health


By Doug Sewell There is an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency among the


world’s population, which is thought to be responsible for a stream of different illnesses. According to Dr. William Grant, PhD, vitamin D expert and research scientist, 30 percent of cancer deaths could be prevented with sufficient levels of vita- min D. Dr. Michael F. Hokick in his book “The Vitamin D Solu- tion” said vitamin D can both prevent and treat “osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, strokes, depres- sion, insomnia, arthritis, diabetes, dementia, hypertension, chronic pain, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, reductions in calcifica- tion build-up in the arteries.”


Other benefits include improved eyesight, asthma improve-


ment, colds, flu, preventing obesity, bone and muscle health, mental health, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, gum disease, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and upper respiratory in- flections.


Dr. W.C. Douglass published in “The Douglass Report” that


researchers at Harvard discovered that surgery patients with higher vitamin D levels were 2.5 percent more likely to be alive after five years than those with the lowest levels of vitamin D. He also reported a Harvard study showing people with a high intake of vitamin D were 40 percent less likely to develop incur- able MS.


As we age, vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle weakness


and loss of balance. The stronger your muscle fibers, the less likely you are to suffer an injury do to a fall. Vitamin D helps to maintain muscle strength and endurance, according to a re- search study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science.


Worldwide movement to reduce breast cancer


Grasssrootshealth.net has launched a worldwide public


health campaign called “D’Facts” to solve the world’s vitamin D deficiency epidemic in one year’s time. They hope to ac- complish this goal by testing vitamin D levels twice a year along with patient education programs. Each person informed would pass the word to others who would also do the same and so on. Vitamin D serum levels should not be below 32ng/ml. Levels below 20 ng. can be considered a sign of a serious deficiency.


Dr. C.F. Garland of USCD School of Medicine will chair the


D’Action Project for the next five years to measure the health outcomes of individuals who get their vitamin D levels to 40- 60 ng/ml range. Dr. Garland has shown in his research paper that 40 to 60 percent of bladder cancers can be prevented with adequate levels of vitamin D. Similar statistics apply to breast cancer. Annually, approximately 1 million women get breast cancer, causing 465 thousand unnecessary deaths. Over 200 observational studies have shown that 75 to 80 percent of these women would not gotten breast cancer if they had kept their vi- tamin D levels in the 40 t0 60 ng. range. range.ml range, accord- ing to Dr. Garland. There are 17 different cancers associated with low vitamin D levels.


Vitamin D testing behind the curve Given the mounting evidence on the health benefits of vita-


min D, I am surprised when I asked someone if their vitamin D levels were measured during their last doctor visit, about 95 percent of them said no. Vitamin D is made in the skin through the photosynthesis of the sun, which is why it’s called “the sunshine vitamin.” Good luck in finding sunshine during the winter months if you live in a northern climate.


Technically, vitamin D is not a vitamin; it has all the charac-


teristics of a hormone which is the key to unlocking over 2000 genes and nourishing 36 different organs. Of course, there


Doug Sewell


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE


Vitamin D reduces death death from all causes


are few foods that supply vitamin D, like milk, salmon and mackerel but you have to drink a lot of milk and eat lot fish to get the daily require- ments. Vitamin D supplements may be necessary to keep your levels at the proper range of 40ng/ml to 70. To determine your current levels its best to have your doctor measure your vitamin D levels, twice a year, with a 25 hydroxyvitamin D blood test, or called 25 (OH) D test.


Vitamin D helps fight asthma


People often tell me about their children’s asthma condi-


tions. Most recently, a mother explained to me how frustrat- ing it was to deal with her son’s asthma. I gave her my card and asked her to call me for the latest research information on natural asthma treatments. Had she called me I would have told her about the King College London study that revealed that vitamin D supplementation may help patients to respond better to inhaled steroids, the typical asthma treatment.


I would have also told her about the Brigham and Women’s


Hospital, in Boston, studies on what role vitamin D plays in children’s asthma. 1024 children with mild to moderate asthma participated in the study. Thirty-five percent of the Children admitted to hospitals or emergency rooms were found to have insufficient vitamin D levels.


Dark skin slows vitamin D absorption


Vitamin D levels, in the Boston study, were lowest among


the African-American subjects. Because of darker skin pigmen- tation African Americans need more exposure to sunshine or vitamin D supplements to maintain adequate vitamin D levels. Ironically, the lower your vitamin D levels the longer it takes to tan. When you have sufficient vitamin D levels your body tans faster to protect the body from absorbing too much vitamin D. Conversely, if you don’t have enough vitamin D the body slows down the tanning pigmentations to allow the body time to absorb more vitamin D.


Blacks have less vitamin D levels than Whites which is as-


sociated with increased cardiovascular mortality among Blacks. The results of a vitamin D study of 27,686 Utah subjects were shown at the American Heart Association Scientific Conference, in Orlando, Florida. Evidence was presented showing a strong correlation between low serum, vitamin D levels with coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and ultimately death. It was determined that even a moderate deficiency of vitamin D was as- sociated with developing heart disease. According Dr John Can- nell, founder of the Vitamin Council D. org website, adequate vitamin D appears to reduce death from all causes.


The next time you need the recommended vitamin D3 call us


at (313) 863-1200 for our high quality Physiologics vitamin D 3, or our Life Extension brands, or you get it at your local vitamin store. And as always, see your health care professional for test- ing to determine the proper treatment program.


Douglas Sewell is president of the Detroit-based Painexx


Corp., makers of the world’s most powerful topical pain reliev- er, Ringmaster Rubbing Oil. He can be reached at (313) 863- 1200 or painex@comcast.net; website: www.ringmasternow. com. Ringmaster Rubbing Oil is available at CVS and indepen- dent pharmacies.


August 25-31, 2010


Page A-8


Healthy teeth can improve student attendance


Toothaches lead to school


absences almost as often as colds and the flu, so a dental checkup before school starts can help ensure that kids are in school and ready to learn.


“You can’t have a healthy


body without a healthy mouth,” said Dr. Gary Jef- fers, president of the Michigan Dental Association. “Regular dental checkups and preven- tive dental care,


including


cleanings and fluoride treat- ment, will provide your child with “smile insurance.”


“Dental problems can affect


how children learn to speak and chew food, damage self- confidence and cause missed days at school,” said Jeffers.


Nationwide, children with


dental-related illnesses miss more than 51 million school hours each year, according to the U.S. surgeon general. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Needy children are three to five times more likely to have untreated tooth decay than the general population.


“The best complement to


regular brushing, flossing and dental visits is for parents to monitor their children’s oral health,” Jeffers said. “Early action by an observant parent can stop minor problems from becoming major crises and causing children to miss school.”


He suggests checking for


signs of potential trouble, in- cluding broken teeth, bleed- ing gums, sensitivity to hot or cold foods, and obvious pain when chewing.


Here are some tips to main-


tain a healthy mouth…and body:


• Pack healthy school lunch- September is


National Cholesterol Education Month


es that include low-fat milk, yogurt, lean protein foods such as turkey, chicken or beef, and fruits and vegetables.


• Drinks a lot of water and try to limit the consumption of sugary beverages such as soda pop and juices.


• Eat healthy snacks like cheese and nuts. Eat a cookie or pudding rather than chewy, sticky foods that cling to the teeth throughout the day.


• Protect your student-ath- lete’s mouth with a properly fitted mouth guard—a must for any student playing a con- tact sport like football, soccer or hockey.


• Make bedtime brushing and flossing a routine for your child.


• Visit your dentist twice a year to keep your teeth and gums healthy and prevent problems.


The Michigan Dental As-


sociation’s Adventures in Smiling brochure is free and features oral health and nu- trition tips, along with a word search and picture to color. It’s appropriate for elementary school-age children. Teachers may also request copies. Visit ask@michigandental.org or the Michigan Dental Associa- tion, Adventures in Smiling, 3657 Okemos Road, Okemos, MI 48864.


Headquartered in Okemos,


the Michigan Dental Asso- ciation has more than 5,600 members in 26 local dental so- cieties and two dental schools. Since its founding in 1856, the MDA has sought to educate the public, enhance its members’ ability to provide high-quality care and promote the science and art of dentistry. For more information on the MDA, or oral health care topics, visit www.smilemichgan.com.


There are 2,500 reasons to set your alarm a little earlier.


Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan thinks the best way to encourage healthy behavior is to reward people for it. That’s why Healthy Blue OutcomesSM


physicians, set health goals and achieve them. In return, we give them the opportunity to lower their deductibles by up to $2,500 annually. Along the way, we have an array of online resources to help members track their progress, get tips on healthier living and more. To learn more about Healthy Blue OutcomesSM


and how it can inspire wellness, visit bcbsm.com/outcomes. offers rewards to members who meet with their


Join the conversation about making Michigan healthier at aHealthierMichigan.org.


Leading Michigan to a healthier future.


SM


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