Letters to the Editor

Calcium Question for Dr. Rona

I’ve just finished reading the article Calcium Demystified but I’m still left pondering one thing. Dr. Rona mentions calcium carbonate is easier to absorb if taken with food or acidifying substances like cider vinegar but he never mentions how, in this case, the cider vinegar is to be taken or how much. I’d love to have this point clarified. Many thanks!                                          
T. Kot

Dr. Rona’s response

The subject of apple cider vinegar has a long and well-respected tradition in the field of natural healing. In fact, several books have been published on its benefits for arthritis, weight loss, asthma and dozens of other conditions. (See the two references at the end of this letter for more information.)

The amount of apple cider vinegar taken depends on your biochemical uniqueness. Most adults with normal stomach acid secretion can easily tolerate 1 tablespoon (tbsp.) taken directly before meals or just before taking the calcium supplement. Apple cider vinegar also comes in 500 mg gelatin capsules. Here the usual effective dose is 3 capsules taken directly before each meal.

Many people over age 60 have low stomach acid secretion and, as a result, suffer from constipation, Candida overgrowth and trace mineral malabsorption problems. Such persons would need more than a tbsp. of the apple cider vinegar to improve calcium absorption. The exact dose depends on the individual but you will know that you are taking too much of the stuff if you feel a warmth in your stomach or actual heartburn. These are signals to cut back on the dose.

Complicating this general advice is the fact that many individuals suffer from heartburn because they have too low stomach acidity. If you are one of these people, the heartburn should lessen shortly after taking a dose or two of apple cider vinegar.

If you are not sure what to do, to determine whether or not your stomach acidity is adequate, you could consult a naturopath or medical doctor specializing in natural therapies and get a test called the comprehensive stool and digestive analysis. This test can tell you whether or not you are secreting enough stomach acid or pancreatic digestive enzymes amongst other digestive functional problems.

Best Wishes, Zoltan P. Rona, M.D., M.Sc.
www.mydoctor.ca/drzoltanrona

References: 1. Holzapfel, Cynthia. Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss and Good Health. Book Publishing Company, 2002.
2. Bragg, Patricia. Apple Cider Vinegar. 55th edition. Bragg Health Sciences, 2006.

Taxpayer wants Fluoride out of our Water Supply

The financial difficulties of the City of Toronto have been in the news for quite some time. I find it truly amazing that with so many drastic proposals to reduce expenses, including nothing less than mothballing an entire section of a subway, as well as some very "innovative" taxation schemes, nobody suggested putting an end to this practice of adding rat poison to our drinking water (a.k.a. "fluoridation") to save money.

In case nobody in City Hall  can put it all in writing, I decided to volunteer a written appeal. Mr. Mayor, you are welcome to use it free of charge.

Dear fellow Torontonians:

In these difficult times, when our city is experiencing very serious financial problems, we at City Hall have to make many difficult decisions to save money. We can no longer afford to keep adding rat poison to our drinking water.

Several decades ago, when this program was still being implemented, the Toronto City council decided not to waste money on pharmaceutical grade rat poison, but to use the unprocessed industrial waste which comes directly from the wet scrubbers of smelters and pesticide plants across Canada and the U.S. (ie. fluoride).

The subsequent city governments carried on that wise decision, which allows us to kill two birds with the same stone; we are getting it cheaper, and we are not missing out on such wonderful supplements as mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, many other heavy metals, as well as pesticide residue. But now, my fellow Torontonians, we have no choice but to put an end to this practice. This city simply has no money to carry it on.

Those of you who cannot imagine drinking water without rat poison in it, can buy rat poison in a hardware store. Just remember to use in moderation.

Oleg Chmelev, Toronto

(Ed note: To learn more about the fluoridation controversy, go to www.vitalitymagazine.com/news_briefs_feb_08)

Send your comments, criticisms, and letters of interest to: letters@vitality magazine.com. The letters may be edited to fit the space available.