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Toddler Vitamins and Calcium to Prevent Cold and Flu

Q. Could you recommend a good toddler multivitamin and a toddler calcium supplement for my 2 year to keep her immune system strong against cold and flu? She does eat her fruits and veggies.

A. I'm so glad your little daughter is eating her fruits and veggies! I hope she keeps eating lots of them over the years. I would like to make a few suggestions for you to consider.

These are all important nutrients that are often difficult to obtain from diet alone. I would suggest you give this a try for her. Here is a link you can review:

• Multi-Vitamin & Mineral by ChildLife - I would recommend giving her 2 tsp a day with a meal. It's more complete than most children's vitamins because it contains vitamin K, choline, and selenium.

In addition to this, I would suggest adding this mineral formula to help support her bone growth, and the additional vitamin D can also help her immune function:

• Cal/Mag w/Cofactors by Pure Encapsulations - this is a powder formula that you mix with water. It is sweetened with Xylitol, which is a sugar alcohol (though no alcohol in it). Xylitol also help prevent dental carries, so an added benefit. The minerals are highly absorbable, and well utilized by the bones. If she has little calcium sources in her diet, you might want to give her 1 scoop a day (divided in 2 doses), but if she has a fair amount of dietary calcium, then 1/2 scoop a day. Additional vitamin D in this will also help support her immune system.

• Baby Vitamin D drops - one drop a day can also help further support her immune system and growth. However, she may be getting exposed to sunlight daily when she is playing outside, so if this is the case, you may not want to give her these drops on those days. You can use 1-2 drops a day. We are finding that many people do not get enough vitamin D and need to supplement. Weakened immune systems often result from a deficient amount of vitamin D.

• Muco Coccinium, is fine if you would like to continue though cold and flu season, though it is coming to an end soon.

• HLC High Potency probiotic - 1/4 tsp a day is a good maintenance dose, and you can increase this if she starts to feel poorly to 1/2 tsp once or twice a day.

Best Calcium Formula With Vitamin D3 For Bones

Q. I need a good calcium bone supplement. I heard taking D3 is more important than taking calcium and that I should take 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3. Is this true?

A. It is important to consume both calcium and D3. The special function of vitamin D is to promote normal bone mineralization. It helps to make calcium and phosphorus available in the blood that bathes the bones, to be deposited as the bones harden or mineralize. Vitamin D is a member of a large and cooperative bone making team composed of nutrients and other compounds, including vitamins A, C, and K. As we age our bones go through a constant re-mineralization process, which involves vitamin D, the parathyroid hormone (PTH), estrogen, and calcium!

Vitamin D raises blood concentrations of these minerals in three ways.

1. It simulates their absorption from the GI tract.
2. It stimulates their retention by the kidneys.
3. It helps to withdraw these minerals from the bones into the blood or to deposit them into the bone.

In the bone, it functions in conjunction with PTH and estrogen to regulate the mobilization and deposition of calcium and phosphorus. These activities are coordinated with the purpose of maintaining plasma calcium within a narrow range of concentration. The star of the show is calcium itself! Vitamin D is the director.

Without calcium from food and/or supplements, the PTH would receive signals to pull calcium from the bone to keep blood levels within normal ranges! Low dietary calcium & vitamin D leads to osteoporosis.

Vitamin D becomes more important as we age, because the intestinal process of absorbing calcium slows as we age, vitamin D plays an adaptational role by increasing the efficiency of intestinal calcium absorption in the lower half of the small bowel, especially when dietary calcium isn't adequate. However, even the active form of vitamin D is much less effective in improving intestinal calcium absorption by women a decade or so after the onset of menopause, even if vitamin D (calcitriol) levels are elevated. This is why many women go on Boniva or other medications to protect their bones in their later years. However, vitamin D & calcium is still important to maintain.

It is not true that everyone needs such a high dose of vitamin D, needing a higher dose is determined by getting your blood levels of vitamin D checked. If your levels come up low, then you need to supplement with a higher dose of vitamin D (> than 1000 IU/day). As of now, it is being recommended for people to get about 1000 IU of vitamin D a day if their levels are within normal ranges, in addition to their calcium from food and supplements.

Here is a good calcium supplement to take:

OsteoForce by DFH - it contains minerals we don't necessarily get in sufficient quantities in our diet, which also play a role in bone health.

You Are Simply the Best!

Dear Julie, thank you for your priceless attention and recommendation to my daughter’s health. She has been doing so great since she started taking the supplements, no more colds, eating much better, just a huge improvement!! I have to say that we are now addicted to your services!! - Susane, Coral Gable FL

Correcting Vitamin D deficiency with the right type of Vitamin D

Q. Since July I have low Vitamin D levels (lab values 17 & 23 ng/ml) even with Rx supplementation of Vitamin D ergocalciferol. What can you recommend?

A. I have to say ergocalciferol (D2) form of Vitamin D is not the best form to be taking to correct a Vitamin D deficiency. Your Vitamin D level should never be below 32 ng/ml.

VITAMIN D3 (Cholecalciferol) is the biologically active form of Vitamin D. Cholecalciferol is a pro-hormone that has multiple roles in maintaining bone mineralization and serum calcium levels. Active Vitamin D induces proteins that serve to enhance calcium transport across intestinal mucosal cells. In response to low serum calcium, Vitamin D also stimulates calcium re-absorption in the renal tubules to help maintain calcium levels.

There are two types of Vitamin D supplements: Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which comes from fish oil or lanolin (from sheep), and plant source D2 (ergocalciferol), which is found in fortified foods and some supplements. D2, found in plants and made active by irradiation, is less biologically active.

Vitamin D3 is found in eggs, organ meats, animal fat, cod liver oil, and fish. It is the equivalent to the Vitamin D3 formed on your skin from UV-B. You should stay away from high dose synthetic D2 as it has been shown to be toxic at the higher dose ranges.

There are additional reasons why Vitamin D2 has a greater potential for harm. First, Vitamin D binding protein has a weaker affinity for the Vitamin D2 metabolites than Vitamin D3. Second, unique, biologically active metabolites are produced in your body from Vitamin D2, but there are no analogous metabolites derived from Vitamin D3.

In summary for these reasons, you will only want to use Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) - Vitamin D Supreme by DFH

You should be taking a higher dose of Vitamin D3 (10,000 IU /day - 15,000 IU) and getting at least 10-20 minutes of sunlight daily to help you get your levels up. Making sure you are taking calcium along with it is recommended, and continue to go to your doctor to get your Vitamin D levels monitored.

Natural Treatment for Vaginal Dryness and Hormonal Balance

Q. What natural cream for vaginal dryness do you recommend for post menopausal vaginal dryness? Do you offer anything that wouldn't burn?

A. Are you in your menopausal years? If so, you might want to give this product a try to help with hormonal balance, as vaginal dryness often occurs as the menopausal years come to pass:

Isogen Forte Cream by Genestra - this combines high concentrations of soy isoflavones and wild yam extracts specifically developed to assist with progesterone and estrogen balance. Isogen Forte Cream is indicated for premenstrual and menopausal symptoms, including irritability, fatigue, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, depression, weight gain and edema, and is recommended for osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and postpartum depression. Isogen Forte Cream can be used everyday for the entire menstrual cycle instead of using specific products to offset hormone dominance.

• Massage Isogen Forte Cream into soft tissue areas, such as breasts, under arms, inner arms or thighs, wrist area or abdomen. Apply to a new area each day on a four day rotation to avoid saturation of fat cells.

  Contraindications
  Estrogen-sensitive cancers due to isoflavones.

Other directly helpful products are these:

Vitamin E Suppositories by WWH - Vitamin E (natural D-alpha tocopherol) (318 iu in each suppository) in a cocoa butter base. Use these vaginally at night at bedtime for best results.

If you are menopausal, these can be used topically,

Personal Lubricant with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E - natural personal lubricant for vaginal dryness due to Menopause or other vaginal irritations. Or if you are younger try this:

Natural Lubricant with Vitamin E - to relieve the mild dryness that sometimes occurs during your menstrual cycle or after childbirth. This lubricant is free of mineral oil or petroleum distillates. Its water-based formula protects a woman's delicate vaginal balance.

Affects of Leaving Protein Drinks Out or Mixing With Foods

Q. I used some Whey Cool powder as part of an icing for a cookie that tasted great. Does the powder lose any biological value when made into a frosting, and how long can it sit out once it is mixed?

A. Sounds like you are getting creative with your Whey Cool! It will lose some of it's biological value if you add it to anything hot. If your frosting wasn't heated, it will be fine. I would also suggest covering your cookies with foil and/or an air-tight container to keep the air out, as when whey is exposed to air, it will experience some loss of potency. I don't really know how long it can be left out, but if it is is an hour or less as frosting, it will probably be fine. You should also refrigerate your cookies as I think it would keep better if kept cool.

They say when you mix it into a shake, it should be consumed within about 1/2 hour so you are consuming it at it's prime potency. So you might want your cookies to cool before adding the frosting, let it set for about 10 minutes, then cover and refrigerate.

Regaining Lost Pounds Through Healthy Weight Gain

Q. I was wondering if you recommend anything for someone who is losing weight and needs to gain it back.

A. What I would recommend is to make a protein shake each day for a snack, in addition to your meals, to help you get additional calories for weight gain and a good quality protein to preserve your muscles.

We have 2 excellent whey proteins:

One is called PaleoMeal (this is also fortified with some vitamins, minerals and enzymes).

The other is called Whey Cool (this is just pure protein powder). Please see the Whey Cool link I provided to read more about these high quality proteins, and the Whey Cool page has a video featuring Annika Rockwell, CN, demonstrating how to use this product to make a healthy smoothie.

She also references other products you can use to add nutrients to your smoothie such as Paleogreens and Paleoreds, DFH fish oils and Paleofiber, and an opportunity to buy all these products in one Whey Protein Smoothie Power Pack.

If you do not know why you are losing weight, I would recommend you be evaluated by your doctor to make sure there is not an underlying medical reason causing you to lose weight.

Help For Dogs With Hip Problems That Have Allergies

Q. My dog Pepper, a 16 year old mixed Black Labrador, suffers from a hip problem. Recently, she is taking Glyco-Flex III pills, but she throws up. She is allergic to shellfish and I learned that Glucosamine is sourced from the shells of shrimp, lobster, and crab. Can you recommend products without glucosamine?

A. Unfortunately, labs often have hip problems with age. She must have a pretty severe allergy to shellfish because most people with shellfish allergies can handle glucosamine just fine, unless their allergy is very severe.

Do you know if she can handle shark cartilage? If so, you might want to give this product a try:

DGP by American BioSciences. There are no crustaceans in this product and it is for joint pain, function and mobility, as many of the ingredients help reduce inflammation in joints, as well as other areas of the body.

• Give dogs one tablet for every 30 lbs. of body weight daily.

Also are you giving her fish oil or flaxseed oil? If not, you could also give her one of these oils mixed with her food:

Pet Cod Liver Oil. You might try this product if she tolerates fish.

Dogs

• 0–20 lbs. ........1/4 teaspoon
• 20–55 lbs........1/2 teaspoon
• over 55 lbs......1 teaspoon

Apply oil onto food, or serve by itself. Refrigerate after opening. Use within twelve (12) weeks of opening.

If she cannot tolerate fish, then give her Flaxseed oil.

• 1 Tbsp daily by itself or mix with food.

Another tip is to get unflavored gelatin from the grocery store and mix it with her
food. Gelatin also helps arthritic joints.

Benefits of Green Superfood Drinks

Q. What are the benefits of taking a green superfood drink? If I already eat enough vegetables, are they necessary? I've heard some brands contain mostly fillers such as rice bran and lecithin. Which do you think is the best one in terms of the combination between nutritional density, taste, and price. I've tried a couple that just tasted like swamp water.

A. Green superfood drinks provide additional antioxidant support and nutrients to help aid the body's protection of cellular damage, and the nutrients are important to support the liver's detoxification process. Overall, these greens help the body maintain a more alkaline pH, which results in lowered risk for disease and lessens the burden of many of our organs to function in a healthier way. Enzymes that are provided in these green drinks help clean up unnecessary waste products and reduce inflammation in the body which can burden the body's overall health over time.

One of our favorites is PaleoGreens because it is made from mostly certified organic ingredients. This comes in lemon-lime or mint flavors. Both are tasty, and sweetened with stevia. The fact that most of the ingredients in this are certified organic is reflected in the price. Design's for Health reports one serving has equivalent antioxidant capacity to 4 servings of vegetables, based on ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity), a USDA-developed method for measuring antioxidant activity.

This is some further information from DFH: "Unlike other greens products, we never add fillers or bulking agents (such as whole grasses, apple fiber or pectin, rice bran, or flax), which can greatly dilute nutritional potency and are a potential source of genetically modified material. Because the cellulose fiber in whole grass is indigestible, it prevents the grass’s valuable phytonutrients from being released in the digestive system." and "No alfalfa, a common ingredient in all other leading brands (which has been shown to cause autoimmune disease)"

Please see the link I've included for this product and to read our many customer reviews. PaleoGreens does contain organic rice flour and unbleached lecithin.

NanoGreens is also a nice greens mix. You get more powder for the money, but it doesn't contain as many certified organic ingredients as PaleoGreens, though many are. There is only one flavor, and it has a mild taste and it is also sweetened with stevia. BioPharma Scientific states that NanoGreens supply the proven phytonutrition / antioxidant power of up to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables of all the colors. This is based on their independent lab test for ORAC values.

NanoGreens does not contain alfalfa either, but it does contain rice bran and lecithin. Both companies are very careful about their formulation techniques and are quality products.

This being said, it is great you are eating vegetables, current ADA recommendations are 9-13 servings daily of fruit and veggies for better health. This is a lot of servings, but if you do not get this in your diet, then you may want to consider supplementing with one of these greens products to get the additional nutritional support.

Help for hand and/or foot fungus

Q. Can you please let me know if there are any Unda numbers that may help with hand/foot fungus?

A. You might want to start with Unda 270 Ointment topically. This ointment is for all skin conditions.

UNDA 270 Ointment contains two primary and powerful botanical herbs, Hypericum perforatum and Equisetum arvense, combined specifically to help relieve skin conditions by increasing elimination through the kidneys. The skin discharges impurities through the kidneys and through perspiration, purifying itself of the poisonous waste collected from the cells. Research has shown that due to its penetrating anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic actions, Hypericum perforatum has an affinity for skin injuries caused by bruises, varicose veins and first-degree burns. Complementary to this, the high silica content found in Equisetum arvense makes it an excellent adjunct for the enhancement of wound healing. Unda 270 Ointment is indicated for all skin conditions such as dry eczema, psoriasis, wounds, chapped hands and diaper rash.

Apply a small amount on the affected area two to three times daily. You may cover affected area with sterile gauze after each application.

You may need to improve the elimination of yeasts/fungus and waste inside your body if the cream isn't enough to improve you skin fungus. I would recommend purchasing a Nutrition Consult to best determine what Unda's and other supplements to start with to improve your situation.

Vitamin D For Celiac Patient Allergic to Lambs Wool Lanolin

Q. I have celiac disease and allergy to lanolin and I am looking for Vitamin D3.

A. Vitamin D3 in Vitamin D3 Liquid by Pure Encapsulations is derived from the cholesterol in lanolin, the fat found in wool. The Medium chain triglycerides (Vitamin D3 liquid only) are derived from coconut and palm oil.

I spoke with the biochemist at Pure Encapsulations, and he assured me that all the lanolin proteins have been removed from the vitamin D in this product, and is should be safe for someone with an allergy to lanolin. He also explained that lanolin is where most vitamin D is sourced from for the supplement industry. He said it is difficult to source naturally from other sources.

You might give this a try and see how you do with it. Another alternative is Cod liver oil is also another natural source of vitamin D and vitamin A, though it has significantly less vitamin D than you find in supplements.