Sunday, August 3, 2008

Nutrients for Menopause!!!!!!!!!!!!

MENOPAUSE: Menopause is the phase of a woman’s life when she no longer experiences menstruation. During the menopausal stage, hormonal fluctuations lead to menstrual irregularities, and  women also experience symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, increased urinary tract problems, loss of libido, weight gain, and skin dryness. 
Hence certain vital nutrients are required to combat menopause.

VITAMIN E: It is considered useful in alleviating hot flushes and also offers heart protection.
food sources of Vitamin E are foods such as nuts, seeds, egg yolk and wheat germ.


CALCIUM: It prevents the development of osteoporosis.
food sources are milk, milk products, sardines, almonds, broccoli and spinach.

VITAMIN D: To absorb calcium the body needs Vitamin D, which can be made by the skin after exposure to the sun. 
dietary source of this vitamin includes fortified milk, eggs,fish oil, etc.

MAGNESIUM: It works with calcium to maintain bone density. found in whole grains, milk and milk products, tofu, nuts
seeds and legumes.

PHYTOESTROGENS: It can help alleviate hot flushes, also protects against heart diseases and osteoporosis.
food rich in phytoestrogens  include soy foods, flaxseed, chick peas and other legumes.


Posted by DrSri at 19:19:32 | Permalink | No Comments »

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Vitamins For Healthy Living!

    A vitamin is an organic compound required in tiny amounts for essential metabolic reactions  in a living organism.Vitamins are bio-molecules that act as catalysts  and substrates in chemical reactions. When acting as a catalyst, vitamins are bound to enzymes and are called cofactors. For example, vitamin K is part of the proteases involved in blood clotting. Vitamins also act as coenzymes to carry chemical groups between enzymes. For example, folic acid carries various forms of carbon group – methyl, formyl and methylene- in the cell.

Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble, meaning that they dissolve easily in water, or fat-soluble, and are absorbed through the intestinal tract with the help of lipids. Each vitamin is typically used in multiple reactions and, therefore, most have multiple functions.

In humans there are 13 vitamins: 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) and 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C).

         Mostly vitamins are obtained with food, but a few are obtained by other means. For example, microorganisms in the intestine - commonly known as “gut flora” - produce vitamin K and biotin, while one form of vitamin D is synthesized in the skin with the help of natural ultraviolet in sunlight. Humans can produce some vitamins from precursors they consume. Examples include vitamin A, produced from beta carotene, and niacin, from the amino acid tryptophan

Vitamin name Chemical name Solubility Recommended dietary allowances
(male, age 19–70)		 Deficiency disease Upper Intake Level
(UL/day)
Vitamin A Retinoids
(retinol, retinoids
and carotenoids)		 Fat 900 µg Night-blindness and
Keratomalacia		 3,000 µg  
Vitamin B1 Thiamine Water 1.2 mg Beriberi N/D
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Water 1.3 mg Ariboflavinosis N/D
Vitamin B3 Niacin Water 16.0 mg Pellagra 35.0 mg
Vitamin B5 Pantothenic acid Water 5.0 mg Paresthesia N/D
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine Water 1.3-1.7 mg Anemia 100 mg  
Vitamin B7 Biotin Water 30.0 µg Dermatitis N/D
Vitamin B9 Folic acid Water 400 µg Deficiency during pregnancy is associated with birth defects, such as neural tube defects 1,000 µg
Vitamin B12 Cyanocobalamin Water 2.4 µg Megaloblastic anaemia N/D
Vitamin C Ascorbic acid Water 90.0 mg Scurvy 2,000 mg
Vitamin D Ergocalciferol and
Cholecalciferol		 Fat 5.0 µg-10 µg Rickets and Osteomalacia 50 µg
Vitamin E Tocopherol and
Tocotrienol		 Fat 15.0 mg Deficiency is very rare; mild hemolytic anemia in newborn infants. 1,000 mg
Vitamin K Naphthoquinone Fat 120 µg Bleeding diathesis N/D

 

Posted by DrSri at 06:31:58 | Permalink | No Comments »