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Newsletter & Health News
Why We Recommend Higher Dosages Than The RDA
Government scientists meet periodically to decide the levels of the recommended daily
allowances (RDA) of nutrients. The main criteria is the amount needed to prevent deficiency
diseases. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness, and
vitamin B1 deficiency causes pellagra.
While this approach is fine as far as it goes, these recommendations have little to do with
optimum health. One of every two Americans will contract cancer and 50% of the population by
age 40 will have developed a chronic illness. In theory, most of these people meet or exceed the
RDA’s for nutrients.
The theory of the RDAs ignores more subtle aspects of nutrition such as the effect of vitamin
C or zinc on tumor inhibition. This is much harder to measure, so it is ignored. At Analytical
Research Labs, however, we consider many subtle nutrient effects, which are reflected in our
recommendations.
Biochemical Individuality
For optimum health, one needs different concepts of nutrition. One of these is biochemical
individuality. The term was coined by Dr. Roger Williams to describe his research finding that
nutritional needs vary tremendously from person to person.
From this perspective, averages and standards mean very little. We use hair mineral analysis to
assess each person's oxidation rate, stage of stress, trace element levels, toxic metal levels,
digestive adequacy, state of the immune system and other factors that can be identified on the
test.
We also take into account each person's age, sex, weight and health conditions including
pregnancy and acute or chronic illnesses. All these affect one's nutritional requirements.
Orthomolecular Nutrition
Orthomolecular nutrition is related to biochemical individuality. The term was coined by the
late Dr. Linus Pauling. It means to give the amount needed of a nutrient, not some average or
standard amount.
Our recommendations differ from those of many orthomolecular physicians in that we use
foods and nutrients not just to address symptoms, but to balance body chemistry. For example, a
person in an alarm stage of stress requires more calcium, copper, magnesium, choline and
inositol. However, excessive vitamin B-complex or C may be detrimental for that person.
A person in the exhaustion stage of stress requires more B-complex and C and less copper. By
properly combining nutrients and taking into account mineral levels, ratios and patterns, our
programs are more precise and correction is deeper and more permanent.
Other Reasons For High Nutrient Dosages
We also recommend higher dosages of certain nutrients for other reasons. These include:
1) Many people are born deficient and toxic. Both nutrient deficiencies and toxic metal excesses
that require more nutrients to remove them are passed on through the placenta. Hair mineral
testing on mothers and their children reveal that many young children are born depleted and toxic
as a result of imbalances in the parents.
2) Today's soil is depleted. Many soils are low in zinc, manganese, chromium, molybdenum,
calcium and magnesium. This means that although one eats an excellent diet of organic foods, one
will not obtain all the nutrients needed.
3) H-yield crops are deficient in certain nutrients. Ten times the amount of wheat is grown on the
same land as was grown 100 years ago. Today's wheat contains about 6% protein whereas 100
years ago it contained 12-14%. Trace mineral levels are similarly much lower due to high-yield
farming methods.
4) Modern fertilizers do not supply enough trace elements. One hundred years ago, manures
were used extensively for fertilizer. Today, superphosphate fertilizers have largely replaced
manures. These contain mainly nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus and are deficient in the trace
elements contained in manures. Superphosphates often act more as growth stimulants. This has
contributed greatly to depletion of the soil and crop minerals. This includes organically grown
food, although it is much better.
5) Pesticides and herbicides kill soil microorganisms and affect the nutrition of the plant. Soil
microorganisms are needed to make minerals and other nutrients available to plants. The result is
lower nutrient content. Also, our bodies require extra nutrients to process pesticide residues that
remain inside the foods.
Many pesticides are deadly chemicals that severely tax the human system. Some contain lead,
arsenic and other toxic metals that slowly accumulate in the body unless and until one follows a
health program designed to remove them.
Our laws currently allow sewage and factory sludge to be sold as fertilizer that contains
significant quantities of toxic metals. These add greatly to our toxic metal burden and require
extra nutrients to help remove them from the body.
6) Long-distance transportation of many foods diminishes their nutrition. Many foods are grown
thousands of miles from population centers. They may spend a week on trucks or trains to reach
you. As soon as a food is harvested, the levels of certain nutrients begins to diminish. This is
another factor that reduces our nutrient intake and increases the need for supplements.
7) Food processing often drastically reduces nutrient content. Refining of wheat to make white
flour removes 80% of its magnesium, 70-80% of its zinc, 87% of its chromium, 88% of its
manganese and 50% of its cobalt.
Refining sugar cane to make white sugar removes 99% of its magnesium and 93% of its
chromium. Polishing rice removes 75% of its zinc and chromium. Canned food may be quite old.
Frozen foods are nutritionally better.
8) Food additives often deplete nutrients. Thousands of artificial flavors, colors, dough
conditioners, stabilizers and preservatives are added to many foods. While some are harmless
and may increase the value of food, many are toxic and can deplete the body of nutrients.
As a result of eating refined, low-quality food loaded with additives, most people's digestion is
impaired. This further impairs nutrient absorption and increases nutritional needs. This is why we
generally recommend a digestive aid for everyone who is suffering from any health condition.
9) Pollution and stress deplete many nutrients including calcium, magnesium and zinc. Stress also
causes excessive sympathetic nervous system activity which reduces digestive ability. These are
other important reasons why supplementation in high doses is sometimes needed.
So severe are nutrient deficiencies today, that in addition to your recommended diet and
supplement program, we recommend everyone use unrefined sea salt and kelp as extra mineral
sources. As health improves, less supplements are needed.
References
1. Anderson, M. and Jensen, B., Empty Harvest: Understanding the Link Between Our
Food, Our Immunity and Our Planet, Avery Penguin Putnam, 1993.
2. Hall, R.H, Food For Naught, The Decline in Nutrition, Vintage Books, NY 1974.
3. Hoffer, A. and Walker, M., Orthomolecular Nutrition, Keats Publishing, 1978.
4. Pfeiffer, Mental and Elemental Nutrients, Keats Publishing, 1975.
5. Schroeder, H. The Trace Elements and Man, The Devin-Adair Company, CT, 1975.
Copyright © 2003
This material is for educational purposes only
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
