From eNewsletter 7/26/2021
DID YOU KNOW that several recent studies indicate vegetarianism and veganism should only be followed by the rare individuals that can thrive? A study in Nutrients examined the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, the good cholesterol), and exercise and vegetarian diets based upon polymorphisms of the MTHFR (folate) gene. Vegetarian diet alone was associated with lower HDL, no matter the genetic makeup. Another study in Nutrients found that vegans appear to have increased risk of low iodine status, deficiency and inadequate intake compared with non-vegans. Therefore, improving the iodine intake and status of adults following vegan and vegetarian diets is required. A study from Food and Chemical Toxicology found that vegans and vegetarians who ate conventional foods had higher pesticide levels than omnivores. If vegans and vegetarians consumed only organic food, they had lower pesticide levels. A study in Nutrients suggests vegetarians and vegans, particularly those who suffer from depression, may benefit from supplementing their diets with vitamins B6, B12, and folate to ensure brain health, because they are at higher risk for deficiency. A study from American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated that vegan diets were associated with a healthier cardiovascular risk profile, but also with increased risk of nutritional deficiencies and lower bone mineral content and height. Vegetarians showed less pronounced nutritional deficiencies but, unexpectedly, a less favorable cardiometabolic risk profile.
Announcements
Steve Minsky Shines at USATF Masters National Championships
Last week, Steve traveled to Iowa State University to participate in his first USATF Masters National Championship 400 meter dash in the 50-54 age group. The best masters athletes from around the country (and world) gather each year for this prized track and field event. After running a personal best 59:43 in the prelims to make it to the final, he ran a blistering 57:87 to take 5th overall. The entire Nutritional Concepts community congratulates you on this amazing accomplishment! Stay tuned for details on his athletic and nutritional preparation...
Food Intolerance Blood Draw Update Our next available Saturday blood draw date for the Biotrition food intolerance test is September 18th.
Text Us If It Is Convenient! We now accept text messages at (847) 498-3422.
Our COVID-19 Vaccine Opinion The document at this link was updated July 26th.
Virus Prevention And Treatment Vaccines will minimize COVID-19 related mortality and hospitalizations, but SARS-CoV-2 is not going away. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 is not the only virus we fight. There are influenza (flu), norovirus (stomach flu), adenovirus (common cold), and four other coronaviruses (common cold), among others. We highly recommend continuing your immune support. See our Prevent and Fight Viruses 2.0 Protocol.
COVID-19 Condition Monograph For those interested in conventional and integrative treatments for COVID-19 with over 250 references, this is our COVID-19 Condition Monograph.
Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS) If you, or someone you know, has PCS, we provide individualized consultation or our Post-COVID Syndrome Action Plan. Paid yearly NCI Well Connect members can access it for free here (enter the password: archives 2018).
In Today's Issue
Paid Member Content
Well Connect Feature: Orthorexia & Picky Eaters
Did You Know Meds: Common Meds & Antibiotic Resistance
Genetics Update: New Vitamin D Discovery
Brand Buzz: Olive Oil Butter | Natural Insect Treatment
Understanding Lab Tests: Measuring Glutathione
Green Lifestyle: Surprising Cause of Tooth Decay
Wild Card: Breastfeeding and Childhood Diet
eInspire: From World Health Organization
Free Member Content
Did You Know?
Data Throws Shade at USPSTF
July 20% OFF Sale Items
Pure Genomics 2.0
Watch - National Institutes of Health: CBT for Chronic Pain
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Well Connect Member Benefits
New Vit D Data Throws Shade at Govt
Steve and Bonnie: Recent vitamin D data should be making the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) rue the day they recently decided not to recommend vitamin D testing for lack of evidence. Not only has the United Kingdom recommended all of its citizens test for vitamin D, but have increased what is considered a healthy level to 50 nmol/L (in the US, 20-30 nmol/L in considered healthy).
Breast Cancer
Sufficient vitamin D levels at the time of diagnosis were associated with improved breast cancer prognosis. Consistent with results from randomized trials, findings from a large observational cohort of breast cancer survivors with long follow-up provide the strongest evidence to date for maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels in breast cancer patients. Presented at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
Male Infertility
Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency specifically in infertile men, supplementation with vitamin D in men with insufficient levels or deficiency will improve oxidative stress and thereby positively affect sperm parameters and endocrine factors involved in male fertility. Appeared in BMC Nutrition Journal.
Overweight and Obesity
Higher vitamin D levels were associated with greater weight loss and enhanced the beneficial effects of a reduced-calorie diet in overweight and obese individuals. Appeared in Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
Cognition in Healthy Older Persons
In cognitively unimpaired older adults, total and supplemental vitamin D intakes were associated with cortical thickness in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease, exerting a protective effect. Appeared in The Journal of Nutrition.
While these just scratch the surface of what we see almost daily, you get the idea.
Potential Progress?
It does seem that our incessant calls for optimal vitamin D are making progress despite the lack of assistance from the government and many public health officials. A recent study in The Journal of Nutrition looked at population data from 2007-2014 and found several significant improvements:
Vitamin D levels increased by 2.7 nmol/L;
Percentage of persons taking any vitamin D-containing supplements increased 2.9%;
Percentage of persons taking high-dose (more than 1000 IU/d) vitamin D–containing supplements increased 8.6%.
While small, it is incremental progress. Onward and upward!
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