Very Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compounds which are essential in small amounts to life and well-being. Vitamins generally cannot be synthesized in the body (the body cannot “make” vitamins), they must be taken from our diet. There are 13 major vitamins which each have a range of functions within the body. Vitamins are divided into groups. There are 6 groups in total : A, B, C, D, E and K. Each group is responsible for certain body function, and therefore lack of vitamins from that group will result in problems in that area of body functions.

Let's take a look at the different groups, the advantages they have and the dangers of not having enough of them. We'll also look at how one can obtain a good amount of that vitamin group.

Vitamin A: Helps eye sight, as well as night vision. Strengthens bones and teeth. Useful in preventing skin problems such as acne. Lack of Vitamin A may cause immunity deficiency, eye sight and skin problems. Vitamin A can be found in fruit like melon and in vegetables like carrot and pumpkin.

Vitamin B: The vitamins in this group help preserve the skin and helps the nerve system function. It also enables the manufacturing of red blood cells, which carry the oxygen to all body parts. These Vitamins are extremely important. Lack of them can cause anemia, depression, hair loss and nerve damage. The Vitamin B can be found in fish and vegetables like Broccoli and Spinach.

Vitamin C: Helps the bones and helps wounds cure rapidly. Prevents infections and diseases from developing. Prevents colds and the dreaded Scurvy disease which killed thousands of people before the importance of Vitamin C was recognized. Vitamin C can be found in all Citrus as well as in tomatoes and Broccoli

Vitamin D: Aids in the absorption of Calcium in the bones. Strengthens bones and teeth. Can be found in sea vegitables, Tuna Fish and eggs. You can also get the body to produce it via exposure to sun light.

Vitamin E: Prevents tissue aging, reserves the skin, neutralizes free radicals. Prevents vascular diseases. Can be found in Corn, Peanuts and green vegetables.

Vitamin K: Helps absorb fats in the digestion process. Can be found in some cheese and green vegetables.

It's important to note that the best way to get vitamins is straight from the food source itself. However, there are many people who take vitamin pills to make sure the levels of vitamins in their system are adequate. This is a good solution as many people's nutrition is lacking from their diet. Remember that too much of a certain vitamin can be harmful as well. Therefore multi vitamins are popular as it lets your body have access to the nutrition it is lacking at the moment.
There are two types of vitamins fat or water soluble vitamins?

Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble
This means that a certain amount of fat is needed in the diet to help the body absorb these vitamins. Unused supplies can be stored in the fat tissues in your body and in your liver until your body needs them, some are stored for a few days, some for up to six months.

The B group vitamins are water soluble
(consisting of vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12. Additionally vitamin C, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin and folic acid) They cannot be stored in the body so we need a daily supply of them. Water-soluble vitamins other hand are different they are not stored as much in your body. Instead, they travel through your bloodstream and whatever your body doesn't use comes out when you urinate. So these kinds of vitamins need to be replaced daily, and many people fail to do so and feel exhausted, lack vitality and energy.

If we all ate a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, low salt, low starch, low carbohydrates, and mostly natural foods, taking vitamins would not be necessary, but since many people in western society as a general rule eat more fat, starch and processed foods than ever before, vitamins are definitely a good thing to add to your routine. The problem is, if you don't take vitamins properly, you may not be getting the full effect of their health benefits. Make sure you talk to someone who understands what you are taking and how to tak is, a good multivitamin may be the foundation of health and nutrition.

A Harvard research study titled “Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults” that was published in the June 2002 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, concluded that people who get enough vitamins might be able to prevent such common chronic illnesses as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. Based on the finding of this study the AMA (American Medical Association) now recommends that all adults take multivitamins daily.

The main reason I take supplements is it is a very cheap form of insurance against gaps in my diet.

To Improve Stress Control:

1. Give your partner, or friend, or mum, …or neighbour? a hug every day before work. Studies show this simple act can help you remain calm when chaos ensues during your day.

2. Have a good cry. It can boost your immune system, reduce levels of stress hormones, eliminate depression, and help you think more clearly.

3. Twice a day, breathe deeply for three to five minutes, just relax for a moment in this busy world.

For more information on health contact us at www.brightrisingstars.com or www.brightrisingstars.blogspot.com to give us your feedback and have your say!

Here’s to your health!

Check out more fantasic ideas and products at www.brightrisingstars.com

Do a Little, Get a Lot

The notion that good health can come in small tidbits is not really new. Research is showing that making small changes can add up to a big difference.

One small change could be waking up a little earlier, the top 5 benefits I have found to getting out of bed early are:

Quietude Mornings are truly a magical time just for this quality. No kids yelling, no babies crying, no soccer balls, no cars, no television noise. I truly enjoy that time of peace, that time to myself, when I can think, when I can read, when I can breathe.

Breakfast Rise early and you actually have time for breakfast. I’m told it’s one of the most important meals of the day. Without breakfast, your body is running on fumes until you are so hungry at lunchtime that you eat whatever unhealthy thing you can find. The fattier and sugarier, the betterier (probably not the little thing that could improve your health). Plus, eating breakfast while reading my book and drinking my coffee in the quiet of the morning is eminently more enjoyable than scarfing something down on the way to work, or at your desk.

Exercise Best time to move and stretch to feel good is first thing in the morning, and when I exercise first thing I hardly ever cancel it because something ‘came up’.

Commuting and Appointments No one likes rush-hour traffic. Commute early, and the traffic is much lighter, and you get to work faster, and you can save yourself more time. Or better yet, commute by bike.(Or even better yet, work from home.) Also it’s much easier to make those early appointments on time when you get up early.

Goal time. Got goals? Well, it’s a good way I have found to approach life and get what you really want to experience from it. And there’s no better time to review them and plan for them and do your goal tasks than first thing.

How to do it – When I first started waking early I decided I was wonder woman and set my alarm to 5am…I almost broke the alarm… the best way I found to change was slowly! And I now find I wake up naturally at 6am.

• Don’t make drastic changes. (Start slowly, by waking just 10-20 minutes earlier than usual. Get used to this for a few days. Then cut back another 15 minutes. Do this gradually ,gently).
• Allow yourself to sleep earlier.
• Put your alarm clock far from you bed. (If it’s right next to your bed, you’ll shut it off or hit snooze. Never hit snooze. If it’s far from your bed, you have to get up out of bed to shut it off, and your less likely to throw it at something. But my favourite way to wake up is to some great invigorating music- currently Michael Bublè-Feeling Good )
• Do not rationalize. (If you allow your brain to talk you out of getting up early, you’ll never do it. Don’t make getting back in bed the best option.)
• Have a good reason.
• Make waking up early a reward.
• Take advantage of all that extra time. Don’t wake up an hour or two early just to read your blogs and answer your email. Don’t wake up early and waste the moment. Get a jump start on your day! I like to use that time to get a head start on preparing my thoughts (or it could be the kids lunches?), on planning for the rest of the day, on exercising or meditating, and on reading. By the time my day starts, I’ve done more than many people do the entire day.

Now that’s a lot of benefit from doing one little change in your day , think of the possibility!

Detangle your daily supplements

We are supposed to get our nutrients from food every single day. Basic needs like calcium, iron, Vitamin C, magnesium, and protein, just to name a few, should come from the foods we eat and should provide us with more than enough nutrients to remain healthy and active. Unfortunately, in today's busy world, and our industrial farming methods we often do not eat the way we should all the time, and that's where daily vitamin supplements come in. Daily vitamin supplements can help to ensure we are getting the proper nutrition we need each and every day. There are many different kinds and brands of daily vitamin supplements on the market today, and it is important to choose your supplements carefully to ensure they are good quality, we all have heard that you get what you pay for and in my experience that has never been more true than with supplements. When taking daily vitamin supplements, it's good to know which ones help which parts of the body. Beta carotene and lutein are both becoming a popular ingredient in many daily vitamin supplements because they can help improve vision. Vitamin C is very common, and can help to keep the immune system at its optimum. When you buy a good quality supplements from reputable sources they generally have designed ingredients to work synergistically .

Some other daily vitamin supplements ingredients include the family of B vitamins. These are especially prevalent in formulas designed to help those who are under stress, since B vitamins can help to lower stress levels. Vitamin E is another popular part of many supplements, because of its positive effects on the heart. Antioxidants can help to kill free radicals, and have long been thought to help prevent certain kinds of cancer. Minerals such as magnesium, thiamin, iodine, and others are usually found in most daily vitamin supplements. It is important to remember that while all of these things are good for your health, vitamins will never make up for a diet that lacks these elements naturally. No matter how often you take daily vitamin supplements, it will never replace a well balanced, daily diet. On the other hand, taking daily vitamin supplements can help you feel better, have more energy and you may even notice that you get sick less. In time, you will also notice the days where you might miss or skip your daily vitamin. This means that they are working well to serve you, and you should always try and remember to take them each day. Set aside a time like at breakfast to take your vitamin so you don't forget. Remember that children need vitamins, too, so look for a high quality children's daily multivitamin as well. Taking daily vitamin supplements can give you the extra boost you need and help your body get the nutrients it may have been lacking.

Live Life Stress Free

Stress free living through relaxation:

Recommendations and treatments for stress free living.

We are constantly under some form of stress in our lives and generally we cope very well. How ever, many situations increase stress to a level which can cause troublesome physical and emotional effects.

Complaints that arise from too much stress vary widely and include:
Tiredness
Muscle pain
Anxiety
Sleep disturbance
Poor concentration
Restlessness
Irritability
Headaches

When stress levels build, stress related illness stat to appear. These may include:
Peptic ulcers
Headaches
Mouth ulcers
Impotence
Depression
Drug abuse (including drinking problems)
Irritable bowl syndrome
Dermatitis
Heart disease
Cancer
Asthma and allergies

Many types of stress can lead to ill health. Examples of stressful situations include the death of a spouse or a close family member, work, divorce, marital difficulties, pregnancy, guilt over wrong doings and similar trumas. This list reflects only a portion of stressful everyday situations.

We all know how hard it is to deal with these problems and that some people may need help to control stress levels. Talking with someone may help you find a solution to your challenge and can often help you cope.

Relaxation:

Relaxation is vital for the stressed or up tight person. Meditation, reading, listening to relaxation tapes, playing a musical instrument, starting a new hobby, regular exercise, a sensible diet, avoid smoking and other drugs will all help to diminish stress levels.

Stress reduction techniques:

Mediation is one thing you can practice yourself. Try just 10minutes, twice a day and you’ll be surprised at the results.

To begin, sit in a quiet place with your eyes closed, stay alert and awake if you can. Starting with your right hand, tense and relax each muscle group in turn, all around your body and then back again to your right hand.
Next, focus on each muscle group ,this time relaxing only. Pay extra attention to your head and neck or any other area where you feel you ‘store’ tension.
Concentrate on your breathing, listening to the sound and concentrating on the rate of breath.
Breathe in and out slowly, filling your lungs from your stomach to your chest.
Now repeat the word ‘relax’ silently in your mind. Notice your pace of though, as you may want to slow down a little. Each time other thoughts distract you , calmly return to the word ‘relax’
Now just let go. This is your quiet time. Let your body and mind totally relax.

Fabulous Fibrous Flaxseed

Fabulous Fibrous Flaxseed

Flaxseed is a slightly sweet, nut flavoured grain that’s out- of – this- world delicious as a oil or grain. Best of all researchers are also hailing it as one of the healthiest foods on the planet, loaded with compounds that shield you against cancer and heart disease.
Flaxseed is an incredibly rich source of a group of compounds called lignans. Many plant foods contain lignans, but flaxseed has the most, at least 75 times any other plant food. You’d have the eat about 60 cups of fresh broccoli to get the same amount of lignans in 60ml of flaxseed oil. (Broccoli is also another amazing food, especially for women, but we will look at that another time) This is important because lignans subdue cancerous changes once they have occurred, rendering them less likely to race out of control and develop into cancer. Flaxseed also lowers your cholesterol and shows great promise of reversing kidney damage (caused by lupus). In addition, flaxseed is high in fiber. Fiber is doing important in your diet as it can move compounds along your digestive tract and out of your intestines keeping everyone nice and regular. You can put ground flaxseed on almost anything, or my favorite way to have it is as a dressing on my veggies and salad. It can also be added to baked breads, cereals, and even baked dishes. It’s at your local supermarket.

Our Journey

Our personal journey into a non-toxic and more vibrant life came about in a desperate search for healthy alternatives after Elizabeth’s horrific train accident that left her with over 30 broken bones and head injured closely followed by her involvement in the Asian Tsunami’s of 2004, which you can read about in her book “Stars Linger”. From a state of ruined physical and mental health Elizabeth stared to put her life back together. After many laborious hours of searching, and persevering we have changed the way we look at the world, our habits and our life for the better. We changed our lives completely and want to empower those with the courage to do so towards change. Remembering that doing a little is better than doing nothing at all! If you have the courage to take all those conventional toxin laden products and throw them all out at once – do it! Click here for a Free Toxic bathroom Pocket guide. If not, do what you can over time, but do something! We promise that you won’t regret it!We look forward to assisting you on your personal journey to a non-toxic life and encourage you to peruse our website www.brightrisingstars.com . Feel free to let us know how we can help you get the life you have always dreamed of.