By Katherine Preston, Absolute Fitness
Columns
Jan 28, 2009
Make sure vitamin C is part of your daily routine

Cough, sniffle, ah-ah-achooo! There’s no denying it- we’re in the midst of winter. And it’s not just the deep snow and cold temperatures that are the telltale indicators. Wherever you turn, there’s someone sneezing, coughing or fighting a nasal drip. For years, there’s been ongoing controversy regarding the effects of Vitamin C on the common cold. While some research strongly supports the belief that Vitamin C undeniably fights colds, other research is skeptical. Regardless of the varying arguments out there, our bodies do need this special vitamin for a variety of reasons.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) assists in the repair, maintenance and growth of all bodily tissue, right down to the cellular level. Without Vitamin C, we couldn’t manufacture a very important protein called collagen, which is needed to heal wounds, rejuvenate skin, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and scar tissue. As well, this vitamin carries the task of maintaining/ repairing our bones, teeth, and cartilage.

Vitamin C also acts as an anti-oxidant by putting up a barrier against free radicals which could cause havoc inside us. (Note: free radicals can result as by-products when our food changes into useful energy.) As the amount of free radicals increases within us, numerous health issues such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, anemia, aging and degeneration may result. And the list goes on! Pollutants and chemical toxins add to the store of free radicals.

Our strongest defense?

Vitamin E – and vitamin C. With theses vitamins, our immune systems are greatly strengthened to help us ward off illness. In fact, they are some of the most effective anti-oxidants that our bodies need to win the fight against destructive free radicals. Unfortunately, we can’t produce our own supply of Vitamin C – it must come from external sources. We can’t store it either, because it’s water soluble and not fat soluble. (Any surplus is eliminated through urine.) Therefore, the supply of Vitamin C must be ongoing and part of our daily food regime.

Where can we find vitamin C?

Fruits and vegetables are great sources. However, be selective as some are higher than others. Good sources include: citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, mango, papaya, pineapple) and pure juices, berries (blue, red, cran, raspberries), kiwi, tomatoes, peppers (green, red, yellow), leafy green vegetables, potatoes, melon (cantaloupe, honey dew, water, etc.), broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, squash and brussels sprouts.

The daily recommended intake varies according to age and gender (especially for adolescents and adults.) Consult your doctor for your recommended daily intake, which may also be affected by your health status. And beware: smoking depletes your body’s daily amount of vitamin C; an extra 35 mg/day is needed if you smoke.

When planning your meals, include foods high in this valuable vitamin. And remember: like milk, Vitamin C is also one of the great choices you could consume after a workout. Not only will it help in the repair of tissue after exercise, its natural sugars will address any lows in your glycemic index, which can alter with increased energy demands. Vitamin C is found in good carbohydrates. Unlike proteins and fat, carbs begin breaking down with your saliva, thus providing the body with quick energy.

So next time you’re feeling fatigued, hungry or thirsty, reach for a refreshing citrus fruit, berries or glass of pure juice and enjoy the many benefits of this valuable vitamin.

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Contact Katherine Preston at absfit@cogeco.ca or http://home.cogeco.ca/~absfit

You probably haven’t ever heard of an antioxidant known as coenzyme Q-10.  It doesn’t exactly have a ring to it, but it is one of the vitamins and supplements that are coming to the forefront when it comes to fighting heart disease.  Coenzyme Q-10 is a vitamin-like substance that resembles vitamin E, but which may be an even more powerful antioxidant.   It also goes by the name ubiquinone.  

Coenzyme Q-10 is being hailed by scientists as one of the brightest new antioxidants around for postponing aging and preventing or treating heart disease.  It is most easily found in salmon, but it has been synthesized into a supplement that is available at health food stores.  Because it hasn’t been tested as much as other vitamins and supplements no one is quite sure of the dosage to take, but as you age, your body produces less of it.  This happens around the age of twenty, often leaving most people with a deficit by the age of forty.  Studies on the cells of aged and diseased hearts have shown them to have serious deficiencies of coenzyme Q-10.  The most sensible way to correct this appears to be to take coenzyme Q-10 as a supplement.

However, no one is quite sure how this untested antioxidant actually works.  What they do know is that coenzyme Q-10 is an antioxidant that works similar to vitamin E in that it protects fat molecules being oxidized or damaged by free radicals.  It does this by stabilizing the membrane of the fat cells and then (read more…)

 There are two B vitamins in particular that can prevent illnesses and help you lead a healthier life.  These are vitamin B12 and vitamin B6.  While many people are aware of the positive benefits of vitamins C and E, less people know about the strength of these two B vitamins.   However, the amazing thing about these two B vitamins is that they are now being proven to help specifically prevent deterioration of both your brain and your immune system.  So vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 are definitely two supplements that will compliment the other vitamins you may be taking.

This is especially true when it comes to brain function. As you age, your stomach progressively secretes fewer acids that are necessary to absorb vitamin B12 from food into your system.  A vitamin B12 deficiency can develop over the years and may start affecting the brain and the nervous system.  If this occurs, dementia and other psychiatric disorders are likely to be the result.  Since recent studies have shown that at least 20% of people over 60 are not getting enough B12, this may be cause for concern to older people.  The sooner a B12 deficiency is detected, the better.  Delaying treatment for even a year can mean permanent damage if neurological symptoms show up.  

Vitamin B12 supplements are important to take because even with less stomach acid, the crystalline form of vitamin B12 can still be absorbed into the system at a regular rate.  Since vitamin B12 deficiencies can start as early as 30, there’s no reason not to take a B12 supplement or a multivitamin if you aren’t eating healthy.  As far as foods go, Vitamin B12 can only be found in (read more…)

CHANDLER, Ariz., Jan. 12, 2009 — When the alarm sounds, firefighters can’t hit the snooze button; they have to move — and their bodies pay the price. However, firefighters can now benefit from a specialized nutritional supplement made specifically for them.

Employee Vita, a Chandler, Arizona-based vitamin company, recently introduced Firefighter Vita, a new nutritional supplement targeted toward the specific dietary needs of firefighters. The web-based vitamin company is the first of its kind to offer supplements that address the health needs of people in certain occupations.

“The needs of firefighters are different from those of people in other occupations,” said Brett Waslefsky, president of Employee Vita. “Unfortunately, emergencies are unpredictable. Firefighters’ bodies must go from a state of rest to a state of full motion and alertness with the sound of the firehouse alarm. This can be extremely taxing, especially over time.”

Firefighter Vita targets the specific physical stresses that firefighters experience, he said.

While developing the new supplement, Waslefsky researched the ailments most often plaguing firefighters as a result of their occupation. He found that a staggering number suffer from cardiovascular problems. In fact, the number-one killer of firefighters isn’t fire or smoke inhalation — it’s heart disease. He also found that joint pain, exposure to pathogens and pollutants, and a lack of energy and stamina top their list of health concerns.

“Firefighters experience a great deal of physical and emotional stress on the job,” he said.

They must respond instantly when called; they have no time to properly stretch before donning pounds of protective gear. They must lug tanks and hoses up and down ladders and stairs. Sometimes they even have to carry other people to safety. These activities can really take a toll on the heart and joints of even young firefighters, he said.

“In the business of saving lives, firefighters can’t afford to be sick,” Waslefsky said. “Firefighter Vita allows them to take care of themselves so they can take care of others. No other product on the market addresses a firefighter’s unique health needs like this,” he said.

What makes Firefighter Vita different than other supplements?

“Our ‘proprietary blends’ are the key,” Waslefsky said, referring to the targeted blends of vitamins, herbs and minerals.

This targeted mix of herbs and nutrients address the specific needs of a firefighter. For example, Vitamin K-2 and Omega EPA/DHA protect and strengthen the heart, while Glucosamine and the anti-inflammatory herb Green-Lipped Mussel help maintain joint health.

“We are so proud of our Employee Vita product family,” he said. “Teachers, nurses, truckers, firefighters — they are all vital to our economy, our children, and our health. They improve our lives in so many ways, but not many people take care of them. We are happy to offer products that will help these unsung heroes live happier and healthier lives.”

CONTACT:

Brett Waslefsky
Employee Vita
P.O. Box 11955
Chandler, AZ 85248
E-mail: brettw@employeevita.com
Website: http://www.EmployeeVita.com

As far as vitamins and supplements go, the benefits of taking garlic pills are incredibly vast.  Garlic itself is hailed as an anti-aging wonder drug and virtual cure-all.  The use of garlic dates back nearly five thousand years, when it was originally used as an ancient medicinal herb.  This is because the garlic bulb contains about 400 hundred different substances including antioxidants, which gives it great power when it comes to guarding cells from the outside threat of free radicals.

This is all good news for people who love to eat garlic, but for the many that don’t care for it, garlic supplements are the way to go.  Like most other vitamins and supplements, garlic pills have been stringently tested and for the most part have been proven to have the same qualities as fresh-cut garlic.  Garlic supplements, like fresh garlic, are able to act as antibiotics, antiviral agents, cholesterol reducers, anticoagulants, blood pressure reducers, cancer inhibitors, decongestants, and anti-inflammatory agents.  So if you don’t like garlic and don’t want garlic breath, garlic supplements can help you in the same ways as the real thing.

The first serious illness that regular doses of garlic supplements can help you with is cancer.   Studies show that people who eat garlic on a regular basis are less likely to get certain cancers, like stomach and colon cancers.  Other studies show that garlic supplements also inhibit the growth of (read more…)

As vitamins and supplements go, folic acid is a B vitamin that is known mainly for its ability to fight cardiovascular disease.  Folic acid is found naturally in green leafy vegetables and legumes, but if you don’t eat enough of these, it’s a good idea to take folic acid as a supplement.  If you don’t get enough folic acid in your diet, you may be unnecessarily risking the possibility of heart problems and other serious illnesses.  Studies have proven that the right amount of folic acid in your blood stream can go a long way towards fighting cardiovascular disease, specifically the blocked arteries caused by having high levels of homocysteine in your blood stream.

If you never heard of homocysteine, you are not alone.  This is a fairly newly discovered danger to the arteries in the head and neck, and is partially responsible for the blockage of these arteries.  Homocysteine is a type of amino acid in the blood, which becomes oxidized and releases an excess of the vicious free radical called superoxide.  Homocysteine is similar to cholesterol in the way that it begins to block blood vessels, which can trigger a heart attack or stroke.  This danger can affect some 30 to 40% of older adults in the United States.  

The good news is that deficiencies in folic acid are easy to fix.  Just taking a folic acid supplement of 400 to 1,000 micrograms a day can help save someone with low folic acid levels form a heart attack.  The right amount of folic acid can be found in an over-the-counter multivitamin.  Along with vitamins B12 and B6, you have the perfect formula to help prevent heart attacks.

Folic acid supplements can also help block and reverse cancer, even after premalignant cells are found.  This is because (read more…)

By VANESSA RAYMOND
HowToDoThings.com

There’s a freight train running through the middle of your head and you’re not listening to Bruce Springsteen … sounds like a hangover.

Symptoms of a hangover include a throbbing head, queasy stomach, dry mouth, sensitivity to light and sound, inability to concentrate and, often, a bit of existential angst thrown in for good measure. Before you run out and buy sauerkraut juice, persimmons or another home remedy, first discern fact from fiction.

First, fluids

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it increases urine production, thus decreasing the amount of water available to your body. Sip water or sports drinks, suck on ice cubes and eat food with high water content (i.e. watermelon) to replace the water you eliminated.

Sports drinks provide the added benefit of replacing electrolytes. Along with the electrolytes excreted by your kidneys when you drink too much, you eliminate B vitamins, too. Replenish them with a B-complex vitamin that contains vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and vitamin B12. (read more…)