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Background on Nutrients. We have been told for generations that to stay healthy we must eat right -- this means eating a variety of different foods that complement each other and provide all the nutrients we need. However, recent studies and books point out that our diet does not contain enough of some critical nutrients. This is important information, and the stakes are very high -- in our society today there is an epidemic of diseases caused by nutrient deficiencies (see Campbell (2006), Hoffer & Saul (2008), and Pauling (2006) books below). By eating right, we can prevent common causes of heart disease and greatly reduce cancer and viral/bacterial infections. Some writers have criticized "nutritionism" (reductionism in nutrition), saying that eating a "balanced diet" is as good or better than attempting to track the amount of specific nutrients (see Pollan 2007, 2009 books below). Others state that by following a strict vegan diet, without tracking individual nutrients, we can stay healthy (see Campbell (2006) and Esselstyn (2008) books below).
Most of us are deficient in at least several essential nutrients: vitamin C, vitamin D, and magnesium. The traditional meaning of "vitamin" is a chemical required in tiny amounts in the diet. One might imagine, therefore, that we only need small quantities of vitamins C & D, and that they can be readily obtained from an ordinary well-balanced diet. However, our requirement for vitamin C (ascorbate) is not tiny -- we need several grams/day, more when sick. And it is virtually impossible to get enough vitamin D from food. Further, one might also imagine a diet including lots of fruits and vegetables gives us enough magnesium. However, our requirement for magnesium is several hundred mg/day. Most of us don't get that much in our meals. There are several reasons for this. Many of us don't eat enough of the foods such as greens and other colored vegetables that contain adequate amounts of magnesium and other essential nutrients. Magnesium and vitamins are lost when grains are processed by removing the bran and germ, for example, when wheat is made into white flour, or when brown rice is refined into white rice. Fortified foods don't replace many of these essential nutrients. The soils planted by agribusiness are often depleted in minerals such as magnesium after decades of misuse, and modern high-yield cultivars have reduced the amount of minerals in grain (see Dean (2007) book; Thomas, 2007; Fan et al., 2008 below). So in an attempt to stay healthy the body takes magnesium from our bones and we accumulate a deficit. And though our daily requirement for vitamin B-12 is tiny, less than a millionth of an ounce, it is crucial for our health and many of us are deficient.
Individuality of nutrient needs. As individuals we differ in our nutritional requirements because of differences in genetics, biochemistry, and daily life (see Pauling (2006) and Hoffer & Saul (2008) books below). Our ability to absorb and metabolize food to maintain body, organs, and cells differs because of variation in our structural proteins and digestive and metabolic enzymes. Further, our bodies undergo different stresses and we eat different foods. Therefore, our need for essential nutrients differs widely. Although many of us attempt to fulfill some concept of the minimum nutritional requirement, we are commonly malnourished in one way or another. These nutritional deficiencies are the cause of much illness and suffering, but are easy to correct. For many of our nutritional requirements, although we may not know our need precisely, the body can absorb and beneficially use a much higher amount than the minimum. We get enough of most essential nutrients from a well-balanced diet and multivitamin supplements. However, for several nutrients including vitamins C & D and magnesium, to get enough we need to take special care, which usually means taking additional supplements.
Nutrient needs as we age. Young people, growing fast, tend to have robust appetites that will supply a beneficial amount of nutrients. However, many teenagers and young adults don't eat well, and their diet often lacks essential nutrients such as vitamin C, D, and magnesium. Their bodies can live with this -- for a few years. But as we age, getting enough nutrients from our food becomes a worse problem, for several reasons. We tend to be more sedentary as we age, and thus we simply eat less food. Many of us tend to get overweight as we age, and in trying to reduce our calorie intake, we tend to get less nutrition. Avoiding fat by eating more carbohydrates has recently been shown to encourage weight gain. It is helpful to eat a generous portion of fatty foods, as fat is more satisfying than carbohydrates. Along with adequate doses of vitamins (C,D,E), fat is healthy. Further, many people have difficulty eating foods containing a lot of fiber, and thus tend to eat fewer raw fruits and vegetables. However, aging tissue needs extra nutrients to repair damage done over decades of wear-and-tear. Yet the aging stomach doesn't absorb as much from food. This gives the aging body a much worse problem -- as we get older we tend to eat fewer fresh nutritious foods, and this lack of nutrition compounds the problem because our digestive system then has more difficulty absorbing nutrients. Thus, older people tend to need a higher level of nutrients in their food to stay healthy. Even worse, many age-related diseases (heart disease, strokes, neurological problems, eye problems, arthritis, dementia) are caused by nutrient deficiencies (see Dean 2007 and Hoffer and Saul (2008) books).
Longevity nutrients. Most vitamins and minerals are required for several functions in the body. For example, some vitamins are required for metabolic pathways that produce energy, but they are also required to prevent oxidative damage and maintenance that helps to prevent age-related disease. However, during evolution, the survival mechanisms to keep tissues alive took precedence over maintaining arteries and joints. In the short term, the body can survive without maintenance, but to stay alive it must have energy. So in an evolutionary process of "triage", biochemical maintenance pathways were given lower priority. Natural selection prioritized the cell's nutritional needs and its utilization of essential nutrients to provide energy at the expense of maintenance. This explains why an excess of nutrients helps prevent age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis (see Ames, 2006, 2010a,b, 2014). Millions of years ago, animals evolved to utilize scarce nutrients preferentially for critical body functions such as energy metabolism and blood clotting. The enzymes involved in these critical functions evolved through natural selection to have a high chemical binding affinity for the essential enzyme co-factors known as vitamins. Maintenance enzymes, that required the same vitamin co-factors, evolved lower binding affinities, allowing the vitamin cofactors to be utilized preferentially in times of food scarcity to support the metabolic pathways for energy and other essential functions. Poor nutrition has an insidious damaging effect on health, which directly implicates it as a cause of progressive diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. The long-term nature of these progressive diseases is related to the damage from long-term deficiencies of essential nutrients such as vitamins C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins, as well as calcium and magnesium and other minerals. Most essential nutrients are relatively safe in much higher doses than in ordinary daily multivitamin tablets. For example, we need high doses of B vitamins to keep the cellular maintenance and disease prevention mechanisms that require these vitamins functioning optimally.
Universality of nutrient benefits. A question often posed about nutritional supplements is, do they really provide big benefits? After all, the food we eat has supported us throughout our lives, so it may seem unlikely that the effects of higher levels of vitamins C & D and magnesium can possibly be so important. The answer is that a deficiency of these nutrients has been documented to have detrimental effects throughout the body on many aspects of our health (see Dean (2007), Hickey & Saul (2008), and Khalsa (2009) books below). But these deficiencies aren't obvious because they have so many symptoms. Therefore, to correct the deficiencies will provide many benefits, giving us better resistance to bacterial and viral infection, better recovery from illness, stress, and injury, freedom from asthma and allergy, and reduced incidence with recovery from arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The information listed below explains the importance of these nutrients and how to get enough of them. Doses shown are recommended for adults. Those with smaller or larger body weight may need to vary their dose, and those with special needs should see a nutrition-aware doctor (see Saul (2012) book below).
To stay healthy: 3-10 grams/day. (For adults, 15-50 mg/pound/day; for children, half their age in grams/day, in divided doses.: 8 years, 4 gms, 1.3 gm/meal.) Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that removes harmful free radicals in the body, and is also essential for the synthesis of collagen, the most common protein in the body. Adequate doses of vitamin C help arteries become stronger and more elastic, and thus help to prevent high blood pressure (Kurl et al. [2002], and Shargorodsky et al. [2010] below). Therefore vitamin C can prevent hemorrhagic stroke and reverse atherosclerosis (see Hickey & Saul [2008] and Levy [2006] and [2012] books), and can also prevent allergy and asthma, and some of the symptoms of diabetes (see Saul [2012] book below). It is essential for most of the body's biochemical and protective processes, to hold the body together in growth and healing, and to strengthen the immune system. Vitamin C is only necessary for higher primates, guinea pigs, and a few other animals, because all other species can make their own. Monkeys, apes and humans lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C through a genetic mutation because an evolving ancestor got sufficient vitamin C by eating large quantities of leaves and fruit (see Pauling (2006) book below). Note that those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (a rare genetic condition) should not take vitamin C in large doses.
However, vitamin C deficiency is common in humans eating processed foods. Many of us get only a minimal amount of vitamin C in our diet, 50-100 mg/day, or if we eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, possibly 500 mg/day. However our need for vitamin C is much greater, similar to most other animals that make it in their own bodies -- they make 10-20 grams (relative to our body weight)/day, more under stress. Vitamin C is water soluble and easily distributed throughout the body by the blood, from which it is actively transported into tissues to help build collagen and prevent oxidation, after which it can be recycled by regeneration from other antioxidants, and then eventually eliminated. Therefore for the most benefit we need to take divided doses throughout the day. High levels of blood sugar (e.g. after a meal or in diabetes) reduce vitamin C transported into the body tissues, and therefore vitamin C is most effective when taken without food containing much sugar. Take 1,000-3,000 mg 1/2 hour before each meal. Capsules containing 500 or 1000 mg (1 gm) of vitamin C powder are convenient, but bulk vitamin C powder is less expensive and can be more readily absorbed when dissolved in water or juice. Hard tablets of vitamin C are less well absorbed. Avoid "chewable" vitamin C tablets that contain sugar, because when chewed, the sugar and ascorbic acid may stick to the surfaces of your teeth and etch them. A good alternative for children is chewable tablets containing buffered ascorbate without acidity.
At a dose too high, vitamin C is a mild laxative, and can cause bloating and gas, so if you notice this, reduce intake by 20-50% and take smaller doses spread throughout the day. Some people tolerate buffered ascorbate (sodium, calcium, or magnesium ascorbate) better for it is non-acid. Some people may prefer taking timed-release vitamin C before you go to bed at night. An excellent alternative (but more expensive) source of vitamin C is liposomal vitamin C which is available online and is more completely absorbed so it can provide higher levels of vitamin C for the body than vitamin C in capsule or powder form.
When sick, 3-15 grams/hr. (15-100 mg/pound/hr) Vitamin C at a sufficiently high dose can prevent viral infections and neutralize bacterial toxins that spread with an acute deficiency (see Levy (2002) and Hickey & Saul (2008) books below). At first sign of symptoms (fever, headache, scratchy throat), many nutritionists recommend 1-3 gms every 20 minutes with water until symptoms are relieved. The body absorbs more vitamin C when under stress so when you're sick you can take more than normal. If you're already sick, take as much as you can tolerate to prevent acute deficiency for faster recovery. Continue taking vitamin C at a high dose until the symptoms of the cold/flu are gone. For other illness or any other type of physical and mental stress, vitamin C helps the body to recover. Vitamin C is relatively safe because it is non-toxic and non-immunogenic. For severe illness, vitamin C can be taken intravenously under a doctor's care as sodium ascorbate (buffered). Existing infections and exposure to environmental toxins like smoke tend to reduce the level of vitamin C in the blood, so take more vitamin C to compensate. See Hickey & Saul (2008), and Levy (2002) books below.
Daily dose: Summer. For people throughout most of the lower 48 states with light skin, a 20 minute daily exposure to direct midday summer sun (11-3 PM), on the face, lower arms and legs is sufficient to provide 10,000 IU. For people with dark skin, a daily exposure of the face, lower arms and legs up to 2 hours in the summer midday sun may be required. To minimize the risk from sunburn, the best advice is to expose a greater area of skin for a shorter time, for example, for light skin, expose your back, arms, and legs to sunlight for 2-4 minutes, or for dark skin, for 10-20 minutes. If daily sun exposure is not possible, more exposure to the sun every few days is adequate, for example, during weekends, because vitamin D is readily stored in the body for several weeks. Direct sun exposure is essential because the UVB that creates vitamin D is not transmitted through clouds, glass windows or sunblock. Exposure to the sun cannot cause an overdose of vitamin D, because as the blood level rises the skin automatically self-regulates the amount it produces.
Daily dose: Winter. We get very little vitamin D from the sun when it is less than 45 degrees above the horizon (in North America, April-September: sunrise-10 AM, 4 PM-sunset; October - March: all day). Even when we are outdoors in the winter for a long time and get a little tan, we get almost no vitamin D, for tanning is caused by a different spectrum (UVA) than vitamin D (UVB), which is hardly present when the sun is low in the sky. Therefore, in the winter, supplements are necessary (see Khalsa, 2009 and Madrid, 2009 books below). Both forms of vitamin D, ergocalciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3), are thought to be equally effective. Oily fish (herring, catfish, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna) contain some vitamin D, but not enough for our daily requirements. Although vitamin D is supplied by cod liver oil, it is not recommended as a source of vitamin D, because to get enough one would receive toxic levels of vitamin A. Some dairy products are fortified with vitamin D, but most of these don't provide enough. Milk typically provides 100 IU/cup, requiring 5 quarts to provide the necessary 2000 IU daily dose. A person of 200 lbs may need 7000-10,000 IU/day in supplements when sun exposure is inadequate. To see the full benefit of vitamin D supplements in a blood test usually takes 6 months to a year, so the test should be done after a few months of supplementation, and at regular intervals thereafter.
Vitamin E comprises 8 different compounds, 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols, but the alpha-tocopherol form is often used synonymously with vitamin E because it is preferentially absorbed and thought to be required in greater amounts by the body. A widely available form, "natural d-alpha tocopherol" is good to take because it is twice as effective as the synthetic form "dl-alpha-tocopherol". However, all of the natural (d-) tocopherols and tocotrienols are thought to be helpful because they serve slightly different functions in the body. Therefore, gelcaps containing "mixed tocopherols" and/or tocotrienols are preferable to those containing only d-alpha tocopherol. Tocotrienols are thought to be a more powerful antioxidant and they are typically 5 times more expensive. Up to 40% of us have low blood levels of vitamin E, and 90% of us don't get even the minimum 15 IU/day. Good sources are wheat germ, vegetable oils such as palm oil, and nuts such as almonds and peanuts. Although a well-balanced diet can provide the minimum 15 IU, it's difficult to get enough vitamin E from the diet to provide all of its benefits, so supplements are helpful.
Vitamin E is effective in helping the skin heal from burns (e.g. after applying cold as first aid, later apply vitamin E), and can be applied directly from a gel-cap. In some supplements, vitamin E is sold in an esterified form, as tocopheryl acetate (or succinate), to prevent oxidation and prolong the shelf life. Normal digestion removes the acetate, so for oral supplements the acetate form is just as effective. However for topical (external skin) application, the acetate form is ineffective, so one must apply the standard d-alpha- or mixed tocopherol form. Doses of 100-200 IU/day are recommended by nutritionists for people over 50 to provide health benefits, and doses of 400 IU/day up to 800 IU or higher are taken to combat stress and help prevent heart disease. Although vitamin E is very safe at these levels for most people, it is advisable to start taking vitamin E gradually along with vitamin C, and to check with a nutrition-aware doctor if you are taking any blood-thinning drugs (you may need less of them). See Papas (1999) book and web references below.
To recover from deficit, take 200-600 mg/day in divided doses. It may be necessary to supplement with a lot of magnesium at first for several weeks to relieve the deficit, then take a lower level (100-200 mg/day) to maintain a sufficient body level. However before taking magnesium supplements make sure your kidney function is OK. See Dean (2007) book below.
Sources of magnesium: seeds (sunflower, pumpkin), nuts, legumes, tomatoes, chocolate, dark green leafy vegetables, whole grains, wheat germ. A craving for chocolate and nuts may be related to their high level of magnesium. Note that any processed flour including enriched flour has lost almost all of its magnesium -- so white or "wheat" bread, cake, cookies, and most pastas have virtually none. Because most of us don't get enough magnesium in our diet, we must take supplements. The best types of magnesium to take are magnesium citrate, malate, and chloride, because they are readily absorbed by the gut. Another source often encountered, but not recommended is magnesium oxide -- only 5% is absorbed, and the remainder causes a laxative effect. See Dean (2007) book below.
To recover from deficit, eat foods containing calcium instead of taking supplements. It is important to balance the amount of calcium with a proportionate amount of magnesium, and also to take enough vitamin D which facilitates the absorption, regulation, and utilization of calcium. Most of us have had a magnesium deficit throughout our lives, and as we get older many of us have a calcium deficit, see Dean book below.
Sources of calcium: dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, sardines and canned salmon (with bone), rhubarb, molasses, peas and beans, supplements: calcium is often combined with magnesium in a 2:1 ratio -- calcium carbonate is the most common form but is only ~30% absorbed, however calcium malate/citrate/aspartate/orotate is ~80% absorbed.
The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 essential fatty acids in our diet is thought to be important, and historically the ratio was near to 1. However, in our modern diet, the amount of omega-6 is greater by a factor of ~15, which is thought to contribute to heart disease and complications of diabetes. Although we all need some omega-6 oils in our diet, most of us need a lot more omega-3 oils to keep the balance right. Omega-3 oils can be obtained in oily fish (EPA and DHA: salmon, trout, tuna, anchovies, sardines, and mackerel), and range-fed beef, lamb, and chicken. Note that the smaller fish, e.g. anchovies and sardines, have the lowest content of toxins and heavy metals such as mercury. A 4 oz serving of oily fish gives a generous amount of omega-3 oils (salmon 1,000-1,500 mg, sardines and mackerel, 2,000-3,300 mg), and fish oil supplements are widely available in softgel capsules.
Omega-3 oils can also be obtained in some vegetable sources (ALA): flax oil, walnuts, lecithin, wheat germ. Flax oil is commonly used as it has a relatively high content of ALA, and many doctors advise eating a handful of walnuts at each meal as a source of ALA to help prevent heart disease. Note that flax oil (also known as linseed oil, found in oil paint) is highly reactive with oxygen, and can cause a fire from the heat of oxidation if left to dry in a tightly-crumpled rag or paper towel. Also note that commercial boiled linseed oil is not edible because it contains metal additives. Flax oil goes rancid in 2-3 months in a bottle at room temperature with exposure to oxygen and/or light, so it should be kept in a black bottle in the refrigerator. When fresh it smells nutty; if it smells bad, it is going rancid. The softgel capsule form of flax oil is more stable and can stay fresh for as long as 6 months. Flax oil should not be used for cooking because the heat quickly oxidizes it, turning it to varnish. You can prevent a bottle of flax oil from going rancid so quickly by adding the contents of a few capsules of d-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E, the non-acetate form). Freshly-ground flaxseed meal is a good alternative to flax oil because the seed coating protects it from getting rancid, and the whole seed has many other excellent nutrients. See Simopoulos & Robinson (1999), Saul (2012), Pollan (2006), Hoffer & Saul (2008) books below.
Iron for women and infants. Women may lose ~60 mg/month of iron during menstrual periods, which must be made up from the diet on a regular basis. Also, during pregnancy, a women's body needs to supply iron to the fetus. Because the additional iron required by the fetus is beyond the normal requirement, some doctors advise extra iron during pregnancy. However, the menstrual loss is eliminated during pregnancy, which is equivalent to ~500 mg over the gestational period for a fetus, and thus in many cases not much additional iron is needed during pregnancy. The optimal amount of supplementary iron is a balance between the need to supply the fetus with its iron needs and prevent anemia, and the need to maintain low iron levels in the blood plasma to prevent infections and other diseases. Normal term breast-fed babies don't require any supplemental iron in their diet for their first 9-12 months. They can absorb ~1 mg/day from their normal feeding which is enough to maintain a positive iron balance. Because cow's milk contains less absorbable iron, babies fed on formula can get anemic without some iron supplementation, especially in their second 6 months. However, the iron added to infant formula is non-heme bound, which can be a risk factor for bacterial infections and damage from free radicals during early development. See your doctor for advice if you or your baby have special needs (see Emery (1991) book below).
Sources of iron. The most absorbable form of iron is heme-bound iron, found in liver, red meat and turkey. Other good sources of iron include chocolate, beans and lentils, tomato sauce, and spinach. Daily multi-vitamin tablets for women contain ~20 mg of iron, and many other multi-vitamin tablets contain ~10mg (the RDA for men), and multi-vitamin tablets without iron are also available and recommended for men. The best forms of supplemental iron are ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous ascorbate, or carbonyl iron (which is less absorbable but also less toxic). Avoid ferrous sulfate because it is not well absorbed and can cause constipation. Iron is also absorbed from acidic food cooked in unseasoned cast-iron skillets, up to ~5 mg/serving. The food may taste metallic so most cooks season their skillets with oil which reduces iron uptake. Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron in the small intestine, so vegetable sources of iron may be sufficient if taken with several grams of vitamin C daily. Further, the body can prevent excess absorption of non-heme (vegetable) iron in the presence of vitamin C, so for this reason a vegetarian diet may be a safer way to get additional iron than eating meat. Many people, especially those who eat a lot of meat, get enough iron in their diet, and therefore should not take iron-containing supplements. However, those who give a lot of blood, or do heavy exercise or bleed a lot should consider taking supplemental iron. Also those with special problems should check with their doctor for advice. Many nutritionists and doctors recommend iron intake on the low side to combat infections and other consequences of iron overload. Blood tests for iron are readily available and recommended. See Emery (1991) book below.
Sources of zinc: meat, fowl, liver are good sources. Oysters are excellent sources. Vegetable sources, such as barley, buckwheat, beans, and whole wheat flour contain lower levels of zinc.
To avoid metabolic syndrome: Minimize consumption of foods made from refined sugar, flour or oil (white or "wheat" bread, cake, cookies, standard pasta, salad dressing, white rice, etc), because these give calories without nutrients, and thus tend to cause obesity and nutrient deficits -- replace with moderate amounts of whole-grain equivalents ("whole-wheat" bread, pasta, brown rice). Avoid foods that contain sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or processed juices with a high fructose content because fructose must be processed by the liver before it can be utlized by the body, and a large dose of fructose overwhelms the liver. Eating raw fruit is OK because its fructose is absorbed slower. Fat is OK, as it satisfies the appetite more than carbs. And take supplements for vitamin Bs, C, D, E & magnesium.
See http://www.doctoryourself.com/allergies.html (use of vitamin C to prevent allergies) and http://www.doctoryourself.com/allergies_2.html (advice on simple ways to prevent allergies).
Nut grower's guide: nutrient content of nuts.
http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/Nut%20Growers%20GuideSample.pdf
Ames BN. (2006) Low Micronutrient Intake May Accelerate the Degenerative Diseases of Aging through Allocation of Scarce Micronutrients by Triage. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 103:17589-17594. http://www.pnas.org/content/103/47/17589.
Ames BN. (2010a) Optimal Micronutrients Delay Mitochondrial Decay and Age-Associated Diseases. Mech Ageing Dev 131:473-479. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20420847.
Ames BN. (2010b) Prevention of Mutation, Cancer, and Other Age-Associated Diseases by Optimizing Micronutrient Intake. J Nucleic Acids. pii: 725071. doi: 10.4061/2010/725071. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jna/2010/725071.
Ames BN (2014) Video: Vitamin and Mineral Inadequacy Accelerates Aging-associated Disease. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVQmPVBjubw
Campbell TC, Campbell TM II. (2006) The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781932100662 (A noted medical nutrition researcher describes conclusions from studying the correlations between what people in China eat and how healthy they are. The most healthy people, with the least heart disease and cancer, ate less meat/fat/dairy. Contains a scathing critique of the medical and nutritional establishment. The recommended diet: no dairy, no oils (olive, canola, etc), no fat, meat, fish, or nuts. (For a critique of this book, see: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=385 )
Dean C. (2007) The Magnesium Miracle. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9780345494580 (Best overall book I've seen on magnesium and the effects of its deficiency. Explains symptoms and effects.)
Emery TF (1991) Iron and your Health: Facts and Fallacies. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 978-0849367632 (An authoritative book on iron metabolism that explains our iron needs and the risks in taking too much.)
Esselstyn CB (2008) Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure. (Paperback - Jan 31, 2008) ISBN-13: 9781583333006 (A general surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic explains how 20 people who had terminal heart disease were all saved and recovered without any more heart symptoms on a vegan diet -- no meat, fat, fish, dairy, oils, or nuts. A critique is that the book doesn't explain why a vegan diet is curative. Certainly eating no meat, fat, oil, or nuts, etc. forces the dieter to eat more vegetables & fruits to get enough calories. One hypothesis is that the additional vegetables & fruits provide extra vitamin C and magnesium necessary for cardiac health.)
Fan MS, Zhao FJ, Fairweather-Tait SJ, Poulton PR, Dunham SJ, McGrath SP. (2008) Evidence of decreasing mineral density in wheat grain over the last 160 years. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 22:315-324. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19013359 (Explains that in a test plot in England, the minerals in the soil have kept relatively constant, but the minerals in the grains grown there have decreased by 30% - 50% over the last 50 years. The reason is evidently the faster growing new high yield cultivars.)
Heaney RP, Holick MF. (2011) Why the IOM recommendations for vitamin D are deficient. J Bone Mineral Res. 26:455-457. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21337617
Hickey S, Saul AW. (2008) Vitamin C: The Real Story, the Remarkable and Controversial Healing Factor.(Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781591202233 (Best overall book I've seen on vitamin C and the effects of its deficiency. Explains how a vitamin C deficiency can cause atherosclerosis and how to determine the correct dose of vitamin C to prevent viral infections.)
Hoffer A, Saul AW. (2008) Orthomolecular Medicine For Everyone: Megavitamin Therapeutics for Families and Physicians. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781591202264 (Comprehensive guide to the use of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to be more healthy. Chock full of information on vitamins and their effects in preventing disease. For some people this can be overwhelming, but it is probably mostly correct.)
Hoffer A, Saul AW, Foster HD (2012) Niacin: The Real Story: Learn about the Wonderful Healing Properties of Niacin. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 978-1591202752. (An excellent and very complete guide to the use of niacin supplements, which can help to prevent arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and brain diseases.)
Holick MF. (2010) The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problem. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 978-0452296886. (A comprehensive book about how to prevent vitamin D deficiency for bone and extraskeletal health, written by a pioneer in vitamin D research.)
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Vitamin D. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional. These recommendations for vitamin D are widely considered too low.
Jablonski NG.(2008) Skin: A Natural History (Paperback) ISBN-13: 978-0520256248 (Explains that skin color in human populations evolved over 50-100 generations in response to the amount of UV radiation: higher UV promotes dark skin to prevent folate deficiency, and lower UV promotes light skin to prevent vitamin D deficiency.)
Khalsa S. (2009) The Vitamin D Revolution: How the Power of This Amazing Vitamin Can Change Your Life. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781401924706 (Best overall book I've seen on vitamin D and the effects of its deficiency. It is essential in preventing inflammation, cancer, and in activating the immune response. Explains how to get vitamin D from the sun, and why we can't get vitamin D from the sun in the winter, so we must use supplements, 2000 IU/day or more for adults.)
Kurl S, Tuomainen TP, Laukkanen JA, Nyyssönen K, Lakka T, Sivenius J, Salonen JT. (2002) Plasma vitamin C modifies the association between hypertension and risk of stroke. Stroke. 33:1568-1573. Plasma vitamin C modifies the association between hypertension and risk of stroke (Shows that vitamin C lowers the risk for stroke by 50%.)
Levy TE. (2002) Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins, by Thomas E. Levy (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781401069636 (Follows Pauling's theories about stopping viral infections and expands them. Basically says that vitamin C can prevent all viral infections if taken at the proper dose. Explains how toxins such as cigarette smoke reduce blood levels of vitamin C. I follow this book and have stopped getting colds/flu.)
Levy TE. (2006) Stop America's #1 Killer: Reversible Vitamin Deficiency Found to be Origin of All Coronary Heart Disease. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9780977952007 (Follows Pauling's theories on preventing heart disease and expands them. Basically says that vitamin C can prevent atherosclerosis and many other diseases. I follow this book for intuition on the need for vitamin C. )
Levy TE (2012) Primal Panacea. (Paperback, ISBN-13: 978-0983772804). (An excellent overview of the importance of vitamin C in the diet.)
Madrid E. (2009) Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your Life. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781439229460 (Explains the latest scientific opinion on the benefits of vitamin D, which regulates calcium/magnesium in the body and prevents cancer. Well-written and current.)
Pacholok SM, Stuart JJ. (2006) Could it be B-12: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781884956461 (Easy to read guide to effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency and how to discover it. There are a wide variety of symptoms, but a deficiency is easy to treat.)
Papas A. (1999) The Vitamin E Factor: The miraculous antioxidant for the prevention and treatment of heart disease, cancer, and aging. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9780060984434 (Authoritative description of the different forms of vitamin E and their effects and recommended doses.)
Pauling L. (2006) How to Live Longer And Feel Better. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9780870710964 (Pauling's original book on vitamin therapy, explaining his theory of heart disease. Well written with lots of interesting and important information about the body's need for nutrients, especially vitamin C, and their effect on health. Has an excellent description of the theories of why vitamins became necessary for life, and how individuals vary in their needs. Develops vitamin C therapy for preventing heart disease, and defines orthomolecular medicine. Originally published in 1986 but still very relevant with very clear descriptions.)
Pollan M. (2007) The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9780143038580 (Popular best-seller, highly recommended. Describes where the food we eat comes from, and explains how food is complex and cannot always be reduced to a set of nutrients. Excellent perspective, very informative, terrific descriptions of an organic farm, but lacks much specific information about vitamins and nutrients.)
Pollan M. (2009) In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. (Paperback) # ISBN-13: 978-0143114963 (Popular best-seller, highly recommended. An explanation of why "nutritionism" -- the study of separate identifiable nutrients -- is not yet fully mature, and therefore why we should eat lots of different healthy foods. Not much specific information about vitamins, and gives a pessimistic view of nutrition science. Very interesting -- but I think the essential nutrient content of foods explains the healthiness of most of the foods discussed.)
Saul A. (2012) Doctor Yourself: Natural Healing That Works, 2nd Edition. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781591203100 (Highly recommended. Comprehensive guide to practical use of vitamins and nutrients to solve even difficult health problems. Some people may not want to consider the approaches but they work and are often safer than drugs. The asscoiated web site is kept up to date with the latest information. http://www.doctoryourself.com)
Seelig M. (2003) The Magnesium Factor. (Paperback) ISBN-13: 9781583331569 (An authoritative book on the causes of magnesium deficiency, its effects, and how to prevent it. Seelig is one of the most prominent magnesium nutrition researchers.)
Shargorodsky M, Debby O, Matas Z, Zimlichman R. (2010) Effect of Long-Term Treatment with Antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10 and Selenium) on Arterial Compliance, Humoral Factors and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Multiple Cardiovascuar Risk Factors. Nutr Metab (Lond) 7:55. Shargorodsky paper in PubMed
Simopoulos AP, Robinson J. (1999) The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete. (Paperback), ISBN-13: 9780060930233 (An excellent introduction to the benefits of Omega-3 oils. Explains why the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 is important.)
Smith AD, Smith SM, de Jager CA, Whitbread P, Johnston C, Agacinski G, Oulhaj A, Bradley KM, Jacoby R, Refsum H. (2010) Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One 5:e12244. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20838622 (Shows that supplements of folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 can slow brain atrophy in older people.)
Thomas D. (2007) The mineral depletion of foods available to us as a nation (1940-2002)--a review of the 6th Edition of McCance and Widdowson. Nutr Health. 19:21-55.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18309763 (Shows that the level of minerals in commonly available foods has dropped over the past 50 years.)