Presignify

The real facts about benefits of Vitamin C may surprise you. First of all what is Vitamin C? Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. Unlike the oil soluble vitamins such as A and E, Vitamin C cannot be stored by your body. Since Vitamin C is not stored by your body, we need to get it from our diet or from supplements.

But Can’t Our Bodies Just Make Vitamin C?

Great question! Most animals have the ability to make their own Vitamin C. And make it they do… lots of it. It is estimated that if we had the ability to make our own Vitamin C we would make between 3000 an 10,000 mg every day… and 3 to 4 times that amount if we were being stressed by infection.

Unfortunately, humans along with guinea pigs, fruit bats and gorillas are the only mammals that need to ingest our daily dose of Vitamin C. The only vitamin we humans have the ability to make is Vitamin D… and we need the sunshine to help us do that.

Some very exciting facts about Vitamin C have sprung up within the last few years. First off, Vitamin C along with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), have been called the most essential of the “essential nutrients.” That is, without an adequate supply of these two, you die. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but certainly years sooner than the folks with optimal levels of both in their bodies.

Arrrrr!!! Shiver Me Timbers!

Remember the stories about the sailors of old and the disease they contracted during long voyages called scurvy? Scurvy was nothing more than not having enough Vitamin C in their bodies. Without an adequate supply of Vitamin C, the blood vessels did not have enough collagen to repair themselves. Some of these sailors literally bled to death through cracks in their blood vessel walls.

Fortunately, in 1747 a Scottish doctor got a clue about Vitamin c and linked citrus fruits with a decreased incidence of Scurvy. Towards the end of that century, the Brits began sending along lime juice with their sailors on long voyages. Now you know why British sailors are called “limeys.”

Facts About Vitamin C and its Antioxidant Properties

If you’ve read the section of my site on the facts about Vitamin E, you’ve no doubt read about what an antioxidant does. If not we can review quickly.

The cells of your body are under a lot of stress… oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when highly unstable molecules called free radicals roam freely throughout your body.

Free radicals are a by-product of not only the normal metabolic processes of your cells but also your environment… things such as air pollution, sun exposure, industrial chemical exposure, ozone, nitrous oxide (from auto exhaust), cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption and so on.

Free radicals damage cell membranes and DNA and can result in changes to your cells that cause life threatening chronic diseases down the road. When your cells are being damaged by these free radicals, we say your cells are experiencing oxidative stress… and one of the facts about Vitamin C is that it is an antioxidant and can significantly neutralize the free radicals and the damage to your cells that cause oxidative stress.

Facts about Vitamin C and Heart Disease

One of the facts about Vitamin C that we feel is most significant is the role Vitamin C plays in the production of collagen.

Collagen is a protein. It is the connective tissue that holds our bodies together and keeps us from falling apart. Collagen is found in your skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, liver, cartilage, bone marrow and blood vessels.

Collagen is essential for the repair of our bodies. Without collagen our bodies don’t heal. And without Vitamin C we don’t make collagen.

What Does Collagen Production Have to Do With Heart Disease?

Remember the facts about Vitamin C above and the sailors with scurvy? They weren’t getting any Vitamin C. So when their blood vessels cracked, no collagen was being produced to repair the cracks.

Why do your blood vessels crack in the first place? Well consider this. Your heart beats about 4000 times every hour. That’s 96,000 times a day and 35,040,000 times every year (yes that’s million)! The blood vessels of your heart are being squeezed and released that many times as well.

Imagine you were to run over a garden hose laying in your driveway that many times. Do you think it might soon develop some cracks?

Although your body has a difficult time repairing those cracks in the complete absence of Vitamin C (and hence scurvy), most folks in the developed world get just enough Vitamin C to keep scurvy at bay… but not much more.

Problem is, as this sub-optimal amount of Vitamin C in their body is repairing with collagen, it’s not quite enough. Your liver then determines that the repairs are not being made quick enough and sets about to produce a special form of LDL called lipoprotein-a.

Lipoprotein-a is very sticky and acts as a putty to fill in the cracks that the lack of collagen left behind. Great right? Leak stopped.

Well the leak is stopped yes, but being as sticky as it is, lipoprotein-a catches and glues down all the other LDL (bad cholesterol) that floats by. This action results in plaque build-up inside the vessel walls and can eventually close off these blood vessels… and we all know what that means!

Facts about Vitamin C and Cholesterol

Can Vitamin C lower cholesterol? A relationship has been shown experimentally between high levels of Vitamin C and low levels of cholesterol. An article appearing in the National Library of Medicine shows that Vitamin C provides the same mechanism for inhibiting the production of cholesterol as do cholesterol lowering statin drugs.

The American Heart Association also reported that Vitamin C lowered LDL cholesterol in children who were predisposed to high cholesterol.

The facts about Vitamin C also show that Vitamin C lowers cholesterol without the dangerous side effects of these statin drugs. Statin drugs have been shown to inhibit the production of another essential nutrient called Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Decreased levels of CoQ10 result in significant muscle myopathy (wasting away). And since the heart is a muscle, statin drugs have been linked to Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

More Facts about Vitamin C

Vitamin C has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s when taken with Vitamin E and cut your chances of having a stroke.

Why is that? Remember the facts about Vitamin C above as an antioxidant? Well, most researchers agree that Vitamin C’s powerful antioxidant properties are responsible. By neutralizing the cell damaging effects of those free radicals running around in your body, Vitamin C works to keep your cells healthy and free of damage. And if your cells are healthy, you are healthy!

Vitamin C is also known to protect the immune system. Vitamin C aids in the manufacture of white blood cells. White blood cells destroy viruses and bacteria.

Also remember the facts about Vitamin C as aiding in the manufacture of collagen? Well collagen being the connective tissue that holds our skin together, our skin is what keeps pathogens out in the first place.

Yeah, But I Drink My Glass of Orange Juice Everyday… Well Almost

What are the facts about Vitamin C concerning the amount you should take? Well who do you want to believe? The official U.S. Government RDA for Vitamin C is 60 to 90 mg. Some would argue that this level does nothing more than ward off scurvy. They would also argue that these levels do nothing to prevent chronic, long term, debilitating diseases.

An article in the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition reports on a study done on antioxidant vitamins and coronary heart disease risk. The study looked at 9 other studies which included participation by Harvard School of Public Health and Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Conclusions: “The results suggest a reduced incidence of major CHD (coronary heart disease) events at high supplemental vitamin C intakes.”

How high was the daily Vitamin C intake of the 293,172 patients during this ten year study? Above 700 mg!

Ok, But Is Vitamin C Safe?

In an article titled “Vitamins E and C Are Safe Across a Broad Range of Intakes” published in THE AMERICAN JOURNAL of CLINICAL NUTRITION, a large study concluded that Vitamin C supplements of up to 2000 mg per day were safe for most adults. Exceeding that limit could result in gastrointestinal upset or mild diarrhea.

You can learn much more about the remarkable facts on Vitamin C at http://www.health-supplements-advisor.com/facts-on-vitamin-c.html

There is much more to learn about the benefits of Vitamin C at

www.health-supplements-advisor.com/facts-on-vitamin-c.html

Comments Off

Martha Vinyard Detox Diet
When people hear the term body detox, they may not fully understand what this process consists of. As individuals take in various negative items on a daily basis, it is easy to see how one’s body can use a cleansing every once and awhile. It is important to detox your body on a regular basis in order to purify yourself, on the inside and out. Therefore, detoxification is the process of cleansing one’s self through various body detox means. There are a few different ways to engage in body detox and reasons to detox your body which will be described in the paragraphs which follow. Powerade Energade Lucozade etc, and diet with Master Cleanse. The reason juice fasting is great for our health is because with juicing we are able to get a lot of nutrients into our system without putting much stress on our digestive system. Master Cleanse program is highly popular with celebrities in Hollywood. The main idea of a detox diet is to eliminate nearly all foods and restrict the body to only water and veggetables for a few days usually around 5 or 6 days is adequate, which is the reason why you must be on the Master Cleanse

Why Use Master Cleanse Program
These systems usually work adequately, but the increasing toxicity of modern life necessitates artificial intervention. What is eliminated during detoxification is dead, dying or diseased cells, unwanted fatty tissue, hardened coating of mucous on intestinal wall, toxic waste in the lymphatic system and blood stream toxins in spleen, liver and kidney, mucous from lungs and sinuses, and excess cholesterol. See more on Master Cleanse at Master Cleanse Saunas are another effective method of getting rid of toxins in the body. A particular procedure known as the far infra red sauna (FIR) first invented by the Japanese has been shown to be a very effective method of detoxification.

Master Cleanse Benefits:
Master Cleanse is the world most popular diet program. Do I believe in detox? Well most of it is plain simple commonsense - proper diet judicious supplementation adequate rest exercise stress-relieving techniques. Every year, more than 24 billion pounds of toxic substances are released into the environment, only a fraction of which have been tested for safety or how they interact with each other. At the same time, chronic degenerative diseases are on the rise. The CDC estimates that 1 out of 2 men and 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. 70 million American’s have been diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease and 16 million adults are suffering from asthma. So, do start your master cleanse diet today. This search has brought many medicines to our markets some of which are described here.

Comments Off

Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid was first isolated from lemons in 1932. The
C in this very important vitamin is debatable and may stand for citrus,
cold, or collagen for the following reasons.

Fruits found with the highest concentration of Vitamin C are citrus fruits,
rose hips, cherries, papayas, cantaloupes, and strawberries. Common
vegetable sources are red and green peppers, broccoli, sprouts,
tomatoes, asparagus, parsley, dark leafy greens, and cabbage.

The most important function of Vitamin C is the formation and
maintenance of collagen, the basis of connective tissue, found in skin,
ligaments, cartilage, vertebral discs, joint linings, capillary walls, bones,
and teeth.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin. It blocks the oxidation of water-
soluble molecules, which lead to the creation of free radicals, the culprits
responsible for making our bodies prone to cellular injury and disease.

A most popular disease associated with Vitamin C deficiency is scurvy.
Lack of Vitamin C in the body impedes collagen formation, causing
reduced health of the tissues. Early symptoms are poor resistance to
infection and very slow wound healing. In addition, many medical
problems have been found to be associated with low blood levels of
Vitamin C. These are common infections, colds, depression, high blood
pressure, arthritis, vascular fragility, allergies, ulcers, and even
cholesterol gallstones.

The RDA for adults is 60 mg. Only 10 to 20-mg. of Vitamin C are
required to prevent scurvy, and there is more than that in one portion of
most fruits or vegetables. For most people the minimum dosage is
between 100-150 mg. daily.

Vitamin C is the most commonly consumed nutrient supplement and is
available as regular or chewable tablet or as time-release capsule, as
well as in powder, effervescent, and liquid forms.

Lorna Mclaren has an informational website http://www.123-nutrition.com where you can find out all about health food supplements and vitamins.

Comments Off

Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a low key, setting a steady rhythm and culminate into a crescendo that enthralls the spectator and the athlete. And not unlike an orchestra, endurance demands a flawless performance from every organ, testing the limits of their resilience. As each system, conducted by the human will, endures a pace bordering on fatigue, the athlete begins to hear music from the heart. What’s often neglected, and considered unnecessary, in endurance sports is a high-protein diet that can expand the aerobic capacity and power the performance.

To sustain effort and delay fatigue, the body needs an adequate supply of oxygen and fuel without accumulating waste products, acids or heat. Greater the intensity of the workout, greater is the efficiency required. The capacity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the fuel stores in the muscle, the hepatic and renal support systems must all expand exponentially to perform in endurance sports. If any of these prerequisites are not met, the internal milieu becomes uncomfortable. Metabolism slows down, to allow excretion of wastes, acids and heat, as fatigue sets in. The aerobic stress of endurance sports provides the necessary stimulus for growth and development. The body is ready to build. All that is needed are the building blocks-the Proteins.

Given an adequate and appropriate supply of proteins, the body remains in a state of positive nitrogen balance. Sufficient protein consumption, along with a high-energy diet also influences the carbohydrate and fat metabolism. In the well-fed state, with sufficient physical activity, dietary proteins stimulate the simultaneous release of the growth hormone and insulin. The combined hormonal influence redirects dietary carbohydrate and fat to the aerobic muscle fibers where they are stored as fuels for exhausting workouts. The consequent increase in muscle stores of glycogen and lipid allows sustained activity for a longer time. With enough proteins, the lean body mass, stamina and performance increase throughout the training program.

Proteins and amino acids also directly supply between 1 to 6 % of the energy needs during a workout. The proportion of energy derived from proteins increases with the intensity of the exercise. Given their role in bodybuilding, proteins are too important to be used as fuel and attempts should be made to minimize this percentage. Studies by Bowtell and Tarnopolsky, report that a high-energy (carbohydrate) diet, when combined with an ample protein intake and hydration, has a protein sparing effect under aerobic conditions. However, when the protein intake is inadequate, the high-energy diet fails to protect proteins from being used up as fuel. Therefore, endurance athletes need to ensure high levels of protein intake not only to supply amino acids for growth, but also to make sure that the amino acids don’t get burnt up as fuel.

Endurance athletes need proteins but do they need protein supplements? The answer, till recently, was negative for recreational and modest athletes. Protein supplements were advised only for professional athletes and for sportspersons with a diet deficient in proteins. However, these recommendations, based on a parameter called ‘nitrogen balance’, have often been questioned. Young and Bier propose that there exists a subtle state of protein deficiency, called the ‘accommodative’ state, where an inadequate protein intake is masked by the breakdown of body proteins. Measurements based on nitrogen balance do not take the accommodative state into account and are therefore are not accurate enough to calculate protein requirements. Mark Tarnopolsky, in a recent review on Protein Requirements in Endurance Athletes, also raises similar questions.

Epidemiological studies, by McKenzie and others, also suggest that the dietary protein intake of up to 20% of athletes may be below levels recommended for sedentary individuals. Then there is always the ambiguous quality and absorbability of a dietary protein. Just eating proteins in diet does not ensure that they will provide all the essential amino acids in adequate quantities. Given the vital role that proteins play in the metabolic and physiological response to aerobic stresses of endurance sports, and the uncertainties regarding dietary protein intake, a protein supplement like Profect®, can go a long way in improving performance.

Adequate training and a Profect diet will take endurance to its limits, to levels where aerobic metabolism stimulates the release of enkephalins, the human equivalent of opium. These enkephalins produce the natural high that is often referred to as the ‘flow’. As long as metabolism remains aerobic, the mind is flooded with enkephalins and the systems function in harmony. In ‘flow’ capacity seems endless and fatigue non-existent. Profect, the perfect protein supplement can do that for you.

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com.

References

1. Tarnopolsky M.:Protein Requirements for Endurance Athletes
Nutrition 200420:662- 668.

2. McKenzie S, Phillips SM, Carter SL, Lowther S, Gibala MJ, Tarnopolsky MA:Endurance exercise training attenuates leucine oxidation and BCOAD activation during exercise in humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2000278:E580

3.Bowtell JL, Leese GP, Smith K, et al. Effect of oral glucose on leucine turnover in human subjects at rest and during exercise at two levels of dietary protein.J Physiol 2000525(pt 1):271

4. Young VR, Bier DM, Pellett PL. A theoretical basis for increasing current estimates of the amino acid requirements in adult man, with experimental support. Am J Clin Nutr 198950:80

Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

Comments Off

Folic Acid & Vitamin B12

B vitamins are essential to the body, being that it supports bodily functions such as aiding in the release of energy from carbohydrates, fat, and protein. B vitamins are all co-dependent on one another, and the deficiency of a single B vitamin can upset the balance and functioning of organ systems in the body.

Folic acid is part of the B complex vitamins and is found in green leafy vegetables, which the American diet typically lacks. Basically, folic acid is involved with protecting our cells and chromosomes, in addition to protecting our system against intestinal parasites and food poisoning. It also helps with cell growth, the utilization of sugar and amino acids, and according to the FDA, it can actually prevent Spina Bifida. Aside from this, folic acid also helps promote healthier skin, as well as aids in converting Vitamin B12 to its coenzyme form.

Folic Acid Deficiency

Folic acid deficiency is caused by taking certain medications such as aspirin, barbiturates, choline magnesium and salisylates, corticosteroids, NSAIDS, oral contraceptives, primidone, ranitidine (Tritec), etc.

Deficiency in folic acid can result in impaired cell division and protein synthesis, which can lead to anemia and a decreased function of the gastrointestinal tract. On top of this, deficiency in folic acid can also lead to cervical dysplasia, elevated homocysteine, headaches, fatigue, hair loss, anorexia, insomnia, diarrhea, nausea, increased infections, and birth defects, if one is pregnant.

Meanwhile, deficiency of Vitamin B12 will cause a difficulty in the regeneration of the myelin sheath that covers the nerve cells in the body.

Vitamin B12 & Folic Acid

Folic acid is useless without Vitamin B12. Folic acid should always be taken with Vitamin B12 for optimal function and absorption by the body, working together to execute metabolic functions such as amino acid conversion and the methylation of choline, methionine, serine, histidine, & nicotinamide.

Health Benefits

HEART HEALTH

Studies have shown that folic acid taken with Vitamin B12 can help with cardiovascular diseases. This is because folic acid and vitamin B12 can lower the damaging levels of homocysteine, which are linked to certain cardiovascular diseases in the body. People with high levels of homocysteine are more prone to stroke, heart attack, and other heart diseases.

According to Dr. Jeffrey A. Tice, UCSF assistant adjunct professor of medicine, “The evidence for the beneficial effects of vitamins B12 and folic acid is much stronger than for garlic, vitamin E, and other dietary supplements promoted for heart disease prevention.”

“For most people, especially those with heart disease, taking a folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement is projected not only to be safe and save lives, but also to save money because it prevents heart disease and the costs associated with expensive medical treatments and procedures.” This is according to Dr. Lee Goldman, professor and chair of the UCSF Department of Medicine. He also adds that an estimated 24 billion dollars in the U.S. could be saved between the years 2001-2011 by simply treating patients who have heart disease folic acid and vitamin B12.

Comments Off