Daily Health Tip: Disordered Eating Is Widespread Among U.S. Women

75% say they behave abnormally around food, survey finds

Vanadium is a curious trace element and somewhat difficult to write about. It is a little known trace mineral which seems to be required by the body in relatively tiny amounts, and it is not even clear that it is absolutely necessary at all. But there is nevertheless increasing excitement about its potential therapeutic value. Low blood levels of vanadium have been associated with increases in cholesterol and blood sugar, and it is also believed by some researchers that the mineral may play a role in Natural Gout Treatment the vital balance between sodium and potassium in cells. These characteristics of vanadium have led to speculation that it may act as a protector against heart disease, cancer and especially diabetes.

The idea that vanadium may be of benefit in the battle against diabetes is of relatively recent origin, the first animal research findings Why Vitamins And Minerals Are Important To Your Body coming to light in the 1980s. But it has been the cause of great excitement. Initial findings suggested that vanadium could control artificially induced diabetes in animals, but orthodox medical opinion remains cautious about the applicability of this research to humans. Some nutritional therapists and practitioners, however, have rushed to embrace vanadium's potential, insisting that high dose vanadium supplements can reduce levels of fasting blood sugar, as well as those of low density lipids (LDLs), the so-called "bad cholesterol" which is strongly associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Advocates of vanadium therapy also maintain that the mineral can reduce the need for extra insulin in both Type 1 and Type 2 (late onset) diabetes. The problem, however, is that it is difficult to obtain a high intake of vanadium from food alone, and that the mineral in supplement form appears to be relatively poorly absorbed by the body. Moreover, there is evidence that the very high doses required to obtain the therapeutic effects sought may bring unwelcome and potentially serious side effects in their wake; including kidney problems.

This is perhaps not so surprising when it is considered that whilst a fairly typical diet might provide perhaps 50 Vitamin C Science Fair of vanadium daily, the suggested supplementary doses may be as much as 100 mg; that is 2,000 times the normal daily intake. Whilst potentially beneficial, such doses represent a considerable shock to the system and it is therefore strongly recommended that they be undertaken only under qualified supervision.

And even enthusiasts for the therapeutic effects of vanadium are at pains to stress that supplementary doses of the mineral will be of little or no value for people not suffering from a deficiency, and whose metabolism of insulin is normal. The practice adopted by a few misguided weightlifters and bodybuilders of taking large doses in the hope of enhancing the anabolic (tissue building) effect of the body's natural levels of insulin is therefore futile; and may even be dangerous in view of the potential kidney problems that may arise from very high doses.

No Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) have been established for vanadium, probably because healthy individuals following a normal diet should easily obtain all that their bodies require. An adequate intake of dietary vanadium can be ensured by the inclusion in the diet of the following foods which are relatively rich in the mineral: seafood, whole grains and buckwheat certain types of seeds and beans, carrots, lettuce, garlic and pepper.

And provided these dietary recommendations are followed, single supplements of the mineral should be neither necessary nor desirable for most people except as described above. Commercial multi-mineral supplements, however, commonly provide trace amounts of around 10 mcg of vanadium, which may be regarded as a useful Complex B Vitamins Improve Memory particularly when that supplement also contains adequate amounts of chromium, zinc, manganese and magnesium; all of which are regarded by nutritionists as particularly useful in helping the fight against diabetes and cardiovascular problems.

But as ever, all of these vitamins of course work at optimal effectiveness in the presence of adequate amounts of all the nutrients required by the body; and are best taken as part of a comprehensive multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement regime.

Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter and journalist with a particular interest in health and wellness. Find out more at sisyphuspublicationsonline LiquidNutrition/Vanadium.htm sisyphuspublicationsonline LiquidNutrition/Vanadium.htm

Mineral Makeup - Is it For You?

You may have been hearing a lot lately about Vitamin C Graduation Song wonders of mineral makeup. Everywhere you look from drugstores Vitamin String Quartet fine department store makeup departments to television commercials to Internet ads, people Which Vitamins Are Good For Gout exclaiming over the miracles of this makeup. And you are probably wondering if all the hype is true and if you should try it.

The truth is that this is really not new. It's been around for about 30 years. However, advances in research and technology have had a huge impact on how the makeup is made and how it works. Today's mineral makeup goes on much more smoothly and provides coverage that is much like the airbrushing techniques used by celebrities. In fact, many celebrities have joined the mineral makeup craze and swear by it.

Benefits:

*Another aspect of mineral makeup that has moved it to the forefront of makeup today is the fact that it is made from all-natural ingredients. With society's ever-rising interest in all things "green," this has made mineral makeup especially appealing to people who are interested in ecology.

The fact that it's made from all-natural ingredients gives mineral makeup several other advantages. The makeup contains not just ingredients that are natural, but that are actually good for your skin. It can help rejuvenate and refresh your skin. Plus, mineral makeup is hypoallergenic, so it's terrific for people who have allergies to ordinary makeup.

*Extremely gentle on your skin. It is light and doesn't clog pores. This makes it the perfect choice for people who suffer from acne. Many people even choose to sleep in it. It's that gentle!

*It can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Traditional powders often make wrinkles more apparent, not less, especially in fine lines like crow's feet. Makeup and powders usually cake up in Which Vitamins Are Recommended For Hair Loss types of areas and actually make them look deeper than they are. It eliminates this problem because it is so light and doesn't cake.

So given all these benefits, it's certainly worth giving it a try. After all, we all want to use makeup that is good for our skin and can actually nourish it-plus make us look better and younger!

There are a lot of brands out there, though, and they aren't all the same. You want to read the ingredients carefully. Some companies are known to use synthetic ingredients in their products. Look for ones that are all-natural.

You may want to seek the help of the cosmetic expert at your local department store and get a recommendation on which brand is best for you. They can also give you tips on shade choices and applying the mineral makeup. Getting the help of expert-for free!-is always a good idea when you're changing makeup. Especially since most of us have been using and applying makeup the same way since high school or college.

Too, anytime you change makeup, don't let yourself be talked into buying every single product in a product line. This is especially true when you're just starting out with this. Start with foundation and powder, along with maybe a blush. Try those first and then if you like them go back to the department store or online store and buy eye shadow and any other products you want.

Trying out mineral makeup is the only real way to find out if it's for you or not. With all the benefits mineral makeup offers, though, it's certainly worth giving it a shot, especially since people who do make the switch to mineral makeup never go back to their old traditional makeup. And that says a lot, don't you think?

Janet Johnson

FashionTidBits FashionTidBits - The fashion directory that will save you money! Author and Owner

The Autism B12 Vitamin Connection?

There Vitamins And Hair Color many different types of treatments that parents can try when they have a child with autism, however some can be controversial. Autism B12 vitamin therapy seems simple and safe enough, but it is important to be aware that problems may arise Pharmaceuticals Vitamins Agents it is administered improperly.

Perhaps the biggest danger in utilizing B12 vitamin therapy for the treatment of autism is the possibility of an overdose.

We all need vitamins, but is wrong to assume that B Complex Vitamins vitamins are safe no matter how they are used. Though vitamins are indeed good for us, with many being essential for optimum health, they can be dangerous too; particularly when someone takes too many.

The majority of the vitamins and vitamins we need are obtained from a healthy varied diet. However when there is a deficiency in certain vitamins or vitamins it is possible to supplement them.

The risk of taking supplements is that too much of a good thing can actually be harmful to health. When the body has an oversupply of vitamins that it can not use it excretes the excess via the liver. When excess vitamin consumption occurs on a regular basis, the liver may not keep up and the excess vitamin may then become a toxin that the body is unable to expel.

When taken in correct doses however, B12 vitamin therapy may be beneficial for a child with autism. Some believe that autism can be caused or symptoms worsened by severe nutritional deficiencies.

What this means is that the body is not receiving enough of certain vitamins, or that it is not able to absorb the nutrients that are fed through the system; causing the body to lack the essential elements it needs to function properly.

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for healthy brain function. It is important in helping to manufacture the myelin sheath - a protective layer surrounding nerves in the brain - and it also helps the brain to produce neurotransmitters, which are vital for communication within the brain.

When taken intravenously, some feel that vitamin B12 therapy can improve a range of functions including the absorption of all essential nutrients into the body. This then helps the nervous system to work as it should, allowing potential benefits and improvements in behaviors to be seen.

On a cautionary note, so far, many positive stories about the improvement in individuals after receiving B12 vitamin therapy are still only anecdotal. While parents and individual doctors have noted some encouraging progress, there have only been a handful of controlled studies involving small groups of children regularly injected with vitamin B12. Though some have shown improvement in social communication, overall the results have deemed to be inconclusive.

Therefore, while Vitamin C Graduation tests are still in the early stages, if carried out safely, there is no reason why parents cannot try this autism B12 vitamin therapy under their doctor's close supervision and guidance. Even if there seems to be no improvement in the symptoms of autism, parents may notice better overall health in their children, and that may be reason enough to continue safely with the therapy.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans' brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about the essential-guide-to-autism ?source=ezAutism B12 link and for information on where to go for essential-guide-to-autism autism.html?source=ezautism resources please visit essential-guide-to-autism blog/2008/01/31/the-autism-b12-vitamin-connection/The Essential Guide To Autism