It is very likely that malnutrition is the main cause of overweight.  When there is inadequate intake of all essential nutrients, fat is not readily or efficiently burned.  Fat is burned only if sufficient energy is produced.  Energy production depends upon almost every known nutrient.  The B vitamins are important for energy production.  Fat is burned at a greatly reduced rate if pantothenic acid and protein are under-supplied.  Vitamin B6 is necessary for the energy conversion of stored fat.  It is also a factor in the utilization of protein and fat.  Proteins are needed for the proper functioning of many energy-producing enzymes.  Protein itself cannot be effectively used without many other nutrients including choline and vitamin B6.  Sufficient vitamin E doubles fat utilization.  Lecithin aids the cells to burn fat; any deficiency of the nutrients necessary for lecithin production, specifically choline and inositol, results in poor fat utilization.

Liver damage is common in overweight persons.  When the liver is injured, sufficient amounts of energy-producing enzymes are unable to be synthesized.  A diet including complete proteins, the vitamins B complex, choline, B12 C,  E and lecithin aid the restoration of the liver.

Some individuals who experience an uncontrollable hunger may have damaged brain cells in the hypothalamus, the area that regulates the desire to eat.  This damage can occur from certain food, or foods or environmental substances to which the person is allergic.  Certain medications such as tranquilizers, viral infections, nutritional deficiencies, or other brain injuries can also adversely affect these cells.  Other persons may have the desire for a specific food to which they have an allergic addiction.  If they do not obtain this food, they experience typical withdrawal reactions.  In both situations, a diet high in all essential nutrients and avoidance of the offending substance can gradually result in weight reduction.

Calories and exercise are essential considerations in losing weight.  Fat is metabolically formed in the body when more food energy or calories are consumed than the body is able to use.  One pound of fatty tissue is equal to 3500 calories.  When the number of calories used during the day exceeds the amount consumed, the body oxidizes its supplies of fat to produce energy, and thereby a reduction of body weight results.  A daily decrease of 1000 calories results in approximately 2 pounds of weight loss per week.  Calories may be burned up by the basal metabolism, which includes normal body function such as breathing and digestion.  All activity, such as walking, talking, working or playing baseball, uses p additional energy and calories.  For example, one hour of average office work probably used up only 10 to 15 calories, whereas moderate housework may require 70 calories per hour more than basal metabolism requirements.  Brisk walking uses up about 110 calories per hour, driving a car uses about 40.  Strenuous exercise and hard physical labor may require more than 400 calories per hour.

Research appears to indicate that it is not entirely the amount of food eaten that adds weight buy the kind of food eaten.  Unrefined foods contain all nutrients that are necessary for efficient energy production.  Refined foods, however, not only lack most of these nutrients but tremendously increase the body’s requirement for them.

In order to lose weight safely, a person must set up a sensible long-range diet plan that includes all the essential nutrients and minerals.  Diets that lack or greatly reduce one or another of the nutrients, notably carbohydrates, can possibly be injurious to the body by inducing an abnormal metabolic state that could cause innumerable complications leading to permanent cellular damage.  Carbohydrates should be chosen from the best nutritional sources, such as whole grain products and fruits that contain essential nutrients.  Fat intake should come primarily from sources of unsaturated fatty acids and from such animal fats as butter and whole milk, which are good sources of fat-soluble vitamins.  Excess fat is hr to metabolized and can upset liver and kidney functions.  In general, losing weight is a matter of consciously curbing the amount of food eaten, regulating the types  of food eaten, and increasing daily activity.

NUTRIENTS THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL IN TREATMENT OF OVERWEIGHT & OBESITY:

Vitamin B complex, B2, B5, B12, Choline, Folic Acid, Inositol, Pantothenic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Protein, Lecithin, Unsturated fatty acids.

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

For nutritional support, please visit Natural Health Products

Glaucoma is characterized by an increase in pressure of the fluid within the eyeball and a hardening of the surface of the eyeball.  The cause of glaucoma is currently unknown, but usually it occurs after age forty and it may be due to tumor, trauma, infection, and in one type, heredity.  Glaucoma is often associated with anxiety and stress, allergy or hormone disorders.  Symptoms include eye discomfort or pain, especially in the morning, blurred vision, halos around lights, inability to adjust to a darkened room, and loss of vision at the sides.  Early detection of glaucoma can substantially reduce the incidence of blindness resulting from it.

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled through the use of prescribed eye drops.  The diet of those affected should be rich in vitamin A, essential for eye-tissue health.  If the symptoms of anxiety are related to a deficiency of the B vitamins, then correction of this deficiency would decrease the susceptibility of an individual to glaucoma.  Alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea should be avoided.

Glaucoma is often an indication of adrenal exhaustion; therefore, nutrients necessary for the adrenals should be taken.  The nutrients that meet the demands of stress should also be emphasized.  Italian physicians have significantly reduced the intraocular pressure in the eyes of glaucoma patients by administering large doses of vitamin C (500 milligrams per 2.2 pounds of body weight).

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

For nutritional support, visit Natural Health Products.

Epilepsy occurs in both sexes and at all ages.  An individual may experience only one seizure in his lifetime or several seizures per day.  Factors that may precipitate a seizure are fatigue, overeating or over drinking, emotional tension or excitement, fever, new environmental stresses, or menstruation.

The epileptic should maintain a well-balanced diet and should avoid taking in excessive amounts of food or fluid at on time because these may bring on an attack.  Alcoholic beverages should also be avoided.  Regular exercise and rest should be encouraged.  If the proper nutrients are given, anticonvulsant drugs can often be discontinued.

Dr. Yukio Tanaka of St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal, Canada, through recent research has demonstrated a link between manganese deficiency and convulsions in humans.  He also states that pregnant women with a deficiency of manganese may give birth to epileptic children.  Pregnant rats maintained on a low-manganese diet delivered young with poorly coordinated movements and a susceptibility to convulsions.

Excellent results have been obtained by the administration of vitamin B6.  If there are no results from this vitamin, its poor absorption may be the reason.  When large doses of B6 are given alone, the other B vitamins should accompany it, especially vitamin B2 and pantothenic acid, so further harm is not done.  A lack of vitamin B6 and magnesium is closely associated with convulsions which may often be prevented by an adequate supply of these nutrients in the diet.  Sensitivity to noise, irritability, twitching and perhaps bed-wetting and tremors are early warning signs of epilepsy.

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

For Nutritional Support, visit Natural Health Products

Bursitis may be caused by stretched muscles, shoes that are too tight, injury such as a bump or bruise, or irritation from calcium deposits found in the bursa wall.  It may also be the result of metabolic inefficiency caused by stress, which prevents proper absorption and utilization of food that is eaten.

Bursitis symptoms include swelling, tenderness, and agonizing pain in the affected area which frequently limits motion.  Treatment involves removing the cause of the injury, clearing up any underlying infection, and possibly, surgically removing calcium deposits.  Other measures include rest and immobilization of the affected part.

Vitamin E has also been found to be beneficial in the treatment of bursitis.  The need for protein and vitamins A and C increases during infection, and extra amounts of these nutrients are required for bursitis victims.

Information obtained for the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne.

For Nutritional Support, visit Natural Health Products.

Repeated studies have shown that 80 to 85 percent of criminal offenders have hypoglycemia, with the usual symptoms of dizziness, cold sweats, nervousness, and fatigue.  Hypoglycemia results from a diet too high in refined carbohydrates and often in caffeine.  Sugar consumption in excess can cause behavioral problems such as depression, hyperactivity, and antisocial behavior.

Many offenders have been found to be deficient in vitamin B1.  A lack of this vitamin can result in irritability, anger and aggressiveness.  Refined carbohydrates lack vitamin B1.  The more carbohydrates eaten, the more vitamin B1 is needed.  Unrefined foods contain sufficient B1 for the body; refined foods do not.

Allergic reactions to particular foods and food additives have been also found to be a factor in criminal behavior.  Allergies can cause pressure on certain nerves in the brain, activating aggression.  The symptoms may range from mild irritation to sever psychosis.

A change to unrefined foods plus vitamin and miner supplementation can effectively reduce re-arrests and improve behavior, morale, mood, and self-motivation.

Information obtained from Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

For nutritional support, visit Natural Health Products.

Dolores competed in the 2009 Bethlehem Project for her local church and took first place in the 5K Walk in her age category.  Her time was 42:23 covering 3.1 miles.  She had participated last year and took third place.

She loves to walk and be active in church functions and volunteers her time at a local thrift shop.  Dolores keeps herself very active and enjoys her family and friends.  She is a true inspiration to all.  She is the mother of four and celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary this year.   This woman definitely does not look her age of sixty-nine.

Dolores is a firm believer in investing in good health.  She has supplemented her diet for over 15 years with the best nutritional products on the market today. Additionally, she is not on any medication which is not the norm for seniors.

So congratulations, Dolores, on your win and being a true leader on healthy living!

A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when the blood supply of an area of brain cells is cut off for a long period of time, resulting in the death of the deprived cells due to lack of oxygen and nutrients essential for the proper function of the brain.  The blood vessels may be blocked by atherosclerosis, clotting, or hemorrhaging.  The process is similar to that of a heart attach, the difference being cell death in the brain during a stroke.

Typical symptoms include impaired memory and attention span, tingling or lack of feeling in limbs, a feeling of heaviness in the limbs, and loss of movement.  Symptoms are often restricted to one side of the body, as seen in the frequent right or left-sided paralysis.  Strokes may be so small that they are not even noticed or so sever as to be fatal.  It is difficult to tell the extent of injury or cell death at the time the stroke occurs, and the long-term outlook therefore depends upon the area and extent of the brain damage.  Physical and speech therapy are often helpful in rehabilitating the patient.

Predisposing factors are prolonged high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, diabetes, old age, obesity and cigarette smoking.  Preventive dietary measure include restricting sodium intake to reduce high blood pressure and reducing cholesterol intake to prevent further cholesterol buildup in blood vessels.

The diet should be well balanced, with special emphasis on B vitamins and vitamin C because they are needed for general health of the blood vessels.  Vitamin E can be of help to prevent clots, reducing the need for oxygen.  Reduction of overweight by sensible dieting is of the utmost importance.  Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and complete proteins should be emphasized.  All nutrients should meet the demands of stress and should lower blood cholesterol

Information obtained from The Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

For nutritional support visit Natural Health Products

Muscles are largely made up of protein and essential fatty acids; however, almost every nutrient is involved in their contraction, relaxation and repair.  For example, potassium, very low in diets of high fats and refined foods, is necessary for the contraction of every muscle in the body.  Besides a poor diet, a potassium deficiency can be brought on by stress, diarrhea, kidney damage, diuretics, or cortisone therapy.  The results of insufficient amounts of the mineral are fatigue, gas distention, spasms or twisting of the bowel, constipation, and possibly inability to pass urine.

Vitamin E is essential for the formation of the muscles of muscle cells and of enzymes that are needed for muscular contractions.  A deficiency of the vitamin increases the need for oxygen in the muscles, interferes with the metabolism of certain amino acids, and causes the loss of phosphorus in the urine and the B vitamins by rancidity.  In addition, too much calcium is left to settle in muscle tissue.  Pregnant women often have difficult deliveries because of the lack of enzymes needed for muscle contraction.  A deficiency can also be suspected if a child cannot sit up well at three months old.

Nutrients that may be beneficial in the treatment of muscle weakness:  Vitamin E, Manganese, Potassium, Zinc, Unsaturated fatty acids, Protein and all essential nutrients.

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

For nutritional support, visit Natural Health Products

Venereal disease is usually acquired through intimate contact with the sexual organs of an afflicted individual.  The most frequent vehicle of the disease is the act of sexual intercourse or intimacy associated with sexual intercourse.  Gonorrhea and syphilis are the two most common types of venereal disease.

Gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual intimacy or from the mother to the newborn infant as it passes through an infected birth canal.  Within 3 to 14 days after contact, males experience burning, pain, and discharge of pus upon urination.  Complications of gonorrhea in males may include prostatitis and testes infection.  Females may have increased urinary frequency and a yellowish discharge from the vagina, but there are usually no immediate symptoms until the infection has included all of the reproductive organs of the pelvic region.  Complications of gonorrhea may result in sterility in both sexes.

Syphilis is most commonly spread through sexual intimacy, but it may also be received through a break in the skin that has come in contact with a chancre, or open sore, fresh blood, semen or a vaginal discharge from an infected individual.  Syphilis can also be transmitted from the mother to the fetus via the bloodstream during pregnancy.

There are three distinct stages of syphilis.  First, a chancre appears 10 to 28 days after contact at the point where the infecting organism entered the body, but it disappears in 2 to 5 weeks.  Other possible symptoms of this stage include fever, weight loss, and anemia.

Six weeks to six months after appearance of the chancre, the second stage begins.  It is characterized by skin rashes, hair loss, warts near the mouth or anus, fever, headache, sore throat, and possibly bone pain.  The next one to several years my be without symptoms.

During the third stage, the disease is no longer contagious.  In this stage the organisms settle in specific body organs and destroy them.  Commonly, the circulatory system and nervous system are attacked, often resulting in death.

Treatment for venereal disease includes massive injections of antibiotics usually penicillin, to rid the body of the venereal organism.  Early treatment is essential to prevent complicating tissue damage.  To prevent the spread of venereal disease, an afflicted person should abstain from sexual intercourse and intimacy until the disease has been cured.  In addition to obtaining medical treatment, an afflicted person should maintain a well-balanced diet high in protein to help repair the tissue damage that has occurred.

NUTRIENTS THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL IN TREATMENT OF VENEREAL DISEASE:

Vitamin B Complex, Protein and Acidophilus

For nutritional support visit Natural Health Products

Information obtained from Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

Alcoholism is a dependence on or addiction to alcohol.  The body’s outward reaction to alcohol suggests that it acts as a stimulant by producing aggressive social behavior such as loss of inhibitions, increased boldness and sociability associated with drinking.  In fact, alcohol is a depressant that acts to decrease the basic speed of all bodily functions, including muscle contractions.

Prolonged dependence upon this drug may result in severe problems in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract as well as the emotional and mental problems associated with alcoholism.  Severe deficiencies of many nutrients occur because the alcohol itself satisfies the body’s caloric needs.  (Alcohol contains about 70 calories per ounce.)  Alcohol is a carbohydrate but contains no vitamins or minerals, which are needed for carbohydrate metabolism.  The vitamins and minerals are then taken from other parts of the body, eventually leading to tissue depletion.

As the alcohol enters the bloodstream directly throughout the walls of the stomach, it begins to act upon the central nervous system by changing the most basic mental functions and by destroying brain cells.  Cells are destroyed by the withdrawal of necessary water from the tissues and cells.  The liver works to neutralize the effects of alcohol upon the body by breaking down the composition of the alcohol.  Under normal circumstances, especially if there is food in the stomach, the liver can effectively perform the function of breaking down the alcohol if not more than one drink per hour is consumed.  However, when the liver is overworked, it must compensate by creating an increased tolerance for alcohol.  After a time, the liver compensates less rapidly, becomes fatty and is less able to decompose the alcohol.  As a result, the alcoholic develops a decreased tolerance for alcohol and less is needed to product intoxication.  As drinking continues over a period of time, the liver cells die and are replaced with scar tissue.  This condition is known as cirrhosis of the liver.

Diet and nutrient supplements are very important in the treatment of alcoholism.  Because of biochemical individuality, different nutritional approaches will be needed for different alcoholics.

Refined carbohydrates need to be eliminated from the diet.  Rats placed on the typical American high-refined-carbohydrate diet eventually avoid the water bowl in favor of the bowl of whiskey.

In some cases, a strict diet adequate in calories and high in protein, which contains all the vitamins and minerals and especially high in B vitamins, reduced the alcoholic’s desire to drink.  Protein is necessary for tissue regeneration, particularly when cirrhosis of the liver occurs.  Vitamin A is an anti-infective agent for upper respiratory infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia which are common in alcoholics.  The vitamin B complex is essential for the prevention and treatment of alcoholic neuritis, pellagra, and delirium tremens.  Niacin and the amino acid glutamine have been shown to help to prevent the craving for alcohol.  Vitamin C, which is often deficient in alcoholics, is needed to prevent scurvy.  A zinc deficiency may occur, making the alcoholic more prone to cirrhosis of the liver and preventing vitamin K from being absorbed into the body.  Iron is needed to correct the anemia that often develops.  A magnesium deficiency can contribute to the occurrence of delirium tremens.  A deficiency of potassium may also occur in alcoholics, and supplements may be necessary.  Choline acids in the decomposition of fat in the liver and helps maintain healthy kidneys jeopardized by heaving drinking.

Complications that can interfere with recovery are concurrent drug use, hypoglycemia, and perceptual distortions similar to those experienced by schizophrenics.  Food allergy additions may also be a factor.  Permanent brain damage may not respond to nutrient therapy.

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

For nutritional support visit Natural Health Products