Staying Happy and Flu-Free This Holiday Season
Vitamin D has been in the news a lot lately and is amazing as it does so much for us. Some of its benefits include: making our immune systems healthier-armed and ready to fight off colds and germs; prevention of autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis), cancer and osteoporosis; as well as staving off seasonal affective disorder and other mood-related conditions.
It is true that we can get vitamin D from the sun, but the mistake people make is assuming that they are getting adequate amounts of vitamin D just by being out in the sun from time to time. Due to the risk of skin cancer and the decreased strength of the sun during the winter months, research shows that we need amounts of vitamin D over and above what we get from being outside.
How much vitamin D is necessary? 1000IU/day is recommended in ADDITION to exposing your skin to sunlight for 5-10 minutes at least a couple of times a week. You do not need a prescription for vitamin D and you can buy it at your local drugstore.
Everybody is different when it comes to their vitamin D so consider getting your blood levels tested to reveal what is needed for your own body.
I wish you all a Happy (and healthy of course!) New Year.
Susan Slipacoff B. Kin, N.D.
Clinic Director, Kleinburg Integrative Health Clinic
http://www.kihclinic.com/
Dr. Slipacoff's clinic, the Kleinburg Integrative Health Clinic is located in Kleinburg, Ontario. Her vision is to promote the health of her patients through a natural and comprehensive approach that recognizes each person as an individual. She specializes in and offers guidance on many natural forms of treatment related to a wide variety of conditions.
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Great post! I take 1,400 IU everyday as I am a big believer in Vit D being able to fight off much more than just the common cold. Research has linked it to possibly preventing breast cancer, colon caner, and diabetes just to name a few...
ReplyDeleteAnd not to self promote or anything (lol) but if you are a vegetarian fresh mushrooms are the only "vegetable" with vitamin D... just thought I should share that :)
didn't know that about mushrooms - interesting? I took my vitamin D (that I sometimes forget about on the high shelf away from my kids) last night obediently after prepping this post :)
ReplyDeleteI really need to find out all the vitamins I (and my family) should be taking. I, too, have heard in the news about Vitamin D, but sometimes there is such an influx of information out there, and I am usually half-distracted when trying to read these articles, that I could use a good evaluation of what I should be taking. Thanks for the informative guest post! :)
ReplyDeleteJennie: I agree. Perhaps a call to Dr. Susan is in order. It can all be a bit confusing.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if where or from which book/ author she got all her ideas..
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