Vitamin Information Center

You may have bumped into someone with a strong smell of cigarette and guessed that they were smokers. In many cases you may have been right. You may also have seen people with bad teeth and thought that they may have a problem with dental hygiene or may have been the victim of some bad tooth decays. Likely if you see someone with some kind of skin disease, you may think that the person doesn’t take care of himself/herself very well or may be predisposed to some skin disease or simply doesn’t do much to get rid of the problem. How to get clear and beautiful skin is not only for some select few. Everybody can have a clear and beautiful skin. It is all about keeping a good mental attitude, good personal hygiene and a good diet.

If you are predisposed to having skin problems, you should learn about the warning signs of the onset of the condition. Do you notice the problem after you eat certain food? Does is come and go with the season? Do you usually notice it when you are tired? In any case, if your immune system is weak, it will not work at it best to help you fight infection and disease.

If you have less than clear skin, it is good to consult with your family doctor to go to the bottom of the problem. Your doctor may tell you that your problem will go away eventually, if you are going through puberty. Otherwise your doctor may prescribe a treatment that should work.

There are things that you can do to help your condition in the meantime. Try not to touch your face with your fingers. Your fingers get in contact with many bacterias throughout the day and you can spread the bacteria to your face that way. Try and wash your face a few times a day wild a mild soap preferably an antibacterial one.

As for your diet, try and replace refined flour with whole grain and eat food containing vitamin B, proteins and fibres. How To Get Clear And Beautiful Skin is also to eat a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrate and fats with the required amount of minerals and vitamins. If you do that you will have glowing and healthy skin.

People who take vitamin supplements may not benefit their health and could increase the risk of premature death, according to a new report.

Danish researchers found that antioxidants do not prolong life expectancy as some may hope and that beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E may actually increase the risk of death.

They did not uncover evidence that vitamin C and selenium have either positive or negative effects.

Their findings are based on a review of data from 67 randomised trials that involved just under a quarter of a million people and were released today by the Cochrane Library.

“We could find no evidence to support taking antioxidant supplements to reduce the risk of dying earlier in healthy people or patients with various diseases,” said Goran Bjelakovic, who performed the systematic review at the Copenhagen Trial Unit at the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark.

“Regarding these antioxidants we need more data from randomised trials. The bottom line is that current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general healthy population or in patients with certain diseases.”

Commenting on the review, the UK’s Food Standards Agency said: “Most people should be able to get all the nutrients they need by eating a varied and balanced diet.

“If consumers do choose to take supplements, it is important they are informed and they may also wish to also consult with their GP. For some vitamins and minerals, taking too much or taking them for too long can cause harmful effects.

Good food is the secret to a longer life

By Joshua Layton

It’s no secret that fresh veg is better for you than fatty burgers - but The People today shows the incredible boost you can get from the right food.

We reveal how simple attention to diet can ward off disease and even add YEARS to your life.

The right food at every age from eight to 80 is vital for health and happiness.

Humble blueberries help keep cancer away - and a traditional English breakfast may even help men keep their hair.

Vitamin supplements have their uses but natural products such as milk, cheese and fruit are often the key to keeping health problems at bay.

We asked medical experts to highlight the risks each age group faces - and how they can be avoided by simple changes to diet or lifestyle.

Coping with bone trouble, the menopause and fertility problems is challenging - there are no magic cures but there are often ways diet can work wonders.

So before tucking into one more takeaway just remember: You really ARE what you eat.

8

Incredibly, a poor diet and too much strenuous exercise when a girl is as young as eight can harm her chances of having children later in life. Both can lower levels of the hormone progesterone and affect eventual fertility, says consultant obstetrician Peter Bowen Simpkin.

Action: Keep the child on a balanced diet rich in fruit and veg and make sure exercise is at a sensible level.

10

Girls now reach puberty an average two years earlier than their grandmothers did. The reasons include a rise in obesity and a lack of exercise, says a report by Dr Aric Sigman, a member of the Institute of Biology.

Action: Keep up calcium levels. It is vital for supporting the growth spurt that comes with the onset of puberty. Good sources include milk, yoghurt and cheese.

17

It’s the age when wisdom teeth arrive - though some people never develop them. Gums often get sore as the teeth break through.

Action: A mouthwash of salt in warm water eases soreness. But seek a doctor’s advice if pain persists.

25

The skeleton is now as big as it is going to get - what medics call peak bone mass - and it is important those bones are kept in good nick.

Action: Calcium and vitamin D are crucial. The recommended daily calcium intake for adults is 700mg. You can get 700 to 1,000mg from a pint of milk.

A 125g pot of yoghurt, 60g of sardines or 60g of hard cheese such as Cheddar are just as good.

Most people get enough vitamin D from the sun.

But if you don’t get outdoors much, then soya milk, breakfast cereals and vitamin supplements made from yeast will help.

But don’t overdo it. Too much of the vitamin can cause nausea and other health problems.

28

Baldness starts to develop in some men by their late 20s. Hair falls out as changes in testosterone levels cause follicles - tiny pouches under the skin’s surface - to shrink.

Action: Keeping up protein intake might help, says expert Philip Kingsley. Hair is made up of protein.

At least it’s an excuse for a full English breakfast - eggs and bacon are good protein sources.

30

By now the effect of all those fast-food treats is probably beginning to show. At 30 it starts to get more difficult to shed weight as your metabolism - the rate at which the body gets its energy from food - slows. Extra calories are more likely to be stored as fat.

Action: Easy - as long as you have the will-power. Slash your daily intake by 200 calories, advises GP Dr Dawn Harper. This will offset a slowing metabolism.

34

This is the prime age to become a mum, according to a report from the University of Texas. Its authors reckon mothers at this age enjoy better health, live longer and have healthier babies. But act fast - it’s also the age when a woman’s fertility begins to decline.

Action: Taking multivitamins improves fertility, according to a study of 18,000 women. Folic acid, which helps guard against defects such as spina bifida, is particularly recommended.

Women taking a regular supplement showed a 40 per cent lower risk of problems while ovulating.

35

Grey hairs may be creeping in. Hair colour is powered by cells called melanocytes, which become less active as we grow older.

Action: Vitamin B helps with hair health and is depleted by stress. Avoid worry if possible.. it really can help turn you grey.

40

A man’s fertility may be on the decline.. and a partner’s chances of a miscarriage rise.

Action: Keep the testicles cool and eat foods rich in vitamins C and E.

41

Bone loss sets in by the early 40s - and the problem is usually worse for women than men. They face a greater risk from osteoporosis, the “porous bones” condition which can lead to broken wrists, hips and spinal bones.

Action: Build up a robust frame with regular exercise such as brisk walking, aerobics and dancing.

42

Memory loss sets in as brain cells are lost.

Action: Use it! Read, play board games or learn an instrument to keep dementia at bay.

45

This is the average age at which women have a hysterectomy. Up to 100,000 patients in the UK face the op each year in the UK.

Action: There is less need than before for radical surgery for gynaecological complaints. Discuss possible alternatives with your doctor.

46

People who have never worn specs will probably need them now. From the mid-40s presbyopia sets in, spoiling the eye’s ability to focus at various ranges.

Action: There’s nothing you can do, says Dr Kevin Lewis, president of the College of Optometrists. But you CAN ensure your eyes stay healthy by avoiding smoking. Toxins in cigarette smoke have been linked to poor eyesight and even blindness.

50

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease usually appear after the age of 50 - with the risk increasing as you get older.

Action: Foods rich in vitamin E, such as olive oil, sunflower seeds and almonds, should help. US and Canadian experts writing in the medical journal The Lancet said even moderate levels may help protect the brain from disease.

51

Most women begin the menopause at this point - and for some it spells misery.

Action: Nutritionist Jane Clarke suggests giving up caffeine to make flushes “cooler”.

Also keep up calcium intake to protect bones - because they may be weakened during the menopause because of reductions in the hormone oestrogen.

59

You are most likely to become a victim of skin cancer in your late 50s, says experts at specialist clinic The Mole Centre.

Action: Cover up with thick fabrics such as woven denim or wool to protect your skin when the sun is out.

A review by the Triemli Hospital in Zurich found it was better protection than sunscreen.

68

It is the time of life when your hips are most likely to give up on you. More than 50,000 replacement ops are carried out in Britain each year and a surgical robot has made it a simple procedure.

Action: It’s best to avoid the need for an op. Keeping your weight down takes the pressure off the joints. And swimming is a great form of exercise to help you maintain mobility.

70

Danger age for bowel cancer.

Action: Eat blueberries. They contain pterostilbene, a compound said to protect against cancer.

75

Half of all people over 75 have high blood pressure and so risk a stroke.

Action: Get a check regularly and take advice.

76

81

Life expectancy for British men is 76 - and 81 for women.

Action: Experts reckon you can do a lot to win extra years simply by cutting down on portions of food. Just six months of dieting is reckoned to help fend off diseases associated with old age.

And copying the diet of Mediterranean nations is another way to a longer life. Researchers examined 74,000 healthy adults aged over 60 from nine countries.

The secret of lasting health seemed to be lots of vegetables, fruit and cereals, a moderate amount of fish and the odd tipple of wine. Olive oil, not saturated fats is a must.

Follow the age-by-age guide on these pages and you could enjoy a healthy - and longer - life.

features@people.co.uk

Prospective fathers should consider taking folic acid supplements to improve their chances of fathering a child, according to research.

An American study has found a link between high levels of the nutrient in men’s diets and the genetic quality of sperm. Men with the highest levels had the lowest proportion of sperm harbouring genetic changes that can lead to Down’s syndrome and miscarriages.

Other fertility experts said the evidence is not strong enough to advocate increasing use of supplements. They say the best advice to men is to stop smoking, drink in moderation and eat a balanced diet.

The scientific case for women who are trying for a baby to take folic acid is well established.

The synthetic form of folate (a B vitamin) is essential for development and a deficiency during the early stages of pregnancy can lead to neural tube defects in the baby, including spina bifida.

The notion that diet can improve sperm quality is less well established. “There is increasing evidence from a number of studies to suggest that dietary factors can correlate with sperm health,” said Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield and honorary secretary of the British Fertility Society. “The story so far suggests that dietary factors won’t help you make any more sperm, but good diet might just improve the quality of the ones that are made.”

Now Prof Brenda Eskenazi at the University of California, Berkeley, and her team have looked specifically at how micronutrients affect sperm quality. They took sperm samples from 89 healthy, non-smoking men and asked detailed questions about diet and supplement intake.

They report in the journal Human Reproduction that there was an association between levels of folate in the diet and the numbers of sperm displaying aneuploidy - chromosomal abnormalities that can lead to failure to conceive and Down’s syndrome. “There was increasing benefit with increasing intake.”

The team found no consistent association between dietary zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene and sperm quality. Eskenazi suggested men trying to father a child should consider taking multivitamin supplements containing folate.

But Pacey said more research is needed. There are no good studies linking improvements in sperm quality measured in the lab with improvements in conception rates or better health in children.

Taking vitamin C or E supplements, either individually or in combination, does not appear to lower the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in older adults, study findings suggest.”Our study confirms findings from other studies,” lead investigator Dr Shelly L. Gray of the University of Washington, Seattle said. Vitamin E does not prevent memory problems or dementia.

Gray and colleagues followed 2 969 adults, 65 years of age or older, for an average of 5.5 years to determine if the use of vitamin E or C supplements altered the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

How the study was done
At study entry, nearly 33 and 38 percent, respectively, reported using vitamin E and C supplements, and 25 percent of the participants reported taking the vitamin supplements concurrently, the researchers reported the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The participants were an average of 75 years old and had no cognitive impairments. The investigators conducted biennial assessments for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Over the course of the study, 405 participants developed dementia and of these, 289 developed Alzheimer’s disease. As mentioned, the researchers observed no relationship between vitamin supplements and dementia risk.

The current evidence does not support the use of vitamin E or C supplements for the prevention of dementia in older adults, Gray and colleagues conclude.

“Older adults are still encouraged to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables,” Gray said. These foods provide natural sources of vitamins E and C and other substances that may have health benefits. � (ReutersHealth)

Do you take a multivitamin? Or a single vitamin, mineral, or combination supplement? If so, you are in the company of tens of millions of U.S. adults.

Why do you take them? Most people say it makes them feel healthier or they believe it will prevent chronic diseases, or colds and flu. But you may be surprised to know that what is in your bottle and on the label is not strictly regulated. And there is no system in place to collect reports of adverse affects.

Over the past few years there has been increasing evidence that multivitamins and single or combination type vitamin/mineral supplements may not provide the health benefit sought by you, the consumer. In some cases the opposite or no beneficial effects have been reported.

Alarming to think that vitamin or mineral supplements could actually cause more harm than good. An example of this is the use of beta carotene by smokers actually increased the incidence of lung cancer. This is echoed by a recent study out of the University of Washington that reports the use of multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E and folate did not reduce the risk of lung cancer.

It is not all bad news though; there are studies to support the use of folate (folic acid) prior to and during pregnancy in the prevention of neural tube defects in the developing fetus. And history has proven that vitamins and minerals play a critical role in our health — the reason we know about the benefits of vitamins and minerals in food is because of the major discoveries in disease prevention such as vitamin C and scurvy and thiamine, a B vitamin, and beri beri (a wasting type disease).

This may leave you wondering if those vitamin mineral supplements in your medicine cabinet are doing what they should or even worth your money.

Let’s look at this way — do you eat a well balanced diet? If so, you may not need a multivitamin and if you take one as a “safety net” know that you may exceed what your body needs or can use.

Are you concerned about a chronic disease? If so, making changes in your diet and exercise habits, not smoking and following through with recommended screenings by your physician are more likely to benefit your overall health picture.

Consider your current state of health, talk to your doctor and/or dietitian, and weigh the possible benefits and risks of a multivitamin and mineral supplement for you.

To your health,

Katherine

Admit it. You are having a hard time saying no to the sweetness of chocolates or to the crunch in every bite of your favorite junk food. You say no of course as that’s the logical thing to do. You’re trying to stay fit after all.

From that corner of your eye, they tempt you even more. The craving cramps your stomach and so you give in. You take a bite. Delightful, it was! The result, you’ve consumed more than you thought you did.

And you don’t feel guiltless at all.

According to food and fitness experts, successful dieting may start with saying no to these snacks, no matter how unavoidable. Definitely though, it doesn’t end there. Sticking with that pledge and eventually making it a habit to stay away makes it work.

A good diet sticks to the proper food enriched with vitamins and minerals; fruits and vegetables never fail. These nutrients aid in healing sickness, providing energy for your body cells, prevent diseases and build and strengthen your immunity. Only these sources can offer us the life-supporting power. From a common cold to the complex osteoporosis, you definitely need to have a full range of the right nutrients that can only be found in nature’s foods.

Keeping your guard up when it comes to eating non-healthy food does pay off. The vitamins and minerals which aren’t found in your favorite stuff to chomp play a vital role in your body’s well-being. Vitamins regulate metabolism, ensure proper growth and help keep your physical well-being in the overall.

However, since our bodies don’t produce their own vitamins, acquiring them can be effectively done through proper diet.

Doing away with the traditional dieting can be tricky. While some people think that a balanced diet means tasteless diet, the opposite may be true. Nutritionists entice people to explore the wide diversity and variations of possible food choices. A balanced diet that comprises healthy yet diverse foods primarily promotes good health. It keeps you away from being deprived and eventually, depressed.

Similarly, counting your carbohydrate intake and calorie consumption can offer you great help. Remember, though, to take things lightly. When doing this causes you irritation, find better alternatives to keep track of your efforts. All weight loss experts agree on one thing, that keeping a journal of your food intake and the exercises you have performed, almost always means success. During moments of success, big or small, gives yourself a pat on back. This, other than proper dieting, is a healthy habit.

A reminder though, for the health-conscious who are either under medication or are suffering from medical condition, ask your physician on what food is right for you. Under certain circumstances, special arrangements on diets may be provided. You may be too eager to do the dieting the normal way, but some limitations or prohibitions may be applicable. Check it with your doc!

As somebody puts it, “making a different choice gives you the opportunity to live a different life.” The new you will show you that everything you have done to keep fit is well worth it.

Human body is a living machine and it needs regular supply of fuel so that it runs smooth. The fuel on which human body runs comes in the form of vitamins, proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and some other such nutrients. And to get an adequate proportion of all these, the body needs a balanced diet. This is where the problem lies.

For various reasons, people cannot take balanced diet regularly and suffer from the disorders caused by nutritional insufficiency. This is the reason why companies like Solgar came into existence. They produce nutritional products that compensate the inadequacy of vitamins and other important source of energy in human body and help people live a healthy life.

The main purpose of Solgar products is to provide people with something that they can consume very easily. The real problem behind the ill-health of a number of people is not that they are unable to afford a balanced diet. Many of them are well-off and highly capable of buying all the items that make a diet fully beneficial for the body. But the problem is the shortage of time.

To help these people keep fit in spite of being unable to take a balanced diet, Solgar offer food supplements and multivitamins. All the products from this company are made with natural products. They have their own botanical garden where they produce their won raw materials to prepare the products. So, their products are not polluted by chemical ingredients.

It is not that they grow the herbs and other raw materials in their own garden. They also process them in a proper manner, keeping good care of the hygienic condition. Thus, without the touch of any harmful elements, Solgar products reach to the users. The products are also marketed and sold in both traditional and online shops. So, users find it very easy buy the products.
by John Hayden

Making millions of people happy all around the world, Biocare produces highly effective yet easily affordable health care products for users of all ages. The products from the company are a ready answer to the problem of nutritional deficiency that many people suffer from. They are highly rich in nutrients and vitamins; hence, they balance the nutritional deficiency and help people keep fit without much effort.

From multivitamins to food supplements, Biocare have a plethora of products under its disposal. While some of the products are strictly for the purpose of balancing up the nutritional deficiency, lots of others are there that help people cure various diseases in the natural way. Products from Biocare are highly effective in treating chronic diseases like asthma and chronic diarrhoea.
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An excellent way to control your acne is a balanced diet and making sure to supplement your diet with the proper nutrients and vitamins. Pay attention to the appearance of your skin because it is often times a reflection what we put into our bodies. Find ways to make both your body and skin fit with your diet.

Start with food What might affect one person may not affect another because all of our bodies are different. Diary your food intake and compare your food consumption to your breakouts. Notice if your complexion changes when you eliminate certain drinks or food groups from your diet like dairy, caffeine, and refined sugars, which are all common breakout triggers.

Daily Hydration Moisturize multiple times a day and drink plenty of water and other healthy beverages to keep hydrated. It’s imperative that you don’t let yourself get thirsty. It is a common misnomer that when your skin is taut and dry that it is clean. Although it may be, when your skin is too try it overcompensates by producing more oil, which will in turn clog your pores.

Vitamin A: Make sure you have enough Foods that contain vitamin A include egg yolks, spinach, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and beef. A supplement is available and beneficial too. With enough vitamin A in your body, your skin will rebuild itself more effectively by expediting the healing of existing acne and reducing dry, flaky skin. There is also proof that those with severe acne may have low levels of vitamin A in their system.

The new buzzword: antioxidants Alpha-lipoic acid and vitamins C and E are beneficial antioxidants. They are obtainable through foods like potatoes, broccoli, citrus fruits, seeds, and green leafy vegetables, and of course through supplements. Antioxidants fight off harmful free radicals in the environment that can damage the skin, which makes antioxidants important to any diet. Alpha lipoic acid is helpful in skin renewal, which aids in diminishing acne scars, some studies say.

About omega 3, don’t forget If you have black heads or very dry skin that could be a sign that you, like many of us, do not consume enough of this essential fatty acid. Omega 3 is in fish or fish oil supplements and controls oil production and maintains skin hydration.

Vegetarians need more zinc If you are a vegetarian or if you do not include a lot of shell fish or poultry (like chicken or oysters) in your diet, you may have a hard time consuming enough zinc. A zinc supplement may be helpful because zinc aids in controlling your skin’s oil production.
by Sara Musfeldt