"What would your life be like if you learned how to respect your body as though it were a precious creation—as valuable as a beloved friend? What if you no longer lived in fear of germs or cancer? What would happen if you truly trusted your body’s messages?"
----------Christiane Northrup
Christine Northrup is an amazing gynecologist that is dedicated to improving the health of women. If you want someone who really knows her stuff seek out Christiane Northrup's books (a list will be provided in her bio below). What a gift to empower women through health! I truly believe that it is indeed quite an empowering concept to be aware of one's body. To protect it, to love it and to utilize it in a celebratory way. Not always easy!
Below is an article from Dr. Northrup about the importance of Vitamin D for breast health.
EMPOWERING WOMEN'S HEALTH
By Christiane Northrup
There's a paradigm shift going on in medicine as new research reveals a far greater role for vitamin D. Vitamin D is not just for kids -- or the prevention of rickets. Optimal levels of Vitamin D (40-80 ng/ml) enhance the creation and functioning of healthy cells throughout the body. In addition to protecting the bones and boosting the immune system, studies show that Vitamin D helps prevent certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, and colorectal. Exciting new research shows that in the U.S. alone, thousands of new cases of breast cancer could be prevented every year if more women had optimal levels of vitamin D.
A study conducted by Cedric Garland and other prominent vitamin D researchers determined that women with vitamin D levels above 52 ng/ml have half the risk of developing breast cancer as those with 13 ng/ml! Garland (et al) estimates that 58,000 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S. could be prevented per year by raising vitamin D levels to 52 ng/ml. Imagine what the global impact could be!
A simple blood test is all that's needed to find out your vitamin D level. Five years ago, a range of 20-100 ng/ml was considered normal. Just recently, this range was raised to 32-100 ng/ml. Make sure to ask your healthcare provider what your actual vitamin D level is. Too often women are told that their levels are normal, which is not the same as optimal.
If you're deficient, the best way to boost your vitamin D quickly is to supplement with vitamin D-3. Initially, you may need to take 5,000 IUs per day. After establishing a healthy level, I recommend supplementing with1,000-2,000 IUs per day--it's hard to get all you need from food. Some healthy fish provides 300-700 IUs, but milk only provides 100 IUs per glass.
You may be surprised to learn that the sun is actually the best source of vitamin D. The sun's UVB rays enable our bodies to manufacture vitamin D in the fat layer under the skin, as long as we don't use sunscreen. The body can make enough vitamin D from sun exposure to last the entire year! And it will never create toxic levels, regardless of how long you expose your skin. Although we are taught to fear the sun, sunbathing in moderation -- exposing but never burning the skin -- is good for us. This may explain why the incidence of breast cancer is higher in northern latitudes than at the equator.
I encourage every woman to check her vitamin D level regularly and keep it in the optimal range. This is easily done by supplementing with about 2,000 IUs of vitamin D-3 per day and getting regular, safe sun exposure. (You can even visit a tanning salon that offers UVB tanning rays.) Your breasts and your entire body will benefit. This is preventive medicine at its finest.
References: 1. Staud, R., 2005. Vitamin D: more than just affecting calcium and bone. Curr Rheumatol Rep, Oct;7(5):356-64. 2. Staud, R., 2005. Vitamin D: more than just affecting calcium and bone. Curr Rheumatol Rep, Oct;7(5):356-64. 3. Cannell, J.J., Hollis, B.W. 2008. Use of vitamin D in clinical practice, Altern Med Rev, Mar;13(1):6-20. 4. Cannell, J.J., et al. 2008. On the epidemiology of influenza, Virol J, Feb 25;5:29. 5. Holick, M.F. 2004. Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis, Am J Clin Nutr, 79:362-71. 6. Garland, C.F., et al. 2009 Vitamin D for cancer prevention: global perspective, Ann Epidemiol. Jul;19(7):468-83. 7. Garland, C.F., et al. 2007. Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis., J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol Mar;103(3-5):708-11.
© Christiane Northrup, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
(Bio from her website)
Internationally known for her empowering approach to women’s health and wellness, Dr. Northrup is a leading proponent of medicine and healing that acknowledges the unity of the mind and body, as well as the powerful role of the human spirit in creating health. Following a career as a practicing physician in obstetrics and gynecology for over 25 years, Dr. Northrup has dedicated her lifework to helping women (and the men who love them) learn how to flourish on all levels by creating health, prosperity, and pleasure in their lives. She says, “I’ve spent the first half of my life studying and footnoting everything that can go wrong with the female body—and figuring out how to fix it. I’m dedicating the second half of my life to illuminating everything that can go right with the female body, including teaching women how to truly flourish.”
One can see that Dr. Northrup “walks her talk,” especially when she first put her own personal truth on paper in 1994 in her first book Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom (Bantam). This groundbreaking reference of raw facts and intriguing case histories became a New York Times bestseller, has sold more than 1.4 million copies, and has been translated into 15 languages.
In 1998, Dr. Northrup continued to gain national recognition with her first two public television specials Women’s Bodies, Women’s Minds and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Choices. The success of these programs led to two more popular specials, which debuted in August of 1999: Your Diet, Your Health and The Wisdom of Menopause.
Two years later, Dr. Northrup wrote her second New York Times bestseller, The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change (Bantam). In this breakthrough book, she unearths new revelations about menopause, refutes the stereotypic definition as a frenzy of hot flashes and hormonal mood swings, and instead proves it is an illuminating chapter in a woman’s life—one with wonderful gifts and challenges to embrace. Over 1.4 million copies of this gutsy work have been translated into 14 languages.
In 2005, Dr. Northrup wrote a book that is very dear to her heart called Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Understanding the Crucial Link Between Mothers, Daughters, and Health (Bantam), which explores how the mother-daughter bond sets the stage for a woman’s health throughout her life cycle. More importantly, this book provides step-by-step instructions for how to get the nurturing and care you’ve always longed for—regardless of your relationship with your mother. From the minute it hit the bookshelves, Mother-Daughter Wisdom began to receive accolades. It was nominated for the prestigious Quill Award, voted number one by the editors at Amazon.com in both the “Health, Mind & Body” and “Parenting & Families” categories, and recognized as one of the 50 Best Books of 2005. In the same year, Mother-Daughter Wisdom became a popular public television special.
In 2006, Dr. Northrup revised and re-released her two classic bestsellers, The Wisdom of Menopause and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. These most recent versions contain all new and updated material, the latest scientific research, and an expanded and updated Resource Section.
In March, 2007, Dr. Northrup brought her cutting-edge ideas and groundbreaking guidance on the most commonly misunderstood female health issues to audiences nationwide with her latest public television special: Menopause and Beyond: New Wisdom for Women. This all-new show is based on Dr. Northrup’s long-anticipated revised edition of The Wisdom of Menopause—the book that women around the world have embraced, including Oprah Winfrey, who sought Dr. Northrup’s wise words when she turned 50 and faced “The Big M.”
Dr. Northrup’s latest books, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause (2008) and The Secret Pleasures of Menopause PlaybookThe Secret Pleasures of Menopause, Dr. Northrup proves beyond a doubt that any stage of life—including midlife—can be the beginning of a very exciting and fulfilling time, full of pleasure beyond your wildest dreams. (2009) deliver a powerful message that will help millions of women understand that at midlife, life has just begun! In
Dr. Northrup continues to be a familiar face in the media. Her numerous empowering works have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today show, NBC Nightly News, Rachael Ray, The View, Good Morning America, PBS, and ABC’s 20/20.
Through her monthly e-letter, Women’s Health Wisdom, her refurbished Web site, www.drnorthrup.com, and her new, exclusive Women's Wisdom Community, Dr. Northrup stays in touch with her many fans worldwide.
As a business owner, physician, former surgeon, mother, writer, and speaker, Dr. Northrup acknowledges our individual and collective capacity for growth, freedom, joy, and balance.
When she’s not traveling, Dr. Northrup loves devoting her leisure time to reading, going to the movies, getting together with her daughters and friends, going boating, and playing with her adoring, longtime feline companion, Buddy.
She says, “When you move toward that which is most fulfilling and life-enhancing, healing follows regardless of what your health is like in that moment.”
To learn more go to Christine Northrup's official website Drnorthrup.com
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