© 2009 Katherine Poehlmann, Ph.D.
As
a health researcher, I have been bombarded with questions lately about how to
prevent the H1N1 flu that's being hyped by the media. This is not the highly
deadly strain they are leading people to believe, but like any flu, it can be
serious if your immune system is not in good shape.
So
take the usual precautions, but be aware that you can increase your chances to
avoid catching the flu by making sure you have adequate vitamin D levels. I've found
that:
The
Recommended Daily Value of vitamin D is not adequate.
Grandma's advice made sense.
Compare:
-- 1 TBS cod liver oil =
1360 IU vitamin D
-- 1 cup milk (any kind)
= 98 IU
-- Recommended DV = 400
IU (International Units)
Better
DV is 700-800 IU/day
Scientific studies show that 700-800
IU/day plus 500-1200 mg of calcium per day:
-- decreases the risk of
falls, fractures, and bone loss in older adults
-- works as an
anti-inflammatory for aching muscles and joints
High
doses in flu season prevent illness
A suggested daily dose during flu
season is 2000 IU. Check the label and be sure to purchase the D3 version of
vitamin D, not D2, which is not as readily absorbed or effective. Or, you might
follow Grandma's natural method of 1 TBS cod liver oil per day. Be careful not
to take too much of this fish oil since it contains vitamin A, which can be
toxic at very high levels. One tablespoon is optimal.
Risks
associated with vitamin D
We get some of our vitamin D from
sunlight but this isn't enough. The rest should come from foods we eat (nuts,
seeds, fruits, vegetables), but many of us have inadequate nutrition. During
fall and winter months (traditional flu season) sunlight is too weak and can
lead to vitamin D deficiency. A blood test can determine your vitamin D level.
With higher vitamin D doses, there
is a risk of kidney stones but this risk can be offset by increasing vitamin C
intake. (And by the way, the DV for vitamin C is also way too low, in my view.
Details about vitamin C can be found in other free articles on this website).
Increased vitamin D can interact
with certain prescription drugs so be sure to ask your doctor before taking
this supplement in either tablets or cod liver oil.
Scientific studies show that SHORT
term high doses (e.g., 50,000 IU per week for 8 weeks) do NOT cause toxicity.
Conclusion
You may have a vitamin D deficiency
and not be aware of it. I just had a complete physical and passed with flying
colors except for low vitamin D. Shocking, because I spend at least 1/2 per day
in the California sun doing gardening and try to eat right. To strengthen bones
and ward off flu infections, I'm taking 2000 IU of vitamin D (in D3 form) per
day for a month, then taking a maintenance dose of 800 IU daily.
Sources
used in this article:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/02/28/vitamin-d-part-twenty.aspx
http://www.betterbones.com/foundation/bonehealthresearch.aspx
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp
http://www.ra-infection-connection.com/Free_Articles/AscorbicActions.htm
http://www.ra-infection-connection.com/Free_Articles/HowMuchVitC.htm
http://ra-infection-connection.com/Free_Articles/coldweather.htm
Dr. Poehlmann is the author
of Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Connection, available at
Amazon.com and major bookstores, or click here to order now.
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