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Hiya MB!
I saw where you are a "purist" and believe that nutrients should come from food. Makes sense! I have 3 questions:
1. Do you believe in a daily multivitamin?
2. What is the recommended intake for magnesium?
3. What are your thoughts on calcium (especially for those who are dairy-intolerant)? We have often discussed this in the past. I have a hard time with the fact that the highest incidence of osteoporosis occurs in countries that eat a lot of dairy. Why (in the scheme of things) should we need to supplement so much calcium? Is it because our diet has excess salt (which causes calcium excretion) or because our diet is so "acidic" (which leaches CA++ from the bones)? Are we truly so calcium deficient or is something else possible - that calcium is not working at the cellular level (sorta like adult-onset diabetes, where there is enough insulin circulating but it can't get into the cells). I have been wrestling with this issue for a long time and would appreciate your thoughts.
Hugs,
Polly
Paging Mary Beth
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Paging Mary Beth
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Hey Polly,
Easy question first: magnesium for women is 320 mg and men 420 mg.
Studies have been done to show that multivitamins are of no benefit in healthy populations. Pop a vitamin with your Grande Latte and giant size muffin and you won't fare any better than without it. Even in ill populations, vitamin supplementation doesn't correct underlying problems. Certainly in some situations nutrient supplementation is necessary . . . but I believe our bodies were designed perfectly, we just live in an imperfect world. I believe it is possible to get adequate nutrients with food, we just choose not to. We are fed alot of messages about what is healthy and we feel guilty when we don't measure up, so we supplement. Most people believe they eat healthier than they actually do . . . even me before I got sick. I always maintained my weight and ate lots of fruits and veggies, but there was also too much wine, sugar and fat. Now that I am a cave woman, I know how I should be eating. This illness has forced me to be alot more honest with myself.
Humans were never intended to drink cow's milk - the protein is too large and intended for calves to grow to 800 pounds in their first year of life (or somehting like that) - no wonder so many of us are casein sensitive. The WHO cites that countries that have average intake of calcium around 400-500 mg have better bone health than we do. It's very complex. We don't get enough weight bearing exercise - we drive everywhere and kids stay inside watching TV and playing video games. Since we are inside so much we don't get sunlight. Our diet is atrocious. We eat too much protein (acidic) and too much sodium, not to mention smoking and alcohol. Add into the mix that many are gluten intolerant and may not be absorbing, and you have a recipe for osteoporosis. I honestly don't know if there is a problem at the cellular level, but there is a behavioral problem for sure. We have become a society that wants convenience and taking a supplement seems so much easier than cooking. I am taking a calcium supplement with D now because I have osteopenia and studies show some minimal improvement with this, but I am banking on my diet changes to do the trick - get rid of the food that causes damage, inflammation and malabsorption and eat the food I was intended to eat.
So, yes, I have become a purist. Food is my preferred method for getting nutrients and only supplement when needed.
Take care fellow cave dweller,
MB
Easy question first: magnesium for women is 320 mg and men 420 mg.
Studies have been done to show that multivitamins are of no benefit in healthy populations. Pop a vitamin with your Grande Latte and giant size muffin and you won't fare any better than without it. Even in ill populations, vitamin supplementation doesn't correct underlying problems. Certainly in some situations nutrient supplementation is necessary . . . but I believe our bodies were designed perfectly, we just live in an imperfect world. I believe it is possible to get adequate nutrients with food, we just choose not to. We are fed alot of messages about what is healthy and we feel guilty when we don't measure up, so we supplement. Most people believe they eat healthier than they actually do . . . even me before I got sick. I always maintained my weight and ate lots of fruits and veggies, but there was also too much wine, sugar and fat. Now that I am a cave woman, I know how I should be eating. This illness has forced me to be alot more honest with myself.
Humans were never intended to drink cow's milk - the protein is too large and intended for calves to grow to 800 pounds in their first year of life (or somehting like that) - no wonder so many of us are casein sensitive. The WHO cites that countries that have average intake of calcium around 400-500 mg have better bone health than we do. It's very complex. We don't get enough weight bearing exercise - we drive everywhere and kids stay inside watching TV and playing video games. Since we are inside so much we don't get sunlight. Our diet is atrocious. We eat too much protein (acidic) and too much sodium, not to mention smoking and alcohol. Add into the mix that many are gluten intolerant and may not be absorbing, and you have a recipe for osteoporosis. I honestly don't know if there is a problem at the cellular level, but there is a behavioral problem for sure. We have become a society that wants convenience and taking a supplement seems so much easier than cooking. I am taking a calcium supplement with D now because I have osteopenia and studies show some minimal improvement with this, but I am banking on my diet changes to do the trick - get rid of the food that causes damage, inflammation and malabsorption and eat the food I was intended to eat.
So, yes, I have become a purist. Food is my preferred method for getting nutrients and only supplement when needed.
Take care fellow cave dweller,
MB
