Vitamin Therapy?

[bigmamma]

Just wondering if any of you are raw foodies or study vitamin/mineral therapy.

My reasons:
1. Step Dad has NHL and major cardiac issues
2. Dad just got diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis (no treatment only "quality of life" aids)

Also been researching the impacts of vitamin deficiency on overall health, and impacts on children (learning disability, emotional/psychological disorders).

Anyone on this train or am I alone?

BTW - I don't mean a 100% raw food diet. We have added 40-60% raw food to each meal and it seems to be having a positive impact. Thoughts? Opinions?

[amaristella]

I haven't looked into raw food at all but I've become very big on vitamins and herbs. I thought I was going above and beyond by taking 2 mg of folic acid for ttc but I had a doctor tell me to up my dose to 5 mg even without doing any bloodwork. I'm into several other things as well (I spend a lot of time looking into each one before I start it) and I'm really convinced that some of the recommended daily values on vitamins aren't really high enough.

I've coupled this with other changes as well including changes in diet, the addition of calming/destressing activities and carefully watching the labels and ingredients on products that come into contact with my skin.

I feel that my hormones have probably been out of whack for many years so I'm hoping to improve that and hopefully keep my system strong enough to avoid the hypothyroidism from my mom's family and the diabetes from my dad's side.

[bigmamma]

Have either of you watched the documentary FoodMatters?

I love it. I just really want to dig into what vitamins DO and what happens when they are low.

I find it amazing that I can go to the doctor complain of fatigue, anxiety, bowel issues... and they prescribe an anti-depressant? Not a single question about diet, rest, nutrition, hydration. Nothing.

Ummm, second opinion please.

[amaristella]

Yes, I have seen it. In fact, recently I was looking into Linus Pauling and the story that goes with him. It's really interesting but it helps me to understand why there haven't been more studies on the subject and the weaknesses of the ones that have been done.

[basilosaurus]

There actually have been studies and the science is mounting that, unless you are truly deficient which is pretty rare, all extravitamins so for you is give you very expensive pee.

[poutinedreams]

Raw food = food that doesn't taste as good and is more likely to make you sick. There is no significant benefit.

Any vitamin deficiency should be made up with eating food, not taking pills. If you don't see the M.D. after the name on the Rx, don't take their pills.

[MrsAggie]

I took a class in college called "Vitamins and minerals". Omega 3s are great for heart health. There are supplements and can be found in fish. As others have mentioned, folic acid is also awesome. It increases health benefits all over the place. You can get more folic acid from whole grains and fortified foods.

[amaristella]

Aug 19, 2012 23:03:05 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

There actually have been studies and the science is mounting that, unless you are truly deficient which is pretty rare, all extravitamins so for you is give you very expensive pee.

I both agree and disagree with both of those statements. It depends on the vitamin/nutrient in question. If I had to guess, I would say that the majority of Americans get plenty of Iodine from their salt and do not need to supplement. Vitamin D, on the other hand. I've known several people whose primary care physicians have given them megadoses in order to get them caught up. I believe that Vitamin D deficiency is a lot more common than many people realize.

Also, if a vitamin is water soluble, such as a B vitamin then absolutely, your body will use what it needs and expel the rest through urine. Other vitamins, such as the vitamin D I mentioned above are fat soluble and have more of a tendency to build up in your body rather than be expelled. <= This is just one of the reasons why it's important to make informed decisions about supplementation.

[amaristella]

Aug 20, 2012 3:33:58 GMT -5 poutinedreams said:

Raw food = food that doesn't taste as good and is more likely to make you sick. There is no significant benefit.

Any vitamin deficiency should be made up with eating food, not taking pills. If you don't see the M.D. after the name on the Rx, don't take their pills.

As far as raw food, I agree. Even in the good ol' US of A we have food recalls pretty regularly because tainted food is hurting people. I was in my 20's before I realized that my dad never served me raw vegetables (even Romaine lettuce was cooked) and that this was a habit he had carried to the US from China where most people won't drink water that hasn't been boiled first.

I believe that some deficiencies cannot be made up by eating food and that in some cases pills are necessary. In other cases, it's merely an option. I was told to drink cranberry juice to help prevent UTI's. I don't like cranberry juice nor do I need to extra sugar in my life so I take capsules of powdered cranberry and have not had a UTI since.

Also, why is it that you believe only a bonafide medical doctor is qualified to give advice on health and nutrition? Medical doctors can only practice what they know and in many cases they simply are not very educated on matters of nutrition and vitamin supplementation beyond having an opinion either for or against a daily multivitamin.

[basilosaurus]

Aug 20, 2012 12:52:12 GMT -5 amaristella said:

Aug 19, 2012 23:03:05 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

There actually have been studies and the science is mounting that, unless you are truly deficient which is pretty rare, all extravitamins so for you is give you very expensive pee.

I both agree and disagree with both of those statements. It depends on the vitamin/nutrient in question. If I had to guess, I would say that the majority of Americans get plenty of Iodine from their salt and do not need to supplement. Vitamin D, on the other hand. I've known several people whose primary care physicians have given them megadoses in order to get them caught up. I believe that Vitamin D deficiency is a lot more common than many people realize.

Also, if a vitamin is water soluble, such as a B vitamin then absolutely, your body will use what it needs and expel the rest through urine. Other vitamins, such as the vitamin D I mentioned above are fat soluble and have more of a tendency to build up in your body rather than be expelled. <= This is just one of the reasons why it's important to make informed decisions about supplementation.

Well, yes. But the point here is that they've been tested and found to be deficient. It's not a "take these expensive pills and supplements and you'll have energy!" kind of response.

You do make a great point about the fat solubles (ADEK). They can actually become toxic if you accumulate too much. This is why you should be discussing any supplementation with a legit doctor to make sure that a) you're truly deficient and b) the supplementation is the appropriate level.

Even though Americans tend to have a shit diet they do overall have a nutritionally adequate one. We don't need more B for energy and C to prevent colds.

As for raw foods, sure we shouldn't be boiling our veggies for hours, leeching them of all nutrition (and adding in fat back and butter and salt!). But if we cook them in a tasty minimal way, we'll eat them. And by eating them we'll get plenty of nutrients. That's not to say that raw is bad, but the flip side is that we shouldn't demonize cooking.

Like, oooh, enzymes break down with heat. Yes, they do. They also do with stomach acid. What's your point?

[bigmamma]

I'm not a raw foodie in anyway. We have added raw foods in the forms of veggies and fruit. All of which is grown right down the street from our house. We eat raw broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, corn... etc.

I am not a crazy nutrition nazi, but I have rarely paid any attention to the vitamin/mineral count and focused more on calories, fat and carbs.

I am making a change because I want to be more healthy and fit... not just thin.

Not to mention we have a number of friends who were sustained major injuries overseas and had their physicians tell them had they not been so fit and healthy (to include diet) their recovery would have taken much longer.

I watched my aunt battle chemo with vitamin C, vitamin B12 and niacin. She came through treatment much stronger than most and her medical team attributed it to her use of vitamins.

I don't know... I'm researching. I'm talking to my PCM and getting no info. She just wrote me a referral to a nutritionist because "I can't really say, I haven't studied the impacts of increased vitamin intake on overall health"... yes she said that.

[amaristella]

Aug 20, 2012 17:14:51 GMT -5 bigmamma said:

I don't know... I'm researching. I'm talking to my PCM and getting no info. She just wrote me a referral to a nutritionist because "I can't really say, I haven't studied the impacts of increased vitamin intake on overall health"... yes she said that.

I kind of see that as the mark of a good doctor though. The ability to say "I don't know let me send you to someone who might know more" is much better than brushing off your concerns entirely. Last week my doctor gave me a referral to a specialist because there was something he didn't understand about my bloodwork. I wouldn't have expected anything different.

[bigmamma]

Aug 20, 2012 18:09:52 GMT -5 amaristella said:

Aug 20, 2012 17:14:51 GMT -5 bigmamma said:

I don't know... I'm researching. I'm talking to my PCM and getting no info. She just wrote me a referral to a nutritionist because "I can't really say, I haven't studied the impacts of increased vitamin intake on overall health"... yes she said that.

I kind of see that as the mark of a good doctor though. The ability to say "I don't know let me send you to someone who might know more" is much better than brushing off your concerns entirely. Last week my doctor gave me a referral to a specialist because there was something he didn't understand about my bloodwork. I wouldn't have expected anything different.

I'm not complaining that she said it, just pointing out that not all physicians know about nutrition. Like I said before I come in with vague symptoms and they never ask about regular issues food, sleep, water.

Just has me thinking lately.