Using vaginal vitamins, minerals and herbs can help maintain a healthy youthful vagina.
Implementing vitamins, minerals and herbs into your diet can be life improving. Many people still don't believe that vitamins and other supplements can treat, heal and prevent diseases.
(Note: vitamins, minerals and herbs= vitamins and supplements or supplements)
Even with all the data on the health benefits of vitamins and supplements people still doubt the importance and some actually find it annoying taking them.
I will admit that the information on supplements is confusing and overwhelming but with a little research and with the help of Youthfu-Va-JayJay.com will make it a bit easier.
Overall vitamins and supplements are good for the body!
There are many health benefits of taking supplements for example some vitamins help restore, protect, heal or repair body tissue that includes the tissue of the vagina (inside and out) and all the areas of that region.
Other vitamins and supplements aid in protecting bones and teeth (including the pelvic bone), while others help maintain and protect good eyesight, body metabolism, hair, skin, nails, liver, kidney, heart, brain and so on.
While others help build red blood cells, improve insomnia, treat Alzheimer’s
disease the list goes on.
And... others can prevent and protect the body from cancer.
Do you get the point?
This is just a very small portion of benefits from consuming vitamins and supplements and I haven't mentioned the benefits of herbs yet.
Yes, it is always better to eat your vitamins and supplements through food but often with busy schedules and being overworked and tired with the daily operations of life and survival you are just too tired to cook the proper way.
Sometimes you feel like giving up and letting the future fall where it may it seems a bit easier, but listen to that small voice in your head that tells you to keep going it will get better.
I will admit that the information on vitamins and supplements is confusing and overwhelming but learning a little daily, weekly or monthly is a lot better than learning nothing at all.
We hear so much about vitamins that we forget about minerals, I did. Minerals like vitamins are very beneficial for the body and overall health.
Minerals and vitamins work synergistically they need each other to work better and to work right.
Minerals cannot be made by or in the body therefore certain ones should be taken on a daily basis.
Minerals help transport oxygen throughout the body, help reach sexual maturity, help strengthen teeth and bones,
help maintain digestive juices, help maintain fluid in body cells and so on.
What are nutrients?
Nutrients are nutritious biological substances that are in food that the body needs to operate properly and to stay alive.
These nutritious biological substance are known as the Six Essential Nutrients which are divided into two categories amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids/ lipids and vitamins, minerals and water.
The body does not make any of the essential nutrients so you must obtain them from food which is always the best way.
Out of the six essential nutrients there are three (3) that humans need on a daily basis in large quantities for everyday living and energy.
The three essential nutrients are known as Macronutrients amino acids, fatty acids/ lipids and carbohydrates needed for the body in great amounts.
The remaining three (3) essential nutrients are needed in small quantities also on a daily basis and are just as essential as the others.
These three essential nutrients are known as Micronutrients vitamins, minerals and trace minerals.
Although water sustains life it provide no nutrients yet you cannot live without it.
It is neither micro nor macronutrient it is a compound or mixture of two elements of hydrogen and oxygen.
What are dietary supplements?
Supplement means to "add to".
Therefore dietary supplements are vitamins, mineral, herbs, fatty acids, amino acids, probiotics and so on in liquids, powder, capsules and tablets that are taken orally to add to/supplement an incomplete diet.
Supplements should only be taken if you have an incomplete diet and that is true for most Americans.
Most traditional medical doctors do not understand or know much about supplements they prefer writing prescriptions.
You really can't depend on your doctor to give you solid advice on supplements, that is a task I would recommend you take up yourself.
Although, there are medical doctors that are now trained in "Alternative Health" I would suggest visiting these types of doctors.
Supplements are not food and should not be taken as food
What are vitamins?
Vitamins are organic compound substances created naturally from animal and plant life to help sustain a healthy and balanced life.
Believe it or not having deficiencies of vitamins and minerals in the body can/will cause various diseases, syndromes etc..
Our bodies do not make the majority of vitamins on its own, the best way to get them is through food.
There are vitamins, that will support the health of the vagina. When your body is receiving balanced nutrients the vagina will benefit for a life time. My belief is that a female as young as eighteen (18) years old should start taking vitamins, minerals and herbs but only if she does not have a healthy balanced diet.
Now you understand why a healthy balanced diet is essential for optimal health.
Eating a balanced diet is not beneficial if you cannot absorb the nutrients from the food or the vitamins.
It is very important to have a healthy digestive system.
I had two C-sections one in 2000 and the other in 2004 and after the first one my digestive tract moved "slow" after the second C-section my digestive tract was in a "coma'.
It was very hard to digest my food. The doctors never informed me that after having a C-section it would slow down my digestive system dramatically.
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What are minerals?
Minerals are non-living material/substance formed in and from the earth through water and soil.
Vitamins and mineral are not the same thing.
Vitamins are substances that come from organism/life that were once alive. Minerals are elements that come from non-living matter.
Just like vitamins humans need minerals as well.
Minerals help the body to operate, grow and stay strong. Our bodies do not make minerals.
Again, we have to get them through our diet and supplements.
At 16 years old my lips unexpectedly changed color. They went from a pinkish brown to very dark brown and chapped.
My mother took me to the doctor and they took blood ran all kinds of test and nothing was found.
However, the doctors doctor did tell my mother that I was anemic (low red blood cells) in a matter-of-fact voice. For years I thought he said I was "a nemic" believing it was two words.
He prescribe iron pills for me I never took them and my mother did not encourage me because she too was anemic.
This was the mid 80's we just didn't know better.
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What are herbs?
Herbs are plants.
In particular, plants that do not grow with woody stems, produces new leaves and stems during its season and they can be used for cooking.
In totality herbs are used for culinary, medicinal, spiritual and fragrance usage.
Every part of an herb is usable the leaves, the stems and the oil it produces.
There are herbs that stimulate blood flow throughout body tissue including the vagina, that help lubricate internal organs including the vagina and bladder, tone the uterus and shrink fibroids as well as many other benefits of including herbs as a health tool.
A few years back I developed a urinary tract infection (UTI). I did not have health insurance at the time.
Even if I had had health insurance I wouldn't have taken antibiotics.
So, I opened my medicine cabinet and pulled out my cobalt blue bottle of oregano oil, empty veggie capsules, glass dropper and extra virgin olive oil.
I filled the capsules with five (5) drops of oregano oil and twelve (12) drops of extra virgin olive oil.
I took three (3) capsules three (3) times each of the mixture along with two (2)cranberry capsules with d-mannose and two (2) probiotics five (5) days a week excluding the weekends for three weeks or fifteen (15) days.
All traces (including the pain) of the UTI were gone in week one (1). I added the extra two weeks because I went the holistic approach it takes longer to get into the system.
I know this may sound strange to some but my vagina felt strong and alive after the 15 days.
I find it best to take herbs as an on again off again routine (three to four weeks on to four weeks off). Herbs medicinal and are strong and most importantly they really work.
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What are standardized supplements?
Standardized supplements are supplements that have been tested to ensure the product contains the stated percentage amount of the active ingredient/s.
I will tell you this I am still a bit stumped on this topic. I have done research on this topic and I am still confused.
This information is not clear enough for me to give a definitive opinion. I am still in research mood.
Most of the standardized supplements seem to be herbal oils, extract and capsules.
However, I will say this that it is always best to take herbal supplements in whole leaf ( stem, leaf and flower) whether it's the oil, extract or capsules.
When I have gathered enough information to give my opinion and a clear understanding of supplement standardization I will post it.
The deep folds of the inner vagina goes through a lot of stress intercourse, sperm irritation, giving birth, inserting tampons, douching, medication, illness, feminine hygiene sprays and perfumes, STD's and STI's and menopause all affect the health of the vagina.
Some vitamins, minerals and herbs help with vaginal moisture, odor, infection, tissue repair, tissue growth, vaginal flora and some even help with vaginal tightening and also help prevent bone lost in the pelvic region.
Low and/or depleted levels of vitamins A, B2, B12, C, D, E and the mineral zinc, iron, and the protein ferritin directly affect the
mucous membrane that lines the body internally including the mucous membrane of the vagina.
It is not as simple as to buy any vitamins online or in a store, there are certain types of vitamins to purchase and use.
The best vitamins to take are wholefood vitamins.
Wholefood vitamins work with the body, the body is able to absorb them because they are made from food (fruits and vegetables).
When buying wholefood vitamins look for Certificate of Analysis (COA), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) labeled on bottle.
The manufactures of the supplement must pass each organizations standard before getting approval and displaying organization's seal of approval.
COA provide test that establishes freshness and labels all non-detected contaminants.
USP provide test that establishes standards for purity, strength, disintegration/breakdown of the supplement.
GMP are regulations or guidelines established by the Food and Drug Administration that requires makers of supplements and other products to ensure that the environment producing the product is clean and practice quality control as well as producing safe effective and pure products.
Five of the six (6) essential nutrients (EN) all derives from food. I would not recommend taking any of the EN or any supplements in a made-made/ synthetic/chemical form.
The body needs these nutrients to perform and develop properly.
Think of the body as a plant or flower.
What happens to the plant/flower if it does not get water or sun light?
The plant/flower fails to flourish.
The plant/flower stops growing, turns yellow, withers and dies.
The same happens to the body when it does not get the proper nutrients it needs to grow.... the body fails to flourish/operate at its optimal level.
Most people are operating on a sub-par level and do not realize it.
We get small ailments thinking and believing it's because we are getting older or it runs in the family or it just happened well that may be true but to a certain point and you must remember "nothing" just happens there is always a reason for everything.
Most ailments arise due to lack of proper nutrition because of bad diet and/or lack of absorption of food and vitamins.
Ailments such as anemia, night blindness, high cholesterol, thinning hair, dizziness, bad digestion, insomnia, migraines, glaucoma, light sensitivity, cataract, a numbing of the hands and feet, acne, rough skin, frequent colds, tiredness, weak immune system, memory loss, mouth ulcers, week bone density, heavy periods, toxic and sluggish blood flow, crohn's disease and IBS and the list goes on.
All the above ailments and many others can be traced back to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies.
Yes... it's true and that simple.
Do your research you will see.
Do not put your health solely in the hands of doctors your health is not their health it is only a "job".
Our job is to find out what ails us... don't look at it as a hard task but rather an adventurous journey of "Healing Thy Self".
Below are the six essential nutrients that the body needs everyday in order to function properly. EN are nutrients that the human body cannot make by itself, EN are the body's nutritional helpers.
There are many nutrients that are good for the body but the minimum you should include in your diet on a daily basics is as follows:
Protein/ Amino Acids (9)
Carbohydrates (complex)
Fatty Acids/Lipids (omega 3 and 6)
Vitamins (13)
Minerals (15 major and trace)
Water
Amino Acids/Protein:
What are amino acids
Amino Acids are protein.
Protein is a macro-nutrient meaning you need consume large healthy amounts daily.
There are twenty (20) types of human amino acids; combinations of these 20 amino acids make up human protein.
Amino Acid are divided into two (2) categories essential and non-essential.
Nine (9) are essential meaning the human body cannot produce/create them. They must be obtain through diet (beans and legumes, eggs, dairy, raw nuts and/or lean meats).
Nine (9) essential amino acids:
Isoleucine
Lysine
Valine
Histidine
Threonine
Methionine
Leicine
Tryptophane
Phenylalanine
The remaining eleven (11) are non-essential meaning they can be made in the body.
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Carbohydrates (complex and simple):
What are carbohydrates
Carbohydrates or carbs are energy for the body.
Carbs are starches and sugars found in foods such as vegetables, brown rice (complex) and fruits, dairy (simple).
Some are quick and some are long lasting.
Saccharide is another name for carbohydrate
Do not be fooled depending on the type of carbs they are not "Bad" for you.
There is a debate regarding carbohydrates some believe they are essential and others believe they are not.
I know they are essential because complex carbs plays a major role in providing energy to the cells of the brain; carbs also provides energy to the cells of the body.
Carbohydrates also affects the pH balance of the vagina and vaginal secretions.
The body can get energy from fat and protein but only for a certain time and then it needs carbs to keep going.
The brain however, depends exclusively on carbohydrates for fuel/energy.
I mean, what can be more essential than then fueling the brain?
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Fatty Acids/Lipids:
What are essential fatty acids (EFA's)?
EFA's are essential fats that the body need but cannot make own its own. EFA's must be taken orally either as a supplement or from food.
The types of EFA's are Alpha-linolenic acid/ALA and Linoleic acid/LA.
ALA and LA are essential fats however, Oleic Acid (omega 9) also important but non-essential can be made in the body if there is a supply of ALA and LA.
ALA is omega 3 and LA is omega 6, these fatty acids are essential because the body cannot produce them and they can be converted into other fatty acids that are needed for the body.
Although both are essential and both are needed together there is a proper ratio of omega 3 and 6.
Omega 3 only comes from fish oil and omega 6 comes from plant oils (soybeans, corn, sunflower etc.).
The body and the brain really needs EFA's they can help prevent hardening of blood vessels, inadequate vaginal lubrication, vaginal itching, vaginal burning during intercourse, irregular menstrual cycle and so on.
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Fat Soluble Vitamins:
There are two (2) classification of the thirteen (13) essential vitamins Fat Soluble and Water Soluble.
Four (4) Fat Soluble vitamins:
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Vitamin D
Vitamin K
These vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissue of the body (adipose). Fat soluble vitamin build-up in the body and moves slowly out of the body.
They are called fat soluble vitamin because they dissolve in the fat of the body.
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Water Soluble Vitamins:
Water soluble vitamins are called as such because they do not store or build-up in the body and they dissolve in water.
They must be replaced everyday.
Every time you urinate, sweat or even smoke water soluble vitamins leave the body.
The are nine water soluble vitamins.
Nine (9) Water Soluble Vitamins are:
Vitamin C complex (not ascorbic acid)
Vitamin B complex consist of:
Vitamin B/B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Folic Acid
Biotin
These vitamins are absorb in the small intestine and then circulates through your bloodstream; again water soluble vitamins need to be replenish daily or every few days.
The are called water-soluble vitamin because every time you sweat or urinate these vitamins are eliminated.
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Minerals (macro and micro)
Minerals are non-living material/substance formed in and from the earth through water and soil, minerals are elements that come from non-living matter.
There are fifteen (15) Essential Minerals:
Macro Minerals:
Calcium
Phosphorous
Magnesium
Micro/Trace Minerals:
Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Selenium
Copper
Iodine
Chloride
Chromium
Manganese
Sulphur
Molybdenum
Zinc
Essential minerals are needed for the body as much as vitamins. Macro minerals are needed in greater dosage than Micro/Trace minerals.Click here for more info on Essential Minerals
Water
In a class by itself.
Water, the sustainer of all life.
Water makes everything work.
Water is not a living thing.
Water is a natural chemical of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom it is not man-made.
It is a clear/transparent liquid that was here before us (humans).
Simple explanation, water on the earth comes from ocean, rivers, lakes
Where does water come from? Or how did water get here?
That is not an easy question to answer; there are several scientific explanations/theories but none of them are concrete enough to give a clear answer. Truth is, scientist don't really know.
Water is a mystery and I am not concern with the scientific aspect of it because I have my own belief of where it came from and science has nothing to do with it.
My focus for the website will be on the health benefits of water.
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Herbal oils or What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are the concentrated oils that come from herbs, spices and some fruits and can be used in a variety of ways healing and well-being, cooking, digestion, massage, infections, inflammation, skin and hair issues, peri/menopause issue, migraines and the beneficial usage goes on and on.
Highly volatile due to the oils ability to transition to vapor giving off an aromatic aroma. They are not the same as Essential Fatty Acids./EFA's.
There are several ways of extracting these oils depending on the type of herb, spice or fruit used and the manufacturer choice of extraction:
Solvent Extraction using a chemical substance to dissolve/releases the oils known as concrete (a mixture of essential oil and wax), then alcohol is used to extract/separate the essential oil from the concrete.
There are also other forms of extraction that falls under the solvent extraction method Maceration, Enfleurage, Hypercritical carbon dioxide/CO2 (known to be very expensive).
Expression or Cold press (no heat used) fairly popular when expressing/pressing the oils from nuts, seeds and citrus fruit rinds. There are other cold press method used Machine Abrasion, Écuelle à piquer method meaning to stick, prick and prod and the Sponge method.
Distillation is currently the most popular method of extraction, distillation changes the oils into vapor then changes the concentrated vapor back into liquid form. Hydro diffusion, Water, Steam, Water and Steam are the most common methods however, there are several other types of specialized distillation methods used as well Fractional, Rectification, Cohobation distillation.
There are herbs that are essential to and for the body.
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Not all supplements are equal.
Not every type of vitamin is good to take.
All supplements do not work in the body the same way...
.... and all vitamins are not made the same way.
Vitamins are either made synthetically (chemicals ) or in wholefoods (food source).
Synthetic vitamins are less expensive than wholefood vitamins, for a few years I used synthetic vitamins because it was what I could afford. I would stare and read over the wholefood vitamins dreaming of the day when I could afford to buy them.
In essence synthetic vitamins and supplement work differently in the body than wholefood vitamins.
Synthetic vitamins can take away from other needed nutrients in the body because they are made by using one (1) component of the vitamin therefore leaving the synthetic vitamin itself voided of its complete components to work efficiently in the body.
Makers of synthetic vitamins will tell you that "they" synthetic vitamins are just as effectives as wholefood vitamins.
This statement is just not true, how can anything synthetic work just as well as what is naturally God created and design.
(Note: I prefer using the term wholefood vitamins and supplement then "Natural" vitamins because the term "natural" is greatly subjective. It is legal for companies to use only 10% of wholefood source to use the term "natural").
An example of the one (1) component /one part of a vitamin is the world's most popular and famous Ascorbic Acid/Ascorbate falsely promoted as Vitamin C.
Truthfully, there are eight (8) components to vitamin c ascorbic acid is just one very incomplete part of the whole vitamin c complex.
Plainly stated ascorbic acid is not vitamin c but one (1) part of a whole e.g. banana skin is not a banana just one part of a whole, orange skin is not an orange just one part of a whole.
What I have learned is that wholefood vitamins work in harmony with the body and work in harmony with other whole vitamins.
Synthetic Vitamins
Synthetic equals man-made and anything man-made has defects.
Synthetic vitamins also known as Isolated or fractionated vitamins are made with chemicals, rocks, coal tar-like substances and excipients (fillers) such as magnesium stearate, silica, cellulose just to name a small few.
Synthetic vitamins do not have co-factors or any other beneficial enzymes. Co-factors are natural vitamins helpers that are naturally created in foods to make wholefood vitamins.
Most people do not understand what synthetic vitamins are or how to find them.
There are key words and initials that you can identify easily.
Looking at the ingredients any word that has "ide" or "ate" at the end usually indicates synthetic Pyridoxine Hydrochloride is synthetic vitamin B6 and Palmitate is synthetic vitamin A.
Another way to find out is checking to see if there are initials in front of a word such as "dl" dl-alpha tocopherol” a synthetic vitamin E.
Also if the ingredient reads as the vitamin itself e.g. vitamin A than it is isolated (1) part of the vitamin than you know it is synthetic.
Synthetic vitamins really plays havoc on the cells of the body and can cause other serious issues.
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Wholefood Vitamins
Wholefood vitamins are sourced from food.
Wholefood vitamins/supplements are composed of different components unlike synthetic vitamins wholefood supplements have enzymes, co-enzymes, co-factors and minerals.
These natural occurring enzymes, co-enzymes, co-factors and minerals work together synergistically for the greater good and the best health.
That's why it is the better choice for your health to take wholefood vitamins/ supplements.
Several enzymes are proteins made up of amino acids, enzyme proteins speed up chemical reaction in the body, they are the catalyst that gets the proteins going.
(Note): These are metabolic enzymes (action within cells) not digestive.
Co-enzymes are non-protein organic compounds (the natural chemical compound of a living or once living thing in which they derive). Co-enzymes help fuel/activate some enzymes without it these enzymes cannot perform properly or it is a non-activated enzyme.
Co-enzymes are members of the Co-Factor family.
Co-factors are organic molecules (coenzymes that are made from vitamins or are vitamins) or inorganic metal ions (as in trace minerals).
Enzymes need the co-factor/co-enzymes to be active they are often called helper molecules.
Coenzymes cannot function on their own and requires an enzyme however some enzymes do not need the help of co-factors/co-enzymes.
B vitamins, vitamin c, zinc, iron, magnesium are just a few examples of co-factors/co-enzymes that help accelerate the rate of reaction in enzymes helping them to function properly.
Wholefood vitamins are like a never-ending circle everything that makes it up connects
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Non-Essential
What are non-essential supplements and are they important to include in your diet?
We know that essential nutrients cannot be made by the body and they must be ingested from food or wholefood vitamin sources.
Do not be mistaken non-essential supplements does not mean they are not essential for health it means since they are able to make-up in the body they are not as essential as the vitamins that cannot be made by the body.
In other words non-essential vitamins are required and are very important to include in your diet.
Just like vitamin enzymes, co-enzymes, co-factors non-essential supplements work with essential vitamins, they need each other.
Some non-essential nutrients can be made by the body; although vitamin D is essential it can be made by the body's skin-cells from natural sunlight (best in summer months). Taking fermented cod liver capsules in the winter months when there is less sun out and we are outside less often is a great alternative.
Vitamin K a non-essential but is very important to vitamin for clotting the blood.
These supplements are consider non-essential because they are made by the body but are still important essential to include into your daily supplements routine. because you can
Vaginal Health/ Vaginal vitamins, Minerals and Herbs