Archive for category Vitamin
How Vitamin D Deficiency Destroys the Immune System
As more and more studies continue to confirm the link between healthy levels of Vitamin D3 and a strong immune system, a group of Danish scientists believe they may have pinpointed the exact reasons why this nutrient is so critical to the human immunodefence system.
The researchers claim their findings could be beneficial in protecting against new global epidemics and infectious diseases and could even aid in the development of new vaccines.
The study found that special cells known as “T-Cells”, which are critical to immune defense, are dependent on the presence of Vitamin D in the bloodstream in order to function properly, and lay dormant unaware of the presence of a potential threat when there are insufficient amounts of Vitamin D in the blood.
“When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signaling device or ‘antenna’ known as a Vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for Vitamin D,” said Carsten Geisler of Copenhagen University’s Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, the scientist who spearheaded study.
Geisler added that when one is suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, the T-Cells “won’t even begin to mobilize.”
Vitamin D3 Deficiency can be countered and prevented by an individual exposing his or her skin to direct sunlight. The nutrient can also be obtained through certain foods such such as egg yolks, cod liver oil, fatty fish and cholecalciferol (the scientific name for Vitamin D3) supplements. Read the rest of this entry »
Acne – Stopping Acne With Vitamin A
Introduction
Close to 40 million Americans are troubled with acne, with 70% of those who have it being in their teens or young women in their early 20s.
There are several methods used to help control acne, but one of the best methods is to use Vitamin A or its derivative. Too much Vitamin A can be dangerous. Here is a little history on acne and Vitamin A, the benefits and draw backs, and how Vitamin A helps fight acne.
Acne
Acne is caused by three distinct factors: excess secretion of sebum (oil), bacteria (Propionibactium acnes or P.acnes) and excess amounts of dead skin. These three elements come together when the body’s pores produce excess amounts of sebum. When this occurs the oils allow the dead skins to combine together blocking the pores on the skin. Blockage of the pores traps P. acnes in, which then thrives in the oxygen depleted environment.
When this occurs, the your bloods white blood cells attack the bacteria leading to blackheads, whiteheads or pimples.
So how can Vitamin A help stop acne?
Vitamin A
Vitamin A was discovered in the early 20th century and is also called by the name retinol. It is necessary for many of the body’s organs, especially the eye, in regards to vision. It also improves the immune system and is necessary for proper skin development.
It can be found in such foods as spinach and other leafy green vegetables, also carrots, sweet potatoes, and fruits, such as cantaloupes and apricots. And of course you can find supplements to give you your daily dose of Vitamin A. Read the rest of this entry »
Symptoms Of Low Vitamin D Levels
Vitamin D is probably the most important vitamin that we need to be concerned with in order to ensure optimal health. In fact, Vitamin D doesn’t function as a regular Vitamin in the human body but as a steroid hormone, going into the nucleus of almost every cell in the body to regulate gene expression.
It is best known for its role in bone health and therefore the best known symptoms of low vitamin d levels are associated with bone health, and rickets is the best known disease of vitamin d deficiency. If your deficiency isn’t severe, then you’re probably not gonna notice an effect on bone health until you get older and start suffering from things like osteoporosis. By that time, it will be too late to try to correct your low levels and your symptoms will be there for good.
There are other, lesser known symptoms of low vitamin d levels, not related to bone health at all. These are the big killers, cancer and heart disease, along with acne, depression, muscular disorders, autoimmune disorders, obesity and many, many more. These symptoms are so varied, that vitamin d may be a good suspect if you have any sort of mysterious health problem that your doctor doesn’t seem to know what to do about.
It is important to ensure that your vitamin d levels are optimal, because if they aren’t then you may not know about it until it’s too late, that is if you have developed one of the serious diseases that can be partly caused by vitamin d deficiency. Therefore I recommend that you have a blood test done and see if it would be a good idea for you to supplement with this vitamin.
Gluten consumption can reduce the half-life of the vitamin d in your system and reduce your intestinal absorption of nutrients, causing low blood levels. Magnesium intake can also augment vitamin d absorption and function, so it is important to make sure you’re also getting enough magnesium through your diet. Read the rest of this entry »