Fish Oil Blog

If you are having trouble conceiving then fertility tests are likely to be high on your list of priorities. One such test is the sperm count test. This test measures the amount of sperm in a unit volume of semen. Usually, there are 20 million to 150 million of sperm per milliliter. A sperm count lower that this indicates that a man maybe suffering from fertility problems.

In the last few years there has been a drop in male fertility. It would seem that sperm are sensitive to their surroundings; a-less-than healthy environment can affect the quality and amount of sperm produced. Some of the suspected causes for low sperm count are dietary inadequacy, stress(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Stress.html), the use of drugs, medication, smoking, pesticides in foods and obesity. There is even some indication that frequent trips to the sauna and long hot baths are detrimental, as sperm are sensitive to temperature.

With increasing availability of processed and refined foods there is a trend toward consuming a less than nutritionally adequate diet with vitamins, antioxidants, essential fats falling short of what is required for healthy and plentiful sperm. The first step in the treatment of low sperm count should be a diet make over.

Antioxidants including Vitamin C, Beta Carotene and Vitamin E are essential to improving sperm count. They are powerful antioxidants and protect the sperm from oxidative damage and contribute towards increased concentration and sperm motility. Vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruit and berries. Orange and dark green vegetables such as pumpkins, carrots broccoli and kale are great sources of Beta Carotene. Vitamin E is found in nuts such as walnuts and almonds, and vegetable oils such as sunflower and safflower.

Men that smoke are particularly vulnerable to antioxidant depletion. In addition to ensuring adequate dietary or supplemental amounts, it would be most important to stop smoking. Benefit from a supplement of this vitamin. Sometimes sperm clumps together – a condition known as agglutination. Vitamin C helps in reducing sperm agglutination, the recommended dose being 1 gram a day.

Essential fatty acids are critical in hormone functioning. Prostaglandins which are abundant in healthy semen are produced from essential fats. Poor sperm quality, poor motility or low count, could be indicative of low levels of prostaglandins. Essential fatty acids are richly abundant in oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, pilchards and herring. Try to include 2-3 portions per week – fresh, frozen or tinned are equally as good!

Zinc supplementation has been used to overcome some forms of both female and male infertility in those who are zinc deficient. Zinc is an essential mineral for the healthy formation and maturation of sperm. A regular zinc supplement would help in raising testosterone levels. A study has also shown that zinc helps in protecting the structure of the genetic material or the DNA chromatin in the sperm nucleus. This structure is important for successful fertilization. Doctors of natural medicine usually recommend 25 mg three times per day. Dietary sources of zinc include pumpkins seeds, shell fish especially oysters and red meat.

Amino acids are essential for sperm production. There has been some research into supplementation with L-Arginine, an amino acid in the treatment of low sperm count. These studies have indicated that it can increase sperm count and motility when administered in large quantities – around 4 g per day.

Asian ginseng has a large market all over the world when it comes to male infertility. The research indicates that Asian Ginseng can help with premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction, so if these issues are pertinent to you then supplementation may be something to consider in the treatment of low sperm count.

For men who want to improve their fertility, it is important to make some fundamental changes regarding their lifestyle and diet. Reduction or ideally elimination of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, more attention to the nutritional quality of your food and lower stress levels will go a long way towards improving fertility. Furthermore you’ll be setting the standard for healthy living for the next generation of your family!

Mitamins Team
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/vitamins-for-a-low-sperm-count-93739.html

The secret of beautiful skin involves protecting it from the outside and nourishing it from the inside.

Women spend hundreds of millions of dollars on expensive miracle skincare products, but great looking skin does not have to be expensive!

The secret of beautiful skin is simply concentrating on both the inside and outside and this does not have to be expensive.

Protection from the outside

Harmful UV rays are far and away the biggest cause of skin damage and the advice when choosing a day cream is to make sure that is SPF 15.

In the evening use any cream you feel suits your skin type were all different, but don’t spend a lot of money, all you need to do is keep the skin hydrated.

There is no point in moisturizing your skin and then let the suns rays destroy it.

Everyday prevention is definitely better than cure. On the subject of cure, all the creams that claim to repair damage are simply pedalling to vanity – They don’t.

The myth of beautiful skin

A moisturizer can keep the skin hydrated and with SPF protect it and that’s all.

Its common sense, however many women fall for the hundreds of millions of year advertising campaigns that claim to give them a quick miracle and end up disappointed.

The real secret of beautiful skin is protection from the outside and nourishment from within – Combine the two and you will have beautiful skin.

Here are some great foods to include in your diet for radiant skin.

Drink lots of water

Two liters of water a day should be drunk this helps keep the skin hydrated and flush away toxins from the body

Eat vegetables & Fruit

Eat 2 – 3 portions of vegetables for lots of nutrients for the skin,

The best ones are below, but really any vegetable or fruit is good and in terms of vegetables try and eat them raw if you can.

Sweet potatoes tomatoes and spinach

For three important antioxidants

Beta-carotene is present in sweet potatoes, lycopene in tomatoes and lutein in spinach.

They enter the skin and help reflect harmful UV rays and act as a permanent sunscreen.

Cherries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes

Contain anthocyanins an antioxidant that keeps the skin supplied with nutrients through the blood vessels that lead into the face.

Oily fish

As we all know oily fish are a great source of protein to regenerate collagen and elastin, as well as omega 3 oils, these are essential to keep the skin both subtle and hydrated.

Good sources include: Salmon, mackerel, herrings and sardines.

Crab, sardines, lean beef and wheat germ

A good source of copper, a trace element that is essential for the making of melanin, the pigment in the skin that helps to absorb harmful UV rays from the sun.

It also helps fight age spots which are the most obvious sign of skin aging.

Soya milk, lentils, bean sprouts, yogurt & wholegrain cereals

These contain plant oestrogens, which help make lubricating oils and collagen in the skin for a healthier complexion. They also repair collagen and elastin, which slow down the thinning of the skin and the formation of fine lines which most women fear!

Oats

Contain the trace element silic acid, which is used to make the spongy cells that lie between collagen and elastin fibers. This makes the skin full and plump and by consequence slows down the formation of fine lines.

Whole meal pitta, gogi berries & muesli

Pitta contains ferulic acid, berries contain vitamin c, muesli contains vitamin E. These are great antiaging vitamins

Vitamin C and e are great for fighting harmful UV rays and gogi berries have 15 times more vitamin C than an orange gram for gram.

The secret of beautiful skin is actually simple!

Protect from the outside and nourish from the inside. Forget the miracle cures follow the advice above and you will have beautiful radiant skin for life.

Sacha Tarkovsky
http://www.articlesbase.com/cosmetics-articles/the-secret-of-beautiful-skin-56284.html

Most men over the age of 50 are liable, according to statistics, to get prostate cancer. For American men, about 300,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and some 35,000 men die of this disease annually. The numbers are increasing as well.

This article is all about simple ways of keeping your prostrate healthy.

What is the problem?

The prostate is a chestnut-shaped gland and organ that sits right below the bladder and is wrapped around the urethra. Other than closing the urethra during erection, the prostate has nothing to do with a man’s urinary system.

The prostate is needed for ejaculation, as the ejaculate passes through the same urethra as the urine does. The prostate gland’s basic job is to add special fluid to the sperm before it exits the penis during ejaculation.

This is why the prostate sits below the bladder, and also why prostate problems interfere with a man’s ability to urinate and to have sex.

The prostate is affected three ways:

1. infection

2. enlargement

3. cancer

What are the problem’s symptoms?

For infection (called prostitis) there is a great deal of pain, fever, and uninary problems. There are medicines and conventional therapies, however following the dietary rules below are very beneficial for prostitis.

Englargement (known as BHP or benign prostatic hypertrophy) is a non-cancerous enlarement of the prostate. The symptoms are hesitancy in urinating, dribbling of urine before and after urinating, frequent urination, straining to start the stream, urgency of urination, and getting up several times at night to urinate.

Cancer of the prostate symptoms are quite the same as BHP and many men are quite unaware they have cancer of the prostate, as there are often no symptoms at all. A PSA test done every 6 months is now a necessity for every man over 45.

What can be done about it?

Actually a lot. Diet and stress appear to be the main culprits. Here is a list of “do eat” and “do not eat” that is quite time tested.

Eat the following

lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, legumes (peas, beans, and lentils). fresh fish. And especially fish from cold ocean waters (such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and cod) have large amounts of essential fatty acids. whole grain in moderation, rather than refined (white) breads, pasta, crackers, rice, and other grains.

Dont eat the following

fatty meats, fatty meats, excess of salts, hydrogenated oils, such as those found in margarine, donuts, cookies, cakes, other desserts, potato chips, and other deep-fried foods. canned, packaged, or otherwise processed foods, sodas, alcohol, black teas (which includes most iced teas), or coffee, and dairy foods, especially if they have been pasteusterised.

Are there Special Foods that Can Cure the Cancer?

Perhaps; and this is still a subject open to debate,but chilli peppers have been shown to inhibit the cancerous cells of the prostate. There was a study done recently at UCLA in California which indicate as much.

Also there are several herbs and food additives known for their beneficial action on the prostate. They are:

• Saw palmetto: This herb is now well-known to shrink enlarged prostates and to lower PSA..

• Green tea: The catechins found in green tea are the likely “medicines” for the prostate, although it is not known exactly how they prevent or combat existing prostate cancer. The usual dose is no less than 6 cups per day.

• Pygeum: Pygenum has been used to treat diseases of the prostate and urinary tract for many years.

• Nettle: The Nettle is rich in vitamin C, iron, and other proven nutrients that bolster the prostate.

• Kelp: This is seaweed, and plentiful in iodine and contains minerals that help to prevent and treat prostate cancer. Asian men, with high doses of kelp in their diet (than American men) have a much lower incidence of any prostate problem.

If you follow the above you will have and keep a healthy prostrate.

Sacha Tarkovsky
http://www.articlesbase.com/men’s-issues-articles/prostate-how-to-keep-a-healthy-prostate-56294.html

I was out recently with some friends and we stopped at a fast food joint. I hate fast food joints, but sometimes everybody else wants to go there, so you just have to make the best of it and find something at least somewhat healthy. If you’re forced to eat fast-food, here’s a tip to make sure that you’re not doing much damage to your body…ALWAYS AVOID the soda and anything deep fried including french fries, hash browns, and anything breaded like chicken nuggets, chicken patties, or breaded fish sandwiches. These are all absolutely soaked in deadly trans fats from the industrial hydrogenated vegetable oils they use to fry all of these items.

Remember, as I’ve said before, I’ve seen studies indicating that as little as 1 gram of trans fat per day can have serious degenerative internal effects in your body such as inflammation, clogging and hardening of the arteries, heart disease, various forms of cancer…not to mention packing on the ab flab. That’s as little as 1 gram! Consider that a typical fast-food meal of a breaded chicken sandwich (or fish sandwich), along with an order of fries can contain as much as 10 grams of trans fat! Add on a cookie or small piece of pie for dessert (which are usually made with deadly margarine or shortening), and now you’re up to about 13 grams of trans fat with that entire meal. If 1 gram a day is slowly killing you, imagine what 13 grams is doing! And that was only one meal that you ate. Some people are consuming 20-30 grams of trans fat per day, and not even realizing what they’re doing to themselves internally. Please realize that nobody, I mean NOBODY, is looking out for your health, except for YOU.

Anyway, back to the topic of how to avoid this stuff and eat a reasonably healthy meal on the rare occasion that you’re forced to eat fast-food. As for drinks, avoid the sodas…they’re nothing but heavily processed high fructose corn syrup which will surely end up as extra belly fat. Water is always the best drink, but if you need something with flavor, try unsweetened or lightly sweetened iced tea. At breakfast, the best choice is an egg, ham, and cheese on an english muffin (not on a croissant, which is full of nasty trans!), or a fruit & nut salad. At lunch or dinner, the best choices are a grilled chicken sandwich, the chili, a grilled chicken salad without croutons (again…croutons = more trans), or even just a plain cheeseburger. The main take-away point from this little fast-food article is that the nastiest stuff at these fast food joints are the sodas and fries, and any other deep fried items.

For any of you that have seen the movie “Super-Size Me”, you saw how eating fast food every day absolutely destroyed that guy’s health, but did you happen to notice the one guy that was the king of eating big macs (or some kind of burger)? I don’t remember what kind of burger it was, but basically this guy has eaten these fast food burgers almost every day of his life for the past 30 years or something like that. Did you notice that he stated that he almost never eats the fries or soda, even though he eats the burgers every day? And he’s not necessarily overweight. Now I’m not saying that fast-food burgers made with their refined white bread and low quality beef and cheese are the healthiest thing, but the point is…it’s the fries and sodas that are the real health disaster.

Alright, so next time you’re out at one of these places, remember these tips and choose smart!

THOMPSON STEPHEN
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/if-fast-food-is-a-must-make-the-healthiest-possible-choices-692837.html

This article is going to explain how celebrity stars always seem to look in great shape, and reveal some of their secrets to looking awesome.

Haven’t you noticed that whenever you watch TV or go to the cinema how great the stars of the show or film look? Well, in case you didn’t know already, they have to do a lot of work to stay that way, and of course if they slow down, the public will notice immediately and their reputation could be destroyed overnight.

Most celebrities have their own way of staying in shape and looking great. Some have fitness experts to keep them motivated and in shape, and many eat well balanced diets.

Below are some secret diet tips that some women stars use to keep in shape.

Some use the 40:30:30 diet. The 40 being fruits, vegetables and beans. 30 being fish, chicken and low fat dairy products. The last 30 being Fish Oils, olive oils, nuts etc.Combining these foods into your diet will help you to lose weight and keep in shape.

Another diet used by some women in Hollywood, is to eat high protein meals in lesser portions. This must be used in conjunction with an exercise program that consists of weight training and heart exercises. Using such a diet can put a lot of stress on your body so please be aware.

Many women stars tell you that not eating late at night, or early in the evening will help to keep your weight under control. This actually contradicts what many nutritionists believe but nevertheless it seems to work for them.

Yoga is something many top women stars do each day. Combine this with a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables will help you control your weight.

Eating organic foods with lean protein and avoiding junk foods is an essential part of many stars diets.

Drinking herbal teas is very popular with women stars. Green Tea is of course the most powerful drink to help you lose weight and give you energy.

Basically these stars do not over-indulge in junk foods and never over eat. Taking care of their bodies is vital for their careers and if you took the same attitude toward your body, you can easily get the same results as these women do.

When you see something that many stars personally take each day as a part of their diet, then it really is time to sit up and take notice. One such product is now becoming very popular with many stars like Amanda Walsh, Beau Bridges, Cheryl Hines, Paula Abdul, Kate Burton, Kevin Dillon and many more is Cheia Vida.

This exotic Rain Forest formulation consisting of “Superfoods” is now becoming a part of thousands of people’s lives across the USA. With Acai, Green Tea, Cha De Bugre and Yerba Mae all ingredients within this product, it truly is a powerful health beverage.

Cheia Vida Slim is also a new weight loss formula backed up and supported by a Dr.Charlie Rouse who has over 20 years experience in the weight loss industry. Complete with CD and booklet, Dr. Rouse will show you exactly what foods you should be eating, and of course those that you simply must avoid in the “battle of the bulge”.

He actually hails this product as the best weight loss product in the world, and when someone of his stature makes such a claim, you really have to take note and check it out.

So, if you want to diet like the stars, then check out Cheia Vida as many of them are adding this formula to their diets on a daily basis.

Gary Kidd
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/how-celebrities-lose-weight-and-stay-in-shape-401376.html

The importance of a healthy diet in preventing breast cancer has been often stressed by doctors and health journals alike. But what exactly is a healthy diet that is conducive to breast cancer prevention? This article tries to explain – in layperson’s terms – what kind of diet is beneficial in preventing breast cancer.

Foods that Help Preventing Breast Cancer

(i) Vitamins of the B-Complex

Independent researches have shown that Boston and Shanghai have shown that a diet that is rich in vitamins of the B-complex is very ideal in keeping breast cancer at bay. The most powerful of the B-complex vitamins for the prevention of breast cancer are the vitamins B6 and B12 or folic acid. Folic acid has been linked with breast cancer prevention in women who are regular consumers of alcohol. Higher levels of vitamin B12 are more effective in preventing breast cancers in women who have not yet had their menopause.

(ii) Carrots

Carrots contain beta-carotene which is a precursor for the formation of vitamin A, chemically known as retinol. A research in New York has proved that women who include carrots on a regular basis in their diet have low chances of getting breast cancers. It has been found that a regular intake of carrots in the form of salads reduces the risk of breast cancers by half in women who have crossed their menopausal age.

(iii) Fish and fish oils

Fish could be the most important foods in the prevention of breast cancer. It has been found that fish oils are very beneficial in keeping breast cancer away in women who have crossed their menopause. Fish Oils are effective even with risk factors such as age during the first full term pregnancy, age at first menses, age at menopause, other breast disorders, etc. Moreover, a diet that contains of a combination of fish and carrots is found to be much more highly effective than fish alone. Fish contain the omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids which are good combatants of breast cancer, as they reduce the levels of the harmful omega-6 fatty acids, which in fact promote the growth of the cancerous tissues. Thus people subsisting on a fish diet are also consuming a low fat diet. Fish is known to reduce the cases of obesity. This has been seen in people living near coastal areas whose diet consists predominantly of fish. Obesity is one of the major risk factors of breast cancer.

(iv) Vegetables

Several vegetables are identified to be anti-cancer agents. Vegetables such as parsley, cilantro, cabbage, soy, celery and parsnip have anti-cancer properties. Garlic is known to be effective in breast cancer prevention as well. Tomatoes and onions may have mild cancer preventing properties.

(v) Fruits

Many fruits have anti-cancer properties. Some of these are papayas, oranges, mangoes, apricots, blueberries, persimmons, grapes, lemons, peaches, strawberries, tangerines, etc.

(vi) Flax

Flaxseeds are slowly becoming very popular in cancer prevention. They have two important ingredients that are known to fight cancer. One is the omega-3 fatty acids and the second is lignan. Flaxseeds in ground form are better than the flax oil, because they contain the necessary fibers which help in easy digestion.

Foods that can Promote Breast Cancer

There are several foods that have been identified to be responsible in promoting breast cancer. The following is a list of some of these foods:-

(i) Fatty Acids

There are some fatty acids that promote the growth of breast cancer, while some others retard it. Generally, the omega-6-polyunsaturated fatty acids are proven to increase cancer risks. Such fats are present in coconut oil and butter. At the same time, oils such as castor oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil or corn oil contain the omega-3 acids which in fact retard the formation of tumors. Hence, the diet must contain more of the omega-3 acids and less of the omega-6 acids in order to prevent breast cancer.

(ii) Red Meats

Red meats are known to cause almost all types of cancers if taken in excess. Hence, in the diet the amounts of red meats must be reduced and white meats must be increased. Red meats are mutton, beef and pork; while white meats are chicken and poultry.

(iii) Smoking and Alcoholism

Smoking is the single largest risk for breast cancers today. Women who begin to smoke early in their lives and continue on a regular basis stand at a much higher risk. Similarly, alcohols are also to be avoided. Yet, recent researches have shown that alcohol taken in conjunction with a folic acid diet may actually help in the prevention of breast cancer.

Sticking to a good dietary regime could be very well the best way to prevent breast cancer. But the importance of physical activity should not be ignored. A woman can go a long way in preventing breast cancer if she takes a healthy diet and couples it with a physically active lifestyle.

Read more about the Cancer Preventing Breast Diet and other breast care issues at http://www.mysecrethealth.com

Dr.Anna Hardy
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/what-are-cancer-preventing-breast-diet-101134.html

“How soon can I start my kids on omega 3 fish oils?”

I’m asked this question all the time. People read about the wonderful benefits for children of the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil, but there never seems to be any guidelines on when to start.

A lot of people are surprised to learn that I start supplementing my children’s diet with high quality, pure fish oil as soon as they turn six months old. The kids were all nursed up until that point and my wife was supplementing her diet with fish oil while pregnant and nursing.

This is so important because the omega 3 fatty acids, especially DHA, will make a HUGE difference in a child’s brain development, motor skills, language skills, thinking skills, vision, ability to sleep at night and much more.

So how do you give fish oil to a 6 month old? Here’s how we did it. We pierced the capsule, squeezed a small amount onto a baby spoon and popped it into their mouths.

It’s fun to watch a baby adjust to the taste of fish oils and it actually doesn’t take them long. With a little encouragement and lots of smiles, they’ll be reaching for the capsules faster than you can give it to them.

A little word of caution: don’t wear nice clothes in the beginning. One of our children loved to make raspberries with their tongue after taking the fish oil and it would go everywhere. It was hard to get mad though, because he looked so cute when he did it.

If your kids are past the baby stage, don’t despair. It’s not too late to start giving them fish oil. It just takes a little more commitment and creativity to get the job done.

If your children can swallow capsules, you won’t have any problem. As long as they don’t drink any hot liquids (like tea) right after taking their Fish Oil, they shouldn’t burp the taste.

If they’re not able to swallow capsules yet, you can try giving them the fish oil on a spoon and then following up very quickly with a spoon full of applesauce or mashed banana. Just be sure to have your backup food ready to go before you give them the fish oil. You can also give them a drink of water to help wash it all down.

It may not be pleasant the first few times, but if they see that you’re not going to give up, they’ll get used to it pretty quickly.

And when you feel like quitting, remind yourself of how important the omega 3 oils are to your child’s health. If you’re not eating fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines or anchovies at least 3 times a week, your family is not getting enough omega 3s.

Believe me! The results are worth the effort. You will see a big difference in your child’s overall health, mental and physical abilities. Don’t wait another day to start.

Michael Byrd
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-benefits-of-omega-3-fish-oil-for-children-127834.html

Vitamin D or calciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is mostly made in the human body after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. The liver and kidney help convert vitamin D to its active hormone form.

Benefits of Vitamin D?

« Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Vitamin D deficiency can make bones thin, brittle, soft and easily prone to fractures. Without sufficient vitamin D, our body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium supplements useless.

« Vitamin D acts like a hormone, thus regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine.

« It helps to control the movement of calcium between bone and blood, and vice versa.

« It helps bone mineralization along with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones of the body.

« Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis, depression, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and even helps control diabetes and obesity.

What are the sources of Vitamin D?

Food sources –

Only a few foods naturally contain significant amounts of vitamin D. Foods with naturally occurring vitamin D are usually animal derived containing the vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). They include egg yolk, liver, fatty fish and Fish Oils. Smaller amounts are also present in dark leafy vegetables.

Fortified foods are the major dietary sources of vitamin D. Although milk, soya milk is fortified with vitamin D, dairy products made from milk such as curd, cheese, yogurt are usually not fortified.

It is important for individuals with limited sun exposure to include rich sources of vitamin D in their diet.

Exposure to sunlight –

Exposure to sunlight is an important source of vitamin D as ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin.

It is nearly impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from diet. Sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in the body.

What can Vitamin D deficiency lead to?

« Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets in children which results in skeletal deformities. In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which results in muscular weakness in addition to weak bones.

« Osteoporosis is commonly caused by a lack of vitamin D, which resists calcium absorption.

« Insufficient vitamin D leads to prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer.

« Vitamin D deficiency may also make a person prone to Type 2 diabetes and impair insulin production. Infants who receive vitamin D supplementation have around 80% reduced risk of developing type 1 diabetes over the next twenty years.

« Vitamin D deficiency causes schizophrenia.

How much vitamin D is required?

The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine considers an intake of 1,000 IU for infants up to 12 months of age and 2,000 IU for children, adults, pregnant, and lactating women to be the tolerable upper intake level.

Daily intake above this level increases the risk of toxicity and is not advised.

Who all are at risk of Vitamin D deficiency?

« Older people as the ability of the skin to convert vitamin D to its active hormonal form decreases

with age. The kidneys, which help convert vitamin D, do not work quite well when people age.

« People who do not get adequate exposure to sunlight, such as women who cover their body outside for religious or cultural reasons or individuals working in occupations that prevent exposure to sunlight.

« People with dark skin synthesize less vitamin D on exposure to sunlight than those with light skin.

« Obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Once vitamin D is synthesized in the skin, it is deposited in the body fat, making it less bio-available to overweight and obese people..

« Individuals who have reduced ability to absorb dietary fat as Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. This may be due to conditions such as pancreatic enzyme deficiency, Crohn’s disease, bowel disease.

« Exclusively breast-fed infants because human milk may not contain adequate vitamin D.

Is too much of vitamin D risky?

Intake of too much vitamin D can cause toxicity leading to nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. It can also raise levels of calcium, causing mental status changes.

Calcinosis, the deposition of calcium and phosphate in soft tissues such as kidneys, lungs, blood vessels and heart can be caused by vitamin D toxicity. The kidneys may be permanently damaged and start malfunctioning.

A word of caution:

Even weak sunscreens (SPF of block the body’s ability to generate vitamin D by 95%. This is how sunscreen products actually cause disease by creating a critical vitamin deficiency in the body. Chronic Vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight: it takes months of vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body’s bones and nervous system.

Tom alter
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/benefits-of-vitamin-d-sources-and-deficiency-104086.html

Not all fats make you fat. Some fats can even make you skinny! Well, they can help you lose weight and keep it off when combined with exercise and a nutritional diet and attitude.  And “which fats are these miracle fats?” you ask. They’re the omega 3 fatty acids that you get from fish oil. 

Here’s why fish oil and weight loss go hand in hand:

• Omega 3s burn fat by decreasing insulin levels. Insulin tells your body to store more fat instead of burning your current fat as fuel. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity showed that people who supplement their diet with omega 3 increase the number of fat calories burned per day by up to 26%!

• Combining fish oil with exercise makes you lose even more weight. According to a study at the University of South Australia, people that got omega 3s AND exercise lost more weight than those getting only one or the other. 

• Fish Oil helps weight loss by making you less hungry. A recent study showed that when overweight people took omega 3 supplements in addition to following a weight-loss program, they felt fuller longer. 

So here’s how you can burn the fat away (26% more per day!) and make it really work:

#1. Take fish oil supplements daily. High-quality proven omega 3 gels and liquid supplements are an easy way to ensure that you get the right amount of omega-3s for your body.

#2. Exercise daily (or AT LEAST four times a week). If you like hitting the gym or taking fitness classes, this part will be fun for you. If you don’t, let’s find something that you like to do that counts as exercising (as long as you do it four times a week!). 

These items count as exercise: brisk 20 minute walk during work break, playing a sport (a pick-up b-ball game at the park or gym, a weekly company baseball game, weekend hockey or soccer, an hour at the ice rink), cleaning your house, a hike, boogie boarding, surfing, rollerblading at the beach, chasing after your two-year-old all afternoon, shopping for two+ hours, building a dog house or shelves, assembling a piece of Ikea furniture, gardening, washing and waxing your car, a night out dancing. 

Yes, anything that gets you moving (and hopefully your heart rate up!) counts. The first choice we mentioned — a 20 minute brisk walk — is always an easy one to fall back on if you’re busy.

This one-two punch is really a great way to melt away the fat and achieve the flat stomach and lean body you want. So, if you want to burn away 26% more fat per day, start with natural fish oil supplements.

Gerry Morton
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/fish-oil-fat-busters-2-easy-tricks-to-burn-26-more-fat-per-day-718440.html