Could a Daily Dose of Sunshine Prevent Neurological Diseases?
By Jennifer Palmer, Naturopathic Doctor (ND) & NEEDS Education Director

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing "dopaminergic" neurons in a specific area of the brain. It causes symptoms that progress slowly over years, including rigid limbs, gait and balance problems, and a type of tremor in the hands. Like most of the neurological diseases, it continually progresses and there is no solid cure. 

A recent study has found a link between regular sun exposure and having a lower risk of developing PD as an older adult. Sun exposure increases the body's vitamin D production and this may play a significant role in PD. 

This study was conducted in France in order to examine the association of ultraviolet B (UV-B) light exposure from the sun, to the risk of developing PD later in life. The researchers found that in adults under 70-years-old, higher exposure to UV-B light is associated with a lower risk of developing PD. People under 50-years-old with consistently high UV-B exposure had the most significant reduction in their risk of developing PD as they grew older. In older age groups, the risk reduction was less significant, but still existed. Read more

Iodoral is Back!
By Allergy Research Group

Iodine is an essential element that is crucial for thyroid and adrenal health and proper function. It also helps to boost your immunity and create a healthy metabolism balance. Although its main function is to aid in the production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, other organs in the body have a need for iodine in order to function normally too. 

Several studies have demonstrated the body's need for iodine intake. The original study on adolescent girls was completed 80-years-ago and used 9 mg of iodine daily. The minimum amount of iodine determined in these studies is equivalent to 0.1 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day. For example for a 50 kg woman, the daily amount of iodine would be 5 mg. 

During the early 1900's, the iodine/ iodide solution called Lugol solution was used extensively, effectively, and safely in medical practice—for both low activity and above normal activity of the thyroid gland. The recommended daily intake for iodine supplementation was 2 to 6 drops of Lugol solution, which provided 12.5 mg to 37.5 mg total iodide. That amount was mentioned as recently as 1995 in a book on Pharmaceutical Sciences. Read more

5 Reasons You Need More Magnesium
By Jennifer Palmer, Naturopathic Doctor (ND) & NEEDS Education Director

Are you deficient in magnesium? About 60 percent of Americans are! There are a variety of symptoms that can signify a magnesium deficiency. Do you have muscle twitching, muscle aches and pains, headaches, anxiety, nervousness, or insomnia? These can all be signs that you need more magnesium. There are also more serious conditions that may indicate a magnesium deficiency. 

One is insulin resistance, a condition when cells don't respond adequately to insulin's attempt to shuttle glucose into cells after eating—resulting in elevated blood sugar and increased fat storage. It's a precursor to diabetes and research shows that people with low levels of magnesium have an increased risk of developing diabetes. 

Animal studies have shown that when fed a low magnesium diet, the animals display signs of stress, depression, and anxiety. When the magnesium is brought back into their diet, those symptoms disappear. Human studies have also shown that magnesium can relieve anxiety and depression alone or in combination with other herbal formulas. Read more