RDA & DRI

I hope you can help me. I have an intolerance to milk and dairy derivatives. Of course, I now have to check labels for all kinds of milk ingredients. One ingredient I am not sure of is calcium lactate. I am wondering if you can tell me if calcium lactate is a milk derivative....

I am a 24-year old masters swimmer. I have been getting cramps - calf and toe- a lot recently. On the advice of the coach and teammates, I am taking a potassium supplement and eating a lot of bananas. However, this hasn't really solved my problem. I think now that it may be a...

I am a teacher and have assigned a written report on pica. We are having trouble locating articles and just plain information on the subject. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you. There is quite a bit of information on my iron topic. If you have more questions, write back.

I had been on Phen/Fen about a year- just working out to try to get my weight down. I am in excellent health except for a mysterious leg ache that occurs only at night. I think it could be some kind of vitamin deficiency- can you suggest something? Please reply.   If you get muscle cramps...

Thanks to a response you gave a previous reader. I was able to copy the list of vegetables containing vitamin K. I am currently under a doctor's care for a clot in my jugular vein and take 8 milligrams of Coumadin daily. I avoid eating leafy greens, caffeine drinks, and chocolate. Do you know...

Where can I find a dietitian who is smart about vitamin supplements? The Nutrition in Complementary Care dietetic practice group of the American Dietetic Association has an interest in the role of alternative herbal, vitamin and mineral therapies in improving health and preventing disease. Their Find a Comp Care Nutritionist feature will help you locate...

I am a 33-year-old married mother of one. I have what I feel is an embarrassing and possibly life-threatening disorder. Some years ago I was diagnosed as being anemic. The iron level was so low that the doctor asked if I ate or craved anything unusual. I told him that I crave and chew...

On the girls' very best days, I'm lucky if they drink 2 cups of milk. It's usually MUCH less. More like 1 cup and 2 out of 3 days, an ounce of cheese. I can figure out how much yogurt etc might help with the cause, but what about calcium-rich veggies/fruits? My 9th-grade health class...

I would really appreciate your advice on the use of coumadin and vitamin K supplements. I have a genetic condition called Protein C Deficiency. I am 44 years old and have been on coumadin for 11 years. There are 2 supplement products on the market that I would really like to take, but they...