We recently closed the office for a few days to train our staff on the newest technology available at Natural Dentist Associates – the Electro Equiscope. The Electro-Equiscope is a micro-current electrotherapeutic technology proven to eliminate pain and reduce inflammation in the body. It is a safe, FDA approved, and non-invasive method that helps to improve and optimize performance, accelerate recovery, increase flexibility, improve circulation, decrease inflammation, support detoxification and increase organic energy. We are so excited to bring this new technology into our practice to provide new testing and healing opportunities to our patients. Stay tuned!
Holistic Vigilantes and Medical Marijuana Madness, featuring James Kahn of Liberty Cannabis
The Vigilantes have enlisted the help of Rabbi James Kahn of Liberty Cannabis to explore the many applications of medical cannabis for overall health and wellness. Rabbi Kahn takes the wheel in this exhilarating podcast episode, delving into hot topics like micro-dosing, addiction, marijuana in hospice care, resistance, social justice, opioid use, and the many stereotypes and stigmas surrounding the use of cannabis. From quarantine depression to chronic disease and pain management, marijuana is proving its worth in healthcare. The world is changing, and medical cannabis is on the rise! For more information:
Don’t forget to listen, watch, like, comment, and subscribe to the Holistic Vigilantes podcast for updates on future episodes.
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Vitamin D3 for Oral and Overall Health
Once again, it’s the time of year where we turn our clocks back for daylight savings and hope the seasonal depression doesn’t consume us through the fall and winter seasons. It’s dark when we wake up, and dark by the time we’re driving home from work. Even on days that it’s warm enough to enjoy the outdoors, we just cannot seem to get enough sunlight, or the vitamin produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight – vitamin D3.
But what exactly is vitamin D3? Despite its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a precursor of a hormone. Vitamins are nutrients that the body cannot create, meaning a person must consume them through diet. However, the body can produce vitamin D. During exposure to sunlight, 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin absorbs UV B radiation and converts it into pre-vitamin D3. The pre-vitamin is then converted to D3 (cholecalciferol) by thermal isomerization. The final stage of vitamin D3 in the cell is a hormone called calcitriol.
As new studies emerge, it is becoming more and more apparent just how essential vitamin D3 is to overall health. Vitamin D is one of the most important hormonal elements in controlling the calcium and phosphate balance, promoting bone formation, bone health, and proper bone healing. D3 controls more than 2,000 different genes and supports the immune system by decreasing acquired immune response and increasing non-specific immune response. Activated D3 stimulates the formation of antimicrobial peptides on the skin and mucous membrane, creating an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. Vitamin D3 helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promotes restful relaxation and healthy sleep. Vitamin D3 has been shown to have preventative and therapeutic effects on cardiovascular, infectious, and chronic diseases.
In addition to its many health benefits, vitamin D3 is equally important for healthy teeth and gums. Vitamin D is crucial for building healthy bones and teeth, as it allows your digestive system to absorb calcium. Along with phosphorous, calcium creates the bony structure that makes up tooth enamel. D3 also manages the immune system, which helps to create a healthy and balanced oral microbiome. Vitamin D is shown to help prevent tooth decay, bleeding gums, inflammation, periodontitis, and tooth loss. Adequate vitamin D3 levels increase the success rate of dental implants and support recovery and healing after dental surgery.
Our food contains only a small amount of the necessary D3. Cod liver oil is the only food with a significant vitamin D content. Though available through other fat-rich fish species like salmon and herring, milk, mushrooms, and avocados, the content in these foods is much lower. This is why only about 20% of our vitamin D3 intake comes from food. The other 80% of our D3 is produced by exposure to sunlight. Unfortunately, due to modern lifestyle, the majority of the population suffers from vitamin D deficiency. Most of the day is spent indoors, fully clothed, behind a screen. When we do go out into the sunlight, we protect our skin with clothing and sunscreen. In doing so, we are actually blocking the production of D3. Other factors that can affect vitamin D production are things like high stress levels, gut health, age, weight, air pollution, liver and kidney health.
Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency:
• Frequent illness or infections
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Bone or back pain
• Depression
• Slow wound healing
• Bone loss
• Hair loss
• Muscle aches and pains
If you think you may be experiencing vitamin D deficiency, it is a good idea to have your levels tested by a professional. Even if you are diligent about getting outside to soak up the sunlight, we only have but so much control over vitamin D production and absorption. The good news is vitamin D3 can be easily supplemented. Look for a recommendation from a trusted professional for a reputable brand, and make sure to talk to your doctor or naturopath before starting any new supplements. Don’t let vitamin D deficiency get you down this winter.