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Do You Know The Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?

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Vitamin D is one of the four fat soluble vitamins essential for the body in order to function properly. Unlike other fat soluble or water soluble vitamins, vitamin D acts like a hormone in your body since it has receptors on every cell and organ. Vitamin D is formed inside the body from cholesterol after it has been exposed to the sun. The daily requirement of vitamin D is around 400-800 IU and it is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. People who stay indoors a lot or live away from the equator are more likely to develop vitamin D deficiency. Not eating enough fish and dairy is a major cause as well.

The symptoms exhibited by a person with vitamin D deficiency are quite subtle at first to be noticed but they are definitely there if you pay close attention. Here are some of the symptoms that directly linked to Vitamin D deficiency;

Being sick and infected often

Vitamin D plays a vital role in keeping your immune system strong and functional which causes your body to be able to defend itself against invading microorganisms that can make you sick. It interacts with cells directly and increases their ability to defend themselves against bacteria and viruses.

Low levels of vitamin D are an important contributing factor if you find yourself getting sick often. Severe infections like bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza are also linked to people with low vitamin D levels in their body.

Supplements of vitamin D for around 1000-4000 IU daily as directed by the physician could help in increasing your immunity and also help you deal with pre-existing infections like any mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder that had vitamin D deficiency as a root cause.

Being tired and lethargic

Feeling tired after a long day of hard work is very normal but feeling tired all the time without having done any strenuous exercise or work exhibits signs of vitamin D deficiency.

Anything under 20 ng/ml of vitamin D in the blood is considered to be deficient and most women who have the deficiency will range from 4-10 ng/ml.

Day time tiredness and headaches should be a valid indicator for you to go and get yourself checked, even if your vitamin D levels in the blood are above 20 ng/ml but below 30 ng/ml, there’s still a reason for you to worry. Taking daily supplements of vitamin D will help reverse the effects of tiredness.

Luckily, if you’re too tired to visit the doctor, you can get cured with the help of telemedicine. This saves you time from going to the doctor and filling out forms. Telemedicine has saved many lives since patients don’t have to go through filling out several forms.

Pain in bones and lower/upper back

Vitamin D is crucial for bone health as it helps your body in improving its calcium absorption from the blood to the bone. Around 9000 women with chronic lower back pain were found to have lower vitamin D levels in the body. Since the lower back and lumbar region supports the framework of the body and helps maintain posture, not getting adequate vitamin D cause less calcium absorption from blood to the bone and hence makes it weak and cause pain.

A great way to attain vitamin D naturally is a gentle walk in the sun around noon when the sun is at 90 degrees. This will allow the most sunlight absorption into the skin and help convert cholesterol into vitamin D.

People with weak bones need to be extra careful. They can break their bones easily if they fall. Make sure medical help is always available nearby your house in case of any emergency.

Depression

Depression is a widely discussed topic that has many underlying causes, from chemical imbalances in the brain to environmental ones but scientists have found a link between depression and vitamin D deficiency. Most people especially older women go through a bad phase of mood swings and general depression. Doctors like to call it “seasonal depression” which is common during the winter where sun exposure is limited. Adding supplements into your daily diet will help regulate your mood.

Slow Wound Healing

Impaired wound healing after an injury or surgery are signs that vitamin D levels are dangerously low. This symptom only arises when the levels exceed beyond the mentioned low levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is crucial for substances like collagen that help make newer skin and help strengthen the skin barrier. The process of proper healing also involves anti-inflammatory actions which are not seen in patients with low vitamin D levels. Many patients with ulcers outside the body showed positive results when the vitamin D levels in their body were increased.

Bone Loss

Patients diagnosed with bone loss or decreased bone mass believe that they only need to increase their calcium intake. This is not true. Calcium will only absorb in the body once the levels of vitamin D are adequate. Low bone density is a very serious indication that your body has lost its calcium reservoirs and further intake of calcium cannot help unless vitamin D is added to the diet to help the proper absorption and deposition of calcium back into the bones. This is more common in women who are menopausal or already in their post menopause stage.

Vitamin D will not only help give your bones their strength back but also make you less tired and protect your bones from getting fractured.

Muscular Pain

Muscular pain is a wide category that could have tons of causes but many of them have been traced back to vitamin D deficiency. It causes chronic muscle weakness aside from bone weakness and the correlation between calcium deficiency in bone and muscles is also related to vitamin D deficiency due to its important in muscle movement.

Anxiety and sleep disorders

Vitamin D deficiency has been known to cause problems in the body mostly concerning the brain. The deficiency leads to muscular spasms and anxiety. It also hinders in melatonin regulation that affects normal sleep wake cycle. Studies have shown that there have been signs of decreased vitamin D levels in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Though no clear cut, links were found that could relate the Vitamin deficiency with a brain disorder but patients exhibited signs of improvement when exposed to sunlight every day for a few minutes.

Get yourself checked for vitamin D deficiency today.

Author Bio:

James Crook is a passionate health and fitness blogger. Currently, he is working with Centra Care –Urgent Care Leesburg facility. Follow @jamescrook911 for more updates.

The post Do You Know The Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency? appeared first on NUTRITION CLUB Natural Health Food Supplement Distributor Canada.

7 Foods to Fight Joint Pain & Arthritis

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Did you know some foods can reduce joint pain and fight against arthritis?

The 7 foods below can minimize inflammation responsible for joint pain and arthritis.

There are more than 50 million people aged 18 and older who suffer from a form of arthritis, according to sources. According to some sources, arthritis is the main cause of adult disability in the United States.

But why is arthritis so common?

There are several different types of arthritis which classify the condition of joint pain or joint disease. Incidentally, there are more than 100 various forms of arthritic conditions. Arthritis is a complex disease. However, it can be caused by genetic factors or as the result of an autoimmune response, causing the body to produce inflammation, which then leads to joint pain.

If you are not fighting joint pain and arthritis but are looking to prevent it, the following can be good ways to maintain a healthy body free from joint pain:

• Eat omega 3’s (healthy fats)
• Protect joints by using proper lifting and bending techniques
• Avoid injury

If you are currently suffering from symptoms of joint pain or arthritis, continue reading below for more ways to fight.

What are Signs & Symptoms of Inflammation?

So, how does inflammation start? And, what is some signs of inflammation is present?

There are multiple signs of inflammation. Some may feel tired and feverish, as this indicates the immune system is working extra hard. Other signs of inflammation include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Heat
• Redness
• Loss of movement or function

To first reduce joint pain and the risk of arthritis, one must look at reducing the amount of inflammation their own body produces.

How can you reduce inflammation?

According to Harvard Health Publishing, it is important to keep good hygiene, drink clean water, make a healthy decision when planning to travel, practice safe sex, and eat right.

Now, onto the ‘eating right’ part.

What Are 7 Foods to Fight Joint Pain & Arthritis?

There are 7 foods to fight joint pain and arthritis listed here.

These helpful anti-inflammatory food items include the following:

1.) Cherries: Cherries are high in antioxidants and other properties which decrease inflammation. In a study conducted by Agricultural Research Services (ARS) and Western Human Nutrition Research Center California-Davis, female participants were given Bing cherries daily while avoiding other forms of antioxidants for purposes of the research. The research showed that within the five-hour window following having the cherries for breakfast, levels of urate in the blood, which is known to cause inflammation, dramatically decreased.

2.) Nuts: Some nuts, such as walnuts, are high in omega-3 fatty acids. This Omega-3s can reduce the body’s amount of the C-reactive protein, which catalyzes the inflammation known to cause arthritis and even disease. According to sources from the Living with Arthritis Blog, it may be a clever idea to watch where other fats are coming from when increasing the number of nuts in your diet. This is because some nuts are already high in fat. Everything in moderation!

3.) Carrots: Carrots contain Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other beneficial vitamins which boost immune support and inhibit inflammation. The probability of being diagnosed with types of joint pain such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increase as we grow older. The immune system begins to function less efficiently without proper care. Eating proper vitamins like those found in veggies can improve immune function and thus decrease the chance of inflammation.

4.) Spinach: Polyphenols are found in spinach and other dark leafy greens. These are a form of antioxidant which use their electrons to harness free radicals, which are known to cause aging and even illness. There are known to be thousands of polyphenols in plants.

5.) Brussel Sprouts: Brussel sprouts can reduce joint pain and the onset of arthritis because it contains high amounts of many nutrients, including Vitamin C. According to Healthline, Brussel sprouts have 81-percent of the Referenced Daily Intake (RDI) for Vitamin C, and 137-percent for Vitamin K. Much like Vitamin C, Vitamin K contains elements which greatly reduce inflammation.

6.) Oily fish: Fish such as mackerel contains resolvins, which are a class of fat that is said to halt the travel of inflammatory cells to areas of inflammation. According to BBC News, the effects of these resolvins may be increased by taking an aspirin.

7.) Basil: This aromatic herb is also known to reduce types of inflammation said to cause joint pain and arthritis. According to sources, basil contains eugenol, which exhibits effective anti-inflammatory properties.

What Foods Should You Not Eat to Avoid Arthritis and Joint Pain?

Just as some foods help with arthritis and joint pain, there are those that do not. These foods should be avoided as much as possible to reduce the risk of joint pain and arthritis.

The foods to avoid are:

1.) Refined flour

2.) Vegetable oil

3.) Fried foods

4.) Sugar

5.) Artificial sweeteners

6.) Saturated fat

7.) Processed Meats

These foods can trigger inflammation and other factors which cause joint pain, arthritis, and more.

Supplements You Can Take for Joint Pain or Arthritis

There are many supplements and over-the-counter options one can take to relieve or reduce joint pain or arthritis.

Flexoplex, for example, is a glucosamine-based supplement marked to be a powerful and all-natural option for lubricating joints while reducing joint pain and increasing flexibility. Flexoplex is also said to fight inflammation.

There are nine main ingredients in Flexoplex which are carefully selected to garner the most results.

For more information regarding Flexoplex, visit Joint Health Magazine.

Conclusion:

Although joint pain and arthritis can be complex to understand, treating and managing your pain is of the utmost importance. The above foods can not only help prevent arthritis and joint pain, but they are also perfect for those already suffering from types of joint pain and arthritis. These foods and supplements can help the body fight against the natural decline posed by aging so that you can live a full, healthy, and pain-free life.

 Other sources:

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/kids/healthy-joints

 

Author Bio: Ella James is an independent researcher and writer. She has contributed to many online websites related to general health and fitness. Her interests include reading and writing about day-to-day health, fitness, and skin care problems. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

The post 7 Foods to Fight Joint Pain & Arthritis appeared first on NUTRITION CLUB Natural Health Food Supplement Distributor Canada.

The Surprising Health Benefits of Gaming

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Most people want to be healthy. Most people also utilize relatively similar methods to become healthy or to maintain their well-being. For example, they may eat better, consuming more fresh fruit, or they may start to go to the gym, performing cardio exercise and resistance training to firm their body. Likewise, they may start to practice mindfulness meditation. However, what most people will not do is take up a hobby that a lot of research now says it’s very good for you: Gaming.

Gaming can be good for you in two main ways: I can improve your physical health, and it can give your brain a workout. gaming has been shown to increase grey matter in the areas of your brain associated with certain tasks, for example motor skills, long-term planning, and memory. This is particularly true if you play certain genres of games, as platform games in particular have been shown to improve memory. As well as this, gaming it’s been shown to reduce the speed of cognitive decline in the elderly, and thus it may have important applications in the field of elderly care.

Gaming is Not Only Good for your Brain

Gaming can also improve physiological health. One particularly exciting trend in gaming is exergaming, in which one plays the game through movement, and one’s body acts as a controller. The Nintendo Wii and games such as Wii fit were pioneers in this area, and this could potentially improve the health of whole societies, particularly as we tend to live more sedentary lifestyles than only a few decades ago.

So, though it is not yet well known, gaming can actually have a part to play in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. What’s amazing is that the above benefits are merely the tip of the iceberg, with research ongoing in the way gaming can benefit pain management, eye health, and a multitude of other things.

To find out more, see the infographic below from our partners at Computer Planet.

The post The Surprising Health Benefits of Gaming  appeared first on NUTRITION CLUB Natural Health Food Supplement Distributor Canada.

Supplement King Launches Revolutionary New Pre-Workout

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Supplement King Launches Revolutionary New Pre-Workout! Click image below for more information!

The post Supplement King Launches Revolutionary New Pre-Workout appeared first on NUTRITION CLUB CANADA.

Beat Your Hangover With These 3 Smoothies

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When you wake up after a big night out, and start to experience those dreaded hangover symptoms including headache, dry mouth and feeling generally under the weather, it can be all too tempting to opt for a big fry-up and coffee to start the day.

However, the last thing your body needs after an unhealthy night being filled with alcohol is to be filled with even more unhealthy foods, stodge and grease. Your body needs to be compensated for the dehydration it has suffered and to receive a nutrition boost and it will definitely thank you more.

We have been searching for the ideal healthy hangover cure so check out these three top hangover beating smoothie recipes which will help you to feel human again while filling your body with lots of good nutrients at the same time.

Helping Hand For Your Liver

The ingredients

Three handfuls of kale – or you can choose spinach leaves if you prefer

• Two celery stalks
• Two apples
• A quarter of an avocado
• A tablespoon of flax seeds
• Fresh ginger
• A squeeze of lemon
• Two to three glasses of water                   

Core and chop the apples, then chop the celery stalks into small pieces as well, to help the blender make a smoother mixture. Add all of the ingredients into the blender with one and a half glasses of water initially and blend until smooth.

Add more water if required to get the smoothie mixture to the consistency which you prefer – it’s best to add a small amount at a time as it’s easier to add than it is to remove water and you don’t want to end up with a runny mess.

This smoothie helps your liver work to remove all the toxins of the night before, through its cleansing ingredients. It is also rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, fibre and essential fats, which all help the body to remove toxins more effectively.

A quick tip to help remove bad breath following a night out drinking is to add parsley to your smoothie – it has specific qualities which help to freshen your breath when consumed.

Detoxing hangover smoothie

The ingredients:

• One teaspoon of cocoa powder
• Half an avocado
• One small  beetroot, chopped
• One teaspoon of honey
• One apple
• Ginger

Two scoops of Focus Performance whey protein powder

Two to three glasses of water                            

Core and chop the apple and chop the beetroot before blending. Add all the ingredients to the blender, with one glass of water initially and then gradually add more water until the consistency is how you would like it to be. For added zing, throw in a few ice cubes as well.

Avocado, apples and beetroot are all cleansing ingredients and will help your liver to detox after an alcohol-fuelled night out. These ingredients will all help to reset your body’s mineral levels and support your liver.

Ginger is great for helping to reduce feelings of nausea which are commonly associated with hangovers, while the honey and cocoa powder add some sweetness to improve the overall flavour of the drink.

Nutty post-party delight

The ingredients

• A medium-sized banana
• 50 grammes of frozen berries
• 15 grammes of oats
• Two tablespoons of cashew nut butter
• 150 millilitres of almond milk
• A teaspoon of coconut oil
• A teaspoon of coconut nectar

This naturally sweet nutty smoothie doesn’t take much preparation at all – simply chop up the banana and throw everything into the blender. You can add in a glass of water if you want the consistency to be more liquid.

The combination of banana and nut ingredients in this smoothie makes it a naturally sweet and energy-replacing drink. Alcohol can leave the blood sugar level feeling low so this smoothie packs a sweet punch to help pick you up naturally. And the best thing is it takes just a few minutes to make, using ingredients from your store cupboard.

After a night out on the town, your body suffers from dehydration, reduced blood sugar, fatigue and general lethargy. While chips, fry-ups and hair of the dog might be tempting and seem the easy option, these are not hangover cures which your body will thank you for in the long term.

Natural fruit and green leaves help your body to detox quicker, assisting your liver to break down the alcohol remnants. While nuts and bananas provide a much required energy and sugar boost, bringing the body back up to par without resorting to a gallon of coffee.

All three of these smoothies contain essential minerals and nutrients to help support your liver, boost your energy levels and clear out all of the toxins from your body post-party, and they are really quick and easy to make as well.

So next time you are planning a night out, make sure you have some nuts, kale and bananas on hand to create your own rescue smoothie when you get up the next day.

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