Do We All Need Omega 3 Fatty Acids?
Omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential fatty acids are found in the brain in high concentrations and are particularly essential for behavioural and cognitive function.
They can by obtained via fish-oil supplements and from foods as they cannot be manufactured by the body. The three primary fatty acids that are utilized by the body for different functions include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). When foods containing these acids are ingested, the body takes the ALA and converts it to DHA and EPA, which are utilized by the body more readily.
The Sources
Cold-water fish including salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines and halibut are the primary source of DHA and EPA. Sources of ALA include walnuts, broccoli, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, cantaloupe, canola oil, kidney beans, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, perilla seed oil and walnut oil. As mentioned earlier, another way of getting the required amount of Omega 3 fatty acids is by taking fish-oil supplements. New Zealand green lipped mussels have been used for centuries as a potential source.
The Benefits
Scientific research has long proven that these Omega 3 fatty acids play a vital role in brain function and help prevent a host of medical illnesses. Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil help raise HDL and lower triglycerides and are especially beneficial for people suffering from diabetes, bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, prostrate cancer and colon cancer.
In addition Omega 3 fatty acids also possess other properties that make them valuable in the treatment of other conditions including:
High Cholesterol – The substance present in walnuts and fatty fish, is rich in ALA, and has been proven to reduce the levels of total cholesterol as well as trigycerides in the body.
Heart Disease & Stroke – Evidence indicates that DHA and EPA that are found in fish oil help lower the risk factors for coronary disease including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These substances also help treat and prevent atherosclerosis by retarding the development of blood clots and plaque, both of which are factors that tend to clog arteries causing heart disease or stroke. Daily supplements drastically reduce the risk of subsequent heart attacks, strokes and death in people who have been subject to a heart attack. Two fish servings per week can meet any individual’s requirements and lower the risk of stroke by as much as half.
High Blood Pressure – Studies show that a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids help lower blood pressure considerably and is very beneficial for people with hypertension. However, tuna and other mercury-rich food should be avoided as mercury can cause an increase in blood pressure.
Rheumatoid arthritis – Omega 3 fatty acids reduce morning stiffness and decrease the tenderness in the joints. Studies also show that it also helps reduce inflammation and lower the cartilage-destroying activity of enzymes.
Osteoporosis – Omega 3 fatty acids, especially EPA help deposit calcium in the bones, increase calcium levels in the body and enhance bone strength. People with normal levels of EPA are less likely to suffer from bone density than those who are deficient.
Depression – Omega 3 fatty acids are vital components of the membranes of the nerve cell membranes. They assist in the communication of nerves, which is essential for sustaining good mental health. Deficiency accompanied by a rise in levels of omega-6 can lead to an increased risk of depression.
Sandra Lightowler is the owner of http://www.fishomeag3fattyoil.com the leading online information website for Omega 3 Fatty Oils.
How To Effectively Consume A Vitamin Diet Supplement
With many, many vitamin diet supplements in the market, and most of them are taking more shelf space in either stores or display their convincingly labels all over the internet. There is an increasing need to know why you need diet supplements and how to take it properly.
There are different kinds of supplements. There is the vitamin diet supplement. Some are mineral and herbal supplements. Let’s look at the vitamin diet supplement to see when these may be necessary.
What types of vitamins are suitable to me?
Let’s first look at a couple of the fat soluble
vitamins. These are vitamin A, D, E and K. Since they are fat soluble, they are stored in the body until they are needed.
Vitamin A has a huge job to do for our bodies. It helps our immune system fight infection, it’s important for bone growth and it is important to the health of our vision and skin. We absorb vitamin A when we consume milk, eggs and cereal fortified with vitamin A. It can also be found in liver, cheese and certain produce.
What cause vitamin A deficiency?
Vitamin A deficiency is rarely seen in the United States but in developing countries replete with malnourished children, there is widespread blindness and infection as a result of a lack of Vitamin A.
Vitamin A toxicity can happen when there is a buildup of vitamin A, which rarely occurs through dietary intake but more commonly through the use of supplements as excess vitamin A is stored in the liver. This can cause birth defects and central nervous system disorders. It can also cause liver damage and surprisingly, osteoporosis.
A vitamin dietary supplement may not always be the answer we are looking for. It’s important to understand what role the different vitamins play in our overall health and to understand how much of each of the vitamins our bodies need.
If we truly need a vitamin dietary supplement, it becomes something of value to our health but it can also be detrimental to our health to take too much of a good thing.
Some medical conditions make it difficult for our bodies to absorb certain vitamins so a vitamin dietary supplement certainly has an important role to play when it is truly needed.
Vitamin K is involved in the carboxylation of certain glutamate residues in proteins to form gamma-carboxyglutamate residues (abbreviated Gla-residues).
Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach and lettuce; Brassica vegetables such as kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts; wheat bran; organ meats; cereals; some fruits, such as avocado, kiwifruit and bananas; meats; cow milk and other dairy products; eggs; and other soy products.
What are the deficiency of vitamin K?
Vitamin K-deficiency may occur by disturbed intestinal uptake (such as would occur in a bile duct obstruction), by therapeutic or accidental intake of vitamin K-antagonists or, very rarely, by nutritional vitamin K-deficiency. The deficiency is uncommon in healthy adults for a number of reasons:
#1 vitamin K is widespread in foods,
#2 The vitamin K cycle conserves vitamin K, and
#3 Bacteria that normally inhabit the large intestine synthesize menaquinones (vitamin K2), though it is unclear whether a significant amount is absorbed and utilized.
Vitamin K is another important vitamin for our bodies as it aids in the clotting of the blood. Yet this is another vitamin that we can get enough of in our daily diet without resorting to taking a vitamin diet supplement.
Another thing to consider: Our bodies can stand 500 times the RDA of vitamin K as long as it comes from food yet that is not the case for synthetic vitamin K. We can reach toxic levels by taking too much of this vitamin diet supplement.
We can consult our doctors to be sure we are getting the dosage of vitamins we need and to see if we might need a vitamin dietary supplement.
Eddy Kong WW is the owner of the Vitamin Supplement Resource Blog. You can find more use vitamin supplement tips and secrets at http://www.17minvitaminssecrets.com.
Did You Get Your Seaweed this Morning?
Fucose is a Glyconutrient. There are 8 saccharides that make up this family:
* Mannose
* Glucose
* Galactose
* Xylose:
* Fucose (not fructose)
* N-acetylglucosamine
* N-acetylneuramic acid
* N-acetylgalactosamine
Fucose can be found in natural products like seaweed and echinoderms. From ancient times humans have consumed them. The original gelatin was often made from seaweed before artificial gelatin was developed.
When handling wet kelp you will experience a slimy sensation. This is largely due to fucoidans on the surface of the seaweed. When you pull apart the “slime” you will see long threads. These are the extended chains of fucoidan polysaccharides(including fucose)
Brown seaweed kelp is used to extract alginates for industrial, pharmaceutical, and food purposes but for a long time Fucoidans were not considered. Now research has revealed that Fucoidans have been found to have medicinal benefits like anticoagulants.
Fucoidans are made up mainly of the saccharide fucose. They have been found in brown marine algae and echinoderms like sea urchins and sea cucumbers. They are used in a number of medicines including ones for anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapy.
There are many different types of brown kelp, which vary in the amount of fucose they have. Research is only just now being done on this little known area of science. The kelp has been a highly prized food and medicine for many centuries. The substance, extracted from the kelp, Fucus Vesiculosus contains 16 different fucans.
They assist the kelp plant by protecting it and help its cell walls not to get damaged with changing salt concentrations. They also help the kelp and echinoderms with their reproductive systems.
Fucose is also useful for helping the human immune system and assisting the body to ward off infections, diseases and toxins. Other uses are help with inflammatory conditions and ulcers. Not only the brown kelp but also the Japanese seaweed Mozuku is used for extracting Fucoidan.
Fucose can also have an effect on enzymes by promoting and inhibiting them. It has been found to be helpful against snake venom and bites. By controlling the enzymes that can cause the venom damage.
There are many uses for this useful glyconutrient and it is only just recently that these uses are coming to light. As scientists do more research they are discovering new uses for this saccharide and the other glyconutrients. The new research is called Glycobiology and is named after the Glyconutrients they are investigating.
Only during the last 10 years scientists have been researching the family of foods known as the carbohydrates. Because of their complex nature it took time for scientists to understand and be able to analyze them. Now as they go deeper into their structure and uses they are finding the immense benefits that Glyconutriants hold for the mankind.
Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Representative. His clients range from actresses to pro athletes. You can get a free Glyconutrients consultation by visiting http://www.nutritionalreview.com/Waiora-Zeolite.php.
Vitamin B1 Or Thiamine – What Role Does This Play In The Body?
Vitamin B1 is also commonly referred to as Thiamine. Being a water soluble vitamin it is an important part of the family of B-Complex vitamins. It plays a pivotal role in the conversion of blood sugars into glucose and also helps the body in breaking down carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Optimal functioning of the nervous system, cardiovascular system and muscular functioning all depend on sufficient amounts of Vitamin B1. The heart also depends on this Vitamin to circulate blood throughout the body and ensure that oxygen is supplied to the blood cells in the body. Even the production of Adenosine Triphosphate(ATP) molecules would not be possible without this essential vitamin.
Individuals suffering from congestive heart failure can be benefited by Vitamin B1 because of its role in helping the heart pump blood. It is also used to ease the numbness and tingling feeling associated with nerve damage. This vitamin has been known to boost mood, energy levels and alertness because of the way in which it helps in the conversion of energy and circulation of blood throughout the body.
Most water soluble vitamins including B1 need to be constantly replenished because the body eliminates what it does not require via the urine. Inadequate amounts can lead to a Vitamin deficiency. However it is rare for people to suffer from a deficiency of B1 because it is found in so many foods.
Some well known sources of Vitamin B1 include whole grain cereals, pork products,wheat germ,navy beans, kidney and garbanzo beans, peas, peanuts, fish, whole wheat and rye flour, oranges and raisins. The foods rich in B1 are beef liver and kidneys and brewer’s yeast.
According to experts, the daily requirements for both men and women should be around 1. 5 mg of Vitamin B1. However since this is a water soluble and non-toxic vitamin there is no real fear of consuming too much as the body will eliminate the excess through the urine.
Although Vitamin B1 deficiencies are rare nowadays, they still do exist. As people grow older naturally the levels of B1 will start to decline. Those who consume excess alcohol are likely to suffer from a B1 deficiency because alcohol reduces the body’s ability to absorb this vitamin. Even infants who are given formula that lacks this vitamin can be affected.
Deficiency of Vitamin B1 can cause a condition known as Beriberi. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, nerve trouble and the muscles of the body start to waste away gradually. Insufficient amounts of this vitamin can also cause headaches, nausea, depression, reduced appetite, tingling nerves and fatigue because it plays an important role in transmitting nerve signals between the spinal cord and the brain.
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