Vitamin D and you

It has been some time since we have seen a case of rickets, so we’re doing a damn good job in making sure we are not vitamin D deficient, or are we?

First a little background and what Vitamin D is. Vitamin D is a group of fat soluble prohormones called secosteroids. So vitamin D is really a steroid hormone that the body uses to make *calcitrol (1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol)*, the active form of vitamin D that our bodies use.

As Dr. Mauro DiPasquale states, “Research has shown that vitamin D is crucial for many functions of the body, and is crucial for many internal cellular processes, insulin production, the immune system, depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and other diseases, including inflammation in the body from various sources, including aging.”

We are moving back to a culture of vitamin D deficiency. It is believed that 3 in every 4 adolescents are vitamin D deficient. How do we know if we are? First of all, it’s important to get your 25(OH)D blood level measured to see just where you are as far as your long-term vitamin D intake. Once you have the initial measurement and make any changes that need to be made as far as daily vitamin D intake, you should have your 25(OH)D level checked as needed until you’re above 50 ng/mL, and then once it’s relatively stabilized, get it done at least once a year just to make sure you’re not developing a deficiency. Dr. Mauro DiPasquale suggests you “get your 25(OH)D blood level measured to see just where you are as far as your long-term vitamin D intake is concerned. Once you have done this, you should have your 25(OH)D level checked as needed until you’re above 50 ng/mL, and then once it’s relatively stabilized, get it done at least once a year just to make sure you’re not developing a deficiency.”

Regardless of time in the sun and the foods you eat, you should be taking 1000ui to 2000ui a day of Vitamin D if your levels are low. You need to take more, ideally, as cholecalciferol or vitamin D3, is the easiest, cheapest, and safest way to make sure you're covered.

Testosterone and sleep.

So you hit the gym day in and day out. You’re taking vitamins and getting your protein, with the hopes of adding muscle mass to your frame and hoping at the same time that your testosterone levels are high enough to help push this growth. You’re doing everything right, but wait you’re up all night playing video games and surfing the net. Could this LOWER your testosterone levels? I hate to tell you this, but YES.

We all know that high intensity workouts lead to high testosterone levels, but could sleep play a larger roll in testosterone production?

One problem most men face is that their testosterone production levels decline with age and another problem is that we don’t sleep as long as we get older. As children, we sleep 8-10 hrs a day; then that becomes 6-7 as we grow older. One study from China showed that the testosterone levels of men who sleep 4-6 hours a night are much lower than those of men who get more sleep. Testosterone levels were higher in men who sleep 8 or more hours a night. Not only does this effect show on total testosterone but on Free testosterone levels as well.

So, it is very important that you do get your 8 hours a night for optimal testosterone production along with recuperation from the day’s stress and work.

The biggest loser now?

Who is the biggest loser now? Well, let’s start with Bob Harper of The Biggest Loser fame who has sold out to the grain industry right along with the U.S. Government. This latest push is the biggest push, yet in the consumption of grains, who do sellouts believe will benefit the most from the latest dietary guidelines? First the grain growers, second, the drug companies pushing even more drugs to control cholesterol and high blood pressure, diabetes, and I’m sure the soon to be released fat loss drug, and third the medical industry with even more sick people. Remember that 80% of health issues are lifestyle related. And who will lose? It will be anyone that follows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dietary Guidelines.

The problem is they now are telling the average American to eat six servings of grain a day on top of the two servings of fruit. That’s 250g of carbs a day, not counting the six servings of vegetables. This is a complete recipe for an expanding waistline of the American citizen. The six servings a day requirement is for women. For men it is eight servings of grain. This is the first time in history that man would ever eat so much energy food. We’re not an energy-based society anymore. We don’t hunt and gather; we sit, text, and drive for hours in our cars. The average American does not even get 10,000 steps a day, so why all the energy food? We need less grains.

The Grain Foods Foundation I’m sure is paying Bob Harper big dollars to push their daily six program. I guess he wants to make sure he’ll have even more contestants for The Biggest Loser. We might guess that Bob is about dollars, not healthy people. We now have the reason and the cause of Obesity in America. It is our own Government.

Here is the simple math: 250g at 4cals per gram = 1,000 calories. That is about half your daily caloric need. You have not added fats or protein or the six servings of vegetables. That’s right; there is a formula for obesity. There is no way around it.

Now for another math problem: You + following the government dietary guidelines + the insignificant amount of exercise you get = you dying obese or because of obesity

Diets and You

Diets and You

’Tis the season to start thinking about your diet, or I should say what fad diet to go on: the cookie diet, the Hollywood cookie diet, or maybe the water diet. You tried most of them, and you have failed at all of them. Well, it’s not you; it’s the fad diet. Guess what? They don’t work. I know you’re thinking this one will work because some skinny actor or actress says it worked for them. If you believe that, I have some pills to sell you that will let you grow money out your butt. Fad diets are a multimillion-dollar business, and they are just waiting on your laziness and gullibility to suck up the next one.

So what is the right diet for you? It’s not a diet at all but rather it is easier than that. It’s as simple as eating healthier and controlling yourself, the hardest part. There is NO quick fix. It took time to put the pounds on, and it will take time to take them off. Think first about the most important meal of the day: Breakfast. If you’re not eating it, START and START first thing in the morning. I’m not talking about cereal or doughnuts. I’m talking about eggs or a simple protein shake. Watch the carbohydrates. Your body has been starved for the last 6-8 hours, and it needs protein, not an insulin spike. You need to feed your muscles. Doing this is a simple start to your new you and a healthier you. It is not a month long diet. This is forever. Many ask what they should do if they want a bowl of Cheerios. Once in a while have it. Just not every day, and it should not be the first thing you eat. You need protein.

Once you have started to eat protein first thing in the morning, you need to be aware of how many carbohydrates you eat throughout the day. Too many people are eating about 1000g or more, and that’s 4000 calories just from carbohydrates (1g of carbohydrate is 4 calories, and that would be about 1700 calories more than you need) or look at it this way, 3200 calories is equal to one pound.

The obesity push - for 2010

After reading an article on MSNBC web, I was deeply alarmed about what it said and the message that parents would take from this and what kids should be eating. This article stated that kids need to be eating MORE grains (Wow, they said whole grains)but give me a break; that's the last thing inactive kids need is more carbohydrates in there diets. Kids get cake, juices, bread, chips, and muffins day in and day out. And so little protein-you know protein the building blocks of muscle? But no, they push more fruit and grains on kids. Fruit, you know that stuff with Fructose the sugar that is stored in the liver? Little is said about children drinking more water, eating protein and exercising.

So they say each week a kid should have 2.5-5 servings of fruit for lunch and at least 5 for breakfast. OK change that up right there; sugar rush. Sorry, Mom and Dad, I know your kid has ADHD, but let's hop him up with sugar, and don't give me the "it's natural sugar" B.S.
Kids should be eating eggs and 1/2 cup oatmeal in the morning with a glass of whole milk; that's right WHOLE MILK, and for a snack almonds, an apple and water and then for lunch 4-6oz of protein and a cup of green salad with olive oil dressing. Another snack could include almonds or string cheese. Dinner would include protein and some fresh vegetables.
Oh, but "My kids like pop and chips for lunch and for snacks." Well, that's why your kids are fat. It's up to you to be the parent and teach them to eat right.

you can read the article list below
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33388040/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/