Preventing Serious Illness with Vitamins

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Preventing Serious Illness with Vitamins

The benefits of vitamins on serious illness are well documented. Study after study has shown that regular vitamin consumption in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle helps prevent a host of serious illnesses. From heart disease to stress and anxiety, taking vitamins has long-term benefits that can help you to live a happier, more fulfilling life. If you have a family history of serious illness, or wish to prevent one from developing, read up on the ways in which vitamins can help you stay healthy for the long haul.


Cancer
Cancer is one of the most devastating illnesses of our time. And while a cure still alludes us, there is evidence that adopting certain behaviors can help prevent cancer. In a report studying the effects of eating hot dogs and hamburgers, the association between meat eating and leukemia was weakest among children who took vitamin supplements. Processed meats, such as hot dogs, contain nitrates and nitrites—precursors to carcinogens. Antioxidants found in multivitamins keep nitrates and nitrites from converting into those carcinogens. Therefore, an association between vitamin consumption in children and protection against childhood cancers is evident. Imagine what a vitamin could do for you! Read more about specific cancers and the vitamins that can prevent them below:

Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Lung Cancer Prostate Cancer


Heart Disease
Coupled with exercise and diet, research shows that certain vitamins can help enhance the health of your heart. Although Vitamin E is very well known for helping to prevent "bad" cholesterol and regulate the entire cardiovascular system, it is not the only "heart smart" vitamin. Please look below to find out which vitamins work best to benefit you in your quest for cardiovascular strength and vitality.

Heart Attack Congestive Heart Failure Atherosclerosis Cardiomyopathy Angina


Diabetes
People with low blood levels of vitamin E are more likely to develop type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Vitamin E supplementation has improved glucose tolerance in people with type 2 diabetes in most, but not all, double-blind trials. Vitamin E has also improved glucose tolerance in elderly people without diabetes. Three months or more of supplementation may be required for benefits to become apparent. The amount used is at least 900 IU of vitamin E per day.

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Arthritis
People who have arthritis and eat large amounts of antioxidants in food have been reported to exhibit a much slower rate of joint deterioration, particularly in the knees, compared with people eating foods containing lower amounts of antioxidants. Of the individual antioxidants, only vitamin E has been studied as a supplement in controlled trials. Vitamin E supplementation has reduced symptoms of arthritis in both single-blind and double-blind research. In these trials, 400 to 1,600 IU of vitamin E per day was used.

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Stress / Anxiety
Inositol has been used to help people with anxiety who have panic attacks. Up to 4 grams three times per day was reported to control such attacks in a double-blind trial. Inositol (18 grams per day) has also been shown in a double-blind trial to be effective at relieving the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. An isolated double-blind trial found that supplementation with a multivitamin-mineral supplement for four weeks led to significant reductions in anxiety and perceived stress compared to placebo.

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