The Health Pursuits Reading/Study Groups Nutrition: Improving Nutritional Status (Supplements), The 'Lendon Smith' Test Kit

What's Helping You Rise, What's Holding You Down

Nutrition:

Improving Nutritional Status (Supplements)

The 'Lendon Smith' Test Kit

IMPROVING NUTRITIONAL STATUS (Supplements)

Read as much as you can, consult an expert in nutrient therapy, and you will always be learning more. Be cautious.
Since many of the nutrients work together in bodily functions, if you are missing something, the rest may not be very effective, especially true of liver or kidney function.
Note that all supplements are often harder to digest if they are tablets, and easier if they are vegetable gelatin capsules, liquid suspensions, sublingual forms, or even IV.
Note that supplements may be derived from a food or substance to which you may be sensitive
Dr. Lendon Smith's book, Feed Your Body Right suggests using a smell test for the individual
vitamins, as long as they are in as pure a form as possible, and not contaminated with other ingredients. We've had success using this strategy to finetune our programs. See protocol further on.
The following are some things we've run into in, trying to find what we need.

VITAMINS
(usually after breakfast)

Vitamins A & D

Cod liver oil or halibut liver oil. If you burp it up, switch to another and be careful not to get too much vitamin A. You may not need vitamin D in the summer when you get enough sunshine. Vitamin D may be essential for good mood in winter and bone density after menopause.
It is available in tablets without Vitamin A. (See calcium.)

Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6(P5P), folic acid, choline, inositol, etc.

B complex has some of each, but you should check to see if it has the P5P form. The vitamins may be extracted from something that disagrees with you such as brewer's yeast. You may need extra folic acid (e.g., 1 mg), if your gums are a problem. You may need extra B5(pantothenic acid) if you are stressed (e.g., 750 mg). You may need extra P5P, if you have trouble processing drugs, chemicals, perfumes, etc. (e.g., 50 mg). You may need extra B12 (shots, sublingual, oral) for tissue repair and energy. Some people find that 50 mg of B complex gives them more energy. Others find they need 50 mg, 3 times a day. You always have to work up to the right dose over a few weeks. Genetic differences in enzyme function make some of us require more of a vitamin than other people (see AM J CLIN NUT Vol. 25 p616-658).

Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid crystals are cheapest, but may need to be buffered with baking soda. Ester C is excellent, but is very expensive. C may be extracted from something that disagrees with you, e.g., oranges. You'll know when you have too much vitamin C, because you'll have diarrhea. If that happens, back up to a lesser dose. Some people can only stand 500 mg/day, but others can handle 1or 2 gm, four times a day. You may need more when you're stressed, have a cold, or are exposed to something toxic, or to which you are sensitive.

Vitamin E

There is synthetic (labelled DL) and natural labelled D. 400 to 800 mg is usual, except for those on blood thinners, because E is a natural blood thinner. You can open a capsule of E and put it on chapped lips or other skin problems. It can be used as a non-toxic vaginal lubricant. Vitamin E can be derived from something to which you are sensitive, such as corn oil or soy oil.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

You need these for cell membranes and for hormone production. They are flexible oils and you need both Omega 3 (e.g., salmon, seal or flax) and Omega 6 (e.g., flax.) (Read Udo Erasmus or Barry Sears.) You can also use black currant seed oil, borage, evening primrose, hemp, GLA or Udo's Oil, which is a mixture, depending on what agrees with you. (Check with D'Adamo books for ideas.) If you have enough inside you, you probably won't have a problem with dry skin and hair, or cracked heels. You can also rub it on the outside as needed, instead of lotions with
chemicals in them. Just watch out for flax oil, because it stains until it is absorbed. Also remember that heating these oils destroys their good properties. Some people take 1 black currant seed capsule; others take a tablespoon of flax oil and so on. If you do not digest the fats, your BMs may float and you may need a special digestive such as pancreatin or lipase.

MINERALS

These are 'rocks', so you need enough stomach acid to dissolve and absorb them. If you experience nausea after taking minerals, it may be that you don't have enough stomach acid to cope. Lemon juice, vitamin C, or betaine hydrochloride may help with acid. You also need to find the most easily absorbed form you can get/afford, e.g., citrates are usually better than carbonates, but there are many forms and many opinions. Take these later in the day, away from the breakfast vitamins. Coenzyme Q 10 (100 mg/day) is said to help balance the minerals.

Calcium

This is needed for sleep, for muscle function, for bones, teeth, and much more. Up to 1500 mg/day or more, divided into several doses. Since it helps sleep, it is good at bedtime. If you are sensitive to shellfish, avoid calcium derived from oyster shells. Dolomite is limestone or clay, and there are reports that it may be contaminated with lead. Those with cancer should be careful of calcium. Vitamin D facilitates calcium absorption. We've found that too much calcium can give us diarrhea too. If your bone density is above normal, your parathyroid may be acting up.
Calcium needs to be balanced with magnesium. See below.

Magnesium

This is needed to send the signal to the muscles to relax. It is also needed for keeping mood even and preventing anxiety. Magnesium is needed in several liver functions as a cofactor with B6/P5P in detoxifying chemicals, oral hormones, perfumes, cortisone, drugs, etc. The ratio of calcium to magnesium is very individual and may change as your health changes. Up to 1100 mg might be needed. (See below.) You don't have to have dairy products to get the calcium you need. Green leafy vegetables, soy products, and many other foods contain calcium. If you take too much magnesium, your body may indicate with diarrhea.

Cal/Mag as a Combo

Calcium and Magnesium supplements may be purchased separately, until you figure out what combination works for you. Some people need more mag. than cal.; others need equal amounts; others need more cal. than mag. Some people can only tolerate a bit at first, while others need large amounts. Pay attention to your muscles (whether they are weak and whether they relax once tensed) and pay attention to mood. Chocolate cravings may indicate a need for magnesium.

Zinc

Zinc is an important cofactor in liver detoxification and also in immune system function. It has to be balanced in your body copper and iron. Some people require only a few mg, while others might need up to 75 mg. You can buy it separately, or you can buy it as a part of a multimineral preparation. (See below.) No sense of smell? It might be zinc deficiency. Get lots of colds, etc.; you may need more zinc. In fact, zinc lozenges or even a zinc capsule sprinkled on the back of the throat may stop a sore throat from developing into a cold. Digestion also requires enough zinc. Too much zinc can cause nausea and be dangerous. Don't take it close to bedtime, because it makes you more alert and don't take it with folic acid because it blocks absorption.

MULTIMINERALS

Copper and iron are the ones that you have to be most careful about, because some people can build up toxic levels. On the other hand, some people cannot heal without them. Multiminerals can come with or without the copper and iron.

Chromium, Iodine, Manganese, Molybdenum, Potassium, Selenium, and Vanadium are all
necessary minerals that might be needed in tiny amounts.

Sulphur is one mineral that is now being investigated more thoroughly. Sulphur is one reason why glucosamine sulphate is so helpful. Some people who cannot tolerate foods with sulphur, like garlic and onions, may not be able to convert the sulphur forms as needed,, and so need a little magnesium sulphate (food grade Epsom Salts) dissolved in water. Others need lots of foods like the cabbage family with sulphur, to help their livers function.

FIBRE

Since bowel function is extremely important for detoxification, enough fibre, from a food source which agrees with you, along with sufficient water, to keep bowels moving every day. (Rice bran, flax seeds, refined white psyllium, etc., are some decent choices, but remember that other things can cause bowel dysfunction, like nerve impairment or chemical sensitivity.)

PROBIOTICS

Along with fibre and water, bowels need appropriate amounts of friendly bacteria. This can be obtained from live culture yogurt, if dairy agrees with you, or from non-dairy supplements, based on soy or chickpeas. Acidophilus lactobacillus or bifidus are most common, but there are new ones available that are having success.

ANTIOXIDANTS
Vitamin C is the most common antioxidant, but there are many newer ones that can help. Quercetin can help with allergies. Coenzyme Q 10 is a must for breast and other cancers. Alphalipoic acid can improve liver function. Proanthocyanidins are derived from blueberries and helpful against inflammation. Garlic is useful against bacteria and viruses. (Look these up, e.g., in Balch and Balch.) Lowering inflammation is what it's all about, so antioxidants help.

AMINO ACIDS

The amino acids work together only as efficiently as the one that is lowest in your system.

Some amino acids are derived from foods and some are manufactured by the body. Examples include methionine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, taurine, tryptophan, glutamine, glutamic acid, arginine, ornithine, tyrosine, and so on.

If your digestion or diet is not good, then you may be deficient in some amino acids or your Krebs' cycle enzymes may not work properly to manufacture the amino acids.

Pain, brain function, sleep, mood, immune function, and cell formation and function, may all be affected by amino acid deficiencies.

This is a relatively new area and there is much to learn about how to safely and effectively supplement these substances. (Read Eric Braverman and Carl Pfeiffer.)

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THE 'LENDON SMITH' TEST KIT

This kit has been assembled by the members of the Health Pursuits Reading/Study Group for 2 reasons.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 75 p.616-658 gathered together research on genetic enzyme variation, which showed that if the appropriate nutrient co-factors for the weak enzyme function were supplied, many conditions and diseases could be reversed. We felt it would be very important to identify exactly which nutrients were in insufficient supply.
Since we do not have ready access to blood or DNA testing, and since many other strategies have proven expensive and inadequate, we turned to Dr. Lendon Smith's book Feed Your Body Right. He and a biochemist discovered that if the pure form of a single vitamin was smelled, it could indicate the person's level of supply. We have assembled as pure a sample as we can of the individual nutrients. Our samples are not perfect, so results are entirely your decision. Also, we do not have all the nutrients possible. Converted forms of vitamins are now being produced, which may help those whose conversion processes are not working properly. (e.g., B6 may smell neutral or stinky and
P5P may smell sweet, if your B6 conversion is slow.)
Instructions: Open the bottle and smell the contents. If the smell of the container is a nuisance, pour some of the nutrient out into a glass. According the Dr. Smith's book:

• If the nutrient smells sweet, you need a lot.
• If the nutrient smells neutral, you need a little.
• If the nutrient stinks, you do not need it.

Note that it is not always easy to decide whether the smell is stinky or sweet. Think about whether it repels you or draws you. If you are already taking vitamins, that may be why you may have enough of those. Do not give them up, unless they smell stinky. Remember this tests single nutrients and does not apply to B complex or a multivitamin. B vitamins are water soluble, so it is not harmful to take a little of a B that you do not especially need.
If you decide to try this approach, it is important to figure out an appropriate dosage. Please refer to any of the excellent books on supplements by authors such as Earl Mindell, Abram Hoffer, Carl Pfeiffer, Joseph Pizzorno, etc.
Note that the smell will change as your status changes. It is important to keep retesting every few days to avoid too much of a good thing.
Remember that the materials from which the nutrient and the container are made can affect the way it smells, so this is only a general guide.
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HEALTH PURSUITS Reading/Study Group's

Health Pursuits Nutrient
Test Kit

Health Pursuits Nutrient Test Kit

The Nutrient Test kit contains our Handbook of experiences, a Vitamin Bible, copies of the protocol and checklist and samples of 31 nutrients (9 more in the expansion set), pharmacy labeled and found by our group to work in the smell test as described by Dr. Lendon Smith in “Feed Your Body Right”. This kit may be used over and over with many people until the nutrients’ expiry dates. It may also be used for applied kinesiology (muscle) testing. Useful in researching deficiencies, progress in nutritional status, and avoidance of overdoing nutrient therapies. Nutrients NOT for consumption.

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Health Pursuits Supportive Reading:

The Nutrient Test Kit Handbook

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Lendon Smith, M.D.
Feed Your Body Right

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