|
Preventing Serious Illness with Vitamins
The benefits of vitamins on serious illness
are well documented. Study after study has shown that regular vitamin
consumption in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle helps prevent
a host of serious illnesses. From heart disease to stress and anxiety,
taking vitamins has long-term benefits that can help you to live
a happier, more fulfilling life. If you have a family history of
serious illness, or wish to prevent one from developing, read up on the ways in which vitamins can help you
stay healthy for the long haul.
Cancer
Cancer is one of the most devastating
illnesses of our time. And while a cure still alludes us, there is
evidence that adopting certain behaviors can help prevent cancer. In a report
studying the effects of eating hot dogs and hamburgers, the association
between meat eating and leukemia was weakest among children who
took vitamin supplements. Processed meats, such as hot dogs, contain
nitrates and nitrites—precursors to carcinogens. Antioxidants found
in multivitamins keep nitrates and nitrites from converting into
those carcinogens. Therefore, an association between vitamin consumption
in children and protection against childhood cancers is evident. Imagine what a vitamin could do for you! Read more about specific cancers and the vitamins
that can prevent them below:
Heart Disease
Coupled with exercise and diet, research shows that certain vitamins
can help enhance the health of your heart. Although Vitamin E is very
well known for helping to prevent "bad" cholesterol and
regulate the entire cardiovascular system, it is not the only "heart
smart" vitamin. Please look below to find out which vitamins
work best to benefit you in your quest for cardiovascular strength
and vitality.
Diabetes
People with
low blood levels of vitamin E are more likely to develop type 1 and
type 2 diabetes. Vitamin E supplementation has improved glucose tolerance
in people with type 2 diabetes in most, but not all, double-blind
trials. Vitamin E has also improved glucose tolerance in elderly people
without diabetes. Three months or more of supplementation may be required
for benefits to become apparent. The amount used is at least 900 IU
of vitamin E per day.
Arthritis
People who have arthritis and eat large amounts of antioxidants in
food have been reported to exhibit a much slower rate of joint deterioration,
particularly in the knees, compared with people eating foods containing
lower amounts of antioxidants. Of the individual antioxidants, only
vitamin E has been studied as a supplement in controlled trials. Vitamin
E supplementation has reduced symptoms of arthritis in both single-blind
and double-blind research. In these trials, 400 to 1,600 IU of vitamin
E per day was used.
Stress / Anxiety
Inositol has been used to help people with anxiety who have panic
attacks. Up to 4 grams three times per day was reported to control
such attacks in a double-blind trial. Inositol (18 grams per day)
has also been shown in a double-blind trial to be effective at relieving
the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. An isolated double-blind
trial found that supplementation with a multivitamin-mineral supplement
for four weeks led to significant reductions in anxiety and perceived
stress compared to placebo.
|
