Pay attention to Vitamin B12
VITAMINS, BY definition, are substances that are essential to our health but which the body itself cannot manufacture. Vitamin B12 is one of the B vitamins that play important roles in the metabolism of every cell. B12 refers to cobalt-containing compounds known as cobalamins of which cyanocobalamin is the most popular.
Vitamin B12 needs special attention because it is involved in so many bodily processes. Sadly, research in the United States of America has shown that 25 per cent of adults were clearly deficient, while 50 per cent had borderline levels of B12 in their blood. In the UK, studies now show that up to 40 per cent of the population are deficient in vitamin B12.
B12 and your Nervous System
Our nerves may be compared to electrical wires that are wrapped in an insulating sheath made from a substance called myelin. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the production of myelin and healthy nerves. A damaged myelin sheath leads to short circuiting and electrical static in our nervous system.
Thus B12 deficiency can produce nerve problems as widespread as depression, fatigue, poor memory, migraine headaches, tingling and numbness, sleep disorders, symptoms of dementia, psychosis, and hyperactivity. It may mimic Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and cause spinal cord disease, peripheral neuropathy and optic nerve damage leading to blindness.
B12 and anaemia
A lack of vitamin B12 can result in a condition called pernicious anaemia characterised by unhealthy, abnormally large red blood cells. As B12 is needed for red blood cell formation, a chronic lack of B12 will eventually lead to anaemia. Left untreated, pernicious anaemia can inflict permanent and severe damage to your body.
B12 and heart disease
A high blood level of a substance called homocysteine is a more important risk factor for heart disease and stroke than a high cholesterol level. Studies show that vitamin B12, B6 and folic acid can reduce your homocysteine levels. Correcting that imbalance with these inexpensive vitamins will decrease your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Alcholism And Red Blood Cell Production - News
A lack of vitamin B12 can result in a condition called pernicious anaemia characterised by unhealthy, abnormally large red blood cells. As B12 is needed for red blood cell formation, a chronic lack of B12 will eventually lead to anaemia.
Some doctors also do a hemoglobin A1C test, which measures glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), a substance in red blood cells that forms when glucose attaches to hemoglobin. This “gives a better picture of average blood sugar over the previous three months,”
In addition, a significant symptom of colon cancer, he stated is sometimes, “an unexplained anemia (low red blood cell count or low iron in your red blood cells) and easy fatigability in a middle aged person.”
It is needed for the development and maintenance of a healthy nervous system, the production of DNA and formation of red blood cells. A severe B12 deficiency results in anemia, which can be picked up by an ordinary blood test.
It also dilates blood vessels. That's why drinkers often have red, flushed faces. Over time, these blood vessels can become permanently damaged, so that skin stays red. Alcohol, especially red wine, can also trigger rosacea flare-ups.
Health: Fitness Tips For Life
There are many health benefits of juicing . Eating more vegetables and fruits has always been a maxim for healthy eating. Various health studies have consistently correlated vegetables and fruits with lower blood pressure, lower risks of heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as reduced risks for eye and digestive problems.
The USDA recommends from 5 to 13 servings of vegetables and fruits daily in people's diets. For a person who needs 2,000 calories a day, this would translate to around 4 ½ cups of vegetables and fruits daily, that is, 2 cups of fruits and 2 ½ cups of vegetables, not including potatoes as they are classified under starchy foods. Unfortunately, most Americans consume only around 1 ½ to 3 cups of vegetables and fruits daily.
Health Benefits of JuicingFor health-conscious people who seriously want to meet the ideal amount of vegetables and fruits in their diet, the increasingly popular way to achieve this is through the health benefits of juicing . Juicing is the process of squeezing out the juice from vegetables and fruits, separating the juice from the fibrous pulp.
It is much easier to drink a glass or two of vegetable and fruit juices rather than to eat two or more pounds of produce each day. Aside from meeting the recommended daily dietary quota, juicing of raw vegetables and fruits preserves their vitamin and mineral content, a lot of which are destroyed during the cooking process.
In addition, drinking of freshly squeezed juices also provides the body with a rich, natural source of anti-oxidants and enzymes not found in their pasteurized grocery counterparts.
Proponents of juicing also tout the fact that juices are easily assimilated by the body, providing a quick boost to a person's energy and stamina. While it usually takes hours for solid food to be digested, juices are assimilated within 15 minutes of consumption with little assistance from the digestive system.