Vitamin absorption into the body
Vitamin absorption is something that anyone taking supplements should pay special attention to.
Not only will it affect the usefulness of the vitamins being consumed, it will also result in either no benefits or many benefits.
As we have heard many times now, liquid vitamins claim there products are the best because people who take tablet form just excrete them. This is good marketing, and comes down to a little bit of hype; however, it is partly true.
Let’s delve a little deeper in to some facts.
Many tablet vitamins are very cheap, mass produced and sold in supermarkets across the world. You’ve probably seen them time and time again. When you go shopping to your local store you will likely come across them in multivitamins etc. They are also made with the cheapest excipients This is what puts the ingredients together, resulting in tablet form.
Because of this, the nutrients are mostly released in the stomach and destroyed by stomach acids.
In the case of these types of supplements, a large percentage will simply be wasted when you go to the toilet.
On the other hand however, some quality companies dedicated to optimising health use highly sophisticated supplements. Sometimes known as nutraceuticals. These companies will use very expensive all natural potent ingredients and exciients.
Some of these supplements have highly sophisticated delivery systems. This allows the nutrients to enter the blood stream for the most effective consumption.
The best delivery system for vitamin absorption and the other nutrients in the tablet is called enteric coating.
What makes this so effective?
Many powerful nutrients cannot be taken as supplements without being destroyed by the stomach acids; enteric coating protects the tablet and therefore the nutrients from being destroyed by stomach acids.
So it’s not just about vitamin absorption, it’s about all the nutrients you may take in a supplement. Especially the more sophisticated ones that have nutrients much more powerful and expensive than just vitamins. Vitamins tend to be weak antioxidants.
Liquid vitamins cannot be delivered in this way. To learn more about the supplement we personally use with excellent results, be sure to check out our site at the end of the article.
We offer our best information to subscribers of our newsletter, along with a free nutrition book worth $27 and special subscriber offers and bonuses! Free spots are limited due to such a positive response.
You can grab a free copy of our recommended nutrition book at the end of this article. You need to read this book; you will probably get through the book in one sitting. So set some quiet reading time and grab your free copy while you can. Free spots are limited and we may be adding a small price tag to the book due to customer feedback
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Dedicated to optimising health.
Various Health Benefits Of Vitamin D and Its Importance
Vitamin D also known as calciferol, is a fat disolvable nutrient. It is mainly produced in the human body subsequently to contact with sun rays. The liver and renal system assist transform vitamin D into its effective hormonal kind.Great things about Vitamin D: Vitamin D helps with the assimilation of calcium, and helps to develop and preserve solid bones. Vitamin D insufficiency will make bone tissues lean, fragile, delicate and very easily vulnerable to bone injuries. Without having enough vitamin D, the human body can not take in calcium, making calcium supplements worthless; Vitamin D behaves just like a bodily hormone, therefore controlling the assimilation of calcium and phosphorus in the intestinal tract; It assists to manage the activity of calcium mineral between bone tissue and bloodstream, and the other way around; It contributes greatly to bone mineralization together with a variety of some other vitamins, nutrients, and bodily hormones in the system; Vitamin D puts a stop to osteoporosis, depressive disorders, prostate type of cancer, breast cancers, and also facilitates manage diabetic issues and weight problems.Just a few food products naturally consist of considerable quantities of vitamin D. Healthy foods having naturally sourced vitamin D are often animal taken from, and made up of the vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). These products include things like egg yolk, lean meats, fatty seafood and fish natural oils. More compact quantities will also be contained in leafy abundant vegetables.Prepared food products are classified as the main nutritional options for vitamin D. Despite the fact that whole milk, soy milk are prepared having vitamin D, milk products produced from milk just like curd, dairy products, natural yogurt are often not prepared with it.It is very important for people being minimal exposed to the sun to incorporate abundant sources of vitamin D with their eating habits.Contact with natural light is a vital supply of vitamin D because ultraviolet (UV) sun rays coming from natural light result in vitamin D activity from the epidermis.It can be extremely difficult to obtain sufficient degrees of vitamin D out of a diet regime. Natural light direct exposure will be the solely reputable method to produce vitamin D in the human body.Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a number of health problems such as: Vitamin D deficit results in rickets in youngsters which in turn results in skeletal deformations. In older adults, vitamin D deficit can result in osteomalacia, which in turn outcomes in muscle weakness along with fragile bones; Osteoporosis is often the consequence of not enough vitamin D, that resists calcium mineral assimilation; Not enough vitamin D brings about prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, intestinal tract cancer (colon cancer); Vitamin D insufficiency could also make a individual vulnerable to type 2 diabetes as well as hinder blood insulin generation. Babies who obtain vitamin D supplementation get about 80% diminished chance of getting diabetes in the following 20 years; Vitamin D deficit allows schizophrenia to install.
Using Vitamin E For Acne Scars Will It Work
Since no one wants to live a life of embarrassment due to acne scarring, it is good to know that using vitamin E for acne scars can be a great way to reduce their appearance and make your skin look much better in the process. There are a lot of options available when trying to make acne scars less noticeable, including expensive products and surgical procedures. However, vitamin E is a great place to start; because it is a low-cost solution that is easy to use and can provide great results. Maybe you’ll find that you don’t need to try the other options, after all.
A Simple Solution
Using vitamin E for acne scars is really quite simple, as it is a solution that is simply applied topically to your skin. Also, you do not need any kind of prescription for vitamin E, as it can be easily found at the grocery store or your local pharmacy as an over the counter product. One of the reasons why vitamin E is such a popular solution for acne scars is that it is so affordable and easy to obtain, actually.
When you decide to use vitamin E to help diminish your acne scars and improve your skin quality, you will have several options regarding how to do so. For instance, you can apply vitamin E oil to your scars directly, often at night, or you can even rub it into your skin like a moisturizer. If you do use a lotion with vitamin E, try to avoid mineral oil, as it may clog your pores and contribute to future breakouts. Furthermore, vitamin E can be purchased in caplet form at many stores, and then you can simply take it orally, which provides a very convenient option, especially for busy people who are on the go.
Now that you have read some of the compelling reasons why using vitamin E for acne scars is a good idea, you know why it is a good idea to give such a simple, easy solution a shot before turning to more extreme methods to remove acne scars. Even if you do opt for other methods, vitamin E is still a great way to improve the quality of your skin while helping to prevent future breakouts at the same time. No matter how you use it, you really can’t go wrong.
Erasing those embarrassing scars on your face can be as simple as using an all natural solution such as vitamin e for acne scars. So there is no reason to put up with them any longer. And for more tips and advice to get rid of your scars fast… I would like to invite you to Visit:
http://www.acne-scars-remedy.com today and don’t forget to claim your FREE copy of my “Ultimate Acne Scar Guide.”
Usana Vitamins, An Admired Vitamin Supplement Company With A Few
Usana Vitamins, An Admired Vitamin Supplement Company With A Few Controversy!
1992 was the year that Usana Health Sciences Inc. was built. This company specializes in marketing various natural supplements and medicines. It was discovered out that this is really a million dollar organization. This was only revealed when the organization received attention because from the high percentage from the products sales.
Some have stated that there are scams involved within the Usana Corporation because of the way that they sell their items. This company uses methods of network marketing which means which they accept people to become their members and they get commissions out of it if they reach the quota set by the company. However, there have been reports that they aren’t that adequate with regards to managing the funds and giving out proper compensations.
Right now, the web is full of bad reviews and feedbacks about the organization. It has been stated that the medications and supplements contain different concentrations from the usual types and can cause negative side effects for some people. Also, the prices of their usana vitamins are relatively higher than other similar products within the market. Some individuals have said that the costs are worth it because they’re the most efficient but some individuals also say that they have only wasted their cash simply because they gained nothing.
The company uses four specific categories to group their items. The following categories are: Usana Nutritional (Essentials and Optimizers nutritional supplements), Usana Macro-Optimizer foods (drink mixes and nutritional bars), Sense Basics and Enhancers (face, hair, and skin care items) and Rev3 Energy drinks.
Still, even if they are bombarded with different controversies, Usana has proven time and time again that they’re the greatest that the marketplace has to offer or at the very least their items are on par with their competitors with regards to selling the best multivitamin.
If ever you’d wish to discover out much more about Usana, you would be able to find a lot of news concerning the company and its products in the internet. Do remember though that you’ll find both positive and negative reviews that you will encounter in the procedure. It is up to you to decide which types you’ll believe in and which ones you think are biased for or against the company and the products.
treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency
It is hard to think that one mightiness have a vitamin deficiency, but if one has a poor diet containing mostly treated or fast foofive hundreds, then it is achievable, if not unavoidable. As advisable, there is a adventure when watching fad dieting or diets that cut out entire food groups that in that location would be a lack of tried foods.
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is hived away in the body. It may acquire a while for signs of deficiency to apparent, as it can be stored in the body for as some as five years. Traditional thinking reads that vegetarians and vegans are at sure risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, as ar the elderly or those who bear difficulty with digestion.
However, in their record Fit for Life, Harvey and Marilyn Diamond say that there is base fear of going B12 lacking for vegetarians than one is led to consider. Their reasonable is that “our real need for vitamin B12 is so small that it is measured in mcg…One milligram of vitamin B12 will then you over two years” (102)
They further state that someones who eat meat are more likely to have a deficiency, due to irregular food combining, which willed interfere with intrinsic factor secretion (a protein required to absorb B12) and therefore B12 production.
The Importance of Preoccupation
Its not adequate to take in a square. One must be capable to process, digest, immerse and use it.
Some drugs can intervene with vitamin B12 absorption or render it metabolically still. Some people who lack the inherent factor protein cannot steep B12 in the gut. They substantial then either receive B12 injections or get it under the tongue in tell to receive its gains (Balch, 21).
Analogs are deepens that resemble B12 and when they are in nutrient, they bond to B12′s sensory receptor sites, taking its set, but not playing its job. This too can resolution in B12 malabsorption (Virtue & Prelitz, 82).
Vitamin B12 dishes the body in a come of ways. John Gray, Ph.D., tells in his book The Mars & Venus Diet & Exercise Resolution that vitamin B12 shifts amino acids into Dopastat and serotonin (278), and in this room helps one to nullify feeling down.
Vitamin B12 also precludes heart disease, protects steel cells, serves with protein deductive reasoning and metabolizes carbohydrates and fats. It also helps regulate red blood cell organization (Balch, 21).You can read all about Vitamin B12 Deficiency Treatment and Benefits of Vitamin B12
The Vitamins Needed For Bodybuilding
The vitamins that are water-soluble (with the exception of vitamin C) are composed entirely of the B and B-complex vitamins, including Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine (B6), Folate, Cobalamin (B12), Biotin and Pantothenic Acid. Because these vitamins are water soluble and thus have difficulty entering fatty tissues, they aren’t stored in the body and excessive amounts are excreted. And while this means toxicity is generally not a problem, these vitamins must be continually included in a bodybuilder’s diet. Vitamins1. Cobalamin (vitamin B12)Although the functions of vitamin B12 are numerous, those important to bodybuilders include carbohydrate metabolism and maintenance of nervous system tissue (the spinal cord and nerves that carry signals from the brain to muscle tissues). Stimulation of muscles via nerves is a critical step in the contraction, coordination and growth of muscles.Vitamin B12 is available only from foods of animal origin; therefore,it is very important for athletes following a strict vegetarian diet to consult a physician about vitamin B12 supplementation. In fact, B12 shots are popular with countless athletes, vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike, many of who swear it helps them perform better2. BiotinAlthough there’s a limited amount of sports nutrition research on Biotin, it makes our top 10 list because it has critical functions in amino acid metabolism and the production of energy from many sources. It also may be one vitamin that some bodybuilders have trouble when attempting to maintain an adequate supply.The reason bodybuilders may have difficulty with Biotin is because it can be blocked by a substance called Avidin. Avidin is found in raw egg whites, a staple for many athletes. In fact, bodybuilders who eat raw egg whites or who don;t cook egg white well enough may experience growth problems with Biotin deficiency if their egg white consumption approaches 20 per day. Eating raw eggs can also lead to a bacterial infection called Salmonella, which can have severe health consequences.3. Riboflavin (vitamin B2)Riboflavin is involved in energy production in three areas:1. Glucose metabolism, 2. Oxidation of fatty acids, and 3. The shuttling of hydrogen ions through the Krebs cycle. Of particular interest to bodybuilders, Riboflavin is somewhat related to protein metabolism. In fact, there is a strong relationship between lean body mass and dietary riboflavin.Where one study by Belko and colleagues found that females needed higher than RDA levels of Riboflavin to return blood levels of Riboflavin after exercise back to their normal levels. Another study by Haralambie showed that Riboflavin supplementation improved muscular hyperexcitability (seen in trained athletes). This vitamin may prove to be especially important for athletes.4. Vitamin AMost of us know that vitamin A helps with vision, but bodybuilders need to become familiar with its other benefits. First of all, vitamin A is important in the synthesis of protein, the chief process of muscle growth. Second, vitamin A is involved in the production of Glycogen, the body’s storage form of energy for high intensity performance.The problem with vitamin A status in bodybuilders is twofold. 1st, of all most American diets are consistently measured to be low in vitamin A supply. Second, both strenuous physical activity (which disrupts the absorption of vitamin A) and a low fat diet (which renders vitamin A loss in feces) jeopardize the level of vitamin A in the body. So be especially careful of your vitamin A intake during contest preparation.5. Vitamin EVitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, meaning it protects the cell’s membranes. This is important because many of the metabolic processes that take place in the body, including the recuperation and growth of muscle cells, are dependent upon health cell membranes.You’ve probably heard a lot about antioxidants in the news lately, and research continues to validate their importance. Specifically, antioxidants help to reduce the number of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are natural byproducts of cellular respiration, but accumulation of free radicals can lead to cellular changes and destruction (even cancer), rendering cells unable to adapt normally. As this means a reduction in exercise induced processes of repair and growth in the cell structure.6. Niacin (vitamin B3)This vitamin is involved in nearly 60 metabolic processes related to energy production and ranks high for bodybuilders by virtue of its critical importance in providing training fuel (no train, no gain)! The bad news is that high levels of Niacin have been found in the blood of athletes after exercise, suggesting that athletes may need more niacin than nonathletes. On the other hand, the good news is that even if a diet is low in Niacin, the body can make it from the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in abundance in turkey meat.Bodybuilders are familiar with the form of Niacin known as nicotine acid, which causes vasodilation and may help a competitor look more vascular before going onstage. But this form of Niacin shouldn’t be used during training; large doses of nicotinic acid (50 – 100 mg) significantly impairs the body’s ability to mobilize and burn fat.7. Vitamin DVitamin D plays a crucial role in the absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus. Calcium is necessary for muscular contraction. If adequate stores of Calcium are not available in the muscle, full, hard muscular contractions cannot be sustained. Of course, Calcium is also needed for the integrity of bones, which must support increased muscle tissue and provide an anchor during muscular contraction.And don’t forget about Phosphorus. The vitamin Phosphorus helps provide quick, powerful muscular contractions, which comprise the majority of movements during weight lifting. Phosphorus is also required for the synthesis of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), the high energy molecule used by your muscle cells during contraction.This nutrient is high in the list since bodybuilders typically avoid the fat content, e.g., dairy foods. Look for vitamin D fortified foods and get in the habit of drinking at least one glass of low-fat or nonfat milk per day.8. Thiamine (vitamin B1)This B vitamin packs muscle! Thiamine is one of the vitamins required for protein metabolism and growth. It’s also involved in the formation of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body (especially working muscles). The transport of oxygen is critical to athletic performance and becomes even more important as intensity and duration of exercise increase.Making matters more interesting, Thiamine, according to research, is one of the few vitamins that enhances performance when supplemented and is increasingly needed by athletes. Not only that, but Thiamine requirements appear to be directly related to caloric expenditure. The more exercise frequency, intensity and duration increase, the more Thiamine is needed.9. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)Surprised? Most athletes don’t realize how important vitamin C status is to success. As the most widely studied vitamin in sports nutrition, Ascorbic acid has proven itself to be valuable to bodybuilders in many ways.First, vitamin C is an antioxidant, protecting muscle cells from free radical damage, thus enhancing recovery and growth.Second, Ascorbic acid is also involved with amino acid metabolism, especially the formation of Collagen. The tissue collagen is the primary constituent of connective tissue, the stuff that holds together your bones and muscles. This may not seem important, but as you lift heavier weights, the stress you put on your structure becomes tremendous. When connective tissue is not as healthy and strong as it should be (a problem often seen in steroid users), risk of injury increases dramtically.and Third, vitamin C can help with Iron absorption. Iron is necessary to help Oxygen bind to hemoglobin in blood. Without adequate oxygen transportation in blood, muscles are robbed of precious oxygen and performance is greatly reduced.Fourth, Ascorbic acid also assists in the formation and release of steroid hormones, including the anabolic hormone testosterone.Finally, vitamin C is perhaps the most water soluble vitamin there is. In other words, it diffuses very rapidly in water. Since a muscle cell is mostly water, the more muscular an athlete becomes, the more vitamin C disperses and the lower the concentration of this critical substance becomes in body tissues. So vitamin C requirements are greatly increased for bodybuilders.Bodybuilders are notorious for overlooking these key components of growth and performance. Do yourself a favor and analyze your diet to ensure you’re taking in enough of the vitamins outlined above. Remember: You could have the best diet in the world in terms of calories, fat, etc, but if you’re lacking adequate levels of these metabolic spark plugs, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.
The Undercover Vitamin – D
The Undercover Vitamin – D By David Leonhardt There is a secret vitamin in the neighborhood, wandering around your body under cover. This “vitamin” has just one single purpose, although some researchers believe he has ulterior motives. He goes by the inconspicuous codename of “D” vitamin D. Don’t be fooled by his clever disguise. D is no vitamin. He’s a steroid hormone, slipping through your body under guise of a vitamin. And he doesn’t have dozens of functions, like vitamin C or vitamin E, just one vital mission to mineralize your bones! Mineralization is a key objective of every body. Imagine if we all had flabby bones. The world would look like a Salvador Dali nightmare. Vitamin D saves us from having flabby bones. More importantly, vitamin D saves us from having brittle bones. He prevents us from rickets and osteomalacia by balancing the calcium and phosphorous in our blood. Ooh, that D is a clever one. Not only is he a master of disguises, but he is a master chemist, constantly monitoring, measuring and balancing the mix so it just right to ensure everybody has strong and healthy bones. Word on the grapevine is that 30% to 40% of hip fractures in elderly people are the result of insufficient vitamin D. So we caught up with D, and managed to slip away with a rare interview transcript: “D, some of your fans can’t get enough of you. What should they do?” “Get plenty of sun. That is the key. Where the sun touches your skin, that’s where I will be.” “But, D, what about people who can’t? What about people in the far north, or those who wear head-to-toe clothing or who are stuck indoors?” “If you find yourself overdressed in a dungeon in Mongolia, get a good multi-vitamin supplement.” “D, that’s a wonderful idea.”
“Or drink lots of milk, fortified with me, of course. Some breakfast cereals are fortified with me, too. I also hang out in a lot of saltwater fish, like tuna and sardines and herring and salmon. And I love to slip around in the ol’ cod liver oil.” “So if we can’t get enough sun, milk and fish will do the trick.” “That’s right, but be careful about milk products. Not all of them are made with fortified milk. I make no commitment to be there if they are not.” “What about the supplements, D?” “A good multivitamin supplement should do it for most people. Get a liquid supplement, cause those pills just don’t digest. You just end up flushing me down the toilet…ooh, I hate that feeling.” “Yuck.” “And you shouldn’t need a specific vitamin D supplement, because it is possible to overdose. And you wouldn’t want too much of a guy like me around.” That was all we could slip through the lines. But I think we learned a lot about what it is like to live the life of a secret vitamin. To our hero, vitamin D, we offer our best wishes. May everybody get plenty of vitamin D to keep their bones strong and healthy for many years to come. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Visit David Leonhardt’s website selling Essential Nectar natural liquid vitamins. Read more nutrition information or read about Essential Nectar’s nutritional supplements ingredients list. Related Articles – vitamins, vitamin d, bones, calcium, sunlight, diet, health, nutrition, Email this Article to a Friend!Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!
The Supervitamin-Vitamin D
Growing up I never realized the importance, until a few years ago how Vitamin D is such an amazing and important Vitamin. Vitamin D is produced in the skin when 7-Dehydrocholesterol reacts with UVB ultraviolet rays or the sun. This is also found in foods such as milk and cereal grains which are fortified with D, and other sources are fatty fish species,eggs,mushrooms and beef liver. I have been taking vitamin D for over a year now and I can tell you that my mood is much better and I have not gotten the Flu or even sick really since the inception of this powerful Vitamin. One of the other things I have noticed is how when I combine Vitamin D with other Vitamins and superfruits I have this almost unexplainable feeling of boundless energy. I have done a 180 with my entire being in terms of feeling great, having this energy and I sleep great and wake up early ready to go. Now A lack of Vitamin D can cause some issues such as peripheral artery disease,increase in high blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk. On the other hand you can also overdose on Vitamin D as well which is not as likely as not taking enough. The key to vitamin D is taking the right amount with complex B vitamins as well as a good amount of superfruits and absorption factors. You should start taking advantage of the natural energy your body has already inside and open up that door to greatness and feel like you have never felt.
Jacob Hoaglund invites you to view his articles to better inform you of the benefits of different types of Vitamins,Minerals, antioxidants and Superfruits. Jacob shows you what combinations of certain ingredients can literally change and transform your life. Jacob has been guiding people for the last 15 years on supplementation and natural energy. To use the same supplements as fitness experts and people like you and me. visit Jacob at http://www.superheroenergy.com. Related Articles – Vitamin D, powerful vitamins, have more energy, Email this Article to a Friend!Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!
The Role of Histamine in Mental Illness and its Attenuation
The Role of Histamine in Mental Illness and its Attenuation with Vitamin C – Part III
Chapter 5: Conclusions, Implications and Recommendations for Further Research Conclusions and Implications: The role of histamine in mental illness has been theorized about for several decades, but both the conventional and alternative medical fields have been very slow to respect histamines influence in mental health. In addition, the vast majority of conventional and alternative practitioners do not realize that vitamin C has potent antihistamine effects, which can be beneficial in both physical and mental health. Conventional medicine uses pharmaceutical antihistamines to treat histamine-related physical complaints, and sometimes mental ones as well. As mentioned earlier, pharmaceutical antihistamines have several side effects, including many that worsen mental health. It is lamentable that the vast majority of alternative practitioners are ignorant of vitamin Cs antihistamine effects. It is the purpose of this dissertation to convey vitamin Cs antihistamine effects, especially as it pertains to treating various forms of mental illness. The evidence for vitamin Cs positive impact on mental health is compelling. Vitamin C can act as a mild antidepressant via boosting cAMP levels. Low cAMP levels are associated with depression. Vitamin C also helps produce norepinephrine, which, like cAMP, is often low in depression. In fact, cAMP is downstream of the norepinephrine pathway, which is the pathway that many pharmaceutical antidepressants use to boost mood. Vitamin C also hydroxylates dopamine to help form norepinephrine (Goodman, et al., 1996). Vitamin C, when used in large doses, can potentially reduce anxiety (Balch & Balch, 1997). As mentioned previously, the brain constantly strives to keep the vitamin C levels constant, no matter how low the levels are in the rest of the body. So, the question arises: how can low or high vitamin C levels affect mental health, assuming that it is at a constant concentration in the brain? A plausible explanation is the following: the total vitamin C pool in the body may become more oxidized than reduced. Recall that only oxidized vitamin C enters the brain, where it is then reduced. If there are not sufficient reducing agents in the brain, then the vitamin C will remain oxidized, and therefore most of its properties rendered useless. Reduced vitamin C modulates dopamine levels in the brain, and can thus act as a natural antipsychotic by lowering high dopamine levels. It also helps secrete oxytocin, a pleasure hormone, thus improving mood. As mentioned previously, ascorbate promotes myelin formation (Rice, 2000, p. 214). Vitamin C also inhibits release of the stress hormone cortisol, which in excess for prolonged periods can precipitate depression. It also helps protect the brain from drug-induced neurotoxicity, presumably by its antioxidant effects. However, by far the most important positive effect on mental health that vitamin C has is its antihistamine effect. This is because, as mentioned before, histamine has several detrimental effects on mental health. Administration of histamine into animal brains reinforced fear memory (Blandina, et al., 2004). It is well known that histamine plays a major role in allergic reactions, and allergic people are significantly more likely to suffer from depression (Firshein, 1996; Ossofsky, 1976). Histamine itself can directly cause behavioral depression (Arrigo-Reina & Chiechio, 1998). As mentioned previously, histamine either directly or indirectly influences all other major neurotransmitters, often via inhibition of neurotransmitter release (Brown, Stevens, & Haas, 2001), thus theoretically causing anxiety, depression, or both. The anxiety may be caused by histamines inhibition of GABA, which slows nerve transmission. The depression may be caused by inhibition of the antidepressant neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. However, histamine can also release norepinephrine (Bugajski, 1984), thus potentially causing anxiety or mania. Stress often releases histamine, which in turn will help release the HPA axis stress hormones. It is known that chronic HPA activation is associated with depression and brain alterations. There is also evidence that histamine activates the calcium pathway more than the DAG pathway (Sarri, Picatoste, & Claro, 1995). There is abundant evidence that the DAG pathway is antidepressant-like, and the calcium pathway may cause depression. Besides its antihistamine effect, there are multiple sources of evidence to suggest that humans should supplement with vitamin C. Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, believes that adult humans need between two to nine grams of vitamin C daily (Haas, 1992). Animals who can synthesize vitamin C do so at 45-300 times the adult human RDA, which is about 0.9 mg/kg/day (60-90 mg/day) (Levine, 1985). For a 150 pound human, this would extrapolate to about 12 grams per day, if humans synthesized their own vitamin C. Vitamin C blood and tissue levels decline with age (Lieberman & Bruning, 1997), which is an additional reason to supplement. If vitamin C is taken as a supplement, then other supplementation should be considered, since vitamin C needs calcium, magnesium, and bioflavonoids to help its own assimilation (Balch & Balch, 1997). Recommendations for Further Research: Since vitamin C and histamine are involved in both physical and mental processes, this leads to the question of psychosomatic issues with both molecules. Recall that both molecules are also involved in the immune response and pro- or anti-allergic responses. There are three possible links between psychic state and somatic allergy. First is that allergies are produced by psychological stress. Second is that psychological stress is produced by allergies. Third is that allergic exposure can produce both psychic and somatic responses. This third link has been proven in a double-blind study (King, 1981). As mentioned earlier, allergy-mediated histamine release is associated with various mental reactions. There have been various theories on the molecular basis of mental illness for several decades. The first theory is called the monoamine theory, formed in the 1950s and 1960s. It proposes that abnormal brain function is directly dependent on fluctuating monoamine levels (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, GABA). Interestingly, histamine was not included in the original monoamine theory, probably due to the lack of research at the time regarding its mental health effects. At that time, doctors would most often give only antidepressants to depressed patients, and benzodiazepins (ex. Xanax, Valium) to anxious people. The second theory is the comorbid theory, which dominated psychiatric philosophy in the 1990s. It was formed after the realization that drugs such as Prozac could singlehandedly reduce both depression and anxiety. The third is the subsyndromal theory, which evolved from the discovery that the vast majority of anxious people have some depression, and vice versa. The philosophy of the subsyndromal theory is basically in-between the monoamine and comorbid theories. The discovery that histamine can inhibit all other major neurotransmitters suggests taking another look at the original monoamine hypothesis of mental illness. It is known that dopamine tends to be high in psychosis, norepinephrine high in mania, and serotonin low in depression. It could be postulated that psychotics have a dopaminergic-dominated neurotransmitter system, bipolars a norepinephrine-dominated neurotransmitter system, and depressives a serotonin-dominated neurotransmitter system. The fourth major monoamine, histamine, may very well be dominant in atopic (allergic) people. People with histaminergic-dominant neurotransmitter systems could have a very wide variety of mental illnesses, since histamine affects the release of all major neurotransmitters. The biochemical characterization of the histaminergic person may therefore be of interest to practitioners in order to help that person physically and mentally. This characterization leads to the topic of metabolic typing, described below. In the emerging nutritional science of metabolic typing, people are asked a series of questions to determine what type of biochemistry they have. Some people are slow oxidizers and tend to be sympathetic nervous system dominants. Those people do better on carbohydrates. Others are fast oxidizers and tend to be parasympathetic nervous system dominants. These people do better with more fat and protein in their diet. Too many carbohydrates for a fast oxidizer can bring a lot of physical and mental problems. Since histamine is a stimulatory molecule, it may hasten oxidation, and histaminergic types may want to consider limiting carbohydrates. There is some evidence to suggest that histamine is involved in creating the parasympathetic dominant biochemistry in a person. The parasympathetic branch of the CNS is responsible for decreased heart rate and increased digestive secretions, both of which are also caused by histamine release. Also, physical tendencies of parasympathetic dominants include allergies and excessive appetite (Wolcott & Fahey, 2002). Histamine is a major cause of allergies and its stimulatory effect on digestion can result in excessive appetite. Besides its antihistamine effect, vitamin C can help a persons biochemistry in other, more subtle ways. Vitamin C can be purchased as straight ascorbic acid, or the pH neutral calcium ascorbate or sodium ascorbate. For people who are sympathetic dominants, straight ascorbic acid should be tried, since those types of people may not have sufficient hydrochloric acid secretions. The loosely bound hydrogen from the ascorbic acids hydroxyl group will dissociate in the stomach and help digest protein. Ascorbic acid may also be helpful to balance the blood pH of people with metabolic alkalosis. Conversely, parasympathetics, who tend to have robust hydrochloric acid production, should try calcium ascorbate, since the ascorbate will accept excess hydrogen ions in the stomach. Calcium ascorbate taken in large doses may help neutralize acid reflux. Calcium is also good for parasympathetics, since it slows down oxidation (Wolcott and Fahey, 2002). Calcium ascorbate may help balance the blood pH of people who have metabolic acidosis. Other future research may concentrate on how megadosing with vitamin C affects mental health quantitatively. There has already been research proving that vitamin C intake enhances mood (Brody, 2002; Balch & Balch, 1997). So far, there has not been a large study to see if vitamin C alone can significantly reduce depression or anxiety, either in conventional or alternative medicine. There are two main clinical scales to measure depression and anxiety—the Hamilton depression scale and the Hamilton anxiety scale. It would be of interest to see if vitamin C alone could significantly reduce depression and/or anxiety. Since different people have different biochemistry, the question arises of how much vitamin C is needed daily by a person for physical and mental health. One of the best ways to test how much vitamin C a person needs is to have them do an ascorbic acid flush. This can be done with both ascorbic acid and calcium/sodium ascorbate. The protocol can be varied, but it usually consists of a person taking 1-2 grams of vitamin C every hour until bowel tolerance occurs (diarrhea). The grams of vitamin C are counted and recorded. The final gram(s) that cause bowel tolerance are usually multiplied by 50-80%, and that is the baseline daily dose that the person should take from then on. For example, if 18 grams causes bowel tolerance, than 9-16 grams is the daily baseline amount. If the person is under an unusual amount of stress, or has a viral infection, the baseline can be raised until bowel tolerance occurs at a higher level than before. Again, the new temporary bowel tolerance is lowered a certain percentage until the stressor abates. Summary: The contents of this dissertation have introduced a multidimensional model for the attenuation of histamine-related mental illness via vitamin C supplementation. Both histamine and vitamin C affect the human body on multiple levels. Histamine plays many different roles in the body, including neuromodulation, neurotransmission, allergic mediator, inflammatory mediator, and gastric acid secretion stimulator. When histamine levels are in the normal range, the above processes are usually in equilibrium and functioning optimally. It is when histamine levels become too low or high that trouble can arise. One of the roles of vitamin C in the body is to modulate histamine levels; if histamine levels are low, vitamin C administration will cause small amounts of histamine to be released. When histamine levels are abnormally high, vitamin C acts as an antihistamine, destroying excess histamine and thus bringing this chemical down to normal physiological levels. In addition to its antihistamine effect, vitamin C has many other actions on the body. Like histamine, vitamin C is also both a neuromodulator and an immunomodulator. In fact, based on the information earlier in this dissertation, it is not an exaggeration to state that vitamin C is histamines counterpart and molecular watchdog. Unfortunately for humans, vitamin C cannot be synthesized in the body, so it must be supplemented either in food or nutritional supplements. If humans could synthesize vitamin C, a 150 pound person would make roughly 12 grams of vitamin C daily. Thats 133-200 times the US RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamin C. This statistic underscores the fact that there is a huge difference between the RDA of vitamin C designed to prevent rare diseases, and the optimal amount to sustain physical and mental health. Sub-optimal amounts of vitamin C in the blood and tissues can allow histamine to rise to dangerous levels. Histamine competes with other neurotransmitters, and excess histamine can end up dominating and inhibiting other neurotransmitters. This can lead to anxiety and/or depression. Histamine sometimes releases norepinephrine and dopamine, and these two neurotransmitters in excess can precipitate mania and psychosis, respectively. Histamine may also be involved in ADD (Passani, Bacciottini, Mannaioni, & Blandina, 2000). Stress releases histamine, which then in turn releases various stress hormones that can result in serious bodily harm if the stress is chronic. Just as histamine dominates other neurotransmitters, it also can deregulate the HPA axis by overstimulation of the pituitary and adrenal glands. The molecule cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an extremely important regulator of metabolism. Robust levels allow the maintenance of both physical and mental health. Low levels can result in asthma, depression, and possibly even cancer. Histamine lowers cAMP levels, by a mechanism that is not completely elucidated; it may have to do with the calcium pathway antagonizing the cAMP pathway. Vitamin C boosts cAMP levels by at least three methods: directly degrading histamine, synergism with cAMP producers, and inhibiting the enzyme (phosphodiesterase) that degrades cAMP. In this way it can attenuate, prevent, or even reverse asthma, depression, and cancer. Vitamin C also helps reverse asthma by slowing down synthesis of the inflammatory mediators arachidonic acid (AA) and PGF2a. cAMP also inhibits histamine release (Mohsenin & Dubois, 1987). It has been shown in this dissertation that vitamin C is very beneficial for mental health in many different ways. Vitamin C benefits mental health both with its antihistamine effects and in numerous other ways as well. It is very unfortunate that humans cannot synthesize their own vitamin C. Animals who synthesize their own vitamin C develop cancer much less than humans. 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The Risks Of Heart Disease And Stroke Can Be Lowered
The Risks Of Heart Disease And Stroke Can Be Lowered With Vitamin B12 And Folic Acid
Without enough B12 in your diet can affect the ability to think, be productive and to fight heart disease. A B12 deficiency can lead to heart disease, coronary disease, deterioration of the nervous systems and brain damage. A deficiency in B12 will cause problems in regeneration of the myelin sheath ( this covers the nerve cells of the body). This can cause the brains ability to function properly and your ability to handle stress.
If the body doesnt have enough B12, the body cant manufacture blood which can lead to anemia. B12 is needed in maintaining memory and without it, you can develop fatigue ,diarrhea, memory loss, anemia, and poor nerve function.
B12 is also known to lower the blood level of homocysteine. Homocysteine is amino acid protein, that without B12 in the blood can cause inflammation. Homocysteine is now considered a more important indicator for heart disease and stroke than the cholesterol levels weve been using in the past. With heart disease and stroke being the main causes of death in America, lowering your level of homocysteine in the blood is an important factor and it has been proven that B12 is one of the nutrients that can do this.
B12 and Folic Acid have been shown to help prevent migraines and age related degeneration. Headaches and their severity have been proven to be reduced when homocysteine levels were brought down into normal levels. The risk of age-related macular degeneration has been proven to increase four-fold when there is a lowered level of B12 (under 125 pmol/L).
Research being done at the University of British Columbia, Canada have shown that high homocysteine levels may be related to kidney disease, psoriasis, breast cancer, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The research has also been link between development of neural-tube defects and babies and the mothers homocysteine levels prior to and during her pregnancy.
Medical Doctors of Wisconsin agree with the findings of the Canadian researchers in a separate report.
B12 is hard to digest in the stomach, so a sublingual administration is advisable. A deficiency of B12 can be correct either through diet or injections.
To reduce homocysteine levels as little as 400 micrograms per day folic acid is needed but research has recommended that it be taken in conjunction with B12 (50-1000 micrograms/day), to achieve the best results.