Vitamins and minerals are vital for the proper functioning of the body organ. The lack of these vitamins and minerals causes various ailments. Below are the vitamins and minerals along with the symptoms of deficiencies.

Vitamin A ? Vitamin A deficiency causes dryness of skin and eyes, eventually leading to night blindness; slows down growth; deformation of bones and teeth may also result.

Vitamin B ? Vitamin B1 deficiency causes beri-beri. Deficiency of Vitamin B2 causes chaps on the skin around the eyes, nose and mouth. The deficiency of niacin is responsible for pellagra and deterioration of nerves. Insufficient intake of Vitamin B6 results in anemia and skin diseases. Metabolic reactions are disrupted by a lack of pantothenic acid. The symptoms of deficiency of biotin or folcin resemble those caused by a lack of pantothenic acid. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 slows down growth and induces pernicious anemia.

Vitamin C ? Lack of Vitamin C causes scurvy, diseased conditions of teeth and gums, internal hemorrhage, osteoporesis, loss of weight, and in some cases, even sterility.

Vitamin D ? Osteoporesis is caused by deficiency of Vitamin D. This leads to rickets in children.

Vitamin E ? Lack of Vitamin E may cause sterility.

Vitamin K ? If there is a deficiency of Vitamin K, prothrombin cannot be synthesized by the body. As a result, blood fails to clot, and even minor cuts result in copious bleeding.

Calcium ? Lack of calcium weakens bones and teeth, and causes osteoporesis.

Phosphorus ? Lack of phosphorus causes weakening of the bones and teeth, and loss of weight.

Potassium ? The deficiency of potassium may cause weakness of the muscles, even paralysis. It may also cause brittleness of the bones, sterility and heart ailments.

Sulphur ? Some metabolic processes in the body are hindered by a deficiency of sulphur.

Iodine ? Lack of iodine impairs the function of the thyroid gland, resulting in goiter.

Magnesium ? Bones, teeth and muscles weaken due to the deficiency of magnesium. Insufficient supply of magnesium may even give rise to heart ailments.

Chlorine ? Bones weaken and joints stiffen if there is a deficiency of chlorine.

Sodium ? Lack of sodium can cause headache, nausea, slower development of the body, and disorders of the muscles.

Iron ? Anemia is the principal symptom of iron deficiency.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

17 10 09

Are you Getting Enough Vitamin D

With the increasing amount of studies and information on the benefits of Vitamin D, scientists are now suggesting that the daily intake be as high as 4,000 international units per day.

What is Vitamin D and what are the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency?

When vitamin D is produced in the skin or consumed in food, it requires chemical conversion in the liver and kidney to form dihydroxyvitamin D, the physiologically active form of vitamin D. Active vitamin D functions as a hormone because it sends a message to the intestines to increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.

The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. By promoting calcium absorption, vitamin D helps to form and maintain strong bones. Vitamin D also works in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones to promote bone mineralization. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin and brittle.

When can vitamin D deficiency occur? There are three main reasons one would not be receiving the right amount of Vitamin D in their body: 1) Not enough intake 2) The body cannot adequately absorb the Vitamin from the digestive tract 3) Not enough time is spent in the sun so that the kidneys can convert Vitamin D to its active hormone.

Lack of Vitamin D intake often starts with those who are lactose intolerant or strict vegetarians. Infants fed only breast milk can also receive insufficient amounts of Vitamin D if they are not receiving supplementation.

Older adults are also believed to be at increased risk of developing vitamin D deficiency too. As people age, skin cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently and the kidney is less able to convert vitamin D to its active hormone form. It is estimated that as many as 30% to 40% of older adults with hip fractures are vitamin D insufficient.

Because of the amount of sunlight needed, persons with limited sun exposure such as homebound individuals, people living in northern latitudes such as in New England and Alaska, women who wear robes and head coverings for religious reasons, and individuals working in occupations that prevent sun exposure are unlikely to obtain much vitamin D from sunlight. It is important for people with limited sun exposure to consume recommended amounts of vitamin D in their diets or consider vitamin D supplementation.

Biologically, persons with fat malabsorption issues in that they have the reduced ability to absorb dietary fat may require Vitamin D supplements. Symptoms of fat malabsorption include diarrhea and oily stools. Fat malabsorption is associated with a variety of medical conditions.

What are symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency? The classic vitamin D deficiency diseases are rickets and osteomalacia. In children, vitamin D deficiency causes rickets. Rickets is a bone disease characterized by a failure to properly mineralize bone tissue. Rickets results in soft bones and skeletal deformities.

In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which results in muscular weakness in addition to weak bones. Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness may indicate vitamin D deficiency, but symptoms may be subtle and go undetected in the initial stages. A deficiency is accurately diagnosed by measuring the concentration of a specific form of vitamin D in blood.

Because Vitamin D has so many benefits, having a deficiency could lead to many more concerns that those listed above. So, if you aren?t eating enough foods with Vitamin D, not getting enough sunlight or have a medical condition that doesn?t allow your body to absorb calcium, you might want to check out the supplement section nearest you.

Every stage of a child’s development has its own critical nutrition requirements. Did you know that:

75% of brain capacity develops between birth and age three. By age five, brain development is 90% complete.

Starting at age two, children should eat moderately low-fat food to avoid health problems later.

Between ages eleven and sixteen, children often experience a major growth spurt.

It is never too early to get your child off to the right dietary start. Scientific research suggests why this is important.

In a study of family nutrition and physical activity, the American Dental Association found that while at least half of parents think their kids buy a healthy lunch at school on most days, only about 36% of kids actually do. The rest of the time they are buying fast food and vending machine snacks in greater quantities than their parents realize.

As for sound nutritional choices, the U.S.D.A reports that 85% of children eat fewer than the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Worse yet, most of those vegetables come in the form of potatoes, such as french fries, and and tomatoes which come in the form of ketchup. Today’s fast food is cheap, convenient, available in unnecessarily super-sized portions, and it appeals to kids who are generally less aware than adults when making healthy food choices.

Futhermore, many children are not as active as they used to be. Children rarely walk to school and more often than not play video games instead of hide-and-seek. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 36% of children do not exercise at all. No surprise, then, that childhood obesity is on the rise, and according to some estimates, as many as 43% of children is being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

There has never been a more important time to consider the health and nutritional choices you are helping your children make. It is never never too early to begin a healthy lifesyle with proper nutrition.
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To help assure their long-term health, start your kids out with the proper nutrition they need today.

For exceptional vitamins and wellness information visit The Best Vitamin

Vitamins for ADHD kids are going to play a key role in any healthy balanced nutritious diet. Processed foods lack certain vitamins or they do not even come near the RDA (Recommended Daily Amount). They have plenty of colourings and additives which are harmful and now there is a movement to ban them from kids’ food products. Maryland has become the first USA state to ban them from 2010 and the warning will be: ” The color additives in this food may cause hyperactivity and behavior problems in some children.

Many parents dread the idea of giving their kids pills to take and sometimes they resist unless you can hide them in their food. A good tip to remember is to buy them in capsules so that they can easily be stirred into smoothies or any other liquid food such as sauces etc.

Why bother with vitamins for ADHD kids at all? Are they going to help and why isn’t medication enough? We all know that certain food like caffeine and chocolate are stimulants which tend to make us bouncy and full of energy. Sugary drinks and carbohydrates will increase the level of blood sugar causing highs and when this falls, we have a sudden loss of energy which will cause listlessness. It is better to avoid these ‘crashes’ where possible, especially when we are talking about diet for ADHD children.

The Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils contained in fish and flaxseed are known to be very beneficial for kids with ADHD and indeed for a host of other conditions as well from arthritis to cholesterol control. A good idea would be to introduce these for the whole family. Fish oil capsules can be taken every day.

The only way to make sure that vitamins for ADHD kids are the right amount is to make sure that they have a balanced healthy and nutritious diet and you can follow the food pyramid for that. Protein triggers alertness in the brain while certain carbohydrates will encourage drowsiness. This is why protein is king. That is why it is so important to have enough protein both at breakfast and at lunch. One expert maintains that only about 5% of ADHD children are getting enough protein. The basic daily amount for kids is up to 30 grams of protein. A cup of soya milk, an egg and an ounce of meat can provide up to 20 grams so it is not difficult to reach the daily dose.

The correct amount of vitamins for ADHD kids given in the right foods will affect their behaviour and will make life easier for everyone in the family. But a diet for ADHD children, parenting and support at school are not enough. You will also have to look at a natural remedy for ADHD which will help calm the child and help him to focus on tasks and reduce distractability. The ideal solution can be found in the link below this article.

Weight Loss, Health And Beauty Guides!

Vitamins in food have been around forever and are vital for your good health as well as to protect your immune system to fight against disease. In olden times when life was more simple people ate healthy food and got regular exercise and fresh air which was sufficient to lead good quality lives. Times have changed and the fast pace of modern living and eating on the run results in your body becoming run down. The cause is insufficient vitamins in your diet. Pharmacists and health specialists have formulated a variety of vitamin supplements to combat the problem but do you really need to take vitamins to stay healthy?

The answer to the question of whether you really need vitamin supplements is yes and no. Yes if you do not eat properly and give your body sufficient exercise, fresh air, and sunshine. Your body needs sunshine to produce certain vitamins as well. The average person has no idea what vitamins they really need and it can be pretty confusing trying to choose from the hundreds of products on the shelves in different vitamins from A through to Z.

Your doctor or the pharmacist is the best person to ask rather that the store salesperson who will more than likely just sell you what they consider the best with little real knowledge of what the vitamins are for. You should also be careful of some vitamins c that can be dangerous if too much are taken and professional advice should be sought if you are a diabetic. Most vitamin supplements will be passed harmlessly through your system

Some categories of people may need more types of vitamin supplements than others as in the case of vegetarians that will lack the necessary iron that is gained from eating meat. The amount of vitamins you require for good health will also vary according to your age, your activities, your diet and many other factors. Generally a multivitamin is a great choice for most people and you can buy these formulated for men or for women.

Try and choose supplements that show they are made with natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These should be sufficient for your body needs, nut more importantly than anything else is following a proper diet with the proverbial 5 fruit and vegetable types per day

Vitamin and mineral supplements can form an essential part of a daily regimen for people who are unable to obtain sufficient vitamins from their normal diet.

Children may also need a vitamin supplement, especially when they are still very young. The reason for this is because children hardly eat a sufficient variety of foods and a proper general multivitamin supplement available for children can help compensate for this natural deficiency.

Older people and those suffering from certain ailments or diseases may also need to take a vitamin supplement and this will most likely be recommended by a doctor for them. The body sometimes needs vitamin supplements to compensate when you are unable to consume the recommended daily allowance of certain vitamins through their normal diet.

Weight Loss, Health And Beauty Guides!