“Dr. Cedric Garland of UC San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center had just published a paper saying that the risk of breast cancer could be cut by 50 percent if people had vitamin D serum levels somewhere between 40 to 50 nanograms per milliliter. I just sat there and looked at that, and I started crying, thinking this can’t be true… I’m a very skeptical scientist,” says Carole Baggerly, Founder and Director of GrassrootsHealth in an interview with Dr. Joseph Mercola.

GrassrootsHealth is a public health promotion organization which is primarily focused on creating awareness about the profound importance of vitamin D for optimal health. The group is working to develop and substantiate research to support the use of vitamin D as a prevention strategy against diseases like cancer.

Carole Baggerly’s interest in the subject began with a breast cancer diagnosis in 2005. She was treated with conventional methods—surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Two years later she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, which—she was told–was most likely caused by a vitamin D deficiency. This led her to look into a possible link between vitamin D deficiency and cancer.

Baggerly discovered that the author, Dr. Garland, was not only well-respected, but had researched vitamin D and cancer for 30 years. In May of that year, she attended a conference focused specifically on vitamin D and cancer, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

“For two solid days, I listened to reports by scientists from all over the world talking about vitamin D and cancer,” said Baggerly. “Not all of them were things to jump up and down about, but there was so much there that was so positive… but the only action item they had was – “We need to do more research.”

As a result Carole and her husband, Leo (a physicist and a researcher who currently works with the kinetics of vitamin D) set off to meet with scientists across the country and Canada to devise a plan of action. She was determined to get the message out about vitamin D’s connection to cancer and other diseases, and GrassrootsHealth was created for that purpose.

Click here to view the entire interview with Carole Baggerly and Dr. Mercola.

The ability of your skin to stretch and then return to its normal state afterward is called elasticity. This ability lies in the layer of skin called the dermis.¹

The dermis is structurally divided into two areas: a superficial area adjacent to the epidermis, called the papillary region, and a deep thicker area known as the reticular region. ²

The reticular region lies deep in the papillary region and is usually much thicker. It is composed of dense irregular connective tissue, and receives its name from the dense concentration of collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers that weave throughout it. These protein fibers give the dermis its properties of strength, extensibility, and elasticity.³

SkinHealth Technology has added beneficial cosmeceuticals to their new ExtremeSkinCare Intense Treatment Balm, that help restore skin elasticity.

They include:

Glycosaminoglycans – peptides that inhibit enzymes that degrade and ultimately destroy the skin’s collagen network.

Two marine-based Polysaccharides - decrease skin inflammation, protect the skin’s elasticity and allow more oxygen and nutrition to reach injured skin cells.

1 ,2, 3: Wikipedia

Recently, on her show, Rachel Ray did a segment on skin conditions with her personal physician, Dr. Anne Chapas. Rachel wanted to know the difference between simple dry skin and other more troublesome skin diseases.

Rachel asks, “The changing of the seasons can have a drying effect on our skin, but how do we know when a little moisturizer will do and when a trip to the doctor is in order?”

“Everyone has dry skin at some point in their life,” says Dr. Chapas, “but if it doesn’t respond to moisturizers, or it’s itchy or painful, it’s probably caused by a skin disease and you really should go see your dermatologist.”

Dr. Chapas explains some of the most common skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Click the image below to listen to the conversation:

Polysaccharides are carbohydrate structures that produce a long chain of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen cells. They are formed with glycosidic bonds which hold the chain together. In nutrition, polysaccharides are digested in the body and used as potential energy sources. There are many benefits to this macro-molecule. Polysaccharides are a broad term for any sugar molecule that has a glycogen bond.¹

In the skin, polysaccharides are the sugar molecules that create the moisture binding gel-like substance. These molecules can bind up to 1,000 times their weight in moisture and are responsible for the skin’s hydration.²

Polysaccharides are natural components of the skin that potentially have antioxidant properties.³

ExtremeSkinCare Intensive Treatment Balm is a powerful formula that combines polysaccharides, peptides and botanical emollients– with a proven skin protectant to help combat even the most serious skin conditions. This soothing balm helps reduce the unsightly appearance of psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. Relieves inflamed and irritated skin without steroids!

The new SkinHealth Technology formula contains two marine-based polysaccharides that decrease skin inflammation, protect the skin’s elasticity, and allow more oxygen and nutrition to reach injured skin cells.

1) iHealth Directory

2) Imedeen

3) Cosmetics Cop

A new animal study from Japan suggests that vitamin D may help clear the brain of amyloid beta, a toxic protein-like compound that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, according to RealAge.com.

This animal study further validates the results of a previous study done in human Alzheimer’s patients. In the human study, vitamin D was given along with curcumin (found in the spice turmeric) and the combination appeared to stimulate the immune system in a way that helped clear the brain of toxic amyloid beta.

The new animal study suggests that vitamin D alone may be able to clear the brain of plaques. Even more impressive–the lab animals that received vitamin D were able to remove a significant amount of amyloid beta buildup in their brains, literally overnight. It appears that vitamin D may somehow regulate production of transporter proteins that carry amyloid beta across the blood-brain barrier and out of the brain.

The most effective way to obtain this vital nutrient is directly from the sun. Natural sunlight is the best source of vitamin D!

UV sunlight is the fuel that enables the body to make vitamin D, but how long should you stay in the sun to optimize your Vitamin D without sun protection?

Skincare experts at SkinHealth Technology, LLC have developed a patented, new concept that enables you to attain vitamin D development 100% naturally–without damage to the skin. To accurately gauge the necessary length of time in the sun, simply apply one of their Natural Vitamin D UV Activation Sensors to skin or clothing. When the sensor turns red and the sun symbol disappears —it’s time to apply sunscreen or get out of the sun.

They recommend exposing uncovered arms and legs to bright, mid-day sun between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. (Exposure of 25% or more of the body’s total skin surface is necessary and protection of sun sensitive areas, like the face, is advised.)