Vitamin D – Is it the Multiple Sclerosis Miracle?

Vitamin D may be one of the most important nutrients to heal our bodies, not just from auto immune issues like Multiple Sclerosis but even cancers. Vitamin D deficiencies run rampant now – especially in Americans. It’s interesting that Auto Immune diseases, illness and cancers do too. Vitamin D levels are steadily declining, specifically in the U.S., as children and adults spend less time outdoors.

Studies conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford and another conducted at the New Jersey Medical School and even the Mayo Clinic have suggested that maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin D may have a protective effect and lower the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis. Vitamin D may even lessen the frequency and severity of our MS Symptoms. When you’re having an exacerbation, your Vitamin D levels may be almost non-existent! Of course more research is needed to assess these findings, but I believe what’s been revealed is groundbreaking and as research continues around the world I grow more hopeful and optimistic each and every day about its benefits to the MS community! When Vitamin D levels are optimized it may help prevent many types of Cancers,  Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes,  Osteoporosis, Infections, Rheumatoid Arthritis. Any doctor can order a Vitamin D level test and it’s important to find out where you are currently so that you have a reference point in tracking your levels. Screening for vitamin D deficiency is especially important for African-Americans and other ethnic groups with dark skin, due to the decreased natural production of Vitamin D from sun exposure.

The link between Vitamin D and MS is strengthened by the association between sunlight and the risk of MS. The farther away we are from the equator, the higher the risk of MS. Sunlight is the body’s most efficient source of Vitamin D. An effective way to get your D levels up is spending 10-15 minutes a day (mornings are best) in direct sunlight with the least amount of clothing on.  The more skin exposure the more D that is produced. Don’t worry about staying out longer thinking that you’ll get more D, that’s not how the body works.

Supplementing your Vitamin D is very important and can be a great benefit. The Mayo Clinic and even in Swedish studies they’ve shown that the recommended daily allowances are nowhere near the levels we need if we are to combat Multiple Sclerosis and other illnesses. I take 8000 IU’s a day of Vitamin D3 with K2. During the summer months, I take 4000 IU’s. You can also do your own research at the Mayo Clinic website as they have a reference guide for Vitamin D dosing correlated to your specific disease or symptoms. (As always talk with your trusted health care provider before starting any type of supplement.)

The more I research, the more amazed I become! This is just the tip of the iceberg as to how AWESOME Vitamin D is for our bodies, our immune systems, and especially our Multiple Sclerosis!

To Our Health!

Kellie

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

My heart is heavy today as I write my second official Blog post!  Sometimes It’s hard to decide what to write, I mean, I want to share so much information that I’ve learned over these last 25 years dealing with this disease from being a teenager, to an adult, to a parent living with this chronic condition, it’s clear now why I was waiting on what to write.

I received a text from one of my best friends yesterday, “I NEED TO TALK WITH YOU NOW”! My stomach dropped when I saw the text and I ran to find my headset and phone to call him back. He began to tell me of a young lady, a wife, a mom of 2 young children who was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.   I was anxious to talk with her to offer some support and HOPE! I know how scary it is when you have Multiple Sclerosis, the uncertainty of the disease course, the uncertainty of the future and how it will affect not only you, but your family.

Unfortunately, this was not going to be that type of call – He told me that she had committed suicide. My heart sank, I couldn’t believe my ears. I said Oh, No, what happened? I learned she was experiencing terrible headaches, pain at the base of her neck, chronic fatigue and had Optic Neuritis. Wow, Those are the same things I was experiencing when I was diagnosed 29 years ago. She was told by a doctor that she would probably have only 4 years to live…..Obviously, that was a ridiculous, inaccurate diagnosis, irresponsible and just plain inhumane.  I was told she was sitting at the computer investigating day and night about MS and was terrified by what she saw!

Please, Please, Please – know this – Multiple Sclerosis is not a death sentence. You can have a productive and good quality of life too. Yes, Multiple Sclerosis is a sporadic and ever changing disease, but there are plenty of options for all of us. We have the top minds in research, medicine, and alternatives working for us for a cure! THERE IS HOPE! I honestly wish I could talk with each person suffering and struggling with MS. Maybe we can devise a plan of attack, maybe we could just chat, and maybe they would understand they are not alone.

I am thoroughly upset by what happened to this poor woman, what if I could have talked to her, what if we could have gotten her some professional mental help, what if we could have gotten her to a local support group or even in one of these amazing Facebook groups we are a part of?

If you’re looking for more holistic and natural ways to beat your MS, you’ll want to check out my book “Waking Up From MS – My Journey to Health, Healing, and Living Symptom-Free.” It details my almost 30-year journey with MS and how I am now healthy, strong and symptom-free!

If you know someone struggling right now or if you are that person – Please reach out to someone!  YOU are not Alone! There is HOPE!

Your life is important!  You are important! Don’t let MS define you!

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255

National Crisis Hotline – 1-800-784-2433

www.mssociety.org – 1-800-344-4867 – “Knowledge is power section”  for newly diagnosed MS sufferers

To our health!

Kellie

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

Can we beat Multiple Sclerosis?

If you look to traditional medicine for that answer that would be a resounding and absolute “NO!” We’re told once you have MS you always have MS and we sit and wait for the next exacerbation, we live flare up to the next flare up. That’s how our lives are defined, by the medical community anyway. The medical community also tells us that MS has a mind of its own, almost taking away any chance of us being able to do anything to stop or slow its progression. I totally disagree with that whole scenario. There is far too much information out there to help us start feeling better. We must open our eyes and take control of our health.

I’ve been dealing with MS for over 29 years – Yes,  this is my 29th year of living with this disease and I’m shocked at how some in the medical field will still say that there is nothing we can do to be healthy. They will tell us there is no “proof” that anything other than disease modifying drugs can help us. I’m sorry that’s just not true, I am living proof of that and there is far too much evidence to contradict that statement!

We know that some people with cancer, for example, would be considered “cured” if they didn’t have a relapse after 5 years. So why then is Multiple Sclerosis considered differently? Let’s say someone commits to changing their diet, they exercise, they change environmental factors, they look at their relationships, they look at healing the “whole” body?  What if we go for 2 years without a flare-up, what about 4 years without a flare-up, what about 6 years?

Can we ever say we are recovered or cured of Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis is very much an individual thing, but what if we take the 5, 6 or  10-year mark, relapse free, would that signify recovery? Think about it, what if we all strived to hit that milestone? If we stayed on the path to heal our immune systems, heal our bodies from whatever has thrown it off track to the point that we have an MS diagnosis. What if we stay focused on recovery and being positive  – wouldn’t there be so much to gain by considering we are recovered or healed or cured? How much HOPE would that give people to think this is not a “Life Sentence?”

I caution you, in this process, we cannot worry about every little symptom that may arise from our MS. This means do not think every challenge or twitch or flutter means a full blown exacerbation, possible hospitalization or even full disability. Our minds are so very powerful, as anyone with Multiple Sclerosis knows, in fact, many doctors will not want us to focus too much on what COULD happen or MIGHT happen because we will often times start to manifest those exact symptoms! YES, OUR MINDS ARE THAT POWERFUL. Instead, I say each of us should look at our lifestyles, what’s working, what’s not and do everything possible to target becoming healthy, heal our body, heal our immune systems, and just being happy!

I turned around my whole disease and am now living symptom-free, healthy and strong. I supplement, eat a healthy diet, exercise, do alternative therapies – chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, meditation, dry brushing, earthing, juicing, healing relationships and making sure I laugh a lot!

We must take things in stride and put all our attention on our quality of life. This is a lifestyle, not a quick fix!

We can do it!

If you’re looking for more holistic and natural ways to beat your MS, you’ll want to check out my book “Waking Up From MS – My Journey to Health, Healing, and Living Symptom-Free.” It details my almost 30-year journey with MS and how I am now healthy, strong and symptom-free!

To our Health!

Kellie Alderton

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.