Vitamin A

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Semba's team found that a lack of vitamin a was positively correlated with death from AIDS. On the other hand, a number of studies chart improvements when beta carotene is administered. In one, 11 HIV-positive patients received 60 mg of the vitamin per day for four months. They recorded an increase in natural killer cells and other vital parts of the immune system, which HIV infection tends to diminish. Another study was done on 10 patients who had just gotten off AZT and began taking 120 mg a day of beta carotene.

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And this vitamin a (as carotene) comes with the full allowance of vitamin C, too. And you needn't give a thought to its fat or sodium content, either; these two are barely detectable. There is, however, a moderate level of insoluble fiber nestled within the tender flesh of the mango-perfect for anyone who brags that the only residents of his house who eat bran are the termites. At the Market: Ripe mangoes are deep or grass green with touches of yellow and blush. They are often freckled in appearance. When ripe, a mango will yield slightly to gentle pressure.

Like vegetables that are yellow to orange in color, apricots are a storehouse of carotene-the plant form of vitamin a. Carotene has taken the nutrition world by storm since being linked to cancer prevention several years ago. In their landmark study, Richard Shekelle, M.D., and his co-workers at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago compared lung cancer rates among those on both high- and low-carotene diets. Of 500 men in the high-carotene group, only 2 developed lung cancer, but among 500 men with low intakes, 14 did. According to Peter Greenwald, M.D.

The best fruits, of course, are those that offer vitamin a or C. You can count on your choice of melons for the vitamin C and on cantaloupe for both in one package. And that's just the beginning. Melons are also good for potassium-with a half of cantaloupe providing an incredible 825 milligrams. This potassium, along with low levels of sodium and fat, makes it the perfect treat for those concerned with blood pressure. Cantaloupe At the Market: Look for cantaloupe that is firm and unbruised, with an even gray netting. Hard green cantaloupes have been picked too soon and are best avoided.

He counts "about 20 studies" supporting the role of carotene, vitamin a, or both. To these he adds the potential benefits of vitamins C and E. Like carotene, these two vitamins have antioxidant properties now believed to help in preventing formation of cancer-causing substances. Dr. Greenwald points to nutrients, but at doses in the 250- to 1,000-milligram range, problems are extremely rare. Vitamin £ Most of us also tolerate vitamin E very well, especially at doses up to 400 international units daily. Some people experience digestive upset at higher doses, but again, this occurs only rarely.

The tangerine, however, bests the orange for vitamin A; the same two-fruit serving will give you almost a third of the RDA for this nutrient. We think that tangerines are great for weight watchers. Owing to their small size, a typical fruit contains fewer than 40 calories. It makes for a filling snack without guilt! At the Market: Most tangerines are orange to red in color, but some may have greenish patches, and that's okay Color does not indicate sweetness or juiciness. The best sign is a sweet scent-often impossible to detect if the fruit is cold.

Plantains score higher than bananas for vitamin a and potassium, although both are similarly low in fat and sodium. We'd like to focus on another aspect of plantains, though-their fiber content. For despite their image as "off-limits" to dieters, if prepared without added fat, plantains have much going for them. British scientist D. A. T. Southgate is one of the world's best-known authorities on fiber's effects on absorption of calories from food. Dr. Southgate has proposed that the fiber content of foods be measured in terms of how much must be eaten to supply a basic amount of fiber.

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Beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin a in the body, is singled out by some scientists as a particularly potent anticancer agent, as demonstrated by animal studies. As if that is not enough, kale is a marvelous source of chlorophyll, another constituent that some authorities label a cancer antagonist. 220 When diet is linked with rates of cancer, dark-green vegetables, including kale, come out tops as protective.

Something in milk, possibly vitamin a, "may protect respiratory epithelium [cells in lung linings] offsetting to a degree susceptibility to both chronic bronchitis and lung cancer." HEART AND BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE Skim milk, unlike fatty whole milk, may benefit your arteries. Several studies show that skim milk can depress blood cholesterol in humans. Dr. George Mann of Vanderbilt University, a leading researcher on the subject, has identified a "milk factor" which he says suppresses the liver's output of cholesterol.

The research clearly identified beta carotene, not vitamin a, as dramatic protection against lung cancer. The researchers since 1957 had tracked 2000 men, how much they ate of 195 specific foods, and who got lung cancer. The conclusion: "A diet relatively high in beta carotene may reduce the risk of lung cancer even among persons who have smoked cigarettes for many years." Specifically, men eating the least carotene-containing foods were seven times more likely to get lung cancer than men with the diet richest in carotene. Dr.

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The necessary nutrients are vitamin B12 (1,000 meg), vitamin B6 (50 mg/day), vitamin B2 (50 mg/day), vitamin B[ (25-50 mg/day), vitamin a, a lot of which you'll get from the juices and fish oils (25,000 units/day), and MaxEPA (1,000 mg/day). The minerals we need are calcium-magnesium (1,200 mg per day), iodine, and sea vegetables, which are wakame, kombu, nori, and hijiki. One 4-ounce serving of these vegetables a day is good for the trace minerals.

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The Core Group of Vitamins and Minerals •> A multivitamin/multimineral pill containing 400 micrograms of folic acid, about 5,000 IUs of vitamin a with half as beta-carotene, 45 to 60 milligrams of vitamin C, about 15 to 30 IUs of vitamin E, 20 milligrams of zinc with 3 milligrams of copper, and a series of B vitamins near the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). This is the basic vitamin pill that has the RDA levels of all vitamins and minerals. If you take this and eat an equal amount in your diet, there will be no problem. Vitamin E, 400 IUs.

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Flax oil also contains beta carotene (precursor to vitamin a), Vitamin E, lecithin and phosphatides, all of which are needed for efficient digestion of fats and oils. Flaxseed, flax oil, and ground flaxseed can be obtained from your local health food store and from Natural Health Team. Phone 1-800-4162806 Magnesium Magnesium deficiency is very common, particularly in elderly persons. Approximately 60% of this mineral is found in our bones and 26% in muscles, with the remainder in soft tissue and body fluids.

This root also contains vitamin a and selenium, which scavenge free radicals and chromium which regulates blood sugar levels. Slippery elm has mucilage that benefits plasma and lymph. Sheep sorrel contains vitamins and trace minerals as well as silicon, which protect nerves. Indian rhubarb root has antibiotic and anti-tumor properties. There is a long history of benefits in treating malignancies with Essiac. A young male developed Hodgekin's Disease and began chemotherapy. After 5 treatments, he ran away from home to escape chemotherapy.

Beta carotene 15,000 units, Vitamin D 400IU better 800 IU, B complex, vitamin a 5,000 units and Biotin 300mcg. Minerals that are needed include Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Selenium 200 meg., Molybdenum, Vanadium and Boron. Flaxseed Or Flax Oil Everyone will benefit from taking 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseed or 2 tablespoons of flax oil daily. This will correct the widespread deficiency of Omega 3 essential fatty acids found in diets containing artificial substances like margarine, salad oil, and shortenings.

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So there is a grain of truth in the claims about vitamin a pharmaceutical creams and exfoliant and sunscreen cosmetics. Dr. Bailey points out that there is a difference between "photoaging" from the sun and chronological aging: "Cosmetics can't do anything about the latter." The fact is that if cosmetic chemists could put "youth in a bottle," they would deserve the Nobel Prize or at least the Cortez Fountain of Youth Award. Another big trend that is big not only among youth seekers but young people themselves is toward "natural" cosmetics. 5C.A. Elmets; A. Vargas; C. Oresajo.

Many cosmetic companies have been more cautious about their claims for vitamin a products and instead placed their emphasis on alpha-hydroxy acids (see) as a great antiaging ingredient. Since alpha hydroxies are somewhat irritating and may cause increased sensitivity to the sun, the trend, at this writing, is toward beta-hydroxy acids. These contain salicylic acid, long used in acne medicines. Both the alphas and the beta acids are exfoliants that cause the shedding of superficial skin cells. In the youth market, such products are sold to get rid of oily, blackhead-dotted top layers of skin.

One of them, Cosmetic Laboratory Sales, took a full-page ad in the tabloid The Star, September 28, 1993, promoting "free retinol vitamin a creme when you purchase Alpha/H, Alpha Hydroxy Creme, Medical Science's New Age Reversal Formula." The ad went on to say that "Direct from leading medical journals, plus fashion magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan, comes the 'bombshell announcement' of a wondrous discovery that can help you grow away lines and signs of age .. . grow in a brand new, smooth-as-silk complexion and make you look 10 to 15—why even a whole generation younger.

Ironically, around the same time, physicians reported that Retin-A, a vitamin a derivative, actually did have some wrinkle-reducing effects. See Retin-A and Tretinoin. It is difficult for the Federal Trade Commission and the FDA to get after promoters of wrinkle creams. By the time the agencies get the manufacturers to court, it has taken several years and a great deal of money and manpower. Then all the manufacturers have to do is open up under different names or change the names of their products and start selling wrinkle creams all over again.

VISNAGA VERA EXTRACT • A plant related to celery (see). vitamin a • A yellow, viscous liquid insoluble in water. Used in lubricating creams and oils for its alleged skin-healing properties. Can be absorbed through the skin. Its absence from the diet leads to a loss in weight, retarded growth, and eye diseases. Too high a level can cause the skin to turn yellow and can cause birth defects and pressure on the brain. See also Retinoids and Retin-A. VITAMIN B2 • See Riboflavin. VITAMIN B6 • Pyridoxine hydrochloride.

TRETINOIN • vitamin a Retinoic Acid. Retin-A. A prescription cream, gel, or solution introduced in 1973 to treat severe acne and fine wrinkles from sundamaged skin. Clinically, according to researchers at Emory University Medical School, Atlanta, Georgia, patients experience decreased wrinkling, improved texture, and pinkening of sallow skin. However, the changes induced by topical tretinoin extend beyond a cosmetic. Microscopic, ultrastructural, and biochemical alterations, the researchers say, indicate that topical tretinoin is a significant medical therapy and requires medical supervision.

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A, vitamin E, various members of the vitamin B group, polysaccharides, including-AR-4E-2, angelica immunostimulating polysaccharide (AIP). CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECT Traditional Use Within the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) model dong quai is prescribed for conditions of 'blood deficiency', a situation that often presents with symptoms including: pale lips and tongue, dull/pale face with sallow complexion, depression and fatigue, poor memory, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea.

A (14 000IU/100 g), vitamin C, B complex, zinc, manganese, copper. þ phytosterols: sitosterol, stigmasterol, taraxasterol, and campesterol. (The composition of the sterol portion found in the leaves undergoes extensive seasonal fluctuation.) þ flavonoid glycosides: luteolin 7-glucoside, luteolin 7-diglucosides. þ sesquiterpene lactones and taraxacoside: Many references are made to the 'bitter principle' (also called taraxin) found primarily in dandelion root. This portion consists mainly of a mixture of sesquiterpene lactones and taraxacoside.

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Fat-Soluble Vitamins vitamin a Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Phenolphthalein Ex-Lax Feen-a-mint Modane Tablets and others Regular use of these laxatives may interfere with vitamin D and calcium metabolism, eventually weakening bones. Calcium Vitamin D Levodopa Dopar Larodopa Vitamin B6 can reduce the effectiveness of this anti-Parkinson's disease drug. Supplementation should be avoided. Vitamin B6 Major Tranquilizers Chlorpromazine Thorazine Fluphenazine Permitil Prolixin and others The B vitamins riboflavin and Bi2 (cyanocobalamin) may become depleted.

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While in many societies vitamin deficiencies result from monotonous diets, the advent, in the 1950s, of fortified foods such as milk fortified with vitamin a and D and vitamin-fortified cereals have made obvious vitamin deficiencies uncommon in American society. Certain genes that evolved in another long-ago era have programmed our bodies to expect a diverse array of plant foods that we no longer eat. This imbalance will turn out to play a key role in promoting chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer, in genetically susceptible individuals.

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Retinol The form of vitamin a found in mammals. Retrospective study A study where data are collected about events that have already happened. Sarcoma A neoplasm arising from the connective tissue, including bone, blood, muscle, fat, and lymph vessels. Staging The determination of the extent of cancer growth, a very important factor in the design of a treatment protocol. Systems vary by the type of cancer, but generally follow these steps: Stage I: localized cancer, probably without lymph node involvement. Stage II: local spread of cancer, possible lymph node involvement.

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Morever, it facilitates the ingestion of vitamin a. Since the psychic qualities in the eyes are strengthened, telepathic and clairvoyant vision is stimulated. The eyes are the physical vehicle involved in clairvoyantly seeing auras and nature spirits.16 The issue of aligning the subtle bodies and chakras in order to attain meaningful insight is a pervasive one throughout Gurudas' book. It becomes quite clear by the end of the book that the personality and its physical body are unable to reach harmony and inner balance unless true alignment of the spiritual with the physical vehicle occurs.

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Variations You can add any one or more of the following ingredients to each cup of the above recipes: 5,000 to 10,000 units of Vitamin E oil; 50,000 units of vitamin a oil; 1 or 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel; 1 teaspoon of honey; Vi teaspoon of tincture of benzoin; or 1 teaspoon glycerin. You can also substitute cocoa butter or avocado, sesame, soy, olive, or any combination of vegetable oils for oils in recipe, and you can greatly improve the quality of the oils by adding herbs to them as discussed above under "Herbal Oils." Hair Care I'm a lover of hair!

It should be pointed out, however, that vitamin a is a fat-soluble vitamin which can be concentrated in the liver. In doses over 20,000 to 30,000 units per day, care should be taken not to induce liver toxicity. Food Additives. Another question which is commonly raised concerning diet and the risk of cancer is the effect that various food additives, preservatives, coloring agents, and the like have on increasing risk.

Bjelke, "Vitamin A and Lung Cancer," International Journal of Cancer 15 (1975), pp. 561-565. 17. A. Morrison and J. Buring, "Artificial Sweetners and Cancer of the Lower Urinary Tract," New England Journal of Medicine (March 6, 1980), pp. 537-541; E. Wynder and S. Stellman, "Artificial Sweet-ner Use and Bladder Cancer," Science (March 14, 1980), pp. 1214-1217. 18. R. Hoover, "Saccharin—Bitter Aftertaste?" New England Journal of Medicine (March 6, 1980), pp. 573-574. 19. R. S. Rivlin, "Riboflavin and Cancer: A Review," Cancer Research 33 (1973), p. 1977. 20. N.

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