beauty from the inside out

Hi. It's Laura.

Vitamin A- promotes healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts. Sources include liver, whole milk, and some fortified food products and whole eggs. When eating a product where the fat is removed Vitamin A is then added
Prolonged and severe vitamin A deficiency can produce total and irreversible blindness.
 
Vitamin B (Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12) play a major role in the activities of enzymes, proteins that regulate chemical reactions in the body, which are important in turning food into energy and other needed substances
Deficiency of certain B vitamins can cause anemia, tiredness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, depression, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, muscle cramps, respiratory infections, hair loss, eczema B vitamins are particularly concentrated in meat such as turkey and tuna, in liver and meat products. Good sources for B vitamins include whole grains, potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, tempeh, beans molasses
 
Vitamin C- helps growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It helps the body make collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is needed for healing wounds, and for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth.
 
Oranges, red peppers, kiwi, strawberries, tomatoes, cantaloupe and brussel-sprouts are excellent sources of vitamin C. too little vitamin C can lead to anemia, bleeding gums, inability to fight infection, decreased wound healing rate, dry and splitting hair, easy bruising, gingivitis, nosebleeds, rough and dry skin, swollen and painful joints, weakened tooth enamel.
 
Vitamin D-promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and to prevent hypokalemic tetany. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
 
Food containing vitamin D: mushroom, salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, catfish tuna fish and eggs. I know most of you are not eating these types of fish so be happy that you can also get your vitamin D from sunshine. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with rickets, bone pain and muscle weakness
 
Vitamin E- an antioxidant that protects body tissue from damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. They are believed to play a role in certain conditions related to aging.
 
The best way to get the daily requirement of vitamin E is by eating food sources. Vitamin E is found in the following foods: vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables. Vitamin E deficiency is associated with pancreatic, gallbladder, liver, and celiac diseases, vision problems, nervous system problems, abnormal fat deposits, degenerative changes in muscles, and neurological disorders.

These are just a few to get us started and make you aware that food is not just fuel to get the body going but significant to your health. I am sure you were not even aware how some of these vitamins supported your health until you read information above.
 
Now I am not telling you to run out and buy jars of supplements but look closer at your diet and make sure you getting everything in: fruits, grains, vegetables protein & dairy. That First Lady of ours went messed up the whole pyramid thing which I personally really liked (I will not making disparaging remarks in public about the first lady, I will save that for the privacy of my own home, lest I be followed by the secret service).
 
We get so caught up in the latest make-up and clothing trends that we can sometimes lose sight of what is really important, your health. When you eat a proper balanced diet, you hair shines, your skin glows and you feel amazing not tired or sluggish or bloated.
 
Everyone notices beautiful skin even if you are wearing last year's shoes. The Husband and I often talk about the anti-smoking campaigns and how they could be better. Who can relate to a guy with a trachea tube and machine to help him talk or a woman with amputate fingers? How about how gross you taste when you kiss your mate or how nasty you smell instead? So my point is eating properly shouldn't be the thing you had to do because your mother made you clean your plate. It should be the thing you want to do for beautiful glowing skin, shiny bouncy hair and long healthy life.
 
Play hard!
Laura