A-Z vitamin benefits Articles

Folic acid is a water-soluble member of the B complex. It is also known as folate and folacin. Folic Acid supplements are converted into folate by the body and is used as a dietary supplement and in food fortification as it is more stable during processing and storage.

Key Health Benefits of Folic Acid Supplements

Folic acid supplements are needed for energy production, cell replication and the formation of red and white blood cells. It plays an important role in the conversion of homocysteine into harmless substances. Homocysteine damages the inner lining of arteries and high levels of homocysteine are correlated to an increased risk of atherosclerosis.

Folic acid is especially needed in areas where there is high cell turnover. Therefore, it is an essential component of normal fetal development, especially in the first trimester when most of the neural network is laid down.

It is commonly recommended by natural health care practitioners for a variety of different therapeutic applications including:

• Cervical Dysplasia
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anemia
• Atherosclerosis

Understanding The Complexities of B Complex & How They Work In Your Body

All of the B vitamins work together and are best used by the body in a B complex, which is why many B complex supplements include a small dose of folic acid in them. If additional supplementation of folic acid is needed, it should be taken in addition to a good B complex.

Folic Acid & B Complex Supplement Varieties

Most B vitamins are water-soluble and any extra from large doses is flushed out of the body easily, therefore, it's best to take lower dosages of the B complex several times a day than one larger dose. Spray or sublingual forms of B vitamins are easily absorbed, as are capsules and if your digestion is healthy, then the tablet form is usually suitable for most people.

Important Considerations About Folic Acid Supplements

Folic acid is depleted by oral contraceptives and many other types of medication. Alcohol blocks the absorption of folic acid. High doses of folic acid can also change the way your body uses certain medications. Check with your health practitioner before taking large doses of folic acid.

Cooking or microwaving destroys folic acid. Pregnant women should begin supplementation before they become pregnant because folic acid is most needed during the first six weeks of fetal life. This is often when a woman does not know she is pregnant.

Phosphatidyl choline (PC) is used in the food industry as a food emulsifier. Emulsifying means that it makes fat-soluble in water. As a supplement, PC breaks down fats, builds the cellular membrane and synthesizes the neurochemical acetylcholine.

How Phosphatidyl Choline Works In The Body

PC’s emulsifying properties prevent fatty build-ups in the body, for example in the blood vessels, gallbladder and liver. Decreasing fatty build-up in arteries helps to regulate blood pressure. PC is a large component of all cell membranes because it regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell. It can cross the blood-brain barrier to produce brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that aid in memory - in particular acetylcholine.

The protective coating of the brain and nerve cells is also composed of choline. In this respect PC helps to make the sheath (myelin) that surrounds the nerves that conduct messages from the brain to the muscles and organs of your body, performing a similar function to the insulation sheathing of electrical wires. If this protective sheath degenerates (as in MS), a "shorting out" of the message that the nerve is carrying occurs. Natural health practitioners for alcoholic liver damage, Alzheimer’s disease, gallstones, hepatitis, atherosclerosis, memory loss, nerve degeneration and depression recommend PC.

Phosphatidyl Choline Supplement Varieties

PC supplements are made in capsules but lecithin is found in capsules or as granules. Lecithin granules should be refrigerated for freshness because the essential fatty acid component can go rancid. Lecithin contains 10-20% PC. Newer lecithin supplements, made from fresh egg yolk, contain a higher percentage of PC.

Key Considerations

Oral contraceptives, estrogen, sulfa drugs, food processing, coffee and alcohol deplete lecithin in the body, which contains PC. Do not use high doses of lecithin if you have manic-depressive disorder.