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Physician review Nov 03, 2009
As a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialist, I am continually looking for ways to help my patients improve their potential for recovery and function. Dr. Madrid's quick and easy read is a great addition to my recommendation list. When I have a patient who wants to invest in themselves, this is one of the books I recommend. It explains the reasons why Vitamin D is so important and augments the reader's motivation to improve their life. I just wish it came in a audible format too.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A highly recommended guide to an important subject Oct 26, 2009
Everyone knows that preventing a disease is infinitely better than waiting for its onset and then treating it. With that in mind, we should all be focused on the notion of optimal health. If you were lucky enough to live in Temecula, CA and have Eric Madrid, MD as your family physician, you would already be guided toward that rare state of health. Fortunately, the rest of us can read "Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your Life."
Looking at a half dozen books on vitamin D, there are three things that stand out most clearly about this one. The first is that most books and articles make bland warnings about being careful not to overdose or be deficient. Without knowing the numbers you have no way to determine what is too much or too little. This is poor journalism. In stark contrast, Eric Madrid provides dozens of thumbnail conclusions of medical studies that state health benefits of specific vitamin D levels based on standard blood tests.
For example, please read this excerpt from page 96: "In 2008 Edward Giovannuucci, MD, ScD (Harvard School of Public Health) published in the Archives of Internal Medicine a study which showed that people with vitamin D levels less than 15 ng/ml (37 nmol/l) were over 2 times more likely to have a heart attack when compared to those with vitamin D levels above 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/l)." When you realize that most people have a blood level between 10 and 20 ng/ml, this is shocking in its simplicity and ramifications. If you are anywhere near the norm, the message is clear: You need more vitamin D. However, without clearly stated blood levels, the information is close to useless.
Imagine learning similar statistics regarding diabetes, any coronary-vascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, MS, Parkinson's, any autoimmune disease, and many others. There is a whole section covering the protective effect of vitamin D on many forms of cancer. In every case, the summaries distill years of medical research into a simple statement, and in every case, these chronic degenerative diseases are clearly associated with a vitamin D deficiency. Please note that the medical profession does not regard the various study results as irrefutable proof, but the author wisely advises to begin a regimen of vitamin D supplementation while studies continue, since there is much to be gained and little, if any, risk.
The next noteworthy aspect of this book is the overall approach to health care. Dr. Madrid emphasizes eliminating the risk factors that make serious disease more likely. You already know you should attain a healthy body weight, improve your diet, lay off the junk food, quit smoking, get some exercise, learn to manage stress, get a good night's sleep, reduce chemical exposure, etc. But let's be honest: Rome wasn't built in a day and you are not going to develop better habits overnight, but there is NO EXCUSE for being vitamin D-deficient. Anybody can pop a safe, inexpensive pill. Think of vitamin D as low hanging fruit.
If you dredge up the tired old excuse that you prefer to wait for clinically observable symptoms to appear before taking action, I have some bad news for you. By that point, the damage has already been done, and the only possible interventions are highly invasive, risky, and expensive. This book is about taking personal responsibility for your own health, so you have the best chance of eliminating the problem before it starts.
The third item on my list is a specific call to action. After reading 30 or 40 or 50 summaries of clinical studies, you will learn so much about the widespread protective value of vitamin D that eventually you might loudly slam down the book, yelling, "THAT'S IT - I'VE SEEN ENOUGH!", and vow to boost your vitamin D level above 50 ng/ml. That is clearly the intent of "Vitamin D Prescription"; to give you, the reader, information and motivation to get you to spring into action.
True to the book's title, on pages 166 and 167, Dr. Madrid actually gives you a "prescription" for vitamin D supplementation based on blood test results. If you do nothing else, you would be wise to read it, make sure you understand it, and follow the prescription to bring your blood level into the optimal range (50 to 100 ng/mL based on the 25(OH)D blood test).
I am happy to give "Vitamin D Prescription" a 5-star rating for a variety of reasons. Dr. Madrid's advice agrees with the best-known vitamin D experts. He doesn't insult the reader by avoiding numerical data; he EDUCATES the reader to understand the numerical data. Patient case histories give you good insights about real-world situations. The book is graphically appealing with charts, maps, bulleted lists, and boxed excerpts that make it easy to scan. I also enjoyed the author's personal anecdotes and easy-to-read style.
If your approach to healthcare is not already centered on minimizing known risk factors, "Vitamin D Prescription" will help you make this important paradigm shift; and if you already are of that mindset, it will give you many compelling reasons to optimize your vitamin D level. For those wishing to march down the path toward a long, healthy life, "Vitamin D Prescription" is a great roadmap for the journey.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A REAL EYE OPENER! Sep 22, 2009
I believe the average person has no real concept of the benefits of Vitamin D. Dr. Madrid, has hit the nail on the head! The book is very easy to read as well and understand. This could definitely be a turning point for all of us. I can't wait to see what he will write next.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Doctors orders Sep 14, 2009
Let it be known, that going to the Doctors office takes nothing short of a life or death emergency . Even then im more likely NOT to go ,so in this small bit of knowledge i have shared with you about myself , I value the knowledge that was gained from reading this book . I have decided to trust in medical facts and put aside my childish fears, after all im big enough to be almost scary , why be afraid of a little needle.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Book Aug 07, 2009
Very informative, wife took the book before I was halfway through, so I had to wait a week to finish. But I will put into action all I learned.
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