Overview

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on the circumstances and the particular organism. For example, ascorbic acid functions as vitamin C for some animals but not others, and vitamins D and K are required in the human diet only in certain circumstances.

Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" actually refers to a number of vitamer compounds, which form a set of distinct chemical compounds that show the biological activity of a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals are grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A," which (for example) includes retinal, retinol, and many carotenoids. Vitamers are often inter-convertible in the body. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Which One Of These Two Types of Irritable Bowel Syndromes Do You Have?

There are essentially two types of syndromes associated with irritable bowel syndrome: diarrheic episodes and constipation times. When the main motive syndrome is diarrhea, abdominal pain, and discomfort, a feeling of flatulence and gas. The frequency of watery stool is more than a normal person stool. Because people have different amounts of stool from three per day to three a week, on the definition of "frequent" should loose stools in comparison with the person of normal frequency.

If the main symptom associated with irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, it is also accompanied by abdominal pain and flatulence sensation. As the faecal material to drive slowly through the gastrointestinal system, the person who chairs and stools are difficult to pass.

It is not necessary to have only one of the above symptoms. The suffering at the end of May witnessed both diarrhea and constipation in the same week, but the abdominal pain is usually present. But doctors should make sure that patients thoroughly, because there are many gastrointestinal conditions, whose main symptom is abdominal pain. For example, the physician can say that the person suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, if the stool relieves the pain.

Specialists still can not say exactly what the causes of irritable bowel syndrome in adults and children. Patients can easily create their efforts in creating a precise diagnosis by a journal in which you find that foods they have eaten prior to the appearance of symptoms and the symptoms. This is useful because there are a number of aliments and beverages that are known to irritate the gastrointestinal system: caffeine, alcohol, carbonated juices. However drink these beverages does not lead to the disease, but only accentuate the symptoms. Some people have particular sensitivities foods (such as lactose or fructose intolerance persons) and, if they eat such foods, they can witness similar symptoms. Here is a daily food and drink magazine can tell doctors if the patient is indeed suffering from the irritable bowel syndrome or another condition with similar symptoms. If people know, are vulnerable to certain aliments not in the hands of them, they can avoid these kind of symptoms.

Not all people suffer from IBS in the same measures. These aged 20 to 40 are more predisposed to developing the condition and women tend to suffer them more frequently than men. This has led some physicians to believe that the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome could with monthly hormonal changes in the level, but it is not safe. Studies have shown that many people suffer from the IBS also suffer a high level of stress and recommend any kind of stress relief treatments.

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