Last year, researchers at the Children’s National Medical Center found that children who suffered from asthma and seasonal allergies were 20 times more likely to be Vitamin D deficient than children who didn’t suffer. Likewise, recent study results presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology demonstrated that Vitamin D supplementation helps prevent seasonal allergies and also makes symptoms go away more quickly. As helpful as these studies are, I’m not a fan of taking nutrients in isolation. That’s not how they’re found in nature, and we’ve amassed plenty of evidence over the last few decades to demonstrate that nutrients don’t work in isolation. Rather, they work synergistically with the other nutrients present in food. When we take individual nutrients in isolation, we often create systemic imbalances in our body.
Sun Exposure Not Enough To Prevent Rickets
Rickets — the bone disease caused by Vitamin D deficiency — is on the rise in England. Even children getting “plenty” of sun exposure are at risk. Doctors are befuddled. Even the children whom doctors considered well-nourished (those from the relatively affluent middle class) are getting the disease. What does this tell you?
Vitamin D Creates Lower Risk Pregnancies
I sing the praises of vitamin D. You know that. So here’s one more reason to love vitamin D: It can greatly reduce risks associated with pregnancy.
Babies born with sufficient vitamin D blood levels are less likely to be premature, suffer from respiratory problems, and be considered “small” for their dates, get colds, or experience eczema. Expectant mothers with sufficient vitamin D blood levels are 30% less likely to suffer from diabetes, high-blood pressure, and pre-eclampsia.
The sad part is that most expectant mothers (at least here in the U.S) don’t have sufficient levels of vitamin D.
Real Food News Roundup
Since I hadn’t posted a round up of real food news recently, I’ve got quite a few links saved up. I spent a while this morning weeding through them all, trying to find the five most interesting ones (at least to me).
I hope you find them as informative enjoyable to read as I did!