There is definitely something to be said about the notion that the sunlight keeps us happy and positive. As emotional human beings, our moods can be very tempermental. The saying “a gray day” takes on more meaning than just the weather. When it is gloomy outside, often we feel gloomy on the inside. I experienced this phenom often when I lived in the Pacific Northwest. Day after day of rain and very little sunshine can really take a toll on a person. We are lucky to live in Colorado, where it is sunny something like 343 days a year. Of course that is just a figure, and whether we are in high spirits depends on a lot more than the weather. But I do know the sunshine in Colorado is quite like nothing else. Where else can you ski under clear blue skies and get a sunburn in March? The sun here is light as a feather and is sure to keep you smiling. Here’s to hoping all your days are sunny and bright.
Posts Tagged ‘sunlight’
Light Therapy
Monday, June 18th, 2007Vitamin D
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007Our body requires a variety of nutrients everyday to function well and remain disease free. How many times have you been told to have your vitamins daily? Simply popping vitamin supplements can sometimes become a little overwhelming. It definitely helps to have an understanding of what are body requires and why!
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat soluble Vitamin that is available to our body through the food that we eat and from exposure to the Ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.
Why is Vitamin D important?
Vitamin D takes care of many important functions in our body –
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Makes bones stronger and teeth healthy through proper calcium absorption.
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Maintains a proper level of phosphorus and calcium in the blood.
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Makes the immune system stronger and helps in bone mineralization.
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Regulates and promotes the re absorption of calcium in the kidneys.
Sources of Vitamin D
Unlike most other vitamins that are not produced in the body and only derived from the food that we eat, Vitamin D is formed in our body when exposed to sunlight.
Good sources of Vitamin D include:
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Exposure of the body to the sun’s rays at least twice a week.
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Milk and milk products
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Eggs, Cod Liver Oil
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Salmon, Sardines and Tuna, etc.
Vitamin D Deficiencies
Vitamin D is extremely essential for the body and any deficiency of this all-important vitamin due to insufficient exposure to sun’s rays or low intake through our diet, etc can lead to osteoporosis, thin and brittle bones, diseases such as rickets in children and an increased chances of getting other dangerous chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, high BP, cancer and chronic pain etc.
24 hour weight loss
Friday, May 11th, 2007Make the most of your metabolism with this daily guide from Shape Magazine
7am Open your Shades, Your body’s metabolism nods off while you sleep because you
aren’t active. Getting a quick hit of sunlight decreases sleep hormones, like melatonin and helps wake your metabolism back up.
7:30am Down to breakfast, you need to eat something first thing in the morning to get your metabolism moving if not your body goes into conservation mode.
8:55am Run up the stairs, Just one 30 second sprint increases your body’s production of human growth hormone (HGH) fivefold.
9am Drink some water, german researchers had 14 volunteers drink tow cups of water, their metabolism jumped 30 % afte 40 minutes and stayed at a higher rate for an hour.
11am Take a Quick Stroll around the office, Getting up from your seat more ofter and moving around can blast up to 350 calories extra a day.
2pm Take a few deep breaths, Stress hormones, like cortisol can put a damper on your metabolism. When your day gets hectic, close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths into your belly.
4pm Have a 100-200 calorie snack, Eat something at least every four hours. When you consistently give your body food, your metabolism doesn’t have a chance to slow down.
5:30pm Do an interval training session, Varying your workout intensity bumps up your resting metabolism.
7pm Eat a mix of lean protein, veggies and whole grains. The protein will help you build lean muscle, and the veggies and grains provide long lasting energy.
7:30pm Take a multivitamin, It’s insurance that you’ll get enough of the nutrients like the B vitamins, selenium and vitamin C for your metabolism to function correctly. Check out our Aspen Life vitamin packs.
10:30pm Hit the Hay
A Guide To The Health Benefits of Vitamins
Friday, April 20th, 2007
Health benefits of Vitamins has been one of the most studied and discussed topic but there is so much that we are yet to learn. Vitamins indeed are vital for our systems and body, so that they continue to function properly and it is not an exaggeration if we say that it is the health benefits of Vitamins that gets us going all the way.
Adequate Vitamin-intake has enormous health benefits. Vitamins give immunity to our body, prevent cancer, slow down the aging process, provide us energy, in fact, they strengthen our body in one or the other way. The health benefits of Vitamins will be more pronounced when you stop giving your body its normal quota of vitamins. Everything right from your hair to your eyes and your mood will gradually start showing signs of deterioration.
Here we discuss the different vitamins that your body needs every day (in varying quantities) to perform at its peak level. Let us start with the health benefits of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is usually considered the most important of the vitamins as it has many functions. Vitamin C strengthens your body’s immune system and helps keep the connective tissue healthy. Vitamin C being a strong anti-oxidant, wards off cancer-risks (of course, it is also used to treat cancer and other chronic diseases). This anti-oxidant property of this vitamin also delays the appearance of wrinkles and slows down skin aging.
Speaking of the health benefits of Vitamin E, this Vitamin too has anti-oxidant property. Hence, Vitamin E effectively delays the aging process and defends your body against cancers. Vitamin A is important for vision. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and plays an important role in the formation and reinforcement of bones. Vitamin K, on the other hand, plays a vital role in blood clotting.
Vitamin B or rather Vitamins B1, B6, B12 and the other vitamins in this group together perform functions no meaner that your own brain. They assist the transmission of nerve impulses. Apart from the neurological functions, they aid in the synthesis of the friendly hormone Serotonin, which help to increase your concentration and support normal growth. Vitamin B12 is also essential for the maturation of erythrocytes and is used for the treatment of pernicious anemia.
Another important Vitamin is Vitamin P, which is very important for the circulatory system. Vitamin P strengthens blood vessels and capillaries, preventing the accumulation of plaque. It even protects the blood vessels and capillaries from infection and diseases. Consequently, Vitamin P is prescribed for High Blood Pressure, preventing nosebleeds, etc.
As far as health benefits are concerned, the above-mentioned vitamins are the most useful vitamins for the human system. They together with minerals, aid the normal growth of the body and help it function properly.
Most of these Vitamins are contained in fruits, vegetables and other foods. Vitamin A is found abundantly in carrots, egg-yolk, fish-liver oil, etc. Fruits (especially dry varieties), vegetables, whole cereals, dairy products and most importantly brewers’ yeast is rich in Vitamin B. Citrus fruits are a rich source of Vitamin C. The other Vitamins too are present in different foods in different ratios. However, Vitamin D can only be synthesized by the body under the effect of sunlight. Therefore, it is very essential to eat balanced diets in order to give your body the health benefits of Vitamins.