The Best Bodybuilding Supplements

Whether you are body building, weight lifting or working out with body toning exercises, always read and review the nutritional information on supplements before adding them to your workout routine. There are many different kinds of nutritional supplements which can be used for bodybuilding, weightlifting or even the general exercise enthusiast.

Many body building supplements also work well for weightlifting programs and even certain diet programs. On the other hand, you may find some sports supplements and nutritional products work better for the specific style of workout routine you are following.

For body building enthusiasts working towards muscle growth, there are some excellent weight gainer whey protein supplements available to help meet your goal. Because these bodybuilding products help add weight and muscle, they may not be best suited for workout routines designed only to tone muscle.

Body Building Supplements

Building muscle mass while sculpting your body for the perfect look can be a long and difficult process.

You can improve workout results with sports nutrition products like whey protein isolate, nor androstenediol, guggulsterones, amino acids, DHEA and meal replacement bars. Bodybuilders and weightlifters alike reach their goals as well as their limits while depending on quality bodybuilding supplements.

Weightlifting Supplements

Weightlifters are always pushing themselves to the limit or lifting weights to the point of ‘failure’. To ‘burn’ through these sets and increase muscle growth, weightlifters employ nutritional supplements. You can safely combine supplements, such as a whey protein isolate, Nitric Oxide and Testosterone Boosters, whether you are just beginning or wanting to reach your peak performance. Weight training programs at all levels benefit when bodybuilding supplements are used in weightlifting workouts.

Nitric Oxide

Nitric Oxide is a free form gas that is produced in the body and is used by the body to communicate with other cells in the body. To produce this gas, enzymes in the body break down the amino acid Arginine.

Nitric Oxide is a molecule consisting of one atom of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen. The production of Nitric Oxide occurs when the amino acid L-arginine is converted into L-citruline through an enzyme group known as Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS).

Everyone REQUIRES nitric oxide to carry out key physiological processes within the body. From a bodybuilder's perspective, nitric oxide supplementation may prove useful in increasing growth due to increases in blood flow to certain areas of the body. Further, men suffering from erectile dysfunction may also find supplementing with nitric oxide helpful.

Signs of deficiency include the inability to achieve and sustain erections, physical weakness and extreme fatigue. Most "nitric oxide" supplements contain the amino acid Arginine-alpha-keto-glutarate.

With any amino acid containing product, overdose is a possibility. Dosing with too much arginine can lead to diarrhea, weakness and nausea. Clear dosing guidelines have not been established, so it is best to do what is known as "tolerance mapping". Take a small dosage for one week, note the benefits and the side effects, and increase the dosage until the benefits are maximized and the side effects minimized. Over time the two will converge and you will hit the optimal dose. This process is similar to "receptor mapping"

for bodybuilders who use insulin.

Protien Powders

Many protein powders are fortified with amino acids, including arginine. With this in mind, pay particular attention to how much arginine you are ingesting from all supplements taken.

Protein powders are formulated to be the perfect meal in a quick and easy shake. It is easy to take them with you to work or school or anywhere that you need to get your protein or satisfy your hunger in a healthy way.

Need to eat one gram of protein per pound of body weight? Or maybe you are trying to eat six small meals each day? Sounds easier than it really is, huh? Protein powders like the ones listed below may be exactly what you are looking for.

How do you pick a protein out of the hundreds that we have for you to choose from? Basically, you are looking for a powder that has the right amount of protein, carbs, fat and the correct protein type for your goal.

If you are trying to lose fat, you will most likely want a low carb, low calorie protein. The extra protein will help you keep your current muscle mass. If you are trying to gain muscle, you would want a high protein, high calorie powder that is relatively low in sugar and fat. If you are simply trying to find a quick meal replacement, a protein powder with medium carbs and medium calories would most likely be for you.

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Take Dietary Supplements

Consumers could be switching from single-nutrient supplements to treat and prevent health issues to combination and condition-specific formulas

•Americans are more confident of their ability to take care of their own health

Consumers may be switching from single-nutrient supplements to condition-specific formulas because it is an easier and less costly route toward one-stop shopping for health.

Dietary supplements are a way for Americans to self manage and treat specific health issues.

The prevention of specific health issues and medical conditions has become the number one reason why 57% of consumers took a vitamin-mineral supplement for the first time over the past 5 years.

I personally had a rise in triglycerides for the first time. Instead of a prescription drug my doctor elected to try a dietary supplement, Niacin, in the hopes of reducing the triglyceride level. At my last exam, apparently this supplement worked for me. My triglyceride level was lowered after 6 months of taking the dietary supplement of Niacin. It has been more cost effective than a prescription drug.

Young people are specifically interested in improving physical performance as a motivator for starting vitamin and mineral supplements. The number one reason for adults aged 18 to 29 years to go on a vitamin-mineral regimen or make a dietary change is to enhance performance. Weight control is the second reason.

There continues to be steady growth of the belief in vitamin-mineral supplements as an effective means of treating and preventing health problems and conditions.

There is also a growing concern about vitamin-mineral supplements interacting with prescription medications. Some people are dissatisfied about the quantity of pills taken and other people have difficulty swallowing pills.

Condition-Specific Supplements

Condition-specific supplements are the fastest growing sector of the supplement business. The use of vitamins E and C have dropped since the year 2000. Multivitamin sales continue to grow at a modest rate. Consumers still take vitamin-mineral supplements because they believe their diets lack vitamins and minerals. Calcium and Vitamin C are the most frequently taken vitamin supplements.

For those people who used a condition-specific supplement in 2005, joint pain was the most frequently mentioned condition, after that was for heart health, osteoporosis and arthritis. Also on the rise are vitamin and mineral supplements for osteoporosis and memory concentration.

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How To Choose A Natural Nutritional Supplement

The increase in popularity of these supplements can be attributed to the beneficial effects these supplements have been proven to provide. Research has been able to establish that vitamins are able to protect your body from numerous diseases, including birth defects, cataracts and cancer. The latest studies have revealed that using natural nutritional supplement can potentially lower your cholesterol levels and subsequently prevent the development of heart disease. Vitamins and minerals have also been shown to enhance the immune system, which protects your body and helps it fight off diseases. Anti-oxidants, contained in Vitamins A, C and E, have also been shown to inhibit free radicals, which are known to contribute a great deal to the aging process.

Now that you know the benefits of natural nutritional supplements, how do you know which one to get? When choosing for a natural nutritional supplement, there are a few things you have to remember.

First, look into the contents of the supplements. A high-quality supplement will contain a broad spectrum of vitamins, including vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and K, and minerals, including calcium, copper, iodine, magnesium, iron and zinc. Aside from these, a good quality natural nutritional supplement will also be able to provide other nutrients, such as bioflavanoids, amino acids, L-Carnitine and natural enzymes.

Next, choose the form of the supplement. Supplements come in tablet, capsule, powder and liquid forms. Choose which one would be most convenient for you. Typically, adults choose a tablet or a capsule form. Liquid vitamins, on the other hand, may be more appealing to children and the elderly.

Also, it is important to choose an established brand of natural nutritional supplements. The sheer number of these supplements makes it difficult to monitor each one of them, such that majority of these supplements still remain unregulated. Unregulated products have not been fully researched; thus the exact dosages and chemical contents of the products are unknown, and the products are more likely to cause side effects, especially if not used properly. Choosing an established brand can help you avoid these harmful effects and provide you with the most benefit.

Finally, it is also important to determine if the supplement is natural or not. Synthetic supplements are also available in the market; however, natural supplements still exert more beneficial effects than synthetic ones.

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Synthetic Vs. Natural Vitamin Supplements

There are 12 essential vitamins that our body needs to function effectively. These include Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, D, E, K and folate. These vitamins have been shown to protect the body from certain illnesses, including heart disease and cancer. Lack of vitamins in the body can result in various diseases, including blindness, anemia, birth defects, bleeding disorders and bone deformities, among others. Vitamin supplements provide your body with the recommended daily amounts of essential vitamins, and help prevent the development of these diseases.

Nowadays, numerous vitamin supplements exist, available in different forms. Vitamin supplements are available in all health stores and can also be ordered online. These vitamin supplements can generally be divided into two categories: natural and synthetic. At present, there is a continuing debate regarding which kind of supplement is more beneficial to the body.

Natural vitamin supplements are vitamins extracted from natural food products and processed to create a food supplement. Meanwhile, synthetic vitamin supplements are man-made vitamins chemically processed in a laboratory.

Research has been leaning more towards natural vitamin supplements as the more beneficial product between the two categories. Studies on synthetic vitamin supplements have resulted in mixed results. Some scientists believe that taking synthetic vitamin supplements could result in numerous side effects, especially when the vitamins are taken in large amounts. This is because synthetic vitamin supplements contain numerous chemicals, which could react adversely with your body. Just as lack of vitamins results in various diseases, excessive intake of vitamins have also been known to cause a myriad of toxicities, including hypersensitivity reactions, diarrhea and bone damage, to name a few.

Recent studies have also shown that natural vitamins are better absorbed and processed by the body than their synthetic counterparts. This allows you to get the most out of your supplements, ensuring that you have adequate vitamin levels in your body.

Since natural vitamin supplements appear to be the better choice, it is best for you to find a natural supplement that can provide all these benefits.

When choosing a natural vitamin supplement, make sure that the supplement contains all 12 essential vitamins. Also, check that the supplement is really natural. Some synthetic products manipulate their advertising to make it appear that the product is natural, when in fact, it isn't. Look closely into the ingredients used in the product, and research on them. Take advantage of some websites that allows you to check up on these supplements and their contents. Finally, before taking any natural vitamin supplements, it is best to consult a qualified nutritionist or your physician first.

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Vitamin Overdose and Precaution

A vitamin pill seems to be the best alternative to a missed meal. Weight watchers literally survive on them by restricting calories while still getting all the nutrients. Not to mention, the easy availability of these artificial nutrients.

Although, these vitamins are recommended by doctors to promote a person’s health, but they can have serious negative repercussions if consumed in excess, because anything can be toxic if consumed more than required. Therefore, it is best to avoid artificial vitamins, and try taking the most of nutrients required for the body from a well balanced diet, along with adequate water intake, rest and exercise.

Why overdose of vitamins is dangerous?

It is mostly the fat-soluble vitamins that are dangerous. Water-soluble vitamins - such as the B group vitamins and vitamin C- cannot be stored by the body much, so if one takes in more than required by the body, they are simply excreted in the urine. However, the fat-soluble vitamins - A and D can accumulate in the body and lead to toxicity in the body. However, if a person takes them cautiously under medical supervision, they also as such do not pose danger to the body if consumed within safe limits indicated. The only exception, is for a pregnant woman, when large amounts of vitamin

A may pose a risk to the developing foetus.

As we age, our body become less efficient in absorbing the required nutrients from food, making it important to ensure that the right amount of important vitamins and minerals are consumed. On the other hand, old people are more prone to higher levels of toxicity as even excess water-soluble vitamins are not excreted because the kidneys do not function so well. This is especially important in case of illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure, since large doses of some supplements can interfere with the functioning of some medications.

What side–effects does vitamin overdose lead to?

High doses of vitamins over a long period of time can lead to side-effects. General symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrohea, rapid breathing, rashes are common with any vitamin overdose. Each vitamin also has specific symptoms associated with its overdose

A few examples of the risks include:

Vitamin B2 - turns the urine yellow-orange.

Vitamin B1 - rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, irregular heart beat, headache, convulsions

Vitamin B3 - Signs include skin flushing, itching, wheezing, headache, diarrohea, and vomiting.

Vitamin B 9 - central nervous system damage.

Vitamin A - an increased risk of broken bones, headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, blurred vision and frontal headaches are often the first signs of toxicity.

Vitamin B6 - loss of feeling in the arms or legs called peripheral neuropathy, rapid breathing, burning pain, loss of muscle coordination, paralysis.

Vitamin D - muscle weakness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and bone pain.

Overdose during pregnancy can cause mental and/or physical retardation in infants.

Vitamin E - overdose toxicity symptoms include nausea, headache, fatigue, easy bruising and bleeding, double vision and muscle weakness.

Vitamin C - high doses can cause diarrohea and upset stomach, and can also cause newborn scurvy.

There is also evidence that taking high doses of antioxidant vitamins A, C and E may increase the risk of cancer.

What to do in case of an overdose?

If there is a suspected overdose of a vitamin, don't stop taking it completely and that too immediately. It is usually suggested to reduce intake to about half of current dosage. This is because, the body has adjusted itself to handle a large dose of the vitamin, and so if stopped altogether, it could trigger a major deficiency. Try reducing it gradually, and of course do not forget to consult a doctor.

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Benefits of Vitamin C, Sources and Deficiency

Vitamin C is also known as, ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, the antiscorbutic vitamin, L-xyloascorbic acid. This vitamin is considered a cure-all for many diseases and problems - from cancer to common cold.

Yet, the interesting fact is that this miracle vitamin cannot be manufactured by the body, and needs to be ingested.

Benefits of Vitamin C -

« Vitamin C serves a predominantly protective role in the body.

« Vitamin C is required in the synthesis of collagen in connective tissue, steroid hormones, conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.

« It is a great antioxidant and helps protect the body against pollutants.

« It assists in the prevention of blood clotting and bruising, and strengthening the walls of the capillaries.

« As vitamin C is a biological reducing agent, it is also helps prevention of degenerative diseases - such as cataracts, certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

« Ascorbic acid promotes healthy cell development, proper calcium absorption, normal tissue growth and repair - such as healing of wounds and burns.

« Vitamin C is needed for healthy gums, to help protect against infection, helps reduce cholesterol level, high blood pressure and prevents arteriosclerosis.

What does deficiency of vitamin C lead to?

When there is a deficiency of vitamin C in the body, various problems can arise.

A shortage of vitamin C may result in hemorrhages under the skin and a tendency to bruise easily, poor wound healing, weakness, poor digestion, bleeding gums and loose teeth.

Low levels of vitamin C have been associated with a variety of conditions including hypertension, gallbladder disease, stroke, some cancers.

Edema (water retention) also takes place due to a shortage of vitamin C, along with painful joints, bronchial infection and colds.

Scurvy is the only disease that is treated with vitamin C.

Dosage

During the therapeutic use of this vitamin, the dosage is usually increased significantly, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.

The average (Recommended dietary allowance) RDA is 60-80mg, per day.

For adolescents it is 80 mg, 75 mg for adults, 100 mg during pregnancy and 150 mg during lactation.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C is 60 to 90 milligrams per day. Men should consume more vitamin C than women and individuals who smoke cigarettes are encouraged to consume 35 more mg of vitamin C than average adults. This is because smoking depletes vitamin C levels in the body and is a catalyst for biological processes, which damage cells.

What are deficiency symptoms of vitamin C in a person?

Symptoms of scurvy, the vitamin C deficiency disease include –

« Bleeding gums (gingivitis) and skin discolouration due to ruptured blood vessels.

« Poor wound healing.

« Weak immune function, including vulnerability to cold and other infections.

Sources of vitamin C -

Eating a variety of foods that contain vitamin C is the best way to get the required amount each day.

Healthy individuals who eat a balanced diet do not need Vitamin C supplements.

Since the body does not produce vitamin C, it must be obtained from fruits and vegetables. Some excellent sources of vitamin C are oranges, olives, guava, green peppers, watermelon, papaya, strawberry, kiwi fruit, mango, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and citrus juices or juices fortified with Vitamin C.

Amla or the Indian gooseberry is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, whether fresh or the dried, powdered form.

Raw and cooked leafy greens (turnip, spinach), red and green peppers, fresh tomatoes, potatoes, pineapple are also rich sources of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is sensitive to light, air, and heat, so it is best to eat fruits and vegetables raw, or minimally cooked in order to retain their full vitamin C content.

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Benefits of Vitamin A, Sources and Deficiency

Daily requirement of Vitamin A –

Measurement of the amount of vitamin A is taken in retinol activity equivalents (RAE).

The recommended daily requirement for vitamin A is 700 RAE (retinol activity equivalent) per day for women and 900 RAE per day for men. The requirements are different for growing children, during puberty, and for women who are pregnant or lactating; therefore, please consult your doctor for differences.

Benefits of Vitamin A –

« Vitamin A promotes healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.

« Helps the skin and mucous membranes function as a barrier to bacteria and viruses.

What are the good sources of Vitamin A?

Eating a variety of foods that contain vitamin A (and carotenes) is the best way to get an adequate amount. Fit individuals who eat a balanced diet rarely need supplements. In fact, too much vitamin A can be toxic.

Alcohol, coffee, or excessive iron can all deplete the body's supply of this essential vitamin. But, the good news is that vitamin A is readily available from numerous food sources.

It can be obtained from food in two different forms –

1. Pre-formed vitamin A (called retinol or retinal), found in animal sources. Sources include liver, whole milk, and some fortified food products.

2. Pro-vitamin A (beta-carotene), from plant sources. Come from colourful fruits and vegetables.

The top ten vitamin A-rich foods:

· liver

· sweet potato

· carrots

· mango

· spinach

· cantaloupe

· dried apricots

· milk

· egg yolk

· mozzarella cheese

Low fat and skimmed milk is often fortified with vitamin A because it is removed from milk with the fat.

Vitamin A in foods that come from animals is well absorbed and used efficiently by the body. Vitamin A in foods that come from plants is not as well absorbed as animal sources of vitamin A.

A word of caution:

Too much vitamin A, either from animal sources or supplements, can prove toxic and is particularly dangerous during pregnancy. Excess beta carotene, on the other hand, isn't toxic but can give one a distinct orange hue.

What are the risks associated with vitamin A deficiency?

Zinc is required to make retinol binding protein (RBP) which transports vitamin A in the body. Therefore, a deficiency of zinc limits the body's ability to move vitamin A from the liver to body tissues.

« Night blindness is one of the first signs of vitamin A deficiency.

« Vitamin A deficiency diminishes the ability to fight infections, such as pneumonia.

« Deficiency may increase a child's risk of developing respiratory infections, diarrhea, decreased growth rate, slow bone development, and decrease likelihood of survival from serious illness.

Vegans who do not consume eggs and dairy foods need provitamin A carotenoids to meet their need for vitamin A. They should include a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet and regularly choose dark green leafy vegetables and orange and yellow fruits to fulfil recommended amounts of vitamin A.

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What Is So Good About A Multi Vitamin Supplement?

Such supplements have many beneficial effects on your health. However, some may be unnecessary for your particular condition or may even have some weird side effects.

What is a multi vitamin health food?

A multi vitamin supplement is aimed to provide the human body with all the essential and non-essential nutrients it needs. The advantage is that you only have to take one or a few pills to ensure all the nutrients necessary for your body to function properly. A multi vitamin can help you prevent both mineral and vitamin deficiencies. Multi vitamins are used by a large number of people to increase the level of essential nutrients in their body and get all the benefits provided by these supplements.

What should such supplement include?

It generally contains at least 100% and sometimes even more of the daily amount of essential vitamins you need to keep yourself healthy. Although not all multi vitamins contain minerals as well, in some cases they even exceed the 100% of the daily amount recommended by doctors. Here are the nutrients that a multi vitamin should include:

* Vitamin A

* B-complex = including B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 and B12

* Vitamin C

* Vitamin K

* Vitamin D

* Vitamin E

* Zinc

* Calcium

* Magnesium

* Selenium

* Iodine

* Copper

* Chromium

* Manganese

* Molybdenum

People consuming high quality multi vitamin should be aware that it can include iron as well. However, it is not necessary for such vitamins to include iron. Phosphorus is also an essential mineral for the human body. However, we consume a lot of phosphorus in our daily meals, so such supplements that contain phosphorus are not necessary.

Is it difficult to consume so many pills?

According to modern medical research has suggested that in order to ensure we have all the required and non-essential nutrients to keep our body robust, we would need large quantities of multi vitamin supplements. This will result in large pills that may be difficult to consume for some.

Therefore, many quantities sell a multi vitamin supplement that contains large quantities of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, B complex, Vitamin K, Zinc, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum and Chromium, and Vitamin E and Calcium supplements separately. Although this requires you to take several pills, it does ensure your daily amount of essential nutrients to keep yourself healthy.

The one-per-day concept

Most of one-per-day multi vitamins do generally contain B-complex vitamins and variable amounts of vitamin A and vitamin D, depending on the kind of multi vitamin you choose. Some of the one-per-day multi vitamins contain large amounts of vitamin A and D, while others do not. Most multivitamins only have small amounts of essentials minerals, such as zinc, iron and copper, as the body does not require large quantities of such vitamins.

A high quality one-per-day multi vitamin supplement may ensure a reasonable amount of essential nutrients for people who have a traditional Western eating pattern. However, some do not, and you might need other supplements with calcium, magnesium, vitamin E and vitamin C.

Besides knowing what are various types of multi vitamin supplements, and alongside this little information may be enough for you to choose your supplements more carefully and to consume moderately. Before you are going to consume any type of vitamin health food, you need to first consult your doctor.

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Remedies To Improve Your Memory

Foods rich in antioxidants contribute to the overall health of your body, and also appear to work in helping memory functions. Thus it is beneficial to include antioxidant-rich food as part of the daily diet, including nuts, berries, carrots and especially green tea. Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidant, and along with black tea, appears to greatly boost a person's ability to remember.

Another food product that helps improve memory function is soy. Soy products such as tofu and soymilk offer many health benefits to the body and of course to the brain. With this positive impact on memory, soy should be a regular part of a healthy diet.

As oil is usually used in cooking it makes sense to use oil that can help boost the memory and to include it as part of everyday cooking. One of the healthiest oil to use is olive oil, and if it is regularly used when cooking or as part of the salad dressing it should really help your brain and memory too.

Many people need a morning jolt of coffee in order to focus. The caffeine found in the coffee is a stimulant and not only does it stimulate our bodies it also stimulates our minds as well, giving the brain the extra boost needed to help the memory retain information.

For people who are concerned with the first signs of memory loss due to age or stress, following a balanced diet and taking natural supplements is a positive step towards improving the memory, and has fewer side effects than medications. It is a right step towards a sharper memory and a more confident you.

Eating right helps keep the muscles and organs healthy and strong, and it follows that eating nutritiously also keeps the brain healthy and the memory clear. Other than a well-balanced diet, natural remedies that help boost memory are also gaining popularity.

Some studies suggest that lower levels of some of the B vitamins may contribute to Alzheimer's disease, so it seems a good idea to take Vitamin B supplement to counter the progress of memory loss and the potential onset of this disease.

Gingko biloba extract which helps with the flow of blood throughout the body, appears to have a positive affect on memory function as it also improves the flow of blood to the brain. The improved flow of blood to the brain brings with it more oxygen and should thus help improve memory.

Ginseng is an herb that helps energize and revitalize the body, so it stands to reason that it should also positively affect the brain and thus the memory.

Another supplement that also helps improve memory is rosemary, which helps stimulate the brain and thus the memory too.

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4 Things You Didn't Know About Vitamins

When vitamins were first created synthetically, their creators may not have foreseen the extent to which they would become a part of everyday life. It seems odd to consider that vitamin C, the first vitamin made in a laboratory, was actually synthesized in 1935. The world was an entirely different place then - most people cooked and ate nutritious, well balanced home meals. The pace of life was more orderly. Work was not the dominant and demanding force it is now. Images of bone thin women weren't plastered on the covers of magazines. In all, there seemed to be a more healthy relationship with the body, and what was needed to take care of it.

Fast forward to today, and vitamins are even available in the supermarket. They seem to fit well into the demands of our modern society too. We certainly need every little bit of help to keep up with what's required of us.

But some good things have come out of the development and acceptance of vitamin supplements. One powerful understanding is the effect that nutrients like vitamins can not only prevent diseases, but they can actually treat some. For example, way back in 1747, people knew that citrus fruits like lemons could help people with scurvy. But it wasn't considered very credible in the mainstream. Although those whose lives depended on it, those individuals on long sea voyages, knew this truth and used it well, even when it wasn't official policy.

Here are 4 more little known facts about vitamins:

* When A Vitamin Is Not A Vitamin

The supplement group often called Vitamin P are actually not vitamins. These are bioflavanoids, which help keep the capillaries and blood vessels healthy. They prevent vitamin C from oxidizing, and the bioflavanoids actually increase the effectiveness of vitamin C.

Bioflavaoids also help prevent bleeding and bruising, and support the immune system, preventing infection. They are often found in the same places as vitamin C, such as the skin and pith of citrus fruit, grapes, papaya, and cherries. They are also found in peppers, onions, and garlic.

* Our Intestines Do Double Time As A Vitamin Factory

We actually produce two vitamins in our intestines - biotin and vitamin K. They are made there by the 'good' bacteria that also keep harmful bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms at bay. When our gut bacterial population is imbalanced, one of the things that is affected is our ability to make these vitamin. That's why probiotics are so important.

Biotin is stored in the skin, and when we're in the sun, it becomes a good source of vitamin D. Vitamin K is important for bone health.

* Energy Boosting Vitamin

Niacin, one of the B group vitamins, is great for tiredness, irritability, and digestive problems. This is due to the fact that it improves our ability to absorb nutrients from food. Niacin is found in cheese, peanuts, beef, liver, chicken, eggs, fish, and whole grains.

* Magnesium, Heart Health, And Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a condition where people have high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, high levels of fats in their blood,, and low levels of healthy cholesterol. Often it is challenging for people with metabolic syndrome to lose weight, but more seriously, if can develop into diabetes and heart disease.

But scientists found that having a diet high in magnesium lowered the risk of developing metabolic syndrome by as much as 31%. Magnesium can be found in green vegetables, avocados, whole grains. bananas, nuts and milk.

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Enough Vitamin B1?

We hear a lot about vitamins A, C and E but not a lot is said about some of the other important vitamins such as vitamin B1 or Thiamin. This vitamin is an important part of the family of the B-complex vitamins and plays a vital role helping the body breakdown proteins fats and carbohydrates.

Vitamin B1 helps to keep the cardiovascular and nervous systems working properly as well as insure proper muscular function. In fact, vitamin B1 is so important that the bodies main source of fuel (adenosine triphosphate or ATP), would dry up if it were not for this vitamin. The heart in particular uses this fuel to pump blood as well as supply the blood cells with oxygen.

It is thought that vitamin B1 may benefit those with congestive heart failure and it is also said to help with the tingling and numbness found with nerve damage. In addition, it is said to be a mood booster and can you feel more alert and energetic.

Vitamin B1 is a water soluble vitamin meaning that whatever the body does not use is excreted in the urine. This means that you can really overdose on B1 as it is not stored in the body. It also means that if it is not replenished on a regular basis you may become deficient in.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin B1?

How much vitamin B1 do you need? Well, that's not easy to say as a determination has not been officially made yet. Most experts, however, say that 1.5 mg a day is a good amount for both adult men and adult women.

Sources of vitamin D include wheat germ, whole grain cereals, pork, peace, oysters, whole wheat and rye flour, oranges, raisins, fish and beans such as navy, kidney and garbanzo. Some of the best sources include beef liver, brew is used and kidney.

These days, vitamin B1 deficiency is pretty rare, but you may be at risk the older you get sense levels of this vitamin decline as you age. If you consume a lot of alcohol you also may be at risk.

Symptoms of a vitamin B1 deficiency are also symptoms of many other diseases and if you have any of these you should see your doctor right away. These include nerve and muscle problems, mental confusion and rapid heartbeat.

Vitamin B1 plays an important role in the transmission of signals between the spinal cord and brain and insufficient amounts of this vitamin could lead to tingling nerves, tiredness, depression, nausea, headaches and loss of appetite.

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Introduction to Vitamin World

Customers now have the choice of buying the Vitamin World products through a traditional store or in the comfort of their own home through the website. The efficiency of their website strives to deliver quality vitamin supplement products in the shortest time possible and guarantees full customer satisfaction. Vitamin World continues to develop new and more effective nutritional supplements and manufacture them in convenient forms to enable people of all ages to be able to have the nutritional health that their diet and lifestyle may not provide.

Vitamin World has grown into a well respected nutritional supplement provider and this is due, in part, to the millions of dollars that it has invested in the manufacturing and quality control aspects of the business. The demand for quality nutritional supplements is constantly increasing and Vitamin World keeps ahead of the trends with its own scientists and researchers striving to develop new products to satisfy the needs of the public.

Nutritional supplements are in huge demand and one of the most established companies in this competitive market is Vitamin World. Vitamin World is a well established manufacturer and retailer of nutritional supplements. There are over 550 Vitamin World stores in the United States. However, it is the online side of their business that is even more impressive. The Vitamin World website has an extremely efficient automated order fulfilment system that is extremely sophisticated. This allows Vitamin world to process orders and dispatch them to thousands of households across the country.

The manufacturing side of Vitamin World was established in the 1960s in Long Island, New York. Nowadays, vitamin world produces more than a thousand nutritional supplement products. The product range that Vitamin has is extremely extensive and includes vitamins, minerals and herbs in every available type including tablets, two piece capsules, soft gel capsules, powders and liquids. All of the Vitamin World products are manufactured in their own state-of-the art facilities in Long Island.

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How Vitamins Can Help Your Health

Even though some people may not realize it, food doesn't give you all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Although you may be following a healthy diet, you won't receive everything your body needs to carry out daily functions. You can buy high quality food if you wish, although it isn't the preferred way to fix this type of situation. No matter what you choose to eat, you still won't get the vitamins and nutrients you need.

No matter how you look at it, you won't get everything your body needs from food. To get the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you need, you'll need to use supplements and vitamins. Vitamin supplements are the easiest way to give your body what it needs. You can use vitamins and supplements in your normal diet, although you'll need to choose them accordingly with what you need and what your diet consists of.

If you have any type of restrictions with your diet, it can be even more difficult to get the vitamins and nutrients you need. Those who suffer from food allergies especially, find it even harder to get the right amount of vitamins. Even if you have a small appetite, you can be at a major disadvantage to getting everything your body needs. Smaller appetites get full a lot quicker, making it harder to eat the foods you need on a daily basis.

Even though there are many vitamins that you can benefit from, one of the most important is B12, which can raise your energy levels and help with your immune system. Some other vitamins you'll need to include in your normal diet are vitamin A, C, D, and E. These vitamins are very important to your body, as they help with many different functions. Vitamins C and E are among the most important, as they help with your skin, hair growth, and the way your body functions.

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The Variety of Vitamin B

Biotin, or B7, is one of the B vitamins that are involved in a number of processes within the body, including the breaking down of fats, carbohydrates and proteins into useable energy forms.

Pantothenic acid, or B5,works with several other B vitamins for a number of essential processes including breaking down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy and is also the B vitamin that is needed to form vitamin D, a variety of hormones, and red blood cells.

Pyridoxine, or B6, is the B vitamin that is largely responsible for redistributing the amino acids to create over five thousand proteins that are needed by the body and is also one of the B vitamins needed to form various enzymes.

Folic acid, or B9, is the essential B vitamin for aiding in cell growth and division, especially during pregnancy. This B vitamin is also necessary to make natural chemicals which control the appetite, moods and quality of sleep. It is also the best B vitamin for helping lower the chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke by keeping the arteries open.

Cobalamin, or B12, is one of the B vitamins that is important in the process of converting the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into energy. This B vitamin is also vital in forming the protective covering of nerve cells and to keep red blood cells healthy, and help prevent heart disease.

Thiamin, or B1, is the B vitamin that the body needs to keep all of its cells, especially the nerves, functioning correctly. It is especially important for memory and general mental health and is one of the B vitamins that is required to convert food into energy.

Riboflavin, or B2, is the B vitamin that is essential for releasing the enrgy from food that has been consumed. Without this B vitamin the body cannot grow or develop properly as red blood cells will not be as healthy as they should be.

Niacin, or B3, is the B vitamin that is involved in over fifty processes, ranging from detoxifying chemicals to making hormones and releasing energy from food.

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Vitamin B Complex Health Benefits

Vitamin B deficiency can affect the nerve transmission and proper functioning of the brain. It increases the risk of heart disease. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to the formation of abnormal cells called megaloblasts and result in anemia. It can also cause problems like depression and loss of memory. There are a number of reasons why many people suffer from a deficiency of this vitamin and a deficiency of the B complex vitamin might lead to a lot of health problems such as chronic exhaustion and fatigue, insomnia, lack of concentration and irritability.

B Vitamins are needed to help us avoid many health conditions. Although Vitamin B9 has been said to have a protective effect against certain cancers, there is still much more research to be done before we can be certain that any of the B Vitamins can reduce the risk of cancer. To fully understand the importance of the Vitamin B complex, you need to understand what each of them does for our body.

Healthy Skin and Muscle - Through the creation of blood cells to feed your body nutrients and the organization of the nutrients in each of your bodies cells you are able to maintain and increase the youthful vim and vigor in your day to day life. It should be obvious that the health inside your body that you cannot see also affects the health outside your body that you and others can.

The vitamins from the B complex are useful in the treatment of diabetes because they reduce the cholesterol and blood fat and they should be administered at all times. A person who has diabetes generally loses a large quantity of vitamins of the B complex when going to the bathroom to urinate. Therefore it is recommended to take at least 16000 units of vitamin B complex daily.

The Vitamin B Complex is essential for correct RNA and DNA synthesis and cell reproduction. As our Skin, Hair and Nails are constantly growing and renewing themselves we need the following B vitamins to ensure the good health of these structures - Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Biotin and Choline. Deficiencies of any of these B Vitamins can lead to dry, grey skin, dermatitis, wrinkles, acne, rashes, falling hair and weak, splitting nails.

Many of the nutrients in B-complex vitamins are present in the same food source. They are abundant in liver and yeast, notably in nutritional yeast. Other natural food sources of vitamin B include bananas, potatoes, chili peppers, lentils, turkey, tuna, and tempeh. Beer is also a good source of B vitamins due to its high yeast content, but this may not be true for filtered beer.

Your body needs to replenish B vitamins daily, so if you do not think you are getting enough of these vitamins from your regular diet, it maybe time to consider taking supplements. Vitamin B supplements can be sold as B-complex vitamins or mixed together with other multivitamins.

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Weight Loss Pills

Most weight loss pills focus on suppressing your appetite, but this is compounding the problem. If diet is the main cause of weight problems, it means that your digestive tract is in a poor condition. Probably you suffer from constipation or constipation alternating with diarrhoea. You might have a noisy or gassy digestion.

If your digestive tract is unhealthy, your body can’t absorb the nutrients in your food. This means you’re hungry all the time, as your body struggles to address this imbalance. Limiting your food intake, unless it is super healthy, is liable to cause real health issues.

Once you are aware of the cause, dealing with that will eliminate the effect. People who are on a raw food diet tend to be super healthy and super trim. This is because raw food is processed easily and quickly by your body, supplying it with all the nutrients and moving the waste out efficiently. As a consequence, people on raw food find they don’t want to eat as much. This, however, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Change the way you think about your weight. Look upon your weight problem as a positive reminder that your health is not good. If you continue ignoring the signs, the chances of serious health issues are greatly increased.

If you’re serious about losing weight for a trimmer figure, and want to keep it off permanently, then look to your overall health, eating habits and bowel movements. If these are all in order, the chances of being over weight are slim! In the interim, weight loss pills that not only get your digestive tract working, but supply some nutrients too, are going to be the most effective. Be aware of what your weight loss pills are trying to achieve. Go for those that try to help your digestion, rather than suppress your appetite.

Regular bowel movements (one to three times a day) are essential to your overall health, including your weight. This can only come about if your digestion is healthy. This ultimately can only happen if you are eating the right foods.

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Fish Oil Benefits

People agree that the benefits of fish oil. What is alarming is that numerous scientific studies all point to the fact that many people, especially in the Western world, are deficient in these essential fatty acids. By the way, in case you don't know this, the reason that omega 3 fats are called essential is because our body cannot produce them. So, we have to rely completely on our diet or supplements to make sure that our bodies are provided with the required quantities.

Probably you know that 60% of our brain is comprised of fats. Half of this is DHA, the most important essential fatty acid. So, it goes without saying, that our brain needs them, especially DHA, to function properly. Regular intake of fish oil rich in fatty acids by women who are pregnant is especially beneficial for the brain of their unborn child. Studies have shown that omega 3 fatty acids can prevent arterial plaque build-up, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. It has also been proven that they help reduce triglycerides, a type of fatty substances which contribute to the onset of heart related complications. Omega 3 contains DMAE, a substance that helps keep skin healthy and prevents wrinkles. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory; helping relieve painful symptoms of medical conditions that are characterized by inflammation such as arthritis, acne, diabetes and so on. It is worth noting here, that, according to scientists, organs that are chronically exposed to inflammation are more prone to develop cancer. So, omega 3 can act as a cancer inhibitor as well.

Now, there are some who argue that we would be better off obtaining all these essential fatty acids from our daily food, rather than rely on supplements. I would completely agree with this argument if only we lived a long time ago, when the cattle were fed with grass, eggs were produced from free range chicken and fish were fed on their natural diets and swam in non polluted waters.

Unfortunately, however, this is not the case in the present time that we live in, especially in the Western world. We now eat fast, processed foods, grain fed meats and farm raised fish. All of these, in contrast with our high quality diet in our distant past, are very poor in the omega 3 acids that our body desperately needs.

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