Re: Pregnancy and Vitamin A

February 1, 2002

Sheri,

natural forms of vitamin A are fine.

this link should put you at ease:

http://www.westonaprice.org/vitamins/vitaminasaga.html

----- Original Message -----

From: <Sowelu30@...>

< >

Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 11:14 AM

Subject: Pregnancy and Vitamin A

I'm doing some pre-conception planning, and I've been reading about the

dangers of too much vitamin A causing birth defects. One particular study

found the highest risk of birth defects (mental defects) were from women who

had the vitamin A from liver right before and during conception. I've read

that I shouldn't have more that 10,000 IU a day, yet a 3 1/2 oz. serving of

liver has 44,000 IU. I've been taking cod liver oil, and was about to give

the raw liver drink a try since NT recommends " couples planning to have

children should eat liberally of organic liver and other organ meats... "

But

now I'm nervous about the Vit. A thing. Any advice?

Sheri

February 1, 2002

Sheri,

These so called authorities limiting Vitamin A levels base their

opinions on studies using megadoses of SYNTHETIC vitamin A. Food

borne vitamin A is not anywhere near the same as synthetic vitamin A

just as artificial computer intelligence is not the same as human

intelligence. Don't even bother counting the amount of A you are

getting in your food. And DO NOT even consider taking synthetic A.

You're doing great keep up the good work. And definetly go to that

link Deanna posted she's right on the money.

All My Best,

Dr. Marasco,BS,DC

Cincinnati, Oh

> I'm doing some pre-conception planning, and I've been reading about

the

> dangers of too much vitamin A causing birth defects. One

particular study

> found the highest risk of birth defects (mental defects) were from

women who

> had the vitamin A from liver right before and during conception.

I've read

> that I shouldn't have more that 10,000 IU a day, yet a 3 1/2 oz.

serving of

> liver has 44,000 IU. I've been taking cod liver oil, and was about

to give

> the raw liver drink a try since NT recommends " couples planning to

have

> children should eat liberally of organic liver and other organ

meats... " But

> now I'm nervous about the Vit. A thing. Any advice?

>

> Sheri

February 1, 2002

All,

This question reminds me of something a bit broader--

Can anyone recommend a good guidebook for a pregnant woman that would hold

close to NT principles?

If there is not one published at this time, perhaps Sally or or

another like-minded expert would consider writing one?!

My two sisters are considering becoming pregnant, and are not serious

enough about nutrition to wade through a densely scientific volume (even

the Wise Traditions quarterlies from the Weston A. Price Foundation are a

bit too heavy for them), but I'd be proud to share with them a more

readable " here's a smart way to be pregnant " -kind of book. My own personal

sharing about nutrition doesn't seem quite as authoritative as would a

beautiful book, which could be referred to over and over.

Any ideas??

Thanks!

Sowelu30@...

om

cc:

02/01/2002 Subject:

Pregnancy and Vitamin A

10:14 AM

Please respond

to

native-nutriti

on

I'm doing some pre-conception planning, and I've been reading about the

dangers of too much vitamin A causing birth defects. One particular study

found the highest risk of birth defects (mental defects) were from women

who

had the vitamin A from liver right before and during conception. I've read

that I shouldn't have more that 10,000 IU a day, yet a 3 1/2 oz. serving of

liver has 44,000 IU. I've been taking cod liver oil, and was about to give

the raw liver drink a try since NT recommends " couples planning to have

children should eat liberally of organic liver and other organ meats... "

But

now I'm nervous about the Vit. A thing. Any advice?

Sheri

February 1, 2002

,

What a great idea. You are correct this type of information is

spread thin at best. I just spoke with my wife and it won't help

your sisters right now but you have just launched a new important

project. Thank you.

Unfortunately there is not much out there that is real solid

specific to this topic. Certainly some of the discussion sally makes

in NT would be helpful but I understand your desire that is specific

and stands alone. I'll do what i can to remedy this situation.

All My Best,

Dr. Marasco BS,DC

Cincinnati, Oh

>

> All,

>

> This question reminds me of something a bit broader--

>

> Can anyone recommend a good guidebook for a pregnant woman that

would hold

> close to NT principles?

>

> If there is not one published at this time, perhaps Sally or or

> another like-minded expert would consider writing one?!

>

> My two sisters are considering becoming pregnant, and are not

serious

> enough about nutrition to wade through a densely scientific volume

(even

> the Wise Traditions quarterlies from the Weston A. Price Foundation

are a

> bit too heavy for them), but I'd be proud to share with them a more

> readable " here's a smart way to be pregnant " -kind of book. My own

personal

> sharing about nutrition doesn't seem quite as authoritative as

would a

> beautiful book, which could be referred to over and over.

>

> Any ideas??

>

> Thanks!

>

Sowelu30@a...

> om native-

nutrition@y...

>

cc:

> 02/01/2002 Subject: [native-

nutrition] Pregnancy and Vitamin A

> 10:14

AM

> Please

respond

>

to

> native-

nutriti

>

on

>

> I'm doing some pre-conception planning, and I've been reading about

the

> dangers of too much vitamin A causing birth defects. One

particular study

> found the highest risk of birth defects (mental defects) were from

women

> who

> had the vitamin A from liver right before and during conception.

I've read

> that I shouldn't have more that 10,000 IU a day, yet a 3 1/2 oz.

serving of

> liver has 44,000 IU. I've been taking cod liver oil, and was about

to give

> the raw liver drink a try since NT recommends " couples planning to

have

> children should eat liberally of organic liver and other organ

meats... "

> But

> now I'm nervous about the Vit. A thing. Any advice?

>

> Sheri

>

February 1, 2002

Wow, would this be a good idea!! I am in a similar position of

trying to research pregnancy preparation and Weston Price's book just

barely touches on it. And it looks like Price-Pottenger only has one

book on the topic (For Tomorrow's Children), which I find hard to

fathom since this is such an IMPORTANT issue! What had the most

impact to me was seeing the photos Weston took of the children and

their degeneration that was due mostly to the pregnant mother's

diet. The mothers-to-be in our culture are the ones that so need to

understand Weston's book, yet how many have even heard of him, let

alone have read the book? There needs to be a way to take the vital

information and make it easier to share with others so they

understand.

I'm in the same boat with a sister who is about to get pregnant soon,

but it's very hard to share this information as it is spread out in

various books, where it is hard to see the bigger picture.

Becky

>

> All,

>

> This question reminds me of something a bit broader--

>

> Can anyone recommend a good guidebook for a pregnant woman that

would hold

> close to NT principles?

>

> If there is not one published at this time, perhaps Sally or or

> another like-minded expert would consider writing one?!

>

> My two sisters are considering becoming pregnant, and are not

serious

> enough about nutrition to wade through a densely scientific volume

(even

> the Wise Traditions quarterlies from the Weston A. Price Foundation

are a

> bit too heavy for them), but I'd be proud to share with them a more

> readable " here's a smart way to be pregnant " -kind of book. My own

personal

> sharing about nutrition doesn't seem quite as authoritative as

would a

> beautiful book, which could be referred to over and over.

>

> Any ideas??

>

> Thanks!

>

Sowelu30@a...

> om native-

nutrition@y...

>

cc:

> 02/01/2002 Subject: [native-

nutrition] Pregnancy and Vitamin A

> 10:14

AM

> Please

respond

>

to

> native-

nutriti

>

on

>

> I'm doing some pre-conception planning, and I've been reading about

the

> dangers of too much vitamin A causing birth defects. One

particular study

> found the highest risk of birth defects (mental defects) were from

women

> who

> had the vitamin A from liver right before and during conception.

I've read

> that I shouldn't have more that 10,000 IU a day, yet a 3 1/2 oz.

serving of

> liver has 44,000 IU. I've been taking cod liver oil, and was about

to give

> the raw liver drink a try since NT recommends " couples planning to

have

> children should eat liberally of organic liver and other organ

meats... "

> But

> now I'm nervous about the Vit. A thing. Any advice?

>

> Sheri

>

February 1, 2002

Hi all,

I have been having an ongoing dialogue on this subject with my

younger sister for a couple years. She has been reluctant to take in

this info, partly it seems because I was once a live food vegan and

shared that with her too. She doesn't seem to get that if Sally and

Dr. Price's info is a fad, it's a millennia-old fad!

My sister recently announced to me that she was pregnant, and it

really hit me hard that she doesn't seem to be getting what I have to

offer. So I have been in an intense email dialogue with her and just

this morning sent her an email describing why this info should stand

out above the other information on diet and pregnancy she is deluged

with. She also asked me to give her my top three suggestions for

changes to her diet. I have decided to include the text of my most

recent email to her in case it is helpful to anyone else.

BTW, I do believe Sally plans to put out a book on diet, pregnancy,

and children in the future. She is probably super busy right now and

so can't respond right away to this subject or the formula questions.

Here is this morning's email to my sister, and I apologize in advance

if messes up the spacing, making everything run together, as it

often seems to.

Best,

******************************************

(My sister objected to my intensity in her last email saying she was

turned off at my implication that what I have to offer

is " earthshaking " or any more significant than anything else out

there. She is basically asking me to back off. But I won't. )

Hi again,

I doubt I am going to change my intensity on this one because I feel

like it is one of the most important things we as humans can do - to

consciously turn around the physical degeneration of our species. Do

you realize that crooked teeth were rare in Gramps' generation? So

was heart disease. So was cancer. Infertility was a rarity, and now

it is over 30% of couples. We can quibble over why this is, and talk

about the nasty pollution of our time, but we believe that

controlling for other factors that the evidence shows that our diet

(esp. the low sat. fat, low cholesterol, high veg. oil, high

processed, low nutrient-dense diet) is directly responsible not only

for the explosion of degen. diseases (top 3 killers today) but also

for the change in our bone structure which is compromising our

ability to function and to reproduce. I know you think this bone

structure thing is off the deep end but the combination of human and

animal studies has proven it beyond doubt for anyone who is willing

to look at it with an open mind. Women's hips have been getting

narrower, which -can- lead to more difficult childbirth. Our sinuses

have been getting squished by our narrower heads which -can- lead

to " mouth breathing " children. And you may say - so what - our teeth

get a little crooked. Actually the teeth are the final result of the

integrity of all the bones of the skull. Narrow faces mean narrow

skull which can squeeze the brain pineal pituitary sinus - and all we

see are the narrow dental arches and crooked teeth which need

orthodontistry. Do you think that it is any coincidence that

orthodontistry as a profession appeared shortly after the advent of

industrialized foods?

So I am passionate about this for if I am right the advice I offer

you could literally affect your child positively through this entire

century! And his/her children. What is insignificant about that?

Native parents to be were given special rich foods to eat for several

years before conception, and when asked why they had always done

that, respondents from tribes around the world answered: " To have

healthy babies " , or they answered: " To have perfect babies. " From

where I sit, it is heartbreaking to have clients call and tell me

that they would do anything to have learned abou this information

before their baby was born so they could have given it the best

advantages. They tell me about the consequences of their ignorance

and I feel so deeply for them. One of our purposes as a business is

to ensure that every parent has access to this ancient wisdom for

raising healthy children. So when my own sister is going to have a

child you better believe I am going to try to get through in every

way I can. The reason it felt like getting a punch in the stomach

when you told me you were pregnant was that I felt you were not very

interested in what I had to offer, and I feared you would not pay any

attention. This when I have mothers call on a regular basis to thank

us profusely for sharing this information, which is not really

available anywhere else anymore, and other mothers who call saying

they wish the would have found our sooner! I feel that while it

would be great to start years ahead of conception, adding the

following would definitely help during pregnancy and lactation.

I think it is great that you are eating organic and including animal

products (not going veggie). That is awesome and is a huge plus.

However, the foods native peoples prized for producing healthy babies

are in a different class from what we have been trained to eat in

this culture. They are the truly nutrient-dense foods, and normal

vegetables and normal meats don't cut it. The three suggestions I

have for you are:

1) Cod liver oil

2) Raw milk or raw butter from pasture fed hormone free cows (I can

help you get this)

3) Organ meats or fish eggs (salmon roe)

Why?

1) Cod liver oil has abundant vitamins A & D as well as DHA and EPA.

All these nutrients are critical for proper development of the baby's

body. Beta carotene is inefficiently converted to A and none of us

get enough sunlight for D, esp. in Seattle. Vit. D helps you and the

baby use calcium and minerals efficiently for excellent bone

development and density.

2) Raw milk and/or raw butter from grazing cows has the X factor in

it, which also helps one absorb minerals that we eat or supplement

with. Also bio-available calcium. Contrary to what you have heard,

from a certified source, there is no danger to anyone's health from

raw milk and never has been. Pasteurized is not a substitute.

3) I know this sounds gross but organ meats are where the nutrition

is. Traditional cultures in times of plenty would eat the organs

first (they prized organ meats!) and then the muscle meats little or

not at all. Same with lions - they go for the organs first, as they

know. If you could eat liver from an organic and preferrably grass

fed animal even once a week it would be a great thing. I can help

you get it and prepare it in ways that are palatable. And no, the

liver does not store the toxins - that's the kidney - and I would

never recommend eating organs from a conventionally raised animal.

An alternative or variety to organs would be salmon roe from Alaskan

salmon - excellent - excellent food.

So there you have it. I am assuming that you have a good

calcium/mineral supplement already. Please let me know what you

think and I would love to help you locate and get these foods so they

wouldn't be a burden to you in that respect. I am also assuming that

you have the basic pregnancy supplements covered against birth

defects, like folic acid.... It's interesting that people acccept

that supplements can prevent classical birth defects but that you

have such a hard time accepting that supplements or foods could

prevent other birth defects like crooked teeth, narrow skull, etc

etc. Someday all this will be common knowledge.

Sorry for the long email. Read it when you have time, get that hubby

involved, and I will look forward to helping in any way I can.

I hope you are doing and feeling really well in this month three.

Love,

February 1, 2002

Dear Sheri,

You need to read the latest edition of Wise Traditions--a whole article on

vitamin A. This business about vitamin A toxicity is nonsense--designed to

scare women away from the very foods they need to have healthy babies. Sally

February 1, 2002

I'd like to pipe in with: egg yolks! You've already mentioned liver and

fish eggs. Between fish eggs, egg yolks, andliver you have some of the best

food sources of choline. At this point, all research evidence points to

choline in the mothers diet during pregnancy and early lactation as being

probably the single most significant nutritional influence on the child's

intelligence and resistance to age and injury related mental decline. Much

of what Weston Price documented logically supports this research as well.

Minneapolis

-----Original Message-----

From: radlife2002 [mailto:radiantlife@...]

Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 3:36 PM

Subject: Re: Pregnancy and Vitamin A