Vigour – Health and Sports Nutrition

A regular consumption of macro- as well as micro-minerals is essential to maintain your health and well-being. They are important for hormone development, metabolic and cellular processes, healthy musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, and brain health. Macro-minerals include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron, while micro-minerals include selenium, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum and boron. There are numerous mineral-deficiency diseases that can occur if you are consistently short on fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and legumes.

Calcium is a very important macro-mineral that helps maintain the health of your bones and teeth. It can be obtained from cheese, milk, green-leafy vegetables, turnip, broccoli and sardines. The recommended daily allowance for calcium is about 800 mg. A calcium deficiency can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia, osteopenia and osteoporosis in adults.

Selenium is a micro-mineral that plays an important role in the breakdown of body chemicals. Lean meats, seafood, seeds and grains make rich dietary sources of selenium. A deficiency of selenium may lead to excess fat deposits in the body.

Make sure that you regularly use a dietary supplement to provide your body with important minerals. Natures Own Wholefood MinsMultiminerals is a unique and revolutionary brand that makes the most natural source of minerals available. It contains naturally occurring phytonutrients and essential minerals that promote brain health, improve immune function and destroy free radicals in the body. The research evidence on this product indicates that it is far better absorbed and utilised than any other product on the market. Take one capsule daily as a food supplement.

The sea-buckthorn is a shrubby tree that belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family of plants. Not only is it a popular ornamental and landscaping shrub, but its fruit (berry) is also very nutritious and oily. The juice of berries is further processed to produce skin creams, lotions and liniments.

Sea-buckthorn berries make a rich dietary source of vitamins especially vitamins C and E. Moreover, they also contain amino acids, carotenoids, polyphenols, phytochemicals, β-sitosterol, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, phosphorus and molybdenum. A regular consumption of sea-buckthorn berries helps maintain the health of skin and reduces the symptoms of eczema, dermatitis and acne. A recent research has revealed that they help reduce CRP (C-reactive protein), a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes. Vitamin E in berries acts as an antioxidant and it helps destroy free radicals that produce tumour cells and cause premature aging. Sea-buckthorn berries also help maintain a healthy immune function and good digestive health.

Despite the health benefits that berries have to offer to their consumers, they are quite hard to be found on the market. However, a very successful brand known as Weleda Sea Buckthorn Juice 200ml has solved this problem. It is a revitalising natural juice made with organic sea buckthorn berries without added sugar or honey. It makes a rich natural source of vitamin C, together with provitamin A and vitamin E that help maintain the body’ natural defences and fight free radicals. Weleda Sea Buckthorn Juice helps maintain a healthy immune system and great cardiovascular health.

Wilson’s disease is a hereditary disease that is caused by the gradual accumulation of copper in the body. Liver plays a vital role in controlling the levels of copper by eliminating excess copper in the bile. In this disease, liver fails to get rid of copper, thus leading to the deposition of excess copper in the body. Not only does it damage the liver, but it also affects your other organs especially the brain. If left untreated, this disease may prove fatal.

Wilson’s disease affects men and women belonging to all age groups. Once this disease is triggered due to your genetic make-up, it would take seven to eight years for copper to cause damage to your liver.

The major symptoms of Wilson’s disease include liver inflammation, liver cirrhosis and neurological damage. Other symptoms are loss of appetite, fatigue, tiredness, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, tremors, poor coordination, poor memory, abdominal pain, anaemia, kidney damage, enlargement of the liver, swelling of the abdomen or ankles, difficulty with walking or speech, rigid posture and bleeding from the gut.

Wilson’s disease is mainly diagnosed by the blood analysis, brain scan, liver biopsy, urine tests and genetic tests. There are numerous treatments that aim to enhance copper excretion from the body. Trientine and Distamine work by binding copper to them so that the excess harmful levels of this metal can be excreted through urination. Zinc therapy also plays an important role in bringing the copper levels down as it reduces the copper absorption in your small intestine. Make sure that you reduce the consumption of copper-rich foods especially nuts, shellfish and chocolate.

It makes a good idea for the people suffering from Wilson’s disease to consume zinc-rich diets. They should also use a supplement that makes use of zinc in its formulation. Berocca Multivitamin Tablet is a cost-effective choice on the market that provides a high dose of essential minerals and vitamins in one handy tablet. It makes use of unique combination of vitamin B complex, vitamin C, magnesium and zinc. Not only does zinc help reduce the levels of copper, but it also keeps your skin and immune system healthy. Moreover, it helps the body release energy from food and maintains the male reproductive health as well.

Copper is an important mineral that plays a vital role in maintaining your health and well-being. Copper is third most prevalent nutrient in the body that is not synthesized within a human body. Therefore, one needs to consume copper-rich diets on a regular basis in order to supply his or her body with this valuable mineral.

The important food sources of copper include seafood, liver, lean meats, wheat bran, garlic, oats, barley, beets, lentils, beans, whole grains, nuts, avocados, almonds and soy products. Moreover, oysters also make a good source of copper. If you often consume processed or packed foods, make sure that you carefully read the labels and buy those foods which are recently manufactured as copper content is lost due to prolonged storing in tin cans.

There are numerous symptoms of copper deficiency including brittle bones, osteoporosis, palpitation, high cholesterol levels, less active immune system, thyroid disorders, dilated veins, anaemia, oedema, sores, low body temperature, low skin pigmentation, hair loss, dwarfism, dermatitis, fatigue, paleness, bleeding under the skin, anorexia and diarrhoea.

Copper helps carry out important metabolic processes in association with vitamins and amino acids. Not only does it help in an effective utilization of sugar in your body, but it also absorbs iron from the intestinal tract. It actively participates in enzymatic reactions and inhibits the growth of harmful bacterial strains. Moreover, copper is responsible for the proper functioning of thyroid glands and effectively reducing bad cholesterol levels in your blood.

Numerous studies have shown that a right proportion of copper in your dietary routine stimulates your brain. Another benefit of copper is that it plays an integral role in the synthesis of body pigment melanin, collagen and myelin. It helps produce elastin, which is an element of connective tissue. Moreover, copper is important for the pigmentation as it makes a vital component of the melanin.

Apart from the benefits mentioned above, copper helps in the production of RBC (red blood cells) and bone marrow. Copper is a strong antioxidant that slows down the aging process. It helps in wound healing and makes an essential nutrient for normal growth. Therefore, copper must be included in the diets of growing children. Furthermore, copper exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce symptoms of arthritis. Last but not the least; copper maintains the normal functioning of cardiovascular, nervous and skeletal systems.

Intake of copper supplements also helps you to enjoy the countless health benefits of copper. Market is flooded with copper supplements and you need to choose one that is of high quality and is cost-effective. Boditronics BodiArmor Multivitamins is a hot brand on the market that contains a balanced dose of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Not only does it provide you with the health benefits of copper, but it also makes a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, molybdenum and selenium. Moreover, it also contains garlic and royal jelly ginseng rutin. This supplement is quite effective in preserving your immune as well as digestive functions.

Like macrominerals, microminerals make an important part of your nutrition and the daily recommended allowance of these minerals should be consumed in order to maintain a good health. As the first part of their name “micro” suggests, they are required in small quantities by your body and the required intake of each micromineral is less than 100mg per day. They are present in the body cells in extremely small amounts and the total body content of these minerals is less than 5 grams. They include iron, zinc, manganese, copper, selenium, iodine, fluoride, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, cobalt and nickel.

Iron makes an important micromineral and is required by the body for the synthesis of certain coenzymes, proteins and haemoglobin. The important food sources of iron include liver, spinach and aubergine. Zinc plays a vital role in maintaining your health because it is required for the synthesis of several enzymes such as carbonic anhydrase and carboxypeptidase. It helps manufacture proteins and heal wounds. It is vital to your defence system and neutralises the harmful effects of dangerous free radicals. Moreover, it is important for the sexual health and increases the fertility of your sperms.

Manganese is stored in the pigmented cells of your skin, and eye retina. It is required for the development of the strong bones and muscles. It helps in the synthesis of fats and carbohydrates and processing of oxygen. Some physicians use manganese therapy to treat painful joints, bone disorders and even cancer. The rich food sources of manganese are pulses, avocados, vegetables, nuts and grain cereals. The recommended daily allowance of manganese is 2.5-3.5mg/day.

Copper makes a very important component of many redox enzymes such as cytochrome c oxidase. It helps regulate several hormones and destroy oxygen-free radicals. Important food sources are liver and shellfish. Selenium is required for the peroxidase and helps prevent several types of cancer. Iodine makes an important micromineral and is required in the larger quantities as compared to other microminerals. Not only it helps in the biosynthesis of thyroxine, but is also vital for maintaining a healthy gut, salivary glands and thymus.

Fluoride is another micromineral which is required for maintaining a healthy bone structure. Chromium is required for the sugar metabolism while Vanadium plays a role in the biosynthesis of certain enzymes, although a lot of research is still needed in this regard. Molybdenum is required for the xanthine oxidase and related oxidases and plays a vital role in the male sexual function. Cobalt is required for the biosynthesis of vitamin B-12, while Nickel is present in the urease.

To supply your body with the recommended daily allowance of microminerals, make sure that you use a supplement such as Seven Seas Vegan Multivitamins & Minerals on a regular basis. It makes a wonderful combination of minerals and vitamins which help people to maintain a good health and vitality.