Vitamin Deficiency and Nutrient Epidemic; Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Health Tip:

As it gets colder and you start bundling up, make sure you still find ways to get sunshine and stay active!  Your body makes Vitamin D by exposure of fats in your skin to UVB rays from the sun.  We’ve all heard that Vitamin D (which is more of a hormone than a vitamin!) helps boost our immune system so make it a point to get that sunshine!

Monthly Article:

Below is a portion of a very good article by Dr. Daniel Pompa.

The Vitamin Deficiency and Nutrient Epidemic

Jul 25, 2014 | Posted by Dr. Daniel Pompa, D.C., D.PSc.

The Vitamin Deficiency Epidemic: In a perfect world, the air would be clean, our oceans and water supplies free of pollution, and everyone would get their vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced organic diet and plenty of sunshine. Considering the following wide-spread vitamin deficiencies, however, this is not the case. Most Americans are deficient in the very vitamins and minerals essential for basic body function. But vitamin deficiencies are not at the root of modern disease: the source is toxin-driven inflammation. To truly impact health, underlying inflammation must be decreased. Vitamins and minerals play a key role in this process. High-quality supplements provide nutrients missing from the diet which activate and support the body’s God-given ability to heal….

Vitamin D

Three quarters of the American population is deficient in vitamin D. This essential vitamin plays a significant role in many body functions including bone formation, calcium absorption, cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and decreasing inflammation. Low vitamin D levels are linked to an increased risk of major diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative conditions. A low vitamin D level also predisposes you to various autoimmune disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes.

Vitamin D is proof that God knew what he was doing: the darker your skin, the more sun exposure is needed to raise your vitamin D levels. In the past, people with dark skin lived near the sunny equator, and could be out in the sun all day long. The problem today is that many darker-skinned people live in cloudy regions with little sun, so they easily become deficient. An increased risk of deficiency in turn leads to an increased risk of other diseases associated with a low vitamin D level.

In the past, doctors warned individuals to not supplement with vitamin D, stating it could cause cancer, hip fractures, or be easily overdosed and built-up in the body because it is fat soluble. Fat soluble vitamins do stay in the body longer than water soluble vitamins, which flush out of your system and are hard to take in excess. God designed fat soluble vitamins to remain in the body longer because we need them so much. The problem is that fat soluble vitamins (others include K, A, and E) all compete for the same cell receptors. When one vitamin is blocked by another competing vitamin, a functional deficiency occurs. This is why taking a fat soluble vitamin supplement that only contains vitamin D, for example, puts you at risk for deficiency of other fat soluble vitamins.

What is the best way to maintain adequate vitamin D levels? Get in the sun! If we’re not getting enough sunlight, our body is not producing enough vitamin D. And unless you’re eating a diet full of fatty fish and grass-fed dairy products, you’re not getting enough vitamin D from your diet, so time spent in the sun is crucial. Do not stay inside all day and coat yourself in toxic sunscreen before you walk out of the door. Many people today are deficient in vitamin D because they are constantly slathering on sunscreen, fearful of media warnings that the sun causes skin cancer. Have you noticed that the more sunscreen we use the more skin cancer we observe? I believe the sun can actually prevent skin cancer and other diseases. Don’t be fooled: we absolutely need sunlight to be healthy. Shea butter and coconut oil contain SPF and are good natural alternatives to toxic sunscreen, and wearing hats and protective clothing is important as well.

If you can’t get enough sunlight, consider taking a high-quality vitamin D supplement. An effective supplement is balanced with other fat soluble vitamins. If you are taking a vitamin D supplement that does not contain vitamins A, K2, and E you will eventually create a functional deficiency. Do not waste money on a supplement that does not contain other fat soluble vitamins at the proper ratios for absorption. I take a vitamin D supplement made by Systemic Formulas, which can be taken in pill or liquid form (for those with absorption issues). The average person can take 5,000 to 6,000 units daily, but those who are severely deficient may need more. Periodically, I recommend taking a high dose once or twice a week, up to 100,000 units, but dosage is at your health practitioner’s discretion.

Recipe of the Month:

This recipe has been requested again!  Dr. Smith had a little fun with some alterations.  The recipe below is the original.  Below the original is how she altered it as well as possible future ideas.  Have an idea?  Please share!!

Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

2 ½ Cups blanched almond flour

¼ tsp. sea salt

¼ tsp. baking soda

1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped

5 Tbsp. honey

½ cup salted butter, melted (if unsalted butter, add ¼ tsp. salt)

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1.) In large bowl combine almond flour, salt, baking soda and pecans

2.) In a smaller bowl, mix together honey, butter and vanilla

3.) Mix wet ingredients into dry

4.) Place dough in the center of a large piece of parchment paper and form into a large log approximately 2 ½ inches in diameter.

5.) Place in freezer for one hour, until firm, unwrap and cut into ¼ inch thick slices

6.) Place slices on a parchment lined baking sheet

7.) Bake at 350° until lightly golden, 7-10 minutes

8.) Cool completely and serve 

Variations!!

Holiday cookies: I added ¼ tsp of Almond extract, decreased vanilla to ¾ tsp, ¾ cup toasted pecans, 1/3 cup dried cranberries chopped, 4 drops orange essential oil.  I kept the rest the same and they were so yummy!!

Other ideas we came up with but have not tried yet:  Lemon Poppy seed; Chocolate Cherry; Thieves with candied ginger.  Essential oils from Young Living in the “Vitality” line are perfect for using in cooking as they are safe for internal use.  And they taste amazing!

Upcoming Activities and Announcements:

• Roots to Health talk Tuesday, January 11 at 6:15.  Please sign up at the front desk.  Bring a friend and write a question!  This is a casual time to learn about the real Roots to Health!

• Closed the following days for Christmas break:  Wednesday December 22-Tuesday December 28.

• Purification Time next month!

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