Vitamins: Part 2

The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) were introduced in 1993 as a way to expound on the outdated RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of vitamins.

The DRI includes four subcategories, as follows:

RDA (now as the Recommended Dietary Allowance) - This is figured to be the daily average intake level of a micronutrient required to meet the need of 97-98% of the healthy people of any given life stage & gender group. It is not a goal for planning or assessing a diet, but a goal for intake.

Adequate Intake Level/AI - Based on experimentally determined or observed estimates of the vitamin intake of healthy people that is assumed to be adequate. Used when EAR cannot be determined.

Tolerable Upper Intake Level/UI - Estimated maximum level at which a nutrient is thought to be safe. Increased risk goes up as ingestion goes above this level.

Estimated Adequate Intake (EAR) - This is the average daily nutrient intake level estimates to meet the requirement of 50% of the individuals in a particular life stage/ gender group. It is population weighed and is considered to be the most accurate reflection of food-nutrient needs of a group, excluding young children and pregnant/lactating women, whose needs differ greatly.

In closing it is important to note that these are reference values for planning & assessing diets for a healthy population. The RDA & AI levels should keep a healthy person from developing symptoms of a deficiency, but they are not intended to replenish undernourished people nor may they be adequate for people in states of dis-ease.

I hope this clears some thing up. For more information on the requirements and sources of each vitamin, stay tuned for upcoming articles, or follow the link provided. Thank You!


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Vitamins--Part-2/34411
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Nutrition Food Labels - How to Read and Understand the Facts

Every food item you buy must list the nutritional food facts somewhere on its label. The trouble is, most of us have no idea how to read them. Sure, the label may say the food we've chosen has 10g of sodium, but what does that really mean? Let's take a look at some common nutrition food facts to find out.

Nutrition food labels clearly outline the nutrients found in foods using grams (g) or milligrams (mg). Milligrams are very small. As a matter of fact, you could fit 1,000 milligrams in a single gram.

In addition to listing the grams of nutrients found in the foods we eat, nutritional fact labels also give the daily percentage of that nutrient a single serving of that food includes. Keep in mind that these percentages are based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet, so if you are eating less than that the percentages would actually be higher.

Now, let's take a closer look at individual nutrition facts listed on most food labels:

Serving Size:
Serving size is the amount of food being detailed within the nutrition label. It is very important to always check the serving size since one package or container may contain several serving sizes, so if you eat the entire thing the nutritional facts need to be multiplied accordingly.

Calories and Calories From Fat:
The number of calories in a single tells you the amount of energy that is found in that particular food. While the number of calories is important, the calories from fat is even more important since they will be harder for your body to burn.

Percent Daily Value:
A daily allowance is the percentage of food/nutrient you should consumer in a day. So, if you eat a food with 445% of your daily allowance of sodium, you must be careful not eat more items with high sodium content for the rest of the day. Staying within these limits ensures that you are getting just the right amount of each nutrient every day ofr optimal health.

Total Fat:
Everyone needs to eat a certain amount of fat to remain healthy and strong - but eat too much and you'll become sluggish, depressed and unhealthy. Food labels list several different kinds of fat for better regulation: saturated, unsaturated, and trans fat.

Cholesterol and Sodium:
Cholesterol and sodium (salt) are usually measured in milligrams and are featured on food labels for those people who must restrict their intake of these nutrients.

Total Carbohydrate:
You need carbohydrates for energy. But too many can make you fat and cause other health concerns. Carbohydrate levels are usually broken down into grams of sugar and grams of dietary fiber on most food labels.

Protein:
Protein helps the human body build and repair essential parts of the body, such as muscles, blood, and organs. It is usually measured in grams.

Vitamin A and Vitamin C:
These list the amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C, with each amount given as a percent daily value.

Calcium and Iron:
Calcium and iron are essential for a healthy body. These minerals are usually listed as daily percentages per serving.

Now that you can understand your food labels better, start checking out what you're eating and how much of a good thing (or not so good thing) you're getting with each meal and snack.


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Nutrition-Food-Labels---How-to-Read-and-Understand-the-Facts/34288
Acne Skin Care Solutions

Vitamins: An Introduction

Vitamins and minerals are part of our daily lives. But how much do we really know about them? This article will give you a brief introduction to some, a re-acquaintance to others.

It is best to obtain your vitamins and minerals, aka micronutrients, from whole, organic foods. This may not give us all that we need though, and supplementation is often required.

There are two types of vitamins, those that dissolve in fats and oils, and those that dissolve in water. These are called fat soluble or water soluble, depending on what they dissolve in.

Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the body, so build up and therefore toxicity can occur. These are vitamins A, D, E, F, & K.

The water soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are not stored in the body. They are made of the B-group, C, & P, and are lost through perspiration as well as urination. It is necessary to maintain a daily intake of these vitamins in order to avoid deficiencies in them.

We are used to the RDA as our way of figuring out what we need of each vitamin on a daily basis. This stands for the Recommended Daily Allowance, and has been in use since the 1940's. It is a standard dependent on only estimations, and assumes that we know all there is to know about micronutrients. These differ from country to country, and are the minimum requirements to avoid deficiency.

New standards have been proposed to update the RDA, this was back in 1993. This breaks vitamin requirements into different calculations, as follows: The RDA is still in there, but as Recommended DIETARY Intake, there's also the Adequate Intake Levels (AI), the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), and the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UI). To learn about these in further detail, please follow the link!


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Vitamins--An-Introduction/34322
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Vitamins: An Introduction Posted By : Mel Possehl..

Vitamins and minerals are part of our daily lives. But how much do we really know about them? This article will give you a brief introduction to some, a re-acquaintance to others.

It is best to obtain your vitamins and minerals, aka micronutrients, from whole, organic foods. This may not give us all that we need though, and supplementation is often required.

There are two types of vitamins, those that dissolve in fats and oils, and those that dissolve in water. These are called fat soluble or water soluble, depending on what they dissolve in.

Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the body, so build up and therefore toxicity can occur. These are vitamins A, D, E, F, & K.

The water soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are not stored in the body. They are made of the B-group, C, & P, and are lost through perspiration as well as urination. It is necessary to maintain a daily intake of these vitamins in order to avoid deficiencies in them.

We are used to the RDA as our way of figuring out what we need of each vitamin on a daily basis. This stands for the Recommended Daily Allowance, and has been in use since the 1940's. It is a standard dependent on only estimations, and assumes that we know all there is to know about micronutrients. These differ from country to country, and are the minimum requirements to avoid deficiency.

New standards have been proposed to update the RDA, this was back in 1993. This breaks vitamin requirements into different calculations, as follows: The RDA is still in there, but as Recommended DIETARY Intake, there's also the Adequate Intake Levels (AI), the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), and the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UI). To learn about these in further detail, please follow the link!


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Vitamins--An-Introduction/34322
Acne Skin Care Solutions

Iodine Deficient? A Simple Self-Test Can Show You Now

In the United States alone, nearly 13 million people suffer from some type of thyroid imbalance and are, usually, totally unaware of it. Iodine is a necessary nutrient, not only for proper thyroid functioning but, it is also essential for the normal functioning of body cells, nervous system, muscles, brain development, oxygen utilization, metabolism, a strong immune system, and a whole lot more. Understanding how important a critical trace mineral is, such as this one, to your overall health is well worth the time spent in learning more.

Many people who were deficient in iodine have witnessed some amazingly positive results from supplementation. While it is commonly recognized in the traditional medical community, in how this mineral plays an important role in helping hormone production in the thyroid gland. Common symptoms of thyroid malfunctioning are; fatigue, unexplained weight loss or gain, muscle weakness, hair loss, concentration problems, increased allergies, fluid retention, and being irritable.

According to Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D., a former professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and endocrinology at the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine, and a leading authority on iodine says, the limits of sufficient iodine levels in the human body go far beyond this, other possible body healing functions of iodine include:

1.Regulates moods
2.Prevents cancer (especially in breasts, ovaries, uterus, prostate, and thyroid gland)
3.Prevents and treats fibrocystic breasts in women
4.Regulates blood pressure
5.Helps regulate blood sugar, and prevents and treats diabetes
6.Helps to prevent abnormal cardiac rhythms

Dr. Abraham noticed that Japanese women have one of the lowest incidences of having breast cancer in the world. They typically eat more than 13 mg of iodine daily, in the form of seaweed, without suffering any ill side effects. It is also important to mention here, that most physicians consider doses above 2 mg a day to be potentially toxic.

When Dr. Abraham began his iodine research work, back in 1998, he discovered many other positive benefits of treating iodine deficiencies in patients with doses far above the standard recommended daily dose of 2 mg.

He noted that back in 1820 a French physician named Jean Lugol also used higher doses above 2 mg to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Dr. Lugol successfully treated many different infectious conditions with his own specifically designed solution, which is still available today by prescription, known as 'Lugols's solution'.

Iodine tends to have antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antifungal qualities, it also enhances immune function.

Suboptimal iodine intake levels contribute to various thyroid abnormalities, besides the obvious thyroid goiter condition (swelling of the throat). Common problems are still seen today such as hypothyroidism (underactive), hyperthyroidism (overactive), and autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid (Hashimoto's disease).

Most people get enough iodine in their diet from seafood and iodized salt. But, only about 50 percent of Americans use iodized salt. Due to battling high blood pressure, they have been blitzed by standard medical hype, and media attention, that reducing their salt intake is a smart move. However, high blood pressure is more directly caused by the body's adaption to severe dehydration. Learn more about salt and water's many health giving benefits by visiting Dr. F. Batmanghelidj's, author of "Your Body's Many Cries For Water", website called watercure.

One gram of refined iodized table salt, which has a high chloride content, contains 77 mcg of iodine. Some experts estimate that only about 10 percent of this iodine can be absorbed by the body. Therefore, a superior form of salt is needed by your body. A better source of iodine and several other trace minerals, which is naturally present in unrefined sea salt, is a wiser choice. It will cost considerably more but, the health benefits are worth it. You can find this type of salt in most health food stores.

Other sources of iodine in our diets comes from dairy products, meat, and eggs. The level of iodine can have varying amounts, though, depending on contents of animal feed. About 40 years ago, iodate was used as a bread stabilizer in commercially produced baked goods, further increasing our iodine intake. Recently this practice has declined, in the last 30 years, with iodate being replaced with bromide as it was considered to be safer. Other dietary sources are certain multivitamins, and ingesting so-called health foods such as kelp. They are, however, largely unregulated and unrecognized.

If you suspect you might be deficient in this necessary trace mineral you can perform a simple self test, although it may not be completely accurate. Paint a two inch spot on a soft skin tissue area such as your inner upper arm, or upper thigh, with tincture of iodine. If it takes longer than 18 hours for the stain to disappear, it is a good indicator you are iodine sufficient. If it absorbs more quickly, say 2 to 3 hours, you may possibly need to supplement. You may, then, want to have a more accurate, in depth, simple saliva or urine test performed.

Iodine utilization problems can be further restricted by ingesting goitrogens (substances that may cause enlargement of the thyroid gland) such as fluoride, bromine and bromides, and chlorine. The neat thing about being sufficient in this mineral, is that Dr. Abraham's work showed that sufficient iodine levels help promote the excretion of toxic minerals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium out of the body, and the halogens fluoride and bromide as well.

Water is the main fluid choice that will help flush these harmful substances out of you, more quickly and efficiently than any other beverage. That is something you will be able to see and feel, as water is the basis for all sound nutritional diet success stories.

Brenda Skidmore has spent the last four plus years actively researching natural health care alternatives. It is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your health today visit mywater4life


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Iodine-Deficient--A-Simple-Self-Test-Can-Show-You-Now/33515
Stop Smoking Online

The Cornerstones To Better Health

How would you rate your own overall health on a scale of 1-10 right now (10 being top marks, 1 being lowest)?

I can tell you personally after coaching with more than a thousand people the average is between 4-6. The lower of those scores being the folks with aches, pains, weight or other issues, running through to the higher grades that gave answers such as; 'I used to be really fit, but then I just got a bit lazy', or 'I know I should do something about this (pain/flab/headache, etc) but I never get around to it.

The big 'W' weight.
Above all, being overweight and unfit are the two biggest culprits that can then open the door to so many other conditions and illnesses. According to a report by the Royal College of Physicians, the Faculty of Public Health, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health over half the UK population are either overweight or obese (with a body mass index of more than 30), which breaks down to 70% of men and 63% of women.

Currently, one in 5 adults and one in 20 children under the age of 16 are obese, and if current trends continue it is estimated that at least one third of adults & children will be obese by 2020 - and these figures are more or less similar in other developed or developing countries around the world. I'm not writing this simply to shock you, but to impress upon you the absolute importance of maintaining your body in as good a shape as possible.

People come to me in coaching to help them create a great business plan, to move forward in some area of their life, to stoke up their motivation in a project. Yet, the one most solid basis for any of that is to be as healthy as possible. In creating a healthy life plan, to be in optimum health, is the one sure-fire way of achieving that success. Most experts believe there are 4 basic areas to achieving a better quality of health.

* Belief systems.
* Food & eating habits.
* Exercise.
* Support.

Belief Systems.
Simply, what goes on in your head creates who you are and what you do with your life. That's wonderful if all is well. If however, something is not as you want, whether it is health, career, finance, etc, one of the first areas to look at should be belief, because what you believe you generally create.

Food & eating habits.
You already know this! There has now been so much information on nutrition, diets, slimming, weight loss, optimum health and the like published that unless you've been living on Pluto the last few decades you must have been aware of at least some of it. What those articles don't tackle however, is what might be right for you. We are all different; we all enjoy, and dislike different things. Therefore, taking an individual approach, one that works for you, is key to achieving success.

Exercise.
Exercise should be tailored to your own body, age and lifestyle. It's like saying 'everyone likes ice cream' sure, some people do, though even with those, some would prefer chocolate, vanilla or strawberry.

Exercise can be so much more than going to the gym. If you have a fabulous gym near you that fires your imagination, then that's great. However, if not, then ask yourself 'what would be a fun way for me to raise my energy with?' A couple of my friends bought inline roller skates and spend Sunday's rolling around the park. Another rents a bike and takes a day trip to the country.

What would it be for you, because if you do find the fun in exercise it's the one area that'll affect all others?

Support.
This doesn't mean someone doing all the work for you. It doesn't mean that if you don't have the support of your partner or best friend it can't be done, and it certainly doesn't mean that if you can't afford a personal trainer or nutritionist, better health & fitness are impossible.

What it DOES mean is that you can begin today to support yourself better and more systematically. Do whatever you need to do to take ownership of your own well-being and begin the journey to achieving better, more vibrant health for you.


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/The-Cornerstones-To-Better-Health/33806

Nutrition Food Labels How to Read and Understand the Facts

Every food item you buy must list the nutritional food facts somewhere on its label. The trouble is, most of us have no idea how to read them. Sure, the label may say the food we've chosen has 10g of sodium, but what does that really mean? Let's take a look at some common nutrition food facts to find out.

Nutrition food labels clearly outline the nutrients found in foods using grams (g) or milligrams (mg). Milligrams are very small. As a matter of fact, you could fit 1,000 milligrams in a single gram.

In addition to listing the grams of nutrients found in the foods we eat, nutritional fact labels also give the daily percentage of that nutrient a single serving of that food includes. Keep in mind that these percentages are based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet, so if you are eating less than that the percentages would actually be higher.

Now, let's take a closer look at individual nutrition facts listed on most food labels:

Serving Size:
Serving size is the amount of food being detailed within the nutrition label. It is very important to always check the serving size since one package or container may contain several serving sizes, so if you eat the entire thing the nutritional facts need to be multiplied accordingly.

Calories and Calories From Fat:
The number of calories in a single tells you the amount of energy that is found in that particular food. While the number of calories is important, the calories from fat is even more important since they will be harder for your body to burn.

Percent Daily Value:
A daily allowance is the percentage of food/nutrient you should consumer in a day. So, if you eat a food with 445% of your daily allowance of sodium, you must be careful not eat more items with high sodium content for the rest of the day. Staying within these limits ensures that you are getting just the right amount of each nutrient every day ofr optimal health.

Total Fat:
Everyone needs to eat a certain amount of fat to remain healthy and strong - but eat too much and you'll become sluggish, depressed and unhealthy. Food labels list several different kinds of fat for better regulation: saturated, unsaturated, and trans fat.

Cholesterol and Sodium:
Cholesterol and sodium (salt) are usually measured in milligrams and are featured on food labels for those people who must restrict their intake of these nutrients.

Total Carbohydrate:
You need carbohydrates for energy. But too many can make you fat and cause other health concerns. Carbohydrate levels are usually broken down into grams of sugar and grams of dietary fiber on most food labels.

Protein:
Protein helps the human body build and repair essential parts of the body, such as muscles, blood, and organs. It is usually measured in grams.

Vitamin A and Vitamin C:
These list the amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C, with each amount given as a percent daily value.

Calcium and Iron:
Calcium and iron are essential for a healthy body. These minerals are usually listed as daily percentages per serving.

Now that you can understand your food labels better, start checking out what you're eating and how much of a good thing (or not so good thing) you're getting with each meal and snack.
Source: http://www.profoundarticles.com/articledetail.php?artid=67353&catid=720
Natural Weight Loss Tips

How to Find Free Diet Programs Online

Finding free diet programs online is not as easy as you would think. Most of the currently popular programs, like the Zone Diet(r), Jenny Craig(r) and Weight Watchers(r), can only be purchased - either as books or by signing up for monthly dues or packaged food plans.

However, not all is lost if you really want to find a diet that works, but you don't want to break your budget. The new expensive programs are not the only diet programs that work. In fact, some of the healthiest menu plans and dietary programs were first written at the beginning of the 20th century, by the pioneers in the science of nature healing, or naturopathy.

Many modern weight loss programs are direct descendants of the dietary plans created by these healing men and women, who treated many chronic ailments, including obesity, with their simple, well-thought out menu plans. And yes, they still work to help you lose weight and improve your general health.

Back then, bad eating habits were not yet considered "normal," so doctors who paid attention could easily see there was a difference in health between those who ate good food in moderation, and those who were more careless with their diets and ate too many rich foods.

Obesity was much less common then, too, and it was seen as a symptom of illness, not a cosmetic problem as it is often seen today.

Some doctors, such as William Howard Hay, MD, went far beyond treating mere symptoms of illness, but tried instead to improve the general health of his patients though a regimen of good food and exercise. Dr. Hay wrote extensively about the issues of diet and health, and managed one of the country's most famous health spas.

As his patients regained their health they also lost any excess weight their previously unhealthy bodies had been carrying, because their digestive organs were now more efficient in ridding the body of it's toxins, including excess fat.

Unfortunately, his writing style is now so outdated that his excellent ideas are mostly lost to the modern reader, who may not have the patience to read his books on diet and health. In his books, Dr. Hay outlined a full dietary prescription for his patients and their families, and in many ways his recommendations are actually healthier than many popular diets today.

For instance, he seemed to know intuitively that an ultra-low-fat diet would cause his patients to overcompensate by eating other rich foods, such as those high in sugar and simple carbohydrates. Recent studies have shown this to be the case, and it may be one of the reasons why Americans continue to gain weight, and the adult-onset diabetes rate continues to soar, in spite of all the low-fat foods in our diets.

The good doctor also seemed to realize that humans have an instinctive desire for sweet foods, but he knew that refined sugar and flour would promote illness. His diet menus included fruit at almost every meal, and both lunch and dinner included a small sweet dessert.

These desserts were the only foods in which any refined sugar was allowed. He stated that these small treats were acceptable because there were no other rich, heavy foods in his menus, like the noodles and white bread that are so often found on the American table.

His menus included all the nutrients that health requires, with an emphasis on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, along with grilled beef, lamb and fish. Many meals began with a soup and steamed vegetable, and included a large salad with oil or mayonnaise dressing, broiled fish or meat, and a small dessert. Each meal was carefully planned according to his theories about proper combinations of foods, and his concerns about good digestive health.

So, if you're looking for a truly free online diet to help you lose weight, look for the books and pamphlets written by the pioneers of natural healing, who wrote extensively in the first quarter of the 20th century. Dr. Hay's books are no longer in print, but they can be found online, for free.

Much of his writing style may be difficult to read, but his theories are sound and based on solid, scientific dietary principals that still hold up to modern scrutiny. People who choose to follow his recommendations will lose weight if they need to, and will find their general health improving, too.
Source: http://www.profoundarticles.com/articledetail.php?artid=67313&catid=720
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How to Manage Your Mood with Food: A Meal by Meal Guide Posted By : Susie Cortright

Here is a meal by meal guide to eating for energy and managing your mood with food.

Breakfast

Eating a good breakfast boosts your concentration and revs your energy, particularly in the morning when you may need it most.

You can help keep your blood sugar on an even keel with complex carbohydrates. Avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white sugar. These have a high glycemic index, which can cause spikes and dips in your blood sugar levels.

The right complex carbohydrates provide your brain and muscles with the steady flow of the energy they need. Grains are great sources of B vitamins, which aid in the metabolic production of energy. Natural whole grain breads and cereals are good carbohydrate choices for breakfast.

For the best breakfast, add a lowfat protein, such as yogurt, cottage cheese, or skim milk, and watch your fat intake as well as your meat consumption (since meat takes more energy to digest).

Mid morning snack

Turns out, snacking may not be such a bad idea. Eating every few hours helps your body use nutrients more efficiently. It stimulates your metabolism, keeps your blood sugar levels steady, reduces stress on your digestive system, and decreases hunger, which means you will be less likely to overeat when mealtime finally rolls around.

If you are craving carbs, which many of us do at this time of day, choose whole grain bread, cereal, or fruit.

Fruits and vegetables deliver a lowfat, high fiber alternative to the vending machine choices. Raw carrots and sugar snap peas, for example, provide a crisp, satisfying crunch and will not zap your energy. Challenge yourself to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

For maximum energy throughout the day, avoid foods that are laden with simple sugars, such as cookies, pastries, candy bars, and sodas, which can bring on erratic blood sugar levels.

Instead, try some lean protein (lowfat yogurt, cottage cheese or lean meat) to help tide you over until lunch.

Lunch

At midday, go light. Because a hefty helping of carbohydrates can increase the amount of seratonin in the brain and cause that sleepy feeling, focus on lowfat protein.

Protein can actually raise energy levels by increasing brain chemicals called catecholamines. Eat a lunch of lowfat cheese, fish, lean meat, poultry, or tofu.

Mid afternoon snack

Choose something that will keep you satisfied until dinner. A little bit of fat is fine. It gives those carbohydrates and proteins some staying power. Try a bit of all natural peanut butter and a few crackers, for example.

Before your workout

Carbohydrates are fastest to digest and pack quick energy. Add protein for staying power, but stay away from fats. They can make you cramp.

Dinner

The agenda for the evening can dictate what you will eat for dinner. Need to stay on overdrive for a couple of hours? Choose lowfat proteins. If you are in relax mode, indulge a little.

Whatever is on the menu, remember the Pie Test. Envision your plate as a pie. Seventy five percent of the pie should be filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains and 25 percent with other foods, such as diary products and meat.

Before bed

Before turning in, a carbohydrate rich snack can supply seratonin to help you fall asleep. But go easy. Too much food can reduce the quality of your sleep.


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/How-to-Manage-Your-Mood-with-Food--A-Meal-by-Meal-Guide/33857
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