Currently viewing the category: "vitamin B"

Brain Enhancing Healthy Foods

By On · Add Comment · In Alzheimer's disease, blood nutrients, brain, diet, elderly, junk food, nutrition, omega-3 fatty acids, trans-fats, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D deficiency

More bad news for junk food, as a recent study published in the journal Neurology shows that elderly people having higher levels of certain vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids in their blood score better on mental acuity tests than those who eat the junk.  Further, researchers found that eating better might even reduce the brain shrinkage associated with with Alzheimer’s disease. Booyah!

The study, conducted at Oregon State University, and one of the first of its kind, looked at 104 people at an average age of 87, and specifically measured a wide range of blood nutrient levels (instead of basing results on food questionnaires, which are less precise and less reliable).

“The vitamins and nutrients you get from eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables and fish can be measured in blood biomarkers,” said Traber Maret Traber, a principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute and study co-author. “I’m a firm believer these nutrients have strong potential to protect your brain and make it work better.”
Yes, so am I! I’ve been preaching for years. Always happy to see the science back up a universal truth–whole, natural foods are healing and health enhancing. We’ve gone through millions of years of evolution feeding ourselves the foods of the earth–can’t think of any Doritos shortages that challenged mankind, can you?
The principle vitamins they found to help neurological health are some of my personal favs–vitamins B, C, D and E, as well as the omega 3 fatty acids–which increased mental quickness and brain size.
Elderly people that had diets high in unnatural and unhealthy foods, like those laden with trans-fats, fared worse on cognitive tests. Although the researchers found that age and education had major effects on cognitive function and brain size, nutrient status accounted for 17% of the variation in scores, and 37% of the differences in brain volume.
Well, what can I say other than…been tellin’ ya. Eat well–it’ll take you far. This study looked at people with typical American diets–some good, some…well, not so much. But it’s not too late to make the switch–in fact, perfect time for the new year. 
I’ll leave it to study co-author Gene Bowman of the Oregon Health and Science University to conclude with, “It is very exciting to think that people could potentially stop their brains from shrinking and keep them sharp by adjusting their diet.” Indeed.

Essential Vitamins for Total Body Wellness

By On · Add Comment · In essential fatty acids, healthy diet, nutrients, nutritional health, nutritional supplements, sports chiropractic, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamins, whole foods

Vitamins are an important part of nutritional health, but they are not meant to stand alone.  Vitamins are to supplement a healthy diet, one rich in whole, natural foods.  However, I believe that receiving all the necessary nutrients from the diet alone, in this day and age, is nearly impossible.  To enjoy optimal health, then, supplementing with good vitamins is essential. 

Watch the video below to find out what I call the basics as far as vitamin supplements go.  You’ll also get a basic understanding of how each vitamin works to bring you optimal nutritional health.

For more on essential fatty acids, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin D, you can check my chiropractic website to get the most up-to-date nutritional information.  And if you are looking for a nutritional consultation, you can call my Los Angeles sports chiropractic office to set one up.

When it comes to great health, your nutrition is vital; and supplementing with essential vitamins is the wisest choice to make.

Burning Tongue

By On · Add Comment · In burnt, burnt tongue syndrome, deficiency, nutritional, tongue, vitamin B
Ever had a burnt tongue feeling? I have. Just recently, too. Yeah, it sucks.

What’s a burning tongue? Everybody has burnt their tongue before, right? Hot coffee, hot soup, hot lasagna….goes away in a day or two, but not burnt tongue syndrome. Burnt tongue syndrome is the feeling of a burnt tongue that lasts for several days, weeks, months, or years. Yowsa! It can be caused by menopause, oral thrush, dry mouth (xerostomia), nutritional deficiencies, and psychological problems including anxiety and depression.

So I’ve had this sensation for the last five days–had me real perplexed, too. But I remember that vitamin B deficiency can cause some unusual tongue symptoms, so I started pounding the vitamin B (actually three supplement capsules a day). And what do you know? Burnt feeling going away slowly but surely.

How does one become vitamin B deficient? Chronic stress, heavy alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, heavy sugar consumption, heavy coffee drinking and poor digestion (inflammatory bowel syndrome) among other things. In my case, could have been any of those things, with the exception of alcohol and smoking since I don’t do either. But I love sugar, and I do get stress out…plenty. And, when I don’t eat right (for me–i.e. sugar, caffeine, wheat, pork, mint, and other food substances) I definitely have digestive disturbances (The Six Keys To Optimal Health, it’s in there).

So if you find yourself with a burnt tongue sensation for more than a couple days, try increasing your vitamin B. If it doesn’t get better within a few days, then you’d better get it checked out by your medical doctor.

Stinky, Yet Effective

By On · Add Comment · In Allicin, antioxidant, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BNP), blood clots, garlic, hydrogen sulfide, vitamin B, vitamin C
There’s an old Yiddish saying, “A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat.” How true that is. Garlic, that sweet, succulent spice–also known as Allium sativum–just melts in your mouth and makes every dish delicious. Yes, in some people it can cause malodor; but the benefits of eating garlic far outweigh its pungent effects.

This miracle herb has been the subject of folklore and legend, and it’s home remedy uses are very well known. But new research shows exactly why garlic is so beneficial–it boosts the body’s production of a compound that relaxes blood vessels, increases blood flow, and prevents blood clots and oxidative damage. The compound, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), is produced by blood vessels and red blood cells when they come into contact with the chemical constituents of garlic. The exact compound causing the release of H2S is as of yet unknown.

The fact that we do not yet know which chemical component causes this incredible health benefit illustrates a very important point–one which I very adamantly stress in my upcoming book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health–and that is: It’s always better to eat whole, natural foods than rely on man’s synthetic versions. And the reason I give is precisely because we don’t always know which constituents do what. Moreover, we don’t know if compounds must work in conjunction with one another or if several work within the same biochemical pathway. Therefore, you gotta eat the real deal.

Saying that, we do know the effects of some of garlic’s constituents. For example, Allicin, which gives garlic its hot, burning flavor, has powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It also helps fight arteriosclerosis, dissolves fat, and is a mild antioxidant. Another compound, Beta-sitosterol, lowers blood cholesterol and may be useful in fighting benign prostatic hypertrophy (BNP). Garlic also contains calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc. And to top it off, garlic is rich in vitamins B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin C.

Wow! Now tha-sa powerful.

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Nick Campos - All Rights Reserved.