Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash The mineral iron is one of the most important minerals in the body. It is an essential component of proteins and enzymes within us. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them …
Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash The Role of Vitamin D in the Body Vitamin D, commonly called the ‘sunshine vitamin, is an essential nutrient and hormone that plays a major role in many of the body’s functions, including in the skin, hair and bones. …
Researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing at Trinity Collage in Dublin, Ireland have proved that a substantial number of adults over 50 are at a risk of a Vitamin B12 and Folate deficiency.
Here’s what the study found, according to the journal British Journal of Nutrition –
Here’s what deficiencies in both Vitamin B12 and Folate mean for you body.
Recent studies show that a sufficient level of Vitamin B12 are needed by the body to reduce homocysteine levels, protect the heart and arteries, support the weight of brain matter, promote mental energy and mood, protect memory function, and support hearing health. Vitamin B12 is also required for energy, stamina, and blood cell formation and division. Those going through periods of stress may have increased demand for B12, as it is involved in the production of stress hormones – this means that our bodies need more of it during times of high stress. *
A B12 deficiency can exhibit many symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, light-headedness, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, and skin pallor, and may lead to Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and neurologic dysfunction. B12 deficiency can also lead to easy bruising or bleeding, as well as bleeding gums. Digestive symptoms include sore tongue, nausea, weight loss, diarrhea and/or constipation. Nerve cell damage can result when B12 deficiency is not corrected, leading to tingling or numbness to the fingers and toes, difficulty walking, frequent mood changes, occasional depression, memory loss and disorientation.
Folic acid, also known as Vitamin B9, is a water-soluble member of the B-Complex family, which has to be replenished daily. It is found in vitamin supplements, fortified foods, green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, beans, nuts, and some fruits. It supports heart and circulatory health and may support blood pressure already within a normal range. Folic acid helps the body regulate the level of homocysteine; an intermediate in protein metabolism that, if elevated, is bad for the heart, brain, eyes, and bone health. Folic acid is used by the body to create new cells, making it critically important to supplement with during pregnancy.*
Photo by Radu Florin on Unsplash According to data presented in Barcelona at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, higher levels of belly fat are associated with lower vitamin D levels in obese individuals. The study reports that vitamin D levels are lower in …
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash It is normal to lose about 50-100 hairs every day. But when you begin to see bald patches or lots of thinning, you may be experiencing hair loss. When this happens, many people turn to the products to help them …
Are you feeling exhausted or noticing strange muscle cramps that are throwing off your workouts? You might be suffering from a magnesium deficiency. Dubbed the “invisible deficiency” by some experts because it’s so hard to spot and diagnose, magnesium deficiency is more dangerous than many people think. Here’s what you need to know about magnesium deficiency.
The mineral Magnesium is best known as a counterpart to Calcium for improving bone health but that is only a small part of Magnesium’s story. The National Institutes of Health lists Magnesium as being necessary for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It is necessary for protein synthesis and maintaining normal muscle and nerve function, keeping the hearts rhythm steady and normal, and for energy production. Magnesium is also needed for blood glucose control (blood sugar), and blood pressure regulation.
Click here to read, “Magnesium and Its Many Benefits” by Mike Parenti, CN
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) refers to the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy individuals. The RDA for Magnesium is 420mg a day for men over 30 and 320mg a day for women over 30. An adult body contains approximately 25 g magnesium, with 50% to 60% present in the bones and most of the rest in soft tissues. Less than 1% of total magnesium is in blood serum, and these levels are kept under tight control. Assessing magnesium status is difficult because most magnesium is inside the cells or in bone. The most commonly used and readily available method for assessing magnesium status is measurement of serum magnesium concentration, even though serum levels have little correlation with total body magnesium levels or concentrations in specific tissues.
The following groups are more likely than others to be at risk of magnesium inadequacy because they have medical conditions (or take medications) that reduce magnesium absorption from the gut or increase losses from the body:
Europe approves important health claims for magnesium – click here to read them!
Loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue — the initial symptoms of magnesium deficiency are also common side effects of other health conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. To make matters scarier, this condition can be difficult to detect with medical tests. Since only 1% of magnesium is found in your blood (most of it is in your bones or organs), a simple needle prick often won’t help determine your levels. It may be what you’re eating – rather than what you’re not eating – that’s putting you at risk for magnesium deficiency. The main culprits: soda, caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
Click here to read Independent Research Studies on Magnesium information and benefits!
Your best bet when it comes to correcting a magnesium deficiency is to take preventative measures. You should only use magnesium supplements under the direction of a doctor – and be sure not to exceed 350 non-food milligrams of magnesium per day. Food sources are a great start to fighting magnesium deficiency, so focus on amping up your consumption of leafy greens – one cup of cooked spinach provides 157 milligrams of magnesium. Legumes are a solid choice too, with a cup of cooked white beans coming in at 113 milligrams of the nutrient. And if you’re a fan of squash and pumpkin seeds, one cup packs in a whopping 649 milligrams. Other great options are nuts, including almonds and cashews, most types of fish, and whole grains.