Zorba Paster, M.D. and Susan Meltsner
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 Beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin a as needed, is believed to go several steps further. A diet that contains lots of beta-carotene-rich foods such as carrots, spinach, broccoli, cantaloupe, winter squash, mango, papaya, and apricot has been linked to lower cancer rates, less coronary artery disease, and fewer age-related problems such as macular degeneration. However, no such correlation has yet been made for beta-carotene supplements. In fact, one study showed higher lung cancer rates for smokers who took beta-carotene than for smokers who did not. |
Lesley Tierra
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 The leaves are very high in iron, vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin a and potassium, and are useful for treating anemia. Eaten when young in the spring, they help clear out any excesses from winter, aiding in the prevention of spring colds. The root can be roasted and made into a strong tea which Europeans call Dandelion Coffee. It actually is an excellent coffee substitute, since its full-bodied bitter flavor is satisfying and counteracts the effects of previous caffeine by cleansing the injured liver. It combines well with chicory and burdock roots for a closer coffee flavor. |
Michael Janson, M.D.
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 Supplement capsules with 400 IU are available, usually mixed with vitamin a. Fish liver oils are another common source of vitamin D supplements. They are available as liquids or capsules, and they vary in their A and D content.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQIO) is not a vitamin, but it is a fat-soluble antioxidant nutrient, sometimes called ubiquinone, which is normally produced in the body. However, there are circumstances in which the production is inadequate for optimal health. |
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, and Makoto Suzuki
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 Okinawans eat not only the root but also the leaf, which is very high in vitamin a and is a good source of vitamin C.8° Okinawans claim that it helps prevent and treat various intestinal diseases. It is thought to contain flavonoids but no analysis is available.
How to use: Kandaba is often used for flavoring in miso soup or rice. Boil it and eat it with bonito strips and soy sauce. Or stir-fry it with tofu and season with miso.
Availability: Kandaba can be found in some Asian food stores, or substitute with spinach, which shares many characteristics. |
Michael Janson, M.D.
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| Anything above 10,000 IU may be too much, but this only applies to preformed vitamin a, not to beta-carotene.
How to Store Supplements
You do not need to take special precautions when storing most dietary supplements. It is usually sufficient to keep them on a shelf in a pantry or on the kitchen counter. Most of the products are quite stable if kept in dry, room-temperature conditions. As with any food, do not leave them for prolonged periods in a hot car or in a closed carrier out in the sun, where they will easily get overheated. |
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, and Makoto Suzuki
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| Hot peppers provide an excellent source of vitamin a and vitamin C. A mere quarter-ounce (about i tablespoon) of chili peppers has 18 mg of vitamin C—about a third of the recommended daily allowance. Hot chilies are more nutritious than sweet peppers, and red ones are more nutrient-dense than green ones.80 Try Japanese seven spice powder, which is a mixture of 80 percent ground hot chili and 20 percent hemp seeds, dried orange peel, nori seaweed flakes, sansho (Japanese pepper), white sesame seeds, and white poppy seeds. Just sprinkle it over your meal when you feel the need for spice. |
| A Va cup serving of nori (laver) contains only 40 calories, and it provides 6 grams of protein as well as 5,200 IU of vitamin a (greater than 100 percent of the minimum adult requirement), 2 mg of iron (greater than 10 percent of the adult requirement), and slighdy less magnesium and calcium than kelp.
Lignans, the cancer-fighting phytoestrogens that you read about in Chapter Two, have been found in high quantity in seaweed (mostly kelp), which could conceivably provide some protection against certain cancers. |
Mark Bricklin
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 Reduced absorption of vitamin a has been reported in colitis (Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, September, 1979), and that vitamin is very important in maintaining strong epithelium (the lining of the intestines). Zinc is also important in healing chronic ulcerations of epithelial tissue, and vitamin C is needed to build new tissue. Of course, when it comes to new tissue, the amino acids of protein are the bottom line. In addition, colitis patients have a particular need for pantothenate, one of the El-complex vitamins, which is also known as the antistress vitamin. |
| Zinc and vitamin a are of special importance in the healing of the skin and internal mucous membranes.
In the case of broken bones, calcium and vitamin D are the most critical nutrients for healing.
Protecting Our Natural Protectors
In the preceding pages, I have attempted to convey an idea of the many defensive and healing mechanisms that have evolved over millions of years to ensure the survival of Homo sapiens. |
| Henkin explains, "Copper deficiency can influence it, vitamin a deficiency can influence it, as well as vitamin B,2 deficiency and vitamin B„ deficiency. It's a very active system, and many vitamins and minerals impinge upon it in different ways."
Probably 50 milligrams of zinc a day continued for several weeks would be sufficient to determine if this mineral will help. If taste is then normalized, the amount of zinc could probably be cut in half.
In recent trials, zinc has been tested on ordinary, "healthy" people who show no overt signs of zinc deficiency, with some interesting results. |
| Not just because they're delicious, but because the green tops are loaded with valuable minerals like iron, as well as high amounts of vitamin a (all but absent from the onion bulb). When the onions begin to mature, it's a good idea to draw the soil away from the bulbs in order to expose them to as much air and sunshine as possible. Also, to keep the plant from putting all its energy into producing seeds, you should break off any seed stalks that appear.
How do you know when the onions are ready for harvest? Keep an eye on the tops. |
| Vitamin C is needed to form collagen, while vitamin a strengthens connective tissue. Protein is essential to recuperation, as are the B vitamins— especially riboflavin and folic acid.
The key mineral in healing, of course, is zinc, which is required for the formation of crucial enzymes. Both oral supplements and locally applied ointments have been used with success in speeding the healing of wounds in persons who have low zinc levels.
For more information on bedsores, I suggest you send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Center for Tissue Trauma Research and Education, 408 N.E. |
Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman
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 Beta-carotene vitamin a precursor, an antioxidant that functions in neutralizing free radicals; may help prevent cervical cancer and atherosclerosis; is an immune system booster; appears to protect against respiratory diseases and environmental pollutants.
Cayenne pepper (capsaicin) Compound that prevents oxidation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol; may help prevent cardiovascular disease; aids in digestion by stimulating the production of saliva and gastric acid; stimulates the release of endorphins (mood enhancers). |
| Beta-Carotene: Nature's Anticancer Protection
Beta-carotene, the substance that our bodies use to make vitamin a, is a powerful anticancer agent. Dr. Eli Seifter of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York conducted studies in which the cancer of some lab animals was treated with radiation alone, while others were given beta-carotene along with radiation therapy. Dr. Seifter found that the radiation treatment worked better when supported by the beta-carotene. |
| Therefore, most physicians would recommend beta-carotene as a preferred supplement, but a safe amount of straight vitamin a is believed to be about 5,000 IU—the amount found in most multivitamin supplements.
Now, it's certainly possible to get enough C, E, and A in your daily diet—if you are measuring "enough" by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
Calculated by government officials, RDA standards are just enough to avoid common vitamin deficiency diseases, such as scurvy, rickets, or beri-beri. |
| Ronald Watson of the University of Arizona worked with 60 older men and
Benefits
Beta Carotene
Essential to growth and functioning of tissue linings of body's surfaces, essential to bone growth an development, increases immune system responsiveness, reduces risk of cancer
Cautions
No known toxicity for beta-carotene, BUT high doses of vitamin a itself may have bad side effects, including liver toxicity
Food sources
Carrots, dark yellow or orange vegetables, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, broccoli, papayas, oranges, peppers, apricots women, whose average age was 56. |
Marion Nestle
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 More recently, clinical trials of cancer prevention using supplements of beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin a found in many brightly colored fruits and vegetables) further illustrate the hazards of taking high doses of single nutrients. Because previous clinical trials revealed that cigarette smokers who ate diets rich in fruits and vegetables had lower rates of lung cancer, researchers thought that beta-carotene might be responsible for cancer protection. They compared the effects of a high-dose beta-carotene supplement against those of a placebo in men who smoked cigarettes. |
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, and Makoto Suzuki
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| Like most yellow-orange fruits, papayas are high in vitamin C and natural beta-carotene (the plant form of vitamin a), and are thought to be an excellent digestive aid.8° This delicious fruit can be eaten raw, dried, or cooked. Add it to chicken or fish and the food will take on a sweet tropical flavor. Medicinally, topical ointments rich in papain (an enzyme contained in papaya) are often used to promote the shedding of dead skin, such as wrinkled skin around the eyes. The jury is out as to whether this works or not, but it certainly can't hurt. We consider papaya an overall winner.
Parsley. |
John R. Smythies
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| However, the authors admit that they could not tell whether the beta-carotene or the vitamin a (or the combination) was the culprit. They concluded that it would be unwise to give large doses of only one dietary antioxidant as this might lead to a serious imbalance of the important helping action of the other antioxidants. This is quite plausible because of the important synergistic action of the antioxidant vitamins. |
Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman
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| It is also able to convert itself into vitamin a in the body, without displaying any of A's toxic side effects. Beta-carotene holds the promise of many anti-aging benefits, such as:
• preventing lung, stomach and breast cancers
• preventing stroke and heart attack
• blocking the oxidation of artery-clogging cholesterol
• destroying tumor cells
• stimulating and enhancing immune functions
• preventing cataracts and improving night vision
Numerous studies have pointed towards beta-carotene as a key nutrient necessary for not only a longer life, but a healthier, more enjoyable life as well. |
Elaine Feuer
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 A lack of antioxidants—Vitamins C, E, and beta carotene (a form of vitamin a)—have been implicated in sixty age-related afflictions, including cancer and heart disease. In 1992, Dr. Gladys Block (University of California, Berkeley) published a review of twenty studies that monitored the incidence of mouth, throat, and stomach cancers in relation to Vitamin C intake: Those consuming the lowest intakes of Vitamin C were stricken at twice the rate of those consuming the most. |
| Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, manufacturers are allowed to distribute reprints of preliminary scientific studies that describe potential health benefits of supplements, and can make nutritional claims such as "Vitamin A is necessary for good vision."
Less than two months after the enactment of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, the FDA violated the new law by conducting raids against clinics, labs, and distributors of nutritional supplements without giving the companies the ten day notice required by Congress. |
| Depending on the means of preparation, as much as 100 percent of Vitamin C, 60 percent of vitamin a, and similar amounts in other vitamin categories may be lost in cooking. Eminent nutritionist Dr. George Briggs observed: "The American public is eating a strange diet. We feed our farm animals better, giving them all of the vitamins and minerals we take out of the foods for humans."
Our food decisions are made for us by government and industry: Congress, regulatory agencies, and university researchers are influenced by powerful agriculture and food industry lobbyists. |
Francisco, M.D. Contreras
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| Natural cancer-busters like shark cartilage, garlic, vitamin a, urea, selenium, etc. are at our disposition, but we have at arms length whatever will improve the quality of life of our patients.
The branch of the therapy that focuses an attack on the tumors is founded on the use of Amygdalin, better known as "Laetrile." This natural, anti-tumor agent has been the source of many conflicts. I'm not going to abound in this theme, material of many books, but concentrate on explaining the reason for its efficacy. Chemically speaking, Laetrile is a diglucoside (a sugar) with a cyanide radical. |
Barnet Meltzer, M.D.
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 Nutrient Value: Like other berries, grapes are high in flavonoids, potassium, trace minerals, and vitamin a.
Selection and Care: Grapes do not ripen after harvesting. Shake clusters well to dislodge damaged berries. Look for fruit that is colorful, firm, and wrinkle-free. For sweetness, I recommend Thompson seedless green grapes.
Optimal Use and Combining: Grapes enhance the flavor of peaches, pears, plums, berries, and nectarines. They don't fare as well with citrus, and tend to oversweeten bananas and other components of fruit salad. |
| The pink or red grapefruits have higher concentrations of vitamin a, enzymes, and fat-burning metabolites, so look for Ruby Red or Star Ruby from Florida or Texas crops.
Optimal Use and Combining: Eat grapefruits fresh, raw, and whole. Grapefruits combine well with other citrus, but don't mix well with alkaline melons or sub-acidic apples and berries. A salad of pink grapefruits with pineapples and bananas is my personal favorite in the winter and spring. Papayas also make excellent partners for pink grapefruits. |
| Nutrient Value: Beets are high in potassium and trace minerals, while beet greens contain significant amounts of calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamin a.
Selection and Care: Judge a beet by the freshness of its greens. Choose young roots with upright, frondlike tops, and look for purple-red beets that are firm, symmetrically shaped, and smooth. Avoid soft, dull-colored beets. Scrub beets well, and shred or pare the thin outer skin before cooking. |
| Nutrient Value: Along with their power triad of phytonutrients and their fibrous pectin, apples are high in potassium, vitamin a, and trace minerals.
Selection and Care: Back in the early 1990s, farmers used to spray apples with Alar, a chemical which caused apples to ripen uniformly. However, the pesticide was also a neurotoxin, and after the media caught on to the story, the Department of Consumer Affairs pulled the treated produce off the market and prohibited the use of the chemical. |
| Nutrient Value: In addition to its high iron and chlorophyll concentrations, spinach contains substantial quantities of vitamin a and B-carotenoids, copper, and potassium. However, spinach is not recommended for those with a history of kidney stones, since the vegetable's high oxalic acid concentration can contribute to stone formation.
Selection and Care: Spinach spoils quickly: Select leaves based on their crispness and brilliant emerald green color. Avoid coarse, wilted, limp, or yellow leaves, or those with blackening edges. |
John R. Smythies
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| Diabetics also have been reported to have lowered blood levels of vitamin a, glutathione peroxidase, and uric acid, as well as having signs of oxidative damage to the DNA in blood cells [78]. In other tests nicotinamide (vitamin B3) at a dosage of 3 G per day reduced the need to give insulin to diabetics. Vitamin B3 is one of the helpers of the antioxidant action of vitamin E as described in part 1. Santini et al. |
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