| HealItAll
Newsletter |
| Vol.
1, No. 35 * * * July 2009 |
|
|
Clearing Confusion on Media
Hype - Calcium, D3, K2, and More!
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| In This
Issue: |
| Message from Bernadette Wulf
|
| Biofuels Are the Rainforest's
Worst Enemy |
| Bioplastics - Are They Really
the Answer? |
| Low Vitamin D May Be Root
Cause of Cancer |
| Bone Health - Is There a
Calcium Conspiracy? |
| Vitamins D3 and K2 for
Cardiovascular Health! |
| One Last Thing...
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| Contact Info
|
|
| |
Message
from Bernadette Wulf
-
Greetings!
Now that summer is officially here, I've been enjoying the warmth
and lingering light more than ever. Somehow it seems like these days
are longer than in any summer before, and the flowers are more profuse,
and the birds are singing louder... at five in the morning right
outside my window! Gota love it.
Before I forget, click on the link at the bottom of this section to
hear my interview on HelpYourselfNation.com. There are lots of other
interviews with well-known self-help experts on the site, too. Just go
to http://helpyourselfnation.com/
It seems that our health is becoming more and more tied up with our
environment. The way our foods are grown, the way we dispose of our
garbage, and the way we take care of our planet all become increasingly
crucial factors as our population grows. I believe Earth is precious in
its own right, but even if you don't believe that, you'll have to agree
that your life is dependent on the environment in which you live.
These days we are faced with complicated choices and a lot of
misleading advertising about what is "green" or "natural." Read on for
some surprising twists in the eco-saga of humans on planet Earth.
Another area of confusion caused by media twists is the subject of
Vitamin D and Calcium, and how they relate to cancer, bone health, and
cardiovascular disease. Slathering on sunscreen and gulping down
calcium pills may be more dangerous than you ever thought possible. You
will find a few articles below to make you think twice!
As always, I keep looking for the best cutting-edge health-care news
available, so you'll have it at your fingertips.
To Your Health!
Bernadette Wulf
-
Check
out my interview on HelpYourSelfNation.com! |
|
Biofuels
Are the Rainforest's Worst Enemy
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Have you been feeling complacent thinking that biofuels will solve
the carbon emission problems of the world? Sorry to disillusion you,
but here's the nasty truth of the matter.
From Mother Jones - "With governments and consumers scrambling for
alternatives to fossil fuel, worldwide demand for biofuels has gone
through the roof; in Europe, where more than half of all automobiles
run on diesel, consumption of biodiesel is set to triple by 2010...
"But amid the hype, problems have emerged. Biodiesel emits less
than one-quarter the carbon of regular diesel once it's burned. But
when production—and the destruction of ecosystems in the
developing
countries where most biofuel crops are grown—is factored in,
many
biofuels may actually emit more carbon than does petroleum, the journal
Science reported last year.
"Because oil palms don't absorb as much CO2 as the rainforest or
peatlands they replace, palm oil can generate as much as 10 times more
carbon than petroleum, according to the advocacy group Food First.
Thanks in large part to oil palm plantations, Indonesia is now the
world's third-largest emitter of CO2, trailing only the US and China."
I never believed that growing plants to run cars was a very good
idea, but I was shocked to read how very destructive it can be, in so
many ways. Ten times more carbon! Yikes!
It's time to go back to the drawing board on that one!! Thanks Mother
Jones.
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Read
entire article |
|
Bioplastics
- Are They Really the Answer?
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Dang! Just when it seemed like we had a good solution to the overflow
of plastic in landfills... there's a catch.
From the Washington Post - "Bioplastics aren't quite as green as
they might seem, for many of the same reasons that biofuels are an
environmental Catch-22. For one, using crops to produce plastic diverts
those plants from the food supply. The recent rise in global food
prices demonstrates the danger of this; also, much new cropland is
cleared at the expense of carbon-absorbing forests. Crop production
requires carbon-dioxide-emitting energy, and unless the plants are
organically grown (unlikely for bioplastic sources), pesticide and
fertilizer runoff is an issue."
And, as if that is not bad enough, bioplastics don't break down in
a normal compost pile. They need a commercial compost operation using
high temperatures. Not to mention the fact that most people wouldn't
think of trying to compost their plastic, anyway. The exception is
bioplastic leaf bags that can be tossed in city composting containers.
The solution... recycle plastic, reuse cups, plates, and utensils,
just like we did in the good old days. It really wasn't all that hard
to wash the dishes, was it?
-
Read
the Entire Article |
|
Low Vitamin D May Be Root Cause of Cancer
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I recently went to a lecture by one of my favorite nutrition
experts, Dr. Rick Dina, at Cafe Gratitude in Healdsburg. One of the
things he said that really struck me is that anyone living north of San
Francisco, no matter how much you are out in the sun, should be taking
a vitamin D supplement! I had never heard that before, but I sure
listened up, because vitamin D deficiency is no laughing matter. It can
lead to osteoporosis, heart disease, and even cancer.
Breaking news from NaturalNews.com - "According to Dr. Garland,
researchers have documented that with enough vitamin D present, cells
adhere to one another in tissue and act as normal, mature epithelial
cells. But if there is a deficiency of vitamin D, cells can lose this
stick-to-each other quality, as well as their identity as
differentiated cells. The result? They may revert to a dangerous stem
cell-like state and become cancerous."
The article goes on to say that, "Healthy levels of vitamin D have
been found to slash the risk of numerous cancers by 77 percent." That's
a whopping statistic and one that we should all take note of in our
quest for ideal health!
Most nutrition experts specify vitamin D3 as the best form to take
in a supplement. Statistically, about half the population is deficient
in Vitamin D, so you should probably be supplementing if you are not
outdoors every day, or if you live in a latitude north of San
Francisco. If you are not sure, you can have a blood test to determine
your Vitamin D level.
Meanwhile, get out in the summer sun and soak up those rays! (In
moderation, of course. It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to get all the
vitamin D you need.) And I'm sure the sun has even more good things to
offer than vitamin D.
-
Read
the Entire Article |
|
Bone
Health - Is There a Calcium Conspiracy?
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Be sure to click the link at the bottom of this section, because
the complete article is excellent and full of great information that
everyone with bones should know - like you! I can only touch on a few
of the most important points here. By the way, if you happen to have
ridges running the length of your fingernails, you probably have the
beginnings of osteoporosis. Listen up!
According to SmartPublications.com - "...the US government’s
fight
against osteoporosis has actually increased the incidence of this
debilitating disease. The numbers speak for themselves ... by 2020 [it
is predicted that] one in two Americans over the age of 50 will already
have, or be at risk of developing, osteoporosis!"
The article goes on to say, "the secret to bone health lies not in
increasing your calcium intake as you have always been told, but
instead increasing your intake of the critical nutrients necessary to
recycle bone calcium and to preserve, protect, and build healthy new
bone."
The problem is that calcium loss, not calcium intake, is the cause
of osteoporosis. Very little of the calcium you ingest ever gets to
your bones. Most of it is either excreted or deposited in arteries and
soft tissue, causing joint calcification and hardening of the arteries.
So rather than adding more calcium, it is important to minimize the
loss of calcium in the first place by keeping your system alkaline. The
way to do that is to eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, and to
avoid eating too many animal products, grains, nuts, and processed
foods which are acid forming.
Because acidic blood means death, the body will pull alkaline
calcium from your bones to keep the blood alkaline, even at the expense
of bone strength. If you are a regular reader, you have heard this
before, but I can't repeat it too often. We are bombarded with media
and social pressure to chow down on burgers, fries, twinkies, and sodas
day in and day out. The least I can do is give you the other side of
the story once a month. Just a friendly reminder.
In addition to keeping your system alkaline, there are a few
important nutrients that help the body recycle calcium. Vitamins K2 and
D3 are key factors. The Smart-Publications article says, "Clearly,
vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 are two of the missing puzzle pieces when it
comes to battling osteoporosis and osteopenia."
"...vitamin K reduced bone loss with K2 being most effective,
reducing risk of vertebral fracture by 60%, hip fracture by 77%, and
all non-vertebral fractures by 81%. And remember, reducing fracture
risk is the true measure of bone health."
"...We’ll say this again, because it bears repeating: Vitamin
K2
deficiency leads to BOTH osteoporosis/osteopenia and calcification of
arteries!"
Other important nutrients for bone health are the minerals Boron,
Magnesium, and Silica, along with an isoflavone called Daidzein that
stimulates bone formation and mineralization.
"Daidzein is an isoflavone found mostly in soybeans, legumes, and
peas. Soy isoflavones are free radical scavengers (potent antioxidants)
and are antiangiogenic (they interfere with unwanted blood vessel
growth in disease states). They have been shown to have a beneficial
effect on some types of cancer and bone health."
So eat up those beans and peas, but remember that soy can be
detrimental unless it is eaten in fermented form such as miso, tempeh,
tamari, or natto. And what do you know, natto also happens to be the
world's best source of Vitamin K2, and it is one of the only vegan
sources of K2 aside from sauerkraut.
Vitamin K1 is supplied by leafy green vegetables. I keep saying it
- EAT YOUR GREENS. They're good for you! Vitamin K2, is created by
bacteria (Bacillus subtilis in natto), as well as by probiotic flora
found in a healthy digestive tract (destroyed by the antibiotics used
in medical treatments and in non-organic meats and dairy products).
Most natural K2 supplements are made from natto.
-
Read
entire article |
|
Vitamins
D3 and K2 for Cardiovascular Health!
-
Here's another interesting D and K connection - bones and heart
health! If your bones are brittle, your heart probably isn't doing so
well either.
From Longevity Medicine Review - "Strong correlations have been
noted between cardiovascular diseases and low bone
density/osteoporosis—connections so strong that the presence
of one
type of pathology is considered a likely predictor of the other."
Vitamins D3 and K2 have been shown to improve both bone strength
and cardiovascular health. I suppose the big question now is how do we
know how much of this stuff to take? Here's their answer: "A recently
published review of the evidence regarding the risk-related
consequences of vitamin D supplementation in adults concluded:
'Evidence from clinical trials shows, with a wide margin of confidence,
that a prolonged intake of 10,000 IU per day of vitamin D3 poses no
risk of adverse effects for adults, even if this is added to a rather
high physiologic background level [sun exposure, dietary intake] of
vitamin D.'"
For comparison they offer this statistic: "...15 to 20 minutes on a
summer day while wearing a bathing suit, generates 10,000 –
20,000 IU
of vitamin D3 in 15 to 20 minutes." That's for the average white
person. People with darker skin need longer exposure.
The usual therapeutic dose for Vitamin D3 is 1,000 - 5,000 IU per
day. If you are in doubt, get a blood test to find out how much D3 is
in your blood and have an experienced doctor tell you exactly how much
to take. The lower your blood level, the more you should be taking in
supplement form.
The article does not mention how much K2 to take, but other sources
recommended 1 to 5 mg. per day, with therapeutic range up to 10mg. No
toxicity for Vitamin K1 or K2 has been reported. However, those taking
blood thinning medication should consult a physician before
supplementing with Vitamin K.
If you are feeling up to it, the following link will take you to a
very scholarly article with lots of research statistics and references.
-
Read
entire article |
|
One
Last Thing...
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That's me looking through the magnifying glass I found at the
Korbel Champagne Cellars tasting room. Yum! (Photo by Ben Aronoff.)
I told Brysen, who interviewed me for HelpYourselfNation.com, that I
would include a link to his site, so here it is.
Check out all the fascinating interviews!
(The link to my interview is under my introductory letter up top.)
-
Link
to HelpYourselfNation.com |
|
To read past issues of
HealItAll.com Newsletter go to
- http://healitall.com/newsletterarchives.html
Health & Wellness Coach Bernadette Wulf is also a Law of
Attraction Coach, Reiki Master, and EFT therapist, with a world-wide
practice via phone and Internet.
Visit http://magical-lifecoaching.com for more information.
For Health & Wellness Coaching contact Bernadette Wulf at
wulfartist@yahoo.com
or call 707-824-0675 |
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