1739 offspring (Caucasian) of the original Framingham Heart Study were eligible for the Framingham Offspring Cohort.  Mean age was 59 years, 55% were women (947) were without prior cardiovascular disease.  25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured and deficiency groups were identified as < 15 ng/mL and < 10 ng/mL. 28% of individuals had levels < 15 ng/mL and 9% had levels < 10 ng/mL. With an average follow-up of 5.4 years, 120 participants developed a first cardiovascular event. Those with a serum vitamin D level < 15 ng/mL had a hazard ratio of 1.62 for cardiovascular events compared with those with a 25(OH)D level > 15 ng/mL. This effect was observed in those with hypertension but not those without.  There was a progressive increase in cardiovascular risk with lower levels of vitamin D with a 1.53 hazard ratio for levels 10 to < 15 ng/mL and 1.80 for levels < 10 ng/mL. 
Commentary

The results of this study suggest that a moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.  One would hope that treatment of vitamin D deficiency with vitamin D supplementation or adequate exposure to sunlight could reduce that risk.  While a randomized intervention trial would be needed to assess vitamin D supplementation as a treatment strategy, we do have other positive evidence showing vitamin D supplementation reducing blood pressure, ventricular hypertrophy and inflammatory cytokines.
References

Want T, Pencina M, Booth S, et al.  Vitamin D deficiency and risk of cardiovascular disease.  Circulation. 2008; 117: 503-511.

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Death is the Right Partner to Greatly Live Our Lives

Since my husband of 18 years died suddenly of undiagnosed coronary artery disease in 1989, I have felt death peering over my shoulder.  It feels quite right as a partner in how I choose to live my life, and oddly comforting, like a missing piece making a circle complete. 

That being said, when death literally comes knocking at the doorstep of my daily life, it remains profoundly rattling.  I have been close to death, dancing with death day by day these recent weeks through my extended family, doing energy work, both hands-on and telepathic to support and smooth the innate transition while riding the tidal emotional wave of my own intense grief and continuing to surprisingly live all the rest of my life in exquisite paradoxical order.

Only Love Matters

I am struck again how only love matters as I witness children, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws say their final good-byes and simply stay to be fully present to witness and support the life that is slipping away, moment by moment, day by day.  Of course, this is true for all our lives, subtly, relentlessly slipping away.  Only love lasts, unperturbed about physical endings and about the infinite void of sadness and fear surrounding them. 

When we’re really, really pushed, all we come to is our desire to share and express and be with love, to pass love on as the greatest of gifts, as all we have and are.  We are gentle, full of compassion and simplicity in these times, uncaring as to outcomes – they don’t matter – with no expectations.

You Can Release Attachment to More Greatly Be

We really do know how to live our lives and how to relate to each other.  We really do know how to be fully present in each and every moment, and to release attachment in order to more greatly be.

How can we stretch this greatest of gifts of awareness and spiritual power to most highly choose responses into the more mundane events of our lives?  We must create space to do this, and that requires spacing our lives, honoring our basic rhythm of participation, both within and outside of ourselves, and breathe.

Receive the Simple Gift of Transcending for Greater Wholeness

It is a simple gift and a simple answer to spend a brief time every day meditating to regain greater capacity to let go and let be, and access the miraculous power to transform our lives by being fully willing to be fully present.  Here is how I define meditating in this context:  Moving your full focus to letting go of external reality, synchronize completely with the open, flowing rhythm of your even, full breath, and being in the space of no-thing.

Give yourself a break from all that breaks up your ability to respond – “response-ability”.  Allow your body, mind and spirit to quite easily and naturally and integratively come together to support your greater emerging wholeness.  How else can you truly live your life?

Love Extends Its Own Shining Hand

It doesn’t last forever, but paradoxically, the love extends beyond and beyond.  It offers us its own shining hand so we can recover our great power to transcend and touch further than we are, in order to more greatly come together. 

So . . . breathe in, breathe out . .  Count five full, deep, easy breaths to yourself, and then say “receive . . . release . . . receive . . . release” to experience the gift of perfect balance and extend the high resurrected light wave of this Spring Equinox.

How To Effectively Reduce Belly Fat

Author: Rebecca Welch

Jelly Belly. Love Handles. Dunlap Disease. Whatever you want to call it, the excess fat around your midsection that wiggles and jiggles in all the wrong places just isn't pretty. Not only is belly fat unattractive, it can be downright dangerous to your health. Extra fat carried around your abdomen can increase your risk of heart disease. With so many pills, potions and programs flooding the weight loss industry today, many people are left feeling just plain confused about how to effectively reduce belly fat.

The first thing you must know about how to effectively reduce belly fat is that there is no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. Reducing body fat levels requires a three pronged approach that doesn't come from popping diet pills or gulping down foul tasting drinks. Belly fat also won't come off by trying to spot reduce only doing sit-ups or crunches. It's just not possible to spot reduce, so don't waste your time.

So, the question remains, how do you effectively reduce belly fat? Here is a safe, practical three pronged approach to get rid of belly fat.

1. Healthy Meals. Notice the word diet isn't part of the equation. That's because the word diet conjures up visions of carrots and celery and not much else. The word diet gives us nightmares of deprivation and hunger, and that's not the image we're looking for with permanent weight loss. Just because the word diet isn't used does not mean you're free to gorge on junk food at will. Healthy meals consist of lean protein, lots of vegetables, whole grains and some fruit. Your should consistantly choose foods that are as close as possible to their natural state.

2. Cardiovascular Exercise. Regular cardiovascular exercise will reduce body fat levels. Where should you start? Wallking is great cardio! Put your shoes on and get moving for at least 30 minutes per day. It doesn't matter how fast or how far you walk in the beginning, the most important point is that you're moving your body aerobically on a regular basis. If you don't enjoy walking then ride a bike, rollerskate, jog, run. Participate in whatever aerobic activity you enjoy.

3. Lift Weights. Yes, you did read that correctly! If you're wondering what lifting weights has to do with effectively reducing belly fat, then read on. Regular weight lifting has several beneficial effects for those folks trying to reduce their body fat levels. Muscles burn extra calories. The more muscle you carry on your frame, the more calories you burn in a 24 hour period which translates into extra fat burning power. Muscles take up about one third less space than fat. Muscles give you the power to carry on your daily activities more effectively and with energy to spare.

Learning how to effectively reduce belly fat isn't a difficult task. The three principle keys to getting rid of your gut rely on diet, cardiovascular exercise and weight lifting on a regular basis. Remember, you didn't sprout belly fat overnight and you can't get rid of belly fat in a day, but you can reduce belly fat if you're willing to put forth a bit of effort.

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