The Vitamin D Controversy | Apparently God Doesn't Know What He's Doing

This week a Report was released by a Committee of the Institute of Medicine which states that a 3 year old child needs the same amount of Vitamin D as a 50 year old adult. Does that make sense to you? It doesn't to me. We dose our medicine by body weight, we should be dosing our nutrition by body weight also. This report states that any dose of Vitamin D over 600 I.U.'s per day is unnecessary and could be dangerous.

Now, think about that for a minute with this piece of information in mind:

Caucasian skin produces approximately 10,000 IU of vitamin D in response to 20-30 minutes of summer sun exposure-50 times more than the US government's recommendation of 200 IU per day! This high rate of natural production of vitamin D3 cholecalciferol (pronounced koh·luh·kal·sif·uh·rawl) in the skin is the single most important fact every person should know about vitamin D-a fact that has profound implications for the natural human condition. Does anyone believe God made a mistake and we're not supposed to be in the summer sun for 30 minutes? What do we all know to do if a newborn baby has yellowish skin (suggestive of jaundice)? Put them in the sunshine for 10-20 minutes every day! According to this new Report, the amount of Vitamin D from 10-20 minutes of sunshine per day to newborn infants would be dangerous. Does that make sense to you?


This type of Report is a grave injustice to the tens of thousands of people who are suffering, and now will be overly apprehensive about using Vitamin D at therapeutic doses when they truly need it.


To my Colleagues and Health Care Practitioners who are reading this message, may I request spending a little time in the next few weeks to get a 'Big Picture', a Functional Medicine overview of the benefits of therapeutic doses of Vitamin D to those who need it? You can begin at www.vitaminDcouncil.org and read the publications that address the physiology, the pharmacology, the toxicity studies, the areas of Research (with hundreds and hundreds of references, (i.e. 141 studies on the role of Vitamin D in the prevention and arresting of cancer).


And to my friends and General Public reading this message, may I request you go to www.vitaminDcouncil.org and begin reading the Newsletters written by Scientists and Researchers from many major Universities (Harvard, Stanford, Boston Medical,...) speaking directly to the General Public? These authors talk about the many benefits to therapeutic doses of Vitamin D for those who are insufficient or deficient.


And how do we know if we're getting enough? A simple blood test for 25-hydroxy Vitamin D should be between 50-80ng/mL (the Vitamin D blood levels obtained by humans who live and work in the sun and the mid-point of the current Reference Ranges at all American laboratories).


How To Get Enough Vitamin D
There are 3 ways for adults to ensure adequate levels of vitamin D:

- Regularly receive midday sun exposure in the late spring, summer, and early fall, exposing as much of the skin as possible for 20-30 minutes (being careful to never burn). (Those with dark skin will need longer exposure time - up to six times longer.)

- Regularly use a sun bed (avoiding sunburn) during the colder months.

- Take 5,000 IU per day for 2-3 months, then obtain a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. Adjust your dosage so that blood levels are between 50-80 ng/mL (or 125-200 nM/L) year-round.

- For extra caution in supplementing with Vitamin D, one can read about the form of Vitamin D called Mycellized Vitamin D, that increases blood values 5 times better than any other form (so you can use less). http://www.thedr.com/articles/Micellization_Study_Ad.pdf

- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) was a German philosopher known for his philosophical clarity (a 30,000 foot overview of how people think and act). He made one of the most valuable observations on the shifting of human views when he stated that all truth goes through 3 stages:


First, it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed
Finally, it is accepted as self-evident.

It makes no sense that a 50 year old adult needs the same amount of Vitamin D as a 3 year old child. Let's just look at the overwhelming evidence and recognize that IF someone is insufficient or deficient in Vitamin D, bringing the levels up to a normal range (similar to being in the sun 20-30 minutes per day) can tremendously help restore health and vitality.



Source
Dr. Tom O'Bryan

The Real Story Behind Cosmetics

 Watch this wonderfully informative video by Annie Leonard on the REAL story about cosmetics. This is one of my favorites because it talks about everything I believe people (particularaly women) should know about cosmetic toxins and how they effect our bodies.

 The video explains things in an easy to understand format with some fun through the animation. Enjoy!

Going natural or non-toxic does not mean that you have to sacrifice performance. I have made some drastic cosmetic changes and am just sorry I did not switch sooner!

Suzanne Somers BREAKTHROUGH Tour | One night only - 11.9.2010

I have read both of Suzanne's most recent books, BREAKTHROUGH and KNOCKOUT. Breakthrough was so incredible that I almost read the entire book, cover to cover the first time I picked it up.

I am not exactly certain what to expect at this film, but I know I am eagar to hear what she has to say tomorrow night.

Suzanne Somers, a New York Times Bestselling author of 20 books and one of America's most popular women's health advocates, has partnered with Screenvision, Cinema Events LLC, and Alan Hamel Productions to bring one of her most popular talks on aging and wellness to a national cinema audience. Suzanne Somers' BREAKTHROUGH Tour is an honest, engaging and often humorous discussion encouraging viewers to take charge of their health, recapture their youth and maintain their vitality.

A must-see for men and women alike, Suzanne Somers' BREAKTHROUGH Tour provides an informative and engaging discussion about how she educated herself and took control of her health. Moviegoers will learn how Suzanne tackles difficult life experiences, including cancer, aging and menopause, and the daily steps she takes to stay ageless and vital in a toxic world. Suzanne also explains how men can maintain their vigor, libido, energy, and lust for life.

Suzanne Somers' BREAKTHROUGH Tour delivers cutting-edge health and aging information on the latest treatments for breakthrough wellness and longevity that will keep you smart, sexy and strong! As a special gift from Suzanne, moviegoers will receive with admission a free download of selected chapters from two of her New York Times Bestselling books, BREAKTHROUGH and KNOCKOUT. Gift details will be provided at the end of each event!

My ticket is purchased! Is yours?


For local theaters and showtimes in Minnesota and other states, please click HERE. Near the Twin Cities, click HERE.

Why Isn't It Called Breast Cancer PREVENTION Month?

Normally, I would prefer to gather my own information and write my own posts. However, Mike Adams wrote a powerful article today about the breast cancer industry and literally took every thought and word out of my mouth.

Please educate yourself today, read the article and take a look behind the heavy pink curtain of the breast cancer industry. It is a lot of information, but a very easy read. As a breast cancer survivor, um, I mean, CHEMOTHERAPY survivor, I am interested in your thoughts after reading this.

Every woman should know this information. Click here for the article.

HAPPY BREAST CANCER PREVENTION MONTH!

10.10.10 - Non-GMO Day!

I am proud and excited to share my birthday with this very special and much needed day. 10.10.10 marks the FIRST ever Non-GMO Day, which is part of the FIRST ever Non-GMO Month. Thanks to the folks at nongmoproject.org we have this wonderful tradition to look forward to each year.

You asked, and the good folks making and selling your natural and organic food listened. In response to demand for clearly labeled and independently verified non-GMO choices, retailers and food producers have been working together for several years to implement North America’s first non-GMO verification program. Now that the first “Non-GMO Project Verified” labels now hitting store shelves, it’s time to celebrate!

During Non-GMO Month, retailers will post shelf tags by products that are enrolled in or verified by the Non-GMO Project. They’ll hand out Non-GMO Project Shopping Guides, product samples, buttons, and tote bags. They’ll also be ready to answer shoppers’ questions about GMOs, thanks to a retailer training video co-produced by the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association and the Non-GMO Project. In addition, many will host special educational events and fundraisers, featuring film screenings and speakers, on 10.10.10, which is designated as “Non-GMO Day.” For a list of participating retailers, please click here.

With the recent announcement of GMO salmon (Frankenfish) that will soon be entering our food supply UNLABELED as a GMO product, this movement could not come at a better time. I encourage all of you to explore the Non-GMO Project website and start to familiarize yourself with GMO's and their risks to you and your family's health.

Vitamin D3 vs. D2 - What You Need to Know

Many natural doctors, along with nutritionists and experts in the health field have long known the importance of vitamin D. In the past 2 years however, Vitamin D has finally come into the spotlight. Research has found that not only does Vitamin D play a critical role in your overall health and well being, but optimal levels are necessary in order to prevent many cancers, osteoporosis, Rickets, Seasonal Effective Disorder and depression.  Vitamin D also plays a huge role in preventing many other illnesses including the common cold and flu.

In the past 2 weeks, I have run into 2 people who had their Vitamin D levels tested and were placed on (or prescribed) Vitamin D2. I felt it necessary to write this post because people need to understand the difference between the different forms of Vitamin D in order to achieve optimal levels from supplementation.

Many people do not realize that there are several forms of Vitamin D. There is Vitamin D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5. The two major forms of vitamin D are vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 ( cholecalciferol). Pharmacopoeias have officially regarded these 2 forms as equivalent and interchangeable, yet this presumption of equivalence is based on studies of Rickets Disease prevention in infants conducted 70 years ago.

Now that we have the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test as a measure of vitamin D, not only can we see what level of Vitamin D we have in our bodies, we can see a quantitative measure of the biological response to vitamin D through administration/supplementation. Because of this, we have learned that Vitamin D3 is far superior when it comes to absorption. You see, D2 is a synthetic product made by exposing certain plants to ultraviolet radiation. D2 is not what the body naturally uses. D2 was produced in the 1920's. The process was patented and licenced to pharmaceutical companies which then led to a medicinal preparation called vitamin D2 or Viosterol. Unfortuneatly, to this day, the major preparations of vitamin D for presctiption use in North American are in the form of vitamin D2. Although D2 can be used to prevent the vitamin D deficiency disease, rickets, in humans (when given in massive amounts), clinicians have reported disappointing results when using vitamin D2 to treat vitamin D deficiency.

Please -- if you supplement with vitamin D3, have your vitamin D levels tested routinely to ensure you do not overdose with it. You and your physician need to be aware of your vitamin D levels so you can adjust your supplementation accordingly. This is a customized approach -- not a one-size-fits-all.

Having said that, studies suggest that most people are deficient in vitamin D -- not overdosing with it. Also, just in case you did not know, the milk you drink is fortified with D2, not D3.

As the cold and flu season approach us, I strongly encourage everyone to get their Vitamin D levels checked (moms and dads, this includes your children too). If your kids are not pill takers, there are wonderful droplet forms of vitamin D3 available to give to your children. I use them in my own home.

When it comes to health and medicine these days, you must be your own advocate. Althougth time consuming, extensive reasearch has become absolutely necessary.



I like to use this chart from Dr. Mercola to compare my family's vitamin D test results with. As a cancer survivor, I strive for levels between 70-100 ng/ml.



Sources:

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/84/4/694

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/10/26/beware-of-most-prescription-vitamin-d-supplements.aspx 

http://www.naturalnews.com/026870_Vitamin_D_vitamin_D3_health.html

http://products.mercola.com/vitamin-d-spray/


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/02/06/vegetarianism-myths-03.aspx

Organic Egg Scorecard

Thank God for The Cornucopia Institute! Just yesterday, they released a well timed Organic Egg Scorecard that has been 2 years in the making.

For quite some time I have questioned some of the organic egg brands on the market. The brands I always questioned were Kirkland (Costco) organic eggs, Wild Harvest (Supervalu/Cub) and Roundy's Organics. Do you see a trend here? Big grocery chains. However, it does not stop there.

I personally have always purchased Schultz Organic Eggs from Owatonna, MN. I am certain of Larry Schultz's farming practices and therefore I knew I was buying a superior organic egg. I am pleased to see they finished with a "5 egg" rating, but I am not surprised.

I encourage each of you to take a look at the Organic Egg Scorecard and base your future purchases on this report. You and your family deserve to get what you are paying for as a consumer in addition to the full benefits of a truly organic egg.

Welcome to Pure!

First things first - why "pure"?
I chose the name pure for my blog because when I think of ultimate health, I think of a pure mind, a pure body, pure food and pure goodness. Honestly, pure is the opposite of something unadulterated and that pretty much says it all.

Welcome
Welcome to my blog, pure! I am thrilled that you visited today! Please make sure to sign up for my RSS feeds or sign up to be notified via email each time I post a new blog. Doing this will eliminate the need to repeatedly check my blog for new posts. With the RSS feeds and email notifications you will never miss new information! Please note, that when you sign up for post notifications via email (to your right) you will get an email confirmation from FeedBurner. In order to activate your subscription you must respond to this email so don't forget to check your inbox and junk box and add them to your safe list. :)


Why?
It has always been my passion in life to help people and teach people. I also have been for the most part, a health focused person. In 2004 however, I began to really educate myself on food, particularly organics, trans fats and the biochemical impact that food has on our bodies. Then, in 2007, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and Adrenal Exhaustion in 2009. This catapulted me into an entirely different desire to understand health and so, since 2007, I have been studying, researching, listening to lectures and connecting with like minded individuals and professionals to continually educate myself and saturate my mind.

You can ask my friends and family. I speak about nutrition and wellness daily and am constantly trying to educate people on the facts about what they are putting into and onto their bodies. For the normal everyday person it is overwhelming to understand and I have been told to either write a book or go into the nutrition field. Well, I do not feel qualified to write a book first of all, but I do feel qualified to pass on the information in a platform like a blog. As for changing careers, I am still researching that one.

So with that said, I say welcome to pure! Please join me as I conquer the assault on our food and health, one blog at a time.

Namaste,

Susie