Vitamin Information Center

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
•Required for energy metabolism, enzyme reactions, vision, and skin/hair/nail
health; functions as an antioxidant; activates vitamin B6, niacin, and folate.
•May play a role in preventing migraine headaches and cataracts.
•Defi ciency occurs in alcoholics, the elderly, and those with poor diets.
•Symptoms of defi ciency include sore throat; redness/swelling of the mouth, throat,
tongue, lips, and skin; decreased red blood cell count; and blood vessel growth over
the eyes. Defi ciency may impair iron absorption and increase risk of pre-eclampsia
in pregnant women.
•Drugs that deplete vitamin B2: antibiotics, chlorpromazine, amitriptyline, adriamy-
cin, and phenobarbitol.
•Most people get adequate ribofl avin from diet and/or a multivitamin.

Anyone who takes vitamin supplements and looks at its bottles or boxes is familiar with the vitamins that are contained in each tablet.

But what do those vitamins really do? Do you really need to take them? Below is a list of the most common vitamins found in supplements as well as a description of what they do.

Vitamin A

- commonly found in leafy vegetables and in other products like carrots, broccoli, papaya, eggs and liver, this vitamin helps keep the eyes healthy. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause permanent loss of eyesight.

Vitamin B1

- thiamine is the other name for this vitamin. It keeps the heart and the digestive and nervous systems functioning normally. Aside from that, thiamine is also important in a person’s physical growth and development.

Good sources of this vitamin include beef, pork, nuts and legumes, among other foods.

Vitamin B2

- otherwise known as riboflavin, this vitamin is important in metabolizing energy as well as fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Common sources of this vitamin include milk, cheese and leafy vegetables. A deficiency of this vitamin is signaled by cracked lips, mouth ulcers and sore throat, among other symptoms.

Vitamin C

- also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a lot of benefits attributed to it. Some of them include boosting the immune system and minimizing the symptoms of illnesses.

It is also a well-known antioxidant. Lack of this vitamin can cause scurvy that leads to loss of teeth and eventually, death.

Tea not only helps fight several cancers and cardiovascular diseases but also relieves headaches and provides a calm mental state.

Botanical: Camellia thea
Family: N.O. Camelliaceae
Synonym: Thea sinensis (Sims). Thea Veridis. Thea bohea. Thea stricta Jassamica. Camellia theifera (Griff.).

Habitat:

For thousands of years Tea has been cultivated in Asia especially in Assam, Ceylon, Japan and Java.

Description:

Tea is a small evergreen shrub which grows 2 to 3 meters tall and has dark green, lanceolate or elliptical leaves.

It is noteworthy that the processing degree determines whether tea will be green, black or red.

Green tea is the least processed and is simply steamed quickly before packaging. Black and red teas are partially dried, crushed and fermented.

Part Used Medicinally:

Dried leaf.

Constituents:

Tea consists of caffeine (theine), tannin (10 to 20 percent gallotannic acid), boheic acid, volatile oil, aqueous extract, protein wax, resin, ash fluoride, and theophylline.

Tea contains antioxidants known as catechins, which are highly concentrated in white and green teas, while black tea’s oxidative preparation results in a lower concentration.

Tea is a dietary source of important vitamins and minerals. It contains carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), Thiamin (vitamin B1), Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Nicotinic acid, Pantothenic acid, Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin B6, Folic acid, Manganese, Potassium, and Fluoride.

Tea virtually has no calories, and half the amount of caffeine found in an equally sized cup of coffee.

Medicinal Uses:

Tea is believed to have stimulant and astringent properties. Its’ simulative property is useful for treating tumors, abscesses, bladder ailments and lethargy.

Because of its high L-theanine content, tea affects the brain’s neurotransmitters and increases alpha brain-wave activity, resulting in a calmer, yet more alert, state of mind. It is also effective in alleviating neuralgic headaches.

Tea, in any type, contains polyphenols, which give tea its antioxidant properties. These compounds help protect the body from free radical damage.

Tea has anti-cancer properties and can help reduce the risk of gastric, esophageal, ovarian and skin cancers. White tea has the highest anti-cancer properties.

Tea polyphenols also prevent blood clotting and lower the blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels. As a result, drinking tea lowers the risk of heart attacks.

Tea inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause halitosis.

Tea boosts the body’s immune system response to infection.

Drinking tea helps delay Alzheimer’s disease and reduces mortality risks by 44 percent.

In the case of heart disease, the antioxidants in tea prevent death from a second heart attack by relaxing blood vessels and allowing blood to flow more easily, lowering blood pressure and reducing the stress on the heart.

Tea also contains fluoride, which benefits the teeth and its bacteria killing properties help control halitosis and plaque formation.

Drinking tea regularly can produce stronger bones. Those who drank tea on a regular basis for 10 or more years have higher-bone mineral density in their spines.

Tea helps prevent flu and fights allergies especially sneeze-starting allergens, including pollen, pet dander, and dust.

It also results in longevity and slows aging. Oolong tea is believed to possess the highest anti-aging properties.

Drinking hot tea lowers the risk of certain skin cancers.

White Tea

White tea has more powerful anti-cancer qualities compared to other types of tea and helps fight viruses and bacteria

Green Tea

Green tea is helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and halitosis.

Green tea can help prevent tooth decay and food poisoning. It can also kill the bacteria resulting in dental plaque.

Drinking tea can be a prophylactic for arthritis and helps arthritis patients by reducing the inflammation and slowing cartilage breakdown.

Drinking five cups or more of green tea daily lowers the risk of breast cancer recurrences; it also slows the spread of the disease.

Green tea is an effective compound in skin care.

Drinking green tea lowers the risk of developing neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. A cup of green tea containing 15 and 50 mg of caffeine has several cognitive benefits. It reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease by improving short-term memory.

Green tea lowers LDL cholesterol levels. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Green tea increases metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation. It also raises thermogenesis (the rate at which calories are burned), and hence increases energy expenditure.

Its high caffeine content can help healthy weight loss, alleviating the duration and severity of headaches and treating asthma symptoms.

Green tea, rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), inhibits HIV virus binding and is used as a complementary therapy for HIV patients.

Its high content of oxalate also inhibits HIV and other infections by using the free iron and chelating zinc, a crucial nutrient for HIV.

The polyphenols in green tea are effective in preventing intestinal inflammation or IBD.

Black Tea

Drinking black tea lowers stress hormone levels.

Drinking a cup of black tea daily limits iron absorption and can help stop damages due to iron excess in individuals suffering from hemochromatosis.

Black tea can lowers bad cholesterol levels. It is also effective in suppressing bacterial growth in the mouth responsible for oral cavities and gum diseases.

Tea made from loose leaves has more antioxidants than tea bags, which tend to have low quality, powdered leaves.

Caution

Drinking moderate amounts of tea is harmless in healthy individuals but in excessive quantities, it will produce unpleasant nervous and dyspeptic symptoms, the green variety being decidedly more harmful.

Tea can impair the body’s ability to absorb iron; as a result, individuals at risk of anemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtime.

Diluting tea with milk also dilutes the benefits, therefore, it is better to consume tea black.

PKH/FH/HGH

Using stress relief supplements is an easy, affordable way to combat stress. Supplementation replaces the nutrients we lose during times of stress. These nutrients also help our bodies and minds handle anxiety and tension better and function optimally.

The symptoms that we feel from excess stress can be relieved with stress relief supplements. Depression, fatigue and irritability will be diminished with certain nutrients. Relieving these symptoms will in turn help us to deal with anxiety and tension more efficiently.

How do you choose which stress relief supplements to take? There are literally hundreds of vitamins, minerals, complexes and formulas to choose from. Firstly, start with a good multi-vitamin and mineral formula. You may already be taking one. Secondly, add the following nutritional supplements to help you through stressful times.

· B-Vitamins - These are the stress vitamins. If you take one vitamin supplement for stress, it should be a B-Vitamin Complex. B-Vitamins help maintain mental function, relieves fatigue and depression. Pantothenic Acid, a B-Vitamin, supports adrenal function and removes toxins. Look for formulas with these recommended daily dosages: Vitamin B1-100 mg, Vitamin B2-50 mg, Vitamin B3-150 mg, Vitamin B6-50 mg, Vitamin B12-500 mcg and Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid-500 mg.

· Anti-oxidants - Vitamin A, C and E repair the damages caused by stress. Excess stress produces free radicals that attack our cells. Anti-oxidants protect against free radical damage. They also strengthen our immune system so we can fight off stress-related illnesses. Vitamin C combats the systemic inflammation that develops from excess stress and supports adrenal function. These are the recommended daily dosages: · Vitamin A-up to 10,000 I.U., Vitamin C-up to 1,200 mg and Vitamin E-up to 400 I.U.

· Minerals - Calcium and Magnesium are both calming and restorative to the nervous system. They both also relieve depression, anxiety and muscle tension associated with stress. 500 mg of each daily is recommended.

· Other stress relief supplements - Tyrosine and Omega-3 Fatty Acids are also on the list of nutrients to try. These nutrients help us better cope with stress. They strengthen us by relieving depression and improving mental focus. 500 mg of each daily is recommended.

Everyone can benefit from stress relief supplements. Whether our stressors are physical, mental or environmental, these specific nutrients will protect, strengthen and calm you in times of stress.