Supplements Information 2lossweight.com

Vitamins for Smokers


Numerous studies and surveys have consistently shown that a majority of adults frequently eat foods that contain too little vitamin B-6 and vitamin E. We consume far too many calories, and too much total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Women frequently eat too little folic acid, iron, calcium, and zinc. This is why it is so important to take a multi-vitamin daily.

The basic nutritional needs of men and women who smoke are similar to those who don't use tobacco. However, conclusive evidence exists that smokers need much more antioxidant nutrients than non-smokers.

Essentially, smokers need antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid), and vitamin E. It was once believed that beta-carotene was an attribute for non-smokers, but recent clinical studies have found that beta-carotene can actually be harmful to smokers' health. Beta-carotene can be found in most multi-vitamins and an excess of beta-carotene is risky for good nutritional health. If you are a smoker and going to take a multi-vitamin, be sure it doesn't list beta-carotene as one of the ingredients.

Too many smokers have inadequate intakes of antioxidants. Smokers are reported to consume lower quantities of antioxidant nutrients than nonsmokers. Antioxidant nutrients have protective roles with regard to cancer, heart disease, cataract formation, cognitive (mind) dysfunction, and other diseases. Researches believe there is a balance between antioxidant protectors and components that promote oxidation in the body. This balance seems to be related to health or disease. Some components of cigarette smoke promote oxidation that provides high levels of oxidant stress. Free radicals, which also promote oxidation, are derived from tobacco. Cigarette smoke has been estimated to contain 1,000,000,000,000,000 free radicals per inhalation. These free radicals can oxidize the fat components of the body and this is quite harmful.

For instance, cigarette smokers have lower vitamin C (natural antioxidant) intakes and plasma vitamin C levels than nonsmokers. The incidence of cancer, heart disease, and cataracts is lower in populations that have high intakes of fruits or leafy green vegetables, all replete with vitamin C. Smokers who ate foods containing more than 200 mg vitamin C daily had serum vitamin C levels equivalent to those of nonsmokers who consumed 60 mg or more of the vitamin, according to a recent national survey. The most recent edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances recommends that regular cigarette smokers take in at least 100 mg of vitamin C daily. Smokers have been found to have higher levels of vitamin C in the lung tissues than nonsmokers. This clearly reflects a positive defense mechanism against the free radical species from cigarette smoke.

Studies have found that smokers have a 30 percent lower vitamin C level than nonsmokers. Researchers believe that nicotine may interfere with vitamin C absorption. Nicotine boosts metabolic rate, therefore increasing the rate that vitamin C is metabolized. Individuals who smoke need 100 milligrams of vitamin C (versus 60 milligrams for nonsmokers) every day.

The body's most effective antioxidant is vitamin E. Smokers have been found to have lower levels of plasma vitamin E than nonsmokers.

Smokers seeking nutritional supplementation should look for a multi-vitamin that contains at least all of the following: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Niacin, Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Zinc Picolinate, Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), and the antioxidant Co-Q10. Some supplements add Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Powder, Inositol, Rutin, Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex, Choline Bitartrate and PABA.

If you smoke, or live with someone who smokes, it is important that you make the right choices to safeguard you health against the risks associated with smoking. One of the most important decisions you can make is choosing the right multi-vitamin. It's a fact that smoking depletes the body of important nutrients. It's also a fact that one nutrient, beta-carotene, has been found in clinical studies to adversely effect smokers' health. Beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A, can be found in most multi-vitamins.

Link to: Betacarotene info

www.lungUSA.org

Information on quitting

Information on Quitting and Preventing Smoking from the National Cancer Institute

Available Smoker's multi-vitamin products


MORE RESOURCES:

Bleacher Report

Reliever Who Helped Phillies to Title Is Suspended for Failed Drug ...
New York Times, United States - 9 hours ago
Under baseball’s drug-testing program, there is a list of supplements that baseball and the union certify as free of performance-enhancing drugs. ...
Phils' Romero a casualty in baseball's drug war Philadelphia Inquirer
Romero, Mitre suspended 50 games each by MLB The Associated Press
Phillies’ Romero argues against his 50-game suspension Kansas City Star
SportsBusiness Daily (subscription) - New York Times
all 694 news articles


Consumers warned to avoid 2 supplement sales sites
The Associated Press - 36 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Lanelle Chernosky saw an ad on a Web site offering a free sample of a nutritional supplement featuring Brazilian acai berries, ...


Vitamins get 'F' in cancer prevention
USA Today - Jan 6, 2009
Given the popularity of vitamins and other supplements, she says it's important for researchers to find the right combination. Other experts, such as Gann, ...
Antioxidant Supplements Do Not Reduce Cancer Risk Cancer Consultants
Neither Vitamin C or E Associated with Reduced Risk of Prostate ... Kansas City infoZine
Supplements and cancer The Mercury (subscription)
Journal of American Medical Association (subscription) - Toronto Sun
all 25 news articles


Warning issued about diet supplements
ABC7Chicago.com,  USA - 17 hours ago
By John Garcia Consumers are being told to be wary of weight loss products containing the acai berry. The online ads were enough to convince Raquel Acosta ...


Supplement in spotlight of pitcher's suspension
6abc.com, PA - 21 hours ago
He says supplements like 6-OXO Extreme are well-known and used by body builders. Although 6-OXO Extreme is not a steroid, it acts like a steroid. ...
Supplement taken by Romero and banned by MLB readily available at ... Philadelphia Daily News
Bigger, stronger, faster - over the counter Philadelphia Inquirer
Health: What Is 6 OXO? CBS 3
all 4 news articles


Use of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications and Dietary ...
Cardiosource, DC - 34 minutes ago
Medication use was evaluated by observation of the bottles and was defined as prescription, over-the-counter, and dietary supplements used “on a regular ...


Know the latest on dietary supplement structure-function and ...
SmartBrief, DC - 3 hours ago
29 to 30, is intended for regulatory affairs, legal, marketing, manufacturing, quality and consulting professionals working in the dietary supplements and ...


Find Bodybuilding Supplements - Tips For Body Building Supplements
Meadow Free Press, ID - Jan 6, 2009
So I'm going to outline my philosophy when it comes to supplements and list a couple of supplements that I use myself and can personally recommend to you ...
2008: A Bad Year for Vitamins Blogcritics.org
Are Vitamins Actually Good For You? WRCB-TV
How Can You Benefit From Alternative Health Supplements? Meadow Free Press
all 4 news articles


San Francisco Chronicle

Women: Take folic acid
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 5 hours ago
Do you take a folic acid supplement? If you're pregnant or capable of becoming so, you should. Experts recommend this essential B vitamin for all women of ...
Healthy Babies: The Importance of Folic Acid- Hispanic babies are ... North Denver News
all 4 news articles


Romero suspension 'unfortunate'
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ - 13 hours ago
21, three months after Romero's first positive test, warning them of the dangers of three supplements but now denies previously advising that any supplement ...

Supplements - Google News

home | site map
© 2006