Tag: vitamin c

Alcohol and the body.

Todays post is about how our body, or more specifically the liver, deals with alcohol.

Many of us indulge in an alcoholic beverage on a regular basis. Some people indulge more regularly and in greater quantities than others. Most of us know the basics of what happens in our bodies when we drink alcohol.

Scott has recently covered this subject in his studies and I thought it was interesting. I decided to learn more details and share this information.

How the alcohol is initially absorbed.

Alcohol absorption begins in the stomach. However, it is absorbed much more rapidly in the small intestine due to the larger surface area. So, the longer the alcohol remains in the stomach, the slower the rise in the blood alcohol level. Fatty acids slow down the movement of food through the stomach. Therefore the consumption of foods higher in fats will slow the rise of blood alcohol. This will also give time for the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to start breaking down the alcohol.

Alcohol dehydrogenase is our primary defence against alcohol, a toxic molecule that compromises the function of our nervous system. The high levels of alcohol dehydrogenase in our liver and stomach detoxify about one drink (10grams of alcohol) each hour.

Once the alcohol enters the blood stream, it goes directly from the digestive tract to the liver.

The science

In the liver there is more alcohol dehydrogenase to break down ethanol in the blood. The alcohol dehydrogenase breaks alcohol down into another compound, acetaldehyde. Next, another enzyme, called aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) breaks it down further into acetate, another metabolite.

This can then be converted to Acetyl coenzyme A, (acetyl-CoA), an important molecule used in metabolic processes. It is primarily used by the body for energy production and is an essential component in balancing carbohydrate and fat metabolism

 What does this mean?

On those occasions when we consume alcoholic beverages while eating pizza and deep fried foods, followed by cake and ice cream, the body deals with the alcohol first.

This is because the liver recognises the alcohol as the most toxic substance in the body at the time.

So while the liver is dealing with the alcohol, the fats and sugars are getting pushed into the blood stream to wait. This also means that the liver will first break down the alcoholic beverage into its main components and then dealing with the alcohol first.

The liver requires certain essential nutrients from the body to do its job. It also works through the toxins in 2 phases. If there are not enough nutrients available for the liver to do its job, this causes the by-products to hang around for a lot longer in between the phases. This can then cause other issues.

 Supporting the liver

It is possible to provide support to the liver so that it can metabolise alcohol more effectively, therefore reducing long-term damage.

The 2 phases of detoxification require different nutrients.

Phase 1 requires B group vitamins, Folic acid, Glutathione, Antioxidants, Carotenoids, vitamins E and vitamin C.

Phase 2 requires Amino Acids (Glutamine, Glycine, Taurine & Cystine) and sulphurated phytochemicals found in garlic and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage & Brussels sprouts)

There are also certain compounds available that may be helpful.

  • Grape seed extract is a well-known antioxidant that assists liver function.
  • Grapefruit seed extract increases gastric protection
  • Vitamin C
  • Zinc
  • Curcumin (found in Turmeric)

Current Australian health guidelines state “For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.” (NHMRC 2009) Sources – Principles of Anatomy & Physiology by Gerard J Totora/Bryan Derrickson, https://en.wikipedia.org, https://pdb101.rcsb.org

With this in mind, a good diet consisting of whole, unprocessed foods goes a long way in supporting the liver. Many of the nutrients essential for optimal liver function are found in fresh fruit and vegetables.

I hope you found this information interesting.

Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper

The lesser known benefits of Oranges

Todays post is all about Oranges.

We have an orange tree in our garden and this winter we harvested several buckets of oranges. So for a while, we are able to enjoy some lovely fresh fruit or juice every day.

Most of us are aware that this fruit is an abundant source of vitamin C. The average medium orange will provide an adult with the recommended daily dose.

However, studies in both animals and humans indicate that regular consumption of oranges is associated with various health benefits.

 The other health benefits.

Oranges also contain health-promoting compounds known as flavanones. Research suggests that these flavanones help support the body, protecting it from conditions such as heart disease and cancer. These compounds also have some anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimicrobial benefits.

One antioxidant compound found in oranges, called hesperidin, may be beneficial in helping to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol. Clinical studies have found that daily intake of orange juice actually has a blood-thinning effect.

This fruit is also a good source of fibre, B vitamins, vitamin A, calcium and potassium. The main fibres found in oranges are pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Studies have also found that these citrus fibres also play a part in decreased blood cholesterol levels.

Oranges, and other fruits of the citrus family, are high in citric acid and citrates, which contribute to the taste. Research indicates that citric acid and citrates from oranges may help prevent kidney stone formation. Both vitamin C and citric acid can increase the absorption of iron from the digestive tract Therefore, when eaten with foods rich in iron, oranges can help reduce the risk of anemia.

Oranges also contain choline, and carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Choline is nutrient that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline also helps to maintain the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, assists in the absorption of fat and reduces chronic inflammation.

 Oranges and the eyes

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoid pigments that give the yellow or orange colour to various foods. Numerous studies have identified these carotenoids to be essential components for eye health.

They constitute the main pigments found in the yellow spot of the human retina, which protect the macula from damage by blue light, improve visual acuity and scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species. Lutein and zeaxanthin have also been linked with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

A 15yr study has shown that people who regularly eat oranges are less likely to develop macular degeneration than people who do not eat oranges. Lead Researcher Associate Professor Bamini Gopinath from the University of Sydney said the data showed that flavonoids in oranges appear to help prevent against the eye disease. “Even eating an orange once a week seems to offer significant benefits.”

 Eating oranges is generally healthier than just drinking the juice. One cup of orange juice has a similar amount of natural sugar, as two whole oranges, without the fibre.

Interestingly, the peel actually contains higher amounts of certain nutrients than the flesh, so using recipes that incorporate the zest of an orange will give your diet an extra boost.

I wonder if oranges are going to be called the next ‘super food’?

Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper

Vitamins, Nutritional supplements and Intravenous Therapy

This morning I was browsing the paper and 2 articles about vitamins jumped out at me.

First, was an article advising about the importance of certain vitamins to include in our daily intake. Second, was a small article about a new trend, booking in for a quick intravenous vitamin boost in your lunch break.

This got me thinking about vitamins and nutritional supplements. Is it more beneficial to have a regular ‘intravenous treatment’ rather than take a supplement daily?

So some research is required.

A Supplement a Day by Peter Dingle PhD

This book delves into the science behind supplementation and the reasons we should supplement. I’ll share some relevant snippets.

“It is generally recognised that our bodies require some 40 essential nutrients. These include: 16 vitamins, 12 amino acids, 3 essential fatty acids and 20 or so minerals or trace elements.”

“Nutritional intake gained through whole foods is generally of greater benefit to health than that achieved through supplements. Supplements should not be seen as an alternative to whole foods.”

However, “many of our current foods are depleted as a result of the overuse and misuse of our soils.”

“The simplest concept to start with is that if the nutrients are not in the soil, they can’t be in the food.”

So, we need 16 different vitamins a day. Recent studies show that we require up to 1000mg a day of Vitamin C. This helps our skin, bones, our iron absorption and assists in preventing infections.

We need Zinc daily to help our immune system and assist with would healing.

A recently discovered vitamin called K2 is required to direct calcium to our bones, NOT our arteries.

Finally, we need Iodine for our Thyroid hormones to manage our metabolism.

Tablets or Intravenous?

I found a few studies online that cover this issue. A study was done in regards to Vitamin B12 and the results were similar for taking a daily supplement and a regular injection.

There is also information about studies of Vitamin C. Taking high, very frequent oral doses will achieve blood plasma concentrations approaching, but not equalling, intravenous infusion.

High doses in the range of 30,000 to 100,000 milligrams per day, and 1,000-2,000 milligrams per dose. At a frequency of 1,000-2,000 mg every ten minutes you are awake, obviously not achievable for most of us.

The benefit of an IV infusion is that it delivers 100% of the vitamin directly into your blood stream and can have an immediate impact on your health.

 

My personal opinion, after reading these different studies, is that by taking supplements daily we are maintaining our levels in a way that is easy for most of us. We are improving our overall ‘gut health’ as the supplements are broken down and metabolised in the gut.

The IV solution would be very beneficial if you were suffering from a deficiency and needed to boost your levels significantly.

 

I am not a big fan of needles, so I would need to be quite deficient in a vitamin to opt in for the IV solution.

 

Till the next post,

 

Live Clean n Prosper.