Anne Simons
The Components of Life
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this book is accurate. It is, however, not meant to replace medical advice or support. The author and the publisher assume no liability for potential damage resulting from the use or abuse of the material presented in this book.
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my most cordial gratitude to Mr. Gerhard Brand, M.D., general practitioner and specialist in homeopathy as well as natural healing, for his expert review of the orthomolecular medical sections in this book.
© 2013 by MayaMedia GmbH, Verlag Dr. Andreas Gößling, Coburg
This book ist based on „The Bible of Natural Healing Agents“, Copyright © 2000 MayaMedia GmbH Verlag und Agentur Dr. Andreas Gößling, Coburg
All rights of distribution including broadcasting, television, photomechanical reproduction, sound carriers of any kind and reproduction of excerpts as well as translation are reserved.
Translation into English by Gabriele Graf, Graf&Nestler Translation Service, Munich
www.mayamedia.de
ISBN 978-3-944488-03-5
Introduction
VITAMINS
Fat-soluble vitamins
Vitamin A (retinol) and provitamin A (carotinoids, beta-carotene): for a youthful skin and against cancer
Vitamin D (calciferols): for a healthy skeleton
Vitamin E (tocopherol): for strengthening heart and circulation – against dangerous oxidation processes
Vitamin K – phylloquinone/menaquinone: for functional blood clotting
Water-soluble vitamins
Vitamin B1 – thiamine: for strengthening the nerves and improving the ability to concentrate
Vitamin B2 – riboflavin: for healthy tissues
Vitamin B3 – niacin: for improved blood flow
Vitamin B5 – pantothenic acid: for beautiful skin and against stress
Vitamin B6 – pyridoxine: for a good mood
Vitamin B9 – folic acid: against anemia
Vitamin B12 – cobalamin: for strong nerves and psychic balance
Biotin: for beautiful skin and hair
Vitamin C – ascorbic acid: for a strong immune system
MINERALS
Identification of mineral deficiency
Calcium: building component for bones and teeth
Magnesium: anti-stress mineral
Phosphor: energy mineral
Sodium and chlorine: for muscles and nerves
Potassium: mineral for the heart
Sulfur: for generating amino acids
TRACE ELEMENTS
Chromium: for enhanced insulin effect
Iron: for oxygen supply
Fluorine: for healthy teeth
Iodine: for a functioning thyroid
Germanium: for strengthening the immune system
Cobalt: for enhancing blood
Copper: the energy element for enhancing blood
Zinc: for a vigorous immune system, growth and wound healing
Manganese: for enzyme activation
Selenium: protecting the cell against free radicals
Molybdenum: for healthy kidneys
Nickel: an enzyme activator
Silicon: for healthy skin, hair and nails
Vanadium: for lowering blood sugar
Tin: for activating gastric functions
AMINO ACIDS
Leucine: for muscular energy
Isoleucine: for the protection of niacin in the body
Lysine: for cell division and growth
Methionine: for liver detoxification
Carnitine (vitamin T) : for top performance
Phenylalanine/tyrosine: for toxin disposal
Threonine, glycine: for healthy (bone) growth
Tryptophan: for cell and tissue regeneration
Valine: for a healthy system of nerves and muscles
Arginine/ornithine: for more energy and the promotion of male fertility
Histidine: to fight rheumatism and increase libido
Cysteine/cystine: against aging
Taurine: for a healthy heart and strong nerves
Glutamine: for physical and intellectual top performance
Glutathione: a potent antioxidant
Creatine: for building muscles
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS AND OTHER LIPIDS
Gamma linolenic acid (GLA): for stable cell membranes
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenic acid (DHA): for a healthy heart
Coconut oil acid: for more energy
Shark liver oil: for a strong immune system
Alpha lipoic acid: for diabetics and for detoxification
Choline/lecithin: for brain function
Capric acid
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPORTANT ENZYMES FOR THE BODY
Tasks of enzymes
Enzyme killers
Enzyme groups
Important enzymes for the body
Pepsin
Betaine HCl: for a healthy stomach
Amylase
Proteolytic enzymes
Bromelain
Trypsin
Chymotrypsin
Lipase
Coenzyme Q10 – ubiquinone: cardiac protection and antioxidant
Cell respiration coenzymes NAD and FAD
Other essential substances
This book presents detailed information about all vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, essential fatty acids and other lipds as well as enzymes and what they do in your body. What is their effect on specific locations in the organism? Which nutrients are contained in our various foodstuffs? What are the risks of insufficient nutrient provision? You will probably know that magnesium is an anti-stress mineral and that potassium is good for your heart, but do you also know that the amino acid methionine supports liver detoxification or that molybdenum keeps your kidneys in good health?
In 1968, the American Nobel prizewinner and vitamin researcher Linus Pauling coined the term “orthomolecular medicine”. This treatment with natural remedies has attained increasing importance in the field of medicine and the thinking of people in general ever since. The Greek-Latin term “orthomolecular” could be translated as “right molecules”. Pauling defines the concept as follows: “Orthomolecular medicine refers to maintaining good health and treating disorders by changing the concentration of those substances in the human body which normally exist there and are indispensable for health.”
According to this concept, optimal health can be achieved by providing the body with the right molecules in appropriate concentrations. At issue are all those substances that the body extracts from food through the gastro-intestinal tract and breaks down into their basic ingredients during the metabolic processes:
The orthomolecular approach proceeds from the assumption that numerous diseases have their origin in a deficiency or an imbalance of the previously mentioned substances. If they are identified and if the body is provided with all the necessary nutrients, the indisposition and/or disorder can be overcome.
It is not coincidental that this therapeutic branch developed in the U.S.A. in the second half of the 20th century, when the mass production of food resulted in a tremendous loss in nutrients. It is not by chance that a part of the American population rank among those members of the species who display the greatest food deficiencies. The so-called “civilization diseases”, which especially affect a considerable number of young people, constitute a huge economic problem in the U.S.A. today, not to mention the suffering of the affected individuals.
“The Components of Life” is part of a quartet of books, each of which can be read independently and stands for its own.{i} As a whole, the four volumes have the goal of explaining the connection between nutrient deficiencies and disease. They offer practical hints for treating specific deficiency disorders by administering appropriate vital substances.
The other volumes:
“The Healing Power of Plants” presents the healing plants from A to Z. The most important vegetal and animal extracts are introduced whose highly remedial protective substances are of major importance, both in their pharmaceutical application and in the field of food supplements. The attention which natural sciences pay to so-called “phytochemistry” and “vegetal chemicals” is indicative of the tremendous significance of the healing power of plants, which due to their specific compositions and structures contain an outstanding chemically effective potential. The list includes indigenous medicinal plants such as bearberry, fennel seeds and parsley, as well as vegetal remedies of other folk medicines, e.g. Asian ginseng root, African yohimbine bark or Peruvian cat’s claw creeper. Special focus will be placed on the following questions: What ingredients are contained in these plants? What is their efficacy?
„Treating Disorders in a Natural Manner” proceeds from deficiency symptoms and presents a “therapy list”. The diseases caused by nutrient deficiencies are described in alphabetical order; missing substances are examined as potential reason for indisposition, and specific applications are suggested. In this manner the medical layperson can give thought to which substances should be made available to the body in order to restore health. The list ranges from “acne” to “weight reduction”.
“Basic Knowledge of Health and Nutrition” conveys a general survey of metabolic processes and gives answers to fundamental questions: How does the body provide vital elements even to the smallest cell? How do nutrients get into the blood stream? How does the body make nutrients available? What is health?
Finally, you will find a description of the basic components of nutrition: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants and roughage.
In this chapter vitamins will be presented in a detailed manner with fat-soluble ones followed by water-soluble ones. The provided information comprises their functions in the human body, symptoms of insufficient and excessive provision, indications, side effects and interaction, their natural occurrence in food as well as the daily allowances recommended by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (German Nutritional Association), the American RDA and Linus Pauling, for healthy adults to the extent to which such data exist. In the treatment of specific diseases much higher therapeutic dosages are occasionally ingested. This should, however, only be done on advice of a medical expert.
The vitamin A contained in food originating from animals is called retinol. The precursors of vitamin A, carotinoids, are only found in fruits and vegetables. In nature there exist more than 500 different carotinoids, including lutein. The most common carotinoid is beta-carotene. It is converted into vitamin A in the body whenever the need arises. If the body is provided with sufficient vitamin A, beta-carotene is stored in the body cells which, especially in babies, results in skin coloration subsequent to intensive carrot ingestion. Thus beta-carotene – in contrast to vitamin A – cannot be overdosed.
Properties:
Applications at a glance:
Causes of deficiency states:
Side effects: If applied properly no side effects are to be expected.
Pregnant women should avoid increased ingestion of vitamin A since overdosing may result in embryonic deformation. Beta-carotene is, however, safe and beneficial.
Overdosage: Only possible for vitamin A, not for beta-carotene. Symptoms caused by overdosing:
Interaction:
Natural occurrence: Vitamin A exists primarily in animal products such as eggs, dairy products and liver. Beta-carotene is found in all yellow, green and orange vegetal foods, such as carrots, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, kale, peppers, rose-hips, peaches, mangos and oranges.
Recommended daily allowance: The DGE recommends about 1 mg of retinol and/or 6 mg of beta-carotene for men and 0.8 mg of retinol and/or approximately 5 mg of beta-carotene for women per day. The American RDA is 3,300 IU for men, 2,600 IU of retinol for women (International Units: 3.33 IU retinol = 1 µg retinol). Pauling (1986) recommends a therapeutic dosage of 20,000–40,000 IU, which is equivalent to 6–12 mg of retinol.
Case study:
Anja S.: “I am a rather pale type and feel ugly when my paleness is particularly marked. This primarily happens in times of stress when I exert and fatigue myself. When a friend told me that beta-carotene presented an opportunity to get a healthier complexion without make-up, I tried it. I have taken it regularly ever since, because I look better and fresher that way. My skin is also smoother and prettier, even my fingernails and hair have benefited. They are no longer dull and brittle, but strong and shiny. On the whole, I feel healthier and more robust. It has been a long time since I suffered from a cold, an illness which I used to contract frequently.”
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