She is also doing a monthly series with her friend, Nicole, on Natural Health. The first one was on Introduction to Natural Health – https://youtu.be/YszEjX9pCmQ
Undeniable worldwide problem: Low vitamin D levels increase the risk of disease and premature death, multiple studies confirm
The evidence is overwhelming, yet rarely addressed properly by Western medicine. Researchers have warned (for years!) that low vitamin D levels dramatically increase your risk of premature death from any cause – especially if your blood levels are lower than 30 mg/nl.
For example, a 13-year prospective study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirms that premature death from cardiovascular disease, cancers, fracture and respiratory disease are linked to chronically low levels of vitamin D. What makes this study noteworthy was that it focused on observing the related epigenetic variables that may be influencing these health concerns and their relationship to overall vitamin D intake such as smoking, physical exercise, alcohol intake, social class, overall vitamin C intake, history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer.
Where previous studies noted a modest 30 mg/nl (or more) vitamin D to prevent premature death, this study observed much higher serum vitamin D levels (90-120 mg/nl) were vital for preventing premature death.
The best ways to avoid low vitamin D levels and the risk of premature death
Think natural sunlight. And, don’t worry: research supports that sunscreen-free sun exposure is really good for your health. It’s, by far, the best way to get your daily dose of vitamin D.
Approximately 20 minutes of direct sunlight is necessary for the body to naturally convert ultraviolet B-rays to vitamin D. While the summer months offer the highest amounts of sun-synthesized D3 sulfate, time of day and angle of the sun affect how much you’ll absorb.
Depending on where you live however, this may not be possible, most of the year – which is why vitamin D supplementation may be necessary to get the adequate amounts your body requires.
The best form of vitamin D supplementation
Because vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, it must be taken with fat-containing foods for optimal absorption. It has been observed in the literature that vitamin D taken at the largest meal of the day improves absorption – this finding was confirmed by the increase serum levels of D.
As a supplement, vitamin D should be taken in its most bioavailable form, D3. In addition to direct supplementation, vitamin D3 can be derived from animal products such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, cod liver oil, egg yolk and raw milk. Although, if you’re seriously deficient, food sources may not be the best way to raise your vitamin D levels.
Note: You’ll also need vitamin K. To absorb D3 most optimally, accompany your intake with vitamin K.
Unknown by most people, vitamin D can help to prevent many serious health conditions like, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease. Both are known for leaky gut, inflammation and gut dysbiosis. Rheumatoid and celiac patients are often considerably deficient in D – which can lead to even more serious health complications related to premature death.
Warning: Prescription drugs can have a negative effect on your vitamin D levels. If you have been prescribed corticosteroids, your need for D3 is even more imperative as this pharmaceutical approach has been shown to interfere with absorption of D. Adequate intake of vitamin D can help reduce and improve quality of life for these and all inflammatory disease states.
In fact, vitamin D tends to:
Increase natural killer cell activity
Reduce overall inflammation
Improve bone density and mineralization
Improve genetic expression
Remember, everyone benefits from vitamin D. If you haven’t been tested, ask Dr Jocelin about having a D-25 hydroxy test to help you evaluate how much you should be taking and which of our multiple Vitamin D supplements would work best for you.
This week, I wanted to share with you an article from Just Thrive Probiotics a brand we carry at Whitaker’s.
Did you know that 4.2 billion prescriptions were written for Americans in 2011? These figures are probably much higher in recent years due to rising health issues caused by poor diet, a lack of exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Leaky gut is a common condition that usually never gets diagnosed by a doctor. The signs of a leaky gut can often be confused with other health problems. If you don’t treat the source of your leaky gut, then your symptoms will never go away.
This article is going to walk you through 10 symptoms of leaky gut that you shouldn’t ignore and how you can cure your problems with a leaky gut diet.
So What Is Leaky Gut Exactly?
Leaky gut occurs when the walls of your small intestine are damaged, allowing food particles and toxins to leak outside of the digestive tract, into the bloodstream, where they don’t belong. Leaky gut can cause many symptoms that you wouldn’t necessarily think were traced back to your digestive health, which is why it can be difficult to diagnose.
Understanding the Signs of a Leaky Gut
Since doctors have a difficult time diagnosing leaky gut, your health may fall into your own hands. If you experience any of the following symptoms, making mindful, healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle can have you thriving again.
1. Abdominal Discomfort If you feel bloated, nauseous, gassy, or have constipation or diarrhea, your digestive system is asking for help. Everyone can get a stomachache after they eat something fatty or spicy. However, if your abdominal pains occur often after you eat any kind of food, you may need leaky gut treatment.
2. Food Allergies An overworked immune system caused by a leaky gut can put you at risk for developing food allergies. Food sensitivities and food allergies are almost always a sign that you have a leaky gut. The most common intolerances are dairy and gluten.
3. Autoimmune Disorders When foreign bodies are introduced to the body, our immune systems attack and neutralize the threat. When food leaks from the intestines, the body senses an “invader.” A continued state of alarm, caused by leaking toxins, can confuse the body into attacking itself. If you suffer from Crohn’s, Lupus, arthritis, Celiac, or other autoimmune diseases, it’s almost certain that you have a leaky gut.
4. Brain Fog When the body is losing valuable resources from a leaky gut, mental clarity can be affected. Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and headaches can all stem from a leaky gut.
5. Chronic Fatigue If your fatigue doesn’t match the amount of sleep you’re getting each night, something could be happening inside your gut.
6. Poor Immune Health Our bodies need a “Recommended Daily Allowance” dose of vitamins to fight off illnesses, allergies and more. If you get sick often, your immune system has likely been compromised, and a solution might just start with healing your gut.
As it turns out, intestinal health is strongly linked to immune system health. When your digestive systems suffer, your immune system weakens, too.
7. Skin Issues Your skin is your largest organ. It’s also the only external organ. Monitoring your skin health is also a great indicator of how healthy your internal organs are.
If you suffer from acne, psoriasis, or eczema, that’s a sign that you have an issue with your gut.
8. Joint Pain Leaky gut can create inflammation in the body, specifically effecting the joints. When leaking toxins extend to the joints, arthritis – among other ailments – can develop. Keeping your body in a constant inflammatory state will wreak havoc on your physical and mental well being.
How to Heal Leaky Gut Naturally
Although a leaky gut can make you feel miserable, there are plenty of natural treatments you can try. Many doctors would choose to prescribe antibiotics to treat these symptoms, which actually make your leaky gut worse.
Probiotics contain friendly, good-for-your-body bacteria that have been shown to improve the health of not only your gut microbiome, but your whole body health. Try taking a probiotic daily to see if your symptoms disappear.
Changing your diet can also work wonders for your gut health. Following an elimination diet can help you determine if you have certain food sensitivities or allergies that trigger your symptoms. If your symptoms are alleviated after eliminating certain foods like gluten, soy, meat, or dairy, you may want to consider temporarily removing them from your diet for best results.
Increasing your intake of anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon can give you relief from joint pain and stomachaches. Eating plenty of fiber and drinking enough water will make your gut’s job much easier. Avoiding refined sugars will also improve your digestive health.
Ready to Revitalize Your Health?
Now that you know the signs of a leaky gut that you need to watch out for, you can be more in control of your health. Just Thrive is here to help you on your journey to wellness. Our probiotics have been scientifically proven to begin healing leaky guts and other health problems.
Be sure to pick up your Just Thrive Probiotic on your next visit to Whitaker’s as well as talk to Dr Jocelin about more ways to restore your Leaky Gut!
You know lemon, right? It is a tart, exciting, delicious, and indispensable ingredient in recipes and beverages. But did you know that scientists have identified it is as a powerful medicine as well?
Here are 12 reasons why it deserves respect as a cutting-edge medicine, and not just something found in refreshing beverages or as an indispensable ingredient in a number of culinary recipes.
It Can Lower Blood Pressure: Simply smelling this fruit has been found to lower blood pressure.
It Can Lessen Constipation: In combination with rosemary and peppermint essential oil, the smell of lemon has been found to relieve constipation in the elderly.
It Can Remedy Bad Breath: In combination with tea tree and peppermint essential oil, it can reduce malodour and sulphur compounds in the breath of intensive care patients.
It Can Reduce Esophageal Cancer Risk: Lemon, like all citrus fruits, contains physiological significant levels of flavones; Flavone intake has been found to be inversely associated with esophageal cancer risk.
Oral Yeast Infection: Lemon juice has therapeutic value in the treatment of oral thrush (oral candida infection) in HIV/AIDS patients.
It Can Dissolve Kidney Stones: Lemonade therapy appears to be a reasonable alternative for patients with hypocitraturic nephrolithiasis (a type of kidney stone).
It Can Reduce Inflammation: Lemon mucilage has significant in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects.
It Can Protect Your Heart: Lemon juice has antioxidant and cardioprotective properties.
It Can Protect Against Cholera: Lemon juice is a biocide against Vibrio cholerae, the pathogen that can cause cholera.
It Is A Powerful Antioxidant and Prevents LDL Oxidation: Excessive oxidative stress is a contributing factor to accelerating aging, inflammation, and a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions. One of the primary reasons why LDL cholesterol can cause heart disease is that it oxidizes LDL cholesterol, resulting in artherogenicity (the ability to damage the inner lining of the arteries). Lemon is a powerful antioxidant and is capable of preventing LDL oxidation.
It Can Help Lift Your Mood and Reduce Anxiety: Lemon oil possesses anxiety relieving (anxiolytic), antidepressant-like via modulation of neurotransmitters.
It Can Help You Maintain An Ideal Weight: Lemon peel polyphenols suppress diet-induced obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance.
In addition, lemon is also one of the most concentrated sources of food vitamin C on the planet. Unlike ascorbic acid – which is the synthetic form of vitamin C – lemon contains all the essential cofactors needed to provide the body the means to utilize it, and maximize its effectiveness in disease prevention and treatment.
Be sure to pick up some organic lemon juice and lemon essential oil on your next visit to Whitaker’s!
What does selenium have to do with your health? The answer may surprise you (and motivate you – in a whole new way!)
Let’s start with a discussion about cancer – the second leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease. Experts predict that cancer will soon surpass heart disease as the leading killer of American adults.
An essential trace element found in various foods, soil, and water, selenium helps to prevent cancer by enhancing our immune system, increasing protection against stress and disease plus suppressing the growth of cancerous cells.
Selenium enhances the power of a “master antioxidant” to help detoxify the body.
One of selenium’s most vital functions is to help create antioxidant enzymes, or selenoproteins, that recycle glutathione, the body’s “master antioxidant” and detoxifier. In this way, selenium strikes a blow against the disease-causing oxidative stress – which contributes to chronic degenerative disease.
But selenium also has many more “tricks up its sleeve” when it comes to fighting cancer. Unlike therapies that address only one specific stage or type of cancer, selenium is pleiotropic. This means that it combats cancer through multiple pathways and mechanisms, allowing it to target the disease in various forms and stages.
So important is selenium that low levels are linked with an eight-fold increased risk of cancers of the bladder, lungs, stomach, esophagus, and liver.
And, supplementation has been shown to lower cancer risk, particularly cancers of the bladder, lung, and colon.
Selenium’s extensive therapeutic “toolkit” allows it to prevent cancerous cells from developing into tumors
In addition to preserving the selenoproteins that recycle antioxidants, selenium regulates inflammatory molecules that contribute to cancer growth.
This versatile nutrient also helps to boost the immune system, detoxify carcinogens and heavy metals, protect DNA from cancer-causing mutations, and inactivate molecules crucial to the development of cancer cells.
In addition, selenium induces apoptosis – the programmed death of cancer cells – meaning it may help check the uncontrolled reproduction that can help cancer spread so swiftly.
Finally, selenium regulates sex hormone receptors used by some cancers, thereby helping to suppress tumor invasion and growth. Peer-reviewed research has documented reductions in cancer risk through selenium supplementation.
Be sure to check out our amazing food based Selenium that is practitioner grade meaning we can only carry it because of our own Dr. Jocelin!
Inflammatory arthritis and gout sufferers, take note. You may be able to fight the inflammation related to your condition with something that is already in your kitchen. That’s right, blueberries, which we already know are a healthy superfood, are associated with a considerable reduction in inflammation.
As its name suggests, a major symptom of inflammatory arthritis is an inflammation of the affected joints and sometimes other tissues. Some of the most common conditions under the umbrella of inflammatory arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
All of these are autoimmune diseases, meaning that the immune system goes haywire and begins attacking healthy tissue in the joints. It results in the telltale symptoms of swelling, stiffness, and pain in any joint affected. The dysfunctional immune response produces inflammation in the lining of the joints.
Arthritis is defined as a painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Gout, then, is actually another type of inflammatory arthritis, but it develops in individuals with abnormally high levels of uric acid in their blood. People with a family history of gout or those with kidney problems may be more prone to the condition. As the uric acid accumulates, it produces sharp crystals within the joint. This causes pronounced, often sudden bursts of pain, swelling, and tenderness.
Most likely to occur in the big toe joint, gout can also show up in the ankles or knees. It typically strikes men more than women, and men may develop symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50, while women tend to develop gout after menopause.
When your physician gives you a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis or gout, chances are, one of the first things that will be recommended is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to relieve swelling and pain. But even over-the-counter versions of these pharmaceutical medications are not safe, especially as a long-term treatment, which would be necessary to manage a chronic condition.
NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can provide some quick relief for the symptoms, but they are also linked to serious problems including stomach ulcers, headaches, dizziness, and liver problems. Another common form of medical treatment is the use of corticosteroid pills or injections to reduce inflammation, but these may also bring on side effects such as osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and cataracts. Even worse, for more severe cases of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, doctors sometimes prescribe drugs that block immune system responses, which elevates the risk of developing infections and makes them much harder to treat when one develops.
Blueberries are chock full of both antioxidants that can help repair damage at the cellular level and polyphenols, which reduce inflammation throughout the body. A 2017 study at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia showed that a diet rich in blueberries is associated with a reduction of markers of inflammation in the blood.
The polyphenols in blueberries achieve a reduction in inflammation that is ideal because it is natural, with no potentially harmful reactions or side effects. What’s more, when blueberries reduce inflammation in the joints they eliminate symptoms at their source rather than just treating the symptoms for a short period. This can prevent conditions like arthritis and gout from worsening over time.
Extra Health Benefits of Blueberries
In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, blueberries will benefit your health in a number of other ways as well:
Reducing high blood pressure
Relieving post-traumatic stress disorder
Helping to shrink tumors
Improving cognitive function and possibly reversing dementia
Now is the perfect time to take advantage of these sweet little gems. Blueberries are in season, and July is even National Blueberry Month, so stock up on fresh locally grown blueberries and freeze whatever you don’t eat. Once frozen, you can enjoy them for up to 10 months.
Be sure to pick up your fresh organically grown blueberries on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market.
Zinc is an essential trace mineral. Zinc is the second most common mineral in your body and is found in every cell, although its concentration is 10-15 times higher in the male prostate than in any other body tissue. Proper zinc levels offer a defense against the entrance of pathogens. In the 1800’s, noting its many healing properties, surgeons used zinc as an antiseptic/antibiotic after surgery. When zinc was used, wounds would heal as quickly as 24 hours after an operation, without swelling, and scarring was barely noticeable after a short period of time. Like colloidal silver, liquid zinc is anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
Today, supplemental zinc has been found to hinder the progress of macular degeneration, which is an eye disease that affects the part of the retina responsible for central vision. Zinc has also been used with other natural health remedies as it has shown to speed up the healing of stomach ulcers, and help combat zinc deficiencies in those with sickle-cell disease.
In low doses, zinc lozenges have been shown to reduce the time it takes for individuals to get over colds, and also to lessen the severity of cold symptoms. A study reported by Reuters in 2008 showed that zinc acetate lozenges shortened the duration of colds in study subjects. Led by Dr. Ananda S. Prasad from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, the study looked at the impact of the lozenges on 50 volunteers with colds. All of the volunteers had cold symptoms for less than 24 hours before taking part in the study. Among the group who received the lozenges, 56 percent were completely “cold free” within four days, as compared to an average of seven days for the placebo group.
Zinc is present in all the body’s organs and fluids, but the prostate has a higher concentration than any other tissue except bone. Scientists don’t know why it has so much zinc. Among other functions, though, the metal has a role in regulating the balance between testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, the two male hormones that stimulate the growth of prostate cells, both benign and malignant. Although normal prostate tissue has lots of zinc, cancerous tissue has much less. That may be the reason zinc is turning up in so many supplements for men.
Meats like beef and lamb also contain high amounts of zinc. The best common plant sources of zinc are legumes, nuts, seeds, and oatmeal. The amount of zinc present in these foods tends to run about 2 mg per serving. Obviously, it’s much less than found in meat; but you will get some. This is also where supplementing Zinc especially if you are deficient or showing signs such as frequent colds may be beneficial.
Be sure to check out our zinc lozenges and zinc supplements on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market.
Earlier this month, in one devastating algorithmic stroke, Google removed many of the top natural health and health freedom websites from their organic search results — some losing as much as 99% of their traffic. In fact, the term “organic” should no longer be used to describe Google’s referral traffic, as a jaw-dropping undercover investigation by Project Veritas reveals: Google surreptitiously manipulates its search results and auto-suggestions to conform to a very specific set of sociopolitical and economic agendas intended to manipulate elections and promote private interests.
We live in amazing times, albeit intense, filled with incredible darkness and light. But thanks to the power of the internet, we have a level of freedom of information never enjoyed before by any previous generation on Earth — and that information is the very life’s blood of democratic ideals, and the necessary ingredient for informed consent and health freedom, our primary advocates.
But what happens when the gate-keepers of the content that flows through this incredible invention, like Facebook and Pinterest, censor and shadow ban certain of its users or content, or their ability to send you messages via email service provider platforms? Where do we go for information then?
Why not skip the social media filtering and email platform censorship and go back to using Google, you might ask. Aren’t they the very archetype and modern-day oracle of fairness, having become synonymous with looking for and finding objective answers.
After all, wouldn’t you expect that if you typed in turmeric research to find the top articles that people are reading on the many clinical study results supported by independent natural minded researchers?
Instead, today, you find first page google results on turmeric like: “Turmeric May Not Be a Miracle Spice After All” from Time.com, or “Turmeric: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning” from WebMD.com, which overlook much of the research we have gathered, and make turmeric sound like it’s just another drug that you have to be very careful to take.
Apparently, this is entirely by design! On June 3rd, in fact, Google rolled out its latest core algorithm change, which obliterated the organic search results for the majority of the top sites in the natural health and health freedom advocating sector of the internet. Sites like DrAxe.com and Naturalnews.com saw most of their traffic removed overnight.
Mercola.com, perhaps the most heavily hit of all, broke the story in its two-part report: “Google buries Mercola in their latest search engine update, Part 1 and 2.”
Mercola.com has been a source of whistle-blowing information about Big Pharma and Big Tech collusion for decades, so it is no surprise why Google would take this action against his platform, and similar ones. In fact, signs of the coming purge came back in 2016, when GlaxoSmithKline signed a $715 million contract to partner with Google, and with increasing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies in 2019 like Sanofi. Google’s parent company Alphabet is heavily invested in a vaccine company, Vaccitech, founded by scientists at Oxford University. Google, it appears, has become a pay-to-play operation, and contains a specific sociopolitical and economic agenda that is built directly into its search algorithms.
Until Google is held accountable for their actions, and there is industry reform, it will be difficult to get around their full spectrum dominance (gmail, google, youtube, google calendar, google documents, etc.) unless we find better, privacy-secured, platforms. And there are quite a few you may not have heard about, including the internet browser alternatives to Google Chrome, such as Brave Browser and Opera, search engines like Startpage.com, duckduckgo.com or ecosia.org, and email programs like protonmail.com. You can also use the communications app Signal, which provides a level of encryption that may be the best out there.
But the safest option, stop in at Whitaker’s Natural Market and talk to Dr Jocelin for honest direction on how to find the information critical to achieving health naturally!
New research suggests that a lot of time spent on smartphones and other devices could be linked to putting on extra pounds.
Nowadays, we have no shortage of technology. Our smartphones alone can give us everything from communication with others to weather reports to music we want to hear to driving instructions to our next location. Then, throw in Apple watches, tablets, laptops, and the like, and we’ve got an endless stream of technological connectivity at our fingertips 24/7. But this wired up world we live in may come at a cost above and beyond the subscription fees we sign up for to be part of it. New research suggests that a lot of time spent on smartphones and other devices could be linked to putting on extra pounds.
The study, which took place at Rice University in Houston, Texas, found that the media multitasking associated with our use of smartphones and similar digital devices is associated with greater weight gain. These results are based on an investigation that included 132 male and female students between the ages of 18 and 23.
After providing information on their height and weight, all the subjects completed a questionnaire that covered topics such as how often they tend to multitask and whether they are easily distracted. The researchers teased out inappropriate or compulsive cellphone behaviors with targeted questions like, “Do you feel the urge to check your phone while you’re talking to someone else?” Once the scores were analyzed against the participants’ body mass index (BMI), it was determined that those with higher scores of inappropriate or compulsive cellphone use generally had higher BMIs than their peers with lower scores.
The results serve as a good reminder to us that, if nothing else, cellphones can put us in danger of getting distracted, which is associated with mindless eating. If you’re sitting around checking social media on your smartphone or laptop, don’t make food readily accessible. In a similar vein, a 2014 study at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York showed that watching fast-paced television shows and movies is also linked with eating mindlessly. And let’s not forget the damage we can do to our relationships if we are checking our phones instead of actually talking to the person in front of us. So, for all these reasons, find ways to curb your smartphone use, at the very least when you are eating or spending time with others.
So remember to put down the technology and spend time with your family and friends. Choose your food wisely!
Be sure to check out our large selection of organic and nutrient dense foods on your next visit to Whitaker’s.
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