Vitamin D helps stave off winter flu, asthma
Taking vitamin D supplements during the months when we're most likely to be deficient could reduce the risk of seasonal flu and asthma flare-ups, a new study suggests.
During an earlier study into whether vitamin D could prevent osteoporosis, the researchers in that study noticed that people taking vitamin D were three times less likely to report cold and flu symptoms.
This prompted Japanese researchers to look into the issue more closely, studying
children aged between 6 and 15 years old who were given either vitamin D3 supplements or a placebo during the cold and flu season.
Vitamin D3 is more effective as a supplement than the commonly used vitamin D2, which is less potent and more difficult for the body to absorb.
The researchers found that while 31 of 167 taking the placebo caught influenza A during the study period (December 2008 to March 2009), only 18 of 167 children taking vitamin D caught the virus.
They reported that those in the vitamin D group were 58% less likely to catch the flu.
Another finding from the study was that vitamin D appeared to reduce the risk of asthma attacks in children with the condition.
Only two children taking vitamin D had asthma attacks during the study, compared to 12 in the placebo group.
Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin", is produced when the skin comes into contact with UVB ultraviolet rays.
Another source is foods such as eggs, mushrooms and some types of fish.
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Comments and questions4
I don't normally comment on heath matters, but this is one exception. The benefits of vitamin D are not widely appreciated or known, nor the troubles caused by lack of vitamin D. In winter many people, including myself, don't get enough sunshine to make enough vitamin D. I take suppliments in winter, and it does keep the winter blues and diseases at bay in my experience during the last 2 winters.
Nutrilite just came out with a VitD3 supplement. NUTRILITE™ is the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest and process plants on their own certified organic farms. We get ours from www.amway.com/ula. www.nutrilite.com offers the scientific details as well as more details on their farming/manufacturing practices. I have found it extremely helpful and have been very impressed with the effectiveness of the supplements we use through them.
I just found this video on You Tube that really shows how germs and viruses spread. It is so cool. It's meant for kids but I even learned a lot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56mq1t1BqfY
The evidence for the benefits from vitamin D is nothing short of astonishing and keeps coming in. From helping to ward off cancer to possibly curing the common cold to preventing influenza and other positive findings, the sunshine vitamin has a bright future indeed. When you throw in that because of poor diet and a modern lifestyle which decreases exposure to sunshine average vitamin D levels are likely lower than in the past, it is not a stretch to speculate that very many of the diseases of modern society may be directly related to or partially influenced by a deficiency of this lion of a vitamin. There is a little bit of an intro to the topic here,
http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/2009/11/introduction-to-vitamin-d-part-i.html
and here
http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/dr-cannell-interview-on-vitamin-d.html
if anyone is interested. Also the web abounds with resources on the topic. Oh yes don't forget help with obesity, asthma and bone health
So get out and enjoy the sun on your face this Spring. Won't even cost your a dime.
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