| Birth defects can also result from excessive exposure to various toxic substances, including alcohol, certain prescription drugs, and large doses of vitamin a. The health of the pregnant mother also depends in large part on maintaining proper nutritional status.
DR. WRIGHT'S CASE STUDY d iana and John Moscone came in together, looking quite serious. Diana spoke first. "My aunt had two children with spina bifida," she said. "They both died of complications of their problems. John and I've been married for 7 years, and we're ready to have our first child. |
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN
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 Water, SPC (soy protein concentrate), partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, SPI (soy protein isolate), methylcellulose, natural flavors, onion powder, salt, maltodextrin, modified food startch, corn syrup solids, dehydrated Worcestershire sauce, malt extract, beet powder, zinc oxide, niacinamide, ferrous sulfate, copper gluconate, vitamin a palmitate, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin Bl), pyridoxine hydrocholoride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2) cyano-cobalamin (vitamin B12). vors" or out the back door after the production of offensive gas. |
Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP(C) and Dr. Jonathan Prousjy, DPHE, DSC, ND, FRSH
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 In other words, no amount of beta-carotene can lead to vitamin a toxicity. The only individuals who should avoid beta-carotene are those who smoke. The combined use of chronic smoking and beta-carotene has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer in men; this association does not apply to non-smokers who want to take beta-carotene.
Therapeutic Uses
Cancer: Beta-carotene inhibits the formation of tumors in animals. In human subjects, the more beta-carotene there is in their body, the less risk there is of getting cancer. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Because cheese is not usually fortified with vitamin a, it may be a better choice than milk to help delay or minimize age-related bone loss and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE
There are different purchase qualities to look for, depending upon the cheese type. Soft cheeses should be uniform in color throughout, and the cheese should fill out the crust casing, which itself should be free of cracks and not too dry. Semifirm cheese should not be too crumbly or dry, with the color being relatively uniform. |
Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D.
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 The mineral helps the body store and use vitamin a, keeps the bones strong and the immune system healthy, and is necessary for wound healing and normal taste sensations. Zinc is also necessary for growth and development.
Alcoholics are likely to be low in zinc because alcohol interferes with the absorption of the mineral and encourages zinc excretion via the urine. Chronic diarrhea can also deplete zinc stores. Vegetarians should pay close attention to their zinc status, because it's harder for the body to absorb zinc from plant foods than it is from animal foods. |
Eric R. Braverman
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 Studies have documented the benefit of vitamin a in reducing stroke damage, as well as possibly the general category of antioxidants, which include vitamin E, selenium, cysteine, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. There may be some additional benefit in giving low dosages of Dilantin or other antiseizure medications to patients after a stroke, because following a stroke as many as 5 to 15 percent of patients may experience a seizure. In France, studies have shown that Ginkgo biloba has also been thought to be helpful in cerebral insufficiency. |
Mark Hyman, M.D.
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 If you prefer, you can get your vitamin a through mixed carotenoids (15,000 to 25,000 IU/day). Carotenoids are found in vegetables, and our bodies can convert them into vitamin a. There are many different kinds of carotenoids found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. Many of these can now be found as a blend in supplements, including beta- and alpha-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and xeanthin.
• Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E): 400 to 800 IU/day. Vitamin E is found in many forms, including d-alpha, gamma, and delta. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Nonfat dry milk fortified with vitamins A and D is the same as above, except it is fortified so that it has 2,000 IU of vitamin a and 400 IU of vitamin D per quart when reconstituted.
Dry whole milk contains all of the components of whole milk, but in a concentrated form. Dry whole milk is typically made from pasteurized whole milk from which water has been removed by spray or, sometimes, roller drying. On a dry-weight basis, dry whole milk must contain not less than 26 percent or more than 40 percent milk fat and not more than 5 percent moisture on a nonfat milk solids basis. |
| Amount of Pasture in Dairy Diet
Milk from pastured cows offers additional health benefits, as it is much higher in beta-carotene, vitamin a, vitamin £, and other vitamins.
Unfortunately, the label on a milk carton won't tell you whether the cows were fed grass or grain. Even an organic label is no guarantee that the cows grazed on pasture. At the present time, there are at least two large organic dairies that make a point of raising their cows on pasture: Organic Valley and Natural by Nature. gestion of milk's main proteins that are very bioactive. |
Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D.
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| Which Nutrients Are Robbed
Taking this medicine may deplete your supply of, increase your need for, or interfere with the activity of:
• vitamin a • Calcium
• Folic acid • Magnesium
• Vitamin B6 • Phosphorus
• Vitamin C • Potassium
• Vitamin D • Selenium
• Vitamin K • Zinc
Other Ways This Drug May Upset Your Nutritional Balance
Betamethasone can cause an increase in appetite and indigestion, which may upset your eating habits and possibly interfere with good nutrition. |
| If you're taking cholestyramine or colestipol to lower your cholesterol, it may be wise to increase your beta-carotene, vitamin a, vitamin B12, and vitamin E intake.
In this book, you'll learn about the drugs that rob you of nutrients, the deleterious effects of this robbery, and how to prevent or cure these side effects by selecting the right foods or supplements that can replace the missing nutrients. Let's begin with a quick look at the vitamins, minerals, and other substances that our popular pharmaceuticals are most likely to steal away. |
| The drug may cause blood levels of vitamin a to rise.
Restoring Your Nutritional Balance
To compensate for the nutrient loss caused by this drug, speak to your physician about taking 30—100 mg coenzyme Qi0 per day. You can also eat foods that contain the depleted nutrient:
• Coenzyme Q10: beef, chicken, trout, salmon, oranges, broccoli
Consult with your physician before making any changes to your diet or supplemental regimen. |
Kelly Harford, M.C., C.N.C.
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 Pumpkin is rich in vitamin a and helps to regulate blood sugar. It is also very cleansing to the liver and digestive system. tips & tidbits frozen banana cream treat (dairy-free)
2-3 ripe bananas (peels should be turning brown) splash of oat milk splash of maple syrup or honey (optional)
Slice bananas into Vi inch slices and place flat in square container with lid or on a plate and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place in freezer until frozen. Remove from freezer and allow to soften just slightly. |
H. Winter Griffith, M.D.
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 Don't take with:
• vitamin a or supplements containing vitamin a.
• Any other medication without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
OVERDOSE
SYMPTOMS: None reported. WHAT TO DO:
Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison center 1-800-222-1222 or hospital emergency room for instructions.
0
POSSIBLE
ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS
SYMPTOMS
WHAT TO DO
Life-threatening:
None expected.
Common:
• Burning, red, itching eyes; lip scaling; burning pain; nosebleeds.
• Itchy skin.
• Dry mouth.
Discontinue. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| NUTRITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Cheese contains a high concentration of essential nutrients, in particular high-quality protein and calcium, as well as other nutrients such as phosphorus, zinc, vitamin a, riboflavin, and vitamin B12.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Cheese provides many of the same nutritional benefits and health benefits attributed to milk. An additional benefit of cheese is that it usually contains beneficial bacteria. For example, Em-mental Swiss cheese contains Propionibacterium freudenreichii, a member of the propionic acid-producing bacteria family. |
Dr. Julian Whitaker
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| Evans and others are particularly concerned about the estimated 190 million children around the world who have vitamin a deficiencies.
Suggested Dosage: 5,000 international units of vitamin a daily. (Because vitamin a is fat-soluble and can build up in the tissues, do not take over 10,000 international units without consulting your physician.) Also, add 15,000 international units of beta-carotene to your supplement program.
Coenzyme Q10
Slow, sluggish, lethargic, dull—this is how you feel when you're tired and your energy level is low. |
Jeremy P. Tarcher
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 In Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus told us he rejected an offer from an international aid agency for vitamin a supplements for Grameen borrowers. "I didn't feel good about it," he said. "If I can encourage people to eat vegetables, that will be a much better solution." Now, one of Grameen's sixteen Decisions—the pledges the borrowers make before receiving a loan—is that they will grow kitchen gardens. In India, Navdanya is promoting the sharing of seeds of foods rich in vitamin a. |
| What's lacking is not a new $100 million intervention to put vitamin a inside rice.5 What's lacking is people's access to foods already rich in the nutrient.
To the people we met on our journey, this fact is obvious; they've broken the grip of the scarcity trap to see solutions with fresh eyes. In Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus told us he rejected an offer from an international aid agency for vitamin a supplements for Grameen borrowers. "I didn't feel good about it," he said. "If I can encourage people to eat vegetables, that will be a much better solution. |
Jean Carper
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 But if you have lots of vitamin a in your blood, researchers speculate, it can interfere at many different stages of this cascade of events, lessening brain damage and chances of death.
Foods rich in beta carotene—also known as vegetable vitamin a because it converts in the body to vitamin A—in addition to carrots are dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, collards, and kale, as well as dark orange vegetables such as sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Such foods are also high in potassium, another potent antidote against strokes. |
Jeremy P. Tarcher
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| But there's one thing wrong with this picture: There is no scarcity of vitamin a in the world! It is abundant in carrots, spinach, papaya, and leafy green vegetables—leaves of amaranth, coriander, curry, radish, and other foods historically common in, for example, the Indian diet.4 What's lacking is not a new $100 million intervention to put vitamin a inside rice.5 What's lacking is people's access to foods already rich in the nutrient.
To the people we met on our journey, this fact is obvious; they've broken the grip of the scarcity trap to see solutions with fresh eyes. |
| Ingo Potrykus, who experienced hunger himself as a child, is convinced he's found a solution to another scarcity problem. vitamin a deficiency, he says, causes 3,500 children to die every day.3
Ingo sounds like one of the most dedicated and caring people you'd ever meet. But there's one thing wrong with this picture: There is no scarcity of vitamin a in the world! It is abundant in carrots, spinach, papaya, and leafy green vegetables—leaves of amaranth, coriander, curry, radish, and other foods historically common in, for example, the Indian diet. |
| While writing this chapter, we pick up the morning paper to find a long feature on Ingo Potrykus, co-inventor of a bioengineered rice containing vitamin a. It's dubbed "golden rice" because three new genes, two of them from daffodils, give the rice color. Ingo Potrykus, who experienced hunger himself as a child, is convinced he's found a solution to another scarcity problem. vitamin a deficiency, he says, causes 3,500 children to die every day.3
Ingo sounds like one of the most dedicated and caring people you'd ever meet. |
Richard Lucas
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 Experiments on laboratory animals showed marked reduction or complete loss of sperm as a consequence of vitamin a shortage. Scientists in Denmark reported on experiments in which boars were fed a diet low in vitamin a. On this diet the animals' sperm count dropped. Daily injections of vitamin a in dosages varying between 6,000 and 8,000 units gradually restored the sperm count to normal.
Another possible sex-rejuvenating property contained in fenugreek is trimethylamine. Scientific studies show that it acts as a sex hormone in frogs, causing them to prepare for mating. |
Peggy O'Mara
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 The relationship between vitamin a deficiency and child mortality was noted as early as the 1930s, when supplementation with vitamin a was reported to significantly reduce mortality among measles patients. Research in 1990 again reported the effectiveness of vitamin a supplementation in reducing morbidity and mortality (JAMA, 17 February 1993, p. 898). Why has the medical profession ignored that information for more than 60 years? |
Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D.
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 See Also CIRCULATION; BLOOD PURIFICATION/DETOXIFICATION; FATIGUE; HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
OTHER NUTRIENTS
The roles played by vitamin a, Provitamin A and B-Carotene on eyesight cannot be overemphasized. But other nutrients are important. This table may serve as a reference guide for the most important nutrients you can obtain from supplemental sources.
VITAMINS
(Daily requirements unless otherwise noted)
Vitamin A 25,000-50,000 I.U. Vitamin B Complex Vitamin B1 25-50 mg Vitamin B2 25-50 mg Vitamin B6 25-50 mg Vitamin C 3,000-5,000 mg
Vitamin D 400-1,000 I.U. |
Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D.
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| Some Good Sources of Beta-Carotene
FOOD
SERVING SIZE
IU vitamin a FROM BETA-CAROTENE
Carrot, raw
1
20,250
Spinach, frozen, boiled
! |
Kelly Harford, M.C., C.N.C.
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| Although fruit is not a great source of balanced nutrition (vegetables are a better source), most fruits do provide fiber, phytochemicals, vitamin C, vitamin a, potassium and also have a high water content, and are thus very hydrating to the body.
Fruit is very sweet and like any food that has a relatively high glycemic index, it can create imbalanced blood sugar levels when eaten in excess and also contribute to the proliferation of Candida (yeast overgrowth) and other conditions. Consequently, it is wise to keep to the daily 2-4 piece limit. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Another concern people have is that cod liver typically has a high level of vitamin a and D. However, the vitamin D being there is half the reason it is as effective as it is, in regards to brain health and [other areas].
Mike: Heavy metals are not a concern with the distillation process you use?
Benoit: No. |
Michael T. Murray
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 Beta-carotene is often considered the most active of the carotenes because more of it is converted to vitamin a, but several other carotenes such as lutein and lycopene exert greater antioxidant and anticancer effects. Some evidence shows that a wide range of carotenes protect against diabetes. The leading sources of carotenes are the dark green leafy vegetables: kale, collards, and spinach. The deeper the green color, the greater the concentration of carotenes. Regular consumption of carrots and/or pumpkin appears to offer the greatest degree of protection against diabetes. |
James Braly M.D. and Ron Hoggan M.A.
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 The ability to safely take vaccinations also appears to be closely linked to vitamin a status. Deficiency of zinc and this vitamin may also play a key role in food allergies.
Although vitamin a deficiency is often a problem in gluten sensitivity, it is not safe to oversupplement. Excess vitamin a has been observed to cause headaches and dry skin. More critically, doses in excess of 10,000 IU daily may cause birth defects. Much higher sustained doses can have a devastating impact on your own health and, in rare instances, may be fatal. |
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