Category: Ravescene

FEATURED ARTICLE – Nutrition & Illicit Drugs

By Claire Henderson

As a raver, do you ever find yourself getting tired and snappy during the week and dreading the eventual end of the weekend come down? As well as a lack of sleep, all of the above can be attributed to a depletion of the vitamin and mineral content in your body, and the 3 neurotransmitters Serotonin, Dopamine and Noradrenaline, which create the high on drugs. Trytophan and Phenylalanine are both essential amino acids present in MDMA and ‘Ecstasy’. Phenylalinine is a chemical that transmits its signals between the nerve cells and the brain. In the body it is turned into Noradrenaline and

Dopamine, excitatory transmitters, which promote alertness and vitality.

What it can do for you? Reduce hunger, increase sexual interest, improve memory and mental alertness, alleviate depression.

Best natural sources – All protein rich foods, bread stuffing, soy products, cottage cheese, dry skimmed milk, almonds, peanuts, lima beans, pumpkin and sesame seeds.

Trytophan is used by the brain along with vitamin B6, Niacin (or Niacinamide) and magnesium to produce Serotonin.

Best natural sources – All protein rich foods, cottage cheese, milk, meat, fish, turkey, bananas, dried dates and peanuts. All vitamins and minerals are important, as they are our life blood enabling our bodies to function properly and protect against disease. As a raver, you must be getting a proper vitamin and mineral supplement, as most ravers not on supplements are continuously depleted of them, which in the long run could lead to premature balding, heart disease, lack of concentration, diminished resistance to cancer, memory loss and so on. Also it is possible that continuously low

Dopamine levels in the body can lead to Parkinsons disease. This is not scaremongering, it is reality. We all know at the end of the day that if you play, you pay. This doesn’t have to be the case if you take care of yourself – get enough sleep, take vitamins and minerals, eat well and drink loads of milk, vitamin C and water.

Recommended supplements. High potency vitamin and mineral (time release prefered) vitamin C, 1000mg with Bioflavonoids. vitamin E, 400IU (dry form). One of each with breakfast and again with evening meal (when necessary).

For the morning after (as well as the supplements above) L – Tryptophan (which comes in tablets of 250mg to 667mg strengths). It should be taken with juice or water, no milk or other protein. (Single doses exceeding 2grams are not recommended). Phenylalanine (available in 250 to 500mg tablets).

This should be taken between meals, but again with water or juice (no protein), but not if you are hypertensive or have a heart condition as it can raise blood pressure.

It should be noted however that supplements are not a substitute for food.

Recommended reading – The Vitamin Bible, by Earl Mindell (Guild Publishing)

ADVERTS

• Unity Records, 47 Beak Street, London W1R 3LE
• Orange at the Rocket – Every Saturday @ 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7
• Volatile State, London March 1992
• Zazoo, The Winter Garden, 477 Avebury Boulevard Central, Milton Keynes
• Alpha Centuri – 25th Jan & 1st Feb @ Ultimate Fitness Centre, 219 Bow Road, London E3
• Dreamscape – Friday 31st January 1992
• Full Force Dance Agency, Tailors Health Club, Bedford Square, Woolwich
• Suburban Base Records

RAVE LISTINGS

• Rush (GB Promotions) 25th January. Brittania Leisure Complex, Hide Road, London N1
• Living Dream Weekender March 6th – 8th. Funcoast World, Skegness
• Middle Earth Saturday 1st February. Zazoo, The Winter Garden, Milton Keynes
• Brave New World Part III (Dance International) 14th February. Hunton Hall, Maidstone, Kent
• Dreamscape (Dreamscape Promotions) Friday 31st January. Zodiac Dance Studios, London E8
• Rezerection Saturday 8th February. Exhibition & Trade Centre, Edinburgh
• Vision On (Life Beyond) Friday 24th January. The Rocket, 166 – 220 Holloway Road, London N7
• Reincarnation (691 Promotions) Saturday 15th February. Kings Hall, Herne Bay, Kent
• Alpha Centuri (Jetrace) 25th Jan & 1st Feb @ Ultimate Fitness Centre, 219 Bow Road, London E3