Willow Star Haven

Higher Vitamin D Intake Could Cut Cancer Risk - US News and World Report

2011-02-28T19:26:00.000-08:00

I am a passionate advocate for D3 supplementation. Over the past few years I have studied the subject extensively, attending conferences on the issue, speaking with medical experts and sharing the information via e-mails, the Realtors Health and Wellness newsletter in 2008-2009 (reference the Resources tab of the Willow Star Haven website) and this blog. If you have read my blog post on the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) study that was done late last year you know how concerned I was about the confusion this widely publicized study caused about D3.

I participated in a Fellowship Program on Integrative Oncology last year through A4M, the Association pf Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine, during which nearly every one of the prestigious physicians and researchers lecturing about cancer treatment and prevention emphasized the importance of proper D3 levels. Among the lecturers offering compelling evidence in favor of D3 were Dr. Oliver Wenker of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Dr. Dipnarine Maharaj, Medical Director of the South Florida Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Institute. Dr. Maharaj is conducting an exciting trial to treat cancer involving the infusion of granulocytes from donors in south Florida (where D3 levels are likely higher than in northern parts of the country), to cancer patients. More on this trial in a future blog.

There is a link below to an article printed yesterday based on a study co-authored by Dr. Cedric Garland, a professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California at San Diego. In this study he is quoted as saying: "We found that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults in the range of 4,000-8,000 IU are needed to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by about half the risk of several diseases--breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes."

In November 2009 I attended a medical conference in Toronto on D3 organized by Grassroots Health. Dr. Garland was a presenter at this conference and I was extremely impressed by his assertion that significant breast cancer mortality reduction could be achieved at blood serum levels of 62 ng/ml (up to 85% reduction). To read more about his recent study click on the link below.

Hopefully this information will compel you to have your D3 level tested if you have not done so in the past few months. Knowing your level and educating yourself about the need for D3 will help you determine optimal supplementation levels, which will likely be substantially higher than the RDA or suggested level of supplementation by the IOM.

Higher Vitamin D Intake Could Cut Cancer Risk - US News and World Report

Improving Employee Health and the Corporate Bottom Line

2011-01-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

Willow Star Haven is in the business of health and nutrition counseling even as we continue to work on finding the land to develop our foundation project (more info on our project is available on the website). In the counseling I am challenged to work with people on "preventative maintenance"--becoming healthy in order to prevent chronic illness.

I am convinced that more than the "idea of health" is required to motivate people to make the changes required to establish good diet and exercise habits. In this post I want to spotlight an Orlando company that has made employee wellness a priority and in the process has had annual savings of $8 to $10 million to their bottom line while saving the employees considerable money-- and making them healthier-- in the process.

In 1991 Rosen Hotels and Resorts established a self-insured associate healthcare program along with an on site company-owned and operated medical center that now boasts a patient base of 6,800 (including 4,500 Rosen associates and their dependents, as well as serving two local colleges). The benefits? In addition to the annual $8-$10 million cost savings, the company saves $8 for every $1 it puts in to the medical center; retains employees at a rate the rest of the hospitality industry envies; and has worker compensation costs at about half the hospitality industry average.

Employee direct benefits range from very low health insurance premiums, $5 copays, complimentary diagnostic testing, complimentary smoking cessation programs and complimentary pediatric care. Medical appointments can be made the same day and are "on the clock". Nurses are on call 24/7 for employees and their dependents and medications are often available at no cost at the on site medical center. Wellness and exercise programs are also made available to employees.

Sharing the Health (and wealth): Harris Rosen's experience in self-insuring his company led to the development of ProvInsure, an independent insurance agency that assists other companies and individuals with reducing their total cost of risk. In 2009 he added Rosen Healthcare Solutions to create employee based primary care medical centers for other businesses with a focus on the same comprehensive services and focus on preventative care and wellness exemplified by their own successful program.

Programs like this in the private sector are extremely important if we are to turn the tide on the health crisis that threatens our individual and national well being. More information on ProvInsure and Rosen Healthcare Solutions can be found at www.provinsure.com and www.rosenhealthcaresolutions.com . Thanks to Ashley Bacot, President of ProvInsure, for taking the time to educate me about these programs.
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Kimberly Kirschner is a founder of the Willow Star Haven Charitable Foundation. She is certified in Health and Nutrition Counseling by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received a Fellowship in Integrative Oncology in 2010 from A4M, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Why are carrots more expensive than Twinkies? Current food subsidies make poor food choices affordable.

2010-12-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that "healthy" options at fast food restaurants are more expensive than poorer quality options? This is true of many foods...hard to believe that a single ingredient food like carrots are more expensive than a food with 40 ingredients and a ridiculous shelf life like Twinkies. This video gives insight in to the reasons:

Michael Pollan: Twinkie vs. Carrot from Nourish on Vimeo.

This season give some thought to cutting back on processed foods and eating more whole foods...the best holiday gift you can give yourself and your family.

The Vitamin D3 Controversy

2010-12-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

For the past several years I have avidly studied the benefits of Vitamin D3, attending medical conferences, reading scores of books and articles and sharing this information via newsletters and word of mouth. I am distressed to see recent headlines following the IOM's (Institute of Medicine) recommendations on calcium and Vitamin D.

The IOM recommendations are confusing and potentially dangerous if they scare people away from a necessary and relatively inexpensive supplement for overall good health. There is no question in my mind based on my research that:
Adequate D3 levels help to build immunity and protect people from the flu, several forms of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, bone density issues, joint pain and a host of other conditions;
The vast majority of people have insufficient levels of D3 if not deficiency of this critical nutrient, which is not a "vitamin" but a substrate to an important hormone.

Don't take my word for it. Read what the experts have to say and research for yourself...here are some links to get you started:

This link from Dr. John Cannell of the Vitamin D Council is annotated with additional relevant studies
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/vdc-statement-fnb-vitamin-d-report-shtml

This link from Grassroots Health will give you video testimonies from experts on D3 like Dr. Robert Heany and Dr. Cedric Garland as well as a wealth of information on broad scale and ongoing studies looking at blood levels of D3 and safe supplement dosages to achieve optimal D3 ranges: http://www.grassrootshealth.net/

Taking control of our own health and wellbeing requires arming ourselves with information and questioning headlines that don't provide the whole story.

Companion Animals Providing Therapy, Delta Society Pet Partners Program

2010-11-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

Willow Star Haven Foundation adopted Abbey, a mixed breed adult female beauty with traces of Golden Retriever, Husky and Chow, in July of 2009 from Pet Rescues by Judy located in Sanford, FL. In keeping with the mission of our Foundation, to foster the natural synergies between animals, elderly and children, Abbey was trained and both of us were tested in September this year for registration as Pet Partners with the Delta Society.

Founded in 1977, Delta Society is an international, not-for-profit organization of pet owners, volunteers, therapists, educators, veterinarians and other health professionals dedicated to:

Expanding awareness of the positive effects animals can have on human health and development;

Reducing barriers that prevent involvement of animals;

Expanding the therapeutic and service role of animals in human healthcare and education;

Training handlers and registering Pet Partner teams in the US and other countries.

Abbey making rounds at Keystone Nursing Home

Registered Pet Partners bring the physical and emotional benefits of human-animal interactions to people in a variety of settings. From providing nurturing and entertainment to momentary escape from illness for patients in hospitals or nursing homes, animals offer tremendous therapy. Delta Society Evaluator and pet trainer Terry Cuyler (aka “Paws Prof” http://www.pawsprof.com/ ) offers the following testimonial:

Terry Cuyler and her Pet Partner bringing "sweet cheer"

“One of my personal favorite stories is the day I had my old girl Tchaika in visiting Hospice patients and families at Hospice House, an inpatient facility of Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Fl. As we started down the hall to see who might benefit from a visit that day, a woman came out of a room and threw her arms around my dog and started sobbing with release. She looked up at me and said, "You are just what I needed!" As I glanced up at the door of the room from whence she came, I saw the blue dove hanging on the door to indicate someone's passing. So we had come at just the right time to help that woman with her sorrow. It was heartwarming.”

For more information on Delta Society, go to: http://www.deltasociety.org/

Pet Partners Kimberly Kirschner and Abbey