Posts Tagged ‘ Deficiency ’

Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency

May 23, 2010
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Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency

For healthy growth and normal functioning of the body, we require some essential dietary supplements such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorides, etc. are necessary for the normal functioning of the body parts. Potassium is one of the most important minerals that play a significant role in maintaining good health. It is an intracellular, positively charged ion (cation).

Biological Functions of Potassium

Potassium is involved in both cellular and electrical functions in the body. It is required to regulate the acidity level, water balance and blood pressure. Potassium maintains water balance as well as acid-base balance in the blood and tissue cells, transmits electrical signals between nerves and cells and assists in muscle building. It also plays a major role in proper digestion, transmission of nerve impulses, regulation of heartbeats and muscle contraction. Potassium is important for the normal functioning of kidneys and heart. It is also needed for normal muscular function, in both involuntary and voluntary muscles. Potassium is involved in the storage of carbohydrates, which are used by the muscles as a fuel.

Dietary Sources of Potassium

Potassium can be obtained in large amounts from a variety of foods. Fresh unprocessed foods are the most important dietary sources of potassium. Chicken, beef and fish such as salmon, flounder, cod and sardines are the rich sources of potassium. Vegetables including tomatoes, broccoli, lima beans, peas, potato skins and leafy greens consist of abundant amounts of potassium. Melons, bananas, apricots and citrus fruits are also rich in potassium. Dried fruits such as dried apricots provide the concentrated sources of potassium. You can get a sufficient amount of potassium from the potassium supplements that are available in the form of potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium gluconate, potassium bicarbonate and potassium acetate.

Causes of Potassium Deficiency

Poor dietary habits can be the main cause of potassium deficiency in the body. If you fail to take even a little amount of potassium in your daily food, it can lead to develop long-term defects. An excessive secretion of potassium from the body through bowel movements such as vomiting and diarrhea is another reason for potassium deficiency. Certain medications including cortisones, diuretics and drugs for controlling hypertension can lead to low potassium levels in the body. Hypothyroidism is also an important cause of potassium deficiency.

Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency

A deficiency of potassium results in a fatal medical condition in the body, called as hypokalemia. It can happen as a result of aging process or in the people suffering from a chronic disease. The most common problems associated with the decreased potassium levels are cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, hypertension and depression. The symptoms of potassium deficiency appear when the level of potassium in the body decreases extremely.

Some of the common symptoms of potassium deficiency are muscular weakness, fatigue, temporary memory loss, unusual anxiety and confusion, improper digestion leading to constipation, kidney diseases such as acute renal failure, improper sleep, hypertension and nervous system disorders. Some other signs of potassium deficiency are weakness, thirst, dry skin, acne and other skin problems, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat and abnormal psychological behavior. Potassium deficiency increases the acid levels in the body, which lowers the natural pH of the body. Potassium deficiency affects the formation of connective tissue, making the body tissue vulnerable to various health problems.

The low levels of potassium in the body can be detected using a blood test such as determination of serum potassium. It can be treated with potassium supplements that are available in the market or in the form of dietary supplements.

3 Best Ways to Prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia

May 20, 2010
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3 Best Ways to Prevent Iron Deficiency AnemiaEnlarge Image

Did you know that Iron Deficiency Anemia affects about 20% of the world’s population? It is also the most common type of anemia caused by inadequate dietary intake or absorption of iron. But if you do suffer from iron deficiency anemia due to lack of iron in your body, don’t look again on those poisonous iron supplements. Just follow these three preventive ways and you’re on the way of better living.

1. Eat Foods that are Rich in Iron

The best food sources of iron are wholegrain cereals, pulses and legumes, and fish. The best plant sources are green leafy vegetables such as dry lotus stems, cauliflower greens, and turnip greens; fruits such as black currants, watermelons, raisins, and dried dates. However, irons from these foods are hard for the body to absorb. It is recommended that you eat animal products, which contain heme iron. If you mix some lean meat, fish, or poultry with beans or dark leafy greens at a meal, you can improve absorption of vegetable sources of iron up to three times. Foods rich in vitamin C also increase iron absorption.

2. Cook Using Cast-Iron Cookwares

Did you know that cooking in cast-iron cookwares can add significant amounts of iron to your food and into your body? Yes, it’s true and this was proven by researchers who tested 20 foods. Acidic foods that have higher moisture content, such as applesauce and spaghetti sauce, absorb the most iron. In fact, for 100 grams of each (about 3.5oz.), the applesauce increased in iron content from 0.35mg to 7.3mg, and the spaghetti sauce jumped from 0.6mg to 5.7mg of iron.

Food cooked for longer periods of time absorbed more iron than food that was heated more quickly. Foods prepared with a newer iron skillet absorbed more iron than those cooked in an older one. Foods that were cooked and stirred more frequently absorbed greater amount of iron because they came into contact with the iron more often. Foods such as hamburger, corn tortillas, cornbread, and liver with onions won’t absorb much iron due to the shorter cooking times.

This list was provided so you can have general idea of the difference in dietary iron content when cooking in a cast-iron pan:

Foods Tested (100g/3.5oz) = Iron content when raw = Iron content after cooking in iron skillet

- Applesauce, unsweetened = 0.35mg = 7.38mg
- Spaghetti sauce = 0.61 = 5.77
- Chili with meat and beans = 0.96 = 6.27
- Medium white sauce = 0.22 = 3.30
- Scrambled egg = 1.49 = 4.76
- Spaghetti sauce with meat = 0.71 = 3.58
- Beef vegetable stew = 0.66 = 3.4
- Fried egg = 1.92 = 3.48
- Spanish rice = 0.87 = 2.25
- Rice, white = 0.67 = 1.97
- Pan broiled bacon = 0.77 = 1.92
- Poached egg = 1.87 = 2.32
- Fried chicken = 0.88 = 1.89
- Pancakes = 0.63 = 1.31
- Pan fried green beans = 0.64 = 1.18
- Pan broiled hamburger = 1.49 = 2.29
- Fried potatoes = 0.42 = 0.8
- Fried corn tortillas = 0.86 = 1.23
- Pan-fried beef liver with onions = 3.1 = 3.87
- Baked cornbread = 0.67 = 0.86

3. Avoid Whole Cow’s Milk on the First 12 Months of Life

Whole cow’s milk contains as much iron per liter as breast milk, but only a very small proportion is actually absorbed into the body. However, the iron in breast milk is very well absorbed by babies. Therefore, breast milk is one of the best sources of iron for baby providing all the iron needed (with all other nutrients and benefits) for the first 6 months of life. Bottom line: breast-feeding is the best way to prevent iron deficiency anemia in babies. If breast-feeding is not an option, or is stopped before 9-12 months, then iron-fortified formulas, which contain added iron, should be given to baby instead of whole cow’s milk.

Things to Remember:

* Chronic blood loss, times of increased need such as pregnancy, and vigorous exercise can trigger iron deficiency.
* Don’t take iron supplements unless advised by your doctor.
* There are two types of iron: heme iron (found in animal foods) and nonheme iron (found in plant foods). Combining foods that are high in heme iron with nonheme iron foods boosts the absorption power.
* Keep iron supplements away from children – as little as one to three grams can kill a child under six years.

About the Author:
Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher and has been studying the causes of viruses since 1960s. In 1968, he invented Pyro-Energen, the first electrotherapy device that eradicates viral diseases in a non-narcotic way.

Visit him at: http://www.pyroenergen.com
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Deficiency Of L-carnitine And Health Problems

May 11, 2010
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L-Carnitine deficiency can cause health problems, such as fatigue and weight problems. Although initially L-Carnitine deficiency causes minor problems, in the long-term L-Carnitine deficiency can contribute to more serious health problems.

Heart Disease is among the more serious health problems that L-Carnitine deficiency can cause. With a lack of L-Carnitine, fatty tissue is unable to be processed normally and therefore can often build up to unhealthy levels around the heart. An unhealthy build up of fatty tissue around the heart can lead to heart related diseases.

L-Carnitine deficiency can be caused by a genetic default, damage to the kidneys, liver, or brain, or through improper dietary intake. L-Carnitine is naturally produced in the kidneys, liver and brain, yet if there is a genetic default, then the body is inclined to produce less than what is required by the body.

If the kidneys, liver, or brain is damaged during birth, or through some kind of medical difficulty, or accident, then they may not be capable of functioning normally and therefore may not be capable of producing adequate amounts of L-Carnitine in order to support the body’s normal functions.

When a person damages their kidneys, liver, or brain, L-Carnitine production is interrupted and the result leads to slow production of fatty acid, which in turn leads to a slowing of the energy distribution throughout the body. You will often find people with kidney, liver, or brain damage are slow and put on weight easily.

The reason that people with kidney, liver, or brain damage are slow and put on weight easily, is that the fatty acids are not being transformed into energy and therefore build up to unhealthy levels. People with serious kidney, liver, or brain damage are often confined to bed, or a wheelchair.

Although L-Carnitine is naturally produced in our kidneys, liver and brain, we still require some extra L-Carnitine to support our growth when we are children, our systems in times of illness and to provide supplementation when there is a L-Carnitine deficiency from genetic, or medical problems.

It is for these reasons that L-Carnitine can be found in mother’s milk, which gives the baby more energy and aids a baby’s growth. L-Carnitine can also be found in Red Meat, Poultry, Fish, Avocadoes, Wheat, Fermented Soybeans, Wheat, Asparagus and Peanut Butter and Dairy Products.

When a person is suffering from a minor L-Carnitine deficiency they usually benefit from a change in their dietary intake, or from a small amount of L-Carnitine supplement in order to boost their system. Including L-Carnitine rich foods in your dietary intake is also though to be a preventive to developing serious health conditions.

A person who is already suffering from a serious health condition may require long-term L-Carnitine supplementation in order to aid them in their recovery, combined with healthy dietary changes. L-Carnitine supplementation is often used for people suffering from Cancer, or other serious illnesses.

Although a person who has a genetic L-Carnitine deficiency can benefit from the implementation of a diet full of L-Carnitine rich foods, they may benefit from taking L-Carnitine supplements throughout their life. A genetic L-Carnitine deficiency is unlike a person suffering from serious illness, where they have the possibility of recovery.

By: Dustin Hines

Information on causes of bloated stomach can be found at the Stomach Problem site.

Causes of Magnesium Deficiency and Treatment

February 6, 2010
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Causes of Magnesium Deficiency and Treatment

Magnesium is an important mineral that is needed by every cell in the human body. About half of the magnesium stores in the body are found in the cells of the body’s organs and tissues, and the other half is found in our bones where it occurs in combination with phosphorus and calcium. Magnesium occurs only in 1 percent concentration in the blood. The human body has to work very hard in order to keep the magnesium levels in the blood constant. Magnesium is required by the body to carry out various biochemical functions such as enzyme activity.

Magnesium deficiency in the body can cause the following: loss of appetite; disorientation; confusion; psychotic behavior; depression; tremors; convulsions; numbness, tingling, and cramps in the muscles; vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels; coronary spasms; abnormal heart rhythms; seizures; and irritability of the nervous system.

How Much Magnesium Do We Require?

The Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA for males are: 410 mg for ages 14 to 18; 400 mg for ages 19 to 30; 420 mg for ages 31 and above. The RDA for females are:360 mg for ages 14 to 18; 310 mg for ages 19 to 30; 320 mg for ages 31 and above. During pregnancy the RDA is increased to 40 mg.

What are the Causes of Magnesium Deficiency?

According to a couple of studies conducted nationwide, it was found that the diets of most of the adult population in America are deficient in magnesium, and it was also found that compared to Hispanics or non-Hispanic whites, the non-Hispanic black population consumed lower amounts of magnesium, and that people who were 70 years of age and above consumed less magnesium compared to younger adults.

Magnesium deficiency is therefore a common occurrence in the United States, due to the fact that Americans by and large do not consume the recommended amounts of magnesium. Apart from that, magnesium deficiency is also caused because of magnesium being depleted excessively through the urine; disorders of the gastrointestinal system that leads to magnesium not being absorbed adequately or excessive loss of magnesium in the stool; or the intake of magnesium being chronically low.

Treatments that involve diuretics, certain medications used for treating cancer, and certain antibiotics, can lead to an increase of the loss of magnesium through urine. Diabetes that is not adequately controlled can result in magnesium being lost excessively in urine, resulting in the magnesium stores in the body being depleted. Alcohol also leads to magnesium being excreted excessively in the urine, and a high intake of alcohol has been linked to magnesium deficiency. Excessive or chronic diarrhea and vomiting can also lead to magnesium deficiency due to the depletion of the mineral.

Some of the other possible causes of magnesium deficiency are:

A Decrease in the Absorption or Intake of Magnesium: Postoperative complications subsequent to bowel resection, parenteral fluids being administered without adding magnesium salts, and nasogastric suctioning; and malnutrition or starvation.

Loss of Magnesium in Excessive Amounts: Diabetic acidosis and severe dehydration; hypoparathyroidism and hyperaldosteronism, resulting in hypocalcemia and hypokalemia; hypercalcemia and hyperthyroidism; adrenocortical hormones being released in excessive amounts.

Magnesium deficiency can also be primarily due to genetic disorders.

Magnesium Deficiency Treatment with Magnesium Supplements

In case magnesium deficiency is suspected, your doctor will check the blood levels of magnesium. If there is only a mild deficiency of magnesium, it can be restored to normal just by increasing the intake of magnesium in the diet. Adults at risk of magnesium deficiency can get their recommended amounts of the mineral by consuming dark green leafy vegetables as well as at least five servings of vegetables and fruits every day. Rice, wheat bran, and oats are some of the grains that are high in magnesium.

An intravenous drip may be required if the magnesium levels in the blood are very low, in order to get back to normal levels. Your doctor may also prescribe magnesium supplements, although some types, especially magnesium salts, can lead to diarrhea. Most health food outlets have magnesium oxide, which is a form of magnesium that is absorbed the least efficiently by the human body. Some medical experts are of the opinion that magnesium malate is one the best supplements for the treatment of magnesium deficiency, since it is absorbed the most efficiently by the human body.Mild magnesium deficiency can be treated with a daily dose of magnesium supplements, either orally or I.M.
Severe magnesium deficiency can be treated with magnesium sulfate supplement being administered intravenously, with 10-40 mEq/L being diluted in the intravenous fluid.
These days, you can find numerous magnesium supplements that can be bought over the counter. In addition, there are also a wide range of magnesium rich food supplements that you can buy from supermarkets and drugstores.

Your health care provider or doctor will be the best person to prescribe the best method of getting extra magnesium if required.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Pernicious Anemia

January 23, 2010
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You may have heard of people who have to get vitamin B12 shots because of a condition called pernicious anemia. What is this, how is it different from other anemia, and what are the symptoms?

Pernicious anemia is a deficiency of the B12 vitamin. Vitamins do not provide nutrition to the body on their own, rather they work with food or other elements in the body such as bacterias and enzymes to help the body work properly. Their absorption is also affected by other substances in the body, some that are already there, and some that people may ingest. In order to absorb vitamin B12, the body uses a substance called intrinsic factor, which is produced by the stomach. Some people’s bodies either do not produce intrinsic factor at all, or they do not produce enough to effectively process vitamin B12 taken through food sources (like milk) or oral supplements. Older people may suffer from pernicious anemia even if they did not have it earlier in life, because as we age, our bodies produce less intrinsic factor. Also, more women than men suffer from it. People with pernicious anemia have to receive B12 by injection, because this form does not require combination with intrinsic factor to be absorbed by the body. People can also suffer from B12 deficiency unrelated to intrinsic factor problems, and this is called macrocytic anemia. It can be caused by poor diet, alcoholism, or metabolic disorders.

Symptoms of pernicious anemia include fatigue, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. While these symptoms fit a large range of maladies, people with pernicious anemia may also exhibit the Babinski reflex. When you stroke the bottom of the foot, the big toe flexes up and the other toes fan out. It is a reflex present in newborns and usually disappears by the age of 2, as the nervous system matures. When the reflex exists in older people, it can be a sign of nerve damage. It can be inherited, and is rarely diagnosed until age 30. All anemia is characterized by lower than normal numbers of red blood cells. There are several different types of anemia with different causes. Common anemias you may be familiar with are anemia caused by iron deficiency, and sickle cell anemia, where red blood cells are sickle, or crescent moon shaped and can stick together, causing fatigue and other symptoms. In pernicious anemia, patients have a low red blood cell count, but the red blood cells they do have are abnormally large, and their white blood cells have abnormally large nuclei. Further tests for antibodies against intrinsic factor can be performed to make a diagnosis of pernicious anemia.

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