Vitamin D has been well researched over the years in its’ role in calcium absorption and metabolism of bone health. But recent research is suggesting that vitamin D may have an important role in many diseases thus playing some impact on our immune system.

One wonder about vitamin D is its association with flus. Why don’t we have many  flu  cases during the summer months? Is it possible that flu cases are associated with Vitamin D levels? The sun gives our bodies enough vitamin D ( when we are not slathering on copious amounts of sunscreen) during the sunny summer months, so maybe that is our answer to prevention of colds and flus during the winter months.

Something to ponder about about.

Doctor Greg and Greg fromt he Natures Cure Clinic are podcasting about Vitamin D and giving some important facts ( and myths!).

They talk about…

sunscreen - UVA and B rays

• We take in most of our needed vitamin D by the sun ( but there are some food sources - see below)
• UVB rays are needed to activate vitamin D but this is what we normally block when wearing sunscreen
• UVA rays are associated with cancer ( find a sun block that blocks these rays!)

food sources

• D3 is the active form and is mostly  found in animal sources, for example; fish ( yummy cod liver oil), halibut, sardines, salmon
  

• D2 is found in almost all plant sources but it needs to be converted to D3 in the body ( which is more work for the body)

optimal and reference ranges (interesting)

• D2 is mostly given as a prescription ( and at a high dose) although it is much more desirable to take the more usable and potent form D3
• Reference range: 30 to 100 ( based on disease)
• Optimal range ( naturopathic range: indicates health): get a baseline to see where you are, then supplement
• Toxicity risk? Minimal unless you are taking mega huge dosages ( less is usually more!)

dosages ( remember to work with a physician and get a baseline first)

• RDA 200 IU a day
• Optimal dosage: 1100 IU a day

and so much more

• so go ahead and listen to them!
  

I really enjoys listening to what they have to say and want to pass it on to you. Take the time to listen as they are witty, charming and extremely knowledgeable.

Happy listening!

PS If you are like us and do put on daily sunscreen, maybe some Liquid Sunshine - Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 liquid would be helpful for you. You can purchase through Emerson Ecologics on my shopping supplements page.

I used to make my dad’s instant coffee every morning, however, I did not have my first sip until I was about 24 ( due to a room mate who brewed a pot every morning). The smell intrigued me so I gave it a try with lots of milk and sugar. It wasn’t really my first choice in beverages until  I had kids! Once the kids arrived anything caffeinated to help me get through the long afternoons was much appreciated!

And really, coffee is not all bad for you and actually it has many health benefits. Moderation of course is the key and really a good cup a java is all you really need.

Well, now that I have been pretty consistent on my coffee sipping (every once in a while I will stop drinking and lucky for me I have no side effects), that I am beginning to get a little snobby with my coffee choices. And living in Hawaii, I am quite lucky to be living amongst some amazing coffee farmers.

I have recently discovered, Hawaii White Mountain Javaloha Coffee. It is smoothest, sweetest and loveliest cup of coffee, I have ever tasted. I am lucky because it is sold at our local farmers market but you can also purchase a bag from their site. I recommend you do for yourself or for someone you know who is a coffee lover.

Bring on the french press and be well,

I have never been one to add salt to my foods and actually I do not even have a salt and pepper shaker on our kitchen table. Although a  few months ago, I was eating at one of the local hotel restaurants and they served these yummy brioches with a side of butter sprinkled with pink salt. After one tiny nibble ( tiny because I was not positive that it was salt ) I became hooked.

Now I solely use sea salt in all my cooking.  It is much less refined than table salt ( less processing is always better), and it’s trace minerals give it its distinct taste and provides the body with some added nutrition.

There are many places that manufacture sea salts - from Hawaii to Cape Cod to France, however, I have yet to find the perfect one for me so if any of you have a sea salt you wear by please let me know!

Although sea salt has not been processed as much as table salt, it is important to eat it in moderation. It’s yummy though and just an extra sprinkle of it will surely to be enough to satisfy your taste buds.

Be well,

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February4, 2010

Contact: Heather Manley, N.D.
Email: drheather@drheathernd.com
Phone: 808.640.1159

THE MOM’S CHOICE AWARDS® NAMES

HUMAN BODY DETECTIVES: THE LUCKY ESCAPE

SILVER MEDALIST IN FAMILY-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS

The Mom’s Choice Awards® has named Human Body Detectives: The Lucky Escape among the best in family friendly media, products and services by awarding them with silver medal in Juvenile Books (Level 1 - Ages 5 to in Multimedia Experiences.

Human Body Detectives is a series of educational adventure story-telling audio CDs and activity workbooks featuring Merrin and Pearl, sisters who find they have the magical ability to enter different systems in other people’s bodies to solve health mysteries. Through the action- packed fictional adventures, listeners learn how the various systems work and what best foods fuel that system. The accompanying workbook filled with games and puzzles reinforces what they kids have learned and helps them further understand the importance of maintaining a healthy body.

The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) is an awards program that recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services. The Mom’s Choice Awards® seal helps families and educators navigate the vast array of products and services and make informed decisions.

An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of our panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of PBS’s Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times best-selling author, Priscilla Dunstan, creator of the Dunstan Baby Language; Patricia Rossi, host of NBC’s Manners Minute; Dr. Letitia S. Wright, D.C., host of the Wright Place™ TV Show; and Catherine Witcher, M.Ed., special needs expert and founder of Precision Education, Inc.

The evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. The end result is a list of the best in family-friendly media, products and services that parents and educators can feel confident in using.
Follow Merrin and Pearl through their imaginative adventures in the digestive system , The Lucky Escape, the immune system, Battle with the Bugs and their newest, releasing in the Spring, The Heart Pumping Adventure.

To learn more about Human Body Detectives visit HBD press page.

Contact us for more information on how the Human Body Detectives is used in educational programming.

This recipe was a hit with everyone! And again, it fit my soup criteria of being extremely easy to cook.

Thai Chicken and Noodle Soup

• 1 TBSP olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 skinless, boneless 6 ounce chicken breasts - chopped
• 1/2 TSP turmeric
• 1/4 TSP cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup creamed coconut
• 3 3/4 cups chicken stock, hot
• 2 TBSP lemon or lime juice
• 2 TBSP crunchy peanut butter ( I used smooth)
• 1 cup of egg noodles broken into small pieces
• 1 TBSP scallions
• 1 TPSP fresh cilantro
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Shredded coconut and fresh red chili to garnish ( I didn’t do this)

1. Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the garlic and then the chicken and stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes
2. Sprinkle the creamed coconut into the hot chicken stock and stir until it dissolves. Pour onto the chicken meat and add the lemon or lime juice, peanut butter and egg noodles.
3. Cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the scallions and fresh cilantro, season well with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes longer.
4. If you garnish; heat the shredded coconut and chili in a small dry skillet fpr 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cocnut is light brown.
5. Pour the soup into bowls and sprinkle with garnish.

This serves about 4 people and the whole pot was gone in about 10 minutes! Next time I plan to double and make the garnish.

Pumpkin soup is next..sounds great to me but lets se what the family thinks!

Be well,

In early December, I was asked to appear on the morning show to talk about HBD: Battle with the Bugs. It was my first time on T.V. so needless to say I was quite nervous, but luckily it was so early in the morning I didn’t have too much time to dwell on it!

For those of you who have not seen the the clip, here you are!

Be well,