Naturopathic Solutions

Try and read this article on Vitamin D by the dean of health and fitness writers, Jane E. Brody from The New York Times.  She recaps the current thinking about the benefits and proper doses of Vitamin D.

Here are some of the key points from her article:

Many Doctors and researchers now believe that the current recommended daily allowances (RDA’s) of Vitamin D are too low. 

You can get your Vitamin D through sunlight, eating certain foods rich in D or through supplements.

Skin exposure to the sun’s UV rays (the same ones that cause sunburn) forms Vitamin D. 

Other sources of Vitamin D are fortified milk, juices and certain foods such as the oily fishes.  Some vitamins contain D, but not all.  Check your labels.

It takes a quart of fortified mild a day to reach the current RDA of 400 international units (IUs).

Researchers now believe that 700-800 IUs per day will significantly reduce risk of bone fractures

Animal studies show that Vitamin D reduces tumors.

Observational studies in people show that low levels of Vitamin D are linked to the increased occurrence of many types of cancer including breast, stomach, bladder, pancreas and uterus as well as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and multiple myeloma.  A recent double blind study showed that those taking 1000 IUs of D had 80% less chance of cancer than those that did not.  Diabetes and MS have also been linked to low levels of D.

It is unclear what the maximum safe dose of Vitamin D is as reliable studies are rare.

Check your vitamin D intake today and read the Ms. Brody’s important article in full. 

This Med Headlines article describes a recent study involving lab animals who gained more weight when they were exposed to artificial sweeteners than to plain old sugar.

The study was performed by the IngestiveBehaviorResearchCenter at PurdueUniversityand compared weight gain in rodents who ate artificially sweetened yogurt to those who consumed sugar sweetened yogurt.  The sugar fed rodents gained less.  “The study surmised that by breaking the connection between a sweet sensation and high-calorie food, the use of saccharin changes the body’s ability to regulate intake.”

As the article points out, the obesity epidemic has continued in full force during the introduction of artificially sweetened foods into the food chain.

“The data clearly indicate that consuming a food sweetened with no-calorie saccharin can lead to body weight gain that would not occur if a person consumed the very same food sweetened with higher calorie sugar, the authors wrote.”

We previously reported on the possible link between diet drinks and heart disease here.

This eFlux Media article by Anna Boyd summarizes the situation with a bill proposed by a Mississippi legislator that would prevent restaurants in Mississippi from serving those that are obese.  Apparently the legislator realized that the bill had no chance of becoming law but submitted the bill simply to draw attention to the huge problem that Mississippi has with obesity which the legislator contends is the state’s number one problem.  Over 30% of the state’s citizens are obese.

Understandably, pretty much everyone, particularly the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, whose website says, “We come in all sizes, understand it, support it, accept it,” was against the bill.  

The bill has no chance of being seriously considered by the Mississippi legislature.

So this latest attempt at Nanny Statism, extreme version, has been defeated.  No doubt we’ll see other similar attempts in the future as the obesity epidemic continues unabated in the US.

Here is a link to a story in the LAT concerning the growing interest in Triathlons.  And the article contains further links to other related LAT info on Triathlons.

These swim/bike/run treks confer the ultimate in bragging rights on athletes.  The current Olympic standard for Triathlons is a 1.5 kilometer swim, a 40 kilometer bike ride and a 10 kilometer run.  Some of the “ironman” triathlons have much longer distances in each category.  See a complete write up on the history and details of triathlons here in Wikpedia.

The LAT article suggests the following if you are interested in competing in your first triathlon:

            Watch a full triathlon first to cut the intimidation factor and to evaluate your mental and physical fitness for the event.

            The training schedule is rigorous so let your family and friend know what is entailed.

            Sign up.  This will motivate you to start training.

            Try an intermediate target such as 10K run to determine your fitness level and build your confidence.

            Learn everything you can about the race before competing including the specific physical features of your particular course.

The next time you use the excuse that you can't do something, have a thought about an old friend of mine.....

A few years back he was riding his bike training for a triathlon when he was hit by a semi-trailer. He went right under it and he was pretty f***ed up. He broke many bones and was in a coma.

When he came around there was little hope of him ever being able to get out of a wheelchair.

Well recently he completed his first triathlon since the accident. He still doesn't have great use of both legs but he rode his bike with one leg, swam using his upper body, and did the run using crutches.

Just think about that for a second. Completing a run (well, kind of run..) using crutches, after a long ride and a swim. Imagine how much discomfort, pain, or negative thoughts must have gone through his head during training. How many excuses do you think he would have come up with over the past few years? Who would've blamed him if he ever gave up?

It's a pretty awesome achievement but I know this is not where his story will end.

Anyway, something to think about next time your mind tries to sabotage you!

Ray