Sometimes The Simple Things Can Make A Great Impact

UAmerica spends an inordinate amount of money on medical care, more than any other country globally. Of course, for all the plethora of drugs and high-tech gizmos, are Americans getting bang for their buck? Not at all because, as I pointed out in a previous newsletter, Americans score poorly on the health scale.

Many Medical Doctors Don't Realize They Need A New Philosophy

The drug culture in America didn’t start with illicit street drugs; it began with the “medicine” cabinet in the bathroom. Monkey see, monkey do—kids emulate what they see their parents doing. Where has it gotten us for all the “sophistication” of modern drugs? I also mean countries like Australia where we have a similar problem but to a lesser degree.

A published paper in Molecular Psychiatry explored the assumption that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in treating depression.

The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence

This was one of the conclusions of the study.

“The main areas of serotonin research provide no consistent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations. Some evidence was consistent with the possibility that long-term antidepressant use reduces serotonin concentration.”

Now you would think, what have we been doing to people for the last 30 years? These medications not only don’t do what people think they do but also have damaging side effects. The side effects of SSRIs are many, including the following psychological ones:

• Anxiety

• Agitation 

• Panic attacks 

• Insomnia, 

• Irritability

• Hostility 

• Aggressiveness

• Impulsivity

• Hypomania

• Mania 

Doctors Peter Breggin and David Healy have linked many of the mass shootings, including school massacres, to the use of antidepressants. The most susceptible group appears to be young males. Did people not think playing around with body and brain chemistry could have dire consequences? We’ve resorted to the simplicity of taking a pill. We seem much less interested in discovering why so many people are depressed. 

The level of adulation for all things medical has been extraordinary for decades. The modern temple is the hospital or medical centre, while the doctor is the high priest. We often treat the symptoms of ill health, mental or physical, while ignoring the causative factors. 

America is one of the most depressed countries in the world, supposedly with riches that are the envy of many. It’s at epidemic levels in the young; some reasons, like technology and isolation, are not surprising. Many young are reject relationships and children. It’s no wonder there is more depression because families can be a sense of great joy. However, sometimes we just need to get back and look at the Simple Things, not the elaborate and expensive products concocted by the medical-pharmaceutical complex.

One such simple and vital product is…drumroll…

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential to human health. It is a precursor for the hormone calcitriol, which is involved in many bodily functions. It is found in foods like eggs, fish oil, liver and fortified products such as milk. Of course, a great source of vitamin D is sunshine. It is vital for bone strength, calcium metabolism and the functioning of the immune system; and surprise, surprise, it is related to human depression. Deficiencies of vitamin D have also been linked to cardiovascular problems, autoimmune disease and cancer.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Depression

When we were young, we spent much of our time outdoors. Today the young spend most time indoors on electronic devices. 

During the winter, sunshine is minimal, and many people are deficient in vitamin D. Even during the summer, what is the message about protecting yourself from the sun? In Australia, it’s “Slip, slap, slop” with sunscreen lotions. These products block the ultraviolet rays, which reduces the production of vitamin D.

Vitamin D has been an essential tool in preventing and treating Covid-19. Yet, it has been neglected by many doctors.

Levels of Vitamin D Help Determine The Risk Of Death From Covid And Other Respiratory Illnesses.

This was part of the study’s conclusion:

“Our study contributes to a continually evolving body of evidence that suggests a patient’s history of vitamin D deficiency is a predictive risk factor associated with poorer COVID-19 clinical disease course and mortality.”

In other words, vitamin D deficiency predisposes you to Covid and puts you at greater risk of death. Of course, we really didn’t need a study to tell us this. Over 100 years ago, during the Spanish Flu pandemic, doctors found that putting patients in the sunshine reduced the severity of the illness.

So what should your vitamin D level be? Conventional wisdom has been that above 25 nanograms per millilitre (25 ng/ml) are sufficient. Many researchers are saying it should be above 50 and, even better, above 100. If your vitamin D is low, you’re a sitting duck for respiratory infections. That is why so many nursing home patients died. They were deficient in vitamin D, not to mention suffering from comorbidities.

The amount you take as a supplement depends on your vitamin D levels. If a blood test shows that you are in the normal range, 500 to 1000 I.U. is adequate. However, if your levels are low, you may need a higher dosage to get your blood levels up because it is a process that takes time.

You must also ensure that other nutritional components are at adequate levels. Vitamin D is not a panacea. But there’s the old adage, “Keep it simple, stupid.” Supplementing with vitamin D is safe, readily available and cheap; ultimately, it can dramatically affect your health.