Vitamin B12 is one of the eight vitamins in the B complex. The human body assimilates it from dairy products, eggs and meat, and there are few vegetable food sources for it. Scientists report that some seaweed and an alga like spirulina contain very high amounts of this nutrition element.

What it serves for!

Vitamin B12 has a major function in the red blood cells production and the maintenance of the nervous system. This vitamine contributes to the rapid cellular division and the synthesis of DNA. Children and adults depend on it for good health. As for the aid it provides to the nervous system, it helps to the metabolism of fatty acids, which play a crucial role to the maintenance of myelin.

Vitamin B12 deficiency

The body can store small amounts of this vitaminic element, most of it in the liver. The bile excretes and reabsorbs it into a circuit that is known as enterohepatic circulation. If you don’t get enough of this vitaminic element from your diet, you are likely to develop anemia or neurological problems, although problems can appear within twenty years from the switch to a B12-deficient diet.

Deficiencies are more common with vegans and vegetarians and symptoms may include anemia with excessive tiredness, poor immune function, pallor, menstrual disorders and breathlessness. Prolonged deficiency of vitamin B12 can also lead to permanent neurological damage.

Balance your diet!

Meat, eggs and dairy products are the most important sources of B12 vitamin. Nevertheless, mention must be made that yogurt fermentation or milk boiling could destroy this vitamin. As for vegetable sources, there is not sufficient data to support the use of spirulina as a dietary supplement to compensate for this vitaminic element diet deficiency.

There are studies that suggest that spirulina contains B12 analogues, which are compounds with a similar structure to B12. Scientists do not know whether these analogues are good or bad, but there are chances for these substances to compete with the real vitamin B12 and actually inhibit its metabolism. This means that on the long run, a B12 vegetal supplement could do more harm than good.

Special mentions!

Nutritionists have reached a consensus that no vegetal sources for vitamin B12 are reliable, and therefore vegans and vegetarians are advised to consume foods fortified with it. Fortification applies to yeast extracts, soya milks, breakfast cereals, vegetable and sunflower margarines.

Pregnant women do not have special needs for vitamin B12, while nursing mothers require a higher daily intake because of the lactation. There is no toxicity associated with higher vitaminic element intakes.

Penny Mena covers everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your general overall health. For more information on nutrition and Vitamin B12 check out her latest website on Vitamins http://articletalent.com/vitamins

Natural vitamin supplements have gained prominence over the last decade becoming far more popular than synthetic multivitamins. The major differences between these two categories of supplies result from the way they are manufactured and the metabolism processes. Studies have revealed that synthetic ones are inferior because the body cannot assimilate the compounds properly. Much of a synthetic supplement will be eliminated through urine and stool. Another disadvantage of synthetic nutrition elements is that they consume essential chemicals from the body, depleting the system of other nutrients.

Natural vitamin supplements on the other hand contain completely organic ingredients. They are in fact herbal, fruit or vegetable extracts, standardized to meet the chemical concentration criteria. For example, Hawthorne berry oil is a very rich source of nutrition elements A and C. In many cases, you will find them as complex formulas of essential organic compounds. Depending on the manufacturer, the composition differs a lot. Some pharmaceutical companies create natural supplies aiming at supporting the treatment of a certain illness while others design supplies with a simple regenerative or restorative function.

Consumers may have difficulties when selecting natural vitamin supplements. There are a few things you should carefully check because not everything that reads ‘natural’ is 100% natural.

These ones should be FDA approved.

The ingredients should be clearly stated with the corresponding concentration.

The usage instructions must be easy to follow and they ought to match age groups.

Quality natural vitamin supplements should mention potential side effects and possible drug interferences.

Be very careful with online shopping because most scams are encountered on the Internet. Lots of products promoted as natural vitamin supplements are not only risky but they have actually received a ban from the Food and Drug Association.

Consume these one that contain 100% vitamins not 80% and 20% additional substances.

Ask your health care provider to recommend some natural vitamin supplements and ask him/her to explain the difference between such products and synthetic vitaminic compounds. Some doctors are still in favor of synthetic nutrition elements, because they consider they work faster. Nevertheless, studies indicate that on the long term their initial positive impact on the body drops progressively.

Even if we are clearly in favor of natural vitamin supplements, you should follow your doctor’s orders or ask for a second medical opinion to be certain of your treatment. Mention must be made that no supplement can substitute for a balanced diet rich in nutrients from all the food categories.

Penny Mena covers everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your general overall health. For more information on nutrition and Natural Vitamin Supplements check out her latest website on Vitamins http://articletalent.com/vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are a category of nutritional supplements designed to meet the special body needs of pregnant and nursing women. They represent blends of nutrients that sustain the pregnancy and provide all the substances necessary to the growth of the baby. They should always be supported by a balanced nutrition in order to be efficient. The highest benefit of these nutrition elements is that they contain folic acid, a vitamin in the B complex that is vital for the growth of the fetus in the uterus. The health of the unborn baby depends on the mother’s folic acid intake.

The right moment to take them!

Most doctors recommend that women start taking prenatal vitamins a few months before they decide to conceive. Yet, since half of the all pregnancies are unplanned, future mothers should start the administration right away, following their doctor’s orders. These ones are available as pills, liquids and capsules, and they should be used according to the instructions.

The tolerance to prenatal vitamins!

Although the benefits of prenatal vitamins are widely acclaimed, there are women who don’t tolerate them too well. Among the common side effects of such supplements we can mention constipation and an aggravation of the morning sickness. Nausea and unpleasant gastric reflux are also possible. You should be careful with some elements, because beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A) could cause birth defects to the child.

Tricks to make prenatal vitamins more pleasant!

Lots of future mothers discover that chewable prenatal vitamins are better tolerated. Get some gummy nutrition elements, because they could be just what you need. Talk to your doctor to change the type of supplement, or use natural herbal extracts that are especially designed to meet the extra-nutritional needs of pregnant women. Only purchase supplements from trustworthy sources and manufactured by well reputed brands. A manufacturer with a good reputation is the guarantee for supplement quality.

Be very careful with prenatal vitamins ordered on the Internet. If we are to follow common sense advice, I’d say to only use supplements you can put your hands on and read the label. The risk of scams is too high online, and with pregnancy, one cannot take any risks. Ask for a prescription from your doctor, and go to a local pharmacy to get everything you need. That is the safest and best course of action you could take under the circumstances. May you have a healthy and safe pregnancy!

Penny Mena covers everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your general overall health. For more information on nutrition and Prenatal Vitamins check out her latest website on Vitamins http://articletalent.com/vitamins

There is no such thing as the best exercise in losing weight. It takes discipline, diet, and proper training to keep a well-trimmed body. However, to enjoy maximum result, they can be done in combination with the other types such as the cardiovascular and resistance training.

Losing weight entails a lot of effort and patience before you can see actual results. It does not come overnight instead; it necessitates hard work and self-discipline. However, despite conscious effort, it is discouraging to know that the result that you’ve always wanted is barely discernable. This may be due to the improper way of doing the weight-loss routine. Here is the recommended program, which is a combination of cardiovascular and resistance training that effectively burns fat.

Cardiovascular exercise

The word “cardio” means heart while, vascular signifies blood vessels. Also known as the aerobic training, this type of exercise targets the heart and lungs, which is an essential part of every exercise. The objective of this training is to increase heart rate until such time that a fixed rate is maintained, which is sufficient to keep you going throughout exercise duration. As with any exercise, there should always be a 5-minute warm up and a cool down phase to avoid risk of injury. There are several good aerobics training, which can be divided into two categories; the weight-bearing and the non-weight-bearing.

Weight-bearing

* Running
* Brisk walking
* Treadmill exercise
* Jogging

Non-weight-bearing

* Swimming
* Biking
* Rowing

Aside from fat burning benefit of this exercise, other substantial advantages are noted, which are as follows:

* Stabilizes heart rate at a lower range
* Lowers blood pressure due to reduction of cholesterol
* Enlarges the heart, which results to a better blood perfusion
* Increases endurance through adaptation

Resistance training

To have a more effective workout, resistance training should be done in conjunction with cardio exercises. As fats are burned, you need to replace them with lean mass, which is muscle because your skin will have a tendency to sag after losing great amount of fats. You need to keep it toned by performing resistive exercise to increase muscle bulk. Focus on problematic areas such as the abdomen, triceps, and leg muscles since these are the areas where fats tend to deposit.

However, exercise alone without control in your eating habit would render everything useless. Maintain a low carbo diet, so that every time you exercise, your body will make use of the stored fats as energy instead of the usual carbohydrates for power.

When planning for an exercise regimen, choose something that you enjoy doing best. However, remember to keep in mind that whatever exercise you choose, the effectiveness of the program still depends on the doer and not on the type of exercise.

If you need more information on the best exercise combination, kindly check out http://www.vigorfit.com, which is the better alternative to Total Gym 3000.

For those of us who work in a noisy environment we need to be aware of how important it is to wear hearing protectors. In addition noise from appliances you use at home such as power saws and lawnmowers can also cause damage to your hearing over time. When you experience noise so loud that it causes buzzing in your ears, damage is occurring and will result in loss of hearing.

How does loud noise affect my hearing?

In the inner ear there are tiny hairs that line the cochlea. These hairs respond to sounds and transmit a signal to the brain so that we ‘hear’. If these tiny hairs are damaged no signals are transmitted to the brain and we cannot hear the sounds. They can be damaged by prolonged exposure to loud sounds such as music, traffic, noise from power tools etc so it is essential if you work in a noisy environment to wear hearing protectors to prevent this kind of damage. Many people like to listen to very loud music but, over time, this will result in loss of hearing. If you’ve been in a nightclub or bar where the music is very loud you will have experienced a ‘buzzing’ sensation in your ears which is an indication that damage is occurring to the hairs in the cochlea.

How loud is too loud?

The level above which damage can occur is generally accepted to be 85 decibels (dbs). How loud is this? As a comparison consider that normal conversation is around 60 dbs, an idling bulldozer 85 dbs, many power tools around 100 dbs and using earphones at a volume greater than 5 around 110 dbs.

How do hearing protectors work?

Hearing protectors reduce the noise level without blocking out all sounds (which would be dangerous!). They need to be fitted correctly and be comfortable. If you work in a noisy environment it is mandatory in many countries for your employer to provide adequate hearing protectors.

What types of hearing protectors are available?

There are a number of different types of hearing protectors that you can use. Not everyone feels comfortable with each of them so try out different type to find the most suitable one for you. If you need to use them for long periods then it is essential that you are comfortable wearing them or you will be tempted to remove them!

1) Foam Plugs: These should be soft and need to be compressed so that they expand once inserted into the ear. If you have difficulty inserting them pull the outer part of the ear gently to ensure the ear canal is straight.
2) Ear Muffs: should have flexible pads that fit comfortably around the ear. If you need to wear safety glasses as well then make sure that they can both be worn comfortably.
3) Molded ear plugs: these are harder than the foam plugs and are inserted into the ear canal. You can also buy custom made ear plugs.

Some tips to reduce noise exposure

Always wear hearing protectors when exposed to loud noise whether at work or home. Common tasks around the house like using a power saw or a lawnmower can cause damage over time.

Be very careful when using in-ear buds to listen to music as they have been shown to cause more damage than muff type headphones. Never listen to music that is too loud or causes you to experience buzzing in the ears after exposure.

Try to avoid situations where you will be subjected to very loud noises (above 120dbs), such as from gunshots, fireworks at close range, as this ‘impulse’ noise can lead to instant damage.

Be careful to protect the hearing of children who can’t do it for themselves.

Conclusion

Although you may not be aware at the time that damage is occurring over time, with enough exposure to loud noise your hearing will suffer. You may start to find that sounds become muffled and you have trouble following a conversation. To prevent this happening always wear hearing protection and avoid situations where there is very loud noise.

For more information on hearing protection and some good deals on hearing protectors visit http://besthearingprotectors.com/ or http://besthearingprotectors.com/category/peltor-hearing-protectors/

Drinking in the workplace is the most dangerous psycho active drug and even half a pint of beer at lunch time can make folks take more dangerous calls.

Then naturally there are some real absenteeism, . presenteeism and responsibility issues to think about

Morale can also become adversely influenced when binge drinkers become bad tempered and argumentative, and when others in their team become resentful at having to do some of their workload because their performance deteriorates.

Taking acceptable action ahead can seriously decrease the alcohol issues that ultimately become clearer. Step one is to draw up an alcohol policy that spells out precisely what employees cannot do regarding drinking at work. And which also makes it clear that anybody that comes forward and volunteers a drink problem will receive the firm’s full support in helping them to try and make a recovery.

Due consideration must be given to the level of support the company will offer folk who volunteer drink issues and to exactly what level of drinking, if any, should be allowed by the workforce in total. Some pros suggest the drink driving limit on the grounds that, though probably too high, it is easy to explain. Offering employees a subsidised fitness center membership or provoking a sandwich culture at dinner time can help in reducing the chances of a drink problem developing. Many income protection and money plan suppliers, and even some private surgery insurance providers, truthfully now right away include a free EAP.

The revealing suggestions that indicate whether staff can have a drink problem have more to do with commonsense than sophisticated science and a lot of them , for example bad temper, poor relations with associates and a drop in performance standards, are also prospects of other conditions, particularly depression. The most vital tool for enabling changes in behaviour to be spotted at a preliminary stage is so simply the certainty a line executive has of their employees.

If you feel an employee has an alcohol problem you may suggest they visit their Gp or find many alcohol rehab clinics on the website.

The opening approach employed in raising the issue with a suspected binge drinker should be supportive but firm.

they have to be made aware that they can either ask for help, in which case the company will be highly supportive, or the issue will get handled thru the disciplinary route if the continue to reject what’s clearly a genuine problem.

If a worker asks for help, they should ideally be referred to an occupational health service. It is quite possible to prompt a total recovery by spending as little as 1,000 pounds on buying into an external occupational health service like an alcohol rehabilitation hospitals.

Even sending those with the more heavy issues to a home alcohol rehabilitation clinics can cost as little as three thousand to twelve thousand pounds, when you have considered the expenses of recruitment, retraining and sick pay, this may appear a captivating investment. If there’s one point that most alcohol pros agree on it is that folk who successfully overcome drink issues have an inclination to make remarkably good workers.

Sam Bruce
Info on Alcohol Rehab Clinics

http://www.drug-rehab.co.uk

http://www.rehabclinic.org.uk

Acupuncture has proven to be helpful in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. It is sometimes used in alcohol rehab clinics. Acupuncture can assist in the detoxification process by easing the pain of detox as well as help repair physiological damage due to long term drug and alcohol abuse. Chronic abuse of drugs and alcohol can deplete the body of its natural endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s feel-good hormone and help the body to manage daily pain and stress. Auricular Acupuncture, the manipulation of the outer ear via needling, cauterizing, massaging or electrical stimulation has proven to increase the body’s natural production of endorphins and aid in the alcohol addiction recovery process.

There is historical documentation that auricular treatments were used to treat health conditions in ancient China and Egypt. Medical documentation from 17th century and 18th century Europe lists cauterizing the ear as a viable treatment for sciatica and sexual dysfunctions. While there is historical evidence that auricular acupuncture was used to treat various conditions the techniques were not systematized until a French physician by the name of Dr. Paul Nogier in the early 1950s made an interesting observation. Dr. Paul Nogier noticed a number of his patients had a portion of their ear cauterized by a local healer to treat sciatic pain. This treatment had proven effective and this curiosity fueled the beginnings of Dr Nogier’s empirical research into the field of Auriculomedicine.

Dr. Nogier developed his theories and published a book entitled, “The Man in the Ear” where he described the somatotropic relationship between the shape of the ear and the body. Dr. Nogier’s somatopic mappings of the homunculus, the man in the ear, an inverted representation of a fetus found in the shape of the outer ear which correlates perfectly with the human body.

Nogier brought his discoveries to his medical colleagues. In February of 1956 Nogier attended the Mediterranean Society of Acupuncture and his work was republished, translated and spread across continents. Nogier’s reflex system was spread throughout the Japanese acupuncturist community and was recognized by the Chinese medical authorities. Nogier’s work was so respected in China that the Chinese Government awarded him the formal title of “Father of Modern Auricular Therapy”. Years later an American doctor, TD Oleson, tested Nogier’s work in a clinical experiment. Patients were draped with a sheet, attending physicians had no prior knowledge of patient’s medical condition and in 75.2% of these cases the patient was accurately diagnosis by an examination of the ear alone.

Today Auricular Acupuncture has been known to significantly relieve the symptoms of withdrawal from opiates, alcohol and tobacco and is used in alcohol rehab clinics. Auricular Acupuncture has proven an effective auxiliary treatment for other addictions such as gambling, sex and food addictions. Auricular Acupuncture is reported to increase the production of the body’snatural opioid and hormones. Treatment with auricular acupuncture can be used to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal as well as manage pain and discomfort in order to heal the body and maintain recovery.

Sam Bruce
Info on Alcohol Rehab Clinics

http://www.drug-rehab.co.uk

http://www.rehabclinic.org.uk