Cold Flu Written by Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac.
Cold Flu Have you ever had a hard time shaking a cold/chest cold that is going around?Often times I was take an oregano oil supplement and some homeopathics to help me fight it. when I get one. I believe that “germs” are pleomorphic, that is they can change their form and go from being a virus to a bacteria, etc.This can happen inside your body, or you can pick things up from your environment. So best thing is to stay in alkaline pH range and support your immune system. When shopping, if I know that a number of people have been sick, I put a plastic produce bag over handle of shopping cart I push around grocery and health food store. If ones immune system is down, shopping carts are a good place to pick up things that can make you ill. Germs, parasites, chemicals and such.
| | That Brilliant Vitamin: Vitamin BWritten by Charlene J. Nuble
Perhaps you first read riboflavin at back of a cereal box. Perhaps you first encountered folic acid from your first grade science teacher. Perhaps you first heard balanced diet from your mom. All that and more compose Vitamin B which is a group of eight individual vitamins, often referred to as B vitamins or B-complex vitamins. Vitamin B promotes normal growth and development, treats anemia and some types of nerve damage, helps mental and nervous conditions, improves resistance to infection and disease, increases appetite and energy, and improves memory. Vitamin B is also essential for breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, breakdown of fats and proteins, muscles in stomach and intestinal tract, skin, hair, eyes, mouth, and liver. As mentioned earlier, Vitamin B is a group of eight individual vitamins. These vitamins are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin, pyrodixine (B-6), folic acid (B-9), cyanocobalamin (B-12), panthotenic acid, and biotin. Vitamin B1 or Thiamine is essential for conversion of carbohydrates into simple sugars called glucose which produces energy. This Vitamin B is also essential for proper functioning of heart, muscles, and nervous system. Thiamine deficiency is rare but often occurs to alcoholics because alcohol oftentimes interferes with absorption of Vitamin B thiamine through intestines. There are also several health implications associated with being thiamine deficient. One is beriberi, a disease characterized by anemia, paralysis, muscular atrophy, and spasms in leg muscles. Other disorders associated with being thiamine deficient is Wernicke's encephelopathy which causes lack of coordination, Korsakoff's psychosis which affects short-term memory. Being thiamine deficient can also affect mouth resulting to increased sensitivity of teeth, cheeks, and gums as well as cracks in lips. Vitamin B thiamine can be found in whole-grain cereals, bread, red meat, egg yolks, and green leafy vegetables. High doses of thiamine has been found not to cause adverse health effects and excess of this water-soluble vitamin b can be excreted. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin is important in breakdown of carbohydrates, and fats and proteins. It is also significant in maintenance of skin and mucuous membrane, cornea of eye, and nerve sheaths. Riboflavin deficiency can cause skin disorders and inflammation of soft tissue lining around mouth and nose. It can also cause eye to be hypersensitive to light. Like Thiamine, Riboflavin is found in whole grain products, milk, meat, and eggs. This is also excreted because it is a water-soluble vitamin although a little is stored in kidney and liver. Vitamin B3 Niacin, also known as nicotinamide, is important in metabolism as well as in maintenance of healthy skin, nerves, and gastrointestinal tract. Niacin deficiency can result to a disease called pellegra. The symptoms of pellegra are sometimes called "Three Ds" - diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia. The mouth is also affected by pellegra which causes inside of cheeks and tongue to become red and painful. Vitamin B3 can be found in dairy products, poultry, fish, lean meat, nuts, and eggs. Niacin can also be prescribed in higher doses as drugs to help lower cholesterol but this can cause side effects such as flushing of skin , itching, headaches, cramps, nausea, and skin eruptions.
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