This may seem like a bizarre concept considering we live in sunny Australia, however due to the strength of our sun and the use of sunscreen, our body’s Vitamin D levels are deficient.
Did you know that to get enough Vitamin D we are required to be naked in the sun with no lotion for 20 minutes every day? I don’t know about you but if I did this my neighbours would probably be calling the police!
Most people know about the importance of Vitamin D for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, however there are some other surprising benefits:
- Helps With Depression
Studies have shown that giving patients with clinical depression Vitamin D supplements helped in regulating mood and a reduction in negative symptoms[1]. I lived in England for a number of years and in the winter months a lot of us suffered from S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder). It’s a type of depression relating to changes in seasons. I would take Vitamin D during these months and the difference it made to my mood, energy levels and alertness was dramatic. - Decreases Chronic Low Back Pain
I’ve put a lot of my patients on Vitamin D for this exact reason. In a study of chronic back pain patients, symptoms significantly improved by 100% in those who were low in Vitamin D and received supplementation[2]. - Reduced Incidence of Colds and Flu
In a study of 104 subjects, only one developed a cold or flu over the winter months[3]. I would take this over a flu shot any day! - Boosts Weight Loss
I’M SOLD! If your Christmas was anything like mine, I may need to increase my Vitamin D intake now! In one study, people taking a calcium and Vitamin D supplement were able to lose more than those taking a placebo. The scientists said the extra calcium and Vitamin D had an appetite suppressing effect[4]. - Fights Disease
Research suggests that Vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions including cancer, heart disease, asthma, autism, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Just to name a few.
If you, like me, are big into Wellness and Prevention, Vitamin D seems to be something we all need to be supplementing daily.
At Brighton Wellness Group, we highly recommend Innate Choice D-Sufficiency as our Vitamin D supplement. As adults we need about 8-10 drops, depending on weight and my kids have 2 drops. How does it taste I can hear you asking? Well let’s put it this way, I have no argument from my kids when I get them to take it each morning.
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CHIROPRACTOR BRIGHTON – BRIGHTON WELLNESS GROUP
References:
[1] Stewart Leavitt, Ph.D. 2008 Vitamin D – A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. Pain Treatment Topics.
[2] Al Faraj S, Al Mutairi K. Vitamin D deficiency and chronic low back pain in Saudi Arabia. Spine 2003;28:177-179.
[3] Aloia, J et al. Epidemic influenza and Vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection 2007, Vol 135 (7) pp. 1095-1098.
[4] Major G et al. Calcium plus Vitamin D supplementation and fat mass loss in female very low calcium consumers. British Journal of Nutrition. Vol 101 (5) July 2008 pp. 659-663.
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Category: Chiropractic, Naturopathy & Nutrition