The study:

A study released in July 2017 has reported that what was previously thought a sufficient amount of vitamin D, 600 IU/day, was actually determined based on a statistical error.

The Institute of Medicine did a re-evaluation of the data and found that 8,895 IU/day was needed for 97.5% of individuals to achieve values ≥50 nmol/L. Another study confirmed that 6,201 IU/day was needed to achieve 75 nmol/L and 9,122 IU/day was needed to reach 100 nmol/L.

 

Vitamin D Roles

Vitamin D plays a very important role in our immune health including decreased risk of cancer, bone health, and might play some role in the prevention and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, multiple sclerosis, and other medical conditions.
 

Action Steps

1. If you haven't had your vitamin D measured in the last 6 months ask your doctor to do this. Yes, we can very easily order this for you in the office!
2. If you are currently taking vitamin D INCREASE the dosage! Taking at least 5,000 IU/day is my standard recommendation. I personally typically take up to 10,000 because my levels were below 30.
3. Get your body out in the sun! 15- 20 minutes in non-peak hours with exposure to the arms, legs and if you can get your trunk exposed great! (Avoid between 10 AM - 2PM). Also make sure you have a brimmed hat on to protect your face.
4. Remember that during the winter months the sun is lower in the sky so it is often necessary to supplement if you are not already. I have some great products to support your vitamin D levels!
5. To read the article I am quoting visit it here: Vitamin D article

PRP Facials Antiaging at its Best

PRP Facials at Spring Tide Natural Health!

A Non-toxic Alternative to Botox and Fillers 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a treatment that involves purifying your own blood cells with the platelets and growth factors. These blood products stimulate collagen growth & tissue regeneration. It is a wonderful alternative to Botox, fillers, and facelifts. And because it is your own blood there is no toxicity, allergy, or disease issues.

Where Can PRP Be Used for My Treatment?

The main benefit of PRP is that it is your own body tissue. The second great thing about PRP is the number of applications. PRP is used for overall facial skin rejuvenation, fine lines and deep wrinkles, around the eyes, for the cheeks, along the jaw line, acne scars, for the chest and decolletage, hair rejuvenation, and on the back of the hands. The transformation that results takes place over the course of 6 to 12 months and the results can last 12 months to 2 years! 

What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentrated sample of your own blood composed primarily of high levels of platelets. Platelets are a critical component of the wound healing process. Importantly, platelets contain growth factors that are responsible for stimulating tissue generation and repair.1-3 
Harvest PRP delivers a concentration of platelets and growth factors that is roughly 4-6 times
greater than that found in whole blood.4,5 This means that you gain the benefit of a more concentrated product yielding better results than many of the systems available.

How is PRP Made?

Preparation of PRP is a simple procedure that can be performed in the office. I will draw a small volume of your blood at the time of treatment. The blood is placed in a specialized centrifuge that spins and automatically separates the red blood cells from the plasma. The plasma is then further centrifuged to concentrate the autologous platelets and hence your natural growth factors. The PRP is then available for me to use for the facial treatment. The entire process takes about 20 minutes and adds no extra time to the procedure.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is made from a small sample of your own blood (approximately 1.5 - 2 oz.). The process concentrates the platelets found in the blood sample. These concentrated platelets contain huge reservoirs of growth factors. Growth factors are natural components of your body. Clinical data has shown that growth factors may enhance and accelerate your body’s normal healing process.1-3,6.

What are Growth Factors?

Growth factors are necessary to initiate tissue repair and regeneration at the wound site. Growth factors derived from platelets are responsible for soft tissue repair, bone regeneration, development of new blood vessels, and stimulation of the wound healing process.1-3 The highly concentrated level of growth factors found in Harvest PRP may optimize conditions for healing.4,5 

The Benefits of the Harvest System
 
Why is Harvest PRP preferred over Other Products or Methods? Harvest PRP delivers the optimal concentration of platelets to promote accelerated healing.4,5 Harvest PRP contains elevated levels of all your naturally occurring growth factors; these growth factors are maintained in precisely the same ratios found circulating in your body. Many other products simply don’t deliver platelets an growth factors at high enough concentrations. 

 Is PRP Right for You?

PRP is a fantastic treatment if you are looking for a non-toxic alternative to Botox or fillers, you want that youthful and healthy looking skin (results vary depending on skin maturity), you have acne scars, you want to feel great about yourself. PRP can also be combined with Prolozone treatment to help with joint repair and adds significant improvement in healing. 

PRP Facial Options

PRP Facelift involves injections of the highly-concentrated PRP into targeted areas of the face needing a skin rejuvenation treatment. Areas would include the under the eyes, crows feet, forehead lines, furrow lines, smile lines, and scars. This is a targeted treatment and can result in significant smoothing of the skin resulting in a beautiful youthful look .

 
PRP Micro-needling:  The PRP solution is applied to the skin in the desired treatment area and micro-needling is used to drive the PRP solution deep into the dermis. Common treatment areas include the face, neck, chest, hands, scalp (for hair), scarred skin, or other desired treatment areas – to erase wrinkles, scars, and pigmentation and create a more youthful, healthy look.


References (thanks to Harvest)
(1) Barrientos, S. et al., Growth factors and cytokines in wound healing. Wound Repair and
Regeneration, 2008; 16: 585-601.
(2) Nurden, A. et al., Platelets and wound healing. Frontiers in Bioscience. 2008; 13: 3525-3548.
(3) Zhang, N. et al., Research progress in the mechanism of effect of PRP in bone deficiency healing.
The Scientific World Journal, 2013; 2013: Article ID 134582.
(4) Kevy, S. and Jacobson, M. Comparison of methods for point of care preparation of autologous
platelet gel. JECT, 2004; 36: 28-35.
(5) Marx, RE. Platelet-rich plasma: Evidence to support its use. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2004; 62:489-
496.
(6) Marx, RE. Platelet-Rich Plasma: A source of multiple autologous growth factors for bone grafts.
In: Lynch SE, Genco RJ, Marx RE, eds. Tissue Engineering: Applications in Maxillofacial Surgery and Peridontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc.; 1999; 71-82.

Epigenetics or in my term Energenetics

I recently became aware of a video on-line of Jeffrey Bland discussing genetics and their role in our health. I have long believed that energies, foods and lifestyle affect gene expression and now research is coming out verifying this. The food we eat, how it was grown or made and our attitudes all affect our health. We are not pre-disposed to disease, it is a function of the messages our genes get. You can change your life! Take a look at this short video, a talk given by Jeffrey Bland, to learn more.

10 Things You CAN Recycle!

Health is dependent upon our environment in addition to what we put into our bodies. In an attempt to help keep the environment clean I recycle as much as I can and am always looking for new things that they accept. I recently got something in the mail that caught my attention with regard to recycling and I wanted to pass it on to you. Here is the list, compliments of Green America.

Appliances - many stores will take your old appliance when you purchase a new one. Goodwill accepts working appliances or contact the Steel Recycling Institute if you have a non-functioning appliance.

Athletic Shoes - One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America and Haiti. Nike reuses old shoes to make playground and athletic flooring.

Batteries - Contact Battery Recycling.

Clothes - Take wearable clothes to Goodwill, Salvation Army or any other re-sale shop or shelter. Take wearable women's business clothing to the nonprofit Dress for Success.

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs - Ikea accepts CFLs for recycle. Sylvania will provide a RecyclePak.

Computers and Electronics - Click here to find the most responsible recyclers.

Foam Packing Peanuts - Many pack-and-ship stores accept peanuts. You may also call Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council to find a drop-off site, 800-828-2214. Contact the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers to find a drop off place for foam blocks, 410-451-8340.

Ink & Toner Cartridges - www.recycleplace.com

Oil - Find information for the used motor oil hot lines at their website. This is state dependent.

Phones - Collective Good refurbishes your phone and sells it to someone in a developing country. Call to Protect reprograms cell phones to dial 911 and gives them to domestic violence victims.

Help keep our world a better place by utilizing as many of these resources as possible so that we can all have a healthier life.

Aspartame - Food or Poison?

My friend and a local hypnotherapist, Susan Bishop, brought this question that was posted in the SF Chronicle to my attention today. The topic is Aspartame, an artificial sweetener used in many diet sodas, Nutrasweet and Equal. To see the original post click here.

Q: I heard someplace that aspartame, an ingredient in NutraSweet, is good for controlling ants. Is this true? P.B., San Francisco

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A: Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in NutraSweet, Equal and some diet drinks. It is a very powerful ant and mouse killer. Carpenter ants and mice will eat powdered aspartame, but small ants like it mixed with apple juice and honey. You can also pour it on an ant mound and slightly dampen it with water. Aspartame is also good for attracting yellow jackets to a trap if you mix it in a fruit juice.

This product is controversial as the FDA refused to approve it for human consumption in the 1970s because of studies linking it to brain tumors, neurological disorders and death in laboratory animals. However, it was eventually determined to be safe in humans. Because it is an effective insecticide and rodenticide, I cannot see any justification for human consumption. Pesticides are considered safe by some government agencies, but they are not safe. Neither is aspartame, in my opinion.

We have known that Aspartame is linked to many cancers and health issues but I was unaware of its use as a pesticide. I commend Richard Fagerlund, the author of this column, in pointing out that aspartame is not safe, in any capacity.

The next time you want to drink a diet soda consider the above and think twice. Go for the water instead.

Psoriasis drug off the market - What are your options?!?

The beginning of this month there was a press release from the FDA taking Genentech's psoriasis drug, Raptiva, off the market. Here is the start of the press release:

"Today, Genentech, the manufacturer of the psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab), announced that it has begun a voluntary, phased withdrawal of the product from the U.S. market. The company is taking this action because of a potential risk to patients of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, serious, progressive neurologic disease caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system. By June 8, 2009, Raptiva will no longer be available in the United States."

To read the rest of this release click here.

Because this drug was taken off of the market many people may be looking for alternative treatments for psoriasis. Chinese medicine, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine all offer excellent alternatives to taking drugs that pose harmful risks.

When our primary routes of elimination (digestive tract, kidneys, lungs) are overburdened with both external and internal wastes the secondary routes of elimination (skin and mucous membranes) are enlisted. This is when we start seeing things such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. This is also an indication that the body is out of balance and needs some help to restore the balance. When working with my clients we start with the basics: diet, sleep, exercise and fluid intake. In addition we focus on decreasing inflammation in the body. After we put these foundations in place we typically add homeopathy, acupuncture and/ or Chinese formulas. Skin disorders can be challenging but by using natural medthods, such as those mentioned above, great improvement can be seen over time. Remember, there is no magic bullet but there are excellent options to support your body.

Sunflower Pate

I recently had an open house at my clinic. When I have an event I like to make foods that are good yet healthy for you. For the open house I decided to make sunflower pate. I got this recipe from my great friend Lolly who went to Bauman College in Santa Cruz. This was one of their recipes. It is a great hors d'oeuvre for vegetarians and non-vegs alike. It has a unique and delicious flavor. Here is the recipe...

Sunflower Pate

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 onion -- peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons tamari soy sauce

1/2 potato -- peeled and diced

1/4 cup rice flour

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1 clove garlic

3/4 teaspoon dried herbs of your choice (sage, basil, oregano, marjoram) (or one tablespoon fresh herbs)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process all ingredients in a food processor until very smooth. Pour mixture into two greased 6 x 3 inch fruitcake loaf pans.

Bake until set, about one hour. Cook thoroughly.

This is delicious on rice crackers.