My favorite Vitamin D supplement is, Liquid Vitamin D Forte by Biotics Research. Each drop provides 2,000Iu’s of Bioactive vitamin D3. There are 700+ drops in the bottle and it’s only $20.00. If you would like to purchase a bottle please call Rene at 714-639-4360

Liquid Vitamin D Forte by Biotics Research

Vitamin D May Ease Asthma

Adequate Levels of Vitamin D May Lower Colon Cancer Risk

Low Vitamin D Has a Role in Heart Risk

Vitamin D Reduces the Risk for Broken Bones

Vitamin D Deficiency Boosts C-Section Risk

Vitamin D May Reduce Falls in Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Vitamin D During Pregnancy May Lower Baby’s Risk of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Low Levels of Vitamin D Linked to Asthma

Commentary: I have to take issue with this study.  One because it is going to scare, needlessly, a lot of people and second, because it failed to include lifestyle, genetics, geographic location and other beneficial dietary factors (homocysteine reducing nutrients – fruits and vegetables), into of the overall Alzheimer’s equation, that could lesson or even negate the negative impact from eating only this type of diet.  This study is solely one of, “let’s see what will happen to a bunch of mice if we only feed them….” I am sure that adding the above factors into their final conclusion would most likely have negated their findings.

Now, let’s take a look at a population group  that has the lowest rate per of Alzheimer’s in the world, Northern India – specifically the state of Haryana.  The other northern states, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir also have very low per capita rates of Alzheimer’s.   Why is this?  Well, it’s not from a lack of consuming the above foods, because these foods just so happen to be staples in their diet.

Let’s look at the dietary habits of North India.  The cuisine of Northern India can be broken down into these regional styles: Punjabi cuisine, Mughlai/Moghul cuisine, cuisine of Kashmir, Awadhi cuisine, cuisine of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthani cuisine, Bhojpuri cuisine, Bihari cuisine, and Sindhi cuisine.  The commonality between these regional styles is the proportionally high use of meat (chicken, lamb/mutton, goat and no pork); dairy products (milk, yogurt and cheese/paneer); flat breads (the primary dietary starch) some tandoor/griddle (roti/chapati, naan, parantha) and some deep-fried in oil (puri/poori and bhatoora); many varieties of lentils/dal;  seasonal vegetables; fresh fruit (apples (apples, cherries, plums and strawberries); Nuts (pistachios, almonds); seeds/spices (cloves, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom ghee, Garam masala, sesame, turmeric [curcumin], onion, garlic, ginger and bay leaves, fennel, coriander, nutmeg, and paprika); and the samosa.  The samosa is a popular North Indian snack.  Commonly filled with boiled, fried, or mashed potato and other fillings like minced meat, cheese, mushroom, and chick pea.  (Due to sub-cultures and climate extremes within these geographic regions there will always be exceptions/exclusions to my ingredient list above).

Conclusion: Per this recent study and the fact that the diet of the Northern Indian population, which is rich in red meats, lentils, onions, garlic, yogurt and seeds, you would expect that there would be a high, per capita rate of Alzheimer’s; well, there isn’t.  In fact it’s the lowest in the world!

Let’s take a look closer to home.  The rate of Alzheimer’s in the United States is far higher than Northern India, but again based on the above study, lets look it the correlates to real life.  Below are the top ten states and bottom ten sates for rates of Alzheimer’s disease deaths  per 100,000 residents (source).

The top 10 states with the highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease deaths are:

1. Tennessee (age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 = 36.2)
2. Washington (35.9)
3. Louisiana (34.2)
4. Alabama (33.2)
5. South Carolina (32.4)
6. Arizona (31.3)
7. N Dakota (29.8)
8. N Carolina (29.5)
9. Idaho (29.4)
10. Maine (29.1)

The top 10 states with the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s disease deaths are:

1. New York (age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 = 9.2)
2. Hawaii (11.4)
3. Connecticut (16.1)
4. Nevada (17.1)
5. Maryland (17.5)
6. New Jersey (17.6)
7. New Mexico (18.3)
8. Florida (18.4)
9. Rhode Island (18.8)
10. Pennsylvania (18.9)

Do you think that New Yorker’s or Hawaiian’s eat any less red meat or fish than citizens of Tennessee, Washington or Louisiana?  No!  Do Hawaiian’s or New Yorker’s eat less eggs, onions, yogurt, garlic or seeds than the fine citizens of Tennessee, Washington or Louisiana?  No!

So, obviously there must be another or other factors, besides excess methionine, that’s contributing to their predilection for developing Alzheimer’s disease.  My thought’s are that a lack of  vitamin D, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA), fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, exercise, chiropractic adjustments, continual engagement in intellectual activities (chess, crossword puzzles, social interaction…) and prolonged smoking are all predisposing/contributing factors.

Basically what this all proves, is that sensational research studies like this, translated into real world applications, which they don’t – are bull shit.

If you are interested in taking proactive steps that may protect you from developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, MS and others, please contact our office in orange, California.  FYI: It is not required that clients come directly to the office to receive help. Call Dr. Marcus Ettinger for more information 714-639-4360

There are also many dietary, nutritional and exercise actions that can be taken even if someone is already experiencing one of the above conditions.  The sooner these steps are implemented the better the overall results will be.  Time is of the essence when it comes to neurodegenerative type conditions.

Mediterranean Diet, Physical Activity, Cognitive Function, and Dementia Risk

Scarmeas and colleagues investigated the association between amount of physical activity, alone or in combination with adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet, and incidence of Alzheimer disease (AD). For a mean of 5.4 years, the investigators followed 1880 community-dwelling, nondemented elders in New York City. Approximately every 1.5 years, participants completed physical-activity and food-frequency questionnaires and underwent cognitive and clinical assessments to determine dementia onset. A total of 282 participants developed AD. After adjustments for multiple confounders (including age, education, sex, ethnic background, presence of apolipoprotein E ε4 gene, baseline cognitive function, body-mass index, caloric intake, leisure activities, medical comorbidities, and smoking), the risk for AD was lower in participants with a high diet score (hazard ratio, 0.60), high physical activity (HR, 0.67), or both (HR, 0.65).

H1N1 Virus

To make a long story short – My family and I are not going to be vaccinated for the “seasonal flu” or “H1N1 Flu virus”. Instead, we are taking daily, my Proactive, Immune-Boosting Nutritional Protocol.   In 21 years as an holistic  and integrative medicine practitioner, I have never taken a sick day.  I’ve had a runny nose and a scratchy throat but that’s it.  In that same time span, I’ve been sneezed on and coughed on by hundreds of patients with the flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis and colds.  The point is – I know what to do to stay well.

With the flu season moving into high gear, I am not worried or scared about the current Swine Flu pandemic – I am getting prepared, but not scared.  My family and I are taking proactive, preventative steps that I know will enable our innate immune system to defend itself against the bacteria’s and viruses we will be exposed to.  I am not saying that by taking these preventative steps, my family and I will be immune super-beings, capable of eating Swine Flu tacos for dinner.  What I am saying is that, with 100% confidence, we will possess the capability to defend ourselves, since all will be well within our bodies.  At a minimum we will possess the capability to minimize the effects/symptoms after exposure to a contagion (bacteria/virus).  The key here is to minimize the impact.

My Proactive, Immune Boosting Nutritional Protocol:

1. Liquid Vitamin D Forte – Biotics Reseach [Adults 6,000 IU's and children above the age of 5 can take 2,000 IU's per day]
2. Probiotic Defense or GR8 (multi-strain probiotic) – both by Now Foods [2 doses of either per day. I prefer the Probiotic Defense Powder]
3. Chewable, buffered Vitamin C w/rutin [I like Now Foods brand. 2-4 per day will do.]

(None of the above products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.)

There are many other preventative products out there, but this, as far as I am concerned, is the best and least expensive, Immune Boosting Protocol available.

FYI: Avoid products containing sucrose or high fructose con syrup. Processed sugar in an immunosuppressant – Not a good thing. Also wash your hands, engage in moderate exercise, drink plenty of water and get at least 8 hour of sleep each night.

To purchase any of these products, please give us a call at (714) 639-4360. We can ship anywhere in the US and Canada.

Applicable References:

• Arch Intern Med. 2009 Feb 23;169(4):384-90.

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and upper respiratory tract infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Ginde AA, Mansbach JM, Camargo CA Jr. Emergency Medicine Network, Massachusetts General Hospital, 326 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

“Recent studies suggest a role for vitamin D in innate immunity, including the prevention of respiratory tract infections (RTIs).”

• Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;63(4):473-7. Epub 2007 Nov 21.

Association of subclinical vitamin D deficiency in newborns with acute lower respiratory infection and their mothers.
Karatekin G, Kaya A, Salihoğlu O, Balci H, Nuhoğlu A. Department of Neonatology, Sişli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. gunerkaratekin@yahoo.com

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that newborns with subclinical vitamin D deficiency may have an increased risk of suffering from ALRI. The strong positive correlation between newborns’ and mothers’ 25(OH)D concentrations shows that adequate vitamin D supplementation of mothers should be emphasized during pregnancy especially in winter months.

1.  Magnesium

Deficiency: 8 out of 10 clients show clinical signs of magnesium deficiency.  The average American diet only contains 50% to 60% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).  According to Dr. Guosong Liu, half the population of industrialized countries have a magnesium deficit, which increases with aging.

Symptoms: Anxiety, confusion, heart attack, hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD), insomnia, nervousness, muscular irritability (twitches, spasms or cramps), restlessness, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), weakness, heart palpitations, depression….

Recommended Foods: All green leafy vegetables (ex. Swiss chard and spinach), Seeds (pumpkin or sunflower seeds), Beans (black or navy beans).

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: Magnesium aspartate, glycinate or citrate (400 – 600 mg’s per day) OR Transdermal Magnesium Chloride (1 ounce rubbed over the body, per day).  To purchase any of these, call 714-639-4360

2.  Zinc

Deficiency: 7 out of 10 clients show clinical signs of deficiency.

Symptoms: Acne, ADD/ADHD, brittle nails, delayed sexual maturity, depression/apathy, diarrhea, eczema, fatigue, growth impairment, hair loss, high cholesterol levels, immune impairment, impotence, irritability, lethargy, loss of appetite, loss of sense of taste, low stomach acid (HCl), male infertility/abnormal sperm, memory impairment, night blindness, paranoia, white spots on nails, poor wound healing, psoriasis….

Recommended Foods: Calf’s liver, beef, mushrooms, spinach, green peas and pumpkin seeds.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: Zinc Gluconate (50 – 100mg’s per day). To purchase, call 714-639-4360

3.  Vitamin D

Deficiency: 10 out of 10 clients show deficiency (99.8% of all of my Labcorp, client  blood tests have shown deficiency).

Symptoms: Allergies, auto immune diseases, burning sensation in mouth, cancer, diarrhea, insomnia, myopia, nervousness, osteoporosis, poor calcium utilization, rickets, scalp sweating, weight gain….

Recommended Foods: Cod liver oil, shrimp and eggs.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: BEST VITAMIN D PRODUCT: Liquid Vitamin D Forte by Biotics Research ($20  for 700+ drops. Each drop = 2,000 IU’s). Recommended dosage of emulsified Vitamin D3/Cholecalciferol -  (6,000 – 10,000 IU’s per day for adults and 2,000 IU’s for children above the age of five).  Skin exposure to the sun, 15 minutes per day, is another great way to get adequate Vitamin D exposure.  Note: living in southern California, I only take my Vitamin D during the months of October – the beginning of June. I surf a lot and as soon as my wetsuit comes off and I can get 15 minutes+ of direct sunlight, I no longer need the supplement form. In fact if if I kept taking it I would sunburn within 15 minutes. This is what your body does when the vitamin D level is sufficient. To purchase call 714-639-4360

4.  Vitamin E

Deficiency: 3/10 Males and 2/10 Females show signs of deficiency.

Symptoms: Neurological disturbances (gait disturbances, poor reflexes, loss of position sense, loss of vibration sense), shortened red blood cell life….

Recommended Foods: Green leafy vegetables (Mustard greens, chard, spinach and turnip greens), almonds and sunflower seeds.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: d-alpha Tocopherol w/Mixed Tocohperols (400-800 IU’s per day) OR Organic Cold Pressed Wheat Germ Oil (1 Tablespoon per day supplies 400IU’s of d-alpha tocopherol).

5.  Omega 3 Fatty Acids (ALA, EPA, DHA)

Deficiency: 8/10 show signs of deficiency.

Symptoms: Diarrhea, dry skin and hair, hair loss, acne, eczema, psoriasis, immune weakness, infertility, poor wound healing, premenstrual syndrome, gall stones, liver degeneration, ADD/ADHD and Depression….

Recommended Foods: Wild-caught salmon (Important: avoid farm-raised salmon because of pollutants, artificial color and lack of EFA’s), flax seed and/or flax seed oil, walnuts and sardines.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: Organic, Cold Pressed, Solvent Free – Flax Seed Oil (1 Tablespoon/10 grams per day – Best source of alpha-linolenic acid); Mollecularly Distilled Fish Oil (1 Teaspoon per day – Best source of EPA/DHA).

If you would like to purchase any of these products, please call us at (714) 639-6360. We can ship anywhere in the US and Canada.