1933: Sun vs. Supplementing Vitamin D, Stale Spices, Radiation Side Effects, Surgery Scarring, Vitamin A vs. D, Avocado Seed Benefits HouseCall)

Welcome back to our weekend Cabral HouseCall shows!

This is where we answer our community's wellness, weight loss, and anti-aging questions to help people get back on track!

Check out today's questions:

Karen: Hi there Dr. Cabral and thank you for being the one resource I trust for non-biased answers to my health-related questions. I am a fair-skinned, healthy, 48 year-old woman. Recent gene testing shows that I might be prone to Vitamin D deficiencies and historically, I struggle to keep my 25-OH Vitamin D levels above 20 ng/mL in the wintertime and 40 ng/mL in the summertime unless I am supplementing with vitamin D3. I prefer to get D3 from the sun when weather permits but am very torn between the positives of sun exposure and the negatives of skin damage, and it seems as if health practitioners have wildly conflicting opinions. Currently, I use the app 'D Minder' to tell me when I can get vitamin D from the sun (based on my geographical location and the time of year) and I lay out in the sun in a two-piece swimsuit for a total of 20-30 minutes on those days (usually 3-5 days a week). Am I risking unnecessary sun damage with this approach and is there anything I can do to offset the damage such as red-light therapy, serums containing sea buckthorn and other healthy oils, eating a healthy whole-foods diet, or even the use of Fernblock (Polypodium - fern leaf extract) which I am considering taking prior to sun exposure? Very much looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Maria: I have read lots to do with the importance of avoiding rancid/oxidised oils, however was wondering if this is also the case with spices. Would there be any harm (despite loss in flavour and potency) in consuming stale spices? Such as many cardamom pod seeds I have found are more of a tan brown colour than black. Just wondering if It's better to throw them or fine to use them. Thank you so much for your help!

Chelsea: Hello Dr Cabral, This question is regarding cumulative radiation exposure and is there any way to mitigate it. In the last 17 years I have had 7 CAT scans. Two of the head (sinus issues) and five of the abdominal (kidney stones) area. It's been seven years since my last CAT scan. In the past two years I have had five xrays of my hips, two xrays of my chest and one of my shoulder. Most recent X-ray was March 2021. I am scheduled for a mammogram in May 2021. The breast center will not provide ultrasound if mammogram is not done (I did do thermography and need further evaluation). Mouth X-rays at dentist as well in Feb 2021. I'm 44 and terrified at of all the cumulative damage that this radiation may have/has done to my body and want to know...is there anything I can do about it? Thank you for all that you do, all that you share and the empathy you resonate. With gratitude, faithful listener since May 2016, Chelsea

Gordon: Hello Dr Cabral, appreciate all you do! I have suffered from lower abdominal discomfort on and off since my time in the Vietnam War. I was treated for an intestinal infection. The acute pain went away. Years later I had surgery for an inguinal hernia. The pain (cramping, tenderness, some bloating and gas) came back, and continues on a regular basis now, affecting my sleep. Many drs thought these symptoms were related to the surgery - adhesions or possible that it affected the nerves. I was put on Gabapentin which did not help. Any thoughts on relation to the hernia or am I still experiencing issues related to the intestinal infection I had so many years ago? Thanks!

Darren: Good day to you Dr Cabral and your family. I checked the search bar before asking this question but maybe I did a poor job in doing so. If possible, can you briefly touch on or probably consider doing a future show on the best time to take different supplements, vitamins and minerals so as to avoid any conflict, adverse interaction and optimal absorption possible. For instance, I understand Vitamin A can decrease Vitamin D intake. Also, if that's the case, won't the minerals and vitamins in multivitamins inhibit each other? As always, keep up great work

Lara: Hi, dr. Cabral :) I have a question about the avocado seed (pit) powder as a supplement. It's supposed to strengthen the immune system and supposedly it's also anti inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant.. I've got a recommendation for it for fibromyalgia but I don't trust anything until I check in with you first haha..

Thank you for tuning into today's Cabral HouseCall and be sure to check back tomorrow where we answer more of our community's questions!

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