Nutrition Health Article

Preparations

An enormous body of research exists in the field of nutrition. Mainstream Western medical practitioners point to studies that show that a balanced diet, based on the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, provides all of the necessary nutrients.

The Food Guide Pyramid recommends the following daily servings in six categories:

• grains: six or more servings
• vegetables: five servings
• fruits: two to four servings
• meat: two to three servings
• dairy: two to three servings
• fats and oils: use sparingly

Precautions

Individuals should not change their diets without the advice of nutritional experts or health care professionals. Certain individuals especially children, pregnant and lactating women, and chronically ill patients should only change their diets under professional supervision.

Side effects

It is best to obtain vitamins and minerals through food sources. Excessive intake of vitamins and mineral supplements can cause serious physiological problems.

The following is a list of possible side effects resulting from excessive doses of vitamins and minerals:

• vitamin A: birth defects, irreversible bone and liver damage
• vitamin B₁: deficiencies in B₂ and B₆
• vitamin B₆: damage to the nervous system
• vitamin C: affects the absorption of copper; diarrhea
• vitamin D: hypercalcemia (abnormally high concentration of calcium in the blood)
• phosphorus: affects the absorption of calcium
• zinc: affects absorption of copper and iron; suppresses the immune system

Research and general acceptance

Due to large volume of scientific evidence demonstrating the benefits of the low-fat, high-fiber diet in disease prevention and treatment, this diet has been accepted and advocated by both complementary and allopathic practitioners.

BOOKS

Bruce, Debra Fulghum, and Harris H. McIlwain. The Unofficial Guide to Alternative Medicine. New York: Macmillan, 1998.

Cassileth, Barrie R. The Alternative Medicine Handbook. New York: W.W. Norton, 1998.

Credit, Larry P., Sharon G. Hartunian, and Margaret J. Nowak. Your Guide to Complementary Medicine. Garden City Park, New York: Avery Publishing Group, 1998.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines. "Counseling to Promote a Healthy Diet." Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd edition. <http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/texts/gcps/gcps0066.html>.

Winick, Myron. The Fiber Prescription. New York: Random House, Inc., 1992.

PERIODICALS

Halbert, Steven C. "Diet and Nutrtion in Primary Care: From Antioxidants to Zinc." Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice (December 1997): 825-843.

Turner, Lisa. "Good 'n Plenty." Vegetarian Times (February 1999):48

Vickers, Andrew, and Catherine Zollman. "Unconventional approaches to nutritional medicine." British Medical Journal (November 27, 1999): 1419.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Association of Nutritional Consultants. 810 S. Buffalo Street, Warsaw, IN 46580. (888) 828-2262.

American Dietetic Association. 216 W. Jackson boulevard, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. (800) 366-1655. <http://www.eatright.org/>.

Mai Tran