Complementary and alternative treatment for menstrual problems
Some problems, like menstrual problems may react positively to vitamin and nutritional therapy and for this reason we suggest some nutrients that may be of benefit for this particular problem. These suggestions must not be seen as an alternative to medical treatment or medical advice, and if in doubt, please consult your registered medical professional.
Left untreated these problems can have a ripple effect and cause other situations to become more problematic - if you are interested in helping your body to fight this particular problem, have a look at the suggestions below, which could be beneficial to you.
Menstrual problems may benefit from the following:
· Essential fatty acids
· Retinol
· Iron
· Flavonoids
· Ascorbic Acid
For dosage of the individual ingredients, simply click here, and follow the hyperlink to the specific page dealing with that ingredient.
Although extra supplements may assist greatly with a particular problem, keep in mind that you should always follow a balanced diet, and that moderate exercise and sufficient water will also improve your nutritional status.
Essential fatty acids information page
Essential fatty acids are also referred to as vitamin F, and is composed of two fatty acids - that being linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid. (LA & LNA)
Essential fatty acids - vitamin F - is required for
The human body requires essential fatty acids for normal growth, behavior, maintenance of cell membranes, a working immune system as well as a balance in hormone levels.
Furthermore, the skin needs it to stay youthful and supple and is it also required to utilize the energy contained in the fat stores in the body.
Deficiency of essential fatty acids
A major deficiency may cause damage to the heart, as well as the kidneys and liver. Behavior disturbances may also result from a deficiency in the diet.
Hair loss and skin eczema have also been reported as well as excessive sweating.
An under-par immune system may result from a shortage of this nutrient which in turn may result in slow healing wounds, and susceptibility to infections etc.
Stiffness in joints may happen, and an under secretion of tear and saliva may be indicative of too little essential fatty acids in the diet.
It has also been suggested that it may have an influence on infertility in men and miscarriages in women.
Blood pressure may be elevated and the formation of blood clots may be an increased risk to contend with.
Dosage
The dosage underneath is the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), but be aware that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off serious deficiency of this particular nutrient. In the therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.
Toxicity and symptoms of high intake
No toxicity has been reported in healthy individuals but people with health problems should be careful with taking any supplements.
People suffering from epilepsy should be careful of taking supplements of seed oils, as they can aggravate the problem, while people with blood disorders or a problem with bleeding should be careful of fish oil supplements.
Should you be taking a supplement of essential fatty acids, it would be recommended that you first discuss it with your health professional.
Best used with
To ensure maximum absorption, make sure that you have sufficient vitamin B3, B6, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, biotin as well as the minerals zinc, magnesium and selenium in your system.
When more may be required
Should you be suffering from dry chapped skin, dry eyes, cold hands and feet, bruise easily, have frequent infections or brittle nails and dry hair it may be worth your while to check your dietary intake of essential fatty acids.
Enemy of essential fatty acids
Light, air and processing should be well controlled and limited storage time is indicated.
Other interesting points
When buying a commercial supplement ensure that you get it from a trusted source, since this nutrient is not very stable.
Food sources of essential fatty acids
It is found in grains, nuts and seeds, soybeans, sunflower seed, flax seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds etc while oil from salmon, trout, tuna and mackerel, as well as borage, blackcurrant and evening primrose oil can substitute some of the functions of the LA and LNA.
Vitamin A (retinol and beta-carotene) information page
Vitamin A and beta-carotene can be obtained from either animal or vegetable sources. The animal form is divided between retinol and dehydroretinol whereas the vegetable beta-carotene can be split into four very potent groups - alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, gamma-carotene and crypto-carotene. With enough beta-carotene available in the body, the body can manufacture its own vitamin A.
Vitamin A is required for
Vitamin A is required for night vision, and for a healthy skin. It assists the immune system, and because of its antioxidant properties is great to protect against pollution and cancer formation and other diseases. It also assists your sense of taste as well as helping the digestive and urinary tract and many believe that it helps slow aging.
It is required for development and maintenance of the epithelial cells, in the mucus membranes, and your skin, and is important in the formation of bone and teeth, storage of fat and the synthesis of protein and glycogen.
More info on free radicals.
Deficiency of vitamin A
A deficiency of vitamin A may lead to eye problems with dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea, dry skin and hair, night blindness as well as poor growth. Dry itchy eyes that tire easily are normally a warning of too little vitamin A. If the deficiency become severe, the cornea can ulcerate and permanent blindness can follow.
Abscesses forming in the ear, sinusitis, frequent cold and respiratory infections as well as skin disorders, such as acne, boils and a bumpy skin, as well as weight loss might be indicative of the vitamin being in short supply. Insomnia, fatigue and reproductive difficulties may also be indicative of the vitamin in short supply. Your hair and scalp can also become dry with a deficiency, especially if protein is also lacking.
Dosage
The dosage underneath is the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), but be aware that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off serious deficiency of this particular nutrient. In the therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.
Male 5,000 IU per day (1,000 µg equivalent), female 4,000 IU per day (800 µg retinol equivalent), although 10,000 IU per day is normally used in supplementation.
Toxicity and symptoms of high intake
Dosages exceeding 15,000 IU per day must be taken under medical supervision. Toxicity can appear in some individuals at relatively low dosages and the symptoms may include nausea, dizziness, menstrual problems, skin changes and dryness, itchiness, irritability, vomiting, headaches and long term use can cause hair loss, bone and muscle pain, headache, liver damage, and an increase in blood lipid concentrations. Pregnant women must be careful as a high intake of this vitamin can cause birth defects.
Pro-vitamin A - beta-carotene does not cause toxicity. Be careful if you in the unlikely event run across polar bear on a menu - 500 gram (about ½ a pound) of polar bear liver will deliver about 9,000,000 IU to your diet - a very lethal dose. Headaches, blurred vision, loss of hair, drowsiness and diarrhea, enlargement of the spleen and liver can all be indications when your intake is too high.
Best used with
Take vitamin A with B group vitamins, vitamins C, D and E, choline, essential fatty acids together with calcium, phosphorus and zinc for the best results.
When more may be required
More of this vitamin is required when you consume alcohol, on a low-fat diet, or a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, if you smoke or live in a polluted area. It may also be indicated if you suffer from diabetes or have an under-active thyroid gland. Be careful of vitamin A in pregnancy.
Enemy of vitamin A
Retinol is destroyed by light, high temperatures as well as when using copper or iron cooking utensils. Beta-carotene rich vegetables and fruit must not be soaked in water for long periods, since the nutrients can be lost like that.
Other interesting points
There seems to be no toxicity when ingesting large amounts of beta-carotene - you might however have a slightly orange colored skin, as the carotene gets stored in your skin.
Food sources of vitamin A
Liver, milk, egg-yolk, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables and yellow fruits are high in vitamin A or beta-carotene.
Iron dietary trace element information page
Iron is an essential element carrying oxygen, forming part of the oxygen-carrying proteins - hemoglobin in red blood cells and myoglobin in muscles. It is also a component of various enzymes and is concentrated in bone marrow, liver, and spleen.
Iron is required for
The production of hemoglobin and myoglobin (the form of hemoglobin found in muscle tissue) requires this nutrient.
It is also needed for the oxygenation of red blood cells, a healthy immune system and for energy production.
Deficiency of iron
Severe iron deficiency results in anemia, and red blood cells that have a low hemoglobin concentration. Anemia in pregnancy increases the risk of having a premature baby or a baby with low birth weight.
In young children, iron deficiency can manifest in behavioral abnormalities (including reduced attention), reduced cognitive performance and slow growth. In adults, severe iron deficiency anemia impairs physical work capacity.
Symptoms of iron deficiency may include fatigue, poor stamina, intestinal bleeding, excessive menstrual bleeding, nervousness, heart palpitations and shortness of breath. It may also cause your mouth corners to crack, brittle hair, difficulty in swallowing, digestive disturbances and spoon shaped nails with ridges running lengthwise.
Dosage
The dosage is the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), but be aware that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off serious deficiency of this particular nutrient. In the therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.
In the case of microelements, such as trace elements, the amounts are very small, yet they are still important.
The indicated dosage for males is 10 mg per day, and 18 mg per day for females.
Toxicity and symptoms of high intake
High iron content in the body has been linked to cancer and heart disease.
People of European origin, sometimes have a genetic abnormality for storing excessive iron (1:300) where ten percent of these populations carry a gene for hemochromatosis. Iron supplements are the leading cause of death in children - so keep the supplements out of the reach of children.
A fatal dose for children could be as little as 600 milligrams. Iron can be poisonous and if too much is taken over a long period could result in liver and heart damage, diabetes and skin changes.
Large iron supplementation may also contribute to the hardening of arteries, heart disease and reducing zinc absorption.
Best used with
Iron should be taken between meals with Vitamin C, while manganese, copper, molybdenum, vitamin A and the B group are also beneficial. Iron in a supplement should be almost balanced with zinc.
When more may be required
Iron absorption is negatively affected when oxalic acid - found in spinach, Swiss chard, tea, coffee soy and some pulses. Antacid medication, coffee and tea drinkers at mealtimes, people on calorie restricted diets and women with a heavy flow during menstruation may require more iron.
Enemy of iron
Try to cut out tea and coffee at mealtimes. Iron supplements should not be taken together with calcium, zinc or vitamin E if in the form of ferrous sulfate.
Other interesting points
Some research being conducted is to test the possibility of high iron stores in the body being responsible for an increased risk to chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, through oxidative mechanisms.
Food sources of iron
Heme iron (present in red blood cells and muscles) found in meat, poultry and fish - is readily absorbed; Non-heme iron - with the absorption more influenced by other dietary factors, are present in cereals, fruits, grains, beans and vegetables.
Flavonoids information page
Flavonoids also called Vitamin P are not strictly speaking a vitamin, but for easy classification, we are listing it as a vitamin. The term bioflavonoids refers to many different ingredients and includes hesperin, hesperidin, eriodictyol, quercetin, quercertrin, rutin etc. This nutrient can not be manufactured by the body and must be supplied in the diet.
Flavonoids are required for
Flavonoids enhance the action of vitamin C and for this reason they should be taken together. They are effectively used in the treatment of sport injuries as they are pain relieving, They are also used in relieving pain in the legs, across the back and can lessen the symptoms of prolonged bleeding, a low serum calcium as well as oral herpes.
Bioflavonoids are also active in preserving the structures of capillaries, have an antibacterial effect and promote circulation. They are indicated in the production of bile, lowering blood cholesterol levels and in the prevention and treatment of cataracts.
Bioflavonoids are thought to enhance the absorption of vitamin C, and possibly to prolong the effectiveness of it as well. These are super active substances, and can add a great deal to your nutritional needs in health and disease.
This nutrient acts together with vitamin c to help maintain the thin walls of the capillaries, therefore preventing bleeding or bruising. Bioflavonoids have been linked to having an antibacterial effect, stimulating bile production, promoting circulation and even assisting with fighting allergies and asthma.
For more info on free radicals please click here.
Deficiency
If a diet contains enough fruit and vegetables, bioflavonoids should not be deficient, but deficiency would show up as bruising. Where antioxidants are indicated and none present bioflavonoids could be of help, as well as for iron deficiency, since it helps in the absorption of iron.
Dosage
The dosage underneath is the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), but be aware that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off serious deficiency of this particular nutrient.
In the therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.
No dosage has been determined but 500 mg per day is indicated for supplementation.
Toxicity and symptoms of high intake
Very high dosages of bioflavonoids may cause diarrhea.
Best used with
Bioflavonoids should be taken with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and calcium.
When more may be required
Bioflavonoids should be taken with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and calcium.
Other interesting points
Absorption of the bioflavonoids can be a bit slow, but small amounts can be stored in the body.
If you are suffering from cold sores, consider taking a supplement of 1,000-mg vitamin C and 1,000 mg bioflavonoids, and then 500 mg of each, three times a day.
A daily intake of vitamin C and bioflavonoids may make you less susceptible to cold sores.
Food sources of flavonoids
Bioflavonoids are found in the white material just beneath citrus peel, as well as in peppers, grapes, pine bark, onions, garlic, blue and red berries, green tea as well as buckwheat.
Vitamin C - ascorbic acid - information
Vitamin C also known as, ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, the antiscorbutic vitamin, L-xyloascorbic acid and L-threo-hex-2-uronic acidy-lactone, is a much talked about vitamin, with people claiming it as a cure-all for may diseases and problems - from cancer to the common cold.
Yet, this miracle vitamin cannot be manufactured by the body, and needs to be ingested.
Vitamin C is required for
Vitamin C is required in the synthesis of collagen in connective tissue, neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, carnitine, conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and enhances iron bioavailability. Ascorbic acid is a great antioxidant and helps protect the body against pollutants.
Because vitamin C is a biological reducing agent, it is also linked to prevention of degenerative diseases - such as cataracts, certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
Ascorbic acid also promotes healthy cell development, proper calcium absorption, normal tissue growth and repair - such as healing of wounds and burns. It assists in the prevention of blood clotting and bruising, and strengthening the walls of the capillaries.
Vitamin C is needed for healthy gums, to help protect against infection, and assisting with clearing up infections and is thought to enhance the immune system and help reduce cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and preventing arteriosclerosis.
More info on free radicals.
Deficiency of vitamin C
When there is a shortage of VITAMIN C, various problems can arise, although scurvy is the only disease clinically treated with vitamin C. However, a shortage of vitamin C may result in "pinpoint" hemorrhages under the skin and a tendency to bruise easily, poor wound healing, soft and spongy bleeding gums and loose teeth.
Edema (water retention) also happens with a shortage of vitamin C, and weakness, a lack of energy, poor digestion, painful joints and bronchial infection and colds are also indicative of an under-supply.
Dosage
The dosage underneath is the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), but be aware that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off serious deficiency of this particular nutrient. In the therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.
The RDA is 60 mg, per day - yet this amount will only prevent you from picking up scurvy and more recent studies suggest that an intake between 200 - 500 mg per day may be the most beneficial for healthy people.
The recommend dosage for pregnant or lactating women is 75-95 mg per day.
Toxicity and symptoms of high intake
Since ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, toxic levels are not built up or stored in the body, and any excess is lost mostly through urine. If extremely large amounts are taken gastrointestinal problems may appear, but will normalize when the intake is cut or reduced. To determine a level where a person might experience discomfort is difficult, since some people can easily stomach up to 25,000 mg per day, while others start having a problem at 600 or 1,000 mg.
Some people using mega dose therapy of vitamin C may have side effects such as gastrointestinal complaints including diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps. These side effects normally stop as soon as high potency intake is reduced or stopped.
Best used with
Vitamin C will be more effective if taken with bioflavonoids, calcium and magnesium. To enhance the antioxidant properties, it will be best to take it with the other anti-oxidants, as there is strong evidence of synergy between all of them.
When more may be required
Mega doses of vitamin C should be avoided in individuals with a history of renal stones due to oxalate formation or hemochromatosis or other diseases related to excessive iron accumulation.
Extremely high dosage of vitamin C may predispose premature infants to hemolytic anemia due to the fragility of their red blood cells.
The need for vitamin C will dramatically increase in times when the body is subjected to trauma, infections, and strenuous exercise, elevated environmental temperatures or if the person is a smoker. Smokers should supplement with another 100 mg per day.
Be careful of taking aspirin and vitamin C together - it may cause stomach irritation.
Enemy of vitamin C
Antagonists that destroy this vitamin are air, heat, water as well as prolonged storage, overcooking and processing.
Antacids, alcohol, antidepressants, birth control pills and steroids will also deplete this vitamin.
Other interesting points
Ongoing research is looking at the clinical use of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of human diseases.
Food sources of vitamin C
Good sources of vitamin C are green leafy vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, guavas, tomatoes, melons, papayas etc.
