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Fortunately, folate, a B vitamin, can help lower levels of heart-damaging homocysteine. Studies have found that supplements and folate-fortified cereals will do the job, but if you prefer more natural sources, spinach and other leafy greens are a good choice. Fresh is best when it comes to folate since cooking and processing tend to drain this important nutrient from foods. Spinach tastes better with age Fine wines may taste better as they age, but spinach may taste better as you age. If you decided as a child that spinach wasn't for you, give it another try.

A chronic deficiency of "the sunshine vitamin" can bring on hyperthyroidism. For those rainy days, plan ahead by eating fortified dairy products and seafood. A word of caution All soy products contain goitrogens, natural chemicals that interfere with your thyroid hormones. Seniors and women — prime targets for hypothyroidism — should be especially careful about eating soy on a daily basis. Peaches, almonds, peanuts, and cruciferous vegetables like turnips, rutabagas, and cabbage also contain small amounts of goitrogens.

Chronic B vitamin deficiencies may also be one cause of serious mental conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Make sure to eat spinach, beets, avocados, asparagus, and other vegetables for folate; low-fat cheeses, fish, and poultry for B12; and potatoes, beans, and watermelon for B6 and thiamin. Olive oil. Pour on the olive oil, says a recent study from Italy, and you'll pour on the recall. Out of nearly 300 seniors, those who ate at least 5 tablespoons of olive oil a day tested best on memory and problem solving skills. Give monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) the credit.

Eat Right, Live Longer: Using the Natural Power of Foods to Age-Proof Your Body Neal Barnard, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Although vitamin E is very good at knocking out free radicals, sometimes it is a little too good. As bad as free radicals can be, they also have a vital role in our bodies. White blood cells actually make free radicals to poison bacteria and other undesirables. If they were all neutralized, these important weapons against infections would be lost. White blood cells are like The Blob, the large, amorphous 1958 B-movie star that swallowed up everything in its path. It indiscriminately ingested innocent people, dogs, cats, a Chevy or two, and possibly even boiled okra.

If beta-carotene worked a little better and vitamin C were more vigilant, sex would not be necessary. Sex does not mean copulation. Intercourse is only the brief final scene in an extremely complex play. Getting the eggs and sperm cells ready is the tricky part. When you wete conceived, your father's sperm donated twenty-three chromosomes and your mother's egg donated the other twenty-three to give you the normal forty-six, unless you are one of those rare individuals who got one too many or too few.

Higher doses of vitamin D are potentially toxic and should be avoided. RESTORING STRENGTH TO BONES After menopause, many women are given estrogen supplements in order to slow down osteoporosis. But as we saw in chapter 5, supplemental hormones can increase the risk of cancer of the breast and uterus and cause many other problems. Estrogens do not build bone. The best they can usually do is to slow bone loss, and recent studies have thrown more cold water on doctors' enthusiasm for estrogen supplements.

Radical Healing: Integrating the World's Great Therapeutic Traditions to Create a New Transformative Medicine Rudolph M. Ballentine, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

We had tried everything to get rid of it: herbs, homeopathics, tissue salts, vitamin C. I \ept coming back to the possibility of learning the stomach wash. She consistently refused, considering the whole idea unspeakably repulsive. But finally, out of desperation, she agreed. I arranged for someone to meet her early one morning before she had breakfast, to teach her the technique. It's not complicated, but it's helpful to have someone with you who has done it before, to provide encouragement and support. After a few days, the "guggle" began to clear up. She was overjoyed.

I could see the utility of the E, since I had just begun to hear of the use of vitamin E to slow aging. But the huge doses of D concerned me. "How long have you been taking this?" I asked. "For many years," she said. Then, apparently noticing my serious tone, she added, "Well, I don't take it all the time." I was puzzled. Still in medical school, all I knew was prescribed doses. "So when do you take it?" I asked. "I take it when I need it," she answered, as though that shouldn't need explaining. "And for how long?

The Crazy Makers: How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Brains and Harming Our Children Carol Simontacchi See book keywords and concepts

It has been speculated that the body can make its own fatty acids from vegetable oils, but Innis goes on to say that whether or not an infant can manufacture his own is dependent on a number of variables, including the vitamin and mineral content of the formula. We certainly can't depend on it, especially since infants may be deficient from birth in some of the nutrients needed to complete the metabolic transformation.

Fluoride the Aging Factor: How to Recognize and Avoid the Devastating Effects of Fluoride Dr. John Yiamouyiannis See book keywords and concepts

In 1978, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an editorial pointing out that "in several short-term studies, fluoride has been administered for treatment of involutional osteoporosis, alone or with supplemental calcium, vitamin D or both. No studies have demonstrated alleviation of frac-turels].... However, studies in humans have shown an increased incidence of... fractures. When high doses of fluorides have been given to animals receiving a diet that was otherwise unchanged, most studies have shown no change or a decrease in the strength of the bone.

Healing Pets With Nature's Miracle Cures Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A. See book keywords and concepts

As previously stated, cats lack a crucial enzyme needed to convert beta carotene into vitamin A. Carotenoids are naturally occurring colorful compounds that are abundant as pigments in plants. Although more than six hundred specific carotenoids have been identified, only a limited number are important. The major ones are alpha-carotene, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, and lycopene.38,39 A number of carotenoids are effective in preventing or controlling free radical generation.

Radical Healing: Integrating the World's Great Therapeutic Traditions to Create a New Transformative Medicine Rudolph M. Ballentine, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Figures are for adults over twenty years old, and do not take into account vitamin or mineral supplements. FIGURE 54 nutrients, and the food processors add flavors and colors in an effort to re-create the appeal of natural food. I often find I'm faced with an impossible task—to reassemble from supplements and available foodstuffs some semblance of what our bodies are designed to use. Doing detailed nutritional work with patients, looking at formulas and calculating doses, I sometimes feel as if I need a computer with space-age software to deal with the increasing complexity of it all.

Prescription For Disaster: Dangers In Your Medicine Cabinet Thomas J. Moore See book keywords and concepts

Beta-carotene is a vitamin and not subject to the strict controls applied to the potentially more dangerous prescription drugs. But the issues and the results were the same. This leads to one of the central lessons of this chapter: Establishing the tangible health benefits of drugs protects the public from major dangers that no one anticipated or expected. And some doctors and patients still embrace drugs based on testimonials rather than evidence.

Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America Adrian Forsyth and Kenneth Miyata See book keywords and concepts

This notion may seem absurd at first, but is it any stranger than a rabbit consuming its own feces to conserve vitamin B? Consider the sloth of the sloth. Sloths move slowly, to say the least, and their laziness extends to their physiology as much as to their behavior. Their basal metabolism is about half that of most mammals of similar size, which means that they require relatively little energy to maintain themselves. This low basal metabolism is related in turn to their low body temperature, which they do not regulate as closely as most other mammals. Sloths also have small home ranges.

In much of Latin America the brilliant red and orange cashew stems, juicy and full of vitamin C, are eaten while the nut is discarded. This may seem wasteful to anyone who has seen the price of cashew nuts, but these fruits must be carefully peeled in order to avoid poisoning. The sap is full of toxins similar to those found in poison ivy; it is much easier to eat the nutritious stems and ignore the potentially dangerous seeds. Howler monkeys don't have much of a throwing arm and there are better ways to move around a heavy seed.

Healing with Plants in the American and Mexican West Margarita Artschwager Kay See book keywords and concepts

Is high in vitamin C. Can produce dermatitis and irritate mucous membranes. Each plant presentation is headed by the name of the genus and family in Latin scientific nomenclature, followed by the English common name, if one is known. The different species in the genus that are used as medicines are then listed by Latin name along with the common names in the various languages that attach to each species (if one has been recorded; in many cases, the Spanish name is used by ethnic groups). Where no species identification is available, plants are listed simply under the name of the genus.

Agave sisalana Perrine (mescal) contains tigogenin, hecogenin, gitogenin, neo-tigogenin, sarsapogenin, sisalogenin, gloriofenin, gen-trogenin, delta 9-11 hecogenin, diosgenin, and yamogenin pectin, along with much vitamin C (Duke 1985:22). The last mentioned may account for the use of related species by Opata in the eighteenth century as an antiscorbutic. Because of the saponin content of Agave schottii, it was being investigated for cancer treatment (Lewis and Elvin-Lewis 1977)- ¦ Allium (Liliaceae) GARLIC, ONION Allium cepa L. cebolla, Spanish; onion, English Allium sativum L.

Flavonoids may act synergistically with vitamin C. They affect the heart and circulatory system and strengthen the capillaries and are generally used as spasmolytics and diuretics (Schauenberg and Paris 1977:108) and possess antipyretic properties. Coumarins occur in many plants and in more than a hundred different forms. Furocoumarins are formed by the fusion of coumarin with a furan ring. Tannin is a compound known to cure and preserve leather. The tannins are always found in the bark of the trunk and roots, occasionally in the leaves.

Contains polysaccharides; is antibiotic, fungistatic, antiinflammatory, estrogenic, and high in vitamin C. 3. Sap can cause dermatitis. In northwestern New Spain, Esteyneffer ([1719] 1978) repeated these numerous uses of maguey, recommending it in addition for dirty or bad-smelling sores, kidney pain, abscesses, wounds, simple ulcers, and sessile warts, as well as for making plasters and evacuating phlegm. The roasted leaves were even said to cure wounds from bull horns or firearms. Gilij (1785) described its use for treating gangrene.

The fruit is high in carbohydrates, especially rhamnose, fructose, galactose, and glucose, as well as vitamin C. The root of O. polyacantha has cytotoxic activity. ¦ Perezia (Asteraceae) PEREZIA Perezia hebeclada A. Gray [ =Acourtia cordata (Cerv.) B. L. Turner] pipitzdhuac, zazanaca, coapatli, Aztec, xararo, Michoacan; pipichagui, tairago, Opata Perezia thurberi A. Gray [ = Acourtia thurberi (A. Gray) King & H. Rob.

The fruit contains glucose, citric acid, malic acid, and a large amount of vitamin C. An extract of P. granatum fruit pericarp has been found to be strongly active against Salmonella typhi (Perez and Anesini 1994). ¦ Quercus (Fagaceae) OAK Quercus arizonica Sarg. rosdkame, napako, Tarahumara Quercus chihuahuensis Trel. roja, Tarahumara Quercus crassifolia Humb. & Bonpl. tudi, Tepehuan Quercus endlichiana Trel. popuisoli, Tepehuan Quercus gambelii Nutt. encino, Spanish Quercus viminea Trel. kusi, Mountain Pima; machichare, Tarahumara Quercus spp.

Healing Pets With Nature's Miracle Cures Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A. See book keywords and concepts

All cells require this vitamin complex, which aids in the oxidation of carbohydrates, proteins, and foods; cell respiration; and cellular mineral and energy production. The B-complex is essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system, the maintenance of muscle tone, and the stimulation of digestive and insulin secretions. It is important to the health and normal function of the heart, liver, eyes, skin, hair, endocrine system (adrenal, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries, testis), spleen, thymus gland, pancreas, and kidneys.

Since high fiber foods contain innumerable vitamin complexes, minerals, phytochemicals, and other natural substances, researchers cannot say for certain that fiber alone is responsible for the benefits they observe when such foods are consumed. Whole natural raw unprocessed foods have a cooperative and synergistic effect on the whole body. There are two basic types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibers lubricate the fecal matter and increase bulk, which make elimination easier.

Foods That Fight Disease: A Simple Guide to Using and Understanding Phytonutrients to Protect and Enhance Your Health Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D. See book keywords and concepts

The Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamin C is 60 milligrams; however, the optimal dose probably resides between 60 and 1,000 milligrams, depending upon one's health status. Research shows that doses that exceed 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams may actually impede immunity. Asparagus crude saponins (SAY-po-ninz). Asparagus crude saponins (ACS), found in the edible shoots of the asparagus plant, inhibited the growth of human leukemia cells in a cell study done at Rutgers University.

Healing Pets With Nature's Miracle Cures Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A. See book keywords and concepts

Remember, natural vitamin C (not ascorbic acid) is in part composed of bioflavonoids. Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) Foods rich in glucose tolerance factor (GTF) include nutritional yeast, liver, whole grains, eggs, buckwheat, mushrooms, beets, prunes, nuts, and potatoes with skin. In fact, most fresh foods in their natural state are a good source of dietary chromium complexes. Nutritional yeast has been shown to be the highest source of GTF. Refined and processed foods may have as much as 80 percent of their naturally occurring chromium removed.

The Alternative Medicine Handbook: The Complete Reference Guide to Alternative and Complementary Therapies Barrie R Cassileth, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

A natural or synthetic substance, such as vitamin E, that prevents or delays the oxidation process in cells or tissue. aromatherapy The therapeutic use of odors distilled from plant oils; said to be useful in treating headaches, anxiety, and tension. art therapy The use of drawing, painting, and sculpting as therapy to treat behavior or emotional problems; promotes self-expression. artery The vessels that circulate blood from the heart to various parts of the body. aura An atmosphere said to surround a person.

Healing Pets With Nature's Miracle Cures Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A. See book keywords and concepts

According to table 4.1, vitamin A and iron have been the most depleted in the past thirty years. Table 4.2 shows mineral changes in various vegetables over a thirty-year period. Leafy green vegetables are promoted in many nutrition books as a good source of calcium, but depending on growth conditions, that may or may not be the case. Buy organically grown fruits and vegetables for higher nutritional content. Table 4.2 Changes in the Mineral Content of Vegetables 1963-1992 (per 100 grams) CARROT 1963 1992 Calcium 37 mg 27 mg Iron 0.7 mg 0.

Eat To Beat Cancer: A Research Scientist Explains How You and Your Family Can Avoid Up to 90% of All Cancers J. Robert Hatherill See book keywords and concepts

Folic acid is used together with vitamin Bl2 to manufacture DNA. Follicle A cellular mass containing an egg in the ovary. Formaldehyde A highly reactive chemical that is irritating to the upper respiratory tract and causes cancerous growths in exposed rats. It is widely used in industry and is a component of carpet adhesives, particle boards, and foam insulation. Free radical A chemical species with an unpaired electron in the outer shell. Normally electrons are paired for stability, as the free (unpaired) electron makes the chemical unstable and reactive.

Getting Rid of Ritalin: How Neurofeedback Can Successfully Treat Attention Deficit Disorder Without Drugs Robert W. Hill, Ph.D. and Eduardo Castro, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Had these results occurred from the use of an herb or vitamin treatment, there is no doubt the FDA would have acted swiftly and decisively. Antipsychotics: Haldol is the most commonly used, though there are dozens, while Risperdol is the newer kid on the block. These are major tranquilizers and are usually reserved for more serious disruptive or aggressive behavior. They are also used to suppress the tics of Tourette's syndrome, even though they can cause a permanent movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia.

Look for oils that have been cold-pressed in low-light environments, and are protected from becoming rancid with antioxidants (such as vitamin E) and refrigeration. A health foods store will no doubt have a selection of such fats and oils, but few, if any, corporate chain grocery stores will. Butter, primarily a saturated fat, is acceptable if not cooked to very high temperatures and if eaten in relatively small quantities. However, avoid using any margarine at all. Keep in mind that margarine does not melt at body temperature.

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