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Vitamin D To Prevent Herpes Outbreaks

By Miguel Gonzalez, MD, FACP, FCCP

Vitamin D Boosts Immune System



Using Vitamin D to prevent herpes is not a new concept.  Studies involving vitamin D have shown that this nutrient plays a key role in optimizing immune system function. A healthy immune system helps fight viruses including the herpes virus, as well as many other infections including colds and flu and chronic diseases like diabetes, heart diseases and cancer. Vitamin D seems to stimulate the production of certain blood cells that play a key role in the health of the immune system. Vitamin D also coordinates the expression of several genes not previously believed to be part of the vitamin D pathway. These genes may also be involved in additional infection fighting pathways.

Prevent Herpes Outbreaks with Vitamin D

Not only is Vitamin D a nutrient, but it is also an important hormone produced by our bodies. Becausethumb_P1010092_1024 only a few foods naturally contain vitamin D, a variety of foods and products have been fortified with Vitamin D. The very best source of vitamin D is from the sun, hence its name “the sunshine vitamin”. Shockingly, the far vast majority of North Americans are vitamin D deficient. This deficiency is linked with close to one hundred health concerns and more is being found about this wonder vitamin each year. Vitamin D may also be helpful in managing the herpes virus, by boosting the immune system and reducing the body’s inflammatory reactions to herpes virus infections.

Vitamin D and Herpes Virus Infections

A study featured in the July 2011 issue of “Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology”, revealed that Vitamin D3 improves herpes virus infection and inflammation in animal subjects. The scientists from Ajou University Institute for Medical Sciences, Korea also noted that vitamin D fought against herpes virus by down-regulating the expression of some receptors called TLR and cytokines, proteins that play a key role in inflammatory processes.

Vitamin D and Herpes Zoster

Shingles or herpes zoster occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox reactivates in your body. This virus reactivation can be triggered by many factors such as diseases, stress, diet or any other condition that weakens the immune system. Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most common symptom of shingles. Post-herpetic neuralgia pain that lasts for more than a month, and sometimes many months after a shingles outbreak has occurred. A study published in December 2009 in “Medical Hypothesis”, showed that post-herpetic neuralgia may benefit from vitamin D. In this study, researchers used high doses of vitamin D applied topically, although they suggested that oral vitamin D may work as well.

Skin exposed to the sun for half an hour, will produce roughly 10,000 IU of vitamin D in your body, which helps to optimize your vitamin D status. However, sun can also trigger the reactivation of the herpes virus. Using sunscreen will block 90% of the vitamin D production, so that doesn’t help. In order to avoid a herpes outbreak caused by too sun exposure or just to keep the herpes virus in check by maintaining optimal Vitamin D levels, you should consider using Vitamin D supplements, either in tablet, liquid or topical form. Generally speaking, you should not take more than 10,000 IU vitamin D per day. Also, be sure to take Vitamin D that also has Vitamin K1 and K2 for better absorption. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out more about the optimal dose needed to prevent or manage herpes virus infections.

I personally recommend a very high quality Vitamin D3 5,000 IU with Vitamin K1 & K2 that I sell at my online store.

References:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vitamin-d/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21269574

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19635651

MCT OIL: Superfood for the Brain

by Miguel Gonzalez, MD, FACP, FCCP…….

 

Medium Chain Triglycerides, or MCTs, are a form of fat found in abundance in breast milk and coconut oil. They are an important source of ketone bodies.  Ketone bodies are a high premium fuel which can be directly utilized by the brain and converted to life giving energy. No sugars required!!

Researchers discovered that our bodies process the MCTs just as they would if they were if they were carbohydrates, not fats. They directly enter the bloodstream and are delivered to the body and brain. Normally, the typical fats such as long chain triglycerides have to be combined with bile in the digestive tract to be metabolized. They then are loaded onto chylomicrons for delivery to the liver. However, the MCT’s bypass the bile, chylomicrons, and liver and become immediately  available. They are then  transported directly to the brain and body.

Scientific studies also indicate that MCT’s are preferred over carbohydrates as a source of energy for the brain that is affected by diabetes or Alzheimer’s.  In diabetes and Alzheimer’s, the nervous cells lose the ability to use glucose because insulin resistance occurs in the brain, identical to the same manner other cells of the body are affected by diabetes. Alzheimer’s is nowadays considered “the diabetes of the brain” because of this mechanism. As a result, the brain cells start to die slowly, many years before the disease has caused enough symptoms to be diagnosed.  If, however, these brain cells would have MCT’s available, they would likely maintain their function and integrity.  Other neurological and degenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) can also benefit from MCT’s.

Other uses

Besides diabetes and brain disorders, MCTs are also used to improve food absorption diseases like diarrhea, mal-digestion of fats (a condition called steatorrhea), celiac disease and cystic fibrosis as well as certain conditions affecting the liver, gallbladder and digestive tract. MCT’s have been used after surgeries that led to the partial removal of the stomach or intestines.

Professional athletes sometimes use supplementation with MCTs to reduce body fat and enhance lean muscle.

In hospital settings, MCT’s can be used intravenously for those patients with severe diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract who can’t tolerate other kinds of fats or to prevent muscle breakdown. MCT’s also appear to improve the absorption of certain essential minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium.

Precautions

MCTs have an excellent safety profile when taken orally (for example, using coconut oil as a component of your daily diet) or when given intravenously. In some instances, it may cause digestive complaints like diarrhea, intestinal gas or stomach discomfort. These side reactions can be reduced by taking the MCT’s with food. MCTs should be used cautiously and under medical supervision throughout pregnancy or in cases of diabetes or liver diseases.

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are found in coconut oil and are also available in supplement form, sometimes labeled using their alternative names: 1,2,3-Propanetriol Trioctanoate, AC-1202, Capric Acid, Caproic Acid. For parenteral nutrition in hospitalized patients, MCT’s are usually combined with long chain triglycerides. For brain support, MCTs from coconut oil could be used in combination with omega 3 fatty acids found in fish or krill oil, in addition to other vitamins and minerals.
References:

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/13/can-this-natural-food-cure-or-prevent-alzheimers.aspx