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Foods High in Vitamin K
Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting, it maintains blood vessels flexible and it stimulates correct bone development. Deficiencies of vitamin K will lead to improper coagulation of the blood and hemorrhaging from wounds, easy bruising, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, easy bone fractures and even congenital malformations. Too high an intake of vitamin K on the other hand is health threatening too by the risk of heart attacks and stroke due to blood thickening. The following suggestions on some foods high in vitamin K can help you stay away from imbalances.
Leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, broccoli, Brussels sprout and kale are foods high in vitamin K. Since livestock usually feed on leafy green, their liver contains rich sources of K vitamin. Nevertheless, beef and pork liver are not consumed in very many cultures.
Fruits as foods high in vitamin K represent the most common source for a balanced nutrition. Kiwis, avocados, cantaloupe melons, grapes, apples, bananas, peaches, apricots and blueberries contain a moderate amount of K vitamin. The same holds true for vegetables like red cabbage, tomatoes, leeks, artichokes, peas and cucumbers.
The best way to consume foods high in vitamin K is in a raw state, because cooking destroys the nutrients. Make salads of leafy greens, and if you still need to cook them, make sure that they preserve some of their vitamin K content. Soggy or mushy vegetables hardly have any vitamins left. Cook them light so that the veggies still remain crisp. The nutrients usually leech into the water where you boil the vegetables. Use that for a broth so that you can take advantage of the nutritional value.
Foods high in vitamin K should be part of a balanced nutrition. The body cannot store vitamin K for long periods of time, therefore you need to take it from your meals. Moreover, you can add variation without looking for vitamin K in particular. When you add some fresh berries or a banana to the morning cereal or you have a slice of fresh cantaloupe, you simply enjoy diversity. Eat some celery sticks and a nice leafy green salad at dinner, and your menu will include enough vitamins and minerals.
In case you suffer from some health problem, it is best to ask the doctor’s recommendation related to your diet. For example, foods high in vitamin K as well as vitamin supplements could be a problem for patients who use drugs like warfarin and other blood thinners.
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Choosing Your Antioxidant | Multi-Vitamin
The most common antioxidant multi vitamin supplements are a combination of vitamins A, E, C and some minerals like zinc and selenium; moreover, the products are often enriched with CoQ10 and lutein for instance. Antioxidant multi vitamin products are available in a variety of forms, either capsules, tablets or syrup, and it is entirely up to the consumer’s choice to decide which is the variant he or she finds easier to administrate. Most specialists believe that regardless of the health status, antioxidant multi vitamin intake is necessary after a certain age, in order to prevent and slow the decay processes at the tissue levels.
By the direct action on the free radicals resulted in the cells after the oxidation process, antioxidant multi vitamin supplements ensure a proper functionality of the skin and the organs, prolonging the life extent of the cells. Though vitamins A and E are usually associated with anti-wrinkle cosmetic products, their benefits are a lot wider and cover almost all the body functions as a whole. On the other hand antioxidant multi vitamin supplements also act as immunity boosters, meaning that they enhance the natural defenses of the body, increasing one’s resistance against infections, bacteria and fungi.
Sports Supplements for Bodybuilders
Bodybuilding is not just a man’s thing anymore. In fact, bodybuilding is gaining popularity nowadays among women. All over the world, bodybuilding competitions are held for both men and women. There are television body fitness shows that target bodybuilders. Even the very popular magazine Sports Illustrated is now having female bodybuilders as their cover models.
Lifting weights is the perfect routine for bodybuilders in order to achieve hypertrophy or muscle growth. These strenuous and high intensity activities promote the strengthening of muscles. The suitable weight-lifting program is accompanied by a specialize nutrition with high amounts of protein. Rest is also an important aspect of bodybuilding.
Because bodybuilders undergo high intensity trainings, their bodies have special needs. The body’s special nutritional requirement must be met, not only to optimize the bodybuilding workout, but also to prevent serious accidents.
Vitamins | Weight Loss Supplements
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Herbal Supplements | Rosemary
Rosemary is good for your brain!
The herb rosemary contains an ingredient that fights off damage to the brain. The active ingredient in rosemary can protect the brain from stroke and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and also from normal aging, a collaborative group of researchers at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (www.burnahm.org) say. The ingredient, carnosic acid, protects the brain cells from free radicals. The findings were originally reported in The Journal of Neurochemistry and Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
Rosemary comes from a shrubby evergreen bush with needlelike leaves. It has trusses of flowers that can be white, pink, purple or blue. Rosemary derives its name from the Latin rosemarinus, which translates as “dew of the sea.” Rosemary has a long history as a memory aid. It was also used in the past at weddings to symbolize love and loyalty.
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B-Vitamins and Athletic Performance
Can B-Vitamins Enhance Athletic Performance
B-Vitamins are often taken by athletes both young and old for their role in energy metabolism and muscle function. But do they really help an athlete perform better? Let’s take a closer look at the B-Vitamins which include thiamin (B-1), riboflavin (B-2), niacin, pyridoxine (B-6), folacin, cyanocobalamin (B-12), pantothenic acid, and biotin.
Many athletes, especially young athletes involved in highly competitive sports, do not realize the impact their diets have on their performance.
Ideally, an athlete should look to consume foods that are rich in B-Vitamins and supplement with a B-Complex vitamin when needed. The B-vitamins are in whole and enriched grains, dark green vegetables, nuts, and many animal and dairy products. Here is a helpful list of some of the food sources for B-Vitamins…
Top Food Sources for B-Vitamins
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Thiamin Food Sources: Liver, pork, lean meats, wheat germ, whole grains, enriched breads, and cereals.
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Riboflavin Food Sources: Milk and milk products, liver, enriched breads, and cereals.
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Niacin Food Sources: Liver, poultry, fish, peanut butter.
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Pyridoxine Food Sources: Liver, herring and salmon, wheat germ and whole grains, lean meats.
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Folacin Food Sources: Liver, wheat bran, whole grains, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, legumes, orange juice.
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Cyanocobalamin (B12) Food Sources: Foods of animal origin, specially prepared fermented yeasts, and fortified soy products.
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Biotin Food Sources: Egg Yolk, liver, and legumes.
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Pantothenic Acid Food Sources: Eggs, liver, wheat bran, peanuts, legumes, lean meats, spinach, and other vegetables.
Athletes and individuals with poor or restricted diets should consider taking a multivitamin or mineral supplement along with a B-Vitamin Complex. However, it is a good idea to talk with your doctor or pharmacist prior to adding any multi-vitamins or supplements to your diet.
In a recent study performed at Oregon State University and published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism discovered that active individuals lacking in B-vitamins – including college athletes and other elite competitors — may perform worse during high-intensity exercise and have a decreased ability to repair and build muscle than counterparts with nutrient-rich diets. The study indicated that even a small deficiency in B-Vitamins had an adverse effect on performance and recovery. Of course this would vary based on the type and intensity of the exercise, nutrient depletion during exercise and individual differences in diet. The study further cited that the current USRDA for B-Vitamins may be inadequate.
Given the above research and the general safety of taking B-Vitamins we think it deserves a second look for athletes who want to enhance their athletic performance.
