Conference rocks::weight_control

    Jiff:
    	I would like to know more info. about thoes Vitamins like the
    contains of each tablet, how to order it and the price.
                           
    	Thanks for the infomation!
    
    /eileen

    Hurrah for supplements!!  Now, don't get me wrong.  I don't take
    every supplement on the market.  I agree with Jeff that they make
    you feel perkier, happier, the appetite is lessened and ones energy
    level is increased.
    
    I take supplements of a multi vitamin, B-complex, multi-amino acids
    (for working out and weight training), E, and an iron supplement
    due to being a woman.  i had a hectic schedule the last three weeks
    and feel off the "vitamin wagon" and I can't wait to get back on
    them.  I find myself more irritable, and less energetic.
    
    My suggestion if anyone wants to supplement their diet is to do
    some research or consult with a dietitian (90% of doctors think
    that vitamins are a hoax, but they are into healing and not prevention)
    or some reliable sources before getting into heavier doses than
    "One-a-Day".  I have found two books by Earl Mendell titled "The
    Vitamin Bible" and "Shaping Up with Vitamins".  Both are easy to
    understand and give warnings for side effects or toxicity levels,
    if there are any.  Both are in paperback and very affordable.
    
    -Leigh

    Now, here's a question for our diet expert:  Can vitamin
    supplementation be addictive?  In other words, if you get
    your body used to a higher level of vitamin and mineral
    intake than it would get in a well balanced diet, will you
    train your body to EXPECT this level?  And will it go
    on the fritz if you stop taking them, and leave you at
    a LOWER energy level, with more acne etc than you would
    have been had you not taken them?
    
    It's always been curious to me that so many health and
    natural food devotees are "addicted" to vitamin and mineral
    and enzyme this and royal jelly that pills.  I would have
    thought they'd try to give their bodies all the nutrition from
    food, the "natural" source of vitamins and minerals.  I
    realize that, due to shipping, spraying, processing, variety
    selection (for appearance, not nutrition) etc, our food is
    not as complete as it would be without all that, but we also
    have a greater variety over a much greater portion of the 
    year - tomatoes in January.  So, what gives?
    
    --Louise

    Does the time of day make any difference when taking vitamins? 
    I recently started taking them, but at night, and although I've
    heard that that is like wasting them because you should take them
    when your body is going to use them, I have really been feeling
    the effects and its great!  Seems like my eyes are open a little
    wider, I'm more optimistic and energetic!  Would I get more benefit
    my changing the time?

    The thin-food recipe mags I've been buying (Better Home and Gardens)
    have articles on nutrition.  Usually they discuss a vitamin and
    a mineral in each issue.  This last one discussed Vit C and Iron.
    The bit I remember about Iron is that Vit C helps you absorb it
    and Coffee and tea reduce absorption as does something in spinach.
    Using decaf does not help - it's the tannin not the caffeine that
    blocks absorption.  In the spinach it's some sort of acid also
    (tannin is the common name for tannic acid, I think).  So it's 
    best not to drink coffee and tea with meals that are high in
    iron (like meat meals), and if you do it's good to have something
    that contains vit C at the same meal.  I'd guess that the same
    thing goes for supplements - you don't want to take them with
    Coffee/Tea.  So I take mine at night, with some milk to help
    the calcium get absorbed - it absorbs better if you have a
    natural source at the same time.
    
    All this can get very complex, to the point where you take a
    separate pill for each vitamin in order to time them all correctly.
    I figure I'm eating a balanced diet and the only thing I really
    NEED from the pill is Calcium (since I usually skimp on the dairy).
    The rest is gravy (of the low-calorie variety ;-}).  So I try to 
    do what's best for the calcium, and everything else can sort
    itself out.

    --Louise

    Vitamin C is also important if you're trying to get your iron from
    non-meat sources.
    
    I've also read the high-fiber meals interfere with the absorption
    of iron AND calcium, which is why I ususally take my vitamin pill
    with lunch -- I eat All Bran with Extra Fiber for breakfast!
    
    Sue

    And I've read that you should take vitamins with a meal.  I think
    it was because if you take them on any empty stomach they move through
    your system too fast and you don't absorb as much of the nutrients.

    Ever consider adding herbs? They're an excellent *natural*
    source of nutrition the body needs.  There are some good
    supplements on the market containing herbs.  Key here is
    balance and proper ratios between minerals/vitamins/herbs.
    
    In particular, there are some highly effective, safe, non-
    addictive herbs that help curb appetite, and improve digestion
    so that the body can get *more* nutrition out of the food
    you do eat.  
    
    I have a glossary of commonly used and Imperial* herbs (and what
    they do) that I'd be willing to share with anyone who is interested.
                                                
    Irena
    
    *Imperial Chinese herbs are those herbs which are considered safe to 
    use on a daily basis throughout one's lifetime. (There are two
    other categories of herbs but these have medicinal uses.)
    
                         
    

    I am in 100% agreement with earlier note re Earl Mindell's Vitamin
    Bible.  I used it and another book, Medical Makeover (new in
    paperback), to come up with a combination of regular and megadose
    vitamins, minerals and herbs that have really helped to give me energy,
    curb my appetite, sleep better, get rid of headaches, etc.  Here
    is what I'm taking daily:
    
       Centrum                   1 tablet   3 times/day
       Mission Prenatal          1 tablet   2 times/day (for hair & nails)
       Siberian Ginseng (550 mg) 1 capsule  2 times/day (energy)
       B-6 (500 mg time release) 1 tablet   as needed for water retention
       B-12 (1000 mcg time rel)  1 tablet   3 times/day (energy, etc.)
       B-Complex (50 mg ea)      1 tablet   3 times/day
    ** Chromium (200 mg)         1 tablet   3 times/day (kills carbo
                                                              cravings)
       L-Phenylaline (500 mg)    1 tablet   3 times/day (appetite supp)
       L-Tryptophan (500 mg)     3 tablets  at bedtime (peaceful sleep)
       Hi-Density Bran Tablets   2 tablets  3 times/day (fills tummy)
    
    ** Chromium really works!  I noticed it within about 30 minutes
    of the *first* time I took it -- it really does appease the appetite!
    You can read more about it in Medical Makeover. I think that Earl
    Mindell also mentions it in his _Bible_.
    
    For headaches, I have been using 550 mg. of Dong Quai, a Chinese
    herb.  This is spelled many ways.  Just ask for "dong kway," and
    you'll get the right stuff.  Dong Quai works on the worst of headaches
    (probably carbo withdrawal) in about 15-20 minutes.  One capsule
    usually works; for PMS headaches, I take two.
    
    In addition, I've just started a low-carbo, high-protein (much as
    I hate meat) diet.  I lost nine pounds in eight days.  I think this
    diet, supplemented with all my wonderful "pills," might do the trick
    this time.  My all-time high weight was 286; I lost 100 lbs., then
    got pregnant, then I started doing the yo-yo bit again.  I'm working
    on 80-100 lbs this time.  I'll keep you posted in Progress.
    
    I've done quite a bit of research on vitamins and other dietary
    supplements.  If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer
    them or find the answer for you.  I really enjoy these Notes.
    
     

    
    	Please, before anyone starts to follow a 'diet' that calls for
    any more than 10 times the RDA of any vitamin, megadosing is the
    phrase that describes this, read an objective reference that des-
    cribes what to look out for when megadosing.
    
    	Amino acids like phenylalanine can cause allergic reactions
    that are potentially fatal in sensitive people when megadosed.
    Tryptophan, another amino acid, can interefer with REM sleep if
    megadosed (1 gm/day is considered the max safe dosage by the AMA).
    Typical dosage to induce sleep in otherwise hyperactoive people
    is 300 - 500 mg.
    
    	Minerals can interfere with nutrient absorption is taken in
    quantities that are excessive.
    
    	Vitamins DO NOT GIVE YOU ENERGY.  An excess of any vitamin does
    nothing good for your body.  Vitamins are necessary for cell growth
    and nourishment.  Extra vitamins does not mean extra nourishment
    and growth, or extra energy.  Extra vitamins mean your body has
    to waste water to flush them out of the body, or it must store the
    byproducts in fat (water soluble vs fat soluble).
    
    	Fat soluble vitamins are long-term toxic if megadosed.  Vitamin
    A overdosing can cause vision loss, overdosing on certain B vitamins
    can cause permanent nervous system disorders similar to palsy. Some
    water soluble vitamins don't leave your system for weeks, they can
    be short term toxic.
    
    	Using vitamins and minerals and amino acids to control your
    appetite and aid in sleep and digestion is fine.  The problems
    arise when you start megadosing.  THIS IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO LOSE
    WEIGHT.
    
    -mike z

    Okay, Mike, I agree in many aspects.  However, I did not include
    any of the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E) other than what is included
    in a regular, over-the-counter vitamin (i.e., Centrum & Mission
    Pre-Natal).  The dosages I noted are working for me.  I guess I
    should have put some kind of disclaimer in there to that effect
    -- not recommended at megadoses, etc.  I don't consider what I'm
    taking to be megadoses.  I sometimes even skip some of the vitamins,
    particularly on the weekends.  I've also noticed that the excess
    vitamins are literally "flushed" out of my system.
    
    So far I haven't had any "allergic reactions" to phenylalanine,
    and I've found that it, combined with the chromium, really helps
    to reduce my appetite, especially for sweets (my big downfall).
    
    There are a very few good books on amino acids, but I can't think
    of the names and authors offhand.  I'll check over the weekend and
    see if I can locate them.
    
    

    I don't hear from people that they feel much better from taking
    vitiams but I do hear from thoes that take bee pollen that they
    do feel much better from taking all natural things.Vitams are man
    made ane anything that is put together by man does not assemulate
    the same way in the system as all natural things,so keep that in
    mind also before you try useing vitiams as a help in the health
    part of your diet.Same as taking Omegga-oil if you can get it 
    without the oil than you are better off because the oil doesn't
    metabilize in the system and decreases the vitiam E in the system
    also.Try to get it with the nicin and carrot fiber in it to 
    rid the body of the chesterol in the bile collecting point to 
    eliminate the chesterol from the system.A study was undertaken that
    stated that some manufactures do not put enough vitiam E in the
    capacle to help the prevent oxidation or breakdown of the fatty
    acids.95% of them contain cholesterol and that's what we'er fighting
    They contain massive calories
    They deplete the body of Vitiam E
    They contain oil and that is the worst sin of all causing massive
    radical damage
    Just a few reasons to check with test results on anything that you
    take.Taken for reasearch done at tuff university ,Letter Vol 5
    11,Jan 1988.
    Marine lipids are what you want with the correct balance of nicine
    and carrot fiber and they are available to thoes who want them,so
    it says here,in the report.50mg of nicine are enough to get the
    jog done.  Happy hunting and good health.