Nutrition Tip: Get More Vitamin D
Instead of stocking up on Vitamin C this winter, you might want to consider taking a Vitamin D supplement instead. The latest studies show vitamin D can help prevent cancer, depression, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular disease.
How to get it: Vitamin D can come from food (think milk, salmon, fortified foods) AND it can be made by the skin when it’s exposed to ultraviolet rays (UV light).
Think your levels are low? Get tested! Ask your Doctor to test your blood for this form of Vitamin D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). You may have a deficiency if your 25(OH) D levels fall below 25 ng/mL.
Here’s to a healthy winter!
Think your levels are low? Get tested! Ask your Doctor to test your blood for this form of Vitamin D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). You may have a deficiency if your 25(OH) D levels fall below 25 ng/mL.
How much do you need? The current RDA is set at 400 IU/day, however, recent studies show that higher levels are needed to prevent disease and to bring low levels back up to normal. Many Doctors are now recommending 1,000 IU/day in the form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).
Here’s to a healthy winter!
Danielle Omar, MS, RD
The Food Confidence Expert
www.foodconfidence.com
