Study: Leafy Green Vegetables May Boost Your Immune Defenses

Heated battles have raged across the world’s dinner tables for about as long as anyone can remember. The topic of this unending debate? Vegetables.

Despite their most valiant efforts many parents still struggle with their kids about eating their nightly serving of greens. Visiting your local farmers markets, fresher produce and more interesting/flavorful recipes have been helping to slowly turn the tide, but arming yourself with a little extra knowledge before going into battle doesn’t usually hurt either.

According to newly presented research, eating green vegetables may be an even better way to our bodies healthy than we could have possibly guessed. In addition to being a well-known source of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, not to mention both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, it seems that green vegetables of all types are also a key source of specialized chemical signals that our immune systems use to self-communicate.

Researchers working with the Barbraham Institute, an independently operated biomedical science center closely aligned with Cambridge University in England, have discovered a new connection between cruciferous, or leafy green vegetables, body-wide immune response.

By examining the effects of an artificially controlled diet, completely lacking and green vegetable matter, in laboratory mice, the Barbraham researchers were able to show a marked decline in immune capability over a relatively short span of time. In fact, in as little as two to three weeks, most of their test mice showed a staggering 70-80% reduction in intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs)—a fundamental component of healthy immune function in most mammals, including both mice and humans.

Seeing this, the researchers were able to then trace a complex, multistage relationship between specific chemical compounds found in green cruciferous vegetables, IEL cells, and a cell-surface protein, scientifically referred to as aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs). Essentially, they believe that the chemicals found primarily in these vegetables trigger activity in AhR proteins, which in turn seem to at least partially regulate the production of IEL cells throughout the body.

What’s more, AhR proteins play their own additional role in immune defense outside of IEL production. While IEL cells are best known for destroying foreign and infectious material to protect their parent organism, AhR also help to maintain intracellular genetic integrity by acting as a sort of glue which holds DNA together and makes it less vulnerable to attack.

The research team behind this initial investigation is however quick to point out that their findings are only preliminary, and have so far only been examined in laboratory animals. A great deal of additional study is still needed to determine whether or not these same chemical relationships fully apply to humans. But we do know for a fact, that consuming more and more green vegetables are definitely a great way to improve your diet.

While these new findings may be a bit abstract for some kids to really sink their teeth into, it doesn’t change the fact there they give us all yet another reason to make sure get in our daily servings of green vegetables — even if they aren’t always our favorite thing on the menu.

Are you getting enough leafy green vegetables in your diet? Let’s discuss, in the comments below!

~Dr. G

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Study: Folic Acid in Early Pregnancy Associated With Reduced Risk of Severe Language Delay in Children

Any decent pediatrician can tell you how important it is for expectant mothers to keep up with their prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. During this time, it’s essential that both mothers and their developing babies have access to all the vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients their bodies require.

Among the most important of these essential nutrients is folic acid, sometimes also referred to as folate, or vitamin B9—a standard component of nearly all high-quality prenatal multivitamins. It has long been generally associated with proper neurological development during gestation and early infancy, as well as possibly helping to mitigate a number of other potential health risks, such as stroke and prostate cancer, later on in life.

While there exists little dispute among medical experts regarding the overall importance of folic acid, new findings recently presented by research scientists working with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, in Oslo, suggest however that the role it plays during pre and postnatal brain development may be even more important, and specific, than previously realized.

Between 1999 and 2010, the researchers collected and analyzed data on a total of 38,954 Norwegian children (18,998 girls, 19,956 boys) and their mothers in order to assess what effect, if any, prenatal folic acid supplementation had on language acquisition by age three.

When they compared the instances of severely delayed language development among children whose mothers supplemented with prenatal vitamins which contained folic acid with those who took prenatal vitamins which did not, as well as those children whose mothers did not use any form of prenatal vitamin whatsoever, the researchers were able to show a marked link between the use of folic acid enriched vitamins and decreased risk of language delay.

In addition to its benefit to pregnant mothers and their young, folic acid plays a vital role in the general health of cellular material. Without an ample supply of folic acid, the DNA and RNA synthesis required for ongoing cell replication and maintenance. Long term folate deficiency has also been linked to clinical depression and similar mental health conditions in adults.

Even armed with this knowledge, getting enough folic acid from diet alone can be difficult. Even more so for women are, or trying to become, pregnant. There are of course a handful of foods with folic acid, including liver and egg yolks, plus many vegetarian-friendly options, such as leafy green vegetables, peas, beans and other legumes, and brewer’s yeast.

The most effective method for expectant mothers to ensure they get their recommended daily allotment of folic acid is still however a good prenatal multivitamin supplement. Unfortunately, selecting the right prenatal vitamin can be a difficult task, especially for women who prefer to use natural organic vitamins rather than their prescription only counterparts.

Perfect Prenatal Multivitamins are easily some of the finest all-natural prenatal vitamins available anywhere. The are made with whole-food sourced ingredients, so they’re easy for the body to absorb and utilize, and also contain full range of live probiotic cultures hand selected to improve pregnancy.

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Study: More Vitamin B in Mother’s Diet Reduces Risk of Colon Cancer in Offspring

Few experts question the influence a mother’s diet can have on her children’s long term physical health. Yet many believe that this effect is mostly sociological, and limited to positive or negative role-modeling, and the development of general dietary habits later in life. New research suggests, however, that the foods moms eat could impact the health of their children much more directly.

Scientists at Tufts University’s USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA), near Boston, have recently published the findings of a new study which shows a strong connection between the quantity of B vitamins pregnant mice consume and the likelihood of their offspring developing colorectal cancer as adults.

Three test groups of pregnant and nursing mice, which were genetically engineered to be predisposed to develop colorectal cancer, were fed diets with either higher than normal, adequate, or slightly deficient amounts of folate and vitamins B2, B6, and B12. Once fully weened, all newborn mice were fed identical, nutritionally balanced diets through adulthood.

The occurrence of tumor development appeared similar between both the adequate and B vitamin deficient groups, with about 60 percent of the mice in each of these two groups eventually developing colon cancer. In comparison, less than 20 percent of the mice in the group that was given larger than normal doses of B vitamins were found to have malignant growths.

While these figure are impressive, the researchers caution that the study itself is only a preliminary investigation, and additional studies will be needed to further asses the correlation between maternal vitamin B consumption and reduced risk of cancer in humans.

Dr. Jimmy Crott, PhD, lead author of the HNRCA study: “We saw, by far, the fewest intestinal tumors in the offspring of mothers consuming the supplemented diet. Although the tumor incidence was similar between offspring of deficient and adequate mothers, 54% of tumors in the deficient offspring were advanced and had invaded surrounding tissue while only 18% of tumors in the offspring of adequate mothers displayed these aggressive properties.” [1]

Most healthcare providers already recommend higher than normal intake of folate and other essential B vitamins during pregnancy and while nursing as part of routine prenatal care. And accordingly, most popular brands of prenatal vitamins contain significantly larger than normal doses of all four B vitamins as compared to regular multivitamins. The standard reasons for this, however, have nothing to do with with the prevention of colon cancer.

In addition to their newly discovered potential for possibly reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, Vitamin B – folate, more specifically – has long been known to play an important role in the prevention of spina bifida and related defects of the neural tube (a sort of embryonic forerunner of the the central nervous system) during fetal gestation. It’s also believed to have a strong influence on proper neurological development in very young children.

Personal Note: I recommend the prenatal vitamins from New Chapter Organics and when taking a B-vitamin supplement make sure the formula contains methylcobalamin instead of cyanocobalamin.

~Dr. G

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Study: Probiotics May Help Protect Infants From Respiratory Illness

New findings presented by Finnish researchers at the University of Turku further supports the potential benefits of probiotics during the first months of life, particularly with regards to respiratory health.

The scientists claim a near 30 percent reduction in respiratory illness among infants whose diets were supplemented daily with the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis, subspecies BB-12, as compared to those in their control group.

They also used the study as an opportunity to further test a new form of slow-delivery medical pacifier designed to administer more accurate dosages of medicine to very young children. The pacifiers have a small opening in their backplate for the storage of drugs. In the case of this study, tablets of the BB-12 probiotic.

The research team monitored 109 infants for a period of eight months beginning when each of the participants was about one month old. Following the double-blind experimental standard commonly used in such studies, the infants where divided into two groups. One set of participants received the BB-12 probiotic twice daily while the other set was given only placebo.

As opposed to the findings of many studies conducted in recent years into the effects of probiotic use in older children and adults, the Finnish data did not show any significant variation between the two participant groups with regard to overall gastrointestinal health or dependence on antibiotic drugs for the treatment of common illness. The data did, however, show a marked reduction in respiratory illness among members of the BB-12 group.

Researchers at the University of Turku:

“Our soft and broad new slow-release pacifier has been developed to contain a pouch in which the food supplement tablet can be inserted. The delivery method was tested before the study began: the BB-12–xylitol tablet and the control xylitol tablet dissolved from the pouch of the pacifier both slowly and completely during 7 to 15 minutes of sucking. Thus, the probiotic tablet could be delivered in a controlled way with the new pacifier.” [1]

Read the full study in the British Journal of Nutrition

Increased public awareness of the many benefits of taking a probiotic supplements or eating more foods with probiotics in fully grown bodies has led to its their inclusion in a wide range of foods and medicinal products. What many people do not realize is that certain strains of probiotic bacterium also occur naturally in breast milk.

While it is believed that these particular symbiotic strains have evolved over time as a way of kick-starting the digestive processes of very young humans, their discovery has prompted researchers to further investigate the possible benefits of other forms of probiotic bacteria during early childhood and adolescence.

The researchers caution that these findings are only preliminary and that additional testing on larger infant population samples is necessary before any definite conclusions can be reached. That said, the researchers remain optimistic that their findings could eventually lead to new preventative treatment options for respiratory infection and possibly other common forms of childhood illness. And in the meantime, there appears to be little harm in administering probiotics to young children under the guidance of a qualified medical professional.

I would personally recommend Latero-Flora probiotic. This is what I gave to my kids when they were both infants. Obviously, when it comes to the health of your children, you should always do the necessary research into any products they may take, as well as consult with their pediatrician beforehand.

What are your thoughts on this study about probiotics and infants? We would love to hear them in the comments below.

~Dr. G

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Study: Phytochemical Found in Broccoli & Cauliflower Attacks Prostate Cancer Cells

We all know that it’s important to eat our vegetables. At least, that’s what most of us have heard since we were kids. What our mother’s told us as when we were young, our doctors tell us as we get older. Sometimes though, it helps to have a more specific reason than high cholesterol, or even a motherly “because I said so.” Especially for people who aren’t big fans of eating organic greens.

According to a new study conducted at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Micronutrient Research Institute confirms that sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in broccoli and related cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower and cabbage, have a natural ability to target and attack prostate cancer cells without harming neighboring cells. Unconnected studies suggest it may have similar promise for breast cancer.

The active chemicals found in everyday foods – such as broccoli – are often much more potent than people would imagine. If fact, determining how to safely adapt these chemical ingredients for medical use is one of the biggest hurdles researchers face. Even edible plants that are considered “rich” in a given nutritional substance contain relatively low amounts of it by volume. The vast majority of these compounds may also become toxic to humans if taken in large enough concentrations.

While a number of previous investigations have proven that sulforaphane is able to attack both benign and malignant cancer cells, the Oregon State study is one of the first to prove that it is effective without disrupting otherwise healthy tissue. This gives researchers a tremendous tool for developing new, low-risk treatment options, and is likely to encourage additional research into the healing potential of other seemingly mundane edible plants.

Realistically, it could be some time before these findings are applied to any sort of drug development or cancer treatment in a traditional hospital setting. Meanwhile though, the researchers behind the study recommend that we all eat more organic cruciferous vegetables.

Besides broccoli, a number of readily available cruciferous vegetables contain naturally large amounts of sulforaphane. Some good examples of foods high in this important phytochemical include mild and spicy radishes, turnips, watercress, cabbage, arugula, kale, chard, and most other leafy greens.

Unrelated studies also suggest a variety of other cancer-fighting compounds may be present in other herbs and garden vegetables. Celery and parsley, for instance, are especially rich in apigenin – a substance that has shown remarkable promise for fighting breast cancer. Trace amounts of apigenin are also found in oranges, apples, and some tree nuts. The problem is, it’s very difficult for the body to effectively extract it from any of these foods on its own.

Supplementing a balanced diet with natural digestive enzymes is a good way to break down and absorb these compounds, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. It is recommend that you use a systemic and digestive enzymes supplement.

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Study: Taking Probiotics During Pregnancy May Prevent Obesity & Assist Weightloss After Birth

Weight loss is something many women struggle with after pregnancy. And the unfortunate truth is, a good number of them were already carrying around an unhealthy amount of excess body fat even before they were pregnant.

Better understanding female obesity — before, during, and after pregnancy — is an important step in controlling the tide of obesity that continues to spread across the United States. And according to some researchers, there is a growing body of scientific evidence which suggests that probiotic bacteria may potentially hold the key to not only a better understanding of weight gain, but also how to prevent it.

In 2009, Nutritionist Kirsi Laitinen, of the University of Turku in Finland, discovered a link between the use of probiotic supplementation during early stages of pregnancy, and weight loss following birth.

She and her colleagues selected a total of 256 pregnant women during the first trimester of their respective pregnancies to participate in the study. The women were randomly divided into three groups: Members of the first group were given both probiotic supplements and dietary counseling geared specifically toward the needs of expecting mothers.

The second group was also given dietary counseling, but was issued placebo instead of actual probiotics. The final group of women were used as a control and received placebo medication but no counseling.

The individual women participating were each weighed at the start of the study, and continued to regularly take either probiotic or placebo supplements from that point until they had ceased breastfeeding their babies exclusively. At this point, the women were re-weighed and also had their waist circumference and skin-fold thickness measured. By comparing these figures with those taken at the beginning of the investigation, Laitinen and her team were able to calculate a 15 percent or greater reduction in obesity among members of the first group as compared to the other two.

While dangerous at any age, obesity is especially damaging during early childhood. A growing body of research indicates that children who are obese are significantly more prone to obesity as adults. Likewise there is an established connection between maternal obesity during pregnancy, impaired fetal development and an increased tendency towards obesity after birth.

Laitinen believes that the exchange of bacteria between mother and child via the umbilical cord during gestation, and breast milk thereafter, accounts for the bulk of this weight loss. However, she has cautioned that additional research is still needed before any definite conclusions can be reached.

Since the study’s conclusion, her team has continued monitoring the health of these participant mothers and their children. With any luck their initial and long term findings will prompt further investigation into the use of probiotic dietary supplementation to fight obesity in pregnant and nursing women, but also their offspring and society as a whole.

Kirsi Laitinen, senior lecturer at the University of Turku in Finland: “The results of our study, the first to demonstrate the impact of probiotics-supplemented dietary counselling on adiposity, were encouraging. The women who got the probiotics fared best. One year after childbirth, they had the lowest levels of central obesity as well as the lowest body fat percentage… There is growing evidence that this approach might open a new angle on the fight against obesity, either through prevention or treatment.” [1]

This isn’t the first clinical study to discuss the health benefits of probiotics. In fact, previous studies have shown that probiotics can help with a variety of ailments, including enhancing your immune system, preventing eczema, improving digestion, reducing yeast infections, alleviating common intestinal disorders and even acts as a remedy for bad breath.

When my wife was pregnant she took 2 capsules each of “Latero-Flora” and Garden of Life’s “Primal Defense Ultra” every other morning. Still to this day, we continue taking these probiotics at least once a week, as well as give our kids 1 capsule of each 1-2x every week. Whether or not you decide to take a probiotic supplement, I would highly recommend you add more of these probiotic foods to your daily diet.

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Study: Young Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Have Increased Risk of Fractures

According to a study from 2010, Swiss scientists conducting research for the University Hospitals of Geneva and Lausanne have found strong evidence that children and young adults who suffer from inflammatory bowel disorders, such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, are at an increased risk of fracturing bones.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic form of inflammation that can devastate the entire gastrointestinal tract. Not only does it cause severe pain and discomfort, in many cases it causes permanent damage to sensitive digestive tissue which prevents them from properly absorbing essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium.

Besides facing malabsorption of nutrients, growing bodies afflicted with severe gastrointestinal conditions like IBD often also suffer from generalized malnutrition due to an understandably reduced desire to eat. Like most of us, they tend to avoid things that cause them extreme pain.

To further complicate matters, many doctors eventually resort to prescribing their IBD patients drugs from a class of powerful anti-inflammatory steroids, known as glucocorticoids. These are known to have some serious and, in the case of these new Swiss findings, painful side effects.

Glucocorticoids, specifically, are known to suppress the absorption of calcium and inhibit bone formation. They have also been connected with muscle fatigue and extended healing times, as well as an increased tendency toward general infection.

Historically, doctors and patients have agreed that while less than ideal, these side effects are a far better alternative to suffering through the frequent and traumatic flare-ups associated with IBD. In light of these new Swiss findings, however, many of them may begin to reconsider their options.

Digestive tissue that has been scarred by Inflammatory Bowel Disease is significantly less effective at absorbing calcium and vitamin D – both of which the human body depends on to build and maintain strong, healthy bones. According to the researchers, not only does bowel disease lower bone mineral density, it also alters the micro architecture of developing bones.

In particular, the micro architecture of trabecular bone material – the softer form of bone tissue typically found near joints and contained between spinal vertebrate – was found to be especially fragile in young IBD patients.

Fractured bones aren’t just painful and inconvenient, they can take their own long-term toll on the body, even long after they have healed. Once a bone breaks, they are often times prone to repeated fracture. Additionally, there are a number of potential complications, such as compartment syndrome, which can in some cases result in permanent deformity or loss of limb.

The researchers responsible for this study recommend that the calcium and vitamin D levels of all IBD patients, especially those of younger ones who are being treated with glucocorticoid anti-inflammatories, be closely monitored by their healthcare provider. If necessary, they also recommend regular weight-bearing exercise and the use of dietary supplementation to ensure proper quantities of calcium and vitamin D are available to the body for proper bone maintenance.

I would personally recommend eating more foods high in calcium and vitamin d. If for some reason you can’t eat these foods or just don’t like them, then it would be wise to take both a calcium supplement and a Vitamin D3 supplement.

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Study: Sufficient Zinc Intake Helps Alleviate Pneumonia in Elderly

Dietary zinc is a widely used essential mineral that is commonly found in a wide range of foods, over-the-counter health products and supplements. There’s a large body of scientific evidence which suggests that consuming the adequate amount of zinc daily helps supports the human body’s natural immune function.

A stroll through your local pharmacy will no doubt turn up dozens of various zinc-fortified items, such as throat lozenges and other general cold and flu remedies. Its popularity as an additive stems from the fact that zinc is believed to be a necessary catalyst for more than 100 enzymes produced by the body. Without access to these enzymes the immune system is unable to function at full strength.

Besides supporting a healthy immune system, zinc is also essential for DNA and protein synthesis and helps to ensure normal growth and development during pregnancy. While most people get zinc from their regular diet, there appears to be a relatively high rate of deficiency among older populations. Unlike many vitamins and minerals, zinc is not stored by the body and must be replenished daily.

This inability to stockpile the mineral, along with poorer absorption rates and an increased need, may explain why the elderly seem to be prone to zinc deficiency. And, some researchers say, may explain why they appear to benefit so well from dietary supplementation of zinc.

According to the recent findings of a study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), elderly people with abnormally low levels zinc in their blood serum may be more susceptible to acquiring pneumonia than their peers. The research was carried out in the Boston, Massachusetts area by the Tufts University Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Center on Aging (HNRCA). The lab serves as a primary field research arm of the USDA.

The HNRCA team had previously conducted a year-long study to monitor the effects of essential dietary vitamins and minerals on the immune response and respiratory infection rates of roughly 600 elderly people living in 33 local area nursing care facilities.

Original analysis of the data showed a noticeable 20 percent decrease in the rate at which the participants developed colds and other dangerous respiratory ailments.

A second examination of the data turned up additional connections between the amount of zinc they consumed and the likelihood of them developing pneumonia.

Not only did the researchers find that subjects with zinc blood serum levels within the normal range were less likely to develop pneumonia in the first place, those who did become infected also exhibited reduced symptom duration, were less likely to need prescription antibiotics, and those who were forced to resort to antibiotics were dependent on them for fewer days.

While these findings strongly suggest that the commonly perceived relationship between healthy vitamin and mineral levels, particularly zinc and vitamin E, and immune defense in the elderly is well-founded, researchers caution that additional testing is required to better understand their connection.

If you’re looking for a simple way to increase your zinc intake, regardless of your age, then I would recommend eating more foods high in zinc or taking a zinc orotate supplement. Unlike many other zinc products, this high-quality natural form of bio-available zinc carries a neutral electrical charge and passes through cell membranes with ease.

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Study: Aspirin May Increase Risk of Crohn’s Disease by 5x

Taking small daily doses of aspirin have been recommended by allopathic doctors for some time. Beyond its more typical use as an analgesic for occasional headache, fever and body aches, aspirin and its close derivatives are frequently used by people the world over to help the minor symptoms of a wide range of health conditions.

There’s a large body of documentation supporting the little white pill’s ability to prevent heart attack and stroke, as well as a number of other serious health concerns such as the formation of blood clots in high-risk individuals.

More recently however, an increasing number of potentially serious side effects associated with its daily use have come to light.

If taken regularly over an extended period of time, even very small doses of aspirin can lead to the formation of painful stomach and intestinal ulcers. Larger doses have also been associated with tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and it is know to interact poorly with a number of other pharmaceutical drugs. There is also a small but noteworthy potential for allergic reactions, particularly in younger children.

Aspirin is the oldest of what are known as “nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.” Now, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia (UAE) in the United Kingdom, it appears that taking aspirin regularly may also increase the risk of developing Crohn’s disease in some individuals by up to five times.

Crohn’s disease is a devastating form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that can cause severe irritation, and even bleeding, throughout the entire entire digestive tract. Its impact on sensitive digestive tissues is undisputed.

Aspirin’s tendency to cause ulcers with prolonged use is what initially lead University researchers to investigate the connection between the two. Researchers conducted followup investigations on 200,000 participants who had been involved with an earlier European study, started in 1993, which focused on the link between cancer, nutrition and aspirin use.

The research teams tracked volunteers aged 30-74 living in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Italy. It wasn’t until 2004 that a small but statistically noticeable number of them began to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

Dr. Andrew Hart of UEA’s School of Medicine: “This is early work but our findings do suggest that the regular use of aspirin could be one of many factors which influences the development of this distressing disease in some patients.. I would urge aspirin users to continue taking this medication since the risk of aspirin users possibly developing Crohn’s disease remains very low – only one in every 2000 users, and the link is not yet finally proved.” [1]

While only a small percentage (about one in every 2000) of the subjects involved developed the disease, the rate appears to be about five times the expected average for a population sample of its size. Researchers caution that while the numbers suggest strongly that there is a connection between regular aspirin use and Crohn’s, further investigation is needed. If your regularly take asprin, please continue to do so, until you fully discuss your options with your doctor first.

All I have to say is one day soon I hope all of these toxic compounds are taken off the market and doctors are taught to address the root cause of health problems instead of the symptoms. Just one more reason people should keep their body healthy and colon clean!

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Study: Vitamin D Supplements May Help Prevent Arterial Stiffness in Black Teens

As the human body ages, flexible tissue fiber known as elastin begins to break down from years of continuous physical stress. This gradual breakdown has a number of adverse effects on the overall health and appearance of the body. Externally, as skin loses its elastin, wrinkles begin to appear. Internally, similar but more serious changes such as arteriosclerosis or “arterial stiffness” also begin to occur.

As the skin depends on elastin to remain taut yet flexible, so do the walls of the vascular system that makes up the human circulatory system. Without the proper amount of healthy elastin present, the arteries stiffen, and become increasingly unable to cope with the internal pressure they are meant to handle. Over time, this leads to damage not only of the vascular system itself, but also to the organs to which it supplies.

In an effort to better understand the connection between vitamin D and arterial stiffness, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia in Atlanta tested the effects of Vitamin D supplementation on 44 black teenagers. All of whom, as a population in general, are considered to be at increased risk for the condition than other ethnic groups.

The teens participating in the study were divided into two groups. One received the current daily recommendation of 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D as set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Board. The other group of teens were given an experimental dosage five times that size, or 2,000 IU per day.

Both groups were closely monitored for a 16-week period, during which time the arterial stiffness of the participants was measured using a non-invasive technique known as “pulse wave velocity” that tracks the time sound waves take to travel a given distance within the arterial tract.

While all participants in the experimental 2,000 UI group were found to be fully vitamin D sufficient and exhibited relatively normal arterial elasticity for their age range, results in the control group were less encouraging.

The researchers found that, despite being exposed to more than adequate levels of sunshine and receiving the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D, most of the teens in the 400 IU control group still showed signs of premature arterial stiffness, leaving them at increased risk for future health concerns.

These findings, along with the numerous other health benefits associated with maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D, make a strong case for dietary supplementation. Even for those who get plenty of sun exposure and regularly consume foods high in vitamin d.

Vitamin D supplements are affordable and readily available. While they can be bought at almost any grocery store or pharmacy, finding a quality vitamin D supplement isn’t always so easy.

If you’re serious about supplementing your health, then you should consider trying D3 Serum. It is hands down one of the highest quality live-sourced vitamin D supplements ever produced. Not only is it all-natural and free of toxic preservatives, it’s also much easier for the human body to absorb and utilize than other supplements. And that means you really are getting all the vitamin D you pay for.

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Study: Taking Multivitamins & Calcium Supplements May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

A recently published study by researchers at the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico shows that dietary supplementation of calcium and other vitamins may significantly reduce the risk of women developing breast cancer. If the researchers are correct, this seemingly simple information could help save countless women from the potentially disfiguring and deadly disease.

By comparing the case histories of 268 women with documented malignant breast tumors with those of 457 healthy, unaffected controls, the research team was able to calculate a potential 30 percent reduction in cancer rates with proper supplementation.

We might not often think of it as such, but technically speaking, the mineral calcium is an alkaline earth metal. In fact it’s one of the most abundant metals on the planet. It’s also a necessary component of the cellular physiology of virtually every complex organism know to man. Without it, the intracellular communication required for countless biological processes would be severely hampered or altogether impossible.

According to Dr. Jamie Matta, head of the research team responsible for the study, their findings relating to calcium’s role in reducing the risk of breast cancer most likely stem from it’s ability to help facilitate the complex process of DNA repair within the human body. More than 200 unique proteins are required to properly maintain the integrity of these genetic repair processes, and unless these proteins are readily available, unfortunate changes can occur within the body. While these changes may be minor at first, over time, they can snowball into malignancies such as breast and other forms of life threatening cancer.

The combination of a standalone dietary calcium supplement along with a quality multivitamin is a great way to ensure that your body has all the minerals and nutrients it needs to maintain itself.

There are many different types of calcium and multivitamins on the market. Choosing the most effective supplement is important, but may also be tough to do.

In my opinion, IntraCal is one of the finest, most easily absorbed calcium supplements available anywhere in the world. IntraCal is a specially engineered form of Calcium Orotate and Magnesium Orotate that is able to quickly penetrate cell walls before being flushed away and wasted. When taken with a quality multivitamin, such as IntraMax, you can maintain proper cellular health.

Researchers also stress the importance of proper dietary nutrition as a preventative measure against the formation of breast cancer. A diet rich in assorted organic fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy oils such as organic olive oil, raw coconut oil and flaxseed oil can make a huge difference in the human body’s ability to maintain health at the genetic level. And don’t forget to consume calcium-rich foods for added health benefits.

~Dr. G

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