Did you know that vitamin D3 may just be the most important vitamin/hormone and has such profound effects on health.  It is not a source found in food (unless fortified), and most people are deficient in this important nutrient.  To find out if you are deficient is as easy as a simple blood draw.  Optimal blood levels are between 50-65 ng/ml and we are considered deficient when blood levels of vitamin D3 are under 50 ng/ml. 

What are sources of vitamin D3?  SUN LIGHT and supplements.  If you live in a sunny place like myself in Phoenix, AZ, you may think you get enough sun to reach optimal vitamin D3 levels.   Unfortunately, due to clothing cover up and sun screen, even in year round sunny states, we become deficient.  A March 2006 article in the journal 'Mayo Clinic Proceedings' called vitamin D deficiency "a largely unrecognized epidemic in many populations worldwide."

Here are some benefits of Vitamin D3:
-Improved athletic performance
-Impacts entire metabolic system
-Strengthens Bones
-Mood Enhancer
-Wards off coughs, colds, flu
-Anti-cancer agent
-Alleviate gum disease
-Reduces inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of arthritis
-Reduces potential for autism
-Improved digestion and food absorption
-Weight management
-Promotes skin health
-Enhances healthy cell formation
-Anti-aging
-Enhances pancreatic, respiratory, cardiovascular, and eye health
-Improved sleep
-Increases muscle mass
-Reduces risk for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, rickets, and many others.

For more info:
www.vitamindcouncil.org
www.vitamindhealth.org
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminD/index.html

1. Shop around the grocery store.  Avoid the inner aisle with processed, packaged, and preserved foods. Choose whole and nourishing foods.
2. Avoid Sugar: Feeds bacteria, cancer, and contributes to diabetes and obesity
3. Avoid grain fed animal meat: Higher in fat, unhealthy proportion of Omega 6 fatty acids, acidic, horrible raising practices, often raised with hormones and antibiotics
4. Avoid products that make health claims: Example: Cherry 7UP claiming it is antioxidant...hmmmm
5. If packaged food- have 5 or less ingredients
6. Eat when hungry
7. Slow down when eating
8. Eat small portions: our body can only digest 3 oz meat or less at one time
9. Stop eating when 80% full. It takes 20 minutes for our brain to recognize stomach is full
10. Exercise/ Movement: Get blood and lymphatic system flowing 
11. Ok Ok 1 More Step...CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY! IT IS A CHOICE. ENJOY YOUR LIFE!

• Blue Green Algae:  This extraordinary algae contains many phytonutrients, chlorophyll, carotenoids, fatty acids and antioxidants that help boost immune system. When our immune system is down, we are more susceptible to allergies and other sicknesses.  Allergies can lead to illness, so give your body that boost.
• Digestive Enzymes:  70% of our immune system is in our gut.  If we are not digesting our food, utilizing it, and eliminating it properly then it is just sitting in our GI tract rotting and putting off bacteria.  Again,we need to support our digestive tract in order for our bodies to defend against illness and allergies. 
• Hepa allergy Filters on all air vents to prevent allergens floating in the room, especially the bedroom.  The best is to try a Hepa Filter that filters the air for a small room and keep it in your bedroom.  During sleep is when we are taking our deepest breaths.  We need to protect our sinuses and respiratory tract for the environmental allergens.
• Avoid Sugar: 6 tsp sugar lowers the immune system by 25% for 12 hours and 25 tsp sugar lowers the immune system by 95% for 12 hours.  It is best to keep you immune system in optimal shape to avoid allergies.  Please take note of the different forms of sugar there hiding in food:
• Barley malt, beet sugar, brown rice syrup, cane juice, corn sweetener, dextrin, dextrose, fructose, oligosaccharides, fruit juice concentrate, glucose, sucrose, invert sugar, polydextrose, turbinado sugar, galactose, high fructose corn syrup, malt, maltodextrin, treacle, panocha, honey, and many more
• Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
• Exercise.  Exercise moves our lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system cleanses our cells, our body and helps rid the pollen, dust and other enviornmental pollutants.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
• Dry clothes in a drying machine and avoid outside pollen collecting on clothes or sheets when hanging out doors.
• Avoid yard work OR wear a face mask for protection.
• Keep windows of house (especially the bedroom) closed

 

 

~Dr. Cheryl Sly

© 2010

Blue Green Algae is a phenomenal super food which I have found to be an incredible help in my own life. Here are a few personal examples of this wonder food. This past year in Phoenix, AZ the allergy season was the worst that I can remember.  Many patients of mine claimed to never have had allergies before until this past year.  Personally, I have had allergies in the past, but they reared their ugly head again. In addition, I have battled skin break outs/acne into my adult life through my mid-thirties UNTIL I discovered Blue Green Algae.  After high doses for 4 days, my allergies were completely gone and my skin began to clear up.  Since then, all results have stuck.

AFA (aphanizomenon flos-aquae) is a type of Blue Green Algae that grows world wide and specifically abundant in Southern Oregon in Klamath Lake. 

Klamath Blue Green Algae is a high nutrient dense food, containing glyco-proteins, vitamins, minerals, simple carbohydrates, lipids, and active enzymes.  Due to the algae’s nutritious soft cell wall, these nutrients are readily available to the body, as the body uses only a small amount of energy to convert this superfood into fuel.  Consuming Klamath Blue Green Algae is a fast and efficient way to improve any diet.

Algae has been eaten in various forms for thousands of years.  It is packed with beta-carotene and B-complex, biologically active vitamins, enzymes, chlorophyll, fatty acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, trace minerals, and other essential growth factors.  It also contains all essential amino acids. It is a concentrated source of arginine, known to build and tone muscle tissue.  The amino acids that AFA contains are virtually identical to that required by the human body.

AFA contains approximately 3% nucleic acids, which may be the richest of any commercially grown food.  Nucleic acids are responsible for regeneration, growth, repair, and can slow the aging process.  In addition, it enhances the immune system, neutralizes toxins, stimulates memory, and act as a stress modulator.

AFA or Blue Green Algae also contains a full spectrum of vitamins and mineral, which is usually incomplete for most any single food.  It is rich in B vitamins and beta-carotene and can supplement the mineral deficient diet found in the Standard American Diet… aka SAD.

You will also be consuming essential fatty acids in Blue Green Algae with high amounts of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).  GLA helps maintain hormonal balance and efficiency, the health of the heart and preventing degenerative diseases.

 

Other known health benefits include physical well being, especially during periods of high stress, improved sleep, acne, allergies, mental clarity, weight loss, and detoxification.

I am a big proponent through personal and clinical experience of Blue Green Algae.  There are a few companies that sell this amazing superfood but I prefer to use PhysioLogics. 

 

~Dr. Cheryl Sly

Any questions please email:

drcherylslynd@yahoo.com

www.TreeOfLifeWellness.info

 

 

© copyright 2010

 

 

References:

www. Algae-world.com

www.energygrid.com/health/2009/10kb-klamthalgae.html

www.klamathbluegreen.com

www.physiologics.com

www.worldfoods.net/articles/klamathalgae.html