The Vitamin Deficiency and Nutrient Epidemic--Iodine

Below is a portion of a very good article by Dr. Daniel Pompa.  This is the 3^rd month his article has been covered in our newsletter; with one vitamin being covered each month.

Jul 25, 2014 | Posted by Dr. Daniel Pompa, D.C., D.PSc.

The Vitamin Deficiency Epidemic: In a perfect world, the air would be clean, our oceans and water supplies free of pollution, and everyone would get their vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced organic diet and plenty of sunshine. Considering the following wide-spread vitamin deficiencies, however, this is not the case. Most Americans are deficient in the very vitamins and minerals essential for basic body function. But vitamin deficiencies are not at the root of modern disease: the source is toxin-driven inflammation. To truly impact health, underlying inflammation must be decreased. Vitamins and minerals play a key role in this process. High-quality supplements provide nutrients missing from the diet which activate and support the body’s God-given ability to heal. If you’re reading this right now in America there’s a good chance you’re deficient in some or all of the five following vitamins, and if you’re going to take supplements these are the five to take.

Last 2 months:  Vitamin D, Vitamin K2

Iodine

It’s been estimated that one third of the planet is iodine deficient. A lack of iodine is linked to Attention Deficit Disorder, brain function problems, and lowered IQ in children. Iodine plays a key role in brain development, immunity, and thyroid function. Individuals who suffer from thyroid conditions are often lacking iodine because the body can’t make thyroid hormone without it. Iodine is also involved in hormone health. Many women who are deficient in iodine are also low in an important estrogen called estriol, which is protective against hormone driven cancers and the effects of toxic estrogen. Fibrocystic breast issues are also related to iodine deficiency because iodine cell receptors are located in breast tissue.

Heavy metals in the body further contribute to iodine deficiency, and many people today are suffering the effects of heavy metal toxicity without knowing it. Heavy metals compete with iodine at the cellular level, specifically for the iodine cell receptor. The metals block iodine from the cell receptor so the body cannot use iodine, and it’s flushed out of your system and not absorbed.

I believe the epidemic of iodine deficiency is largely due to the fact that iodine is no longer found in our highly depleted soil and is deficient in our food supply. Traditionally, soil would be turned over every seven years and crops rotated, but this is not the case today. A toxic chemical called glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Round-up and the number one herbicide sprayed on crops on the planet, is causing major problems. Glyphosate pulls minerals from the soil and weeds, thereby depleting them of the very minerals they need to grow. The mid-western part of our country is particularly affected by this issue because glyphosate is sprayed there extensively. When lecturing in the mid-west I observe large numbers of thyroid issues, no doubt correlated to iodine deficiency linked to the overuse of glyphosate.

What about iodine in iodized table salt? It simply does not provide enough iodine to make an impact on your health. The best dietary sources include ocean foods like seaweed and fish, but beware of the quality and source of your seafood because much of it is contaminated from polluted waters and contains heavy metals like mercury. The radioactive element cesium is also a contaminant concern, specifically in seafood caught in the Pacific Ocean due to the Fukushima disaster.  Other sources of iodine include yogurt, pastured eggs, cow’s milk and strawberries. If you’re not getting enough iodine in your diet, consider supplementation. A high quality supplement from Systemic Formulas called TMI boasts the ideal ratio of iodine to iodide to support thyroid function. Most people need to supplement iodine due to the difficulty of getting enough of it from food, and could supplement for a few years when extremely deficient. I take an iodine supplement sporadically, but recommend getting it from non-toxic dietary sources as much as possible.

Next month:  Magnesium

October Healthy Tip

Wondering what foods you should really be buying organic?  Here is a list of the “Dirty Dozen” which have the highest pesticide load.  This makes these foods the best place to spend a little extra to help keep you healthy.  From worst to best:  Apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, nectarines (imported), cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas (imported), potatoes.  Want to know the good ones?  Here is the “Clean 15” list:  Avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, sweet peas (frozen), onions, asparagus, mangoes, papayas, kiwi, eggplant, grapefruit, cantaloupe, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes.

The Vitamin Deficiency and Nutrient Epidemic: Vitamin D

Below is a portion of a very good article by Dr. Daniel Pompa.  His article will be covered in our newsletter over the next 5 months with one vitamin being covered each month.

The Vitamin Deficiency and Nutrient Epidemic

Jul 25, 2014 | Posted by Dr. Daniel Pompa, D.C., D.PSc.

The Vitamin Deficiency Epidemic: In a perfect world, the air would be clean, our oceans and water supplies free of pollution, and everyone would get their vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced organic diet and plenty of sunshine. Considering the following wide-spread vitamin deficiencies, however, this is not the case. Most Americans are deficient in the very vitamins and minerals essential for basic body function. But vitamin deficiencies are not at the root of modern disease: the source is toxin-driven inflammation. To truly impact health, underlying inflammation must be decreased. Vitamins and minerals play a key role in this process. High-quality supplements provide nutrients missing from the diet which activate and support the body’s God-given ability to heal. If you’re reading this right now in America there’s a good chance you’re deficient in some or all of the five following vitamins, and if you’re going to take supplements these are the five to take.

Vitamin D

Three quarters of the American population is deficient in vitamin D. This essential vitamin plays a significant role in many body functions including bone formation, calcium absorption, cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and decreasing inflammation. Low vitamin D levels are linked to an increased risk of major diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative conditions. A low vitamin D level also predisposes you to various autoimmune disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes.

Vitamin D is proof that God knew what he was doing: the darker your skin, the more sun exposure is needed to raise your vitamin D levels. In the past, people with dark skin lived near the sunny equator, and could be out in the sun all day long. The problem today is that many darker-skinned people live in cloudy regions with little sun, so they easily become deficient. An increased risk of deficiency in turn leads to an increased risk of other diseases associated with a low vitamin D level.

In the past, doctors warned individuals to not supplement with vitamin D, stating it could cause cancer, hip fractures, or be easily overdosed and built-up in the body because it is fat soluble. Fat soluble vitamins do stay in the body longer than water soluble vitamins, which flush out of your system and are hard to take in excess. God designed fat soluble vitamins to remain in the body longer because we need them so much. The problem is that fat soluble vitamins (others include K, A, and E) all compete for the same cell receptors. When one vitamin is blocked by another competing vitamin, a functional deficiency occurs. This is why taking a fat soluble vitamin supplement that only contains vitamin D, for example, puts you at risk for deficiency of other fat soluble vitamins.

What is the best way to maintain adequate vitamin D levels? Get in the sun! If we’re not getting enough sunlight, our body is not producing enough vitamin D. And unless you’re eating a diet full of fatty fish and grass-fed dairy products, you’re not getting enough vitamin D from your diet, so time spent in the sun is crucial. Do not stay inside all day and coat yourself in toxic sunscreen before you walk out of the door. Many people today are deficient in vitamin D because they are constantly slathering on sunscreen, fearful of media warnings that the sun causes skin cancer. Have you noticed that the more sunscreen we use the more skin cancer we observe? I believe the sun can actually prevent skin cancer and other diseases. Don’t be fooled: we absolutely need sunlight to be healthy. Shea butter and coconut oil contain SPF and are good natural alternatives to toxic sunscreen, and wearing hats and protective clothing is important as well.

If you can’t get enough sunlight, consider taking a high-quality vitamin D supplement. An effective supplement is balanced with other fat soluble vitamins. If you are taking a vitamin D supplement that does not contain vitamins A, K2, and E you will eventually create a functional deficiency. Do not waste money on a supplement that does not contain other fat soluble vitamins at the proper ratios for absorption. I take a vitamin D supplement made by Systemic Formulas, which can be taken in pill or liquid form (for those with absorption issues). The average person can take 5,000 to 6,000 units daily, but those who are severely deficient may need more. Periodically, I recommend taking a high dose once or twice a week, up to 100,000 units, but dosage is at your health practitioner’s discretion.

Next month:  Vitamin K2

August Healthy Tip

Big problems always start out as small problems first.  Learn to listen to the quiet messages your body is giving you about how you are functioning.  Make changes while the problem is small and you are more likely to head off big problems that will require larger interventions and likely cost much more.  You will be healthier and happier!

Goal Check-Up—Get Out of Your Rut!

It’s July—half the year is gone and it’s time to have a goal check-up!  Many of you may know that my dad is a minister.  He had an excellent sermon on New Year’s Day a few years ago entitled, “Get Out of Your Rut.”  I thought I would share the basic outline (originally from Rod Farthing) with you this month as a little check-up for you with some of my own insights. 

1. Assume responsibility for your own life.  No one can make a change except you.  Once you assume responsibility you can break out of the rut and start making improvements.  This includes your health and fitness, as well as your social life and spiritual life.

2. Believe that you can change.  If you don’t believe you can change, you won’t.  While simply believing won’t actually make those changes happen, they will not happen without that belief.

3. Clarify what you really need.  Take time to find out what you would like to see happen this year.  Actually sit down and write out your personal goals.  You can also make a goal list for work as well.  Remember, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy.  You may need to write down sub-goals.  For example, weight loss is a common goal.  If you need to lose 20 pounds, make sub-goals of 5 pounds and as you reach each of those smaller goals it will give you the motivation to keep moving towards the larger goal.  This can even work for something like house cleaning or organization.  Have a smaller goal of cleaning/organizing one area at a time.  Hitting small goals spurs you on and keeps getting you out of that rut.

4. Stop worrying about what other people will say.  We worry too much about what others say and think.  You know that exercise is critical for a healthy body.  Don’t let others intimidate you into staying out of the gym.  You know that a diet high in veggies and fruit is critical for a healthy body.  Don’t let others sabotage you into eating poorly (believe me, they are out there!).  There are people out there that want to keep you in your rut because then they know what to expect!

5. Stop waiting for ideal circumstances.  The following short article appeared back in 1985 in the LA Times:  "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me a slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least eight or nine years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion." He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician.  His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion."

Don’t wait for the ideal circumstance—begin now to get out of your rut. 

6. Do something bold and dramatic.  There is a slogan that says, "We’re going to try something so big, that if God isn’t in it we are destined to fail." That kind of faith honors God.  Sometimes this bold and dramatic move is sharing a goal with those who will ask you about it later, keeping you accountable.

7. Make your move now.   There is no time like the present.  Who cares if it IS July??!!  And remember, God calls and stands by ready to help... but we must take the step first.

Author James Herriot writes the following about the difficulty of getting out of a rut that kept him from beginning his writing career: "After talking about writing a book for a long time my wife finally said,  "Jim, you are never going to write a book." She said it kindly, but nevertheless, I was aghast. "Whatever do you mean?" I said. "Well," she replied, "You have been talking about this book for twenty-five years.  Don’t take it to heart, Jim. You are only one of thousands of people who think they are going to write a book, but they never do it." "But I will, I will," I protested. She smiled again with a touch of sadness. "You must realize that is impossible. Old vets of fifty don’t suddenly start writing books." That did it. I went straight out, bought a lot of paper and got down to the job.”

May God bless you the rest of 2014. May this be the day that you break out of whatever rut is holding you hostage.  Make the rest of the year an unforgettable.  Live this year!

July Healthy Tip

As a nation we have moved more and more to “convenience foods.”  We have also become a nation that is getting sicker and sicker.  I don’t think this is a coincidence.  Start looking at the things you are putting into your body.  Most of the time fast food is not real food.  How “convenient” is it to have diabetes, heart disease, or cancer?  Now is the time to take control of your own healthcare and not leave it to others.

Proper Maintenance

With spring upon us and summer looming, yard care is likely on your to-do list.  Let’s say you go and buy a lawn mower, put gas in it and start cutting.  It works great!  The yard looks nice and tidy and the new mower runs like a dream.  The end of the season comes and you are ecstatic when mowing season is over because you now have a few more hours to do other things so you put the mower up.  The next mowing season rolls around and the mower just doesn’t seem to work as well.  It doesn’t cut well, it makes terrible noises, and it is a pain to start.  You take it to the repair shop and say, “it happened all of a sudden; I didn’t do anything different this season than last season, and why is this just now a problem?”  Some questions that might follow:  “Did you change the oil?  Did you put new gas in it (it will go bad)?  Have the blades been sharpened?  Did you leave it out in the weather?”  In other words, was the proper maintenance done on that lawn mower?

A body is the same way.  I often hear the same exact phrases, “But I didn’t do anything different”, “It happened all of a sudden”, and “Why is it just now a problem?”  The analogy above is a nice illustration that most people can relate to.  Our bodies need regular maintenance to keep us running properly, too. 

Regular body maintenance includes:

·         Putting REAL FOOD in your body that your body runs well on (HINT:  not everyone runs well on all the ‘good’ foods out there!)

·         Drinking CLEAN WATER.  Filtering city water is recommended because of chemical treatments to ensure that our water is not contaminated with organisms.  Just like removing the packaging from your lettuce, remove the chemicals before drinking!

·         Getting MOVING.  You don’t even have to use the “E” word!  Find something you enjoy doing: biking, walking, swimming, dancing.  You were made to move DAILY!

·         FRESH AIR.  Get outside more.  We have been told to stay out of the sun so much that we have epidemic levels of Vitamin D deficiencies in the U.S.  We need sunshine for healthy bodies.  Avoid getting burned by using cotton clothing, hats, and don’t rely so much chemical sunscreens (these block the rays you need for Vitamin D formation).  Eating real foods will also give you natural protection from burns.  If still concerned, some nutritional supplements can also help.

·         ADJUSTMENTS.  A well-adjusted spine allows for a well-functioning nervous system and your nervous system controls everything else!

·         NUTRITION ASSESSMENTS.  Your nutrition needs change over time.  Our need for certain minerals increases with stress and a Nutrition Response Testing analysis can help you find what your body is craving for good health.

·         REST.  Your body needs time to rest and recover.  Set aside an average of 8 hours for sleep.  You may need more.  Don’t forget to take care of your spiritual health as well!