Vitamins and Supplements

Taking Vitamin Pills and Mad Cow Disease

Introduction.

Whilst I love conspiracy theories on the internet, they’re such good gossip when having a drink with friends, the one I’ve just read trying to make a link between taking vitamin pills and mad cow disease on the internet - is really quite hilarious. The article was from a blog written by someone trying desperately to sell their own ‘non’ pill form of taking vitamin supplements, which rather than explaining the product they were selling, instead chose to pretty well attack the whole vitamin and health supplements industry!

Vitamin pill binders and coating.

This woman might have mad cow disease - or just be a mad cow?

The article reached a veritable fever pitch over the use of a chemical known as DCP, which was commonly used in pills as a binder. The problem with DCP is that it is incontrovertibly linked to the outbreaks of what were referred to as mad cow disease, in Europe, particularly the UK, in the 1980s and early 1990s. To give its correct name Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE), symptoms were observed in people after eating cattle meat products of diseased animals. The fact that DCP was one of the chemicals used as a pill binding agent - caused some sections of the media and companies with vested interests to go into over-drive, indiscriminately condemning of all cattle meat products, even if not originating in the UK or Europe. The article mentioned above seems to have taken this information and built a  conspiracy theory around it, a good 10 years after the TSE problem had been fully addressed in Europe, that any pills, especially vitamin pills, from Europe were in effect really ‘mad cow disease’ in a pill.

Is DCP a problem in pills?

The answer to that question has to be an emphatic no, if asked the question 15 or 20 years ago, related to a pill from Europe you would have had to advise caution. As it is today, you cannot say there is no threat from anything in life, but I for one will continue to take vitamin pills sourced from the USA or Europe, without any concern or worry at all. Mainly because the DCP was only ever one of the substances used as a pill binder and pill binding now uses either direct compression, wet granulation, dry granulation of fluidized bed granulation. Also, just a thought to consider, if DCP is a problem with vitamin pills - what about hypertension pills or cholesterol pills or anti-cancer pills etc? The list could of course go on - so, does the author of that article think all of the pharmaceutical companies are in league to try and cause a world wide TSE epidemic!

People in glass houses!

Finally, what really bother me, and I hope anyone who reads the article that makes these outrageous claims, is that there is nothing in the article to state the standards applied to the manufacture of the vitamin drink they’re promoting. Basically a lemon drink - but what’s the manufacturing process? Where are the lemons from - Florida, or a farm next to a power station belching out smoke and pollution in China? What additives are in the drink etc? So, rather than going off on a rant, how about telling us what’s so good about your product?

Supplements for Macular Degeneration

Reports are just starting to filter through regarding supplements for age related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the third highest cause globally of serious visual impairment that can lead to at least partial if not total blindness. Two recent studies have made links between taking health supplements and preserving the visual capabilities of millions of adults suffering from AMD.

What the studies found.

Age-Related macular Degeneration - causes a progressively worsening blind spot to appear in the center of your vision.

Independent studies from the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland and the UAB in Alabama, USA, have both shown that supplemental vitamins, minerals and especially carotenoids can lead to a 16% improvement in the eyesight of AMD sufferers, within just 12 weeks of treatment. Where that treatment continues for a further two years the improvement in eyesight can be further increased by another 1%, which the scientists hope in time they can further improve by refining the mix of the supplements used.

What supplement do they recommend for AMD?

The recommended supplement is being named CARMA - carotenoids and co-oxidants in age-related maculopathy. CARMA is actually a preparation of the carotenoids luteine and zeaxanthin with anti-oxidant vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc. Green vegetables like kale and spinach, vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids, have for many years been promoted as helping to prevent and reduce the risks of developing AMD, but this is the first time that a specific supplemental preparation has been put forward to alleviate the problems of AMD.

Recommended doses for CARMA.

Whilst CARMA will be made generally available, in the meanwhile AMD sufferers can prepare their own mixture. Recommended doses are: 250mg vitamin C, 200mg vitamin E, 25mg zinc, 500mcg zeaxanthin and 10mg luteine. Of course, if you’ve not previously been taking these supplements do check with your physician that you have no contraindications for using them.

Can’t Sleep - How To Rest Assured

At some time in our lives over 40% of us will experience a period of insomnia - not being able to get to sleep. Insomnia can be brought on by both physical and psychological medical conditions; however, for the vast majority of people there will be no underlying reason for their sleeplessness - which can make it all the more frustrating. If, on average, you have 3 nights of seriously interrupted sleep in any one month - then you may well be an insomniac with a sleep problem.

Conditions causing sleeplessness.

Of course an uncomfortable bed can be one cause of insomnia!

Medical ailments can cause you to have difficulty getting to sleep and having disrupted sleeping pattern because of discomfort and pain due to the condition or the treatment for it. There are also a variety of psychological problems that can cause sleeplessness, for example stress will often be a cause of insomnia; and you can find many articles elsewhere on techniques to reduce your stress levels.  However, the fact remains that a proportion of the population simply find it difficult to get to sleep or to have prolonged periods of deep sleep, so important to our whole well-being and good health. Of course, simply not having a very comfortable bed could be another cause of insomnia!

A natural remedy for insomnia.

Reaching for a bottle of sleeping pills can be all too easy and, in the long term, detrimental to your health. In taking a sleeping pill you may well get a good nights sleep - but it’s not natural sleep and so it won’t help you get into a natural sleep rhythm to suit your body clock. That is the essential point to realise, that you need to get natural sleep, something you’ll never do if you’re agitated about or by something else. To alleviate this situation deliberately prepare yourself for sleep, stopping work, watching TV or listening to music 30 minutes before going to bed. Try reading a book in a dimly lit room instead with a relaxing chamomile tea drink. Chamomile tea is one of the oldest of herbal remedies and has renowned properties as an anti-inflammatory, and infection fighter as well as being a great ‘soother‘ without being a sedative. Chamomile tea is an ideal drink to take before going to bed as it will naturally calm your body and help to prepare it for sleep.

Nuts To Health Supplements

Go nuts for good health.

Although you need to be careful of the calories in nuts, they can be a great way to take some vitamin and health supplements. There are some 25 varieties of nuts that we can readily buy online and in our stores that can add to the array of nutrients required from our regular diets. However, do be aware that eating a full 100g bag of nuts may well contain 500+ calories.

The big 3 health nuts!

Brazil nuts are a tremendous source for a Selenium supplement. Selenium is a mineral that is essential to our bodies for producing anti-oxidizing enzymes that help to protect our cells against pollutants and damage. Maintaining a good level of Selenium in your body is also linked to male fertility and reducing the risks of cataracts and age-related blindness as we grow older. Just two or three Brazil nuts a day will ensure you’re getting a sufficient dose of Selenium. Almonds are great for anyone who has a raised cholesterol level in their blood. Almonds are known to be rich in natural statins. If you have seriously high cholesterol you should obviously follow your medical practitioners advice; however, if the rise in cholesterol is only just beginning or moderate - you can see if it can be controlled simply by altering your diet to include things like almonds. Almonds are also a good source of calcium for strong bones. High levels of cholesterol can lead to cardio-vascular problems, walnuts are rich in a plant version of omega-3 oils and so have protective properties towards the heart - also helping to control cholesterol.

Everyone’s favorite health nuts?

If the above three nuts aren’t to your taste then even these two more popular ones can be doing you some good, as well as being a tasty snack. Peanuts are excellent for increasing levels of folate in your diet, which can be especially important as a health supplement to pregnant women. They are important as folates reduce the incidence of spina bifida in their babies, the all important aspect here being the presence of vitamin B. Finally, if you’re a bit anemic try adding cashew nuts to your diet. Cashew nuts are both an energy booster and a good source of the mineral iron.

New Folic Acid Recommendations

Pregnant women in particular are advised to take a Folic acid supplement.

The positive benefits to expectant mothers for their unborn child of taking Folic Acid supplements is already well established and a Nutrition Research Team at Tuft’s University is taking the lead on recommending that it is time now that the government, in the USA, should ensure that the levels of Folic Acid in some foods are boosted - in order to be certain that mothers to be are getting enough of it.

Pregnant women and Folic Acid?

Folic Acid is simply a manufactured form of Folate, which is a naturally occurring compound found in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits and dried beans. More importantly Folate is B vitamin and is therefore vital to our own healthy cell growth; but it is also water-soluble and our bodies are not good at retaining it, meaning that our stores of Folate need regularly replacing. Hence, the recommendation to take a Folic Acid supplement. The significant point for expectant mothers to be is that they need the Folate form the food they eat for their own cell growth, but as they old saying goes they are “eating for two“. That is, the unborn baby also needs a good supply of the B vitamin from Folate for good cell growth itself - meaning that many, if not most, expectant women should be taking Folic Acid supplements. Amongst other things, unborn babies mothers consuming the recommended doses of Folic Acid have reduced incidence of premature births.

What’s the recommended dosage for Folic Acid supplements?

Pregnant women should, of course, always seek the advice of their medical professionals before taking any supplements. However, long agreed guidelines on Folate consumption for non-pregnant women are that they should consume at least 400mg of Folic Acid a day. The US Preventative Services last month suggested that women should actually be taking between 400 and 800mg of Folic Acid, on the basis that not all pregnancies are planned and, in the event of an unexpected pregnancy the woman’s body will be receiving adequate levels of Folic Acid.

Hay-fever cures, other than antihistamines

You don't have to look like this just becasue you're suffering from hay fever!

A seasonal allergic reaction to pollens in the air - hay fever can ruin the opportunities for some people to be outdoors enjoying the good weather. Blocked and runny noses, itchy eyes and lots of sneezing are typical symptoms that a hay fever sufferer has; especially in the mornings.

Why do some people suffer from hay fever?

In some people their immune system thinks that the pollen is a bacterial or viral infection, so it releases histamines to deal with it. It is the histamines we produce naturally that cause the problems for us, not the pollen in the first place; as the histamines cause the inflammation to try and protect us, by preventing the pollen from entering our bodies. Which is why hay fever sufferers get all the symptoms of sneezing and watery eyes etc. Buying anti-histamines is an obvious solution, but not everyone wants to use a chemical solution to the problem, not to mention the cost of some proprietary anti-histamines.

Herbal remedies for hay fever.

Several herbal remedies exist for hay fever, all of which have some veracity behind them. Vitamin C is recommended, as it reinforces the antioxidants in our noses and throats, supporting the immune system. Omega-3 oils are known to dampen down inflammation, whilst drinking ginger tea has a decongestant effect, relaxing airways and reducing sneezing. However, medical herbalists recommend quercetin - a naturally occurring flavonoid supernutrient found in many common fruits like apples and some common vegetables. Quercetin naturally blocks the release of histamines and so is ideal for reducing the symptoms of hay fever. Occurring in our natural diet taking a quercetin supplement shouldn’t produce any side effects. Taking 500 mg of quercetin a day is recommended, ideally as two drinks of nettle leaf tea, each with 250mg in it. The nettle leaf needs to have at least 1% of plant silica in it.

No sneezes here? These people are suffering from the play 'Hay fever' by Noel Coward!

Vitamin D - good for your brain

Not having good levels of vitamin D can affect your mental abilities!

With the health benefits of taking vitamin D for maintaining strong and healthy bones being well established, especially for women over the age of 50, comes news that it can also help you to keep your brain healthy. In a study involving more than 3,000 European men in the age range 49-79; those with higher vitamin D levels did better when asked to carry out memory and information processing tests, compared to men with lower levels of vitamin D.

Protect your brain with vitamin D.

The team that conducted the study, from University of Manchester in northern England, believe they have found a link between the key signaling pathways in the brain and the protective influence of vitamin D in the cells concerned. Previous studies have all hinted at an association between lower vitamin D levels and an increased incidence of mental decline with age, but this is the first study that has proposed exactly what the significant role of vitamin D in the mental processes might be.

Vitamin D, mental agility and hormones.

Although only proven so far in animal studies, scientists have found increased levels of protective hormone activity in the brains of animals with high levels of vitamin D. It is also believed that decreases in mental agility can occur according to the amount of free-radicals in your body, which as an anti-oxidant vitamin D will help to control and reduce; in effect detoxifying the brain. The respected academic Professor Tim Spector, of King’s College London and an expert on the effects of vitamin D and ageing, said that this report shows further evidence supporting the beliefs that maintaining good levels of vitamin D in the over-50s can help to maintain their health in many respects. So, in these days when we are increasingly being warned of not over-exposing ourselves to the sun, the over-50s should surely check their diet and see if they need a daily vitamin D supplement.

Vitamins work against you when exercising!

A rather astonishing report this week claims that - taking vitamins C and E after a gym or exercise session can actually work against your body benefiting from the exercise!

Exercise and body regulation.

Apparently the report, from the National Academy of Sciences, was looking into the effectiveness of physical exercise on the body’s energy regulation; and found that some vitamins (C and E in particular) can actually block this beneficial aspect of physical exercise - if taken after the exercise. So, there is, of course, a very simple solution here. If you take vitamin C and/or E supplements - take them before, not after, exercising!

Implications of the report.

The report does have a more serious aspect that some people might need to be aware of. Exercise increases the speed with which we ‘burn’ sugars as an energy source, which in turn increases our sensitivity to insulin. The issue is that people with a decreased sensitivity to insulin can develop Type 2 diabetes. Apparently the study behind the report established that the action of vitamin C and E after exercise neutralizes a particular type of ‘free radical’ molecules that makes the body more sensitive to insulin. The result of this is that the body could become less sensitive to insulin - bringing on Type 2 diabetes.

Should you be worried?

No, is the simple answer. Type 2 diabetes usually affects only the over-40s and is, in itself, a complex disease that results from a combination of factors. Or, put another way, if you have a pre-disposition to Type 2 diabetes, taking vitamin C and/or vitamin E and exercising will have little bearing on its development. In actual fact Type 2 diabetes is frequently due to a poor diet and lack of exercise so, on balance, it is probably more important to keep exercising and keep yourself healthy.

Type 2 diabetes is often caused by a poor diet and no exercise -mmm!

Swine Flu and flu treatments

You don't have to dash out and buy a full swine flu kit.

Of course any health scare is to be taken seriously - but this is not another of those articles portraying the image that we’re all going to turn into pigs and die! Swine flu is a very potent variant of the flu virus, but for the vast majority of the population that merely means we’ll feel ill for a few days, like having the usual flu viruses not surprisingly, and then get better. Elderly or infirm people are at a higher risk, but again that’s always the situation with any flu outbreak. Apart from making sure you’re getting enough vitamins there are a couple of health supplements you can also take to alleviate any symptoms of flu.

A traditional flu remedy.

Common complaints associated with flu symptoms are fevers, aching joints and even headaches/migraines. There’s a natural health supplement called ‘FeverFew’ that has been around for centuries which is known to combat these conditions. Tanacetum Parthenium, to give it its correct name, is a plant that has flowers rather like a daisy; it contains Parthenolides - which are known to relieve migraines. It also has very good anti-inflammatory properties meaning it is effective in the treatment of aching joints, including even rheumatism and arthritis. Feverfew is effective in treating flu like fevers by lowering the temperature. Whilst you can chew the raw leaves of this plant, it’s not really recommended as they can cause mouth ulcers and skin rashes. Today it is more usually administered as a daily 1.5g tablet. Taking Feverfew is not advised during pregnancy, for nursing mothers or under-12s. Taking some other forms of medication with Feverfew should also be avoided, so please do read the instructions for using it carefully.

Chamomile Tea.

It might seem strange to consider chamomile tea as a health supplement - but a health supplement it is. Another traditional treatment for fevers this one has been in use since the times of the Roman Empire as fever and flu cure. The combination of proazulenes, alpha-bisabolol and spiroether; with bioflavanoids and quercetin - all combine to make this a powerful anti-inflammatory health supplement; capable of calming the fever conditions that come along with having the flu. Chamomile tea is considered to be a gentle remedy safe enough for children to use. However, again you should read the instructions that come with the supply of chamomile tea.

Bleeding Gums and Vitamin C

If you have bleeding gums would you risk smiling like this?

If you have gums that bleed easily when either brushing your teeth or even just when eating food, then you should take the time to find a remedy - fast! Bleeding gums could be the first indication of a few serious conditions, the most common of which is the periodontal disease - gingivitis; which can lead to you losing all of your teeth. Caught early enough bleeding gums can often be easily treated and rectified, simply by taking a vitamin C supplement.

What causes bleeding gums?

Unfortunately the most common reason for developing bleeding gums is simply because people do not follow a rigorous procedure for regularly cleaning their teeth. In the act of cleaning your teeth you automatically also clean your gums. However, as we know cleaning our teeth does involve more than just brushing them two or three times a day. The brushing needs to be done with a good brush, for more than a few seconds, with firm and regular up/down and side-to-side strokes; and be followed with the use of floss and ideally a mouth wash. This sort of routine is essential to prevent the build up of plaque - which is as much of a threat to your gums as your teeth.

What to do for bleeding gums.

Maintaining a good level of vitamin C in your body is essential to maintaining the health of your gums. Your vitamin C intake needs to at least meet the minimum recommended dose of 40mg a day; and yet a surprising number of people with bleeding gums fail to still to meet that target. So, if you have bleeding gums and are not the sort of person to regularly eat citrus fruits, you should consider having a vitamin C supplement. Another supplement, co-enzyme Q10 - is also known to be helpful for some people with bleeding gums. Co-enzyme Q10 contains a substance that occurs naturally in the body called quinones, which are known to help gums heal. A 50mg supplement taken twice daily for a few weeks could help to strengthen your gums and reduce or even prevent them from bleeding.

Bleeding gums and medical advice.

Of course if your bleeding gums are causing you concern - do seek advice from your medical professionals. Bleeding gums can be quite common during pregnancy, during which time you should consult with your doctor before taking any supplements. Also, bleeding gums are associated with other conditions such as stress, diabetes and even Leukemia.