Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your Life

by Eric Madrid and Eric Morse

Book Overview

From children to seniors, up to 80% of us are deficient in vitamin D, claims Dr. Eric Madrid, in his illuminating new book Vitamin D Prescription-The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1439229465
• ISBN13: 9781439229460
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great on two levels

As a long-time medical/scientific editor, what I found most impressive about this book is that it speaks with ease to both the lay person and the medical practitioner. That is, Dr. Madrid cites clinical research, which gives the work credence for other physicians. At the same time, his comfortable writing style and various stories make the data easily accessible for anyone wishing to learn more and improve his/her health. And the information he brings makes evident the vital importance of vitamin D in maintaining health. He has done us all a great service in writing this book!!

A highly recommended guide to an important subject

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.

Compelling and Practical

"Spending time in the sun is not good for me" "I'm lactose intolerant so I avoid milk products" "I feel 30 years older than I am" "I just don't feel like I used to" In "Vitamin D Prescription", Dr. Madrid provides the research behind why Vitamin D is so necessary for good health-- and why many of us are currently not getting enough of it. I am lucky to have been a patient of Dr. Madrid as he was putting together the evidence for this book. After being tested to find out my Vitamin D level was 8ng/ml, he put me on a good course of Vitamin D supplement. I can say that my symptoms have improved immeasurably, but more importantly, I feel more protected against the myriad of diseases that Vitamin D deficiency can cause. I believe that you will find that this book is easily readable and full of practical advice. As well, the solution to getting back on track with your Vitamin D is simple and inexpensive. Share it with your friends! Everyone needs to know this information!

A Great Beginning to Awareness!

For me, approaching any medical information book is intimidating. But in an attempt to revamp my health and lifestyle, this book was a great beginning to the awareness that all of us should learn to grasp. It was a quick to-the-point read that didn't leave me overwhelmed with information; but with the ability to comprehend and apply. Dr. Madrid kept it interesting by sharing many different real-life stories and situations that we can all relate to. I know I have a lot of family members that have had skin health issues and who were afraid of the sun. Dr. Madrid challenged conventional wisdom that the sun is the enemy. Our avoidance of the sun may actually be causing more harm than good. I now know my options to prevent and protect my health--an option my parent's generation never really had available.

From a Layman's point of view ! ! !

I have to be honest and tell you that, I did not read the book before starting my Vitamin D regimen, what I can tell you is that Dr Madrid prescribed me to start my Vitamin D regimen and I am so glad he did! I have simply never felt better in my entire life! Not being a health nut at all, I merely took my doctors advice (Dr. Madrid) to start taking this vitamin, and since then I have enjoyed the daily benefits and have felt better overall! So convinced of the benefits of vitamin D in my daily diet, I now have my wife taking it every day with me. Of course, I have read the book at this point and see all the medical benefits that vitamin D can provide. (wow!) All I can simply say,is that, I was first a beliver from taking vitamin D and then I was a Fanatic of Vitamin D after I read this book! Buy this book. Do it for yourself. Do it for your loved ones. I am not a sea-weed smoothy drinking freek (far from it!) In fact I am probably the furthest thing from a good health example, and possibly a doctors worst patient but, I do know one thing, this vitamin D stuff works.