August 2009 Archives

D3    Recently there has been much written about the value of Vitamin D supplementation since researchers have noted that vitamin D deficiency is widespread.   So recently many people have called me, confused about what form of Vitamin D to take.

There are three different forms of vitamin D found in the body; cholecalciferol, calcidiol, and calcitriol.  Cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3, is the only natural form of vitamin D because it is produced in the skin from exposure to sunlight. Calcidiol, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D, is produced from vitamin D3 and is the form of vitamin D found in the bloodstream.  Calcitriol, or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, is produced from calcidiol and is a potent steroid hormone. Calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D and has a significant role in health maintenance and disease prevention.
Vitamin D can be ingested in two forms: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol).

D2 (ergocalciferol) is present in plant sources.  D2 is our primary dietary source of vitamin D and is the form used in vitamin D-fortified milk and cereal products. 

D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form our body synthesizes when skin is exposed to sunlight.  Both forms are converted to active vitamin D by the body. 

The best supplemental form of vitamin D is vitamin D3 and the body is very efficient at converting D3 into usable forms of vitamin D in the body. Studies have determined that vitamin D3 is about three times more potent than vitamin D2 in the conversion process.

Vitamin D3 is also three times more effective in raising 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the bloodstream and D3 maintains these elevated levels for a longer period compared to vitamin D2. 

Supplemental vitamin D3 has also been shown to reduce mortality risk whereas D2 has shown no benefit to mortality risk.

Although the recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU), these levels are not considered adequate to prevent or treat vitamin D deficiency.  They are only adequate to prevent metabolic bone diseases. Vitamin D3 dosages of 1,000-2,000 IU are generally recommended for optimal health and even higher dosages of 2,000-7,000 units have been deemed sufficient to maintain 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels within normal ranges (Cannell, 2008).

Just some of the benefits of Natural Vitamin D3 ~
* It helps to soothe inflammation that causes you problems with your joints and increases your risk of heart and brain disease.
* According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Vitamin D3 also...  
   ~  Protects your cells from damage.
   ~  Is an energizer to your immune system which helps your body to fight off infections.
   ~  Helps to Stop Bone Loss and Strengthen your Bones.

    In March 2005, The New England Journal of Medicine wrote that about 430,000 heart victims per year are killed by inflammation that could be extinguished with Vitamin D3.

**Remember that Vitamin D3 is both a vitamin and a hormone ~ always check with your doctor before beginning supplementation.  It is very important that your Doctor check your blood levels before you begin supplementation and also to check blood levels periodically.
  " The happiest is the person who suffers the least pain;
                        the most miserable who enjoys the least pleasure."
                                                                   ~  Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Heart Disease Awareness Ribbon
Study after study shows heart attacks and heart disease are under-diagnosed in women, with the explanation being that they didn't have symptoms.   But research shows that's not the case. Women who've had heart attacks realize, looking back, that they experienced significant symptoms -- they just didn't recognize them as such.

In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 95 percent of women who'd had heart attacks reported experiencing symptoms that were decidedly new or different from their previous experience a month or more before their attacks.

This failure to recognize heart attack signs in women has led to a grim statistic: women are more likely to die from sudden cardiac death than men are, and two thirds of women who have a heart attack don't recover completely.

Seven little-known signs of heart attack:

1. Fatigue. More than 70 percent of women in the NIH study reported extreme fatigue in the month or months prior to their heart attacks. This was not just your run-of-the-mill tiredness ~ this was an overwhelming fatigue.

 2. Sleeplessness or Insomnia. Despite their fatigue, women who've had heart attacks remember experiencing unexplained inability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the month before their heart attacks.

3. Anxiety and Stress. What women report is that before their heart attacks they felt anxious, stressed, and keyed up. Moments before or during a heart attack, many women report a feeling they describe as "impending doom;" they're aware that something's drastically wrong and they can't cope, but they're not sure what's going on.

4. Indigestion or Nausea. Stomach pain, intestinal cramps, nausea, and digestive disruptions are another sign reported by women heart attack patients. Become familiar with your own digestive habits, and pay attention when anything seems out of whack.

5. Shortness of Breath. Of the women in the NIH study, more than 40 percent remembered experiencing this symptom. One of the comments the women made is that they noticed they couldn't catch their breath while walking up the stairs or doing other daily tasks.

6. Flu-Like Symptoms. Clammy, sweaty skin, along with feeling lightheaded and weak, can lead women to wonder if they have the flu when, in fact, they're having a heart attack.

7. Jaw, Ear, Neck, or Shoulder Pain. While pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arm is a common sign of heart attack (at least, among men), women often don't experience the pain this way. Instead, many women say they felt pain and a sensation of tightness running along their jaw and down the neck, and sometimes up to the ear, as well. The pain may extend down to the shoulder and arm -- particularly on the left side -- or it may feel like a backache or pulled muscle in the neck and back.

In addition to the symptoms they do have, women differ from men in another significant way -- they may not experience many of the symptoms we traditionally associate with heart attacks. This, experts say, is a major reason why women's heart attacks go unrecognized and untreated. Almost half of all women in the NIH study felt no chest pain, even during the heart attack itself. Numbness is another symptom women may not experience, experts say.

If your body is doing unusual things and you just don't feel "right," don't wait. Go see your doctor and ask for a thorough work-up. And if you have any risk factors for cardiac disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or family history of heart disease, mention these to the doctor. Time is of the essence ~

Today is my Birthday.  Since August 26th is also the birthday of the late Mother Theresa, each year I'm prompted to reexamine my life ~ making determinations for the coming year and trying to rid my heart of residual grudges.

And every year I have trouble putting the past behind me and I can't seem to find a single, positive thing to say about people who have hurt me. Over the years friends and colleagues have shared their rituals with me.  What I've finally decided works best is an amalgam of several of those remedies.
Take a small jar ~ Write the names of those who have hurt you in green ink on white paper and fold the paper to fit into the jar.

Then add enough Honey to cover the paper.  Put the lid on the jar and place it in your kitchen.  For nine consecutive days, light a small white candle and place it on top of the sealed jar. Allow the candle to burn for a few minutes while you visualize your whole situation sweetening.

After the ninth day the candle should be fully burned (if it burns out earlier, just replace it with a fresh one until the nine days are done). Then place the jar in a paper bag and dispose of it somewhere outside your house.

I won't say that you'll want to kiss and make up, but at the very least you should be able to walk away leaving all hostility behind.
It is never too late to be what you might have been."
                                                                                ~ George Eliot

While summer is still with us, take the time to try Baby Artichokes on the grill:

Grilled Baby Artichokes ~                            
Lemon Vinaigrette (see recipe below)
12 baby artichokes *
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Prepare the Lemon Vinaigrette; set aside until ready to use.

Cut off the top third of each artichoke, snip the sharp tips from the remaining leaves, and trim the bottom slightly so that it's even all the way around.

In a large saucepan, bring 1 1/2 quarts of water to a boil. Add prepared artichokes and cook approximately  7 to 10 minutes or until you can easily pierce them with a fork but they still offer some resistance. Drain and immediately immerse in cold water to stop the cooking.

Cut the artichoke in half lengthwise, sprinkle them with olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

Prepare barbecue grill. Cover barbecue with lid, open any vents, and grill them over a medium-hot fire, cut side down for about 5 minutes, or until the cut sides are well browned.

Pour the Lemon Vinaigrette over grilled artichokes and toss. This can be served right away, but it is much better if allowed to sit for an hour for the flavors to mingle. It will keep, covered and refrigerated, for about 3 days. .
Makes 4 servings.

Lemon Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped pitted black olives
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, Dijon mustard, olive oil, olives, and pepper; whisk together well.

* Recipe by Betty Rosbottom, author of Big Book of Backyard Cooking.

The globe artichoke Cynara Cardunculus is one of the oldest known cultivated vegetables; originating from Ethiopia, with Italy currently being the world's largest producer. It was valued in ancient Greece and Rome as a digestive aid, available only to the wealthy.

It was the French and Spanish explorers who first brought artichokes to the United States, and today virtually all of the globe artichokes grown in the US are produced in Castroville, California.
 
Historically considered an aphrodisiac, artichokes literally feed the heart.  In a recent study assessing heart health promoting antioxidants; artichoke hearts ranked the highest for vegetables. 

Nutrients:
Globe artichokes are an excellent source of dietary fiber, magnesium, and the trace mineral chromium. They are a very good source of vitamin C, folic acid, biotin, and the trace mineral manganese. They are a good source of niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin A, and potassium.

Reduces LDL Cholesterol
The artichoke has strong choleretic activity (promotes bile secretion in the liver), and choleretics increase the excretion of cholesterol and decrease the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver.

Dyspepsia:
Dyspepsia is often attributed to insufficient flow of bile from the gallbladder, and there is evidence that the artichoke leaf has the ability to stimulate this flow.

Diabetes:
The carbohydrate in artichokes is in the form of inulin, which has been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetics. The artichokes must be fresh, as the inulin will eventually convert to other sugars as the artichoke ages.

Check tomorrow for recipes ~

New research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston suggests that ancient Chinese Herbal Formulas used primarily for cardiovascular indications including heart disease may produce large amounts of  artery-widening nitric oxide. Findings of the preclinical study by scientists in the University's Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases appear in the Sept.15 print issue of the journal Free Radical Biology & Medicine.

Nitric oxide is crucial to the cardiovascular system because it signals the inner walls of blood vessels to relax, which facilitates the flow of blood through the heart and circulatory system. The messenger molecule also eliminates dangerous clots, lowers high blood pressure and reduces artery-clogging plaque formation.

The results from this study reveal that ancient Chinese Herbal Formulas "have profound nitric oxide bioactivity primarily through the enhancement of nitric oxide in the inner walls of blood vessels, but also through their ability to convert nitrite and nitrate into nitric oxide," said Nathan S. Bryan, Ph.D., the study's senior author.

Herbal Formulas are a major component of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which also includes acupuncture and massage.  "Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, has provided leads to safe medications in cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes," said C. Thomas Caskey, M.D.. "The opportunity for Dr. Bryan's work is outstanding given that cardiac disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States."

In the study, researchers performed laboratory tests on Dan Shen, Gua Lou and other Chinese Herbs to assess their ability to produce nitric oxide.  Ancient Chinese Herbal Formulas used primarily for cardiovascular indications are made up of three to 25  individual herbs in a formula.  The formulas can be administered as tablets, elixirs, soups and teas.

Several people have called to ask me whether they should eat the egg yolk or just the whites.  

The Yolk contains most of the nutrients in an egg. In fact, the number of nutrients in an egg yolk is so comprehensive that a few egg yolks a day would offer more nutrients than a multi-vitamin. Egg Whites, on the other hand, contain far fewer nutrients.

The importance of the egg yolk and relative unimportance of the egg white is clear. The yolk contains the majority of the copper, nearly all of the calcium, iron, folate, and B6, and 100% of the vitamins A and E.

The white, on the other hand, is only useful as an added source of magnesium or protein. The simple addition of an adequate amount of meat in the diet would provide for both.

Finally, eggs are an excellent source of carotenoids. These are primarily highly absorbable forms of lutein and its partner zeaxanthin. These carotenoids accumulate in the back of the eye and appear to protect against age-related macular degeneration.  All of the lutein and zeaxanthin in an egg is contained in the yolk.

Biotin or vitamin B7 was discovered in 1936 and used as a cure for egg white disease. Egg white disease was a condition caused by over consumption of uncooked egg whites which was discovered to inhibit the action of the vitamin Biotin. B7 is a water soluble vitamin, this means it cannot be stored in the body so it must be absorbed on a daily basis.

So missing out on the egg yolks means missing out on the nutrition in your breakfast.  Remember this the next time you enjoy the incredible, edible egg yolk.

My Professor of Nutrition in Chinese Medicine considers an Egg: the perfect food as it contains all the ingredients to become a Chicken.

Though eggs haven't always been considered healthy, their bad reputation actually stemmed from a misunderstanding about cholesterol. There are two types ~ blood cholesterol, which is a marker of cardiovascular disease... and dietary cholesterol, the kind in eggs. The two cholesterol forms got scrambled together in health reports, but dietary cholesterol does not have a significant impact on blood cholesterol.  When it comes to raising blood cholesterol ~ saturated fats and carbohydrates are the bigger concern.

Eggs are a great source of nutrients. Eggs are also an excellent source of protein in addition to being inexpensive, easily digestible and nutrient-packed.  Donald K. Layman, PhD, professor emeritus of nutrition at the University of Illinois, in his team's review of prior egg studies published in the January/February 2009 issue of the journal, Nutrition Today, concluded that eggs make a significant contribution to muscle strength, energy and power. That fact that they are so easily digestible makes them an ideal choice for older people and those with digestive disorders. Other benefits of super-nutritious eggs include...
 ~   Each egg contains six to seven grams of protein (more than 10% of the daily value) and all eight essential amino acids ~ tools the body needs to build and maintain muscle.
 ~   Eggs at breakfast provide an excellent source of energy to keep you going throughout the morning.
 ~   Eggs have a "satiety effect." They leave you feeling more satisfied ~ fuller and less likely to soon be hungry again than refined carbs from a bagel, doughnut or croissant.
 ~   Eggs are low in fat and carbohydrates. One egg contains just five grams of fat, including 1.5 grams of saturated fat, and has zero carbohydrates.

Other research notes that eggs are rich in lutein, which is good for the eyes and may help prevent macular degeneration, and choline, a nutrient that supports the brain and nervous system... sulfur, which promotes healthy hair and nails... and vitamins B-12 and B-6, vital to energy production.

EATING EGGS
*The healthiest ways to cook eggs are in water (poached, boiled) instead of frying.

** As always ~ consult with your doctor first if you are on medication.

*** Wire basket available at Amazon.com

I 'm taking a page from the Saratoga Traveler and today I will write about something that continues to haunt me.  Everything in our environment contributes to our Feng Shui.  It isn't just about mirrors and wind-chimes ~ it's about how we live our lives especially in regard to the creatures entrusted to our care.  Animals that are neglected ~ dirty ~ ignored ~ even if they aren't actually abused, create bad Feng Shui and therefore bad luck.

Even if you are not an animal lover and I realize that there are good people who do not share my love for animals.  If you have brought an animal into your environment you must do everything you possibly can to make sure that it is treated by all as a valued member of your family.  If you ignore this ~ you can hang all the Feng Shui cures that you want and still you will not create good luck.  So please ~ a pet is not an impulse acquisition.  Make sure that you can afford to care for it and that you have the time to provide it with a happy, stimulating life ~ not tied out in the backyard.

Dogs provide Yang energy and Cats provide Yin energy ~ a perfect balance of Yin and Yang.  Well-cared for Happy Pets inject good energy into a home.

I have followed the Michael Vick story since  it was first made public.  I am shocked how cavalier some people seem to be about his crimes. This was not a onetime act of bad judgment~ these were cruel and inhuman acts of rage  inflicted upon helpless dogs. He killed dogs with his bare hands because they lost a fight.  He poured water on dogs and electrocuted them with jumper cables.  He served what I consider a short sentence ~ part of it in his mansion.  This week he has been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and will go back to playing football.  People feel that he deserves a second chance.  It will take a lot to convince me that he is reformed.

You can't turn away from animal abuse ~ if it's in your home ~ on your street ~ in your town, you will be affected by its negative Feng  Shui.  So be vigilant and speak up if you see something suspicious.  Your own luck depends upon it.

Courtesy of    www.stopmichaelvick.com

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."       ~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

On August 7, 2009 we will enter the 7th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This is the year of the Earth Ox and is considered a well-balanced year.  The Chinese believe that it is always better to prevent bad luck from occurring than to try to reverse it ~ so it's helpful to know what to expect.

This is a better month than July for the Rat. You'll find that you get along better with people and that you are the life of the party.  This is also a better month for love. There are changes at work ~ perhaps a promotion or even a change in career.  Display a Rooster in the West of your bedroom to stimulate luck in love.