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Fork U with Dr. Terry SimpsonLearn more about what you put in your mouth. Author: Terry Simpson
Fork U(niversity) Not everything you put in your mouth is good for you. Theres a lot of medical information thrown around out there. How are you to know what information you can trust, and whats just plain old quackery? You cant rely on your own google fu. You cant count on quality medical advice from Facebook. You need a doctor in your corner. On each episode of Your Doctors Orders, Dr. Terry Simpson will cut through the clutter and noise that always seems to follow the latest medical news. He has the unique perspective of a surgeon who has spent years doing molecular virology research and as a skeptic with academic credentials. Hell help you develop the critical thinking skills so you can recognize evidence-based medicine, busting myths along the way. The most common medical myths are often disguised as seemingly harmless food as medicine. By offering their own brand of medicine via foods, These hucksters are trying to practice medicine without a license. And though theyll claim nutrition is not taught in medical schools, it turns out thats a myth too. In fact, theres an entire medical subspecialty called Culinary Medicine, and Dr. Simpson is certified as a Culinary Medicine Specialist. Where today's nutritional advice is the realm of hucksters, Dr. Simpson is taking it back to the realm of science. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Medicine, Nutrition Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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When Vitamin D Isn't Sunshine in a Bottle
Episode 98
Thursday, 16 October, 2025
When Vitamin D Isn’t Sunshine in a BottleVitamin D is sold as bottled sunshine. Social media says it boosts immunity, prevents cancer, and makes you live longer. But science says something very different — and megadoses pushed by influencers like Dr. Eric Berg can do more harm than good. Here’s what you need to know.☀️ The Sunshine Vitamin — and the Myth That FollowsVitamin D has been called the sunshine vitamin for over a century.We discovered it when children in industrial cities developed rickets — bones so soft they bent like rubber.The cure wasn’t pills. It was sunlight and milk fortified with Vitamin D.Today, that history is lost under a pile of influencer ads.Scroll through TikTok or YouTube, and you’ll see people claim Vitamin D cures everything — from fatigue to depression to cancer.One of the loudest voices is Dr. Eric Berg, who calls himself a “doctor.”Here’s the problem: he’s not a physician. He’s a chiropractor.And in California, chiropractors aren’t allowed to call themselves physicians. For good reason.Dr. Berg recommends doses of Vitamin D that are ten to twenty times higher than medical guidelines. That’s dangerous advice.Let’s look at what real science — not social media — tells us.🧬 What Vitamin D Actually DoesVitamin D isn’t really a vitamin. It’s a hormone that helps your body absorb calcium, strengthen bones, and regulate parts of your immune system.Most adults need 600 to 800 IU per day — not 10,000.If your level is low, your doctor may recommend a short course of higher doses, but chronic mega-dosing can lead to toxicity.So how much Vitamin D do you actually need?That depends on your sun exposure, skin color, diet, and where you live. People who live in northern climates or rarely go outside might need a supplement — but the rest of us get plenty from sunlight and food.📊 What the Research ShowsThe VITAL Trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine (2019), followed over 25,000 people taking Vitamin D or a placebo.The result? No meaningful reduction in cancer, heart disease, or death.Other major studies say the same thing.If your Vitamin D levels are normal, taking more doesn’t improve health — it just makes your urine more expensive.There are benefits for people who are deficient, but that’s not most of us.A simple blood test can tell you if you truly need supplementation.⚠️ Too Much of a Good ThingVitamin D toxicity is not rare.Excess doses can cause calcium levels in your blood to spike, leading to nausea, confusion, kidney stones, and even heart rhythm problems.There is no benefit to megadoses of vitamin D (link)🍳 Real Food, Real SunshineHere’s the truth: you can get enough Vitamin D the way nature intended.Good sources include:Salmon, sardines, and tunaEggs and fortified milkMushroomsAnd, of course, sunlightTen to fifteen minutes of midday sun on your arms and legs a few times a week is usually enough.If you live in Alaska in January, sure — take a supplement.But for most of us, a walk outside beats a handful of pills.🧠 Why We Love PillsIt’s easy to see why Vitamin D is so popular.It promises health without effort.Pop a pill instead of taking a walk, eat poorly, but believe you’re fixing it — it’s the illusion of health without the habit of health.But biology isn’t fooled.Our bodies need balance, not...
