Posts Tagged ‘Red Meat’

Key Benefits of a Cheap Vitamin B12 Supplement

Comments: 0April 24th, 2011 by admin



A deficiency of Vitamin B12 is a serious problem that many people experience and the reason that you are likely online looking for a cheap vitamin B 12 supplement. Because it can take up to five to six years to fully recognize the symptoms of such a deficiency, many people do not realize they even have it. While a simple blood test can determine a person’s level of B12, many people do not get the test performed because they do not realize they have a problem.

A lack of B12 hampers digestion. In turn, poor digestion, which is often connected with various gastrointestinal diseases and disorders such as Crohn’s disease and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) limits the amount of B12 the body can normally absorb. So, even if all you eat is red meat and salmon (both proven to have high amounts of B12) but suffer from an intestinal disorder, your body cannot absorb the B12 being consumed.

Ever had numbness or tingling in your extremities? That’s a neurological symptom. Tired? Both anemia and fatigue can present as symptoms. Other physical symptoms of low B12 levels include constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss. That’s not all. Soreness of the tongue or mouth is a less usual one. However, many of them like balance issues, mood issues, memory issues, dementia and confusion are likely to be mistaken for other things. Since so many of these are also symptoms of other illnesses or problems, so a doctor should be consulted to rule out other potential problems.

The elderly are also at a higher risk for having low levels of vitamin B12. Approximately 30% of older adults experience atrophic gastritis (a condition in which the stomach is inflamed and the amounts of gastric juices that are secreted lowers) which in turn effects how much B12 the body can absorb and use through the consumption of food. Ironically, the body does not seem to have any trouble absorbing synthetic B12, so people who have digestive problems like the ones discussed above would best be served by taking supplements to increase the amount of B12 in the body.

As people get older, many find that the amount of medications they must take increases. Nothing is cheap these days, and for some choices must be made as to which medicines they may afford in any given month. For people who need to supplement their diets, finding a cheap vitamin B12 supplement is the way to go. They are available on-line, which make them easy to buy, and convenient for older people who may not have much mobility outside of the home.

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The Link Between Blood Iron Levels And Diabetes

Comments: 0November 27th, 2010 by admin



It is well known that people with a condition called hemochromatosis, where the body absorbs and accumulates unusually high amounts of iron, are at a greater risk of developing diabetes. Recent medical research however suggests that there may be a link between iron levels and diabetes even among people that do not suffer from hemochromatosis.

A 2004 study published in the American Medical Association involving over 32,000 women found that those with high levels of iron in their bodies were as much as three times more likely to develop diabetes than women with low iron levels.

A separate 2006 study found that women with high intakes of a type of iron known as heme, found mainly in meat, had a 28% higher risk of type-2 diabetes than those with a low intake. The study found no association between intake of the non-heme variety of iron and diabetes. Sources rich in non-heme iron include tofu, soybeans, spinach, potatoes and cashew nuts.

A third Finnish study of over 1000 men aged between 42 and 60 found that men with high iron stores were 2.4 times more likely to get diabetes compared to men with lower stores.

The findings raise the possibility that a simple iron blood test could determine whether an individual is at an increased risk of developing diabetes.

It is thought that iron may raise diabetes risk by increasing free radical production which increases inflammation levels n the body, possibly damaging the pancreas which is responsible for insulin production. Another possibility is that high iron levels cause cells to gradually become resistant to insulin, thus reducing the ability of insulin to reduce blood sugar levels.

The research suggests that both men and women considered at risk of developing diabetes should avoid iron supplements and consider limiting red meat consumption to a maximum of 2-3 servings a week.

While iron is an essential mineral in the body and is needed to prevent anemia, excess iron has been linked to various other diseases in the past such as an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease, liver damage, some forms of cancer and even Parkinson’s disease.

The current recommended daily intake (RDA) for iron is 8 milligrams a day for men and post-menopausal women while the RDA for pre-menopausal women is 18 milligrams. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, most men generally exceed the RDA for iron although some women consume slightly less than the RDA.

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Prevent Hair Loss by Choosing the Right Food

Comments: 0September 13th, 2009 by admin



Raisins

Good blood flow in your scalp will stimulate hair growth. Iron is the main key to manufacturing hemoglobin and hemoglobin is the one that carries oxygen trough your body – and hair! Raisins, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, dates and whole-grain cereals are great – they are high in iron. You could also add lemons and oranges to your diet as they contain Vitamin C, and Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron.

Seafood

One of the things why zinc is useful – it manages the glands that attach to hair follicles. If your body has lack of zinc, hair follicles became weak and strands may break off or fall out. Eat shrimp, mussels, oysters, fish… but you can also treat yourself with red meat and poultry.

Eggs, beans and fish

Since hair is mostly made of protein, it sounds reasonable to eat eggs, beans and fish. Why not eat a steak? Simply because red meat is high-fat food. High-fat food increases testosterone level in your body which might result in hair loss. Therefore eat fish instead – it’s good for more than just your hair.

Potatoes

Hey this doesn’t mean I just gave you a green light to enjoy greasy french fries! Rather cook it, use it in salads or as a side dish to seafood – it’s a great combination!

Bean sprouts

Bean sprouts, potatoes and green peppers – rich in silica! No matter how strange it may sound, silica should be a part of your hair loss prevention diet because our body uses it to help absorb vitamins and minerals.

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Women and Iron Deficiency

Comments: 0August 3rd, 2009 by admin



Athletic ladies of all ages who suffer from decreased performance may be suffering from iron deficiency. Many women who are watching their weight will eat more salads. Thinking that eating a lot vegetables and less red meat is healthier. This is true, but not including red meat in your diet can cause iron deficiency.

Low iron levels will decrease levels of erythropoieses (the hormone EPO which is responsible for red cell production) which controls hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is the component of blood that carries oxygen. What does all this mean to women? A noticeable drop in performance will be occurring.

During periods of high training volume, weight loss or menstruation iron deficiency will be more noticeable. Studies show that 50% of women runners are iron deficient. Feeling chilled or cold is a common symptom of low iron levels. This could explain why some women who are always feeling cold.

The recommended daily allowance for iron is 15 milligrams. Your performance will start to decline on the day that the recommended daily allowance is not met. Thankfully one of the solutions is quite simple; eat more iron-rich foods. Two very good sources of iron are red meat and dark poultry. Many women will shy away from red meat and dark poultry due to the fat content. Choosing lean cuts of red meat will meet your daily iron requirements of iron and still maintain a low-fat diet.

For vegetarians, two iron rich sources include lentils and iron-fortified breakfast cereals. Do not drink coffee or tea when eating iron-fortified breakfast cereals. Coffee and tea block the body’s ability to absorb iron. Drinking orange juice which has vitamin C actually helps the body absorb iron. Drinking orange juice with iron rich foods actually helps the body with absorption.

If you have low iron levels now, you can take supplements. Be sure to check with your doctor about recommended dosages. Too much iron can create other problems. Excessive amounts of iron will cause constipation and the body’s ability to absorb zinc. Several studies have shown that no benefit can be found in taking iron supplements. The best way to get enough iron is to consume 2-4oz of red meat a day.

Once your iron levels are back up to normal you will be amazed by the improvements in performance as well as increased energy levels for daily activities.

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Is it Natural for Pregnant Women to Have Anemia During Pregnancy?

Comments: 0July 23rd, 2009 by admin



Why do most women have an anemia? Most of the mothers are affected with iron deficiency anemia due to excessive loss of blood during giving birth, menstruation and other factors like miscarriage, bleeding from the stomach, or having cancer or a parasite like hookworm. Menstrual bleeding and giving birth may reduce the iron stored in the body.

Human bodies need minerals and vitamins to function properly. Therefore, a body may not function properly, it only produce too small amount red blood cells because the iron is lacking.

Women need to take 15 milligrams of iron daily as compared to men that need only 10 milligrams. Pregnant mothers need more iron than the normal because both mother and fetus uses iron. The fetus needs iron for the development of its red blood cells and muscle.

Iron is a chief element in making hemoglobin and red blood cells and plays an important role in order for the body to function properly. Iron is needed to help the red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the entire body.

A body gets more iron from the food you eat if you have less iron stored. But if the body already has more iron stored, its absorption will decrease. One of the reasons other women have iron deficiency anemia is that they suffered from crhon or celiac disease – the inability of the small intestine to absorb iron from the food they eat.

Women who have iron deficiency anemia feel they are weak and tired, have swelling of the tongue, look pale, and are irritable. But women cannot diagnose that they have iron deficiency because they think it is normal to experience weakness and tired after long hours of work.

What should women do to avoid or prevent anemia? Women are advised to take vitamins that contain iron to replace the iron loss during menstruation, giving birth or any situation in which a women loses blood.

They should eat nutritious foods like red meat, liver, raisins, spinach, broccoli, some fish, beans, dried fruit and egg yolks with adequate iron content so that body have a lot of iron to sustain. It is also recommended that they eat cereals that are fortified with iron.

Consult a physician for appropriate treatment to reduce or prevent the effect of anemia. Doctors can recognize a decrease level of hemoglobin and recommend the right amount of iron to take. Too much iron can cause heart and liver damage. Iron deficiency anemia if not treated will become worse.

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Anaemia Due to Iron, Vitamin B12 Or Folate Deficiency

Comments: 0June 26th, 2009 by admin



What is anaemia?

Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which is the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood. The red cells travel through the lungs where the haemoglobin becomes oxygenated (picks up oxygen) and bright red in colour. The red cells are then pumped by the heart to the rest of the body where the haemoglobin gives up its oxygen to the tissues and becomes dark blue in the process.

‘Anaemia’ means that the level of red cells, and therefore of haemoglobin, in the blood is abnormally low. As a result the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood is reduced. Anaemia may be caused by excessive bleeding, by destruction of red cells or by decreased production of red cells. Anaemia caused by decreased production of red blood cells is discussed here. Anaemia from excessive bleeding is discussed in a separate Factsheet.

What causes anaemia and who is at risk?

Decreased production of red cells is mainly caused by:
not enough iron (iron deficiency), vitamin B12 deficiency, or folic acid (a vitamin, also called folate) deficiency.

For red blood cells to be produced by the bone marrow, many nutrients are needed, such as iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. These are taken in by the body from food, and iron is also recycled from red cells that have died. Except for infants, a diet deficient in iron (which is predominantly found in red meat) does not cause anaemia. Generally, the only cause of iron-deficiency anaemia is chronic (prolonged) bleeding, during which the body’s supply of recycled iron is too low and the shortfall cannot be made up by the diet. Menstrual bleeding is the most common cause of iron-deficiency anaemia in women before the menopause, but after this and in men it is usually caused by bleeding from somewhere in the gut, such as a polyp (a benign growth), cancer of the large bowel or a peptic ulcer.

Chronic (prolonged) diseases, such as infections, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, can cause iron-deficiency anaemia because the developing red cells in the bone marrow are unable to use the iron stores.

Red blood cells also need vitamin B12 and folic acid to mature. If either is lacking then an anaemia called ‘megaloblastic anaemia’ develops in which the red cells are large and abnormal (called ‘megaloblast cells’). The main cause of vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is ‘pernicious anaemia’, in which there is inadequate absorption of vitamin B12 from the diet (mainly from meat and some vegetables).

Vitamin B12 binds a protein called intrinsic factor which is produced in the stomach; this complex of vitamin B12 and intrinsic factor travels to the small bowel where it is absorbed into the blood stream. Without intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed; in pernicious anaemia, the stomach does not produce intrinsic factor and so vitamin B12 is not absorbed, however much is taken in the diet.

This anaemia can often take more than two years to develop because there are large stores of vitamin B12 in the liver. In some diseases of the small bowel, such as Crohn’s disease, vitamin B12 absorption can be impaired. A strict vegetarian diet can also cause vitamin B12 deficiency.

A lack of folic acid, which is more common in the Western world than lack of vitamin B12, also leads to megaloblastic anaemia. The main cause is a diet poor in folic acid, which is mainly found in fresh fruit and raw vegetables. Reduced uptake of folic acid can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption and by certain medicines.

Some drugs used to treat cancer also cause megaloblastic anaemia.

What are the common symptoms and complications of anaemia?
The symptoms of anaemia include:
tiredness, breathlessness, dizziness (especially when standing), and a weak, rapid pulse.

Iron deficiency also causes:
inflammation of the tongue, cracks at the sides of the mouth, deformities of the fingernails, and pica (a craving for earth, ice or other non-foods).

Vitamin B12 deficiency also causes:
damage to nerves (abnormal sensation and movement), sore tongue, pigmented skin, colour blindness, and depression, confusion and decreased intellectual function.

Folic acid deficiency also causes:
foetal malformations (including spina bifida) and neurological abnormalities in infants.

How do doctors recognise anaemia?

Anaemia is identified by blood tests to measure the number of red blood cells and the amount of haemoglobin in the blood. Iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels can be measured and megaloblast cells can also be seen under the microscope. The source of bleeding is usually investigated in iron-deficiency anaemia and other more involved tests can be done to check vitamin B12 uptake for pernicious anaemia.

What is the treatment for anaemia?
Self-care action plan

A varied diet should be followed. If you are a meat-eater, make sure you eat plenty of raw vegetables and fruit. If you are a strict vegetarian, you should consider vitamin B12 supplements to prevent the possibility of permanent neurological damage. Pregnant women should take iron and folic acid supplements because of the increased needs of the baby. Indeed, women should take folic acid before conception.

Medicines

Iron-deficiency anaemia is treated by stopping any bleeding, which may necessitate surgery and/or medicines for conditions such as peptic ulcer or excessive blood loss from menstruation. Iron supplements are also given; they may cause constipation and turn the stools black (this is harmless). Iron supplements do not help the anaemia of chronic disease and doctors usually try to treat the underlying condition. Vitamin B12 deficiency is usually treated with life-long monthly injections of vitamin B12 because poor absorption when taken by mouth is usually the problem. Folic acid deficiency is usually treated with folic acid tablets or syrup.

What is the outcome of anaemia?

Most types of anaemia are easily treated with appropriate supplements. If bleeding is the cause of iron-deficiency anaemia, the outcome depends on the underlying cause, as is the case with anaemia of chronic disease.

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Anemia Treatment – The Natural Way

Comments: 0March 13th, 2009 by admin



Anemia treatment can be very simple and painless. Better yet, it can be done drug free, the natural way. Anemia is a very serious condition as it represents a deficiency of red blood cells which carry oxygen to the various parts of our bodies that need oxygen. So let’s have a look at how to tackle this problem and put it in our past.

Were you aware that you can become anaemic from the use of certain prescription medications? This includes some antibiotics or anti-coagulants which help to thin the blood. Sometimes anaemia may be due to suffering a chronic illness or you may acquire it genetically. So it is useful to determine what has caused you to become anaemic in the first place.

Here are some symptoms to be aware of that may indicate that you are anaemic; Shortness of breath, fatigue, heart palpitations, feeling giddy or dizzy, turning pale, and fainting to name the most common. The more severe the anaemia gets the worse the symptoms get (like with any disease) and you could experience chest pain (aka angina), headaches and difficulty walking as your legs start hurting also. Some other symptoms experienced in severe cases include sores in the corners of your mouth, dryness of your mouth and throat, and brittle nails.

Anaemia treatment is vital as, left untreated, it could develop into more serious diseases that could be life-threatening. In the majority of cases anaemia can be treated by improving your diet and by taking iron or folic acid supplements as these are lacking in someone who is anaemic.

You want to look at adding red meat, fish, egg yolks, shellfish and chicken to boost your intake of iron from your diet. Also excellent are dried fruit, nuts and seeds, lentils, beetroot, leafy green vegetables, whole grains (note not whole wheat).

Your best prevention is to stick to a healthy balanced diet making sure that you include proper sources of iron as well as vitamin and B12 which are all essential to the production of healthy red blood cells.

Some things you want to avoid consuming are alcohol, coffee and tea and any other caffeinated drinks like sodas.

Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron so either get it from your diet or be sure to take a supplement to help your body heal from anaemia.

There are many other natural remedies for anaemia deficiency so I suggest that you do your research into finding what works best for you.

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