| Nutrient Destroyers
It is wonderful that we
can take vitamins and minerals to improve
and maintain our health. But be careful.
There are a host of foods we eat that are
not too kind to these nutrients.
Alcohol
Moderate drinkers of alcohol (eg. one glass
of wine per day) has been shown to have many
cardiovascular benefits including lower blood
pressure and higher levels of HDL (the “good
cholesterol”). But too much alcohol
(ie. more than 2 glasses a day) is dangerous
to the heart and other vital organs.
Alcohol destroys:
- Vitamins: Vitamin
A, Vitamin
B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin
B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin
B3, Vitamin
B6 (Pyridoxine), Folic
acid, Vitamin
B12, Pantothenic acid, Biotin.
- Minerals: Potassium,
Iron,
Zinc.
- Other nutrients: Choline,
Inositol, PABA (Para-Amino Benzoic Acid).
Because alcohol does have health benefits,
but it also destroys many important nutrients
- wait at least 2 hours after taking supplements
before consuming alcohol.
Caffeine
Many people can’t do without their morning
coffee. Caffeine forces the adrenal glands
to produce adrenaline. This is perhaps why
many people require coffee in the morning
to jumpstart their bodies. But caffeine is
quite a nutrient killer.
Caffeine destroys:
- Vitamins: Vitamin
A, Vitamin
B1 (Thiamin), Vitamin
B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin
B3 (Niacin), Vitamin
B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin
B6 (Pyridoxine), Folic
Acid, Vitamin
B12, Biotin,
Vitamin
C.
- Minerals: Potassium,
Magnesium,
Iron.
- Other nutrients: Choline,
Inositol, PABA (Para-Amino Benzoic Acid).
Drinking decaffeinated coffee may not be
so good for our bodies as well. Although
decaffeinated coffee does contain very little
caffeine, but the chemicals used in the
process of removing the caffeine require
detoxification by the liver.
However, there might be some saving grace
for coffee. There have been some recent
reports (eg. Time magazine), that caffeine
may lower the risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s
disease and colon cancer.
Stay tuned, while I research more on the
(good and bad) health effects of coffee.
Please signup for updates (at bottom of
page).
Sugar
Sugar is bad. I will repeat this
again, “Sugar is bad”. Sugar has
been linked to all kinds of diseases and health
problems. Many nutrients are used up and lost
when a person consumes too much sugar.
Sugar destroys:
Other health problems related to
sugar:
Sugar in our diet, decreases urine output.
Sugar also increases calcium
in our urine. These 2 factors lead to a
higher concentration of urinary calcium,
which may lead to kidney stone formation.
Sugar promotes teeth decay, because the
bacteria in the mouth turns sugar to acid.
This acid will attack the teeth enamel and
cause teeth decay.
Studies have also shown that individuals
with gallstones generally have a higher
sugar consumption than those who do not.
High sugar consumption can also cause enlarged
kidneys and kidney damage. Which may in
turn lead to kidney stones.
When I say 'sugar', I mean the refined
white sugar available in supermarkets and
sundry shops. There are unrefined, natural
cane sugar which do have some nutrient value.
For example muscovado
sugar is known to have high nutrient
value comparable even to pure honey.
Tobacco
Smoking tobacco is one of
the worst things you can do to your health.
Smoking tobacco depletes vitamin
C (a major antioxidant). Vitamin C is
essential in maintaining the collagen structure
of the skin. That is why many smokers have
dry, scaly skin. It is also carcinogenic (linked
to lung cancer).
Tobacco destroys:
Other kinds of
nutrient destroyers (and the
corresponding nutrients they destroy):
Antibiotics:
Vitamin
B3
Aspirin:
Vitamin
C, Vitamin
K (Phylloquinone)
Birth control pills:
Vitamin
B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin
E.
Chlorine:
Vitamin
E.
Fever:
Vitamin
B1 (Thiamin), Vitamin
C.
Rancid fats &
oils: Vitamin
E, Vitamin
K.
Radiation:
Vitamin
B6, Vitamin
K (Phylloquinone)
Raw clams:
Vitamin
B1
Stress:
Vitamin
B1, Folic
Acid, Calcium.
Lack of exercise:
Calcium
Laxatives:
Vitamin
B12 |
