Class Protocol
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DTRCN: I will just confirm you know to type ? to ask a question then I will
type GA/name

BDeGraz: ok
DTRCN: Use "BRB" if you need to leave the keyboard.


DISCLAIMER: The opinions stated by the instructor of this course are
not necessarily opinions held by other members of the Health Care Profession in
relation to Nutrition.
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DTRCN: The class is interactive and I appreciate any questions.
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Reference Books used are:
DTRCN: 1# "The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia" by Sheldon Saul
Hendler, MD, PhD

DTRCN: 2# "The Vitamins: Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health" by
Gerald F Combs, Div ov Nut. Science Cornell U.
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DTRCN: 3# "Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy" by Krause & Mahan.

DTRCN: These are available in most book stores.....but not required.
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DTRCN: NUTRIENTS.........Where do they come from?
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DTRCN: any ideas BD
BDeGraz: Food
DTRCN: good answer, also water, and sunlight helps as you will see.

DTRCN: There are 6 basic nutrients our bodies need:
DTRCN: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals, and Water
without any one of these Life ends
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DTRCN: How do we get the nutrients into our body and available for use?
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DTRCN: if you want to answer BD feel free

BDeGraz: eating
DTRCN: you are good......... : )
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DTRCN: yep first we EAT but that is the easy part.

DTRCN: Then the body has to digest and absorb it and that is the tricky part.
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DTRCN: Digestion = to dissolve in the stomach
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DTRCN: Steps in digestion: 1) chewing your food which is mixed with
salivary amylase (enzyme in mouth) that begins breaking down starches.

DTRCN: 2) food is then swallowed and goes into the stomac where HcL
(hydrochloric acid) takes over the process and begins to break down protein, fat and starches.

DTRCN: 3) this mixture, called Chyme, moves into the small intestine and
the digestion process finishes and absorption begins.

Meat, eggs, milk cheese = Protein after digestion
Bread, cereal, (starches) = Carbohydrates
Fat = Lipids

DTRCN: Absorption = to take in, combine or merge into itself.

DTRCN: Most vitamin and mineral absorption takes place in the small
intestine, some in the large intestine and a little in the colon.

DTRCN: FACTORS that hinder Digestion: antacids, dental problems, not chewing food
long enough, high fat food, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal flu, gastroeneritis, ulcers, any
problem or disease that affects the digestive system. Many medications also interfere with
absorption. I will be emailing a list of some.
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DTRCN: If you eat a well balanced diet, will you get the nutrients you need
for Optimal Health?

BDeGraz: Yes theorictally
BDeGraz: but not actually.
DTRCN: ok and what calorie amount do you think one would need BD
BDeGraz: 2000
DTRCN: close...........2500 is about minimum
BDeGraz: of various foods
DTRCN: and right a wide variety of foods. The main problem is most people don't eat a variety of foods or take the time to even eat 3 meals a day.
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BDeGraz: That's for sure.
DTRCN: Again the 2500kcal is for a normal "healthy" person.........but people
are so different and have many different lifestyles and that must be taken into consideration.
so 2500kcal for you may not work for the runner down the street.

DTRCN: In summary of Digestion and Absorption: Optimal D & A of nutrients
from the food we eat is at the maxium about 60% but that is for a "normal Healthy" person.

DTRCN: NOTE: The RDA board readily admits that it's values are not meant to
create "Optimal Health.

BDeGraz: Is it true that food is one's best medicine?
DTRCN: food can also Kill............so true and false.
BDeGraz: right!
DTRCN: the key which is so tricky is to eat just right..........or
supplement.

DTRCN: "Authorities now agree that the average American diet no longer
provides the needed nutrition for a foundation of good health"

The paper this quote is from is available in the library or on the message
board.
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DTRCN: Now do either of you take supplements?
BDeGraz: yes
PARSHURAM: yes
DTRCN: Ok then I have a test you may use to see if you are getting the
optimum benefit from them.

DTRCN: Vitamin Breakdown Test
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DTRCN: Use 1/2 cup vinegar at room temp (this imitates the HcL of the
stomach) in a cup

DTRCN: Drop your vitamin supplement in

DTRCN: Stir the vitamin and vinegar every FIVE minutes for THIRTY minutes
PARSHURAM: ?
DTRCN: If the supplement has not disentegrated.........change brands.
DTRCN: .
DTRCN: GA Par
PARSHURAM: What does HcL mean?
DTRCN: Hydrocloric Acid which is what the stomach makes to break down your
food.
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DTRCN: If the tablet breaks down you can assume they are available for
absorption BUT
DTRCN: Do NOT assume they are being absorbed that is up to the body, its
needs and you general health.

DTRCN: NOTE: One book states "only 10-30% of nutrients are absorbed and
that is if you have good digestions and absorption

BDeGraz: Does this test hold true for both tablets and capsules and liquids?
DTRCN: liquids do not need to be tested. You would not be able to tell
anything.
DTRCN: however.........I have an interesting paper I will be sending you
about D & A and capsule
DTRCN: breakdown. Again......I was making the assumption capsules would
always be broken down
DTRCN: I recently found that is not true so yes I would test them also.

DTRCN: Two thoughts on this:
DTRCN: 1) I have seen someone considered healthy take tablets and they
came out the way they went in

DTRCN: They were enteric coated and did NOT breakdown.

DTRCN: 2) Someone recently had a problem with capsules which did not
dissolve so I would test them also.

DTRCN: I usually suggest capsules, liquid or sub-linguals.

BDeGraz: Also true with entric aspirin?
DTRCN: well it is possible..........only one way to know.......look in the
toilet.......LOL
BDeGraz: No thanks
BDeGraz: :)
DTRCN: Ok we are ready to start on Vitamin A. Are there anymore questions


BDeGraz: What's the difference between Carbos and starches?
DTRCN: they are the same but different name

DTRCN: Starch is the composition........carbohydrate is what we call it in
the body.

DTRCN: Tonight we begin with the "Oil" soluble vitamins which include
Vitamin A, D, E and K

DTRCN: "Oil Soluble" vitamins need lipids (fat) to be carried and used by
the body. The body needs the right type of fat/lipid to utilize the vitamins we
intake.
: A NO FAT diet could after a time put someone in a nutritionally
deficient state.
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DTRCN: NOTE: Vitamins were discovered through so called "diseases" which
responded to foods such as: beri beri = B, scurvy = C, rickets = D, and pellagra = niacin
and A
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: VITAMIN A
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DTRCN: HISTORY: Vitamin A was seen in 1500 BC when egyptian scrolls
described Night Blindness and the cure was feeding afflicted people roasted oxen liver. Even with
this knowledge, Vit A was not named a vitamin until 1942.
DTRCN: The research is still going on and they find new uses everyday.
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DTRCN: SOURCES: sweet potatoes, carrots, dk green leafy veggies, apricots,
pumpkin, cantaloupe, liver, eggs, milk products,and fortified foods.

BDeGraz: What is the defination of "vitamin"?
DTRCN: Vitamin = an essential molecule required in the diet for human life.

DTRCN: PROPERTIES: Vitamin A is the animal form or Retinol form and Beta Carotene is the plant form or Carotenoid form of Vit A.

DTRCN: The carotenoid form is called a Pro-Vitamin since it is not made into
Vit A until eaten and the body changes its structure to Vit A.
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DTRCN: Research is in progress on 3 types of Vit A and there are actually 10
chemical structures of Vit A.

DTRCN: WE have 2 ways of reporting food activity of Vit A. These you will see if you go to purchase a Vit A supplement.

one measurement is in IU (international unit) and this is the animal
measurement.

two is RE (retinol equivalent) the plant measurement

IU vit A (animal form) requires fat for absorption BUT RE (plant form) does not.
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Therefore many professionals are recommending the Beta Carotene form
only but the body needs both for optimal health and a blend is really the best.

DTRCN: Digestion and Absorption: we have learned that some Vit A (IU) needs
fat/lipids for absorption and a point to keep in mind is this.....BOTH are
necessary.

BDeGraz: What units are RE's in?
DTRCN: That is the unit.........it is called a retinal equivalent.
BDeGraz: oh..sorry
DTRCN: they just do not use the word unit.
DTRCN: that is ok how do you know unless you ask......... : )

PARSHURAM: If I am taking Vitamin A then I also need to eat some fatty
substance to absorb it.
DTRCN: the right type of fat and it does not take much........meat is
basically self contained of course..........but basically you need polyunsaturated fats NOT
saturated. Polyunsaturated usually from plant oil...........saturated from meats or cooked oils.

DTRCN: Again things that affect absorption are: 1) stress 2) illness 3)
TOO much Vit A 4) being a strict vegetarian 5) malabsorption syndrome 6) alcohol
and more.

DTRCN: People with fat malabsorption syndrome cannot use ingested Vit A.
However they found when given oral Vit A their plasma levels become normal.
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DTRCN: Vit A is absorbed by the lymphatic pathway and not the blood route as
with most vitamins.

DTRCN: This gives us a clue as to why Vit A deficiency can cause problems
with infection as the lymph system is where the first fight against infection begins.

DTRCN: FUNCTIONS:
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DTRCN: 1) Vision = Vit A is the photosensitive part of the rhodopsin
molecule in the eye.
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DTRCN: 2) Vit A maintains the integrity of the mucosal linings of the nose,
stomach, intestines, etc.

DTRCN: 3) Vit A keeps our skin healthy

DTRCN: 4) it helps maintian the stability of cell membranes and synthesizes
corticosterone, and ensures normal output of thyroxine hormone.
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DTRCN: 5) it keeps the integrity of the immune system and helps manufacture
red blood cells

DTRCN: TOXICITY: the IU form of Vit A can be toxic in MEGA doses and
research shows this is over 10 times the RDA. However, the RE form of Vit A, since it is only
converted as needed by the body is unlikely to be toxic.
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DTRCN: RDA = 5000 IU's
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DTRCN: OHA = Optimal Health Allowance this is what has been shown by many
professionals to maintain optimal health without being toxic.

DTRCN: OHA = 5,000 IU and 15-20 RE
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DTRCN: DEFICIENCY: Vit A deficiency is usually rare, signs are:
DTRCN: skin changes, night blindness, eye problems (drying and thickening).
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DTRCN: NOTE: The main FUNCTION of Beta Carotene after much research has
been found to be an ANTI OXIDANT.
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BDeGraz: Are there blood tests for vitamins?

DTRCN: Have you heard the term "Free Radical" and do you know what it means.

BDeGraz: yes
PARSHURAM: Yes
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DTRCN: Ok since a free radical comes out of the gene pool deformed but is
capable of bonding to good cells and changing them, then they collect together so an anti
oxidant takes away the oxygen they need for this.
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DTRCN: This prevents them from turning into cancer or other disease.
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DTRCN: now about Blood Test............have either of you had a blood test
lately?

DTRCN: When a complete blood test is done........it incompasses about 26
things. Some are vitamins, some minerals, and others.
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DTRCN: Did you request copies of your blood test?
BDeGraz: yes
PARSHURAM: yes
DTRCN: ok
DTRCN: mostly the results are for minerals iron, potassium, calcium etc.
DTRCN: however they can do vitamin test also. But they don't because they
don't believe it is necessary and they consider it more expensive.
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DTRCN: even knowing that vitamin supplementation has irradicated many
diseases caused only by a vitamin deficiency.
the medical profession would still rather rely on the drugs
with high incidence of side effects that nutrient supplementation.

BDeGraz: Why don't Dr's take vit seriously?
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DTRCN: no money in it for one and blind sidedness for the other. It is
just tooooooo easy.
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BDeGraz: Ah so $.
DTRCN: in this day with our lifestyle.........good nutrition is almost
impossible to obtain but drugs reap in the money.........and we are a society for money.
BDeGraz: And victims!
DTRCN: but they are doing enormous amounts of research I just hope it is not one sided.

DTRCN: I have a small homework assignment

DTRCN: A small paragraph about your self and what and why you take
supplements.......keep it simple and SHORT


BDeGraz: FDA sees it the same way as Dr's?

DTRCN: oh I think they are much worse........personal opinion only
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DTRCN: Par GA
PARSHURAM: You said polyunsaturated fat.
PARSHURAM: Does olive contains that fat?
DTRCN: that is right and it is Plant fat (except palm and coconut oil)
DTRCN: olive oil is good and canola very good too.

DTRCN: but do not heat to a high temp or they become denatured and almost
as dangerous.
DTRCN: did you get the assignment?

DTRCN: I will be emailing you many things and hope you don't mind reading
some interesting info

DTRCN: come to the class screen and click on the library icon
DTRCN: then download the class for today.

BDeGraz: Are you open to answering ? outside of class?

DTRCN: put me on your buddy list and catch me online or email me