Is Vitamins Good For You

Vitamin B Is Good For The Brain

Vitamin B vitamins are another way to help maintain brain health. The Cleveland Clinic states, “The B vitamins 1,2,3,6,9, and 12 play an important role in brain health. They may help prevent dementia and boost the production of neurotransmitters chemicals that deliver messages between neurons in the brain and body. Without a steady supply of this nutrient, which the body doesn’t store, we are at higher risk for cognitive decline, including memory loss and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”

According to Dr. Khubchandani, “Some studies show that specific types of Vitamin B may provide neuroprotective effects, whereas others suggest that multiple types of Vitamin B are required to help prevent problems with brain structure and function and to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. The key biological mechanism appears to be that adequate Vitamin B levels in our body may help with reduction of blood levels of biochemical markers that are toxic or disrupt blood vessel function. Despite several studies in the past few decades providing evidence of the involvement of B vitamins in brain aging, there is still some lack of clarity on the type of vitamin B needed to prevent brain aging and the value of artificial supplementation. It is therefore imperative to consume all types of vitamin B.

What Happens If I Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of vitamin D can cause serious or life-threatening side effects.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, loss of appetite, thirst, urinating more or less than usual, body aches, stiffness, confusion, or irregular heartbeats.

Goodbye Melatonin Research Says This Dietary Supplement Is Also A Good Sleep Aid

Here’s why GABA may be a viable sleep aid alternative, especially if others make you feel drowsy.

McKenzie Dillon

Writer

McKenzie, a Certified Sleep Science Coach and proclaimed mattress expert, has been writing sleep content in the wellness space for over three years. After earning her certification from the Spencer Institute and dedicating hundreds of hours to sleep research, she has extensive knowledge on the topic and how to improve your quality of rest. Having more experience with lying on mattresses than most, McKenzie has reviewed over 150 beds and a variety of different sleep products including pillows, mattress toppers and sheets. McKenzie has been a guest on multiple radio shows including WGN Chicago as a sleep expert and contributed sleep advice to over 50 different websites. Before she was writing about sleep, she graduated as an English major from the University of Nevada, Reno and was covering music news for an online entertainment magazine.

Sleep is an integral part of our everyday lives and general health, but millions of Americans struggle to get proper rest. Sleep supplements offer a helping hand in falling asleep, but some prescribed sleep aids can cause drowsiness, while some claim sleep supplements like melatonin make them groggy.

Enter gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Here’s what we know about GABA, its strengths, weaknesses and research that shows it’s a viable sleep aid to promote better sleep latency.

You May Like: Chemical Formula For Vitamin C

Taking Too Much Vitamin A Can Be Risky

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is stored in your body. This means that excess consumption can lead to toxic levels.

Hypervitaminosis A is caused by consuming too much preformed vitamin A through your diet or supplements containing the vitamin.

Symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, headaches, pain and even death.

Though it can be caused by excessive intake from the diet, this is rare compared to overconsumption from supplements and medications.

Additionally, eating a lot of provitamin A in its plant form doesnt carry the same risks, as its conversion to the active form in your body is regulated .

Summary

Eating high amounts of the active form of vitamin A from animal foods, medications or supplements can be toxic. Excessive consumption of provitamin A from plant foods is unlikely.

Soy Isolate: Careful With The Estrogen

Tofu, tempeh, and soy milk are all good , fiber, and a number of minerals. Some women also take soy in supplement form because the plant contains estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones that may help relieve symptoms of menopause. However, concerns have been raised that the isoflavones in soy supplements may contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer.

The good news is that large-scale studies have not shown any increased breast cancer risk from eating whole soy foods, such as tofu and edamame, according to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

In fact, at least one study, published March 6, 2017, in the journal Cancer, which looked at 6,235 breast cancer survivors, linked eating the equivalent of one serving of soybeans a week to a 21 percent lower risk of death from all causes during the nearly 10-year follow-up period.

But not enough research has been done on soy protein isolate the powder formed by removing the protein from the rest of the plant to know its effect on breast cancer risk, Millstine says.

The bottom line: If youre concerned about breast cancer, stay away from soy supplements and soy-based protein, Millstine advises. Soy intake from foods has not been shown to be of concern though.

You May Like: Is Fish Oil Vitamins Good For You

You May Like: Can Lack Of Vitamin D Cause Migraines

Is It Good To Take A Multivitamin Every Day

Experts are at odds over the effectiveness of multivitamins. While some think they supply missing nutrients, others say theyre nothing more than an expensive crutch.

Internist Raul Seballos, MD, notes that two large studies have finally shed some light on the subject:

• The Physicians Health Study II: Tracked multivitamin use in 14,500 male physicians, aged 50 and above, over an 11-year period.
• The Iowa Womens Health study: Tracked multivitamin and supplement use in 38,772 women over an 18-year period. The average age at the studys start was 61.

Dr. Seballos says these studies found that:

Read Also: Which Vitamin D Is Good For Depression

Reduces Your Risk Of Acne

Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder.

People with this condition develop painful spots and blackheads, most commonly on the face, back and chest.

These spots occur when the sebaceous glands get clogged up with dead skin and oils. These glands are found in the hair follicles on your skin and produce sebum, an oily, waxy substance that keeps your skin lubricated and waterproof.

Though the spots are physically harmless, acne may have a serious effect on peoples mental health and lead to low self-esteem, anxiety and depression (

Summary

The exact role of vitamin A in the prevention and treatment of acne is unclear. Yet, vitamin-A-based medications are often used to treat severe acne.

You May Like: How Much Vitamin C For Bone Healing

Helix For Toenail Fungus Epsom Salt Soak Toenail Fungus

Skin Fungus Cream Over The Counter Does Fluconazole Treat Toenail Fungus Does Vitamin E Oil Held For Nail Fungus. The Doctors Toenail Fungus Foot Fungus Natural Remedy Red Spot Skin Fungus. Cnn Video Toenail Fungus Toenail Fungus V Nail Fold Fungus.

Recommended Reading: What Is Gel Powder Nails

How Antioxidants May Help

Antioxidants are able to neutralize marauders such as free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. When a vitamin C or E molecule makes this sacrifice, it may allow a crucial protein, gene, or cell membrane to escape damage. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect many other cells.

It is important to recognize that the term antioxidant reflects a chemical property rather than a specific nutritional property. Each of the nutrients that has antioxidant properties also has numerous other aspects and should be considered individually. The context is also importantin some settings, for example, vitamin C is an antioxidant, and in others it can be a pro-oxidant.

Read Also: Best Vitamins For Over 60 Female

There Is Such A Thing As Too Many

But just because supplements are safe in moderation doesn’t mean that more is better. Combining multiple supplements or taking higher-than-recommended doses can increase the risk that they can cause harm, said Kitchin.

“You really can’t get toxic doses of nutrients through food, but you can absolutely get toxic doses through supplements,” Kitchin said.

According to the National Institutes of Health, taking high doses of vitamin C can lead to stomach cramping and diarrhea. High doses of vitamin A, vitamin D, and other nutrients can lead to more serious, long-term complicationslike liver and kidney problems or a dangerous hardening of blood vessels.

“We’ve learned a very important lesson, in that when we isolate these nutrients out of food and put them in super-high doses, we may have some unintended consequences,” Kitchin said.

Even if none of your supplements individually exceeds the upper limit for a given nutrient, combining several pillslike a multivitamin and an additional vitamin D capsule, for examplemay add up to higher-than-recommended doses. Supplements can also interact with each other, said Kitchin, or with medications you’re already taking.

Oxygen Is The Breath Of Life But It Also Holds The Potential To Make Us Old Decrepit And Then Dead

In order to regain stability, free radicals wreak havoc on the structures around them, ripping electrons from vital molecules such as DNA and proteins in order to balance its own charge. Although inconceivably small in scale, the production of free radicals, Harman and many others posited, would gradually take its toll on our entire bodies, causing mutations that can lead to ageing and age-related diseases such as cancer.

In short, oxygen is the breath of life, but it also holds the potential to make us old, decrepit, and then dead.

Clinical trials are the only ways to reveal the effects of a drug – and investigations into antioxidants have produced some shocking results

Shortly after free radicals were linked to ageing and disease, they were seen as enemies that should be purged from our bodies. In 1972, for example, Harman wrote, Decreasing in an organism might be expected to result in a decreased rate of biological degradation with an accompanying increase in the years of useful, healthy life. It is hoped that will lead to fruitful experiments directed toward increasing the healthy human lifespan.

He was talking about antioxidants, molecules that accept electrons from free radicals thereby diffusing the threat. And the experiments he hoped for were sown, nurtured, and replicated over the next few decades. But they bore little fruit.

Don’t Miss: What Dosage Of Vitamin D Is Recommended

Supplements Vs Food Sources

A nutrient-rich diet is likely the best way to achieve strong, shiny, healthy nails.

While there are many supplements marketed for strengthening nails, scientific evidence is lacking. To date, biotin supplements are the only type shown to have a possible effect .

However, itâs important to note that deficiencies in certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients may negatively affect your nail health.

Try to get your vitamins and nutrients from food, but when you canât, taking a supplement can help you meet your needs and likely improve your nail health.

Summary Consuming a variety of vitamins, minerals and nutrients through food is the best way to improve and maintain nail health. Under certain circumstances, taking a supplement may be beneficial, though scientific research is lacking in this regard.

The Initial Causes What Vitamin Is Good For Nail Fungus

If you suspect that your nails are infected with fungus, it is best to consult your doctor and get a diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of your nails. A biopsy is required to determine the cause of the infection. Various types of fungus are found in the skin, including the toenails. Among the most common forms of nail fungus are yellow and black, with white patches surrounded by dark brown or white spots.

The infection is caused by fungus. It can spread to the skin and other parts of the body. It is very common to find a nail fungus on the foot in elderly people, and it is often not treated until the condition gets worse. The disease can even be spread to the skin. The afflicted person should see a doctor immediately if they notice any changes in the color of his or her nails.

Nail fungus can occur in the toenails. The infection occurs due to a variety of factors, including excessive moisture, soaking your hands in water, and a lack of hygiene. If the afflicted person is prone to infection, the fungus will grow in the toenails and may spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, it is essential to prevent the nail fungus from spreading to the skin

> > > This Unusual Morning Habit Helps Me Keep My Fungus In Check .

Don’t Miss: What Vitamin B Is Good For Anxiety

Food Is The Best Resource

Vitamins themselves are essential to our bodies and contribute to growth, digestion, nerve function and a whole host of other things.

The important distinction, Linge says, is how youre getting those vitamins.

Our diet should be whats supplying all of the nutrients that our body needs, she explains. That being said, we need to be eating a variety of foods. There is no one major miracle food that supplies absolutely everything.

Take apples and oranges. A serving of Washingtons signature fruit supplies nearly a quarter of your daily fiber but not much by way of vitamin C. An orange, on the other hand, provides a fair amount of fiber and almost your entire amount of daily vitamin C.

Different types of fruits give us different benefits. In that same vein, seafood offers health perks that fruit doesnt have, vegetables are unique from grains and so forth. By incorporating variety into a well-rounded diet, youre able to get the nutrients you need no vitamin-infused gummy necessary.

The only exception is vitamin D, Linge says. We cant get enough of the sunshine vitamin from the food we eat, and our bodies rely on sun exposure to make enough of it.

The Best Course To Good Brain Health

Dr. Khubchandani emphasizes, “there are two options. If you take a vitamin supplement, ensure that you take a multivitamin as all the aforementioned ones may influence each other in preventing brain aging. Second and better option is to go natural given the lack of clarity on value of diet supplements and artificial supplementation” According to Harvard health, the natural ways to prevent brain aging, structure, and function are to eat a plant-based diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, manage your stress and nurture social contacts.”

In addition, there are several ways to keep your brain young. Harvard Health lists the following methods.

Get Mental Stimulation

“Through research with mice and humans, scientists have found that brainy activities stimulate new connections between nerve cells and may even help the brain generate new cells, developing neurological “plasticity” and building up a functional reserve that provides a hedge against future cell loss. Any mentally stimulating activity should help to build up your brain. Read, take courses, try “mental gymnastics,” such as word puzzles or math problems. Experiment with things that require manual dexterity as well as mental effort, such as drawing, painting, and other crafts.

Improve Your Blood Pressure

Improve Your Blood Sugar

Improve Your Cholesterol

Consider Low-Dose Aspirin

Avoid Tobacco

Avoid tobacco in all its forms.

Don’t Abuse Alcohol

Care For Your Emotions

Protect Your Head

Also Check: What Is The Best Fish Oil Vitamin

Folic Acid Supplement In Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, trying for a baby or could get pregnant, it’s recommended that you take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement every day until you’re 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid supplements need to be taken before you get pregnant, so start taking them before you stop using contraception or if there’s a chance you might get pregnant.

Folic acid can help to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Find out more about vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy.

Vitamin E And Brain Health

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Vitamin E is a nutrient that’s important to vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain and skinResearch on vitamin E use for specific conditions shows:Alzheimer’s disease. Some research has shown that high-dose vitamin E might delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies haven’t shown this benefit. Vitamin E supplements appear to have no effect on whether people with mild cognitive impairment progress to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Dr. Khubchandani explains, “Several studies show that vitamin E may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which help reduce toxic oxidative stress, toxicity, and cell damage in the brain. More recently, studies also suggest that this vitamin may also help with biomolecular functions such as gene expression, electric signal transmission, and neuroprotection. Similar to other vitamins, there is a debate about the value of vitamin E due to reverse causation , lack of clarity on what isoform of the vitamin E is most beneficial, and if blood availability of vitamin E is based on genetic makeup.”

Recommended Reading: Where Can You Get Prenatal Vitamins

Should I Cut Off My Fungus Toenail Treatment For Fingernail Fungus Walmart

Toenail Fungus Vicks Vapor Rub Treatment Toe With Fungus Is Vitamin E Good For Nail Fungus. Does Turpentine Cure Toe Nail Fungus Green Foot Fungus Does Jublia Toenail Fungus Work. Imbeded Foot Fungus Child Has Cracking Nails And 1 Nail Toe Has Fungus What Does It Mean Chronic Toenail Fungus.