Vitamin D or vitamin that can be obtained from food or produced by human skin who is exposed by sunlight, play an important role in improving the body’s immune system.

The presence of vitamin D is very crucial for the body. Therefore, the weapon T cells of the body, the cells that attack and destroy bacteria and viruses that lodged in the body. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have found that vitamin D was very important to activate the human immune system. Without vitamin D intake is sufficient, killer cells of the immune system (T cells) will not be able to react and fight serious infections in the body.

Well, that T cells can detect and kill foreign pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, the cells must be triggered first and then transformed from inactive cells and become dangerous killer cells are ready to find and destroy all the attackers.

The researchers found that T cells depend on vitamin D in the activation process. Thus, the body will be vulnerable if the deficiency of vitamin D in the blood. Researchers from the Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Professor Carsten Geisler said, when dealing with T cells of foreign pathogens, these cells will be held device or antenna signal, known as the vitamin D receptor, which will search for vitamin D.

“This indicates the T cells must have a vitamin D or the activation of the cells will stop. If the T cells are unable to find enough vitamin D in the blood, they will not even begin to mobilize, “said Professor Carsten, as quoted reuters.com.

The results of these discoveries made scientists believe that providing much needed information on the immune system will help regulate the immune response.

This is important because not only to fight the disease, but also in relation to the body’s immune and organ transplant rejection. After an organ transplant, T cells can attack the donor organ as “foreign attackers”. In autoimmune diseases such as arthritis or Crohn’s disease, the fragments of T-cells (cells to attack foreign body) leads to the body to attack itself.

For the research team, identified the role of vitamin D in the activation of T cells has become a major breakthrough. Scientists have long known that vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium and vitamin has also been involved in diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. But what was revealed is how the true role of vitamin D is essential to activate the human immune system.

Carsten further said, the findings could help overcome the illness and even disease outbreak. The study will also be very useful in developing a new vaccine, which works exactly as the basic formation of the human immune system. And responding well suppress the body’s natural defenses in critical situations (as in the case of organ transplants and autoimmune diseases). Benefits of vitamin D is also recognized by other researchers Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary. Chris said, vitamin D helps increase the body’s immune system’s ability to fight infection.

“We found that a single dose of vitamin D that is large enough to improve one’s immunity against the bacteria.”

Until now there has been no significant research on the optimal intake of vitamin D needed by the body in one day. However, experts recommend for men and healthy women aged 14-50 years, it is recommended to take vitamin D as much as 5 micrograms or 200 international units (IU) per day. Once the age of 51, the recommended intake increased to 10 micrograms or 400 IU per day. Furthermore, at the age of 71 increased to 15 micrograms (600 IU).

The problem, perhaps there is still much to trivialize the role of vitamin D is. Sometimes people only consider the intake of fat, protein, and carbohydrates, but not much notice the little things like vitamins, particularly vitamin D. Macro nutrients are needed, but micro-nutrients are also very important in preventing disease, maintaining the immune system, ensure the body’s energy levels, and various roles of vitamins and other antioxidants.

Vitamin D include vitamin fat-soluble, and are required to maintain the body’s general health. But because these vitamins are fat soluble and stored in fat cells of the body, this vitamin can be toxic if consumed in excess amount. Vitamin D can be found in some foods, including milk, cod liver oil, salmon and mackerel, tuna and sardines, cereals fortified with vitamin D, eggs, and margarine.

Another way the easiest to get this vitamin is silent for a moment in the sun in the morning. Besides drinking milk, this is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you get vitamin D intake is sufficient.

Not necessarily every day if you’re busy. But every person is recommended to get exposure to sunlight for 15 minutes, 2-3 times per week. Make sure as many parts of the body exposed to sunlight. This is to enhance the absorption of vitamin D by the skin.

Diabetes clearly increases the risk of one of various cardiovascular disorders, including heart attacks, hypertension, or stroke. To reduce the risk of heart disease, doctors will usually give medicine to restore the abnormal levels of blood fats.

Unfortunately, recent studies show medicine therapy to control blood pressure and lower blood sugar does not help prevent cardiovascular disease. In fact, medicine therapy in some cases cause side effects.

A decade ago, health officials in the United States conducted three studies to see whether the three types of intensive therapy to lower blood sugar, blood pressure or blood fats are effective for preventing heart attacks and strokes in diabetics (diabetes).

A study of the blood sugar was stopped two years ago when researchers look at blood sugar control treatment was not much effect. However, two studies are in progress.

In studies of blood fats (triglycerides) which is done by researchers from Columbia University and involving 5500 people with diabetes who also have the risk factors of other heart disease, namely hypertension and high cholesterol.

All the respondents received statins, cholesterol-lowering medication. Half of the respondents have triglyceride-lowering medicines and the rest a dummy medicine. Five years later the entire group of respondents known to have the same incidence of stroke and heart attack. This means that medicine therapy does not help much.

From the results of research, proven therapies that incentives by medicine-oatan is not able to reduce the incidence of heart attacks, although it is able to prevent a stroke. However, experts do not recommend people with diabetes to stop taking the medication without consulting their doctors.

So what should people with diabetes do? Stay focused on diet and healthy lifestyle and keep trying medications doctors recommended to reduce the risk of disease, according to Dr.Clyde Yancy, a cardiologist and president of the American Heart Association.

For people with diabetes,  they are advised to eat a varied diet in order to achieve a balance between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Some have diabetes can control their blood sugar by eating only three meals a day and avoid sweet foods. While the rest need a strict diet.

To reduce the risk of heart disease, do the exercise because it increases blood flow through blood vessels smaller and increase the efficiency of heart pumping power.

As we get older, gaining weight becomes a fear. As a result we are distancing ourselves from the weight scales and the ritual of buying clothes became an unpleasant activity.

According to Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, author of Fight Fat After Forty, weight gain at the age of 40 years and over is normal. Because hormonal changes very easy to make fat accumulate in the body. However, the hormonal changes really only make our bodies gain weight 1-2,5 kg. “What makes the scales continue to go up is our lifestyles that are not healthy and rarely do exercise.”

So what can we do? “Hold these 3 keys, mind, mouth, and muscle,” Peeke said with enthusiasm.

Use the mind to control the stress that appears. Hormonal changes also affect our emotional stability. After that, Peeke added, choose the size, quality, and frequency of nutrient-rich meal. “When we talk about the adequacy of nutrition for the elderly, then the diet should consist more of wheat, fruits, vegetables, plus protein,” She explained as she mentioned, we also must remember the needs of daily calories.

For those at the age 40-50 need 1500-1600 calories a day if we do sports. While for men aged, the required calories per day is 1800-2000.

In order that the fat does not accumulate, Peeke suggest us to do sports. Physical activity not only reduce fat in the body, but also strengthen our bones. Ideally, the percentage of body fat in older women is 22-27 per cent. Whereas for men is 18-25 percent of daily caloric needs.

As for the rules of eating, Peeke allows us to eat every 3 or 4 hours. That way, we will not overeat as a result of being hungry too long. “But remember, do not eat too late. Because, the it will give the body too little time to process it into energy. “

Urban people usually do not appreciate the relaxation because we often feel guilty for not being productive. People should know that feeling tension will accelerate the ongoing work throughout your system and produce conditions that can make young people develop symptoms typical of the elderly.

Most of us will deny being stressed, but your skin can’t lie. To check your stress level, check out the signs on your skin.

1. Dry skin
“Chronic stress increases the cortisol hormone levels that can damage the skin’s ability to retain water,” said Peter Elias, MD, a dermatologist from the University of California, United States. As a result, the skin will lose moisture and become dull.

2. Soft wrinkles
Cortisol, the stress hormones, also will increase blood sugar levels which can damage the collagen and elastin, the protein fiber that makes the skin supple and soft. Tension in the facial muscles due to stress can also create permanent wrinkles.

3. Redness
Improve blood circulation that occurs when we are under pressure to widen capillaries. Stress also trigger reddish hue called rosacea. And, because stress weakens the immune system, reddish tinge on the face will probably stay long enough.

4. Acne
Acne is a skin disorder characterized by the growth of small rash due to clogging of skin pores. Acne occurs when hair follicles in the skin becomes blocked. Stress also increases the inflammation that causes clogged hair follicles.

5. Eyestrain
Anxiety will produce a chain reaction; make it hard for eyes to close at night and causing swollen eyes, so the next day your face look bothered by the eyes that looked tired and haggard.

The skin is the outermost organ of the human body which is flexible and soft. For the sake of the healthy skin, every day people clean, moisturize and protect skin, especially women. What are the facts behind the human skin?

As quoted from HowStuffWorks, by understanding the skin, we can help place them in a perspective of how the skin fills all the space in the body.

1. The skin protects the internal organs from external elements such as extreme temperatures, ultraviolet rays from the sun and harmful chemicals.

2. The skin also helps retain water, prevent infection and produce essential proteins and vitamins. To perform all the tasks, a large amounts of skin is required.

3. Adults have an average of about 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) or approximately 22 square feet (6.7 square meters) of skin.

4. Not all skin can be seen by the eye. Human skin consists of three layers: the epidermis, dermis and fat layer under the skin, or hypodermis. And each layer has a different purpose.

Epidermis is the outer layer of skin that gives pigment-cells and produce new skin cells to replace cells that have died.

Dermis is the middle layer, is a place to feel pain and has touch receptors like blood vessels, hair follicles, collagen and elastin.

While subcutaneous layer consists of collagen and fat, which helps absorb shocks and protect the body and internal organs.

5. The skin is an organ which keeps on developing and constantly changes throughout our lives. Even humans shed about 40,000 skin cells per minute.

6. Skin experienced renewal every 35 days. This means that when a person aged 20 years, he has experienced skin turnover of 200 times.