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VITAMINS AND “VITAMINDRINKS”-THEIR EFFECTS
Foodis a substance or material taken to provide nutritional support for the body or for pleasure. It usually consists of plant or animal origin, which contains essentialnutrients, such as, carbohydrates (rice, flour, wheat),fats (animals),proteins (lintils), vitamins, orminerals (vegetables, fruits) , and is ingested and assimilated by an organism to produce energy, stimulate growth, and maintain life. These substances are essential to the living beings. Deficiency of any of them produces detrimental effect to an animal. Each ingredient of food has its own function to keep the body right. Now-a-days, the necessity of different vitamins has properly evaluated and assessed. Deficiency of any of the vitamins causes different diseases and affects our body.
Vitamins and minerals are substances that are found in foods we eat. Our body needs them to work properly, for our growth and development. When it comes to vitamins, each one has a special role to play. For example: vitamin D in milk helps your bones, vitamin A in carrots helps us to see at night, vitamin C in oranges helps our body heal if we get a cut, B vitamins in leafy green vegetables help our body make protein and energy.
There are two types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble.
When we eat foods that contain fat-soluble vitamins, the vitamins are stored in the fat tissues in your body and in your liver. They wait around in our body fat until our body needs them.
Fat-soluble vitamins are happy to stay stored in your body for awhile some stay for a few days, some for up to 6 months! Then, when it’s time for them to be used, special carriers in our body take them to where they’re needed. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are all fat-soluble vitamins.
Water-soluble vitamins are different. When we eat foods that have water-soluble vitamins, the vitamins don’t get stored as much in our body. Instead, they travel through your bloodstream. Whatever our body doesn’t use comes out when you urinate (pee).
Our body is one powerful machine, capable of doing all sorts of things by itself. But one thing it can’t do is make vitamins. That’s where food comes in. Our body is able to get the vitamins it needs from the foods we eat because different foods contain different vitamins. The key is to eat different foods to get an assortment of vitamins.
Vitamin A
This vitamin plays a really big part in eyesight. It’s great for night vision, like when you’re trick-or-treating on Halloween. Vitamin A helps us see in color, too, from the brightest yellow to the darkest purple. In addition, it helps us grow properly and aids in healthy skin. Various sources of A are milk fortified with vitamin A, liver, orange fruits and vegetables (like cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes) ,dark green leafy vegetables (like kale, collards, spinach),etc.
The B Vitamins
There’s more than one B vitamin. Here’s the list: B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, biotin, and pantothenic acid. Whew that’s quite a group!
The B vitamins are important in metabolic activity this means that they help make energy and set it free when our body needs it. This group of vitamins is also involved in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout our body. Every part of our body needs oxygen to work properly, so these B vitamins have a really important job. Important sources of B vitamins are whole grains, such as wheat and oats, fish and seafood, poultry and meats, eggs, dairy products, like milk and yogurt, leafy green vegetables, beans and peas etc.
Vitamin C
This vitamin is important for keeping body tissues, such as gums and muscles in good shape. C is also key if we get a cut or wound because it helps us heal. This vitamin also helps our body resist infection. This means that even though we can’t always avoid getting sick, vitamin C makes it a little harder for our body to become infected with an illness. Important sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, like oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, kiwi fruit, sweet red peppers etc.
Vitamin D
No bones about it . . . vitamin D is the vitamin we need for strong bones! It’s also great for forming strong teeth. Vitamin D even lends a hand to an important mineral it helps our body absorb the amount of calcium it needs. Important sources vitamin D are milk fortified with vitamin D, fish, egg yolks, liver, fortified cereal etc.
Vitamin E
Everybody needs E. This hard-working vitamin maintains a lot of our body’s tissues, like the ones in our eyes, skin, and liver. It protects our lungs from becoming damaged by polluted air. And it is important for the formation of red blood cells. Important sources vitamin E are whole grains, such as wheat and oats, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, sardines, egg yolks, nuts and seeds etc.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is the clotmaster! Remember the last time we got a cut? Our blood did something special called clotting. This is when certain cells in our blood act like glue and stick together at the surface of the cut to help stop the bleeding. Important sources of vitamin K are leafy green, vegetables, dairy products, like milk and yogurt, broccoli, soybean oil etc.
Is vitaminwater good for us ?
On a large scale,Glaceau,owned by Coca-Cola, markets vitamimdrinks having different colors, by emphasizing its nutritional value. Is there any science behind the marketing though?
A vitamin-fortified drink may sound like a swell idea, but there are two caveats to keep in mind. First, most Americans aren’t vitamin-deficient, according to Marion Nestle, a nutrition professor at New York University. A government surveyin 1999 showed that the median American adult man or woman already consumes more than the Recommended Dietary Allowance(RDA) of vitamins thiamin, riboflavin,niacin, B6 and B12, and three-quarters of the RDA ofvitamins C, B9 and A (including carotenes). In fact, vitamin E is the only surveyed vitamin Americans consume at less than half of the RDA but it’s found in only a third of vitaminwater drinks.
If we want to drink an additional amount of vitamin E, there’s a second caveat: our body may not absorb it. To understand why, it’s important to know that vitamins can be divided into two groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Vitamin C and the B complex group are water-soluble and can easily enter the bloodstream with water. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. That means they can only enter the bloodstream to carry out their functions if they are dissolved in dietary fat, like that found in a meal. An Italianstudypublished by the American Heart Association in 2001 showed that subjects who took vitamin E for two weeks on an empty stomach increased their vitamin E concentration in blood little or not at all, compared to an 84 percent increase in subjects who took the vitamin E supplement during dinner. So unless we prefer vitaminwater to wine with our meal, vitamins A and E will pass largely unused into our city’s septic system.
Even if we were to absorb all the vitamins, vitaminwater might have trouble living up to its image as a salubrious alternative to sugary soft drinks: Each bottle of vitaminwater contains32.5grams, ortwo heaping tablespoons, of crystalline fructose. Fructose is asimple sugar that sweetens many fruits, although the crystalline fructose in vitaminwater isproduced from cornstarch , not fruit, by crystallizing the fructose in fructose-enriched corn syrups. As one would expect, nobody needs these extra sugars, according to Nestle, the NYU nutritionist.One research team has even indicated that the intense sweetness of sugary drinks may beaddictive.
“The way that vitaminwater is marketed and positioned it’s made to look more healthful than other sugary beverages, but it’s not it’s still just a soft drink,” said Margo G. Wootan, Director of Nutrition Policy at theCenter for Science in the Public interest. “It has this aura of healthfulness that is not deserved. Adding vitamins and minerals to junk food doesn’t make it healthy.”
About 35 percent of Americans are now considered medically obese. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight. Health experts tend to disagree about almost everything, but they all concur that added sugars play a key role in the obesity epidemic, a problem that now leads to more medical costs than smoking.
A federal judge ruled that Vitaminwater will not, as its labels promise, keep you “healthy as a horse.” Nor will it bring about a “healthy state of physical or mental being”. Instead, Vitaminwater is really just a sugary snack food; non-carbonated fruit coke disguised as a sports drink. Because it’s composed mostly of sugar and not vitamin-laden water, judge John Gleeson held that Vitaminwater’s absurd marketing claims were likely to mislead consumers.
Coke tried to explain away claims like “vitamins + water = all you need” as “only puffery.” The judge disagreed.
“By including the suggestion that the product will “keep you healthy” or “help bring about a healthy state of physical and mental being” alongside such statements, the quoted language implies that the nutrient content of vitaminwater may help consumers maintain healthy dietary practices. I conclude, therefore, in light of the language and context in which they are used, that the statements on the “defense” and “B- Relaxed” labels constitute implied nutrient content claims which use the word “healthy.” Such claims are in violation of violation of FDA regulations because . . . vitaminwater achieves its nutritional content solely through fortification that violates FDA policy.”
The ruling rejected Coca Cola’s motion to dismiss a class action suit brought by the scrappy do-gooders at the Center for Science in the Interest. The case should now be clear for trial, although it could settle if Coke is willing to change Vitaminwater’s name to something less misleading. Cake in a Can, perhaps?

There is some evidence from a few small studies that the western diet has changed significantly in the last 20 years and there are certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies likely to be found in a typical American diet.

There are nutrients and herbs that have the potential to affect hair growth in a positive or negative way.
There are three basic ways that nutritional diet vitamin supplements and amino acid supplements may act influence the hair follicles. The mineral rich and vitamin supplements may act directly on hair stimulating or inhibiting growth activity or they may act indirectly through other intermediaries. For example, a vitamin supplement or herb may influence the production of a hormone to which hair follicles are sensitive. This change in hormone activity in turn may change the activity of the hair follicles.

Some minerals and vitamins can influence the activity levels of another vitamin and minerals. For example, intake of lysine, vitamin B12 and vitamin C help in absorption of other factors like iron. It is worth bearing in mind that the complexity of the body means there are many potential interactions for even the simplest nutrient.

Vitamins for hair & hair growth
Since Vitamin C, helps the absorption of other factors, it is of some significance. Others are of secondary importance to hair growth like vitamin E. Vitamin E is necessary to provide good blood circulation to the scalp by increasing the uptake of oxygen. Not fundamentally required in a hair growth supplement, vitamin E is often present largely because people expect to see it in the ingredients – and the customer is always right!

Other common ingredients like the amino acids – L-Cysteine and L-methioine are of questionable value. Although they are fundamentally required for good hair growth, even a rather unhealthy diet should provide enough of these amino acids and supplementation is rarely required.
Vitamin supplements’ vitamins
The supplement industry is worth several billion dollars a year and it is still growing rapidly. Vitamin supplements, mineral supplements and herbal supplements available on net come in all shapes and forms, many of which are specifically advertised to promote healthy hair growth.

These ‘vitamin supplements’ vitamins are marketed by different names such as liquid vitamin supplements, natural vitamin supplements, daily vitamin supplements, nutritional vitamin supplements and also by such names as mail order vitamin supplements or best vitamins supplements.

But the for the most part, with a few notable exceptions like vitamin A & Folic acid, taking these supplements probably does not harm hair growth. But whether they can really help promote hair growth depends on what the actual cause of the hair loss is and how the supplements or active ingredients in herbs interact with the hair follicles.

Vitamin and herbal supplements
To buy online health supplements or herbal treatment requires you to go for quality. Unfortunately there is no universal method by which quality supplements can be identified. So it is best to depend upon the natural vitamins supplements or fresh foods.

Typically, vitamins and minerals are most concentrated in fresh foods, the older the food is, and the more processed it is, the less nutritious it is. So in principle, the average diet of the early twenty first century may be more deficient in certain nutrients required for healthy hair growth compared to the average diet of the mid to late twentieth century, but it should be emphasized that vitamin and mineral deficiency is still rarely a cause of hair loss.

Hair loss vitamins & minerals
In other words, do not waste your time on searching for vitamin supplements on net unless you have a deficiency detected by a blood test. A comprehensive test for vitamin and mineral levels when one or more is suspected as a cause of hair loss would include; serum iron, serum ferritin, and total iron binding capacity, serum zinc. The deficiency which directly affects hair growth can be related to vitamin (H) biotin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. You can go for testing for others if they are on offer, but biotin and B6 testing is enough to cover 95% of vitamin deficiencies related to hair loss. And only when such a deficiency is detected by the tests that you need to buy and eat the ‘vitamin supplements’ vitamins. So the bottom line is that it is better to have the natural supplements through a balanced diet.

Find tips about maple peas and wasabi peas at the Types Of Peas website.

Health and energy drinks have always been in demand and the US consumers have been an avid fan of energy drinks. In the year 1996, a company name as Glaceau, was founded and it specialized in the making of health drinks, pertaining to water category. In the further years of its formation, the firm launched a product under the name, ‘vitaminwater’ that became popular among the masses. Celebrities endorsed it (rap star 50 cents, Curtis Jackson ) and it became a popular health drink. Glaceau is now owned by Coca-Cola.

Of late, there have been an ongoing debate on the effectiveness of these colored bottles that claim to have several benefits. Apparently trendy, coming in attractive small bottles, packaged nicely to garner the attraction of consumers, vitamin water has been quite popular. This concept of vitamin water couples distilled water along with artificial vitamins, sweeteners, flavors and other ingredients to make it tasty and give a feeling of drinking water along with good taste, a dual advantage.

What is Vitamin Water?

The brand now comes in 15 flavors and this presents a host of choices for the consumers. The flavors includes XXX (acai berry, pomegranate), Focus (kiwi-strawberry), Energy (tropical citrus) and Rescue (green tea) etc. Before we judge these drink as good or bad, we must accept the fact that since these brands have gained popularity among the masses, then it definitely has something that the consumers like. For instance, taste (mind you, consumers are too sensitive with the taste of a product!) is an important parameter for many people. Though, they may not be aware about the nutritional facts.

Many people claim that these vitamin water drinks are healthy for them while some claim it to be false. The people who support these health drinks, argue that these drinks are rich in multivitamins and so their requirements of Vitamin C, B3, B5, B6 and B12, is adequately met. The vitamin water nutrition facts include various water (in the distilled form as its ingredients), vegetable juice and sugar in the form of fructose, generally.

Vitamin Water Nutrition Facts

One of the vitamin water nutrition facts is that though it is a multivitamin drink some vitamins like vitamin D, B1, B2, B7, that are essential in regular dietary supplements have been found to absent. The vitamin drink consists of 32.5 gm of fructose (sugar) and 125 calories per bottle, about which the people are usually unaware. The daily calorie intake, if you’re not into exercising and physical activity, is surely going to rise, if these so called healthy drinks are taken regularly. As we can see there are some vitamins that are definitely essential for the body but they are not in the list. If you are taking it without understanding your body needs and requirements. The extra calorie intake can cause problems.

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Bottled Water Facts
Bottled Water vs Tap Water
There is no denying the fact that vitamin water is loved by many (one of my colleagues loves to have these drinks) but then there have been controversies regarding their ingredients. Personally, I too like vitamin water but then I don’t have it very often. I only drink them after heavy exercises. Although, I get amused that what else can be better than a clean and cold pure water, when it comes to quenching our thirst. Given a choice between soft drinks and plain cold drinking water after I come home on a hot summer day, I would always have pure water. Natural things are always better for me than those manufactured ones. So plain water will be the choice for you also? It should be. So, hope you must have got some idea about the vitamin water nutrition facts and various facets associated with it. Since the debate about vitamin water is an ongoing one, the wisest choice, for me is pure water. And very rarely, just to enjoy, I will have vitamin water, strawberry flavor. What about you? Think over it.

Part of the work I do in the herbal industry is to investigate drug/herb interactions. With so many new medications coming on the market, especially when patents run out or the pharmaceutical companies tweak a molecule and call an old medication by a new name, it is a huge job!

During my investigations into herbs for www.medicine-plants.com from South and Central America I stumbled upon what is now called “medical tourism.”
Medical Tourism is the phenomenon of people traveling overseas for health care. Surprisingly, thousands are going and you can read about it in newspapers and see TV broadcasts about it every week now. Part of my work is designing safety programs for one of the medical tourism companies that sends people to other countries for surgery like hip or knee replacements and prostate surgery.
There are complex issues involved with anyone having surgery, whether it is in the USA or overseas. For me, drug/herb interactions are one of the major concerns.
Many people still think of the effects of herbs and plant alternatives to medications as only good and beneficial. But there are always two sides to a story and with herbs and supplements being mixed with conventional medicine and surgery there is an added risk for sure.
Below are some of the warnings Medical Tours International (www.medicaltoursinternational.com) uses in the information their clients receive before going overseas for a surgical procedure. If you are having surgery here or anywhere else in the world this information applies to you!
These warnings are not a complete list, but this list does contain information about the herbs and supplements most people are likely to be using.
Herbs and Natural Remedies that may cause problems at surgery: St. John’s wort, Yohimbe, Licorice: these 3 remedies act as MAO inhibitors and can interact with Demerol (called pethidine overseas) or any other narcotic or narcotic analgesic (narcotic pain medications such as morphine.). Stop taking these remedies at least 10 days before your procedure.

Vitamin Supplements The Specialists of Younger Looking and Healthier Skin

Dreaming about the fair complexion of celebs or considering a surgery for flawless skin? Wait till you read this. According to the experts, fair and flawless skin is just a thought and some healthy practices away. It is absolutely possible without makeup and completely in line with natures way.
Some plus and minus here and there in your diet, and bingo! You are all set to get those envious looks and admiring stares from all. By taking rich vitamin diet you can enhance the appearance and glow of your skin and that too, naturally. You can bravely wage a war against pimples, oily skin problems, sun burns, pollution, rashes, ageing, wrinkles, and crows feet.
Some vitamins which are really good for skins are vitamin A, B, E, K, and C. They can be obtained from cranberries, pomegranate, banana, grapes, salads, and raw green foods which are also good source of polyphenols, fibres and antioxidants. However, our skin cannot just get enough of them as very little quantity is absorbed by the body and in this fast paced life, we just do not have the luxury to stay back for a moment and relish these extraordinaire rich and tasty sources of vitamins and antioxidants.

Thanks to the advanced technology and progressive methods, these vitamins are available in pill forms! Pop a pill and be assured of the results. Vitamin supplement originates organically from the natural sources and maintains their essence. Thus, you need not to worry about the side effects. They fight the breakout of skins, exfoliate it and keep skin supple. These vitamin supplies are one stop resources of natures gifts suchlike vitamins, antioxidants, fibres, anthocyanins and nutrient supplies to mankind to help skin feel and look younger forever. They increase the immunity and guarding abilities of skin against sun- exposures and skin problems as well.
If you are one of the lots suffering from dry and rough skin in winters or just fed from the zits you get in the summers due to the oil wells hidden in the gulf of your face, vitamin supplement is highly recommended by medical professionals. These vitamin supplements are available over the counter and can be buy online from a trustworthy website.

Author is an expert content writer and a skin specialist she prefer some vitamins supplements and nature’s way to keep skin glowing and healthy naturally. If you are really conscious about your skin please log in to http://www.luckyvitamin.com/

Vitamins are the only nutrients that perform a variety of functions in our body. They help in metabolism, normal growth and protection against external harmful agents. Vitamins also help in formation of bones, tissues and even hormones. As they perform a variety of functions, vitamins are extremely important to our body. There are several types of vitamins, viz. vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K, etc. It is essential to consume foods rich in vitamins regularly as vitamins are not formed in our body.

Vitamin supplements for women are necessary for women who do not get all the essential vitamins from diet alone. Some women prefer a daily dose of multi-vitamins while others prefer only a single vitamin that is required. As the age increases, there is an increasing demand for certain vitamins. A woman needs more nutrients and vitamins in older age than in younger age. Therefore along with diet, having vitamin supplements is equally important. Let us have a look at the vitamin supplements for women.

Best Vitamin Supplements for Women

Vitamin A
The most prominent function of vitamin A, or Retinol, is maintaining good eyesight. Vitamin A supplements are essential for stimulating immunity and healing wounds. Vitamin A is also essential for the formation of heart and other organs in fetus. Read more on vitamin A.

Vitamin B
Vitamin B helps to overcome fatigue and tiredness in women over 50. B-complex vitamins contain vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 and B12. B vitamin supplements for pregnancy are very essential as they help in muscle building. Folic acid, a B vitamin, is the most important vitamin supplements for pregnancy as it prevents the risk of neural tube defects. B vitamin supplements for women are also beneficial for those having premenstrual syndrome. Read more on vitamin B.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential for women of all age groups as it strengthens the immune system. As aging weakens immune system, it is essential to have vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C also helps in keeping the skin healthy and youthful. Vitamin C supplements also helps in reducing chances of cancer and also tissue damage. Read more on vitamin C.

Vitamin D
As the age advances, the calcium requirement of the body increases. Vitamin D is very essential for proper calcium absorption and hence, is required by women over 50. Vitamin D also enhances cell health and is also important for bones and joints. Vitamin supplements for menopause include supplements of Vitamin D as it helps prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D is beneficial for absorption of calcium and magnesium in our body. Read more on vitamin D.

Vitamin E
E vitamin supplements for women have found to help in lowering chances of heart diseases. It also protects red blood cells. E vitamin supplements are also beneficial for women having tender breasts. Read more on vitamin E.

Vitamin K
Vitamin K is also included in vitamin supplements for menopause for strengthening of bones. K vitamin supplements are not usually taken as we get it in adequate amount from our diet. Vitamin K also helps in clotting of blood and overall bone health. Vitamin K also eases menopause symptoms.

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Vitamins
Vitamin Supplements
Although vitamin supplements for women are essential, women should be careful about the amount of vitamins consumed. Overdose of vitamins, especially of vitamins A, D, E, K; is harmful as these vitamins do not get absorbed in our body. Excessive intake of vitamins can result in serious complications.

Women having balanced diet and healthy eating habits need not necessarily take vitamin supplements. Vitamin supplements for women are essential only if they are suffering from deficiency disease or are advised to take the supplements.

Eating a nutritionally-balanced diet is good advice for children as well as adults. In fact, teaching children to make the right food choices is one of the best tools you can arm them with. Unfortunately, they aren’t taught how to make good food choices because their parents don’t know what the ‘right’ food choices are. There’s no denying that the vitamins and minerals they need to grow are found in fruits and vegetables. They’re also found in lean meats and dairy products, foods that they generally pass up when given the choice. Why eat those foods when the world has so many others to offer? Take a look at food through a child’s eye. What do you see? Pizza, ice cream, corn dogs, hot dogs, French fries, potato chips, sugary fruit drinks, energy drinks, caffeinated soda, cake, cookies, candy, processed portable lunch ‘kits’ and of course, the all-important, readily-available, drive-thru fast food. If you’ve ever taken a look at the food pyramid, you know that these types of foods are represented, but only by a tiny sliver. That means these foods should make up just a fraction of a person’s daily food intake. They shouldn’t be eaten at each meal, and in between, as snacks. But they are, all too often. It’s obvious just by looking at children that many are not eating properly. Not only are the wrong food choices causing children to be dangerously overweight, they’re also the reason why many children are not getting the vitamins and minerals their bodies need to function properly. Of the essential vitamins and minerals the body needs, it is capable of producing just a few on its own. The rest must come from food. From the first days of life, a child needs Vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial to the development of healthy, strong teeth and bones. Rickets, a disease thought to be under control, is once again becoming a serious health issue. Its symptoms include bones that are deformed and that are soft and brittle.
The skull, for example, is supposed to be thick and hard. One of the first notable signs of rickets is a skull that is thin and soft. If the shape of the head doesn’t form properly, as can happen with Rickets, teeth may not grow in properly. And from there, it’s getting worse. Wrists, ribs, knees, ankles all may experience abnormal growth. Deficiencies in other vitamins may not produce such obvious effects, which is why many parents may not even realize problems exist. Vitamins provide the instructions for all bodily functions including vision, production of red blood cells and growth hormones and proper development of every major system including the immune system, circulatory system and digestive system. If your child’s diet consists of the foods listed above, you need to take immediate action. Try to introduce more vitamin-dense foods into the diet. In the meantime, encourage your child to take a daily vitamin supplement that has been formulated for children. It will provide the nutrients your child needs to develop properly, it’ll taste good, and it’ll be easy to chew or swallow. Virginia McGlasson, owner and founder of vitaminsbenefits.com is a working mother of two children ages 12 and 15. Being a firm believer in vitamin and mineral supplements and the benefits that they provide, she knows how stressful and quick paced life can be and how we don’t always eat what we should. Vitaminsbenefits.com is a simple easy to understand resource to help answer questions you may have and lead you down the path to a healthier lifestyle for you and your family. Related Articles – children, vitamin, vitamins, minerals, Email this Article to a Friend!Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!

Vitamin K is a group of water soluble vitamins, having important blood clotting properties. Vitamin K is produced by our body but not in the quantity which is required to meet the daily amount of vitamin K. Providing the newborn babies with the vitamin K injection is a common practice in the US. But surprisingly, only 1 out of 10,000 newborn babies in US, suffer with the vitamin K deficiency bleeding. In a classic case of VKDB (vitamin K deficiency bleeding), the baby acquires the risk of getting bruised or bled within the first 24 hours of birth. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding includes, nose bleeding, mouth bleeding or umbilical stump bleeding. In the rest of the cases, the newborn baby may suffer with internal bleeding or hemorrhage, which occurs after the first week of birth. To avoid bleeding, newborn babies are provided with the vitamin K injection at birth.

Vitamin K Injection at Birth
Most of the VKBD babies are actually the poorly breastfed babies. Basically, all newborn babies have vitamin K deficiency to some extent, because their guts are sterile of the useful bacteria that manufacture vitamin K. Also, breastfeeding at the later stage is not sufficient enough to provide the amount of vitamin K, which is required by the baby. Worst is the case with the babies who are fed with the formula food, instead of the breast milk. The formula food contains vitamin K but it cannot match up with the vitamin K levels of the colostrum. Hence, breastfeeding is always important, as it includes as much natural vitamin K as possible.

In case, the baby doesn’t get the required dosage of vitamin K, there are chances of some severe consequences like internal bleeding, coma or death. To avoid these consequences, the baby is provided with the vitamin K injection. Vitamin K injection is also necessary for the premature babies, babies born of a breech delivery and those with certain inborn liver diseases. There are a few other cases in which the vitamin K injection becomes necessary. For instance, if the mother was taking certain drugs like anticonvulsants, that are given as a treatment for epilepsy. Read about vitamin K benefits.

Vitamin K Injection Dose
There is a lot of controversy about providing vitamin K injection to newborn babies. It is observed that larger doses of vitamin K can be a cause of jaundice amongst newborns. Hence, many researchers suggest that the babies should be given the oral dosages instead of the vitamin K injection. If necessary, the vitamin K injection dose should always be less than 0.5mg, while the oral dose of vitamin K should be around 200mcg per week, for 5 weeks. It is also advised that the nursing mother should be supplemented with 2.5mg of vitamin K rich foods or the vitamin supplements, for 10 weeks after the childbirth.

Vitamin K Injection Side Effects
Apparently, different researchers have different perspectives about the vitamin K injection. Many experts suggest that a moderate dose of vitamin k injection is always ideal, while several other researchers do state the possibilities of several side effects of the vitamin K injection. In their opinion, higher dosage of vitamin K can lead to jaundice in newborns. Some researchers state that the vitamin K injection increases the risk of childhood leukemia and several other types of cancer, which are avoidable in normal conditions. To stay away from the possible complications with the vitamin K injection dose, it is better to provide gradual oral dosage of vitamin K to the infant, as well as the mother.

In most cases, it is possible that the baby may demonstrate low vitamin K levels at birth, but it won’t be counted as the vitamin K deficiency, that necessitates the vitamin K injection. The above writeup leads us towards a few important conclusions: first is the importance of breastfeeding, second is the inclusion of vitamin k in the diet of a nursing mother and third is the benefits of gradual doses of vitamin K for infants.

There are many great foods out there which serve as a great source for vitamin K. Vitamin K is a “fat soluble” vitamin, which means that although vitamin K foods will always provide those vitamins, the impact of the vitamins are best when ingested with fat. Vitamin K is an extremely important vitamin to have in your system, especially after an injury, during the recovery stage.
Before we get to the specific vitamin K rich foods, let’s review why vitamin K is so important and what it is most well known for. Vitamin K, while not one of the better known vitamins in the body, is a vital component of good health and is especially noticeable when the body needs to perform certain health functions, like heal from a cut. Vitamin K helps in blooding clotting, protects the human heart, and also assists and helps to build strong bones.
While it is strongly recommended that you eat foods rich in vitamin K, this one is really unique in that the body produces it naturally, and we can go long periods of time without eating foods with this vitamin and still be fine. The body produces this vitamin from bacteria inside of us that usually resides in the intestines. Even with that being so, it’s still a good idea for health purposes to eat a good variety of foods with Vitamin K.
And by far and away, the biggest and most common major source of Vitamin K is green leafy vegetables like collards, spinach, and turnip greens. People whose bodies aren’t producing enough Vitamin K, whether it’s because of a natural deficiency or a body’s increased need for it, can increase their supply drastically by eating these green leafy foods.
If you do have a deficiency of vitamin K in the body, there are several possible causes that may need to be addressed before you see drastic improvement. Some of the most common include:
• Antibiotics from medication interfering with the bacteria• Health problems, especially those involving the gall bladder, cystic fibrosis, and Crohn’s disease• Taking excessive amounts of mineral oil• Liver disease or damage• Chronic diarrhea• Serious burns
All these factors could explain any deficiency of vitamin K in the body, as well as any extended time period where you are fed via IV instead of through regular food. A normal healthy body can usually produce all the vitamin K that is needed, but sometimes a little boost to help out is just what the doctor ordered.
So make sure to stock up on the green leafy vegetables that bring large amounts of this fantastic, if little recognized, vitamin into your system. You may not notice a lagging amount of vitamin K during your day to day activities the way you might instantly notice a lack of vitamins A, B, or C, but when you’re injured and need to heal, you’ll know the difference between a body that is full up on K, and one that isn’t. So stay healthy and have some greens – next time you need them your body will thank you.

Let us start from the very basics. There are 6 main types of vitamins:
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin E
vitamin K.
Each one of these vitamins plays an equally important role in maintaining good health. Of these, vitamin K is responsible for ensuring proper blood clotting and for increasing the bone mass which aids in bone development. Naturally, deficiency of vitamin K can lead to slower blood clotting which is not a good sign. However, that does not mean that one should stock up on his vitamin K levels by eating loads and loads of vitamin K rich foods. This is not advisable because it can in certain cases, lead to the formation of internal blood clots which is a type of blood disorder and one that can prove to be very dangerous. Therefore, those people who by default have very thick blood or those who have been diagnosed with internal blood clots are sometimes advised to use a blood thinning agent known as warfarin. People using this product should always be wary of the vitamin K and warfarin levels in their body. Read on to know why.

Regulating Vitamin K and Warfarin Levels in the Body
Simply put, one is meant to lessen (and NOT negate) the action and the effect of the other. Warfarin aims at thinning the blood whereas the function of vitamin K is to produce blood proteins that assist in clotting. For those of you who may be wondering why in the first place is it necessary to use a blood thinning agent, here’s the answer. Some people tend to have unusually thick blood. This can lead to the formation of thrombi or emboli i.e. clots as well as air bubbles in the blood vessels. If this clot grows in size and gets stuck in a vital organ, it can very well become life threatening. In such cases, warfarin is prescribed to serve the purpose of an anticoagulant. People who are on warfarin therapy should be careful about their vitamin K intake. It should be consistent, i.e. it should not drop sharply nor should it rise sharply. A sudden drop or rise in the vitamin K levels can have a contradictory effect on the benefits of warfarin. Here is a list of foods containing vitamin K which can give you an idea of how to achieve a balance between the vitamin K and warfarin levels in your body.

Vitamin K Foods
Here is a list of vitamin K rich foods which ideally should be avoided or else should be eaten in low or moderate quantity, if you happen to be taking warfarin:
spinach and other green leafy vegetables
lettuce and green salads
broccoli
kale
green tea
Brussels sprouts
parsley
asparagus
cabbage
spring onions
collards
mayonnaise
soybean oil
cranberry juice.
The following is a list of low to moderate quantity vitamin K foods that you can eat while on warfarin therapy:
most high fiber fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, peaches, etc.
eggs, cheese and butter
spaghetti
breads
tomatoes and potatoes
mushrooms
corn
carrots
pumpkins
beans
chicken, pork, beef and ham.
For a person undergoing warfarin therapy, it is very important to consistently monitor your vitamin K and warfarin levels. The best way to do so is to consult your doctor (and a dietician if necessary) about what you can eat and in what amounts.