Brain Fog Solution

No matter in what profession you are, or what your social status is, you ought to have a good memory to do anything in your life. There is no one out there who would not want to improve their memory and there are so many people out there who would literally do anything and everything to improve their memory.

People so often try out the memory supplements found in the drug stores to find a solution to their degrading memory. They also try out vitamins and other commercial medicines which can improve their memory. There are some vitamins and supplements like vitamin B, a fatty acid called omega 3 and antioxidants have been a successful cure to memory loss. But question arises when; the supplements that you are taking are not enough?

There are actually some ways that can complement your medicines to improve your memory. Strong focus and high concentration can help you a great deal in improving your memory. When you are not paying any attention to the information that comes your way then you are not likely to put the information in the long term memory. This can be a real problem for those people who are dealing with a high level of stress, tension, insomnia or the people who are a victim of attention deficit disorder (ADD).

You will find a few stimulants that have been proven to be very effective in improving the concentration level. There is a drug known as Ritalin which helps in increasing the brain activity and thereby help them by improving their mental focus. They do so by increasing the stimulus in the central nervous system and managing the chemicals in the right way. Amphetamines are another stimulant that is often used to improve the concentration. They are a good memory increasing agent if you use them in a proper way. You have to use it very carefully as amphetamines are highly addictive.

There are also some modern medications that can prevent your brain from Alzheimerâ??s disease. This is a serious disease that affects every single part of your brain.

Be careful about all those cons out there trying to sell you their new memory improving pills and tonics as most of them are harmful to your health and useless as far as the memory improving is concerned. Try to have good nutrition, enough rest and lead a stress free life as it can go a long way in improving the memory.

kayes
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/ways-to-improve-memory-726632.html

So much is written about arthritis and you can get confused as to what causes arthritis and what arthritis treatments are effective. Arthritis is an inflammatory condition. This inflammation comes from infections. Infections come from a variety of conditions such as:

Bacteria, viruses, pathogens, yeast that you ingest or that is already in your body

Air pollution from cars or from your work environment

Un-natural food that you eat that is processed or irradiated

Food additives such as dyes, colorings, preservatives, enhancers, gases, sugar

Contaminants in your water such as fluoride, chloride and other substances

Stress from your work and home life

This small list gives you an idea of the many chemicals and emotional sources that can lead to infections in the body and result in arthritis. You can see that all of these sources are part of your regular diet and lifestyle. Now if you couple this with a weak immune system, you set the stage for some serious arthritis conditions. A weak immune system can not control and eliminate these infections so these infections can turn into serious inflammations.

Because of toxins and infections, there are very few people that will escape developing arthritis in their life time.

But for those of you that are health conscious and look to prevent various illnesses, here are some arthritis treatments and arthritis preventive measures.

Arthritis Treatment

The first step you need to take is to take daily antioxidants. You get antioxidants in the deep dark red, blue, black berries and other fruits. Pomegranate juice is one of the most powerful antioxidant juices and provides arthritis protection. Recently I have been using Purity Products Super Reds and New Vitality’s Ruby Reds Powder. I put one scoop of powder in some apple juice or other juice and add a dropper full of green tree extract. This gives me a high dose of antioxidants to fight off the heavy dose of free radicals that I consume from the air, food, and thought. Remember free radicals attack tissue causing infections and inflammation in every part of your body.

These powders great taste and are good for the kids in the morning.

So now, if you add juicing to your morning habit, you will be adding high levels of antioxidants and in addition many minerals and vitamins that buildup your immune system. Use pineapple, alfalfa sprouts, and cantaloupe, apricot, cabbage, and cucumber juices. And, you can add a bit of ginger juice to gives you anti-inflammatory protection.

In a recent article, I wrote about Lion’s Mane. Here you have a powerful immune system enhancer. It contains 3 Chinese mushrooms - Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Reishi -that will buildup your immune system and in addition improve your memory. I have been using this for only a week and I can sense a slight improvement in my memory and how quickly words come into my thought as I express myself. Build up your immune system and this is a powerful arthritis treatment. You body will be able to fight of toxic matter and at the same time protect your joints from infection and inflammation.

This is just a start in dealing with pain and inflammation wherever it maybe in your body - in your joints, organs, or tissues. Use antioxidants and red powders to prevent inflammation. Use juices to give you minerals and vitamins to help improve your immune system. And then give yourself a powerful immune stimulator by take Lion’s Mane. Now you have an arthritis treatment that can start protecting your joints and other parts of your body from arthritic infection and inflammation.

Rudy Silva
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/arthritis-treatment-using-natural-remedies-102590.html

Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble crystalline compound that contains phosphorus, nitrogen, and cobalt. The latter gives it a rich red color. It is heat stable in neutral solutions, but it is destroyed by heat in both acid and alkaline mediums. It is also sensitive to light and is destroyed by heavy metals and strong oxidizing and reducing agents.

Vitamin B-12 is the most complex compound of the vitamins. Its chemical symbol is C63H90CON14O14P. It contains one cobalt atom that is similar in structure to the position of iron in hemoglobin. B12 is the only naturally occurring organic compound that contains cobalt. The commercially available form of Vitamin B-12 is Cyanocobalamin.

It helps activate amino acids during protein formation and in the anaerobic degradation of the amino acid lysine. The coenzyme of cobalamin is a carrier of methyl groups and hydrogen, and is necessary for carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.

Cobalamin also provides important protection of the heart by way of its methyl transfer role. It is active in the synthesis of the amino acid methionine from its precursor, homocysteine. The synthesis occurs by first removing a methyl group from methyl folate, a derivative of the biologically active form of folic acid. This methyl group is then transferred to homocysteine and methionine is formed. It has been recently acknowledged that excess homocysteine in the blood is the cause of heart disease, blood clots, stroke and gangrene. Therefore, the understanding of this complementary action between B-12 and folic acid is a significant addition to our arsenal of weapons for the fight against heart disease. It is important to note that adequate amounts of both vitamin B12 and folic acid are necessary for methionine synthesis to take place. You can say keeping homocysteine levels low is a matter of life and death.

Methionine is essential for choline synthesis; therefore, vitamin B12 plays a secondary role in this lipid pathway. A choline deficiency that causes fatty liver can be prevented by cobalamin or the other methyl donors (betaine, methionine, folic acid).

It has been observed that fatty acid synthesis is impaired when this B vitamin is deficient. A lack of sufficient essential fatty acids results in impairment of brain and nerve tissue. The myelin sheath (the insulation around nerve cells) is malformed in a cobalamin deficiency and contributes to faulty nerve transmission. A prolonged B12 deficiency will ultimately lead to neurological disturbances.

DNA replication is dependent on the function of coenzyme cobalamin as a methyl group carrier. It is this role that explains why a deficiency of B-12 leads to megaloblastic anemia. This disorder is characterized by large immature blood cells and changes in bone marrow. Inadequate DNA translation leading to improper cell replication results in the large blood cells observed in this disorder. These large misshapen red blood cells are unable to transport oxygen. This results in anemia, leukopenia, thrombopenia and fewer, but larger and less mature, blood cells. Poor cell division in the gastrointestinal tract and epithelial tissues produces glossitis and megaloblastosis. Furthermore, general growth and repair are likewise impaired.

The characteristic symptom of a severe deficiency of this B vitamin is pernicious or megaloblastic anemia. This condition is most often caused by either inadequate consumption of B-12 or by a reduced gastric secretion of a mucoprotein called intrinsic factor. This intrinsic factor is necessary for proper vitamin B12 absorption through the intestinal tract. It is produced by the parietal cells of the stomach and binds onto the vitamin to transport it into the small intestine. In the presence of calcium, this transport mechanism attaches to the intestinal wall, facilitating absorption of the vitamin.

Pernicious anemia can also result from several other conditions, including:

Gastrectomy (surgical removal of the stomach)
Surgical removal of the lower ileum (were B vitamins are absorbed)
Developing antibodies to intrinsic factor
Hereditary malabsorption
Strict vegetarianism (absence of animal products in diet)
Homocystinuria (characterized by large amounts of homocysteine in the urine)

We now know that a deficiency of B vitamins (B6, Folic Acid & B-12) is the trigger for heart disease. This occurs when homocysteine levels rise unchecked by sufficient blood levels of these three B vitamins. There is good news in this message. Now, we know how to prevent heart disease and have a longer healthier life.

Too much homocysteine in the blood damages arteries and blood vessels causing the formation of arterial plaques. This results in arteriosclerosis and heart disease.

Other deficiency symptoms include glossitis, degeneration of the spinal cord, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal disturbances, fatigue, pallor, dizziness, hypotension, disorientation, numbness, tingling, ataxia, moodiness, confusion, agitation, dimmed vision, delusions, hallucinations, and eventually, “megaloblastic madness” (psychosis).

A long-term marginal b-12 deficiency has been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It has been found that over 70% of older persons having a B-12 deficiency also have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s patients also exhibit lower blood levels of this B vitamin than patients who suffer from other brain or memory disorders. B-12 status correlates with the severity of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s patients. It is presently unknown whether the deficiency is a cause or result of the disease. However, cobalamin functions in numerous metabolic processes that affect nerve tissue. These processes include the synthesis of neurotransmitters and phospholipids which may explain B-12’s possible link with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 deficiency are most commonly found in people over the age of 40 with increasing occurrences as age increased and is often a result of the reduced secretion of intrinsic factor. This condition is corrected with B-12 injections. Patients suffering form dementia often exhibit a deficiency of this B vitamin and supplementation improves mental functioning in some of these cases.

Vitamin B-12 absorption can be inhibited by many gastrointestinal disorders including, gluten-induced enteropathy, tropical sprue, regional ileitis, malignancies, and granulomatous lesions in the small intestine, tapeworm, bacteria associated with blind loop syndrome, and other disorders that impair the proper intestinal function. The need for B12 intake is increased by hyperthyroidism, parasitism and pregnancy.

The only source of vitamin B-12 in nature is microbial synthesis. Cobalamin is not found in plants, but is produced by bacteria in the digestive tract of animals or by microbial fermentation of foods.

Sources containing more than 10mcg/100 grams are organ meats (liver, kidney, heart), clams, and oysters. Good sources (3 to 10mcg/100 grams) are nonfat dry milk, crab, salmon, sardines, and egg yolk. Moderate amounts (1 to 3 mcg/100 grams) are meat, lobster, scallops, flounder, swordfish, tuna and fermented cheese. Other sources are fermented soybean products, poultry, and liquid milk products.

Because cobalamin is affected by temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, some or all of this B vitamin is lost when meat is cooked.

The minimum daily requirement for B12 can be exceeded by ten thousand fold with no signs of toxicity. Excesses are excreted in the urine.

Many of the tests available to assess cobalamin deficiency have limitations and can give false results. For example, the MCV test (macrocytosis test) is not a sensitive test. Several conditions such as folacin deficiency, vitamin C supplementation, and antibiotics can result in high or low levels of B-12 being indicated in the essay. The Schilling test can give both false abnormal and false normal readings. Vitamin B-12 deficiency detection requires multiple testing methods and the patient’s symptoms being used in combination to diagnose.

References:

Garrison Jr., R.PH., Robert & Somer, M.A., R.D., Elizabeth, The Nutrition Desk Reference, 3rd ed., New Canaan: Keats Publishing, 1999,
pp 124-128, 431, 434
McCully, M.D., Kilmer S. & McCully, Martha, The Heart Revolution, New York: Harper Perennial, 1999, pp 1-10

Tom Nuckels
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/vitamin-b12–cobalamin-105581.html

Your body is your temple, and what you give it nutritionally can have a vast impact on your health. As the body ages, many changes take place, and by taking in the proper vitamins and minerals, you can minimize the negative health effects that you experience as you grow older. In this article, we’ll mention some of the important nutrients that one needs to intake as they age to help keep in proper health.

As you age, your body’s ability to properly process the vitamins that you eat decreases. For that reason, it is important to increase the amounts of vitamins that you intake. Since osteoporosis occurs in those of an older age, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that your body gets enough Vitamin D. While those in their twenties only need to take in 200 IUs of Vitamin D per day, those aged 60 and above are recommended to take in about 600 IUs. The B-Vitamin Complex is also an important vitamin that our body loses the ability to process over time. A lack of B vitamins can lead to a risk for heart disease and possible memory loss, and for that reason, those of an older age need to make sure that they get all the B vitamins that they can get. Calcium is also a particularly important nutrient when it comes to aging; along with Vitamin D, it helps the bones to mineralize properly, warding off the effects of osteoporosis.

When it comes to actual foods that you should eat to avoid aging significantly, a diet that is high in both fruits and vegetables is recommended. Those who indulge in these types of foods often are found to have lower rates of disease as well as higher levels of energy and a healthier appearance. There are many reasons that these types of foods are recommended; most fruits and vegetables have no cholesterol, fat, or sodium, which are three harmful compounds that have a negative effect on health. In addition to the lack of bad substances found in fruits and vegetables, they are also rich in the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Practically every essential vitamin and mineral can be found throughout the fruit and vegetable world, and a minimum of five fruits and vegetables per day are recommended by the National Cancer Institute.

Anti-oxidants are also important when it comes to aging; this type of compound is useful in the way that it helps the body to protect itself against the harmful effects of free radicals, which are rogue cells that attack the cell membranes of your body, causing premature cell death. Many fruits and vegetables include anti-oxidants, including carrots and tomatoes.

Following these basic principles is a great way to get your health on track as you age, helping you to ensure that you will live a healthy life.

Jonathon Hardcastle
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/anti-aging-nutrition-63709.html

While you are dieting, your brain cells try to save energy and you unintentionally want to avoid any stress, including strong positive emotions, like joy, happiness, ecstasy, etc. If your brain cells do not get optimal nutrition, they grow old and do not work properly. What kind of food can make us happy?

Getting vitamins is very important. Stress weakens your immune system; free radicals attack your cells, etc… If you feel that life is just a joyless struggle to survive, you need to increase the amount of vitamin B you get. This vitamin is responsible for the formation of lecithin, which is very important nourishment for your nervous system. You can get it with sunflower seeds, citrus fruits, bananas, 4-5 eggs a week, poultry, beans, whole grains, oatmeal, fish, sea food and nuts.

Vitamins B and C support cells, vitamins A and E protect them and glucose is a source of nourishment for your cells. That is why we want some sweets when we are tired. If your blood sugar is low, you become annoyed and aggressive. It does not mean you have to eat cake and chocolate right away. You will have energy in the morning, if you eat a dinner that has 70% protein. The right foods for your dinner are meat, fish, sea food, chicken, turkey, eggs, cottage cheese, vegetables and fruits. Exclude potatoes or boiled vegetables.

If you have a weak nervous system, you should not eat food rich in carbohydrates, like pasta, sugar, pizza, sweets, bread, French fries and canned food. You will get a lot of glucose with these kinds of food, but its concentration in your blood drops fast because of an insulin effect. As soon as it happens, you will get annoyed and nervous. To feel better you need another portion of glucose. It becomes a vicious circle where your sugar increases and drops down all the time. It is harmful for your body, your cells and your pancreas.

Feed your stress right. Mint tea is very good in calming your stress and relaxing you. Cabbage will decrease the activity of your thyroid gland. Strawberries will help with your mood. Bananas are rich in serotonin which is the so-called ‘hormone of joy’.

Are you stressed about a public speech, taking an exam or having an important interview? If you need more confidence and if you need to memorize a lot of information, you have to get more vitamin C. The sources of this vitamin are lemons, oranges, pineapples, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli and cabbage. Eating grated carrots with vegetable oil or sour cream will also help your memory.

If you eat a half of avocado every day, your brain will work better. Sea food and fish have substances your brain cells need for intense work. Yogurt with live bacteria will help your cell metabolism.

Garlic has substances that boost your brain activity and improve your memory. You need to eat it regularly. Lentil helps with your brain clarity and speeds up your thinking.

If you need to get better focus on what you are doing, you should eat blueberries, oranges and pineapples. Brussel sprouts help your concentration. Onions promote blood thinning which improves blood circulation and provides oxygen to your brain.You need to eat ½ onion every day.

Boost your creativity. If you need to be creative at work and you cannot think clearly, eat peanuts or figs. You can also drink caraway tea: put 2 table spoons of caraway seeds in 1 glass of boiling water. Caraway seeds are rich in essential oils that will boost your brain activity.

Yulia Berry
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/do-you-believe-that-a-good-tasty-lunch-can-make-you-happy-92627.html

One of the first steps we take when learning a language, be it our mother tongue as children, or a foreign language later on in life, is expanding our vocabulary by memorizing words (usually nouns and adjectives at first). Memorizing is done naturally when we’re living in an environment that forces that particular language on us (such as our homes as children, or as visitors in a foreign country) but it can also be “forced” through several methods. The following article will try to present some of these methods that could help you learn how to memorize words faster when learning a foreign language.

Flashcards

Flashcards are the basic tools for word memorizing and although they are used mostly with small children, they can also be useful for grown-ups when learning a new foreign language. Basically, a flashcard is a piece of carton containing an image of a noun (usually nouns, although they can oftentimes contain colors, actions and so forth) with the appropriate word describing it and possibly, a small text that explains what the object is. They are a good way to take your first step into the vocabulary of the foreign language you are learning and they can be fun to use together with your children.

Using Mnemonic Links

A mnemonic is generally described as an abbreviation or a symbolic representation that helps humans memorize a certain “something” easier. Mnemonics are used to enhance and develop the assimilation of data into memory and there’s no better use to them than in learning a new language. Since when you’re gradually building your new vocabulary for the new language you will inevitably translate and think those words out in your mother tongue, you can use such a mnemonic to make this translation easier to memorize. For example if you’ve just learnt how to say “seaside” in the foreign language you’re studying, imagine a picture of the seaside and then switch back between the native and foreign language words of what you’re seeing. The image, which is easier to remember than a word, will act as an intermediate between the two languages.

Memory Enhancement Medication

There are several natural supplements out there that help you memorize stuff faster and for a longer period of time, as well as help with concentration during the learning process. Some of the herbs that are known to have a memory enhancing effect include Ashwagandha, Reishi, Ginseng, Bacopa, Mucuna Pruriens or Fo-Ti. Ginseng is one of the most popular in the list and it is widely used as a supplement in language learning classes as well as generally used by students before exams or during the school year. There are no side effects to these herbs but you might be allergic to one, so it is best if you visit your medic before taking any of them, asking if you are allowed or not to start a long or short-term memory enhancement plan.

There are also several vitamins and nutrients that could help out with memorizing new words, the list including: carnitine, lecitine, carnosine, choline, inositol, tyrosine and several others, but these are not the point of our discussion.

Michael Gabrikow
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/how-to-memorize-words-50326.html

Few things have been as controversial as nutritional supplements have been recently. Depending on who you listen to, they are either the answer to any problem you have or they are the devil incarnate. The truth about nutritional supplements, though, is really somewhere in between.

Nutritional supplements are more widely used now than in other time in history. This is because many people have turned to nutritional supplements in order to fill the gaps in what they know to be unhealthy diets that don’t meet the minimum daily requirements for many, many necessary vitamins and minerals. Others have turned to nutritional supplements in order to enhance everything from their workout regimes to their memory and mental functions.

Considering the controversy over whether it’s safe to take nutritional supplements or not, you probably wonder just what you can really expect from taking nutritional supplements. Do they have any real benefit?

The fact is that taking nutritional supplements in their recommended dosages is extremely helpful for everyone from infants to elderly people. The methods used to grow and process our foods have changed drastically in the last 100 years. In many cases, this means that the food itself is deficient in many essential, basic vitamins and minerals.

Add that to the fact that people are so time-starved today that many of us practically live on meals out of paper bags makes taking nutritional supplements almost mandatory. Taking vitamins and other nutritional supplements is a good way to be certain you get all the proper vitamins and minerals you need daily.

However, nutritional supplements should never be used as a substitute for a good diet. Eating at least three (and many experts recommend five) well-balanced meals and two well-balanced snacks per day is still the best way to be sure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay fit and healthy. Adding nutritional supplements to good eating habits simply goes the extra mile to see that you’re getting all the nutrients that your body needs each day.

There are many high-quality multi-vitamins available at your local drugstores, as well as through many online sources. The key thing to remember when you decide to take (and you should!) nutritional supplements of any kind is to take them only as directed. Those directions are put on the bottles and packages for a reasonâ??to ensure the vitamins and other herbal supplements are taken correctly.

This is vital for any nutritional supplement you take to be both as safe and effective as it should be. Too high doses of anything can cause side effects you aren’t expecting and don’t want. When you take more of any vitamin or nutritional supplement than the manufacturer recommends you take daily, then you run the risk of taking more than your body can effectively and safely process in a twenty-four hour period of time. Any risk of taking too much or of unwanted side effects is slight, though, for nutritional supplements when they’re taken as directed. Even slightly higher dosages, in most cases, will have few side effects because your kidneys will flush them from your system, which keeps your body from absorbing too much of any one vitamin or mineral. Still, to be totally safe, take nutritional supplements exactly as instructed.

If you’re still uncertain as to whether you should take a nutritional supplement each day, ask for your doctor’s advice. This is particularly true if you’re on any prescribed medications. It is possible for some supplements to decrease the efficiency of some prescribed medicines and to interact with them, causing unwanted side effects. However, despite many news headlines you may have read, this is rare, especially when nutritional supplements are taken as directed.

Taken properly, nutritional supplements are an excellent way to ensure your body has all it needs to be healthy. Just be sure to use them to supplement, not substitute for, a good healthy diet.

Wesley Atkins
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/why-you-should-take-nutritional-supplements-4030.html

Vitamin B complex is a group of 12 related water-soluble substances. The eight water-soluble vitamins including thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin (B7), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), and cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).

These eight are considered the essential vitamins because they need to be definitely included in the diet. Four are not essential because the body can synthesize them. The four unnumbered components of the B complex that can be synthesized by the body are choline, inositol, PABA, and lipoic acid.

Benefits of Vitamin B Complex:

Each member of the B-complex has a unique structure and performs unique functions in the human body. These vitamins are vital for:

« Lustrous hair

« B6 is essential for amino acid metabolism

« B12 and folic acid facilitate cell division

« Good vision

« Folic acid, pyridoxine, and cobalamin work together to keep homocysteine levels low, as high homocysteine levels lead to heart disease.

« Prevent certain birth defects such as cleft palate and neural tube defects, maintain healthy red blood cells, and may have a role in preventing certain types of cancer.

« Avoiding any mouth infections

« Proper functioning of liver

« The breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose so as to provide energy to the body.

« Helps tone stomach muscles and those of the intestinal tract

« Healthy skin

« The breakdown of fats and proteins to aid the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Sources of Vitamin B Complex â??

A well balanced diet should provide us with all the B vitamins we require, but because they are water soluble and therefore not retained by the body, we need a daily dietary source.

Vitamins B1 and B2 found in cereals, whole grains, potatoes, seafood, liver, and kidney beans.

Vitamin B3 is found in liver, fish, chicken, nuts, whole grains, and dried beans. Vitamin B5 is found in almost all foods. Fish, chicken, potatoes, wheat germ, bananas, and dried beans are good sources of vitamin B6. Vitamin B7 is present in peanuts, liver, egg yolk, bananas, watermelon, and grapefruit. Green leafy vegetables, liver, citrus fruits, nuts, peas, dried beans, and wheat bread contain vitamin B9. Vitamin B12 is found in eggs, meat, poultry, milk, and dairy products.

Daily requirement of Vitamin B Complex â??

Daily requirement of the B-complex varies considerably - from 3 mg per day for vitamin B12 to about 18 mg per day for vitamin B3 in adult males.

Vitamin B deficiency:

The Vitamin B requirement of different individuals varies according to the intensity of activity and loss of nutrients in sweat and through urine, especially after strenuous exercise. Many people involved in high-level sports or physical activity are unaware of the impact of vitamin B complex in their diet - a poor diet lacking in important micro nutrients may have severe detrimental effects on a personâ??s health and professional potential.

Several deficiency diseases may result from the lack of B-vitamins. These include -

· Vitamin B1 deficiency causes beriberi, weight loss, emotional disturbances, swelling of bodily tissues, amnesia.

· Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) deficiency causes cracks in the lips, high sensitivity to sunlight, inflammation of the tongue, syphilis.

· Vitamin B3 (Niacin) deficiency causes pellagra, mental confusion and even death.

· Vitamin B6 deficiency may lead to anaemia, dermatitis, high blood pressure.

· Vitamin B7 deficiency may lead to impaired growth and neurological disorders in infants.

· Folic acid deficiency in pregnant women can lead to birth defects.

· Vitamin B12 deficiency causes pernicious anaemia, memory loss and other cognitive diseases.

Causes of Vitamin B deficiency -

· Stress whether mental or physical.

· Increased intake of processed foods.

· Refined sugar robs the body of its vitamin B stores.

· Drugs deplete vitamin B in the body.

· Toxins â?? environmental pollution as well as personal care products deplete vitamin B complex

· Malnutrition.

· Cooking as vitamin B is killed or depleted in foods that are overcooked.

Symptoms of Vitamin B Complex deficiency -

Vitamin B complex deficiency shows symptoms such as:

· mental problems

· heart palpitations

· indigestion

· chronic fatigue

· nervousness

· inability to concentrate

· insomnia

· tingling fingers and toes

· rashes

What can be done to overcome Vitamin B deficiency?

« Avoid eating refined sugar.

« Reduce stress through a regular exercise, meditation.

« Avoid drinking too much of coffee or tea

« Eat more vitamin B containing foods such as oats, barley, wheat bran, leafy veggies, nuts.

« Avoid toxins such as alcohol, tobacco.

Tom alter
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/vitamin-b-complex-benefits-sources-and-deficiency-104066.html

Why take Vitamins?

Vitamins are micronutrients that are essential to life and healthy living. And, as everyone is aware, failing to get the necessary amounts of specific vitamins can cause deficiency states that are unhealthy and even dangerous.

However, vitamins can play a much larger dietary role in our ongoing quest for health than the FDA’s Reference Daily Intakes (formerly known as recommended daily allowances, or RDA’s) might suggest.

As many scientific studies now indicate, vitamins, when taken in amounts greater than the RDIâ??s, may reduce the occurrence of certain illnesses and degenerative disorders, improve the functioning of the immune system, and, perhaps, even allow us to live longer and healthier lives.

Is my â??Dietâ? adequate?

There is an increasing tendency to associate the word â??dietâ? with special food combinations that help you lose weight, but this is not the true meaning of the word: simply put, your diet is what supplies the body with the vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and fiber it needs to sustain lifeâ??your life.

Without adequate amounts of healthy nutrients, it is a proven fact that you will become more vulnerable to infection and illness. Eyesight, memory, mood, energy level, lifespanâ??everything that defines your life experience is directly affected by what you eat. With so many food choices available, itâ??s important to know which foods are the best sources of nutrients, and how these nutrients function in the body.

Supplements? What are they, and should I be taking them?

Nutritional supplements are important for at least two simple reasons. The first is that many of us rely too much on fast foods and highly processed foods. And the second rationale for nutritional supplements is that evidence continues to mount that many of the nutrients and health promoting substances that we might take to achieve optimum health levels cannot be obtained through normal diet alone.

Of course, any nutrient that is not acquired through normal eating habits may be classified as a supplement. And this includes vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes, as well as a host of other nutrients. The key to nutrition is to keep track of and know the amount of nutrients you are getting from your normal eating habits each day and if this is not meeting the RDIâ??s suggested requirements, you should be taking a multi-vitamin every day.

Here are the values suggested by the FDA, taken from, (â??Daily Valuesâ? encourage healthy diets, by Paula Kurtzweil, member of the FDAâ??s public affairs staff)

â?¢ vitamin A 5,000 International Units (IU)

â?¢ vitamin C 60 milligrams (mg)

â?¢ thiamin 1.5 mg

â?¢ riboflavin 1.7 mg

â?¢ niacin 20 mg

â?¢ calcium 1.0 gram (g)

â?¢ iron 18 mg

â?¢ vitamin D 400 IU

â?¢ vitamin E 30 IU

â?¢ vitamin B6 2.0 mg

â?¢ folic acid 0.4 mg

â?¢ vitamin B12 6 micrograms (mcg)

â?¢ phosphorus 1.0 g

â?¢ iodine 150 mcg

â?¢ magnesium 400 mg

â?¢ zinc 15 mg

â?¢ copper 2 mg

â?¢ biotin 0.3 mg

â?¢ pantothenic acid 10 mg

Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs)

(Based on National Academy of Sciences’ 1968 Recommended Dietary Allowances)

James Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/are-you-getting-enough-nutrition-form-your-diet-93998.html

There are many foods that help improve the memory power. Consuming these foods not only greatly enhances the memory power of an individual, but assists all round growth of the individual. It is recommended that people consume a healthy diet to maintain a level of intelligence. There are natural products without any artificial additives that help enrich a person’s capabilities. For instance, high vitamin and protein rich foods are suggested to people whose performance is below average in an effort to boost their academic performance. This is a commonly accepted practice across the world. Dieticians and physicians suggest the intake of proteins and vitamins with moderate quantity of carbohydrates in an effort to help people with poor intelligence levels. Similarly, there are some agents such as synthetic products that help improve the memory power. However, it is best suggested that people avoid artificial products and opt for natural ways of improving the intelligence and academic performance. They include a variety of vegetables and fruits grown in organic manure. Avoid vegetables and fruits grown with fertilizers and artificial manures since they are laced with chemicals. At the most possible extent use naturally grown fruits and vegetables.

Some of the foods meant for super brains include chocolate, yogurt, spinach, egg plants, red cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, egg, green tea, pumpkin seeds, blackberries, strawberries, walnuts, almonds and cashews.

These foods meant for super brains contain a lot of minerals and vitamins that will assist the all round development of an individual. The lack or deficiency in any of these minerals or vitamins could result in poor health condition of the individuals. For instance, the deficiency of Vitamin A could result in night blindness among many people. Doctors recommend food rich in Vitamin A in an effort to improve their condition. Similarly, people lacking Vitamin B are exposed to a condition called Beri Beri. The absence of Vitamin C causes scurvy, especially among the children. The lack of Vitamin D among people results in leads to certain chronic conditions. In an effort to avoid such conditions over a prolonged period, it is recommended that people consume plenty of greens and spinach, which are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Red cabbage is found to be essential for easy flow of blood. Similarly, broccoli improves the iron content in the human body. Strawberries are said to be good at raising the level of thought process in a person. Therefore, doctors recommend a rich diet consisting of a balanced mix of vegetables and fruits, which will help the overall growth of an individual. Similarly, people showing anemic conditions are asked to inculcate a habit of consuming large amounts of naturally grown fruits devoid of any chemicals or fertilizers. It so happens that the addition of vitamins and carbohydrates in such forms have yielded the desired results among people of all age groups. These foods are considered super foods meant for the brain in an effort to enrich the intellectual thought process of an individual.

Robert Riles
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/healthy-diet-will-improve-intellect-10-super-brain-foods-355628.html