RDA & DRI

Where can I find a dietitian who works with kidney disease or high potassium blood levels? The Renal Dietitians dietetic practice group of the American Dietetic Association specializes in working with patients with kidney disease and elevated blood potassium levels. You can find a dietitian at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Include your zip...

My friend has decided to take large doses of potassium for some reason or another. Now, she has a terrible case of constipation. What are the side effects of too much potassium? Thank you. Your kidneys regulate potassium and depending on the levels in her blood and inside her cells, she is probably excreting the...

I am the exercise physiologist for Westinghouse Energy Center. I received this question via e-mail. I was wondering what your explanation would be? Please tell me how these terms relate to vitamins and minerals? oxide chelated malate aspartate ascorbate citrate lactate colloidal I realize that the minerals are chelated or oxidized for the purpose of absorption,...

We are the Lebanese Osteoporosis Prevention Society (LOPS). Our concern among others is to provide awareness to our society about osteoporosis and how to prevent it. We are very interested in your articles about osteoporosis and the optimal calcium intake. We would like to have documents, questionnaires or protocols about the detection of the...

I have a general question for you. There is a dispute right now in my house about carrots having vitamin D. We all agree that they contain a large amount of vitamin A, but are they also a good source of vitamin D? Thank you. Carrots are not a good source of vitamin D which...

What foods naturally contain folic acid? Folic acid also called folacin is richly (>10% per 1 cup serving) found in spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, lima beans, beef liver, parsley, broccoli, and romaine lettuce.

I've seen Chromium Picolinate advertised recently as a "metabolism boosting" diet supplement. Is there any merit to this claim? No. Initially there was some speculation that since chromium is a component of the hormone insulin that additional chromium would enhance insulin's ability to break down glucose. Research has not supported this theory.

What does Ginseng do to one's metabolism? Are there long-term risks associated with taking Ginseng tea daily? Ginseng does not change your metabolism. The only long-term risk I've seen associated with taking ginseng in any form is that excessive use can increase blood pressure. I would suggest you check out The Herbalist or Chinese Medicine and...

Good website. I just had outpatient facial surgery to remove a sebaceous cyst. The surgery was done by a plastic surgeon who appears to have a done a good job, leaving only a minor scar. My sister says I should rub vitamin E on the scar and it will disappear. I have also read...

What vitamins do you recommend that will give me a boost of energy during working hours? If you want energy and to stay awake, eat more meat, fish or poultry than carbohydrates at breakfast and lunch. If you want to fall asleep, eat more carbohydrates at dinner. Also, don't eat too much food at one...