Informative Vitamin News

Vitamins for Healthy Hair

April 3rd, 2008

Healthy Hair

Good nutrition is vital to healthy hair growth, just as it’s essential to overall good health. Although your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to maintain proper body functions, there are several that are specific to hair growth and health. When starting a new vitamin regime, it usually takes from 2 to 3 months to see results in your hair’s condition. That means that patience and consistency is very important. It’s also important to check with your doctor before starting a vitamin program, especially if you have health concerns.

Healthy Hair Vitamins

Vitamin A - Antioxidant that helps produce healthy sebum in the scalp. Food sources: Fish liver oil, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, apricots and peaches. Daily Dose: 5,000 IU. Warnings: More than 25,000 IU daily is toxic and can cause hair loss and other serious health problems.
Vitamin C - Antioxidant that helps maintain skin & hair health. Food sources: Citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables. Daily Dose: 60 mg.
Vitamin E - Antioxidant that enhances scalp circulation. Food sources: Cold-pressed vegetable oils, wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables. Daily dose: Up to 400 IU. Warnings: Can raise blood pressure and reduce blood clotting. People taking high blood pressure medication or anticoagulants should check with their doctors before taking Vitamin E supplements.
Biotin - Helps produce keratin, may prevent graying and hair loss. Food sources: Brewer’s yeast, whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk. Daily dose: 150-300 mcg.
Inositol - Keeps hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. Food sources: Whole grains, brewer’s yeast, liver and citrus fruits. Daily Dose: Up to 600 mg.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) - Promotes scalp circulation. Food sources: Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, fish, chicken, turkey and meat. Daily dose: 15 mg. Warnings: Taking more than 25 mg a day can result in “niacin flush” - a temporary heat sensation due to blood cell dialiation.
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - Prevents graying and hair loss. Food sources: Whole grain cereals, brewer’s yeast, organ meats and egg yolks. Daily dose: 4-7 mg.
Vitamin B6 - Prevents hair loss, helps create melanin, which gives hair its color. Food sources: Brewer’s yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk. Daily dose: 1.6 mg. Warnings: High doses can cause numbness in hands and feet.
Vitamin B12 - Prevents hair loss. Food sources: Chicken, fish, eggs and milk. Daily dose: 2 mg.

It is important to supplement your body with a quality vitamin supplement that is fortified the right quality and quantity of vitamins to help nourish your hair follicles.

Source: About.com

Posted in Nutrition | 42 Comments »

Should Children Take Vitamins?

January 23rd, 2008

Children, Diets and Taking Vitamins

The best way to assure your children get plenty of vitamins and minerals is to emphasize the importance of eating a variety of healthy foods. Offer foods from the different food groups to your kids each day and prepare meals with nutrients that complement each other. That means eating fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, whole grains, nuts, legumes, milk, and cheese.

A healthy diet like that sounds great to many kids, but not to all. Children don’t always eat the way we would like them to eat, and a picky eater might not get all the vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients he or she needs. Some kids don’t eat healthy diets all the time, and a few children rarely eat anything healthy at all. Processed foods and junk foods may not contain much nutritional value, just unhealthy fats, sugar and calories.

A healthy diet is just as important for for children as it is for adults. When a child doesn’t eat enough healthy foods, his or her ability to learn may suffer. Imagine sitting in school all day when your brain and body is starving for good nutrition.

Kids who don’t get all the nutrition they need from their diets can take children’s vitamins as a good way to ensure that they get enough vitamins and minerals. Remember that taking vitamins isn’t a cure-all for an unhealthy diet, so be sure to continue offering healthy food choices to your kids. Even picky eaters will eat some healthy foods.

Which Dietary Supplements Should Kids Take?

One common deficiency in children’s diets are the omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs are essential for proper nervous system and brain function, which is very important during those long school days. This essential fatty acid can be found in pumpkin seeds, cold oily ocean fish like tuna, canola oil and flax oil. It can also be taken as a dietary supplement if kids don’t like the strong taste of oily fish or the other foods.
Kids who snub fruits and vegetables may not be getting enough vitamin C, which is important for our immune system and for the connective tissue under our skin. Vitamin C protects us from damaging free radicals and is crucial for brain function.
The B complex vitamins have several functions, some of which are involved with carbohydrate metabolism. A child who has a high refined sugar and starch diet may deplete those important B vitamins.
Some experts believe that minerals are depleted in our soil, and therefore much of our produce may be deficient of minerals as well. For example:
- Calcium and magnesium are important for healthy bones, nerves, and muscles.
- Zinc is important for our immune system.
- Chromium aids carbohydrate metabolism.

A children’s multi-mineral/vitamin dietary supplement, plus a omega 3 essential fatty acids make a good basic dietary supplement program for most children. Some kids with health problems may need more complex dietary supplementation, which should be determined by a doctor, nutritionist or dietitian.

Make sure you purchase high quality children’s dietary supplements for children from a nutrition store or a health food store. Children’s dietary supplements can be in the form of capsules, tablets, liquids, or chewable vitamins. There are even brands that taste like gummy bears or lollipops.

Source: About.com - By: Shereen Jegtvig

Posted in Nutrition | 53 Comments »

How Calcium Benefits the Body

December 11th, 2007

What is Calcium?

Calcium is a chemical element, which is necessary for living organisms. It is the most abundant mineral found in the body. Almost all of this calcium content exists within our teeth and bones. Bones are generally composed of twice as much calcium compared to phosphorous. Aside from being the building blocks for bones, calcium helps muscle contraction, regulates signal transmission of neurons, helps blood clot formation, and prevents development of osteoporosis. Currently, there is certain research that has abstractly linked to reducing risk of specific cancer and kidney stones.

How Can We Obtain Calcium?

Calcium is commonly found in various low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. For those who are lactose-intolerant or do not enjoy consuming dairy products there are alternative substitutes found. Calcium can also be found green leafy vegetables, tofu, beans, and certain calcium fortified juices. Many elderly people opt to supplement their diet with a calcium supplment to aid their diet. Supplements are a great addition by regulate the right quality and quantity of calcium.

The vitamin world is one of the biggest brands in the supplements product lines. A much better form of vitamin D is vitamin d3 that is more effective and stays longer in your system. Daily intake of vitamin a should be 900 micrograms for men and 700 micrograms for women. Its sources are egg, papaya, mango, and spinach.

Posted in Vitamins | 17 Comments »