How to Get More Vitamin D

The reality is that most of us just aren’t getting enough Vitamin D. With jobs, school, commitments and sunscreen, the most natural way of getting Vitamin D just isn’t happening. That is why it is important to make sure that you take the steps to ensure that you and your family are getting enough of this crucial nutrient. Why We Need D Low levels of Vitamin D have been linked to multiple serious health problems, such as depression, heart disease, osteoporosis and even cancer! Your doctor can check your Vitamin D levels with a simple blood test. Why Aren’t We … Continue reading →

Searching for the Right Supplements

I have been on a search for the right supplements. Now that I am in my 40’s I seem to be taking my health a bit more seriously and I am more concerned about looking younger. I just want to look and feel as good as I can. If you are looking for the top ten supplements, you are probably on the same kind of search that I am on. Our reasons for doing it might be different but the need to find what is right is the same. One of the first supplements that I began taking is Omega-3 … Continue reading →

The Benefits of Fish Oil

I have been taking fish oil for several months now. There are a few health benefits to fish oil that you may not be aware of. One of the main reasons that I began taking fish oil is because of concerns with my heart. I have a mild case of tricuspid regurgitation, which means that when my right ventricle contracts some of the blood that pumps through leaks back into the tricuspid valve. From what I have been told it is so mild there is no real concern. I have never been completely sold on that. Any possibility of a … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Boron?

There are many trace elements that the body needs — but only in very small amounts. Boron is one of them. Boron is easily found in the environment: in soil, the ocean, and plants. Green veggies, fruits, and nuts are excellent food sources of boron, and most people get all the boron they need from diet alone. This mineral is thought to help the body use glucose (blood sugar), fats, and other minerals like calcium and magnesium. Boron has been suggested for treating a variety of medical conditions. However, it hasn’t done very well in clinical trials. Hormone regulation: boron … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Phosphorus?

Phosphorus is a mineral that has many useful roles for the body. It is used in energy metabolism, to help the body use some B-complex vitamins, for muscle and nerve function, and for kidney function. But one of the most important roles of phosphorus is to help the body maintain its calcium balance. This mineral is essential to the formation of bones and teeth, and bone and tooth health throughout all stages of life. Cool phosphorus fact: approximately one percent of an adult’s total body weight is phosphorus. However, most of that phosphorus (about 85%) lives in your bones and … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Biotin?

Call it vitamin B7 or vitamin H: biotin is a B-complex vitamin that is important for a bunch of different metabolic functions in the body. What does biotin do in the body? Get comfy: it’s gonna be quite a list. Biotin is used in cell growth, synthesizing fatty acids (those are the good ones!), and metabolizing a particular amino acid (leucine). Biotin is also important in the process of converting food into energy, known as the Krebs cycle. One more thing: biotin helps in the transfer of carbon dioxide. That’s one hard working vitamin! What’s even more awesome about biotin … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Copper?

It’s a favorite for jewelry, wiring, and coins… but copper is important for our bodies, too. Copper is a mineral that is found in the earth’s crust… and in surface and ground water around the world. Plants grown in copper-rich soil or animals that eat those plants may be rich in copper. What does copper do in the body? It does lots of things! Copper is a component of more than one enzyme in the body. It is involved with regulating cellular metabolism and connective tissue formation. Copper also helps the body absorb, store, and metabolize iron, another important mineral. … Continue reading →

Selenium and Health Issues

Selenium is a trace mineral — a mineral your body needs in small amounts as compared to macrominerals (like iron and calcium) that your body needs in large amounts. But even a trace mineral can have a big impact on your health. Selenium deficiency is often seen in places where concentrations of selenium in the soil are low — like China, and parts of Russia. Studies have shown that selenium deficiency may contribute to a host of health issues, including heart disease, thyroid issues, and a weakened immune system. Researchers believe that a selenium deficiency doesn’t usually cause illness by … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Selenium?

If you look at the list of vitamins and minerals on your multivitamin, you might find selenium there. Selenium is a “trace mineral” — one that your body needs, but only in very small amounts. What does selenium do for the body? This mineral is used by proteins in the body to make antioxidants called selenoproteins. Antioxidants are good things — they help prevent cell damage from free radicals. Selenoproteins also help the immune system function and assist in regulating thyroid function. Many people get their necessary selenium from foods — plant foods in particular. The selenium content of grains … Continue reading →

Tin in Your Vitamin?

I got caught up for a good twenty minutes at the drug store the other day, trying to decide on a new multivitamin. Usually, I take a vitamin B complex and a vitamin D supplement, and that’s it — the rest of the vitamin alphabet I can get from my diet, but I feel like I need some help with the D and the Bs. The problem began when the drug store was out of my usual brand of vitamin D. Oh no! Complicating the problem was the fact that all vitamins from the same brand were buy one get … Continue reading →