Daily Dose

• The Importance of Vitamin D
• 
• Strategies for Healthy Living During Perimenopause and Menopause
• 
• Antioxidants - Benefits to Our Overall Health
• 
• Shingles
• 
• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Fish Oil
• 
• Surviving Spring Allergy Season
• 
• Agave - The Sweet Alternative
• 
• Prostate Health
• 
• Coenzyme Q10 and Heart Health
• 
• Selecting a Sunscreen
• 
• Top Five Tips for Flu Prevention
• 

The Importance of Vitamin D

Did you know that an estimated 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient or insufficient?

Vitamin D is a bit of a wonder vitamin. Not only does it help maintain healthy bone and muscle strength, it also increases our immune system, protects against cardiovascular disease and several types of cancer, boosts our skin and mental health, and improves our brain function.

However, as important and beneficial as vitamin D is to our health, the majority of us are not getting enough of it. Natural sources of vitamin D include oily fish such as fresh wild salmon and sardines, cod liver oil, sun-dried shiitake mushrooms, and exposure to sunlight.

It seems simple enough to eat more fish and spend a few minutes out in the sun each day, but the truth is that unless you eat oily fish frequently, it is difficult to obtain the necessary amount of vitamin D₃ from diet sources. And depending where you live, the sun may not always shine. (For those living above 35 degrees north latitude (Atlanta) little or no vitamin D₃ can be produced from November to February.) Use of sunscreen reduces our vitamin D skin synthesis abilities even further.

Not getting the adequate amount of vitamin D (or sunshine to synthesize it) can lead to deficiencies contributing to osteoporosis, muscle weakness, increased risk of fracture, heart disease, and depression.

Many experts agree that without adequate sun exposure, children and adults require 800-1,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per day. While eating certain foods—such as eggs, fish, fortified dairy, or soymilk products—can help fill the void, they aren’t enough alone. (Milk only contains 100 units per glass.) Taking a vitamin D dietary supplement can help.

Your doctor can assess your vitamin D levels and determine whether or not supplementation is appropriate for you, and our staff can make sure you get the vitamins you need for optimal health.

To learn more, read the article here or come by the store.

Information in this Daily Dose was from an article published by Dr. Michael F. Holick, M.D., Ph.D. entitled Vitamin D Deficiency.

(These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.)