Vitamin D

 

The Sunshine Vitamin

One of the main sources of Vitamin D comes from our exposure to sunshine. (note: tanning salons are NOT the same!) As UVB rays hit the cholesterol in our skin cells, the energy for Vitamin D synthesis is naturally generated.  The body forms "D" precursors on the skin which in turn the kidneys converts these substances into the active form of Vitamin D. The bloodstream then transport's it throughout the body.  This helps the immune system defends itself against diseases like cancer and heart disease.  It's other important role is to help regulate calcium and phosphate levels, which leads to strong bones, teeth and muscles. 

The average American spends 92% of their life indoors!

Low levels of Vitamin D can lead to increased mortality from heart disease, colon cancer, heightened risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis.   

The most efficient way to get enough of Vitamin D is exposure to sunshine.  Those with light skin only need about 20 minutes of midday sunshine ( the more exposed skin the better).  Those with darker skin need up to 2 hours to absorb the same amount.  This amount of exposure produces approximately 90% of our total amount needed, so the remaining amount needs to come from food or supplementation.  By wearing SPF clothing,(don't stop wearing if you spend a lot of time outside) you are restricting the amount of UVB rays from interacting with your skin.  By taking a 5000iu(125mcg) supplement daily you will be getting what you need. Studies have shown that Vitamin D also helps in preventing COVID 19, by improving your immune system.

Foods that are high in Vitamin D are:

*Fish- Salmon being the highest.

*Crimini Mushrooms-Portabella coming in 2nd.

*Fortified Milks-Nut milks preferred (see link).

*Fortified Yogurts-Dairy-free preferred again.

*Fortified Tofu/Tempeh- also high in protein

5 Conditions That Affect Vitamin D Absorption and How To Tell If You Are Deficient 

There are many opinions on the use of sunscreen.  Yes, they do protect you from excessive amounts of UV rays which can lead to skin damage and possibly skin cancer.  But, did you know that most sunscreens contain: Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Ecamsule or Octocrylene.   These are hormone-disrupting cancer-causing chemicals that can mess with body, which immediately begin absorbing into your bloodstream the minute you rub it on your skin!  The FDA determined just one application of sunscreen leaves your blood with 180 times the "safe" amount of these chemicals.  That's CRAZY.  In addition, sunscreen PROHIBITS your body from producing Vitamin D.  Be informed that they are very toxic to the environment, especially our marine life.  There are many natural, chemical free, safe sunscreens to choose from: Mad Hippie, Goddess Garden, Blue Lizard, and Raw Elements

Here are some foods that boost your skin's natural sun protection:

Citrus, Carrots, Strawberries, Green Tea and more

When outside for long periods of time, wear wide-brimmed hats, UV long sleeved shirts and sunglasses to protect your eyes.

DON'T FEAR THE SUN

Have a great week.

Be kind.

PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASKS 

Judd

Vitamin C

 

Fruits and vegetables such as oranges, strawberries, papayas, green peppers, broccoli and tomatoes are great sources of vitamin C.  

Why is vitamin C so essential to our health?  In its active form of ascorbic acid it helps keep us healthy by:

*Absorbing iron from plant sources and balances our iron stores

*High antioxidant protection from free radicals.

*Helps in healing wounds.

*Most importantly it boosts our immune system, which we really need now with Covid.

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, which means you can easily absorb it from food sources, but you can't store it.  You need to get it every day.  The RDA is 90 mg for males and 70 mg for women.  Which amounts to about an orange a day.  But the optimum level should be around 200 mg per day.  Our body sucks up every bit of 200 mg, but then blocks any further absorption.  Any amount over that just gets peed and pooped out to maintain proper blood levels.  So just forget about taking a 1000 mg vitamin C supplement as it gets flushed down the drain.

A common misconception is that taking high amounts of vitamin C will treat and cure the common cold.  According to recent studies that is not true.  By keeping the right amount of vitamin C in our bodies it will keep our immune system strong enough to prevent or lessen the effects of a common cold.

Vitamin C helps your body's T cells fight infection. (T cells are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow.) T cells defend your body by killing infected cells and calling B cells to action.  By using antibodies B cells identify pathogens and mark cells for death.

Vitamin C helps to produce more immune cells (natural killer cells) which attack infected cells and tumors more efficiently.  Its antioxidant properties helps prevent cell damage and dying during inflammation from fighting off infection.

By consuming a plant-based diet we will not have a problem getting enough Vitamin C.

Go have an orange!

Have a great week.

Be kind.

WEAR YOUR MASK

Judd

10 Year Blog Anniversary

 February 6, 2011

It's been 10 years since we posted our 1st blog post: Skinny Bitch in the Kitch

In that time we have posted over 300 different recipes, ideas and general knowledge of living a plant-based, eco-friendly lifestyle.  With over 65,000 views, I hope we have been able to  make a difference in your daily choices of how you look at your diet, health and the beautiful world we live in.  Throughout this journey I have broadened my horizons and learned many things about myself.   I have also made mistakes in what I have posted and went back and edited those to make it right.  I have learned that you must listen, study and make your own decisions on the information you receive from others.  Do not rely on what you read and hear from one person's thoughts and ideas.  Everyone has an opinion, it doesn't mean they are correct.  Listen to your heart, spirit and (especially for your health): your gut.

Over the next few weeks I am hoping to continue posting on the different vitamins and their roles and benefits for our health.  Vitamin A and Vitamin B complex have been already covered.  I will do each one in order, C, D etc. and even one you might not know that is essential: Vitamin "N". You have to wait for that one, (or maybe not!) it is way down the list.

Here's a few thoughts to ponder:

A completely plant-based burger and fries

Have a great week. 

Be kind.

WEAR YOUR MASK!

Judd

Recommended Reading 01/09/21

 

We all know 2020 has been quite a crazy unusual year.  The world is changing in both good and bad ways.  The climate crisis needs to be the #1 priority for the whole world to address.  No longer can we go on as we have been and pretending it is a hoax.  We are in the cusp of the sixth mass extinction, where we are losing 150-200 species of  plants, insects, birds and mammals to extinction every 24 hours. Our dependence on fossil fuels and unsustainable animal agriculture practice has got to stop.  We can grow enough grain to feed 70 billion animals but not enough for 7 billion people?  We have been told to use more efficient light bulbs, take shorter showers, etc.   It takes 2400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat.  Only 25 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of wheat.   You can save more water by not eating a pound of meat than you can by not taking a shower for 6 months!

But there is hope, Eat Just A San Francisco business which started out producing a plant-based egg substitute (Hampton Creek "Ju st" mayo and  "Ju st" eggs) has gotten approval from Singapore to start producing "lab-grown chicken" ending the the overcrowded factory farm way of raising chickens.

Elephants are booming in Kenya, there populations have doubled in the past 30 years.

Investors have been pouring more money into green energy than ever before.

An Australian renewable energy project could power most of Singapore.

What does the future hold for the growth of renewables?

"Bringing science to life through storytelling and protecting the oceans in order to drive positive change" OceanX   

U.K. to ban sales of fossil fuel vehicles by 2030, California by 2035.

Want to help prevent future pandemics?

Good read: Rich Roll on "How to Evolve and Reach Your Goals"

Have a great week.

Be kind.

WEAR YOUR MASK!

Juddd

New Year Quotes

Happy New Year 

GOODBYE 2020!

As we start off the new year, let us be grateful that we have made it to see 2020 go away!

It has been a very crazy year and if we all work together 2021 will be a time of healthy regrowth. 

Here is my list of great quotes and thoughts from throughout the ages that might help you start the New Year with a mindful outlook.

Have more friends!

"Energy makes people beautiful" says Jack LaLanne "You don't want to be close to someone who's dead and crapped out all the time, who's bitching that it's a lousy fucking world and "Christ, my ulcers are killing me."

"Look well into thyself, there is always a source of strength which will always spring up if you wilt always look there." Marcus Aurelius

"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential...these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." Confucius

"You have power over your mind...not over outside events.  Realize this and you will find strength." Marcus Aurelius

"Find a place inside where there's joy and the joy will burn out the pain."  Joseph Campbell 

"Your health account, your bank account, they are the same thing.  The more you put in, the more you can take out. Exercise is king and nutrition is queen. Together you have a kingdom."  Jack LaLanne 

"Learning never exhausts the mind."  Leonardo da Vinci

"Confine yourself to the present."  Marcus Aurelius

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it."  Thucydides

"A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time.. pills or stairs" "Always take the stairs, all day everyday." Joan Welsh

"The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak, became a stepping stone in the pathway of the strong."  Thomas Carlyle

"Know your True North, if you don't know where you are going, you're never going to get there."  Joe DeSena

"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best, work together, finish together."  Epictetus

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought."  Buddha

"Everybody wants to hangout at the finish line, without running the race."  Gary Vee

"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today."

"Stay positive, forgive others, invest in yourself, lead with an open heart, don't let others ruin your day, do things that bring you joy, be of service to humanity. find your soul tribe, LOVE yourself."  Lewis Howes

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them"  Albert Einstein

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."  Lao Tzu

"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." Marcus Aurelius

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."  Confucius

"The devil whispered in my ear, you are not strong enough for the storm. I told the devil, I AM THE STORM."

"Under the sky, under the heavens, there is but one family."  Bruce Lee

"It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials."  Bruce Lee

"The successful warrior is just an average man with laser-like focus."  Bruce Lee

"It is not about being perfect, it's about being the best you at the moment. Allow yourself to listen inwardly, pause to hear your own wisdom." 

"Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded  thoughts."  Buddha

"Boldness calls on your willingness to let go of what you have in order to create something you dream of."

"It's not about what happens, it's about your reaction to what happens that matters."

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."  Winston Churchill

"Make sure your worst enemy doesn't live between your own two ears."  Laird Hamilton

"Never cease to act because you fear you may fail."  Queen Lili'uokalani

"Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself."  Marcus Aurelius

"Ask yourself at every moment, Is this necessary?"  Marcus Aurelius

"Be honest, have empathy, work hard and have fun."  Laird Hamilton

"The ocean is full of treasures, but if you swim on the surface, you won't see them all"  Jay Shetty

"More connections, less separations." King T'Challa

"God is love. Why should we contain Him any longer in our poor and narrow conceptions. Which are so often no more than the grandiose reflections of ourselves. Let us set Him free."  Jesus Christ- "The Book of Longings"

"I totally regret being healthy today...said no one ever."

"Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path."

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river nor the same man."  Heraclitus

"The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength."  Marcus Aurelius

"No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, you can always turn back."

"The day you plant the seed is not the same day you eat the fruit."

"He slept with wolves with no fear, because the wolves knew a lion was among them"

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."  Mahatma Gandhi

"To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over.  It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it."  Marcus Aurelius

"Life comes at us fast. Today. Tomorrow. When we least expect it. Be ready. Be strong. Don't be snuffed out."

"Remember.. Since the universe has no center, you can't be it.  The world does not revolve around you."

PLEASE WEAR A MASK!

STOP THINKING ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF!

TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE 2021 GREAT

Namaste'

Judd

Vitamin B Complex

 

What is vitamin B complex?

Vitamin B complex is composed of 8 B vitamins.

B1-(thiamine)

B2-(riboflavin)

B3-(niacin)

B5-(pantothenic acid)

B6-(pyridoxine)

B7-(biotin)

B9-(folic acid)

B12-(cobalamin)

Each of these essential vitamins contributes to your overall body function, maintaining good health.  As building blocks for a healthy body they have a direct impact on our energy levels, brain function and cell metabolism.  Vitamin B complex helps prevent infections and supports or promotes:

cell health

growth of red blood cells

energy levels

good eyesight

healthy brain function

good digestion

healthy appetite

proper nerve function

hormone and cholesterol production

cardiovascular health

muscle tone

A major concern for plant-based eaters is getting enough vitamin B 12.

B 12 is naturally found in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy.  Vitamin B 12 is actually a bacteria, produced by microorganisms in the soil.  Animals obtain this from consuming grasses and scratching and rooting through dirt.  It's possible to obtain some B 12 from not washing all the dirt off your fresh picked veggies but who wants to eat dirt.  According to the National Health  and Nutrition Examination Survey one in every 31 adults in the US are deficient in vitamin B 12.  

Common signs of B 12 deficiency are:

*Weakness, fatigue or low energy.

*Shortness of breath.

*Loss of appetite.

*Digestive issues.

*Frequent bruising or bleeding.

*Numbness or tingling in hands or feet.

*Brain fog, memory loss, or confusion.

By eating enriched foods products such as fortified nutritional yeast, soy, cereals and meat substitutes and Nori seaweed, we can increase our uptake some.  The best way to get enough is to take a supplement.  B 12 has many forms and the most common are cyanocobalamin and methylcobalamin.  "Cyano" is commonly found in supplements and energy drinks, while "methyl" is a little more expensive and less stable. For both meat and plant-based eaters, 2000 mcg is the recommended weekly dose for those under 60 years of age.  When you reach that age of 60+ it needs to be bumped up to 1000mcg daily!  I supplement by taking a 1000 mcg quick dissolve chewable Cyano tablet from Trader Joe's every 3 day and an added brazil nut once a week.

They are easily found for a great price on Amazon.

If ignored a Vitamin B deficiency can effect the whole body leading to permanent brain and nerve damage.  By eating a mostly alkaline, hydrating diet full of fresh veggies, grains and fruit are intestines will stay clean and function properly.  

B Healthy

Have a great week. 

Be kind.

Judd

Vitamin A

 

Vitamin A

Pre-formed vitamin A exists only in animal products.  What does a plant-based eater need to do?  There are about 50 carotenoids from plants that the body can convert into Vitamin A, the most common being beta-carotene.  Beta-carotene is an anti-oxidant which fights free radicals, especially in the brain which is mostly fat.  Studies have shown that anti-oxidants through diet helps people's immune systems protect against free radicals and lowers the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. Vitamin A deficiency begins with night blindness and can progress to more serious complications.  I guess that is why our parents wanted us to eat those carrots!   Also this deficiency reduces the ability to fight off infections and why it is important in building good red blood cell formation.   Animal products like beef, lamb and goose liver are very high in Vitamin A.  The problem is Vitamin A is fat-soluble and is stored in our liver which can be toxic.  The body limits the amount of beta-carotene converted to Vitamin A and only uses what is needed.  So, if  the body has too much beta-carotene in its system and doesn't need it as A, it will store it as beta-carotene until needed.  This will help keep the liver from becoming toxic.  Plants to the rescue!  Our body needs approximately 700-900 RAE(retinol activity equivalent) each day for optimal nutrition.  

Some Plants High in Beta-carotene:

Sweet potato...1/2 cup baked...961  RAE

Pumpkin...1/2 cup canned...953 RAE

Carrots...1/2 cup boiled...665 RAE

Butternut Squash...1/2 cup baked cubes...572 RAE

Carrot juice...1/4 cup...564 RAE

Spinach...1/2 cup cooked...472 RAE

Collard greens...1/2 cup cooked...386 RAE

Broccoli... 1/2 cup boiled...120 RAE

By adding a source of healthy fat such as avocados, olive oil, nuts and seeds with these foods help your body to absorb the beta-carotene.   Try blending carrot juice with full-fat coconut milk(canned) and ginger!

Have  great week.

Be kind.

WEAR YOUR MASK!

Judd