The Power of Vitamin D
Lately, we have seen a considerable amount of headlines
regarding a winter flu outbreak nationwide. In fact, the CDC states that the
flu has officially reached epidemic levels. Needless to say, as a parent, one
of the first questions that come up is how can I keep my children from coming
down with the flu? One of the most useful natural prevention for the flu is
Vitamin D. A recent clinical study from 2010 indicated that children taking a
1200 IU daily health supplement of Vitamin D had virtually a 50% decline in
probability for contracting influenza. What exactly is Vitamin D, and why don't
we read about it all that much? Vitamin D is regarded as a steroid that has an
impact on quite a few genes in the human body. It has been revealed that
Vitamin D provides a significant effect on over 200 genes in the body, and it
has in excess of 2000 binding sites upon the human genome. A good number of
these genes happen to be related to an assortment of illnesses, showing that
Vitamin D is likely involved on the manifestation and occurrence of these kinds
of illnesses. Until recently, the only function Vitamin D was thought to
possess was protecting against the bone disease known as Ricketts, because it
helps with the intake and metabolism of calcium. Due to this limited view, the
RDA for Vitamin D was The Power of Vitamin D established to be 400 IU every
day. Don't forget that this is the least quantity needed to avoid developing
Ricketts. In reality, your body may need a great deal more than that to grant
optimal health.
At this point, you may be wondering from what sources can we
get Vitamin D? It's quite hard to obtain adequate quantities of Vitamin D from
the things you eat because, in all honesty, it doesn't typically exist in
foods. The absolute best method of getting Vitamin D is from sunlight. Skin
carries precursors which are triggered when they're subjected to the sun. In
fact, entire body exposure to the sun for only 30 minutes can create around
20,000 IU of Vitamin D. But what percentage of people actually go outside in
the sun? Especially in the winter months, it can be hard to obtain ample
amounts of Vitamin D. It is projected that nearly eighty-five percent of people
in the US may be deficient in this crucial vitamin. So if vitamin D is
important in our immunity, and we get less of it throughout the winter season,
certainly it shouldn't come as a surprise that the flu and the common cold are
inclined to arise with greater frequency in winter. But it doesn't cease with
those seasonal illnesses. Research has gradually been amassing that Vitamin D
could be valuable in a large number of diseases, including heart disease,
cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, eczema, psoriasis,
schizophrenia, depression, and more. It is becoming increasingly obvious that
by improving your vitamin D levels, you will be a considerably healthier human
being. The question then turns into, what is an optimal level of Vitamin D.
There is quite a bit of debate on that topic, however, in my opinion, a great
range is 50-70 ng/ml. This range was identified from individuals in tropical
and subtropical areas who consistently receive sufficient sun exposure. But for
those of us who whether as a result of work, weather, or financial
circumstances, can't get adequate sun exposure, taking a Vitamin D supplement
may be our best alternative. However, before commencing oral supplementation of
Vitamin D, it is very important to have your blood ranges checked. Every person
is different and can call for varied amounts of Vitamin D to be able to keep up
an optimal level. To make it even easier, they now make a home test for vitamin
D that you can order on-line.
If you're worried about getting sick this winter, consider
getting your Vitamin D values checked. If you are like the majority of Americans,
you'll probably find yourself to be deficient. Supplementation of Vitamin D
could go a long way towards keeping you and your Family healthy.
0 Comments