rces - usually either foods or dietary supplements, which are not too alternative. But many people are consuming vitamins, minerals, and other "natural" nutrients in doses higher than doctors and nutritionists recommend, believing that supplementing your diet with high doses of these substances has the power to keep you healthy, and even treat some diseases usually considered incurable. Studies show that at least some of the recommended dosages may be too low and that higher doses may help prevent diseases. It says that higher-than-recommended levels of certain nutrients -- especially vitamins C, D, and E -- may help prevent certain serious diseases, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain forms ofcancer. But an overdose of these nutrients could be hazardous to your health. Vitamin C may reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease, plus help you resist viral infections, but a high dose of it can push iron levels in the bloodstream to toxic levels before the vitamin itself leaves the body. Vitamin D, along with calcium, can play a role in preventing osteoporosis, the excessive bone loss and susceptibility to fractures that often happens older people. But a high dose of it can cause irreversible damage to kidneys and heart. Vitamin E may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and reduce the risk of prostate cancer. It also may help protect against heart disease and prevent heart attacks. But again, a high dose of vitamin E may cause upset stomach, dizziness, or increased blood pressure. This method of alternative healing should be used in conjunction with a conventional method. A recent development in the field of alternative medicine involves the dietary supplement vitamin A. There was a global campaign launched in 1997 to provide vitamin A to malnourished children around the world. It has saved almost one million lives since 1998. Vitamin A is an essential part of a child's ...
