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Vitamin D Cuts SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rate by Half

This article was previously published September 28, 2020, and has been updated with new information.

Evidence showing vitamin D lowers your risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization, severe complications and death continues to mount. A September 17, 2020, paper¹ in PLOS ONE found people with lower vitamin D levels in their blood had a significantly higher risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Higher Vitamin D Lowers Risk of Positive SARS-CoV-2 Test

The lead researcher in this study was Dr. Michael Hollick, who is widely recognized as one of the leading vitamin D experts in the world. I have interviewed him twice in the past. He and his team used retrospective observational analysis of SARS-CoV-2 tests to determine whether vitamin D blood levels impacted positivity rates.

Based on vitamin D results from the preceding 12 months and SARS-CoV-2 test data from mid-March through mid-June 2020 from 191,779 patients from 50 U.S. states, people with a vitamin D level of at least 55 ng/mL (138 nmol/L) had a 47% lower SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate compared to those with a level below 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L).² As noted by the authors:

“The SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 9.3% and the mean seasonally adjusted 25(OH)D was 31.7 [ng/mL]. The SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was higher in the 39,190 patients with ‘deficient’ 25(OH)D values (<20 ng/mL) (12.5% …) than in the 27,870 patients with ‘adequate’ values (30–34 ng/mL) (8.1% …) and the 12,321 patients with values ≥55 ng/mL (5.9% …) …³

The risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity continued to decline until the serum levels reached 55 ng/mL. This finding is not surprising, given the established inverse relationship between risk of respiratory viral pathogens, including influenza, and 25(OH)D levels.⁴

SARS-CoV-2 positivity is strongly and inversely associated with circulating 25(OH)D levels, a relationship that persists across latitudes, races/ethnicities, both sexes, and age ranges. Our findings provide impetus to explore the role of vitamin D supplementation in reducing the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease.”⁵

The graph below, obtained from GrassrootsHealth,⁶ shows how the rate of positive SARS-CoV-2 results declines as vitamin D levels go up. Again, as you increase your vitamin D level from 20 ng/mL to 55 ng/mL, your risk of having a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result decreases by 47%.

Even after adjustment for gender, age, ethnicity and latitude, the risk of having a positive test result was 43% lower among those with a vitamin D level of 55 ng/mL compared to those with a level of 20 ng/mL. I understand that the COVID-19 test may be worthless and counterproductive with its false positives, but it is the only metric we currently have to assess interventions.

Vitamin D Lowers Infection and Hospitalization Rates

That higher vitamin D levels lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (i.e., getting a positive test result) was also confirmed in an Israeli population-based study^7,⁸ published in July 2020. This paper examined data from 7,807people tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection between February 1 and April 30 of 2020 who also had vitamin D test data available.

Here, those with a vitamin D level above 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) had a 59% lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 compared to those with a vitamin D level between 20 ng/mL and 29 ng/mL (50 to 74 nmol/L), and a 58% lower risk compared to those with a vitamin D level below 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). The graph below, from a GrassrootsHealth report,⁹ illustrates the findings.

covid-19 infection risk by vitamin d level

Vitamin D Lowers Hospital and ICU Admissions

Seeing how higher vitamin D levels lowers your risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the first place, it’s no surprise then that other data show higher vitamin D also lowers hospital and intensive care admissions.

The Israeli analysis¹⁰ above, for example, found that among individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, those who had a vitamin D level below 30 ng/mL also had a 1.95 times (crude odds ratio) to 2.09 times (odds ratio after adjustment for demographics and psychiatric and somatic disorders) higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19.

In other words, having a vitamin D level below 30 ng/mL about doubled the risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19. Vitamin D, when administered to hospitalized patients, can also lower their risk of needing intensive care.

This was demonstrated by Spanish researchers in a small randomized clinical study^11,^12,^13,¹⁴ published online August 29, 2020. They found hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were given supplemental calcifediol (a vitamin D3 analog also known as 25-hydroxycholecalciferol or 25-hydroxyvitamin D) in addition to standard of care — which included the use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin — had significantly lower intensive care unit admissions.

Patients in the vitamin D arm received 532 micrograms of calcifediol on the day of admission (equivalent to 106,400 IUs of vitamin D¹⁵) followed by 266 mcg on Days 3 and 7 (equivalent to 53,200 IUs¹⁶). After that, they received 266 mcg once a week until discharge, ICU admission or death.

Of those receiving calcifediol, only 2% required ICU admission, compared to 50% of those who did not get calcifediol. None of those given vitamin D supplementation died, whereas 7.6% in the standard care group perished.

icu admission and death among hospitalized covid 19

Vitamin D Lowers COVID-19 Mortality

Other studies have also confirmed that higher vitamin D levels lower your risk of complications and death from COVID-19. Among them is an August 2020 study^17,¹⁸ published in the journal Nutrients, which found patients who had a vitamin D level below 12 ng/mL (30 nmol/L) had a 6.12 times higher risk of severe disease requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, and a 14.7 times higher risk of death compared to those with a vitamin D level above 12 ng/mL.

need for invasive mechanical ventilation

An Iranian study^19,²⁰ published online in mid-July 2020 also found that patients with vitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) had better clinical outcomes and a far lower risk of death. Among COVID-19 patients over the age of 40 who had vitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL, 20% died, compared to 9.7% of those with levels at or above 30 ng/mL. Among those with a vitamin D level of at least 40 ng/mL, only 6.3% died.

Low Vitamin D Is a Risk Factor for Respiratory Failure

Yet another study, published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation in August 2020, found vitamin D deficiency was a common factor among hospitalized patients in Italy who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 related respiratory failure.

As reported by GrassrootsHealth:²¹

“Vitamin D levels were measured for each patient and were defined as insufficient (20-29 ng/ml or 50-74 nmol/L), moderately deficient (10-19 ng/ml (25-49 nmol/L), and severely deficient (<10 ng/ml or <25 nmol/L). A normal vitamin D level was defined as 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L) or higher.

81% of the patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 had vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L); and 24% had severe vitamin D deficiency (≤10 ng/ml or ≤25 nmol/L).

When looking at mortality rates after 10 days of hospitalization, it was found that those with severe vitamin D deficiency had a 50% probability of death, compared to 5% among those with a vitamin D level greater than 10 ng/ml (25 nmol/L).

This is a 10 times higher risk of death among patients with severe vitamin D deficiency compared to patients with vitamin D levels >10 ng/ml (>25 nmol/L) at 10 days of hospitalization.”

According to the study authors:

“Altogether, these considerations support the recommendation that people at risk of influenza and/or COVID-19 consider vitamin D supplementation to raise their 25(OH)D concentrations above 40-60 ng/mL, and that treatment of patients infected with influenza and/or COVID-19 includes higher vitamin D doses.”

How and Why Vitamin D Lowers COVID-19 Risks

In a past article, I reviewed how vitamin D lowers your risk of COVID-19 complications and death by inhibiting both cytokine²² and bradykinin storms.²³ Vitamin D also:

Lowers viral replication²⁴

Boosts your overall immune function by modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses

Reduces respiratory distress²⁵

Improves overall lung function

Helps produce surfactants in your lungs that aid in fluid clearance²⁶

Lowers your risk of comorbidities associated with poor COVID-19 prognosis, including obesity,²⁷ Type 2 diabetes,²⁸ high blood pressure²⁹ and heart disease³⁰

All of these factors make it an important component of COVID-19 prevention and treatment. As temperatures and humidity levels drop — two factors that influence the viability of SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces — it’s quite likely we’ll see a reemergence as we move into fall and winter.

My #StopCOVIDCold campaign seeks to raise awareness about the importance of vitamin D optimization to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. The two reports, which you can download free of charge on the #StopCOVIDCold website, provide in-depth information about the biological mechanics behind vitamin D’s protective effects.

When the northern hemisphere heads into autumn, is the ideal time to check your vitamin D level and start taking action to raise it if you’re below 40 ng/mL (100 nmol/L). Experts recommend a vitamin D level between 40 and 60 ng/ml (100 to 150 nmol/L). An easy and cost-effective way of measuring your vitamin D level is to order GrassrootsHealth’s vitamin D testing kit.

Once you know your current vitamin D level, use the GrassrootsHealth vitamin D calculator³¹ to determine how much vitamin D you might need to reach your target level. To optimize vitamin D absorption and utilization, be sure to take your vitamin D with vitamin K2 and magnesium. The three work synergistically to manage calcium metabolism.³²

Lastly, remember to retest in three to four months to make sure you’ve reached your target level. If you have, then you know you’re taking the correct dosage. If you’re still low (or have reached a level above 80 ng/mL), you’ll need to adjust your dosage accordingly and retest again in another three to four months.

Solar Panels for Easier Installations

Solar Panels have a lot of advantages over traditional methods of powering your home. You may be asking yourself, “Why should I use them? Why aren’t there other energy sources that are more cost-efficient?” The short answer is simple: solar panels are here to stay. They’re here to stay for the future, and unlike so many other energy sources (like wind and water) are here to stay for the long term.

The big question now is: what are the benefits and negatives of solar panels? And the answer is everything! First, they can provide homeowners electricity for free if used properly; but both upsides and downsides exist. So, let’s jump right in and see exactly the pros and cons (pros and cons) of solar panels in general.

The biggest advantage to solar panels Adelaide is that they produce renewable energy constantly replenished by sunlight. When used this way, solar panels can significantly reduce your household’s dependency on traditional electricity sources, like the electric company and your local power grid. You can even generate enough electricity for your personal use. It is a major advantage, especially since most people will never actually need all the excess electricity generated by these systems. In addition, they can easily power your entire house, just from the sun’s energy, so you never need to worry about running out of power during those months when you don’t get any sunlight.

Another major advantage is that they can eliminate your need for fuel sources for electricity generation. It includes your use of coal (for electricity generation) or natural gas (as a source of fuel for your heating system). These fuels are significantly more expensive than the sun’s energy, making them extremely expensive to use. When installing solar panels on your home’s roof, you essentially “free yourself” from their high-cost maintenance. As long as you properly maintain and install these systems, you’ll be able to save thousands of dollars over the life of your system, depending on how much excess energy you generate from solar panels as well.

So, what’s the downside? Well, there are a few minor things you need to be aware of before getting solar panels installed on your roof. For one thing, you absolutely must have unobstructed space on your roof for the panels. In addition, if you have any sloped or not level land, you will greatly increase the amount of time it takes your solar panels to produce energy, as well as reduce the overall efficiency of your system. Finally, you also need to be prepared to deal with the concentrated power of the sun, as this can pose serious problems if you don’t have the proper precautions for handling it.

Another thing you need to be prepared for has a properly functioning electrical system from solar panels Adelaide. During certain parts of the year when the sun is at its peak, as the times of spring and summer, solar power can be very efficient, as long as you’re using it at that time. However, during these periods, the demand for electrical power is so great that your electric company may raise your electric bill by several thousand dollars. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you need to be prepared for the increased cost of your power during these times. The best thing you can do during these times is make sure you have backup electricity if your solar panels don’t work as well as they should.
The Proven Health Benefits of the Best Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets are underrated, with many people not realising the health perks.

Weighted blankets are used for children with autism spectrum disorder, but much more to these valuable bedding items. Weighted blankets have been scientifically proven to reduce stress and anxiety in adults and help reduce insomnia! So, if you’re having trouble sleeping or find yourself overly stressed at work or home, a weighted blanket might be the solution you’re looking for.

1 – Weighted blankets improve sleep.

A weighted blanket is designed to increase serotonin and melatonin levels in your body, allowing you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Serotonin and melatonin relax the body, so if you’ve been tossing and turning all night long, a weighted blanket may be the easy fix you need.

2 – Weighted blankets improve your mood and decrease anxiety.

Weighted blankets help to regulate cortisol levels in the body, which reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. The pressure from these blankets also improves sleep quality by regulating breathing patterns and heart rate. So when you’re feeling anxious throughout the day, take a nap with your weighted blanket to reduce feelings of stress significantly.

3 – Weighted blankets give you more energy throughout the day.

Weighted blankets increase serotonin, dopamine, and endorphin levels in the brain, providing a natural boost to your energy levels. So instead of relying on caffeine or sugary snacks for energy boosts, turn to your weighted blanket. A few minutes under this blanket can improve your mood and give you the energy boost you need each day.

4 – Weighted blankets help with weight loss.

Weighted blankets work by putting pressure on the body, but they also cause a release in serotonin in the brain, a well-known appetite suppressant. In addition, weighted blankets can improve sleep, which helps lower cortisol levels and boost metabolism. All these factors contribute to losing weight more quickly!

5 – Weighted blankets are used for children with an autism spectrum disorder.

Weighted blankets have proven themselves to be an effective treatment for children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The pressure of these blankets is known to calm anxious children and can significantly reduce outbursts. If your child experiences sensory overload, a weighted blanket may be the key to calming them down. Weighted blankets are also an effective way of increasing sleep time with autistic children, who typically have trouble sleeping through the night.

Children with autism experience heightened senses, best weighted blanket are an effective way to calm them down. This allows their minds to relax, and they can finally get the rest that they need. You may have seen weighted blankets before but probably not realised what they were for! These valuable gems are easy to use and provide so many health benefits. So if you’re looking for a way to sleep better, reduce stress or anxiety, and give yourself a natural energy boost, then a weighted blanket is the solution you’ve been looking for! Not only are these blankets great for adults, but children with autism have shown impressive results when using them.

The best weighted blanket isn’t just beneficial to those who suffer from various disorders and those who suffer from sleeping problems. So, if you’re having trouble sleeping at night, it may be time to invest in a weighted blanket.
How a Snake Bite and Self-Love Motivated Dawn to Lose 100 Pounds

Dawn Smith wasn’t happy about her weight. Watch how one wrong step put her on the path to a healthier life.

The post How a Snake Bite and Self-Love Motivated Dawn to Lose 100 Pounds appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.
All the Details on The Bachelorette Season 18 Episode 5 Fashion – E! Online

We independently selected these products because we love them, and we hope you do too. Shop with E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!.

Last week’s episode of The Bachelorette ended on a dramatic note (as per usual). This week, Michelle Young brought the guys to her home state, Minnesota. She had a solo date with Joe Coleman, visiting some of her favorite places. She introduced Nayte Olukoya to two of her close friends on their boating date. The rest of the guys participated in Viking challenges at a football stadium for a group date.

Each week, we get to see more strong connections form as Michelle’s decisions get tougher to make. And, obviously, we cannot forget about the fashions. Michelle, Tayshia Adams, and Kaitlyn Bristowe have been blessing our televisions with some great looks. We pressed pause, took screenshots, and did the research to find the outfits from this week’s episode so you don’t have to.

Keep on scrolling to see some rose-worthy styles from , , , Amazon, ,, MyTheresa, , ,, , and.
‘You belong’: Sesame Street to introduce first Asian American muppet in Thanksgiving special

In addition to being the first Asian American muppet, Ji-Young, in an interview with the Associated Press, shared that her name has special meaning.

“In Korean, traditionally the two syllables, they each mean something different. And Ji means, like, smart or wise. And Young means, like, brave or courageous and strong,” she said. “But we were looking it up and guess what? Ji also means sesame.”

x

Meet Ji-Young — the first Asian American muppet on “Sesame Street.”

She is Korean American and has two passions: rocking out on her electric guitar and skateboarding. She’ll be formally introduced in a special that drops on Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/mZDgwTZJK3

— NPR (@NPR) November 15, 2021

According to Sesame Workshop, this year’s Thanksgiving special celebrates “the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities as part of the organization’s ongoing racial justice initiative.” It was “created to support families of all backgrounds through ongoing conversations about race” and will offer the opportunity to discuss anti-Asian racism.

“It’s a powerful thing when kids see people like themselves represented on screen and in stories—it supports them as they figure out who they are and who they want to be,” long-time cast member and co-director of “See Us Coming Together” Alan Muraokasaid in a press release. “We can’t wait for families to get to know Ji-Young—in this special and in future seasons of Sesame Street—and celebrate some of the Asian and Pacific Islander people in our neighborhood!”

Muraokasaid also noted the importance of the timing of the special, as it comes amid a rise in attacks against Asian Americans. According to TODAY, in an offscreen incident, another child is seen telling Ji-Young to “go home.” This incident serves as an example of discrimination AAPI individuals face. Sesame Workshop shows how Ji-Young handles the situation by depicting her reaching out to friends and grown-ups who remind her she’s exactly where she belongs.

“What’s really cool about Sesame Street is that, no matter what you look like, or how you play, or where you come from, you belong, and that’s really cool,” Ji-Young said in an interview on TODAY. “I feel very welcome, and it’s the best neighborhood in the whole world.

x

I am so excited, thrilled and honored to announce that I’ll be appearing on @sesamestreet this Thanksgiving day, welcoming its newest resident, a 7-year-old Korean-American girl named Ji-Young! It’s crazy and surreal to even write these words but as a young immigrant boy… pic.twitter.com/CA1yFtm1VW

— Jim Lee (@JimLee) November 15, 2021

Although Koren American, Ji-Young’s character is meant to represent multiple Asian identities. Her existence follows a series of recent events including a rise in Asian American hate. Speaking to the Associated Press, Kathleen Kim, who voices Ji-Young, said it was crucial that Ji-Young not be “generically pan-Asian.”

“Because that’s something that all Asian Americans have experienced. They kind of want to lump us into this monolithic ‘Asian,’” Kim said. “So it was very important that she was specifically Korean American, not just like, generically Korean, but she was born here.”

“I remember like the Atlanta shootings and how terrifying that was for me,” Kim continued. “My one hope, obviously, is to actually help teach what racism is, help teach kids to be able to recognize it and then speak out against it. But then my other hope for Ji-Young is that she just normalizes seeing different kinds of looking kids on TV.”

Sesame Workshop has continued to play its part in keeping parents and young children aware of social issues by creating programming on a variety of topics including town halls on racism and episodes including refugees and other displaced children as muppets.

“Today, we uphold that mission by empowering children and families of all races, ethnicities, and cultures to value their unique identities,” Sesame Workshop’s executive vice president of creative and production, Kay Wilson Stallings told TODAY, when speaking of the company’s mission.

Research has proven that the media not only influences the view of children but how they perceive themselves.

“This new special continues Sesame Street’s proud legacy of representation with an engaging story that encourages empathy and acceptance and uplifts Asian and Pacific Islander communities.”

“See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special” will debut on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25.

Watch Ji-Young’s special song with her and Elmo’s band below:
The Biden-Xi meeting left one big question unanswered, says analyst

The U.S. and China flags stand behind a microphone at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on April 9, 2009.

Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images

The U.S. and China have just emerged from a high-profile meeting between their two leaders, with both sides striking a positive tone about their relationship going forward — but one big question remains unanswered, said an analyst.

“The open question for the broader relationship is whether the US and China can constructively manage the slow-motion collision that is now unfolding between their very different worldviews,” said Stephen Olson, senior research fellow at Hinrich Foundation, in Tuesday note after the virtual summit.

The U.S. and China still face “hard-edged, irreconcilable differences” that are deeply entrenched — and it remains to be seen whether the fallout between them will ease after the meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Olson.

“Neither country is going to disappear. Neither country will accede to the other’s view. The prudent path forward would be to find plausible ways for each side’s divergent narratives to coexist,” he said.

Hard-edged, irreconcilable differences are embedded in each side’s view of the other. These cannot be wished away.

Stephen Olson

senior research fellow, Hinrich Foundation

Olson explained that China views the U.S. as a declining power at a time when Beijing appears more confident on the global stage. The U.S. sees the circumstances around China’s rise as antithetical to its own interests, and it must be prepared to “more forcefully confront and challenge” China, he added.

“Hard-edged, irreconcilable differences are embedded in each side’s view of the other. These cannot be wished away,” said Olson.

Biden appeared to acknowledge the challenge, too. He said there was a “need for common-sense guardrails to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict and to keep lines of communication open,” according to White House readout after his meeting with Xi.

Read more about China from CNBC Pro

Meanwhile, Xi said during the meeting that for China and the U.S. to get along “in a new era,” they should abide by principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, according to China’s official English-language readout.

Beijing typically uses language like “mutual respect” in calling for more favorable terms from the U.S.

‘Things can only get better’

The virtual meeting between Biden and Xi was the closest communication between the two leaders since Biden took office in January.

U.S.-China relations have been rocky in the past few years, with both sides clashing on issues ranging from policies on trade and technology, to human rights and the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Biden-Xi meeting yielded little concrete deliverables, but it was still an important step in stabilizing relations between the two countries, observers said.

“It’s good that the two leaders met. From here, things can only get better,” Gary Locke, a former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and U.S. ambassador to China, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” Wednesday.

“The two countries do need each other, and the world needs both countries to be cooperating and working together to solve so many issues,” said Locke, now interim president of Bellevue College.

— CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng contributed to this report.
Decathlon halts canoe sales to curb English Channel migrant crossings

Decathlon’s decision comes after a sharp rise in attempts to reach the UK from northern France.
Enjoy These Magical Details About Your Favorite Disney Movies – E! Online

24. This 1989 classic set off what is widely known as the Disney Renaissance. On the heels of Oliver & Company, The Black Cauldron and several live-action films in the Herbie franchise, the success of Ariel and co. was followed by extremely well-received ’90s fare: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Toy Story…

25. Give the opening scene with King Triton a rewatch: Eagle-eyed viewers (or, you know, those of us with the ability to press pause) can spot Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck in the underwater crowd, continuing the studio’s popular tradition of giving nods to other members of its vast oeuvre.

26. Color was key for the ocean-set picture. According to the official Walt Disney Company blog, Ariel’s red locks were chosen to help differentiate her from Daryl Hannah‘s blonde mermaid in 1994’s Splash and to complement the blue-green of her fin, a hue specially mixed by the Disney paint lab and named Ariel.

27. As for her facial features, those were inspired by then-Who’s the Boss? star Alyssa Milano. “I didn’t know that when it was going on,” the actress told Wendy Williams in 2013. “But they asked me to host The Making of The Little Mermaid and it came there that the drawing and likeness of The Little Mermaid was based on pictures of me from when I was younger, which is so cool!”
News Roundup: Biden promises infrastructure is ‘just the beginning’; Republicans defend Gosar

In the news today: While President Biden vows the newly passed infrastructure bill is “just the beginning” of revitalization efforts, House Republicans are still focused on protecting even their worst members from consequences for their acts. Another revelation seems to confirm that Trump’s most vocal advocates for nullifying the election were swimming in a whole sea of crackpot conspiracy theories—and demanding Trump’s military act on them.

Meanwhile, a new poll of Republicans solidly demonstrates that the party’s members don’t know and don’t care what “CRT” is. What they want banned are school lessons about racism in America, period.

Here’s some of what you may have missed: