Adaptation of Inuit children to a low-calcium diet. Canadian Medical Association Journal April, 2003
Elizabeth A.C. Sellers, Atul Sharma, Celia Rodd

Remember, in science, the QUESTION, INTERPRETATION, AND APPLICATION are EVERYTHING. Conducting a research study is elementary. It is the formulation of the question and the accurate interpretation and application of the results that requires intellect, knowledge, and, most importantly, ethics.

Just to give you an idea of how important it is to READ the methodology section and to be able to pose the RIGHT QUESTION, ensure the conclusion is based ONLY on the question posed, and to accurately INTERPRET and APPLY the results, let’s look at a study regarding calcium supplementation in Inuit children.

First, of these 10 "healthy children" 4 had appendix removed, 2 had been treated for cutaneous infection, one had tonsils removed, two were healing from fractured bones, and one had developmental delay. That means ten out of ten had health issues YET these kids were described as HEALTHY subjects. The truth is that all the subjects were from a hospital - who goes to a hospital if they are healthy??

They then fed these kids calcium (from rocks NOT from vegetables or red meat - i.e. blood) and lo and behold the kids had issues. They then concluded that caution should be taken when recommending the standard North American diet to Inuits (I agree, NOBODY should follow these recommendations). They hypothesize that this is because the Inuit have genetically adapted (bb vit D receptor genotype) to low calcium diets and are able to absorb calcium better and thus recommending the North American food guideline calcium daily intake amount may be harmful. These Inuit children had a higher distribution of the bb vit D receptor genotype than whites but similar to many Asians.

View Full Post >>>

The following study on the risk of melanoma from tanning was recently published in the journal of Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The findings are worth a discussion and I have provided both some quotes from the study and some commentary.

Lazovich et al. Indoor Tanning and Risk of Melanoma: A Case-Control Study in a Highly Exposed Population. Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 2010 19 (6); 1557-68

"Our study has several important findings. First, we found that melanoma occurred more frequently among indoor tanners compared with persons that never engaged in this activity."

"Second, we found a strong dose-response relationship between melanoma risk measured by total hours, sessions, or years."

"Third, we found an increased risk of melanoma with use of each type of tanning device as well as with each period of tanning use, suggesting that no device could be considered "safe".

View Full Post >>>

1. Understand that genetically humans require sunlight exposure for wellness and prevention. Research is clear that sun exposure is healthy, it is sunburns that are unhealthy.
2. Make sure that on the days that you do not have adequate amounts of sun exposure that you supplement with vitamin D. Visit www.innatechoice.com for information on The World's Premier vitamin D supplements.
3. The best approach is to expose as much of your skin as possible to the sun FOR A CONTROLLED AMOUNT OF TIME and then to put on protective clothing.  Sunsuits are great for kids, they are cool in the heat, they are great to swim in, and they dry off quickly.
4. START SLOWLY and gradually increase the amount of time you are in the sun.  Start with 5-10 minute exposures and when you start to darken GRADUALLY increase that time.

 

View Full Post >>>

Boffetta, P. Fruit and vegetable intake and overall cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) J Natl Cancer Inst 2010;102 (8):1-9

The above study has created a lot of discussion about the importance, or lack thereof, of fruit and vegetable intake. Once again this situation points out the importance of both reading the full study and also knowing how to critique the scientific methodology.

First of all let's start by quoting the actual study. The study itself reports a STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT reduction in cancer risk with increased intake of fruits and vegetables.

View Full Post >>>

The issue of Vitamin D deficiency as a major causal factor in immune system related illnesses ranging from seasonal cold and flu, to heart disease, to cancer, to atopic and autoimmune disorders has received a lot of attention in the last few years. Clinical journals as well as the mainstream media have been reporting evidence that modern industrialized humans are severely deficient in Vitamin D and that this deficiency is a major contributing factor to illness and lack of health and vitality.

What does vitamin D do and why is it so important for wellness and prevention? Before we discuss the evidence regarding vitamin D sufficiency and health and vitamin D deficiency and illness let's first look at the basic science regarding the importance of vitamin D for human immune function and health. A basic understanding of why vitamin D is a genetic human requirement for wellness and prevention will allow greater understanding of why vitamin D supplementation is required.

View Full Post >>>

James L. Chestnut B.Ed., M.Sc., D.C., C.C.W.P.

The H1N1 issue has become so prevalent that I thought it appropriate to share some factual perspective. I realize that factual perspective is neither newsworthy nor popular when people are in the midst of a mob mentality of fear but I'm willing to risk unpopularity in order to encourage people to be guided by science, reason, and logic.

As you've heard me say so many times the key to finding the truth is asking the right questions. If we don't ask the right questions we will never get the right answers. Irrational fear usually comes from asking the wrong questions or failing to ask the right ones. As I often point out it is not what we don't know that poses the greatest danger, it is what we think we know that is false. We also must be aware of confounding factors creating self fulfilling prophecies. Sometimes fear is rational, sometimes it is not. Regardless, the most important thing is to ACCURATELY assess the threat and then identify an evidence-based, logical, reasonable, and RATIONAL response or course of action.

View Full Post >>>