For the past month or two, an AITSE member has been sending me articles about the need for many Americans to take vitamin D supplements. This raised my suspicions for a number of reasons. First, as a cell biologist, I am well-aware that our cells are very capable of converting cholesterol to vitamin D in the presence of sunlight. As an American, I also know that I am continuously advised to avoid sunlight and wear sunscreen. And, as if that were not enough, Americans are also told to reduce dietary cholesterol and are often given cholesterol-lowering drugs. Now we are being advised to take mega-doses of vitamin D to make up for a deficiency that might well be caused by our own actions.

But, wait a minute! Vitamin D is not water-soluble. In other words, our bodies are unable to quickly eliminate it. In addition, it is classified as the MOST TOXIC of the vitamins; overdose can lead to anorexia, nausea, weakness, itchiness, nervousness, kidney failure and cancer. On the other hand, vitamin D is needed for normal bone growth, maintenance of body calcium levels, immune system function, and neuromuscular health.

Recently, my friend has also sent me articles claiming to link vitamin D deficiency to autism, breast cancer, asthma, heart attacks and more. So, what is the truth? Well, we need to do the research and make up our own minds. For myself, I think I'll just use a little less sunscreen, eat a little more fish, and enjoy some butter on my wholewheat toast. But--if I experience suspicious symptoms, I will keep vitamin D in mind!

The February issue of Whistleblower magazine (click on the magazine for a link) promises to be an interesting one for AITSE members. It is a fact that scientific integrity is essential to our continuing health, wealth and religious freedom as a nation. After all, research is bound to be detrimentally affected by the faulty knowledge that results from blind spots, bias and inaccuracy in evaluation of data. This can then lead to dead-end work, wasted money, and endangerment of public health and well-being.

Hijacking of science for whatever reason and the resulting persecution of those who challenge the status quo may also be a contributing factor in our sliding competitiveness in the global marketplace; after all, people who are restricted or inaccurate in their thinking and questioning inevitably lose some of their innovative edge.

Finally, ideologically motivated slanting of science leads to erroneous and unfounded conclusions about ethical, philosophical, and religious questions. Many Americans (quite rightly) are losing confidence in the arrogant claims of the "scientific priesthood". Unfortunately, students may be less able to distinguish the fact from the hype. For example, many are harmed by believing professors who claim that condoms make one impervious to sexually-transmitted disease, depression is due to a chemical imbalance and is best treated with drugs, and science has disproven all religion.

Of course, it is important to remember that the vast majority of scientists, engineers, physicians and even professors do not have bad motives and genuinely want to find, teach, and promote the truth in their area. However, we need to be aware that they will have their own particular bias and may well not have access to all the scientific facts. We must, therefore, retain our right and responsibility to think critically, even about what the critics say! Click below for the other side of the story.

In this fascinating interview, Dr. Schwartz explains his work as part of the team that discovered that the intrusive and persistent life-disrupting urges that OCD patients experience are the result of an overactive error-detection mechanism in the orbital prefrontal cortex of the brain. Although some might consider this hereditary state to only be treatable by medication, Dr. Schwartz gives evidence to the contrary. He explains how he teaches his patients to use the focus of their minds to resist the urges of their brains. Amazingly, Positron Emission Tomography actually shows that those who persist to success in this process change the pathological circuitry in their brains.

Dr. Schwartz explains that those who believe that the mind is no more than genetically-determined electrochemical signals (monism or materialism) have no choice but treat patients with long-term (and often pretty ineffective) medications and electrotherapy.

In comparison, the belief that the mind is more than a physical entity (dualism or non-materialism) has profound positive implications for patient care. Here medication is a temporary measure and a means to an end: that of the patient being empowered to use their will (mind) to overcome their brain. This invests patients with the dignity of being an overcomer rather than a hapless and lifelong victim of a chemical imbalance. And Dr. Schwartz has the proof that it works.

In closing, as always, thank you for your past gifts and support. It is a fact that AITSE cannot function in its efforts to educate to increase scientific understanding and integrity without contributions. Please consider helping us with a special donation or a commitment to give on a monthly basis. Please make checks payable to AITSE and send them to PO Box 15938, Newport Beach, CA 92659. Alternatively, you can now donate on line through PayPal or credit card at www.AITSE.org.

Sincerely,