Treat chronic hives with vitamin D, says university study

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) have found that vitamin D plays an important role in mitigating chronic hives. Jill Poole, M.D., and her colleagues observed that patients with chronic hives typically have very low vitamin D levels, and that supplementing with the vitamin may help to alleviate their condition and improve their overall health. “Chronic hives can be quite frustrating for patients as treatment options are limited. They can make you feel miserable,” explained Dr. Poole, an allergist, concerning the condition. “Vitamin D may be one part of the answer to this troublesome disease. Given the health benefits, there’s no harm in taking vitamin D if you don’t overdo it. It’s easy, inexpensive and can be taken daily at 1,000 to 2,000 international units (IUs).” Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology , the study revealed that nearly half of the chronic hives patients evaluated were deficient in vitamin D, which is a step lower than insufficient vitamin D levels. Consequently, Poole believes that chronic hives patients who either expose themselves to more sunlight to generate vitamin D, or take vitamin D supplements to up their levels, will experience improved health. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a host of diseases including diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. The body produces vitamin D naturally from regular sunlight exposure but, especially during the winter, many people spend too little time in the sun to derive any significant benefit. And when they do venture out, they typically lather themselves in chemical-laden, UV-blocking sunscreens that prevent the vitamin D-producing sun rays from penetrating the skin. To learn more about the importance of vitamin D for your health, check out the extensive NaturalNews archive of vitamin D studies and information: http://www.naturalnews.com/vitamin_d.html Also, be sure to check out: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org Sources for this story include: http://www.healthcanal.com/alternative-therapies/13644-UNMC-study-links-chronic-hives -vitamin-deficiency.html

Iron, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy results in children with better motor skills

(NaturalNews) A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights the importance of getting plenty of the right vitamins, minerals and nutrients during pregnancy. The study showed that Indian women who supplemented with prenatal iron, folic acid and vitamin A produced children who were smarter and had better motor skills than children from mothers who did not supplement. “Micronutrient inadequacy is a critical concern among pregnant women and young children throughout the world,” explained Parul Christian, Dr.P.H., from Johns Hopkins University, and his colleagues in their study paper. “Gestation and the early postnatal period are considered sensitive periods for brain development, and nutritional deprivation during this period may lead to functional impairments.” Researchers evaluated 676 children between 7-9 years of age who had been born to various women given either folic acid and iron; folic acid, iron and zinc; folic acid, iron, zinc and 11 other micronutrients; or placebo. The team found that iron and folic acid in particular improved intellectual capacity, executive function, motor function and fine motor control. Iron deficiency in particular is associated with negative alterations in cognitive development, which can lead to decreased intellectual capacity and under-developed motor skills. Additionally, women who do not get enough folic acid during pregnancy have a much higher risk of bearing a child with birth defects (http://www.naturalnews.com/030169_birth_defects_inositol.html). Foods naturally rich in iron include string beans, turnip greens, mustard greens, spinach, chard and other leafy greens. These same greens also contain high levels of natural folate, as do beans, peas, asparagus, avocados, strawberries and oranges. And zinc-rich foods include oysters, certain meats, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and green peas. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-12/jaaj-psf121610.php http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101221/hl_nm/us_brain_nutrients

Children around the world benefit from Consumer Wellness Center nutrition grants

(NaturalNews) The Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering consumers with information on health and wellness issues, today announced the winners of its 2010 Nutritional Education Grant program . Seven organizations from around the world will receive $1,000 grants to initiate or expand programs designed to teach children and mothers about the importance of good nutrition in maintaining and improving health and well-being. “These are the kind of nutrition education programs our world desperately needs to restore health and create a promising future for our children,” said Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, the volunteer Executive Director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center. “Our goal is to put resources and funding into the hands of those who can teach our children how to save their health and feed themselves natural, health-supporting meals based on sound nutritional principles.” Adams is also the editor of NaturalNews.com, a natural health news site reaching millions of readers each month. Here are the CWC grant winners: Project Colors Project Colors, a children’s overseas learning opportunities and resources society, will use the $1,000 grant to purchase quality food and supplies for its Tiny Tummies program. Roughly 160 African children living in tuberculosis-ridden slums will benefit as the program’s coordinators teach them how to eat well and boost their immune systems through proper nutrition. http://www.projectcolors.com Jackson Teen Parent Program The Jackson Teen Parent Program, a lifestyle youth enhancement project in a low-income area of Mississippi, will use the $1,000 grant to buy a blender and food supplies for its educational seminars. The seminars teach youth and adults how to identify, prepare, and cook healthy foods; how to monitor blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels; and how to calculate body mass index (BMI). UnderMountain Elementary School UnderMountain Elementary School in Massachusetts plans to use the $1,000 grant to completely fund its Eat Well and Learn Program , a nutrition course that will teach 375 children about the importance of organic and locally-grown food, as well as how to prepare such foods for snacks and meals. http://www.sbrsd.org Neshaminy School District For the second year in a row, the Neshaminy School District in Pennsylvania has been awarded a $1,000 grant that it will use to further expand its Nutrition: Fitness for Life program. Last year, the district had hoped to implement a system-wide series of nutrition commercials to broadcast to its 3,000 students, but it lacked necessary funding. With this year’s grant, the district will now be able to air them as well as buy food and supplies for classes that will teach 200 children the science behind nutritional “superfoods”. http://www.neshaminy.k12.pa.us The C.A.R.E. Center The C.A.R.E. Center, a program of New Hope Elementary School in Alabama, will use its $1,000 grant to purchase nutritional videos, a refrigerator, an electric range, and various cookware and utensils needed for its healthy cooking club. New Hope is a Title I school where more than half the students participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch Assistance Program. And about 385 of them will now be able to participate in a nutrition course led by a certified dietician who will teach them about the importance of eating a well-balanced diet. http://www.thecarecenter.us Vida Charter School Vida Charter School, located in an ethnically, socio-economically, and culturally diverse Pennsylvania neighborhood where proper nutrition is lacking, will use the grant money to purchase food and cooking equipment for its Food is Elementary Program . A registered dietician will teach 86 students about the importance of integrating whole foods into their diet, and will lead them in cooking and preparation exercises designed to catalyze practical dietary changes. http://vidacharterschool.com Nurture Organization of Illinois And for the second year in a row, The Nurture Organization of Illinois will use the $1,000 grant to purchase food and cooking supplies for its prenatal nutrition program. Last year, the organization used the money to double the number of expectant mothers it was able to teach about how to feel better and improve health through better nutrition. This year, it plans to use the money to further expand the program. http://www.nurtureyourfamily.org To learn more about CWC and to track the progress of the grant winners throughout the upcoming year, visit: http://www.consumerwellness.org

Diabetics with low vitamin D have high risk of death

(NaturalNews) A new study published in the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care says that diabetics who are deficient in vitamin D have a significantly higher risk of dying from all causes or developing cardiovascular disease than those with higher levels of the vitamin. The findings support a multitude of current research on the importance of maintaining high blood levels of vitamin D, regardless of specific health conditions. Dr. Christel Joergensen and her colleagues at the Steno Diabetes Center in Gentofte, Denmark, found that diabetics with blood levels of vitamin D lower than 13.9 nmol/L (5.6 ng/mL) are nearly twice as likely as those with levels above 13.9 nmol/L to develop heart disease. These same patients were more than twice as likely to die compared to those with higher levels. However, average vitamin D levels among the 289 participants in the study hovered around 35.7 nmol/L (14.3 ng/mL), which is still far below Vitamin D Council recommendations of between 125-200 nmol/L (50-80 ng/mL). In other words, even those patients with levels above the threshold used in the study were still severely deficient in vitamin D. The direct correlation between vitamin D deficiency and disease is observable across the health spectrum. Everything from muscle pain and arthritis, to cancer and autoimmune disorders are aggravated and even caused by having insufficient amounts of vitamin D circulating in the blood (http://www.naturalnews.com/Vitamin_D.html). According to the Vitamin D Council, spending 20 to 30 minutes in the summer sun produces roughly 10,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D in white skin, while other sources suggest up to 20,000 IU. Such levels are optimal, and are far higher than current government recommendations of 200 to 400 IU a day. Sources for this story include: http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Nutrition/Vitamins/vitamin_d_deficiency_means_higher_death_risk_in_diabetes_1711100.html

Powerful compound in broccoli, cruciferous vegetables proven to prevent cancer

(NaturalNews) New research out of the University of Illinois (U of I) has proven that sulforaphane, an organosulfur compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, is transferred directly from the digestive system into the body through the “good” bacteria that live in the gut. When operating at optimal capacity, the body is able to absorb the most sulforaphane and gain considerable anti-cancer benefits from it. Sulforaphane is known to have anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-microbial properties, but researchers have wondered exactly how, and how well, the compound is assimilated into the body. According to their inquiry, intestinal microbiota actually consume and break down glucoraphanin, the parent compound of sulforaphane, and deliver it into the bloodstream where it provides a direct anti-cancer effect. “The presence of sulforaphane in measurable amounts shows that it’s being converted in the lower intestine and is available for absorption in the body,” explained Elizabeth Jeffery, a U of I professor of human nutrition. “It’s also comforting because many people overcook their broccoli, unwittingly destroying the plant enzyme that gives us sulforaphane. Now we know the microbiota in our digestive tract can salvage some of this important cancer-preventive agent even if that happens.” Since broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are rich in sulforaphane, it does not take very much of them to achieve a substantial anti-cancer benefit. Sulforaphane is so potent that even minimal amounts are capable of staving off the disease. “The amount that you get in three to five servings a week — that’s less than one daily serving of broccoli — is enough to have an anti-cancer effect,” said Jeffery. “With many of the other bioactive foods you hear about, vast amounts are required for a measurable outcome.” But having a healthy digestive system with well-functioning gut microbiota is vital for obtaining the most benefits, which is why Jeffery stresses the importance of eating plenty of prebiotics and probiotics as part of a healthy diet. “One way (to boost bacteria in the colon and enhance the anti-cancer effects of sulforaphane) might be to feed the desirable bacteria with prebiotics like fiber to encourage their proliferation,” she said. “Another way would be to use a probiotic approach — combining, say, broccoli with a yogurt sauce that contains the hydrolyzing bacteria, and in that way boosting your cancer protection.” Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/uoic-dmh102110.php

Breastfeeding better than vaccines at preventing infection

(NaturalNews) Researchers in Greece are urging mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least the first six months of their lives, based on new research findings. According to the study, babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first six months experience fewer infections than those who are either breastfed for a shorter period of time, or fed formula in addition to breast milk. Professor Emmanouil Galanakis and his colleagues tracked nearly 1,000 infants for a year, keeping track of their health. They then evaluated how the children were fed throughout their early months of development, and compared the results. They found that fully breastfed kids had significantly fewer infections than the other children. “Mothers should be advised by health professionals that, in addition to all the other benefits, exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent infections in babies and lessens the frequency and severity of infectious episodes,” said researchers. Mothers’ breastmilk contains vital antibodies, nutrients, vitamins and immunological factors that babies need to develop natural immunity to disease. In other words, breastfeeding is the optimal and natural way to instill immunity in children, eliminating the need for chemical-laden vaccines that often cause more harm than good. The research also serves as another wake-up call to mothers everywhere about the importance of breastfeeding, not only for their children’s health but also for their own. “We know that breastfeeding is the default method of infant feeding for babies; good for mothers and good for…health,” Janet Fyle from the Royal College of Midwives in the U.K. is quoted as saying in a recent BBC article. “This is why we need to continue our efforts to ensure that we maintain a high rate of breastfeeding.” Sources for this story include: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11417490

Consumer Wellness Center invites applications for $10,000 in nutrition grants

(NaturalNews) The Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting nutrition as a way to prevent disease and enhance human health and longevity, announces its third annual Nutritional Education Grant Program. In order to help further the cause of improved health through good nutrition, the program is offering ten $1,000 grant awards this year to people and organizations dedicated to making a positive impact on nutrition and health in their local communities and schools. “We are thrilled to be able to offer a new round of grants this year to fund truly beneficial programs that are improving health and quality of life around the world,” said Mike Adams, editor-in-chief of NaturalNews.com and executive director of the CWC. The program’s award funds are used to support cooking classes, taste-testing events for children, community gardens and other local outreach programs, all with the intent of increasing awareness about the importance of good nutrition and teaching people how to eat well for good health. “We spend nearly 100 percent of our received donations on programs, and no money whatsoever is spent on salaries,” Adams added, noting that some non-profits spend as little as five percent of their donations on their causes. Apply for a 2010 grant by October 18 CWC is thrilled by the amazing achievements of committed and loyal participants in the program from years past, and is excited to see the many new and creative ideas this year’s applicants have to offer. CWC is currently accepting grant proposals for the 2010 Nutritional Education Grant Program at the following link: http://www.consumerwellness.org/NutritionalGrantProgram.html The deadline to apply is October 18, 2010 , and all grant recipients will be announced on December 1, 2010. Funding for CWC’s Nutritional Education Grant Program has been provided by donations from: Global Healing Center (http://www.GlobalHealingCenter.com) Boku Superfood (http://www.BokuSuperfood) Health Products Distributors, Inc. (http://www.IntegratedHealth.com) Magnetic Clay Baths (http://www.MagneticClay.com) The Raw Food World (http://www.therawfoodworld.com) The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (http://www.cfsoaz.org/cfsa) ScaleWatcher (http://www.scalewatcher.com) Elements for Life Learn more about the CWC Nutritional Grant Education Program at: http://www.ConsumerWellness.org/NutritionalGrantProgram.html Highlights from last year’s nutrition grant awards For the second year in a row, CWC awarded Dr. Sanjeev Rastogi, M.D., from The Body and Mind Clinic and Research Center at Vatsala Hospital in Tulsi Das marg Lucknow, India, with a $1,000 grant. Dr. Rastogi and his team successfully used their 2008 grant to train 50 low-income, expectant mothers in proper nutrition. And in 2009, the Center built upon its previous successes by using its grant money to expand the education program into other rural communities around India. The Corvallis Environmental Center (CEC) in Corvallis, Ore., also received a second grant award from CWC in 2009 for its highly successful Farm to School program that teaches children about the importance of eating locally-grown produce as part of a healthy diet. The Center used its 2008 award to expand a pilot program that let school children taste-test various local produce, launching the program into all eight schools in the Corvallis School District. The Center used its 2009 grant money to purchase the food and supplies it needs to keep the program going strong. Neshaminy School District in Neshaminy, Penn., used its 2009 grant money to launch an elective class in nutrition designed to teach students how to improve their health by incorporating nutritionally-rich foods into their diets. The class combines nutrition education and food science theory to teach students practical, hands-on ways to prepare healthy, fresh meals, as well as how best to prepare them in order to obtain maximum nutritional benefit. More than 125 students enrolled last year in the class, thanks to the grant money. More nutrition grant success stories from both 2008 and 2009 can be found at: http://www.consumerwellness.org About the Consumer Wellness Center The Consumer Wellness Center (http://www.ConsumerWellness.org) is a 501(c)3 non-profit focused on educational initiatives that empower consumers with knowledge and wisdom on disease prevention, nutrition, peak mental and physical health and natural health modalities. The center sells no vitamins, supplements, foods or medical products, and earns no commissions from the sale of such products. To learn more about the Consumer Wellness Center, visit http://www.ConsumerWellness.org

Vitamin D really does prevent cancer, autoimmune diseases

(NaturalNews) A new study out of Oxford University pinpoints vitamin D deficiency as a culprit in serious illnesses like cancer and autoimmune disorders. According to the report, which was recently published online in the journal Genome Research , genetic receptors throughout the body need adequate vitamin D levels to prevent these and other serious illnesses from developing. Multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Chron’s disease, leukemia — these and many more diseases are often caused by a lack of vitamin D. Your genes literally have receptors that need vitamin D in order to properly express themselves. If there is not enough of the vitamin, serious illness is prone to develop. The Oxford team made specific observations about the importance of vitamin D in the genome regions associated with autoimmune diseases and cancer, noting that the nutrient is absolutely vital in helping to prevent these diseases from forming. “Considerations of vitamin D supplementation as a preventative measure for these diseases are strongly warranted,” expressed Sreeram Ramagopalan, author of the study. However, current recommendations for vitamin D intake are unacceptably low, and many nations are considering updating their guidelines. The U.S. Institute of Medicine, for example, recommends getting a mere 200 to 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day, an amount far too low to have much therapeutic effect. Since summer sun exposure creates about 20,000 IU of vitamin D in the skin in just 15 minutes, supplementation with at least 5,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily, particularly during the winter, is preferable. Healthy blood levels of vitamin D are somewhere between 50 and 80 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml), so many natural health professionals recommend having a “25 OH Vitamin D” blood test performed to check these levels. Sources for this story include: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/diabetes/articles/2010/08/24/vitamin-d-may-influence-genes-for-cancer-autoimmune-disease.html

Vitamin D is essential for activating immune system function

(NaturalNews) Researchers have discovered that vitamin D plays a crucial role in activating the immune system’s ability to recognize and fight pathogens. While scientists have long known that vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health, recent research has begun to suggest that it also serves to regulate the immune system, helping prevent infection, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Until now, the mechanism by which the vitamin acts on the immune system has been unknown. In a study published in the journal Nature Immunology , researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that when a variety of white blood cells known as a T-cell comes across a pathogen in the bloodstream, it extends a receptor in search of vitamin D. If it encounters the vitamin, the T cell becomes “activated.” If there is not enough vitamin D in the blood, the cell remains passive and no immune response occurs. The body produces vitamin D upon exposure to sunlight. It can also be found in eggs, fatty fish, fortified milk and in supplement form. Once activated, a T-cell transforms into one of two kinds of cells. One type seeks out and destroys all traces of the infectious agent, while the other records information about the pathogen and transmits it to other parts of the immune system. These latter (“helper”) cells help the immune system respond quickly should infection with a similar pathogen occur at a later date. In addition to providing new information about the importance of vitamin D, the study provides hope for better understanding — and perhaps prevention — of the unhelpful immune responses that result in autoimmune disorders like allergies or Type 1 diabetes, as well as those that cause the body to reject transplanted organs. The researchers were able to determine what chemical steps occur to transform a T-cell from active to inactive, suggesting the possibility that doctors may eventually be able to initiate or block this process, depending on the patient’s need. Sources for this story include: http://news.ku.dk/all_news/2010/2010.3/d_vitamin/; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1256149/Sunshine-play-vital-role-in.html.

Study suggests a much earlier onset for bone problems

While the importance of calcium nutrition throughout childhood and adolescence is well recognized, a new study suggests that calcium nutrition of the neonate may be of greater importance to life-long bone health due to its programming effects on mesenchymal stem cells.

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