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

Eric Madrid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2009

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 Life. Vitamin D not only builds strong bones, but it can help prevent or control diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, lupus, and even cancer. Madrid urges readers to have their blood vitamin D levels checked by their physicians and to supplement with vitamin D pills. He also advises to limit the sunscreen and soak up the healthy rays of the sun instead. Filled with thought-provoking research studies, personal anecdotes and case histories, Vitamin D Prescription is meant to be an easy-to-read and informative book about the healing powers of this astonishing vitamin.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Eric Madrid completed his undergraduate work at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where he earned his BS degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. In 2002, he graduated from The Ohio State University School of Medicine where he earned his Doctorate of Medicine (MD) degree. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and practices at Rancho Family Medical Group & Rancho Wellness Center, Temecula, Calif. Dr. Madrid and his wife, Whanda, have been married since 1998 and have 3 children. Dr. Madrid served 2 years as Chair Person for his local Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. He believes prevention is the best way to eliminate cancer and other diseases. Lifestyle and nutrition play a huge role in accomplishing this. Dr. Madrid also conducts product research and development for eHealthSupplies.com, an internet health portal and also volunteers with Haiti Endowment Fund (haitiendowmentfund.org)

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing; 1 edition (May 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439229465
• ISBN-13: 978-1439229460
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Vitamins
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Nutrition > Vitamins & Supplements

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A highly recommended guide to an important subject, October 25, 2009

By 

Rich Blumenthal ((Mission Viejo, CA USA)) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your Life (Paperback)

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. Think of vitamin D as low hanging fruit.

If you dredge up the tired old excuse that you prefer to wait for clinically observable symptoms to appear before taking action, I have some bad news for you. By that point, the damage has already been done, and the only possible interventions are highly invasive, risky, and expensive. This book is about taking personal responsibility for your own health, so you have the best chance of eliminating the problem before it starts.

The third item on my list is a specific call to action. After reading 30 or 40 or 50 summaries of clinical studies, you will learn so much about the widespread protective value of vitamin D that eventually you might loudly slam down the book, yelling, "THAT'S IT - I'VE SEEN ENOUGH!", and vow to boost your vitamin D level above 50 ng/ml. That is clearly the intent of "Vitamin D Prescription"; to give you, the reader, information and motivation to get you to spring into action.

True to the book's title, on pages 166 and 167, Dr. Madrid actually gives you a "prescription" for vitamin D supplementation based on blood test results. If you do nothing else, you would be wise to read it, make sure you understand it, and follow the prescription to bring your blood level into the optimal range (50 to 100 ng/mL based on the 25(OH)D blood test).

I am happy to give "Vitamin D Prescription" a 5-star rating for a variety of reasons. Dr. Madrid's advice agrees with the best-known vitamin D experts. He doesn't insult the reader by avoiding numerical data; he EDUCATES the reader to understand the numerical data. Patient case histories give you good insights about real-world situations. The book is graphically appealing with charts, maps, bulleted lists, and boxed excerpts that make it easy to scan. I also enjoyed the author's personal anecdotes and easy-to-read style.

If your approach to healthcare is not already centered on minimizing known risk factors, "Vitamin D Prescription" will help you make this important paradigm shift; and if you already are of that mindset, it will give you many compelling reasons to optimize your vitamin D level. For those wishing to march down the path toward a long, healthy life, "Vitamin D Prescription" is a great roadmap for the journey.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Beginning to Awareness!, July 14, 2009

By 

Melissa A. Clare (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your Life (Paperback)

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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and Practical, August 1, 2009

By 

D. Leander - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your Life (Paperback)

"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!