Sun Exposure and Vitamin D

Sad to say, most cases of vitamin D deficiency are due to the lack of outdoor sun exposure.  Vitamin D can be synthesized in the skin through a photosynthetic reaction triggered by exposure to UVB radiation.

For most white people, a half-hour in the summer sun in a bathing suit can initiate the release of 50,000 IU vitamin D into the circulation within 24 hours of exposure, for tanned individuals the same amount of exposure yields 20,000-30,000 IU and for those with dark skin 8,000-10,000 IU.

At least 1,000 different genes governing virtually every tissue in the body are now thought to be regulated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active form of the vitamin, including several involved in calcium metabolism and neuromuscular and immune system functioning.  According to Michael Holick, medical professor and director of the Bone Health Care Clinic at the Boston University Medical Center, the primary physiologic function of vitamin D is to maintain serum calcium and phosphorous levels within the normal physiologic range to support most metabolic functions, neuromuscular transmission, and bone mineralization.

In a study reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, June 2003, Holick pointed out that most melanomas occur on the least sun-exposed areas of the body and occupational exposure to sunlight actually reduced melanoma risk.

Rolfdieter Krause and his colleagues of the Free University of Berlin Department of Natural Medicine studied to determine the potential link between sun exposure and the protective effect in preventing hypertension by exposing a group of hypertensive adults to a tanning bed that emitted full-spectrum UVR, which is similar to the summer sunlight and another group of hypertensive adults to a tanning bed that only emitted UVA radiation, which is similar to the winter sunlight.  After 3 months, those who used the full-spectrum UVR tanning beds had an average 180% increase in their 25(OH)D levels and an average 6 mm Hg decrease in their systolic and diastolic blood pressures, which brought them into normal ranges.  The group that used the UVA-only tanning beds showed no change in either 25(OH)D or blood pressure.

A research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that those with the lowest vitamin D levels have more than double the risk of dying from heart disease and other causes over an eight-year period compared with those with the highest vitamin D levels.

In the International Journal of Epidemiology, a study led by Robyn Lucas, an epidemiologist at Australian National University, concluded that, far more lives are lost to diseases caused by a lack of sunlight than to those caused by too much.

As reported in Arthritis & Rheumatism, January 2004, the greater intake of vitamin D has been linked with lower rheumatoid arthritis risk.

Source:  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997

For your information:
The United States UV Index Forecast - Everyday the National Weather Service calculates the predicted UV Index for the next day in the U.S.

The United States Naval Observatory - Gives data on when the sun is at 50 degrees or more in any given area, which is the best range to get vitamin D exposure on sunny days.

Shared with: the healthy home economist

Chicken Nuggets Are Made How?

In Jordan Rubin's latest book, Live Beyond Organic, he writes of how chicken nuggets are made on pages 35 & 36.  Live Beyond Organic is Jordan Rubin's 24th book on health, he started writing soon after recovering from his diagnosed Crohn's disease, plus he exhibited symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes, extreme anemia, heart problems, urinary tract and prostate infections, yeast (Candida) overgrowth, parasites, and multiple viral infections.

Jordan writes, "After chicken meat has been removed from the carcasses on the assembly line, there's still a little meat left on the bone, plus some tendons and tissue.  Back in the day, millions of these carcasses were buried in a landfill or burned in an incinerator, but machines were invented to mechanically separate those scraps of meat and muscle fiber."

Jordan goes on to say, "The mechanically separated poultry, or MSP, is run through a grinding machine that turns the meat remnants into a pink goop that resembles strawberry frozen yogurt being dispensed at your local mini-mall.  Nobody wants to bite into pink chicken nuggets, so food colorings and artificial flavorings are added to bring back the whitish color and deliver the taste that we've always associated with cooked chicken breast."

Jordan's biggest problem with conventional meat is that cattle, chicken, and fish are raised and fattened on feed containing hormones, nitrates, and pesticides.  On top of that, livestock and chickens are penned up on "factory farms" that confine thousands of animals in impossibly cramped conditions with zero access to sunlight, fresh air, or natural movement.

Did you know that according to the Grace Factory Farm Project, an estimated 70 percent of all antibiotics in the United States are fed to cattle, poultry, and pigs to promote growth and compensate for the unsanitary and deplorable living conditions on factory farms.

To purchase Live Beyond Organic by Jordan S. Rubin (free book offer, see banner above)

Shared with: the healthy home economist

Health Benefits of Cashews

Did you know that a 1/4 cup of cashew nuts supplies you with:

• 37..4% of the daily recommended value of monounsaturated fat
• 38.0% of the daily recommended value of copper
• 22.3% of the daily recommended value for magnesium

Cashew nuts contain Heart-Protective Monounsaturated Fats:

• Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts
• Cashews contain primarily unsaturated fatty acids, 75% of which is oleic acid, the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil
• Oleic acid found in cashews promotes good cardiovascular health
• Monounsaturated fats reduce high triglyceride levels which are associated with increased risk for heart disease

Eating cashews provides the body with a good source of Copper, Copper plays a role in a wide range of physiological processes including:

• Iron utilization
• Elimination of free radicals
• Development of bone and connective tissue
• Production of the skin and hair pigment called melanin
• Energy production
• Antioxidant defenses

Inadequate intake of copper can lead to health problems such as:

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Ruptured blood vessels
• Osteoporosis
• Joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Brain disturbances
• Elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduced HDL (good) cholesterol levels
• Irregular heartbeat
• Increased susceptibility to infections

Cashews are a great source of Magnesium, adequate levels of Magnesium in the body:

• Ensures healthy bones
• Helps to lower blood pressure
• Helps to prevent heart attacks
• Promotes normal sleep patterns
• Reduces the severity of asthma

Insufficient Magnesium can contribute to:

• High blood pressure
• Muscle spasms
• Mirgraine headaches
• Muscle cramps
• Tension
• Soreness
• Fatigue

Cashews should always be stored in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place.
Moderation is key, because of their high fat content, over consumption of these delicious nuts can cause unwanted weight gain.
If you overindulge the oxalates in cashews can also become concentrated in your body fluids, crystallizing and causing health problems in people with preexisting kidney or gallbladder problems.  source:  www.organiccashewnuts.com/cashewbenefits.htm

Far Infrared Therapy Benefits

Discover the amazing benefits behind Far Infrared!
Far Infrared therapy very gently increases blood flow by expanding the capillaries that carry blood. It also increases oxygenation and regeneration of the blood, deeply detoxifying it for the improved functioning of all of the major organs in the body which depend on blood for energy. This detoxification is on the deepest level, allowing hidden toxins in the blood and tissue to be dissolved or immobilized.

Through subtle heating, Far Infrared boosts our immune system, increasing the amount of white blood cells and killer T-cells. It is an excellent therapy for promoting healing, reducing muscle soreness, muscle spasms and relief for rheumatoid arthritis. Research by NASA has shown that Far Infrared on the cardiovascular system was a great way of keeping astronauts hearts' in optimal condition.

Far Infrared can also increase the processing enzyme activity in our digestive tract, as well as boost metabolism. The rejuvenating effects of Far Infrared have been shown to help heal scar tissue such as burn scars, acne scars and other forms of dermatological scarring. Far Infrared therapy may also help in fat loss, chronic fatigue, water retention, skin disorders, as well as in the elimination of heavy metals, poisons, and carcinogenic material from our bodies.

As shown above, HealthIsInReach.com, authorized distributor for HTE USA, is pleased to announce our Far Infrared Product Line: Grande SOQI Bed, FIR Waist Support, HotHouse (FIR Dome), FIR Pad, FIR Lumbar Cushion, and our Power Eyes.

The Truth About Coffee

Did you know that the U.S. imports over $4 billion in coffee each year and Americans drink 400 million cups per day.

Coffee places an enormous metabolic burden on the body and offers no nutritional value; no vitamins, no minerals, no enzymes.

Coffee can:

• increase your risk for stomach cancer and leukemia
• interfere with your body's ability to use water, and promote fluid loss
• raise your cholesterol
• send your insulin levels out of control
• contribute to rheumatoid arthritis and stroke
• damage your blood vessels
• increase your risk of heart disease
• interfere with your body's ability to use folate and vit. B12 and B6
• stimulate your adrenals, which may eventually lead to adrenal gland burn out
• raise the acidity level of your blood
• lead to insomnia
• raise your blood pressure and stress hormone levels
• deplete iron and calcium levels in women
• cause anxiety and a sensation of jitteriness and nervousness

Studies indicate over 300mg of caffeine/day, which is the equivalent of two or three eight ounce cups of coffee, may also increase your risk of:

• Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion
• Delivering a low birth weight baby
• Having a child with certain birth defects like clef palate

Four or more cups of coffee a day may increase your baby's risk of SIDS.

It's important to realize that any caffeine you ingest passes easily through the placenta to your unborn child. It is also transferred through breast milk, and stays in your body and the body of your unborn child or infant longer than average. Your unborn baby has no ability to detoxify the caffeine he or she is exposed to.

A better alternative is simply, pure water. Green tea is another option. source

Another article of interest: "Sodas-How Good Are They?" exposes caffeine