Vitamin D During Pregnancy Helps Prevents Autism/Grow Your Own Stem Cells/The One-Minute Workout

It is now well known that vitamin D plays a crucial role in brain development. So it was no real shock when lead researcher Professor Darryl Eyles (along with his team, from the University of Queensland) found that giving vitamin D supplements to mice during pregnancy prevented autism in their offspring

“Our study used the most widely accepted developmental model of autism in which affected mice behave abnormally and show deficits in social interaction, basic learning, and stereotyped behaviors,” Eyles said. “We found that pregnant females treated with active vitamin D in the equivalent of the first trimester of pregnancy produced offspring that did not develop these deficits.”

Wood, J. (2017). Mouse Study Links Vitamin D to Autism Prevention. Psych Central. Retrieved on April 4, 2017    (Study)

This new mouse study just serves to help confirm an earlier human study (also from the University of Queensland Brain Institute) which found a link between pregnant women with low Vitamin D levels and the increased likelihood of having a child with autistic traits.

“Maternal Vitamin D Levels and the Autism Phenotype among Offspring.” Whitehouse, Andrew J. O. , et al. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2013, Vol.43(7), p.1495-1504  (Study)

Grow Your Own Stem Cells

Stem cells are essential in order to promote healing and regeneration in our bodies following either external damage or internally produced free radical damage. But, as time wears on, we lose stem cells along with the ability to heal and regenerate new tissue, which is part of what we call aging. Now new research has shown that we can rejuvenate adult tissue stem cells, which can help to reverse and reduce aging in tissues where those stem cells reside.

One group of researchers did extensive work with a formula that combined polyphenols from blueberry and green tea, along with carnosine, and vitamin D. This nutritive formula increased the proliferation of adult stem cells in humans, protected the stem cells from free radical damage, and resulted in improved cognitive and memory functions in animal models (as a result of enhanced brain stem cell proliferation).

In another study, a supplement containing green tea, astragalus, goji berry extracts, ellagic acid, and vitamin D, fermented with a Lactobacillus probiotic species, was given to human subjects twice daily for 2 weeks. From the first day, and throughout the study, researchers detected significant increases in circulating bone marrow stem cells.

And, a rat study supplemented the animals early in life with a high blueberry diet, which they found, prevented bone loss (osteoporosis) at menopause. It was determined that the high polyphenol content of the blueberries stimulated bone-forming stem cells to mature into active bone-mineralizing cells.

We see here how eating quality foods, and taking certain supplements, can clearly contribute to health and longevity. So consume plenty of blueberries, goji berries, and green tea, along with supplemental vitamin D and astragalus (found in our ImmuneStart product). As well, consume foods that are high in ellagic acid, which include pomegranate, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, pecans and walnuts. (Our Provide Smoothie mix also contains a high amount of ellagic acid.)

Bickford PC, Tan J, Shytle RD, et al. Nutraceuticals synergistically promote proliferation of human stem cells. Stem Cells Dev. 2006;15(1) (Study)

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