What vitamin slashes your flu risk? 51 studies find flu shot ineffective.

Did you know having optimal vitamin D levels is the best defense for staying cold-free all winter?   A 2010 study showed that children given a low dose of vitamin D (1200 IU/day) were almost half as likely to come down with the flu than the group who received the placebo.

In addition, no less than 5 in depth reviews of scientific literature by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews decimated the claim that the flu vaccine was the most effective way to prevent the flu.  In fact, a review of 51 studies including 260,000 children by Cochrane in 2006, found NO evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective than a placebo in children under two. 

That means vitamin D was much more effective at preventing the flu than the vaccine designed specifically to fight the virus!  Vitamin D also fights all strains of viruses.  The flu vaccine, on the other hand, was only developed to protect against one or two strains.

How does Vitamin D fight the flu?   If you have optimal levels of vitamin D, your body will activate gene proteins that act as biological switches to control viral activity.  This means vitamin D turns on the switch to mount an attack on invading viruses.  It works the same way for invading fungus, bacteria and cancer, but only if you have optimal levels.

What is the optimal level of vitamin D?  Vitamin D levels are determined by a blood test.  Optimal blood levels for healthy persons are 50-80ng/ml.  For anyone fighting an illness or disease this level is between 80-100ng/ml.  If you have optimal blood levels, congratulations! Your body can effectively fight the flu.  Maintain your levels!   If you have lower than optimal blood levels then double your daily dose until you achieve a protective level over 50ng/ml.

How much vitamin D should I take?  Supplementing with vitamin D is highly individualized and is based on your weight and state of health. In general, if you are healthy, take 1,000 units of vitamin D for every 25 pounds of body weight for maintenance.  For example, if you weigh 100 lbs. and your current level is 60ng/ml, then to maintain this optimal level you will want to take 4,000-5,000 units daily.

On the other hand, if you weigh 100 lbs., have an optimal level and come down with cancer; then your healthcare practitioner should suggest  8,000-10,000 units daily in order to achieve an optimal level of 80-100ng/ml to help your immune system fight cancer cells.

Vitamin D and fighting the flu in children:  The same dosage recommendations apply for children.  A 25 pound child would take daily dose of 1,000 units.  If their serum levels are below 50, then doubling or tripling their maintenance dose is appropriate to quickly achieve an optimal level so they can effectively fight the flu.

And remember, the human body requires saturation of the fat cells by vitamin D before entering into the bloodstream.   This process takes time, but once an optimal level is reached, then (and only then) can your body work to annihilate foreign viral invaders!

Protect your health!   Have your levels checked by your doctor. If your insurance longer pays for this test, call our office and we will set you up with our inexpensive lab or send you a finger-prick test and provide you a free evaluation once you have competed the test.

Dr. Lucinda Messer is the author of the Award Winning book, Powerful Medicine Vitamin D; Shedding Light on a Worldwide Health Crisis.  She is a licensed naturopathic physician and holds degrees in integrative oncology and anti-aging medicine.

For consultations, press inquires or book tours, Dr. Messer can be reached at her office in Kirkland Washington at 425-827-9770 or online at drlucinda.com or powerfulD.com

Sunshine helps prevents skin cancer

With summer in full roar, knowing how and when to use sunscreen is vital for your skin’s health and your bodies vitamin D levels.

Did you know that exposing your skin to direct sunlight (without sunscreen) will boost your skins immune system?

Did you know that a healthy immune system can help protect itself from cancer — even the deadliest skin cancers?

It’s probably not what you’ve learned from the sunscreen companies!

Get your FREE download of Sunscreen 101 from my nationally award winning book on cancer – Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D; Shedding Light on a Worldwide Health Crisis.

Why the FREE download?  Because knowing how to use sunscreen is critical for your health and because so few people know how to effectively use sunscreen, boost vitamin D levels and protect themselves from skin cancer at the same time.

I also found a terrific article for you by The Environmental Working Group (EWG), which specializes in evaluating sunscreens.

Sunscreens Exposed: 9 surprising truths.  In it they stated:

“Sunscreens prevent sunburns, but beyond that simple fact surprisingly little is known about the safety and efficacy of these ubiquitous creams and sprays. FDA’s failure to finalize its 1978 sunscreen safety standards both epitomizes and perpetuates this state of confusion. EWG’s review of the latest research unearthed troubling facts that might tempt you to give up on sunscreens altogether. That’s not the right answer – despite the unknowns about their efficacy, public health agencies still recommend using sunscreens, just not as your first line of defense against the sun. At EWG we use sunscreens, but we look for shade, wear protective clothing and avoid the noontime sun before we smear on the cream.”  

And there doesn’t appear to be any consensus on the use of sunscreens: For example, the Institute of Research on Cancer agrees with the FDA that sunscreen use alone does not prevent cancer (FDA 2007). Both also agree that sunscreen use alone should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against harmful UVA radiation.

Receive your free download of Sunscreen 101 from my nationally awarded book, Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D; Shedding Light On a Worldwide Health Crisis - available at Amazon and DrLucinda.com

There is also mounting evidence that sunscreens increase the rate of the most deadly form of skin cancer….Melanoma.

Can avid use of sunscreens really cause skin cancer?  As surprising as this may sound, research has shown that people who avidly use sunscreen might be at higher risk for this deadly disease. Why?  There are several scientific theories that explain the phenomenon.  First; sunscreens chemically breakdown in the skin, which can cause skin damage as well as hormone disruption. Another theory suggests that sunscreen users stay in the sun longer and longer exposure times can increase the risk for melanoma.  Then we need to consider that cheaper sunscreens – which have dominated the market have poor UVA blocking activity; leading to very high risk for skin cancer as well as skin aging.  Lastly, there is also evidence that vitamin A added to sunscreens may be causing harm to sun-exposed skin; ironically, although recent research shows that consuming carotenoids, you may be protecting your skin from all UV damage!

My advise? Don’t be scared out of the sun!

Get your Free Download of Sunscreen 101 and learn how to effectively raise your vitamin D levels and protect your skin from skin cancer!

Be Healthy – Stay Healthy!

And…

Be grateful that mother nature allows the largest organ of our body (our skin) to absorb over 30 times the amount the government (non-experts) is suggesting we take!

For more information; please visit http://PowerfulD.com

Don’t miss out!  Receive your free download of Sunscreen 101 from the nationally awarded book, Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D; Shedding Light On a Worldwide Health Crisis – available at Amazon and DrLucinda.com

Has the Institute of Medicine failed millions?

The countries top vitamin D researchers are up in arms over the government’s new recommendations for this nutrient.  The governmental agency known as the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the Institute of Medicine, convened after 13 years of silence on the subject.  The results were astonishing.  Not only was the RDA minimally raised from the already deficient 400 units to 600 units per day, but the ruling also LOWERED the range for vitamin D in the blood from 30 ng/ml to a dangerously unhealthy level of 20 ng/ml. Both recommendations are a slap in the face to the last 15 years of research on vitamin D performed by the world’s top scientists.

Extremely misleading, the new daily dosage recommended by the FNB states that a 3 pound premature infant requires approximately the same dosage as a 300 pound pregnant woman.

Ironically, there are countless studies showing that if blood levels drop below 30 ng/ml, the osteoid seam width (a measurement performed on bone to evaluate vitamin D deficiency) is shortened, resulting in a very high risk for bone fractures.

Why then, would a government agency set up to protect our health, make such backward suggestions on blood levels and barely increase the dosage recommendations by a mere 200 units? Good question!

There are several likely reasons why this questionable advice was released.  You may not realize, but the main task of the FNB is to produce a recommended daily allowance (RDA) that is the smallest daily amount required to prevent debilitating disease. In this case it’s the bone deforming disease rickets. It is also the real brunt of why our health is suffering; taking only what’s absolutely necessary, instead of an optimal dose that would actually benefit us. Cancer rates, heart disease and deterioration in bone health are on a dramatic rise; no thanks to government standards for vitamin D!

Secondly, since the report’s focus was on vitamin D and calcium metabolism; they made suggestions surrounding disease processes that could encourage abnormal calcium deposition. Both kidney stones and sarcoidosis are examples of diseases which require close monitoring of blood calcium and vitamin D levels.  Somehow, the FNB reasoned that if everyone kept their blood level at 20ng/ml, these relatively rare diseases would be reduced.  This may be the case for these two diseases; it doesn’t however, take into account the health benefits missing for the majority of the population.  Cancer and heart disease are tremendously more prevalent and much more likely to kill you or a loved one.  Doesn’t it make common sense to strive toward a serum level (50-80 ng/ml) that has been shown in the research to be protective against these killers?

Thirdly, and the most absurd move by FNB was their circular logic that since 80% of the population shows a deficiency status of 30 ng/ml or less, the range should be lowered to an even more suboptimal level of 20 ng/ml. Voila, in one fail swoop, government standards re-categorized the majority of American’s from vitamin D deficient to vitamin D sufficient.

But wait, tens of millions of pregnant women are already severely vitamin D deficient.  As a result there has been a huge increase in rickets. The FNB report reasons that because so many pregnant women have low vitamin D levels, it must be OK because low levels are so common.

The single most important fact to contemplate about vitamin D is this: skin exposure to midday summer sun, (20 minutes for most fair-skinned people) can produce in our bodies upwards of 20,000 units of vitamin D. This is an overwhelming 30 times greater amount than the government is suggesting we take! Our bodies evolved in the sun, our human machinery in its infinite wisdom developed this incredible feature for a reason – our health!  Therefore, it might not be advantageous to follow what a panel of non-experts have to say about our bodies true requirements for vitamin D. Several studies have shown that people who work and play in the sun (without oral supplementation of Vitamin D levels) demonstrate levels of 50-80ng/ml; a far cry from the miniscule new suggested range of 20ng/ml. This subgroup also shows an extremely low incidence of deadly cancers and auto-immune disease. Hmm, who knows best about our health…Mother Nature or the Government??

Hence, if you would like to optimize your vitamin D levels and not just prevent debilitating bone  disease, supplementation is crucial! With a mere 200 unit increase from 400 to 600units, you will not see any increase in your blood levels (unless you happened to be a small infant). As a rule of thumb, it takes approximately 2,000 IU/ day for 2-3 months to increase your blood level 10 points (i.e. 20ng/ml to 30ng/ml).

Therefore, in a completely substantiated rebuttal; the Vitamin D Council, comprised of the top Vitamin D researchers – who were by the way not asked to be part of the government’s 14 member panel, as well as Dr. Lucinda Messer a local Seattle physician, vitamin D and health expert, and author of Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D; Shedding Light on a Worldwide Health Crisis, concur unanimously: IGNORE the ridiculously misconstrued recommended level of 20 ng/ml and instead work on achieving a blood level between 50-80 ng/ml, either by yourself or with the guidance of a knowledgeable physician.  This blood level is much more capable of  ensuring not only bone health, but will guarantee there will be enough vitamin D available in your body to produce the most potent of secosteroid hormones - Calcitriol. This activated form of vitamin D cannot be produced in your body to protect you against a myriad of diseases such as cancer and MS if your blood levels are below 50ng/ml!!

Lastly, and even more importantly, we now know that the human genome carries in it (on the DNA) over 2700 binding sites for Calcitriol.  These binding sites powerfully control the on/off switch for genes to activate proteins that control most ALL diseases.

What could possibly happen if all people were encouraged to take enough vitamin D (or get enough from the sun) in order to achieve a serum level of 50-80 ng/ml?  The result would be a much healthier population; with hundreds of thousands fewer cases of cancer and auto-immune disease and saving millions on yearly healthcare costs.  Unfortunately, we will never realize a healthier nation if we maintain blood levels at the government’s recommendation of 20ng/ml.

Youtube gets some Vitamin D!

Promo trailer

youtube:  Demystifying Vitamin D

Monday, November 8th, 2010 at 7 – 9pm

Theo Chocolates

3400 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle

Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D Wins Awards

USA BOOK NEWS

The National “Best Books 2010″ Awards

Congratulations to the Winners & Finalists of our 7th Annual “Best Books” Awards!

AWARD WINNING FINALIST in 2 Categories

HEALTH: CANCER and BEST COVER DESIGN

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Demystifying Vitamin D

November 8th  7-9pm Theo Chocolates in Fremont

Come join Warren Etheredge of The Warren Report as he delves his sharp mind into the controversial and confusing world of vitamin D deficiency and learn what health benefits truly exist for those who have optimal levels.

Over the past decade, vitamin D has been hitting the spotlight on a regular basis and there’s plenty of good reason.

According to vitamin D scientists, Over One Billion People Worldwide are Vitamin D Deficient.  Over the past 40 years researchers have linked vitamin D deficiency with higher than normal death rates from cancer, it’s influence on developing MS, diabetes and autism; and even shown it’s ability to downright affect our mood, bringing on depression and SAD.

So how are we fairing here in the cloudy Pacific Northwest?

To get to the bottom of this hot topic, Warren will have the interrogation lamp tilted on Dr. Lucinda Messer, author of Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D; Shedding Light on a Worldwide Health Crisis.

Warren will weed out what’s important and you’ll be leaving with no only a clearer understanding of the importance of vitamin D …your admission price includes a personally signed copy of her book.

Don’t miss out!  The Demystifying Vitamin D event is November 8th from 7-9pm at Theo Chocolates in Fremont. To purchase tickets go to: demystifyingvitamind.eventbrite.com

Come learn how to raise your levels, keep them up and bring your body into balance with the single most important hormone in the human body…Vitamin D.  (and yes, it’s actually a hormone…not a vitamin).

Warren Etheredge, founder of The Warren Report (www.thewarrenreport.com) hosts over 250 events every year, a podcast and a television series. The Warren Report promotes “slow culture” through commentary, outreach, events and education. Our principal:  Smarter Audiences make a better world.

Kirkland’s Health Fair this Saturday June 19th

I will have a booth set up all day Saturday for book signings and to chit chat about vitamin D.  Come by and see me, pick up a copy of the book or bring the one you have and get it signed.  I love talking about vitamin D, so stop by and bring your sunshine questions!

I will also be giving a presentation on vitamin D inside Park Place Books at 5:45pm.  (Yes, this is a new time slot – I was originally scheduled at 4:30).

Inside my booth there will also be great information on the Goddess Sanctuary – a natural healing spa in Kirkland.

Hope to see you there!

Lucinda

June 19th, 4:30pm – Kirkland’s Health Fair

Come listen to Dr. Messer at Kirkland’s Health Fair.  She will be speaking inside Park Place Books at 4:30 and discussing everything Vitamin D.  Come armed with curiosity and brimming with questions.  Find out how much sun is safe for your children, how to help your elderly parents protect their bones and how to safeguard all your loved ones from the dangers of vitamin D deficiency.  Come learn why so many of us in the Pacific Northwest are deficient and at risk of developing cancer and auto-immune disease.  Don’t be left uninformed when a world of health awaits you!

Hope to see you there!

www.kirklandhealthfair.com

Press Release out for Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D

New Eye-Opening Book Reveals Vitamin D as a Critical Player in the Prevention of Cancer, Auto-immune Disease, Depression and a Staggering Number of Other Diseases You May Not Realize are Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency. Learn How to Protect Your Family and Yourself From Vitamin D Deficiency!

Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D, Shedding Light on a Worldwide Health Crisis

is released by author Lucinda Messer, N.D. with Sidse Powell

Did you know that vitamin D deficiency is indirectly responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide?  According to author and Naturopathic Doctor Lucinda Messer, the lack of sunshine, whether it’s due to higher latitudes, cloudy days, polluted air, or because our skin is soaked in sunscreen or covered in clothing, is a major reason we have epidemic cases of cancer and auto-immune diseases all over the world. Messer says, “Vitamin D is the cheapest, most cost effective health insurance you could ever purchase.”

In her eye-opening book Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D, Shedding Light on a Worldwide Health Crisis, Messer not only explains the catastrophic effects of vitamin D deficiency, but she details the powerful effects that ensue when optimal levels are achieved in the body. For example, activated vitamin D can: halt tumor growth, reduce tumor size, improve heart health, improve insulin production, improve mental health and provide protection from the common cold, viruses and much, much more.

Messer’s book is poised to be a crucial wake-up call for people who assume they have sufficient vitamin D blood levels.  “In my 15 years of clinical practice, I have rarely seen any patient with a baseline serum level of vitamin D over 40 ng/ml. This means is there is not enough activated vitamin D available in their blood to fight off viruses, microbes, cancer cells and to arm them against auto-immunity, leaving them defenseless to attack and at risk for succumbing to numerous diseases.” Purchase Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D today and learn how become powerfully healthy.

Links to purchase:  www.amazon.com,  www.barnes&noble.com,  Author’s bookstore

For book signings, interviews and speaking engagements please contact Dr. Lucinda Messer at her clinic 425-827-9770 or 888-827-9770.  More information is available at www.powerfulmedicine-vitd.com.

Book resellers contact: Ray Robinson at 317-228-3656, via email at RayR@DogEarPublishing.net,  or through the website at: www.dogearpublishing.net.

What’s your vitamin D IQ?

Vitamin D has become a hot topic over the past few years and it’s no wonder.  Low vitamin D levels have fertilized our blossoming rates of cancer, auto-immune diseases and more. Many physicians now test for and treat patients with vitamin D deficiency. You may have a friend, parent, sibling or grandparent who’s been prescribed vitamin D.  Or your doctor may have suggested you to start taking it.  But how much do you really know about the sunshine vitamin?

Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D, the latest book with up-to-date research on this remarkable nutrient will be available online and in bookstores in December 2009.  Just in time to learn that your vitamin D levels are dropping. And why is that?  Take our quiz and put your knowledge of vitamin D to the test.

Vitamin D Quiz

And people, this is a good ol’fashioned quiz so please get out a pen and paper and number 1 to 15.     The answer key and results at the end so no scrolling ahead!

1. Whenever I expose my skin to the sun, my skin will synthesize vitamin D.    YES/NO

2. It takes about 10-15 minutes of exposure to noon-time sun to get my daily dose of vitamin D.  YES/NO/It Depends

3. Vitamin D will wash off my skin if I shower too soon after being in the sun or a tanning bed. YES/NO

4. A vitamin D winter refers to the winter season and is the same for everyone. YES/NO

5. Teenagers are at risk of being vitamin D deficient. YES/NO

6. A healthy adult uses as much as ______ IU of vitamin D each day.  (a) 400 IU    (b) 600 IU   (c) 2,000 IU   (d) 5,000 IU

7. A calcium/magnesium supplement should be taken with your vitamin D supplement. YES/NO

8. It’s best to take vitamin D with a fatty meal.  YES/NO

9. Parent who put sunscreen on their children whenever they are outdoors are putting them at risk for life threatening diseases. YES NO

10. Sunscreen with an SPF of 8 will still allow vitamin D synthesis in my skin.  YES/NO

11. Light white cotton clothing will still allow UVB penetration and vitamin D to be synthesized in my skin.  YES/NO

12. UVB rays penetrate glass.  YES/NO

13. Tanning beds that block the burning rays are the best choice for making vitamin D.   YES/NO

14. Survival rates from cancer related surgery is dependent on vitamin D levels.   YES /  NO

15. Optimal levels of activated vitamin D can halt tumor growth.     YES /  NO

ANSWERS

1. No.  Not if you live at a Northern (or Southern) latitude during a vitamin D winter.
2. It depends. If your skin type is 1 or 2 it will typically take you 10-20 minutes to get your daily dose, but if you skin type is 3 or higher (up to 6), it could take you up 3 hours to acquire the same amount.
3. Yes. Pre-vitamin D is synthesized in your skin and is found in the oil glands.  If you shower before the pre-vitamin D has been absorbed and converted to vitamin D, it will wash off and your vitamin D levels will not rise.  It typically takes a few hours for the absorption process.
4. No.  The vitamin D winter is related to latitude and is determined by the distance the sun must travel through the atmosphere before reaching the ground (and your skin).
5. Yes.  In fact, everyone who is not getting a dose of sunshine or an adequate supplemental dose of vitamin D is at risk of being deficient.
6. 5,000 IU
7. No.  Magnesium interferes with the absorption of vitamin D and should not be taken within a few hours of vitamin D.  A calcium supplement (without magnesium) can be taken at the same time as vitamin D.
8. Yes. Taking vitamin D with a meal that includes oil, like a salad dressing, will help with absorption.  Additionally, vitamin D has a sedative effect, similar to being in the sun, so evenings are a great time to take it.
9. Yes. If you’re not providing your children an adequate supplemental dose of vitamin D, keeping them away from sunlight puts them at risk for a number of childhood illnesses.  In fact, the practice of slathering sunscreen on children is also in direct relation to the dramatic rise in childhood diseases of autism and diabetes.
10. No.  Even an SPF of 4 will block all the UVB rays from making pre-vitamin D.
11. No. All clothing, including light white cotton, blocks all vitamin D synthesis in the skin.
12. No.  Even though your skin gets warm under a window, no vitamin D synthesis is occurring.
13. No.  Most tanning salons promote the beds with ‘non-burning rays’ which are UVA rays, but UVA rays cannot synthesize vitamin D.
14. Yes.  In fact, it’s been found that survival rates for cancer related surgery are dependent on the season of diagnosis.  And why is the season important?  Because vitamin D levels are typically higher during one season compared to another due to that pesky vitamin D winter.
15. Yes.  And vitamin D doesn’t just halt tumor growth, it can reduce tumor size as well.

How did you score?

0-5:  Hmm.  I think you better get your vitamin D levels checked right away.

6-8:  You either (a) don’t need to worry about vitamin D because you live near the equator, (b) you’re quick to pick up on the bits and pieces you’ve seen online or heard at the water cooler, or (c) you’re mildly good at taking random quizzes.  And the bad new?  (a) doesn’t have a problem, but b and c won’t raise your D levels.  And there’s no better time then right now to get current.

9-12: Great job.  You know more than most people do about what a power house vitamin D truly is.  So, you’re getting your daily dose right?!

12-14:  You’re up on your stuff.  Are you the one we spotted reading research articles at the coffee house?

15:  Congratulations, you must be one of our venerable vitamin D researchers.

For anyone who’s not at the vitamin D scientist IQ level, don’t worry.  There’s a lot of information on vitamin D that no one knew about except for those brilliant researchers; factors that each individual needs to consider to improve their vitamin D status and reap the benefits of this powerful hormone.  Yes, that’s right.  Vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all, but really a very powerful hormone that can act on over 200 genes in the body, but only when it rises above specific serum levels in the body.

Pick up a copy of Powerful Medicine: Vitamin D and learn how to become powerfully healthy.