vitamin c on fat

Vitamin C depletion correlates with lower body fat, not weight loss during short-term diet

FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

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Too little vitamin C in the blood stream has been found to correlate with increased body fat and waist measurements. Nutrition researchers from Arizona State University report that the amount of vitamin C in the blood stream is directly related to fat oxidation - the body's ability to use fat as a fuel source - during both exercise and at rest.

Bonnie Beezhold, a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Carol Johnston, presented the most recent study, on the impact of vitamin C depletion on a short-term diet, on April 3 at Experimental Biology 2006 in San Francisco. The presentation was part of the scientific program of the American Society for Nutrition, Inc. (ASN).

Before beginning a controlled four-week, low-fat diet, 20 obese men and women were randomized by gender and body weight into either a Vitamin C group, taking a 500 mg vitamin C capsule daily, or a control group, taking a capsule, identical in appearance to the vitamin, containing a placebo. Neither participants nor researchers knew who was receiving which capsule until the study was over. All participants consumed a low-fat diet that the researchers adjusted individually to promote slow weight loss (about two pounds per week). The diet contained 67 percent of the USRDA (recommended daily allowance) for vitamin C (40 mg/d).

At the beginning of the clinical trial, participants with the lowest concentrations of vitamin C in their blood had the highest body fat mass and tended not to oxidize fat well compared to their less obese counterparts. As the participants moved through the four week diet, with a steady amount of vitamin C being consumed, blood vitamin C concentrations increased 30 percent in those taking vitamins and fell 27 percent in the control group whose only vitamin C intake was the 67 percent of the USRDA contained in the food. As vitamin C blood concentrations fell, so did the participants' ability to oxidize fat (an 11 percent reduction).

The highly-controlled diet worked for all participants. Although body fat mass decreased slightly more in the vitamin C group, approaching but not reaching statistical significance, both groups lost an average of nine pounds, indicating that vitamin C depletion did not appear to affect the ability to lose weight in the short term. But because the study supported early findings in Dr. Johnston's laboratory of a decrease in fat oxidation, the researchers are now studying whether the impact of vitamin C status is associated with a gradual gain in body fat in non-dieting individuals.

It is important to understand the impact of vitamin C deficiency, says Dr. Johnston, because it affects about 15 percent of adults in the United States, up from only 3-5 percent 25 years ago. She believes the increased processing of the food supply is part of the problem, since vitamin C in foods is destroyed by exposure to light, oxygen, and/or heat.

How does vitamin C affect fat oxidation and thus the risk for weight gain and obesity? Vitamin C is an essential cofactor for the biosynthesis of a small protein-like molecule known as carnitine. Carnitine functions to shuttle fat molecules to the site of fax oxidation in tissue cells. When cells do not have access to fat molecules, feelings of fatigue ensue since energy metabolism is affected. Moreover, fat tends to accumulate in tissues when carnitine concentrations are reduced.

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This research was supported by a grant from the General Mills, Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition.

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         Foods that flush out toxins from your body

While tomatoes are known for their several health benefits, did you know that tomato juice is equally healthy? 

Packed with a host of minerals and vitamins, tomato juice contains Vitamin A, K, B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6. And that wasn't reason enough for you to drink tomato juice, read this — it also comprises minerals such as iron, magnesium as well as phosphorous. Not only are these vitamins and minerals excellent for your health, but they're also great for your skin and hair. Preferably use fresh tomatoes when you're squeezing them for the juice.

Benefits include: - The lycopene present in the juice is said to lower the risk of prostate cancer. The ample amount of fibre and water content present in tomatoes is said to be good for the colon.
- The juice is also said to be soothing for those who suffer from digestive problems such as constipation and diarrhoea.
- Some experts say that tomato juice is an effective way to lower cholesterol levels. It comprises generous amounts of fibre which breaks down LDL cholesterol, and contains niacin as well — effective in fighting high cholesterol levels.
- The antioxidants present in tomato juice help fight diseases that cause inflammation like diabetes, asthma and heart disease.

How many calories should I eat to lose weight?

The Calorie calculator allows you to calculate how many calories you should eat a day in order to lose a certain amount of weight by a certain date.

For example: If you are 86kg (189.6Ibs) start of November and would like to be 78kg (172Ibs) by Christmas, you would specify that you want to lose 8 kilograms (17.6Ibs) in 2 months. This is how it differs to other calorie calculators which only allow you to calculate the amount of calories daily for a specific weight.

The calorie calculator is very useful for weight management as it displays how many calories are needed over the specified period of time. It keeps track of your weight loss and calories required. The less you weigh, the fewer calories you will need to take in for weight loss to continue.

NB: Any (-ve) negative values are shown in red, ie trying to lose 50 pounds in 1 week is not possible. Values in yellow indicates a very low calorie intake. As a rule of thumb you should not eat below 1200 calories for female and 1600 calories for male.

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most widely grown type of millet. It has been grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since prehistoric times. The center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication, for the crop is in the Sahel zone ofWest Africa. Recent archaeobotanical research has confirmed the presence of domesticated pearl millet on the Sahel zone of northern Mali between 2500 and 2000 BC.^[1] Cultivation subsequently spread and moved overseas to India. The earliest archaeological records in India date to around 2000 BC,^[2] and it spread rapidly through India reaching South India by 1500 BC, based on evidence from the site ofHallur. Cultivation also spread throughout eastern and southern Africa. Records exist for cultivation of pearl millet in the United States in the 1850s, and the crop was introduced into Brazil in the 1960s.

Pearl millet is well adapted to growing areas characterized by drought, low soil fertility, and high temperature. It performs well in soils with high salinity or low pH. Because of its tolerance to difficult growing conditions, it can be grown in areas where other cereal crops, such as maize or wheat, would not survive.

Today pearl millet is grown on over 260,000 km² worldwide. It accounts for approximately 50% of the total world production of millets.^[3]

THE EFFECT OF TURMERIC ON BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood pressure is the force that the flowing blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. An increase in blood pressure can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. About 1 in 3 adults in the United States have high blood pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Along with a healthy diet and exercise, your doctor may also prescribe medications to regulate your blood pressure. Certain herbs and supplements may also help manage blood pressure.

About Turmeric

Turmeric is a yellow powder that is used as a coloring and flavoring agent in Indian cuisine. It is obtained by boiling, drying and grinding the roots and underground stems of the Curcumin longa plant, native to South Asia. The powder contains a biologically active compound called curcumin, and vitamins C and E. Turmeric supplements are available as tablets, capsules, fluid extracts and tinctures, and have been used traditionally to treat a variety of conditions, including indigestion, ulcers, arthritis, infections and certain cancers. Your doctor may help determine a dose that is appropriate for you based on your age, overall health and condition being treated.

diet for RHD

Even modest changes in diet and lifestyle can improve your health. In general, eat foods low in cholesterol, saturated fat and salt. These are a few foods known to protect the heart - seafood, fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, legumes, onions, garlic, olive oil, alcohol in moderation, foods high in Vitamin C, E and Beta Carotene. Minimize the following foods - meats and dairy foods high in saturated fat, excessive alcohol.

• Eat little or no meats, dairy and processed foods, which are high in saturated fat.
• If you are overweight, adopt a healthy weight-reduction diet plan and stick to it. Obesity places a strain on the cardiovascular system.
• Make sure that your diet is well balanced and contains plenty of fiber. Fibre from cereal, vegetables, and fruits is the most beneficial. Eat more organically produced grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables and seeds.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Emphasize foods that are rich in the antioxidant substances (beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and selenium) that fight free radicals. Enjoy fruits, tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, alfalfa sprouts, and whole-grain products.
• Include grapes, eggplant, and red cabbage in your menu. Pigments called anthocyanins in grapes may help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. Anthocyanins are found in blue and purple fruits and vegetables.
• Take in no more than 4 to 6 teaspoons oil per day. The type of fat you consume is also very important. Monounsaturated fats, found in olive and canola oil, cause levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL, often known as the bad cholesterol) to decline without affecting levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL, often known as the good cholesterol). Saturated fats, (type of fat found in animal products such as meat and dairy foods, and trans - fatty acids found in margarine, shortening, and hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, have the opposite effect. Avoid consumption of saturated fats.
• Include raw nuts (except peanuts), olive oil and mackerel in your diet. These foods contain essential fatty acids that are important for cardiovascular health.
• Include garlic and onions in your diet. They contain compounds that help to reduce serum cholesterol levels.
• Avoid grilled and barbecued foods. Carcinogens that form during the browning process contribute to inflammation of the arteries and the deterioration of the heart muscle.
• Avoid stimulants such as coffee and black tea that contain caffeine. Coffee increases stress hormones in the body. Also avoid tobacco, alcohol, chocolate, sugar, butter, red meat, fats (particularly animal fats and hydrogenated oils), fried foods, processed and refined foods, soft drinks, spicy foods, and white flour products, such as white bread.
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day.
• Eliminate all sources of sodium from your diet. Salt contains sodium, which increases fluid retention and makes the heart work harder. Limit their sodium intake from all sources to the equivalent of no more than 1 teaspoon of salt daily.
• Since you are taking anticoagulant (blood thinner) limit your intake of foods high in vitamin K. Eating foods containing vitamin K increases the tendency of blood to clot. Foods that are rich in vitamin K include alfalfa, broccoli, cauliflower, egg yolks, liver, spinach, and all dark green vegetables. To enhance the effect of anticoagulants, eat more of the following: wheat germ, vitamin E, and soybeans.
• Eat a variety of foods from the five different food groups to supply your body with the nutrients it needs