New Research now shows that 600,000 new cases of breast and colon cancer could be prevented worldwide each year simply by raising vitamin D blood levels. Here we spend literally BILLIONS of dollars on cancer drugs while just upping vitamin D levels could prevent 600,000 cases of cancer EACH YEAR.
Why is Vitamin D supplementation important?
Because meeting the necessary requirements for daily Vitamin D can provide protection from diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, depression, several autoimmune diseases, and cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon, and is really an integral part in maintaining optimal and therapeutic health!
How do we raise our Vitamin D levels?
There are 2 options for raising Vitamin D levels:
1) Exposure to ultraviolet light: We need our sunshine but unfortunately sunscreen blocks the majority of the UVB rays necessary for Vitamin D production. Also, this is not an option for many that live in colder/rainier climates, especially during the winter months. This can be challenging considering even those that live in sunny climates year round still tend to be deficient.
2) Oral supplementation: This seems to be the most practical option. One of the only major dietary sources of Vitamin D is cod-liver oil, but the amount needed to meet therapeutic doses would be impractical and expensive and could be harmful in the long run. Therefore, oral supplementation with “pure” vitamin D supplements allows the dose to be tailored to the individual needs of the patient.
How much do we need?
It’s always necessary to have your Vitamin D levels checked from a qualified health practitioner to identify a baseline level and determine how much supplementation is necessary and should be remeasured periodically. As a general recommendation based on the current literature:
Adults and Pregnant Women: 4000IU’s/day
Infants and Children: 1000IU’s/day as a minimum
How do I know what supplement to look for:
Look for Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and is best purchased from a trusted health practitioner rather than the local drugstore or costco.
For maximum benefit, supplementation should be continued for a minimum of 5-9 months and should be continually remeasured via blood tests from a qualified health practitioner.
If you think you may be Vitamin D deficient or are interested in a quality Vitamin D supplement to help you maintain optimal health, contact Body Systems to discuss your options.
With three new prescription weight-loss drugs looming for FDA approval, I thought it was necessary to add my two cents about the increasing use of pills to treat people who are overweight or obese.
According to an article published in USA Today, clinical studies suggest these medications – coupled with “cutting calories” and exercising – facilitated a weight loss of anywhere between 5 to 15% of initial bodyweight over the course of one year. Additionally, the studies indicate that there were improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar control as well.
The article suggests that by using these medications, doctors could “reduce health care costs by managing the root cause.”
I find it necessary to point out that being overweight or obese is FAR from the root cause of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, poor blood sugar regulation, etc…. It, along with the previously named health conditions, is a SYMPTOM of an underlying hormonal imbalance.
There are several factors to consider when addressing why an individual is overweight or obese:
- There is absolutely no scientific evidence for the belief that dietary fat is the driver of obesity.
- Obesity is mostly a hormonal disorder, genetically influenced, in which insulin is a central player.
- It’s not that people eat too much and don’t exercise because of some defect of will, or behavioral problem; it’s the behavior that is controlled by this hormonal imbalance.
- Individuals are genetically predisposed to develop obesity if exposed to the kinds of foods that trigger these hormonal imbalances.
Excessive consumption of carbohydrates by a mother with a developing fetus will not only create blood sugar regulation issues in the mother, but it will genetically predispose the developing child to have a diminished ability to tolerate carbohydrate-rich foods. At the present, the level of carbohydrate consumption in the form of sugary drinks, snacks, highly processed grains, etc., are at an all time high and can potentially be seen as the cause of the epidemic of overweight and obese Americans.
The USA Today article suggests that multiple mechanisms are involved in the “biology of obesity” and that it may eventually be necessary for patients to take several medications to lose weight and keep it off.
The “biology of obesity” starts with the way we process the food that we take into our body, 3+ meals per day, 365 days per year. Prescription drugs are not aimed at addressing the “root cause,” but simply offer another allopathic way to treat the symptoms of a much more complex disorder. Until we recognize that real food cannot be manufactured in processing plants and have an extended shelf life, we are doomed to continue to promote a “this for that” health plan.
There is a growing population throughout the world, specifically in the US, that is eating massive amounts of soy due to the belief that it is a healthy meat and dairy substitute. While there is a wealth of research suggesting that soy can be beneficial for human health, Kaayla T. Daniels, renowned nutritionist and PhD, suggests that the scientific evidence is contradictory and inconsistent at best. Dr. Daniels believes that with the majority of today’s highly processed and genetically modified soy products, people of all ages are experiencing a myriad of health problems.
Here are five reasons why soy may not be as healthy as we’re told:
- Overconsumption: Soy is the No. 1 cash crop on the planet! Instead of throwing away the protein remnants from the manufacturing of vegetable (soy) oil, businesses have marketed it as fertilizers, animal feed, and finally, human food. The USDA has regulations on the amount of soy being fed to animals, as studies have indicated multiple health problems in animals when fed too much. However, the USDA has yet to put a limit on human soy consumption, despite the health maladies that many are experiencing, such as hormonal imbalances, thyroid problems, and poor mineral and protein absorption.
- Pesticides/Contamination: Since WWII, the processing methods of the soybean have involved extremely high temperature and high-pressure extrusion of the soy protein using hexane solvents and other industrial methods, which are very dangerous for the environment. The average vegetable is sprayed with pesticides/herbicides/fungicides on average 10 times! A very large percentage of soy is genetically modified (GMO) and also has one of the highest percentages of contamination by pesticides of any of our foods.
- Estrogen Issues: Soy has naturally occurring plant estrogens that are not identical to human estrogens, but close enough to fool the body. These estrogens cause a myriad of health problems in people and are potentially linked to early onset puberty, thyroid problems, infertility, as well as many other side effects, depending on the person.
- Mineral Deficiencies: All soy products, GMO or otherwise, contain enzymes called trypsin inhibitors. These plant enzymes –if not properly broken down through slow cooking –can produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake. Soybeans are also high in phytic acid, a substance that can block the uptake of essential minerals – calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and especially zinc – in the intestinal tract. Vegetarians who consume tofu and bean curd as a substitute for meat and dairy products risk severe mineral deficiencies. The results of calcium, magnesium and iron deficiency are well known. Only a long period of fermentation will significantly reduce the phytate content of soybeans (miso, tempeh, nato). When precipitated soy products (like tofu) are consumed with meat, the mineral-blocking effects of the phytates are reduced. The Japanese traditionally eat a small amount of tofu or miso as part of a mineral-rich fish broth, followed by a serving of meat or fish, but do not use soy as a staple of their meals as some would suggest.
- False Advertising?: The American Heart Association (AHA) has said there is no basis for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved claim that soy protein lowers cholesterol and prevents heart disease. Additionally, countries like France and Israel have mandated warning labels on soy products suggesting that it never be fed to babies, used sparingly by those under 18, and adults –especially women at increased risk for infertility and breast cancer –should exercise caution.
Regardless of whether you agree with these claims or not, understand that the negative effects of soy on the human body may far outweigh the positive.
For more information, refer to:
Weston A. Price
Mercola
The Whole Soy Story: Kaayla T. Daniels
Swine Flu and Our Immune System
When it comes down to it, you’re only as strong as your immune system!
According to T.S. Wiley in LIGHTS OUT, “About eighty percent of the full force of your defensive immune system resides in your intestines or gut. This makes sense, since most toxins will enter through your mouth.”
The digestive system supports the body by performing two essential functions: (1) absorption of nutrients and (2) the elimination of harmful bacteria. A healthy digestive system maintains a strong line of defense against pathogens that we breathe in, consume in our foods, and pick up through personal contact. When our digestive system becomes weakened, we become much more susceptible to being exposed to bacterial and viral infections.
Recent mainstream media coverage of the “H1N1 flu pandemic” suggests that more than 2 billion people worldwide will be infected with the swine flu virus in the next two years. On top of this disturbing figure, controversy surrounds the safety and efficacy of flu vaccinations as a soon-to-be-available form of flu prevention.
Personally, I think it’s much more important to prevent ALL infections from entering the body, rather than just one.. This means keeping your immune system healthy and strong. The key to a strong immune system rests in the optimal functioning of our digestive system.
Boost Your Immune System Through Food
- Avoid Sugar: This includes foods that taste sweet, even fruit. The exceptions to this rule would be foods with “natural” artificial sweeteners such as, stevia, yacon syrup and sugar alcohols, such as xylitol or erythritol.
- Avoid Alcohol: The negative effects FAR outweigh the positive. Enough said!
- Avoid Starchy Food: Cross these starchy foods off your shopping list: anything with at least 65% starch, all flour, all grains (whole or otherwise), potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, yams and many other root vegetables.
- Eat Good Fats: Seek out fats in properly raised animal products and other fats that humans have been consuming for thousands of years. These omega-3’s and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA’s) help us regulate blood sugar levels, aid cell repair and enhance immune system function. Great fats include: raw nuts, avocado, beef, egg yolks, chicken skin, olive oil, coconut oil and butter. These are from animals that live a happy, healthy, hormone-free, grass-fed, pastured, organic, active and stress-free life!
- Avoid Bad Fats: Don’t consume polyunsaturated fats from seed, nut, and vegetable oils.
Boost Your Immune System Through Sleep:
Sleep is the biggest immunological defense mechanism that exists. It defends us from potentially harmful organisms in our environment. The National Institutes of Health confirms that sleep is a scientific “given” and that light-and-dark cycles:
- Turn hormone production on and off
- Activate your immune system
- Time neurotransmitter release daily, and especially seasonally
Until 75 years ago, we spent up to 14 hours a night – depending on the season – in the dark! “If you don’t sleep for a night, you might get your work done. If you don’t sleep for a week, not only does your work suffer, you might die,” said Wiley.
Boost Your Immune System With Supplements:
- Immunitone: This is the immune systems boosting/viral fighting powerhouse of a supplement containing: echinacea and andrographis, both shown to shorten the duration and severity of infections, but best taken before they occur. It also contains elderberry, which has been shown to fight against the spread of viruses like influenza.
- Olive Leaf Extract: This has been shown to be an effective anti-viral herb and can be used preventatively as an immune system booster.
- Immunity Take Care: This is a virus killer! Eliminates the reproductive capabilities of the virus.
- Bee Propolus: Strengthens our natural immune capabilities.
All Supplements can be ordered by contacting Body Systems at (520) 661-8273 or ben@bodysystemsaz.com.
I am pleased to announce that Body Systems, LLC has joined forces with Arizona based Sport-Performance and Physical Therapy Clinic: Foothills Sports Medicine.
Body Systems Healing & Performance has opened an office in the Scottsdale based Foothills clinic located at 5410 N. Scottsdale Rd, Suite A-100, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. We are located in the heart of Scottsdale just north of the popular Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall and virtually in the shadows of the famed Camelback Mountain.
While Foothills Sports Medicine prides itself on it’s “hands on therapy that gets results”, Body Systems takes on a role new to the Foothills empire; that of Nutrition and lifestyle coaching.
We have essentially created a “one-stop shop” that is going to revolutionize the way physical therapy, personal training and nutritional coaching have been practiced up till now. We are giving people the opportunity to address their health-related needs all within one setting, rather than the “a la carte” way people have had to jump from one person to the next for injury rehabilitation, fitness training, and nutritional guidance.
I want to thank Foothills Sports Medicine for the opportunity to provide my services within their highly successful and “healing” setting and look forward to collaborating with Foothills as we turn the corner in the ever growing field of health and fitness.
In a market where people are increasingly turning to alternative medicine health-care, I feel that the opportunity to excel, even in a “down” market, is greater than ever.
Thanks for all the support I’ve been receiving and I look forward to every day I get to continue living my legacy…
Ben
