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 comes up is how can I keep my children from coming down with the flu? One of the most useful natural preventions 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 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment