gdp's Comments

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Sun, 2 Nov 2014 06:24:15 +0000

Vitamin D is not in rat poison. And if you have difficultly taking vitamin d, it is most often due to being low in three other nutrients: Vitamin K, Vitamin A and magnesium. Taking these nutrients, being sure to use NATURAL VITAMIN A and not synthetic vitamin A or beta carotene, most often relieves unwellness from vitamin d. I discuss this in MANY MANY threads on the main site. Also, being low all of these nutrients possibly can explain your fibromyalgia symptoms as well. And Vitamin D2 (emphasis on the 2) is synthetic, Vitamin D3 is not. Which is why I insist on Vitamin D3. If you've taken D2 in the past, and taken it at the 'prescription dose' of 50,000 IU's per week (one 50,000 IU capsule per week) this is another likely reason why you feel terrible. Taking D3 and taking it in smaller doses is a way to prevent vitamin D side effects.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Sun, 2 Nov 2014 06:18:39 +0000

A compounding pharmacy can compound just about any nutrient. While the doctor WROTE a 'prescription', that is not really 'prescription vitamin d'. A doctor can write a prescription for just about anything, such as Tylenol. But that does not make Tylenol a prescription drug. Writing a prescription for things that are non-prescription is often just a way to get your insurance to pay for it. And going through a compounding pharmacy for a vitamin that is available over the counter is really just spending what was likely hundreds of dollars on something that would have cost just a few dollars. Seems a bit ridiculous to do something like that.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:55:05 +0000

No, I never said that D2 and D3 can both be prescribed by a doctor. They can't. Only D2 can be (at least in the US- if you are in another country, that may not be the case). I confirmed this with a pharmacist. Injectable Vitamin D3 USED to be available in the US, but not any more. And Vitamin D 1, 25 levels are NOT 'Vitamin D levels', these are entirely different levels that have little relation to 25 OH D levels that measure the Vitamin. And no, your D3 levels did not rise with D2. That is impossible. What almost certainly happened is that your doctor saw you were deficient and gave you a ridiculously inadequate dose of Vitamin D3, such as 1000 or 2000 IU's. Then he retook your Vitamin D level (25OHD) and said, "Oh, no, that Vitamin D3 didn't work. I'm going to have to give you a prescription". So he then gave you 50,000 IU's per week, which is about 7000 IU's a day, and that brought your TOTAL 25OHD level up and he then declared that you 'needed' the prescription in order to raise your levels, when all you needed was the proper dose of the Vitamin, not a different form. But I guarantee that if you look closely at your levels, your Vitamin D2 level was raised after you took the Vitamin D2, as was your TOTAL vitamin D. But your Vitamin D3 level was not raised by taking Vitamin D2. And it was raised by the higher DOSE, not because of the different FORM. If you had taken the same dose of D3, it would have also raised your total level. And no, I've not contradicted myself. More complexity in an issue is not a contradiction. But yes, of course I've oversimplified. I couldn't possibly go into the ENTIRE subject of Vitamin D3 vs D2 in a single blog post. However, what I say is true, although there are exceptions as to who should TAKE vitamin d and who will respond at what dosages and why they don't. Also, if you have a high to high normal PTH level, then you might have parathyroid disease, and the issue of vitamin D becomes more complex because the body purposely tries to keep Vitamin D levels low in order to not have excess calcium deposition from the higher calcium levels, it's a protective mechanism. If you have high normal to high PTH levels, you should make sure you read www.parathyroid.com as they go into great detail about vitamin d in relation to parathyroid disease.

Immune Health Blog : Alkalinize or Die... Really? A Critique of Acid Alkaline Diets.

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:33:00 +0000

Ahh, but I think that you hit the nail on the head. It's the minerals that provide the benefit, not the alkalinity. So, is it 'really' beneficial to be alkaline? Or is it the minerals that give us the benefit? You mentioned that a 'modern person eating a nutrient dense diet who is overly acidic' might need buffering minerals, however, my answer would be that they are probably not eating a nutrient dense diet if they are 'overly acidic', and how did you measure this 'overly acidic' environment? And maybe the only reason that modern people need these extra minerals is that modern diets are denuded of these minerals, and so just need more minerals. But how did you determine that they 'need' to be buffered and 'need' bicarbonate? I can tell you when people need magnesium from their symptoms, but what objective or even subjective determination do you use to know whether people 'need' bicarbonate or to be more alkaline? Interestingly, a ketogenic diet that is heavy in meats and fats and low in starches of any kind, also kills cancer. This is probably the MOST 'acidic' diet that anyone could possibly have. And ketones are highly highly acidic! They are 50 times more acidic than other molecules that effect pH.And the ketosis diet is proving effective at treating Alzheimers, seizures, diabetes, and even in reversing MS. So, if it's 'more healthy' to be more alkaline, then a ketosis diet should be ineffective at best, at worse, it should make them sicker. I'll probably be adding this information about ketones in the article since it's pretty relevant. As I mention in the last paragraph, I think that the advice of those who promote an alkaline diet is good for the most part (except the alkaline water nonsense), I just don't think that their conclusions are based in fact (it makes you more alkaline). And while I've 'heard' that cancer does not live in an alkaline environment, I've seen no actual research that this is true, and the fact that the ketosis diet has been shown to cure or stave off the growth of cancer, somewhat debunks this idea. Interestingly, a study that I read long ago that I can't seem to locate now, showed that green smoothies increased the acidity of the stomach, which is why they can help to relieve heartburn, as does apple cider vinegar and hydrochloric acid tablets. So, if green drinks INCREASE stomach acid, where are we getting this information that they make you more alkaline? And why does apple cider vinegar and HCL tablets improve health? As does drinking lemon juice, Kombucha tea, and lactofermented foods, all of which are acidic. Interestingly, one of the reasons that one takes probiotics is to increase the number of bacteria in the gut that not only help to lactoferment (more acid) in the gut, but they also produce fatty ACIDS and butyric ACID, both which are very healing and anti-inflammatory. So, a healthy stomach is highly acidic, and a healthy gut biome is designed to produce more acid! Plus, again, when you say it 'can't live in an alkaline environment' what does that even mean? The blood pH does not go out of a range between 7.35 to 7.45, so how are they measuring this 'alkaline environment' when urine and saliva are not accurately telling us what the alkalinity of body fluids is? I think that one would need to define what body fluids are alkaline in order to support this hypothesis, because urine, for instance, is often the exact opposite of the body fluids. For instance, if urine is alkaline, could the body be RIDDING itself of excess alkalinity because it's TOO alkaline and needs to be more basic? So measuring the waste products of the body may actually be entirely counter-intuitive. The body may be wanting MORE acid, not less, if it's elimination fluids are alkaline. No one has really answered these questions. What we DO know is that you cannot change the blood pH without getting very very sick, and I have not seen anyone do direct measurements of lymph fluid in order to claim that 'cancer can't live in an alkaline environment'. And since blood and lymph would (presumably) be bathing the cancer, then those would be the fluids that we would need to measure as 'alkaline' or 'acid' to say that 'cancer can't live in an alkaline environment'. And since we know that blood is 7.35- 7.45, then we'd need to measure the pH of lymph fluid that bathes the cancer. As of yet, I know no one that has done that. They seem to translate 'alkaline urine' into 'alkaline environment' in the body, and this is not necessarily true, and actually may be exactly the opposite of reality. Thanks for the thought provoking question.

Immune Health Blog : Age-Related Hearing Loss does NOT have to be Part of Getting Old

Fri, 16 May 2014 15:31:42 +0000

And these factors can be modified by the nutrition that one takes into the body. :)

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Fri, 28 Mar 2014 16:30:25 +0000

Until you have 'optimal' levels as outlined on the Normal Vitamin D Levels page.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:54:50 +0000

Please see my pages on http://www.easy-immune-health.com/worsening-bone-... Worsening pain of any kind can be expected after starting vitamin d therapy. Sometime even after levels have been normal for up to six months. It has NOTHING to do with diabetes and your doctor was just making that up as there is no scientific basis for his belief. In any case, if it WERE a sign of diabetes, there would be no need to stop the vitamin d because of that.

Immune Health Blog : Hospital Laboratory Magnesium Testing Only Catches a Fraction of Magnesium Deficiencies

Sat, 2 Feb 2013 19:46:23 +0000

The best way to know if you are magnesium deficient is by symptoms. You are 'still' magnesium deficient in my book since I consider anything lower than 2.0 'deficient'. That is the level that cardiologists like to keep heart patients at or above. So, regardless of how much you are taking now or what your levels are, unless your symptoms have improved, then I'd still consider you magnesium deficient. Please see my page on Magnesium Dosage to determine the correct dosage for you.

A Division by Zer0 : Why the Non-Aggression Principle is useless as a moral guideline

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:49:43 +0000

Yes, Aggression IS the central core around which political philosophy is constructed, but you are so immune to most forms of violence, especially those enacted by government, that you can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak. But these are the examples of governments and their core principles of aggression: Communism: A small group of powerful people can force everyone to do anything that they want with the idea that equality is the most desired end result Dictatorship: The government is one guy, and he gets to decide on what the use of force will be and who it will be used by and against. Democracy: A majority of the people can decide what force to be used and who it will be used against. Fascism: A small group of people can decide what force to be used and who it will be used against. Libertarianism: A small group of people can decide what force to be used and who it will be used against (with the idea that maximum freedom is desireable). Voluntaryism is the only governmental philosophy whereby the use of force is abhorred. All others just use and delegate the initiation of force to their own needs, as they please. It is the CORE component of every political system. You just can't see it until you get out of that paradigm where force and violence is normal.

A Division by Zer0 : Why the Non-Aggression Principle is useless as a moral guideline

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:40:56 +0000

Bizarre Logic Noor and author, To say that a certain principle is 'useless' because it doesn't answer ALL questions of what to do in certain situations or that some people disagree on specific points makes EVERY principle, political system, or government useless. There is no possibility of one system answering all questions cleanly and with no controversy. That is silly. As for pushing someone out of the way of a bus that is going to kill them, well, most people would not even think about it before pushing their friend out of the way. That's what humans do. Having said that, we have 'good samaritan' laws for a reason. Some assholes sue others for damages in just such situations. So, even our system of justice has not solved that conundrum and none will. As for pushing someone out of your boat in the middle of the ocean, what are those people DOING in your boat in the middle of the ocean? If you invited them, then you have an obligation to get them back to safe harbor before kicking them off (you entered into a contract with them by inviting them onto your boat). If they were pirates who landed there in the middle of the ocean, they you have every right to kick them off and let them die. Where is the controversy here? How is this even an issue to discuss? And that some people ("Hell, even warmongering neocons don't consider war to be necessarily 'aggression") twist the definition of aggression to be 'not agression' isn't a failure of the principle, but the idiots who need to justify their violence. Where is the failure of this principle because 100% of people haven't decided beforehand how it will work exactly in every single situation imaginable? Apparently, you want an excuse to commit violence against others. And a good way to do it is to bash anyone and/or discredit anyone who advocates non-aggression on principle.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 03:55:35 +0000

I don't know why he would tell you to wait a month. Maybe so it will be lower and he won't be in as much trouble? I don't know. In any case, you can get an over the counter vitamin d test HERE. Vitamin D Test But fortunately, if you are not experiencing symptoms and were not taking calcium, you may be just fine. There are several doctors who have ALL of their patients on 50,000 IU's per day and they simply never seem to get toxic as long as they don't take calcium. So, get the test and find out what your level is, but don't panic just yet, you may be absolutely fine.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:45:54 +0000

Sounds like he's severely MAGNESIUM deficient. Low calcium, leg pain, constipation, low vitamin d levels despite supplementation. These are all symptoms of magnesium deficiency. HOWEVER, I am NOT familiar with DiGeorge syndrome and I would have NO IDEA if it's appropriate to give him magnesium with his condition. You may want to discuss the possibility of magnesium supplementation with his doctor. By the way, he does NOT need the D2. D2 is in no way needed in the body. The reason that his D2 level is less than 4 is because he's appropriately taking D3. Ignore the D2 level, which it sounds like you are concerned about, it is meaningless and only measured in case someone is taking supplemental D2.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:38:10 +0000

Hi Patsy, It sounds like your daughter might have a GOITER, which in all cases is due to an Iodine deficiency. You may want to do research on this yourself since doctors will say that they just want to 'watch' a goiter and not do anything about it, when it can be quickly and easily resolved with iodine. Also, if your doctors have not checked her parathyroid hormone when she has had transient elevated calcium levels, then they should be sued for MALPRACTICE when she ends up with osteoporosis down the line. You should INSIST on seeing an endocrinologist and preferably a parathyroid specialist. That's ridiculous that they haven't checked her PTH level when she's had elevated calcium levels.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:34:21 +0000

Please read my pages on http://www.easy-immune-health.com/Overdose-on-Vit... and http://www.easy-immune-health.com/Overdose-on-Vit... . An overdose doesn't happen simply because you take vitamin d and it doesn't get 'flushed' out. You get an overdose because your Vitamin D LEVELS are too high. If you've not had a vitamin d level done, then GET ONE.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:12:38 +0000

Hi Kathryn, I have the proper maintenance dose mentioned probably over 1000 times on my site. Just go look on a few vitamin d pages and you'll find links to the right vitamin d dosage or the Vitamin d therapy page or you'll find some of the over 1000 times that I've already answered that same question if you browse around a bit.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 02:23:09 +0000

Your big problem was thinking that ANYTHING was going to 'be your miracle'. While YES, it's extremely likely that you have a magnesium deficiency as well as your vitamin d deficiency (you MUST be sufficient in magnesium in order to absorb magnesium), it's ALSO likely that you are eating terrible, are probably gluten intolerant and hence aren't absorbing, are eating toxins in your foods, aren't getting omega 3 fatty acids, are still eating 'vegetable oils' that will ruin your health and cause pain, aren't eating enough 'real' food and are still eating processed foods, aren't filtering your water to get all of the chlorine and fluoride out- but you want ONE pill per week for a couple of weeks to fix you! You need to be realistic and take a good hard look at your diet and lifestyle, read my sites and make some SERIOUS SERIOUS changes. No time like the present.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:56:55 +0000

Ummmm, Elisabeth, what part of 'Take Vitamin D3 instead of Prescription Vitamin D' did you somehow hear 'Don't take vitamin d at all??" Your comment makes no sense. I tell people every day to take vitamin d and to get their levels to between 50 to 80 ng/ml. I have NEVER EVER EVER EVER said 'Don't take vitamin d'. The REASON that your multi 'isn't working' (I'm not sure what you are expecting it to 'work' for?) is because it has 400 to 800 IU's of vitamin d. You need to take between 7000 to 10,000 IU's of vitamin D3 per day to bring up your levels. Remember that is Vitamin D3 and NOT prescription vitamin d. However, many of your symptoms are likely due to magnesium deficiency as well, and you are going to feel HORRIBLE if you don't start taking magnesium like I outline OVER AND OVER again on my site.

Immune Health Blog : Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice...

Sat, 3 Sep 2011 15:03:49 +0000

It\\\'s not that the d3 isn\\\'t \\\'working\\\' for you, it\\\'s that you are not taking enough. When they take you \\\'off the d2\\\' as you say, then you are taking less total vitamin d. Just take a higher total amount of d3, It\\\'s probably bouncing around so much because vitamin d2 has a shorter \\\'half life\\\'. It wears off quicker. Take the proper amount of d3 and it\\\'ll last longer in your system and won\\\'t bounce around all over the place so quickly.

Immune Health Blog : Alkalinize or Die... Really? A Critique of Acid Alkaline Diets.

Tue, 24 May 2011 23:38:22 +0000

Oh, and by the way. Another reason that I determined that this was complete hogwash was because, being an ER nurse, I was in the unique position of being able to test dozens of urine samples every day. And the results of testing the urine of the sickest people and the healthiest people that came into the ER door was that it was COMPLETELY RANDOM what the pH was. I might have a kid with a cut finger and a lady on a ventilator with the same urine pH. Then one kid who fell off a skateboard might have a pH of 5 or 6 while the next kid the same age who fell off his skateboard had a pH of 8. There was simply ZERO correlation between the pH of 'healthy' people and EXTREMELY sick people. Sorry, but I'll take my sampling of hundreds of healthy and sick people versus your sample of TWO anyday....

Immune Health Blog : Alkalinize or Die... Really? A Critique of Acid Alkaline Diets.

Tue, 24 May 2011 23:28:50 +0000

So, you are saying that you can alkalinize the digestive tract without alkalinizing the body? And you are saying that the 'residue' in the digestive tract is alkaline or acid? And THAT has something to do with health? HOGWASH!!! Please read the works of Weston A. Price. This alkaline/acid bunk was being thrown around during his time too and the PERFECTLY HEALTHY native cultures that he studied ate MASSIVELY 'acid forming' foods like butter, eggs, meat, etc.- sometimes to the exclusion of everything else and sometimes saw ZERO vegetables for much of their lives. But as long as they didn't eat PROCESSED FOODS they remained healthy. It's SUGAR that caused your cancer, as many studies have shown, NOT 'acid forming foods', whatever that means. So, sorry but YOU are confusing your science. Stop eating sugar and processed foods and cancer rates will go down dramatically. Dr. Price thoroughly debunked this. As far as you 'not believing me' about people with BLOOD ph's just SLIGHTLY outside the range of 7.35-7.45 being VERY sick, that's your problem. Ask ANY respiratory threapist, ICU or ER doctor or ICU nurse and they will tell you the exact same thing. If your BLOOD ph range is even SLIGHTLY outside the norm, there is something VERY wrong and you will be very sick. I WORKED with Arterial Blood Gas measurements for OVER A DECADE- so I have some authority on this, and it's why I began questioning this 'alkaline/acid' thing to begin with. As I get more and more experience working with actual people, the more I disbelieve the theory. It doesn't work in real life, people who eat 'acid forming' foods but not processed foods can be ENTIRELY healthy and have ZERO cancer rates, no heart disease, no diabetes and little degenerative disease in general. Sorry, go back to the drawing board. It's PROCESSED food that is the problem, and that has ZERO to do with 'alkaline/acid' balance. So, please show me your independant peer reviewed studies that show that "it has indeed been demonstrated over and over again that a too acidic body provides a lovely environment for cancers". You HAVE no peer reviewed studies on this, just a bunch of people who 'believe' it. It's a belief and not science. Good luck.