Vitamin D

Sun exposure is a very touchy subject.  So I may make some people mad.  I am just presenting the information out there.  The sun can be looked at as an enemy and it will kill you just as many other cancer causing things.  But it does not mean that it should be avoided.  Too much of anything is bad and for others a little can be bad or life threatening. Some people can be sun worshipers and have no ill effects yet others get skin cancer or melanoma.  Know your own body.  

Three years ago my colon reputed and I almost died.  I found out I have many food sensitivities like gluten.  My diet has changed and I can not eat a lot of foods that I once enjoyed.  This did not make me hate food instead I embrace life and enjoy all the other great foods that I can eat without getting sick.  Believe me I still would enjoy a deep dish pizza from Chicago with a cold beer, but that is  not on the menu for me.  IT has not consumed me with worry or hate. It has taught me to  be more sensitive to other peoples health struggles.    

Most people do not realize that there are two forms of Vitamin D.  The two types are, Ergosterol which comes from plants. is the basic building block of vitamin D in plants. Cholesterol is the basic building block of vitamin D in humans. When ultraviolet light from the sun hits the leaf of a plant, ergosterol is converted into vitamin D2. In just the same way, when ultraviolet light hits the cells of our skin, one form of cholesterol found in our skin, a form of vitamin D3. Foods that contain vitamin D are typically animal-derived, so it may be difficult for vegans to meet the standard. A supplement may be necessary.

World's Healthiest Foods rich in
vitamin D

FoodCals%Daily Value

Salmon245264.7%

Sardines18943.7%

Milk - Goat16831.1%

Milk12229.8%

Mushrooms - Shiitake487%

Eggs786.6%

Insufficient sun exposure

By far the most important D-deficiency contributing factor faced worldwide is insufficient exposure to sunlight. 

Although the task of getting enough sunlight may seem like a fairly straightforward one, the relationship between our vitamin D status and our time in the sun is not nearly as simple as many people might think. First, there is the fluctuating nature of UVB light.  Skin pigmentation also plays an important role in skin synthesis of vitamin D. Darker skin pigmentation means less vitamin D synthesis per minute exposure to UVB light. (In the United States, for example, it is estimated that African American adults are 2-3 times more likely to have vitamin D insufficiency than Caucasian adults.) 

Some lifestyles and occupations provide unusual amounts of sun exposure. Individuals who work outdoors throughout the day in warmer climates have a great chance of getting good exposure to UVB light and synthesizing adequate amounts of vitamin D. Under optimal circumstances, our skin can synthesize between 10,000-20,000 IU of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) in 30 minutes. 

 Researchers are discovering that many autoimmune conditions have greater severity in winter versus summer, and they are investigating possible links with vitamin D deficiency under these circumstances. Similarly, there has been a strong research trend for studying the occurrence of vitamin D-related diseases at different latitudes on the earth. Over the past 10 years, researchers have found increased occurrence of multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and type 1 diabetes in areas with a  greater incidence of  vitamin D deficiency at higher latitudes (farther from the equator).. In other words, there is lesser incidence of these vitamin D deficiency-related diseases at lower latitudes (closer to the equator) where UVB light exposure is presumably higher. 

Cancer Specialist: Sun Exposure Does Not Cause Melanoma

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

By Tom Fudge

The risk of skin cancer increases in San Diego's sunny summer months, but not the risk of melanoma.

Melanoma may be the most deadly form of skin cancer, but it's not the most common. UCSD cancer specialist Gregory Daniels says 95 percent of skin cancers are non-melanomas, which are easy to spot and do not easily spread. Those more benign cancers are caused by UV rays from the sun. But Dr. Daniels says there is no direct connection between getting a lot of sun and getting melanoma.

He says, in fact, "As the incidence of melanoma has risen it's also paralleled a change in behavior that's going on all across the world, and that is people are working indoors."

Studies show that people who get lots of sun, like farmers, are less likely to get melanoma than office workers. He says this could mean that intense, occasional sun exposure increases the risk of the disease.

Top Foods Containing Vitamin D

Shiitake & Button Mushrooms:

Surprisingly, the dried versions of shiitake mushrooms are high in Vitamin D. This may be due to the fact that these mushrooms are adept at sucking up sunlight. Shiitake is also rich in B Vitamins like B1 & B2. Make sure that you find mushrooms that have been dried in the sun, not by some artificial means, in order to extract the benefits of high Vitamin D content.

Mackerel:

A small, 3½ ounce portion of this Omega-3 rich fish will give you 90% of the recommended daily amount. Currently, the FDA recommends that we eat more of these oily fishes to infuse our bodies with the vitamins and omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA’s) that our body cannot produce on its own.

Sockeye Salmon:

A small 3½ ounces portion of cooked salmon will give you 90% of the Dietary Reference Intake for Vitamin D. Make sure to purchase salmon that has been caught from the wild, if not, then sustainably farmed. Salmon eat zooplankton, an excellent source of the important vitamin.

Herring:

Fish like herring are so high in vitamin D because they are the part of our food chain that thrive on plankton, which is chocked full of the vitamin.

Sardines:

Sardines are one of the best foods containing Vitamin D. One small tin can of sardines will provide you with approximately 70% of your daily needs. These tiny canned fish are also a great source for Vitamin B12, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, protein and selenium.

Catfish:

Again, another fish that makes a habit of feeding on plankton, catfish are constantly taking in minuscule sea life that create vitamin D from sunlight.

Tuna fish:

Eat 3 ounces of tuna daily for 50% of your Vitamin D needs. Fresh, wild-caught tuna is the most nutritious. Remember, eating oily fish can also lubricate the body with “good fats,” providing a host of health benefits to your body, like better memory and brain function.

Cod Liver Oil:

If you can stomach the strong aroma, this oil is super-rich in Vitamin D. This marvelously golden, yet terrible-tasting oil, is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Incorporating this oil into your diet will help you increase your bones ability to stay strong and healthy. Because of its high Vitamin D content, cod liver oil has also been shown to prevent osteoporosis in adult, improve brain function and optimize the functioning of the nervous system. What is more, the oil holds 10,000 IUs of vitamin D. One tablespoon of the oil provides more than enough Vitamin D for the day.  I take it in a capsule form. I like the fermented cod liver oil from Green Pasture.

Eggs:

Eggs are another food containing vitamin D in small amounts. Eating one egg will provide you with approximately 10% of your daily needs. I would personally recommend to eat free-range eggs from a local farm, if possible.

Sunshine:

Light hitting the skin from the sun’s rays stimulates the production of this vitamin and hormones.

There are many reasons to stock up on foods containing vitamin D. Health benefits of the vitamin include:

• The prevention of chronic diseases such as many forms of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension.
• The protection and lubrication of your bones, teeth and hair.
• The regulation of cellular growth and healthy cell activity
• Overall reduction of the inflammatory response, a condition known to cause many chronic diseases, from cancer to diabetes to obesity.
• Protection against adult osteoporosis
• Reduction in the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women
• Significant reduction in the occurrence of prostate cancer in African-American men

The hormonal functions of vitamin D include regulation of bone health, regulation of muscle health (including both skeletal and heart muscle), regulation of immune response, regulation of insulin and blood sugar, and regulation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention is a lively area of current research, and the linking vitamin D to cancer prevention are not completely evident. Nevertheless, research has shown a clear role for vitamin D in prevention of the following types of cancer: bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate, and rectal cancer. In certain situations, vitamin D may also play a role in cancer treatment. 


Source
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/jun/03/sun-exposure-does-not-cause-melanoma/
World's Healthiest Foods
Live Strong 

bitter melon

The Chinese have used bitter melon to reverse diabetes for hundreds of years.
It is also know as a fierce cancer fighter. It has strong anti -viral, parasite killer and improves digestion. Eating it cooked  increases its antioxidant levels. It can be added to smoothies and coleslaw, Pregnant or lactating women should not eat it.

Source

Conquering any disease

Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe Vera Juice

 September 11th, 2012 

Called the “Queen of all Herbs”
It has many healing properties
Should only be used 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
Useful for dry stools, constipation, and IBS (irritable Bowel Syndrome)  and  it will help heal the digestive system.
Aloe is a YIN tonic meaning it will cool the body and lower the blood pressure, that similar to wheat grass.

 The leaves of the aloe plant are edible, according to the Plants for a Future database. The leaves can be eaten, but they are bitter and not very tasty. The leaves can be mashed and the pulp used in combination with the gel in juices.

The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel is used in juices. It is also dried for use as a powder that is called latex, according to the National Institutes of Health. Aloe latex is used for its laxative effects.

Pregnant women should not use aloe latex or bitter aloes, as it can cause uterine contractions and miscarriage,

Anyone taking diuretics, diabetes medication or heart medication should not use aloe internally.

Source   Conquering Any Disease

Livestrong

Acia berry

Acia

 September 11th, 2012

The Antioxidant powerhouse
Everyone can eat these berries, even diabetics and cancer patients since they contain no sugar.

These berries have the highest antioxidant value. They fight free radicals that cause cancer and aging.
Great ways to add Acia to your diet is to add it to your smoothies or mix into your yogurt.

Source   Conquering Any Disease

Natural Pain Killer

 September 10th, 2012 

Chop up a large piece of fresh ginger into thin pieces. Boil with a handful of goji berries into 6 cups of water until 2 cups remain. This should take about 1 hour. Drink 2 cups of tea for 1 dose. The goji berries are used to make the tea taste good. This tea is called “Firewater”. It has a serious kick. It will reduce inflammation and pain quickly. It has worked for hundreds of years

Best Foods to Feed Your Dog

Best Foods to Feed Your Dog

 September 10th, 2012 

The List of Best-to-Worst Foods

1. A balanced, raw, homemade diet is the best food you can feed your dog or cat. It will be nutritionally balanced because you’re following recipes like those found in the cookbook I co-authored, Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats.

Raw means the food is unadulterated and still contains all the enzymes and nutrients that are typically destroyed during cooking or other types of processing.

Homemade is the best option because you are in complete control of the quality of ingredients in your pet’s diet.

I recommend pets get plenty of nutritional variety, and another great thing about serving homemade is you can buy seasonal fruits and veggies on sale, as well as protein sources (meats), and use them in rotation.

1. The next best thing you can feed your pet is a commercially available raw diet. This is a raw food diet that someone else has done the heavy lifting to prepare.

It’s important that the diet is balanced, and you should be aware that there are raw food pet diets entering the market that are not yet proven to be nutritionally complete. These foods often say “For supplementation or intermittent feeding” on the label.

You’ll know if the raw food you’ve selected is balanced because it will say it right on the packaging: “This food has been proven to be nutritionally complete or adequate for all life stages.”

At the present time, these diets are found only in the freezer section of small/privately owned or upscale pet boutiques – not in the big box pet stores. You can also find a selection online.

1. Cooked, balanced homemade diet. It’s the same diet found in number 1, above, except that it’s cooked. This means some of the nutrient composition has been diminished through processing.
2. Human-grade canned food. If the label doesn’t say the ingredients are human grade, they’re not. Pet food made with human-grade ingredients is also a great deal more expensive, so that’s another way to tell what you’re getting.

This type of diet is the most expensive you can feed your pet. What I tell my clients is, “If you have more money than time, you can purchase human-grade canned food for your dog or cat. But if you have more time than money, I recommend you make a balanced, homemade diet right in your own kitchen for a fraction of the cost.”

1. Human-grade dry food. As I discussed earlier, dry food is not as species-appropriate as a moisture-dense diet. Human grade is very important because the food is approved, in theory, for human consumption, which means it doesn’t contain low quality rendered by-products.
2. Super premium canned food which can be found at big box pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart.
3. Super premium dry food.
4. Veterinary-recommended canned food. Vet recommended canned foods are purchased at your vet’s office or clinic. Typical brands are Science Diet, the Purina veterinary lines, Royal Canin and Waltham.
5. Veterinary-recommended dry food.
6. Grocery store brand canned food.
7. Grocery store brand dry food.
8. Semi-most pouched food.

The reason this type of pet food is so far down the list is because in order for the food to remain “semi-moist,” an ingredient called propylene glycol is added. This is a scary preservative that is a second cousin to ethylene glycol, which is antifreeze. And while propylene glycol is approved for use in pet foods, it is unhealthy for dogs and cats. I do not recommend feeding any food that contains this additive.

1. Dead last on the list and the worst thing you can feed your pet is an unbalanced, homemade diet – raw or cooked. I’m seeing an increasing number of misguided pet owners in my practice who think they’re doing the right thing by serving their pet, say, a chicken breast and some veggies and calling it a day.

Yes, the food is homemade, but it’s nutritionally unbalanced. Pets being fed this way are showing up at my clinic with endocrine abnormalities, skeletal issues and organ degeneration as a result of deficiencies in calcium, trace minerals and omega fatty acids.

Dr Mercola

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Is Sugar as Toxic to the Liver as Alcohol?

Humans are genetically programmed to seek energy-dense foods, which served us thousands of years ago when food was scarce. However, this is not needed  in today's environment where we have  readily available cheap, high-calorie and  nutritionally bankrupt foods.

You may be surprised to learn that fructose is, in many ways, very similar to alcohol in the damage that it can do to your body.

So while you may already be exercising caution by not overconsuming alcoholic beverages, it may be time to take a closer look at the equally potentially damaging effects associated with your intake of sodas, fruit juice and other fructose-sweetened foods and drinks as well.

If you want to shed excess pounds and maintain a healthy weight long-term, and radically reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer, then restrict your consumption of fructose to no more than 25 grams per day. If you're already overweight, or have any of these diseases or are at high risk of any of them, then you're probably better off cutting that down to 10-15 grams per day.

Fructose is a staple ingredient in the vast majority of sweetened beverages and processed foods of all kinds, from pre-packaged meals to baked goods and condiments. So the easiest way to keep tabs on your fructose consumption is to ditch processed foods from your diet whenever possible. In the event you want an occasional sweetener, do not resort to artificial sweeteners.

Instead, I recommend using:

The herb stevia (my favorites are the liquid forms that come in flavors like French Vanilla and English Toffee)
Dextrose (pure glucose)
And remember, switching to the following "natural" sweeteners will NOT eliminate any of the risks of fructose consumption, as they all contain HIGH amounts of fructose:

AVOID or limit

Cane sugar                             Honey                                Date sugar               Coconut sugar
Brown rice syrup                       Fruit juice                         Molasses                        Maple syrup
Sucanat Sorghum                      Turbinado                         Agave syrup                 Beet sugar
In a 2009 study, A panel of people were fed  high levels of fructose. Ten weeks later, the volunteers had produced new fat cells around their hearts, livers and other digestive organs. In addition, their insulin levels increased and insulin sensitivity decreased, which suggests a link to diabetes.  Fructose is also a likely culprit behind the millions of U.S. children struggling with non-alcoholic liver disease, which is caused by a pathological build-up of fat within liver cells.  Soda, which is loaded with sugar primarily in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Around 100 years ago, the average American consumed a mere 15 grams of fructose a day, primarily in the form of fruit. One hundred years later, one-fourth of Americans are consuming more than 135 grams per day, largely in the form of soda.

When you compare the health outcomes of fructose versus alcohol consumption, you end up seeing a very familiar pattern – the diseases they cause are virtually identical!

Chronic Ethanol Consumption                                   Chronic Fructose Consumption
Hypertension                                                                     Hypertension
Cardiomyopathy                                                              Myocardial infarction
Dyslipidemia                                                                      Dyslipidemia
Pancreatitis                                                                        Pancreatitis
Obesity                                                                                 Obesity
Hepatic dysfunction                                                       Hepatic dysfunction
Fetal alcohol syndrome                                                Fetal insulin resistance
Addiction                                                                            Habituation, if not addiction

Source

Mercola.com