Chapter
3-2 of Healing Foods by Walter Last
Vitamins
may be water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins are vitamin C and the
B-group vitamins. Except for vitamin B12, they are easily absorbed, and
deficiency is due a deficient diet or to increased requirements. Due to genetic
factors or diseases some individuals may require up to hundred times the usual
amounts to function normally. One common problem is a thickened or hardened
membrane, preventing nutrients entering some organs, especially the eyes. An
increased vitamin concentration in the blood ensures an increased supply to the
organ. Being water-soluble a surplus of these vitamins is easily expelled
through the kidneys, and any problem from overdosing is rare.
The fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K,
are more difficult to absorb. Deficiencies can easily arise even with an
adequate diet. Many individuals, in
particular those who have a dry skin and difficulty in gaining weight, have
fat-malabsorption. A common cause is a sensitivity of the intestinal lining to
gluten that resulted in the gradual erosion of the absorption villi. With this
condition fat-soluble vitamins and other nutrients, such as beta-carotene, are
not well absorbed and deficiencies result. These cannot normally be corrected
by just taking fat-soluble supplements, such as halibut oil capsules for
vitamins A and D. Instead, try to obtain and use water-soluble forms of these
nutrients, such as vitamin A emulsions and vitamin E in tablet form.
In addition, you may frequently rub vitamin A or E oil from opened capsules onto your skin, and keep a halibut liver oil capsule under the tongue at bedtime for absorption overnight. Formerly it was common practice to give cod liver oil rubs to babies who did not thrive. This is also excellent for adults. In addition, expose your skin frequently to mild sunlight for increased vitamin D production.
Generally, it is best to obtain all necessary vitamins from natural foods and your intestinal bacteria. Under present conditions, however, it is rarely possible to achieve and maintain good health without using special vitamin-rich foods as well as vitamin supplements.
In
the case of poor health, absorption of vitamins and minerals is impaired, while
your internal requirements are simultaneously raised. This phenomenon underlies
the widespread vitamin and mineral deficiencies in our society, which result in
a multitude of disease symptoms.
The
bacteria of our intestinal flora supply a considerable part of our B vitamins.
Antibiotic therapy destroys these essential bacteria and may cause vitamin
deficiencies. For this reason use fermented foods or cultures containing
acidophilus and bifido bacteria as well as B-vitamin supplements whenever
antibiotics are taken. Other widespread conditions causing persistent vitamin
deficiencies and dependencies are deprivations during fetal development and in
later life, acute and chronic infections, parasites and inefficient metabolism.
Humans cannot
synthesize vitamin C, so they must obtain it from their food. Most animals
produce their own vitamin C at a daily rate, equivalent, in terms of body
weight, to 2-5 g (2000-5000 mg) for an adult human; under stress, up to 15-20 g
are produced. This compares with 60 mg recommended for adults by government
health agencies. Vitamin and mineral supplements may not be required for the
maintenance of health or even the cure of most degenerative diseases, provided
the diet is predominantly fresh and raw, based on sprouted seeds, grass and
vegetable juice as well as high-quality nutrients such as pollen, spirulina and
kelp.
Bowel-tolerance
Vitamin C
This can
be a successful treatment for infectious diseases, including viral infections,
which do not respond to antibiotics. The dose of vitamin C is increased until
the patient develops diarrhea. Then the rate is cut back slightly until the
bowel just tolerates the high vitamin-C intake. During serious infections, the
bowel tolerance is much greater than that of healthy people. In normal health,
for example, the bowel tolerance is about 4-15 g per day. With a light cold it
might be 20-30 g, and with a serious cold 60-100 g. Mononucleosis or viral
hepatitis requires 40-60 g, gastroenteritis 60-150 g, and viral pneumonia more
than 150 g. Less than the bowel-tolerance dose may not be effective. While this
treatment is most effective for viral infections, it can also help with
bacterial infections.
When you are taking
these massive amounts, it is important to select the correct form of vitamin-C.
If mainly ascorbic acid is used, the body becomes too acid or mineral
deficient, while sodium ascorbate introduces too much sodium and calcium
ascorbate too much calcium. If your blood pressure is approximately normal, you
may take a mixture of ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate.
With low blood
pressure use mainly sodium ascorbate with calcium ascorbate. With high blood
pressure potassium and magnesium ascorbate combined with ascorbic acid is best.
You may neutralize some of the ascorbic acid with potassium bicarbonate and
magnesium carbonate or magnesium oxide. In the end, the solution should taste
slightly acid. You may dissolve the vitamin C in water, herb tea or juices.
Depending on the
severity of the condition, take vitamin C at one or two-hourly intervals. Do
not continue self-treatment at bowel-tolerance level for more than a few weeks,
and in serious cases only under professional guidance or supervision. The high
vitamin C intake should be reduced gradually to a preliminary maintenance dose
of 3-10 g. A sudden withdrawal of all vitamin C may cause the return of colds,
allergies or fatigue.
In addition to bowel-tolerance vitamin-C,
take other infection-fighting nutrients, such as L-lysine, zinc, selenium,
propolis, vitamin A, and therapeutic doses of other vitamins and minerals. Two
or three liters of water or diluted drinks need to be taken daily during
bowel-tolerance treatment. The diet should be light, consisting mainly of
fruits in over-alkaline conditions or, in acid conditions, rice, sprouts and
salads.
This treatment is not suitable with serious
kidney disease or if it causes water retention/edema. Initially, treatment of
life-threatening diseases or emergencies may be supported with daily or weekly
injections of sodium ascorbate, given intravenously in 3 % solution. Many
degenerative diseases associated with a weak immune system, for example,
autoimmune diseases, cancer and multiple sclerosis, may benefit from
intermittent periods of bowel-tolerance vitamin-C treatment. This method is
also useful for accidental poisoning, and bites of poisonous snakes and
insects.
SUMMARY OF
VITAMINS
In the following compilation 'RDA' means recommended
daily allowance as determined by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National
Research Council (US). A second RDA value is for women.
'IU'
means International Units. Commonly not all of the listed deficiency symptoms
are manifested, symptoms appear first in the weakest organs. 1 g = 1000 mg, 1
mg = 1000 mcg.
Oil-soluble Vitamins
Vitamin
A
Retinol,
carotene. 1 mcg retinol = 6 mcg beta-carotene = 3 IU; RDA 5000/4000 IU;
therapeutic 25,000-100,000 IU, especially in cancer treatment and for eye diseases.
One halibut-oil capsule provides 4000 to 5000 IU. It is toxic in very high
doses over long periods; destroyed by light and oxygen. Symptoms of vitamin-A
toxicity are similar to those of vitamin A deficiency. Do not take very high
doses without professional supervision. Long-term oversupply can lead to bone
erosion due to a relative deficiency of vitamin D. Therefore supply vitamins A
and D together, preferably as cod liver oil otherwise halibut liver oil. With
malabsorption tablets or emulsion are easier to absorb.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Eyes dry, infected
and sensitive to bright light, night blindness, poor dark adjustment,
colorblindness, glaucoma. Skin dry, rough, horny, scaly; pimples, acne,
psoriasis. Hair dry, falling or dull. Nails longitudinal ridges, peeling,
brittle. Smell and taste poor, distorted. Respiratory infections, lung
problems, ear problems, deafness, hearing noises, cancer, thyroid overactive,
underweight.
BEST
SOURCES Fish-liver oils,
liver, butter, egg yolk. Yellow-orange vegetables and green juice are high in
beta-carotene, which some individuals can and others cannot efficiently convert
into vitamin A.
Vitamin
D
Cholecalciferol
(D3, preferable) or ergocalciferol (D2, less effective, synthetic, can be toxic
in high doses over long periods). 1 IU = 0.025 mg cholecalciferol. RDA 200 IU;
therapeutic up to 4000 IU.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Rickets; weak,
deformed and porous bones; teeth and gum problems; muscular weakness;
convulsions, cramps, tetany, nervous instability, underactive thyroid, multiple
sclerosis, depression, overweight, eye problems; symptoms of calcium
deficiency.
BEST
SOURCES Sun exposure,
fish-liver oils, egg yolk.
Vitamin
E
Tocopherol
(mainly used as d-alpha tocopherol, preferably combined with mixed tocopherols,
or vitamin E complex with tocotrienols). RDA 15/12 IU; therapeutic up to 3000
mg (or IU). In research by US scientists mainly the ineffective synthetic d,l
form has been used. Patients with heart problems or high blood pressure should
increase the dose slowly. Destroyed by oxygen, chlorinated water, inorganic
iron supplements, estrogen drugs.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Disorders of the
reproductive and circulatory systems, stroke, heart disease, leg pains, cramps,
poor wound healing, pronounced scar tissue, muscle weakness, chronic fatigue,
tender breasts, arthritis, cancer, eye and ear problems, gangrene, infections,
hot flushes, malabsorption, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, phlebitis,
skin problems, varicose veins.
BEST
SOURCES Cold-pressed oils
(wheatgerm oil), rice polishings, sprouted seeds, nuts, egg yolk, green leaves,
grass juice.
Vitamin
K
RDA
80/60 mcg, therapeutic 5 – 15 mg. Destroyed by light, acid and alkaline
conditions.
Essential
for normal blood clotting to prevent hemorrhaging. Deficiency causes frequent,
prolonged or severe bleeding, easy bruising and menstrual clots as well as
nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It is also needed for bone formation or
to prevent osteoporosis, tooth decay, calcium deposits and hardening of tissues
and arteries. Injections of vitamin K derived from plant sources were as effective
as morphine for pain control.
Obtained
from intestinal bacteria, green and especially dark-green vegetables , liver,
egg yolk. Vitamin K1 from plants is more effective than
that from intestinal bacteria, the synthetic form (K3) can
have toxic effects.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
These are easily lost
in cooking and are not stored in the body (except B12).
Vitamin B1
Thiamine;
also known as aneurin. RDA 1.5/1.1 mg; therapeutic 50-3000 mg. Destroyed by
heat, sugar, alcohol, smoking. Deficiency may arise from lack of gastric acid.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Poor circulation
with cold hands and feet; edema (fluid retention); tongue furrowed; underactive
thyroid; fatigue, depression, insomnia, anxiety, over-sensitivity to pain and
noise, nausea, poor memory, apathy, debility, weight loss; muscles weak and
painful, especially the legs, starting with numb, burning feet, later affecting
calves and thighs, may result in paralysis. Severe gastrointestinal
disturbances. Tachycardia (fast pulse) and dyspnoea (breathlessness) on
exertion, brachycardia (slow pulse) at rest, enlarged and weak heart. Mental
illness, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, hypoglycemia, allergies, addictions -
drugs, alcohol. Severe deficiency known as beriberi.
BEST
SOURCES Food yeast, rice
bran, sunflower and sesame seeds, peanuts, millet, grains.
Vitamin
B2
Riboflavin.
RDA 1.7/1.3 mg; therapeutic 50-1500 mg. Destroyed by light, makes urine bright
yellow.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Eyes sensitive,
burning, bloodshot (blood vessels become visible in the white of the eye),
blurred vision, cataracts. Skin oily and itching; eczema, especially around
nose, forehead, ears, scrotum and vagina; redness of part of face (rosacea),
acne, bedsores, purplish skin parts. Hair dull, oily, dandruff, split nails.
Tongue sore, burning, magenta purplish; cracks on lips and corners of mouth
(cheilosis). Allergies, anemia, arthritis, cancer, diabetes.
BEST
SOURCES Food yeast, liver, kidney, almonds, sprouted
seeds, grass juice.
Niacin
and Nicotinamide
Formerly
known as vitamin B3 (USA) or B5 (UK). RDA 19/15 mg,
therapeutic up to 30 g in schizophrenia. The acid form - niacin or nicotinic
acid - causes flushing of the face. It is prescribed to dilate blood vessels,
to decrease blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, to increase circulation to the
head in cases of acne or migraine. The non-acid nicotinamide or niacinamide
does not have these effects, though - in contrast to niacin - high amounts may
cause depression. Niacin or nicotinamide improve the oxidative energy
metabolism and may be used to treat the following symptoms.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Schizophrenia;
hyperthyroidism, protruding eyes, depression, irritability, overactivity,
crying spells, suspicion, loss of humor, delusions, anxiety, insomnia,
confusion. Tongue strawberry-tipped or bright red, shiny, 'raw beef'
appearance. Mouth displays sores, canker, ulcerated corners. Skin rough, red;
brown, often symmetrical discoloration on cheeks, neck and back of hands.
Dermatitis with ulcerations, aggravated by exposure to sun. Headache, backache,
fatigue, loss of weight and appetite. Lack of gastric acid, anemia. Nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea. Painful, stiff joints, arthritis, cancer. Changed sense
perceptions; pellagra (cracking of skin).
BEST
SOURCES Food yeast, peanuts,
rice bran, liver.
Pantothenic
Acid
Calcium
pantothenate, vitamin B5; RDA 4/7 mg; therapeutic 50-1500 mg.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Tongue beefy, enlarged,
furrowed; fatigue, depression, insomnia, graying hair, burning feet, arthritis,
alcoholism, asthma, cancer, cataracts, epilepsy, psoriasis, stress, diseases of
the digestive and nervous systems, adrenal weakness.
BEST
SOURCES Food yeast, rice bran
and polishings, liver.
Vitamin
B6
Pyridoxine;
RDA 2.0/1.6 mg; therapeutic 50-3000 mg. It works closely together with
zinc, easily oxidized.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Inability to recall
dreams, insomnia, depression, irritability, tremors, convulsions (epilepsy),
migraine, schizophrenia. Skin oily, with eczema and urticaria (nettle rash or
hives); edema (fluid retention), vomiting, halitosis, lack of gastric acid,
muscle weakness, anemia, kidney stones. Pain, stiffness and swellings of
fingers and joints; fingers and toes become white (Raynaud's disease). Autism,
caries (tooth or bone decay), diabetes, Parkinsonism. Diseases of the digestive
and nervous systems.
BEST
SOURCES Food yeast,
molasses, bran, sunflower seeds, rice, liver, egg yolk, nuts, beans, bananas.
Biotin
RDA
0.3 mg. Necessary for protein and fat metabolism as well as for healthy hair.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Digestive, nervous,
skin and hair problems; anemia, fatigue, depression, hallucinations.
BEST
SOURCES Food yeast, rice
bran. Usually from intestinal bacteria, except after antibiotics.
Folic
Acid
RDA
0.2/0.18 mg; recommended at least 0.4 mg, 0.8 mg in pregnancy; therapeutic 5-20
mg. Easily destroyed by light, heat, storage, oxygen, contraceptive pill.
DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS Widespread. Most
pregnant women are deficient. Anemia; corners of mouth crack, red tongue,
graying hair, grayish-brown skin pigmentation. Irritability, depression,
fatigue, forgetfulness, lack of concentration, insomnia, dizziness, depressed
reflexes, headaches. Muscle weakness, pain, numbness in legs, difficulty in
walking, cramps. Digestive problems - constipation, diarrhea. Sexual and
circulation problems, cervical cancer, hypoglycemia, birth defects, gout, cardiovascular
disease, diabetes.
BEST
SOURCES Grass juice, yeast,
sprouts, dark-green leaves, liver.
Vitamin B12
Cobalamin. RDA 2 mcg
=0.002 mg; therapeutic 1000 mcg by injection, especially in
debility and after stomach operations. Most patients with lack of energy
respond extremely well to vitamin B12 injections, even if laboratory
tests show a normal vitamin B12 blood level. In poor health B12
is not well absorbed, calcium and hydrochloric acid improve absorption,
commonly tablets are absorbed under the tongue, even better is absorption
through the nasal mucosa –at bedtime rub a drop of vitamin B12 from an opened
ampoule into each nostril.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS Pernicious
anemia, chronic fatigue, debility, poor circulation, numbness and stiffness;
very red, sore tongue; emotional disturbances, mental illness, cancer, liver
and nervous system diseases, nerve inflammations, paralysis.
BEST SOURCES Liver, kidney, fish,
egg yolk, (spirulina).
Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid; commonly used as a
supplement in the form of sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate. RDA 60 mg;
recommended 500 - 3000 mg, therapeutic up to 100 g (neutralized). Easily
destroyed by air, storage, smoking, cooking, stress. Useful to counteract bites
or stings of poisonous snakes, insects, spiders and others.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS First
signs - lassitude, weakness, irritability, vague muscle and joint pains. Later
- scurvy, starting in the limbs most used; muscle pain (especially during
infections), bleeding of gums and skin, capillary weakness, fatigue, poor wound
healing, acute and chronic infections. Liver and kidney problems; old age,
senility, aging skin; thrombosis (strokes, heart infarcts); crib death, eye
problems, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, schizophrenia, anemia,
bedsores, stone formation, cancer, backache, anxiety. Allergies (asthma,
hayfever, bee stings, epilepsy, headaches, rashes).
BEST
SOURCES Fresh fruits and
vegetables, sprouted seeds, rosehips, grass juice.
Vitamin-like
Substances
These
are necessary biochemical substances which have not yet been awarded full
vitamin status by government agencies, partly because some can be synthesized
within the body, and partly because their usefulness is still disputed.
Bioflavonoids
Bioflavonoids
are part of the naturally occurring vitamin-C complex. Deficiency causes
capillary fragility with purplish or blue skin marks, inflammation, gum
bleeding and inner ear pain. Bioflavonoids are necessary for the proper
functioning of vitamin C. Best sources are flower petals, sprouted seeds and
fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and the residue of juiced citrus fruits. The
best known members of this group are quercetin and rutin, rutin is found in
concentrated form in dried buckwheat leaves and flowers.
Choline
and Inositol
Important
for the absorption and metabolism of fats and cholesterol, for the synthesis of
lecithin, for liver and gall bladder function and for the formation and
function of brain and nerves (transmission of nerve impulses, myelin sheaths).
They are helpful in the treatment of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis,
asthma, diabetes (inositol), glaucoma, hair problems and baldness, high blood
pressure, insomnia (inositol), liver diseases, multiple sclerosis, muscular
dystrophy, neuritis, tardive dyskinesia (choline).
Choline is best
supplied by lecithin, while other good sources are egg yolk, liver, brain and
food yeast. Inositol is best supplied by sprouted seeds (in unsprouted seeds it
remains unavailable in the form of phytic acid). Other good sources are heart,
brain, liver, food yeast, cabbage and citrus fruits.
PABA (Para-amine-benzoic Acid)
A growth-promoting factor, deficiency
contributes to white skin patches, eczema, graying hair, fatigue. As a lotion
it is excellent for protecting the skin against ultraviolet radiation. It is
obtained from food yeast, liver, egg yolk, and is also synthesized by
intestinal bacteria. As a supplement, the soluble potassium salt of PABA is
preferable to the almost insoluble acid itself.
Vitamin B15 (Pangamic Acid)
Occurs in seeds, grains and nuts; it protects against
oxygen deficiencies (similar to vitamin E). It has been successfully used in
the treatment of alcoholism, allergies, arthritis; autism, breathing problems
such as asthma and emphysema, diabetes and hypoglycemia, heart problems
(cardiovascular diseases), and premature aging. The usual therapeutic dose is
50-100 mg two or three times daily.
Vitamin B17 (Amygdalin or Nitrilosides)
Contains a cyanide ingredient that is harmful
to cancer cells. It is most effective for preventing cancer if taken regularly
by eating a few bitter seeds of stone fruits or pip fruits (for example,
apricot, bitter almond, apple). Other good sources are sprouted seeds, alfalfa,
mung beans, millet, and lentils. Professionally, a purified product, known as
laetrile, is used orally or as injections for cancer treatment (now illegal in
the
Chapter 3: HEALTH FOODS AND NUTRIENTS
· Vitamins
· Minerals
· Herbs