Can Vitamins Really Kill You?

Recently, a study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine which stated vitamins could be harmful, or even deadly, to older women.  You may have heard about this study through the various mainstream media outlets.  Suffice to say, you don't have much to worry about.

Vitamins and mineral do not kill people.  If that were so, there would be a ban on oranges.  Truth of the matter is, this "study" was poorly conducted.  In fact, it wasn't even a scientific study, but rather a survey.  One in which the results were horribly skewed until they got the results they wanted.  This is just another case of the pharmaceutical companies attempting to steer people away from taking things that actually help people.

Take this study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition for example.  Regan Bailey, who headed the study, actually stated, "People need to choose supplements which help meet, but not exceed, the recommended daily intake levels".  This is completely backwards.  And here's why.  The recommended daily intake (RDI) level of Vitamin C is 60mg/day.  The same amount found in one orange.  So, if you had more than one orange per day, you would be in danger according to Ms. Bailey.  In fact, many types of orange juice contain over 100% of the RDI of Vitamin C in one 8oz glass.  So apparently we need to be careful at the breakfast table now?

The results from this latest study where the conclusion is "vitamins could kill you" wouldn't even pass a high school science class.  One always need to be careful of what the hear or read in the mainstream media when it comes to vitamins.  Do your own research rather than blindly believing what you read.

If you would like an excellent retort to this study, I would recommend taking a look at the post Mike Adams at NaturalHealth.com put out regarding the matter.  Reading this two-part post will open your eyes and see just how flawed this "study" was.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals for over 5-years through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on these products or the unique opportunity,  visit us at www.huffster.usana.com.

Liquid Vitamins vs. Tablet Vitamins

Liquid Vitamins vs. Tablet Vitamins - what is best for you?  This is probably one of the most widely disputed arguments in the supplement industry.  Some will say liquid vitamins are better because the absorb better.  While others suggest the tablet form not only has a better absorption rate, but also contains more vitamins and minerals.

So who is right?  Before providing one scientist's answer to this question, I need to emphasize the fact that we are talking about pharmaceutical grade table vitamins and not the discount vitamins you will find at your local Walmart.

This excellent answer was given by a scientist at Usana:  a company which produces pharmaceutical grade supplements in tablet form.  The company was voted the #1 supplement company in America just a few short weeks ago by the National Sanitation Foundation.  Take a look at the answer and hopefully it will provide you the information you need to make an educated decision for yourself.

The Claims
Many liquid supplement manufacturers claim that because their product is in a liquid
form that it is more bioavailable. In fact, some even use phony statements regarding the
Physician's Desk Reference to support such claims. The statement they reference about
liquid supplements being more bioavailable first appeared in the PDR under a listing for a
specific nutritional supplement product. That statement has since been removed because
it was false and could not be substantiated. In addition, the PDR organization itself does
not make any such statement about liquid vitamins vs. tablets.


How Are Nutrients Absorbed?
Nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine, unless they are taken sublingually or
injected. When you ingest a supplement in either a liquid or tablet form, it must first go
through the stomach and is then absorbed by the small intestine. If liquids were simply
absorbed directly in to the bloodstream, as some supplement companies claim, would the
same happen when you ate soup?

Bioavailability is defined as the degree and rate at which a substance (as a drug) is
absorbed into a living system or is made available at the site of physiological activity.
Different vitamins and minerals have different absorption rates no matter if they come
from a tablet, liquid, powder, or food. For example Calcium has a pretty standard
absorption rate around 25-35%. The form does not generally make a significant
difference.

The Differences
A well-made tablet provides a very effective delivery system and is the chosen form of
most pharmaceutical medications. This is because tablets have been shown to be a very
efficient delivery system for medications. Why would vitamin and mineral supplements
be any different? Does anybody doubt that an aspirin tablet is less effective because it
comes in a tablet?

Tableted products provide the advantage of an increased amount of active ingredient
(almost 3 times as much as a capsule and much more than a liquid or spray). In general,
the stability of tablets is also superior to liquids.

Determining Factors
There are many factors that can affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the
body. Some of these factors are a function of the person taking the nutrient and are
dependent on the age of the person, the integrity of their digestive system, the state of
their health, the time of day, the person's gender, and if the supplements was taken on a
full or empty stomach. People whose nutrient needs are greater, such as growing children,
pregnant or lactating women, and those who are currently deficient, may have
significantly enhanced absorption rates for certain nutrients. Recently, some individuals
and companies have made claims that their products are superior because they are "98-
percent absorbed" or some similar number. This is a misleading statement because there
are too many variables to imply that an individual's absorption is a certain percent of the
material consumed. Even absorption of minerals from food sources can vary
significantly. Boron, molybdenum, and iodine can be absorbed at over 90 percent while
the average absorption rates of zinc, copper, and selenium can range from 30 to 80
percent depending on the form. It should seem reasonable then, that stating an average
absorption rate is very misleading.

USANA Vitamins
The USANA tablets are formulated to meet United States Pharmacopoeia standards
requiring full disintegration within 30-45 min. They are also formulated to meet
standards for dissolution. Because the USANA tablets are formulated to these standards,
the vitamins and minerals found in our supplements are properly absorbed into the body
and are very beneficial. Innovative formulations have been developed to optimize
nutrient bioavailability. Each lot of USANA tablets is tested against finished product
specifications to ensure that it meets standards for: identity, target weight, hardness,
thickness, disintegration, potency, purity, and (microbial counts). USANA provides its
vitamins and minerals in amounts and forms so that, in conjunction with a healthy diet,
you will receive maximum bioavailability, full effectiveness, and uncompromised safety.
A couple of questions to ask:

Liquid Vitamins Are Not Used In Scientific Studies
The supplement industry itself originated on account of published studies in the scientific
literature that contributed to the knowledge and insight into nutritional elements. With the
hundreds of studies connecting calcium and vitamin D supplements with bone health, it is
hard to dispute that tableted supplements provide an effective delivery system. If tablets
weren't any good, why did the researchers get positive results? If liquid or spray
supplements are so much better, why are they rarely, if ever, used in published scientific
research?

Conclusions
Keep in mind that we are speaking of multiminerals and multivitamin formulations.
There may be certain products that may be appropriate in a liquid (just as some
medications are liquid). However, these are the exceptions, not the rule.
Finally, liquid supplement promoters often contend that liquids are better because they
don't contain fillers (excipients used in tablets for disintegration, form, binding, coating,
etc). That is a ridiculous argument since liquid supplements require even more "other"
ingredients such as emulsifiers, solvents, preservatives, stabilizing agents, coloring,
flavoring, etc. The more ingredients in a liquid supplement, the more excipients that may
be required.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Vitamin D: My Personal Journey And Experience

I have to admit…with all the knowledge I’ve gained over the years regarding the potential health benefits of supplements, not even I was aware of the effects of vitamin D.  Sure, I knew it was called the “sunshine vitamin” because our skin is able to synthesize UV light from the sun and convert it to vitamin D.  I also knew you could receive more from dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt.  But I didn’t “see the light” until earlier this year.  That was when I began to really dig into the benefits of vitamin D.

A Theory is born.

You see, I’ve had a theory for quite some time.  Here in Wisconsin, our cold and flu season begins in the Oct/Nov time frame.  And it lasts until early spring.  I started to wonder WHY we don’t see more colds and cases of influenza in the spring or summer.  The old song-and-dance from your mother may have gone something like this:  “Make sure you put a hat on and dress warm when going outside or you’ll catch a cold”.  Sound familiar?  If you think about it, it makes sense.  You get colds in the winter.  So as soon as I would get one, I would go back and try to remember when I had gone outside without a coat or hat.

The problem is, it’s not true.   Even Mythbusters debunked it in one of their shows.  The fact is, these are spread through germs and contact with people.  Someone sneezes into their hand, then grabs a doorknob, shakes someone’s hand, and passes a glass around.  Everything that person touches becomes a little time-released germ bomb.

So if colds and influenza are actually spread around from these germ bombs and NOT cold weather, then why wouldn’t we see more cases in the summer.  If they truly have nothing to do with the temperature outside, we shouldn’t have a cold and flu season…it should be a year-round thing.  But that’s not the case…WHY?

Getting Closer to the Truth.

I started to put the pieces of the puzzle together.  I knew we absorbed vitamin D from the sun.  I also knew, in order to accomplish this, we needed our skin exposed while outdoors.  Outside of a couple crazy fans watching the Packers play at Lambeau Field in December…without shirts on…the odds are pretty slim one would have much of any skin exposed during the harsh Wisconsin winters.  Not to mention the fact people tend to stay indoors more often.  Could this be the reason we have colds in the winter?  That’s when I started researching.

It turns out, I wasn’t far off.  While skin exposure to the sun is very important, the main issue here is the angle of the sun in the sky.  During the fall, through the winter, and into spring the sun is at such a low angle in the sky that our bodies do not absorb the UV rays critical for the creation of vitamin D.  You could sit outside in a swimsuit for 3hrs with snow blowing around you and it wouldn’t help your vitamin D creation one bit.

Upon listening to presentations by Dr. Myron Wentz and Dr. John Whittcomb, I felt compelled to write multiple blog entries on vitamin D.  And as you have probably noticed, this is the topic I have written about the most.  Namely because I feel it is information everyone should have.  But this time, I wanted to pass along my own personal experiences.

Using Vitamin D to Change Lives.

Following my research, I began to supplement my diet with additional vitamin D.  I am already receiving 2000IU from the multi-vitamin and fish oil I take.  I began taking an additional 2000IU back in early October when I knew I wouldn’t be receiving any more from the sun.  Since then, I have increased that amount and have been taking 6000IU every day.  My wife also began taking an increased amount of vitamin D.  And after watching Dr. Whittcomb’s presentation and reading the research from Japan regarding children taking vitamin D, I started giving my 2 children 2000IU/day.  The tablet we use is about the size of a Tic-Tac and is chewable, so it’s easy enough for them to take.

Regardless of the recent FDA ruling to limit yourself to only 600IU of vitamin D/day, based upon the scientific studies I had read, my belief was, and still is, that we are perfectly safe.  In fact, physicians are recommending their patients take 5000IU/day in lieu of receiving the flu shot.  Suffice to say, my personal opinion is that the FDA ruling was either a matter of being overly cautious or an attempt at protecting the pharmaceutical industry.  Perhaps both.

Here we are with January coming to a close.  To date, we have had no sickness in our household this winter.  An occasional runny nose, sure.  But no colds or flu.  An amazing feat considering my wife works in a hospital and my children attend daycare, which is a germ-bomb factory.

How Well Has It Been Working?

Now, am I saying my family’s results are typical and you should immediately go out and start taking vitamin D?  Yes and no.  It is my opinion that it can only help…there are no negative effects that I am aware of.  But I’m also not a doctor and can’t “officially” give out that type of advice.  So it’s up to you to make your own decision.  If you want to base it off my family’s experience, or the various other posts I’ve made is entirely up to you.  But before you start up on something, you may also want to consider consulting with your family physician and looking into a pharmaceutical grade supplement.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Can You Use Bilberry And Lutein For Eye Health?

Bilberry is a powerful antioxidant which protects blood vessels within the eyes and promotes eye health.  It has been used to prevent and treat Macular Degeneration, night blindness, glaucoma and cataracts.  But it's benefits are not limited to eye health.  It may also help to treat varicose veins in early stages and has traditionally been used to control blood sugar levels in diabetics.

During World War II, British pilots reported increased night vision after consuming bilberry jam.  However, actual scientific studies on the effects and benefits of bilberry are very limited.  Suffice to say, even though it has been traditionally used to treat various eye disease, there has not been a sufficient number of studies to back these claims.  Does that mean it will not work?  Not necessarily.  Simply that more research needs to be conducted.

Lutein is found in certain fruits and vegetables such as carrots and squash.  This has also been traditionally used for eye health and may lower your risk of cataracts and Macular Degeneration.  In a study published in the April 2004 edition of Optometry, visual function was found to improve in patients taking lutein.

Another study reported in the January 25th, 2008 edition of Health, and published in the January issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, showed an 18% decrease in the risk of cataracts when consuming a combination of lutein and zeaxanthin.  This combination can be found in some high quality supplements, or in foods such as spinach, peas, and broccoli.

So, while studies are lacking with regards to the use of bilberry with regards to promoting eye health, there are studies available showing potential benefits when using lutein.  As such, supplementing your diet with these substances may lower your risk of developing eye disease.

Choosing how to obtain lutein and bilberry is a different matter.  While it is possible to receive the benefits through food, it may be easier to take a high quality, pharmaceutical grade supplement to ensure you are receiving ample amounts in a bioavailable form.  As always, before making any changes to your diet, I recommend consulting with your physician.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Does Body Cleansing And Colon Cleansing Work?

Body Cleansing, Colon Cleansing, and Body Detox.  These techniques have been gaining in popularity over the last couple of years.  But do they work?  And do you need them?

What is it?
But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.  Exactly what are these techniques?  What is the intent?  And what do they consist of?  A detox diet is one method.  Generally, this consists of some type of fasting such as drinking only water for a weekend.  Or it could consist of a diet of water, fruit juice, and foods high in fiber.  The intent here is two-fold:  to lose weight and to rid your body of toxins.

A Colon Cleansing, on the other hand, is not a type of diet.  Your main goal here is not to lose weight, but rather to rid yourself of toxins in the body.

Where do these toxins come from?
Toxins are around us everyday.  The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink.  The theory is that when you eat foods, some of those particles get left behind in the digestive tract.  These particles which do not get flushed out sit in your colon or intestines and break down, releasing toxins into the body as they do so.  In other words, they rot inside your body.


As these toxins are released into your body, they can build up.  Some believe these can cause health issues, low energy, and even lead to colon cancer.

How do you go about doing a cleansing?
Enzymes and Probiotics are two of the methods used to help with the detox process.  Digestive enzymes help to properly digest food, pull vitamins and minerals out of the food and into the body, while at the same time, assisting the liver and colon with getting rid of harmful toxins.  Probiotics are, according to WHO, "Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host".  You can find these in foods such as yogurt, or you can purchase actual probiotic products.

Probiotic Benefits.
Some of the potential benefits you may experience with the use of probiotics include:

• Colon Cancer Prevention
• Lowering Cholesterol
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Improving Your Immune System
• Reducing Inflammation
• Improving Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

 Do You Need It?
As stated earlier, your liver and colon does the heavy lifting when it comes to detoxifying your body.  So you may be wondering why you would need to take alternative measures.  It is important to remember that you are not trying to replace the body's process, but instead you are assisting the process.  Very similar to taking vitamins.  This is not meant to replace eating healthy foods.  You are simply supporting your body.

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with giving your body a little support.  To date, no one has ever died from eating yogurt or taking additional digestive enzymes or probiotics.  There is absolutely no downside here and can only help.

 Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Best Vitamins: What Is Your Supplement Rating?

You've made the choice to take a supplement.  But what are the best vitamins out there?  Where does your supplement Rate?  The answers may shock you.  As you saw in one of my previous posts, all supplements are not the same.  In fact, the vitamins you take to improve your health may, in fact, be doing absolutely nothing for you.

In this post I'm going to use the "Comparative Guide To Nutritional Supplements" by Lyle MacWilliam, both the 3rd and 4th editions.  This book came about at the request of Canadian Parliament so as to provide the public with information in order to make good decisions when it came to supplements.

I am going to go through some of the more popular vitamins on the market...vitamins YOU may be taking now...and showing you how they hold up to scientific study.  Are they as good as they say?  Do they actually do anything for you?  You'll find in this top 10 list.

The Top 10

1.  Centrum.  In the 3rd edition, it rates a 3.2 out of 100, and in the 4th edition...0-stars out of 5 possible.  And yes, there are several "versions" of Centrum out there, but they all rate essentially the same:  low.  The reasoning for the low rating comes down to several facts.  First, they do not always use natural ingredients.  For instance, if you have a bottle in the house, take a look at the type of vitamin E they use.  It will be the dl-Alpha Tocopheryl  form.  This is the synthetic form, and as such, it does not absorb as well into the body.  Fillers and additives are also allowed in these types of supplements, meaning if they advertise 60mg of vitamin C on the bottle, you may only be receiving a portion of that.  Suffice to say, these vitamins are not doing much for you and are probably not even breaking down and absorbing into your body.

2.  One-A-Day.  In the 3rd edition, it rates a 5.1 out of 100, and in the 4th edition a mere 1/2 star out of 5.  Again, there are several versions of this supplement, but they are all essentially the same.  And as in the case of Centrum, it runs into the same issues about synthetic ingredients and absorption.

3.  GNC.  Here we run into our first decent supplement, the MegaMan.  However, it still only rates a 21.1 out of 100 in the 3rd edition and a 2.5 out of 5 stars in the 4th edition. 

4.  Nature Made.  Weighing in at 17.9 in the 3rd edition and 0-stars out of 5.  A decent supplement when compared to the "well known" products, but still falls short of acceptable.

5.  Shaklee - Basics With Iron.  Weighing in on our first network marketing supplement, Shaklee comes up with a 30.5 rating in the 3rd edition, but was not rated in the 4th edition.  As you can see, even though the product is a comes from a network marketing company, it is rated higher than the previous store bought supplements available on the market.

6.  Melaleuca Vitality Pack.  Another network marketing company, but it doesn't fare as well as Shaklee.  A 6.2 ranking in the 3rd edition and a 1-star in the 4th edition.

7.  Herbalife - Formula 2.  Again, another network marketing company that falls a little short.  This rates at a 14.8 in the 3rd edition and a 1 star in the 4th edition

8.  Mannatech.  So far, the highest rated network marketing supplement coming in at a rating of 33.1 in the 3rd edition and a 2.5 star rating in the 4th edition.

9.  Nature's Way - Alive.  The highest rated supplement so far, at a 60 in the 3rd edition and 3 stars in the 4th edition.

10.  Pharmanex LifePak.  Rated at a nice 52.7 in the 3rd edition, and a 3 stars out of 5 in the 4th edition.  A fairly decent supplement.

So if these well-known supplements are not rated very well, then what ARE the top rated supplements?  When it comes to "stand alone" products, these are the top 4 according to the 4th edition.  All of these are rated at 5-stars.

1.  Usana Health Sciences (96.1 in the 3rd edition)
2.  Creating Wellness Alliance (not included in the 3rd edition)
3.  Douglas Laboratories (75.1 in the 3rd edition)
4.  TrueStar Health (not included in the 3rd edition)

So as you can see, what you are taking now may not be what you expected.  As I always say, you want to look for a pharmaceutical grade supplement so you can be certain of the ingredients and bioavailability. 

Is there another you are currently taking which was not included in the ranking above?  Add a comment or send me an email and I will provide you with the ranking of what you are taking.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Grape Seed Extract Benefits

There are two questions here.  First, what is grape seed extract, and second, what sort of benefits can you hope to receive.

Suffice to say, the answer to the first question is fairly straightforward.  Grape seed extract is simply an extract of grape seeds.  This extract unlocks the powerful antioxidants from the grape.

As far as the benefits go, this is not as easy of a question to answer.  For the benefits are many.  Cancer prevention and cardiovascular disease protection are just two of these benefits.

This is a substance which is 20x more powerful than vitamin C and 50x more powerful than vitamin E.  Suffice to say, its use as an immune system boost is well documented.  However, studies also suggest that grape seed extract leads to apoptosis, or self destruction, of cancer cells.  Is this a cure for cancer?  No.  However, cancer cells are created within the body every day.  Normally, your body is able to fight off and destroy these cancer cells on it's own.  The problem is when your body is not able to fend off these cancer cells.  Grape seed extract simply helps the body perform its normal function.

Another study was conducted to look at the effects of grape seed extract and reducing blood pressure.  Within 4wks of this study, the group receiving the grape seed saw their blood pressure reduced; whereas the blood pressure in the placebo group did not change at all.

Perhaps you have heard of the French Paradox.  In a nutshell, researchers noticed the fact that the French tend to eat fatty foods, such as cheese, but their risk of cardiovascular disease remains low.  Interestingly enough, they also tend to consume red wine on a regular basis.  Therefore, studies focuses on the affect of red wine on cardiovascular disease.  From there, it was narrowed down to the grape seed extract...not nearly as fun to consume, but it does the job in much smaller quantities.

If you have high blood pressure, concerns about cardiovascular disease, or even a history of cancer in your family, you may want to consider beginning a regiment of grape seed extract to help your body confront these issues.  Again, this should not be looked upon as a solution, but rather a helping hand for your body's immune system.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

The Latest Vitamin D Recommendations From The IOM

You may or may not have heard the Institute of Medicine (IOM) changed their recommendations for vitamin D earlier this week.  This is the same organization responsible for the RDA values you see on product labels.

Previously, the recommended amount of vitamin D had been set at 200IU/day.  However, they have just raised that amount to 600IU/day.  Which is a step in the right direction.


However, the IOM goes on to say that you should not go over this amount. 
This is absolute bunk.  As you hopefully saw in my last post on vitamin D, the studies show levels above 600IU/day are safe.  And not only are they safe, but they have incredible health benefits.  Especially, when you are getting 4000IU or more/day.

People are deficient in Vitamin D.
I also covered this in great detail during the 3-part series I just finished up.  The fact that a majority of the United States (anyone north of Atlanta, GA) gets absolutely no vitamin D production from sunlight for over half of the year is one reason.  Another reason is, during the summer, when you can get about 15,000IU from the sun, many people are stuck in a building working.  So you are missing the opportune time to receive vitamin D from the sun:  between 10am and 3pm.

Others are doubting the results as well.
I am not the only one calling shenanigans on the IOM.  Natural News goes so far as to say it is a deliberate attempt to keep the public deficient in vitamin D.  Afterall, with the studies showing significant decreases in the risk of everything from cancer to MS to diabetes to the flu with adequate levels of vitamin D in the blood, it does seem odd they would not have increased the recommendations further.  Or at least to say it is safe at higher levels.  As is the case with most things, one only needs to follow the money.  And who stands to profit from the public continuing to become ill?  The pharmaceutical companies.

A well known nutritional supplement company also voiced their disappointment at the latest recommendations.  They cited studies they had conducted themselves, which show the decreased levels of vitamin D blood levels.

Suffice to say, if you have any doubts or concerns I would recommend discussing the topic with your physician.  Bring along the studies which I have cited on this blog.  Or, fill out the form at the top of the page and I will send you a free copy of the recent presentation Dr. Whitcomb just gave on vitamin D.  Why is it free?  Surely there must be a catch?  There isn't.  It is important to get this information out to people.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

More Secrets Of Vitamin D - Part 3

Following a brief break from Thanksgiving, I'm back for the final article of this 3-part series on More Secrets of Vitamin D.  If you are just coming across this article, it is based upon a presentation Dr. John Whitcomb gave in October of 2010.  If you want to get caught up, part 1 and part 2 can be found by following the links.

In my last article, I touched upon a few studies Dr. Whitcomb had brought up.  In this posting, I am going to cover the other studies he brought up.  I hope you find them as insightful as I did.  I'll also answer the question, can you overdose on vitamin D.

If you will recall from part 1, once we get into the fall and winter your body does not produce vitamin D from sunlight if you live north of Atlanta, GA.  As such, it becomes necessary to supplement in order to keep your blood level up.  Here are a few more studies which support this.

In the July 2006 edition of the Journal of Science, it was reported that vitamin D actually makes your immune system work better.  At a blood level of 32, a protein called catheliciden is released.  However, is is NOT released when your blood levels are below that magic number of 32.

This protein is a natural anti-biotic.  It enables monocytes, which kill viruses.  This lends credibility to the theory of why we have a cold and flu season in the winter.  In fact, in Wisconsin the influenza season starts right around October 1st.  Coincidentally, our ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight stops around September 1st, dropping our blood levels.

These monocytes also kill tuberculosis.  The treatment many years ago for tuberculosis patients was to admit them into a sanitarium and have them sit in the sun.  And, this treatment worked!  Could it be because of the additional vitamin D production?

Another test was conducted at a California prison for the criminally insane.  A psychiatrist measured the serum levels of vitamin D in convicts.  In the focus group, he supplemented them with 2000IU of vitamin D every day.  An influenza outbreak came to the prison in March of 2006.  Not a single person of the 45 supplementing with vitamin D came down with the flu; whereas, 45% of the rest of the population became sick.

April 2010 - Japan.  Japanese scientists conducted a randomized, controlled trial with school children and influenza.  Children who had been immunized still saw a 19% infection rate.  However, children who were supplementing with 5000IU of vitamin D only saw a 10% infection rate.  Almost a 50% reduction!  Children who had no immunization had a 40% infection rate.

Another stunning report comes from the Archives of Internal Medicine where they found a 7% reduction in mortality from any amount of vitamin D.

in May of 2010, the Intermountain Heart Study conducted a randomized trial of vitamin D and heart disease.  It was scheduled to run for 5 years, but it was canceled after only 1 year.  Not because people were dying, but because of the incredible results.  They saw a 70% reduction in death in the vitamin D group where the men being studied had a blood level over 43.  In fact, you are twice as likely to survive a stroke or heart attack if your blood level is above 32 when compared to someone who has a level below 20.  If you do not supplement in the winter, this becomes a distinct possibility.

If you have been keeping up with these articles and have taken note of the studies, you may be thinking vitamin D is sounding pretty incredible.  But, you may also be asking if you can overdose on vitamin D.  The answer is...not really.  To date, no one has ever died from a vitamin D overdose.  You can take 10,000IU of vitamin D every day for the rest of your life and be safe.

Getting a shot of 600,000IU once/year is a safe level.  There have been cases of individuals getting 50,000,000IU.  They did become disoriented and confused, but did not die.  If you take 40,000IU/day for 6-months it will become toxic.  But even then, you will only suffer disorientation and confusion.  Within a week you will be back to normal.

So how do you go about getting started with vitamin D supplementation?  To start, Dr. Whitcomb recommends finding a pharmaceutical grade vitamin D supplement, as this is the only way to be certain you are getting the right amounts in the most bioavailable form.  Meaning, it will absorb into your body.  He suggests starting with a "loading dose" of 10,000IU/day for 1 month to get your blood levels up.  From there, taking 5000IU/day should get your blood level to about 60.  The optimal level is 80, but to really see the benefits you should be in a range of 53-60.  Ask your doctor to test your vitamin D blood levels to see where you are at.

Vitamin D supplementation isn't just for adults either.  In Finland, they give children 2000IU/day from the time of birth.  There is no toxicity at these levels for children.  They have also seen an 80% reduction in Type II diabetes.

I want to thank Dr. Whitcomb, once again, for this outstanding presentation.  Vitamin D is starting to gain recognition in the medical community, and the information needs to be spread to as many people as possible.  Isn't it better to prevent disease from happening, rather than treating it when it happens?  This just helps your body's natural disease prevention.  As always, if you have questions you should consult with your physician.  Bring along these studies if you need to.

In an effort to publicize this information and make as many people as possible aware of the benefits of vitamin D, you can get a free copy of Dr. Whitcomb's presentation simply by filling out the form located at the top of the page.  There is no catch...Dr. Whitcomb has made it clear that education and information is the way to go.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

More Secrets Of Vitamin D - Part 2

In my previous post I told you about the excellent presentation on vitamin D given by Dr. Whitcomb for Aurora Health on Oct 13th, 2010.  Essentially, the groundwork was laid in this first post.

In this second post, I'm going to relay some of the stunning research and conclusions Dr. Whitcomb brought up.  It's sure to raise an eyebrow.

The first bit of information to store is the 20-20-20 rule.  According to Dr. Whitcomb, this rule states that if a white 20yr old with 50% of the skin exposed gets 20min of mid-day sun on the 20th of June the body will create 20,000IU of vitamin D over the next 24hrs.  That translates to 1,000IU/minute of exposure.  However, different skin types result in changes to this rule.  For instance, and African-American would need 4-5x as much sun.  And the elderly would also need 4-5x as much due to the fact that our ability to create vitamin D from the sun decreases with age.

A 1yr old child will create about 200IU/minute of sun exposure.  And a young African American makes about 160IU/minute.  Drinking a glass of milk would give you 100IU of vitamin D.  So you would only need to drink 200 glasses of milk/day to get the same benefits as 20min in the sun.

If you put on sunscreen before even stepping out the door, and SFP-8 will reduce vitamin D production by 95% and an SPF-15 by 98%.  Does this mean you should never use sunscreen?  No.  But you should probably get some sun exposure before putting it on.  Just 15min of exposure between 10am and 3pm is all you need.

Dr. Whitcomb then got into specifics on vitamin D blood levels.  32ng is the minimum level we should be at.  An optimal amount is 60ng.  Generally, we are somewhere between 32-40ng in the summer, but only 15-20ng in the winter.  To get to a level of 60ng, we need 5000IU/day.

Why is the 32ng level so important?  Remember, vitamin D is actually a hormone which tells cells to start growing.  This includes white blood cells, which fight off viruses.  At a vitamin D blood level under 32ng, it no longer functions.  Interestingly enough, we generally hit 32ng around Sept 1st, again, due to the decrease in the amount of sun we get (for people north of Atlanta).  Just as interesting, the flu season starts about 1 month later.  Dr. Whitcomb suggest that influenza is actually a vitamin D deficiency.

One placebo controlled study in which people were given 5000IU/day of vitamin D had their blood level increase to 60ng in 1 year.  The density of their hip bone also increased by 22%.  Important because 25% of people will suffer a broken hip between the ages of 75 and 80.

Does vitamin D have an effect on cancer?  It would appear so.  In Wisconsin, the risk of breast cancer is 33% higher than in the southern U.S.  In fact, it is not just Wisconsin, but all northern states have a higher risk of breast cancer than the southern states.

A study was performed at Creighton University and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  They were studying the effects of vitamin D and the reduction of fractures over a period of 25-30 years.  However, the study was stopped after only 5 years when it was discovered that these patients had a 76% reduction in cancer within the group receiving 1100IU of vitamin D and 1g of calcium.

In the 3rd part of this series, I will report on a few other studies Dr. Whitcomb brought up, as well as information on the maximum amounts of vitamin D you can take.  Does vitamin D really help fend off the flu and help with heart health?  Can you overdose on vitamin D?  Can children take vitamin D supplements, and if so, how much?  These questions will all be answered in the 3rd and final part to this series.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

More Secrets Of Vitamin D

On Oct 13th, 2010, Dr. John E. Whitcomb gave a presentation at Aurora Health in Sheboygan,WI.  He covered multiple topics regarding vitamin D, including:  the benefits of vitamin D, why you should be using a vitamin D supplement, and vitamin d toxicity...among other topics.  You can get a DVD copy of his presentation by filling out the form on the right.

While I have done several blog posts in the past regarding the benefits of vitamin D (Vitamin D, Part 1, Vitamin D vs flu shot, and Do UV Light Bulbs Produce Vitamin D), Dr Whitcomb provided even more information on the subject.  Enough to do another multi-part series on this important vitamin.

First, let's get a foundation down and discuss some of the history and facts about vitamin D.  In the early 1900's, 90% of children had rickets...a vitamin D deficiency illness.  In the 1930's, milk was supplemented with vitamin D and this helped to drastically reduce the cases of rickets.

Vitamin D works as a hormone and tells cells to start growing.  It turns "on" 2000 genes and, interestingly, "sticks" where auto immune disease and cancers are made.  Keep that in mind.

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, our skin creates vitamin D from the sun.  However, as we grow older our skin produces less of it.  In fact, a 70yr old makes only 25% of what a 20yr old makes.  Another interesting fact is we cannot make vitamin D from the sun north of 35-degrees Latitude in the winter.  So if you live north of Atlanta, GA, you are not getting any vitamin D from the sun.  It's simply not at the correct angle in the horizon.

Let's go back to the rickets example from 1900.  Back then, and before vitamin D, they cured rickets by taking a tablespoon of cod liver oil, which happens to contain vitamin D.  In fact, it is about 400IU.  Which is why the RDI value of vitamin D today is 400IU.  As I have explained before, the RDIs are the MINIMAL amount we need to take in order to fend off these "classic" diseases.

So if we can't make vitamin D in the winter, you may ask yourself how the Inuit people living in the arctic can survive.  After all, do they not experience winter for half of the year?  That is very true.  However, their main diet is fatty fish...a source of vitamin D.  In fact, the people of Norway have a similar diet...and their rates of Muscular Sclerosis is "dramatically lower" than in the U.S.  Why is that?

That is exactly what I will cover in the next blog post.  I'll get into some specific studies regarding vitamin D,  I will also relay what Dr. Whitcomb stated were safe, advisable, and toxic levels of vitamin D.  Why influenza may be a "vitamin D deficiency" disease and how vitamin D affects your risk of diabetes, cancer, and Muscular Sclerosis  I think you will find the next article very eye-opening when it comes to potential disease prevention.

Again, I want to thank Dr. Whitcomb and Aurora Health for allowing me to report on his presentation.  The views presented here are his.  They have also given me permission to offer his presentation to you...free of charge.  Again, if you would like to receive a DVD of his presentation, fill out the form in the upper right.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Parabens And Cancer - What Is The Link?

There are now studies which link parabens to breast cancer.  So what exactly is a paraben?  In short, these are chemical compounds used in a variety of products as a preservative.  Specifically, you can find them in cosmetics and deodorant.  The Breast Cancer Fund goes into a more specific definition.

It is a simple process to determine if any products you currently use contain parabens.  But first, you'll need to take a trip to your bathroom.  Grab any shampoo, lotion, cosmetic, or deodorant you use and take a look at the ingredients.  If you see any ingredient which ends with "paraben", then you know you are using one of these products.

Some common ingredients you find may include:  methylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben.  Now, while there have been studies showing a link, there has yet to be any concrete evidence of parabens causing breast cancer.  Additional research is being conducted.

In the meantime, is there anything you can do about it?  Assuming you want to err on the side of caution.  The answer is fairly simple.  You just need to look for products which are paraben free.  This can be done by paying attention to the ingredients listed on the bottle, or by purchasing paraben free products from a trusted company.

As I said, research is still being performed on parabens and they are still approved by the FDA.  But then again, how many other FDA-approved products have been taken off the shelves due to causing harm or even death?  Consumer beware.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Tips To Stay Healthy This Winter

Winter can be fun. Who doesn’t enjoy building a snow fort in the backyard? However, winter is also a time when many dangers loom large. Whether from the cold temperatures, the shorter days with less sunlight, or even the large family get-togethers, your immune system is more susceptible in this season than any other.

Here are some helpful tips to make sure that you have the upper hand this year in the fight against winter.

• Wash your hands frequently during the day, not just before meals or after using the restroom. You never know when germs have made their way onto your hands and are ready to invade your system.
• Eat raw foods that are rich in antioxidants such as blueberries, apples, and pecans. You may not know it, but red, pinto, and kidney beans are also packed with immune-boosting antioxidants.
• Exercising and increasing physical activity helps your immune system stay in shape too. Regular exercise can increase your body’s ability to deal with stresses and builds up stronger immune defenses.
• Use a disinfectant spray in your workspace or areas where you or your guests may frequently visit.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water instead of coffee or soda. Sugar can weaken the ability of white blood cells to defend against bacteria for up to five hours after consumption.
• Take a pharmaceutical grade Vitamin D supplement to make up for the lack of vitamin D production from sunlight.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Warning: Diet Soda Linked To Premature Birth

A recent study in Denmark, and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests drinking diet soda can increase the risk of premature birth.

In the study, a group of 60,000 pregnant women were followed.  Women who had at least one diet soda per day were 38% more likely to have a premature baby versus women who did not drink diet soda.  Even more frightening, women who had at least four diet sodas per day were 80% more likely to deliver prematurely.  Results were the same for both normal-weight and overweight women.

According to the March of Dimes, 13% of babies born are born prematurely.  Therefore, this study suggests women who have at least one diet soda would see that risk rise to 17% and up to 22% for those who consume at least four diet sodas.

There appears to be an indirect link with the artificial sweetener, aspartame, and premature births.  According to the Reuters article, "Aspartame breaks down into methanol and other substances in the body, which can in turn be converted to toxic substances such as formaldehyde and formic acid, the researchers explain. And studies in non-human primates have linked even very low exposure to methanol to shortened pregnancy and labor complications."

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Risk Of Lymphoma Decreased With Vitamin C

Another Quick Hit from Dr. Ray Strand:

"I have always been a proponent of supplementing a healthy diet.  I recommend that you eat 6 to 10  servings of fruits and vegetables each and every day along with taking high-quality, complete and balanced supplements.  Well, a study reported by Mayo Clinic looked at over 35,000 Iowa women between the ages of 55 and 69.  The researchers looked at the health benefits of consuming additional antioxidant nutrients from fruits and vegetables.  Those with the higher intake of vitamin C had a 22% decrease risk in developing lymphoma.  They also noted that increase intake of alpha-carotene, proanthocyanidins (found in grape seed extract), and manganese were associated with a 29, 30, and 38% reduction in the incidence of lymphoma."

To Your Health

Do UV Light Bulbs Produce Vitamin D?

With the winter months now here, I've been receiving an increased number of questions about Vitamin D.  First some background on why you may be deficient in Vitamin D during the winter months.  And then I'll touch specifically upon UV lights and UV light bulbs.

I've covered the positive effects of Vitamin D in previous posts.  In fact, you can look at part 1 of a 3-part series I did earlier.    So I won't be going any deeper in this post.  Suffice to say, Vitamin D has MANY benefits.

So let's start with some basics and get a good foundation.  Vitamin D is called the "sunshine vitamin" because our body turns the suns rays into Vitamin D.  During the summer months, 15-30 minutes of direct sunlight when the sun is at its highest (10:30am - 2:30pm) can result in 15,000-20,000 IU of Vitamin D produced by your body.

Let's dig a little deeper into that.  The sun produces two types of rays:  UVA and UVB.  Now, UVA rays are the type you hear all the negativity about.  They damage the skin and are also responsible for tanning.  Tanning salons will use UVA bulbs in their beds (though some do also use UVB).  However, vitamin D production comes from the UVB rays.  When we are talking about natural sunlight, there is another big difference between UVA and UVB.  Our atmosphere will actually deflect UVB rays.  So, depending upon the season and the time of day, you may not get much, if any, UVB rays for Vitamin D production.

In fact, from mid-October through mid-March, the sun will be at such an angle that all the UVB rays will be deflected and not even reach the surface.  That translates into zero Vitamin D production from sunlight.  To get any production, the UV Index needs to be at 3.0 or above.  You can find the UV Index for your area by looking at the EPA's UV Index website.

An easy way to keep track of this...if you live above 42-degrees latitude, then during the winter months the UV Index will be below 3.0 and you will not be able to absorb any UVB rays for Vitamin D production, due to the angle of the sun.  42-degrees latitude runs from the northern border of California through Chicago, IL, and over to Boston, MA.  So if you live north of these locations, you aren't going to get any Vitamin D from the sun during these months.

If you are in one of these locations, then you may want to consider getting your Vitamin D through other methods, due to the plethora of benefits.  My recommendation would be a pharmaceutical grade supplement, as this is the only way you can be guaranteed of receiving the full amount advertised on the bottle in a bioavailable form.  Meaning, it will absorb into your body.

However, there is another method gaining in popularity.  And that would be UV lights and light bulbs.  Light therapy is especially popular with treating SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  But do these lights actually produce Vitamin D?  Well, it depends.  You now know your body needs UVB rays to produce Vitamin D.  So it simply comes down to that.  If the light you are using will emit UVB rays, then you will be able to use it effectively as an alternate to natural sunlight.  It's that simple.

As I stated above, my personal preference is a pharmaceutical grade Vitamin D supplement.  And this one is top notch.  Not only is it pharmaceutical grade, but it is also NSF certified, so it goes through rigorous 3rd party testing.  Each pill is smaller than a Tic Tac and contains 2000IU of Vitamin D.

Just keep in mind, if you live in the northern hemisphere, and above the 42nd parallel, you're going to go almost half-a-year without sufficient UVB rays to manufacture Vitamin D on your own.

For more information, please feel free to contact me via email, Twitter, Facebook, or join our Facebook Fan Page.  And please feel free to link to my blog or share the information via your favorite social media websites.

To Your Health