Some interesting facts about vitamins

[fullmergavin]

I have spent a great deal of my time recently investigating/studying nutrition by way of internet research and several different books. Never take a stranger's advise on anything, most certainly not that of an amateur's, but here are some of the more interesting facts about supplementation that I never knew about previously-

#1)The bio availability of vitamin A is dependant upon adequate cellular levels of Vitamin E, which in turn requires an adequate storage of Riboflavin (B2) in the body. Ie-you need enough E for A to work as it should, and you need enough B2 for E to function properly.  
#2)Some contend that taking Fish Oil and/or Omega 3 could be dangerous if you do not have enough vitamin E in the system to prevent the oxidation of the omega 3 (Mercola).
#3)Though the majority believe that Vitamin D aids the body in utilizing calcium absorption, a select few believe that Vitamin D might actually suck calcium out of the body. The increase in calcium serum w/ D supplementation might be to blame on a possibility that vit D is actually pulling calcium out of the bones and bringing it to the blood-calcification. Only a small minority believe this.
#4)Zinc and copper typically "Compete" with one another. Take zinc, and your copper level might drop,&vice versa. A recent New Zealand study has identified excessive copper "toxicity" as a potential source for the cardio damage in those with Type 2 diabetes, even though most Endos believe that copper is vital for Type 1's. The Thymus gland shrinks with age; several alledge that this can be prevented by zinc. Gray area here

[LukeL]

I am a personal fan of Dr. Mercola and believe in most of what he says. People need to learn the importance of nutrition and it can greatly improve the quality of your life. Of course check with your docotor before going on any alternative health plan but in general his ideas are safe as he has faced very little FTC and FCC attention

[fullmergavin]

I agree with you completely. Unfortunately, the majority of today's physicians couldn't hit the broadside of a barn when it comes to their knowledge in these areas. The majority just don't believe in any of it. I'm a Diabetic that can attest to the benefits of logical supplementation.

Case in point-A couple of years ago, I began to experience a little bit of tingling down one of my arms that went into the hand. Believing the problem was B vitamin related, my doc ran a serum B12 that came back in excess of 1800.

Shortly therafter, I found a newer company specializing in lymphocyte nutritional testing. After ordering the test and finding a doc to approve it, my b12 and mag levels were at a 20% deficieny based on the results of that test. After determining that it was unlikely that I had a cobalt deficiency, I decided to try one of the newer versions of B12 that is supposedly more bio available. Within a month, the tingling was gone. A repeated the test on the lymphocyte assessment three months later, and it was normal.

[lemon_cheesecake]

I just eat loads of fruit and vegetables I don't really bother with vitamin tablets. I estimate how much of the 5 a day I am getting. Sometimes I eat some fruit and that's it, because no matter how much fruit you eat it still amounts to 1. Other days I eat 800 grams of corn, green beans and carrots. I don't see what the big deal is with getting people to eat veggies.

I used to hardly eat vegetables and I was always down and irritable. This one time I felt really down, as if there was a permanent weight over my mind. I could think properly but my will and body felt like they were weighed down with some sort of supernatural dark evil entity, it was really weird, so I stuffed myself with a bag full of green beans and my stomach felt wonderful and I suddenly felt invigorated. However I have never felt the same feeling of invigoration again even though I eat loads of fruit nad vegetable now. I don't notice when I am sufferring from malnutrition, just when I have solved the problem.

I also have cravings for distinct types of food. Sometimes I feel like toast and butter, other times I couldn't touch anything which contains large amounts of chemical energy and prefer something more fresh, like a strong cup of tea or some pears. Other times I need to sink my teeth into a tender chop of lamb and sometimes I feel like vomitting if I go near anything which contains oil and I feel as if I could live off water and fresh air.

I usually don't eat proper meals. I just go into the kitchen and sit around eating whatever I can whip up in less than 5 minutes and sometimes I eat and eat and wonder what I am craving until I consume the right thing. It's almost as if I am still learning what these odd cravings are.

I am slightly below medium weight and have always been in good health, so nothing's wrong. I'm just wonderring if other people have the same specific cravings as I do and why I have never seen some sort of media documentation of these phenomena. I would say there are 4 main cravings, the only well documented one being thirst and the other 3 seemingly grouped together as hunger.

thirst
salt craving
meat craving
carbohydrates and butter craving
vegetable reward (not a complete craving->eating->reward->time period cycle, just the award)

What do you think?

[fullmergavin]

One of the spookier things that I've been reading about lately seems to involve an opinion that is increasing in popularity among those in the alternative health fields, in addition to a select few of those belonging to main stream medicine.

Believe it or not, in respect to your questions, there are a few health professionals that would test you for parasites. I refuse to give the theory much merit personally, though I must also admit there are a few issues they highlight that might make a little bit of sense w/ all of these mystery food allergy problems popping up all over the place.

Bottomline appears to be this- so long as the individual is not experiencing signifigant GI related complications, and the subject's IGE AB's are normal, one would have little to worry about in this area.

However, for those that experience sudden, stark changes w/ their diet and related food cravings, it might be worth it to have your physician or allergist run your IGE AB's. In the event that anything is off on that test, there are those that would tell you it would be wise to ask for a parasite culture.

The fact that single celled organisms, those that would be invisible to the naked eye, mind you, might ever have a role in some of our food choices/behaviors, etc, the mere thought of the possibility leads this twenty somethings male to a point where he could scream in terror at an octive much higher than a lady's voice, so I'm trying not to think about the thought of it any further~.

[nessie1]

Re: The fact that single celled organisms, those that would be invisible to the naked eye, mind you, might ever have a role in some of our food choices/behaviors, etc, the mere thought of the possibility leads this twenty somethings male to a point where he could scream in terror at an octive much higher than a lady's voice, so I'm trying not to think about the thought of it any further~.

Amen to that.  Been there.  As well as I try to eat right and by doing so steam my vegetables instead of boiling them - such things most certainly do happen.  I steam certain vegetables now a lot longer then normal.  Even those low temps can't be low enough sometimes.

[nessie1]

Let me reiterate something.  I meant to say 'high' temps as in hotter.