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Is this true? Recent well-designed studies suggest that it is. Supplementing with calcium may increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It may increase your risk of a heart attack by a staggering 30%.

However, these studies evaluate the use of calcium (calcium carbonate or citrate), as a single nutrient. These supplements do not include vitamin D, potassium, or magnesium, all of which are essential for heart health. Thankfully, studies evaluating the use of supplements with both calcium and vitamin D suggest

Joel Ackerman, RMT

We often think of massage therapy to treat muscular aches, knots, and for relaxation, and rightly so. By definition, massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues in the body, which mean muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Is there a place for massage therapy in the treatment of bone conditions, such as arthritis or osteoporosis? The answer is yes!

~ Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND

90% of deaths caused by influenza occur in people older than 65 years, even though seniors are the most likely group to receive the flu shot. How can this be?

The effectiveness of the vaccine significantly depends on your body’s ability to mount an immune response against the ingredients in the vaccine. People with immune deficiencies are less able to generate the virus-fighting antibodies stimulated by the vaccine, so they acquire less protection against the flu than healthier people. In other words, the most vulnerable population acquires the least protection from the flu vaccine.

Why is it important?

Vitamin D is more similar to a hormone than a vitamin and its impact is widespread in your body. Not only does it perform the more familiar roles of bone metabolism, immune balance, and muscle function, but it might also play a role in treating diabetes and preventing cancer. Deficiencies of this important nutrient have far-reaching health consequences.

How much should you take?

Vitamin D is a hot topic in nutritional medicine during the cold and flu season. Many regulatory bodies recommend daily doses of only 400 to 800IU, while many popular medical practitioners insist that 10,000IU daily is safe and most effective for prevention. What amount is right for you?

If you’re older than 65 or have a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart disease, you’re considered at high-risk of developing life-threatening complications from the flu. You may have more control than you realize over whether this happens to you this winter.

Our general public health approach to cold and flu prevention is “attack or be attacked”. Regular use of antibacterial soaps, antibiotics, and flu vaccines that target the “bad guys” are common. However, our lives actually depend on trillions of good bacteria that live inside us and teach our immune system to kill harmful microbes. War strategies that simply target the “bad guy” not only initiate collateral damage against our “good guys”, but may also harm us by neglecting to directly support our immune function.

A healthy digestive tract is critical for immune health.