What Vitamins Should Not Be Taken Together
Many people take supplements to improve their health or prevent disease. In the United States, supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. This means they do not come with strict instructions to follow or warnings about interactions like prescription medications.
So, you have to pay attention to which supplements you are taking, when you take them, and how much you take.
Vitamin Deficiency And Heart Palpitations
There are very few vitamin deficiencies that cause heart palpitations. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, insufficient folic acid can result in anemia. Anemia, in turn, can cause heart palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath and a variety of other symptoms.
Insufficient vitamin B12 can also lead to anemia and thereby result in heart palpitations. Deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 often go hand in hand. However, anemia is a fairly severe side effect of nutrient deficiency. You’re likely to experience other common side effects of B-complex vitamin deficiency, like oral health problems, before experiencing heart palpitations.
That being said, if you have been diagnosed with a folate deficiency, you can find this nutrient in a variety of animal and plant-based products. Beef liver, spinach, legumes, asparagus and Brussels sprouts are all good sources of folate.
Vitamin B12 is harder to obtain, because it’s primarily found in meat, seafood and dairy products. However, certain sea vegetables and mushrooms also contain this nutrient. Yeasts and cereals are also fortified with vitamin B12.
Vitamin D has also been associated with heart palpitations, but only in large amounts. Instead of these being vitamin deficiency heart palpitations, they are heart palpitations caused by over-supplementation. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can also raise calcium levels another essential nutrient associated with heart palpitations.
Path To Improved Health
Try to incorporate more of these nutrients in your daily diet. Its best to get these nutrients through food, instead of just taking a multivitamin. This is because it is easier for your body to absorb micronutrients through food.
If you are unable to get all the nutrients you need from food alone, ask your doctor if dietary supplements are right for you.
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How Much Salt Do I Need
You should have no more than 6g of salt a day.
But, on average, people in the UK eat approximately 8g of salt a day, which is much more than the body needs.
A few practical tips for cutting down on salt include:
- check food labels and choose foods with less salt where colour-coded labels are used, try to pick products with more greens and ambers, and fewer reds, for a healthier choice
- choose tinned vegetables and pulses with no added salt
- choose tinned fish in spring water rather than brine
- only use sauces like soy sauce, brown sauce, ketchup and mayonnaise sparingly, as these are often high in salt
- eat fewer salty snacks, such as crisps, salted nuts, and salty foods such as bacon, cheese, pickles and smoked fish
- add less or no salt when cooking use herbs and spices for flavour instead
- choose low-salt stock cubes, or make your own stock without added salt
- taste your food first, and do not automatically add extra salt
You can also download the Change4Life Be Food Smart app, which allows you to scan food barcodes to check the salt content.
Sweet Potatoes: 392 Mg 44% Dv
If you’re looking for a more hearty source of vitamin C than citrus fruits or cruciferous vegetables, look to sweet potatoes. A 1-cup serving of baked sweet potato contains 44 percent of the DV for vitamin C.
Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene hence their orange color and have nearly 7 grams of fiber per cup.
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Dietary Vitamins A C And Potassium Intake Is Associated With Narrower Retinal Venular Caliber
- 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
- 3Clinical Research Center in Hiroshima, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
- 4Division of Nutrition Management, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
- 5Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
Introduction: The retinal vasculature, a surrogate for the systemic microvasculature, can be observed non-invasively, providing an opportunity to examine the effects of modifiable factors, such as nutrient intake, on microcirculation. We aimed to investigate the possible associations of dietary nutrient intake with the retinal vessel caliber.
Results: After adjustment of potential confounders, compared to the quartile with the lowest intake, the difference in CRVE for the highest quartile was 5.33 m for vitamin A, 4.93 m for vitamin C and 3.90 m for potassium.
A significant association was observed between higher vitamins A, C and potassium intakes and narrower retinal venular caliber.
Potassium Ascorbate Background And Benefits
Potassium ascorbate is a chemical compound with the formula KC6H7O6. It is the potassium salt of ascorbic acid, which is a form of vitamin C. The commercial preparation of potassium ascorbate is accomplished through chemical means. Ascorbic acid and potassium bicarbonate are refined to a purity of at least 97 percent. These two chemicals are then mixed in cold water to produce potassium ascorbate.
Potassium ascorbate provides a biologically available form of potassium and vitamin C, both of which are essential nutrients. Potassium is a chemical element with the atomic number 19. Its so-named because it was first isolated in potash, which was originally produced by soaking plant ashes in water. Potassium is essential for all forms of life.
Vitamin C is a collective term for a group of related compounds based on ascorbate. This group also includes ascorbic acid and its salts. Some oxidized forms of ascorbic acid such a dehydroascorbic acid also exhibit vitamin C activity. Vitamin C is necessary for all life forms, although virtually all organisms can synthesize it from other substances. The known exceptions include humans and some other primates, guinea pigs, capybaras and most bats.
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When To Take Your Multivitamin
Generally, the time of day you take your multivitamin is not important. However, taking it with food may minimize stomach discomfort and aid in absorption. In addition, supplemental calcium and iron bind together in the gastrointestinal track. For optimal absorption of a calcium supplement, avoid taking it with your multivitamin, and if you take Synthroid, take it four hours before or after your multivitamin or calcium supplement for optimal effectiveness.
For more information about multivitamins and healthy nutrition, reach out to our clinical nutritionists. You can request an appointment online or call us at .
Coconut Water: 600 Mg 13% Dv
Coconut water is having a moment, and for good reason: Its a great source of electrolytes, including potassium, making it a go-to for hydration. One cup of coconut water contains 13 percent of the DV of the mineral, deeming it a top drink high in potassium. But unlike good ol H2O, coconut water does contain calories .
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Can Ascorbic Acid Be Harmful To My Health
Recent scientific research reports that high dosage of ascorbic acid intake may present health problems.
In the case of the by the Foundations recommended dosage for potassium ascorbate intake, this possibility is absolutely unfounded since the dosage of ascorbid acid in use for the attack on cell degeneration is extremely modest and is well within the recommended daily allowance , also taking into account that repeated intake does not accumulate the compounds ascorbic acid in the body since its average life is a few hours first it transforms into treonic acid and then into oxalic acid before it will be eliminated by the kidneys. For similar but even more convincing reasons the same explanation holds true for preventive intake of the compound. Ascorbic acid as recommended in protocols for intravenous therapy to support potassium ascorbate strongly depends on the state of health of a person.
Vitamin And Mineral Deficiencies And Supplements
The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K can be locked away in the liver and body fat, and stored for a long time. The water-soluble vitamins, including B-complex and vitamin C, are mostly only stored for a shorter period.A vitamin deficiency takes weeks or months before it will affect your health. For instance, it would take months of no vitamin C before you developed scurvy.
Vitamin and mineral supplements may be recommended in certain circumstances to correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as folate for women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Others who may be at risk of a vitamin or mineral deficiency include:
- pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding
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How Long Should I Continue Taking Potassium Ascorbate
We suggest taking potassium ascorbate for an indefinite time. Ascorbic acid has a physiological life cycle of just a few hours before it gets excreted from the body through urine. In order to avoid any risky situations to happen inside the body, it is necessary to take the compound regularly. This is particularly important for those suffering from degenerative diseases.
Can Grapefruit Affect Prescription Medications
The NHS advises that fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice should not be consumed with certain medications, as it has been shown to reduce their breakdown and elimination, which can result in increased blood levels of the drug. These include, but are not limited to, statins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, certain cancer medications and Entocort, which is used to treat Crohns disease. Always check with your GP if youre taking a prescription medication before consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
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Who Should Take A Vitamin C Supplement
Certain groups are at higher risk of developing a deficiency in vitamin C due to inadequate intake or malabsorption problems, so they might benefit from taking vitamin supplements. Its always recommended that you check with your physician if you should take any dietary supplements containing this vitamin and consult with them about vitamin C dosage.
First, those who dont eat varied foods are likely to have low levels of vitamin C. People with a limited food variety are usually:
- alcoholics
- poverty-stricken people
- people with mental illnesses
Next, people with medical conditions that decrease vitamin C absorption are generally advised to use supplemental ascorbic acid sources. For example, people with certain types of cancer or end-stage kidney disease can have low concentrations of vitamin C.
Furthermore, the Institute of Medicine came to the conclusion that people who smoke need a higher daily dose of vitamin C. Also, passive smokers are advised to meet the recommended daily value of this vitamin. Finally, infants fed with evaporated or boiled milk can have a low concentration of vitamin C since ascorbic acid in this baby food isnt found commonly. Thats why they should be fed with breast milk or infant formula.
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How To Select And Store
A good grapefruit doesnt have to be perfect in color. Skin discoloration, scratches or scales may affect the appearance of a grapefruit, but they do not impact the taste or texture quality.
Signs of decay include an overly soft spot at the stem end of the fruit and areas that appear watersoaked. These forms of decay usually translate into poor tastea flavor that is less vibrant and more bitter than a good quality grapefruit.
The fruits should be heavy for their size as this usually indicates that they feature thin skins and therefore a higher concentration of juicier flesh. Those that have overly rough or wrinkled skin usually tend to be thick skinned and should be avoided.
Grapefruits should be firm, yet slightly springy when gentle pressure is applied. While chilled grapefruits do not have an apparent fragrance, those kept at room temperature should have a subtly sweet aroma. Grapefruits can be purchased throughout the year although the height of the season ranges from winter through early spring. For the most antioxidants, choose fully ripened grapefruit.
Since grapefruits are juicier when theyre slightly warm rather than cool, store them at room temperature if you are planning on consuming them within a week of purchase. If you will not be using them within this time period, store them in the refrigerator crisper where they will keep fresh for two to three weeks.
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Greek Foods That Are Super Healthy
Greeks have often had the reputation of living longer and having lower rates of chronic disease than people in the rest of the world. This is likely due to their diet, which is full of seafood, fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and healthy fats.
In fact, the Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional Greek diet and other similar food patterns of nearby countries, such as Spain, Italy, and France.
Research suggests that following the Mediterranean Diet can decrease your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and premature death (
Identification Of Grapefruit Consumers
In this analysis, respondents were classified as grapefruit consumers if they reported consumption of any amount of 100% grapefruit juice or fresh, canned, or frozen grapefruit, including grapefruit & orange sections, at least once during the 2 days of dietary recall. Individuals reporting intake of a fruit salad that may have contained grapefruit or a juice drink blend containing grapefruit juice were not considered to be grapefruit consumers. None of the food codes representing 100% grapefruit juice or 100% fresh, canned, or frozen grapefruit identified the type of grapefruit by color .
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Blood Pressure And Stroke
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States while stroke is the fifth.
High blood pressure can make the heart work too hard and increase the risk of heart disease as well as other health conditions such as stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. In an older but memorable clinical trial, Dietary Approaches to Reduce Hypertension , published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers determined that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods, and with reduced saturated and total fat can substantially lower blood pressure. Many people came to call it “the DASH diet.”
The bottom line is, people who ingest little potassium have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, especially if their diet is high in sodium . This is why the National Institutes of Health says: “Increasing the amount of potassium in your diet and decreasing the amount of sodium might help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke.”
Can Vitamin C Lower Blood Pressure
Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin, one that helps reduce oxidative stress. It plays a key role in immune and connective tissue health. Vitamin C also aids in wound healing and helps you absorb iron from the foods you eat. The best source is fruits and vegetables, as animal foods contain little or no vitamin C. Therefore, if you arent eating your fruits and veggies, you may fall short in this vitamin that Linus Pauling popularized.
According to Johns Hopkins, taking rather large doses of supplemental vitamin C helps lower blood pressure. They concluded this after reviewing 29 randomized, controlled studies of people who took vitamin C over various periods of time. The RDA for vitamin C is 75 milligrams daily for women and 90 milligrams for men.
The conclusion was that taking in 500 milligrams of vitamin C, over 5 times the RDA, can lower blood pressure as much as 5 mm. Hg. in those who have hypertension. The effects were more subdued in those who didnt have hypertension. In these subjects, there was only, on average, 3.84 mm. Hg. Still, that would be enough for some people to potentially avoid taking blood pressure medications.
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Food Sources Of Calcium
At different life stages, our calcium needs vary. It is better to get calcium from foods than from calcium supplements.
Good sources of calcium include dairy foods like milk, yoghurt and cheese and some plant-based foods with added calcium .
Other sources of calcium include almonds, bok choy, kale, parsley, broccoli and watercress.
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Spinach: 176 Mg 20% Dv
There’s kale and then there’s spinach: Both are popular leafy greens that provide quality nutrition.
A 1-cup serving of cooked spinach contains 20 percent of the DV for vitamin C. Spinach is also a good source of plant-based iron and potassium. And like all leafy greens, spinach is an excellent source of folate, which is especially important in early stages of pregnancy.
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Potassium Consumptionand Heart Palpitations
According to Harvard Health Publishing and the Food and Drug Administration, potassium and magnesium both help your body maintain a healthy, normal heart rhythm. Both insufficient and excessive amounts of these nutrients can cause cardiac side effects, like heart palpitations.
Most adults need to consume between 2,600 and 3,400 milligrams of potassium on a daily basis. This nutrient can be found in various legumes and beans, fruits, vegetables and animal products. You can obtain large amounts of potassium from sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, soy products, dairy products and a variety of herbs, including cilantro, chervil and parsley.
However, most people don’t get enough potassium. The Food and Drug Administration considers this mineral to be a nutrient of concern.
Insufficient potassium can result in hypokalemia. Mild hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness and gastrointestinal side effects, while moderate to severe hypokalemia can cause kidney and heart-related issues, including heart palpitations and arrhythmias. People with pre-existing kidney and heart issues are particularly prone to these side effects.
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