Everyone’s talking about vitamin D. Last week Dr. Oz declared on Oprah that most Americans need to increase their intake of D in order to ward off disease and reap major health benefits. A new book, the Vitamin D Cure, offers the lowdown on the only “Sunshine Vitamin” — vitamin D.
The revelations are important, and unprecedented. Only in recent years have researchers and some physicians become fully aware of the huge difference vitamin D can make in people’s health. An unbalanced diet, vitamin D deficiency, and the medical problems they cause affect more than two-thirds of the U.S. population (about 200 million people).
So, vitamin D is one of the biggest research health developments of the decade. Supplementing your D level can actually prevent a variety of cancers, as well as diseases both in the womb and in old age, like osteoporosis.
Typically, when people suffer from fatigue, back pain, joint stiffness, and weight gain, they attribute such problems to busy lives, aging, and stress. Most do not see a doctor because they can just imagine the response: “Nothing’s wrong. Your tests are all normal. It’s probably your age, arthritis, and stress.”
That kind of wrap-up doesn’t help. But our new book The Vitamin D Cure does help by shedding light where the emphasis should be—on vitamin D, the Sunlight Vitamin.
A deficit of activity and sun exposure takes its toll. That’s why doctors see low D levels in people with fatigue and back pain as well as those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, autoimmune diseases, obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
Human beings absolutely need sunlight to make vitamin D. But the UVB rays we require are the same rays blocked by sunscreen–and you can only get these rays in the middle of the day, spring to fall. So, you have to spend time outside, sunscreen-free, to get enough vitamin D. That means, if you have an inside job or live in a locale that makes it impossible to get enough sun, you need a supplement.
A good starting dose for most adults is 2000/day. The amount depends on weight and other risk factors. You can take the book’s quiz to determine your risk for low D levels and exactly how much D you should be taking.
Here’s how it works. Pete Luis, a 45-year-old man living in California, read The Vitamin D Cure and was inspired to try the program. After only four weeks on the Vitamin D Cure, he is amazed by the good results from taking vitamin D and improving his diet. San Luis has lost six pounds and is experiencing fewer health problems.
His statistics at the outset:
- Weight 205 pounds, height five-ten, race Filipino
- Existing medical conditions: gout; high triglycerides, high iron, high sugar; allergies.
- Dr. Dowd’s initial assessment: “I knew the program would be perfect for him. Based on his weight and skin tone, he needs 5000 IU per day. Omega 3 fatty acid supplements will help to lower his triglycerides. He should get 3,000-4,000 mg of combined EPA and DHA daily. Also, eating plenty of veggies, especially green ones, is important for gout patients.”
Says San Luis, “What amazes me is the simplicity of the Vitamin D Cure. I wish I’d known about this solution years ago! I feel so much better, and losing weight was a nice benefit.”
For safe supplementation, readers can simply follow the book’s guidelines. You can also refer to www.thevitamindcure.com for helpful tools, including a D-deficiency risk calculator, a sun exposure calculator, newsletter, and links to vitamin D science.
This revolutionary new sun-and-supplement program will help you shed pounds, avoid disease, look younger, and feel terrific. It’s true that just three things–a tiny vitamin supplement, a little sun, and some dietary fixes–can alter your health dramatically. Pump up your D levels, cut your consumption of foods that are health disasters, and move more. (Hello, fruits and veggies. Good-bye, cheese and crackers.)
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James E. Dowd, M.D., F.A.C.R., is the author of The Vitamin D Cure
Diane Stafford, co-author of The Vitamin D Cure, is a former editor-in-chief of five magazines and the author of twelve books, including Migraines for Dummies, Potty Training for Dummies, The Encyclopedia of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, No More Panic Attacks, 1,000 Best Job-Hunting Tips, The Ultimate Baby Name Book, The Big Book of 60,000 Best Baby Names, and The Parent’s Success Guide to Parenting. Stafford also co-authored The New Low-Carb Way, by Rob Thompson, M.D.; Syndrome W, by Harriette Mogul, M.D.; and The Splenda Cookbook, by Marlene Koch.
Not only the medical side of it, but if you are out in the sunshine you are typically doing something that dosen’t involved sitting in front a computer or a television, so there are the social and well being aspects that you are most likely increasing.
Which within itself will raise happiness and social well being, which is extremely important and on the decline.
Get out there and play frisby and talk to people !
Thanks Diane and James for your great work. Very timely, I’m getting some tablets right away. Won’t be using as much sunscreen in summer either.
Well said Jemue, being in nature and playing sports are things for health in themselves. Correcting what I said above. I will be using sunscreen in the summer – but just less power doses of it from the advice I get from the book. Also people – look out for chemical free sunscreens – they do exist. Green people in the uk do some.
Happiness = health 🙂
YAY, Frisbee!!
love playing with my kids…