Vitamins are important for good health, but even more important is a balance of good nutrition that comes from eating a diet rich in whole food, preferably ripe and raw, fruits and vegetables - why we recommend Juice Plus+ as a supplement. Having said that, there is plenty of research that suggests we have an epidemic going on regarding low levels of vitamin D. While there are many conditions where patients are showing low levels of Vitamin D, this doesn't necessarily mean that higher or 'normal' levels would prevent such a condition. In some cases, there are studies that support such claim. Here's more on the role that vitamin D plays in supporting our health --
Experts increasingly believe that vitamin D has a multidimensional role in promoting health. Research is now showing that vitamin D can affect almost every part of the body and lower the risk for many diseases, including cancer.
At the same time, low levels of vitamin D can have serious consequences, even for infants.
New research, led by Massachusetts General Hospital, has found a link between low vitamin D in infants and respiratory infections. The research found that wheezing can worsen in early childhood if infants have low levels of vitamin D. But the research stops short of confirming a link with chronic asthma.
Doctors are also finding connections between vitamin D and healthy pregnancies.
Another recent study has shown that pregnant women can reduce their chances of birth-related and pregnancy complications if they take 4,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D every day.
Dr. Michael Irwig, at George Washington University Medical School, lectures frequently on vitamin D.
“There have been some studies showing that if you give pregnant women 4,000 [international] units of vitamin D a day, their rates of complications in pregnancy are much decreased,” Irwig said. “If you look at things like infection, pre-term delivery, even gestational diabetes, they are all reduced with giving pregnant women higher doses of vitamin D.”
Routine prenatal vitamins do not provide enough vitamin D, according to the study that was conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Colorado at Denver. It found that 7 out of every 10 pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough vitamin D.
Also, women with darker skin, those who cover their skin for religious or cultural reasons, and those living in areas with longer winter months are at risk for low vitamin D. That’s because vitamin D is produced by our bodies when we absorb sun through our skin.
Many people also block sunlight with sunscreen. And some of the vitamin D ingested gets trapped in body fat and is therefore unavailable. Read more...
Comments: Vitamin D is also necessary for the absorption of calcium. Aside from that, there is a need for more vitamin D in our diet, and it may just be that we need to spend healthy amounts of time in the sun, without suncreen. In fact, some studies suggest that the sunscreen itself is more harmful than the sun itself, being a precursor to certain conditions. While that debate continues, it can be agreed on that we need more and better nutrition in our diets, including more ripe, raw, whole food fruits and vegetables. Vitamin D is one of those vitamins that you should consider adding as a supplement, although when it comes to a supplement that contains a gamut of nutritients, we recommend Juice Plus+.
The Health & Wellness Institute
Official Juice Plus+ Independent Distributor
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