Lack of vitamin D linked to heart disease and other health problems

A body takes certain nutrients to function at the highest level possible.  To help take care of your body, perhaps you are looking into different supplements you should take in addition to your diet and exercise routine.  Recent studies have unveiled the importance of vitamin D in keeping you healthy.  Before these studies, it was never known how closely related a lack of vitamin D and the risks of deadly heart disease are.  These previously unrecognized relationships are being uncovered now.  The time has never been so apparently important to consume vitamin D supplements.

Fifty percent or more of people may have vitamin D levels that are too low

Linked with heart disease are other risk factors including diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.  Several comprehensive studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D led a person to be two times more likely to suffer from a heart attack, stroke or other condition connected with heart health than a person with higher levels of vitamin D.  Deficiency of this important nutrient is at a staggering level—50 percent of adults and children who are otherwise completely healthy have low levels of vitamin D.  There could be several reasons for this, one of which is a decreased amount of un-sunscreened time spent in the sun.  This is a difficult one to argue, however, because spending too much time in the sun can lead to sun burning and skin cancer.  There are other methods you can take to get your vitamin D, including taking vitamin D supplements.

Lack of correct sun exposure levels can lead to dangerously low vitamin D levels

While the most natural source of vitamin D is from the sun during the more intense hours of the day, like 10 a.m. to 2 pm, there are other, safer ways to get the nutrient.  Vitamin D supplements can deliver the precise amount of vitamin D you need without danger of overexposure to the sun.  The recommended dosage for those younger than 50 years old is 200 international units (IU) and more as you get older, up to 600 IUs if you are over 70 years old.

Foods rich in vitamin D

As you try to continue to care for your body, consider the importance of vitamin D supplements in your diet.  Focus on eating particular vitamin D rich foods as well, like salmon, sardines, dairy foods and fortified breakfast cereals.  If you suspect you have a vitamin D deficiency, there are blood tests that can be done to screen whether you have any risks at your level.  It is easy to restore high levels of this vital nutrient in your body by careful sun exposure, eating the right foods and taking daily vitamin D supplements.

Iodine is another little known nutrient that is vital to your health.

Iodine- the secret supplement for healthy weight

Many people have the goal of losing weight.  Did you know that iodine supplements can help keep you from gaining excess fat and pounds?  It does not work alone to do this, but rather iodine stimulates the production of an essential hormone that acts as a body fat reduction tool.  This hormone, which many people trying to lose weight are already familiar with, is called the thyroid hormone.  The thyroid gland is situated at the base of the neck and is responsible for maintaining proper body weight.

Iodine, thyroid and metabolism

The body does not need over excessive amounts of iodine to trigger the thyroid gland.  The absence of it, however, has a highly negative effect on the body.  The thyroid plays a critical role in accelerating the body’s metabolism rate.  Metabolism refers to such aspects of digestion as the rate of food absorption to the biochemical reactions in the body that produce the end products of food and convert it to energy.  When thyroid production slows, it directly inhibits the rate of your metabolism.  One of the most obvious side effects of a slow metabolic rate is obesity.  People with thyroid problems, particularly hypothyroidism, are more likely to become obese.  Taking iodine supplements may be an astonishingly simple way to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Negative effects of too much iodine

Anyone who has a low natural iodine production in their body can counter it by taking iodine supplements.  This will balance the level of iodine in your body if you take the proper amount.  As stated above, the body really needs a small amount of iodine to be successful, so over consumption of iodine supplements could also be a negative thing.  Too much iodine can cause damage to body tissues and cells, so for safe consumption, consult a doctor.  He or she will be able to assist you in determining a dosage level over a certain period of time.

Additional weight loss tips

Along with the consumption of dietary supplements, it is important for anyone looking for visible weight loss results to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen.  Taking supplements is one step towards producing measureable results.  It is also important to understand that iodine supplements are designed to help you maintain your current weight and prevent weight gain.  To lose even more weight, consider using green tea diet supplements and other supplements such as omega 3 fish oil.  However, for thyroid stimulation and maintaining a healthy body weight, iodine supplements may be just what you need!

Folic Acid- the B vitamin you must know now

Dietary supplements are very important for maintaining proper health during this time when diet alone is often not enough to get the nutrients you need.  Once it may have been possible to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals a body needs to function at its top level, but with minerals in the soil being depleted, once mineral-rich foods are starting to lack what they once used to deliver. 

Many foods are naturally good sources of folic acid, like whole grains, beans and dark green vegetables, but storage and cooking diminishes the value of the nutrient.  To counter this, you can take dietary supplements.  Some of the most important vitamins you can take, especially for women’s health, are folic acid supplements.

Folic Acid critical for prenatal baby health

Folic acid is a B vitamin necessary for the body to produce red blood cells and maintain a standard metabolic rate.  It is particularly important for women to take folic acid supplements when they are pregnant because it can help prevent birth defects and promotes a healthy fetus spinal cord.  Folic acid provides benefits that go way beyond prenatal health, however. 

In both men and women, folic acid supplements help keep your heart healthy and can treat such conditions as depression, arthrosclerosis, epilepsy and gingivitis, among many others.  Folic acid both helps prevent you from getting these ailments and can act as a treatment if you are already suffering from any of them.

Folic acid helps your heart by lowering homocysteine levels. 

High homocysteine levels leads to arteries becoming vulnerable to plaque buildup because of the impairment of blood vessels.  Plaque buildup leads to higher risk of heart disease, so taking folic acid supplements to lower levels of harmful material in your body will help prevent heart disease.  It is clear that everything in the body is connected and related when you learn that a high level of homocysteine is also linked to depression.  Lowering those levels is effectively how folic acid fights depression.

Watch out for negative side effects

While folic acid supplements make great additions to any diet and exercise regimen, negative side effects can occur if you consume too much.  The recommended dosage is around 400 mcg a day, although people in particular categories, such as pregnant women and the elderly, may need to consume more.  The dangerous level does not begin until you reach levels around 5,000 mcg.  Still, it is wise to consult with your doctor about the precise amount that is best for you and your needs.

What are your experiences with folic acid supplements?

Please share them with us in the comment section below.

Read about the little known benefits of green tea diet supplements.

Green tea is a super health food. 

Studies show that there are several beneficial aspects of taking these health supplements as a part of your regular diet.  Many people understand the health benefits of drinking green tea every day, but perhaps they do not enjoy the taste or lack the time to brew a cup every morning and afternoon.  If you fit into the category of people that want the benefits of green tea without actually drinking it, green tea diet supplements may be perfect for you.

The benefits of green tea are widely known and recognized.

Green tea is used for treating many ailments-

• acne 
• other skin problems
• heart health
• weight loss
• and more 

 Cups of green tea, as well as green tea diet supplements, have caffeine to give you an energy boost when you need it.  However, many people wish to avoid caffeine because it is a stimulant and can cause harm to your body over a long period of time.  For people with such concerns, there are decaffeinated green tea diet supplements available, as well.  The supplements still contain all the health benefits, simply without the caffeine.

Green tea is well known to assist with weight loss. 

This is because green tea has a high content of EGCG, an antioxidant which increases metabolic rates naturally.  A faster metabolism means increased calorie and fat burning capabilities, a very important aspect of losing weight.  The only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you intake.  Consuming green tea diet supplements to naturally increase your metabolism speed is an effective way to help you lose a few extra pounds.  You may want to lose weight for several reasons, most of which are directly health related.  People who are overweight have a higher chance of having a heart attack or stroke, and they are also at a higher risk of heart disease.

For a healthy, natural way to increase your overall health, consider green tea diet supplements.  The list of benefits goes beyond what has been mentioned here.  If you are hoping to lose weight, whether to increase your self esteem, improve your health or both, green tea diet supplements make for a safe, natural way to lose weight.  Compared to other weight loss products on the market today, none can boast such overall health benefits as green tea.

How has green tea helped your health?

Please share in the comment section.

Get a boost of energy here.

May you enjoy vibrant natural health,

Val Lovejoy
Natural health consultant and reiki master
www.ThriveNaturalHealth.com