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January 08 2008
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Ancient TB Case Shows the Power of Vitamin D

tuberculosis, sunlight, skin colors, circle of friendsPaleontologists examining a 500,000-year-old skull discovered in Turkey have found the earliest known evidence of tuberculosis – a peril that your ancient ancestors encountered as they migrated out of Africa.

The discovery lends support to the theory that dark-skinned people who migrate out of tropical climates tend to have lower levels of vitamin D, which can adversely affect their immune system.

Dark skin protects against the intense ultraviolet radiation of equatorial countries, but this adaptation became a liability during early migration to more temperate latitudes where sunlight exposure was less prevalent.

Then, as now, your risk of vitamin D deficiency increases when you live in temperate zones or have less access to natural sunlight.



Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This is the latest in a string of recent studies confirming the vital role vitamin D plays in increasing your body’s natural capacity to ward off autoimmune diseases, including preventing and treating tuberculosis. 

Vitamin D deficiency is a growing epidemic across the world, contributing to many chronic debilitating diseases – many of which conventional medicine insist need to be treated with vaccines and medication, rather than recommending proper sunlight exposure. 

I really wonder if they would recommend it if they could devise some method to charge you for it, but for the time being at least you can’t patent sunlight.

In the most of the northern hemishpere, the late winter vitamin D average is so low it falls within the category of “serious deficiency.”  

If you are dark-skinned, your risk of being deficient in vitamin D is vastly increased. As many as 42 percent of African American women, compared to just over 4 percent of white women of childbearing age suffer from vitamin D deficiencies during the summer months. African Americans are also statistically more susceptible to TB infection.

How Vitamin D Deficiency Can Cause Tuberculosis

Although nearly one third of the word’s population carries the tuberculosis bacteria, only about 0.2 percent of those infected with tuberculosis (TB) actually develop a clinically significant infection. This fact indicates that something other than the bacteria itself is responsible for developing the disease.

Several studies have appeared in the last decade, indicating that vitamin D is one of the major keys that dictate whether you will actually develop the disease. These studies have all come to the conclusion that vitamin D deficiency sets off the disease if you are a carrier of the bacteria.

One previous study was able to show an astonishing 100 percent resolution rate by treating TB patients with 10,000 units of vitamin D daily (compared with the 400 units usually advocated by conventional medicine).

How Vitamin D Can Treat Tuberculosis

How does vitamin D treat TB so effectively?

Your white blood cells convert vitamin D that your skin produces from proper sun exposure into an active form, which helps form a protein that kills the tuberculosis bacteria. Therefore the more severe your vitamin D deficiency is, the higher your risk of developing the active form of TB.

Although there are vitamin D supplements on the market, I am convinced that supplementing with oral vitamin D is a poor substitute for proper UVB exposure on your skin,  The primary reason is that it’s  just too darn easy to overdose on vitamin D since it is an oil soluble supplement, which easily stores in fat tissue. It is so easy that I’ve actually done it a few times, so I speak from personal experience on this one. Instead, your safest bet is to get your vitamin D from natural sunlight exposure.  

Why?

Because unlike other vitamins, vitamin D is created by your body after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. This is the active vitamin D -- vitamin D3. Nearly all the prescription-based supplements are synthetic vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), which is FAR LESS effective.  

If you do take oral vitamin D supplements, make sure you get your vitamin D level tested before you begin. Please bear in mind that there are TWO vitamin D tests: 1, 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D. The correct test your doctor needs to order is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, as it’s a much better marker of overall vitamin D status. 

“Normal” 25-hydroxyvitamin D lab values are between 20-56 ng/ml (50-140 nmol/l). However, this range is far too broad to be ideal. In fact, your vitamin D level should never be below 32 ng/ml, and any levels below 20 ng/ml are considered serious deficiency states. Instead, the OPTIMAL value you’re looking for is 50-55 ng/ml (115-128 nmol/l). 

For more in-depth information about sunlight’s vital role in maintaining optimal health, I recommend reading my special report on the topic. Also keep an eye out for my forthcoming book, Dark Deception, which is slated for publication sometime this year.  Previous studies have actually found that more than one million people die every year from lack of sun exposure and subsequent vitamin D deficiency, so fear of the sun is really something that needs to be overcome. My book will take an in-depth look at all of the various issues relating to sunscreen, cancer, vitamin D, and sunlight -- and expose why the conventional wisdom to stay out of the sun is dead wrong.

If you simply are unable to access sunlight during the winter then ideally you will want to consider using a safe tanning bed.

Why You Should Not Ignore Your Emotional Issues

Another strong contributor to TB is your emotional issues. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not your emotions have anything to do with your physical health, I recommend checking out my recent three-hour interview with Dr. David Holt on German New Medicine, which goes into this area far more in-depth.

Needless to say, energy psychology tools are the way to go if you want to optimize your health by resolving long-standing emotional issues. The Emotional Freedom technique, which uses simple tapping techniques, is one of the most effective energy therapies out there.


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Community Comments ( 20 )
Comment on this Article
  
  
foxtroter_203
[ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on December 20, 2007 ]
10 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
It is interesting to think that the pure Hitler Aryan race is actually the result of mutations from the original dark-skinned race.  If I understand my evolutionary process, the light skinned race is actually a mutant race from the original dark skinned race coming out of Africa a long, long time ago.  We are all actually African in heritage.  We are all truly all brothers and sisters.  Recent genetics shows that all humans on earth came from one of 33 or so mothers. 
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Russ Bianchi
[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on December 20, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Hence, Leaky's African rift cradle 'Lucy' may be 'Eve'?

So much for Scientology's (admittedly a great tax dosge for Cruise and Travolta's) 'space aliens' ...
Mercola
  
Sheila C
[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on December 24, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
You are right foxtroter, Pakistani and East Indians are also part of the Aryan nation.  Do you think someone should have told Hitler?
Mercola
  
foxtroter_203
[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on December 24, 2007]
9 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

Jonny: The Seven Daughters of Eve is a book by Bryan Sykes that presents the theory of Human mitochondrial genetics . He follows genetic mutations of mitochondrial DNA that is passed from mother to daughter. This is DNA separate from the paired chromosomal DNA from Mom and Dad. We are talking about a time as I recall of about 15,000 to 40,000 years ago. The relatively new field of mitochondrial DNA I find is quite fascinating.

This is my source for speaking of there being genetically 33 mothers.  33 mothers is as far back is he was able to connect the DNA of modern man around the world.

Mercola
  
LORENLSMITH
[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on January 9, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Hitler was wrong on other things too!  If he had wanted longevity, high immune systems, strength of Samson, intelligence of Solomon, he should have studied his medical history better.

  
  
Casie Girl
[ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on January 8, 2008 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User

Natural sunlight is so good for you!  I am amazed at how many people believe that staying out of the sun or caking on the poisonous sunscreen is healthier than letting the natural sun on their skin.  Proper exposure is so important.  I wish people would start to see that.  Thank you, Dr Mercola for helping to get that message out.  I have felt for a long time that it is not exposure to sun that causes skin cancer, it's the sun screen.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
LORENLSMITH
[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on January 9, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I'd like to know if the full-spectrum "Ott light" bulbs really produce vitamin

D.  My skin has never turned even pink from these lights and I suspect we aren't really getting the values of sun light from them.

  
  
mmc88121
[ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on December 20, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
Maybe the person left because he was sick, and knew he was dying.  If it was a non-virulent form that could have lasted for months.  I am amazed at how part of a skull can tell an entire life story of a person.  I just wonder how accurate the story is without input from the original person.

Mary
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
4Hand Healthy
[ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on December 21, 2007]
2 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
Probably not accurate at all; it's all guesswork!!
  
  
wochase
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on January 9, 2008 ]
2 Points        
   
 
Novice User

It seems I remember many years ago, TB patients were placed outside in the sun as part of the cure. Supposedly the fresh air was important, but maybe the sun was more important, Huh?

 [ Reply ]
  
  
saynotoquacks
[ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on January 8, 2008 ]
2 Points        
   
 
Savvy User

I live in Michigan, and I sunbathe in the winter by pushing the sleeves of my jacket up and exposing my forearms, and my face, to the light.  I get a nice tan, which is evidence of vitamin D production.  It is simply not true that we don't get vitamin D from the winter sun!  I also supplement using a sunlamp when it's cloudy.  It really helps my mood and my immune system.  I never get sick!  I'm getting my parents to do this too.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
curious7
[ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on January 9, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Apprentice User

This so called modern age, has allowed many of the common tools of good health to be lost.  This is a sad state of affairs, and too bad there are those who seek a profit from the suffering of others, especially suffering compounded by those who are getting the profit.  Misinformation, or no information at all, as to what can and does maintain ones health.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
TWS500
[ Joined on 05/07 ] [ Posted on January 9, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

Thank you Dr. Mercola for your information about Vitamin D...  It has changed my life for the better...

 [ Reply ]
  
  
MoniqueG
[ Joined on 09/07 ] [ Posted on January 9, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

I had TB in 1962 and we had to stay out of the sun.  The sun can tire you out quick.  I know it is good for you, but not if it tires you.  I stay in it whenever I can.  Emotional problems do contribute to TB and probably a lot of diseases.  A poor diet, being exposed to the germ, lots of stress and not knowing how to keep things from bothering you are probably the main reason for getting it.  Some people are just strong and seem to get by easier than others.  Supplements are so important if you are not one of the strong ones.  

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
ally oop
[ Joined on 01/08 ]  [ Posted on February 11, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I love the sun, never seem to get tired of it, but one time I had pneumonia & was on antibiotics, I couldn`t get out of the sun quick enough. I found out myself I couldn`t take the sun when I was on antibiotics, it made me weak.

  
  
Krystyna
[ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on January 8, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

Dear All,

At this time I only want to direct your attention to a rather old and probably long out of print book by Paul de Kruif (first published in 1932), titled Men Against Death. One of its chapters describes a therapy used in the 1920s by Dr Auguste Rollier (called The Doctor Sunshine in his native Switzerland). Rollier treated TB by progressive sunlight exposure he applied to his patients, mostly sick kids from poor urban families. He was successful in treating bone TB, lung TB and lymphatic glands TB in children and adults by gradually exposing their bodies to more and more direct sunlight in his clinic, in the village of Leysin,  in Swiss Alps. And all that before anyone even dreamed of antibiotics. There is an old proverb of Swiss highlanders, you can still occasionally hear when you travel through Swiss Alpine country: where sun keeps shining, no doctors need coming.

Regards

 [ Reply ]
  
  
Dani-WllnssWrks
[ Joined on 12/07 ] [ Posted on January 8, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

Why not just use far infrared to get the benefits of the sun without the UVA/UVB rays? That's what I prefer especially being a redhead, I burn very quickly.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
HappyDaze
[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on January 8, 2008]
       
   
Apprentice User