We woke up a few days ago to the ground covered in that detestable white stuff…Yuck! Though my kids loved it, I was less than excited. But whether I like it or not, winter is on its way and with the first snow comes a reminder that it’s time to stock up on our Vitamin D supplements!
Most people know that our main source of Vitamin D is the sun. What most people don’t know is how extremely important this vitamin is for our body’s well-being. Every cell and tissue in our body relies on adequate Vitamin D levels for optimum health and research shows that up to 85% of people could be deficient! Vitamin D deficiency is a growing epidemic across the world and is contributing to many chronic debilitating diseases. It also plays a large part in the high occurrence of colds & flu during the winter. Studies have shown that the higher your vitamin D level, the lower your risk of contracting colds, flu, and other respiratory tract infections. Adequate levels will nearly eliminate your risk of the flu.
Another key role that Vitamin D plays is protection against cancer. A study by Dr. William Grant, Ph.D., (an internationally recognized research scientist and vitamin D expert), found that about 30 percent of cancer deaths — which amounts to 2 million worldwide and 200,000 in the United States — could be prevented each year with higher levels of vitamin D. Isn’t that amazing?
Ideally, we would each get an adequate amount from the sun daily (even 10-15 minutes of sun in short sleeves is plenty). However, if you live in a cold climate like me and it’s difficult to get a daily dose from the sun, a Vitamin D supplement needs to be your next purchase! If you take a daily multivitamin, you will notice that Vitamin D is included. The problem is, the dosage is WAY too low. The recommended dosages for Vitamin D are as follows:
Children below 5: 35 IUs per pound per day (so, if you have a 30# child, that’s about 1000 IUs)
Children ages 5-10: 2500 IUs per day
Adults: 5000 IUs per day
At the first sign of a cold or flu, up to 200,000 IUs are recommended per day. It is nearly impossible to overdose since just an hour in the sun gives your body an even greater dose than that.
When choosing a supplement, you will want to look for natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Do NOT use the synthetic vitamin D2. The most effective form for supplementation is a liquid or a tablet that dissolves on/under your tongue. Look for these at your local natural food store. Or, a good online source is here.
For more information on this subject, this is an extremely helpful source. You can search for “Vitamin D” and find lots of great articles and other resources. The best way to monitor your Vitamin D levels is to get your blood tested on a regular basis. You can also find information on blood testing at this site.
A vitamin D supplement is one of the simplest ways you can prevent colds, the flu & many, many other diseases and illnesses this winter – stock up today!