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I read a number of years ago that Academy Award Winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow followed a macrobiotic diet.
At the time, this news snippet aroused my curiosity as my own family followed a macrobiotic diet for a brief period of time when I was in middle school and it was the worst way of eating I have ever experienced.
I absolutely despised the macrobiotic diet because I never felt satisfied after eating this type of meal. I am very glad my parents quickly decided that it wasn’t so fantastic after all and stopped making meals this way!
Now, Ms. Paltrow has disclosed that she is suffering from osteopenia, a thinning of the bones. This is one of the most dangerous symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
This condition was brought about by vitamin D blood levels so low, that Ms. Paltrow’s doctors said the level was “… the lowest thing they had ever seen ….”
Ms. Paltrow was prescribed high dose vitamin D drops and told to spend more time in the sun (without sunscreen, of course) to reverse the condition.
This is clearly excellent advice! Frequent, brief, nonburning doses of midday sun on the skin is a very healthy thing to do. Smart sunning does not cause skin cancer and is a great way to quickly raise vitamin D blood levels!
Let’s examine for a moment how Ms. Paltrow got such alarmingly low vitamin D blood levels in the first place.
Macrobiotic Foods
A macrobiotic diet is based on grains, primarily brown rice. Here is the breakdown:
- Whole cereal grains, especially brown rice: 40—60%
- Vegetables: 25—30%
- Beans and legumes: 5—10%
- Miso soup: 5%
- Sea vegetables: 5%
- Traditionally or naturally processed foods: 5—10%
In addition to these basic recommendations, food, especially grains, must be very thoroughly chewed by macrobiotic diet followers.
Seafood, fruit, natural sweeteners, and seeds/nuts may be enjoyed 2-3 times per week if desired (but not required).
Dangerous Deficiencies
At first glance, a macrobiotic diet may seem an excellent way to eat as it is whole, unprocessed, and eschews junk food, sodas, and other industrialized foods that are responsible for so many modern ills, particularly in children.
However, following a macrobiotic diet can only bring ill health over the long term as it is focused primarily on grains and contains little animal fats which are the only foods that contain any vitamin D and other fat-soluble vitamins that are absolutely essential to health.
And no, kelp and mushrooms grown in the sun don’t contain the type of Vitamin D our bodies can use either, so don’t fall for that dietary myth.
Depression and Cancer?
Having experienced the lack of well-being, lethargy, dark moods, and hypoglycemia produced by a macrobiotic diet firsthand as a child, I knew that Ms. Paltrow was going to suffer serious health challenges as a result of this dangerous food philosophy. Her first clue should have been the birth weight of her first child (a girl) who was born at a whopping 9 lbs 11 oz.
It is known that girls born this large are at higher risk for breast cancer before age 50. It also is an indication that the mother herself is at elevated breast cancer risk. (1)
A diet heavy in grains, even if whole and unprocessed, will frequently result in huge babies predisposed to childhood obesity and other associated problems.
Her second clue should have been the postpartum depression she experienced after the birth of her second child, Moses, in 2006. (2)
Postpartum depression and low vitamin D levels have been strongly linked. (3)
With this more recent news of severe vitamin D deficiency and osteopenia at such a young age, hopefully, Ms. Paltrow will abandon the disastrous macrobiotic diet and reclaim her health by consuming animal foods high in Vitamin D on a more frequent basis and reduce her grain consumption to a moderate level as practiced by healthy, traditional societies.
Any diet that produces such a severe nutritional deficiency such as what Ms. Paltrow has experienced is clearly the wrong way to go and an unwise approach to eating.
More Information
Don’t Waste Your Time with the Candida Diet
Why White Rice is Better Than Brown
Most Vegetarians Return to Eating Meat
The Vitamin Deficiency that is Written All Over Your Face
For adults for short periods of time, I have no doubt the level is that high to get stubbornly low levels to rise.
Mary, I met an MD at a conference recently (unrelated to health) and we just happened to discuss Vit D. He suggested that I take 10,000 IU of D3 for 6 weeks and that that quantity should help to significantly improve my levels over the current low of 33; which is considered a Vit D deficiency. I think that for many woman our levels have been chronically deficient for many years due to use of sunscreen, inadequate supplementation, etc. Some signs of deficiency are fatigue, depression and a general sense that you could be feeling better than you are.
20,000 IUs for a limited period of time like 6 weeks would probably be fine, too. One of the most important things that Vit D can also do for you at a “preventative level” is to help prevent breast cancer, a universal concern for women. I don’t know what the signs of Vit D toxicity are, though. But if you think you are deficient you should probably have a blood test and work “up” from there.
I have read that it is recommended to take 20,000 IU Vit D to raise levels. That seems like a dangerous amount when they say the daily recommended dose is 400-1000. Your thoughts? I'm pretty sure I am deficient…
Hi Joyce, you are right, almost every single person I've met is deficient most especially women. The most recent info on dosage for children last I read is 3000 IU per day (this is maintenance dose .. if you want to increase vit D levels, it should be higher). I do not have any information on whether dosage should vary based on skin color. This is the dosage my 3 kids get every day regardless of whether they get sun exposure or not.
Hi Sarah. What is the exact kind of vitamin D supplement you give your children and the dosage? What brand would you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Sarah, it seems that EVERY woman I speak to is Vit D deficient, and many are taking supplemental prescription Vit D! I just spent the entire summer up at a lake in upstate, NY, never used sunscreen (except for my face), take Fermented Cod Liver Oil, and 2,000 to 4,000 IU's of supplemental Vit D and was shocked this fall to find out that my blood level of D was still only 33; which is considered deficient. So, I have to up the D3 to at least 5,000 a day.
By the way, what is the dosing level of Vit D for children, and is it different for children with darker skin? I ask because my husband is Indian and my kids have really deep tans for about 5 months of the year. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks, Joyce
Hi Sally, Gwyneth is extremely talented and I am glad she has given up that horrendous macrobiotic diet (someone posted on The Healthy Home Economist Facebook page that Gwyneth was interviewed on TV a couple days ago and that she said that has given it up).
Great article. Funny, I just saw her on Glee and she was FABULOUS. I didn't know she could sing and dance. This was a very different Gwyneth than the pasty faced girl I've seen at the movies. This new G was dynamic and full of life. Interesting!
We take 5,000iu about 5 days a week of Vit D3, have for a couple of years. Me, my husband and two gigantic teens. After a few really cloudy days, we'll take a double dose. No colds or flu. One son was an asthma sufferer and I feel pretty confident that Vit D had something to do with his loss of symptoms.
We take Vit K with it, recommended. 400mg. Also VitD3 is fat soluble meaning you can take your week's dose all at once, it doesn't pee out like Vit C or Bs. It's also why you could take too much at one time.
Vit D council has a website and recommendations. Mercola has written a lot on Vit D as well.
Thank you for the post – I love hearing about how someone's life has changed and all it took was eating real food and real supplements!!!
Hi Joyce, there isn't a maximum recommendation. Grains just should never be the dominant food in one's diet like it is with most Westerners.
Hi Linda, you do not get any vitamin D unless your bare skin is exposed to midday sun. Early morning and late afternoon sun does not have much UVB rays which are the vitamin D producing ones. If you feel you need vitamin D drops, you should have your levels tested first by a doctor or order a kit online yourself for about $75. Most people have no need for tests. Just take a daily dose of cod liver oil and get brief and frequent doses of midday sun.
Sarah,
What exactly is the maximum grain consumption allowed per day per the advice of the Weston A. Price Foundation? And, I assume these are soaked grains except for perhaps the white basmati rice you eat. Thanks, Joyce
I have been wondering if I am deficient in vitamin D. Am I correct in assuming that even when I am outside in the sun, but covered up with a coat and hat that my body can't absorb vitimin D? I do take fermented cod liver oil but do you recommend Vitamin D supplements as well?