Boost your Vitamin D

As Dr. Brimhall said in his last post, "Sugar Season" is upon us! And yes, “coincidentally” it just so happens that cold and flu season is approaching. In addition to all of the wonderful suggestions from previous posts, I would absolutely incorporate vitamin D into your supplement routine.

Even here in the Valley of the Sun, we do not get enough vitamin D. I regularly test levels on my patients and I rarely find people have sufficient vitamin D levels. A 2009 study of Japanese children showed that kids taking vitamin D supplements were 58% LESS likely to get the flu. A 2010 study of 198 adults indicated that of the adults with adequate vitamin D levels cut their flu risk by 50%.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and will be absorbed better when taken with food. Ideally take it when you take your daily fish oil supplement, and make sure that the supplement is D3 Balance. It is the more active form of vitamin D and your body will able to utilize it better. In addition to strengthening your immune system, vitamin D helps fight osteoporosis and has been known to help lower blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about vitamin D and make sure you’re ready for cold and flu season.

Be well,
Dr. Ann Lovick