More Vitamin D Information

Andy, who takes daily nutritional supplements, wrote to ask about if his general fatigue could be related to an excessive amount of Vitamin D. He said he takes 800 IU a day. He was worried about a toxic dose. I wrote Andy back and said it is very un-likely that an excess of Vitamin D is causing his fatigue or lack or energy. Much more likely that he is taking considerably less Vitamin D than he needs or that he is consuming low quality, food grade supplements and therefore cannot determine what amount he is really taking. Andy also asked about the benefits of Vitamin D as he had forgotten why he added them to his daily nutritionals.

First of all, the FDA's current recommendation of 600 IU a day of Vitamin D is thought to be too low. Many researchers are now suggesting that 2,000 IU a day may be the minimum amount. I currently take 5,200 IU of Vitamin D each day. Vitamin D is necessary for normal bone mineralization and growth including teeth. Vitamin D assists in the absorption and utilization in the body of phosphorus and calcium. Vitamin K is also important too for bones as Vitamin K helps direct calcium to the bones and not the in soft tissues such as organs or muscles.

I don't know if anyone has figured out what the minimum level for a toxic dose of Vitamin D is, although the Mayo Clinic has published an article stating "taking 50,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity. The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause symptoms such as poor appetite, nausea and vomiting. Weakness, frequent urination and kidney problems also may occur."



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Children's Supplement's May Contain Bad Stuff

This article came out of the Earth We Are One website with the title ' "Top Pharma-Brand Of Children’s Vitamins Contains Aspartame, GMOs, and Other Hazardous Chemicals."

The #1 Children’s Vitamin Brand in the US contains ingredients that most parents would never intentionally expose their children to, so why aren’t more opting for healthier alternatives?

MyAchingKnees Comment: I have talked to many parents about putting their children on a quality daily nutritional supplement. It is incredulous that parents, after knowing the difference between food grade supplements like "Flintstones", and pharamceutical grade suplements, will still opt to put the lower cost supplement into their kids even when the difference may be $10 a month!  Why would a parent want to give their children anything other than the safest product?

Kids vitamins are supposed to be healthy, right? Well then, what’s going on with Flintstones Vitamins, which proudly claims to be “Pediatricians’ #1 Choice”?

MyAchingKnees Comment: Pediatrician's #1 choice?  Probably, but certainly not the highest rated product according to the Comparative Guide to Children's Nutritionals.    

 Produced by the global pharmaceutical corporation Bayer, this wildly successful brand features a shocking list of unhealthy ingredients, including:

Aspartame
Cupric Oxide
Coal tar artificial coloring agents (FD&C Blue #2, Red #40, Yellow #6)
Zinc Oxide
Sorbitol
Ferrous Fumarate
Hydrogenated Oil (Soybean)
GMO Corn starch


On Bayer Health Science’s Flintstones product page designed for healthcare professionals they lead into the product description with the following tidbit of information:

82% of kids aren’t eating all of their veggies1. Without enough vegetables, kids may not be getting all of the nutrients they need.

References: 1. Lorson BA, Melgar-Quinonez HR, Taylor CA. Correlates of fruit and vegetable intakes in US children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109(3):474-478.

The implication? That Flintstones vitamins somehow fill this nutritional void. But let’s look a little closer at some of these presumably healthy ingredients….

ASPARTAME

Aspartame is a synthetic combination of the amino acids aspartic acid and l-phenylalanine, and is known to convert into highly toxic methanol and formaldehyde in the body. Aspartame has been linked to over 40 adverse health effects in the biomedical literature, and has been shown to exhibit both neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity [1] What business does a chemical like this have doing in a children’s vitamin, especially when non-toxic, non-synthetic non-nutritive sweeteners like stevia already exist?

CUPRIC OXIDE

Next, let’s look closer at Cupric Oxide, 2mg of which is included in each serving of Flinstone’s Complete chewable vitamins as a presumably ‘nutritional’ source of ‘copper,’ supplying “100% of the Daily Value (Ages 4+), according to Flintstones Vitamins Web site’s Nutritional Info.[2]

But what is Cupric Oxide? A nutrient or a chemical?

According to the European Union’s Dangerous Substance Directive, one of the main EU laws concerning chemical safety, Cupric Oxide is listed as a Hazardous substance, classified as both “Harmful (XN)” and “Dangerous for the environment” (N). Consider that it has industrial applications as a pigment in ceramics, and as a chemical in the production of rayon fabric and dry cell batteries. In may be technically correct to call it a mineral, but should it be listed as a nutrient in a children’s vitamin? We think not.

COAL TAR ARTIFICIAL COLORING AGENTS

A well-known side effect of using synthetic dyes is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. For direct access to study abstracts on this topic view our Food Coloring research page. There is also indication that the neurotoxicity of artificial food coloring agents increase when combined with aspartame,[3] making the combination of ingredients in Flintstones even more concerning.

ZINC OXIDE

Each serving of Flinstones Complete Chewable vitamins contain 12 mg of zinc oxide, which the manufacturer claims delivers 75% of the Daily Value to children 2 & 3 years of age. Widely used as a sun protection factor (SPF) in sunscreens, The EU’s Dangerous Substance Directive classifies it as an environmental Hazard, “Dangerous for the environment (N).” How it can be dangerous to the environment, but not for humans ingesting it, escapes me. One thing is for sure, if one is to ingest supplemental zinc, or market it for use by children, it makes much more sense using a form that is organically bound (i.e. ‘chelated’) to an amino acid like glycine, as it will be more bioavailable and less toxic.

SORBITOL

Sorbitol is a synthetic sugar substitute which is classified as a sugar alcohol. It can be argued that it has no place in the human diet, much less in a child’s. The ingestion of higher amounts have been linked to gastrointestinal disturbances from abdominal pain to more serious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.[4]

FERROUS FUMARATE

The one clear warning on the Flinstone’s Web site concerns this chemical. While it is impossible to die from consuming iron from food, e.g. spinach, ferrous fumarate is an industrial mineral and not found in nature as food. In fact, ferrous fumarate is so toxic that accidental overdose of products containing this form is “a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6.” The manufacturer further warns:

Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL

Finding hydrogenated oil in anything marketed to children is absolutely unacceptable. These semi-synthetic fatty acids incorporate into our tissues and have been linked to over a dozen adverse health effects, from coronary artery disease to cancer, violent behavior to fatty liver disease.[5]

GMO CORN STARCH

While it can be argued that the amount of GMO corn starch in this product is negligible, even irrelevant, we disagree. It is important to hold accountable brands that refuse to label their products honestly, especially when they contain ingredients that have been produced through genetic modification. The ‘vitamin C’ listed as ascorbic acid in Flintstones is likely also produced from GMO corn. Let’s remember that Bayer’s Ag-biotech division, Bayer CropScience, poured $381,600 of cash into defeating the proposition 37 GMO labeling bill in California. Parents have a right to protect their children against the well-known dangers of genetically modified foods and the agrichemicals that contaminate them, don’t they? GMO corn starch is GMO, plain and simple. We’d appreciate it if Bayer would label their “vitamins” accordingly.

In summary, Bayer’s Flintstone’s vitamin brand is far from a natural product, and the consumer should be aware of the unintended, adverse health effects that may occur as a result of using it.

1] GreenMedInfo.com, Adverse Health Effects of Aspartame

[2] FlinstonesVitamins.com, FLINSTONES Complete Chewable, Nutritional Info Overview

[3] Karen Lau, W Graham McLean, Dominic P Williams, C Vyvyan Howard. Synergistic interactions between commonly used food additives in a developmental neurotoxicity test. Toxicol Sci. 2006 Mar;90(1):178-87. Epub 2005 Dec 13. PMID: 16352620

[4] GreenMedInfo.com, Sorbitol’s Adverse Health Effects

[5] GreenMedInfo.com, Health Effects of Hydrogenated Oil



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Protect Your Kidneys

This article was published with the title, "10 Deadly Habits That Seriously Damage Your Kidneys" on Real Farmacy and caught my eye as I know several people who developed kidney cancer in the last several years and one person, a young lady, who had a kidney removed and is on dialysis. In each of the kidney cancer friends of mine, the cancer was not detected until the mass or tumor was too big to miss, like the size of a softball. I don't think these people were delinquent in protecting their kidneys - how do you know if you are growing cancer in an organ? - I think toxins, accumulated over a long time were likely responsible. Still, one must do what they can,...take what steps they are comfortable with, in ensuring the best health possible. So, I like these articles which are common sense and offer easy steps to have a healthy lifestyle.

Our kidneys are super important for our health. They filter our blood, produce hormones, absorb minerals, produce urine, eliminate toxins, and neutralize acids. So as one of the most important organs in your body, your kidneys deserve some love. Damage or steady decline of your kidneys can often go unnoticed for years as your kidneys can still do their job with as little as 20% of their capacity.

Therefore kidney diseases are often referred to as “The Silent Diseases”. That’s why it is so important to take care of them before it is too late. Here’s a list of 10 common habits that put a lot of pressure on your kidneys and can cause serious damage over time.

1. Not Drinking Enough Water

Your kidney’s most important function is to filter blood and eliminate toxins and waste materials. When you don’t drink enough plain water during the day toxins and waste material start to accumulate and can cause severe damage to your body.

MyAchingKnees Comment:  The average person needs about one ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight each day. If you are more active, you'll need more water.  Here's an idea - replace those soda's with water.  Try this for two weeks and see how you feel. 

2. Too Much Salt In Your Diet

Your body needs sodium or salt to work properly. Most people however consume too much salt which may raise blood pressure and put a lot of stress on the kidneys. As a good rule of thumb, no more than 5 grams of salt should be eaten on a daily basis.

3. Frequently Delaying The Call Of Nature

Many of us ignore the urge to go because they are too busy or want to avoid public bathrooms. Retaining urine on a regular basis increases urine pressure and can lead to kidney failure, kidney stones, and incontinence. So listen to your body when nature calls.

4. Kick The Sugar Habit

Scientific studies show that people who consume 2 or more sugary drinks a day are more likely to have protein in their urine. Having protein in your urine is an early sign your kidneys are not doing their job as they should.

MyAchingKnees Comment:  High Glycemic diets are killing us. I know most people won't or can't replace high glycemic foods with low glycemic foods in total; however any person would be a fool not to reduce some consumption of high glycemic and substitute with low glycemic foods.  

5. Vitamin And Mineral Deficiencies

Eating a clean, whole food diet full of fresh vegetables and fruits is important for your overall health and a good kidney function. Many deficiencies can increase the risk of kidney stones or kidney failure. Vitamin B6 and magnesium, for instance, are super important to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

An estimated 70 to 80 percent of Americans isn’t getting enough magnesium, so there may be a good chance that you are one of them.

MyAchingKnees Comment:  It is likely the majority of Americans aren't getting much of the required nutrients.  Find the best nutritional supplements you can and take them to ensure you are giving your body the nutrients it needs to have a healthy immune system.

6. Too Much Animal Protein

Over consumption of protein, especially red meat, increases the metabolic load on your kidneys. So more protein in your diet means your kidneys have to work harder and this can lead to kidney damage or dysfunction over time.

7. Sleep Deprivation

We have all heard how important it is to get a good night’s rest. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to many diseases and kidney diseases are also on the list. During the night your body repairs damaged kidney tissue, so give your body the time to heal and repair itself.

8. Coffee Habit

Just as salt, caffeine can raise blood pressure and put extra stress on your kidneys. Over time excessive consumption of coffee can cause damage to your kidneys.

9. Painkiller Abuse

Way too many people take painkillers for their small aches and pains, while there are many all-natural, safe remedies available. Excessive use or painkiller abuse can lead to severe damage of liver and kidneys.

MyAchingKnees Comment:  Even of the shelf Motrin can be bad for you if you use it all the time and in bigger doses. I abused Motrin for over 20 years, and have only taken about 400 mg of it in the last 9 years.  I'll use low doses of Aspirin now, but that's about it.  It you have pain, try and fix it, just don't throw drugs at the symptoms.  

10. Alcohol Consumption

Although there is nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine or having a beer once in a while, most of us don’t stop after just one drink. Alcohol is actually a legal toxin that puts a lot of stress on our kidneys and liver.

To stay healthy and avoid kidney issues it is important to eat lots of fresh, whole foods and if you keep the above information in mind and avoid these common habits as much as possible, your kidneys will not be under constant stress and your body will thank you for that.

MyAchingKnees Comment:  Alcohol is a toxin.  Reduce or eliminate your consumption of it.  If you drink hard liquor or beer, maybe you can try replacing it with a quality red wine.  My challenge to you is to try tis for two weeks and see how you feel.  


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