In discussing the causes of schizophrenia, Gottesman noted that pellagra was once viewed as being heavily influenced by genetics but was later discovered to be caused by a vitamin deficiency. "Once the puzzle pieces were fitted together," he continued, "false ideas about causality related to personal characteristics of the 'hosts,' such as racial and class inferiority, were definitively refuted."3 Yet he asks us to accept schizophrenia as a "heavily genetically influ-
4. Gottesman, 1991, p. 148.
1. Ibid, p. 217.
2. Ibid, p. 218. |
And although we now know that pellagra is caused by a vitamin deficiency, we could have seen a significantly higher pellagra rate among index adoptees for the sole reason that they were more likely to be placed into impoverished homes lacking pellagra preventative diets. Thus, genetic researchers' belief that "environmental factors cannot contribute to the similarity of the adopted children and their biological parents because members of an unrelated family raised the children" is false in many cases. |
Due to the pioneering work of Joseph Goldberger and others, it was firmly established that pellagra has a single cause: a vitamin deficiency (mainly niacin) linked to malnutrition. In other words, pellagra was (and is) a disease of hunger and poverty. Despite the publication of Goldberger's findings in the late 1910s, it took 25 more years to finally wipe out pellagra in the United States.3 The tragedy of the unnecessary period between discovery and effective action has been detailed elsewhere. |
Given that we now know that pellagra is caused by a vitamin deficiency, what results would we expect to find among these twins?
At first it might appear that we would not find a significant identical-fraternal concordance difference on environmental grounds because, as Don Jackson argued was the case with schizophrenia, we would not expect higher identical twin pellagra concordance on the basis of the greater psychological association of identical twins. |
T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II See book keywords and concepts |
APPENDIX C
The "Vitamin" D Connection
The most impressive evidence favoring plant-based diets is the way that so many food factors and biological events are integrated to maximize health and minimize disease. Although the biological processes are exceptionally complex, these factors still work together as a beautifully choreographed, self-correcting network. It is exceptionally impressive, especially the coordination and control of this network.
Perhaps a couple of analogies might help to illustrate such a process. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts |
You can get guar gum and xanthan gum at a health food store, or order online at a vitamin supplier.
Emergency appetite control food #4:
The last food is pickles. That's right, pickles. But I am not talking about the pickles you find at a regular grocery store. Nearly all pickles you find in grocery stores contain artificial food coloring. They have a yellowish tint to them that has been added through the use of chemical colors. This is not a natural ingredient and so it is something you want to avoid purchasing. |
Bruce Fife and Jon J. Kabara See book keywords and concepts |
As a result, older people often suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Because MCFA are easy to digest and improve vitamin and mineral absorption they should be included in the meals of older people. This is easy to do if the meals are prepared with coconut oil.
Unlike other fatty acids, MCFA are absorbed directly from the intestines into the portal vein and sent straight to the liver where they are, for the most part, burned as fuel much like a carbohydrate. In this respect they act more like carbohydrates than like fats. |
Dr. Michael Heinrich, Joanne Barnes, Simon Gibbons and Elizabeth M. Williamson See book keywords and concepts |
As well as carotenoids, there was a similar finding for vitamin C and oesophageal and stomach cancers, selenium and various cancers and vitamin E and lung cancer. Epidemiological studies may help to find leads for chemopreventive agents, which can then be tested in laboratory experiments. Almost 600 'chemopreventive' agents are known; they are usually classified as: inhibitors of carcinogen formation (ascorbic acid, tocopherols, phenols), inhibitors of initiation (phenols, flavones) and inhibitors of postinitiation events ((3-carotene, retinoids, terpenes). |
Neal D. Barnard and Bryanna Clark Grogan See book keywords and concepts |
Because of vitamin D's anticancer properties, some authorities call for higher intakes.
In the next chapter, you will get started with your new program, and then, in Chapter 7, I will show you how to track your progress.
CHAPTER 5
How to Get Started
Take out a sheet of paper and jot down the headings "Breakfast," "Lunch," "Dinner," and "Snacks." You are about to make a 1-day menu. Simply write down foods you like that meet the three guidelines set out in the previous chapter. In a nutshell, we are choosing foods that are:
Vegan: They contain no animal products. |
If you do need extra iron, turn first to greens and beans. vitamin C—rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, increase the absorption of iron from the other foods you eat, and avoiding dairy products helps, too. They are very low in iron and actually reduce its absorption from your digestive tract.
Zinc. Zinc plays important roles in immune function, wound healing, and many other biological functions, but as with iron, you can have too much of a good thing. The most healthful sources include legumes, nuts, and fortified breakfast cereals (e.g., Post Grape-Nuts, bran flakes, and granola). |
It is also important to limit sodium (salt) and get vitamin D from either sunlight or supplements. Vegetables and fruits promote bone strength for reasons that are not entirely clear, and exercise gives your bones a reason to live. It is a strong determiner of bone health. Finally, it is also important to avoid tobacco, since smoking increases fracture risk.
Iron. Iron is a double-edged sword. You need iron to build hemoglobin, which your red blood cells use to carry oxygen from your lungs to your body tissues. But too much iron can be toxic. |
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The vitamin C they contain appears to increase HDL, too.
4. Avoid partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. These oils do exactly the opposite of what you would like: They raise LDL cholesterol and reduce HDL. Be sure to read the fine print on labels, especially on pastries and snack foods.
5. Lose weight. A welcome side effect of a low-fat, vegan diet is weight loss, which in turn boosts HDL. The diet program described in this book will help you.
6. If you smoke, stop. Quitting smoking boosts HDL. |
And whole grains, vegetables, and beans are healthful sources of vitamin E.
At the University of Toronto, Dr. David Jenkins took this approach to its ultimate conclusion. He reasoned that if a vegan diet (that is, one with no meat, dairy products, or eggs) lowers cholesterol levels; if soluble fiber, such as that in oat bran, lowers cholesterol; if certain nuts lower cholesterol; if soy products lower cholesterol; and if plant sterols lower cholesterol, then what would happen if he prescribed them all at the same time? |
It is lactose free, cholesterol free, and often fortified with calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients. In recipes, reduced-fat plain soy milk works well. Most brands are lightly sweetened to taste similar to dairy milk, but unsweetened versions may be used in savory cooking. To avoid curdling in hot beverages, add hot coffee or tea to the soy milk rather than the other way around.
Soy milk should not be used in place of infant formula. Soy-based infant formulas are specifically formulated for babies' needs. |
John A. McDougall See book keywords and concepts |
Research has shown that a healthful diet including lots of fruits and vegetables loaded with vitamin C protects against infection with H. pylori. Interestingly, extracts from a variety of plants, such as garlic, thyme, and East African herbal plants, inhibit the growth of H. pylori in the test tube.
Antibiotics for Ulcers: A Temporary Fix
Standard medical treatment in the form of a "triple therapy" accelerates the healing of ulcers. This regimen includes two powerful antibiotics and a single antacid or bismuth compound. |
Joseph E. Mario See book keywords and concepts |
Needs Sulfur in the soil for aromatic Alliin content, precursing phytochemical Allicin that improves vitamin B1 absorption 10 times with Allithiamine. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts |
A deficiency of vitamin K leads to impaired mineralization of bone. Boron deficiency may contribute greatly to osteoporosis as well as to menopausal symptoms."
"Soft drinks have long been suspected of leading to lower calcium levels and higher phosphate levels in the blood. When phosphate levels are high and calcium levels are low, calcium is pulled out of the bones. The phosphate content of soft drinks like Coca -Cola and Pepsi is very high, and they contain virtually no calcium."
"The United States ranks first among countries in soft drink consumption. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts |
And it actually took hundreds of years before the right scientist came along and discovered that this was caused by a simple nutritional deficiency that could be cured by eating fruits high in vitamin C such as limes. Hence the name 'limeys' for sailors.
That's just one example of a disease caused by nutritional deficiencies. There are many other diseases such as rickets and beriberi caused by nutritional deficiencies. Asian people who historically ate polished, processed rice (white rice) frequently got beriberi, a disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin B1 (thiamin). |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts |
Earl Mindell PhD and Virginia Hopkins MA
Earl Mindell's New vitamin Bible
"There's a good chance that one of the leading contributors to osteoporosis in the U.S. is carbonated soft drinks containing phosphorus. Research has shown a direct link between too much phosphorus and calcium loss."
H J Roberts MD
Aspartame (Nutrasweet): Is It Safe?
"Many TV commercials featuring household-name stars are targeted to child viewers. |
Michael T. Murray See book keywords and concepts |
They exert significant antioxidant effects (as much as 50 to 200 times greater than vitamin C and E) and are particularly helpful in protecting against the form of free radical (hy-droxyl) linked to causing the damage to insulin-producing beta cells. Even more powerful protection is provided by green tea.
Both green tea and black tea are derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Of the nearly 2.5 million tons of dried tea produced each year, only 20 percent is green tea. In other words, four times as much black tea is produced and consumed as green tea. |
Other beneficial effects include increasing intracellular vitamin C levels, decreasing the leakiness
Table 11.1. Choose the Right Flavonoid-Rich Extract
FLAVONOID-RICH EXTRACT
DAILY DOSE
INDICATION
Bilberry extract (25% anthocyanidins)
160 to 320 mg
Best choice in diabetic retinopathy or cataracts.
Ginkgo biloba extract (24% ginkgo flavon-glycosides)
120 to 240 mg
Best choice for most people over age 50. Protects brain and vascular lining. Very important in improving blood flow to the extremities, neuropathy, and foot ulcers. |
Furthermore, alpha-lipoic acid extends the biochemical life of vitamin C and E as well as other antioxidants.
Alpha-lipoic acid is an approved drug in Germany for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. In fact, it has been successfully used in Germany for more than 30 years. The beneficial effects of alpha-lipoic acid in diabetic neuropathy have been confirmed in several double-blind studies at a dosage of 300 to 600 mg daily. |
Therefore, a relative vitamin C deficiency exists in many diabetics despite adequate dietary consumption. Supplementation is required.
Sorbitol—the Sweetener
You may recognize sorbitol as a sweetenet found in numerous food products—especially sugar-free chewing gum, because it has a smooth feel in the mouth with a sweet, cool, and pleasant taste. It is also used in many sugar-free or "dietetic" candies, cake mixes, syrups, and other foods. Sorbitol is about 60 percent as sweet as sucrose with one-third fewer calories (2.6 calories per gram versus 4.0 for sugar). |
The flavonoids in these extracts exert many benefits in diabetes, including an ability to increase intracellular vitamin C levels, decrease the leakiness and breakage of small blood vessels, prevent easy bruising, and exert potent antioxidant effects. These effects are of particular value in dealing with the microvascular abnormalities of diabetes. Because the flavonoids
Figure 12.2. |
Arthur Agatston, M.D. See book keywords and concepts |
There's some evidence that the natural form of vitamin E, called d-alpha tocopherol, is effective in preventing heart attacks and strokes. But further study is needed. My advice is to boost your body's supply of antioxidants by exercising and eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients. I hedge my bet by suggesting a single daily multivitamin.
In contrast to the antioxidants, the news about taking fish oil supplements, in capsule form is very exciting. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts |
A deficiency of vitamin K leads to impaired mineralization of bone. Boron deficiency may contribute greatly to osteoporosis as well as to menopausal symptoms."
"Soft drinks have long been suspected of leading to lower calcium levels and higher phosphate levels in the blood. When phosphate levels are high and calcium levels are low, calcium is pulled out of the bones. The phosphate content of soft drinks like Coca -Cola and Pepsi is very high, and they contain virtually no calcium."
"The United States ranks first among countries in soft drink consumption. |
Earl Mindell
Earl Mindell's New vitamin Bible
"Recent research has linked soft drinks with childhood obesity— and an estimated 200 school districts nationwide have contracts with soft drink companies that give them exclusive rights to sell their products in schools. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts |
Earl Mindell
Earl Mindell's New vitamin Bible
"Recent research has linked soft drinks with childhood obesity— and an estimated 200 school districts nationwide have contracts with soft drink companies that give them exclusive rights to sell their products in schools. |
Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey See book keywords and concepts |
D [26]), and individual food intolerances and food allergies [9, 16, 20-22]. Breast-feeding and consumption of fruits, vegetables, dietary fiber, and n-3 lipids have been considered protective [3, 16, 22, 27].
2. Dietary Patterns, Specific Foods, and IBD Russel and colleagues [28] attempted to associate the rising incidence of IBD with changes in dietary consumption patterns. The authors showed a positive risk for IBD with increases in consumption of cola beverages, chocolate, and chewing gum, but negative risk for consumption of citrus fruits. |
Hemp TodayEd Rosenthal See book keywords and concepts |
Originally these were called the vitamin F's. Perhaps because scientists found it impossible to put vitamin F in a vitamin pill, the name was changed to the Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) in the 1950's. They are a recognized part of the Recommended Daily Requirement: 3 grams/day of the Omega 6 Linoleic Acid (LA) and 2 grams/day of the Omega 3 Linolenic Acid (LNA). No requirement for the third oil, the Super Omega Six, Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) has been set.
Some scientists blame the prevalence of degenerative diseases in our society on the lack of essential fatty acids in the modern diet. |