Should I Be Taking Vitamin Supplements?

Should I Be Taking Vitamin Supplements?
 by: Ruth Stattmiller
Most people believe that they are reasonably healthy. Exercise, having a solid diet, and keeping stress to a minimum is a great way to live a longer, happier, and healthier life. That being said, will taking vitamin supplements help you even more? Who should take vitamin supplements? Are vitamin supplements only for extremely unhealthy people who simply don't have the time to exercise and eat right? You may be surprised to find out that vitamin supplements are a good idea for everyone, even the healthiest people.
Consider an average person, on an average day. How many items does the average person eat that are simply loaded with useless calories and no nutritional value? Today, more and more people are "too busy" to prepare healthy meals and eat specific foods in order to get their daily recommended amounts of vitamins. Some of these people may exercise, but exercising is only doing half of the requirements for healthy living. Eating right is just as important as exercise. If you are finding yourself too busy to sit down and prepare a solid meal, then you should be taking vitamin supplements. Taking vitamins with breakfast is always a good idea. Breakfast is probably the most important meal of the day (yet many people skip it), and so it can be enhanced by taking special vitamin supplements.
What about people who eat right and exercise? Yes, they too should be taking vitamin supplements. It would be a very rare case to find someone who was able to get all of his or her daily-recommended vitamins through prepared food. Vitamin supplements can also give people more than they need. Having more Vitamin C than needed is certainly better than not having enough. If you are someone who exercises frequently, then having your recommended amount of vitamins is even more crucial. Consider the amount of energy that is spent when exercising? Vitamins leave the body through the sweat glands, and it is important to replenish these vitamins.
Even the most active children should have vitamin supplements. Studies have shown that children who take vitamins daily are, on average, healthier than children who do not. Children are growing constantly, and exerting large amounts of energy. In truth, children need more vitamins than their parents because they need to have enough vitamins for growth.
A common misconception is that vitamin supplements replace vitamins from actual foods. Therefore, you don't need to eat vegetables if you are on vitamin supplements. This could not be farther from the truth. Vitamins are supposed to improve your physical well being by making sure you get your recommended amounts of vitamins, or even more than what is needed. For this reason, even someone who is eating healthy should be on vitamin supplements. Many people who have used vitamin supplements notice significant changes in their energy levels if they stop taking the supplements. People who have never taken supplements, and begin to take them notice a dramatic increase in their energy levels, and they even feel healthier.
The human body is always changing. Vitamins are constantly lost, and need to be replenished. Many people do not acquire enough vitamins to constitute half of the recommended daily amount. For these people, vitamin supplements are a must. However, even the healthiest person should consider taking vitamin supplements to ensure that he or she is getting the daily-recommended amounts, and that he or she has all the energy they need for the day. Healthy living is no easy feat. In order to be healthy, one must work at it constantly. Vitamins supplements should be used in addition to a healthy diet, so everyone should take vitamin supplements.

Is There a Perfect Contact Lens For Dry Eyes?

Is There a Perfect Contact Lens For Dry Eyes?
 by: Steve Cogger
Do you have dry eyes? Whether you just feel like you have dry eyes or your doctor has told you, there are contact lenses made just for you. Dry eye contact lenses vary depending on the type of dry eye. Manufacturers of contact lenses have focused a lot of time and research into developing the perfect dry eye contact lens.
A dry eye can be caused by numerous factors, and therefore, the perfect dry eye contact lens does not exist. The good news is contact lenses are designed for all different types of dry eyes. So chances are there is a contact lens for your dry eyes.
In its simplest state, dry eye is a lack of tears on the eye. In some cases it is a slow tear production rate, some instances it is a fast evaporation of tears, and in others it is a question of tear quality. Given the complexities of dry eye syndrome, there is no one contact lens that can possibly work on every dry eye.
In many cases, lenses like the Proclear Compatibles by cooper vision or the Extreme H2O contact lens will stay moist throughout the day and help the dry eye patient feel comfortable. Both these lenses are made with a high water content plastic and are able to maintain their moisture throughout the day. Both these lenses were developed with the dry eye contact lens wearer in mind.
The newest breed of soft contact lenses is the silicone hydrogel lens. By nature, silicone hydrogels do not dehydrate as readily as other soft lenses and may increase comfort. The right silicone lens accompanied by a good conditioning solution has been known to help many people with dry eyes.
Another philosophy is to fit a lens with a very low content. The theory is a lens that needs less water, will take less from the eye. For example, a lens that has only 38% water content will not need to take as much tears from the eye to stay moist and it is less prone to dehydration. A contact lens with 55% or more water content is going to take more tears from the eye, adding to the dry eye effect.
Contact lens solution also plays a major role when it comes to comfort and dry eyes. In many cases, simply changing your lens care system and solutions can alleviate a dry eye sensation.
If you have dry eyes and are not satisfied with your current contact lens situation, you may be a good candidate for a Proclear Compatible, Extreme H2O, silicone hydrogel, or a low water content contact lens.