In recent months you can find a lot of news reports regarding a winter flu outbreak nationwide. The Center for Disease Control says that influenza has now officially reached epidemic levels. Obviously, being a parent, one of the first things that pops into my head is how do I prevent my kids from coming down with the flu? One of the most effective natural preventions for the flu is Vitamin D. An interesting clinical study from 2010 indicated that kids using a 1200 IU daily supplement of Vitamin D had essentially a fifty percent decrease in their risk for contracting the flu.
What exactly is Vitamin D, and why don't we hear about it all that much? Vitamin D is a steroid that has an impact on many genes in the body. It has been established that Vitamin D has a significant effect on over two hundred genes in the human body, and it has over two thousand sites that it binds with upon the human genome. A good number of these particular genes have been linked to a variety of illnesses, revealing that Vitamin D may play a role in the manifestation and occurrence of these illnesses. In the past, the only purpose Vitamin D was believed to have was prevention of the bone disease referred to as Ricketts, mainly because it aids in the absorption and metabolism of calcium. Because of this view, the RDA for Vitamin D was set at 400 IU daily. Remember that this is the lowest quantity required to prevent Ricketts. The truth is, our body might require far more than that to gain the full benefit.
From which sources do we acquire Vitamin D? It's pretty hard to obtain appropriate amounts of Vitamin D from the things you eat, because quite frankly it doesn't usually exist naturally in foods. The absolute best method to get Vitamin D is from the sun. Our skin includes precursors that are triggered when they are exposed to sunshine. In fact, full body exposure to the sun for just 30 minutes can produce as much as 20,000 IU of Vitamin D. But how many of us go outside in the sunshine? Especially during winter it can be difficult to get ample quantities of Vitamin D. It has been estimated that around 85% of Americans may be deficient in this necessary vitamin.
So if vitamin D plays a part in our body's immune system, and we get less of it throughout the winter season, certainly it shouldn't be surprising that influenza and the common cold have a tendency to occur with greater regularity in the winter. But it doesn't just end with those seasonal illnesses. Research has gradually been increasing that Vitamin D might be beneficial in numerous ailments, such as multiple sclerosis, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, schizophrenia, depression, cancer, eczema, psoriasis, and much more.
It is becoming more and more evident that by enhancing your vitamin D quantities, you will be a significantly healthier person. The issue then turns into, just what is an ideal amount of Vitamin D. There is quite a bit of controversy on that subject, however in my opinion, a good range is 50-70 ng/ml. This range was identified from individuals in tropical and subtropical places who consistently get a sufficient amount of exposure to sunlight. But for those of us who whether due to work, weather, or finances, can't receive enough sun exposure, using a Vitamin D supplement may be our best alternative. However, before commencing oral supplementation of Vitamin D, it is vital to have your blood ranges analyzed. Every person's body is unique, and may require varied amounts of Vitamin D to be able to build and maintain an optimal level. To make it even easier, home tests are now available for vitamin D that you may purchase on-line.
If you are worried about coming down with something this winter, think about getting your Vitamin D levels tested. If you are like the majority of people in America, you will probably find yourself being deficient. Supplementation of Vitamin D could go a long way towards keeping you and your family healthy.
What exactly is Vitamin D, and why don't we hear about it all that much? Vitamin D is a steroid that has an impact on many genes in the body. It has been established that Vitamin D has a significant effect on over two hundred genes in the human body, and it has over two thousand sites that it binds with upon the human genome. A good number of these particular genes have been linked to a variety of illnesses, revealing that Vitamin D may play a role in the manifestation and occurrence of these illnesses. In the past, the only purpose Vitamin D was believed to have was prevention of the bone disease referred to as Ricketts, mainly because it aids in the absorption and metabolism of calcium. Because of this view, the RDA for Vitamin D was set at 400 IU daily. Remember that this is the lowest quantity required to prevent Ricketts. The truth is, our body might require far more than that to gain the full benefit.
From which sources do we acquire Vitamin D? It's pretty hard to obtain appropriate amounts of Vitamin D from the things you eat, because quite frankly it doesn't usually exist naturally in foods. The absolute best method to get Vitamin D is from the sun. Our skin includes precursors that are triggered when they are exposed to sunshine. In fact, full body exposure to the sun for just 30 minutes can produce as much as 20,000 IU of Vitamin D. But how many of us go outside in the sunshine? Especially during winter it can be difficult to get ample quantities of Vitamin D. It has been estimated that around 85% of Americans may be deficient in this necessary vitamin.
So if vitamin D plays a part in our body's immune system, and we get less of it throughout the winter season, certainly it shouldn't be surprising that influenza and the common cold have a tendency to occur with greater regularity in the winter. But it doesn't just end with those seasonal illnesses. Research has gradually been increasing that Vitamin D might be beneficial in numerous ailments, such as multiple sclerosis, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, schizophrenia, depression, cancer, eczema, psoriasis, and much more.
It is becoming more and more evident that by enhancing your vitamin D quantities, you will be a significantly healthier person. The issue then turns into, just what is an ideal amount of Vitamin D. There is quite a bit of controversy on that subject, however in my opinion, a good range is 50-70 ng/ml. This range was identified from individuals in tropical and subtropical places who consistently get a sufficient amount of exposure to sunlight. But for those of us who whether due to work, weather, or finances, can't receive enough sun exposure, using a Vitamin D supplement may be our best alternative. However, before commencing oral supplementation of Vitamin D, it is vital to have your blood ranges analyzed. Every person's body is unique, and may require varied amounts of Vitamin D to be able to build and maintain an optimal level. To make it even easier, home tests are now available for vitamin D that you may purchase on-line.
If you are worried about coming down with something this winter, think about getting your Vitamin D levels tested. If you are like the majority of people in America, you will probably find yourself being deficient. Supplementation of Vitamin D could go a long way towards keeping you and your family healthy.
About the Author:
If you want to find out more aboutnatural approaches for health problems, take a look at the Fort Collins chiropractor at Essential Motion Chiropractic.
No comments:
Post a Comment