Fiber and Vitamins

Q Can I take a fiber supplement at the same time as I take vitamins? I take a fistful of vitamins three times a day and am concerned that if I take fiber at the same time they may leech out of my system.

A The "leech" idea is wrong. Dietary fiber mainly affects the absorption of those nutrients ingested with it, although it has other effects on the digestive environment. It cannot directly extract anything from your body. What may happen is that the fiber will absorb some of the essential fats and minerals and even some of the oil soluble vitamins. But then so does the fiber component of any food that you eat, to some extent. Different types of fiber have different effects.

Q I understand that selenium is a naturally occurring essential trace-mineral that has become deficient in many soils around the world, including many in the US. & Australia. Agronomists are now recommending the addition of selenium & other trace minerals to the soil, which would mean that selenium would naturally reoccur in the food chain. Selenium would become part of our diet through either eating crops or meat whether we were seeking it or not. Maybe in this "natural" way, the dosage will be somewhere nearer the mark?

A This sort of reasoning is probably good for ensuring that toxic amounts of various nutrients are not ingested, but there is no reason to suppose that it has anything to do with what is an optimal dose.

Recent studies show that we cannot obtain the levels of certain nutrients that are most beneficial to us, such as vitamin E, from the best possible whole food diet. I believe that selenium is such a nutrient, and I make sure that I get 300-400 mcg daily. There is no evidence at all for any concern of acute or chronic harmful effects for healthy people at anything under 500 mcg daily. With all the other synergistic nutrients I take, I expect the toxicity level would be even higher for me.

Q Is it unhealthy, or can it hurt my body in any way, if I go to bed and fall asleep with my hair wet?

A Not unless you are sleeping with such a strong, cold breeze that it over-cools your head. In fact, it should be healthy, because the body has to continually work hard to keep your head cool enough.

Q Does eating fruit on an empty stomach every day before lunch cause diabetes?

A No, but there is some evidence that eating simple carbohydrates such as white bread, potatoes, white rice, and possibly high glucose fruits, i.e. dates, raisins, figs, etc. as one's main source of food is a risk factor for diabetes type 2.

Q Will staying in front of a computer all day, and sometimes all night, reduce the number of white blood cells in my blood?

A Very unlikely. If it does so, it is only because you are not getting sufficient sleep to keep your immune system functioning properly.

Q Does the LEFs Enhanced Life Extension Protein contain any Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?

A Definitely not. There is no reason for it to have any.