Please join me on The Healing Artist Internet Radio Show Tuesday, August 26th at 6PM where I have the joy of interviewing four dynamic leaders on Practical Actions for Green Living in New York State..or any state! Get informed, get inspired and admire and support these people and projects.
- Ekayani Chamberlin

Jazz Composting 113 Birthday The Living Connection with Ekayani Chamberl...

Onions as Toxic Cleanup Sponges | DiscoverMagazine.com

Onions as Toxic Cleanup Sponges | DiscoverMagazine.com



I was shown this brilliant revelation about the further benefits of Onions and Garlic this time as sponges that have the ability to absorb mercury, lead, cadmium and more. Might we use this for cleaning up contaminated water supplies? What comes to mind is the days old mining disaster in B.C. that dumped millions of gallons of heavy metals in a river. Let's put our thinking caps on!

- Ekayani

Higher vitamin D levels increase survival rate in postoperative adults with colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is a huge problem for North American men so ladies here is some encouraging news to help increase the chances of you man sticking around longer. Thanks to Usana Health Sciences Inc for this weekly update on The Essentials of Health.
Higher vitamin D levels increase survival rate in postoperative adults with colorectal cancer

August 06, 2014    Higher vitamin D levels increase survival rate in postoperative adults with colorectal cancer At a Glance A new research article published online suggests that having a higher plasma level of vitamin D is associated with a better chance of surviving colorectal cancer. Read more about this research below.   Low vitamin D levels are known to be associated with poor health outcomes or increased risk in many diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers.    In a new study published in the Journal of Oncology, researchers investigated whether the plasma level of vitamin D after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) has a significant impact on survival outcome.  The Scottish research team analyzed data from 1,598 adults who had undergone surgery for stage I-III colorectal cancer.  Blood samples were taken after surgery and evaluated for vitamin D and for a specific Vitamin D gene receptor. When compared to the patients with the lowest one-third of vitamin D levels, the patients whose vitamin D levels were in the top one-third of subjects had a significantly lower (32%) risk of dying of CRC and a 30% lower risk of dying from any cause during the 5 year follow-up period.  In patients with stage II CRC, those in the top one-third of vitamin D levels experienced a 56% reduction in mortality.  The researchers found interactions between vitamin D levels and specific type of vitamin D gene receptor, indicating a causal relationship between vitamin D and survival.   This study shows that in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer, higher post-surgery vitamin D levels are associated with a better outcome and a lower risk of mortality.  Since this was an observational study, carefully designed clinical trials are still needed to confirm whether vitamin D supplementation would provide survival benefits for patients with colorectal cancer.  Zgaga L Plasma Vitamin D Concentration Influences Survival Outcome After a Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer.  J Clin Oncol. 2014 Jul 7. pii: JCO.2013.54.5947. [Epub ahead of print]

Low Vitamin D Status and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

   Low vitamin D status and the risk of type 2 diabetes

At a GlanceAdults with a lower vitamin D intake or low vitamin D blood levels may have a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Read more about this research below.

 Type 2 diabetes has become a significant worldwide health care challenge, as it is associated with various health problems and increased mortality risk. There is increasing evidence that vitamin D influences many non-skeletal medical conditions, including heart disease, cancer, certain autoimmune diseases and type 2 diabetes. Observational research has shown that seasonal variation in blood sugar control in the winter may be partly due to vitamin D, since vitamin D levels are generally much lower in the winter.  

In a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the association between vitamin D status and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes. After a thorough review of the literature, 8 observational studies and 11 randomly controlled trials were included in the review.  When compared to those with a vitamin D intake of <200 IU/day, intake of >500 IU/day decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 13%. Compared to those with the lowest serum vitamin D levels (<14 ng/ml or 35 mmol/L), adults with the highest vitamin D status (>25 ng/ml or 62.5 mmol/L) had a 43% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  In two trials that included patients with glucose intolerance, vitamin D supplementation improved measures of insulin resistance. No significant effect of vitamin D on glycemic outcomes was evident in the trials that included subjects with normal glucose tolerance at baseline.

The results of this review show that vitamin D may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, although high-quality studies are still needed to determine a potential mechanism between vitamin D concentration and relevant glycemic outcomes.  

J Mitri, M D Muraru and A G Pittas. Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011) 65, 1005–1015.