The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a study suggesting that most Americans were deficient in Vitamin D.

What is Vitamin D?
There has recently been an explosion of information about this vitamin. It is primarily known for its role in the absorption of calcium and so it is essential for the normal development of our bone structure. However, it has also been shown to be involved in the immune system.

Where do we get vitamin D? As well as being obtained from food, where it is not very abundant, Vitamin D can be produced in the skin by the action of ultraviolet light (sunshine).
Although elderly people are traditionally thought to be more at risk from vitamin D deficiency, wisely, more and more of us are staying out of the sun and/or using sunscreens for protection. So, we are all at risk.

The article in The New England Journal of Medicine called for much greater supplementation with this vitamin. Be safe!

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin long known as essential for promoting calcium absorption and thereby ensuring healthy bones. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin and brittle, with a deficiency being a risk factor in osteoporosis.

A recent flood of research into vitamin D has investigated its role in a wide variety of diseases, including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, possibly autism, and periodontal disease.

Experts recommend taking vitamin D supplements on a regular basis because food sources are extremely limited and our natural production depends on exposure to the sun.

Vitamin D is now available in a Spray! For more information visit: click this link: Spray the sunshine vitamin!

In today’s more health conscious world, all kinds of vitamin and mineral supplements are available. There are many people who use these products in an attempt to improve the quality of their health. One of the most popular types of supplement is calcium. Consumers have long been given information on the importance of calcium supplements for good bone health.

While everyone regardless of age or gender needs calcium for healthy bones, the biggest group of people who can benefit from a calcium supplement is postmenopausal women. These ladies are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. It has long been known that as we age, bone density lessens and our ability to produce more healthy bone cells diminishes. Many people in this group and others are taking the preemptive strike against bone loss by ensuring that they get the recommended amount of calcium each day.

Besides postmenopausal women, older people in general are finding that taking a calcium supplement is an excellent way to help reduce the risk of severe bone loss or fracture. Both men and women naturally lose some of the strength in their bones and the result is more brittle and fragile bone mass. Turning to the aid of a calcium supplement helps to hold off this often common problem. The hip is prone to breaking as the body ages. Another part of the skeleton frequently at risk for fracture is the shoulders. One minor fall could result in weeks or months of recuperation, even hospitalization.

When the natural production of estrogen and other female hormones declines during menopause bone density is quickly affected. Bone loss of 2%-3% each year during menopause is not uncommon. In addition to menopause being a risk factor for osteoporosis, women who are small boned, Asian or Caucasian, and have a family history of Osteoporosis are generally at higher risk. Taking preventative measures is one way women can avoid osteoporosis and take care of their bone health.

Of course younger people are not at as high a risk as those who are in or approaching their golden years, but it isn’t impossible for even younger groups to experience below average bone mass from inadequate calcium consumption or insufficient weight bearing exercise. Pregnancy and other hormonal changes take their toll on the quality of the bones as well. Everyone should be on the look out for their skeletal structures continued good health and strength.

Calcium rich foods and supplements help maintain blood calcium levels therefore reducing the need for calcium releases from the skeleton. Calcium intake helps keep bones strong and reduce the risk of hip fracture and other unnecessary bone breaks. In the case of osteoporosis, height is often lost as a result of the spine bending due to soft bone tissue. A calcium supplement or calcium rich foods, plus exercise, can help you slow the loss of height or other preventable effects to ensure a more satisfying, safer future.

When you are considering taking a calcium supplement, it’s important to be aware of the recommended intake for specific age groups and genders. Here is in the U.S., the recommended intake for young adults, 19 to 50, is 1000mg a day. After that age, the amount of calcium intake you should aim for is 1200mg. Vitamin D is often a part of bone health as well. Younger adults should generally take 5mg daily with the older adults advised to get 10mg.

If you are in doubt as to the importance of calcium supplements, take a look at how much money is spent annually in osteoporosis related insurance claims or medical costs. In Europe the number tops out at $37.6 billion with the U.S. reporting $17.5 billion. A good portion of that money probably was spent on osteoporosis related fractures. Of course those figures don’t add in the pain and recovery time needed to heal from such an injury or impact on quality of life of the individual. For more articles like this, visit www.BoneHealthVitamins.com

By: Craig Smith

Did you know that typically about 5-20 minutes of sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm about twice a week is the recommended amount for sufficient Vitamin D for the average adult? Not much, right? However, many of us do not get that, especially in the Fall and and Winter. My doctor recently informed me that if you live above 42 degrees north latitude (you could draw a line on a map of the U.S. between the northern California and Boston) you will not get enough sunlight for cutaneous vitamin D absorbtion and synthesis from November through February. If you live even further north, this reduced intensity lasts for up to 6 months. The good news is that for others living in latitudes below 34 degrees north (drawing another line between Los Angeles and Columbia, South Carolina) those U.S. residents do receive sufficient sunlight for cutaneous production of vitamin D throughout the year.

As previously revealed in our site in an article entitled, “Bone Health Vitamins and Key Vitamins for Women”, Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and fighting off osteoporosis. In fact, this is not just about women’s bones, but the bone health in men as well. Furthermore, Vitamin D is a key vitamin that we should ensure is part of the daily diet and routine for our children and teenagers as it is never too early to focus on bone health.

How can you maintain your necessary Vitamin D intake? First of all, you should be getting about 400-800 IU of Vitamin D. This is a range, and you should discuss your Vitamin D needs with your physician before starting any kind of vitamin or supplement for your bones. D3 is typically the best Vitamin D vitamin supplement to get for bone health, as it is usually the best-absorbed.

You can also address your daily Vitamin D needs in your diet. Unfortunately, few foods in nature contain Vitamin D. However, many fortified foods do include Vitamin D, especially milk, as milk fortification was long ago implemented to combate rickets.

D-rich foods include:

Fish, such as tuna, sardines, salmon

Fish Oil

Vitamin D fortified foods like milk or orange juice, yogurt (check labels closely, as different products may or may not fortify with Vitamin D) and breakfast cereals

There are great supplement options to ensure that you get the daily allotment of Vitamin D for your bone health when you see less and less sun in the Fall and Winter months. Discuss your Vitamin D options with your physician and create a plan to address Vitamin D in both your diet, lifestyle and daily vitamin supplements!

I recently read that people who consume the most fruits and vegetables enjoy higher bone density levels than those that have diets low in fruits and vegetables.  This is based off of the diets of people who consumed at least 5 servings per day of fruits and vegetables.    Only FIVE servings a day can dramatically impact bone density levels?  Seems easy to accomplish, right?

Tips to enjoy more fruits and veggies:

Add fresh fruit to your morning routine of cereal or outmeal.  Just a handful of fresh berries a day can bring healthy antioxidants to your diet and help you to maintain stronger bones!

Skip the soda, substitute a fresh fruit juice.  The soda may give you a short term sugar boost, however, the fruit juice will give your body a natural boost, as well as positively impact your bone density! 

Cut up carrots, celery, apple slices and other yummy natural snacks and have them fridge-ready and handy in snack-size baggies.   They are easy to grab, easy to pack in a briefcase, backpack or purse, and you can take all the work out of preparing the snacks by creating multiple snack packs all at once!  You can even add healthy, organic peanut butter, almond butter, hummus or other healthy spreads and snacks to make the veggie or fruit snack more appealing and less boring or monotonous!

Add veggies to every meal, by adding a side salad, or incorporating the vegetables into the meal itself.  Love pasta?  Adding brocoli to your usual pasta meal not only adds appetizing color, but a healthy way to fortify your bone density.  Chop carrots, celery and other veggies into your hamburger mix, chili or meatloaf.  You will add a new level of flavors, add moisture and texture to your usual meal and impact your bones! 

Hit the Farmer’s Market, or check out local produce providers to get the freshest fruit and veggies available, as well as interesting new varieties that you can experiment with in your cooking and baking.  If  you do not have a Farmer’s Market available, check out services that will deliver fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to  your doorstep!   Farm Fresh to You is just one example, you may be able to find a service in your community or surrounding community that offers a similar service!  AAA Fruit Baskets can be the best gift you give to a loved one, or even yourself!    Shop Fruit Baskets Now

Got a sweet tooth?  Eat a yogurt with fresh fruit, or an energy bar with a fruit serving.  The natural sweetness of fruit can soothe that sweet tooth, saving you calories and fat…and making for stronger bones!

Okay, fine.  So you cannot eat enough fruits and vegetables.   At least take a multi-vitamin or bone health vitamin to your daily routine to help your body get  those much needed vitamins and minerals found naturally in fruits and vegetables. 

Do you have other great ideas on how to add fruit and vegetable servings to your every day routine?

The structure and the health of our bones depend on the vitamins, the minerals and other food in our bodies. This makes it particularly important that we try to assure us that we meet the standards recommended the daily levels of catch of food our need for body. In terms of bone, it is particularly important for women during the pregnancy, because their babies depend on them to provide the food which these new bones must correctly develop before birth.

Calcium reaches many objectives in the body, and among most important is the calcium of role has in the structure of our bones. The external part of our bones, the part lasts which protects the interior part, is made of calcium phosphate. 99% of calcium in our bodies are located in the bones and the teeth. Calcium is important with all the stages of the life. It has the special importance for the baby the growth and the development which takes place in the uterus, as well as with children and teenagers. It is because during this time, the bones develop quickly.

Our bones are in a constant state of regeneration, meaning that calcium is lost and replaced. The loss progresses more quickly while we age, making it more difficult to replace it as quickly as it is lost. That means that during all our lives, us must realize of our daily calcium catch. Our needs increase while we age because of the loss of bone. If we neglect our calcium, we endanger ourselves of such debilitating diseases of bone like the osteoporosis, in which the bones become fragile and rupture easily.

Generally the children need about calcium 800mg per day. The teenagers should have a minimum of 1000mg each day, the women 1200mg of adult, enclosure or nursing the women need about 1500mg per day, just as the women who reached the menopause. The men of adult should have between 1000mg and 1200mg or calcium per day. The vitamin D Is essential to bone health and the structure, because it is a principal element in the absorption of calcium. If the body cannot absorb calcium, it cannot employ it.

Associated vitamin D Also with a variety of other vitamins and minerals in the processes which have like consequence the mineralization of bone. Phosphorus is another important mineral to bone the structure and health. 85% of phosphorus in our bodies are found in our bones and teeth. The calcium and phosphorus work to build bones together, and both must be present in at proportioned amounts. The adults need between 700mg with phosphorus 900mg per day, and the children – according to the age and the size – should have between 500mg with 1250mg per day.

Magnesium is also important for the building of the bones. The adults need between 310mg and 420mg per day and children should have between 130mg and 240mg per day. The fluorine is used to maintain our bones hard. The associate of vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E also with other food and contribute considerably to health, the force and the structure of our bones. Our bones must last a life.

It is essential that we help them to make thus by the checking to carry out the standard recommended the daily levels of catch of the vitamins, the minerals and other food which they have need. The dietetic supplements offer a sure and effective means to make thus, once used with care and according to proportionings’ recommended standard.

Author: Heidy Rizkyanto Suputro

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heidy_Rizkyanto_Suputro

Getting enough vitamins is necessary for good health and fitness, but it is also important for looking fabulous. What vitamins do women need? The most essential vitamins for women are: Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and B complex. Minerals: Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc. The best way to ensure you get everything you need for optimum health is to eat a balanced diet.

Essential Vitamins for Women:

Vitamin A:

Though most of the time it’s essential to bump up your vitamin intake as you get older, having too much vitamin A in your diet might increase the risk of bone fracture. You shouldn’t be getting more than 1.5mg of vitamin A each day. Everyone needs strong bones, of course, but for women approaching the menopause it’s particularly important. Bone health isn’t just about calcium.

Vitamin D:

It is an essential nutrient for good bone health. Vitamin D is found in oily fish, eggs and certain fortified breads and cereals. But the human body gets most of its vitamin D from the effect of sunlight on our skin.

Vitamin C:

As an anti-oxidant, vitamin C helps to mop up cell-damaging free radicals. In other words, vitamin C is believed to slow down premature ageing and help keep disease at bay. So, while everyone benefits from enough vitamin C, you might be particularly fond of it if you want to stay younger for longer. Citrus fruit, strawberries, blueberries, green vegetables, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes are all great sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin B (Folic Acid):

As your body becomes less efficient in absorbing this essential B vitamin, try adding some green vegetables to your meal, and choosing brown rice instead of pasta or white rice now and again. Citrus fruits and kiwi fruit contain folic acid, and you’ll also find many breads and breakfast cereals have folic acid in them.

Vitamin E:

Antioxidant vitamins mop up the free radicals in our body. Free radicals damage organs and cause us to look and feel older. So when you take antioxidants, not only are you protecting the health of your vital organs from damaging free radicals, you’ll also be keeping your skin looking young and maintaining your youthful good looks for longer. Vitamin C and vitamin E are key nutrients to look out for. Sparkling eyes and clear skin could be additional benefits of eating up your fruit and veg!

Author: Karel Micek

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karel_Micek

For those individuals that make the healthy life choice to exercise, additional vitamins and minerals may be necessary.It is entirely possible for an individual that works out to suddenly find him or herself faced with a vitamin and/or mineral deficiency.The latter fact is the result of the body’s rapid use of minerals and vitamins which are absorbed through natural, healthy food consumption.Therefore, getting vitamin supplements on a daily basis is highly recommended for those who work out each day.When an individual that exercises lacks the appropriate minerals and vitamins, he or she is also faced with diminished performance, potential fatigue, and other body ailments like cramping and pain after exercise.

A lack of the vitamin B-complex will result in a lack of stamina and potential fatigue.The recommended daily allowance of niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and cobalmin vary.An individual that exercises regularly should get 15 mg of riboflavin daily, 25 mg of niacin, 10 mg of pantothenic acid, 15 mg of pyridoxine, and 6 mcg of cobalmin daily.Thiamine, another of the B complex vitamins, is necessary on a daily basis and an individual should get 50 mg daily.Vitamin B-complex works in unison in order to improve one’s metabolic rate, to keep one’s skin and muscles in healthy condition, to improve upon immunological functioning, and to encourage proper growth of cells.A deficiency of vitamin B-complexes can result in muscular pain, and other bodily ailments.

Over-the-counter vitamin supplements which can be taken daily can ensure that an individual gets the adequate amount of vitamin A, Biotin, Folic Acid, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous, Selenium, and Zinc.Whether or not the individual works out strenuously or not, a vitamin supplement is recommended simply because the supplement can deliver to the body the vitamins that one may not consume in his or her regular diet.Food based vitamins are a better choice.

Individuals that work out on a regular basis tend to sweat profusely, and during the process of sweating, the body may diminish the amount of the zinc, iodine, and iron in the blood as well.Many over-the-counter vitamin supplements will help in replacing the diminished minerals that the body uses.Vitamins supplements can also deliver to the body additional calcium which is necessary for bone health, the transmission of nerve impulses, as well as the body’s ability to contract muscles properly.The more athletic an individual is, the more likely the individual require a supplement that replaces the minerals and vitamins mentioned above.

It might be a wise idea to visit a doctor to get a full physical before beginning any exercise program and after one has been exercising for a period of time.A doctor can perform blood work to determine whether or not there are any vitamin deficiencies and/or mineral deficiencies that need to be addressed either before any exercise program begins or after one has been working out for a while.

Author: Robin Reichert

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Reichert

The Women Health magazine mentions in its May review — “While Food and Drug Administration daily value recommendations for vitamins haven’t changed since 1968, what we know about nutrition has.”  The Institute of Medicine has new recommendations for vitamins called dietary reference intakes.  

The main four essential multivitamin supplements that women require are

• Calcium,
• Vitamin D,
• Magnesium and
• Vitamin K

Finding the best brand of vitamin supplements can be quite difficult with so many brands to choose from on the market. Though this may seem to be impossible with every manufacturer saying they are the best, we have found it not to be the case. Today more so than before you can do your due diligence by finding reviews that independently compare vitamins. It is important to find a calcium pill that has Vit D in it as the Vit D helps in the best absorption of the calcium into your cells.

Calcium is best needed to help develop peak levels of bone mass in the growth years of a developing woman. If minerals such as calcium intakes are lower in the early years the onset of osteoporosis is quite common when adulthood is reached.

Marilyn Stephenson, a registered dietitian with FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition quotes “The most important time to get a sufficient amounts of calcium is while bone growth and consolidation are occurring, a period that continues until approximately age 30 to 35,” says Marilyn Stephenson, a registered dietitian with FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “The idea is, if you can build a maximum peak of calcium deposits early on, this may delay fractures that occur later in life.”

The supplementation of magnesium not only assist with proper absorption of calcium but also plays an important role in disease protection, lowering the risk of diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer. New DRIs say that we should be taking at least 320mgs a day of magnesium for best results.

Vitamin D is fat soluble and is sparingly found in foods, maybe found as an added nutrient to processed foods or maybe taken as a supplement pill. This special vitamin may also be produced by the action of ultra violet rays of the sun converting Vit D in our skin. For Vitamin D to be bio-available in our bodies it has to undergo a couple of changes in our body system for it to be beneficial and play its part in calcium absorption.

The importance of Vit D in our bodies especially women are that it helps in the calcium absorption in the intestine and helps to maintain required amounts of serum calcium and phosphate level concentrations which are important for bone mineralization and prevention of hypocalcemic tetany.

Hypocalcemic tetany means less serum calcium resulting in muscle spasms. The lack of Vit D will trigger bone brittleness and thinness such as found in patients suffering from rickets. Proper levels of Vit D helps prevent rickets in children. If you took adequate amounts of calcium along with Vit D the occurrence of osteoporosis in adults is reduced.

Vitamin K is an important ingredient that helps with bone health. Though Vit K has benefits you should alway consult your doctor if you are on medication as it can interfere with blood thinners in drugs.

What vitamins prenatal or pregnant women need for optimum health?

For women who are exercising regularly or are pregnant it is recommended that their iron intake should be increased as compared to females who are not. The reason why iron is important during this period is because it plays a vital role in helping hemoglobin to best deliver oxygen to our cells in greater amounts. The lack of or loss of iron will cause headaches, pallor and fatigue among women. Try taking a vitamin that has all the B complex supplements in it. The B group of vitamins help in energy production and good carbohydrate metabolism. Please be aware that women over the age of 50 may need less iron as they do not loose iron as younger women do during their periods. If older women have an iron problem then they need to consult their doctor as the loss of iron could be something their doctor needs to look into.

If women find it hard to have a meat diet, then it is recommended that they should consider supplementing vitamins with the B group of vitamins and iron. Women get tired more easily than men and hence need more B group of vitamins. They can add carrot juice to boost the delivery of Vit A.

For those women who are considering falling pregnant it is prudent to start supplementation of a high quality vitamin before pregnancy.

 Vit B6 or folic acid plays an important role in reducing spina bifida in infants.This infant deformity occurs early in the pregnancy if folic acid is absent.

• Taking a high quality fish oil supplement from a trusted vitamin manufacturer will help with the development of the baby’s brain. Omega 3 fatty acids have been found to improve the baby’s brain development during pregnancy.
• If you are considering falling pregnant please be warned that some supplements have Vit A present in them. Vit A can harm the unborn baby in the womb.

Trading Standards watchdogs and charity Birth Defects Foundation Newlife found a third of products do not carry clear labels showing they contain vitamin A.

Author: Claude Fullinfaw

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claude_Fullinfaw

On a side note, my doctor did state that he agreed with one point of the study:  If you do enjoy a cocktail or two, stay away from hard alcohol mixed with soda, especially the dark colas.  Excessive soda consumption may lead to low bone density later in life. 

Moderate drinking may help build bone density

By Anne Harding, from Reuters Health.

People who enjoy a glass or two of wine or beer every day could be helping to keep their bones strong, new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests.

However, drinking more — and choosing hard liquor instead of wine or beer — may actually weaken bones, Dr. Katherine Tucker of Tufts University in Boston and her colleagues found.

In an interview with Reuters Health, Tucker agreed that keeping track of the health benefits and risks of alcohol is tough these days. "It is very confusing for people because alcohol has such diverse effects on different things," she said; for example, while drinking may prevent heart disease, it increases breast cancer risk.

Nevertheless, the researcher added, the effect of alcohol on bone mineral density (BMD) that she and her colleagues saw was "larger than what we see for any single nutrient, even for calcium. It’s not ambiguous. It’s very clear."

In the current study, Tucker and her team investigated how different types of alcohol affected bone density in 1,182 men, 1,289 postmenopausal women, and 248 premenopausal women participating in the Framingham Offspring study. Study participants ranged in age from 29 to 86.

Men who had a glass or two of wine or beer daily had denser bones than non-drinkers, the researchers found, but those who downed two or more servings of hard liquor a day had significantly lower BMD than the men who drank up to two glasses of liquor daily.

The women who drank more than two glasses a day of alcohol or wine had greater BMD than the women who drank less. Nonetheless, this finding shouldn’t be seen as meaning that the more a woman drinks the better it is for her bones, Tucker noted; there were simply not that many women in the study who drank much more than this.

Beer is an excellent source of silicon, a mineral needed for bone health that has become increasingly rare in the modern diet, the researcher noted. Beer’s silicon content accounted for at least some of its bone-building effects in men, she added; there were too few women who drank beer to draw conclusions about how the mineral affected female bone density.

Beer and wine may be better for people than liquor, she suggested, because they contain potentially beneficial plant substances such as resveratrol, while hard liquor has had most natural substances distilled out of it.

It’s likely, Tucker said, that alcohol may help build bones by boosting estrogen levels — which is the mechanism that also may account for the increased breast cancer risk seen for women who drink even moderately.

"The main message here is that if you are drinking up to one or two glasses of wine or beer a day, you don’t need to stop for your bones’ sake, in fact it’s helpful," the researcher said. "It’s a personal decision."