Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Iron, calcium, magnesium, riboflavin, vitamin C, zinc or any mineral supplements taken at the same time as tetracyclines can reduce their absorption and reduce absorption of these nutrients. Take these supplements two hours before or after taking tetracycline.
Also avoid antacids, laxatives or iron or magnesium-containing products. If you must take an antacid, take it at least two hours before or after tetracycline.
Caffeine enhances the effects of tetracycline.
What Nutrients Do They Throw Out of Balance or Interact With? |
Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon
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 Another class of antibiotics also interacts poorly with mineral supplements. The quinolones, including Cipro, Floxin, Maxaquin, Noroxin, and Penetrex, are not absorbed efficiently if the minerals calcium, zinc, or iron are taken at the same time. Certain vitamin and mineral formulations now feature zinc because of its reputation for speeding healing and protecting against macular degeneration (an eye disorder). A number of antacids also contain minerals and should be avoided when a person is taking one of these strong new antibiotics. See page 103 for a more complete discussion. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| Take separately from mineral supplements. Vitamin C interferes with the action of these drugs, reducing their effects. Vitamin E, which by itself "thins" the blood, may increase the effects of anticoagulants, although to date no studies have shown that it's harmful to combine vitamin E and anticoagulants.
Natural Alternatives to Drugs for Treating Strokes and Blood Clots
Your foundation for preventing strokes and blood clots is to follow the Six Core Principles for Optimal Health, and to follow the guidelines earlier in the chapter for a healthy heart. |
Annemarie Colbin
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 Vitamin pills and mineral supplements may be necessary at times when there is a depletion in the body, usually as a result of the consumption of fragmented foods; but when taken without a specific need for them, they may, as does salt, provoke the "munchies," and could bring on an undesired and unexpected weight gain.
• High-protein foods will call for salt and other minerals, such as calcium. If not enough minerals are consumed or absorbed, the protein will actually deplete the body of minerals. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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 Nickel may also be present in colloidal or liquid mineral supplements.
LITERATURE
Nielsen FH. Ultratrace minerals. In: Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M, Ross AC, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 9th ed. Baltimore MD: Williams and Wilkins; 1999; 283-303.
Uthus EO, Poellot RA. Dietary nickel and folic acid interact to affect folate and methionine metabolism in the rat. Biol Trace Elem Res. 1997; 58:25-33.
Veien NK, Hattel T, Laurberg G. Low nickel diet: an open prospective trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993; 29:1001-1007. |
| Note: Products called "colloidal silver" should not be confused with the colloidal mineral supplements. Colloidal silver may pose health threat and should be avoided (see Colloidal Silver).
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
ACTIONS
Colloidal minerals are delivery forms of trace minerals. They have putative enhanced-absorption capability.
MECHANISM OF ACTION
It is speculated that because colloidal minerals do not have to undergo disintegration and dissolution, in contrast with minerals taken in the form of tablets and capsules, they are better absorbed. |
Rebecca Wood
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 Furthermore, the minerals from natural sea salt are far more easily assimilated than mineral supplements are.
Sodium, the primary constituent of salt, is one of the three vital electrolyte minerals; it helps convey energy and the spark of life itself. It is this electrical charge that enables nerve impulses and muscle contraction; it is vital for every living cell's function.
From an energetic point of view, salt is the most grounding culinary substance and gives foods an earthy substantial quality. Too much salt, however, is too grounding and may make one grasping or greedy. |
| Use Leek roots contain flavor and minerals that are far more bioavailable than mineral supplements. Cut them— as a cluster—from the root base. Soak this cluster to loosen any embedded sand, then carefully rinse. Mince the rootlets and use in any soup, sauteed, or simmered vegetable dish; they are too fibrous to add to salads or lightly cooked dishes. Trim off the dehydrated tips of the leaves or any large, tough leaves. Slice the remaining vegetable in half lengthwise. Wash, taking care to remove any dirt lodged in the leaves. |
| Although all nutrients are important, consider spending your grocery dollar on quality EFAs before spending it on vitamin or mineral supplements.
There are two critical EFAs. The most fragile, and most lacking EFAs in our diet, are Omega-3s. Counting up, Omega-6 fatty acids are more stable and more available in most diets. (Omega-9 fatty acids are the most stable and are not lacking in American diets.) To concentrate on Omega-3 and Omega-6: The primary Omega-3 fatty acid is alpha-li-noleic acid, and flax seed oil is its richest source. |
Earl Mindell
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 Supplements:
Usually available in multivitamin and mineral supplements in 2 mg. doses.
Toxicity and Warning Signs of Excess: Rare. (See section 334, "Cautions.")
Enemies:
Not easily destroyed.
Personal Advice:
As essential as copper is—and most Americans are not getting enough in their diet—I rarely suggest special supplementation. An excess seems to lower zinc level and produces insomnia, hair loss, irregular menses, and depression.
If you eat enough whole-grain products and fresh green leafy vegetables, or organ meats, you don't have to worry about your copper intake. |
| Storage and Staying Power
Vitamin and mineral supplements should be stored in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight in a well-closed— preferably opaque—container. They do not have to be stored in the refrigerator unless you live in a desert climate. To guard against excessive moisture, place a few kernels of rice at the bottom of your vitamin bottle. The rice works as a natural absorbent.
Vitamins can last two to three years in a well-sealed container.
If vitamins are kept cool and away from light, and remain well sealed, they should last for two to three years. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| These drugs interact poorly with mineral supplements of any kind. Take them two hours after taking a mineral supplement.
Avoid coffee or tea while taking these drugs. Fluoroquinolones intensify the caffeine effect and can give you jitters, insomnia and heart
T Anticoagulants Caffeine
Digoxin Theophylline* palpitations. Check labels for products which contain caffeine that you may not be aware of.
What Nutrients Do They Throw Out of Balance or Interact With?
Acid/alkaline balance is often upset. |
Gale Maleskey
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 Although trace mineral supplements vary in content, don't exceed the dosage guidelines on the bottle, she says. "Trace minerals should be taken in small doses because that's how they are found in your body. More is not better."
If you get leg cramps when you walk, see your doctor to rule out other conditions such as intermittent claudication, which is caused by poor blood flow to the legs.
Soothing Spasms
Herbal extracts offer a natural way to soothe and relax spastic muscles. One of the most valuable is black cohosh, says Dr. Stengler. |
Jonathan Goodman ND
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 There are times when women need the latest drugs or sophisticated surgical procedures; in other cases, naturopathic medicine—which involves the use of diet, herbs, vitamin or mineral supplements, and much more—is a wiser approach.
Millions of American women at some time in their lives will have to deal with common conditions such as hot flashes, uterine fibroids, premenstrual discomfort, and so on. Women deserve the best treatment options from both fields of medicine. More choices doesn't mean more confusion. |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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 Instead I recommend organic, non-iodized sea salt and purified sea water as good mineral supplements.
Herbal Remedies
There are numerous herbs that strengthen the cardiovascular system. This is only a partial list and excludes those that should be avoided during pregnancy. These products are available at health food stores; follow the recommended dosages on the labels.
?Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha): for high blood pressure
?Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): for low blood pressure
?Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) and ginger (Zingiber officinalis): for poor circulation
? |
Rudolph M. Ballentine, M.D.
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 Figures are for adults over twenty years old, and do not take into account vitamin or mineral supplements.
FIGURE 54 nutrients, and the food processors add flavors and colors in an effort to re-create the appeal of natural food.
I often find I'm faced with an impossible task—to reassemble from supplements and available foodstuffs some semblance of what our bodies are designed to use. Doing detailed nutritional work with patients, looking at formulas and calculating doses, I sometimes feel as if I need a computer with space-age software to deal with the increasing complexity of it all. |
Leo Galland
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 Until that time he had to take large doses of mineral supplements to prevent the nutritional deficiencies that contributed to his symptoms. Correcting his nutritional deficiencies did not cure Bert's heart condition. It gave him many months without symptoms and improved his ability to function normally.
The Toll of Intestinal Permeability
When I first began presenting the results of my clinical research on parasitic infection in the mid-1980s, my reports were met with considerable skepticism. |
Stephanie Beling
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 SCIENCE DIRECTOR WORLD CANCER RESEARCH FUND
Vitamin and mineral supplements are no substitute for a variety of foods. Because fruits, vegetables, and grains contain a synergistic mix of micronutrients that hasn't been duplicated in pills or capsules, eating a wide range of foods from the plant kingdom is considered better than relying on supplements.
?DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS U.S. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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 Take multivitamin and mineral supplements. (Be sure to select iron-free supplements, since too much iron has been linked to an elevated risk of heart disease.) The supplement you select should also contain no more than 1 mg of copper, half the RDA. It should contain folic acid, vitamin B-6, vitamin D, zinc, and calcium, as deficiency in any of these nutrients may cause arthritic symptoms. The supplement should also contain the antioxidants selenium and vitamin E.
8. Take coenzyme Q1Q and quercetin. I recommend 30 mg of coenzyme Q10 after each meal and at least 100 mg of quercetin a day. |
| When taking mineral supplements, it is important to take a multimineral supplement rather than individual minerals, unless recommended by your physician.
Calcium
Calcium is necessary for good bone and tooth development. It also plays a major role in cardiac electrical conduction and in the transmission of impulses through the nerves. Calcium is also necessary for muscle contraction and blood clotting.
Calcium deficiencies may cause muscle cramps, cardiac arrhythmia, brittle nails, tooth decay, and numbness in the arms and legs. |
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
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 During a prolonged fast (more than a couple of days), vitamin or mineral supplements may be necessary, as well as changes in dosage of any medication. Periodic blood tests are recommended during the fast to monitor one's condition.
Trevor Salloum, N.D., of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, favors water fasting and stresses the use of only pure water (distilled, spring, or purified by reverse osmosis). |
Gale Maleskey
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| In addition, astronauts may take along vitamin and/or mineral supplements if they like, Dr. Smith says. On longer missions, supplements may be required to compensate for potential deficiencies, get more of one nutrient. Take single supplements of an individual nutrient if necessary, says Dr. Hathcock.
Doctors advise that you not mix different multinutrient pills unless you've confirmed that the totals are within a safe range. |
Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.
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 For example, in a study from the University of Reading in England, school-aged children took either multivitamin and mineral supplements or placebos, after which they were retested on a variety of cognitive tests. The supplemented fared far better the second time around on nonverbal IQ compared to the nonsupplementers: They processed information faster, allowing them to complete the test on time and resulting in more correct answers. |
Gale Maleskey
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| These amino acid-based mineral supplements are easier to absorb than magnesium oxide. The more you absorb, the less likely it is that you'll have diarrhea, a common problem with magnesium supplements.
Dr. Jacques is definitely not an advocate of magnesium oxide supplements. "Magnesium oxide is basically a rock," she says. "The reason it causes diarrhea is that it stays in the gut. We even see it occasionally on x-rays, where it shows up like little bone chips."
To help relieve cramps that interrupt your nightly Zzzs, take your second dose of magnesium right before you go to bed. |
Carol Simontacchi
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 Vitamin and mineral supplements should be taken with breakfast, because supplements are energizing. If your children do not eat several teaspoons of unprocessed oils each day, you may wish to slip a fish oil or flaxseed oil capsule in with their supplements.
Other healthy breakfast ideas include breakfast parfait (with organic, low-sugar yogurt and homemade granola), fried egg sandwich on whole-
Even if your child is consuming a great diet, I believe it is critical to augment his diet with a carefully selected vitamin and mineral supplement. |
Mark Bricklin
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 Vitamin and mineral supplements are an important part of MacDougall's program, and he recommends taking generous amounts of every factor in the B complex family, vitamin C, vitamin E, lecithin, calcium and magnesium.
I am in no position to say how many people who try this program are helped by it; probably, neither is anyone else. But there have been published personal accounts of remission through the MacDougall program (including a doctor with MS) as well as word-of-mouth accounts too dramatic to ignore. |
E. D. Hirsch
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 Many experts now believe that osteoporosis can be prevented through regular exercise, mineral supplements, and a diet high in calcium. outer ear The part of the ear that projects from the side of the head and functions to gather and guide sound waves toward the eardrum. ova (OH-vuh) sing, ovum The female sex cells, produced in the ovary and released during ovulation; the eggs. An ovum must normally be fertilized (see fertilization) to develop into a new living thing. (See also ova under "Life Sciences." |
Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman
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 Some forms of mineral supplements are harder for your body to digest or absorb. And, like most substances in the body, minerals don't act alone. They engage in a complicated series of transactions with other minerals, vitamins, and hormones. In order to choose your supplements wisely, you need to know how each one works and how it interacts with the other nutrients you consume.
A study recently published in The Lancet reported that elderly people taking multivitamins with minerals had improved immune function and had 50 percent fewer sick days. |
Annemarie Colbin
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| Remedy: Increase protein intake and reduce seaweed, salt, or mineral supplements.
I have seen dramatic changes in the luster and quality of hair of some of my students as they changed from a diet high in meat, sugar, fruit juices, and dairy to one rich in whole grains, beans, fresh vegetables, and sea vegetables. Dull, frizzy, brittle hair became shiny and heavy. Most amusing is the stage when the new hair coming in is of that beautiful quality and has already grown three or four inches, and the rest of the hair is its old brittle self. |
| I believe it applies equally to whatever remedies you may be using, be they pharmacological drugs, natural and synthetic vitamins and mineral supplements, homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies, or any food used medicinally:
1. Any substance (drug, supplement, or herb) that cures a symptom will cause that same symptom (a) in a different dosage, either larger or smaller; and/or (b) if used in the absence of that symptom. (Tranquilizers can cause anxiety; digitalis, an anti-arrhythmic, can cause cardiac arrhythmias.)
2. |
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