September 20th, 2009 -- Posted in Vitamins and Supplements |
Throughout our daily life we are exposed to pollution, exhaust fumes, toxins in our environment, cigarette smoke, highly processed foods, pesticides, herbicides, and many more pollutants that occur in our environment. For the most part, we accept this pollution as part of industrial growth and progress. However, our bodies do not accept this pollution! And it is doing damage everyday and every time that we are exposed to it.
Pollution and environmental toxins are full of free radicals which invade the body and do harm. The human body produces antioxidants which fight off free radicals and keep the body healthy, however as time goes on, more and more free radicals are being produced and entering our bodies which reduces the amount of antioxidants that are available to fight them.
Free radicals cause a variety of problems for the human body including, premature aging, poor circulation, mental detritions, liver damage, a lack of energy, bruising, heart disease and even cancer.
It is imperative that the body has a plentiful store of antioxidants to draw from in order to effectively fight the free radicals that invade the body. Because of the constant bombardment of environmental stresses on the body, the antioxidants are being used up and it becomes necessary for us to ingest antioxidants in order to help fight the war on free radicals.
Fortunately there are many sources of antioxidants that are available to us. Some common sources are vitamin E which is found in wheat germ oil, nuts and seeds, whole grains, egg yolks, and leafy green vegetables and vitamin C which can be found in broccoli, citrus fruits, brussel sprouts, potatoes, parsley and strawberries. Beta carotene which can be found in dark green leafy vegetables and orange and yellow vegetables, lutein is found in kale, leeks, spinach, collard greens, romaine lettuce, peas and egg yolks, and lycopene which is found primarily in tomatoes, are also great sources.
Vitamin B2 which is commonly found in dairy products, eggs and meat products, Coenzyme Q10 which is found in fish and meat and cysteine which is found in most high protein foods are also excellent antioxidants. Herbs such as bilberry, turmeric, and grape seed are also rich sources of antioxidants.
The best way to ensure that your body has enough antioxidants is to consume a wide variety of enzymes, vitamins, minerals and herbs to properly arm yourself against free radicals. Many people choose to take a vitamin supplement that is specifically formulated to fight free radicals as well.
Throughout our daily life we are exposed to pollution, exhaust fumes, toxins in our environment, cigarette smoke, highly processed foods, pesticides, herbicides, and many more pollutants that occur in our environment. For the most part, we accept this pollution as part of industrial growth and progress. However, our bodies do not accept this pollution! And it is doing damage everyday and every time that we are exposed to it.
Pollution and environmental toxins are full of free radicals which invade the body and do harm. The human body produces antioxidants which fight off free radicals and keep the body healthy, however as time goes on, more and more free radicals are being produced and entering our bodies which reduces the amount of antioxidants that are available to fight them.
Free radicals cause a variety of problems for the human body including, premature aging, poor circulation, mental detritions, liver damage, a lack of energy, bruising, heart disease and even cancer.
It is imperative that the body has a plentiful store of antioxidants to draw from in order to effectively fight the free radicals that invade the body. Because of the constant bombardment of environmental stresses on the body, the antioxidants are being used up and it becomes necessary for us to ingest antioxidants in order to help fight the war on free radicals.
Fortunately there are many sources of antioxidants that are available to us. Some common sources are vitamin E which is found in wheat germ oil, nuts and seeds, whole grains, egg yolks, and leafy green vegetables and vitamin C which can be found in broccoli, citrus fruits, brussel sprouts, potatoes, parsley and strawberries. Beta carotene which can be found in dark green leafy vegetables and orange and yellow vegetables, lutein is found in kale, leeks, spinach, collard greens, romaine lettuce, peas and egg yolks, and lycopene which is found primarily in tomatoes, are also great sources.
Vitamin B2 which is commonly found in dairy products, eggs and meat products, Coenzyme Q10 which is found in fish and meat and cysteine which is found in most high protein foods are also excellent antioxidants. Herbs such as bilberry, turmeric, and grape seed are also rich sources of antioxidants.
The best way to ensure that your body has enough antioxidants is to consume a wide variety of enzymes, vitamins, minerals and herbs to properly arm yourself against free radicals. Many people choose to take a vitamin supplement that is specifically formulated to fight free radicals as well.
September 1st, 2009 -- Posted in Vitamins and Supplements |
It seems that everyone is trying to lead a healthy lifestyle these days. We are eating better, well balanced meals, and cutting out fatty processed foods. We are experiencing an increase in activity levels adding more and more fitness and daily activity to our lives. With all of this extra interest in our health and vitality the use of vitamins is receiving more attention. What role do vitamins play in our nutrition and overall health?
By definition, vitamins are a group of complex chemical substances that the body requires for proper health. Vitamins are found in a variety of natural food sources. Vitamins produce enzymes that the body needs in order to carry out physiological functions that are necessary for living.
There are a total of thirteen vitamins and the human body requires all of these in order to operate effectively. Vitamins are responsible for promoting normal growth, immune system function, and energy for the cells. There are two groups of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble.
Fat soluble vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. Fat soluble means that these vitamins are stored in the fatty tissue or liver in the body. The body is capable of storing fat soluble vitamins so you do not need to take them or ingest them everyday for optimal health. However, because these vitamins are stored in the body, there is a risk of overexposure.
Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body because they are dissolvable in water and anything that your body does not need will be expelled from your system. Water soluble vitamins include vitamin C and the B vitamins. Because they do not stay in your system it is important to ingest a healthy amount of these vitamins everyday.
The body is not capable of producing vitamins on its own and that is why it is imperative to eat a well balanced diet full of vegetables, fruit and lean meats. However, as much as we try, a healthy diet is not always possible in today’s world. With busier lives, it can be difficult to always eat a well balanced diet full of the nutrients and vitamins that we require. That is where vitamins and supplements come in. By ingesting vitamins and supplements we can insure against any deficiencies that are caused by holes in our diet.
Vitamins and supplements are not a substitute for proper nutrition. However by adding them to your daily regime you can ensure that your body is receiving all of the nutrients that it needs for you to live the healthiest life possible.
