Tomorrow's Home Business

Professionalism in Marketing Starts Here

B-12 Vitamins

B-12 Vitamins

Top 5 Nutrient Deficiencies
By Brazos Minshew, TriVita Chief Science Officer

Every year for more than 20 years the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has coordinated data into a report called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES. This information is used to help us understand what nutrients are deficient in our diet and in our food, and how these nutrient deficiencies may eventually lead to preventable disease.

The NHANES survey uses questionnaires to sort out dietary deficiency from absorption deficiency. For example, a person may have adequate Vitamin B-12 in their diet yet, after age 50, they may absorb Vitamin B-12 so poorly that blood tests will show a serious deficiency. Also, the process of homeostasis may leech minerals such as calcium and magnesium from our bones. While a blood test may show adequate levels of these minerals, a diet survey would indicate that we are not eating enough magnesium and calcium to sustain good health.

Take the Wellness Challenge.

The following are the top five deficiencies when viewed from the perspective of dietary intake, absorption and end-point metabolism. End-point metabolism looks at the results of complex biochemistry rather than simply how much of a particular nutrient we eat or how much is in the bloodstream. For example, we may eat enough Vitamin B-12 and we may have an acceptable level of B-12 in our blood. But, if our homocysteine level is too high, we still need more Vitamin B-12. Homocysteine is an end-point indicator of Vitamin B-12 metabolism.

Vitamin C
Among the greatest deficiencies in the diet of people over 50 is Vitamin C. This is thought to be because of choosing convenience foods over leafy green vegetables, not a favorite at any age! Signs of Vitamin C deficiency include

   Weakness
   Weariness
   Unhealthy gums
   Nosebleeds
   Bruising
   Slow healing

Our energy-engine, metabolism, declines rapidly after age 50. As the metabolism slows down, we need more Vitamin C because our ability to utilize it is reduced. Eat leafy green vegetables and other sources of Vitamin C. Take a teaspoon of Vital C Crystals in the morning and a Vital C Crystal Tablet at bedtime for optimum antioxidant protection.

Vitamin B-12
After age 30, our brains literally begin to shrink. After age 40, the brain erosion becomes measurable and serious. After age 50, we may find that we have lost up to 25 percent or more of our brain volume as compared to our youth. Yet, those with the highest levels of Vitamin B-12 in their bloodstream exhibit the lowest level of brain erosion.

Signs of low B-12 include

   Mood and memory problems
   Mental fatigue and poor concentration
   Irritability
   Poor circulation
   Non-refreshing sleep

Our ability to absorb Vitamin B-12 declines with age. Our ability to convert Vitamin B-12 into homocysteine-fighting metabolites declines as well. Supplement your diet with Sublingual Vitamin B-12 daily. Remember, the more B-12 in your bloodstream, the less brain erosion you may experience.

Omega-3
Speaking of brain erosion, our brains are primarily made of fat. The most common fat in our brain is DHA, docosohexanoic acid. Signs of Omega-3 deficiency include mood disorders, such as depression and Attention Deficit Disorder. Other signs that we may need more Omega-3 include hormone imbalance in women and men, immune system imbalance such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and chronic fatigue.

Increase dietary sources of Omega-3 such as cold-water fish, flax and walnuts. Add OmegaPrime as a source of fast-acting Omega-3 from fish oil as well as sustained released Omega-3 from flaxseed oil and perilla seed oil.

Vitamin D and magnesium
Vitamin D comes from both dietary sources and healthy sunshine exposure. It is activated by exercise. Vitamin D is responsible for hardening your bones. Signs of Vitamin D deficiency include poor blood sugar balance, chronic pain, an unsteady gait and clumsiness, as well as numerous imbalances of the immune system and hormones.

Vitamin D is activated in your muscles and made useful in your kidneys. Both of these systems require healthy levels of magnesium. According to NHANES, many of us do not eat enough magnesium-rich leafy green vegetables. Signs of low magnesium include

   Muscle cramps
   Indigestion
   Tremors
   Irritability
   Irregularity

Magnesium is found abundantly in plant-based foods such as sea vegetables, nuts and seeds, avocados and leafy green vegetables. Vitamin D can be manufactured with as little as 20 minutes of safe sun exposure daily. Because Vitamin D and Magnesium usually cooperate in nature, we put them in cooperative supplements such as VitaCal-Mag D and VitaDaily AM-PM. They are available in higher levels in Wellavoh, Men and Women, and Bone Growth Factor.

Take the Wellness Challenge.

Conclusion
We can learn much from continued research into health and human nutrition. Yet, the same basic rules apply to us all. We must learn and live the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness to have complete health!

Take Control of Your Health

Get 20 minutes of morning or evening sunshine daily
Eat 5, 7 or 9 servings of vegetables and fruit daily
Exercise 30 minutes daily, most days of the week
Take a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement daily
   VitaDaily AM-PM
   Wellavoh, Men or Women
Take a Sublingual B-12 supplement daily
   Sublingual B-12
   Super Sublingual B-12
   HCY Guard
Take a Vitamin C supplement daily
   Vital C Crystals in the morning
   Vital C Crystal Tablets at night
Take OmegaPrime daily
Supplement as appropriate with VitaCal-Mag D or Bone Growth Factor

Take the Wellness Challenge.