, while studying a disease called beriberi common among natives whose main diet was rice. He noticed that fowl fed on polished rice, developed beri beri, but not when fed on crudely milled rice.

In 1911 Funk obtained an alcoholic extract of the outer husk of rice which cured beri beri. This was thought to be a vital amine introducing the name vitamine. The “e” was later dropped to read “vitamin”.

Vitamins Functions And Sources

As micro nutrients, vitamins are required in small quantities. Generally your body cannot manufacture or synthesize vitamins from scratch. So you need to get them from the food you eat or from supplement pills. Though, vitamins can be synthesized by some bacteria, yeast, mould, algae and some plant species.

Some vitamins like vitamin B5 have been found to be synthesized by bacteria in the human large intestines. However it is not clear if the vitamins are available for absorption and use by the body.

Vitamins are required by the body for a variety of biological processes. These include growth e.g Vitamin B6; mental alertness e.g Choline, Niacin; resistance to infection e.g. Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

They also act as catalysts in the body chemistry as well as precursors to vital body factors. This enables the body to use carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Vitamins in themselves do not have calories and therefore do not give energy to the body. Natural vitamins are found in living things that is plants and animals and are organic food substances. There are many artificially synthesized vitamins.

Vitamins exist in varying quantities in an array of food sources from yeasts, wheat bran, cooked egg that provides Biotin, citrus fruits and milk that provide Vitamin C, green leafy vegetables and legumes that supply Folic acid.

Vitamin Classification

There are mainly two types of vitamins classified based on their solubility. These are water soluble and fat soluble vitamins.

i) Water soluble vitamins include:

Vitamin C also called citric acid, Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), Vitamin B9 (folic acid), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B12 (cobalamin), Cholin, Biotin. Water soluble vitamins are not stored in the body in any appreciable amounts. The surplus is washed out mainly through urine. They requires consistent replenishing using the diet we consume. This makes them safe because they do not collect in the body toxic levels, making large doses of vitamin supplementary safe. But caution should still be practiced because mega doses have side effects and even can be fatal.

For example, there is a low risk of vitamin toxicity from nicotinic acid with mega doses. Nicotinic acid a derivative of vitamin niacin, one may experience flushing, itching, nausea and vomiting, liver cell damage. So supplement with daily value doses. Do not use megadoses unless under ongoing expert advice.

ii)Fat soluble vitamins includes:

Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Being fat soluble these vitamins are stored in the fat in our bodies. They can easily accumulate to toxic levels so if you choose to supplement be cautious.

Vitamin Deficiency

The lack of these food factors i.e vitamins results to deficiency diseases. Vitamin defiency diseases are a manifestation of malfunctioning bio-chemical processes due to lack of the vital vitamins. Since the same vitamin may be used in a number of processes, deficiency in some vitamins can be quite serious and even fatal. For example over two hundred enzymes require the niacin vitamin coenzyme. So a lack of niacin makes this two hundred enzymes malfunction.

Vitamin deficiencies have been associated with long term latent deficiency diseases. These diseases occur after a long time of deficiency of some nutritional factors like vitamins. Long term latent deficiency diseases can be as severe as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. In our society today, these diseases are becoming the highest health concern.

The situation is grave because they are not only preventable but also cheaply preventable. A proper nutrition is all it takes to get all required nutrients including sufficient quantities of vitamins. General health benefits of vitamins include protection from a variety of diseases and conditions.

In case of a nutritional gap between what your body and what your diet provides, supplementing is necessary.

Whole foods are and will always be the best source of vitamins. This is because whole foods provide a combination of nutrients to the body including minerals and phytonutrients.

But many people do not receive all nutrients they need from their food choices. Either because they cannot or will not eat enough, or they cannot or will not eat right foods. This may be because of medical or physical conditions, your lifestyles, i.e. job, time, availability or even due to poverty. In such cases, supplementation is necessary.

Vitamin Supplementing

Today’s lifestyles make it more necessary to supplement our diets. There are groups of people to whom supplementing may really not be a choice. This will include you if;

i) You are sixty five years and older:- At this age some vitamins are not easily absorbed by your body system. Multivitamins may improve your immunity and lower risk of some infections.

ii) You are a post menopausal woman:- Supplement with calcium and vitamin D to help against osteoporosis.

iii) You do not eat the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

iv) You are on a low calorie diet. E.g. You are trying to lose weight

v) You smoke -The tobacco interferes and diminishes vitamin uptake of vitamins like vitamin B6, vitamin C, folic acid and even niacin. Ps: This will not make up for the health risk of smoking.

vi) You drink excessively that is more than a bottle a day. Long term excessive drinking will reduce absorption of vitamins. Vitamins affected are thiamin (Vitamin B), Folic acid, Vitamin A & D, as well as Vitamin B12.

vii) You are pregnant or trying to be pregnant.

There is a wide choice of vitamin supplements in the markets to choose from. When choosing vitamins, consider the following:-

i) Bioavailability of the vitamin; Choose vitamins supplements whose source of ingredients is from the human food chain. Many vitamins are extracted from “natural sources”, like algae, which we do not normally eat. This may not be easily available to your body.

ii) Wide spectrum of vitamins; Prefer to use multivitamins that give a number of positively interacting vitamins. Remember we require all nutrients in varying quantities. It is better to have a multivitamin providing daily values instead of megadoses of a single or few vitamins.

iii) Expiry date of the vitamin; Vitamins do expire. Buy to use only for the month. When you need more you can always purchase again.

iv) Store Vitamins safely; Store in a cool dry place away from sunlight and children

v) Health concern; If you have a health condition e.g diabetes or having medication, please first consult your physician.

Authored at Health-eMark.com. Our weight loss solution is approached from the point of the Top 4 Reasons you fail in losing weight.This unique approach covers different aspects of weight loss including Weight Loss Surgery










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Photographic Memory : Adams v. Arbus

Article by Patrick Simons

The iconic photographs of Ansel Adams have become synonymous with the preservation of the American West. Adam’s photography, along with his exceptional writing skills, made an invaluable contribution to the expansion of the National Park System. If Adam’s photography served to elevate the collective consciousness, the work of Diane Arbus delivered a cold slap in the face. Arbus had no majestic landscapes. Arbus sought out the strange, the unconventional and the down right weird. In her own words, Arbus photographed freaks.

Although Adams was older than Arbus by twenty-one years; he survived her by thirteen years thus, making them contemporaries of a sort. They had a number of things in common including, being born into upper class families. Adams’ grandfather founded a successful timber business. Arbus’ grandfather founded a successful New York City fur store. In neither case did family money make it down to them. They were both totally devoted to their craft. They each produced their best work in black and white. They both became major forces, not just in photographic circles, but on the American art scene as a whole.

Adams was born in San Francisco in 1902. One of the more notable childhood events involved his being thrown into a wall by an aftershock of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and receiving a broken nose in the process. His doctor recommended the nose be reset when Adams reached maturity, but this was never to happen, and he went through life with his nose distinctly bent. Adams was a highly intelligent, lively, inquisitive, but unruly child. His inability to concentrate resulted in his dismissal from a number of private schools. His father, recognizing his son’s inherent gifts, removed young Ansel from school at the age of twelve and assumed personal responsibility for the boy’s education. Charles Adams, his aunt Mary Adams, and private tutors provided the bulk of Ansel Adams education. A less perceptive father might have very well set him on a very different path in life.

Diane Arbus, born Diane Nemerov in 1923, grew up in a large apartment on Central Park West in New York City. Her father managed the fur store founded by her maternal grandfather, expanding it into a successful Fifth Avenue department store. David Nemerov was often away on business and Diane’s mother, Gertrude, suffered recurring bouts of depression. These factors, combined with the family’s wealth, added to her sense of being insulated from the larger world. Diane showed early promise as a painter yet, after being praised for her work, put down her brushes never to paint again. Diane Nemerov did not consider anything that was easy, to be worth doing. At the age of thirteen she met Allan Arbus, an employee in the advertising department of her father’s store. From that moment the life of Diane Nemerov was focused on marrying Allen Arbus. Diane resisted her parent’s pleas that she pursue higher education and, with their reluctant consent, married Allan Arbus when she turned eighteen.

At the age of twelve, Ansel Adams began to teach himself to read music and play the piano. He became so adept, his father saw to it that he receive the best tutoring available. His photographic memory and ferocious drive seemed to have set him on a musical course. However, a family vacation to Yosemite National Park in 1916 was to have a profound impact on the young Adams’ choice of career. His father had given him a Kodak Brownie box camera for the trip and it proved to be a life changing event. Adams returned to Yosemite the following year with a better camera and a tripod. He joined the Sierra Club at the age of seventeen and would remain a member for the rest of his life, serving as a board member for thirty-seven years. Adams began learning the dark room skills that would make him world famous by working part time for a San Francisco photo finisher. Teaming with a retired geologist, named Frank Holman, Adams spent summers hiking in the high Sierras. These extended hikes with Homan helped Adams develop the strength and stamina that would prove so valuable in the great work to come.

With the outbreak of World War II, Allan Arbus entered the U.S. Army Signal Corp and trained as a photographer. The Arbuses utilized these skills to found a highly successful fashion photography business after the war Diane’s father was as a major client. Throughout the early 1950’s Allan and Diane Arbus did work for all the leading fashion publications of the day. This continued until 1956 when Diane decided she could no longer do fashion photography. She was supported in this decision by her husband. Their marriage would outlive their business relationship by just three years. By this time Diane was taking photography classes at The New School, and had begun her collaboration with Lisette Model. Model played an important role in helping Arbus overcome her insecurities and find her own artistic vision.

The foundation had thus been laid for two remarkable artists to pursue their respective visions. Adams was to divide his time between traveling the American west and New York City, where Alfred Stieglitz displayed Adams’ photographs in his gallery. Stieglitz, the reigning master of American photography, gave Adams’s work invaluable exposure. Additionally, through Stieglitz Adams made the acquaintance of many prominent figures in the American art community, including Stieglitz’s wife, Georgia O’Keeffe. His exuberant personality, and ability as a pianist, won Adams many friends. Arbus, meanwhile, with the urging of Lisette Model, began seeking out her own subject matter. Arbus was drawn to society’s oddest people. Arbus said, “Most people go through life dreading they’ll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma, and they’ve already passed their test in life. They’re aristocrats.” Norman Mailer was quoted as saying, ‘Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like giving a hand grenade to a baby.”

Throughout their respective careers, both Adams and Arbus did commercial work to make ends meet. Adams accepted commissions form The Sierra Club and the National Park Service among others and, in addition, wrote extensively for several photographic publications. Arbus produced many commercial portraits for Harpers Bazaar, Esquire and other magazines, and by the mid 1960’s her work had begun taking on the distinctive look that would mark her as an artist. They both viewed commercial work as a distraction from their true artistic vision. Adams was known to complain that his contractual obligations left him little time for anything else.

That Ansel Adams created magnificent images is undeniable, but it was the incredible difficulty involved in getting them, that sets his work apart. A full day of hiking, with his heavy, large format camera, might yield no more than five photographs. Taking the pictures was only the beginning. Adams developed his own negatives and made his own prints, often printing images over and over to get the desired result. Not until late in his career did Adams delegate the printing of his images to an assistant and, even then, he personally signed off on each copy. Diane Arbus had her own set of difficulties. Arbus visited sleazy hotels, carnivals, asylums and nudist camps. In addition to the riveting images she created, Diane Arbus had an amazing ability to win the trust of her subjects, often maintaining contact with them for years. I cannot imagine either artist doing what the other accomplished. Can anyone imagine Ansel Adams in a nudist camp? Diane Arbus died by her own hand in 1971 at the age of forty-eight. Ansel Adams died in 1984 at the age of eighty-two. As so often happens, their works have soared in value following their passing. They have each come in for the predictable criticism. Arbus was accused of ‘voyeurism’, and using shock simply for the sake of shock. Adams was accused of having a lack of imagination. Personally, I view this criticism of Adams as being in the same vein as art critics who criticize people who can actually draw. If the images of Diane Arbus were merely voyeuristic and shocking they would have, long since, faded into obscurity. However, nearly forty years after her passing, the images of Diane Arbus continue to captivate. If Adams created works of self evident truth, the central message I take away from the work of Diane Arbus is; ‘This too is reality’.

A seeker and a wanderer. Photographer and free lance philisopher.










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DHA Omega3 – The Brain Food : Brain Foods

Article by Gordon P Hall

Literally thousands of new people from all walks of life are turning to the natural healing nutrients that are DHA Omega3. These people have learned of the importance of taking a daily supplement of Omega3 and adding it to their health regime. If you read on, I will tell you why they call this remarkable oil, the brain food.

You see, DHA Omega3 is used in huge amounts by our brain. The brain is comprised of some sixty per cent fat. Over half of this fat is DHA Omega3. This is used to keep us happy and content with our life. Researchers have discovered that DHA gives your brain a jump start, regardless whether you are young or old.

However, please be aware, that if our DHA Omega3 levels, which are tied to our serotonin levels, ever fall, then we are in for some bumpy weather. We shall suffer from emotional distress, which will show itself as mood swings and bouts of depression and other emotional disorders. On the other hand, DHA helps our memory and our recall function.

A high intake of fish is linked to a significant decrease in memory loss and a lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. On the other hand studies done in the US, show it may be linked to mental health. The studies showed a correlation between the lower amount of fish being eaten and the rising incidence of depression.

An adequate intake of DHA has been found to be necessary during pregnancy. You see, the fetuses cerebral cortex is made up of twenty per cent DHA fatty acids. And the retina is made up of some fifty per cent DHA. This DHA is absolutely essential for the baby’s normal development.

You must never buy an Omega3 supplement that has not been molecularly distilled to remove the impurities such as lead, mercury and the PCBs. These PCBs cause cancer and take hundreds of years to break down. This method is the only way to get rid of these PCBs. The remaining oil will be as pure as you can buy.

Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of fish oil supplements. To discover which supplements Gordon recommends after far ranging and extensive research. Visit his website now at: Elite Fish Oil Supplement










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Vitamins : Is Vitamin D Connected to Hypertension?

Article by Christian Goodman

I am extremely fortunate in my position to be able to receive direct feedback from my clients. They let me know personally, how my program has helped and ask follow up questions to help ensure they are as healthy as they can possibly be. Sometimes, the same question comes up and its good to be able to address the answer to many.

Several of you have asked if there is a link between Vitamin D deficiency and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Vitamin D is actually several different vitamins ” Vitamin D2 and D3 specifically. Vitamin D3 is produced when a persons skin is exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light. In fact, sunlight is the easiest way to get the required amount of Vitamin D.

Healthy bones rely on Vitamin D as do the body’s organs. Vitamin D helps to keep the body functioning properly.

There have been several studies which have shown that people with Vitamin D deficiency and high blood pressure have a 50% greater chance of suffering a stroke, heart attack or heart failure than those without the vitamin deficiency.

How can I tell if I might have a Vitamin D Deficiency?

A blood test can be done by a doctor to determine deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency symptoms alone are not the best gauge since they can be similar to those of depression, periodontal disease or the flu.

Age is a factor that can make one person more susceptible to a deficiency. Older adults tend to spend more time indoors away from the ultraviolet light. In addition, older skin does not convert the Vitamin as readily.

Another group at risk for Vitamin D deficiency would be those who are homebound, those living in northern latitudes, and those whos occupations preclude them from direct sunlight.

Larger amounts of the pigment, melanin produce darker skin and also reduce its ability to process Vitamin D from ultraviolet exposure.

Obese people are also at a greater risk for Vitamin D deficiency. Obese people have a lower plasma concentration and Vitamin D tends to accumulate in the fat cells.

Of course, the easiest way to avoid Vitamin D deficiency would be at least 10 minutes of direct sunlight exposure each day. You should, however, consult your doctor first to ensure this will not lead to larger health issues.

Many foods contain Vitamin D either naturally or enhanced ” Cod, salmon, mackerel, tuna, milk, eggs, cereal. Consult your doctor to ensure you are eating the required amount to maintain adequate Vitamin D production.

There are Vitamin D supplements available, however, a doctor should be consulted since this is a fat soluble vitamin and other health conditions could arise if you are taking too much.

Whether Vitamin D is partially to blame for your high blood pressure or other causes, I suggest you try the High Blood Pressure Program. It has help thousands and will help you too.

EL331001

Christian Goodman has dedicated his career to natural health research and found solutions to many serious conditions. You can learn more about him on his natural health alternative blog or check out his Natural High Blood Pressure treatment.










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Vitamins : Learn About Some Key Vitamins

Article by Luke Rennster

Vitamin D is sometimes called the sunshine vitamin because it’s manufactured in the skin from a cholesterol metabolite when skin is exposed to sunlight. This vitamin stimulates absorption of calcium. A vitamin D deficiency is likely to result in poor teeth and osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also important for the transport of minerals through the cell, and some recent research has indicated that it may also play a role in the prevention and treatment Of colon cancer.

Vitamin D can be obtained from eating cold-water fish and dairy products. The best way of getting vitamin D, however, is through sensible and moderate exposure to the sun. I didn’t say sunburn; I said sensible exposure to sunlight. In this way we can manufacture our own vitamin D just as our primitive ancestors did. So, if we make vitamin D in our own skin, is this substance a true vitamin?

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents free radical damage to living membranes. It protects the fatty substances in the cell membrane from lipid per oxidation (free radical fatty tissue damage). Vitamin E also prevents oxidation damage to vitamin A. It’s believed that this vitamin may also stop cholesterol-like substances from damaging the blood vessel walls, therefore preventing forms of blood vessel ailments such as heart disease and strokes. Studies confirm that a vitamin E deficiency may result in a reduction in immune function and that vitamin E supplementation can increase the strength of the immune systems Many patients with AIDS have known of the beneficial effects of vitamin E supplementation for many years. An overabundance of free radicals stimulates the HIV virus to reproduce. Vitamin E is known to quench these free radicals and indirectly prevent the replication of the HIV virus. AIDS patients taking vitamin E, along with other nutritional approaches, report feeling much stronger and healthier.

Vitamin E is plentiful in most grains that contain a great amount of natural oil. We can also find vitamin E in many dark green vegetables, chicken eggs, and various nuts.

Vitamin K assists in the production of fibrin, a necessary factor for the clotting of blood. Colon bacteria synthesize vitamin K. Eating green plants such as spinach and keeping a healthy bacterial community in your digestive tract by eating live yogurt and acidophilus fulfill the vitamin K requirement

Taking in vitamins is a great for your body. Try alpha lipoic acid capsules to give your body a great health and immune system boost.










POISON ALERT! – Found Aspartame in Children Flintstones Vitamins.. September 22, 2011 **High Fructose Corn Syrup Dangers: A number of studies conducted over the past few decades indicates that consumption of HFCS is connected with a wide range of health concerns. Here are a few of the more important health dangers of high fructose corn syrup you should know about: 1. Significant Risk of Weight Gain & Obesity The list of studies that show HFCS to cause increased weight gain over other forms of sweeteners is much to long to put into this post. One of the better, and more recent ones, was conducted at Princeton University and found that rats that were fed HFCS gained fat 300% more quickly than those fed an equal (or slightly larger) dose of fruit-derived sugar. 2. Increased Risk of Developing Type-2 Diabetes Over the years, consumption of high-fructose corn syrup can lead to a huge increase in the likelihood of developing diabetes. The worst part about it is how easily this life-long condition can be avoided in most cases. Excessive amounts of soda, energy drinks and junk-food simply aren’t worth losing a foot or going blind or harming your children. 3. Hypertension and Elevated “Bad” Cholesterol Levels High-fructose doesn’t just make your body fat. It makes your heart fat too. There is a strong link between the irresponsible consumption of high fructose corn syrup and elevated triglyceride and HDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Together these can cause arterial plague build-up …
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Save the World – Attracting Love with a Subliminal Mp3 : Subliminal MP3

Article by Arian David

I am meeting Helen for coffee in a nondescript coffee shop we used to hang out some 5 years ago. I looked around; the place did not change much except that the tiles and counters awfully need to be replaced. The ambiance is still gloomy, not so different with the way Helen felt most of the time then. The coffee shop was a haven though, as the dimly lit corners offered temporary sanctuary for her physically battered body and silent sobs. I hated her situation but I could not help her because despite the abuse and violence, I thought I saw some hints of masochism as she took the roller coaster ride of her life. My gaze was planted on the door, anticipating that it would open anytime revealing the friend I have not seen in the last 5 years. I am glad she survived and I wonder just how she paid the tolls of those years under that unfortunate condition. She looked older than her 40 years then, always brooding, perennially distressed. When finally she came, all my expectations vanished into the thin air. She was babbling like a young girl, so full of life, vivacious, and definitely not a sign of her age. Just what happened? The answer was simple: she learned that by attracting love with a subliminal mp3, all changed for the better.

Just how did she do it? The spouse whom she thought was the wrong one turned out to be her soul mate after all. All it took was the playing of some music using an mp3. The music contains some indiscernible signals or affirmations that worked their way to their subconscious. Soon after discovering it, their behavior changed, their drives and motivations gradually worked out becoming positive and sensitive towards each other, they became more energized and focused and starting to care more allowing them to rediscover affections and romance. It was magical as they once again started to get attuned towards each other

Causes Of Short Term Memory Loss : Short Term Memory

Article by Paul Courtney

It is very easy to put short term memory loss down to old age. And say that it is but natural to start forgetting things as you age. However, while this may be true, there are several other causes of short term memory loss that should not be ignored as they could be signaling to more complex problems. For example:

Alzheimer’s disease

As our population ages the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia become more and more prevalent.Anyone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s understands that this cause of short term memory loss is something not to be taken lightly. Coupled with dementia, this disease is the subject of a lot of research and although no real cure has been found for it, nipping it in the bud or at least diagnosing it correctly in the preliminary stages is crucial.

Blood Sugar

Another problem associated with modern living is the tendency to skip meals during the day and making up with a large heavy meal at night. People that starve themselves then have a big meal often have very instable blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar can lead the brain to get sleepy and groggy and hence become one of the causes of short term memory loss. This is why doctors often recommend that patients who want to improve their memory have six small meals in a day as opposed to three large ones so as to keep blood sugar levels steady.

Hormonal Havoc

Again as a part of the aging process, hormonal imbalance is often a cause of short term memory loss as menopause sets in and estrogen levels start to dwindle. Although hormone replacement therapies and other such treatments and preventions have become common today, this is certainly a factor worth looking into when figuring out causes of memory loss.

Depression and Drinking

The pressures of living today is a major cause of depression and short term memory loss. People who are depressed and especially those who are taking medication often cannot remember things clearly because of the side effects of the drugs. Apart from medical drugs, recreational drug abuse and excessive alcohol consumption can also be amongst the causes of short term memory loss.

Natural Treatments

It is important to have your doctor diagnose yur condition and isolate the causes of your short term memory loss for your specific case, he may recommend drugs, mental exercises, a more healthy lifestyle or some natural, herbal supplements,.

Although the results have not been very conclusive, some studies have shown that ginkgo biloba and anti-oxidants to help prevent brain cell damage and to restore mental memory function has been successful. Some like to try out the herbal supplements, some prefer a more pharmaceutical approach whereas some just like the old fashioned route of healthy eating and exercise. Ask your doctor which is best for your case.

As they say “If you don’t use it you will lose it”, it is therefore very important to keep your mind and body active ensuring good blood circulation. Don’t sucome to the trappings of the modern sedentary lifestyle be active in both body and mind.

Paul Courtney contributes articles to various publications pertaining to Alternative Medicine, Herbal Medicine and is the main contributor to http://www.memoryadvisory.com










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Vitamins : Most Common Vitamins – What Do They Do For Our Bodies?

Article by Ralph Lauren

The world is a very busy place and many people turn to vitamins to get the nutritional value needed when their diet just doesn’t suffice. But when diving into the world of vitamins for the first time it can be quite daunting – and taking the wrong types of vitamins can not only be expensive, but also pointless if selecting them without the right information. Below are the most popular vitamins on the market and the benefits they can offer our wellbeing and body when taken.

Vitamin AThis vitamin is perfect for those wanting to improve teeth, skin and bone health. It’s also great for building up the immune system and improving vision. Vitamin A isn’t essential for a daily multivitamin as the body stores the vitamin in the liver, with the average persons liver containing about two years supply of vitamin A.

Vitamin DVitamin D assists with calcium absorption, helps maintain healthy bones in adults and allows the body to maintain regular levels of phosphorus and calcium. For kids, the vitamin is necessary for strong bones, general growth and also can prevent and cure rickets. A vitamin D deficiency can come from the body not being exposed to enough sunlight! Natural vitamin D such as D3 is the best form to take as it is more readily absorbed.

Vitamin EWhile you’re slathering on moisturiser, take a look on the bottle’s list of ingredients – it no doubt has vitamin E in it! But it’s not just great for the skin; vitamin E is necessary for the formation of normal red blood cells and immune function, DNA maintenance and also helps protect lipids and cells from free radical damage.

Vitamin KGoing through the alphabet of vitamins, vitamin K is important for blood clotting and maintaining bone mineralisation.

Antioxidants (Beta Carotene, Gingko Biloba, Lutein and Lycopene)Many scientists suggest that diets rich in antioxidants can help with the maintenance of memory, mental alertness, concentration, blood flow and cardiovascular health. Antioxidants are also essential for the prevention of aging and disease.

Folic AcidFolic acid is widely known as a vitamin for expectant mothers to take during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in their unborn baby, but it does serve more than just that purpose. This vitamin can also help maintain a healthy intestinal tract, is necessary for amino acid metabolism, helps with the formation of nucleic acids that form DNA, is important for normal growth and development and assists with red blood cell formation.

So, now you know what the most common vitamins are and what they help the body with, you can take a look at your diet and see which ones are required so your body is in tip top condition!

Space Vitamins is an Australian vitamin company that manufacturers Multivitamins for Men & Women Multivitamins using Natural Vitamins & Organic Minerals.










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Short Term Memory : How Does Your Behavior Affect Your Memory?

Article by John MacRaay

Eight Seconds

It takes time for you to be able to fully focus attention on a thing, and transfer what you are focusing on from short-term memory to long-term.

Can you guess how long? That’s right, eight seconds.

If you are going to commit to increasing the effectiveness of your memory, you need to make a conscious effort to pay specific attention. If you negate paying special attention, then the rest of your efforts will all be useless.

When discussing “memories”, I am referencing both memories that have been moved into the long-term memory, as well as those in the short-term. In both, we keep important information like to-do-lists, names, faces, birthdays, etc.

All peoples can seek the benefits of memory improvement to help them remember information like this.

Can I Actually Do This?

Altering your daily behavior in an attempt at memory improvement is not impossible – nor is it as difficult as you probably imagine.

Find strategies that work for you, and stick to them. For instance, in my case, when I read, it helps me remember the information if I read it out loud. By way of including two senses (sight and sound), I am more easily able to commit the information to memory.

Surprisingly, there is even evidence that alcohol in moderation can actually improve memory at cognitive ability.

Remember Moderation

Keep in mind that alcohol in excess is poor for the memory. However, many studies have illustrated the positive effect of moderate alcohol intake. Moderate drinkers seem to do better on memory tests than do non-drinkers and heavy drinkers.

Furthermore, one of the most effective flavonoids in red wine – the one which experts believe has beneficial effects for blood and memory – is also contained in red grape juice. That said, this tip is now suitable for people of any age and most diet restrictions.

Stress’ Effect on Your Memory

Try to avoid getting overly stressed out with road rage, anger, and anxiety. In time, these things will begin to deteriorate your mental well-being.

One of the worst things for your cognitive abilities is depression. One of the primary symptoms of depression is the inability to retain concentration. This causes depression to be misdiagnosed as a memory problem, sometimes.

When people have difficulty concentrating on schoolwork, or their job, it often makes one feel as though they are always forgetting. However, this is not necessarily the case. What seems like forgetfulness is occurring because these people have an inability to concentrate effectively – they are not learning to begin with.

Furthermore, when someone with depression remembers things, the depression causes them to remember mostly negative things.

The Brain Needs Oxygen

In order for the brain to function at its peak capacity, it needs to get energy by way of a constant flow of oxygen from the blood. Therefore, an increase in the amount of exercise one does is essential. Exercising is a great way to get oxygen to the brain.

Exercise is good for the body, as well as the mind. Memory experts agree that the more physically active a person is, the better they will perform cognitively.

Improve Brain Function, Improve Your Life

There are a lot of tips out there on how a memory can be improved, but for them to work, one must make behavioral changes. All of the techniques are contingent on one’s dedication, and lifestyle change.

John MacRaay has developed himself an expertise on memory improvement. For more great tips on Improve Memory Through Behavior, or visit BestMemoryImprovement.com.










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Vitamins : Liquid Multi Vitamins

Article by Steve Weber

The ideal source of vitamins for our bodies should be from the foods that we eat and not from a liquid multi-vitamin or other supplements around. If you look at how food is grown, processed and stored today, you will realize that it has lost most of its nutrients. This necessitates that people turn to supplements as a liquid multi-vitamin to provide the body with the essential nutrients.

The need for a supplement as a liquid multi vitamin has never been more timely and as important today. In the past, the fruits and vegetables locally grown have easily made their way through the dinner tables across our country. It is important to note that these natural foods were consumed shortly after harvest. When these are consumed in this manner, most of the nutrients remain intact. This enables the body to absorb more of the vitamins the foods have. Liquid multi-vitamins then were considered somewhat beyond the times.

The fact of our situation is that our food comes from all over the world. So for weeks or even months after harvest, these are not right away consumed. As we have mentioned, if not consumed fresh, these fruits and vegetables will provide less nutrients. Good for us, the Vitaplen liquid multi-vitamin is here to provide the nutrients that our foods fail to give.

There are two ways Vitaplen ensures that its liquid multi-vitamin makes up for the nutrient-deficient foods we take in. First, it makes use of its extensive knowledge and expertise in the area of nutrition. Second, it applies the knowledge gained from research to come up with a powerful liquid multi-vitamin. This multi-vitamin is designed to factor in the 13 essential vitamins and more–considering of course the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Now let us look at these vitamins that Vitaplen contains.

Vitaplen is Packed With Essential Vitamins

Vitamin A is vital for the development of good vision and strong bones. Though we get this from the meat and vegetables we eat, we are not getting enough of this from our food.

Vitamin B is valuable in breaking down food and for releasing energy.

Vitamin C is a very good antioxidant and Vitaplen can provide you with the dose you need.

Vitamin D is essential in absorbing calcium. So for stronger bones, we have to get this supplement. We can also get this by exposing ourselves to the sun and eating dairy products. To be sure, Vitaplen can provide us with the right amounts for our bodies.

Vitamin E is another antioxidant that protects the cells of the body from oxidization. We get this from nuts, wheat germs, cooking oils and some amount from green vegetables. To get this without the dangers of cholesterol, Vitaplen will be right for our use.

Vitamin K is often ignored but plays a vital role in overall health. Vitaplen has included this important vitamin to help in wound healing as well.

Vitaplen for Athletes

These essential vitamins are needed by our bodies to function well and to maintain good health. Vitaplen has provided an easier and more convenient way for users to get the right amounts of these vitamins. With Vitaplen, you are sure to get the RDA. Athletes will benefit from what Vitaplen has to offer–all the essential nutrients in one convenient liquid multi-vitamin form.

Many athletes are now incorporating Vitaplen into their diets. Not wanting to be left behind by those who have already done so, more and more have jumped into the bandwagon and have used Vitaplen liquid multi-vitamin as their reliable supplement.

The best thing about Vitaplen liquid multi-vitamin is that it is calorie and carbohydrate free. It is purely coming from vegetables, so you are sure of the health benefits it provides. Not only does it provide the supplement needed by our bodies, it is safe and can be taken together with any diet you have planned for yourself. Simply, Vitaplen works.

Browse Steve Weber’s web site, Cactus Canyon, for more info about liquid multi vitamins.










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Vitamin K – leather bracelet watch – digital display watches : Vitamins

Article by hi joiney

Chemical structure All members of the vitamin K group of vitamins share a methylated naphthoquinone ring structure and vary in the aliphatic side chain attached at the 3 position see figure 1 Phylloquinone also known as vitamin K1 invariably contains in its side chain four isoprenoid residues one of which is unsaturated Menaquinones have side chains composed of a variable number of unsaturated isoprenoid residues generally they are designated as MK n where n specifies the number of isoprenoids It is generally accepted that the naphthoquinone is the functional group so that the mechanism of action is similar for all K vitamins Substantial differences may be expected however with respect to intestinal absorption transport tissue distribution and bio availability These differences are caused by the different lipophilicity of the various side chains and by the different food matrices in which they occur Physiology Vitamin K is involved in the carboxylation of certain glutamate residues in proteins to form gamma carboxyglutamate residues abbreviated Gla residues The modified residues are often but not always situated within specific protein domains called Gla domains Gla residues are usually involved in binding calcium The Gla residues are essential for the biological activity of all known Gla proteins At this time update 14 human proteins with Gla domains have been discovered and they play key roles in the regulation of three physiological processes Blood coagulation prothrombin factor II factors VII IX X protein C protein S and protein Z Bone metabolism osteocalcin also called bone Gla protein BGP and matrix gla protein MGP Vascular biology Recommended amounts The U S Dietary Reference Intake DRI for an Adequate Intake AI of vitamin K for a 25 year old male is 120 micrograms day The Adequate Intake AI of this phytonutrient for adult women is 90 micrograms day for infants is 1020 micrograms day for children and adolescents 15100 micrograms day In 2002 it was found that to get maximum carboxylation of osteocalcin one may have to take up to 1000 g of vitamin K1 Like other liposoluble vitamins A D E vitamin K is stored in the fat tissue of the human body Toxicity Although allergic reaction from supplementation is possible there is no known toxicity associated with high doses of the phylloquinone vitamin K1 or menaquinone vitamin K2 forms of vitamin K and therefore no Tolerable Upper Intake Level UL has been set However a synthetic form of vitamin K vitamin K3 menadione is demonstrably toxic In fact the FDA has banned this synthetic form of the vitamin from over the counter supplements because large doses have been shown to cause allergic reactions hemolytic anemia and cytotoxicity in liver cells Drug Interactions Phylloquinone K1 or menaquinone K2 are capable of blocking the blood thinning action of anticoagulants like warfarin which work by interfering with the action of vitamin K They also reverse the tendency of these drugs to cause arterial calcification in the long term Sources Vitamin K1 is found chiefly in leafy green vegetables such as spinach swiss chard and Brassica e g cabbage kale cauliflower broccoli and brussels sprouts some fruits such as avocado and kiwifruit are also high in vitamin K By way of reference two tablespoons of parsley contain 153 of the recommended daily amount of vitamin K Some vegetable oils notably soybean contain vitamin K but at levels that would require relatively large caloric consumption to meet the USDA recommended levels It is believed that phylloquinone s tight binding to the thylakoid membranes in the chloroplasts is the reason behind the poor bioavailability of vitamin K in green plants For example cooked spinach has a 4 percent bioavailability of phylloquinone However when one adds butter to the spinach the bioavailability increases to 13 percent due to the increased solubility of vitamin K in fat Menaquinone 4 and menaquinone 7 vitamin K2 are found in meat eggs dairy and natto MK 4 is synthesized by animal tissues the rest mainly MK 7 are synthesized by bacteria during fermentation In natto 0 of vitamin K is from MK 4 and in cheese 27 Gut bacteria produce significant amounts of usable vitamin K In haemorrhagic disease of the newborn the gut has not yet been colonized with bacteria and to prevent this disease vitamin K shots are given to babies born in the US Similarly persons on large doses of antibiotics are at risk for developing vitamin K deficiency because of a lack of normal flora Deficiency Main article Vitamin K deficiency Average diets are usually not lacking in vitamin K and primary vitamin K deficiency is rare in healthy adults As previously mentioned newborn infants are at an increased risk of deficiency Other populations with an increased prevalence of vitamin K deficiency include individuals who suffer from liver damage or disease e g alcoholics people with cystic fibrosis inflammatory bowel diseases or those who have recently had abdominal surgeries Groups which may suffer from secondary vitamin K deficiency include bulimics those on stringent diets and those taking anticoagulants Other drugs which have been associated with vitamin K deficiency include salicylates barbiturates and cefamandole although the mechanism is still unknown There is no difference between the sexes as both males and females are affected equally Symptoms of deficiency include heavy menstrual bleeding in women anemia bruising and bleeding of the gums or nose Osteoporosis and coronary heart disease are strongly associated with lower levels of K2 menaquinone Menaquinone is not inhibited by salicylates as happens with K1 so menaquinone supplementation can alleviate the chronic vitamin K deficiency caused by long term aspirin use citation needed Biochemistry Discovery In 1929 Danish scientist Henrik Dam investigated the role of cholesterol by feeding chickens a cholesterol depleted diet After several weeks the animals developed hemorrhages and started bleeding These defects could not be restored by adding purified cholesterol to the diet It appeared thatogether with the cholesterol second compound had been extracted from the food and this compound was called the coagulation vitamin The new vitamin received the letter K because the initial discoveries were reported in a German journal in which it was designated as Koagulationsvitamin Edward Adelbert Doisy of Saint Louis University did much of the research that led to the discovery of the structure and chemical nature of vitamin K Dam and Doisy shared the 1943 Nobel Prize for medicine for their work on vitamin K Several laboratories synthesized the compound in 1939 For several decades the vitamin K deficient chick model was the only method of quantifying vitamin K in various foods the chicks were made vitamin K deficient and subsequently fed with known amounts of vitamin K containing food The extent to which blood coagulation was restored by the diet was taken as a measure for its vitamin K content Three groups of physicians independently found this Biochemical Institute University of Copenhagen Dam and Johannes Glavind University of Iowa Department of Pathology Emory Warner Kenneth Brinkhous and Harry Pratt Smith and the Mayo Clinic Hugh Butt Albert Snell and Arnold Osterberg The first published report of successful treatment with vitamin K of life threatening hemorrhage in a jaundiced patient with prothrombin deficiency was made in 1938 by Smith Warner and Brinkhous Function in the cell The precise function of vitamin K was not discovered until 1974 when three laboratories Stenflo et al Nelsestuen et al and Magnusson et al isolated the vitamin K dependent coagulation factor prothrombin Factor II from cows that received a high dose of a vitamin K antagonist warfarin It was shown that while warfarin treated cows had a form of prothrombin that contained 10 glutamate amino acid residues near the amino terminus of this protein the normal untreated cows contained 10 unusual residues which were chemically identified as gamma carboxyglutamate or Gla The extra carboxyl group in Gla made clear that vitamin K plays a role in a carboxylation reaction during which Glu is converted into Gla The biochemistry of how vitamin K is used to convert Glu to Gla has been elucidated over the past thirty years in academic laboratories throughout the world Within the cell vitamin K undergoes electron reduction to a reduced form of vitamin K called vitamin K hydroquinone by the enzyme vitamin K epoxide reductase or VKOR Another enzyme then oxidizes vitamin K hydroquinone to allow carboxylation of Glu to Gla this enzyme is called the gamma glutamyl carboxylase or the vitamin K dependent carboxylase The carboxylation reaction will only proceed if the carboxylase enzyme is able to oxidize vitamin K hydroquinone to vitamin K epoxide at the same time the carboxylation and epoxidation reactions are said to be coupled reactions vitamin K epoxide is then re converted to vitamin K by vitamin K epoxide reductase These two enzymes comprise the so called vitamin K cycle One of the reasons humans are rarely deficient in vitamin K is that vitamin K is continually recycled in our cells Warfarin and other coumarin drugs block the action of the vitamin K epoxide reductase This results in decreased concentrations of vitamin K and vitamin K hydroquinone in the tissues such that the carboxylation reaction catalyzed by the glutamyl carboxylase is inefficient This results in the production of clotting factors with inadequate Gla Without Gla on the amino termini of these factors they no longer bind stably to the blood vessel endothelium and cannot activate clotting to allow formation of a clot during tissue injury As it is impossible to predict what dose of warfarin will give the desired degree of suppression of the clotting warfarin treatment must be carefully monitored to avoid over dosing See the warfarin article Methods of assessment Prothrombin time test Measures the time required for blood to clot Blood sample mixed with citric acid and put in a fibrometer Delayed clot formation indicates a deficiency Unfortunately insensitive to mild deficiency as the values do not change until the concentration of prothrombin in the blood has declined by at least 50 percent Plasma Phylloquinone Was found to be positively correlated with phylloquinone intake in elderly British women but not men However an article by Schurges et al reported no correlation between FFQ and plasma phylloquinone Urinary carboxyglutamic acid Urinary Gla responds to changes in dietary vitamin K intake Several days are required before any change can be observed In a study by Booth et al increases of phylloquinone intakes from 100 g to between 377417 g for 5 days did not induce a significant change Response may be age specific Gla proteins At present the following human Gla containing proteins have been characterized to the level of primary structure the blood coagulation factors II prothrombin VII IX and X the anticoagulant proteins C and S and the Factor X targeting protein Z The bone Gla protein osteocalcin the calcification inhibiting matrix gla protein MGP the cell growth regulating growth arrest specific gene 6 protein Gas6 and the four transmembrane Gla proteins TMGPs the function of which is at present unknown Gas6 can function as a growth factor that activates the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase and stimulates cell proliferation or prevents apoptosis in some cells In all cases in which their function was known the presence of the Gla residues in these proteins turned out to be essential for functional activity Gla proteins are known to occur in a wide variety of vertebrates mammals birds reptiles and fish The venom of a number of Australian snakes acts by activating the human blood clotting system Remarkably in some cases activation is accomplished by snake Gla containing enzymes that bind to the endothelium of human blood vessels and catalyze the conversion of procoagulant clotting factors into activated ones leading to unwanted and potentially deadly clotting Another interesting class of invertebrate Gla containing proteins is synthesized by the fish hunting snail Conus geographus These snails produce a venom containing hundreds of neuro active peptides or conotoxins which is sufficiently toxic to kill an adult human Several of the conotoxins contain 25 Gla residues Function in bacteria Many bacteria such as Escherichia coli found in the large intestine can synthesize vitamin K2 menaquinone but not vitamin K1 phylloquinone In these bacteria menaquinone will transfer two electrons between two different small molecules in a process called anaerobic respiration For example a small molecule with an excess of electrons also called an electron donor such as lactate formate or NADH with the help of an enzyme will pass two electrons to a menaquinone The menaquinone with the help of another enzyme will in turn transfer these 2 electrons to a suitable oxidant such fumarate or nitrate also called an electron acceptor Adding two electrons to fumarate or nitrate will convert the molecule to succinate or nitrite water respectively Some of these reactions generate a cellular energy source ATP in a manner similar to eukaryotic cell aerobic respiration except that the final electron acceptor is not molecular oxygen but say fumarate or nitrate In aerobic respiration the final oxidant is molecular oxygen O2 which accepts four electrons from an electron donor such as NADH to be converted to water Escherichia coli can carry out aerobic respiration and menaquninone mediated anaerobic respiration Vitamin K injection in newborns The blood clotting factors of newborn babies are roughly 30 to 60 percent that of adult values this may be due to the reduced synthesis of precursor proteins and the sterility of their guts Human milk contains between 1 and 4 micrograms litre of vitamin K1 while formula derived milk can contain up to 100 micrograms litre in supplemented

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2nd track on Incubus’ second album, SCIENCE