Health: Why Vitamins are so Important?

Vitamin C Powerful antioxidant. Adjusts coagulability of blood, formation of bone tissue, formation of steroid hormones, carbohydrate metabolism. It is necessary for preservation of healthy bones, teeth and blood vessels. Participates in absorption of iron. Stimulates development of the interferon constraining duplication of viruses. Reduces influence of allergens.

Niacin (Vitamin PP) It is irreplaceable for normal metabolism, health of skin and nervous system.

Vitamin E Antioxidant. Stabilizes nonsaturated fat acids and cellular membranes and promotes prevention of sedimentation of atherosclerotic plaques in vessels, strengthens immunity. Reduces need of cardiac muscles in oxygen, favorably influences for peripheral blood circulation. Possessing diuretic effect, reduces blood pressure. It is necessary for healthy functioning of muscular tissue. Improves genital function and potency.

Vitamin B6 Participates in synthesis of nucleinic acids and proteins, is effective for prevention of atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, premenstrual syndrome, depressions.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Takes part in processes of growth, hemapoesis, energy metabolism, metabolism of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, regulates the state of central and peripheral nervous systems, together with vitamin A provides normal vision. Participates in maintenance of tissues of organism and skin.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Normalizes the activities of nervous and cardiovascular systems, influences on metabolism of carbohydrates (sugars, starch) and fats. Normalizes acidity of gastric juice, peristalsis of stomach and intestines. Participates in processes of producing of energy.

Pantothenic acid Normalizes carbohydrate, protein metabolism, digestion, function of liver, heart, stomach and intestines. Participates in metabolism. Reduces the level of cholesterol. Influences on synthesis of sexual hormones, cortison, tiroxin, insulin. Regulates the state of central and peripheral nervous systems, work of adrenal glands, takes part in synthesis of hemoglobin, antibodies. Prevents tiredness, removes stress. It is formed by intestinal microflora.

Folic Acid Participates in synthesis of nucleinic acids, hemapoesis of bone marrow, promotes prevention of developmental anomalies of nervous system of fetus. Participates in formation of a spinal cord of fetus.

Vitamin B12 Normalizes the processes of hemapoesis, function of liver and nervous system. Regulates the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It is synthesized by microflora of intestines, but in insufficient quantity.

Biotin Participates in metabolism, influences on nervous system, sexual function, state of skin. Biotin plays the important role in metabolism of carbohydrates and fat and amino acids.

Health & Magnesium

What magnesium is?

Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for our body to function properly. It is a mineral that we require in relatively large amounts because it plays a key role in creating “balance“. It is particularly abundant in green vegetables as well as natural supplements.

What magnesium does?

Magnesium plays many roles in the body. It promotes absorption and use of other minerals such as calcium, helps to move sodium and potassium across the cell membranes; it is involved in the metabolism of proteins, and turns an essential enzymes.

Why do you need magnesium?

Magnesium helps bones to grow and teeth to remain strong. It enables nerve impulses to travel through the body, keeps the body's metabolism in balance, and helps the muscles — including the heart — to work properly. Small amounts of magnesium work as an antacid; large amounts of magnesium work as a laxative.

Up to three-quarters of the US population get less than recommended amount of magnesium (400 milligrams a day). Those most likely to be deficient in magnesium include the elderly, diabetics, moderate or heavy drinkers, and people taking diuretics.

Doctors use magnesium to treat heart rhythm abnormalities and it may help prevent clogging of the arteries. Besides, Magnesium plays a necessary role in:

• regulation of the muscular activity of the heart;
• supports a normal hearts rhythm;
• stabilized blood pressure;
• provides an absorption of such minerals as calcium, potassium, phosphate, etc.;
• provides an absorption of important vitamins from group B,C,E;
• participates in processes of metabolism for proteins;
• strengthens bones and teeth;
• reduces cramps;
• regulation nervous system;
• avoid stress.

Health: Fibers, Vitamins and all that‘s good for you!

The Nutritional Importance of Fibres
Your Body and Fibres
Vitamins and their Functions
Your Health & Magnesium
Health Benefits of Green Tea

Classification

The major fibre components are polysaccharides other than starch that include cellulose, beta-glucans, hemicelluloses, pectins, and gums in addition to the nonpolysaccharide component, lignin. These polysaccharides are defined by their sugar residues and links between them. Cellulose and beta-glucans are glucose polymers with beta bonds. In the beta-glucans bonds are interspersed with beta bonds, and this structure makes the molecule less linear than cellulose.

In pectins the backbone is predominantly galacturonic acid residues, rhamnose units are inserted at intervals, and side chains contain predominantly arabinose and galactose.

Lignin is composed of a mixture of phenolic compounds resulting in a highly complex molecule. Although most foods contain only small amounts of lignin, its presence can greatly affect the digestibility of the cell wall structure, and considerable interest exists in the potential carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic effects of phenolic compounds derived from plant foods.

Nutritional importance

Several clinical and experimental studies have been conducted on human patients and on animal models to demonstrate the need of fibre in the diet. These studies have shown the potential importance of certain sources of dietary fibre for normal gastrointestinal function, lowering plasma cholesterol, blunting glycemic response and insulin release.

Gastrointestinal response

For healthy individuals, dietary fibre is clearly important for normal gastrointestinal function, as summarized in table 1. Several investigators have proposed that the adequacy of fibre intake can be determined by estimating the amount of fibre or non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) needed to maintain an adequate stool weight and transit time.

Prevention of diverticulosis

Increased fibre intake has been suggested for disorders involving the large intestine such as constipation, diverticulosis, and irritable bowel syndrome. In all these disorders, numerous factors other than diet can contribute to the development of the disorder.

In particular, in irritable bowel syndrome, personality and anxiety as well as dietary factors can be contributing causes. Among identifiable dietary factors, fibre is the only constituent that appears to affect stool weight.

Hence, in cases of constipation or irritable bowel syndrom in which a low fibre intake is associated with low stool weight, increasing fibre intake by recommending dietary modifications may be beneficial.

Your Health and Green Tea

The human body constantly produces unstable molecules called oxidants, also commonly referred to as free radicals. To become stable, oxidants steal electrons from other molecules and, in the process, damage cell proteins and genetic material. Antioxidants are substances that allow the human body to scavenge and seize oxidants. Like other antioxidants, the catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities. They may also target and repair DNA aberrations caused by oxidants.

All varieties of tea come from the leaves of a single evergreen plant, Camellia sinensis. All tea leaves are picked, rolled, dried, and heated. With the additional process of allowing the leaves to ferment and oxidize, black tea is produced. Possibly because it is less processed, green tea contains higher levels of antioxidants than black tea.

Although tea is consumed in a variety of ways and varies in its chemical makeup, one study showed that steeping either green or black tea for about five minutes releases over 80 percent of its catechins. Instant iced tea, on the other hand, contains negligible amounts of catechins.