Vitamins, Health & Weight Loss
Good diet nutrition is essential for optimum health – including efficient metabolism, stable blood sugar levels and appetite, all of which affect weight control and how fast we lose weight. Vitamins play an essential role in diet nutrition and weight control.
Biotin
Part of the vitamin B-complex; also known as vitamin H.
Biotin is widely distributed in food, so a deficiency is rare.
How Biotin helps
Promotes energy production
Important for growth
Helps to maintain a healthy nervous system
Good for hair (prevents greying and baldness) and healthy skin
Maintains health of the reproductive organs
Good food sources of Biotin
Brewer’s yeast. Liver. Kidney. Free range egg yolks. Wheatgerm. Wholemeal bread. Oatmeal. Peas. Molasses. Herring. Mackerel. Avocado. Blackcurrants.
Enemies
Up to 30 per cent is lost in cooking water unless reused.
Deficiency symptoms of Biotin
Muscular pain. Poor appetite. Dry skin. Other skin disorders. Fatigue.
Note:
People with an increased risk of biotin deficiency include:
Heavy drinkers
Women on the pill
People on sleeping pills or antibiotics
Recommended daily allowance of Biotin
US RDA: 300mcg
EU RDA: 150mcg
The Importance of a Balanced Diet
If you have been a regular follower of fad diets, regular fasting, single food diets, yo-yo dieting or diet/weight loss pills, you may already be deficient in vitamins and minerals. This may be why you find it difficult to lose weight, or sustain weight loss in the long term.
Solution: Follow a balanced diet that offers slow steady weight loss and includes advice on exercise. Anne Collins Weight Loss Diet Program is a good choice.