Health Tips

 

                         GUIDE TO VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS.

 

 

Vitamin A.
Symptoms:- night blindness; abnormal dryness of the eyeball; dry, rough, itchy skin; susceptibility to infections; insomnia; sinusitis.  R.D.A. = 800 mcg.

 

Vitamin B1.
Symptoms:- confusion, weakness of eye muscle; loss of appetite; uncoordinated walking; poor memory; inability to concentrate; constipation; forgetfulness; general weakness.  R.D.A. = 1.1 mg.

 

Vitamin B2.
Symptoms:- discoloured tongue; anaemia; cracks at the corners of the mouth; scaly skin; burning, itchy eyes; slin lesions; dizziness.  R.D.A. = 1.4mg.

 

Vitamin B3. (Niacin)
Symptoms:- dermatitis; insomnia; headache; diarrhoea; dementia;  canker sores; fatigue; loss of appetite; muscular weakness.  R.D.A. = 16mg.

 

Vitamin B6.
Symptoms:- depression; skin lesions; extreme nervousness; water retention; lethargy; headaches; nausea; learning difficulties.  R.D.A. = 6mg.

 

Vitamin B12.
Symptoms:- anaemia with heart palpitations; sore tongue; general weakness; weight loss; constipation; digestive disorders; dizziness.  R.D.A = 2.5mcg.

 

Folic Acid.
Symptoms:- anaemia; dizziness, fatigue; intestinal disorders; diarrhoea; shortness of breath; sore red tongue.  R.D.A. = 200mcg.

 

Vitamin C.

Symptoms:- easy bruising; spongy, bleeding gums; dental problems;  slow healing wounds; fatigue; listlessness; rough skin; joint pains; lack of energy.  R.D.A. = 80mg.

 

Vitamin D.
Symptoms:- softening of bones; bone pain; susceptibility to fractures; excessive tooth decay; loss of appetite.  R.D.A. = 5mcg.

 

Vitamin E.
Symptoms:- muscle degeneration; anaemia; nerve dysfunction;  menstrual problems; infertility in man and women.  R.D.A. = 12mg.

 

Calcium.
Symptoms:- softening of bones; bone fractures; periodontal disease; eczema; aching joints; insomnia.  R.D.A. = 800mg.

 

Iron.
Symptoms:- anaemia with symptoms of weakness, fatigue, headache, heart palpitations; mouth soreness; digestive disturbance.  R.D.A. = 14mg.

 

Magnesium.
Symptoms:- foot and leg cramps; muscle weakness; irregular pulse; irritability and nervousness.  R.D.A. = 375mg.

 

Zinc.
Symptoms:- slow healing wounds; skin and hair problems; poor resistance to infections; hair loss; growth impairment.  R.D.A. = 10mg.

 

 

BRONCHITIS.

Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Eat 2 apples daily they support the lungs.
Garlic, onions and leeks are cleansing and antiseptic.
Pink grapefruit has lycopene which helps support the lungs.
Quercetin - defends you from pollution and smoke.
People who take high amounts of Vitamin 'C' and Magnesium have better lungs.
Take 25,000 iu for a week helps.
Zinc anti-viral and is very useful in reducing the length of this complaint.
Bromelain, extracted from pineapples, is very effectiveas well.
Liquorice is anti-inflammatory and anti-viral so it is very good in fighting cases of bronchitis. So try liquorice tea a few times daily.

 

AGEING.

Avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame, nutrasweet, artificial preservatives and chemicals like MSG and genetically modified foods.
Cut down on salt and use mineral rich Sea Salt.
After the age of 50, you need to take digestive enzymes frequently so that you absorb more of the vitamin and minerals in the food you eat and from the supplements that you are taking.
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of spring water or water that has been filtered, daily.
Exercise on a regular basis as this makes the blood flow at an even pace and also improves the circulation of the lymphatic fluids.
Reduce stress.

 

CONSTIPATION.

To relieve acute constipation take 250mg of Magnesium 4 times daily, do not take for too long as this may cause other problems.
Eat fruit between meals especially fig and prunes, both of these are natural laxatives. Apples are a good aid in constipation. Also eat nuts, seeds and raisins.
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.
Psyllium seeds are helpful but you must take plenty of water through
the day.
Aloe Vera helps with bowel movements.
Do not eat large heavy meals.
Commercial laxatives can make the bowel lazy in the long term.
Consume high amounts of fibre daily to help with elimination. Raw vegetable and salads add more fibre to your diet.
Taking regular exercise help move things through the bowels.
Eat foods containing pectin such as apples, carrots, bananas, cabbage
or citrus fruits.
Take some acidophilus daily or multidigestive enzymes.

 

HAY FEVER.

Spring is approaching and so is the hay fever season. One simple way to reduce your symptoms is to make sure that you drink plenty of water a day. Hay fever sufferers are always a little dehydrated.
Take 2 gms of Vitamin C daily to reduce the toxins in the system and boost the immune system.
Take Quercetin 400mg three times daily. This is a natural antihistamine and helps reduce puffy eyes and irritation to the nose.
The homoeopathic combination remedy of Allium Cepa, Sabadilla and Euphrasis 30c 3 times daily, helps a lot and if you know pollens or grass pollens are the cause of your hay fever then you could have these added into the combination as well. Try getting it from Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy in Tunbridge Wells. Ask for me if you like.
Avoid eating cakes, chocolate, dairy products (except yogurt), packaged or canned foods, pies, soft drinks, sugar or anything that has aspartame (NutraSweet) in it, tobacco, coffee, white flour products and all junk food.
Bioflavonoids protect the mucus membranes and are found in blueberries, blackberries, plums,red grapes, strawberries and cherries.
Vitamin A improves epithelial tissue of the nose, throat and eyes.
Garlic, ginger and horseradish can ease congestion and reduce symptoms.
Other useful supplements Q10, Vitamin B complex with extra B5 and B6.
Nettle tablets or mother tincture 3 times daily can reduce a runny nose or try some nettle tea.
Exercise helps to expel toxins, supports the immune system and reduces stress.

 

HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES.

Migraine sufferers are usually deficient in Magnesium so take it with Calcium so that it is absorbed. Calcium is also linked to headaches relief.
To prevent a migraine try taking 5-HTP, a good health store may stock it. It is used to prevent chronic daily headaches, tension headaches and migraines.
If you suffer from recurrent headaches take some a B Complex and some additional B2 (Riboflavin). Taking a B Complex will make your urine a bright yellow, this is normal, it's your body getting rid of the excess B vitamins.
At mealtimes take some digestive enzymes as migraines can be associated with digestive problems.
Vitamin C and Pantothenic Acid may also help if your body is under stress.
Drink 6 - 8 glasses of water daily. If you are dehydrated this causes a headache. So you do not like the taste of water, then take some still spring water or stand a glass of tap water in the sun for half and hour and then drink it. Why? Because the power of the Sun changes and revitalises the water and it tastes better and different.
Omega - 3 fatty acid helps relieve the pain of a migraine.
A tea of Feverfew or Lavender several times a day will help relieve the symptoms.
Avoid monosodium glutamate (MSG), caffeine, alcohol and sugar products including artificial sweeteners, food additives, colourings and preservatives.
A homeopathic headache combination in a 200c would help relieve the pain.
Another trigger are foods that contain tyramine or phenylalanine. Tyramine can be found in cheeses, chocolates, cirrus fruits, coffee, herrings, smoked fish, wine, alcohol, sausages, sour creams and vinegar. Phenylalanine is found in MSG and processed meats such as hot dogs.
If you have an allergy or sensitivity to a food or foods then make sure you remove them from your diet.
A lack of Iron can also be a cause of headaches. So take a supplement like Floradix would also help especially if you have a tendency to be anaemic.

 

VITAMIN 'C'.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is required for tissue repair and growth, adrenal gland function and healthy gums.
Increases the absorption of iron, reduces cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, promotes the healing of wounds and burns.
Lessens wheezing in asthma.
People bruise more easily if they are deficient in Vitamin C.
If taken at the beginning of a cold can stop it or reduce the severity of the cold.
Can help stop bleeding gums.
Part of the solution for bedsores.
As an antioxidant it helps prevent cholesterol from sticking to the artery walls and blocking the flow of blood.
Along with vitamin 'E' can help prevent joint deterioration.

 

 

IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPORT (ISS).

To improve your ISS here are somethings you can do or should not do.

• Get adequate amounts of sleep - see my posting on insomnia.

• Avoid - Refined sugar, refined carbohydrates like white flour and
  white rice, caffeine, alcohol.

• Increase - Fruit sugar, lactose (milk) sugar, nuts and seeds, whole grains.

Vitamins and minerals - Vitamin C is the main vitamin that supports the immune system. It nourishes the thymus gland which is the main gland in the immune system. It also increase the number of white cell that are important in ISS.
Zinc is the main mineral that supports the immune system.
Taking both vitamin c and zinc together provides the body with a very
strong support to the immune system.

Echinacea - enhances ISS, aides in the production of white cells.

Vitamin 'A' and beta-carotene support immune system especially in the mucus membranes and therefore help prevent infections.

Selenium - a lack of it impairs the immune system, thymus gland and white blood cell activity.

 

COLDS AND FLU.
At the first sign of a cold take the Homoeopathic remedy Aconite 30c every 2 hours for 6 doses to reduce the severity of the cold and its duration.
You could also take a homoeopathic cold combination.
Contact me if you would like me to send either of these.
While you have a cold drink plenty of water to replace the loss of fluids.
To relieve the stuffiness of a cold eat homemade chicken soup.
Canned soup does not work, it must be homemade. Sip it often through out the day to relieve the clogging up.

Chicken soup recipe:- 2 x skinless chicken pieces covered in water add a clove of garlic, onion and a carrot and simmer for 2 hours.
Leave to cool and then remove any fat from the top.
Put in the fridge over night and a thin layer of fat can then be peeled off the top. Freeze and keep for up to 6 months.
Take vitamin C in supplement form, 4,000mg+ per day will help to lessen the symptoms and helps you to recover quickly from a cold or flu.
Licorice tea will help to sooth an irritated throat and relieves a cough.
Feed a cold but eat fewer fatty foods like meat, milk products and chocolate and eat more fruit and vegetables.
To boost the immune system take Goldenseal, Echincea and Zinc.
Across the counter products may help to relieve symptoms but will leave you with catarrh in the end.