Did You Know Just That Many Cancers Are Linked To A Vitamin Deficiency?
WHY
IS NUTRITIONAL ABSORPTION A CONCERN?
by Dr. Marc Grossman
and Jeannette Manning
Presently, we are
witnessing new breakthroughs in vision loss prevention.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is studying 4,600
people to follow the effects of nutritional supplementation
on cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. The human
eye requires more nutrition to maintain healthy tissue and
function than any other organ in the body! The study is
identifying "which" supplements are most important
and "how" these nutrients should be taken.
Your ability to absorb
nutrients from the food you eat and the supplements you
take may decrease between the ages of 40 to 60 years as
much as 70-90%! Research on senior absorption characteristics
indicates that reduced levels of digestive enzymes in your
mouth, pancreas and intestines, coupled with reduced hydrochloric
acid production in your stomach are culprits contributing
to this condition.
When you can't completely
digest your food or nutritional supplements, your body can't
absorb the vitamins they contain. Vitamins are "locked
up" and your body's digestive system uses enzymes and
hydrochloric acid (HCI) as keys to release them for absorption
into the bloodstream.
Whole raw foods come
naturally packaged with their own digestive enzymes but
are destroyed by cooking. Digestive enzyme supplements derived
from plants are helpful replacements and begin their work
in the upper stomach. Amylase for carbohydrate digestion,
protease for protein digestion, lipase for fat digestion
and cellulase for cellulose (fiber) breakdown are all available
in supplement formulas. Animal enzymes such as pancreatin
and pepsin are also available and help in the digestion
of food once it has reached the lower stomach and the intestinal
tract.
Stomach acid is responsible
for the activation of the specific enzymes needed for digestion
as nutrients travels into the small intestine and colon.
Low levels of stomach acid may allow undigested nutrients
to travel farther along the digestive tract than the optimal
distance for efficient absorption. In older people, this
may contribute to lowered levels of vitamins B2, B6, and
B12, as well as decreased absorption of zinc from vegetables.
As you pass your
50th birthday, you are likely to produce less stomach acid
than you did at age 25. According to estimates, between
24 and 37 percent of adults aged 60 to 80 years suffer from
a lack of digestive acid also known as atrophic gastritis.
Many people over 50 will benefit from taking HCI with meals.
The acid in your stomach is a key player in the thorough
breakdown of food. Those who don't have enough stomach acid
often can't digest fiber rich food, whole foods or vitamin
pills, and end up turning to highly processed foods for
energy. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies often already exist
because of poor food choices and poor digestion compounds
the problem.
Often times we know
the therapeutic dosage for a specific condition, but we
do not know how much of the prescribed nutrient is absorbed
into the bloodstream via the gastrointestinal system when
taken orally by tablet, capsule or gel cap. We do know that
after age 40 and continuing on as we age, our gastrointestinal
absorption rate reduces significantly. (1-4) This problem
becomes even more serious when combined with health conditions
or digestive disorders that further reduce absorption such
as ulcers, diverticulitis, acid reflux, dysbiosis, etc.
Again, it’s not how
much you take but how much your body tissues absorb that
is important. With a higher level of absorption, more nutrients
reach their intended destination thereby requiring a lower
dosage intake. More nutrients in a pill or capsule is not
necessarily better. What is important is how we can best
insure the uptake of recommended "therapeutic dosages".
One way around this
problem is to take nutritional supplements using the most
efficient delivery system available. The most important
nutrients
should be taken in the form of sprays when available. Spraying
inside the mouth (intraoral) or under the tongue (sublingual)
has the best absorption rate.
The following chart
compares absorption rates of delivery systems:
Delivery System
Rate of Absorption*(5)
Pill or tablet -
10%
Capsule - 20%
Gel Cap - 30%
Transdermal Patch
- 45%
Sublingual Liquid
- 50%
Intramuscular Injection
- 90%
Intraoral or Sublingual
Spray - 95%
Intravenous Injection
- 100%
Intraoral
and sublingual sprays have become a viable solution
with the introduction of liposomes. Liposomes hold both
water and fat soluble nutrients in little fat containers
to provide an efficient transport system that allows for
maximum absorption by the body. These fat containers bypass
the stomach and take a quicker more efficient route by slipping
through the mucosal membrane under the tongue and directly
into the bloodstream. (6-10) The intraoral or sublingual
spray method of delivery is also very helpful for individuals
who have difficulty swallowing pills or capsules and, since
a lower dosage of nutrients is required, it is cost effective
.
To
aid in absorption:
1)
Manage Chronic Stress. Stress restricts
the flow of blood in the body by tightening muscles, and
restricting the free flow of fluids. Meditation, yoga, tai
chi or even daily walks in nature can all help reduce stress
significantly.
2)
Exercise Daily. Exercise helps the body
rid itself of the daily accumulation of harmful toxins.
Numerous studies have shown that even a brisk walk of 20
minutes per day can be preventive in the development of
heart disease and has even been shown to reduce high eye
pressures in cases of glaucoma.
3)Think
Positively. In Chinese medicine, excessive thoughts
of anger, worry, resentment, grief and fear all have significant
effects on the free flow of "energy" in our body.
4)
Eat Whole Healthy Foods. Our bodies crave
fresh food, particularly fruits, vegetables and grains.
These foods provide energy to our bodies in the form of
vitamins, minerals and natural enzymes. Excessive intake
of "dead" food such as fast foods, or highly processed
foods, require our bodies to use their own enzymes and energy
to digest food in an attempt to separate whatever limited
nutrients may be available.
5)
Eat slowly & Chew Well. We should be
eating our food slowly and thoughtfully. Try never to eat
on the run, and don’t eat while working, conversing, writing,
etc. Make eating a special time for yourself.
TIPS
FOR TAKING NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
AND
MAINTAINING GOOD DIGESTION
1)
Use sublingual and/or liquid nutritional supplements
when possible. They provide the most efficient
and reliable system for nutrient delivery to the bloodstream
(50-95% absorption). Gel Caps and capsules are the next
best choice, but rely on gastrointestinal efficiency for
good (20-30%) absorption.
2)
Sublingual liquid supplements are best
taken at least ten minutes
after drink and one
hour after food. To take sublingual liquid supplements,
place under the tongue and wait two minutes without talking
before swallowing. Wait ten minutes before taking food or
drink. When taking more than one sublingual formula at the
same time, wait 5-10 minutes between supplements.
3)
Take vitamins with food when possible.
Digestive enzymes are stimulated when eating and aid in
nutrient absorption.
4) If vitamin capsules
cannot be swallowed, open up the capsule and mix the contents
with juice or yogurt.
5) A small amount
of apple cider vinegar, taken just prior to a meal, will
stimulate production of digestive juices.
6) Take digestive
enzyme supplements and limit fluids during meals to improve
digestion. Adding fluid to the stomach while eating dilutes
the concentration of digestive enzymes and impairs digestion.
Especially avoid cold or iced drinks when eating.
7) Spinach is a good
source of lutein. However, because of the oxalic acid content,
excessive consumption can block the uptake of calcium and
result in the development of kidney stones and/or worsen
osteoporosis.
8) Beta Carotene
(pro vitamin A) and lutein compete for absorption at the
same mid-intestine receptor sites if taken orally (by tablet
or capsule). So, if you are taking both of these antioxidants,
take them at separate times during the day.
9) If taking antibiotics,
take acidophilus supplements between doses. This will help
build up the good bacteria in the digestive tract destroyed
by the antibiotics. It is especially important for elderly
patients to take acidophilus on a regular basis for the
maintenance of intestinal health.
REFERENCES:
1. Weiner, Dietz
& Laue, Senile changes in absorption and elimination
processes and their importance in pharmacotherapy, Zeitschrift
fur Alternforschung/Journal of Aging Research, (ZFA), 38(5):355-60,
Sep-Oct 1983.
2. Dietz, Lane &
Laue, Digestion and absorption in the elderly, ZFA, 33(1):
65-78, 1978.
3. Scarpace, J. Am.
Geriatr Soc, Decreased receptor activation with age, 36(11):1067-71,
1988 Nov.
4. Baker, Jaslow
& Frank, Severe impairment of dietary folate utilization
in the elderly, J Am Geriatr Soc, 26(5):218-21, 1978 May.
5. Physicians’ Desk
Reference, NPPDR No. 18:676, 1997.
6. Liposomes a practical
approach. RRC New Editor, IRL press at oxford university
press. 1990.
7. Liposome technology,
Gregodadis Ed. Vol 1, 11, 111. 2nd Edition, CRC Press, 1993.
8. Elias Fattal,
Technological aspects of liposomes preparation, University
of Paris-Sud, School of Pharmacy, URA CNRS 1218, Chatenay-Malabry,
France.
9. Weiner, Dietze
& Laue, Age-dependent alterations of intestinal absorption.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 3(2):97-108, 1984 Jul.
10. Scientific American,
256 (1):103-111, 1987.
DR. MARC GROSSMAN,
Optometrist and licensed Acupuncturist, is the director
of Integral Health Associates located in New Paltz, New
York and Rye Learning Center in Rye, New York. Dr. Grossman
has been in practice for 20 years, lectures internationally
on eye disease, nutrition and alternative approaches, and
is the co-author of Natural Eye Care – An Encyclopedia,
published by Keats, April. 1999. CONTACT INFORMATION: For
more information on eye disease, nutrition and prevention,
Dr. Grossman can be contacted through his web site at
http://www.visionworksusa.com,
by calling 888-735-8475, or by writing to 3 Paradise Lane,
New Paltz, New York 12561.
JEANNETTE MANNING
is a Vision Nutrition Consultant focusing on prevention
and improvement of visual loss from macular degeneration
and other related visual disorders. She speaks and writes
on nutrition and vision health, maintains a private nutritional
practice and serves as staff Nutritional Consultant for
a supplement manufacturer in Southern California. Her areas
of expertise include the unique challenges of senior digestion
and absorption. CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information
on nutritional and visual health, contact Jeannette Manning,
Nutritional Consultant; 10855 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite
101, San Diego, CA 92121; Phone 800-819-5631, Fax 858-455-9399;
Email jeannettemanning@hotmail.com.
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