Health And Nutrition

When you were a kid , you must have experienced some sort of thrill when you must have bitten your nails and even sometimes you might have been scolded for the same. Even I did that , as far as I remember , sometimes I got trashed for the same. Well, nail biting in all the forms is problematic. In medical terms the correct word for nail biting is ONYCHOPHAGIA.

The normal nail biting starts between the ages of 5 and 10, this even extends to adults causing some sort of problems in their daily life. Small children, can be easily scolded to stop these activities but adults can’t stop the prevalence of this particular problem.

Well,if the problem seems to be more complicated then you should consult your physican and get it stopped.

Tagged with: Nail Biting • Problems

Drug addiction problem is a growing concern in our society today. People may get addicted to drug due to various reasons. It can be emotional triggers, certain events or peer pressure. It is true that hard times inevitably come in life and no all people have the ability to deal well with this. These people then may end up abusing drugs thinking it will resolve their problem. They don’t realize that drugs can only bring more problems and harm to their bodies. Therefore, they need people around them to help. But since addict’s family may not have the knowledge, it’s better for them to send the addict to a Drug Rehab Center for a better success rate.

In a Drug Rehab program, patients will first undergo a drug detoxification procedure. Drug Detox is the process of eliminating the toxins accumulated in the body due to the intake of drugs. Like in an Alcohol Treatment Center, they will also attend lectures, workshops, group therapy and individual counseling to educate them about the psychological and physical implications of long-term drug abuse. During the period of treatment, patients are able to take a good hard look at the reasons that they have used drugs in the past. After the drug rehabilitation, patients will hopefully return home much better equipped with the capabilities to avoid drug abuse and live a normal life.

Vitamin D - Calciferol, Antiricketic

Sources. Fishliver oil, egg yolk, milk, liver. It is formed in the skin from a cholesterol derivative by the action of ultraviolet rays of sunlight.

Daily Requirement. About O· 01 mg. Function. Facilitates absorption of calcium and phosphorus by intestine and their retention in the body and deposition in bones and teeth.

Deficiency Symptoms. Rickets in children (soft, yielding, deformed bones, bowed legs), os­teomalacia in adults (weak bones liable to easy fracture). Rickets probably first appeared when our ancestors started wearing clothes and living in houses. Decreased exposure of the skin to sunlight reduced the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin and, this necessitated the presence of the vitamin D in the diet.

Destroyed By. Oral contraceptives.

Excess dozes of vitamin D are toxic, causing deposition of calcium in soft tissues.

Vitamin E - Tocoferol

Sources. Green leafy vegetables, whole cereal grains, vegetable oils.

Daily Requirement. About 15 mg. Function. Prevents breakage of red blood corpuscles, may act as an antioxidant, preventing oxidation of certain materials; may have some role in the mitochondrial electron transport system, maintains normal membrane structure.

Deficiency Symptoms. Destruction of red blood corpuscles.

In animals, vitamin E deficiency causes sterility in males; death of embryos and muscle degeneration.

Destroyed by. Heat.

Vitamin K- Phylloquinone, Antihaemorrhagic.

Sources. Green leafy vegetables (spinach, coriander leaves, radish tops), soyabean oil, liver. It is synthesized by bacteria in colon and is ab­sorbed, thus its deficiency is more often due to its faulty absorption than its lack in the diet.

Daily Requirement. About 0·07 -0,14 mg. Function. Promotes synthesis in the liver of prothrombin for normal clotting of blood.

Deficiency Symptoms. Faulty blood clotting, haemorrhage.

Destroyed By. Prolonged use of antibiotics and sulpha drugs.

Tagged with: Calciferol • E • K • Phylloquinone • Tocoferol • Vitamins D

Vitamin A - Carotene or Retinol

Sources. Yellow or green vegetables and fruits, egg yolk, whole milk, cod liver oil, shark liver oil, butter, ghee. Vitamin A is formed in the liver fromp-carotene, an orange-yellow pigment of car­rots. Carotene also occurs in spinach, maize and papaya. A large quantity of it can be stored in the liver, enough to supply a person for many months.

Daily Requiremeut. About 2 mg.

Function. A part of visual pigments rhodop­sin of rod cells and iodopsin of cone cells for eyesight; growth; maintenance of normal epithelia of eye, mucous membranes and glands; prevents keratinization.

Deficiency Symptoms. Night blindness, a severe deficiency leads to xerophthalmia, a blind­ness caused by a film of keratin over the cornea; keratinization of all epithelia; blockade of the ducts of all glands, leading to atrophy of the glands; retarded growth.

Destroyed By. Strong light.

An excess of vitamin A is toxic. It causes lack of appetite, sparcity of hair, painful swellings over long bones, and itching rash.

Tagged with: carotene • Daily Requirements of Vitamin A • eyesight • growth • iodopsin • Lipid Soluble Vitamins • Rhodopsin • Vitamin A

Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid, Antiscorbutic.

Sources. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers, leafy green vegetables.

Daily Requirement. About 50 mg. Funciton. Plays a role in the hydroxylation of proline and lysin during collagen formation, main­tains integrity of capillary walls, also maintains nor­mal growth of bones and teeth, and tak«s part in cellular oxidation and reduction. Overall function is still unknown.

Deficiency Symptoms. Scurvy which is char­acterized by bleeding gums and swollen joints, decreased resistance to common cold.

Destroyed By. Heat and light.

Tagged with: Ascorbic Acid • Daily Requirement of Vitamin C • vit C • Vitamin C

B6 - Pyridixine or Pyridoxal

Sources. Meat, milk, wheat germ, liver, banana, eggs, yeast.

Daily Requirement. About 2 mg.

Functions. Part of coenzymes for amiilO acid synthesis and glycogen synthesis.

Deficiency Symptoms. Skin lesions, distur­bance of central nervous system, anaemia.

Destroyed By. Cooking, oral contraceptives.

(v) Niacin, Nicotinic Acid, Nicotinamide, Antipellagric

Sources. Yeast, wheat germ, peanuts, pulses, meat. It may be synthesized in the body from the amino acid tryptophan.

Daily Requirement. About 20 mg.

Function. A part of coenzymes (NAD, NADP) which serve as hydrogen acceptors and donors for many enzymes called dehydrogenases.

Deficiency Symptoms. Pellagra which is char­acterized by skin inflammation, diarrhoea and nervous disorder.

Destroyed By. Cooking.

(vi) Folacin, Folic Acid

Sources. Green leafy vegetables, banana, orange, liver, yeast. Some folic acid is synthesized by colon bacteria and absorbed.

Daily Requirement. About 0.5 mg. Function. A part of coenzymes for protein and nucleic acid metabolism, essential for growth and formation of red blood cells.

Deficiency Symptoms. Anaemia, failure of RBCs to mature, sprue (ulceration of mouth; in­flammation of bowel; inability to absorb, especially fats; diarrhoea).

Destroyed By. Cooking.

(vii) Biotin

Sources. Fresh fruits and vegetables, liver, milk, eggs, whole grain cereals, yeast, pulses.

Daily Requirement. Adequate amount in or­dinary diet.

Function. Coenzyme for fatty-acid synthesis and for the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate by addition of C02.

Deficiency Diseases. Scaly and itchy skin, muscle pain, weakness.

Destroyed By. Prolonged use of antibiotics and sulpha drugs, taking raw egg white in large quantities. Egg white contains a protein avidin, which forms a tight complex with biotin and prevents its absorption.

(viii) B12- Cyanocobalamin

Sources. Liver, eggs, meat, fish.

Daily Requirement. About 0.003 mg. Function. Coenzyme for nucleic acid meta-

bolism, essential for formation of erythrocytes, and myelin formation.

Deficiency Symptoms. Pernicious (injurious) anaemia, malformed RBCs.

Destroyed By. Grilling on excessive heat. Vitamin B12 is synthesized by colon bacteria.

Absorption of vitamin B12 from the intestine re­quires the action of a gastric enzyme, Castle’s in­trinsic factor. Lack of this enzyme causes vitamin B12 deficiency.

Tagged with: Antipellagric • cyanocobalamin • Folacin • Folic Acid • Niacin • Nicotinamide • Nicotinic Acid • Pyridixine • Pyridoxal • vitamin B 12 • vitamin B6 • Vitamins

The vitamin B com­plex consi Is of 8 different components : Bl or thiamine, B2 or riboflavin, B3 or pantothenic acid, B6 or pyridoxine, niacin or nicotinic acid, folacin or folic acid, biotin dnd B12 or cyanocobalamin.

(i) B1 - Thiamine, Antineuritic

Sources. Ye!lst, wheat germ, peanuts, beans, liver, pulses, lean meat*.

Daily Requirement. About 1.5 mg.

Function. Plays a role in aerobic car­bohydrate metabolism, promotes appetite. It forms part of a coenzyme for (a) oxidative decarboxyla­tion of a-keto acids, such as pyruvate and a­ketoglutarate, (b) synthesis and metabolism of pentose.

Deficiency Symptoms. Beriberi which is char­acterised by loss of appetite and weight, retarded growth, degeneration of nerves and muscle atrophy. Also malfunction of Krebs cycle and heart failure.

Destroyed By. Cooking, baking soda.

(ii) B2 - Riboflavin

Sources. Yeast, liver, milk, cheese, curd, pul­ses, green leafy vegetables, eggs. Riboflavin is syn­thesized by the intestinal bacteria. Therefore its deficiency is rare.               ‘

Daily Requirement. About 2 mg.

Functions. Needed for cellular respiration and growth. It forms a part of coenzymes (FMN, FAD) for hydrogen transfer in electron transport system in mitochondria ; also needed for certain oxidations in the endoplasmic reticulum. It main­tains normal healthy skin and oral mucosa.

Deficiency Symptoms. Inflammation of the eyes, sores on the lips, skin diseases.

Destroyed By. Light.

(iii) B3 - Pantothenic Acid

Sources. Yeast, peas, liver, eggs, kidney, pul­ses. It is synthesized by colon bacteria.

Daily Requirement. About 5 -10 mg. (?). Functions. Part of coenzyme A needed in cell respiration, necessary for normal nerves and skin.

Deficiency Symptoms. Abnormal functioning of adrenal glands, nerve degerneration, dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders and anaemia.

Destroyed By: Not established.

Tagged with: Antineuritic • Pantothenic Acid • Riboflavin • Thiamine • vitamin B complex • vitamin B1 • vitamin B1 B2 B3 • vitamin B2 • vitamin B3

Types. Vitamins are divided into two groups: fat-soluble vitamins which include vitamins A D E and K; and water-soluble vitamins that includes vitamins B complex and C.

Importance. The vitamins are not sources of energy. They regulate the various metabolic processes. They mostly act as the constituents of coenzymes in the cells. Each vitamin must be present in a certain minimum amount for proper functioning of the body. Lack or shortage of vitamins leads to malfunctioning of the body known as deficiency diseases, or avitaminosis.

From the next Post Onwards we will take up Water Soluble Vitamins.

In 1911, Dr. Casimir Funk found that the foods contain, apart from ordinary nutrients cer­tain substances that are essential for n~rmal functioning of the animal body. He named these substances vitamins, as it was first thought that they were all amino acids. Though this view is now known to be incorrect, the name “vitamins” is still used. It is better to call them accessory food sub­stances.

Definition. The vitamins are organic compounds regularly required in minute quantities in the diet for normal metabolism, health and growth.

Sources. Most of the. vitamins are obtained from the diet because these cannot be synthesized in the body. A sufficiently varied and balanced diet will provide all vitamins in proper amounts. Some vitamins may be stored in the body, chiefly liver. Others must be supplied constantly because they are excreted in the urine if present in excess amount in the diet.

Methods of preparing food may result in loss of vitamins. Refmed flour and canned foods are usually deficient in vitamins unless they are for­tified. The heat of cooking destroys certain vitamins and some are lost with water drained off after cooking. Fresh fruits and raw vegetables are useful         as they retain their vitamins.      .

Certain vitamins are synthesized in the tissues or produced by microorganisms in the intestine. .

Tagged with: diet • Funk • metabolism • Vitamins

Functions. Water is essential for life due to its multiple role.

(i) Solvent. Water acts as a solvent for many inorganic and organic compounds. This is helpful as the cellular reactions occur in solution.

(ii) Dispersion Medium. Water serves as a good dispersion medium for the colloids of the cells.

(iii) Ioniser. Most inorganic compounds in the cell dissociate into their component ions on dissolving in water. This makes the chemical reac­tions easier.

(iv) Diffusion Medium. Water has low den­sity and viscosity. This permits rapid diffusion of molecules in cytoplasm.

(v) Transport Medium. Water facilitates the movement of food materials, waste products and other chemical substances in the cytoplasm and circulatory fluids.

(vi) Metabolite. Water is taken up or produced in many chemical reactions.

(vii) Temperature Stabilizer. Water takes up and loses heat slowly. This protects the cells from sudden changes in temperature of the environment around an organism. Loss of water as sweat dis

(vii) Lubricant. Water keeps the surface of tissues and organs moist. This gives them free movement upon one another.

Daily Requirement. An average adult needs 5-6 glasses of water daily. The amount required varies with temperature and humidity of the air and the degree of physical work