Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 5.4% of adults in the United States suffer from depression. In the past, vitamin D deficiency had been linked to depression, but are there any nutritional reasons why? Here’s a quick discussion from Dr. Fuhrman’s member center:

Question: Are their any diet reasons that contribute to depression? The reason I ask is that some days I feel really good and the next day I feel tired and depressed. I am not eating totally healthy. Also, what kind of blood tests should I have to tell if I am low in nutrients that may be causing my depression?

Dr. Fuhrman: Yes, oxidative stress in general, which means low intake of the broad spectrum of plant-derived phytochemicals, can contribute to depression. Vitamin D deficiency and omega-3 deficiencies can also contribute. You should order the following tests: amino acid quantitative, essential fatty acid analysis, B12/ MMA methylmalonic acid, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), and Vitamin D 25-hydroxy.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Speaking at this year’s The Endocrine Society's annual meeting, scientists say bone fracture rate is higher among people who have underwent bariatric surgery. Researchers studied 90 people who had either vertical banded gastroplasty or biliopancreatic diversion. Seven years following their operation, 21 participants endured a total of 31 fractures. The risk for hand and foot fractures was the most elevated; Reuters explains.

Interestingly enough, in 2008 experts determined gastric bypass surgery caused bone loss, citing vitamin D and calcium deficiencies in individuals undergoing the procedure. Dr. Fuhrman lists depression and malnutrition as other harmful side-effects of weight-loss surgery.

Another report found people who underwent gastric surgery have a higher rate of suicide than the general population, but experts argue the surgery is not the reason why.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (4)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

More kudos for vitamin D! A new study in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism claims insufficient vitamin D may cause cartilage loss in knee joints. For the study, involving 880 men and women, ages 51 to 79, scientists measured blood levels of vitamin D and knee cartilage volume. And 3 years later, retesting of 353 people revealed 58% had changes in knee cartilage and worsening osteoarthritis, both men and women with low vitamin D had less knee cartilage; Reuters reports.

Vitamin D is strong medicine and we get vitamin D from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Vitamin D functions as a hormone, telling our intestines to absorb calcium and phosphorus, which builds strong bones and prevents things like rickets, depression and even difficulty thinking!

In his DVD Osteoporosis Protection for Life, Dr. Fuhrman explains why vitamin D is so critical, the importance of proper diet and he demonstrates a number of bone strengthening exercises.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (2)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Evolving from hulking apes to car driving suburbanites isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Some health officials claim that America’s love for driving is a bad habit, resulting in poor health. Driving more means you walk less and walking is a great exercise. Walking is something us bipedal hominids are specialized to do. Experts say people should take about 10,000 steps a day to maintain good health, but driving a car all day causes that number to drop to about 1,000; Reuters explains.

I drive my friends crazy. I always park far away. So I can walk a little. But listen, exercise is very important. According to Dr. Fuhrman, regular exercise pays huge dividends, such improving mood, building stronger bones and reducing risk of disease, like type-2 diabetes.

In related news, walking for 30 minutes each day was found to reduce age-related weight gain and taking the stairs helps lowers lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link