MCVitamins.com News

From Your Nutritional Education Site

1. Will it interfere with the other Things I'm Taking?
2. THC, Delta 8 and CBD: What Are They? Are They addictive?
3. Truth about Drugs Courses
4. Health Benefits of Lactoferrin

Socialize with us - Facebook  Twitter 

Will it interfere with the other Things I'm Taking?

One of the most frequently asked questions about supplements is whether or not it will interfere with the medications that a person is currently taking.

Supplements usually mean that it will supplement your diet so that you have all of the body’s requirements to survive.

There are forty nutrients that cannot be made in the body. They are essential fatty acids, 15 vitamins, 14 minerals, and 10 amino acids. The body needs all of them. If you are not getting them from the food you eat, you can supplement with these nutritional supplements.

This definition of supplement is really food and thus will usually not interfere with any drug.

However, supplements come in all forms and all combinations.

You can find vitamins and herbs together. This may be because besides treating a deficiency there are things the body will need to get well. This is usually considered a medical food.

Herbs unlike vitamins are not essential to the body and are used for their natural healing ability. It is something that will force your body to do something it normally wouldn’t do, much like a drug does.

Of course, herbs are made in nature and not in a laboratory so not harmful. But, can you take it with your medications?

There is an easy answer to this, and can be done no matter what supplement you want to take.

If you are unsure, see your pharmacist. Pharmacists have a database that is designed to do just that – check to see if different drugs can be taken together safely. This is necessitated by the fact that people can have more than one doctor, and more than one doctor prescribing them more than one drug. Many people are on multiple medications.

This database can also be used to check to see if any type of supplement, herb or drug can be taken together.

It can bring peace of mind.

THC, Delta 8 and CBD: What Are They? Are They addictive?

As of early 2023, thirty-seven of the United States of America have legalized medical marijuana. There are also nineteen states plus the District of Columbia that have legalized the drug for what is termed “recreational” use.

This means that more than 150 million adult Americans have access to marijuana that is either wide open or not very difficult to acquire. Americans in these thirty-seven states will also see businesses in their cities that either subtly or openly promote the drugs they sell. It is a good time to understand what these different products are, their effects, and which ones are addictive.

Types of Cannabis Products

In your town, you may see signs promoting the sale of THC, Delta-8 or CBD. These names refer to different consumable products of the cannabis plant. Before covering the differences between these products, it’s important to understand a few basic facts about the plant itself.

Cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants are both used to create consumable products.

Cannabis sativa leaves are thinner than indica leaves. Indica leaves have seven points and sativa leaves have nine.

These plants contain more than 100 cannabinoids or active ingredients. These compounds all have some kind of drug-like effect on the body.

Both sativa and indica types of cannabis plants contain THC, Delta-8 and CBD, but in varying quantities.

The word “marijuana” simply refers to parts or products of the cannabis plant that contain a substantial amount of THC. In use, it is often synonymous with the word cannabis.

THC is an abbreviation for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the major psychoactive component in cannabis, the one most desired by a person who wishes to become intoxicated.

Medically, THC has been found helpful for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and for appetite stimulation for a person suffering from HIV or AIDS who is experiencing anorexia. However, THC is also a powerful intoxicant, capable of causing euphoria but also hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, panic, and psychotic episodes.

A person wishing to consume the highest ratio of THC will look for strains of cannabis that have been intentionally cultivated for ultra-high THC content. Smoking dried whole flowers from these plants provides an intoxicating result that can also be addictive.

Also available are high-THC oils for vaping, concentrates for smoking in special devices, all types of edibles and drinks, topical creams, inhalers, and much more. Anyone who consistently consumes high-THC products in any form may become addicted to them.

CBD is cannabidiol, the second-most prevalent cannabinoid in these plants. CBD has some pain-relieving, anti-anxiety, and anti-seizure qualities. CBD is found in salves, gummies, oils, bath salts, and cosmetic products, to mention just a few.

Note: The Cannabis indica plant has a higher ratio of CBD to THC, and the Cannabis sativa plant has a higher ratio of THC to CBD.

Delta-8 is short for delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, another of the cannabinoids. Delta-8 is chemically similar to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol but has a weaker effect on the human body.

The Food and Drug Administration notes that they have received reports of adverse effects from the consumption of delta-8 that include:

Hallucinations
Vomiting
Tremors
Anxiety
Dizziness
Confusion
Loss of consciousness.

Also, because the manufacture of delta-8 is not regulated or supervised, those processing hemp plants can use whatever chemicals they choose in the processing and potentially leave contaminants in the final products.

You may see stores offering to sell delta-8 even in states where marijuana is not legal for either medical or recreational use. That’s because delta-8 is made by manufacturers who have found a legal loophole.

Here’s the backstory to the delta-8 loophole.

The 2018 Farm Bill

In 2018, hemp (Cannabis sativa L.—a variety of Cannabis sativa) was legalized as an agricultural crop. Prior to this time, growing hemp had been outlawed along with the cultivation or sale of marijuana. However, hemp has many uses in industry and the THC content of hemp is very low. Finally, hemp’s ban was lifted when the 2018 Farm Bill was passed.

Delta-8 drugs

In this variety of cannabis, while there are very small amounts of THC or delta-8, there is enough CBD to be useful. Chemists worked out how to convert these small quantities of CBD into delta-8. Because hemp was no longer banned, those who wished to ride on the coattails of marijuana’s popularity claimed that delta-8 was also legal because delta-8 was derived from hemp, not marijuana.

As a result, you may see stores that offer “delta-8—no medical card required.”
Delta-8 products come in many forms:

Oils
Smokable leafy products
Gummies
Softgels
Cartridges for vaping
Sweets and treats

Other Cannabis Compounds, Synthetic and Natural

Because this industry is growing so rapidly, many people are looking for any way they can to claim a piece of this market. In addition to manipulating the small quantity of cannabinoids in hemp (a plant that is more readily available than restricted high-THC marijuana plants), there is a new partially-synthetic cannabinoid being created from hemp’s cannabinoids. It is called THC-0. It has psychoactive effects and, for the moment, is considered legal because it is a product of hemp.

The U.S. Department of Justice recently reported on a case where consumption of a combination of delta-8, THC-0 and a form of CBD called CBD-di-0 resulted in visual and auditory hallucinations that triggered criminal actions resulting in arrest.

No one yet has the full information on the effects of these drugs, which ones can be harmful and which ones are relatively harmless. Cannabinoids that turn out to be harmful may one day be regulated.

It is also possible to find CBG and CBN on the market. CBG is short for cannabigerol and CBN is short for cannabinol. Both are found in tiny trace amounts in cannabis plants. Both are non-psychoactive. Again, the easy availability of hemp enables some people to obtain enough hemp to refine out the tiny quantity of CBG and CBN. These cannabinoids can then be turned into oils or edibles for sale.

This isn’t even the end of the list. Cannabis is a huge industry. Chemists and growers are going to continue to work on producing and marketing more cannabinoids from the cannabis plant to take advantage of the profits available.

Two Other Drugs You May See: Kratom and Kava

Kratom leaves

Smoke shops that sell CBD and delta-8 may also offer kratom and kava.

Kratom

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, kratom is the name of a tropical tree in Asia. The consumption of its leaves is either stimulating or sedating, depending on how much is consumed. High doses can cause psychotic episodes and addiction.
In the U.S., kratom is consumed in tea or the leaves are crushed and smoked or placed in capsules. Kratom has been banned by six states, but it is not a federally controlled substance.

Kava

Kava is an extract or drink derived from the Piper methysticumis plant. It is sold as a dietary supplement for anxiety, insomnia or other stressful conditions. Its use, however, has been associated with severe liver injury.

The cannabis industry will likely continue growing and developing for several years. It would be wise for parents to try to monitor the types of cannabis products developed for sale and their effects so they can identify potentially hazardous products in their children’s possessions.

Sources:

National Institutes of Health. “Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know.” NIH, 2019. NIH.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “BD: What You Need to Know.” CDC, 2022. CDC.
Food and Drug Administration. “5 Things to Know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol – Delta-8 THC.” FDA, 2022. FDA.
Food and Drug Administration. “Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill.” FDA, 2019. FDA.
Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. “Delta(8)-THC, THC-O Acetates and CBD-di-O Acetate: Emerging Synthetic Cannabinoids Found in Commercially Sold Plant Material and Gummy Edibles.” DOJ, 2022. DOJ.
Drug Enforcement Administration. “Kratom.” DEA, 2020. DEA.
National Institutes of Health. “Kava.” NIH, 2020. NIH.

Do you want to learn the Truth about Drugs?

This series of interactive Truth About Drugs courses has been designed so you can learn the truth about drugs at your own pace. Find out what drugs are, what they are made of, their short- and long-term effects and view real stories from real people about each of the most popular drugs of choice.

Find out more at Foundation for A Drug Free World. Scroll down the Courses are under ENROLL NOW

Health Benefits of Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a protein found in animal milk and human milk. Colostrum, the first milk produced after a baby is born, contains about seven times more lactoferrin than is found in milk produced later on.

According to VeryWellHealth.com, lactoferrin has numerous health benefits:

Infections

Lactoferrin appears to protect the body from pathogenic microorganisms such as those that cause bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

In a 2014 report published in Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy, researchers analyzed the available research on lactoferrin's antiviral properties and found that it may inhibit the attachment of viruses to cells in the body and the replication of the virus in cells.1 The researchers also found that lactoferrin may also boost the body's immune function.

H.pylori

In a report published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in 2014, researchers analyzed previously published clinical trials on the use of fermented milk and several of its component proteins (including lactoferrin) against Helicobacter pylori infection.2 Results revealed that lactoferrin sourced from cow’s milk may help knock out the bacterium and reduce infection rates.

Hepatitis C

There's some evidence that lactoferrin may inhibit hepatitic C infection. Several studies have investigated the relationship.

In a 2013 study from Hepatology Research, for instance, scientists discovered that treatment with lactoferrin may help increase levels of interleukin-18, an immune-system protein found to play a key role in fighting off hepatitis C. The year-long study involved 63 people with the virus.3

Other studies have confirmed the benefits of lactoferrin on certain stages of the development of hepatitis C in the human body.4 For example, in vitro studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that lactoferrin can inhibit replication of the virus at an intracellular level.

However, contradictory data regarding the capacity of lactoferrin to prevent the entry of the hepatitis C virus into the target cell have also been published.

Acne

In a study published in Nutrition in 2010, participants consumed either fermented milk with 200 milligrams (mg) of lactoferrin or fermented milk daily for 12 weeks.5 Acne lesions were assessed at monthly visits.

At the end of the treatment period, those given the lactoferrin-supplemented milk had a decrease in acne lesion count, inflammatory lesion count, acne grade, and amount of sebum compared to those who took the placebo. Researchers also noted a reduction in triacylglycerols (a type of fat) in the skin surface.

A 2017 study examined the use of lactoferrin supplements combined with vitamin E and zinc for three months in people with mild to moderate acne and found a reduction in total acne lesions, comedones, and inflammatory lesions compared to those who took a placebo.6

Osteoporosis

Although research on the bone-building benefits of lactoferrin is very limited, preliminary research suggests that lactoferrin may aid in the prevention osteoporosis.

In a 2015 report published in PLoS One, laboratory tests determined that lactoferrin may work with the mineral hydroxyapatite to help stimulate the growth of bone-forming cells known as osteoblasts.7

In a study published in Osteoporosis International in 2009, researchers examined the use of a lactoferrin supplement (enriched with ribonuclease, a substance found to promote the formation of new blood vessels) on bone health in postmenopausal women.8 At the study's end, those who took the lactoferrin supplement had a significant reduction in bone resorption and an increase in bone formation compared to those who took the placebo.

Clinical studies footnoted can be found at the full article:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-lactoferrin-89471

Why it’s Better to Get Lactoferrin from Camel Milk

Camel milk contains lactoferrin.

An advantage of camel milk over cow’s milk is that camel milk does not contain A1-beta-casein and beta-lactoglobulin, two of the proteins found in cow’s milk that cause many people to have digestive issues after consuming it.

Camel milk also contains a lower amount of lactose than cow’s milk and is usually very well tolerated by people who are lactose intolerant.

In addition, camel milk is virtually bio-identical to the colostrum in human milk and stimulates the same properties as colostrum, making it highly beneficial and easy to digest.

Camelicious camel milk powder makes pleasant-tasting, nutritious camel milk for adults and children.

Read more: Camel Milk - Superior Nutrition (and for the Lactose Intolerant)
Read Camel Milk beneficial effects for Healthy Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?   EMAIL AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

USE OUR SITE INDEX TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION

To Your Health

MCVitamins.com
www.mcvitamins.com