multivitamin Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Beriberi Plague Millions in East Asia – Until One Man Discovered it was a Vitamin Deficiency

The AHA! Team — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 06:34:35 +0000

Arsenio Toledo via Natural News – Beriberi, or thiamine deficiency, used to be a disease that was endemic to many parts of the world, including Japan – until a Japanese naval physician discovered that the simple solution was a change in diet and an increase in the natural intake of vitamins. Beriberi used to be so prevalent all over East Asia that up to 40 percent of the Imperial Japanese Navy by the late 19th century was affected by it. Japanese naval physician Takaki Kanehiro became one of the first people in the world to discover that beriberi was linked to diet, specifically the Navy’s reliance on rice. Takaki proposed a change in diet to include more protein-rich foods, and this change successfully eliminated the disease within the Navy in just two years. Takaki’s work not only improved the health of Japanese sailors but also improved its military strength and advanced global understanding of nutritional diseases and epidemiology. Beriberi, or thiamine deficiency, used to be a disease that was endemic to many parts of the world, including Japan – until a Japanese naval physician discovered that the simple solution was a change in diet and an increase in the natural intake of vitamins. This is according to research from the 1962 book “The Vitamin Hunters” by Albert von Haller, which chronicles how many endemic diseases like beriberi, scurvy, pellagra and rickets were nearly wiped from existence following the knowledge that they were caused by vitamin deficiencies. The man responsible for helping solve the global problem of thiamine deficiency is Takaki Kanehiro, a Japanese naval medical officer who discovered the cure to beriberi around 10 years before Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkman won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work in identifying that beriberi was caused by a nutritional deficiency, namely the lack of thiamine or vitamin B1. (Related: B vitamins are CRUCIAL to heart health, brain health and eye health.) Beriberi, characterized by symptoms such as paralysis, heart weakness and swelling of the liver, was widespread in Japan and all-over East Asia during the 19th century. In the Imperial Japanese Navy, the disease reached epidemic proportions, with up to 40 percent of sailors affected. The illness severely compromised the Navy’s operational capacity, as many recovered sailors were left unfit for service. Takaki, who joined the Navy as a medical officer in 1872, observed the devastating impact of beriberi firsthand. At the time, the disease was widely believed to be caused by an infectious agent, a theory influenced by the recent discoveries of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch. Takaki initially sought to identify the presumed bacillus but found no evidence to support this hypothesis. A change in diet was all it took to rid the Imperial Japanese Navy of its beriberi epidemic Takaki’s breakthrough came when he hypothesized that beriberi was linked to the sailors’ diet, particularly their reliance on polished rice. He noted that officers, who consumed a more varied diet were less affected than regular rank-and-file sailors who primarily consumed rice. Takaki proposed that the disease was caused by a deficiency of nitrogenous elements like protein in the diet – a theory that contradicted prevailing medical beliefs. To test his hypothesis, Takaki conducted a controlled experiment in 1884 using two naval vessels. One ship maintained the traditional rice-based diet, while the other was provisioned with a protein-rich diet similar to that of British sailors. The results were striking: On the control ship, over two-thirds of the crew developed beriberi, while on the other ship, only four cases were reported and all among sailors who had secretly consumed more rice than proteins. Takaki’s findings led to a radical overhaul of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s dietary provisions. By 1885, the new diet had been adopted across the fleet, and after just two years the Navy had effectively eradicated the disease from its ranks. This achievement not only improved the health and morale of sailors but also strengthened Japan’s military capabilities, contributing to its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. Takaki’s work extended beyond his research on beriberi. He founded the Sei-I-Kwai Medical Training School in 1881 and pioneered an emphasis on patient-centered care in Japan. He also established the country’s first nursing school and created a charitable hospital to serve the poor, which still stands today as the Jikei University School of Medicine in Minato, Tokyo. In recognition of his contributions, Takaki was appointed Navy Surgeon General in 1885 and became the first person in Japan to receive a Doctor of Medical Science degree in 1888. He was elevated to the imperial peerage in 1905 and awarded Japan’s highest honors, including the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure and the Order of the Rising Sun. Kanehiro Takaki’s pioneering work on beriberi marked a turning point in the understanding of nutritional diseases. By demonstrating the link between diet and health, he not only solved a critical problem for the Japanese Navy but also advanced the field of epidemiology. His legacy continues to influence medical education and healthcare in Japan, underscoring the importance of empirical research and patient-centered care. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Journals.SagePub.com Brighteon.com To read the original article, click here

The post Beriberi Plague Millions in East Asia – Until One Man Discovered it was a Vitamin Deficiency appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Top 10 Reasons to Take a Daily Multivitamin

AHA Publisher — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 07:00:29 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Are you one of the millions of Americans who take a daily multivitamin? Or, are you someone who thinks they are a waste of money? Beyond deciding whether or not to take one, there’s also the issue of quality. Not all multivitamin are created equal. Here are 10 reasons to consider a daily multivitamin and what sets the best multivitamin apart from others. 10 Top Reasons to Take a Daily Multivitamin 1. Current Food Supply and Crops We’d all love to believe our food supply is as healthy as ever. However, much of the soil in our country (and others) has been stripped of nutrients levels after years of conventional farming. While the push for organic farming and more sustainable methods has been great, our crops can still be lower in nutrients than we’d like. A daily multivitamin can make up for some of these deficiencies. 2. Weight Loss Plans Almost anytime you’re trying to lose weight, you reduce the amount, or types of foods you consume. And while this can be very healthy, you may miss out on key nutrients. For example, if you cut out dairy, you may not get quite enough Vitamin D3 through the foods you choose. Or, if you cut out red meats, you may lack adequate heme-iron levels. A daily multivitamin can bridge the gap so that you can choose healthy foods that help you meet your weight goals while getting in enough micronutrients. 3. Healthy Aging As we age, our cellular nutritional needs actually increase because many body systems have to work harder to maintain health despite aging tissues (1). Unfortunately, it becomes more difficult for our bodies to absorb needed nutrients. In addition, medications can further deplete our body of nutrients and/or affect absorption. A multivitamin can help us maintain adequate micronutrient intake for healthy aging. Additionally, a good multivitamin should be full of food-derived antioxidants, which fight the build-up of oxidative stress and free radicals (1). These charged molecules harm cells and expedite aging. Antioxidants in a daily multivitamin can offset deficiencies and fight oxidative stress. 4. Heart Health It’s no secret that the nutrients on your plate and in your supplements affect your heart. In fact, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, K1, Niacin (B3), CoQ10 and magnesium all play a role in cardiovascular health. What’s more, some micronutrients promote healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels while supporting a lessened inflammation response in the body. In an age in which heart ailments are the leading cause of death of both men and women, we need all the heart-healthy nutrients we can get. Studies have found that multivitamin use may be associated with less heart ailments and better health (2, 3, 4). 5. Immune Function Many micronutrients play a role in healthy immune function. In fact, the most important micronutrients for a healthy immune system include vitamins A, C, D, E, B2, B6 and B12, folic acid, beta carotene, iron, selenium, and zinc (5). These nutrients can be found in foods and a good daily multivitamin. While you can certainly eat foods to provide many needed nutrients, most adults are found to be lacking in important immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin D. A good multivitamin can help. 6. Eye Health Micronutrients are also important for eye health. Vitamins A, C, E, Niacin (B3), and selenium support it. Lutein and Zeaxanthin protect the eyes from harmful light waves. In fact, studies have shown multivitamins containing a combination of vitamins, lutein, and zeaxanthin can reduce the risk of macular degeneration (7, 8). Macular Degeneration is an eye disease the causes vision loss and is considered the leading cause of blindness around the world (9). Additionally, researchers have found that taking a daily multivitamin may reduce the risk of cataract symptoms, another eye ailment that contributes to vision loss in older adults (10). 7. Bone Health Bone density gradually diminishes as we age. What’s more, going through menopause can put women at a higher risk of bone loss (11). Thankfully, a good multivitamin can provide micronutrients that support bone health, reduce risk of fractures, and even promote bone healing. These nutrients include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and K2 (12, 13, 14, 15). Bone health is supremely important throughout life. Make sure to get the nutrients you need for healthy bones. 8. Brain Function Beyond physical health, multivitamins may support mental health. In fact, some research shows that taking a daily multivitamin can preserve brain function and boost mental health as well. Interestingly enough, one study published by the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology at Swinburne University in Australia even found that daily supplementation with a multivitamin was able to support better memory in older men at risk for cognitive decline (16). Additionally, multivitamins may also support healthy moods and reduce depressive symptoms. One study published in Psychopharmacology found that daily multivitamin supplementation was linked to significant reductions in both anxiety and stress (17). Similarly, another study found that taking a multivitamin was effective at increasing alertness, improving mood and enhancing feelings of overall well-being (18). How can this all be linked to a daily multivitamin? Brain health, like other organs, depends on many micronutrients like antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and healthy fatty acids (19). Since our crops, diets, and food supply often lack everything we need, a daily multivitamin can help. 9. Healthy Hair and Skin How can you support the health of your hair and skin? Many lifestyle and diet habits impact hair, skin, and nail health. The important nutrients include Vitamins B3 (Niacin), biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamins A, C, E, iron, zinc, and CoQ10 (20, 21, 22, 23, 24). In fact, adequate micronutrients can slow thinning of hair, improve the appearance of skin, and improve nail health. 10. Energy and Vitality Wouldn’t you love more energy and vitality? Focus on adequate iron, B Vitamins, and magnesium. In fact, these nutrients support energy production, better sleep, and cellular health (25). In addition, a healthy low-carb Mediterranean diet using Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto can improve overall health, energy, and vitality. Why Choose Dr. Colbert’s Enhanced Multivitamin? While many multivitamins on the market contain low potency of nutrients, man made chemicals, and artificial coloring and sweeteners, Dr. Colbert’s Enhanced Multivitamin is different. It contains the highest-quality active-form micronutrients ingredients, including methylcobalamin (the active form of Vitamin B12), and methyltetrahydrofolate (the active form of folic acid). These nutrients are efficiently absorbed and effectively used in the body. In fact, active forms of micronutrients are superior in many ways. Most importantly, your body does not have to try convert them to the active form. Importantly, many people cannot convert all inactive nutrients to active ones. Dr. Colbert’s Enhanced Multivitamin contains active Vitamin K2, active Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12 (methylcobalamin), Vitamin A, C, D, E, and K, biotin, calcium, potassium, folic Acid (methyltetrahydrofolate), and iodine. Bottom Line A great multivitamin can support your entire body, and specific areas of health listed above. But choose wisely. Dr. Colbert’s Enhanced Multivitamin stands above others with active forms of micronutrients, high-potency, and natural ingredients. To read the original article click here.

The post Top 10 Reasons to Take a Daily Multivitamin appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.