Re: Re: Flu and D3/ Rhodiola anyone?

[Guest guest]

Although I haven’t had a blood test for D (yet! I plan on having one soon), my husband who has been taking 2000IU daily has been tested and has a normal level. Nevertheless he is right now in bed, sleeping in the middle of the day, suffering with a nasty cold. These personal experiences are anecdotal to be sure and we’ll have to get more evidence.

The supplement du-jour seems to be Rhodiola. I’ve heard about it now from three mainstream sources (including the new show “Dr Oz” on tv – Oz is a mainstream cardiologist/MD). Among Rhodiola’s many touted virtues is bolstering the immune system. Is anyone taking it and if so, anything good or bad to tell the group? One “good” is that it does not seem to have any bad/side effects so at least it shouldn’t harm.

It’s touted for all kinds of goodies, but I distrust these supplements that supposedly have so many different benefits - sounds like “hype” and the profit motive when the claims get outlandish.

On 11/7/09 3:44 PM, " Gus Gilbert " <gusgilbert@...> wrote:

Francesca,

After taking 2,000iu D3 plus ~200iu from my food plus the estimated 1,000iu that I was making from daily limited sunshine in late June 2007, my D3 blood test was still low at 26 ng/ml.

I finally tested out at 35 ng/ml in February 2009, with ~6,200iu supplementation from all sources (zero from sunshine in February). I'm now up to ~55,000iu D3 once a week with the goal of reaching at least 50 ng/ml D3 in my blood.

Even 2,000iu D3 is a " pharmacological " dose. I recommend getting yourself tested. You might be surprised like me. " My CR is very limited with a BMI of 20, but I'm working on it with CAREFUL attention to " adequate nutrition. " I obviousely have a problem with absorption of D3 but haven't had a cold or flu so far this year.

Gus.

" GUS " Gilbert

[Guest guest]

Is anyone taking it and if so, anything good or bad to tell the group? One “good” is that it does not seem to have any bad/side effects so at least it shouldn’t harm.http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4 & chunkiid=111798Jeff__,

[Guest guest]

My favorite line was it's the new ginseng.. :-) if the old ginseng worked we wouldn't need a new one.. (it works OK in ginseng chicken.)--------While vit D is important if you don't have enough I'm not sure I follow the cause and effect with respect to flu mitigation. (maybe take some vit D and then wash your hands) Even Dr. Kime, about the most rabid vit D/Sunlight proponent I tolerate, stays focussed on sunlight's ultraviolet light that likes to kill tiny bad things (and some tiny good things). Sunlight will even penetrate (just barely, UV is short wavelength light) beneath the surface of our skin touching peripherally our circulatory system. But this can't be very significant even for people not afraid of the sun, this time of the year. Perhaps in the margin, every little bit helps, but I am not ready to sun bath away a cold. Sunlight/vit D (i.e. good nutrition) may help us maintain robust health which is useful to mount a strong immune response and fight off infection in the first place, but beyond that I wouldn't expect any magic. If you get the flu drink lots of chicken soup and stay in bed. JR PS: I find interesting that they are re-branding Stevia as the new improved natural sweetener. Dirt is all natural too... On Nov 7, 2009, at 3:54 PM, Francesca Skelton wrote: Although I haven’t had a blood test for D (yet! I plan on having one soon), my husband who has been taking 2000IU daily has been tested and has a normal level. Nevertheless he is right now in bed, sleeping in the middle of the day, suffering with a nasty cold. These personal experiences are anecdotal to be sure and we’ll have to get more evidence. The supplement du-jour seems to be Rhodiola. I’ve heard about it now from three mainstream sources (including the new show “Dr Oz” on tv – Oz is a mainstream cardiologist/MD). Among Rhodiola’s many touted virtues is bolstering the immune system. Is anyone taking it and if so, anything good or bad to tell the group? One “good” is that it does not seem to have any bad/side effects so at least it shouldn’t harm. It’s touted for all kinds of goodies, but I distrust these supplements that supposedly have so many different benefits - sounds like “hype” and the profit motive when the claims get outlandish. On 11/7/09 3:44 PM, "Gus Gilbert" <gusgilbert > wrote: Francesca, After taking 2,000iu D3 plus ~200iu from my food plus the estimated 1,000iu that I was making from daily limited sunshine in late June 2007, my D3 blood test was still low at 26 ng/ml. I finally tested out at 35 ng/ml in February 2009, with ~6,200iu supplementation from all sources (zero from sunshine in February). I'm now up to ~55,000iu D3 once a week with the goal of reaching at least 50 ng/ml D3 in my blood. Even 2,000iu D3 is a "pharmacological" dose. I recommend getting yourself tested. You might be surprised like me. "My CR is very limited with a BMI of 20, but I'm working on it with CAREFUL attention to "adequate nutrition." I obviousely have a problem with absorption of D3 but haven't had a cold or flu so far this year. Gus. "GUS" Gilbert

[Guest guest]

kaitainen wrote:

>

>

> I bought some of it after a recommendation .........

>

I'm skeptical about vague claims for adaptogens. I've particularly

had a bad experience with Ashwagandha: I took a few capsules of it and

just found I was making terrible mistakes: I'd go out to the store to

get milk, go buy five other things, and forget to get the milk. It

was like being intoxicated, except it wasn't fun.

[Guest guest]

This Mark Sisson guy has no credentials that I could find anywhere on his site. Here’s what he says about “why we should listen to him”:

Why should I listen to you?

You shouldn’t. I’m partly kidding, of course, but I do believe in critically assessing everything we come across, particularly if it has an impact on our health – including anything I say. I learn something new from my readers every day.

On 11/9/09 10:29 AM, " kaitainen " <andrea@...> wrote:

I bought some of it after a recommendation from Mark Sisson, who calls it a strong " adaptogen " :

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/herbalicious-rhodiola-rosea/

....problem is I haven't been taking it so I can't comment on effects. Yet.

, in Albuquerque

>

> Although I haven’t had a blood test for D (yet! I plan on having one soon),

> my husband who has been taking 2000IU daily has been tested and has a normal

> level. Nevertheless he is right now in bed, sleeping in the middle of the

> day, suffering with a nasty cold. These personal experiences are anecdotal

> to be sure and we’ll have to get more evidence.

>

> The supplement du-jour seems to be Rhodiola. I’ve heard about it now from

> three mainstream sources (including the new show “Dr Oz” on tv – Oz is a

> mainstream cardiologist/MD). Among Rhodiola’s many touted virtues is

> bolstering the immune system. Is anyone taking it and if so, anything good

> or bad to tell the group? One “good” is that it does not seem to have any

> bad/side effects so at least it shouldn’t harm.

>

> It’s touted for all kinds of goodies, but I distrust these supplements that

> supposedly have so many different benefits - sounds like “hype” and the

> profit motive when the claims get outlandish.