Vitamin D Revisited
After writing several articles on Vitamin D and the effects of being vitamin D deficient, I've learned a lot about this all important vitamin. However, it seems that every time a new study and/or report about vitamin D comes out I learn something new. Suffice to say that's no different with Mr. Brazos Minshew's latest TriVita Wellness Report article.
I've included the article in its entirety. I hope you read it and have a chance to learn more about vitamin d.
Keeping Skin Healthy & Glowing
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita's Chief Science Officer
"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?"
- Jean Kerr
Beautiful outside, beautiful inside?
Who doesn't want beautiful skin - especially as we age? Our outside layer of skin often reflects the health of our internal organs, as we discussed in the Weekly Wellness Report on "Liver Spots."
For instance, skin hydration relies on glucosamine just as joint hydration relies on glucosamine. So, dry skin likely means dry joints. Skin that is easily torn and damaged indicates rapid aging, which likely indicates rapid aging of our circulatory system. Furthermore, skin that is easily burned by the sun may indicate that our essential fatty acid (EFA) and antioxidant reserves are low which means other tissues that rely on antioxidants and EFA for protection may also be at risk.
Therefore, beautiful skin is a good indicator of healthy reserves of critical nutrients.
Inside first...
As we age, we are likely to experience skin that wrinkles and becomes blotchy. It may start to get pigment spots and become easy to injure. There are many products and procedures you can use to help your skin from the outside and those are important. But more important is nourishing the skin from the inside.
Skin has a base of healthy fats. Most of the external emollients we use on our skin are some form of fat. However, humans are not designed to take in fats very efficiently through the skin. The best way to have a healthy base for your skin is to take OmegaPrime essential fatty acids. Two per day is good, but for skin health, more is better!
From the outside...
There is a huge industry that provides cleansers, peels and emollients for the outside of your skin. Use of skin treatments is important only after you have been nourished from the inside. Then your skin will have beauty long after the makeup has been removed. Dr. Libby's Vital C Powdered Crystals are perfect for your weekly beautiful skin routine. Try this natural deep moisturizer treatment and skin exfoliant:
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of Vital C Crystals to your daily skin moisturizer and mix thoroughly.
- Liberally apply the cream to your face and neck, massaging gently.
- Leave on for 10 minutes.
- Wash off completely with warm water; follow with a splash of cold water to close your pores.
- Your skin should have a lovely glow!
Sunlight and Vitamin D
The skyrocketing incidence of diabetes, osteoporosis and certain cancers definitely say that we are not getting enough Vitamin D. The increase in insomnia and seasonal depression tells us that we are not getting enough early morning sun.
We need more sunlight. Now, how do we make it safe?
- Recognize the need for sun and the need for caution. Plan your sun exposure so that you maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks. For instance, get your sunlight early in the day. Early morning sunlight does not have the high ultra-violet intensity that midday sun does. So, take a 20-minute walk in the early part of the day with your skin exposed to sunlight. This will give you the benefits without the risks of over-exposure.
- Alternately, take a 20-minute walk in the evening with your skin exposed to sunlight. There are fewer UV rays in the evening than at midday, though more than in the morning. This will have a less dramatic effect than morning sun but will still provide you with many of the same benefits.
- Never expose your skin to midday sun for long periods of time. Wear clothing that covers most of your skin and wear a hat that provides shade for your face and ears.
- Certain nutrients work well to protect against sun damage:
- Essential fatty acids interact with Vitamin D in your skin to create a bulwark of protection against harmful radiation.
- Vitamin C quenches smoldering fires of oxidative stress once they have begun.
- Antioxidants, such as green tea (Energy Now!) and those found in berries (Adaptogen 10 Plus) can help protect against DNA damage from radiation.
- All these are excellent strategies for dealing with the stress of too much sun.
What about sunscreen?
The discussion about sunscreen is full of heated rhetoric. The first thing I will say about using sunscreen is that it is completely up to you: it's your choice! I would also point out that people have lived outdoors for thousands of years without serious risk from sun exposure. The increase in skin cancer risk came about as a "perfect storm" of severely polluted air, a low antioxidant/nutrient diet and the 40-year tanning craze that followed World War II.
The truth is that more people die of cancer related to Vitamin D deficiency than of skin cancer caused by sunburn. Again, get some morning and evening sunshine for good health, never get a sunburn and keep your skin covered when you are exposed to midday sun. Beyond these recommendations, do what seems reasonable to you!
Total health
The health of our skin can tell us much about the health of our entire body. We naturally desire that "healthy glow" and beautiful skin. And that makes sense, doesn't it? We have a tool to assess our internal health immediately at our disposal: our skin. All we have to do is learn to listen to the message of healthy skin!
In one of my previous articles, Vitamin D - Protector from Cancer, is stated that "nine out of 10 Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Furthermore, it's been documented many times that even people who spend plenty of time in the sun can still lack this vital inflammation fighter. This is becoming more and more serious because inflammation is a major cause of heart and brain attacks, high blood pressure, joint pain, bone loss, digestive problems, blood sugar imbalances and a host of other serious health problems."
So, not only is vitamin D important to help ward off cancer, but it's also a proven inflammation fighter. Some medical studies have even found that inflammation is one of the major causes of cancer. Now I'm not a medical doctors, so don't take my word for it; do your own research.
Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member, 12871028
TriVita Products
Weight Loss
Health and Wellness - Weight Loss Tips
How to keep your weight-loss! It is possible to lose weight and not gain it back. There is nothing more discouraging than to lose weight and gain it back.
Have you have experienced the joy of victory, when you have lost weight?
Have you experienced the agony of gaining back your weight loss?
Do you want to lose weight and not gain it back?
After you have reached your ideal weight, you begin to relax and enjoy your new body image. The need to punish and deprive you for eating wrong and not exercising enough is no longer necessary. You began to reward yourself for your weight loss and new body image. You enjoy the way you look in your clothes. You enjoy your greater flexibility. The acknowledgment of your weight loss by your friends and family thrills you. You have greater passion for living. You have more confidence in your relationships. You like what you see in the mirror.
Logically, these benefits from losing weight should be rewarding enough to maintain permanent weight loss. Logically and consciously, the rewards for attaining your ideal weight are the benefits from being thin.
Why aren’t the benefits from weight loss strong enough to maintain weight loss? Unconsciously, the rewards for attaining your ideal weight are eating as in the past and and insufficient exercise.
Successful weight loss and programs to lose weight fail, because people’s motivation and thinking prevent successful maintenance of weight loss. In order to maintain permanent weight loss, you must change your thinking.
Unconsciously, for many people food is a reward and functions as a tranquilizer. When food functions as a reward or tranquilizer, successful maintenance of weight loss is impossible. From this perspective, losing weight is associated with punishment and grounding, because of past over-eating and not exercising. No one likes to be punished and deprived. No one likes to be punished and deprived permanently.
If losing weight is motivated and associated with punishing and depriving you, you are doomed to fail. Although you enjoy your weight loss and want to maintain your weight loss, unconsciously your mind begins to sabotage you.
Why? For your unconscious mind, the reward for successful weight loss is over-eating again and insufficient exercising.
Successful maintenance of weight loss only is possible when obesity, overeating and failure to exercise are perceived as punishments, while weight loss, eating right and exercising are thought of as rewards.
You’re thinking and motivation for losing and maintaining weight loss must change. Eating wrong and living without sufficient exercise can no longer be the reward. Thinness, eating right, and exercising must become rewards rather than punishments.
Before you begin any change in your eating patterns, change your thinking and maintain healthy thinking through out the weight loss period and after you have lost your excess weight.
David Ogden- Helping People Help Themselves
TriVita Health and Wellness
Sonoran Bloom Click Here - New ant-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxifying drink providing natural pain relief for inflammation and can help you lose weight
phone 1-386-308-1956 After 6PM EST
Skype seadogs11
Vitamin D
Vitamn D has always been called the sunshine vitamin. However, is it advantageous to spend large amounts of time in the sun? Is the sun harmful to your body? If the answer is yes, on the safe side, how much time can we spend in the sun?
Some of these answers will be answered in the article, To Sun or Not to Sun: The Benefits and Risks by Brazos Minshew, TriVita's Chief Science Officer. I've posted the complete article below, and added some links so you can learn more about vitamin d, and other TriVita products.
To Sun or Not to Sun: The Benefits and Risks by Brazos Minshew
Humans have existed on earth for many thousands of years. Until recently, we spent entire days in the sun. Now, physicians and scientists say that sun exposure is "bad" for us. Is that true? When did the sun become our enemy? How much is enough and what is the best way to maintain balance when it comes to sun exposure?
Sunlight: crucial for life, health and happiness!
- Life - Sunlight is crucial for life because all life on earth depends (to a greater or lesser extent) upon photosynthesis. This is the process in green plants by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a byproduct.
- Health - Sunlight is crucial for health because sunlight creates Vitamin D as it interacts with our skin.
- Happiness - Sunlight is crucial for happiness because sunlight activates hormones in the brain that create a sense of euphoria.
Humans are diurnal: we are awake in the daytime and asleep at night. We are designed to live in sunlight. Our skin interacts with sunlight to create Vitamin D, an essential part of our metabolism.
Vitamin D interacts with our bones to make them hard; without Vitamin D we get soft, deformed bones (rickets). Later in life we are at risk for osteoporosis if we have low levels of Vitamin D. This means if your bones are tender, or if you have a low blood level of Vitamin D, you may need to increase your sun exposure (see the "Take Control of Your Health" section below). Vitamin D also interacts with our hormones to balance our blood sugar. And it activates our immune system to help protect against cancer. Vitamin D is good for us in many ways. So it stands to reason that sunlight would be good for us too, wouldn't it?
The Dark Side of light
Sunlight activates melanocytes. These are pigment-containing cells in our skin that help protect us from too much sun - and too much Vitamin D - by turning dark. Most people will "tan" or darken in the sun. If the sun exposure is prolonged or too intense for this melanocyte system, we will "burn."
Overexposure to the sun creates oxidative stress similar to radiation burns from exposure to nuclear material. That's because the sun itself is a huge nuclear furnace. A radiation burn from the sun can start a chain reaction in the melanocyte and other cells. This may lead to cancer in a year or two or in a decade or two. Oxidative stress from sunburn is insidious and dangerous.
Where's the balance?
The skyrocketing incidence of diabetes, osteoporosis and certain cancers definitely says that we are not getting enough Vitamin D. And the increasing incidence of insomnia and seasonal depression says that we are not getting enough early morning sun. We need more sunlight. But how do we make it safe?
Safe sun exposure
First, it's important to recognize both the need for sun and the need for caution. Plan your sun exposure so that you maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks. For instance, get your sunlight early in the day. Early morning sunlight does not have the high ultraviolet rays that midday sun does. So, take a 20-minute walk in the early part of the day with your skin exposed to sunlight. This will give you the benefits without the risks of over exposure.
Alternately, take a 20-minute walk in the late afternoon with your skin exposed to sunlight. There are fewer UV rays in the late afternoon than at midday. So either early morning or late afternoon sun will provide you with many of the same benefits, while decreasing your risk of over exposure.
As for midday sun, never expose your skin to it for long periods of time. Wear clothing that covers most of your skin and wear a hat that provides shade for your face and ears.
Nutrients for healthy skin
Certain nutrients work well to protect against sun damage. Essential fatty acids interact with Vitamin D in your skin to help protect against harmful radiation. Vitamin C helps quench smoldering fires of oxidative stress once they have begun. Antioxidants, such as green tea and those found in berries, help protect against DNA damage from radiation. All these are excellent nutrients for dealing with the stress of too much sun.
So, is the sun our enemy? It can be if we are not careful! For most of us, however, sunlight may be the difference between good and poor health; or even between life and death! Get your sunlight, but be careful - too much of a good thing can cause trouble.
*** End of Article ***
Just like in any other aspect of our lives, moderation is the key, and since the sun is important, you need to have some exposure to the sunshine. However, many of us may not get enough sunshine, especially if you live in the northern hemisphere. Our summers are short and the winters are long, which leads to a shortage of sunshine, especially in the winter months. I believe it's important to add a vitamin d supplement to your diet. TriVita™ provides a great vitamin d and calcium supplement, called VitaCal-Mag D.
VitaCal-Mag D provides, five forms of chelated calcium, over 20 bone-fortifying vitamins and minerals, 100% RDI of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Vitamin D, and Chlorophyll-coated tablets that protect valuable nutrients, time-releasing optimal absorption.
To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, go to the TriVita Products page and click on the Vitamin D link.
Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
TriVita Products
Weight Loss
Health and Wellness - Weight Loss Goals
The key to any successful weight loss plan is to set some sensible weight loss goals. Setting goals will let you track your progress and gives you a definite target to aim for. You don’t want to aim too high and set yourself up for failure or even worse, risk your health by losing too much too fast. At the same time, you want to set a goal that is a little bit of a challenge. Here are some guidelines on how to come up with a sensible weight loss goal.
Don’t lose more than 1 to 2 pounds a week.
You are aiming for slow and steady weight loss. To set your goal, decide when you want to lose the weight by, and so expect to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week. So, if you figure a time term of 6 months, you want your goal to be around 26 – 52 pounds.
Even minute goals will make a difference.
Don’t feel like you have to lose a lot of weight to make difference in your health. You will see benefits by losing as little as 10 % of your body weight. If you weigh 150 pounds, losing 15 pounds may show an improvement in your overall health and the way you feel.
Use the Body Mass Index.
Feeling overweight, or thinking that you should lose some weight can be very dark. To get a better feel for where you are at, you may want to calculate your Body Mass. Tarriance http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc– bmi.htm to find out what your BMI is and what it means. Adjust your weight – loss goal so you will eventually be in the “normal” clump.
Speak to your physician.
Timetable an appointment with your general practitioner. He or skirt knows your medical history and will be able to advise you on how much you should lose. It is always a commendable idea to give voice to your physician before you start any diet or exercise program.
Set Mini Goals.
Once you set your ultimate goal and have a time – plan for reaching it, gash it up into several mini goals to reach along the way. Looking at a big goal can seem a little intimidating. Breaking it up into smaller goals allows you to focus on your first mini goal and gives you a enjoyment of accomplishment when you reach that goal. Then just move on to the next mini goal until you reach your big goal.
Now that you have your weight – loss goal and the mini goals in place, start by tackling your first mini goal. I know you can succeed by approaching weight – loss one alteration at a time. Your next challenge is just to get commenced..
David Ogden- Helping People Help Themselves
TriVita Health and Wellness
Sonoran Bloom Click Here - New ant-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxifying drink providing natural pain relief for inflammation and can help you lose weight
phone 1-386-308-1956 After 6PM EST
Skype seadogs11
Vitamin D
American experts say that vitamin D supplementation should be increased to help promote bone health and ward off diseases like osteoporosis.
According to TriVita, "the key to bone health is calcium and Vitamin D. These are the two essential ingredients that will help you maintain the strength of your skeletal system, ensure regular cellular activity, proper cardiac function, and preserve the health of other vital body systems."
Today, I'm posting the latest Health and Wellness article by Brazos Minshew, TriVita's Chief Science Officer. He explains the nature of bone and how we can prevent bone loss.
Reversing Bone Loss
by Brazos Minshew
The shocking statistics – according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation:
A childhood disease?
To understand the process of premature bone loss we must first understand the nature of bone. Your bones are alive. But every cell in your skeleton has a lifespan. It is "born" from stem cells, it lives for many years and then it dies. When it reaches the end of its lifespan, a new bone cell replaces it.
During our youth, there are more new bone cells being born than there are old bone cells dying. As a result, our bones get longer, bigger, denser and healthier. By our teen years our bones reach PMD (peak mineral density). Therefore, the healthier our bones are as children, the longer they will last as we age. Good nutrition during childhood is so important because we are building a healthy bone foundation for our senior years.
At about age 30 the rates of bone cells being born and those dying are about equal. By age 40 the pendulum definitely swings to the other side and the amount of bone cells dying every day exceeds the amount being born. Over time, your bones become thinner, less active and are more challenged to support your body.
Bones that thin too fast are called osteopenic. About 45 million people in North America suffer from bones that are too thin. When thinning continues to the point where a bone resembles Swiss cheese (full of holes and pores), the condition is said to be osteoporosis. The bone at this stage is diseased and can fracture with the slightest stress.
Reversing premature bone loss
The best way to reverse a problem is to help prevent it in the first place.
Children and adults up to age 30 should:
- Take a calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D supplement every day.
- Focus on leafy green vegetables as a dietary source of calcium and magnesium.
- Get at least 20 minutes of direct sunshine on 40% of their body every day as a natural source of Vitamin D.
- Perform weight-bearing exercises most days of the week.
- Adults over 30 should do the same things. However, bone-building requirements for adults (including supplements) need to be more rigorous. This is especially true if they have any risk factors for osteoporosis.
Growing new bone
Regardless of your age or bone density, you can help slow or stop the process of bone loss and you can start producing new, healthy bone cells. All it requires is a little time every day for exercise and sunshine, plus the right nutrients. The nutrition you need is found in whole foods – especially leafy green vegetables. Supplements can also play a critical role by providing the intense, specific nutrients needed for restoring healthy bones.
TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D™ is designed for people under age 30 as well as those over that age who have no risk factors for bone loss.
TriVita's Bone Growth Factor™ is designed for people over 30 who have risk factors for osteoporosis. This disease is characterized by the decrease in bone mass and density; i.e., the bones thin and become more porous. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, there are many different risk factors for this disease, including genetics, age, gender, menopause, certain medications and others. (For a full list of risk factors, see the National Osteoporosis Foundation link listed under the Learn More! section below). Because Bone Growth Factor has been clinically proven to re-grow bone, it is an ideal supplement for those that have Osteopathic risks.
The good news is that you can add more new, healthy bone mass every year you follow these steps – no matter how old you are or how thin your bones are. Help turn back the clock on bone loss with proper lifestyle choices and intense nutrition.
*** End of Article ***
TriVita™ VitaCal-Mag D provides, five forms of chelated calcium, over 20 bone-fortifying vitamins and minerals, 100% RDI of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Vitamin D, and Chlorophyll-coated tablets that protect valuable nutrients, time-releasing optimal absorption.
To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, go to the TriVita Products page and click on the Vitamin D link.
Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Vitamin D and Your Pregnancy
We may all know that vitamin d is important for the development of healthy bones, but is there a relationship between vitamin d and a successful pregnancy?
According to a study by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne Australia, "maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy is important for the health of the mother and offspring across a range of possible health outcomes."[1]
"Evidence from animal studies, with some supportive human evidence, suggests that fertility may be impaired in mothers with low vitamin D. During pregnancy, maintaining vitamin D and calcium levels may decrease the risks of pre-eclampsia, while gestational diabetes mellitus appears to be more common in those with low vitamin D status, although there is insufficient evidence of causality."[1]
Since our early childhood we've been told that vitamin d and calcium build strong bones. However, the research from this study may show that it's just as important while a child is still in the womb. It seems that pregnant mothers, just as much as young children, need their daily requirement of vitamin d and calcium.
That said, it may be just as important for expectant mothers to be on some sort of a daily multi-vitamin program. "Folic acid in combination with a multivitamin supplement has been associated with a decrease in specific birth defects...Women in the reproductive age group should be advised about the benefits of folic acid in addition to a multivitamin supplement during wellness visits (birth control renewal, Pap testing, yearly examination) especially if pregnancy is contemplated."[2]
When it comes to our health, proper diet is of utmost importance. However, with the high-paced society we live in, it's not always easy to eat a healthy meal. That's why we need, not only vitamin d and calcium but, a daily regiment of multi-vitamins. Even though most multi-vitamins contain vitamin d and calcium, they may not contain the appropriate amount, especially if you're a mother-to-be.
"There are ongoing research studies to examine the effect of vitamin D on the developing fetus," Dr. Catherine M. Gordon, director of the Children's Hospital Bone Health Program at Children's Hospital Boston, says. "It is known that many mothers are vitamin D deficient, which explains why we are seeing such high rates of vitamin D deficiency among newborns and young children. It is critically important that a pregnant woman receive at least 400 IU of vitamin D daily (the amount in many prenatal vitamins) and a higher dose if prescribed by their obstetrician."[2]
If you're thinking about having children, or are pregnant, adhering to a strict vitamin d and calcium regiment may be in you, and your unborn child's best interest.
Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
TriVita Products
Resources:
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20440696
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18053387
[3] http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/healthy-safe-pregnancy/vital-vitamin-d-6272/
The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Vitamin D and Calcium
We have probably heard a thousand times that calcium builds strong bones. If you're like me, your mother probably told you to drink your milk. The reason; because you need it to build strong bones. Whether you belive it or not, that was, more than likely, the ulterior motive behind getting you to drink your milk.
I always drank my milk, and continue to do so, no matter what the motive because I know how important vitamins and minerals are to staying healthy. That's why, even to this day, I take daily vitamin supplements to make sure I get the necessary vitamins and minerals that will keep me on a healthier course as I continue to age. Included in those supplements are, of course, vitamin d and calcium, two bone building and strengthening nutrients.
As a mater of fact, a recent study says that "taking both calcium and vitamin D supplements on a daily basis reduces the risk of bone fractures, regardless of whether a person is young or old, male or female, or has had fractures in the past, a large study of nearly 70,000 patients from throughout the United States and Europe has found."[1]
Aging has a way of affecting the bones in our body, which leads to what is called bone density loss. Bones, a "living tissue like other tissues and organs"[2], are subject to calcium depletion during the aging process. The depletion of calcium leads to lower bone mass, which in turn, leads to increased susceptibility of fractures.
"Normal calcium intake and exposure to Vitamin D often create healthy bone tissue until people peak at age 30. Then, people begin to lose bone density; by age 50, it can become problematic. Osteoporosis - a term used to describe the loss of normal bone matrix - is common and is estimated to afflict approximately 40 million Americans."[2]
Many people think that calcium and vitamin d are only needed for aging women. However, according to the study, the "combination of supplements (vitamin d and calcium) benefits both women and men of all ages, which is not something we (the scientists) fully expected to find."[1]
As you can see, aging is the great equalizer. Aging does not happen to women only; it happens to both men and women! Loss of bone mass, due to the aging process does not happen to women only; it happens to men also. Even though a greater percentage of women are affected by the loss of bone density, men and women alike need to monitor their bone density. In so doing, it's also smart to adhere to a daily supplement of vitamin d and calcium.
Everyone of us is getting older, and everyone's body ages differently. However, as the study revealed, there is a "growing consensus that combined calcium and vitamin D is more effective than vitamin D alone in reducing a variety of fractures."[1]
TriVita™ provides a great vitamin d and calcium supplement, called VitaCal-Mag D. VitaCal-Mag D provides, five forms of chelated calcium, over 20 bone-fortifying vitamins and minerals, 100% RDI of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Vitamin D, and Chlorophyll-coated tablets that protect valuable nutrients, time-releasing optimal absorption.
To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, go to the TriVita Products page and click on the Vitamin D link.
Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
Sources:
[1] http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=72928595
[2] http://www.muschealth.com/healthyaging/bone_density.htm
The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Vitamin D Deficiency
I've been writing articles regarding Vitamin D and how important it is to your body. As a matter of fact, and according to many health professionals, it helps "promote bone health and ward off diseases like osteoporosis." However, many people are deficient of this all important vitamin.
The statistics are unbelievable when it comes to vitamin D deficiency. According to experts, nearly 80 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. WOW!! Why all the concern? Because this leads to an increased risk for inflammation, heart problems, weak bones, osteoporosis, unhealthy blood pressure levels, decreased immunity and memory loss; not to mention a major strain on our health care system.
As with most of my articles, I try to keep you informed of health risks, and I try to pass along information when I receive it. Today is no exception! Brazos Minshew, Chief Science Officer for TriVita, in his Weekly Wellness Report, explains how to test yourself for vitamin d deficiency, explains the signs of deficiency, reasons for deficiency, and what you can do about it.
I've included the complete article below. Please read this article and make sure you do o become one of the deficiency statistics. There is help, and you can do something about it.
Test Yourself for "D"eficiency by Brazos Minshew
With your thumb, press on your sternum (breastbone). Is it tender or painful? Now, press on the tibia (shin bone) of both your legs. Is it sore or tender? If the answer is "yes" to both of these tests then you have a 93% chance of being Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D may be the most prevalent vitamin deficiency in our culture. What is Vitamin D and what does it do for us?
Function of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is both a vitamin (vital amine) and a hormone. It acts as a vitamin when it binds with calcium for proper absorption. Humans cannot digest calcium without adequate amounts of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a hormone (a messenger inside your body) because it directs cells, organs, muscle and bone in daily activity. It is a hormone because your body creates it in response to sunlight on your skin. It participates in weight loss, the function of your immune system, blood sugar regulation and basic human metabolism.
Humans mobilize essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3, with Vitamin D. In order to properly use calcium and Omega-3 you simply must have enough Vitamin D. Yet, many people don't.
Signs of deficiency
The test above is one way of checking for low levels of Vitamin D. You see, calcium and other minerals are delivered to an area in your bones that is like a gelatin matrix. This gelatin matrix hardens into sturdy bone. Calcium can only arrive in this matrix if it is escorted by Vitamin D. If you are deficient in Vitamin D, this matrix will revert back to gelatin near the surface of the bone. Tenderness and bone pain will result.
This kind of bone pain can be seen in cases of osteomalacia (softening of the bones), as well as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and even the pain associated with chronic depression.
Further, Vitamin D deficiency can result in:
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Psoriasis
Eventually, Vitamin D deficiency may lead to cancer (especially breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer), osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease.
Reasons for deficiency
The primary reasons people become deficient in Vitamin D are cultural. For instance, women that wear veils in certain cultures are almost universally deficient in Vitamin D, as are submariners who spend extended time submerged. Neither group spends much time with their skin exposed to direct sunlight. The most common reasons for Vitamin D deficiency in North America also relate to lack of exposure to sunlight and infrequent consumption of cold-water fish. Cold-water fish such as wild salmon, mackerel and sardines are good food sources of Vitamin D - as well as good sources of calcium and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Many foods have been supplemented with Vitamin D, but this has not resulted in an overall increase in Vitamin D levels. This is likely because food and supplement manufacturers rely on an inexpensive form of synthetic Vitamin D called "ergocalciferol" - a form of Vitamin D-2. Food sources of Vitamin D and supplements such as TriVita's Bone Growth Factor, VitaCal-Mag D and Leanology Capsules use Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol), which is the same form that your body makes from sunshine.
What to do?
If your bones are tender or if you have a low blood level of Vitamin D the solution may be as simple as increasing your sun exposure. Spend 20 minutes daily in the sunshine with 40% of your skin surface exposed. Morning and evening sunshine is best; afternoon sun is acceptable. Never allow yourself to sunburn.
When supplementing with Vitamin D always choose D-3. It is also good to remember that this is a "fat soluble" vitamin. That means that you can store the nutrient for many days.
I will often suggest two capsules of TriVita's Bone Growth Factor or two tablets of VitaCal-Mag D to be taken at every meal. Test the tenderness in your sternum and shin bones every 6 months. Reduce your supplements to one capsule or tablet per meal when the tenderness has disappeared from the sternum and shin bones.
If Leanology Capsules are a more appropriate source of Vitamin D for you (if you are overweight and otherwise in a low-risk category for osteoporosis), taking two capsules at each meal is a good strategy. However, since most overeating occurs in the evening and since Vitamin D reduces appetite, it may be best to take three to six Leanology capsules all in the evening.
It is good to get a blood test for appropriate blood levels of Vitamin D twice a year and a DEXA scan of your bones at least every two years to help you structure a supplement program.
Eventually, health comes down to healthy habits practiced every day. Every day we should nourish our body and nurture our spirit for sustained health. **END of ARTICLE**
Now I'm not a doctor or even in the health care industry, but I do a lot of research and read a lot of articles. Before committing to any supplementation, always check with your health care professional first. If he/she recommends taking a vitamin D supplement, show him/her TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, and ask their opinion.
To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, go to the TriVita Products page and click on the Vitamin D link.
Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
Internet Marketing Advisors
The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
It's Winter So Be Sure To Get Your Vitamin D
The dark cold days of winter not only seem to last forever, they can actually directly affect your health...both physically and mentally.
Since Vitamin D is created when our skin is exposed to sunshine as one form, the lack of sunshine in the winter months can cause a major deficiency. In fact most doctors who recommend Vitamin D share that winter cold and flu outbreaks are directly related to a Vitamin D deficiency.
There is growing evidence that links low Vitamin D levels to stroke, congestive heart failure and common heart disease risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes. In fact patients with Vitamin D levels below 15 ng/ml double their chances of heart attack or stroke within the next five years. Researchers strongly recommend screening for and treating low Vitamin D levels, most especially in patients who are at high risk for heart disease or diabetes, this according to an informative piece in the Vita Journal.
So during the long winter months it is especially vital to make sure you get enough Vitamin D in such foods as cold water fish and dark green vegetables, and don't forget to take a good quality Vitamin D supplement to insure you are getting enough in your daily diet.
Enjoy the season but be sure to get your Vitamin D in order to meet the challenges of your daily life.
Kim Buchanan
Helping YOU Reach Optimal Health
d & Prestigious Wealth
530.383.3041
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Resource; VitaJournal article by Tammy Pon, M.D.
Vitamin D
It's a known fact that vitamin D is an essential nutrient. Doctors from all around the world have concluded that vitamin D essential to promote healthy heart and brain function, relieve pain and inflammation, support strong bones, and also boost your mood. Researchers have also discovered that there's a link between vitamin D deficiency and bone loss in patients with HIV.
I believe the list will continue to grow, as more and more research is done on this all important nutrient. No matter what your situation is, it's important to make sure you're getting the proper daily amount of vitamin D from the best source available, like TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D.
The statistics are staggering when it comes to vitamin D deficiency. According to experts, nearly 80 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. To me, that's just unbelievable! Why all the concern, because this leads to an increased risk for inflammation, heart problems, weak bones, unhealthy blood pressure levels, decreased immunity and memory loss; not to mention a major strain on our health care system.
If that news isn't bad enough, there are additional studies indicating a greater risk for abnormal cell growth in patients who are deficient in the sunshine vitamin. [1] In fact, during some of the studies conducted it's been found that up to 50 percent of subjects analyzed that were vitamin D deficient also suffered from serious health problems.
It's possible that you think you're getting enough vitamin D by eating foods "enriched" or "fortified" with vitamin D. However, foods like milk, cereal, margarine, pudding, and vitamin drinks may not be supplying you with enough of a daily dose. Even though these previously mentioned foods do have "some" source of vitamin D you may not be getting the right kind of vitamin D.
As mentioned previously, the proper vitamin D is needed to help fight inflammation and protect every cell in your body. And the vitamin D you get from sunshine could be your most effective weapon for maintaining a healthy body. But now the bad news; as you age (yes, get older), your body may no longer be able to efficiently produce adequate levels of Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight alone. It may be time to commit to taking a daily supplement of vitamin D.
What supplement should you take, and how much vitamin D is needed? Well, a lot of experts recommend an absolute minimum of 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day. And I've seen some articles that suggest taking up to six times that much for individuals over 50. So, that would relate to between 4,000 and 6,000 IU per day. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves supplementation of up to 2,000 IU of vitamin D a day.
Now I'm not a doctor or even in the health care industry, but I do a lot of research and read a lot of articles. Before committing to any supplementation, always check with your health care professional first. If he/she recommends taking a vitamin D supplement, show him/her TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, and ask their opinion.
To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, go to the Trivita Products site and click on the Vitamin D link.
Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
Internet Marketing Advisors
Resources:
[1] www.sunherb.com/Vitamin%20D%20Deficiency.pdf