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

---

What If You Could Turn Back The Clock To When You Were healthy?

What if there was a solution to protecting and restoring... Read More

Acid Amino Arginine ? An Acid With Many Benefits

When you buy acid amino arginine you can look forward... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - HMB

HMB stands for beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate. It is a metabolite of... Read More

Herbal Sex Supplements

There are numerous herbal supplements on the market today that... Read More

Steroid Stars

A long time ago, in the country far, far away,... Read More

Is Vitamin E Lethal?

Recently the news carried the story that a researcher had... Read More

Vitamin A and C: How They Affect The Skin

Benefits of using Vitamin A products:Retinol is pure and active... Read More

Mineral Supplements - Reasons For Taking

Mineral Supplement ? be healthy.Why is mineral supplement so important?... Read More

Why Supplements and Glyconutritionals?

Food is one of our most basic needs. However, in... Read More

8 Minerals Every Arthritis Sufferer Should Know About

Minerals are essential to maintain our bodies in top condition... Read More

Pros And Cons For Vitamin Supplements ? Are They Good Or Bad?

There are a number of pros and cons for vitamin... Read More

Glutathione - Your Brains Master Antioxidant Defense

Free radicals and oxyradicals play an important role in the... Read More

Vitamin C May Improve Smokers Blood Circulation

A dose of vitamin C may give a quick boost... Read More

Importance of Vitamin Supplementation

Vitamin supplement - why is it important?Vitamin supplement or supplements... Read More

Amino Acids Primer

Ever wondered whether amino acid supplements really work? We reveal... Read More

Do You Need Glyconutrients?

With all of the exciting things people are seeing in... Read More

Antioxidants May Prevent Childhood Asthma

A source suggests that there may be a new way... Read More

The Liquid Vitamin Supplement

Not many years ago the liquid vitamin supplement was unheard... Read More

Take Back Your Life 4

In parts one, two and three of this series, titled... Read More

Vitamin Nutritional Supplements: Tips, Myths, Facts, and Online Store!

With dietary supplements making their way in our daily life,... Read More

Glyconutrients - The Next Major Health Breakthrough

Did you know?· 20% of Australian children reported symptoms of... Read More

Why Do Liquid Form Nutritional Supplements Have Much Greater Bodily Absorption Than Pills?

Did you know that when you take vitamins and minerals... Read More

Eight Glyconutrients

Glyconutrients- the latest development in the health industry. What are... Read More

Nutritional Supplement - The Good Food, Bad Food Myth

Will common sense ever prevail? We've all seen stories on... Read More

Weight Lifting Supplement

Weight Lifting Supplement ? what is it?The term "weight lifting... Read More

Beta-Glucan Information

Beta-Glucan is an extremely potent, immune activating substance taken from... Read More

Mineral Supplement: Minerals in Your Diet!

The food is the raw material for the body. Minerals... Read More

Nutrition Supplements for Aging Americans

While America has given birth to the song "Young at... Read More

Introduing Supplements to Your Body & Improving Your Diet - A Guide of What to Expect

Part 1:A "better nutritional program" means the introduction of foods... Read More

All-Natural HGH Releasers- Does Neugenisis Really Work?

I began a quest to examine over 25 "leading products"... Read More

Iron and Your Heart Health

A ranch house, a zip lock bag and some ordinary... Read More

Is Ephedra a Miracle Cure?

Americans are buzzing about the FDA's recent decision to reverse... Read More

Nutritional Vitamin Fiber Supplements ? Which One Is For You?

Nutritional vitamin fiber supplements come in a variety of types,... Read More