Are you missing out? If so on what??? This week's topic is common nutrient deficiencies and their resolution.  But before we address that topic I have two important announcements.

#1 This month's "FreeBie Friday" will be held on Friday, September 26th from 9:30 to noon.  I will be there to answer your questions, give a free consult to your family member or friend or help you with supplement advice or answer your health questions for FREE!!! We will also have alot of new product samples to give out as well as a new product catalogue so please mark your calendars and JOIN US!!!  It is my way of showing our appreciation for you all.

#2 Beginning October 10th, we will have Friday Hours from 9:30 to noon, and will be seeing patients for appointments starting then. If it is a freebie Friday we will not see patients that day.

#3 I still need help! on Wednesday and Thursdays so if you know anyone or can help please call me or let me know!!!! I especially need help for Wednesday so if you're available let me know! Thanks.

Okay so now to our topic, ARE you Missing out on something?  Well, without your labs it's not possible for me to say for sure but today we will cover some common nutrient deficiencies.

If you are or have been a Chronic Dieter, chances are you are: LOW in Everything, this is also true if you are a cigarette smoker, drinker, user of recreational drugs, under heavy stress, are an athlete or have chronic digestive disorders, or are trying to follow a vegtarian or vegan diet.  If you fall into one of these categories hopefully you are or soon will be under my care.  If not, you should be! Until then:  take a superior multiple vitamin, such as our Multi 75, REvitalize, Children's Multi or the like.  This is also true if you are a picky eater, have an eating disorder, or eat the same diet habitually.  If you are a woman, you need a calcium supplement as well! The dosage is going to vary alot depending upon your age, diet and activity level, as well as kidney function so I am not going to publish them here.

Over 75% of premenopausal women are deficient in folic acid. This is particularly true if you are on contraceptive pills or again smoke, heaven forbid! Deficiency can lead to cervical cancer or dysplasia.  When these conditions exist, it is only possible to remedy them with very high doses of Folic Acid which can not be obtained without medical supervision, from a specialist like myself.  A multiple vitamin or prenatal will contain from 400-800mcgs per day which is an appropriate amount. Folate is available via green leafy vegetables such as spinach or kale as well. Hate them? Well,  consider a great product such as Green's First which tastes wonderful and is nutritionally one of the best products I have come across. I eat tons of vegetables everyday and do not skip my Green's First EVER!  I simply feel great when I drink this!

Iron: again,  most premenopausal women come up short, and if you avoid red meat you are particularly at risk, and also if you are vegetarian or vegan...more about that subject later.  Most multi's contain between 18-30 mgs of iron prenatals are the 30mgs. Most of us should not take more than 18 mgs without a ferritin test, and additional iron should be discontinued when that test becomes normal. Common signs of iron deficiency are fatigue, shortness of breath and weak limbs. Men may be iron deficient but this may require a full medical work up to determine the cause. Men should not take additional iron unless clinically anemic and neither should post menopausal women.  Iron supplements are extremely toxic and should not be taken without medical supervison, they can also be hard on your digestive tract.

Vitamin D, the "sunshine" vitamin has been found to be low in over 50% of Americans.  Since vitamin D is toxic in large doses please see your MD or myself for testing before self-medicating.  Vitamin D has great roles in cancer prevention, osteoporosis prevention, and new research is on a daily basis finding more functions of this important vitamin. Please see the last few issues of Nutrition News for details.  If you have been diagnosed with prostate enlargement, breast problems, osteopenia, or osteoporosis or use sunscreen daily or rarely get sun exposure you need to find out your status immediately. Vitamin D is available in "fortified" foods such as milk but that has not helped the majority of Americans.  Cod Liver oil is a good food source but is high in toxins so I cannot recommend it at this time. I do not recommend taking supplemental D without blood testing.

Chromium, about 90% of American Diets are deficient. Chromium is a trace mineral that is present in whole grains, brewer's yeast, oysters and liver...not exactly high on most people's daily food chain.  Chromium is also wiped out by high fructose corn syrup,  stress, sugar and refined foods. Signs of deficiency are blood glucose problems, fatigue, anxiety, and diabetes.  People with diabetes or hypoglycemia can tolerate very high doses of chromium but again this must be prescribed by someone knowlegable about nutritional medicine. I prefer chelated minerals which are minerals attached to an amino acid because they work much better and faster in remediating deficiencies.

Essential Fatty Acids: More than 60% of Americans are deficient in this essential nutrient. A very common deficiency due to over processed oils in refined foods. Best food sources: Ground flax seeds, wild salmon, walnuts or walnut oil. Deficiency symptoms: dry skin and hair, hair loss, eczema, acne, liver and gallbladder problems, ADD, ADHD.  About 1,000 mgs essential fat daily...1 tablespoon is recommended.  Avoid transfatty acids and margarines.

Vitamin B-12, deficiency is quite common in older people, and vegans. Vitamin B-12 was recently found to prevent age-related brain shrinkage a common cause of cognitive loss in the  elderly.  Signs are anemia, constipation, depression, intestinal problems, low stomach acid or gastric surgery, spinal cord degeneration.  Animal foods are high in B-12 such as: Liver, venison, buffalo, lamb, scallops, salmon.  People who are deficient do NOT require injections. Sublinguals or nasal sprays are just as effective and much less expensive!  Vegans are known to have low levels of several nutrients including: zinc, calcium, iron and B-12.  Frankly all vegans should receive nutritional therapy and testing on an annual basis to avoid severe problems down the road. Most people simply do not realize how difficult it is to meet their nutritional needs through diet alone. A vegan, allergy, GI or any other restrictive diet is VERY hard to balance properly. For a great nutritional lab test read here only $375!

I hope this information is beneficial to you and yours! Best of Health, and see you next week;

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

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