Domestic Geek

Vitamin C is one of the most important substances we need. Besides helping keep our immune systems strong, it helps our bodies heal and is necessary for our bodies to absorb iron. This is especially important for women, who usually have low iron levels due to menstruation. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it helps block free radicals produced when the body turns food to energy. Free radicals are responsible for aging and contribute to many diseases such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis.

Since the body can not produce vitamin C on its own nor can it store it, constant supply needs to be ingested to stay healthy. The good news is that the only health problem caused by ingesting too much into your system is some pretty gnarly diarrhea and an upset stomach.

According to this article about vitamin C, here are some of the signs that you have a vitamin C deficiency:

* Dry and splitting hair
* Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
* Bleeding gums
* Rough, dry, scaly skin
* Decreased wound-healing rate
* Easy bruising
* Nosebleeds
* Weakened tooth enamel
* Swollen and painful joints
* Anemia
* Decreased ability to fight infection
* Possible weight gain because of slowed metabolism

A severe vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy.

Two thirds of the 'thon down, one third to go. This overnight stretch is by far the hardest. My non-blogathon friends are tucked away in their beds, hopefully sleeping peacefully. Fatigue is setting in to the bloggers. Comments are less frequent and you start to feel that you're all alone and there's no point. It'll pass in a bit. Next thing I know, it will be 7 am and I, too, can crawl into bed beside Marcus and slip into a sleep coma.

There is still time to sponsor me if you'd like and haven't yet done so. Link is in the upper left hand corner under the blogathon logo or click the big banner under the header.

Suni suggested I check out the benefits of using Fish Oil.

The oil is supposed to help the brain and heart. It is a beneficial supplement for people who suffer from depression, bipolar and borderline personality disorder. Fish oil has also been proven to protect people from age-related macular degeneration and relieve dry-end syndrome.

It is supposed to be beneficial to eat fish at least twice a week. From the American Heart Association web site:

We recommend eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week. Fish is a good source of protein and doesn’t have the high saturated fat that fatty meat products do. Fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

I used to eat a can of tuna fish for lunch every day, but I rarely eat fish anymore...I should start up again.

Laura suggested that I make mention of joint supplements during the 'thon. I wrote on this blog before about how my old dog, Ursa, was doing much better with her arthritic hips after we switched her to a senior dog food that contained glucosamine and chondroitin. In doing some research, I'm not finding side effects from using them. The only thing is they are freaking expensive.

Once I lose this extra weight , if I still have joint pain I may just make the investment. Like I said, it did wonders for the old dogs.

I also recall hearing that shark cartilage is good for rebuilding damage joint cartilage, but of course I can't find that information right at the moment. All I'm finding is supposedly fraudulent claims that it cures cancer or some other such crock. I'll edit this if I find it.

Not that anybody has probably noticed, but I've been making little tweaks here and there to the CSS to finally finish up this theme. I know by the time I get it all color coordinated, the 'thon will be over and I'll have to change it again. I promise not to keep this one up 9 months after the fact like the October Breast Cancer theme.

I don't think I'll bother with the comment page, though. We'll see.

I'm a little annoyed with King Soopers. They carry the one packaged snack mix I allow myself to eat...at least they used to. It was Quaker cheddar something or another. The problem is that most stores have quit carrying that ONE flavor of it. I had meant to hit the one KS on the way home from work that was still stocking it and totally forgot.

I wish I had some right now.

I guess I'll go see if we have any popcorn in the cupboard.