Tag: B Vitamins

Top Nutritional Tips to Support Healthy Hair Growth

1. Eat adequate amounts of protein.

Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair. Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth – cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.

Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later.

It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet. The best sources of dietary protein are lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.

2. Eat adequate amounts of useful carbohydrates.

Carbs are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.

It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.

3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.

4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.

How much of each food group you eat depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity.

When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition:

– Eat a variety of foods.

– Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.
– Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.

– Do not over cook.

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.

Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons:

– Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.

– High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.

– Dieting may affect nutrient levels.

– Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.

– Exercise can deplete some nutrients.

It may be sufficient to supplement with a well-balanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.

Vitamins Used To Treat Acne

What vitamins can be used to treat acne?

Due to the incredibly unhealthy diets that have become the norm in modern day America, it is no wonder that vitamin deficiencies are so rampant. Only about 10-20% of Americans consume the recommended amount of the important vitamins and minerals on a daily basis.
This vitamin deficiency has led to many problems in the bodies of Americans, and obviously the skin, the largest organ of the body, is affected by this deficiency as well.

There are many vitamins that can all contribute to fighting and preventing the formation of acne on the skin. Different vitamins have different uses ranging from antioxidants (clearing the skin of harmful toxins) to antibacterial (fighting bacteria which can cause acne, helping to prevent it from forming) and more.

This article will help to point out and explain which vitamins can be used to help against acne and what it is that they do.

The main vitamins that help to combat acne are Vitamin A, the B Vitamins, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Chromium and Zinc. Each of these vitamins helps to fight acne in a different way and when used in conjunction they can help greatly to reduce the affects of acne and even prevent its breakout altogether.

If you decide to use these vitamins, most likely through form of supplements since trying to consume the right amounts through dieting can be difficult, it is extremely important to follow the dosage instructions and to never take too much of any vitamin. Taking too much of many vitamins can be toxic and can lead to illness and worse problems, so always be careful and patient.

Vitamins A and E are strong antioxidants and help to promote healthy skin. Zinc is also an antioxidant but more importantly it helps to regulate the production of oil in the oil glands. Chromium aids in reducing the infections in the skin which can prevent acne from spreading. The B Complex vitamins and Vitamin C are more like super-vitamins. Both of these have countless functions in maintaining a healthy body and involving these in your daily diet is only too important.

The main reason that each of these vitamins is so important is not only their assistance to fighting and preventing acne but also the simple fact that a deficiency in any single one of these vitamins can lead to acne breakouts.

Because of this, the importance of consuming the correct amounts of these vitamins every day through either diet, which can be very difficult, or in supplement form is simply undeniable. By being knowledgeable of these vitamins and by attempting to meet the recommended amounts each day, a person can combat acne much more effectively and help to prevent it from occurring altogether.

Fighting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome With Nutrition

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating condition where the patient suffers from extreme exhaustion that lasts for a prolonged period of time usually more than 6 months and comes with several other symptoms. Aside from suffering from unexplained fatigue even with minimal physical activity, chronic fatigue syndrome patient also exhibits the following symptoms: muscle pains, tenderness and swelling in the joints, recurring sore throat, impaired concentration and short term memory, severe headaches and un-refreshing sleep.

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is yet to be discovered. This makes CFS very difficult to manage, as there are no known cures for it yet. Some patients are able to relieve the symptoms of CFS by using prescription drugs as well as some over the counter medications. However, these medications have varying degrees of success. Sometimes, they have little positive effect at all. Still, there are several holistic and alternative treatments that provide CFS patients with options to combat this debilitating disorder.

Since symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are also classic symptoms of many viral infections, doctors and specialists recommend treatments that strengthen the immune system. Receiving proper nutrition is an excellent way to boost the immune system, improve the body’s functions and increase the patient’s energy levels to overcome the malaise that comes with a CFS attack.

Here are the vitamins and minerals that help boost the immune system:

B Vitamins Vitamin B-12 is one of the most important vitamins. It helps in the production of red blood cells as well as DNA and the myelin sheath that surround nerve cells. Receiving the proper amounts of Vitamin B-12 helps in maintaining the body’s energy level as well as keeping the central nervous, gastrointestinal, immune and cardiovascular systems healthy. People with vitamin B-12 deficiency suffer from reduced energy levels, impaired memory and concentration, as well as several gastrointestinal problems. These are also symptoms that appear during an attack of chronic fatigue syndrome. The B Vitamins folic acid and pantothenic acid are known to help treat fatigue. Increasing the intake of these vitamins can have beneficial effects for chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids These fatty acids are very essential to health. Unfortunately, the human body does not produce it naturally. Taking Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help reduce blood pressure, decrease triglyceride levels, reduce the occurrence of arrhythmias, and stem the growth of plaque in the walls of the arteries. Again, the symptoms of Omega-3 deficiency are closely related to symptoms of CFS: fatigue, poor memory, depression, heart problems and poor circulation.

Sodium This mineral is necessary to keep the body’s fluid balances. People suffering from CFS may actually have very low levels of sodium in their bodies. Having the right amount of sodium can have beneficial effects for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, patients must consult their doctors first to have their sodium levels tested.

Other Minerals There are several minerals that are beneficial for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Chromium helps patients manage their blood sugar. Magnesium and potassium aspartates are known to help decrease fatigue in various clinical studies. Magnesium deficiency interferes with the Krebs cycle, which is responsible for transforming nutrients to energy. So ensuring the proper supply of magnesium in the body is a good way to combat the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tips on the Relationship Between Anxiety and Insomnia

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with beauty? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about beauty.

Anxiety and insomnia are often related. Each can be causes of the other which, in nature, leads to a vicious cycle that may seem impossible to break.

A study conducted by Dag Neckelmann, MD, PhD, of the Extra of Psychiatry at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norwa, shows that chronic insomnia increases your odds of having anxiety disorders. So, treating chronic insomnia may be one way to alleviate feelings of anxiousness.

Although numberless people have suffered insomnia in certain periods of their lives, chronic insomnia is characterized by one month or more of having trouble falling asleep, waking up too early or overall poor quality of sleep. It affects 10 percent of adults in the US.

To fight chronic insomnia, first check with a doctor to ensure that certain conditions selfsame feelings disease, diabetes, epilepsy, pregnancy, menopause or arthritis aren’t the cause of the problem. Certain medications may also negatively affect healthy sleep.

Seek any psychological factors that are affecting your rest. For example, solitary major sign of depression is not being able to go back to sleep after waking up too early. So, in this case, treating your depression may also help with your insomnia.

One way to deter both anxiety and insomnia is to cut down on caffeine and alcohol. Coffee is the obvious culprit when it comes to too much caffeine but you also want to avoid tea, soft drinks, chocolate and certain medications. While you may fall asleep quickly after drinking alcohol, your sleep will be light and fragmented.

Calcium enhances sleep, as do B vitamins and magnesium.

And then there’s smoking… nicotine increases blood pressure, speeds up the heart rate and stimulates brain activity… not what you want when you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep.

Fresh way to kick the insomnia is by receipt exercise. You don’t have to jump gung – ho interest a gym or stark club, though. Just a 20 dwarf walk every day ( or even 3 / 4 times a week ) can help. The best time to exercise is in the late afternoon. Do not exercise just before bed – – that would be counter – productive as exercise stimulates your body.

The right environment and position is also condusive to sleep. Your room should be as dark as possible. Any kind of scintillant, and especially blinking, flashing lights or lights from the TV, are disruptive to moor. You can also try wearing a mask to block out light although some find this to be uncomfortable. A white noise maker is a way to block out bumps in the night or individual sounds that could wake you up. Temperature is and important. Make sure that your thermostat is set at a comfortable position for you when you’re covered in blankets.

If you’ve tried everything and you still can’t sleep, try not to get stressed out about it. This just makes matters worse. Try to do something calming like reading or taking a warm bath and go back to platform because soon as you start motility remiss.

The above information about anxiety and insomnia does not substitute medial advice given by a health professional.

Those who only know one or two facts about beauty can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you’re learning here.