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Sunday, August 10, 2008

 

Rabies from bats suspected in Venezuela deaths (AP)

In this photo released by UC Berkeley anthropologist Charles Briggs on Aug. 7, 2008, Warao Indians grieve over the body of Elbia Rivas, who died from an unidentified illness, in Barraquitas, Venezuela, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008. An unidentified illness has killed at least 38 Warao Indians in remote villages in Venezuela, according to indigenous leaders and researchers who have alerted authorities and say more studies are urgently needed. The symptoms of illness include fever, body pains, tingling in the feet followed by partial paralysis and an extreme fear of water.(AP Photo/Charles Briggs)AP - At least 38 Warao Indians have died in remote villages in Venezuela, and medical experts suspect an outbreak of rabies spread by bites from vampire bats. Laboratory investigations have yet to confirm the cause, but the symptoms point to rabies, according to two researchers from the University of California at Berkeley and other medical experts.

In 2006, Americans spent $22.1 billion on dietary supplements, with $7.2 billion of that amount spent on vitamin supplements. In that year as in previous years, multivitamins was the No. natural l carnitine supplement in the country and for a good reason. Most of us don't get enough nutrients from food alone, so supplementation with a multi-vitamin, multi-mineral product becomes the next best thing. But, the question is this: Is there a right or wrong way to take a daily multivitamin? Many experts would respond to that question with a resounding "yes".

When it comes to vitamins, more is not always better. High doses of a purchase dhea for the purpose of supplementing one's diet are not helpful. There is no evidence that such megadoses do more for you than the recommended levels. If anything, buy coenzima q10 may be harmful to your health. To get the most out of your supplement, keep your daily intake level within the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), which is simply the amount of a vitamin or mineral healthy people need to remain healthy. RDAs are established for different age groups, and they should be used as a guide to help you prevent overdose or toxicity.

Taking a daily multivitamin does not diminish the importance of a healthful diet. Food remains the primary source of all vitamins and minerals and cannot be replaced with a supplement. By maintaining a fairly balanced diet, you narrow the nutrient gap between the amount of nutrients you need and what you actually get from foods. The smaller the nutrient gap is the more effective your supplement will be in helping you meet your daily requirement.

If you have a medical condition, tell your doctor that you are taking a multivitamin supplement. Some drugs can increase or decrease the blood level of certain vitamins. Working with your doctor will help you determine the appropriate intake level necessary to protect your health. Also, some supplements may have an adverse interaction with certain drugs. For example, vitamin K reduces the effectiveness of blood-thinning drugs like coumadin, resulting in a medical emergency or death.

It is also important to realize that all multivitamins are not created equal. There are good and not-so-good supplements on the market. Supplements that do not dissolve well in the stomach provide marginal benefits. The price of a multivitamin is not always a good indicator of how good or bad it is; you may have to do a little research in order to find a good one. One good criterion to use is to determine how long the manufacturer of the supplement has been in business. If the company has been in business for a while (say 30, 40, or 50 years), chances are that it is doing something right. You may also visit companies' websites and go to "about us" section. Companies usually provide useful information there.

Another thing you can do to maximize the benefits you get from your multivitamin supplement is to take it everyday. Your biological systems work much better under stable conditions, and providing a consistent level of nutrient is an important way to build and maintain this stability. Your cells are like a strong, dedicated bricklayer working for you day and night. As long as the bricklayer has bricks and other materials he needs, you will get maximum output from him. If, on the other hand, he lacks one or more materials, he would predictably produce less. For cells, this low performance could cause a breakdown of certain protection mechanism for your body, thus increasing your risk of disease.

What's the point? The point is that you can get the most out of your multivitamin if you take it the right way. This means taking it everyday and keeping your intake level within the RDA. If you have a medical condition, tell your doctor what you are taking. Some drugs can increase or decrease the blood level of certain vitamins and minerals. More importantly, do not give up on balanced diet; supplements can never take the place of a healthful diet in proper nutrition.

Chima Njoku is a biochemist and freelance medical writer. Learn more about vitamins and minerals - where they are found, how much to take, drug interactions, who may be at risk of deficiency? etc - at http://www.healthsolutionsontheweb.com/Vitamin.html


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