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Vitamin and mineral Supplements
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When food is best
treatment,
are vitamin and mineral supplements really necessary?
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No. When a person is following a
carefully designed diet, especially if the diet is for the
treatment of a specific illness, there is really no need to
supplement the diet with vitamins or minerals. Vitamin and
mineral supplements are not only unnecessary, but they are often
undesirable; as these pills can have adverse unintended side
effects.
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Are there any side
effects to vitamin and mineral supplements?
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Yes. There can be unintended side
effects to vitamins and minerals.
For example, vitamin and mineral supplements that contain large
quantities of vitamin C or Iron can have severe adverse effect
on patients suffering from any infection such as diarrhea,
Chlamydia, typhoid, arthritis or urinary tract infection. Both
vitamin C and iron are yin (expansive) and they tend to
facilitate germ growth. This can exacerbate the patient's
condition rather than help improve it. |
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Vitamin & mineral
supplements toxic side effects
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Some synthesized vitamin and
mineral pills can have toxic effects when taken in large
quantities.
Most of the vitamin
supplements on the market are synthesized from coal tar and
other petroleum derivatives. And while the synthetic substance
may be chemically identical or closely related to the natural
vitamins, they may have only a fraction of the biological
activity. Synthetic vitamins may substitute for some, but not
all, of the functions of their natural counterparts. Synthetics
may also have additional effects beyond those vitamins found in
foods. In fact, vitamin manufacturers warn us that large doses
of supplemental vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E can harm the
body.
Michio Kushi, The
macrobiotic way
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Beware of exotic
herbal concoctions and alleged cures! |
Food is always best medicine.
This
is an eternal truth.
There is no herbal concoction in the world that can have better positive
health results than a carefully designed diet. Herbs are often
unknown to the person who is taking them, especially exotic
herbs that are fashionable these days. Also, there is the cost
factor. These herbs are usually sold for phenomenal prices just
because they are exotic and no one really knows their actual
benefits. Compare that with foods which are available anywhere
at reasonable prices and have absolutely no adverse side
effects. |
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Beware of alleged
miracle cures in faraway lands
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Everyone has heard stories about
discoveries of a miraculous potion or an elixir in the Amazons
or in the African jungles that cures a stubborn disease, only to
find out later that it was a hoax and a scam. The eternal
undeniable truth remains: Food is your best medicine
This truth was taught by great
figures from Hippocrates, Oliver Wendel Holmes, Henry G. Bieler,
George Ohsawa to Gandhi.
There is really no need to travel
to an exotic faraway land for an alleged miracle cure. The cure
is already in the kitchen. Remember that looking for a miracle
cure, while you go on with your living and eating habits that
have led to illness would be like someone who is:
Standing on a whale, fishing for minnows |
