COPD Vitamin D Study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) takes approximately 3 million each year who suffer and die from COPD related complications.

According to a 2010 report in the journal Thorax, 60% of patients with severe COPD and 77% with very severe COPD had vitamin D blood levels under 20 ng/ml, a level experts say is insuffient.

A recent study in Belgium, took 50 patients with COPD with symptoms that included shortness of breath, coughing and phlegm, monitored them for 3 months, testing the effectiveness of vitamin D.

Half the patients received 100,000 IU of vitamin D each month while the other half received a placebo.

At the beginning of the study and at the end of the study, researchers tested their muscle strength in their lungs and their legs, their vitamin D levels and their exercise capacity.  Improvements in quality of life before and after the study were also noted.

At the end of the study, those receiving the high dosage of vitamin D had improvement in respiratory muscle strength and could exercise longer and more intensely than those who were not getting vitamin D.

According to Miek Hornikx, physiotherapist and doctoral student in the department of pneumology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, she said, "Our study shows that high doses of vitamin D supplementation on top of a standard rehabilitation program improve the outcome in terms of exercise capacity and respiratory muscle strength."

Hornikx added, "Since vitamin D is often depleted in patients with COPD, we wanted to see if vitamin D supplementation would have a beneficial effect on rehabilitation among these patients."

The study was presented at the 2011 American Thoracic Society International Conference in Denver.

The U.S. recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 600 IU daily for adults up to age 70 and 800 IU daily for adults over 70.  Source: fox40tv

What is the best way to get vitamin D?
Sun exposure is the best, but know that, if you are putting on suncreens, they will inhibit the amount of vitamin D the body can absorb.

If you live in the northern latitudes, to get your D levels in normal range, we suggest you choose vitamin D in supplement form, by choosing the cholecalciferol version (D3), which is more bioavailable than the ergocalciferol (D2) type.

According to Dr. Jonathan Wright, whos expertise is in alternative health, he recommends a minimum of 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily and depending on where you live and how much sun exposure you are receiving, many of us may need between 5,000 IU and 10,000 IU daily.

Note:  HealthIsInReach suggests, something to consider using, if suffering from COPD or any type of breathing problems is the Original Sun Ancon Chi Machine.

Shared with: the healthy home economist

Original Sun Ancon Chi Machine Therapeutic Massager

The Orginal Sun Ancon Chi Machine Therapeutic Massager is the culmination of 38 years of research and development by Dr. Shizuo Inuoe, former President of the Oxygen Health Association of Japan, internationally patented according to Tai Chi movement principles.

According to Dr. Inuoe, "To assimilate more oxygen, we needed to devise a way to excite sympathetic nerves, open up the bronchioles to provide maximum oxygen, and increase blood circulation.  By gently swinging the body from side-to-side, we obtained the best outcome of oxygen absorption."

Resonance effects are used to enhance circulation, align the spine, increase oxygen intake, activate cell rejuvenation, enhance immune system function, adjust autonomy nervous system, and stimulate internal organs.  The Original Sun Ancon Chi Machine works just like a therapeutic massager.  The equivalent oxygen benefit of 1 1/2 hours of walking in a 15-minute session.

This revolutionary machine also helps to release tension and flush out toxins.  Toxins are removed by improving your lymphatic system's ability to detoxify and by improving bowel movements. 

The Chi Machine works by using the pattern of "gentle infinity" (perfect figure eights).  Simply lie on your back or sit on a chair.  Use it for 5-20 minutes per day to receive these and many more benefits.

The Original Sun Ancon Chi Machine is FDA regulated as a non-prescriptive Class 1 medical device with 26 global patents.

Shared with: thehealthyhomeeconomist

A Healthy Digestive System

One of the most common age related causes of impaired digestive function is the reduction of Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) produced by the stomach. Correct acidity level (pH from 1 to 3) in your stomach will:
1. Sanitize food before it enters the colon
2. Initiate enzyme production
3. Prepare protein for digestion
4. Help make Vitamin B12 available
5. Help your digestive system to stop constipation, gas, bloating, heartburn and other digestive discomforts.

The solution to this is to take nutrients that address your entire digestive system and tackle the source of the imbalance.

Did you know that 60-80% of the body's energy is used on digestion. The remaining systems in your body (immune, respiratory, reproductive, cardiovascular, nervous, and muscular) share only 20-40% of your total energy. So what do you think happens when one or more of these systems are challenged? Your body "steals" energy from the digestive system.

Indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, gas, food cravings, bloating and other digestive problems can indicate that there may be a problem in another system.

Also, when the body "steals" energy from the digestive system, it can't balance the stomach acid or produce enough enzymes for a smooth operation.

Supporting the digestive system has two main purposes:

1. To improve digestion
2. To free up energy to be used elsewhere in the body

By supporting your digestive system, you are in fact allowing your body to spend sufficient energy on all the other systems in your body.


1. The esophagus is a long muscular tube, which moves food from the mouth to the stomach.
2. The abdomen contains all of the digestive organs.
3. The stomach, situated at the top of the abdomen, normally holds just over 3 pints of food from a single meal. Here the food is mixed with an acid that is produced to assist in digestion. In the stomach, acid and other digestive juices are added to the ingested food to facilitate breakdown of complex proteins, fats and carbohydrates into small, more absorbable units.
4. A valve at the entrance of the stomach from the esophagus allows the food to enter while keeping the acid-laden food from "refluxing" back into the esophagus, causing damage and pain.
5. The pylorus is a small round muscle located at the outlet of the stomach and the entrance to the duodenum ( the first section of the small intestine). It closes the stomach outlet while food is being digested into a smaller, more easily absorbed form. When food is properly digested, the pylorus opens and allows the contents of the stomach into the duodenum.
6. The small intestine is about 15 to 20 feet long and is where the majority of the absorption of the nutrients from food takes place. The small intestine is made up of three sections: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum.
7. The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine and is where the food is mixed with bile produced by the liver and with other juices from the pancreas. This is where much of the iron and calcium is absorbed.
8. the jejunum is the middle part of the small intestine extending from the duodenum to the ileum; it is responsible for digestion.
9. The last segment of the intestine, the ileum, is where the absorption of fat-solutble vitamins A, D, E, and K and other nutrients are absorbed.
10. Another valve separates the small and large intestins to keep bacteria-laden colon contents from coming back into the small intestines.
11. In the large intestines, excess fluids are absorbed and firm stool is formed. The colon may absorb protein, when necessary. source

Smart Choices for Digestive System Health

1. Drink water
2. Exercise (if unable to get outside and walk, consider the Original Chi Machine for indoor use)
3. Exercise good oral hygiene
4. Supplement with probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes & dietary fiber (check out: http://www.procapslabs.com/ and/or http://www.drclarkstore.com/ )
5. Avoid toxins (view the video for toxins in your shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, dish soap, toothpaste, etc.)
6. Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup
7. Control Inflammation - consider taking an immune supplement, http://www.bakersyeastbetaglucan.com/

Ritalin - Some Hidden Facts

Many parents around the country have discovered that Ritalin has become a condition for their children continuing in school. There are even reports, by parents, of threats from social agencies: "If you don't allow us to prescribe Ritalin for your ADHD child, we may decide that you are an unfit parent. We may decide to take your child away." This mind-boggling state of affairs is fueled by teachers, principals, and school counselors, none of whom have medical training.....by Jon Rappoport

The term ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), is a syndrome of learning and behavioral problems that is not caused by any serious underlying physical or mental disorder and is characterized especially by difficulty in sustaining attention, any impulsive behavior (as in speaking out of turn), and usually by excessive activity.

ADHD can also be classified as a mental disorder assessed on the basis of behavior appropriate to a given mental age, characterized by inability to concentrate, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, etc.

These conditions are primarily due to the high consumption of sugar, an unstable home life, food allergies, food additives, heavy metal toxicity, etc.

At least 50% of ADHD children have been misdiagnosed and behavioral problems could be significantly corrected through the elimination of such things in their lives.

Something to note in those afflicted with ADD or ADHD, the neurotransmitters in the brain don't quite connect, the Original Chi Machine helps the neurotransmitters in the brain to connect, in turn releasing serotonin which helps to get rid of depression, also allowing right brain/left brain functioning.