Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Vitamin D and Calcium

Vitamin D and Calcium

We’ve all heard about the importance of getting calcium, especially as women, to help promote optimal bone health. Vitamin D has also been shown to be important in building and maintaining good bonehealth.

But did you know that the newest research is showing that Vitamin D is not only important for your bone health but for your overall health.

Current research is showing that optimal levels of vitamin
D in the body help to lower the risk for hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and anxiety/depression.


Most of the research is showing that you want a Vitamin D blood level >43 to see the benefits to your health. One of the studies that is widely held as being foremost in the study of vitamin D has been held here in Utah. It found that
overall about 2/3 of our Utah population is deficient in Vitamin D

How much Vitamin D do we need and how do we get it?
The current recommendations are for 6oo IU’s per day, but the current research is saying that we need anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 IU’s per day. Have you vitamin D checked at your next doctor’s appointment.
Sources of Vitamin D
-Sunlight...the BEST source! during the summer, in ten minutes you can get 10,000 IU of Vitamin D (this is of course with bare minimum clothes and no sunscreen).
-Some fortified foods
-Diet milk, cod liver oil, salmon and fortified cereals: However, these will only get you 40 to 100 IU’s per serving.
-Supplements: 1,000 to 2,000 IU caplets. Also if you take Viactiv (the calcium supplement) you will get 500 IU’s per chocolate chew (You should take two chocolate chews per day if you are not drinking milk or eating dairy products).

The bottom line is: spend time outside and get your Vitamin D so you can not only have good bone health but also good overall health and wellness.

FYI: The current recommendations...
-19-50 year old females are 1,000 mg of calcium per day (if you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should get about 200-300 additional mg of calcium per day)
-Milk, yogurt, and cheese are rich sources of calcium and are the major food contributors of this nutrient to people in the United States.
-Nondairy sources include vegetables, such as Chinese cabbage, kale, and broccoli.
-Most grains do not have high amounts of calcium unless they are fortified; however, they contribute calcium to the diet because they do have small amounts and people consume them frequently. Foods fortified with calcium include many fruit juices and drinks, tofu, and cereals

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