Commercials and the media today have us all in panic not to leave the house until we have slopped on layers of sun block, demonizing the sun as the biggest contributor to skin cancer, which actually is one of the many things that effectively fight cancer. I have often wondered what is in most sun blocks, and what else could it be doing to my body other than preventing a sun burn, which not always works. Much of this curiosity hit me after I had realized how permeable our skin is. I do understand that too much sun is not good, we do not want the skin to become burned, and if you are planning to be in the sun for long periods of time, it is very wise to use sun protection, but slopping on layers on sun block every time we leave the house concerns me.

The sun is the absolute best way our bodies receive the amount of vitamin D it needs to maintain optimal health. Sun block does more than prevent sun burn; it also prevents your skin from producing the very important vitamin D, which to me seems like a complete waste of sun exposure. The most natural skin care treatment one can receive is from the sun. The right amount of sun exposure is very critical for not just healthier skin, but a healthier immune system as well.

In just the past 10 years alone many scientists have been exploring vitamin D more and more rapidly, and are amazed how it affects the body. Some experts suggest that over 80% of children and adults are deficient in vitamin D, which deficiency in vitamin D causes the immune system to not do its job properly.

Vitamin D helps the body produce over 200 antimicrobial peptides that fight off infections such as Crohn’s disease. Vitamin D also helps prevent and treat many cancers such as lymphoma, lung, prostate, colon and skin cancer. Scientist and Doctors are beginning to discover more and more benefits of vitamin D, and are encouraging more so today than ever before, not just those who are deficient, but everyone to get their vitamin D levels checked 3-4 times a year.

You may live in an area where you cannot receive the right amount of vitamin D from the sun and are deficient. If this is the case you can take vitamin D supplements, but want to be careful you are receiving the right amount. When receiving vitamin D naturally from the sun the body self regulates the amount it needs through the skin. The body does not do this when taking vitamin D orally. Too much vitamin D can be harmful which is why it is very important to have your blood tested. The optimal level of vitamin D should be between 55-65 ng/ml. There are two different test available, 1, 25 (OH) D, and 25(OH) D. The 25 (OH) D which is also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D is most recommended by doctors as the better marker for vitamin D status.

Most important things to consider when wanting to obtain vitamin D naturally from the sun, is common sense, “don’t overdo it”! For the first few times being exposed to the sun limit yourself to about fifteen minutes or so, before protecting your skin from the sun’s rays, gradually build a tolerance. By midsummer you can spend nearly an entire day outside without getting sunburn, and of course if you are going to be exposed to extreme sun conditions for great lengths of time, then yes, protect your skin, whether it is wearing a hat, clothing, or using a natural sun screen, that is free from harmful chemicals.

Many health care professionals says that water is an essential nutrient for weight loss.

Water is up to 60% of our body weight, lack of water alters the metabolism of our body. This happens because the body does not have the ability to store additional water. The main functions of water in the body are: transports nutrients, removes toxins from the body, hydrates the skin, helps maintain body temperature and wet ears, mouth and nose. Dehydration can have serious consequences such as weakness, delirium and death.

On the other hand when the water content in the body is very high it can result in headaches, muscle weakness, poor appetite and poor memory.

But, why water is an essential nutrient for weight loss?

Because water can help you lose weight by making you feel full, helps curb food cravings and quenches your thirst. Also, water flushes toxins from your system, increases metabolism and assists your body in keeping your cells hydrated. People who drink more water tend to stay full longer and are less likely to eat.

More reasons? If you are normally a soda or juice drinker, and you replace them with water, drinking water can help you lose weight, partially because you are replacing some calories. There are a lot of processes that go on in your body that requires it. If you do not drink enough water your body does not function at an optimal level, which makes weight loss difficult.

Even more reason? Lack of water gives you headaches and constipation. If you do not drink enough water every day, your body may be storing water and fat that you do not need. If you become dehydrated your body is more likely to store fat. Because water naturally helps to suppresses your appetite, and will help you lose weight and burn fat.

The Water Resource Center in the University of Minnesota states that you need water for your body to burn fat. Without water, your kidneys cannot do their job properly and your liver must pitch in to help. While it is helping the kidneys, your liver cannot burn as much fat, so some of the fat that would normally be used as fuel gets stored in your body instead. The water is stored between the cells and shows up as extra weight. Drinking more water lets the liver get back to its own job of turning fat into fuel. When your body gets enough water, the stored water is released, so the more water you drink, the less you will eat.

Then, what is the necessary dosage? Experts recommend that during the day take 2 to 3 liters of water. But sweat when you exercise increases the need of water. For what is recommended before exercises take 1 to 2 glasses and during exercising drink only when thirsty and to drink as much as you sweat. The way to know whether you drank too much during a long training routine is if your weight afterward is more than it was before your exercise.

A glass of water before eating will help you feel full and eat less. Drink at least 8, eight-ounce glasses of water every day. If you are overweight, drink an additional glass for every twenty-five pounds of excess weight.

There has been considerable confusion in the minds of many pregnant women, or those trying to conceive, around the subject of eating omega 3 rich fish or supplementing with fish oils. One the one hand, these essential fatty acids are crucial to the development of unborn children. On the other, there is the real risk of mercury contamination. Underlying this controversy, is the sad fact that as many as 85% of expecting mothers are deficient in these important fats. This article will discuss some of the benefits and dangers of fish oils, as well as looking at what scientists recommend in light of it all. Read the rest of this entry »

John Cannell, MD, Executive Director of The Vitamin D Council, reports on the Vitamin D Conference in Victoria.

The Vitamin D Conference just finished in Victoria was nothing short of spectacular. On the bus into Victoria, I met a representative from the National Cancer Institute whose job was simple: her bosses at the NIH wanted to know if they should fund the flood of grant requests about vitamin D. Given the quality of the papers presented, I can’t imagine her answer was anything but yes.

Dr. Tony Norman and Dr. Roger Bouillon, the conference organizers, had to choose from over 300 submissions from scientists around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

Those of us who train at the gym are constantly looking for ways to improve the results we get from our hard training. Putting in the hard yards at the gym doesn’t necessarily guarantee physical results. A hardened physique is the result of the mastery of the trio of training eating/supplementation and resting. This article will focus on the eating and particularly the supplementation aspect of gaining lean mass.

There are many ways to take bodybuilding supplements and even more actual supplements to take. A term that has recently been coined in the bodybuilding world is supplement ’stacking’. Supplement stacking refers to the use of a combination of supplements together with one another to achieve an amplified benefit. The kind that muscle gainers are ever in search of. Read the rest of this entry »