| Her blood tests reflected anemia and low iron and vitamin b12 levels.
My prescription came as a surprise to her: small quantities of meat, preferably red meat, every day, in addition to the basically healthy diet she already maintained.
Lynn complied and watched her symptoms reverse themselves within a matter of weeks. Lynn admits that she felt guilty at first, when her vegetarian friends saw her putting organic ground beef in her shopping cart at the health food store. Like many Americans, she still worried about cholesterol and fat. |
| I have given vitamin b12 supplements, or even injections, to some elderly patients and seen a sharp increase in general alertness and mental responsiveness.
Beyond stimulation and nutrition, there are unfortunately some pathological processes that affect memory. The two major ones are cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease, and many people are afflicted with several degenerative processes. Cerebrovascular disease, which affects the circulation of blood in the brain, can cause a progressive decline in memory. |
the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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 He may treat it with a vitamin b12 shot or have you take a supplement. In the meantime make sure you eat plenty of foods high in B12/ like fish, low-fat yogurt and cottage cheese.
Make sure it makes its move. Geographic tongue may cause a burning sensation in your mouth. If necessary, talk to your doctor for possible treatments. Other than that, geographic tongue is of no real concern, Dr. Abbey says, "although you and your dentist should watch to make sure it doesn't turn into something else."
Diet drinks do it. |
Maesimund B. Panos, M.D. and Jane Heimlich
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 The dose of vitamin b12 used to treat certain anemias contains a millionth of a gram of cobalt. Trace elements, present in barely measurable amounts in the body, are essential for its development and functioning. The human body manufactures only fifty to a hundred millionths of a gram of thyroid hormone each day, yet a small excess or deficiency in this already "infinitesimal" amount can seriously affect the health of the individual.
The power of the infinitesimal dose is not clearly understood, but neither is the action of aspirin and many other drugs. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Although BH4 is not available as a nutritional supplement, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamin b12 (cobal-amin) stimulate the body's production of BH4. B vitamins are also known to increase the effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants.
Ll Acupuncture is as effective as the MAO inhibitor amitriptyline (Elavil) in controlling depression, but without the side effects. (See ACUPUNCTURE in Part Three.)
Ll Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a condition in which the body is not exposed to enough sunlight to maintain normal levels of serotonin. |
Carlton Fredericks, Ph.D.
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| The list should also include Vitamin A, bio tin, lecithin, and vitamin b12. It's interesting that eggs, so long maligned by anticholesterol faddists, are good sources of every one of these protective factors, save Vitamin C.
SOURCES OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND OTHER PROTECTIVE
FACTORS
Selenium
As critical to cancer resistance as this nutrient is, it is ironic that supplements of selenium were added to animal feeds decades before they were made available to the public. |
Dr. Cass Ingram
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 Critical nutrients needed to maintain a healthy stomach lining include folic acid, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, vitamin K, vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, vitamin b12, and zinc.
Stomach/duodenal ulcer combat kit
• wild oregano herb (Oregamax capsules) — take 2 or 3 capsules twice daily (plus 2 Oreganol gelcaps for fighting infestation).
• oil of cilantro/coriander — take 5 to 10 drops twice daily in juice or water.
• oil of oregano — take 2 drops under the tongue twice daily.
• oil of ginger (olive oil emulsification) — take 2 or 3 drops with each meal. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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 B12 per day. Unless you do, your breast-fed infant may be at risk for B12 deficiency. Your baby will probably weigh a little less than average at birth anyway, but should be normal in all other respects. The table on page 389 contains a list of foods from vegetarian and nonvegetarian sources that are rich in vitamin b12. Many vegetarians mistakenly believe that fermented foods such as sauerkraut, sourdough bread, and pickles contain enough B12 to meet their needs during pregnancy. That's a myth! They are not good sources at all, for which reason they are not even listed on page 389. |
Dr Bernard Jenson and Mark Anderson
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 When we don't get enough vitamin b12, we can't assimilate iron properly or make strong red blood cells; we become anemic. Anemic people become weak, depressed, and vulnerable to disease.
THE ELEMENTS OF MANKIND
I want you to have a look at Table 1.1, the German chemist Wilhelm Koenigs' famous list of chemicals that compose the human body. I want you to consider briefly what happens to your body when you are missing one or more of these elements.
Table 1.1 Koenigs' Analysis of Chemical Elements in an Average Mature Male
Element
Percent
Element
Percent
Oxygen
59.0
Potassium
. |
| Antibiotics kill the friendly bacteria that manufacture vitamin b12 in the gut. Where is the logic behind depressing our immune system to fight an infection artificially—especially when we run the increased risk of developing super strains of pathogenic bacteria that have mutated to circumvent the antibiotic? These super strains are showing up in more and more hospitals, known as "super infections."
An antibiotic is a plant's immune system. Why do we use another species' method of protecting ourselves? We have our own, more-sophisticated internal mechanism for self-defense. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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| Such people can become dehydrated, malnourished, and deficient in vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, vitamin b12, folic acid, iron, and vitamin D (the latter because two drugs used in the treatment of IBD—prednisone and cholestyramine—interfere with its action). So if you have IBD, ask your doctor about supplemental vitamins and minerals.
The stools of people with IBD, especially ulcerative colitis, sometimes contain abnormal amounts of fat. |
Prevention Magazine
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 B12, 5 percent of the DV. vitamin b12, which is found almost solely in animal foods, is essential for healthy brain function. Get too little B12 and you may find yourself feeling fatigued and experiencing memory loss and other neurological problems.
Another B vitamin, B6, is critical for maintaining immunity. It's also necessary for making red blood cells and maintaining a healthy nervous system. Poultry provides between 0.2 and 0.5 milligram of vitamin B6, 10 to 25 percent of the DV.
Metal for Your Mettle
When knights went into battle, they donned suits of armor to make them stronger. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Contains more iron, potassium, folic acid, and vitamin b12 than almost any other herb.
Stinging nettle
Capsule, juice, or tea. Take as directed on the label.
A rich source of iron, vitamin C, and chlorophyll that is effective for the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia.
Precautions for the use of herbs:
'Do not use dandelion if you have gallstones.
HERBS TO AVOID
Q People who have anemia should avoid damiana, fennel, grapeseed extract, and rooibos. |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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 Although intestinal bacteria also produce vitamin b12 vegetarian diets would be detrimental to both dogs and cats. chapter 4
How the Decline in Minerals Affects Your Pet's Food
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's observation in 1937 regarding the importance of soil and health was prophetic. In a letter to the nation's governors, the president wrote: "A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself." Degenerative diseases started skyrocketing around this time and have been increasing ever since. I believe that the root of most diseases today in people and animals is due to nutrient depletion. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Herbalists have used dandelion for generations to treat anemia due to deficiencies of folic acid, iron, and vitamin b12.
• Bladder infection and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Unlike many conventional diuretics, which cause a loss of potassium, dandelion leaves are rich in potassium. Using the herb as a diuretic results in a net gain of this vital mineral. Because of its diuretic effect, dandelion helps to relieve fluid retention in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and counteract urine retention in bladder infections. |
| For vegans (vegetarians who eat no animal products at all), it supplies vitamin b12, otherwise found almost exclusively in animal products.
Kelp is a laxative and contains considerable amounts of iodine. It has shown an ability to act against arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and HIV infection. Herbalists rely on kelp's active ingredient, sodium alginate, to treat heavy-metal toxins such as barium and cadmium, and to prevent the body from absorbing strontium-90, a radioactive substance created in nuclear power plants. |
| Blood tests for the amino acid homocysteine are the most sensitive measures of vitamin b12 deficiency. High levels of homocysteine indicate inadequate levels of the vitamin.
ţ See also memory problems in Part Two.
Amebiasis
See under parasitic infection.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the blood is deficient in either red blood cells or hemoglobin, the iron-binding protein that transports oxygen through the blood. Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, exchanging fresh oxygen for carbon dioxide, which is excreted by being exhaled. |
| LJ Since SAMe is not effective for OA if there is vitamin b12 (cobalamin) or folate deficiency, take supplements of these vitamins. One milligram per day of each vitamin is sufficient.
LJ Take 400 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate and 400 to 500 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate daily. These substances are essential to joint repair. Taking glucosamine supplements reduces pain as effectively as taking ibupro-fen without tissue damage, although not as quickly. Chondroitin, although poorly absorbed through the digestive tract, is useful in increasing the effect of glucosamine. |
the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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| Simons says. vitamin b12 supplements may help your blood if you're elderly. "Anemia caused by iron or B12 deficiency may be a sign of a more serious problem, like internal bleeding, an ulcer or cancer. Be sure to ask your doctor if these supplements are appropriate for you," she says.
Move your body. Exercise makes you feel better physically and emotionally, Dr. Kersting says, so start a workout program. Select an activity you like to do so you'll stay with it. "If you don't like bicycling, don't buy a stationary bicycle," says Dr. Kersting.
Take your temperature. |
| Department of Reproductive Biology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. vitamin b12 and folate are important nutrients for building healthy blood volume and blood quality. "Iron is needed for hemoglobin, another important blood component," he says. The level of B vitamins and iron in a typical daily multiple vitamin should be sufficient.
Help from Your Doctor
When uterine growths or undetermined causes result in heavy periods, your doctor can help with medication, or in some cases, surgery.
Reach for anti-inflammatories. |
| Researchers have also found that deficiencies in vitamin b12, folate and zinc can cause problems with taste.
And if you light up a cigarette after a dinner that's low in these nutrients, you're in double trouble: Smoking can bum out your taste buds.
People who have been through radiation therapy for cancer often report a loss of taste, as do those who've had major head injuries. Upper respiratory infections can also lead to loss of taste. And, rarely, tumors of the oral cavity, brain or brainstem can damage the sense of taste. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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| For example, vegans, and even those who avoid animal flesh but eat eggs and dairy products, may become deficient in vitamin b12. This can result in pernicious anemia and severe, irreversible nerve deterioration. This lack of B12 is especially dangerous during pregnancy and breast-feeding, in youngsters who are still growing, and in the elderly, who may absorb less B12 from their food. The low calorie content and decreased protein content of the vegan diet may be inadequate during pregnancy, and result in low birthweight and impaired growth in infants. |
Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D.
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 The bacteria in naturally fermented miso have been found to manufacture vitamin b12, making miso paste an important vegetarian food. Japanese monks, who are well known for their vitality and long life and eat no animal products, regularly consume miso. Individuals with a more alkaline blood are generally regarded as healthier. Most of the foods many consider treats, such as sugar, meat, alcohol, and coffee, weaken the body's overall health and resistance and are acid forming. |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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| Signs of vitamin b12 deficiency may manifest themselves as anemia and neurologic deficits.70 In persons over age sixty-five, it was found that as high as 42 percent may have a B12 deficiency. In human patients, many neurological disorders have been treated with methylcobalamin. Published studies show that high doses of methylcobalamin are needed to regenerate neurons as well as the myelin sheath that protects axons and peripheral nerves. Let's look at a few human neurological diseases that are helped with methylcobalamin.
Bell's Palsy is a nonlethal paralysis of the facial nerve. |
James F. Balch, M.D.
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 For those who are deficient in folic acid, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), or vitamin b12, there will be an associated elevation of homocysteine. Homocysteine has been implicated in the formation of atherosclerosis, directly damaging the artery and affecting the blood-vessel wall, interfering with the formation of collagen.
Elevated homocysteine levels are a definite independent risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and other vascular disorders. Abnormal homocysteine levels are found in nearly 40 percent of patients with heart disease.
Taken from R. Clarke et al. |
| People with Alzheimer's have low levels of vitamin b12 and other B vitamins, which are extremely important in cognitive functioning. Too often, the type of diet of the elderly eat is made up primarily of man-made processed foods, from which much of the B vitamin content is removed. Zinc deficiency is common in the Alzheimer patient. Malabsorption obviously plays a significant role whereby normal nutrients cannot be obtained. Maiabsorption is common among the elderly, making them more prone than others to nutritional deficiencies. |
| Injections of the B complex and vitamin b12, in my experience, have at times brought about dramatic improvement. The minerals selenium and zinc especially are important as potent antioxidants. Zinc apparently helps stop amyloid plaque formation, which is related to zinc deficiency.
Other antioxidants to protect the brain should include vitamin C (2,000 to 6,000 milligrams in divided doses daily), beta-carotene, and vitamin E (400 to 800 I.U.s daily). |
| Under normal conditions, the brain manufactures significant levels of phosphatidyl serine, but if there is a deficiency of vitamin b12 and folic acid or the essential fatty acids, then the brain is unable to make sufficient phosphatidyl serine. Low levels of phosphatidyl serine in the brain are associated with impaired mental function and depression in the elderly.
One double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study presented in the Journal of Aging in 1993 studied 494 elderly patients. |
| In conclusion, it is my opinion that no one should accept a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease without first undergoing a trial of intensive nutritional therapy, particularly the B complex and vitamin b12 injections. I personally have literally seen patients confined to a nursing home with the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease treated in this fashion, and they dramatically improved and were ultimately discharged from the nursing facility.
AIDS
One of the diseases that has generated the most controversy and the most fear in the last decade is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 In 1999, the American Journal of Nutrition reported a clinical study showing that women aged 60-71 with hearing impairment had 48% lower serum vitamin b12 and 43% lower red cell folate than women with normal hearing. A Spanish study of cochlear microcirculation in patients with sudden-onset hearing loss showed high blood viscosity (stickiness) and "a notorious increase in aggregability." Moreover, use of high-dose vitamin therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy was able to improve recovery rates in cases of sudden sensory neural hearing loss. |
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