Vitamin C and Optimal Health
Who is
NOT interested in achieving
the OPTIMUM in every aspect
of their life and that of
their loved ones? It is
an absurdity to imagine
that ANYONE would willingly
choose ill-health, disease
and suffering, rather than
vibrant health, happiness
and prosperity. Given the
unique determinants of who
we are and what our particular
situation is, what can we
do to create what we really
want in all aspects of our
lives? The answer goes far
beyond any single component
alone – diet, supplements,
subtle energies, exercise,
spiritual work – and
yet must embrace an individually
determined synergistic totality
of all these elements. Despite
the multitude of advertising
claims emanating from an
almost limitless source
of products, services and
psychological and spiritual
practices, the "magical"
answer to whatever you want
in your life will not be
the latest vitamin or mineral
discovery that comes in
a bottle, or the newest
form of spiritual awareness
practice, or the most sophisticated
form of food abstinence
or combining dietary regime.
Any or all of these products
may be instrumental, indeed
essential to your goal,
but in the final analysis,
it is YOU who plans, decides
and implements your own
life path.
Each one of us is unique
in so many ways –
genetically, metabolically,
nutritionally, emotionally,
spiritually – the
combination of food and
lifestyle which works for
a Norman Cousins(59) or
a Louise Hay(100) will not
necessarily work for you.
And, the proof of the wisdom
of these and many more individuals,
including authors Cheraskin(54)
and Pauling(166), is that
they emphatically recommend
that each person discover
and develop what works for
them. There are general
guidelines of diet, supplements
and exercise which are a
good place from which to
start. This book has considered
in great detail many of
the therapeutic aspects
of Vitamin C, one invaluable
component to almost any
health and life enhancing
regime. This chapter will
consider some of the other
vital ingredients and practices
which together might constitute
and/or supplement your personal
programme to optimal well-being.
Attitude Toward Health
and Practitioners
_______________________________
Your role
in your health programme
is most crucial. Are you
simply the body that gets
sick, and the doctor the
one who heals you? Do you
follow your doctor's orders
religiously without even
questioning what he is prescribing
for you? Do you know the
potential side effects of
medications you are taking,
and what would happen if
you didn't take them? Do
you participate in formulating
your own health care regime?
Do you exercise the same
degree of consumer awareness,
common sense and discrimination
in choosing your practitioner
as you do in buying a carpet,
a stereo, or even considering
the colour and design of
new wallpaper?
It is truly
shocking that many people
place themselves totally
in the hands of their doctors
and completely abdicate
responsibility for their
own health. There is a belief
that doctors, by virtue
of their training, know
everything about everyone.
The idea of questioning
or even having a conversation
about any proposed treatment
with one's doctor is considered
almost heresy. Yet, doctors
are the first to admit that
they are fallible, human,
overworked, do not have
adequate time to look into
many contributory aspects
of illness, and are not
generally trained in nutrition,
counselling, bereavement,
etc. What do we expect of
doctors? They are not superhuman.
How can they know more about
ourselves than we do? They
have not lived within our
bodies. Doctors generally
are well-trained and technically
proficient within their
particular speciality. The
best physicians are also
superbly humane, compassionate,
empathetic and realize that
the efficacy of their medicine
depends to a large degree
upon the patient's state
of mind, will to live and
other intangible qualities.
One of the most important
components in your health
programme is your choice
of health practitioner(s).
The form of this could vary
enormously, from a single
general practitioner or
orthomolecular physician
to a team of complementary
therapists upon whom you
call upon as necessary.
It is wise to build a good
support network in all aspects
of your life – including
health. The paradigm of
health care which appears
optimal, in my opinion,
would place the individual
in the centre of a circle,
surrounded by the entire
range of health options
available, including twentieth
century sophisticated technology,
traditional herbs, nutritional
and botanical medicine,
acupuncture, homeopathy,
counselling and spiritual
healing. The most appropriate
therapies would be arrived
at by a "matching"
of the components of these
therapies with the individual's
condition, his nature and
personality. The day is
eagerly awaited when consultations
across health disciplines
can cross fertilize and
optimize the course of treatment
for the individual concerned,
who might choose to take
Vitamin C, homeopathic remedies
and healing to counterbalance
the trauma of a serious
operation.
Your health
programme ought to include
numerous elements –
diet(234), supplements,
exercise, relaxation. At
times when stressed you
might need additional therapeutic
support – massage,
chiropractic, acupuncture,
homeopathy, counselling,
aromatherapy. YOU are at
the centre of your life.
Only you can make the decisions
about what therapy and which
therapist to choose. And
although personal recommendations
may be invaluable, only
you can determine, perhaps
with difficulty, whether
what you are choosing is
working. Except in cases
of dire mortal illness,
we can usually choose another
option. If we are "terminally"
ill, we can still make decisions
which affect the quality
of the remainder of our
lives, and strive to make
peace with ourselves and
feel gratitude for the many
blessings we have experienced.
To be realistic, in one
sense we are all "terminal",
and to live each day of
our lives with this recognition
would enhance the planet
immeasurably. The following
health practice information
is put forward for your
consideration, contemplation
and perhaps your consumption,
if you see fit. None of
it should be regarded as
rigid – merely as
guidelines.
General
Dietary Guidelines
_____________________
There are
a multitude of diets each
of which espouse a particular
way of considering, preparing
and eating food(135). These
range from the high carbohydrate,
low protein, low fat Pritikin
diet, the raw food Gerson
cancer diet, the brown rice
and vegetable, yin/yang
balanced Macrobiotic cancer
diet, vegetarian diets,
to simple low calorie starvation
diets. What you eat represents
a lot more than simply calories
or biochemical nutrients
– it also constitutes
the nuts and bolts which
build your body. The old
computer adage "garbage
in – garbage out"
applies especially to the
food which you eat. Its
quality and freshness will
nourish more than your hunger
pangs. It goodness will
reverberate onto more subtle
levels of your being, and
provide the sustenance to
build and maintain a strong,
healthy body. The following
are a series of sensible
dietary guidelines which
will hopefully enhance both
your health and happiness:
1. Eat
a wide variety of food,
especially fruits, vegetables,
nuts and grains, which you
enjoy. Buy produce which
is free of pesticides or
other toxic chemicals.
2. Prepare
food in ways that do not
deplete nutrients. Steam
vegetables or eat them raw.
3. Eat
more fish and chicken than
red meats.
4. Eat
butter rather than margarine;
virgin and cold-pressed
oils for salads and frying.
5. Drastically
reduce consumption of or
avoid altogether, sugar,
coffee and alcohol. Do not
smoke.
6. Discover
your particular food allergies
and avoid those foods.
7. Enjoy
and celebrate food, present
your meals in an aesthetically
pleasing manner and eat
with appreciation and gratitude.
Supplements
___________
There seem
to be two extreme, "all
or nothing" views regarding
supplementation:
1. Take
every vitamin, mineral,
amino acid in creation –
the more the merrier and
in particular combination
formulae;
2. No supplements
– get all nutrients
from food;
Somewhere
between these extremes probably
lies the sensible answer
for most people. In an ideal
world, with pristine water,
environment, stress-free,
we COULD perhaps obtain
what we need from our food.
However, as we all know,
our world is far from ideal
– our water and air
are fouled with pollution,
toxic chemicals, our soil
is depleted of vital minerals
and nutrients. The prepared
food we buy is refined and
processed out of most of
its nutritional value. The
jobs we have and lifestyles
we lead create health-destroying
stress, contributing to
further deterioration of
our health. Fascinating
research isrevealing how
our state of mind can influence
almost every organ system
in the body. Even parameters
of how we utilize Vitamin
C can apparently be modulated
by our state of mind. For
example, Dr. Russell Jaffe
recounts the finding that
the half-life of Vitamin
C is 4 days rather than
4 hours in his friend, a
108 year old Buddhist monk
(Personal Communication).
The following
are merely general guidelines
of supplements. Explore
and validate your personal
supplement regime with an
othomolecular physician.
Due to the complex interactions
amongst the various vitamins
and minerals, it is important
to REALLY know what nutrients
you ought to take at any
particular time. Also, as
your condition changes you
may want to vary the nature
of your supplementation
programme.
Vitamins
________
Vitamin
A (or Beta Carotene) –
25,000 I.U.
Vitamin
B Complex – 25 –
50 mg.
Vitamin
C – 3 – 6 gm.
Vitamin
E – 500 – 1000
I.U. – Note that the
most effective form of Vitamin
E is the Unesterified Mixed
Tocopherol Concentrate.
Esterified, d-alpha tocopheryl
acetate, or synthetic dl
forms of Vitamin E are not
fully effective as an antioxidant.
Minerals
_______
Take a
balanced multi-mineral supplement,
including macro and trace
minerals.
Zinc –
25 – 50 mg
Essential
Fatty Acids
_______________
Essential
fatty acid supplement –
linoleic, linolenic, Evening
Primrose Oil, Fish oil.
Other Useful
Substances, as Required
_____________________________
Amino Acids
Ginseng
Royal Jelly
Herbs and Chinese Herbs
Bach Flowers
Homeopathic Remedies
Essential Oils
Exercise
______
To view
exercise as mere activity
to burn off calories or
keep your cardiovascular
system fit is short-changing
yourself. With the entire
spectrum of recreational
activities on tap, it should
be possible to choose activities
you genuinely RELISH and
do them with gusto. Whether
it be dancing, walking,
golf, tennis, skiing or
trampoline bouncing to music,
enjoyment is an added bonus
which significantly benefits
both health and psyche.
Exercise, in addition to
its cardiovascular benefits,
also strengthens the immune
system and releases beneficial
neurohormones which aid
in relaxation.
Walking,
especially while taking
deep breaths, is a time-honoured
tonic to mind body and spirit.
While certain individuals
may crave and even require
the physical exhaustion
that marathon runs engender,
every person is unique.
Exercises such as walking,
yoga and Tai Chi can be
combined with relaxation
and meditation practices
to enhance the beneficial
effects to health.
Emotional
and Spiritual Well-Being
__________________________________
How we
feel about ourselves, our
self-esteem, our ability
to cope with daily living
situations – these
have a tremendous influence
upon our health, our happiness,
even our financial prosperity.
The medical literature abounds
with correlations between
the stresses of lifestyle
changes, divorce and bereavement
and the detrimental effects
to our health. Profiles
of Type A personalities
being more prone to heart
attacks, the assessment
of personality profiles
for other diseases such
as cancer, and even the
esoteric causes of illnesses
are being compiled(100).
Norman Cousins in his book
"The Healing Heart"(59)
graphically describes how
overwhelming feelings of
panic can be when even someone
like himself, a so-called
expert in positive mental
attitude, is faced with
a life-threatening illness.
On a practical
level, what can we do when
we get angry, frustrated
or devastated? Very often
the people who need to cry
most are those who are unable
to, those who need to vent
their anger insist they
are never angry, or the
people who are loneliest
retreat deeper and deeper
into solitude. Our feelings
and aspirations are an integral
part of who we are and to
disown or disavow them is
to kill a beautiful component
of our life. Expressing
our rage in ways that don't
harm others, sharing our
vulnerability and hopelessness,
being courageous to be ourselves,
these are practices which
will certainly be reflected
in our greater health and
happiness.
Vitamin
C and Ester-CR Ascorbate
Compared
____________________________________
The market
place abounds with a variety
of forms of Vitamin C: plain
ascorbic acid in crystals,
tablets, capsules or timed-release
capsules; mineral ascorbates
(sodium and calcium ascorbate);
food or "natural"
sources of Vitamin C: Sago
Palm, Rose Hips Acerola,
Beet, Citrus. Once inside
the body's biochemical factory,
these are all the same substance
– Vitamin C. The experts
such as Linus Pauling and
Robert Cathcart have been
arguing this for years,
and yet some consumers are
being persuaded to pay significantly
more for "natural source"
Vitamin C. There is a difference
with Ester-CR ascorbate,
because Ester-C is the only
form of Vitamin C which
has included naturally-occurring,
body-ready metabolites,
metabolites, which enhance
and potentize the effects
of Vitamin C.
The pharmaceutical
promise of these metabolites
is only in its infancy.
It is quite possible that
in the future we will be
able to purchase metabolites
which may have modulating
effects upon other substances
in addition to Vitamin C.
Another
difference between Ester-CR
and all other Vitamin C
products is that whereas
Vitamin C and the mineral
ascorbates are water soluble,
Ester-CR is also fat soluble
as well. As mentioned in
Chapter 5, this may in fact
enhance the regeneration
of membrane-bound Vitamin
E, although research has
yet to investigate this
aspect of Ester-CR ascorbate.
Although Ester-CR is apparently
not stored in the fat, research
is needed to establish that
Ester-CR does not accumulate
in fatty tissues.
Seeing
More Clearly: Vitamin C
and Cataracts
___________________________________
Recent
biochemical and epidemiological
research reveals that Vitamin
C may be a significant protective
factor in preventing cataract
formation, and in promoting
healthy eye tissues(141).
Ascorbic acid levels are
high in ocular tissues,
and Vitamin C has been postulated
to act as a protector against
oxidation and free radical
damage. In fact, with progessing
cataract, Vitamin C levels
decline, not from a reduction
in the supply of ascorbic
acid, but rather due to
a rapid oxidation of Vitamin
C.
It has
been known that during autoxidation
of ascorbic acid solutions,
the colour changes from
transparent to dark brown,
very much like to the changes
observed in lenses during
cataract formation. Reports
from University of Western
Ontario compared 175 cataract
patients with 175 age-and
sex-matched cataract-free
controls. The only significant
difference between the groups
was their intake of Vitamins
E and C. Vitamin E intake
was associated with a 56%
lower cataract risk, while
Vitamin C intake correlated
with a 70% lower risk than
those who took no vitamins.
These human studies confirm
results from earlier animal
studies which demonstrated
the protective effects of
Vitamin E against cataract
formation in diabetic rats.
Another epidemiological
study showed that high levels
of anti-oxidants Vitamins
E, C and beta carotene exerted
a protective effect against
cataract formation.
Thus, the
benefits of Vitamin C may
actually be visible, as
well as tangible and palpable.
A Final
Word About Vitamin C
____________________________
For all
of Vitamin C's considerable
therapeutic properties,
it is not a panacea that
will automatically cure
all ills. Having said this,
however, it is hard to think
of any other substance which
is superior to Vitamin C
in its preventive and therapeutic
capacities. Here we have
a safe, natural, inexpensive
and integral component of
many of the body's systems
which manages our cholesterol
levels, strengthens the
immune system, builds stronger
bones, modulates our hormones,
reverses heart disease and
kills viruses, even the
deadly AIDS virus. Plain
ascorbic acid, timed release
ascorbic acid, mineral ascorbates,
Ester-CR ascorbate –
tailor your choice of Vitamin
C upon your personal needs
and experience, but don't
leave home without it!
