Do low energy, aches and pains, brain fog, mood swings, difficulty sleeping… Sound familiar?
These issues, along with many other “age-related” health complaints, could merely be symptoms of a common vitamin deficiency. And this deficiency can be corrected quickly, easily and inexpensively, making it possible to rejuvenate your health while vastly improving your well-being. Roughly three out of four people in the United States have low levels of vitamin D.
There are two ways to get vitamin D in the amounts you need for optimal health.
- Several hours per day of direct sun exposure (but use sunscreen)
- Daily vitamin D supplementation
For many people, a vitamin D supplement is a necessity to reach healthy levels, but it’s important to take the right amount and the right form to get the full benefits. Dr. John Cannel, who is the director of The Vitamin D Council, recommends adults take a minimum of 5,000 IU and no more than 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day. Many people make the mistake of just taking whatever is on the shelf of their local drugstore.
D2 is less expensive and less absorbable than D3, which is why manufacturers looking to cut corners typically use it to fortify foods and make supplements.
Vitamin D deficiency may be symptom-less in its early stages, but it’s important to catch it before it progresses. It is important for: overall longevity, strong bones and muscle strength, energy levels, Cardiovascular health including blood pressure, immune function, vision, balance blood sugar, healthy breast tissue and pregnancies, balanced moods and cognitive function.
4 tips to ensure that you’re getting the best vitamin D possible:
- Take a supplement made with 100% natural D3, it’s safest and absorbs the best – avoid the synthetic D2 at all costs
- The highly recommended dose of 5,000 IU per day
- Look for a supplement that is made with a base of pure safflower oil it has more antioxidants
- A fair price is about $8 for 30 tabs (D-Pure ships to you for free and is $7.95 for 30)
(Information from online research)
At St. Anne’s, many of our residents enjoy sitting outside when the weather is nice. We also optimize Vitamin D absorption by taking our residents out walking.
Guest Post by retired nurse, Kathy Neumann