118 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
For another source of iron, put some iron nails in a little
lemon juice for a few hours. Then make lemonade with the
juice and drink it.
12. In some countries, low-cost baby food preparations
are available, made from different combinations of soybean,
cotton seed, skim milk, or dried fish. Some taste better than
others, but most are well balanced foods. When mixed with
gruel, cooked cereal, or other baby food, they add to its nutrition
content at low cost.
WHERE TO GET VITAMINS:
IN PILLS, INJECTIONS, SYRUPS—OR IN FOODS?
Anyone who eats a good mixture of foods, including vegetables and fruits, gets all
the vitamins he needs. It is always better to eat well than to buy vitamin pills, injections,
syrups, or tonics.
If you want vitamins, buy eggs or other
nutritious foods instead of pills or injections.
YES
NO
Sometimes nutritious foods are scarce. If a person is already poorly nourished,
or has a serious illness like HIV, he should eat as well as he can and perhaps take
vitamins besides.
Vitamins taken by mouth work as well as injections, cost less, and are not as
dangerous. Do not inject vitamins! It is better to swallow them—preferably in the
form of nutritious foods.
If you buy vitamin preparations, be sure they have all these vitamins and minerals:
♦ Niacin (niacinamide)
♦ Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
♦ Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
♦ Iron (ferrous sulfate, etc.)—especially
for pregnant women.
(For people with anemia, multi-vitamin
pills do not have enough iron to help
much. Iron pills are more helpful.)
In addition, certain people need extra:
♦ F olic Acid (folicin), for pregnant
women
♦ Vitamin A
♦ Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
}♦ Vitamin D
for small
children
♦ lodine (in areas where
goiter is common)
♦ Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), for small
children and persons taking medicine
for tuberculosis
♦ Calcium, for children and breastfeeding
mothers who do not get enough calcium
in foods such as milk, cheese, or foods
prepared with lime