My last healthy fruit that can be fairly economical to buy is Kiwi. It is packed with antioxidants like Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.
Kiwi's contain as much potassium as bananas are are better for you. They are rich with antioxidants and help the immune system.
Showing posts with label Vitamin E. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vitamin E. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Almonds - Another Brain Food?
Yes almonds are another brain food, but they are much more than that. First, let me just say that when you eat almonds, you want to be eating the raw almonds. Not dry roasted or salted, just plain raw almonds. The benefits of the this nut will astound you.
Almonds are a source of vitamin E, protein, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They also contain phytonutrients (sometimes referred to as phytochemicals). These phytonutrients are the antioxidants which are not vitamins, such as lycopene, anthocyanins, and flavanoids. All of these offer the body essential nutrients to fight off disease and to maintain wellness.
Let's look at some of the benefits. I think one of the most exciting things is the research that has shown the benefit to someone who wants to lose weight and also to diabetics (who often need to lose weight). You may wonder how this works. Two things have been identified. First, almonds slow the absorption of carbohydrates. This in turn results in a slower increase in blood sugar levels which helps keep insulin levels in check. Big benefit to diabetics.
The second thing identified in the research is that almonds give you a sense of fullness (satiety) which means you will actually consume less calories. They are great as a healthy snack and you can see the benefit if you are attempting to lose weight.
Almonds are a source of vitamin E, protein, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They also contain phytonutrients (sometimes referred to as phytochemicals). These phytonutrients are the antioxidants which are not vitamins, such as lycopene, anthocyanins, and flavanoids. All of these offer the body essential nutrients to fight off disease and to maintain wellness.
Let's look at some of the benefits. I think one of the most exciting things is the research that has shown the benefit to someone who wants to lose weight and also to diabetics (who often need to lose weight). You may wonder how this works. Two things have been identified. First, almonds slow the absorption of carbohydrates. This in turn results in a slower increase in blood sugar levels which helps keep insulin levels in check. Big benefit to diabetics.
The second thing identified in the research is that almonds give you a sense of fullness (satiety) which means you will actually consume less calories. They are great as a healthy snack and you can see the benefit if you are attempting to lose weight.
Friday, January 30, 2009
More on Wheat Germ
Yes, there is more to wheat germ. In addition to what I mentioned yesterday, the high levels of vitamin E in wheat germ help prevent cancer, heart disease and aging. This is due to the powerful antioxidant in play. While strengthening the immune system, it also helps to prevent excessive blood clotting.
The vitamin B complex contained in wheat germ helps you cope with stress as well as benefiting metabolism. Homocysteine levels are decreased thereby helping to protect the arteries from damage.
And by the way, wheat germ is a great source of fiber, so it can useful in digestion and preventing constipation.
The vitamin B complex contained in wheat germ helps you cope with stress as well as benefiting metabolism. Homocysteine levels are decreased thereby helping to protect the arteries from damage.
And by the way, wheat germ is a great source of fiber, so it can useful in digestion and preventing constipation.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wheat Germ - Benefit or Not
Wheat germ is the kernel of the wheat. There are many nutrients in this kernel, including protein, vitamin E, vitamins B1, B2, B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6, fiber, magnesium, zinc, and thiamine. These are essential nutrients that our body uses, so there are many benefits to wheat germ.
Once thing you should know about wheat germ is that it has a fairly short shelf life once the container is opened. Once opened, wheat germ should be stored in a tight container in the refrigerator where it can keep for up to 9 months. Because of the unsaturated fat content, the whet germ tends to become rancid in a short period of time if no refrigerated.
Wheat germ is a brain food in that it helps the brain become more alert. This in part is due to the increase in oxygenation utilization that wheat germ facilitates. Octacosanol is the part of the wheat germ responsible for improved tissue oxygenation. Another benefit here is an increase energy in the muscles and as a result endurance and overall stamina increases.
Once thing you should know about wheat germ is that it has a fairly short shelf life once the container is opened. Once opened, wheat germ should be stored in a tight container in the refrigerator where it can keep for up to 9 months. Because of the unsaturated fat content, the whet germ tends to become rancid in a short period of time if no refrigerated.
Wheat germ is a brain food in that it helps the brain become more alert. This in part is due to the increase in oxygenation utilization that wheat germ facilitates. Octacosanol is the part of the wheat germ responsible for improved tissue oxygenation. Another benefit here is an increase energy in the muscles and as a result endurance and overall stamina increases.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Walnuts
Walnuts are another super food with many benefits. Of course most of you probably know that walnuts are rich in omega 3, but there are many other benefits to walnuts. They are also a wonderful source of fiber. How many people out there do not eat nuts because they are "high in fat"? That is not the issue here. The fat in walnuts is good fat, omega 3. In addition, if you eat a handful or so a week it will help with constipation, one the biggest complaints of people over the age of 65. Walnuts are both a soluble and insoluble source of fiber. They bind with fatty acids, decrease the stomach emptying time and thereby decrease the speed at which sugar is absorbed into the blood stream. Diabetics out there, can you see how this might help you?
Walnuts are also a rich plant source of protein and besides the omega 3s, they are also have B vitamins and Vitamin E.
Walnuts have been shown to help protect against heart disease and they also have been shown to decrease C-Reactive protein. See my notes about C-Reactive protein on 11/20/08. This leads me right into my thoughts about anti-inflammatories which is the key to many diseases.
Walnuts are also a rich plant source of protein and besides the omega 3s, they are also have B vitamins and Vitamin E.
Walnuts have been shown to help protect against heart disease and they also have been shown to decrease C-Reactive protein. See my notes about C-Reactive protein on 11/20/08. This leads me right into my thoughts about anti-inflammatories which is the key to many diseases.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Vitamins
Did you see the news a few weeks ago that reported vitamins as being not beneficial in heart disease? I caught this on our local evening news report by a not so prominent physician. While he did not report the details of the study, he was quick to report that the study demonstrated that vitamins made no difference in the incidence of heart disease.
Some research of my own revealed that the study, most likely used synthetic vitamin E and it was only given every other day. We already know the flaw in this one. The vitamin C dose was 500mg every day which is at least something, it is not enough to make a difference. The interesting thing here is that surgeons who order vitamin C after a surgery to help with healing usually order 500mg twice daily. So the set up in this study was that the dose were inadequate to begin with. A study that was bound to show that vitamins did not make a difference.
The news made this sound like all vitamins were not helpful and played that aspect up.
My suggestion, if you hear something like this on the news, check it out. Some of the research out there, while it gets reported and press, there are often flaws in it.
Some research of my own revealed that the study, most likely used synthetic vitamin E and it was only given every other day. We already know the flaw in this one. The vitamin C dose was 500mg every day which is at least something, it is not enough to make a difference. The interesting thing here is that surgeons who order vitamin C after a surgery to help with healing usually order 500mg twice daily. So the set up in this study was that the dose were inadequate to begin with. A study that was bound to show that vitamins did not make a difference.
The news made this sound like all vitamins were not helpful and played that aspect up.
My suggestion, if you hear something like this on the news, check it out. Some of the research out there, while it gets reported and press, there are often flaws in it.
Monday, December 15, 2008
More on Vitamin E
I ran across another use of Vitamin E, and while I haven't tried it personally, I believe it couldn't hurt and it may just help. This new use (to me anyway) is to apply it topically on hemorrhoids. You can just puncture the capsule and put the contents on a gloved finger and rub into the hemorrhoids. This makes sense to me because I know how it effects the blood vessels which is essentially what hemorrhoids are.
You can also use this on burns. However, the first treatment is to cool the burn with cold water and or ice. The problem most of us have is that we think 30 seconds of cold is enough. It is not. The skin continues to burn, so you need to really cool it for at least an hour. Then you can take the vitamin E and gently rub it into the burned area. This is painless and will help the burn to heal quicker with less scarring.
You can also use this on burns. However, the first treatment is to cool the burn with cold water and or ice. The problem most of us have is that we think 30 seconds of cold is enough. It is not. The skin continues to burn, so you need to really cool it for at least an hour. Then you can take the vitamin E and gently rub it into the burned area. This is painless and will help the burn to heal quicker with less scarring.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Vitamin E Deficiency
Anything that decreases of absorption in the gut can lead to Vitamin E deficiency. These would include diseases like alcoholism, cirrhosis of the liver, gastric or intestinal surgery, crohn's disease and pancreatic disease. Any disorder which results in decreased fat metabolism can result in Vitamin E deficiency.
Some of the symptoms of being unable to absorb fat are chronic diarrhea, greasy stools, poor transmission of nerve impulses, muscle weakness and blindness. Other more common symptoms which are not so easy to point just at Vitamin E deficiency are apathy, chest pain, lethargy, inability to concentrate, premature aging, indigestion, heart palpitations with increased blood pressure, muscle weakness, and irritability. As you can see these are not specific and may point to many other problems.
A piece of good news here is that most adults have fairly large stores of vitamin E in adipose (fat) tissue. Now if you have one of the chronic illnesses, these storage units may be empty.
Some of the symptoms of being unable to absorb fat are chronic diarrhea, greasy stools, poor transmission of nerve impulses, muscle weakness and blindness. Other more common symptoms which are not so easy to point just at Vitamin E deficiency are apathy, chest pain, lethargy, inability to concentrate, premature aging, indigestion, heart palpitations with increased blood pressure, muscle weakness, and irritability. As you can see these are not specific and may point to many other problems.
A piece of good news here is that most adults have fairly large stores of vitamin E in adipose (fat) tissue. Now if you have one of the chronic illnesses, these storage units may be empty.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Can you get too much Vitamin E
The symptoms of too much Vitamin E can be somewhat vague. But here they are: fatigue, muscle weakness, nausea, diarhhea, altered immune function, altered metabolism of specific hormones like thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal hormones and excessive bleeding. Caution should be used if you are taking warfarin or coumadin. Bleeding usually does not occur unless the dose is greater than 1000 units/day.
Some words of caution, there is some interaction with other things. Antacids decrease Vitamin E absorption. Blood thinners like coumadin may increase spontaneous bleeding. Alcoholism and smoking both decrease the absorption of Vitamin E. Some of the anti-cholesterol medications that work specifically in the gut to decrease absorption of cholesterol, also decrease the absorption of Vitamin E.
Some words of caution, there is some interaction with other things. Antacids decrease Vitamin E absorption. Blood thinners like coumadin may increase spontaneous bleeding. Alcoholism and smoking both decrease the absorption of Vitamin E. Some of the anti-cholesterol medications that work specifically in the gut to decrease absorption of cholesterol, also decrease the absorption of Vitamin E.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
What else Vitamin E does
In addition to what I have spoken about, there are other things that Vitamin E does. It has a major effect on red blood cells and hemoglobin. Vitamin E is part of the formation process of red blood cells as well as the synthesis and maintenance of red blood cells and their constituents. They also affect the synthesis of hemoglobin a major constituent of red blood cells.
Vitamin E is essential for reproduction and fertility. It is also thought to block the formation of carcinogens formed from nitrites that we consume in our diet. Carcinogens promote cancer cell formation and growth.
Because of it's antioxidant properties, Vitamin E is thought to also protect against cancer formation because of how it enhances the immune system.
Vitamin E is essential for reproduction and fertility. It is also thought to block the formation of carcinogens formed from nitrites that we consume in our diet. Carcinogens promote cancer cell formation and growth.
Because of it's antioxidant properties, Vitamin E is thought to also protect against cancer formation because of how it enhances the immune system.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Other Uses of Vitamin E
I already mentioned the fact that Vitamin E can be helpful to prevent a heart attack or a stroke. There are other things that Vitamin E is thought to help as well.
Vitamin E is believed to help with pain, particularly menstrual pain and post menstrual pain. It can also be helpful with muscle and joint pain. There is some evidence that it may be helpful in dementia. My advice would be to take it and hopefully prevent the dementia, but there is no evidence to support that at this time. It would stand to reason however, if Vitamin E is an antioxidant, it may prevent damage from free radicals in the brain which may be the cause of dementia.
Because it is an antioxidant, you should be taking it especially if you have the flu to hlep the immne system combat the flu virus. Vitamin E is thought to enhance antibody production in the immune system.
In addition, Vitamin E is thought to help individuals with eczema and asthma. Both of which have an immune component.
You may have seen hand creams over the counter which are fortified with Vitamin E. It is believed that Vitamin E on the skin assists with healing and deceasing scar tissue formation.
Vitamin E is also essential to protect Vitamin A and C.
Vitamin E is believed to help with pain, particularly menstrual pain and post menstrual pain. It can also be helpful with muscle and joint pain. There is some evidence that it may be helpful in dementia. My advice would be to take it and hopefully prevent the dementia, but there is no evidence to support that at this time. It would stand to reason however, if Vitamin E is an antioxidant, it may prevent damage from free radicals in the brain which may be the cause of dementia.
Because it is an antioxidant, you should be taking it especially if you have the flu to hlep the immne system combat the flu virus. Vitamin E is thought to enhance antibody production in the immune system.
In addition, Vitamin E is thought to help individuals with eczema and asthma. Both of which have an immune component.
You may have seen hand creams over the counter which are fortified with Vitamin E. It is believed that Vitamin E on the skin assists with healing and deceasing scar tissue formation.
Vitamin E is also essential to protect Vitamin A and C.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sources of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in varying amounts in multiple foods. Some of these foods are soy beans, nuts, seeds, egg yolk, avocado, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, and whole grains. Wheat germ is one of the foods that has the highest amount of Vitamin E.
The most active form of Vitamin E is in the foods mentioned above. The synthetic or Vitamin E supplements is less potent than what we get in our food. So eating the right foods will help you get this all important vitamin.
Tomorrow I will get into more of the details about what Vitamin E does.
The most active form of Vitamin E is in the foods mentioned above. The synthetic or Vitamin E supplements is less potent than what we get in our food. So eating the right foods will help you get this all important vitamin.
Tomorrow I will get into more of the details about what Vitamin E does.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Vitamin E
Many of you may be taking Vitamin E because you know it is supposed to be good for your heart. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which intercepts free radicals and prevents them from creating inflammation in the blood vessels where lipids have formed plagues. Free radicals will cause inflammation around these plaques which causes them to begin to go into a chain reaction which will end up in small pieces of the plaque breaking off and begin floating free in the blood stream.
The danger here is that piece of free floating plaque may become lodged in a small blood vessel in the heart or in the brain. If it is the heart, you end up with a hear attack. If it is the brain, you end up with a stroke.
So Vitamin E is good for your heart but also for your brain.
I'll talk more tomorrow on sources.
The danger here is that piece of free floating plaque may become lodged in a small blood vessel in the heart or in the brain. If it is the heart, you end up with a hear attack. If it is the brain, you end up with a stroke.
So Vitamin E is good for your heart but also for your brain.
I'll talk more tomorrow on sources.
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