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TAKING VITAMINS: С, D AND E VITAMINS
Vitamin С
To Vitamin С or not to Vitamin C; that is the question. For better or worse Linus Pauling entered Vitamin С into the popular mythology as a prophylactic against the common cold. Study after study, has failed to support his hypothesis, but Vitamin С consumption invariably goes up when winter arrives and people suffer from innumerable coughs and colds.
Vitamin С is known to prevent scurvy and also for its anti oxidant properties. It can be taken to prevent the damaging effects of oxygen breathing and it is sometimes used as a chelating agent to reduce the burden of heavy metal toxicity. In high doses Vitamin С is an antihistamine and some medical practitioners with an interest in alternative medicine deliver Vitamin С intravenously, 15 grams at a time.
Naturally occurring sources of Vitamin С are citrus fruits, raw cabbage, pineapple, potatoes, parsley, broccoli, strawberries and guava. In overdose Vitamin С can cause diarrhea, kidney stones in people with gout and rarely allergic reactions. There is a suspicion that high doses of Vitamin С may interfere with the effects of the oral contraceptive pill. As ugly as this rumor may be; it remains to be substantiated.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is synthesized by the action of sunlight on the skin. The lack of sunlight may lead to the appearance of rickets, with softening of the bones and teeth. Rickets is the main reason why large populations of people with dark skins don\'t ordinarily live in cold climates. The pigmentation in their skin doesn’t allow weak sunlight to trigger the production of Vitamin D. Black skinned mothers develop bone abnormalities of the pelvis which predispose them and their offspring to death during delivery at birth.
Vitamin D precursors are present naturally in fish liver oils, egg yolk, sprouted seeds and milk. In overdose Vitamin D causes nausea, loss of appetite, joint pains, diarrhea and kidney damage.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an important biological anti oxidant. It enhances the synthesis of sex hormones and it is an important immune modulator. Known also as Tocopherol, Vitamin E is used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, auto immune diseases, wound healing, epilepsy and diabetes.
Natural sources of Vitamin E include beef, almonds, egg yolk, nuts, sunflower, wheat germ and safflower.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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