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The Vitamin D Cure

 * The Vitamin D Cure (2008) is a book by James E. Dowd and Diane Stafford. It focuses on the many functions of vitamin D and the possible consequences of a vitamin D deficiency. In this book, Dr. Dowd reveals the causes of vitamin D deficiency, as well as a five-step program that can alleviate many health concerns.

Background

 * Dr. James E. Dowd studies and teaches medicine at Michigan State University. He is also the founder of the Arthritis Institute of Michigan and the Michigan Arthritis Research Center . In his book, he expands on his studies on vitamin D, those on his patients and those on himself. He found that several of his patients were suffering the same series of symptoms such as back pain, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, headaches and muscle cramps for years. After putting some time into attempting a diagnosis, Dr. Dowd found himself exhibiting the very same symptoms. Extensive research led him to the realization that his symptoms were a result of his cross-country move from Texas to Michigan; from a sunny state to a much darker side of the upper United States.
 * At this point, Dr. James Dowd decided to start walking regularly, gradually improve his diet and to begin taking vitamin D supplements. He knew that vitamin D is produced in the skin during direct sunlight exposure, and that his exposure to sunlight had dramatically decreased since his move . Therefore, he knew that a daily vitamin D supplement was the answer to his problems, and also to his patients painful symptoms. After just a few months of a regular vitamin D intake and an improved diet and exercise program, all of Dr. Dowd's pain had vanished; and this is what lead him to study vitamin D in much more depth.

Synopsis

 * The Vitamin D Cure provides an explanation and a plan of action for its readers. The book is divided into three main sections: The Wonders of Vitamin D, The Vitamin D Cure Plan and The Vitamin D Cure for Total Health. In section one, Dr. Dowd and co-author, Diane Stafford, explain the details of the national vitamin D deficiency and how it's on the rise. The modern lifestyle consists of too much time indoors and not enough exposure to sunlight . With this, the U.S. population is becoming more and more deficient with time. Next, the book exhibits the science behind vitamin D and how it works in the human body. This includes absorption process, as well as functioning. This section also discusses what the body uses vitamin D for and why it's essential in the human body. Here, Dowd and Stafford reveal what vitamin D can do at its best and what can happen when the body becomes deficient in the precious necessity.
 * The second section of the book is where readers will find the plan of action; The Vitamin D Cure Plan. It discusses who is most likely to be deficient in vitamin D and who needs it most. Dowd included a vitamin D calculator so readers can find out how much vitamin D they should be consuming. He also added in a calculator to test body acid so readers know how to change their diets. The medical scientists explain the details of their formula for the vitamin D cure: sunlight + supplement + a little exercise.
 * Lastly, the book is focused on The Vitamin D Cure for Total Health. In this section, Dowd and Stafford indicate the extensive list of the additional benefits in following their plan. In chapter nine, the relationships between vitamin D and obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are drawn out. The doctors explain the huge advantages vitamin D can have over these conditions. Next, they touch on the ways in which vitamin D effects mood and memory. The final three chapters explain the other crucial benefits found in correlation with the adoption of their plan: optimization of the human immune system, helping with the prevention and treatment of cancer, and finally, aiding in bone, joint, and dental health.

Research and Study

 * Dr. James E. Dowd and Diane Stafford conducted extensive research within reliable sources when writing this book. Much credit can be given to the research of other medical experts and organizations. This is a complete list of the references used in the creation of The Vitamin D Cure :

http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.txt.asp?a=414 www.thepaleodiet.com www.barkertheory.com http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/uv_index/ http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/uv_index/uv_annual.shtml http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html www.weather.com http://www.arthritis-research.org/documents.htm http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis_related_statistics.htm#2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/index.htm http://ndep.nih.gov/. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf http://www.vitamin-d.com http://gordonlab.wustl.edu/ http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/faculty/deluca/default.aspx www.miarthritis.com www.miarthritisresearch.com www.arthritis.org
 * 1) A history of vitamin D discovery:
 * 1) Dr. Loren Cordain – eat like your ancestors:
 * 1) Dr. Michael Holick’s book on the importance of sun exposure: http://www.uvadvantage.org/
 * 2) The importance of fetal nutrition to prevent adult disease:
 * 1) UV index homepage at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration:
 * 1) Find your city’s annual UV index map:
 * 1) National UV index maps:
 * 1) The Weather Channel:
 * 1) Download your own Health Assessment Questionnaire:
 * 1) CDC Arthritis Statistics:
 * 1) Medline Plus Health Topics Alphabetic:
 * 1) CDC Obesity Trends:
 * 1) NIH Diabetes:
 * 1) The DASH Diet:
 * 1) The Diasorin vitamin D Test:
 * 1) Dr. Jeffry Gordon’s Lab – Bacteria in the gut and obesity:
 * 1) Dr. Hector DeLuca’s Vitamin D Lab:
 * 1) Dr. James Dowd – Arthritis Institute of Michigan:
 * 1) The Michigan Arthritis Research Center:
 * 1) The Arthritis Foundation:

The Book Tour

 * The Vitamin D Cure can be studied beyond just reading by following Dr. James E. Dowd's book tour. He expands on his findings and the creation of the vitamin D cure through telephone, video and live interviews. The Vitamin D Cure has been featured on Oprah Radio, in the New York Times and USA Today, on Health.com and several other popular shows, newspapers, magazines and Internet sources . Find a complete list of interviews with Dr. Dowd and segments featuring The Vitamin D Cure at the [Book Tour] official site.