Vitamin D Prevents the Flu/Why Getting the Measles is Good For You/Preventing Diabetes

It is believed that the flu most commonly occurs  in winter because of two factors: First, the influenza virus can survive for a longer period outside of the human body when the air is cold, dry, and less humid. Secondly, our vitamin D levels are lower in the winter (for obvious reasons).

A scientific review of 25 published studies (released in Feb, 2017) confirmed that having adequate vitamin D levels can protect us from colds and flu. This review (examining data from nearly 11,000 people, from a dozen different countries) confirms the theory that vitamin D supports the immune system, and fights respiratory infections.

Other studies have found having low vitamin D levels leads to higher susceptibility to respiratory infections. This review confirmed those older studies, finding that those who took supplemental vitamin D were far less likely to report acute respiratory infections (from influenza, or the common cold), than those who did not supplement.

Those subjects who had the lowest levels of vitamin D going into the studies, were able to reduce their risk of respiratory infection by 50% (by supplementing with vitamin D). These people showed blood levels below 4 nmol/L (upon entering the study), which, given that most experts believe an ideal level is about 40 nmol/L, is shockingly low.

Those who had adequate vitamin D levels also showed a reduced risk of respiratory infection, though much lower, at 10% reduction.

The protective effects of vitamin D were most obvious in those who had a base level of 25 nmol/L or higher. Again, still below the level considered ideal by the Vitamin D Council, and other experts in the field.  (Vitamin D Council)

While most of the studies analyzed averaged a daily dose of 800 to 2,000 IU, in many cases the subjects were given a one time dose of 30,000 IU to jumpstart their storage levels.

(Study)

Vitamin D and Exercise Capacity

A recent study explored the impact of vitamin D levels on physical fitness. Researchers examined nearly 2,000 participants (men and women, different ethnicities), ranging in age from 20 through 64. Some of the subjects were in good health, and some had health problems (diabetes, high blood pressure), but, in either case, the findings were consistent: those who had the best physical performance also had higher levels of vitamin D.

To quote from the study: “Participants in the top quartile of vitamin D had a 4.3-fold higher cardiorespiratory fitness than those in the bottom quartile. The link remained significant, with a 2.9-fold strength, after adjusting for factors that could influence the association such as age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes.”

“Each 10 nmol/L increase in vitamin D was associated with a statistically significant 0.78 mL/kg/min increase in VO2 max. This suggests that there is a dose response relationship, with each rise in vitamin D associated with a rise in exercise capacity,” said Dr Amr Marawan, lead author of the study.

(Source)

Remember when it was no big deal to get the measles (or the chicken pox, or even the mumps)? It was believed at that time, that we would be healthier in the long run, if we got this disease when we were young. That approach all changed following the aggressive marketing of pharmaceutical companies with a measles vaccine to push. And, before long, they had the health branches of governments lined up to support and push their position.

What if they are wrong?

In August of 2015, a study (published in the journal Atherosclerosis) titled, “Association of measles and mumps with cardiovascular disease:  The Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study,” revealed that infection with measles and mumps was associated with lower risks of mortality from heart disease due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

The authors suggested the following potential mechanism is behind this association:

“It has been suggested that infection can impact atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) either deleteriously or positively. The former proposes that inflammation caused by chronic infections with pathogens such as Chlamydia pneumonia and herpes simplex virus type I can accelerate atherosclerosis. The latter suggests that infections suffered during childhood can protect from atherosclerosis.

The ‘hygiene hypothesis’ is a possible mechanism underlying this effect. Improved hygiene decreases the opportunities for infections, which are necessary for normal development of the immune system. Weakened immune systems lead to decreased production, as well as inactivation, of regulatory T cells, which control the balance of T helper cell types, Th1 and Th2. As a result, inflammation at the arterial wall is not well controlled, leading to the development of atherosclerosis. Therefore, people with a history of infections may have a lower risk of CVD, especially atherosclerotic diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction, compared to those without previous infections.”

(Study)

As a detailed article on the subject (from greenmedinfo.com) points out, there is already a database of studies showing exposure to measles when young, to help protect us against a wide range of ailments. These include, allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, cancer, childhood infections, epilepsy, Hodgkin disease, psoriasis, malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, among others.

Preventing Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome (the current definition of insulin resistance) is a precursor not only to diabetes, but also to cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and even cancer.  (“The Aerobic Center Longitudinal Study of 33, 230 cancer-free men, revealed an up to 56% enhanced risk of cancer mortality associated with the metabolic syndrome after 14 years of following-up.”  (Study)

Therefore, it is essential for health and longevity that we all be aware of how we can effectively manage our blood sugar,and insulin levels. Following is a link to a detailed article on the natural approach to preventing, and reversing, metabolic syndrome. Here is the introduction to this article.

“In order to understand diabetes, it is important to understand how different nutrients affect our bodies. All food consists of one or more macronutrients and a variety of micronutrients. Macronutrients are the major nutritional players such as carbohydrates, fatty acids, and protein, whereas micronutrients are vitamins and minerals.

The human body needs both macro- and micronutrients on a daily basis to thrive. The different nutrients serve different purposes within the body, but they each provide your body with the fuel it needs to perform optimally. Let’s break it down, starting with carbohydrates (the remaining nutrients will be covered later in the article), which is one of the key components in diabetes management. Understanding how carbohydrates is digested and absorbed and thereby affecting your body is paramount to understanding diabetes and learning how to manage it through your diet.

During the course of this article you will learn what diabetes is and how you can tweak your diet to help you manage it and increase your chances of avoiding diabetes complications such as glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, and strokes.”      (Source)