Peta Feist

The Vitamin D Paradox: Why Supplements Often Fail No nutrient has enjoyed such universal agreement as vitamin D. It is essential for bones, immunity, and overall health. Deficiency is widespread, and the standard advice is simple - just take a supplement. Unlike carbohydrates, fats, or even cholesterol, there is no cultural debate here - vitamin D is universally accepted as “good.” And yet, despite decades of supplementation campaigns, low vitamin D status persists, and the conditions linked to it - autoimmunity, infections, osteoporosis, metabolic disease remain largely unchanged. The problem isn’t whether we need vitamin D. We do. The problem is assuming that swallowing more of it will solve the issue. Why? Because the problem isn’t a lack of intake. It’s a failure of metabolism. Vitamin D is not a passive nutrient. It’s a hormone precursor whose fate depends on the body’s metabolic state. And when the system is inflamed, stressed, or overloaded, supplementation alone can fail. 1. Vitamin D is a pre-hormone, not an active nutrient. What we measure in blood tests - 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is an inactive storage form. To exert biological effects, it must be converted in the kidney to the active hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)₂D]. This is the form that regulates calcium, bone mineralisation, and immune signalling, including Toll-like receptor suppression that helps prevent autoimmunity. 2. Inflammation diverts vitamin D down the wrong pathway. In chronic inflammation, whether from gut dysbiosis, infection, autoimmunity, or metabolic syndrome, the enzyme CYP24A1 is up-regulated. Instead of converting 25(OH)D into active 1,25(OH)₂D, it is shunted into 24-hydroxylation, producing inactive 24,25(OH)₂D that is excreted. The problem isn’t low intake, but inflammatory diversion of metabolism. 3. Metabolic stress blocks vitamin D effectiveness. Dietary and environmental drivers amplify this effect. Fructose and soft drinks promote hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress, reducing vitamin D activation. Heavy metals and environmental toxins drive inflammatory pathways that accelerate 24-hydroxylation. Gut dysbiosis reduces short-chain fatty acids, which normally help suppress inflammation. Chronic cortisol from stress or poor sleep maintains the inflammatory state. Too little natural sunlight and too much artificial blue light Without addressing these root causes, supplementation is like pouring water into a leaking bucket. The real lesson? Vitamin D deficiency is not simply about low intake. It’s a biomarker of an inflamed, metabolically overloaded system. The solutions lie in reducing oxidative stress, repairing gut function, supporting mitochondrial capacity, balancing cortisol, and lowering toxic load. Only then can vitamin D function as the hormone it was designed to be. So do we keep telling people to “just take vitamin D” or do we finally treat deficiency as the smoke from a deeper metabolic fire?

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Why “gut repair” supplements aren’t always the right first step In functional nutrition, glutamine, zinc (including zinc carnosine), and butyrate are frequently recommended for digestive symptoms under the assumption that the gut lining is “damaged” and requires repair. However, this approach rests on a simplification that does not always hold true clinically. Many individuals presenting with digestive symptoms do not show evidence of epithelial injury or active inflammation. Instead, stool markers often reflect heightened immune vigilance, for example elevated secretory IgA or lysozyme with otherwise normal inflammatory markers. This pattern suggests a defensive response rather than structural damage. In such cases, adding classic “repair” nutrients can paradoxically worsen symptoms. Glutamine is a primary fuel for immune cells as well as enterocytes. In an already activated immune environment, it may amplify immune signalling, contribute to excitatory neurotransmitter load (via glutamate), increase ammonia burden, and exacerbate brain fog or headaches in susceptible individuals. Zinc can enhance immune activation and, when used repeatedly or at higher doses, disrupts copper balance with downstream effects on mitochondrial function, histamine metabolism, and neurological symptoms. Butyrate is a powerful signalling molecule and histone deacetylase inhibitor. In stable systems it can be beneficial, but in reactive or sensitised individuals it may provoke headaches, brain fog, or histamine-type symptoms due to neuroimmune and autonomic signalling effects. Digestive symptoms do not automatically equate to tissue damage, and immune defence should not be treated as a deficiency state. In practice, many cases require calming immune signalling, supporting nervous system regulation, and improving digestive coordination before introducing nutrients that actively stimulate immune or epigenetic pathways.

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𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲… 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲. The fastest way to increase sales isn’t more leads, it’s better alignment with the leads you already have. Because not all customers are the same. • 💎 The Luxury Buyer wants exclusivity, premium service, and status. • 🌿 The Wellness Seeker cares about recovery, health, and daily rituals. • 👨‍👩‍👧 The Family Buyer wants memories, connection, and quality time. • 💰 The Bargain Hunter only cares about the deal. Here’s the mistake most salespeople make: They deliver one pitch for all of these people. The pro move? Tailor your pitch. ✅ Talk lifestyle to the wellness buyer. ✅ Talk prestige to the luxury buyer. ✅ Talk savings to the bargain hunter. When you stop treating all customers the same, you start closing more of them. Next time you meet a prospect, ask yourself: 👉 Who am I really talking to? 👉 And what do they actually value? That’s how you turn conversations into conversions.

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HUGE NEWS: Medical Cannabis Shows Major Promise for Sleep Apnea Relief in Largest Study Yet ‼️ Approximately 10 million people in the UK have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), with up to 4 million experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. However, a significant number of these cases, potentially around 85%, remain undiagnosed and untreated‼️ In what’s being called a major milestone for medical cannabis research 🟢 5 year study 🟢 3,100 patients ✅ 40% of patients reported substantial improvements in their condition The state-backed office, which regularly collects and analysis patient data, says “These results mark a meaningful step forward in understanding cannabis as a potential therapeutic option for sleep disorders.” https://lnkd.in/e_66SdgV

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Here’s how Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Quercetin, Omega-3s, and Magnesium support brain youthfulness and cognitive longevity: ⸻ 🧠 Vitamin E • Antioxidant protection: Vitamin E, especially alpha-tocopherol, protects brain cells from oxidative stress, which accelerates aging and cognitive decline. • Supports neuron membranes: Keeps the fatty outer layer of neurons stable, improving signal transmission. • May reduce Alzheimer’s risk: Linked to slower progression in mild cognitive impairment. ⸻ 🌞 Vitamin D • Neuroprotective hormone: Vitamin D regulates calcium in the brain, supporting nerve signaling and synaptic plasticity. • Mood and cognition: Low levels are linked to depression, brain fog, and dementia risk. • Reduces inflammation: Helps reduce chronic brain inflammation, which ages the brain. ⸻ 🍎 Quercetin • Flavonoid antioxidant: Found in apples, onions, and berries—crosses the blood-brain barrier to reduce oxidative stress. • Fights brain inflammation: Helps protect against age-related neurodegeneration. • Boosts autophagy: Supports the brain’s self-cleaning process by clearing damaged proteins. ⸻ 🐟 Omega-3s (EPA & DHA) • Brain structure & fluidity: DHA makes up much of your brain’s gray matter and helps keep neurons flexible and responsive. • Anti-inflammatory: Omega-3s dampen harmful inflammation linked to cognitive decline. • Improves memory: Especially in aging adults, higher DHA levels are associated with sharper memory and slower brain aging. ⸻ ⚡ Magnesium • Calms the nervous system: Magnesium helps regulate neurotransmitters like GABA and glutamate, supporting mental clarity and reducing anxiety. • Neuroplasticity: It plays a role in synapse formation and learning. • Supports blood flow: Magnesium helps maintain cerebral blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients. ⸻ Together, these compounds protect your brain from oxidative stress, inflammation, and age-related structural changes—key drivers of cognitive decline. When taken consistently and with a healthy diet, they support sharper memory, better mood, and greater neuroplasticity as you age.

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