New Guideline for Vitamin D Intake: Is It Enough?

An increase in the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D has been called for in new guidelines issued by the Institute of Medicine.

The new recommendations call for 600 international units (IU) daily, with 800 IU recommended for the elderly. The researchers note, however, that most Americans receive the necessary amount of vitamin D already and that taking more is not necessarily better. These researchers believe that taking more than this has no extra benefit on bones. However, there have been countless studies showing the benefits of vitamin D for decreasing cancer risk and improving the immune system.

Here is Dr. Jerry Teplitz’s view on the new guidelines. While a committee of the National Institute of Standards and Technology reviewed the research on vitamin D and recommended increasing the amount of vitamin D from 400 IU per day to 600 IU per day, there are still questions about how they reached that decision and whether the dose increase is high enough.

Well, it turns out the members of this committee did not include any of the top researchers on vitamin D. This means that those with the most expertise on the subject were not involved in the decision-making process. Continue reading “New Guideline for Vitamin D Intake: Is It Enough?”

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“D” Public Service Announcement

Are you getting enough Vitamin D3? Have you checked your level? This is done with a simple blood test called 25(OH)D, however, this test is not part of routine exams so you specifically have to ask your doctor for it. Keep in mind that you want your level to be somewhere between 50 and 70, and that if you are at 30 or below, you are seriously deficient and should consider taking an extra high dose for a few weeks. I went through this myself and coach my clients on how to do it, as well.

For some of us, winter is around the corner and we want to be prepared in order to avoid toxic flu shots. But the truth is, no matter where we live, having sufficient stores of vitamin D is something we must always be in control of. Amongst other benefits, this important vitamin builds up our immune system and gives us an overall sense of well-being.

The research being done on vitamin D within the past 5 years is yielding more and more results with regard to its benefits. Unfortunately, more often than not, doctors are not up-to- date with the new information and continue to make recommendations as low as 400IU to 1000IU per day. Continue reading ““D” Public Service Announcement”

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Saving Big Bucks With Vitamin D3

By now, I hope that we have conveyed how important vitamin D is for our overall health. However, according to  a report published in the March 4 issue of Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, if Northern Europeans were to have adequate vitamin D3 levels, there would be a 17.7% decrease in direct and indirect healthcare costs, saving hundreds of billions of dollars/Euros per year.

The report estimates vitamin D3 supplementation would reduce the incidence of type 1 childhood diabetes by a relative 78%; hip fractures by 26%; all cancer among postmenopausal women by 35%; seasonal flu and common cold incidence by 90%; and overall mortality by 7%. Other studies show mortality rates would be reduced by 10-20%, increasing life expectancy by about 2-3 years.

But it isn’t just Northern Europeans who are deficient in vitamin D3. Americans are also at great risk of vitamin D deficiency. The fear of skin cancer and lack of dietary sources are a couple of reasons that deficiencies are becoming commonplace. This same report states that for every dollar spent on vitamin D supplementation, $20 healthcare dollars would be saved. For more information about how supplementation could save big money, read The Missing Link-In Healthcare Reform.

The previous information was obtained from Bill Sardi’s article A Decade Of Vitamin D Supplementation Would Save $4.4 Trillion Over A Decade; Would Save $1346 Per Person Per Annum.

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Supplements You Shouldn’t Live Without

This past Friday, Dr. Oz told his viewers what supplements he takes. Not surprisingly, they align very well with what Village Green Apothecary has been saying for years. He particularly targeted women over 40. The supplements he recommends  are:

1. Mutlivitamin: Only 1% of the population gets enough essential nutrients from diet alone, so a comprehensive multivitamin/mineral should be part of everyone’s routine. Divided doses are better because you get the most out of them.

2. Calcium: Important for muscles, teeth and bones, many women are not getting enough of this important nutrient. Add magnesium to calcium and you have an important foundation for strong bones. The best way to get calcium is a combination of food sources and supplements. Continue reading “Supplements You Shouldn’t Live Without”

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Fighting Osteoporosis Naturally

My mom was diagnosed with osteoporosis about 10 years ago. Ever since then, I have been looking closely at my habits to make sure that I do not succumb to this “silent disease.” Since there are no symptoms (hence silent disease), many people do not realize they have osteoporosis until there is a bone break. So I feel it is important to be proactive about strengthening your bones and doing what you can not to end up as one of the 10 million Americans who have it.

Here are some risk factors that increase your chance for osteoporosis. This list came from NIH (National Institutes of Health).

Risk factors you cannot change include:

  • Gender. Women get osteoporosis more often than men.
  • Age. The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
  • Body size. Small, thin women are at greater risk.
  • Ethnicity. Caucasian and Asian women are at highest risk. Black and Hispanic women have a lower risk.
  • Family history. Osteoporosis tends to run in families. If a family member has osteoporosis or breaks a bone, there is a greater chance that you will too.

Continue reading “Fighting Osteoporosis Naturally”

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  • Paula Gallagher
    Paula Gallagher
    Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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