Over the last few years, I noticed my fingernails kept getting weaker and weaker with deeper ridges. If that wasn’t bad enough, two of my nails were starting to look flat across and curve inward, which is far from beautiful. The only thing I could do was keep the nails short and keep experimenting with every nail reinforcing product that I could find in my quest to get my once beautiful nails back.
The strength of them was so bad that I had to run for the nail file or scissors once or twice a day despite some of the products I had tried earlier. Seriously, I didn’t understand why this awful change was happening.
Of course, I know that diet plays a role. However, who can really say if we have enough of the right nutrients to handle our unique body’s chemistry, especially with the way our foods are processed, preservatives, or any medicines that must be taken?
After I did some research, I found that biotin, (vitamin B 7), could be what I was lacking. This particular vitamin helps the body’s metabolism to become better functioning for how it treats energy and transports carbon dioxide from the body’s cells.
Biotin can be found naturally in foods such as cooked eggs, nuts, sardines, legumes, nut butters, whole grains, mushrooms, bananas, and cauliflower.
Already the thought of what biotin could do to benefit my nails, stop hair loss and shedding that I lately was experiencing and, perhaps, even help with weight sounded promising. The problem now was the dosage.
I picked up a bottle of the maximum strength 5,000 mcg. Though there is no known evidence of biotin interfering with medications, you may want to ask your physician before starting with any new supplements.
Please be careful in your choice of vitamins. Look for a brand with some sort of quality seal to safeguard your health in what is a very unregulated industry. Trust me on this, read those labels carefully because bad ones are still sold nationally alongside good ones and in stores where you shop.
I took one softgel a day. I didn’t see any difference the first week. By the second week, I started noticing a bit more strength when touching the nail surface. It wasn’t as bouncy and frail.
Over the next two weeks, the condition of my nails improved more. The deep ridges were giving way to finer ones while the two down curving nails were straightening themselves out with a rounder, normal curve. I also wasn’t running for my nail file or scissors like before.
It has now been about six weeks and most of the old nail has grown out, leaving faint ridges, a normal curve to my nails again, and harder nails. Furthermore, I haven’t been shedding as many hairs as before I started with biotin.
I honestly recommend anyone that is experiencing the same problems with their nails or even losing more hair than normal, should think of picking up a jar of biotin. This really helped and is still helping me with my nails. I only hope this helps you in the same way.
Showing posts with label vitamins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vitamins. Show all posts
Friday, June 27, 2014
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Want the Secret for Beautiful Hair?
There are tons of wonderful hair products capable of changing texture, improve the shine, and repair damage. However, the ultimate secret to growing long silky strands often starts from within.
If you hair doesn't have that lustrous shine and takes forever to grow, you may be deficient in that important hair essential of zinc. Another clue that you may have not enough zinc in your diet is if you have a dandruff problem.
Zinc comes in lean beef, chicken, peanut butter and chickpeas. You can also take a supplement. Check with your doctor on the dosage that is best for you.
Trust me, if you want to grow your hair quickly, you need to get more zinc. I take a supplement three times a day with calcium (333 mg.), magnesium (133 mg.), vitamin D (200 I.U), and zinc (5 mg) and my hair grows like a weed.
If you hair doesn't have that lustrous shine and takes forever to grow, you may be deficient in that important hair essential of zinc. Another clue that you may have not enough zinc in your diet is if you have a dandruff problem.
Zinc comes in lean beef, chicken, peanut butter and chickpeas. You can also take a supplement. Check with your doctor on the dosage that is best for you.
Trust me, if you want to grow your hair quickly, you need to get more zinc. I take a supplement three times a day with calcium (333 mg.), magnesium (133 mg.), vitamin D (200 I.U), and zinc (5 mg) and my hair grows like a weed.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Why You Should Include Potatoes in Your Diet for Health and Fitness
Potatoes usually get a bad rap when it comes to diet. However, they loaded with calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins C, B-1, B-2, folic acid, B-6, and niacin besides being low in sodium, high in potassium and providing adequate levels of iron and magnesium--all minerals.
Something you may not know is that eating raw potatoes help relieve constipation. Slice thin to eat in your salads is one way to help regulate your system. Cooking on the other hand, kills the enzyme in the potato responsible for this constipation benefit.
Another interesting thing to keep in mind about the importance of potatoes concerns anticancer properties. Raw potatoes have high concentrations of protease inhibitors, which can vanquish certain viruses and carcinogens. Again, cooking takes away that helpful benefit as well.
In addition, potatoes are easily digested and filling. The truth is the potato itself is not that fattening. On the contrary, the extras such as butter, margarine, sour cream, and rich gravies can transform an innocent medium size potato of approximately 90 calories to one of several hundred.
To reduce some calories of mashed potatoes, you can try adding some low-fat cottage cheese that you processed in the blender or food processor as a wonderful substitute for sour cream.
Another way to lower calorie content is to mash those potatoes adding some chicken broth (hopefully homemade that you had a chance to skim the fat off your soup when cooled in the refrigerator first) instead of butter and milk.
What else you can try is some plain yogurt flavored with chives, parsley, or other fresh herbs instead of butter or margarine on your baked or mashed potatoes.
If you love French Fries, you can still eat them with my low-cal oven fries. This recipe has just three tablespoons of healthy olive oil to coat four to six potatoes. Trust me, this is a tasty alternative to artery-clogging real ones while being good for your heart and your figure.
Something you may not know is that eating raw potatoes help relieve constipation. Slice thin to eat in your salads is one way to help regulate your system. Cooking on the other hand, kills the enzyme in the potato responsible for this constipation benefit.
Another interesting thing to keep in mind about the importance of potatoes concerns anticancer properties. Raw potatoes have high concentrations of protease inhibitors, which can vanquish certain viruses and carcinogens. Again, cooking takes away that helpful benefit as well.
In addition, potatoes are easily digested and filling. The truth is the potato itself is not that fattening. On the contrary, the extras such as butter, margarine, sour cream, and rich gravies can transform an innocent medium size potato of approximately 90 calories to one of several hundred.
To reduce some calories of mashed potatoes, you can try adding some low-fat cottage cheese that you processed in the blender or food processor as a wonderful substitute for sour cream.
Another way to lower calorie content is to mash those potatoes adding some chicken broth (hopefully homemade that you had a chance to skim the fat off your soup when cooled in the refrigerator first) instead of butter and milk.
What else you can try is some plain yogurt flavored with chives, parsley, or other fresh herbs instead of butter or margarine on your baked or mashed potatoes.
If you love French Fries, you can still eat them with my low-cal oven fries. This recipe has just three tablespoons of healthy olive oil to coat four to six potatoes. Trust me, this is a tasty alternative to artery-clogging real ones while being good for your heart and your figure.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Vitamin D May Dramatically Help Osteoarthritis!
Here is an interesting thing I read about the correlation between Osteoarthritis and Vitamin D. According to one Australian study of 880 people between the ages of 51 to 79, they noticed upon examination of their knees that the ones deficient in Vitamin D had significantly less knee cartilage and more pain than others suffering from the same condition.
Though Vitamin D will not reverse the disease, it can help to slow the progression and may put off the need for surgery, those researchers had found.
Since few foods are high in Vitamin D, it is better to take a supplement to safeguard yourself. The recommended requirement currently suggests 1,000-2,000 IUs. However, that dosage is set to change and will probably increase. Dosage may vary from one individual to another depending on age, weight, other supplement, herbs or drugs that you're taking, etc.
However, it you intend to go beyond 4,000 IUs a day, you may need a blood test to see if you're not getting too much and harming yourself. Do check with your doctor to find the exact needed amount that's safe and right for your own body.
Though Vitamin D will not reverse the disease, it can help to slow the progression and may put off the need for surgery, those researchers had found.
Since few foods are high in Vitamin D, it is better to take a supplement to safeguard yourself. The recommended requirement currently suggests 1,000-2,000 IUs. However, that dosage is set to change and will probably increase. Dosage may vary from one individual to another depending on age, weight, other supplement, herbs or drugs that you're taking, etc.
However, it you intend to go beyond 4,000 IUs a day, you may need a blood test to see if you're not getting too much and harming yourself. Do check with your doctor to find the exact needed amount that's safe and right for your own body.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Are You Curious About the Six Nutrients That Women Need Most?
Making sure you are getting proper nutrition can be a challenge when you consider how our foods are processed. Though we hope our choices are healthy, you have to wonder what the addictives, preservatives and the entire chain of getting our food from field to table are like these days in this modern world.
However, women need to be especially careful about eating more foods with these six essential nutrients to stay healthy or supplementing them.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is found in baked sweet potatoes, bananas, skinless cooked chicken breasts, Brewer's yeast, cod, toasted Wheat germ, raw carrots, halibut, and flounder. Without enough B6, you will be restless, moody, and unable to sleep well since it helps your nervous system work.
Vitamin B12 is found in Brewer's yeast, tuna, sole, haddock, whole milk, plain, low-fat yogurt and hard-boiled eggs. Without enough of this crucial nutrient, you will feel exhausted, irritable, unable to stay alert, and may even experience numbness for even a slight deficiency since this vitamin regulates the central nervous system.
Folate or folic acid is found in cooked asparagus, raw spinach, cooked lentils, Brewer's yeast, orange juice, and cooked broccoli. A deficiency of this nutrient can affect the brain and your reflexes since it centers around the spinal cord and acts like a switchbox of the central nervous system. A lack of this vitamin can mean you get cold, numb legs, weight loss, severe constipation, and insomnia. Pregnant women especially need to have enough of this vitamin in the first few weeks to ensure proper brain and spinal cord development of the baby.
Vitamin D3 is found in egg yolks, canned sardines, and cod liver oil. Your bones, teeth and muscles will weaken if you fail to get enough of this vitamin. This nutrient is important for protecting against autoimmune diseases, breast and ovarian cancers.
Calcium is found in milk, almonds and tofu. Without enough, you are at risk to develop PMS, fragile bones and high blood pressure.
Iron is the last important nutrient you need and is found in chickpeas, shrimp, sunflower seeds, Blackstrap molasses, almonds, raisins, lentils, turkey, lima beans, peanuts, chopped spinach, haddock, cod, peas and soybeans. A deficiency of this nutrient will result in you having a lack of energy, anemia, and an inability to concentrate because it works with brain function.
Although there is a debate over the value of vitamin supplements, I personally believe in taking them as a precaution since you do not the real value of the foods you eat these days.
However, women need to be especially careful about eating more foods with these six essential nutrients to stay healthy or supplementing them.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is found in baked sweet potatoes, bananas, skinless cooked chicken breasts, Brewer's yeast, cod, toasted Wheat germ, raw carrots, halibut, and flounder. Without enough B6, you will be restless, moody, and unable to sleep well since it helps your nervous system work.
Vitamin B12 is found in Brewer's yeast, tuna, sole, haddock, whole milk, plain, low-fat yogurt and hard-boiled eggs. Without enough of this crucial nutrient, you will feel exhausted, irritable, unable to stay alert, and may even experience numbness for even a slight deficiency since this vitamin regulates the central nervous system.
Folate or folic acid is found in cooked asparagus, raw spinach, cooked lentils, Brewer's yeast, orange juice, and cooked broccoli. A deficiency of this nutrient can affect the brain and your reflexes since it centers around the spinal cord and acts like a switchbox of the central nervous system. A lack of this vitamin can mean you get cold, numb legs, weight loss, severe constipation, and insomnia. Pregnant women especially need to have enough of this vitamin in the first few weeks to ensure proper brain and spinal cord development of the baby.
Vitamin D3 is found in egg yolks, canned sardines, and cod liver oil. Your bones, teeth and muscles will weaken if you fail to get enough of this vitamin. This nutrient is important for protecting against autoimmune diseases, breast and ovarian cancers.
Calcium is found in milk, almonds and tofu. Without enough, you are at risk to develop PMS, fragile bones and high blood pressure.
Iron is the last important nutrient you need and is found in chickpeas, shrimp, sunflower seeds, Blackstrap molasses, almonds, raisins, lentils, turkey, lima beans, peanuts, chopped spinach, haddock, cod, peas and soybeans. A deficiency of this nutrient will result in you having a lack of energy, anemia, and an inability to concentrate because it works with brain function.
Although there is a debate over the value of vitamin supplements, I personally believe in taking them as a precaution since you do not the real value of the foods you eat these days.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Are You Taking Your Supplements Properly?
For maximum benefits, it is a good idea to take your vitamins and minerals with or immediately after eating. For those using calcium, taking that pill with food can save you from an upset stomach.
Another important consideration to remember is before starting any supplement is to check with your doctor if you are currently taking any medications. Some prescriptions may be reduced in effectiveness by a certain supplement or alter test results.
In particular, anyone using a blood thinner such as Coumadin that monitors their levels of blood thickness with regular testing can find their results changing. Vitamin K will thicken the blood and can cause someone on a blood thinner a problem, if not careful.
If you are woman taking hormones, then you also need to be very careful about supplements, especially vitamin E because it can interfere with your prescription. If your doctor finds this supplement acceptable, it is a better option not to take your hormone prescription with that supplement. Instead, take one of them in the morning and the other at night.
One last piece of advice to remember is concerning vitamins A and E. Both of these are stimulating vitamins and should be taken in the mornings because they can disrupt sleep.
Another important consideration to remember is before starting any supplement is to check with your doctor if you are currently taking any medications. Some prescriptions may be reduced in effectiveness by a certain supplement or alter test results.
In particular, anyone using a blood thinner such as Coumadin that monitors their levels of blood thickness with regular testing can find their results changing. Vitamin K will thicken the blood and can cause someone on a blood thinner a problem, if not careful.
If you are woman taking hormones, then you also need to be very careful about supplements, especially vitamin E because it can interfere with your prescription. If your doctor finds this supplement acceptable, it is a better option not to take your hormone prescription with that supplement. Instead, take one of them in the morning and the other at night.
One last piece of advice to remember is concerning vitamins A and E. Both of these are stimulating vitamins and should be taken in the mornings because they can disrupt sleep.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Eat Right to Prevent Bone Loss!
We all know how crucial calcium and vitamin D are to protect our bones as we age. However, there are five other nutrients your skeleton also depends on to remain strong.
Omega-3s are essential to keep you protected. Their fatty acids help your body absorb your calcium more so to prevent bone loss. Try to eat include fatty fish like salmon, tuna, trout, haddock, mackerel, almonds, and walnuts in your diet. Another suggestion is to get omega-3s in a supplement. Read about the one I currently reviewed for ReNew Life that you can still win a $50 gift certificate to try out.
Your body also needs vitamin K to bind your calcium to your bones. Learn to eat broccoli, spinach, kale, and cabbage more. If you're on blood thinners like coumadin, then you need to be careful about too much of this vitamin. Ask you doctor's opinion about how much he advises for your condition.
Potassium is another helpful mineral to get enough of since it can neutralize acid that can weaken your bones. Some excellent foods to eat are potatoes, bananas, avocados, cantaloupes, soybeans, prunes, kidney beans, tomatoes, green peppers, watermelon, sweet potatoes, and orange juice for example. To be on the safe side, you can also take a supplement.
Equally vital to your keeping that skeleton sturdy is eating enough foods rich in folate. Folic acid is keeping your levels of homocysteine, the amino acid that disrupts bone density, in check. Some great sources of folic acid foods to try to eat are asparagus, green vegetables, garbanzo beans, carrots, mushrooms, peanuts, eggs, oranges, chicken, cheese, and fortified grains are wonderful choices.
Finally, you should think about adding more foods with magnesium to your diet. Magnesium helps regulate how your calcium is metabolized. Foods you need to think about more are peanuts, wheat germ, soybeans, lima beans, kidney beans, tofu (soybean curd), almonds, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains.
I hope you take this information to heart because you can be experiencing bone loss even before you realize it, especially if you are a woman.
Omega-3s are essential to keep you protected. Their fatty acids help your body absorb your calcium more so to prevent bone loss. Try to eat include fatty fish like salmon, tuna, trout, haddock, mackerel, almonds, and walnuts in your diet. Another suggestion is to get omega-3s in a supplement. Read about the one I currently reviewed for ReNew Life that you can still win a $50 gift certificate to try out.
Your body also needs vitamin K to bind your calcium to your bones. Learn to eat broccoli, spinach, kale, and cabbage more. If you're on blood thinners like coumadin, then you need to be careful about too much of this vitamin. Ask you doctor's opinion about how much he advises for your condition.
Potassium is another helpful mineral to get enough of since it can neutralize acid that can weaken your bones. Some excellent foods to eat are potatoes, bananas, avocados, cantaloupes, soybeans, prunes, kidney beans, tomatoes, green peppers, watermelon, sweet potatoes, and orange juice for example. To be on the safe side, you can also take a supplement.
Equally vital to your keeping that skeleton sturdy is eating enough foods rich in folate. Folic acid is keeping your levels of homocysteine, the amino acid that disrupts bone density, in check. Some great sources of folic acid foods to try to eat are asparagus, green vegetables, garbanzo beans, carrots, mushrooms, peanuts, eggs, oranges, chicken, cheese, and fortified grains are wonderful choices.
Finally, you should think about adding more foods with magnesium to your diet. Magnesium helps regulate how your calcium is metabolized. Foods you need to think about more are peanuts, wheat germ, soybeans, lima beans, kidney beans, tofu (soybean curd), almonds, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains.
I hope you take this information to heart because you can be experiencing bone loss even before you realize it, especially if you are a woman.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Vitalicious Review and Sampler Box Giveaway!--Ends March March 26, 2011
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| Vitalicious Review and Sampler Box Giveaway!--Ends March March 26, 2011 |
If you have picky eaters and want to tempt them into eating something healthy without them knowing it, then you need Vitalicious! Healthy versions of baked goodies or reformulated products often aren't as delicious as the unhealthy varieties. However, I just tested a Sampler box of Vitalicious products and want to assure you even those reluctant eaters will chow down on any of these.
Thanks to this innovative company, everyone can feel good about eating sweets again without sacrificing taste or their health. I am truly nuts about their products!
Each all-natural and scrumptious baked VitaBrownies, VitaTops and VitaMuffins are only 100 calories each, have between two to five grams of protein, five to ten grams of fiber besides being chalked full of vitamins (50% of each A, C, D, E, Folic Acid, B-12 and Biotin plus Calcium, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid and 10 Minerals)!
Honestly, I loved their products because they satisfy your sweet tooth while filling you with nourishment. The VitaBrownies were excellent with rich chocolate flavor and a sprinkling of nuts on top.
My ultimate favorite though was their VitaTops, a small cake like a whoopie pie. I am a big fan now of their Chocolate Mint VitaTops with chunky chocolate pieces and a goofy mint cream flowing from the middle. Then again, I adored the Triple Chocolate Chunk, which would satisfy any choc-o-holic. They have flavors to keep everyone happy from Pumpkin Spice, Apple Crumb, Banana Nut, Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip, and more!
Seriously, I think Vitalicious would be perfect for the elderly to help ensure extra nutrition. Mother's Day is coming up and a sampler box would make a thoughtful gift instead of something extra Mom probably has anyway.
Also you should rethink what you send your child off to school with. After all, if he or she is going to want sweets instead of packing them one loaded with empty calories and saturated fat why not pack Vitalicious?
The company also makes VitaMix, VitaCake, VitaCoffee, and VitaMuffins, which I didn't try but wanted to tell you about. Hopefully, I will try those products in the near future.
*Disclaimer: This is my own, honest opinion. No money was exchanged. I did receive free product so that I could make an evaluation.*
Thanks to Vitalicious, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader will win a sampler box like I was sent of their own yummy products.
Both Are Mandatory To Enter:
1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count. If you already follow, then tell me so in a comment.
2. Go to the Vitalicious website and tell me which product you would love to try first or something you learned from their site in another comment.
Extra Entries:
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Leave a separate comment for each entry. Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win. Do follow the rules because I check entries.
This giveaway ends March 26, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. This giveaway is open to residents of the United States only. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Do You Know How to Interpret Your Food Cravings?
We all have food cravings at one time or another whether you have to have sweets or something salty. However, did you ever wonder why you had to have those certain foods?
Sometimes, your emotions can be responsible. We need particular comfort foods to help take our minds off a bad day.
Other times, our bodies are responsible for a chemical imbalance that drives us toward foods we crave as it attempts to correct the problem.
If you find yourself desperate for sweets, you could have too high or too low blood glucose levels. The best way to handle the feeling is eating smaller, more frequent meals. By doing so, you will keep your blood sugar steady and those cravings more under control.
On the other end, if you crave salty foods, this could signal a deficiency in minerals, such as sodium, potassium or not enough fluids. Your best solution is to drink more water, eat more potassium rich foods or take a potassium supplement and add some iodine to your diet, such as iodized salt instead of plain salt or an iodine supplement may help.
Craving carbohydrates could mean low levels of the feel-good hormone, serotonin, or low blood sugar. If you want to stop those type cravings, you need high fiber and chromium rich foods to balance your glucose levels. The easiest way to take care of the problem of this type is with a B-Complex supplement.
Trying to eat the proper foods and the amount necessary is often easier said than done. However, taking vitamins is a good precaution to help supplement what your body or diet misses.
I'm not a doctor. Check with your doctor what's your best plan to help correct the condition.
Sometimes, your emotions can be responsible. We need particular comfort foods to help take our minds off a bad day.
Other times, our bodies are responsible for a chemical imbalance that drives us toward foods we crave as it attempts to correct the problem.
If you find yourself desperate for sweets, you could have too high or too low blood glucose levels. The best way to handle the feeling is eating smaller, more frequent meals. By doing so, you will keep your blood sugar steady and those cravings more under control.
On the other end, if you crave salty foods, this could signal a deficiency in minerals, such as sodium, potassium or not enough fluids. Your best solution is to drink more water, eat more potassium rich foods or take a potassium supplement and add some iodine to your diet, such as iodized salt instead of plain salt or an iodine supplement may help.
Craving carbohydrates could mean low levels of the feel-good hormone, serotonin, or low blood sugar. If you want to stop those type cravings, you need high fiber and chromium rich foods to balance your glucose levels. The easiest way to take care of the problem of this type is with a B-Complex supplement.
Trying to eat the proper foods and the amount necessary is often easier said than done. However, taking vitamins is a good precaution to help supplement what your body or diet misses.
I'm not a doctor. Check with your doctor what's your best plan to help correct the condition.
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