Vitamin D
Know as the sunshine vitamin.
Naturally produced in the skin. Canadians only have enough sun 4 months of the year. After mid-Sept. vitamin D levels decline to harmful levels making us vulnerable to colds, flus, infections, aches and pains.
Benefits of Vitamin D3 Supplements:
Bones, Joints, and Muscle Health. In the elderly muscle strength increases therefore fewer falls with nearly 60% reduction in broken hips and fractures.
93% of patients with winter complaints of muscle and bone pain were vitamin D deficient.
Chronic pain was reduced 60% in 3 months
Brain Health : 4000 IU/day of D3 reduced incidence of depression and improved S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder -‘ the winter blues’)
Pregnancy, Lactation, and Child Development : vitamin D is essential to the child’s brain, nerve and skeleton development. Mothers with winter pregnancies who supplemented had healthier children who had less risk of later diseases.
Cardiovascular Health: Men and women showed reduced risk of fatal heart disease if vitamin D was supplemented.
Other Benefits: Improves immune strength against infections
Improved lung function in former smokers
Reduced risk of cancer
Improves skin disorders
Improves insulin levels in type 2 diabetes