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Riboflavin is also known as vitamin B2 or vitamin G and is one of the most essential ingredients to be included in a daily diet. It has several qualities to it that can help with your body and increase your everyday health. By knowing the qualities of riboflavin, you can determine whether you have enough in your system and can help to either increase or decrease the substance.

Riboflavin is a water-soluble nutrient. This means that it will be absorbed and move into a fluid form through your body. From here, it will go into certain areas by this water form. Usually, all vitamin B substances, as well as vitamin C are found as water-soluble vitamins. Because riboflavin is water-soluble, it is important to make sure that enough is available for your body’s needs.

Riboflavin has several different functions that are important in the proper functioning of a healthy body. Riboflavin is similar to other types of B vitamins in that it gives the body sources for energy throughout the system. One of its main functions of this substance is to help fats to move throughout the body. It will also help with digestion of proteins and carbohydrates in this same way. Beyond this energy shift from riboflavin are also several important functions associated with it.

Riboflavin can be directly absorbed by red blood cells. From these cells, it can add supplies and nutrients to help red blood cells in formation and leaving the body as needed. For those who need a boost to skin, nails and hair, riboflavin can help. Riboflavin is also known to move directly into the eye, which helps with eye disorders. Those eye disorders where riboflavin is especially helpful include burning and itching eyes, and cataracts.

Riboflavin is found in several different areas of food. If you are unable to eat these foods, you should make sure that you are taking a supplement or vitamin form of riboflavin. However, taking too much riboflavin will provide the opposite effect. Before taking this vitamin, make sure that you know how much you need. The first area where riboflavin is found is in milk and cheese. Dairy products are a great source for finding riboflavin. Vegetables, especially leafy types are also a type of food that carries riboflavin as a main vitamin ingredient. Nuts as well as liver will also carry sources of riboflavin in them.

Unlike other types of vitamins, riboflavin is not stored in the body. Because of this, you need to make sure that you get the source on a daily basis. This will help in your every day functioning of your body.

Riboflavin is a strong source of nutrients that can be used in your body. By making sure that you have riboflavin on a daily basis, it will help in metabolism functioning as well as increasing supplies of red blood cells and other nutrients that can be used throughout the body. Riboflavin, like other vitamins is an important source of nutrients to be taken on a daily basis.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: b vitamins, diet, metabolism, Nutrition & Health, riboflavin, vitamins

And here we are at the Food Oscars, waiting for the envelope (please!) What are the healthiest foods you can eat, and how do they help you to live better?

Like movie actors, there are a lot of foods out there with some good qualities. But only a few foods contribute Oscar-quality nutrition and improve our lives. Some of these foods are so nutritious that they deserve an award—an Oscar—and a place on your plate.

“And the Oscars for the five healthiest foods go to …

• Salmon
• Soy
• Greens
• Berries
• Whole Grains

This article will focus on the first three.

Salmon is an excellent source of protein and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which lower the levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol in the blood, and increase the level of HDL, or “good” cholesterol in the blood. Salmon is a very versatile food that can easily be substituted for other types of meats such as beef or pork in many different recipes. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone eat at least two servings of fish on a weekly basis and it strongly recommends the consumption of fatty fish, like salmon. It is best to choose wild salmon, as it has more omega-3 fatty acids than farm-raised salmon. Most canned and frozen salmon is wild-caught, so they have the same benefits to your health.

Soy comes in many forms. Tofu is a soy product. It is full of all of the essential amino acids that the body requires. Soybeans are the only known vegetable sources that can make this claim. Soybeans are also very rich in the omega-3 fatty acids, the B vitamins, fiber, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. A regular diet that includes soy is one that will lead to an overall low level of total cholesterol, as well as LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Soy is beneficial in preventing heart disease, and can help to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

All vegetables are healthy but greens are especially healthy. The best greens to eat include chard (or “Swiss Chard”), collard greens, kale, bok choy, broccoli, asparagus, and green beans. These greens are all rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron and phytonutrients. Broccoli, for example, is beneficial in preventing the onset of heart disease, diabetes and a variety of cancers. If, like George Bush Sr., you don’t like the taste of broccoli, then eat it in recipes such as Chinese beef and broccoli or in a stir-fry with soy sauce. Another option is to eat broccoli raw but with other vegetables such as on a vegetable platter with a zesty dip for added flavor. Green vegetables are low in calories and very high in fiber. Foods that are high in fiber are also filling so that means you do not need to eat too large a helping in order to feel that you have eaten enough.

Greens can be eaten raw or cooked. If you eat them raw, you get the maximum health benefit—just make sure to clean them before you use them. Add raw greens to a salad or simply just snack on them and munch away! One of the best ways to prepare greens is to steam them, as steaming maintains much of the nutritional content—except for Vitamin C, which is heat-labile. Stir-fries are another healthy way to toss together your greens.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

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Tags: asparagus, b vitamins, broccoli, cholesterol, Fiber, Food Cures, magnesium, nutrition, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, whole grains

As with any treatment plan, individuals should discuss vitamin or supplement therapy with their physician. Vitamins and supplements can help relieve some of the symptoms experienced by people with CFS .

Doctors treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have recommended using Probiotics. Several patients have also reported feeling better while taking these supplements. Probiotics are “good bacteria” or micro-organisms that help ward off other types of bacteria. These “good bacteria” have been shown to have many benefits. While most people think of the bacteria in yogurt to combat diarrhea, there are other probiotics available to help with general health and improving the immune system. Probiotics used as medicinal treatment are available in tablet form. B. lactis HN019 (HOWARU™ or DR10) is an example of one product that may boost the immune system. Care needs to be taken in selecting a brand of probiotics, to ensure that you are getting the precise strain of bacteria proven effective, and at therapeutic levels.

Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) has many useful properties. It functions as an anti-oxidant, and also helps immune system cells stay healthy. It has also received positive feedback from both doctors and patients. Some studies indicate that liquid filled gel capsules will allow more Co-Q10 into the body than tablet forms. Vitaline has a reasonable price and is available in both tablet and chewable forms.

Amongst the more traditionally named vitamins, A has been found to be very helpful in fighting viral infections. B Vitamins have also been known to alleviate symptoms in CFS patients. Injections of B12 have been found to fortify red blood cells, which helps to boost energy levels. B2 and B6 have been shown to be useful to individuals who are under stress. Fortified Yeast Supplements are a source of B vitamins and also aid in increasing energy levels.

Vitamin C shortage has been implicated in many diseases. Lack of Vitamin C does not result in just the infamous scurvy. Low Vitamin C levels have also been found in people with CFS. Supplements have vastly reduced symptoms, and in many cases, cured diseases. Vitamin C is water soluble - meaning that the body flushes it out very quickly. For patients suffering with CFS, Vitamin C taken in large quantities can relieve muscle pain and fatigue. A dosage of 10 grams of Vitamin C 3 times a day can be helpful. Higher than recommended dosages, or more frequent dosages may help, but you will need to check with your doctor to make sure this is safe for you. Adjusting the dose of Vitamin C can be a balancing act, as gas and diarrhea are side effects of taking increased amounts of Vitamin C. If you find this Vitamin helps you, but cannot tolerate the associated gas and diarrhea, Liposomal Vitamin C might be a better option. You need to find the correct balance in order to experience improvement.

Flax seed oil or primrose oil may help, as patients with CFS have been known to have fatty acid deficiencies. Take up to two teaspoons a day, along with a magnesium supplement of 400 milligrams. Flaxseed oil is available in liquid and capsule form

An enzyme supplement known as Vitalzymes helps with concentration difficulties. It is known to help with blood flow issues, and is doctor recommended.

Magnesium deficiency may also be a problem for CFS patients. A recent study showed twenty people with CFS and compared them with twenty healthy volunteers. Blood magnesium levels of the CFS patients were found to be significantly lower than found in healthy volunteers. Take a combination formula that supplies 100 milligrams of magnesium and 300 milligrams of malic acid three times daily, twenty minutes before each meal, for six to eight weeks.

The digestion and absorption of nutrients is often compromised in CFS patients, thus digestive enzyme supplements may also be useful. Take a full-spectrum digestive enzyme supplement that contains 5,000 international units of lipase, 2,500 international units of amylase, 300 international units of protease, plus 500 to 1,000 milligrams of pancreatin, with each meal.

When taking vitamins and supplements as part of your treatment plan, it is essential to check with your physician first. Vitamins are potent chemicals that may adversely react with other medications you are taking. A balanced diet along with a monitored vitamin and supplement therapy plan can assist patients in relieving the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and also to manage the fluctuations in energy and wellness levels.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: anti oxidant, b vitamins, chronic fatigue syndrome, co q10, vitamins and supplements

Many of those who live with depression as part of their daily lives want to use something other than antidepressants to help them. Many depression sufferers are looking to natural alternatives to a lifetime of taking medication.

One popular natural alternative to pharmaceuticals is St. John’s Wort. Many studies have been conducted using this natural supplement. While the results of these studies have been inconclusive, there is agreement that St. John’s Wort seems to have some positive results. Many of those who choose to use it swear by it, often claiming that they get the same if not better results than using Prozac. They say that when they take St. John’s Wort regularly they need nothing else.

The reason for this natural plant’s positive results is because it works on all three of the neurotransmitters that affect depression: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, by slowing down the body’s rate of absorption. This allows the body more time to use them to send messages to the brain. The only negative aspect of this supplement is that is may interact with other medications a person takes and so a person should confer with their health care provider before trying it.

There are also others that have some good results. For example, omega-3 fatty acids, which are found mainly in fish oils, are having some success as well. Similar omega-3 fatty acids are found in walnuts, canola oil and hemp as well as fish, but it seems to be only the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in the fish oils that act as an antidepressant. These fatty acids have in them DHE fatty acids that are used by the brain as nourishment. Depressives are known to be low in these acids and so by taking the omega-3 fatty acids they are able to replenish what the brain requires.

Several of the B vitamins are recommended for those who must deal with depression. Research has found that too many adult depressives are low in their levels of folic acid. Tests have shown that those whose levels are particularly low can suffer from long depressive episodes, and may find that their bodies do not respond well to regular antidepressant medications because of this missed vitamin. It has been proven that when the folic acid levels are upped the person’s mood improves.

Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, has also been shown to affect mood. B1 even improves the mood of those who are not depressives.

Menopause can particularly affect moods in women going through that phase of their lives. Menopausal moods can be lifted by Vitamin B12 levels. Once a woman reaches the age of fifty her levels of this vitamin have greatly diminished to the point where she often has only half what she should in her system. Vitamin B6 is also important and is known to help premenstrual depression, called PMS. Using any or all of the Vitamin Bs can greatly improve mood. It seems worth trying them all.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Depression.

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Tags: alternative medicine, b vitamins, Depression