Vitamins | Linus Pauling

How Much Vitamin C is the Right Amount?

Linus Pauling is widely considered one of recent history’s foremost experts on Vitamin C. Why, then, does his daily recommended value of Vitamin C differ from that of the Linus Pauling Institute (an institute which Linus Pauling himself started)? To put it simply, it all boils down to theory versus solid research.

For any pioneer in a scientific field, research all starts with a hypothesis. Pauling didn’t yet have research to back it up, but his hypothesis was that Vitamin C is necessary for the body to function properly; specifically, the immune system needs high levels Vitamin C to protect the body. He recommended 2,000 mg per day on the high end, but recognizing that would be tough in the 1970′s when he first made that recommendation, he said that at least 250 mg daily would be acceptable.

Pauling got the ball rolling. Now with several more decades of research to back their claims, the Institute recommends differing daily doses of Vitamin C depending on age, health condition, and gender. The Institute has a comprehensive chart showing the right amount of Vitamin C for all, from infant through old age. A healthy non-smoking adult female would take 75 mg per day, for example. But according to these researchers, 400 mg is still the optimum amount for all cells to be saturated in a healthy person.

That 400 mg daily dose is best for people whose immune systems are compromised or who are looking to fight specific diseases like coronary heart disease or diabetes.

While it may seem that the Linus Pauling Institute and Linus Pauling himself are at odds regarding Vitamin C, it’s really more of an evolution that has taken place. Surely Pauling would agree with the new recommendation by the Institute, because he based all his theories on hard science where it was available.

Filed Under: Health, Vitamins Tagged With: Linus Pauling, Linus Pauling Institute, Vitamin C

Are You Vitamin C Deficient?

Vitamin C is found in lots of fruits and vegetables, and it’s so simple to get your daily recommended value. One orange or kiwi alone provides almost the entire daily requirement for most people! Yet many still have a mild deficiency. This can be simply explained: people just don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. The recommended amount is at least five servings, but nine is optimal. Be honest: did you eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables today?

A mild deficiency won’t cause any serious illnesses on its own, but it can affect your immune system. A person who gets more than enough Vitamin C will generally have a stronger immune system than somebody who only gets the bare minimum required to function.

Fortunately, we only need about 10 mg a day to avoid serious issues, and almost anybody in the western world gets at least that amount through the various fortified foods available on the market.

It wasn’t always so easy to get enough Vitamin C, though. One consequence of complete Vitamin C deficiency is well-known for its historical impact: scurvy. This is a disease that can be deadly if not treated; fortunately, it is completely reversible.

For centuries, scurvy was a common problem on long sea trips when fresh fruit was scarce; sailors eventually figured out that a quick remedy was to eat an orange or a lemon. The scurvy would disappear shortly thereafter. Of course, these men had no idea what exact substance healed the scurvy; they just knew that citrus fruit seemed to be a miracle cure. It was the Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that reversed the scurvy.

Indeed, Vitamin C is still a miracle cure today, responsible for keeping the immune system in tip-top shape. Luckily scurvy isn’t a common problem anymore, but in a different way, Vitamin C still has the reputation of miracle drug.

Filed Under: Health, Vitamins Tagged With: Vitamin C Deficient

Folic Acid and Pregnancy

You’ve probably heard of folic acid. It’s in lots of the foods you buy at the supermarket, either naturally occurring or because the foods were fortified before hitting the shelves. But what makes folic acid so special?

Folic acid, also known as folate, is one of the “B” vitamins. It’s important for your overall health, but it can also help to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Most notable, however, is the role of folic acid in pregnancy.

Before the 20th century, birth defects like spina bifida, anencephaly, and other neural tube defects were considered a sad and unstoppable part of life. However, in the late 20th century, scientists and researchers began to realize that these diseases were preventable. They hypothesized and later proved that neural tube defects were caused by a deficiency of folic acid in the pregnant mother’s diet.

Folic acid is easy to get if you eat the right foods (orange juice is a popular source, for example), but low-income women often have trouble getting quality, fresh, healthy foods or vitamin supplements. Realizing that it’s impossible to get every pregnant woman to eat an orange or take her prenatal vitamins on a daily basis, the government mandated that certain flour products be fortified with folic acid.

This fortification program started in 1998. Interestingly, over the next few years, the United States saw a sharp decline in spina bifida and related birth defects, proving that folic acid is indeed a necessity for healthy pregnancy. Not only is it necessary for healthy pregnancy, but research also suggest that folic acid is necessary for several months before conception even occurs. That way, the body builds up adequate stores to meet the demands of pregnancy.

It may be a subtle vitamin, but folic acid is a powerful compound that sets the stage for human life.

Filed Under: Health, Vitamins Tagged With: Folic Acid, Pregnancy, United States

Vitamin D and Your Baby

Breast milk is the perfect food… mostly. When compared to formula, it’s nearly impossible to make the case that formula is better. Breastfed babies overall have higher IQs, bond more with their mothers, and get sick far less often. The list goes on and on. However, some breastfed babies can become deficient in Vitamin D; formula-fed babies will never face this problem. That’s because formula is fortified with Vitamin D.

Nature’s source of Vitamin D is either food, or the sun. As infants don’t eat enough (if any) food to get sufficient Vitamin D, that leaves parents two choices: the sun or supplementation.

Natural sunlight causes the body to synthesize its own Vitamin D through a complex process in the skin. In past generations, many parents weren’t so cautious about their children being outside — skin cancer was unheard of (or at least unrecognized). A new attitude about avoiding all direct sunlight is probably why Vitamin D deficiency has become more of a problem in today’s breastfed infants.

Most pediatricians will agree that sunlight does more harm than good, and is no match for a liquid Vitamin D supplement. Sunlight may be natural, but it comes with a host of risks. A supplement is easy, inexpensive, and effective.

As Vitamin D goes hand in hand with calcium, a deficiency of Vitamin D means that the body won’t readily absorb calcium; for a growing baby, this delays growth, and given enough time without sufficient Vitamin D, even a disease like rickets can develop.

Most formulas contain at least 400 IU, which is the recommended daily value for babies, in a days’ supply; if you choose to breastfeed, you should give your baby a liquid Vitamin D supplement daily. Purchase a supplement intended for babies, so that measuring the exact amount is simple.

Filed Under: Health, Vitamins Tagged With: Dietary supplement, International unit, Vitamin

The Vitamin Concerns: MichaelsHouse.com

The necessity of Vitamin C is familiar to the masses. There are none who would dispute its importance; there are fewer still who deny themselves the taste. The intentions of this medical miracle are well charted – providing protection to the body’s immune system, stimulating production of collagen and defending against cancerous cells within the heart and eyes.

And, of course, this has led many to begin indulging in daily doses of Vitamin C. It is ingested through capsules, powders and easy liquids. It is offered repeated tastings throughout the morning and night. It is even used as supplement for prescription medications – thought to offer far more rewards and far fewer effects.

It must be noted, however, that Vitamin C does contain specific complications when taken in excess. Though many consider this to be a harmless addiction – unworthy of the intervention of organizations like MichaelsHouse.com – it can still provide a multitude of concerns.

One: frequent bowel movements. Diarrhea is among the most common of problems associated with too large doses. Individuals can suffer from extreme discomfort and heighten their chances for dehydration.

Two: Dyspepsia. Abdominal pain can be experienced due to Vitamin C, especially when users refuse to eat. Relying purely on this to sustain a body will cause intense cramping, bloating and nausea.

Three: kidney stones. Due to Vitamin C’s tendency to create calcium deposits, an overdose can possibly stimulate an arrival of these within the kidneys. If left untreated, this can potentially cause urinary tract complications or bladder infections.

While the concept of a vitamin addiction seems absurd, the truth is that it’s a simple thing – experienced by many. Individuals are recommended to therefore limit their dosages to once a day and to consult their doctors should any of the above problems occur.

Vitamin C is a worthy complement to all lives. It simply must be taken in moderation.

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Can Vitamin C Cure Cancer?

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Cancer is an awful disease that robs people of their longevity and positivity in life. For many years, scientists have tried to find a cure for the disease but have been unsuccessful. Many people have survived cancer understand the constant fear that the disease will take over their body, but they fought back.

There are millions of drugs on the market that doctors prescribe to keep cancer from growing and treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery to remove the cancer masses completely. Many cancer survivors have tried other natural remedies as well to help keep them healthy while trying to fight the cancer from growing.

Many years ago people believed that Vitamin C was the miracle drug to fight all illness, but as many have come to find out there are no miracle drugs. Our bodies are different from everyone else and what may work for one person might not be as effective for another person. To say that vitamin C will cure cancer is a myth, but there are some healing properties in vitamin C that doctors do not give credit.

Vitamin C has many positive affects on the body that they cannot be narrowed down to one. Vitamin C may not be able to cure cancer, but it is a vitamin that is proven to improve an individual’s immune system. Immune System stability is important to cancer patients because they are more susceptible to other illnesses because the cancer breaks down their ability to fight.

Another important property of vitamin C is that it helps stabilize moods. Vitamin C is a natural mood enhancer that helps people stay positive in times of crisis. Because your body feels better, your mood is better. When people are waging war against the cancer in their body a positive attitude is important.

Filed Under: Vitamins Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Cancer, Dietary supplement, Disease, Health, Immune system, Vitamin, Vitamin C

Does Vitamin C Fight the Common Cold?

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It never fails. The common cold sneaks up on you each year and puts you in a fog for several days. The common cold can stop people in their tracks affecting the home and work life. You have been told the remedies for the common cold since you were young and each time you reach for the cough medicine and the tissues because nothing seemed to work. Combating the common cold with vitamin C has been a long-time remedy for the common cold, but does it work?

Many clinical studies have been done to determine if the remedy of vitamin C can actual cure a person of the common cold. These studies varied in analysis because the common cold has millions of different strains. Some of the common cold strains are worse than others, but the remedy of vitamin C combating the common cold are widely used still today.

Many old wives tales insist that taking the daily dose of vitamin C everyday with your vitamin regimen will help build your immune system to fight off the common cold. There are no clinical studies to prove these results, but many people have been using this remedy without fail for years without ever getting a cold. The effectiveness of vitamin C against the common cold is the quality of the vitamin and the frequency of use.

If you only take vitamin C when you are sick, then the vitamin can help alleviate the symptoms of the cold and help speed up the healing process, but if you take vitamin C everyday, you could reduce the risk of getting the common cold entirely. The common cold has been hard to treat because of the many strains out in the world, which is the main reason that over the counter cold medicine sometimes works and other times does not.

Filed Under: Vitamins Tagged With: Clinical trial, Common cold, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Nutrition, Respiratory Disorders, Vitamin, Vitamin C

New Link between Vitamin E and Burn Injuries

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On October 22, 2010, researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University announced a link between vitamin E and serious burn injuries in children. The research team worked in conjunction with teams at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas.

The teams, led by Maret Traber with the Linus Pauling Institute, analyzed fat tissue taken from eight children with third-degree burns. The analysis specifically examined the levels of vitamin E in the tissue and tracked the level of depletion.

Patients in the study took vitamin E supplements to help counter depletion; however, increasing the daily recommended allowances for the vitamin to 150 percent failed to prevent depletion. By the end of the three-week study, the sample tissue showed a reduction in vitamin E levels of 50 percent. Along with supplements of vitamin E, the patients also ate a high-calorie diet.

The team reported its findings in the American Society for Nutrition and called the depleted levels of the vitamin a significant problem. One of the main causes for concern is the risk of nerve damage, which can occur as a result of sub-standard vitamin E levels and burns.

Left untreated, a vitamin E deficiency can also lead to neurological problems, including spinocerebellar ataxia and myopathies. Lower levels of the vitamin can also cause damage to the red blood cells and cause anemia. Normally, doctors use vitamin E supplements to treat a deficiency, but this was not enough to keep the levels within a normal range for patients in the study. Researchers will need to look for new ways to boost the vitamin E levels in children with burns.

The study was the first one to focus on children with burn injuries, and may help lead the way for additional research on the subject.

Filed Under: Vitamins Tagged With: American Society for Nutrition, Galveston Texas, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of Texas Medical Branch, Vitamin, Vitamin E

What Type of Vitamin is Best for You?

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Since vitamins were invented, we have been told that we need to take them in order to supplement the nutrients that we do not get with our regular diet. The options of vitamins on the market today, it is difficult to know which one is best for you. Vitamins should not be used to supplement your entire diet. Nutrients are needed in order for your body and organs to function properly and vitamins cannot supplement that need.

With the Internet having information on all the vitamins we need in order to maintain our health, the question is not what kind of vitamins you need but consistency the supplement should be. For a long time the only type of supplement available on the market were pills. These pills could range from very small to the size of your fingertip. With the scientific and technological advancements of today, we are given the option of liquid vitamins too.

Some people have trouble with solid vitamins in pill form because their body does not digest the substance, but not all solid vitamins are the same. Whether or not the vitamin digests properly in the system depends on the grade in when they were made. Cheaper vitamins are harder for people to digest because the chemical compound used to bind the ingredients is typically rejected from the human body. In order to know whether or not the vitamin will be rejected from your body, use the water test.

To administer the water test, fill a glass with warm water and drop the vitamin in the glass. Check back on your experiment after 30 minutes to determine if the vitamin fully dissolved in the glass. If the vitamin did not fully dissolve in the glass than there is a possibility that the compound will be rejected by your body. Multivitamins are important for your health, especially if you do not get the required nutrients in daily food intake.

Filed Under: Vitamins Tagged With: Antioxidant, Dietary supplement, Health, Nutrient, Nutrition, Vitamin, Vitamin C, Vitamins and Minerals

Caution: Cold and Flu Season Ahead

It’s that quintessential time of year. A time that has children sobbing, and mothers silently shouting “hoorays” behind closed doors. Ah…the end of summer; the beginning of school. It’s time to pack up the beach balls, strap on the backpacks, and stock up on hand sanitizer.

With the cold and flu season quickly approaching, thoughts of how to keep the little (and big) people in our lives healthy is a topic of discussion for many a mommy in the schoolyard. It seems as if modern antidotes have given way to more alternative types of medicines.

There are quite a few natural remedies believed to help treat the common cold. Vitamin C, Zinc, Echinacea, and Honey are just a few of the many.

Vitamin C: According to a study conducted and published by Linus Pauling “taking large amounts of vitamin C could reduce the duration and severity of the common cold.” There have been many debates as to whether or not increasing your intake of vitamin C really works, however Pauling’s research shows that vitamin C allows your body to fight off the viruses that attack the bloodstream.

Zinc: If you increase your zinc consumption, you just may be doing your body good. You can find zinc naturally in many foods such as meat, legumes, eggs and oats. Zinc is said to be successful in blocking the replication of the cold virus.

Echinacea: Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs used for the early treatment of colds and flu symptoms. It is said that echinacea stimulates the immune system to help fight infection.

Honey: Honey has been used in many cultures throughout the years. Recent studies conclude that honey soothes an irritated throat. Not that a study has to tell you that, but honey is also believed to have antibacterial and antioxidant effects.

The studies are out. The choice is yours. Will you treat the onslaught of soar throats and achy bodies with natural remedies, or is it back to the waiting room for you? The only test you may find yourself needing to pass, is that of patience.

Filed Under: Health, Vitamins Tagged With: Common cold, Health, Linus Pauling